ScreenFish

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pop culture

The Meaning Crisis; This Is Us

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Have you ever wondered “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid”? We attempt to give an answer in this new episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast by looking at a popular Atlantic article with that title from cultural commentator Jonathan Haidt. Points of discussion include social media, its influence and some possible ways to curtail its negative effects.

Sure… social media is a problem and has amplified our fragmentation, like languages at the Tower of Babel, but isn’t there a deeper issue? Yes – what’s currently being discussed as “The Meaning Crisis” by a growing number of voices, such as Jordan Peterson, Bret Weinstein, Jonathan Vervaeke, Paul Vander Klay, Johnathan Pageau, Tim DeRoche and others. We look at this current moment, try to unpack some of its causes and history, and ultimately contextualize it with the Christian faith.

Popular (and excellent) show This Is Us reaches its final few episodes and Nate has thoughts. What does our current pop culture have to say about things like love and marriage? How should a Christian respond when non-Christian ideas about such topics are presented and even celebrated in our pop culture?

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Christmas Themed Theological Riff Fest

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It’s the holiday season. A time for friends, family, food, traditions…. and riffing on complex and controversial Christmas themed theological topics!

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we’re joined by Levi Goodwin – local purveyor of fine viewpoints – for discussion on a range of topics related to Christmas and Advent: The incarnation, angels, Marian doctrines, miracles and more.

We also take time to examine the question of “When is it essential to have a firm opinion on a specific doctrine or topic?” and share some Holiday Hot Takes 🙂

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Faith & College

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How are things going on college campuses these days? What issues do college aged people face? What do they value? Is Christianity still a viable option for Zoomers? As our country becomes more post-Christian and pluralistic, what does the gospel even look like in a campus setting?

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we have a roundtable discussion about these topics and more with Hannah Balbaugh and Gabe Nelson – leaders in the Standing in the Gap campus ministries at Saginaw Valley State University and Northwood University (and representative actual young people! 🙂 )

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Afghanistan & Abortion & Ivermectin, Oh My!

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The war in Afghanistan comes to a controversial end. Abortion is again in the news due to an unusual Texas law. Ivermectin hits center stage in Covid politics thanks to Joe Rogan.

How should Christians think through such varied yet pressing news items, events and issues? How is the nature of God a guide when it comes to having a “Christian take” on things? Find out in this new episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast!

Also, a quick pop culture minute generates a metric ton of mentions, including Smallville, The Golden Girls, The White Lotus, Hades, Dune, Star Trek, Star Wars, David Lynch, Twin Peaks, The Green Knight, The Thin Red Line, The Fountain, and Ted Lasso.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

What Non-Christians Get Right; Suicide Squad; Green Knight; Ted Lasso

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Is Christianity “metaphorically true, but literally false?”

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we look at recent critiques of (and hopes for) the faith from non-Christian “new pragmatists” such as Jordan Peterson, Bret Weinstein, Tom Holland and Douglas Murray. Along the way we discover some things non-Christians get right, some things they get wrong, and ask how the church can be faithful to its message, but still relevant in a changing culture.

We also chat about our current pop culture faves, including Ted Lasso, The Suicide Squad and The Green Knight. These are all good, btw, and you should watch them all, btw, but for different reasons…..

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

No More Masks; Israel Conflict; The End for the Church?; Resident Evil 8

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In this jam-packed, lightning round episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we cover four fascinating topics in just one hour!

First, mask mandates go away as we seem to be approaching the end of the pandemic. What’s our experience so far and how do we handle the inevitable cultural friction of the moment?

Next we talk about the renewed conflict in Israel. What’s the history and context of the current violence and, most importantly, how can Christians respond?

Church membership is down and deconversion stories are on the rise. We dig in to these trends and how, counterintuitively, there may be good news afoot.

Finally, we spend some time discussing our current fave books, shows and games. Resident Evil Village (Resident Evil 8) is the focus, with a surprising connection made between fandoms and the church.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

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The World’s Still Ending; At Least There’s Good TV

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In the Season 3 premiere of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we talk about the mass of issues related to the events at the Capitol in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021.

Protesting vs. rioting. Similarities and differences to BLM. Trump’s culpability. The role of Christian nationalism. Cancel culture, deplatforming and free speech. The continued siloing of media and cultural echo chambers. Is there a “third way” and what’s the role of Christian faith?

Then we change gears to discuss current favorite TV shows, Cobra Kai in particular, and why engaging pop culture at a time such as ours may be vitally important.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Progressive Christianity? Fall Entertainment Preview

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What is progressive Christianity and how is it different from more “traditional” forms? Is it dangerous? What positives does it have to offer?

We discuss the pros and cons – referencing authors such as Alisa Childers, Pete Enns and Andy Stanley – and how to navigate the related issues.

It’s the fall, which means new shows, fall sports and plenty more in the world of entertainment.

We talk about what we’re into and what we’re looking forward to – including Lovecraft Country, The Vow, The Boys, Utopia, the PS5, NFL and college sports, The Gifted, The Last Kingdom and Dune – and share some perspective on entertainment in general, thanks to our collective boy, C.S. Lewis 🙂

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Life at a Distance

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Mandy Polzin and Rob Shade join us for a roundtable discussion about our post-pandemic, more-distanced lives.

Questions include: How are we experiencing doing work, school, church and life-in-general more remote, digital and online? What are the pros and cons of technologies like Zoom? Is there some sense in which church specifically needs to be physically present and in-person? What does the pandemic teach us about what humans are like? What perspective can our faith give us?

Also, FYI, Laura was not mad about Matt’s bad joke. She says “I’ll talk about hairstyles anytime you want 😀”

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

Christian Rebels? The Pandemic & Pop Culture Nostalgia

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Mid-pandemic, with many questioning and resisting government authorities and policies, we ask: Can Christians be rebels? Are there biblical and/or historic church models for us to follow, such as Jesus and the apostles, the prophets, American civil rights leaders?

Many are more immersed in pop culture currently than ever before – particularly in nostalgia for old shows, movies, etc. What are the positives and negatives of nostalgia? How does it relate to spiritual matters and to the “Christian rebels” topic?

All this and more (! 🙂 ) in this episode of the Your Sunday Drive Podcast.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive