Where your big questions get real answers
Episodes
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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thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)
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)
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thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
We revel in some early 90s Bible based video game nostalgia. (00:10-19:15)
I was recently reading about how it is not a healthy thing to take on other people’s emotions in a situation. But I know empathy is important. Where is the line? (19:21-35:12)
What place should anger have in a Christian’s life? I never felt like I was allowed to express anger growing up because it wasn’t nice. I know Jesus expressed anger, but I don’t hear that elaborated on ever. There’s so much to reasonably be angry about, but being mad all the time doesn’t feel good. (35:14-51:18)
We discuss this article about churches using "shameware" apps- https://www.wired.com/story/covenant-eyes-anti-porn-accountability-monitoring-apps/ (51:29-1:05:42)
Closing Song: Cast My Cares (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
An early 2000s Christian cinema emergency leads us to the amazing movie rating system of Dove.org. (00:10-22:15)
I recently heard about the Billy Graham rule. I can see why it might make sense, but is also seems like really legalistic and maybe sexist? Is it a good idea? (22:37-42:50)
There are some situations where I know someone probably isn’t going to take my advice or change their behavior, but I still feel like I need to say something to have said it. Is that selfish of me? Is that healthy? (42:54-53:25)
The whole “quiet quitting” thing got me thinking, is there a healthy way to set levels for effort of when I am volunteering? It feels like the people in charge will always take more, so I have to draw the line. But I feel bad sometimes. (53:33-1:10:28)
Closing Song: Weary (The Bridge Loud)
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Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
This week, an emergency that starts off about a Christian conference and somehow ends up at the Norwegian version of Surge soda. Also:
What do you guys make of the Matt Chandler thing? It doesn’t seem as extreme as other church scandals, but it still feels like it's part of a pattern. (21:30-42:42)
I am getting tired of having to be “the bigger person” in some situations. Is that an okay thing to feel? What do I do with that feeling? (42:47-53:41)
I was reading Mark 11:27-33. Jesus refuses to say on whose authority He was doing the things He was doing. That’s really weird to me. Why not just say God’s authority? What’s going on in this passage? (53:46-1:05:57)
Closing Song: You Tell Me (Jed Brewer)
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Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
What does “the sins of the fathers” mean? The Bible mentions God punishing people to four generations (for example Numbers 14:18). But that doesn’t seem fair. (15:50-25:11)
What does Luke 12:9 mean? (But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.) I feel like I only heard this talked about in dramatic voice of the martyrs scenarios meant to scare me into being more committed. (25:19-40:47)
How do I deal with setbacks? When I start something new, I am very excited, but when I hit a problem, it can really take the wind out of me. (40:52-54:19)
Closing Song: Come Thou Fount (Pete and Tasha Lawson)
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Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
We look at a Texas church's unauthorized, revised version of Hamilton, and invent a new game to keep a crowd engaged during a sermon. (0:00-16:25)
Some older Christians like to talk about the end of times and how soon Christ will come back, but the way they talk about it doesn’t sound like a good thing. How concerned should I be about stuff like that? (16:29-33:51)
A friend of mine talks a lot about demons and angels and the spiritual realm, and it all sounds kind of scary to me. Do I need to be hyper aware of stuff like that? (33:59-48:19)
We discuss the work and impact on our lives of recently passed author Frederick Buechner. (48:31-1:09:42)
Closing Song: Micah 6:8 (The Poolhouse Guru)
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Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
I hear people talk about “godly masculinity” or “biblical masculinity”. All the people talking about that online describe something that is toxic and awful. Is there a non-awful definition of “godly masculinity”? (15:23-27:23)
Jed chats with best-selling author Chris Bolinger (27:44-48:01)
1 John 3:21 says “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” What does it mean for my heart to condemn me? Is that different than guilt or conviction? (48:24-56:43)
Closing Song: Jesus Is On The Main Line (Lee Younger)
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Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
I want to experience God for myself, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. (23:47-40:13)
I'm working on being more patient. Is there a healthy way to be impatient in the meantime? (40:17-47:50)
Bonus Emergency! An email from Focus on the Family
Closing Song: Child of Wandering Will (Lee Younger)
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