Thinking Out Loud

It’s an extremely weighty topic, but how do we wrestle honestly with faithful prayer in a world filled with so much that runs counter to God’s will? Join us as we wade into these troubled waters.

A fascinating article in New Atlantis Magazine charts the strange cultural journey of psychedelics. What began as a full-blown Utopian vision to heal a fractured modern society has ended in yet another bland consumer option. We’ve come a long way from Timothy Leary to Joe Rogen. In this episode, we consider this strange trajectory.

It’s a safe bet that the outcome of this deeply contentious election will result in a good deal of bitterness and acrimony. As Christians who have a deep concern for their nation, how do we respond to these circumstances? And how do we avoid succumbing to bitterness ourselves?

In a rare occurrence, we found ourselves not only in the same room, but at the same conference. The organizers thought it might be a good idea to have us record this episode before a live audience. We’ll let you be the judge of whether that was a good idea…

And so much more. Really, this episode is a discussion on the importance (and difficulty) of building, rather than simply critiquing when it comes to the life of the church. This article was particularly wise on the subject. We hope you’ll join us. And for the record, we’re not necessarily telling you to avoid Basham’s new book. We’re just offering thoughts on why it may be more of a distraction for some of us.

We’ve talked AI, but we haven’t yet broached the subject of artificial intimacy—the fact that millions of people are developing what they take to be relationships with machines. Join us as we dive in.

In this episode, Nathan sits down with his often quoted Grandpa to talk about the parallels between our era and the 1960s and how his church leadership style adapted to grow churches in the midst of cultural chaos. We hope this is an encouraging reminder to those who are interested in the future of the church.

From controversies about the antics on display in the opening ceremonies to the biological sex of the fighters in female boxing, the 2024 Olympics has been filled with its share of provocations. In this episode, we discuss our disappointment with the tone of the conversation and we do our best to offer a holistic alternative.

Ours is a deeply materialistic age. In this context, we tend to regard everything and everyone in instrumental terms. Leaking pipes need plumbers; broken cars need mechanics; broken humans need doctors, therapists, and fitness coaches. While we’re not disparaging any of these professions, we will make the case that human beings are more than the sum of their parts. Our thoughts were stirred by Jake Meador’s helpful essay that appeared in Mere Orthodoxy.

In fact, the word “smart” doesn’t actually fit here at all. In this episode, our thoughts were spurred on by an excellent article that appears in Plough Magazine. Join us as we sound like two grumpy old men discussing the current infatuation with all things technology.