Faith And Failures Podcast

Going Deeper With God - The Cost

Send us a textReady to leave the shore? We dive straight into what it actually takes to go deeper with God, moving from comfortable routines to a surrendered life that carries weight. I share a simple starting rhythm—five minutes of prayer, five of Scripture, five of praise—to build spiritual muscle memory, then challenge you not to mistake the starting line for the finish. Using marriage as a living picture of loyal love, we explore why real relationship always costs something and how love reorders our plans, priorities, and pride.We open Scripture without flinching. Luke 14 asks us to count the cost before we pick up the cross. Malachi 1 confronts our leftovers and calls for honest sacrifice. Romans 12 reframes worship as a life on the altar, and 1 Samuel 15 reminds us that obedience beats performance every time. I talk about “lamplight faith”—how God often shows only the next step—and why depth comes from a steady yes in the quiet more than a loud moment on stage. Along the way, we clear up a common confusion: nothing can separate us from God’s love, but love received still calls for a life transformed. Fruit reveals the root.We also address the tension that real discipleship creates. Jesus said truth would divide, and following Him may cost comfort, approval, and even relationships. I call out “Cool Whip Christianity”—faith that looks full but weighs nothing—and invite you to carry substance instead of fluff. Hot-button cultural debates are reframed as biblical convictions, but the goal isn’t outrage; it’s responsibility. Every believer is a minister of the gospel. That means awkward, loving conversations, persistent mercy toward our critics, and a daily choice to live a holy, set-apart life that points to Christ.If you’re tired of surface-level faith and ready for depth, hit play, take the next step, and then tell me: what costly yes is God placing in front of you today? Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review to help others find the show.Support the show🛑Support the channel: https://bit.ly/2yUE9Fy🤳🏻LIVE STREAM LIKE A PRO! https://bit.ly/452wNdl🔥STREAM GEAR! https://kit.co/stephentilmon/live-stream-like-a-pro🪭Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfailures/💪🏼Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithandfailures/💡Lights: collabs.shop/yxtlvd🎙️Mics: https: https://amzn.to/3mTgFK2🍔 Save with #doordash https://drd.sh/MwpyyrMtJ29uegdM🎇Booms:https://amzn.to/3HsubM3⏺️Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/3oxO1yDMy Entire Kit: https://kit.co/stephentilmon🎧Headphones: https://amzn.to/43XGXLRMy Podcast 1. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-failures/id15058635312. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RnYGZRe9c515NhQhuhQ5K?si=A0SMJcdcQFWTxXs5J6S_Cw*All links are affiliate links. Although it won't cost you extra to use, they are just another way to show support when shopping online. Thank you!

From Trauma to Testimony: Addiction, Faith, and the Hard Work of Healing - EP. 17

Send us a textSome stories don’t fade; they get reclaimed. We sit down with Earl and Angie for a deeply honest journey through trauma, addiction, and the kind of recovery that stands up in the real world—courtrooms, crowded rooms, and late-night panic alike. Their message is simple and strong: addiction is an outward symptom of an inward wound, and freedom begins when you stop reacting, start responding, and let a real community walk with you.Angie shares how meth offered a counterfeit peace that silenced the noise of unspoken abuse—until a faith-based recovery program, therapy, and character work gave her a new voice and a sealed record. Earl opens up about coping with pain through alcohol and the moment he traded performance for peace. Together, they teach practical tools you can use today: breathing and grounding for anxiety, identifying triggers, replacing reaction with response, and changing the language you use about your life. We also explore why the opposite of addiction is community, why vulnerability beats isolation, and how boundaries can love people better than enabling ever could.For church leaders and volunteers, we get specific about what real help looks like: ask better questions, stock Narcan, set clear boundaries, create safe spaces, and build referral pathways to programs, housing, and jobs. For anyone in the fight, you’ll hear a repeatable plan: ID your triggers, choose your response, change your environment, and keep showing up. We also talk legacy—how reclamation means recovering what past generations missed and passing on peace, not chaos, to the people coming after us.If you found value in this conversation, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs hope today. Your next brave step could be the one that changes everything.Connect with Reclamation Ministryhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091631232043Support the show🛑Support the channel: https://bit.ly/2yUE9Fy🤳🏻LIVE STREAM LIKE A PRO! https://bit.ly/452wNdl🔥STREAM GEAR! https://kit.co/stephentilmon/live-stream-like-a-pro🪭Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfailures/💪🏼Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithandfailures/💡Lights: collabs.shop/yxtlvd🎙️Mics: https: https://amzn.to/3mTgFK2🍔 Save with #doordash https://drd.sh/MwpyyrMtJ29uegdM🎇Booms:https://amzn.to/3HsubM3⏺️Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/3oxO1yDMy Entire Kit: https://kit.co/stephentilmon🎧Headphones: https://amzn.to/43XGXLRMy Podcast 1. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-failures/id15058635312. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RnYGZRe9c515NhQhuhQ5K?si=A0SMJcdcQFWTxXs5J6S_Cw*All links are affiliate links. Although it won't cost you extra to use, they are just another way to show support when shopping online. Thank you!

From Culinary Arts to Christian Rock: James Bizak's Redemption Story EP. 16

Send us a textWhat happens when God interrupts the life of a successful chef battling addiction to create a musical ministry unlike anything in mainstream Christian culture? James Bizak's testimony will challenge everything you think you know about deliverance, purpose, and authentic worship.Raised with creative passions and Catholic school foundations, James followed a practical path into culinary arts while nurturing his musical talents on the side. His journey through prestigious kitchens exposed him to an industry culture where substance abuse wasn't just common—it was practically expected. Soon, James found himself spiraling into alcoholism, drinking "from morning until night" during the pandemic.The transformation began with a phone call from his brother and culminated in a supernatural encounter with Jesus in his bedroom. "Why don't you do music with me?" became the divine invitation that would change everything. What followed wasn't just recovery but complete deliverance—James experienced instant freedom from alcohol addiction without withdrawal symptoms, a miracle he attributes entirely to spiritual liberation.Now creating alternative Christian rock music, James isn't interested in producing worship songs that sound like everything else on Christian radio. His ministry targets the overlooked metal, punk, and hardcore listeners—people who might never enter a church but could encounter God through authentic music that speaks their language. Each song emerges from his "secret place" with God, attempting to capture divine downloads and translate them into sound.Whether you're struggling with addiction, searching for purpose, or simply curious about how faith and creativity intersect, this conversation offers raw honesty about both the depths of bondage and the heights of redemption. Subscribe and join us as we explore how our talents find their highest expression when aligned with divine purpose rather than self-promotion.Support the show🛑Support the channel: https://bit.ly/2yUE9Fy🤳🏻LIVE STREAM LIKE A PRO! https://bit.ly/452wNdl🔥STREAM GEAR! https://kit.co/stephentilmon/live-stream-like-a-pro🪭Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfailures/💪🏼Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithandfailures/💡Lights: collabs.shop/yxtlvd🎙️Mics: https: https://amzn.to/3mTgFK2🍔 Save with #doordash https://drd.sh/MwpyyrMtJ29uegdM🎇Booms:https://amzn.to/3HsubM3⏺️Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/3oxO1yDMy Entire Kit: https://kit.co/stephentilmon🎧Headphones: https://amzn.to/43XGXLRMy Podcast 1. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-failures/id15058635312. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RnYGZRe9c515NhQhuhQ5K?si=A0SMJcdcQFWTxXs5J6S_Cw*All links are affiliate links. Although it won't cost you extra to use, they are just another way to show support when shopping online. Thank you!

The Saints in Exile: Mike Geo's Faith Journey EP. 15

Send us a textWhen life, faith, and music collide, the result can be both beautiful and challenging. In this deeply personal conversation, musician Mike Geo opens up about his 20-year journey through the music industry and his parallel spiritual evolution from cultural Catholicism to finding a more personal Protestant faith.Growing up in an Italian-American family in New York, Mike's earliest musical memories involve playing Beatles songs on a plastic guitar—a passion that would eventually lead him to form the band Saints in Exile. He candidly shares how the band walks an interesting line, creating music with Christian themes that isn't overtly "worship" but can still reach listeners who might otherwise avoid faith-based content.The heart of this conversation explores Mike's 2020 spiritual awakening, which he colorfully describes as "the year I got smacked in the face by Jesus." Through Bible study and apologetics, he found himself questioning aspects of his Catholic upbringing and embracing a grace-through-faith perspective that transformed his relationship with God. This shift wasn't without complications—from family traditions to online criticism when he baptized his daughter in the Catholic church.Perhaps most moving is Mike's vulnerability about personal trials, including his daughter's health challenges and a devastating series of losses in 2022 that inspired his controversial song "Be Refined." The lyric "sometimes church can feel so phony, like if you're not happy, you're not holy" resonated with many while creating friction with church leadership—highlighting the complicated relationship many believers have with religious institutions.Whether you're a music lover, someone questioning your faith background, or simply appreciate authentic stories of personal growth, this conversation offers valuable insights about finding your own path while remaining open to where God leads. As Mike puts it, "If you had a failure in church, it does not reflect God and what He wants from you."Support the show🛑Support the channel: https://bit.ly/2yUE9Fy🤳🏻LIVE STREAM LIKE A PRO! https://bit.ly/452wNdl🔥STREAM GEAR! https://kit.co/stephentilmon/live-stream-like-a-pro🪭Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfailures/💪🏼Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithandfailures/💡Lights: collabs.shop/yxtlvd🎙️Mics: https: https://amzn.to/3mTgFK2🍔 Save with #doordash https://drd.sh/MwpyyrMtJ29uegdM🎇Booms:https://amzn.to/3HsubM3⏺️Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/3oxO1yDMy Entire Kit: https://kit.co/stephentilmon🎧Headphones: https://amzn.to/43XGXLRMy Podcast 1. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-failures/id15058635312. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RnYGZRe9c515NhQhuhQ5K?si=A0SMJcdcQFWTxXs5J6S_Cw*All links are affiliate links. Although it won't cost you extra to use, they are just another way to show support when shopping online. Thank you!

Beyond the Stage: Faith, Failure, and Finding God's Path - Christian Artist Tommy Williams Ep. 14

Send us a textMeet Tommy Williams, a 21-year-old Christian musician whose profound wisdom transcends his years. From his family's guitar-building tradition to discovering his unique voice in worship music, Tommy's journey reveals what happens when divine purpose redirects human ambition.Tommy candidly shares the moment everything changed—when God called him to abandon his dreams of being "the next Ed Sheeran" and instead write love songs to Him. This pivotal redirection shapes his distinctive approach to music, crafting songs that speak directly to human suffering while offering the hope of divine healing. His creative process involves placing raw emotions and even lies in the verses, then delivering powerful biblical truth in the chorus—creating a spiritual journey within each song.What makes Tommy's ministry special is his theological depth concerning pain. Rather than viewing suffering as evidence against God's goodness, he articulates how God uses our darkest moments to draw us closer to His heart. This understanding permeates his songwriting, including his latest release "Come and See," inspired by Jesus's compassion portrayed in biblical narratives.As both an independent artist and worship leader, Tommy balances creative excellence with spiritual authenticity. He shares practical insights about maintaining spiritual health while constantly pouring out to others, embracing Sabbath rest, and recognizing our fundamental dependence on God. His vulnerability extends to sharing his prayer requests—for unwavering conviction when faced with industry pressure and for God's provision in funding his music.Whether you're a musician, ministry leader, or someone navigating your own pain, Tommy's perspective will illuminate how God works through our suffering to reveal His presence. Connect with Tommy!https://linktr.ee/TomymwilliamsmusicSupport the show🛑Support the channel: https://bit.ly/2yUE9Fy🤳🏻LIVE STREAM LIKE A PRO! https://bit.ly/452wNdl🔥STREAM GEAR! https://kit.co/stephentilmon/live-stream-like-a-pro🪭Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfailures/💪🏼Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithandfailures/💡Lights: collabs.shop/yxtlvd🎙️Mics: https: https://amzn.to/3mTgFK2🍔 Save with #doordash https://drd.sh/MwpyyrMtJ29uegdM🎇Booms:https://amzn.to/3HsubM3⏺️Audio Recorder: https://amzn.to/3oxO1yDMy Entire Kit: https://kit.co/stephentilmon🎧Headphones: https://amzn.to/43XGXLRMy Podcast 1. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-and-failures/id15058635312. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RnYGZRe9c515NhQhuhQ5K?si=A0SMJcdcQFWTxXs5J6S_Cw*All links are affiliate links. Although it won't cost you extra to use, they are just another way to show support when shopping online. Thank you!