The Crowbar Massage Podcast

Eric Blauer
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

Forays into Culture, Politics, and Religion meant to provoke you to think deeper, expand your understanding, and better equip you to engage the world around and within you. It's commentary like an Eastern bloc massage, Olga is there to help you, but sometimes it hurts.

  1. Susanna and the Elders: a story about a woman who stood her ground

    May 15

    Susanna and the Elders: a story about a woman who stood her ground

    Send us Fan Mail This Deep Dive explores the ancient story of Susanna and the Elders found in the Apocrypha, examining its historical significance through early Christian art in Roman catacombs. The narrative recounts how a virtuous woman resisted the predatory advances and false accusations of two religious leaders, ultimately becoming a symbol of faith under persecution. The message emphasizes the importance of moral integrity and spiritual training, suggesting that Susanna’s refusal to sin serves as a timeless model for believers facing injustice. Contemporary examples of sexual impropriety and cultural shifts are discussed to highlight a universal need for divine grace across all genders. Finally, the text reflects on the dignity of the individual and the destructive nature of the "predatory gaze," connecting the biblical account to modern cinematic and social themes. Support the show

    20 min
  2. DEEP DIVE: a conversation about my latest sermon on Jedidah the mother of King Josiah

    May 15

    DEEP DIVE: a conversation about my latest sermon on Jedidah the mother of King Josiah

    Send us Fan Mail Raising the Remnant: How God Raises Reformers in Dark Times Support the show

    16 min
  3. The Virgins Part 2: Single and Satisfied?

    Apr 1

    The Virgins Part 2: Single and Satisfied?

    Send us Fan Mail "...I wish everyone was single, just as I am." -the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:7  Single people in the modern church are often given a vision of being single as enduring purgatory until they can get to the heavenly state of marriage. We forget or are not reminded enough that Jesus was single and so were many of those who followed him in the centuries to come. How did we lose the glory of godliness experienced in a life devoted to the Lord body, soul and spirit?  Support the show

    28 min
  4. Thecla: a friend of Paul and an inspiration to the early Christians

    Apr 1

    Thecla: a friend of Paul and an inspiration to the early Christians

    Send us Fan Mail A story from the New Testament era of a young woman who took a different path.  Support the show

    17 min
  5. Comus and the Lady: John Milton's Tale of Virtue and Vice

    Mar 3

    Comus and the Lady: John Milton's Tale of Virtue and Vice

    Send us Fan Mail Comus and The Lady by John Milton is an allegory pitting virtue (especially chastity and temperance) against vice. A virtuous young woman (called simply “the Lady”) becomes separated from her two brothers in a dark wood while traveling. Comus, disguised as a friendly villager, deceives her into following him to his “pleasure palace.” There, he immobilizes her with a spell (gluing her to an enchanted chair) and tries to seduce her into drinking his potion, delivering eloquent arguments for enjoying life’s pleasures without restraint — essentially advocating hedonism and excess over moral self-control. The Lady firmly rejects him in a famous debate, defending chastity, reason, and temperance as invincible virtues upheld by divine grace. She remains spiritually free despite her physical bondage.  Milton’s Comus (first performed in 1634, published 1637) is one of his earliest major works, blending classical mythology with Christian morality in a lyrical, philosophical drama. If you’re reading it, the Lady’s speeches and Comus’s temptations are highlights for their poetic intensity. Read it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E4usjA9y8l-vs7_RNhWS6j2TgDAUkUOa20mi0FVu73w/edit?usp=sharing Support the show

    14 min
  6. Emerging from the Underworld

    Feb 26

    Emerging from the Underworld

    Send us Fan Mail Short reflections on the Lent devotional: 'Wardrobes and Rings' Through Lenten Lands with the Inklings wby Julia Golding, Malcolm Guite and Simon Horobin.  Support the show

    29 min
  7. Spring Comes to Narnia Reflection

    Feb 25

    Spring Comes to Narnia Reflection

    Send us Fan Mail Short reflections on the Lent devotional: 'Wardrobes and Rings' Through Lenten Lands with the Inklings wby Julia Golding, Malcolm Guite and Simon Horobin.  Support the show

    16 min
  8. Turning Sorrow into Halting Words

    Feb 20

    Turning Sorrow into Halting Words

    Send us Fan Mail Reflections on Lothlorien, pain, sorrow and poetry  Support the show

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Forays into Culture, Politics, and Religion meant to provoke you to think deeper, expand your understanding, and better equip you to engage the world around and within you. It's commentary like an Eastern bloc massage, Olga is there to help you, but sometimes it hurts.

Information

  • Creator
    Eric Blauer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Crowbar Massage Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Crowbar Massage Podcast