What if the wall you feel around certain people is not distance but hidden unforgiveness? We open Psalm 51 and sit with the humble plea, “Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me,” and let it search the corners we prefer to skip. As we trace the quiet partnership between self-righteousness and unresolved conflict, we uncover how easily we “discard” moments we decide were justified, only to find the tension still present in our bodies, our choices, and our rooms.

I share a simple picture: the candy bar and the wrapper. We keep what felt sweet and toss what felt messy, assuming the case is closed. But relationships keep the receipt. If your chest tightens when a name surfaces, if you avoid a doorway because someone might be on the other side, that wrapper is still making noise. Through that lens, Psalm 51 becomes more than comfort; it becomes a map. We ask God to cleanse not just our memories, but our motives. We invite Him to hand back what we threw away and guide us into the work of repair.

Together we walk through practical steps for reconciliation rooted in grace: noticing the signs of hidden unforgiveness, praying Psalm 51 with intention, trading rationalization for repentance, and taking a faithful next step—whether that means a candid conversation, a clear apology, or a wise boundary that honors dignity on both sides. We also reflect on the promise nestled a few lines later: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Joy rises where pride yields and love leads. The goal is not to relive old pain for its own sake, but to close open tickets with humility so peace can breathe again.

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We open with a winter check-in and a favorite proverb before tracing early life in holiness churches—testimony services, moments of awe, and a night when smoke filled the sanctuary. A chance meeting with a hungry woman in a parking lot confronts pride, reframes generosity, and turns Proverbs 19:17 into a living lesson about worship beyond four walls.

• childhood in holiness churches and testimony culture
• the sanctuary smoke moment as a faith anchor
• contrast between past spiritual readiness and present polish
• Proverbs 19:17 set as guiding frame
• parking lot encounter with a hungry woman
• giving food over cash and checking motives
• unexpected three tens and God’s deeper lesson
• church as workshop for compassion beyond Sundays
• relationship with God measured in action, not attendance

We certainly hope you enjoyed today's podcast Household Faith in God.

Marlon here text me with your thoughts

Faith that survives the week is forged at home. We open with a candid look at how church culture has shifted over decades—from a Pentecostal upbringing in Michigan to today’s fast, platform-driven landscape—and why so many families feel the tension between moving music on Sunday and thin follow-through by Wednesday. Rather than settling for “see you next Sunday,” we press into a core question: where does a child actually learn the way to go?

Together we unpack the difference between the church house and the household. One offers sermons, programs, and community; the other offers thousands of small choices that form character. We revisit Proverbs 22:6 and read it through the lens of daily proximity: training a child looks like repetition, example, and patient conversation. You’ll hear personal stories from our years in church music, the lessons learned watching congregations change, and the pitfalls of confusing popularity for maturity. We talk about discernment in a noisy age, how to anchor emotion with doctrine, and why accountability and Scripture remain the plumb line for every home.

Most importantly, we map out simple practices any family can begin this week. A short morning prayer and a brief evening examen. Reading a few verses aloud and letting kids ask unfiltered questions. Singing one song together. Naming gratitude at dinner. Serving a neighbor as a form of worship. These small, steady rhythms turn church teaching into a way of life and help parents become everyday disciplers. We still need the gathered church for preaching, sacraments, and mission; the home is where those gifts are digested and lived. If you’re ready to rebuild a resilient, joyful household of faith, press play, share this with a friend, and leave a review so others can find the show. Subscribe for more conversations that strengthen your family’s walk with God.

Marlon here text me with your thoughts