Guest Review: Unveiling Grace by Lynn K. Wilder

[This per-release review by Jared Jenkins originally appeared on www.EntrustedWithTheGospel.com and is re-published here in conjunction with the partnership with Entrusted With The Gospel.] 

Matt Wilder in Unveiling Grace is quoted as saying he “prefer[s] to dwell on the positive aspects that brought [him] closer to Christ rather than the negative things that drew [him] away from Mormonism.  But for [him] to fully come to Christ, [he] first had to realize and accept that [he] had been deceived” (220).  The balance between learning positive Christian truth and seeing lifelong deception is the knife-edge that must be walked when anyone comes to Christ out of Mormonism.  To keep this scale from teetering too far in either direction it takes the master plan of a sovereign God working through His “Dancer of grace” (314) and speaking through His Word the Bible.  Lynn Wilder has written a tremendous testimony of God’s power to do exactly that; save her and her family, extended family, and friends out of the deception of Mormonism by the Blood of Christ as revealed in the Bible.  This book is Lynn’s personal testimony of the way in which God has kept the scale in balance, unveiling truth through his word where needed and opening Lynn’s eyes to deception when appropriate; all this over a five year process of coming out of Mormonism to a saving faith in Christ.

As I (Jared Jenkins) began Lynn’s book, I was skeptical of where it might go or what her message might be.  Many books about Mormonism tend to land very heavily in the apologetics side of the scale, leaving the reader with a negative, almost sterile feeling in their heart about the way people are saved from Mormonism.  In fact, after reading most books concerning Mormonism, all you want to do is just stay away from its deception at all costs!  Lynn however has been able to skillfully reveal apologetic differences between Mormonism and Christianity by weaving what she learned into her story of salvation.  Instead of pages and pages of information on the differences between Mormonism and Christianity the reader gets the story of a person fully living Mormonism and little by little coming to believe in the God of the Bible.  As this story unfolds Lynn teaches about Mormon and Christian belief throughout in a way that is personal and heartfelt.  Readers get a great picture of real Mormonism; a culturally enmeshed belief system that leaves little room for critical thought stranding its adherents in Zion, blissfully blind.  Readers also get a real picture of the one true God found in Christianity; able to save anyone out of their situation through the truth about Christ found in the Bible as revealed to individuals by the “Dancer of grace” (314).

Particularly, I like Lynn’s radical focus on the ability of God to speak through His word.  Over and over again Lynn credits God speaking through His word the Bible for bringing her and her family to a saving knowledge in Christ.  Lynn’s message is a great challenge for the Mormon that may read this book to pick up their New Testament and read and see if God does not speak to them about truth and the real Biblical Christ.  In addition, it is a good challenge to Christians.  So often Christians discount God’s ability to speak through His Word.  Lynn challenges Christians to know their Bible and know it well because this is the only place anyone will find a way to truth, life, and Christ.  God speaking through His word not only saved Lynn and her family, but it has also safeguarded them from error and provided a sure guide for the future.  Praise be to the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob that still speaks to us through His Word!

Another very important aspect of Lynn’s book is the way in which she draws a very strong distinction between Mormonism and Christianity through terminology.  She repeated uses phrases like “the God of Mormonism” (49) set against “the God of the Bible” (214), or explaining the differences between the Mormon “Holy Ghost” (323) and the “Holy Spirit of the Bible” (324), and in continually referring to the “the Mormon Jesus” or the “Biblical Jesus” (329).  The reader will undoubtedly clearly see that Mormonism and Biblical Christianity are not compatible.  In fact, Lynn includes a great quote from a former LDS prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, which boils the differences between Mormons and Christians down to a fundamental point; we don’t believe in the same Jesus!  Hinckley says, “The traditional Christ of whom they [Christians] speak is not the Christ of whom I speak” (315).  To draw these distinctions between Mormonism and Christianity is so important today when the world and many armchair theologians are claiming these two faiths are the same.  I challenge anyone that has thought Mormonism to be Christian to read Lynn’s work.

Finally, Lynn invents a term to describe the deception that Mormonism uses to suck people into its fold that I really like.  I live, work, and minister in Salt Lake City as a Christian pastor and people are always asking me, “How do I effectively ministry to my Mormon friends and neighbors?”  Of course the first piece of advice I give people for effectively ministering to Mormons is to love them as people in a pattern after Christ’s love for all sinners, and the second piece of advice is to define theological terms when you talk with your Mormon friends.  Questions like, Who is Jesus? Who is God?  Lynn masterfully redefines what the Mormons do with Christian terms by giving it a new name, “twistiology” (217). Twistiology in Lynn’s words means “Mormonism takes elements of truth and twists them into something very confusing” (219).  In fact Lynn goes further to point out that because there is so much discontinuity within Mormon scriptures themselves, Mormons are able to argue both sides of the same theological issue (219)!  This can be very confusing if you are ministering to a Mormon friend.  Lynn calls us to know what we believe from the Bible and to measure Mormon beliefs against what the Bible says.  Lynn has included at the end of her book a short, helpful guide to Mormon terminology, a quick doctrinal comparison between Mormonism and Christianity, and a list of ministries that minister particularly to Mormons for further study.  These guides are concise, easy to read, hitting a perfect balance in Lynn’s book focusing on the positive truths of Christ while adequately revealing deception inherent to Mormonism.

Critical theological readers may take exception to some of the seemingly folk theological pieces of Lynn’s conversion that came by the “Dancer of grace” through dreams, impressions, and seemingly coincidental encounters.  But Lynn has not placed her faith in these things or flighty emotion; rather she shows how she has learned to “test feelings [and spiritual experiences] against a true source that [she] trust[s] – the Bible” (321-322).   Through testing her experiences against the Bible she is able to see what was truly from the “Dancer of grace” and what was from the father of lies.  I only wish that many of my own congregants could learn to do the same.  Lynn’s conversion as it unfolds in UnveilingGrace, is a great reminder to extend mercy and grace to our friends, family, and neighbors as they are finding Christ.  Lynn at times believes wrongly (judging by Christian standards) and at other times is being both Mormon and Christian at the same time.  Lynn’s testimony helps the reader to place their trust in God’s ability to save someone, which gives them the freedom to extend people grace while they walk the path of salvation. 

Unveiling Grace is not just about Mormon and Christian Doctrine.  It is the story of a BYU professor and her LDS high priest husband and family leaving the LDS church because God revealed the Biblical Christ to them through his Word and saved them.  This book is personal and shows the battle, the carnage, and the joys of coming out of a cult and finding real truth.  I was deeply moved by Lynn’s work to renew my commitment to pray for and engage my Mormon friends and neighbors with the Gospel.  This book will become the first book I encourage people to read if they want to learn about Mormonism because of the way it presents doctrine in the context of life and experience.  I highly encourage Mormons, Christians, and pagans alike to read this book and hear about just how great the God of the Bible is.

Lynn witnesses to the fact that He can even save you.

Lynn K. Wilder, Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way Out of The Mormon Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013. 367pp. $15.99. 

Lynn’s book is not yet published and will go on sale 8/20/2103.  I highly encourage you to pre-order a copy from Amazon HERE.  Page numbers and quotes above may change by the time of printing.

Several weeks ago Bryan Catherman of Salty Believer and I were priviledged to do an interview on our podcast Salty Believer Unscripted with Lynn concerning her book and ministry to Mormons.  Our interview with Lynn far exceeded our expectations and I highly encourage you to listen.  You can read Bryan’s review of our conversation HERE and listen to the podcasts below.

Listen to an Interview with Unveiling Grace 
author Lynn K. Wilder

-Unveiling Grace (Part 1) audio

-Unveiling Grace (Part 2) audio

Unveiling Grace by Lynn K. Wilder

My friend and colleague, Jared Jenkins was sent a review copy of the book Unveiling Grace: The Story of How We Found Our Way Out of the Mormon Church (Zondervan, 2013).  Additionally, we had the opportunity to interview the book's author, Lynn K. Wilder.  Lynn is articulate and sharp.  It's enjoyable to hear her speak about her story as well as her practical, experience-tested ways to converse with your Mormon neighbors.  And I must say, it was one of the best podcasts we've had on Salty Believer Unscripted.

Lynn was a professor at BYU and both she and her husband were highly involved in the LDS church; that is, until God got her attention.  She's written a book about her testimony as well as the testimonies of 11 other former LDS people. She was on the road with the band Adam's Road when we interviewed her by phone.

You can listen to the podcast interviews here:
Unveiling Grace with Lynn K. Wilder 
-- Unveiling Grace (Part 1) audio
-- Unveiling Grace (Part 2) audio

Walk on the Wilder Side: Another Discussion with Lynn Wilder  
-- Walk on the Wilder Side (Part 1) audio
-- Walk on the Wilder Side (Part 2) audio

Here's the book trailer:

After conducting the interview with Lynn, hearing from Jared, and watching this trailer, I'm curious about the book and will likely read it soon.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted Podcasts:
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* I have no connection to this book, financial or otherwise nor did I receive anything in exchange for the discussion of this book on SaltyBeliever.com 

The Role of the Pastor, Seen 'Through Working the Angles'

Early in my season of seminary, I was assigned the book, Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity by Eugene Peterson.  Like every other book I was required to read in seminary, I was also required to write a critique of the work.  You can read that, in part, here.

While in school, I rushed through the book and had very little experience to run alongside what I was reading.  The concepts were convicting and I believe I began to shape a solid idea of how a pastor operates in the pastorate.  However, as I entered the pastorate, the demands of "keeping shop" as Peterson describes were more intense than I had anticipated.  Over the duration of my first year in ministry, the concepts of Peterson's book and the convictions I held started slipping away.  So I picked up the book again and invited Jared Jenkins to read it with me. 

Actually, I had started reading the book and suggested we discuss it on our podcast, Salty Believer Unscripted.  Jared hadn't picked up a copy but I pressed him (and threatened--on the podcast--not to speak a word to him until he read the book).  So using the Peterson's framework, we discussed the book.  Afterwards, we decided to make it a short series. 

The Role of the Pastor (A.K.A. Working the Angles)
-- Working the Angles Part 1: Introduction audio
-- Working the Angles Part 2: Prayer audio
-- Working the Angles Part 3: Scripture audio
-- Working the Angles Part 4: Spiritual Direction audio   

The primary objection to this book (and our series) often comes in the form of an ill-informed excuse.  "But I'm not a pastor," objectors say, "why would I want or need to read this book?" Jared and I address this in our podcast series but that won't help you if this objection keeps you from listening.  Why should you read this book?  Because if you are a Christian, you pastor someone.  (Little p pastor-- you minister, tend to, shepherd, care for, or love someone, if not many someones.)  A second reason, is Peterson is right, is to better understand how your pastor should be encouraged to operate.  For these two reasons alone, you at least aught to listen to the podcasts, if not read the book.


* Triangle photo is licensed in under a creative commons license.  The book cover is used informatively for review purposes.  
** Jared Jenkins nor I have any connection to this book, material or otherwise.

What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons

We Evangelicals can learn a lot about ourselves by observing those around us.  This is not to say that we simply look at what others are doing and replicate their behavior; but instead, we aught to examine others and evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in what we see.  We should be able to look with a critical eye for the positives and negatives and what the outcomes of a particular behavior or belief may be if carried out to its logical conclusion.  And of course we must be able to stand any believe or practice against biblical teaching.  Then, once we have engaged in this examination, we should be able to apply our findings to ourselves.  How do we stack up against the same critical evaluation?

The advantage of starting our observation with others and then bringing ourselves under the same microscope is that this methodology allows us to determine what the standards should be without tainting our study with our own biases and desired outcomes.  Of course we will still have biases and preconceived ideas, but they are often easier to identify when they are not as close to home.    

Jared Jenkins (www.EntrustedWithTheGospel.com) has engaged in just such a study, posted under the topical title, "What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons." I highly recommend you have a look.  In addition to Jared's written examination, we have recorded a Salty Believer Unscripted series that runs parallel to his posts, for the most part.  I would like to invite you to join us in an unscripted conversation about what Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons.  And based on the opening paragraphs of this post, it may not be what you think. 

What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Introduction audio
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Weakness audio
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Family audio 
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Missions (Part 1) audio
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Missions (Part 2) audio
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: The Franchise audio
-- What Evangelicals Can Learn From Mormons: Moralism audio 

If you are LDS and feel we have misrepresented your beliefs or practice, we highly encourage you to contact us and let us know.  We are happy to chat with you and would like to be as fair as we are able.  You can contact me here.


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*Photo by Peculiar Light is registered under a Creative Commons license and used by permission.

Saul Consults a Necromancer? - 1 Samuel 28

Christians in the West are often slow to credit any kind of spiritual power behind witchcraft or mediums or necromancers or the like.  While this credit belongs not with God and is certainly not positive, it is power even if demonic power.   It almost seems as if we say, "these things hold no power, demonic or otherwise," so as to undercut the legs of the spiritual warfare happening around us.  But when we do this we're wrong!  Saying there's nothing behind the medium, witchdoctor, or practitioner of the demonic is not to see the situation for what it is.  Saying there's nothing behind the practice neglects the words of Paul to the Corinthians when he writes, "I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons" (1 Corinthians 10:20, ESV).  There is indeed a demonic power of some sort behind these practices today just as the pagan sacrifices  in Corinth were demonic.

In light of our feelings surrounding witchcraft and talking with the dead, we tend to be a bit shocked when we come across 1 Samuel 28.  Here, Saul consults a medium in an effort to hear the Word of the Lord through Samuel, who had passed away.   Saul is in direct disobedience to God's Law that says explicitly not to consult mediums (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-12).  In addition, in 1 Samuel 28:3 we see that Saul himself had put the mediums out of the land and even had to travel by night to En-dor in disguise because he knew he was doing wrong.

The necromancer is concerned that she will be in trouble by practicing this evil behavior for Saul, but Saul assures her that it will be okay and then emphatically pleads with her to raise Samuel so he can talk with him.  At one point in the chapter, it seems that Samuel is raised, although the text really only demonstrates that Saul believed he was talking with Samuel.  (Scholars disagree as to whether this character was actually Samuel, some kind of demon, or some sort of messenger of God.)

The point of this chapter however, is not to get into the hows and whys of witchcraft, but instead demonstrate the distress Saul is in and his subsequent misbehavior as he demanded to hear from God concerning his own glory and well-being.  It only stands to further show the depths of Saul's rebellion and even provides support for God's tearing the kingdom from Saul and giving it to David, a man after God's own heart. As is always the case, it is important to see this text in light of the context and primary point.  That being said, I'd like to encourage you to pick up your Bible and check out 1 Samuel 28.  In addition, Jared Jenkins and I discuss this particular text as one of our "Tough Text" series topics.  You can listen to that 20-minute podcast or subscribe to Salty Believer Unscripted for many other unscripted discussions.

*Photo of Lassa witch doctors was taken and used by the CDC.  It is presently in the public domain.

Seminary vs. the Pastorate

I get many questions about attending seminary from potential students and pastors trying to weigh out the options.  Which seminary? On campus or on-line? What courses should I take and where should I put the bulk of my attention?  In the end however, the answers all depend upon calling and circumstances.

I selected to remain in the mission field and attend seminary through distance education options, partly so I could remain in ministry where I'd be serving post-seminary.  It worked well for me, but this is not to say that it's the best answer for everybody.  I selected Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) primarily because at the time they had the best distance education options, but this is changing at a rapid rate and now there are many good seminaries embracing the value of distance education for ministers.

Jared Jenkins, a friend I work with, went to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) on campus.  One of the earliest Salty Believer Unscripted episodes was about our seminary experiences. He had just graduated and entered the pastorate with me in Salt Lake.  At the time of the video, I had a single semester remaining and had been on staff for a little over a year (a part-time intern for about 9 months and 3 months full-time working officially on staff with Risen Life Church.) You can listen to that podcast here or watch the video below.

 

A year later, we recorded another podcast about seminary and the pastorate. After working with people, teaching, preaching, and serving in the ministry setting far removed from seminary, our thoughts were a bit different.  In what areas do we feel we were unprepared?  What might we have done differently?  What surprised us or did we not expect?  If you're in seminary or thinking about attending, or even if you're simply a "man or woman in the pew" and curious, I think this is worth listening to:  Salty Believer Unscripted - Seminary vs. the Pastorate One Year Later. 

I'm happy to chat with you about seminary.  If you're considering attending and have some questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  In addition, here are some related posts that may help you pick a seminary or guide you along your journey while in your formal studies:

Choosing a Seminary
LBTS, Post Dr. Jerry Falwell
Thinking of Enrolling in Seminary? 


Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

*Photo by Mbiama Assogo Roger is registered under a creative commons license and is used by permission. 

Tough Texts on Salty Believer Unscripted

January 1, 2013

Jared Jenkins and I are working through a series on Salty Believer Unscripted called "Tough Texts."  Inspired somewhat by the guys at Credo House as well as our desire to diligently keep our exegetical work sharp, we identified some biblical texts that are difficult to interpret, confusing, shocking, or greatly misunderstood without a little labor.  On the whole, the Bible is written in simple language and is easy to understand, but that does not mean that we don't at times find its words difficult.  Our listeners helped us out by e-mailing us some passages they've struggled with over the years and we selected some of our own to add to the list.

Examples include Paul's words in 1 Timothy 2:13-15 where he talks about women being saved through childbearing.  Genesis 6:1-5 has this strange thing with the Nephilim.  Can people be baptized on behalf of the dead or does 1 Corinthians 15:29 get at something different?  Does Paul suggest that parts of his Epistle are not inspired by the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 7:12?   1 Samuel 28 contains a shocking story of Saul consulting a witch-like medium and raising Samuel to talk with him.  Uzzah is struck dead for touching the ark in 2 Samuel 6:5-7. How in the world can the psalmist write about smashing babies on the rocks in Psalms 137:9?  Romans 1:26-27 discusses unnatural relations and something about God giving these people up to their own desires.  Is total genocide to include even the animals what 1 Samuel 5:13 is getting at?  Peter is the rock has many meanings in the Church today based on how people understand Matthew 16:18.  1 Corinthians 11:27-30 seems to suggest that some believers have died for taking the Lord's Supper incorrectly.  And 1 Peter 3:21 has at times been taken to mean that baptism is an act that actually brings about salvation; how can this be?  We're dealing with all of these and we're still open to add some to the list if we get more tough texts before the end of the series. (You can contact us with a difficult passage you'd like us to address by using this contact form.) 

Jared and I believe that if it's in the Bible, we need to be able to deal with it, understand it, and allow it to change us no matter how difficult or shocking.  It absolutely cannot be that students of the Bible simply skip over parts of God's Word because it's tough, and it is for this reason that we want to discuss the tough texts and help those who truly seek the whole counsel of God.

You can find these podcasts as well as many other resources on the Resources pages of SaltyBeliever.com and EntrustedWithTheGospel.com or you can subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted podcast.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
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* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.  


*The picture use in this post is in the public domain. 

Children's Sermon, Christmas Eve 2011

December 18, 2012.

Christmas Eve services are a great way to keep the Christmas focus on Jesus.

Children's Sermon, Christmas Eve Service. 2011.

If you are not a regular church attender, find a good Christmas Eve service and attend.  Meet and worship Jesus this Christmas.  If you're in the Salt Lake area, consider Risen Life Church.  6:00pm and 7:30pm.  2780 E. 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124.  (www.RisenLifeUtah.org)


* This video, others like it, and many other resources are available here.

Difficult Matters for the Church

We recently concluded a Salt Believer Unscripted podcast series called "Difficult Matters for the Church."  Sean Patrick, Tina Pelton, Adam Madden, Jason Benson, and an interned named Ben Pierce joined Jared Jenkins and I as we set out to allow the listener to eavesdrop into our conversations on these topics.  If you haven't subscribed to the iTunes feed or you missed this series, you can subscribe here or listen to past episodes below.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.   


-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Introduction audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Same-sex Marriage audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Divorce audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Church Discipline (Part I) audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Church Discipline (Part II) auido  
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Social Justice audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- The Para-Church audio 
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Politics audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Liberalism audio 
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Roles of the Sexes  audio
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Women in Ministry audio 
-- Difficult Matters for the Church -- Mormonism audio

* Photo by Dirk Klein is registered under a creative commons license and used by permission.

The Infusion of Charity into Commercialism

I was recently at Home Depot and passed a cardboard stand full of black and camouflage work gloves.  What caught my eye was the Wounded Warrior Project logo on the display and on the gloves.  I am a fan and supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project so I stopped to check out the gloves.

The gloves run about $14 but the display says that a portion of the profits are donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.  Wow, I could get some gloves AND support this great non-profit organization, I thought for a moment.  The gloves looked sturdy enough, but probably not as durable as the gloves I normally wear.  But then it dawned on me, this is not a good move for me.  See, I typically buy $4 gloves that are very durable and rugged.  As they eventually wear out (or more true to reality get dirty and gross) I can toss them and get another pair.  The same would likely be true of the Wounded Warrior gloves.  But wait, this purchase would be doing some good for the Wounded Warrior Project and I would be able to feel good about myself. I pondered this as I stood before the display.

Still, there was something wrong with this picture.  I could buy a $14 pair of gloves and maybe $1 would go to the Wounded Warrior Project.  I'd have gloves and feel okay about doing something good.  Or I could buy a $4 pair of gloves and send $10 to the Wounded Warrior Project.  I'd still have gloves yet my support to the Wounded Warrior Project would be even greater.  Or better still, I could keep using the perfectly fine gloves I have and send $14 to the Wounded Warrior Project, or I could send them even more money.

At what point did the definition of charity or dare I say, social justice, become more about the giver and what the giver can get than about the one receiving?  Watch the video below and ponder this marriage of charity and commercialism.  Ask yourself if you've been duped.





It seems that what has happened--as with most things--is that we've somehow made doing a good thing about ourselves. Advertisers have found a way to sell coffee and shoes and yogurt and any number of other things by allowing us feel good about ourselves through making the purchase.

Even more interesting is an entire culture of people finding their identity in how they make commercial purchases.  We buy things or don't buy things because of their commitment to other things, or lack of commitment I suppose.  I realize that we vote with our dollars, but this certainly can't be where our charity resides, right?

And might the same be true in the Church.

Might we be making specific purchases because they support a charity, a social justice endeavor, or mission of some kind.  We feel good about ourselves but we allow it to end there, short of what could be better.  Maybe we go to a charity auction and pay a little more for an item than we could find it sold for elsewhere, but we justify our purchase because it helps a good cause. All the while we fail to realize that simply giving the excess money we might have spent would help the cause more, apart from buying an item we would not normally drop dollars on.  How often are we content buying coffee from a charity organization because it might just help us argue ourselves out of actually serving real people face-to-face in real life-changing ways?  (I know I'm guilty of this.)

We discussed this issue on Salty Believer Unscripted not too long ago when we were discussing the popular shift toward social justice within the Church.  You can listen to that here.

So where might we go from here?

I should confess that I didn't buy the Wounded Warrior Gloves but neither did I send them $14.  I would love to support them, among many, many other charities but I didn't have the money in my budget that day.  (Interestingly, I was willing to go short somewhere else in my budget to make a purchase that would help me feel good about myself and nothing more.)  However, as I have room in my budget, I do give to charities and non-profits; but as I think about this, it is my hope that I simply give rather than purchase commercial items that help me feel good about myself.  And I hope my giving habits grow in ways that are not about me at all.

How about instead of buying a particular brand of shoes because the shoe company will do the charity work for you, buy whatever shoes you want and give some money to a mission organization serving in Africa. Or maybe don't even buy shoes you don't need and give even more money?  Or how about saving up some money and giving it to a missionary headed to Africa?  Or how about going to Africa yourself?  And it doesn't need to be Africa.  How about finding a need wherever God is calling you--which could be as close as next door--and selflessly fill that need?  Honestly, you'll probably feel even better about yourself.  That's not really the point, but it does tend to happen.

Imagine how much more good could be done for people as God's Kingdom advances if we could think about selfless giving and service apart from commercialism.  I don't think the proclamation of the Gospel and service to the least of these was ever intended to be wed with the necessity of selling products.  

Using Statistics Among 'Christians'

Not too long ago, both The Gospel Coalition and Ed Stetzer suggested that evangelicals are erroneously using statistics on divorce when they quote the Barna Group saying things like, "In fact, when evangelicals and non-evangelical born again Christians are combined into an aggregate class of born again adults, their divorce figure is statistically identical to that of non-born again adults: 32% versus 33%, respectively" [1].

Who is correct?  Are evangelicals mishandling this information?

I should probably state that Ed Stetzer was not specifically saying that the Barna Group was wrong, but that Evangelicals are wrong in saying, "the divorce rate is the same between Christians and non-Christians"; however, this information comes from the Barna Group so by extension it would seem that the Barna Group and Stetzer were in disagreement.  When I asked Stetzer if we can trust the Barna Group's statement, he said yes and provided me with a brief explanation.  (He as also written out this explanation in further detail on his website.)

I should also disclose that I recently quoted the Barna statistic in a podcast on divorce.  Am I erroneously using data?  Well, I can say that it was not my intention; but I can also say this matter is not about one statistic being correct and another being wrong.  It's about what we are measuring and how we are doing it.

So what's going on here?  On the one side we have Christians who conduct extensive research using census data collected from every person in the nation and often self-reported.  On the other side we have research groups conducting carefully designed questioner-data collection that uses samples.  And we probably have reports from somewhere in the middle that uses data sets from both collection methods.

The national census asks people about their faith and it would seem that many people (especially in the southern US states) simply report that they are Christian regardless of their regenerate (or born-again) state.  Some of these self-reporters feel that they are Christian if they attend church on occasion, or maybe even if they've ever attended a Christian church at some point in their lifetime.  Maybe they believe they are Christians if their parents had them baptized as babies.   Others report that they are Christian even when many theologians would argue that the faith group these people attend is decidedly not Christian, but rather, heretical.  Reports generated from this kind of data collection seem to demonstrate that the divorce rate, for example, is "statistically identical" between Christians and non-Christians.  

On the other hand, researchers like Ed Stetzer--who conduct sample gathering research--design questions that attempt to get at the heart of a person's faith.  They inquire in ways that they believe measures a person's actual commitment to their faith, and sometimes they ask questions to assess faith itself.  They might ask if the person claimed to be a Christian at the time of divorce.  There could be questions about the person's level of involvement or commitment with his or her faith.  Collecting data in a more focused study tends to yield decidedly different results but at the same time, the researcher makes judgements about the persons faith apart from the subject's own self-statement.  In these cases, it does seem that active Christians are less likely to get divorced.

But who is right and who is mishandling statistics?  They're both right and we're probably all mishandling statistics.

When I see a tweet from John Piper talking about marriage and linking to one kind of report I understand that his intention is to celebrate numbers that support that Christians divorce less often.  His intentions are good but the information doesn't accurately report how the measurement was taken; or more specifically, what is accurately being measured. (And it's not like the pastor needs to offer a 22-page academic report on findings.)

When I said that the divorce rate looks like that of the world in a podcast, I too was pointing to numbers and research to make my point without a good explanation or citation of what's being measured.  I probably should have stated the name of the report or that it comes from census information and self reporting data.  (I accept full responsibility for that mistake.)  I could have also pointed out that when data is collected differently, the numbers appear differently.  But our podcast has a wide variety of listeners (both believers, non-believers) and the point was divorce, not statistical research methods.

The truth is, both reports are correct.  If we were to ask how far Seattle is from Salt Lake, one could report the number of hours it takes to drive between the cities, another could state the highway millage, while still another could report the distance as the crow flies and use kilometers.  Do we measure from the edge of the city limits, or the center, or from some other point?  What route do we take if we drive?  How fast are we to go?  Does the way we measure make the answer wrong?  No.  It just needs to be qualified so we know what was measured and how we did it.

The question about divorce rates among Christians is not so much about misusing information as some have suggested, but about what is being measured.  In the case of the divorce rate, it seems one measurement is examining the divorce rate among everybody who accepted the title of Christian for themselves at at least one point in their life, while the other measurement is trying to determine who is actually a Christian and then is only measuring those people. In either case, I'd say the only misuse of the numbers is not stating the background behind the measurement.  That being said, we really do have an obligation to share this information honestly and accurately. And we really aught to examine ourselves the next time we are asked if we are a Christian.

___
1.  Barna Group, "New Marriage and Divorce Statistics Released," March 31, 2008 [www.barna.org/family-kids-articles/42-new-marriage-and-divorce-statistics-released?q=divorce, accessed September 28, 2012].  

* Photo by Leo Reynolds is licensed under a Creative Commons License and used with permission.

Divorce (Re-posted)

[As we discussed divorce on Salty Believer Unscripted, I thought I would repost and article from SaltyBeliever.com that was written more than two years ago.  If you're not subscribed to Salty Believer Unscripted, find it on iTunes or subscribe here.  You can listen to our podcast on divorce here.]  


Not too long ago, I was asked "Is it okay to get divorced?"  This is a huge question.

We first need to ask what is meant by "okay." If okay means entry or exclusion from heaven, I want to be very clear: getting a divorce or staying married has no baring on entrance to heaven or hell or one's ability to pray to God.  Even one sin without Christ's grace will keep a person out of heaven. Faith and surrender to Jesus Christ, who he says he is, and in his death and resurrection dictates entering heaven or being cast to hell.  This is the key to entry in to heaven, not any work, like staying married. Without Christ, even one sin is "not okay." However, we all sin (act in ways that are contrary to God's wishes for us), a lot. If we need to discuss this in more detail, please feel free to contact me.

So then the real question is if you were considering divorce, and God were sitting with us having coffee, how would he advise you in your situation. If this is you, I recommend you put lots of time to honest prayer, just as if he were sitting with you having coffee. Ask him what you might do to improve your marriage. Ask him to show you areas in your own life that may need repentance.  Ask him how you can show your spouse grace.  Ask him to fix your marriage. After you've had that conversation for a while, and if you feel that his involvement and advice is making no difference, ask him why. If you are already praying about this, pray more.

In the Bible, God presents his ideal. His ideal is that people remain married. And if not for humanity's ugly brokenness, we'd all meet this ideal with little effort. But because of the mess that we are, we have to work at it--some much more than others. The entire Bible is full of stories about people trying to work together in some kind of relationship. Paul writes letters to entire churches trying to help them have healthy relationships in work, play, marriage, etc. Obviously, it's hard and it's messy to meet this ideal.

God wants us to meet his ideal, but we won't, we can't. We are too messed up. This is why Christ died. So now we can find grace in our mess, through Jesus.

The overly religious people of Jesus' day, the Pharisees, came to Jesus and asked him if it was okay for anybody to get a divorce. (You can read about this in Matthew 19:1-9 and Mark 10:1-11.) Here's how it went down (I'm greatly paraphrasing):

Religious people: Is it against God's Law to divorce your wife for any reason?

Jesus: Haven't you read the Law? [He's referring to the Scriptures, specifically to what the Jews called The Law, the first 5 books of the Old Testament, written by Moses. These 5 books include lots of stories; it is not just a book of rules like we think of the law today]. God created men and women to be together. A man should leave his family and get married. He should hold fast to his wife. [Paul once wrote that a man should love his wife like Christ loves the church, and Christ died for the church!] God has joined them together so nobody should separate them. (See Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:6, Ephesians 5:23-33.)

[Jesus pointed out the ideal and expressed that it should be taken seriously.]

Religious people: Oh really, than why did Moses say a man can divorce his wife? [They were trying to trap Jesus or demonstrate that he was teaching counter to the Scriptures.]

Jesus: It's because you have a hard heart. [This is his way of pointing out our ugly, brokenness.] But it was not intended to be this way from the beginning. But you should know, anyone who gets divorced outside of infidelity will commit adultery.

Jesus also explained that even the very act of looking with lust at another person is committing adultery with that person (Matthew 5:28). I am not saying that committing adultery is okay with God; in fact, the opposite is true and society's definition of adultery and God's definition are quite different.  However, you should understand how it's being discussed in the Bible. And ultimately, the religious people were asking if a person will still be okay with God if they got divorced. Jesus is our intermediary so we can always be right with God through Jesus, divorced or not.

That being said, divorce is against the ideal; it's against God's desires for us. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). The Bible teaches that we should not take the matter lightly; and if you are considering divorce, you should try at all cost to work through the messiness.

Maybe this is not the answer you wanted to hear, and that's okay.  I realize I didn't give a simple yes or no, but that's because it is not a simple matter. I suggest that you go back to that table at the coffeehouse and talk with God often.  Read his Word in the Bible.  Pray. Communicate with your spouse. And pray together.

*Photo taken by Flickr user, jcoterhals, is registered under a Creative Commons license.

Difficult Matters for the Church

As the Salty Believer Unscripted podcast has grown, Jared Jenkins and I have determined that it's time we take on difficult topics that address questions people are actually asking.  The new series is called "Difficult Matters for the Church" and it will address challenging passages of the Bible and areas of disagreement within the Church, as well as the controversial and spicy issues between the Church and the larger society.  Topics like same-sex marriage, women in ministry, the Christian's role in politics, Mormonism, creationism, environmentalism, social justice, election and free will, egalitarianism, the charismatic gifts, and any other suggestions we receive will not be off the table because nothing is off limits.

To help us, we've enlisted some other pastors.  Sean Patrick (Risen Life Church) and Adam Madden (Christ Fellowship)--two pastors who have previously been on the podcast--have returned and Jason Benson (Real Life Church) has joined us for the first time.  In addition, we have a new podcast intern: Ben Peirce. (We're not sure what a podcast intern does, but we're working on that.)

We'd love to hear your suggestions for this series.  Please don't hesitate to contact us and share your thoughts and questions.  We hope this series will be fruitful as well as enjoyable.

As always, thanks for visiting SaltyBeliever.com and thanks for subscribing to Salty Believer Unscripted.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Soli Deo gloria!
Bryan Catherman   


*Photo by flikr.com user dkshots is registered under a creative commons license and us used by permission.  

Andy Conroy on Class Design

Andy Conroy joined me on the podcast, Salty Believer Unscripted to discuss class design and teaching.  He has joined the podcast before; but this time, he also provided the studio space.

Andy teaches animation at the Salt Lake Art Institute.  He also leads a community group at Risen Life Church, is starting to co-teach a Sunday class on the Synoptic Gospels, and doodles on his notes every time I teach. 

Looking for some ideas about how to design or redesign your Sunday School or community group teaching format?  We might have some ideas.  Have a listen.

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Bible Study Tools

Jared Jenkins and I discuss some tools that help us study the Bible.  Of course, none of these tools are perfect, but they are helpful.  You can listen to that discussion along with some specific recommendations in this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted.

In addition, here is a list of some of the tools with a brief discussion of what they are and how they should be used for studying the Bible.


The Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is our helper and teacher. He is our greatest aid in proper Bible study and teaching. (John 14:16, 26) In addition, the Holy Spirit may use many of the tools listed below to illuminate God’s truths of the Bible to us.

Prayer. Prayer is our communication with God. If we desire to properly understand God’s communication to us, as contained in the Bible, we aught to ask for help and understanding. Prayer should always accompany Bible study.

Self Reflection. Our attitude, desires, biases, and sinful nature can greatly influence how we handle God’s Word; therefore, we must examine ourselves for anything that may improperly influence our understanding of the Bible.The Bible reads us and we need to be open to this reality. 

“The Story” or Meta-Narrative of the Bible. In order to better see context, one should understand the larger story of the Bible, often called the Story of God’s Redemptive History. This is a framework or timeline of the Bible in chronological order. This also includes an understanding of how the Bible is organized. Understanding where a text fits within the Story greatly helps with proper exegetical work and sound hermeneutics.

Jared Jenkins outlines the “scenes” of the Story like this:
Part I - Creation
Part II - Fall
Part III - Redemption
   Scene 1 - A People
   Scene 2 - A Land and a Nation
   Scene 3 - A Kingdom and Kingdom Divided
   Scene 4 - Exile and Expectant Waiting
   Scene 5 - The Gospel - Christ
   Scene 6 - The Church
Part IV - Restoration / New Creation

Translations of the Bible. Different translations may offer non-original readers a different perspective. A good study should include at least one Bible from a formal equivalent (close to word-for-word) translation and one from a dynamic equivalent (thought-for-thought) translation.  A good mediating Bible translation is also helpful.  But do not feel you must limit your study to a small number of translations; more translations help us see some of the word complexities in the original languages.  A parallel Bible is a helpful Bible that puts multiple translations together in one binding for this kind of study.

Study Bible. A study Bible contains boiled down information that comes from many of the tools identified in this list. A Study Bible is an extremely useful tool for studying and teaching the Bible and at least one should be a part of any Bible student's library. The ESV Study Bible is one of the best ones available today.

Concordance. A collection of all the English words contained in a specific Bible translation of the with a scripture reference to aid in locating the word. Most concordances also include a basic Greek and Hebrew word list with key numbers and definitions.

Lexicon. A technical book of definitions and entomology of Greek and Hebrew words.

Cross References. Lists of related passages that help guide a student of the Bible to other locations in the Bible in order to help understand an idea or topic as it is presented elsewhere in the Bible. Using the Bible to interpret the Bible is the best way to interpret the Bible and using cross references greatly reduces the time it takes to find other related passages. 

Bible Dictionary and Encyclopedia. A Bible dictionary provides articles and info on just about every person, place, or thing in the Bible. Encyclopedias are similar but more detailed. Some Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias deal with technical aspects of Greek and Hebrew language too.

Atlas. Collections of maps to help provide some geographical insight. These often also include journeys and other useful geographical information such as recreated drawings of the Temple grounds, alters, clothing, and a number of other helpful visual aids.

Introduction. A collection of introductory information on books of the Bible that include the author, audience, purpose, time of writing, outlines, key themes, and all kinds of other information background information.

Other Believers. Studying with others in community allows us to see how the Holy Spirit is working through all of us as we collectively study God’s Word. The same Holy Spirit working in you is working in me.  One Spirit. . . lots of students.  It is often good to consult other trusted and knowledgeable believers to confirm that you are not way off in your findings.  Notes from other classes or even transcripts of sermons are also helpful in this regard.  A good point to remember is that if you are the only one who as ever discovered what you think you've discovered from the Bible, the chances are fairly good that you are wrong.

Commentary. A commentary is an extensive discussion (typically from a scholar) about the text. These are not inspired like the Bible but they can provide tremendous insight, background information, and technical information. Often they are the result of years of work and study by the author.  I recommend that commentaries are used near the end of your study as confirmation and a check rather than a guide at the beginning of a study.  BestCommentaries.com is a helpful online tool for searching out reviews and rankings on commentaries.

Bible Study Software and Websites. Many programs and websites provide a collection of the above listed tools to make this work easier. Accordance, Logos, Bible Works, and E-Sword are examples of Bible software.  Some of these programs also have phone and tablet apps. Bible.org,  Biblia.com, BlueLetterBible.org, and  YouVersion.com are examples of helpful websites. But keep in mind that some biblical tools websites are really not what they claim to be. 

More resources may be found in the Resources section of this website.

*Photo by Terry Madeley is used by permission and is registered under a Creative Commons license.

New Series on Exegesis and Hermeneutics

Whether you are studying on your own, leading and teaching your family, or teaching in a formal setting, it is extremely helpful to understand how to read and teach the Bible.  There are some fancy words for it (exegesis and hermeneutics) but it doesn't have to be hard.  All good seminaries teach extremely helpful tools and techniques for studying and teaching the Bible, but by no means are these required to properly understand and communicate what God's Word, the Bible says.  The Bible is communicated in such a way that a person can hear and learn from God without an advanced degree in seminary or some kind of secret magic that is only held by top cult leaders.  However, if done poorly, the application will be wrong or misleading.  The adage is true, junk in-junk out.  On the other hand, if careful exegesis is conduced and then proper hermeneutics are applied, a person will come to proper application at least 95% of the time.

The overall idea here is to approach the Bible with the proper process.  Basically:

1. What did the Bible say then?
2. What is the timeless meaning or principles. 
3.  What's the application for me today. 

If you use this process, you'll do well nearly every time.  But how do we get to what the Bible said when it was written?  That's the exegetical work.  And how do we extract the timeless meaning or principles?  That's hermeneutics.   You can employ all kinds of tools; or with a couple simple, tools (even preparing sermons in the mountains for a camp) you can study and teach the Bible well.

Jared Jenkins (EntrustedWithTheGospel.com) and I have finally set out on a series to help Average Joe study and teach the Bible well.  We're excited about this because we believe it's important.  And it maybe that it's a way for us to take great material we received (and payed for) in seminary and give it to you for free.

I wish I could provide you with the name of this series, but as of yet, we can't think of one.  I guess we're just not very creative.  Listen to the introduction in the first Salty Believer Unscripted podcast of this new series and give us some feed back.  Tell us what you think.  And by all means, help us come up with a name!  (You can contact us here.)

You can find the podcasts in the Resources section of this website, download it here, or subscribe via iTunes. 

It is our greatest hope and desire that you grow in your walk with Christ and in that, you know God better and love him more.

Soli Deo gloria!
Bryan Catherman


 Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

Gospel Planting with Adam Madden

We talk about all kinds of topics on Salty Believer Unscripted.  This week the subject was on church planting, or rather "gospel planting."  Jared Jenkins and I were happy to have lunch with church-planter Adam Madden (pictured to the right) and record the conversation. 

Adam Madden is the pastor of Christ Fellowship in the southwest part of the Salt Lake valley.  We greatly enjoy chatting with Adam and are looking forward to having him on the podcast again.

You can listen to our conversation here or subscribe to the "Salty Believer Unscripted" podcast on iTunes.


Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

When Dudes are Bros

There is something hanging in the air that seems to encourage men to run alone.  Many of us think it's more manly to be a lone wolf, the cowboy gunslinger who trusts only his ability with a 6-shooter.  We look at the big challenges in life and feel like we must be the single gladiator in the ring facing the deadly monsters.  We tell ourselves, "I must face this one on my own, this is my battle."  But this thing that tells us this, whatever it is, is a great lie that will eventually destroy us.

If we look to the New Testament, we find men working in teams.  "Well," you may say, "Jesus faced Satan alone when he went out to the desert to be tested."  Read that story again.  The Holy Spirit let Jesus into the desert.  And remember that he had a perfect communion with the Father.  And when he was finished successfully facing the tempter, angels administered to his needs.  Then, as he began his public ministry, he put some disciples around him, but this was not only for their benefit because we see that he had three guys that served on his A-team.  Look at who he takes into the garden with him on that night before going to the cross.  And really, we may be well suited to examine guys like John, Peter,  and Paul.  Take a look at Acts.  These guys are serving and praying together.  They are a team, not lone rangers.  Read the letters they sent out to others and notice how much they encourage the brothers.  The needed each other and they didn't hide behind a bizarre pride by which many man are weighed down. 

Andy Conroy and Jared Jenkins, are among a group of guys who get together for coffee (and artisan breads) each week to make an intentional effort to encourage and pray for one another.  It's significant and important so we sat down and recorded a conversation about men's ministry and why it's important for this week's episode of "Salty Believer Unscripted."

I'd like to invite you to check it out.  Have a listen here.  Also, I'd love to hear from you.  Please feel free to contact me here.
 

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.   


* Photo by flickr.com user Ecstaticist, is registered under a creative commons license and used with permission. 

The Story and Jared Jenkins' Website

For the past 7 weeks, Jared Jenkins and I have been discussing the entirety of the Bible as one story. This has been a great conversation and we've been recording it.  This audio recording is for a podcast called Salty Believer Unscripted, with each weekly session running between 15 and 20 minutes. We've simply grabbed our conversation in a digital format with a cell phone and converted it with Garage Band, so we're hoping the content will trump the quality.  You be the judge! (Let us know what you think, either by reviewing it on iTunes or contacting us.  Also, please feel free to ask us questions or provide some suggestions and we may address them on the podcast.)  

Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same. 

The experience has been extremely enjoyable and now Jared is taking it to the next level!  Jared Jenkins has started a website called EntrustedWithTheGospel.com.  Like SaltyBeliever.com, he'll be posting some of his seminary papers (he's a grad from Southern), but also his thoughts and reflections, studies, and much more.  I'm kind of hoping we can churn up a debate or two and post our positions on our respective websites.  We work well together in ministry and I'm excited  to see what God has in store for us, these websites, and the podcast.  I pray these things are fruitful in your life.


Pastor Jared is a brilliant guy and I highly encourage you to checkout his website and follow it.  I also want to encourage you to listen to our conversation on Salty Believer Unscripted.  You can subscribe to the podcast or find the audio files in the Resources area on this website. 


Thanks for listening and reading!



*Photo by flickr.com user "umjanedoan" and us used by permission.

Unscripted Evolving

Salty Believer Unscripted, a conversational podcast is evolving.  Pastors Jared Jenkins and Sean Patrick have joined in the conversation, and at time when this post originally published, Jared and I are in a series called "The Story."  It's a discussion about the meta-narrative or big picture of the Bible.  It's one story, not a bunch of disconnected smaller ones. (Part three is available now!) 

The idea of Salty Believer Unscripted is to capture conversations about biblical, theological, or ministry related topics.  We simply record conversations using my Android phone and a MP3 recorder app.  The value of using such a simple tool is that as it seems these conversations are kicking up, I can simply grab my phone and say, "lets hit record on this one."  We can record nearly anywhere, anytime.  It's really easy.  In the past, the quality was set to the lowest setting, but I am planning on upping the bit-rate to improve the sound quality.

I have enjoyed the Story series so much that I've recorded an opening and closing clip.  I want to step up the quality of these podcasts and I am hoping to get other guests to join in, maybe even over Skype or TeamViewer so they can be at a distance.  I have a pastor friend coming to visit in June and I'm hoping he and I will have a chance to sit down and record an unscripted conversation.  Content will make all the difference so I am often thinking about ideas for this podcast.

I wasn't sure if Salty Believer Unscripted would take off or do well, so I simply put the podcast in the same audio iTune (and non-iTunes) feed as the other material from SaltyBeliever.com.  Now I am wondering if it wouldn't be better for SaltyBeliever Unscripted to have its own podcast feed.  Occasionally other audio material will publish on Tuesday and Unscripted posts on Thursdays.  Maybe this will be confusing or maybe it's okay?  I guess we'll see.

The podcasts are also available for download on the Resource page.  

In the meantime, we're going to keep recording unscripted conversations.  It is my prayer that they are fruitful and I hope you are enjoying them.  We'd love to see your review on iTunes or hear your feed back.  Please don't hesitate to contact me.


Subscribe to the Salty Believer iTunes Podcasts: Video | Audio
(Non iTunes: Video | Audio)
* While there may be some overlap, the content of the Video and Audio Podcasts are not the same.   


* Photo by flikr user Robot Brainz is registered under a creative common license.