The Good Life

In our last lesson on the Torah, we look at the book of Deuteronomy, the final sermons of Moses to prepare Israel for entering the land. Moses reminds them of their past, their special calling from God, and the blessings and curses that come as a part of their covenant with Him. We even answer the question, "Which part of God's law still applies?" 

By the end of Leviticus, God had finished giving His ceremonial laws to His people. Now it was time for them to enter the Promised Land. Except they weren't ready. Instead they rebelled and had to face the consequences. The book of Numbers is the story of their rebellion and God's faithfulness in bringing them to maturity despite their sin. 

Why did God give us holidays? In this second lesson on Leviticus, we discuss the major holy days of ancient Israel. We focus especially on the Day of Atonement and what it tells us about our lives now, as well as how the holy days were a guide to the future of God's people. 

Today we look at the first part of the book of Leviticus, a book the discourages many in their Bible reading because of its complexity. We dig into the early chapters, particularly the five offerings and the purity laws, discussing how they are viewed in the New Covenant. 

Today we consider the second and lesser-known half of Exodus. We consider the purpose of the law, the building of the tabernacle, and the relevance of both to Christians today. 

We continue our study of the Torah with a look at the first half of Exodus. 

Today I am interviewing Sophia Abraham, a harpist living in Cambridge. Sophia is a harpist, playing the harp since she was young. She has an MA in music therapy and is quite gifted, using her talents to help people recovering from various sorts of trauma. She and her husband have created Wisdom Harps, where they make and sell smaller, affordable harps for people who are interested in learning to play. She also offers online classes for beginners as well as in various modes of harp playing. Our discussion ranges from the role of the harp in the healing process for patients, its use in spiritual warfare, how beautiful music opens greater opportunities for evangelism, and why playing the harp is easier than most people think. She even plays a bit for us! It was a great discussion.  Wisdom Harps (Sophia's Website) Wisdom Harps Facebook page Some samples of Sophia's Playing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Harp Meditation The Lord of Sea and Sky

This is the latter-half of the story of Abraham, in which we see Yahweh change his name and he will face his greatest test on Mt. Moriah. 

We come now to the life of Abraham, a new Adam figure called to leave the land of his fathers and go to the land God would show him. 

What makes the first eleven chapters of Genesis so foundational for Christians? How do they form the identify of ancient Israel? These are just some of the questions we try to answer in this first Sunday School lesson on the first five books of the Bible. 

What is the difference between being liberal and postliberal? Who better to talk with than Susannah Roberts, a writer, editor, and podcaster. We talk about her life growing up in New York City (where she still lives part of the year), her conversion to Christianity from agnosticism, and why liberalism is losing its popularity.  Susannah (@suzania) is the editor of Plough Quarterly and Mere Orthodoxy.  

Today I enjoyed visiting with Dr. Gerald McDermott. Dr. McDermott is an Anglican priest as well as a church historian and scholar who specializes in the theology of Jonathan Edwards. He has written dozens of books, eight of which focus on various elements of the life and legacy of Jonathan Edwards.  Today we talk about why Edwards was and still is important, and we focus on Edwards' unfinished book,  A History of Redemption. After many years of research, Dr. McDermott has written a book that seeks to finish what Edwards might have written had he lived to complete it (he tragically died at age fifty-four). We discuss Edwards further legacy, as well as why "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is both the best and the worst known sermon in American history.  A New History of Redemption Everyday Glory: The Revelation of God in All of Reality One Holy and Happy Society - the Public Theology of Jonathan Edwards Famous Stutterers

Today I get to speak with Aaron Renn, an author and social commentator. He recently wrote a book called, Life in the Negative World about how life has changed for Christians in the last fifty years and what Christians must do in the twenty-first century to thrive.  Aaron has an excellent Substack and podcast website. He has also edited the Puritan John Owen's book, The Mortification of Sin, a helpful book for Christians on battling (and killing) sin.  Today we talk about his book, the need for Christians to do good work, and how to use your gifts well in the world. 

John Ehrett is a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He returns today to talk with me about a recent article of his entitled, "Christendom After Comcast." We talk about the desire to return to a better way of life, the paths many people suggest, and what prevents that return from happening. Specifically, we discuss how cable television was one of many elements that restrict our ability to ever go back to "the way things were" and what are steps the church can take to faithfully respond to this new era.  Christendom After Comcast Ivy Envy  

Today I interview Dr. Donald Williams, former Literature professor at Toccoa Falls College. We discuss his book, Mere humanity : G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien on the Human Condition. We discuss what those men have to say about being human and even why their writings effect us generations after they lived.  Dr. Williams has written several books as well, some of which are listed below. Mere humanity : G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien on the Human Condition Answers from Aslan Ninety-Five Theses for a New Reformation Reflections from Plato's Cave: Essays in Evangelical Philosophy

Today I spoke with Nathan Gill, a Hillsdale graduate, classical education teacher, and administrator. He wrote an article at The American Reformer titled, "Toward a More American Classical Education." We talk about why it's important to not only give your children an education steeped in the wisdom of the past, but for their education to be rooted in the country and regional culture where they live. We discuss what that could look like, as well as how craftsmanship and entrepreneurship make for a uniquely American education. 

What is eschatology and how does it affect your life? Some think your view of the millennium determines your level of social and cultural action, but is that true?  Today I talk about a Ben Dunson article at the American Reformer that provides a partial answer to that question. But I suspect there's even more to the question than we realize.  Ben Dunson - Eschatology and Politics

Have you ever taken a quiz to know where you fall on the political compass? Are you liberal, conservative, authoritarian, or libertarian? Thankfully there are more options than those. Today I talk about how we can know where we call on the spectrum and how that knowledge can better help me to love my neighbor.  P.S. In this episode I said that Noah Millman's article came out on the "League of Ordinary Gentlemen" blog. That is incorrect. It was on the now defunct "American Scene" website, which is available thanks to the reliable Wayback Machine.  Articles mentioned Notes Towards a New Political Taxonomy - Noah Millman Tanner Greer's Summary of Millman's article A Better Model of Political Categories - N.S. Lyons (paywalled for subscribers)  

Joshua Klein is a woodworker, furniture maker, author, church elder, and editor of Mortise and Tenon magazine. He has written a fascinating biography of  Jonathan Fisher, an eighteenth-century jack-of-all-trades pastor titled, Hands Employed Aright. He also works with the Greystone Theological Institute's mechanical arts program to mentor young men in intellectual, theological, and craftsmanship skills.  We discuss what drew him to woodworking, the role of beauty in craftsmanship, and what makes a working with your hands so satisfying.    Mortise and Tenon Magazine Mortise and Tenon Podcast Hands Employed Aright Greystone Institute Mechanical Arts Program  

Having just celebrated Valentine's Day, here are five good books of marriage that can help any married couple, no matter how long they've been married. 

The Christmas season is almost here and who better to talk about it than a man who hails from the capital of the white Christmas (Vermont) - Ryan Anderson. Ryan grew up in Vermont, moved to Washington state, and recently returned to the land of his fathers. I met him through Twitter (now "X") and have enjoyed his posts about moving home and delighting in the season. We talk about how many good things there are to celebrate in fall/winter, what a family needs from a father, and why slowing down is a good thing this time of year.  Ryan's Substack page - Old Hollow Tree Ryan's X (formerly Twitter) account

What is "the West"? What is the role of Christians today in preserving our Western heritage? How does liberalism fit into the decline of Christendom? What is leading to the rise of Anti-Semitism among some on the right? I am joined today by John Ehrett to discuss these and other topics relating to our cultural history. John is a writer and attorney in Washington, D.C. who has written for multiple publications. Some of his best articles are listed below: Postliberal Gods and Monsters Tradition and Anti-Semitism Augustine Against Vitalism The Impossible Bronze-Age Mindset The End of Viking Vitalism

John Klar is a jack of all trades. A lawyer, farmer, pastor, and public servant, he took on government bureaucracy and won, restoring the right of Vermont farmers to butcher their animals on their own farms. His most recent book, Small Farm Republic, describes the collusion of corporate farming with big government and provides hopeful options for people who want to resist that control. In this episode we talk about the Green (more like Red) New Deal, how conservatives must return to God's call as stewards of creation, and how cows restore the natural world.  Small Farm Republic John's Substack

How should Christians treat the world? Are we against it, for it, or something in between? In this episode, I discuss the two views and who from Scripture successfully achieves both. 

My guest today is Mr. John Waters, a journalist and Christian convert in Ireland. He has written several books, the most recent being Give Us Back the Bad Roads, which tells the story of how Ireland changed from being the most conservative country in Europe to one of the most liberal in a period of several decades. He wrote for a major newspaper until he was removed due to his stance against homosexual marriage and abortion. We talk about Irish history, economics, government, and literature. Books Give Us Back the Bad Roads Was it For This? Why Ireland Lost the Plot  Articles The End of Pseudo-Liberalism Broken Family, Broken Country  

Most people approach the book of Ruth with simplicity, thinking they already know it. In my interview with Pastor Rich Lusk, we discuss the beauty, wisdom, and delight to be found in this little book. It is a folk tale, a love story, and a picture of the gospel spreading to the nations, all wrapped in four short chapters. His book, Ruth: Under His Wings, breaks through the normal things we think we know about Ruth and gets to the message at the heart of God's revelation: God never leaves His people. 

Today I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Hal Poe, a professor at Union University in Jackson, TN. Dr. Poe is a distant relation to Edgar Allan Poe, the poet and short story writer. Dr. Poe is the author of Evermore, a fascinating book about his older cousin. Today we discuss the wide-ranging talent of this often-misunderstood writer. There are so many interesting things about Poe that it's hard to know where to begin. For instance, did you know that: Edgar Allan Poe wrote more humorous stories than horror stories. Dorothy Sayers considered him the father of the mystery story. Poe's life closely parallels that of C.S. Lewis leading up to Lewis's conversion. He wrote a book about the cosmos where he explains a general theory of relativity, one hundred years before Einstein produced it. If your view of Edgar Allan Poe was only formed by your public school literature class, after you listen to this interview you'll never see him the same way again.    Evermore: Edgar Allan Poe and the Mystery of the Universe Bonus Article: C.S. Lewis Was a Secret Government Agent  

How did Evangelicalism become the cultural force that it is? How did it come to be associated with conservatism? What role does money play in the growth of religious consciousness in America? These are just some of the questions I discuss with today's guest, Jake Nelson. Jake has an M.A. from the University of Tennessee and has written on the rise of Evangelicalism in the early 1900s. If you're interested in the relationship between money, politics, and Christianity, this is a podcast for you.  One Nation Under God - Kevin Kruse Anointed with Oil - Darren Dochuk American Apocalypse - Matthew Avery Sutton God's Own Party - Daniel K. Williams

How do we serve God and live in the world? What relationship should the church have with the state? My guest today, Joel Biermann, answers those questions and more in his book, Wholly Citizens. Joel is a professor at Concordia Seminary, where he teaches systematic theology. Our discussion features a two-kingdom approach, but nothing like the two-kingdom view many of us have heard. He emphasizes the Reformation view of Martin Luther, as well as that of Calvin, in illustrating the robust relationship between church and state.   Wholly Citizens The first of 3 Lectures on the Wholly Citizens, delivered at Concordia Seminary (to see lectures two and three, click "Next" at the top right-hand corner). 

Why do some Christians observe Lent? What is the point of fasting/asceticism? In this podcast, I talk briefly about the purpose of Ash Wednesday/Lent in the Church calendar and how it can help us become more like Christ. 

Today I am joined by Joy Clarkson. You may recognize her last name (she's the daughter of Sally Clarkson), but her writing stands on its own. She's written a wonderful book by the title of, Aggressively Happy.  In this episode, we discuss why she would call her book such a unique name, the necessary role of sadness in pursuing a happy life, and why living with the end of the world in mind is a good thing. Joy recently graduated from St. Andrews in Scotland with her Ph.D. in theology and will soon take a job teaching in London.  Aggressively Happy A collection of Joy's articles can be found here.  Her podcast, Speaking with Joy

What is a reactionary and why would anybody claim to be one? That's the question I discuss today with Michael Warren Davis, author of The Reactionary Mind: Why Conservative Isn't Enough. Michael has written for Crisis, The American Conservative, and many other magazines. He describes a reactionary not as one pining for a return to a pristine order, but who purposefully reorients one's life toward what is eternal. We discuss the Middle Ages, Savonarola, the Puritans, and others who teach us how societal blessings come to those who pursue eternal things. The Reactionary Mind Articles at The American Conservative  

In this bonus episode, I read an article by David Frost, entitled, "Christmas Offers a Glimpse of a World That is Lost" from The Telegraph, a UK newspaper. He tells the story of a Christmas carol written in 1400 and later lost but was rediscovered in the mountains of Appalachia. There is a deeper meaning behind the story as well. Merry Christmas!

Rod Dreher joins me for a wide-ranging discussion of his previous book, The Benedict Option , and his most recent book, Live Not By Lies. We talk about what changed between his writing the two books, how Christians choose to sleepwalk through much of the cultural onslaught, and what we should do in preparation for what is coming.    Books:  The Benedict Option Live Not By Lies Blog The American Conservative  

In our recent paideia sermon series, we looked at many passages that give us wisdom when training our children. This article by John Stonestreet at the Colson Center speaks to that topic. He contrasts inoculation with indoctrination as two methods of preparing our children to be "in the world but not of it." In this episode, I cover the article's highlights and offer some brief commentary on why parents should guide their kids through cultural questions rather than pretending those questions don't exist.  A Practical Guide to Culture - John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle  

These are just a few thoughts on the need to cultivate gratitude since it doesn't come naturally. I read a brief article by my friend Brandon Meeks on showing God's love to the least around us and talk about our responsibility to look beyond ourselves and see how we too can show God's grace to others.    Brandon Meeks' Substack Newsletter

My guest today is Dr. Scott Masson, a professor of literature at Tyndale University in Toronto. We talk about the origins and growth of cultural Marxism in North America, how ancient and medieval writers approached literature, and the importance of the liberal arts in fortifying our children against cultural corrosion. Dr. Masson is a gifted lecturer and publishes his lectures freely on Youtube. You can find his channel here.  His excellent lecture on cultural Marxism can be found here.  His Paideia Today podcast can be found here. 

Today I welcome Chris Wiley back to the Good Life podcast. We met in person and discussed the book he is working on, tentatively titled, How To Defeat Communism in Your Spare Time. We discuss the origins of totalitarianism and how it morphed into the bizarre form it now takes in seemingly free countries. We conclude with what everyday people can do to escape the heavy chains of twenty-first-century politics. 

Today I interview Dr. Peter Hammond, the president of Frontline Fellowship. Frontline is a mission organization taking the gospel throughout Africa and Europe. Peter was born and raised in Rhodesia and later moved to South Africa where he has worked for the last forty years. He has amazing stories to tell, including his first mission trip when he traveled into Communist territory, how God orchestrated a secret church service that lasted thirteen hours, and what happened when he led a march in South Africa against abortion and was called in to meet Nelson Mandella.  Frontline Fellowship Books by Peter Frontline - Behind Enemy Lines for Christ Victorious Christians Who Changed the World A Christian History of Africa  

For hundreds of years, Evangelical worship services have ended with an altar call - the pastor asks people to bow their heads and close their eyes while musicians play softly, and he pleads with them to make a decision for Christ. But that is a recent innovation in worship. For centuries churches ended worship with the communion meal, or a simple hymn and prayer/benediction. What changed? That's the story we talk about today. My guest is Jason Cherry, a fellow elder at Trinity Reformed Church and author of the book, The Culture of Conversionism and the History of the Altar Call. We talk about what conversion meant prior to the First and Second Great Awakenings, and how those events and the ministers involved changed the culture. But we also talk about what conversion, repentance, and faith should look like, as well as the means God has given: discipleship, preaching, the sacraments, and prayer.  The Culture of Conversionism and the History of the Altar Call

When we read C. S. Lewis, we think of Mere Christianity or The Chronicles of Narnia. But how did he become the man who would write beautifully about so many disparate topics? Dr. Jason Baxter joins me today in a stimulating discussion on how C. S. Lewis was intellectually and spiritually formed. Dr. Baxter's book, The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis, is a short, well-crafted work that introduces us to many thinkers whose influence prepared one of the greatest Christian minds of the twentieth century. If you choose to purchase the book, please do so from his website, https://www.jasonmbaxter.com/. He will sign all books purchased through his site.    Books: The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis An Introduction to Christian Mysticism A Beginner's Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

We normally think of piety as only applying to our spiritual lives, i.e. reading our Bibles, prayer, etc. But for the ancients, piety was a matter of fulfilling responsibilities to others, a way of discharging debts owed to our authorities and those who have gone before us. In today's podcast, I talk about how Uriah the Hittite is portrayed as an excellent example of piety, even greater than King David in his older years. 

Timon Cline is a lawyer and historian in New Jersey who specializes in the history of Puritan New England. We've heard a lot about the religious life of the time, but we don't know nearly so much about their laws and society. Today we talk about misconceptions of Puritanism, their influences, and how they were closer in many ways to Medieval society than we imagine.  Timon Cline's essays Three Cheers for Cultural Christianity Religion is Downstream from Technology, p. 1 John Cotton, Protestant Integralist Is Nationalism Natural?

Can you honor your country when the leaders are wicked? The last story in I Samuel gives us some clues as to how to honor the memory of those who formerly were righteous but turned away.  

There have been several institutional victories recently for conservatives: the Supreme Court, the PCA, and the CRC all have made good choices in the last few weeks, some quite unexpected. Part of the reason this is so unexpected is that Americans have a tendency to leave institutions rather than remaining within and fighting and working to change course. In this podcast, I talk about our history of "flying away" and some principles to consider when we face to choice of whether to leave or stay in a faltering organization. 

Miles is a history professor at Hillsdale College. Originally from North Carolina, he now resides in Michigan. He has written for First Things, The American Conservative, Ad Fontes Journal, and American Reformer. In this episode, we talk about how history is an expanding subject, how to distinguish real history from conspiracy theories, the difference between preaching Scripture and teaching history, what makes someone a good history teacher, and why people should read less Flannery O'Connor and more George Washington Cable.  Articles by Miles Conservativism, If You Can Keep It Would That It Were 'Christian Nationalism' Evangelicals and Whig History Be For the City: 19th Century Evangelicals and Urban Theonomy The Bible and the Nation

Michael Sacasas is the head of a Christian Study Center in Gainsville, Florida. He has written on the role of technology through the lens of writers like Hannah Arendt, Jacques Ellul, and Ivan Illich. Today we talk about why it's hard to define technology, the dangers of mechanistic thinking, and how limits help us pursue a good life.  The Convivial Society (Michael's Newsletter) The Human Condition - Hannah Arendt The Technological Society - Jacques Ellul Rebels Against the Future - Kirkpatrick Sale The Year of Our Lord 1943 - Alan Jacobs Life After Babel - Jonathan Haidt (article) Why American Teens Are So Sad - Derek Thompson (article)

Recently I preached on magic from Leviticus 19 and 20. There was much more material than I could talk about and quite a few questions. This is my first podcast that's not an interview. Today I talk about the relationship between magic and nature, how our modern view of magic is quite new, and how the Reformation helped unite the church against the spread of dark magic.  I'd love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for future topics.    Seven Brief Lessons on Magic - Paul Tyson Living in a World of Magic - Sermon

Who is the only writer who makes Queen Elizabeth laugh out loud when she reads him? The answer is James Herriot, (his actual name is Alfred Wight). His books, beginning with All Creatures Great and Small, are funny, interesting, and reveal a slower way of life from a bygone era. He was a practicing vet from 1939 to 1996 in the Yorkshire region of the U.K. Masterpiece Theater recently turned his novels into a television series (for the second time) and his books have sold over 60 million copies.  Today I interviewed his son, Jim Wight, who wrote a wonderful biography of his father called, The Real James Herriot. We talk about the people behind the characters in the novels, what it's like to be a vet in rural England, and why so many people love James Herriot stories.    Books The Real James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small All Things Bright and Beautiful All Things Wise and Wonderful The Lord God Made Them All

I'm joined by Dr. Michael Connolly, a history professor at Purdue University Northwest. He has written several articles about the best political perspective you've probably never heard about - Toryism. Most Americans only think of Toryism as a British idea, but it's much deeper than that. Far from being an ideology and bearing little similarity to the modern British political party of the same name, Toryism is a way of looking at the world. Beginning with an appreciation of the blessings from the past, it includes a love of the church, patriotism, the fundamental necessity of the family, the necessity of hierarchy, a slower pace of life, and protecting the weak in society, all with as little government involvement as possible.  If these are ideas you appreciate, you'll certainly want to hear the rest.  Article  by Dr. Connolly: The Tory Tradition The Tory Interpretation of History The Past as Battlefield Other Articles by Dr. Connolly

Today I spoke with my daughter, Phoebe, about kids and young adult literature. We discuss some books we've read as a family and she talks about books she enjoys. We talk about books for boys, girls, and what makes for a good story.  Books we discuss in this episode: The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers - Douglas Bond Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation - Douglas Bond 100 Cupboards - N.D. Wilson Looking for the King - David C. Downing A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery Mitford Series - Jan Karon Cards on the Table - Agatha Christie The Labors of Hercules - Agatha Christie Complete Stories of Dorothy Sayers - Dorothy Sayers Father Brown Stories - G. K. Chesterton Russell Kirk Stories Not Exactly Ghosts - Andrew Caldecott Complete Ghost Stories - M.R. James Ade's Fables - George Ade Fables in Slang - George Ade Jeeves Omnibus - P.G. Wodehouse All Creatures Great and Small - James Herriot Favorite Poems Old and New - selected authors