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DRIVING THEOLOGY

by Michael Dean McLain

This podcast is recorded in my car as I drive to work. I do it this way so that I can work through ideas organically without the luxury of a Bible or any other books to fall back on. This way I know how I sound when I talk on these subjects and I can listen back to what I said and see the path and progression of my own theology and understanding of Jesus. I do not edit so as to keep discussions as raw and real as possible, although I do pause from time to time, like when I recently spilled my coffee or when I get a call.

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Episodes

  1. 416: 16 Tons: Ecomomics, Government, And Church

    The economic system of a country can be capitalistic, but the government shouldn't be. Capitalism serves the bottom line, governments serve people. They can balance each other. When one or the other becomes too strong, the people suffer. Where should the church fit in all of this? That's the...

  2. 415: Can't Sugarcoat A Scapegoat

    Down through the centuries, the institution of the scapegoat has been ever present. In out personal lives, and on the world's stage, scapegoats are ever before us.

  3. 414: Gen X-Perience

    I didn't intend on talking about this today. But that's how it goes sometimes. Growing up Gen X was interesting for sure.

  4. 413: Discovering The Second Man 2: Transitioning To The Sencond Half Of Life

    In this episode, I expand on last week's offering, going a bit deeper with Rohr's work into the mature walk with Christ, the second half of life, as Rohr calls it.

  5. 412: Discovering The Second Man

    In this episode, I talk about two recent books listened to on Audible, one by Richard Rohr, and another by Andrew Root. I work out a possible correlation here.

  6. 411: No Male Or Female

    Is the church supposed to look like the Kingdom? Yes or no? If yes, then this is one step of the way!

  7. 410: I Thought There'd Be More

    410: I Thought There'd Be More by Michael Dean McLain

  8. 409: Moved To Tears

    Despite my theologicsl beliefs, I can still be moved to tears occasionally

  9. 408: In Memory Of

    Death sucks. I didn't start out to make this a eulogy about my Father-in-law. But it went there anyway. I apologize for this being late. I forgot my computer yesterday. I would love some feedback (pun intended) on the new mic set up. Like? No? No change?

  10. 407: Do You Have What It Takes?

    Trying out a new mic setup (It fails miserably, btw!). The voice comes through better, but there is a vibration happening. Will need to take care of that! I'll work on it! Please bear with me.

  11. 406: The Proactive Peace Of Christ

    Got my car back from the mechanic and I'm stoked. Too care of some of the rattles, which is better for you guys, I hope. But, after I catch you guys up a bit, I talk a little about the proactive nature of following Jesus.

  12. 405: Finding Heaven Here And Now

    Today's offering stems from an epiphany I had about the temporal nature of Hell and the eternal nature of Heaven, and how both are first experienced in this life.

  13. The Most Important Questions Have The Simplest Answers

    In this podcast, I explore the nature of worship, which segues into a talk on knowing and following God's will.

  14. 404: The Ten Words

    After a brief eulogy for Jazz giant Sonny Rolllins, I get into what is know as "The Ten Commandments", my relationship with them and other biblical "Rules", and how I approach them.

  15. 403: Yes: Empathy IS A Weapon!

    MAGA wants you to believe that empathy can somehow be weaponized, can be evil, can be manipulated. What they don't tell you, is that empathy is a weapon against all that is anti-Christ, anti-love. Yes, it is a weapon. But not against goodness, but against evil (Isaiah 5:20). This episode is a bit...

  16. 402: We Talkin' About Practice!

    There is something about the modern church experience that just falls short. I try to get into something here that might contribute to that. Practice.

  17. 401: Best Friends Forever

    Adult male friends can be hard to find, and even more difficult to maintain. I have been blessed with some good friends and mentors over the years. This is a little about them.

  18. 400: Blasphemer-In-Chief?

    DJT continues to push the boundaries, testing how much his "christian" suppoeters will take and still support him. He's proven that for some die heaerd MAGA, there is no limit. Their faith in him is absolute.

  19. 399: Building For The Kingdom

    What did Jesus think he was up to? Who was he and what was he trying to accomplish?

  20. 398: Ladder Kicking Saints

    In this episode, I discuss a new book on Catholic Tradition as well as wrap up a book by NT Wright.

  21. 397: You Get Forgiveness! You Get Forgiveness! You Get Forgiveness!

    It takes me a little to get going here, but I do get to a point. I promise!

  22. 396: Truth AND Mercy

    War in Iran, people dead, innocent victims, outrage abounds...What is going on?! A tale as old as time. Where is the justice? Mercy? Who will stop the cycle?

  23. 395: Ambassadors Of Reconciliation

    Bad things happen when we cherry pick verses to make our point, especially words of Paul, and don't give the entire text the attention it deserves.

  24. 394: Having Faith In The Dread

    Will we ever know the full truth of who Epstein was and what he did? IDK. But I do believe in the promises of our Father!

  25. 393: Master Or Mascot

    Is this rare from-home episode, I try to describe my paradigm for understanding Jesus, who he is and what he is doing in the world. Also, I posit the question: Is Jesus your Master or your Mascot?

  26. 392: Life Is Beautiful

    In this episode, I am a bit distracted here and there as I am anticipating getting a call any minute announcing the birth of my first grandbaby. It didn't happen during the drive, but came about 20 minutes later. Mom and baby are great. But, inspired by my daughter and granddaughter, I explore…

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  27. 391: Not Cool, ICE! Not Cool!

    ICE has been cracking down, literally, on protestors in Minnesota and elsewhere, overstepping their boundaries and generally wrecking havoc wherever they go. This is to be expectied. Governments over the years have used force to intimidate critics. What is unexpected is that Christians are...

  28. 390: Bending Toward Justice

    Thoughts from reading the story of the Exodus, specifically the story of Passover and how it reltes to Communion. I get the MLK quote a bit wrong here. it should be, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice".

  29. 389: Be An Oasis

    Is a sense, walking through this life as a believer in Jesus is like a blessed man walking through a dessrt. We encounter many in need of what we have, and we can be an Oasis in the desert to all that we meet.

  30. 388: Love Arrives

    The last offering of advent and probably for the year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year all!

  31. 387: JOY In JESUS!

    Though I mistakenly refer to this week's theme as HOPE once or twice, I am talking agout Joy, specifically, the joy that comes from the knowledge that Jesus is making all wrongs right.

  32. 386: Peace On Earth

    I have chosen to explore "peace" this second week of Advent this time around (I change up the order and theme's year to year based on nothing in particular). Of course, "shalom" is the word for peace in biblical Hebrew. But does "peace" cover all that "shalom" entails?

  33. 385: Hope For Deliverance

    It is that time again. Hope is our topic today for the first week in Advent.

  34. 384: Green Eggs And Abraham

    On waking this morning I was greeted by two epiphanies related to Abraham. How random is that?!

  35. 383: Theology Matters

    There are many people, even Christians, who haven't give theology the time of day. Or so they think. In this episode, I discuss how everyone has a theology, and why theology matters.

  36. 382: What It Means To Love God

    It takes me a while to get there, but, as if often the case, I end up at Love. Specifically how we love God.

  37. 381: Middle-Age Blues

    Do you get the blues from time to time? I didn't for most of my life, but, these days, yes. Sometimes I have a lot on my mind, burdens that I carry, people and futures that I worry about. I'm sure you do too!

  38. 380: The WORD of YAHWEH

    380: The WORD of YAHWEH by Michael Dean McLain

  39. 380: In The Beginning Was The...?

    A less focused episode, for sure, but I think I get to a worth while point...eventually.

  40. 379: May Your Love Be The Air That We Breathe

    In this episode, I explore a phrase that has been on my mind during my morning prayer time lately while praying for all the hurting people in the world.

  41. 378: What's In A Name? Quite A Lot!

    The name by which you call a person reveals the relationship with that person, at least from your perspective. What do you call God? Does it matter? Well, yes and no.

  42. 377: Shakes, Quakes, And Squeaky Brakes!

    377: Shakes, Quakes, And Squeaky Brakes! by Michael Dean McLain

  43. 376: Let The Little Children

    This week, I cover a few topics; handling times of dispair, and what it means when Jesus says we must become like children to enter the Kingdom.

  44. 375: The Divine Council And Divine Withdrawal

    Building on the theological concept of "Divine Withdrawal", something many people are unfamiliar with, I delve into the Divine Council, a mysterious event mentioned several times in scripture.

  45. 374: Divine Withdrawl And The Shining Son

    In this episode there are two parts; my recent prayers that God would withdraw his protection from the oppressors of the world, and the Sun as an effective and detailed metaphor for the Christ.

  46. 373: Prayer-A Reconstruction

    In this episode, I explore what I've been learning from the book, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, by Tyler Staton, and through a month of daily, disciplined praying.

  47. 372: Kyrie Eleison-Christe Eleison-Kyrie Eleison

    Diving into another book, this time on prayer. And it has inspired me to pray more intentionally, which is no small feat! *Correction- Kyrie Eleison is a song written by Richard Page for the 80s band, Mr. Mister.

  48. 371: Reversed Thunder Part 8-Last Words

    My wrapping up of Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson, a book I've been reading recently to help my understanding of this cryptic book increase. And it has! I still have a way to go, though.

  49. 370: Reversed Thunder Part 7-Heavenly Salvific Sustenance

    In possibly my last offering before September, I try to wrap up m 7 week reading of Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson. That being said, I may try and do a proper overview episode from my home in August.

  50. 369: Salvation Follows Judgement As The Sun Comes After The Storm-Reversed Thunder Part 6

    The place that judgement has in the grand scheme of things has often alluded me, and, frnankly, I have steered away from it like the plague. But in this chapter of Reversed Thunder, Peterson gives me a fresh perspective.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This podcast is recorded in my car as I drive to work. I do it this way so that I can work through ideas organically without the luxury of a Bible or any other books to fall back on. This way I know how I sound when I talk on these subjects and I can listen back to what I said and see the path and progression of my own theology and understanding of Jesus. I do not edit so as to keep discussions as raw and real as possible, although I do pause from time to time, like when I recently spilled my coffee or when I get a call.

HOSTED BY

Michael Dean McLain

Produced by DRIVING THEOLOGY

CATEGORIES

religion spirituality

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does DRIVING THEOLOGY have?

DRIVING THEOLOGY currently has 429 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is DRIVING THEOLOGY about?

This podcast is recorded in my car as I drive to work. I do it this way so that I can work through ideas organically without the luxury of a Bible or any other books to fall back on. This way I know how I sound when I talk on these subjects and I can listen back to what I said and see the path and...

How often does DRIVING THEOLOGY release new episodes?

DRIVING THEOLOGY publishes regularly with 429 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to DRIVING THEOLOGY?

You can listen to DRIVING THEOLOGY on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts DRIVING THEOLOGY?

DRIVING THEOLOGY is created and hosted by Michael Dean McLain.
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