Posts tagged local politics
164: Your Summer Challenge: Have a Picnic

Spring brings new life – and new opportunities to connect with the people around us. In this short solo episode, Jim Brangenberg challenges listeners to take a simple step toward loving their neighbors: host a picnic. Instead of complicated programs or formal outreach, Jim encourages something far more relational: inviting people into your space, sharing a meal, and simply spending time together. 

Jim reminds us that real transformation often begins with ordinary moments. A backyard picnic, a potluck dish, and an open invitation can create space for friendships to grow and conversations about faith to happen naturally. As the weather warms up, this episode offers a practical way to live out Jesus’ command to love your neighbor – one picnic at a time! 

P.S. – Don't forget that if you take a picture of your picnic and send it to Jim (jim@iWork4Him.com), he’ll send you a copy of the iRetire4Him book

FEATURING: Jim Brangenberg 

ORGANIZATION: iRetire4Him 

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergChristian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire, iRetire4Him, retirement help, retirement advice, biblical retirement, Passion Promise, Kingdom impact, fruits of the Spirit, wraparound grandparent, youth mentoring, mentoring opportunity, foster help, foster families, adoptive families, wraparound grandparents, neighboring, good neighbors, embrace grace, unplanned pregnancy, best of show, retirement examples, wraparound grandparenting, foster crisis, retirement community, mentoring, business mentoring, retirement purpose, retirement activities, missions, carpe diem, John Piper, Letters to Cassie, women mentors, mission trip, mission opportunities, church missions, retirement planning, retirement perspectives, community service, retired couple, kingdom business, kingdom culture, AI dangers, American retirement, chaplaincy, Christian legacy, faith and work, womens ministry, retirement ministry, sabbatical, wisdom transfer, Body of Christ, Downton Abbey, BBC, retirement transition, Christian retirement, Buck Jacobs, C12, Christian business, retirement resource, Minnesota summer, retirement ideas, retirement resources, Christmas traditions, love your neighbor, neighborly love, retire with purpose, New Year’s Eve, new year’s ideas, life purpose, retirement stories, Christian retirees, old fashioned revival, discipleship, marriage, gray divorce, old people, generational diversity, leadership, christian leadership, christian mentoring, leading with questions, mayor, political candidate, political office, local politics, small town, community growth, junkyard, family legacy, estate planning, christian retirement, picnic, potluck
163: What If Your Address Was Your Assignment?

What does it look like to turn an apartment complex into a mission field?  

Meet Ken and Patti Sandel, a couple in their 70s and 80s who are living on purpose inside a Tennessee apartment community where they host gatherings, build trust, and show up daily for neighbors who need a listening ear or steady presence.  

Instead of choosing typical comfort in retirement, Ken and Patti followed a different calling – one that placed them in a community many would overlook. Through simple, consistent presence, they’re creating connection, offering care, and demonstrating what it means to truly love your neighbor right where you live. 

What you’ll hear in the episode: 

  • Why Ken and Patti chose mission over leisure in retirement 

  • How Apartment Life creates opportunities to build community and share faith 

  • What it practically looks like to love and serve neighbors in an apartment setting 

  • The challenges of building trust in a hurting and skeptical community 

  • Simple, relational ways to make a lasting impact (from events to everyday presence) 

  • The unexpected moments where ministry becomes deeply personal 

  • Why living among people changes everything 

Ken and Patti’s story is a reminder that purpose isn’t tied to a season of life. It’s rooted in obedience. Whether in an apartment complex, neighborhood, or workplace, there’s an invitation to live with intention and bring Jesus into everyday spaces and moments.  

If you’re wondering what your next season could look like, consider exploring Apartment Life and how you might step into a mission field right where people are already living. 

FEATURING: Ken & Patti Sandel 

ORGANIZATION: Apartment Life 

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergChristian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire, iRetire4Him, retirement help, retirement advice, biblical retirement, Passion Promise, Kingdom impact, fruits of the Spirit, wraparound grandparent, youth mentoring, mentoring opportunity, foster help, foster families, adoptive families, wraparound grandparents, neighboring, good neighbors, embrace grace, unplanned pregnancy, best of show, retirement examples, wraparound grandparenting, foster crisis, retirement community, mentoring, business mentoring, retirement purpose, retirement activities, missions, carpe diem, John Piper, Letters to Cassie, women mentors, mission trip, mission opportunities, church missions, retirement planning, retirement perspectives, community service, retired couple, kingdom business, kingdom culture, AI dangers, American retirement, chaplaincy, Christian legacy, faith and work, womens ministry, retirement ministry, sabbatical, wisdom transfer, Body of Christ, Downton Abbey, BBC, retirement transition, Christian retirement, Buck Jacobs, C12, Christian business, retirement resource, Minnesota summer, retirement ideas, retirement resources, Christmas traditions, love your neighbor, neighborly love, retire with purpose, New Year’s Eve, new year’s ideas, life purpose, retirement stories, Christian retirees, old fashioned revival, discipleship, marriage, gray divorce, old people, generational diversity, leadership, christian leadership, christian mentoring, leading with questions, mayor, political candidate, political office, local politics, small town, community growth, junkyard, family legacy, estate planning, christian retirement
162: I Never Got the Memo About Retirement

Seven years after first appearing on iWork4Him, author, business leader, and “junkyard philosopher” Roy Goble joins Jim and Martha Brangenberg on iRetire4Him to talk about life in what many people would call the retirement years. But Roy says he never got the memo about slowing down. Now closer to 70 than 60, he’s still running Goble Properties, writing Junkyard Wisdom devotionals, and finding joy in serving others through his work and generosity. 

Drawing from lessons learned growing up in his father’s junkyard, Roy shares how faith, purpose, and generosity continue to shape the way he approaches this season of life – and why retirement doesn’t mean stepping away from meaningful impact. 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode 

  • The deeper joy he finds in serving people through his work today 

  • Why Roy’s motivation has shifted from ambition to impact 

  • The role generosity plays in Roy’s family foundation and legacy planning 

  • How writing Junkyard Wisdom devotionals opens doors for ministry 

  • What Roy hopes the “final quarter” of life will be known for 

If you’d like to receive Roy’s daily encouragement, you can sign up for his “Junkyard Wisdom” devotional emails, where he shares short reflections on faith, leadership, generosity, and everyday life. 

For Roy, retirement isn’t about stepping away from purpose. It’s about continuing to live out your calling – faithfully, generously, and with love – right up to the very end.

FEATURING: Roy Goble 

ORGANIZATION: Junkyard Wisdom 

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergChristian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire, iRetire4Him, retirement help, retirement advice, biblical retirement, Passion Promise, Kingdom impact, fruits of the Spirit, wraparound grandparent, youth mentoring, mentoring opportunity, foster help, foster families, adoptive families, wraparound grandparents, neighboring, good neighbors, embrace grace, unplanned pregnancy, best of show, retirement examples, wraparound grandparenting, foster crisis, retirement community, mentoring, business mentoring, retirement purpose, retirement activities, missions, carpe diem, John Piper, Letters to Cassie, women mentors, mission trip, mission opportunities, church missions, retirement planning, retirement perspectives, community service, retired couple, kingdom business, kingdom culture, AI dangers, American retirement, chaplaincy, Christian legacy, faith and work, womens ministry, retirement ministry, sabbatical, wisdom transfer, Body of Christ, Downton Abbey, BBC, retirement transition, Christian retirement, Buck Jacobs, C12, Christian business, retirement resource, Minnesota summer, retirement ideas, retirement resources, Christmas traditions, love your neighbor, neighborly love, retire with purpose, New Year’s Eve, new year’s ideas, life purpose, retirement stories, Christian retirees, old fashioned revival, discipleship, marriage, gray divorce, old people, generational diversity, leadership, christian leadership, christian mentoring, leading with questions, mayor, political candidate, political office, local politics, small town, community growth, junkyard, family legacy, estate planning, christian retirement
161: Why I'm Running for Mayor... and Why Maybe You Should Too

Our culture often treats retirement as the finish line, but Scripture never describes it that way. Followers of Jesus never retire from their calling to serve, lead, and love their communities. 

In this episode, Jim shares why he’s stepping into an unexpected new role: running for mayor of his small Missouri town. After decades of ministry encouraging believers in the workplace, Jim realized that the same calling applies long after traditional careers end. 

God had placed him in a community, given him relationships and influence, and opened the door to serve. The question became simple: Would he step forward or stay on the sidelines? 

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

  • Why retirement doesn’t mean stepping away from purpose 

  • How God used a move to a small town to open unexpected doors for influence 

  • The biblical idea that everyone around us should benefit from our faith in Jesus 

  • Why Christians withdrawing from civic life has left a leadership gap 

  • How retirees often have the experience, wisdom, and time their communities desperately need 

  • A challenge to consider serving locally, from school boards to city councils to community leadership 

Jim reminds listeners that the greatest enemy isn’t another candidate or political party. It’s the spiritual battle for the hearts and well-being of our communities. And that means believers are needed now more than ever. 

Instead of simply watching what happens in our cities, counties, and neighborhoods, what if we asked God where He wants us to serve next? Your career may have ended, but your mission hasn’t. Your experience, wisdom, and faith might be exactly what your community needs right now.  

FEATURING: Jim Brangenberg 

ORGANIZATION: iWork4Him Ministries 

iRetire4HimJim BrangenbergChristian, Christianity, Retirement, halftime, identity, iretire4him, planning, purpose, retire, iRetire4Him, retirement help, retirement advice, biblical retirement, Passion Promise, Kingdom impact, fruits of the Spirit, wraparound grandparent, youth mentoring, mentoring opportunity, foster help, foster families, adoptive families, wraparound grandparents, neighboring, good neighbors, embrace grace, unplanned pregnancy, best of show, retirement examples, wraparound grandparenting, foster crisis, retirement community, mentoring, business mentoring, retirement purpose, retirement activities, missions, carpe diem, John Piper, Letters to Cassie, women mentors, mission trip, mission opportunities, church missions, retirement planning, retirement perspectives, community service, retired couple, kingdom business, kingdom culture, AI dangers, American retirement, chaplaincy, Christian legacy, faith and work, womens ministry, retirement ministry, sabbatical, wisdom transfer, Body of Christ, Downton Abbey, BBC, retirement transition, Christian retirement, Buck Jacobs, C12, Christian business, retirement resource, Minnesota summer, retirement ideas, retirement resources, Christmas traditions, love your neighbor, neighborly love, retire with purpose, New Year’s Eve, new year’s ideas, life purpose, retirement stories, Christian retirees, old fashioned revival, discipleship, marriage, gray divorce, old people, generational diversity, leadership, christian leadership, christian mentoring, leading with questions, mayor, political candidate, political office, local politics, small town, community growth