What about you is evidence of the fact that Jesus is in you? Abigail DeJarnatt is the founder and CEO of Counteract USA, a non-profit organization equipping young adults to counteract ever-changing political and cultural ideologies with grace and truth. Accompanied by Allie Paris, the COO at Counteract USA, Abigail shares the heart behind the organization. Bad news consumes our generation, and young adults either check out of their faith or deconstruct it altogether. Counteract USA exists to equ...
Feb 22, 2024•42 min•Ep. 133
In the second and final part of what the Bible says about health and fitness, Bart and Les talk about how to stay in shape as you age. Bart reminds listeners that they should care for their bodies because God called them to. Our bodies can become our idols, so we need to have a strong “why” for exercising and set realistic goals that help us stay on track. Bart shares an inspirational story about why we should diligently exercise, especially as we age. He also reminds people that getting in shap...
Jan 18, 2024•43 min•Ep. 132
Bart Cox joins Les for part 1 of a series exploring what the Bible says about health and fitness. As believers, we are called to steward our resources, which includes keeping our bodies in good health through regular fitness routines and healthy eating. We do not own our bodies; God gave them to us. Taking care of them communicates a thankful and obedient heart. Bart and Les remind listeners that the goal is not for them to look how the world wants them to. God created each person fearfully and ...
Jan 11, 2024•32 min•Ep. 131
Brandi Wilson is on a mission to help women in ministry lead and thrive in their roles. She shares her story of finding hope and healing from divorce and how her experiences sparked her passion for coaching women who have walked a similar path. She reminds listeners that divorce does not define you or sideline you because no one can take God’s call on your life. Brandi shares her journey from divorce to where she is now and how she learned to voice her needs and ask for help. As she was healing ...
Jan 04, 2024•31 min•Ep. 130
People are searching for hope on Christmas, and we have a living hope we can share with them. Although Christmas is a cultural holiday, Christians view it as a religious holiday that celebrates the greatest gift ever given to humanity. Pastor Phil Hopper encourages listeners that inviting their neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family to church is a great way to bring hope on Christmas. He and Les challenge listeners to look for people who are hurting and searching for the truth. As the people ...
Dec 21, 2023•29 min•Ep. 129
How could a school change if students had access to Bible education during school hours? Ben Ruprecht is a representative for LifeWise Academy, which offers Bible education for public school students during school hours. Their ministry has expanded to over 35,000 students in 330 schools across 12 states. He shares how Bible education has a transformational impact on students' lives, which ultimately pours over into the classroom. Schools report that kids pay better attention, and classes have fe...
Dec 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 128
Everyone is consumed by busyness, and our guest this week is no exception. To lay the foundation for this episode, Les shares about his last two hectic weeks and what the Lord taught him. Then, Jeremy chimes in and shares that if we’re not entirely sure who we are or what our calling is, we will say yes to many things that are not necessary. Les shares that the formula for productivity amidst busyness is organization and intentionality, which leads to focus. Les and Jeremy reflect on how they ha...
Dec 07, 2023•40 min•Ep. 127
How do you know you are called to homeschool your kids? Darcy Struckmeier is the leader of the Homeschool Center at Abundant Life. After finding homeschool programs that worked for her kids and graduating 3 out of her 4 kids, she and her husband are thankful for the opportunities it gave their family. The Abundant Life Homeschool Center serves homeschooling families by providing weekly clubs, monthly activities, and quarterly training. Darcy encourages families that homeschooling is difficult, b...
Nov 30, 2023•16 min•Ep. 126
We can’t be loved if we’re not known, but vulnerability in discipleship and community can be intimidating. Robby Angle is the CEO of TrueFace, a ministry committed to helping others experience authentic relationships. He reminds us that grace is foundational to our experience of Christ’s love and our path of discipleship as Jesus' followers. God revealed to him that his striving was in the way of experiencing true grace while he was on the mission field in Pakistan. Before this revelation, he th...
Nov 23, 2023•42 min•Ep. 125
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a pastor, author, speaker, and founder of the Love and Respect Conference. His book, “Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs,” and his conference have helped thousands of couples learn how to resolve conflict and meet each other’s needs. The book’s inspiration comes from Ephesians 5:33, which commands husbands to love their wives and wives to respect their husbands. Approximately 3 out of 10 marriages end in divorce because love alo...
Nov 16, 2023•48 min•Ep. 124
Why is it so important to eliminate toxic people from your life? To answer this question, Les interviews Gary Thomas about his new book, “When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People.” Sometimes, people do not want to receive what you say to them, but that does not mean you have to let them walk all over you. Gary clarifies that while every toxic person is difficult, not every difficult person is toxic. He equips listeners with markers to identify whether they are in unhealthy relationsh...
Nov 09, 2023•47 min•Ep. 123
Tim and Rory Aughinbaugh are back on the podcast to chat with Les about marriage, parenting, and keeping God first in every season of life. They share how they are navigating changes in their family as their kids start driving, dating, and socializing, keeping them away from home more often. Like many parents with growing children, they lament how their family used to be while anticipating the joy of watching their children mature as they enter the world. They share how they teach their kids to ...
Nov 02, 2023•53 min•Ep. 120
Dan Sered is the COO of Jews for Jesus, a nonprofit organization consisting of people who are committed allies of the Jewish people. Dan shares his testimony of growing up in a secular Jewish household, how his future wife introduced him to Jesus, and the moment he decided to have a personal relationship with Him. He joins Les on the podcast to answer the question, what’s really happening in Israel? Dan encourages Christians to stand with our Jewish friends and neighbors and be clear that we bel...
Oct 26, 2023•31 min•Ep. 122
Deconstructionism has recently gained popularity in our society, especially among young adults. For many people, it comes from a desire for connection, approval, and truth. Pastor Jeremy Brownlee joins Les Norman to discuss the foundations of faith and why people deconstruct their faith. They remind believers that we are called to study God’s Word and should live by the Word of God, not the word of pastors, social media influencers, or political candidates. The Enemy is continually trying to chi...
Oct 19, 2023•52 min•Ep. 119
A whole generation has been indoctrinated against the Bible and taught to believe that man’s truth – their personal beliefs and how they feel – is the ultimate standard of truth. In this episode, Ken Ham joins Les Norman to talk about his ministry, Answers in Genesis, and the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter that allow people to experience the Bible come to life. Ken presents God’s truth in a loving and confident way while pointing out errors in evolutionary arguments. He shows how Genesis lays...
Oct 05, 2023•21 min•Ep. 116
Steven Branch, the Independence campus pastor, joins Les Norman to discuss how to root your identity in Christ and identify material things in which we tend to root our identity. Since we can’t physically see Jesus, we tend to root our identity in things like our job, marital status, or friendships. But these things are finite, so they will not satisfy us long-term. Steven recounts the season of life where his identity was rooted in being a student pastor and how he became insecure if any branch...
Sep 28, 2023•36 min•Ep. 117
The world tells women they can be anything, but our society struggles to define femininity. On the one hand, they say women should be quiet and submissive, but on the other, they assert that women should be loud and bold. In this episode, Les Norman interviews Kiley Masters and Jennifer Spears about biblical womanhood and establishing your identity in Christ. Kiley and Jennifer share their testimonies and describe their lives before they understood the redemption they received in Jesus. They rem...
Sep 21, 2023•51 min•Ep. 107
When God calls you to do something, He will prepare others’ hearts and put everything together in His perfect way. This promise has been proven true for Lance Harrington, Executive Pastor of Campuses at Abundant Life, and the future Overland Park campus pastor. As the Executive Pastor of Campuses, he supports, encourages, leads, & guides the campus pastors to maintain the culture at each campus. When asked what the culture of Abundant Life is, Lance answers, “Loving God and loving people.” H...
Sep 14, 2023•22 min•Ep. 115
Do you ever feel that maybe God has called you to do something more than what you’re doing? Jonathan Clark clearly heard God tell him that he was made to do something more and that revelation drastically changed his life. As the new young adult pastor at Abundant Life’s young adult ministry, Paradigm, he is passionate about seeing the next generation know God and make Him known. Jonathan talks about meeting Pastor Chad, being offered the position with the Paradigm staff, and the difficulties of ...
Aug 31, 2023•40 min•Ep. 114
What does the Bible say about tithing and financial stewardship? To answer this question, Les interviews Mitch Black, a financial advisor and managing director at Black, Davis, & Associates. They discuss the crippling effects of trying to grip tightly to your money and encourage listeners to tithe instead and look for ways to bless others financially. Mitch reflects on his childhood, where his parents taught him how to have a stewardship mindset from a very early age. He encourages listeners...
Aug 24, 2023•24 min•Ep. 113
We weren’t created to live in shame, but the guilt of our sin often causes us to isolate ourselves from our community. Jonathan Buttram is the re:generation pastor at Abundant Life. The program’s mission is to be an authentic community of Christ followers relentless in helping each other experience intimacy with God. Re:generation exists to guide individuals to freedom from emotional and spiritual strongholds. Participants in the program meet weekly to unpack their fears, struggles, and beliefs ...
Aug 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 111
Is abortion a rights issue or a biblical issue? According to former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson, it’s a biblical issue. She joins Les Norman to discuss abortion statistics in the United States, the target victims of Planned Parenthood, and finding forgiveness after abortion. She warns listeners that the enemy wants to use our mistakes to cripple us from walking in freedom, but Jesus came to release us from bondage. Her encouragement for us is that if you want to change the cu...
Aug 10, 2023•30 min•Ep. 110
Failure to say “no” to others can wreak havoc in our lives, so why are we so afraid to say no? Dr. John Townsend joins Les Norman and Jeremy Brownlee to answer this question and discuss setting boundaries for healthy relationships and determining a mature Christian leader. A nationally known leadership consultant, author, and psychologist, Dr. Townsend brings his knowledge of biblical leadership and counseling to teach us how to guard our hearts. He uses John 1:14 to encourage listeners to seek ...
Aug 03, 2023•24 min•Ep. 108
Pastor Phil and Les discuss how the problem of tolerating homosexuality starts in the church house, not the schoolhouse or the White House. When the church teaches that homosexuality is compatible with Christianity, it prostitutes itself with lies, which is also a sign of the end times. Pastor Phil warns listeners that self-idolatry leads to distorted gender identity. We were all born in sin, but Jesus didn’t come to affirm our sins and celebrate our lifestyles. He came to free us from our sins ...
Jul 27, 2023•47 min•Ep. 112
Brant Hansen is an author, nationally syndicated radio host, and advocate for healing children through CURE International. He is also diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and nystagmus, but he doesn’t let those diagnoses stop him. Brant and Les discuss Brant’s book, “Unoffendable,” and how being unoffendable is an act of obedience. Brant reminds listeners that spirituality is loyalty to God and encourages us that just because we can’t feel God’s presence doesn’t mean He isn’t close. He challenges ...
Jul 20, 2023•34 min•Ep. 109
Host Les Norman interviews the founders of Refine Us Ministries, Justin and Trisha Davis. Our mission is to help you restore hope and renew relationships because communities thrive when relationships are healthy. They coach others to help relationships thrive. They also talk about their new book Beyond Ordinary.
Jul 06, 2023•42 min•Ep. 106
Pastor Chad Glover sits down and talks about launching the Crossroads campus of Abundant Life in Kansas City and what Launching Season looks like.
Jun 29, 2023•32 min•Ep. 105
Jun 15, 2023•29 min•Ep. 99
Host Les Norman spends some time with Dr. Ken Wilgus the author of Feeding the Mouth that Bites You. They dive into the world of parenting teens. Some simple things you can do as a parent of teens getting them ready to be adults. A clear and practical path to: Planned Emancipation Training them to be adults Knowing and understanding adolescents Knowing how to respond
Jun 08, 2023•29 min•Ep. 104
Kenn Kington is a comedian, author and speaker.
Jun 01, 2023•33 min•Ep. 103
