When the assignment to cover NBC’s digital talk show, Beyond A.D. came in, Sonoma Christian Home welcomed the opportunity. Serving as a companion to the series, A.D. The Bible Continues, and hosted by E! News Co-Host Jason Kennedy, Beyond A.D. takes viewers on a journey of discovery. The show boasted a packed list of special guests for the first episode, including Gospel artist Israel Houghton, NFL star Kurt Warner, and Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.
Filmed in front of a live audience, celebrity and musical guests along with cast and crew members join Jason in discussing behind the scenes happenings, historical aspects of Biblical accounts presented in the series and spiritual matters. Episode 1 launches on Sunday, April 12th at 9p.m. ET/PT.
Sonoma Christian Home spent a few moments with special guest, NFL great, Kurt Warner. Editor-at-Large Dawn Gregg reports.
Kurt Warner playing for the Cardinals; Photo Courtesy of SportsDebateUniverse.
SCH: I’m wondering if the Lord is revealing anything new about Himself in this season of life? If so, what?
KW: I’ve played football my entire life and I was really good at it. And five years ago, I retired. I remember going, “What in the world am I gonna do now? What other skills do I have?” So, what I’m learning in this season is that God is providing opportunities outside of my comfort zone and He is challenging me in new things. He wants me to go out and have an impact, even in places where I’m not real comfortable.
Everybody looks at me and says, “You played in some Super Bowls in front of 70,000 people, that had to be a lot of pressure.” You know, when you’re good at something, it’s easy to step into those roles and accept those challenges. But, when you are doing things that you are not necessarily good at or things that you’ve never done before, you have to fight that fight of faith versus fear. You have to say to yourself, “God’s brought me here for a reason, for a purpose. Now am I willing to step into that? To step out of my comfort zone for Him?”
Kurt Warner picked up 2 NFL MVP awards and won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams; Photo Courtesy of NYDaily News.
SCH: He meets us in those places and takes us through them.
KW: Exactly. It’s kind of like Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on water. You take that step out and say, ”Uh…I don’t know about this.” But you’ve got to take that leap of faith. That’s what God is challenging me with in this season. Nothing is going to look like before, but I’m not done with you yet. I am going to lay something out here and I want to see what you will do with it. I want to see if you have the strength of faith to step out of the boat and to allow ME to use you in new ways.
SCH: I love it! Thanks for a peek into your walk with the Lord.
KW: You bet. Thanks for asking.
Worship leader, Grammy and Dove Award winner, and special musical guest Israel Houghton was asked a similar question.
Israel Houghton and his wife, Melease; Photo Courtesy of Google Images.
SCH: How is the Lord revealing Himself to you during this season of life? Maybe something that’s taking you by surprise, or something you didn’t quite expect from Him?
IH: I think every day comes with it’s new discoveries. For me, having kids – I have an 18 year old daughter, a 13 year old son, and an 11 year old son…
SCH: I’ve got five of them. It IS something new every day!
IH: Yes! It is. As a father, I am reminded of the grace that God has extended to me. And then, I need to look at how I extend that grace to my kids. In moments when I can really bring punishment, instead I ask, “Do you understand that I really love you? Do you understand that I’m actually for you? That I want you to win at this?” To watch the look on their faces when they are expecting punishment, and justifiably so because they did wrong, and my take winds up being:
“You know what? Let’s just walk this through. Let me put my arm around you. Let’s walk on the beach for a minute and rap about this.” I can feel the pleasure of God in those moments. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to tell someone the obvious thing about themselves. It takes a lot more energy and a lot more creativity to say “Let’s talk about where you’re going here.”
Israel Houghton performs onstage at Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound Finale at the Staples Center; Photo Courtesy of Christopher Polk.
I see God’s grace at work in those very simple exchanges. Being a father changes everything when you see the parallel to how HE is our father.
At this point, Israel’s son needed him for something. Israel jumped to his feet to help out.
SCH: Thank you, Israel, for your time.
IH: Sure. No problem. Thank you!
Sonoma Christian Home Editor-at-Large Dawn Gregg with Kurt Warner.
Settled in my seat, with the house lights down, amongst a packed room, we thoroughly enjoyed the depth Host Jason Kennedy, brought to the discussion as Episode 1 of Beyond A.D. was taped. He and his guests for the evening, Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, and Kurt Warner sat on a sofa discussing Jesus.
We pray that through this vehicle, the Gospel message would sink deeper into hearts and go forth to all nations. Beyond A.D., the first-ever NBC Entertainment Digital talk show companion series, will launch on Sunday, April 12
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