Where your big questions get real answers
Episodes
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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Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
I feel like when I was a kid, I was given this big package labeled “Christian beliefs”. Some of them didn’t really have anything to do with Christianity, but they were in the package. I have dropped a lot of those things. But how do I know what to drop and what to keep? (19:08-35:19)
How can I be a wise person without turning into a cynical person? (35:25- 52:15)
I recently heard a message from 2 Corinthians 4:6 about being a light in darkness. While everything they said was fine, it seemed to boil down to either “be positive” or “be Christian in public”. Is there more to being a light in darkness than that? (52:20-1:06:44)
Closing Song: Galatians 6:9 (The Poolhouse Guru)
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Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
Tuesday Jul 26, 2022
It's an all emergency episode!
We talk horrible VBS themes, bad prophets, Bible reading as a magical spell, thrift store demons, after the rapture pet care, and more!
Closing Song: So Here I Am (Jed Brewer)
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Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
My partner started going to therapy. They really like it so far. Some of things they say their therapist told them and exercises they gave them seem…weird to me. Is this a conversation I can have with them? How? (16:02-27:37)
I’m getting really discouraged by how just openly mean I see a lot of Christians being. On tv, on social media, in real life- being homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic. It really bothers me people who act like that ascribe to the same beliefs that I do. How do I think about this? (27:42-44:07)
James 4:3 says “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” I feel like that verse gets used to bash people for wanting stuff. But doesn’t Jesus talk about how God gives like a good father, and gives even when we don’t know what to ask for? What does this verse mean? (44:11- )
Closing Song: We Will Rise (Lee Younger)
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