Unpolished but Called

Can you be angry with a God you don't believe in? That question stopped me in the middle of an episode of House —not because I think every person who doesn't believe in God is secretly angry with Him, but because it made me think about the people who say: “I used to believe.” Then something happened. Loss. Grief. An unanswered prayer. Betrayal. Suffering. Something they begged God to change that H...

“Lukewarm Christian.” We use that phrase pretty easily. Someone isn't reading their Bible enough, praying enough, attending enough, sharing their faith enough—or simply doesn't seem as passionate about Christianity as we think they should be. But is that actually what Jesus meant? In this episode, we're going back to Revelation 3 and Christ's warning to the church at Laodicea. Instead of building...

Someone leaves our church and suddenly the relationship changes. The calls stop. Invitations disappear. People who once called each other brother and sister barely know what to say when they run into each other at Walmart. But did that person actually leave the church—or did they simply leave our church? In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between biblical church involvement and lo...

We’ve probably all heard an apology that contained the words “I’m sorry” but somehow didn’t feel much like an apology. “I’m sorry you were offended.” “I’m sorry, but…” “I apologized. What else do you want from me?” But for Christians, there’s a bigger question than whether we said the right words: was there actually repentance? In this episode, we’re getting into the difference between being sorry...

Why do some Christian women still have mean girl energy? This episode started with a question that came across my Facebook feed in a Christian women's group. I opened the comments—and honestly, I was shook by how many women described feeling excluded, judged, talked about, or like they'd somehow found themselves back in the high-school cafeteria. So we're going there. We're talking about church cl...

Anger isn't always sinful. Scripture actually tells us, “Be ye angry, and sin not.” But that's where the harder question begins: What is our anger producing? In S2 E160 of Unpolished but Called , we're talking about righteous anger, fleshly anger, self-control, the power of our words—and what happens when something genuinely wrong collides with our very last nerve. This episode is personal for me...

When someone you love is struggling, making a bad decision, or facing a problem you know how to solve, helping can feel like the obvious thing to do. But how do we know when God is asking us to step in—and when we're trying to take responsibility for something that was never ours to carry? In S2 E159 of Unpolished but Called , we're talking about the difference between helping someone and trying t...

What happens when “protecting people” becomes the justification for sowing discord? Sometimes division doesn't begin with a public accusation. It starts quietly—with one conversation, one warning, one carefully planted suggestion. Someone tells their version of a conflict to another person, then another, and eventually people who were never involved are carrying opinions and judgments about someon...

What happens when you've spent your whole life being the strong one—and suddenly you can't be strong anymore? Maybe you learned very young to be responsible, independent, dependable and easy. Maybe you became the person who could handle things, the person everyone leaned on, or the person who learned there wasn't much room for what you needed. Eventually, being strong stopped being something you d...

What happens when something in your life really does end? Maybe it was a relationship, a season, an opportunity, a plan you were certain would work out, or even a failure of your own making. Sometimes there is no going back to the way things were. The stump remains. The loss was real. But does the ending of one thing mean God has stopped working? In S2 E156 of Unpolished but Called , we're looking...

What does God actually ask of a pastor? Most of us hear a sermon once or twice a week, but we rarely stop to consider the burden carried long before anyone steps behind the pulpit. Faithful shepherds aren't simply preparing messages—they're praying for people, studying God's Word, grieving with those who grieve, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and watching over souls they know ultimately belong...

We often think about stewarding our money, our time, our talents, and our spiritual gifts. But have you ever considered that God has also entrusted people to your care? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we explore what it means to faithfully steward the relationships God has placed in our lives. In a culture that often treats relationships as opportunities for networking, influence, and p...

Technology has changed the way we access biblical teaching. Today we can listen to sermons on YouTube, watch church livestreams, follow Bible studies online, and stay connected through podcasts from almost anywhere in the world. These tools have become incredible gifts for sharing the Gospel and encouraging believers. But they also raise an important question. Can church actually happen through a...

Have we unintentionally become selective about which parts of God's character we're willing to talk about? We often celebrate God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness—and we should. But what about His holiness? His justice? His righteousness? His call to repentance? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we explore the difference between the God we like and the God who has revealed Himself in...

Everyone can identify problems. Whether it's in our homes, workplaces, communities, or churches, it's often easy to see what isn't working. But after we've identified the problem, what comes next? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we explore the difference between biblical concern and habitual complaining, why gossip so often begins with unresolved frustration, and how Scripture calls bel...

Have we become so familiar with sin that we've stopped noticing it? In Jeremiah 6, God wasn't simply addressing the sins of His people—He was revealing something even more concerning. Their hearts had become so desensitized that they were no longer ashamed. Jeremiah says they "couldn't even blush." In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we explore how constant exposure can slowly reshape our s...

When does a legitimate concern become gossip? As Christians, we often say things like, "I'm just concerned," or "Can you pray about something?" But sometimes concern can quietly become gossip, and gossip can even hide behind the words "prayer request." In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we open God's Word to explore the difference between seeking wise counsel and spreading information, whe...

Can someone really sell their soul to the devil, or is that just a phrase we've accepted without asking what the Bible actually says? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we leave behind Hollywood myths and popular culture to examine what Scripture teaches about God as our Creator, Satan's desire for worship, spiritual deception, and why knowing God's Word is our greatest protection. This co...

Have you ever noticed how quickly we move on to the next prayer, the next goal, or the next project? In this episode, I share a lesson God taught me while assembling the very first Birthday Project kits for our local food bank. As I prayed over each kit, I realized something: sometimes the blessing isn't reaching the finish line—it's slowing down long enough to recognize God's faithfulness through...

Who Told You That You Were the Black Sheep? | Unpolished but Called | Ep. 146 Have you ever been called the black sheep? For some people, that label comes because of past mistakes. But for others, it's simply because they refused to accept unhealthy patterns, questioned the dysfunction around them, or chose a different path. In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we explore what it really mean...

Can a Sermon Really Convict You? | Unpolished but Called | Ep. 145 Have you ever said, “That sermon really convicted me”? We say it all the time, but who is really doing the convicting? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , we talk about the difference between the messenger and the Holy Spirit, why people can speak truth but only God can change the heart, and how that takes pressure off us as...

The Side of the Tapestry We Never See Have you ever looked at your life and wondered why nothing seems to make sense? In this episode of Unpolished but Called , I share a powerful illustration that reminded me how often we only see the tangled threads of our lives while God sees the finished design. We talk about unanswered prayers, seasons of waiting, suffering, faith, and why trusting the One we...

Have you ever stopped to ask whether something is truly taught in Scripture—or whether it's simply a tradition, preference, or opinion we've grown accustomed to? In this episode of Unpolished But Called , we explore the difference between biblical doctrine and personal conviction. Christians often hold strong opinions about worship styles, Bible translations, church traditions, and countless other...

Have you ever looked back and realized there were prayers you're actually thankful God didn't answer? In this episode of Unpolished But Called , I share how one unanswered prayer completely changed my perspective on God's timing. Sometimes we pray for open doors, immediate answers, or easier circumstances, only to discover much later that God's "no" wasn't rejection—it was mercy. We'll look at Jon...

Have you ever noticed how quickly we assume what someone believes before we've actually asked them? In this episode of Unpolished But Called , I reflect on a recent conversation from my YouTube comments that reminded me how easy it is to jump to conclusions. Instead of assuming someone's heart, motives, or beliefs, what if we chose curiosity first? We'll explore the difference between biblical doc...