Growing Together

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What do you do when faced with an insurmountable situation that requires intensive prayer and obedience to God's calling on your life?  On this week's episode, Nic Affolter and Dale Walker sit down for a one on one conversation about the journey of Jesus and his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane.

The Final hours of his ministry reveal a Jesus we can all relate to.  He was filled with emotions of anguish, fear, doubt, and physical pain.  A deep feeling of isolation took over as his disciples fell asleep when Jesus needed them most.  We have all been there at one time or another, praying to God to spare us from a situation we would rather not come face to face with.

In this moment, our Lord's example reveals to us that no matter what the situation, it is total obedience to God's will and giving it all to him in prayer that gets us through.  Not just a quick plea to God to spare us, but discerning prayer that desires to reveal God's true purpose for our lives in any situation, no matter how long it takes.  Ultimate obedience is achieved when we submit our hearts to his true purposes, and battle through the pain and suffering as long as  it takes until He gives us victory over our enemies.  

If you find yourself struggling to commit to God's word, this one's for you.  If you have doubts that Jesus can relate to your fears and doubts, give this one a listen.  Hang out with us for just a short while and be prepared to be in awe of His love for us.  His sacrifice was our gift, and he doesn't ask for anything in return notwithstanding our love and obedience.  Please share our podcast with a friend, a co-worker, or a loved one.  Help us spread the word of God's great calling on our lives!    

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Thirty pieces of silver sounds like a payday until you realize what it bought: a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane and a choice that still shakes people today. We go straight at Judas Iscariot, not to sensationalize betrayal, but to understand the slow drift that can happen when money, pride, and disappointment start steering the heart.

We talk through what Scripture does and doesn’t say about Judas, including the meaning of “Iscariot,” why he may have been the outsider among the disciples, and the early red flags that show up long before the Last Supper. Along the way we wrestle with a question that hits modern life hard: is Jesus only a wise teacher we can quote when it’s convenient, or is He Lord and Savior who gets to confront what we want to keep?

From there we compare Judas with Peter and Doubting Thomas, because both men fail, yet neither man stays in despair. That contrast opens up the bigger theme of spiritual warfare: Satan doesn’t need you to worship him, he just needs you to believe you can’t go back to God. We also tackle the question people keep asking around Easter and Holy Week: if prophecy foretold betrayal, is Judas punished for fate, and what does repentance really require?

If you’ve ever felt “too far gone,” or you’ve been sitting on the fence with faith, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find Growing Together, then tell us: when you mess up, what helps you run toward God instead of away?

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Ever planned for smooth sailing and got a squall instead? We open with a cruise that starts rough—cold wind, rocking decks, and dashed expectations—before sun finally breaks through in Nassau and Bimini. Back home, the week tightens: a beloved cat’s sudden illness and looming vet bills, a make-or-break home appraisal that lands in our favor, and leadership changes at work that unsettle the routine. It’s the perfect storm for a bigger question: can faith stay steady when life won’t?

We dig into what “faith like a mustard seed” really means, not as a slogan but as a way to stand when the deck tilts. Matthew 17 and Mark 11 become more than verses; they become a map for speaking to real mountains—health worries, financial strain, job uncertainty—without pretending they aren’t there. We talk hope versus faith, why quick wishes often miss the mark, and how God’s timing accounts for more than our wants. If a mountain moves, something else shifts too, and a wise God holds the whole picture.

This conversation gets practical. We unpack the power of witness through behavior: staying kind at a counter when tensions rise, holding a young employee accountable with standards and care, and choosing words and symbols that speak life instead of glamorizing negativity. We confront modern overload—apps we never use, sports we can’t watch without three subscriptions, the fatigue of endless choice—and how it dulls purpose. Faith pushes back by simplifying focus: honor God, serve people, build character, act with integrity.

What emerges is a grounded, human portrait of trust. Not a highlight reel, but a steady drumbeat: count blessings without denying pain, do everything as unto the Lord, and keep your ask aligned with His will. If your week looks like ours—some sun, some chop, a few unexpected invoices—this one will meet you where you stand and give you words for the mountain ahead.

Enjoy the episode, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and if it helped you, follow, rate, and leave a review so others can find it too. What mountain do you want us to pray about this week?

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Ever feel your heart lift during a hymn while your hands stay at your sides? We unpack the many shapes of worship—joyful shouts, quiet tears, and the steady listening that honors God as much as any chorus. Our talk moves from light banter about cruises and hockey to a deep dive on why some songs hit like a prayer and others fade like background noise, and how the sermon can refill an empty week when worship first sets the table.

We share personal stories of being moved by CeCe Winans’ Come Jesus Come and Charity Gayle’s anthems, and the way Johnny Cash’s Were You There carries a lived-in ache that feels like standing at the foot of the Cross. Hymns come up again and again because they strip the music down to truth and let reverence lead; modern worship can carry the same fire when it’s sincere, Scripture-rich, and sung for God rather than charts. We explore inward worship versus outward expression, the freedom to praise without performance, and how God meets us in both the roar and the whisper.

What emerges is a simple pattern: worship primes the heart, the word sharpens the mind, and community binds it together so Monday doesn’t feel so heavy. Miss a Sunday and you notice it by midweek. Show up and you leave with fuel, a melody, and a verse that carries you. If you’ve ever wondered whether your quiet counts or why certain songs undo you, this conversation will feel like home.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Tell us: which song or hymn draws you closest to God?

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Ever felt like faith got quiet while the world got loud? We lean into a bold idea—faith with intensity—by pairing the fire of old-school wrestling promos with the unflinching clarity of the prophet Isaiah. Not for shock value, but because Isaiah’s words cut through performance, call out empty rituals, and chart a path from judgment to grace with a force that still shakes hearts today.

We unpack Isaiah speaking truth to kings and nations, showing how God rejects hollow offerings and demands justice, mercy, and honest worship. From “stop bringing meaningless offerings” to “though your sins are like scarlet,” the book pairs a necessary sting with a healing promise. We explore how that pattern maps onto modern life: the subtle idols of distraction, the social media pull toward self-promotion, and the way convenience can hollow out conviction. Along the way, we talk courage—how ancient believers paid with their lives, and how our moment calls for integrity over performance, obedience over optics, and prayer over noise.

History adds bite to the message. Empires that enthroned pride and sidelined God flame out—Egypt, Babylon, Rome—and that storyline warns any nation tempted to worship power or novelty. We reflect on America’s cultural crossroads and argue for a return to first things: humility, wisdom, the defense of the vulnerable, and worship centered on the living God. If zeal feels far away, we offer simple starting points to reawaken it—Scripture before screens, small daily practices, honest self-examination that aligns the heart with truth.

Lean in for a charged, hope-filled conversation that refuses cynicism. If you’re longing for a faith that stands firm and loves deeply, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help others find the show.

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Ever feel like your relationship is a flight that hits sudden turbulence, and you’re not sure who’s flying the plane? We get honest about love that starts with a spark and survives with a spine—how shared faith, daily grace, and practical habits turn romance into resilience. With Nick, Margie, and Dale at the table, we move from grocery hauls and wind-tunnel parking lots to the real work of being equally yoked. Attraction may open the story, but unity of spirit keeps it from falling apart when life gets loud.

We unpack the difference between infatuation and covenant, why “unequally yoked” is broader than believer vs. nonbeliever, and how mismatched fire—one spouse blazing, the other cautious—can still form a strong team. Dale shares how Connie’s bold gratitude nudged him to speak faith out loud, while Nick and Margie explore their opposite coping styles: steady calm versus big feelings, both anchored by prayer. Along the way, we visit biblical couples—Joseph and Mary, Ruth and Boaz, Adam and Eve, and the cautionary tale of Samson and Delilah—to pull out patterns that fit modern pressures: reputation, waiting, blended roles, and temptations that test trust.

This conversation stays practical. We talk about keeping God in the cockpit through simple, shared habits: a weekly family Bible study, short prayers over meals, and handwritten notes that outlast flowers. We make a case for words on paper—because when emotions surge, a thoughtful line can land the plane faster than another store-bought card. If Valentine’s Day feels like a script you’ve read too many times, try this version: honest faith, patient listening, and a pen that says “I see you.”

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway. Your story might be the nudge another couple needs to keep flying together.

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What do you do when compassion collides with conflict? We dig into the real tension between our call to share the gospel and the moments when people resist, test boundaries, or demand help on their terms. A vivid story from our church sets the stage: a young man asks for aid, rejects prayer, and later calls for money, forcing a choice between kindness and enabling. From there, we get honest about how often this same tension shows up at the family cookout, on the job site, and anywhere faith meets everyday life.

We talk through the Great Commission as a shared calling and how Jesus’ instruction to shake the dust off protects us from burnout and bitterness. You’ll hear practical ways to be a calm, visible Christian presence without preaching at people: small signs of faith that invite conversation, a steady spirit when others spiral, and a willingness to pray or listen without making the moment about you. We also tackle church hurt and the myth of perfection, reminding each other that God uses imperfect people now. Finding purpose doesn’t always mean doing more; it means doing the right thing for the right reasons, even when it’s quiet, unglamorous work.

Along the way, we press into accountability as love. Saying no to manipulation isn’t hard-hearted; it honors dignity and truth. We explore how to avoid denying Christ under pressure, how to set wise boundaries, and how to keep showing up with humility when doors open. If you’re wrestling with where to draw the line, how to stand firm without becoming harsh, and how to keep your witness strong in messy places, this conversation will help you move forward with courage and clarity.

If this resonated, subscribe, share the show with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help more people find the conversation. Tell us: where do you draw the line between helping and enabling?

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One hour on a Monday night changed the rhythm of our home. We set out a simple spread, opened Matthew, and let everyone read: the overworked, the on-fire convert, the skeptic twin, the quiet absorber, the mom who learns by asking out loud. What started as an awkward experiment became a steady ritual that softened anxiety, rebuilt old bonds, and made room for messy, honest questions about God without anyone feeling small.

We talk about how to create a safe space for doubt, why interior change is the miracle most of us miss, and how to translate theology into the everyday—money habits, forgiveness, grief, and the slow work of healing family fractures. Timmy’s plainspoken faith helps reframe “prove it” questions into lived witness: would anyone suffer for a lie? We sit with Spencer’s fear of death and the hard question of grace for the worst among us. We remember a pregnancy scare that ended in a healthy child, and a home project that came in far under budget—not trophies, but quiet signs that provision often arrives without fanfare.

This is a field guide to starting your own faith night at home: keep it small, read aloud, welcome every question, share the meal load, and change the setting when you need fresh air. Church and home feed each other—worship carries us, sermons spark study, and the kitchen table becomes the place where truth lands. Imperfect people reading a perfect Savior is exactly the point. If you’re craving calmer hearts, deeper bonds, and a tradition your kids will remember, this hour might be the seed.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review telling us your best tip for making faith a household habit.

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What holds a family together when the ground keeps shifting? We sit down with Margaret for a raw, generous conversation about marriage dynamics, mother-hearts, and the faith that steadies a growing, blended household. Our story opens with honest contrasts—one of us overthinks, the other gets things done—and moves into the real-life pressures of expanding holidays, new marriages, and the daily choice to love in the middle of complexity.

We anchor the talk in Abraham and Sarah, not as distant saints but as a couple who knew waiting, jealousy, and impossible promises. Margaret shares candidly about the ache of infertility and why Sarah’s laughter hits so close to home when hope has aged past reason. We explore Hagar’s wilderness moment and the comfort of the God who sees, Ishmael’s blessing, and the tension that rises when Isaac arrives and inheritance shifts. The text’s quiet spaces—how Hagar entered the home, what Sarah felt on the day Abraham walked with Isaac—invite us to consider the emotions behind obedience and the cost of trust.

From there we lean into the altar on Moriah and what faith looks like when the knife is raised. Abraham’s words, the ram in the thicket, and Mary’s grief at the cross frame a deeper look at how mothers and fathers often carry sacrifice differently. We don’t reduce roles to clichés; instead we talk about presence, provision, discipline, prayer, and the mentors who call us toward better futures. Along the way we share practical takeaways for blended families and busy homes: protect what matters, slow down anger, name each person’s strengths, and make room for worship that shapes the week.

If your family feels complex, you’re not alone—and you’re not without a map. Press play, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: where have you seen the God who sees show up in your home?