Welcome to the NO BS BISHOP, where we're tackling the fine print we often attach to the most important thing in the world: love. On this episode, I'm calling for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it truly means to love without conditions. This isn't about some cheesy ideal; it's about the real, hard work of getting rid of our excuses and embracing a pure, unfiltered love.

Today, I want to talk about getting rid of the fine print of love. It’s time to burn the conditions and live in a world where we simply love. We're often adding conditions to love, like saying, "I'll love you, but I don't approve of your lifestyle." This is nothing but fine print, and it creates speed bumps on our road to loving one another. Jesus commanded us to love, and by this, all people will know we are His disciples. But we, especially us church folks, have gotten in the way with all our rules.

Inspired by a friend, I'll share a profound quote from Les Misérables: "To love another person is to see the face of God." This applies to everyone—even those whose appearances or choices might challenge us. We are all made in the image of God. So, what are you going to do when you see someone with purple hair, piercings, or tattoos? Will you dare to love them and see the face of God, or will you let your fine print get in the way? I'll also share a personal story from a recent trip to Texas, where my wife and I faced a scary moment on the highway. This experience forced me to confront how I respond to fear and whether my actions truly align with the unconditional love I preach. This isn't about easy answers; it's about doing the heavy lifting of love.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things—that's what 1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us. There's no fine print there. So, join me as we learn to shed our conditions, build healthy boundaries, and practice a genuine, beautiful, and sometimes challenging kind of love. It's time to get rid of the "buts" in our love and simply love, because the biggest mistake we make is thinking we have time. Until next time, be present, be kind, and love more. Love now. Happy trails, y'all.

I'm here with Scott Morfitt, a former parishioner, a "stray sheep" that I love dearly, and the producer of this very show. We're talking about spiritual refugees, the 40 million people who have exited the brick and mortar church since the turn of the century. This is a significant shift in the spiritual season of the United States, and we need to have an exit interview. I'm not here to judge or crack a whip, but to listen and love.

Scott and I get into the real reasons behind this exodus, from the rote "three songs, a money ask, and a speech" routine that lost its appeal, to the church's historical failure to reconcile its message with loving the entire world, especially our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. We tackle the uncomfortable truth that the church has often found itself on the wrong side of history, hanging on too tight to what it knows while the world moves on.

This is an adult conversation about the heavy lifting of love, the toxicity of claiming "empathy is woke," and the surprising hope found in some liturgical traditions that are learning to adapt. We also get real about the cost of doing ministry and what it takes to keep these vital conversations going.

Join us for a no BS discussion about leaving a legacy that's more than just hanging on tight to what was evaporating. This is about finishing the work so we can genuinely express the heart of the fellow we call Jesus.

In this episode, I share a word that’s been on my heart about identity, healing, and the kind of freedom that changes everything.

Not long ago, I had the privilege of connecting with Gene Morfitt from the Spiritual Program Retreat, a long-standing community rooted in the original spiritual principles of the 12 steps.

Since 1981, thousands have come through the Spiritual Program Retreat and walked away changed. It’s not about surface-level solutions it’s about facing truth, working the steps, and finding a new way to live.

If you're feeling stuck, burdened, or just ready for something different, this episode and the story of this retreat may be exactly what you need to hear.