Christian

Balancing Faith And Career: Actress Lisa Whelchel

Bill Thompson

Her story reads something like a Hollywood fairy tale.

Talent scouts found Lisa Whelchel in her small town in Texas in 1976, casting for “The New Mickey Mouse Clu” on Disney.

Lisa moved to Hollywood and appeared on the show for two years. Then, her big break: the role of Blair Warner on a new show called “The Facts of Life.” Whelchel played Blair for nine seasons.

What many people didn’t know at the time was that underpinning her show business career was a strong faith in God. Lisa had been a devout Christian since age 10.

And, as you’ll hear in this interview, that faith helped shape the way she portrayed characters on TV and in film.

Get your copy of Lisa Whelchel’s book

In 2001 Lisa Whelchel wrote an autobiography called The Facts of Life, subtitled And Other Lessons My Father Taught Me. I met her that fall when she was on a book tour.

Here now, from 2001, Lisa Whelchel.

Lisa Whelchel is 62 now. She and her husband divorced in 2012.

The Galloping Gourmet: Graham Kerr’s Journey from TV Fame to Humble Grace

Bill Thompson

In the late 1960s and early ‘70s television audiences ate up what they were served by a unique cooking show host who called himself The Galloping Gourmet.

London-born Graham Kerr began his culinary training at the age of 14. After a decade in hospitality Kerr made his TV debut in 1959 in New Zealand. A promoter soon put him on television in Australia, too, And in 1968 “The Galloping Gourmet” was launched in North America.

Kerr’s producer was his wife Treena, whom he married in 1955. They had known each other since age 11.

Get your copy of Graham Kerr & Treena Kerr’s book

In their later years, Graham and Treena Kerr embraced a simpler, less materialistic life. Adhering to their closely-held Christian beliefs the couple lived a life of healthy self-denial.

And in 2006 they published a book called Recipe For Life. And true to their more modest lifestyle, they invited me to do the interview from their motorhome parked in a campground not far from Baltimore.

So here now, from that sunny fall day in 2006, the Kerrs:

Graham Kerr is 90 now, and lives in Washington State. Treena died at age 81 in 2015, just a few days before the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary.

SE Cupp Rights Back As Liberal Media Take Down Christianity

Bill Thompson
Photo by Gage Skidmore

The liberal media hates Christianity. How many times have you heard commentators on the right saying that or something similar?

But is it true? Is there a war on Christianity? And is that war led by the liberal media?

Get your copy of S E Cupp’s book

Well-known columnist and commentator SE Cupp says, yes. At least she said that in 2010 when she wrote a book called Losing Our Religion – and I think a distance of 14 years hasn’t really blunted the arguments she makes, whether you agree with her or not.

So here now from 2010 SE Cupp.

Meadowlark Lemon: Beyond the Court to the Pulpit

Bill Thompson

For 22 years he was known as the “Clown Prince” of the Harlem Globetrotters. But for basketball Hall of Famer Meadowlark Lemon, there was a larger, much larger, purpose for his life.

When I met him in 1987, Lemon was eager to talk about not just basketball, but about God.

Just a year before our interview, Lemon was ordained a Christian minister. And proud as he was of his on-court accomplishments, Meadowlark Lemon had much bigger things on his mind.

Also, be aware that my very first question to him, as you are about to hear, was worded in such a way that his response was worded in the third person. I should emphasize that is not the way he normally talked about himself, but was simply answering the question the way I had framed it.

So here now, from 1987, Meadowlark Lemon.

Meadowlark Lemon died in 2015. He was 83.

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CeCe winans

Bill Thompson
Photo by Pastorflex

There are many people who say CeCe winans is one of the greatest gospel artists of all time.

She made her mark early on, as a member of the Wimans Family singing group. While still a teenager, she signed on with the PTL Club TV show run by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

And before long, she and older brother BeBe became stars.

Alongside BeBe, and later as a solo artist. CeCe Winans racked up 15 Grammy awards, 31 GMA Dove awards, and countless other accolades.

She was also Whitney Houston’s best friend, and sang two songs at Houston’s funeral.

In 1999, Winans wrote the first of her three books, a memoir called On A Positive Note. And that’s when I met her and talked with her. So here now, from 1999, CeCe winans.

CeCe winans is 58 now. She llives near Nashville.

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