What Are We Talking About?

428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis

These are my thoughts on current events happening around us. I am a conservative Christian, that doesn't mean everything I say will offend you, but I believe what I believe. I am a traditionally conservative person, Faith, Family, Country. If you listen and disagree, reach out, let's have a conversation. If you listen and agree, I like you already:) Some episodes will be serious, some will be faith centered, some will be silly, all are opinions, take it or leave it. Either way I hope you enjoy and I look forward to your feedback. Host: Ben Lewis Website: 428 Podcasts

  1. 6d ago

    35. Tom Estes - Amendment 3 and 6, Church in Politics | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    Missouri's Future Is on the Ballot | Tom Estes on Amendments 3 & 6 and the Church's Responsibility **Could one election change Missouri's future for generations? And are Christians doing enough to stop it?** In this powerful episode of *What Are We Talking About?*, host Ben Lewis sits down with **Tom Estes**, Chief of Staff for Missouri Senator Rick Brattin, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, and pro-life advocate, for a conversation every Missouri voter needs to hear before November. We're cutting through the political talking points and asking the questions that matter. 🔥 **AMENDMENT 3 — What's Really at Stake?** Why is Missouri voting on abortion again? What does Amendment 3 actually change? And what aren't voters being told about existing laws protecting minors from gender-transition procedures? 🔥 **AMENDMENT 6 — WHO REALLY CONTROLS MISSOURI?** Could an 80% legislative approval requirement make voter-approved laws nearly impossible to correct? We break down the proposed amendment, the influence of outside money, and why Tom believes this measure could have lasting consequences for Missouri voters. 🔥 **THE CHURCH & POLITICS — IS SILENCE AN OPTION?** Should pastors speak about abortion, elections, and political issues from the pulpit? Or should politics stay outside the church doors? Tom doesn't hold back when discussing the responsibility of Christian leaders, biblical convictions, and what happens when churches choose silence over speaking out. **In this episode, we discuss:** - Missouri's abortion laws and the battle over Amendment 3- The connection between Amendment 3 and restrictions on gender-transition treatments for minors- Why Amendment 6's 80% requirement is so controversial- Outside political funding and its influence on Missouri elections- Why some pastors avoid political issues- The biblical responsibility of Christians in public life **Whether you agree or disagree, this is a conversation worth hearing before you cast your ballot.** 👇 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION:** Should churches stay out of politics, or do pastors have a responsibility to speak up when biblical values are at stake? 👍 LIKE this episode if you value conversations that challenge the narrative. 💬 COMMENT with your thoughts on Amendments 3 and 6. 🔁 SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear both the questions and the arguments before Election Day. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to *What Are We Talking About?* for more conversations about faith, politics, culture, and the issues shaping our communities. **We ask questions. We challenge the narrative. And we're not afraid to talk about it.** 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠428 Website⁠⁠Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠Record Date: 10.20.2026#MissouriPolitics #Amendment3 #Amendment6 #TomEstes #MissouriElection2026 #ChristianConservative #ProLife #FaithAndPolitics #WhatAreWeTalkingAbout #428Podcasts

    35. Tom Estes - Amendment 3 and 6, Church in Politics | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis
  2. Oct 2

    34. Jeff Bruculerri - Jeff B Ministries | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have a mission field. Sometimes, your mission is right where you are. In this episode of 428 Ministries, Ben sits down with Jeff, a longtime sports and travel columnist, radio host, musician, speaker, comedian, and missionary who has spent nearly two decades serving on mission trips around the world. Jeff shares how growing up in the church shaped his faith, how a trumpet became a lifelong part of his ministry, and how his first mission trip to France unexpectedly sparked a passion for global missions. Since then, he has served on mission trips involving construction projects, medical clinics, drama ministry, prayer, evangelism, and outreach in countries including Jamaica, Mexico, Romania, and the Dominican Republic. But one of the biggest lessons Jeff has learned is that being on mission doesn’t require a passport. Your family can be your mission field. Your workplace can be your mission field. Your school, neighborhood, grocery store, or wherever God has placed you can become an opportunity to serve others and share the Gospel. Jeff also gives a behind-the-scenes look at what mission trips are really like—from lost luggage and changing plans to unfamiliar food, difficult conditions, medical outreach, and seeing how Christians in other cultures passionately worship God. He explains why flexibility matters, why he believes he receives as much as he gives on these trips, and why missions became something that “got into his DNA.” And yes, we also find out how trumpet playing, comedy, church ministry, and even being a professional mascot somehow became part of the same story. If you’ve ever wondered whether God can use your talents, personality, profession, or current circumstances for ministry, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to wait for the perfect opportunity. Your mission may already be right in front of you. Topics include Christian missions, sharing the Gospel, international mission trips, medical missions, construction missions, drama ministry, worship, evangelism, serving others, using your gifts for God, and finding your mission field wherever God has placed you. Connect with Jeff:⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠Giving Fuel⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Email⁠⁠ 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis ⁠428 Website⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 09.30.2026 ⁠

    34. Jeff Bruculerri - Jeff B Ministries | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis
  3. Sep 30

    33. Yes on 3! - Missouri's Vote on Abortion and Transgender for Minors | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    Missouri voters will once again face Amendment 3, a major constitutional question involving abortion law, parental consent, and gender transition procedures for minors. In this episode, Ben breaks down Amendment 3 from a Christian conservative perspective and explains why he supports voting “yes.” He examines how the proposal relates to Missouri’s 2024 reproductive-rights amendment and addresses three groups in particular: Christians and abortion abolitionists who believe the proposal does not go far enough, abortion-rights supporters concerned about women’s healthcare, and voters who may not realize the measure also addresses certain gender transition procedures involving minors. The conversation explores questions surrounding the value of unborn life, rape and incest exceptions, medical emergencies, parental involvement when minors seek abortions, regulation of abortion providers, and the responsibilities of parents and the state when medical decisions involving children may have lasting consequences. Ben also turns to Scripture—including Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1, Luke 1, and Proverbs 24—to explain the biblical convictions informing his position. For Christians wrestling with whether an incremental restriction is worth supporting when it does not completely abolish abortion, the episode considers a central question: What should Christians do when the choice before them does not accomplish everything they ultimately believe should be done? Most importantly, voters are encouraged to look beyond political advertisements, social-media posts, and campaign rhetoric and carefully examine what is actually being proposed before casting their ballots. Topics include Missouri Amendment 3, abortion in Missouri, the 2024 reproductive-rights amendment, abortion abolition, Christian voting and biblical worldview, parental consent, medical-emergency exceptions, abortion-provider regulation, gender transition procedures for minors, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, parental rights, and Missouri politics. Specifics On The Amendment: What the new Amendment 3 does... - Repeals the reproductive-rights provision approved in 2024. - Allows Missouri to restrict abortion to: Medical emergency. Fetal anomaly. Rape. Incest. - Rape/incest exception: no later than 12 weeks gestation. - Allows legislation regulating abortion providers and facilities. - Requires informed and voluntary consent. - Requires parental or judicial consent for a minor seeking an abortion. - Restricts public funding of abortion except in limited circumstances. -Prohibits specified gender-transition procedures for minors, including surgeries, cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers, with exceptions for specified medical conditions. Missouri Secretary of State website 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.428Ministries.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/428Podcasts.php Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Ministries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 09.29.2026

    33. Yes on 3! - Missouri's Vote on Abortion and Transgender for Minors | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis
  4. Sep 25

    32. Understanding: Israel, Hamas, and America's Involvement | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    What are we actually being told about Israel, Gaza, Hamas, and Palestine—and how much of it is true? Since the October 7th attack, the Israel–Hamas war has become one of the most emotionally charged and politically divisive issues in the world. We constantly hear words like **genocide, Holocaust, terrorism, humanitarian crisis, and war crimes**—but do most people actually understand what those words mean, who the major players are, and what America has actually done? In this episode of *What Are We Talking About?*, Ben breaks down the conflict from a Christian conservative perspective while asking some important questions: What is Hamas—and is Hamas the same thing as Palestine? What actually happened on October 7th? Why did Israel respond? Is what's happening in Gaza legally considered genocide? Is comparing Gaza to the Holocaust accurate? What role has America actually played? And can Christians support Israel while still acknowledging the suffering of innocent Palestinians? This isn't about pretending one side can do no wrong. It's about separating **people from governments, civilians from terrorists, facts from narratives, and biblical truth from political tribalism. Before you repost the next 30-second clip about Israel or Gaza, take the time to understand the bigger picture. **Israel ≠ Netanyahu. Palestine ≠ Hamas. Gaza ≠ Hamas. And criticizing a government ≠ condemning an entire people.** 🎙️ *What Are We Talking About?* Faith. Culture. Politics. And the conversations everybody else is afraid to have. 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 09.23.2026 428 Online #Israel #Gaza #Hamas #Palestine #IsraelHamasWar #ChristianPodcast #ChristianConservative #Politics #CurrentEvents #WhatAreWeTalkingAbout

    32. Understanding: Israel, Hamas, and America's Involvement | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis
  5. Sep 11

    31. Ken W. Good - Goods On Bail | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    Have we become so focused on protecting the rights of the accused that we’ve lost sight of government’s responsibility to protect innocent people? In this episode of 428 Ministries, Ben Lewis sits down with attorney and bail law expert Ken W. Good for a wide-ranging conversation about bail reform, public safety, pretrial release, and what happens when criminal justice policies fail to account for real-world risk. The conversation begins with the Lee Gilley case—a capital murder defendant who allegedly cut off his ankle monitor, fled the United States, and made it to Italy before being detained. Ken explains how GPS ankle monitoring actually works, why alerts don't necessarily result in an immediate law-enforcement response, and why electronic monitoring can create an appearance of security without physically preventing someone from fleeing. From there, Ben and Ken break down "Bail 101," including private surety bonds, cash bonds, personal bonds, simple release, judicial discretion, failure-to-appear concerns, and the role bail plays in keeping criminal cases moving through the courts. They also examine one of the central tensions in bail reform: How do we protect defendants from being unnecessarily detained simply because they lack money while still accounting for criminal history, flight risk, violent offenses, and public safety? The discussion expands into Flock cameras, surveillance and privacy, trust in government, crime statistics, political messaging, socialism, the growing difficulty of having productive political conversations, and the intersection of Christian convictions and public policy. Ultimately, this conversation asks a question that reaches far beyond Texas or any single criminal case: What happens when policies designed in the name of fairness begin producing consequences that affect victims, families, neighborhoods, and the administration of justice? Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, this episode challenges listeners to look beyond political talking points, examine how these systems actually work, and consider what a responsible balance between individual rights and public safety should look like. +++ Connect with Ken: Facebook - PBTX Association Twitter - PBTX Association YouTube Website - The Bail Post +++ 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 09.03.2026

  6. Sep 3

    30. Tyler Schmidt - Tolbert Realtors | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    Is homeownership still part of the American Dream—or are rising home prices, interest rates, and affordability making it harder than ever to buy a house? In this episode of What Are We Talking About?, Ben Lewis sits down with Southwest Missouri realtor Tyler Schmidt to have a practical conversation about today’s real estate market and what buyers and sellers actually need to know. Tyler shares his journey from law enforcement into real estate and breaks down some of the biggest questions facing homeowners and prospective buyers today. They discuss current mortgage rates, why homeowners with historically low rates may be reluctant to sell, whether waiting for rates to fall makes sense, and what first-time homebuyers should do before they ever start touring houses. Ben and Tyler also talk about renting vs. buying, getting pre-approved for a mortgage, choosing a trustworthy realtor and lender, home pricing and market value, property taxes, new construction, real estate investing, cash offers, and why people continue moving to Southwest Missouri. Plus, Tyler explains why the highest offer isn't always the best offer, what sellers should consider when pricing their home, and the three steps someone hoping to buy within the next 12 months should start taking now. Whether you're preparing to buy your first home, considering selling, looking at investment properties, or simply trying to understand where the housing market stands, this conversation offers practical insight to help you make more informed decisions. If this episode gave you something worth thinking or talking about, subscribe on YouTube, follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. •••• Connect with Tyler! Facebook: Tyler Schmidt Realtor Email: tyler@tolbertrealtors.com Phone: (417) 551-9836 •••• 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 09.03.2026

  7. Aug 17

    29. Reaction: The Great Debate | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    After sitting through all 3 hours and 17 minutes of the Candace Owens vs. Andrew Wilson debate, I walked away thinking one thing: Did we actually learn anything new? In this episode of What Are We Talking About?, I break down my reaction to the debate—the good points Andrew made, where I think he crossed the line, why Candace's arguments left me with more questions than answers, and one particular exchange about text messages and Apple IDs that really got me thinking. If a text appearing to come from someone's account doesn't necessarily prove that person actually sent it, should we be applying that same skepticism to the screenshots and old messages we've been shown as evidence? I'm not claiming to have solved anything. I'm asking questions—and there's a big difference. But there's also a bigger issue here. While the internet turns this tragedy into theories, investigations, sides, clicks, and content, how many of us have stopped to pray for the actual people whose lives have been devastated? Let's talk about the debate, the unanswered questions, the evidence, the speculation—and why Christians should never become so obsessed with solving the mystery that we forget about the human beings in the middle of it. What are we talking about? Let's get into it. 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 08.17.2026 #CandaceOwens #AndrewWilson #CandaceOwensDebate #DebateReaction #CharlieKirk #TurningPointUSA #TPUSA #ConservativePodcast #ChristianPodcast #ChristianConservative #PoliticalPodcast #PodcastReaction #ConservativeCommentary #CurrentEvents #QuestionEverything #SeekTheTruth #BiblicalWorldview #FaithAndPolitics #PrayForTruth #WhatAreWeTalkingAbout #428Podcasts

  8. Aug 14

    28. Michael Munsterman - The Kingdom Codex | What Are We Talking About? | Ben Lewis

    Are Christian men truly leading the lives God has called them to lead—or are too many simply going through the motions? CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE COPY! In this episode of What Are We Talking About?, Ben Lewis sits down with entrepreneur, husband, father, and The Kingdom Codex author Michael Munster for a challenging conversation about biblical masculinity, Christian leadership, brotherhood, spiritual warfare, and what it means for men to live with purpose. After facing life-altering open-heart surgery, Michael found himself confronting a difficult question: Had he spent his life building his own kingdom instead of using his gifts to build the Kingdom of God? That experience helped reshape his mission. Michael shares the story behind Kings and Priests and The Kingdom Codex, a 90-day field manual designed to help Christian men move beyond a surface-level faith and develop daily disciplines rooted in Scripture, prayer, accountability, intentionality, and action. Ben and Michael discuss why Christian men need genuine biblical brotherhood, the difference between simply attending church and actively living out your faith Monday through Saturday, and the responsibility men have to lead, serve, and protect those God has placed in their lives. They also explore Michael's understanding of the biblical roles of "kings and priests" and why men must recognize the spiritual battle taking place around them. If you're a husband, father, leader, entrepreneur, or Christian man who loves God but knows you've become too comfortable or passive in your walk, this conversation is a challenge to examine your priorities and ask: Am I becoming the man God has called me to be? Subscribe to 428 Ministries for more conversations about faith, culture, leadership, politics, and living with biblical conviction. If this episode challenges or encourages you, share it with another man who needs to hear it, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Connect with Michael: Facebook: www.facebook.com/kingdomcodex Website: www.kingdomcodex.com Kingdom Codex : Free Copy! 428 Podcasts | Ben Lewis⁠⁠⁠ Watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@428Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Record Date: 08.13.2026

About

These are my thoughts on current events happening around us. I am a conservative Christian, that doesn't mean everything I say will offend you, but I believe what I believe. I am a traditionally conservative person, Faith, Family, Country. If you listen and disagree, reach out, let's have a conversation. If you listen and agree, I like you already:) Some episodes will be serious, some will be faith centered, some will be silly, all are opinions, take it or leave it. Either way I hope you enjoy and I look forward to your feedback. Host: Ben Lewis Website: 428 Podcasts