In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach dives into the question: is your news a false prophet? Using the story of Dan Bongino as an example, he explores how media can spread lies to cater to what people want to hear, and how we must discern truth in a culture full of echo chambers. Ultimately, Pastor Zach reminds us that the standard for truth is found in God, not in the headlines.
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In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach reflects on a recent Wall Street Journal article about elite colleges requiring students to engage with opposing viewpoints and challenges the church to do the same. He emphasizes Matthew 5:9, calling Christians to be peacemakers who prioritize understanding people over “winning” arguments. Pastor Zach encourages listeners to practice listening, validating others’ perspectives, and building meaningful dialogue while standing firm in the truth.
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In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach reflects on the story of Ohio State coach Ryan Day and the power of second chances, urging listeners not to be quick to write people off. He connects this to James 1:19, emphasizing patience, listening, and the possibility of redemption, both in personal relationships and in culture. Pastor Zach challenges us to reconsider who we may have prematurely judged or “canceled” and encourages reaching out to restore connection and potential.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach explores the hidden dangers of social media and how foreign actors and divisive content can manipulate and divide us. He reminds listeners, drawing on 1 Peter 5:8, that the true enemy is spiritual, and urges discernment, prayer, and reflection before engaging online. Pastor Zach encourages turning our focus toward God and restoration in our relationships rather than being consumed by the toxicity of the Internet.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach explores the pressure of perfection in our culture and how it stifles growth, creativity, and personal progress. Drawing on Matthew 11:28, he reminds listeners that Jesus offers rest from cultural expectations and the need for validation, freeing us to embrace the messiness of life. Pastor Zach encourages us to lean into God’s voice, take risks, and grow without fear of imperfection.
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In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach unpacks how our constant phone-checking is draining our focus and reshaping our brains in ways similar to addiction. He connects this cultural habit to the biblical practice of fasting, arguing that smartphones—not food—are the modern master we need to step away from. Pastor Zach challenges listeners to build a rhythm of “digital fasting” so we can refocus our attention on God.
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In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks: can we stop murder before it happens? Using Baltimore’s Safe Streets program as an example, he explores how “credible messengers” intervene in communities to prevent violence and break cycles of harm. Pastor Zach connects this to Jesus’ call for Christians to be salt and light, showing that through neighborly love and action, we can actively push back against decay and danger in our world.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks: did we discover a cure for loneliness? Drawing on a Stanford study, he explains that loneliness often stems from cynicism about others, not a lack of people, and that highlighting kindness and empathy can help people connect. Pastor Zach challenges listeners to speak well of others and share stories of goodness, showing how Christians can be redemptive and help lonely people experience real community.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks the question: do we ever leave high school? Using the recent trend of cigarette smoking among Gen Z as a starting point, he explores how we’re all influenced by culture, celebrities, and social media, often in ways that are spiritually harmful. He encourages listeners to stop chasing “cool” and instead anchor their lives in Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of guidance, purpose, and healthy influence.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks the question: who is forming our kids? He explores how our performance-obsessed culture–focused on grades, athletics, and achievement–is fueling anxiety, depression, and pressure among children, and he urges parents to instead ground their kids in God’s love and inherent value. When children know their worth comes from being made in God’s image, not from what they do, they can thrive spiritually, emotionally, and even academically.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach tackles the question: is gender dysphoria a fad? Using research and cultural trends, he explores how rapid shifts in identity, especially among teens, often reflect cultural influence rather than biology, and he challenges Christians to anchor themselves in Christ so they aren’t swept up by every new cultural wave. This episode reminds us that true stability comes from hearing and doing God’s Word, building our lives on rock instead of sand.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach unpacks the growing tension between parents and grandparents over modern parenting styles. Using Scripture as a guide, he challenges both sides to honor parental roles, speak with restraint, and pursue encouragement and peace in the family. Pastor Zach reminds listeners that while grandparents can be an incredible source of love and wisdom, healthy relationships require clear communication and humility.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach reflects on Charles Murray’s surprising conversion to Christianity and asks whether there’s anyone we think God can’t reach. Murray—an Ivy League–trained intellectual—came to faith through studying the claims of Christianity and observing the steady witness of his wife. Pastor Zach reminds us that God often reaches people through both reason and faithful example, and that no one is beyond his reach.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach breaks down the rapid rise of AI “companions” and the growing trend of people forming romantic or sexual relationships with chatbots. He explains why these synthetic relationships are spiritually and socially dangerous, distancing us from real human connection and fueling “lust without limits.” Pastor Zach urges Christians to resist this new wave of counterfeit intimacy and hold tightly to God’s design for relationships.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach tackles the rise of tablets in schools and asks whether screens are quietly becoming our kids’ real teachers. He explains that despite declining test scores and research showing digital learning is less effective, schools continue to rely on devices—even though parents and teachers don’t want them. Pastor Zach challenges parents to take responsibility for their children’s formation, prioritize real thinking over passive screen use, and choose long-term growth over short-term convenience.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach responds to the news about Larry Summers to explore the difference between shame and true repentance. He explains that while Summers expresses remorse, biblical repentance requires action and making things right, as seen in the story of Zacchaeus. Pastor Zach challenges listeners to pursue real change and transparency rather than settling for surface-level sorrow.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks a question that hits deeper than sports headlines: Has gambling ruined sports? After reading a recent feature in The Atlantic about the growing gambling crisis in Major League Baseball, Pastor Zach reflects on the shocking federal indictment involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of manipulating pitches for prop bets — despite already earning millions.
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In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach tackles a question many of us have been silently asking: Where has decency gone? After reading a Washington Post op-ed by former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, he reflects on the sad reality that civility has become almost nonexistent in public life. Profanity, personal attacks, and humiliation have become political strategy — and most of us are exhausted by it.
But instead of simply agreeing that things have gotten ugly, Pastor Zach offers a biblical and practical roadmap for how Christians can lead the way back to decency.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach asks a powerful question: Is your phone making you less human? Drawing from a New York Times opinion piece by psychoanalyst Stephen Barry Anthony, he explores how technology is reshaping the way we feel, connect, and relate — and not for the better.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!
In this episode of Wake Up, Look Up, Pastor Zach dives into the rise of emotional dependence on AI and asks a bold question: Is ChatGPT becoming a substitute for real friendship? After reviewing a Washington Post article analyzing over 47,000 conversations with ChatGPT, Pastor Zach uncovers why so many people are turning to artificial intelligence — not for information, but for connection.
Have an article you’d like Pastor Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!