Critical Issues Commentatry grew out of Bob DeWaay's passion to equip the saints for the work of ministry. In the late 1980's Bob met regularly with a group of local pastors, often presenting position papers on timely doctrinal issues. When he found that the messages were accepted by only a few of the attendees and rarely reached the pews, he chose to speak directly to the people by initiating a bimonthly newletter. Bob DeWaay is teacher and theologian at Gospel of Grace Fellowship in Edina, ...
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Douma Podcasts
One is more frugal, the other is more frivlolous, together they are the perfect match to talk about family finances, lifestyle choices and tips on spending money. Casey Felix and Jennifer Douma navigate how to balance all.the.things in living a life you love now and later.
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An original podcast series from the Michigan Society of Association Executives where we explore the creative solutions achieved by associations navigating today’s turbulent business, regulatory, and social landscapes and the people who lead them.
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The Blood Atonement, Part 2, presented by Bob DeWaay and Dick Kuffel. Here we address more important issues that have to do with God's plan of salvation through the blood of Jesus. Here we deal with justification of believers through the imputation of Christ's righteousness that produces right standing before God. (duration 00:27:20) Click here to …
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The Blood Atonement, Part 1, presented by Bob DeWaay and Dick Kuffel. In this program, we address the fact that the blood atonement is God's provision for the salvation of sinners. It is crucial that the substitutionary atonement that God provides be preached in churches. (duration 00:24:18) Click here to play…
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Engineering Progress: Infrastructure, Workforce, and Strengthening the Business of Engineering in Michigan
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21:44
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In this episode of Insight, host Ariel Backus welcomes Ronald Brenke, PE, Executive Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan. Ron offers an inside look at ACEC Michigan’s mission, highlighting its commitment to advancing the business of engineering across a wide range of firms throughout the state. He discusses Michigan…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 34 - Understanding the Secret Place in Matthew 6
23:46
23:46
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 34 - Understanding the Secret Place in Matthew 6, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer uses the "secret place" from Matthew 6 to claim that environment matters in prayer. That passage shows that its motive that matters. Praying in secret was to avoid praying with mixed motives, not to earn favor or e…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 33 - Faith is Not Awareness of Presence
22:33
22:33
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 33 - Faith is Not Awareness of Presence, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We compare the spirit "Jesus" of John Mark Comer's book with what we find in 1John. We must test the spirits using objective truth from Scripture, not from mystical impressions. Faith is not awareness of presence; it's grounded i…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 32 - Defining Christ in Us
23:24
23:24
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 32 - Defining Christ in Us, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that Christians today need to recapture the mysticism of the past or we will not exist at all, using Colossians 1:27 to support this claim. We show that "Christ in us" happens through the Holy Spirit at conversion and not through…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 31 - The Problem with False Spiritual Intimacy
24:11
24:11
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 31 - The Problem with False Spiritual Intimacy, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In this episode we evaluate Comer's claim that God's "burning desire is to know and be known by you." What follows is romantic mysticism through contemplative prayer. We encourage listeners to reject mysticism and stand fi…
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Advocacy That Works: Building Bipartisan Bridges with Melissa McKinley
17:54
17:54
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In this episode of Insight, host Ariel Backus sits down with Melissa McKinley, President of Kelley Cawthorne, to explore what effective advocacy looks like in today’s polarized political landscape. Melissa shares why bipartisan strategies are more important than ever and highlights the unique influence associations bring to legislative work. She al…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 30 - Comer's Spiritual Formation Fails the Test
23:28
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 30 - Comer's Spiritual Formation Fails the Test, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We show that Comer uses logical fallacies to make spiritual formation sound pious. We discuss discerning of spirits as found in 1John. This is not spiritual impressions; it's examining teaching according to Scripture. Com…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 29 - Sober Truth or Awareness of Presence?
31:42
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 29 - Sober Truth or Awareness of Presence?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We compare the way Paul taught Jesus using logical categories with Comer's "awareness of presence." Paul told Fetus he spoke "words of sober truth" in Acts 16:25; Comer teaches using confused, deceptive categories that must be…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 28 - Conversion, not Contemplation
25:27
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 28 - Conversion, not Contemplation, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We examine Comer's claim that we can be transformed through contemplation. Comer misuses key verses in Ephesians to do this. We must believe what God has chosen to reveal in Scripture and reject mystical contemplation through which we…
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Resilience, Creativity, and the Art of Association Leadership with Jean Jernigan
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In this episode of Insight, host Ariel Backus sits down with Jean Jernigan, CAE, CMP, IOM, President of the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Board for the Michigan Society of Association Executives. Jean reflects on her long-standing involvement with MSAE since 1996, her diverse career path, and the leadership roles that have shape…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 27 - Reject Transformation Through Contemplation
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25:27
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 27 - Reject Transformation Through Contemplation, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that Paul taught that transformation happens as we "look at God, looking at us in love" in Ephesians. We show that Ephesians was written to believers, not every person without distinction, and transformation…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 26 - Roman Catholic Mysticism Reworked
27:39
27:39
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 26 - Roman Catholic Mysticism Reworked, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer uses 2Cor 3:18 to support his mystical view of contemplation. In this passage the veil is unbelief, not a failure to learn mystical practices to see Jesus. Comer has substituted faith in Christ with a reworked version of Rom…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 25 - Contrived Religious Innovations
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 25 - Contrived Religious Innovations, presented by Bob DeWaay. John Mark Comer prescribes contemplative practices that Bob DeWaay calls contrived spiritual innovations. He uses 1Peter 1:8 to show that we must reject contemplative practices, believe by faith though we have not seen Him, and trust the promises o…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 24 - A Grand Setup for Deception
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 24 - A Grand Setup for Deception, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer makes no distinction between those who are born again and religious people in general. He claims that he finds his consciousness going home to God, but home for the unconverted is alienation from God. This is a grand setup for dec…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 23 - Reality is not a State of Mind
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 23 - Reality is not a State of Mind, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss the idea that reality is a state of mind and that we become what we contemplate. Believing deception does not make it reality. We need to renew our minds through God's Word and the means of grace to think in reality rather…
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Grassroots Power: How Big I Michigan Supports Agents
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In this episode of Insight, host Ariel Backus welcomes Jared Burkhart, CAE, CEO of Big I Michigan. Jared shares how his association advocates for insurance agents, supports their professional growth, and strengthens local communities. The discussion explores the impact of AI on the industry, the challenges of rising insurance costs, and why communi…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 22 - Spirituality for the Unconverted
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 22 - Spirituality for the Unconverted, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss Comer's false version of abiding. Bob calls Comer's contemplative practices for abiding "spirituality for the unconverted." These practices are Catholic mysticism, not the means of grace. Only those who are born again ca…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 21 - The Danger of Spiritual Elitism
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 21 - The Danger of Spiritual Elitism, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that there are spiritual masters of the Way. We describe the faulty value systems of different groups and show how they are all various versions of spiritual elitism. We discuss Col 3:1-4 to show that it rejects Comer's…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 20 - The Dangers of Inward Orientation
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 20 - The Dangers of Inward Orientation, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. Comer claims that the spiritual practice of inward orientation is needed for believers to abide in Christ. We reject the idea that we can journey inward to become conscious of presence. We abide in Christ by believing His promises…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 19 - Dangerous Deluding Practices from Church History
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 19 - Dangerous Deluding Practices from Church History, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We contrast Comer's teaching on abiding in Christ and "practicing the presence of God" with the biblical definition of "abiding" as found in First John 4:12-16. Comers practices are appealing to unbelievers, but the…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 18 - Spirituality Divorced from Rationality
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24:19
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 18 - Spirituality Divorced from Rationality, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer claims that the most important goal of apprenticeship is being with Jesus - being aware of His presence and hearing His voice. We also refute Comer's claim that we can "live in the moment-by-moment flow of lov…
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Driving Impact: How Golf Fuels Michigan’s Economy and Communities
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In this episode of Insight, host Ariel Backus sits down with Jada Paisley, CMP, executive director of the Michigan Golf Course Association. Jada shares how the organization supports golf course owners and operators while highlighting the industry’s $6 billion economic impact in Michigan—including $1 billion tied to tourism. Despite being a seasonal…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 17 - Does Jesus Believe in You?
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 17 - Does Jesus Believe in You?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. In his book Practicing the Way John Mark Comer makes the claim that Jesus believes in us. Bob contrasts that claim with John chapter 2:23-25 and Romans 1, showing that Jesus did not entrust Himself to men because He knew what was in men …
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 16 - The True Gospel is Exclusive
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 16 - The True Gospel is Exclusive, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We discuss Comer's rejection of the exclusive claims of the gospel. Citing key passages such as John 14:6 and Matthew 7:13-14, Comer redefines the terms to support his claim that these passages are about human potential, not salvation …
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 15 - A False Gospel
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 15 - A False Gospel, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. John Mark Comer asks the question, "But what are we saved to?" Bob explains that we are saved out of sin and alienation from God and into forgiveness and sanctification. Comer's false gospel points people to works rather than repentance and faith. (…
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 14 - What is the Kingdom of God?
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A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 14 - What is the Kingdom of God?, presented by Bob DeWaay and Barb Gretch. We examine John Mark Comer's claim that Jesus is looking for apprentices, not converts. We start with a definition of the kingdom of God and discuss what Scripture says about it, beginning with Acts 1:6-11. We also discuss Finney's infl…
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