The Amputated Baptist Podcast

Merry Christmas!  But, wait, do we really understand what Christmas is about?  Is it possible to know the story of Christ's birth front and back but still "miss the plot"?  Joining me on the Podcast this week is Pastor Allen Nelson, IV who is going to chat with us about his new book, The Gospel According to Christmas.  Check out our Facebook group in order to for a chance to win a free copy!!! Rec...

Happy Thanksgiving!  In this episode three of my boys join me on the podcast to not only tell us what they are thankful but to read a few things you all said you were thankful on our social media pages.   Recommended Resource: Gobble Gobble by Matthew West

Today's episode was recorded on National Adoption Day while waiting in the drive through line at Chick-Fil-A!  I wasn't really planning on an episode this week as I am struggling with a really bad man cold, but my son Davontae really wanted to be a guest on the podcast.  So, you'll hear a lot of background noise, but you'll also hear a fourth grade understanding of the gospel and a few thoughts ab...

In this edition of the podcast we resurrect the Reigning in Ray format, in which Pastor Ray Jewell and I answer your questions.  This week we talk about a book idea Ray has for the both of us then spend the rest of the podcast talk to Ray about what living life with Parkinson's Disease is like.  If you have a question (theological, political, person or random) you would like us to chat about in a...

This week's episode was recorded at the Stateline Youth Conference last week.  As I manned my booth, right across from me was cartoonist Paul Cox of Reftoons, a fascinating ministry.  Where else would you find a graphic novel describing the Reformation or even Calvin's Institutes?  His website tells us that their goal is to "preserve the legacy of theologians of the past by producing humorous and...

This week on the podcast we travel all the way to the Africa to learn about an important ministry helping both spirit and body.  "Jonathan’s House Central Africa is a gospel-centered mission that exists to provide physical and spiritual help, hope and healing to vulnerable children and their community in the Central African Republic, so that they become self-sufficient, gospel-centered disciples o...

Yesterday, millions of people came out to thousands of No Kings protests across the nation.  I attended one myself and have been asked by several people, why?  Why would I, as a conservative evangelical, attend such a rally?  Well, in this episode, I want to answer that question.  Joining me are two others that attended the same rally, Vivian Creekmore (Democrat) and Reese Wood (Libertarian).  Thr...

This week I interview my old friend, Pastor Ray Jewell.  Ray has published his first book, a devotional commentary on the book of I Corinthians.  I was honored to write the forward.  So listen in this week as we chat about the book and lot of things old friends chat about aw well.  Also, BUY THE BOOK!!!!! Recommended Resources: Unity in Weakness as the Body of Christ: The Message of the first Lett...

This week I am joined by Konnor David Arnaud-Leblanc, the youth minister at Faith Fellowship in South Beloit, IL.  Konnor joins us to chat about the upcoming youth conference on October 25.  We have a fun chat about the importance of local churches working together, the state of youth ministry in general and about what makes this conference much different from others.  Of course, the best thing ab...

This episode has been recorded in front of a live studio audience...  Join the podcast this week to hear from the Chaves Family from Costa Rica, missionaries in Paraguay.  Hear Juan and Lucre share their testimonies and their missionary burden.  They hail from a church I have visited on a missions trip myself many years ago.  We also have some fun and chat about life while on deputation.   Recomme...

What would it be like to preach from behind the same pulpit of a great preacher in Christian history?  I have been privileged to preach from stages once held by D.L. Moody and Billy Sunday.  But this week's podcast describes a moment greater than that.  Take a look back when Charles Spurgeon, the great Prince of Preachers, took to the pulpit once held by the great theologian John Calvin.  In his f...

This week our guest is Richard Reid, a Republican running for mayor of Brockton, Massachusetts.  If you live in Brockton, this is the man to vote for!  Richard serves as the pastor of North Baptist Church where he and I once worked together.  We chat not only about his race but also about the role of Christians in politics and how to engage your local community.   Recommended Resources: Committee...

This week we welcome Ben Zeisloft on the podcast to talk about his new book, Forsakers of the Fatherless:  The Secret Treachery of the "Pro-Life" Establishment.  In this book, Ben makes the case that the mainstream pro-life movement is actually working against bill and legislation to end and criminalize abortion.  These bills and those who support them are part of the growing abolitionist movement...

As I am posting this episode, President Trump is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.  As we pray for a cease-fire, many wonder if we should be taking sides.  Joining me this week is Yuri Rashkin.  Yuri is a Rock County Supervisor, professor, talented musician and immigrant from Russia.  He is also the host of the Rashkin Report, a popular podcast...

Just what is in the Epstein Files?  Did Jeffery Epstein hang himself?  Are there rich and powerful names on a client list guilty of heinous crime against young women?  Is Ghislaine Maxwell complicit in sex trafficking?  We won't know until the Epstein files are taken from Pam Bondi's desk and released for us to see.  Its a subject everyone is talking about but one person has decided to do somethin...

In this final episode in this Come, Let Us Reason Together series, Ray Jewell and I listen to Dave Swanson share his testimony of how he came to Christ from a life of purposelessness and drug abuse.  We also talk about evangelism, worship and growing in our knowledge of God. Recommended Resources: A thinker ahead of his time: remembering James D. Strauss Taking Every Thought Captive: Essays in Hon...

This week we return to our Come, Let Us Reason Together series.  In this episode Dave Swanson walks us through some of his favorite authors and books dealing with a broad range of subjects.  If you are a reader, you need to be a listener today!   Recommended Resources: Favorite Authors Wright, Witherington, and Wright      N.T. Wright      Ben Witherington III      Christopher J.H. Wright (The Mis...

Yesterday evening Dr. John MacArthur went to be with his savior.  He had a profound influence on me and millions of others.  In this short bonus episode, I share a few reflections of this legendary preacher. Recommended Resources: The Macarthur New Testament Commentary (16 books) The MacArthur Bible Commentary: A Faithful, Focused Commentary on the Whole Bible MacArthur Study Bible 2nd Edition: Un...

I've been waiting all summer and its finally here!  This week we are talking about the number one movie in the box office this week, Superman!  Joining us this week is fellow Superman fan Pastor and author Curtis King.  Pastor King and I talk about what we liked and didn't like about the movie and even through in some theology at the end.  WARNING - there will be some spoilers about halfway throug...

This week we continue our series with guests Ray Jewell and Dave Swanson.  In this episode we talk about loving others, the problem with labeling ourselves and what following Jesus actually looks like for us today.  

This week we begin a four part series, Come Let Us Reason Together.  This series features four conversations with myself, Pastor Ray Jewell and Ray's longtime friend, David Swanson.  Our overall theme is engaging with those we may not always agree with.  This week we focus on the humility of listening to others. Recommended Resources: Afton Community Church Harold Ford, Jr.

This week I fight through a weak voice (overcoming a cold) to discuss the events of this past weekend, the political assignations in Minnesota.  Although a bit rambling at times, I wanted to share my heart with all of you.  My plea is that we tone down the rhetoric that leads to such violence and instead contend for the faith with love and truth.   Recommended Resources: Tip and the Gipper: When P...

If your social media feed is anything like mine, it is filled with arguments concerning pride month.  This podcast doesn't shy away from controversial issues and topics.  This week the podcast welcomes Dr. Jared Moore, Pastor of Homesteads Baptist Church and was a candidate for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Dr. Moore will be discussing his book, The Lust of the Flesh: Thinkin...

Election and after election and are left asking, '"Are these really the best candidates we can get?"  And even if they are the best we can get, do campaigns really have to be so nasty and ugly?  There has to be a better way.  This week on the podcast listen in as Wisconsin Representative Clinton Anderson discuss what I believe to be an exciting alternative that is beginning to pick up steam in var...

This week I got the chance to interview a journalist I love following, Chris Cillizza.  You may have read his columns in the Washington Post or seen him on CNN or NewsNation.   Chris is now an independent journalist simply, as he says, calling balls and strikes no matter what uniform is at bat.  We chatted about possible bias in the media and then spoke a little bit about the controversy surroundi...