The Texas Baptist Crucible

My thoughts on the drama that took place over the weekend concerning Bob Gray II and Eric Skwarczynski of the Preacher Boys Podcast.

Mindy finishes recounting how she tried to help bring about the change she believed the pastor had envisioned, but found, ultimately, that what she had in mind was not what her pastor had in mind at all.

Finishing up my conversation with Levi, working through updates and glitches, sacrificing goats, and lessons learned from hound dogs. This episode has it all! hope you enjoy!

Mindy describes her zeal for God and how it was hijacked by the drive to please the people who were over her through the legalistic system they burdened her with. And how unburdened she felt when changes started to be made.

A continuation of the conversation begun last Tuesday about the podcast and the book that started it all, The Texas Baptist Crucible. And at the end...a tribute to a friend.

What happens when the people who are supposed to help you let you down? And how does fundamentalist purity culture respond to people who genuinely want help dealing with sinful strongholds in their life? How was it handled at LBT/EBC?

Celebrating 100 episodes of the Texas Baptist Crucible, Levi Robinson comes back on to talk about the podcast, its impact, and the book that started it all.

Wendy talks about being in and out of LBT growing up, what that was like. Then going to TBC, getting married, and the control exercised over them before and even after marriage, and how she began to question things.

In this second episode of this series where I give a running commentary on Jack Hyles's book, Teaching on Preaching , I go over the emotional manipulation being taught in the second chapter and also uncover some really troubling theology.

The second part of our conversation with Amy Moore. The poem she wrote, that she reads at the end, is very powerful. This entire conversation was powerful and a testimony to God's grace.

A new series where I take the Jack Hyles' book Teaching On Preaching and dissect it one chapter at a time--a critical reading, as it were.

Part 1 of a conversation with Amy Moore. She talks about growing up in fear and isolation and what it takes to overcome.

Something that every church should strive for, something we knew nothing of at the Longview Baptist Temple. What are pastors actually called to be and what is Christian leadership supposed to look like?

Pete and I finish out Pete's list of ten questions to ask to see whether or not the religious organization or community you belong to is a cult.

Is God's love for us conditioned on obedience? Must it be earned? Is it possible for God to stop loving us if we mess up? And why isn't the gospel preached from the pulpit?

Pete recounts a few things about growing up at LBT, then focuses on his journey since, discovering grace, and then begins asking the hard questions.

What happens when suddenly every friend you've ever had will have nothing to do with you? Travis Zappa describes his life growing up at LBT, the control the church tried to maintain over his family's life, and what it was like the day they left.

In which I explain how they twisted and abused Hebrews 13 and then explain what it actually says.

A bit of a retrospective and a look ahead. What have we learned so far? What do we hope to see going forward?

Tying some things together with this episode. Since when is rhetorical ability a mark of the Holy Spirit?

I'm joined again by Doug Bearden. He and I talk about what it's like to restart after leaving LBT, how to find help, and what the state of the church might be nowadays.

Reactions to last Friday's conversation with Rachel, some thoughts about it, and looking ahead.

I usually try to name these episodes after something said in the conversation. This one today? It gets named for my final thoughts after editing it. Listen to the end.

Exploring the origins of independent Baptist fundamnetalism and comparing that to what they've become.

A candid conversation with someone who never really wanted to be there, but did her best to go along and make the most of it.