Say That

Buy our friend Spike's book of amazing cartoons! Let's all give thanks for an all emergency episode! We come up with a new, groundbreaking technique for dealing with opinionated relatives at Thanksgiving. Then we take a tour of Christian insanity- Pastors challenging comedians to boxing matches and getting served lawsuits in the pulpit, a Christian college is suspicious of evil secular music genre...bluegrass, a video game where you play as Jesus that is even crazier than it sounds. And more! Closing Song: Take My Life and Let It Be (Lee Younger) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

I recently read a description of elements of a cult. It included things like “a leader who is not to be questioned” and “everything is part of the plan” and “the people in this group are all you need.” I know not every church is cult-like, but that sounds like a lot of churches. How do I know if a church or group can be trusted not to be like this? (19:48-34:24) Is there a difference between judging someone and wanting them to do better? (34:28-44:56) Recent…celebrity craziness had me thinking about whether I can still enjoy someone’s music if I know they believe awful things. Does that apply to Christian stuff even more so? If someone ends up involved in scandal, or leaving the faith, how do we treat their work? (45:00-01:01:48) Closing Song: No He Wasn't (ft Lins Honeyman) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

1.1) I feel like it’s really  shallow but I’m finding I’m not physically attracted to my spouse anymore. (16:18-34:21) 1.2) I used to be really passionate about faith and expressive in worship. Over the last few years it’s like the fire has diminished. I struggle to pray and worship but deep down the faith is still there. What should I do? (34:24-52:46) 1.3) I was reading the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25. Making good ROI isn’t really how I think of Jesus wanting me to live out my faith usually. What does this parable mean? (52:50-1:06:07) Closing Song: You've Made Up Your Mind (Jed Brewer) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

Christian puns may have gone too far! And some Halloween PSAs. (00:00-19:00) Hebrews 4:1 says to be careful not to “be found to have fallen short”. But Romans pretty famously says all have fallen short and it doesn’t matter. What does this mean? (19:18-33:26) I always feel like I am letting someone down. When I was little it was my parents. Sometimes it has been God. But sometimes I don’t even know who, just someone out there. How do I deal with that? (33:35-50:31) How do I know if a part of my life is bearing fruit? Some things take time, and some things don’t always look amazing, but does that mean they’re not bearing fruit? (50:36-1:05:51) Closing Song: It Is Well (Pete and Tasha Lawson) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

We look at a church's...stadium tour...tickets for which cost up to over $1000. That's definitely an emergency! (00:00-19:45) How do you know when a situation (not a relationship, but like a job or school thing) being rough means it’s time to make a change versus when it’s time to push through? (19:50-34:27) 2 Thessalonians 4:10 “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Gets brought up a lot to justify political stuff. I feel like it’s not a very Jesusy sentiment. What does it mean? (34:27-50:00) I was recently talking with a friend and they mentioned “see you at the pole”, I joked about how it was so weird that it was a Christian fad to do something pretty much the opposite of what Jesus taught about prayer. He had never realized it was weird. He agreed once it was pointed out. I didn’t know how to have that conversation. How do you talk to someone about crazy Christian stuff from their past, not your own? (50:06-1:01:51) Closing Song: 2 Corinthians 3:17 (The Poolhouse Guru) Ask A Question: saythatpo

We try to help out the Christian media industry with some realistic worship songs and micro-targeted devotionals. (00:00-28:30) I have some people in my life that I feel like I have forgiven. But I also don’t particularly want to have a relationship with them or even necessarily see them again. Is that good enough, or do I have to keep trying to engage with them? (28:49-39:01) What’s a piece of advice you wish someone gave you 10 years ago? (39:08-47:48) When I have heard the fruits of the spirit talked about, they all kind of get lumped in. But there are different things listed for a reason right? What’s the difference between kindness and gentleness? (47:53-56:32) Closing Song: Child of Wandering Will (Lee Younger) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)  

We take look at ways to improve the 5th(!!!) installment of the premier evangelical cinematic franchise. (00:10-19:15) Is there a healthy way to be proud of myself. I feel like the Christian messages about pride being bad and humility have made me feel like I’m not allowed to feel good about myself when I succeed. (19:33-29:52) Colossians 3:12 talks about how we are to behave as “God’s chosen people”. What does that mean? When I hear people talk like that, it always sets off red flags that they are saying Christians are better than other people. (29:56-39:09) I have been having what I can only describe as existential dread lately. There is this blanket of “is this all there is?” Kind of around everything. What can I do to deal with this? (39:14-51:39) Closing Song: Oh The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Lee Younger) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)  

We revel in some early 90s Bible based video game nostalgia. (00:10-19:15) I was recently reading about how it is not a healthy thing to take on other people’s emotions in a situation. But I know empathy is important. Where is the line? (19:21-35:12) What place should anger have in a Christian’s life? I never felt like I was allowed to express anger growing up because it wasn’t nice. I know Jesus expressed anger, but I don’t hear that elaborated on ever. There’s so much to reasonably be angry about, but being mad all the time doesn’t feel good. (35:14-51:18) We discuss this article about churches using "shameware" apps-  https://www.wired.com/story/covenant-eyes-anti-porn-accountability-monitoring-apps/ (51:29-1:05:42) Closing Song: Cast My Cares (Jed Brewer) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

An early 2000s Christian cinema emergency leads us to the amazing movie rating system of Dove.org. (00:10-22:15) I recently heard about the Billy Graham rule. I can see why it might make sense, but is also seems like really legalistic and maybe sexist? Is it a good idea? (22:37-42:50) There are some situations where I know someone probably isn’t going to take my advice or change their behavior, but I still feel like I need to say something to have said it. Is that selfish of me? Is that healthy? (42:54-53:25) The whole “quiet quitting” thing got me thinking, is there a healthy way to set levels for effort of when I am volunteering? It feels like the people in charge will always take more, so I have to draw the line. But I feel bad sometimes. (53:33-1:10:28) Closing Song: Weary (The Bridge Loud) Ask A Question (and share the lowest Dove.org ratings you can find): saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

This week, an emergency that starts off about a Christian conference and somehow ends up at the Norwegian version of Surge soda. Also: What do you guys make of the Matt Chandler thing? It doesn’t seem as extreme as other church scandals, but it still feels like it's part of a pattern. (21:30-42:42) I am getting tired of having to be “the bigger person” in some situations. Is that an okay thing to feel? What do I do with that feeling? (42:47-53:41) I was reading Mark 11:27-33. Jesus refuses to say on whose authority He was doing the things He was doing. That’s really weird to me. Why not just say God’s authority? What’s going on in this passage? (53:46-1:05:57) Closing Song: You Tell Me (Jed Brewer) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

What does “the sins of the fathers” mean? The Bible mentions God punishing people to four generations (for example Numbers 14:18). But that doesn’t seem fair. (15:50-25:11) What does Luke 12:9 mean? (But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.) I feel like I only heard this talked about in dramatic voice of the martyrs scenarios meant to scare me into being more committed. (25:19-40:47) How do I deal with setbacks? When I start something new, I am very excited, but when I hit a problem, it can really take the wind out of me. (40:52-54:19) Closing Song: Come Thou Fount (Pete and Tasha Lawson) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)    

We look at a Texas church's unauthorized, revised version of Hamilton, and invent a new game to keep a crowd engaged during a sermon. (0:00-16:25) Some older Christians like to talk about the end of times and how soon Christ will come back, but the way they talk about it doesn’t sound like a good thing. How concerned should I be about stuff like that? (16:29-33:51) A friend of mine talks a lot about demons and angels and the spiritual realm, and it all sounds kind of scary to me. Do I need to be hyper aware of stuff like that? (33:59-48:19) We discuss the work and impact on our lives of recently passed author Frederick Buechner. (48:31-1:09:42) Closing Song: Micah 6:8 (The Poolhouse Guru) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

I hear people talk about “godly masculinity” or “biblical masculinity”. All the people talking about that online describe something that is toxic and awful. Is there a non-awful definition of “godly masculinity”? (15:23-27:23) Jed chats with best-selling author Chris Bolinger (27:44-48:01) 1 John 3:21 says “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” What does it mean for my heart to condemn me? Is that different than guilt or conviction? (48:24-56:43) Closing Song: Jesus Is On The Main Line (Lee Younger) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask

I want to experience God for myself, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. (23:47-40:13) I'm working on being more patient. Is there a healthy way to be impatient in the meantime? (40:17-47:50) Bonus Emergency! An email from Focus on the Family Closing Song: Child of Wandering Will (Lee Younger) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask

I feel like when I was a kid, I was given this big package labeled “Christian beliefs”. Some of them didn’t really have anything to do with Christianity, but they were in the package. I have dropped a lot of those things. But how do I know what to drop and what to keep? (19:08-35:19) How can I be a wise person without turning into a cynical person? (35:25- 52:15) I recently heard a message from 2 Corinthians 4:6 about being a light in darkness. While everything they said was fine, it seemed to boil down to either “be positive” or “be Christian in public”. Is there more to being a light in darkness than that? (52:20-1:06:44) Closing Song: Galatians 6:9 (The Poolhouse Guru) Ask A Question:  saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

It's an all emergency episode! We talk horrible VBS themes, bad prophets, Bible reading as a magical spell, thrift store demons, after the rapture pet care, and more! Closing Song: So Here I Am (Jed Brewer) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

My partner started going to therapy. They really like it so far. Some of things they say their therapist told them and exercises they gave them seem…weird to me. Is this a conversation I can have with them? How? (16:02-27:37)   I’m getting really discouraged by how just openly mean I see a lot of Christians being. On tv, on social media, in real life- being homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic. It really bothers me people who act like that ascribe to the same beliefs that I do. How do I think about this? (27:42-44:07)   James 4:3 says “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” I feel like that verse gets used to bash people for wanting stuff. But doesn’t Jesus talk about how God gives like a good father, and gives even when we don’t know what to ask for? What does this verse mean? (44:11-  )   Closing Song: We Will Rise (Lee Younger) Ask A Question:  saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

I’ve been discussing faith matters with a friend, who's really getting deeper in the faith right now, and that's awesome.Some of their sources seem a bit wonky, What's a good way to navigate this? (17:10-34:34) Can spiritual things be stored or felt through physical things, or songs? Like the way you feel when you enter a room where people have been praying, or for example if an instrumental song has been recorded with occult connotations. Or are connotations only what we ascribe to them? (34:37-54:56) I’ve made a lot of positive changes, but I feel like some people- my family especially- still only sees me as the old me. That’s really frustrating and I don’t know what I can do. (55:00-1:05:28) Closing Song: Love Lifted Me (The Bridge Loud) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)

The guys are all traveling this week, so here is an episode of the radio show we do specifically for folks behind bars. It's a fun half hour of music and encouragement. We hope you enjoy it! We will be back next week with your questions and the usual wackiness. Ask A Question; saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask

I have a question about Matthew 10:39. What does it mean to “lose your life”? Like, what am I supposed to be giving up? (24:46-39:07)   I feel like decisions at my church are all made by committee. But not like, a defined committee, just kind of waiting for group consensus. This seems really inefficient to me. Am I wrong to not like this? Can I bring it up and try to fix it? (39:11-49:11)   I am going to a new church. I really like it. It is very welcoming and accepting, which is different than the church I grew up in. I am nervous to talk to my family about it. They aren’t like super-conservative, but I’m worried they will feel like I am rejecting something about them. Does that make sense? How do I prepare for that conversation? (49:15-1:02:45) Closing Song: Come Thou Fount (Southern Harmonic) Ask A Question: saythatpodcast@gmail.com thebridgechicago.tumblr.com/ask (Anonymous)