What would it be like to preach from behind the same pulpit of a great preacher in Christian history? I have been privileged to preach from stages once held by D.L. Moody and Billy Sunday. But this week's podcast describes a moment greater than that. Take a look back when Charles Spurgeon, the great Prince of Preachers, took to the pulpit once held by the great theologian John Calvin. In his first book, Pastor Byron Varvel gives the two sermons preached by Spurgeon while in Geneva. In addition to the two messages, Varvel gives us helpful commentary, explanation and background. You won't want to miss this conversation!

Recommended Resources:

Two Sermons Preached In Geneva by Charles Spurgeon (Author), Byron Varvel (Editor)

This week our guest is Richard Reid, a Republican running for mayor of Brockton, Massachusetts. If you live in Brockton, this is the man to vote for! Richard serves as the pastor of North Baptist Church where he and I once worked together. We chat not only about his race but also about the role of Christians in politics and how to engage your local community.

Recommended Resources:

Committee to Elect Richard Reid

North Baptist Church

This week we welcome Ben Zeisloft on the podcast to talk about his new book, Forsakers of the Fatherless: The Secret Treachery of the "Pro-Life" Establishment. In this book, Ben makes the case that the mainstream pro-life movement is actually working against bill and legislation to end and criminalize abortion. These bills and those who support them are part of the growing abolitionist movement. Learn more by listening today!

Recommended Resources:

Forsakers of the Fatherless: The Secret Treachery of the "Pro-Life" Establishment by Ben Zeisloft

The Republic Sentinel

The Foundation to Abolish Abortion

Ben's X Account

As I am posting this episode, President Trump is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. As we pray for a cease-fire, many wonder if we should be taking sides. Joining me this week is Yuri Rashkin. Yuri is a Rock County Supervisor, professor, talented musician and immigrant from Russia. He is also the host of the Rashkin Report, a popular podcast featuring, "conversations about Russian and American politics and culture with people who know it best: scholars, journalists, artists, politicians, and human rights activists."

Recommended Resources:

The Rashkin Report on YouTube

The Rashkin Report on Facebook

Just what is in the Epstein Files? Did Jeffery Epstein hang himself? Are there rich and powerful names on a client list guilty of heinous crime against young women? Is Ghislaine Maxwell complicit in sex trafficking? We won't know until the Epstein files are taken from Pam Bondi's desk and released for us to see. Its a subject everyone is talking about but one person has decided to do something about it. Wisconsin Representative Clinton Anderson has introduced a resolution calling for the release of these files. He has heard the voice of his constituents and leaped into action. He joins us this week to chat about his resolution. Oh, and at the end I almost got him kicked out of office...

Recommended Resources:

Rep. Anderson: Introduces resolution calling for release of Epstein Files

Wisconsin Democrats push for full release of Epstein files, demand transparency

Second Annual Sully Sundae Fundraiser

In this final episode in this Come, Let Us Reason Together series, Ray Jewell and I listen to Dave Swanson share his testimony of how he came to Christ from a life of purposelessness and drug abuse. We also talk about evangelism, worship and growing in our knowledge of God.

Recommended Resources:

A thinker ahead of his time: remembering James D. Strauss

Taking Every Thought Captive: Essays in Honor of James D. Strauss by John D. Castelein

Christian Faith and Scientific Revolution by James D. Strauss

This week we return to our Come, Let Us Reason Together series. In this episode Dave Swanson walks us through some of his favorite authors and books dealing with a broad range of subjects. If you are a reader, you need to be a listener today!

Recommended Resources:

Favorite Authors Wright, Witherington, and Wright N.T. Wright Ben Witherington III Christopher J.H. Wright (The Mission of God) Literature and Christianity: C.S.Lewis J.R.R. Tolkien Dorothy Sayers (The Mind of the Maker, Lord Peter Whimsey, A Man Born to Be King) Charles Williams (metaphysical thrillers) George McDonald (Phantasties and Lilith, other Fairy tales) G.K. Chesterton (The Everlasting Man, Orthodoxy) Alister McGrath Gregory K. Beale (Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, We Become What We Worship, The Book of Revelation (New International Greek Testament Commentary)) Kenneth Bailey (Jesus Through Mediterranean Eyes, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes) Sociology: Christopher Smith (National Study of Youth and Religion "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism", Passing the Plate, Atheist Overreach, Why Religion Went Obsolete) James Davison Hunter (Science and the Good, To Flourish or Distruct, To Change the World "Faithful Presence", Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis) Philosophy of Science: Karl Popper (Realist) Thomas Kuhn (Anti-realist) Imre Lakatos (The Methodology of Scientific Research, Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge) Michael Polanyi (Personal Knowledge) Hermeneutics: Kevin Vanhoozer Anthony Thistleton Craig Bartholomew Worldview: Thomas Nagel (Worldview) Steve Wilken and Mark L. Sanford (Hidden Worldviews) 1. Individualism: l Am the Center of the Universe 2. Consumerism: l Am What I Own 3. Nationalism: My Nation, Under God 4. Moral Relativism: The Absolute Truth About Relativism and Something Like Relativism 5. Scientific Naturalism: Only Matter Matters 6. The New Age: Are We Gods or Are We God's. 7. Postmodern Tribalism: My Tribe/My Worldview. 8. Salvation by Therapy: Not as Good as It Gets Image of God: Carmen Joy Imes (Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters an October Release) J. Richard Middleton (The Liberating Image: The Imago Dei in Genesis 1, A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology) Apologetics William Lane Craig (Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview) Paul Copan John H Walton (The Lost World series on the OT)

Christian History: Mark Noll David F. Wells Os Guiness New Studies in Biblical Theology Series J. Gary Miller (Calling on the Name of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of Prayer (New Studies in Biblical Theology Book 38)) David G. Firth (Including the Stranger: Foreigners in the Former Prophets (New Studies in Biblical Theology Book 50)) Gregory K. Beale (The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (New Studies in Biblical Theology Book 17)) Human Trafficking: Louise Shelley (Human Trafficking) Victor Malarek (The Johns) Kevin Bales

Yesterday evening Dr. John MacArthur went to be with his savior. He had a profound influence on me and millions of others. In this short bonus episode, I share a few reflections of this legendary preacher.

Recommended Resources:

The Macarthur New Testament Commentary (16 books)

The MacArthur Bible Commentary: A Faithful, Focused Commentary on the Whole Bible

MacArthur Study Bible 2nd Edition: Unleashing God's Truth One Verse at a Time (LSB)

A Tale of Two Sons: The Inside the Story of a Father, His Sons, and a Shocking Murder by John MacArthur

Safe in the Arms of God: Truth from Heaven About the Death of a Child by John F. MacArthur