Marc Jolicoeur (aka "Jolly Thoughts")

I've known Natasha Dongell since I was a kid (which was longer ago for me than for her, I assure you), and I've long looked up to her as a source of wisdom, but this newly released book of hers (a memoir titled When Lynn Died) is a resource on grief that I truly hope makes a broad impact in the world.In our conversation we briefly recap the story of crisis that led to her wanting/needing to write this book, but beyond that, she shares helpful thoughts on how people can deal with grief & the grieving, while also giving us a vulnerable window into a life that is not “perfect” but is healed.To follow along with Natasha's Substack, find her here (and to watch this conversation via video you can either do so on YouTube here or experimentally embedded in the post below.Chapters:05:48 - Understanding the Book's Purpose08:59 - The Crisis: Lynn's Sudden Death10:15 - Navigating Grief and Community Support12:10 - The Role of Vulnerability in Healing15:05 - Cultural Perspectives on Grief18:20 - Practical Tips for Supporting the Grieving29:22 - Navigating Vulnerability in Grief35:03 - The Importance of Community Support39:23 - The Journey of Writing a Book on Grief48:55 - Remarriage and Processing Grief01:03:44 - Finding Balance in New Relationships01:07:32 - New Chapterkeywords: grief, loss, emotional intelligence, church, support, relationships, healing, vulnerability, mourning, communitySome Takeaways:* Lynn's unexpected death was a profound shock.* Grief is often poorly understood in church communities.* Emotional intelligence is crucial in navigating grief.* Vulnerability is uncomfortable but necessary for healing.* Supportive relationships are key to processing grief.* The church often struggles with acknowledging brokenness.* Language around grief is often lacking in Western culture.* It's important to lean in and ask about the lost loved ones.* Listening to the names of the deceased can be healing.* Building trust with others is essential for sharing grief. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

Are miracles “violations” of the laws of nature? Are demons and ghosts more than just a relic of ancient mythology? Is there any truth behind modern-day exorcism? Do some people possess prophetic abilities? Are near-death experiences a true glimpse of the afterlife? Can the worldview of the ancient texts of Scripture help us interpret these supernatural phenomena?These are the kinds of questions that Matt McGuire tackles in his work in general and in his book in particular. In this conversation we run the gambit from ghosts to “zener cards” (check out the YouTube video for that), and a variety of stops along the way. There were so many things I wanted to talk about (including John Wesley's apparent use of “casting lots”), but time flies when you're talking about this stuff. In the show's intro I mention this recent Joe Rogan podcast, which we also do not talk about, but is a great example of how hungry people are for the esoteric. Do you have any examples of paranormal experiences that may or may not “fit well” with your own understandings of how stuff works?Chapters:00:00 - Intro05:15 - Education & Career Path07:40 - Exploring the Supernatural10:48 - Parapsychology and Personal Journey13:38 - The Rhine Research Center16:28 - Scientific Methods in Parapsychology19:11 - Understanding Zener Cards21:35 - Skepticism and Acceptance24:50 - ESP and Spirituality27:41 - Theories on Innate Abilities31:16 - Exploring Miraculous Abilities Across Cultures32:54 - The Importance of Meditative Practices in Spirituality36:58 - Understanding Parapsychology and Christian Spiritual Gifts42:27 - The Nature of Christian Prophecy and Spiritual Gifts45:47 - The Biblical Perspective on Seeking Spiritual Gifts51:50 - Experiences at Charismatic Conferences and Healing58:18 - The Role of Worship in Altered States of Consciousness1:01:36 - Navigating Supernatural Experiences in ChristianityKeywords:parapsychology, psychic phenomena, altered states, consciousness, collective effervescence, ESP, psychokinesis, religious rituals, trance states, sensory deprivation Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

By the year 2040, churches will no longer have Sunday morning sermons… Joel Murphy said so.Just kidding, just kidding… I said so, and then said that Joel said so. It was my attempt at “futuring”, which is something that I don't officially do. But Joel does.In his role at Futuring Hub, Joel is part of a team that exist to “consider tomorrow in order to anticipate and shape today's church.” In this conversation, we get a crash course on futuring, consider some of its pros & cons, and then begin to feel out how its outputs are already being applied into our contexts. I learned a lot, and hope you will to! Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

How does a man who grew up in an anti-Christian cult (one which attempted to convince him that people with his skin tone ought not follow Christ) end up a professing Christian pursuing academic studies in order to be better equipped to bring the Christian message to his own home community? That's what this conversation (in part) helps to illuminate.Hakeem Bradley's story is full of ups, downs, people who helped point the way, and Jesus. To follow along with his ongoing story you can find him on Instagram, or check out his ongoing work over at the Bible Project. You'll also see him soon as part of the resources offered by John Mark Comer & crew.For a link to the book Hakeem referenced, click here.For more info on Ridley College, click here.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction and Context Setting08:33 - Understanding the 5% Nation14:46 - The Move to Portland and Its Impact20:43 - Family Dynamics and Religious Background26:40 - Exploring Church Culture and Personal Experiences35:48 - Defining the Moment of Faith Commitment41:40 - Transitioning from Youth Ministry to Biblical Scholarship46:49 - Pursuing Doctoral Studies and Cultural Contextualization54:20 - Exploring the Epistle of James1:04:24 - Navigating Cultural Perspectives in Theologykeywords: Christianity, cultural perspectives, early church, 5% Nation, faith journey, youth ministry, biblical studies, diversity in theology, community impact, church history Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

For some people, the word “gospel” is mostly connected to a genre of music. For others, it may conjure significant debate on what exactly it is. In Matt Bates' new book, Why The Gospel?, he tries rather to take a look behind the curtain at the purpose for the “Good News” that others are arguing about.This conversation is just a teaser at some of the great work Matt has done & is doing. If you'd like to keep up with him on socials, he has a Facebook & a X profile, and he remains an active voice on the ever-excellent OnScript podcast. Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Technical Setup03:00 Exploring Matt's Academic Background06:14 Understanding the Gospel and Its Implications12:53 Defining the Gospel: Key Elements17:45 The Role of Incarnation in the Gospel24:45 Theological Insights on Glory and Image-Bearing28:40 Understanding Salvation from God's Perspective31:44 The Role of Atonement in Christian Theology34:26 Faith vs. Faithfulness: A New Perspective42:33 Justification and the Nature of Salvation54:56 The Church as a Political Body Under Christ's Authoritykeywords: gospel, faith, Paul, hermeneutics, incarnation, atonement, baptism, Christian nationalism, theology, community Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to religion & politics, there's a difference between “personal” & “private”. At least, that's Mike MacNeil says in this conversation… and I'm inclined to agree.Mike is the author of three books (Jesus Kicks // Jesus Wears An Orange Jumpsuit // Holy Spit!), a hoppin' Substack blog (Soul Apologetics), and is a pastor on staff @ Kings Church in Atlantic Canada, where he gives leadership to their in-house Kings Academy.This is a pretty wide-ranging conversation, but if you're particularly interested in the singular episode of another podcast we mention, it happens to be here: Jordan Peterson's conversation with Greg Laurie Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

When Alan Streett found himself sitting around a circle with friends of his listening to a man in a trance embody the voice of a dead loved one, the fact that he was doing so “in Jesus' name” didn't seem strange to him… until it did.In Alan's newest book (Exploring The Paranormal, from Eerdman's Publishing), he walks us through several jaw-dropping phases of his own life & personal experience with the paranormal, building to a climactic opportunity to share his own current understanding of these phenomena (one I am admittedly uncomfortable with… though I can't yet fully articulate why). In this conversation Alan generously walks us through the highlights of his story, and teases out why you might want to explore more of this paranormal treatment for yourself.Chapters:00:00 Introduction06:53 Exploring the Paranormal: A Journey Begins10:00 From Baseball Dreams to Spiritual Exploration12:46 The Shift to Seminary and Psychic Phenomena16:02 The Encounter with God and Transformation19:05 The Charismatic Movement and Its Influence21:56 The Evolution of Beliefs: From Acceptance to Rejection24:52 The Role of Mentalism in Understanding Psychic Phenomena27:57 The Third Stage: Magic Tricks vs. Genuine Psychic Abilities31:01 The Final Stage: A New Perspective on Psychic Phenomena37:03 The Healing Power of Meditation40:35 Understanding Brain Waves and Consciousness43:09 Exploring Altered States of Consciousness47:29 The Subconscious Mind and Its Powers53:24 Faith, Miracles, and the Power of Belief56:45 Distinguishing Between Spiritual Experiences1:00:43 The Nature of Phenomena and Their OriginsKeywords:paranormal, spirituality, psychic phenomena, Christianity, miracles, faith, subconscious mind, Alan Streett, Jolly Thoughts podcast, spiritual experiences Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

“For years, psychedelics were my religion. All I ever wanted was The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever, the panacea, the cure for what plagued me. From those first moments when I tasted the earthy pulp of a psilocybin mushroom, it was love. Psychedelics were my sacrament. They shot me into cathedral vaults. The promise of eternal life through chemicals glittered seductively, but hid a yawning abyss…” - Ashley LandeIn this episode of the podcast, we dive into Ashley Lande's new book (The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever), her memoir about searching for hope & meaning in psychedelic substances, but finding them in the person of Jesus Christ. In this conversation we wrestle with some weighty topics around substance use & abuse, so be fairly warned.Keywords:transcendence, psychedelics, spirituality, memoir, Christianity, personal journey, mental health, redemption, faith, Ashley LandeChapters:00:00 Introduction and Background03:02 The Journey into Psychedelics09:55 Transitioning from Alcohol to Psychedelics16:09 The Spiritual Pursuit of Psychedelics25:00 The Role of Set and Setting30:56 The Collision of Belief Systems36:59 The Impact of Personal Tragedy48:02 The Moment of Conversion55:20 Reflections on the Journey and Hopes for the Book Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

“From what I gather, you fit the bill of the kind of person I have in mind.  Raised in the orbit of the church.  Not unfamiliar with Jesus or Scripture.  Not skeptical of them either.  But untutored…”The above is a brief & early description of the idealized pen-pal (or, “interlocutor”, if you're nasty/fancy) that Brad East had in mind when writing his new book, Letters To A Future Saint. In this conversation we dig into the book, his motivations for writing it, his hopes for its use, and his preacher-level-passion regarding baptism. We also get a sneak peak at his current work on wrestling with the ramifications of digital technologies on the church (spoiler alert: not all good). This conversation… it's a doozie!Brad is an associate professor of theology at Abilene Christian University. He writes widely on Christianity, theology, culture, and politics for a variety of publications including The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Comment, Commonweal, First Things, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Point. He's been interviewed on a number of podcasts including The London Lyceum, The Christian Chronicle, and Curiously, Kaitlyn.Thanks for reading Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts)! This post is public so feel free to share it.CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction and Background06:30 - Sabbatical and Writing Projects10:20 - Digital Technology in Ministry14:30 - Teaching and Student Engagement18:30 - The Rise of the Nones22:30 - Literacy and Biblical Knowledge26:10 - Catechesis and Its Importance30:40 - Baptism: Understanding Its Significance34:20 - The Role of the Church38:30 - Baptism and Personal Experience42:30 - The Nature of Sacraments46:20 - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKEYWORDS:Brad East, Letters to a Future Saint, baptism, catechesis, technology, biblical literacy, Christian community, faith, church history, spiritual growth Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

“Being told to participate - while in fact being unable to participate - is deeply dispiriting to worshipers, especially worshipers with anxiety…” (pg 152 of Worship In An Age Of Anxiety)This Michael Jordan may or may not be able to palm a basketball, but he can certainly help us wrestle with the deep & challenging topic of how contemporary Christian worship practices (read “Western” and “Evangelical” in there too, likely) interact with those who are experiencing anxiety in our day & age. His new book (Worship In An Age Of Anxiety: How Churches Can Create Space For Healing) is a well-written & thought-provoking treatise on the subject, based in large part on his many years of relevant experience planning & leading worship for students at Houghton University, where he also counselled such students as he lead.If you're looking for just a little more from Michael on this topic, he actually wrote a review about the movie Inside Out 2 for CT Magazine recently, which you should be able to read here.While editing this episode, I also came across this interview with former Bethel worship leader Amanda Cook, which I believe is timely & relevant. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

“Collaboration does not have to be about corruption; it can be about cooperation.” (pg 78 of God's Ghostwriters)Have you ever stopped to wonder how the biblical texts were actually written down, and by who (or… whom)? In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Dr Candida Moss about her newest book, God's Ghostwriters, which is about that very thing. In her own words, Candida is known as a bit of an iconoclast, and this book doesn't disappoint in that regard, shedding light on (and raising questions about) the nature of inspiration. Chapters01:00 Introduction and Background12:05 Enslaved Collaborators in the New Testament19:23 Challenging Traditional Notions of Authorship21:39 The Use of Shorthand in Ancient Writing25:06 Interpretation and Alteration in the Transmission Process33:41 The Role of Enslaved People in Biblical Texts49:41 Challenging Traditional Interpretations55:59 The Influence of Paratexts01:01:25 Broadening Perspectives in Bible ReadingSound Bites* "Enslaved collaborators wouldn't have made changes to the texts that they were receiving. That doesn't mean they're corrupting things, they might be improving them."* "There's no theological reason why you could not have more people. You can still have your authors. You just have more of them."* "Ancient shorthand seems to only have been learned by enslaved or formerly enslaved people because it takes two years to remember."* "The story of the paralytic... centers enslaved loyalty"* "Paratexts deeply influence... how we read and think about [the Bible]"KeywordsCandida Moss, God's Ghost Writers, New Testament, enslaved collaborators, authorship, Bible, secretaries, copyists, divine inspiration, shorthand, interpretation, transmission process, enslaved people, biblical texts, interpretation, marginalized communities, Paul, Gospel narratives, sexual ethics, historical context Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the pod, I'm cross-sharing a sermon I was glad to have been able to preach at my local church on Sunday, July 28th, as part of a 10-week series on the Sermon On The Mount. I reference in it this devotional, which is still available online, if interested. Also, the video version of this is available on my YouTube channel. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

David Bennett is a self-described “celibate gay Christian”, but goodness… he is so much more than that!  He's an author, a theologian in residence, with a PhD from none other than Oxford, and he's a fierce lover of (and follower of) Jesus.And yet, he's a controversial character.  In large part, this is because of his online presence (which some might construe as “activism”) on behalf of what is often shorthanded as “side-B Christianity”.  I hesitate to offer any sort of in-depth definition of that community of belief here (largely because I'm not an expert in it), and yet I also hesitate to let you loose onto the internet to Google it, since… well, there's no shortage of inflammatory press about it.  What's even more exciting? Those negative reviews tend to come from both the conservative Christian right and the progressive liberal left.  It is for this very reason that I wanted to have a conversation with David.As I hope will be clear throughout the conversation, I am not engaging as an antagonist, but nor am I wholeheartedly agreeing with all of his stances.  In my limited experience, the kinds of considerations that David and others like him are bringing forward are important for the church.  Of course, as I'll mention in the audio which is the preamble to our conversation, my opinions are only that: opinions.  Though I wear multiple hats, I have no intention of allowing any of those hats to trump my responsibility to teach & uphold the views of the denomination I'm happy & blessed to serve (that is, of course, unless the unthinkable day comes where that denomination comes into conflict with Kingdom values).  As such, if you're interested in knowing a little more about The Wesleyan Church's interpretation of scripture and how it applies to questions of human sexuality, this little document does a masterful job exploring that.If this conversation stirs up challenging or uncomfortable thoughts in you, it is my hope that those impulses drive you to conversation, not argument.  Primarily, I'm hopeful that our first conversation partner will be God (in Christ, through the Spirit, and in the light of the traditions of the Church), and yet not in a way that we become deaf to the conversations happening around us. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

Conor Conway is a coffee connoisseur, top notch trumpeter, and spiritual conversationalist.  Since he is a co-owner of Epoch Coffee in downtown Moncton, I have known of Conor for years now, but this in-depth conversation was long overdue.  We dip into his early days with Canadian pop music sensation The Weeknd, drink three marvelously prepared cups of coffee, and dive DEEP into not only his own experiences of God in general and Judaism in particular, but also some of the (good and less-good) ways Judaism & Christianity have historically interacted.I learned a lot in this conversation, not least about Sistema and Reconstructionist Judaism.  I also learned (hopefully) how to do a better job recording a pod in-person rather than online… next time.  Please, your patience for the audio-quality is requested!  Most importantly, though, I learned that while it is obviously difficult to talk about difficult things, it can be worth doing so with safe people, even if you stumble pretty hard over your own words. I truly appreciated Conor's grace to me throughout our chat, but especially in the back quarter when we get into one of the hottest of the hot topics (in my world, at least).  During this episode I referenced Carmen Joy Imes' books.  Here's a link to the podcast I recorded with her: Episode 31I also referenced my love for David Desteno's “How God Works” podcast.  Here's a review I wrote of his book: How God WorksIf I had thought about it, I would have referenced this previous podcast I recorded with Dr Matt Friedman, who is himself both Jewish & Christian:  Episode 36Chapters:04:47 // Gesha Village Coffee08:07 // Multicultural Upbringing and Tasting Differences13:12 // From Music to Coffee: Conor's Journey18:50 // Conor's Experience with The Weeknd30:04 // Religious Identity and Reconstructionist Judaism37:47 // Coffee Tasting and Cultural Exploration38:26 // Walking through an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood39:49 // Orthodox Judaism and the Importance of Community41:18 // Observing Shabbat and Jewish Law42:48 // Reconstructionism: Individual Interpretation of Jewish Practices43:18 // Questioning and Wrestling with Faith54:53 // The Power of Participating in Ritual1:07:15 // The Book of Job: Wrestling with Suffering and Seeking Truth1:14:08 // The Exclusivity of Christianity and the Benefits of Applying Oneself to a Religion1:24:15 // Navigating the Complexities of Supporting Israelis and Palestinians1:35:49 // The Rise of Anti-Semitism and the Importance of Difficult ConversationsKeywords: coffee, flavor, coffee industry, music industry, multicultural, religion, Reconstructionist Judaism, community, religion, Orthodox Judaism, reconstructionism, language, beliefs, questioning, wrestling with faith, book of Job, religion, Christianity, exclusivity, truth claims, applying oneself, benefits, Israel, theological viewpoints, support, Palestinians, anti-Semitism, Jewish community Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

Today is the first time I've wondered if the movie title “Free Willy” was actually a hidden joke. …probably not. Nonetheless, the question of just how “free” our wills may be is no longer a conversation restricted to theologians. That said, this conversation is from a theological vantage point. In it, Nathan Adams (who is currently a PhD student @ McGill University) runs us through the paper he recently presented at the Wesleyan Theological Society. Wanna find out more? Either listen to the pod or comb through the guides below.Hey, if you've gotten this far… maybe either leave a comment here (

Tim Perry has some strong feelings about the state of the Church at large, and he's not afraid to lay them out for open & honest dialogue. In this wide-ranging conversation we discuss:* the unique place of Mary in Christian Theology throughout history, and how that intersects with today* the potential dangers of “dismissing” Mary* the latent worth of the Old Testament in the Church today* the value of embracing a whole-person, embodied worship experienceWe get into some nitty gritty weeds a few times in this conversation, and I walked away with some areas of potential disagreement, but I deeply valued Tim's time and his expertise, and hope you'll enjoy this conversation. You can find some of Tim's books at Lexham Press, but might need to hunt / bid for some of the others.“I would say to evangelicals, ‘Be very careful in disparaging or getting rid of Mary, because she'll go (she's not a bully), but she'll take her son with her… and you end up with a Jesus who is a motivational speaker, or who's a politician haranguing you to get on the right or the left side of whatever is the cause du jour, but you don't have the divine-human Saviour anymore.'” - Tim PerryKeywords: connections, Christian traditions, denominations, research, Mary, Evangelicals, Catholicism, Orthodox, Protestant churches, Bible, Mary, Christian theology, worship, Scripture, grace, unique place, fully divine, fully human, Old Testament, embodied worship Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

A few episodes back I shared my conversation with W David O Taylor, wherein we got nerdy on the question of whether or not Jesus could have been considered an “artist”. I shared part of that conversation during the Sunday morning message attached to Moncton Wesleyan Church's annual arts fest (Imagine). This podcast is the remainder of that message... Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

Imagine ‘24 (an annual Arts Fest that I'm quite involved in) is well in the rearview mirror now. Soon I'll be posting the message I was pleased to be able to share as part of Moncton Wesleyan's Sunday morning service (a service that featured live dance, live painting, and some other beautiful artistic expressions), but this episode is actually a panel conversation with visual artist Leanne Prescott and songwriter Aaron Bartlett, both of whom are on Imagine's Lead Team. We recorded this conversation live & in real-time as part of Imagine ‘24's Saturday Sessions, and the technology was giving us a little grief, so please bear with some of the glitchiness. I'm grateful for these two folks, and am glad to be able to share this wide-ranging conversation about art, the church, and the space(s) between. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe

This episode of the pod is me riffing briefly on the waiting that Holy Saturday interposes into the celebration of Easter, followed by a sermon that was part of Moncton Wesleyan's “Domino Effect” series.I'm releasing this episode just a few hours after what amounted to a historic Good Friday service in the city of Moncton. Officially 5 churches (and several others “unofficially”) joined together in remembrance, and it was immensely powerful. Right after the service, I got into a brief conversation with someone I know who'd been participating in Lent this year a little more intentionally than has been their typical practice. He said to me, “It was… less impactful than I thought it was going to be.” Honestly, to me, this was beautiful to hear. I feel we need to be honest with ourselves & with others, honest with our expectations, honest with our gains & with our losses. I acknowledged to this individual that this is often my experience, as well. The kinds of practices I advocate for in this podcast (and that I typically practice, to greater or lesser degrees) occasionally lead me to moments of significant impact. More often than not, though, they seem to lead me nowhere at all.Sometimes (often, even), Holy Saturday seems to lead us nowhere at all… but we can't see what's happening underground.(In my message I heavily reference Justin Earley's book The Common Rule.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this episode of the podcast I am overjoyed to be able to share my recent conversation with none other than Dr W David O Taylor (hereinafter merely “David”). David is the associate professor of theology & culture at Fuller Seminary, the author of a ton of books… oh, and he was the guy responsible for pulling Bono & Eugene Peterson together for this magical conversation a few years back. Relevant to this conversation, David was (for a significant period of time) a pastor in a church that consisted almost 25% of artists, and he intentionally pastored these artists for their own apprenticeship to Jesus.  He also helped them think through how their vocations served the church and the world.  A lot of that wisdom and experience ended up in Glimpses of the New Creation (the book we primarily talk about), as well as his most recent book, A Body of Praise. I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to chat with David so close to the launch of the 4th annual Imagine Arts Fest, which I help lead in my own local context.  This was a wide-ranging conversation, to be sure, but we kept circling around questions like:Was (is?) Jesus an artist? Does God care about “aesthetics”?The conversation may get a little highfalutin' at times, but (surprisingly) these esoteric questions keep getting grounded back down to earth… earthiness… the ground of being, the ground beneath our feet, and the ground of which we are composed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Guys, this was a suuuuuper fun convo for me!!! Nostalgia + philosophizing = a great day. In this convo, Leah Payne and I take a peek at her forthcoming book (God God Rock & Roll To You), geek out a little about her fabulous Weird Religion podcast (before her equally fabulous Rock That Doesn't Roll podcast was even a thing), and reminisce about the bookcase credibility trend which is no more. In actual fact, for the most part, we spend our time asking questions about the rise & fall of a juggernaut industry; Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

God is a merciful judge.God has granted us mercy.God calls us to grant mercy to others.A few weeks ago I was blessed to have been able to preach in our church's 2023 advent series, “The God I Want”. I spoke primarily from Matthew 18:“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed 10,000 talents was brought to him. Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!' Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?' And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”(Matthew 18:23-35, NET)With everything going on in the world feeling (at times) overwhelming, and not knowing how we as individuals can make much of a difference at all, I find solace & purpose in understanding that God calls us to follow after Him by helping to preserve the world and granting mercy freely to those in our lives, regardless of their deserving it. We didn't (and don't) “deserve” the Christ Child, but thanks be, He shows up in our mangerly-hearts anyway.May 2023 finish with His Kingdom being clearer than it has been, and may 2024 bring more of His Heavenly peace on His earth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“In the incarnation, God has deemed the female body - the impure, bleeding female body - worthy to handle the most sacred of all things, the very body of God. “(Amy Peeler, pg 61, Women & the Gender of God)In this episode (released oh-so-close to Christmas 2023), I am beyond pleased to be able to share with you a conversation with the Rev Dr Amy Peeler. Amy is a professor at Wheaton College, an associate rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and the author of (the book we primarily discuss) Women and Gender of God. This book is an important exploration of the way our understandings about both God and humanity flow in both directions… and how we ought to be careful about that.**At the beginning of the conversation I mention that Amy just got back from “SBL” (which is the Society for Biblical Literature), and we also drop the term “ETS” (which is the Evangelical Theological Society). ** This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

On this episode of the podcast, we go deeeeeep with Dr Ekaputra Tupamahu about his 2022 book Contesting Languages: Heteroglossia & the Politics of Language in the Early Church. This book is a highly detailed and technical revisitation of the phenomenon typically shorthanded in today's church as “tongues”, primarily viewed through the lens of 1 Corinthians 14. Eka was very generous with his time & expertise, and put up no defensive barriers when I probed him pretty deeply about his thesis. I hope you'll find this an enlightening conversation, even if you disagree with some of the premises! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Folks, I am over-the-moon excited to be able to share this conversation with Dr Lester Ruth about his most recent book (co-authored with Lim Swee Hong), A History Of Contemporary Praise & Worship. This pair did a shorter history on this topic a few years back (Lovin' On Jesus), and in this conversation we get not only the broadstrokes of their findings but also a little bit of the behind-the-scenes work (spoiler alert: there was a LOT of it) that led to their very reasoned and very helpful conclusions in this most recent output. We do our best to give you an overview of the two major streams (one commonly known as “Praise & Worship” and the other commonly known as “Contemporary Worship”) that spring up in the earlier parts of the 20th century, and how those streams become raging rivers that eventually converge into a titanic flood that helps rewrite much of modern Christian worship practice in North America… and, indeed, the world.We also talk about Psalty the Singing Psalm Book, Colby the Singing Computer, and John Piper's view on sipping coffee in church. Oh, and Lester mentions this one book (Doing Our Own Thing) as being quite important, FYI. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Ladies & gentlemen, it is with great pleasure (and a touch of trepidation) that I share with you my first podcast conversation with not one but TWO guests at a time! Don't worry; it's double the fun!Sarah Kathleen Johnson and Anneli Loepp Thiessen are the co-authors of a recently-published journal article in Worship called “Contemporary Worship Music As An Ecumenical Liturgical Movement”, which we use as a launchpad to be able to discuss things like the Taizé worshiping community, their work on the Voices Together hymnal, the challenges of being a successful songwriter and a “housewife”, and moooooore.I learned a lot from this conversation, and I hope you will too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

The apostle Paul.  Other than Jesus, arguably the most famous / notorious figure in the Christian scriptures.  His name has authorial responsibility for a huge chunk of the New Testament. Statues of the man litter modern day Italy.  There are fields of study dedicated exclusively to trying to understand his thought.  In a word, Paul's influence is massive.But… Paul himself may not have been massive.  Might he have actually been more minuscule?Could the apostle Paul have been significantly shorter than average? Could the ritual circumcision he'd experienced as a child have been viewed as a disability in his adult context?  Most shocking of all, could the man who urged others to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ have been “demonized”?In this conversation with Dr Isaac Soon, we take an overview look at his forthcoming book A Disabled Apostle. We also chat a bit about his exciting new forays into worship music under the name Yeung.  My head was spinning after this one, but… it was a good spin!Isaac is the Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Crandall University, if you're looking to find out how you could get deeper access to his streams of thought. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this conversation, Mitchell Eithun and I pick away at the challenging ways that Christian worship has represented people with disabilities, and how we might want to consider doing so in the future. If you'd like to follow Mitchell online, his Facebook page is likely the best spot to do so.If you, like me, did not know what a carillon was, be sure to check it out! If you, like me, had never heard the term “presbycostal” before, maybe Eugene Peterson says it best:“Pentecostalism and Presbyterianism were for me both irreplaceable gifts, polarities that made a continuum, not opposites in tension.”  (The Pastor: A Memoir, p. 217)Here are a handful of books Mitchell recommends, if you'd like to dive in further:My Body Is Not A Prayer Request by Amy KennyThe Disabled God by Nancy L. EieslandA Healing Homiletic by Kathy Black This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

This summer has been pretty typical for me. A lot of camping, a lot of complaining about the heat, a lot of searching for cool water to dip into. A lot of walking the dog. A lot of trying to keep the dog from being overly social. A lot of trying to encourage opportunities for my kids to be IRL social. A lot of wishing I was sleeping just a liiiiiiiittle bit more than I am. A lot of being thankful.This summer has also been pretty atypical for me. A lot of trying to get my head wrapped around teaching courses at Kingswood University. A lot of me wrestling over the results of Phase Two from our Worship Leader Research work (including spending a few days repping the team in Montreal at the Hymn Society's 2023 conference). And, in the midst of it all, a lot of me wrestling with one of my favourite biblical texts: The Book Of Jonah.I was blessed to have been able to speak last week at my local church about Jonah's story, and how it might connect with us in the here and now. The audio is in the podcast, but if you'd prefer the video, that's available in multiple places, like MW's Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo accounts.As summer carries on, I hope to be able to get back to podcasting a little more by Fall, but we'll have to see how / where the sun shines. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“[When considering the presentation of violence in the Old Testament]… I hope that we can nudge the needle further along, not towards resolution, but toward trust in God's ultimate goodness.” - Matthew Lynch, Flood & FuryThis episode of the podcast is with OT scholar and prolific podcaster Matthew J Lynch. Currently teaching at Regent College in Vancouver and releasing content into the world via the evergreen OnScript & Biblical World podcasts, he and I get into a number of topics (not least of which is the tension between being a “legit academic” and a “legit Christian”). Primarily, though, our chat centers around his most recent book, Flood & Fury: Old Testament Violence & The Shalom Of God, which I hiiiiiighly recommend. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Professor Nancy Pearcey (author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, which you can pre-order NOW) is no stranger to difficult but important subject matter. Her most recently published book (Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality) was a great & thought-provoking read, and though I haven't had the chance to check out her previous work (like The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live and Total Truth), I'm sure they'd provoke about as much thought. Her books have been translated into 19 languages! A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." Currently she is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University, which is where I joined her to talk about her forthcoming book, why she wrote it, and why you should care about the state of “men” today.Agree or disagree, I believe you'll find this conversation worth a listen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Few people (save The Edge himself) have had as great an impact on a generation of church guitarists as sir Stuart Garrard (aka Stu G). From his epoch-making time with Delirious to his second (or third?) life as a roving guitarist (with the likes of Michael W Smith & One Sonic Society) and a songwriter that has helped pen dozens of influential songs over the last decade, as well as his innovative work with guitar amp modelling… Stu has left a giant imprint. On top of all that, he has spent the better part of the last decade working on a multimedia reimagining of the most famous of Jesus' teachings (the Beatitudes) via a book, album, and documentary.Believe it or not, we get a chance to talk about most of that in an hour! Oh, and I even pick his glorious brain briefly about the latest research we've been releasing over at Worship Leader Research.I was beyond grateful for Stu's time, and for his heart. Hope you'll enjoy this conversation half as much as I did.If you (like me) want to make sure you can follow along with the digital unarchiving of Delirious footage, here are the various social media links for that journey:https://bio.to/delirious_biohttps://www.youtube.com/@delirious_band/featuredhttps://www.instagram.com/delirious_band/https://www.facebook.com/delirioushttps://twitter.com/Delirioushttps://www.tiktok.com/@deliriousofficial This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“… it is not a question of if we should engage in work to benefit those around us. It is a question of how broadly we define the ‘us' who benefits.”The above quote from Andrew Whitehead's forthcoming book American Idolatry (in my opinion) sets the tone for the nuanced conversation we try to engage in over these topics that are often portrayed as anything but nuanced.What do you think?BONUS: Below is a little walk through Andrew's & my own musical-memory lane…“Americanism” by MxPx: “The Old West” by Five Iron Frenzy: Five Iron Frenzy's latest album: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this unuuuuuuusual (for me, anyway) episode, I have a chat with Ambrose Andreano about his recently released book, Angels, Archons, & Aliens. It's a pretty wild ride, and likely not for the faint of heart, but (for many) it could also be an important conversation starter. You'll have to be the judge of that.Ambrose is on Substack and Academia.edu, too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Something special is a foot…In this episode of the podcast I catch up with looooong time friend (and all ‘round good guy) Jeff Somers about his brand new book, Avery And The Special Shoe. It's a very specific story he wrote for his daughter, which is why it has universal appeal. We talk about the challenges his daughter faces, we talk about writing, and we talk about publishing (oh, and about Meaghan Smith's beautiful illustrations). If you'd like to pre-order a copy of the book, swing by averyandthespecialshoe.com today!On the back end of the convo, I unload on / pick the brain of Jeff regarding the first public release from the Worship Leader Research team I'm a part of. It's been… a pretty wild ride so far. If you'd like to check out the article in question, below are a few links to get you situated:https://worshipleaderresearch.com/100-of-the-top-25-worship-songs-are-associated-with-just-a-handful-of-megachurches/https://religionnews.com/2023/04/11/theres-a-reason-every-hit-worship-song-sounds-the-same/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“In every aspect of the religious life, American faith has met American culture - and American culture has triumphed.” – Alan WolfeThe above quote is from page 4 of Dr Sam Reimer's fascinating new book, Caught In The Current. The book is his synthesis of a compilation of both quantitative data and qualitative surveys that he personally undertook, and it reveals a lot about how so-called “evangelicals” who live in Canada and the UK see themselves, the world around them, and the ideal and actual relationships between the two. In this conversation we barely scratch the surface, and so if you're looking for more, I'd highly encourage you to pick up the book and dig in!We fly through the idea of Bebbington's Quadrilateral as a way of helping to define what exactly an “evangelical” is, but if you'd like to brush up some more on that, this is a helpful place to start… that, or perhaps this conversation I had last year with Sam's co-worker and world-renowned authority on the topic, Dr John Stackhouse. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“I think Christian nationalism started in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was reaching for the Cross, and Peter, who loves Jesus, thought he should protect him with a sword.” – Caleb Campbell, Disarming LeviathanIn this episode of the podcast I chat with pastor and doctoral student Caleb Campbell about his new project to engage in meaningful but intentionally transformative dialogue with those who are self-described “American Christian Nationalists”. The ministry is called “Disarming Leviathan”, and it's unlike anything I've yet to come across. Whether or not the specific topics discussed here have much intersection with your life, the principles of listening and empathy outlined are helpful for all of us; better listeners make better people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Faith harms and heals. It pulls us apart and binds us together. It builds cathedrals and burns down cities. It gives life and brings death. Asking if religion is good is like asking if music is good. Or food. Or politics. Or baseball or books or art or science or any other human endeavor. Religion is human. And it matters. (Reorganized Religion, pg 39)Bob Smietana has covered a LOT of “bad news” stories when it comes to organized religion in the US. But he still has hope for the institution. So much so that he wrote an excellent and timely book about it, and was willing to sit down and chat with me about it. If you have any sort of vested interest in the “church” (whether in seeing it succeed OR watching it burn), then I think you'll find this conversation interesting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

“A mighty zeal for truth, for great purity, and other good purposes, is displayed; and it is observable, that this zeal generally rises in proportion as the peculiar tenets of the innovators, deviate from scripture and common sense; zeal being the substitute to make up the deficiency.”When was this sick burn tossed around? Last week? Last year? Nay, 230 years ago, from a little pulpit in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The preacher (Charles Inglis) was concerned about “fanatical” “enthusiasts”, people who proclaimed a passionate religion but were disorderly and seemed bent on upending the order around them.The more things change, the more they stay the same.On this episode of the podcast, I catch up with Dr Keith Grant about his new book, Enthusiasms and Loyalties: The Public History of Private Feelings in the Enlightenment Atlantic. We talk a little about the past, a little about the present, and… leave the future for another day. I am fascinated by the parallels between what are essentially different worlds. The past truly is a foreign country, but human nature truly is a near-constant.To keep up with Keith online, feel free to track him down at his “day job”, at Crandall University. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this episode I'm pleased as punch to be able to catch up with my fellow-follicly-feable friend Cody Matchett! Cody is a husband, dad, pastor, scholar, and he's just about to release a co-written book with the prolific Scot McKnight entitled Revelation For The Rest Of Us. We catch up a little, but then we dive deep into how and how NOT to read this long-contested and deeply important book of the New Testament. If you enjoy this conversation, keep your eyes peeled for more from both Cody & Scot in the time ahead. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

I have been looking forward to this conversation with Dr Alan Streett for a looooong time now. Streett's book on baptism (Caesar And The Sacrament) almost literally blew my mind while reading it. So much so that I ordered his prequel (Subversive Meals) and the newly-released followup (Songs Of Resistance) as soon as I could. In this conversation, we get a little window into Streett's own background, as well as wrestle a little with some of the tensions that his masterful work presents. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this episode of the podcast, my friend (and first-time SECOND-TIME podcast partner) Jeremy MacDonald asks me questions about the message I shared last weekend at my local church. The message was about (in essence) the relative value of “religion” when it comes to people's desires & ability to connect with the divine. You can hear the message here, if you'd like to catch up in advance or after the fact. Would loooooove to hear from you about the ways you see this differently, since (as mentioned in the podcast) this is a drum-beat of mine, and I'd hate to be blinded by my passion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Y'all, I had pretty much no idea what I was walking into when I signed up to chat with the newly doctored Merrill Greene, but I AM SO GLAD I DID.This conversation was wide-ranging, but everywhere we roved, I was the better for it. Not only do we get into some of the nitty-gritty on his Dead Sea Scrolls research, we also tie some observations into Christian practice & experience, with some pastoral implications for how we might want to “be” in the world today.I hope you'll find this conversation enlightening, and as always, would love to hear any thoughts or questions you might have.Merrill's “The Weirdness Of God” book is available here, and his dissertation (which is the main thing we talked about) is available here. Oh, and as promised, here is an open-source (i.e. “potentially problematic”) link as a starting place on the idea of Merkabah Mysticism. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

You guys, part of the reason I started a podcast was because I would listen to conversations other people were having (with people I agreed with AND disagreed with) and I would find myself yelling questions back… but to no avail. Now, I am blessed with the opportunity to have and to host such conversations, with people I agree with AND disagree with. Today is one such conversation.Nathan Finochio does a whole lotta things (bonus points if you can track down the old song of his we passingly reference at the top of the chat). In the first half of this conversation we mostly dig into his involvement with Theos U, billed as the “Netflix of Theology”. In the backhalf (starting around the 34-minute-mark), we dip into his understanding of (and adoption of) the controversial term “Christian nationalist”. Below are some links to some of the things we mention in the conversation.As I say clearly in the conversation, I do not necessarily hold to Nathan's view of things, but nor am I threatened by listening to him talk about them. We can neither agree NOR disagree with things we do not understand. If you have any honest / charitable questions or feedback based upon this conversation, would love to hear it.Alexander FairchildThe Royal RoyalTheos UPaul D MillerG K ChestertonYoram Hazony This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Folks, they say you learn something new every day, and I gotta tell ya… I'm not sure that's true. But TODAY I DEFINITELY DID! I am so pleased to be able to share this conversation with my friend, (the newly doctored) Dan Cooper. Dan's thesis (“Where Is The Place Of Darkness? A Metaphor Analysis Of Darkness In The Old Testament”) is a wild ride which takes us to unexpected places and, in the end, both clarifies and complicates my own understanding of “darkness” in the scripture. How much can we know of God? How much should we hope to? Is darkness a “thing”, or just the absence of a “thing”? Let's find out.Oh, and the book that Dan mentioned completely blew his mind? Metaphors We Live By, by Lakoff & Johnson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Dr Matt Friedman of Kingswood University. Matt is an author, a lecturer on intercultural studies, and a messianic Jew. We talk about how he got to where he is, what these shared identities mean for him, and what they might mean for us. This conversation was eye-opening for me, particularly when we spoke about his interpretation of Leviticus chapters 17 & 18. At a time when the concept & value of reconciliation is front & centre, considering the ways that Jews & Christians have succeeded & failed on that front was interesting & helpful for me.Here's a link to the Yachad Beyeshua organization referenced.And here are links to both of Matt's books he referenced:Union With God In Christ: Early Christian and Wesleyan Spirituality as an Approach to Islamic MysticismThe Present and Future of Evangelical Mission: Academy, Agency, Assembly, and Agora Perspectives from Canada This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

This episode of the podcast is more monologue than dialogue, though I am in dialogue with David Desteno (in a sense). For full notes and links and essentially the text of what you hear here, check out this link:David Desteno's "How God Works" // Religioprospecting, considering the source, and minding the hackTell me: Do you see any downside to religioprospecting, or am I being an overly reactionary weirdo? (those aren't necessarily the only two options…) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Y'all, it's been a minute, but after much summer adventuring I'm (mostly) baaaaack in the saddle for September. One of the marvellous weeks I was able to spend this summer was at our local church district's campground, Beulah Camp, and during that week I was blessed to have been preached at by a number of folks, including this fellow follically-challenge brother, Steve Deneff:Steve preached about a half-dozen times over the days he was with us, and I was blown away by not only his content, but his VOICE. The waaaay he communicated the things he communicated… I am still reeling from those messages. In fact, below, you'll find links to a few of the services that were most impactful for me.I ran into Steve one evening after one of the services and asked if he'd be willing to connect and chat on the podcast sometime, and this (of course) is that time. I think you'll find what he has to say refreshing & challenging, true to form for his particular voice.Typically I'd direct you to a guest's online presence if you want to follow them. The only place I even found him online was Twitter, where he hasn't posted in over a year. However, if after this podcast you're aching for more regular doses of this man's voice, College Wesleyan's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/CollegeWesleyanChurch) might be your best bet.In this conversation, Steve references Otto Scharmer's on “The Four Levels of Listening”, if you'd like to follow up and check into it more: https://vimeo.com/199593914Also, as promised, below are a few videos (full services, so you may need to skip ahead to find the teaching) from Steve's time at Beulah Camp this past summer:The Church Is Losing Its VoiceThe Scaffolding & The CathedralCentred-Set v Bounded-SetFor a helpful & thought-provoking engagement with the concept of “Centred-Set v Bounded-Set” thinking, I would recommend: https://veritas.community/veritas-community/2013/03/13/bounded-set-vs-centered-set-thinking This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

In this episode of the podcast, I am pleased to share a recent conversation I had with longtime friend (and first-time podcast partner) AJ Thomas. AJ is the Lead Pastor of Deep Water Church in the Halifax area, and is deeply committed to his own faith tradition AS WELL AS not allowing his own faith tradition to alienate him from others. We share this in common. As such, this conversation centres mainly on the conundrums that come with this worldview.We talk about the so-called “New Evangelization”, why WWII “foxhole” metaphors are en vogue right now, the hip hop mantra of “real” recognizing “real”, and how the best kinds of unity aren't forced but are a byproduct of mission. I learned a lot.What I do NOT share with AJ is his love for woodworking. This hobby of his explains the picture below (not a paranoia about pathogens): This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

You guys, I am so stoked to be able to share this conversation with Dr Dru Johnson, a man of many talents, a pied past, and a prolific output. Dru and I talk about his origin story, what it means to think “Hebraically” (and why he's passionate about it), as well as the recently released Biblical World of Gender book.Below are just some of the links we reference in the course of the show:Dru's Official WebsiteKings CollegeCenter for Hebraic ThoughtBiblical Mind PodcastOnScript Podcast“Human Rites” book“Biblical Philosophy” book“Biblical World Of Gender” bookLangham Partnership This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Folks! This conversation with Dr Carmen Joy Imes is an absolute game-changer. If you have ever wondered about what actually constitutes a “human identity”, or what the so-called “image of God” language (from which virtually all of our modern human rights language derives) means, then this is the chat for you. Dr Imes unsettles so many preconceptions about gender, race, God, and the Bible, and she does it with a loving smile and in an orthodox way. Below are a heavy-handful of links from the various things we talk about in this podcast. Oh, and if you'd prefer to see our smiling faces whilst we discourse, this conversation is also available on my YouTube page.Exploring Personhood: Centre for Faith & Culture (Southeastern Seminary):Print Version of the above (at Fathom Magaizine):https://www.fathommag.com/stories/the-rise-and-fall-of-theimago-deiCarmen's reflections on her time at Southeastern Seminary:https://carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com/2022/02/becoming-human-my-visit-to-sbc-seminary.html“Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters”:https://www.amazon.ca/Bearing-Gods-Name-Carmen-Imes/dp/0830852697Carmen on “Youth Ministry Team Podcast” with Marc & Jeremy MacDonald:https://youthworker.community/ep106/Sandra Richter, “Stewards Of Eden”, on OnScript Podcast:https://onscript.study/podcast/sandra-richter-stewards-of-eden/SBC's 2022 Annual Meeting:https://sbcannualmeeting.net/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcjolicoeur.substack.com