Church @ 434 Podcast

The countdown is finally over—it’s Christmas Eve! Join the Church @ 434 staff as we celebrate the night before Christmas with laughter, memories of "unconventional" gift wrapping, and the excitement of what’s under the tree tomorrow morning. Most importantly, we take a moment to reflect on the greatest gift ever given: the first Christmas. We hope your holiday is filled with useful gifts...

Welcome back to "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree!" Today, we’re putting the staff on the spot with a question that gets to the heart (and the stomach) of the holidays: If you could make any dish an official Christmas staple, what would it be? Join us for a fun conversation about the foods that remind us of home, the traditions our adult kids still demand, and why Santa might actually...

We all have that one Christmas movie we love but are a little embarrassed to admit to. Today, the Church @ 434 staff is getting vulnerable! From "mushy" Hallmark romances and Bill Murray’s irreverent classics to Muppets and "shoot-em-up" holiday heists, we’re revealing the movies that make our holiday list (even if we watch them alone with a moose cup of eggnog). What is YOUR s...

It is the Sunday before Christmas. Our Christmas Shoppe this morning is The Candy Shoppe. There’s something magical about a candy shop at Christmas. The colors. The smells. The joy. Candy doesn’t solve life’s problems—but it reminds us that life is meant to be sweet. Christmas is far more than ornaments and decorations, it is about how we express our own love for Jesus as we celebrate His birth. T...

Every year at 434, we gather around the Christmas tree to hear the legends of holidays past. But no story is more legendary—or more awkward—than Richard Israel’s infamous Duluth underwear gift. From "next-level" comfort to "parachute-sized" surprises, find out why Richard’s wife wasn’t exactly thrilled with her Christmas present. It’s the thought that counts... right? #Christma...

From German pickles to... underwear? The staff at The Church at 434 is sitting down for another round of "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree," and things are getting a little weird! Today, we’re diving into our memory banks to uncover the strangest, most unusual, and flat-out tackiest Christmas decorations we’ve ever seen (or owned). Stick around to hear about the voice-activated squirrel that nea...

We all know the story of Christmas, but how do the traditions we love actually begin? In this episode of "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree," the Church of 434 staff takes a lighthearted look at the "characters" of the season. We challenge ourselves to create a brand-new Christmas mascot from scratch. While the conversation leads us to some hilarious places—including a wrestli...

We all know what we should do as parents, but what about the things we should absolutely avoid? Welcome back to The Clash, where Jeff Dixon and Chris Whaley have been displaced from their usual wrestling ring to a spot by the Christmas tree to deliver Part 2 of their parenting series. This episode is packed with practical, Biblical advice on the guardrails every parent needs to set—not just for th...

Soundtrack There is a "plethora" of Christmas music out there, but which song truly captures the spirit of the season for you? Today on Chatting Around the Christmas Tree, we whittle it down. We challenge the staff to cut through the noise and select the one song they could live with—every hour of every day—through the 25th. It’s a conversation about nostalgia, instrumental peace, and th...

"Your imagination can run wild, and anything and everything can happen." Join the Church of 434 staff as we tackle the ultimate holiday hypothetical: Dinner with any fictional character. The conversation takes some hilarious turns, featuring cameos from Red One, Frozen, and even Die Hard. Whether it's asking Santa for his logistical secrets over a ribeye or chilling with The Rock, we...

In our Christmas Shoppes series we are finding that every shop tells a Christmas story. It should come as no surprise that a shop that is loaded with stories waiting to be discovered is a Book Shoppe. Today we step inside and explore the story that changes everything. But we have to more than just browse, we must step into the story.

If you could be stuck in a Christmas movie for just one day, which one would you pick? The Church at 434 staff takes on this debate, and the answers get wild! From fixing the plot holes in White Christmas and riding Clark Griswold’s saucer sled, to a very un-pastoral plan to take out Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life—this conversation has it all. Join us around the tree for some laughs and let u...

In the hustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to feel like we can never take a day off—much like Santa's elves. In this episode of "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree," we start with a fun question: What do elves do for fun? But the conversation leads us to a much deeper truth. Are you rushing through December, or are you experiencing it? We invite you to take a few hours for yourse...

Traditions make up the fabric of our holidays—but if you could start a new one for everyone, what would it be? Welcome back to "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree." Today, the staff dives into a creative hypothetical question that reveals a lot about how we view the holidays. From "mandating" that families take turns opening gifts to foster unity, to a "Brewster’s Millions...

Parenting is the hardest job on the planet. But are we focused on the right goals? On this episode of The Clash, Jeff and Chris dive into "Parenting by the Book." From the "grape juice on the white couch" disasters to the importance of being your daughter’s first date, we are breaking down the practical things you must do to survive and thrive as a parent. We discuss why you ne...

We’re asking the hard-hitting questions on this episode of Chatting Around the Christmas Tree. Today, Richard sits in the hot seat to answer the one question everyone is whispering about: "Why do they call you Sugar Nuts?" The answer involves a road trip, some candied almonds, and a moment of accidental self-sabotage that he will never live down. Join the Church of 434 staff for a massiv...

What is the most useless gift you’ve ever received... and did you actually use it? Join the Church of 434 staff in the Upper Room as we kick off our "Chatting Around the Christmas Tree" countdown! In this episode, Jeff puts the team on the spot to confess their weirdest presents—from salt guns and novelty socks to a flock of screaming plastic goats. But amidst the laughter and the re-gif...

Our Christmas Shoppes series continues as we are counting down to Christmas at The Church @ 434. Today we drop into the Toy Shoppe. Seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes—and discovering that God fills our lives with gifts that wake up joy, wonder, imagination, and purpose can make Christmas come alive. Today as we wander through the Toy Shoppe, we will see that God places holy gifts on the shelv...

We all know the name Gillette—it’s synonymous with shaving. But did you know King Camp Gillette was actually a utopian dreamer who wanted to build a futuristic city near Niagara Falls? In this episode of Seriously, Jeff Dixon explores the fascinating history of the man who invented "disposable culture." Discover how a simple piece of advice from a bottle cap inventor led to the creation...

Maltby Babcock was the "Superman" of the early 1900s—a star athlete, a brilliant musician, and a beloved pastor who seemed to have it all. But beneath his winning personality lay a soul deeply connected to nature and the struggle of the ministry. In this episode of "Hit in the Head with the Hymn Book", we explore the fascinating life of the man behind "This Is My Father&#3...

"Lord, we don't know where you're going. How can we know the way?" We live in a culture obsessed with reading the "signs of the times," yet we often end up confused, anxious, and spiritually lost. But what if the answer isn't in deciphering the culture, but in following a person? Join us in The Carpenter Shop as we move past the confusing signals of the world and fo...

In this episode of The Clash, Jeff Dixon and Chris Whaley challenge the traditional view of Thanksgiving. They unpack the concept of "Thanks Living"—the intentional choice to live with gratitude every single day, not just when the turkey is on the table. Jeff and Chris dive deep into the science and spirituality of thankfulness. They discuss how gratitude rewires your brain to reduce str...

Welcome back to Oh Heavens! Today we are digging deep into eschatology to answer a foundational question: Where does the term "Millennium" appear in the Bible? Before we can discuss what the End Times look like, we have to define our terms. In this episode, we break down the definition of the word and point you directly to the text in Revelation where the "Millennial Reign" is...

Think you know Abraham Lincoln? We all know the stovepipe hat, but did you know he used it to carry important papers? That’s just the beginning. In this episode of "Seriously," we uncover the astonishing true story of the only U.S. President to ever hold a patent. Join us as we explore Lincoln's forgotten invention—a device born from a frustrating experience on a riverboat—and reveal...

It’s that magical time of year when everything seems to speed up, then slow down a little….we do our best to get ready to celebrate, but no matter what – Christmas happens! So we are going to do some shop looking this Christmas season. The first stop in our series is The Coffee Shoppe. Much like sharing a cup of coffee with someone special, the Christmas story invites us to connect. Christmas is j...