You smell that?

I do.

There’s football in the air, rising thicker than Canadian wildfire smoke. Grab a pig skin (chicharrón or an oblong “foot”ball—your choice) and dig in, because you’re gonna need it for the September 2026 Pastoral Theology VIBE ⚡️

Welcome to another edition of Pastoral Vibe-ology, a seriously unserious sub-Substack. I, Joseph Lear, am your viber of vibes, here to help you vibe with the VIBE that’s taking the American church faster than the NCAA can ruin college sports.

Last month, I was on vacay. I appreciate all of the direct messages, emails, and texts I got supporting me in my vacation vibe. I didn’t respond to any of you because I WAS ON VACATION, but I see your love and I give it right back to you.

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btw, if you haven’t seen this heartwarming video of my sons going to the beach for the first time ever, grab a box of tissues. Because you’re gonna need them.

This is a picture of me. Click it to find out more about me.

This month’s vibe comes with an update on my life: I’m the first-ever Theologian in Residence at the Geneva Christian Study Center at the University of Iowa. More on that later, but since I’m on campus every day—huffing deeply the pigskin-scent wafting across the black and gold sunrise (unique to Iowa City)—I’m declaring that this month’s vibe is BIG TEN.

It’s black and gold because of the Iowa Hawkeyes

FOOTBALL?!?!

Before you do anything else, the following video is required viewing for the VIBE. Not only does it highlight the vibe, but it’s also a precious piece of Christian history because this video put YouTube on the Evangelical map circa 2010. Watch the whole thing, but pay attention to the 55 second time-stamp onward:

Pig Skin Preach ‘em

As always, I’m here to help you preach the VIBE so you can vibe the vibe and viiiiiibe while preaching. The first sermon suggestion is a little on the nose, but we have to be willing to go there:

The Original BIG TEN (i.e. The Ten Commandments). Be sure to highlight that the B1G Conference (confusingly) has more than ten teams, which is evidence of humanity’s penchant for adding to God’s law. It’s called legalism.
Sing B1Gly for the Lord: Making Melody with the Harp of Ten Strings (Ps. 33:2)
Eighteen and the Mission of God: 18 is how many teams are actually in the Big Ten. 18 is in between 12 and 24. Understand it like this: we’re trying to get from the 12 apostles to the 24 elders (in Rev 4). Which means 18 stands for the era of the church. When the Big Ten Conference reaches 24 teams, that’s when Jesus will come back. It’s complicated, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
Tim Tebow. (That’s it. Just preach about Tim Tebow).

IS IT MORAL???

This month I’m introducing a new bit tailored to the vibe called 🤔 IS IT MORAL???

I want to hear your voice, and you should want to hear your voice too.

Here it is:

Now, a word from our sponsor:

This month’s VIBE Sponsor is…

The Iowa Pork Industry

who make skins for the boys on the gridiron

and for our keto-inspired chip bowls at home.

They remind us with every brat grilling venture

that the OT purity laws aren’t for us.

Keep piggin’ out.

#OinkOink

#JesusIsLord

Shout out to former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for sharing the good news of Iowa pork with China

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Finally, A Herky Update

Pastoral VIBE-ology: September 2026

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