Unearthed & Unhinged

Ep. 013 | Messy Faith Pt. 2 | Guest: Danielle Raesz

We’re back for Part 2 of Messy Faith with my dear friend Danielle Raesz, and we’re diving even deeper into the hard, beautiful questions about who God is and how He meets us right in the middle of our mess.

In this episode, we talk about those “dumpster moments” — the ones where we walk ourselves straight into chaos, only to find that God shows up there too. He doesn’t shame us; He invites us toward holiness, reminding us that transformation is a lifelong process. The good news? Jesus already paid the cost.

If you’ve ever wrestled with doubts or wondered if God’s patience has a limit, this conversation will remind you that His grace never runs out.

If you’ve loved this conversation, go follow Danielle and her work at Live Unparalyzed, (www.liveunparalyzed.com) and send us a message if you have more questions or thoughts you’d love for us to unpack in a future episode!

Ep. 012 | Messy Faith Pt. 1 | Guest: Danielle Raesz

Faith can be messy—and that’s where it gets real. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Danielle Raesz for an honest conversation about what it looks like to follow Jesus when life feels messy. Danielle is the founder of Live Unparalyzed, a personal trainer, nutritionist, and teacher who helps people pursue health—body, mind, and soul—rooted in God’s truth. She’s wise, funny, and refreshingly real. This is Part 1 of our chat (because, let’s be honest, neither of us can say a deep thought in under five minutes. lol.). You’re going to love this one. Also, go check Danielle out at Liveunparalyzed.com, you won't regret it!

EPISODE 011: Have You Met My Friend, Naomi?

We often tell the story of Ruth as a love story—but this week, we’re looking at it through the eyes of Naomi.

Naomi’s story begins in deep grief—loss, emptiness, and the feeling that God had turned away. But what she couldn’t see was that redemption was already on the horizon. Through Ruth, God was quietly at work, restoring hope, rebuilding faith, and proving that His goodness never runs out.

In this episode, we explore how God meets us in our grief, our bitterness, and our “this can’t be fixed” moments—and how, like Naomi, we often discover that the blessing has been walking beside us the whole time.

Even when we can’t see it, God is still weaving redemption into our story.

EPISODE 010: The Mentored Leader

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the Unexpected Leader and the Reluctant Leader. But what about the leader who is mentored—shaped not by their own brilliance, but by following closely in someone else’s footsteps?

In this episode, we explore what it means to be mentored in the faith through two powerful examples:

• Joshua — Who are you following, and are they worth following? (Exodus 33:11)
• Elisha — How hungry are you for the things of God, and will you keep pursuing when no one’s spoon-feeding you? (2 Kings 2)

And we’ll end with a challenge to the Church: Are we just filling seats, or are we truly mentoring disciples? Because mentoring means relationship, and discipleship cannot exist without it.

If we want leaders who endure and a Church that lasts, we can’t settle for shallow growth. We must invest in people, even if it slows the pace for a season. Long term, it’s the only way forward.

This past week, I had the privilege of speaking at my local church on the theme of maturing in faith. Another wonderful teacher opened the conversation in Hebrews 5, reminding us of the call to grow up spiritually. (If you’d like to hear the full message, head over to bethele3.org.)

Here on the podcast, we’re picking up where I stepped in—with the light topic of willful rebellion. Spiritual maturity is about learning how to stay faithful when we’d rather push back, resist, or walk away. So grab your favorite warm beverage and settle in for this honest conversation: when life presses in, will faith hold?

EPISODE 009: The Reluctant Leader

What do you do when God calls you—and you’d rather run the other way?

In this episode, we step into Exodus 4 and watch Moses at the burning bush, wrestling with excuses, doubts, and fears. God’s question is simple but piercing: “What’s in your hand?”

Moses had a staff. You have gifts, opportunities, and influence. The question is—will you use them? Because when God calls, it’s not about your ability—it’s about your availability.

But here’s the sobering truth: if we choose not to move, God will still accomplish His purposes… He’ll just use someone else.

This is a conversation about calling, courage, and the cost of standing still.

Episode 8: Unexpected Leader

What does real leadership look like in God’s eyes? In this episode, we dive into Deuteronomy 17, where God lays out His vision for what makes a true leader—one that stands apart from the world’s standards of power and success. Together, we’ll explore why God’s criteria for leadership might surprise us, how it contrasts with cultural expectations, and what it means for our lives today. Spoiler: it’s not about charisma, clout, or crowns—it’s about character, humility, and obedience.

If you’ve ever wondered how to discern trustworthy leadership—or how you yourself might be called to lead in unexpected ways—this episode is for you.

EPISODE 007: Have You Met My Friend Simon?

We know him as Peter—the rock, the bold one, the guy who spoke before thinking. But through the eyes of John’s Gospel, Simon Peter’s story is far more layered: impulsive yet loyal, flawed yet deeply loved, broken yet restored.

In this episode, we walk through Peter’s journey with Jesus—from first encounter to final commission—looking at what his life reveals about grace, calling, and perseverance.

By the end, you’ll be left with three deeply personal questions:

1️⃣ What do you need to be restored from?

2️⃣ Who are the sheep you’re called to tend?

3️⃣ Who do you need to encourage?

Peter’s story isn’t just his—it’s ours.

📖 Episode 006 – Bible Basics Pt. 3: External Evidence

Where faith meets facts—and the dirt backs it up.

If the Bible claims to be the authority in our lives, can it actually stand up to external scrutiny?

In this final installment of our Bible Basics series, we're digging into four major areas that give Scripture undeniable credibility:

• History – Ancient records outside the Bible confirming biblical events

• Historical Accuracy – When the Bible was once doubted… and later proven right

• Ancient Manuscripts – How thousands of early copies confirm we’re reading the real thing

• Archaeology – Where reality meets dirt, and the past meets faith

God’s Word doesn’t just inspire—it holds up under the microscope.

Because truth isn’t afraid of being tested.

🎧 Tune in and explore how external evidence strengthens our internal confidence in Scripture.

Episode 005 – Bible Basics, Part 2: Can We Trust What’s Inside?

If we’re going to let the Bible speak with authority in our lives, we have to be sure it deserves the mic. In this episode, we’re digging into the internal evidence—what’s happening inside the pages of Scripture that gives it weight, credibility, and divine fingerprints.

We’ll explore:

• Compilation History – How this sacred library came together over centuries
• Composition – Why certain books made the cut (and others didn’t)
• Self-Proclamation – What the Bible says about itself (Spoiler: it’s not shy)
• Biblical Prophecy – Bold claims that were fulfilled in history

This isn’t just Bible trivia—it’s about building a solid foundation for resilient faith. Because if the Bible is what it claims to be, then it’s worth listening to—even when it gets uncomfortable.