What if you never decided to walk away from God - you just quietly drifted?

James, Gene and Caleb open with an honest confession: sitting down to prepare August's men's Bible study, James had a blank page. No topic, no verse, nothing stirring. That blank page became the message. Hebrews 2:1-3 warns us to listen carefully to the truth we have heard, "or we may drift away from it" - and drifting is never a decision. It is what happens when you take your hands off the wheel.

James tells the story of a fishing trip out of Orange Beach: 20 miles offshore, the autopilot pump burned out, the engines locked hard left, and the boat sat dead in the water on a calm, beautiful night. Six hours later the tow boat radioed that they were at his coordinates and could not see him. He had drifted six miles - and never felt it move.

That is the danger. The man who deliberately walks away knows where he stands. The man who drifts has no idea.

In this episode:
00:00 - Welcome back: the August edition after a July break
01:35 - The blank page that became the message
02:23 - Naming it: this is drifting
05:12 - Hebrews 2:1-3 - listen carefully or drift away
07:03 - The fishing trip: autopilot burns out 20 miles offshore
10:28 - "Sir, you are not here" - six miles off course
11:32 - Walking away vs. drifting: which is more dangerous
13:25 - No compass, no progress - running in circles
14:17 - Ezekiel's dry bones: the enemy does not dry your bones overnight
16:43 - It was not storming - calm water hides the drift
17:58 - What is your check engine light
19:24 - Warning signs: short patience, harsh words, a hopeless outlook
21:54 - Build the plan before you need it
25:32 - James 4:8 - come close to God and He will come close to you
27:25 - Luke 15:20 - the father ran to him
28:23 - Zechariah 1:3 - return to me and I will return to you
29:54 - What is God calling you back to this week
32:03 - The fruit of the Spirit as your gauge - and asking your wife

The question we left the men with, and the one we leave with you: what is God calling you back to this week?

If you are on the mountaintop right now and none of this is you - fantastic. That is the best time to write your plan. Pick the book, pick the chapter, put it in your notes app, so the day the warning light comes on you already know where to go.

Verses referenced: Hebrews 1, Hebrews 2:1-3 | James 4:8 | Luke 15:20 | Zechariah 1:3 | Ezekiel 37 (dry bones) | Galatians 5:22-23

In this episode of Deeper in the Red — the podcast companion to our men's Bible study, Operating in the Red — Gene and James kick off the summer season with five practical Proverbs every man can commit to memory and live out year-round.

Summer brings travel, vacations, and busy schedules that can pull us away from the vine. This conversation is about staying rooted no matter where life takes you. We unpack five short, powerful verses and the real-world wisdom behind them:

• Proverbs 1:7 — Why the fear of the Lord is the foundation of all true knowledge
• Proverbs 4:23 — Guarding your heart, because everything you do flows from it
• Proverbs 27:17 — How iron sharpens iron through godly friendship and friction
• Proverbs 12:11 — Diligent work vs. chasing fantasies, and what "working your land" really means
• Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goes before destruction, and how to fight it with humility
• Proverbs 18:21 — The tongue holds the power of life and death

Along the way we get into the difference between God being disappointed in us versus hurt for us, why there's no condemnation in Christ, the trap of shame from the enemy, and a practical challenge to speak life into five people this week.

This week's challenge — say these to 5 different people:

1. "I believe in you."
2. "I'm proud of who you're becoming."
3. "You're not alone in this."
4. "I was wrong — please forgive me."
5. "Let's build something meaningful together."

Grab a Bible, take some notes, and join us as we dig into God's Word together.

New episodes monthly. Subscribe so you don't miss the next study.

In this special Easter edition, hosts James Durham and Gene Thompson take a deeper look at what's often covered only at a surface level during Holy Week — the seven final statements of Jesus Christ from the cross. Drawing from that morning's Operating in the Red Bible study, James and Gene walk through each statement with honesty, personal reflection, and a genuine desire to go beyond the highlight reel of Easter Sunday.

From the radical forgiveness of Luke 23:34, to the promise made to the thief on the cross, to the gut-wrenching cry of Matthew 27:46 — "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — the guys unpack not just the theology, but what these moments mean for real life today. They tackle heavy questions: Can you lose your salvation? Is God disappointed in you when you fail? What does it really mean that it is finished?

This episode is raw, personal, and full of the kind of conversation that happens when two guys who don't have it all figured out decide to go deeper anyway — and that's exactly the point.

Happy Easter. He is risen.

On this episode of Deeper in the Red, the conversation centers around self-reflection, humility, and staying grounded in your faith.

The discussion explores what it means to remain true to who you are as life and responsibilities grow. From vision and personal growth to humility and openness, this episode highlights how faith can guide the way we live, lead, and continue learning along the journey.

It's a reminder that growth isn't just about moving forward — it's about staying humble, staying open, and remaining rooted in the values that shape who we are.

In this powerful episode of Deeper in the Red, we sit down with special guest Morris Morrison — a dynamic business leader, motivational speaker, and a man of unwavering faith.

Morris shares his journey of leadership, resilience, and purpose, as well as what it means to fully trust God's calling in both life and business. As he prepares to be inducted into the West Virginia Hall of Fame, he reflects on how faith has shaped his success and grounded his leadership.

On this podcast we believe business and scripture are not separate paths. When we align our work with God's Word, we grow stronger as leaders, families, and communities. This conversation dives into how purpose is not accidental — it is created and cultivated by God.

God creates purpose in our lives. The question is — are we walking in it?

In this episode of Deeper in the Red, we sit down for an honest conversation about what it really means to love and lead our wives in a Christ-centered way. As men, we acknowledge that none of us lives up perfectly to the biblical standard of marriage. That's why we point back to Jesus Christ — the only one who was perfect — and the grace and forgiveness we have through Him.

We talk about practical truths that challenge us, open our eyes, and encourage us to grow into more Christ-like husbands. This episode is about humility, growth, and the daily commitment to becoming better men through faith.

Growth in faith often begins with honest reflection. Not rushing to answers, but sitting with God in the questions.

In this episode of Deeper in the Red, we open Scripture together and explore what it looks like to walk closely with God through uncertainty, refinement, and trust. This Bible study invites us to slow down, reflect deeply, and recognize God's hand at work even in seasons that feel unclear.

We'll talk about listening for God's voice, responding with obedience even when clarity feels incomplete, and allowing His Word to shape our perspective rather than our circumstances. It's a reminder that faith isn't about having everything figured out — it's about staying rooted, receptive, and willing.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, lean in, and let God meet you right where you are as He continues His work in you.

Healing doesn't mean pretending the scars never existed.

It means allowing God to restore what was broken — and trusting that those healed places can serve a greater purpose. In this Bible study, we reflect on how Jesus didn't hide His scars after the resurrection. Instead, He showed them as proof of who He is and what God had done.

In the same way, our own scars — emotional, spiritual, or physical — can become testimonies of God's faithfulness when we surrender them fully to Him. We'll talk about what it means to search for the right answers, rather than quick fixes. How to resist numbing what still needs healing and how being prepared — spiritually and intentionally — allows God to use our story to help others.

This is an invitation to look honestly at your wounds, trust God's healing work, and walk forward with purpose and confidence in Him.