In this episode of Gird Up, host Charlie Ungemach sits down with Pastor Jacob Klug (Mountain View Lutheran, Calgary, AB) and Seminarian Colin Maurice for a wide-ranging, three-part conversation. First, Pastor Klug shares how his congregation uses high strangeness, vampire lore, and sci-fi culture as an apologetic bridge to reach "functional pagans." Next, the guys tackle the psychological and spiritual traps of online dating, "secondary digital identities," and how to navigate romance without making an idol out of it. Finally, the panel reflects on the profound comfort of Christ's resurrected body—exploring what Jesus retaining His scars in heaven reveals about our own suffering, our union with God, and physical restoration.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• • Cultural Engagement & High Strangeness: Why Pastor Jacob Klug is using vampires, sci-fi, and cultural folklore to engage functional pagans and point them back to the reality of the supernatural and Christ.

  • The "Cardboard Cutout" Trap: How dating apps force young Christians to construct curated digital identities—and why that builds immense pressure, anxiety, and visual desensitization.

  • Commodification vs. Promise: Moving past the "demand-obligation paradigm" to pursue authentic, grace-filled relationships grounded in real-life community.

  • Christ’s Scars in Heaven: A deep theological reflection on the incarnation, physical perfection, and why Jesus keeping His scars means we are more than okay in Him.

  Episode Resources & Links Mentioned:

  Mountain View Lutheran: https://mountainviewchurch.org/

Collin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collin525/

Open Book App: https://openbook.today/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

How do Christians remain in the world without becoming captive to the digital age? In this episode, Charlie Ungemach sits down with Seminary Senior Colin Maurice and Pastor Jacob Klug to break down what it means to faithfully navigate our modern culture.

This episode covers three distinct conversations:

1. Being in the World (and the Algorithm) but Not of It: A look at how digital identities distort our God-given identity, how social media algorithms feed off the passions of the flesh, and how confessional Christians can engage online spaces with charity and clear listening.

2. The Myth of the 'Good Old Days': Reacting to a viral Genesis commentary, the guys discuss why nostalgia can be a theological trap, how sin has always plagued every generation, and why our hope rests in Christ’s reconciliation rather than returning to an imagined past.

3. Holding the Sack Open: Unpacking Martin Luther’s quote on the nature of the Gospel, exploring what it means to be purely passive recipients of God’s overflowing grace.

Mountain View Lutheran: https://mountainviewchurch.org/

Collin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collin525/

Open Book App: https://openbook.today/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

When loss hits hard or life falls apart, the silence of God can feel deafening. Where is God when you are grieving a loss, a relationship, or a season of your life—and why does it feel like He isn't answering?

On this episode of the Gird Up Podcast, host Charlie Ungemach sits down with Pastors Josh Rathje (Crown of Life, Fort Myers, FL) and Mike Cherney (Truth in Love Ministry & co-host of Graveyard Shift Gospel). Together, the trio tackles three major areas hitting young Christians today: navigating the heavy silence of God in seasons of grief, refuting a viral atheist critique regarding heaven and human identity, and finding daily security in Martin Luther's picture of Baptism as an unbreakable ship.

The conversation opens with a deep pastor's look into suffering and loss. The guys explain why God is never truly silent where He has bound Himself to speak—in His Word and Sacraments—and how the Psalms of lament teach Christians to pray faithfully through periods of waiting. Moving from personal trials to cultural apologetics, they break down a viral social media clip claiming you can't be happy in heaven if loved ones are in hell, exposing the logical fallacies of the atheist argument and demonstrating how true human identity is restored in Christ. Finally, they close in the Large Catechism, reflecting on Martin Luther’s reminder that while we may slip and fall into sin, the ship of Baptism never breaks because it rests entirely on God's objective promise.

Pastor Josh

Church: https://crownlifelutheran.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrathje10/

Pastor Mike

TILM: https://tilm.org/

Graveyard Shift Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LBKNpQCyLMG5TrJbOH7Y9?si=8bf9b793c922402e

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeaftermike/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

What happens when someone you dearly love tells you they identify as transgender? How do we balance unyielding Scriptural truth with genuine Christlike love, and where does Sunday worship fit into it all?

In this episode, Charlie Ungemach sits down with Pastor Josh Rathje (Crown of Life Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, FL) and Pastor Mike Cherney (Truth and Love Ministries) for a dynamic, three-part conversation.

First, the guys address one of the heaviest questions facing young Christians today: how to respond when a loved one comes out. They break down why listening must come before lecturing, how to distinguish between identity and deep-seated pain, and why an announcement like this should be a relationship-building conversation rather than a relationship-ending one.

Next, they react to a viral social media clip debating modern church culture—tackling whether worship services are meant for "seekers" or believers, and why an approachable pastor acting as a Seelsorger (soul caretaker) matters far more than high-tech stage setups.

Finally, the panel grounds the entire discussion in Martin Luther’s Large Catechism, pointing to the Church, the Means of Grace, and the reality that outside of Christ’s gospel, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Pastor Josh

Church: https://crownlifelutheran.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrathje10/

Pastor Mike

TILM: https://tilm.org/

Graveyard Shift Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6LBKNpQCyLMG5TrJbOH7Y9?si=8bf9b793c922402e

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeaftermike/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

In a digital landscape filled with generic spiritual advice and performance-driven theology, young Christians need a reliable foundation anchored in God’s Word. In this episode, host Charlie Ungemach sits down with Grace Ungemach and Cameron Schroeder to discuss the vital role of historic Lutheran doctrine and how resources like the Open Book App make confessional truth accessible for everyday life.

We explore how having the Book of Concord and solid theological tools at your fingertips helps cut through cultural noise, clarify the proper distinction between Law and Gospel, and point directly to the certainty found only in Jesus. Whether you are a lifelong Lutheran looking to deepen your faith or a seeker searching for clear, uncompromised biblical truth, this episode offers a grounded perspective on staying rooted in Christ.

Open Book

Website: https://openbook.today/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openbook.today/

Cameron Schroeder

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camschro/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/14h93EeIib9ozWqauj6613?si=sXfkaNHzTgWkXMb5h6lE7w

Grace Ungemach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace.ungemach/

Website: https://lutheran.marketing/

Gird Up

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girdup_podcast/

Website: https://www.girdupministries.com/

What happens when the bedrock of your faith feels like it’s slipping away? Can you still call yourself a Christian when you are plagued by deep, recurring doubts about the resurrection of Jesus?

In a world that treats doubt either as an unpardonable sin or a badge of intellectual honor, young Christians are often left stranded in the middle—terrified to admit that they are struggling to believe. In our anxiety, we often try to intellectualize our fears, misattributing secular skepticism to brilliant minds like Sir Isaac Newton. We quote lines like, "I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of Him"—a sentiment penned by Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez that completely contradicts the historical Newton, who found the orderly laws of physics to be undeniable proof of a supreme Creator. When doubt paralyzes us, our default sinful setting is to hide from God or try to white-knuckle our way into certainty through our own performance.

On this episode of the podcast, host Charlie Ungemach welcomes back Pastors Jonny Lehmann and Isaac Hayes from Divine Savior Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. Together, they take a confessional, Law-and-Gospel approach to the raw reality of spiritual doubt. They dismantle the myth that saving faith is a product of your own emotional certainty, shifting the focus entirely off your performance and back onto the objective reality of the empty tomb.

Pulling from Martin Luther’s brilliant commentary on the Second Commandment in the Large Catechism (LC I:70), the guys unpack why God’s Name isn't a fragile relic to be hidden away when we are struggling—it is a shield given to us for the heat of battle. True worship isn't pretending you have it all figured out; it is calling upon the name of Jesus precisely when you feel like you are drowning in doubt. If your faith feels weak today, hit play and be reminded: your security doesn't rest on the strength of your belief, but on the strength of the Savior who rose for you.

Resource Links

• Divine Savior Church (West Palm Beach): Visit Their Ministry

• Conquerors Through Christ: Find Support & Resources

• Gird Up Ministries Website: Explore More Content

• Instagram: Follow Us @girdup_podcast

• YouTube: Subscribe to Our Channel

• Front Window Media: Improve Your Congregation’s Online Presence

Church planting sounds romantic in synodical reports, but what does it look like when the hype wears off and you're the one setting up chairs? This week, Charlie sits down with Mara Rugen—digital creator, Idaho church planter, and Lutheran laywoman. They dive deep into the beauty of ordinary vocation, the necessity of the local altar over the digital space, and how laypeople can boldly build resources for the kingdom without going "rogue." If you've ever felt too ordinary to be used by God, this episode is your reminder that Jesus is enough.

• Mara's Website: mararugen.com/into-the-world

• Mara's Instagram: @go_intotheworld

• Gird Up Ministries Website: Explore More Content

• Instagram: Follow Us @girdup_podcast

• YouTube: Subscribe to Our Channel

• Front Window Media: Improve Your Congregation’s Online Presence

Why is the church so fractured over politics when Scripture calls us to be "one in Christ"? In this episode, Charlie sits down with Pastors Chris and Tony Pflughoeft to unpack the intersection of faith, government, and the human heart.

Using the framework of the Two Kingdoms, they break down the difference between God's vertical commands and our horizontal, earthly responsibilities. Why do we expect seamless political unity when even electing a congregational president causes debate? They tackle the "I don't know if the Bible is working" red flag, evaluate the cultural "Saved Not Solved" trope against the reality of simul justus et peccator, and discuss what righteous, Christian shrewdness actually looks like in a hostile world.

Finally, they dive into the Large Catechism (LC I:7) to unmask the modern idol of mammon, proving that our political anxiety is often just a barometer for what we truly worship.

🔗 Show Notes & Resources🎙️ Connect with Our Guests

• YouTube: Double Portion Channel

• Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple

• Spotify: Listen on Spotify

• Pastor Chris Pflughoeft: Grace Lutheran Church (Yorba Linda, CA)

• Pastor Tony Pflughoeft: Christ the Vine Lutheran Church (Temecula, CA)

"God wishes you to pray, and He has not commanded it in vain." — Martin Luther, The Large Catechism (LC III:13)

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