Following Jesus isn’t just a one-time decision… it’s a daily surrender. And if we’re being honest — that’s not always easy.

In this episode of Here & Now, we talk about why following Jesus can feel so difficult, even when we know it’s right. From denying ourselves to trusting God’s timing, there’s a real tension between our will and His — and we all feel it.

Jesus never promised an easy life. He promised that it would be worth it.

We dive into:

• Why surrender is so hard
• The battle between flesh and Spirit
• Letting go of control in a world that tells you not to
• Why “hard” doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong
• What it actually looks like to follow Jesus today

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like you’re wrestling with your faith — you’re not alone. This is a real, honest conversation about what it means to follow Jesus right here, right now.

Life feels full—but not always peaceful. In this episode of Here & Now, we talk about what it looks like to follow Jesus in the middle of busy, overcommitted lives. Why is it so hard to slow down? What keeps stealing our peace? And how do we actually live out the peace Jesus promises?

We dive into Scripture, share real struggles, and explore practical ways to be still and trust God in the chaos of everyday life.

Plus, we debate Hot Takes—where we debate things like bicyclists on the road, why going downhill might not be a bad thing, and whether everyone should work a customer service job at least once.

Why should anyone trust Christianity when Christians mess it up so badly? And is church even necessary anymore?

In this episode, we have an honest conversation about one of the biggest objections people have to faith. We talk about the tension between Jesus and His followers, why hypocrisy doesn’t actually disprove Christianity, and what it means to separate the truth of Jesus from the failures of people.

We also wrestle with the purpose of the Church—what it was meant to be, where it’s gone wrong, and whether it still matters today. Along the way, we explore deeper questions about disappointment, hurt, and what we’re really looking for when we question faith.

This isn’t a polished answer—it’s a real conversation about a messy topic, and an invitation to look at Jesus for who He actually is.

Right here. Right now.

In this episode, we try something a little different and dive directly into a passage of Scripture together. We open Acts 17 and explore Paul’s time in Athens—what he noticed, what troubled him, and how he chose to engage a culture filled with different beliefs and idols.Instead of beginning with accusation, Paul starts with observation and curiosity. He listens, understands the worldview around him, and then connects the gospel to the questions people were already asking. As we walk through the text, we talk about what Athens valued, why Paul quoted their own poets, and what this moment teaches us about sharing faith in a thoughtful and respectful way.Along the way we ask: What are the modern “idols” in our world today? Where do we see Athens in our own culture? And what might it look like to engage people with curiosity instead of fear?This episode we slow down, open Scripture together, and see what we discover.Right here. Right now.

Prayer is something most of us believe in… but struggle to practice. In this episode, we talk honestly about why prayer feels hard — distractions, busyness, feeling spiritually unqualified — and how we can move from occasional prayers to intentional, daily rhythms.

We explore how Jesus modeled prayer not as performance, but as relationship. Simple. Honest. Consistent. From pouring out our hearts without filtering (Psalm 62:8) to praying boldly for big, faith-filled things, this conversation challenges us to bring everything — not just the polished parts — to God.

We also get practical. What rhythms are realistic? How do we build prayer into our daily lives without burning out? And what bold prayer might God be inviting you to pray this week?

This episode is about showing up, building consistency, and learning to pray with honesty and courage — right here, right now.

As the year comes to a close, we slow down to reflect, remember, and look ahead. This episode blends honest end-of-year conversation with some classic Conspiracy Corner with Jordan before turning toward deeper reflection on what this past season has shaped in us.

We talk about the words that defined our year—why some seasons feel tragically beautiful—and the word we’re carrying into the new year: perseverance. Drawing from Scripture, we reflect on the power of remembering how God has led us, why it matters that we remember well, and how God’s faithfulness remains steady through every season.

This episode is about gratitude for where we’ve been, clarity about what we’ve learned, and hope for what’s coming next.

As we get older, Christmas changes—and so do we. In this episode, we talk about what it means to both grow up and grow into Christmas: how the season shifts from childhood excitement to something deeper, more reflective, and sometimes more complicated. We kick things off with a Christmas outfit “Make Me Laugh” segment and then dive into the questions that shape how we experience the holiday now.

We explore which Christmas characters we relate to, how our view of the season has matured, and what we’ve learned this year that affects the way we’ll approach Christmas. We even wrestle with what celebrating Jesus’ birth might look like if He were physically here today—and what “peace on earth, goodwill to men” actually means in a divided world.

It’s fun, honest, and full of the kind of conversation that helps us rediscover why Christmas still matters.

In this episode, we talk about gratitude in a way that actually feels real. Not the cheesy holiday version—real, everyday gratitude that wrestles with pain, faith, frustration, and hope. We walk through questions about how thankfulness shapes our relationship with God, how it forms our character, and why Scripture calls us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” We also get practical about habits that help us live with a grateful heart.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay thankful in real life, this conversation is for you.