Under the leadership and dynamic preaching of Dr. James Merritt, Touching Lives exists to touch the lives of the lost and enrich the faith of the found. Our goal is to present the eternal, never-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would hear and pray for the Holy Spirit to move mightily among His people. Touching Lives is currently broadcast in all 50 states and in over 140 countries around the world. All sermons, articles, and other content is made available through various digital m ...
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This is the podcast that uses storytelling, history, and current events to explore the issues, stories, and people that have shaped different places into what they are today. The Places and Profiles Podcast is hosted by Adam Camac with new episodes published every Thursday.
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Isn’t it interesting that our heroes are not peace-makers, but they are the fighters, the soldiers, and the warriors? The people who make the history books and the news are the people who fight the battles, win the wars, and conquer the enemy. Then, Jesus comes along and said, “Blessed are the peace makers. For they shall be called the children of …
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24. The Truth About the Construction of Mount Rushmore with Sarah Beth Cox
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Sarah Beth Cox, Lead Park Ranger Interpreter at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and significance of Mount Rushmore. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/24. 1:23 - The origins of the idea for Mount Rushmore 2:25 - How Mount Rushmore ended up being the location that…
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The word “pure” from today’s key verse is translated from the Greek word “katharos.” It means “to purify by cleansing from dirt, filth and contamination.” The reality is that we were all born with dirty hearts. That is why a king named David who was a man after God’s own heart asked God to create in him a pure heart. But what does that mean? Well, …
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23. The People, Events, and Places That Made Country Music with Tracey Laird
1:19:34
1:19:34
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Tracey Laird, Professor of Music at Agnes Scott College and author of several books about country music, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and cultural significance of country music, key figures and themes in country music history, and how country music has changed and grown over the decades. The show notes page for this episode can be f…
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Both character and conduct are important when it comes to following Jesus. Conduct without character is meaningless. And character without conduct is useless. You have to have both. As you study the Sermon on the Mount, you realize that what Jesus is saying is, “You are not a Christian because you act like one; you act like a Christian because you …
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In today’s key verse, Jesus says if you have a holy appetite, an appetite for righteousness, you will be filled. That is, you will be satisfied – satisfied in a way that nothing in this world, of this world, or from this world could ever do. We are going to learn today that the healthiest appetite is the holiest appetite. In other words, a healthy …
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We live in such a competitive culture that we are taught never to give up, never to give out, and never to give in. There are certainly times when that is great advice, but there is virtue in a totally different way and for a totally different reason to sometimes giving up and giving in. What we are going to learn today is simply put: the way to be…
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In the second beatitude, Matthew 5:4, we see one of the absolute strangest things that Jesus ever said. It is something you would never hear the world say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This statement does not align with our natural leaning. We all want to be happy all the time. But Jesus says, in effect, …
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Over the next several weeks, we are going to be camping out in a section of the Gospel of Matthew, specifically chapters 5-7. These chapters make up the Sermon on the Mount, the most famous sermon Jesus preached during His earthly ministry. And as we kick off our study of this section of Scripture, we will begin with the Beatitudes, listed in chapt…
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The God we have been talking about throughout this entire series knows you better than anyone or anything. Just like He knew Moses, and He knew the Israelites, He knows you too. But the question of the day is this, “Do you know God?” Now the question is not, “Do you know about God?” The question is not even, “Do you believe in God?” The question I …
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The people of Israel had been treating God like a heavenly bellhop expecting Him to be at their every beck and call and give them everything they wanted when they wanted it. When Moses had lingered on that mountaintop meeting with God, they decide they would just take matters into their own hands. They would make a god more to their liking. The tru…
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In this message, we are going to study the story of when God had a word for His people and wanted to meet with them. But before the people met with God, God wanted to meet with Moses. Every meeting was a mountaintop meeting and though you might get the idea from the movies that Moses only went up the mountain one time, he actually went up seven tim…
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We have been studying a man by the name of Moses in a series we are calling, “Red Sea Moments.” This great man of God was facing a Red Sea moment when he came to his own level of stress. He is leading two million of his people through wilderness and desert and they are burning up at times at the way he is doing it, and he is burning out trying. In …
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One of the things that you will see throughout the books of Exodus and Numbers is how much complaining and griping the Israelites did. At different times in Exodus and Numbers, Moses and the Lord had to listen to their complaints. Every one of them had to do with food, drink, and living conditions. You have to wonder why God let his people get thir…
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As we look today in the book of Exodus in chapter 14, we are going to read about the most celebrated event in Jewish history. Two movies have been made concerning this event and two words are all you need to know – The Exodus. If you had been standing where Moses was standing, you would have said, “This is the end of the line. We need to get our af…
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You may be asking, “What does a burning bush or a Red Sea or a man named Moses have to do with me?” You will learn the answer to this question throughout this series as we discover that we all have Red Sea moments. We all come face-to-face at times with burning bushes. Moses is a lot like all of us and the God of Moses is still alive today and want…
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When Moses was born, Israel had become slaves in the land of Egypt, but that wasn’t always the case. Because of a great man named Joseph, the Egyptian pharaoh had basically adopted them into the nation, giving them favored status and the full rights of citizenship. Four hundred years had passed and now Israel had two big problems. There was a phara…
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Many people have doubts that there is life after death. But in this message, I’m going to show you why I believe there is more after this life than this life. Yes, there is more to come because death is both an end and a beginning. As we look at what the Bible has to say and what Jesus had to say about life after death, we’ll learn three things. Le…
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What Jesus said in today’s key verses is true: there is exactly a zero percent chance of anybody getting to God if they don’t go through Jesus. It is not that you have a little chance or some chance – you have no chance. At the end of the day, there is only one way to God. If that is true, then we have to draw three conclusions. Let’s look at those…
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When it comes to all the fights that we face, all the failures that we have, and all the faults that we battle, we have a Savior who is absolutely perfect and who can bring sympathy and empathy to help us deal with how we feel. Simply put, whatever you are going through, Jesus will get you through. In today’s key passage of Scripture, we are told t…
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A man named Aleph wrote the longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119. In this psalm, he makes a very bold statement about God. “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees” (Psalm 119:68). He said unequivocally, “God is good and God does good.” So why should we believe him? I can tell you in one simple sentence. There is good becaus…
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Many of us remember the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” If you remember the song you know that famous line, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” I want to change that slightly and give you this sermon in a sentence. Here it is, “God loves me, this I know, for the cross shows me so.” In a book called “Romans,” an apostle named Paul wrot…
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22. The Life and Legacy of England's Controversial King Henry VIII with Author Margaret George
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Margaret George, author of "The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: A Novel," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life, legacy, controversies, accomplishments, wives, advisors, and kids of King Henry VIII of England. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/22. 1:26 - The guest’s inte…
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21. Taking a Deep Dive into Mexico's History with Salvador Rueda from the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle
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Salvador Rueda, Director of the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Mexico. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/21. 1:26 - The history of Chapultepec Castle 5:43 - What is covered at the National M…
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As we continue to address different doubts that people struggle with, today we’re going to tackle the existence of God. I love the way Albert Einstein said it when he stated, “You look at this world and you will see outstanding evidence for God.” I am going to show you today why I believe that is true and that he knew what he was talking about.…
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20. The Real History of Chicago with Peter Alter
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Peter Alter, Chief Historian at the Chicago History Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Chicago. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/20. 1:15 - The origins of the city of Chicago, where the name Chicago comes from, the founding of the city of Chicago 5:0…
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19. Exploring Utah's Mormon Legacy with Paul Reeve
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Dr. Paul Reeve, Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the origins and history of Mormonism in Utah, how life in Utah has been shaped by Mormonism, and how the influence of Mormonism can be seen in Utah today. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/19. 1:32 - T…
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Today, we are going to be addressing this specific doubt that so many people have: “I doubt the Bible is the Word of God.” If that is a doubt you’re struggling with, you should at least consider the case of why 2 billion people absolutely believe the Bible is the Word of God. My point is this, “The word of God is as good as God’s Word.” Jesus Himse…
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[4/10/24] 18. The Life and Legacy of President James K. Polk with Rachel Helvering
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Rachel Helvering, Executive Director of The President James K. Polk Home and Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life and legacy of President James K. Polk. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/18. 1:20 - The guest’s background and connection to President James K. Polk, why the guest has an interest in…
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There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt asks questions while unbelief won’t even listen to answers. In this message, we are going to study a man in the Bible who had such a problem with doubt he was even given the most famous nickname of any disciple. He is called “Doubting Thomas.” I feel sorry for Thomas because I think he has got…
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[4/4/24] 17. The History of NASA and the US Space Program with Dr. Bill Barry
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Dr. Bill Barry, former NASA Chief Historian, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history of NASA and the US space program, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. The future of NASA and of space travel is also discussed. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/17. 1:12 - Space research …
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Today, we are going to deal with the doubt people have about Jesus being raised from the dead. Either like every other person who has lived and died, Jesus is still dead or he is physically still alive. A man named Paul went through unbelievable torture, hardship, and finally a beheading because he preached and believed and would not deny that Jesu…
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[3/26/24] 16. The Legacy of Chinese Workers on the Transcontinental Railroad in Utah with Chris Merritt
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Chris Merritt, an archaeologist who is Utah’s historic preservation officer, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the legacy of Chinese railroad workers on the transcontinental railroad in Utah and what we are learning about their work through archaeological investigation. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/16. 1…
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A man by the name of Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. And in that book, he was saying that all that you do for God and with God is serious business, so you had better be serious about what you choose to do. Then he tells us how to do serious business with God and what that looks like practically as followers of Jesus. In…
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[3/24/24] 15. Hawaiian History and Culture with a Focus on Maui with Kainoa Daines
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Kainoa Daines, Senior Director, Destination Education at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, joins host Adam Camac to discuss Hawaiian history and culture with a focus on Maui. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/15. 1:32 - Brief overview of Hawaii, key figures, key historical events, and unique charact…
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The prayer we are going to study today is found in a book called Colossians. This prayer is particularly unique because, in the first two prayers that we examined, Paul was praying for churches he had actually founded or visited and for Christians that he personally knew. In today’s prayer, Paul is writing to a church he has never visited. He has n…
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In this series, we are learning that Paul prayed about things most of us never even think about. I know his prayers got to heaven because they began in heaven. And one of these things Paul prayed about was the fact that God wants us to be growing up in our going up. In today’s key verses, the prayer that Paul prayed (if prayed and answered) will ra…
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In today’s key text, Paul is writing from a Roman prison, and he tells the Ephesians how he is praying for them. He also tells them how they can pray for themselves. It’s this type of prayer we know is a prayer that will connect with God. This is a prayer that God will hear, and God will answer. Interestingly, the prayer is all about one simple thi…
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[2/29/24] 14. The Illegality, Torture, Secret Prisons, and Tragedies of Operation Condor with John Dinges
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John Dinges, Professor Emeritus of International Journalism at Columbia University and author of "The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents" and "Death and the Revolution," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the illegality, torture, secret prisons, and tragedies of Operation Condor in Chile and across South A…
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Today, we are dealing with the phenomenon of transgenderism. The percentage of people that identify as transgender in the United States varies somewhere between 0.3 and 0.6%. To deal with this issue, in my study, I’ve determined as a follower of Jesus that there are three things we have to consider as we talk about this issue: feelings, fact, and f…
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When you read the phrase, “pro-life” you think about two things – right? Abortion and politics. Well in this message, I am going to leave the politics out of it. I want to make the case today that the pro-life position is truly the only logical, biological, and theological position that you can take if you are willing to face the truth. The thing I…
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There is a line that is clear when it comes to where you stand on marriage, and you will either be on one side or the other. You will either be on the side of celebration by accepting what culture says or condemnation by affirming what God says. So here is my simple message today. Model marriage is what God has designed and what God has defined. In…
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As much as it pains me to say it, in our culture today, there is no such thing as committed sex; it is casual sex. Since 1960, the rate of marriage has been declining steadily and here now in what is best described as a low-commitment culture of “sex without strings and relationship without rings.” To go a step further, by the age of 18, over 75 pe…
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As we read today’s key passage, we see Joshua is the commander- in-chief and leader of the nation of Israel. He has led the people into the Promised Land that God has promised them, but he wants to make sure they keep that land and prosper in that land. He wants them to live happily ever after. But on this day, he is not talking as the commander-in…
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In today’s key passage, God tells Moses to do something very important. In a nutshell, He says, “Make sure that your children and your grandchildren love God with all their heart.” The fact was that at that time in history, people didn’t associate love and God. All of their experiences with gods had been about making sacrifices and focusing on work…
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[1/15/24] 13. Key Issues, People, and Events from the History of Las Vegas with Geoff Schumacher
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Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Las Vegas. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/13.By Adam Camac
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There's a letter in the New Testament called First Timothy. It was written by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé who was going to take over pastoring the church in Ephesus. Timothy was young, barely 30 years old, and quite inexperienced. But Paul lets him know that though you may be lacking in education or experience, the one thing you can alway…
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The psalmist who wrote today’s key passage of Scripture is encouraging the people not to let history repeat itself, to learn from the mistakes of the past, and to defeat them in the present. In these eight verses, we are going to learn three things that we must do to make disciples of every generation. Simply put, we must always touch the next gene…
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[12/31/23] 12. Mexican Politics, US-Mexico Relations, and the 2024 Mexican Presidential Election with Tony Payan
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Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures and issues in Mexican politics in recent decades, key issues in US-Mexico relations and how relations have been affected by Mexican politics, and the 2024 Mexican presidential elect…
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It is the start of a new year, and we are all in the same boat. It is called “social jetlag” but I call it a “holiday hangover.” Maybe you’ve slept late, taken time off of work, partied it up, ditched your diet, enjoyed the new gadgets, and swapped your gifts. But now it is time to re-enter the real world of traffic, alarm clocks, school, and makin…
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