Where your big questions get real answers
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
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This week, Matt read an article about "Secular Calvinists" and, since he has to know that's a thing, now so do you! (00:10-17:45)
I don’t know how I feel about Christmas. Growing up it wasn’t my favorite time and it hasn’t gotten better. I see that there could be a lot of positive stuff about the holiday, but I can’t seem to connect to it. Is there a way to reset my Christmas feelings? (18:01-33:06)
How do you support and love someone who is going through a hard time but is clearly not ready to make any big changes? I love them and they aren’t like being hostile to me, they just aren’t done with whatever phase they are in yet. (33:10-45:39)
In 1 John 3:1- it says “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Does that still apply when Christianity has been the biggest world religion for 2,000 years? (45:42-55:10)
Closing Song: What Child Is This? (Jed Brewer)
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
Tuesday Dec 06, 2022
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When someone reappears after a scandal and there is a backlash, it seems like people talk about how there is “unforgiveness” or “lack of grace because people are mad. If someone behaved in a way that hurt someone else- can I even forgive them. Am I under some requirement to forgive public figures because I am Christian? (21:53-39:08)
What responsibility do I have to call out prejudice when I see it. If I see someone I know post something online, can I just block them, or should send a message to point out there error first? It feels like people are getting comfortable throwing stuff out there lately. (39:12-54:43)
Special bonus emergency! A truly bonkers Christmas service: https://twitter.com/reachjulieroys/status/1599068764674265089?s=20&t=EAP6VjnFQvHtBZuB0WWBJw (54:49-1:04:34)
Closing Song: I Heard The Bells (Lee Younger)
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
This week we take an emergency look at a business seeking to rent out the perfect Christian boyfriend. And, in a rare instance, come up with an improvement!
As a spouse in such a situation, how can you support the partner that has lost interest in sex? I am discouraged, but I don’t want to pressure them either. (21:08-40:08)
I have different political views than my parents. I know that, they know that. It’s whatever. The part that drives me crazy is not them disagreeing with me or thinking I’m wrong, it’s when they imply or flat out say that I only believe what I do because I was brainwashed or that “I’ll figure it out when I’m older”. I don’t know why, but that really bothers me and I don’t know how to say anything or if I even should. Help? (40:42-57:45)
I was reading the part of the gospels with John the Baptist recently. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to take from it. I get that he prepared the way for Jesus and was important. But I don’t know what I am supposed to do with any of this? (57:48-1:08:46)
Closing Song: Angels We Have Heard On High (The Poohouse Guru)
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Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Buy our friend Spike's book of amazing cartoons!
Let's all give thanks for an all emergency episode!
We come up with a new, groundbreaking technique for dealing with opinionated relatives at Thanksgiving. Then we take a tour of Christian insanity- Pastors challenging comedians to boxing matches and getting served lawsuits in the pulpit, a Christian college is suspicious of evil secular music genre...bluegrass, a video game where you play as Jesus that is even crazier than it sounds. And more!
Closing Song: Take My Life and Let It Be (Lee Younger)
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Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
I recently read a description of elements of a cult. It included things like “a leader who is not to be questioned” and “everything is part of the plan” and “the people in this group are all you need.” I know not every church is cult-like, but that sounds like a lot of churches. How do I know if a church or group can be trusted not to be like this? (19:48-34:24)
Is there a difference between judging someone and wanting them to do better? (34:28-44:56)
Recent…celebrity craziness had me thinking about whether I can still enjoy someone’s music if I know they believe awful things. Does that apply to Christian stuff even more so? If someone ends up involved in scandal, or leaving the faith, how do we treat their work? (45:00-01:01:48)
Closing Song: No He Wasn't (ft Lins Honeyman)
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Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
1.1) I feel like it’s really shallow but I’m finding I’m not physically attracted to my spouse anymore. (16:18-34:21)
1.2) I used to be really passionate about faith and expressive in worship. Over the last few years it’s like the fire has diminished. I struggle to pray and worship but deep down the faith is still there. What should I do? (34:24-52:46)
1.3) I was reading the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25. Making good ROI isn’t really how I think of Jesus wanting me to live out my faith usually. What does this parable mean? (52:50-1:06:07)
Closing Song: You've Made Up Your Mind (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Christian puns may have gone too far! And some Halloween PSAs. (00:00-19:00)
Hebrews 4:1 says to be careful not to “be found to have fallen short”. But Romans pretty famously says all have fallen short and it doesn’t matter. What does this mean? (19:18-33:26)
I always feel like I am letting someone down. When I was little it was my parents. Sometimes it has been God. But sometimes I don’t even know who, just someone out there. How do I deal with that? (33:35-50:31)
How do I know if a part of my life is bearing fruit? Some things take time, and some things don’t always look amazing, but does that mean they’re not bearing fruit? (50:36-1:05:51)
Closing Song: It Is Well (Pete and Tasha Lawson)
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Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
We look at a church's...stadium tour...tickets for which cost up to over $1000. That's definitely an emergency! (00:00-19:45)
How do you know when a situation (not a relationship, but like a job or school thing) being rough means it’s time to make a change versus when it’s time to push through? (19:50-34:27)
2 Thessalonians 4:10 “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Gets brought up a lot to justify political stuff. I feel like it’s not a very Jesusy sentiment. What does it mean? (34:27-50:00)
I was recently talking with a friend and they mentioned “see you at the pole”, I joked about how it was so weird that it was a Christian fad to do something pretty much the opposite of what Jesus taught about prayer. He had never realized it was weird. He agreed once it was pointed out. I didn’t know how to have that conversation. How do you talk to someone about crazy Christian stuff from their past, not your own? (50:06-1:01:51)
Closing Song: 2 Corinthians 3:17 (The Poolhouse Guru)
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Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
We try to help out the Christian media industry with some realistic worship songs and micro-targeted devotionals. (00:00-28:30)
I have some people in my life that I feel like I have forgiven. But I also don’t particularly want to have a relationship with them or even necessarily see them again. Is that good enough, or do I have to keep trying to engage with them? (28:49-39:01)
What’s a piece of advice you wish someone gave you 10 years ago? (39:08-47:48)
When I have heard the fruits of the spirit talked about, they all kind of get lumped in. But there are different things listed for a reason right? What’s the difference between kindness and gentleness? (47:53-56:32)
Closing Song: Child of Wandering Will (Lee Younger)
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Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
We take look at ways to improve the 5th(!!!) installment of the premier evangelical cinematic franchise. (00:10-19:15)
Is there a healthy way to be proud of myself. I feel like the Christian messages about pride being bad and humility have made me feel like I’m not allowed to feel good about myself when I succeed. (19:33-29:52)
Colossians 3:12 talks about how we are to behave as “God’s chosen people”. What does that mean? When I hear people talk like that, it always sets off red flags that they are saying Christians are better than other people. (29:56-39:09)
I have been having what I can only describe as existential dread lately. There is this blanket of “is this all there is?” Kind of around everything. What can I do to deal with this? (39:14-51:39)
Closing Song: Oh The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Lee Younger)
Ask A Question:
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