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What happens when a hardened drug addict and dealer finally stops running from God? This extraordinary redemption story takes us from the depths of addiction to the founding of a transformative ministry.

Growing up in the "free-range parenting" era of the 90s, our guest began accumulating felonies by age 17, eventually spiraling into intravenous drug use and manufacturing methamphetamine. Through raw, unflinching honesty, he reveals how his addiction destroyed not only his own life but impacted others—particularly introducing his future wife to intravenous drug use, a shame he carried for years.

The turning point arrives in an unexpected spiritual encounter at age 22, when after flushing methamphetamine down the toilet, he experiences what he describes as a divine visitation—complete with overwhelming emotion, tears, and a vision of Jesus. Yet remarkably, even this powerful moment wasn't enough to immediately transform him. "Like Jonah," he explains, "you can't run from the Lord... He's going to hawk us down."

True transformation finally takes root during incarceration for drug manufacturing at age 24, though full surrender to faith wouldn't come until age 30. This journey leads to the founding of Freedom Lighthouse in Waveland, Mississippi—a free rehabilitation ministry focusing on the critical "second phase" of recovery when individuals must maintain sobriety while facing real-world temptations.

Perhaps most compelling is his revelation about healing: "The world told me my brain needed healing, and I finally found out it was my heart that needed healing and my brain would follow my heart." This profound insight forms the foundation of his approach to recovery, which has led to countless transformed lives.

Want to learn more about Freedom Lighthouse or find help for yourself or a loved one battling addiction? Visit freedom-lighthouse.com and discover how spiritual transformation can break the chains of even the most desperate addiction.

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Our deepest longing isn't for religious rituals but for authentic connection with the Jesus. Yet so many believers have mistakenly reduced their faith to church attendance—punching the spiritual time clock every Sunday morning while missing the transformative relationship Jesus offers.

This candid conversation peels back the misconceptions about Christianity to reveal what truly matters. At its core, faith isn't about fulfilling religious obligations or performing good works to earn God's approval. It's about discovering the genuine love of Jesus who meets us exactly where we are, regardless of our church attendance record, past mistakes, or current struggles.

We explore the spiritual wounds inflicted when well-meaning Christians tell others that their hardships result from not "doing what God wants." This toxic theology misrepresents Jesus, portraying Him as distant and conditional rather than compassionate and gracious. The reality? Jesus understands our struggles, counts every tear we've shed, and walks with us through life's darkest valleys. Whether facing international crises, economic challenges, or personal loss, His promise remains—"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

The conversation shifts to purpose, addressing how God equips each person with unique gifts and abilities. You don't need theological credentials or perfect qualifications to be used by God. Simple willingness, expressed through a humble prayer—"Lord, if there's one thing I can do for you today, show me"—opens doors to unexpected opportunities where God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

We conclude with thoughts on heaven, not as a distant cloudy realm of harp-playing, but as the ultimate reunion with Jesus and loved ones who've gone before us. Their prayers continue to echo through eternity, inviting us into the unconditional love that defines true Christianity. Ready to move beyond religion into relationship? Jesus is already waiting to show you what that looks like.

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What happens when a man who's spent most of his adult life cycling through addiction and prison cells finds himself hiding in a briar bush on his 40th birthday? This raw, powerful testimony reveals an extraordinary journey from darkness to light.

Growing up without God and convinced that believers were fools, our guest's choices led him to try drugs at 16, receive his first felony charge at 18, and enter a devastating cycle of incarceration, addiction, and broken relationships. After multiple prison sentences and years lost to methamphetamine addiction, everything changed the night he fled from police and hid in a thicket of briars after stealing a little girl's bicycle.

The transformation that followed wasn't immediate or easy. Despite initial resistance to faith-based solutions, a series of seemingly coincidental events – a chance encounter at a church trunk-or-treat, prayer cards spanning eight years with his name on them, and the discovery that his daughter had been the first person to donate to the very church that would later lead him to faith – revealed a divine orchestration that left him undeniable evidence of God's pursuit.

Today, this former inmate serves as a pastor, prison programs director, addiction counselor, and trains law enforcement officers in crisis intervention. His testimony resonates deeply with incarcerated individuals because he's walked in their shoes, giving him unique credibility when sharing how faith transformed his life.

"There's a difference between being saved and being rescued," he explains. "Some people are saved before walking off a cliff, while others like me fell long ago and were yelling for help from the ravine. When that rope finally comes down and you make it out of a place you never thought you would – it's different."

This powerful story reminds us that no one is beyond redemption, that our most painful experiences often become our greatest qualifications for helping others, and that purpose can emerge from our deepest pain.

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Usama Dakdok pulls back the curtain on what he describes as the fundamental misunderstandings about Islam, drawing from his unique life experience as a Christian born and raised in Muslim-majority Egypt. With academic training in Sharia law and nearly three decades of ministry experience in America, Dakdok offers a perspective rarely heard in mainstream discourse.

The conversation takes a provocative turn as Dakdok challenges the common framing of Middle Eastern conflict as "Arab-Jewish." He argues the tension stems not from ethnic differences but from specific theological mandates within Islamic texts that position all non-Muslims—not just Jews—as targets for conversion or subjugation. His analysis of Islamic doctrine focuses on what he calls "taqiyya"—religiously-sanctioned deception that allows Muslims to appear friendly toward non-Muslims while harboring different intentions.

Through detailed textual analysis, Dakdok contrasts early Meccan verses of the Quran with later Medini verses, arguing that peaceful passages were systematically replaced by more militant instructions as Muhammad gained political power. He explains the seven pillars of Islam, with particular emphasis on jihad and its connection to afterlife rewards. The concept of guaranteed paradise for martyrdom, complete with detailed descriptions of sensual rewards, serves as motivation for militant action according to Dakdok.

The conversation concludes with his interpretation of biblical prophecy regarding end-time conflicts involving Israel. Unlike past Arab-Israeli wars featuring Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Dakdok believes the prophesied final conflict will involve Turkey and Iran—countries whose current geopolitical positioning might signal approaching fulfillment of these ancient texts. Whether you're seeking deeper understanding of Islamic theology, Middle Eastern geopolitics, or competing religious world views, this unflinching examination offers thought-provoking insights from a rarely-heard perspective.

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That disturbing moment when Sharon looked up from the strip club stage to see her own father sitting there—the same man who had sexually abused her for 12 years—became the catalyst for her escape from exploitation. But where do you run when your past keeps catching up with you?

Sharon's raw, powerful testimony reveals how childhood trauma created vulnerabilities that traffickers expertly exploited. "Anyone who's been sexually abused has this neon sign over them," she explains, describing how a seemingly friendly regular customer at her restaurant job gradually groomed and recruited her into dancing and eventual exploitation.

What makes this story extraordinary is the divine intervention that changed everything. Alone in her home while high on drugs, Sharon experienced something unexplainable—an audible voice asking three times, "What do you think you're doing?" That encounter led her to church the very next day, where she found immediate deliverance from substance dependency, though complete healing would take years of intentional work.

Host Ron Myers connects Sharon's journey to his own transformation from promoting bikini contests and wet t-shirt competitions to discovering his true calling. "Until you experience Jesus, until he actually touches your heart, touches your dreams, touches your inspiration—it's just a story," Myers reflects. "But when he begins to write the story in your life, you begin that love relationship with him, and the grace just floods in."

For anyone struggling with exploitation, addiction, or searching for purpose, this episode offers practical wisdom alongside genuine hope. As Sharon puts it, "You keep running until you run into the brick wall that's going to save you—and that can be a person God put in your path."

Ready to discover your own purpose and destiny? Listen now and learn how to "get the hell out of your life" by replacing darkness with divine direction and lasting hope.

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What happens when a divine prompting wakes you in the night with an urgent message? For Sharon Rivas, this became the prelude to every parent's worst nightmare—and a testament to God's incredible faithfulness even in our darkest hours.

In this profoundly moving episode, Sharon shares the extraordinary story of how God awakened her at 10 PM with an urgent command to pray for her 18-year-old daughter, Bethany. After an hour of anguished prayer, Sharon finally surrendered her daughter's soul to God with one heartfelt request: that someone would be there to hold and pray with Bethany until her final breath. Just hours later, Sharon received the devastating news that Bethany had died in a car accident.

What unfolded next defies mere coincidence. Sharon discovered that at the exact same time she began praying, God had prompted a stranger to sit on her porch. This woman heard the crash, rushed to the scene, and—fulfilling Sharon's specific prayer—held and prayed with Bethany during her final moments. Through this stranger's testimony, Sharon received confirmation that Bethany had made peace with God before passing.

The ripple effects of this story have been staggering. Sharon's book "When You Walk Through the Fire" has touched people in over twenty countries, with testimonies from former atheists who could no longer maintain their disbelief after reading about these divine interventions. Perhaps most beautifully, Bethany's childhood dream of being a missionary "going all over the world telling people about God" is now being fulfilled as her story reaches across continents.

Sharon offers profound wisdom about developing a relationship with God, intimate enough to recognize His voice, found not in grand spiritual experiences but in daily conversations about life's smallest details. Whether you're facing your own fire or wondering if God still speaks today, this episode will renew your faith in divine timing and God's ability to bring purpose even through our deepest pain.

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Phil Robertson's journey from beer joint owner to beloved Duck Dynasty patriarch reveals the transformative power of faith in one man's life. In this raw, unfiltered testimony recorded before his passing in May 2024, Phil speaks with characteristic bluntness about his former life centered on "getting high, getting drunk, and getting laid" – a lifestyle that led him to drive away his wife Miss Kay and their young children.

The turning point came through his sister's persistence, convincing a reluctant preacher to drive 75 miles to Phil's bar. Though the initial encounter didn't immediately change Phil, a year later, at his lowest point, he finally listened to the gospel message. What follows is the story of a complete transformation – from self-described "scumbag and heathen" to a man who found what he calls "the rarest of commodities" – genuine peace of mind.

What makes Phil's testimony so powerful is his intellectual honesty. Despite his college education, he admits he never encountered meaningful discussions about faith during his studies. His straightforward approach to discussing mortality challenges listeners to confront life's biggest questions. With characteristic Robertson frankness, he declares: "One thing's for sure - you're not getting out of here alive" without faith, serving as a stark reminder of our human condition. Whether you're a longtime fan of Duck Dynasty or discovering Phil's story for the first time, his journey from darkness to light demonstrates how dramatically a life can change when faith becomes its center.

Join us for real stories, real struggles, and real hope each week on "Get the Hell Out of Your Life" with host Ron Myers. We challenge you to seek meaningful conversations about faith and consider having "morning coffee with Jesus" to transform your own spiritual journey.

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We explore how love, laughter, and adventure can ignite our hearts and lighten our burdens as we follow Jesus faithfully into unexpected places.

• Former Nebraska native Paulette Piper shares her journey of relocating permanently to Thailand with her husband Doug
• 99% of people in northern Thailand have never heard the name of Jesus
• Buddhism, animism, and spirit worship create unique spiritual challenges for ministry
• Using humor as a ministry tool helps connect with Thai children and young people
• Facing criticism for leaving adult children in America to follow God's calling overseas
• The importance of following God's direction despite what others may think
• Learning Thai language while building relationships through games, karaoke, and meals
• Host Ron Myers shares his own humorous evangelism road trip filled with misadventures

If you'd like to learn more about Paulette's ministry or support their work, visit projectpayao.com or www.pipersinthailand.com.

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• If you would like to be a guest and share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/

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