This week we joined our Southern Baptist neighbors for church.  We begin the episode by saying that we couldn't visit a convention of churches founded by slaveholding motivations without talking about the terrorist attack at Emanuel AME church in Charleston South Carolina.  We discuss the uncomfortable and damning silence of white Protestant churches that refuse to confess and repent of racism in our past and present. Wendy tells us about the wine of the day and we promptly toast all of the happy couples in light of the Supreme Court ruling giving marriage equality nationwide!  We discuss the history of the Baptists in America, and how they moved from the persecuted powerless to the powerful persecutors in many cases.  We discuss slavery's indelible imprint on Southern Baptists and why they won't ever get past it...because they don't want to talk about it.  We talk about the service we attended and the desperation many feel and see across Christendom in the United States as we look around and see the decline of our once-thriving churches.  Finally, we talk about what Baptists are really good at...or at least we think they are...recruitment! For an OFFICIAL view of the Southern Baptist Convention, visit their website at sbc.net

Episode 031 Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the Frozen Chosen, Whiskey, and Predestination. After a few weeks of silence from us (damned cracked laptop screen) we FINALLY return with an amazing, over-the-top, *ahem*, very decent, orderly, and stiff review of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Don't confuse this small, conservative sect of Presbyterianism with the groups often thought of as "mainline" Presbyterians, but DO learn about the larger Calvinist and Reformed movement as we explore this sect's history.  We try a shot of whiskey (stiff enough for the staunchest Presbyterian) and we decide to never do it again (the whiskey or the OPC?  We'll let you decide...).  We talk about the dangers of defining denominations as "Biblical," discuss various polities, Presbyterianism being one, and we DO discuss the concept of "The Frozen Chosen" and why that doesn't have to be a bad thing.  We also cover what the hell (literally) is predestination...and hopefully Joshua sort of got it right.  Presbyterians/Reformed folk, let us know... For an OFFICIAL view of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, visit their website at opc.org

Episode 030 Pentecost w/the Pentecostals (Assemblies of God), Memorial Day, and Cocktails This week we revisited our Pentecostal friends, but this time with the Assemblies of God denomination.  Wendy's sister, Carla, joins us to share our cocktail of the week (in place of the wine of the week) and it is delicious.  We discuss a brief history of the Assemblies of God, and what makes them different from other Pentecostal denominations and other Christian sects.  We discuss why we chose Pentecost Sunday to revisit the Pentecostals, why we were the only ones in that sanctuary who knew or cared that it was Pentecostal Sunday, Joshua points out that Wendy wore the wrong color for Pentecost--and Wendy reminds Joshua that he isn't exactly a trend setter.  Joshua talks about what made this service surprisingly boring for him, having had a history in the Pentecostal movement.  We especially discuss the significance of Memorial Day in this service and the way in which the church sometimes engages in nationalistic idol worship, but we also discuss the struggle that Christians have in taking time to talk about the human cost of war and provide space in communities of faith for those who have experienced it firsthand. Carla's "King Kong" cocktail recipe: A rocks glass with crushed or cubed ice 1 Church Hoppers Shotglass (or any 1 oz shot glass) of Svetka Strawberry Colada (vodka) 1 oz Malibu Rum (or other coconut rum) 1 oz pineapple juice 1/4 oz of sweetened lime juice A splash of Sprite Chopped strawberries for the garnish Stir and enjoy! For an OFFICIAL view of the Assemblies of God, visit their website ag.org

Episode 029 Catholics, condoms, communion, and Christendom This week we went back to a familiar place for us, a Catholic Mass.  We talk about the history of the Catholic church which basically hits the high points of all Christian history...well, drunk Christian history anyway.  We discuss the evolution of the Catholic church and the beliefs that set it apart from other sects...like their anti-condom position.  We don't belabor the celibate religious part...but we still promote the "just say no" approach to celibacy.  We talk about the contributions to Christendom and to our own faith journeys that Catholicism has made.  And we talk about why we take communion in a church where we aren't supposed to. Joshua references his blog about taking communion at various services, available for reading at http://ellipsisthought.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-youll-have-to-refuse-me-communion.html . We explore the important of the ascension (it was Ascension Sunday) and we talk about what the future of the catholic (little 'c' meaning "universal") church could be if we could learn to be Eucharistic people. For an OFFICIAL view of the Roman Catholic church, visit the website of the Vatican at www.vatican.va

Our special Cinco De Mayo bonus episode is a short word from us about Baltimore.  We talk about why we aren't going to cover the events in Baltimore and give our full East-Texas white people perspective.  We point you to voices of people you SHOULD listen to and gain a broader perspective.  And we stand in solidarity with those activists who are on the front lines of seeking the liberation of people of color, and who are helping to shout out the message that #BlackLivesMatter. We talk about some of the missed opportunities of white Christians and the church to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for liberation. Several voices we reference in this podcast and some others you might check out on Twitter: Broderick Greer on Twitter @BroderickGreer Deray McKesson @deray "Bougie Black Girl" @BougieBlackGirl "Brown Blaze" @brownblaze Heber Brown III @HeberBrown Franchesca Ramsey @chescaleigh Also, a link to one of Joyce DeGruy's lectures about "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome" on YouTube  and a link to her website joydegruy.com

This week we take a break from church to talk about church news.  We discuss a few articles about church-related stuff being reported around the country and the world.  Here's what we discussed and links to the articles referenced: Bruce Jenner and God's Response to Trangendered People  We talk about the recent interview of Bruce Jenner, pronouns, and why Christians aren't loving or affirming anyone if they can't love and affirm transgendered individuals. A Texas Woman Might Use The 'Religious Freedom' Law In The Most Amazing Way Possible We discuss recent city ordinances that prohibit feeding homeless neighbors.  We talk about whose responsibility it is to feed the poor (and, perhaps surprisingly to some listeners, we don't think it's just the church).  We also talk about why "religious freedom" laws are an assault on true Christian values. United Methodist Church Raises Millions In Small Donations To Fight Malaria We take a moment to talk about the good work done by our Methodist neighbors and we even admit that there are ways in which hierarchy and organization can be beneficial. Televangelist Creflo Dollar Defends His Plans For $65 Million Private Jet: 'I Dare You To Tell Me I Can't Dream'  We tackle prosperity gospel, and the problem of money for the Christian Church. Push for Buses on Sabbath Sets Off Debate in Israel Finally, we banter about the separation of church and state and what challenges that presents in a country like Israel...and how those challenges are being faced by some religious people and their neighbors in this country too.

Episode 026 Christian Scientists, mind healing, vaccinations, and sanitized worship This week we worshiped with our Christian Scientist neighbors (of the Church of Christ, Scientist).  This unusual sect came out of the second great awakening in the late 1800s and was popular around the turn of the century as people flocked to its practice of mind healing as a replacement for traditional medical care.  We discuss the dangers of those practices, and the disconnect we experienced between the words they spoke about theological concepts and the applications they made in the real world.  We also talk about why they would never refer to the "real world" at all, since they believe sickness and suffering is all an illusion.  We give a PSA for people to vaccinate their children and use all the available science we have to prevent illness and epidemics!  We discuss a sanitary, almost clinical, approach to worship, but also the words of love that we heard hiding in the extended readings for the day. For a more OFFICIAL view of the Church of Christ, Scientist, visit their website at ChristianScience.com

Episode 025 Big Gay Church, the UCC, why your church needs to be LGBTQ affirming, & how not to get there This week we visit one of the largest predominately Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer congregations in the nation.  It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and we give a brief overview of that denomination.  We discuss why it's ok for a church to identify as an LGBTQ congregation ("I mean, we wouldn't say we are a STRAIGHT church, would we?!" aka heterosexual privilege) and why most churches need to get their sh*+ together about the queer community...yesterday.  We talk about our own experiences with a church making the journey to become officially open and affirming, and all the things we learned NOT to do...the hard way.  We talk about the spiritual violence done to LGBTQ people by "moderate" "silent" and "holy conversation" church.  And we discuss why our experience worshiping in this congregation, with it's money, large buildings, paid clergy staff, bookstore, and every other symbol of power and institution, was still a positive worship experience. In the episode, Joshua references a blog he wrote about a not-so-"holy conversation" experience in a denominational setting.  That blog, "When Holy Conversation Isn't Holy" can be found at  http://ellipsisthought.blogspot.com/2013/07/when-holy-conversation-isnt-holy.html For an OFFICIAL view of the United Church of Christ, visit their website at ucc.org

Episode 024 Jesus Movie Review: "Do You Believe?" Part of our occasional series where we review Christian films, we went to the theater to watch "Do You Believe?" from the makers of "God's Not Dead."  We had intended to post this episode before Easter but we preempted this Jesus Movie Review for our round-table panel on the resurrection of Jesus.  Our underwhelming experience with "Do You Believe" takes us on a journey of discussion where we talk about spiritual manipulation in religion, how we box up people, and terrible film writing (we're experts on everything, folks).  There's a lot of laughs along the way, helped along by the wine of the day...which is what made watching this movie even possible.  Thanks be to God. For an OFFICIAL view of "Do You Believe," check it out in a theater near you.

Episode 023 He is Risen(! or ?) Church Hoppers & Friends Discuss Holy Week & Easter This week, we sat at table with friends for holy conversation about the meaning of Easter.  Did Jesus bodily rise?  Does it matter?  What does it mean to be "saved"?  Does it matter if Jesus of Nazareth really died or really rose?  Our group of (current and former) Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Catholic, and Agnostic seekers talk about these questions and share our own stories of death and resurrection.  We talk about how our views of Jesus and Atonement and Easter have changed over the years...and how they've remained the same.  And we find hope and life in all of our stories, in each journey.