Simply Faithful: Christian Conversations Without the Hype

We are back! With Eric installed in a new job and Gray finally back from the travails of a three-month sabbatical, it's time to start the conversation again. This week, they discuss criticisms of the church, churches and church leaders. When is it warranted and good? When is it problematic? How should we assess such criticisms? Join them as they parse these hard issues.
What's Good:
Eric - Vinyl records, sort of

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from September of 2019.
Lots of people have questions about leaving a local church-can we do it? When can we do it? How should we do it? Even more people have questions about finding a new church, whether after such a hard situation or as the result of a move. Listen as Eric and Gray discuss (and perhaps disagree) on the answers.

Gray is on sabbatical for the next few months, so the lunatic is running the asylum! Eric has Crystal Davy, musician, writer, and worship director at Grace Chapel in Lincoln, Nebraska on to talk about creativity and the arts in Christian circles. Join them for a thoughtful, extremely non-linear discussion of how the church should relate to creatives.

What's Good:
Crystal - Sourdough, before it was cool

This week, thanks to life circumstaces, we're rebroadcasting one of our earliest episodes, one that many seem to have appreciated. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming in two weeks.

How does Jesus (and the church, and individual Christians) relate to the culture(s) of the surrounding world (and within us)? If you can't tell from all those parenthesis, this is going to be a complicated conversation. Join Eric and Gray as they try to untangle a few of these challenges.

What's Good:
Gray - Pickleball

In a departure from their normal format, Gray and Eric break from their normal format to talk about whatever they want, which ends up being music, books and movies from their past that they loved. Gray sounds cool and thoughtful. Eric sounds like a nerd. If you haven't tuned in before, probably start somewhere else, but if nothing else, the conversation was fun for them!

Content note: this episode discusses sex and sexuality. It also touches on sexual abuse and violence.

Scripture is far more open and more thoughtful about sex than many Christians. Join Eric and Gray as they discuss sex not in terms of current debates and cultures wars but as a part of God's good creation. They talk about its function and limits, singleness, sex in marriage, and some of the ways it can lead to brokenness and sin.

What's Good:
Eric - Cavender's Seasoning

Note: This is the last of the batch of episodes we recorded with some audio issues. Starting next time everything should be perfect. (What could go wrong after saying that?)

Join Gray and Eric as they discuss discerning a call to ministry. Many Christians at some point in their lives wrestle with the question of whether they should pursue vocational work in the church or parachurch Christian world. Many others know someone seeking to sort out that calling. Eric and Gray try to give biblical, practical thoughts for those in such places.

What's Good:
Gray - Jack by Marilynne Robinson

First, apologies in advance: thanks to some recording issues, the sound quality on this one is quite a bit worse than usual. It should just be a one-off issue. Hopefully the conversation is still worth your time!

Humor is both a blessing and an area of potential sin. How do we laugh in the joy of life while avoiding the seat of the mocker? How do we use humor to love and not to wound? Join Eric and Gray as they discuss levity and Christianity.

What's Good:
Eric - Phoebe Bridgers/Better Oblivion Community Center

How much victory can we expect in our struggles with sin? What are some practical ways to seek to grow in our struggles? Join Eric and Gray as they discuss pursuing personal holiness and what the struggle feels like on the ground.

What's Good:
Gray - Sacred Treasures of the Russian Orthodox Church (music)