What if the problem isn’t just Christian music…

What if it’s how we think about church?

In Part Two of JD’s conversation with Jeff Brown (former worship pastor), the discussion moves from the “cheese factor” in Christian music to something deeper: the assumptions underneath how we do church.

We reference ideas from the Verlon Fosner episode, wrestle with voices like John Cooper and A.J. Swoboda, and ask an uncomfortable question:

Are “Christian” and “worship” automatically good adjectives?

We talk about:

• When labels become shortcuts instead of substance

• Why simplicity sometimes becomes shallowness

• The tension between clarity and complexity

• Sitting with the grey instead of demanding black-and-white answers

• Why humility and curiosity may be more Christlike than certainty

This isn’t deconstruction for sport.
It’s an invitation to grow up in our faith.

If you care about worship, church culture, and doing things with more depth and integrity — this conversation is for you.

#ChristianPodcast#RethinkingChurch#ChurchCulture#ChristianMusic#WorshipLeader#FaithAndCulture#HumilityAndCuriosity#SitWithTheGrey#TheologyMatters#HonestFaith#JohnCooper#AJSwoboda#MessyGodLikesItThatWay#SpotifyPodcast

Is Christian music powerful… or painfully predictable?

In this episode of Christianese, I sit down with former worship pastor Jeff Brown to talk about the “cheese factor” in Christian music — where it helps, where it hurts, and why it exists in the first place.

We laugh. We get honest. And we wrestle with the tension between sincerity and simplicity, artistic excellence and accessibility, worship and performance.

Jeff brings the perspective of someone who has led from the stage and lived inside the culture. Together, we unpack:

• Why Christian music can feel formulaic

• When “cheesy” is shallow… and when it’s actually helpful

• Beginning suggestions for making some adjustments

This isn’t a bash session. It’s a grown-up conversation about art, theology, and the responsibility of leading people in worship.

If you’ve ever cringed at a lyric… or been deeply moved by one — this one’s for you.

We survived Part One… so naturally we had to keep going.

In Part Two with Michael Hawkins, we go deeper into what it actually means to study Scripture well—beyond clever arguments and historical flexing. This episode moves from how to study the Bible to why it matters in our journey with God. Eschatology, church history, we cover a bit.

We talk about:

• When historical insight helps—and when it becomes a crutch

• The danger of reading modern assumptions into ancient texts

• How humility changes the way we interact with those who don't see Scripture the say

• Why good Bible study should shape obedience, not just opinions

Still a lot of laughter. Still a few shots fired. But this one presses harder on the heart.

“My church historian can beat up your church historian.”
This still turns into a serious and silly (and much-needed) conversation.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Hawkins to talk about how Christians are actually supposed to study Scripture. Not cherry-picking verses. Not vibes-based theology. Not weaponizing Greek words you found on Instagram.

We laugh a lot, poke at bad habits we’ve all seen (and maybe practiced), and dig into why context, history, and humility matter if we’re going to handle God’s Word honestly.

If you’ve ever wondered why Christians disagree so loudly—or why Bible study feels confusing, intimidating, or flat—this conversation is for you.

In part two of the conversation, JD and Buddy Puckett go deeper—this time into purposeful parenting and intentional spiritual growth. What does it mean to raise kids with direction instead of default? How do you grow spiritually without turning faith into a checklist or performance?

This episode challenges parents (and future parents) to be deliberate about what they’re modeling, what they’re prioritizing, and how they’re walking with God in the middle of everyday life.

[email protected]

https://conversationswithbuddy.transistor.fm/

https://branches.guildmortgage.com/or/salem/buddy-puckett-479-wgbp.html

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Q5v2hI2jwe6eJCM4hMMlH?si=28dd2b6ab15642f6
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2X336uhKYmTNctWFTQQRWD?si=d12f6775de28497d

What does it actually look like to reflect God in everyday life?
In this episode, I sat down with Buddy Puckett for a real conversation about kindness—not as a personality trait, but as a lived-out reflection of who God is. They also unpack something many Christians feel but rarely say out loud: the process of getting to know God doesn’t have to be rushed, polished, or fake.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to take your time with faith, wrestle honestly, and let kindness lead the way—this conversation is for you.

www.youtube.com/@BuddyJamesPuckett

For a long time, I was afraid of guys like Jason Bunse.
The dealer type. The ones you cross the street to avoid.

If I’d met the old Jason back then, I probably would’ve been afraid too.

But that’s not who he is anymore.

In this episode, Jason shares his raw, unfiltered story—from running drugs like a business, to hearing a voice say, “It’s time to go back to church,” to trying to “date the church” just long enough to get God off his back. What followed wasn’t religion—it was pursuit.

Jason talks about:

• Why Jesus being fully God and fully man actually matters

• Trying to check the “church box” instead of surrendering

• God using law enforcement (Salem Police Department, FBI, and a jail cell) to answer desperate prayers

• Picking up a Bible in a holding cell—and never being the same

• The mercy of Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

• Finding hope when you feel too far gone

• Discovering the heart of the Father

• Walking in boldness after radical transformation

This is a story for anyone who thinks they’ve gone too far…
and a reminder that Jesus doesn’t lower the bar of truth—He meets us with mercy and changes everything.

For a long time, I was afraid of guys like Jason Bunse.
The dealer type. The ones you cross the street to avoid.

If I’d met the old Jason back then, I probably would’ve been afraid too.

But that’s not who he is anymore.

In this episode, Jason shares his raw, unfiltered story—from running drugs like a business, to hearing a voice say, “It’s time to go back to church,” to trying to “date the church” just long enough to get God off his back. What followed wasn’t religion—it was pursuit.

Jason talks about:

• Why Jesus being fully God and fully man actually matters

• Trying to check the “church box” instead of surrendering

• God using law enforcement (Salem Police Department, FBI, and a jail cell) to answer desperate prayers

• Picking up a Bible in a holding cell—and never being the same

• The mercy of Jesus: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

• Finding hope when you feel too far gone

• Discovering the heart of the Father

• Walking in boldness after radical transformation

This is a story for anyone who thinks they’ve gone too far…
and a reminder that Jesus doesn’t lower the bar of truth—He meets us with mercy and changes everything.

Sometimes the people who’ve walked through the darkest corners end up shining the brightest. This week, I sit down with someone who was abandoned, lived on the streets, ran with dealers… and then got ambushed by the grace of Jesus. Now? He’s a Hope Dealer in the truest sense — giving away the very thing he never had growing up.

We dig into the gritty parts, the hard parts, and the holy parts. This is redemption with teeth. This is what Jesus does when everyone else has given up.

If you’ve ever doubted that God still transforms lives, buckle up. This episode is going to hit you right in the soul.

#ChristianeseWithJDShinn #HopeDealer #RedemptionStory #JesusSaves #Testimony #FromTheStreetsToTheSavior #GraceChangesEverything #KingdomStories #ChristianPodcast #FaithThatFights

https://www.beboldstreetministries.org/

We wrap up this conversation with Pastor Will Robertson — author of 20 True Things and the When We Listen series — as he joined me on the podcast. Will’s a gentle soul with a steady conviction, the kind of pastor who listens before he speaks and points you back to Jesus without theatrics.

Across these two episodes, we dig into what it actually looks like to hear God in a chaotic world, how Christians can move past surface-level faith, and why truth still matters even when culture tries to blur it. Will brings clarity, humility, and the kind of wisdom that sneaks up on you and sticks.

His website is linked in the show notes. Go check him out and explore his books — they’re worth your time.

https://www.amazon.com/20-True-Things-William-Robertson/dp/B0DQBSYSWD

https://whenwelisten.net/