It's WEEK 1 of our 3 WEEK series, "Lies We Believe About God". We'll be talking about lies or thoughts or ideas about God that often hold us back from knowing God at a deeper level and how being willing to remain open minded around these things and rethink them might help us to be drawn closer to God and closer to those around us. Today is lie #1 - "God Is A Man" where we explore questions of gender surround God and what that means for you and me and the world at large. Show Notes: Time Out Yout...
Jun 10, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 45
In this week's episode I share with you some of what I learned from a book I read in a partnership with Mike Morrell and Speakeasy - "The Lotus and the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism and Mystical Christianity". Mike sends me books every once and a while and all I need to do is read them and share them with YOU on the What If Project via a blog post and / or podcast. I'm hoping to do this every few months so we'll consider this a trial run. Enjoy! Show Notes: The What If Project (F...
Jun 03, 2019•26 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Good thing you dropped by today, we're chatting with William Paul Young, the author of The Shack. We talk heaven, hell, suffering, evil, prayer, and more as we wrestle with some hard questions. Have you ever wondered why bad things happen? And how to pray as you make your way through them? Or watch your loved ones make their way through their own hard times? This episode will give some FRESH perspective. Enjoy. Show Notes: Time Out Youth Cash App (iPhone) My Cash Handle: $gsiepert Phone Number: ...
May 27, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 43
This is part 3 of series, "Thoughts From The Doctor" where I'm spending each week answering a different question that people ask me when they find out that I just graduated with my doctoral degree. Week 1 - why did you get this degree? Week 2 - what did you learn? Week 3 - now what? And so today we'll explore that 3rd and very important question of what's next for me now that I've graduated? I've spent 3 years working towards this degree and so what now? Show Notes: The Alexander John Shaia Epis...
May 20, 2019•21 min•Season 2Ep. 42
In this week's episode I share with you my top 3 biggest takeaways from the doctoral program I just wrapped up at Alliance Theological Seminary. Show Notes: What If Project Rob Reimer - Soul Care - Pathways To The King...
May 13, 2019•26 min•Season 2Ep. 41
New series starting up this week, "Thoughts From The Doctor". Every week someone asks me "why did you get your doctoral degree" or "what did you learn over the last 3 years" or "now that you're all grown up, what's next?" This week is my graduation and officially marks the end of this crazy season of life and so I'm processing through a lot ... that I want to share with you. Show Notes: What If Project Patreon Alliance Theological Seminary...
May 06, 2019•29 min•Season 2Ep. 40
In this week's episode I sit down with pastor, author, activist Brandan Robertson. Brandan pastors Missiongathering Christian Church in San Diego, California and brings a unique perspective to the topic of inclusion. We'll talk about LGBTQ inclusion, but more so about how inclusion is actually a much broader topic that includes being inclusive of all people, everywhere. Show Notes: Missiongathering Christian Church True Inclusion The Gospel of Inclusion Patreon What If Project Special Music: '85...
Apr 29, 2019•49 min•Season 2Ep. 39
In this final installment of our "God's Not Mad" series we explore some thoughts about the Bible and how to read it through the lens of a God who isn't mad, wasn't mad, and never will be mad. Every verse in the Bible isn't on the same level playing field as the others. Instead, it's an arc or a journey of people coming to understand who God is, all of which reached its climax in Jesus. Show Notes: What If Project Blog Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God - https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Lo...
Apr 22, 2019•23 min•Season 2Ep. 38
In this week's episode we dip our toe into the book of Revelation. We talk a small bit of background and then focus in on a small detail that's hidden away in a well known image of Jesus. What If Project Blog Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God - https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Loving-God-Scandalous/dp/1601429517 PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/whatifproject...
Apr 15, 2019•27 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Welcome to part 5 of our Lent series, "God's Not Mad". Today we're talking about hell - what's the Bible say? What doesn't the Bible say? And what do I think? This is by no means an exhaustive conversation, but a mere attempt to scratch the surface and present a different perspective. To be real with you, this is a topic I've become increasingly passionate about over the last few years of my life as I've watched hell, the threat of eternal torture, and the fear tactics that surround it all be us...
Apr 08, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 36
In today's episode we sit down with pastor, author, theologian Brian Zahnd to talk about his book, "Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God". We talk about love, wrath, hell, the cross, and all sorts of stuff. Check it out NOW. Show Notes: Brian Zahnd - https://brianzahnd.com Word of Life Church - http://wolc.com Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God - https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Loving-God-Scandalous/dp/1601429517 PATREON - https://www.patreon.com/whatifproject BEFORE JANE - iTUNES - itune...
Apr 01, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 35
It's part 3 of our series for Lent, "God's Not Mad" and today we're talking about the cross. I don't know about you, but I was taught to believe that Jesus died on the cross because God was mad at my sin and so He took my punishment so that if I would "believe in Him" and "surrender to Him" I'd get to go to heaven when I die instead of hell. In short, my sin and everybody's sin is a big problem for God and Jesus is the answer. What if that's not it, though? Like, what if it's more than that? Dif...
Mar 25, 2019•24 min•Season 2Ep. 34
It's Week 2 of God's Not Mad and I have the flu - HA! Good times. Anyways, as I'm hopped up on cold medicine and battling clogged ears, razor blades in my throat, and all sorts of other horrors, we're talking about the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus - what's the deal with His dazzling white clothes? Moses and Elijah? Peter wanting to build 3 houses? And God telling everybody to listen to Jesus? What the heck is going on? Check it out all out right here! Show Notes: Sinners In The Hands Of...
Mar 18, 2019•18 min•Season 2Ep. 33
It's week 1 of "God's Not Mad" and this week we're talking about the Good News and I share how if the Good News is that Jesus died to save me from my sins so that by believing in Him I can go to heaven while those who don't believe go to hell to be tortured for eternity ... then I don't believe it. God's not an angry guy in the sky damning unbelievers to hell, He's the Father whose door is always open to the prodigal. Show Notes: Sinners In The Hands Of A Loving God What If Project Patreon!...
Mar 11, 2019•21 min•Season 2Ep. 32
In this week's episode I sit down with my philosophy professor from Nyack College, Dr. James Danaher, to talk about his newest book "Truth, Prayer, Identity, and the Spiritual Journey". Show Notes: Truth, Prayer, Identity, and the Spiritual Journey Patreon.com/WhatIfProject What If Project Before Jane - iTunes - Spotify...
Mar 04, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In this week's episode I sit down with one of my favorite Bible scholars to talk about his new book, "How The Bible Actually Works". Regardless of where you are on your journey of faith, this book will give you some good insight into being a more faithful reader of the good book. Check it out. Show Notes: Pete's Website Pete's Podcast The What If Project The What If Project on Patreon Before Jane on SPOTIFY and iTUNES...
Feb 25, 2019•47 min•Season 2Ep. 30
This is the final installment of Burn Those Books and we're talking about Julia Duin's book Quitting Church. It's not a book that encourages people to leave church, but explores some reasons as to WHY people are leaving and WHAT to do about it. I share some of my own story of pastoring churches as well the season my family is currently in in regards to church involvement. Be sure to check out the What If Project Patreon page (** link below) and have an incredible week! Show Notes: Quitting Churc...
Feb 18, 2019•20 min•Season 2Ep. 29
It's part 2 of our 3 part series, "BURN THOSE BOOKS!" where I'm sharing with you the 3 books that impacted me the most in 2018 - books that likely wouldn't be looked too highly upon in your typical church. Last week we looked at Brian McLaren's book, "The Great Spiritual Migration" and this week we're looking at John Pavlovitz's "A Bigger Table" and how it prompted me to think a little deeper about my own season of deconstruction / reconstruction and how my theology and thoughts about God, churc...
Feb 11, 2019•29 min•Season 2Ep. 28
This is week 1 of a 3 week series called "Burn Those Books" where I'm sharing with you the 3 books that impacted me the most in 2018 ... books that most likely wouldn't be welcomed in your typical church. The first book is Brian McLaren's "The Great Spiritual Migration" and in this episode I share with you one of my biggest takeaways from the book and the impact that it's made on me and what's coming out of the What If Project. Show Notes: Blog The Great Spiritual Migration What If Project...
Feb 04, 2019•25 min•Season 2Ep. 27
This is part 2 of the 2 part series, "Instant Replay" where we're looking back at the 2 most dowloaded episodes of season 1. This week we replay the MOST downloaded episode, my conversation with Dr. Phil Snider about what the Bible really says about homosexuality. I hope it challenges you and blesses you as much as it did me!
Jan 28, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 26
This is week 1 of a 2 part series called "Instant Replay" where we're looking back at the 2 most downloaded episodes of season 1 and replaying them. The second most downloaded episode was an interview I did with Dr. Alexander John Shaia about his book "Heart and Mind" where he looks at the 4 Gospels and talks about how they are a picture of the seasons that every human being passes through on life journey. Check out the episode, go get the book, and give the What If Project some love on iTunes. ...
Jan 21, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Today we talk to theologian and author Thomas Oord about his new book, "God Can't". If you've ever wondered WHY bad things happen, WHY bad things happen to good people, or WHERE God was when ________, AND if you're tired of the easy answers of "God has a plan" , "everything happens for a reason" , "God is sovereign and this tragedy is all part of His plan to make your mess His message" - this episode and book are for you. -- Thomas Oord God Can't Theologians And Philosophers Using Social Media T...
Jan 14, 2019•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 24
Welcome to Season 2 of the What If Project podcast! This week I sit down with one of my favorite authors and thinkers, Brian McLaren, to talk about some thoughts from his latest book, The Great Spiritual Migration. We talk about hell, why reading the Bible as if it were a constitution is a bad idea, and why Jesus was really terrible at representing an exclusive God. Show Notes: The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McLaren Brian's Website Is Jesus the Only Way? by Brian McLaren Saving Paradise ...
Jan 07, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In this final episode of 2018 I talk through a piece of the theology paper I wrote for my last class at Alliance Theological Seminary. We've been talking about the Gospel of Mark over the last 5 months at the What If Project and so my paper is kind of a capstone on that study where I talk through 6 different observations about Jesus as He was presented by Mark in his Gospel. Check it out, be challenged, and enjoy! Show Notes: Read the Full Paper HERE . Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers Mark f...
Dec 31, 2018•43 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This is the last bonus episode for the season of Advent and we're talking about the early Celtic Christians and how their understanding of darkness and light being friends as opposed to enemies led to the formation of the Advent season and can help bring deeper meaning to our understanding of Christmas in 2018. Show Notes: Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the RobCast Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the What If Project Dr. Alexander John Shaia WhatIfProject.net/blog...
Dec 24, 2018•16 min•Season 1Ep. 21
This is the 3rd bonus episode for the season of Advent and rather than talk about the significance of the people who WERE present at Jesus' birth (Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, etc, etc) we're talking about the significance of the people who were NOT present at His birth - the temple leaders, the rich, the powerful, etc. Why is that important? And what's it mean for us today? (HINT: a WHOLE lot). Show Notes: Blog - whatifproject.net Devotions for Advent by Richard Rohr...
Dec 19, 2018•12 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Today we talk about the significance of Jesus being crucified in between 2 thieves and how Jesus' Kingdom is one that lifts up the downcast while casting down the prideful, bringing in the outsider, and giving honor to those who the world would think are least deserving. Not only is that Good News for you and me, but it's also a challenge for you and me to make our world more like His all inclusive, loving Kingdom. Show Notes: Mark for Everyone by NT Wright Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers H...
Dec 17, 2018•15 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this week's bonus episode we talk a little more about the Advent season and explore how in the Gospel of Luke John the Baptist isn't referred to as John the Baptist, but as John the Son of Zechariah. John's father was a priest and as a priest's son John would have had special privileges as Jewish Royalty. BUT, instead of growing up to wear a crown of sorts, he dressed like a hippie and headed out to the desert where he served the community. Why is that important? And what's it have to do with...
Dec 12, 2018•10 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this week's episode we talk about the Last Supper that Jesus served to His disciples, what communion has come to mean for us today, and how the church has taken what Jesus intended to be the most inclusive place in the universe (His Table) and made it into an exclusive club that requires people to believe a certain way and live in a certain way before they are welcome to come and take the bread and drink the wine. Show Notes: The Our Bible App What If Project Blog Episode 3: What The Bible Re...
Dec 10, 2018•20 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This is the first episode of a short mid-week series for Advent 2018 ... that I decided to put together while driving home from work the other night. For the next 4 weeks we'll be exploring a few themes / ideas from Richard Rohr's book, " Preparing For Christmas: Daily Meditations For Advent " and challenging ourselves to think different and bigger and deeper about Christmas. Today we talk about what it means to make room for Jesus in our world and our lives and how that room often comes from a ...
Dec 05, 2018•13 min•Season 1Ep. 16
