The Englewood Review of Books Podcast

Lindsey Cornett, Managing Editor of Englewood Press, spoke with two writers of notable nonfiction, Esau McCaulley and Katie Blackburn, not about their "books for grownups," but about their recent publications for children. They discuss their unexpected journeys into children's literature, why it's important to write books for children, and their upcoming projects.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Reading While Black: African-American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise  in Hope by Esau McCauleyThe New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary ed. by Esau McCaulley, Janette Ok, Osvaldo Padilla & Amy PeelerAndy Johnson and the March for Justice by Esau McCaulleyGluing the Cracks: Reflections on Motherhood, Disability and Hope by Katie BlackburnThe Very Best Baseball Game: A Story About Disability and God's Good Design For All of Us by Katie BlackburnJosey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit by Esau McCaulley The Little Engine that Could by Watty PiperGod's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible: The Story of God's Big Diverse Family by Esau McCaulleyFrederick Douglass Collection by Frederick DouglassWhat Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire SwinarskiKnowing God by J.I. PackerThe Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard RohrBeartown: A Novel by Frederick Backman

Chris sat down with two first-time guests, Mandy Smith and Dennis Edwards, at the recent Missio Alliance Awakenings event. Chris brought them together because their recent work shares a thematic connection of exploring "humility," which is the foundation of their conversation. They talk about their experiences as ministry leaders, biblical and theological dimensions of humility, and how their work pushes us towards specific practices to cultivate humility in our lives.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Confessions of an Amateur Saint: The Christian Leader's Journey from Self-Sufficiency to Reliance on God by Mandy SmithHumility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character by Dennis EdwardsRe-Enchanting the Text by Cheryl Bridges JohnThe Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John HendrixThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisJames: A Novel by Percival EverettErasure: A Novel by Percival Everett

Joel spoke with repeat guest Nijay Gupta and first-time guest Melissa Barciela Mandala about Paul's notion of "love." They discuss the impulse to find a "theological center" to Paul's New Testament writings, the success of Nijay's attempt to locate the love of God as this "center," and of course, what we are all currently reading and enjoying.Nijay K. Gupta is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is co-editor of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.), The State of New Testament Studies, The State of Pauline Studies, and serves as a senior translator for the New Living Translation. His publications include Paul and the Language of Faith, A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies, Strange Religion, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1–2 Thessalonians, as well as his brand-new publication from Eerdmans The Affections of Christ Jesus, which will be the focus of our conversation today.Melissa J. Barciela Mandala is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University and works primarily in Pauline studies. A revised version of her doctoral dissertation entitled The Suffering Body as a Site of Virtue Formation in Philippians is forthcoming with Mohr Siebeck. Her research focused on the apostle Paul's view of the body and suffering within his ancient philosophical context. The subjects of current and past work include various approaches to Paul's Letter to the Romans, virtue ethics in relation to Paul, and explorations of comparative methodology in biblical studies more broadly. Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul's Theology by Nijay GuptaThe Suffering Body as a Site of Virtue Formation in Philippians by Melissa Barciela Mandala (forthcoming)1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral and Missional Commentary by Michael GormanColossians and Philemon (Word and Spirit Commentary on the New Testament) by Holly BeersThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van Der KolkRemembering Paul: Ancient and Modern Contests over the Image of the Apostle by Benjamin WhiteThe Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan PenningtonLife on the Silent Planet: Essays on Christian Living from C.S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy ed. by Rhys LavertyOut of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

Chris spoke with two first-time podcast guests, Carey Wallace and Charlie Peacock, about their careers and varied experiences of pursuing creative work. They consider the role of community in creativity, what it means to be "inspired," and how they recount these observations in their recent books. They reflect on the connections between the act of surrender, spiritual disciplines, and hearing from God in the midst of various creative acts.Books Mentioned in this EpisodeIf you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter with God at the Heart of Creativity by Carey WallaceRoots and Rhythm: A Life in Music by Charlie PeacockThe Wide, Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact, and the Fateful Final Voyage of James Cook by Hampton SidesThe New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible CommentaryEternal Flame: The Authorized Biography of the Bangles by Jennifer BickerdikeThe Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman

Joel hosted a freewheeling conversation with Chris Smith (Founding Editor of ERB), Lindsey Cornett (Managing Editor of Englewood Press) and Jen Pollock Michel (author, writer, former ERB podcast host) all about our favorite books from 2024. We discuss our personal perspectives on how to choose 'favorite' books, and we talk about a wide range of titles, including fiction, poetry and non-fiction that we read this year. There's sure to be something in here for every type of reader. Enjoy!Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Shape of Our Lives: A Field Guide for Congregational Formation by Phillip Kenneson, Debra Murphy, Jenny Williams, Stephen Fowl & James LewisThe Feast by Margaret KennedyHello Beautiful: A Novel by Ann NapolitanoVirgil Wander: A Novel by Leif EngerI Cheerfully Refuse by Leif EngerPeace Like a River by Leif EngerThe Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur by Lev GrossmanLamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus' Death by Andrew Remington RilleraCollected Poems by Jane KenyonAn Intimate Good: A Skeptical Christian Mystic in Conversation with Teresa of Avila by Laurel MatthewsonThe Interior Castle by St. Teresa of AvilaParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerThe Understory: An Invitation to Rootedness and Resilience from the Forest Floor by Lore Ferguson WilbertWalking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'EngleThe Genesis Trilogy by Madeleine L'EngleDemocracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis by James Davison HunterAll Things Are Full of Gods: The Mysteries of Mind and Life by David Bentley HartThe Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol ZaleskiThe Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by John HendrixGo and Do Likewise by John HendrixMiracle Man by John HendrixThe Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John HendrixFully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times by Elizabeth OldfieldCloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel by Anthony DoerrCircle of Hope: A Reckoning with Love, Power and Justice in an American Church by Eliza GriswoldThe Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary SchmidtThe Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind and Contemplative Kids by Mariko Clark and Rachel EleanorSlow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus by Chris Smith and John PattisonEscaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing Crisis

Christ had a wide-ranging conversation with first-time guest, Lore Ferguson Wilbert, and repeat guest, Ragan Sutterfield, in which they touched on various topics including: processing the recent U.S. election, grief and lament, pace and time, rootedness and place, story, and of course, what they have been recently reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Understory: An Invitation to Rootedness and Resilience from the Forest Floor by Lore Ferguson WilbertHandle With Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry by Lore Ferguson WilbertThe Art of Being a Creature: Meditations on Humus and Humility by Ragan SutterfieldWendell Berry and the Given Life by Ragan SutterfieldFarming as a Spiritual Discipline by Ragan SutterfieldThe Art of the Commonplace: Agrarian Essays by Wendell BerryWhen Time is Short: Finding Our Way in the Anthropocene by Timothy BealBecoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness and Gentle Discipleship by John SwintonCompassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life by Henri NouwenHow to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny OdellHow to Be Idle: A Loafer's Manifesto by Tom HodgkinsonThe One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming by Masanobu FukuokaStolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention - And How to Think Deeply Again by Johann HariAmphibious Soul: Finding Wild in a Tame World by Craig FosterSystematic Theology: Volume 1, the Doctrine of God by Katherine SondereggerThe Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth by Elizabeth RushNorth Woods: A Novel by Daniel MasonThe Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason

Joel hosted a conversation with two ERB reviewers, who each recently reviewed new books about the intersection of creativity and faith. They discuss the craft of poetry, their personal experiences with creative slumps, how certain books and poems do (or do not!) aid the creative process, and what this all means about humans, belief, and existing in God's creation. It was a fun, honest, and open discussion. Enjoy!Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Honest Creativity: The Foundation of Boundless, Good, and Inspired Innovation by Craig DetweilerAshley's Review of 'Honest Creativity' for ERBWord Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church by Abram Van EngenChristian's Review of 'Word Made Fresh' for ERBBreak, Blow, Burn and Make: A Writer's Thoughts on Creation by E. Lily YuMurder in the Cathedral by T.S. EliotA Book Of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry by Czeslaw MiloszThe Portal of the Mystery of Hope by Charles PeguyThe Art of Being a Creature: Meditations on Humus and Humilityby Ragan SutterfieldThe Hedgehog ReviewCulture Wars: The Struggle To Control The Family, Art, Education, Law, And Politics In America by James Davison Hunter

Our new managing editor, Lindsey Cornett sat down with the writer and illustrator of the brand-new "Book of Belonging" collection of Bible stories for children. They discuss the problems and difficulties with many "traditional" children's bibles, how the two of them met and decided to collaborate on this project, what sets this project apart from other approaches, and how the process has impacted them personally. It's a wide-ranging and honest conversation. Enjoy!Books and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind and Contemplative Kids by Mariko Clark & Rachel EleanorMariko Clark's InstagramRachel Eleanor's InstagramScott Erickson's InstagramBEMA PodcastRed Rising by Pierce BrownDracula by Bram StokerThe Understory: An Invitation to Rootedness and Resilience from the Forest Floor by Lore Ferguson WilbertHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Chris spoke with two first-time guests, Sarah Bessey and Sarah McCammon about the Exvangelical movement and so-called 'deconstruction' in American Christianity. They speak about their own experiences in conservative, evangelical Christianity, how they approached deconstruction, what they are observing about deconstruction in our cultural moment, and of course, what they are currently reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah BesseyThe Exvangelicals: Loving, Living and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammonJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes du MezWhere God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan WilliamsStrange Gods: A Secular History of Conversion by Susan JacobyShark Heart: A Love Story by Emily HabeckThe Understory: An Invitation to Rootedness and Resilience from the Forest Floor by Lore Ferguson WilbertBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall KimmererBite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee NezhukumatathilWorld of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Joel hosted a conversation with two first-time podcast guests all about 'CCM' or 'Contemporary Christian Music.' They explore various cultural aspects of 'CCM,' as well as the reality of profit-driven corporate influence. Larry Norman figures prominently in their discussion, and Joel reflects a bit on his experience as a 90s kid immersed in this industry.Leah Payne is Associate Professor of American Religious History at Portland Seminary and a 2023–2024 Public Fellow at the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). She holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and her research explores the intersection of religion, politics, and popular culture. Payne is co-host of Rock That Doesn't Roll, a Public Radio Exchange (PRX) podcast about Christian rock and its listeners and Weird Religion, a religion and pop culture podcast, as well as the author of the new book God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music (Oxford University Press, 2024).Gregory Alan Thornbury, currently serves as Executive Director of Silver Art Projects at the World Trade Center. He has spent the past 25 years in higher education and arts nonprofits, as a professor, college dean, vice president, and president. Most recently, he served in senior leadership as Vice President at the New York Academy of Art in Tribeca, founded by Andy Warhol. In addition to being a curator, he is a scholar of art, philosophy, and religion, and his most recent book is "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock" (Convergent Books, 2018).Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music by Leah PayneWhy Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock by Gregory Alan ThornburyEvangelicals, Incorporated: Books and the Business of Religion in America by Daniel VacaDiary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff KinneyMissions Begin with Blood: Suffering and Salvation in the Borderlands of New Spain by Brandon BayneFrom Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics and the Rise of Conservative Evangelicalism by Darren DochuckThe Heaven and Earth Grocery Story by James McBrideTomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinEncounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligences by D. W. PasulkaWhy We Can't Sleep by Darian LeaderModern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies by Andrew JuddYou Like it Darker: Stories by Stephen King

The audio for this episode was recorded during a live event in collaboration with The Table and Gravity Commons, in which Matt Tebbe interviewed Jon DePue (co-author of 'Beyond Justification' with Douglas Campbell). The conversation focuses on the themes of this book, common interpretations of Paul's theology and ways to re-approach Paul with new lenses.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Beyond Justification: Liberating Paul's Gospel by Douglas Campbell and Jon DePueFour Views on the Apostle Paul ed. by Michael F. BirdThe Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul's Gospel by Douglas Campbell

Chris sat down at the recent CCDA conference with two first-time podcast guests, Stephanie Vander Lugt and Kimberlee Medicine Horn Jackson, each of whom hosted CCDA workshops. They discuss their work as it relates to the religious practices of indigenous people, the importance of attentiveness, and of course, what they are currently reading.**This episode is sponsored by InterVarsity Press, publisher of 'Zion Learns to See.' When Zion joins her dad at work, she discovers that a day at the community center brings new and wonderful people into her life. Inspired by real events, this children's book by Terence Lester and his daughter Zion, allows kids and adults to learn with Zion about people experiencing homelessness and see how she is moved to respond as she recognizes that all people matter to God. Zion Learns to See, a new IVP Kids book by Terence Lester and Zion Lester. Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus by C. Christopher Smith and John PattisonLand of the Spotted Eagle by Luther Standing BearDevotions: The Selected Poems of Mary OliverBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall KimmererThe Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James JenningsConsider the Birds: A Provocative Guide to Birds of the Bible by Debbie BlueInciting Joy: Essays by Ross GayThe Book of (More) Delights: Essays, Book 2 by Ross GayThe Uncontrollability of the World by Hartmut RosaAn American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo

Chris hosted a lively and interactive conversation between first-time guest David Fitch and returning guest Myles Werntz concerning the thesis of David's brand-new book from Brazos Press, the use of power in ministry and the institution of the church, whether power and conflict can be leveraged healthily in community, and of course what they are currently reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Reckoning with Power: Why the Church Fails When it's on the Wrong Side of Power by David FitchFrom Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision For Christian Life Together by Myles WerntzSanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church by Dietrich BonhoefferLife Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community by Dietrich BonhoefferMyles' SubstackMyles' Review of 'Reckoning with Power' for Christianity TodayPachinko by Min Jin LeeShadow Work by Ivan IllichThe Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard RohrGod's Israel and the Israel of God: Paul and Supersessionism by Michael Bird and Scot McKnightFive Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria ButterfieldGender as Love: A Theological Account of Human Identity, Embodied Desire and Our Social Worlds by Fellipe do Vale

Jen sat down (live!) with two first-time podcast guests at the recent CCDA conference: E.K. Strawser and Lisa Rodriguez-Watson. They have an impassioned discussion about the importance of contextualizing discipleship work in the setting of the local congregation, as well as the importance of Western Christians listening to the global church.Books Mentioned in this Episode: If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples by E.K. StrawserHow to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. KendiRise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu & Phillip YangPrayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison WarrenWhen the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensDemon Copperhead: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver

Chris sat down with 3 co-authors and first-time podcast guests at the recent CCDA conference to discuss their work in the intersection of the topics of disability, inclusion, ministry leadership and the life of the church.Books Mentioned in this Episode:Disabling Leadership: A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ by Andrew Draper, Jody Michele & Andrea MaeA Disability History of the United States by Kim NielsenHow the Body of Christ Talks by C. Christopher SmithThe Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoyevskyDisability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong

The podcast crew (Jen, Chris & Joel) is joined once again by Ashley Hales for our favorite topic: the books we enjoyed the most this year! ERB Contributors from 2023 also offer their suggestions throughout, so we cover a wide, wide range of titles. Enjoy this veritable feast of reading suggestions to keep you occupied until next year!Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew WilsonDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverDavid Copperfield by Charles DickensHow to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott KeyStolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention - And How to Think Deeply Again by Johann HariAll My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir by Beth MooreYou Could Make this Place Beautiful: A Memoir by Maggie SmithThe Kingdom, The Power and the Glory: American Evangelicalism in an Age of Extremism by Tim AlbertaDisobedient Women: How a Small Group of Faithful Women Exposed Abuse, Brought Down Pastors, and Ignited an Evangelical Reckoning by Sarah StankorbFoster by Claire KeeganThese Walls are Starting to Glow (chapbook) by Karen Bjork KubinBox Office Gospel: Poems by Marissa GloverThe Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms: Why Spiritualities Without God Fail to Transform Us by Andrew RootThe Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressive, Feminist and Gay Christians - And the Movement That Pushed Them Out by Isaac SharpThe Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow PriorLoving Disagreement: Fighting for Community Through the Fruit of the Spirit by Matt Mikalatos and Kathy KhangChristian Poetry in America Since 1940: An Anthology edited by Micah Mattix and Sally ThomasRivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith and Migration by Alejandro OlivaSanctuary and Subjectivity: Thinking Theologically about Whiteness and Sanctuary Movements by Michael WoolfThe Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism by Daniel HummelThe Scandal of Leadership by J.R. WoodwardJoel's Interview with JR WoodwardZero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair by Christian WimanThe Crosswicks Journals by Madeliene L'EngleThe Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (2 Volume Set) translated by Tim VivianWhere God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan WilliamsChristianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful and Constructive Conversation by Robert Chao Romero and Jeff LiouChrist Among the Classes: The Rich, The Poor and the Mission of the Church by Al TizonOvercoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for those Who Struggle to Care by Uche Anizor

Jen welcomes co-authors Matt Mikalatos (returning ERB podcast guest) and Kathy Khang (first-time podcast guest) for an honest and heartfelt discussion about the topic of their recent book: disagreement and Christian unity.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Loving Disagreement: Fighting For Community Through the Life of the Spirit by Kathy Khang & Matt MikalatosRaise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up by Kathy KhangMore Than Serving Tea: Asian American Women on Expectations, Relationships, Leadership and Faith ed. by Nikki Toyama & Tracey GeeJourney to Love: What We Long For, How to Find it, and How to Pass it on by Matt MikalatosThe Sunlit Lands Trilogy by Matt MikalatosMystery and Manners: Occasional Prose by Flannery O'ConnorOn Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbie Danya RuttenbergThe Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover: How the FBI Aided and Abetted the Rise of White Christian Nationalism by Lerone MartinEast of Eden by John SteinbeckThe Wolfe at the Door by Gene WolfeJesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du MezSolo Planet (forthcoming) by Anna BroadwayThe Bone Shard War (trilogy) by Andrea Stewart

Chris sat down with two first-time ERB Podcast guests, Soong-Chan Rah and Mark Charles, at the recent CCDA conference to discuss their work related to colonialism, race, history and the church.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan RahProphetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan RahThe Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity by Soong-Chan RahThe Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow PriorModern Social Imaginaries by Charles TaylorThe Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery by Sarah AugustineHow to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel ImmerwahrDie with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins

Joel took over the host role for a vulnerable and thoughtful conversation on the topic of forgiveness with two first-time ERB guests. They discuss their personal narratives and experiences with forgiveness, the ways dominant cultural discussions of forgiveness can distort the concept, and what they are currently reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Forgiveness: An Alternative Account by Matthew Ichihashi PottsCormac McCarthy and the Signs of Sacrament: Literature, Theology and the Moral of Stories by Matthew Ichihashi PottsThe Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton by Sophfronia ScottWild, Beautiful and Free: A Novel by Sophfronia ScottLove's Long Line (21st Century Essays) by Sophfronia ScottThe Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas MertonThe Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace by John Paul LederachThe Wisdom Way of Knowing: Reclaiming an Ancient Tradition to Awaken the Heart by Cynthia BourgealtMoral Failure: On the Impossible Demands of Morality by Lisa TessmanThunderstone: A True Story of Losing One Home and Discovering Another by Nancy CampbellLaRose: A Novel by Louise ErdrichThe Buried Giant by Kazuo IshiguroBe Useful by Arnold SchwarzeneggerWalk the Blue Fields: Stories by Claire KeeganSmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganFoster by Claire KeeganIf Beale Street Could Talk by James BaldwinThe Unsettled: A Novel by Ayana MathisThe Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana MathisThose We Thought We Knew by David Joy

Jen welcomed first-time ERB guest Russell Moore alongside returning guest Karen Swallow Prior to discuss their recent writings on the state of Evangelical religion and culture in American life, as well as a fascinating and unexpected list of titles they are currently enjoying.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by R MooreThe Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow PriorOn Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books by Karen Swallow PriorFierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More: Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist by Karen Swallow PriorBooked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior"How Do People Actually Change?" Article by Simeon Zahl for MockingbirdA Christmas Carol by Charles DickensThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey ChaucerThe Priory - Karen Swallow Prior on SubstackThe Four Quartets by T.S. EliotAn Experiment in Criticism by C.S. LewisA Secular Age by Charles TaylorCultural Liturgies Trilogy by James KA SmithFranz Kafka: The Complete StoriesHigh Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda RipleyA Time to Build by Yuval LevinThe Godless Crusade by Tobias CremerA World After Liberalism: Philosophers of the Radical Right by Matthew RoseThe Twisted Cross: The German Christian Movement in the Third Reich by Doris BergenThe Goat-Foot God by Dion FortuneThe Green Man by Kingsley AmisThe Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

Jen sat down with two first-time guests (and poets) to have the first-ever ERB  Podcast episode conversation focused entirely on poetry! They discuss whether the distinction between "poet" and "writer" is legitimate, their own writing processes, and even read a few selections of their recent publications.Learn more about Heather Lanier here: https://heatherlanierwriter.com/ Learn more about Katie Manning here: https://www.katiemanningpoet.com/ Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Raising a Rare Girl by Heather LanierPsalms of Unknowing (forthcoming) by Heather LanierHereverent by Katie ManningA Light in the Attic by Shel SilversteinWhere the Sidewalk Ends by Shel SilversteinBook of Longing by Leonard CohenThe Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert ServiceCloud of Unknowing by Anonymous

Jen takes a shift in a "panelist" seat for this episode, as Chris hosts a conversation between her and two other writers, Marilyn McEntyre and Ragan Sutterfield, as they reflect on the recent book on time and mortality by Oliver Burkeman. They discuss the impact of the book on their own ideas, as well as how it intersects with broader Christian thought.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanIn Good Time by Jen Pollock MichelCaring For Words in a Culture of Lies, 2nd edition by Marilyn McEntyreWendell Berry and the Given Life by Ragan SutterfieldOn Humus and Humility (forthcoming) by Ragan SutterfieldMake a List: How a Simple Practice Can Change Our Lives and Open Our Hearts by Marilyn McEntyreJayber Crow: A Novel by Wendell BerryRemembering: A Novel by Wendell BerryCounterproductive: Time Management in the Knowledge Economy by Melissa GreggFour Quartets: A Poem by T.S. EliotThe Fullness of Time: Jesus Christ, Science and Modernity by Kara SladeA Secular Age by Charles Taylor

Joel sat down with two ERB reviewers and contributors to discuss their recent reviews, as well as what they have been reading lately. A wide swath of genres are discussed, including biography, poetry, theology, and of course, some epic fantasy!Amy Merrick is a senior professional lecturer in journalism at DePaul University in Chicago. She is also a freelance writer and editor, and a longtime member of the Religion in Literature book group at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IllinoisAarik Danielsen is the arts and entertainment editor at the Columbia Daily Tribune and an instructor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He writes a weekly column, The (Dis)content, for Fathom Magazine. His work has been published in Image Journal, Think Christian, Christ and Pop Culture and more.Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) King: A Life by Jonathan EigParting the Waters: America in the King Years by Taylor BranchStrength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr.Amy's Review of "King: A Life" by Jonathan Eig for ERBTouch the Earth: Poems on the Way by Drew JacksonAarick's Review of "Touch the Earth" by Drew Jackson for ERB.Promises of Gold by Jose OlivaresThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienSaving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clark by Jenny OdellHow to do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny OdellWhat Are People For? Essays by Wendell BerryBulwarks of Unbelief: Atheism and Divine Absence in a Secular Age by Joseph MinichThe Town and the City by Jack KerouacThe Wind Knows My Name by Isabel AllendeThe House of the Spirits by Isabel AllendeWhen Church Stops Working by Andy Root and Blair BertrandInto the Narrowdark by Tad Williams

Jen sat down at Urbana with two first-time podcast guests, Jeff Clark & Lynda MacGibbon to discuss place, habits, rhythms, and of course their own writing.Books mentioned in this episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) My Vertical Neighborhood: How Strangers Became a Community — Lynda MacGibbonA Big Gospel in Small Places: Why Ministry in Forgotten Communities Matters — Stephen WitmerThe Forgotten Church: Why Rural Ministry Matters for Every Church in America — Glenn DamanNo Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small-Town Church — Ron Klassen, John KoesslerThe Power of Group Prayer: How Intercession Transforms Us and the World — Carolyn CarneySurrender: 40 Songs, One Story — Bono

Chris sat down at Urbana with two first-time podcast guests and recent co-authors of the recent book "Learning Our Names." They discuss the writing of this project, the importance of names, and their personal backgrounds.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation — Sabrina S. Chan, Linson Daniel, E. David de Leon, La ThaoVoices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice — Natasha Sistrunk RobinsonWhat My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma — Stephanie FooMotherhood: A Confession — Natalie Carnes

Chris sat down with Josh Harper and Lowell Bliss at Urbana for a thoughtful and impassioned conversation about Christianity, environmentalism and creation care, as well as their work and what they're reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Environmental Missions: Planting Churches and Trees — Lowell BlissPeople, Trees, and Poverty: A Snapshot of Environmental Missions — Lowell BlissThe Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living — Hillary McBrideBecoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth — Randy WoodleyIn Deep Waters: Spiritual Care for Young People in a Climate Crisis — Talitha Amadea AhoThe Ministry for the Future — Kim Stanley Robinson

Chris sat down with Andy Crouch and Wendy Quay at Urbana 22 for a conversation about vocation, calling, purpose, and how these topics intersect with their work and writing.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World — Andy CrouchSacred Pace: Four Steps to Hearing God and Aligning Yourself With His Will — Terry LooperThree Mile an Hour God — Koyama KosukeWork in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work — Miroslav VolfBiblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture — Christopher WatkinWhere the Crawdads Sing — Delia OwensThe Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire — Alan KreiderPiranesi — Susanna Clarke

Chris sat down at Urbana with first-time guests Terry & Darlene Wildman for an insightful and illuminating conversation about the process of writing the First Nations Version of the New Testament, as well as the work of writing and contextualization in general.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger)  When the Great Spirit Walked Among Us — Terry M. WildmanFirst Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament — Terry M. Wildman, First Nations Version Translation Council

Jen sat down with two first-time podcast guests at Urbana to discuss their recent work and the topics of belonging and loneliness.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) A Holy Haunting: Why Faith Isn't a Leap but a Series of Staggers from One Safe Place to Another — Sam KimNo Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation — Greg ColesWhere God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another — Rowan WilliamsLife Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community — Dietrich Bonhoeffer“The Body” — Stephen KingCastaways of the Flying Dutchman — Brian Jacques

Chris sat down with two first-time guests for a deeply-felt and thought-provoking conversation about Christian witness in a time of contention and social polarization.Books and Writing Mentioned:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving through Deep Difference — John Inazu The End of the Christian Life: How Embracing Our Mortality Frees Us to Truly Live — J. Todd BillingsForgive: Why Should I and How Can I? — Tim KellerAfrica Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars — ZondervanReading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope — Esau McCaulleyGentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers — Dane OrtlundThe Thursday Murder Club — Richard Osman

Jen sat down with returning guest Marlena Graves and first-time guest Jason Gaboury at Urbana for a thoughtful discussion on the life of contemplation, particularly in our polarized and highly-activist cultural moment.Books Mentioned:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Wait with Me: Meeting God in Loneliness — Jason Gaboury The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself — Marlena Graves

Chris had an energetic conversation about the topic of "revival" at Urbana with two first time guests: James Choung & Don Everts. They talk about their experiences with revival, as well as their writing on the topic.Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger)  Longing for Revival: From Holy Discontent to Breakthrough Faith — James Choung, Ryan PfeifferMovements That Change the World: Five Keys to Spreading the Gospel — Steve AddisonJesus and Community: The Social Dimensions of Christian Faith — Gerhard LohfinkDiscover Your Gifts: Celebrating How God Made You and Everyone You Know — Don EvertsThe Testaments: The Sequel to The Handmaid's Tale — Margaret AtwoodGathering Blue — Lois LowryA Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders — Mark SayersStrengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry — Ruth Haley BartonSpirituality of Gratitude: The Unexpected Blessings of Thankfulness — Joshua Choonmin Kang

Jen sat down with two first-time guests at Urbana to discuss their personal journeys and work related to race, American history and Christianity.Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration — Sheila Wise RoweHealing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience — Sheila Wise RoweThe Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best — Irwyn L. Ince Jr.Where Do We Go From Here: From A Call to Conscience — Martin Luther King Jr.Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope— Esau McCaulleyWestminster Larger CatechismJesus and the Disinherited — Howard ThurmanFaithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change — Christina Edmondson, Chad Brennan 

Chris sits down with two first-time guests, and one returning guest, for a live conversation at Urbana about the myriad ways that things like race and culture intersect with power and hierarchy in our culture.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Christianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful and Constructive Conversation — Robert Chao Romero, Jeff LiouChrist Among the Classes: The Rich, the Poor, and the Mission of the Church — Al TizonFirst Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament — Terry M. WildmanThe Enchantments of Mammon: How Capitalism Became the Religion of Modernity — Eugene McCarraherI Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone — Nina SimoneA Letter to the Pope: The Keeper of the Nest — Jennifer WorthamFlood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God — Matthew J. Lynch

Chris had the opportunity to hold a fascinating conversation about economics, gentrification and demographic change with two ministry leaders and first-time podcast guests at CCDA. They talk about the history of their neighborhoods, as well as what they are currently reading.Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Church for the Fatherless: A Ministry Model for Society's Most Pressing Problem by Mark StrongWho Moved My Neighborhood? Leading Congregations Through Gentrification and Economic Change by Mark StrongFalling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr

Chris had the opportunity to speak with 3 first-time podcast guests at CCDA. They discuss their recent books, genuinely diverse worship and the dynamics of being Latino/a in ministry leadership in our cultural moment.Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World by Sandra Van OpstalBrown Church: Five Centuries of Latino/a Social Justice, Theology and Identity by Robert Chao RomeroWhy Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel TatumSanta Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes by Justo GonzalezPedro Paramo by Juan RulfoEl Trino Dios Y La Mision Integral by Rene Padilla, Pedro Arana, Samuel EscobarVoices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Jen leads a freewheeling conversation with a roundtable of guests, who all reflect on their favorite books that were released in 2022. Also, Joel briefly takes over the episode for a reflection on the state of the ERB podcast after 50 episodes. Enjoy!Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much by Ashley HalesA Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits by Ashley HalesThe Life We're Looking for: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy CrouchThe Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place by Andy CrouchThe Church After Innovation: Questioning our Obsession with Work, Creativity & Entrepreneurship by Andy RootJoel's YouTube interview with Andy RootWinters in the World: A Journey Through the Anglo-Saxon Year by Eleanor ParkerConquered: The Last Children of Anglo-Saxon England by Eleanor ParkerCelebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Profits and Platforms are Hurting the Church by Katelyn BeatySmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganA World of Curiosities by Louise PennyBittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make us Whole by Susan CainThe Nineties by Chuck KlostermanSea of Tranquility by Emily St. John MandelCloud Atlas by David MitchellStation Eleven by Emily St. John MandelAn Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed YongThe Book of Minds: How to Understand Ourselves and Other Beings, from Animals to AI to Aliens by Phillip BallIf Nietzche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity by Justin GreggWays of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines:  The Search for Planetary Intelligence by James BridleWhen Animals Dream: The Hidden World of Animal Consciousness by David Pena-GuzmanBark to the Future: A Chet & Bernie Mystery by Spencer QuinnInciting Joy: Essays by Ross GayRest is Resistance by Tricia HerseySubversive Sabbath by A.J. SwobodaForgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Timothy KellerForgiveness: An Alternative Account by Matthew Ichihashi PottsFree of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace by Miroslave Volf

Chris had the chance to sit down at CCDA with two first-time podcast guests Donna Barber and Michelle Warren for a conversation themed about their new books, as well as the work they both do to mobilize people for justice and social change and what sustains them on the journey.Special thanks to IVP for granting the space to record this conversation at the conference!Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Bread for the Resistance: Forty Devotions for Justice People by Donna BarberJoin the Resistance: Step Into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice by Michelle Ferrigno WarrenThe Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action by Michelle Ferrigno WarrenGod's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights by Charles MarshThe Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mph TutuAn Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. MaysTruth's Table: Black Women's Musings on Life, Love and Liberation by Ekemini Uwan, Christina Edmonson & Michelle HigginsState of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise PenneyVoices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice edited by Natasha Sistrunk RobinsonThe Feminist Mystique by Betty FriedanA War on My Body: A War on My Rights by Paxton Smith et al.

Jen has an honest and animated conversation with returning guest Katelyn Beaty and first-time guest Andy Crouch on the perils of power, celebrity, platform and fame in the Christian church.Katelyn Beaty is a journalist, editor, and keen observer of trends in the American church. She has written for a variety of publications and is cohost of the Saved by the City podcast. She's the author of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church (Brazos Press, 2022) and A Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2016). She lives in New York City.Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books, most recently The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World. He lives with his family in Pennsylvania.Books/Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms and Profits are Hurting the Church by Katelyn BeatyA Woman's Place: A Christian Vision for Your Calling in the Office, the Home and the World by Katelyn BeatyThe Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy CrouchThe Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate - Discoveries From a Secret World by Peter WohllebenCan't Even: How Millenials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen PetersonLow Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (And Yourself) by David ZahlPoetry and Prose in the 16th Century by C.S. Lewis (Oxford History of English Literature)The Embers and the Stars: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Moral Sense of Nature by Erazim Kohak

Chris had the chance to sit down at CCDA with two first-time podcast guests Alexia Salvatierra & Greg Jarrell for a conversation themed around Alexia's new book, and especially what majority-culture Christians can learn from marginalized, immigrant communities across the globe.Special thanks to IVP for granting the space to record this conversation at the conference!Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Buried Seeds: Learning From the Vibrant Resilience of Marginalized Christian Communities by Alexia Salvatierra & Brandon WrencherGreg's review of 'Buried Seeds' for ERBOur Trespasses: White Churches and the Making and Taking of Neighborhoods by Greg Jarrell (forthcoming from Fortress Press)Globalization and Theology (Horizons in Theology) by Jeorg RiegerGhostly Matters: Haunting and the Social Imagination by Avery GordonBeloved by Toni MorrisonHealing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization by Elaine Enns & Ched Myers

Chris sits in the host seat for a wide-ranging discussion of asceticism with three fantastic panelists. They talk about the place of asceticism in Christian history and tradition, as well as the relevance of ascetic practices in our cultural context.Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Teresa of Calcutta: Dark Night, Active Love by Jon SweeneyThe Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death and Salvation by Jon SweeneySt. Francis of Assisi: His Life, Teachings and Practice by Jon SweeneyKeys to Bonhoeffer's Haus by Laura FabryckyStreams in the Wasteland: Finding Spiritual Renewal with the Desert Fathers and Mothers by Andrew ArndtCome Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta by Mother TeresaThe Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers by Henri NouwenWhere God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another by Rowan WilliamsThe Genesee Diary: Report from a Trappist Monastery by Henri NouwenThe Mystical as Political by Aristotle PapanikolaouAwake and Alive: Thomas Merton According to His Novices ed. by Jon SweeneyMother of the Light: Prayers to the Theotokos by Rev. Maximos Constasthe Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. JamesMink River by Brian DoylePaul and the Gift by John BarclayExiles: A Novel by Ron Hansen

Joel takes over the podcast for a Biblical Studies-themed discussion with two fantastic scholars. They discuss their scholarly work, but also consider the challenges and blessings of writing for both academic and popular-level audiences.Michael J. Gorman is the Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where he has taught since 1991. He is a New Testament scholar who specializes especially in the letters, theology, and spirituality of the apostle Paul. He is the author of many articles on biblical interpretation and on ethics, and nearly 20 books, most recently Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary from Eerdmans.Nijay Gupta is a second-time guest on the ERB podcast! He is currently professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, and has also written much on the Apostle Paul including Worship That Makes Sense to Paul and Paul and the Language of Faith. He has also written numerous academic articles for journals such as Journal for the Study of the New Testament and The Catholic Biblical Quarterly and is co-editor of the planned second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (InterVarsity Press). His most recent book is "15 New Testament Words of Life" from Zondervan.Books/Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Romans: A Theological and Pastoral Commentary by Michael GormanWorship That Makes Sense to Paul by Nijay GuptaPaul and the Language of Faith by Nijay Gupta15 New Testament Words of Life: A New Testament Theology for Real Life by Nijay GuptaCruciformity: Paull's Narrative Theology of the Cross by Michael GormanApostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters by Michael GormanA Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies: Understanding Key Debates by Nijay GuptaPaul and the Gift by John BarclayPaul and the Power of Grace by John Barclay"The This-Worldiness of the New Testament's Otherworldly Spirituality" (Essay) by Michael GormanColossians (Commentary) by Nijay GuptaReading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness - Following the Lamb into the New Creation by Michael GormanThe Roman Guide to Slave Management: A Treatise by Nobleman Marcus Sidonius Falx by Jerry TonerPolitical Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World by Patrick SchreinerThe Lost Letters of Pergamum: A Story From the New Testament World by Bruce LongeneckerForetaste of the Future: Reading Revelation in Light of God's Mission by Dean Flemmingfiftywordstories.com (Eileen Mardres)fiveminutelit.com (Eileen Mardres)Midwest Futures by Phil Christman

Chris sits in the host seat to welcome a brand-new guest, James K. A. Smith, alongside a very familiar panelist to those who follow ERB, Jen Pollock Michel, for a discussion on the subject of "living faithfully in time." Enjoy!Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) In Good Time: 8 Habits for Reimagining Productivity, Resisting Hurry, and Practicing Peace by Jen Pollock MichelHow to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now by James K. A. SmithThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanA Month of Sundays by John Updike (In the Library of America Collection John Updike: Novels 1968-1975)The Divine Hours (3-book series) by Phyllis TickleCultural Liturgies (3-book series) by James K. A. SmithYou Are What You Love by James K. A. SmithTeach Us to Want: Longing, Ambition and the Life of Faith by Jen Pollock MichelEmbrace Fearlessly the Burning World: Essays by Barry LopezArctic Dreams by Barry LopezFaith, Hope and Carnage by Nick CaveGlittering Vices: A New Look at the 7 Deadly Sins and Their Remedies by Rebecca DeYoungHell of a Book: A Novel by Jason MottA Hermeneutic of Wisdom: Recovering the Formative Agency of Scripture by J. de Waal Dryden

The ERB Podcast is back after a summer break! Jen is joined by two first-time guests for an honest discussion about processing grief, loss and heartache, and how that intersects with the writing and reading life.Clarissa Moll is an author, podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Her husband's first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa's new afterword. Clarissa's debut book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Walking with Grief and Thriving After Loss released with Tyndale this year.Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years as a social worker and a humanitarian aid worker. Her debut book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing released with Worthy this year.Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode: If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Art of Dying: Living Fully in the Life to Come by Rob Moll & Clarissa MollBeyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss by Clarissa MollA Hold in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing by Amanda Held OpeltTelling the Bees and other Customs by Mark NormanDeath in Early America by Margaret CoffinSurprised by Paradox by Jen Pollock MichelSurprised by Joy by C.S. LewisTelling the Truth by Frederick BuechnerA Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss by Jerry SittserBlack Widow by Leslie Gray StreeterThe Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInernyThe Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail by Wallace StegnerEight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John GottmanSeasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim ChalliesAmusing Ourselves to Death by Neil PostmanThe Cloister Walk by Kathleen NorrisTechnopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

Joel takes over the podcast for another wide-ranging "reviewer round-up" with two excellent first-time guests. They talk a lot about books that intersect with the conversation about race in America, and of course, list off the titles they are currently reading.Joshua E. Livingston is a writer and community developer currently residing in Indianapolis. He is the director of Cultivating Communities and the author of Sunrays on the Beachhead of the New Creation (Wipf & Stock, 2021).Myles Werntz is associate professor of theology and director of Baptist studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is the author or editor of several books, including Bodies of Peace, A Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence, and the brand new book, From Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision for Christian Life Together (Baker Academic).Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism by Jonathan TranJosh's written review of Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial CapitalismSunrays on the Beachhead of the New Creation by Josh LivingstonBodies of Peace: Ecclesiology, Nonviolence & Witness by Myles WerntzA Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence: Key Thinkers, Activists & Movements for the Gospel of Peace by David Cramer & Myles WerntzFrom Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision for Christian Life Together by Myles WerntzThe Loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian KangMinor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park HongHow to Be Normal: Essays by Phil ChristmanMyles' written review of How to Be NormalMidwest Futures by Phil ChristmanBreaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year by Plough/CommentRacecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life by Barbara Fields & Karen FieldsHeathen: Religion and Race in American History by Kathryn Gin LumShared Wisdom: Use of the Self in Pastoral Care and Counseling by Pamela Cooper-WhiteThe Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People are Drawn in and How to Talk Across the Divide by Pamela Cooper-WhiteThat We May Be One: Practicing Unity in a Divided Church by Gary B. AgeeHumbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By by Samuel WellsThe Internet is not What You Think it is: A History, a Philosophy, a Warning by Justin E. H. SmithLife Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich BonhoefferTools for Conviviality by Ivan IllichH20 & the Waters of Forgetfulness by Ivan IllichDeschooling Society by Ivan IllichConfessions by Augustine (Translated by Sarah Ruden)Paul Among the People: The Apostle Reinterpreted and Reimagined in His Own Time by Sarah RudenSimone Weil: An AnthologyLeisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef PieperIndigenous Theology and the Western Worldview by Randy WoodleyLisey's Story by Stephen King

This episode is all about celebrating and reading great literary works. Jen is joined by first-time guest Jessica Hooten Wilson, as well as repeat guest Karen Swallow Prior, who are both outstanding guides through the world of classic literature. They discuss the value of great literature, the historical difference between Catholic and Protestant novelists, and of course what they are currently reading.Jessica Hooten Wilson is the Louise Cowan Scholar in Residence at the University of Dallas. She is the author of numerous books, including The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints, published in 2022 by Brazos Press. Her book, Giving the Devil his Due: Flannery O'Connor and The Brothers Karamazov, received a 2018 Christianity Today Book of the Year Award in the Culture & the Arts.Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She's the author, most recently, of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books and hosts the recently launched podcast Jane and Jesus. She lives in rural Virginia with her husband and sundry dogs, horses, and chickens. Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten WilsonGiving the Devil His Due: Demonic Authority in the Fiction of Flannery O'Connor and Fyodor Dostoyevsky by Jessica Hooten WilsonOn Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books by Karen Swallow PriorThe Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture by Jean LeclercqA Good Man is Hard to Find And Other Stories by Flannery O'ConnorDivine Comedy by Dante AlighieriDante, Bunyan and the Case for a Protestant Aesthetics (Article in Journal of Systematic Theology) by William DyrnessThe Novel: A Biography by Michael SchmidtThere There by Tommy OrangeGreen Ember Series by S. D. SmithThe Dante Club by Matthew PearlPurgatorio by Dante Alighieri Translated by Mary Jo BangThe Western Wind by Samantha HarveyRead and Reflect with the Classics Series by Karen Swallow Prior

Joel hops into the host seat for a fun and freewheeling conversation with a few ERB reviewers about recent publications they've written about, what they are looking forward to in publishing, and of course, what we are all currently reading.Justin Cober-Lake is a pastor in central Virginia. He holds an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Virginia and has worked in academic publishing for the past 15 years. His editing and freelance writing have focused mostly on cultural criticism, particularly pop music.Sara Easterly is an adoptee and the author of the award-winning memoir, Searching for Mom, and a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and Freedom Road Institute's Global Writers' Group. Her adoption- and faith-focused articles and essays have been published by Psychology Today, Red Letter Christians, Godspace, Her View From Home, and Severance Magazine, to name a few. Sara is also the founder of Adoptee Voices, leading writing groups and managing an e-Zine to help other adoptees express their stories. Find her online at saraeasterly.com.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace by Melissa Florer-BixlerJustin's Review of "How to Have an Enemy" on ERBPlaying God: Redeeming the Gift of Power by Andy CrouchFortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World - And How to Repair it All by Lisa Sharon HarperSara's Review of "Fortune" on ERBUnsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by March Charles and Soong-Chan RahChristian Ethics: A New Covenant Model by Hak Joon LeeJustin's Review of "Christian Ethics" on ERBThe Crucifixion of the Warrior God: Interpreting the Old Testament's Violent Portraits of God in Light of the Cross by Greg BoydCross Vision: How the Crucifixion of Jesus Makes Sense of Old Testament Violence by Greg BoydAll the White Friends I Couldn't Keep: Hope - and Hard Pills to Swallow - About Fighting for Black Lives by Andre HenryMy Body is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church by Amy KennyBeyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in Our Christian Response to Immigration by Karen GonzalezEverything Sad is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel NayeriThe Destruction of the Canaanites: God, Genocide and Biblical Interpretation by Charlie TrimmThe Philosophy of Modern Song by Bob DylanStamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. KendiHow (and why) to make your lover's head disappear by Gero MannellaPrayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison WarrenHow to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael SchurThe Goldfinch: A Novel by Donna TarttThe War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker BradleyReimagining Adoption: What Adoptees Seek from Family and Faith by Sally Ankerfelt and Gayle SwiftHeretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation by Peter MarshallNemesis Games by James S. A. Corey

Chris takes over the podcast today for a thoughtful and incisive discussion on the insidious nature of hierarchy and how it impacts so much of human society and structures. He is joined by two first-time guests, Beth Allison Barr and Jonathan Brooks, who bring a wealth of personal experience and academic rigor to the conversation.Books/Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison BarrChurch Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods by Jonathan BrooksThe Invention of Race in the European Middle Ages by Geraldine HengGod is a Black Woman by Christena ClevelandFortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World - And How to Repair it All by Lisa Sharon HarperBonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance by Reggie WilliamsIf God Still Breathes, Why Can't I? Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority by Angela Parker

Jen is joined by two first-time guests, Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, to discuss the new re-release of their 2017 bookThe Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb, while also touching on the more general concept of healthy or toxic uses of power in the church in our culture today.Jamin Goggin serves as a pastor at Mission Hills Church. He has been in pastoral ministry for seventeen years. Jamin speaks and writes in the areas of spiritual formation, ministry and theology. He holds two Masters degrees and a PhD in systematic theology. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Kristin, and their four children.Kyle Strobel is a professor of spiritual theology and formation at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University and writes on spiritual formation, theology, and Jonathan Edwards. Kyle lives in Southern California with his wife, Kelli, and their two children, and serves on the preaching team of Redeemer Church. Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus' Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It by Jamin Goggin and Kyle StrobelA Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene PetersonBecoming Elizabeth Elliott by Ellen VaughnLife of St Anthony of Egypt by St AthanasiusNaming the Powers by Walter WinkPractices of Power: Revisiting the Principalities and Powers in the Pauline Letters by Robert MosesSong of Songs by Bernard of ClairvauxThe Elusive Presence by Samuel TerrienGod without Measure by John Webster Moral Reflections on the Book of Job by Gregory the Great Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons by EvagriusThe Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Jen hosts a freewheeling conversation with Chris and Joel about their collective reading habits in 2021, how they identify books for "lists" like this, and of course, which titles rose to the top as their favorite reading experiences in 2021. A host of various ERB contributors also chime in with their favorites of the year. Books and Writing Mentioned:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Means of Grace: A Year of Weekly Devotions by Fleming RutledgeLifting the Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God by Malcolm GuiteHow the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery by Clint SmithThe First Nations Version of the New TestamentThe Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time Against the Speed of Modern Life by Andrew RootJoel's Review of 'The Congregation in a Secular Age' for ERBSubversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege by Dominique Dubois GilliardWhite Picket Fences: Turning Toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege by Amy Julia BeckerBecoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness and Gentle Discipleship by John SwintonOn Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula BissPrayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison WarrenDear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace by Osheta MooreThe Last Graduate: A Novel by Naomi NovikThe Memory of Babel: Book Three of the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle DabosProject Hail Mary by Andy WeirThe Martian by Andy WeirThe Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison BarrThe Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design by Ronald NumbersOne Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin KruseWas America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John FeaJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du MezCarved in Ebony: Lessons From the Black Women Who Shape Us by by Jasmine HolmesThe Hare With Amber Eyes: An Inheritance by Edmund De WaalLetters to Camondo by Edmund De WaalLast Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal by George PackerTribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian JungerGreat Circle: A Novel by Maggie ShipsteadLight Perpetual: A Novel by Francis SpuffordUnapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense by Francis SpuffordLeadership, God's Agency and Disruptions: Confronting Modernity's Wager by Mark Lau Branson and Alan RoxburghShoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle by Dante StewartHamnet by Maggie O'FarrellI Am, I Am, I Am : Seventeen Brushes With Death by Maggie O'FarrellA Year of Reading by John Wilson (For First Things Magazine)The Hermits of Big Sur by Paula HustonA Line of Driftwood: The Ada Blackjack Story by Diane GlancyThe Everlasting People: G.K. Chesterton and the First Nations by Matthew MillinerBook Notes Newsletter (from Hearts and Minds Bookstore)

Chris sits in the host chair again for a conversation all about Willie Jenning's commentary on Acts. He is joined by two first-time guests who are pastors that have found Jenning's commentary particularly helpful in their local church work. They discuss what it is about Jenning's approach that is so innovative and helpful, and especially why this is a timely commentary for a post-covid church.Books Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible by Willie James JenningsThe Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James JenningsMan Enough: How Jesus Redefines Manhood by Nate PyleJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du MezLeadership, God's Agency and Disruptions: Confronting Modernity's Wager by Mark Lau Branson and Alan J. RoxburghFamilies at the Crossroads: Beyond Tradition and Modern Options by Rodney ClappA Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Christian Society by Rodney Clapp