The Cory Truax Show

On This Episode:

PRIORITIES ON CULTURAL ROT

I saw a lot of folks [rightfully] criticizing the satanic display at the Grammy’s. However, I want to be sure we critique rot INSIDE the church as much ferocity and volume. I’ll give two examples.

EVIL IS BORING

Besides the Grammy’s having an immoral performance, they also displayed on grey and boring evil is. Virtue and truth are exciting. Displaying the same old, tired, no-longer-shocking stunts that share values with the entire power structure of our institutions is just boring. Artists used to be subservice and challenging to the powers that be; now they’re shills.

QUICK STORIES

-A judge embarrassed herself at her confirmation hearing. Her ignorance is instructive to us to being people always learning.

-A Texas school asked a mom who works in porn not to volunteer at events. This conflict tells us the consequences of losing any sense of shame.

-A recent debate made me rethink some healthcare thoughts.

On This Episode:

BEAUTY, TRUTH, AND THIS UGLY WORLD

A petition is circulating, calling on dictionaries, and us, to “undefine beauty” – no redefine it. This is a really good opportunity to explore how we think about beauty. Ultimately, beauty is that which corresponds to truth. Evil is ugly. Goodness is beautiful. I want to talk about that in depth.

The world longs for beauty, but doesn’t know where to find it. Let’s be people that live beautiful lives – drawing people far from God to his ultimate beauty.

BIBLE KNOWLEDGE THAT’S MIND-BLOWING

The Ten Plagues in Exodus are WAY more interesting than you realize. Let me tell you that story.

Additionally, we learn in the story of the Exodus that God FIRST rescues, supplies, and protects and THEN gives the law. If our God has already been that gracious to us, can’t we assume His law is lifegiving and good?

On This Episode:

BIBLE-READING THIS WEEK: WHEN WEARE FAILURES, GOD IS FAITHFUL

In the chronological reading of the Bible this week, there’s a theme of God’s people being total, embarrassing failures and God continually reaffirming His commitment to them. There’s a ton of comfort in that.

THE SPIRIT OF OUR AGE IS DECONSTRUCTION FOR THE SAKE OF IT

I want to systemize my definition of the ethos that surrounds us now. I’ll use Prince Harry’s book, a lesbian college student wanting to president of a Christian college’s student body and many other examples to unify a story.

That story is largely that we once DISRUPTED the molds that made us – communities, businesses, churches, arts, families – the goal of making them better.

Now, we DESTROY all molds and demand that the world conform to our feelings.

I also have some thoughts on how to live Christianly in that crazy world.

On This Episode:

WHAT DO WE DO IN A CULTURE GROWING MORE HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANITY?

We’re seeing stories of a Christian kicked out of the mall for wearing a “Jesus saves” t-shirt, of pastors being denied “Pastor Story Hour” at libraries that host “drag queen story hour,” of college athletes being benched and berated for not submitting to the spirit of the age, or people fired for following the wrong accounts on Twitter.

It’s becoming more hostile out there towards Christians. So, how do we respond?

I Peter gives us a lot of guidance on that. Let me walk you through it.

OUR CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE READING

In our reading this week, we see the good news that God is a God of covenant-keeping, that the sin of Sodom isn’t that complicated, and that knowing the stories of the Patriarchs will change how you worship.

On This Episode:

HOW DO WE EXPLAIN AND EXPERIENCE SUFFERING

Let’s talk about Job, and its ancient interaction with the question of suffering. Job challenges us to trust God and acknowledge we don’t have the perspective to know always what is good and right.

STOPPING THE PORN INDUSTRY

Louisiana made great progress in stopping the porn industry from getting to our kids. It’s time for South Carolina to make the same progress, and I have a plan.

HILLSONG DOCUMENTARY

I have just a couple take-aways from watching the recent 4-part series.

HEADLINES THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION

You’ll just have to listen to find out.

On This Episode:

A NEW IDEA FOR 2023

This year, I’m going to try and open every show with a reflection on Scripture reading. The twist is that I’ll be using a CHRONOLOGICAL reading of the Bible. So, for this week, we start in Genesis.

LISTERNER QUESTION: WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID….

Jesus said that unless you’re more righteous than the Pharisees, you won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What did that mean? This question is a fantastic opportunity to learn how we understand verses in their paragraphs, chapters, and in larger context.

THOUGHTS ON THE BILLS PLAYER WHO COLLAPSED

Of course, this event is unspeakably sad. I’m noticing, though, some folks using the event for their own agenda. I want to kindly and humbly argue against that tactic.

NEW YORK TIMES ADVICE FOR THE NEW YEAR

I respond (and sometimes mock and correct) advice the New York Times gave its readers for the new year.

On this Episode:

MY MOMENTOUS YEAR

From engagement, to home selling, to home buying, to travel, and finally to wonderful marriage, it was an incredible year for me.

THEME OF THE YEAR 1: Anger

From viral videos of temper tantrums on planes, in groceries stores and in restaurants, the rage came often this year. Let’s consider how NOT to add to it and how to be a force for peace in the new year.

THEME OF THE YEAR 2: Everyone noticed men are falling behind.

Even the secular media started noticing we have a masculinity crisis on our hands. In God’s ordered world, we need men to eschew childishness, embrace the challenge of being responsible for others and to lead.

THEME OF THE YEAR 3: Winsomeness vs. Confrontation

In both Christianity and American Conservatism, we’re relitigating the role of power and persuasion. I’ve wrestled with it all year, and I have some final thoughts.