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About Today’s Guest

Brian Metzger is a former Franciscan monk (21 years) and now serves through spiritual direction and teaching.

Contact Brian: 

Website: Mission1249.com

——

Clarity; argument not physical fight. 

Worthy Before You Perform (Shame, the Yoke, and Receiving Worthiness as a Gift)

Buddy sits down with one of his spiritual directors Brian Metzger (former Franciscan monk for 21 years), after a weekend where Buddy felt disqualified and ashamed. Together they unpack a core truth: worthiness is received as a gift, not earned through performance. This conversation reframes shame, discipleship, and what it means to follow Jesus when you’ve fallen short.

What We Talk About

• Why we start every call with: “Where did you see the greatness of God this week?”
• The negativity bias and why it’s easier to obsess over what’s wrong than notice what’s right
• The trap Buddy hit: “I don’t feel worthy to do the podcast.”
• Brian’s core principle: “The only possible starting point is worthiness as a gift.”
• Behavior management vs. character transformation
• Jesus’ promise: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”—and what “yoke” means
• “Everyone gets a cross… the difference is the follow Me part”
• How to start your day from identity instead of shame

Key Quotes

• “Catch yourself in the act of being generated—and know that’s the presence of Jesus.”
• “The Gospel is not behavior management. It’s character transformation.”
• “The only possible starting point is worthiness as a gift.”
• “My yoke is easy… whose yoke are you carrying?”
• “Everyone gets a cross. The difference is who you’re following.”

The Practical Takeaway

If you’re in a shame spiral, don’t start the day with:

“Here I go again… I failed… I fell short…”

Start with:

“Father, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your Son. Send Your Spirit—show me how to live from my identity today.”

Then ask yourself one question:

Where did I see the greatness of God today?

(beauty, meaning, goodness, provision, comfort, peace, conviction, clarity)

Challenge for the Week

1. One-minute reset each morning: “Thank You, Father… help me live from identity today.”
2. One moment of greatness: Write down one place you noticed God (even small).
3. When shame hits: Ask, “Am I carrying Jesus’ yoke—or my own?”

About Today’s Guest

Brian Metzger is a former Franciscan monk (21 years) and now serves through spiritual direction and teaching.

Website: Mission1249.com

(Luke 12:49 — “I came to set the earth on fire…”)

Scripture Mentioned / Referenced

• Matthew 11:28–30 — “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• Luke 12:49 — “I came to set the earth on fire…”
• Mark 8:34 (and parallels) — “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.”

Call to Action

If this episode hit you, share it with one person who’s been carrying shame.

And if you’re listening on Apple or Spotify, follow/subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

God bless — and don’t take the bait.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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We trace the bold claim of Romans 8 and Galatians 4—that we are heirs with Christ—and show how that identity reshapes favor, repentance, and everyday courage. Stories from Turkey, a Manhattan boardroom, and our family bring the theology down to the street level.

• heir identity reframes favor from earning to belonging
• public devotion as a mirror for quiet faith
• behavior as the Christian uniform
• Romans 8 and Galatians 4 as anchors
• repentance as coming home, not shame
• living favored amid closed doors and delays
• practical rhythms to practice praise and presence
• noon prayer, daily Scripture, quiet public prayer

Please hit subscribe or follow wherever you're listening
And pretty please share the episode with one person, just one
For this week, three simple steps: set your alarm for noon, thank God for one thing, pray for somebody; open your Bible daily; pray naturally in public

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Scripture:

Luke 15:11-32: Prodigal Son. 

Bible scriptures that emphasize the call to repentance:

1. 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2. Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
3. Matthew 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
4. Isaiah 55:7: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
5. Luke 15:7: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

We explore repentance as a visible pivot in daily life, sparked by a jolt of conviction during a trip to Turkey. We challenge shame-based views of repentance and offer practical ways to wear our “Christian uniform” through behavior.

• conviction sparked by public devotion in Turkey and Manhattan
• repentance defined as turning back to God through behavior
• repentance contrasted with guilt, shame, and punishment
• Isaiah’s relevance to today’s upside-down values
• forgiveness as the hardest first practice
• public prayer over meals as a bold habit
• praying immediately for people who ask
• conflict diffused through quick prayer and trust
• road rage, restraint, and growth as daily reps
• a weekly “Jesus gym” assignment for gratitude and prayer
• obedience as the path, not a magic button

If you're on Apple or Spotify, can you hit the follow or subscribe button? And can you also forward this podcast to one person?

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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From an empty-nester European getaway to a spiritual jolt in a Turkish mosque — this episode is the turning point.

Buddy recounts how a simple stop at the House of the Virgin Mary turned into one of the most unexpected, eye-opening conversations of his life. A bold Turkish tour guide, a plaque quoting the Quran about Jesus and Mary, and a candid dialogue about faith, idolatry, extremism, and hypocrisy set the stage for a powerful revelation.

In this episode, Buddy dives into:

• His emotional visit to Mary’s House in Ephesus
• The Quran passages about Jesus and Mary that stunned him
• A raw, respectful conversation with a Muslim guide who had read the Bible cover to cover
• How Christians appear to Muslims — and the hard mirror moment Buddy had to face
• Why public faith in Turkey convicted him about private faith in America
• The dangers of spiritual division, religious superiority, and taking the devil’s bait
• Why America resembles Revelation 2’s warning to the church in Ephesus:
   “You have abandoned your first love.”
• A call for repentance, courage, public prayer, and a return to biblical living
• How to start today: noon prayer alarms, public habits of faith, church attendance, and leading your family spiritually
• And why America needs a revival fueled not by politics — but by bold, everyday believers

This one is raw. Honest. Challenging. And hopeful.

If you’re ready to live your faith out loud — start here.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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Wind on the mic, ruins underfoot, and a challenge that won’t let go. We recorded on location in Ephesus to trace how John and Paul preached into a bustling trade hub where pagan worship, philosophy, and profit collided—and why the words to the church in Revelation 2 still land like a bell in our moment. With help from a brilliant Muslim guide who knows the Scriptures, the myths, and the streets, we uncover a vivid picture of early house churches, a merchant who became a courier of good news to Rome, and the tension that rises when love for God disrupts the economy of desire.

What unfolds is part travelogue, part heart check. We read Christ’s message to Ephesus—commendation for endurance, a rebuke for drifting from first love, a promise to those who overcome—and hold it next to the way we live now. Freedom of religion has quietly shifted into freedom from religion, and the vacuum is filling with idols old and new: screens, status, and the soft tyranny of convenience. If worship doesn’t shape our public life, something else will. The call isn’t outrage; it’s return. Remember, repent, and recover the works that love once fueled.

We also reflect on the beauty of public devotion, from the call to prayer echoing across Turkey to the steady courage of speaking truth without spite. You don’t change a culture by silencing rivals; you change it by outloving, outserving, and living the truth in plain sight. Walk the marble streets with us, stand where John preached, and consider what it would mean to make first love first again. If this conversation moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe for next week’s deep dive, and leave a review to help more people find the journey. What “first works” are you returning to today?

Notes:Editor’s note & sources: 

Patmos & authorship: Revelation 1:9 places John on Patmos (Aegean) by exile; the traditional view is that this John is the Apostle, though scholars discuss authorship. 

Revelation 2:1–7 (letter to Ephesus); Acts 19:23–41 (idol trade & riot); John exiled on Patmos (Rev 1:9). Visitor/guide figures in the episode were rough; I’ve linked brief background sources and clarifications here.

• The “seven churches” follow a real postal/travel route in Asia Minor; John’s exile to Patmos is the setting for Revelation (Rev. 1:9). Visitor/guide numbers I mention are rough; site vs. national totals differ.
• Seven churches & the route: The order (Ephesus → Smyrna → Pergamum → Thyatira → Sardis → Philadelphia → Laodicea) tracks a Roman postal route in Asia Minor—why the letters are in that sequence.
• Visitor numbers: The ancient city welcomed about 2.7 million visitors in 2024 (a record), not “80 million.” Türkiye as a whole hosted about 62 million visitors that year.  
• Guides: There are roughly 12k–15k licensed tour guides in Türkiye (nationally), not in Ephesus alone.  
• Mary near Ephesus: The House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus is a long-standing pilgrimage tradition visited by popes; the Catholic Church hasn’t ruled on its authenticity. It’s venerated by Christians and many Muslims. 
• Acts in Ephesus: Paul’s preaching threatened the idol trade; Demetrius the silversmith incited a riot (Acts 19:23–41)

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A cultural shockwave overnight forced us to shelve a planned travel story and wrestle with a harder truth: when a nation sweeps God out of public life, it does not become neutral—it becomes vacant. And vacant houses don’t stay empty. Drawing from Isaiah’s piercing warnings and Jesus’ “empty house” teaching in Matthew 12, we trace how institutions without a rooted moral center get occupied by harsher spirits—call it culture if you want, but the fruit shows the source. The result is an upside-down moral map where bitter is sold as sweet and confusion masquerades as compassion.

We don’t chase labels or turn this into a religious blame game. Instead, we ask the only question that matters: is the spirit behind our laws, leaders, and daily choices heavenly or demonic? That simple test reframes politics, reframes outrage, and reframes our own hearts. After time in Turkey, watching unapologetic public devotion, we felt convicted about our habit of hiding faith. Private belief can’t steady public life. Presence matters. Witness matters. Community matters.

So here’s our practical path forward: seven actions that don’t require storming beaches, just steady courage. Repent. Accept Jesus. Go to church and be known. Read Scripture daily. Support kingdom builders who serve on the front lines. Live in community that corrects and carries. Worship out loud to retrain desire toward what is true and good. We believe this is how households regain peace, churches regain clarity, and cities regain light. If you’re tired of the cultural whiplash and ready for a braver, kinder, more anchored way, this conversation is your starting line.

Subscribe for future episodes, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review with the one action you’ll take this week. Let’s fill the house with the right Spirit.

Show Notes: 7-day reading plan

Day 1 — The King’s Call to Repent

Read: Mark 1:14–15; Matthew 4:17; Acts 17:30–31. Key: 

Mark 1:15

Day 2 — Heart-Level Repentance

Read: Psalm 51:1–12

Key: Psalm 51:10

Day 3 — Return to the Lord

Read: Isaiah 55:6–7; Joel 2:12–13

Key: Isaiah 55:7

Day 4 — Godly Grief vs. Worldly Grief

Read: 2 Corinthians 7:8–11

Key: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Day 5 — Fruit of Repentance

Read: Luke 3:7–14; Luke 19:1–10; Matthew 3:8

Key: Matthew 3:8

Pray: “Let my repentance be visible.”

Day 6 — The Father’s Welcome

Read: Luke 15:11–24

Key: Luke 15:20

Day 7 — Repent and Receive

Read: Acts 2:36–41; Acts 3:19–21; 1 John 1:9

Key: Acts 3:19

Pray: “Refresh me by Your presence; fill me with Your Spirit, protect our Nation.”

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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A simple travel plan—celebrate the empty nest, get a long-awaited hair transplant, see a few sights—turned into a spiritual jolt I didn’t see coming. From the first call to prayer echoing across Istanbul, I felt a nudge to pay attention: to public faith, to daily rhythms that shape identity, and to a hospitality that flowed from shared standards. What started as a personal errand became a lesson in bold devotion and a mirror held up to my own Christian life.

We walk through the sounds and sights of the city—mosques open five times a day, garments that signal belonging, and loudspeakers that stitch worship into the fabric of ordinary time. I share what I learned touring a former church turned mosque, why Islamic spaces avoid images, and how that restraint resonates with biblical warnings against idols. Along the way, I read a few chapters of the Quran to better understand what I was witnessing, then hold that up against familiar scriptures from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and the New Testament to consider God’s transcendence and our human need for tangible anchors.

The conversation turns to why Islam’s clarity and consistency appeal to youth, especially young men hungry for identity and accountability. We talk about community signals, visible standards, and the way daily prayer can form character in public. That observation becomes a challenge aimed at my own tradition: have we learned to hide what we believe? I offer practical ways to make faith visible with grace—praying over meals, returning to weekly worship, opening the Bible where we live and work, and serving neighbors without apology—while avoiding culture-war posturing.

As we prepare to head to Ephesus, the story widens: Mary and John, endurance and witness, history and hope. The thread through it all is simple and hard—live what you believe, every day, with kindness and courage. If this journey sparks a question or stirs a habit you want to rebuild, I’d love to hear it. Subscribe for the next chapter from Ephesus, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help others find the show.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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A dead end in Barcelona forced us straight through a roaring protest, and that ten-minute walk became a mirror for a much bigger battle. The streets were peaceful, but the messaging was not. No counterpoint, no conversation—just a single, surging narrative. Back in Bordeaux, staring out over vines and stone, I kept hearing Isaiah’s warning about calling evil good and good evil. It clicked: we’re not just debating policy or headlines. We’re living through a marketing war for the moral imagination—one that plays out on TikTok, in marches, and in the quiet spaces of our minds.

So we go to the text. We read Ephesians 6 and break down the armor of God in plain terms: truth that keeps you steady, righteousness that protects your heart, gospel peace that guides your steps, faith that shields you from manipulative outrage, salvation that guards your mind, and the word of God as the only offensive weapon sharp enough to cut through slogans. We add prayer—not as a formality, but as supply and strategy—to stay alert without becoming angry, bold without becoming harsh. And we wrestle with Paul’s confession in Romans 7, because the war inside is real. If the apostle who wrote much of the New Testament fought against the pull of sin, then our flaws don’t disqualify us from speaking clearly and standing firm.

Along the way, we talk about why Israel faces not only a geopolitical fight but a digital and narrative one—and why Christians do too. If hate can trend, truth can spread. That means telling better stories, showing our work with humility, and refusing to take the bait that turns neighbors into enemies. The resurrection settled the end of the story; our part is to live like it now—calm, clear, and covered. If you’re ready to trade outrage for armor and confusion for conviction, press play, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Then tell me: what truth are you willing to speak this week?

We trace a tense walk through a Barcelona protest to a vineyard in Bordeaux and reflect on how an upside‑down world turns slogans into scripture-sized tests. We read Ephesians 6 and Romans 7, name the marketing war shaping minds, and commit to truth, prayer, and courage.

• pivot to faith and spiritual battles
• eyewitness account of anti‑Israel marches
• personal ties to Judaism and support for Israel
• Isaiah 5:20 as a lens for cultural confusion
• Israel, Christians, and the marketing/TikTok challenge
• clip criticism and media-driven division
• Ephesians 6: the armor of God explained
• Paul’s boldness and Romans 7’s honest struggle with sin
• practical steps: word, prayer, community, restraint
• closing call to resist bait and stand firm

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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A grieving widow extends forgiveness, and the room goes quiet. We pause there—on the shock of mercy—and trace why that moment felt so rare in a world that calls bitter sweet and light darkness. From Isaiah 5:20–21 to the noise of modern media, we examine how moral confusion takes root when we drift from God, and how returning to a shared compass restores both clarity and courage.

We don’t settle for hot takes. Instead, we ask what it actually takes to forgive in public without pretending the pain is small. The answer isn’t a viral epiphany; it’s training. Like an athlete building miles, a believer builds reflexes: daily Scripture, worship, small groups, honest confession, and habits that shape what we love. That slow work is how grace becomes muscle memory when life tests us. Romans 15:13 frames the posture—joy and peace through trust—while Matthew 14 reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus when the wind rises. Take your eyes off Him and you sink. Keep them fixed, and you can walk through the storm.

We also get honest about spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 shifts the fight from people to powers and principalities, inviting a different strategy: stand in truth, reject deception, and refuse to hate. That means dropping easy hypocrisy—claiming Christ while cheering what harms neighbors—and choosing a humble return to God. If you’ve felt the world upside down, if you’re hungry for a faith that holds under pressure, this conversation offers both a diagnosis and a path forward: rebuild your foundation, practice mercy, and let hope lead.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us what practice keeps your eyes on Jesus. Your voice helps more people find their footing.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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A world that calls darkness “light” can make faith feel like walking upstream. We open the Scriptures not as scholars, but as learners—honest about our flaws and bold about our hope—and trace a straight line from Isaiah’s warnings to today’s moral confusion. With Ecclesiastes as ballast, we reject the myth that our moment is unprecedented and find peace in God’s steady hand, even as headlines spin. The goal isn’t to win an argument; it’s to recover reality and live it.

We talk through a simple but piercing practice: sort what you see and what you do into two buckets—demonic or godly. That filter starts at home with temper, pride, and habits, then expands to the flashpoints that divide families and feeds. The point is clarity without cruelty. We explore how kingdom-building shows up in small choices—truth-telling, generosity, prayer, self-control—and why those practices matter when the culture feels upside down. Along the way, we ground courage in Jesus’ own words from Luke 4, when He reads Isaiah and declares fulfillment in the synagogue. That moment reframes the battle: the enemy still lies, but Christ has already won, and God turns intended evil toward good.

If you’re new to the Bible or returning after years away, we share where to start, how to pick a church that opens the text, and why reading in community anchors conviction without arrogance. Expect a humble tone, a clear spine, and practical steps you can take this week to build the kingdom instead of amplifying the noise. Listen, reflect, and then join us: subscribe, share with a friend who’s searching, and leave a review with the verse that steadies you right now.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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The murder of Charlie Kirk has awakened a sleeping giant in the Christian community. After a year and a half away from podcasting, this powerful return episode dives deep into the spiritual battle raging around us and what it means for believers in today's polarized world.

Scripture provides our foundation as we explore Isaiah 5:20-21, which warns against calling evil good and good evil – a prophetic caution that resonates profoundly in our current climate where truth is distorted and manipulated. The podcast examines Erica Kirk's extraordinary display of forgiveness toward her husband's murderer, demonstrating genuine Christian faith that flows from Jesus's own words on the cross. This forgiveness doesn't eliminate consequences but releases the forgiver from bitterness and reflects the spiritual maturity believers should aspire to.

A crucial revelation emerges when examining the disappointing reactions of many Christians to former President Trump's admission that he struggles to forgive his enemies. The misplaced expectation that political leaders should provide perfect spiritual guidance misunderstands both Trump's role and God's consistent pattern of working through flawed individuals. From Moses to Paul, scripture reveals that God routinely accomplishes His purposes through imperfect vessels.

The spiritual war demands community engagement, not just individual faith. Empty pews represent missed opportunities to strengthen the body of Christ against very real demonic forces. The Great Commission calls us not merely to bring people to Christ but to make disciples who multiply the message. This multiplier effect is how the church grows and flourishes even in hostile environments.

Ready to honor Charlie Kirk's legacy? Start by showing up – physically in church, intellectually in pursuit of truth, and spiritually in your commitment to authentic discipleship. The path forward requires speaking truth even when unpopular and building community even when inconvenient. Join us in carrying forward what Charlie started.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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Bob Marini from Marini Homes joins us to navigate the intricate world of home building and the challenges plaguing the industry today. Discover how Marini Homes has evolved over four generations in Upstate New York, as Bob shares insights into the shift from the modest profit margins of the past to today's demanding 20% gross margin. We'll unpack the hurdles of modern housing, from supply chain issues to inflation, and their impact on both businesses and future homeowners.

The conversation takes a deeper turn as we examine the nationwide impact of COVID-19 mandates, focusing on the contrasting approaches of New York and Florida. We explore the political dynamics that drive these decisions, including the role of governors like Ron DeSantis and the migration trends shaping local economies. The episode doesn't shy away from controversy, either, as we discuss the ripple effects of rising costs on various industries, particularly the restaurant sector, and how inflation continues to stretch the limits of affordability.

In a political twist, we delve into the realm of public discourse and media influence, touching on the backlash faced by Joe Rogan and the potential impact of political division in America. An exclusive glimpse inside Mar-a-Lago reveals Donald Trump's personal reflections on his time in office and his candid thoughts on political adversaries. Whether it's navigating the complexities of the housing market or pondering the broader implications of political and economic turmoil, this episode offers a rich tapestry of insights for our listeners.

This is the Buddy For Junior Show — where faith, truth, and courage come together. Join us as we explore life’s deeper purpose and carry the torch of conviction. The show begins now.

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