What If Project

In this week's episode we sit down with former church planter, author, theologian, scholar Brad Jersak to talk about his book, "Her Gats Will Never Be Shut".  We talk about hell, what the Bible says about it, what the Bible doesn't say about it, and why the idea of an eternal over where people are tortured for eternity is ridiculous.  Show Notes: Brad The Document Brad Mentioned Her Gates Will Nev...

Greetings!  It's week 2 of our series "Glenn's Friends" and today we're sitting down with former megachurch pastor, Kent Dobson.  In what some would consider a pastor's dream Kent took over Mars Hill Church after Rob Bell left, but then ended up realizing that his life was headed in a different direction.  In today's episode he shares some of his story and talks to us about how faith isn't about c...

Welcome to week 1 of Glenn's Friends, a series for July 2019 where every Monday I'll be sharing a different conversation I had with one of my friends - pastors, authors, teachers, etc.  In this week's episode we sit down with Colby Martin to talk about his book "Unclobber".  He'll talk about he book, how he was fired from his church, Leviticus, and how he become an LGBTQ ally.  Do you have questio...

It's week 3 of our "Lies We Believe About God Series" and this week we're talking about the lie which says that God expects more us.  There's nothing wrong with aiming to do more in our lives in an effort to develop ourselves both personally and spiritually; but there is a problem when we buy into the lie which says that God has rigged the universe in such a way that the only way He can bless us i...

It's WEEK 2 of our 3 WEEK series, "Lies We Believe About God".  We'll be talking about lies or thoughts or ideas about God that often hold us back from knowing God at a deeper level and how being willing to remain open minded around these things and rethink them might help us to be drawn closer to God and closer to those around us.  Today is lie #2 - "The Bible Is The Word Of God" where we explore...

It's WEEK 1 of our 3 WEEK series, "Lies We Believe About God".  We'll be talking about lies or thoughts or ideas about God that often hold us back from knowing God at a deeper level and how being willing to remain open minded around these things and rethink them might help us to be drawn closer to God and closer to those around us.  Today is lie #1 - "God Is A Man" where we explore questions of ge...

In this week's episode I share with you some of what I learned from a book I read in a partnership with Mike Morrell and Speakeasy - "The Lotus and the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism and Mystical Christianity".  Mike sends me books every once and a while and all I need to do is read them and share them with YOU on the What If Project via a blog post and / or podcast.  I'm hoping to...

Good thing you dropped by today, we're chatting with William Paul Young, the author of The Shack.  We talk heaven, hell, suffering, evil, prayer, and more as we wrestle with some hard questions.  Have you ever wondered why bad things happen?  And how to pray as you make your way through them?  Or watch your loved ones make their way through their own hard times?  This episode will give some FRESH...

This is part 3 of series, "Thoughts From The Doctor" where I'm spending each week answering a different question that people ask me when they find out that I just graduated with my doctoral degree.   Week 1 - why did you get this degree? Week 2 - what did you learn? Week 3 - now what?   And so today we'll explore that 3rd and very important question of what's next for me now that I've graduated?  ...

In this week's episode I share with you my top 3 biggest takeaways from the doctoral program I just wrapped up at Alliance Theological Seminary.   Show Notes: What If Project Rob Reimer - Soul Care - Pathways To The King

New series starting up this week, "Thoughts From The Doctor".  Every week someone asks me "why did you get your doctoral degree" or "what did you learn over the last 3 years" or "now that you're all grown up, what's next?"  This week is my graduation and officially marks the end of this crazy season of life and so I'm processing through a lot ... that I want to share with you.   Show Notes: What I...

In this week's episode I sit down with pastor, author, activist Brandan Robertson.  Brandan pastors Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego, California and brings a unique perspective to the topic of inclusion.  We'll talk about LGBTQ inclusion, but more so about how inclusion is actually a much broader topic that includes being inclusive of all people, everywhere.   Show Notes: Missiongath...

In this final installment of our "God's Not Mad" series we explore some thoughts about the Bible and how to read it through the lens of a God who isn't mad, wasn't mad, and never will be mad.  Every verse in the Bible isn't on the same level playing field as the others.  Instead, it's an arc or a journey of people coming to understand who God is, all of which reached its climax in Jesus.   Show No...

In this week's episode we dip our toe into the book of Revelation.  We talk a small bit of background and then focus in on a small detail that's hidden away in a well known image of Jesus. What If Project Blog Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God -  https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Loving-God-Scandalous/dp/1601429517 PATREON -  https://www.patreon.com/whatifproject

Welcome to part 5 of our Lent series, "God's Not Mad".  Today we're talking about hell - what's the Bible say?  What doesn't the Bible say?  And what do I think?  This is by no means an exhaustive conversation, but a mere attempt to scratch the surface and present a different perspective.  To be real with you, this is a topic I've become increasingly passionate about over the last few years of my...

In today's episode we sit down with pastor, author, theologian Brian Zahnd to talk about his book, "Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God".  We talk about love, wrath, hell, the cross, and all sorts of stuff.  Check it out NOW. Show Notes: Brian Zahnd -  https://brianzahnd.com Word of Life Church -  http://wolc.com Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God -  https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Loving-...

It's part 3 of our series for Lent, "God's Not Mad" and today we're talking about the cross.  I don't know about you, but I was taught to believe that Jesus died on the cross because God was mad at my sin and so He took my punishment so that if I would "believe in Him" and "surrender to Him" I'd get to go to heaven when I die instead of hell.  In short, my sin and everybody's sin is a big problem...

It's Week 2 of God's Not Mad and I have the flu - HA! Good times. Anyways, as I'm hopped up on cold medicine and battling clogged ears, razor blades in my throat, and all sorts of other horrors, we're talking about the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus - what's the deal with His dazzling white clothes?  Moses and Elijah?  Peter wanting to build 3 houses?  And God telling everybody to listen to...

It's week 1 of "God's Not Mad" and this week we're talking about the Good News and I share how if the Good News is that Jesus died to save me from my sins so that by believing in Him I can go to heaven while those who don't believe go to hell to be tortured for eternity ... then I don't believe it.  God's not an angry guy in the sky damning unbelievers to hell, He's the Father whose door is always...

In this week's episode I sit down with my philosophy professor from Nyack College, Dr. James Danaher, to talk about his newest book "Truth, Prayer, Identity, and the Spiritual Journey".   Show Notes: Truth, Prayer, Identity, and the Spiritual Journey  Patreon.com/WhatIfProject What If Project  Before Jane - iTunes - Spotify

In this week's episode I sit down with one of my favorite Bible scholars to talk about his new book, "How The Bible Actually Works".  Regardless of where you are on your journey of faith, this book will give you some good insight into being a more faithful reader of the good book.  Check it out. Show Notes: Pete's Website Pete's Podcast The What If Project The What If Project on Patreon Before Jan...

This is the final installment of Burn Those Books and we're talking about Julia Duin's book Quitting Church.  It's not a book that encourages people to leave church, but explores some reasons as to WHY people are leaving and WHAT to do about it.  I share some of my own story of pastoring churches as well the season my family is currently in in regards to church involvement.  Be sure to check out t...

It's part 2 of our 3 part series, "BURN THOSE BOOKS!" where I'm sharing with you the 3 books that impacted me the most in 2018 - books that likely wouldn't be looked too highly upon in your typical church.  Last week we looked at Brian McLaren's book, "The Great Spiritual Migration" and this week we're looking at John Pavlovitz's "A Bigger Table" and how it prompted me to think a little deeper abo...

This is week 1 of a 3 week series called "Burn Those Books" where I'm sharing with you the 3 books that impacted me the most in 2018 ... books that most likely wouldn't be welcomed in your typical church.  The first book is Brian McLaren's "The Great Spiritual Migration" and in this episode I share with you one of my biggest takeaways from the book and the impact that it's made on me and what's co...

This is part 2 of the 2 part series, "Instant Replay" where we're looking back at the 2 most dowloaded episodes of season 1. This week we replay the MOST downloaded episode, my conversation with Dr. Phil Snider about what the Bible really says about homosexuality. I hope it challenges you and blesses you as much as it did me!