Summary

In this episode, Jeff and Lexie sit down with John and Lynda Shelhamer, married 55 years, for a story of faith, loss and joy. John was framed in Vietnam and came to Jesus through a Gideon New Testament. A blind date in Alaska turned into an engagement six weeks later. After losing their 15-year-old son Josiah, they found a way through grief together, and now they help grieving moms through Heavenly Hope and Healing.

Key Topics

• Finding Jesus in the Army in Vietnam
• A blind date in Alaska and a six-week engagement
• Losing a child, and walking through grief as a couple
• Why God is a giver, not a taker
• Heavenly Hope and Healing and the Sparrow books
• A Lake Powell camping story the kids told at school
• Keeping the spark after 55 years: never go to bed angry, marriage is 100/100
• Staying healthy and active at 78
• The S.P.O.U.S.E. rapid fire

Chapters

00:00 Intro from Jeff and Lexie

00:56 The S.P.O.U.S.E. Podcast theme

01:24 Welcome, and a rooster named John

05:08 John's childhood

07:03 Framed in Vietnam, and finding Jesus

11:58 Alaska Bible College

13:00 Lynda's story

17:01 The blind date

19:17 A picnic proposal six weeks in

23:03 Early marriage in Alaska

27:16 Seminary, Montana and a growing family

28:47 Josiah's story

34:10 God gives, he doesn't take

36:26 Grief is like a rip current

39:47 Finding comfort by comforting others

41:01 Heavenly Hope and Healing and the Sparrow books

47:27 Family trips and the Grand Canyon

49:17 Lake Powell, the tent and the hungry birds

53:03 Keeping the spark after 55 years

57:22 Games, laundry and being on the same team

59:23 Healthy and running at 78

01:03:01 S.P.O.U.S.E. rapid fire

01:11:55 What the church is for, and wrap-up

Resources: HeavenlyHopeAndHealing.org · UmbrellaMinistries.com · A Sparrow Falls and A Sparrow Sings (Amazon)

This episode talks about suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Listen and subscribe: https://thespousepodcast.riverside.com/