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BONUS EPISODE WITH OUR BROTHERS FROM THE VERTICAL PODCAST.

The room already felt different—like a youth weekend that refuses to end when the lights go down. We invited Michael Simmons and Rich Randall into a raw, wide-ranging conversation about what it means to be “trapped in sin,” and why lasting change starts when love—not guilt—pulls you toward God. From David and Samson to Judas and Barabbas, we explore how scripture opens up when you stop assuming you’re always the hero. Maybe you’re Delilah under pressure, or Uriah blindsided by someone else’s choices. That shift isn’t just interesting—it’s freeing.

We also wrestle with the practical stuff no one wants to talk about: how to balance clock-time and compassion, why discernment matters more than rigid schedules, and how a “late start” became the timely welcome a hesitant visitor needed. Along the way, we get honest about anger, lust, anxiety, and the difference between pulling weeds and treating the soil. Surface fixes don’t last. Root work does. That means naming the real issue, setting guardrails, and choosing the right people to walk with you. It’s not spectacle; it’s discipleship.

Leadership isn’t spared. Pedestals are lonely and dangerous, and polished distance invites collapse. We press into transparency, accountability, and the relief that comes when a church expects humanity from its leaders while aiming for holiness together. And we light a path forward for students who refuse to let graduation end their growth—building a young adult bridge, creating mission opportunities, and protecting the spark that started this weekend. If you’re hungry for faith that goes beyond altars and into everyday choices, this conversation will meet you where you are and point you where you’re going.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. What root are you ready to pull next?

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