This podcast is recorded in my car as I drive to work. I do it this way so that I can work through ideas organically without the luxury of a Bible or any other books to fall back on. This way I know how I sound when I talk on these subjects and I can listen back to what I said and see the path and progression of my own theology and understanding of Jesus. I do not edit so as to keep discussions as raw and real as possible, although I do pause from time to time, like when I recently spilled m ...
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When someone you respect does or says something that seems out of character for them, how do you react? Do you lose respect for them or give them the benefit of the doubt?By Michael Dean McLain
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If you could find something that if widely accepted and adapted would make the world a better place, would you keep it to yourself?Not me.But seriously, though this may not save the world, it would make it more livable and more peaceful.That's not bad, right?By Michael Dean McLain
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This post might come across as ani-semitic, but I sure hope it doesn't. I am not a Christian Zionist, in other words, I have my doubts that the fate of the world depends largely on what takes place in Palestine and the Israeli State.Not that those events don't effect the rest of the world. I just don't think they are cosmically relevant. I think th…
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332: If Jesus Is The Word's Savior-Part 2
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This episode begins with way more than you need to know about my current diet and exercise regimen, and ends with a follow up to last weeks podcast. Enjoy!By Michael Dean McLain
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331: If Jesus Is The World's Savior, How's He Doing?
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Here, I muddle my way to, I think, a good place in this episode. Here, I rehash some old ideas while perhapas approaching them in a new way.By Michael Dean McLain
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In this episode, I go back to when it all started (in some ways...) and the guy who challenged me to enter into the inner life-Stephen Farmer.By Michael Dean McLain
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There is now a cult of America nationalists in the US, and Trump is their chosen one. No, this is not true of all DJT followers, but it is true for many. But is the adoration of the Evangelical church doing Trump any good, or is it playing right in to his narcissism?By Michael Dean McLain
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First, sorry for the quality of the audio. I had some mishaps and had to boost the volume and do some cutting using editing software. AND I'm not great yet at recording in my new car which has a lot of bass. I'll work on it. Thanks for your patience.In this episode, I tackle the topic of Christian Nationalism, especially the current US version.…
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There is one thing that can drag me into politics. Just one thing.By Michael Dean McLain
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Violence. We worship it in the US. We glorify war. We idolize our troops. We believe at the core of our beings that violence is a legitimate way to solve our and the world's problems. And Trump nearly died from an assassin's bullet-because we have failed to live out Christs example of violence absorption.…
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For a while now, authority has been under unprecedented attack; churches are losing members at an alarming rate, children do not respect their elders, police and other officials are under attack. What's going on here? Is there a common thread connecting these and other events together. I'm not sure. But I do have one idea...…
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Well, here comes another election, and here comes the US voters, ready to once again prove that they have no idea what makes a good leader and have absolutely zero ability to encourage those with the skills to lead a country effectively to pursue political office.Ugh.By Michael Dean McLain
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Does your Bible illuminate Christ, or does Christ illuminate your Bible? This distinction is actually pretty huge. I explore this and more in this episode.By Michael Dean McLain
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A bit of a history of my relationship with the sport of basketball and the Boston Celtics, as well as the current NBA Season and the Celtic's recent crowning as NBA champions for 2004.The Celtics had one of their best seasons and post seasons to date. And yet, sports media outside of Boston refused to believe in the Celtic's record, numbers, and as…
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Historically, the greater a leaders authority, the harder their fall from grace. Pastors lately are falling like flies. But, are we partly to blame for their demise? Is there something that we do which causes their great falls?By Michael Dean McLain
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What you think of hell just might be the biggest thing wrong with Christianity in the world. If it is inaccurate, it is a big loss for the world. If it's right, then God is not as good as we thought.By Michael Dean McLain
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Is sports, especially competitive sports, compatible with the Christian life, with following Jesus? My thoughts are yes and no. It depends. Yes, sports is a subject mentioned in the Bible, but what does that really mean? So is genocide, slavery, adultery, etc.By Michael Dean McLain
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This is a bit of a review of a book by Jonathan Haidt, "The Anxious Generation". Though this is a new topic for me, I feel this is too important and needs to be out there, regardless of my lack of a grasp on the topic. We are raising anxious kids, and we need to figure out why kids today are more anxious than ever, and how to help them.…
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In this episode, I explore my relationship with "church", the journey I have been on since birth, and how I have come to know Christ (such as it is). I also explore my relationship with American Christianity, which has been quite a rocky road.By Michael Dean McLain
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Mixing in a few book reviews by Nehisi Coates and Brian Zahnd , I explore the Cross of Christ, it's symbology and meaning, especially what it has come to mean to me.By Michael Dean McLain
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Sometimes, you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, life loses its meaning. Sometimes, all hope is lost. But then, the dawn comes, the flower blooms, and beauty reveals itself.If you are in a dark place, the only hope I can give you is that I have been there too. It does end. In this life or the next.…
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Jesus is the final revelation of God, the ultimate expression of the Father, the perfect image of the invisible God. And to know him is to find rest. If you haven't found rest, perhaps you haven't found him. Not all of him. Not the truest version of him. And don't we all want that, to know who God is and to rest in him?…
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This is one of the most rambling journeys I've ever taken. Not sure why. Maybe the weather? Too little sleep? Too much sleep? Don't know, but I really went off on a tangent in this one. More than usual. But, I think I actually brought it together at the end. You be the judge.By Michael Dean McLain
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What is the history of christian participation in politics? What has been the outcome of the current involvement with christians in politics? Are politics and christianity compatible? Why or why not?By Michael Dean McLain
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We are all unique(If we are all unique, are we unique at all?!). Each of us has a set of personality traits that make us who who we are. They are also signposts of where we have been and what we have experienced. How does this translate spiritually?By Michael Dean McLain
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Every generation is burdened with the mistakes of the past. The young people of Japan are no exception. They will be tasked with solving a unique set of problems, through no fauly of their own. The young people of every country are in a similar situation. Such is the way of the world.By Michael Dean McLain
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309: The Kingdom Of God Is Out Of This World!
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There has been much talk about what exactly the Kingdom is, how to bring it about, who is in and who is out. When it will come, or when it did come. Here I delve into the nature of the kingdom, what I think it is and what I think it isn't.By Michael Dean McLain
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Don Quijote (Quixote) is a literary figure that continues to peak our imagination, even four centuries after the book was written. What is it about him that we continue to read and contemplate his exploits and character? What is so appealing about the single-minded hero?Who can we compare him to? Read on, give a listen and find out!…
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307: Beautiful Christ, Beautiful Christmas
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All kinds of Christmas themes come up on SS this time of year, and once in a while, a new one arises. I discuss three themes garnered from Facebook friends this year, in honor of the season. Merry Christmas!By Michael Dean McLain
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I Corinthians 13, Fruit of the Spirit, and the life of the loving Christ are more than enough to teach us what it's all about: Love.By Michael Dean McLain
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For thousands of years, heroes of the church, AKA saints, have been venerated for their faith, suffering, and miracles. Many traditions ignore these saints, arguing that all believers are technically saints.Most agree to disagree. But, I little deeper of a dig, reveals some surprising similarities. Do you venerate saints or worship celebrities? Cha…
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Just how much should one worry about the future? At what point, if any, is it wrong to NOT worry about the future and how you will live when you are old? Just how much does Jesus want us to live in the now? I don't know... seriously.By Michael Dean McLain
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Thanksgiving has always been my second favorite holiday, second only to Christmas. But a not so deep look into its history, reveals that Thanksgiving, and the supposed events it celebrates, can be viewed from a much darken perspective. But, being Thankful can't be wrong, can it? No. No it can't. Being willfully blind can.…
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Some would have you believe that those of us who have doubts about the faith we've inherited are being disobedient and rebelling against God. But for many of us, it is the way by which we catch a better glimpse of Jesus and through him, God. We are rebelling against religion, yes. But not against God. We have come to believe that religion has been …
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301: You Are A Masterpiece Of Your Own Making!
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This is an episode that started from a thought I had: You are a masterpiece of your own making! Here, I explore the idea that and individual is largely in charge and responsible for the kind of person that individual is. Though there are outside influences, as adults, we have the ability to react and filter these influences and have an amazing amou…
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I talk about a recent chaotic day I've had, and go into a quote I found on facebook this morning that I thought was really good and worth sharing. Enjoy!By Michael Dean McLain
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Sometimes, words just don't come easily. Unfortunately, this is one of those episodes. I think I get to a decent place, but it wasn't easy.By Michael Dean McLain
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Here we are...again...still. Does anything ever change? This conflict is two thousand years old, nearly. And yet, there are Christians who believe that THIS conflict is the one that will bring Jesus back to earth. Really? We'll see. We'll see.By Michael Dean McLain
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I meander my way to a stream of consciousness exploration of the phenomenon of tribalism: seeing those close to you or affiliated with you in any way through rose-colored glasses.By Michael Dean McLain
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In this episode, I give a bit of a review of The Chosen, the TV series about Jesus, and also on what I think is an often overlooked attribute of Jesus while on earth: sight.By Michael Dean McLain
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This is a short follow-up to the "Hitting The Wall" episode about life and the obstacles we often face to progress and improvement.By Michael Dean McLain
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Let's face it: memes are here to stay. And they are not all bad. They can be quite good! But there is a certain kind of meme which quotes others out of context in order to push an agenda. They have become the cyber equivalent of the cut-down, the one liner, the zinger. As such, they are more mean than meme.…
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For whatever reason, if you have ever pursued any skill or ability, chances are you have experienced "hitting a wall" in your progress. It can be frustrating and some never seem to get through it, fail to experience a "breakthrough" moment so often associated with the overcoming of such obstacles. How do you approach these walls, these hindrances t…
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My take on 2 Timothy chapter 3 and how it might be misinterpreted to be prophetic when it might just be Paul's opinions on contemporary society, in his own day. But today, people use this passage as a critique on current events and societal trends which to them are antithetical to christianity as they see it. You be the judge.…
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When you combine John 17 and 1 John 4, you come up with something like this: To know God is to have eternal life. God is love. To love is to know God. Therefore, if you love, you know God and have eternal life!By Michael Dean McLain
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290: Food And Religion And The Toxic Relationships We Have With Them
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It's time for me to lose weight-AGAIN! Yes, I rebonded from my last diet several years ago, and then some. In this episode, I compare the unhealthy relationship we can have with food to the unhealthy relationship we can have with religion.By Michael Dean McLain
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Where on earth did you get your ideas of Heaven? In this episode, I explore some of the standard notions of heaven, and the conclusions I've come to down through the years.By Michael Dean McLain
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July 4th was really a big deal for me growing up. One of my most favorite days of the year for sure. I loved blowing things up! Why is that? Why do boys love loud bangs and explosions so much? And how is the US's fascination with all-things explosive (guns, artillery, bombs, fireworks...)reflected in this all-American holiday?…
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287: Further Ramblings On Marriage, Sex, And Children
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A follow up episode to last week's podcast on marriage. Here, I delve into some ramblings on marriage, sex, intimacy, children and family.By Michael Dean McLain
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286: Mawage Is What Bwings Us Togever Today
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Despite the The Princess Bride reference, marriage is a worthwhile endeavor for so many reasons, the foremost of which is that it reflects the image of God back into the world. Because, you see, the promise to stand beside someone, no matter what, is who God promises us!By Michael Dean McLain
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