What If Project

This is week 1 of a 2 part series called "Instant Replay" where we're looking back at the 2 most downloaded episodes of season 1 and replaying them.  The second most downloaded episode was an interview I did with Dr. Alexander John Shaia about his book "Heart and Mind" where he looks at the 4 Gospels and talks about how they are a picture of the seasons that every human being passes through on lif...

Today we talk to theologian and author Thomas Oord about his new book, "God Can't".  If you've ever wondered WHY bad things happen, WHY bad things happen to good people, or WHERE God was when ________, AND if you're tired of the easy answers of "God has a plan" , "everything happens for a reason" , "God is sovereign and this tragedy is all part of His plan to make your mess His message" - this epi...

Welcome to Season 2 of the What If Project podcast!  This week I sit down with one of my favorite authors and thinkers, Brian McLaren, to talk about some thoughts from his latest book, The Great Spiritual Migration.  We talk about hell, why reading the Bible as if it were a constitution is a bad idea, and why Jesus was really terrible at representing an exclusive God. Show Notes: The Great Spiritu...

In this final episode of 2018 I talk through a piece of the theology paper I wrote for my last class at Alliance Theological Seminary.  We've been talking about the Gospel of Mark over the last 5 months at the What If Project and so my paper is kind of a capstone on that study where I talk through 6 different observations about Jesus as He was presented by Mark in his Gospel.  Check it out, be cha...

This is the last bonus episode for the season of Advent and we're talking about the early Celtic Christians and how their understanding of darkness and light being friends as opposed to enemies led to the formation of the Advent season and can help bring deeper meaning to our understanding of Christmas in 2018. Show Notes: Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the RobCast Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the Wha...

This is the 3rd bonus episode for the season of Advent and rather than talk about the significance of the people who WERE present at Jesus' birth (Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, etc, etc) we're talking about the significance of the people who were NOT present at His birth - the temple leaders, the rich, the powerful, etc.  Why is that important?  And what's it mean for us today? (HINT: a WHOLE lot)....

Today we talk about the significance of Jesus being crucified in between 2 thieves and how Jesus' Kingdom is one that lifts up the downcast while casting down the prideful, bringing in the outsider, and giving honor to those who the world would think are least deserving.  Not only is that Good News for you and me, but it's also a challenge for you and me to make our world more like His all inclusi...

In this week's bonus episode we talk a little more about the Advent season and explore how in the Gospel of Luke John the Baptist isn't referred to as John the Baptist, but as John the Son of Zechariah. John's father was a priest and as a priest's son John would have had special privileges as Jewish Royalty.  BUT, instead of growing up to wear a crown of sorts, he dressed like a hippie and headed...

In this week's episode we talk about the Last Supper that Jesus served to His disciples, what communion has come to mean for us today, and how the church has taken what Jesus intended to be the most inclusive place in the universe (His Table) and made it into an exclusive club that requires people to believe a certain way and live in a certain way before they are welcome to come and take the bread...

This is the first episode of a short mid-week series for Advent 2018 ... that I decided to put together while driving home from work the other night.  For the next 4 weeks we'll be exploring a few themes / ideas from Richard Rohr's book, " Preparing For Christmas: Daily Meditations For Advent " and challenging ourselves to think different and bigger and deeper about Christmas.  Today we talk about...

In this week's episode we talk about the story of the widow who threw her last 2 coins into the offering plate in the Temple and how Jesus' words aren't so much a challenge for us to be like her, but a challenge for us to be UNLIKE the teachers who told her that that's what she needed to do.  Have you ever felt guilty or ashamed for not putting money in the offering plate at church?  Or are you a...

In today's episode we talk about the time Jesus asked 2 different people the same question - "what do you want me to do for you?"  One person answered one way, another person answered another way and the big question is - how will YOU and I answer that question today.  The way you answer can shape your prayers, which can change your attitude and approach to your life.  Check it out! Show Notes: Ma...

In today's episode we talk about the time Jesus took some disciples up to a high mountain where He hovered into the sky and talked to Moses and Elijah all the while His clothes glowed bright white.  Were Peter and the other disciples dreaming?  Did they have too much pizza the night before?  What's up with this odd story and what does it have to do with you and me?  Show Notes: Mark for Everyone b...

In this week's episode we talk about the time Jesus called His disciple, Peter, Satan and how sometimes we act just like Peter and push back on Jesus because He's behaving in ways that our traditions have taught us are unacceptable, un-Christian, unholy, and un-religious.  We'll touch on hell, LGBTQ inclusion, and the importance of being Jesus to those around us.   --- Show Notes: Mark for Everyon...

In this week's episode I talk about how my faith and understanding of God has developed to a place where when God has wiped the dust off His hands from His newly created heaven and earth, I think everyone who has ever lived will in some way, shape, or form have a place in His Kingdom.  And I think that not because it's a nice thought, but because that's the kind of God I see in Jesus - a God who g...

In Mark 6 Jesus chose 12 disciples.  And in Mark 5 (we saw last week) He healed a girl who was 12 years old and a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.  Twelve, Twelve, Twelve ... what's the deal with 12?  In today's episode we explore the number 12, what it was important to Mark's readers, and what it has to do with you, me, and every other human being in the world.  Check it out! -- Show Not...

In this week's episode we talk about the time Jesus raised a 12 year old girl from the dead and healed a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and how His constant crossing from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the other in the book of Mark is a perfect illustration of Mark's bigger point that Jesus refuses to leave anyone behind or outside of His love and embrace ... AND is a challenge for yo...

In this week's episode I had the honor of sitting down with one of my favorite authors and teachers, Dr. Alexander Shaia (**link to his book is below!).  We talked about the importance of reading the 4 Gospels of the New Testament in their historical context, how the 4 Gospels are actually reflective of a 4 stage process that every human being on earth travels through over and over and over again...

This week's episode is an audio version of the blog post at WhatIfProject.net where we talk about an odd story from Mark's Gospel where Jesus answered the prayer of a demon by sending it into a herd of 2,000 pigs that then bolted off a cliff and drowned - and people say the Bible isn't interesting, C'MON! We talk about what the 2,000 pigs might have represented in the story and why the Gospel writ...

This week's episode is an audio version of a blog post on WhatIfProject.net called "Jesus' Wasted Seeds" where we explore the parable that Jesus told of the farmer who scattered his seeds on various types of soil.   Show Notes: Mark for Everyone by NT Wright Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers Heart and Mind by Alexander Shaia Jewish New Testament Commentary by David Stern

Today's episode is an audio version of this week's podcast and we're talking about the time the Pharisees and Religious Leaders accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan.  Jesus turned their accusation on its head and then gave some profound insight into what He REALLY came to here to do - profound insight that might very well change EVERYTHING for you.   Show Notes: Binding the St...

Today's episode is an audio version of this week's blog post where we explore the story of the 4 guys who were trying to get their paralytic friend to Jesus.  The house Jesus was in was packed and so rather than push their way through the people, they dug a hole in the roof and lowered him in.  The story is cool, but what's crazy is the way that Jesus made Swiss Cheese out of the theology of the p...

In this episode I sat down with pastor, professor, and LGBTQ rights activist Dr. Phil Snider to talk about how to read some of the verses that the church typically uses to push away and/or condemn the LGBTQ community through a more progressive, welcoming, and affirming lens.   Show Notes: Justice Calls by Phil Snider Preaching as Resistance by Phil Snider God and the Gay Chrisitan by Matthew Vines

This Fall we're blogging our way through the Gospel of Mark with a few pitstops along the way.  Today's episode is an audio version of this week's post where we set the context of the book as being written to the Jewish Christians who were the targets of Emperor Nero after he blamed them for starting the fire that leveled the city.  With that context in mind, Mark's presentation of "the Gospel" me...

In this episode I’m in a hotel room in Mars Hill, NC after a long day at the Wild Goose Festival and am sharing some background to the origins of the What If Project and a little bit about where it might be headed. Check it out and then stop by and visit whatifproject.net! Show Notes: Website: whatifproject.net About Section: whatifproject.net/about Intro Blog Post: whatifproject.net/blog/welcome...