Shades Midweek

In this episode of Midweek, we continue our Meet A Member series with a conversation featuring SVCC member Tim Larsen. Tim shares his story, how he became part of the Shades community, and the ways his faith has shaped his journey. We also do a deep dive on the most recent Dave Matthews Band concert in Birmingham.  As always you can email us! midweek@shadesvalley.org  

This week Jonathan wanted to spend some time piggybacking off of Sunday's sermon from the book of Amos entitled, "Interpretation, Injustice, and Israel". For more context, you can stream that sermon on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. We always read a few emails from the Email Corridor! Email us at midweek@shadesvalley.org JM's Album Of The Week: Andy Squyres - Baja Blast Bradford's Book Club: Evangelical Pharisees: The Gospel as Cure for the Church's Hypocrisy by Michael Reeves

This week we bring you another installment of a Midweek Listening Party! This is where we choose an album and provide live commentary while listening. We dive into Young Ocean's record from 2017, "Suddenly (Or the Nuclear Sunburst of the Truth Revealed)". JM's Album Of The Week: John-Mark Dorough - Four Visions Stream John-Mark's ambient album on Spotify & Apple Music. Purchase on Bandcamp Bradford's Book Club: The Search For God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World by Stephen Mansfield

This week, we continue our ongoing Meet a Pastor series by having a conversation with Aaron Ashlock, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Aubrey, Texas! We also take a trip down to the Email Corridor! JM's Album Of The Week: John-Mark Dorough - four visions  Bradford's Book Club: Truth in a Culture of Doubt: Engaging Skeptical Challenges to the Bible by Andreas J. Kostenberger & Darrell L. Bock

Shades Midweek officially makes it to episode 250! Jonathan, Brad, and JM reflect and share some of our favorite clips from Midweek history. Cheers to all of the listeners and here's to 250 more! JM's Album Of The Week: The Fearless Flyers - The Fearless Flyers V Bradford's Book Club: Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze

Two Sundays ago we concluded our series on the book of Ecclesiastes called Smoke and Mirrors. Today, Jonathan gives us some of the material left on the cutting room of the floor. This is the Extended Edition of our Ecclesiastes series. JM's Album Of The Week: Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke Bradford's Book Club: Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Joshua D. Chatraw

Patrick Smith joins Brad & JM this week to dive into the 2002 M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi horror film Signs! They look at the film through the lens of Ecclesiastes as well as the cultural impact that 9/11 would've had on the making of the film and more! JM's Album Of The Week: Arcade Fire - Pink Elephant  Bradford's Book Club: Deep Focus: Film & Theology In Dialogue by Robert K. Johnston, Craig Detweiler, Kutter Callaway

This week, John-Mark takes over the podcast to discuss the upcoming untitled new album from Shades and how you can help them finish the record! Follow them on Instagram JM's Album Of The Week: Lucius - S/T Bradford's Book Club (JM's Pick): Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire by Preston Sprinkle

We continue our Meet a Member series this week with SVCC member Jules Thompson! JM's Album Of The Week: The Mars Volta - Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio Bradford's Book Club: Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport

We had to audible this week and record a last minute emergency pod after JM had some car issues! Brad and JM discuss Holy Week, Easter Sunday at SVCC, upcoming events at Shades and more! JM's Album Of The Week: John Mark McMillan - Cosmic Supreme Bradford's Book Club: The Art of Disagreeing: How To Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin Ortlund

This week is Holy Week and with Easter upon us, Jonathan walks us through some resurrection apologetics! JM's Album Of The Week: Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE Bradford's Book Club (Jonathan's Pick): 100 Runs of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Races and Trails

On our latest episode of Shades Cinema we discuss the 2025 Netflix documentary film Don't Die and how that juxtaposes with the book of Ecclesiastes. JM's Album Of The Week: My Morning Jacket - is Bradford's Book Club: End of the Christian Life by J. Todd Billings

This week we started a new ongoing series called "Meet a Pastor". This week we interviewed Chris Culver from Birmingham Community Church in Bluff Park! JM's Album Of The Week: Great Grandpa - Patience, Moonbeam Bradford's Book Club (Chris' Pick): Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons by Rowan Williams

This week we sat down for a meet a member interview with SVCC member Millie Hogan! JM's Album Of The Week: Jeremy Moore - Deepest Valleys/Come Now My Soul (Singles) Bradford's Book Club (Millie's Pick): Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

We continue our Meet a Member series this week by sitting down for a conversation with Nicholas Coker! You can check out his work at https://www.nicholascoker.com/ JM's Album Of The Week (Nicholas' Pick): Disasterpeace - FEZ (Original Game Soundtrack) Bradford's Book Club (Nicholas' Picks): Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David Powlison, Redwall by Brian Jaques  

This week we revisit a sermon from 2019 preached by Dr. Mark Gignilliat titled The End of Wisdom: Ecclesiastes and Life Under the Sun! JM's Album Of The Week: Brian Eno & Peter Chilvers - Bloom: Living World - Single Bradford's Book Club (JM's Pick): Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through The Lens Of Contemporary Film by Robert K. Johnston

This week we sat down for a conversation with a very special guest named Paul White. Paul shares his incredible testimony of finding Jesus while serving time in prison. You do not want to miss this episode!   JM's Album Of The Week: Johnny Cash - American IV: When The Man Comes Around Bradford's Book Club: Born Again by Charles W. Colson

We recently began a series on the book of Ecclesiastes called "Smoke And Mirrors" so we thought what better time than now to do a deep dive on this piece of Old Testament wisdom literature! We also take a trip down to the email corridor! JM's Album Of The Week: Sigur Ros - Takk Bradford's Book Club: What It Means To Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church by Gavin Ortlund 

This week, members from the SVCC Missions team: Shae Wall, Kristi Crump, and Hannah Langford share stories and experiences from their most recent missions trip to Thailand!  JM's Album Of The Week: Fela Kuti - Felt with Ginger Baker Live! Bradford's Book Club: Severance - The You You Are 

This week, SVCC member Kenya Davis joined Midweek for a Meet A Member episode!  JM's Album Of The Week: David Byrne - American Utopia On Broadway (Original Cast Recording) Bradford's Book Club: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself by Ron L Deal & Nan Deal

Jonathan, Brad & JM look back at the year that was 2024. They recap some highlights from Shades Midweek, SVCC and more! JM's Album Of The Week: Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair Bradford's Book Club: The Deep-Rooted Marriage: Cultivating Intimacy, Healing, and Delight by Dr. Dan B. Allender & Dr. Steve Call

This week we sat down for a Meet A Member with elder nominee and long-time SVCC member Beau Armistead.  Make sure to check out and support Sojourn Counseling and all of the work they are doing. JM's Album Of The Week (Jonathan's Pick): The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field Bradford's Book Club (JM's Pick): Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify & the Cost of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Kelly  

This week we sat down for a conversation with long time SVCC member and elder nominee Mike Grant! JM's Album Of The Week: Great Grandpa - Doom (SINGLE) Bradford's Book Club: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

In our final episode of 2024 we discuss our upcoming Christmas plans, the Christmas Spectacular and hear a sermon that Brad preached during Advent 2018 called "Work as Witness". Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Make sure to email us midweek@shadesvalley.org JM's Album Of The Week: Young Oceans - Songs Of Christmas Bradford's Book Club: Christmas: The Season of Life and Light by Emily Hunter McGowin, Epiphany: The Season of Glory by Fleming Rutledge

It's that time of year again, where JM plays some of his favorite tracks of the year and brings you his ten favorite albums from 2024. You don't want to miss this one!

Greg Oliver is the founder and executive director of Awaken Recovery. Awaken is a gospel-based, 12-Step recovery community. They help people impacted by unwanted/addictive sexual behavior and sexual betrayal trauma find hope, freedom, and recovery. We are starting an Awaken support group for women at SVCC. If you'd like more information please email us at office@shadesvalley.org. JM's Album Of The Week: Andrew Bird & Madison Cunningham - Cunningham Bird

This week Brad and John-Mark discuss Thanksgiving meals, traditions, movies and more!   JM's Album Of The Week: Mk.gee - Two Star & The Dream Police Bradford's Book Club: Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional by Paul David Tripp

We talk to some of the ladies that attended this year's SVCC Women's Retreat to hear highlights and how God moved during the weekend! JM's Album Of The Week: Infinity Song - Metamorphosis Complete Bradford's Book Club: CSB Grace Bible for Kids, Dyslexia Friendly   

Collin Hansen joins Shades Midweek for the third time! Collin Hansen serves as vice president for content and editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, as well as executive director of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He hosts the Gospelbound podcast and has written and contributed to many books, most recently Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation and Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ Is Essential. He has published with the New York Times and the Washington Post and offered commentary for CNN, Fox News, NPR, BBC, ABC News, and PBS NewsHour. He edited Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor and The New City Catechism Devotional, among other books. He is an adjunct professor at Beeson Divinity School, where he also co-chairs the advisory board. JM's Album Of The Week: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago Bradford's Book Club: Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs To Be by Timothy P Carney

Chris Cargile and Patrick Smith join Midweek for a very special Halloween edition of Shades Cinema to discuss THREE horror films: The Witch, The Black Phone and The Babadook! JM's Album Of The Week (Chris Cargile's Pick): He Is Legend - White Bat Bradford's Book Club: Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal by Richard Gallagher, M.D.

Jonathan preached a sermon on prophecy out of 1 Corinthians 14 recently so we wanted to discuss some common questions about the spiritual gift of prophecy!  JM's Album Of The Week: Bon Iver - Sable, Bradford's Book Club (Jonathan's Pick): Practicing The Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirt in Your Life by Sam Storms

We are heavy on the culture this week because Tanisha Garnier joins us to discuss the twenty year anniversary of Ashlee Simpson's debut album "Autobiography".  JM's Album Of The Week: K.S. Rhoads - Kids Favorite Jams by Their Dads Favorite Bands, Vol. 1 Bradford's Book Club: Who Is Our King?: A Jesus Seek and Find Board Book (A FatCat Book) by Todd R. Hains

Fresh off of Jonathan's sermon this past Sunday from 1 Corinthians 14 we discuss some frequently asked questions about the spiritual gift of tongues! JM's Album Of The Week: The Smile - Cutouts Bradford's Book Club: Healing What's Within: Coming Home to Yourself and to God When You're Wounded, Weary, and Wandering by Chuck DeGroat

Our meet a member series continues this week featuring an interview w/ SVCC member and intern Tyler Ruehman! JM's Album Of The Week: Leif Vollebekk - Revelation Bradford's Book Club: Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

Our pastor Jonathan Haefs and our global missions deacon Shae Wall went on a missions trip to Kenya with a team from Designs For Hope last week! The team shares their experiences and testimonies from their trip. JM's Album Of The Week: Johnny Blue Skies - Passage Du Desir Bradford's Book Club: The Lord's Supper by Thomas Watson   

SVCC member and poet Anna Harper joins us on Midweek to discuss poetry, theology, the Metaphysical poets and more! JM's Album Of The Week: The War On Drugs - Live Drugs Again Bradford's Book Club: Lifting the Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God by Malcolm Guite

This week, John-Mark & Brad sat down for a conversation with SVCC member, Caleb Canada! JM's Album Of The Week: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God Bradford's Book Club: Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Are Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive by Russ Ramsey & W. David O. Taylor

On today's episode of Midweek we look ahead at the fall calendar at SVCC. We call our youth leader Josh Daniel, to discuss SVCC Youth and Ashley Dorough, our Women's Ministry deaconess to talk about the women's Bible study and the fall Women's Retreat. Plus a much needed Sports Break for all of you college football fans! shadesvalley.churchcenter.com JM's Album Of The Week: Jonsi - First Light Bradford's Book Club: The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary by Esau McCaulley, Janette H. Ok, Osvaldo Padilla and Amy L.B. Peeler

This week sat down for a conversation with Dr. Frank Thielman. Frank Thielman joined the Beeson Divinity School faculty in 1989, teaching courses in Greek exegesis. He is a noted New Testament scholar, concentrating primarily in the Pauline epistles. Thielman is the author of many books including, Romans (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 2018) and Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach (Zondervan, 2005). He is a member of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS), and is an ordained Presbyterian (PCA) minister. He and his wife, Abby, have three adult children, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. We also took a trip to the email corridor and had a sports break!  JM's Album Of The Week: Post Malone - "F-1 Trillion: Long Bed" Bradford's Book Club: Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times by Elizabeth Oldfield

Shades Midweek was interviewed by Eric Nygren, pastor of E Free Bemidji in Minnesota for a new podcast he is starting called Deeply Devoted.   JM's Album Of The Week: Hermanos Gutierrez - Sonido Cosmico Bradford's Book Club: Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

JM is back from his 12 week sabbatical AND Midweek is back from our Summer Shorts series. We discuss his sabbatical, call Ashley Dorough and chat about the Olympics during our Sports Break! JM's Album Of The Week: Sam McCabe & Andy Squyres - Backwards Kingdom (Live) - Single Bradford's Book Club: unJoy: Hope and Help for 7 Million Christians with Depression by Len Lantz MD

This is part six of our Summer Shorts series on the elements of our Sunday Morning worship service. JM returns from his sabbatical next week!

This is part five of our Summer Shorts series. We will be covering all of the elements within our Sunday Morning service while JM is out on sabbatical!

This is part four of our Summer Shorts series. We will be covering all of the elements within our Sunday Morning service while JM is out on sabbatical!

This is part three of our Summer Shorts series. We will be covering all of the elements within our Sunday Morning service while JM is out on sabbatical!

This is part two of our Summer Shorts series. We will be covering all of the elements within our Sunday Morning service while JM is out on sabbatical!

This is part one of our Summer Shorts series. We will be covering all of the elements within our Sunday Morning service while JM is out on sabbatical!

JM's sabbatical starts on May 13th! We discuss this time of rest and refreshment with him and Ashley. We also take a trip to the Email Corridor and have one more quick Sports Break. Check out the EFCA blog written by our very own Jonathan Haefs about the creation of this podcast!   JM's Album Of The Week: Neil Diamond - Hot August Night Bradford's Book Club: Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis

This week we interviewed SVCC member Zac Cook!    JM's Album Of The Week: Pearl Jam - Dark Matter Bradford's Book Club (Zac's Pick): Keep Your Love On: Connection, Communication & Boundaries by Danny Silk

Shades Cinema is back with special guest Grant Premo and we discuss the new Sci-Fi epic Dune: Part Two directed by Denis Villeneuve! JM's Album Of The Week: Hans Zimmer - Dune: Part Two (OST) Bradford's Book Club (Grant's Pick): Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert

Dr. Robert Smith Jr. returns to Midweek for an in-person interview on preaching! Robert Smith Jr. serves as professor of Christian preaching and holds the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School. An ordained Baptist minister, he served as pastor of the New Mission Missionary Baptist Church in Cincinnati, OH for twenty years. He earned his PhD while serving as a pastor. He is a contributing editor for a study of Christian ministry in the African American church, Preparing for Christian Ministry, and is co-editor of A Mighty Long Journey. He has written the book, Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life (B&H Publishing Group, Nashville: 2008), which was selected as the winner of the 2008 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Preaching magazine and the 2009 Preaching Book of the Year Award by Christianity Today's preaching.com. Smith has spoken at more than 135 universities, colleges, and seminaries in the United States, Great Britain, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. He has taught congregations in several countries including Greece, Turkey, Rome, the Holy Land and Switzerland. At Beeson, Smith teaches Christian preaching and other electives in homiletics. He received Beeson Divinity School's “Teacher of the Year Award” in 2005. He and his wife, Wanda Taylor-Smith, Ph.D., are the parents of four adult children (one in heaven).    JM's Album Of The Week: Khruangbin - A LA SALA Bradford's Book Club: God's Big Picture Bible Storybook: 140 Connecting Bible Stories of God's Faithful Promises by N.T. Wright