The Unfolding

"I left school angry on Friday. On Monday, people saw a light in me."  Walter Hill was filled with grief and resentment after losing his mother and watching his father disappear into addiction. He had no interest in faith and no patience for empty answers. But God used one faithful friend and one unexpected night to break through the bitterness. This is a story of how deep anger was transformed into lasting joy. 

  "Shame is a prison," Russ Taff says, and he lived in that prison for more than 40 years. To the world, Russ was a Gospel music legend: six GRAMMYs, 18 Dove Awards, and three Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductions. But behind the stage lights and accolades, he was hiding from pain, trapped in addiction, and silenced by the relentless voices of shame and self-hatred. In this deeply honest conversation, recorded around the dining table in his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Russ shares the truth he kept secret for decades: while he sang songs about Jesus to millions, he was battling alcoholism in the dark. This is not just a story about addiction.  It's a story about hope. About the supernatural healing that comes through love, and the power of God to break even the heaviest chains. Russ opens up about his abusive childhood, the pain that shaped him, and the redemption that's setting him free.    Show notes:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RussTaff  Website: https://russtaff.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russtaffofficial/  "I Still Believe" Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdjcCfrSg  I Still Believe Book: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Believe-Wreckage-Recovery-Relentless/dp/1642931489 

"The Imams are convinced that… an angel of God is with you."  Today's story comes from an interview Meridith did with Jamie Winship a couple of years ago, first shared in our 2023 Angels episode, Episode 183. In a remote desert camp, a simple detail about table settings leads to an extraordinary realization. God's presence was already there. 

What if heaven is closer than we think?  In this special episode of The Unfolding, we share true stories of angelic encounters, near-death experiences, and glimpses of heaven- moments that leave people searching for words to describe what they saw. You'll hear from Bruce Van Natta, who encountered angels while hovering between life and death after a devastating accident. You'll also hear from bestselling author, psychologist, and speaker Dr. Henry Cloud, who reflects on unforgettable moments that made him wonder whether angels were protecting him, and shares a profound encounter with Jesus at the edge of death. Finally, John Burke, pastor and author of Imagine Heaven, joins us with stories from his extensive research into near-death experiences, sharing remarkable accounts of people who encountered angels and consistent patterns that echo Scripture. This episode invites you into the awe, mystery, and hope of the season, reminding us that the angels who announced the birth of Jesus are still pointing us toward Him today.    Show Notes:   Bruce Van Natta: https://sweetbreadministries.com/  Bruce's book Saved By Angels: https://sweetbreadministries.com/books/  Dr. Henry Cloud: https://www.drcloud.com/  Dr. Cloud's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Believe-Psychologists-Thoughts-Suffering-ebook/dp/B0CK8C76LD  John Burke's website: https://imagineheaven.net/  Imagine Heaven Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnBurkeImagineHeaven 

"This is not just a story you read on the internet. This is a documented case."  Lee Strobel knows what it means to ask hard questions. Before becoming the author of The Case for Christ, he was a legal editor at The Chicago Tribune, trained to investigate claims and follow the evidence. In this episode of Unfolding Short Stories, Lee shares three real-life stories of healing that stayed with him because they held up under careful scrutiny. Each one connects to the questions explored in his film The Case for Miracles.