In this episode of Drunk Ex-Pastors, Jason and Christian start off the show with an experimental shot meant to give them wings. Jason then imparts his best “white-trash scheme” as a free service to anyone needing to send a letter but who is short on postage. As Jason transforms before our ears into a better and better car salesman (and a less and less trustworthy person, obviously), Christian begins Jason’s speech therapy, which, unfortunately for Jason, may last the entire episode. They then check in on the status of Jason’s haters and as a free public service announcement give their listeners a simple way to avoid the Ebola virus. Christian is biebered by (not drunk) ex-pastor Bob Coy, the “Tiger Woods” of Calvary Chapel, while Jason is biebered by any car that costs more than $30,000. (Unless, of course, he is selling it to you.)
Podcast #229: Public Office, Facebook, and White- vs. Blue-Collar
Podcast #371: Outrage Culture, Rape in the Media, and Evangelical Manipulation
Podcast #269: Controversial Comedy and Late-Night Intimacy
Podcast #413: Armageddon and Learned Helplessness
I like the new theme music guys. Welcome to the world of “radio” shows; you must be getting big, in that you are prepping for folks coming after you for copyright fees!
Glad to hear the music is Ok. Thanks! And yeah, the fact that people are listening may have caught us a little by surprise. 🙂
Is it wrong that my favorite thing in this entire podcast is Christian inciting Jason to say fuck?
Oh, come on! It’s doesn’t take much.
Yeah, but you’re a full on potty mouth. I expect it from you. Jason is typically a little less truck driver-ish. But what’s a man to do when lethal almond missiles are being thrown at his head?
I know, right? Thank you. . . .
I think the facts would disagree.
As soon as Jason said he had a white trash scheme, I knew it was the mail trick. I remember that from high school! I wanted to interrupt so bad, but nobody could hear me.
But we can feel you Mike. So please, interrupt away. . . .
Jason made the same argument for cars in the lounge at the Marriott in Budapest 18 years ago. Get some new material!
I just mailed off a package to Buffalo to see if it actually works.
You know, Sam, most of the people who listen to this podcast weren’t at the Marriott in Budapest 18 years ago! 🙂
Perfect. Please report back and let us know how it goes. (If, however, you only get one call, feel free to call a lawyer instead.)
Pffft. Like I would actually mail anything to Buffalo. Does anyone even live in Buffalo?
The ones that matter were there! I forced myself to listen because I feel obligated to at least do that for you guys. I kept thinking I’ve heard everything they are going to say but I found it entertaining to say the least. Although my 5 year old was in the room with me and every time an f bomb came out he would look up at me and let me know that he did NOT hear that.
Ha ha! I will talk to Jason about his inappropriate language. Thanks for listening, Sam. I’m glad it was entertaining for you! Being an ex-pastor yourself, you’ll have to join us sometime…after I figure out how to hook up a third mic.
I won’t tell your accounting company if you don’t tell mine!
I actually don’t know anything about accounting. I just take care of their Web site. (Although all of my aptitude tests in high school said I should be an accountant.)
The weird part is that for people who increase their salary, it usually is increased in small steps, and so we absorb the difference in luxuries, and each time that we achieve the increase, we do not see the excess (as Jason describes).
Honestly, for the last 5 years we have had the belt tightened extremely, and when the corner is turned, we will be happy to actually have some excess money (that could be used for vacation, gifts, etc).
These are questions that should be asked, whether or not they are valid, or being moral I am not sure.
I disagree that Jason going to France a couple times a year, is no big deal, compared with someone who buys a Masarati (I think both of them are about equal). I have no issue with someone having a fancy exotic car, or someone taking great trips, but if they actually go to excess, that is where the difference is.
It’s all sort of relative though, don’t you think, James? We may look on with disgust at someone who purchases a Lamborghini Reventon for $1.61 million, but someone starving in Asia may look upon our purchase of a $35k Honda with the same disgust, and probably more justifiably.
Actually I don’t think it’s relative in the way you are speaking, I think that the excesses of the consumerism that Jason was speaking of is something that can be leveled against most of the world (not all segments, but each area has the privileged amongst them).
We can look at even those existing around the poverty line here in the states and the census info tells us that even those around the poverty line have flat screens, internet access, computers, etc – the report showed that those living at that level had enough food, etc, but they had not risen above their previous income level (depending on who you talked to, this either proved that the war on poverty was successful, or a failure).
If we spend $35k on a car (which most of us will drive 5-7 years, and then sell or trade for $20k, and repeat). I do not usually have new cars (you might remember my older vehicles), but I know folks who are mechanically inept and it is more financially responsible for them to replace them every couple of years, usually it works out to be $3-5k each year (including everything).
Your final statement I think is wrong, however I understand that you are going for the comment that would get me to comment (and how it worked). It’s interesting how many of us talk about being annoyed at the consumerism, and yet we are fully immersed. I look back and am ashamed at how far I was in, and how entrenched I had become after only a few years here in the states (not that other countries are exempt). Due to the financial reality, I had to reel back budgets, and I found that it was not really a problem, and that just brought a new disgust to my senses, if I really didn’t need “x”, then what did it say about me that I had bought it? Why did I buy it, so I could have a small feeling of euphoria, to keep up with the rest of society, and trundle on? To be honest I MIGHT have spent $40 this year on music, but I don’t think even that, I haven’t spent anything on “toys”, although I am tempted many times (electronic devices for work do not count). Seriously much of it, is that it doesn’t fit in our budget, so… 2 years ago, I sorted out and bought both of us a decent espresso machine (on sale, with a GOOD coupon, and saved over $200, but still spent just over $300), and counted it as our present for Christmas, birthdays, and anniversary. Since both of us had been using money to buy coffee drinks, I figured that we could “save” money and maybe still have a “luxury”.
Price is not really where I think we should draw a line, but more if it is superfluous. Also, I don’t think I would be disgusted at someone who spent $1.6M on a new car, but who knows. I know some folks who are wealthy, and there are differences; some are excessive, and some live at a higher level, but not representative to the difference in income.
Does any of this make sense?
I will check back after work, I really need to get something done since I am the boss. 😉
And what with her stuffing her face with Twixes the minute her husband leaves the house? Shaking head….
Just saw an article using information gained from the latest Spectrem Group Survey, in it they found that 1 in 12 households have a net worth of $1M or more (not counting the primary residence). The interesting parts that I think are relevant to our discussion is that just under 1/3 of them inherited their wealth, and the majority (didn’t give specific numbers) prioritize experience over stuff. The biggest categories for spending were vacations, charitable giving, patronizing the arts, and attending sporting events.
In regards the flashy stuff, only 4% spent more than $10k on jewelry (each piece, or together?), and 93% spent nothing on boats.
Erik, only Harry and Lloyd weren’t rich, just (dumb) lucky. Then again, sometimes those two things do co-exist.
But whatever, do you want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?
OK I am getting caught up on your podcasts again. I have to do this in order and just can’t skip ahead. So I realize I am 4 months ex post facto, but I would like to make a comment! RE: Christian’s Bieber:
I didn’t get kicked out of the church. I got sick while at Bible College. I got a case of chronic mono. You know like Ebola, I should not have gotten this disease because like the good little christian girl I was, I had never been kissed at this point. But I did get it. And in the cess pool that was the girls dorm, I kept getting Strep and spent weeks in isolation.
I decided that it was time I came home and get well. Just weeks before graduation. When I left I intended on coming back the next semester. But once I left, I got just one visit from a group of guys. Who I appreciate them coming SOOO much. But other than that, no one invited me back. No one from the school checked up on me. I got everyone in my class’ “support my mission to XYZ country as I go save the world for God” letters. But why did no one practice the good Christ-like attribute of ministering to the sick? That triggered the thoughts that led to my leaving the church. (which maybe I’ll share if they come up in a future podcast).
Anyway – Thought for topic for future podcast (if you haven’t covered already because I am like 20 podcasts behind) Why do Christians prefer to preach across the globe rather than take care of their own? I certainly was guilty of it.
Signed,
The wish-I-was-drunk-ex-missionary-now-married-to-a-brewmaster-to-get-free-beer
That sucks, Jennifer. The interesting thing when you look at what the bible says is how important actually caring for people is to god (visiting those in prison, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and those are (generally) the things that most Christians are worst at.
I heard about your podcast from listening to Dan Savage on Fresh Air or something else on NPR,and so I went back to the beginning to listen to them all. I swear to GOD, I’ve never laughed so hard than I did at Christian hucking almonds at Jason. I mean, sure, you guys talk about SUPER interesting stuff, but I giggled more through this podcast than I have at anything else so far. Sorry, Jason. Your pain is amusing to me.
Ha ha! I loved that episode! Glad you are enjoying it. 🙂