Faith Improvised

In this episode, Steve and I discuss the March 29, 2024 episode of the Ezra Klein Show, on which Ezra interviewed political journalist John Ganz. Ganz's new book, When the Clock Broke, is a survey of political and cultural developments in the 1990s that gave rise to the sorts of resentments and grievances at work in the upcoming election.

Steve and I talk about passion and reason in the populace, and the place of expertise in politics.

Steve and I talk about a bunch of stuff, but especially about what we've learned about teaching.

In this episode, Steve and I continue our conversation about who we are and what we do, along with a bunch of other stuff.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about our identities in relation to our jobs and careers.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about a bunch of stuff, but especially about the notion of chosen family.

In this episode, I give some updates about the last month or so, and Steve and I talk about the football playoffs and about our experiences in public education.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about a bunch of different topics, but especially some recent lessons in perspective.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about how holding onto a right perspective helps us deal with our suffering.

In this episode, we ended up talking quite a bit about Johnny Marr's autobiography, Set the Boy Free, and the sort of person Marr embodies. He stayed focused on what he loved--playing guitar--and remained committed to those around him, which kept him from losing his perspective on life. I also mentioned a few books: Underland, by Robert Macfarlane; Empire of Pain, by Patrick Radden Keefe; Devil House, by John Darnielle; and, of course, Johnny Marr, Set the Boy Free.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about some of the healing dynamics associated with our practice of taking long walks and the healing power of laughter.

In this episode, Steve and I reflect on our personal transformations over the last 25 years, and the emotional, relational, and intellectual dynamics involved in those.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about how painful situations can be catalysts for growth, and under what conditions that can happen.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about certainty and uncertainty, reflecting on Mark C. Taylor's comment, in his book, After God, that "Certainty is the symptom of death; uncertainty, the pulse of life."

In our conversation, Steve and I mention a few books: Mark Tessler, A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; Elias Chacour, Blood Brothers: The Dramatic Story of a Palestinian Christian Working for Peace in Israel; Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East; Ari Shavit, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel; Anne Applebaum, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. I also mentioned the documentary film, "With God on Our Side."

Steve and I talk about why and how American Protestantism--especially white evangelicalism--is so individualistic. We mentioned a few books: Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations; Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America; Ijeoma Oluo, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America.

In this episode, Steve and I talk about some articles we've read recently on conspiracy theories, and relate those to intellectual humility and arrogance. We also mention the following books and articles: "Google Isn't Grad School," by Arthur Brooks, from The Atlantic, July 2023; "What Conspiracy Theorists Don't Believe," by Tim Harford, from The Atlantic, July 2023; The Death of Expertise, by Tom Nichols; Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman; The Origins of Creativity, by Edward O. Wilson.

In this episode, Steve and I discuss the novel and the film adaptations of "True Grit"--their similarities and differences, and how the Coen version fits their vision of life in a cold, indifferent universe. We mention this article about the film by Stanley Fish, and the book by Adam Nayman, The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together.

In this episode, Steve and I continue talking about happiness, with some references to the Book of Job and A Serious Man.

In this episode, I begin a series of conversations with my best friend, Steve Watkins, about pursuing happiness, wholeness, and healing. We mentioned a few books in this episode: Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (Harper, 2015), and Pema Chödrön, Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion (Shambhala, 2018). We also mentioned the beautiful TED Talk by Anne Lamott, called "12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing."

In this episode I talk about how I came to the view that evangelism is not the task of the church.

In this episode, I talk about my big move and new location in Louisville, and answer a few listener emails.

In this episode I finish talking about interpreting New Testament letters as occasional literature.

In this episode, I recommend my friend Max Botner's book, Beyond the Greek New Testament: Advanced Readings for Students of Biblical Studies (Baker Academic), and I talk about New Testament letters as occasional literature.

In this episode, I recommend Louis Menand's new book, The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021), and I begin talking about reading and interpreting New Testament letters.

In this episode, I catch up with the 17 listeners on what I've been up to the last few months, I recommend Beth Moore's new memoir, called All My Knotted Up Life (Tyndale Momentum), and I finish talking about some features of biblical narratives.

In this episode, I recommend a brilliant new book by Daniel G. Hummel, The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation (Eerdmans, 2023), and I talk a bit more about reading biblical narratives.

In this episode, I catch all 17 listeners up on what I've been doing the last month or so, and I talk a little about reading biblical narratives.

In this episode, I recommend Nijay Gupta's new book, Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church (IVP Academic, 2023), and I talk a bit more about why it's so important to understand the different kinds of literature in the Bible.

In this episode, I recommend Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past, edited by Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer (Basic Books, 2023), and I talk about how important it is to reckon with the various kinds of literature found in the Bible.

In this episode, I recommend Gabor Maté's brilliant new book on trauma and healing, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture Avery, 2022), and I address some of the questions raised by the series on the big story of the Bible.

In this episode, I talk about the current moment of the biblical story in a sub-series on engaging with Scripture that went on a whole lot longer than I thought it would.

In this episode, I talk about the early church and how that fits into the biblical story.

In this episode, I talk about Jesus and how he fits into the biblical story.

In this episode, I try to provide some backdrop to the historical dynamics that shaped the culture to which Jesus arrived.

In this episode, I finish talking about God's call of Israel and what that means for God's aim to reclaim the world for his glory.

I recommend Bono's new memoir called Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (Knopf, 2022), and I talk about God's call of Israel and what that means for God's aim to reclaim the world for his glory.

In this episode, I talk about God's call of Israel and what that means for God's aim to reclaim the world for his glory.

I begin talking about God's plan to reclaim what was lost when humans failed in their commission to manage creation's flourishing.

I recommend the book by Justin E. H. Smith, The Internet is Not What You Think It Is: A History, A Philosophy, A Warning (Princeton University Press, 2022), and I talk a bit more about the big story of the Bible. I also mention the soon-to-be-released book by Isaac B. Sharp, The Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressirve, Feminist, and Gay Christians--and the Movement that Pushed Them Out (Eerdmans: 2023).

I relay some of the excellent meals I've enjoyed recently, and I continue talking about the big story of the Bible and how humans made a mess of things in Genesis 3.

I recommend Jenny Odell's wonderful book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy (Melville House, 2020), and I draw out some implications about humanity from Genesis 1-2.

In this episode, I recommend Mel Brooks's wonderful memoir, All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business (Ballantine Books, 2021), and I talk about the opening chapter of the biblical story (Genesis 1-2).

In this episode, I continue talking about the opening chapter of the Bible's big story.

I recommend Merve Emre's book, The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing (Anchor Books, 2019), and I talk a bit more about the narrative dynamics going on in Genesis 1-2.

I respond to some questions I've received, I recommend Katelyn Beaty's new book, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church (Brazos Press, 2022), and I begin talking about the big story of the Bible.

In this episode, I recommend a wonderful work of fiction, called Dear Committee Members: A Novel (Doubleday, 2015), and I talk about two approaches to Scripture: Lectio Divina and the Law/Gospel contrast.

In this episode, I recommend Hillary McBride's wonderful new book, The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living (Brazos Press, 2021), and I talk about critical thinking when it comes to engaging with Christian Scripture.

After a longer layoff than I had anticipated, I begin this fourth season by talking about what I've been up to over the last 3 1/2 months, note some of the books I've been reading, and give an overview of what I intend to explore in the upcoming season.

In this episode, I wrap up season 3 and the exploration of Paul's Letter to the Romans.

A brief update on two books I'm reading--The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, by David Graeber and David Wengrow, and The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community, by Stephanie Spellers. I also talk about the closing section of Paul's letter to the Roman Christians.