The 44

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we eat on Proverbs 6:6–11 and discover some surprisingly powerful lessons from one of God's smallest creatures—the ant. After watching an ant with my daughter Annalee, I was reminded of Solomon's challenge to consider its ways and be wise. We explore two simple but important lessons: doing what needs to be done without always being told, and making the most of the opportunities God has given us today. Sometimes the greatest lessons in faithfulness, ...

Send us Fan Mail In Numbers 22, Balaam becomes so focused on where he wants to go that he fails to recognize the warnings God has placed in his path. And if we're not careful, we can do the very same thing. Sometimes our struggle isn't that we don't know what God wants, but that we already know what we want and are hoping God will agree with us. In this episode of The 44, we explore the danger of allowing our desires to cloud our discernment and why the very things we see as obstacles might b...

Send us Fan Mail In Numbers 2, God gave Israel more than instructions about where to pitch their tents—He gave them a picture of identity, direction, and what belonged at the center of their lives. Each tribe camped under its own standard, but every camp was arranged around the tent of meeting, oriented toward the presence of God. In this episode, we look at what our own “standards” say about who we are, what direction our lives are facing, and whether Jesus is truly at the center. Sometimes ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we look at the “Good Things Technique” through the lens of Psalm 88 and Philippians 4:6–8. Scripture gives us permission to be honest about darkness and pain, but it also teaches us to be intentional about where we allow our minds to dwell. Rather than ignoring what is hard, we can train our attention to notice what is still true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. Sometimes that simply means ending the day by finding three good t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we ask a simple but challenging question: are we hiding the right things? Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 that some acts of righteousness are meant to be done in secret, while Scripture also calls us to bring sin into the light through confession and prayer. Maybe we’ve had it backwards—showing off the good while protecting the darkness. This episode is about learning to live for the eyes of the Father, letting even our visible good works point back to H...

Send us Fan Mail In Exodus 24, Israel boldly declares, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do,” but just forty days later they are gathered around a golden calf. In this episode, I’m not pointing the finger at them, I’m asking how often I do the same thing by saying God is first while allowing temporary things to consume my attention. What would my life look like if I could see it from heaven’s perspective, with the eyes of an angel? Colossians 3 gives the challenge: keep seeking the things...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 36, “From Head to Feet,” we dig into Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1 and the difference between knowing more about God and actually knowing God. Paul prays that our knowledge of God’s will would move into our walk—changing how we live, producing fruit, and ultimately leading us into a deeper relationship with Him. It’s a beautiful cycle: know His will, walk His way, know Him more. And through every part of that journey, may we never stop joyously giving thanks to the...

Send us Fan Mail In Acts 7, Stephen is surrounded by angry men, accusations, and stones but instead of looking around, he looks up and sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In this episode, we explore why Jesus may have been standing and what Stephen’s vision teaches us about faithfulness, suffering, and where the final verdict over our lives really comes from. Sometimes the prayer isn’t simply, “Lord, make this go away,” but “Lord, help me see beyond this. Help me look up.” Because e...

Send us Fan Mail Some people have a way of showing up at just the right time and saying exactly what you needed to hear. In this episode of The 44, we talk about finding people whose wisdom moves us, surrounding ourselves with voices that help shape us toward Christ, and becoming that kind of person for someone else. But if the words of people can give us chills, how much more should the living and active Word of God move us? Maybe we don’t need something new from God, we just need to slow do...

Send us Fan Mail A Little League mound visit delivered a reminder far bigger than baseball: “If you walk the next five batters, Jesus is still Lord. If you strike out the next five batters, Jesus is still Lord.” In this episode, we look at Jesus’ words about worry in Matthew 6 and Paul’s incredible perspective in Philippians to consider how easily we turn small things into big things. When Christ is truly the biggest thing in our lives, everything else can finally be the size it’s supposed to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we journey into Exodus 9 and the devastating plague of hail, stopping at one remarkable phrase: “Only in the land of Goshen.” While judgment fell across Egypt, God made a clear distinction for His people, reminding us that He knows exactly who belongs to Him. This episode explores how Goshen points beyond physical protection to the deeper security found in Christ, a place where even when storms come, there are things they simply cannot touch. God's ...

Send us Fan Mail A cancelled flight, a rerouted destination, and a long night of difficult decisions became an unexpected lesson about trust. Why is it so hard to surrender control, even when we know God is leading? In this episode, we explore what delayed flights, detours, and a 15-hour drive home reveal about our hearts and why Proverbs 3 reminds us that the safest place isn't behind the wheel, but in the hands of the One who knows the way.

Send us Fan Mail As Joseph sends his brothers back to Canaan, he leaves them with one simple instruction: “Do not quarrel on the way.” Why would those be his final words? In this episode, we slow down to examine one small detail in Genesis 45:24 and discover a powerful lesson about forgiveness, reconciliation, and refusing to let yesterday’s failures steal today’s grace. Like Joseph’s brothers, we’re all on a journey home and we’ve been entrusted with the greatest news the world has ever hear...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we explore Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic story The Great Stone Face and discover the powerful biblical truth hidden within its pages: you become what you behold. Through 2 Corinthians 3:18, Acts 4:13, and Hebrews 12:1–2, we see that lasting transformation doesn't come merely from trying harder, it comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus. The longer we behold His glory, the more our lives begin to reflect His character. Join us as we consider one simple ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we eat on one of the easiest details in Scripture to overlook—John outrunning Peter to the empty tomb in John 20:3-8. As we slow down and pay attention to the text, we discover powerful lessons about pursuing Jesus, avoiding comparison with other believers, and remembering that the greatest victory was never who arrived first, but that the tomb was empty. Whether your spiritual journey feels like a sprint or a slow, steady walk, this episode is a re...

Send us Fan Mail In John 18:1–2, Jesus crosses the Kidron Valley on His way to Gethsemane, a detail that is far more significant than it first appears. In this episode, we explore how the Kidron became a place associated with the removal of idols and uncleanness throughout the Old Testament, making Jesus’ crossing a powerful picture of the One who would carry away the sin of the world. We also consider the simple but profound statement that Jesus “had often met there with His disciples,” chal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we explore the sobering story of Demas. A man who once labored alongside Paul but ultimately walked away because he "loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10). Through the few verses that mention his name, we uncover a powerful warning about the slow drift of worldliness and the battle for our affections. What happens when something other than Christ captures our hearts?

Send us Fan Mail Last week we asked, "Whose rainbow is it?" This week we go a step further. In a culture filled with controversy, criticism, and pressure to conform, what can the rainbow teach us about God's patience, mercy, and truth? Join us as we explore Genesis 9, 2 Peter 3:9, recent headlines from the baseball world, and why there are times when God's people must lovingly but courageously say, "No." The rainbow is more than a symbol. It is a reminder that God is still giving sinners time...

Send us Fan Mail It is June, and with it come conversations about identity, truth, symbols, and what they mean. In this episode of The 44, we explore a simple but important question: Whose rainbow is it? From Genesis 9 to a modern-day Major League Baseball pitcher pointing people back to God’s covenant, we’ll discuss why Christians must not surrender the story behind one of Scripture’s most powerful symbols. The rainbow was God’s before it was anything else and perhaps it’s time we started te...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, a simple phrase written on the side of a cup at the Ocala Farmers Market becomes a powerful reminder of the gospel: Broken crayons still color. Through the stories of David, Peter, Paul, and others, we explore how God has always used imperfect, flawed, and broken people to accomplish His purposes. From David's prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 to Paul's testimony of mercy and Jeremiah's visit to the potter's house, Scripture reminds us that failure d...

Send us Fan Mail George Washington frequently spoke of the providence of God in moments of unlikely victory, while Abraham Lincoln reflected on providence in the midst of suffering and national tragedy. In this episode, we explore what God’s providence really means, why it is often easier to see in hindsight than in the moment, and how biblical figures like Joseph, Esther and Paul help us learn to trust God’s purposes even when we cannot see His plan. Sometimes faith is not understanding God’...

Send us Fan Mail In John 6, Philip stands in front of a massive problem and immediately begins calculating what they do not have. But the deeper issue is not the size of the crowd, it is that Philip momentarily forgets everything he has already seen Jesus do. In this episode, we explore how quickly we forget God’s faithfulness, why Scripture constantly calls us to remember, and how Psalm 77 reminds us to intentionally rehearse the wonders of God in moments of fear and uncertainty. Because rem...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we unpack the meaning behind the song “There Is a Balm in Gilead” and the powerful Scripture it comes from in Jeremiah 8:22. Tracing the idea of “balm” through passages like Genesis and other places in Jeremiah, we discover it was a well-known source of healing yet it couldn’t fix the deeper spiritual problem God’s people faced. That tension points us to a greater truth: real healing isn’t found in earthly remedies, but in God Himself. This episode challenges...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 200 of The 44 is less about a number and more about remembering the faithfulness of God along the journey. In this episode, we explore milestone moments throughout scripture—from the memorial stones in Joshua 4 to Samuel’s Ebenezer in 1 Samuel 7—and why God constantly called His people to stop and remember what He had done. We talk about how easy it is to rush from one season to the next without celebrating growth, grace, and answered prayers along the way. Sometimes ...

Send us Fan Mail After slowly walking through each stanza of Psalm 119, one truth kept standing out: how much of what we are searching for spiritually is already right in front of us in God’s Word. In this episode, we talk about the simplicity, beauty, and sufficiency of Scripture and how we often complicate what God made clear. From Psalm 119 to Ecclesiastes 12, we explore the tension between endlessly searching for “more” and simply allowing the truth of God’s Word to shape our lives. The W...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever caught yourself thinking church feels…boring? This episode challenges that idea by asking whether the problem is really the worship or our hearts. Looking through Scripture, we see that God has always cared more about engaged, hungry hearts than outward activity, and even rejects empty worship. From Psalm 119 to Amos and Isaiah, we’re reminded that awe, delight, and response are what make worship come alive. Maybe the question isn’t “what needs to change out the...

Send us Fan Mail This episode pushes back on the idea that “too much of a good thing is a good thing” by looking at the wisdom of Proverbs. While good things are gifts from God, Proverbs shows how excess can quietly turn those blessings into burdens that control us and rob us of joy. Through examples like honey, rest, money, and words, we explore how overindulgence dulls gratitude and distorts priorities. The call is not to avoid good things, but to practice self-control and learn what “enoug...

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the power of bringing our hardest questions to Jesus. Looking at the desperate father in Mark 9 and the leper in Matthew 8, we see that Jesus is not only able to help, but willing to move toward us in compassion. His invitation is simple: ask, seek, and knock. When we bring Him our doubts, pain, and needs, we find that extraordinary things can happen through faith and prayer.

Send us Fan Mail What’s the first thing on your mind when you wake up—and what does it reveal about your heart? Through passages like Psalm 121, Psalm 5:3, and Matthew 6:33, we’re challenged to seek God first instead of carrying the weight of the day. With the intimate language of “Abba” from Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6, we’re reminded that God invites us into a close, childlike relationship. Instead of beginning the day with worry, we can begin with dependence. Start your day not with stre...

Send us Fan Mail It’s easy to look around and feel discouraged by the direction of our culture but the story of Aquila and Priscilla reminds us that faithful living has always been possible, even in difficult places. In this episode, we explore how this couple created a home that honored Christ wherever they went, and how you can do the same today. Your home can be more than a refuge, it can be a light.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore what true biblical encouragement really is and why it serves as “fuel for the soul.” Looking at the life of Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, we see how encouragement goes beyond words into action—strengthening others through generosity, belief, and faith-building. We also unpack the connection between the Greek words paraklesis (encouragement) and parakletos (the Holy Spirit), revealing that encouragement reflects the very work of God in our liv...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we take a look at what might seem like an uncomfortable topic, the “dark side” of the good news, and discover how it can actually deepen our gratitude and praise. When we remember what we’ve been rescued from, we gain a greater appreciation for both the rescue and the Rescuer. Drawing from Psalm 40, Colossians 1, and Romans 5, this episode challenges us to see how understanding our former state apart from Christ fuels a louder, more authentic worship. This is...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we look at Jesus’ gentle words to Martha in Luke 10 and how they speak directly to our anxious, distracted world today. Using a simple moment from a restaurant and the familiar story of Mary and Martha, we explore how easily our lives become filled with “many things” that pull our attention away from the one thing that truly matters. We also reflect on Peter’s powerful reminder in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our anxieties on God because He cares for us. If you’ve...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, a familiar frustration—Daylight Savings Time—becomes a doorway into a deeper conversation about the value of time. Reflecting on scriptures like Psalm 90, Ephesians 5, and James 4, we’re reminded that our days are limited and every hour is a gift from God. While losing an hour of sleep may feel inconvenient, it can also serve as a powerful reminder to “redeem the time” and make the most of the opportunities we’ve been given. Instead of just adjustin...

Send us Fan Mail This episode reflects on the State of the Union as a picture of our culture’s team-based identity and challenges Christians to examine where their ultimate allegiance lies. Looking at Joshua 5 and Ephesians 1, we’re reminded that Jesus does not come to endorse our side—He reigns as Lord over all. As citizens of heaven living in exile, we are called to love our country, pray for our leaders, and seek its good without confusing national loyalty with Kingdom loyalty. The gospel ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore Jeremiah 6:15 and the haunting description of a people who had “forgotten how to blush.” Using the backdrop of Judah’s spiritual collapse, we talk about how a numbed conscience develops, why conviction is actually a gift, and how modern culture often mocks the very sensitivity God intends for our good. Rather than seeing blushing as weakness, we learn to view it as a sign of a tender, Spirit-shaped heart. The episode closes with the hope of Jeremiah...

Send us Fan Mail Drawing from 1 John 3, James 2, and Matthew 25, this episode explores how love in Scripture is meant to be seen, not just felt. It’s easy to think of people, feel for them, and even mean well, yet stop short of actually doing anything. This episode explores whether or not it's the thought that counts? Or is it something else? What would it look like to move from thoughtful intentions to faithful action this week? In the kingdom of God, love shows up.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we explore a powerful historical principle known as the “criterion of embarrassment” and what it reveals about the reliability of the gospel accounts. Rather than avoiding hard questions about whether the Bible is “real,” we consider how the resurrection of Jesus stands at the center of Christianity and why that claim invites serious examination. We look at several details in the New Testament that no one trying to invent a religion would likely hav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore Job’s sharp words in Job 13:4, where he calls his friends “worthless physicians.” Through a personal story and Job’s interaction with his friends, we examine the difference between care that heals and care that simply rushes to explain. Job’s friends began well by showing up and sitting in silence, but they failed when they chose answers over empathy. Drawing wisdom from Proverbs, this episode challenges us to consider whether our words bring heali...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we reflect on Galatians 6:17, where Paul declares, “I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus.” We explore what Paul meant by these marks—scars of suffering, faithfulness, and allegiance—and why they mattered more than outward religious symbols. This conversation invites us to consider the marks our own lives bear and what they reveal about who we belong to. Following Jesus is not about convenience or comfort, but about a love that leaves its imprint on our ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore a simple but serious question: What is the one thing that’s been holding you back from a deeper relationship with the Lord? We look at the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18 — a moral, religious man who walked away sad because there was one area of his life he refused to surrender — and we contrast him with Paul in Philippians 3, who released everything to pursue Christ and said, “One thing I do: I press on.” From there, we walk through four gospel-shaped ...

Send us Fan Mail This episode looks closely at the often-overlooked words “fear not” and “do not be afraid,” especially as they appear throughout the story surrounding the birth of Jesus. Scripture shows these words are never spoken when life is calm, but when futures are uncertain and everything is about to change. From Mary and Joseph to the shepherds, fear does not disqualify people from God’s work—it places them right at the center of it. The good news of Jesus is not that fear disappears...

Send us Fan Mail This episode reflects on a heavy, exhausting week marked by sickness, sleepless nights, and the lingering question, “When is this going to end?” Using a familiar Seinfeld illustration, it explores why peace can’t be forced or shouted into existence, and why the pursuit of “serenity now” often leaves us more restless. Scripture points us instead to a renewed mind anchored in trust, where peace is formed over time rather than demanded in the moment. Real serenity doesn’t come f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we eat on what biblical compassion really looks like — not the watered-down version we often settle for, but the powerful, gut-level word splagchnizomai that shaped the life of Jesus. We explore how He saw people, felt deeply for them, and then moved into action, and why that same pattern is meant to shape us today. Through Scripture, stories, and practical insight, this episode challenges you to move from passive sympathy to active, Christlike compassion that...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the host shares meaningful reflections from a recent trip to Washington, D.C. with his daughters—walking through memorials, standing at the Vietnam Wall, and even finding a family name etched in stone. These moments opened a deeper conversation about sacrifice, gratitude, and the faith we inherit from those who came before us. Drawing from John 15:13 and Hebrews 11, the host connects national sacrifice to the spiritual legacy of believers who laid down their ...

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the powerful true story of Jamal Shead, a college basketball player whose quiet act of character and integrity—picking up trash after a heated loss—preached louder than any words. We connect Jamal’s moment to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16:10 and three spiritual truths about integrity, witness, and peacemaking. When the world reacts with frustration, Jamal shows what it means to reflect Christ through simple, faithful choices. You’ll walk away challenged to ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we eat on how sin slowly desensitizes the heart using a striking illustration of an Eskimo’s blood-covered blade and the fatal numbness it creates. Drawing from biblical examples like David, Solomon, and the sons of Eli, we look at how even God’s people can drift into spiritual callousness through small compromises. We then ties this into the theme of last week's episode, “Faith Remembered, Failures Forgotten,” and see that while grace restores the repentant,...

Send us Fan Mail Check out the Excel Still More Podcast. Here is the Apple Podcast link. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excel-still-more/id1450565022 In this episode, we eat from Hebrews 11 — a passage often called the Hall of Faith. But what if we read it not just as a list of heroes, but through the lens of God’s grace? In this episode, we explore what isn’t mentioned in Hebrews 11 — the failures, doubts, and flaws that God chose to forget — and reminds us that the same mercy t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The 44, we explore the powerful message behind the story of the donkey in the well — a reminder that when life throws dirt on us, faith teaches us to shake it off and take a step up. Through the stories of Hannah, Joseph, and Paul, we see how God turns rejection, betrayal, and hardship into stepping stones that lift His people higher. Scripture shows again and again that what was meant to bury us can become the very thing God uses to raise us. If you're wal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, “Let Down Your Nets,” we step into the story of Peter and Jesus in Luke 5:1–11 — a moment where weary fishermen learn that obedience to Jesus can turn emptiness into abundance. Through Peter’s frustration, faith, and surrender, we see how God often meets us right where our efforts have failed. This episode reminds us that the greatest miracle isn’t the full nets, but the transformed heart that chooses to follow the Caller over the catch. Tune in and rediscove...