The Life Challenges Podcast
Modern-day issues from a Biblical perspective.
The Life Challenges Podcast
Normalize Gospel Conversations with Pastor Titus Buelow
What if bold faith looks less like a podium and more like a quiet, honest confession: I need Jesus right now. We sit down with Pastor Titus Buelow to unpack why so many of us feel hesitant to speak about the gospel in a polarized culture, and how humility, practiced empathy, and real community can transform anxious silence into steady courage. Instead of the tidy “before and after,” Titus offers a present-tense testimony that keeps Jesus at the center and keeps our tone human when conversations turn to abortion, politics, family fracture, and the everyday mess we all carry.
We get practical about moving from small talk to soul talk without sounding superior. Titus shares how naming Jesus as our authority shifts debates away from ego battles and toward foundations people can examine. We also talk about validating emotion as part of spiritual care, pairing conviction with tangible compassion, and offering real resources so our ethics show up in action. The early church held truth and mercy together; we can, too, when we approach others as sinners loved by a greater Savior.
Courage grows in community. Titus describes why he launched Be Underground, a safe space where believers practice hard conversations, refine tone, and build confidence before stepping into tougher rooms. Family life matters here as well: risking short-term tension at home creates long-term strength and deeper bonds. Titus also opens up about his journey with depression, showing how God shapes ministers through weakness to serve others in the valley. If you’ve wondered how to start, begin simply: share why you need Jesus with one person in pain, listen well, and stay present.
Subscribe for more thoughtful, faith-first conversations, share this episode with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your voice matters—who will you speak to this week?
The ministry of Christian Life Resources promotes the sanctity of life and reaches hearts with the Gospel. We invite you to learn more about the work we're doing: https://christianliferesources.com/
On today's episode.
Titus Buelow:And you present yourself as a sinner who is a sinner talking to another sinner. And for that reason, you are unashamed to tell that gospel because you know they need it just like you need it. And so I think expressing your need, I need Jesus so much. Because I'm a mess without him. That's where I can speak into your life that you need this because I'm just like you.
Jeff Samelson:Welcome to the Life Challenges Podcast from Christian Life Resources. Our world today presents people with complicated issues of life and death, marriage and family, health, and science. It can be a struggle to understand or deal with them. We're here to help by bringing good information and a fresh biblical perspective to these matters and more. Join us now for Life Challenges.
ChristaPotratz:Hi, and welcome back. I'm Christopher Tradz, and I'm here today with Pastor Jeff Samelson, and we also have a special guest pastor with us. We have Pastor Titus Belo. Welcome, Titus.
Titus Buelow:Thank you so much for having me. Appreciate being here. And you nailed my last name. So good job.
ChristaPotratz:Thank you for being here. And we are going to talk today about the topic of not being ashamed of the gospel. But first, we'd love to have you tell us a little bit about yourself. And I believe you have started an organization too. Um, if you could share a little bit about that with us as well.
Titus Buelow:Absolutely. So I'm Titus Bilo, and I've been a pastor in the Wisconsin Synod for over 10 years, and it's been a wonderful journey. I've served two congregations during that time. I'm currently at St. Peter's in Helenville, but I've also served in Clintonville at St. Paul's, which was a wonderful place to go straight out of the seminary. It was a bit scary at first because I had no idea where Clintonville was when you received that on assignment day. But I also was following a young pastor who had passed away rather suddenly. So when I found out that context, I asked God and I asked my seminary professors, why would you send me there? Because I don't necessarily feel like I'm well prepared to deal with that type of grief. Their response and God through them was, we think you have the right demeanor to be exactly the person they need. And I didn't believe them at the time, but I see how God used that and used that situation to grow me and to grow that congregation. So that was an intense way to start ministry. But uh a little bit more about me. My dad is a Wells pastor. He well, actually, he's at an ELS church right now and served for a while. So I kind of got to see being a pastor as a kid and the challenges and the ups and downs of ministry. And my dad was good at talking those things out with me and the challenges, and so I felt like I got a lot of training pre-seminary training from him. My mom is from Sweden, and so she came to DMLC for a year to get some Jesus because uh Europe these days is not very Christian in their attitude and in their hearts, and so she saved up money so she could come for a year, and while she was here, she met my dad and the rest is history, and now she's lived in America for a while. But we lived in Sweden for a couple of years growing up. My dad was a pastor over there, so I'm a bit of a multicultural kid too, which means I don't always feel like I belong, which maybe leads into a little bit why uh I felt inspired to create Underground or Be Underground as um legally it's called. And that's an organization created to help build Christian community. And just thinking about that in preparation for this episode, I I can see how those pieces come together.
ChristaPotratz:And when did you start that group?
Titus Buelow:Yeah, so it's it's been a project over the last couple of years. We just started our actual online community platform in March of this this year. So about six months of solid operation. And the short version of that is it's a community for Christians who want to go deeper in their faith in a safe environment, and with the objective that you grow and are encouraged by a community around you so you can not only face your own things going on under the surface, so the that aspect of underground, but also so that you can be prepared to go back out. The underground church wasn't meant to just hide. They were there for each other because they were being persecuted and then be encouraged and built up by others in the faith so that you could go back out into the community and face who knows what with confidence because you had been built up in the faith. So I we try to embody both those things.
ChristaPotratz:Uh, and and just out of curiosity, how big of a group is it?
Titus Buelow:It's currently around 30 individuals that have become a part of that. And we do have it as a paid community. It's not it's not a lot, I would say comparable to a streaming service. Part of that is so that you're a little more committed, a little more committed, and it's a little safer because a free community can often have a wide variety of people there, some that are genuine and some less so. And so we made that decision mainly to attract those who are a little bit more committed to having those serious conversations with sincerity and intensity.
ChristaPotratz:When we think about this topic of not being ashamed of the gospel, why do you think many Christians struggle with boldly sharing the gospel when addressing real life issues?
Titus Buelow:Aaron Powell That's a great question. There's a couple reasons for that. Many of us, I would say most of us, are not confident enough to walk into a room and just say, This is what I believe, and you guys should get on board. I think that is a rare quality. Most of us are not extroverts that way. I'm more of an introvert myself, and so being a pastor is a stretch outside of that.
Jeff Samelson:I can relate.
Titus Buelow:I would prefer uh the studying and the stuff behind the scenes or the one-on-one conversations are easy, but to stand in front of a group and broadcast outside of, I guess, a setting where I'm expected to preach is very hard for me. If I walk into a bar, it's not gonna be my first thing to go and have that conversation with a stranger. That's something very much outside my comfort zone. So I think there's that aspect to it. I think another aspect is today's cultural climate, especially with life issues, is they're so twisted in with political stigma and political fear, because it's not a comfortable place right now in our culture to talk about politics because you are identified with either politicians, you're identified with a certain narrative or a rhetoric way before you even get to the core of the issues you want to talk about. And so I think even with the gospel that gets tied into that is it feels like you're tied to one party or the other as soon as you bring up the name of Jesus or you bring up the fact that you're a Christian. So I think that's the second part that makes it hard for people in America today. The third part, and this is something we recently talked about in the community, in Underground, we try to focus on something to take us deeper in our understanding, which then will encourage us to go out and talk about it with others. And we were talking about this concept to not be ashamed of the gospel. And when we were talking about that, one of the thoughts that came to me as I wrestled with that is I wonder if part of the reason why Christians are afraid to talk about their faith is because they're afraid to share too much of their own story. Now I know that's not directly the gospel, the gospel is Jesus Christ for me. Jesus Christ died for me and took my sins away. But we as flesh and bones bodies embody that personally into our own story, which means if we're gonna tell the gospel in the most powerful way as individuals, we're gonna tell it through that lens. This is how Jesus has saved me. And I don't know if everyone's comfortable talking about that. And not in an intimate way, because either they have to talk about their sins, they have to talk about their failures, they have to talk about their issues, and they may not be ready to talk about that. And so I think that plays into it too. But I do think that's something you can work on, something you can get more comfortable in as you ponder and go deeper into the grace God has given you. I think He helps you get more comfortable having those conversations. But that that's something you've got to train a little bit. You need to practice talking about that, and that's partly that self-journey of working through your own pain and hardship, which sometimes takes years. So I think all three of those things are tied into that question.
Jeff Samelson:Yeah, in the, I'll just say the evangelical world, you know, there's there's often a real pressure to not not just to be out there sharing your faith, but to share your testimony. But that's different from what you're talking about because the testimony that you're encouraged to share in those things is is basically I was awful, I was lost, I was in this horrible situation, then Jesus found me, or I found Jesus, and everything's great now. Whereas what you're talking about is in the right now. Yeah, the you know, the gospel doesn't just mean that the bad me got saved and is a good me now, but it's like the bad me is still here. The me with lots of problems still exists, and in and this is a constant struggle, and therefore I have a constant need for Jesus and his gospel. And yeah, you're you're absolutely right. That that's that's something we we need to be more comfortable talking about, well, just addressing for ourselves, but talking about with others as well. I used to talk about what's going on with the fellowship after church. Hey, you know, are you gonna watch the Packers game today? Or, you know, how how was your golf game the other day, or what's going on at school with the kids right now? You know, it's like how often is it ever a conversation is like, so um, what's going on with you spiritually these days? You know, what what what have you been learning in your uh your Bible, your personal Bible study lately? Or you know, hey, what's your family you know discussing over uh over the dinner table with devotions or or whatever? Yeah, I'm not saying we there's any way we can force people to talk about these things, but it's it's just indicative of the fact that this is not the most natural thing for us. But you you read accounts of the early church and you just know they were talking about these things because it was very real for them, and and there was an urgency and immediacy about it.
Titus Buelow:Absolutely. Now, I think everything you're saying is true. We often, as a pastor, I see that too all the time is the level one conversation stars about weather and those things are very easy. And it is hard for us in today's climate and culture and community in America to get to those deeper levels of communication. And it is frustrating, and it like you said, it's not something you can force, but those are the things I'm wondering about is how can we get them to talk about those things that are very real for all of us? We're all struggling with things, and we all want to talk about it, like we need to talk about it, because that's part of that ongoing confession and absolution of Christians to one another, too, is man, I'm struggling with this. And then we have another Christian who can tell us, Jesus forgives you for that too. And I'm gonna be with you in the in the hardship here, so I can also be with you and rejoice as we come through this together.
Jeff Samelson:And just making the explicit connection to discussing life issues. If I'm talking to uh a woman who has had an abortion and she's not quite sure how she feels about that, or whether that is or isn't a spiritual problem or whatever, if if I'm not really comfortable talking about, yeah, I'm a sinner and I've got all these struggles, and that's why Jesus is so important to me, it's gonna be a lot harder for me to talk to her in the sense of, yeah, you know, this this is this is a sin that you're talking about. You you have a real need because I'm I haven't quite faced that with myself. And so there's you know it it's it it can be easy for certain people at certain times to say, you are a sinner, repent. But we know most of us know instinctively that that's not the best or most effective way or most loving way to approach such a situation.
Titus Buelow:Absolutely. And I think that gets to the difference we were talking a little bit, just wrestling with some of these thoughts before, but I think that's part of the difference between not being ashamed of the gospel and and still showing that discernment and that willingness to approach that because not being ashamed of the gospel does not mean I'm just super full of myself. And I think that's what people often get confused is it's not me standing on a pedestal and being like, I really got my life figured out. Like you said, it's not that evangelical understanding of I found Jesus and now, now look at me, I've got it all put together. It's actually the opposite. There's none of this pride coming from me. I'm not ashamed of the gospel, which is the good news that Jesus is for me despite my sin. And I think that's what really helps having a good conversation versus one that shuts people out from the faith is that you are humble and you present yourself as a sinner who is a sinner talking to another sinner, and for that reason, you are unashamed to tell that gospel because you know they need it just like you need it. And so I think expressing your need, I need Jesus so much because I'm a mess without him. That's why I can speak into your life that you need this, because I'm just like you and I've been where you are. Maybe not the exact same sin, the same situation, but I need Jesus just as much as you. And that Romans 1 passage, Romans 1.16, where that comes from, that's really how he's introducing his whole letter is I'm I'm a guy who was called from doing the complete wrong thing. I was against Christianity, and yet God in his mercy called me so that that message could go to everyone, including people that messed up like me. And then he goes into the whole rest of Romans. It's a very different way of looking at not being ashamed. It's it's I'm not ashamed of what I've done wrong because Jesus has forgiven me. Not because I'm just explaining away what I've done, but I'm not ashamed of my identity in Christ because he saved me. And I want you to be safe too.
ChristaPotratz:Yeah, I think that's a really great point, too. Just kind of that shift in perspective, I guess, of looking at that phrase too, of not being ashamed of the gospel. How does maybe looking at it like that help us in conversations that are often controversial or emotionally charged?
Titus Buelow:I think that really helps in that same way. If you posture yourself in a conversation that's difficult, not as a Lord, but as a servant, as a fellow pauper, I guess, like I'm here and I'm I'm receiving from God grace, truth, peace. And as one of those sinners who's who's coming to God with open hands, asking for his grace, I'm also accepting his truth and what he's telling me. And so when we're having a tough conversation about something, I don't come to you as a greater human. I don't come to you as someone who's got it all figured out based on my intelligence. I'm coming with this humble grasp on a greater truth that I've received from God. And he says this. The Jesus who saved me and has saved you, paid for your sins, and died for you, he says, do this and do that. He says this is good for you and this is not. And I respect him and I love him a lot, and I trust him because he's put everything on the line for me, and he's done that for you. And so I'm gonna stand by what he says is right and wrong based on that, not based on my authority over you. I think that posturing helps in those difficult conversations because then it's not a frontal attack as in you have a better, uh you're at a higher level than the person you're talking to. It takes that out and it says, okay, here's my authority, Jesus, who's your authority? And if it's you almost let them wrestle with that, you know, like I'm trying to share with you genuinely the words of Jesus and what he says is right and wrong. And obviously that includes broader context of the gospel, but I like coming to Jesus because he's the easiest for even non-Christians to think about this is what he says, and he's giving me a lot of reasons to trust him. Has your authority given you the same assurances? Do they care about you? Have they been there with you in the trenches? Do they understand what you're going through? They might have said that, but do they? And what are they willing to do for you? I realize that could come back on then the response would be like, yeah, well, what have Christians done for me? And I'm sure you guys have heard that too, and that's like when you talk about abortion, then that'll come back. Like, well, if you're against that, then what are you gonna do for the mothers? What are you gonna do for the children? Are you gonna be there for them when they can't pay the bill? Are you gonna be there for them when they're crying every night because they're alone and no one's there to help them? And our response as Christians would be, I I wanna be. And if I haven't been, I'm sorry. And then hopefully, you know, being able to direct to some resources that we do have, like new beginnings in Milwaukee in this area that helps those single mothers take care of their child, or being part of a foster network or an adoption process, and you kind of know, like, here's some resources that Christians I know are involved in. So that it's more than just saying, here's here's what I believe, but then you can show them the compassion side of that too, which Jesus was very good at. He said, Here's what I say is right and wrong, but then he showed compassion, or he sent his disciples to show compassion. And the early church did a great job of merging those two things together, which I think we would love to do even more of.
Jeff Samelson:Yeah, I mean, Christa's question was, you know, the controversial or the emotionally charged situations. And I I think another reason there's there's fear on the part of Christians sometimes is because we don't like controversial or emotionally charged situations. You know, and and and and what what what we want is someone coming up to us in a nice calm manner and saying, Hey, can we discuss this rationally? That doesn't happen very often.
Titus Buelow:No.
Jeff Samelson:Pretty much never. But instead, embrace the fact that this is the not just reality, it's the way it should be. Because if somebody has a an idea that is contrary to God's truth, well, yeah, there's going to be conflict there. And yeah, it's celebrated, but we should embrace it in the sense of saying, well, yeah, of of course, this is the way it should be. They they should be feeling a certain amount of of contrast here because I have the truth and what they have isn't. And same with emotions. I mean, it is an emotional thing to know the guilt of your sin and then to have Jesus forgive it. That's an emotional experience that that we want for them. So be honest about the fact that okay, yeah, they're really worked up right now. They're worked up for the wrong reasons, but we shouldn't be expecting them to calm down to some pure rationality for this. Well, no, that there is an emotional, there's a heart aspect to all of this.
Titus Buelow:And I think validating that like to the person you're talking to, they might have come to the wrong conclusions or it's led them to the wrong air quotes truth. But that doesn't mean that they're not feeling very real things that are hard and difficult. And the hope is you can get to those root causes for that, because those are real, but they're finding the wrong answers to it or believing the wrong answers. And it's a compassion to get to that because you know that you have answers that are true for you, but they're true universally, and they're true that will actually help their life and help them get through the storm of feelings and emotions and uncertainty and wishy-washiness of the culture. So it is a compassion that compels that controversy and getting into that hard conversation. And I think that's where it helps not only not being ashamed of the gospel out there, but I think that's where that benefit is. If we're preparing ourselves by wrestling with our own sin and our own need for salvation, our appreciation for Jesus increases. And then it makes it easier to have it cost more when we talk about him, because it's worth it. Jesus is so vital for my life. Like I can't live without him, so of course I gotta talk about him. And you, person that I'm talking to, that's really upset about these issues and how I feel, and you have this compulsion to share that Jesus because you know how much he can speak into their heart and speak into their pain and save them from it. And so you're compelled to talk about it, even if it means it's gonna be hard in the short term. And that's one of the things we talk about underground too, is you you gotta talk about the cost because it will cost to be a Christian, it will cost to step out in faith, it will cost to have these conversations. But then the follow-up question in is it is it worth it?
ChristaPotratz:I think sometimes too, people get uh scared or apprehensive in sharing their faith because they feel like they're alone. Um, you know, and so can you speak to what community does? I mean, specifically, you know, you've created this organization too, but like what does the community, the Christian community, do for believers when discussing life issues?
Titus Buelow:Yeah, I I think bringing it up before you were talking about uh just that conversation after church, you wish that it was a little bit deeper because you know how much we need real, like not that that's not community, but that depth of conversation where we feel comfortable talking about issues that we're going through, challenges, questions that we have about even theology or why our church does this. Because if we're not talking about it there, we're bringing it somewhere else, or we're just holding it and festering on it, and it makes us feel less Christian, even though it's very normal to have questions and to wrestle with those. I think this comes to the whole reason why we started Be Underground in the first place, is because I felt that I needed community around me. I needed a positive, positive peer pressure group around me that thought it was cool and exciting to go deeper in the faith and to wrestle with these things and to prepare for the coming battles. Um so what that community and just any community gives you is it gives you that positive peer pressure, that encouragement that you're not the only one who feels this way. Like if you want more after church, you want to go to Bible study more, you'd love to go to church more than once a week, wow, that's a crazy thing. If you want to be crazy about Jesus and learn more and you're just aching for more, like you're not alone in that. And we have so many examples of the opposite. Like, you know, there's a lot of people who don't go to church, don't get up early, don't think it's important to apply it to your life. But there's also a lot of people that feel the opposite, and maybe they don't know where to start, and they're just looking for a buddy to be there with them in that and to support them. And so that's where I've seen with those individuals that I have in the community, it's been really cool to see them open up and get so confident in asking questions or talking about things they do at home or asking for ideas of how to lead their children closer to Jesus and different things to do at home or at school. It's been really neat to foster that conversation that sadly most of us don't even feel comfortable doing at our churches for various reasons. Like maybe you've been hurt in the past or church has left a negative stigma. And the the hope is not to pull people away from that, but to help them gain their voice and to actually go back into their churches and encourage that type of conversation. But we almost need to practice that in a really safe place. And most people don't have a family that they grew up talking about faith issues with, so they don't know how to do it. And then on top of that, we've been in a country that's been locked down and separated, and I think we've forgotten how to be community. And uh, like I said, I have that background with Sweden too. In some ways, I mean, Swedes are a great example of being good at having small conversations, it takes them a while. But when you do, man, you got really deep, close connections. But what they do have over there in our sister church is very small groups of Christians, and that's a very intimate and beautiful community feel. And when they get together for their annual convention at our sister church in Sweden, because I've been going back often, is you get 100, 150 people together, and they are so excited to be with other Christians for the first time maybe all year, or they had five, but now they have 150 and five others just like them, and they revel in that community. And I thought, man, it'd be cool if we could do that more often, and just create that excitement, that joy of being around other Christians to encourage one another, to be grounded in that truth, encourage others to be powered in Christ and not ashamed of what you have, and to know you're not alone. You're not alone to feel this crazy about Jesus and to love what he says about truth and to reform your life based on that. It looks pretty crazy to the world around us and even to some Christians, but it's not crazy to everybody. It's actually a pretty positive result of faith.
ChristaPotratz:You talked about that sense of community and practicing too when we talk with people about these different issues. Any other ways how Christians can prepare themselves spiritually and mentally to stand firm in their faith.
Titus Buelow:I think practicing the conversations with people you feel safe with is a great way to prepare yourself to have those conversations with people that maybe aren't as friendly of an audience. It allows you to refine the way you're gonna say it. And if it's done with Christians that also have that same objective, like we're gonna talk about this because we want to go out and share. Then when you're having that conversation in private, you are refining each other, saying, ah, the way you said that, I think that was that was kind of rude. That kind of hurt me and I share the same worldview as you. So maybe we should think about a nicer way to say that or a different way to approach that. And really refining, like, I'm not saying you have to write a script out for every situation, but you're practicing dialogue, you're practicing that give and take so that when you are out there, you're a little bit more sure of your answers and what you've said, because you've vetted it a little bit, not only with your own mind, but with other Christians, but with that goal of I'm doing this in a winsome way, to be a pleasing aroma of Christ, not just to win an argument. So I think that practice in a safe place really does help people go out and be able to do that. And mentally, I think uh spending time wrestling with your own demons, being very honest with your own insecurities and getting comfortable talking about that does help you prepare for those attacks from the outside after. I'm some someone who has struggled with depression. Uh actually, while I was at the seminary, I was diagnosed with severe depression. And so that's a very personal, you know, struggle for me too. Ministry doesn't necessarily make that easier. I almost dropped out because. Because I was like, man, I can barely handle my own emotions. How am I going to handle the hundreds of others who depend on me to help them through that? And yet I've seen I thanked God for it now. That took a while. I thank God for those struggles and those pits because it has allowed me to be able to help others in that. So I guess sometimes God does it to us whether we like it or not. Um, He leads us through these challenges that will prepare us for future battles and future moments where we can help someone else going through the same thing. And so I thank God for that struggle now because I've been able to talk about it more with others and be there for them just because I said it out loud. It's the appreciation for the things that you are going through, the life issues that you are struggling through, because God is preparing you for what's coming.
ChristaPotratz:You know, what would your encouragement be to someone who wants to speak boldly about their faith, but maybe just doesn't have the confidence to do it?
Titus Buelow:Say join underground. I'd love to have you.
ChristaPotratz:Well, tell us about that. Um, I mean, if people do want to join, where can they go to get some more information?
Titus Buelow:Yeah, uh it's for men and women, young and old. You don't really have to be techie. We we have to be online because that's the easiest way to touch with people all over the place in the country and hopefully worldwide to bring you together. We do hope to do an in-person gathering this coming year so you can meet some of these people that have been encouraging you and you've been encouraging. But our website is beunderground.com, so beunderground.com. And on there there's a community tab to join it, and you get a free month to kind of feel it out. Is this something I kind of like? Do I think it's a benefit? So that's one way to get involved. We also have different social pages too to just maybe get a feel for the type of encouragement I try to give. I try to be very vulnerable and just short snippet videos of things I'm struggling with and a way that God's word speaks to me, or how the community has helped me through that, or other community members have posted. So that's a way to get involved there. But I would say even find someone where you are that cares about that and wants to share Jesus more and just talk about it a lot and uh challenge yourselves a little bit. Maybe there's someone you could think of right away, right now in your mind, if you're listening to this and you're like, I know that person needs Jesus because they're really hurting. Go share with them your story. Why do you love Jesus so much? Just start there. I have a feeling that might speak louder than any polished words you could come up with. It may open a door to a new friendship that's much deeper than you ever imagined because one of the one of the things I know in my life is I'm closest to the people I've shared the most with. Which is also the scariest. Um I think if you're married, you know that that's part of the beauty and the challenge of marriage is that your spouse knows you better than anyone else, which means they know all your demons. But they if they stick around, that is a big show of love. That they're still willing to forgive and put up with you year after year. And it's the same thing with friendships as you share and someone's willing to forgive you, bear with you, and build you up, you get closer. And I think that's a powerful way to witness is you lead with that compassion and that willingness to get down on that same level and let them know that you are there, and then just share with them the hope that you have and leave it let it sit. So uh maybe not overcomplicate it. Find someone to buddy up with, and if you're looking for a community, I'd love to love to help you.
Jeff Samelson:Yeah, there's one community we we haven't really talked about much that uh you you touched on just a little bit there when talking about the relation between husband and wife, but as as much as we want perhaps to encourage Christians to be vulnerable and talk about important spiritual matters at at church, uh for many people, they don't even do that stuff in their families. Right. Between brothers and sisters, between parents and children, and certainly not with uncles and aunts and cousins and and such. And that's something that most of us, if we think about it, say actually gonna feel some guilt and and shame about. Um, because yeah, you know, that this we we have this tremendous connection, this tremendous extra opportunity to share of with our ourselves, to be in in fellowship, and we're just not taking advantage of it. And and and why we should be in any context of the family, should be one where we're comfortable talking about these things. And even if you've got, you know, a sad situation where mom's the one who goes to church and takes the kids and dad just wants nothing to do with it. That's that much more reason why you might want to be having these conversations because it's very real.
Titus Buelow:Yeah, and I can speak personally. It's so I think it's the fear of the tension, the short-term tension, and it's so hard to get past that. Like, if I bring this up, like we're barely gonna talk for like a week, you know, and that that's that's real. Like, because this is gonna be such a hard thing to bring up, and it's gonna hit such deep wounds, and it's gonna be a week of just terrible family dynamic. Like, it's gonna be hard. And you have to have the confidence to say, but I have more than a week of life, and I have this beautiful treasure next to me, and I want to go deeper in our relationship. It's worth having four or five nights that aren't that aren't ideal. It's not gonna be comfy. There'll be some tension there, but we actually spoke true things and wrestled through some hard things so that we can grow as a couple, as a family, and that's worth it. I know I got two teens at home too, and I don't want to have a lot of the conversations I have to have, and I'm thankful for my wife who says, like, it's worth it. We want them to be upstanding men that take care of take care of their future bride someday. And we have we have to have these conversations. It's not gonna it's not gonna be comfy, but it'll be worth it.
ChristaPotratz:Well, thank you so much for coming on here today and sharing with us. And I think you've given our listeners a lot of things to think about with this topic, too. So thank you very much, and um, and thank you too, Jeff, for for everything. Thanks a lot, and we'll see you back next time. Bye.
Jeff Samelson:Thank you for joining us for the Life Challenges Podcast from Christian Life Resources. Please consider subscribing to this podcast, giving us a review wherever you access it, and sharing it with friends. We're here to help. So if you have questions on today's topic or other life issues, you can submit them as well as comments or suggestions for future episodes at lifechallenges.us, or email us at podcast at ChristianLiferesources.com. You can find past episodes and other valuable information at lifechallenges.us, so please check it out. For more about our parent organization, please visit ChristianLiferesources.com. May God give you wisdom, love, strength, and peace in Christ for every life challenge.
