On this episode, I talk about the ancient idea of hospitality. I walk through several ancient texts and stories and focus on the spirit of early Christianity. The radical message—the original revolution—is that everyone gets a seat at the table. It is the “hospitality of God” that truly turns the tables on our human condition.…
Have you heard the word “mantra” swirling around lately? On this episode, I talk about the power of mantras. We take a brief look at mantras in Hinduism and then we excavate the endlessly perplexing nature of humanity and our need for mantras. I talk about how these simple words and phrases have the power…
Columbia is well known for its coffee, orchids, and cocaine. But do you know about its radical Catholic Priests? On this episode, I take you to the birthplace of Liberation Theology: Medellin, Columbia circa 1968. As these priests gathered and discussed the plight of the common people and the future of Christianity, a fresh interpretation…
On this episode, I share the true story of my encounter with a coyote on a running trail. Yeah, I thought I was going to die! I talk about the power of metaphors and explore how metaphors shape how we view each other, God, and ourselves. I argue that thinking with metaphors is essential and…
On this episode, I talk about the unreflective ambitions, passions, and desires that can drag us in directions that we really don’t want to go. I talk about busyness and people pleasing and the transformative power of breathing. I summarize Tim Kreider’s excellent essay Lazy: A manifesto and introduce you to some obscure but important early Christian…
On this episode, I talk about the emotional, physical, and spiritual cost of burnout. I weave into this conversation the band Arcade Fire, Voldemort, Ruby Sales, and Micheal Gungor. How can you go wrong with that line up? I end with a strange but provocative poem I wrote called “you will receive power.” This is…
On this episode, I talk about how human bodies are good but how consumerism negatively effects how we treat one another. What does it mean that humans are not commodities to be bought and sold but mysteries to be valued and cherished? This podcast ends with a powerful poem called “defiance is a dance i’m…
On this episode, I ponder the astonishing claim of Christian faith that “God became human.” I get a little nerdy and talk about the Nicene and Constantinople Creeds and then I introduce the thinking of Gregory of Nazianzus. I end with a poem called “a song in the dark.” This is podcast 10 of 17…
On this episode, I talk about the entertaining, destructive, and instructive power of anger. We have some fun with road rage, Will Ferrell, and Hermione Granger punching Draco Malfoy. We review some etymology on anger from India and we face the truth that each one of us must pay attention and learn to care for…
On this episode, I talk about the importance of laments. What’s a lament? Laments are complaints, shouts, and protests against injustice. I focus on the book of poems at the heart of the Bible called Psalms. There are 150 Psalms in the Bible and 50 of those are laments. I talk about how when wars,…
On this episode, I ask the question: how do we let go of the pain of the past so that our presents and futures aren’t paralyzed by pain? I’ve found some hope in answering this question from Langston Hughes, Carl Jung, and the subversive wisdom teacher Jesus. This episode will probably raise more question and…
On this episode, I talk about what our tears teach us about being human. We look at the research of Michael Trimble who argues that human teardrops are made in the crucible of pain and beauty. And I end with the poem “teardrops of the earth.” This is podcast 6 of 17 for the On…