Join Ron and Lynette Lewis on "What Are You Thinking" as they welcome Paul Cody, Vice President of Young Life Field Ministries and Development. In this insightful episode, Paul shares his remarkable personal journey, revealing how his mother's intentional decision to connect him with five incredible male mentors profoundly shaped his faith and life after his parents' divorce. This powerful story anchors the broader discussion on the transformative power of thought and the crucial role of relationships in nurturing young people.

The conversation delves into Young Life's innovative approach to youth ministry, emphasizing patience and relational depth over instant conversions. Paul highlights the organization's global reach, impacting 2.9 million kids "known by name" across 103 countries. The episode also tackles the challenges parents face in the digital age, offering practical advice on strategic mentorship and leveraging resources to bridge communication gaps with teenagers. Paul's compelling mantra, "collaborate or die," serves as a powerful reminder that genuine impact and sustained relevance are born from strong, interconnected communities.

Welcome back to the "What Are You Thinking" podcast! In this truly special episode, hosts Ron and Lynette Lewis sit down with Daniel, a guest with a remarkable and unique story of transformation. Born and raised in Iran as a practicing Muslim, Daniel candidly shares his journey of grappling with a faith he found to be "work-based" and ultimately unfulfilling. Despite adhering to all the traditions and teachings passed down by his revered grandfather, Daniel found himself asking profound questions about God and life, seeking a personal connection that his upbringing didn't provide. He recounts his struggles with a sense of emptiness in his relationships and business, eventually leading him to a pivotal moment where he questioned the very purpose of his life.

Daniel's search for meaning culminates in a powerful divine encounter in Dubai, where he unexpectedly attends a church service and hears a message about God's unconditional love from Romans 5:8, shattering his preconceived notions of earning God's favor. This revolutionary message, followed by a profound dream in which he encounters a glorious being offering "rest and peace," reveals a living God actively pursuing him.

This episode powerfully explores the themes of seeking true fulfillment beyond religious duty, the limitations of self-effort versus divine power, and the revolutionary nature of God's grace. Daniel's story, echoing similar experiences of divine encounters in restricted nations, underscores the strong takeaway that genuine peace and transformation are not achieved through human striving, but are gifts from a God who actively reaches out to a thirsty world.

In this deeply moving episode of "What Are You Thinking," hosts Ron and Lynette Lewis welcome Jim and Ginger Revilla, a couple whose individual journeys through unimaginable loss converged into a powerful testament of faith and resilience. Ginger shares the harrowing story of her husband, Troy Gilbert, an F-16 pilot killed in action in Iraq, whose body was tragically taken by insurgents. Simultaneously, Jim recounts the heartbreaking four-year battle his first wife, Andrea, fought against cancer. Listen as they detail the raw, honest struggles of questioning God and navigating immense grief when prayers seemingly go unanswered.

Discover how an unexpected email exchange, sparked by Jim's unwavering faith amidst his wife's dying days, brought these two strangers together, forging a unique bond through shared sorrow. Their intertwined narratives challenge the notion of a comfortable faith, demonstrating that true trust in God often emerges in the crucible of adversity. This episode is a powerful exploration of how choosing faith over circumstance can lead to unexpected hope and a deeper understanding of God's love, even when life is far from what you'd hoped it would be.