Chief End Podcast

Probably way too many alliterative points, however, they represent the decisions I've seen church planters face over the last 25 years. As always, listen at your own risk.

Dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnnn! There are 31,102 verses in the Bible. In this episode, I definitively pick out the extra best most scariest one, then commence discussing and rabbit trailing about its implications. Also, I got attacked by 3,918 spam emails, so if you sent a question it likely got deleted. Feel free to resend comments … Continue reading "Episode 26: The Scariest Verse in the Bible"

Episode in which I test out my brand new fancy (and expensive) microphone, in my brand new (10% finished) podcasting studio. After a mic check intro, I sing the theme from Little Einsteins (with a twist) and the podcast then rockets into one of the better episodes, wherein I argue that we need to improve … Continue reading "Episode 25: Going on a Trip In Our Favorite Rocketshop…Antique Roadshow"

Episode in which I examine a Spurgeon quote on viewing our lives as rehearsals for heaven and consider a handful of rehearsal scenarios – everything from weddings and orchestras to Broadway plays and middle school hatchet jobs of Romeo and Juliet – in order to, hopefully, help us see new ways in which we can … Continue reading "Episode 24: Rehearsing for Heaven"

It’s alive! It’s aalllivvvee!!!! That’s right, the Chief End podcast lives, particularly, thanks to a toneless Facebook live sermon we endured from the comfort of our wildly comfortable sectional couch this last Sunday. Episode 23 explores the fear of God. As always, listen at your own peril/benefit/amusement/chagrin/etc.

In the wake of yet another Christian superstar (John B Christ) swan diving off his pristine pedestal of evangelical fame, fortune and influence, I decide to ask a couple of questions which I don’t hear many asking, namely, why on earth are individual Christians creating these pedestals in the first place? And what are we … Continue reading "Episode 22: Spectacular Swan Dives and One Very Important Question"

I probably could have called this episode “Joshua Harris Kisses His Faith Goodbye” but that would be too lazy and predictable in my book. Instead, I talk about why he kissed his faith goodbye and why I think many Christians in America are on the brink of doing the same thing.

Episode in which I implore the church to rediscover awe towards our God, walk through the anxiety-assuaging logic of “reverse birth”, and tie it all together by contemplating matching femurs. Also, it’s the shortest episode to date, so either I’m running out of things to say, or I’m unintentionally exploring the maxim “less is more.”

The church in America is in dire need of extending grace to struggling Christians. I propose that one of the best ways to accomplish this is to study actual endurance races and consider how difficult, demanding and demoralizing they can be on the race participants. Perhaps most important: the leaders (aka pastors, elders, etc) need … Continue reading "Episode 19: Chariots of Fire and Carl Lentz’s 8 Pack"

Don’t really want to do this episode, but I said I’ll do these once a week so whatever. It’s like ripping a bandaid off or getting a root canal, but I think I outline some ideas that may be helpful to pastors, congregants and Christians in general, namely, learning how to commune with God directly … Continue reading "Episode 18: Pastors and Pornography"

A gripping discourse on Mormons, CS Lewis, “stubless legs”, Count Chocula, and the key take away from listening to a sermon entitled “The Day of Decision.” Enjoy and get your 2019 fruit on! (Quite possibly, the worst closing exhortation to anything ever, but, oh well #shrugemoji).

I’ve known around 2 dozen, or so, men who felt a call to ministry when they were young. About half have continued down the path of full-time ministry, becoming pastors and planting churches, some becoming more soulless and ghoulish with each passing year. The other half have felt burned and betrayed by the system they … Continue reading "Episode 16: A Word to Those Burned and Betrayed While In Ministry"

Or, the problem with the Evangelical Industrial Complex’s cookie cutter, Borg like approach to Christian living, which suffers from a deficient timeline, lack of understanding on sanctification, and a refusal to submit to God’s authority as Creator.

Episode in which I explore Spurgeon’s concept of “negative holiness”, recount getting crucified by mimes in the sweltering jungles of Central America, and tie it all together by discussing Edward’s juxtaposition of two prepositions, namely, “from” and “of”.

Episode in which I may or may not say “receivest thou, the buttocks”. Lord, have mercy. But…moving past that, this is an episode in which we discuss the heart sentiment of the Christian, which used to be captured by the hymn lyric “whatever my God ordains is right”, but has switched to some version of … Continue reading "Episode 13: Sovereignty Switch"

In addition to living like a modern day rapper, Solomon provides us with a very useful framework to help grow our soul’s affections for the Lord God Almighty.

Or GAPPAGing for short. I break the alliterative chain, and venture into the unknown territory of palindromes. Long episode (sorry), but breaking the GAPPAGing cycle is vital to fostering humility in our hearts.

Third podcast in a row where I hit the alliteration nail squarely on the head. Primarily a discussion spring boarding from Aristotle’s view on audacity vs. courage, as well as a few thoughts on Hillsong, Joel Osteen and Mr. Biceps (aka “the Furkster”).

Thoughts on avoiding fear traps that Christendom sets up when over-emphasizing either the devil or depravity. Both are real, but we miss the point if they are promoted to the exclusion of Christ.

That’s five “m’s” (not 3) for those keeping count. Thoughts on avoiding a mini-messiah complex, as well as considering how much system maintenance is actual ministry.

Episode where I explore the concept that Calvinism and Arminianism are not merely a horizontal line, but rather longitudinal lines, potentially wrapping towards the same pole of trusting man over God.

Episode in which I argue the multitude of denominations and abundance of nuanced theological positions plaguing the history of the church, indicate we have given our allegiance to systems, instead of Christ.

It’s been close to 20 years since I read that monstrosity of an image-changer, commonly referred to as The Prayer of Jabez. Thoughts on its impact to pastorpreneurs and why twisting Scripture to fit temporal, materialistic affections isn’t advisable.

Episode wherein I discuss the argumentative structures of sabbatarians and charismatics, recap the theatrics of “afterglows” and accuse the Westminster Confession of being incomplete on the topic of Sabbath.

If you interchange the names of Hollywood powerbrokers with disgraced celebrity pastors, it is hard to tell the difference when reading the accounts of abuse.