DRIVING THEOLOGY

I meander my way to a stream of consciousness exploration of the phenomenon of tribalism: seeing those close to you or affiliated with you in any way through rose-colored glasses.

In this episode, I give a bit of a review of The Chosen, the TV series about Jesus, and also on what I think is an often overlooked attribute of Jesus while on earth: sight.

This is a short follow-up to the "Hitting The Wall" episode about life and the obstacles we often face to progress and improvement.

Let's face it: memes are here to stay. And they are not all bad. They can be quite good! But there is a certain kind of meme which quotes others out of context in order to push an agenda. They have become the cyber equivalent of the cut-down, the one liner, the zinger. As such, they are more mean than meme.

For whatever reason, if you have ever pursued any skill or ability, chances are you have experienced "hitting a wall" in your progress. It can be frustrating and some never seem to get through it, fail to experience a "breakthrough" moment so often associated with the overcoming of such obstacles. How do you approach these walls, these hindrances to progress? What are they really, and are they eve...

My take on 2 Timothy chapter 3 and how it might be misinterpreted to be prophetic when it might just be Paul's opinions on contemporary society, in his own day. But today, people use this passage as a critique on current events and societal trends which to them are antithetical to christianity as they see it. You be the judge.

When you combine John 17 and 1 John 4, you come up with something like this: To know God is to have eternal life. God is love. To love is to know God. Therefore, if you love, you know God and have eternal life!

It's time for me to lose weight-AGAIN! Yes, I rebonded from my last diet several years ago, and then some. In this episode, I compare the unhealthy relationship we can have with food to the unhealthy relationship we can have with religion.

Where on earth did you get your ideas of Heaven? In this episode, I explore some of the standard notions of heaven, and the conclusions I've come to down through the years.

July 4th was really a big deal for me growing up. One of my most favorite days of the year for sure. I loved blowing things up! Why is that? Why do boys love loud bangs and explosions so much? And how is the US's fascination with all-things explosive (guns, artillery, bombs, fireworks...)reflected in this all-American holiday?

A follow up episode to last week's podcast on marriage. Here, I delve into some ramblings on marriage, sex, intimacy, children and family.

Despite the The Princess Bride reference, marriage is a worthwhile endeavor for so many reasons, the foremost of which is that it reflects the image of God back into the world. Because, you see, the promise to stand beside someone, no matter what, is who God promises us!

Disney's live-action version of The Little Mermaid has sparked controversy. I comment of the controversy as well as the general story as I remember it. And at the end, I hope you will say about this podcast, "Isn't it neat..."

A not-at-all-extensive reveal of my own path to a kind of atheism, a refusal to believe in the God that was presented to me over 40 years of being a "Christian". And boy, did I ever believe in him! I was a true believer, a sinner in the hands of an angry God, All in, so to speak. And then the scales fell from my eyes, and I was presented with a beautiful image, a truly divine portrayal of God: Jes...

I, like many of you, avoid Bible passages that make me uncomfortable, which challenge my beliefs of who God is or what the Bible says. Here, I will make an attempt of reconciling the last parable of Matthew 24, a parable that challenges, for some, the non-violent image of jesus. *By the way, what I say here about the people weeping and gnashing their teeth is most likely wrong. After looking again...

"Every time I draw a line to exclude someone, Jesus crosses the line and waits for me there...", or something like this, is a meme I recently saw, after I had recorded this podcast. It would have fit perfectly here. Why do we separate ourselves from spending time with certain people? What role does the church have in influencing such decision? Who's in and who's out?

If you challenge the status quo, you will find yourself alone. Alone at least until others are encouraged to come forward as well and voice their dissent, perhaps by your willingness to speak up. The ability to see that things could be different, better, can be a gift and a curse. I explore some ideas here, brainstorm style, of advice I would give to someone who feels alone in their context.

Faith deconstruction has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. And, at times, one of the worst. Still, dark though the road sometimes be, on I trudge. If you are starting to ask questions, if you think that the life with Christ is supposed to be so much more than it has turned for you, this podcast may be for you.

We have all had bad experiences as children. Those incidents have, to some extent, influenced who we are today, at least in terms of our personality, our habits, our phobias, etc. At a human level, we are what we have experienced. We have become who we are due in part to our environment and the nature of our nurturing, or lack thereof. But what of our identity in Christ? How does Christ see us? Ho...

Matthew chapter 24 is a controversial passage in a controversial book. How it has been understood over the years has affected the church and the world. This is my take, my attempt to debunk some of the myths about this chapter and how it has been understood over the years.

In this episode, I meander my way to, I think, a pretty good place, namely, the attractiveness of the package, influences, to some extent, how it is received. The Evangelical package that the gospel is placed in, has completely compromised the message of the Gospel of Jesus, in my opinion.

Yes, another institutional church critique podcast. And as long as people are oppressed by it, I will continue to podcast about it. Religion tends to take what we need every minute of every day, and package it for once a week consumption. Christ, and the many metaphors used for him and his way of life, show that he was meant to be the foundation of our everyday lives, not saved for weekend rituals...

Asbury, Kentucky, has experience a phenomenon few get to witness: a bona fide revival. What is a revival, exactly, and what, if anything, will come of this one?

Do you remember your dreams, the big things you wanted to do, the heights you wanted to achieve, when you were a child? Actually, I don't. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I have a hard time remembering any big dreams before I was a high schooler. Not sure why... But, when we encounter the big dreams that kids have, how should we, as adults, respond? Should we temper or encourage the big drea...

Comparing choral singing and solo singing to institutional church and "organic" church may not see intuitive, but I think i make it work here. Check it out! For singers and those wanting to follow The Way.