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Today on the Back Porch, we're trading ham for turkey, dressing for stuffing debates, and canned jelly for fresh cranberries as we talk all things Thanksgiving ~ and the deeper gratitude that outlasts the leftovers. We'll name some hard seasons and the surprising ways God's goodness has met us there, reminding us that gratitude isn't denial ~ it's defiant hope. Take a breather from the Thanksgiving prep, pull up a chair, and join us as we count kernels of kindness from a faithful God.

Hello, friend. I hope you're doing well. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, so I think today's episode is especially fitting.

In Joshua 4, just as many of us will do this week with family and friends, Joshua and the Hebrew people were instructed to pause and remember all God had done for them. And that act of gratitude prepared them for what came next.

Have you ever felt like you've lost your spiritual edge? In this episode, Christine Caine shares a powerful message from 2 Kings 6 about how to recover what's been lost and walk again in the power of the Holy Spirit. You'll be reminded that God can restore what's broken, reignite what's grown cold, and renew your strength so you can fulfill your purpose with fresh fire and faith.

✨ What you'll learn:

* How to recognize when you've lost your spiritual edge-and where it fell.

* Why God calls you to co-labor, not just consume.

* The key to sharpening your faith and restoring the anointing in your life.

 Get your free Episode Reflection Guide → http://bit.ly/4gx1ZYk

+ + + + 

️ SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/ChristineCaineSubscribe

ORDER Christine's newest book, Don't Look Back → https://linktr.ee/christinecaine 

ORDER Christine's new devotional, "You're Not Finished Yet" → https://linktr.ee/christinecaine 

 For more great stuff, check out:

LISTEN to Christine Caine's Life and Leadership Podcast→ https://linktr.ee/christinecaine

DONATE to Equip & Empower Ministries: https://linktr.ee/christinecaine

 Follow Christine on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChristineCaine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theChristineCaine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineCaine

Today on the Back Porch, as we wrap Mountains & Valleys, Lisa, Allison & Dr. Howard linger on one last ridgeline: Solomon's story. We watch the golden king step off the path, small compromises becoming idols, until a fractured heart splinters a nation. We consider why sound theology must interpret culture and how Ecclesiastes summons us to fear God and keep His commands. Press pause on the Thanksgiving hustle, pour a warm coffee, and join us on the porch.

Hello, friend. I hope you're well today.

 The last few episodes, we've seen Joshua and the Israelites face one obstacle after another. Well this week is a biggie - crossing the Jordan River. But this story isn't just about getting from one side of a river to the other. It's about how God delivers us from what stands between us and him.

Do you ever feel spiritually tired-like your faith could use a workout? In this episode, Christine Caine draws wisdom from Matthew 22:34-40 to show how loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind is the key to lasting strength, purpose, and wholeness. She'll help you identify what's clogging your spiritual arteries, how to heal a wounded soul, and how to train your thoughts to align with God's truth. This episode will empower you to live strong from the inside out and flourish in every area of life.

✨ Listen in & discover: 

* How to guard and strengthen your spiritual heart.

* Why a healed soul leads to freedom and purpose.

* How to renew your mind and replace toxic thoughts with God's truth.

 Get your free Episode Reflection Guide → http://bit.ly/4gx1ZYk

+ + + + 

️ SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/ChristineCaineSubscribe

ORDER Christine's newest book, Don't Look Back → https://linktr.ee/christinecaine 

ORDER Christine's new devotional, "You're Not Finished Yet" → https://linktr.ee/christinecaine 

 For more great stuff, check out:

LISTEN to Christine Caine's Life and Leadership Podcast→ https://linktr.ee/christinecaine

DONATE to Equip & Empower Ministries: https://linktr.ee/christinecaine

 Follow Christine on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChristineCaine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theChristineCaine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristineCaine

Christine Caine is a speaker, activist, and bestselling author who awakens people everywhere to discover their God-given purpose and live transformed lives for Jesus. Alongside her husband, Nick, she founded A21, a global anti-human trafficking organization that prevents exploitation, recovers victims, and empowers survivors. She also launched Propel Women, an initiative equipping women worldwide to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and live confidently in their calling. Through Equip & Empower, Christine activates people everywhere to live on mission for Jesus.

Christine is the author of more than a dozen books and Bible studies, and she holds a Master's Degree in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College. For over 30 years, she and Nick have faithfully served the global Church. You can tune into her weekly Equip & Empower and Life & Leadership podcasts for practical insights and encouragement, always pointing to the hope found in Jesus. Christine and Nick live with their daughters, Catherine and Sophia. To learn more about Christine and her resources, visit http://www.christinecaine.com.

You don't have to be in ministry to live on mission. In this episode, host Christine Caine sits down with Mimi Chan, a senior leader at Amazon and the co-founder of Christians at Amazon, to talk about what it means to carry your faith into the workplace with courage, integrity, and excellence. Mimi shares how she's seen God move in the corporate world, how prayer sparked a global movement of faith groups across tech companies, and why your everyday work might be one of the most sacred assignments you'll ever have.

SHOW NOTES:

The Sacred and the Secular Aren't Separate

Christine and Mimi unpack the false divide between ministry and the marketplace-and why every believer is called to be salt and light wherever they are.

Faith at Work: The Story Behind Christians at Amazon

Mimi shares how a small prayer group turned into a global network of 50 chapters uniting believers in some of the world's largest companies.

Work as Worship

Learn why excellence, integrity, and love are some of the most powerful forms of witness-and how your daily work can glorify God.

The Power of Mentorship

From Aunt Margaret's Friday night Bible studies to spiritual mentors at work, Mimi's story shows how discipleship multiplies across generations.

For Such a Time as This

Christine and Mimi discuss how God is positioning women across every industry for a mighty harvest-and why unity and humility are essential for what's next.

Find Mimi Chan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mimicychan

It's the day before Thanksgiving... so let's practice giving thanks! In this short episode, listen to Ruth read a curated selection of Scripture and share a few questions for reflection. 

Scripture referenced:
1 Chronicles 16:23-27
Isaiah 12:2-3
Psalm 103:1-4
James 1:17
Philippians 4:4-6
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Hi, friend. I hope you're having a good day.

 Today's episode brings us to one of the unlikeliest heroes of the Bible-Rahab. Maybe you know her story. Maybe you relate to her story. Nothing to lose, pulled from the bottom of the pit and pressed into service for God's plan. God used her because she trusted him. May we all have that in common with Rahab.

Today on the Back Porch, buckle up for a soulful road trip. Lisa and Allison explore Psalm 84 with the sons of Korah, tracing the Valley of Baca-the valley of tears-as a map for our own hard stretches where God meets us in grief, teaches us contentment, and invites us to be fully present right where our feet are. Fill your cup with coffee or cider, wrap up in a blanket, and wander out to the leaf-strewn porch.

Today on the Back Porch, we're trading ham for turkey, dressing for stuffing debates, and canned jelly for fresh cranberries as we talk all things Thanksgiving ~ and the deeper gratitude that outlasts the leftovers. We'll name some hard seasons and the surprising ways God's goodness has met us there, reminding us that gratitude isn't denial ~ it's defiant hope. Take a breather from the Thanksgiving prep, pull up a chair, and join us as we count kernels of kindness from a faithful God.

Today on Back Porch, Lisa and Allison continue part two of their six-part series, Mountains & Valleys, exploring how God meets us in both the highs and lows of life ~ reminding us that challenges aren't detours but part of the journey, and that God's promises are never dead, only fulfilled in His perfect timing. So pour yourself a cup of coffee or spiced tea, settle in, and join us on the porch!

In this episode, host Christine Caine sits down with Alicia Britt Chole for a profound conversation on spiritual formation, leadership, and staying faithful through the night seasons. Alicia shares how she, as a former atheist, became a passionate follower of Jesus, learned to linger in Scripture, and why so many leaders fall short-not for lack of passion, but lack of depth. If you've ever wrestled with burnout, grief, or disillusionment in your faith, this episode offers hope, truth, and a deeply needed reminder: Jesus is with us in the dark.

SHOW NOTES:
From Atheist to Disciple
Alicia shares her radical encounter with Jesus and how her love for Scripture began the moment she believed.

The Word Is Alive-So Don't Just Read It, Relate to It
She describes how lingering in just a few words of Scripture can lead to spiritual awakening and deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Why Leaders Are Falling-and What We Can Learn
They unpack the growing trend of spiritual burnout and moral failure in leadership, and how depth and honesty are crucial for longevity.

What We Do with Conviction Matters Most
Alicia reminds us that the Holy Spirit is always working, but it's our response to His conviction that shapes our future.

The Night Is Normal-And Jesus Is in the Middle of It
They explore what it means to find Jesus in suffering, how to process church hurt, and why shared pain with Christ becomes holy ground.

Follow Alicia Britt Chole, @aliciabrittchole

Follow Christine @ChristineCaine

Get your FREE reflection guide for journaling prompts or use it as a discussion guide with your community at PropelWomen.org/Podcast.  

Subscribe now so you don't miss an episode, and don't forget to leave a review! See you next week on the Propel Women Life & Leadership Podcast. 

You can connect with us further at PropelWomen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads @PropelWomen. We can't wait to hang out with you in your car, during your workout, or wherever you listen to podcasts! 

-

Propel Women is an initiative of Equip & Empower Ministries founded by Christine Caine. 

We EMPOWER women with biblical wisdom and encouragement, EQUIP women with practical training and education, and MOBILIZE women by providing hands-on leadership opportunities.

No matter where a woman has influence - in an office, in her community, at home with her family, or in ministry - Propel is driven by a calling to equip and mobilize women to become effective co-laborers with Christ and make a difference within their unique spheres of influence.

Today on the Back Porch, as we wrap Mountains & Valleys, Lisa, Allison & Dr. Howard linger on one last ridgeline: Solomon's story. We watch the golden king step off the path, small compromises becoming idols, until a fractured heart splinters a nation. We consider why sound theology must interpret culture and how Ecclesiastes summons us to fear God and keep His commands. Press pause on the Thanksgiving hustle, pour a warm coffee, and join us on the porch.

This is the perfect episode to help you understand your son and/or your husband better!

What are the 5 masculine instincts? This week's guest, pastor and author Chase Replogle is here to explain what these instincts are and how to leverage them for good. In today's conversation, we're talking about:

3:00 What can we learn from Shakespeare's stages of a man?

4:25 Instincts - are they good or bad?

6:00 The example of Cain and the instinct of sarcasm

9:30 How can we nudge our son to care instead of check out?

10:30 A working definition of humility: self-suspicion

14:30 What is C.S. Lewis talking about in the Abolition of Man when he refers to chestless men?

18:30 How can we make church more attractive for men? For boys?

22:00 Hunting for turkeys!

25:00 Men need adventures, extremes of too much adventure or too little (apathy)

27:00 The call of God on Samson's life - the need to watch our spiritual lives carefully

Chase Replogle is a pastor and author of the 5 Masculine Instincts. He's pastored the Bent Oak Church in Springfield Missouri for 10 years. He is the host of the Pastor Writer podcast, a native of the Ozark woods, and he enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two kids. Find out more at pastorwriter.com.

Do you have a happy husband? Take the free quiz at Happy Home University.

What does it really look like to answer and respond to the call of God on your life?

In this week's episode of The High Note, Tauren is joined by the lead pastor of Lakewood Church, Pastor Joel Osteen. These two have a powerful conversation that explores how Pastor Joel stepped into his calling and how he's seen God move in the church. You'll be inspired to see how God uses every piece of our story for His glory.

In this episode they cover:
1:26 - What was Pastor Joel's initial hesitation in becoming a pastor?
3:55 - Who encouraged Pastor Joel along the way and affirmed him in his ability to preach?
6:13 - How did the Osteen family handle Pastor Joel taking over his dad's previous role as head pastor?
9:53 - The importance of honoring others well
11:24 - What was Pastor Joel's first weekend as head pastor like? How'd the first sermon go?
14:22 - Pastor Joel's journey in overcoming fear and insecurity
16:39 - When the church grew exponentially, what was that experience like?
19:21 - How the enemy likes to plant seeds of negativity in the exact area where our potential lies
23:55 - Pastor Joel does an excellent job at calling out the good in other people. Where did he learn that?
26:15 - Pastor Joel's principles he lives by as he prioritizes his family
29:10 - The power of knowing what you're called to and saying "no" when new opportunities come

Follow Tauren Wells on Instagram @TaurenWells

Be sure to subscribe now on AccessMore or wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode!

You don't have to be in ministry to live on mission. In this episode, host Christine Caine sits down with Mimi Chan, a senior leader at Amazon and the co-founder of Christians at Amazon, to talk about what it means to carry your faith into the workplace with courage, integrity, and excellence. Mimi shares how she's seen God move in the corporate world, how prayer sparked a global movement of faith groups across tech companies, and why your everyday work might be one of the most sacred assignments you'll ever have.

SHOW NOTES:

The Sacred and the Secular Aren't Separate

Christine and Mimi unpack the false divide between ministry and the marketplace-and why every believer is called to be salt and light wherever they are.

Faith at Work: The Story Behind Christians at Amazon

Mimi shares how a small prayer group turned into a global network of 50 chapters uniting believers in some of the world's largest companies.

Work as Worship

Learn why excellence, integrity, and love are some of the most powerful forms of witness-and how your daily work can glorify God.

The Power of Mentorship

From Aunt Margaret's Friday night Bible studies to spiritual mentors at work, Mimi's story shows how discipleship multiplies across generations.

For Such a Time as This

Christine and Mimi discuss how God is positioning women across every industry for a mighty harvest-and why unity and humility are essential for what's next.

Find Mimi Chan on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mimicychan

What do you do if your husband isn't living up to your expectations? Many wives don't know what to do with their disappointment and how to nudge their husbands to change. Clinical psychologist Dr. Juli Slattery says your efforts to fix your marriage may actually be undermining it.  

Find out more as Dr. Juli Slattery talks about her book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband.  

You'll hear: 

4:20 A challenge that all wives face 

5:20 What is the cycle of intimacy? And how do we get into that cycle? 

7:00 What is the cycle of self-protection?  

8:30 What if I don't feel valued by my husband?  

11:30 How has submission been misapplied? What does Biblical submission look like?

15:20 Why is physical intimacy such a struggle for many marriages? 

22:15 But I want to be the boss of the relationship...  

Learn more about Dr. Juli Slattery and her book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband.

Interested in getting closer to your spouse this month? Take the 7 Day Romance Challenge, download it for free at HappyHomeUniversity.com

Visit donate.accessmore.com and give today to help fund more episodes and shows like this.

Delirious? frontman and worship pioneer Martin Smith joins Levi for a heartfelt conversation about music, calling, and the long road of faith. Martin shares how a random suggestion from his dad led him from cricket dreams to a secondhand guitar, a Holy Spirit encounter at nineteen, and early worship songs like "Lord, You Have My Heart" and "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." They trace the unlikely British wave of worship that swept the world, how Delirious? broke all the "rules," and why Martin still believes deeply in the local church as the home that saves, shapes, and steadies creatives. 

From the near-fatal car accident that pushed him to go "all in" with Cutting Edge/Delirious? to nine-minute spontaneous tracks and leaving holy space in worship, Martin talks about the power of music to heal, deliver, and reorient our hearts. He and Levi explore prophetic songwriting, how some lyrics arrive far beyond our understanding, why streaming stats feel like everyone's paycheck on display, and how to help a new generation make pure, cutting-edge worship in a numbers-obsessed world.

The conversation also gets wonderfully practical and tender-why "the devil hates flags," what it means to raise a banner and recover undignified praise, how Martin chose to walk away from arenas for the sake of his kids, and the decade he spent in the shadows asking, "Am I done?" Now a grandpa called "Pops," Martin reflects on legacy, singing "Our God Reigns" with new weight, and learning to embrace each season-whether it's feeding 20,000 or 4,000-as part of God's good story. 

Connect with us on social!
Martin: @martinsmithtv
Levi: @levilusko
Jennie: @jennielusko
Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]
Check out more from Martin Smith: https://bit.ly/3M3KJPl
Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY
Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY 

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe 

Time Stamps
01:16 - From teach-yourself guitar to "Lord, You Have My Heart"
11:35 - A midnight crash, Cutting Edge, and saying yes to God
20:21 - "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble" and breaking the worship rulebook
29:12 - Was creation sung into being? Music, memory, and wonder
31:03 - Romania, gold flags, and why the devil hates flags
38:32 - Leaving Delirious?, hidden years, and becoming Pops

Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado joins Levi and Jennie to talk taming your thoughts, grandparent joy, and the kind of hope that actually holds. Max shares the wild family headline-three daughters pregnant at once-and how becoming "Papa Max" has reshaped his rhythms and perspective.

They dive into Max's new book, Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life, walking through "picky thinking," spotting the "UFOs" (untruth → false narrative → overreaction), and the practice of uprooting lies and replanting truth. The conversation gets practical on media intake, the real brain/relationship fallout of porn, and Max's storyteller toolkit-from dog tales to Amelia Earhart-and why the message must always lead the illustration. They wrap with a glimpse of Max's "The Only One" series on the uniqueness of Christ and a quick nod to tattoos (yes, really).

Connect with us on social!
Max: @maxlucado
Levi: @levilusko
Jennie: @jennielusko
Fresh Life Church: @freshlife

[Links]
Tame Your Thoughts: https://bit.ly/49QUxpN
Get the 5 Gallon Bucket: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY
Get the Lusketeer Sticker: https://bit.ly/sdl4sHY

Subscribe for more exclusive content: https://levilusko.com/hitl-subscribe

Timestamps
04:44 - Grandparenting joy, rhythms, and "Papa Max" & "Dee Dee"
05:49 - Why Max wrote Tame Your Thoughts and reader feedback
07:45 - The three tools: picky thinking, UFOs, and replanting truth
16:55 - Guard your intake: screens, sleep, and porn's real fallout
23:31 - How Max collects stories and lets the message lead