What is a cult (defined as a high? How can you get out of one? How can you help a friend who's got caught in their snare?

Read More

Fights about hierarchy and control lead to rivalries and quarrels, with people trying to claw their way to the top. But in God’s kingdom, all of this is reversed. In this passage, we learn that it is entirely possible for the official leaders of a movement—even a righteous one—to completely miss the point. Meanwhile, it is possible that outsiders actually are better at understanding the movement’s mission, and they shouldn’t be rejected just because they aren’t members of some official institution. Jesus emphasizes faithfulness to his way over membership in the group. Moreover, in the case of the movement that Jesus was ushering in, those who harm or hinder children on their path are condemned in the strongest terms, while children themselves are held up as models of the true kingdom.

Read More

A nonpartisan discussion of the ways in which the psychological theory of moral injury parallels what most Americans are facing now, as they must choose to vote or not vote, or vote for a candidate accused of serious misdeeds. Whatever you think of Tara Reade, Joe Biden's accuser or the list of allegations against Donald Trump, being forced to decide here threatens to implicate all of us in injustice. How does this work, what light does it shed on the ways we deal with similar issues in religious communities, and how can we restore moral perspective in our chaotic times?

Read More

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant and the ways in which the processes of forgiveness and grieving are similar.

Read More

Sometimes, people keep you from adapting and thriving by labeling you in a way that limits your freedom to grow. 

Read More

Jesus teaches his followers to be less judgmental about the lives of outsiders and yet more discerning about abusive behaviors in their own midst. Judgment involves condemnation with contempt. Discernment involves radical honesty with deep compassion. Most importantly, in this passage, discernment starts with assessment of our own situation. Jesus isn’t inviting us to negative self-talk, but rather an unflinching confrontation and merciful embrace of what psychologist Carl Gustav Jung called our shadow selves. In a context of grace, we can experience even negative criticism as emancipating, and then help others to resolve unhealthy behaviors their own lives.

Read More

Dr. Betsi Little (Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, Univ. of North Dakota & a faculty at Palomar College) shares a “Quarantine Positive Psychology Intervention Challenge” she offers to her students & provides tips for clearing quarantine head fog. Betsi's research focuses on the perceptions held of, and by, marginalized populations She lives in San Diego with her husband, toddler and beagle, Kyle. We met Betsi when she was the chair of Psychology when Jeff was Academic Dean at Trinity Lutheran College, in Everett Washington.

Read More

The false sense of security we place on material wealth is detrimental to spiritual freedom. Jesus invites us to enjoy the peace and liberation that comes from letting go of our accumulated wealth and sharing with our fellow humans. Those who respond to Jesus’ invitation will find that, instead of feeling impoverished, they will receive the inheritance of the whole world, and will be free from the manipulations of people and systems that try to control us by dangling rewards or threatening to take away what we have.

Read More

If Jesus came to your place of worship, what would he think? If he were to tell you directly about the last being first, would you be ready to be last, least, and lost?

In this special bonus episode, Jeff shares a message reflecting on the teachings of Jesus related to facing death, the concept of resurrection, childlike faith, letting go, and the nature of the true church.

This is a message of comfort and hope amid the current pandemic. A significantly abridged version of this was sent to students at Concordia University, in lieu of in-person chapel. We know that many of our listeners are ex-evangelicals, agnostics, and folks from other religious traditions. Nonetheless, we offer this message from a context of faith in Jesus for your encouragement and contemplation.

Read More

Why it’s hard to find something to inspire us on streaming services these days, why a student found it hard to read history texts in Jeff’s class, positive and negative examples of religious responses to epidemics, and eight suggestions for filling your time up with wholesome things to watch, read and do.

Read More

Obviously, the way of Jesus invites us to love everyone, and this includes your parents. Moreover, it is good to seek wise counsel from people who have lived longer than you have. But Jesus teaches that it is important for you to follow what you believe to be good, true and beautiful, regardless of what your parents, teachers, and religious authorities might say. After seeking the wisdom of others, you as an individual are invited to think what you think you should think, believe what you believe you should believe, and do what you think you should do.

Read More

Reflections on our anxious times facing Covid-19 and uncertainties. A poem from Isaac Frazee. Stacie shares insights from her training as a death doula that apply to valuing life in the present. A bonus reflection from Stacie on Tao Te Ching chapter 10 closes the show out.

Read More

Count the cost and take up your cross, says Jesus. What does this mean? And are you willing to stay in the game when you realize you’ll have to let go of some things that kept you feeling safe and secure.

Read More

A discussion of how the liberal arts is vitally important for helping young people keep their wits about them within Christian university settings. We discuss how to be faithful without having an authoritarian ethos in church-related education.

Read More

Why it's important to read outside your normal library, meet people outside your normal sandbox, and welcome wisdom from abroad. We explain a bit about why we got into working on a new English version of the Tao Te Ching, along with two sample audio readings and reflections.

Read More

Jesus invites his followers to not live in fear but in the sort of boldness that allows for creative and effective work in the world, even when other religious people look on with scorn.

Read More

This one isn’t primarily about Jesus on a paddle board but we do mention the concept.

Read More

Equipped with the truth, Jesus demonstrates that we don’t need to be in fear of corrupt religious leaders, but are free to stir things up for the sake of what is right. Indeed, he invites us to be indignant and vocal when leaders are hurting the people they are called to serve.

Read More

“My mom said it gets lonelier when you have true faith.”

Read More

Jesus teaches with an authority that does not depend on power or official status, but instead is based on connection to deep spiritual truth, one that inspires his followers to boldness rather than a spirit of fear.

Read More