Crusade with Me

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...

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 catec...

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 Feast The 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...

💰 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...

💰 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...

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 wit...

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 recla...

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 ver...

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...

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 son...

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...

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...

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 —...

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 wi...

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 b...

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. Me...

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 beli...