We're going to be totally honest about some stuff today, Neighbor!   The Peaches still has been dealing with some emotional and psychological discomfort.    (We would blame the thyroid if we could, but that's has been ruled out, so.... darn.)   Sometimes, life's trials just FEEL more weighty than other times... 

Hang on, we have a quick interruption while Collin amazes everyone with his poem-thingy...

Okay--back to the subject. The Peaches is going to be very cautious ("guarded") with her words today. But John wants to lay everything out on the table and tell you about some interpersonal conflict.  Not everyone handles their struggles/crisis by dialoging with their Christian family and processing things.   But that's how WE roll. 

There are some problems at church because many people aren't comfortable with open communication. 

Join us at the table. Let's say true things.  

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Rock lists common mistakes that Christian leaders overlook resulting in the death of their church.

There is no neutrality. There is no common ground between the Christian and the atheist. Gary responds to an audio clip from Yuval Noah Harari regarding the aims of "humanistic education." Harari admits that personal feelings are the highest authority in a humanistic world that has "outgrown" such antiquated ideas as a Creator God. Without an outside authority, all views are equally valid and your own personal feelings are the gauge of what is right and wrong.

Tom unpacks themes from David Blount's essay on Hobbits, Tolkien and Nietzsche in relation to the differing way power and is understood and related to. Blount compares the Hobbits rejection of becoming Überhobbits in contrast to Nietzsche's dark vision of embracing the will to power. The guys engage in a variety of matters related to power, the will to power, the ring of power, and the counter vision which Christianity offers, especially as it’s expressed in the rich form of Tolkien's stories and characters.