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Skiing is fun. Apparently. (And so is pretending we didn’t ghost you for six months.)

Episode 128 is a pure catch-up chaos special: Jesse, Jen, and Evan reconvene to explain where the heck they’ve been, why the show went dark, and what it might look like to keep this thing alive from afar.

We dig into:

• The “we’ve been busy” recap (translation: life exploded) 
• Evan being “back”… but also not back… but also kind of back 
• The plan: try this again for ~6 months, likely one episode a month, while figuring out remote recording logistics 
• Grassroots updates: new building, Craig as part-time pastor, plus others speaking 
• A quick Lone Canary plug: new album Dime Store Horses, vinyl, and a potential CO/NM/(maybe) Dakotas tour route
• Evan’s update: now lead pastor at Morning Star Friends Church (Quaker), adapting “missional community” thinking in a more conservative, wealthy suburban context 
• And the big teaser: Evan is writing a book tentatively titled Igniting Suburbia about missional life in the suburbs 

Then, because it’s us, we debate whether “AF” is still cool and brainstorm renaming the show into something extremely unserious. 

So crack open an NA beer, throw a ketchup pun at your friends, and tell us what topics you actually want—because if y’all don’t interact, Jen threatened to quit again. 

🍻 EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

BEST DAY BREWING – Hazy IPA
 Sausalito, California
NA Beer | 55calories | 3g protein | 0g fat | “less than 0.5%”

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It’s the end of Christian AF… for now. And possibly the most on-brand way to wrap it all up.

After years of beers, Bible hot takes, snarky one-liners, and genuinely vulnerable faith convos, Jesse, Jen, and Evan sit down one last time (for now) to say goodbye. Or at least… hit pause.

We talk about:

• Why we started this thing in the first place
• What we learned from showing up (even when we didn’t want to)
• The beauty and chaos of faith that doesn’t have all the answers
• And what might come next (spoiler: who knows?)

There’s also a brief return to Evan’s “burn it all down” phase, a wholesome moment with the words of listeners, and—naturally—shots poured out for heresies past.

This isn’t a sad farewell. It’s a hell yes, we did that moment.

So grab a drink. Raise a glass. And thank you for listening. We couldn’t have done it without you.

🍻 EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

JEFFERSON’S RESERVE – Twin Oak Custom Barrel
45.1% ABV (90.2 Proof) | Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged in wave-staved, double-barreled oak for peak drama.
Smooth, bold, and perfectly overthought—just like this final episode.

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So… why are we obsessed with the end of the world?

In Part 2 of our chaotic theological therapy session with Jeff Swanson, the Christian AF crew gets personal, philosophical, and—let’s be honest—maybe a little punch-drunk from talking about dispensationalism for 4+ hours.

We dig into:

• Why certainty might be the biggest enemy of faith
• The toxic fallout of end-times obsession
• Why shame ≠ conviction (yes, there’s a difference)
• How to unlearn bad theology without losing your mind

Also, there’s talk of duck butter, mini horses, and why John MacArthur may or may not still be alive at the time of this recording. (RIP, just in case.)

🎶 And hey, The Lone Canary is dropping a new album! Help fund it PLEASE!
👉 Help fund Dime Store Horses on Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thelonecanary/dime-store-horses-the-lone-canarys-new-album

So crack open a beer, toss your Scofield Study Bible in the fire, and embrace the mystery.

🍻 EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

PRAIRIE STREET BREWING CO – Oatmeal Stout
Rockford, IL
Stout | Smooth & rich | River-adjacent? Possibly.

STARBUCKS – Blonde Roast
Probably Jeff's safe space
Highly caffeinated clarity in a cup

GUINNESS – Extra Stout
Ireland (obviously)
Dark. Classic. Never goes out of style.

DR. PEPPER – Drive-Thru Edition
Burger King
Pairs well with disappointment and missing burger patties.

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In this heresy-flavored episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan sit down with resident dispensationalism whisperer (and trauma-sharing expert) Jeff Swanson to break down one of the most influential and weirdly persistent frameworks in evangelical thought.

We’re talking Left Behind. Charts. Rapture timelines. Helicopter-locust hybrids. Why your grandma had a Bible thicker than your thigh. And what it means when churches care more about the end of the world than living like Jesus right now.

Spoiler: Jesus is still coming back. Probably not tomorrow. Maybe chill?

So pour a drink, grab your notebook (or don’t), and jump into Part 1 of our deep dive into a theology that somehow gave us both Tim LaHaye and folded laundry in the apocalypse.

🎶 Also: Jesse's band The Lone Canary has a new album coming, and you can help make it happen!
👉 Support the Kickstarter for Dime Store Horses

🍻 EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

PRAIRIE STREET BREWING CO – Oatmeal Stout
Rockford, IL
Stout | Smooth & rich | River-adjacent? Possibly.

STARBUCKS – Blonde Roast
Probably Jeff's safe space
Highly caffeinated clarity in a cup

GUINNESS – Extra Stout
Ireland (obviously)
Dark. Classic. Never goes out of style.

DR. PEPPER – Drive-Thru Edition
Burger King
Pairs well with disappointment and missing burger patties.

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Deconstruction. The word that sends evangelicals into a cold sweat and has half of social media in a theological meltdown. But what does it really mean? Are people deconstructing their faith, or just ditching the bad theology they were handed as kids? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan grab a drink (or two) and dig into the messy, weird, and sometimes necessary world of deconstruction.

We’re talking about why people deconstruct, the biggest triggers (hello, bad church experiences and terrible theology), and why some folks get stuck in the questioning phase without ever moving forward. Is deconstruction just an excuse to "sin without guilt," or is there something deeper going on? We’ll also dive into how to raise kids with a faith that won’t require a total overhaul by the time they hit 20.

No easy answers, just honest conversation, plenty of sarcasm, and probably an unnecessary amount of side tangents.

Oh, and did we mention? The Lone Canary (aka Jesse’s band) is releasing a new album, and they need your help! Check out their Kickstarter here and help them release their new album!

So pour a drink, take a deep breath, and join us as we deconstruct deconstruction.

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

Glendronach Revival 15 Year
Highland, Scotland
Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky | 46% ABV

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Genesis 1-11: The greatest hits of Sunday school, or something much deeper? In this episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan dive into the origins of everything—creation, Adam & Eve, Noah’s Ark, and the Tower of Babel—except we’re not here for the flannelgraph version.

Is Genesis meant to be taken literally, or is there something bigger going on? Why do so many people make this the hill they’re willing to die on? And most importantly, how do we talk about this with kids without setting them up for a faith crisis at 20?

We also question how Christians engage with culture, why we still think Noah’s Ark was a cute children’s story despite being about mass destruction, and whether Jesus and the disciples were just hanging out naked all the time (it’s a fair question, okay?).

So grab a drink, get comfortable, and let’s rethink the Bible stories we thought we knew.

NOTEABLE LINKS:

MARK'S GOSPLE w Max McLean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVFQfPTJPq8

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

Glendronach 15 Year Scotch
Highland, Scotland
Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt | 46% ABV

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Bourbon
Frankfort, KY
Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 53.5% ABV

$550 of Discounted Wine from Woodman’s
Location: Jesse’s House
Consumption Rate: Questionable

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You made it to part two! Or maybe you skipped part one and are just diving in here. Either way, welcome to the unfiltered, mildly chaotic continuation of our conversation on quiet quitting church.

This time, we dig even deeper into the reasons people drift away from church and whether or not leadership should be diagnosing (or preventing) it. Some of the big questions we tackle:

• Are people quietly leaving because they’re being overlooked?
• Has the church made Sunday services more important than actual community?
• Is worship about preference or something deeper?
• Can you be part of a church community without attending on Sundays?
• How much of this is just…millennials avoiding confrontation?

From calling out consumer Christianity to debating whether leadership should be chasing people down when they leave, we cover it all—with a lot of sarcasm, some questionable analogies, and maybe even a half-decent insight or two.

So grab a drink, try not to ghost your church, and let’s wrap this up!

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

More Brewing – Baron Brown
Huntley, IL
English-Style Brown Ale | 5.5% ABV

Pilot Project Brewing – Serpenti
Milwaukee, WI / Chicago, IL
Italian Pilsner | 5.2% ABV

Woodford Reserve – Double Oak
Versailles, KY
Bourbon Whiskey | 45.2% ABV

Dunkin’ & Lavazza Coffee Blend
(For those of us still in denial about being adults.)

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Ever feel like you’re slowly backing out of a room, hoping no one notices? That’s quiet quitting—but not at your job. We’re talking about quietly quitting church. 🏃‍♂️💨

In this episode of Christian AF, Jesse, Jen, and Evan (joined by our buddy Creig) dive into why so many people are ghosting church communities without saying a word. Are we just bad at confrontation? Is church just another consumer product we discard when it stops working for us? Have we been trained to think of faith like an entertainment subscription we can cancel anytime?

We’re breaking down:

• Why people really leave churches.
• The rise of individualism and how it’s reshaped faith communities.
• Whether digital connections can replace in-person church life.
• The dangers of a “church as entertainment” model.
• How to build real, lasting community in a culture that thrives on isolation.

So grab a drink, and buckle up, while we talk about why church relationships are getting ghosted harder than a bad Tinder date.

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

Pilot Project Brewing – Serpenti
Milwaukee, WI / Chicago, IL
Italian Pilsner | 5.2% ABV

More Brewing – Baron Brown
Huntley, IL
English-Style Brown Ale | 5.5% ABV

Woodford Reserve – Double Oak
Versailles, KY
Bourbon Whiskey | 45.2% ABV

Dunkin’ & Lavazza Coffee Blend
(For when 10 AM is just too early for an old fashioned.)

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In this heretical hot take of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan crack open the tangled world of heresy—what it is, why it’s a big deal (or is it?), and how we’ve all probably dabbled in a little heresy ourselves. From universalism to fundamentalism, Americanism to the infamous "alien Jesus" theory, this episode is a chaotic deep dive into the beliefs we question and the ones that might actually define us.

We explore the allure of universalism (because who doesn’t love warm fuzzies?), the trap of American comfort as a heresy, and the weird obsession some people have with end-times theology.

If you’ve ever wondered if your personal theology might be grounds for heresy, this episode has got you covered. Bring your questions, your doubts, and maybe a drink or two because we’re questioning it all.

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

Pig Minds Brewing – Southy Bitch Slap
Machesney Park, IL
Pale Ale | 5.5% ABV

Jen's Coffee

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Happy New Year! 🎉 In this special year-end episode of the Christian AF Podcast, Jesse, Jen, and Evan tackle the big question: Why don’t we live like eternity is real? With 2025 kicking off, we reflect on how eternity (or our avoidance of it) shapes our decisions, relationships, and priorities.

The crew dives into everything from our cultural obsession with immediacy and distraction to the spiritual disciplines that help us slow down and focus on what really matters. They explore how our Western mindset often misses the mark, why slowing down might be the most countercultural thing we can do, and how living with an eternal perspective could change everything.

Oh, and there’s bourbon punch. 🍹 Grab your favorite drink, sit back, and join us for a conversation that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. Who knew eternity could be this entertaining?

EPISODE DRINKING NOTES:

Bourbon Christmas Punch

• 2 oz bourbon
• 3 oz cranberry juice (100% recommended)
• 2 oz ginger beer topper
• ½ oz cinnamon-orange simple syrup

Fezziwig Ale
Classic winter ale, perfect for reflecting on eternity.

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