When thinking about racial equality in sports, one immediately conjures up thoughts of young Jackie Robinson stepping between the lines to become the first African-American athlete in Major League Baseball in 1947.

But what about the other major sports? While we hear so much about Robinson suiting up for the Brooklyn Dodgers, less is known about the other three major sports. While Fritz Pollard is credited for being the first African-American professional football player in 1920, the NHL’s Willie O’Ree did not break the color barrier until 1958 as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Perhaps the most diverse league in professional sports today, the NBA, wasn’t always known for being a game for all ethnicities. As a tenet of proof, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, who had spent many years toiling for the independent Harlem Globetrotters, did not step foot on an NBA court to become its first African-American player until signing a contract with the New York Knicks in 1950. Without Clifton, there would be no Michael Jordan or Lebron James to cheer for today.

Sweetwater,Clifton’s inspirational story of overcoming a lifetime of barriers and racial discrimination is the subject of a new movie streaming on the Angel Studios app.

In addition to my special guest, Everett Osborne, who stars in the movie as Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the film also features an all-star cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Jim Caviezel, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Pollak, and Cary Elwes.

I recently sat down with Osborne to discuss why Clifton should be seen as a pioneer for racial equality in sports, valuable lessons that can be learned from his life and witness, and how his life can be seen as hope for tomorrow as well as today.

No Gospel artist has had more of a seismic impact on Christian music over the last 100 years than Bill Gaither. Along with Gloria, his wife of more than 62 years, the Gaithers have left an indelible mark, writing more than 700 songs, many of which have become staples of Sunday morning praise and worship across the world.

With songs like “He Touched Me”, “Because He Lives”, and “The King is Coming”, just to name a few of the highly recognizable standards they have written and recorded, there is little doubt why this Gospel Music Hall of Famer was named Christian Songwriter of the Century by ASCAP more than 20 years ago.

Now, as Gaither settles into his seventh decade in Christian music, he is launching a new television program on TBN that is based on an old, yet highly popular idea. It’s called “Gaither Gospel Hour” and has just started airing on Saturday nights at 8pm, on TBN.

Gaither joins us to talk about the songwriting process that has propelled him to write so many profound staples of Christian music and whether his approach is any different than it was when he started out. Listen as the venerable music legend shares about his new television series, "Gaither Gospel Hour" and what he sees for the future of Gaither Music.

No one wants to go through life with the feeling of utter hopelessness. But sometimes, due to a set of unforeseen circumstances, a person is forced to navigate through the perils of daily living without any clear sense of purpose or encouragement.

But there is always hope.

Nathaniel Deen knows hardship and hopelessness very well. Due to a traumatic incident, he lost both his parents at the age of five. For the next nine years, Deen bounced from an orphanage to a series of foster homes to eventually running away at age 16. He soon found himself living in a car, yet somehow still finding the wherewithal to attend and contend with the daily rigors of school. This chaotic lifestyle eventually brought him to the brink of suicide.

But fortunately, due to a stroke of divine providence, Deen came in contact with a teacher who was drawn to his mysterious past. Rather than run in the other direction, far from Deen’s problems, this small-town educator discovered the profound and direct impact he could have on another life.

Today, Deen is eternally thankful that this humble man took the time to journey with him through his doubt and betrayal and set him on a path to trust and redemption.

This amazing story is the subject of a new movie releasing in theaters this weekend called, “Brave the Dark”. Starring Jared Harris and Nicholas Hamilton, the film serves as a prime example that we should never give up on anyone. Doing so can often prevent a person from traveling down such a tortuous path of destruction, one that never seems to end well.

Deen joins us to talk about how his potentially tragic story turned into a blessing due to the gentle guidance of a teacher who was willing to demonstrate compassion and concern for him. Listen as he shares why he chose to be so transparent about his life despite such a tremendous sense of vulnerability in putting the scars of his past out there for the world to see.

For better or for worse, we have all heard the phrase, “Go to hell.” While considered a coarse and crass thing to say, this snide directive is seen as sarcasm and never viewed in a positive light.

But what about the inverse of that phrase? Have you ever heard someone utter, “Go to heaven?” It seems sort of foreign yet hopeful.

As far as heaven is concerned, who goes there? Where is it? What will we do there? These sorts of questions always come up when we consider our eternal future beyond this physical world that we are currently living in. How can we know for sure, what comes next?

In a new 7-session, video-based Bible study workbook titled “Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight”, author Jennifer Rothschild explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She is passionate about teaching others practical ways to set their minds on things above and live life with an eternal perspective.

Rothschild doesn’t just want people to wonder about heaven, her hope is that they will embrace it with a faith that turns anticipation into excitement and peace.

Rothschild joins us to talk about what it was like to go blind at the age of 15 and how it has shaped her faith as an adult. Listen as she shares some common misconceptions people have about Heaven while focusing on some key Bible verses that will provide us with a clearer understanding of it.

From the ghettos of Brooklyn, New York, to a successful singing career, to a stunning restoration in Jesus, Jeannie Ortega, a contemporary Christian musical artist, fought demonic attacks, thoughts of suicide, rejection, and being treated like a commodity earlier in her career as a secular pop star.

After many years away from music due to a new career in journalism and starting a family with her husband, Ortega never lost sight of her first love, the ability to glorify God through song.

Over the years, she has learned that to defeat the darkness in this world, you must activate your spiritual sight. It is Ortega’s desire to guide people to discover unseen spiritual activity in their day to day activities, how to guard your heart from evil, and how to find the love of God and His purpose for your life.

Ortega has just released her first album in eight years. It’s called “Letting Go”, and serves as a musical surrender of sorts. Each melody and lyric came from what she felt God put in her heart to share in such a time as this. Her prayer is that people will listen with an open heart so that God can speak to each and every one of them in a special way.

Ortega joins us to talk about how people can figure out unseen spiritual activity negatively affecting their lives and how to get away from it. Listen how she shares how music has the ability to connect with the human soul like nothing else, short of a relationship with Jesus.

Even for the most devout people of faith, the Holy Spirit can be mysterious and the least understood person of the Holy Trinity.

Bible scholars point to Abrahamic religions, where the Holy Spirit has equal footing with God the father and the Son of God, who is Jesus.

According to Acts 5:3-4, the Holy Spirit is considered to be fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is known to be the source of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

In John 14:26, the Holy Spirit is seen as our comforter, teaching people all things and allowing people to experience and witness its presence and power.

In his latest book, “Fresh Oil, Holy Fire, New Wine: Living the Vibrant Holy Spirit-Filled Life”, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez challenges you to reconsider what you know and how to relate to the Holy Spirit. His desire is for you to discover how to align and unleash the promise, power, and purpose of the Holy Spirit in all areas of your life. In doing so, you will fully embrace a supernatural relationship through its almighty presence.

Rev. Rodriguez joins us to talk about the most practical way you can describe the Holy Spirit to someone that won’t scare them away. Listen as he shares why people struggle with supernatural filling over feeling and the major pitfalls in chasing feelings in worship.

In what has become a time honored tradition, my wife and I spend the first Saturday morning in December wrestling with a Christmas tree.
And for the twentieth year in a row we hope to accomplish our goal – to move our artificial bundle of joy from our attic’s crawl space to the centerpiece of our living room.

Serving as the soundtrack for our sloppily choreographed annual rite of passage this year will be a new Christmas album just out from Anthony Evans.

Titled “The Greatest Gift”, this nine-track recording features new arrangements of holiday classics and original songs Evans wrote and produced for major network features.

Evans reminisces, “Some of my most favorite memories include the holidays and the music associated with them. I hope that this album brings joy to whoever is listening as well as reminds them that through the birth of our Savior, we truly have been given The Greatest Gift."

Evans joins us to talk about his favorite memories as well as why he wanted to make an album that blended classic carols with new original Christmas music. Listen as he breaks down several of the new songs and explains their meaning.

In a world not too far removed from our past, a young pastor and author named Dietrich Bonhoeffer and a small group of dissidents worked tirelessly to dismantle the Third Reich as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe and beyond.

Rather than flee to the safer haven of America, Bonhoeffer instead chose to uphold his moral convictions and risk it all to save millions of Jews from genocide. His decision ultimately proved to be fatal, yet his lifelong dedication to sharing the tenets of his faith will always be remembered for his moral courage to save millions of Jews from genocide.

Filmmaker Todd Komarnicki has directed a new movie on the life of Bonhoeffer called “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” Set to release on November 22nd, the movie explores the theologian’s decision to shift from preaching peace to plotting murder, an honorable crime that could alter the course of history.

The movie features a notable cast that includes Jonas Dassler, August Diehl, and Moritz Breibtreu.
It’s amazing to think that one voice can become the loudest rebellion. But that is exactly what Dietrich Bonhoeffer did.

Komarnicki joins us to talk about what fueled this hero to take a stand that subsequently led to his execution in 1945. Listen as he shares about the role that Faith played in Bonhoeffer's life and decision making process.