300 Anti-Sloganeering, Sisyphus You, Theological Amnesia

300 Anti-Sloganeering, Sisyphus You, Theological Amnesia

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Bible, Jesus

Shotgun: prayer for sore throats (w/a gross story), 300th episode!, why I don't like slogans or live according to pet slogans, my regular and constant prayers, Facebook's "most relevant" listings, Australian heart attack numbers, who Trump blamed for the 2022 election slotch, Dr. Russ Spittler's death, and you carrying the weight of the world. The last half of the show is spent on examining Jesus vis-å-vis Jewish tradition. The gloss goes that Jesus hated religion, stood against Jewish tradition, and offered a free-floating spirituality. More carefully? Well, we take a look.

299 God's Salvation Strategy; Tradition—Democracy of the Dead

299 God's Salvation Strategy; Tradition—Democracy of the Dead

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Christian Worldview, Jesus

Concerning how God worked (works) in history, what is the constant biblical pattern? Will everyone be saved no matter what? Will only the pure in heart be saved? I examine both Genesis and John to discern the biblical template. Along the way I variously pray for children who have spurned the faith, teach about prayer using ancient words, note G.K. Chesterton's definition of tradition, muse aloud about a-historical and rootless believers, and work through some theological humor. Come think and laugh with me.

298 Hypocritical Jesus?, Color and Beauty

298 Hypocritical Jesus?, Color and Beauty

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Beauty, Jesus

In this shotgun podcast I work through Jesus and his take on tradition, whether or how Christianity is a tradition, the strange phenomenon of Christians who don't want to be Christian, a prayer for traumatized folks, how teaching college compared to teaching adult Sunday School, what kinds of things will keep the Statist government from finally overwhelming the citizenry, and beauty. God loves beauty! In a sharing act he gave us beauty to love, too! Come e-hang out with me for a while and enjoy some laughter! 

297 Pope Benedict & the Anti-Christ, Human Mirrors of the Divine

297 Pope Benedict & the Anti-Christ, Human Mirrors of the Divine

Uncensored Unprofessor
Current Events, Christian Worldview, The Spiritual World

Before he died Pope Benedict wrote about the presence of the anti-Christ. What did he say? What did he say that I affirm? How did the anti-Christ appear to Jesus? In what form will the same devil appear to us that he had appeared to Jesus? I also work through four principles given to us by Benedict for conducting spiritual warfare. In the show's beginning I also think out loud about operating out of a Christian worldview. What does that look like? Let's turn our brains on for the mission and glory of Christ.

296 "He Gets Us," Cessationism, God and Distinctions

296 "He Gets Us," Cessationism, God and Distinctions

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Bible, Jesus

In this shotgun episode I discuss the ongoing "He Gets Us" tv ads. What are they about? From whom did they come? What critical elements do they omit? I also work through the Reformed perspective of Cessationism: that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased when the apostles died out. Is that true, accurate, or theologically helpful? Then I work through the whys and whats of the Christian worldview on distinctions. What is the theological root for all those distinctions? What does distinct mean for us today? Along the way I mix in irony and humor. Come think and laugh with me!

295 Shotgun: St. Musk?, Archetypal Amy Grant

295 Shotgun: St. Musk?, Archetypal Amy Grant

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Why Does Morality Matter?

This show's four themes: a) Elon Musk, b) me being 61-and-a-half, c) how Anglicanism compares to Catholicism, and, d) Amy Grant's version of Christianity. Why do some want to nominate Elon Musk for American sainthood? What has been thrown into relief for me as I've been doing my daily bible readings from the church lectionary these last 5 years? How is Anglicanism different from Catholicism? And how does music star Amy Grant represent a massive cultural shift inside of low-church Christianity? What does her archetypal perspective do to Christian mission? Come think and laugh with me!

294 Educating Heroes for Christ: Britton La Tulippe Interview

294 Educating Heroes for Christ: Britton La Tulippe Interview

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Knowledge

Father of eight children, Britton La Tulippe has given extensive thought to education. Himself the product of an elite military prep school (he later trained for the Green Beret), Britton variously compares and contrasts public school with prep schools, classical education schools, and homeschooling. What is the goal of public education? Should parents think of their own kids as Christian missionaries to public schools? Why or why not? This interview will inspire you to pursue greatness for the mission and glory of Christ!

293 Shotgun: NDEs, Doctrine as Reality, My Shrink Jesus

293 Shotgun: NDEs, Doctrine as Reality, My Shrink Jesus

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Heaven and Hell

Near Death Experiences (NDEs) consistently report a pattern that defies common Christian expectation. What's that pattern? Why does it matter? Then, prompted by my wife, I talk about what doctrine meant to the apostles and what it sh/could mean to us. Finally, I present and assess the new model of Christianity as therapy. Overwhelmed by cultural trends this psychological model is re-shaping Christianity. What dangers does that present? All along the way I'm laughing and thinking, and enjoying being alive in God.

292 Shotgun: Twittering, Civilization, Apple Trees n' Faith, Scientism

292 Shotgun: Twittering, Civilization, Apple Trees n' Faith, Scientism

Uncensored Unprofessor
Sciency-Y Stuff, Current Events, Christian Worldview, The Common Good

In this shotgun show I reflect variously on the recent Twitter revelations, why free speech is necessary for civilization, a comparison of Jesus and the tree of life in Eden, and the limitations of Science. There is a growing trend of Scientism: the belief that science will solve all human problems and that science—isolated unto itself—is the final arbiter of truth and meaning. But science is, at definitional levels, incapable of measuring all manner of things that are deeply important to human beings. Let's think with nuance even while we enjoy some laughter!

291 Shotgun: Catholicity, Wisdom, & Third Way Churches

291 Shotgun: Catholicity, Wisdom, & Third Way Churches

Uncensored Unprofessor
Advent, Bible, Christian Worldview, Current Events, Is God Nice?

Most people today hear "Catholicism" and they think the Pope or veneration of Mary or the Vatican. But what was the original definition of Catholicity? What might that ancient notion suggest for Christian relationships today? Then I share-reflect a reading from an Advent service wherein I participated. And finally I explore the growing movement of Third Way Christianity. I assess the motives and explain the cultural failure of Third Way Churches. Come laugh and think with me!

290 Shotgun: Why Dec. 25th?, Apple & 1984, Tremors of Roe

290 Shotgun: Why Dec. 25th?, Apple & 1984, Tremors of Roe

Uncensored Unprofessor
Advent, Current Events, Christian Worldview

Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? What does history show us about that? Then, in 1984 Apple Computer produced a memorable challenge-the-faceless-corporations tv advertisement, but in 38 short years they have become that faceless corporation. How so? What are the results of an at-home medical experiment I conducted? I also explore some of the aftermath of the SCOTUS June ruling that over-turned Roe. What is our ensuing cultural milieu? Come laugh and think with me.

289 Path Crisis Pregnancy: Interview w/Tracy Hall & Sue Drayton

289 Path Crisis Pregnancy: Interview w/Tracy Hall & Sue Drayton

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, The Common Good

What is it like to have a pregnant woman walk in the door when she's trying to determine what to do with her unexpected baby? In what way does church culture impact a crisis pregnancy? What measures and structures does Path Crisis Pregnancy center have in place to receive women? How can technology shape a woman's decision? How has the SCOTUS over-turning of Roe changed the dynamics of crisis pregnancy center work? What have both COVID and our inflation-wrought economy done to crisis pregnancy center service? What is a Christian approach to crisis pregnancies? 

288 Shotgun—Evolution Challenged, The 2nd Coming, Grieving the Spirit

288 Shotgun—Evolution Challenged, The 2nd Coming, Grieving the Spirit

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Christian Worldview, Sciency-Y Stuff, Current Events

The Cambrian explosion—as scientists call it—raises some fascinating challenges to Darwinian evolution. I explore how that is so. I also variously work through fairness at the Southern border, whether I miss teaching, taking on the establishment, local television news in Idaho, the Evangelical framing of Christianity, the worldview of America's founders, and the second coming of Christ. Interspersed throughout are some NFL helmet-slogan inspired catch-phrases. Come think and laugh out loud with me!

287 Shotgun—Darwin's Faith, Anti-Truth, God's Will on Elections

287 Shotgun—Darwin's Faith, Anti-Truth, God's Will on Elections

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Bible, Sciency-Y Stuff

Charles Darwin was not a neutral investigator. What were his pre-existing beliefs (that he had inherited from his father) which shaped his conclusions? There are lies and there is anti-truth, what is the difference? How do I read the imminent split that threatens (again) the Catholic Church? In this episode I also work through some funny memes and share some reflections on the season of Advent. Come think and laugh with me!

286 Shotgun—Me vs. Evangelicals, Oregon Trail, Real Adam and Eve?

286 Shotgun—Me vs. Evangelicals, Oregon Trail, Real Adam and Eve?

Uncensored Unprofessor

The podcasts are normally woven through by a theme. This is a series of mostly unrelated thoughts: where do I differ with Evangelicals? What did I learn and appreciate by reading two books about the Oregon trail? Did the human race really begin from one original pair? What do I yearn for everytime I see Caravaggio's painting of the "Emmaus Dinner"? Where do I experience the presence of God? What is science? I also share a couple funny memes I recently encountered.

285 Midterm Election and Culture-Soul

285 Midterm Election and Culture-Soul

Uncensored Unprofessor

Jesus said, "you cannot serve both God and mammon." That is true for individuals, but it rings just as true for society. Where the heart is—personal and corporate— there will be the treasure. What we promote and vote for reveals the state of our culture's soul. A theological analysis of the mid-term election is made in order to help us understand both the world (and church) we now live in and the opportunity that is ours in Christ. Come laugh and think with me!

284 Spudlandia Homelessness—Bill Roscoe Interview

284 Spudlandia Homelessness—Bill Roscoe Interview

Uncensored Unprofessor
Current Events, Christian Worldview

What is it like to serve the homeless? How can or should we help them? Reverend Bill Roscoe has been a leader in homeless ministry for thirty years. In this interview he explains the grounds for ministry—short and long term—to people created in the image of God. What is involved in training the staff? What's it like to work with local government? What is the shelter's denominational affiliation? How have the clientele changed over the decades? How does he keep from becoming mired in depression?

282 The Gap in History

282 The Gap in History

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Christian Worldview, Current Events

Peter, James, Paul. . . the entire apostolic community expected Jesus to return, bodily, in their lifetimes. Growing up, I didn't expect to make it out of high school before Jesus returned. The apostles were, and my boyhood church was, wrong. So just why has it been 2000 years since Christ ascended into heaven? Why the gap? What kind of missional and existential challenge does that gap present to us? And what is the most common temptation to sin here in our Post-Christian culture? All in this episode!

281 Culture via History—The Rub and the Meat

281 Culture via History—The Rub and the Meat

Uncensored Unprofessor
Current Events, Christian Worldview, Bible

The Evangelical tendency? To personalize Jesus. And for the immediate that is all well and good. But the problem is that it minimizes the historic and cosmic impact of Christ's coming, person, and work. We need to marvel bigger, examine more sweepingly, because that historic cosmic coming reveals to us what God's telos is for the future. And still for all that? We see a proportionate polarization at work in our culture: it loathes freedom, beauty, and the Gospel.

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