﻿ Five Years and Counting!
July 6, 2013 marked five years since Ray and Steve uploaded their first episode of Beyond the Box! And shortly before the anniversary of their first episode, Ray and Steve spent about 2-1/2 hours recapping some of the journey to this point. Filled with classic Beyond the Box style and humor, including the revival of the long-missing “Disclaimer Dude”, a conversation which mostly focuses on the journey of BtB with regard to scripture is sure to fascinate both long-time listeners and those who have joined the conversation more recently.
Thank you so much to all of the listeners who have made this first five years so exciting and fun. Here’s to five more years (at least!) of rabbit trails, disclaimers, corny jokes, and thinking out loud as we continue to explore life outside the box of institutional religion!
I have some thoughts and a question or two! I am enjoying your podcasts immensely and learning so much…thanks. Like you and most of your podcast listeners, I am reevaluating much of my 50 years as a rather conservative evangelical in the light of the insights I am hearing on your podcasts. I am very open to being stretched and willing to look at things from a new perspective. After all, God has led me to the place I am at today spiritually and it has been a growing process all the way. I have just relistened to the podcast by Michael Hardin on the Mimetic Theory stuff and also his podcast on Eschatology. I continue to play various podcast over and take time to ruminate on them and kind of let them “marinate” from within!
My question: I am a pretty ordinary lady…a primary school teacher in the past and now retired. I think I am fairly intelligent and I am a huge reader and thinker! But…I find that many of your podcasts are just way beyond the depth of most of my family and friends. My understanding of the “gospel” that Jesus wants us to share with those around us is that it is very simple…so simple that even a child can understand it and believe. I have three grandsons ranging in age from 10 to 17 and the youngest one has a non-verbal learning disorder that requires us to keep explanations and directions very simple!! I wish that you would do a podcast or maybe even a series that simplifies much of the teachings of your podcast speakers so that ordinary people and young people can experience living their daily life “outside the box” of typical religious teachings of the evangelical church. For example, how do I talk to my family, friends and especially my grandsons about things like salvation, the BIble, prayer, end times, and just daily walking with God? WHat and how are you and your wives teaching your children so that they will be free from many of the traditional teachings we hear in church or read in boks…even children’s books? It woudl be great if you could invite some folks like me to join you and some of your scholars on a few podcasts that would help us keep the message simple and yet powerful! I realize that you likely are attempting to reach a certain listening audience so maybe my suggestion is out of your mandate but then, could you direct me to other websites or podcasts that would still carry the wonderfullly freeing messages of yours but in a more everyday, easy to understand way? I will look forward to your thoughts.
You guys are absolutely incredible. Thank you SO much for what you do and your insights. What a blessing.
I am trying to leave a comment under your very first podcast called, “What is The Box?” However, when I hit “submit comment,” I get a page that says, “What you are looking for cannot be found.” (Or, something to that effect.) I’d rather leave the comment there instead of here in that it addresses your comments in that podcast. Can you help?
Greg, thanks for your comment and kind words. I’m not sure what the problem may be with the first episode comments, but if you want to leave the comment here, you can, or email me at steve@beyondtheboxpodcast.com with the comment and I’ll post it on the appropriate episode. Thanks!
I know you probably hear this often, but this is an incredibly important ministry. For someone like myself who is trying to leave the trenches of evangelicalism, this podcast has filled a huge void in my life. It has satisifed my quest for understanding, and has given me support when I could find it no where else. Please know that this is an extremely crucial ministry you are doing. God bless!