Podcasts about southeastern

Southeastern 16's Jay Greeson and Chris Lee discuss topics around Tuesday's SEC Media Day. Those include: Greg McElroy floating a possible return to coaching for the currently-retired Nick Saban; Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin (appearing on Paul Finebaum's show Monday afternoon) downplayed his personal rivalry with Hugh Freeze, but are we buying it? Finally, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas (represented by Arch Manning) appear on Tuesday and we'll hit topics related to those teams. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 20% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to topics around SEC Football Media Days, including Hugh Freeze's hot seat at Auburn (and the questions around his golf game), big expectations at LSU, whether portal king Lane Kiffin will deliver this year, South Carolina awaiting a ruling on Rashul Faison, Greg Sankey's thoughts on scheduling and playoff tweaks, early NIL fallout from the clearinghouse and more. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 20% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Sunday night's MLB Draft as it unfolds, including where big names like Kade Anderson, Liam Doyle, Wehiva Aloy and Ike Irish get picked, as well as tracking current high school players committed to SEC teams. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 20% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

This summer we are highlighting some of your favorite podcasts from the past year! In this episode of Pastor Matters, the podcast team welcomes HB Charles Jr., author and veteran pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Orange Park, Florida, about the intricacies of pastoral ministry. They discuss the importance of preaching, the challenges of counseling, the significance of mentorship, and the necessity of balancing family life with ministry responsibilities. HB shares personal anecdotes and practical advice for both new and seasoned pastors, emphasizing the need for prayer, preparation, and patience in navigating the complexities of church leadership. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Resources in this episode: www.HBCharlesJr.com www.Shiloh.Church It Happens After Prayer by HB Charles Jr. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

SEC Preview Week is here! We're kicking things off with Chris Lee of Southeastern 16 as he joins the show to talk the biggest storylines heading into the 2025 season.Has the Big Ten actually passed the SEC?Who are the true contenders, and how many teams can make it to Atlanta?Will Arch hit the ground running at Texas?Which coaches are in trouble if they don't win now?Follow Chris: @chrislee70Follow Southeastern 16: @16SoutheasternJoin the Jimmy's and Joe's for CFB content for all 136 teams!FOLLOW: @ThreeTechPod on Instagram and TwitterUNDERDOG FANTASY: THREETECHPOD for up to $1000 bonus + a free pick!HOMEFIELD DISCOUNT: THREETECHPOD for 15% off!SUBSTACK: Threetechpod.substack.comWRITE IN: Threetechpod@gmail.com

In this episode, the Pastor Matters team discusses the challenges of recruiting volunteers in the local church, emphasizing the importance of personal engagement and effective communication. They explore the reasons behind volunteer apathy, the need for training and support, and the significance of celebrating volunteers' contributions. The conversation highlights strategies for effective recruitment, common pitfalls to avoid, and the importance of prayer in the process. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

Naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioid overdose, has become more available within Southeastern Nebraska. Free Naloxone can be found at three vending machines, as well as five grab-and-go sites located around Lincoln. There is also a grab-and-go site now located in Jansen, Southwest of Beatrice, near the Kansas border.

Drew Courtney farms in the Oakes area and talks more about the spring and the need for some heat to push the soybean crop along.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg talks to Blake Lovellt of the Southeastern 16 about gauging the SEC Conference, the upside of Vanderbilt, what to expect from Texas and Texas A&M with new coaches, and teams Blake is bullish and bearish on in the conference.Link To Greg's Spreadsheet of handicapped lines: https://vsin.com/college-basketball/greg-petersons-daily-college-basketball-lines/Greg's TikTok With Pickmas Pick Videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregpetersonsports?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Matt, hey, my friends, welcome to the off the wire podcast. My name is Matt Wireman, and with over 25 years of coaching experience, I bring to you a an integrated approach to coaching where we look at mind, body and soul. So this being my little corner of the universe, welcome we cover everything from spiritual formation or the interior life all the way to goal setting and how to make your life better with life hacks, and I cover everything in between. So whatever it fits my fancy, I'm going to share with you, and I'm so thankful for your time, and I hope this episode helps you. All right. Well, hey, welcome, welcome to another episode of Off The Wire. This is Matt, still I haven't changed, but I do have with me, my friend. Really proud to call him a friend. And from seminary days, Dr Josh chatro, who is the Billy Graham chair for evangelism and cultural engagement at Beeson. That's a mouthful. Josh, well done. And then he is also, they just launched a concentration in apologetics at Beeson, which is really exciting. They got a conference coming up this summer. Is that also an apologetics Josh,its own preaching and apologetics? Okay? Awesome.And, and largely, you're also, you're also part of the Tim Keller Center for Cultural apologetics, and then also a, they call them fellows at the Center for Pastor theologians as well. That's right, yeah. And you in, you have been at Beeson for a couple years, because prior to that, you were at a you were heading up. And what was it largely an apologetics group, or was it, was it more broad than that in Raleigh?Yeah, it was. It was much more expansive than that. Evangelism and apologetics is part of what we were doing, but it was the Center for Public Christianity, okay? It was also very much in the work and faith movement. And I was also resident theologian at Holy Trinity Anglican in Raleigh. We were there for five years,excellent and and you don't know this because you don't keep tabs on who bought your book, but I've got every one of your books brother, so every every book you put out, and I'm like, I love this guy, and I'm gonna support him and buy his book. So it started all the way back, if you remember, with truth matters, yeah. And I use that book for one of the classes that I built here where I teach. And then then I want to go through the Litany here and embarrass you a little bit. And then it goes to apologetics, at the Cross Cultural Engagement, telling a better story, surprised by doubt. And then one that you just released called the Augustine way, retrieving a vision for the church's apologetic witness. So do you write much on apologetics? Is that kind of your thing?Yeah, I've written a few books on that.So why? Like, what is it about apologetics that has really captured your heart, in your mind and like, as opposed to just teaching theology, yeah, it's a certain it's a certain stream. If folks are first of all, folks are curious, like, What in the world is apologetics? Are you apologizing to folks? Like, are you saying I'm sorry?Well, I do have to do that. I'm sorry a lot. That's a good practice. That's not quite what apologetics is. Okay. Okay, so we, one of the things I would say is, and when I meet, when I meet up with old friends like you, sometimes they say, What have you been doing? Because we didn't see this coming. And when we were in seminary together, it wasn't as if I was, you know, reading a lot of apologetic works. And so one of the things is,and you weren't picking fights on campus too much. You were always a really kind person. And most, most time, people think of like apologists as, like, real feisty. And you're not a feisty friend. I'm not. I actually, unless you start talking about, like, soccer and stuff like that, right? Yeah,yeah, I'm not. Yeah, I don't. I don't love, I don't love, actually, arguments I'd much rather have, which is an odd thing, and so I need to tell how did I get into this thing? I'd much rather have conversations and dialog and kind of a back and forth that keeps open communication and and because, I actually think this ties into apologetics, most people don't make decisions or don't come to they don't come to any kind of belief simply because they were backed into an intellectual corner. And but now maybe I'll come back to that in a second. But I got into this because I was doing my PhD work while I was pastoring. And when you do yourpH was that in in Raleigh, because you did your PhD work at Southeastern, right?That's right, that's right. But I was actually, we were in southern, uh. In Virginia for the first half, we were in a small town called Surrey. It was, if you know anything about Tim Keller, it was he served in Hopewell, Virginia for seven or nine years before he went to Westminster and then to New York. And we were about 45 minutes from that small town. So if you've read Colin Hansen's book, he kind of gives you some background on what is this, these little communities, and it does, does kind of match up the little community I was serving for two years before moving to another little community in South Georgia to finish while I was writing. And so I pastored in both locations. So these aren't particularly urban areas, and yet, people in my church, especially the young people, were asking questions about textual criticism, reliability of the Bible.Those are any topics forfolks like, yeah, something happened called the Internet, yes. All of a sudden now, things that you would, you would get to, maybe in your, you know, thm, your your master's level courses, or even doctoral level courses. Now 1819, year old, 20 year olds or 50 year olds had questions about them because they were reading about some of this stuff on the internet. And because I was working on a PhD, I was actually working on a PhD in biblical theology and their New Testament scholar, people would come to me as if I'm supposed to know everything, or you know. And of course, of course, when you're studying a PhD, you're you're in a pretty narrow kind of world and very narrow kind of lane. And of course, I didn't know a lot of things, but I was, I kind of threw myself into, how do I help people with these common questions. So it wasn't as if, it wasn't as if I was saying, oh, I want to study apologetics. I kind of accidentally got there, just because of really practical things going on in my church context. And and then as I was reading and I started writing in response to Bart Ehrman, who is a is a agnostic Bible scholar. Wrote four or five New York Times bestsellers, uh, critical of the New Testament, critical of the Bible, critical of conservative Christianity. I started writing those first two books. I wrote with some senior scholars. I wrote in response. And then people said, so your apologist? And I said, Well, I guess I am. And so that, yeah, so I'm coming at this I'm coming at this area, not because I just love arguments, but really to help the church really with really practical questions. And then as I began to teach it, I realized, oh, I have some different assumptions coming at this as a pastor, also as a theologian, and trained in biblical theology. So I came with a, maybe a different set of lenses. It's not the only set of lens. It's not the it's not the only compare of lenses that that one might take in this discipline, but that's some of my vocational background and some of my kind of journey that brought me into apologetics, and in some ways, has given me a little bit different perspective than some of the dominant approaches or dominant kind of leaders in the area.That's great. Well, let's go. Let's get after it. Then I'm gonna just throw you some doozies and see how we can rapid fire just prove all of the things that that are in doubt. So here we go. Okay, you ready? How do we know that God exists?Yeah, so that word no can have different connotations. So maybe it would be better to ask the question, why do we believe God exists? Oh,don't you do that? You're you can't, you can't just change my question. I was kidding. Well, I think, I think you bring up a great point, is that one of the key tasks in apologetics is defining of terms and understanding like, Okay, you asked that question. But I think there's a question behind the question that actually is an assumption that we have to tease out and make explicit, right? Because, I mean, that's, that's part of you. So I think sometimes people get into this back and forth with folks, and you're like, Well, you have assumptions in your question. So go ahead, you, you, you go ahead and change my question. So how do we knowthe issue is, is there is that when we say something like, you know, we people begin to imagine that the way Christianity works is that we need to prove Christianity in the way we might prove as Augustine said this in confessions, four plus six equals 10. And Augustine, early church father, and he's writing, and he's writing about his own journey. He said I really had to get to the point where I realized this is not how this works. Yeah, we're not talking about, we do not one plus one, our way to God.Yeah. And when is Augustine writing about When? When? So people are, yeah, 397,at. This point. So he's writing right at the, you know, right right before the fifth century, okay? And, and, of course, Augustine famously said, we have to believe to understand, for most believers, God is intuitive, or what? Blaise Pascal, the 17th century Christian philosopher He called this the logic of the heart. Or I can just cite a more contemporary figure, Alvin planeta, calls this basic belief that. He says that belief in God is a basic belief, and and for So, for for many believers, they would say something like this. And I think there's validity in this so is that God just makes sense, even if, even if they haven't really worked out arguments that they they say, Well, yeah, this God makes sense to me. Now I can kind of begin to explore that. I will in just a second, but I just want to say there's, for most of your listeners, it's something like, I heard the gospel and this and the stories of Jesus, and I knew they were true, right? And as kind of insiders here, we would say that's the Spirit's work. The Holy Spirit is working, and God speaks through creation and his word, and people believe. And so that's that's why we believe now, of course, once we say that people have these kinds of intuitions, or as theologians would put it, this sense of God kind of built into them, I would want to say, as an apologist, or even as a pastor, just a minister, you don't have to be apologist to say this is that we can appeal to those intuitions and make arguments in many different types of ways. Well,hold on one second. Isn't that a little too simplistic, though? Because, I mean, you have the Greeks who believed in all the different gods, and the Romans who adopted those gods and changed their names and like, how do we assimilate that? You know, where, you know Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins famously say, Well, I don't, I don't believe in Zeus. So does that make me an atheist? It would have made me an atheist back in, you know, you know Roman and Latin and Greek times. So, so there's an intuition, but, but how do we delineate that? Well, that's not the right object of that intuition.Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So we have this intuition, you know, we could say Romans, Romans, one is pointing us to, this is what I would argue, this sense of God, and yet we're, we're fallen, according to the Christian story. And so even though we have this sense of God, we suppress that, and we worship false gods, or we worship the created, rather than the Creator. So the Christian story as a as a Christian, helps make sense of both the kind of why? Well, although we have this sense this, there's this common sense of God, it goes in many different directions and and I would argue that even if you deny kind of transcendence altogether, you're still going to have you're going to still make something kind of a god. You're going to you're going to want to worship something. And I think that's that's part of the point of Romans, one, you end up going to worship the created rather than the Creator. So does that get out what you're asking Matt or Yeah,I think so. I think sometimes the arguments that are real popular, even now is like, well, I just don't, I just don't, I just don't believe that God exists, just like I don't believe that Zeus exists, like, what's, what's the big deal? Why? Why are you so adamant that I believe in that God exists? Like to because I don't, I don't know that God exists because I don't see him. So how would you respond to somebody who says, Well, this Intuit intuition that that you say we all have, and that Romans one says we have, I just don't buy it, you know, because, I mean, I'm, I wouldn't believe that Zeus exists, because there's no empirical evidence to show me otherwise. So how would you respond to somebody that's equivocating or saying that, you know, Yahweh of the Old Testament, the God of the, you know, the God of the Bible is, this is just a tribal deity, just like Zeus is. So, how should we? Iwould, I would say so. So I think we can make kind of arguments for some kind of for transcendence. So there's ways to make arguments against naturalism. That's that's what's being promoted. And there's various different kinds of, you know. So sometimes these kinds of arguments that are in the Christian tradition are used to say, hey, we're going to prove God's existence using these arguments. I think I'm not. Are typically comfortable with the language of prove and how it's used in our context today, again, we get into the math, kind of two plus two equals four. Kind of thinking, yep. But I think a lot of those arguments are appealing to both intuitions and they they work much more effectively as anti naturalistic arguments. Not so much saying, Okay, we know a particular God through, say, the moral argument, okay, that we're but, but it's arguing against simply a naturalistic, materialistic. You know, even Evans, who's a longtime professor at Baylor, makes this argument that those, those types of arguments are really good against pushing back against naturalism. So plan again, has a famous argument that says, if naturalism and evolutionary theory are both true because of how evolution theory works, it's not about right thinking, but right action that you perform certain things to survive. Then, if both of those are true, you have no reason to trust your kind of cognitive faculties.Can you tease that one out a little bit? I kind of lost on that one. He said,What planet is arguing? Is he saying? Look, if, if all of our kind of cognitive faculties are just a product of evolution, okay? And by the way, not only does it's not just a plan. Ago makes this argument, it's actually kind of interesting figures who were like Nietzsche and others made this argument that basically, if, if evolution and naturalism is true that all we are is energy and manner and this product of evolutionary process, then we would have no reason to actually trust kind of our rationality, and that's what rationality is actually mapping onto reality. All of our our brains and our minds are really just producing certain conclusions to help us survive. So it would undercut the very foundations of that position. Now again, yeah, being able to observe, yeah, yeah. So, so with that, again, I think that's an example of an argument that doesn't so much. You know, say this is the Christian God. This supports the belief in Christian God. But what it does is it from within their own thinking. It challenges that. It undercuts their own way of thinking, which is what you're assuming and what you're kind of pushing back on, is a kind of naturalistic world. And I think we can step within that try to understand it and then challenge it on its own terms. And I think that's the real strength of planning this argument. What he's doing now, go ahead.Well, that's it, yeah, in his, in his, like, the the Opus is, uh, warranted. Christian belief is that what you're referencing the the big burgundy book.I can't remember where he makes this argument? Yeah, I can'tremember exactly. But like, if all your cognitive faculties are working, somebody who believes that God exists does not mean that they does not negate all of the other cognitive faculties that they're like if they're in their rational mind, that they have warrants for their belief. But, but that's what I what I think, where I'm tracking with you, and I love this is that even like, it still holds true, right? Like there's not one silver bullet argument to say now we know, like, that's what you were challenging even in the question is, how do you know that you know that you know that God exists? Well, you have to layer these arguments. And so this is one layer of that argument that even the Greeks and the Romans had a sense of transcendence that they were after, and they identified them as gods. But there's this other worldliness that they're trying to attribute to the natural world that they observe, that they can't have answers for, and that we can't observe every occurrence of reality, that there has to be something outside of our box, so to speak, out of our naturalistic tendencies. And so even that can be helpful to say, well, that kind of proves my point that even the Greeks and the Romans and other tribal deities, they're after something outside of our own experience that we can experience in this box. Yeah, that'sright. And there's a, I mean again, this, this argument, isn't intellectually coercive, and I don't think any of these are intellectually coercive. What I mean by that is you can find ways out. And so the approach I would take is actually called an abductive approach, which says, Okay, let's put everything on the table, and what best makes sense, what best makes sense, or what you know, what story best explains all of this? And so that way, there's a lot of different angles you can take depending on who you're talking to, yep, and and so what one of the, one of the ways to look at this and contemporary anthropology? Psycho psychologists have done work on this, to say, the kind of standard, what we might call natural position in all of human history, is that there's there's transcendence. That's, it's just the assumption that there's transcendence. Even today, studies have been shown even people who grow kids, who grew up in a secular society will kind of have these intuitions, like, there is some kind of God, there is some kind of creator, designer. And the argument is that you actually have to have a certain kinds of culture, a particular culture that kind of habituate certain thinking, what, what CS Lewis would call, a certain kind of worldly spell to to so that those intuitions are saying, Oh no, there's not a god. You know, there's not transcendence. And so the kind of common position in all of human history across various different cultures is there is some kind of transcendence. It takes a very particular, what I would say, parochial, kind of culture to say, oh, there's probably no there. There's not. There's, of course, there's not. In fact, Charles Taylor, this is the story he wants to tell of how did we get here, at least in some secular quarters of the West, where it was just assumed, of course, there's, of course, there's a God to 500 years of to now, and at least some quarters of the West, certain, certain elite orsecular? Yeah? Yeah, people. And even then, that's a minority, right? This is not a wholesale thing, yeah.It seems to be. There's something, well, even Jonathan height, uh, he's an atheist, says, has acknowledged that there seems to be something in humans. That's something like what Pascal called a God shaped hole in our heart, and so there's this kind of, there's this deep intuition. And what I'm wanting to do is, I'm wanting in my arguments to kind of say, okay, given this as a Christian, that I believe we have this sense of God and this intuition of God, these intuitions, I want to appeal to those intuitions. And so there's a moral order to the universe that people just sense that there is a right and wrong. There's certain things that are right and certain things are wrong, even if a culture says it is, it is, it is fine to kill this group of people, that there's something above culture, that even there's something above someone's personal preference, that is their moral order to the universe. Now, given that deep seated intuition, what you might call a first principle, what makes best sense of that, or a deep desire, that that, that nothing in the universe seems to satisfy that we have. This is CS Lewis's famous argument. We have these desires, these natural desires for we get thirsty and there's there's water, we get hungry and there's food, and yet there's this basically universal or worldwide phenomenon where people desire something more, that they try to look for satisfaction in this world and they can't find it. Now, what best explains that? And notice what I'm doing there, I'm asking that the question, what best explains it? Doesn't mean there's, there's not multiple explanations for this, but we're saying, What's the best explanation, or profound sense that something doesn't come from nothing, that intelligence doesn't come from non intelligence, that being doesn't come from non being. Yeah, a deep sense that there's meaning and significance in life, that our experience with beauty is not just a leftover from an earlier primitive stage of of evolution. And so we have these deep experiences and intuitions and ideas about the world, and what I'm saying is particularly the Christian story. So I'm not, I'm not at the end, arguing for just transcendence or or kind of a generic theism, but I'm saying particularly the Christian story, best, best answers. Now, I'm not saying that other stories can't incorporate and say something and offer explanations, but it's a, it's a really a matter of, you know, you might say out narrating or or telling the Gospel story that maps on to the ways we're already intuiting about the world, or experiencing or observing the world.Yeah, so, so going along with that, so we don't have, like, a clear cut case, so to speak. We have layers of argument, and we appeal to what people kind of, in their heart of hearts, know, they don't have to like, they have to be taught otherwise. Almost like, if you talk to a child, they can't, they kind of intuit that, oh, there's something outside, like, Who created us? Like, who's our mom? You know, like, going back into the infinite regress. It's like, okay, some something came from nothing. How does that even how is that even possible? So there has to be something outside of our. Experience that caused that to happen. So, so say you, you go there, and then you help people. Say, help people understand. Like, I can't prove God's existence, but I can argue that there are ways of explaining the world that are better than other ways. So then, how do you avoid the charge that, well, you basically are a really proud person that you think your religion is better than other religions. How, how could you dare say that when you can't even prove that you're you know? So how? How would you respond to somebody who would say, like, how do you believe? Why do you believe that Christianity is a one true religion? Yeah, um,well, I would say a couple of things. One is that, in some sense, everyone is staking out some kind of claim. So even if you say you can't say that one religion is true or one one religion is the one true religion, that is a truth claim that you're staking out. And I think it's fine that this for someone to say that they just need to realize. I mean, I think they're wrong, but I think they're they're making a truth claim. I'm making a truth claim. Christians are making truth so we're, we all think we're right, and that's fine. That's fine, but, but then we but then once you realize that, then you're not saying, Well, you think you're right, but I just, I'm not sure, or it's arrogant to say you're right. I think, of course, with some some things, we have more levels of confidence than other things. And I think that's the other thing we can say with Christian with as Christians, it's saying, Hey, I believe, I believe in the resurrection. I believe in the core doctrines of Christianity. It doesn't mean that everything I might believe about everything is right. It doesn't even mean all my arguments are are even 100% always the best arguments, or I could be wrong about a particular argument and and I'm also not saying that you're wrong about everything you're saying. Okay, so, but what we are saying is that, hey, I I believe Jesus is who he said he was, and you're saying he's not okay. Let's have a conversation. But it's not, rather, it's not a matter of somebody being air. You know, you can hold those positions in an arrogant way. But simply saying, I believe this isn't in itself arrogance, at least, I think how arrogance is classically defined, yeah. And what is this saying? I believe this, and I believe, I believe what Jesus said about himself. And I can't go around and start kind of toying with with, if I believe he's Lord, then it's really not up to me to say, okay, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna, kind of take some of what he said, but not all of what he said. If you actually believe he rose from the dead and he is Lord and He is God, then then you take him at his word.What is it, as you think about cultural engagement, cultural apologetics that you've written on like, what is it in our cultural moment right now where people you say that thing, like Jesus said, You know, he, he, he said, I'm God, you know, not those explicit words, right? That's some of the argument. Like, no, but you look at the narrative he did, and that's why he was going to be stoned for blasphemy. That's why all these things. But that's, that's another conversation for another day. But, and then you talk to someone, you're like, Well, I don't believe he was God. I don't believe His claims were. Like, why then do you do we oftentimes find ourselves at a standstill, and people just throw up their hands like, well, that's your truth, and my truth is, I just don't, like, just don't push it on me. Like, why do we find ourselves in this? And it's not new. I mean, this is something that goes back to, you know, hundreds of years ago, where people are making arguments and they're like, Well, I just don't know. So I'm gonna be a transcendentalist, or I'm gonna be a deist, or I'm gonna whatever. So how do we kind of push back on that a little bit to say, No, it's not what we're talking about. Is not just a matter of preference, and it's not just a matter of, hey, my truth for me and your truth for you. But we're actually making it a claim that is true for all people. Like, how do we kind of encourage people to push into that tendency that people have to just throw up their hands and say, whatever? Pass the piece, you know? Well,okay, so I think let me answer that in two ways. One's philosophically, and then two are practically. One philosophically. I do think it's, you know, CS Lewis was on to this, as he often was way ahead of the curve on certain things, but on an abolition of man. When he talked, he's talking about the fact value distinction and how we've separated. You know, you have your facts, and then everything you know, where, classically, you would kind of recognize that courage, you know, is a virtue, and that's, it's a, it's a, it's also a fact that we should pursue courage and rather than just my preference of kind of and so there's actually. Be this, but now we have, well, that's a value, kind of courage, and say you should do something, but it's, it's, that's your value and and so we have this distinction between facts, which is, follow the science, and then values over here. And as that has opened up. You have both a kind of, on one hand, a very, very much, a people saying in a very kind of hard, rationalistic way, you know, science has said, which, that would be another podcast to kind of dive into that more science is good and, yeah, and, but science doesn't say anything. So I'm a fan of science, but it doesn't say anything. We interpret certain things, but, but so you can kind of have a hard rationalism, but you also combine with a kind of relativism, or at least a soft relativism that says, Well, this is my truth, because values become subjective. So that's the philosophical take. But the kind of practical thing, I would say, is they need people. One of the reasons people do that is because, it's because they've seen kind of these to reference what you're talking about earlier this hey, this person's coming in wanting to talk about my worldview, and it just becomes this fierce, awkward encounter, and I don't want anything to do with that type of thing, like I don't, I don't want to go down the dark corners of of the Internet to have these, to have these intellectual just like Charles Taylor says, a lot of the kind of arguments are, I have three reasons why your position is untenable. He says something like untenable, wrong and totally immoral. Now, let's have a conversation. It just and so it's kind of like, no thanks. I don't think I want to have that conversation. You do you. And so there's, there is a part that, culturally, something is going on which needs to be confronted. And Lewis was doing that work, and a lot of philosophers have followed him in that but there's also a side of of maybe where our own worst enemies here, and the way that we try to engage people, and where we start with people, and we think, Okay, let's start in this kind of, you know, apologetic wrestling match with people. And a lot of times, people are just looking to cope. People are just looking to survive. They have mental health issues going on, and they don't want another one to pop up because of the apologist. And so they're just looking to try to skirt that conversation and get to feeding their kids or dealing with their angry neighbor. And so we've got to kind of take stock on kind of where people are at, and then how to engage them with where they're at. Now I'm going to apologize. I think all of those arguments are helpful in a certain context, but a lot of times, we've been our own worst enemy, and how we try to try to engage so what I what I encourage students and ministers to do is is start talking about people's stories, and you know how life is going and where what's hard, and asking really good questions, and kind of having a holy curiosity and and often, I was in an encounter with a guy who came up to me after a kind of a university missions thing, and he was an atheist, and he wanted to talk about the moral argument. And I was happy to do that for a few minutes, but then I just asked him. I said, what you know, what do you love to do? Tell me about yourself, and where do you really find joy in life? And he looked at me, and he started to tear up, and he said, You know, I'm really lonely right now, you know, go figure this moment in our world, the kind of fragmented world we live in. And he said, what's really meaningful to me is my is my pet, because he provides solace. And there's this moment where, of course, I mean, here's an atheist wanting to show up at a Christian event, right? And because Christians were nice to him, and he's deeply lonely, and we got to have a pretty meaningful conversation about, you know, the benefits of following Christ in the community, communion with not only God, but with others, yeah, but if I would have just left it at, let's go to the more we would have never got there. But it took me kind of asking the question, which is, in essence, what I was trying to ask is what, I didn't put it like this, but what are you seeking? What are you really after here? And where are you really getting joy in life, and what's going on? And I if we can learn to go there, I think we'll have much more productive conversations. And then just kind of, I heard chatro talk about the, you know, ontological argument. Now let me throw that out there at somebody. I think that's why apologists and apologetics have sometimes been given a bad name. But if you. Actually look at the tradition, the the larger tradition. There's so many resources, and there's so many people, apologists, doing lots of different things, that I think gives us kind of way to actually engage people where they're at.Yeah, yeah. No, that's great. Well, I It reminds me, I believe it was Schaefer who talked about the the greatest apologetic, at least his time, and I think it stands true even now, is welcoming people and being hospitable towards people, welcoming the questions, not looking at folks as adversaries, but fellow pilgrims. And then you welcome them into that space, into that community. And then they're they see that, quite frankly, the faith works. The Christian ethic actually works, albeit imperfect, by imperfect people in imperfect ways. But you know, as we go through pain and suffering, as we go through, you know, elation and disappointment, like there's still a lot that that we can demonstrate to the world through our testimony that it works. You know, so to speak. So I'd love to hear you kind of help walk us through how the Christian story tells a better story about pain and suffering, because that's that's a fact of every person listening is that there's some modicum of pain and suffering in their life at any moment. And then you look at the grand scale of the world and all these things, but just even we can go down to the individual level of the why is there pain and suffering in my life and in the world and, you know, in general. But I like, like for you to just kind of riff on that for a little bit for us, to helpus, yeah. And in some ways, this question, and the apologetic question is a kind of real, a snapshot into the into what we're talking about with, how do we respond to that? Not just as Okay, an intellectual question, yeah, yeah, but it's also a profoundly experiential question. And there's youmean, you mean, and how, in the moment when you're saying, in the moment when somebody asks you the question, not getting defensive, but being being willing to listen to the question, Is that what you mean by that? And yeah,well, what I mean is, that's certainly true. Matt, what I was really thinking, though, is how this is not just something kind of an abstract, intellectual question. Oh, okay, but it's a profound experiential and there's different angles that we might take into it. But I mean, as a kind of snapshot or a test case in our apologetic is, I think there's ways to answer that question that are sterile, that are overly academic, and I and that also, I would say, rushes in to give an answer. And I would want to argue that Christianity doesn't give an answer to evil and suffering, but it gives a response. And let me make, let me explain that, yeah, is, is an answer. Tries in the way I'm using it, at least tries to say, I'm going to solve this kind of intellectual problem, and the problem of evil and suffering in the world, of why a good God who's all powerful would allow the kind of evil and suffering we see in the world is, is one that we might say, Okay, now there's the problem. Now let me give the solution. And this is often done, and we've you maybe have been in this if you're listening into a certain context where a kind of famous apologist says, Here is the answer, or famous Christian celebrity says, Here is the answer to evil, and this solves all the problems, until you start thinking about it a little bit more, or you go home, or three or four years, and you grow out of that answer and and so I think we need to be real careful here when we say we have the answer, because if you keep pushing that question back in time, or you start asking questions like, well, that that bullet that hit Hitler in World War One and didn't kill him? What if the God of the Bible, who seems to control the wind and everything, would have just blown it over and killed Hitler. It seems like maybe it could have been a better possible world if Hitler, you know, didn't lead the Holocaust. Okay, so, so again, I think, I think pretty quickly you begin to say, Okay, well, maybe some of these theodicies Don't actually solve everything, although I would say that some of the theodicies that are given things like free will, theodicy or or the kind of theodicies that say God uses suffering to to grow us and develop us. And I think there's truth in all of that, and there's but what it does. What none of them do is completely solve the problem. And so I think that there's value in those theodicies in some extent.Hey, did you know that you were created to enjoy abundance? I'm not talking about getting the latest pair of Air Jordans or a jet plane or whatever that this world says that you have to have in order to be happy. Instead, I'm talking about an abundant life where you are rich in relationships, you're rich in your finances, but you are rich in life in general, that you are operating in the calling that God has for you, that He created you for amazing things. Did you know that? And so many times we get caught up in paying our mortgage and running hither and yon, that we forget that in this world of distractions that God has created you for glorious and amazing things and abundant life. If you would like to get a free workbook, I put one together for you, and it's called the my new rich life workbook. If you go to my new rich life.com my new rich life.com. I would be glad to send you that workbook with no strings attached, just my gift to you to help you. But here'sthe thing, here's what I want to go back to with a question. Is that the Odyssey as we know it, or this? And what I'm using theodicy for is this, this responsibility that that we feel like we have to justify the ways of God, is a particularly modern phenomenon. I think this is where history comes and helps us. Charles Taylor talks about this in that the kind of way we see theodicy and understand theodicy was really developed in the middle of the 1700s with figures like Leibniz, and then you have particularly the Lisbon earthquakes in the middle of the 18th century. And that was this kind of 911 for that context. And in this 911 moment, you have philosophers being saying, Okay, how do we justify the ways of God? And are trying to do it in a very kind of this philosophical way to solve the problem. But from for most of human history and history of the West, of course, evil and suffering was a problem, but it wasn't a problem so much to be solved, but it was a problem to to cope with and and and live in light of, in other words, what you don't have in the Bible is Job saying, Okay, well, maybe God doesn't exist. Or the psalmist saying, maybe God doesn't exist because I'm experiencing this. No, they're ticked off about it. They're not happy about it. They're struggling to cope with it. It is, it is a problem, but it's not, then therefore a problem. That says, well, then God doesn't exist. Yeah. And it didn't become a widespread kind of objection against God's very existence, until certain things have happened in the kind of modern psyche, the kind of modern way of imagining the world. And here is what's happened. This is what Charles Taylor says. Is that Taylor says what happened is kind of slowly through through different stages in history, but but in some sorry to be gloved here, but it's, it's a very kind of, you know, long argument. But to get to the point is, he says our view of God became small, and our view of humans became really big. And so God just came became kind of a bigger view of version of ourselves. And then we said, oh, if there is a reason for suffering and evil, we should be able to know it, because God's just a bigger kind of version of us, and he has given us rational capacities. And therefore if we can't solve this, then there must not be a god. That's kind of where the logic goes. And of course, if you step into the biblical world, or what I would say a more profoundly Christian way of looking at it is God. God isn't silent, and God has spoken, has given us ways to cope and live with suffering and ways to understand it. But what he what he doesn't give us, is that we're going to he actually promises that, that we're not going to fully understand His ways that, that we're going to have to trust Him, even though we can't fully understand why he does what he does in history all the time. And so this leads into what, what's actually called. There's, this is a, this is a weird name if you're not in this field, but it's called skeptical theism. I'm a skeptical theist. And what skeptical theists Are you is that we're not skeptical about God, but we're skeptical about being able to neatly answer or solve the problem of evil. But we actually don't think that's as big of a deal, because, simply because. I don't understand why God, God's simply because I don't understand God's reasons. Doesn't mean he doesn't have reasons. Yeah, yeah. Andso just beyond your the your finite, uh, temporo spatial understanding of things, right? Like you don't understand how this horrible situation plays out in a grander narrative,right? So it's Stephen wickstra. He had this famous argument. I'll riff off of it a little bit. I mean, just metaphor. He says, if you have a if you have a tent, and we go camping together, Matt and and I open the tent and say, there's a giant dog in there. And you look in there, there's no dog, you would say, Yeah, you're either crazy or a liar. But if I open the tent and say there's tiny bugs in there, and they're called no see ums, you wouldn't, you wouldn't know. You wouldn't be in a position to know. You wouldn't be in an epistemological position to know whether there's a bug in there or not. So you would simply have to decide whether you're going to trust me or not. And then, you know, the claim of the non Christian might be, well, yeah, why would I trust the God given the kind of crap that I see in the world? And I would say, well, a couple reasons. One is most profoundly because God has entered into this world. He has not sat on the sidelines. So even though we don't fully understand it, he has in the person of Jesus Christ, he has suffered with us and for us. So this is a God who says, I haven't given you all the answers, but I have given you myself. And that's I think both has some rational merit to it, and profoundly some intellectual merit to that. I'd also say that the Christian story actually gets at some deep intuitions, kind of underneath this challenge or this problem. It was CS Lewis, who was an atheist in World War One, and and he was very angry at God because of the evil and violence and his his mom dying at an early age, and was an atheist. But then he realized that in his anger against God, that he was assuming a certain standard, a certain kind of moral standard, about how the world should be, that there is evil in the world and that it shouldn't be so, and this deep intuition that it shouldn't be so that certain things aren't right. Actually, you don't have if you do away with God's existence, you just you have your preferences. But in a world of just energy and matter, why would the world not be absurd? Why would you expect things not to be like this. Why would you demand them not to be like this?So a deeply embedded sense of morality that can't be explained by naturalism is what you're getting, yeah?That that we have a certain problem here, or certain challenge with not fully being able to answer the question, yeah, but they have, I would say, a deeper challenge, that they don't have even the kind of categories to make sense of the question. So that's those are some of the directions I would go, and it's first stepping inside and kind of challenging against some of the assumptions. But then I'm as you, as you can tell, then I'm going to say how the Christian story does make sense of these deep intuitions, our moral intuitions, that are underneath the problem, or the challenge of evil and suffering. And then also going to Jesus in the Gospel. And the Gospel story,one of the questions I had on our on the list of questions was, how do we know the Bible is true? But I want to delve into more of this understanding of doubt and how that plays, because you've written a lot on this. But I'd like, could you just direct us to some resources, or some folks, if folks are interested in, how do we know the Bible is true? I'm thinking real popular apologist right now is Wesley. Huff is a great place to go. But are there other like, hey, how do I know that the Bible is true? Because you keep appealing to Christianity, which is in for is the foundation of that is the Bible. So could you give us a few resources so people could chase those down.Peter Williams has written a couple little good books on the Gospels. AndPeter Williams Williams, he's in Cambridge, right, orTyndale house, over there and over the pond. And he's written a book on the Gospels. And I can't think of the name, but if you put it on the internet, it'll show up. And the genius of Jesus as well. Okay, little books, and I think both of those are helpful as far as the Gospels go. Richard, Richard balcom is really good on this, Jesus and the eyewitnesses. As well as a little book that most people haven't heard of. It's a, it's an introduction to the Gospels in that off in an Oxford series, which is, you know, kind of a brief introduction to the Gospels. And he, especially at the very beginning, he gives us John Dixon, who's at Wheaton now, has written a lot of good books on on on this. And it's got this series called skeptics guide to and it does both Old Testament and New Testament kind of stuff. So that little series is, is really helpful. So those are some places I would start. And in my books, I typically have, you know, chapters on this, but I haven't, haven't written, you know, just one book, just on this. The early books, truth matters and truth in a culture of doubt, were, were engaging Bart airman. But really, Bart airman not to pick on on Airmen, but just because he was such a representative of a lot of the the views that that we were hearing, he ended up being a good kind of interlocutor. In those I would just say, I know you didn't. You just asked for books. And let me just say one thing about this is I, I think if you are trying to engage, I think if you take the approach of, let me prove the Bible, let me take everything and just, yeah, I don't think that's the best way. I think you often have to give people some you know, whether it's, you know, the beginning of Luke's Gospel, where he's saying, This is how I went about this. And I actually did my homework to kind of say, this is at least the claim of the gospel writers say, and then, but the real way that you you come to see and know, is you have to step into it and read it. And I think one of the apologetic practices I would want to encourage, or just evangelistic practices, is is offering to read the gospels with people and and working through it. And then certain things come up as you read them, apologetically that you'll, you'll want to chase down and use some of those resources for but I think often it's, it's saying, hey, the claims are, at least that, you know, these guys have done their homework and and some of the work Richard welcome is doing is saying, you know, the Gospel traditions were, were were pinned within the lifetime of eyewitnesses and this. And so that's some of the work that that balcom has helpfully done that kind of help us get off the ground in some of these conversations.Would that be your go to gospel Luke or, like, if you're walking with players, or a go to like,some people say more because of the shortness or John, I I'm happy with them. Allfour should be in the canon. Yeah, no, that's great. And I think a couple other books I'm thinking of Paul Wagner's from text from text to translation, particularly deals with Old Testament translation issues, but then text critical pieces, but then also FF. Bruce's canon of Scripture is a real, solid place to go, if people are interested in those big pieces, but those, I mean, yeah, Richard Bauckham work was really helpful for me when I was like, How do I even know, you know the starting place is a good starting place. So, yeah, thank you for that. Sowhat the challenge is, people have got to make up their mind on Jesus. Yeah. I mean, I think that's where I want to kind of triage conversations and say, Hey, I know the Bible is a big book and there's a lot going on. First things you gotta make a call on. So that's where I'm going to focus on, the Gospels. That'sgreat. No, that's great. Well, you know, a lot of times you, and you've mentioned this earlier, that sometimes in our attempts to give reasons for our faith, we can come to simplistic answers like, Okay, this is, here you go. Here's the manuscript evidence, for example. Or, hey, here's the evidence for the resurrection. Oh, here. You know, this is pain and suffering, Romans, 828, you know, having these quick answers. And I think it stems from a desire to want to have a foundation for what we stand on. But a lot of times, and I think what we're seeing in our culture, and this is not anything new, this topic of deconstruction is not really a new topic is, you know, it's what's been called in the past, apostasy, or just not believing anymore. But now it's gotten a more, you know, kind of sharper edges to it. And and I would love for you to you know how you would respond to someone who is deconstructing from their faith because it didn't allow for doubt or because they were raised in perhaps a really strict Christian home. So how would you respond to somebody who says, I don't I don't like the. Had answers anymore, and I don't, you know, it's just too simplistic, and it doesn't, it's not satisfying. So how would you, because I encounter a lot of folks that are in that vein, the ones who are deconstructing, it's, it's not, you know, there's definitely intellectual arguments, but there's something else in back of that too, I think. So I'd love to hear you just kind of, how would you respond to someone who is deconstructing or has deconstructed in their faith?Yeah, yeah. And of course not. In that situation, my first response it's going to be, tell me more. Let's, let's talk more. I want to hear, I want to hear your story. I want to hear your deconversion story, or where you're at and and to have some real curiosity. Rather than here, let me tell you what your problem is. And let me tellyou, yeah, you just don't want to believe because you got some secret sin or something. Yeah? Oh, goodnessno. I mean, it's right faith, unbelief and doubt is complex, and there's lots of forms of doubt. And we use that word I mean, it has quite the semantic range, and we use in lots of different ways. And of course, the Bible, by no means, is celebrating doubt. The Bible, it's, you know, that we is saying we should have faith. It calls us to faith, not to doubt, but doubt seems to be a couple things to say. We talk about, we talk about ourselves as Christians, as new creations in Christ, but we also recognize that we still sin, we still we still have sinful habits. We're still sinful, and in the same way we we we believe, but we can struggle with doubt, and that's a reality. And it seems to me that that doesn't mean, though, that then we celebrate doubt, as if doubts this great thing, no, but at the same time, we need to be realistic and honest that we do. And there's certain things culturally that have happened, because we now live in a pluralistic world where people seem very sane and rational and and lovely, and they believe radically different things than we do. And just that proximity, Peter Berger, the late sociologist, did a lot of work on this area. This is just it. It creates these kinds of this kind of contestability, because, well, we could imagine even possibly not believing, or kids not believing, in a way that, again, 500 years ago, you know you Luther was wrestling with whether the Roman Catholic Church had everything right, but he wasn't wrestling and doubting the whole the whole thing, yeah, God. So that creates certain pressures that I think we need to be honest about, and but, but with, and part of that honesty, I think, in that kind of conversation to say, Hey, you're not alone and you're not just simply crazy because you're you're raising some of these things because, I mean, that's in many ways, understandable. Yeah, okay, yeah. I'm not saying it's good, I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it's understandable. And I hear what you're saying, and I'm, let's talk about it now. The the kind of metaphor that that I use is to think about Christianity as a house. Of course, that's not my metaphor. I'm I'm borrowing from CS Lewis, who talked about Christianity as a house and in Mere Christianity, Lewis said he wanted to get people through non Christians into the hallway, and so he wanted to get them into the door so that they would and then they could pick up a particular tradition, they could enter a room. But his approach in Mere Christianity was to represent kind of the whole house. And what I think is happening in many cases is that people, now, I'm riffing off of his metaphor, people in the church. People have raised in the church, so they've grew up their whole life in the house, but it's actually in the what I would call the attic. And the attic as as I talk about it is, is in the house. It's, it's a Christian community, but it was, it was many times they're built out of a kind of reactionary posture against culture, without a deep connection to the rest of the house. It's kind of like, Hey, we're scared, and understandably so, the kind of decadent morality, certain shifts happening in the west with Can you giveus a couple examples of what you're thinking like? What would a person living in the attic like? What would their tradition kind of. Look like,yeah. So a couple of things. One in response to, in some cases, in response to the kind of intellectual movements, the kind of sex, secular and, you know, thinking they would say, you know, intellectualism is bad, that would be one response from the attic, like, don't worry about, you know, thinking. Just believe your problem is you're just thinking too much. So that would be one response, a kind of anti intellectualism. The other response is what I would call a kind of, depending on what kind of mood I'm in, I would call it a kind of quasi intellectual that, and that sounds harsh that I say what kind of mood I'm in, but a kind of quasi intellectual response, which is like, Oh, you want arguments. You want evidence. We'll give you two plus two equals equals God, and we'll kind of match, you know, fire with fire, and we can prove God's existence. And oftentimes, those kinds of apologetic reactions, I would call them, sometimes they're kind of quasi intellectual, because I don't think that's how the kind of bit we come to the big decisions. I don't think it's rational enough about a rationality about kind of what type of humans we are, and how we come to the big decisions and the big truths and and so I think that's one response, and that's why you have a kind of industry of apologetics sometimes. And the way they do it, I'm not saying in some ways it can be helpful, but in other ways, it can cause problems down down the road, and we've seen that at least, like, for instance, with the evil and suffering kind of conversation we were having before. If people say, actually, those arguments actually don't make, don't fully do what they were. We you claim too much for your arguments. Let's just say, like that. Okay, so that's one kind of, so there's a there's a kinds of, well, Christianity, in that side can kind of become this kind of intellectual, sterile work where you're just kind of trying to prove God, rather than this, than this way of life, where does worship come in? Where does devotion come in? What is And so very quickly it becomes, you know, this intellectual game, rather than communion with the living God. And so the emphasis understandably goes a certain way, but I would say understandably wrong goes a certain way, and that argument should be part of this deeper life of faith that we live and so we again, I'm wanting to say the motives aren't necessarily, aren't wrong, but where we get off because we're too reactionary, can go off. Let me give you one other ones. And I would say, like the purity culture would be another kind of side of this where we see a morally decadent culture of sexuality, and we want to respond to that we we don't want our kids to grow up believing those lies. Yeah, as as a friend of mine says, you know that the sexual revolution was actually and is actually bad for women, and we need to say that. We need to say that to people in the church, absolutely. But in response to that, then we create what, what has been called a purity culture, which, which has, has kind of poured a lot of guilt and have made have over promised again, if you just do this, you'll have a wonderful life and a wonderful marriage if you just do this, and then if you mess up, oh, you've, you've committed this unpardonable sin, almost. And so there's a lot of pressure being put on, particularly young women and then, and then over promising and so all of this,can people see that the House of Cards is coming down because they're like, Yeah, my marriage is horrible.It creates this pressure, right where you have to. You have to think a certain way. You have to behave this very kind of way. It's reaction to want to protect them. So again, I'm saying, Yes, I understand the reactions, yeah, and, but, but, and this is, I think, a key part of this, because it's not connected well to the rest of the house. It often reacts, rather than reflected deeply on the tradition and helps fit your way, the centrality of the Gospel, the centrality of what's always been, Christian teaching and coming back to the main things, rather than kind of reacting to culture because we're nervous, and doing it in such a way that, you know, well, people will begin to say, That's what Christianity is about. Christianity is really about, you know, your politics, because that's all my pastor is talking about, interesting, you know, and this is all they're talking about. So that becomes the center,even though the ethic is is, is, becomes the. Center, as opposed to the the philosophy and theology guiding the ethic, is that, would that be another way to put it, like how you live, become, becomes preeminent to, you know, wrestling with doubt and and trying to bring God into the space of your doubt and that kind of stuff is, that, is that?Yeah, I mean, so that, I think one of the things that the the early creeds help us to do is it helps us to keep the main thing. The main thing, it helps us to keep, rather than saying, well, because culture is talking about this, we're going to, you know, kind of in our churches, this becomes the main thing, is reacting or responding, maybe, whether it's with the culture and certain movements or against the culture, yeah. But if you're anchored to the kind of the ancient wisdom of the past you're you do have, you are at times, of course, going to respond to what's going on culturally, yeah, but it's always grounded to the center, and what's always been the center, yeah? And I think so when you're in a community like this, like this, the pressure of, I've gotta think rightly. I've gotta check every box here, yes, and oh, and I've, I've been told that there is proofs, and I just need to think harder. I just, you know, even believe more, even Yeah, if I just, if I just think harder, then I'll eliminate my doubt, but my doubts not being eliminated. So either I'm stupid or maybe there's a problem with the evidence, because it's not eliminating all my doubt, but this creates this kind of melting pot of anxiety for a lot of people as their own Reddit threads and their Oh, and then this, trying to figure all this out, and they're Googling all these answers, and then the slow drip, oh, well, to be honest, sometimes the massive outpouring of church scandal is poured into this, yeah. And it just creates a lot of anxiety amongst young people, and eventually they say, I'm just going to jump out of the attic, you know, because it looks pretty freeing and it looks like a pretty good way of life out there. And what, what I say to people is two things. Number one, rather than simply jumping out, first look what you're about to jump into, because you have to live somewhere, and outside the attic, you're not just jumping into kind of neutrality, you're jumping into cultural spaces and assumptions and belief. And so let's, let's just be just as critical as, yeah, the attic or house as you are will be mean, be just as critical with those spaces as you have been with the attic. So you need to explore those. But also, I'm wanting to give them a framework to understand that actually a lot of the ways that you've kind of grown up is actually been in this attic. Why don't you come downstairs, and if you're going to leave the house, explore the main floor first.And what would be the main floor? What would you say? The main floor?Yeah. I would say themain orthodox historic Christianity, like, yeah. Orthodox historic Christianity, Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, just kind of go into the Yeah. And whatI would say is, for instance, the apostle creed gives us kind of what I would call load bearing walls in the house. So it gives us the places where you don't mess like load bearing walls. You don't you don't knock those down if you're going to do a remodel, and, and, and. So you would recognize the difference between load bearing walls, walls that are central versus actual different rooms in the house, and how? Well, these aren't load bearing walls, but they're, they're, they're, they're how certain people in Christian communities, churches at particular times, have articulated it and and some of these, you could deny certain things, but you could, but those are more denominational battle lines, rather than the kind of load bearing things that you if you pull out the resurrection of Jesus, if you pull out the the deity of Christ and the full humanity of Christ, If you pull out the Trinity. So let's go back to the core. And if you're going to reject, if you're going to leave, leave on the basis of those core things, not okay. I've had these bad experiences in the church now, yeah, what I think this to kind of wrap this up on this is what often happens, or what can happen if someone says, Well, yeah, I've done that, and I still don't, I don't believe Okay, yep, that's going to happen. Yep. But one of the things I suggest, in at least some cases, is that the addict has screwed people up more than they realize, and that the way that they approach. Approach the foundation and the the main floor, it's still in attic categories, as in, to go back to our first question, well, I can't prove this, yeah. And I was always told that I should be able to prove it. Well, that's not how this works, yeah. And so they they reject Christianity on certain enlightenment terms, but they don't reject Christianity as Christianity really is. So people are going to interact with Christianity, I would say sometimes your people are investigating, say the resurrection, and reflecting more on on these central claims, but they're still doing it as if, if it doesn't reach kind of 100% certainty that I can't believe. And that's just not how this works.Yeah, that's, that's food for thought, because there, there's so many people that I interact with that I try to encourage. Like, yeah, your experience was really bad, like I'm affirming that, and that was messed up. That's not That's not Christianity, that is a branch on this massive tree trunk that stinks and that needs to be lamented and grieved and also called out as wrong. So I'm using another metaphor of a tree instead. But I love the because the house metaphor is something that you use in the telling a better story. Isn't that surprised bydoubt? Surprised by doubt? Yes, that's that's what we use, and we march through things, and we use that as, really our guiding metaphor through all the chapters. And that's what I would encourage if you're if you have somebody who's struggling with this, or you're struggling with this yourself, that's That's why a friend of mine, Jack Carson, that's why we wrote the book together, because obviously this is a we had a lot of friends and acquaintances and people who were coming to us and we weren't fully satisfied with all of the kind of works, yeah, that were responding and so this, this was our attempt to try to helppeople. Well, the book right after that was, is telling a better story. And one of the things I've really appreciated in your emphasis over the last few years has been, I would call a more humane apology, apologetic in that, you know, not giving into, okay, we're gonna give you want evidence. We're gonna give you evidence, as opposed to like, okay, let's just talk about being a huma

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down happenings in the transfer portal regarding the Southeastern Conference. Topics include Tennessee's massive departures and additions, the migration from Virginia to Mississippi State following Brian O'Connor's move, big-name additions like Carson Tinney and Hayden Leffew (Texas), Drew Whalen (Auburn), Mack Whitcomb (Vanderbilt) and many more. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 20% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

This summer we are highlighting some of your favorite podcasts from the past year! In this episode of Pastor Matters, Dr. Robert Smith, Jr., shares his journey in preaching, emphasizing the importance of sermon preparation, internalization, and the role of the Holy Spirit. He discusses his early experiences, the evolution of his preaching style, and offers practical advice for young preachers. This interview is sure to help every preacher improve on crafting sermons. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

 Alex Stone, many people across Southeastern states on Thursday saw bright fireballs streaking across blue skies.  Over cities like Atlanta the fireballs were seen and heard as loud booms.  Today NASA says it was a meteor traveling at 30,000 miles an hour that disintegrated 27 miles above West Forest, Georgia.  When it broke apart into smaller fireballs, it unleashed energy equivalent to about 20 tons of TNT. Dutch Bros. Have you been there? // Heather Brooker, California Legislature Approves $750 Million Film Tax Credit by Wide Margin. Brad Pitt's F-1 movie is worth the $25 for IMAX // Elex Michaelson, Douglas Murray wrote book about Israel, Nixon Library, Midas Touch Podcast. New Mayor of NY City // Working is ALL enthusiasm. Lately waitresses and waiters are doing a great job. Airlines are raking in the money on the baggage fees. Be prepared. #Fireballs #NASA #FilmTVLA #Israel #NixonLibrary #MidasTouchPodcast #NYCMayor #AirlineBaggage #F1 #BradPitt 

This Farm Talk segment is brought to you by North Dakota Corn. Andrew Mauch farms in southeastern North Dakota near Mooreton. Mauch talks more about crop progress in his area.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fred Bird dives into a lead story about a critical fisheries reform bill in North Carolina with Senior Coordinator, Southeastern States Conner Barker. House Bill 442, which aims to prohibit industrial shrimp trawling in inshore waters, highlights the ecological impacts of shrimp trawling, including bycatch and habitat destruction. Fred and Conner emphasize the support from the recreational fishing community for these badly needed reforms, and share a positive outlook on the future of marine conservation efforts in the Tar Heel State. Fred then transitions to cover the rest of the news fit to print about the great outdoors this week, including the push for a habitat project in Virginia; hunting opportunities expansion in Hawaii to manage invasive feral pigs, goats and sheep; and much more!   Takeaways Critical Fisheries Reform Legislation Advancing in NC: House Bill 442 aims to prohibit industrial shrimp trawling in inshore waters, where North Carolina's estuaries are vital marine habitats and bycatch from shrimp trawling negatively impacts juvenile fish species. North Carolina is an anomaly among Southeastern states in that they allow industrial shrimp trawling in the state's inshore waters.  Early Successional Habitat in Virginia: Timber harvest, prescribed burns, and other vegetation treatments in the VA Archer Knob project will help correct an age-class imbalance on the George Washington National Forest. Hawaii Game Management: The 2025 game management area hunting season empowers sportsmen and women to manage invasive species, while protecting native ecosystems and providing sporting opportunity. By targeting feral species, hunters support the critically endangered palila, aligning with conservation goals.   Get the FREE Sportsmen's Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter   Sign up for FREE legislative tracking through CSF's Tracking the Capitols tool: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/tracking-the-capitols/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Southeastern 16 crew discusses and reacts to Game 2 of the College World Series finals between the LSU Tigers and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the 2025 college baseball season. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ ​ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: ​https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ J OIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

In this episode, the Pastor Matters team discusses the importance of evangelism and the authority of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. They explore various miracles performed by Jesus, emphasizing the transformation that occurs in individuals' lives when they encounter Him. The conversation highlights the need for believers to maintain a sense of wonder and amazement about Jesus, as familiarity can lead to complacency in sharing the gospel. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Game 1 of the College World Series finals, with LSU facing Coastal Carolina in Omaha, Neb. LSU started Kade Anderson on the mound, while the Chanticleers countered with Cam Flukey. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew gives its predictions for the College World Series final series between LSU and Coastal Carolina in the 2025 college baseball season. LSU first baseman Jared Jones found his stride leading into the finals, while the Tigers' loaded pitching staff of Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, Zac Cowan, Casan Evans and Chase Shores will be fresh heading into the series. And the Tigers will need it, because the Chanticleers' pitching staff of Jacob Morrison, Cam Flukey, Riley Eikhoff, Dominick Carbone, Ryan Lynch and company might the the nation's best, and the same could be said for catcher Caden Bodine. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

Arkansas started Landon Beidelschies on the mound with its season on the line against LSU and its right-hander, Zac Cowan, in a Wednesday evening game in the College World Series. The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down what it saw.

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down Tuesday night's College World Series contest between Arkansas and UCLA. The Razorbacks started Game 1 starter Zach Root, who pitched much better this time and got some help from Aidan Jimenez, while Wehiwa Aloy carried the offense against UCLA's pitching of Cody Delvecchio and Cal Randall.

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Monday afternoon's elimination game between Arkansas and Murray State in the College World Series. Razorbacks pitcher Gage Wood's historic performance, big days from Justin Thomas Jr. and Wehiwa Aloy, and much more. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

Southeastern 16's Graham Doty and Chris Lee looks at a competitive 2025 College World Series field that includes Arkansas, LSU, UCLA, Murray State, Louisville, Arizona, Oregon and Coastal Carolina. And it's one that features at least a dozen first-round prospects for future MLB drafts, one huge Cinderella story and a mid-major sleeper good enough to win it all! GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: Moving Companies in Nashville, TN | Ted R. Sanders Moving JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew previews Bracket 2 of baseball's College World Series of the 2025 season, which includes Arkansas, LSU, Murray State and UCLA. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! Gametime Sidekicks SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: Moving Companies in Nashville, TN | Ted R. Sanders Moving JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee previews Bracket 1 of the College World Series, which includes Arizona, Coastal Carolina, Louisville and Oregon State. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! Gametime Sidekicks SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: Moving Companies in Nashville, TN | Ted R. Sanders Moving JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

Greg looks at the Atlantic Sun from a stylistic and betting standpoint, examines the rosters of every team in the conference, looks at each roster of the Atlantic Sun with Blake Lovell of Southeastern 14, & Greg gives his projected order of finish for the conference for the 2025-26 season!Podcast Highlights1:50-Betting trends & styles of the Atlantic Sun11:14-Examination of every ASUN roster with Blake Lovell40:27-Greg's  projected order of finish for the Atlantic Sun

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Sunday's matchup between LSU and West Virginia in the Baton Rouge super regional of the NCAA baseball tournament.

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Sunday's Arkansas-Tennessee contest in the Fayetteville super regional of the 202 NCAA baseball tournament.

In this episode of Pastor Matters, Dr. Lawless, Caleb Iversen, and Zac Menser discuss the significance of silence and solitude in ministry, exploring the challenges of productivity and the importance of finding rest in Christ. They emphasize the need for pastors to prioritize time alone with the Lord, share practical steps for incorporating silence and solitude into daily routines, and reflect on the deeper rest that comes from a relationship with Jesus. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Friday night's Auburn-Coastal Carolina game in the Auburn super regional of the NCAA baseball tournament. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew talks about the outlook for Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and Tennessee in the respective super regional for each. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee preview and predicts an outcome on the Auburn super regional, featuring Auburn and Coastal Carolina. Auburn used just seven arms--Sam Dutton, Christian Chatterton, Cam Tilly, Andreas Alvarez, Cade Fisher, Ryan Hetzler and Parker Carlson--to get through a regional sweep of Central Connecticut, Stetson and North Carolina State. Future MLB first-rounder Ike Irish and veteran Cooper McMurray lead a balanced Auburn lineup with elite freshman talents Chase Fralic, Chris Rembert and Bub Terrell that really came on as the season progressed. Coastal Carolina comes in with a 51-11 record that included a sweep of its regional. The Chanticleers have one of the country's best pitching staffs (3.22 ERA) with Jacob Morrison, Cameron Flukey, Riley Eikoff, Luke Jones, Dominic Carbone, Matthew Potok, Hayden Johnson, Ryan Lunch, Darin Horn and company providing durability and depth. Potential first-round catcher Caden Bodine paces a Chanticleer lineup that gets on base throughout, with Blake Barthol (12 HR) and Sebastian Alexander (10) providing some power and Walker Mitchell (.449 OBP, 11 steals), Conway regional MVP Colby Thorndyke also big concerns for opponents. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee previews the Baton Rouge super regional of LSU and West Virginia. LSU's four-man pitching tandem of Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, Casan Evans and Zac Cowan may be the country's best when it comes to covering lots of innings in an elite manner. But can LSU's other talented arms, like Chase Shores, Jaden Noot, William Schmidt, Mavrick Rizy, Cooper Williams, Jacob Mayers and DJ Primeaux step up if called upon for coach Jay Johnson? Consistency has been an issue with LSU's offense. But Ethan Frey has gotten red-hot in the postseason, while Jared Jones, Derek Curiel, Stephen Milam, Daniel Dickenson and regional Game 4 hero Luis Hernandez are also tough outs. The Mountaineers went undefeated in the Clemson regional after knocking off Kentucky in the title game. The pitching is keyed by starters Griffin Kern (who also closed the title game) and Jack Kartsonas, plus, rubber-armed Reese Bassinger. WVU's offense is led by Kyle West, who had an amazing season (.347/.500/.607) at the plate. The bottom of the Mountaineers' balanced order hit well in Clemson, and five players with double-digit steals and Skyler King (.424) and Sam White (.421) also being on-base threats. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down the Monday regional finals in the NCAA Baseball Tournament involving the SEC, including Oklahoma vs. North Carolina, Tennessee vs. Wake Forest, Ole Miss vs. Murray State and LSU vs. Little Rock. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to a wild Sunday of baseball that included: Vanderbilt, the top national seed, was eliminated from the tournament by Wright State. Georgia was walked-off by Oklahoma State and eliminated in Athens. Florida's pitching didn't show and the Gators also head home. Mississippi State had a drama-filled day in advancing to a rematch with Florida State. Ole Miss won a wild game with Georgia Tech and advances to the regional final. Kentucky clobbered Clemson, eliminating another national seed, and advanced to face West Virginia in the finals. Oklahoma clocked Nebraska to advance to the finals against North Carolina. Texas beat Kansas State to work its way out of the loser's bracket for a rematch vs. UTSA. Plus: Wake Forest vs. Tennessee, Auburn vs. North Carolina State, LSU vs. Little Rock, Arkansas vs. Creighton. GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! http://www.gametimesidekicks.com/ SANDERS MOVING Efficient, hassle-free moving: https://www.tedrsandersmoving.com/ JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

This summer we are highlighting some of your favorite podcasts from the past year! Dr. Jonathan Pennington, author and professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Seminary, discusses preaching the Gospels and the key themes and emphasis of each Gospel. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Gospels as narrative and shares his approach to preaching through the Gospels. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Resources in this episode: Connect with Dr. Jonathan Pennington by visiting: https://www.jonathanpennington.com/ Small Preaching is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/Small-Preaching-Little-Things-Preacher/dp/1683594711 Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

The Southeastern 16 crew discuss Saturday's NCAA Tournament action for SEC baseball teams. Topics include: Oklahoma vs. North Carolina Georgia vs. Duke Florida St. vs. Mississippi St. Tennessee vs. Cincinnati LSU vs. Dallas Baptist Vanderbilt vs. Louisville Auburn vs. Stetson Texas vs. UTSA Arkansas vs. Creighton GAMETIME SIDEKICKS Use promo code SE16 for 10% off! JOIN OUR MEMBERSHIP

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee break down the Conway Regional. Topics include: Coastal Carolina was the country's best team from outside the Power 4, with MLB catching prospect Caden Bodine and Blake Barthol (12 HR, 12 SB) part of an offense that stole 99 bases and hit 56 home runs. The Chanticleers can pitch with anyone thanks to a starting trio of Jacob Morrison, Cameron Flukey and Riley Eikhoff, a bullpen of Matthew Potok , Dominic Carbine and Ryan Lunch and confidence that comes from a 48-11 record. Florida was as hot as any team in the country over the last six weeks. The Gators are led by a pair of premium MLB pitching prospects in Liam Peterson and Aidan King and a host of other talented arms like Jake Clemente, Pierce Coppola and Luke McNeillie. The Gators survived serious injures to a number of star players thanks to standout offensive performances from infielder Bobby Boser (16 HR) and Brody Donay (17), star freshman first baseman Brendan Lawson (nine). No one prepares his team better for the postseason than coach Kevin O'Sulllivan; can the Gators work some postseason magic again? Coach Cliff Godwin's East Carolina squad needed to win the American Athletic tournament to get here. The Pirates, a perennial mid-major powerhouse, are led by lefty slugger Dixon Williams (13 HR) and pin their pitching hopes on lefty Ethan Norby. Fourth-seeded Fairfield got here by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic conference tournament and is 39-17 entering the regional. Fairfield had 14-homer seasons from Luke Nomura and Matthew Bucciero to lead its offense. The Stags got great starting pitching from Ben Allison and Bowen Baker and will need more of it against a loaded field.

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee analyze the draw in the Athens Regional of the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament. Topics include: Georgia might have more power than any team in the country; the Bulldogs had a staggering eight players bash double-digit homers in the regular season. First-team all-SEC pick Slate Alford provides a steady, veteran presence at third, Robbie Burnett (20 HR, 17 SB) was one of the SEC's best all-around outfielders and first baseman Ryland Zaborowski is back after injury and at full strength, could be the best of them all. Georgia struggled to find answers on the mound when it came to bullpen depth at times, but the Bulldogs have a ton of power arms and a starting duo of Leighton Finley and Brian Curley that give them a chance to beat anyone. Duke's inclusion in the regional adds more big power to scene this weekend at Foley Field, with Ben Miller (18 HR) the biggest threat among a lineup and bench that can take teams out of the yard throughout. Reid Easterly, Ryan Calvert and Mark HIndy have been the Blue Devils' most effective arms; the Blue Devils have trouble keeping opponents inside the yard but are talented enough to advance. Could Oklahoma State be a sleeper? The Cowboys weren't considered an NCAA tournament team until season's end, but coach Josh Holliday had his team peaking at the right time. OSU is one of the better teams in the tournament at preventing home runs and Harrison Bodendorft (2.77 ERA) is a legitimate starting ace, while Sean Youngerman (2.08) was tremendous out of the bullpen and Nolan Schubart (17 HR) provides some of the biggest power in the college game. Binghamton arrives in Athens after winning the America East tournament. The Bearcats will need good things from starter Hayden Tarsia and big tournaments from power bats Evin Sullivan (13 HR) and Freddy Forgione (14) to compete.

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee break down the Chapel Hill Regional, hosted by North Carolina. The Tar Heels had a tremendous résumé and are loaded with stars, with starting pitcher Jake Knapp, catcher Luke Stevenson, first baseman Hunter Stokely, 1B, North Carolina, pitcher Jason DeCaro, outfielder Kane Kepley, second baseman Jackson Van De Brake and reliever Walker McDuffie all making one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's first three all-league teams. The Tar Heels posted an outstanding 3.46 ERA, hit 73 home runs and stole 83 bases and look to be one of the most complete teams in the NCAA tournament. Oklahoma, with ace and soon-to-be MLB first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon, can beat anyone when he's on the mound. The Sooners are athletic and can run and defend with catcher Easton Carmichael, center fielder Jason Walk and third baseman Jaxon Willis among the lineup standouts. Can the Sooners get enough pitching from starters Malachi Witherspoon and Cade Crossland--who are talented, but inconsistent--to win the regional? Nebraska won the Big 10 tournament pitching in spacious Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, thanks to a monumental championship-game effort from right-hander Tyler Horn. It's not a team laden with standouts--reliever Luke Broderick was the only Cornhusker on the first three All-Big Ten team--but Case Sanderson leads a quality offense that likes to put the ball in play. Fourth-seeded Holy Cross took a game in its series at Auburn earlier in the year. Jimmy King (20 steals), Gianni Royer (24) and CJ Ergrie (35) are good at reaching base (a team mark of .407) and running, and durable ace Danny Macchiarola gives the Crusaders a chance to win when he pitches.

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee break down host Clemson's draw in an NCAA baseball regional. Topics include: Clemson's offense gets on base throughout the lineup, with potential MLB first-round center fielder Cam Cannarella providing a dynamic presence in center field, Dominic Listi (.506 OBP) making for the lineup's toughest out, and Jacob Jarrell (15 HR) and Collin Priest (12) providing power. Workhorse right-hander Aidan Knaak and ace relievers Lucas Mahlstedt, Jacob McGovern and Reed Garris giving the Tigers aces on the mound. West Virginia was the Big 12's regular-season champion, but faded late in the season. Outfielder Kyle West (.354/500/.628, 10 HR) led a balanced offense that stole 105 bases. Griffin Kirn, Jack Kartsonas and Reese Bassinger give the Mountaineers a trio of durable, effective pitchers that give WVU a shot to advance. Kentucky played nearly everyone competitively and even took a series at Tennessee. The Wildcats' back-end bullpen troubles prevented a better record, but coach Nick Mingione is one of the best on the business and gets a lot out of a lineup that bunts, runs and puts pressure on defenses. Left fielder Cole Hage is a standout, shortstop Tyler Bell turned down Big League money to come to campus and starred as a freshman this year, and weekend starters Nic McCay's experience and crafty lefty-hander Ben Cleaver make the Wildcats a tough out. South Carolina Upstate is one of the tournament's toughest four-seeds, thanks to an offense that hit .319/.422/.530, with slugger Scott Newman (18 HR) leading the way. Ace Amp Phillips makes the Spartans a threat to pull an upset against one of the three Power 4 teams in the regional.

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down and offers predictions for the Oxford Regional of the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament. Topics include: Ole Miss saw bullpen improvement that offset the loss of starter Mason Nichols thanks to a bullpen of Mason Morris, Will McCausland, Walker Hooks, Cade Townsend, Hudson Calhoun and Gunnar Dennis that pitched its best at season's end. The Rebels were one of the nation's home-run leaders thanks to Austin Fawley (17), Mitchell Sanford (15 HR), Judd Utermark (16), Isaac Humphrey and Ryan Moerman (11) and Will Furniss (10). The Rebels nearly won the SEC tournament; can they carry that momentum into a home regional? Georgia Tech brings a star-studded lineup led by potential 2026 No. 1 MLB Draft pick Drew Burress, Kyle Lodise and Alex Hernandez that hit .315/416/.538 as a team. Does Tech have the pitching to bring home a regional crown? Western Kentucky is a two-seed that could be better than some threes in other regionals. The Hilltoppers were paced by Conference USA player of the year Ryan Wideman (10 HR, 45 SB) as part of a lineup that hit 70 homers and swiped 126 bases. A pitching staff of Drew Whalen, Jack Bennett, Lucas Hartman, Gavin Perry, Dawson Hall, Cal Higgins and Patrick Morris helped WKU to a 3.35 ERA, which ranked as third-best in the country. Murray State hit .301/.419/.497 as a team and might be the toughest four-seed in the field. Can the Racers slug their way to wins with Jonathan Hogart and Carson Garner (16 homers), Will Vierling (10) and crew?

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Jay Greeson and Chris Lee break down the Austin Regional. Topics include: Texas faltered down the stretch and lost the overall No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed (falling to 2) after threatening to run away with the SEC regular-season title. The Longhorns still got the title thanks to the margin for error they built in March and April. Texas will be without No. 1 starter Jared Spencer and reliever-turned starter (and UTSA transfer) Ruger Riojas faltered late, but the Longhorns have plenty of talented pitchers in Luke Harrison, Max Grubbs, Kade Bing, Jason Flores, Thomas Burns, Andre Duplantier II and Grayson Saunier to take up the slack. Maybe the biggest question is whether the offense, which should get a boost with preseason All-American Max Belyeu back from injury and more at-bats under his belt. Can Rylan Galvan and Will Gasparino hit better in the tournament after their numbers declined late in the year? Can freshman sensation Adrian Rodriguez step up? The Longhorns are the team to beat, even if not clicking on all cylinders. UTSA looks to be the biggest challenger in the regional, with a lineup full of All-AAC players that included conference player of the year Mason Lytle. The Roadrunners have .400-plus on-base guys throughout the lineup (and had a .425 mark as a team) but can arms like Robert Orloski and Connor Kelley carry UTSA to a regional title? Kansas State rode home-run hitters Dee Kennedy (11 HR), Maximus Martin (14), Keegan O'Connor (16) and Seth Dardar to an at-large bid but top-end pitching might hinder the Wildcats' advancement hopes. Houston Christian will have its hands full and needs Parker Edwards to throw a great game to have a shot at a win. Texas beat Houston Christian earlier in the season.

The Southeastern 16 crew of Graham Doty, Chris Lee and Jay Greeson looks at the field of four in the Fayetteville Regional and gives our picks. Arkansas is a legitimate national title contender. How will the Razorbacks structure their pitching? What kind of outing will they get from Zach Root or Landon Beidelschies, who are talented but not always consistent? Maybe the bigger questions are whether anyone can effectively pitch to the powerful Razorback lineup led by Brent Iredale, Cam Kozeal and the Aloy brothers, or go toe-to-toe with a number of power arms in the Razorback bullpen, which also has dependable veteran Will McIntyre, too. Kansas mashed 100 home runs, led by Jackson Hauge (19), Brady Ballinger (16), Brady Counsell (12) and Michael Brooks and Saywer Smith (nine each), with Ballinger posting a .363/.507/.693 batting line. Can a pitching staff led by Dominic Voegele and Cooper Moore handle enough innings for the Jayhawks to advance? Creighton comes in hot after winning a competitive Big East tournament. The Bluejays hit just 48 home runs but got on base at a .401 clip as a team and have arms in Dominic Cancellieri, Garrett Langrell and Matthew Aukerman who can make life difficult. North Dakota St. may be the weakest offensive team in the tournament, and hit just 29 home runs this year. The Bison will need good tournaments from Nolan Johnson, Danny Lachenmayer and others to pull an upset.

The Southeastern 16 crew looks at the field of four in the Baton Rouge Regional and gives our picks. LSU is one of the national favorites to win the entire tournament thanks to aces Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, not to mention the rest of the TIgers' talented staff that includes Zac Cowan, Casan Evans, Chase Shores and others. But the Tigers haven't yet as well lately and need for stars Jared Jones, Derek Curiel and Daniel Dickinson, among others, to click as the postseason moves on. Any way you slice it, the Tigers are heavy favorites to advance. Dallas Baptist, coached by the well-respected Dan Hefner, will be LSU's biggest challenge thanks to a lineup that hit 97 home runs and stole 103 bases. Clayton Krauss, Nathan Humphreys, Michael Dattalo are among a star-studded lineup whose biggest name is catcher Grant Jay, whose name will be called in the top rounds of the upcoming MLB Draft. How far pitchers Ryan Borberg, former LSU pitcher Micah Buckram and James Ellwanger can carry DBU will go a long way in determining whether it can pull an upset. Rhode Island hit .309/.431/.514 as a team and had Athony DePino (19 homers), Jack Hopko and DJ Perron (15) and Eric Genther smack double-digit home runs. But can a pitching staff led by relief ace Joe Sabbath do enough to make the Rams competitive? Little Rock won the OVC title and now pins its hope on pitcher Jackson Wells, who's had a tremendous college career and is capable of coming up with a big outing.

The Southeastern 16 crew looks at the field of four in the Auburn Regional and gives our picks. Auburn rode great years from future MLB first-rounder Ike Irish and ace Sam Dutton, as well as tremendous freshman campaigns from Chris Rembert and Chase Fralick to the No 4 overall host, not to mention the usual steady year from Cooper McMurray. But Dutton faltered down the stretch as he far surpassed last year's inning total. Can an Auburn pitching staff of Cam Tilly, Carson Myers, Ryan Hetzler, Parker Carlson and others carry Auburn out of a tough regional (something coach Butch Thompson has done several times before)? North Carolina State, under coach Elliott Avent, has consistently performed well in the NCAA tournament. Josh Hogue and Brayden Fraasman provide the power for a team that strikes out just 15% of the time. Stetson didn't hit much--just 46 home runs this season--but ace Jonathan Gonzalez is one of the tournament's tougher lefty starters, and a bullpen duo of Ty VanDyke and Jake Gorelick tough. Can the Hatters pitch their way out of the regional? Central Connecticut is one of the weakest at-large teams in the field by the computers, but did post a .331/.437/.503 batting line as a team. Does any of that translate to the regional? It'll need Wyatt Cameron, Vincent Borghese and others to step up.

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down the Field of 64 as the NCAA baseball tournament selection committee announces it. Topics include: SEC baseball teams make up half the hosts in the field with Vanderbilt, Texas, Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Georgia all getting hosts. What national seeds does each draw and are those seeds deserved? Where do Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida sent for regionals? Do Mississippi State and Kentucky get into the field? We react to all that, add our opinions, address your questions and comments and much more as we examine the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament field as it's unveiled!

In this episode of Pastor Matters, we are joined by Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio. We are also joined by Benjamin Quinn, Associate Professor of Theology SEBTS and the Director of the Center for Faith and Culture at SEBTS. We explore Dr. Begg's journey into pastoral ministry, the importance of cultural awareness in preaching, and the necessity of reading widely. Dr. Begg shares insights on navigating modern challenges in ministry and the significance of understanding cultural contexts. The discussion emphasizes the need for pastors to remain grounded in scripture while being aware of the world around them. We hope this episode is encouraging to you today! Let us know how this episode encouraged you or share any feedback you have by emailing us at pastorscenter@sebts.edu. Pastor Matters is produced by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find out how Southeastern can equip you to GO by visiting sebts.edu.

The Southeastern 16 crew breaks down SEC Baseball Tournament action from Saturday as Sunday's final is now set. Topics include: Vanderbilt gets tremendous pitching from Cody Bowker and Connor Fennell and advances to the championship game after run-ruling Tennessee, 10-0. Where do the Commodores sit in the national hosting picture? And what about the Vols? LSU started Jayden Noot against Ole Miss, after using Anthony Eyanson the night before. The Rebels countered with Cole Townsend. Can the Rebels host? And where is LSU in seeding position? We unpack both games, look at how tournament results affected the SEC in hosting and seeding (and how Arkansas, Auburn, Texas and Georgia) and more.

The Southeastern 16 crew reacts to Thursday's SEC Baseball Tournament action, including Texas A&M's defeat of Auburn, Tennessee's win over Texas and Vanderbilt beating Oklahoma in the nightcap. Topics include: Texas A&M's season stays alive as the Aggies move on to face LSU at approximately 6:30 Central on Friday night after beating Auburn, but star center fielder Jace Laviolette is probably done with a hand injury. And will Auburn be hosting one weekend or two? Can Tennessee host? The Vols have now registered two great RPI wins after an extra-innings take-down of Texas as Brandon Arvidson shined out of the bullpen. However, ace Liam Doyle struggled for the second-straight start. Vanderbilt evened its season series with Oklahoma behind the pitching of JD Thompson and its bullpen of Luke Guth, Levi Huesman and Sawyer Hawks held the Sooners to two hits and struck out 15. The Commodores are now No. 1 in the RPI and KPI; what's that mean for their postseason seeding? Where do Mississippi State and Kentucky stand in terms of each getting at-large bids? And more.