163: What If Your Address Was Your Assignment?

FEATURING: Danita Bye ORGANIZATION: Christian Crossroads Academy Although what most would consider “retirement age,” Danita Bye is proving that age is no barrier to making a difference. Alongside her family and a committed community, she’s helping launch Christian Crossroads Academy, a classical Christian school in rural North Dakota that’s shaping students academically, spiritually, and in character. In this episode, Danita shares how a concern for the next generation, a surprising family decision, and God’s direction led her into an entirely new adventure over the last couple of years. From transforming a lumberyard into a school to navigating unexpected challenges, she’s learning to trust God one step at a time. Her story is an encouraging reminder that the wisdom, experience, and gifts you’ve accumulated over a lifetime may be exactly what God wants to use next. What you’ll hear in the episode: Why retirement doesn’t have to mean stepping away from meaningful work How to recognize and embrace God’s current assignment for your life Why Christian education must develop both academic excellence and godly character How to trust God when He calls you into unfamiliar territory Why hearing God’s direction must be followed by obedience Whether you’re retired, approaching retirement, or simply wondering what God has next for you, Danita’s story will challenge you to keep listening, learning, and saying “yes” to His call. As she reminds us, a fruitful life comes from hearing and obeying God – at any age, in any place, and in every season!

FEATURING: Bob & Alice Fryling ORGANIZATION: Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older Breaking news: people are getting old! While aging may not be breaking news, talking honestly – and even laughing a little – about what it means to grow older can be surprisingly refreshing. Alice and Bob Fryling join Jim and Martha for a fun, candid conversation about aging faithfully, retirement, purpose, marriage and the ways God continues to use us in every season of life. Drawing from Alice's book Aging Faithfully and their own 55 years of marriage, ministry, career transitions and retirement, the Frylings share both the serious realities and the lighter moments of growing older. They explore the fear of losing abilities and identity, the difference between productivity and fruitfulness, and what it looks like to remain available to God's "holy invitations." Along the way, there's plenty of laughter, including some honest observations about retirement, racquetball, lunch dates, and even the challenges of serving on an HOA board. What you'll hear in the episode: Why aging can be such an uncomfortable topic, especially for Christians The fear of losing our ability to serve God in familiar ways Alice's journey from productivity to fruitfulness: the difference between accomplishing tasks and displaying the fruit of the Spirit How Bob's retirement challenged his identity and sense of purpose What it means to live with "holy invitations" and be available to what God brings in an ordinary day Why aging and retirement can look different in our 60s, 70s, and 80s How preparing practically for death can bring freedom and strengthen family relationships Bob's picture from Ezekiel 47 of going with the river and watching for where God brings healing, flourishing, and fruitfulness Growing older may change what we can do, but it doesn't mean our usefulness or purpose is over. In fact, as Alice and Bob's story shows, some of the most meaningful opportunities for fruitfulness may come when we're no longer trying to make them happen. Sometimes we simply need to stay available, follow God's lead – and enjoy the journey along the way!

FEATURING: Dr. Chuck Coker ORGANIZATION: LifeThrive; A God-Shaped Mind God designed our minds for more than simply surviving. He created us for human flourishing, spiritual growth, and a life connected to Him – and that purpose doesn't end when we retire! In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg talk with Chuck Coker, author of A God-Shaped Mind: The Neuroscientific Path to Spiritual Maturity, about the fascinating connection between Scripture, spiritual maturity, neuroscience, and human flourishing. Chuck explains how our minds were designed with the capacity for spiritual perception and how growing in our relationship with God can change the way we think, serve, and interact with others. Chuck also challenges the idea that retirement should be a time to simply slow down. Drawing from Scripture and research on longevity, he highlights five principles that can contribute to a longer, healthier, more purposeful life: faith, exercise and food, purpose, Sabbath, and intergenerational relationships. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Chuck believes our minds were designed for human flourishing and spiritual growth How salvation and spiritual maturity should transform the way we think and live The biblical concept of kenosis – Christ's example of humility, self-emptying, and serving others How to move from a survival mentality toward a service mentality The connection Chuck sees between the fruit of the Spirit and emotional intelligence Five principles associated with longevity and how they align with biblical principles Why purpose and intergenerational relationships are especially important during retirement Chuck's encouragement to make glorifying God the central purpose of every season of life For retirees, this message offers an important reminder: you don't retire from God's purposes. Your experience, wisdom, relationships, and spiritual maturity can be invested in the next generation in ways that have eternal significance.

FEATURING: Tom Lutz ORGANIZATION: Equipping Christians for Kingdom Obedience; Metro Atlanta Seminary What if God's laws aren't meant to feel like restrictions, but like a gift – a guide for living wisely and flourishing in the world He created? In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg sit down with Tom Lutz, author of Equipping Christians for Kingdom Obedience, to explore what biblical obedience really means and how God's principles can shape the way we live in every season, including retirement. Tom explains that God's law was given in the context of grace, not as a way for us to earn God's favor but as a guide for those He has already redeemed. That changes the way we should think about obedience. Rather than asking, "What do I get if I obey?" we can ask, "What is God showing me about the wise way to live?" That perspective has powerful implications for retirement. From deciding how to spend our days to using our accumulated wisdom, making financial and relational decisions, mentoring others, and simply learning to slow down and listen to God, biblical obedience provides practical guidance for navigating this season well. In this episode, you'll hear: Why God's law should be viewed as a gift rather than a burden The difference between obeying God to earn a reward and obeying Him because we trust His wisdom How God's commands provide principles that can be applied to changing circumstances and cultures Why wisdom is the practical application of God's Word to everyday life How biblical obedience can influence the decisions retirees make with their time, resources, relationships, and influence Why retirees may need to shift from doing more to listening more How the principles of kingdom obedience apply whether or not you're still receiving a paycheck Retirement doesn't mean leaving behind God's instructions for how to live. In fact, this season may provide new opportunities to apply His wisdom with greater experience, greater perspective, and perhaps more freedom to slow down and listen. God's commands aren't simply rules to follow. They are His gracious guidance for helping us live wisely and bring His kingdom influence into the world around us.

FEATURING: Susan Schramm ORGANIZATION: Go to Market Impact; Fast Track Your Big Idea! Navigate Risk, Move People to Action and Avoid your Strategy Going Off Course What if the greatest risk in retirement isn't running out of money, but running away from the purpose God still has for you? In this thought-provoking conversation, business strategist and author of Fast Track Your Big Idea! Susan Schramm challenges the belief that retirement is a time to play it safe. Instead, she explains that every season of life – including retirement – requires faith, courage, and a willingness to trust God with the unknown. While wise financial planning matters, Susan argues that many retirees face even greater risks: losing their identity after leaving a career, overcommitting to every opportunity, or avoiding God's next calling because it feels uncertain. Whether you're considering retirement, already enjoying your next chapter, or wondering what God has for you now, this episode will encourage you to embrace thoughtful, faith-filled risks that lead to lasting Kingdom impact. In this episode, you'll hear: Why retirement is another season of purpose, not a reason to stop taking faithful risks The difference between reckless decisions and wise, God-honoring risk-taking Why the greatest risks in retirement often have nothing to do with finances How fear of failure can keep you from God's next assignment Why your identity must be rooted in Christ, not your career or title Practical wisdom for discerning which opportunities God is calling you to pursue How to use your experience, wisdom, and influence to serve others in this season Why avoiding change may be riskier than stepping into God's next chapter God never calls His people to simply coast through the final chapters of life. If you still have breath, He still has purpose for you. Listen as Susan Schramm offers practical wisdom and Biblical encouragement for navigating risk with confidence, stewarding your experience well, and stepping boldly into whatever God has planned next. Join Susan, Jim, and Martha this week at the Nehemiah Business Summit 2026 – three days of Kingdom business events like you’ve never experienced before.