In our current conversation series, Social Distortion, we're arguing that life in community is the antidote for bad religion. This week, Kevin Dixon, Suzie Lind and Robert Gonzalez wrestle with loving one another when some of those "anothers" aren't so easy to love.

TIMESTAMPS

1:00 Mike drop with Elders lurking

1:40 The birthday of Bobby Joe

2:38 A literal birth day

4:20 ... but I played one on TV

5:45 "What are you drinking, Suzie?"

7:49 Bobby Joe's booster shot

9:17 Punk bands on Pandora

11:15 Content begins

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We have been talking about how we're saved not just individually but into a community. That idea brings comfort at a time of loss for NOW regular Suzie Lind. She's joined this week by Kevin Dixon, Mike Erre and a surprise guest from Journey's staff family.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 California Elegy

21:47 The Importance of Community

22:32 Surprise Guest Arm Appearance*

23:07 Surprise Guest Appearance**

29:43 Listener Questions

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* Behold the arm of Edwin Rivera III

** Naeem Owens joins the NOW table for content discussion

Journey's community continues to wrestle with questions of individuality versus group identity in our series of current conversations called Social Distortion. So, who better to join regulars Kevin Dixon, Suzie Lind and Mike Erre than a surprise guest who's one of Journey's best question askers?

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Banter Segment (if you're into that kind of thing)

-- 7:27 The God Who Wears Khakis

-- 7:50 Content Begins: First Attempt

-- 8:57 Surprise Guest*

17:15 Listener Questions And Content(ish)

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Note: This episode is publishing late due to the powers and principalities that crash computers containing time-sensitive podcast files. Our regular episode for this week will release on Thursday.

* It's Sherwine Lucien joining the table this week!

This week, we began a series of discussions called "Social Distortion." Mike Erre argued that sin and salvation are worked out in community, not just individually. That brought up a LOT of listener questions: Can I sin in isolation? Can I have identity in a community of faith and still not experience salvation? Isn't it possible to encounter God as an individual? Mommy's little monsters Kevin Dixon and Tim Timmons join Mike for this week's discussion.

TIMESTAMPS

00:47 Banter banned?

-- 01:05 Nope

01:45 Dinking Problems

02:50 Second attempt to transition to content

-- 02:51 Nope

03:28 Banter done now? (Plus shout out Brad Erre)

-- 03:35 Nuh uh

04:38 This time for sure. Content... go

-- 04:40 There they go again

05:09 Content-like introduction to our Social Distortion series

-- 06:07 So close but so distractible

06:29 Full metal content (with occasional interruptions)

12:57 Yes, but who played the part of Tom Hanks? (Banter, but also relevant to the content.)

14:45 Listener questions

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Jesus saved the worst of his woes to the Pharisees for last, telling them, "Look, your house is left to you, desolate." This week's surprise guest asks our regular NOW talking heads Mike Erre, Kevin Dixon and Tim Timmons exactly what that means. Is there a point at which just God abandons us?

Plus: She's so unusual! Discover the first surprise guest who can out-'80s Mike.

TIMESTAMPS

00:40 Welcome to the jungle

01:02 It's raining men with Suzie Lind on vacation this week

01:54 You dropped a bomb on me. Who's gonna be this week's guest?

02:41 Lady (You Bring Us Up). Meet singer, author, worship leader and punk Barbie, Stephanie Skipper.

04:20 Diamonds on the sides of her shoes

11:23 Electric blue

15:42 Who's zooming who? Kevin plays the 80s game. For just a second. 'Cause he's only got one song.

16:33 You gotta have faith, faith, faith. So, this is where the real content starts for all you Bible super freaks.

31:05 How will I know? A listener asks about balancing individual vs community mindsets during the music at Sunday gatherings

42:17 Everyday I write the book. Stephanie tells us about Thank You for Failing Me, her new memoir out on Amazon.

46:25 It's the end of the podcast as we know it (and we feel fine)

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You can order Stephanie Skipper's book, Thank You For Failing Me on Amazon at this link: https://a.co/d/1mPh2Dm

Keep in touch with her '80s cover band here: https://www.rubiksgroove.com

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Have a question or comment for the NOW team? Join the conversation by texting us at +1 615 861 9503.

Apparently, we're experts in Bad Religion, because we're still talking about it in our current gatherings. A listener asks what to do when personal values and morals conflict with religious dictums. Can bad religion harm our innate goodness? This week's panel of Mike Erre, Suzie Lind, Kevin Dixon and Tim Timmons unpack it all. Also, Tim wants to know why we both celebrate and lament "humanness." Is there a contradiction there, or are we missing something in the English translation?

TIMESTAMPS

00:40 61 Candles

03:40 The Grand Tetons

04:26 Mommy Juice In A Glass Bottle

08:30 Nate Erre checks in. (not heard from again)

09:15 Discussion of bad religion starts. Or bad religion starts. Maybe both.

29:05 Hip Checks

34:04 Tim Has A Clarifying Question.

As we continue to study the attitudes and practices behind bad religion, a special surprise guest joins regulars Mike Erre, Suzie Lind and Tim Timmons to explore manipulative evangelism. How can we live out Jesus-following lives that attract others without asserting power? Also: Is it ever right (or Christ-like) to enforce power over others for a good reason?

TIMESTAMPS

00:45 Let the banter begin

01:40 Highway to heaven. Or Kevin.

03:01 Question: Why do we leave a seat empty at this table?

04:05 The name game: Ace, Tom and the Eye of Zahra

05:42 Response: But, actually, it's the mother of Q&R

10:35 Simply the best: This week’s transition to content comes smooth, like a river deep or a mountain high

This week, we studied Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees that were making followers into twice the children of Hell that they were. That prompted a listener to ask what salvation really is? And it sent this week's panel of Kevin Dixon, Mike Erre, Suzie Lind and Tim Timmons into a reflection on evangelism. What has the Church done to make salvation hellish? What will future generations say we got wrong? And, how can we do better?

TIMESTAMPS

00:41 Pastors are doing it for themselves--censorship, that is.* We join mid-banter as they scrap 15 minutes of intro they thought might rub some folks the wrong way...

01:08 ... and then, much talking about all the things the rest of us didn't get to hear: The pain of Mother's Day for dads; grain-free chips; mumbletypeg and more.

03:28 Lame intro question: The one where Tim doesn't like "Friends."

06:05 Thoughtful, mature Biblical content begins.

* Editor's note: Good call scrapping Take One, guys. We have the audio, and we're saving it. (Also: Production Team's Day is next weekend.)

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