Pastor With No Answers Podcast

Joey’s #1 album will solicit ridicule from music snobs but once you’re in your 40s, who cares about being hip anymore? From Jared’s dark metal “gems” to Joey’s abundance of hip-hop albums, maybe you’ll hear of an album or two that peaks your interest and after a few listens, changes your life. 2012 was an epic year for music, nine albums making my (Joey) my list. We’ll post our lists here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too. Music courtesy of: https://joelthamilton.bandcamp.com/music & https://mechanicalriver.bandcamp.com/

Hemant Mehta has a calling to open people’s eyes to the atrocities coming from the Christian church. As always, “The Friendly Atheist” is friendly, fair, insightful, eloquent in his observations and brings to the table many things to learn from. He points out the fallacy of Christians being persecuted under Democratic Presidents and makes a claim that most American stories of “Christian persecution” are skewed to fit the “every one is against Christians” narrative. We talk about whether morality can exist outside of God, and Hemant argues that Christians themselves are subjective and selective in their assessment of “right and wrong.” At the top of the episode, John Mark McMillan, Ellen Mauro, and Joey Svendsen speak about police officers and “weaponizing black voices.” Hamant Mehta: @hemantmehta https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/ John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too. Music courtesy of www.DerekMinor.com

My friend Pastor Colin Kerr wrote a book called “Faith Hope Love: The Essentials of Christianity for the Curious, Confused and Skeptical.” We talk about “essentials” in the context of denominations. Colin says, “A skeptic’s reasons for rejecting institutional Christianity might be, unbeknownst to them, more faithful to the nature of Kingdom Christianity than some claiming to be Christians themselves.” Bullseye. We talk a little about everything. Is it a win that many of these skeptics are leaving a misguided church? What does it mean for the bible to be authoritative? Is it fair to say love is more important than doctrine? This book is touted as concise in its content and interdenominational in its approach, a strong read for the curious, confused and/or skeptical.” At the top of the episode, John Mark McMillan, Ellen Mauro and myself talk about the tenacity of John’s daughter, TikTok and having patience and love towards unlovable people. Colin’s Church family: https://www.parksidechs.com/ Colin Kerr’s book: Amazon or where ever you get your books, bookworm. John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too.

(Pastoring in an Evangelical church as a Non-Evangelical Part 3) Continuing a mini-series (started with episodes 225 and 240), in this episode I reflect on my habit of categorizing people as good or bad, authentic or fake, honest or a liar. And my current desire to size people up with love and recognizing my hypocrisy when I don’t do this. I also talk out loud my thoughts (not always the best idea) concerning Pastors distinguishing themselves from their “flock” as “the superior one,” this leading to messes of all kinds. This line of thinking is also completely contradictory to the nature of humanity clearly seen in day to day life as well as in the bible. Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too. Music courtesy of www.DerekMinor.com

Chip Judd and Jack Hoey, regulars on this podcast, have both been Christians for a long time and see prayer in very different lights. How much responsibility do we have to pray regularly and does God withhold blessings and provisions when we do not pray enough? Does God often communicate back to us? So many questions about prayer and we discuss many of them on this episode. At the top of the episode, Joey, Ellen Mauro and John Mark McMillan continue their conversation about porn and today specifically we discuss how significant the difference is between seeing naked bodies and watching sexual acts. I also surveyed our listeners on their personal struggles with mental illness and share the results in the intro. John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too. Song you heard: The Lost Chorus is a collaboration between Alex Albert (Project 86, drums), Ryan Dennee (Stavesacre, guitar), Dirk Lemmenes (Stavesacre, bass) and Andy Zipf (vocals, guitar). In 2009, Alberts, Dennee and Lemmenes wrote several instrumental songs in a rehearsal space outside of Los Angeles. They reached out to Zipf, who added melodies, lyrics and some additional guitar parts. This resulted in a self produced and self titled EP released in 2011. In 2019, new material began to take shape, and a series of singles produced and mixed by Paul Fig (Deftones, Ghost, Alice in Chains) are now in process. The first song from this series, “Soft Lies” was released June 26, 2020. Find the Lost Chorus where ever you listen to your tunes.

[“demon talk” starts at 16 mark] Theologian, author and host of Reverend Hunter Podcast, Tony Jones joins Joey and one of our resident theologians, Jack Hoey, to share his view on this universe being “demon-less.” And if demons (and Satan) do not indeed exist, did Jesus think they did? How then was he tempted in the garden? If our battle isn’t “against flesh and blood,” who’s it against? We also have a conversation about the other side of the coin: what does it say about God if we do indeed live in a world where demons hate us, want to destroy us, and God can kill them but doesn’t? At the top of the episode, John Mark McMillan, Ellen Mauro and myself discuss the complicated tension between de-objectifying women while also celebrating her freedom and how they present their bodies. Tony Jones podcast: https://reverendhunter.com/ Tony Jones resources: http://tonyj.net/about/ Tony Jones Socials: @jonestony John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too. Music brought to you by: www.derekminor.com

My friend Jed and I have had long journeys struggling with clinical mental illness. We’ve been through times of not knowing what to do, times of being on anti-depressants and times of trying life without them. This conversation was captured on March 2nd, which is a snapshot in time, representing a snapshot of our journeys with the ups and downs of depression and anxiety. At the top of episode, my friends John Mark McMillan and Ellen Mauro talk about therapy and an infatuation with breasts. Jed Payne’s Podcast, Church and Other Drugs. https://www.facebook.com/churchandotherdrugs/ John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Joey Svendsen, FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too.

Roger Dale Martin, bass player of the iconic Christian thrash band Vengeance Rising, let’s us in on a secret. Vengeance Rising, in the late 80s paved a new path not only in the Christian music scene, but in the heavy music scene as a whole. The vocals had Christians retorting, “You're not allowed to have singing that sounds like demons in hell.” We talk about the early Christian heavy music scene, the departure of front man Roger Martinez, the impossibility for indie bands back in the day to track their following, and much, much more. Cheers to Vengeance Rising. Special Guests: Jesse Sprinkle, Mikee Bridges, Matt Johnson and Mark Salomon. Songs used in this podcast with permission: “Space Truckin” from “Once Dead” by Vengeance Rising “Warfare” from “Once Dead” by Vengeance Rising “Can’t Get Out” from “Once Dead” by Vengeance Rising “Into the Abyss” from “Once Dead” by Vengeance Rising “Out of the Will” from “Once Dead” by Vengeance Rising “Human Sacrifice” from “Human Sacrifice” by Vengeance Rising “Burn Satan Burn” from “Human Sacrifice” by Vengeance Rising Roger Dale Martin: https://www.facebook.com/roger.martin.353803 Be a Pastor With No Answers Patron: https://www.patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen e-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence Have a question, comment, feedback, pushback, or frustration about the content? Air it out on our voicemail and we may air it on an episode: CALL 507-403-PWNA (7962). You can text us too.

Lance is a minister with the Christian Universalist Association. Founded in 2007, the Christian Universalist Association comprises of individuals, churches and para-church ministries who teach what they refer to as the overwhelming historical and scriptural evidence that all people are reconciled to God as revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. According to the association, for most of the Church’s history, there has been a mistaken belief in a retributive God who will punish unbelievers with endless torture. This error has poisoned the behavior of generations of believers into being retributive to others. Jesus taught us that we love God by loving our neighbors and enemies. Just as Jesus taught, we strive to promote restoration of relationships, with each other, and with God, rather than retribution. I had a lot of questions. Christian Universalist Association: https://christianuniversalist.org/ Books referenced: "The Inescapable Love of God" by Thomas Talbott "Patristic Universalism" by David Burnfield "That All Shall be Saved" David Bentley Hart Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen Music Brought to you by: http://www.derekminor.com/ Support this podcast:  patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast:  FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I:  @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

[Pastoring In An Evangelical Church as a Non-Evangelical (Part 2)] I’ve had quite the faith journey that has landed me in a very different headspace. It’s been extremely hard at times and I’m very grateful I’m still here. The love we share within my church family is undeniable. The important truths we agree on are all I need to feel deeply connected. This may not be the best road for all, but for those who love their church family and despite seeing faith and the world differently, can’t live without, I think I have some helpful thoughts. Episode focus: Taking a close look at churches, especially the mega church I’m a part of, it’s quite an interesting (to say the least) thought to say “they’re all bad.” Part 1 of this mini-series found on episode 225. Support this podcast:  patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast:  FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I:  @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

What’s a Christian’s responsibility for political advocacy and involvement? Why is “church” becoming less and less relevant to the younger generation? What does “Christian” even mean anymore? Should we go ahead and ditch that word? Non-violence, the problem with wealth, social salvation, best-selling author and activist, Shane Claiborne, touches on it all. At top of episode, Joey, John Mark McMillan and Jory Micah discuss toxic polarization and “good people” who voted for Donald Trump. Shane Claiborne: http://www.shaneclaiborne.com/ @ShaneClaiborne John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Jory Micah: @jorymicah, http://jorymicah.com/ Support this podcast:  patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast:  FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I:  @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

Friends, childhood friends, superiors, and former students of mine speak from their hearts and souls about the current state of our country. -- Joey *Time stamps for each contributor listed below Name, origin, age: Stoy Prioleau, Charleston, 43 (throughout episode) RadhiYah Sims, Edisto Island, 29 (20:47) Cheryl Hart, Rock Hill SC, 33 (52:54 and throughout episode) Kevin Smith, Charleston SC, 44 (15:22) Robbie Royston, Blacksburg, VA, 20 (38:58) Robbie Madison, Charleston SC, 34 (28:32) Elizabeth Madison, Indian Land SC (throughout episode) Marcie Walton, Enumclaw WA, 33 (22:35) Latoyya Jones, Charleston SC, 43 (throughout episode) Jason Farr, Spartanburg, SC (45:06) Mikel Simmons, Charleston SC, 22 (21:59) PK Simmons, Charleston SC, 55 (6:14) Other episodes with related content to this one: 219: "White Person, Please Listen." 107: "Should We Try to Make Our Congregations More Culturally Diverse?" 42: "Police Shootings w/ Propaganda and Derek Minor." Music brought to you by: http://www.derekminor.com/ https://www.facebook.com/stoy.prioleau https://mechanicalriver.bandcamp.com/ Support this podcast:  patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast:  FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I:  @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

Started this conversation on episode 200 and continued on episode 217. Today we finish up our list. Excited to share our favorite bands of all time. To ask us for a playlist, tweet this: "Playlist of [name of band], please. #Top50BandsPWNA" Submit a song to be played on PWNA: PWNAcontact@gmail.com Music on this episode brought to you by: https://mechanicalriver.bandcamp.com/ Support this podcast:  patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast:  FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I:  @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

At the top of episode, Joey, Jory Micah, and John Mark McMillan continue their discussion, today it’s about the impatience, intolerance and religiosity of some progressive Christians. Jory Micah learned about these folks the hard way. Today’s guest spot is Nate Henry (some of you know him as the lead singer of Sherwood) sharing his newer revelations of how clear the bible supports a narrative of demonic/human hybrids (Nephilim). Would open-mindedness and slowing down to consider scripture through these lenses wipe out the stigmatization of a “Nephilim narrative?” What if this narrative even answered a lot of questions and surfaced a consistency of scripture we don’t currently have? Nate Henry: https://twitter.com/natehenrysays John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Jory Micah: @jorymicah, http://jorymicah.com/ Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen Music Brought to you by: http://www.derekminor.com/ Support this podcast: patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence

At the top of the episode, Joey, Jory Micah, and John Mark McMillan continue their discussion on progressive theology, including how progressive the bible (and the Apostle Paul) is. Today’s guest, Father Wesley Walker, is an Anglo-Catholic Priest and host of the Sacramentalists Podcast where a recent episode released posed logical critiques of evangelical churches and progressive theology. Joey found some of these critiques a bit short-sighted and unfair, thus prompting today’s conversation with his friend Father Wesley. Various topics and questions addressed include whether evangelicals’ scripture interpretation is second-rate, whether progressives are sincere in their pursuit for spiritual truth. Do evangelical church systems seek to keep people as spiritual infants to maintain control? Do those in the progressive theology camps excessively celebrates doubt? We also discuss spiritual experience, the bible’s ability(or disability)to connect with modern culture, how scripture gets its authority in the first place, what that authority is, and whether every one picks and chooses how they interact with the Bible. Fr. Wesley Walker: https://twitter.com/WesleyWalker4 Podcast: https://twitter.com/sacramentalists John Mark McMillan: @johnmarkmc, https://www.johnmarkmcmillan.com/ Jory Micah: @jorymicah, http://jorymicah.com/ Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen Music Brought to you by: http://www.derekminor.com/ Support this podcast: patreon.com/pwnapod Follow this podcast: FB, T and I: PWNApod Join the discussion: www.facebook.com/groups/PWNAtalk Follow Joey on FB, T and I: @joeysvendsen E-mail PWNAcontact@gmail.com for correspondence