The Cory Truax Show: Recent Episodes
Cory Truax
ON THIS EPISODE:
State of the Race
Are beards wordly?
Wisdom from The Golden Girls
A Depopulating Planet
OnlyFans needs to be stopped.
There's a ton on this episode, but it's mostly going to cover the response to Hurricane Helene and some of the resulting conspiracies around it.
ON THIS EPISODE:
LESSONS FROM HELENE
Helene has left wreckage. I have a few personal lessons from the aftermath to share.
VP DEBATE REVIEW
Just about everyone agrees Vance came out as the better debater. I have some take-aways for your consideration.
CRUSADES SURVEY
I'll keep it brief, but I want to get you a little more familiar with the Crusades.
ON THIS EPISODE:
AMBER THURMAN AND GEORGIA ABORTION LAWS
Have you heard that Georgia's abortion law has murdered a woman? Yeah, I heard that too. I'll debunk the lies the pro-aborts are telling about Amber Thurman.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
A 1992 presidential debate gives a golden answer on what's gone wrong the last 30+ years.
MARK ROBINSON IS A SYMPTOM
Two thoughts: people on the Right, like me, have to start voting with their head -- not their loins.
Second thought: we might need to be a ruthless with candidates as the Left was with Biden.
IS $150K Enough?
Does it feel impossible to get by financially. I'll share a recent study saying families of 4, making $150k in the US are just living paycheck to paycheck.
On This Episode:
DEBATE PREVIEW
What should both candidates do? I have a pre-analysis.
ELECTION LONG GAMES
I'll provide some historical examples of how losing one election led to great outcomes for conservatives. In short, the people who catastrophize election outcomes don't respect history.
SPEAKING OF HISTORY...
There's been some controversy on Christian Twitter regarding historical events like the Crusaders and World War 2. I'm more interested in this movement question the history. They are, in some ways, similar to a Woke Deconstructionism.
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
LIFE UPDATES
I've been gone for a couple weeks. I have some life updates for you.
A CONTROVERSIAL CHURCH HANDOUT
A church recently distributed a flyer that advertised their church as having "smiling wives," "obedient children," and some other qualities. I have some response to the criticism they received.
KINGDOM STRATEGY
There's an online controversy among a couple Christian groups about how to go about actually making kingdom progress in this culture. They've been rude about it. I have some, hopefully, helpful thoughts.
A LOT MORE
I much prefer to write more full synopses, but I'm in a rush today. Here's the short version:
I have an encouragement on changing your desires instead of FIGHTING THEM.
We should reject bad teaching from Left and Right.
The State of the Presidential Race
On This Episode:
THE MEN WE NEED
A New York Times editorial rightly sees the masculinity from Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock, and Dana White at the RNC as unhelpful, but he gets the CORRECT source of masculinity all wrong.
CODDLING LEFT AND PUNCHING RIGHT
People like me can be critiqued with this phrase. I want to provide a different paradigm on why it may seem like some of us are softer than some others want us to be.
OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY
Was it a Lord's Supper parody? Maybe. Probably.
Was it a celebration to a pagan god? Yes.
Was it definitely an immoral perversion? Yes.
POLITICS
I have some quick thoughts on JD Vance's 2021 thoughts on "cat ladies" and why I'm confident VP Harris's polling bump is going to fade.
On This Episode:
MATT CHANDLER WITH SOME POLITICAL THOUGHTS
The Village Church pastor recently said, "the Left wants the Kingdom without the King. The Right wants the King without the Kingdom." He took some heat for that, but I want to push back on his detractors.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!?!
You are living in a genuinely unique time in American history. I have some thoughts to add context and then some examination of the a forming Trump vs. Harris race.
On this Episode:
What else? The biggest story of the year was almost the biggest story of my lifetime. I have some sobering thoughts on the near-assassination.
I'll address Trump himself, and what I hope can be a transformative experience that makes him consider his mortality.
I also have thoughts on the Secret Service's failure, what the killer's profile tells us about young men in the country, and why our entire national temperature has to come down (like I've been saying for a decade).
I'll also give you my initial reaction to JD Vance being announced as Trump's VP nominee (spoiler: it's meh).
On This Episode:
GOP PLATFORM
Republicans released their platform one week ahead of their Convention. I'll review it and provide details.
WINNING IN THE CULTURE AS A CHRISTIAN
I'll play two Christian figures -- one is Tim Keller. I'm asking the question in this darkening culture: what does it mean for Christians to WIN. It's more complicated than you may think.
MUCH MORE
On This Episode:
CHEVRON DEFERENCE CASE
When the Supreme Court overturned Chevron deference case, they created an environment where we might be able to start chipping away at the massive federal bureaucracy that largely rules the American people. I'll break it down in detail.
DISHONEST ABORTION STATISTIC
Pro-Aborts are touting a statistic out of Texas regarding infant mortality being HIGHER after strict abortion laws were enacted. I'll explain why this is misleading.
OKLAHOMA TO ADD BIBLE TEACHING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Having the Bible present in public schools is a great idea. Having it taught introduces some challenges, though.
CHRISTIANS & POLITICS
I revisit my oft-visited struggle on how Christians respond to an interact with the world's governments, prompted by an online blog battle between two Christian academics.
On This Episode:
DEBATE PREVIEW
Our two elderly presidential candidates will be meeting in Atlanta, well passed their bedtimes, to "debate." I'll provide a preview and predict the strategies of both "men."
TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS
Of course then 10 Commandments should be posted in classrooms. I'll explain why those arguing for "Separation of Church and State" have that all wrong.
A LOT MOE
I sure do like to write show synopses, but I'm in a huge rush. So, please enjoy the show, and genuinely, thank you for listening.
ON THIS EPISODE:
ALITO'S RECORDINGS
The media is acting like Sam Alito said something akin to theocracy. It's actually normal, anodyne, and obvious.
ANDY STANLEY DOUBLES DOWN ON WRONG
The "pastor" of one of the largest churches in the country says AGAIN that the Bible is the wrong foundation for Christian faith. I'll critique that.
THE WOKE RIGHT
There's a certain section of the Right making the same mistakes the Woke Left are. I'll give details.
MUCH MORE
On this episode, Cody and I discuss:
-Thinking about politics through a Covenantal Theology framework
-Why Christianity needs BOTH wall builders and bridge builders
-The new North Greenville University mascot
-About a dozen other things along the way.
I have commentary on the Trump indictment that will anger and enliven everyone at various times.
On This Episode:
PRAY FOR PEACE
The death of the Iranian president makes me a little nervous. Let's pray for peace.
POPE IS WRONG... AGAIN
The Pope says human nature is good -- defying literally thousands of years of Christian teaching. I'll give details.
VACATION TO THE GLORY OF GOD
It's vacation season. We should recognize vacations, historically, are a reality for the tiniest groups of humans. We should be grateful for them and use them to the glory of God as we enjoy them.
WHY TRUMP IS WINNING
Trump is leading in the polls for a reason interesting to a politics nerd. It seems ECONOMIC identity is starting to overcome ethnic identity for a lot of people.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A TIE?
Did you know there's a VERY realistic scenario for a 269-269 tie in the Electoral College? In that scenario, House DELEGATIONS from the States choose the President and the Senate chooses the Vice-President. In this scenario, there's a sit-com level set up where Biden could win the presidency and Republicans make Trump Vice-President
On This Episode: ARE MEN LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY? Chris Rock echoes a lot of the manosphere out there, bemoaning the "inequity" and "unfairness" of being a man when it comes to love. I think Chris is missing one vitally important point for a man. I'll explain. CHRISTIANS AND AUTHORITARIANISM I'll play audio from a Christian who correctly says the Constitution is ill-equipped to govern a people as immoral as we are. Then he suggests we need something like a Caesar. He's wrong there, and I'll explain why. AN ELECTION MAILER TO MY HOME It's primary season in South Carolina, so my mailbox is full. One piece gives us a good opportunity for discussing the need for political wisdom for the Christian. FALLING BIRTHRATES About 30 years too late, world leaders are finally panicking over the plummeting birthrates in the West. There is MUCH I could say, but I want to use this to recognize that ideas have consequences. Teaching people that the purpose of their life is their own fulfillment/joy and that sex can be separated from marriage and procreation has real consequences, and these consequences are going to make life worse.
On This Episode:
SPECTACULAR IMPLOSION OF KRISTI NOEM
The Governor of South Dakota thought it was politically wise to tell a country that largely exchanged kids for dogs that she once shot a 13-month-old dog to death -- oh and shot a goat too.
It's funny when politicians make fools of themselves, but there's also some lessons we can learn. I'll share those.
PRIMARY CANDIDATES
I have chosen candidates for my Primary votes. I'll give you my method and some tools to make your own choices.
LONG MARCH THROUGH THE INSTITUTIONS
If you're unfamiliar with this term, you should learn it. We need strategy like this if we're going to be effective for the Kingdom of God.
On This Episode:
TAYLOR SWIFT'S NEW ALBUM AND LYRICS
Swift's new album has drawn fire from some Christian thinkers. I'll lay out the controversy and try to bring some clarity to how the Christian intakes secular entertainment.
CIVIL WAR MOVIE REVIEW
I saw the new movie, Civil War. It's mostly an argument to NEVER actually go to war; wars are just horrific.
It also seems to make an argument, to me, for a negotiated severance when the need arises.
On This Episode:
JOHN NEWTON ON "ACCEPTABLE SINS"
I have to share with you some BRILLIANT points from John Newton (writer of "Amazing Grace") about sins we just accept in ourselves. He makes a good point that real joy comes in GROWTH, and growing out of these sins will be joyous.
ARGUING THE A-BOMB
Tucker Carlson recently said America was deeply immoral for dropping the Atomic Bomb on Japan. I just want to be sure everyone has the historic facts.
UKRAINE
There's a lot of disagreement on the Right regarding Ukraine funding. I want to make my argument.
On This Episode:
THE MASTER'S WINNER
The winner of the Master's gave some compellingly strong and theologically astute responses to questions after his win -- regarding identity and even the cross of Christ. I have a theory why the great athletes of the next generation will be majority Christian.
2024's ABORTION POLITICS
I grew up with one "pro-choice" party, advocating for "safe, legal, and rare" abortion access and one pro-life party. Recently, after Donald Trump said the matter should be left to the States, that leaves us with one pro-ABORTION party and a pro-choice party. There aren't any true pro-life national figures now.
BILL MAHER TELLS ABORTION TRUTH
The audio is ghastly, but at least he's honest and owns the horrific position.
INTERESTING QUESTION FROM THE RIGHT
I'll try to answer this Twitter question. What's better:
-4 years of Biden followed by 8 of Desantis; OR
-4 years of Trump followed by 8 of Gavin Newsome?
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
MITIGATING SMARTPHONE DAMAGE FOR KIDS
We now have evidence that religious families are doing better at diminishing the deleterious effects of smartphone usage in kids. I'll share the details.
ENCOURAGING GEN-Z NEWS
Generation Z is pursuing trade schools in numbers we haven't seen in decades. This is good news for crucial industries that need youth infusion and for the income stability of the next generation.
BEWARE THESE PREACHERS
Marc Driscoll and Tullian Tchividian are both gifted communicators. They also both disqualified themselves from ministry. Both are also making a comeback in popularity. I have a warning.
MUCH MORE
On This Episode:
BIDEN AND TRUMP FAIL AT EASTER
Before Easter, the former president decided to sell a patriotic Bible. On Easter, the current president released a proclamation recognizing a pagan holiday for "transgender visibility."
Both of these are bad, and the Christian can say both are both. I'll give details on each and my response to varying reactions to both.
My major conclusion is that in our country:
The blue team is antagonistic to Christianity and wants hostility to it.
The red team likes to co-opt Christianity and makes us passive to the real faith.
ATHEIST RICHARD DAWKINS SAYS HE'S A "CULTURAL CHRISTIAN."
In truly astounding audio, the most prominent atheist in the world admits we need Christianity. He recognizes both leftist Wokeism and Islam (the growing religions) are ugly and disastrous. But he wants the form without the substance -- a Christless Christianity. That might PROLONG our demise in the West, but it won't fix our problem.
MUCH MORE, INCLUDING AN INTERACTION I HAD AT QT THAT IS INSTRUCTIVE
On This Episode:
SOUTH CAROLINA CLOSE TO SCHOOL CHOICE
A bill passed that House that makes true school choice more likely in South Carolina than anytime in my lifetime. Let me encourage you: find your Senator at scstatehouse.gov and politely encourage them to pass House Bill 5164 to empower parents to choose their child's education.
CANDACE OWNS, BEN SHAPIRO AND "CHRIST IS KING"
In the dramatic breakup between Candace Owens and the Daily Wire, somehow her "Christ is King" declaration became a rallying cry for many on the political Right. I want to offer a word of caution: not everyone who declares "Christ is King" is a brother or sister. Some are USING that phrase for other reasons.
Listen, I get the enemy. I know the secular Left is a threat to my family and yours, our culture, and our future. That might require with being temporary ALLIES with some folks, but don't mistake them for brothers and find your unequally yoked.
GET YOUR KIDS OFF SMART PHONES
Let me tell what I've learned thus fair from Jonathan Haidt's new book, "Anxious Generation." In short, smartphones and the apps thereon are hurting our kids. We need to preserve them.
On This Episode:
JOHN MACARTHUR ON CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
John MacArthur got into the Christian Nationalism discussion recently. I'll play you the audio and respond, I hope, with some grace and humility.
SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
Perry Noble is now cursing in sermons and benching 400 pounds on stage to "make a point." How do we help people drawn in by these personalities to come out of these places?
WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH?
A recent Instagram posed that question recently. It was a GOOD question, but it SHOULD be a secondary question. I'll give details.
On This Episode:
WHAT DO KIDS LICKING TOES, A LOCAL FIGHTING LEAGUE, AND ONLY FANS HAVE IN COMMON?
I recently noticed that an event is coming to my area where local, random men, can sign up to fight other random men, so other people can pay money to watch them punch each other. I then heard a story about children licking peanut butter off of toes at a school in Oklahoma and another story about OnlyFans.
All of these fans demonstrate our low anthropology and how lowly we think about what it means to be a human. The entire discourse sent me back to CS Lewis's "Abolition of Man." It has some lessons we need to learn quickly.
LOS ANGELES SCHOOL INDOCTRINATION VIDEO
A video has surfaced that is used in training L.A. teachers. In that video, they do a skit that informs a man he must use the "preferred pronouns" of a co-worker. They then tell him he "can believe whatever he wants," but he must "keep it out of the workplace.
Wait. Believing men and women are distinct has been every human's take for over 6,000 years of human history. About ten years ago, Woke white people changed their mind on fundamental biology. If anyone is bringing a cultic "belief" to work and forcing it on anyone else, it's the "transgendered" person.
EXPERTS ARE FINE, BUT SOMETIMES COMMON SENSE IS ALL YOU NEED
A recent conversation about what books should be in school libraries had me witness a grown woman claiming she didn't know if lewd, pornographic images should be available to elementary schoolers and that only "sex educators" would know.
We have over-romanticized the role of "experts." Sometimes, you just need some obvious, common sense.
On This Episode:
OUR ROTTEN MASCULINE/FEMININE DYNAMIC
Over a period of three days last week, I had several experiences that made me evaluate how rotten the dynamic is now between men and women. It made me wonder what broke it. I've been watching "Masters of the Air" on AppleTV and noticed how healthy the masculine/feminine dynamic was back then. I think the distinction was that era told men their duty was to sacrifice themselves for their families, communities, and culture. A generation of women saw men rising to their task, respected those men, and those men thrived. We have something to learn there.
SOCIAL MEDIA GOES TO COURT
Meta (Facebook & Instagram), TikTok, and Alphabet (YouTube & Google) are suing Texas over a law that says those social media companies cannot show favoritism to some content while artificially constraining other content. This is a confusing set of arguments with no clear left/right, red/blue divide. I'll try to walk you through it.
OH HOW THINGS CHANGE
The 1995 State of the Union address from Bill Clinton recently resurfaced. In that address, he celebrates the bipartisan effort at more border security, faster deportations, restrictions on giving welfare benefits to illegal migrants, and more hardcore efforts against illegal immigration. The room erupted into applause. Only THIRTY YEARS ago, that was a bipartisan issue. Consider how much we've changed.
That experience led me back to other audio when Barack Obama chided Mitt Romney for Romney thinking RUSSIA was a chief enemy, everyone on the Left saying marriage is for one man and one woman, and even Biden saying into 1987 that all rights come from God.
It's a stark realization of how much the world has changed in a short 35 years,
On This Episode:
THE MASCULINITY WE NEED
Nancy Pearcy is one of my favorite authors, and made a fantastic point of not contrasting manhood to womanhood. We need to first contrast it to BOYHOOD. We must hold to the male/female distinctions, but first, let's have men who want to leave childhood behind.
EXAMPLE OF BAD MANHOOD
An absolute lout went off at a New Hampshire school board meeting. I'll play the audio as an example of "what not to do."
YOUR ENEMY'S ENEMIE AREN'T YOUR FRIENDS
I'll use two examples, primarily Tucker Carlson' visit to Russia, to be sure we know that our the Machivellian alliances we make are often terrible.
TAX FACT
Almost always, when we lower tax rates, our revenue GOES UP. That is very true of the 2017 tax cut. I know that's not intuitive, but I'll explain it and why it's important we get that right.
On This Episode:
8 MINUTES OF FOOTBALL TALK
I enjoy this Chiefs dynasty. I have mostly disliked other dynasties. I'll use 8 minutes to indulge in sports talk.
SUPER BOWL CONSPIRACIES
The "NFL is rigged" people have zero arguments. I'll break down and refute these conspiracy theories.
CONSPIRACY THINKINGS MUST STOP
I'll itemize why conspiracy thinking is so damaging to culture and humanity. Also in this segment, I do get the damage of secular leftism. It's godless paganism with terrible ideas, leading to ruin the West. While that is totally true, on the Right, we do have a growing conspiracy problem that needs response.
TRAVIS KELCE NEEDS TO GROW UP.
The Tight End's screaming at his coach was embarrassing and the opposite of the masculinity we need modeled. Adults, regulate your emotions.
HE GETS US AD
One of the advertisements was incomplete. One improperly applied Jesus washing his DISCIPLES feet. It also coddled some sins. On the brightside, it creates conversations where theologically sound people can speak truth to error.
On This Episode:
THE GREATEST "PRIVILEGE OF ALL"
I've argued for years that the greatest "privilege" in life isn't ethnic, educational, or economic. It's familial -- having 2 parents. This new book lays out the data and the crisis we're in that marriage and child-raising are now disconnected in our age.
TwoParentPrivilege
"ONLY FANS" MOM AND A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
A woman who makes her living in digital prostitution was repeatedly taking her children to their Christian school with a gigantic sticker on her back window, advertising her OnlyFans account. The school asked her to stop bringing the pornography advertisement to a children's school. We must stop letting people's "autonomy' take precedent over decency for kids.
OREGON'S DRUG LEGALIZATION FAILURE
Oregon decriminalized most drug use a couple years ago. Overdose cases are up by a factor of 5. Those overdoses ending in death is up by a factor of 4. Portland's downtown is an unsafe, drug-filled wasteland. It was an unmitigated disaster, and we should take note of that anytime someone brings up legalizing more drugs.
A "PASTOR" PUSHES HIS OWN CRYPTOCURRENCY
A corrupt "pastor" fleeced $3 million from his flock, keeping $1 million for himself while losing everyone else's money. His constant justification was that "The Lord told him" to take various steps. Mark people that claim God is speaking to them directly, an avoid them.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BORDER
The Biden Administration claims they need new laws to handle the crisis at the border. I'll play audio from Bill Maher to illustrate that even the normie-90s-liberal knows that claim is a lie.
2024 IS 1992
I will illustrate how the 2024 election is shaping up to look A LOT like the 1992 election. It's almost eerie.
On This Episode:
TAYLOR SWIFT CONSPIRACY
Let me dispel the notion that malign actors are executing a Psy-Op, using the NFL and Taylor Swift to push the Left. We're plenty enough a pagan people for Leftism to thrive without a conspiracy.
MATT WALSH ON ART VANDALS
The Catholic commentator says we should execute the vandals of the Mona Lisa and other destroyers of famous art works. Let's use Biblical wisdom to correct his thinking and surmise the proper punishment.
ARE PASTORS BLOGGING TOO MUCH?
We'll consider the wisdom of an older pastor who thinks pastors are online too much.
ARE ALL SINS EQUAL? No.
I'll provide arguments and audio to demonstrate that the idea that we all just "sin differently" is unbiblical. Some sins are actually worse than others.
On This Episode:
TRUMP CONSOLIDATION
That happened fast. With Governor Desantis gone, the 2024 race is set: two elderly, unpopular men. I have several thoughts of analysis, including the fact that there's never been a bigger opportunity for a third party.
SCHOOL LUNCHES IN THE SUMMER
My State is debating a school lunch program for the summer. That led me to a couple thoughts regarding the arguments in favor of it. It seems these politicians are often telling me my BIBLE tells me this program is needed. So, I have to ask: does that make summer school lunches... Christian Nationalism?
CHRISTIANS ANS GAY WEDDINGS
A rock-solid Bible teacher recently created controversy with an answer about Christians and homosexual weddings. I want to respond to that.
On This Episode: ANALYZING IOWA Here are my takeaways. 1. The Primary is over. Trump is the nominee for his party. 2. The race for 2nd place between Desantis and Haley is still important. Circumstances could keep Trump out of the race. 3. This also likely locks in Biden as the nominee for his party. 4. A Supermajority of Americans don't want these choices, so there's never been a better time for a third party candidacy. I expect a MAJOR third party bid. 5. Everything is going to be okay. Anyone who says, "if _________ wins this election, the country is over," is hysterical, childish, and you shouldn't listen to them. TERRIBLE TWEET An ostensibly "Christian" leader tweeted this very bad analogy about Trump. I'll respond to it. POLITICAL BUT NOT PARTISAN IN A SERMON Pastor Matt Chandler recently preached a sermon where he critiqued critical race theory, leftist economics, and national idolatry. He did it all without sounding like a political pundit. That's a good model for us to follow. A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
LET HISTORY INFORM YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT TODAY
I know life is unstable right now: inflation, mortgage rates, protests/riots, two wars, shifting morals, incompetent governance, and a contentious election in front of us.
One reason we stress about these things so much is that we think we're unique in human history. Give me 15 minutes to walk you through the US in 1968, and learn that we're not the first people to tread these grounds, and we'll make it through just like they did.
TWO MADDENING PIECES OF AUDIO
One is from an apostate "church" in Canada. The other is an AI-generated worship of a politician. I have points on both.
On This Episode:
LONELINESS AND POLITICS
New York Times Editorialist and author (one of my favorites) David Brooks has a new book out. One revelation is how people are using politics (instead of church) for morality, community, and feelings of making an impact. That's a substitution that will ruin us.
CAREFUL WHO GETS YOUR EARS
Some commentators tell you you're living under a tyrannical, treasonous regime. I tend to think we're living under godless, very mediocre people with bad ideas. The first option brings panic and fear. I think you should avoid those people.
MATH LEADS TO GOD
I want to play a clip from an atheist mathematician whose work is making him conclude there is more than the material universe.
On This Episode:
A woman on TikTok recently complained about being rejected by a matchmaker (the woman wants to find a husband). She was appalled that the matchmaker thought the woman needed to make some changes to be appealing to the men she wanted.
Change, compromise, and improvement have been shunned by our self-love culture. I have some thoughts to share.
TEXAS ABORTION CASE
There was a complicated abortion case out of Texas this week. I want to offer clarity on the ethics of it -- but with, hopefully, a lot more compassion in my tone than I'm otherwise hearing.
On This Episode:
A CULTURE'S ART TELLS YOU WHAT IT'S LONGING FOR
HBO's Hard Knocks, HBO's Gilded Age, and this new Jennifer Lawrence movie, "No Hard Feelings" are betraying this secular age's desires. The law of God is written on every heart, and God designed us to want certain things, as we're made in his image.
This culture tries to deny God's design but their art betrays them. I'll go over how these pop culture features are telling us people long for:
-Men to lead and take care of their families
-Men to leave behind childishness
-A Culture of dignity, decorum, and standards
-For sex to be meaningful again
-That chastity would be desirable
On This Episode:
POLITICAL STORY ONE: SNL's Surprising Jokes
The first two jokes on SNL's Weekend Update were at President Biden's expense this week. That's an historic oddity. It also tells us something about our political moment, and I have some interpretive thoughts (including a look-ahead to next November's election).
POLITICAL STORY TWO: The Speaker Knows His History
A CNBC reporter recently challenged Speaker Mike Johnson on his praying from the Congressional House floor, arguing for separation of church and state. Mike Johnson did a masterful job of correcting him. I'll play the audio and explain further that literally everyone brings their faith to their politics (Secularism and Humanism are religions)
NYT'S ADMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH
This editorial from the New York Times admits our over-obsession with mental health and youth is back-firing. I'll provide some theories on why that is.
MY RECENT ESSAY
I'm publishing an Essay soon entitled "The Future won't be Confused." I read that essay here. In short, it's a recognition that this western, secular experiment regarding marriage, sex, sexuality, parenting and a lot more will collapse and ultimately be scorned by generations to come. As Asian and African traditional cultures (which already reject disordered sexualities) become more Christian, we know that the future will be built on the ashes of this very stupid, confused, sex-obsessed, self-worshipping era.
On This Episode:
NUANCE IS IMPORTANT
I want to provide an example on why communicating with nuance is most often more effective than with sharp invective.
TIM KELLER AND A THEONOMY QUOTE
Tim Keller made a great point in a sermon back in 1991 that might get him accused of "Christian Nationalism" today (whatever that is). I want to play a clip from that sermon that illustrates that one of the Christian's roles is to tell governments that God is the arbiter of right and wrong -- not the government.
HOW SHOULD PASTORS HANDLE POLITICS
I'll provide some good and bad examples of pastors recently addressing politics and upcoming elections.
TRUMP POLLING IS CRAZY
The New York Times/Sienna College poll is easily accessible, and its results are remarkable. I'll break down the poll and provide some caution.
AFRICAN GROWTH
The African continent will be home to 1/4 of the world's population by 2050. Both Islam and Christianity are growing there. What strategies can we use to ensure the African future is also a Christian future?
On This Episode:
NEW HOUSE SPEAKER REACTION
It's good to have believers in high spaces. However, while the Left's reaction was on-brand insane, I noticed people who call themselves "Christian Nationalists" also had an odd reaction. I want to talk about all of the implications.
NUMB LITTLE BUG
The younger set have made a weird/sad song really popular. We need to be ready to offer young people something better than the fragility and victim mentality that the world does.
On This Episode:
IS CURING BLINDNESS/DEAFNESS GOOD OR AN ACT OF CULTURAL ERASURE?
This article asks if it's wrong to cure blindness or deafness. Some people seem to have adopted these conditions as core parts of their identities. What's the Christian response to handling and treating disabilities?
GET YOUR CATEGORIES IN ORDER
In Christianity, I'm seeing too much of arguing secondary issues as if they are life and death doctrines. Two examples are the view of governments and of masculinity. I hope I didn't get too heated here, but I certainly express my frustration and try to offer a better way.
BRITNEY SPEARS' ABORTION
We can all see Britney Spears is mentally unwell. I'll offer two reasons why. One is certainly, though, the very real correlation between abortion and mental health decline.
On This Episode:
WHEN CULTURES CRUMBLE
A listener wrote in to ask what I mean when I say, "Christians must be ready when the culture crumbles to provide answers." He wanted to know what I meant by "crumbled." I have some very practical answers that range from Disney to Social Security.
FALSEHOOD FAILS
This story covers a recent protest at Clemson University. That protest was students expressing anger that Clemson stopped having tampons in the MEN'S bathrooms -- because some men menstruate.
Additionally, while a sorority recently lost a court case on this topic, public opinion is swinging the other way.
If often takes a long time, but lies will lose.
WHAT HAPPENS IS CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM GROW AT SIMILAR RATES?
Another listener question wonders how my view of Christ's kingdom growing interacts with Islam's growth around the world. I'll draw some clear lines on the Christian's role, the Church's role, and a Christianized government's role in a world where Islam gets aggressive.
PEOPLE MOVING STATES BECAUSE OF POLITICS
This New York Times story profiles two families who left their states over politics. The Times seems to find this outcome negative. I also find it sad, but I'm also going to argue there's some healthy outcomes that can come from that. Our self-sorting can allow State and local governments to claw back power from the federal government, leaving more space for diverse laws, cultures -- and maybe place for more peace.
On This Episode DISILLUSIONMENT VS OVEREMPHASIS The New York Times recently published this story about how miserable people are about our political state of being. At the same time, I'm noticing some evangelicals are into politics more than ever. I have a word of caution on that with help from a clip of a Tim Keller sermon. Everything is the Lord's -- including politics and governments. Where we are right now, though, we need to penetrate more hearts with the truth. AFTER you win the people, you'll win elections. BEING INFORMED IS KEY This recent story confirms what we all suspect: we are a woefully uninformed people about our government and civic organization. The world needs us to be a people informed on our rules, origins, and laws. REALITY ALWAYS WINS I have some thoughts here on how we've moved into a multipolar world instead of the bi-polar (US vs. Soviet Union) of my parents generation or the unipolar (The US) world in which I grew up. American weakness is inviting aggression elsewhere -- because reality always wins. Weakness brings aggression. That brought to mind some other ways that's happening: -A border wall is being partially built because reality wins. -San Francisco is requiring drug tests for able-bodied adults before they get government assistance because reality wins. -Big cities are getting tougher on crime because reality wins.
On This Episode:
JOE ROGAN ASKS AN UNINTENTIONALLY PROFOUND QUESTION
Rogan recently complained that life and the human experience are intricate and complex, but we don't have a manual for how to live list best. Boy, do I have some good news for him. If he's looking for a book with life's answers, we've got a good one.
ANDY STANLEY FURTHER OFF THE RAILS
Andy Stanley's recent sermon included a portion that affirms homosexual couples in government marriages are welcomed as full members in his church. That's not something I'm going to yell about. It's sad, and I want to critique his arguments.
LESSON FROM T.S. ELIOT
I'm a huge fan of Eliot's writings. I was recently reintroduced to this quote from him: "Tend to your garden, or you'll eventually have to clear a forest." I want to explore the importance of doing the regular work of life to prevent later disasters.
SUPREME COURT PREVIEW
The Supreme Court starts hearings again this week for the new session. I'll give you a preview.
On This Episode:
LETTER TO MY CONGRESSMAN
My Congressman was just found out to be an adulterer. He should resign. I'll make my plea and tell you why it's important for him to leave Congress and pursue his marriage. We need to hold marriage high. Congressman Duncan can do that by resigning.
MY MESSAGE COLLEGE STUDENTS
I was asked to speak to college students about being a Christian conservative today. My message:
-Pursue your Roles and Responsibilities -- not your Rights and Dreams.
-Get what you can. Know what SHOULD be, but understand the system and get the wins you can.
-Live with the long view. Their great, great grandkids will see finished what they start, so just stay faithful.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE THOUGHT
My wife's car was stolen last year. I thought about the better way for justice to have worked then.
Dear Representative Duncan,
I am writing to you as a constituent and someone who has voted for you since your first election in 2010. More than that, though, while I am not writing on any church’s behalf (I am writing for myself alone), I am writing as a leader in a church in your constituency. Finally, and maybe most importantly, I am writing to you as a follower of Jesus who knows you have a profession of faith in the same Jesus I do. I am writing in love with a warning and with a challenge.
Divorce proceeding records now made public and testimony of those around you attest that you are involved in or have been involved in adulterous relationships. This a grievous sin before God and against your wife (Exodus 20:14). Marriage is our Lord’s holiest institution. Marriage presupposes and undergirds every other institution – neighborhoods, churches, states, and countries. Marriage must be honored and vows must be kept if we have any hope to continue as a civilization.
Because marriage is central to life and because of your violation of your vows, I’m writing to you with the following two exhortations.
First, repent of this sin. Please, your eternal soul is in danger. To walk away brazenly from the wife of your youth and embrace another woman is evidence that your eternity is in peril. Following Jesus necessitates that you forsake the affection of every other woman, get back to your home, and do everything you can to pursue your wife and repair that holy union. That will not be easy. You will need to be surrounded and supported by a local church and other believers.
My second exhortation is related to the first. The most important factor in your life right now is your marriage. It’s not your job as a Congressman. Indeed, it appears that your location in Washington is nurturing your adulterous relationships. Please, flee that city like Joseph fled Potiphar’s house. To that end, I am asking you resign your seat in Congress and come home.
Your family needs you. Our community’s children need to see the severity of adultery. Other marriages need to see men in leadership prioritize their marriages above their own passions or careers.
Governor McMaster will replace you with someone who will vote similarly to you, so your absence will not empower any harmful ideas. Thank you for your decade of service. It’s time for that service to conclude, though.
God is gracious. When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (I John 1:9). You’re a relatively young man. This doesn’t have to be your end. If you will confess and repent and then pursue your marriage, there is hope to be had for a life much better and much more fulfilling than being a Member of Congress.
Prayerfully hopeful you will hear and consider these warnings and exhortations,
Cory Truax
Easley, SC
On This Episode:
RAUNCHY LAWMAKERS
I grew up being told that sexual sin and perversion were disqualifying for anyone looking for authority. Recently a Democrat candidate for State Senate in Virginia was exposed for having sex on a streaming site for money. The mayor of Burbank, CA was spanked with a paddle by a drag queen in California. Yes, these are disqualifying.
But where are we on calling for Lauren Boebert to resign? She's an adulteress, behaving like a raunchy teenager in public? Why is Govenor Kristi Noem, a married womanw ith children, facing no backlash for BRAZENLY -- and grossly -- committing adulterty and flaunting it with Corey Lewandewski?
Yes, I know we need "rescue from the Left." But are these my army? This is the force to defeat secularism? I have a lot to say about this on.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Why did these figures emerge? It's because their movement's leader is like them. I have new audio to that end.
BORN THIS WAY?
From 2002 to 2012, I was told REPEATEDLY that I couldn't hold my position on marriage (marriage is between only one man and one woman) because LGBT people were hard-wired in their genetics for these attractions. I was called an anti-science bigot for not embracing these claims.
Did you know that now, 20 years later, the most Woke Left people are saying what I was saying in 2003? I'll provide audio from a WNYC show to prove it.
On This Episode:
LAWLESSNESS IN NEW MEXICO
The Governor of New Mexico issued an illegal decree regarding guns. My demeanor is always to say, "that thing in the news isn't as bad as the news outlets and algorithms want you to think it is. You can calm down." Because I'm like that, I hope it comes with some credibility that I'm saying: this is a big deal, and it has to stop.
END TIMES QUESTION
A listener asked a question about End Times and how our thinking about the end of the world shapes how we live right now.
CRIMINAL SENTENCES
I've hear some commentators bemoaning the harsh sentences given to those involved in the events at the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 while other criminals are given lenient sentences for serious crimes. My argument: they all deserve harsh punishments.
On This Episode
DRUG PRICE FIXING'S DOWNSIDE
A recent policy announcement would cap and set a price ceiling for some popular drugs. Both the "government shouldn't do that," and the "yay for cheap medicines" reactions are simplistic and immature. I want give you some deeper level thinking on policies like these.
A PROFOUND PARADIGM FOR MEANING
One commentator recently posited that we're miserable because our age says to find meaning, look first INWARD, second OUTWARD, and then finally, if you must, UPWARD. Real meaning is found the exact opposite way. I'll give details.
CHALLENING ELECTION DENIALISM
It's irresponsible to cast distrust on an election system without really strong evidence. I have a challenge on using words like "rigged" in a very precise way.
On This Episode
REFUTING “KINISM”
I came across an errant theology, that can lead to sinful ethnic prejudice. I want to talk about its origins and then Biblically refute it.
A GOVERNMENT LESSON
We know too little about what the Federal Government is and what its role is. It is an entity created by the States, so the States are supposed to be supreme over it. That paradigm has fallen. Even so, it's important that we know what is in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, so we know the specific job of the federal government.
RESPONSE TO A MEME
I keep seeing memes from the younger set bemoaning that life is just eating, sleeping, exercising, getting married, buying a house, and having kids. They find so meaning it, and it's making them miserable. We have an answer for this problem.
BIBLICAL LAW OF THE WEEK: EXODUS 21'S SLAVERY LAWS
The passages on slavery are hard if you are coming from America's history of racist, chattel slavery. I'll help clarify some of these laws.
DEBATE PREVIEW
There's a debate Wednesday night that some people (wrongly) think is important. I'll give you a preview of what SHOULD happen and also what WILL happen instead.
SMARTPHONES AND MARRIAGE
There's a fairly large study indicating major correlation between screen time and marriage troubles. I'll break it down and give some encouragement on how to stop your screen addictions.
FIRST "BAPTIST" CLEMSON
This church ordained a woman into the pastorate, bragged about it on social media, and I have some thoughts on their very lazy arguments.
BIBLICAL LAW SERIES
Deuteronomy has some laws that are hard to process. I'll process one of them with you in this section.
My original summary of this episode, I think, was really good. But this is my second try at uploading, so I'm out of cleverness.
We start by having a helpful back-and-forth about Christians and the State. I don't remember everything after that, but I know we discuss a slavery law in the Bible, why health care is a product (not a right), and a few other items.
Thanks for your patience as I got this fixed.
On This Episode:
NYT AND RIGHT'S ECONOMICS
The New York Times did a GOOD job of itemizing the growing divide between Reagan rightists and Trump Republicans on economic policy. Along the way though, they just told some lies that I will correct.
TAKE CARE OF MAYA DOCUMENTARY
I have some short thoughts on a maddening documentary I saw and recommend.
THE GOSPEL COALITION AND CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM
The TGC made a category talking about "Christian Nationalism." I want to clarify.
INTERPRETING HARD BIBLE LAWS
Let's wrestle through what some people claim the Bible says about rape.
On This Episode:
NANCY MACE
Nancy Mace bragged/joked about her own fornication at a prayer breakfast. We have a few lessons to learn from this.
IMPEACHMENT
I suspect impeachment will happen to this president within 1 year. I also think that we've discounted the severity of impeachment so much that almost all the presidents in my lifetime to come will also be impeached (but not removed by the Senate).
PATRIARCHY AND BARBIE
I haven't seen the movie, so I can't comment on it. I can comment on the discourse around the patriarchy, though. I have some nuance to add to it.
DOUG WILSON AUDIO
There's a video from Canon Press's Doug Wilson that I want to work through.
Let’s make no mistake: Secular Progressive Leftism is in charge and has been for decades. Look at every institution that makes up a culture. From the classroom, the writer’s room and the newsroom to the board room and the committee rooms of Congress, where Christianity was ejected, Secularism has infected. Isn’t it time for a reckoning of how they’ve done with their power?
On this Episode:
"Try That in a Small Town" vs. Andrew Tate's "Manliness
Jason Aldean's "Try That in Small Town" isn't a racist lynching song like you're being told, but it does tell us something about masculinity. Conversely, Andrew Tate presents himself as an authority on manliness. I'll play some audio from him demonstrating he isn't anyone to follow.
That also gives me the opportunity to talk about manhood's defining characteristic: responsibility.
Why is Ron Desantis Failing
The Florida Governor seemed to be the only figure who could stop the former president from being nominated, but the Desantis campaign is flailing. I'll explore why.
On this Episode:
WHY CONSERVATISM FAILED
The human heart needs to be making progress. Conservatism tried to PRESERVE marriage, parenting, families, communities, business, finance, media, and entertainment as they were instead of seeking to make them EVEN BETTER.
Now we have a long project back to human flourishing.
MEDIA GASLIGHTING ON CULTURE WAR
I heard a story recently saying Republicans were holding up a military spending bill over the bill including funding for abortion, sex reasignment surgeries, and DEI programs. The story set up the conservatives as the aggressors in the Culture War. The truth is exactly the opposite. I'll explain.
On this episode:
A Christian author is arguing Christians should leave progressive States and join more traditional ones. I want to work through that idea.
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I'm starting to ask some questions about my view of end times and how we practically get from here to there.
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Vivek Ramaswamy has a SUPER interesting and good idea.
The Supreme Court just finished their term. It was remarkably moderate-to-disappointment until the final decisions.
I'll provide details and commentary on
Overturning Alabama's and Louisiana's Congressional Maps
Overturning Affirmative Action in college admissions
Rightly affirming that a president does not have the unilateral power to force middle class people to pay off the student loans of upper income people.
Praise the Lord: religious liberty affirmed for Christians in public life.
On this Episode:
I'll go back to my routes and share some thoughts on the political landscape:
-The Presidential Primary is coming into focus.
-The surprisingly real corruption concerns in the executive branch.
-Republican bad strategy (let me expand on this one below).
The people who decide elections are largely suburban dwellers in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, and Atlanta. Those people are largely decently high-income earners, professionals, married with 1-2 kids, irreligious, and generally open to voting for a politician of either major party.
Right now, their concerns are that their budgets are stretched despite being high income-earners (because of inflation), that they feel nervous about visiting their awesome big cities on the weekend (because of crime), and that their kids education quality is suffering.
While those are their concerns, Republicans are giving time to Hunter Biden's corruption. That corruption is real, but it's not what the voters that matter care about. They tend to assume both parties are criminal enterprises.
On this Episode:
REPORT FROM NEW ORLEANS - I'll provide a rundown of what happened at the Southern Baptist Annual Meeting and ideas/arguments undergirding those events.
JUNETEENTH -- We should celebrate this momentous day.
On this Episode:
We can feel the world getting darker. In previous generations we perverted and misused good things. This age seems to reject the good things outright. That can get discouraging. But I want to offer some hope and what we can do with the opportunity we've been given as the church in the US.
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There's a disturbing story about public schools moving around sexual abusers instead of firing them. My own Convention (Southern Baptists) as well as other religious groups have been found to do the same thing. We have to align consequences with this heinous action.
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There's a lot more!
On This Episode:
The secular progressive religion that permeates America will observe its holy month in June (Pride Month). The normalcy of celebrating those sexualities is now eerily similar to the old civic religion of cultural Christianity. Starting with prayer at a secular meeting in 1970 was considered normal; now donning the pride flag is.
It is into that world that Christians go out every day to work, learn, interact, and generally live. I want to connect that reality to how we Christians communicate with people who are so discipled by the false religions of this world.
OTHER TOPICS:
This story on marijuana's effect on the nation's mental health crisis.
How our national demographics will make the debt deal ultimately irrelevant.
On This Episode:
ISRAEL'S BLUE PRINT
This story got me thinking. Israel's Orthodox community is having a great deal of influence after decades of marginalization. That's what I want for Christianity. So, how are they doing it? They are having, fostering, adopting a TON more kids than the secularists. And then most importantly -- they're DISCIPLING those kids. If we want a Christianized culture, that's the way forward. It'll take generations of faithfully raising kids and living in alignment with what we teach them. Israel is proving that will work.
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FIRE TWO EMPLOYEES OVER PRONOUNS
Houghton College fired two employees for violating a policy regarding pronouns in email signatures. I'll give details and commentary on why it's good for the college to stand by its standard and why pronoun use like that isn't as loving as these people think.
POLITICS UPDATE
We're going to get a debt ceiling deal. One feature is worth discussing: work requirements. If you're able-bodied with no children, isn't it almost universally popular to say that person must WORK if they want other government assistance?
The primary field is basically set. The one person with potential of knocking off Trump (Governor Desantis) has launched a unique attack angle. I think it's going to be effective -- but maybe not effective enough.
On this episode, Nathan Mcdowell returns to the show. We discuss which party has gotten more extreme, the connection between ideology & mental health a ton more.
On This Episode:
THE CORONATION
The King's coronation invigorated a lively debate happening in Christian circles right now about the Christian's relationship to government and the church's relationship to the same. I came away with some thoughts to share on that.
TED LASSO THOUGHT
I've noticed that making points instead of telling great stories has been affecting secular art a lot lately. That's how Christian art has always been. I have an example from Ted Lasso.
THE CNN TOWNHALL
I have brief thoughts to the CNN townhall with the most recent former president. That entire exercise was good for the actors involved -- and bad for just about everyone else.
On This Episode:
LEARNING FROM THE DIVORCE OF A PROMINENT FIGURE
The popular Steven Crowder recently announced his divorce. What followed was a hard-to-watch video of his verbally mistreating his then-8-months-pregnant-with-twins wife.
I don't want to gossip. I want to learn. What I noticed in the video is that Crowder sees marriage as transactional (if you do wife duty "A," I'll do husband duty, "B"). That's not Biblical marriage. Especially for the men, lead. No matter what effort she's putting in, lead by putting your best effort into loving your wife.
RETHINKING "CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY"
I grew up denigrating cultural Christianity because it was the appearance of Christianity without people actually following Jesus. It was rule-following, but not genuine faith. I've begun to rethink that. Cultural Christianity was DEFINITELY better than the Secular Progressive age we're in. We need to go FURTHER than cultural Christianity, but I know humans would flourish more if we lived in that system instead of this one.
On This Episode:
FIGHTING THE RIGHT WAR
I have noticed that many Christians see that secular progressive Leftism attacks all the fundamentals of God's good design for humanity -- inverting humanity/nature, marriage, gender, family, and parenting. Where we often fail is recognizing that the real battle is a spiritual one. We war against the darkness behind those efforts -- not the images of God pursuing those efforts.
ARE PEOPLE REALLY WORSHIP IDOLS TODAY?
An author, Jonathan Khan, makes an interesting case that the modern US is unwittingly engaged in the worship of Baal, Ishtar, and Molech. I'll provide details.
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
SAYING GOODBYE TO HIS RADIO TALK
After 9 years, The Cory Truax Show is going full podcast as WHRT starts a new format next month.
MENTAL HEALTH AND IDEOLOGY
A lot of secular mental health officials and scholars are finally remarking on the connection between higher rates of emotional disorders and left-leaning ideologies. I have a ton to say and theorize about that.
On This Episode:
TWO CHRISTIANS DEBATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
I listened to a debate where to believers disagreed on how the Christian should interact with government regulations regarding the environment. It was interesting and helpful, and I have some personal take-aways I want to share with you.
CHRISTIANS AND IMMIGRATION POLICY
I listened to a second debate about Christian thinking on national immigration policy. This one can get complicated in the time when we live, but I want to give you my conclusions.
DID JON STEWART MAKE A GREAT POINT?
The Internet seems to think Jon Stewart made an excellent point on his AppleTV show. Conversely, the point was really bad, and demonstrates the American mind is getting dimmer.
On This Episode:
THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT
I watched a debate recently about how Christians should educate their kids. After that, I saw a TikTok trend where kids make light of their need for psychiatric treatment, that suicide is now the second leading cause of death in young people, and that young folks are more medicated than ever. All of this got me thinking about how we pull our kids from the fire that is this culture. I have some ideas.
ARE YOU SIMMERING WITH ANGER?
Pastor Matt Chandler recently shared some disturbing information on how much social media companies are motivated to make us angry. Let’s spit ourselves out of the rage machine.
IS AMERICA EXCEPTIONAL?
A recent Twitter back-and-forth got me thinking about this term. What about America is normal and what is exceptional?
THE GOSPEL IN NUMBERS
The Book of Numbers offers astounding wisdom for us today. Let me tell you about it.
On This Episode:
STRINGING TOGETHER THOUGHTS
I have recently been ruminating on these three topics: 1) How the Kingdom of God gets from 2 billion people to 7 billion; 2) Not letting politics affect our emotions as presidential season kicks up; 3) choosing the “white pill” (hope) over the red pill (conspiracy thinking) or blue pill (sleepwalking through life).
I think I bring those together into something useful in the first segment.
HOW JESUS’S TRIAL ILLUSTRATES US
At Jesus’s trial before Pilate, Pilate knows what is right, but fears the crowd’s disapproval. So, he does what he knows is wrong to gain their approval. The crowds calling for crucifixion were manipulated into rage. I fear BOTH of those characters reflect us today, and I want to help end that.
THE BIBLE AND THE OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT
Should there have been more regulation on the train company? What should the consequence be for this train company? I think a Biblically-informed legal framework offers us a lot on this topic.
NATIONAL DIVORCE
A crazy member of Congress brought up having a national divorce. Many of us have talked about this concept for years, and I have some additional thoughts on it.
On This Episode:
EVEN THE BIBLE’S “WEIRD LAWS” ARE GOOD
There’s laws about not boiling a baby goat in its mothers milk and about covering up holes you dig in ground. How are these laws to love and apply to today? Let’s talk about it.
ARE WE ROBBING THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS FROM POTENTIAL WEALTH?
Giant corporations and banks are buying houses in bulk in major American markets. This is making it almost impossible for young people and middle income people from buying a home. Buying property is THE primary way Americans have built wealth for centuries.
Is there a Biblical argument for BANNING these corporations and banks from buying these houses to see to it that regular Americans aren’t left behind?
REVIVAL AT ASBURY UNIVERSITY?
There are reports of a revival breaking out at a Christian university in Kentucky. That definition seems to be a spontaneous continual worship service. I notice that the times of renewal and revival in the Bible are marked by the Bible being preached, a lot of prayer, and a lot of repentance. What's happening at Asbury an be GOOD, but we also need to know the signs of true revival.
REVISITING THE "HE GETS US' ADS
It ended up that the Left and the Right have criticisms of these ads. I have a little nuance I want to add, and then a question to ask.
On This Episode:
PRIORITIES ON CULTURAL ROT
I saw a lot of folks [rightfully] criticizing the satanic display at the Grammy’s. However, I want to be sure we critique rot INSIDE the church as much ferocity and volume. I’ll give two examples.
EVIL IS BORING
Besides the Grammy’s having an immoral performance, they also displayed on grey and boring evil is. Virtue and truth are exciting. Displaying the same old, tired, no-longer-shocking stunts that share values with the entire power structure of our institutions is just boring. Artists used to be subservice and challenging to the powers that be; now they’re shills.
QUICK STORIES
-A judge embarrassed herself at her confirmation hearing. Her ignorance is instructive to us to being people always learning.
-A Texas school asked a mom who works in porn not to volunteer at events. This conflict tells us the consequences of losing any sense of shame.
-A recent debate made me rethink some healthcare thoughts.
On This Episode:
BEAUTY, TRUTH, AND THIS UGLY WORLD
A petition is circulating, calling on dictionaries, and us, to “undefine beauty” – no redefine it. This is a really good opportunity to explore how we think about beauty. Ultimately, beauty is that which corresponds to truth. Evil is ugly. Goodness is beautiful. I want to talk about that in depth.
The world longs for beauty, but doesn’t know where to find it. Let’s be people that live beautiful lives – drawing people far from God to his ultimate beauty.
BIBLE KNOWLEDGE THAT’S MIND-BLOWING
The Ten Plagues in Exodus are WAY more interesting than you realize. Let me tell you that story.
Additionally, we learn in the story of the Exodus that God FIRST rescues, supplies, and protects and THEN gives the law. If our God has already been that gracious to us, can’t we assume His law is lifegiving and good?
On This Episode:
BIBLE-READING THIS WEEK: WHEN WEARE FAILURES, GOD IS FAITHFUL
In the chronological reading of the Bible this week, there’s a theme of God’s people being total, embarrassing failures and God continually reaffirming His commitment to them. There’s a ton of comfort in that.
THE SPIRIT OF OUR AGE IS DECONSTRUCTION FOR THE SAKE OF IT
I want to systemize my definition of the ethos that surrounds us now. I’ll use Prince Harry’s book, a lesbian college student wanting to president of a Christian college’s student body and many other examples to unify a story.
That story is largely that we once DISRUPTED the molds that made us – communities, businesses, churches, arts, families – the goal of making them better.
Now, we DESTROY all molds and demand that the world conform to our feelings.
I also have some thoughts on how to live Christianly in that crazy world.
On This Episode:
WHAT DO WE DO IN A CULTURE GROWING MORE HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANITY?
We’re seeing stories of a Christian kicked out of the mall for wearing a “Jesus saves” t-shirt, of pastors being denied “Pastor Story Hour” at libraries that host “drag queen story hour,” of college athletes being benched and berated for not submitting to the spirit of the age, or people fired for following the wrong accounts on Twitter.
It’s becoming more hostile out there towards Christians. So, how do we respond?
I Peter gives us a lot of guidance on that. Let me walk you through it.
OUR CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE READING
In our reading this week, we see the good news that God is a God of covenant-keeping, that the sin of Sodom isn’t that complicated, and that knowing the stories of the Patriarchs will change how you worship.
On This Episode:
HOW DO WE EXPLAIN AND EXPERIENCE SUFFERING
Let’s talk about Job, and its ancient interaction with the question of suffering. Job challenges us to trust God and acknowledge we don’t have the perspective to know always what is good and right.
STOPPING THE PORN INDUSTRY
Louisiana made great progress in stopping the porn industry from getting to our kids. It’s time for South Carolina to make the same progress, and I have a plan.
HILLSONG DOCUMENTARY
I have just a couple take-aways from watching the recent 4-part series.
HEADLINES THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
You’ll just have to listen to find out.
On This Episode:
A NEW IDEA FOR 2023
This year, I’m going to try and open every show with a reflection on Scripture reading. The twist is that I’ll be using a CHRONOLOGICAL reading of the Bible. So, for this week, we start in Genesis.
LISTERNER QUESTION: WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID….
Jesus said that unless you’re more righteous than the Pharisees, you won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What did that mean? This question is a fantastic opportunity to learn how we understand verses in their paragraphs, chapters, and in larger context.
THOUGHTS ON THE BILLS PLAYER WHO COLLAPSED
Of course, this event is unspeakably sad. I’m noticing, though, some folks using the event for their own agenda. I want to kindly and humbly argue against that tactic.
NEW YORK TIMES ADVICE FOR THE NEW YEAR
I respond (and sometimes mock and correct) advice the New York Times gave its readers for the new year.
On this Episode:
MY MOMENTOUS YEAR
From engagement, to home selling, to home buying, to travel, and finally to wonderful marriage, it was an incredible year for me.
THEME OF THE YEAR 1: Anger
From viral videos of temper tantrums on planes, in groceries stores and in restaurants, the rage came often this year. Let’s consider how NOT to add to it and how to be a force for peace in the new year.
THEME OF THE YEAR 2: Everyone noticed men are falling behind.
Even the secular media started noticing we have a masculinity crisis on our hands. In God’s ordered world, we need men to eschew childishness, embrace the challenge of being responsible for others and to lead.
THEME OF THE YEAR 3: Winsomeness vs. Confrontation
In both Christianity and American Conservatism, we’re relitigating the role of power and persuasion. I’ve wrestled with it all year, and I have some final thoughts.
On this Episode:
THE HOPES AND FEARS OF ALL THE YEARS
Jesus's coming was the long-awaited answer to all our hopes for a good world being fulfilled. I want to walk through those details and demonstrate how Jesus fulfills our every hope and quells our every fear.
ORIGIN STORIES
Christmas is the Christian's origin story. Another compelling origin story is how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow came to write, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." I want to tell you that story.
JESUS CAME AS A BABY -- BUT ALSO A KING
Christmas is good for reflection and celebration. I want to close the show by challenging you to find some silence to question where the arrived and soon-coming King's kingship hasn't fully claimed your life.
On This Episode:
ADVENT WEEK 4: Love
The Christmas story is filled with love – Elizabeth choosing joy instead of jealousy about Mary’s pregnancy and Joseph choosing belief instead of skepticism about the same. But the greatest act of love was the incarnation itself. I have some thoughts from Romans 5 about how this Christmas seasons exemplifies God’s love for his children.
CHRISTIAN LOCALISM
There’s a lot of debate right now about something called “Christian Nationalism.” I want to tell you why Christian Localism is the much better idea. This is the idea that first being concerned with your street, neighborhood, school or workplace will be much more effective than trying to win the government of a country.
NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS
I know the holidays are a terrible time to talk about this. However, I saw, back-to-back, a story about our obesity rate and then another about how giant food makers give millions to dietician and nutritionist programs. I have just a few thoughts.
BEWARE OF WHO YOU LISTEN TO
For the Christian, it’s tempting to listen to the voices that agree with you politically. It’s important to recognize, though, that many of those voices are not Christian voices.
On This Episode:
ADVENT WEEK 3: Joy
When hope is fulfilled, there is joy. We’ll take a brief look at the shepherds, Simeon, and Ana to examine how the first Advent brought joy. We’ll also take that cue to think about the first Advent as a signpost, pointing us to the second and final Advent of Christ. If we’ll live in that light, we’ll walk in joy.
WHAT DOES “REIGNING WITH CHRIST” MEAN?
I heard a challenging sermon this week about what it would mean or us to actually reign with Christ right now – reigning in our households and over the parts of Christ’s Kingdom he’s entrusted to us. I’ll play you some of that audio that has a particular challenge for Christian parents.
THE 303 CREATIVE VS. ELENIS CASE
Seeing the progressive, secular Left react to that case crystalized three things for me. First, there’s a segment of the secular hard left that despises Christians. Second, the modern Western world has concocted a novel system where one’s sexual desires are a CORE identity. That’s new in human history, and most of the planet now has no paradigm for sex being someone’s core identity. Finally, the just ruling is clear. The Supreme Court should end Colorado’s prejudiced law.
On This Episode:
ADVENT WEEK 2: Preparation
Week 1’s theme was hope. As we hope for ultimate Advent of Christ, though, we prepare. I’ll note in this segment that a too-common experience is that a promise – even a fulfilled promise – can sometimes leave us underwhelmed. Sometimes we overestimate our joy at an experience. The Second Advent will not be that, though. Whatever hope you have for Jesus’s Second Coming, you’re not hoping enough. So, as we await that hope, we prepare. I’ll give you some ideas on how to do that.
WHAT HAPPENED, WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE’RE GOING
I saw data this week that recorded the rapid secularization of the United States. As Christianity’s influence has plummeted, the consequences have been devastating to the culture. I also want to point you to even more secular societies as a warning of where we might be headed if the church doesn’t go about its own purity and renewal to lead the culture around it in renewal.
OUR MEDIA DIET IS MAKING US SICK
Just as a bad nutrition regimen will make us sick, our media diet of relying on social media and internet is making emotionally, mentally and even physically sick. I have a solution.
On This Episode:
GRATEFULNESS IN AN ENTITLED TIME
Happy Thanksgiving! We live in a time totally unimpressed with our relatively easy lives. I have some thoughts to encourage you to be blown away by the physical and spiritual blessings we enjoy.
ADVENT WEEK 1: HOPE
One of main themes of Christmas is light invading the darkness. We live in a weary world that needs the thrill of hope. We live in a captive world that longs for Emmanuel – God with us. To appreciate fully the light that has come and will come again, we need to take the time to understand how dark it is.
INCARNATION – WHAT WE DO WITH OUR BODIES MATTERS
God chose to put on flesh and dwell among us. This means A LOT. One implication is God’s value of the physical world and how when we live, where we live, and what we do is eternally meaningful.
MUCH MORE
On This Episode:
ON MARRIAGE
I’m finally a married man, and I couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend marriage, first because of the companionship. There’s nothing like coming home to your best friend (I’m also fortunate my best friend is a beautiful woman). But second, I recommend it because it calls us higher and to be better. I also recommend all inclusive resorts in Cancun! I have some other thoughts to share on my wedding and the first two glorious weeks of marriage.
DON’T LET THE ELECTION GET YOU DOWN
Elections used to affect me emotionally. If you’re disappointed, let me challenge you on that to ask if elections have too much a hold of your heart.
MY ELECTION 2022 TAKE-AWAYS
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It was a tie – maybe a slight win for the Right.
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The only political brand more toxic than liberalism is Trumpism. I’ll prove it.
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Abortion, sadly, mattered a lot – but not as much as the Left is saying.
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Ticket-splitting is back and favors candidates just being the more normal of the two.
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Conservatives need to USE early voting and mail-in voting instead of being skeptical of it.
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Marriage and parenthood are starting to be emerging voter blocs.
On This Episode:
ELECTION 2022 PREDICTIONS AND ANALYSIS
What happened in this election is one party talked about the economy, crime, and inflation while the other talked about a terrible event at the Capitol 2 years ago, “threats to democracy,” and their love for abortion. The issues people care about right now aligned with the first party while the second party yelled at them for not caring about other things. That will ultimately mean a 25-30 net pickup in the House for Republicans and a 53-47 control of the Senate for Republicans.
GRANTING COVID AMNESTY?
An Atlantic writer recently proposed that we grant amnesty for those that ended up getting so much wrong about their Covid response. I definitely want to offer grace and understanding to regular people who were driven into semi-madness because of media manipulation and a bad news bias. However, for the leaders who imposed their policies with the attitude of being the only arbiters of truth, we must accountability. Fortunately through court rulings, election outcomes, and new paradigms, we’re getting a lot of that accountability.
THE PAUL PELOSI STORY
I’ve noticed that too many conservatives – and way too many Christians – are given to conspiracy theories. That is happening around this story. At the same time, I’m noticing an opposite delusion on the other side that this attacks is directly related to conservative rhetoric or that violence is uniquely on the Right. We have to be people who diminish temperatures, call people to reality, and pray for peace.
On This Episode:
LEARNING FROM BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY
A listener sent me an effective line from this popular series of books that highlights a them of my show: our crisis of meaning and the negative effect thereof. This also served as a great reminder to watch, listen, and read with discernment – filtering everything through Scripture.
ELECTION SEASON BRINGS MADNESS TO PULPITS
From a “Renew America” rally in a church to Stacey Abrams taking the mic at a church on Sunday morning, Biblical illiteracy ranging to heresy is pouring out of our political process. I’ll play you the audio and provide critique.
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PANIC
Near the end of the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, various hysterical people warned us of martial law impositions or an unwillingness to give up power. That’s happening again regarding right-leaning candidates likely gaining majorities in a few weeks. These claims have always proved false, and our institutions always hold up. There needs to be accountability for the panic-causing press.
THE CHANGING MUSCULAR CONSERVATISM
I’ve been chronicling the change in the church and on the Right regarding the role of government and the role of Christians in government. I’m still wrestling through it myself. In this installment, I have an argument from the Federalist that makes the full-throated argument that folks on the Right need to embrace the thinking of the Left: get power and use it to impose our ideas.
On This Episode:
NATURAL DISASTERS RUIN THE GENDER NARRATIVE
The national narrative regarding gender has morphed and then radicalized over the past 50 years. We have folks who seem to embrace a full egalitarian relationship between men and women. During hurricane Ian, though, I noticed women were mostly doing the hard work of caring for the hurting while men were out sandbagging, rescuing in boats, repairing power lines and cleaning sewers.
When progressive gender ideology bumped up against reality that God designed, reality won. There are beautiful differences between men and women. We need each other. Let’s honor that.
LEFTISM WOKE-ISM CONTINUES TO BUILD ITS RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE
I’ve been establishing for years that Leftist Progressivism is a RELIGION – not a political ideology. It has its own origin story, fall story, and plan of salvation/redemption. It has its own symbols and creedal/doctrinal statements.
Recently, I noticed that their art has taken on the quality of 90s Christian art. It stopped caring about being good and primarily now cares about just making a point in favor of the religion.
I noticed ANOTHER way progressive Leftism is forming its theology. I’ll tell you about it.
ABORTION AND TWO SENATE RACES
The Republican running for governor in Arizona, I think, is sort of kook, but she gave a MODEL answer recently about abortion from which pro-life people can learn a lot. I’ll play the audio. Additionally, the Republican candidate for Senate in Georgia is being accused of paying for an abortion in the past. I’ll walk through the scant details and ethics surrounding his support.
COLD CIVIL WAR IS GETTING HOTTER
I’ve been saying for almost 7 years that the US is in a “Cold Civil War.” We hate each other – but we’re not hurting each other. Recently, though, an 84-year-old woman canvassing for a pro-life cause was shot in Michigan. Cayler Ellingson was killed in the Dakotas, and his killer said Cayler was a “Republican extremist.” I desperately want to find a way to cool down the country’s temper and tenor.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM UPDATES
The Supreme Court will hear a case where a Christian web designer wants to be free not to take on business for gay weddings. Her argument is iron clad, and I expect her to win – a GIGANTIC victory for religious liberty over the regime of sexual identity being the chief purpose of humanity. Additionally, CVS recently fired a Catholic woman for wanting an accommodation in not fulfilling prescription for abortion bills. The odd part is that they GRANTED the accommodation for four years. What changed?
On This Episode:
LESSONS FROM A CS LEWIS PLAY
My soon-to-be wife got us tickets to see what was an incredible biopic play about CS Lewis last week. I left wanting to preserve some examples he gave us about having an intellectual but simple faith as well as understanding how pleasures and pains are all hints much more profound truths. I'll provide details
A STORY THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE FOR ME
The morning after that play, we found that my fiancé's car was STOLEN. Stolen. In the Upstate of South Carolina from a nice complex -- it's crazy to me. I have some thoughts on that event and how it made me think about our broader crime problem generally.
YOU'RE BEING LIED TO ABOUT ITALY'S ELECTION
The next Italian Prime Minister isn't a fascist. Her party isn't related to Mussolini's in any meaningful way. Much more important is what her victory says about the state of life in the west. Her victory is akin to Brexit, the movements behind Donald Trump AND Bernie Sanders, and other recent election results in Europe. I have a lot to say here about what these results are responding to and what they mean for the future.
On This Episode:
DESANTIS, ABBOTT, AND FLYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
When Governors most affected by the 8,000 humans crossing our border each day sent many of them to New York, Chicago, and Washington DC, I thought it was a good and right decision. Small Texas towns don't have the resources to sustain the 2 million people who illegally cross the border this year. Moreover, the folks who govern and largely populate these cities need to be shown what their lawless, open-border policies cost and cause. Leftist border policy is inhumane, and they need to see the human cost.
Then those governors, however, took it one step too far. Humans are not props for political arguments. Sending these folks to Kamala Harris's residence and to Martha's vineyard was trolling. You might have laughed at the trolling, but it wasn't right. It's unproductive.
This was a lesson of doing the right thing in the wrong way. The Left need to see the consequences of their inane, immoral border policies, but as we make arguments, let's make them humanely.
LESSONS YOUNG PEOPLE NEED
I recently spoke to a group of college students on some of the themes they'll need as they enter adulthood. I emphasized practical ways to build discipline -- because motivation is brittle and fleeting. We talked about the dangerous and safe places to derive meaning and then finally about why we should embrace getting older and leaving childishness behind.
SOCIAL MEDIA LAW UPHELD
I'm struggling with this one. Texas passed a law saying large social media companies can't censor their users. My libertarian streak bristles at this idea. It's their companies, so leave them alone. The lawyers defending Texas's law, though, made some compelling points. I wrestle with the competing interests on show.
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
LISTENER SUBMISSIONS
I finally catch up on some email from listeners:
-One says I've gone soft, and that the more cantankerous Cory was better. I'm not going back there, though.
-What do I actually think about the End Times and how the world ends?
-Are pharmaceutical companies responding to malignant incentives when it comes to depression treatments?
-Is the idea of extra-terrestrial life compatible with a Biblical worldview?
CRIME IS DRIVING A TON OF VOTERS AWAY FROM THE LEFT
A caller into a C-SPAN show made the case that he prefers the Left to run the federal government (for social programs), but that the Right should run local and state governments because they take crime and safety seriously. I have some thoughts on that.
LEARNING FROM THE QUEEN
It seems a lot of the admiration for the Queen was that she fulfilled her duties to her family and her country. We live in an age that says to live for no one but yourself. We operate in a time that calls us to reject our responsibilities to our parents, siblings, community, church, and everyone else. We're told me must live to be our truest selves -- no matter the cost. The Queen exemplified choosing duty over self. We should celebrate and emulate that.
JOE SCARBOROUGH MANGLES THE BIBLE REGARDING ABORTION
Admittedly, I got too angry with this one. Joe thinks he knows a lot of Bible. He doesn't, and it was obvious. I'll correct his idiotic theology on abortion.
On This Episode
MATT CHANDLER
You probably heard one of the most prominent figures in American Christianity is taking a "disciplinary and developmental" leave of absence. I'll provide details and recognize the warning in the story for all us. That major warning: be fastidiously mindful of what you do on the internet.
CHRISTIANS AND HOUSING POLICY
The New York Times published a story recently about how well-off, mostly white and mostly liberal residents of Connecticut are fighting tooth and nail to keep housing being built in their neighborhoods for lower income folks. It seems the hoity toity don't want to be around the holloi polloi. I'll take a Biblical worldview perspective on housing policy, and by what method Christians should desire and pursue housing for all people.
US LIFE EXPECTANCY FALLS AGAIN -- THE MOST COMMON DEATHS FOR SERVICE PEOPLE ARE DRUG OVERDOSES
We're finding that heart disease, liver disease, and suicides (accidental and intentional) are major factors affecting our life expectancy. We are eating, drinking, drugging, and then literally killing ourselves to death. What's at the root of this, and what role can the church play in addressing it?
NEW YORK TIMES INTERVIEWS HISTORY TEACHERS ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY
The New York Times did interesting journalism here, and they explored what teachers are telling students about America, the Founders, slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. I'll give you those details and then tell you what I think SHOULD be taught in schools on those subjects. There might a bridge here to unite disparate people on how we tell the American story.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF EDUCATION?
We'll finish answering this question posed recently (also) by the New York Times. My take is that school is for intellectual formation, social cohesion, and economic development. It should also be for moral formation, but our morals are so divided, there's no way to do that in schools anymore.
On This Episode
Well, I did an entire episode on why the current plan to transfer student loan debt from borrowers to tax payers is a morally hazardous, intellectually vapid, and obviously self-interest vote-buying.
Here’s a synopsis on why to oppose the Biden Administration’s plan to transfer student debt onto all of us.
- It’s illegal.
There is no Constitutional or statutory authority for presidents to spend over $300 billion on a whim. I will play you audio of Nancy Pelosi saying so and remind you the president’s administration said this EXPLICITLY last year.
I suspect attorneys general from conservative states will have to intervene and sue the administration like they did when the administration used power they didn’t exist to expand the eviction moratorium and to implement illegal vaccine mandates.
- It’s unfair in countless ways.
It’s unfair to people who avoided student loans, to those who already paid them off and to those who are about to take student loans out. It’s also unfair because the policy advantages the privileged, those already making more, and those with more potential earn more over time.
- It’s going to exacerbate inflation.
Even Larry Summers (on the Left) and OBAMA’s chief economic advisor, Jason Furman, have said the policy pours “gasoline on an inflation fire.”
In this section, I also give you data over the last 20 years that demonstrate everywhere the government is involved in the economy, prices skyrocket. When they’re not involved, prices are stable or decrease over time.
- It’s typical Leftist redistribution of wealth through taxes.
I illustrate it this way. If you received a receipt for your taxes in 2021, it would include a line item for social security, medicare, Medicaid, WIC, unemployment, the military, and a bunch more.
If this is implemented, in 2022, there would be a line where you absorb the cost of someone else’s debt. That’s wrong.
- We already have a solution.
I’ll explain how the Income Based Repayment system is the solution to this current problem. We still have to work on preventing future debt, but we have the tool to solve this one.
If the plan would have just been to lower the minimum payment, I would have shut up and moved on. Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of votes in lowering payments.
- It’s illegal.Even Nancy Pelosi said earlier this year that no president has the unilateral power to forgive student loans. Even she acknowledged that power belongs to Congress. The president is fallaciously and dishonestly using emergency Covid powers to do this.
In the ensuing litigation to stop this plan, the administration will have to argue that this move is related to Covid response. It’s clearly not and therefore illegal.
- It’s regressive.I opposed the bank bailouts and car manufacturer bailouts for similar reasons. This student loan bailout transfers the debt of people with plenty of income and potential to make income onto taxpayers with less income and less prospects for earnings.
In this setup, taxpaying adults like teachers, cosmetologists, personal trainers, welders, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and those on the manufacturing line take on part of the debt for pharmacists, physical therapists, financial planners, and engineers.
The latter group earn more now and will earn more in the future. We are benefiting MANY higher-earning professionals by socializing their debt to the working class who chose not to take on debt.
In a very real way, people who chose NOT to get student loans will be FORCED to have student loans if this plan is enacted.
- It’s unfair and arbitrary.What about people who carefully planned and denied themselves housing or car upgrades to save for their kids’ college while others spent freely, took on debt, and will now have it forgiven? Do they get rewarded?
What about people who chose trade schools or chose a startup loan to start a business or a loan to buy equipment for their farm?
Heck, what about people CRUSHED by medical debt they incurred because of our idiotic medical system?
Why have we chosen this one type of debt for sympathy and then to transfer that debt onto all of us? It’s unfair, and it’s arbitrary.
- It will cause inflation and more debt.Inflation is when there are too many dollars pursuing too few goods. We just intend to take $300 Billion and dump into an economy already suffering with inflation. When those $300 billion translate into car purchases, vacations, new electronics, or general commercial spending, we’ll have continued inflation on cars, fuel, and all manner of merchandise.
The Wharton model says this plan eliminates any possible inflation reduction that was supposedly going to come from the “Inflation Reduction Act.”
We’re also now over 100% debt-to-GDP ratio. We just spent more money than any human ever fathomed could exist on Covid responses. It’s time to stop spending money we don’t have.
- It ignores the existing solution.We already have a solution, admittedly imperfect, for the debt problem. We have an Income Based Repayment (IBR) plan where borrowers can pay lower payments over a longer term – ensuring the monthly payment isn’t debilitating.
Part of this plan adjusts the IBR even lower. That’s not a terrible idea. Let’s do that, but not transfer the debts of few into the debts of everyone.
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It doesn’t address the core problem.The actual problem we have is a backward and antiquated view of college and college funding. This plan does NOTHING to address that core problem, only ensuring we end up right back here soon.
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It makes the core problem worse.Not only does it not address the core problem, it makes it worse. Students and families will now be LESS averse to taking on irrational amounts of debt because they can assume, soon enough, another election will approach and some vote hungry politician will bribe them with this candy.
This incentivizes colleges to continue to jack up tuition and for parents and students to borrow to pay for it.
- It’s obviously political.This is obviously vote buying scheme. That’s why it’s coming 9 weeks before an election instead earlier this summer or in the spring. It’s bad policy, using every taxpayer’s money to purchase votes for Leftist candidates.
On This Episode:
BEING FAITHFUL IN AN ANTAGONISTIC WORLD
Recently, my Facebook memories were full of condemnations of what happened in Charlottesville, VA 6 years ago. I saw me and many people of God rightly condemning the sin of racism and white supremacy. It occurred to me while looking back on those posts that we have to be faithful to call out the sins of the culture of this moment as well. It was popular to call out racism. It won’t be popular to call out sexual deviations from God’s design, gender confusion, and family breakdown. We’re called to be faithful, though – whether it’s popular or not.
WE JUST HATE EACH OTHER
I saw this – unsurprising but saddening to see how divided we are. It reminded me of this.
In a world where we think the “other side” is close-minded, immoral, dishonest, etcetera, I have some ideas on how to try and bridge gaps.
IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON
The recent events at Mar a Lago have led me to this conclusion: the country needs to move on from the most recent president. The Right was slowly forgetting him – Fox wasn’t featuring him (even counter-programming against him), polls were starting to show the Governor of Florida slightly leading him, and other polls started to show more and more on the Right were ready to move. And then Mar a Lago happened. Now instead of talking about inflation and crime, Republicans are spending time defending one of the most unpopular people in the country. The Left can’t quit him for other reasons I’ll discuss.
I just argue this: we all need to move on.
On This Episode:
ENTERTAINING OURSELVES TO DEATH
An important book by this title came out in 1985. I recently went through it, and it's important. He primarily argues that George Orwell's vision of totalitarianism coming from an outside force was wrong. Instead Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" correctly demonstrates that totalitarianism will come from our triviality, addiction to distraction, and love of entertainment.
THINK ABOUT YOUR PHONE
I have long argued that it's the CONTENT of anything that matters and not the thing itself. I think I'm wrong about that. In an oral communication era, those with wisdom and age were desired. In a written world era, logic, preciseness, and rhetoric thrived. In a TV world, entertainment was king. In our new media world, we've designed it to reward all the wrong things. The devices themselves matter, and we need to rethink our relationships to our devices because of that.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FBI
I'm not even really talking about the execution of a warrant on a previous president. I'll wait to get more details before pronouncing judgment on that. However, there is a lot of oddity going on at the FBI that undermines its credibility. That's a dangerous development. I'll provide details.
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
SOCIAL SCIENCE CATCHES UP TO THE BIBLE -- AGAIN
A recent study demonstrates the very real outcomes when lower incomes kids become friends with higher income kids. The study demonstrates what he know is obvious: who we choose as are social circle largely determines who we become. The Bible has been saying that for millennia.
AOC, MTG, AND BURNING IT ALL DOWN
I want to compare Nancy Pelosi/Paul Ryan on one side and Ocasia-Cortez and Taylor-Green on the other. There's something instructive here about reforming a system instead of seeking to burn it down.
WHAT'S IN THE BILL?
We have a half-trillion dollar bill working through Congress. Let me give you the details about what's in it. Hint: it's mostly just taxes and spending.
On This Episode:
SIGNIFICANT DEPRESSION STUDY
Psychology today published a study that concludes the "Chemical Imbalance" theory of depression has no empirical evidence. Some folks are OVER-interpreting this data, but this is an important moment to assess our thinking on the future of mental health treatments. I have a ton to say on this one.
C-V-D19 THOUGHTS
Dr. Deborah Birx made an important admission I want to address, and a Canadian Court issued an import vindication of a pastor who refused to close his church during lockdowns. I have some other thoughts after looking back on the response.
VENGEANCE IS A TERRIBLE MOTIVATOR
The party on the Right in the US is poised to win a majority in at least one chamber of The Congress. It seems some have an agenda designed to extract revenge -- not to solve problems. In politics and in life, vengeance is a destructive motivator.
A LOT MORE
ON THIS EPISODE:
PATRIARCHY VS. COMPLEMENTARITY
I found a group of believers recently that want to use the the term "patriarchy" to describe the Bible's teachings on gender roles. I want to argue that we don't need that word and all its baggage. We have better ways to explain the Bible's revealed truth and wisdom: masculinity and femininity are good, of high honor, and complement each other. Men still take the heavy responsibility to lead, care for, provide for, and protect in the home and the church in complementarianism. Women still fill their vital role. We just don't need that alienating term.
A NEW "ISM."
The culture is full of "isms." There's a new one, adultism, that claims, GASP, some of us believe parents and adults must set up boundaries to keep children safe without the children's consent. I'll tell you all about this madness.
3 STORIES IN 15 MINUTES
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The Justice system's slowness is causing injustice and more crime.
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A recent video tried to make me sympathetic to Christian bands who lost their fame over their support of aberrant sexualities. It did not succeed. We can treat the sinner outside the faith with grace, kindness, and winsomeness. If someone inside Christianity is claiming that which is evil is good, we must act for the purity of the church.
3.Everyone is talking about the political realignment happening now. I have some thoughts on how white, woke, Leftists are driving people in my direction.
On This Episode:
THE CHRISTIAN AN PATRIOTISM
I want to re-visit this topic with categories. We can trade in America First and "proud to be an American for "Kingdom first" and humility that God placed us in the most prosperous, safest, most stable place in human history. Let's be grateful for where we are, use its opportunities for the Gospel -- all without making the country an idol.
HOW TO REPOND TO COUNTRY IDOLATRY
The American story is beautiful. That's why it has patriots and followers. The Christian story is even better. The Christian story is better than the stories of our families, ethnicities, ideologies, countries or anything else. So, let's tell the beautiful story of Jesus.
SHEED DOGS VS. SHEPHERDS
In evangelicalism right now, there's a divide on how to present truth faithfully. I argue here that there's a role for sheepdogs -- snapping the flock into safety. There's also a role for shepherds who more gently guide. Both types need to appreciate each other.
HARASSMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
We're in a season of people protesting at houses and restaurants. That's currently coming only from the Left. The Right will respond in kind if it continues. That makes for an ugly an contentious world.
On This Episode:
LOCAL UNIVERSITY DOES NOT RENEW LESBIAN PROFESSOR'S CONTRACT
A Baptist University is getting a little negative attention for letting a newly-open lesbian professor go. They made the exact correct decision, and I'll tell you why.
RAPID FIRE SECOND SEGMENT
-A reasoned response to our gender madness from... Bette Midler?
-Part of growing up is no longer letting our experiences tint our formulation of policy prescriptions.
-Another religious liberty win at a lower court. Now, what are we going to do with all this religious freedom?
-I think a listener convinced me that no person should say another person is going to hell.
THE SUPEREME COURT'S OTHER HUGE WIN
In the last year, the Supreme Court ruled:
-The CDC can't issue an eviction moratorium
-OSHA can't force employers to be vaccine police
-The EPA can't write specific regulation for carbon emissions without Congressional approval.
These are all good, important decisions that disempowers the executive branch, empowers Congress, and restores a lot of power to the States. We need that separation of powers if we're going to hold together. The Court is starting to put the federal government back in its box, and that's healthy.
POST-ROE REACTIONS
I want to respond to the good and bad responses I've seen since Roe was overturned.
On This Episode:
WHY THE LEFT TENDS TO BE UNPREPARED FOR ARGUMENTS
In the aftermath of rulings on abortion, guns, and religious liberty, I noticed the Left is bad at their arguments. I theorize that is because to be on the Left means your worldview is affirmed in school, on TV, in movies, in music, and the entire culture more broadly. To be on the Right is to be challenged by the world around you. That has left the Left unprepared and under informed on these topics.
PRAISE THE LORD: ROE AND CASEY ARE DEAD. WHAT NOW?
I want to spend some time equipping you to traverse the lies (and sometimes just ignorant claims) expressed regarding abortion the last couple of weeks. I want to recap the story of these 49 years and how we got to this momentous occasion. Finally, let's talk about how we serve our neighbors in a post-Roe world.
RULINGS ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
The Court also ruled that Christian schools can't be excluded from school voucher programs and that school employees don't have to drop their faith at work. These rulings have been a mercy, and I'm grateful for them.
JAPAN LOWER COURT RULES AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE
It's interesting that a totally non-Christian culture and government finds a very logical reason that marriage should be reserved to men and women.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
I finish with a quick word ont he holiday and how we balance celebrating the country but keeping our eyes on the eternal home we get later.
Obviously, the internet is full of multiples lines of argument regarding the Supreme Court’s Dobbs vs. Jackson decision and all the cascading effects thereof. I want to focus on just two claims I have heard much too often:
- The Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe and Casey lied to the Senate during their confirmation hearings by saying they held Roe and Casey to be “precedents” or “settled law.”
- Supreme Court decisions are sacred and overturning Supreme Court decisions is dangerous and rare.
“THE JUSTICES LIED.”First, no they didn’t. Go read the transcripts or watch the videos of the confirmations for Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. They indicated that Roe and Casey were indeed precedents and settled law. They affirmed the legal doctrine of stare decisis (that, as a rule, Supreme Court decisions should be affirmed). They never claimed the doctrine of stare decisis was absolute and that no Supreme Court decision could be overturned, however.
Second, affirming that something is settled law right now does not indicate that it will stay settled law forever. The 48th footnote in the Dobbs Majority Opinion cites dozens of examples. That brings me to my second point.
“OVERTURNING PREVIOUS CASES IS DANGEROUS.”This claim can be made only out of dishonesty or ignorance. I like to assume the best of people, so I will assume it’s just ignorance.
Plessy vs. Ferguson established the “separate but equal” doctrine on which our immoral, government-enforced ethnic segregation rested. Fifty-eight years later, Brown vs. the Board of Education discarded Plessy — in part because Plessy was wrong from the start.
Baker vs. Nelson (I would argue accurately) held that marriage was reserved for one man and one woman. Obergefell vs. Hodges overturned Baker and made homosexual marriage the ruling regime in the US.
Bowers vs. Hardwick held that governments could outlaw sodomy and prosecute its practitioners. Lawrence vs. Texas struck down the core holding of Bowers.
Many of these people are lying to you.No one is a stare decisis absolutist. Do you think the people screeching about Roe’s demise bemoaned the overturning of Plessy, Brown, and Lawrence? Of course not.
The people making this point don’t even actually believe what they’re saying.
Many of them want other cases regarding gun rights and religious freedom overturned right now. They care nothing for stare decisis in those areas.
CONCLUSIONThe internet is full of lies, manipulations, and terrible arguments right now. Don’t be taken in by the ones that say these Justices lied or that this action of overturning a landmark decision is rare or radical.
On This Episode:
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
-I found that we have a conservative vs fundamentalist divide over abortion, Critical Race Theory, Standards for Leaders and our general demeanor.
-I have a lot to say about all of those.
-Rick Warren bragged into a microphone, but it gives us a chance to examine the distinctions of the Church's governance. How is the Church to be run?
OTHER TOPICS
-The Supreme Court issues an encouraging ruling on religious freedom.
-Belief in God plummets on the Left and among Democrats. This divide is our most profound.
-Local grandad finds LGBT propoganda children's books in the public library.
ON THIS EPISODE:
KAVANAUGH ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
The only feature of the tumult of the 1960s we haven't had is the assassinations. We are a people standing on shaky ground. We can't handle a major assassination. We can learn a lot from this plot and from whence it came.
THE CHURCH AND BIG DATA
Some churches are now using the same tactics that major digital media and digital advertisers use to target potential members or target people in need. Are you okay with churches using the same tactics as Google, Amazon, and other tech giants?
WE HAVE A WEIRD TAKE ON AGE IN THE US
As we've discussed raising the age on when someone can buy certain guns, it has occurred to me that we have an almost schizophrenic view of age. Alcohol, smoking, maybe guns, and other items are too sensitive for 18-years-olds. At the same time, we say 18-year-olds are mature enough to vote, take on large amounts of debt, or change their "gender." There is no cohesion.
RAPID FIRE:
-A way to fix social security
-Funny but also crazy End Times "prophet" on YouTube
-AOC misunderstands our government
-Thoughts on the January 6th hearings
Everyone is a discernment prophet now. It seems the internet is full of men so holy, they can judge the hearts, motives, and even surmise the actions of over 10,000 people in a room just by watching a limited video feed. We’re lucky to have these men.
I know I’m starting off snarky, and I will admit I am annoyed at these folks. We have in Christian life a group of people who see theological liberalism or heresy around every corner and in every shadow. These people have the personality of hammers, and when you’re a hammer, you see nails… everywhere. It’s all you can see. Okay, I’ll drop the attitude from here — the best I can.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH RICK WARREN AND SADDLEBACK?
Much was rightfully made of the SBC’s leadership giving roughly ten minutes to Rick Warren, Church-world celebrity, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life", and until his recent retirement, longtime pastor of Saddleback Church in southern California.
While that decision from leadership was significant, the reaction from Twitter is full of people who weren’t in the room but have assumed the authority and expertise to speak to EXACTLY what was going on — in all of their omniscience.
I sort of get it. When you’re watching the online feed, you can see a couple dozen people applauding Warren. You can hear what seems to be loud approval of what he said. If you were in the room, you witnessed something altogether different.
A couple of points on that:Warren’s presence was a surprise to almost the entire room. On the agenda at the time, the schedule called for “Miscellaneous Business.” When he was recognized and appeared on the screens, I wasn’t the only one who audibly groaned.
There were over 10,000 people in the room. If even half of them applaud at any given moment, it makes a thunderous noise on a broadcast. Moreover, remember, we’re Baptists and mostly southern. So, we’re polite. Some applause is just out of courtesy.
Some unquantifiable number of people in the room were not happy Warren was being given time. It was sprung on us. I know this is true: if Warren had pre-scheduled, featured time on the agenda, there would have been objections and motions made to preclude him.
As a consequence, for the discernment types out there, your take that there is vast acceptance and approval of Warren and his leadership from the SBC messengers is just wrong. You’re slandering and rumormongering – sinning. You should stop.
You also missed this somehow. He opened with a joke about how men on the gallows get to say their last words. He opened by acknowledging that the trajectory of the SBC is to expel churches who are doing what he did – ordaining women.We’ve got a guy, Warren, giving his Conventional last words, being applauded by some people while he’s there, and you’re all interpreting that event as evidence for a liberal drift? Maybe you don’t know enough to be making that judgment.
But they applauded when he said we shouldn’t let secondary issues divide us. That sentiment is broadly popular in SBC Life. Those of us highly attuned to the situation can recognize that he’s trying to apply that to women elders, and so we’re not on board. Others just hear the sentence denotatively and think, “Yeah, we shouldn’t let secondary issues divide us.”
Now, of course, Biblical gender roles in the church, I guess, can be a secondary issue when we’re determining who is generally in the family of God.
However, it is NOT a secondary issue when it comes to being a Southern Baptist. Because Warren and Saddleback are outside Southern Baptist orthodoxy on this, they should soon be gone.
What about what he said and the role of women in ministry? Here’s a problem the SBC does NOT have: Any significant number of members or leaders who affirm that women can fill the role of elder and think they are remaining Biblically faithful.Those claiming the SBC is running leftward on the role of women in ministry are just wrong. That contingent doesn’t exist in any significant way.
Here is the problem we do have: decades of varying traditions making a mess of polity of terminology.We are not a denomination. There are no top-down instructions or unification regarding the terms we use. In that vacuum, we’ve had decades of people just making stuff up, and some of that stuff is not the proper, correct Biblical language.
We have churches using terms like “worship pastor,” “children’s pastor,” or “youth pastor,” and in many of those churches, those people in those roles –whether men or women – are not considered as or are acting as the core leadership of that local body.
We’ve had decades of churches that have a “lead pastor” (not technically a Biblical term), deacons (who functionally serve the Biblical role of “elders” in those churches) and then elders who – well we’re not sure what they’re supposed to do in that “model” of church.
Others even try to separate the functions of pastor/elder with the office of pastor/elder.
Baptist polity, in a lot of places, is just an absolute mess. While it is a mess and in desperate need of correction in those churches, again, we don’t have a problem of people purposely, actively, affirming that women and men serve all the same functions and offices in church life.
So, what do we do?What I’m hearing from some is that we need to aggressively hunt down these congregations who are incorrectly – but honestly (as in it’s an honest mistake) – using the incorrect terms for positions and expel them for doing something they’re not doing: ordaining women.
Might I suggest a different approach? Why not education? Instead of going to war, might we, in meekness, instruct the weaker brethren, who, because of tradition, have gotten these structures incorrect?
FINAL THOUGHTWe don’t have a liberal drift in the SBC. We have some fundamentalists who see liberal drift absolutely everywhere they look and sounding alarms as loudly as they can. I refuse to judge people’s motives. I don’t know why they’re doing it, but they are.
They’re not wrong that we have folks who misunderstand the office elder, deacon, and what a pastor is. That is absolutely true. Those same people are NOT arguing that we need to have women ordained or in the eldership.
That’s an important distinction that our fundamentalist brothers need to grasp.
So, let’s continue to pursue the expulsion of churches who are flaunting some of our Baptist distinctions — like Saddleback. Concurrently, let’s kindly instruct and teach others to see if we can win our brothers to right polity – instead of just casting them out.
ON THIS EPISODE:
LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN DURING THE SECULAR HOLY MONTH OF "PRIDE"
It occurred to me that all religions have a calendar. The Christian calendar just recently celebrated Ascension Day and Penteost.
In our secular progressive humanist religion -- the dominant religion in America -- Pride month is starting to seem like their Advent or Passover. That recognition prompted this question: how does a Christian behave when the secular church is celebrating its holy month. I have some ideas.
REVISITING THE SBC SEX ABUSE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS
The SBC should adopt a lot of what has been recommended. I have a couple words of caution on how this process should work.
A LOT MORE
On This Episode:
A DEBATE ON RACIAL INJUSTICE
The first 2/3 of the show is dedicated to covering a Gospel Coalition debate regarding the church's response to racial injustice. I'll play many sound clips, respond, and synthesize an answer.
WHO NEEDS THAT GUN?
I keep hearing this argument like it's a debate-ender. It's not. The response is practical, philosophical, and even theological.
RAPID FIRE TO FINISH
I spent almost the entire show providing details of the report regarding how the SBC has handled sexual assault/abuse allegations over the past 20 years.
It's ugly, sad, and we'll work through the entire thing together.
I have been letting my thoughts crystalize. Profound sadness overtakes any other reaction when children die senselessly. That profound sadness is only compounded by a mass killing in Buffalo earlier this month and another at a Brooklyn subway station last month. We could probably recount each violent episode and others, almost month by month, going back years.
I wish others would also give the thoughts and feelings time to coalesce. Instead, some percentage of the country has an unhelpful and unhealthy reflex to bow up and prepare for rhetorical battle.
One set of people are ready and quick to remind everyone that humans perpetrate violence, not guns, and that the only realistic preventative measure to violence is to arm and prepare more people to respond.
Another set of people are as ready and quick to inform you that your sympathies, thoughts, and prayers are meaningless, that unless you agree with them about policy, you’re a heartless monster, and that the only preventative measure is to, “do something.”
I mostly ignore people who have policy ideas within hours of terrible savagery. Now that I have had some time, I did decide to stare as honestly and as practically as I can at this question: can these acts of violence be prevented, and if so, how? What follows is my stream of consciousness on that question.
It’s too late for gun bans. Jettison for a moment the immorality and unconstitutionality of banning guns or most guns outright. Just ask: would it prevent even most of the violence we’re seeing today? I don’t think it would.
In the US, we have more guns in circulation than we have people. We have 330 million Americans. No one knows the exact number, but the number of guns in circulation is likely just over 400 million. You could ban the manufacture and purchasing of guns tomorrow, and it would have no impact.
The illegal drug trade that runs almost unchecked in the country would just extend to guns.
Gun confiscation is unrealistic.Again, forget the morality and the 2nd Amendment for the moment. Is it realistic as a mature policy proposal that the federal government would confiscate, by force, those guns or at least a lot of them? Millions of guns are unregistered. Maybe thousands of Americans would resist by responding with deadly force.
That practical objection comes before absorbing the reality that it is also illegal.
But what about banning “assault weapons”? I understand the lay person’s instinct toward this, but this is also no solution.
Roughly 2% of deaths where a gun was the weapon used by the killer are deaths where the gun was a rifle.
That goes before understanding how easy it is to turn many handguns into functional rifles. Further, I’m not being pedantic when I wonder: what is an “assault weapon?”. I heard one pundit use the definition, “any gun where one round is fired for each time the trigger is suppressed.” That describes very literally almost every pistol in the country.
Moreover, that same FBI chart I have linked above demonstrates that a majority of deaths caused by a person using a gun come from handguns/pistols. In the end, an “assault weapons” ban — whatever that means — might make its proponents feel good about themselves, but would result in only a marginal change in death, if any at all.
How about expanding background checks?Okay, I guess, but can someone explain what violent acts we expect this to prevent? Most of the mass killers we could name over the last 15 years either did pass background checks or would have if they had submitted to one. Nothing in most of their records would have precluded them from purchasing a gun.
Moreover, this assumes that people with criminal intent would, for no logical reason, submit themselves to a background check instead of using a criminal method of getting a gun.
I know this is discouraging, but when you dig into those FBI statistics, you will find most gun violence with pistols is perpetrated by people who already circumvented the background check system and bought the gun illegally. These are often previous criminal offenders disqualified from gun ownership but don’t care.
What about making background checks universal?I’ll admit my skepticism on this because many guns change hands between family members, friends, or locals making free exchanges. This also does not address the reality of hundreds of thousands of guns already in the possession of people who might not have passed a background check.
People already skirt the law in a myriad of ways. I can’t find a good reason to think bypassing a background check while selling a gun would be any different for most people. Again, I’m not calling this a bad idea. I am just dubious as to its effectiveness.
I’m not saying their intentions are bad.I am confident most of the anti-gun folks are honest, scared, and just want to see the bloodshed lessened. Not all of these people are power hungry authoritarians. I recognize the good intentions.
I just review the ideas and wonder how practical or helpful any of those ideas are. So what might help?
I think I’m becoming in favor of a very precise, careful version of “Red Flag Laws.”Some killers of late had been obvious risks to public safety. I’m leaning toward needing a way for a citizen to report potential risk to a law enforcement body and then let due process run its course. I have not landed on specifics, but let’s say we have three independent mental health professionals all testify that someone has become a danger to themselves or others, a judge could order any guns already in possession to be removed from the home and apply that information to a background check.
I would want automatic sunsets for those orders. Maybe after a month, and each month after that, the case would need to be heard again so that liberty may be restored to the troubled person.
Whatever process would be created, it needs to value individual liberty and the right to defend one’s self and property while also allowing due process to deprive someone of liberty and property for a short time of determined danger.
Why wouldn’t we have more security?I’m against almost all government spending and largesse. However, if we are going to require defenseless children, teens, teachers, and administrators to meet in a building daily with no permission to defend themselves, then we have to provide robust security. I understand we’re offering these Resource Officers, but why not more?
Whatever it costs to get hardened, armed security to our schools, let’s pay it.
Even I am a bit scrambled on this.Even as I work through this, I am realizing that the prevention of mass shootings is an entirely different set of policies than trying to prevent violence committed with guns more broadly. Red Flag laws and hardened schools or institutions try to prevent mass shootings — a relatively small number of deaths caused by someone using a gun.
If we’re going to affect change against violence committed with guns more broadly, that will require fundamental changes in law and in culture.
Here are a few more ideas.* Enforce existing gun laws. We already have a ton of gun laws. Let’s enforce them and make the punishments for breaking those laws severe. * Reintroduce some form of mental health committals. Our “insane asylum” system decades ago was inhumane. However, the idea isn’t outright bad. Many of our violent offenders do not need to be in prisons, but through due process, need to be committed to a mental health facility. * Invest in more mental health resources. The presiding worldview of the past 50 years has been secularism. Secularism has led our people to its logical terminus: hedonism that turns into existential nihilism. It’s no wonder we’re largely mentally ill. * Value Virtue — Correlations does not prove causation. It is nevertheless worth recognizing the correlation between the disintegration of families and the rise of depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders. Broken families create broken people. Broken people are most likely to do violence.
ON THIS EPISODE:
RHETORIC, VIOLENCE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM
We've had a spate of politically or ideologically motivated violence in the last decade or so. I have noticed that the zeitgeist of the moment does not equally apply the standard of how much media, rhetoric, or ideas motivate this violence. I'm going to equally apply the standard and then encourage some steps on how to protect our own minds and our kids from being taken in by destructive ideas.
TERRIBLE COUNTRY SONG
In short, Kane Brown has a song out that is the prime example of romantic idolatry. I'll provide details.
JOHNNY DEPP, AMBER HEARD, AND OUR CULTURE OF RECORDING
One of the weirdest part oft he Depp-Heard saga is how much they recorded each other. That's also a habit I've seen on social media. Let me walk you through why this is a negative phenomenon.
GREAT DEBATES TO WATCH
The Gospel Coalition recently hosted debates on gun culture and wokeness. They're excellent, and I recommend them.
On This Episode:
THE BIBLE AND STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS (0-13:00)
I've seen a few memes and people trying to use the Bible to argue for student loan forgiveness. While I oppose student loan forgiveness, I most vehemently oppose twisting Scripture. That's what I want to address.
WAR ABOUT POLITICAL TACTICS INSIDE THE AMERICAN CHURCH (13:00-40:00)
I find it inexpressibly hard to take a side in an argument where people on every side are people I admire and highly regard. That's the exact position I'm in right now, though, with an argument regarding if/how Christians should engage with politics and civics. Let me walk you through the conflict, and let's decide on where we land.
WHY WE SHOULDN'T REGARD "THE AMERICAN VOTER."
I recently saw data on Roe. vs. Wade and on inflation that showed most American voters just don't know enough to provide informed opinions. So, let's stop being swayed by polls and public opinion.
On This Episode:
TIM KELLER TWEET MISSES THE MARK SORT OF BADLY
I don't presume to have anywhere near the level of wisdom and knowledge Tim Keller does. He's a role-model-from-a-distance of mine. He did recently have a tweet thread about Christians, politics, and when we divide that missed the mark badly, though.
THE SUPREME COURT, ABORTION, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
You've all heard what's happened. I have a lot of thoughts on the leak, the leaker, the consequences of the ruling and what happens next.
The reaction to the leak of a Supreme Court Draft Opinion that would overturn Roe vs. Wade has ranged from elation to hysteria and has produced takes and opinions that have ranged from measured to unhinged meltdowns full of falsehood.
I have a great deal of interest in diminishing the cultural temperature, so that cooler heads can prevail. To that end, I am going to respond to — I hope humbly — to some of the rage, anger, and error that the reaction has produced.
“Other rights like interracial marriage are now in peril!”Some folks have posited that the reasoning in the Dobbs opinion (that overturns Roe) would lead to the Court overturning cases on interracial marriage or even integration of schools.
To keep the temperature low, I will not speculate on the motives of the people who have injected those fears or possibilities into the national conversation. These hypotheticals, though, are not rooted in fact.
Justice Alito, who authored the leaked opinion, is careful to specify the reasoning by which and for which Roe would be overturned. On pages 9, 10, 45, and 51 of the Opinion, Alito specifies that Roe’s reasoning was rooted in a Court-manufactured “right to privacy.” Roe concocted that right from pieces of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Alito did NOT use this reasoning:
1. Abortion is not mentioned in the Constitution or its Amendments.
2. The 10th Amendment reserves power to the States when a matter is not mentioned in the Constitution or its Amendments.
3. Therefore, Roe is invalid because it gives power to the federal government instead of the States.
That’s the reasoning that could be used to overturn school integration or interracial marriage.
Alito’s opinion primarily argues that Roe’s reasoning was specious from the start, so the issue is returned to the States.
“A conservative Supreme Court is FORCING its abortion policy on the rest the Country!”Some people have an honest misunderstanding of what would happen if Roe is overturned. Some others might be pushing this line in an effort to motivate people with fear.
This notion isn’t true at all. Each State will now get to make its own abortion policy. The Supreme Court has returned the power to the people. This decision actually WEAKENS the Court and STRENGTHENS the people and their representatives.
About 35% of the US Population will be living in States is virtually no abortion restrictions. Another 30% or so will live in States adjacent to the abortion-friendly States. In relation population a relatively small number of Americans will live in States that use this new freedom to heavily restrict abortion.
“Abortion is popular with close to 80% of the Country!”Several leftist politicians and media figures have been arguing that there is popular consensus in the US in favor of abortion. Importantly, that does not matter in the slightest. Courts are designed to rule dispassionately on laws. They are specifically not to consider public opinion.
This point is even more incorrect than it is irrelevant, though.
Wide swaths of the country — data suggests around 70% — do NOT want to see abortion banned outright. Once you scratch the surface of that data point, however, you find a country that mostly looks like this:"
—Large approval of abortion for any reason in the first trimester
—Large approval of BANNING abortion (with exceptions) in the third trimester
—A smaller mushy middle that can’t decide for what reasons and at what point in the second trimester to cut abortion off.
When emotions cool and people realize that abortion is still going to largely be available, we’re going to find that the average American position on abortion is actually quite complicated.
"This decision is anti-democracy. Presidents who won with a minority of the popular vote nominated these judges.”This has been one of the silliest arguments I have heard.
First, the most anti-democracy outcome is one where unelected judges make policy. Roe vs. Wade is a Court usurping the people and, by fiat, creating policy — the job of the people’s representatives.
This ruling RETURNS power to the democratic system by allowing voters to influence the outcome of abortion policy.
It takes a dim mind to argue that getting to VOTE in reference to a policy is LESS democratic than Courts ruling on it.
Further, we specifically have a republic. Democracy is a terrible, chaotic system of governance, and we are not a democracy. If people object to our system of government, I invite them to start gathering a movement for Constitutional Amendments.
“If you really cared about babies, you would support all of my preferred welfare programs.”I find this one both uninformed and insulting. It’s more important that it’s wrong.
I have seen people arguing that unless you are for full-on socialism, you don’t really care about children.
This argument starts to feel like this: “Unless you give me everything, pay for all my expenses, and never make me responsible for a single expense, I’m killing my kid.” It’s a perverse hostage situation sort of argument.
It is totally consistent to hold these positions simultaneously:
—Stop killing pre-born humans
—I am not responsible for the financial support of every child
At the same time, for pro-life people like me, I urge you to generosity for Crisis Pregnancy Centers and ministries that help those in need. While that private charity is good and virtuous, the argument that unwillingness to create giant programs at the federal level equates to not caring about children is immature, fallacious, and slanderous.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This topic brings out the worst in people. Patience is key. I hope you’ll join me by calmly, humbly speaking truth to the lies that are causing so much rage.
Lives will be saved. If this ruling becomes official, some untold thousands of children, made in the image of God, will come into the world.
- Those little lives, their mothers, and their fathers, will sometimes need help. If you, like me, want to see abortion end, prepare for the success of your movement by donating time and money to your local crisis pregnancy center.
o Those centers provide training for parents.
o Those centers often provide formula and diapers as well.
o If we want to see more children live instead of be killed in the womb, let’s be ready to support them however we can.
ON THIS EPISODE:
The call for the believer is to love your neighbor. But can you love your neighbor when he's constantly punching you? What if he's punching someone else? How do you love that neighbor?
Here's what I'm saying. We live in one of the most antagonistic, polarized, and oppositional moments in modern history. One side is very aggressive. It wants power, control, and its ideas to be hegemonic -- by force if necessary.
Their opposition has started fighting back with the same weapons and methods. Destruction and dissolving seem inevtiable.
Might there be a third way? Is there a way where we stop trying to destroy each other and instead agree to have some shared spaces and institutional neutrality? That's what I want to wrestle with for the first 30 minutes of the show.
After that, Jonthan Hadit recently wrote one of the best articles of the last decade about our cultural dissolution. He lays some blame on social media, and he has a great point.
On This Episode:
VIRAL VIDEO OF CHRISTIANS SINGING ON A PLANE
There's a popular video right now of a group of believers breaking out into song -- including a guitarist walking the aisle -- on a plane. I want to contrast that with a British street preacher and ask: can we sometimes be doing a a good thing but doing it in a rude and obnoxious way?
NOT SO CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN SONG
There's a popular Christian song right now that is not discernibly Christian. Let's use this occasion to train our minds to be discerning about what we consume.
BANNING BOOKS
There are accusations flying right now about elements on the Right trying to ban books. I want to give this some nuance and remind everyone where the major censorious efforts of the last few decades have come from.
WHY IS CRIME RISING?
I have 5 reasons why I think our crime rates are soaring everywhere in the country.
REVIEWING BILL MAHER'S RECENT COMEDY SPECIAL
It was decently funny. He made exactly one point I want to respond to, though.
ON THIS EPISODE:
HOW THE WOKE LEFT HIJACKED COMPANIES LIKE DISNEY
Disney recently released an add advocating for surgically mutilating the genitalia and secondary sex characteristic of young kids and teens. That comes after the MLB, NCAA, Home Depot, Coke and plenty of other companies have bowed their knee to Woke Left in the last few years. How did they conquer the institution of big business? I did some research, and the answer s fascinating.
CONTROVERY IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
The public policy arm of the SBC recently tweeted an appreciation of the moment for the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. When the righteous rule, the people rejoice. When the wicked rule, the people groan. That's in Proverbs. Judge Jackson has illustrated her ideology is anti-Biblical. The emotion to feel isnt' appreciation. It's not anger either. It's just sadness.
An Easter Reflection
Because I've lived such an easy life, I've never suffered experiencing the death of someone close to me. As a consequence, I've never really focused on the promise of Resurrection Sunday being that we get to be reunited with the saints who have gone before. I have some thoughts on that.
ON THIS EPISODE:
THE AMERICAN SEXUAL ETHIC IS DEVOLVING
I've mentioned before that every slippery slope argument I've ever ae about sex and sexuality has proven true. In that vein, I'm getting nervous about what happens next in our descent into depravity. Our cultural overlords need to answer this question regarding our sexual ethic: if you think children can, of their own cognizance and volition, choose their sex and sexuality, why CAN'T they consent to sex itself?
"THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY" ARGUMENT
I have long hated this tired, boring, unintellectual argument from people. I realized recently, though, that I actually believe the access opposite is true. I actually believe Jesus will reign as King over all things. So, in ultimate history, those that rebel against his rule will stand truly on the wrong side of history.
A TON OF CHURCH DATA
Faithlife recently released a study on what songs churches sing and from what Scriptures American churches teach. What can we learn from this data? Quite a lot.
WHY DESANTIS KEEPS WINNING
The Governor of Florida keeps picking up political wins. How? He chooses his battlegrounds and his enemies. I'll break down those details.
TOLERANCE BECOMES OBEDIENCE
I grew up on the cultural Left asking for TOLERANCE regarding their behaviors and proclivities. That group morphed into demanding that you call them fake pronouns, let them teach your kids their own sexual ethics, and a lot more.
On this Episode:
CRYPTOCURRENCIES, NFTs, and CHRISTIANS
I finally figured out what NFTs are. Let me explain the phenomenon and ask if there are any implications.
A THOUGHT ON THE INTERNET
When we all started on the Internet, we went to it for specific purposes and to find specific information. Now, through social media, the internet tells US what to think, what to know about, and what matters. Let's take back our relationship to the Internet and be in charge.
GROWING TICS IN TEENAGE GIRLS
There are studies showing that social media is causing turrets-like symptoms in girls. I have details.
CHOOSING CHRIST OVERALL
A recent story from a UNC Women' Basketball Player gives us the chance to admire courage and question our own priorities.
On This Episode:
GOD, JUDGMENT, AND NATIONS
I recently heard someone say God was judging Ukraine and the West through Russia's aggression. I think that's incorrect, but it got me thinking about whether or not God judges nations or just people.
WE NEED THE SUPREME COURT TO SETTLE THE DEFINITION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
A recent case out of Washington crystalized something for me regarding religious liberty. The correct view is that humans are free to worship, and government must reach a high bar to interfere with that worship at all. The problem is this: many folks seem to think that the natural state of society should be secularism, and thus, the religious person should have to justify their public demonstration of faith.
MARYLAND ABORTION LAW
There was uproar recently about a demonically evil abortion law that was proposed in Maryland. The reaction to that bill is instructive on how we intake media.
WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID FRENCH?
I liked David French. He has become a good lesson, though, on incentives in media. He has become a warning that we all need to watch our diet -- our media diet.
On this episode:
THE WAR, THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, AND CONSPIRACIES
I noticed recently some weird reactions to the war in Ukraine. I want to parse those out. Additionally, I found that this was is, in one way, a religious war.
ARE WE DUE FOR A MAJOR CRISIS?
I'll share a social theory that says people groups face one major crisis about every 80 years. If you count World War 2 as our last major crisis, we're due. If we are headed for crisis, I know this: we earned it.
LEARNING FROM DOLLY PARTON
Over the last few years, Parton has turned down two major honors. What can we learn from her about humility, confidence, and knowing who and whose we are?
On This Episode:
INCREDIBLE STORY OF PEOPLE CHANGING THEIR MINDS
People rarely change their minds on core issues. I have a story from NPR of people changing their minds. It's significant on a couple levels we'll cover.
GOVERNOR GETS PLAUDITS FOR BEING AGGRESSIVE WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS. I HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE.
A popular Governor recently received adulation for aggressively telling college students to take off their masks. While I agree with the sentiment, I want to user the occasion to talk about how needless aggression is largely off-putting. I want to bring in some other Christian voices who often say correct things, but say them in ways that's hard to take. There's always a call to speak the truth. How we speak that truth matters, though.
THERE IS NO "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL
The public relations campaign to bemoan this bill in Florida has been as effective as it has been dishonest. What you've heard from legacy media is a lie. I'll give the details. In short: if you're fighting for the right of government employees to have sexual conversations with 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-years-olds, you're actually being REALLY creepy.
11-POINT PLAN TO SAVE AMERICA
Senator Rick Scott recently released a document by this title. I want to give you the details and measure the ideas.
On This Episode:
LEARNING FROM WAR
We can learn a lot from this invasion. We learn that policy matters. When you intentionally diminish your fossil fuel production and spend all your money on social programs (instead of military/military) defense, you empower some terrible people and are weak to their attacks. I think we learn that prosperity and ease aren't the goals of every people group. We can learn that Americans probably aren't like Ukranians in a very unfortunate way.
POLITICAL HATRED IS HIGH -- WHAT HAPPENED?
In my lifetime, the American political Right has mostly stayed static on policy positions. The American political Left, though, has wildly radicalized. I will prove that. I also think that radicalism is one of the root causes of our caustic social environment.
LISTENER FEEDBACK
I got something wrong on gambling last week, and a listening asks about Hate Crimes bills. In short, I find them unnecessary, inequitable, and make an assumption of government power that we shouldn't assume.
SNL VIDEO ON COVID ATTITUDES
Attitudes are shifting my way on Covid QUICKLY. Many who let the situation drive them insane or coming back to rationality. An SNL video recently demonstrated how uncomfortable that is for them. I'm just going to call it a win -- even if it's an imperfect win.
On This Episode:
AN ENGAGEMENT, A STORY, A LESSON (0:00-13:00ish)
You probably saw: I'm engaged and thrilled about. The day after, I had a really sweet experience at church. Let me tell you the story in a way that I think will benefit you too.
LISTENER ACCUSATION ON GAMBLING (13:00ish-23:00ish)
A listener emailed me to complain about a picture of me sitting at a poker table to friends and family. He called gambling a sin and wanted me to reconcile my poker playing with Christianity. I take these things seriously. I don't want to be wrong one second longer than I have to be. So, let's work through the theology of gambling.
DISAPPOINTING KELLER TWEET (23:00-33:00ish)
Tim Keller, one of my favorite Bible teachers, recently tweeted that no earthly political or economic system will be perfectly Biblical. That's, of course, true. It allows too much room, though, and fails to disqualify unbiblical systems. I'll elaborate.
FINISHING STRONG WITH TWO STORIES (33:00-End of Show)
A study recently found a doubling of people who identify as non-heterosexual over the last 15 years. It also found 20% of Generation Z identify as somewhere on the LGBT spectrum. Do we think something fundamentally has changed in our biology or has something changed the culture?
After that, there's a troubling rally that's touring churches. I have a warning.
On This Episode:
-Matt Chandler recently preached a sermon we all need to hear.
-AOC tries to use religion in an argument. It's not good.
-I have some deeper thoughts from the Super Bowl.
On This Episode:
TIM KELLER, STEVEN COLBERT AND PARAMETERS OF COMPLIMENTS (0:00-16:25)
Recently, Tim Keller commended Steven Colbert for how Colbert articulated his Catholic faith. Other Christian thinkers expressed their displeasure at Keller at this. While I have some nuanced criticism on what Keller FAILED to say, it's important that we do get his core point.
THE CANADIAN TRUCKER FREEDOM CONVOY (16:25-35:33)
I affirm most of the sentiments expressed by this movement -- while also recognizing some terrible people with evil ideas are trying to attach themselves to it. However, it's important that we're all consistent about positions regarding the method of expression. I find hypocrisies abound on every side about this one. I have a Third Way to think about it.
BILL MAHER CONTINUING TO BE ONE OF THE FEW SANE VOICES LEFT OF CENTER (35:33-End of Show)
Bill Maher is saying things about Covid policy that many of us have been saying for two years. He just does it with more humor. I'll play his thoughts and respond.
There's a lot on this show, but I'm short on time, so here are some key words:
-Oklahoma legislator tries and fails to dunk on pro-life people.
-Listener feedback on Encanto and on fallen pastors
-Political Quiz on being for truth over tribe
-Lecrae's controversial Tweet.
On This Episode:
A LESSON ON THE CHURCH AND LISTENING TO THE NEWS CHRISTIANLY
An NPR story about Christian Nationalism led me to some thoughts about the American church, but also gives us a chance to work on our listening skills.
REVIEW OF "ENCANTO"
It's important that we are not just consumers of media. We need to engage and process our media diet. I'll help you do that as we talk about Bruno-o-o-o-o.
LESSONS FROM A DISASTROUS FEW WEEKS IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
We learn a lot on how to lead by looking at the disaster of the last two weeks in Washington.
On This Episode:
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY (0-13:00ish)
Sanctity of Life Sunday is here, and it's important that you're equipped to be mobilized to love the unborn and their mothers really well.
BETHEL WORSHIP "JESUS IS LORD" SONG HAS SOME ISSUES (13:00ish-20:00ish)
I recently heard this song, and I think it misses the mark on some theological rigor. I'll explain.
POLLING FROM CHURCH MEMBERS (20:00ish-34:00ish)
Some extensive research was just released that asked American church members what they wanted to be different in their churches. I suspect the answers might surprise you.
WE'RE IN A "THIRD WORLD CULTURE" (34:00ish-End)
I'm reading a book right now that introduced me to this concept. We live in an "anti-culture" that primarily tries to destroy any institution of restraint. The book helps orient us during this disorienting time.
On this Episode:
-A Rash of fallen pastors. What's causing it?
-What is Christian "Social Justice"
-The Christian sexual ethic is now seen as immoral -- not just weird.
-Why do Christians obsess with celebrities?
-Let's talk Covid.
On this Episode:
NEW YEARS GOALS
In the new year, I want to endeavor to be less hurried, better to emulate, and to make peace -- not just keep peace. Let me elaborate, and maybe you'll want those goals too.
NEW YEARS PREDICTIONS
I'll offer some predictions for 2022.
RAPID FIRE:
-What happened at the Tower of Babel?
-Spiderman Review
-Epigenetics
On This Episode:
LEFT WINGERS CROW AT SUCCESSFUL COMPANY WHERE EVERYONE MAKES AT LEAST $70K (0:00-15:39)
There's a company in Seattle where the CEO took a major pay cut, and they managed to pay everyone at least $70K/year. For some reason, some folks on the Left think this is a dunk on capitalism. A situation where everyone there is free associated with the situation is actually the most free-market arrangement there is. I have a lot of takes about this that will surprise a lot of people.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO WORK (15:39-24:20)
For many, work becomes a method of getting approval, pride, or power. However, if we think about work as just one of the areas where we work out our transcendent meanings (glorifying God and carrying out his mission), we can have a really healthy relationship to our jobs.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT AS GOD (24:20-30ish)
The recent, tragic tornados in Kentucky and the response thereto give opportunity to recognize that for some people's relationship to the federal government is similar to that of ancient peoples and their idols.
SOME FINAL CLEANUP (30ish - end of show)
--Only 18% of American households are nuclear families. We'll talk about the causes, the consequences, and the only potential solution.
--Inflation is terrible right now. Passing BBB will make it much worse.
--More and more people on the Left are leaning my way on Covid policy.
ON THIS EPISODE:
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ABORTION AT THE SUPREME COURT? (0:00-17ish)
I want to revisit some of the oral arguments heard a couple weeks ago at the Supreme Court, including concerns about the Court's credibility, precedents, using viability as an abortion principle, and a lot more. We also need to imagine the world where abortions are a lot less common. That leaves us in need of a strong, sacrificial, Biblical church, ready to serve and give.
WHY DOES FREEDOM LEAD TO PROSPERITY? (17ish-33ish)
I'll provide the irrefutable numbers -- where there is freedom, humans flourish more. It is in free places that standards of living are higher, environment are cleaner, neighborhoods are more secure, and lives are longer. Why is this true, though?
Here's what I'll posit: human freedom is part of God's design for humanity. So, where governments remain restrained and limited, they follow the good design of God -- whether they know it or not.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter firstly that freedom WORKS. It matters that living in accordance with God's design will, by nature, lead to better outcomes.
TWO QUESTIONS: SHOULD WE EAT MEAT & WHY DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT THING ABOUT WOMEN COVERING THEIR HEADS? (33ish-43ish)
I was recently asked these two questions. The Bible certainly doesn't prohibit meat-eating; however, it's worth asking if HOW we eat meat is ethical. After that, I'll provide the PRINCIPLE we should practice in response to the specific situation Paul wrote about to the Corinthians (women covering their head while speaking).
WE HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM (43ish-50ish - end of show)
God gave us governments, in part, to punish evil. Some governments in the US have largely ceased their core job of enforcing laws. The people most hurt by this are the most vulnerable among us. I have details.
On This Episode:
DON'T RENDER TO GOVERNMENT WHAT BELONGS TO GOD (0-17ish)
Many of us, including me, have the propensity to render under Ceasar that which is God's. I'll itemize a few things that we are tempted to give to governments that ultimately God's. Also on this, we'll discuss how there is no separate concept of "spiritual life." All of life is spiritual. Our faith goes everywhere we go -- to work, to our social media feed, in our community, into the voting booth, and absolutely everywhere.
HOW TO BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT IN THIS AGE (17sh-33ish)
Being kind with our words, generous with our time, and oriented toward our families would make us some of the weirdest people in the country -- in a good way. Let's talk through all of those.
SEVERAL STORIES TO FINISH UP (33ish-end of show)
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The corporate media has dropped a dramatic story about mass murder in Waukesha, WI. Why?
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We might be close to finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. That's worthy of celebrating. It's also a story that's instructive on one of the GOOD reasons are health care system is so stupidly expensive.
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There's a new Covid variant. I'll talk about the reaction than the variant itself.
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Delaying the implementation of various v-word mandates demonstrates that the supporters and imposers of those mandates don't actually believe there's a Covid emergency.
On this Episode:
A WORD ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON (0:00-13ish)
Thanksgiving and Christmas are hectic. These end-of-year holidays happen so fast, they often happen TO us -- instead of us engaging and experiencing them. I have a word of caution on that. Additionally, Advent season is right around the corner, so I have a word on week 1's theme: hope.
ANDREW COFFEE, AHMAUD ARBERY, KYLE RITTENHOUSE, THE BIBLE AND SELF-DEFENSE (13ish-25ish)
Several high-profile criminal course cases lately have included an element of arguing for self-defense. As is my instinct, I want to see what the Bible teaches us about self-defense, and how it applies to these cases.
WHEN LEFTISTS ABUSE THE BIBLE, I CRINGE
The Speaker of the House recently argued (again) that her policy preference was derived from her "christian faith." First, I was reliably informed no one can impose their values through legislation. That's "legislating morality." Second, the Speaker MANGLES Scripture terribly.
HOMESCHOOLING IS BOOMING
The numbers post-Covid are out. This movement will only keep growing. This topic also gave me opportunity to respond to a ghastly editorial recently that alleged teachers are like surgeons, so parents should stay out of the surgery suite. Riiiiight.
On This Episode:
A QUESTION, A CONVERSATION, AND AN ACCUSATION
-Listener Question: Are American Church run more like governments than they should be?
-Conversation: Is there a "the one"?
-Accusation: "You Christians seem too happy when someone who opposes you experiences calamity."
HYPOCRISY ABOUNDS -- ARE WE GUILTY?
The New York Times recently published a video accusing their own (the American Left) of not living their values on housing policy, education, and taxation. They made a compelling case. It's worth considering for us too, though. Do we live the way we SAY want to live, regarding our values?
WHY DOES THE MEDIA GETR STORIES WRONG IN ONLY ONE DIRECTION?
I'll give examples. Getting stories wrong isn't surprising. Journalism is hard; however, our corporate media get stories wrong in only one drection (one that helps the Left).
PEW RESEARCH POLICAL QUIZ
I'll invite you to take a new Pew Research political ideology quiz with me. It's fun and helpful.
On This Episode:
THE ORIGIN OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT
Recently, a podcast erroneously and slanderously alleged that the Religious Right formed through racism. I'll debunk that. However, more importantly, we'll use this as a lesson in learning to think with some nuance and admitting that a complicated world requires complicated thinking.
V-WORD MANDATE IS ISSUED AND THEN STOPPED
The 5th Circuit correctly stayed the federal government's unprecedented, obviously unconstitutional employer v-word mandate. I also, though, want to talk about the decision to receive the v-word because I know many are struggling through it. Some employers will mandate it even without the government's requirement. Personally, I struggle having a side in the V-Word war, but I at least want to talk through the decision.
ELECTION ANALYSIS FROM LAST WEEK
I'm never particularly encouraged when Republicans when elections, but it IS encouraging with destructive ideas and personalities on the Left are defeated. So, last week's elections were good news for those who want to see bad ideas repudiated. I'll provide a breakdown of some races you might have missed as well.
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS
After the election, many on the Left sought to gaslight parents regarding Critical Race Theory in schools. While CRT isn't taught explicitly, its tenants and consequences have made their way into instruction.
There's a lot on this episode. We talk about the terrible "Life of Linda" campaign and how there are many other stories to tell that are more human-affirming.
I talk about the culture in which we raise our kids and why we're losing them to secularism and its Leftism.
I'll prepare you for all the lies you'll be told during the holiday season.
I'll even tell you how the Left ruins Twix. It's a good episode. You should listen.
On this Episode:
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO THE "LET'S GO BRANDON" PHENOMENON
The Scriptures have a lot to say about the Christian's participation in the culture -- in particularly how we use our words. Let's apply that to the "Let's Go Brandon" phenomenon and a couple other items.
LESSONS FOR TRAVEL
I recently visited Amish country and the city of Philadelphia. There's a lot we can learn for our character from the Amish and our national heritage from Philly.
BOOK BY A LIBERAL THAT SAYS PROGRESSIVES RUIN CITIES
I love cities. This summer I spent time in Atlanta, Nashville, Denver, and Philadelphia. I can see the decay in our urban centers. One recent book from a liberal actually blames the Far Left.
IT'S REFORMATION SEASON!
Yes, it's Halloween, but it's also the time to commemorate the Protestant Reformation. I have some stories to help us do that.
THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE
Conservatives should lower expectations in this race. It's a very blue state; however, folks on the Right should be heartened that the radical policy and ideas of the Left are unpopular and making this race competitive.
On this Episode:
-What we can learn from Squid Game's popularity.
-Sexual abuse has already rocked many institutions. In the SBC and in public schools, it seems another reckoning is coming.
-Demi Lovato is mentally ill.
-Men managing their hobbies while still fulfilling their duties.
-A Super dishonest NBC headline
-MUCH more
On This Episode:
REACTION TO DAVE CHAPPELLE'S COMEDY SPECIAL
Chappelle is taking fire from alphabet soup lobby, and he's taking it well. He also spoke important truth in that special about the actual dominant force in the culture. You can often tell who is in charge of any given organization/culture by determining who you are NOT allowed to joke about. Chappelle's special is revealing that truth.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND "MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY."
I found out there's a phenomenon on social media among the younger set, urging them to be the main character of their lives. The Christian message has a true, liberating, and invigoration response to that message. We're all invited into a much bigger story than our own -- and it's an epic one at that.
REGULATING SOCIAL MEDIA
I tend to be against any regulation, but these 25 years of social media are giving us information now that might require action. I'll work through the options.
AN ECONOMICS DEBATE WITH DEEPER MEANING
I recently listened to two left-of-center folks debate these giant spending bills Congress is considering. One gentleman aptly explained the consequences of spending and taxes on inflation, wage depression, and employment. The other debater basically said, "but sad things are sad, so I want to spend money, so maybe I won't be sad anymore."
It's a good lesson in HOW to think instead of WHAT to think.
On This Episode:
A LISTENER EMAIL ON WHY I'M WRONG ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCES (0:00-13:55)
I recently argued that younger folks today struggle financially, IN PART, because of widespread inability to deny themselves the things they want and by thoughtless spending. A listener wrote in and made good arguments about inflation and cost-of-living being the primary driver of financial struggle. Let's find the balance between those two.
SHOULD WE BE SPENDING $5 TRILLION DOLLARS WE DON'T HAVE? (13:55-36:18)
Along the way in this discussion, we'll look at:
-A Biblical worldview on government spending
-How to measure the morality of an economic system
-That the moderate bi-partisan position is AGAINST a gigantic welfare state spending bill
-I'll provide specifics about what's in the $3.5 trillion Welfare State Bill
SEVERAL ITEMS (36:18-End)
-If the most recent former president runs, I'm asking folks on the right to ask themselves, "why would you do it again? What did you get from that administration that you couldn't get from any generic Republican?
-Governor Kathy Hochul gets super weird
-The Left hosted an abortion hearing. It was demonic and ugly.
On this Episode:
NO SOLUTIONS -- JUST TRADE-OFFS
An important lesson to remember in life is that everything is a compromise between competing interests. If you make perfection the demand, you'll just be miserable. This lesson is important in policy-making too.
DEEP LESSONS FROM A FOOTBALL GAME. NO, I'M SERIOUS
A major football program is disappointed, but there are important lessons about entitlement, cherishing great moments, and gratefulness in the dissapointment.
POLITICAL QUIZ
You should take this quiz. I take it live on air.
On This Episode:
THE V@C!NE MANDATE IS OBVIOUSLY ILLEGAL (0:00-14:50)
No president has this power, and the use of this power should trouble literally everyone. The order's parameters are arbitrary and capricious. The enforcement mechanism ranges from unclear to impossible. The court decisions being used as justification regarded how citizens interact with their government and were legislative actions in states -- not dictates from one person in the federal government. The mandate is illegal, and the Courts must handle it.
WE NEED TO BE DWELLING ON THE PROVERBS (14:50-32:24)
We live in a dumb time. It seems like we're getting dimmer. The Proverbs, though, have responses for most of our cultural ills. In a time of isolation, the Proverbs offer wisdom on being a good friend. In a time of idleness, the Proverbs urge us on to hard work. In a moment of instant-everything, the Proverbs provide the wisdom to defer gratification. In an emotionally fraught world, the Proverbs remind us that what we dwell on is what we are and that we have the mandate to direct our thoughts.
IS EMPATHY A SIN? (32:34-End)
I was blown away recently that this question is being sincerely debated. As I heard the debate, though I found some nuances we need to talk out.
On this episode:
I have some opening thoughts on the authority of Scripture in life.
After that, though, I want to talk about the Texas abortion law, and then more broadly, revisit the abortion debate.
On This Episode:
IS THE HUMAN MIND DIMINISHING? (0:00-14:50)
When you think about the minds of antiquity -- Montesquieu, Jefferson, De Tocqueville, etc -- prima facia, it appears their level of cognition, computation, memorization, pattern recognition, and ideation are superior to today's best thinkers. When you compare the curricula of old to today's, again, it can seem we're diminishing intellectually. Is that true, though? If so, what's to blame. I have thought from something called the noetic effect of The Fall.
Beyond that, I'll illustrate just how bad our cognitive dissonance and intellectual hypocrisy has gotten with our broken brains.
LISTENER QUESTION: DO I FIND ANY MORAL REASONING AROUND BEING V-WORDED FOR C-V--D? (14:50-27:04)
The kind and thoughtful listener submitted a question about moral culpability for a treatment or preventative measure that was developed using any line of aborted fetal cells. I try to work through this carefully, Biblically, and thoughtfully.
RELIGION IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE CULTURE AND GOVERNMENT (27:04-33:37)
We tend to be a "separation of church and state" culture. That idea, though, emanates from the concept of the Church as an institution not being intertwined with government. Our government operates on religion -- secularism, environmentalism, humanism, empiricism, etcetera.
Some religion will inform our laws. My claim: The Bible's values will be the best for the most humans, so we should probably pursue Biblical policies.
A COUPLE ITEMS TO FINISH (33:37-End)
I have some thoughts on what SHOULD have happened in Afghanistan. Also, Bill Maher is the exact voice the Left needs right now. The problem is that they're not listening to him. Finally, let me tell you why gratefulness leads to happiness and entitlement leads to misery.
On This Episode:
I HAVE AUDIO OF A WOMAN INDICATIVE OF PEOPLE HOW HAVE A CoV2 PHOBIA
You really need to hear this audio from This American Life. This young lady has passed caution onto outright hysterical phobia -- but she feels righteous and good in this fear. We can laugh at or resent these people, sure. But there's also a better response.
"ESSENTIAL WORKERS" AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT WORK
I have some audio from a journalist questioning by people we called "essential" during the pandemic are also often low paid. The journalist makes the mistake of thinking an ESSENTIAL service is one where the workforce is limited. Labor is a market. If there is a lot of supply, wages will stay low. The more unique a skill set becomes, the supply for that labor is diminished (thus driving up wages). The quicker we realize this truth about wages, the better off we'll be.
I have some additional thoughts on how to think about work Biblically here as well.
LISTENER QUESTION: WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW THE CONCEPTION OF CHILDREN WHO WILL BE ABORTED?
This question could be asked a myriad of ways: why deadly floods in Tennessee or chaos and killings in Afghanistan. Theologians and philosophers have wrestled with the "problem of evil" (theodicy) for millennia. I'll give my abbreviated response to it.
V-WORD MANDATES AND THE CHRISTIAN (I say "V-word" so our Tech Overlords don't throttle me)
Government mandates? I'm all the way out.
Private Service Provider Mandates? Sure. That's freedom of association.
Employer-to-employee mandates? That one is hard and requires wrestling through out.
I also have a quick word here on how v-word absolutists on both sides are just behaving irrationally.
On This Episode:
THE REAL PROBLEM IN AFGHANISTAN
It seems almost unanimous that the US needed to leave Afghanistan. It's also seemingly unanimous that no one liked how the withdraw went. We Ie examine the problem, though, I lay it at the feet of the Islam. There is a reason it was Christianized cultures that birthed the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolutions. Islam, largely, is a system of rot, and it leads to places like Afghanistan.
CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT REBELLION
The Bible has some clarity from the Christian citizen in every country: endeavor to live quiet and peaceful lives, worships regularly, raising families, building businesses, obeying the laws, and praying and working for the well-being of the place where we live.
There is another doctrine in this category, though, called the Doctrine of Lesser Magistrates. I only very recently learned about it, and I'll share what I've learned thus far.
SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS:
-Audio from a public healthy officlal who has no regard for human freedom.
-The English Standard Translation gets criticism for changing the word "slave." It's dumb criticism.
-Some thoughts from a recent comedy show I attended.
On This Episode:
TWO SOCIAL QUESTIONS: HOW TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS? SHOULD AT LEAST ONE PARENT STAY HOME WITH THE KIDS? (0:00-17:22)
Don't blame me. A listener asked me to weigh in on the questions of education and household organization. Many conservatives and Christians are advocating leaving the public school system altogether. My take is mostly that not all schools are the same, so each individual family needs to make their own individual decision -- having the child's spiritual and ethical formation as the top priority.
I also use this time to clarify what the "traditional" family structure looked like at home. It's probably not what you think.
ROBIN DEANGELGO PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES THAT WOKENESS IS RELIGION (17:22-25:00ish)
The "White Privelege" author recently talked about how she realized she was white. It sounded like someone "sharing their testimony." You have to hear this.
IS "HANDING OUT TRACTS" STILL AN EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM METHOD (25ish-33:22)
I deeply admire the Christian who specifically spends time on evangelism. I just want to revisit our methods briefly.
A TERRIBLE ARGUMENT ON TWO OPPOSING SIDES (32:22-39:10)
Pro-shutdown and pro-masking-children people tend to tell you stories and anecdotes about people who get sick or die to make their point. You know who else does that? Anti-Vaccine people. Both are terrible arguments. Data suggests both of their positions are dubious, and if we'll be data-driven instead of emotion-driven, we'll have a better country.
On this Episode:
QUICK WORD TO OPEN THE 7-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY (0:00-3:30)
The show just completed six years. Thanks to all who listen, review, share, and support monetarily the show.
THE SIMONE BILES STORY WAS COVERED ALL WRONG (3:30-15:30)
Some conservative media demonized her. Liberal media lionized her. Neither were helpful. The real story ends up being about the Leftist media reaction. They provide the modern narrative that everyone's #1 loyalty must be to themselves.
SELF has been the priority of our culture for decades now. Has that served us well? Or are we better off when we find meaning outside of ourselves?
RECAPPING THE START, FALL, AND RE-GROWTH OF THE SHOW (15:30-18:30)
My show started strong in 2015. Then a presidential primary came that decimated my audience. I re-tooled, stopped obsessing over stupid politics, and found a new audience. I like this audience better.
THE JANUARY 6TH COMMISSION (18:30-25:00ish)
I'll say it: the January 6th Commission is a political stunt with no real, practical use. I'll prove it.
THE ILLOGICAL SURROUNDING COVID IS BREATHTAKING (25:00ish-35:00ish)
The messaging and fear around Covid at this point is psychosis for some people. I'll provide details on how very little makes sense for those still in fear and panic over this virus.
LEFT AND RIGHT MEASURE DIFFERENTLY (35ish-end of show)
I have found that the Left measure policies by INTENTIONS -- how they felt, their empathy, and what they wanted to happen.
The Right measures policies by RESULTS.
One method is mature and rational. The other is childish and emotional.
On this Episode:
THE SERVANT LEADERSHIP TREND IS A BIBLICAL ONE (0:00-7:05)
With books like "Leaders Eat Last" and business schools teaching "servant leadership," it is worth noting that the entire idea is one Jesus gave us. Greatness through service is a Jesus-taught concept. Even in an unbelieving world, when Biblical practices and values are enacted, it's good and right for human flourishing.
DID JESUS LOVE THE POOR OUTSIDER MORE? (7:05-15:45)
I heard a sermon recently from a typically incredible Bible teacher that was not INCORRECT -- it was incomplete. It seemed to allege that Jesus pursued and valued the culturally marginalized BECAUSE of their lowly estate. That's not true, though.
Cultural obscurity and personal weakness it EASIER for people to see their own need for a redeemer. The rich and powerful struggle to see their own problem. Both, however, come to Jesus totally by his grace alone -- not their earthly status.
I LOVE THIS NEW SPACE RACE (15:45-33:58)
I saw some folks -- typically Leftists -- bemoaning that billionaires are spending their money on space exploration instead of ... . To be kind, it's childish, short-sighted thinking -- on top of it being insanely arrogant to think they know better how to spend SOMEONE ELSE'S money.
Let me talk you through how the unintended inventions and developments from space exploration are going to make ALL our lives better in the coming decades. Let me further explain how this new space race is being funded by the virtuous circle of commerce where consumers get what they want, producers makes profit, and then use that profit to explore -- instead of the government just taking our money to do it.
7 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOW (33:58-35:40)
Next week is the seven-year anniversary of my show. You didn't get me anything? That's fine. It's fine. No big deal.
LISTENER QUESTION: SHOULD WOMEN BE INCLUDED IN SELECTIVE SERVICE (THE DRAFT) (35:40-39:45)
I'm coming to the conclusion that in the West, war between humans might be obsolete. From here on, it's most likely that our machines will battle other machines, and humans will control those machines from many miles away -- out of harms way.
It is an immoral people that would have women fight their wars. However, if we're going to have a draft at all, women could contribute in non-combat roles.
SECESSION IS MORE POPULAR THAN ANYTIME IN THE MODERN ERA (39:55-45:08)
Leftists, conservatives, and centrists alike have a higher approval of secession than ever in a recent poll. I hope the country is coming to the conclusion I came to ten years ago: one city and one set of laws shouldn't apply to us all.
Secession, in my opinion, should not be a radical idea. Britain just left the EU. Likewise, it shouldn't be a crazy idea for California or Texas to leave the union.
THE LEFT EMBRACE PERSONAL RESPONSBILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME -- BUT ONLY ON COVID (45:08-end)
Leftism largely does not want to allow people to feel the consequences of their own actions. However, there's been a recent exception. On Covid and Covid alone, the Left demonstrate the importance of personal responsibility. I'll elaborate.
On This Episode:
OUR OBSESSION WITH "THE SELF" IS MAKING US MISERABLE (0:00-14:26)
The Western world has largely conquered the problems that plagued most of history -- hunger, security, comfort, etcetera. In the absence of those struggles, we've become obsessed with the "self" and the emotional affirmation thereof. The results of that, though, have been soaring rates of all sorts of emotional disorders. All of that is true. What do we do now?
CLINGING TO CONSPIRACIES (14:30ish - 26ish)
We all know decent people who have been convinced of various conspiracies. An email from a listener prompted me to interact with the reality that some folks still cling to a conspiracy about the most recent election. I will try to establish that all of these can be true at the same time: the mass media is a biased, corrupt institution; there are politically driven, bad people throughout the institutions of power; governments used Covid to improperly change voting procedure; AND the outcome was fair and accurate.
DON'T IGNORE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CUBA (26ish-37ish)
Communism, its precursor socialism, and all other centralized systems are immoral systems that oppress and hurt human flourishing. Watching what's happening in Cuba got me thinking about a lot -- what it means to be free, and how Cuban-regime sympathizers in the US would take us down a dangerous path.
A WHOLE BUNCH (37ish-End)
-Why is my show experiencing a surge of growth?
-We got good news for religious liberty in court cases in both the US and in the UK
-The consequences of our Covid freakout last year continue to come into focus slowly.
-Ben Carson speaks a truth that gets him in trouble
On this Episode:
THE RISE AND FALL OF MARS HILL CHURCH (0:00-15:30)
I've been listening to a FASCINATING podcast about the rise and fall of Mark Driscoll and the church he pastored in Seattle. One lesson I know we can take from Driscoll is the importance of being teachable. Are you someone who can take criticism and counsel? Do you make it terrifying for anyone to question you? There is safety and wisdom in having counselors around you.
I'll also offer here a Biblical model on how to GIVE criticism and how to receive criticism.
WHAT WOMEN WANT (15:30-33:38)
Here's the New York Post story: https://nypost.com/2021/07/10/why-progressive-women-want-to-date-men-who-act-conservative/
It's in the words of liberal, progressive, secular women: they prefer men who adopt traditional (conservative) roles -- despite the larger culture trying to bludgeon those values out of men for almost 4 decades now.
There are certainly biological and sociological reasons for this attraction, but there's a deeper reasoning: it's Biblical.
The maker and men and women designed them for one another. These ladies can deny a God,-designed world and humanity, but their preferences betray them.
CULTURE WAR, ROUND 2 (33:39-End)
The catalyst for this is this post from a far-left blogger: https://jabberwocking.com/if-you-hate-the-culture-wars-blame-liberals/
In the last 30 years or so, conservatives have gotten SLIGHTLY more conservative, while liberals have gone off-the-wall Left. This made them the aggressor, and the VICTOR, in the Culture Wars around family, parenthood, sexuality, marriage, etcetera.
Beyond this just being an interesting observation, it made me think about the next 30 years and beyond. Will anti-Biblical secular progressivism continue to dominate? Maybe so, at least in the West. But it doesn't have to, and I have some thoughts on that.
On this Episode:
WORRY AND FEAR AS A CULTURAL FIXTURE (0:00-14:53)
Putting aside actual anxiety disorders for a moment, I noticed recently that we are a culture almost dominated by fear. In conservative media, I recently saw BODY ARMOR being advertised. The home security systems have become ubiquitous, and we have companies selling us apps to constantly monitor our kids and even our pets.
In a terrified world, the Jesus follower can live with a distinct faith and confidence. I have some thoughts on that.
THE IMPORTANT STORY BEHIND THE OLYMPIAN HER TURNED HER BACK ON THE FLAG (14:53-32:52)
I'm generally not offended and don't particularly care about this young lady's behavior at the playing of the national anthem at a recent Olympic trial event. However, I'm deeply interested in what we can learn from attitude. In interviews after the demonstration, it becomes clear that this girl is just a miserable person. If you listen closely, you can hear her misery emanates from a posture of entitlement. She's blown away that the world isn't exactly as she wants it to be, and until it's perfect, she's just going to be angry about it.
We can do that too. Some folks create a world (or a family, spouse, career, home, etcetera) that has never existed and will not exist. Then, they get disaffected that their fantasy world isn't real.
We have a choice to make. We can be grateful for the world we have, leading to happiness. Conversely, we can feel entitled to a world we didn't earn and doesn't exist, leading to misery.
PLAGIARISM IN SERMONS (32:52-47ish)
I'll provide details on a sort-of controversy in the evangelical world right now regarding pastors plagiarizing each other's sermons. The topic also allows some exploration on sermon generation and the nature of preaching.
SOME CLEANUP (47ish)
I re-visit some recent show content, respond to comments, and make clarifications.
On This Episode:
INDEPENDENCE DAY THOUGHT (0:00-7:26)
Happy Independence Day, all! Every year, I try to connect the people that celebrate the US totally uncritically and those that struggle to celebrate it at all. We are both the greatest experiment for human flourishing in the history of the planet AND a place with deep flaws -- all at the same time. We can, and should, recognize all those truths simultaneously.
If you live in the US, you live better and more opulently than 99.9999% of all the humans that have ever lived on this earth. You could take the kings and queens of antiquity, bring them to 2021 America, and they would think they were in heaven. We can choose to be grateful for our place compared to all of human history, or we can choose to compare the US to a fantasy land that doesn't exist and be dejected. It's really our choice.
DEGREES OF SIN (7:26-27:00)
Are all sins equal? Do Christians improperly focus on certain kinds of sin in the culture and ignore others? These questions are worth exploring. Using a full Bible hermenuetic, we find that, while all sin is eternally damnable before a holy God, not all sins are considered equal. I'll build that out for you.
BIBLICAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE (27:00-42:36)
A listener sent me a podcast that developed the idea that prisons are unbiblical. It didn't win me all the way over, but it required me to think about our broken and often irrational penal system. Our prison system is out of control, often dehumanizing to the criminal, not restorative to the victim, and produces an alarmingly high recidivism rate.
This segment is heavy on itemizing the problems but also has some ideas for solutions near the end.
THE PRESIDENT'S "YOU NEED F-15s AND NUKES" TO RESIST THE GOVERNMENT COMMENT (42:36-End)
Of course, the president's comment here was bizarre and dumb, but this notion is common among certain critics of the 2nd amendment. I'll explain why it's a terrible argument against the 2nd Amendment's first purpose, which was defending the states and citizenry against a potentially tyrannical federal government.
On This Episode:
MATTHEW WEST'S SONG TO HIS DAUGHTERS AND THE REACTION THERETO (0:00-19:11)
Matthew West released a song that encouraged his daughters to dress modestly. Some critics said the song adds to a toxic culture of blaming women for male behavior. While the song is good-natured, it's worthwhile considering how we talk to girls about how they dress and the pressures we put on them. I have a lot to say on this one.
THOUGHTS ON JUNETEENTH (19:11-25:10)
If we should ever be able to unify on something, celebrating the end of slavery should be right near the very top of that list. That happened -- sort of. However, some folks ruined it by being reactionary and others ruined it by trying to use it for their on agenda and collection of power. Way to go, USA, you can even find ways to dislike each other while celebrating the end of slavery.
THE SUPREME COURT WITH A THIRD AFFORDABLE CARE ACT RULING (25:10-31:20)
It's not secret I think the ACA is a terrible law and program. The numbers back me up. It has broken every promise made about it. It's original form fundamentally changed the relationship between human freedom and the government. However, technically, the Supreme Court got this one correct on the merits. I have several thoughts on this one.
THE SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY -- SORT OF (31:20-37:11)
It was technically a win for freedom when the Court unanimously ruled in favor of a Catholic agency discriminated against by the city of Philadelphia because they hold to Biblical sexuality. It's not nearly the win it could have been, though, and that's because John Roberts is just terrible. I'll explain.
BILL MAHER GOES AFTER HIS OWN SIDE (37:11-42:56)
Bill Maher goes after the Hamilton creator for bowing the cancel culture. It's foul-mouthed, but it's sort of important.
MEGHAN MCCAIN ON JOE BIDEN AND ABORTION (42:56-end)
Meghan McCain said some hard but true things recently about abortion and the current president. I have some thoughts to add.
On this Episode:
A STORY ABOUT A POORLY BEHAVED FATHER (0:00-13:00ish)
I saw a story recently of a father who dumped thousands of pennies on his ex-wife's lawn to make his final "child support" payment. The mother and daughter took this vindictive action and turned it around. This is a good opportunity to focus on what unforgiveness can do to us -- and the beauty that comes when we release our bitterness.
THE CHURCH MATTERS (13:00ish-22:00ish)
I know denominations of Christianity can seem absolutely mind-numbing at a glance. However, organized churches were the entities that gave us hospitals, orphanages, schools, universities, and a ton more. Let me convince of the power and significance of churched acting cooperatively.
WHAT I SAW AT THE CONVENTION (22:00ish-End)
From a presidential election to a debate on Critical Race Theory and an obviously growing skepticism (maybe well-earned) of SBC leadership, I have some facts to give you and some potentially meaningful take-aways.
ONE OTHER NOTE:
The show is slowly growing again. I mean this so sincerely: thank you for listening to me. Thanks for giving me an hour every week. I'm blown away by that. So, thank you.
On this Episode:
THE DEEPER LESSON FROM THE AOC ABUELA STORY (0:00-19:26)
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez recently complained about the conditions in which her grandmother was living. It never even occurred to her that he had the capacity to help. She had only the instinct for the all-powerful state/government to help. How does that happen? From where does that worldview emanate?
I'll trace a philosophical history from the Dark Ages through the Renaissance and Enlightenment to demonstrate how we got to that backward view of family, responsibility, and care.
SOME REACTION TO THE SHOW SCHITT'S CREEK (19:26-32:00ish)
This show has become quickly popular across the culture. I don't know if they meant to, but the show teaches some really traditional values about family and roles in the family. I'll provide details.
THE WUHAN LAB LEAK THEORY (32:00ish-38:30)
Smarter people than I will solve the mystery of Covid's origin. What I want to talk about is how the worst of our institutions, the American media, made this a mess.
QUICK THOUGHTS ON REMEMBERING THE TULSA MASSACRE OF 1921 (38:30-43:00ish)
It's important that American know our history -- all of it. We should engage with our glorious moments AND our most shameful. We also have to be able hold simultaneous ideas at the same time about the history of ethnic injustice in the US. I'll break that down.
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IS NEXT WEEK (43:00ish-end)
The nation's largest denomination meets next week in Nashville, and I'll be there. With Critical Race Theory, gender roles, and the future of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission on the docket, it's going to be an eventful few days. I'll provide a preview.
On this Episode:
I sat down to talk with Nathan McDowell, soon heading off to a PhD program at he University of Illinois at Chicago, about the last year in the US.
We talked about Covid, mask-wearing, racial justice issues, whether or not we're a "racist country," policing, election uncertainty, the Qanon riots, individualism vs. collectivism, vaccines, the value differences between liberals and conservatives, climate change, how to teach American history and more.
We find some common ground along the way, but maybe most importantly, we model healthy conversation.
On This Episode:
ANOTHER DECONVERSION STORY --THIS ONE FROM "CHRISTIAN ARTIST" DC TALK (0:00-13:55)
Kevin Max from 1990s Christian subculture fame recently announced he is an "Exvangelical" but that he still follows the "Universal Jesus" -- whatever that means. He also offered a lot more of nonsensical word soup that demonstrates whatever Jesus he's following, it isn't the Biblical one. I'll provide details and respond.
THINKING BIBLICALLY ABOUT THE MOST RECENT CONFLICT IN ISRAEL (13:55-27:06)
I'm sure this segment won't make anyone angry... but I do need to respond to how I see Christians on social media responding to the nation of Israel regarding geopolitical matters.
WHAT ARE THE MORAL VIRTUES (27:06-35:37)
Jonathan Haidt and other social scientists from the University of Virginia surmised almost ten years ago that the difference in political Right and Left emanate from the two sides focusing on different factors that make up morality as a whole. I recently came back across their system and have some thoughts to share.
A MAJOR RIGHT-LEFT DIVIDE (35:37-37:35)
While talking about the segment above, I got distracted and took two minutes to talk about one major reason Right and Left differ. Rightism recognizes that the natural state of nature is disorder, destitution, poverty, and striving to survive. Leftism supposes the state of nature is actually good and plenteous -- there are just powerful people wrecking it.
BACK TO THE MORAL VIRTUES (37:35-45:27)
We finish off the talk on care, fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity.
LISTENER QUESTION ON FACING IRRATIONAL FEARS (47:27-End)
On this Episode:
I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS AS AMERICANS TAKES OFF THEIR MASKS (0:00-17:40)
I suspect the vast majority of Americans saw mask-wearing as a temporary, necessary step and felt it at various levels of annoyance. Another group hated them and refused. Still another imbued them with almost mystical powers or simply aren't mentally/emotionally ready to let them go.
Now that the masks are coming off, there are groups to considers and to be considerate of, as they re-enter a maskless world. I'll also offer some thoughts on Covid policy in our new reality.
WHY DID MASKING POLICY CHANGE (17:40-29:06)
The CDC guidance on masking changed, seemingly, quite suddenly. I don't like assuming anyone's motives, but I will offer some theories as to why the policy changed dramatically and quickly.
LESSONS FROM LIZ CHENEY (29:06-39:03)
Liz Cheney is out as a leader of the House GOP Caucus. For me, this is a classic case of being able to recognize two truths simultaneously. Cheney might be mostly right about her concerns and priorities AND her concerns and priorities are causing her to be a poor leader for the goals of her organization. We can also learn a lesson here in the value of just moving on with your life.
LIZ WARREN SAYS THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD (39:03-42:03)
Senator Warren recently told Stephen Colbert how delighted she is with the current state of affairs. There's a little bit of a surprise in that. I'll give brief details.
SADDLEBACK CHURCH, THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, AND A COMING CONFLICT (42:03-50:10)
Saddleback Church, currently in the SBC, recently ordained women as elders. That's in contradiction of the standards for inclusion in the Convention. It doesn't mean they're outside the faith, but they're certainly no longer Baptist. I have a few thoughts on the coming conflict as well as why this distinction matters.
ON THIS EPISODE:
A COUPLE STUDIES SHOW AMERICANS ON THE LEFT OVER-ESTIMATE SOME PROBLEMS (0:00-14:00
Here's the Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/briefing/atlanta-shootings-kamala-harris-tax-deadline-2021.html
Liberals over-estimated Covid severity. Here's another study, showing those on the Left vastly over-estimate police shootings on racial lines: https://www.skeptic.com/research-center/reports/Research-Report-CUPES-008.pdf
Takeaway: before engaging in conversations (especially on the internet), kindly be sure everyone is on the same page on the facts.
AMERICAN LIBERALS REPORT HIGHER INSTANCE OF EMOTIONAL DISORDERS (14:00-29:00)
Here's one version of the source: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/22/white-liberals-more-likely-have-mental-health-cond/
In a self-reported study, self-identified liberals report appreciably higher diagnoses of depression and anxiety. There could be 1,000 reasons for this. I'll offer some theories.
CONSERVATIVE MEDIA FIGURE TAKES HEAT FOR SOME COMMENTS ON EMOTIONAL/MENTAL DISORDERS (29:00-35:00)
A fairly popular conservative recently argued that we totally over-medicalized things like anxiety and depression in people. While, we might over-prescribe drugs for these, the conditions are real and requires meds and care. I want to offer some nuance to his comments.
Also: talk to doctors, not show hosts, for mental health advice.
DON LEMON THROWS A HYSTERICAL FIT (35:00-45:55)
Don Lemon threw a hysterical fit on the air recently. In that fit, he made some absurd comments on the founding of the US. I will correct those claims.
INFLATION IS STARTING (45:55-50:10)
Inflation has started. I'm sure you can feel it. I'll explain why, and why it's going to be harder than a lot of experts think to control it.
On This Episode:
MEANINGFUL LESSONS FROM THE CENSUS (0:00-13:07).
I love the Census; I'm a demography nerd. Here's one lesson from this Census showing we're at an historically low growth rate: we're an unhealthy people. Healthy things -- organizations, organisms, churches, businesses -- grow. We're soon to be shrinking, meaning we're not healthy.
Our values are rotten. Our national goals are in disunity. Our trust in each other is broken. Our ideas are backward. As a result, there is decline. In this segment, though, I do have a word of hope.
POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS FROM THE CENSUS (13:07-19:30)
The Census also offers some political insights and practical changes to our political maps. I'll provide details.
BLAKE SHELTON'S NEW "BIBLE" SONG (19:30-31:02)
Blake Shelton's new song lays a heavy burden on you that you don't have to carry. Ironically, Justin Bieber recently released a gospel album that responds to the "earn it and strive" message Shelton offers.
In short, when there's a message about the Gospel of Jesus floating around in the culture, I want to be sure we take the opportunity to clarify what the true Gospel is.
SIGNS OF POLITICAL BACKLASH (31:02-34:40)
Democrat Senator Mark Kelly is complaining about what's happening at the border. Democrat Senator Joe Manchin is rejecting Statehood for Washington DC and rejecting some spending. Democrat Senator Kristen Sinema is set on keeping the filibuster. In a healthy move for the country, some politicians can feel Leftist overreach and potential political consequences.
TIM SCOTT, JOE BIDEN, AND KAMALA HARRIS AGREE (34:40-45:00)
In a 48 hours period, Republican Senator Tim Scott, President Joe Biden, and Vice-President Kamala Harris all said that America is not a racist country. That sort of unity is something to build on. We also know that we have ethnic disparity in the present. So, if we are not currently a racist country, what are we and from where do ethnic disparities emanate? I have a theory.
CONGRESSWOMAN IS JUST A TERRIBLE PARENT (45:00-49:00)
I have audio of a Congresswoman whose ideology gets her dangerously close to emotionally traumatizing her own daughter. It's maddening, and you should hear it.
On this Episode:
MAJOR CHRISTIAN FIGURE'S SON BECOMES ANTI-CHRISTIAN TIKTOK PERSONALITY (0:00-16:24)
I don't want to gossip, so I'll leave the names out of it. A beloved Christian figure's adult son has been making anti-Christian content on TikTok. While the son has some valid points and some stupid ones about the institution of Christendom, I have a different concern: how do we prevent the heartbreak of seeing our kids fall away?
Ultimately, we rely on God's provision for this, but I also have some ideas:
-Present your kids with all the best arguments against Christianity. Don't shelter them from those.
-Point towards Jesus and Jesus alone. Personalities fail. Affections waiver. The Gospel of Jesus is the only power of God unto salvation.
-As best as we can, live consistently with the things we say we believe.
STOP LETTING [conservative] MEDIA FREAK YOU OUT (16:25-23:30ish)
I recently saw the BREATHLESS headlines about proposals to add D.C. as a State and to pack the US Supreme Court. These are indeed atrocious ideas that emanate from evil intentions. They're also not going to happen. There is zero chance of either taking place, so calm down. Conservative media seems to be okay with getting clicks and streams off of your fear. I'm not okay with it, and I'd like to be a voice for more calm.
QUICK THOUGHT ON THE CHAUVIN TRIAL JURY (23:30ish-26:00ish).
It's not fair to assume the jury on the Derek Chauvin trial was motivated by some fear of social ostracization or of social unrest. They're adults just like you. They're intelligent people. They saw all of the evidence, whereas most of us saw a limited amount. If you disagree with their verdict, that's reasonable. But their verdict is also absolutely reasonable. We have the institution of the criminal justice system. Casting doubt on this institution further strains the social fabric.
TAX FACTS (26ish-33:07)
Did you know the top 25% of income earners earn about 69% of the dollars earned and pay about 88%(!!!) of all income taxes paid. We have an extremely progressive tax system already, and I'll provide further stats to establish that. I'll also analyze the current administration's tax plan and explain why it will harm growth, incomes, jobs, and the economic "little guy."
IS THERE A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW ON TAXES AND ECONOMICS? (33:07-44:50)
Well, sort of. We do know some concepts: property is a gift of God to steward, but it's not collectively owned. We know that both work and thrift are attributes celebrated in the Bible. We know the Lord demands justice on those that cheat others or take advantage of people economically.
Outside of that, we have several centuries now of human history, looking at organized economies which ones achieve the most human flourishing. All of these are worth considering.
TREVOR LAWRENCE WITH A POWERFUL LESSON WE ALL NEED TO LEARN (0:00-13:30)
Trevor Lawrence recently took some flack for defining success as something other than winning football games. First, we can learn from this young man. We all tend to define success by something external: earning a certain amount of money, marrying a particular person, getting approval, power, or comfort. We let those define us, but we can learn from Lawrence here the Biblical lesson of being defined by eternal matters.
I will also compare Lawrence to another quarterback who said in the past that his winning is all that defines him. We can a learn a lot when we compare these two men.
WHAT CAN A CHRISTIAN EXPECT IN THIS WORLD? (14:10-29:00)
I’m finding some Christians think the world is terrible, it must be terrible, and we should never expect the secular world to adopt or accept Christian thinking. Conversely, there is a theology that calls on Christians to conquer the institution of society and impose the faith.
What’s the balance? What should a Christian expect in a fallen world? Victory? Defeat? Let’s talk about it.
BLM MARXIST EXPOSED (29:45-40:00ish)
One of the founders of the BLM ORGANIZATION (remember that the organization isn’t the movement or the sentence) described herself as a Marxist. Her recent real estate behavior shows she was indeed a Marxist…. Until the moment she got some money.
LEARN THIS ON POLICE SHOOTINGS: LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME (40:00ish-50:10)
Listening to discussions about police shootings can be frustrating for me. In these uncomfortable ten minutes, I endeavor to ask you to think clearly and draw clear lines. Not all shootings are created equal.
George Floyd isn’t Ahmaud Arbery who isn’t Adam Toldeo who isn’t Tamir Rice who isn’t Daunte Wright who isn’t Breonna Taylor. Every case has its own unique fact pattern, and we would be wise to realize that.
On this Episode:
BE CAREFUL OF HAVING YOUR MIND CAPTURED (0:00-12:48)
Colossians 2 warns Christians not to have their minds taken captive by secular, worldly, deceptive philosophies and ideologies. Our culture presents plenty of them: Woke-ism, Qanon-ism, and dozens of gradients in between. Colossians also gives us the solution: be rooted in the faith as Scripture describes it, take every thought captive, and measure against Scripture.
THE CULTURE MATTERS MORE THAN GOVERNMENT (12:38-31:45)
Folks obsess over what happens in capitol rotundas or on the nightly news. While a few million people watch and pay attention to these matters, though, literally hundreds of millions of people are having their minds and ideologies shaped on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Consider this: it's not that hard to find a YouTuber you've never heard of with 25 million regular viewers while the combined viewership of cable news will top out around 10 million. If we want to be change agents in the culture, we should recognize that and strategize around it.
In that vein, I have examples of how a Disney+ show and the latest Taylor Swift album endeavors to disciple our minds.
CHANGE THE LANGUAGE; WIN THE ARGUMENT (23:21-37ish)
Framing arguments for one own's advantage isn't new. However, I noticed that secular progressivism has been doing this lately insidiously -- and effectively. Secularism is winning the culture, in part, because they change the language, and we acquiesce to their changes. I'll provide details.
MORE MEDIA MALFEASANCE (35:34-37:30)
I have one quick thought on how the national media's agenda is made obvious in how they covered 4 recent violent acts.
VACCINE THOUGHT (37:30-41:20)
I have a brief thought on the Covid-19 vaccine. One spoiler: it's not the "Mark of the Beast.:
THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL (41:20-47:30)
I have one piece of audio from an activist threatening violence and destruction if the trial doesn't go her way. That's evil, and cities should prepare to mitigate against that possibility.
I attempt here to prepare everyone for every possible outcome on what might be the most prominent criminal trial since the OJ Simpson case.
On this Episode:
GEORGIA VOTER LAW
I'll take a full 20 minutes to look at the provisions on the bill that is being called "Jim Crow on steroids." In short, there is no good reason for the hysterics around this bill. It's fully in line with other state rules regarding voting, and some of what you've heard isn't even true. So, I take a truly objective look at the facts of what the law does. Then, you can judge.
After that, I do some judging -- judging the histrionics that came in response to the bill.
RAPID FIRE TOPICS
-Complaining on Jill Biden's bad Spanish doesn't help with credibility on topics that matter.
-A Professor sues his college over a conflict about a transgender student's pronouns.
-A teacher gets angry at a high school student for NOT seeing ethnic differences as crucially important.
-A journalist says the George Floyd/Derek Chauvin trial is a trial on the entire country. That's incorrect, and it's the exact wrong message we need right no.
-Lester Holt says fairness in journalism is overrated. He might be right, but that's a dangerous game.
-A Chicago middle school is trying to change its name. Leftists there are protesting against naming after president Obama because... he wasn't woke enough.
-Some thoughts on the Biden tax plan and how corporate taxes work.
On this Episode:
RESURRECTION DAY (Easter) REFLECTION (0:00-9:02)
The seminal hours of human history took place on a Passover weekend in Jerusalem just over 2,000 years ago. We’ll take a brief look at what Jesus’s work on the cross dis for us.
ALL THE SLIPPERY SLOPE ARGUMENTS OF THE 2000s ARE PROVING TRUE (9:02-23:00ish)
The slippery slope is technically a logical fallacy, but I’m finding that arguments made in the 2000s about where we were heading as a culture on sexuality and marriage are all proving to be true. One of the arguments made back then as well would be that, eventually, churches and Christian organizations who wouldn’t acquiesce to current cultural mores would be marginalized and demonized. I’ll provide a recent example of that happening in college basketball.
RENEWED ARGUMENTS ON THE FILIBUSTER (23:00ish-32:38)
I have been a longtime defender of the filibuster – no matter which party has the majority. It’s an important tool AGAINST radicalism on all sides and FOR stability on every side. I offer some new arguments and cautions regarding the filibuster.
A QUICK THOUGHT ON WOMEN’S SPORTS (32:38-42:50)
A women’s soccer player said recently she is paid less for doing the same job as a man. Is that correct? And what deeper lessons can we learn from a recent conversation around equality in sports?
THE MEDIA IS OUR MOST CORRUPT INSTITUTION (42:50-50:10)
There is corruption every where – government (both parties), corporate America, the legal system, religious systems, entertainment – absolutely every where. I’ll make the case that the media, though, is our most corrupt institution.
On this Episode:
(0:00-7:35ish) PALM SUNDAY REFLECTION
Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week is quickly approaching. I have a brief reflection on the meaning of Palm Sunday in an effort to prepare your heart and mind for Holy Week.
(7:35ish-25:00) CNN's DON LEMON TRIES TO DO THEOLOGY AND FAILS MISERABLY
For some reason, The View asked Don Lemon about the Catholic Church not changing their theology on marriage. Lemon proceeded to tell us that God doesn't judge, that it's wrong to believe in a God that judges, and that the most important thing to teach your kids about religion is that Jesus isn't white. I'll unscramble all of that inanity.
(25:00-33:45) WE'RE BOTCHING THE ATLANTA SHOOTING STORY
The major media outlets are deeply invested in a narrative of an endemically "white supremacist" US, so they jumped on a narrative of racist motivations IMMEDIATELY. When that story began to unravel, they jumped to Christianity's "purity culture" being the culprit.
The media's agenda-driven narratives obscured some important lessons we could have learned from the story. We apparently have massage parlors that double ad brothels. Do you think the women in them got their by fulfilling their hopes and dreams? Of course not. We're staring a sex trafficking story in the face and missing it. We're also missing the role pornography is playing in the degradation of our culture broadly.
(33:45-45:00) WHAT IS THE "BIBLICAL SEXUAL ETHIC"
Since the ATL shooting story has brought Christian teachings on sexuality into question, let's answer this question together: what does the Bible -- not any tradition or denomination -- teach about sexuality?
(45:00-50:10) EVEN FAR-LEFTIST SARAH SILVERMAN IS FINISHED WITH WOKE CULTURE
The American political Left is waking up to the dangers of Woke-ism. I'll play a clip for Sarah Silverman to illustrate.
On this Episode:
TWO NEW WOKE-ISM CONTROVERSIES (0:00-13:00ish mark)
There's now an "Autonomous Zone" in Minneapolis. Why are we letting people take over city blocks? Senator Tim Scott also takes some heat for talking about Woke Supremacy.
HOW DOES THE CHRISTIAN LIVE IN A WOKE CULTURE? (13:00ish mark - 19:00ish mark)
Jeremiah 29:4-7 give us a wonderful guide on how to live as a Christian in a pagan place. It's nothing revolutionary. Live your life. Live it distinctly. Live it by Biblical principles. Work the good of those around you. Pray for your city, state, and nation. Just be faithful.
SEVERAL MORE THOUGHTS ON THE WOKE MOMENT (19:00-ish mark - 30:21)
-Woke-ism is a religion, but it's too new to have apologetics yet. It imposes upon you its doctrinal statements but has no defense for them.
-I have a theory on how Woke-ism will lead us to a resurgence of labor unions. I think I'm okay with it.
-Leftism/Woke-ism admits we're a culture that is degrading. Leftism/Woke-ism is also the dominant force in culture. Shouldn't we conclude something from that?
KENTUCKY PUSHES UNCONSTITUTIONAL "PRO-POLICE" BILL (30:21-34:15)
Republicans in Kentucky are pushing a bill that would basically make cops kings and queens with no magna carta. It's unconstitutional and dumb. I'll explain.
TWO "I TOLD YOU SO" MOMENTS (34:15-40:18)
-A liberal columnist has a widely spread op-ed concerned with how we've replaced religion with politics. I've been saying that for literally half-a-decade.
-Covid numbers also affirm a theory of mine.
REACTION TO THE COVID RELIEF BILL (40:18-50:00)
We needed a Covid Bill. I get that. There's some stuff in there we should know about, and there's some pork. I'll provide a rundown.
STATES ARE RE-OPENING
There is a divide in the US that is genuinely confusing. One side seems to think unless you require an action and/or require the government to pay for it, you are not actually for the thing happening. The other side just seems to leave people to liberty and freedom. State re-openings are exposing that divide.
WOKE-ISM IS CONDESCENDING
When I see people, I see a human, made in the image of God with talents, skills, abilities, and potential. Woke-ists seem to see only helpless victims that must be rescued by the Woke. It's weird and condescending.
THAT GOAT GUY FROM JANUARY 6TH
CBS interviewed that insane QAnon-goat-dressed guy from the events of January 6th. It was.... interesting? Let's listen to it together.
POVERTY OF THE SOUL
Matt Chandler recently preached the concept of having everything we want and absolutely nothing that we need. It was profound. I'll play the audio.
JOHN MACARTHUR ATTACKS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Dr. John MacArthur recently preached against the concept of religious liberty. I have a few responses.
WOKE-ISM DESTROYS EVERYTHING
Remember the Co-Exist stickers? Remember the argument in favor of being a pluralistic society? For the Woke, those days are over. The Woke will have its way, power, and dominance -- whatever it must do.
It's small, annoying things (stories from the Bachelor, Mr. Potato Head, and Oreo tweets). It's more concerning things (CocaCola's employee training, a letter from Congress-people to AT&T, Amazon banning certain books). Woke-ism is a small group of Americans, but it's the dominant philosophy right now without even using government to enforce its beliefs.
We can get angry at the Woke, or we can see behind the flesh and blood of this philosophy, and respond Biblically.
SMITH COLLEGE AND A CLAIM OF RACISM.
This New York Times story has a ton of important themes in it: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/us/smith-college-race.html
I'll break all of those down.
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS OBNOXIOUS
We get to hear a School Board Member near San Diego be the walking embodiment of the Woke Religion. It isn't pretty.
SCHOOLS SHOULD RE-OPEN
We now have data on how much damage we're doing to kids who have lost of year of in-person instruction. Let's get them back to school.
On This Episode
NASHVILLE CHURCH GOES APOSTATE
A Church in Nashville alleges that the Bible is not the inerrant, infallible, Word of God. I'll respond with the fact and why Biblical authority is essentially vital to the Church. It's also essential for functional living.
CATEGORIZING PEOPLE IS KILLING US
Western cultures have adopted the practice of no longer seeing individual human beings. We see people as their ethnicity, income group, religion, and sex. This is POISONING our culture and damaging people. Let's be people that actually see the human being in front us -- and not their culturally-imposed "categories."
A RECENT CONSERVATIVE FIGURE'S DEATH EXPOSED SOME TERRIBLE PEOPLE
A conservative icon died recently. Some folks on the Left were elated. This celebration of death pulls back the current on the real conflict in which we find ourselves. Also, as with all celebrity deaths, these are opportunities to focus on our own mortality.
THE TEXAS FREEZE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
A lot of less-than-informed thinking has been floating around on the topic. I'll explain.
On this Episode:
THE CHURCH CALENDAR IS AN OPPORTUNITY
Ash Wednesday is upon us. The weeks of Lent are coming up. We have an opportunity now to set our minds toward Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. Practicing and recognizing the church calendar is an incredible tool to live distinctly -- no matter where the Christian lives on this planet.
DAVE RAMSEY CONTROVERSY ON STUDENT LOANS AND STIMULUS
People didn't like it, but Dave Ramsey was right. More important than his financial points was this: you are responsible for you. God entrusts us all with some resources. Under his authority, we are responsible for what we do and don't do with our lives. We must be a people who don't wait for the government -- or anyone else -- to live our lives FOR us.
RE-THINKING TAYLOR SWIFT LYRICS
I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan. As she has re-released her "Fearless" album, I'm realizing how much she creates a world of hopeless girls, needing rescue from men and placing responsibility on men to be knights in shining armor. Is this healthy? More importantly, is it Biblical? It's a hard one for me, and I still don't know where I stand.
A LOT MORE!
On this Episode:
A "No Excuses" Life
I've been thinking lately about how much we allow life to happen TO us instead of TACKLING life. How would life and the world be different if we lived on purpose?
Children, Fertility, and the Romney Tax Credit Plan
Senator Mitt Romney has a tax code idea that would offer parents close to $70,000 over 18 years for each child in the household. We're country that is very literally dying from a birth rate now lower than 2.0. Is social engineering of this sort -- even if it's good idea -- a government function? My opinion might surprise you.
I Re-Think Cancel Culture
I'm a free-speech purist, so I detest cancel culture. There are a couple prominent people being canceled right now, though (like Morgan Wallen) that I think is deserved. I try to reconcile those positions.
Listener Submissions, Questions, and A Lot More!
On This Episode:
ROBINHOOD/GAMESTOP/HEDGE FUNDS/REDDIT
This has been an incredibly intriguing and sort of confusing story. So, let's take some time to understand it first. Then, I have some analysis and Christian worldview to bring to it. Truly, this is one of my favorite stories in a long time, and it's a lot of fun to learn about and discuss.
THE TALE OF ROBIN OF LOCKSLEY
This investment story made me realize that many people misunderstand the classic Robinhood story. It's not a "take from the rich, and give to the poor story." The antagonists are PRINCE John and SHERRIFF of Nottingham. The conflict in the classic story is unjust taxation, government largesse, and the Sherriff's enforcement of those taxes and policies. Robinhood didn't STEAL from the rich. He returned to the people what their government took from them.
LISTENER QUESTIONS
-A Baylor professor got in some trouble for a tweet. What can we learn?
-Should the military still be on the streets of DC?
On this Episode:
CHRISTIAN AMERICANS FEELING EXILED
I have been feeling like an exile in a foreign country for a long time now. I'm slightly frustrated that it took political happenings to make a lot of other believers feel this way, but I'm also just grateful for the company. The country is getting both more secular and more pagan at the same time. For Christians, maybe we were made for this exact moment.
FOCUSING ON ONE ISSUE AT A TIME
The new administration sent an immigration bill to Congress that BOTH reforms the immigration AND deals with the millions of people here illegally. Combining the two makes the bill needlessly divisive and less likely to succeed.
They also attached an absurd minimum wage increase to the Covid-19 relief bill. Again, why can't we just do one thing at a time?
MINIMUM WAGE
I run through the long but interesting history of this terrible idea and tell you why there should be no federal minimum wage increase.
IMMIGRATION
We go to Scripture to surmise what should be both the Christian heart and the legal ethic toward the immigrant and human migration.
A COUPLE INAUGURATION THOUGHTS
I will admit I didn't watch the Inauguration (I never do). I have to also admit that I see the hypocrisy in people who have spent a decades or so saying the United States is a wasteland of every form of bigotry and should be hated.... now CELEBRATING the country. It was just weird.
It didn’t have to be this way. A “unity agenda” would choose to accomplish the former without forcing the latter. Instead of taking the easy win, the administration is choosing to pick a fight the culture doesn’t need.
On this Episode:
CULTURAL ROTTENESS
I recently saw a secular college professor bemoan that Biblical illiteracy in her students makes it more challenging to teach the Great Books and great writers of history. The Bible birthed and undergirded the Enlightenment and Western Civilization. Our Biblical illiteracy is the core of cultural rottenness. So what do we do?
COVID LOCKDOWNS
Out of nowhere, governors like Andrew Cuomo and publications like Newsweek are saying lockdowns don't work and that we can't stay shutdown. I wonder what brought them to my side of that debate.
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
It's never comfortable, but this month is the Roe vs. Wade anniversary. So, it's worth spending some time on one our greatest national sins.
DISAFFECTED VOTERS
There are now a significant amount of voters -- mostly rural -- who feel forgotten by the entire culture and now their government. How do we re-engage these folks into the process?
LISTENER QUESTIONS
Listeners submit questions on "baby bonds," the Inauguration, and what I've gotten wrong in my fiscal philosophy.
On this Episode:
It was a significant week in politics for the US. I'll look back on it, call good "good" and evil "evil," and shed light on the numerous hypocrisies exposed.
After that, listeners submitted insightful questions. I'll finish with a look forward after the surprising Georgia run-off results.
On this Episode:
-Isaiah 1 has an important lesson about being intentional in worship and in all of life.
-"Important" political week with Georgia Run-Offs and the Electoral College Objection Debate. I have a ton of thoughts.
-We're entering a new chapter of Covid response, so let's talk about those new dynamics.
-A lot more!
Fear is defining the American moment in which we live.I know it’s from Yoda (from Star Wars), but we can find a ton of wisdom in one of his most iconic lines:
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to the Dark Side [or to “suffering” in another quote].
We live in a hateful time. I have called it a “Cold Civil War” for almost a decade now. Some significant portion of the American people are at war with each other (a civil war). Thanks be to God, it has, thus far, been a cold war. We haven’t started hurting each other yet.
That cold war warmed up a little in the last 12 months. From violence in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Portland and other American cities last summer to the siege of the US Capitol this week, this cold war threatens to get hot.
My interest is in easing the tensions and finding a way forward. So, in this moment of real hatred for each other, what can we do? I suggest reverse engineering Yoda’s wisdom.
We are hateful because we are angry, and we are angry because we are afraid.
The hatred we see acted out in the streets and online emanates from the reality that people are afraid of each other. We’re terrified of what happens if “those people” get the power of the government.
For my ideological compatriots, we fear losing the country we love. We see the United States as set of ideas that has led to the greatest national force for human flourishing in human history. We see forces and ideas antithetical to the ideas that has led to so much freedom and prosperity. We see those forces growing, and we fear.
I wonder if I could help you have less fear as the party of the Left dawns nominal control of the levers of the federal government.
Remember what you’ve been through already.Friends, it was only about a decade ago (January 2009-January 2011) that the following was true:
- Barack Obama, a truly anti-American radical, was president.
- Democrats had 60 (SIXTY!!!) seats in the Senate.
- Nancy Pelosi had a few-dozen seat majority.
Remember what they got out of that dominant time? It was the Affordable Care Act. Of course, they spent insane amounts of money and enacted other regulations/policies that slowed the economic recovery. The seminal “achievement", though, was Obamacare.
Obamacare was indeed terrible. It was a fiscal monstrosity, an affront to human freedom, and has broken almost all of its promises. But that’s all they got, folks.
You made it through the time most friendly to radical Lefitsm we had ever seen (I hope ever see), and we came out with a lot of the Constitution and human liberty intact.
Now, consider where you are.* A doddering older man who ran (falsely) as a moderate is about to be president. * It’s a 50-50 split in the Senate. * Nancy Pelosi has one of the smallest majorities in the history of Congress (9 seats).
That set-up for the next two years will not be fun, but listen to me: it’s going to be fine. The stuff we rightfully fear (being rid of the filibuster, packing the courts, adding States, real, by-the-book-defiinition socialism) is not getting through that governmental set-up. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat, has already made that clear. Other vulnerable Democrats in the Senate will be wary of those items as well because all of these people exist only to be re-elected.
Do you know who to thank for that?The real MVP of the United States are our founding fathers. They installed a system of governance that makes truly radical ideas almost impossible without really broad consensus.
So, friends, I know there is fear. I know that fear feeds the anger and the hate. It’s happening to a lot of Americans on all sides. Here is my call to you: you do not have reason to fear. We’re not at the end of our Republic. We must be vigilant for human freedom right now, but we’re not at the end.
Don’t be afraid. Life is long, and we have plenty of reasons to believe we can maintain and build even better a world to leave to our progeny.
Peace and love,
Cory Truax
On this Episode:
Reflecting on the Year
I get it. It was rough. A Pandemic. An economic crash. Social Unrest. An Impeachment. An Election. Natural Disasters. I get it. We also have abundant reasons for gratefulness. Let's not ignore the challenges of the year. Instead, while starting them in the face, let's also count our blessings.
Reflecting on Under-Reported Stories from 2020
-Both culturally and governmentally, we finally decided to address our gigantic pornography and sex trafficking problem.
-Some Christian leaders fell from grace -- but they the ones that needed to fall.
-We too often failed to ruminate on the core question of most policies this year: freedom vs. security.
-Also, Taylor Swift put out TWO ALBUMS.
Other Thoughts on:
-The wonder AND limits of scientific discovery
-My renewed enthusiasm for some political discussions
-Fundamental change in the Christian idea of marriage.
-A Recap of my year: I started going outside... a lot. I got Covid. I made a lot of music. And I hope I grew in some important ways.
On this Episode:
CHRISTMAS DAY IS ALMOST HERE
The joy of Christmas is upon us. Almost always, though, I (and maybe you) have a moment on Christmas night where I ask, "Was that it? That's what we waited for all year." Let's talk about that feeling, the promises Christmas breaks and keeps, and how to prepare.
THOUGHTS ON JUPITER AND SATURN'S CONVERGENCE
What an incredible sight that was! How can that event help us get perspective on our own lives?
RAPID THOUGHTS ON SEVERAL STORIES
-The Media's reaction to Pete Buttigieg's
-OnlyFans is making prostitution possible in a broad sense. We should be aware of it and fight it.
-President Obama gets several points wrong that I correct.
-Pop-star Lizzo did a juice cleanse. For an idiotic reason, some people on the internet cared.
On this Episode"
ADVENT, WEEK 4: LOVE
The story of Scripture is God purposing himself toward the gathering of a people. We trace from Adam to Noah to Abraham and finally to Jesus to see how the love of God is made abundantly clear at Christmas.
STEWARDSHIP
If we recognized all we have -- resources, family, skills, talents, households, etcetera -- are entrusted to us by God as stewards, we would think, plan and behave differently.
SECESSION
After every election, some folks bring up secession. It's being revisited again. The idea often is brought up by overly emotional people and radicals. However, that shouldn't stop level-headed adults from calmly and maturely considering the options for a nation as deeply divided as ours.
THE JERICHO MARCH
A pagan, nationalist religion was on display in DC last week. It was full of degrading the role of Scripture and plenty of ecumenism too. I have details.
On this Episode:
-Week 3 of Advent has the theme of Joy. Joy might be the emotional marker of this season for most people. I'll take the time to differentiate between deep-rooted joy and situational happiness. We also examine the 4 core places the human heart goes for joy (approval, influence, comfort, and control), and why those place never lead to joy.
-Over the years, from all sides, I have heard predictions so wild that they would fundamentally alter the world. We heard plenty of those about last month's election, for example. Nevertheless, here we are. The world is actually really normal. If we'll embrace that and stop searching for secret meanings or worrying about impending dooms, we'll all be happier.
-Covid restrictions are leading to conflicts between governments and citizens. We really need to decide what a government can do to us and what they can't.
-I give a full 15 minute to the voter fraud allegations of the last month.
On this Episode:
Advent Week 2: Preparation
When we truly have hope that something is going to happen, we prepare for it. We know Christmas is coming, so we put up the tree, decorate the house, prepare the meals, wrap the gifts, and make a ton of plans. We prepare.
This Advent week is also a reminder that we have a living hope for Jesus's second coming. As sure as Christmas commemorates that He game, we can be sure He is coming again. So, let me help you prepare.
Where the Church is Growing
The Church is waning in North America and Western Europe, but demographers are showing that the Church is growing wildly in other parts of the world. I'll share the numbers and the implications.
What are our Rights?
The Governor of Maryland recently said something that allows us to get to the core of our rights as humans and Americans. I even get to remind everyone how crucial the 9th Amendment is in recognizing that our system is one that sets human freedom as the default setting. We never have to justify our freedom. People who want to LIMIT freedom are the ones with the burden of proof that they should be allowed to limit it.
Supreme Court Sides with Religious Freedom
We're in a public health crisis. I'm not at all jealous of leaders who are making policy in an uncertain world. At the same time, we need clarity on how much power governments get to have in times of crisis.
A lot more!
On this Episode:
-Advent Week 1: Hope
Christmas is a day; Advent is a season, and we just started it. The first theme is holding to hope in a seemingly hopeless world and anticipating the justice and plenty of the world to come.
-Voter Fraud Allegations
I tire of these allegations. We now have an attorney claiming what would be the most significant crime of at least the last 500 years. If she can't produce evidence, she should be disbarred.
-Listener Submissions
--Responding to COVID Conspiracies
--Do Christians harm their message when they identify with ANY politician?
--Is national unity possible?
-Student Loans and Higher Education
I oppose vehemently any sort of student loan absolution. It's bad policy and deeply unfair and unjust. Higher education is largely broken, though, and if we allow market forces to affect it, it can be saved from itself.
On this Episode:
Gratefulness
Now lower income American lives in more luxury than King George III or King Louis VIII. We take for granted that when we turn the faucet, hit the switch, and toggle the knobs that we get, on demand, clean water at the temperature we want and electricity to power our lives of relative leisure.
We even get angry when the miracles of technology we enjoy don't work the exact way we want the moment we want. Our culture breeds in us all a wanton entitlement. Let me help you cultivate gratefulness even in the face of challenge. There's joy there to be had.
Credibility
I hope, after all my years have passed, that the message for which I am most remembered is Christ and him crucified and resurrected. I count on my credibility to say to an unbelieving world that the Maker of All of Things put on flesh, dwelt among us, was crucified, and nevertheless lives even now.
If that's my primary claim, I want to be really careful about the other claims I make about the world: elections, culture, other people, etcetera. I hope you'll join me.
The Bible and Socialism
A Senate candidate says the Bible teaches government-controlled socialism. I may not like socialism, but I dislike bastardizing the Bible even more. I explain near the end of the show.
Plus, a lot more. I would be honored if you listen.
Bible #Christian #ChristianTalk
I am grateful for the dozen or so of my listeners who have reached out to me to express gratitude over my voice being one of hope and optimism right now.
I've kept this refrain: we're all going to be okay.
Part of this episode explores this reality: my adult lifetime, for political administrations, I've lived through the most ideologically radical (Obama) and the most personally erratic (Trump), and.... we're all fine. The Lord is good. We've all made it.
There's more of that and a lot more on this week's show. I would be honored if you give it a listen.
What else would be on this show except the election results and what they mean going forward.
On this Episode:
-The Hunter Biden Story
-How the social media companies responded to the Hunter Biden story.
-Should we regulate Facebook, Twitter, Google, etcetera?
-If the Left packs the court, it's a revolutionary act. Here's how the Right should respond.
-Talking about the Lindsey Graham race.
-I prefer keeping everyone "healthy" when talking about Covid. Saying "safe" sends the wrong message.
-Listener questions:
How to incentivize people pursuing teaching. How can we empower 3rd and 4th parties? Should men be punished when an unmarried woman gets pregnant? What is theonomy and should Christians pursue it?
-What role should abortion play in voting for Christians?
-Amy Coney Barrett was great. Let's resist turning her into some sort of celebrity (that's what the Left does).
-A pastor gives his reasons to vote Trump. I respond.
-Ben Sasse is my favorite member of Congress.
On this Episode:
-I know you can sometimes hear my dogs on my show. You don't have to keep telling me.
-Know your coffee order.
-I react to the VP Debate.
-Court packing would leave to dissolving the country.
-Reviewing "The Social Dilemma"
On this Episode:
-The Trump Tax Return story got me thinking about taxes.
-We need a flat tax.
-We should do away with the withholding system.
-The federal government is profligate; therefore, we should minimize our tax exposure.
-The first debate was just terrible: Trump, Biden, and Wallace.
-What Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine can teach us today.
On this Episode:
-Fill the [Supreme Court] Seat.
-Death bed wishes don't matter for political reality.
-There's hypocrisy from every side on this appointment; the totally normal act is to fill the seat, though.
-The political risk of confirmation is absolutely worth filling this seat.
-The history of how we got here on the Courts.
-Our narrative on race is leading to some dangerous places.
-If people behaved more like Vulcans, politics would be better.
On this episode:
-My initial thoughts on the open Supreme Court seat
-I love teachers, but I'm disappointed in our education system.
-Should kids learn a patriotic history?
-How would I design a history curriculum?
On this episode:
-Is this election about Trump & Biden or the movements behind them?
-Nancy Pelosi belives in "mother earth"?
-One Independent Fundamental preacher gets the Bible totally wrong on the environment.
-Football: if you like it, just enjoy it.
-We need a separation of Woke and State
On this Episode:
-Let's talk about COVID19... again.
-Specifically, we need to talk about this story saying that only 6% of COVID19 deaths were actually from COVID.
-J.R.R. Tolkien teaches us something deep about idolatry.
-I have a cool story from the Gospel of Mark.
-Does Jesus' cleansing the Temple justify people rioting and looting?
-The moment culturally, especially around race, is breaking people. Don't let it break you.
-Listener Questions and Responses
On this Episode:
-The Bible on being a good neighbor, private property, and communal vs. individual guilt.
-Jacob Blake is not Ahmaud Arbery is not George Floyd is not Breona Taylor is not Tamir Rice is not Filando Castille is not Freddie Gray is not Eric Garner.
-Not all police are the same.
-We have to judge INDIVIDUALS and INDIVIDUAL SITUATIONS -- not categories.
On this Episode:
-This election isn't chiefly important, and we're all going to be fine.
-Would I wear a mask while preaching if it was mandated?
-The Senate reports on Trump and Russian election interference
-Jonathan Isaac vs. Colin Kaepernick with the media
-Luthern satire on the Trinity
-We need better literature curriculum for culture fabric
On this Episode:
-Complex thoughts on the Cannon Hinnant case
-Thoughts on mail-in voting
-A ton more
On this Episode:
-I took a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway and did a lot of thinking along the way.
-The life of a breath is short, but it's made meaningful with the Breath of Life.
-2020 is screaming at us. Maybe we should listen.
-Liberty University finally deals with Jerry Falwell Jr
-Some 2020 Election analysis
-I have a theory on why the political map seems to be shifting.
On this Episode:
-The John Lewis funeral was a teachable moment.
-When politics is your religion, churches and funerals become the place for politics.
-Barack Obama reminds me why he was so hard to like.
-Todd White seems to be repenting of his heresy.
-What we SHOULD do with Corona Financial Relief Bills
-And MORE!
On this Episode:
-We start YEAR 6 of the show!
-SC Governor McMaster gets blasted for some private school funding. Was that fair?
-The Left says "billionaires shouldn't exist." I argue the other side of that.
-At what point can a Christian/Church disobey a government?
On this Episode:
-The Smithsonian releases the most racist graphic I've seen.
-Nick Cannon is insane on a podcast.
-Western Culture is NOT White Culture.
-Individuals > Groups
-What happens if Trump wins?
-What happens if Biden wins?
-Covid 19 Latest
On this episode:
-I wish the Internet would stop with all the conspiracy theories.
-Words should mean things.
-Should Schools re-open in the fall?
-Kanye's presidential run.
-A lot more
On this Episode:
-I tested positive for Covid.
-Leftwingism is going too far.
-The relationship between Christianity and patriotism.
-Let's talk about Calvinism.
On this Episode:
-The Rayshard Brooks Case
-Not every police shooting is the same.
-I have verified we have under-trained police
-Tim Kaine idiotically claims the US invented slavery
-Trying to add moral clarity to all the racial discussions around us
-Recent Supreme Court decisions
-John Bolton has a new book out
On this Episode:
-Clemson University drops John C Calhoun from its Honors College
-What to do with symbols, monuments, and history that offend our modern sensibilities
-Thinking through Christopher Columbus, the American Founders, and Confederates and their history.
-"Defund the police" is dumb slogan but presents some interesting ideas.
-We have a new country on US Soil. It's intriguing.
-One Covid related thought: wear a mask for the sake of economic stability.
On this Episode:
-Politics has replaced religion for a lot of people.
-The Drew Brees controversy
-Christianity has the opportunity to be distinct in this cultural moment.
-No one should have a problem with saying, "black lives matter."
-Audio of the essence of Trump support
-We have racial inequity problem. Emphasizing it with exaggeration isn't helpful, though.
-A Karen accosts three young women, cleaning grafitti
On this Episode:
-The tragedy of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery
-The Lessons from racial conflict
-Racial Injustice is real.
-Police brutality and incompetence are real.
-Protests are good.
-Riots are immoral.
-Looting makes you a terrible person.
-Not all protesters are rioters AND not all cops are merciless brutes.
-Are there any principles to unite around?
-Remembering D-Day
-The latest on Covid-19 and my Tattoo idea
On this Episode:
-Listeners respond on my birth control comments
-Listeners question my Ahmaud Arbery take
-One listener corrects me on my anti-naturalism comments
-A radio story got my thinking about immigration and responsibility
-Christian hating is totally acceptable now
-I might get a tattoo
On this Episode:
-Classic personal responsibility might be the best way forward on Covid-19?
-The judiciary is getting the Constitutional questions correct on Covid shutdowns.
-The Constitution is brilliant.
-The American people handled the Covid response better than government orders.
-We have a new class war.
-The 1619 Project is just bad history and totally wrong.