Ulysses S. Grant's early life was marked by his father's influence, who secured him an appointment at West Point despite his initial reluctance. Grant developed a love for horses and eventually graduated in a middling position. He met his future wife, Julia, and was shipped out to the Mexican-American War, where he learned valuable lessons from General Zachary Taylor. Grant struggled with depression and drinking, but eventually emancipated a slave and found his calling as a military leader during the Civil War. He led the 21st Illinois Regiment and eventually became a general, known for his calm and calculated demeanor. Grant's humility and respect for his former enemies were evident at Appomattox, where he allowed them to keep their guns and horses. His life was a remarkable turnaround from selling wood on a street corner to leading the US Army and becoming a US President. [... more]

In that upper room two millennia ago the mighty Holy Spirit fell on the church with strange-yet-dynamically-productive tongues of fire As a result when those first believers exited that famous ecclesiastical birthing chamber they burst out into the world on fire It is indisputable that the source of that unquenchable spiritual burning was the Baptism with the Holy Spirit What is this experience Why don't we hear more about it Does it occur when we are water baptized Or born-again Or when we go through confirmation as a youth Or receive the elements of the Lord's Supper In this episode [... more]

Jesus John the Baptist and Luke Acts heavily emphasize the Baptism with the Holy Spirit It appears at the beginning of Church history Acts continues throughout Luke's record of the church's first thirty years and was valued and ministered by the apostle Paul Yet strangely many evangelical and liturgical Protestant organizations ignore or oppose the experience Greg uses scripture to establish the fact that both Father and Son promised true believers could and should receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit The artesian well Gihon or gusher of the Spirit's living water John - Or the rivers of living water [... more]

On this episode of Our American Stories Robert Borelli once believed the Mafia offered the clearest path to power As a teenager growing up in Brooklyn he set out to become a gangster drawn to the respect money and status he saw around him Instead that path led him in and out of prison and eventually to rock bottom But inside a jail cell at his lowest point Borelli cried out to God for change What followed was a transformation that gave him a new purpose in life one rooted in faith and service to others Support the show https [... more]

The birth of the church of Jesus Christ on Pentecost Day as recorded in Acts was accompanied by some admittedly strange phenomena the sound of a rushing tornado visible flames of fire over the heads of the believers present and speaking in strange unknown languages Why did these things happen Were they of God Of Men Of Satan Had those present previously received the Holy Spirit If so when and where did they receive Him and how much And what does this historical account tell us about our Christian walk today In this first episode Greg shares the first of [... more]

Managing credit reports and scores requires understanding common myths and misconceptions. A certified credit counselor explains how to dispel these myths and achieve financial freedom through debt management and responsible credit use. [... more]

In this episode Greg uses texts from the apostle John's Gospel and Apocalypse to identify and describe the door Jesus refers to in this crucial prophetic parable Why is it important Simply because this door is the designated portal through which they that are ready will pass to enter the great marriage in heaven He also addresses the claims of some evangelical Bible teachers based on Thessalonians - that all professing Christians left behind at the Rapture cannot subsequently successfully prove and purify their faith in the trials of the Tribulation period but will instead be eternally lost [... more]

The struggle with lust is a pervasive issue in society, but Christians have the power to overcome it through repentance, a deeper relationship with God, and the Holy Spirit's guidance. By focusing on God's beauty, holiness, and power, and cultivating holy habits, individuals can develop a stronger affection for God and a greater desire to live a godly life, making lust seem absurd and repulsive. [... more]

One of the most important passages in the New Testament is Jesus' teaching on the Vine and branches in John - How do we Christ's branches stay close to Him our Vine There is no surer or more direct way to maintain vital connection to our Vine than by simply giving Him thanks in the morning through the day and when we lay down to sleep The result A dynamic prayer life If you abide in remain in close touch with me and my words including the biblical call to 'give thanks' abide in you you shall ask what you [... more]

If God asked you to do something easy to radically improve your Christian walk wouldn't you do it That's just what He does in challenging us to in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Thessalonians Nothing is easier than yielding your heart and opening your lips and saying Thank you Jesus Jesus told us His yoke is easy Don't be like proud Naaman who wanted the prophet to tell him something hard to do to receive his healing Listen to Naaman's servants and Jesus and start forming the habit of giving [... more]

At rock bottom, people often feel like God has abandoned them, but the Bible teaches that God is always present, even in the midst of pain and suffering. The church can be a safe place where people can be real and find hope, but it's not just about polishing up our outward appearance; it's about being a community where people can talk about their struggles and find Jesus as their Savior. [... more]

Christian do you know you can deeply please God today right now just where you are How Simply by giving Him thanks from your heart irrespective of your circumstances In Psalm - David revealed this great secret that was a part of His daily life and God wants to be part of ours I will praise the name of God with a song and magnify him with thanksgiving This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs And when deeply pleased God is more inclined to readily release His delivering power for [... more]

One of the secrets to the apostle Paul's amazing overcoming life was the simple yet powerful instructions he gave us in Thessalonians In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Or In every situation you meet good bad and in between give God thanks Why 'This' thanksgiving and 'this' situation are part of His master plan for you as His child in Christ Jesus sent to in some way do 'good' Romans in you for you or through you Or all of the above If you will just remain yielded trusting and [... more]

We believe Paul's teaching on salvation typology the church and the end times as we should But we should pay even more attention to Paul's practical theology his plain commands for everyday Christian living that sprang from his own experience One of the hidden gems in Paul's treasure chest of practical theology is Thessalonians When we learn to give thanks to God in everything we are on our way to spiritual maturity Christlike humility Davidic living strong faith and a vibrant spiritually successful prayer life This is not a message for one season but for all seasons Listen learn obey [... more]

Ron Blue shares insights on biblical and practical wisdom for business partnerships, emphasizing the importance of shared faith and values in lasting relationships. Rob West discusses various financial topics, including vendor access to bank accounts, retirement planning, and charitable giving. [... more]

Greg continues discussing Christianity in India with three deeply committed Indian ministers This interview which discusses Hindu soteriology India's holy rivers its caste system and the miraculous conversion experience of a deathly ill ultra-devout young Hindu woman was not taped in a sound studio but in an open-air setting in India complete with traffic noise monkeys jumping loudly on metal roofs and live roosters amening the conversation in their own distinctive way Greg hopes this series will prompt American Christians to prayerfully consider getting involved in God's work in what is currently the most populous nation on earth Christ is [... more]

Self-pity an unhealthy obsessive sorrow for oneself arising from a narrow selfish viewpoint of one's troubles is one of the most universal crippling and deadly sins that stunt the characters and abort the destinies of Christians And one of the most undetected ones How many teachings have you heard on this subject In this episode Greg defines self-pity and uses multiple biblical texts and examples to describe its many causes manifestations and deadly effects He then offers practical biblical instructions on how to take self-pity captive and become free to know Christ intimately and spend the rest of your life [... more]

In John Jesus said No man can come unto me unless the Father who has sent me draws him In John He added I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me What was He talking about How does the Father draw sinners to Christ Is this really required before they can have a genuine salvation experience Does the Father do this Himself Or does another member of the holy Trinity participate Do believers have any part in this divine drawing process And what are the signs that tell us a sinner is being [... more]

To succeed at anything in this world we must learn to harness our attention and focus on the task at hand The spiritual walk requires no less If we aim to finish the race set before us and please Christ with the way we live and the work we do we must learn to remain spiritually focused And when that focus is broken and it will be at times we must know how to quickly refocus and then press on with what really counts seeking Christ and His will for our life Using the gospel account of Peter's famous walk [... more]

The Bible repeatedly calls us to humble ourselves Are we responding Do we realize just how much God despises pride Do we know why He does so Well this episode discloses these vital truths and many more and gives us clear practical instructions as to how we may deal with our pride and grow in Christlike humility In the Q A segment Greg answers a very timely question posed concerning events in the Middle East and how we should see them in light of God's promises and prophecies to the Jewish people [... more]

When Christ opens doors of utterance or other opportunities for service before you spontaneously do you recognize them and respond promptly taking full advantage of them for His pleasure and kingdom When He closes doors and you recognize that He has done so do you respond positively by submissively standing down and faithfully pursuing the duties He has already given you knowing that they are also important And have you learned that when He closes one door it's only because he has another often better door waiting for you In the Q A segment Greg answers a series of probing [... more]

Pastor Greg Laurie helps listeners overcome fear and live a successful Christian life by focusing on the promises of God and the spiritual battle that believers face in the last days. [... more]

In this final episode of New Jerusalem Our Dream City Greg describes New Jerusalem's saturation with light residents main activities authority holiness transparency and wealth and applying the universal principles of Samuel and Galatians draws analogies between these physical features of the capital of the new world and how we should be living in this world He also urges us by overcoming being faithful and worshiping and serving God to make it our life's quest to have the great privilege of residing inside this eternal city of God rather than elsewhere on the massive new earth In the Q A [... more]

Greg describes the glorious eternal city's physical features on the new earth - its dual divine purpose extreme elevation and colossal dimensions - and then opens their figurative applications to our lives That is what they teach us about how we should be living now on this earth In the Q A segment he defines what hell and the lake of fire are why they exist and who will and will not spend eternity there And in doing so Greg draws definitive conclusions about Annihilationism and Universalism [... more]

Greg finishes his expositional reading of Revelation - explains why God has named His eternal capital New Jerusalem defines and defies Supersessionism Replacement or Fulfillment Theology explains why God and Satan mark their respective servants and identifies which country we should and should not glory in Also in the Q A segment Greg addresses Jesus' cryptic statement in John and opens what it does and does not mean to us today [... more]

The Hunley, a Confederate submarine, made history by sinking an enemy vessel in 1864, but its exact fate remains a mystery. The submarine's crew, led by Commander Dixon, embarked on a daring mission to break the Union blockade in Charleston Harbor. Despite initial setbacks and a tragic end, the Hunley's legacy as the first submarine to sink an enemy ship endures, leaving behind a tale of bravery and innovation in American history. [... more]

A caregiver's journey through medical challenges, faith, and the importance of hope and resilience in the face of suffering and loss. [... more]

The story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 729-foot freighter that sank on Lake Superior in 1975, killing all 29 crew members. The ship's tragic fate was immortalized in a song by Gordon Lightfoot, but the real story is one of human error, bad weather, and the bravery of the sailors who tried to rescue the crew. [... more]

Hannah's story is a powerful example of prayer and faith in action. Despite her struggles with infertility and emotional pain, she turns to God and finds comfort and strength in His Word. Her story teaches us about the importance of humility, letting go of critical eyes, and building walls of defense. We learn how to respond to life's challenges with a heart of prayer and a spirit of gratitude, and how to trust in God's goodness and provision. [... more]

Hannah's example of prayer and perseverance teaches us to seek God's will in times of difficulty, even when our emotions and frailty try to consume us. We learn from her that prayer invites God's will into our lives and that we should not give up, even if we don't see immediate results. By pouring out our hearts to God and seeking His guidance, we can find hope and effectiveness in the midst of adversity. [... more]

Hannah, a woman struggling with infertility and pain, finds comfort and strength in her faith and obedience to God. Despite her emotional turmoil, she continues to pray and worship, ultimately giving birth to a son named Samuel. This story serves as an example of how God works in our lives, even in the midst of difficulty and uncertainty, and how we can learn to trust in His plan and character. [... more]

Lowell Lytle shares his story of being one of the privileged few who have seen the Titanic first hand, and his passion for telling the story of the Titanic's last hero, Reverend John Harper, who gave his life vest to a non-Christian man and preached to him as he drifted away in the freezing waters. [... more]

When facing life's toughest challenges, it's essential to turn to God for hope and guidance. Pastor Greg Laurie shares insights from the life of David, who struggled with fear and anxiety, but ultimately found solace in God's presence. By pouring out our complaints and casting our cares upon God, we can find peace and trust in His plan, even in the midst of crisis. [... more]

When life's challenges seem insurmountable, it's essential to shift focus from problems to God. Pastor Greg Laurie shares practical lessons from David's life, emphasizing the importance of casting cares upon God and finding refuge in Him. David's story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, God's presence and help are always available, and with faith, we can overcome fear and find new beginnings. [... more]

Understanding how our God-given wiring shapes the way we communicate, relate to others, and make financial decisions is crucial for effective money management. The red temperament, characterized by a drive to control and a desire for efficiency, can be both a strength and a weakness in financial planning. By recognizing and addressing the emotional needs of reds, such as loyalty and control, individuals can develop healthier communication skills and make more informed financial decisions. [... more]

The ground's curse due to sin affects our thought processes, making it challenging to think clearly. This is especially true for caregivers dealing with high-stress situations, where their thinking is already encumbered by sin. Scripture advises not to trust our own thoughts but to trust God's, and that wisdom and intelligence can be vastly different. The renewal of the mind through spiritual guidance can help solve the problem of faulty thinking. [... more]

God's promises are not dated and can be claimed by believers. To succeed in the spiritual life, one must overcome fear and admit the need for help. Pastor Greg Laurie shares practical principles for living a successful Christian life, including the importance of faith, forgiveness, and salvation. [... more]

A former Mormon shares her personal testimony of leaving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and finding salvation through the Bible and faith in Jesus Christ. She discusses the differences between Mormonism and Christianity, particularly regarding the nature of God, eternal life, and the atonement of Christ. [... more]

Deciding when to take Social Security benefits can be a complex financial decision, impacting tens of thousands of dollars. A financial advisor can help you consider factors such as reduction, cash flow needs, debt, charitable giving, and longevity to make an informed decision. Additionally, establishing a lifestyle finish line can help guide personal spending and long-term planning, while a net worth finish line can provide a maximum limit on total assets. Stewardship and financial wisdom are essential in managing God's money and accomplishing His purposes. [... more]

Money issues reveal what's in our hearts, and God's word uses money as a teaching tool to help us understand our values and priorities. By recognizing that money is a spiritual matter, we can make informed decisions that align with God's values and lead to financial freedom and deeper trust in Him. [... more]