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“New Normal:” What Happens After the Pandemic?

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your sunday drive podcast

❓❗️ Are you starting to wonder how things will be different after the pandemic? So are we 🙂

In this special Zoom episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we ask “What happens after the pandemic?” What will the “new normal” be? How will our lives, work and world be different? Most importantly, what good can come from this dark time?  

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Who Would Jesus Vote For?

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your sunday drive podcast

Finally, the “answer” to the question on everyone’s mind: Who would Jesus vote for?

In this one-year-anniversary, Super Tuesday episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we discuss the different economic and governmental systems vying for votes this year, and ask some key questions: What are the basic differences between right and left economic systems? Does capitalism or socialism or some other -ism best fit human nature? Are there biblical principles to help us understand these options? Are there governmental models in the Bible and do they apply here and now? How do we weigh economic vs. social/moral concerns?

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive



The Holidays & Mental Health; Star Wars

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your sunday drive podcast

It’s nearly Christmas – a joyous time, but also a difficult time for many.

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we welcome local family medicine physician’s assistant Dave Mulder to talk about the holidays and mental health, trying to lend a Christian perspective to an issue that many face this time of year.

With The Rise of Skywalker just days from release, we also take a quick few minutes to discuss the spiritual significance of Star Wars.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

HOWLoween SPOOKtacular (MacArthur, Kanye, Halloween)

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your sunday drive podcast

What’s the deal with John MacArthur and his conflict with Beth Moore? Is there really “no case that can be made biblically for a woman preacher?”

What’s the deal with Kanye West and his new album, Jesus Is King? Should Christians be welcoming or questioning Kanye?

What’s the deal with Halloween? Should Christians celebrate it? How?

In our HOWLoween SPOOKtacular episode, we handle all the pressing topics of the day in Your Sunday Drive podcast #20.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive



Snarky Faith for Crazy Times

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snarky faith on your sunday drive

How can Christians “keep it real” and avoid the “Christian crazy?”

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we try to discover what it means to have an authentic faith in these times, welcoming our second-ever guest, Stuart Delony, host of the Snarky Faith radio show and podcast.

Stuart tells us about his faith journey, we discuss some of the unfortunate ways Christians are currently seen in our culture and how we might temper that, as well as “Snarky faith” and why it’s important to have.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Jarrid Wilson & Hope in the Face of Suicide

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Jarrid Wilson

Aren’t Christians supposed to have it “all figured out?” Does the gospel really work? Can people change? Is victory over our struggles possible? How?

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we talk about Jarrid Wilson, a pastor and mental health advocate who recently committed suicide, and some related questions for Christians and non-Christians alike.

If you need help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. 

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive



Moon Landing Then & Now; Trump, Dissent & Political Divide

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It was recently the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, bringing to mind how unity and division often exist together in the U.S.

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we go deep with a moon landing retrospective, contrasted with a conversation about Trump, free speech, dissent, the current political divide in the U.S., how Christians are involved and how Christian witness is impacted.

Also: how amazing was the moon landing?, human drive to explore and know, a Christian worldview upholds scientific discovery, Trump comments about “the squad,” free speech and does it have limits?, is being associated with Trump good for the church and the spread of the gospel?, should the gospel always be “unoffensive?,” and more.

Take a listen and let us know what you think! Want to interact with us? Comment here, or on Spreaker or Facebook!

First Reformed: Is Church Relevant?

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“Will God forgive us?” — Toller (Ethan Hawke, First Reformed)

First Reformed tells the story of Toller (Ethan Hawke), a former military veteran and pastor of the First Reformed Church.  Preparing to celebrate their 250th anniversary, the church has become largely ceremonial, with most parishioners having moved over to the local megachurch, led by charismatic Pastor Jeffries (Cedric the Entertainer).  A former military veteran and father to a deceased child, Toller seeks desperately to ‘feel alive’ again in his ministry and finds himself called to the home of a suicidal parishioner for counselling.  When tragedy strikes, Toller finds himself torn between counseling the victim’s grieving widow (Amanda Seyfried) and his own creeping personal issues.

Written and directed by the legendary Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Afflicted), First Reformed reveals the hidden realities of church ministry, ugliness and all.  As Toller, Hawke offers a strong but subtle performance, portraying him as both warm and broken.  He is a man who is constantly ‘in the garden’ of suffering, emotionally and physically, clinging to a faith that seems irrelevant to the culture in which he lives.

However, in the death of his parishioner, he finds new life as he begins to question what it means to express his faith in the 21st Century.  By re-examining his passions and calling, Toller’s crisis of faith leads him into conflict with established religion, eventually putting him at odds with his friend, Pastor Jeffries.  Focused on massive budgets and state-of-the-art technology, Jeffries’ megachurch provides a fascinating contrast to Toller and First Reformed by showcasing the potential hypocrisy of the ‘ministry as big business’ mentality.  While Jeffries speaks of meeting with people of importance and spectacle, Toller demonstrates an increasingly deeper interest in justice issues such as the Underground Railroad and environmental conservation.  This juxtaposition of ideologies highlights the dangers of ‘cultural spirituality’ and begs the question of where the church’s responsibility lies today.  As the film goes on, Toller increasingly agonizes over important cultural issues, to the extent that he wonders if God will forgive us for our selfishness.

In light of this, First Reformed plays out as both call to the church and challenge to it as well.  Schrader’s script depicts the angst of one who clearly wishes the church will come alive by recognizing its potential role to affect change in our world.  As a result, First Reformed portrays the church as both hopeful and irrelevant by highlighting the lack of interest in social issues in favor of spiritual entertainment.  Broken by his personal history, Toller’s journey also reveals the impact that a person (or church) can have to affect change but also questions to what lengths they must go to do so.

For audio of our interview with writer/director Paul Schrader, listen below:

For audio of our interview with Cedric the Entertainer, listen below:

Queen of Katwe – Inspiring, but . . .

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“In chess, the small one can become the big one.”

Disney knows how to do inspirational stories. The latest is Queen of Katwe about a Ugandan chess prodigy who finds a way out of the slums of Kampala through the dedication of a man who reached out to impoverished children by teaching them the game.

Nine year old Phiona (Madina Nalwanga) spends her days selling vegetable in the streets of Kampala to help her mother (Lupita Nyong’o) provide for the family. School isn’t an option. Her future seems bleak indeed. One day she follows her brother to a church that hosts a youth sports outreach ministry. Part of that outreach is led by Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), an unemployed engineer, who himself achieved an education in spite of his coming from the slums. Robert strives to teach not just chess to the children, but also tries to give them a hope and vision of a better life. As Phiona advances in the world of chess, she also must deal with various struggles in her family life—often leading to times of despair.

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Chess often serves as a metaphor of conquering life’s challenges. The film is rich in aphorisms such as “Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place you belong,” “You use your mind, make a plan, and you will find safe squares,” and “Do not be too quick to tip your king,” all of which speak more to Phiona’s personal struggles more than her chess playing.

It is worth noting that the church and faith has a role in the story. Robert is working with the church as he awaits a possible job that his education has prepared him for. Although it is a church ministry, we don’t see any religious teaching going on along with the chess. Yet, the implication is that there is more here than just the game. At the same time, after losing their home, Phiona’s family squats in the ruins of a burned out church. That less than perfect shelter is another interesting metaphor for the way God may seem to the young struggling girl. She wonders at one point if God really cares about her and her family. She certainly sees no clear evidence based on the events that befall them. So the church is both a physical shelter (although not a very good one) and the place that offers hope for finding more than her life has provided her. That ambivalence, I think, is a common experience of church—something that nourishes us, but we often fail to see its importance in day to day life.

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While Phiona’s story is indeed inspiring as we watch her become more confident in her game and in life, it may also seem a bit trite. Certainly she finds her path out of the poverty that has defined her life to this point, but it is such an individual journey that it becomes something of a Horatio Alger story. While she has help along the way, in the end we celebrate what Phiona has achieved by her dedication and work. She has found a way out of the slums, but what of all the others in the slums. A few other children also play chess and begin an education, but the social structures that allow such poverty continue untouched. That is often the flaw in stories such as this. One person’s success is worth celebration, but not by ignoring the roots of the problem that they have overcome.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

The Offerings of Death: The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (Ep. 1)

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CemeteryWhat happens when we die is the greatest question we ask ourselves, according to Morgan Freeman, Academy Award-winning actor. As a result, he decided to go on a global adventure to determine the answer for himself.  That journey comprises the first episode of “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman,” airing Sunday night on the National Geographic Channel (9P/8C).  His discoveries are intriguing and will give the viewer something to consider after the show has ended.

(It’s important to keep in mind that the series covers multiple religions and their similarities, so if you come in expecting to hear from one viewpoint only, you’ll be disappointed.)

The show begins with Freeman and David Bennett in a church, staring at a stained glass window of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8. Bennett recounts an experience of falling off a ship and somehow surviving under the water for 15-18 minutes. As many people have shared who have undergone near-death experiences, he saw a light (or fragments of a light) before coming back to life.  He agrees the light was God, but admits that he doesn’t “subscribe to just one religious belief anymore.” Freeman then starts his journey, visiting Egypt and the pyramids, Mexico City and the Aztec ruins, Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and India’s Ganges River before returning to the States.

Are there similarities? Yes—people experience grief, want to remember their dead ancestors and, at the same time, want to be remembered for generations. Consider why we put names on tombstones and visit them with our living relatives.  Are there differences?  Of course—everything from spells (Egypt) to ritualistic sacrifice (Aztecs) to getting out of the circle of reincarnation (Hindu).

Freeman adds a scientific element to the discussion when the concept of a soul is brought up—can such a thing be replicated?  He goes to New York and visits Bina 48, an animatronic head (think of Richard Nixon’s Head in the TV series “Futurama”) that is being programmed with the feelings, memories, and emotions of a living person so future relatives can interact and communicate with it.  This, to me, was intriguing—who wouldn’t want to share their life experiences in ways other than letters, pictures, and Facebook posts?

Jerusalem - The Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Jerusalem – The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The visit to Jerusalem was fascinating—especially the burial tombs—and if you listen closely, Freeman’s guide Jodi Magness shares the entire Gospel for viewers to contemplate. Christianity differs from the other faiths mentioned because Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection brings people not only hope, but eternal life if they ask him to forgive their sins and claim him as forgiver and leader (see Romans 10:9-10).

I thought the episode, co-produced by James Younger and Lori McCready, was well-executed, with excellent production values and interesting content.  Striking visuals, acceptable CGI, and an “Amazing Race”-ish feel served to help the cause. In addition, there was time to contemplate what was being shown with pauses between sections.

Freeman is searching for what he believes and concludes the episode with his thinking at the moment—in this case, regardless of belief, we can all become eternal. The point, regardless of whether the viewer believes his conclusion or not, is that death is something we’re going to have to deal with at some point. After Adam and Eve’s lapse of good judgement in the Garden of Eve, dying is a 100% certainty in this life (with Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus as exceptions). The question for us is simply how we treat it—as a scary proposition that could bring eternal destruction or a portal to joy and eternal life.