What if the safest path isn't God's path?Pastor Micah Berteau had a thriving ministry, a clear future, and every reason to stay put, including his dad's expectations. Instead, he walked away from it all to plant a church from the ground up in Fort Worth, Texas. In this honest conversation, Micah shares the hidden realities of church planting, pastoral leadership, church hurt, criticism, faith, and trusting God when the outcome isn't guaranteed.You'll also hear:* Why he chose planting over inheriting a ministry* How to leave a church the right way* The truth about church hurt and betrayal* Why hardship often shapes your calling* Building a church with nothing but faith* The Thief on the cross taught us so much * Youtubers chose to end their baby's life because of Down syndrome, Zach and Micah unpack it unapologetically. Micah Berteau is the pastor of The House Church and is a husband and father of 4 boys! Enjoy this great conversation

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Has joy gone missing from the Church?

Some Christians act like if you laugh too hard, the Holy Spirit leaves the room. But what if joy isn't the enemy of our faith—what if it's actually one of the greatest evidences of it?

In this episode, I sit down with comedian Michael Pasvar for an honest conversation about Christian joy, church culture, comedy, faith, and why so many believers seem afraid to laugh.

We talk about:
• Why joy feels like it's disappearing from the modern Church
• The difference between holiness and seriousness
• Why comedy is rooted in truth
• How laughter breaks down walls and opens hearts
• Why humor can be a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel
• Michael's new comedy special, Blended Feathers
• Church culture, worship trends, and the tension many Christians feel today

One of my favorite moments from this conversation is the idea that if joy were a person, we'd have to put her on a milk carton:

"Missing: Joy. Last seen moving powerfully through the early church. Known for bringing life, freedom, laughter, and strength. If found, please return immediately. Things are not working well without her."

Scripture tells us in Nehemiah 8:10 that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." If that's true, then maybe one of the enemy's greatest strategies isn't stealing our salvation—it's stealing our joy.

🎤 See Michael Pasvar's new comedy special here: Blended Feathers

Book Zach Rippey to Speak or Perform Comedy here: ⁠https://ilikebirdsministry.com/comedybooking⁠

Work with Zach on a Speech: https://www.rippeywrites.com/contact

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This viral story of a YouTuber and his wife terminating their baby's life due to a potential Down syndrome diagnosis has sent the internet on fire with discussion... Here is the perspective of two Jesus Followers who have close ties to this story.

Pastor Micah Berteau of The House Church joins Zach in the studio to unpack it all.Whatcha think? Is this just the world being the world, or does society as a whole have to shift its mindset on LIFE!

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What if the biggest danger of technology isn't what it can do—but what it slowly stops us from doing? We discuss AI, social media, GPS, and how modern tools may be affecting our ability to think, create, and hear God's voice. This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone seeking wisdom in a digital world.

Enjoy this clip and check out the full episode on I Like Birds Podcast YouTube Channel!

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Cinematic Trailer for one of the best episodes of the year... Will you pass the test of deception that is already happening? If the elect can be deceived, can't we as well? What's God gonna do when the deception hits? Pour his spirit out on man... Watch this and then watch the full episode on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

Let us know how you like this type of trailer...

Honored to help Stephanie Chung shape her Life Surge message before she shared the stage with John Maxwell, Tim Tebow, Ed Mylett, and Willie Robertson.

After the event, we sat down backstage and talked about growth, faith, pressure, influence, and what it really means to say yes to bigger stages.

We crafted the perfect speech that resonated deeply with the audience.

We glorified God and reminded the audience why we are all just Souls on board this flight of life!

Wanna work with Zach on a speech?

Reach out now here: https://www.rippeywrites.com/appointments

Bonus content on our show! If you enjoy please share it!

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman joins the I Like Birds Podcast for one of the most powerful locker room testimonies we’ve ever heard. Share this everywhere!

From NFL darkness, temptation, pressure, and brokenness… to prayer meetings breaking out inside Cowboys training camp.

In this episode, Kenyon shares the untold story of how players on the Dallas Cowboys defensive line began turning back to Jesus, restoring marriages, seeking transformation, and creating a revival atmosphere inside the locker room.

We talk about Jerry Jones, NFL culture, spiritual warfare, revival in professional sports, prophecy, prayer, suffering, discipline, the Holy Spirit, hearing God’s voice, and what it really means to follow Jesus in one of the darkest and most influential environments in the world.

Kenyon also shares the emotional story of a former teammate who mocked his faith for years, only to later reveal that a simple text message from Kenyon stopped him from taking his own life.

This conversation is raw, funny, convicting, deep, and packed with biblical wisdom and real-life stories from inside the NFL.

Topics include:

• ​Dallas Cowboys locker room culture
• ​NFL players turning to Christ
• ​Jerry Jones and team leadership
• ​Prayer meetings during training camp
• ​Marriages restored through Jesus
• ​The difference between talent and anointing
• ​Spiritual warfare in sports

If you love football, testimonies, leadership, revival, biblical conversations, and authentic stories about faith under pressure, this episode is for you.

Comment below with your biggest takeaway from the episode.

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