The Holy Post (general)

Is technology making it harder for kids to grow into healthy adults?  Is there anything we can do about it?  Author, thinker Andy Crouch stops by to talk about his new book, The Tech-Wise Family, detailing the impact technology is having on American families and what we as parents can do about it.  PLUS - Social media messes up Eugene Peterson’s week, and, it’s finally happened!  Video games are more satisfying than real life!   This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Final261.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:43am CDT

It’s a potluck podcast!  A new religion is born in Louisville!  Grizzly bears may be saved by… religious liberty laws??  Hobby Lobby makes an Indiana Jones-style mess, and, in a world where robots and automation are reducing the economic value and employability of millions of regular people, how should the church respond??

Direct download: Final260.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:05am CDT

The Luis Palau Association has shared the good news with a billion people around the world, mostly through Billy Graham-style crusades.  Starting in 2008, association president Kevin Palau set out to reimagine the traditional crusade for a new generation, dubbing it "Festival 2.0," and focusing on innovative citywide service initiatives that bring churches together with municipal governments to solve problems that affect whole cities.  Kevin joins the gang in studio to talk evangelism, social engagement, Christian witness in a post-Christian city, and life as the son of one of the world's most famous evangelists.

Direct download: Final259.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Can Christians swear?  Can Christians swear on a podcast?  Can Christians swear on a podcast and find a big audience?  Joey Svendsen, co-host of the “Bad Christian Podcast” joins the show to talk Christian cussing, evil Dungeons & Dragons toys and a life spent recovering from an overly legalistic past.  Plus - Harry Potter turns 20, and overly legalistic Christians rue the day..

Direct download: 258Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Our favorite Nigerian-British-Minnesotan author/speaker/thinker Jo Saxton returns to the show to talk about church and discipleship in an increasingly post-church world.  If you’re in a community that doesn’t want church services at all, maybe tweaking your church service isn’t the right answer.  But what is??  Jo describes experiments from Sheffield, England that she and others are now applying to the US.  Plus, how denomination accurately predicts a pastor’s political affiliation, and Phil finds a story about space worms and can’t stop talking about it.  Seriously.  He can’t stop.  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 257Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Engaging with the world’s leading atheists and skeptics can have an impact on your own beliefs. How so? Let’s ask Justin Brierley! Back from across the pond, our favorite British radio host and atheist whisperer describes how repeated run-ins with Richard Dawkins and other prominent skeptics have affected his faith. Plus Christians indulge in fake news and Orthodox Jews indulge in chicken swinging. Which is worse? We can’t say. On the podcast!

Direct download: 256Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Why do so many Christians mistrust climate change science?  Does consumerism make us depressed?  Is church good for your health?  Phil brings in a whole mess of news items for this potluck podcast episode!

Direct download: 255Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Christians have been fighting to change abortion laws for decades now.  What if the solution to abortion wasn’t in politics, but in the local church?  Angie Wezsley joins the podcast to talk about her ministry, “ProGrace,” that seeks to change the dialogue about one of our thorniest cultural topics.  Plus, pastor says, “I can walk on water,” crocodiles say, “No you can’t!"  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Final254.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

What if you could explain the Bible to the whole world?  Visually?  On YouTube?  Timothy Mackie and Jonathan Collins are doing just that with The Bible Project, a theologically rich, crowd-funded visual guide to the Bible that has earned more than 23 million views on YouTube.  We’re big fans, so we’ve got them on the show to tell us what they’re up to and what they’ve learned trying to explain the Bible to, well, everyone on Earth.  PLUS - “faith-based” films.  Does the label help or hurt Christian filmmaking?  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Final253.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Who is God? No, really. This is the single-most important question determining how we live our lives, according to our guest John Mark Comer, whose book God Has a Name explores the nature of the God of the Bible, how we get him horribly wrong, and why getting him right is so vital. Plus… how do you know if you’ve left evangelicalism? And why was British comedian Stephen Fry just investigated for blasphemy??

Want us to send you the prologue to John Mark Comer’s book for free? Just click here:

Direct download: 252Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:19pm CDT

Phil and the gang open the virtual mailbag and answer a host of questions from listeners.  Will social media bring about a new Reformation?  How do you know if a doctrine is “essential?”  Does Skye have anything GOOD to say about the American church?  Favorite faith films, and more!  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 251Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Is religion good? Or bad? If we try to get rid of it entirely, does that help? Or just make things worse? And how do so many people get the basic message of Jesus so completely wrong? Today we dive into Skye Jethani's new book – What’s Wrong With Religion? – to wrestle with some absolutely fundamental questions about walking with Jesus.

Plus - education and church attendance might go hand-in-hand after all, and a great worship band might not be what your church needs most. Oh… and muddy jeans as a sign of the end times. Really expensive ones.

You can download the first two chapters of Skye’s new book for free by clicking here. Check it out! Tell your friends! It’s a fun read (with pictures and everything!) that could actually change your life, or the life of someone you love.

Direct download: 250Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:22pm CDT

As the culture moves further away from traditional Christianity, some propose Christians need to move further away from culture, taking the "Benedict Option.”  Is a return to more communal Christianity the answer to what ails us?  Also, Americans march for science and against… hmm… what, exactly?  And Fox News has a moral crisis, but do conservative Christians care?   This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 249_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Bob and Larry make a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live and the Prime Minister of Great Britain gripes that her Easter eggs have been replaced with “seasonal” eggs!  Plus Phil and the gang talk about hearing from God through quiet reflection with wood chopping Portland author Paul Pastor (not to be confused with Phil’s non-wood-chopping puppet Pastor Paul).  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 248_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Skye and Phil sit down with writer, director and actor Tim Gregory to talk about his new Chicago stage play based on the life of - believe it or not - Chuck Colson!  Plus Christians have some strange beliefs in the UK and what NOT to put in your DJ mix in the Middle East!

Direct download: 247_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Were Adam and Eve the first people?  Were they even real people at all?  Should modern genomics influence how we interpret Genesis?  Bible scholar and author Scot Scot McKnight joins the podcast to discuss his new book Adam and Genome: Reading Scripture after Genetic Science.

Direct download: 246_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Should churches remove Confederate flags?  Should Americans be more afraid of terrorists, ladders or husbands?  Should Wonder Woman shave her armpits?  It’s a potluck podcast as Phil, Christian and Skye bring the stories of their choice - and yes, things get a little nutty.

Direct download: 245_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:22am CDT

Skye steals Phil’s ukulele, sending Phil into an emotional tailspin.  And Trevin Wax joins the podcast to talk about the lies we pick up from our culture, the longings we find beneath the lies, and how the gospel and the local church help us cut through the noise to offer real answers to our deepest longings.

Direct download: 244_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Is curiosity a threat to faith?  Or is it actually a key attribute of a healthy Christian life?  Happy Rant podcast host Barnabas Piper joins the crew to talk through his new book, The Curious Christian.  Plus - evangelicals and discrimination, and Phil & Skye offer Russell Moore a job!

Direct download: 243_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

At the age of 20, Michael Wear became one of the youngest White House staffers in history, working in President Obama’s office of faith-based initiative.  Michael joins Phil and Skye to talk about life as an evangelical Christian in Obama’s White House and his hope for the future of Christians and political engagement.  Plus, Disney ruffles feathers with gay characters.  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 242_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Why do black and white evangelicals see the world so differently?  Race and religion in the age of Trump, with professor Theon Hill.

Direct download: Final_241.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Former Christian radio personality Melinda Schmidt joins Phil and Skye to talk about Christian radio, movies, TV, and whether Christian media stunts spiritual growth in the name of retaining an audience.  Plus, The Atlantic writes about evangelicals losing jobs for opposing Trump!

Direct download: 240_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Can a Buddhist follow Jesus and still be a Buddhist?  What about a Muslim?  Fuller Seminary professor William Dyrness joins Phil and Christian to talk about the “insider movement,” where people become Jesus followers without leaving their cultures and religious communities behind.

Direct download: 239_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

What is “power?”  Is it good, or bad?  Is it worth pursuing?  And what if the evangelical church is going about it all wrong?  Pastor Jamin Goggin and professor Kyle Strobel talk power and their new book, “The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb.”  Plus - horse diapers and religious liberty.  No, really.  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 238Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

It’s a potluck podcast as our friend Drew Dyck swings by for a visit and we tackle a bunch of stories!  Could pigs have people parts??  Could there be great Christian movies Christians just won’t see??  Would Jesus send refugees packing?  Plus Drew’s favorite snack food turns on him!  It’s a sign of the apocalypse for sure!

Direct download: 237_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

She grew up in London, has African heritage, and now lives in Minnesota!  AND she co-pastors a church in a coffeeshop!  She’s Jo Saxton, and she joins us to talk about her life in ministry and her book, “More Than Enchanting” -  the value of female leadership in the world and in the church.  Plus - which religious group is the most committed to their jobs?  You’ll be surprised!

Direct download: Final_236.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Was the apostle Paul sexist?  Racist?  Homophobic?  In other words, a real jerk??  Paul has been accused of many things, so Bible scholar Brandon O’Brien joins us to discuss his new book, “Paul Behaving Badly.”  Plus, is a trip to Disney World actually a religious pilgrimage??  This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Final235.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

How geography, TV shows and voting go hand in hand, how Star Wars got it’s mojo back by getting it’s religion back, and how Lent can change your life - with Aaron Damiani, author of “The Good of Giving Up: Discovering the Freedom of Lent.”  This week on the podcast!
 
Links:
Direct download: 234_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

What kind of God would send people to Hell?  Judge people?  Call for “holy war?”  Portland, OR Pastor/Author Joshua Ryan Butler joins the podcast for a discussion of some of the more perplexing parts of Christian theology and his appropriately titled book, The Skeletons in God’s Closet.

Direct download: Final_233.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Muslim imams and evangelical pastors camping together on a dude ranch in Texas?? Some kind of bizarre reality show coming to cable this Fall? Nope! It’s the real life work of Texas megachurch pastor Bob Roberts - who joins us on the podcast to describe his unlikely and somewhat controversial role as a bridge between conservative Christian leaders and their Muslim counterparts.

Direct download: 172_ThrowBack.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:27am CDT

Which religious group is the most educated?  Are Americans more divided than ever before?  When did “self-fulfillment” become our new religion?  Leading Christian pollster David Kinnaman joins us for this year-end podcast to talk about trends shaping the culture and the church.  (Plus his new book, Barna Trends 2017.)

Direct download: 232_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Most modern worship songs focus on God or me.  (Or God AND me.)  Is there anything else we should be covering when we worship God?  Former Mars Hill and Willow Creek worship pastor Aaron Niequist joins the podcast to talk about his adventures in seeking a bigger vision of what worship can be.

Direct download: 231_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Podcast co-host Skye Jethani and Josh Lindsay are launching a new podcast about movies, so with Skye off in India, Phil and Christian sit down with Josh to talk movies and the new podcast!

Direct download: 230_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Future grandpa Phil had to skedaddle off to Minnesota... So here's a throwback! Way back! All the way to 2014!

Phil and the gang are joined in studio by Aussie historian/theologian/apologist/former rocker John Dickson for a discussion of Christian culture in the US vs Australia and how to effectively engage the mainstream press, plus listeners chime in on the precise physiology of transgenderism! Hoo-boy!! It’s a party for sure.

Direct download: 229_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Evangelical Pastor/Researcher/Commentator Ed Stetzer drops in for a very lively discussion of the impact of the recent election on the church, what we’ve learned about evangelical values, and whether the term “evangelical” has - or hasn’t - outlived its usefulness.  Fun, fun, fun on the podcast!!

Direct download: 228_Final_REV1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:19pm CDT

Popular author and preacher Francis Chan walked away from his megachurch to try something completely different - a series of tiny house churches in inner city San Francisco.  Why the change?  And what can we learn from his big experiment in going “small?”  This week on the podcast with Francis Chan - is the future of the church tiny??

Direct download: 227_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

We're giving everyone access to the live streaming Q&A the gang did recently to discuss the election and other Patreon subscriber questions. These events happen every month, so sign up at www.Patreon.com/PhilVischer and join in live next month!

Direct download: Final_226.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Currently 1 out of 5 human beings revere a certain religious book, and it isn’t the Bible.  Religious scholar and author Mark Robert Anderson talks us through the Qur’an… what is it?  How do Christian approach it, and why does it matter?  Plus Christian has gone crazy for the Cubbies and everyone is sweating the upcoming election!

Direct download: 225_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Jesus had to "die for our sins,” right?  But what does that actually mean?  We mess up, God gets mad, so someone needs to pay for our sin or we can't go to heaven when we die?  But what if our ultimate problem isn’t sin, and what if our ultimate goal isn’t heaven??  Egads!! World-renowned theologian N.T. Wright joins Phil and Skye to talk about his new book - The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion.  No biggie… just the absolute heart and soul of the Christian faith!!

Direct download: 224_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:55pm CDT

What really birthed the religious right?  Why have black and white Christians swapped political parties over the last 60 years?  Based on a class he’s teaching, co-host Skye Jethani takes us deep into the surprising history of 20th century Christian political involvement.  It’s a fascinating journey you won’t want to miss!

Direct download: 223_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Why are young people leaving the church and what are some churches doing that is helping them stay?  Is it all about “hipping up” our churches with coffee bars and skinny jeans, or is it something deeper?  Fuller Youth Institute director Kara Powell returns to the podcast to discuss her new book, Growing Young, and the surprising answers to one of our thorniest problems.

Direct download: Podcast222_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Is the church in America obsessed with success?  Do we sacrifice genuine growth to avoid failure?  Pastor/author J.R. Briggs joins Phil and Skye to discuss the idolatry of success and his own journey in learning how to “fail well."

Direct download: Podcast221_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00am CDT

Does the way we do church effectively make disciples? New research says “not so much.” So what do we do? Speaker, author,  and theologian Preston Sprinkle is back on the show to talk about new models for church and why we need them. What could church be? What SHOULD church be? This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast220_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:05pm CDT

A Bible translation is frozen in time. Modern technology unlocks a scroll. Christian media is more popular than you might think. And a new survey shows Christians are bad at guessing which behaviors make our neighbors uncomfortable. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Episode_219-_Bible_Translations_Christian_Radio__Praying_for_Atheists.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:40am CDT

Everyone’s favorite band-made-up-of-Christians-that-isn't-a-Christian-band U2 turns the big 4-0; an atheist mentalist successfully replicates “faith healing” in a London stage show; British radio host Justin Brierley returns to the podcast to talk news from across the pond. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_218_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:36pm CDT

Phil has a bone to pick! A hot new book encouraging Christians to “chase their dreams” drives Phil crazy and he just can’t stop talking about it. It’s a full-on rant! And all because Benaiah killed a lion (it will make sense after you listen). This week on the podcast!

Direct download: 217_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:15pm CDT

It’s time to slow things down a bit as we’re joined by Christian writer, speaker and spiritual director Jan Johnson for a discussion of right brain Christianity, meditation and her new book, Meeting God in Scripture - A Hands-on Guide to Lectio Divina.

Direct download: 216_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30pm CDT

What events would bring the most people back to church? Which celebrity has Rick Warren’s book helped now? Are American Christians “persecuted” in their own special way? Are astronauts too boring for reality TV? And what failure of the church might be driving people to Donald Trump? Christianity Today editor Katelyn Beaty joins Skye and Phil to run through a grab bag of issues in this particularly nutty installment of the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP215_Audio_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:45am CDT

What can we learn from this crazy year in American politics? Is it ever appropriate for Christians to vote “none of the above?” How do our various Christian traditions shape our views of church and state? Author and political science professor Amy Black joins the gang for a rousing discussion - this week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP214_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:17pm CDT

Bibles have changed radically in the last 200 years as publishers have added more and more features and launched countless variations. But is this a good thing? Author Glenn Paauw believes our modernistic changes have radically altered the way we engage with Scripture, and not for the better. It's a fascinating conversation inspired by his new book, Saving the Bible From Ourselves

Direct download: Podcast_EP213_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:49pm CDT

Democrats are talking about God and faith at their convention while the Republican candidate neglects the almighty in his acceptance speech and says absolutely nothing about abortion. What bizarro universe is this?? Plus, tips for surviving the election season, and listener questions for Skye about the nature of church. Today on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP212_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:55pm CDT

Do churches put too little emphasis on what we actually do 9-5? Phil and Skye broadcast from a lodge at beautiful Lake Okoboji in northwest Iowa in front of a crowd of Iowan pastors! They’re joined by Kansas City pastor Tom Nelson, author of Work Matters, for a far-ranging discussion on the Godly call of all work and the damage done by a false sacred/secular divide and the separation of Sunday morning from Monday morning. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_211_Mixdown_1_01.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:26pm CDT

Author, speaker and wonderfully-named Christian thinker Preston Sprinkle joins the crew to continue the conversation about what the New Testament does and doesn’t say about Hell. Plus we discuss Preston’s new book on discipleship in the church and a poll showing stark differences in views of our presidential candidates between white and black Christians in America. Another fun week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP210_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:32pm CDT

Alcohol and the church - now that hipster evangelicals have left teetotaling behind, is alcohol a growing risk for evangelical leaders? Plus Andy Crouch says “the culture” doesn’t actually exist. And Katelyn Beaty tells us about her new book, “A Woman’s Place.” Skye asks if it’s a cookbook. Katelyn hits him on the head. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP209_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:12pm CDT

What’s Hell? No, seriously - what is it and why doesn’t it show up in the Old Testament? Is it different than Hades? Sheol? Gehenna? OT scholar Dr. John Walton is back to talk about everyone’s favorite place of eternal torment. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP208_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:31pm CDT

Phil and the gang are out on vacation, so we’re repeating a classic episode. A discussion with Old Testament scholar and friend of the show Dr. John Walton about his book – “The Lost World of Adam and Eve.” Were Adam and Eve real people? Were they created immortal? And what’s with that crazy “No really – God made you from my rib” story? Worth a second listen! 

Direct download: Podcast_EP146_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:12pm CDT

No one seems to agree on anything anymore in America. Law professor and author John Inazu joins Phil and Skye to talk about living Christianly in a pluralistic society, and his new book, “Confident Pluralism.

Direct download: Podcast_EP207_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

There are more refugees in the world now than at any other time in history. World Relief’s Matthew Soerens joins us to talk about the crisis, the politics, and what we as the church can do about it.

Direct download: Podcast_EP206_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:24pm CDT

Devotions! The kind you might have in the morning! Or not. Phil, Skye and Christian talk about daily devotions - what they do, what works for them, what might work for you, too. Also, Mel Gibson is back, Baptists forget who they are, and adult baby diapers. Not adult diapers. Baby diapers. For adults. Yeah, we don’t get it either.

Direct download: Podcast_EP205_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:32pm CDT

Gorillas in Cincinnati! Atheists Find God! Christian music is relentlessly happy! Katelyn Beatty joins the podcast to talk through apes, atheists, and much, much more.

Direct download: Podcast_EP204Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:38pm CDT

Phil and Skye are rejoined by old friend Drew Dyck for a lively discussion on the latest twists in the bathroom wars; whether or not American democracy is collapsing, and cheese. Yes, that’s right. Cheese. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PVPodcast203Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:21pm CDT

Documentary Filmmaker Nathan Clarke joins the gang to talk about producing his short film “Bono and Eugene Peterson: The Psalms,” a beautifully shot account of the unlikely friendship between the 83 year-old Christian author and the U2 frontman.

Direct download: Podcast_EP202.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:12pm CDT

Russell Moore is President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (I’m tired just from typing that) and - as of last week - a new “Enemy-of-the-Trump.” Phil and Skye talk to Dr. Moore about religious liberty and the thrill of being attacked by the Great Orange One on Twitter!

Direct download: Podcast201Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:41pm CDT

This is it! The 200th episode! The one we’ve been waiting for for nearly, gosh, nearly 200 episodes! Phil and the gang answer tons of questions from listeners and viewers, plus a big announcement. Today on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_PODCAST_200_AUDIO.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:10pm CDT

When people talk about "making America great again,” what dothey really mean? It usually boils down to the state of the middleclass and the American Dream of living better than our parents.That in mind, Phil dives deep into the thorny, thorny problem ofthe American middle class. Plus, Bono has advice for Christiansongwriters. Today on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP199_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:15pm CDT

With “Bathroom Bills” popping up in numerous states and religious liberty battles all over the news, it’s time to dive into the deep end of our religiously litigious culture. Should Christian therapists be required to treat homosexuals? Does science curriculum undermine religious freedom? It’s a nutty time to be alive, and we’ve got some thoughts (well, mostly Skye) this week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast198_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:26pm CDT

We live in an image-drenched culture. When is “breaking” culture a part of our Christian calling, and how does Christian faith equip us to subvert our image-saturated “Babylon?” Art historian Matthew Milliner joins Phil and Skye to talk art, consumerism, and “occupying the optocracy.” This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP197_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:35pm CDT

When is it okay for Christians to disobey the government? Sure, Martin Luther King did it right. But how about Kim Davis? Christianity Today managing editor Katelyn Beaty joins Skye and Phil to discuss civil disobedience. Plus the “Fighting Missionary” gets put on the shelf in Washington State. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP196_audio01.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:45pm CDT

Is atheism a religion? Blogger and YouTube personality Hemant Mehta, better known as "the friendly atheist," joins Phil, Skye and Christian to dissect some common claims about our non-believing neighbors. Plus Skye gets "profiled" at Disney World.

Direct download: Podcast_EP195_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:39pm CDT

It’s a very Jedi Easter in Wisconsin. Charging money for prayers can get you in trouble, plus popular Christian cliches we find all over the church but nowhere in the Bible. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_194_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:48pm CDT

How can a boat demonstrate the limits of democracy? Disney films promote the message that poverty is “just fine.” Plus does Trumpalooza reveal the real problems in the evangelical church? And what, if anything, can we do about it? This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP193_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:07pm CDT

New research by the Barna Group shows that Americans in increasing numbers view Christianity as unbeneficial and even dangerous to society. Barna president David Kinnaman and Q conference founder Gabe Lyons join Phil and Skye to discuss their new book - Good Faith: Being A Christian When Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme. Plus reaction to recent Trump rally violence and the rise of American demagoguery. What fun!

Direct download: Podcast_EP192_Audio_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:59pm CDT

Did Christians make Trump? Is the religious right dead? Is the evangelical church splitting in two? A bizarre electoral season has the media - and evangelical leaders - desperately seeking answers.

Direct download: Podcast_EP191_Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:56pm CDT

Interpreting the Old Testament is easy, right? We just read our English translations, knowing that they say exactly what the original Hebrew said. Right? Dr. John Walton’s son Jonathan joins Phil and Christian to describe the work involved in digging into the original language as he and his father strive for the most accurate interpretation possible. Plus, Phil describes his fun fun trip to the National Religious Broadcasters convention.

Direct download: Podcast_EP190_Audio_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:36pm CDT

Are America’s “best days” behind us? What makes some areas better at improving the lives of poor kids than others? Plus - capital punishment and the church, and the dangers of praying for atheists in England.

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP189.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:25am CDT

Is God a genocidal maniac?? OT scholar Dr. John Walton is back on the show, this time to decipher the OT’s stories of Israel’s apparent genocidal rampages against the Canaanites and others. Are we worshipping a lunatic? Or are we missing something in these stories? Fun for the whole family!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP188.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:42pm CDT

How many Christians pray for the Super Bowl? Which Super Bowl ad offended abortion rights advocates? Plus - what do Americans like to give up for Lent and does it do any good? (Audio Only)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP187.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:32am CDT

Politicians talk about faith, pharmacists and Noah’s Ark builders fight for religious freedom, and Skye explains how “Christianism” could kill the evangelical movement. (And Phil gets to say “Bebbington’s Quadrilateral” one more time!) (Audio Only)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP186.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:44am CDT

Why are British pastors growing beards? Why can’t Muslims play chess? Why are all the space aliens dead? Why are there seven buckets of evangelicals? (And which bucket likes Donald Trump??) You’ve got questions - we’ve got answers! Sort of. (Audio Only)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP185.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:27am CDT

King Hezekiah lives! Satan moves to Fox! Subways go “pants optional!” Plus Skye has some thoughts about Martin Luther King and the American church today. This week on the podcast! (Audio only)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP184.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:11am CDT

This week’s podcast is audio only as we kick off a year sprinting toward the presidential election … While some believe the Republican party is in trouble, others believe the Democrats are facing even bigger, issues. Join Phil and the gang for a fascinating conversation about education, equality and politics in America!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP183.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:05am CDT

Santa Claus is coming, Wheaton College is in hot water and Jerry Falwell Jr. is packing heat! Just another culture wars Christmas in America!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP182.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Racial justice, protest, and the role of the church. Chicago pastor Charlie Dates joins Phil and the gang to talk about race and the church!

Direct download: Pv_Podcast_EP181.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Phil and Skye react to the Planned Parenthood shooting and protests against police violence in Chicago, plus the age-old question of “What is a religion?” has one women successfully wearing a spaghetti strainer on her head for her driver’s license picture! This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP180.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Everybody’s outraged! Trump is mad at Starbucks for those darn cups! Liberals are mad at Raven-Symoné for eating a sandwich! Students are mad at their schools for… well, for just about everything! And Skye says what we really need is a little more “grit.” This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP179.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Phil and the gang react to the attacks in Paris, plus theories about the relationship between violence and religion, and a new - yet very old - religion is becoming the "religion of choice" for white supremacists.

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP178.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Boycotting Starbucks and "buycotting" Chick-fil-A ... plus a new study shows that religious kids are cruel, heartless jerks and we should all be atheists. This week on the podcast!

Direct download: Podcast_EP177.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00pm CDT

Which age group is most concerned about religious freedom in America? How many Americans want Judeo-Christian values favored above other views? Barna Research president David Kinnaman joins the gang to discuss the surprising findings of his latest study!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP176.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Halloween gets thrown out of school, presidential candidates get invited to church, and Oprah makes a show to promote her version of "faith." (And tries to explain it to Stephen Colbert!)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP175.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

New examples of religious people behaving poorly in not one but THREE major faiths! Gallup looks at the future of religion in America, and Skye thinks the church needs help thinking about work! This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP174_10-15-2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Audio only podcast ... Listener feedback from last week’s show, plus who are the happiest parents? And is your Christian school filled with Muslim students? You must be in the UK!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP173_10_13_2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Muslim imams and evangelical pastors camping together on a dude ranch in Texas?? Some kind of bizarre reality show coming to cable this Fall? Nope! It’s the real life work of Texas megachurch pastor Bob Roberts - who joins us on the podcast to describe his unlikely and somewhat controversial role as a bridge between conservative Christian leaders and their Muslim counterparts.

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP172_10-05-2015_with_Dr._Bob_Roberts_Jr.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

We’ve all heard the stats about kids leaving the faith when they head for college - but why? And what would have made their faith more “sticky?” Has anyone done any actual research on this? Kara Powell has! Fuller Youth Institute Executive Director Kara Powell joins the gang to discuss her research and her book - Sticky Faith!

Direct download: Podcast_9-29-15.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Drew Dyck is back in town and joins Phil and Skye for a lively discussion about presidential debates (crazy), theology in Christian movies (weak) and beer in church (sinful?). And absolutely ZERO conversation about toplessness! (Amen!)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP170.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Several news stories drag Phil and the gang back into discussions of male and female toplessness YET AGAIN. (Thanks, Time Magazine and French feminists!) Then attentions are turned to topics of science! Should all scientists be “militant athiests?” Does faith in science fill the same emotional needs as religious faith? This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP169_09-14-2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

After two weeks of modesty mayhem, Phil attempts to wrap-up the discussion once and for all with some thoughts that hit him while he was (immodestly) taking a shower. Plus - that lady in Kentucky who is in jail for… you know… “the gays.” This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP168.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Listeners get to chime in! Last week's stories led to lots of interesting conversation about modesty, mega-pastors and Muslim prayer rooms, so Phil reads your comments and the gang discusses! What fun!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP167.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Gender "neutrality" on display in the streets of New York and the aisles of Target ... Christian hospitality put to the test at Orlando International Airport ... John Oliver "discovers" shady televangelists in America! What does it all mean??? Is it the END OF ... (well, you know.)

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP166.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Phil and the gang are joined by Sam Larson, the son of a regular listener and one of two finalists on the History Channel survival show "Alone." Sam talks about his experience on the show and the spiritual impact of 40+ days in the wilderness alone.

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP165_08-17-2015_with_Sam_Larson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT

Can an atheist play football? Can a Christian back Donald Trump? Can Rob Bell still hold our attention? Plus, Skye riles up some listeners! This week on the podcast!

Direct download: PV_Podcast_EP164.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am CDT