Grace, Grit & Grounds
New podcast Grounded theology for real life. Join AL Weeks for honest, down-to-earth conversations about faith, grace, and spiritual growth. Each episode blends Scripture, story, and reflection to show how God’s love meets us in messy places. Grab your coffee and pull up a chair, theology isn’t just for scholars, it’s for everyone.
Episodes
There’s a strange, quiet stretch of time between Christmas and New Year’s. The noise fades. The calendar pauses. And most of us rush past it without a second thought.
In this final episode of the year, I’m back in the shop finishing two slabs of hickory and a piece of walnut. Sanding. Dusting. Applying oil. Letting the grain come alive. What starts as simple craftsmanship turns into reflection on how God works in us.
Some seasons a...
In the rush of Christmas, it’s easy to assume that if God is going to show up, it will be in the big, dramatic moments. The lights. The music. The milestones.
But Luke’s story tells us something different.
In this episode, Al reflects on the shepherds of Luke 2 — ordinary people in an ordinary field on an ordinary night — and how heaven chose them as the first witnesses of Christ’s arrival. No spotlight. No ceremony. Just faithfuln...
Hope isn’t a mood you try to feel… it’s the truth of who you are and the God who meets you where you are.
In this episode, Al explores the deep connection between hope, the image of God, and the way Jesus reveals the Father to us. Drawing from Genesis, Philippians 2, and Jesus’ words to His disciples, we look at what it means to be made in God’s image — and how that identity becomes an anchor when life feels heavy.
Hope grows slowl...
December has a way of speeding up our lives even as our souls are begging to slow down. In The Holiday Run, Al shares why this season feels heavier than any other and how to find a healthier pace in the middle of the rush. With stories from his time in Alaska, where winters were so deep that neighbors carved snow corridors between their homes, this episode explores the gift of slowing down, staying close to the people who matter, a...
Life feels heavier this time of year — expectations, exhaustion, and the quiet pressure to keep pushing even when your soul is worn thin. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, Al explores what Jesus meant when He said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
We talk about emotional fatigue, spiritual rest, and the difference between holy grit and destructive grind. Through stories from the woodshop, the military, and Scr...
Gratitude sounds simple until life gets heavy. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, Al digs into the quiet space between gratitude and grief, the place where thankfulness doesn’t come easily, but it still matters.
We talk about how to see God’s goodness even when your heart is tired, why Scripture calls us to give thanks in all circumstances (not for them), and how gratitude becomes a bridge between what you’ve lost and wh...
In a world that never stops moving, The Slowdown Season invites you to pause. Al reflects on Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God” — and explores how slowing down can actually strengthen your faith. Learn how to resist false urgency, rediscover margin, and find peace in the pause.
#GraceGritGrounds #Stillness #FaithAndRest #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #FaithOverHurry
In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, Al takes us on a quiet walk through the turning seasons, reflecting on what it means to let go with grace. Just as the trees release their leaves without resistance, we too are invited to trust the process of change.
It’s a conversation about surrender and growth, about laying down old expectations, relationships, or rhythms that have finished their work in us. When we stop clinging to ...
In this special Espresso Shot episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, Al steps into the woodshop and turns two simple blocks of wood, one perfect Padauk blank, one flawed piece of Walnut, into a reflection on the way God shapes our lives.
The lathe hums, the tools bite, and the wood resists, just like we do when the Master begins His work. But shaping isn’t destruction; it’s revelation. And it comes at a cost, not just to the wood, b...
Ever feel like you’ve done everything right, prayed, served, stayed faithful, and life still falls apart? You’re not alone. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, AL talks about the tension between faith and fairness, when good people suffer, and the wicked seem to prosper.
Drawing from John 9, Psalm 73, and real-life struggles, we explore what it means to hold on to hope when the math of life doesn’t add up. Sometimes, the ...
In this Espresso Shot of Grace, Grit & Grounds, I sit down with Jasmine Smart, a young professional and ministry leader in our church, to talk about faith, calling, and the complexities of life in today’s world.
We dive into what dating looks like in modern culture, how missions continue to shape our perspective on purpose, and the ways God uses ordinary moments to prepare us for extraordinary ministry.
If you’ve ever wrestled ...
Forgiveness isn’t easy; it’s gritty, painful, and deeply personal. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, we talk honestly about why forgiveness is one of the hardest things we’re called to do… and why it’s worth it.
From the wounds that shaped us to the grace that frees us, this episode is about learning to release the weight, trust God with justice, and walk toward peace. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting — it means free...
Sometimes life leaves us speechless, not from awe, but from exhaustion, grief, or heartache. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, we explore what it means to pray when words simply won’t come.
We’ll talk about learning to rest in God’s presence, trusting the Spirit who intercedes for us, and finding peace in silence. Prayer isn’t performance, it’s presence. Even when you can’t speak, you are still heard.
☕️ Grounded Theolo...
In this Espresso Shot of Grace, Grit & Grounds, I sit down with Nico Miller, a young locksmith, worship leader, and man of growing faith. Nico shares about following his father’s trade, serving in kids’ archery ministry, leading worship in the college and career group, and what God has been teaching him over the past two years.
It’s a conversation about faith in the everyday, learning to walk with God, whether you’re at work, i...
Church hurt is real. For many, it’s the reason they’ve walked away from faith communities, pastors, or even from God Himself. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, we talk honestly about toxic Christianity, when faith becomes a weapon instead of a refuge, and what it means to begin healing.
We’ll look at the cost of spiritual abuse, why so many people have been wounded in church, and how God’s grace invites us into restorat...
God’s love isn’t safe, tame, or polite, it’s fierce, relentless, and consuming. In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, we dive into what radical love really looks like. Drawing from Scripture, Brennan Manning’s Ragamuffin Gospel, and my own book Love on the Edge, we’ll explore a love that doesn’t back down in the face of brokenness, betrayal, or pain. This is love that fights for us, pursues us, and refuses to let us go.
If ...
In this episode, we sit down with Trevor, our college pastor for Christ Culture at NKU and Thomas More. He shares his story, the moments that shaped his calling, and his heart for reaching students with the gospel. Join us as we talk about vision, challenges, and the hope of raising a generation that lives with intention.
In this episode of Grace, Grit & Grounds, Al reflects on the emotional turmoil of recent events and emphasizes the importance of remaining rooted in Christ amidst chaos. He discusses the concept of abiding in Christ, the significance of daily rhythms, community support, and the hope that sustains believers through turbulent times. Al encourages listeners to share their experiences and coping strategies while reminding them of t...
In this episode of Grace, Grit, and Grounds, Al welcomes Desiree Houben, the Director of Family and Community Outreach at Christ Baptist Church. They discuss the importance of family in ministry, the challenges of ministering to broken families, and the role of the church as a safe space for children. Desiree shares her experiences transitioning from teaching to ministry, the impact of COVID on her work, and the significance of com...
Episode 5: Where Is God in My Grief? Grief is heavy, but you don’t carry it alone. In this episode, we explore how God meets us in loss with presence, compassion, and hope.
👉 If you’re walking through grief, check the link to my book Still Walking in the description for more encouragement.
#GraceGritGrounds #Grief #ChristianPodcast
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