Mortification of Spin

How does God speak to us today? How do we understand the sufficiency of God's Word? Carl, Aimee, and Todd take Sarah Young's popular devotional "Jesus Calling" to task. In it, Young claims to need more than Scripture to hear from God and has written words "from Jesus" she heard outside of her Bible study. The "Spin Doctors" mortify the book, a product of modern individualism, and offer a few replacement suggestions. What responsibilities do pastors have in confronting this kind of book, or any cultural artifact with which their congregations are interacting?  Free MP3 Audio download from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicsA Busy Man's Devotional Life by James Boice    Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions by Starr Meade       Communion with God by John Owen

With many states moving to legalize marijuana churches may now and certainly will soon have to deal with congregants smoking pot. Does the Bible allow for use of substances like marijuana? What part does a Christian's freedom play in the use of the drug? How should churches respond? Carl, Todd, and Aimee debate the moral and ecclesiastical ramifications of smoking pot. If you found this Bully Pulpit interesting, the Aliiance of Confessing Evangelicals has a free resource for you. How Low Can You Go? by James Boice

Sin. Loss. Deprivation. Law. Grace. Aimee, Todd, and Carl are joined by author and counselor Barbara Duguid on this installment of Mortification of Spin. Barbara is author of the book "Extravagant Grace," and grace is the topic at hand. How are Christians to reconcile on-going, indwelling sin with Christ's unrelenting "extravagant" grace? Listen in to learn more.  Winners of Extravagant Grace by Barbara DuguidD. Yarmosh - Charlotte, NCS. Johnson - Ruckersville, VAJ. Hartley - Huron, OHH. Okrafka - Cambridge, OND. Chia - Devon, PAT. Strawhecker - Lincoln University, PAM. Heatwole - Harrisonburg, VAS. Trautman - Abingdon, MDB. Wilson - Charlotte, NC  Mentioned on "Extravagant Grace"Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks     Letters of John Newton by John Newton     Communion with God by John Owen

The Spin team hit up their local Christian bookstore to browse the shelves and peruse the contents of some popular books. Based on the message of these books, the American Church is in danger of forgetting the truth of the Bible: we are wretched sinners in need of an amazingly gracious Savior. Along with that, the state of women's literature is abysmal, and lacks robust theology, distilling the reality that women must be learned Christians. It's always imperative for Christians to read quality, biblical literature. Listen in for some reading suggestions and tips for discerning books that are worth your time.  dowload for our free MP3 Thinking and Acting Biblically by Philip Ryken   Here are some recommended resources that can be purchased here:Housewife Theologian: How the Gospel Interrupts the Ordinary  by Amiee Byrd     A Christian Primer by Timothy Cross     Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Comprehensive & Readable Theology by James Boice

What is the purpose of a robust theology if it cannot serve to practically help the believer? How does that theology play into God's sovereignty through our suffering? Aimee, Todd, and Carl talk with pastor and cancer survivor Paul Wolfe about his battle with cancer and its impact on his relationships with Christ and the congregation he serves. Paul also discusses the importance of the local church body in helping on cope with trial and suffering. Listen now!  Winners of Paul Wolfe's title My God is True! J. Scheurer - Leavenworth, KSJ. Olivetti - West Lafayette, INM. Debowski - New Boston, NHA. Kelly - Corona, CA  Mentioned on Mortification of Spin.  My God is True! by Paul Wolfe     Setting Our Sights on Heaven: Why Its Hard and Why its Worth it by Paul Wolfe

This edition of the Mortification of Spin marks the inauguration of a new game: Bully Pulpit Challenge! Carl, Aimee, and Todd respond to a listener's email asking for a critique of an interview that "pastor" Carl Lentz gave recently. In this image-obsessed world, many times churches feel the need to bow to the image idols and create environments that are completely foreign to the mindset of biblical Christianity. There are many who claim to be pastors but deny God's Word through their words and actions. Why do we continue to give these people a platform, and why do we give credence to their voices? To use a forbidden phrase, the whole thing is "utterly ridiculous.."Interview with Carl Lentz   The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to offer you a free MP3 download entitled A Catholic Church by Mark Dever.

Aimee, Carl, and Todd like to push buttons, and this week’s installment of the Mortification of Spin is no different as they discuss sexual ethics. Our current cultural milieu is one which exalts sexual behavior, and to speak out against it is seen as heresy. But where does it stop? When will we take our stand? The gang helps to vocalize some of these major concerns, and attempts some answers to the cultural pressure.   Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsThe traditional chronology was love, marriage, sex, and baby. It was like the old schoolyard rhyme: "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes someone in a baby carriage." The new chronology is a plot for postmodern times: sex, baby, marriage, and love. It is almost exactly backwards, except that the baby comes after the sex. But this is simple biology, and not even Harlequin can change the way God made us. The new romances turn romantic relationships upside down, making sex the basis for love, and separating procreation from marriage.Dowload the free pdf The New Harlequin Romance by Philip Ryken. The Social Costs of Pornography: A Statement of Findings and Recommendations     Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain by William Struthers

On this installment of Bully Pulpit, Aimee, Todd, and Carl discuss the multi-generational nature of the Bride of Christ. How do we reconcile the fact that different generations seem to want different things from a church? Is it true that we need to constantly be looking to the youth? We must fight the cultural trends and look to the wisdom of age within our churches. Listen in to this anniversary episode of Mortification of Spin and learn more about this perennial issue.  Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals by Dr. J.I. Packer from the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology.Divisions in the Church - by J.I. Packer

Aimee, Carl, and Todd are joined in the studio via the internet by Gloria Furman, author of Glimpses of Grace, published through Crossway, and blogger over at Domestic Kingdom. As a pastor's wife serving in Dubai, a major city in the United Arab Emirates, Gloria has a unique perspective on the topic at hand: modesty. Listen in as the gang seek to enlighten themselves and the listeners as to what it means to be modest, and all that Christian modesty implies.Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.Holding Hands, Holding Hearts Part 1 - by Richard and Sharon PhillipsFind the entire "Holding Hands, Holding Hearts" set in MP3 format here, and CD format here.     Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home - Gloria Furman

Aimee, Carl, and Todd are back at it - this time discussing the church's involvement in the public square, specifically when dealing with the polarizing issue of abortion. How are Christians to conduct themselves, in the church and on the street, when talking about and protesting abortion? Are we to engage in political debate or sit back and let it happen? Or is there a third way? Listen to the team's lively conversation.Click here for a free MP3 download of God's Church & God's Purpose by Eric Alexander