Claim OwnershipThrive in the Decline with Pastor Josh Cougle
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© Josh Cougle
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Josh is a pastor who loves technology, stats, apologetics, politics and more who talks about faith deconstruction, the motives behind the leftward move of the church, generational shifts, racism and human sexuality and how to thrive while our culture is in decline...
61 Episodes
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Over the past few years, you may have heard of scandals within the SBC... this recording is just a relatively quick explanation of the most pressing scandal and how the denomination actually works which can make solving issues related to this scandal "complicated... but also helps you see how the denomination made sure that everything was brought to light and is being addressed. Knowledge is power... and that's the aim of this recording.
I used to go to a Seeker Sensitive Church... and LOVED IT! I've also been tremendously influenced by the movement. I'm learning, however, that as we made our main services shallow and unoffensive, we actually robbed the people we're supposed to be feeding of what they needed from church.
I admit, I've been all over the place on this one... but I realized not too long ago, that most of my uneasiness with it came from people I listen to talking ABOUT the campaign. Let's look at what people are saying... and look at the campaign itself.
I've heard it, you've heard it... maybe you've said it... but let's look at what the Bible says and what the people of the Bible lived as an answer to this question.
I remember hearing that a pastor gave a Bentley to another pastor... I've also read of sprawling mansions that pastors live in... expensive cars, thousand dollar shoes, Armani suits... I've always worried about the message that sends to those pastors represent God to... but let's look at it together!
Peer pressure and Jesus' harsh words for those who pressure others. Let's explore both, but specifically asking the questions about what we consider harmless that others may not, or areas that we've become jaded in where others may still enjoy innocence.
What if there was one weekly behavior that would remind you to self-examine, to think about others, to make better decisions, to put your life in balance, and to treat others the way they should be treated... and what if participating in this one weekly event, made a world of difference in your choices and outcomes.
Statistically, weekly church attendance is one of the best things you can do for your marriage, kids, bank accounts, mental and physical health... and so much more.
People have resorted to publicly shaming others online for the smallest things. We never consider that we probably wouldn't want to have the behavior we exhibit toward others turned on us... we also rarely consider that our physical and spiritual realities are so closely tied together.
Kingdom people learn to be offended less often and work to keep channels for forgiveness open... something buying into the shaming mentality prevents. Jesus gives instruction that we should keep close.
I love the shrinking city of Bogalusa, LA… it’s a city with so many memories for me, but it’s now half the population of its peak and the world seems to have just moved on from her. Take a few minutes with me and find the blessing in realizing that "things are not what they used to be"... and how when the world moves past our favorite places, it reminds us to look forward to cities that will never decline.
On this anniversary of September 11, we’re coming to terms with the fact that we will never truly be rid of our enemies… That is until Jesus brings something new… In the meantime, Jesus seeks to free us from the anxiety of our search for enemies.
For some this may mean a lot... for some... maybe not. I just love telling the story because it's one of the times in my life that I know God was moving... and a time in my life where my faith grew tremendously.
We've all seen people use Christianity to get things for themselves... use it as a tool, a fish, on a business card to get more business... seen a politician use prayer or an annual gathering or church building as a way to manipulate a group... or even well meaning people use it as a tool to accomplish some act of social justice. What if Satan relishes when Christians reduce their faith to become a means to an end... a way to get what we want. Let's talk about it.
Lots of people are closed-minded... we all know that. It's just that we have trouble gauging who is and isn't open to the evidence. This is how 2 news networks can see the same event and report seeing completely different things happen. People do this with miracles too... and with things involving faith and God.
Why would two well-funded, well-researched and documented studies show completely different results concerning miracles?
We should also learn the difference between people who are open to evidence of God and people who are anti-God... or anti-faith...
If you spend any amount of time talking Christianity online, you're bound to run into what's been dubbed, a "hatetheists"... these are people who cannot help but espouse their hatred (not just disagreement) with theism, especially of the Christian variety. They often dodge questions... share really shallow memes and attack the "threat of Christianity" with straw men, etc...
Today, I'm just looking at one of their primary weapons... the charge that God commanded genocide in the Old Testament... let's look at what happened and why? and what it means to those hoping to thrive during the decline of our culture.
There's a story of a woman who is telling the future for her master's profit... the catch... she's possessed by a demon. Paul frees her and her master has him beaten and thrown in jail... because he's making money off of her.
I think there are forces at work today that are making money off of your tech addictions, off of your 24/7 news addictions... and more... that are actively fighting against your freedom. Let me explain.
Some scholars think that Noah was building the ark for as many as 120 years... and preaching the whole time. When he finally entered the boat, only his family responded to its call to salvation. Imagine preaching for 120 years and only your family responds to your message.
Christian singer, Audrey Assad, announced this week that she's no longer a practicing Christian. This episode is just an attempt, not to diagnose her story specifically, but to look at deconstruction stories and find something to watch for, to think about, and to determine to do in our own lives as we're necessarily becoming more and more different from our culture.
How to stand strong when those who hold to objective truths seem to be becoming the minority.
Why does Jesus' model prayer include the reminder to pray for God's will in our life? Let's look at our pattern since the beginning...
Let's look at a story from the Old Testament to see if we can discover how we can thrive in an environment increasingly hostile to our faith.
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