You're listening to the Bible for Normal People, the only God ordained podcast on the internet.

I'm Pete Ends.

And I'm Jared Bias.

Before we get into today's episode, here's a sneak peek at the audio version of my new book Love Matters More.

How fighting to be right keeps us from loving like Jesus.

If this is interesting, you want to hear more, you want to read more.

I would encourage you to go to Love MattersMorebook.com or wherever you order your books and order a copy of Love Matters More.

If that's not your cup of tea, you can fast forward this part and get into this amazing episode with James Cougal.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Chapter 3.

Beware of falling in love with cows.

One night when I was 17, I came home from a night out with friends and went straight to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat.

Even though our kitchen was small, it was where we had our washer and dryer and dining table that sat in front of a large window.

As I walked into the kitchen from the living room, I could see my mom sitting there working on something.

We began talking about the night, which somehow led to a conversation about Christianity.

Well, to be honest, I tried to steer most of my conversations into conversations about Christianity.

We were debating the idea of predestination, whether God chooses which people will go to heaven or whether we have free will.

I had recently been introduced to theology and after reading two or three books on the topic,

I was clearly an expert and needed to change everyone's mind to save them from their ignorant ways.

Aha, but you see, I said to my mom as I pointed a finger in her face, you've just contradicted yourself.

In an instant, she had grabbed my throat with one hand and my shirt with the other and slammed me into our back door.

Our eyes grew wide as the realization of what just happened sank in.

...