Baked and Awake

Baked and Awake

Episode 28

February 5th, 2018

Steve Cominski

George W Masters

Today on the show:

This is, in a nod to one of Steve's favorite Podcasts, The Landmark Forum, "The Breakdown", where George Masters and I discuss the unusual but somehow quite successful Personal Development "School" that is Landmark Education and The Landmark Forum. I'll add a few extra jpeg's of the Landmark "Syllabus" that is apparently handed out to some students, although I can't recall receiving materials that looked like these for my three day weekend experience.

Anyway, it's a long one and all about Landmark, so if this isn't your thing at all, I respectfully give you my blessing to take the week off- but I don't recommend it.

Link to Psychology Today Article Steve reads

Link to the Landmark Forum Website

Close with: Audio from a friend reflecting on his experience at The Landmark Forum..

Strain of The Week

Gold Line Concentrates Blackwater Strain- Gold Line consistently produces good tasting, amazing looking wax, crumbles, etc. I believe this is BHO, and for $30 retail before Have a Heart Skyway saved me $5 just for walking through the DOOR- I don't see how you can beat it!

Please visit the Baked and Awake Teepublic Store

Royalty Free Music

Antti Luode, as posted to Reddit under Creative Commons- THANK YOU!

Organizations to Support:

NORML- The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

The Sentencing Project- Sentence reduction, commutation for non violent offenders

Baked and Awake

Episode 27

January 31, 2018

Steve Cominski

Today on the show:

Welcome, Thanks for the most recent five Star review from Vanzell Kirk aka Inner Observer, of the Lifted Scene Podcast! Shoutout to a great Pacific Northwest produced show about all things higher consciousness, only the least part of which is mind expanding drugs! Don't forget to check out my episode this week and next week on On The Edge with Mike Peacock, where we talk all things Cannabis this week, and next week I believe the conversation might turn to one of my favorite pet subjects that we have yet to delve into here, Chemtrails! Pod News: January marks our best month in downloads EVER, Thank you all for your listens! We are excited to announce that in our quest for total spectrum domination we have hacked the Clear Channel Servers, tied up their gatekeeper AI, and implanted our rss feed deep in the throbbing heart of the beast that is…. iHeartRadio. Yes that's right you can now find the Baked and Awake Podcast on iHeart, along with almost dang near every other pod catching thingamajigger out there, just try me!! Finally please as always go check out our Teepublic Store where you can find legit, original designs from real live friends of mine- talented ones! There's a lot more than just shirts there and every purchase goes towards supporting and improving the podcast, AND you get to help us spread the good news that is Baked and Awake with the many oh so many unwashed masses who still don't know the time..

Upcoming Events: Cannacon Seattle, Feb 15-17- who else is going and who wants to meet up to talk business, content creation, or just to session? Hit me up!!

1. WA State Cannabis Home Grow Bill Advances
2. 1. Related: Bill 2559 Summary and status
3. How Blockchain could Kill both Cable and Netflix
4. The Bunny Ears Podcast, A Hot Take
   1. A Blog Post about the 40th Anniversary of EST and the Human Potential Movement, Psychology Today
5. The Landmark Forum, the Foyay

Landmark and its predecessor, EST Training is credited or blamed, depending on who you ask- with the creation of the modern Self Improvement Seminar Industry. EST, or Erhard Seminar Training- itself was one of the earliest, and biggest companies at the backbone of a decades old multi million dollar a year industry that is Self Care, Self Improvement, Career Development and "Team Building", you name it. It's every corporate retreat you've ever been to where huge obstacle courses are erected in unlikely green belts. It's trust falls and people giving monologues on the early traumas that haunt them in their daily lives, or perhaps sharing the traumas they dole out now in the form of personal failures, recounting of petty fights with loved ones, or worse. In some ways, it will remind those of us brought up in The Church of elements we encountered there- of our own Pastors, Ministers, and Priests and their sermons, some more ominous than others in their import- or of our own times confessing our sins either on our knees in the church pews, or perhaps in the confessional if you were raised Roman Catholic.

This is a lot more than just corporate retreats, although that is an enormous and important part of Landmark Forum and Landmark Education's business model- it's everyone from Gary Vee to Tony Robbins to Dr. Oz, and on down the line. Are you in love with TED Talks? Perhaps Deepak Chopra or Wayne Dyer is more your speed. Doesn't matter. Same diff. You may begin to see where I'm going here. Shoot- we're not even done! To jump the tracks and land in a parallel lane, we have reductionist materialist Pundits such as Richard Dawkins, Jonathan Haidt, Christopher Hitchens and more who made careers on the back of the need for explanation and "solving" of some of life's greatest questions. These modern day Nietsche's are even more ubiquitous- Neil DeGrasse Tyson? Bill Nye? I mean, as far as I'm concerned there's an arc there and they are on the curve. The light weight, Pop Culture end of the spectrum that tells us that Man is both the most clever thing that has ever walked on two legs and has eyes to see- and that the fact that is the case in NO way is to be mistaken for evidence of a Grand Design, an Omnipotent and Omnipresent Loving God, or any OTHER overt meaning, purpose, whatsoever.

Why talk about it though? Because I went through one of the weekend long "Communication Workshops" once, and at the time experienced much of the elation and seeming transformation that was promised by the Landmark Recruiting event, itself of course one of the ubiquitous to Landmark bait and switch "Graduation Ceremonies". Having experienced it and more or less enjoyed it, escaping un-recruited to further levels of "Advanced training"- it felt Cultish, and at the same time AMWAY like- you're supposed to enroll in expensive further training, and simultaneously recruit friends and family into the Landmark Communication Workshops because if they don't also learn the Landmark secret, you'll inevitably drift away from them as they wallow in their ignorance while you live in the Landmark NOW. For all these reasons, it sparks my Spider Sense all over again now, as it did then- and seems like something worth talking about, perhaps even caution you about.

EST and Werner Erhard had early connections to L Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology- to the extent that The Church of Scientology harassed and generally fucked with Erhard, threatening him after his own early split from the Church.

Concerns- The Integrity trap/sales pitch. If you "Believe" in the transformative power of the Forum, you'll recruit and enroll your family and friends into this training. The training is never cheap, and only gets more costly as you advance to the higher levels. This is not a school for poor people- although I'm sure they recruit and attract people of limited means by design. The Forum is pitched as a replacement or substitute to Psychotherapy and other long term training.

Link to video on Youtube that we sampled under Creative Commons even though who knows it probably doesn't protect me against using three minutes from a movie from the 70's

Close with: Audio from a friend on his first day at The Forum..

Link to the Landmark Forum Website

Strain of The Week

Gold Line Concentrates OG Kush - Gold Line consistently produces good tasting, amazing looking wax, crumbles, etc. I believe this is BHO, and for $30 retail before Have a Heart Skyway saved me $5 just for walking through the DOOR- I don't see how you can beat it!

Royalty Free Music

Antti Luode, as posted to Reddit under Creative Commons- THANK YOU!

Organizations to Support:

NORML- The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

The Sentencing Project- Sentence reduction, commutation for non violent offenders

Baked and Awake

Jan 25, 2018

January "Bonus-ode"

Today on Baked and Awake

Welcome and Thanks to MD5Holmes and Ontheedgeiam for their 5 star reviews in iTunes! Thoughtful words fell on grateful eyes when I read your feedback, gents- thank you both!

First up: Strain of The Week (SOTW)

XJ-13 from Smooth Sailing Cannabis, Tacoma WA.

XJ-13 Strain info:

XJ-13 is a sativa-dominant strain cherished for both its therapeutic potency and enjoyable euphoric buzz. This hybrid cross of Jack Herer and G13 Haze induces unencumbered cerebral effects perfect for stimulating creativity and conversation. As if we needed another reason to love this lightweight sativa, XJ-13 consistently exhibits a strong citrus aroma accented by notes of earthy pine. Novice consumers looking for an easy, paranoia-free experience can depend on XJ-13 as a surefire way to relieve stress and mood-related symptoms.

Personal Take: It's Sativa dominant alright, and let me tell you why…

• California Legal Cannabis Market Update from Patrick at the Berning Media Network
• How Fungi Saved the World
• Related: Self Healing Concrete with Fungi-tech?
• People can now create AI generated fake celebrity porn- and why this matters

Related Reading to the Fungi Topic: The Sacred mushroom and the Cross, or "How Jesus might really be the Fly Agaric Mushroom" ←my own subtitle

Podcasts of the Week:

Asian Madness Podcast- Jessica brings you a new true crime story each week from somewhere in the Asian Panoply of nations. Her style is slightly hypnotic, as she calmly recounts stories of the most horrific kinds to you as you perch on the edge of your seat.

There Might Be Cupcakes- True crime from someone with a real background in analyzing and parsing what they are dealing with and talking about. Carla is a breath of fresh air in this category and defies my attempts to characterize her podcast. Check it out today if you love True Crime, Psychology, and great storytelling.

Royalty Free Music Provided by: Antti Loude of Soundcloud

Support the pod at our Patreon Page

Even Better- Buy a T-Shirt, Sticker, Mug, or whatever from our Teepublic Store!

Baked and Awake

Season Two Episode 03

January 20, 2018

The Surveillance State and YOU

• Opening Comments- Thanks Sean McCoy for the 5 Star iTunes review! Also our friend over at Minutiae Men Podcast Everybody else do that, too! Also don't forget to visit the Teepublic shop to scoop some Baked and Awake Swag and spread the word about the show far and wide!
• MJ News- Some states consider pardons for MJ Offenders
• Most Phones, Tablets, vulnerable to security flaws
• Many Secure Messaging Apps not so secure
• Congress votes to expand warrantless spying for Trump
• The Bitcoin Psyop, The Corbett Report

Podcast of the week:

Sesh Cast Podcast- GOLDLX hosts a chill, intelligent, and un pushy podcast where he basically provides company and leans on you for the same, while he sessions and reflects both on the weed he's smoking, and the task at hand- connecting with You.

Royalty Free music provided by: Antti Loude, of Soundcloud

Fellow Podcasters should add me on FB (Steve Cominski) and let me know via DM if you'd like to be invited to join the Podcast Builders League Facebook Group.

Strain of the Week: Blackberry Cream Indica from From The Soil Farms. Purchased at the beautiful South Seattle shop, The Bakeree Seattle

Baked and Awake

Season 2, Episode 02 (#24)

January 12, 2018

Today on Baked and Awake:

1. Opening remarks on: Cannabis Influencers NW Meetup, Thanks for the iTunes Reviews, Please visit the Teepublic Store to support the show and help us grow.
2. World Health Organization says CBD is safe, with no potential for abuse
3. Google's Alpha Zero AI Trounces reigning AI Champ in just hours
4. Pandora CEO Wants to create the Podcast Genome Project
5. Elite Globalists may engineer a financial collapse and blame Bitcoin

SOTW: Blackwater, Indica Hybrid Rosin from American Hash Makers, purchased at Uncle Ike's Cannabis in White Center.

Royalty Free music provided by Antti Loude, of Soundcloud fame.

Baked and Awake Podcast

Season 2, Episode 01

January 7, 2018

Legal Cannabis Updates and Other News

Old Business-

Welcome to the first Episode of the Baked and Awake Podcast for 2018!! Holy Moly you Guys, we recorded 22 Episodes in 2017, having started this little project back in late August, almost September. In that time we have had well over 1000 downloads in total, with a one day record of 99 downloads! That just happened in December, with our Mars Hill Episodes One and Two! Thanks to everyone who participated in the MH episodes discussion and offline conversations. You all know who you are.. Looking forward to even more of that in the future, for sure, and I thoroughly enjoyed making those episodes, so please do check them out! What an honor it has been to spend time with you all and talk about all sorts of things we are not just "curious" about, but inspired to actively seek out and better understand them. That we may feel and appreciate esoteric topics more fully as our knowledge and comfort with them grows. But at its baseline, and for the purposes of this podcast there is one overriding and continuous theme we will devote ourselves to here, and it's the plant. If you still are here with me by now, I'm gonna go ahead and take it for a given that you do too. Cannabis is a special gift, an embattled ally to millions, and perhaps the single greatest panacea against general pain, mental and physical suffering, and indeed grave diseases- to ever take the stage alongside we poor, fragile, fleshy humans in this short, brutally painful adventure that holds for each and every one of us but one possible conclusion. Is it such a wonder then, that some (most) folks in certain (many) industries and the halls of power don't like it so much! But I digress!

We have goals to set for 2018. The Royal "We", LOL- meaning me of course. But hey- these can perhaps be shared goals. Let's see how we do- you tell me.

• Record and publish once a week all year
• Visit as many shops, grows, kitchens, and labs as possible, and share them with you
• Raise awareness and funds for projects such as The Sentencing Project, NORML, and others that support and actively seek the end of mass incarceration in the US and particularly for non violent drug offenders.
• Support and raise awareness for National movements to legalize and reschedule Cannabis and Hemp in all their varieties.
• Continue to create more robust episode notes for reference purposes
• Pursue the above while respecting my Guests, Audience, and my Family at all times

Baked and Awake Minifesto: Basically, the world I would like to live in would provide robust access to medical cannabis for patients in need. This world would also formally invest in heavy mainstream research into applications by western medical minds (Don't fear it, it's happening if we like it or not). Finally, this world will have decriminalized and de stigmatized, or rehabilitated- the Adult Casual Cannabis user as a normal member of society. One in fact that is recognizably more safe, productive, and healthy to be or be around, than say- heavy lifelong users of tobacco or alcohol.

Reminder that we do have a Patreon page with super modest buy ins for supporting the show, and I have just ordered my first run of stickers to be made as thank you gifts for my early loyal supporters and subscribers- check the page out at: https://www.patreon.com/bakedandawakeshow, where you can learn more about exclusive content as well as bigger field trips planned for 2018!

Perhaps even more exciting than some awkward crowdfunding page (sorry Patreon!), how about I tell you instead about our new Teepublic shop, where you can find ALL SORTS of sweet Baked and Awake swag like Stickers, T Shirts, Hoodies, Ladies T's, Mugs, Totes, Banners for your smoking lair, and more! (Sorry, no kids sizes available because this is a show for Grown Folks. This is something I am genuinely excited about since I have started collecting AH-MAZING Radass (my own word, patented) logo designs from my good buddies T. Selin of Crimson Graphics and Robbo, AKA ZAEOS who is a local legend around here in the Graffitti community. This new shop is a way you can really, seriously support the show, because every time you take a sip from your Baked and Awake Coffee mug during your morning standup meeting at Amazon, everyone will know you are a fascinating and mysterious individual, with interests of which they know almost nothing. They will pine vaguely for your attention, as they wonder "what IS that strange but compelling logo on their mug? What does it mean? I wonder if I can Google it?" -sentiments to that effect. Go and see what I mean, visit the shop, and be among the first to begin spreading the word about Baked and Awake to the unwashed masses, of which there are kabillions who still need to hear the Good News! https://www.teepublic.com/user/bakedandawake

By the way, if you have been listening, but perhaps have been lollygagging and haven't managed to do this yet- PLEASE review us favorably on iTunes or wherever you see a chance to log feedback about the show! It really does help, and is just as sure to put a smile on my face as ordering a T shirt or joining me on Patreon!

And now, the News: (Get Safe)

California finally opens the biggest legal cannabis market in North America, January 1st 2018. Let's have a look at the ins and outs of how it will work for californians looking to make their first legal recreational Pot score.

http://www.politifact.com/california/article/2018/jan/05/pot-101-facts-you-should-know-about-californias-le/

Only three days after California celebrated legal Pot, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions the fifth, or whatever his name is- rescinded the famous and influential Obama era "Cole Memorandum" which gently but famously advised then President Obama to forego applying any federal funds to pursuing cases against States or Business entities in good standing within States that had moved to implement legal medical or recreational cannabis sales. This announcement on the part of the famously hard line Anti-Drug Lawmaker has many in nascent weed industries feeling suddlenly nervous about the future of their exciting anf profitable new enterprise. One prominent reaction came from the Chairman of Alaska's Cannabis Board, who resigned specifically and immediately over this change in policy from the Justice Department.

Analysis of the threat:

WA Cannabis Sales Numbers from 502Data.com

Oregon's Sales in 2017, highlights (85 Million Dollars in 8 months)

Colorado Cannabis Sales Figures for 2017

List of States with Medical or Recreational Cannabis

Population of WA: 7.2 Million Oregon: 4.1 million, California: 39.2 million

The Cannabist agrees with me, in that we both believe this will only pave the way for a meaningful and well funded national campaign to give this issue to the States once and for all. Federal re-sceduling should be next, and the final victory would be the freeing of hundreds of thousands of non violent drug offenders currently serving time for cannabis related crimes.

Colorado Lawmakers already making moves to protect Cannabis industry - Time Magazine

Stories to Watch:

-Will the Governments of the world or Shadowy Globalists engineer a major financial meltdown and then blame it on Crypto currencies? (Before it's News)

-Phones and Computers wide open to Security Vulnerabilities

-Alpha Zero Chess AI Bests former champ in just four hours, demonstrating tactics never before seen in the history of the game

-FCC moves to re define what Broadband is

-Trump to pardon Julian Assange?

Pods of the Week:

The Rogue Muslim Podcast- Intelligent talk about being Muslim in America today. Such a rare opportunity to sit and feel connected to well spoken and thoughtful Young Muslims who are themselves earnestly seeking meaningful dialogue with fellow members of their faith and non muslims alike.

The Come to the Table Podcast Host and Pastor Sean McCoy single handedly rehabilitates modern Evangelical Christianity to a diverse audience at Come to the Table. Race, Gender issues, Spirituality and the challenges of keeping a strong faith in the modern world are all part of the discussion. It's good stuff, and as I like to point out- even easier than going to church!

Unpopular Culture Podcast Brilliant analysis of True Crime stories that you thought you'd heard everything you could know about. Host Michael Drane is a Licensed Psychotherapist with, as he says- a background in forensics. Basically, some version of a profiler, and this podcast is an absolute must listen for fans of true crime pods.

Strain of the Week: 9Lb Hammer in a 2.5g Party Pre Roll Joint from Lucky Devil Cannabis, purchased at Urban Bud in Tacoma WA- Thanks Alondra and Crew for the great service as always!

Events:

If you live in Western WA and wish to join us in person to network and connect with other Cannabis Industry Professionals, join us next Wednesday in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle for a monthly gathering of the Cannabis Influencers Northwest. We are the newest and most exciting Cannabis focused group in the region, and big things are afoot for the coming year! You can find us on Meetup.com to RSVP, or gate crash the event on Wednesday evening at 6pm at Counterbalance Brewing .

FINALLY:

I'll leave you with one last Holiday minded sentiment: If you're the "New Year's Resolution" type, or maybe if you're not- a suggestion, something to consider trying, perhaps:

1. Set a big huge scary goal for yourself.
2. Start working towards it right away.
3. Tell NO ONE
4. Achieve said Big Huge Scary Goal.
5. Tell NO ONE
6. Profit

And as always, I leave you with my possibly annoying tagline- #smokeindicadoshitanyway

Royalty Free Music for this episode by Antti's Instrumentals

Baked and Awake

Episode 22

Discussion of Mars Hill Church Part Two

Guests: Douglas Moreland, Adam Schaeffer

Today is a continuation of the conversations with Douglas and Adam, with the addition of a sample of a Mark Driscoll sermon, and some commentary to further set things up. I encourage everyone who finds this story to be of any interest at all to look into it further- there is an absolute wealth of information out there about the rise and fall of Mars Hill, and the lessons that can be learned from it.

Listeners who would like to reach out to Douglas or Adam can contact me in order to connect with them directly.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode! Please review us on iTunes if you enjoy the content at all.

Smoke Indica, Do shit anyway

Mark Driscoll Sermon, Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkaeAkJO0w8

Chriatianity Today Article Read: http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2014/december-online-only/painful-lessons-of-mars-hill.html

Mars Hill Church Membership Covenant:

https://joyfulexiles.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/mars-hill-membership-covenant.pdf

Covenant Text in full:

Mars Hill Membership Covenant "When you make a vow to the Lord, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." (Ecclesiasties 5:4-5) Purpose When anyone enters into relationship with God by grace from, and faith in, the person and work of Jesus Christ they are entering into two covenants. The first is to journey with God for the rest of their lives and love Him fully. The second is to journey with His other children in the community of the local church. Your membership in a church is an official recognition of this, and the purposes of the Mars Hill Membership Covenant is:

1. To join the Spirit in forming an authentic church community that reflects the relationship between the Father, Son & Spirit
2. To clarify the on-going blessings & responsibilities of each member.
3. To encourage consistency, accountability and loving unity within the church family.
4. To accomplish God's call for the MH church family. This agreement does not imply that you will never fall short of the goals, but that the desire of your heart is to fulfill each of the responsibilities stated to the best of your ability. We trust that your commitment will be a personal blessing to your own journey in Christ, as well a blessing to those around you. The Facts of Membership • A numerical record was kept (Acts 2:37-47) • Records were kept of widows (I Tim. 5:3-16) • Elections were conducted (Acts 6:1-6) • Discipline was carried out (Matt. 18:15-20; I Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1) • Elders will be held accountable for members (Heb. 13:17) • There was an awareness of who was a church member (Rom. 16:1-16) With the help of the Holy Spirit, the church leadership covenants the following: 1. We commit ourselves to lovingly caring for you and seeking your growth in Christ (Heb. 13:17; I Thes. 5:12). 2. We covenant to provide teaching, preaching and counsel from the Scriptures (Gal. 6:6; I Tim. 5:17-18). 3. We commit that this teaching will span the whole counsel of God's Word (Acts 20:27-28). 4. We commit to helping you in times of need (Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35, Jm. 2:14- 17).
5. We covenant that your elders and deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures (I Tim. 3:1-13 & 5:17-22, Titus 1:5-9, I Pt. 5:1-4).
6. We covenant to pray for you regularly, particularly when you are sick (Jm. 5:14).
7. We covenant to be on guard against false teachers (Acts 20:28-31).
8. We covenant to exercise church discipline when necessary (Matt. 18:15-20; I Cor. 5; Gal. 6:1).
9. We covenant to help you become equipped to serve Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).
10. We covenant to seek God's will for our church community to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Spirit (Acts 20:28, I Peter 5:1-5).
11. We covenant to set an example and join you in fulfilling the duties of church members (1 Co. 11.1, Philip. 3:17, I Tim. 4:12 ). With the guiding help of the Holy Spirit, I, the undersigned, covenant the following: 1. I am a Christian who has been saved from my sins by the grace of Jesus Christ. I have been baptized to give testimony of my identification with the body of Christ & obedience to the Scriptures. 2. I have read and understood MH doctrinal statement and agree to not be divisive to its teaching. I also understand the importance of submission to church leadership and will be diligent to preserve unity and peace (Hebrews 13:7, 17; Ephesians 4:1-3) 3. I will endeavor to maintain a close relationship with the Lord through regular personal Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and practice of the other spiritual disciplines. My journey in Christ will be evident through my regular participation in the corporate worship services, and involvement in a small group or class (Ps. 119:97, 105l; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25). 4. I will strive to properly manage the resources God has given me, including my time, body, gifts and talents, attitudes, finances and possessions (Eph.5:15-18; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-16; Gal 5:22-26; Proverbs 3:9-10). This includes regular giving to MH that is sacrificial and cheerful (2 Corinthians 8&9). 5. I commit myself to the MH church family and agree to aid in fulfilling its missional purpose to both be and bring the gospel to Seattle. I recognize that his will be accomplished by pursuing Mars Hill's core values of meaning, beauty, truth, and community. 6. I commit to using the spiritual gift(s) God has given me for the building up of the church, both at MH and universally (I Pt. 4:10-11; Romans 12:1-8, 1Corinthians 12:7-31). 7. I covenant to practice the humility and sacrificial attitude of Christ by considering the needs of others (Philippians 2:1-11), not gossiping (Pr. 16:28, Matt.18: 15-17), and seeking spiritual friendships (Pr. 17:17). 8. I covenant to have friendly Christian relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches, but I will not function in leadership or as a member in another church family (Hebrews 13:17). 9. I covenant to follow the biblical procedures of church discipline, and submit myself to discipline if the need should ever arise (Matt. 18:15-17,Gal. 6:1-5). 10. I covenant to submit to the authority of the Scriptures as the final arbiter on all issues (Psalm 119, 2 Tim. 3:16-17). God enabling me, I will strive to consider my commitment to this Membership Covenant on a yearly basis. I understand that it is an evaluative tool, as well as an affirmation of my continuing conviction and purpose. My responsibility will be to notify the MH leadership if at any time I can no longer commit to this covenant, or if I have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding MH. Signature _________________________________________ Date ____________ Printed Name _______________________________ Phone __________________ E-mail ____________________ Address _________________________________ Names and Birthdays of Family ______

BAKED and AWAKE Mars Hill Church

Episode 20 27 December 2017

I have loved religion from as far back as I can remember. I am also more accurately described, when done so objectively, as a secular humanist more than anything else at least as regards my personal spiritual leanings. I don't even claim agnostic per se, although that label might be accurate. I understand that term to mean that more or less we can't rule a conscious Creator God out, but by no means can one be ruled IN, either. Therefore, agnostics claim to know NOTHING, or to not know one way or the other, if there is or is not a God.

Note: Definition of Agnostic, Origin; Greek (Unknowable)

noun

• a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God,and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.

• 2. a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.

• 3. a person who holds neither of two opposing positions on a topic:

Synonyms: disbeliever, non believer, unbeliever; doubter, skeptic, secularist, empiricist; heathen, heretic, infidel, pagan.

Some notes on the Host and my own context for my interest in Mars Hill Church

• I grew up in the Episcopal Church on Long Island NY in the 1970's and 80's
• No Abuse, nor did I know of any in our church, specifically the clergy were scandal free
• I was an Altar Boy
• Was Confirmed at age 13, Catechism, etc
• Grew up watching The 700 Club and other Evangelicals on TV
• Youth Group, Vacation Bible School, Etc
• Began to distance myself from the church after Confirmation
• Questions I had were not being answered
• The standard teenager questions, albeit politely put always- "How could Jesus die and come back after three days? How did Mary have Jesus if she had never laid with Joseph? How did Noah and so many others live to such advanced ages? Speaking of Noah, how about all those animals? Dinosaurs? Lazarus? The Parting of the Red Sea? Etc
• Glib answers, then polite evasion gave way to eventual exasperation, (never malicious just lacking imagination) is how I would characterize the response from both my youth pastor and our actual Minister.
• I had to argue my way out with my parents finally at age 15 or so, when we relocated to WA State and I no longer had my old Youth Group and Sunday School kids to care about
• Still- I loved religion and spirituality, even as at the time I might have claimed to be an Athiest! I read and studied religiously inspired books throughout High School and into my adulthood. This was during the Barnes and Noble and Borders Books heyday, and you felt like you could purchase your own personal LIbrary of Alexandria at the time. .
• Everything from vapid Christian self help books like "The Road Less Traveled" and others, to annotated translations of difficult to appreciate texts like The Dhammapada and The Upanishads. Now these books are not to be maligned as not worth understanding- indeed the opposite is quite true, and there are wonderful concepts that see expression in the beliefs and mythologies of Hinduism, Bhuddism, and indeed a personal favorite of mine, Taoism. Taoism, who's most famous texts are the Tao Te Ching, and the Chuang Tzu, or Zhuangzi. They just take more work than reading your average study bible, for a young self taught reader trying to apply some critical analysis, or so I thought at the time- to the materials.

What follows is an unedited chat between the host and two guests, Adam Schaeffer and Douglas Moreland. Friends and former members of the Mars Hill Church Congregation. Part Two to follow in the next couple of days. Thank you for listening and please drop a review on iTunes sometime if you are enjoying the Pod!

-Steve

Audio message from an unknown source from somewhere deep in the Galactic Core.. Listen, and be afraid! No telling if there will be more of these in future, so I have proactively labeled this as Number One in a possible series. We are scanning the night skies for additional messages as we speak..

-Special thanks to David Chaffey of the Man Brain Podcast for the stellar, if mildly disturbring, Promo spot! #podcastfriends #podcastbuildersleague

Baked and Awake Episode 20

18 December 2017, Seattle WA

Host: S Cominski

This week on Baked and Awake, we smoke a powerful joint, and read some of the Top Secret Tales of WWII, by WIlliam B. Breuer.

This episode is a bit of a placeholder for the soon to be published Reflections on Mars Hill Church episode, which will be out sometime before Christmas.

As promised, if you share my interest in WWII History, and want to begin to understand its impacts on the world at the time, and its lasting influence today- I can't put any of the following Podcasts above another, per se- they are each excellent resources on WWII. Those are:

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History - OK maybe I can put one above all others… HOnestly though how do you not know about this podcast already? Put on your attention span ear goggles and get ready because these shits are LONG (but oh so good).

History on Fire Podcast - Daniele Bolelli has a mesmerizing accent, voice, and a passion for history that equalls Mr. Carlin, by all means. His point of view, and storytelling style will absorb you instantly. You cannot listen to an episode without learning several things you never knew before.

Tonight's Joint: 1g DIPPED Preroll, Elmer's Glue Strain, purchased from the fine folks down at Xander's Green Goods in Tacoma WA. We love our local green grocer!

Closing Jingle performed by Specialbreh, on contract from Fiverr freelance services marketplace. It was affordable, fast, and super fun to work with a talented artist this way. Check out Fiverr if you could use a little something special to spice up your Podcast or production!