The Weight

Show Notes:We hear a lot about the rapid decline in church attendance across the country, but there are many churches who are experiencing growth. So what, exactly, are these churches doing to attract new members? Matt Miofisky has a few ideas.Matt is the founder of The Gathering, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in St. Louis, Missouri. As the founder and leader of a consistently growing urban church and the co-author of Eight Virtues of Rapidly Growing Churches, Matt is more than qualified for today's conversation.Matt is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where he majored in mathematics before earning his Master's of Divinity at Emory University. He founded The Gathering in 2006, which was recently named the third fastest growing large United Methodist church in the US.Resources:Learn more about The Gathering hereBuy Eight Virtues of Rapidly Growing Churches hereBuy The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer hereBuy Matt's other books hereListen to The F Word, Matt's podcast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsFollow Matt on Instagram or Facebook

Show Notes:Seeing the wonder of God's creation in the world around us can expand our imagination, give us a hopeful perspective during difficult times, and help us find moments of joy in the mundanity of life. Today's guest joins Eddie and Chris in a delightful, hope-filled conversation about the wonder of the ocean and its creatures. What can the ocean tell us about the character of God?Rachel Jordan is a professional marine biologist who earned her B.S. in Ecology at Seattle Pacific University and her M.S. in Marine Biology & Ecology at James Cook University in Australia. She also has a Certification in Biblical Studies from Bodenseehof Bible School in Germany. Her book, If the Ocean Has a Soul, will release on June 3, 2025, and is available for preorder now.If you want to experience wonder this summer, whether you're traveling to the beach or the mountains, visiting an amusement park, or just staying home, take a few minutes each day to focus on one small thing in the natural world and appreciate it for how it is beautifully and wonderfully made. We humans are not just called to tend and keep. We are also called to serve and protect the world around us.Resources:Learn more about Rachel here.Follow Rachel on Instagram.Preorder If the Ocean Has a Soul through Tyndale, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or BookshopSubscribe to Rachel's newsletter here.

Show Notes:If you work with people from different generations, live with people from different generations, or encounter people from different generations in your daily life, you probably need to listen to this episode. You might walk away with a better understanding of how different generations work, react, and think, and this understanding might make you a better leader.Phil Gwoke is a proud Gen Xer, a generational expert and the CEO of BridgeWorks, an organization that helps companies bridge generational gaps and foster cultures of understanding and respect. Each generation is shaped by unique events and conditions that happen during their teenage years, and Phil knows how important it is to adapt leadership styles to meet these generational needs. He offers some excellent advice for leaders, and some interesting insights into the differences among Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z.Resources:Learn more about BridgeWorks.Books mentioned by Phil: Wisdom at Work by Chip ConleyPendulum: How Past Generations Shape our Present and Predict our Future by Roy H. Williams & MIchael R. DrewThe Fourth Turning by William Strauss & Neil HoweFollow Phil on Instagram

Show Notes:Chris and Eddie are joined by previous guest Greg Jones for a spirited conversation about leaning into hopeful imagination: looking for places where the Holy Spirit is at work and where we can see a future that's different from the past and the present. What does it mean to be formed in God's imagination? How can we use that formation to find security in a fractured, uncertain world? How can we bring resurrection hope--the surety of a risen Christ to heal the world--to our institutions, our communities, and our daily lives?Greg is the President of Belmont University as well as the former Dean of Duke Divinity School and the author of several books, including Navigating the Future (co-authored with Andrew P. Hogue), Christian Social Innovation, and Thriving Communities (co-authored with Kavin Rowe). His hope for his time at Belmont is to make it a leading Christ-centered university in the world, radically championing the pursuit of life abundant for all people. Resources:Listen to Greg's previous episode on The Weight here.Learn more about his books and buy them online here.Learn more about Dr. Jones here.

Show Notes:If you are a pastor, a Christian, or a Christ-centered leader in any way, this conversation may change your life.At the very least, we hope you'll come away with a new framework for putting your faith into daily practice. Today's guest, Tom Nelson, is passionate about equipping God's people for their daily life. He wants us to shift the paradigm of being a Church that only gathers on Sunday to being a Church that has the compassion, capacity, and imagination to make real changes in our Monday world.Tom has served as the senior pastor at Christ Community Church in Kansas City for over 30 years. He is the founder and executive chairman of Made to Flourish, an organization that equips pastors and other Christ-centered leaders to bridge the Sunday-to-Monday gap--allowing our faith to converge with our places of work. Resources:Learn more about Made to FlourishBuy Tom's book, Why Your Work Matters

Show Notes:Esther Lightcap Meek is a philosopher, author, and speaker known for her work on epistemology (the study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge. How do we know what we know, and how much more is there to know?). She joins Eddie and Chris for a discussion about forgiveness, and getting to that moment where you see a larger pattern in the world around you allows you to look forward rather than dwell in past hurt.Dr. Meek earned her Bachelor of Arts at Cedarville College, her Master's of Arts at Western Kentucky University, and her PhD at Temple University. She is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Geneva College in Western Pennsylvania and continues to offer courses for Theopolis Institute, the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and Regent College. She is also the author of several essays, including Forgiving: A Glimpse of a Farther World, linked below, as well as the books Longing to Know and Loving to Know.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Meek on her websiteRead her essay Forgiving in Comment MagazineLearn more about her books and buy them online hereFollow Dr. Meek on Instagram and YouTube

Show Notes:This episode comes out on Maundy Thursday, the day when Jesus celebrated his last Passover meal with his disciples and washed their feet in an act of humble service. Tomorrow is Good Friday, where Christians around the world relive Jesus' crucifixion and death and wait for the Good News of Easter Sunday--the day of resurrection and the restoration of hope.Why does this matter? Because in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are not only forgiven, but we are given a new way into offering forgiveness to those who have harmed us. Forgiveness is a complex process, often involving grief and mourning, and should not mean we forget or erase past harms. Today's guest gives us thoughtful insight into how we experience forgiveness--how we offer it to others and ask for it for ourselves. Dr. Matthew Ichihashi Potts is the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard Divinity School as well as the Pusey Minister of Harvard Memorial Church. He earned his BA from the University of Notre Dame, and both his MDiv and PhD degrees from Harvard. He is the author of Cormac McCarthy and the Signs of Sacrament: Literature, Theology, and the Moral of Stories and Forgiveness: An Alternative Account.Resources:Buy Forgiveness: An Alternative Account 

Show Notes:Chris and Eddie are joined by Dan Forrest, a well-known musician and composer who has found his niche in composing and arranging music as a way to honor the beauty of God's work in creation. Dan's work ranges from small choral pieces to multi-movement works for full orchestras and choirs. You may have heard his Requiem for the Living (2013) or Jubilate Deo (2016). (Links to both of those pieces are below, if you'd like to listen for the first time, or give them a relisten.)Dan has a doctorate in composition from the University of Kansas. He has served as the Chair of the American Choral Director's Association Composition Committee and adjunct faculty at Furman University. He is currently the Vice President of Publications and Editor at Beckenhorst Press and is the Artist-in-Residence at MItchell Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina.Resources:Learn more about Dan at his website, danforrest.comListen to recordings of Dan's music on Apple Music or SpotifyWatch Requiem for the Living performed by Bob Jones University ChoraleWatch Jubilate Deo performed by Rivertree Singers and Friends Follow Dan on Facebook, YouTube, and Soundcloud

Show Notes:Eddie and Chris are joined by previous guest Dr. John Swinton for a frank yet gentle discussion of the complexities of healing, particularly in the context of mental health. Healing is more than just being physically cured; it's a restoration of connection and community. It's offering holy friendship. It's remembering that Jesus, fully God and fully human, suffered with us and for us. Healing returns us to our identity as daughters and sons of God.Dr. Swinton a Scottish theologian, academic, and Presbyterian minister, as well as a Registered Mental Nurse and a Registered Nurser for People with Learning Disabilities. He is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen. Dr. Swinton is also the founder of the university's Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability.Resources:Listen to Dr. Swinton's previous episode on The WeightLearn more about Sanctuary Mental Health Resources, free church-based resources to engage the conversation around faith and mental healthLearn more about the Centre for Spirituality, Health, and DisabilityFind Dr. Swinton's books on Amazon

Show Notes:Today's special guest on The Weight is none other than co-host Eddie Rester. Eddie has some big news about what's been going on in his life over the past few months, and he and Chris have a candid and thoughtful conversation about leadership, leading through the hard times, and the importance of finding your tribe of people. We're excited about this next step for Eddie and his wife Audra, and we're also excited that The Weight Podcast will be going with him.

Show Notes:It's not always easy to treat the people and world around us with respect, but  Dr. Robert Khayat seemingly does it with ease. His parents showed him how to live a life respectful of people, places, and institutions, and the importance of respect followed him into his professional life.Robert's list of professional accomplishments is long: former NFL player with the Washington Redskins, a graduate of the University of Mississippi Law School and Yale Law School, a successful lawyer and professor, and the fifteenth chancellor of the University of Mississippi. Robert's mission while chancellor was for Ole Miss to be, and to be perceived as one of America's great public universities, and his legacy of greatness continues to impact the school and the state of Mississippi today.Resources:Buy Robert's book, The Education of a Lifetime

Show Notes:Chris and Eddie share in a fun conversation with an old friend of Eddie's, Dr. David McDonald. David is a preacher, teacher, and creative innovator within the Christian community. He believes in the creativity and imagination of God and how that creativity and imagination can spark joy and fulfillment in us. After being a local church pastor for 27 years, he left full-time ministry to found and build Fossores Chapter House, a creative headquarters for pastors and church staff. Ministry and lay leaders come to the chapter house to recharge and rebuild their passion for the work of the church, while building community and relationships with other church leaders from around the world.Resources:Follow David on InstagramLearn more about David's books hereLearn more about Fossores Chapter HouseFollow Fossores Chapter House on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube

Welcome to Season 6 of The Weight Podcast! We're kicking things off with someone who has a lot of fun while doing a lot of important work: Annie F. Downs. Annie is an author, speaker, podcaster, and preacher who uses humor and scripture to help people find their purpose and fulfillment in God's love.Annie's podcast, That Sounds Fun, has been on air for 10 years, and this year, she's shaking things up a little. She's helping her listeners navigate the seasons of their life by using the seasons of nature--winter, spring, summer, and fall--to bring some clarity and compassion to those moments when we feel our lowest and to bring joyful ownership to those times when we are at our best.She also talks to Eddie and Chris about her singles ministry, Single Person League, and how married pastors can build a bridge to a more understanding relationship with their single congregants.Resources:Annie's websiteFollow Annie on Instagram, Facebook, YouTubePastoring Singles ResourceBuy Annie's books here, including Where Did TJ Go?

We are so excited to be back for Season 6 of The Weight! We are kicking off this season with an amazing guest, who you won't want to miss. So make sure you tune in next Thursday!theweightpodcast.com

We're wrapping up our fifth season on The Weight, and Eddie, Chris, and producer Cody Hickman talk about some highlights from this season. We have had some wonderful conversations about the power of story telling, working through trauma, food, and leadership. We even got to talk to a local Olympic silver medalist. We hope you'll go back and give your favorite episodes a re-listen.This year, as a special treat, we're also highlighting some bloopers, mistakes, and misspoken words. We needed a laugh, and we thought you might, too! As always, thank you for listening to The Weight. Thank you for liking, subscribing, and sharing. Thank you for being in our corner and journeying with us. --------P.S.  None of what we do here on The Weight would be possible without the behind-the-scenes team. Emilie, Jake, and Rachel, you are the real heroes. Thank you for all of the things you do each week to make sure these episodes get out!

This episode of The Weight will probably make you laugh, might lighten your spirit, and will definitely give you a new perspective on encouraging leadership in others.Sophie Hudson is a blogger, author, and podcast host. She has written seven books. She draws inspiration for her most recent book, A Fine Sight to See: Leading Because You Were Made for It, from the story of Moses and Exodus, and explores how we are all called to lead, whether we feel qualified or not.Resources:Read more from Sophie on Boo MamaListen to The Big Boo Cast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsBuy Sophie's books on Amazon, including A Fine Sight to See

In case you were wondering, “hymnody” is an actual word and we didn't make it up. It simply means the singing or composition of hymns, religious songs or poems of praise to God. And today's guest has a lot to say about hymns.  Ted Campbell is the Albert C. Outlet Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He has served as a United Methodist pastor and has taught at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Duke Divinity School, and Wesley Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books, including Wesleyan Beliefs, The Gospel of Christian Tradition, and most recently A Core Methodist Hymnal, which is more like a devotional and less like a traditional hymnal.Resources:Learn more about Ted at his website, tedcampbell.comBuy A Core Methodist Hymnal

What is the humanitarian response for a country in crisis? What is the church's response? Today's guest has experienced the love and hope the people provide each other during times of war, strife, and disaster, and he shares one truth: finding community, even in the midst of war, can help sustain your hope and keep you going.Chris Herlinger is an international correspondent for National Catholic Reporters Global Sisters Report. He has worked in many areas of conflict, including South Sudan, Darfur, Haiti, and Afghanistan, and his most recent work has taken him to Ukraine. His most recent book is Solidarity and Mercy, which highlights the humanitarian efforts of Catholic Sisters in Ukraine. Resources:Buy Solidarity and MercyFind more of Chris's correspondence through Global Sisters Network

Show Notes:Are you an apostle of Jesus?It may seem like an easy “yes,” but the answer is a lot more nuanced than you might think. For Rebekah Simon-Peter, it goes beyond a passive faith in Jesus to a robust, active life with the faith of Jesus.. Rebekah is an author, pastor, coach (and friend of Eddie's). She spent 12 years as a United Methodist pastor before stepping out to create a ministry that equips churches to build and renew. Her passion for and delight in the work of the Holy Spirit come through in this conversation.Resources:Rebekah's website - https://rebekahsimonpeter.com/Creating a Culture of Renewal® - https://cultureofrenewal.com/Purchase Believe Like Jesus - https://rebekahsimonpeter.com/believe-like-jesus

Grief lies to you. Grief will tell you that you are alone in your suffering. This conversation will remind you, over and over, that you aren't. If you're grieving right now, you might be tempted to skip this episode, but we encourage you to listen anyway. Send it to someone you know who is hurting, and maybe save it to come back to at a later date.Kimberly Wagner has been on The Weight before to discuss collective trauma, but this conversation is a little more personal. As Christian churches approach All Saints, a day in which we remember and name those loved ones who have passed before us, we need the reminder that grief is holy and sacred, and that Jesus weeps with us even as he walks with us. We need the reminder that our communities of faith hold in trust the reality of hope and comfort, even when we don't feel them.Kimberly is assistant professor of preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of Fractured Ground: Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma. Her doctoral dissertation centered around preaching and trauma, and she has seen first hand how disorienting mass trauma to a community and to individuals. Resources: Learn more about Kimberly at her website, preachingandtrauma.com.Buy Fractured Ground.Read William Sloane Coffin's sermon, Eulogy for Alex

Bishop Ken Carter is a leader. As the current bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, he is guiding over 173,000 members through Hurricane Helene recovery. In addition to that, he serves as bishop-in-residence and a consulting faculty member at Duke Divinity School. He is also the former bishop of the Florida Conference, and served as the president of the Council of Bishops of the UMC from 2018-2020. So, yes, Bishop Carter is a leader. But he leads with a spirit of openness, love, and concern for others. He values having supportive ecosystems of people to help each other, to be a point of connection during moments of pain and weakness and to offer that support back during times of strength. He leads with an eye toward adapting to the moment--not throwing out all traditions, but discerning what needs to be preserved, discarded, or simply rearranged to meet the current need.Resources:Listen to Bishop Carter's previous episode on The WeightOr listen to our conversations on leadership with Tod Bolsinger: Adaptive Leadership and Mistakes Good Leaders MakeBuy Bishop Carter's books on Amazon, including Gardens in the Desert: How Adaptive Church Can Lead to a Whole New Life, co-authored with Michael BeckDonate to Hurricane Helene relief through the United Methodist Committee on Relief

Eddie and Chris are joined by three-time guest Aimee Nezhukumatathil for a conversation about the intersection of food, faith, family, and parenthood, based around her latest collection of essays, Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees. Aimee is the author of multiple volumes of poetry, including Miracle Fruit, Oceanic, and Lucky Fish, as well as several books of essays, World of Wonders (and her most recent, Bite by Bite). Her work has appeared in multiple magazines including Poetry magazine, Ploughshares, FIELD, and American Poetry Review, and she is the first poetry editor for Sierra, the story-telling arm of the Sierra Club.Aimee is also professor of English and Creative Writing in the University of Mississippi's MFA program where she received the faculty's Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award.We're delighted to have her back on The Weight!Resources:Learn more about Aimee on her website Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTubeBuy her books, including Bite by BiteListen to her previous episodes on The Weight: World of Wonders and Finding Beauty in the Chaos

You might say Lola Reed Allin is a trailblazer. She is certainly an adventurer, a traveler, a pioneer, and a role model to women who work in male-dominated fields. As one of the very few female commercial airline pilots in Canada, Lola escaped an abusive marriage to find a life where she not only survived, but thrived.Lola is not just a commercial airline pilot. She is also an author, an award winning photographer, a SCUBA diver, and a speaker. She is open and frank about her experiences, but despite the hardships that she faced personally and professionally, she offers grace and kindness along with encouragement and hope. Her recent memoir, Highway to the Sky, details her story of resilience.Resources:Learn more about Lola Follow Lola on Facebook and InstagramBuy Highway to the Sky

*** Repost***As we move closer to the 2024 election season, we thought this episode was worth hearing again.Show Notes:“Politics is an essential forum in which we can love our neighbors.”Michael Wear reminds us that Christians are called to love, love of God and love of neighbor. And if you are a Christian in politics, when you go into the political sphere, what are you doing? What is the orientation of your heart? This question is for everyone to answer, not just politicians. Are you using the vast resources of the Christian tradition—scriptures, history, theology—to guide your decision making? Are you acting out of a spirit of loving service as Jesus did?Michael is the Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution which seeks to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life and for the public good. He has worked as a White House and presidential campaign staffer and as an advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life.He is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life and Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America.Resources:Learn more about Michael at his website, michaelwear.comLearn more about the Center for Christianity and Public LifeFollow Michael on Facebook and InstagramListen to his podcast, Wear We Are, on Spotify or Apple PodcastsBuy his books on Amazon

This episode might leave you fired up for the Holy Spirit, because guest Jack Levison himself is fired up for the Holy Spirit. Not only does he see the boundless work of the Spirit in our world today, he also offers ways for us to dig deeper into finding the Spirit at work in the Old Testament, where we might overlook it.Dr. Levison holds the W. J. A. Power Chair of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He is the author of several books, including Fresh Air and A Boundless God, which won a Christianity Today book award in 2021. Resources:Buy Dr. Levison's books, including Fresh Air and A Boundless God here.Find interviews and other podcasts featuring Dr. Levison here.

Mark DeYmaz is a pastor, author, and champion of the multi-ethnic church movement. He spent eighteen years as a youth pastor in Little Rock, Arkansas, before stepping away to plant the Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas in 2001 where he continues to serve as Directional Leader. Mark has a clear vision for what the Church should look like: bringing diverse people together to walk, work, and worship God, while investing in the local community. Church should reflect the diverse world we live in, as a true reflection of the Kingdom of God.Mark earned his Master of Arts from Western Seminary in 1987 and his Doctor of Ministry from Phoenix Seminary in 2006. He is an Adjunct Professor at United Theological Seminary and at Wheaton College He is also the co-founder of the Mosaix Global Network, which helps with multiethnic church planting, growth, and development. Mark has written eight books and is a contributing editor to Outreach magazine. He and his wife Linda have four adult children and five grandchildren.Resources:Learn more about MosaixLearn more about Mosaic ChurchBuy Mark's books on Amazon, including The Coming Revolution in Church Economics, Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church, and DIsruption: Repurposing the Church to Redeem the CommunityFollow Mark on Instagram

It's a podcast mashup this week as Eddie and Chris are joined by the co-hosts of Pod Have Mercy, John Stephens and Matt Russell. John and Matt are pastors at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas (senior pastor and executive pastor, respectively), and are no strangers to deep conversations about the state of today's Church--the challenges modern Christians face and their hopes for the future.Resources:Listen to Pod Have Mercy on Spotify or watch it on YoutubeLearn more about Chapelwood

Shelby McEwen has been jumping and flipping off things since he was a little boy, and now he has an Olympic silver medal to show for it--which joins his many other high jump accolades. Shelby is a native of Oxford, Mississippi (where Eddie and Chris currently live). He was a member of the Northwest Mississippi Community College track and field team as well as the University of Alabama track and field team, where he became an SEC champion for both indoor and outdoor high jump. Shelby was a member of Team USA in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics, where he finished twelfth. He earned his 2024 silver medal after a jump off with New Zealand's Hamish Kerr.Resources:Follow Shelby on Instagram

Tod Bolsinger has built his career on developing and empowering great leaders. In this conversation with Eddie and Chris, he talks about how leaders can leverage the trust they've built to make risky decisions with empathy and vulnerability, how to deal with pushback, and how important it is to acknowledge the losses that come with change.Tod is the Vice-President for Vocation and Formation and Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he earned his Ph.D. in theology. He has served as Senior Pastor of San Clemente Presbyterian Church. He is the author of a series of leadership guides as well as the books Tempered Resilience and Canoeing the Mountains.Resources:Listen to Tod's previous episode on The Weight, Adaptive Leadership Buy Tod's books at IVPressFollow Tod on Facebook or X

Is AI going to take over the world?Probably not in the way pop culture would have us imagine (or in the way Chris fears). Today's guest, Dr. Robert Hunt, offers Eddie and Chris a broad overview of AI--what it is, how we see it, how we see ourselves in relation to it, and how we use it. Dr. Hunt has been the Director of Global Theological Education at the Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University since 2004. He is Professor of Christian Mission and Interreligious Relations and teaches classes on World Religions, Islam, Interreligious Dialogue, Cultural Intelligence, and Mission Studies. He earned his M.Div from Perkins School of Theology and his Ph.D. from the University of Malaya. He is also the creator and host of the podcast Interfaith Encounters.His upcoming book about AI will hopefully be out this fall.Resources:Learn more about Interfaith Encounters or listen to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Purchase his books, Muslim Faith and Values: A Guide for Christians and The Gospel Among the Nations on Amazon.

We've heard it on the news and seen it in the research: American Christianity is declining. Younger generations aren't interested in organized religion. Young families aren't raising their children with a Biblical foundation. That's what we're told, but what is really happening? Today's guest has an on-the-ground perspective of how hungry the next generation is for meaningful connection and deeper roots to something powerful.Brian McCormack is the Executive Director of Breakaway Ministries, a non-denominational Bible study that reaches  tens of thousands of students at Texas A&M University. Brian has served in ministry with his wife Emilie for 17 years. He has worked in student ministry, planted a church in Seattle, and served as a lead pastor, and along the way found time to earn a doctorate from Duke Divinity School and raise 5 kids with Emilie. Resources:breakaway.orgFollow Brian on InstagramFollow Breakaway on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook

Matt Luke is a former football player and coach, who served as the head coach for the University of Mississippi (and was a member of Oxford University United Methodist Church while Eddie and Chris pastored there.) Matt is probably most well known for helping to lead the University of Georgia football team to a National Championship win in 2021 as associate head coach and offensive line coach. After that win, Matt stepped away from coaching football in February 2022. Walking away from professional success was not a decision Matt made lightly, but it was the right decision for him and his family. He is able to joy in the small, every day moments with his wife Ashley and their sons Harrison and Cooper. 

Show Notes:Kari Kampakis is an author, speaker, podcaster, and newspaper columnist from Birmingham, Alabama. She writes for teen girls and moms, and her books include 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, Liked, Love Her Well, and More than a Mom.Kari offers advice to teens and parents, but more importantly she offers compassion and understanding. Parenting is hard at any stage, even if the struggles from family to family are different. As a mom of four girls, Kari has learned that parenting moves from a place of control to a place of influence. That transition can be hard without faith and without a strong support system. We live in a culture of child-centered parenting, which is why it's important for parents and children that parents have a healthy adult life--passions, interests, and friends. For Kari and her husband, finding an identity in Christ and having hobbies and interests outside of parenting are vital to the overall health of their family.Resources:WebsiteInstagramFacebookGirl Mom PodcastKari's Books:10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living ForLove Her Well More Than a Mom

Esau McCaulley returns to The Weight for a discussion about his newest book, "How Far to the Promised Land.” This is a joyful conversation that covers some heavy topics, like reconciling yourself to your history while charting your own path and creating your own story. And sometimes, finding your place in the story means finding your place with God and allowing God's grace to emerge in unexpected ways.Esau is an author and associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, with a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of Reading While Black as well as articles for the New York Times.Resources:Listen to Esau's previous episode on The WeightOrder Esau's books: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope and How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South.Read Esau's articles in The New York Times here: https://www.nytimes.com/by/esau-mccaulley Follow Esau on the web: https://esaumccaulley.com Follow Esau on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram       

Whether we're a teenager, college student, established professional, or retired, we're constantly asking questions about our identity. All of us deeply desire to understand the truth of who we are and where we come from. For those of us in strained relationships with our families of origin, questions of identity, purpose, and belonging can get increasingly complicated. What does it take to tell a truthful story about our lives? Where does God meet us in our fractured, imperfect stories? In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by David Magee, author of Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss. Dedicated to his late son, William Magee, Dear William details David's pain of losing a child, destructive family patterns, and the grace of God in the midst of intense tragedy. He talks to Eddie and Chris about the freedom found in forgiving ourselves, the issue of codependency within a family system, and the power of testimony.Resources:Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and LossFollow David Magee on the web:https://www.daviddmagee.com Learn more about the William Magee Center for Wellness Education here:https://magee-center.olemiss.edu Give to the William Magee Center here:https://ignite.olemiss.edu/project/16124/donate Follow David Magee on social media:https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter/ https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer 

When we're struck by unexpected suffering, we ask question after question attempting to find meaning in the midst of our pain. We wonder why this diagnosis, disaster, or death had to happen to us or someone we love. We wonder if God is really good. We wonder if it's possible to live within our reality and still have hope, joy, and peace. Though these questions are important, our human nature lends itself toward the comfort of ignorance and flimsy optimism. What are the cultural scripts that dictate our understanding of pain and suffering?  How can we come alongside one another through both the highs and lows? Chris and Eddie are joined by Kate Bowler, author of No Cure for Being Human, professor at Duke Divinity School and host of the podcast, Everything Happens. After receiving an unexpected cancer diagnosis at the age of 35, Kate began to observe that the world does not offer a safe space for people in pain. Her move from crisis to chronic has led her to asking deeper questions about faith, God, and human suffering. She talks to Eddie and Chris about the gift of presence, the absurdity of life, a robustly Christian account of time, and the many ways we try to make meaning out of everything.ResourcesFollow Kate Bowler on the web:https://katebowler.com Order No Cure for Being Human here:https://katebowler.com/no-cure-for-being-human/ Order Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved here:https://katebowler.com/everything-happens-for-a-reason-2/ Listen to Kate Bowler's podcast Everything Happens here:https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ Follow Kate Bowler on social media:https://www.facebook.com/katecbowler https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ https://twitter.com/katecbowlerKate Bowler on YouTubeKate Bowler on Goodreads

How do we deal with seasons of doubt? How do we wrestle with the big questions of suffering and pain within the context of God's never-ending love and come out with a firmer spiritual foundation and a stronger sense of God's grace and work in our lives? Can we even admit our doubt, and if so, is it productive to our lives as Christians?In this episode, Eddie and Chris are joined by Dominic Done, author, pastor, teacher, and founder of Pursuing Faith. Dominic has gone through his own seasons of doubt, and openly shares his journey in his most recent book, When Faith Fails: Finding God in the Shadow of Doubt. He believes that we can not only push through doubt and step into a deeper faith, but we can and should come along side others in their seasons of doubt and struggle. If we are honest with our pain and willing to open ourselves to the grace of Jesus Christ through community, we grow as followers of Jesus.Dominic earned his Master's Degree in theology from the University of Oxford and has served as a pastor in Oregon, North Carolina, and Hawaii. Dominic has also taught English for companies in Europe, lectured in theology and history at various Christian colleges, worked as a radio DJ, and lived as a missionary in Vanuatu and Mexico. He is currently the leader of Pursuing Faith, a ministry that equips Christians and church leaders to navigate issues of faith, doubt, and apologetics.Resources:Follow Dominic on social media:https://www.facebook.com/DominicFrancisDone https://www.instagram.com/dominicdone/ https://twitter.com/dominicdoneFind out more about Pursuing Faith:www.pursuingfaith.orgFind out more about When Faith Fails: https://www.pursuingfaith.org/whenfaithfails

Are you struggling with church? Do you have doubts and questions, but you aren't sure where to go to talk them through? Do you have friends or family members who have been hurt by the church, or who have wandered away from the church, or, maybe, who have never been in church?In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, priest in the Church of England and vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in central London since 2012. He served as the Dean of Duke Chapel and is the author of 35 books about Christian ethics, mission, ministry, scripture, liturgy, and preaching. Today's conversation is about his book, Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By. This book came out of Rev. Wells 2020 Easter sermon, which he preached in an empty garden during London's first COVID-19 lockdown. Humbler Faith, Bigger God is written for those who seek, those who have lapsed, those of other faiths, and those who are hostile to Christianity.As a preacher, Rev. Wells says that people tend to respond positively to his preaching because he doesn't skirt around the issues of the day. He doesn't hide Christianity's often difficult past, and he isn't afraid to have the hard conversations with believers, doubters, and nonbelievers, because he believes it's all about trust. “We can trust God, and because we can trust God, we can trust ourselves and one another.”Resources:Buy Humbler Faith, Bigger God on Amazon

You might need a snack for today's episode.We welcome Kendall Vanderslice, baker, author, and theologian to The Weight for a discussion about the intersection of food--specifically, bread--and worship. Kendall explores the dichotomy of the simplicity and complexity of making bread and how it connects to the simplicity and complexity of a life of faith.Kendall is the author of By Bread Alone: A Baker's Reflections on Hunger, Longing, and the Goodness of God. She is also the founder of the Edible Theology Project, a nonprofit that creates resources for churches, families, and individuals to help you connect the meal shared at the Communion table to other meals you share. She is a graduate of Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, a graduate of Boston University with a Masters of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy, and a graduate of Duke University with a Masters of Theological Studies.  In 2018, Kendall was named the James Beard Foundation National Scholar for her work on food and religion.Resources:Find Kendall on Facebook and InstagramListen to her podcast, Kitchen MeditationsLearn more about the Edible Theology ProjectFollow Edible Theology on InstagramPurchase By Bread Alone

The Weight might be on a brief summer break, but that doesn't mean you don't have anything to listen to! We've got five seasons of excellent conversations, and Eddie and Chris offer their recommendations for re-listening to a few from this season. (They also share some life updates and a little advice at the end.)We hope y'all have a wonderful summer, and we'll see you in August with all new episodes of The Weight. Resources:All of our episodes can be found at theweightpodcast.com, on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”--1 Corinthians 13.13This well-known, often quoted Bible verse is probably one you're familiar with. But today's guest, Dr. Luther Smith, wants to mix things up a little and get us to think like this: The greatest of these is hope.Dr. Luther Smith is Professor Emeritus of Church and Community at Candler University (and one of Chris's former professors). He earned his Ph.D. from Saint Lewis University and his Master's of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary. He has worked with, researched, and written extensively about civil rights leader and theologian Howard Thurman. His most recent book is Hope Is Here! Spiritual Practices for Pursuing Justice and Beloved Community.ResourcesBuy Hope Is Here!

No matter what your age is, you're probably caught up in the 24-hour news cycle, the internet, social media, and doom scrolling. You probably spend a lot of your day with a screen in front of you, and that affects us socially, emotionally, and mentally. Today's guest gives Eddie and Chris some insight into what the church can offer in our media-saturated world.Dr. Angela Patterson is media psychologist, writer, and researcher with Springtide Research Institute, nonpartisan nonprofit organization. She earned her doctorate in media psychology from Fielding, where she focused on how media and technology affect cultural institutions. Her research centers on the impact of digital media in adolescents and young adults, especially in regards to religious and spiritual development. Her work with Springtide Research focuses on 13- to 25-year-olds, to give them a voice and to help others learn from them and serve them as we all figure out what's next.Resources:Dr. Angela Patterson's websiteFollow her on InstagramSpringtide Research Institute's websiteFollow Springtide on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Dr. Scott Morris is a medical school graduate and an ordained United Methodist minister who believes that healing the sick is a vital part of the Christian faith, and he lives that belief out in a very real way in Memphis, Tennessee through Church Health. Church Health is a faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization that offers whole person, comprehensive health care to people facing social and economic difficulties. No one should go without critical healthcare because they can't afford it, and Scott has worked since 1985 to solve this injustice.Dr. Morris earned his Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and his Doctor of Medicine from Emory University. He is a board-certified family practice physician and an ordained United Methodist Minister. He is also the author of Care: How People of Faith Can Respond to Our Broken Health System.Resources:Learn more about Church Health, how to support it, or how to start a similar organization in your communityFollow Church Health on Facebook or InstagramOrder Dr. Morris's book, Care

Dr. Corneilus Plantinga has a few words to say about gratitude, and it may just change your life--physically, spiritually, and emotionally. A habit of gratitude can lower your blood pressure and help you sleep better. But the habit of gratitude also ties us together collectively, in community and in church. When there is genuine appreciation of an act of kindness or a loving word, the memory of that “thank you” is a cushion when disagreement tries to divide us. Gratitude for God's gifts reminds us daily that we can find something good, even in tough situations.A previous guest on The Weight, Dr. Plantinga is Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and president emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary. He also served as Dean of the Chapel at Calvin University. He is the author of many books, including his latest, Gratitude.Resources:Find Dr. Plantinga's books on AmazonListen Dr. Plantinga's previous conversation on The Weight

Dana Trent is an author, professor, and preschool drug dealer, and now she's part of the three-timers club on The Weight. She talks to Eddie and Chris about her new book, Between Two Trailers, how to live in the present with a past that continues to live with you, what it means to go home when you feel like you can't, and how important personal connections are when you're trying to work through trauma.Dana is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and an assistant professor in the Humanities Department at Wake Tech Community College. She is also an ordained Baptist minister who served as a hospital chaplain, where she accompanied individuals and their families through the passage from life to death. Her new book, Between Two Trailers, is a memoir about growing up the daughter of a drug dealing father and a mentally ill mother. Dana is open and candid about the trauma of her past, and she offers us all insight and hope for finding peace and empathy when your world has fractured.Resources:Dana's previous episodes on The Weight: Breaking Good and Death, Dessert, and PaperworkBuy Between Two TrailersFollow Dana on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTokListen to Breaking Good

What can the writings, speeches, and actions of historical figures teach us? How do we actually learn from them, instead of merely idolizing and romanticizing them? Dr. Danjuma Gibson gives us some clarity on that often difficult task, with his newest book, Through the Eyes of Titans.Dr. Gibson is professor of pastoral theology, care, and counseling at Calvin Theological Seminary. He is a licensed, practicing psychotherapist, and served for 16 years as the senior pastor of a church in Chicago. Through the Eyes of Titans takes the lives of four people crucial to the civil rights movement--Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Benjamin Mays, and Martin Luther King, Jr.--and offers their experiences as a way for us to really live into our own stories. These four people, despite their incredible accomplishments, were normal people. They weren't superhuman or superheroes, even though we often think about them in those terms. They were normal people who grasped onto the imagination of living into a better world, despite their circumstances, and they used that imagination to propel them forward, even through moments of terror. Dr. Gibson talks Eddie and Chris through this process, and offers each of us something difficult and profound to think about: “We just can't sit back and think about courage. How can we become more courageous in our own environment? You have to go towards that thing that you fear.”Resources:Buy Through the Eyes of Titans

If you're not hungry at the start of this episode, you probably will be by the end. And you'll probably want to run down to Jackson, Mississippi to eat at Elvie's.Hunter Evans is the owner of Elvie's that serves seasonal dishes and highlights ingredients from local farmers. For Hunter, owning a restaurant is first about hospitality. He focuses on making connections with his patrons, and is a champion of a city in Mississippi that often gets overlooked or looked down on. He also focuses on the wellbeing of his staff, because he believes that if he's asking his staff to take care of others, they have to be taken care of first.He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and the Culinary Institute of America and has worked with acclaimed chefs like John Currence and in the kitchens of New York restaurants Le Bernardin, Cafe Boulud, and Daniel.Resources:Elvie's websiteElvie's Instagram

Living into a consistent ethic of life is central to the work of Kim Daniels. For Kim, that means living into a life that expands our moral imagination and puts the lives of other people front and center to whatever decision is being made, at every level in society. It means seeing people as the image of God, no matter their circumstances. It means looking out for the people on the edges, and bringing us all together to build a world that actively cares about those on the margins.Kim is the director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown Univeristy, where is is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. She is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School. In 2016, Kim was appointed by Pope Francis as a Member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication. She was appointed as a member of the Synod 2021-2024 Communications Commission.

“Politics is an essential forum in which we can love our neighbors.”Michael Wear reminds us that Christians are called to love, love of God and love of neighbor. And if you are a Christian in politics, when you go into the political sphere, what are you doing? What is the orientation of your heart? This question is for everyone to answer, not just politicians. Are you using the vast resources of the Christian tradition—scriptures, history, theology—to guide your decision making? Are you acting out of a spirit of loving service as Jesus did?Michael is the Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution which seeks to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life and for the public good. He has worked as a White House and presidential campaign staffer and as an advisor for a range of civic leaders on matters of faith and public life.He is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life and Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America.Resources:Learn more about Michael at his website, michaelwear.comLearn more about the Center for Christianity and Public LifeFollow Michael on Facebook and InstagramListen to his podcast, Wear We Are, on Spotify or Apple PodcastsBuy his books on Amazon

Shownotes:In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity's Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity's groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity's Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God's promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe's insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.Check out Kavin Rowe's book Christianity's Surprise here:https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/ Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe

Humility. Through. This episode hangs on those two words, and how they relate to Christianity today. Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, wrote the book on humility, The Hidden Peace. He explains that true, Christian humility--living out the humble life of Jesus--will bring us to God who will get us through the hurts, the hard times, and the exhaustion of life today. We find peace in humility, in that awareness that the Lord is with us always. And knowing that God is with us means God will walk through every broken moment with us.Joel earned his PhD in Theology under the guidance of Dr. Patrick Schreiner and Dr. Michael Heiser. He serves on the preaching team at Transformation Church with Derwin Gray. He writes, studies, and teaches about scripture and theology and how they go hand-in-hand with our every day, busy lives. Resources:Joel's websiteFollow Joel on Facebook and InstagramProverbs 31 MinistriesBuy The Hidden Peace