Crossmap Podcast

• Comedian Carrie Murphy on Reflecting the Joy and Delight of Knowing Jesus through Laughter

  It has been said that a good laugh can completely change your day for the better. Why is comedy so important?The Bible is filled with example after example of laughter being a vital and valuable gift from God. For example:In Job 8:21, it says, ““He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken heart saps a person’s strength.” – Proverbs 17:22.Psalm 126:2 says, “We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’"And from Ecclesiastes 2:2: “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?"Well … it has been scientifically proven that comedy entertains and connects us in a way that drama and seriousness does not. Comedy addresses difficult topics in such a way that it provides a break from the world bearing down on us. Needless to say, there is great value in the ability to entertain and uplift. Making someone laugh just … feels … good.Carrie Murphy claims that she is the funniest Christian you will ever meet … or at least she thinks so. A rising comedian out of Nashville, she is also a published writer and speaker who has shared the stage with Matthew West, Grammy Award winner CeCe Winans, Tasha Layton, and many more. It is her passion to make everyone feel seen, included, and shame-free in the name of Jesus! Murphy, who currently has 9-part comedy special on KLOVE, joins us to talk about how life is too short to be serious all the time. Listen as she explains that as Christians, we can laugh and be God honoring because our Creator made laughter for everyone. 

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• Bethel Music's 'We Must Respond' a Clarion Call to Worship God

  To be lost in the heart of worship is something that all Christians aspire to do. To be  moved by God’s presence due to His goodness, love, and mercy, is something so strong and profound that it can’t easily be put into words.Bethel Music’s Jenn Johnson agrees.For the last 25 years, Johnson and Bethel Music have sought to bring music to the masses that invites listeners to take hold of their true identity and pursue intimacy with God above everything else. Fresh from winning two Dove Awards, including one for “Song of the Year”, Bethel Music has recently released a live praise and worship album called We Must Respond.. Recorded late last year at the Cascade Theater in Redding, California, its 17 songs feature the Bethel Music Collective as well as guest vocalistsBrooke Ligertwood, Abbie Gamboa, and Aodhan King.Johnson joins us to talk about the new album and how its title is a declaration of sorts. Listen as she explains why she considers each song to be a 'holy exchange' for listeners and she shares her perspective on the future of praise and worship music. 

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• Journalist Billy Hallowell Discovers the Truth About Miracles in New Documentary

  For centuries, theologians, scholars, and everyday people have debated whether miracles still happen. Are they a glorious outcome from the hand of a living God, or are they a relic of a bygone era rooted in the Old Testament?As people of faith we would like to believe that someone’s cancerous tumor mysteriously shrinking overnight is a miracle, yet the scientific community quickly pumps the brakes on that notion, pointing instead to obscure, unreliable research to support what cannot be explained.CBN News investigative journalist Billy Hallowellbelieves in miracles. Curious to know the inside story of people who have experienced a miracle, Hallowell recently embarked on a journey to discover exactly what happens to these affected people and find proof to support what the Bible says about these seemingly supernatural occurrences.In the new documentary Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles, Hallowell traveled around the United States cobbling together fascinating insights from scientific experts, theologians, and those who have actually experienced a miracle, to determine whether miracles are still happening today. What he found may surprise you.Hallowell joins us to discuss the sociological or psychological impact of believing in miracles. Listen as he shares common threads he found in those who have experienced this type of supernatural event, and a personal discovery he made that changed everything.

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• Biblical Epic 'House of David' Series a Passion Project for Creator Jon Erwin, Lead Actor Michael Iskander

  Movie director Jon Erwinis someone who has had great success over the years. From October Baby way back in 2011 to Jesus Revolution and back to I Can Only Imagine, the Birmingham, Alabama native has always had a knack for finding and telling stories that resonate with people deeply for their foundational family values told through the lens of faith.Erwin is also someone who is a collector and keeper of past memories that have developed into projects he is passionate about. One needs to look no further than his 2023 releaseJesus Revolution starring Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie. Intrigued by a 1966 Time Magazine cover stating “Is God Dead?”, Erwin carried around the magazine in his computer bag for nearly a decade before turning that base idea into the aforementioned movie that generated $54 million at the box office.His latest passion project is a new 8-episode limited series currently airing on Amazon Prime called House of David. Stemming from a vivid memory he had visiting Israel with his father at age 16, Erwin thought that one day he could make a sweeping, visually spectacular recreation on the life of King David from the Old Testament.Starring Broadway actor Michael Iskander, Ali Suliman, Ayelet Zurer, and Stephen Lang, House of David tells the story of the ascent of the aforementioned beloved Biblical figure, who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel.Erwin and Iskander join us on the podcast to discuss the critical importance of Biblical accuracy in retelling David’s story, why this popular figure of the Old Testament is considered the first superhero in human history, and how this project humbled each of them.

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• Dallas Jenkins Welcomes Challenges of the Eagerly Anticipated Season 5 of 'The Chosen'

  With the premiere of The Chosen’s Season 5 upon us, fans anticipating more of the same may be surprised by what they encounter from the eight new episodes coming over the next few months. Seen as the beginning of the end in the highly-sought after program’s seven season arc, viewers will be challenged with the most intense, mature, and challenging themes yet.In a phased release, Season 5 will be available in theaters in the United States and Canada in three parts beginning March 27th. The season will then be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting in June.'The Chosen' creator Dallas Jenkins welcomes the challenges and hardships Season 5 presents, most notably the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, including His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and His betrayal and subsequent arrest.Jenkins is thankful for storylines that not only build character but ones that will eventually propel the greatest story ever told to its triumphant ending.To date, more than 200 million viewers have watched at least one episode of The Chosen with video views quickly closing in on the 800 million mark worldwide.Jenkins joins us to talk about how he prepared himself physically and mentally to film the gripping scene of Jesus' crucifixion. Listen as the popular director explains the significance of this season in the series' overarching narrative and how it is the most gut-wrenching, emotional season he has ever filmed.

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