The Bad Roman

Love and Substance Abuse - Hope for the Addict with Reckless Saints of Nowhere’s Jordan Blake

Jordan Blake is the Executive Director and co-founder of The Reckless Saints of Nowhere. He finished his own rehab journey in 2015 and started Reckless Saints with his wife shortly after. They lead a team that destroys barriers for those ready to go through treatment for substance addiction. They go against the status quo to show the love of Jesus to those most of the world finds repugnant. And it works.
No matter who you are, you know someone struggling with addiction — even if you don’t know it. This touches everyone. If it’s not you, it’s your sibling, cousin, teacher, friend, coworker… it's a deadly problem. It needs to be talked about. Shame only keeps people from getting the help they need. Those dealing with it need and deserve our love. If you or someone you know is ready to accept help, go to recklesssaintsofnowhere.com or call
(918) 864-2719 to start the process.
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-62
 
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Hope of the Kingdom: How God Wins with Jonathan Cannone

Jonathan Cannone is a Jesus-follower, writer, homesteader, teacher, and Kingdom worker. He wrote an article for The Bad Roman blog, The Dream of the City to Come: Do You Not Trust God?, about the Kingdom coming, both now and in the unknown future. 
As Christians, we have hope. We are called to live and act peacefully, and doing this in all of our pursuits may help bring about the Kingdom to our own little corner of the world. Those in power now will not win in the end. God wins eternity. We have to remember this and take a long view of time, a God-view of time.
We know Who wins and we are on His side, all that is required of us is to continuously choose to remain on that side and not fall into the ways of this world and the false promises of man-made power and state-sanctioned violence.  We know the rules of our side, Jesus showed us and told us, and it is our job, as Christians to continuously submit to our faith in his message, even when we must sometimes must obey unjust powers in pursuit of Christ.
Take this episode as a message of encouragement: politicians may seem powerful, but Jesus is the true King. As a Christain you are an ambassador for Heaven, don’t forget to act like it! 
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-61
 
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God or Government - Who’s in Charge of the World? with Pete Rollo of Rival Nations & Abby Cleckner

In this episode, Craig and his better podcast half, Abby Cleckner, are joined by Peter Rollo, founder of the website and blog project Rival Nations. Pete shares the history of Rival Nations, why he started it, why he was anonymous for so long, and where the project is headed. 
If you’ve ever questioned if the world of politics, on any side, be it liberal, conservative, anarchist, or libertarian always seems prone to the ways of this world, to violence. This episode looks at why that is, and why we, as Christians are called to a different kingdom, and we must continue to abide by the ways of that Kingdom, the one Jesus showed us, rather than pursue earthly powers.
Too often we find Christians falling into the fallacy that, if we just get more Christians elected into office things will change, and God’s will can be implemented, with the right leaders, but this is the illusion we see Jesus reject time and time again in the Bible. How do we get to this conclusion? By looking at what Jesus has to teach us. In the second half of the episode, Pete breaks down his article, Christians Can’t Be in Government, to show us exactly who is at the forefront of political power (hint: it is not God!).
We see Israel fall when it turns to earthly Kings, and we see Jesus reject the role of Messiah, in an effort to show us God’s way, not Man’s. Rival Nations is a digital archive of Pete’s theological journey, and it all started with seeing Jesus as a political force, not in his pursuit of political power, but, rather, in his rejection of it. Let us know what you think and the comments, or by sharing your thoughts on social media!
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-60
 
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Jesus, Memes, War, and Canadian Truckers with Nathan Chavoya, Tony & Abby Cleckner

In this episode, Craig is joined by (sometimes) co-host Abby Cleckner for a conversation with fellow podcasters, Nathan Chavoya and his co-host Tony, to talk about the power of memes, their podcast Reality Czars, and, of course, Jesus. We covered a wide variety of topics in this episode, from why we use memes to Amish communities and the pros and cons of Trump supporters. As always, it comes back to the question of: What Would Jesus Do? Whether we’re considering people who don’t want to listen, Canadian truckers, Ukraine and Russia, the Mexican border, war and Christianity, the indoctrination of the church, or conservative Amish communities – in everything, we must follow the example of Jesus.
Nathan is the social media manager for the Bad Roman project. He makes a lot of the memes you see on our page. You can find Nate and Tony's show and where to connect with them via their link tree (content warning for all of their media: profanity, crude humor, rude comments)
Episode Starting Points:
5:50 Why memes work
9:01 People who love to smell their own farts
12:45 Canadian truckers
24:47 The reality of COVID
29:18 Mandates
32:26 Schooling
33:52 Ukraine and Russia
39:26 Border crossers
45:00 Evangelicals love war and destruction
51:51 Amish
55:54 Reality Czars podcast
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-59
 
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No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com

The Return of Jesus: Deconstructed with Keith Giles & Abby Cleckner

Keith Giles was once a pastor, but then he met Jesus. Now, he’s a theologian spreading the Gospel of love through several podcasts, including Heretic Happy Hour, Second Cup with Keith, and Threads, as well as numerous blog posts, and many books. In this episode of the Bad Roman podcast, Craig is once again joined by our beloved contributor, and Keith Giles fan, Abby Cleckner for a deep dive into the question that titles one of his articles, “What if Jesus isn’t Coming Back”?
The Church’s Christianity isn’t very Christ-like. The way Christians behave is often influenced by their beliefs about the end of time. Keith joins us to talk through a blog post he wrote about the second coming of Christ, which led him to later pen the book called Jesus Unexpected. Jesus never intended for us to live in fear or anxiety, isn’t it time we start acting like Christians again, let’s turn the world on its head and be a force of love, peace, and joy once more.
 
Starting Points:
1:55 Deconstruction
6:10 Research Revelations
9:38 Craig waiting for Jesus
11:15 The trauma of Left Behind
15:39 We can anticipate Christ’s return
18:17 Pharisitical mindset
21:39 Is it really about the end of the world?
31:10 Coasting
33:42 John 14
34:37 New Covenant
38:06 Movie metaphor
43:07 Jesus Unarmed
50:17 Flat Bible Theory
55:27 Our foundation
57:31 Civil resistance
1:08:56 Introducing people to Jesus
1:18:15 Don’t send hate mail - WE LOVE THE BIBLE!!
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-58
 
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Foster Care, Adoption & The Church - Kids of the State with Darren Freidinger and Ian Minielly

In this episode of The Bad Roman, we look at foster care and adoption. This topic comes by request from listener Darren Freidinger, who is a foster parent himself. Since Darren asked us to do an episode on this often discussed topic, we invited him to be the guest! Beyond being a father, Darren is passionate about the church stepping in and fulfilling its role to care for orphans. He shares his experience with foster to adopt, the foster care system, and alternatives to the state-run system.
Joining Craig and Darren in this episode is a long-time friend of the show, and Bad Roman contributor, Ian Minielly. Outside of writing articles on The Bad Roman Blog, Ian is also a foster parent and has experienced the great loss of having his first foster daughter taken from him and his wife. You can read his story in his short book, Emily's Tears, and hear a synopsis on the show.
Darren and Ian share their mutual and different experiences and struggles with the system, and what they see as ways to fix it and best work with it — and Craig compares his cats to children (as normal). This episode touches on every emotion and gives a glimpse into the system that holds the fate of thousands of children who become wards of the state, through no fault of their own.
Christians are called to care for orphans and widows – those who are helpless. We can do that even without fostering any children ourselves. More than anything, these kids need something positive in their lives. They need support. And it’s our job to provide for them. The question is, how?
 
Starting Points:
5:15 Why Darren’s a foster parent
9:52 Is there a better way to do this without the state?
10:38 Ian’s Story
17:09 Does the state want kids to get adopted?
20:36 Emotions and Turmoil
23:23 How can we fix this? It is not working
29:28 The Church is not being the Church
30:52 What it takes to become a foster parent [in Illinois]
40:00 Ian’s story continued
49:12 Older kids
51:54 Doing it just for the paycheck
57:36 Final thoughts
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-57
 
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Christ and Policing with Terrell Carter

Terrell Carter is a pastor and the president of a community development organization. At 16, he felt the call to ministry to do what he can to improve people’s lives and help different groups understand each other. At 23, he thought he could do that as a police officer, and they offered him benefits that would support his growing family. After 5 years, he had to quit because he wouldn’t stand for the corruption in the force and testified against his partner. He’s written several books and runs Rise, a nonprofit organization working to connect communities with local institutions to empower the revitalization of neighborhoods in Greater St. Louis, while pastoring a church and raising his children. 
Terrell has come on the podcast to shed light on his unique perspectives and experiences. He shares with us what it was like growing up black in a predominantly white community, how the police force didn’t fit with his life of Kingdom mission, and what it looks like to actually carry out the call of God to care for other people. One of his life goals is to bring different groups of people together through an understanding of each other, and today he is doing that by sharing his own story with us, who mostly come from a different background than his.
Starting points:
5:23 Terrell’s story
18:39 Why Terrell needed to come on the show
23:12 Terrell’s time on the force
29:48 Craig’s background
32:02 How we got here
38:18 Trying to reconcile policing as a Christian (not to mention a pastor)
41:43 Terrell’s life now
44:04 Rise
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-56
 
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Is Taxation Slavery? A Biblical Case with Patrick Carroll

Have you ever wanted to take a Biblical journey through taxes? We are delighted to have Patrick Carroll back on the show today to talk us through an article he shared entitled: Taxation is Slavery: A Biblical Case. Patrick Carroll is a scholar, writer, and teacher of Biblical economic philosophy. He comments on current events from an anarchist perspective in his articles for Fee.org, where he's also involved with the Hazlitt Apprenticeship. Patrick has previously been on our show for episode 16, If You Vote, You Can't Complain, and has contributed multiple articles for syndication on our blog.
In this episode, we go through the Bible together and take a close look at where and when God took clear stands on taxation. What does our Bible study reveal? Taxation makes people into slaves. God never intended for us to have the government man has created. The kingdom of Heaven is upside down, and it is our job to spread His way of peace and love in the world to flip it back.
You learn more about Patrick and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and on his blog: The Prudent Navigator.
 
Starting Points:
2:59 Is taxation slavery?
6:00 Human government
15:15 Examples from the Old Testament
21:21 We are not just oppressed; we are slaves
28:30 New Testament Examples
32:00 Nehemiah (chapters 5 and 9)
33:18 What constitutes too heavy of a tax?
34:03 Israelites’ plea to God
35:37 1 Peter 2
38:55 Obedience vs submission
41:44 Can a real anarchist pay taxes?
44:18 Civil disobedience
46:37 Why we’re Christian anarchists
49:30 How to make change
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-55
 
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Waging Peace: Seeing God Before the Resurrection with Jason Porterfield

Author and self-proclaimed ‘aspiring peacemaker,’ Jason Porterfield, returns to the show to walk Bad Roman co-hosts, Craig Harguess and Abby Cleckner, through his new book, Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week.  
 
Come Spring we tend to look straight to Easter, to the miracle of the resurrection, but just how much do we miss when we forget the why and how of what led up to Christ’s crucifixion? By taking an in-depth look at each day in the final week of Jesus’ life, Jason’s book is a guide and game-changer for any Christian who still thinks Jesus died to protect us from a wrathful God. 
 
God is love! He is not a hammer or sword-wielding warrior, but a force of mercy, humility, and reckoning. How often do we forget this today? How often do we use the bible to justify violent means to imagined peaceful ends? 
 
This episode is a challenge to you to look at yourself, your actions, and if they reflect what you think you believe. It can be easy to think we are on the right side of the resurrection, that we, of course, are on the side of Jesus, but it is just as easy to fail to see we are the ones plotting against the way of peacemaking, that we are the ones holding the hammer over our savior on the cross. We invite you to listen with an open mind, to humble yourself to the folly we all are susceptible to fall into in the midst of miracles. 
To learn more about Jason's work and message connect with him on  Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For options of where to buy his book please visit his website (just in time for Easter!!).
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-54
 
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Love at the Border with Sheriff David Hathaway

David Hathaway is the sheriff in a county of Arizona that borders Mexico. He does not believe the government is the way to solve our problems, but he's in office for now so no tyrannical person will be. He's doing what he can to protect everyone in his large family as well as his ranch and personal freedom. He has refused his governor’s offer of troops to patrol his portion of the border. He works to show everyone in and near his county God's love.
His consistent experience with the church and other freedom-lovers spewing wild hate when it comes to the wall led him to write a book on immigration and several articles for Lew Rockwell and the Libertarian Institute.
Jesus instructed us to love our neighbor and our enemy. So regardless of how you view them, it makes no sense to attack people for crossing a man-made line in the sand. But a lot of Christians and anarchists who stand on principle for many other issues completely change their tune when it comes to the wall and Mexico.
Many of us are hoping to someday be a part of a voluntary society. We often ask: would a sheriff be a part of that? David shares his thoughts. Also, we all know the mainstream media hides the truth from us. But they are pretending so hard that COVID is terrible, they’re completely ignoring the fact that suicide and overdoses killed more people during the lockdown than this “epidemic” did directly. This is tragic and affects so many families, but people hide in the shadows, not realizing they are, unfortunately, the norm.
 
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-53
 
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