The dew still clings to the grass. The air is cool and quiet. The sun is just beginning to rise. For a few moments, it feels like the entire course belongs to you.

Most golfers know the feeling, but few of us stop to consider why we love it so much.

In this episode of Shanktification, we explore the peaceful solitude of the first tee time and what it can teach us about our relationship with God. Jesus regularly withdrew to lonely places to pray, yet many of us struggle to spend even a few quiet moments alone with Him. Why is solitude so difficult? What are we missing in a world filled with constant noise, notifications, and distractions?

Join us as we discover how the tranquility of an early morning round points to a deeper spiritual truth: sometimes the most important conversations happen when everything else gets quiet.

Because maybe the reason we love the first tee time isn't just the golf.

Maybe it's the peace.

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In this episode, we explore the power, potential, and purpose of younger believers who are hungry for something deeper than surface-level faith. From cultural pressure and identity struggles to bold faith and spiritual influence, this conversation challenges the idea that youth equals spiritual immaturity.

Inspired by passages like 1 Timothy 4:12, this episode is a call for younger Christians to lead with authenticity, courage, and conviction—and for the church to believe in them, invest in them, and walk alongside them.

A hopeful and challenging conversation about influence, discipleship, purpose, and building a faith that lasts.

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In this episode, we unpack the idea that preparation matters more than performance—and how being “hydrated” spiritually and mentally changes everything when pressure shows up.

Because the round isn’t won on the course… it’s won before you ever tee off.

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In this episode, we walk through Colossians 2:6–7 and Colossians 2:15 to uncover a powerful truth: Jesus has already defeated the enemy—and that changes how you live today.

Using the lens of golf and the idea that “you are what you are,” we talk about identity, pressure, and why one bad hole doesn’t define your round.

You don’t live to become someone.
You live from who you already are in Christ.

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Until it doesn’t go our way.

In this episode, we take an honest look at how quickly we cry “that’s not fair”—while quietly hoping for grace when it benefits us.

From the golf course to our faith, this conversation exposes a hard truth:

We don’t actually want fair.

We want grace.

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So why are you still stuck?

In this episode, we talk about what 2 Timothy calls “itching ears”—and how we chase advice that feels right instead of truth that is right.

From YouTube swing tips to spiritual confusion, this episode will challenge where you’re actually going for answers.

Because the issue isn’t lack of information…

It’s where you’re looking for truth.

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In this episode, we dig into the deeper motivation behind everything we do—on the golf course and in life. Because your “why” doesn’t just influence your performance… it shapes your mindset, your joy, and even your faith.

I share a personal story about a non-Christian friend who asked me to pray for him—an unexpected moment that reminded me that our purpose is often bigger than we think. I also talk about mentoring young men through golf, using the game as a bridge to something far more meaningful: understanding the teachings of Jesus.

If your “why” is off, everything feels heavier. But when your purpose is grounded in something eternal, it changes how you play, how you live, and how you see every opportunity in front of you.

Featuring a powerful perspective inspired by C. S. Lewis: if this world isn’t enough to satisfy us, maybe we were made for another.

This episode will challenge you to ask one simple question…
What is your why?

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In this episode, I share a surprisingly honest moment with my 4-year-old grandson—when I asked what stressed him out most about Christmas, and he answered: “hot dogs.” It’s funny, but it also exposes something deeper about us.

We all carry fears, anxieties, and “storms.” But when we look at the disciples in the boat before Jesus calms the storm, we see grown men overwhelmed with fear—even with Jesus right there beside them.

So why weren’t their worries as small as hot dogs?

This episode challenges us to rethink trust. What would it look like to trust Jesus so fully that our biggest concerns shrank to something trivial? And what’s keeping us from that kind of faith?

A lighthearted story with a serious invitation: trade your storms for trust.

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Maybe your ultimate goal… isn’t ultimate.

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In this episode, we unpack the power of flipping your instincts on their head. In golf, the counterintuitive move is often the right one—swing left to curve it right, hit down to make it go up. The same is true in life and faith. Growth doesn’t come from following your gut, but from challenging it. We’ll talk about why our natural tendencies often lead us the wrong direction, how intentional, disciplined thinking produces better outcomes, and what it looks like to live with a renewed mind instead of a reactive one. If you’ve ever felt stuck doing the same things and getting the same results, this episode might be your invitation to think differently… by thinking backwards.

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Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening.  Your following support would be greatly appreciated:

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-Pray that God uses this to change someone's eternity.

Reach out to me at mark@shanktification.com or follow me on Facebook here.  I'd love to hear from you!