On this episode:

I have some opening thoughts on the authority of Scripture in life.

After that, though, I want to talk about the Texas abortion law, and then more broadly, revisit the abortion debate.

On This Episode:

IS THE HUMAN MIND DIMINISHING? (0:00-14:50)

When you think about the minds of antiquity -- Montesquieu, Jefferson, De Tocqueville, etc -- prima facia, it appears their level of cognition, computation, memorization, pattern recognition, and ideation are superior to today's best thinkers. When you compare the curricula of old to today's, again, it can seem we're diminishing intellectually. Is that true, though? If so, what's to blame. I have thought from something called the noetic effect of The Fall. 

Beyond that, I'll illustrate just how bad our cognitive dissonance and intellectual hypocrisy has gotten with our broken brains.

LISTENER QUESTION: DO I FIND ANY MORAL REASONING AROUND BEING V-WORDED FOR C-V--D? (14:50-27:04)

The kind and thoughtful listener submitted a question about moral culpability for a treatment or preventative measure that was developed using any line of aborted fetal cells. I try to work through this carefully, Biblically, and thoughtfully.

RELIGION IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE CULTURE AND GOVERNMENT (27:04-33:37)

We tend to be a "separation of church and state" culture. That idea, though, emanates from the concept of the Church as an institution not being intertwined with government. Our government operates on religion -- secularism, environmentalism, humanism, empiricism, etcetera.

Some religion will inform our laws. My claim: The Bible's values will be the best for the most humans, so we should probably pursue Biblical policies.

A COUPLE ITEMS TO FINISH (33:37-End)

I have some thoughts on what SHOULD have happened in Afghanistan. Also, Bill Maher is the exact voice the Left needs right now. The problem is that they're not listening to him. Finally, let me tell you why gratefulness leads to happiness and entitlement leads to misery.

On This Episode:

I HAVE AUDIO OF A WOMAN INDICATIVE OF PEOPLE HOW HAVE A CoV2 PHOBIA

You really need to hear this audio from This American Life. This young lady has passed caution onto outright hysterical phobia -- but she feels righteous and good in this fear. We can laugh at or resent these people, sure. But there's also a better response.

"ESSENTIAL WORKERS" AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT WORK

I have some audio from a journalist questioning by people we called "essential" during the pandemic are also often low paid. The journalist makes the mistake of thinking an ESSENTIAL service is one where the workforce is limited. Labor is a market. If there is a lot of supply, wages will stay low. The more unique a skill set becomes, the supply for that labor is diminished (thus driving up wages). The quicker we realize this truth about wages, the better off we'll be.

I have some additional thoughts on how to think about work Biblically here as well.

LISTENER QUESTION: WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW THE CONCEPTION OF CHILDREN WHO WILL BE ABORTED?

This question could be asked a myriad of ways: why deadly floods in Tennessee or chaos and killings in Afghanistan. Theologians and philosophers have wrestled with the "problem of evil" (theodicy) for millennia. I'll give my abbreviated response to it.

V-WORD MANDATES AND THE CHRISTIAN (I say "V-word" so our Tech Overlords don't throttle me)

Government mandates? I'm all the way out.

Private Service Provider Mandates? Sure. That's freedom of association.

Employer-to-employee mandates? That one is hard and requires wrestling through out.

I also have a quick word here on how v-word absolutists on both sides are just behaving irrationally. 

On This Episode:

THE REAL PROBLEM IN AFGHANISTAN

It seems almost unanimous that the US needed to leave Afghanistan. It's also seemingly unanimous that no one liked how the withdraw went. We Ie examine the problem, though, I lay it at the feet of the Islam. There is a reason it was Christianized cultures that birthed the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolutions. Islam, largely, is a system of rot, and it leads to places like Afghanistan.

CHRISTIANS AND GOVERNMENT REBELLION

The Bible has some clarity from the Christian citizen in every country: endeavor to live quiet and peaceful lives, worships regularly, raising families, building businesses, obeying the laws, and praying and working for the well-being of the place where we live.

There is another doctrine in this category, though, called the Doctrine of Lesser Magistrates. I only very recently learned about it, and I'll share what I've learned thus far.

SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS:

-Audio from a public healthy officlal who has no regard for human freedom.

-The English Standard Translation gets criticism for changing the word "slave." It's dumb criticism.

-Some thoughts from a recent comedy show I attended.

On This Episode:

TWO SOCIAL QUESTIONS: HOW TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS? SHOULD AT LEAST ONE PARENT STAY HOME WITH THE KIDS? (0:00-17:22)

Don't blame me. A listener asked me to weigh in on the questions of education and household organization. Many conservatives and Christians are advocating leaving the public school system altogether. My take is mostly that not all schools are the same, so each individual family needs to make their own individual decision -- having the child's spiritual and ethical formation as the top priority.

I also use this time to clarify what the "traditional" family structure looked like at home. It's probably not what you think.

ROBIN DEANGELGO PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES THAT WOKENESS IS RELIGION (17:22-25:00ish)

The "White Privelege" author recently talked about how she realized she was white. It sounded like someone "sharing their testimony." You have to hear this.

IS "HANDING OUT TRACTS" STILL AN EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM METHOD (25ish-33:22)

I deeply admire the Christian who specifically spends time on evangelism. I just want to revisit our methods briefly.

A TERRIBLE ARGUMENT ON TWO OPPOSING SIDES (32:22-39:10)

Pro-shutdown and pro-masking-children people tend to tell you stories and anecdotes about people who get sick or die to make their point. You know who else does that? Anti-Vaccine people. Both are terrible arguments. Data suggests both of their positions are dubious, and if we'll be data-driven instead of emotion-driven, we'll have a better country.

On this Episode:

QUICK WORD TO OPEN THE 7-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY (0:00-3:30)

The show just completed six years. Thanks to all who listen, review, share, and support monetarily the show.

THE SIMONE BILES STORY WAS COVERED ALL WRONG (3:30-15:30)

Some conservative media demonized her. Liberal media lionized her. Neither were helpful. The real story ends up being about the Leftist media reaction. They provide the modern narrative that everyone's #1 loyalty must be to themselves.

SELF has been the priority of our culture for decades now. Has that served us well? Or are we better off when we find meaning outside of ourselves?

RECAPPING THE START, FALL, AND RE-GROWTH OF THE SHOW (15:30-18:30)

My show started strong in 2015. Then a presidential primary came that decimated my audience. I re-tooled, stopped obsessing over stupid politics, and found a new audience. I like this audience better.

THE JANUARY 6TH COMMISSION (18:30-25:00ish)

I'll say it: the January 6th Commission is a political stunt with no real, practical use. I'll prove it.

THE ILLOGICAL SURROUNDING COVID IS BREATHTAKING (25:00ish-35:00ish)

The messaging and fear around Covid at this point is psychosis for some people. I'll provide details on how very little makes sense for those still in fear and panic over this virus.

LEFT AND RIGHT MEASURE DIFFERENTLY (35ish-end of show)

I have found that the Left measure policies by INTENTIONS -- how they felt, their empathy, and what they wanted to happen.

The Right measures policies by RESULTS.

One method is mature and rational. The other is childish and emotional.

On this Episode:

THE SERVANT LEADERSHIP TREND IS A BIBLICAL ONE (0:00-7:05)

With books like "Leaders Eat Last" and business schools teaching "servant leadership," it is worth noting that the entire idea is one Jesus gave us. Greatness through service is a Jesus-taught concept.  Even in an unbelieving world, when Biblical practices and values are enacted, it's good and right for human flourishing.

DID JESUS LOVE THE POOR OUTSIDER MORE? (7:05-15:45)

I heard a sermon recently from a typically incredible Bible teacher that was not INCORRECT -- it was incomplete. It seemed to allege that Jesus pursued and valued the culturally marginalized BECAUSE of their lowly estate. That's not true, though.

Cultural obscurity and personal weakness it EASIER for people to see their own need for a redeemer. The rich and powerful struggle to see their own problem. Both, however, come to Jesus totally by his grace alone -- not their earthly status.

I LOVE THIS NEW SPACE RACE (15:45-33:58)

I saw some folks -- typically Leftists -- bemoaning that billionaires are spending their money on space exploration instead of ... . To be kind, it's childish, short-sighted thinking -- on top of it being insanely arrogant to think they know better how to spend SOMEONE ELSE'S money.

Let me talk you through how the unintended inventions and developments from space exploration are going to make ALL our lives better in the coming decades. Let me further explain how this new space race is being funded by the virtuous circle of commerce where consumers get what they want, producers makes profit, and then use that profit to explore -- instead of the government just taking our money to do it.

7 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOW (33:58-35:40)

Next week is the seven-year anniversary of my show. You didn't get me anything? That's fine. It's fine. No big deal.

LISTENER QUESTION: SHOULD WOMEN BE INCLUDED IN SELECTIVE SERVICE (THE DRAFT) (35:40-39:45)

I'm coming to the conclusion that in the West, war between humans might be obsolete. From here on, it's most likely that our machines will battle other machines, and humans will control those machines from many miles away -- out of harms way. 

It is an immoral people that would have women fight their wars. However, if we're going to have a draft at all, women could contribute in non-combat roles.

SECESSION IS MORE POPULAR THAN ANYTIME IN THE MODERN ERA (39:55-45:08)

Leftists, conservatives, and centrists alike have a higher approval of secession than ever in a recent poll. I hope the country is coming to the conclusion I came to ten years ago: one city and one set of laws shouldn't apply to us all.

Secession, in my opinion, should not be a radical idea. Britain just left the EU. Likewise, it shouldn't be a crazy idea for California or Texas to leave the union.

THE LEFT EMBRACE PERSONAL RESPONSBILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME -- BUT ONLY ON COVID (45:08-end)

Leftism largely does not want to allow people to feel the consequences of their own actions. However, there's been a recent exception. On Covid and Covid alone, the Left demonstrate the importance of personal responsibility. I'll elaborate.

On This Episode:

OUR OBSESSION WITH "THE SELF" IS MAKING US MISERABLE (0:00-14:26)

The Western world has largely conquered the problems that plagued most of history -- hunger, security, comfort, etcetera. In the absence of those struggles, we've become obsessed with the "self" and the emotional affirmation thereof. The results of that, though, have been soaring rates of all sorts of emotional disorders.  All of that is true. What do we do now? 

CLINGING TO CONSPIRACIES (14:30ish - 26ish)

We all know decent people who have been convinced of various conspiracies. An email from a listener prompted me to interact with the reality that some folks still cling to a conspiracy about the most recent election. I will try to establish that all of these can be true at the same time: the mass media is a biased, corrupt institution; there are politically driven, bad people throughout the institutions of power; governments used Covid to improperly change voting procedure; AND the outcome was fair and accurate.

DON'T IGNORE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CUBA (26ish-37ish)

Communism, its precursor socialism, and all other centralized systems are immoral systems that oppress and hurt human flourishing. Watching what's happening in Cuba got me thinking about a lot -- what it means to be free, and how Cuban-regime sympathizers in the US would take us down a dangerous path.

A WHOLE BUNCH (37ish-End)

-Why is my show experiencing a surge of growth?

-We got good news for religious liberty in court cases in both the US and in the UK

-The consequences of our Covid freakout last year continue to come into focus slowly.

-Ben Carson speaks a truth that gets him in trouble