Uncommon Sense in Current Times

Is patriotism biblical? And what does it actually look like for Christians to engage the culture without compromising their faith? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I talk with Ryan Helfenbein, Executive Director of the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University, about faith, freedom and the responsibility Christians have in today's "negative world." Loving your country i...

What if the teachings of Jesus are far more radical—and far more demanding—than most Christians are willing to admit? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I talk with Christian ethicist and theologian David Gushee to unpack the moral vision of Jesus and why it often feels so uncomfortable in today's culture. We explore what it means to live according to the Kingdom of God—not as a...

How does Christianity grow in one of the most hostile regimes in the world? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, to explore the powerful paradox unfolding inside Iran: while the regime tightens control, the underground church is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. We talk about life under an oppressive government—checkpo...

Why is one of the deadliest religious persecution crises in the world barely discussed? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I talk with Brad Brandon of Across Nigeria to examine the escalating violence against Christians in northern Nigeria. While governments and international media often frame the conflict as economic or tribal, experts on the ground describe the very different r...

What happens when a Hollywood actor refuses to stay silent about faith and culture? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with actor and producer Kevin Sorbo—known for Hercules and God's Not Dead —to discuss the cost of standing for biblical truth in an industry increasingly hostile to it. Kevin shares how his outspoken Christian worldview led to being blacklisted in Holl...

What does it actually cost to stand for truth today? Christian apologist Frank Turek knows. He was by Charlie Kirk's side on the day of his assassination.  In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with Frank to discuss why authentic Christianity has always been a high-cost commitment—and why that reality is becoming more obvious in today's culture. We talk about the differen...

What happens when Christians stop engaging—and culture fills the vacuum? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I speak with Bunni Pounds, Founder and President of Christians Engaged, to discuss why biblical truth has become "uncommon sense" in modern America and what believers can do about it. We talk about the explosive growth of Christians Engaged from 79,000 members in Texas to o...

Is hell eternal torment… annihilation… or something we've misunderstood? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I engage in a great conversation with Kirk Cameron where we explore the growing theological debate around the nature of hell, the importance of intellectual hospitality inside the church and how Christians can engage culture with clarity and courage instead of caricature an...

What does it actually mean to be a man in a culture that calls masculinity "toxic"? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with Lieutenant General (Retired) Jerry Boykin—original member of Delta Force and Executive Vice President of the Family Research Council—to confront the growing crisis of modern masculinity and reclaim a vision of Biblical Manhood rooted not in bravad...

What happens when the church becomes more focused on comfort than courage? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with Michael Easley—former president of Moody Bible Institute—to talk about why so many Christians and pastors are afraid to speak boldly in today's culture. We explore how fear of backlash has pushed churches into consumer-driven models, how biblical literacy...

Can biblical miracles actually be investigated like a cold case? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I speak with Detective J. Warner Wallace—former atheist, homicide detective and author of Cold-Case Christianity —to explore how investigative methodology can be applied to the truth claims of Scripture. We talk about what it means to follow the evidence trail of Christianity the w...

Is abortion really healthcare or is it the intentional ending of a patient's life? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with Dr. Bill Lile, an OBGYN and founder of ProLifeDoc.org , to examine abortion through a scientific, ethical and medical lens. Dr. Lile argues that pregnancy is never a one-patient situation. Every time a woman is expecting, there are at least two pat...

What happens when the government demands Christians affirm what they believe is false — while culture markets a version of Jesus that avoids repentance altogether? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I explore two major modern pressures against biblical truth: One is legal and coercive — where the state increasingly requires verbal affirmation of ideological claims, even against c...

Should American taxpayers be forced to fund elective abortions? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I break down the growing political battle surrounding the Hyde Amendment — a 50-year-old policy that has long prevented federal dollars from paying for elective abortion. For decades, this principle has been a bedrock of Republican pro-life policy. But now, as Congress negotiates th...

What does effective missionary work actually look like in the modern world? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I speak with John Darnell, CEO of Global Outreach International (GOI), and talk about what real long-term missions require—and why so much of what we call "missions" today often lacks depth, strategy or lasting impact. GOI supports hundreds of career missionaries across...

DEI isn't going away—but it is evolving. In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I explain how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is no longer functioning mainly as a public corporate slogan or HR mandate. Instead, it's becoming something far more subtle: a professionalized operating logic embedded into law, institutions and workplace risk management. The shift is clear. Bias is no long...

Artificial intelligence isn't just another tool—it's the biggest technological revolution since the printing press. And it's happening faster than most all of us realize. In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with an AI specialist, Joshua Hale, to unpack the real risks and opportunities of the AI revolution. This conversation isn't about sci-fi hype—it's about personal so...

What happens when political activism crosses into the sanctuary? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I examine the disruptive protest at a Minneapolis church where activists stormed a worship service to target an associate pastor connected to ICE. What followed wasn't just a political controversy—it raised serious legal, constitutional, and theological questions that Christians ca...

Is civil disobedience a Christian duty or a dangerous misreading of faith? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I continue my discussion with activist and author Shane Claiborne in a thoughtful and at-times tense conversation about Christian civil disobedience, theology and public policy. Both of us agree on a foundational truth: a Christian's ultimate allegiance is to Jesus Christ...

What happens when following Jesus puts you in direct conflict with the laws of the state? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I speak with activist and author Shane Claiborne to explore one of the most uncomfortable—and misunderstood—questions facing Christians today: When does obedience to God require disobedience to government? From feeding the homeless in defiance of city ordin...

What happens when the United States conducts a high-risk special operations mission to capture a sitting head of state? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I speak with a military legal expert to break down the reported U.S. operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—examining the legal justifications, military strategy and global implications behind one of the most e...

Is the shift from saying, "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" really harmless—or is it a warning sign of something much bigger? In this special episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I break down why the so-called "War on Christmas" isn't about outrage or nostalgia, but about how cultures change—slowly, subtly and often without resistance . Using history, data and real institutional exampl...

What happens when faith collides with geopolitics, trauma, abortion policy, philosophy, and the hard questions Christians often avoid? In this Best of 2025 episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , Peter Demos brings together some of the most compelling conversations of the year—spanning theology, international affairs, trauma recovery, pro-life advocacy, and civil dialogue with ideological opp...

Christmas is often wrapped in nostalgia, warmth and familiarity—but what if the real story is far more disruptive than we remember? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I sit down with author and theologian Dan Darling to uncover the subversive power of the Christmas story through the lens of his book, The Characters of Christmas . Far from a sentimental backdrop, the Nativity is a...

Most Americans are still focused on abortion, but another life-and-death issue is advancing quietly, rapidly, and with far less resistance. In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times , I meet with Daniel Breeden , Executive Director of Tennessee Right to Life , to expose what many aren't talking about: the accelerating legalization of euthanasia in the United States and its dangerous overl...