Crusade with Me

Our last time.Countdowns.Fireworks.Endless advice on how to reinvent yourself by midnight.As if life responds to pressure.As if becoming whole can be rushed.But tonight, we slow down.Because the dawn is not rushed.The sun has never forced its way into the sky.It has never strained to arrive.It simply rises, steady, patient, right on time.That is how real beginning work.

One more episode will follow—an episode of hope, prayer, and strength for the days ahead. But today… today is about grounding.What do we leave you with? What must remain when the music fades and the episodes stop coming?The answer is not a feeling. Not a memory.It is Truth.

And tonight… the wait is nearly over.For weeks we have watched. We have trained. We have waited in the long quiet of Advent.And now — the night has arrived.The night when angels sing. The night when eternity steps into time. The night when heaven bends low and the world is never the same again.This is Christmas Eve.

A quick chat with Ribeye (Grandson) with ten questions about Christmas. Ah, the Christmas spirit.

And today, we stand in a sacred in-between. This is our final episode of Advent. And there are only three episodes left in this entire journey.That is not coincidence.Because Advent has always been about living in the tension between what has already happened and what has not yet come. Christ has come. Christ is present. And Christ will come again.Advent does not ask us to rush forward. Nor does it allow us to linger in the past. It calls us to wait with intention.Not idle waiting. Not anxious waiting. But a waiting that is awake, aligned, and grounded — a stillness that listens for movement.

One hundred and fifty episodes in a little less than a year. That number is not just impressive— It’s meaningful.Because Scripture gives us 150 Psalms. And the final Psalm—Psalm 150—doesn’t analyze, argue, or explain.It simply says:“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”So today, Crusaders, this episode is a breath. And this breath is praise.

The first Christmas wasn’t shiny. It was dark, uncertain, and fragile.If you’ve lost your fa la la this year, this episode is for you.

This is Episode 148, and as this year draws to a close, so does this podcast.We’ve spent a year walking together—through Scripture, tradition, encouragement, and challenge. Our final episode will air on New Year’s Eve, and we hope this journey has brought you comfort, a deeper faith, and maybe even a little wisdom along the way. We’ve learned so much from this time we’ve shared together.Today, we conclude our study of the Ten Commandments with the Ninth and Tenth, as taught in Luther’s Large Catechism. But our Advent series continues—today with a reflection inspired by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who saw the humility of Christ’s birth not as a romantic image, but as a profound truth: The King of Kings came to a stable. To dirt. To smell. To imperfection. And that is where He meets us still.

This is Episode 147, and today we continue our Advent journey through the Nativity Fast. We’ll reflect on three powerful passages of Scripture—Psalm 82, Isaiah 8:9–9:7, and 1 Peter 4:1–19—and then we’ll turn to the Seventh and Eighth Commandments, explained in the great catechetical tradition of Martin Luther’s Large Catechism.This episode is about justice and truth: preparing our hearts to live faithfully, guarding against theft and falsehood, and walking in holiness as we await the coming of Christ.

This is Episode 146, and today we’re entering deeply into, the Nativity Fast, the season of Advent and the call to holiness that prepares us for the coming of Christ. We’ll be reflecting on three powerful passages of Scripture: - Psalm 102:13–17 - Isaiah 2:1–22 - 1 Peter 1:13–25 And then, we’ll spend time unpacking two of the Ten Commandments—the Fifth and the Sixth—as explained in the great catechetical tradition of the Church. This episode is meant to be both encouragement and challenge: a call to prepare our hearts, discipline our lives, and walk faithfully as we await the Nativity of our Lord.

Today we’ll talk about Advent as a season of holy waiting, the Nativity Fast as a discipline of simplicity, and then we’ll dive into the 3rd and 4th Commandments. And yes—we’ll wrestle with the hard question: how do we honor father and mother when those relationships were complicated.

Today’s episode is a journey through gratitude, discipline, and obedience. We’ll begin at the Thanksgiving table, praising God for His abundant gifts. Then we’ll step into the Nativity Fast, a season of preparation and watchfulness. And finally, we’ll begin our study of the Ten Commandments, focusing on the first two—commandments that strike at the very heart of our lives."

The Fast Before the FeastThe world rushes toward Christmas with lights, sales, and sugar. But we are called to slow down. To prepare the way of the Lord—not with glitter, but with stillness.“Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!” (Mark 1:3, NASB)This fast is not about punishment. It is about preparation. It is about clearing space in our lives to receive the Christ who comes.

💰 Financial pressure. 👨‍👩‍👧 Raising kids in chaos. 🏘️ Living among the godless. 🙏 Still called to obey.In a world that mocks reverence and rewards compromise, how do we stay faithful? This episode dives deep into the spiritual battle of everyday life—and the quiet power of obedience.🕯️ Featuring timeless wisdom from Scripture and the stillness of the Jesus Prayer. 🎧 Listen now and join the crusade for holiness in a noisy world.

💰 Financial pressure. 👨‍👩‍👧 Raising kids in chaos. 🏘️ Living among the godless. 🙏 Still called to obey.In a world that mocks reverence and rewards compromise, how do we stay faithful? This episode dives deep into the spiritual battle of everyday life—and the quiet power of obedience.🕯️ Featuring timeless wisdom from Scripture and the stillness of the Jesus Prayer. 🎧 Listen now and join the crusade for holiness in a noisy world.

💰 Financial pressure. 👨‍👩‍👧 Raising kids in chaos. 🏘️ Living among the godless. 🙏 Still called to obey.In a world that mocks reverence and rewards compromise, how do we stay faithful? This episode dives deep into the spiritual battle of everyday life—and the quiet power of obedience.🕯️ Featuring timeless wisdom from Scripture and the stillness of the Jesus Prayer. 🎧 Listen now and join the crusade for holiness in a noisy world.

Today’s episode — “As Far as It Depends on You” — is a challenge from the Apostle Paul that feels almost impossible in our world today. We live in a culture of outrage, division, and noise. Everyone’s shouting — but few are listening. Everyone’s fighting — but few are standing for truth with peace in their heart.Romans 12:18 says,“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”This isn’t a soft verse. It’s not a call to retreat from battle. It’s a command to fight for peace — through humility, restraint, and faith in the justice of God.Let’s go deep into that today. Let’s talk about what it really means to live as peaceful warriors — firm in truth, unshakable in faith, and disciplined in heart.

Because what happened back then — is happening again. The same pressure to bow. The same attempt to silence faith. The same call to compromise what’s holy.

And today, I want to call you into something ancient — something burning, holy, and alive. Something forged long before modern man began measuring time by clocks and calendars.We’re talking about the rhythm of heaven — the sacred order of days and seasons through which God trains His warriors and sanctifies His people. This is not about being “religious.” It’s about being formed. It’s about reclaiming the sacred pattern of life that keeps a man steady when the world spins wild.Because a liturgical life is not a schedule — it’s a weapon. It’s the rhythm of victory that beats beneath the chaos of the age.

The world around us urges us to “find our tribe” — to gather with those who understand us, who think like we do, who affirm who we are. And that longing is real.But have you ever wondered why we long for it so deeply? Why our souls ache to belong?It’s because that desire — that instinct to be part of something greater than ourselves — isn’t just human culture. It’s divine imprint. It’s God’s very breath within us, calling us home.

Today, we’re diving into a question that lies at the heart of everything we believe, confess, and live by: What is sin?But before we go back to the ancient text, I want to start right here — in our time — in the way we often misunderstand sin.I saw a meme recently that said:“Society is just sinners judging other sinners for sinning differently.”That hit me hard. Because it’s true, isn’t it? In our modern world, we’ve distorted sin in both directions. Some people lessen it — they say, “Oh, that’s not really sin anymore, times have changed.” Others intensify it — magnifying someone else’s sin while ignoring their own. And then we do something even more dangerous: we start comparing sins. We calibrate them like weights on a scale — measuring, ranking, excusing, condemning — as if God grades on a curve.

This one comes straight from the heart, because today… we’re talking about our favorite hymns. Not just mine — but my bride’s as well.Music, as we know, is one of God’s greatest gifts to His people. Luther himself said, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” And I think he was right. Hymns are more than just melodies — they are sermons set to song, theology that we can hum on the hardest days and shout on the best ones.

Today’s episode — number 133 — is titled “Faith That Stands in the Fire.”It’s taken from 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2, and it’s about boldness in the face of persecution, truth over popularity, and joy that comes when faith endures the test.The Apostle Paul and his young companion Timothy had been through the wringer. They had been beaten, imprisoned, mocked, and warned to keep quiet. But instead of silence, they chose proclamation.And not the kind of preaching that flatters men, or bends to public opinion — but the kind that speaks God’s Truth, even when it burns.

This episode is dedicated to every first-born son listening — whether you’re a young man just finding your footing, or a seasoned warrior of faith who’s carried the weight of leadership your whole life.From the beginning, God set apart the first-born — both human and animal — as His own. The first-born belongs to Him. And when we understand what that truly means, we begin to see how it all points to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ — the First-born over all creation, and the One who redeems us back to the Father.

Crusaders I am so sorry for the volume issue in this episode of my #1 Grandson. After the first five minutes I went old school and used my speaker on my phone holding it up to the mic, and that helped. I am proud of this 12-year-old who is growing and will be an awesome man in the short future.

Today’s episode is called “Iron Sharpens Iron — Challenge Accepted.”That comes from Proverbs 27:17 (NASB):“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”It’s a simple verse — short enough to memorize in a breath — yet it carries a lifetime of meaning.It tells us that the Christian Walk isn’t passive. It’s not about sitting still and hoping things improve. No, we’re called to be sharpened — and to sharpen others — in our faith, our work, our bodies, our minds, and our relationships.

Today’s episode 129 is titled ‘Resist the Life of Ease.’ Our age tempts us to choose comfort, convenience, and passivity over endurance, diligence, and courage. But the Scriptures call us to something higher — to share in the life of Christ, to be strengthened by grace, and to become faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. We will look at three themes:How to handle life’s challenges with steadfast faith.Why we must seek to work hard, not as drudgery but as holy offering.How to set big, audacious goals with a steward’s heart, trusting God for more than we can see.”

Our forty years of experience in marriage with some practical do's and don'ts. Ya, some are pretty simple, but hey, I'm a slow learner!

We live in a time when believers are tempted to shrink back. But Scripture calls us to stand up, armor up, and fight the good fight. Paul tells Timothy:“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” (1 Timothy 6:12, ESV)This is not about fists or politics — this is about spiritual combat. Let’s learn together how to fight as God’s warriors.

“Revival without the Bible is not revival. Emotion without repentance is not conversion. Church without Christ crucified is not the Church. Be alert, test everything against the Word, and cling to Christ alone.”

God created us for Eden — fellowship with Him.•Sin cast us out of Eden, separating us from life.God began pointing us toward restoration through covenant promises.The Passover showed deliverance through the blood of the lamb.Jesus is the Lamb of God who opens the way back to Eden.The resurrection is the dawn of the new creation — the garden restored.Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.The means of grace (Word & Sacraments) are Eden’s gifts restored.The Christian life is one of daily repentance — walking the narrow path.We journey together in the Body of Christ.The end is life in the New Eden — the Kingdom to come.

Today’s episode is one that’s been on my heart for a while. We’re going to talk about the story of Israel — a people rescued from bondage, brought through the wilderness, and called to be a nation set apart for God’s purposes. And we’re going to look at how that story mirrors the journey of the United States of America.Yes, our nation — imperfect as it is — was founded on Christian principles. Men and women sought a land where they could worship God freely, where His Word could shape daily life, where liberty was tied not to man’s imagination, but to God’s design. But just as Israel drifted from God after tasting freedom, so has America.This episode is a call — for me, for you, for all of us — to return to the Lord as a nation.

It’s a phrase I’ve used before, but today, I want us to sit in it and wrestle with it. Because it really captures the tension we’re living in right now.On one hand, we have the timeless wisdom of Scripture—commandments, practices, and rhythms God gave to His people not just for holiness, but also for health, strength, and well-being.On the other hand, we have the arrogance of modern man. We believe we’re smarter, stronger, and more advanced than all who came before us. We think we can outdo God’s ways with our inventions and our “progress.”But look around: despite all the breakthroughs, we’re sicker, more anxious, more depressed, and more spiritually lost than perhaps any generation in history.

The title for today says it all: “I’m Mad at Hell, and I Ain’t Going to Take It Anymore!” This episode is a call — not to lawlessness, not to vengeance, but to holy, disciplined, and resolute action. We will stoke the fire of righteous indignation, polish the sword of God’s Word, and issue marching orders for every believer who will stand for the innocent.Before we go any further, let me be plain: what propelled me to speak like this now is a horror we watched together in the news — the assassination of Charlie Kirk while he spoke at a campus event. It was a targeted, political killing that stunned the country, and the shock of it must sober us.

is Part Three of our Truth Series.We’ve asked: How did we get here? in Episode 119. We’ve looked at The Cost of Rebellion in Episode 120.And tonight — we get practical. Because knowing truth is not enough. Even defending truth is not enough. We must walk in truth.This episode is called: Walking in Truth — How to Live Like God’s Word Is Real.”

Part Two of our Truth Series.Last time, we asked: How did we get here? We traced the journey from Eden’s first lie, through the chaos of today, to the world we now see — divided, confused, desperate for answers.Tonight we dig deeper. Because truth is not just a theory. Rejecting truth has a cost. And rebellion against God doesn’t end with freedom — it ends with chains.This episode is called: The Cost of Rebellion.”

Today we begin a brand-new three-part series on Truth.Not the watered-down, feel-good slogans the world throws at you. Not the half-truths of politicians. But the truth of God’s Word — the only truth that holds this world together.This first episode is titled: How Did We Get Here?How did we get from a garden where humanity walked with God, to a world divided by war, deception, and hostility? How did we arrive at a point where truth itself is on trial, and those who dare to speak it are mocked, canceled, or even killed?”

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken us to our core. It was a brutal act meant to silence, meant to instill fear, meant to remind us that we live in a fallen and broken world.But here’s the truth: as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ, we cannot — we must not — turn away from this moment. This is not just politics. This is not just tragedy. This is spiritual warfare.Today, I want to take time to mourn, to pray, and to reflect. But I also want to charge you, my brothers and sisters, with the call of bold faith — faith that works, faith that protects, faith that refuses to bow to darkness.

We’ve seen that purpose is not hidden—it’s already revealed in Christ. We’ve seen that purpose plays out through our vocations, our daily callings, our unique gifts.But now comes the challenge: how do we live this purpose boldly? How do we stand firm in a world that constantly tries to distract, confuse, and redefine us?Let’s dive in.Call or text us at 260-267-0414Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X

Last time, we tore down the illusion—that purpose is something we have to chase, like a hidden treasure map. We saw from scripture that God is not a God of confusion, that He created us intentionally and without mistakes, and that our purpose is already revealed in Christ.Today, we’re going deeper. We’re going to talk about how God reveals purpose in our lives—not just in broad strokes, but in the very details of our vocations, our callings, our daily responsibilities.Because God doesn’t just have a general plan for humanity. He has designed you uniquely. And that uniqueness isn’t random—it’s part of His design for the road back to Eden.Call or Text us at 260-267-0414Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X

Maybe you’ve asked that question yourself. Maybe you’ve heard it in the voices of friends, coworkers, or even your own children. Maybe you’ve read book after book, listened to podcast after podcast, all promising to unlock the secret of “finding your true calling.”But here’s the truth we’re going to uncover today: purpose is not something we find. Purpose is something God has already given.Call or text at 260-267-0414Follow us on YouTube; Facebook; Instagram; X

Today’s episode—Episode 114—is deeply personal. My wife is an empath. That means she doesn’t just see people’s emotions, she feels them. She can walk into a room and sense pain, tension, sorrow, or joy, as if it’s her own. For many, that sounds like a superpower—but the truth is, it can be heavy. It can feel like a burden, like carrying the weight of everyone else’s struggles in addition to your own.So, the question we wrestle with today is this: Why did God make her this way? Why does God create certain people so sensitive to the emotions of others? And bigger still—what is the purpose of any of us? Why are we here as Christians?

Warriors of faith, wake up! This is not a calm Sunday reflection. This is your war horn, sounding across the field of battle. The line has been drawn. The enemy advances. Pride, compromise, indifference, and the forces of darkness circle our homes, our schools, our churches.Today, we stand at the edge. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. And you must decide—will you fight, or will you kneel in fear?”

This is Episode 112, and today we gather around the appointed readings for the 11th Sunday after Trinity. These Scriptures—Genesis 4, Psalm 50, Ephesians 2, and Luke 18—speak with one voice.They show us what happens when worship is offered without faith. They show us the danger of pride, the futility of works, and the power of God’s mercy. And at the center, they proclaim the heart of the Gospel: it is not our sacrifices, not our boasting, not our efforts, but Christ’s mercy that saves.”

We’re talking about innocence. About children. About the sacred trust God has given us as guardians of purity. And we will tie this into the tragedy that has shaken our Catholic brothers and sisters in Minnesota. A place of learning, a place meant to nurture and shelter children, was pierced by violence.

This ain’t your cozy corner—this is Crusade with Me!, Episode 110, and we’re picking up from Episode 33’s inferno. Today—we scorch complacency, we torch digital sedation, we unleash holy outrage for our children’s minds, their resilience, their souls. Inspired by Steven Bartlett’s seismic truths—from The Diary of a CEO—we’re blending brain science with spiritual transcendence. The fire’s lit—let’s burn!”

Today, we’re drawing swords on a big one: Taoism and Christianity.Both talk about the Way. Both teach wisdom about life, the mind, and even the body. Taoism has its beauty. Its discipline. Its respect for sex and energy. And for a lot of people, it feels like enough.But here’s the hard truth: Taoism never gives you a God. It never gives you a Christ. It never gives you hope beyond the grave.So today, we’ll weigh the Tao against the Cross. We’ll honor the wisdom where it’s real. We’ll admit the places where Christians have dropped the ball. But we’ll also plant the flag where it belongs—at the foot of the Cross, where God Himself bled and rose for us.Brothers and sisters—let’s crusade.

Four Scriptures join together with one call: Jeremiah warns of people who will not rise. The psalm declares that the righteous stand strong and unshaken. Paul exposes zeal without truth as a fatal mistake. And the Lord Himself—our Warrior King—weeps over Jerusalem and then drives corruption out of His temple.The message is simple and hard: rise up when you fall, root yourself in the Lord’s strength, direct your zeal with truth, and let your tears for the broken turn into action. Anything less is surrender.”

Today’s episode is one of those extra-special ones that I will treasure forever. I’m not riding alone today—I have a very dear guest joining me. She’s not only family, she’s one of the brightest lights in my life.That’s right—our oldest granddaughter, Sweetpea, has volunteered—yes, volunteered!—to sit down and share her heart with me here on the podcast. She’s just eleven years old, but as you’ll hear, her faith, her courage, and her cowgirl grit already shine in such a beautiful way.

"This is Crusade with Me! — where we walk the road back to Eden together. Today’s crusade is not about division, but connection. The thread that binds us, every one of us. Because before nations, before religions, before doctrines and schisms — there was the Divine. And that Divine spark lives in each of us.""Think about it: thousands of faiths, thousands of traditions, thousands of languages… and yet, across them all, humanity cannot shake this deep, ancient urge — the urge to believe in God. Have you ever asked yourself why? Why is it universal? Why do we, in every culture, every century, feel the need to reach for something greater than ourselves? Could it be… because it is written into our very being? Could it be… because the same Divine breath formed us all?"