Best Basic Truth Church Podcasts (2025)

Teacher: Smiles Welch Date: 12/10/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship; Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens

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Frankincense, A High Priestly Gift | Christmas Presents | Pastor Hayden Thomas 48:38

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2h ago48:38

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Preaching Point: The gift of frankincense serves as a poignant reminder of Christ's mediatorial work on our behalf and should cause us to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God through Christ. Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east c…

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Myrrh, A Sacrificial Gift | Christmas Presents | Pastor Hayden Thomas 43:06

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Preaching Point: The gift of myrrh symbolizes Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for our sins, a reality we must reflect on and respond to this Christmas season. Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is h…

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Christmas Eve | 6 Truths for Christmas Hope | Pastor Hayden Thomas 28:01

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compasshillcountry.org 6 Truths for Christmas Hope 1. God is Always on Time 2. God Came Down to Us 3. Jesus Became Like Us 4. Jesus Lived for Us 5. Jesus Paid the Price for Us 6. God Adopts Us

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Back to the Basics: Reaching People for Christ | Pastor Evan Jacobsen 58:49

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Preaching Point: Go reach people for Christ by proclaiming the whole Gospel, knowing that while many will mock, God will powerfully save some. Main Text: Acts 17:16–34 (ESV) 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews…

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Real Argument, Real Hope with E.J. Dionne (Best of 2025) 1:18:58

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E.J. Dionne brings moral clarity and humility to the hardest questions in public life — this “Best Of” episode reminds us what real dialogue can be. Best Of TP&R As we close out the year, we’re resurfacing a small handful of conversations from the Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other archive that best reflect what this show exists…

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How a 16th-Century Pope Saved New Year’s Day (#419) 15:55

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Most of us flip to January 1 without a second thought, but that date only works because Pope Gregory XIII fixed a 1,600-year drift in the old Roman calendar. The problem wasn’t just inconvenience—it threw Easter off by ten days, threatening the Church’s ability to celebrate Christ’s resurrection on the right Sunday. Gregory convened Jesuit astronom…

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Making Room for Disagreement: Jonathan Rauch & Liz Joyner on Heterodox Academy and the Courage to Keep Talking 1:24:33

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Best Of TP&R As we close out the year, we’re resurfacing a small handful of conversations from the Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other archive that best reflect what this show exists to do: create space for thoughtful disagreement, moral seriousness, and the hard work of living together in a pluralistic democracy. This conversati…

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The Star, the Gifts, the Surrender (#418) 15:55

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They weren’t kings, there weren’t necessarily three, and they brought a funeral spice—Greg unpacks the Magi like you’ve never heard. Matthew 2 meets the Church Fathers as pagan astrologers from Rome’s rival empire trek west, hijacked by a divine star, and end up worshiping a Jewish child. Explore the prophetic gifts, the reversal of Babel, and why …

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A Biblical Worldview 25:00

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If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text. Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford discuss 7 key aspects to a Biblical Worldview. Support the show Produced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more at www.CalvaryFountain.comBy Pastor John Bornschein

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Greg's Christmas Message 2025 5:38

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Greg wishes all his listeners a blessed Christmas, shares his gratitude for their support, and looks ahead to the new year. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organiz…

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Galatians 4:1-7; The Hope And Promise Of Our Salvation 1:24:35

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Preacher: Smiles Welch Date: 12/21/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship. Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens

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Mónica Guzmán | Fearless Curiosity in a Time of Outrage 1:06:42

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A conversation worth revisiting. Mónica Guzmán’s work captures the spirit of Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other at its best: fearlessly curious, deeply humane, and committed to bridging divides without sacrificing conviction. In this Best of TP&R episode, Corey revisits his wide-ranging and deeply grounded conversation with Móni…

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The Ox, the Donkey, and the Baby Jesus (#417) 25:16

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Standing in Bethlehem's ancient cave, it's easy to see why tradition loves the image of the Lamb of God born among temple lambs—yet every nativity scene adds an ox and donkey the Gospels never mention. In this Christmas reflection, Greg explores how early Fathers like Origen and Ambrose saw Isaiah 1:3 fulfilled in these humble beasts recognizing th…

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The Long Silence Before the Cry 13:22

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In this short Christmas episode, we explore the 400 years of quiet before Christmas when heaven seemed silent and God’s promises went unanswered. No prophets. No new word. Just waiting. Then God spoke again. Not with thunder, but with a baby’s cry. Not in power, but in humility. This podcast invites you into the sacred silence before the manger, re…

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Wrapping Up 2025 with Reflection, Reckoning, and Resolve 45:36

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A raw, reflective journey through the political upheavals, personal reckonings, and hard-won hope of 2025. Episode Summary Corey takes us on a tour of 2025’s most pivotal moments—both in politics and in his own life. He recounts the Trump administration’s controversial actions, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and civic responses like the No King…

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The Real Christmas Starts in a Womb: the Annunciation Over the Nativity (#416) 19:53

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Ever wonder why Catholics make a big deal about the Annunciation on March 25, nine months before Christmas? In this episode, Greg dives into the heart of the Incarnation, contrasting the evangelical focus on the nativity manger with the ancient Church teaching that God truly became man at conception. Exploring Luke 1, the Catechism, and early Fathe…

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Christ Over Culture - part 2 25:00

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If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text. Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford interview author, Andrea Crum, author of "Christ Over Culture." Together they discuss a Christian Worldview and how to raise up children in a culture of chaos (part 2 of 2). Support the show Produced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church…

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John 8:56-59; Abraham Rejoiced To See My Day 1:32:33

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Preacher: Smiles Welch Date: 12/14/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship. Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens

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#65 Diary Sampler 3 - Mississippi Guide, Premonition, Mexico Drug Trip. 48:00

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In this episode you will hear stories from three diary's. The first is about a woman who explored the Mighty Mississippi River year after year and shared her knowledge by publishing her own guide books. Next, a diary where the author experienced a premonition that sadly came true. Her diary has a gap of almost three years to when she recorded the l…

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Weaving Light into Chaos with Nikki Harris 1:10:36

10d ago1:10:36

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A Weaver’s Journey of Art, Advocacy, and Belonging — from WEAVE: The Social Fabric Project In this edition of our special Weavers series, we sit down with Nikki Harris—fiber artist, mother, advocate, and community connector from Baltimore, Maryland. Through art and action, Nikki embodies what it means to weave the social fabric. She shares her jour…

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Debunking the "Christmas is a Pagan Holiday" Meme (#415) 26:08

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Every December the same claim pops up: Christmas is just repackaged Roman paganism—Saturnalia with a cross on top. But when you actually read what third-century Christians wrote, the story falls apart. Greg walks through the real reason the Church landed on December 25 (spoiler: it starts in Rome around 204 AD), dismantles the Saturnalia and Sol In…

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December 14, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney 34:15

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December 14, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney by Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, OhBy Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, Oh

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Christ Over Culture - part 1 25:00

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If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text. Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford interview author, Andrea Crum, author of "Christ Over Culture." Together they discuss a Christian Worldview and how to raise up children in a culture of chaos. Support the show Produced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more a…

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ICYMI: Curtis Chang on Fear, Faith & Healing Our Political Witness 58:46

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A deeply clarifying conversation about fear, faith, and how Christians can reclaim a healthier way of engaging in public life. In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his thoughtful and timely dialogue with Curtis Chang—public theologian, founder of Redeeming Babel, and co-creator (with David French, Dr. Russell Moore and Nancy French) of The After P…

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The Pope vs. the Shriners: What’s the Real Problem with Freemasonry? (#414) 34:33

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Everyone’s seen the Shriners in their tiny cars and funny hats, but why has the Catholic Church been warning against Freemasonry for almost 300 years — and still considers it an excommunicable offense? In this episode Greg and Cory unpack the real origins of Freemasonry (hint: it’s got nothing to do with actual bricklaying), its Enlightenment roots…

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December 7, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney 35:59

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December 7, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney by Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, OhBy Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, Oh

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Pew Research’s Gregory A. Smith on What Americans Really Believe—and Why the Data Might Surprise You 1:13:36

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Forget what you think you know about religion in America. The latest research from Pew reveals a story that’s more complex—and more hopeful—than the headlines suggest. Corey sits down with Gregory A. Smith, who’s spent over two decades studying how faith and identity shape American public life. In this no-fluff conversation, Greg unpacks the surpri…

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John 8:52-55; Whom Do You Make Yourself Out To Be? 1:08:02

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Preacher: Smiles Welch Date: 12/7/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship. Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens

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Bible Basics 101, Session 4; The Old Testament Canon, Part 1 1:31:04

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Teacher: Smiles Welch Date: 12/3/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship. Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens

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Fractal Equations and the Creator Who Signed His Work (#413) 23:03

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A peer-reviewed paper claims a glowing, seated-Buddha fractal generated from the Mandelbrot set is hidden in the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Tutankhamun’s mask, and masterpieces across cultures—proof of simulation, aliens, or the collective unconscious. Greg explains what fractals and the Buddhabrot actually are, shows why the overlay…

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Gold, A Gift Fit for a King | Christmas Presents | Pastor Hayden Thomas 51:22

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Preaching Point: The Wise Men’s gift of gold should remind us to revere Jesus as the unrivaled King of the universe. Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw h…

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ICYMI: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde on Courage, Faith, and Public Witness 1:05:33

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A luminous conversation about leadership, love, and what spiritual courage looks like in a polarized age. In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his deeply moving conversation with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington and one of the most trusted—and most tested—faith leaders in American public life. With striking humility and c…

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ICYMI: Alexander Vindman — The Folly of Realism 1:17:18

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One of the clearest, most necessary voices on Ukraine, democracy, and what the West keeps getting wrong. In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his most recent conversation with Dr. Alexander Vindman — retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, former Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council, and author of The Folly of Realism: How …

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The Green Book (#412) 23:59

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Greg and Ed explore the difference between worship that is objectively real and worship designed to produce feelings, using C.S. Lewis’s famous critique of “The Green Book” as their launching point. They contrast a contemporary evangelical Christmas Eve production—where success is measured by how moved the audience feels—with the Catholic Midnight …

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A Lesson from History 25:00

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If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text. Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford look through the annals of history which reveal how God works with rebellious people and prideful leaders. Support the show Produced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more at www.CalvaryFountain.com…

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From the Bronx to the Beltway: Congressman Ritchie Torres on Grit, Grace, and Governing (ICYMI) 31:21

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One of the most compelling personal and political stories in Congress today — raw, principled, and deeply human. In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his conversation with Congressman Ritchie Torres, who represents New York’s 15th district in the Bronx. With refreshing candor, Torres shares his journey from public housing and poverty to becoming t…

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November 30, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney 38:11

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November 30, 2025 Lead Pastor Jim Baney by Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, OhBy Basic Truth Church, Cygnet, Oh

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ICYMI: David French — Faith, Politics, and the Ethics of Disagreement 1:18:00

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One of the most clarifying conversations we’ve had about conscience, character, and navigating our divisions with integrity. In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his conversation with David French — New York Times columnist, attorney, veteran, and one of the most thoughtful voices on religious liberty, civic virtue, polarization, and how principle…

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Divine Mysteries: The Immaculate Conception (#411) 23:55

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December 8 is the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and every year we hear the same two objections: “Pius IX invented the Immaculate Conception in 1854” and “God can’t apply the Cross backward in time.” In this episode Greg walks line-by-line through the primary sources—from St. Ephrem in 373 to Martin Luther still preaching it in 1527—and…

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When Gratitude Meets Grace | Luke 17:11-19 | Pastor Caleb Dragna 54:25

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You must act in accordance with your faith in Jesus and glorify Him as you continually experience the goodness of His grace in salvation.

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Two Cheers for the Talmud 59:25

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You are about to hear a performance of my radio play, "Two Cheers for the Talmud." It is enacted by actors whose performance has been augmented by artificial intelligence. The questions, responses and rejoinders voiced by the imaginary interviewers were scripted by this writer, based on many conversations and interviews I have had over the years wi…

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ICYMI: Anne Applebaum — How Autocrats Rise and Democracies Fall 1:05:54

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One of the most essential conversations we’ve had — on authoritarianism, influence campaigns, and what it takes to defend democracy. In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his conversation with Anne Applebaum — Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, staff writer at The Atlantic, and one of the world’s leading experts on modern authoritarianism. Anne expl…

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Dvine Mysteries: Theotokos (#410) 20:32

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What does it mean to call Mary the “Mother of God”? In this episode, Greg dives into the ancient debate at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) over the term Theotokos and why it’s a cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy. Far from just being about Mary, this doctrine safeguards the truth of the Incarnation—that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Greg unpack…

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ICYMI: David Brooks on Moral Repair, Friendship, Faith, and the Inner Work of Democracy 1:06:31

26d ago1:06:31

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One of TP&R’s all-time standout conversations—perfect for new listeners discovering the show this week. In this special ICYMI release, Corey revisits his deeply human, deeply honest conversation with David Brooks—New York Times columnist, bestselling author of The Second Mountain and How to Know a Person, and one of the most thoughtful public voice…

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Bold Faith and Thanksgiving 25:19

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If you have any questions or comments, send Pastor John a text. Pastor John Bornschein and Dr. Steve Ford take us through the Scriptures on how to be bold for Jesus, especially during the holidays. Support the show Produced by Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley church. Learn more at www.CalvaryFountain.com…

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Something Special for the Holiday: EAST MEETS WEST SPORTS - Cleveland’s QB Gamble & LA’s Power Play 33:23

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Call it a holiday palate cleanser: today’s TP&R feed features a special drop from East Meets West Sports. Be sure to find this new show on all the apps, follow, rate, review... You know the drill. Enjoy! Can Shedeur Sanders prove he's “the one” – or is Cleveland just buying time? Meanwhile, LA sports shake things up from the locker room to the fron…

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Further Up and Further In (#409) 41:37

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What if the Christianity you’ve always known is only the shallow end of a vast, ancient ocean? In this candid, burrito-fueled conversation (yes, really), Greg and Ed the Protestant unpack the longing that pulled Greg all the way home to the Catholic Church: a restless hunger to go “further up and further in,” deeper into the heart of the Church. Fr…

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John 8:48-51; If Anyone Keeps My Word He Will Never See Death 1:15:10

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Preacher: Smiles Welch Date: 11/23/2025 Address: 3374 Pleasant Hill Rd. Athens, OH 45701 Contact: [email protected] Sunday Services: 1:30pm Prayer; 2:00pm Sunday School; 3:00pm Worship. Potluck- style meal afterward every week! Wednesday Service: 6:30pm Prayer and StudyBy graceandtruthchurchofathens