Delgado Podcast

Grief is a deeply personal experience that affects each individual differently. In this episode of the Delgado Podcast, Dr. Jacob Sermeno, LCSW highlights the importance of distinguishing between adaptive grief, a normal response to loss, and complicated grief, which involves prolonged symptoms like avoidance, hyper-attachment, or significant daily impairment. Recognizing these differences helps clinicians provide tailored support to those struggling to process loss. Cultural factors and societal norms play a significant role in how grief is expressed. Jacob emphasizes the need for cultural humility, encouraging clinicians to create safe, nonjudgmental spaces where clients can process their emotions authentically. Whether navigating cultural expectations or personal barriers like suppressed emotions, clinicians can empower clients to grieve in ways that honor their experiences while promoting healing. Jacob also shares advice for those supporting grieving loved ones. Simple acts of presence, such as listening without judgment or offering a kind word, can provide immense comfort. He reminds us that grief is not linear and that it's okay to have both good and bad days. Whether you're a clinician or a friend, understanding and respecting the grieving process is essential to providing meaningful care. Conversation includes: The clinical distinction between adaptive and complicated grief. Signs of dysfunctional grief and when to intervene therapeutically. Strategies for clinicians to build rapport with grieving clients. The role of cultural humility in addressing diverse grief practices and expectations. How grief affects biopsychosocial functioning Addressing avoidance and hyperattachment in complicated grief presentations. Techniques to support emotional expression while maintaining professional boundaries. Practical advice for grief-adjacent individuals supporting loved ones or colleagues. Understanding the Kubler-Ross model: utility and limitations in modern practice. Encouraging self-awareness and self-compassion in the grieving process. About Dr. Sermeno Dr. Jacob Sermeno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience addressing chronic mental health concerns, cognitive impairments, and aging-related challenges. His work spans end-of-life care in hospice and nursing homes, geriatric psychiatric program development, and mental health support within corrections. Jacob's research focuses on reducing recidivism among incarcerated individuals with Severe Mental Illness (SMI), where he has pioneered treatment and discharge planning initiatives for SMI-focused housing units in San Bernardino County. Committed to advancing the field, he aspires to a career in education to equip future professionals with evidence-based practices for working with vulnerable populations.

In this episode of the Delgado Podcast, Dr. Jyoti Mishra, a neuroscientist and associate professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego, discusses the growing field of climate trauma and its effects on mental health. Dr. Mishra provides an in-depth analysis of how environmental disasters like wildfires contribute to collective trauma, impacting entire communities with symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunctions, including decision-making challenges and difficulty maintaining focus. Drawing from her research, Dr. Mishra explains how the brain's threat response, often referred to as "fire brain," becomes hyper-aroused in the aftermath of trauma, leading to short-term and long-term psychological and neurological effects. This episode offers practical strategies for mental health professionals and community leaders to address climate trauma effectively. Dr. Mishra highlights the importance of interventions such as psychological first aid, mindfulness practices, and physical activity to build resilience during the acute and chronic phases of recovery. She also explores the role of eco-therapy in helping survivors reconnect with nature to promote healing and discusses the need for community-wide approaches to address collective trauma. For clinicians, this conversation offers evidence-informed insights into understanding and treating the unique mental health challenges posed by climate-related disasters. Learn more about her work: https://neatlabs.ucsd.edu/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoti-mishra-neatlabs/ Books referenced: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Brain-Jyoti-Mishra/dp/B0B3Q5BRRM/ https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Kids-Our-Climate-Changing/dp/B0CVK8SN9M/

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Hanna Reichel, an associate professor of Reformed Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. In this interview, Dr. Reichel shares their unique journey of faith, from growing up in Germany with minister parents to exploring various religious communities.. Discover how Dr. Reichel's global perspective on faith informs their understanding of the universal nature of the church and its diverse expressions across cultural contexts. Dive into their experiences within Catholic and Protestant settings, where doctrinal differences posed challenges and opportunities for belonging. Explore the intersection of theology with politics, economics, and justice as Dr. Reichel emphasizes the importance of inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals within religious communities. Gain insights into fostering understanding, making room for diverse identities, and creating environments of support. This conversation delves into the complexities of faith and identity, highlighting the need for open dialogue and affirmation in religious spaces. Topics: 00:00 Dr. Hanna Reischel: Academic research and theological interests 01:31 Global Faith Perspective & Diverse Expressions of Faith 03:52 Navigating Doctrinal Differences and Belonging in Faith Communities 07:07 Social Service Work in Argentina 08:30 Unpacking the Church's Role in Dictatorships and Colonialism 10:20 Theological Intersections with Politics, Social Justice, & Economics 12:03 Academic Research on Faith and Social Justice in Lebanon 15:27 Dealing with Dissatisfaction with Certain Churches 18:08 Challenges Faced by LGBTQ+ Believers and Non-Believers in Church 21:23 Affirmation and Expression of God's Love Through the Church" 22:56 Supporting LGBTQ+ Individuals in Your Local Congregation 25:55 On Writing "After Method: Queer Grace, Conceptual Design, and the Possibility of Theology" 29:27 The Language of Design Theory for Understanding Theology 32:37 The Weaponization of Sin: Marginalized Identities Discredited and Pathologized 33:28 Queer Theological Perspectives on Sin and Solidarity 34:38 Critical Theory and Pervasive Structures in Our World 36:58 Understanding Queer Grace & Queerness of God Blog: https://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/hanna-reichel/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/j4kRMOL24gM

We're honored to learn from Dr. Terri Daniel (https://danieldirect.net/) about her academic work on toxic theology as a contributing factor in complicated mourning and work as an interfaith chaplain. Topics covered: 01:17 The Conference on Death, Grief & Belief 03:17 Toxic Theology as a Contributing Factor in Complicated Grief (Or Mourning) 05:22 The Atheist Purity Test 08:24 Complicated Grief in Relation to Toxic Theology 09:18 Dark Night of the Soul & Questioning God 12:00 Dealing with trauma (and feeling like God is not pleased with us) 12:30 Example of toxic theology in Christian movies 13:29 Interfaith chaplaincy and supporting hospice clients 17:45 Fowler's Stages of Faith Development 20:05 Religious Critique of Fowler's Stages of Faith Development 21:00 Evelyn Underhill's 5 Stages of Mysticism & The Exodus Story 22:12 The Exodus Myth: Enslaved to Ego & Mystical Union 23:19 Fowler's Stages, Managing Grief, and Religious Coping Scales 25:32 Making Meaning of Loss 27:54 When trauma leads to a faith deconstruction 31:13 Counseling those who are deconstructing (and need help processing trauma) 41:37 Why would a loving God ordain or allow traumatic events 46:49 How to become an interfaith chaplain & clinical pastoral education programs You can watch the full episode on YouTube here (https://youtu.be/u16GxV82Vy4). Dr. Terri Daniel is an inter-spiritual hospice chaplain, end-of-life educator, and grief counselor certified in death, dying and bereavement by the Association of Death Education and Counseling and in trauma support by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She conducts workshops throughout the U.S. and is an adjunct instructor in thanatology and chaplaincy at Marian University, the University of Maryland and the Graduate Theological Union. She is also the founder of The Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, and the Ask Doctor Death podcast. Over the years Terri has helped hundreds of people learn to live, die and grieve more consciously. Her work is acclaimed by hospice professionals, spiritual seekers, counselors, theologians, and academics worldwide. Learn more by checking Dr. Terri Daniel's books, resources and conferences. (https://danieldirect.net/) You can read a summary of this blog and get links to video clips here: https://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/toxic-theology/

Father Kearns was a former fundamentalist who became the first openly transgender man ordained in the Old Catholic priesthood. He believes in the transformative power of story and has made it his life's work to explore the intersection of theology, church life, and creativity. Father Kearns grew up in a rural area in the 80s and 90s when access to information and language around gender identity was limited. He struggled with his own gender dysphoria but didn't have the words to express it or anyone to know how to talk about it. As a result, he felt a sense of isolation and had to form his identity in a vacuum. This experience of not being able to name himself was alienating and made him feel like he was the only one in the world. It's a reason he became a writer and storyteller. As he began to question his faith and re-examine his relationship with scripture, Father Kearns found it helpful to read books from theologians who were doing theology from a very particular place and were naming the place they were doing it from. He found this approach to be eye-opening and it helped him to better understand the context in which the Bible was written and how different lenses can affect how we read and interpret scripture. Topics covered in this episode: • Challenges of Identity Formation for Gender Minorities • Puberty, Purity Culture & Gender Dysphoria • Grappling with sexuality and sadness • Leaving church communities. asking questions, and finding a new spiritual home • Questioning evangelical doctrines and discovering older faith traditions • Dispensationalism & Getting Left Behind • Passion for scripture, going to seminary, and getting educated in church history • How to read and understand the Bible with a beginner's mindset • John Dominic Crossan (Historian) and Marcus Borg (Pastor) • On reading theology from different marginalized perspectives • Empowering passages for LGBTQ+ Christians • The power of reading in community (and seeing texts differently) About Father Shannon T.L. Kearns: Father Shannon Kearns is the co-founder of QueerTheology.com. His first book "In the Margins: A Transgender Man's Journey With Scripture (https://www.queertheology.com/in-the-margins/) " was just released from Eerdmaan's books. He started and led Uprising Theatre Company for 6 years. Shannon is a Humanitas New Voices Fellow for 2022 and was a recipient of the Playwrights' Center Jerome Fellowship in 20/21 and he was a Lambda Literary Fellow for 2019 (in playwriting) and 2022 (in screenwriting) and a Finnovation Fellow for 2019/2020. He is a sought after speaker on transgender issues and religion as well as a skilled facilitator of a variety of workshops. His work with Brian G. Murphy at QueerTheology.com has reached more than a million people all over the world through videos, articles, and online courses and community. Subscribe to his newsletter here: https://www.shannontlkearns.com/ Follow him: https://twitter.com/shannontlkearns https://www.facebook.com/shannontlkearns https://www.instagram.com/shannontlkearns/ Shannon's Patreon community: http://www.patreon.com/shannontlkearns Subscribe to Queer Theology podcast to learn more: https://www.queertheology.com/listen/

We're honored to learn from Dr. Matthew Ichichashi Potts about his book, Forgiveness: An Alternative Account (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300259858/forgiveness/), which is focused on understanding the practice of forgiveness in an unforgiving world. In this episode, Dr. Potts shares: • When forgiveness causes emotional distress • Common misunderstandings about forgiveness • When forgiveness causes shame for victims of abuse or trauma • How does forgiveness help us love our enemy • Forgiveness is an alternative to systems of justice that demand retaliation • How can marginalized populations forgive systems of oppression? • Charleston church attack and stories of forgiveness • How to think about forgiveness (when you don't want to forgive) • Anti-Nazi theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler Matthew Ichihashi Potts, MDiv '08, PhD '13, was appointed the Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church and the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals in 2021. Matt has served on the faculty at Harvard Divinity School since 2013, and has focused his teaching on sacramental and moral theology, ministry and pastoral theology, religion and literature, and preaching. He is the author of two books, Cormac McCarthy and the Signs of Sacrament: Literature, Theology, and the Moral of Stories (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Forgiveness: An Alternative Account (Yale University Press, 2022). He has also published scholarly essays in several leading journals and invited essay collections, and he sits on the editorial board of the journal Literature and Theology. He is also co-host of the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.

We're honored to learn from Dr. M. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas) about the key ethical concerns and social critiques of Amos, Isaiah, and Micah. It's the topic of his book: The Lord Roars: Recovering the Prophetic Voice for Today. In this episode, Dr. Carroll shares: • Understanding Amos, Isaiah, and Micah: Prophets on Ethics • Comparing the social and ethical concerns of Isaiah, Micah, and Amos • Being aware of idolatry in the church • How church liturgy impact our ideas of God (and ways to worship) • Why churches divide over what social justice issues to support • The danger of religion being co-opted by political parties • Understanding liberation theology M. Daniel Carroll R. (PhD, University of Sheffield) is Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College and Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois. He previously taught for many years at El Seminario Teológico Centroamericano in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and then at Denver Seminary, where he founded IDEAL, a Spanish language training program. Carroll is the author or editor of more than a dozen books, including The Bible and Borders: Hearing God's Word on Immigration, Wrestling with the Violence of God: Soundings in the Old Testament, and a major commentary on the book of Amos.

We're honored to learn from Valarie Brown about ways to cultivate hope, compassion, and mindfulness amid seasons of grief and loss. It's the topic of her book “Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way Toward Simplicity, Awakening & Peace (https://www.valeriebrown.us/books/).” In this episode, she shares: • On writing "Hope Leans Forward" during a time of grief and loss • Tending your grief • Why we don't want to think about our pain • Finding hope after dealing with trauma and pain • There's power in naming our trauma and pain • How Buddhism, meditation, and dharma rituals helped her hold pain • How to dwell on our pain • The practice of cultivating soul friendships • How to find a soul friend (and taking inventory of your friends) • Why it's easier to get angry rather than sit in our grief • Tending our grief and finding wholeness • How to explore our emotions • How to create a habit of noticing Valerie Brown is a Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher, facilitator, and executive coach. A former lawyer and lobbyist, she is co-director of Georgetown's Institute for Transformational Leadership as well as founder and chief mindfulness officer of Lead Smart Coaching. She is an ordained Buddhist Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, and is a certified Kundalini yoga teacher. In her leadership development and mindfulness practice, she focuses on diversity, social equity, and inclusion. Brown is an award-winning author whose books include The Road That Teaches and The Mindful School Leader with Kirsten Olsen. She holds a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Dr. Ken Duckworth about his fantastic book entitled “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health (https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/You-Are-Not-Alone).” His book is a comprehensive guide on how to compassionately support friends, family, and loved ones in their mental health journeys. His book combines evidence-based research on what treatments work for different mental health issues, insights from renowned clinical experts, and over 130 stories from people sharing their mental health challenges, along with insights from caregivers. It's an all-in-one handbook that will help you grow in compassion for others with mental health challenges, as well as encouragement for those of us who struggle with emotional pain or other mental health issues. It's definitely one of those books that everyone needs on their bookshelf. In today's podcast, Dr. Duckworth discusses: Why people want to make meaning of their suffering The power of community and shared stories to support those with MH challenges He shares what led him to to become a psychiatrist Powerful, personal stories of mental health How to talk with a loved on about mental health Ways to deal with prolonged grief and dispair Impact of spirituality on mental health Ken Duckworth, MD is the Chief Medical Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has been the medical director since 2003. He is also assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct clinical assistant professor of health and policy management at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Duckworth has served as a board member of the American Association for Community Psychiatry and worked for years as a psychiatrist on an assertive community treatment team.

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Lore Ferguson Wilbert about her new book entitled, “A Curious Faith: The Questions God Asks, We Ask, And We Wish Someone Would Ask Us (https://www.acuriousfaithbook.com/).“ Her book explores the powerful ways our faith and doubt can impact our understanding of God. Lore invites us all to embrace curiosity in our faith journey, and to get comfortable with not always finding all the answers. Most importantly, she encourages readers to find their comfort and ultimate answers in Christ. Lore Ferguson Wilbert is the founder of Sayable.net and the author of Handle with Care, winner of a 2021 Christianity Today Book Award. She has written for Christianity Today, Fathom magazine, and She Reads Truth and served as general editor of B&H's Read and Reflect with the Classics. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Christian spiritual formation and leadership from Friends University. You can get watch the video from today's conversation here: https://youtu.be/fXPc7rlUBQ4 You can also view and/or download past episodes here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Dr. Ali Michael and Dr. Eleonora Bartoli about their helpful new book entitled “Our Problem, Our Path: Collective AntiRacism for White People (https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/our-problem-our-path/book278155).” It's a powerful resource to help us learn ways to talk about racism and build skills to be actively anti-racist. Dr. Michael and Dr. Bartoli argue that inner and outer antiracist work are deeply interconnected. Their book provides readers with strategies to build racial competence and ways for us to make a more just, equitable and loving multiracial society. In this episode, they share: • Why it's difficult for us (white people) to talk about race • Why we may feel it's unsafe to discuss or challenge racism • Emotional (and fear) response to racism around us • Why we silence ourselves (or avoid conversations about race) • The struggle to become anti-racist daily • Ways race talks impacts our mental health • Addressing the stereotype threat • Why racism is a white person problem • Grieving with (and displaying empathy) for BIPOC communities • The paradox of virtue signaling • Race-related stress • The anti-critical race theory movement • How to stand up against racism (and avoid being a silent bystander) • Advice on how to raise anti-racist children You can watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/r2GPJoccnW4 Authors featured: Ali Michael, Ph.D. is Director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators and works with schools and organizations across the country to help make research on race, Whiteness, and education more accessible and relevant to educators. Ali is the author of Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education, winner of the 2017 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award. As a member of a multiracial editorial team, she has co-edited The Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys, Teaching Beautiful and Brilliant Black Girls, and Everyday White People Confront Racial and Social Injustice: 15 Stories. With her colleague Toni Graves Williamson, Ali adapted Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility for a Young Adult audience. Ali sits on the editorial board of the journal Whiteness and Education. https://www.alimichael.org/ Eleonora Bartoli, Ph.D is a consultant and licensed psychologist, specializing in trauma, resilience-building, and multicultural/social justice counseling. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology: Human Development/Mental Health Research from the University of Chicago in 2001. After receiving her clinical license in 2005, she opened a small independent practice, which she has held since. After 15 years in academia (12 of those years as the director of a Masters in counseling program), she became a full-time consultant. Her mission is to share the tools of counseling and psychology in support of social justice work. https://dreleonorabartoli.com/whoiam

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Amanda Held Opelt about her latest book: "A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing." It's a beautifully written book that explores ways to find faith and hope amid seasons of grief and suffering. In this episode, Amanda talks with us about • Becoming a social worker and serving as a chaplain • Helping others overcome grief, trauma and loss • How to support a grieving friend (and what not to say) • What the Bible tells us about grief and suffering • How to engage with God in the midst of trauma or crisis of faith • Ways to help grieving friends (and loved ones) who don't ask for help • What she learned when studying grief rituals • How the Christian concepts of faith and hope can help us during dark times Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. Learn more about her latest book: http://amandaheldopelt.com/books You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/_UnK4y5CM-c

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Austen Hartke about his journey of coming out as transgender in seminary, the work he is doing right now to help transgender and gender-expansive Christians, and some encouraging words for Christians parents of transgender youth. Austen Hartke is a graduate of Luther Seminary's Master of Arts program in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible Studies, and is the winner of the 2014 John Milton Prize in Old Testament Writing. He is the author of a book entitled "Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians (http://austenhartke.com/book)," which is published by Westminster John Knox Press. He is also the founder and director of Transmission Ministry Collective -- an online community dedicated to the spiritual care, faith, and leadership potential of transgender and gender-expansive Christian. You can watch the full video from this podcast here: https://youtu.be/NuBIvHFnA0c

Dr. Jeannine Brown talks with us about writing her latest commentary on the "Epistle to the Philippians." Dr. Brown has taught at Bethel Seminary for over 20 years. She teaches in the areas of New Testament, Greek, hermeneutics, and integration. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/shbZ4yFdppU

In this week's podcast, we learn from Dr. Jeffery M. Leonard about his book “Creation Rediscovered: Finding New Meaning in an Ancient Story,” which was written to help Christians understand the creation stories in our Hebrew Bible, while also appreciating what science tells us about our world. His book is available at Hendrickson Publishers: https://www.hendricksonrose.com/p/creation-rediscovered/9781683072348 Jeffery M. Leonard is Associate Professor of Religion at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, where he specializes in Hebrew, Hebrew Bible, and the ancient Near East. He received his MDiv from Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, and his PhD from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/ykiqGOEPdGo

Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. In this interview, Dr. Amy Kenny discusses her research and new book "My Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church," published by Brazos Press & Baker Publishing: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/my-body-is-not-a-prayer-request/409340 Amy Kenny (PhD, University of Sussex) is a disabled scholar and a Shakespeare lecturer whose research focuses on medical and bodily themes in literature. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, The Mighty, The Audacity, and Sojourners. YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bUrmz4GqnXo

We're grateful to learn from Dr. Bart Ehrman (https://www.bartehrman.com/) about his helpful new book entitled "Journeys to Heaven and Hell: Tours of the Afterlife in the Early Christian Tradition (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300257007/journeys-to-heaven-and-hell/)," which is published by Yale University Press.  It's a fascinating look into the ancient literature that describes descents into hell and ascents into heaven. In this episdoe, Dr. Ehrman discusses: Guided tours of heaven and hell in the ancient world How to read ancient literature (and understand context) What Jesus meant when discussing Gehenna (Hell) Ancient Hebrew ideas about death and annihilation Early Christian thinking on Jesus and his descent into hell Harrowing of Hell The Apocalypse of Peter The Gospel of Nicodemus The Origin of Purgatory Ancient thinking of where heaven and hell were located How to be critical readers of the Bible Academic study tools for Biblical interpretation _ Dr. Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed his M.Div and Ph.D. degrees at Princeton Seminary and started his teaching career at Rutgers University. He has written or edited over thirty books, six of which were New York Times best sellers. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages. The video and show notes: mikedelgado.org (http://www.mikedelgado.org/)

In this episode, we're honored to learn from Leyla Jagiella about her transgender journey as a Muslim woman – and finding belonging among the third-gender communities in South East Asia. It's the topic of her brave and insightful new book entitled “Among the Eunuchs: A Muslim Transgender Journey” which helps us understand some of the unique struggles faced by Muslim transgender woman – but also how she found affirmation and support in Islam. You can get her new book here: https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/among-the-eunuchs/ Leyla Jagiella is a cultural anthropologist and scholar of religion, working on orthodoxy and heterodoxy in Islam and gender and sexuality in Muslim societies. As a Muslim trans woman, she has also been a community activist for several decades and works as a social worker with LGBTQI refugees in Germany In the podcast, she talks with us about: The beauty and diversity in Muslim life (and how that drew her to Islam) Ways she struggled with her gender identity and sexuality as a young Muslim How the third-gender communities in Islam helped her find affirmation and recogntion What life was like as a Hijra in South East Asia – and navigating gendered spaces She discusses trans-affirming ideas and scriptures in the Quran and New Testament At the end of the podcast, she talks about what Jesus says about eunuchs (Matthew 19:12) – and the application for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Many parents struggle to understand ways to support their their transgender teenager, especially if they think that it's just a phase of gender exploration, or a mild form of gender dysphoria that will eventually resolve. A parent may further struggle on how to care for their trans youth if they belong to a non-affirming religious community, which may exclude their teen from participating in spiritual ceremonies (e.g. communion, confirmation, mitzvahs) and gender-based ministries. Sadly, some of these religious communities may further harm trans youth with transphobic teachings and political agendas aimed to hurt the LGBT community. All of this can lead trans youth to feel unaccepted, unloved, and less likely to continue in their faith journey. In this week's podcast, we chat with Andrew Maxwell Triska, MSW, LCSW (https://www.andrewtriska.com/) about ways for parents to support and affirm their trans teen at home, school, and church. Andrew is a psychotherapist, educator, and author who works with trans and queer youth and adults. Triska also trains and consults on gender identity and sexuality for organizations, corporations, and schools. He is proud to be a trans-identified therapist and his fantastic new book "Parenting Your Transgender Teen: Positive Parenting Strategies for Raising Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Teens (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1638788839/)" is designed to help parents actively support and affirm their trans youth along the journey. Some trans-affirming religious organizations mentioned in this podcast: The Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity: https://www.themasgd.org/ Keshet - For LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life: https://www.keshetonline.org/ Jewish Queer Youth https://www.jqyouth.org/ Transmission Ministry Collective https://www.transmissionministry.com/ Reformation Project: https://reformationproject.org/resources/ Trans Support and Counseling Resources: https://www.wpath.org/ https://pflag.org/ You can get podcast notes and resources mentioned in this episode on the blog: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/supporting-trans-kids/

In this conversation, we're honored to learn from Bridget Eileen Rivera about her journey growing up in a Reformed Baptist church, coming out, and ways the church can better love and care for LGBTQ+ Christians. This is the topic of her latest book entitled: “Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ. Christians Experience Harm in the Church,” where she addresses the pain, trauma and discrimination that many LGBTQ people have experienced in churches, and steps that all of us need to take to create safe and inclusive spiritual homes. Bridget Eileen Rivera is a sociologist completing her PhD at the City University of New York Graduate Center. Rivera has become a leading voice on gay celibacy in the church, helping Christians better grapple with gender and sexuality in a divided culture. She has worked with a number of faith-based organizations, including Revoice, Christians for Social Action, and Preston Sprinkle's Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Follow her on social media at @travelingnun and on her website: https://bridgeteileenrivera.com/ YouTube video of this show: https://youtu.be/cxfbtRjYPOM Blog and notes: http://mikedelgado.org

Today, we're honored to learn from Dr. Jennifer Wodruff Tait about her book "Christian History: In Seven Sentences," which is published by InterVarsity Press. In this conversation, Dr. Tait shares insights on some of the key historic moments and creeds that shaped Christian thinking. She also talks about some of the key points that led to the spread of Christianity in different parts of the world. Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait (PhD, Duke University) serves as a priest in the Episcopal church and is the managing editor of Christian History magazine. Her book “Christian History: In Seven Sentences” is published by InterVarsity Press.

In today's episode, Dr. John Goldingay shares his approach to studying the Old Testament -- and ways he prepares to write Biblical commentaries. He encourages us to study our Bible with both an analytical and spiritual mind – and to come to the Bible humbly with our questions. He also shares tremendous wisdom on how to deal with passages in the Old Testament that perhaps don't make sense to us, and how to better explore and question those difficult texts. He shares his insights on the Book of Joshua and ways to understand the battle of Jericho. He also discusses a scripture reading plan to help us thoughtfully read through the entire Bible three chapters at a time. Dr. John Goldingay studied theology at Oxford, earned his PhD from the University of Nottingham, and a Doctor of Divinity from the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth. Learn more about him and his books: https://www.fuller.edu/faculty/john-goldingay/

Today, we're honored to learn from Dr. Anothy Aveeni about the development of creation myths – and how various cultures around the world have attempted to explain our origins. He also talks about his awesome new book entitled: Creation Stories: Landscapes and the Human Imagination” which is published by Yale University Press. In this episode, Dr. Aveeni shares ways ancient cultures used natural landscapes in myth formation – and how natural surroundings and animal life impacted origin stories. He shares how creation stories evolved over time in different regions and ways to see truth in myths. He also spends some time talking about various creation stories – including Chinese, Egyptian, Mayan, Navajo and the creation acount in Genesis.

In this season, we've been looking at the way our cultural viewpoints, church traditions, and personal experiences impact our view of the Bible. Today, we're honored to learn from Dr. Amy Erickson about her insightful and detailed commentary on the book of Jonah. -- and ways to better appreciate this story through academic and various theological lenses. In today's podcast, Dr. Amy Erickson talks about Christian and Jewish understandings of Jonah, why Jonah has been viewed as both the villain in the story and a type of Christ, she discusses why Jonah has a theological problem with God, she provides insights into Islamic interpretations of Jonah's prophecy that Nineveh would be overthrown, and gives fascinating insights on how to understand the odd ending of the story. The episode ends with her personal takeaways on Jonah and advice on how to study this complicated and exciting story. Dr. Amy Erickson is associate professor of Hebrew Bible and the director of the Masters of Theological Studies program at the Iliff School of Theology. YouTube video of this show: https://youtu.be/2RJdaJbnVDo Blog and notes: http://mikedelgado.org

Are you curious about the development of ancient Hebrew literature and how some of these texts became sacred? And are you curious about how ancient Judeans thought about their God? In this podcast, we learn from Dr. Dalit Rom-Shiloni about ancient Judean literature and how some of these texts became sacred. She discusses ancient scribal traditions, polytheism and monotheism in ancient Israelite communities, ways the Judean God compared to other ancient near east gods, how Isrealites used anthropomorphic langague to describe God, and why God was portrayed as warrior and enemy. She also discusses ways ancient Judeans thought about God amid times of pain, suffering and destruction, which is one of the subjects featured in her important new book: “Voices from the Ruins: Theodicy and the Fall of Jerusalem in the Hebrew Bible” from Eerdmans Publishing. You can get podast notes and watch the full video from this podcast here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/dalit-rom-shiloni/ Thank you for listening and/or sharing with others. :) You can find me @DelgadoPodcast on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.

Dr. Douglas S. Bursch discusses the different ways that social media impacts us, how we should respond to criticism and trolling behaviors, ways to develop more empathy for those who disagree with us, why it’s important to think about our motivations when posting content on social media, ways to create more loving and helpful content, and why need to be aware of the echo chambers that we might be drawn to. Douglas S. Bursch is co-pastor of Evergreen Foursquare Church in Auburn, Washington. He serves on the US Doctrine Committee, International Doctrine Committee, and Education Commission of the Foursquare Church, and he has taught theology courses as adjunct faculty for Life Pacific College and Life Ministry Institute. He earned a DMin from George Fox Evangelical Seminary with his dissertation research focusing on social media. A former newspaper columnist and talk radio host, Doug has produced and hosted over 1,200 Christian radio broadcasts. He is the producer and host of the Fairly Spiritual Show radio program and podcast. Video and show notes: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/douglas-bursch/ Learn more about Dr. Douglas S. Bursch: https://www.fairlyspiritual.org/about/

What can we do to make our churches more inclusive for our disabled and neurodiverse communities? In this podcast, we learn from Dr. Lamar Hardwick about what it feels like to grow up with undiagnosed autism and what led him to pursue autism testing in his mid-thirties. He talks about what it meant to receive the autism diagnosis and ways he processed the information. He also discusses the autism grief cycle, how to love and care for people with autism, and how to combat the stigma of autism at church. Dr. Hardwick also shares key insights for ministry leaders on ways to remove barriers at church for those with invisible disabilities and how disability theology gives us an important lens for viewing God and our Bibles. I pray this conversation helps us all grow in more awareness, acceptance and advocacy for our disabled communities. Lamar Hardwick (DMin, Liberty University), also known as “the autism pastor,” is the lead pastor at Tri-Cities Church in East Point, Georgia. He writes and speaks frequently on the topic of disability, especially autism, and he is the author of the best-selling book "I Am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor." His latest book "Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity & Inclusion" is published by InterVarsity Press. Learn more about him and his books: http://autismpastor.com/ You can see the video from this conversation and other insights from his book on the blog: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/lamar-hardwick/

How we understand our Bible can depend on our cultural viewpoints, church traditions, theological background, and personal experiences. And our view of Scripture can also be largely shaped by any sort of trauma we've experienced (and this includes trauma inflicted on us by our spiritual leaders and/or churches). In today's podcast, we're honored to learn from Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis about how trauma impacts us, ways to overcome the silent stigma of mental health at church, ways to see gender oppression in our denominations, how to better read and understand traumatic stories in Bible (especially when the offender is seen as the Biblical hero), and ways that we can better love and care for trauma victims in our life. Dr. Thema also provides key insights into ways to read several traumatic Bible stories; including: The Story Hagar, The Trauma & Silencing of Tamar, and seeing Bathsheba as victim (instead of David's seductress). Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, and sacred artist who has worked nationally and globally to provide relief and empowerment to marginalized persons. Dr. Thema, a professor at Pepperdine University, is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women. Her contributions to psychological research, policy, and practice have been honored by national and regional psychological associations. Please be aware that this podcast episode includes conversations on assault and abuse in the Bible, which may be hurtful and/or upsetting. The video chat version of this podcast is available here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/thema-bryant-davis/ Follow Dr. Thema on Twitter and Instagram at @DrThema. You can also subscribe to her podcast, videos and articles on her website: https://www.drthema.com/

Pastors Duke L. Kwon and Dr. Gregory Thompson build a historical and theological case for reparations -- and address the various thefts of white supremacy that continue to hurt our Black communities in their latest book: Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair. In this podcast episode, Duke L. Kwon and Dr. Gregory Thompson talk about why they need to write a theological case for reparations, why it's important to support and love hurting communities, reasons why Christians debate the reparations issue, ways church leaders and pastors can properly address systemic sins at church, ways to address racial justice issues and reparations in church meetings, and how white supremacy is a theft of truth, power, and wealth, ways to talk with children about racism, and what the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us about love and reparations. You can catch the YouTube video of this conversation here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/reparations/ Duke L. Kwon (MDiv, ThM, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor at Grace Meridian Hill, a neighborhood congregation in the Grace DC Network committed to building cross-cultural community in Washington, DC. Kwon is active in public conversations around race, equity, and racial repair in the American church, and he lectures on these topics around the country. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, and The Witness. Gregory Thompson (PhD, University of Virginia) is a pastor, scholar, artist, and producer whose work focuses on race and equity in the United States. He serves as executive director of Voices Underground (an initiative to build a national memorial to the Underground Railroad outside of Philadelphia), research fellow in African American heritage at Lincoln University (HBCU), and visiting theologian for mission at Grace Mosaic Church in Washington, DC. He is also the co-creator of Union: The Musical, a soul and hip-hop-based musical about the 1968 sanitation workers' strike. Thompson lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Darian R. Lockett talks with us about his new book entitled: "Letters for the Church: Reading James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude As Canon," published by InterVarsity Press: https://www.ivpress.com/letters-for-the-church In Letters for the Church, Dr. Lockett reveals how the Catholic Epistles provide a unique window into early Christian theology and practice. Based on evidence from the early church, he contends that the seven letters of James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude were accepted into the canon as a collection and should be read together. Dr. Lockett introduces the context and content of the Catholic Epistles while emphasizing how all seven letters are connected. Each chapter outlines the author, audience, and genre of one of the epistles, traces its flow of thought, and explores shared themes with the other Catholic Epistles. In this podcast, Dr. Lockett discusses his conviction to write a book focused on the Catholic epistles and how these books are thematically connected. He talks about how the New Testament canon was formed and gives insights on how to properly study these books. He also gives advice for those of us who struggle with difficult scriptures -- and how to read our Bibles critically and devotionally. Darian R. Lockett (PhD, St. Andrews) is professor of New Testament at Biola University. His many publications include Letters from the Pillar Apostles, Understanding Biblical Theology, and An Introduction to the Catholic Epistles.

In this episode, we learn from Dr. Gregory Coles about his love of literature, reciting Hamlet when he was eight years old, pursuing a PhD in English Literature, how he came out to his loved ones and church, why he wrote "Single, Gay, Christian (https://www.ivpress.com/single-gay-christian)," how he's dealt with criticism from Christians about his sexual identity, how he's processed pain and grief, and what led him to write his latest book: "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation (https://www.ivpress.com/no-longer-strangers)," published by InterVarsity Press. Gregory Coles (PhD, Penn State University) is an author, playwright, speaker and songwriter. Gregory spent fifteen years growing up in the Muslim neighborhoods of Southeast Asia, in the shadow of a golden-domed mosque marked by a spire with a silver crescent moon. The son of two committed Christian teachers, Greg learned from a young age to look for God in the world around him. At age eighteen, he returned to the United States to pursue his education. Greg is a frequent collaborator with organizations like Revoice and The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. When he isn’t writing or speaking, he can usually be found playing piano at a local church, dabbling in songwriting, jogging, or baking homemade granola. Gregory is also a contributor to Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Author Quest—a collection of short stories published by Grosset and Dunlap (Penguin Random House). Learn more about him here: https://www.gregorycoles.com/about/

We have the honor to learn from Dr. Vince Bantu about ancient African theology and the beautiful Christian tradition that emerged in Africa -- and how Christianity and spiritual traditions from this region reveals how Christianity is not a product of the Western world. He also discusses the need for ethnic representation in our churches, the sins and destructive impact of systemic racism and white supremacy in our church history, ways for us to better support our Black and Brown church communities during times of tragedy and trauma, and the powerful faith and example that our Black church has set for all Christians. He also shares ways that parents can help raise anti-racist children. Dr. Vince Bantu is a professor of Church History and Black Church Studies at Fuller Seminary. He earned his PhD in Semitic and Egyptian languages from the Catholic University of America and also earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, THM in church history from Princeton Seminary and undergraduate degree in theology from Wheaton College. He is also the author of the book entitled “A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity’s Global Identity” published by Intervarsity Press. You can catch the video from this conversation the blog: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/vince-bantu/

EPISODE 26: Reverend Tish Harrison Warren talks with us about ways to build a prayer practice, how to pray when feeling faithless or angry at God, and why it’s beneficial to pray liturgical prayers and psalms, as well as a discussion of the Anglican compline prayer (and how it can shape our prayer life). Tish Harrison Warren is the author of the new book entitled “Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep” — and she addresses ways to pray when we’re grieving, lamenting or angry at God. Learn more about her new book: https://www.ivpress.com/prayer-in-the-night You can catch the video from this conversation here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/tish-harrison-warren/

Dr. Chloe T. Sun discusses the theology of divine absence — and how this theology is portrayed in the biblical canon. She shares ways theologians and academics approach divine absence in the books of Esther and The Song of Songs. She also shares advice for anyone who is studying the Bible and how to personally deal with God’s absence in our lives. In her latest book, "Conspicuous in His Absence: Studies in the Song of Songs and Esther," Dr. Sun addresses three main questions: What is the nature of God as revealed in texts that don’t use his name? How do we think of God when he is perceived to be absent? What should we do when God is silent or hidden? Chloe T. Sun (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of Old Testament and academic dean at Logos Evangelical Seminary and has published books in Chinese and English, including The Ethics of Violence in the Story of Aqhat, Love Already but Not Yet: A Commentary on the Song of Songs and Attempt Great Things for God: Theological Education in Diaspora. Get her latest book from Intervarsity Press: Conspicuous in His Absence: Studies in the Song of Songs and Esther. https://www.ivpress.com/conspicuous-in-his-absence

Dr. Mark R. Glanville and Dr. Luke Glanville talk with us about their new book "Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics." They discuss Biblical passages dealing with marginalized and displaced people and God's command to extend kinship, compassion and love to hurting communities They also address arguments from those who want closed borders and stricter immigration policies due to ways immigrations might impact on economics, national security and culture. You can learn more about their awesome new book here: https://www.ivpress.com/refuge-reimagined You can also catch the video from this conversation here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/biblical-ethic-kinship/ Mark R. Glanville (PhD, Bristol University) is associate professor of pastoral theology at Regent College, Vancouver, and an Old Testament scholar. He is the author of Adopting the Stranger as Kindred in Deuteronomy and Freed to Be God's Family: The Book of Exodus and has written articles for a variety of publications including the Journal of Biblical Literature, Refuge Journal, Journal of Missional Practice, Christian Educators Journal, Evangelicals for Social Action, Faith Today, The Light Magazine, and The Presbyterian Pulse. Glanville previously ministered in a missional urban community, Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, Vancouver, and was a professor of congregational theology at the Missional Training Center in Phoenix. Luke Glanville (PhD, University of Queensland) is associate professor in the department of international relations at Australian National University. He is the author of Sovereignty and the Responsibility to Protect: A New History, which won the Australian Political Science Association Crisp Prize in 2016 and the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award in 2014.

Rev. Dr. James Choung talks about his academic research on generational views of spirituality and the key gateway questions asked by each generation. He talks about how these key spiritual questions dealing with what’s real, true, and beautiful are important for all of us to know how to answer. He discusses the impact of COVID-19 and increased visibility of hate and racism and how it is impacting our children. He provides parenting advice for those raising Generation Z. He also discusses ways to talk with our Asian and Asian American children about racism and discrimination. You can catch the video here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/james-choung/ Follow Dr. Choung here: https://www.jameschoung.net/

Rev. Dr. James Choung talks with us about teaching and creating spiritual spaces during COVID-19, why he has a growth-mindset and seeks out mentorship on a regular basis, ways he cultivates self-awareness, how he determined his calling to pursue work in Christian ministry, how his father impacted his spirituality and modeled ways to be a great dad and husband. You can learn more about him and watch the video of our conversation here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/james-choung/ Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation — overseeing evangelism, discipleship, multiethnic initiatives, and the Creative Labs — at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. He is also ordained with the Vineyard USA and written several books; including: "True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In" and its follow-up, "Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out." He speaks frequently at campuses, churches, seminaries, and conferences, and teaches seminary classes on culture, leadership development and evangelism. His work is featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, and Exploregod.com. James wrote his D. Min. dissertation on postmodern leadership development at Fuller Theological Seminary, received his M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and studied management science and marketing at MIT.

This season, we've been looking at the ways our theology and personal faith can evolve -- and how oppression, disability, trauma and racism can shift the way we understand God, our scriptures and ourselves. Today, we’re going to be focused specifically on addressing the marginalization of our Asian American communities -- and how living in a liminal space (sometimes not accepted as fully American or fully Asian) has shaped Asian American theology -- and helped us to better understand our God who dwells in liminal spaces, too. In this conversation, Dr. Russell Jeung talks with us about the history of Asian American studies, the birth of Asian American theology, how oppression and marginalization of Asian Americans has led to a theology of exile, and the disturbing rise of Christian nationalism along with Anti-Asian Racism. Dr. Russell Jeung is a leading sociologist of Asian Americans, race, and religion. He is professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and author of many books focused on race and religion -- including "Sustaining Faith Traditions: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion among the Latino and Asian American Second Generation" that he wrote with Carolyn Chen, published by NYU Press. In 2020, Dr. Jeung launched Stop AAPI Hate, a project of Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, and SF State Asian American Studies. It tracks Covid-19 related discrimination in order to develop community resources and policy interventions to fight racism. His spiritual memoir, "At Home in Exile: Finding Jesus Among My Ancestors and Refugees Neighbors," shares his experiences living among the foreigner and the poor. Videos and blog: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/russell-jeung/

It's an honor to listen to Liuan Huska share her journey of managing pain, chronic illness and finding wholeness, which is the subject of her latest book "Hurting Yet Whole: Reconciling Body & Spirit In Chronic Pain & Illness" from InterVarsity Press. Liuan Huska went through years of chronic pain and wondered why God seemed absent and questioned some of the common assumptions about healing. What do we do when our bodies don't work the way they should? How do we find faith amid the pain? Can we still be whole when our bodies suffer? How does our understanding of God change through these experiences? In this episode, Liuan talks about her spiritual journey, struggles with chronic pain and feeling misunderstood, the spiritual pain of feeling dismissed by God, managing her mental health, how disability theologians address wholeness, ways our understanding of God can change during these darkest moments, and ways to better listen to those who are hurting around us.

Dr. Alister E. McGrath discusses why he decided to write a biography on Packer's life and faith. He discusses Packer's thoughtful decision to teach at Regent College, why his book "Knowing God" became a bestseller, why Packer loved reading the Puritan writers, his thoughts on theistic evolution, why he didn't like the term "inerrancy" to describe the trustworthiness of the Bible, why he signed the evangelical and catholics together document, his views on aging, going blind and finding hope in God. Alister McGrath (DPhil, DD, Oxford University) is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University and fellow of Harris Manchester College, Oxford. After initial academic work in the natural sciences, Alister turned to the study of theology and intellectual history, while occasionally becoming engaged in broader cultural debates about the rationality and relevance of the Christian faith. He is the author of many academic and theological works, as well as the international bestseller The Dawkins Delusion, the acclaimed C. S. Lewis—A Life and A Theory of Everything (That Matters).

Dr. Robert Chao Romero talks with us about the role that the Latina/o church has played to fight oppression throughout history. He discusses why a percentage Hispanic voters supported Trump, despite his policies and ideas that have been used to hurt Brown communities. He addresses the history of racism and colonialism in Latin America and tells the story of Antonio de Montesinos, a Dominican Friar who preached sermons to denounce colonists who were enslaving and abusing indigenous people in the Caribbean back in 1511. He talks about the role of faith in the life of Cesar Chavez. He also shares why there are biases against Christianity in Ethnic academic studies due to the abuses and trauma cased by our churches throughout history. Robert Chao Romero has a unique perspective on social justice and race as the son of a Mexican father and Chinese immigrant mother. His latest book "The Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology & Identity" discusses the various ways our Latinx church fought oppression throughout history. Robert Chao Romero (PhD, University of California at Los Angeles; JD, University of California at Berkeley) is associate professor in the Departments of Chicana/o Studies and Asian American Studies at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is the author of the award-winning The Chinese in Mexico, 1882-1940, Jesus for Revolutionaries: An Introduction to Race, Social Justice, and Christianity, and Mixed Race Student Politics. He's also a pastor and co-founder of Jesus 4 Revolutionaries, a Christian ministry to activists, and serves on the Board of the Matthew 25 Movement.

Michael Card talks with us about simmering on scripture and ways to thoughtfully analyze and understand the gospel accounts of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. He talks about why he has been focused on studying the gospels and how he has used music and his theological writings to connect others to the life of Jesus. He also shares how the parables and gospel accounts encourage us to use our imaginations to connect our hearts and minds to scripture -- and he provides actionable advice on how we can become better students of the Bible.

We're honored to learn from Makoto Fujimura about his book "Art and Faith: A Theology of Making," published by Yale University Press. Art and Faith is a theological and poetic book that explores the ways art and spirituality interplay -- and how spirituality impacts our art (and how art can impact our spirituality). Fujimura reveals how creative acts -- and making art can help us understand more about God's work in our lives and how our own creativity can mirror divine creative acts. Makoto Fujimura is the founder of the International Arts Movement and the Fujimura Institute. He’s an award-winning artist, author and advocate for the arts. He also was the Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003 to 2009. Video and blog: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/makoto-fujimura/

Today, we’re honored to learn from Dr. Lisa M. Bowens about her new book entitled "African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance & Transformation” which provide a historical, theological and biblical analysis of interpretations of Paul by African Americans from the early 1700s to the mid-twentieth century -- and deals with the passages from Paul directing slaves to obey their masters. Tragically, these passages from Paul were used by Christian pastors and churches to endorse slavery and oppress our Black communities in early America. Dr. Lisa M. Bowens is associate professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary -- and in this episode she shares with us ways the African American community resisted the American church’s understanding that Paul endorsed slavery --- and instead used the BIble to promote liberation and freedom to preach the gospel. She also shares bold and radical stories from African American preachers like John Jay, James W.C. Pennington, Zilpha Elaw and Jarnea Lee. Video and podcast notes here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/lisa-bowens/

We’re honored to learn from Dr. William Witt about his book “Icons of Christ: A Biblical and Systematic Theology for Women’s Ordination” from Baylor Press where he provides an analysis of the various arguments used by Protestants and Catholics against woman’s ordination as well as the biblical and theological cases for women’s ordination to the offices of both word and sacrament. In this podcast, Dr. Witt discusses how those on both sides of the debate embrace new theological positions in response to cultural changes and outlines positive ecumenical arguments for the ordination of women and the importance of women in leadership roles in churches. His arguments in support of women’s ordination stem from a biblical, historical, systematic and liturgical theology. He also reminds us that all Christians bear the image of God and are called to serve as icons of Christ in service of the gospel. There is — of course — a lot of debate on this issue and I hope this conversation helps you grow in empathy for the reasons why many churches affirm women’s ordination and ways that we can support more women in their ministry work. Dr. Witt is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at Trinity School for Ministry and earned his PhD from the University of Notre Dame and M.A. from St. Thomas Seminary.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Matthew J. Thomas about his new book "Paul's 'Works of the Law' in the Perspective of Second Century Reception" published by IVP Academic Press. Dr. Thomas talks with us about why early church writings (especially texts written in the second century) provide us keys to earliest understandings of the Bible. He discusses writings by Irrenaeus, the Epistle to Diognetus, Justin Martyr's First Apology and Dialogue with Trypho. He also shares how early church writings can help Christians gain insight into their foundational theological identity. The episode ends with a detailed explanation of Paul's meaning of faith and works. Matthew J. Thomas earned his PhD at Oxford University and serves as assistant professor of biblical studies at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California and an instructor in theology at Regent College. His undergraduate work was done at Pepperdine University. Video and blog here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/works-of-law

We're grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Matthew J. Thomas about his new book "Paul's 'Works of the Law' in the Perspective of Second Century Reception" published by IVP Academic Press. In this episode, Dr. Thomas talks with us about writing his latest book, which digs into what the early church understood by Paul when he referred to works of the law. He also shares his spiritual journey into faith, his academic studies on scripture and the early church, ways that theologians have divided over this pivotal issue of justification by faith vs. faithfulness, how reformers like Calvin and Luther diverged from early church fathers, and why second-century writers can give us the clearest view of how these perplexing Biblical passages were meant to be understood Matthew J. Thomas earned his PhD at Oxford University and serves as assistant professor of biblical studies at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California and an instructor in theology at Regent College. His undergraduate work was done at Pepperdine University. Video and blog here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/works-of-law

Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva talks with us about her new book "Dangerous Religious Ideas: The Deep Roots of Self-Critical Faith in Judaism, Christianity and Islam." She also shares ways for us to cultivate empathy for each other's religious traditions, the challenges of sola scriptura (and self-directed Bible study), the role of doubt in our faith journeys, what the commandment about "eye for an eye" really means, and ways texts of terror have been use to oppress (or even justify violence) toward women and our LGBTQ+ communities. Rachel S. Mikva serves as the Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman Chair in Jewish Studies and the Senior Faculty Fellow of the InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary. Dr. Mikva served as a congregational rabbi for thirteen years before returning to academia. Her research and teaching focus on interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in various times and places, exploring how the ideas both shape and reflect the societies in which they unfold. She earned her A.B. at Stanford University, M.A. Rabbinic Ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and PhD at Jewish Theological Seminary. The video discussion and blog available here: http://www.mikedelgado.org/podcast/dangerous-religious-ideas/

We're honored to learn from Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler in this week's podcast about their latest book "The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently." In this episode, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc Brettler discuss Jewish and Christian perspectives on the doctrine of original sin, how we pick and choose what Biblical laws to follow, and examples of monotheism and polytheism in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

We're honored to learn from Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler in this week's podcast about their latest book "The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently." Dr. Amy-Jill Levine and Dr. Marc Brettler talk with us about the importance of empathy and growing in awareness for the different biases and filters we all use when reading the Bible (even when we try to be objective). They also share with us about the importance of learning how different religious traditions interpret their Bibles -- and why we all need to become more familiar with each other’s perspectives. Dr. Levine also talks with us about how the Bible isn’t just a dialogue to engage in -- but a trialogue.

We continue our conversation with N.T. Wright about his book "Broken Signposts." This episode is focused on understanding the benefits of working with a spiritual director -- and ways they can assist us in understanding how God may be working in our lives. Spiritual directors can track your spiritual seasons and assist during dark nights of the soul and periods when you are feeling broken or distraught. Dr. Wright also shares why daily Psalm reading is a helpful practice to see the spiritual highs and lows that are part of the Christian life.