Syncopator Familias

Greg Richter finishes up his "listening party" with the last two albums of Bob Dylan's Christian trilogy, Saved (1980) and Shot of Love (1981). He ponders the critics' question, Is Dylan still a follower of Jesus? Are these songs still worth listening to?Stock up for gift-giving, and for yourself at Greg's merch store: shirts for adults and kids, coffee mugs, iPhone covers, scented candles, stickers, hats, ornaments and more!https://pharaohs-drawers.printful.me/And support Greg's work at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/GregRichteror Ko-fi:https://ko-fi.com/gregrichterThanks, and God bless!

In my latest podcast episode, I'm trying something different. This is the first of a two-part discussion on Bob Dylan's Christian trilogy. Recorded during a drive along I-20 through Georgia, I talk about the songs, Dylan's conversion, and how his faith journey connects to my own “coming-to-Jesus” moment — which happened five years after his.Since I don't have the rights to play Dylan's music on the show, here's how it works: I'll introduce each song, then you can pause the podcast, listen to the track, and come back for the discussion. You can listen straight through without pausing, but I think you'll get more out of it if you take the time to hear each song.Originally, I planned to cover all three albums in one episode, but I got a bit carried away with the first one — so the second and third albums will be featured next week.A quick production note: I recorded this using a shotgun mic with a high-pass filter to reduce road noise, but you'll still hear a bit of the highway in the background. Think of it as part of the atmosphere.You can listen to the songs here:

Podcast Title: Faith When You're Tired: Finding Rest and Renewal in a Weary WorldHosts: Greg Richter and Laura J. AxelrodOpeningBrief welcome and introduction of topic: “We're talking today about what to do when you feel just plain tired — not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally tired from everything happening in the world.”Acknowledge the collective fatigue many believers feel.Segment 1: Naming the WearinessShare a personal story or recent moment when you both felt overwhelmed by the news or world events. Middle East/perpetual issue, Russia/Ukraine, other hotspots, US political climate, divisive Talk about how even faithful Christians can grow discouraged.Scripture connection: 1 Kings 19:4–8 — Elijah's exhaustion and God's gentle response.Key idea: God meets us in our weariness, not after we've “pulled it together.”4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!”6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 Yahweh's angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God's Mountain.Segment 2: Rest as a Command, Not a LuxuryExplore Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28–30 — “Come to me, all who are weary…”Discuss the biblical concept of Sabbath — trust, not laziness.Share how you each find spiritual rest: prayer walks, unplugging, worship music, journaling, etc.28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”Segment 3: Faithfulness Over Fixing the WorldDiscuss how easy it is to feel guilty for not “doing enough.”Recenter around Micah 6:8 — act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.Encourage focusing on small, faithful actions: caring for neighbors, showing kindness online, mentoring others.Reflection question: “What's one area where we can serve with peace instead of panic?”He has shown you, O man, what is good.    What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly,    to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?Segment 4: Hope in a Tired WorldScripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 — “Though outwardly we are wasting away…”Discuss hope as an anchor, not an escape — believing that God is still writing history.Share personal ways you renew hope: worship, fellowship, gratitude lists, remembering answered prayers.16 Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward person is decaying, yet our inward person is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory, 18 while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  ClosingSummarize main takeaways:Weariness is part of being human.Rest is a spiritual practice.God calls us to faithfulness, not omnipotence.Hope is alive because Christ is.Scriptures are quoted from the World English Bible.This guy gets it: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1370076668014225Greg Richter is an award-winning journalist and unapologetic theological gadfly, exploring where faith, culture, and curiosity collide. Follow and support his writing, podcast, and video projects by joining him on www.patreon.com/gregrichter or buy him a coffee on ko-fi.com/gregrichter

Hosts Greg Richter and Laura J. Axelrod discuss the recent mis-prediction of the Second Coming of Jesus and how it fits into past predictions and American society. They also talk about how they viewed the end of the world when they were growing up -- he in the U.S. South as an evangelical, she as a Catholic in New England.Support this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/GregRichterand Ko-fi:https://ko-fi.com/gregrichterRelated Links from this episode:South African Pastor Faces Backlash After Missing Prediction on the Second Coming of Jesushttps://www.facebook.com/emmanuel.mwamba.35/videos/rapture-failssouth-african-preacher-joshua-mhlakela-gained-viral-attention-after/782351881381669/List of Second Coming Predictions:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictions_and_claims_for_the_Second_ComingCNN's Recording of "Nearer My God to Thee"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tY8MSPkY1o

It's not an easy assignment in today's hardened online discourse, but really, it never has been easy. But Jesus tells his followers it's what they need to do. This episode looks into why this is and at practical steps we can take to make life easier for others -- and ourselves.Read the columns mentioned in the episode here:How I Gave Up Anger for Lent, And Took Up Praying for My ‘Enemies'The Bee Attitudes — or O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?How my animosity toward badly behaving bees taught me I was being unforgiving to people who've wronged meOr listen to the podcast versions here:E3: How I Gave Up Anger for Lent &Took Up Praying for My EnemiesEpisode 1: The Bee Attitudes: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?Read Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place," or watch the movie online.Listen to Bob Dylan: "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking."Podcast Notes: “Praying for Your Enemies”1. IntroductionOpen with the idea: “One of the most radical teachings of Jesus is to love and pray for your enemies.”Explain why this stands out compared to normal human instincts toward retaliation.Share the key verse (Luke 6:27–28 or Matthew 5:44) as your anchor text.2. Scriptural FoundationMatthew 5:44 – Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you.Luke 6:27–28 – Love your enemies, do good to them, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.Romans 12:14 – Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Romans 12:20–21 – If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if thirsty, give them drink… overcome evil with good.Proverbs 25:21–22 – Echo of Romans: feed and give drink to your enemy.1 Peter 3:9 – Don't repay evil with evil, but blessing.Key takeaway: This isn't a one-off teaching. It runs through Scripture.3. Why Pray for Our Enemies?Spiritual discipline: Prayer transforms your own heart, softening resentment.Witness to Christ: Shows God's love through actions.Breaks the cycle of retaliation: Encourages reconciliation instead of escalation.Aligns with God's mercy: We were once enemies of God (Romans 5:10).4. How to Pray for Your EnemiesStart by naming them honestly before God.Pray for their well-being, safety, and understanding of God's truth.Ask God to bless them materially or spiritually as appropriate.Pray for your own heart to be softened and freed from bitterness.5. Practical Real-World ExamplesWorkplace conflict – A co-worker undermines you; instead of plotting revenge, pray for their success and growth.Politics/social media – Encountering someone who mocks your beliefs; pray for them rather than responding harshly.Church disputes – Even within Christian communities, people can hurt each other; pray for reconciliation rather than holding grudges.Family estrangement – Pray for healing and restoration with relatives who've wronged you.Global issues – Christians in countries facing persecution praying for their persecutors (e.g., stories from North Korea, China, or the Middle East).6. Stories/Illustrations You Could UseCorrie ten Boom – Forgiving and praying for Nazi guards after WWII.The Amish school shooting (Nickel Mines, PA, 2006) – The Amish community publicly forgave and supported the shooter's family.Martin Luther King Jr. – Advocated loving enemies as the core of nonviolent resistance.7. Practical Tips for ListenersBegin small: pray for a difficult co-worker or neighbor.Pair prayer with acts of kindness (Romans 12:20).Keep a journal of answered prayers and your changing attitude.Remember: praying for enemies is a journey, not a one-time event.8. Closing ThoughtsReiterate Jesus' words: praying for enemies makes us “children of our Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:45).Offer a brief prayer or blessing over listeners, asking God to help them do this in their own lives.

Hosts Greg Richter and Laura J. Axelrod dive deep into a compelling discussion on grace, conflict, and the biblical perspective surrounding the recent Phillies home-run ball controversy.At a Phillies vs. Marlins game on September 5, 2025, Harrison Bader blasted a home-run into the stands at LoanDepot Park. A father, Drew Feltwell, caught it and gave it to his son Lincoln as a birthday gift—a moment that quickly turned tense when an insistent fan confronted him, insisted the ball was hers, and in the midst of shouting, he handed it over to avoid escalating the situation New York Post. Videos captured the confrontation and later the woman making a rude gesture toward booing fans. Despite everything, the situation ended on a heartwarming note: Marlins staff comforted Lincoln with a gift bag, and Harrison Bader met him post-game and presented him with a signed bat.A Biblical Lens on Conflict: How might the story of this event reflect themes like peacemaking (Matthew 5:9), humility, and honoring others—even amid injustice?Parental Modeling: What can we learn from Drew Feltwell's decision to prioritize de-escalation and model grace in front of his son?Grace Toward the Aggressor? Is there a biblical case for responding with compassion, even in the face of public rudeness or entitlement?Healing Moments: The small acts of kindness—the gift bag, the signed bat—how do they reflect God's restorative ways?

In this episode, Greg Richter and Laura J. Axelrod sit down to share exciting updates on Greg's new Patreon project. From thought-provoking columns and the launch of the C. Husal Utes video series to an upcoming book project, we talk about what's in the works, why we're creating it, and how you can follow along and support these efforts. If you've ever wondered what goes into sustaining independent writing and creative projects — and how you can be part of the journey — this episode is for you.Here are links to topics discussed in the episode:Greg's Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/GregRichterLaura J. Axelrod: Author and Playwrighthttps://www.lauraaxelrod.com/Greg's book: The Bee Attitudes And Other Spiritual Lessons From Everyday Life99 cents on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/Bee-Attitudes-Spiritual-Lessons-Everyday-ebook/dp/B07L3C4ZNZFree at Smashwords and Dropbox:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/910775https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d8qy4wbb82t85akxytk0d/The-Bee-Attitudes-by-Greg-Richter.pdf?rlkey=qzaleexynudsep3w3wufreirk&e=1&dl=0Farm house and land for sale in Cullman, Alabama:https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7364491680743370752/Finders Keepers, Cullman, Alabama:https://www.facebook.com/finderskeeperscullmanllc/Copyright (c) 2025 Pharaoh's Drawers Media

I'm trying to add more positivity to social media with a daily reciting of the Lord's Prayer. Here's why. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

A few minutes I shared at my church as part of a series of members who talk about how their faith impacts their work. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Author Tisha Nickson talks about her book "Victim to Victory: My Journey from Sex Slavery to Freedom in Christ." Her mother sold her to a drug dealer at age 16, and she forgave her as she cared for her ailing mother years later. Co-hosted by Laura Axelrod. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Why a Mississippi gubernatorial candidate is right to keep his vow to his wife, but wrong to treat a female reporter differently than men. USA Today on Chick fil a's "losses." Why Christian Book Distributors had to change its name. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Why science can't prove or disprove God. This podcast is adapted from an essay that appeared on "The Clyde Fitch Report: The Crossroads of Arts and Politics" https://www.clydefitchreport.com/2014/08/patricia-churchland-atheist-greta-christina/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

How Larry Norman, Karl Barth and David, Son of Jesse Were Imperfect Men After God’s Own Heart. "I tend take the plank out of my own eye only to use it to build a pedestal for notable Christians who I think should be above reproach. Once I find out about their serious flaws, I want to refashion that pedestal into gallows." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Paul told the Corinthians to judge fellow Christians -- not those outside the church. It's our job to love them into the kingdom, and let God perfect them once they're in. (Also, you've always heard there are no stupid questions? Well, that's not quite true. Stick around till the end of the podcast for some free advice on how to avoid being the one who asks them.) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

This year for Lent I'm trying -- emphasis on trying -- to give up not trusting God. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Greg's recommendations of the best Bible-related podcasts you should be listening to in 2019. They are The Daily Audio Bible, The Bible Project, Exploring My Strange Bible and the Naked Bible Podcast. "Every episode of every podcast is gold -- not a dud among them," he says. Hear to the episode for why he thinks they all are must-listen. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Is it OK to tell kids there's a Santa? Will it mess up their belief in God? Listen in as my wife, Laura Axelrod, joins the podcast to discuss this with me, and to give me grief over how I would have thrown her to the lions if we'd had kids of our own. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

My latest book, "Be Attitutes: And Other Spiritual Lessons From Everyday Life" will be released for FREE download on Tuesday. Hear all about it, and about those who helped make it great! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

We talk about how God is love and how he is merciful. One day this week he showed me his kindness amid fear and heartbreak. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

"Two swords" (A poem of redemption) and "Cell" (A poem of new life) are read and discussed. Read the originals here: https://bit.ly/2O0pF9s and here: https://bit.ly/2wYhWl0 and comment on Twitter to @owentew --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Sometimes All It Takes is Cats and Dogs - Not Catechisms and Dogma --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Take It From Joni Mitchell and King Solomon: With Age Come Some Sad Realizations. Read the original at https://medium.com/@OwenTew/im-not-a-good-person-and-neither-are-you-dec6e52df035 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

I’ve never had a favorite Scripture verse. I always figured they were all equally important . But there is one passage that sums up all that bugs me about divisions in the church: 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, where the Apostle Paul compares the Church — the Body of Christ — to a human body in which different parts have different functions, but all are equally vital to the perfect functioning of the body. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

My early brush with death set me on a course toward knowing God that continues to this day. And he has used several sages throughout the years to pass his wisdom along. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

A look at how counterfactual conditionals might just solve the old debate between predestination and free will. Then again, the debate will probably rage on. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

HAL 9000, Skynet and the Matrix were enemies of humanity. But in the real world, AI might just "love" us to death. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

I like getting angry and holding grudges way more than I like candy or television, so clearly that would be a much bigger sacrifice. (Image public domain, “The Chicago amateur base ball annual and inter-city base ball association year book” 1904) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

Something's in the air (conditioning) -- and it's the key to living by faith. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support

How my animosity toward badly behaving bees taught me I was being unforgiving to people who’ve wronged me --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/syncopator-familias/support