An Almost Perfect Podcast
By Almost Perfect
An Almost Perfect PodcastSep 05, 2022
Good news & bad news
Tom and John go through a round of Good News/Bad News. It's a reminder there's always something good and not so good happening. But we have faith!
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Listen like you mean it
Do you ever get the feeling no one's really listening to each other? Why is it so hard to learn to listen? To really listen to what others are saying. Tom and John discuss the art/skill and power of listening. If we learn to listen better we just might be saving our souls! Oh, and what about the women who was 40% canine? E119
Feeling disillusioned, Gen Z?
This week, Tom and John discuss the merits of Gen Z's disillusionment. Maybe they're on to something. Plus, Chiefs fans need amputations and we found a way to truly be out of this world.
How attrative should we be?
Tom and John discuss whether the "attractional" church is dead. And if we can't be attractional, what can we be?
Finding wisdom
Who knew these two wiseguys could talk real wisdom?
What have you been reading and watching?
This week's podcast covers what we've been reading and watching. Tom was almost inspired to do something great until he realized we weren't talking about a Cheese Danish. E115
Is your church a copy cat?
The U.S. may not be ready to wage war against an alien invasion, but the guys think the church can stand against cover-bandism. This week, the guys talk about what's happening that's making a lot of our churches into cover bands?
Dear Church in America
What letter would MLK write to us today?
How to follow the Holy Spirit
If you're a new Christian or always want to be a reNEWed Christian, following the Spirit is important. In this week's podcast, we talk about how to follow the Holy Spirit. Oh, and how much your old Christmas tree might be worth.
What do you remember?
It's our last podcast of 2023! As the guys look back on 2023, they find out they think of the Roman Empire more than they thought. And what did Corpus Christians search for most on Google?
What do you remember about 2023?
A merry, merry movie chat
What's your favorite Christmas movie? Get ready to unwrap some festive fun with our Christmas episode! Yule probably want to watch one of our favorite movies before we're done. It's a holly jolly episode coming Wednesday!
Hurry up, God!
We made Tom wait to talk about waiting.
Who's paying to go to church?
What do witch bottles and processing fees have in common at church? This week the guys talk about what was recently found on the beach and how to get our church ready for Christmas.
The Friction of Advent
If you slow down you might save some money. This week, Tom, John and Joseph talk Advent and what it means to walk with faith together.
Have a pie-ous Thanksgiving
Tom and John talk the weird, fun and faithful side of Thanksgiving.
A growing world and a shrinking church.
The world population is now over 8billion people! What does that mean for your church?
Should church be diverse?
Joseph and Tom share some of their international church experiences and wonder if there's room for diversity in the US church.
Are worship leaders safe?
A company trademarked the phrase "worship leader" and sent a cease and desist letter to an account using it. The guys figure out if their local worship leaders are now in trouble.
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It's our 100th episode!
It's our 100th episode! This week, we look back on a few past episodes and talk about what the church can learn from centenarians.
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Does revival end?
Tom and John welcome two guests this week. Carl was at Asbury at the 1970 revival. Jeremiah is there today. They both share their experiences and hopes for what happens next. Plus, does Australia have snowy mountains? E99
What does revival even mean?
Tom and Brad console an Eagles fan. And Brad brings the strange news today. Plus, is there a revival happening in Kentucky? The guys talk about what revival is and how to know if its happening at your church.
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Is your church successful?
A city changed their name to try to do something worthwhile. Were they successful? And how do we translate success in church? Should you and your church try to be successful or is there a better way of thinking about all this?
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$100 million commercials for Jesus
Is spending $100 million on commercials for Jesus worth it? Does Jesus have a brand issue? Tom and John talk about the new ad series "He Gets Us."
Just do one thing this year
There's a better way to change! Instead of bombarding yourself with so many life goals and resolutions, be like Marathon Man and pick one thing. Tom and John sit down for the year's first episode.
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It's still Christmas around here!
Tom and John finish off 2022 with some Christmas clarification. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Get the church outta here!
Is it time for the church to build out of their buildings? If it happens around a campfire and vegetables, is it church? We've talked before about people leaving the church. This week, Tom and John talk about the church leaving the church for more fruitful ministry.
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Unstressing the stress of the holidays
The guys had to prove they weren't going to be stressed out by things happening during the holidays. Listen in for ways to let this season be a time of joy and celebration, not anxiety, rush and despair.
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Figuring out why they left the church
Two people from Ohio play Santa and it's got John inspired. This week, the guys talk about 3 more reasons to understand why so many people have left the church. What should we do now that more people are leaving?
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Figuring out why they left the church
Two people from Ohio play Santa and it's got John inspired. This week, the guys talk about 3 more reasons to understand why so many people have left the church. What should we do now that more people are leaving?
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Do I see what I see?
The word of the year's got us talking! How do we know what's truth and if we're hearing it? This week, Brad, Tom and John talk about who's gaslighting around here. And Tom's ready for Christmas!
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But first, Advent!
More people are showing an interest in Advent. We think that's a good thing! What is this strange time when we think about the end of the world and Jesus coming again? This week, the guys talk about what it means to observe Advent and how it helps us follow Jesus.
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Does your church need more money?
Doesn't every church say they need more money? Is that some kind of clue? This week, Brad and John talk about the first priority that comes to mind to churches when they get big gifts. Plus, they've got a holiday-decoration and friendship tip you'll want to hear.
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What makes you a saint?
We get it, you're a sinner. But there's more to us than that. At least if God is as much as we say we believe. This week, the guys talk about what it means to be a saint of God. Heads up: You may not be perfect, but you could be!
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You need more awe
This may be the most awe inspiring podcast you hear today. Tom and John talk about what it means to live in awe and why it's so important to life and faith.
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Is the Bible still useful?
A lot of people say reading the Bible has transformed their lives. Even people who don't read it say the same. What does that mean for the guy who visits his ex-wife's grave? E83
Ways your church can reconnect
It's Tom and John this week. They give you another reason to either hate or love pumpkin spice. As churches look to plan ministry after the pandemic, is there any chance they can reconnect? Are our churches doomed to failure after such a trying season. We think it's very possible churches can reconnect--and reconnect in meaningful ways.
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Why you should laugh more (w/Dorie McLemore)
This week we have a special guest who is funny and has us seriously questioning what we think we know about dolphins. Dorie McLemore joins us to talk about her stand up comedy and getting church people to laugh. Plus, pay attention to how many hot dogs you eat!
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Questions people ask us
This is our first grab bag episode. These are some of the questions pastors get asked a lot about. Oh, and AI will not take over the work (wink, wink).
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Is your church missing Christian education?
Has Christian Education been neglected in our churches? Maybe we've been too focused on other things. And what does it mean to offer Christian Education? Mushrooms talk to each other. So, we should talk about this with each other, too.
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How vile is your ministry willing to be?
Michael Beck joins us this week to talk about how Fresh Expressions might be the most faithful form of ministry practice. What is it? What makes it important? Michael shares some of his experiences with us. And it turns out John wasn't a messy eater. He was just a Heinz fashion icon waiting to happen.
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How can doing nothing be productive?
Doing nothing can be doing something great. This week, Brad and John talk about learning to slow down in order to have the life God desires for us. Think you can learn to do nothing? Slow down and enjoy life?
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Would Jesus infringe your copyrights?
This week, the guys talk about a church, potentially, in some copyright trouble. Does the eternal ends justify our infringement means? This all leads us to an important reminder about what evangelism means to the church.
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What's the future of family ministry?
There's been a rare sighting: it's a clergy couple serving together! And we have them on the podcast this week. Brad and John talk to Adam and Danielle about their experience as a clergy could with children. Plus, we talk about what faithful family ministry is. By the way, if you're looking for a new job, we've got something that might interest you.
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Are women less religious than men now?
It's long been thought women are more religious than men. That checks out with our experience. The guys talk about a recent survey that suggest that GenZ women are now less religious than they once were.
And not all DIY projects are worth it!
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What to get out of traveling
We've been traveling and there's a lot more to it than just leaving and returning. The guys talk about the six stages of traveling that make for what's called "transformative travel." Plus, a man breaks a peanut-pushing record in Colorado and a real-lie Wilson situation develops in Greece. Thanks for listening!
Who cares about church?
Why does it take the church so long to catch up? Does it have anything to do with apathy? It's one thing if people outside the church don't care. But what happens when the church itself doesn't seem to care?
Let's blame college
This week the guys welcome guest Todd Salmi to talk about ministry with college students and young adults. When did the church give up on young people? And is there anything now we can do about the consequences? Plus, a couple in New Delhi wants to sue their son for not having kids. Speaking of college, a group of students at Johns Hopkins has something new for your burrito.
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Is God a fingernail biter?
This week on the podcast the guys learn the ocean has a memory. Or did they just forget they already knew that? Plus, what would you do if you retired early? John leads the group in a podcast game called Bad News/Good News.
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What are we becoming?
Church doesn't make sense if we don't pay attention to what we're becoming. This week, Tom and John talk about what you should notice if you go to church, pray or read the Bible. Plus, two old ladies go two very different ways.
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Methodists are more like Catholics
This week, Tom surprises a lot of people by suggesting Methodists are more like Catholics. Is that true? What difference do our differences make?
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