The Kubik Report

From Micah Gunn: Dr. Frank Turek Interview: Apologetics For Apologetics

Micah Gunn has given me permission to repost his his podcast Truth Be Told podcast (https://truthbetoldpodcast.podbean.com) with noted radio host Dr. Frank Turek posted originally on August 12, 2022 at https://truthbetoldpodcast.podbean.com/e/dr-frank-turek-interview-apologetics-for-apologetics/
In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dr. Frank Turek and Micah Gunn offer up a defense for the discipline of Apologetics. The defense of the Christian faith is not only something that is under attack from skeptics, but also Christians who incorrectly believe that an evidential approach to the truth claims of the Bible somehow hinders or infringes on an individual's faith. Some might believe that an answer to God's calling should be wholly apart from evidence or logic, and others might think that utilizing logical argumentation or extrabiblical sources are misguided attempts to seek God with manmade tools. Another concern for apologists (both professional and lay people) is the ever-expanding movement of liberal theology which claims that correct thinking about God is limiting to Him and shouldn't be engaged in. So, why should a Christian study apologetics, particularly in light of all of this refutation towards the discipline itself? Join us in this episode for the answers!
Truth Be Told is a theology and apologetics podcast born out of a love of God's word, a hope to find common ground with those who study it, and a desire to outline truth. 

Ukraine 1993 with Oleh Zajac Trip 2 Fascinating

I gave this message at the Pasadena Auditorium congregation on Nov 13, 1993 just after returning from Ukraine with Oleh Zajac and Bev.,  Lots of interesting history about our early working with these people that we still work with today, particularly in their distribution of aid in the current war with Russia.  Also a glimpse into the Worldwide Church of God.   
Photo is of Michael Palchey who was the founder of the postwar Sabbatarians in Ukraine.  He emigrated to the United States where I met him and he then asked me to visit these people in Transcarpathia.

Eugene and Sherry Kubik talk about their son Colin’s graduation in war-torn Ukraine

My brother and his wife just returned from their son Colin's College graduation on July 2, 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine.  They vividly describe the emotional moment in a country that is still being brutally attacked by Russia.  
They tell a great story of courage, love and patriotism that few of us know.
Read their written account with photos at 
https://kubik.org/lviv-graduation/
 
 

Merna Eppick -- Mental Health Champions’ Award Winner Talks About Her Work

Merna Eppick is Board President of the Simmering Center which is a recovery housing facility housing 43 people nightly as well as a 10-bed respite center facility. 
We talk about opioids, alcohol, meth, and other addictions.   
You can reach Merna Leisure-Eppick at
merna@luvs-amethyst.us
Merna Leisure-Eppick Receives 2023 Missouri Mental Health Champions’ Award
Merna Leisure-Eppick received the 2023 Missouri Mental Health Champions' Award on May 9 , 2023.
Each year three remarkable Missourians, who have overcome many challenges to make life better for themselves, others, and their communities, are selected to receive the Missouri Mental Health Champions’ award at the capital Jefferson City.  The presentation was made on May 9, 2023 at an awards banquet at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.  
One of the 2023 awards was given to Merna Leisure-Eppick of Branson, MO.
https://kubik.org/merna-leisure-eppick-receives-2023-missouri-mental-health-champions-award/
 
 
 

Don Hooser 2 - Breaking Free Addictions - Personal Tragedy

Don Hooser, who manages Breaking Free and I discuss in greater detail Don's work with this website, journal, and resource to help people with additions.  Don also poignantly shares a personal family tragedy that came as a result of an addiction. 
Don can be reached at don@hooser.com
https://www.ucg.org/blogs/breaking-free
http://kubik.org/health
 
 

Rex Sexton - Portland! What Happened? What Can Be Done to Fix This City?

Rex Sexton has lived in Portland for 30 years and has been pastor of the Church for ten.  Portland, the "City of Roses" has been hurting from the consequences of broken laws resulting in broken lives.  We talk about what will ultimately fix this city. Rex is a passionate person who talks about drugs, homeless, migrants, Antifa and anarchy.

Carol Emerson Hill - Retirement Part 2 -A New Beginning - A New You - A New Life

Carol Emerson Hill and I continue our candid discussion about how to face retirement positively as not end, but a new beginning. You can be fulfilled personally and be valuable to others.  In this candid and casual conversation, we talk about feelings, thoughts, and actions to consider. 
You can reach Carol at lilacjean55@gmail.com
Be sure to listen to our first podcast at 
https://vkubik.podbean.com/e/dealing-with-life-transitions-retirement/
 
Here are some books that Carol recommended in the podcast.
 
 
MBTI Personality Assessment
Official Myers Briggs Test & Personality Assessment | MBTIonline
 
The Enneagram Personality Test (truity.com)
(There are MANY assessments. These are just a couple)
Books:
Book on MBTI assessment: “Do What You Are” by Paul D. Tieger (Author), Barbara Barron (Author), Kelly Tieger (Author)
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type: Tieger, Paul D., Barron, Barbara, Tieger, Kelly: 9780316236737: Amazon.com: Books
 
The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life Paperback – September 24, 2002
by Rosamund Stone Zander (Author), Benjamin Zander (Author)
 
Don't Retire, REWIRE!, 3E: 5 Steps to Fulfilling Work That Fuels Your Passion, Suits Your Personality, and: Sedlar, Jeri, Miners, Rick: 9781465473547: Amazon.com: Books
 
New Passages: Mapping Your Life Across Time: Sheehy, Gail: 9780345404459: Amazon.com: Books
 
Making Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit by Greg L. Thomas
https://www.amazon.com/Making-Puzzle-Principles-Personal-Leadership/dp/1436388430/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K40YF3KJTOLM&keywords=making+life%27s+puzzle+pieces+fit&qid=1687958378&s=books&sprefix=making+life%27s+puzzle+pieces+fit%2Cstripbooks%2C102&sr=1-1
 
The Virtues of Aging: Jimmy Carter: Amazon.com: The Virtues of Aging (Library of Contemporary Thought): 9780345425928: Carter, Jimmy: Books
 
 

Don Hooser --My Life, Breaking Free, Teacher, Writer (Part 1)

A compelling, insightful, personal discussion with Don Hooser, long-time friend of 53 years, elder, teacher, writer.  He recounts his life's experiences and as well as early ambitions.  Here are a few links for what we discussed. 
https://www.ucg.org/blogs/breaking-free
https://kubik.org/health
Talked about:
     Anchor
     Single Sex Attraction 
     Homosexuality
     Breaking Free
     Counselling
     Virtual Christian Magazine 
     Colognes, Chemicals, Compassion, and the Church
    Pastoral Assignments. 
and more.  It was very eye-opening to learn even more about Don.

My Visiting Ukrainian Christians For the First Time in Sept. 1992.

Recorded September 28, 1992 in the Worldwide Church of God. 
Many ask me about Ukrainian Sabbath-keepers that I visited for the first time in Transcarpathia in 1992.  This experience greatly widened my perspective on what God is doing with mankind.  When Christ returns, He will marry His bride.  Who is the Bride of Christ?   Are you part of the body and bride that Christ will marry? 
This episode recounts my first impressions of many visits.  It's also a time warp going back more than 30 years to the Worldwide Church of God.  This was recorded when I was Assistant Director of Church Administration for the Worldwide Church of God in Pasadena, California.
The USSR fell apart and formed 15 independent nations. One of those nations was Ukraine. When this happened, a remarkable development occurred in the world of faith which was a big surprise to us.
We discovered that there were thousands of people who worshipped God in a manner similar to ours.  We found people who kept the Saturday Sabbath day, along with many other tenets of our faith that they drew out from the Bible itself. 
It was a surprising revelation and revolution that we first found out about from a few of their immigrants to America in 1991.  I first met with their leader and a group of 13 other who settled in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  He told me an incredible story of faith and standing against the giants of oppression and atheism.
The leader, Michael Palchey, also told me that I should go to Ukraine myself and meet some of these people. There were more than 3000 of them in Ukraine, 4000 in Romania and 3000 in Moldova.
So indeed I did go to Ukraine in the fall of 1992 and want to share this adventure with you.
This journey opened my eyes to a greater reality of God’s working with people in this world. 
Christ will return to this earth and will marry His bride (Ephesians 5)   But, WHO will that bride be?  Is it just us?   Is it more than us?  Who will be there and who will not?
What follows is my report to a congregation in Pasadena, CA about this adventure, how it came to be and its implications. 
 

Greg Thomas on How to Have a Fulfilling and Productive Day (part 2)

This is podcast number 10 with Greg Thomas this year.  Greg give valuable advice about how to live a life in which you are and feel like you're accomplishing something. 
He speaks of life hacks that you may not have thought were valuable, but they are.  He speaks of varied subjects ranging from creating the right environment from the moment you get up in the morning to never saying it's too late in life to start something you've not tried before.
Visit his website at https://leadershipexcellencenow.com/ as well as his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipExcellence.
He has written two books Making Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit  as well as 52 Leadership Tips.  Both are available on Amazon.
 

Melvin Rhodes on the King Charles III Coronation - Things You May Not Know.

May 8, 2023
Melvin Rhodes and I discuss the May 6, 2023 coronation of King Charles III. We have come just come off from the longest reign in British history that lasted 70 years.  Where has Britain and the world come to in this time?   We talk about the changes in the British Empire, now much diminished Commonwealth.  
Melvin, who was born in England is a rich source of British history and a popular commentator and analyst.
Go to his perceptive blog at
https://melvinrhodes.wordpress.com/
Your comments to us at vkubik@gmail.com would be greatly appreciated.
 
Photo: By Department for Culture, Media and Sport - Waving from Buckingham Palace Balcony, PDM-owner, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131621646 

With Greg Thomas “How to Have a Fulfilling and Productive Day! – Part 1”

We continue with our ninth podcast about leadership with Greg Thomas who is a business consultant, author, keynote speaker, and a personal life-coach whom I have known for many years. Among varied leadership topics we have discussed personal leadership and servant leadership.   
Today we turn our attention to managing our lives with tools on how to have a fulfilling and productive day.  
Greg has an engaging and easy-to-apply presentation style.  
Visit his website at https://leadershipexcellencenow.com/ as well as his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipExcellence.
He had also founded weLEAD Incorporated, chartered in 2001 as a 501 (c) (3) corporation offering free leadership development information reaching a worldwide audience. He has written two books Making Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit  as well as 52 Leadership Tips.

From Kyiv - Roman Grynyshyn speaks about ”World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine”

Roman Grynishyn is Founder and CEO of World to Rebuild Rural Ukraine.  Much of Ukraine is devasted and hurting from the brutal by Russia that began Feb 24, 2022.  This has affected all strata of society, not the least family farmers.  Ukraine is an incredibly rich land agriculturally (and other ways.  600 million people rely on food produced in Ukraine, many by family farmers.   The Russian invasion has destroyed homes, farm equipment and has mined the fields.   
You can learn more about WRRU 
http://www.wrru.org
https://lifenets.org/world-to-rebuild-rural-ukraine-wrru-anniversary/
Check out the LifeNets War Blog at 
https://lifenets.org/category/ukraine-war/
Previous podcast on April 28, 2022
https://www.ucg.org/inside-united-podcast/inside-united-podcast-242-roman-grynyshyn-ukraines-empty-breadbasket
 
 
 

Colin Kubik - Live From Lviv! University, Rockets, Comedy

In this personal conversation with my nephew Colin Kubik we talk about his life's journey that has brought him through Ukraine where he has found the roots from his grandparents.  He will be graduating from University on July 1, 2023.  His days are concerned about possible rocket attacks.  He works as a stand-up comedian and being a rare international student at the University.  You will learn interesting things from this candid interview.  

J. Warner Wallace with Micah Gunn - Cold Case Detective - Evidence for Christ

Christianity, oftentimes amongst skeptics, is made out to be nothing more than a fairytale but, in reality, Christianity is the most well-evidenced belief in existence. No other faith has as much proof of its accuracy than Christianity and the cumulative case becomes impossible to stand up against when faced honestly. Join us on Truth Be Told as we discuss the rationality and evidence of Christianity with theologian, apologist, and cold-case detective, J. Warner Wallace of Cold Case Christianity.If you have doubts about your faith or don't have answers to certain skeptic's attacks, don't be shaken, there are answers. If you are a skeptic, ask yourself if you've honestly evaluated the claims and evidence of Christianity. It takes strength and courage to look your world view in the face and see if it holds up to scrutiny. Christians, take heart and skeptics, take courage! The truth of Christianity stands strong through it all.Cold Case Christianity: https://coldcasechristianity.com/ Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
J. Warner Wallace Photo By Mmmaardvark - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44830529

Carol Emerson Hill - Dealing With Life Transitions - Retirement

Carol Emerson Hill and I, who have both officially "retired," discuss how we personally have fared through this transition.  In our careers we have counselled many people about retirement and now have to go through it ourselves. 
Carol's credentials are stellar as she worked in aspects of career management. Here are just some of her skills and experience:
Senior Consultant, Career Management, Executive Coach | Career Coach | Resume & Interview   Consultant, Career & Retirement Management, Executive Coach | Career Coach | Resume & Interview Coaching.
Right Management, global leader in talent and career management workforce solutions within Manpower Right Management, global leader in talent and career management
Senior Career Consultant, Career Management, Silicon Valley 2011- 2019.
Carol can be reached at 
lilacjean55@gmail.com 
 
 
You will find this personal discussion insightful and thoughtful. 

Making Sense Out of Suffering and Evil in and Around Me

We all suffer. For some the pain of sickness, injustice, failed relationships and losses is unbearable.  Why do we have to go through this...even as a Christian?  
At this season of the year when we focus on the Suffering of Jesus Christ, what can we learn to be victorious and understand what it's all about.  I explain this in this week's podcast. 

Greg Thomas - The Forbes 100 Top-Rated Servant-Leadership Companies

Part 3 of the Servant-Leadership group of podcasts.  
Last time we discussed what Servant looks like in an organization. Then we compared and contrasted some of the differences in a servant-leadership culture verses an autocratic culture. Today we will answer a few questions prompted by our previous podcasts and then discuss some well-known organizations that practice servant-leadership. 

Dr. Lilya Wagner - The Power of One - To Linger is to Die - Escape from Soviet Estonia

Dr. Lilya Wagner and her husband John have been supporters and mentors of LifeNets since 1999.  Lilya Wagner was Associate Director Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, IN.  She has also worked for a global development organization in Washington D.C. where she and her husband live.  Her husband John has been President of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.  
Lilya was born in Estonia. She has written a several books focusing on Philanthropy.  Her first book To Linger is to Die is about her parents escape from Soviet-occupied Estonia near the end of World War II.   We talk about this story in our podcast.  
This book is out of print, but she will happily email you a PDF of it.  Please request it at lilyawagner@outlook.com
You can see slides of Estonia that go along with this book including map of the escape route at https://youtu.be/g9xg8pG2Zy0
Here is a map their escape route from Estonia to Germany. of 

Dr. Roy Fouch - Delusions, Part 2 -- The Iron Dome of Truth

In part one Dr. Roy Fouch and I talk about delusions in the context of mental health.  Here we discuss delusions from a spiritual perspective.  The Bible predicts that deception would deceive the whole world.  The Bible also instructs us on how to know the truth and be protected from lies.
Be sure to listen to Part One of this two part program.