Shows
FINISHING WELLEpisode S7E01: Pressing on in 2026!Send us a textOur founder gives a brief 20-minute encouragement and a challenge for the new year before us. Our mission? We exist to call a generation of aging believers to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus and the glory of God. Let’s embrace 2026 for this purpose.Hal Habecker, host of the Finishing Well podcast, reflects on the mission of aging Christians to lead, influence, and encourage others. He emphasizes the importance of discipleship, regardless of age, and encourages listeners to press on in their faith. Habecker shares personal an...
2026-01-1222 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S6E8: Physical Therapists Discuss Staying Active as We AgeSend us a textTwo physical therapists talk about staying active as we age. Vicki Habecker interviews Judy Hendry about ideas to keep our bodies in the best physical shape that our limitations will allow. Listen and learn some practical advice from two PT's.Judy emphasizes maintaining daily activities, social engagement, and exercise to prevent decline. She advises against over-assistance from family, suggesting older adults continue their usual routines. For those with orthopedic issues, she recommends range-of-motion exercises and walking with aids if necessary. For non-ambulatory individuals, she suggests upper body and core exercises. Judy al...
2025-11-2128 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S6E7: A Story of God’s Faithfulness in a Journey with CancerSend us a textHal and Vicki interview Greg and Louise Master as they share their story of Greg’s life-threatening cancer. Listen and learn with them through their faith-filled journey.Greg Master shares his journey with bladder cancer, diagnosed on May 12, 2023. He discovered the tumor himself through a CT scan and was initially given a single-digit two-year survival rate. Greg underwent chemotherapy, including the brutal "Red Devil," and a radical cystectomy. Despite the challenges, he found peace through faith and scripture, receiving 39 verses from God. Greg emphasized the importance of not going thr...
2025-11-131h 03
FINISHING WELLEpisode S6E6: "Learning from Boomerang Kids"Send us a text“Learning from Boomerang Kids”Hal, Vicki, and their 43-year-old son, Jonathan, share their story of Jonathan moving back into their home for a season. Really, Jonathan is telling his story of what God is doing in his life and thereby the story of what God is doing through him in their home. God is at work in more ways than we might imagine.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipp...
2025-10-2337 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S6E05: "Bury Me in a Dirty Suit" | Discovering Man’s Valiant Purpose in the Aftermath of 9/11: Kinder, DarinSend us a text“On September 11, we remembered the 24th anniversary of 9/11, an unforgettable day. Darin Kinder, a personal friend of FWM, was there that day and experienced 9/11 as a responder. It was a gut-wrenching day that would change the course of his life.In this podcast, listen to his story as he shares it with Hal and all of us. Buy his book, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit, and read it for yourself. Pray for Darin and the opportunities ahead for him. If you would like to contact Darin for a speaking engagement, yo...
2025-10-0959 min
FINISHING WELLSpecial Series #13: Moses - Bible Characters and How They FinishedSend us a textMoses 120 years of PurposeHal Habecker continues his series on How Characters from the Bible Finished their LivesWe meet Moses in Exodus 2, where God protected him from Pharaoh's death threats and sovereignly led him to grow up in Pharaoh's house during his first 40 years.At age 80, Moses was entrusted with leading Israel out of Egypt. Despite his failures, including striking the rock at Meribah (Numbers 20), Moses pressed on to fulfill his purpose. One of his final tasks was completing Joshua's training and commissioning him to lead...
2025-10-0319 min
FINISHING WELLS6E1: "Music, Worship, and the Heart of God: A Conversation with Leslie Blum"Send us a textIn the "Finishing Well" podcast, host Hal Habecker interviews LESLIE BLUM about the role of music in life and aging. Leslie shares her upbringing in a musical Christian home, where her father, a soloist, and her mother, a pianist, fostered her love for music. She discusses the emotional impact of music, citing major and minor chords as examples, and how music connects with the soul. Leslie emphasizes the importance of music in worship, advocating for a blend of traditional and contemporary styles to serve diverse congregations. She also reflects on the c...
2025-09-1128 min
FINISHING WELLSPECIAL SERIES #2: The Levites - Biblical Characters and How They FinishSend us a textHal Habecker discusses the biblical perspective on retirement, focusing on the Levites who retired at age 50 to serve in 48 cities across Israel. Despite the modern concept of retirement being less than a century old, Habecker emphasizes that the Bible addresses it implicitly. He highlights the Levites' post-retirement roles as pastors, judges, and teachers, stressing their continued contribution to the community. Habecker argues that older people, like the Levites, should remain active in their faith, mentoring younger generations and fulfilling God's purpose. He encourages continuous growth and service in all stages of life, advocating...
2025-07-2420 min
FINISHING WELLSPECIAL SERIES: Finishing Well: A Study of Biblical Lives - IntroductionSend us a textThis study explores the lives of several key biblical characters to examine how they finished their earthly journeys—whether in strength, struggle, or redemption.Hal Habecker introduces a series on aging and fulfilling God's purpose, emphasizing that aging is a meaningful part of God's plan. Hal argues that older people are a valuable resource often ignored by culture citing 2 Timothy 4:6-8 and Psalm 90:12 to underscore the need for wisdom and purpose in aging. Hal encourages continuous service to God, regardless of age, and stresses that retirement does not diminish one's mission. He...
2025-07-1714 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E16: Friendship and Its Essential QualitiesSend us a textRandy Marshall and Hal Habecker discuss the importance of friendship, particularly in the aging years. They emphasize humility, adversity, and empathy as key traits of true friendship. Randy shares an analogy about finding one's life's purpose through the support of five close friends and the realization that life is brief, with an average of 30,000 days. They highlight the role of encouragement and the need for older people to stay active and engaged. Randy's ministry at Watermark Church, focused on intergenerational mentoring, has seen 20 people sign up to mentor younger generations. They also touch...
2025-06-0835 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E15: Guest: Ken Wilgus. "Being a Grandparent of Older Grandchildren"Send us a textDr. Hal Habecker and Ken Wilgus discuss the importance of planned emancipation in parenting and grandparenting. They emphasize respecting adult children and grandchildren, avoiding overbearing advice, and fostering independent adulthood. Wilgus highlights the need for churches to involve older teenagers in mentoring and to support families with technology and discipline. He advises grandparents to communicate respectfully and not side with grandchildren against parents. They also stress the importance of understanding and engaging with younger generations' beliefs, rather than imposing one's own views. The conversation underscores the role of the church in guiding multi-generational...
2025-05-0739 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E14: Guest: Ken Wilgus. “Being a Parent of Adult Children”Send us a textAs we age, living with and influencing our adult children is a huge theme in life. In this podcast, listen to Hal as he interviews well-known psychologist, Dr. Ken Wilgus about life with adult children. Ken has written an exceptional book entitled, Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, and while Ken’s book focuses on the adolescent years, the principles he shares are timeless and critically important in the years we share with our adult children.Dr. Hal Habecker and Ken Wilgus discuss the challenges of parenting adult children and the co...
2025-05-0738 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E11: Vicki’s Story of Anna: Are We Willing to Change and Grow?Send us a textVicki Habecker tells her story about how God is working in her life in a completely unexpected way a new friend, Anna.Listen to her story and let’s listen to God for the new ways He might be calling us to follow Him.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipping them to actively pursue and fulfill His calling. FWM provides materials, events, and other on-line resources that provide shar...
2025-03-2539 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E9: Catch the VisionSend us a textIs the 7 Essentials Curriculum Making a Difference?"Join Hal as he interviews David Windley about the impact the 7 Essentials ismaking in David's life and ministry as he leads a 4th Quarter ministry withEastWest Ministries in Dallas.I believe God wants to make an impact through the 7 Essentials in everyplace. David illustrates this in his life.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their lat...
2025-02-2433 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E8: Finding Significance as We AgeSend us a textIn this podcast, Hal and his wife, Vicki, talk about the importance of FINDINGSIGNIFICANCE AS WE AGEThey address these four questions:1. What happens when you’re no longer a big deal?2. What happens when you’re no longer the king pin?3. What happens when you’re no longer the big kahuna?4. What happens if the world is not waiting with bated breath to know what I’mdoing or what I once did?In our aging years, do I feel unimportant or even...
2025-02-1740 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E7: Simple Relational Disciple MakingSend us a textIn this episode, Hal interviews Jerry Wiles on the topic of remarkable book justpublished entitled, Simple Relational Disciple Making: Ancient Ways for Modern Times. It is a fascinating book that relates to sharing the Gospel and disciple-making, and how that mission should be part of our lives more and more as we age. This conversation has relevance to everything we do, and it related especially to sharing the stories of God’s work as we invest our lives into generations following us. Listen to the podcast and then order the book.
2025-01-3037 min
FINISHING WELLEPISODE S4E5: Happy New YearSend us a textLeaning into a new year and all God has for us in it is a wonderful way to enter 2025.Listen to Hal as he shares his heart for God’s purposes in 2025 both personally for him and his family and for the work of Finishing Well Ministries.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipping them to actively pursue and fulfill His calling. FWM provides materials, events, and other on-line reso...
2025-01-1517 min
FINISHING WELLSpecial Episode: Hal's Appearance on the podcast series Saving GraceSend us a textLast month I had the privilege of being a guest on ‘Saving Grace Podcast,’ a regular podcast produced by Grace School of Theology, Houston, Texas. My interviewer was a good friend, Tracy Marshall, a fellow church member where we attend. It was a great opportunity to share the work of Finishing Well Ministries with their network and the radio network of Salem Radio Network. I hope you will enjoy what God is doing through FWM and the doors He continues to open to us. Thanks, Hal HabeckerHow do we live...
2024-10-3028 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E2 (134): Seeing Opportunity in Retirement with Dr. Tom WatsonSend us a textHal Habecker interviews Tom Watson, a longtime friend, about his life journey and transition into retirement. Tom shares his upbringing in Pampa, Texas, his education in agriculture and biology, and his career as an anesthesiologist in Texarkana. He discusses the challenges of aging, the decision to retire, and the move back to Dallas to be closer to family. Tom emphasizes the importance of finding a new church and community, and he expresses his desire to continue serving God through teaching and reaching out to neighbors. He advises others to find purpose beyond their...
2024-10-1632 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S4E1 (133): Daughters, Mothers, and DementiaSend us a textLosing a loved one to dementia is an all-encompassing grief - it affects you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Listen today as Hal’s wife Vicki interviews 2 of her closest friends, Dawn Pownell and Mary Yarbrough. The 3 of them will share honest yet heart-warming stories (be prepared to laugh and maybe shed a tear or two). They will offer encouraging suggestions and reminders of how God’s faithfulness carried them as they walked this difficult journey.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to unde...
2024-09-231h 19
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E28(132): Having a Vision of How God Uses Us in Our Aging Years in the Most Ordinary of WaysSend us a textAs Hal interviews John Sparks, John shares his story of how God is using him to encourage others in his neighborhood with a simple vison and a dog. It’s a fascinating story, and the journey continues. John’s story will encourage you and perhaps bring fresh insights as to how God wants to use each of us – with the simplest of ways becoming open doors for the work of the Spirit through each of us.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to und...
2024-08-2938 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E26 (130): Preparing for and Anticipating the Uncertainties of LifeSend us a textLife has lots of interruptions and uncertainties. They may be as simple as too many red lights when one is in a hurry, and they may be as profound and life-changing as an unexpected illness or even death. We can also expect that the longer we live these uncertainties of life may even become more frequent for ourselves or with family and friends. Can we prepare for them? How do we prepare for and anticipate them? Hal and Randy will discuss and encourage us as we trust God with life.Support...
2024-08-1227 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E25: Churches - Memories and MortarSend us a textThe destructive fire of the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Dallas, started Hal & Vicki thinking about their memories of churches that God used in their lives. This historic church is what God used to launch them into ministry. Perhaps this podcast will jog some thoughts in your heart about the churches that have been a part of your life and how God used them to stir your spiritual growth. Happy listening and growing. If you have a chance, please take an extra few minutes and listen to this song by Emily Ann...
2024-08-0326 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E23 (127): Hal’s Story – My Bike Wreck and “I’m Back”Send us a textSeven weeks ago Hal had a serious bike wreck and needed surgery. In this new podcast listen to Hal share the story of his bike wreck and recovery. He is back on his feet now and pressing on again in serving God and Finishing Well Ministries. Life can bring many kinds of unanticipated events that will sideline us, but God is good, and He is always working out His purposes in our lives.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and...
2024-07-0822 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E24(128): Vicki’s Story of Changing LanesSend us a textIn today’s podcast, Hal’s wife, Vicki, shares her story about having to “change lanes” in life. Using the metaphor of a freeway, she shares her story about changes God has for her, changing to a different lane, and even getting off the freeway and onto a service road. Changes in life are not easy at times, but God uses them for His purposes. You will enjoy her story.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in...
2024-07-0821 min
FINISHING WELLEpisode S3E20(124): Hal, Randy and FWM - who, what and why? A synopsis.Send us a textRandy is a founding board member of Finishing Well Ministries and cohost of this podcast. After nine years with us, he shares his perspective on the ministry in his own words and where he sees it going. Join us for an exciting and candid conversation with Randy Hess. Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipping them to actively pursue and fulfill His calling. FWM provides materials, events, and other on-line resources tha...
2024-04-1817 minFINISHING WELLEpisode S2E17 (122): Happiness and LaughterSend us a textIn this podcast Hal & his wife, Vicki, team up to share insights and encouragement concerning the importance of happiness and laughter in the continued journey of aging and finishing well. There may be reasons to be discouraged - health problems, family problems, world problems, emotional challenges, spiritual challenges, disappointments, trial of all sorts – economic, political, the news every day - but keep the joy of Jesus in focus! Listen in!Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s call...
2024-03-1929 minFINISHING WELLEpisode S3E17(121): Building a "Toolbox" for Finishing WellSend us a textIn this new podcast Hal and Randy suggest some attitude and behavior tools to build your own resource toolbox in Finishing Well. It all starts with our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grows out of life in and through Him. Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipping them to actively pursue and fulfill His calling. FWM provides materials, events, and other on-line resources that provide shared insights focused on fin...
2024-03-0127 minFINISHING WELLEpisode S3E13 (117): “Thinking Together about Pain”Send us a textHal Habecker, together with his wife, Vicki, share their insights on pain and living with pain. Someone has said that pain is the gift no one wants. But God has His purposes in our pain. Vicki and Hal share a bit of their own journey through the ups and downs of pain in their lives along with things God is teaching them.Support the show"Finishing Well Ministries aims to encourage and inspire aging Christians to understand and embrace God’s calling in their later years, equipping them to ac...
2024-01-3030 min