Another Chance Podcast

Miracles in Music City USA: Meet Katrina

Real and authentic.

In this edition of the Another Chance Podcast you are going to meet my good friend, Katrina.

She’s a young woman who spent her teenage years partying in Southern California’s fast lane–until she met God.

And wow. Talk about someone making a 180-degree turnaround. Katrina took her relationship with her Savior, the Messiah Jesus, like she would a partner for life.

My wife and I met Katrina at a church in Santa Cruz, California (Santa Cruz Hope) where we have participated in a variety of ministries over the past eight years or so.  Katrina was attending the University of California Santa Cruz and, unannounced, popped into a Bible Study in our home with her roommate.  She was so lively and full of authentic faith that we begged her to come back the following week.  Despite her busy college schedule (and the other ministries she volunteered for) she continued attending and participating in our study for months. We’ve been fans of this powerhouse of faith ever since.

Katrina’s story is intriguing because she is a Millennial who is deeply committed to sharing her faith with others, unconditionally.

I spoke to her for this podcast in Nashville, Tennessee via Skype, where she works as a wedding planner, but more importantly has used the bars of Music City USA as a place to recruit young woman to attend a Bible study she runs out of her house called, Gals Group.

And wait until you discover the success she has seen.  What’s been happening in that Group is nothing shy of amazing.

You will be inspired!

You can enjoy Another Chance on iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, Soundcloud, or you can listen by clicking here

 

 

Pardoned, By God

On this episode of the Another Chance Podcast you will meet my longtime friend, Dr. Sam Huddleston.   I met Sam just after he was released from prison, having been convicted of manslaughter as a 17-year old.

His story, while gritty, is one of repentance, forgiveness, restoration, and reconciliation.

Just this past December the State of California officially pardoned Sam of the crime he committed all those many years ago.

The photograph to the left is of my father-in-law, Bob Rittenhouse (who gave Sam his first job out of prison), Sam, and me at Sam’s Pardon Party, thrown by his wife, Linda, just last weekend.

As Sam’s Pastor and mentor, Donald Greene, said, “Governor Jerry Brown did what God did when Sam was a young man: pardon him. I’m glad to know the State of California finally got the message.”

Everyone laughed, cheered, and shed a tear simultaneously.

At the party were people of all ages, colors, and backgrounds–from all over the country and even Nigeria–yet NO ONE fronted their color or ethnicity first (or even second or third)–everyone there was a God-First person who had come to confirm that we are all forgiven and saved by His amazing Grace. Period.

The gathering was like a little slice of Heaven.

Sam received the official word of his pardon just before Christmas, when his entire family was gathered in a park to take pictures with a professional photographer.  The adjacent photo was snapped just as the family prayed together after hearing the news come over Sam’s cellphone speaker.

Sam’s book, 5 to Life, is available by clicking here.

 

Another Chance, Episode 4, “Stiff-Arming God”

Episode Four of the Another Chance Podcast is about former professional skateboarder, Joe Gruber. In the Nineties, Joe skated on a team assembled by one of the “godfathers” of skateboarding, Lance Mountain. During our interview for this podcast, Lance told me, “Skateboarders are disgustingly honest.”  Lance was referring to the in-your-face attitude of the skateboarding party life that Joe found himself in as he stiff-armed God. However, eventually, in large measure thanks to an evening that involved drugs and demons, Joe took up Jesus’ offer of another chance–at life.

Joe skated in “The Firm,” a legendary skateboard team that was founded by Lance mountain in the 1990’s and lasted for the better part of 15 years.  Joe and his brother Kieth were skating in a Southern California playground when the happened to meet Lance.   It was a divine moment which would change Joe and Kieth’s life forever.

As you’ll hear, while touring the world as a pro skateboarder, Joe ventured into the dark side of the skate culture, but fortunately responded when God stepped in to place him on a different course.

Joe retired from pro skating, dedicating his life to serving people–and especially young people–with the love of Jesus, eventually going to work for the Billy Graham Association in youth outreach.

Joe now lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife Katrina. He is a pastor at Santa Cruz Hope Church in Santa Cruz, California.

Joe can occasionally be seen charging down a steep street on a skateboard (and every once in a while, can still be seen with a fresh case of “road rash”).

Thanks to MS Skate Ministry for their contribution to this podcast.

 

Another Chance Podcast, Episode Three: “The Barrel Is My Church”

In Episode 3 of Another Chance you’ll meet my longtime friend, Peter Manchester.  Peter is a hilarious, self-effacing guy who grew up the youngest of 12 children, in Santa Cruz, California.  When most kids are just learning how to ride a bike, Peter was surfing with his older brothers–and he became darn good at it too (that’s Peter in the photo, body surfing through the barrel of a wave at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz, California).

The surf culture, with its penchant for partying and reputation for drugs, soon became synonymous with Peter’s life, and by the time he was 16 he was addicted to heroin.

Adding to his predicament was the fact that his parents had more or less allowed him to raise himself since he was in grade school.  There was no supervision or guidance given for Peter or any of his brothers.

However, as you’ll hear, God intervened–several times–providing Peter with another chance.

This podcast is perfect for anyone struggling with addiction, including family members of the addict. It’s also an excellent podcast for people who come from dysfunctional families–especially those who had a poor relationship with their father.

And for those who are seeking the Truth, in the podcast I simply explain how placing your trust in the One who says, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life,” actually works.

Postscript:
As you briefly heard, Peter and Laura were divorced after 10-years of marriage.  They have an adult son named Elijah.  Both have since remarried; Peter to a wonderful woman named Ann, and Laura to a great guy named Mike.  All four of them are followers of Jesus, and my wife and I are friends with all four of them. Peter and Anne have two children, Sam and Max.

What I find interesting about Peter’s story, as well as the two previous episodes, after acknowledging Jesus as Lord Peter still had to come to a point where he owned his faith.  In other words, the spiritual high that he first experienced had to be tested with reality.  This reminds me of the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13, where Yeshua (Jesus) says,

 

3“A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

In this simple illustration we see that the authentic follower of Yeshua/Jesus must develop spiritual roots which come about through being placed in good soil.  And what is the good soil? Continually being filled with His Spirit by studying and applying His Word (the Bible), by constantly speaking to Him in prayer, and by fellowshipping with His people.  By living such a lifestyle, the believer will be properly equipped to withstand the trials of this life and meet the Savior in Heaven, unashamed.

I plan on having Laura and Mike as the subject of a future podcast.

Background Notes – “Stop Praying, I’m Miserable”

In the latest episode of Another Chance you will meet John and Ursula Frattarola.  John and I worked together in TV in Reno.  When he and Ursula left for a career in Hollywood, I told John, “I’m praying that you’ll become miserable.”  In time, it happened.  And just as I prayed,  thanks to the graciousness of God, John’s misery turned to joy–and for Ursula too!  Prepare to be inspired.

By the way, the cover photo for this episode was taken at John and Ursula’s wedding, at which I was honored to have been asked to share a message faith.

John’s congregation is located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.  You can learn more about it here…