Episodes
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
"This is all my hope and peace..." (Bonus Material for Podcast Followers)
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
Wednesday Jan 22, 2020
When producing my CD, Songs for the Caregiver, I knew this song, What Can Wash Away My Sin, needed to be included.
Gracie recorded this in our kitchen. Our longtime friend from college (and Grammy winning music engineer) Chris Latham came to the house and set up microphones at our piano and ran a line into the kitchen where Gracie sat in her wheelchair. We were all a bit nervous for her, because of the numerous times she's been intubated following a series of surgeries.
During those surgeries, she nearly died several times and we feared the worst ...and no one thought she'd sing again.
She recorded this LIVE to track. That means, no do-overs, no punches, no inserts.
Without her prosthetic legs on, she sat in her wheelchair with our dog, Mack beside her, and sang this from the heart.
It was all I could do ...to keep playing while at the piano. Chris and I looked at each other afterwards, and with tears coming down his face, he said, "Those who can ...do."
Gracie's talent, and more importantly ...her conviction, equipped her to soar above her challenges and sing this song in such a powerful way.
I included this performance on the CD, SONGS FOR THE CAREGIVER (Which you can stream or download at all music sites) ...because I felt the message of this hymn would resonate deeply with fellow caregivers.
When the craziness, trauma, and grief floods over us, we steady ourselves by anchoring our hearts and minds into the reality of what Christ's sacrifice means ...and has accomplished for us.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. |
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Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus. |
This is all my hope and peace—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Sponsored by:
Friday Jan 10, 2020
A fabulous show with the Count of Mighty Disco - My Sidekick, John Butler!
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Friday Jan 10, 2020
For nearly seven years, John has joined me as delightful addition to the show. We had an exceptionally good time on today's show. In addition, there's a hilarious story of all I received when I tried to commit myself. (Yes ...it's true!).
We through in a special song from Gracie ...and a bunch of other thoughts to help you start your caregiving year!
Presented by:
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Are you "sowing in tears?" This this episode is for you!
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him. - Psalm 125:5-6
Are you sowing in tears? What does that even mean to us a caregivers. Take a listen to this episode as we unpack this Scripture and talk about it in the context of serving as a family caregiver.
Autism, Alzheimer's ...Addiction: There's always a caregiver.
Whenever you find someone with a chronic impairment, you always find a caregiver. That's why we do the show.
This episode is from our December 7 show and features, callers and a special song from Gracie. Her recently released CD is titled Resilient.
For a tax deductible contribution to Standing With Hope ( the presenting sponsor of this show) for any amount, we will send you Gracie's CD as our gift to you!.
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Breathe on Me Breath Of God
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Think back through difficult times in your life ...when hot tears filled your eyes. Maybe when your body was wracked with pain or your heart was broken.
Did you feel like singing during those times?
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:23-34
Since meeting my wife, Gracie, more than 34 years ago, I am constantly amazed that during the most brutal times of her life, even from a hospital bed following amputations, she sang. Although her voice barely whispered at times, there were other moments when it carried down the hall of countless hospital corridors through her 80+ surgeries.
Each one of those times not only astonished and moved me, but nurses, doctors, techs, and visitors as well. It's not simply that she raised her voice in song, but Gracie's voice is a rich, passionate voice that has captured the heart of audiences since she first performed at age 3.
One of those memorable times, however, came at the bedside of someone else. As my mother lay fighting for her life in hospital bed struggling to breathe with congestive heart failure, Gracie sang to her.
My mother asked for one of her favorite hymns: "Breathe on Me Breath Of God."
The picture with this podcast is of Gracie holding my mother's hand and singing this wonderful from the hymnal. Gracie's rich voice echoed throughout intensive care ...and caused nurses to quietly stand by the room door and listen.
I am grateful to report that my mother is doing well. This hymn remains one of her favorites, and Gracie recorded this for her new CD ... a cappella.
If you are struggling with heartache and/or physical issues today, please allow Gracie to sing to you as she did for my mother.
- Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do. - Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure. - Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine. - Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
Gracie's new CD, Resilient is available today. For more information visit: www.standingwithhope.com/resilient
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
Sunday Nov 10, 2019
You guys have a laid out a path for everybody else to follow. You have a laid out an example. And now God is using that to instruct His kids all over the country—all over the world—of, “’When you're up against a struggle,’ Don't turn in fear! —Watch what we do when we follow Christ." - Russ Taff.
The New CD From Standing With Hope Founder, Gracie Rosenberger
For virtually her entire life, Gracie Rosenberger’s powerful and soaring voice brought crowds to their feet— in stark contrast to her broken body traumatized by a horrific 1983 car accident that led to 80 surgeries and the amputation of both legs.
Yet, the lengthy years of surgeries, pain, infections, and a host of other issues took their toll. In 2010, Gracie’s already compromised health plummeted deeper, and she faced death several times.
The outlook looked bleak, and her voice appeared silenced.
Gracie, however, fought back. Above all, she trusted God with her difficult challenges. Literally singing from her hospital beds, Gracie pushed herself to rise from near certain death to stand …and walk.
With every step— and every song—Gracie trusts God with her challenges while demonstrating perseverance. Gracie continues to prove that she is…Resilient!
Joining me on the show, Gracie shared her powerful story, and the journey towards making this new CD ...her first in more than a decade. Gospel Music Icon, Russ Taff, called the show as they both shared about their duet on this album (The Joy of the Lord.)
This 14-song CD is an exclusive gift from Standing With Hope for a tax-deductible contribution of any amount.
About Standing With Hope
“For the Wounded and Those Who Care for Them”
Prosthetic Limb Outreach
Following the amputation of her legs, Gracie Rosenberger envisioned a way to assist her fellow amputees with quality prosthetic limbs as a means of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, she launched Standing With Hope. This led to an unique partnership with the Republic of Ghana in 2005. Standing With Hope regularly sends supplies and teams to train and equip local worker to help them build and maintain limbs for their own people.
Inmate Outreach
In addition, inmates at a Tennessee prison volunteer to help disassemble used prosthetic limbs collected by Standing With Hope in order to recycle usable parts. This prison outreach is one of many faith-based initiatives run by Core Civic at their correctional facilities. As a result, those recycled parts are shipped (along with purchased supplies) to build custom-fitted limbs in Ghana. Furthermore, patients come from as far away as Nigeria to receive prosthetic limbs and treatment.
Family Caregiver Outreach
Standing With Hope expanded the ministry’s scope in 2011 to include an outreach headed by co-founder, Peter Rosenberger. Drawing upon his lengthy journey as Gracie’s caregiver, Peter launched his radio program, HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER. As a result of Peter’s efforts and the great need of family caregivers, the show has soared to the #1 broadcast show for family caregivers. Hope for the Caregiver is heard LIVE each week on American Family Radio and Sirius XM’s Family Talk Channel (131).
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Friendly Fire and the Family Caregiver
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
During one of our many visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to meet with wounded warriors, we met a bitter young soldier struggling with wounds he received from friendly fire. In a terrible mistake, he suffered injuries from his own country’s military.
As my wife, Gracie, walked over to greet him, he rudely snapped at her. Lying on his back while working out on a physical therapy table, he could only see Gracie from the waist up. This young man had no idea of her seventy plus operations, or the loss of both of her own legs. The physical therapist working with him looked embarrassed, and quickly tried to cover for Gracie by telling the young man that she was welcome there–and had a lot of practical advice worth hearing.
Disbelieving the therapist, he snarled back hatefully. Momentarily stunned, she regained her composure, and, while holding on to a railing, propped her right prosthetic leg near where his head rested on the low workout table.
He not only noticed her state-of-the-art metal leg beside him (encased in a beautiful shoe, I might add), but his eyes turned to watch her balancing on her other artificial leg, as well.
“You’re not the only amputee in here, big guy.” Gracie said, while looking him squarely in the eye.
The soldier in him quietly nodded at her, and he didn’t say anything else.
Ten feet away, I listened to a man who, although he lost both legs, cracked jokes with a contagious sense of humor. His face clouded over, however, when I pointedly asked him how things were back home.
Looking down at his new prosthetic legs, he whispered out, “My marriage is on the rocks, and it doesn’t look good.”
The loss of his legs didn’t keep him from joking, but the wounds of his heart silenced the laughter.
Friendly fire.
I asked another mother in the PT room if her son’s father had been up to the hospital. Looking over at her son’s newly amputated left leg, as well as the halo device holding the pins piercing his right leg, her jaw tightened as she flatly said, “He left years ago, and good riddance.”
Friendly fire.
How many of us deal with deep wounds caused by those closest to us? How many of us have caused damage to the ones we love and swore to protect? Sometimes “friendly fire” wounds are compounded with the shame of the wound itself—we feel our wounds come with dishonor, and our fists clench with a rage that wants to choke the one(s) who hurt us. Other times, we realize with horror how poorly we treated those counting on us, and the guilt and shame fill us with despair.
It’s easy to recall those things that cause hot tears to pour out of our eyes—the things driving us to lash out at the ones who hit us with “friendly fire.” In our pain, we might even strike at people who are simply trying to encourage us.
Gracie propped an artificial limb on a physical therapy table to help a hurting young man gain perspective and, hopefully, see that he can move past this horrific life-altering injury.
Christ is the wounded warrior who presents His own wounds, not only to communicate perspective, but also demonstrate His love for each of us. He didn’t just prop a metal leg on the table; He laid down His life and was Himself wounded—for our sins. His wounds made it possible for ours to be healed. He never clenched His fists, but rather stretched out his hands and received the nails.
When we look at our wounds, even those inflicted by our loved ones …or even self-inflicted, it’s all too easy to despair. But when we lift our eyes to look at HIS wounds, we are strengthened to know that HE redeemed our souls—and is redeeming our wounds.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Sponsored by STANDING WITH HOPE
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Medicare for All Y'all?!
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
Thursday Nov 07, 2019
A lot of candidates running for President advocate "Medicare for All" as part of their platform. While Medicare itself is a decent program, I spend a little time discussing the realities of dealing with Medicare ...from a customer service standpoint.
Gracie and I both had to call Medicare for a significant issue. Getting bounced around from department to department, we logged over four hours on the phone one day, and another 90 minutes the next.
It's still not resolved as of this posting (with another 4 hours logged).
Imagine your best day at the DMV. That's what happens when government is the only game in town. You simply have no competition ...no incentive...to provide better service.
At some point in the customer service path, someone has to say, "We can build a better mousetrap!"
When listening to the candidates speaking, it sounds like overhearing a meeting in the teacher's lounge, "Here's what I think we ought to do ..."
It would be helpful for these candidates to share their own personal (and credible) experience in dealing with the healthcare system. Experience is always better than opinion.
Also on this episode, we played a new song from Gracie's upcoming CD titled Resilient. I also shared a few "Gracie-isms" and how Gracie nearly broke Amazon's Alexa ...at the source!!
In addition we shared our "Caregiver Tip of the Day," and of course, we also had my sidekick, The Count of Mighty Disco - John Butler!!!
A jammed pack show, demonstrating why Hope for the Caregiver is the #1 broadcast show for family caregivers!