All Episodes

April 5, 2026 47 mins

A program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans.  Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.

Produced at Straight Path Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Christian Artists featured are:

Dave McVay

Sisters

Bledsoes

Matt Boswell

Steven Curtis Chapman

Latifah Makuyi

Amen Choir of the First Baptist Church

Owl City

David Vaters

Ali Matthews

Keith Green

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:05):
We are so glad you have joined us for Hope Today
this Easter time.
We look forward to sharing withyou some inspirational music and
teaching about the resurrectionof Jesus Christ.
In fact, the question of theprogram is, what difference does
the resurrection make?
Pastor Tom Cullen will beproviding answers in this
edition of Hope Today.

(00:26):
But first, Mac Wigfield will getus started with music.
Sit back and be encouraged overthese next few moments.

SPEAKER_10 (00:37):
Well, good morning.
It's that time of year when wewill have some thoughts to share
today on the resurrection.
But to have a resurrection, theLord Jesus had to take the
cross.
Here's Dave McVeigh.

SPEAKER_18 (00:51):
Embrace the Father took me.
Compelled by love to be thesinner's friend.
His sacrifice at Calvary, thehighest cause.

(01:13):
He prayed for gi.
He took the cross.

SPEAKER_04 (01:23):
He took the trust.

SPEAKER_10 (04:36):
Not according to the gospels.
It says he began to teach hisdisciples, the Son of Man must
suffer many things, be rejected,be killed, and after three days,
rise again.

SPEAKER_06 (05:08):
The day will come when you will see because I no
power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I'll rise again.

(05:34):
Death can't keep me in theground.

SPEAKER_07 (05:46):
My love for you is still the same.
But very soon I will be freebecause I'll rise again.

SPEAKER_06 (06:12):
Ain't no power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I'll rise again.
Death can keep me in the grass.

SPEAKER_07 (06:57):
Go ahead, try to hide the sun, but all will see
that I won't go.

SPEAKER_06 (07:32):
Come to take my people back.
Come to take my people back.

SPEAKER_07 (07:48):
Come to take my people back.

SPEAKER_10 (07:58):
Hey, guess what?
He rose and he lived.

SPEAKER_09 (08:09):
Jesus the crucified Savior died there on Calvary's
tree.
He gave his life for a ransom.
The lost souls of men to redeem.
Then on a Jerusalem hillside, hewas buried in a borrowed two.

(08:33):
Two days passed and it washopelessly quiet.
It's over.

SPEAKER_13 (08:39):
Sunday the stew.
Then that gave away to the tallfeet of the third day.
What in a refield?
Well, that old turn where theylaid him is T out.

SPEAKER_02 (09:55):
I think of it still.
I'm a hard gun.

SPEAKER_00 (10:00):
I'm so glad you're with us on this wonderful Easter
day.
Christians around the world arecelebrating the truth that Jesus
rose from the dead, just as hepromised he would.
Which brings us to an importantquestion on hope today, and that
is what difference does theresurrection make?
I mean, who cares?
In the whole scheme of life,what difference does it make
that Jesus rose from the dead?

(10:22):
Stay with us as we explore thequestion.
Matt Boswell sings of theincarnation, crucifixion, and
resurrection of our Lord in Comebehold the wondrous mystery.

SPEAKER_17 (10:34):
Come behold the wondrous mystery, in the dawn of
the key.
He the theme of heaven'spraises, robed in frail hue,
manity in our longing, in ourdarkness, now the light of life

(11:00):
has come.
Look to Christ who condescended,took on flesh to ransom us.

(11:23):
He, the perfect Son of Man, inhis living, in his suffering,
never trace nor stain of sin.
See the true and bitter Adamcome to save the hellbound man,

(11:46):
Christ the great and surefulfillment of the Lord Him we
stand Come behold the wondrousmystery, Christ the Lord upon

(12:10):
the tree in the stead of ruins,hangs the lamb victory.
See the price of our redemption,see the fathers plan unfold,

(12:31):
bringing many sons to glory,grace under love until slain by

(12:52):
death of life, no braverestrain.

(13:15):
Christ in the resurrected, aswill be when he comes.
Come behold the wondrousmystery, slain by death, the God
of life, but no grave couldrestrain him.

(13:39):
Praise the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
What difference does the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ make to you and tome?
I have often thought it strangethat we spend little time
thinking about the truth of theresurrection in comparison to
the truth of the incarnation andthe crucifixion of our Lord.
We have whole seasons devoted tothose two truths.

(14:12):
So today, and for the weekend,let's linger over the great
truth.

(15:11):
And as we will discover, itmakes a world of difference.
Here is Stephen Curtis Chapmansinging of our Lord's victory
through his death on the crossand resurrection from the dead.

SPEAKER_11 (15:25):
I heard an old, old story, how a savior came from
glory, how he gave his life onCalvary to save a wreck like me.
I heard about his groaning ofhis precious bloods at toning,

(15:46):
and I repented of my sins andwon the victory.

SPEAKER_16 (15:53):
Oh victory in Jesus, my savior forever.
He sought me and loved me withhis redeeming blood.
And all my love is due him.

(16:34):
How he made the lame do all goodand cause a blind to see.
And then I cried, dear Jesus,come and heal my broken spirit.
And somehow Jesus came and broketo be the victory.

(16:55):
Oh victory, Jesus, my Saviorforever.
He sought me and bombed me withhis reading me.
And on the love is to him.

(17:17):
He plunged me to victory.
Be the claims.

SPEAKER_12 (17:43):
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets ofgold beyond the crystal sea.
About the angel sin the oldredemption story.
And some sweet day I'll sing upthere the song of victory.

SPEAKER_16 (18:08):
Oh victory, Jesus, my savior, forever.
He's on me and bump me with hisbeating up.
And on the love with punch me tovictory.

SPEAKER_00 (18:50):
What difference does the resurrection make?
Well, for one thing, we knowthat death is not final.
Listen to the good news.
What does that mean?
Christ is the first fruit.

(20:23):
The resurrection of Jesus Christmakes all the difference in how
we do that.
Here is Latifa McCoy singing ourLord's Victoria's return, and we
will sing glory, glory to theking and our redeemer.

SPEAKER_01 (24:52):
Originally known as the hymn for Easter Day, Christ
the Lord is Risen Today waswritten by Charles Wesley in
1739 to be sung at the firstservice in the new Wesleyan
Chapel in London, England.
This chapel was in a desertediron foundry converted into a
place of worship and becameknown as the Foundry Meeting

(25:15):
House.
It was initially written witheleven verses, but the hymn was
later reduced to six stanzas.
In the early 19th century, thejoyous Alleluia was added at the
end of each line by an unknowneditor who wanted to ensure that
the hymn fit the tune andmessage of Easter.
As dark as the Easter story is,the sunrise on the third day,

(25:39):
when it is discovered that ourLord and Savior has risen from
the dead, is a wonderful causefor celebration.
Hallelujah! The popularity ofthis hymn is due in part to the
fine and uplifting tune thatdrives the message.
Although there are a few tunesused, the most common one is
called the Easter hymn.

(26:01):
Christ the Lord is risen todayhas been widely accepted in
almost every denomination andoften used as a processional
song of praise and worshipduring Easter remembrances.
May we be lifted to praise as welisten now to the Amen Choir and
National Philharmonic Orchestra.

SPEAKER_00 (29:19):
But Christ's resurrection tells us that we
need not fear death.
Scripture tells us that deathcame through a man, and we know
that to be true.
There was no death in the Gardenof Eden.
But Adam rebelled against God,and as a result, death was
introduced into creation.

(29:39):
We are all part of a family.
What are we going to do?

(30:01):
I'm going to be adopted byanother family.
And into another family thatdidn't die.
That's not my original idea.
That's exactly what God doeswhen we place our faith in Jesus
Christ and say, God, I rebelledagainst you and deserve to die

(30:23):
for my sin.
Forgive me.
God does forgive us.
He is able to forgive us becauseChrist has died for our sin, and
we're taken out of the family ofAdam and put into God's family.
And guess what?
There's no death in God'sfamily.
Death is not a family trait inGod's family.

(30:43):
He's not dead, so you also willnot die.
Here is Owl City with myeverything.

SPEAKER_08 (30:52):
When my hope is lost, and my strength is gone, I
run to you, and you alone.

SPEAKER_04 (31:08):
I run to you, and you alone Is your my light in
the door And I sing with all myhome I love everything When I'm

(31:57):
plagued with pain and filledwith fear, I run to you, and you
alone When my days are few anddeath is near, I run to you, and
you alone.

SPEAKER_08 (33:24):
This is all wow!

unknown (33:37):
By the grace of God of all.

SPEAKER_00 (33:42):
The story is told in Brazil about a missionary who
discovered a tribe of natives ina remote part of the jungle.
They lived near a large river.
The tribe was friendly and inneed of medical attention as a
contagious disease was ravagingthe population and people were
dying daily.
An infirmary was located inanother part of the jungle, and

(34:03):
the missionary determined thatthe only hope for the tribe was
to go to the hospital fortreatment and inoculation.
In order to reach the hospital,however, the people would have
to cross the river, a feat thatthey were unwilling to perform.
The river, they believed, wasinhabited by evil spirits to
enter the water amended certaindeath.

(34:24):
The missionary had set about adifficult task of overcoming the
superstition of the tribe.
He walked out into the water andthe water on his way.

(34:55):
Having proven that the power ofthe river was a farce.
The missionary punched atriumphant into the air.
He entered the water and thepeople broke into tears and
followed him across.
Jesus Christ sees how we areenslaved by the fear of death.
But he goes before us and dies.
And having paid the price forour sin, he rose again on the

(35:18):
third day.
And in a sense, he punches atriumphant fist into the air,
defeating death's power over us.
We need only believe in him andno victory over our fear of
death.
David Vader sings Mansion in theSky.

SPEAKER_15 (35:36):
It's always hard to leave your home when you leave
behind good friends and family.

(36:08):
So it's good.
Take the time, the time to findout what you'd really like to
do.
Social ladders to climb,searching for the perfect rhyme.

(36:30):
These old familiar dreams,nothing new.

(37:03):
Give your life eternally.
So it's hard.
Leave your home, but it won't behard to leave this world behind.

(37:26):
But Jesus paid the price, youknow, ain't it kinda nice?
To know you've got a mansion, toknow you've got a mession, to
know you've got a mansion in thesky.

SPEAKER_00 (37:56):
Welcome back to Hope Today on this Easter Sunday.
Here is Allie Matthews with ThisCross.

SPEAKER_05 (38:03):
Deep in the hollow of your heart, I can hear the
emptiness calling.
The dreams that you once heldnow they're all torn apart.
And darkness is falling.

(38:27):
So you sit along there in yourwonder, wonder how well show you
the beauty, and who will I wearyour name?

(38:50):
Tell me who's gonna carry thiscross wearing your name, wearing
your name.

(39:17):
You never made it across themall.
Hopefully intentional.
How quickly you lost them.
I can see that you're brokenhard.

(39:59):
Tell me who's gonna carry thiscrust wearing your name, wearing
your name.

(40:38):
Mercy is full.
And he will show you the pain.

(41:04):
Yes, and he will wipe away yourpain.
He has already carried thiscross, bearing your name,
wearing your name.

SPEAKER_00 (41:50):
She helped them off with their clothes, and their
two little pile of clothes werethere, and into the bath they
went, and out of the bath theycame, and into their night
clothes, and into their bed, andthe stories were told, the
prayers were said, and she hadher finger on the light switch
when the eldest one said with anote of urgency in his voice.
Yes, Daniel, she said.

(43:08):
Oh Michael, I will be like this.

(43:31):
We're going to have to worryabout the world.

SPEAKER_01 (44:08):
Hear the bells ringing the singing That you can
be born again Hear the bellsringing the singing Christ is
risen from the dead The angelupon the tombstone said he has

(44:34):
risen just as he said QuakeElena God tell his disciples
that Jesus Christ is no longerdead Joy to the world He is

(44:56):
reason hallelujah HallelujahHear the bells ringing they're

(45:20):
singing That you can be healedright now Hear the bells ringing
they're singing Christy willreveal it now The angels They

(45:41):
all surround us and they areministering Jesus' power now
reach out and receive it Butthis could be your glorious eye

(46:02):
to the world What a great timetoday Thank you for coming along
with us Hope Today is producedat Straight Path Studios and is
brought to you by your friendsif you have comments we would
love to hear from you if youemail to listener at
hopeToday-lp.ca.

(46:26):
Christ the Lord is risen today.
Hallelujah.
The resurrection of Jesus Christis the reason that we can have
real and eternal hope.
May this be your celebrationtoday as well.
Please invite your friends tojoin with you next time for Hope
Today.

SPEAKER_03 (46:44):
Upon the tombstone, said He has risen.
Just as He said, Quick lay now.
God tell His disciples thatJesus Christ is no longer dead.

SPEAKER_04 (47:05):
Joy to the one He has restored
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Hey Jonas!

Hey Jonas!

Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.

Betrayal Weekly

Betrayal Weekly

Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices