Ever notice how easy it is to defend yourself and how hard it is to say, “I was wrong”? From kitchen-table conflicts to headline-making controversies, we trace how self-justification sneaks into our words, our ethics, and even our prayers—and why real repentance is the only path to enjoy the forgiveness already won for us. Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others discover these conversations. Support the show The ministry of Christian Life...

Enjoy this previously published episode. We will be back with a fresh new episode next week. In this episode, Bob, Christa, and Jeff trace how the “spirit of Christmas” drifted from the incarnation to vague goodwill and why anchoring the season in Christ brings joy that endures grief, illness, and change. We share practical ways to teach the story, shape honest traditions, and keep Scripture central at home. • Cultural sentiment versus the biblical message • Why the incarna...

The manger sits inside a story older and bigger than a single night in Bethlehem. When we remember that Jesus was born a Jew—son of David, heir to the covenants—we recover the full weight of Advent and see how God kept precise promises to bless the whole world through Israel. That memory does more than enrich Christmas; it clarifies our mission and confronts the casual prejudices shaping today’s conversations. We walk through Scripture’s insistence on Jesus’ lineage and why it mattered for e...

What if the most honest voices for Advent are also the most uncomfortable? We sit down with Pastor Jeff Samelson and Professor Emeritus Mark Braun to unpack what prophets actually did, why their words weren’t power plays or vague predictions, and how their message threads from Assyrian threats to a manger in Bethlehem. This is a journey through Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and Hosea that reveals not trivia, but a pattern: short-term hardship, long-term joy, and a Messiah who stands at the center....

Culture is racing toward comfort, control, and convenience—and the cost is showing up in our laws, our relationships, and our shared sense of right and wrong. We dive into Illinois’ move toward legalizing assisted suicide, the long-game strategy that normalizes it across states, and a striking proposal in Scotland to create buffer zones that silence dissent near places where assisted deaths occur. These developments aren’t just policy curiosities; they reveal what we believe about suffering, ...

What happens when sex and gender get pulled apart, and families are left to navigate the fallout alone? We dig into that tension with Pastor Gregory Lyon, exploring a path that refuses to compromise biblical integrity while refusing to give up on people who are hurting. Starting from Genesis 1–2, we unpack why God’s design for male and female still frames identity after the fall, how cultural stereotypes muddy the water, and why clarity doesn’t have to sound like a hammer. Greg shares the st...

What happens when life-and-death choices collide with shifting cultural norms and persuasive feelings? We step into the thick of bioethics with a clear, Christian lens, exploring how unmovable moral principles guide real decisions about abortion, gender transitions, IVF, ventilators, and assisted suicide. Together, we unpack why emotion should inform compassion but never replace truth, and how small compromises in principle become big changes in policy over time. Support the show The minist...

Headlines shout certainty while the data whispers, and that gap can cost us wisdom. We dive into what real research looks like, how to separate signal from noise, and why the difference between correlation and causation matters for your health, your choices, and your credibility. From flashy anecdotes and AI-polished videos to the quiet rigor of controls, sample sizes, and replication, we walk through a practical, plain-language guide to spotting trustworthy studies without getting lost in ja...

A new generic abortion pill hits the market, IVF access expands, and home births surge—each framed as progress, each carrying hidden costs. We pull apart the headlines and ask the harder question: what protects vulnerable lives when policy moves faster than moral clarity? First, we unpack the FDA’s approval of another mifepristone generic and why “identical formulation” doesn’t settle the ethical debate. Safety talk often skims maternal side effects while ignoring the unborn child’s near‑cer...

What if bold faith looks less like a podium and more like a quiet, honest confession: I need Jesus right now. We sit down with Pastor Titus Buelow to unpack why so many of us feel hesitant to speak about the gospel in a polarized culture, and how humility, practiced empathy, and real community can transform anxious silence into steady courage. Instead of the tidy “before and after,” Titus offers a present-tense testimony that keeps Jesus at the center and keeps our tone human when conversatio...

What happens when parenting meets pressure from schools, policies, and cultural trends that sideline the family? We tackle the question head-on, starting with Scripture’s clear claim that parents—especially fathers—carry God-given responsibility to raise children in truth and love. From there, we dig into the gray areas that so often trip us up: when to intervene for another family’s child, how to spot the line between objective harm and mere parenting style differences, and why demeanor and ...

When sorrow hits the headlines—or lands in our homes—saying “thoughts and prayers” can feel either deeply kind or painfully empty. We unpack why that phrase draws so much fire, and how to turn it from a reflex into a lifeline by praying with purpose and following through with real help. With Pastors Bob Fleischmann and Jeff Samelson, we explore the power of intercession, the pitfalls of vague sentiment, and the simple shifts that make care tangible. We dig into what honest prayer looks like:...

A public murder, a public act of forgiveness, and a public reckoning with what courage really costs—this conversation starts where the news won’t and moves into the places most of us live: trust, discernment, and the daily habits that shape our conscience. We open with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the surprising witness that emerged from the memorial—clear gospel, costly grace, and a reminder that God can draw purpose from tragedy without excusing evil. The question beneath the headl...

Freedom of speech sounds simple—until you try to speak a hard truth at work, post a conviction online, or share the gospel with someone who disagrees. We unpack what free speech actually protects, where the guardrails are, and why the ability to speak openly is essential to practicing faith, especially when it comes to pro‑life and pro‑family advocacy. Along the way, we look at how cancel culture, “hate speech” labels, and the claim that “speech is violence” are reshaping public conversation ...

What if the key to deeper spiritual growth isn't more knowledge, but better emotional awareness? Scott Mittelstadt, a former law enforcement officer turned emotional intelligence consultant, reveals how understanding your emotions transforms every relationship—including your relationship with God. Ever sit down to read scripture only to realize minutes later you can't remember what you just read? You're not alone. Scott shares how journaling revolutionized his Bible study, creating "a night ...

Katie Coblentz shares her powerful journey from identifying as transgender to finding her identity in Christ, revealing how Jesus' love filled the emptiness that transition couldn't satisfy. Katie shares how her transition initially felt effortless—"like pedaling downhill"—as society's affirmation created a smooth path forward. Yet seven years into living as "Caden," something wasn't right. The revelation that shook her came not from anti-transgender arguments but from a profound spiritual a...

Katie Coblentz shares her powerful journey through gender transition and detransition, revealing how her identity as a baptized child of God ultimately became her anchor when everything else fell apart. She describes the complex path from childhood confusion to medical transition and back, offering unique insights from someone who has lived on both sides of this profound life experience. "I'm a baptized child of God," Katie says, describing the moment of clarity that came after years of conf...

This episode examines recent events through a Christian perspective. • Discussion of the Minnesota church shooting, warning against using tragedy to vilify entire groups • The "world's oldest IVF baby" - embryo adoption giving life to a 30-year frozen embryo • Remembering James Dobson's significant impact on pro-life and family values movements • Examination of the Mark Surrogacy case reveals exploitation in unregulated reproductive technology • Analysis of church-state separation after a Lu...

What happens to your perspective when you work with terminally ill patients every day? Danita Ziegler, a medical professional supporting glioblastoma patients, reveals the profound shift in priorities that comes from standing at the threshold between life and death regularly. "You cannot sweat the small stuff," Danita explains, describing emotional scenes in patients' homes that put everyday frustrations into perspective. After witnessing families navigate the devastating realities of termin...

Courage doesn't mean fearlessness—it means standing firm despite our fears. The upcoming Fearless Faith conference, hosted by Christian Life Resources on September 13th at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wisconsin, offers exactly what today's Christians need: biblical wisdom for navigating our complex world. Based on Joshua 1:9, this one-day gathering brings together remarkable speakers who understand firsthand what it means to face life's storms with God's strength. From Pas...