If Nothing Changes...

Warner Batty was only 15 years old when he committed a crime that landed him in prison for 50 years. In this episode, Warner talks about how God changed him from the inside out while serving a life-sentence in prison! He also talks about how he dealt with all the guilt from his crime and what it was like meeting the survivors of his crime. If you have ever struggled to let go of the guilt from your past, then God has a special message for you in this episode! Blessings await!

In sports there are things that can disqualify you from playing but can a person be disqualified from a relationship with God? Is there a crime that eliminates me from God's grace? What if I'm being punished for a crime? Does this ban me from meaning and purpose? My guest committed a crime in 1975 that landed him in prison for 50 years! Some say his crime is unforgiveable, but what does God say? Warner tells his amazing life-change story, and it will bless your soul!

Upward, inward, and outward are three words that can change your life!

After trying to take his own life, Casey was miraculously saved from death, but he had a long way to go before he decides to look upward to Jesus. This story demonstrates without question, that change is possible! Blessings await!

Casey and his wife Tisha are involved in a recovery ministry called Recovery Alive: https://www.recoveryalive.com 

Today's episode deals with some difficult topics and listener discretion is advised. According to the 2023's national survey data (988Help.org), about 14 million U.S. adults reported having serious thoughts of suicide. In 2022 49,000 Americans died by suicide, the highest number ever recorded. In my own life (Eric), my brother committed suicide. Sometimes circumstances and bad choices can lead to depression, and the enemy wants us to think that there is no hope. That's a lie! Today, Casey Temple shares the first part of his amazing story. There are some hard things to hear but, in the end, God can turn any life from hopeless to hopeful! If you are someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 right now or go to https://www.988Help.org 

Casey and his wife Tisha are involved in the Recovery Alive ministry and share the hope of Jesus everywhere they go. https://www.recoveryalive.com 

Have you ever ignored an issue in your life that you knew was a problem, but you simply disregarded it, thinking maybe it will just go away or possibly you’ll deal with it later? We call this behavior denial and depending on the issue it can have major consequences that eventually hurt you and possibly the people that you love. In this episode I talk about the 6 negative effects of denial and what happens when I ignore God. It's only when I turn and face God that I can fully step out of denial. This is an interesting topic but requires courage as we look inward at ourselves.

Some of the greatest Bible characters had the messiest lives, but God still used them. In fact, Paul said that it is in our weakness that we are made strong. This is counterintuitive and the enemy wants us to keep our sins, flaws and shortcomings secret. However, maybe God wants to use these secrets to perform an amazing miracle in your life. Mac & Mary Owen had some secrets, but it wasn't until those secrets were brought into the light that God could use those same secrets to perform so many miracles!

Mac is the Global Director for Celebrate Recovery and he and Mary serve hand-in-hand to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to those who need healing from all kinds of hurts, bad habits and hang-ups.

Have you ever considered the choices you've made in your life and where they have led you? Do you feel that your choices have defined who you are and that those choices have predetermined your life? Ken Freeman shares how he was abused in every way a person can be abused and how he should have become an alcoholic and abuser himself. However, at age 16, he made a choice that ultimately changed his life forever! This is an amazing story that will inspire and bless your life. Ken Freeman is the author of: Rescued by the Cross, Choices 101, and Toilet Bowl Christianity.

There are many things that we can change through consistent behavior and discipline. However, there are other things that no matter how hard we try, we just can't change. This is when we need God's help, but how do we access his power? Is it possible to apply consistency to my relationship with God so that his power can change me? Hadley and I talk about this topic and have a GREAT discussion! If Nothing Changes... Nothing Changes!