OCF Crosspoint Podcast
Lynda Johnson: “I no longer see myself as the star of my movie”
Lynda Johnson's identity was shaken after she was told she couldn’t run anymore unless she wanted to risk more damage to her health. Today, she shares her story of military life at the intersection of faith, family, and profession.
Aaron Zimmerman: Finding peace when our identity is in Christ
Christian athlete and Marine aviator are two things first lieutenant Aaron Zimmerman wanted to be known for. However, a medical diagnosis would ground his aspirations of being a Marine aviator and raise questions about where he was placing his identity.
Chris Thompson, Gold Star Mother: “God wants you to keep on living”
Chris shares her story of military life at the intersection of faith, family, and profession by telling the story of her daughter, Betsy, and offering insights on life as a Gold Star Mother.
Rico Lane: “I just didn’t have that loving relationship with a father”
Capt Rico Lane, USAF, shares his story, which includes three primary themes: fatherhood, faith, and family—specifically how God used the Bible verse text messages of a grandfather to begin changing Rico’s life.
Becky Haggerty: “God, why don’t you care?”
Becky’s story is one of battling through anxiety and self-worth. It’s a story that tells of her journey to be in a right relationship with her Heavenly Father even when it seems like life sometimes has more valleys than mountaintops, even when it seems like God just doesn’t care.
Chipu Chu: “I was broken. I needed a savior.”
(Season 2, Episode 1) In this episode, you’ll hear the story of 2nd Lt Chip Chu, USAF. When I interviewed Chip over a year ago, he was still a Firstie at the Air Force Academy. COVID-19 wasn’t exactly a household word
55. MIDN Isaiah Walker: Finding community can be challenging
Today, you’re going to hear the story of Midshipman Isaiah Walker, he’s a senior in the ROTC program at Ole Miss who has struggled with isolation and the challenges of integrating faith and profession.
54. Josh and Lindsey Bowen: The importance of small group fellowship
Today you're going to hear the story of Joshua and Lindsey Bowen, both captains in the Army. And, while their story contains a few themes, such as mentoring, leadership, and spiritual growth, the one common thread throughout their story is the small group fellowship and the importance that fellowship has played in their lives...going all the way back to when they first met.
53. Carlos and Sara Estevez: Purpose and perspective in the face of tragedy
Have you ever been invited to do something only to wonder…why did I agree to that? My guest today went through something like that, and ultimately, it might have saved her life and the lives of her children.
52. Stu McRae: How would you handle not being promoted?
Have you ever known anyone who’s been passed over for promotion? Maybe it’s your name that wasn’t on the promotion list. COL McRae talks about identity, motives, and what success looks like in the eyes of God.
51. Col Darren Duke: Examining a life transformed
Col Darren Duke, USMC, talks about personal transformation and what a life transformed by God might look like for believers serving in the military.
50. Encore with Todd Plotner: 4 lessons for young warriors
The third and final encore episode comes from episode 27, with LTC Todd Plotner, USA (Ret.), who talks about leadership lessons for young warriors. The conversation was based on an article he wrote for Command magazine back in 2013 when he was the Army ROTC Professor of Military Science at Washington State University.
49. Encore with Ryan Menicucci: Are you a leader that God can use?
This encore episode harkens back to episode 9, with guest LT Ryan Menicucci, USA. There were three things we talked about: first, we must have faith in something that is worthy of our faith; second, we must know who we are in Christ; and third, we must be prepared to fight the good fight, as we engage in spiritual warfare.
48. Encore: Navigating the storms of life, with James Rader
In this special encore episode, we're going all the way back to episode 2 and the story of Coast Guard Lieutenant James Rader. Sometimes the storms of life can be metaphorical, such as a difficult deployment, move, or career transition. However, there are those times when the storms of life refer to literal storms. Such was the case for James Rader as he took part in search-and-rescue efforts during Hurricane Harvey.
47. Kristin Goodrich: Building community in the military sisterhood
What do you think of when I say, “Military Sisterhood”? That was the question Kristin Goodrich posed to about 50 women at the beginning of a weekend retreat last March at OCF's White Sulphur Springs Conference Center. One West Point cadet’s response stood out amid the varied responses, "Sisterhood? What sisterhood?" We'll answer those questions and more.
46. Can you be a Christian and serve in the military?
May a Christian serve in the military? When it comes to taking the life of an enemy combatant, how does someone reconcile that with Jesus’s command to love your enemy and to pray for him? COL Chet Arnold, USMC (Ret.), joins me to answer those questions and more, coming up on episode 46.
45. Nick Koza: Was blind, but now I see
Episode 45 show notes The story of Captain Nick Koza, USMC, has a few striking similarities with that of the apostle Paul when he was converted on the road to Damascus. However, that’s not to imply Captain Koza was going around
44. Brigit Jogan: Experiencing God on the mountaintop
First Class Cadet Brigit Jogan, a senior at the United States Coast Guard Academy, hiked the summit of Mount Antero in Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks during her time at Rocky Mountain High this past summer, and it was during that physical climb to the mountaintop that she experienced the Spirit of God moving in a mighty way. Today, Brigit is going to talk about that experience as she shares her story.
43. Seven Christian principles to help you steward your time
Have you ever thought about what it means to be a good steward of your time? Maybe you can recall getting to the end of a day and thinking, “Why did I waste so much time?” Joining me on the show to talk about time stewardship is LTC Gil Jacobs, USA (Ret.).
42. Jeff Struecker: Trusting God in All Things
Jeff Struecker's book, "The Road to Unafraid," is the centerpiece for today's conversation. Although several perspectives or themes can be found in the book, Jeff and I focused on trusting in God. In the face of fear and uncertainty at certain times throughout his life, I asked Jeff to talk about how God asked Jeff to trust Him and what that looked like in his life, particularly his military career.
41. Michelle Qureshi: Incredible hope amidst suffering
Michelle Qureshi's story of military life at the intersection of faith, family, and profession is one that deals with such topics as stress, hardship, and discouragement, but more importantly, it’s a story of how she has experienced what she calls “incredible hope amidst suffering.”
