America Reads The Bible | Join the Movement Now
https://www.americareadsthebible.com/

Bunni Pounds Website
https://www.bunnipounds.com/

We are currently living in a nation that desperately needs leaders who are resolute in standing upon the principles created by our founding fathers. It is these tenets of freedom and liberty that have forged a nation of opportunity and promise.

But long before foundational leaders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, shaped the constitutional framework that defined our American Ideals, there was a Fifth Century Jewish cupbearer who was renowned for his leadership, relying on prayer, courage, and integrity to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in just 52 days.

Author Bunni Pounds is calling Christians to reclaim their influence by following the leadership principles of that aforementioned Jewish leader, Nehemiah. Pounds points out that God uses ordinary people like him to respond to national challenges with extraordinary courage.

In her forthcoming book, Stepping Up to Lead: Building a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, Pounds challenges believers not to retreat from cultural and civic arenas, but to engage them boldly—rebuilding what is broken and shaping the future with godly conviction. The book serves as both a guide and a practical roadmap for those ready to step up and lead in their communities and beyond.

As a former political consultant who spent 16 years in politics and government, the Texas native launched Christians Engaged in 2019 to mobilize believers to pray, vote, and engage biblically in every election.

In her latest initiative, coming April 18th through the 25th, Pounds has rallied more than 450 Christian leaders to come together for “America Reads the Bible”, a week-long Bible reading event to celebrate our nation’s 250th Birthday at the Museum of the Bible.

I recently sat down with Pounds to discuss why the story of Nehemiah is especially relevant to Americans right now, what Biblical leadership should look like at this moment, and the value of coming together to read the Bible in anticipation of America’s 250th Birthday.

A GREAT AWAKENING | Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-rMC88ylQ



Sight & Sound Theatres | Bible Stories Live on Stage
https://www.sight-sound.com/

As our nation gears up to celebrate her 250th Anniversary later this summer, one can’t help but feel patriotic about a remarkable journey that began in 1776. It is an opportunity to honor the ideals of freedom, democracy, and resilience that have shaped our country’s history.

It is a time to celebrate the diversity, innovation, and enduring spirit of the American people, while also acknowledging the challenges and complexities of the past.

Our founding fathers would be humbled by the renewed commitment to the values that they established, foundational truths that will guide our nation into its next chapter.

Through the years, so much has been said about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, about their contributions to charting the course of our history, but there are so many other heroes from that era that we know little about.

Take Rev. George Whitefield for example. A close friend of Franklin, Whitefield is best known for sparking the first Great Awakening, a movement that united an entire nation with his proclamation of liberty in Christ.

To honor Whitefield’s contribution to the foundational bedrock of faith in our nation, Sight & Sound Theaters, best known for their spectacular theatrical presentations of the Bible, is releasing a new full length feature film called “A Great Awakening”. With the nation’s freedom hanging in the balance, “A Great Awakening” explores how an unlikely friendship resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history.

Joshua Enck not only wrote and directed “A Great Awakening”, but he also serves as Chief Story Officer for Sight & Sound, a ministry he has served since he began there in 1995 as a stage hand.

Enck, who has previously directed six Sight & Sound theatrical productions, joins us to chat about how the role of faith inspired unity during a very divided time in our nation's history. Listen as he shares how the relationship between Whitefield and Franklin shaped the early foundations of America.

Tim Hawkins Website
https://timhawkins.net

Cletus Take the Reel Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfs3BJZxKkc&list=RDZfs3BJZxKkc&start_radio=1

The origins of comedy are rooted in ancient Greece, evolving from rituals and performances linked to festivities surrounding Dionysian celebrations.

From there, comedy has evolved over the centuries to serve not only as entertainment but also as social commentary, allowing audiences to reflect on their society’s follies and vices. So, in a sense, it became a way for people to laugh at the absurdities of society that was being marked by injustice and social change.

In the late 20th Century, comedy became a staple of modern society as satire, farce, and stand-up comedy explored different aspects of human behavior and societal norms.

If the aforementioned statements seem a bit high falutin’, well, they are. Simply put, we all like to laugh at ourselves and the world around us. We know funny when we see and hear it. From early Vaudevillians to Bob Hope to Jerry Seinfeld, we all seem to gravitate toward someone who can bring out the mirth and merriment in us.

Tim Hawkins is just that sort of person. Over the past three decades, the beloved comedian has gone from open mic nights at regional comedy clubs to headlining theaters and arenas across the United States with his own special brand of humor.

A committed family man, Hawkins, who is known for his hilarious song parodies, has become a YouTube sensation over the years for “songs” like “Cletus Take the Reel” and “Pretty Pink Tractor”. Genuinely funny and values driven, he has a new comedy special debuting this month called “Fist Bump”.

I recently sat down with the comedy veteran to discuss how he decides which real-life moments turn into comedy, why music plays such a vital role in his work, and why he didn’t pick up a guitar or write a joke during COVID.