In this first episode of Read It Again, I take on the most quoted, most printed verse in modern Christianity: Jeremiah 29:11. It is on coffee mugs, wall prints, and graduation cards everywhere, but almost nobody has read the verse before it or after it. I trace the letter back to where it actually started, a prophet writing to a people who had just watched their city fall and their temple burn, exiled hundreds of miles from everything they knew. What God tells them to do next is not what you would expect, and it changes everything about how verse 11 should land. This is not a smaller reading of the promise. It is a bigger one, and it holds up in seasons that a coffee mug never could. If you are in a Babylon you did not choose, this episode is for you.Interesting Links:Wright, C. J. H. (2014). The message of Jeremiah. IVP.Watts Bar Community Church. (2025, August 27). When scripture gets twisted: Understanding Jeremiah 29:11 in context.Relevant Magazine. (n.d.). Stop taking Jeremiah 29:11 out of context.Lifeway Research. (2025, May 13). Americans judge the Good Book more positively, but still often by its cover.Goldingay, J. (2009). Old Testament theology: Israel's life. IVP Academic.Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. (2020, October 2). The dangers of taking Bible verses out of context. Brueggemann, W. (1998). A commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and homecoming. Eerdmans.Bible Project. (n.d.). What does Jeremiah 29:11 mean?American Bible Society. (2025). State of the Bible USA 2025.References to Bible Verses:Jeremiah 29:11; Jeremiah 29:4–14; Lamentations 3:22–23; Philippians 4:13My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

In this episode, I sit down with Alex Lopez, a former high school teacher, Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, and author of A Father's Forge, a 365-day devotional system built to help fathers raise strong sons. Alex's journey started with a single question at a leadership conference: if you've read every personal development book on the shelf, why haven't you read the Bible? That question sparked a daily devotional habit now approaching 1,000 days and eventually produced a book grounded in six biblical pillars: identity, discipline, character, strength, leadership, and legacy. We dig into what Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 6 actually look like in a real household, why identity has to come before discipline or leadership, and why legacy is not about what you have built but who you have built. If you're a father who wants to lead with more intention, this one is for you.Interesting Links:Real U Coach | YouTubeAlex Lopez | LinkedInAlex Lopez | FacebookForged Sons: The 6 Phases That Forge MenA Father's Forge: 365 Days of Wisdom For Fathers Raising Sons Into MenAlex Lopez | WebsiteReferences to Bible Verses:Matthew 6:26; Revelation 3:14–16; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Genesis 1:26–27My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

Have you ever heard someone drop the phrase "seven deadly sins" and just assumed it was straight from Scripture? In this episode, I unpack the full story behind both the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues -- where they actually came from, who wrote them, and how they hold up against the Bible. We go sin by sin and virtue by virtue, testing each against passages from Galatians 5, Proverbs 6, Colossians 3, and more. My goal is not to tear these lists down but to help you hold them rightly, as a theologically useful tool that serves Scripture rather than replacing it. If you have ever wanted to understand where these lists came from and whether Christians should still use them, this episode is for you.Interesting Links:Wright, N. T. (2010). After you believe: Why Christian character matters. HarperOne.The Gospel Coalition. (n.d.). How to kill the seven deadly sins with grace.Ironwood Church. (2025). About the seven deadly sins.History.com. (2023). How the seven deadly sins began as "eight evil thoughts."Desiring God. (2025, August 5). The seven heavenly virtues: An ancient framework for spiritual formation.DeYoung, R. K. (2009). Glittering vices: A new look at the seven deadly sins and their remedies. Brazos Press.Classic Theology. (2025, April 22). The seven deadly sins: Their origins and why to love the list.Britannica. (2025). Seven virtues.Barna, G. (2025, September). Research identifies common sources of confusion about sin. Arizona Christian University / Cultural Research Center. (2025, October 21). Redefinition of sin fuels social turbulence, research shows. References to Bible Verses:1 Corinthians 13:13; Acts 17:11; Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6; Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:10; James 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:26–27; Galatians 5:26; James 3:16; Matthew 5:28; 1 John 2:16; Proverbs 23:20–21; Philippians 3:19; Proverbs 6:6–11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 6:16–19; Galatians 5:19–23; Mark 7:20–23; James 1:3–4; Micah 6:8; 2 Peter 1:5–7; Philippians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Colossians 3:5–14; Romans 12:2My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

In this episode, I take on something that's quietly reshaping churches across the country: political division in the pew. I look at why political identity has fused with religious identity for so many believers, what the research reveals about pastors losing credibility and leaving ministry over this exact issue, and what real church splits are costing congregations right now. Then I turn to Scripture, walking through Ephesians 4:3 and Paul's call to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit," to show that unity in Christ was never meant to require agreement on every political question.If you've ever sat next to someone in church and realized you have no idea who they voted for, and felt afraid to find out, this episode is for you. I want to help you hold real convictions without turning a brother or sister into an opponent.Interesting Links:Religion Unplugged. (2025, January 8). In a divided America, churches find a way to move forward.PRRI. (2025). Religious change in America.NPR. (2025, February 4). A church ousts progressive pastor who emphasized racial justice.Moore, R. (2023). Losing our religion: An altar call for evangelical America. Sentinel.Lifeway Research. (2025, July 25). Americans' trust in the church rebounds slightly.Lifeway Research. (2025, August 12). Former pastors share reasons behind their ministry exit.Christianity Today. (2025, February). Founding congregation to exit Christian Reformed Church.Christianity Today. (2025, January). It's time for a new era of Christian civility.Carson, D. A. (2012). The intolerance of tolerance. Eerdmans.Barna Group. (2025). The tricky mix of politics & pastoring.Axios. (2026, May 10). America's pastor pipeline is collapsing. References to Bible Verses:Exodus 20:3; Philippians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 1:12–13; Galatians 5:15; John 17:21; Ephesians 4:3; Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 2:14–15; Revelation 7:9; Romans 14:1; Philippians 2:3–4; James 1:19; Ephesians 4:29My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

Have you ever read your Bible, understood it, and still felt nothing change in your life? I sat down with Reverend Kimberly Braxton, a speaker, teacher, and ordained minister based in Boston, who has lived that question from the inside out. We talk about what happens when ministry becomes a performance, when seminary knowledge crowds out the Holy Spirit, and why pride is so much harder to see in yourself than you think. Rev. Kim opens up about her own journey through burnout, backsliding, and the moment God broke through everything she had built up, using just a single verse from Galatians 3:3. If you've been working hard for God and still feel stuck in the same place, this conversation is for you.Guest Links:Saved, Celibate, and Sinful - AmazonSaved, Celibate, and Sinful — Unique-N-CompletePride Quiz — Unique-N-CompleteRev Kim | TikTokRev Kim | YouTubeRev Kim | FacebookRev Kim | InstagramUnique-N-CompleteReferences to Bible Verses:Galatians 3:3; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 3:19My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

In this episode, I sit down with Rebekah Van Natta, author of The Growing Christian: Two Paths of the Christian Belief, to explore a question that stops a lot of believers in their tracks: what is the difference between believing in God and truly following him? Rebekah grew up in church, never doubted God's existence, and still found herself living almost entirely on her own terms. Her turning point wasn't dramatic. It was a quiet moment of surrender that began with a conviction about her workout playlist and led to a complete identity shift. We talk about grief, the cost of following Jesus, what it means to choose the narrow road every single day, and how Jeremiah 29:11 speaks to the seasons of exile that often precede real transformation. If you've ever felt like something was missing in your faith, I think this conversation will name it.Guest Links:The Growing Christian: Two Paths of the Christian BeliefRVNFIT | InstagramLord and ArmorRebekah Van Natta | WebsiteReferences to Bible Verses:Jeremiah 29:11–13; Ephesians 6:12My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

In this episode, I take on one of the most heated debates inside the church — young earth creationism versus old earth creationism — and try to do something that does not happen nearly enough: lay out both positions fairly. I walk through what each view actually claims, survey where the major Christian denominations land, and then answer the question that really matters. Does what you believe about the age of the earth affect your salvation? Drawing from 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Romans 10:9, and Ephesians 2:8–9, the answer is clear. And it might just change how you hold this conversation the next time it comes up.Interesting Links:Urban, T. (2015, December). The tail end. Wait But Why.Morris, H. M. (1976). The genesis record: A scientific and devotional commentary on the book of beginnings. Baker Books.Carson, D. A. (1996). The gagging of God: Christianity confronts pluralism. Zondervan.Keller, T. (2012). Center church: Doing balanced, gospel-centered ministry in your city. Dutton.Whitcomb, J. C., & Morris, H. M. (1961). The genesis flood: The biblical record and its scientific implications. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing.Walton, J. H. (2009). The lost world of Genesis one: Ancient cosmology and the origins debate. IVP Academic.Naturalis Historia. (2024, December 26). Creation together: Building bridges across the origins divide.The Gospel Coalition. (n.d.). Why Christians should not divide over the age of the earth.Communion Church. (2025, June 4). Young earth creationism. BioLogos. (n.d.). The Bible, rocks, and time: Christians and an old earth.Institute for Creation Research. (n.d.). Is belief in the young earth necessary to be a Christian? National Center for Science Education. (n.d.). Just how many young-earth creationists are there in the U.S.? Pew Research Center. (2019). The evolution of Pew Research Center's survey questions about the origins and development of life on earth. OldEarth.org. (n.d.). Church denominations, creation science. Gallup. (2024). Majority still credits God for humankind, but not creationism.References to Bible Verses:Genesis 1:31; Romans 5:12; Psalm 90:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 14:1, 19; Ephesians 4:3My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

In this episode, I tackle one of the stranger cultural conversations of our time: what should Christians think about UAPs and the question of alien life? With the government confirming things in our airspace that nobody can explain, and Christians all over the map on what it means, I thought it was time to stop avoiding it. I look at what the government has actually confirmed, honestly examine whether UAPs could be demonic, and sit with what Scripture does and does not say about life beyond Earth. Most importantly, I want to leave you with three things: wonder, discernment, and a solid anchor. This one is meant to be fun, but I think you will find it grounding too. Come join me.Interesting Links:References to Bible Verses:Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1; Proverbs 25:2; Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 John 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; Colossians 1:16; Isaiah 40:26; Psalm 8:3–4; Romans 8:38–39; Job 38:4My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

Why are so many people deeply unhappy, even when they have everything they ever wanted? In this episode, I explore what the research is telling us about America's growing unhappiness crisis, what Solomon discovered after running the most ambitious experiment in human satisfaction ever attempted, and what Jesus offered a thirsty woman at a well in Samaria that changed everything. Drawing on Ecclesiastes, Isaiah 55, and John 4, I unpack why the things we chase keep leaving us empty, and what it actually looks like to find the living water Jesus promised. If you have ever felt that restless ache underneath a life that looks fine on the outside, this one is for you.Interesting Links:References to Bible Verses:Ecclesiastes 5:10; Isaiah 55:2; Ecclesiastes 2:10–11; Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 4:13–14; Philippians 4:4; Philippians 4:11; John 15:11; Romans 15:13; John 10:10; Matthew 5:6; Psalm 107:9My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay

America was founded on prayer, but somewhere between 1776 and today, the Church seems to have quietly set that down. In this episode, I look at what the founders actually did before every major act of the founding, what Scripture says about interceding for the nation you live in, and why passages like Daniel 9, Jeremiah 29:7, and 2 Chronicles 7:14 are more relevant right now than most of us realize. I also walk through what that famous verse from 2 Chronicles really means in context, because the context changes everything. If you've ever felt like America is slipping and wondered what you can actually do about it, this one is for you. I hope it moves you to your knees.Research Links:Pew Research Center. (2025, February 26). Prayer and other religious practices.NPR. (2026, May 18). Trump-backed prayer gathering held on National Mall to 'rededicate America' to GodNational Day of Prayer Task Force. (n.d.). History of prayer in America. Henry, M. (1706). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible. Christianity Today. (2025, September). White House asks US for one hour of prayer per weekCBN News. (2024). 250,000 women gather on National Mall to pray for the nation: 'Last stand moment for America.' Barna via MBC Pathway. (2024, February 19). Barna: U.S. deeply fragmented, national survey shows; 'future hinges on spiritual renewal, not politics.' References to Bible Verses:Psalm 35; Psalm 33:12; Daniel 9; Nehemiah 1; Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1–2; Ezekiel 22; Romans 8:26; 2 Chronicles 7:14My Ministry Mission InformationWebsite: https://myministrymission.com/Become a Guest: https://myministrymission.com/guestSupport the Show: https://myministrymission.com/supportContact Me: https://myministrymission.com/contactFree Christian Resources: https://myministrymission.com/resources/free-resources/My Ministry Mission Social MediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myministrymissionTwitter: https://twitter.com/MyMinMission (or @MyMinMission)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myminmission (or @MyMinMission)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@myministrymissionSupport The ShowIf you are enjoying the content and would like to support this show, consider giving me a tip. It's not required or expected, but certainly appreciatedBuy me a CoffeeCredits:Cover Image & Music from Pixabay