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Send us Fan Mail The HOTLCast crew digs into what it takes to stay spiritually grounded when life never slows down. Matt, Ryan, Cody, and Mark explore the tension between intentionality and burnout in ministry, why lasting faith change rarely happens overnight, and the small daily habits that keep you connected to God when there's no room in the schedule for a long quiet time. From five-minute prayer pauses and 3:30 PM alarms to abstinence from worldly distractions and turning your commute into worship — each host shares the personal practices they rely on. If you've ever struggled to build consistent spiritual habits in the middle of a packed life, this one's for you.

Send us Fan Mail In week three of the Vices 3.0 series at Heart o' the Lakes Church, Pastor Matt Plott explores what comes after the vices are gone — and how to build habits that last. Drawing from the book of James and the story of Jesus calming the storm, Pastor Matt unpacks three key choices: seek God daily, trust Him in every circumstance, and embrace the different path He calls us to — even when the familiar feels more comfortable. Whether you're wrestling with addiction, navigating hardship, or simply looking to deepen your faith, this message is a reminder that your story matters, that God offers wisdom when we ask, and that following Jesus — while never promised to be easy — is always worth it.

Send us Fan Mail The HOTLCast crew — Matt, Ryan, Carver, and Mark — follow up on Pastor Cyle's "Vices" sermon series, reflecting on the powerful testimonies from Mike & Jen Cook and Michael Walters. The conversation covers the many faces of addiction, from substance abuse to screen time and social media, and explores the tension between moderation and abstinence. The guys discuss emotional sobriety, the danger of living a double life online, and why sharing your story — no matter how broken — might be the most powerful thing you can do for someone who feels stuck. Matt closes with a memorable parable from The West Wing: the friend who jumps into the hole because he's been there before and knows the way out.

Send us Fan Mail In part 3.2 of the Vices series, Pastor Cyle challenges the popular idea that "everything is okay in moderation." Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6 and 10, he unpacks what biblical moderation and abstinence actually look like — and why "just because you can doesn't mean you should." The episode features powerful testimonies from Mike and Jen Cook, who found sobriety and faith through Alcoholics Anonymous decades ago, and Michael Walters, who shares a harrowing story of addiction, a near-fatal car crash, and the series of unmistakable signs God used to draw him and his family back to Him. Together, their stories make the case that sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is surrender the thing that's controlling you — and that letting go isn't loss, it's freedom.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of HOTL's Got Questions, the hosts tackle one of the most taboo topics in the church—masturbation. They break down what the Bible actually says about sexual activity and self-gratification, pushing back on "TikTok theology" that claims you can m********e without sinning. The conversation covers the link between masturbation and lust, how pornography fuels the cycle, and why this isn't just a "teenager problem"—it's a struggle spanning every age group, including adults in their 60s and 70s. The discussion also gets practical: how the dopamine rush mirrors hard drug addiction, why secrecy and shame make it worse, and how unchecked habits can destroy future marriages and intimacy. The hosts share biblical strategies for self-control, the importance of confession and accountability, and why your spouse should be your standard of beauty. If you or someone you know is struggling, this episode offers a path forward with honesty, grace, and real-world advice.

Send us Fan Mail The HOTLCast crew is back together as Ryan returns from Save a Warrior, a suicide intervention program for veterans and first responders. The conversation kicks off a new installment of the "Vices" series, this time tackling addiction in all its forms — from drugs and alcohol to pornography, food, social media, caffeine, and even gossip. The guys discuss the veteran suicide crisis, the idea of "getting honest about your dishonesty," emotional sobriety vs. physical sobriety, and how the God-shaped hole in all of us gets filled with the wrong things. They also get practical, covering real accountability strategies like accountability partners, Covenant Eyes, location sharing, and the hard conversations that come with walking someone through their struggles. If you're stuck in an addiction — or trying to help someone who is — this episode is an honest, grace-filled starting point.

Send us Fan Mail In the third installment of the "Vices" series at Heart o' the Lakes Church, Pastor Cyle Young tackles the topic of addiction — and not just the kind you might expect. Drawing from Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 6, Romans 6, and 1 Peter 5, he shows that addiction goes far beyond drugs and alcohol to encompass anything that gains control over our lives: envy, anger, sports, comfort, food, and more. Pastor Cyle introduces a practical three-part filter for decision-making: Is it lawful? Is it helpful? Will it dominate me? The sermon features two powerful testimonies. Angela Van Etten shares her decade-long struggle with alcohol addiction and her journey to three years of sobriety through the church's 12-step program and the power of the Holy Spirit. Sarah Walters recounts her ten-year battle with cocaine and alcohol — a descent that led to divorce, despair, and near destruction — before a single prayer removed her cravings and God began restoring her marriage, her family, and her purpose. Now three years sober, she's pursuing a clinical social work degree to help other addicts find God. The core message: addiction promises relief but eventually demands control. What we keep obeying becomes what we serve. But freedom starts when secrecy ends — and bondage does not get the final word. Jesus does.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of HOTL's Got Questions, Cyle, Matt, and Ryan tackle one of the most asked — and most avoided — questions in the church today: What does the Bible say about sex before marriage? The answer may be more straightforward than you think. Walking through scripture from 1 Corinthians to Hebrews to the Song of Songs, the guys break down why God's design for sex is reserved for marriage — and why that boundary is a feature, not a flaw. They explore the cultural shift that has monetized and casualized sex, the real-world damage of sexual immorality, and how sex within marriage is actually a form of worship. They also tackle tough real-life scenarios — widows, divorce, legal vs. religious marriage — with honesty and grace. Whether you're young, old, single, or married, this conversation is a reminder that God's plan for sex isn't about restriction — it's about protection, purpose, and beauty.

Send us Fan Mail Ryan and Mark are back from youth retreat with 41 kids, kickball wars, and splash pad chaos. The crew unpacks the weekend's vision sermon on "going the extra mile" — what it means to stop asking "what's the least I can do?" and start giving maximum effort for Jesus. Mark coins the term "cruise control Christian," Matt reminds us the second mile is where the real growth happens, and everyone agrees: it's not the pastor's job to reach lost people — it's ours. Tune in for retreat stories, honest conviction, and a challenge to get off cruise control and back in the game.

Send us Fan Mail Pastor Cyle delivers a passionate message at Heart o' the Lakes Church unpacking the church's "Vision 330" — rooted in John 3:30, "He must increase, I must decrease." Drawing from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:41), he challenges the modern church's tendency toward "minimum effort Christianity" and calls believers to go the extra mile in every area of life: relationships, service, generosity, and witness. The sermon explores what an "extra mile church" looks like — one that notices the person standing alone, serves when no one's watching, gives beyond what won't be missed, chooses people over preferences, makes room for the next generation, and invites one more person to know Jesus. Pastor Cyle reframes the Christian life from "I have to" to "I get to," reminding the church that the first mile is what's required, but the second mile is chosen — and it's in that second mile that people see Jesus.

Send us Fan Mail When is the last time you got upset over something at church — and was it actually worth getting upset about? In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Ryan, Matt, and Mark unpack the crucial difference between preferences, convictions, and biblical imperatives. From a church member who left over colored Christmas lights to complaints about sandals on stage, the crew shares real-life stories of how easily we confuse what we like with what God actually said. Along the way, Matt gives an update on his recent car accident (his third totaled car since moving to Michigan), Cyle reveals his new stress-management strategy courtesy of Dolly Parton, and the team discusses how to know where to draw the line when Scripture speaks and when it's silent. The bottom line: the only hill worth dying on is the one with a cross.

Send us Fan Mail In part two of the "Spiritual Mutts" series, Pastor Cyle explores what it means to be "dogmatic" as a Christian — and why being dogmatic about the wrong things causes so much damage in the church. Using his Weimaraner Trevie as a humorous and relatable illustration, he breaks down three critical categories every believer needs to understand: Imperatives — Biblical truths God has clearly commanded (love God, love others, forgive, flee immorality). These we hold tightly.Convictions — How the Holy Spirit personally applies those imperatives in our individual lives (drinking, entertainment, speech, Sabbath). These we hold faithfully, recognizing they may differ from person to person.Preferences — What we simply like (worship style, dress, pews vs. chairs, technology). These we hold loosely.Drawing from 2 Timothy 3, Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 10, and the United Brethren tradition of "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity," Pastor Cyle challenges the church to stop barking about preferences and start standing firm on what Scripture actually says. The result? Unity without uniformity — loving each other well while being dogmatic only where God is clear.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the HOTLCast, Pastors Matt and Ryan are joined by Carver and Mark to unpack the idea of being a "spiritual mutt" — someone whose faith has been shaped by multiple church backgrounds and denominations. Drawing from a sermon by Pastor Cyle, the team shares their own diverse church experiences, from Baptist and Episcopal to Fellowship of Grace Brethren churches, and discusses how each tradition contributed to their spiritual formation. They explore the United Brethren motto of "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity," and break down the difference between convictions, traditions, and preferences in church life. The conversation challenges listeners to examine what they're holding onto too tightly and to embrace change as a natural — and necessary — part of ministry and growing in faith.

Send us Fan Mail In the opening message of the "Spiritual Mutts" series, Pastor Cyle uses the analogy of dog breeds—purebreds, designer dogs, and mutts—to explore how Christians engage with denominational traditions. Drawing from his own diverse church background (Pentecostal, Nazarene, Baptist, non-denominational, and more), he argues that believers who draw strengths from multiple traditions develop "spiritual vigor"—the theological equivalent of a mutt's hybrid vigor. He highlights what each tradition contributes: Baptists' love for the Word, Pentecostals' expectation of the Spirit, Wesleyans' call to holiness, the Reformed emphasis on God's sovereignty, and liturgical traditions' historical continuity. But he also warns against "selective theology"—the tendency to keep the parts of Scripture we like and discard the parts that challenge us. Citing 1 Corinthians 1, 2 Timothy 4, 1 Thessalonians 5, and Acts 17, the message calls the church to test everything against Scripture, submit to the whole counsel of God, and resist the temptation to create a customized Christianity that suits our own passions. The sermon closes with a pastoral challenge to let God's Word shape our character, forsake sin, and live out an authentic faith in community.

Send us Fan Mail This week on the HOTLCast, Matt, Cody, Ryan, and Mark gather to unpack Sunday's message about choosing God's plan — and what that actually looks like in everyday life. They start by celebrating Next Gen Level Up Sunday and the heart behind investing in kids and students at every phase. Then the conversation shifts to David's unashamed worship, the connection between joy and fun, and a memorable reminder from Cyle: "If you don't think church should be fun, you're going to hate heaven." The guys get real about the daily practice of choosing joy over stress, separating emotions from decisions, and what it means to be a "recovering pessimist." Ryan shares his approach to choosing peace when life gets hard, Matt talks about shifting from "the glass is half empty" to "the glass just isn't full," and Cody reflects on looking back at everything God has already done as the best antidote to worry. Along the way they discuss grace, learning from failure, and the question that ties it all together: How can you let God interrupt your plans today?