Former Evangelical LA Times Religion Editor turned Atheist
Previously aired January 2008
William Lobdell, is a journalist with the Los Angeles Times who used to cover the religion beat for eight years. He earned several national awards for his work before becoming a metro editor for the paper in 2006. He is currently on leave writing a book, tentatively titled Jesus Wept, for Harper Collins about how he lost his faith while covering religion for The Times. Today, William will tell us his story of how he went from being an evangelical Christian to a reluctant atheist!
A woman volunteering at a post abortion support group has really connected with one of the participants. Both have agreed to join us to talk about their journey. One of them is a woman who wanted to reach out to other women that just really needed the love and support without an agenda or condemnation - the other, a woman who found herself on the other side of a personal choice which impacted her in a way she never expected. One with a Christian worldview - the other, still processing her spiritual journey. Yet both lives, both worldviews, have intersected... despite their different belief systems.
Simon and Jenn
Previously aired April 2008
As a married couple, Simon and Jenn are "Celebrating Recovery" from sexual addiction to pornography and love/sex/relationship addiction. Through their participation in a Christ-centered 12-Step Celebrate Recovery program, they have found freedom from their past hurts and sexual addictions. "Our world today is saturated with wrong messages about sex and very few people are hearing God's truth about sexual morality."
Traci
Previously aired May 2008
Traci is a single mother of two children whose life has recently been impacted by a local church. She contacted the local women's shelter and resource centre to find help. Traci and her children had been living in a motel and finally had an opportunity to move. However, she had no one to help her move. The women's shelter suggested she contact Orangeville Baptist Church. They said they would do what they could, knowing that the odds of finding people to help on a long weekend would be slim. On moving day, not only did about 25 people show and had her moved and set up in about two hours, they even brought coolers filled with food and groceries for Traci and her kids. Now that's Church!
Ronalee Allen: Dec 16, 1965 - May 30, 2008
Previously aired June 2008
In May 2008 an avid listener of TDMS and a member of our online forums (Blessed5x) was tragically killed in a car accident. Today, Ronalee's husband Shawn and her children join us in studio to pay tribute to a woman who was "blunt, honest, compassionate, and an open book for all. That's why she LOVED your show! That's also why she could get under the skin of many. Her life was about others - our children, our foster children. She lived by the mantra that 'if we don't do it, who will?' " Just before the accident, Ronalee found out that they were finally going to be able to adopt the one-year old baby boy they had been fostering - the same child that was in the car with her - the same child Ronalee was able to save one last time by swerving to avoid a head-on collision!
Heidi Cave
Previously aired March 2008
Heidi was 23 years old in 1998 when the car she was driving was hit so hard that it tumbled into a ravine, caught fire, and killed her friend sitting in the passenger's seat. Heidi was burned on over 52 percent of her body. Heidi has since endured more than 20 surgeries and had both legs amputated below her knees. Still, she never gave up. She is compassionate. She is hopeful. She is ambitious. She is a survivor. WHY?
Other than what the media reports about the personal beliefs of Tom Cruise and John Travolta, there seems to be very little known about Scientology today. Much has been written about its founder L. Ron Hubbard, but how much do we really know about this fairly recent phenomenon? Rev. Yvette Shanks takes your calls.
Dr. James A. Beverley
Previously aired September 2007
As a follow up to our interview with the leader of Canada's Church of Scientology, Rev. Yvette Shank, Jim brings his understanding of Scientology as the Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, California and a Professor at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Beverley's specialities include studies in World and New Religions, Charismatic Christianity, Roman Catholic Theology, and Christian Ethics. He even has Scientologists speak to his Bible College classes.
Mike became one of evangelical Christianity's best-known experts on the subject of Satanism until an investigation concluded his involvement with Satanism was a hoax. Today, Mike is a speaker, teacher, father, grandfather, husband, weird, radical, fun-loving, yet deadly serious minister who still delivers powerful messages to enlighten others to the eternal love of Jesus Christ. He has submitted to the authority of an assembly of ministers "acting as elders", acknowledging his "ungodliness", his "multiple divorces", his "failure as husband, father, and friend", and of "embellishment and exaggeration in his attempt to entertain". However, he continues to stand by his testimony of former Satanic involvement.
Jim will help us understand the difference between various kinds of Satanism and sort through the falsities of sensationalistic media reports. Dr Beverley is the Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, California and a Professor at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Beverley's specialities include studies in World and New Religions, Charismatic Christianity, Roman Catholic Theology, and Christian Ethics.
Physician, Philosopher & Author of The Third Jesus
Previously aired March 2008
In The Third Jesus, best-selling author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra provides an answer to this question that is both a challenge to current systems of belief and a fresh perspective on what Jesus can teach us all, regardless of our religious background. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but three: 1/ The historical Jesus, the man who lived more than two thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian theology and thought. 2/ The Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood, and devout believers. 3/ The cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment.
The most awarded male Country artist in Canadian history joins us again to chat about his latest release RISK and his involvement with the Samaritan's Purse "Turn On The Tap" campaign.
Founding Member of Grammy Winning Super-Group America
Previously aired November 2007
For more than 30-years, Dan Peek has been a prominent musical talent with an output of over 30 albums. His musical resume spans contributions as a founding member of the Grammy winning group America, Grammy nominated CCM solo artist and songwriting contributor to world-shaking artists such as The Endorphins, Jars Of Clay and Garth Brooks. Dan Peek's book An American Band - The America Story has been a popular source of insider information about the rock & roll life in a 1970s Supergroup.
From the Grand Ole Opry, to 12 number one hits and six top 10 singles during, Ricky Skaggs has earned dozens of industry awards, including 13 Grammy Awards and eight awards from the Country Music Association including Entertainer of the Year. This singer-songwriter, session musician, bandleader, producer & arranger has gone from teen prodigy to one of the world's most renowned country & bluegrass entertainers in the world. Thirteen-time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs is still keeping his place at the top of Billboard's Bluegrass albums chart with his new record Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947.
The name Alice Cooper is synonymous with a stage show that featured guillotines, electric chairs, fake blood and boa constrictors. His theatrical brand of rock music drew from horror movies, vaudeville, heavy metal and garage rock. This one of a kind shock rocker's career now spans five decades. However, Alice has a Faith - a genuine spiritual journey which many seem shocked to discover.
Best known for his portrayal of Jesus in the original motion picture musical Jesus Christ Superstar
Previously aired February 2008
His role in Norman Jewison's 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar blew people away with his astounding vocal range! And the Andrew Lloyd Webber critically acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar stopped by Toronto February 15 & 16, 2008 - starring TED NEELEY!. This is Ted's national "farewell" tour of playing the role of Jesus Christ and also features Corey Glover, the lead singer of the rock band Living Colour.
With more than 50 million books in print, Max Lucado's 60+ titles are read worldwide in more than 20 languages. Christianity Today magazine dubbed Lucado "America's Pastor," and Publishers Weekly recently proclaimed "there aren't many authors bigger than Lucado." In 2005, Reader's Digest called him "America's Best Preacher." His books are regular fixtures on national bestseller lists including The New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including USA Today, Larry King Live and NBC Nightly News, and has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. And today he joins us to talk about his life and his latest release, 3:16 The Numbers Of Hope.
In his most powerful book since What's So Amazing About Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat - the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing and deeply rewarding aspect - of our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? How does it work? And more importantly, does it work?
Author of The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba's Child, Brennan's books seem to be written for broken, screwed-up, ordinary people like you and I, who seem to be incredibly spiritually uncoordinated.
Charles Colson is the founder of Prison Fellowship. His radio broadcast, BreakPoint, airs daily to five million listeners. Former Counsel to President Richard Nixon, Colson converted to Christianity before spending time in prison on a Watergate-related charge. Colson has written more than twenty books, including Born Again, the contemporary spiritual classic Loving God, and with coauthor Ellen Vaughn, the groundbreaking God and Government. His latest release The Faith - Given Once, For All (Jude 3): What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters, Colson identifies the unshakable tenets of the faith that Christians have believed through the centuries truths that offer a ground for faith in uncertain times, hope and joy for those who despair, and reconciliation for a world at war with God and itself.
"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. Third, what's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night."
"Jesus transcends partisan politics. That's what's wrong with the religious right... they have made Jesus into a Republican, and he's not!"
"There are 2,000 verses of Scripture that tell us we must be committed to protecting the poor and the oppressed... There is no concern of Scripture that is addressed so often and so powerfully as reaching out to the poor."
"I've always been skeptical of those television healers who are bald. I mean, if I had that gift, that would be the first thing I'd fix."
"In 1998 I returned to the Catholic Church. After years of pondering and searching, the great gift of faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, as Our Savior, came back to me on a December afternoon, and I went home to the church of my childhood, becoming a member and supporter of it with my whole soul. In 2002, I experienced another transformation. While sitting in Church, talking to Lord, I realized that the greatest thing I could do to show my complete love for Him was to consecrate my work to Him --- to use any talent I had acquired as a writer, as a storyteller, as a novelist --- for Him and for Him alone. I walked out of the church a changed person. I felt that I had consecrated myself to the Lord in whom I completely believed. Thence began my journey into intense Biblical study, intense historical research, and intense effort to write novels about the Jesus of Scripture, the Jesus of Faith, in His own vibrant First Century World. Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt, was the first novel to appear. Christ the Lord, the Road to Cana is the second. I hope and pray there will be more." -Anne Rice
With an estimated 7 million listeners, Love Songs with Delilah or Delilah After Dark has become one of the top three radio programs across North America, rivalling the likes of John Tesh. Delilah openly mentions being a "born-again Christian", while admittedly struggling to live like one. This one of a kind woman doles out relationship advice between musical requests and describes herself as "the queen of sappy love songs."
From The Fan 590 to 102.1 The Edge to MuchMusic and City TV Toronto, it looks like George has finally found his home. George is CBC's attempt to attract a younger demographic - ones who aren't busy sipping sherry whilst listening to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, contemplating their next chess move, waiting for the David Suzuki newsletter to arrive.
You might recognize her as Judge Jennifer "Whipper" Cone on the hit TV show Ally McBeal or from the Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon movie Out to Sea. Of course many of you will remember her Oscar nominated role in the 1969 pop-culture classic Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Dyan was again was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Heaven Can Wait, but what many don't know is that Dyan Cannon is totally in love with Jesus!
John Tesh
Author, Composer, Broadcaster, Recording Artist
Previously aired March 2008
You John is an incredibly gifted and successful musician, world traveler, prolific composer, and past television sports commentator for the Olympic Games on NBC. He is the former co-host of Entertainment Tonight and currently produces and hosts Music and Intelligence For Your Life, heard each day by almost eight million listeners on over 350 radio stations!
Comedian, Actor, Former Cast Member of The Carol Burnett Show
Previously aired June 2008
The man who made Harvey Korman break up on The Carol Burnett Show time and time again, funnyman Tim Conway has been making the world laugh for more than six decades. From The Steve Allen Show & McHale's Navy, to often being paired up with the legendary Don Knotts in such Disney classics as The Apple Dumpling Gang, Tim’s most legendary character would probably be the master of many sports the vertically challenged Dorf!
