Has joy gone missing from the Church?

Some Christians act like if you laugh too hard, the Holy Spirit leaves the room. But what if joy isn't the enemy of our faith—what if it's actually one of the greatest evidences of it?

In this episode, I sit down with comedian Michael Pasvar for an honest conversation about Christian joy, church culture, comedy, faith, and why so many believers seem afraid to laugh.

We talk about:
• Why joy feels like it's disappearing from the modern Church
• The difference between holiness and seriousness
• Why comedy is rooted in truth
• How laughter breaks down walls and opens hearts
• Why humor can be a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel
• Michael's new comedy special, Blended Feathers
• Church culture, worship trends, and the tension many Christians feel today

One of my favorite moments from this conversation is the idea that if joy were a person, we'd have to put her on a milk carton:

"Missing: Joy. Last seen moving powerfully through the early church. Known for bringing life, freedom, laughter, and strength. If found, please return immediately. Things are not working well without her."

Scripture tells us in Nehemiah 8:10 that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." If that's true, then maybe one of the enemy's greatest strategies isn't stealing our salvation—it's stealing our joy.

🎤 See Michael Pasvar's new comedy special here: Blended Feathers

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: ⁠https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking⁠

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

How Zach reached 30 million people with his podcast and you can too! FREE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ADMIvLFDyAc?si=NN4kw-NOfzU7c3qc 

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📘: 21 Days in Africa: 

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Are you in the DFW & need a new appliance? 

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This viral story of a YouTuber and his wife terminating their baby's life due to a potential Down syndrome diagnosis has sent the internet on fire with discussion... Here is the perspective of two Jesus Followers who have close ties to this story.

Pastor Micah Berteau of The House Church joins Zach in the studio to unpack it all.Whatcha think? Is this just the world being the world, or does society as a whole have to shift its mindset on LIFE!

Support our work here: Ilikebirdsministry.com

What if the biggest danger of technology isn't what it can do—but what it slowly stops us from doing? We discuss AI, social media, GPS, and how modern tools may be affecting our ability to think, create, and hear God's voice. This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone seeking wisdom in a digital world.

Enjoy this clip and check out the full episode on I Like Birds Podcast YouTube Channel!

Support our ministry here: Donate

Cinematic Trailer for one of the best episodes of the year... Will you pass the test of deception that is already happening? If the elect can be deceived, can't we as well? What's God gonna do when the deception hits? Pour his spirit out on man... Watch this and then watch the full episode on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Let us know how you like this type of trailer...

Jesus meant what he said when he described the end times being like the days of Noah... are we living in the last days and what will the final flood be?

Zach sits down with his spiritual father, Pastor Larry Ragland, bestselling author of The Final Flood, to explore the shocking parallels between biblical prophecy, artificial intelligence, UFO disclosure, transhumanism, spiritual deception, and the end times.

Pastor Larry shares his personal journey from skeptical pastor to one of the leading voices discussing the intersection of faith, culture, and the supernatural. Together, they unpack Matthew 24, Genesis 6, the Noah generation, AI technology, spiritual warfare, biblical worldview, and the growing push toward global deception.

You will hear :

• The meaning of "as in the days of Noah"
• AI, technology, and the future of humanity
• UFO disclosure and spiritual deception
• The Noah generation and biblical prophecy
• Transhumanism and attacks on identity
• The importance of a biblical worldview and knowing Jesus
• How Christians can prepare for the days ahead
• The message behind Pastor Larry's bestselling book, The Final Flood

Whether you're interested in Bible prophecy, current events, spiritual warfare, or understanding the signs of the times, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper and stay grounded in God's truth.

Share this everywhere!

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

Book a paid 1 on 1 stategy call for your podcast: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/1-on-1-strategy-call-for-podcast-launch-and-growth 

Need help turning your mission into a message? Book a free call with Zach to hear more about Zach’s coaching program: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/the-power-of-the-pod-discovery-call 

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking

🤝 Partner with I Like Birds Ministry 🕊️

🎁 Get a Free 7-Day Trial on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds 

🕊️: Make Donations on our Site:

https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support 

📘: 21 Days in Africa: 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY

Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback 

🧢: Bird Merch: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop 

🩵 Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE 

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Use code "ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.

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https://suubiproject.org/ 

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Are you in the DFW & need a new appliance? 

Text Jamie Eldridge & let him know what you need: 

☎817-659-6587

Get your I Like Birds discount code here: https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds

Alpha and Omega Pest Control | DFW 

Need your bugs GONE? 

One Call Kills Them All! 

Call Tim Davis @ 817-426-4445 and this will be the beginning & the end of your pest problems: 

Honored to help Stephanie Chung shape her Life Surge message before she shared the stage with John Maxwell, Tim Tebow, Ed Mylett, and Willie Robertson.

After the event, we sat down backstage and talked about growth, faith, pressure, influence, and what it really means to say yes to bigger stages.

We crafted the perfect speech that resonated deeply with the audience.

We glorified God and reminded the audience why we are all just Souls on board this flight of life!

Wanna work with Zach on a speech?

Reach out now here: https://www.rippeywrites.com/appointments

Bonus content on our show! If you enjoy please share it!

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman joins the I Like Birds Podcast for one of the most powerful locker room testimonies we’ve ever heard. Share this everywhere!

From NFL darkness, temptation, pressure, and brokenness… to prayer meetings breaking out inside Cowboys training camp.

In this episode, Kenyon shares the untold story of how players on the Dallas Cowboys defensive line began turning back to Jesus, restoring marriages, seeking transformation, and creating a revival atmosphere inside the locker room.

We talk about Jerry Jones, NFL culture, spiritual warfare, revival in professional sports, prophecy, prayer, suffering, discipline, the Holy Spirit, hearing God’s voice, and what it really means to follow Jesus in one of the darkest and most influential environments in the world.

Kenyon also shares the emotional story of a former teammate who mocked his faith for years, only to later reveal that a simple text message from Kenyon stopped him from taking his own life.

This conversation is raw, funny, convicting, deep, and packed with biblical wisdom and real-life stories from inside the NFL.

Topics include:

• ​Dallas Cowboys locker room culture
• ​NFL players turning to Christ
• ​Jerry Jones and team leadership
• ​Prayer meetings during training camp
• ​Marriages restored through Jesus
• ​The difference between talent and anointing
• ​Spiritual warfare in sports

If you love football, testimonies, leadership, revival, biblical conversations, and authentic stories about faith under pressure, this episode is for you.

Comment below with your biggest takeaway from the episode.

Subscribe for more conversations on Jesus,

New book coming soon: "Me, Armani, & Jesus..."

An Epstein survivor shares her experiences being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein to the Island as well as Florida, New York, and Washington DC. She exposes the underground trafficking networks, dentist office torture, and the ongoing abuse of children tied to elite circles.

The conversation dives into tunnels, rituals, political corruption, and why the fight against trafficking must remain the focus above everything else. She's also asked if Epstein killed himself.

Jesus is glorified in the full episode, and the darkness is being exposed by the LIGHT!

Epstein Survivor Exposes MK Ultra, DNA Experiments, Secret Tunnels, Elites Involved, Church Infiltration, and so much more.

Hope Beryl-Green shares the sobering reality that she was a DNA-manipulated baby put inside the womb of a breeder. From ages 0-5 she was tortured, abused, and unthinkable acts were done against her by programmers working for the Illuminati.

She was programmed to think she was evil and that God hated her. She experienced abuse from evil people dressed up like Jesus....and at 5 years old, she was sold and signed over to Jeffery Epstein. Those years accelerated the abuse, and she witnessed the worst of the worst that is now in black and white in the Epstein Files.

Hope shares the harrowing story of what happened to her and so many children like her who were forced to do terrible things in horse stables in front of Elite people in our society today.

Zach Rippey asked her, "If she was on Epstein’s island? Are there tunnels there and elsewhere? Did Epstein kill himself? Why does Trump call it a HOAX? Why does Melania Trump want Epstein Survivors to testify to Congress?"

And many more questions we ALL have about the Epstein Trafficking Network that runs deep and is much darker than we imagined.

Hope shares how Honest Jesus RESUCED her after 30 years of being enslaved and continues to heal her daily in her journey on the other side of FREEDOM!

This episode needs to be listened to in its entirety.

Hear the full unedited version where Hope drops the names of those she saw trafficking her and others at Patreon.com/ilikebirds

Connect with Hope here and read her book: https://www.hopeberylgreen.com/about

Thank you, Tony Merkel and the Confessionals Podcast, for giving her a platform to share her story.

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

Book a paid 1 on 1 stategy call for your podcast: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/1-on-1-strategy-call-for-podcast-launch-and-growth 

Need help turning your mission into a message? Book a free call with Zach to hear more about Zach’s coaching program: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/the-power-of-the-pod-discovery-call 

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking

🤝 Partner with I Like Birds Ministry 🕊️

🎁 Get a Free 7-Day Trial on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds 

🕊️: Make Donations on our Site:

https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support 

📘: 21 Days in Africa: 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY

Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback 

🧢: Bird Merch: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop 

🩵 Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE 

✊🏽: Venmo https://account.venmo.com/u/zachrippey23 

📚 I Like Books  📚 Get 20% off some of your favorite books: https://www.faithandflame.com/pages/my-shop/zachrippey 

Use code "ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.

🧡 Donate to The Suubi Project + Sponsor a Child: 

https://suubiproject.org/ 

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EPISODE SPONSORS:

Are you in the DFW & need a new appliance? 

Text Jamie Eldridge & let him know what you need: 

☎817-659-6587

Get your I Like Birds discount code here: https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds

Alpha and Omega Pest Control | DFW 

Need your bugs GONE? 

One Call Kills Them All! 

Call Tim Davis @ 817-426-4445 and this will be the beginning & the end of your pest problems: 

What does trusting God actually look like when your business feels uncertain, finances get tight, and nothing seems guaranteed? 

In this episode of the I Like Birds Podcast, Zach sits down with creative entrepreneur Jason Talley for a powerful conversation about faith, entrepreneurship, burnout, social media, purpose, and learning how to surrender control to God even when life feels unstable.

Jason shares the real story behind quitting his job with no backup plan, losing major clients, building a business through faith, going viral online, and discovering what it means to create with excellence while trusting God through every season. One of the most powerful moments comes when he asks himself the question: “Is God in charge… or are you?”

If you’re a Christian entrepreneur, creative, content creator, business owner, or someone trying to follow God through uncertainty, this episode will encourage, challenge, and inspire you to trust God on a deeper level.

Connect with Jason on Instagram

Connect with Zach on Instagram

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

Book a paid 1 on 1 stategy call for your podcast: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/1-on-1-strategy-call-for-podcast-launch-and-growth 

Need help turning your mission into a message? Book a free call with Zach to hear more about Zach’s coaching program: https://tidycal.com/zachrippey23/the-power-of-the-pod-discovery-call 

How Zach Reached 30 million people with his podcast and you can too!

 FREE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ADMIvLFDyAc?si=NN4kw-NOfzU7c3qc 

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking

🤝 Partner with I Like Birds Ministry 🕊️

🎁 Get a Free 7-Day Trial on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/ILikeBirds 

🕊️: Make Donations on our Site:

https://ilikebirdsministry.com/support 

📘: 21 Days in Africa: 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3iFskiY

Signed Copy + Free Gift: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop/p/21-days-in-africa-signed-paperback 

🧢: Bird Merch: https://ilikebirdsministry.com/shop 

🩵 Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C55JZNGUB97EE 

✊🏽: Venmo https://account.venmo.com/u/zachrippey23 

📚 I Like Books  📚 Get 20% off some of your favorite books: https://www.faithandflame.com/pages/my-shop/zachrippey 

Use code "ILIKEBIRDS20 at checkout.

🧡 Donate to The Suubi Project + Sponsor a Child: 

https://suubiproject.org/ 

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

EPISODE SPONSORS:

Are you in the DFW & need a new appliance? 

Text Jamie Eldridge & let him know what you need: 

☎817-659-6587

Get your I Like Birds discount code here: https://www.appliancestorenearmetx.com/ilikebirds

Alpha and Omega Pest Control | DFW 

Need your bugs GONE? 

One Call Kills Them All! 

Call Tim Davis @ 817-426-4445 and this will be the beginning & the end of your pest problems: