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Gird Up! Podcast

Gird Up! Podcast

Gird Up! Podcast 204 Episodes Oct 11, 2026

An unapologetically Lutheran voice for the ordinary Christian, this podcast offers teachings and discussions from a Lutheran perspective.

Episodes

1094 - Vampires, Dating Apps, and Christ’s Heavenly Scars
1094 - Vampires, Dating Apps, and Christ’s Heavenly Scars Oct 11, 2026 00:57:24 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 psychologica
1093 - In the Matrix, Not of It: Algorithms, the Good Old Days, and the Bag of Grace
1093 - In the Matrix, Not of It: Algorithms, the Good Old Days, and the Bag of Grace Oct 5, 2026 00:49:20 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:Being in the World (and the Algorithm) but Not of It: A look at how digital identities distort ou
1092 - Silence in Grief, Atheist Gotchas, and the Ship of Baptism
1092 - Silence in Grief, Atheist Gotchas, and the Ship of Baptism Sep 27, 2026 00:40:04 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
1091 - When a Loved One Comes Out, Church Culture Hot Takes, and the Means of Grace
1091 - When a Loved One Comes Out, Church Culture Hot Takes, and the Means of Grace Sep 20, 2026 00:43:42 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 co
1090 - Grounded in Scripture: Unlocking Confessional Lutheran Truth with the Open Book App
1090 - Grounded in Scripture: Unlocking Confessional Lutheran Truth with the Open Book App Sep 13, 2026 01:12:06 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 lif
1089 | Doubting the Resurrection, Newton, and the Shield of God’s Name
1089 | Doubting the Resurrection, Newton, and the Shield of God’s Name Aug 9, 2026 00:42:10 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
1088 | Can a Layperson Stand in the Gap? Church Planting & Digital Discipleship with Mara Rugen
1088 | Can a Layperson Stand in the Gap? Church Planting & Digital Discipleship with Mara Rugen Aug 2, 2026 01:14:34 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 r
1087 | Politics, Mammon, and the Two Kingdoms with the Pflughoeft Boys
1087 | Politics, Mammon, and the Two Kingdoms with the Pflughoeft Boys Jul 26, 2026 00:50:05 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. W
1086 | More Joy Than Guilt: Dismantling Purity Culture with Christ with Jonny Lehmann and Isaac Hayes
1086 | More Joy Than Guilt: Dismantling Purity Culture with Christ with Jonny Lehmann and Isaac Hayes Jul 19, 2026 01:04:06 Is "purity culture" actually biblical, or did it just leave a generation of young Christians with unnecessary trauma and spiritual burnout?In a high-pressure culture that constantly demands perfection, it’s easy to confuse God’s discipline with His punishment. We often treat sin like a series of isolated mistakes we can manage, rather than recognizing it as a deeper condition that we can
1085 | Vocation, Burnout, and Mental Health with Pastors Chris & Tony Pflughoeft
1085 | Vocation, Burnout, and Mental Health with Pastors Chris & Tony Pflughoeft Jul 13, 2026 00:51:15 Can you quit your job for your mental health, or is that giving up on the place God put you?In a culture that tells you to find your identity in your career while simultaneously burning you to the ground, young Christians are often left stuck in the middle. We easily confuse the burdens of a toxic workplace with the cross Christ called us to bear.In this episode, host Charlie Ungemach sits down wi
1084 - Chad Bird | Finding Christ in the Old Testament
1084 - Chad Bird | Finding Christ in the Old Testament Jul 5, 2026 01:11:02 Many Christians secretly struggle to reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the Jesus of the New Testament. We moralize the stories, skip the violent passages, and treat the text like a checklist of dos and don'ts rather than a testimony of our Savior.Today, Chad Bird (Scholar in Residence at 1517) joins host Charlie Ungemach to tear down the wall between the Testaments. We dig into the r
1083 - CL Whiteside | The Non-Microwaved Truth: Standing on the Gospel
1083 - CL Whiteside | The Non-Microwaved Truth: Standing on the Gospel Jun 29, 2026 01:44:40 In a culture that demands fast, cheap, watered-down answers, our youth are facing an unprecedented identity crisis. Today, we sit down with CL Whiteside—Dean of Students at Wisconsin Lutheran High School and host of The Non-Microwaved Truth podcast. As a leading voice in urban ministry, CL specializes in delivering the raw, unfiltered Gospel to a generation tired of superficial cultural Christiani

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