If the church did not fail America, then what did?
In this episode, we move past easy accusations and familiar talking points and ask a harder, more uncomfortable question. History shows the church was active, vocal, and evangelistic during the very decades when America began to drift spiritually. So the explanation for where we are today must lie somewhere deeper—and closer to home.
This conversation traces a series of quiet but powerful shifts that reshaped American family life over time. None of them happened overnight, and none of them were accidental. Together, they formed a pattern that slowly altered how faith was lived, prioritized, and passed on. Rather than pointing fingers at institutions or culture alone, this episode challenges listeners to examine where spiritual formation was meant to begin—and what happens when that foundation weakens.
Did the church fail America?
It’s a question often asked with frustration, sarcasm, or blame—but rarely examined honestly. In this episode, we step back from easy accusations and take a careful look at history, Scripture, and the Christian witness of the last century. Using Paul Harvey’s famous “If I Were the Devil” as a jumping-off point, we explore whether America’s spiritual decline can truly be laid at the feet of a silent or disengaged church. The answer may surprise you.
We examine the decades when many of today’s cultural battles first erupted—the removal of prayer and Bible reading from public schools, the rise of secular humanism, the legalization of abortion, and growing hostility toward biblical morality. These were not quiet years for Christianity. Churches were full, revival meetings were massive, soul-winning conferences were common, and Christian voices were loud in the public square. By outward appearances, the church was active, organized, and deeply engaged.
So how do we explain where we are now? If the church was preaching, evangelizing, and fighting cultural battles, why did the spiritual trajectory of the nation still shift so dramatically? In this episode, we challenge some easy assumptions, confront uncomfortable questions, and lay the groundwork for a deeper conversation—one that moves beyond headlines and history and presses us to examine where faith is truly formed, preserved, and passed on.
At a recent conference, someone asked me:
"Why the name 'Sandy Creek Stirrings'?"
In this episode, I answer that question.
To begin, we travel back to 1755 and meet a largely forgotten Baptist preacher whose obedience shook an entire continent. From a quiet conversion under George Whitefield to a blazing church-planting movement that spread from a tiny North Carolina settlement across the American South, you’ll hear how God used Shubal Stearns and a band of ordinary men to turn spiritual wilderness into harvest fields. Along the way we’ll walk through revival, persecution, imprisonment, and the birth of churches that still influences Baptist life today. Then we bring the story home—why a podcast in 2025 carries the name Sandy Creek Stirrings, and what that has to do with your life, your calling, and your fire for God. This isn’t just Baptist history; it’s a call for God to do again in our day what He did at Sandy Creek.
At the end of the episode, we play a song for you from the CD “A Christ Centered Christmas” by Dr. Scott Caudill with permission from Dr. Caudill. You can purchase your own copy at the following link:
In this stirring revival message, we step into Leviticus and watch as God Himself sends fire from heaven to light the very first sacrifice on the altar. Then comes the surprising command: that God-kindled flame must never go out.
From there, Dr. Bachman turns that ancient scene into a mirror for our own hearts, asking a hard question—has your fire gone out? With vivid stories, humor, and conviction, he shows how easy it is to slip from burning zeal into cold, mechanical duty. You’ll hear firsthand accounts that strip away our excuses and expose how quickly spiritual passion can fade if it’s not tended. Yet woven through the warning is a powerful hope: the God who starts the fire is ready to help you stoke it again.
This episode will leave you longing not just to attend church, but to keep the fire of your work, your witness, and your walk with God burning hot every day.At the end of the episode, we play a song for you from the CD “O Holy Night” - piano solos by Caleb Galvan - with permission from North Valley Publications. You can purchase your own copy at the following link:
https://nvpublications.org/products/o-holy-night?_pos=1&_sid=1ee303636&_ss=r
Illegal immigration.
Few issues cut through America’s moral conscience like this one. What should a Christian think when compassion collides with justice, and mercy meets law? Illegal immigration isn’t just a political issue — it’s a moral one. It’s more than policy. It’s more than politics. It’s a test of conscience.
In Part 2, we set aside political noise and open the Scriptures to ask a far deeper question: How should a Christian view illegal immigration?
We examine what the Bible actually says about obeying civil law, balancing mercy with justice, and how God commanded nations to handle foreigners in their borders.
You may be surprised at how clearly Scripture addresses borders, order, and compassion — and how these principles shape a believer’s response today.At the end of the episode, we play a song for you from the CD “A Christ Centered Christmas” by Dr. Scott Caudill with permission from Dr. Caudill. You can purchase your own copy at the following link:
Illegal immigration.
Few issues cut through America’s moral conscience like this one. What should a Christian think when compassion collides with justice, and mercy meets law? Illegal immigration isn’t just a political issue — it’s a moral one. It’s more than policy. It's more than politics. It’s a test of conscience.
In this two-part episode, we explore the clash between compassion and conviction, and what it truly means to think biblically in a world that’s forgotten how. Together, we will dig deep beneath the headlines and politics to expose what lies at the heart of one of our nation’s most divisive questions.
When a generation inherits victory it didn’t fight for, it forgets how to fight. Drawing from Joshua 24 and Judges 2–3, we trace how Israel’s second generation lost what their fathers won—and why today’s second, third, and fourth generations are repeating it. This episode exposes the quiet collapse of second-generation faith—and why a warless Christianity cannot last. This is a call for young men to embrace battle-tested faith - a summons to grit, obedience, and the kind of devotion that bleeds. It is a plea for a generation to pick up the sword, step onto the field, and do something great for God. Will you fight?
In this follow-up episode, we drive the final nails into the coffin of Replacement Theology. Many claim the church has replaced Israel and that God’s covenant promises are now only “spiritual,” but Scripture says otherwise. We’ll walk through the last proof-texts often used to support Replacement Theology and show why they collapse under the weight of God’s Word.
Along the way, we’ll highlight the overwhelming biblical evidence that Israel and the church remain distinct in God’s plan, and that His covenants with Israel are everlasting and irrevocable. If God is faithful to Israel, He will be faithful to you. This episode isn’t just about prophecy—it’s about the character of God Himself.
Replacement Theology.
You may have heard the term—or maybe not. But what does it really mean, and why does it matter for Christians today? In this episode, we open the Scriptures and step into a centuries-old debate that still shapes pulpits, seminaries, and worldviews.
We’ll examine the key passage in Galatians 6:16, and weigh whether it truly calls the Church “the Israel of God.” We’ll contrast Christian Zionism and Replacement Theology, exploring how each frames God’s promises. You’ll hear direct quotes from supersessionist voices, past and present, and then measure their claims against the Bible itself.
We’ll also tackle the practical questions: What should a Christian’s position toward Israel be today? Should believers support the modern State of Israel? How do we distinguish between Israel as a people, as a nation, and as a government? These distinctions matter, and they shape how we pray, how we think about prophecy, and how we live faithfully in light of God’s Word.
Whether you’re brand new to the topic or have wrestled with it for years, this episode will help you think clearly, biblically, and deeply about one of the most important theological conversations of our time.
Replacement Theology.
You may have heard the term—or maybe not. But what does it really mean, and why does it matter for Christians today? In this episode, we open the Scriptures and step into a centuries-old debate that still shapes pulpits, seminaries, and worldviews.
We’ll examine the key passage in Galatians 6:16, and weigh whether it truly calls the Church “the Israel of God.” We’ll contrast Christian Zionism and Replacement Theology, exploring how each frames God’s promises. You’ll hear direct quotes from supersessionist voices, past and present, and then measure their claims against the Bible itself.
We’ll also tackle the practical questions: What should a Christian’s position toward Israel be today? Should believers support the modern State of Israel? How do we distinguish between Israel as a people, as a nation, and as a government? These distinctions matter, and they shape how we pray, how we think about prophecy, and how we live faithfully in light of God’s Word.
Whether you’re brand new to the topic or have wrestled with it for years, this episode will help you think clearly, biblically, and deeply about one of the most important theological conversations of our time.
Here is another “Things I Think” episode! This episode is a completely different format than what we usually record on Sandy Creek Stirrings. In this episode, I share with you a few random thoughts that have been on my mind – some musings, some “ponderings”, some things that I have been meditating on. Like:
- The rapture prediction of "Pastor" Joshua Mhlakela,
- Why Christians aren't living every day like Jesus is worth it.
- Why unschooling ideologies are raising undisciplined children.
- Has Charlie Kirk's death brought revival to America?
- And more!
I’m not asking you to put your phone down.
I’m asking you to shut it off.
For one whole day. Every week. That’s right — shut it off. And if you can’t? Then maybe you don’t own your phone… maybe it owns you.
In this episode of Sandy Creek Stirrings, we confront the unseen grip our devices have on our time, our families, and even our spiritual lives. From stolen stillness to sleepless nights, from constant comparison to lost creativity, the phone has become the widest open path into our hearts. But there’s a radical step that can break the mold of mass communication and media and restore freedom, rest, and focus.
Discover the biblical, psychological, and practical reasons to embrace stillness—and why shutting your phone off may be the most powerful act of breaking the subconscious mind mold you can take this week .
We wonder why we don’t feel close to God as a generation. It’s because we have let society be our father. We have let culture be our mother. We have let political victory be our hope. We have let “the American Dream” be our focus.
That's why I am calling for something radical - something that will break us free from the mass molding of mass media and mass communication.
A radical philosophy.
What if the greatest danger to Christianity in America isn’t hostility from the outside, but comfort on the inside? In this episode, we step back and look at a philosophy that may sound radical at first — one that challenges everything we’ve come to think of as “normal.” What does the Bible say about embracing a life that looks different from the world around us?
Last time, I left you uncomfortable on purpose. Maybe you thought I was calling for Christians to throw out every TV, cancel every streaming service, and delete every YouTube subscription. Not quite. My goal was to shake your sense of “normal” — because when it comes to mass media, normal isn’t neutral.
This episode is about the one part of the cycle you can actually control: the path. You decide how, when, and if the world’s products make it into your home. Today, we’ll get practical: how to guard those paths, restore healthy dialogue, counteract worldly inputs, and reclaim family life from the glow of the screen.
And as we move forward, I’ll make good on my promise - I will call you to something radical.
Episode #345: The Subconscious Mind Mold - The Invisible Curriculum In The Classroom Called Home
A novel, a film, and a radio broadcast once revealed the terrifying power of influence. Decades later, their warnings still echo: the effect is real. It doesn’t shout—it whispers. And over time, it reshapes what we call normal.
Your home is being taught every single day. But the teachers may not be who you think. That leaves us with a forceful question: What if the ideas you call your own aren’t really yours? What if the voices shaping your family are louder than you realize?
This episode uncovers what we all sense but rarely stop to question. And as you press play, you’ll be challenged to pause—and carefully think.
This podcast episode (and series) is presented with a very specific audience in mind: young preachers, teachers, and serious Bible students who will inevitably hear the renewed cry of the “revisionist movement.”
The goal here is not to rehash debates about translation philosophy, manuscript traditions, or textual criticism. I have written and recorded episodes elsewhere on those matters. Instead, this episode series focuses on a narrower—but vital—issue: the push for a revision of the King James Bible.
In recent years, respected men and familiar voices—some within Independent Baptist circles—have called for what they describe as a “simple updating” of the KJV. At first glance, this may sound harmless, even helpful. But history tells us a different story. Every generation since the 1820s has raised this same cry and the revisitionist movement now stands as a two century old argument. It’s the same words – wrapped in modern paper.
This episode series is not recorded to win arguments against critics. It is written to equip the next generation of preachers and church leaders with the nuts and bolts of history, so that when the shimmer of revisionist rhetoric flashes before them, they can see the actual undergirding of their cry. It’s a field guide – a quick survey – to understanding and evaluating the revisionist movement.
You will find here both historical case studies and modern parallels, woven together to show that the revisionist cry is not new, not different, and never satisfied. My prayer is that this work will strengthen your resolve to stand where faithful men have stood, and to feed your flock the Word of God that has endured revivals, persecutions, and centuries of scrutiny.
Want this episode in book format? You can read my PDF Book entitled “Not New – A Guide To 200 Years Of KJV Revision Debate” on our website (FOR FREE!) at the link below:
"I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith." - Charlie Kirk
In the wake of the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk, the world sits in shock and wonder at where to go from here. The same thoughts have been a consuming fire and burning wake-up call to me over the past 24 hours.
I hesitated to record anything at all (SCS is not a "newsy" or "current events" podcast). In the end, I decided to push the record button for one reason - and one reason only:
I wanted to go back and be able to remember how I felt and what I was thinking the day Charlie died.
I don't ever want to forget what happened on 9.10.25 and the way I felt on that day. I want my kids to be able to go back and hear what "Daddy" was thinking on that day. May the seed of Charlie Kirk's death propel the Gospel of Jesus Christ only stronger and further across the world.
This podcast episode (and series) is presented with a very specific audience in mind: young preachers, teachers, and serious Bible students who will inevitably hear the renewed cry of the “revisionist movement.”
The goal here is not to rehash debates about translation philosophy, manuscript traditions, or textual criticism. I have written and recorded episodes elsewhere on those matters. Instead, this episode series focuses on a narrower—but vital—issue: the push for a revision of the King James Bible.
In recent years, respected men and familiar voices—some within Independent Baptist circles—have called for what they describe as a “simple updating” of the KJV. At first glance, this may sound harmless, even helpful. But history tells us a different story. Every generation since the 1820s has raised this same cry and the revisitionist movement now stands as a two century old argument. It’s the same words – wrapped in modern paper.
This episode series is not recorded to win arguments against critics. It is written to equip the next generation of preachers and church leaders with the nuts and bolts of history, so that when the shimmer of revisionist rhetoric flashes before them, they can see the actual undergirding of their cry. It’s a field guide – a quick survey – to understanding and evaluating the revisionist movement.
You will find here both historical case studies and modern parallels, woven together to show that the revisionist cry is not new, not different, and never satisfied. My prayer is that this work will strengthen your resolve to stand where faithful men have stood, and to feed your flock the Word of God that has endured revivals, persecutions, and centuries of scrutiny.
Want this episode in book format? You can read my PDF Book entitled “Not New – A Guide To 200 Years Of KJV Revision Debate” on our website (FOR FREE!) at the link below:
This podcast episode (and series) is presented with a very specific audience in mind: young preachers, teachers, and serious Bible students who will inevitably hear the renewed cry of the “revisionist movement.”
The goal here is not to rehash debates about translation philosophy, manuscript traditions, or textual criticism. I have written and recorded episodes elsewhere on those matters. Instead, this episode series focuses on a narrower—but vital—issue: the push for a revision of the King James Bible.
In recent years, respected men and familiar voices—some within Independent Baptist circles—have called for what they describe as a “simple updating” of the KJV. At first glance, this may sound harmless, even helpful. But history tells us a different story. Every generation since the 1820s has raised this same cry and the revisitionist movement now stands as a two century old argument. It’s the same words - wrapped in modern paper.
This episode series is not recorded to win arguments against critics. It is written to equip the next generation of preachers and church leaders with the nuts and bolts of history, so that when the shimmer of revisionist rhetoric flashes before them, they can see the actual undergirding of their cry. It’s a field guide - a quick survey - to understanding and evaluating the revisionist movement.
You will find here both historical case studies and modern parallels, woven together to show that the revisionist cry is not new, not different, and never satisfied. My prayer is that this work will strengthen your resolve to stand where faithful men have stood, and to feed your flock the Word of God that has endured revivals, persecutions, and centuries of scrutiny.
Want this episode in book format? You can read my PDF Book entitled "Not New - A Guide To 200 Years Of KJV Revision Debate" on our website (FOR FREE!) at the link below:
https://sandycreekstirrings.com/resources/
Have you ever been to that place where the burden seems to heavy? It just seems like everything is crashing down around you? You wonder how you can go another mile? Or even another step?
The message in this episode will aid you in times - just like these! In this episode, you will find a great reminder of a wonderful truth taught to us by Christ Himself. If you ever get a hold of this wonderful principle, it will change your life!