This Good Word With Steve Wiens

In this episode, I explain why I believe deconstruction and reconstruction are a healthy part of human development, how we see many examples of deconstruction and reconstruction in the bible, and why it's essential for human flourishing. Enjoy! 

Are humans born with "original sin" or "original blessing?" How you understand where you come from (your origin story) drastically affects how you see yourself and the world around you. In this episode, I talk about where the doctrine of original sin came from and how it affects those who ascribe to it. Enjoy! 

How do you perceive reality? Is life basically a system of scarcity, where it's all up to you to crank it up, make it happen, and dig deep? Or is life energized by a ground of being that keeps sending gift after gift to each one of us? How you perceive reality deeply affects your experience of reality. 

Reverend Elizabeth Hagan is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, a multi-published author, and has been a pastor for 15 years. She saw the isolation, loneliness, and shame that remains unspoken when Christians shy away from difficult conversations on taboo topics. Elizabeth knew that the church could do better to foster a sense of acceptance and belonging. So she wrote Brave Church to open the door to the presence of God in difficult conversations. You can follow Elizabeth's work on her website, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Tyler Sit is a pastor, author, and church planter of New City Church in South Minneapolis, a multi-racial church focused on environmental justice and centering marginalized voices. Tyler's new book, Staying Awake: The Gospel for Change Makers, is a practical exploration of Christianity for people who want to show up for justice and stay in the movement. Complete with stories, worksheets, poetry, and a commitment to centering queer people of color, this book is here to support you in staying awake: to God, to the evils of oppression, and to the world’s coming liberation.

Winn Collier just released A Burning in My Bones, the authorized biography of Pastor and author Eugene Peterson. It's a brilliantly written book about a centered pastor during a time when many pastors succumbed to a consumer-driven philosophy about church and spiritual development. Winn's spirit is gentle and his voice grounded me. We recorded this conversation during the week that Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer here in Minneapolis, and also just before the Derek Chauvin verdict was read, so I was scattered. Still, we had a robust conversation about what we both loved about Eugene Peterson. Enjoy. 

Kevin Butcher is a dear friend of mine, and I loved this conversation. He just can't stop talking about God's expansive love, and I can't get enough of it.  He was a Pastor for thirty-five years, but now he's the Founder and Executive Director of Rooted Ministries, a nonprofit that comes alongside isolated, wounded, discouraged pastors and their families.  His brand new book is called Free: Rescued from Shame-Based Religion, Released into the Life-Giving Love of Jesus. I'd encourage you to pick it up today wherever you like to buy books. But if you order by clicking this link, you'll be supporting my favorite small bookstore, Hearts & Minds, owned and operated by Byron & Beth Borger. Just fill out the title and the author on their order page (it's easy) and they'll get it to you asap. 

Kurt Willems is the founder and pastor of Pangea Church in Seattle, Washington. Also a writer, blogger, podcaster and speaker, he maintains the resource website Theology Curator and hosts the Theology Curator podcast. Kurt is passionate about taking dense ideas and communicating them in ways that are empowering for people in all walks of life. He holds a master of divinity degree from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and a master's degree in comparative religion from the University of Washington. His wife, Lauren, is a special education teacher. They have two young daughters. Check out his brand new book, Echoing Hope: How the Humanity of Jesus Redeems our Pain. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Sarah Bessey is the author of the popular and critically acclaimed books Jesus Feminist, Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith, and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things. Her brand new book is a collection of meditations entitled A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Prayers for Renewal. She is a sought-after speaker at churches, conferences, and universities all around the world. Sarah is also the co-curator and co-host of the annual Evolving Faith Conference and she serves as president of the board for Heartline Ministries in Haiti. Sarah lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, with her husband and their four children.

3000 Miles to Jesus follows the adventurous journey of three pilgrims who set off for Jerusalem in the 1400s. We’re invited to grab our staff and scrip and come along. Walking with these travelers of old, we hear their stories, gain nuggets of wisdom, and learn an important spiritual truth: all of life is a pilgrimage. The book draws on the rich history of the Christian faith to encourage us on our daily and lifelong walk with God. Author Lisa Deam writes of her inspiration for this book: “I discovered that in their travels, medieval pilgrims displayed qualities I wanted to emulate. They were patient. Faithful. Courageous. And inefficient—gloriously so. Pilgrims were in it for the long haul, risking everything to take a journey of faith. The conviction that drove them is one to which I daily aspire.”  You can follow Lisa on her website, on Twitter, and on The Contemplative Writer. You can find out more about her book 3,000 Miles to Jesus here.

Greg Paul is a pastor and member, as well as the founder, of the Sanctuary community in Toronto. Sanctuary, a community in which people who are wealthy and people who are poor live, work, and share their experiences and resources on a daily basis, makes a priority of welcoming and caring for some of the most hurting and excluded people in Canada’s largest city, including people struggling with addiction, mental illness, prostitution, and homelessness. Greg is the author of the recently released Resurrecting Religion and several other award-winning books: Simply Open; Close Enough to Hear God Breathe; The Twenty-Piece Shuffle; and God In The Alley. His newest book, Queer Prophets, was released late fall 2020. He is the father of four children and married to Maggie, who has three children of her own. They have three grandchildren.

This is the second part of a two-part series that I created to help people engage in life as it really is, rather than life as we'd prefer it to be. Most of us are well aware of the things we'd like to change in our lives: maybe it's a number on a scale, or something about our job, or how we function in a relationship... come to think of it, what DON'T we want to change in 2020? In part 1, I talked about the importance of sitting in the discomfort of WHY we want those things to change before rushing to change them. Otherwise, we're just trading one type of discontent for another. In part 2, I talk about setting an intention to live life as it really is, and then naming the things you need to pursue in order to live well from that place of tension. Enjoy! 

Most of us are well aware of the things we'd like to change in our lives: maybe it's a number on a scale, or something about our job, or how we function in a relationship... come to think of it, what DON'T we want to change in 2020? In this episode, I talk about the importance of sitting in the discomfort of WHY we want those things to change before rushing to change them. Otherwise, we're just trading one type of discontent for another. We need to start to see our actual lives - as they really are right now, not as we want them to be - as the curriculum we need for becoming who we really are. Enjoy.

Scott Erickson is a painter, artist, and author of several books, including Honest Advent. We had a wide-ranging conversation about Advent, his creative process, and how his faith has evolved over time. Enjoy! 

Is it possible to hold strong opinions and beliefs AND learn to express them without alienating and dehumanizing those who disagree with you? Can you really engage and have a robust conversation where you disagree without getting triggered and traumatized?  In this episode, I introduce four practices that will help you learn to engage in tough conversations with grace and passion and leave conversations feeling energized instead of defeated and angry.  Enjoy. 

I met Latifah Alattas last year when we started collaborating on a new project (The Fun Parts Podcast). I was immediately drawn to her creativity, her infectious laughter, and her commitment to honesty. She's a singer/songwriter who has written under many different monikers, including Moda Spira and Page CXVI.  Latifah just released a new album called All (as Page CXVI). It's gorgeous, including old hymns she's rewritten to have gender-inclusive language and also some incredible original songs.  You can check out Latifah's work at ModaSpira.com and PageCXVI.com,  and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  Enjoy! 

I loved this conversation! Rebecca Bowers is an LGBTQIA affirming and inclusive therapist and advocate, living in southern Louisiana. She primarily works with clients who have gone through spiritual and religious trauma. She sees many clients who have experienced these specific traumas and works to help them reconcile and recover.   Trigger warning: We talked a lot about the kinds of trauma that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience from religious institutions and how to move toward healing.   Resources from Rebecca:   Disclaimer: Each resource may not be right for each person. If something does not rest well within your body or your mind, then leave it for now. You do not have to agree with what is on the screen. Before diving into resources, tell a friend what you are thinking and ask for their support. If you have a therapist, send them an email and tell them you may need to unpack some of what you read in your next session. I highly recommend therapy, but therapy may not be right for you- do the best you can for yourself, and always try to offer kindness towards yourself. https://mywellbeing.com/ask-a-therapist//everything-you-need-to-know-about-religious-trauma https://ptsdacademy.com/category/ptsd-training/ptsd-resources-trauma-survivors/ https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/January-2020/5-Reminders-for-Survivors-of-Traumahttps://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/10-requests-for-church-leaders-from-a-sexual-abuse-survivor/

I recorded this episode based on a blog post I wrote a few years ago when the Me Too movement was just getting started. The blog was titled "An Ode to the Women Who are Too Much." We need to hear those voices, to hear their stories, and to stop telling women they are too much.  Click here to read "An Ode to the Women Who are Too Much." I also mentioned Sue Monk Kidd's gorgeous new book, The Book of Longings. It's an imaginative story centered on the question, "What if Jesus had a wife?" The main character is Ana, the wife of Jesus, who had a voice that needed to be heard. And, as Sue Monk Kidd suggests in the Author's Note at the end of the book: if any woman's voice would have been silenced, if Jesus did have a wife, it certainly would have been hers. So, to the women who are "too much:" We need you. The song Bang (from the album Divorce by Moda Spira - a.k.a my friend Latifah Alattas) was used by permission. 

Megan Westra is the host of a great podcast called The Podluck, and she's the author of a fantastic new book called Born Again and Again, which chronicles her evolving faith. Our conversation went everywhere from her super-conservative upbringing in the Southern Baptist Church to the questions she's currently still wrestling with. Click here to buy Megan's new book, Born Again and Again.  Find out more about Megan by visiting her website - and make sure to follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Why is it that most of us listen to everybody else but neglect our own inner wisdom? Why don't we trust that voice? Is the heart (as the bible claims), really "deceitful above all things?" In this episode, I talk about how to learn to listen for your inner wisdom, how you can borrow true wisdom from others in order to find your own inner wisdom, and what we can learn about inner wisdom from a bizarre story called the 18th camel. Enjoy! 

Why do we get so triggered by Facebook posts with which we disagree? Why can't we just smile and move on? This episode deals with the idea of dualism, and how our brains are still hardwired to keep us safe from sabertooth tigers hiding behind the blueberry bush even when they aren't there. It also explores a mindful practice that can help you to move on more quickly by detaching yourself - and your identity - from your feelings.  Also mentioned in this episode: Fun Parts Podcast! Check out the trailer for this brand new podcast that explores the relationship between sexuality and spirituality.  

Gena Thomas advocates for families who have been separated at the border. In this conversation, we talked about Gena's experience adopting Julia, a child who had been separated from her family at the border between the US & Mexico, and also about how she worked tirelessly to find Julia's mother, Guadalupe, so they could be reunited. You can read all about Gena's story in her book, Separated by the Border.   You can follow Gena on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and find out more about her work at www.genathomas.com Also mentioned in this episode:  Kids in Need of Defense Bethany Christian Services  In the Country We Love

I recorded this interview with Austin Channing Brown in July of 2018, but it's incredibly poignant given the events of the last few weeks, with the killing of George Floyd, the global protest, and the overwhelming call for systemic change. Please consider buying her book (which is currently #15 on the NYT Bestseller list): I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. 

Jessica Kantrowitz is a writer and theologian living in Boston, Massachusetts. She writes about theology, culture, social justice, and chronic illness, including her own struggles with depression and migraines. Her writing has been featured in places like Sojourners, Think Christian, The Good Men Project, and Our Bible App. She earned her MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.   You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and you can purchase her new book, The Long Night: Readings and Stories to Help You Through Depression here.   

Click here to buy my new book, Shining Like the Sun: Seven Mindful Practices for Rekindling Your Faith.   

We live in a multi-faith society which often results in misinformation, ignorance, disagreements, hate speech, violence, and even wars. What the Faith is a new community born out of a desire for empathy rather than division. To find commonality in the midst of chaos. To find out more about What the Faith, check out this episode's show notes. 

Bronwyn Lea is the author of Beyond Awkward Side Hugs: Living as Brothers and Sisters in Christ in a Sex-Crazed World. Find out more about Bronwyn and her book by visiting this episode's show notes! 

It's been almost a year since we lost our friend Rachel Held Evans. In fact, she was supposed to come out of her medically induced coma on Easter Sunday, 2019. Just two weeks after that, we lost her. I had the incredible opportunity to have a conversation with Amanda Held Opelt, Rachel's sister, about her journey of grief, the hope she's holding onto these days, and her renewed view about what resurrection means.  Her words were powerful and inspiring; I hope you enjoy this conversation. 

A custom of our Christian tradition is to keep vigil with Christ at different times and in different ways during Holy Week. One of the places from which we draw this custom is Jesus’ request to his disciples to keep watch while he prayed and agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also know that there were those few—including Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ mother Mary, and the apostle John—who stayed near the cross and kept watch as Jesus suffered and died. Despite the horror of what was taking place, those most intimate with Jesus stayed with him to the end. Walking and praying through the stations of the cross is one way we can keep vigil with Christ during these holy days. Traditionally, there are fourteen Stations of the Cross—most of them taken directly from Scripture, along with a few that have been passed down in Christian tradition. This episode is based on An Invitation to Walk with Christ: Stations of the Cross Prayer Guide by Ruth Haley Barton.  Exploring Further:Transforming Resources; Lent ResourcesTransforming CommunityRuth Haley Barton Music Credit:Lead me to Calvary performed by Don Moen, from the album Hymns of HopeWere you There, performed by The Vigil Project (featuring Andrea Thomas), from the album  Vigil, Series 1When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, performed by Sandra McCracken, from the album She Reads Truth: Hymns

You know when you meet someone for the first time and find yourself agreeing with almost everything they say? That was how my entire conversation with Jerome Daley went. His emphasis on soul-care, on finding sane rhythms for your life, and on the contemplative journey was all water for my parched soul these days.  For more, check out his amazing book, Gravitas: The Monastic Rhythms of Healthy Leadership. Jerome Daley is an executive coach, retreat leader, and conflict consultant who is passionate about helping leaders thrive...and build thriving organizational cultures. With over 20 years in people development, he strengthens leaders in the journey toward true identity and vocational calling. Making his home in the mountains of North Carolina, he and his wife Kellie are parents of three grown children. His great delights are taking spiritual retreats, drinking good wine, backpacking in the mountains, and playing with his grandson. More at www.Thrive9solutions.com.

Colby Martin (author of Unclobber: Rethinking our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality) is about to release another book, titled The Shift: Surviving and Thriving after Moving from Conservative to Progressive Christianity. Colby is passionate about carving out a space within Christianity that includes: a whole-heartedly affirming posture toward LGBTQ individuals, a broader acceptance of other spiritual practices and religious perspectives, an agreeableness toward science, and a commitment to always growing, transforming, and trusting that the best days are yet to come. Colby is currently partnering with other progressive Christian churches as a co-director for Launchpad Partners Inc, an organization committed to planting and resourcing similar faith communities all across the country. You can follow Colby on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and find out more about his work on colbymartinonline.com

If feelings of fear and anxiety are threatening to sweep you away right now, there is a way to pray that allows you to name your feelings - as big as they are, to welcome reality as it is rather than fighting it, so that you can let those feelings go and find peace even in the midst of the storm.  In this brief episode, I guide you through how to welcome any feeling you have, as big as it is, feeling it in your body so that you can eventually move through it and let it go. Using The Welcoming Prayer (originally written by Mary Mrozowski but adapted and widely spread by Fr. Thomas Keating), I teach the three movements of this kind of prayer: (1) Focus/sink in; (2) Welcome; (3) Let go.  I hope this method of guided prayer will help you to find a sense of calm and peace even in the midst of so much uncertainty.  Grace and peace, my friends.    Links: You can read more about Father Thomas Keating and the Welcoming Prayer here.  Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com My new book, Shining Like the Sun: Seven Mindful Practices for Rekindling Your Faith, can be purchased here.

As the world struggles to come to terms with a new reality in the midst of a global pandemic, we are coming to terms with the reality that we're not as in control of life as we thought we were. In this episode, I share five practices for learning how to welcome reality - even when it's awful, scary, and painful - instead of fighting to try to control it. Music on today's episode is courtesy of audionautix.com.

The following excerpt describes the journey that Dr. Christy Vidrine Bauman took that resulted in writing her fabulous book, Theology of the Womb: "If it is true that God is a male, then His Divinity or Deity is expressed in His masculinity. Yet I am a woman, and there are parts of my body; such as my breasts, my vagina, and my womb that are telling a story about God that I have never learned or understood. This is an exploration of the significance of a womb that must shed and bleed before it can create. How will we engage our body which cyclically bleeds most of our life and can build and birth a human soul? How will we honor the living womb, that lives and sometimes dies within us?"Theology of the Womb is a book about the theology found in the cycle of the womb, which births both life and death. Every day each one of us is invited to create, and every day we make a decision knowing that from our creation can come death or life. Women’s voices have been silenced for a long time as society and the church has quieted their bodies. Will we courageously choose to listen to the sound of your voice, the song of your womb, and speak for the world to hear? I talked to Christy all about this book, her ideas behind a robust theology of the womb, and about her hopes for those who read it. I can't wait for you to listen to this conversation.  Mentioned in this episode: A Litany to Honor Women is from The Book of Common Prayer Visit Christy's website to find out more about Story-Voice consulting.  *** Dr. Christy Vidrine Bauman is the author of three books: Theology of the Womb, A Brave Lament, and Coming Home. She is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and professor who focuses on the female body, sexuality, and theology. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Andrew and three kids: Wilder, Selah, and River. 

Maybe you haven't heard of Ali Hormann yet, but that's all about to change. She's a wedding photographer, pastor, comedian, mother of three, and writer who believes nobody has to be pigeon-holed into identifying as just one thing. We talked about body image, theology, comedy, parenting, pastoring, politics, and we could have talked for about sixteen more hours. Ali is hilarious and deep, and I loved this conversation. Check out Ali's photography business on her website or on Instagram. Follow Ali on Twitter and Instagram.   And if you live in Minnesota, make sure to check out one of Ali's comedy shows - she'll be at Rick Bronson's House of Comedy at the Mall of American on March 22nd and 24th.  AND - this is the last call for anyone who'd like to join the launch team for my new book, Shining Like the Sun. Click here to apply to be on the launch team (deadline is March 1st). 

In this episode, I did two readings from my new book, Shining Like the Sun: Seven Mindful Practices for Rekdindling Your Faith, which releases on April 7th. I can't wait for you to listen to these excerpts and also to get your hands on your own copy. Click here to pre-order Shining Like the Sun.  I also invited listeners to consider joining my launch team. The first 50 people to join the launch team will receive a final copy of Shining Like the Sun as soon as my publisher receives it in the warehouse, weeks before it is released to the public. Everyone on the launch team will get access to a pdf of the book, as well as access to a private Facebook Group in which I'll host several book readings and also lead a discussion on the contents of several chapters.  I hope you'll consider joining my launch team. Thanks so much! 

This is part 3 of a four-part series called "Surviving Your Own Copernican Shift." If you're going through a faith deconstruction - or reconstruction - or both, you need help understanding a framework for spiritual development that allows questioning, expanding, and believing new things. Part One was about understanding that disruptions are the first step of growing spiritually. Part Two was about learning how to see the invitations into new beliefs that disruptions bring. Part Three is about seeing your belief system as a snow globe - you need to get outside of it to see its limitations and also what you're missing.  Enjoy! 

Joanna Luehmann is a Latinx pastor and theologian who took to Twitter on Sunday night and Monday following the Superbowl to give a different perspective to the halftime show to anyone who thought it was oversexualized. She graciously agreed to talk to me with virtually zero time to prepare, and what she offered was a beautiful, challenging and timely critique to Progressive Christians like me who need to spend a little more time seeing how our own implicit biases cloud our vision. Please take some time to listen to Joanna's insightful invitation into a decolonized way of seeing the world.  You can follow Joanna Luehmann on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Patreon.  Enjoy. 

Until the early 1500's, everybody assumed planet earth was the fixed, immovable center of the universe, the reference point for the entire universe (apparently it didn't occur to anybody how utterly convenient that was for those of us who lived there). When Copernicus discovered the earth was also orbiting around the sun, nothing actually changed - except how we see everything.  This episode (disruption) is part one of a four-part series on the essential movements when you have your own Copernican shift, whether it's about religion or science or a relationship. Nobody likes life as we know it to be interrupted, but without disruption, we'd never expand how we think so we can see differently. Enjoy. 

Andrew Bauman is the Co-Founder and Director of Christian Counseling Center: For Sexual Health and Trauma. He's a licensed mental health counselor with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. He's also the author of several books, including Floating Away, Stumbling Toward Wholeness, The Psychology of Porn, and A Brave Lament (with Christy Bauman).  We had a fascinating conversation about why it seems so easy for Christians to see themselves as hopeless sinners, but how hard it is to see themselves as good & glorious. We talked about why we use self-contempt and shame as a way to try to crucify ourselves because we don't really believe (even though we say we do) the work of Christ is enough.  I can't wait for you to listen.  You can get in touch with Andrew and the many resources he provides by visiting his website, and you can also check out his work at the Christian Counseling Center: For Sexual Health and Trauma. Other resources mentioned in this episode:  A Brave Lament (Documentary) Theology of the Womb: Knowing God Through the Body of a Woman by Christy Angelle Bauman   

Seth Haines is one of those friends that makes me want to pursue things that really matter. His new book is vintage Seth Haines: poignant, at times snarky, and pure gold throughout, The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the Divine Love That Reorders a Life is a beautiful call to attach yourself to a love that satisfies deep down. This is how Seth describes his new work:  I wrote The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the Divine Love That Reorders a Life for those who want to wake from their coping mechanisms, attachments, and addiction and wake to the Divine Love that brings true, inner sobriety. Grab a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Bookish (my favorite independent book seller)*. Then, as you read, come back here to check out the library of books that influenced The Book of Waking Up. (And don’t forget to check out my award-winning book, Coming Clean: A Story of Faith.) *Reminder: Consider supporting your indie booksellers. You can follow Seth on Twitter, Instagram, and on his website. 

I met Aundi Kolber at the Festival for Faith and Writing in 2018, and she’s been a friend ever since. This is Aundi’s second time on the podcast, and this is how she describes herself: I am a deep thinker and deep feeler. Sometimes I get bored with small talk. I love stories, people, counseling, theology and my precious family. I find myself constantly amazed by God’s faithfulness in my life. I write, think, and chew on this often. I believe that Jesus is my ultimate hope and healer. I am a licensed professional counselor in Castle Rock, CO and attended Denver Seminary for my graduate education. I am married to the love of my life and have a daughter and son who are the joy of my heart. My hope for this blog is to create a space to dig into hard, funny, and imperfect things. My work has been featured on Relevant, CT Women, The Huffington Post, The Mudroom, Happy Sonship and Circling the Story. If you enjoyed my conversation with Aundi, check out her website, follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and you can buy her brand new book, Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy. Click here to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, Finding God After Losing Faith.

For Stephanie Tait, pain has never existed on a spectrum opposite of joy. Pain, with the way it weaves into our lives, families, and work habits, has been the connecting point of grace and struggle that defines her career. As an author, speaker, disability advocate, and trauma survivor, Stephanie aims to do what she believes is sorely lacking in our trending conversations around Christianity – to partner sound theology and practice with the unashamed acceptance of struggle in the present tense. She aims to create space for the reality of suffering, as well as practical tools and experience for its management, in the center of our faith ethic, our communities, and our joy. Our conversation centered around the themes of her new book, The View From Rock Bottom, and also about the subtle ways most of us buy into a kind of prosperity gospel, even though we may not realize it. Visit Stephanie’s website or follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Buy The View from Rock Bottom here. Click here to sign up for my weekly newsletter, Finding God After Losing Faith.

So many of us begin thinking about resolutions or "words for the year" as we wrap up one year and head into the next. One of the things that I'm going to be especially intentional about in 2020 is being rigorously honest about what I say I believe. You may not believe this, but there are many times when I simply nod along, agreeing with what I should agree with, while internally I am feeling angsty. So, I'm committing to doing the work of being kind and compassionate, while also refusing to simply go along with something I don't really believe in.  For some reason, when I get a bee in my bonnet like this, it actually helps me to create something related to what I'm wanting in my own life so that other people can be on the journey with me. So, I'm creating a new weekly resource called Finding God After Losing Faith. Like I described on this episode, this weekly email will be designed to help people to keep searching for God even after a certain belief system - or religious system - has stopped working for them. Each week I'll share the best and most inspiring resources I'm finding that's helping me as my own faith evolves.  This resource will be totally free, but it will only be available to my weekly email subscribers. You can subscribe by clicking here. 

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church calendar, and it's a season of naming our deepest longings, those places in our lives where everything feels shrouded in darkness and hopelessness. It's a season to ask for light to come into those places, for Christ to come into those places. It's a season to practice waiting for the impossible to become possible.  My conversation is with Ruth Haley Barton, a dear friend and the Director of the Transforming Center in Chicago, Illinois.  The music on this episode is by Page CXVI (used by permission) from their album Advent to Christmas. 

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church calendar, and it's a season of naming our deepest longings, those places in our lives where everything feels shrouded in darkness and hopelessness. It's a season to ask for light to come into those places, for Christ to come into those places. It's a season to practice waiting for the impossible to become possible.  My conversation is with Ruth Haley Barton, a dear friend and the Director of the Transforming Center in Chicago, Illinois.  The music on this episode is by Page CXVI (used by permission) from their album Advent to Christmas. 

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church calendar, and it's a season of naming our deepest longings, those places in our lives where everything feels shrouded in darkness and hopelessness. It's a season to ask for light to come into those places, for Christ to come into those places. It's a season to practice waiting for the impossible to become possible.  My conversation is with Ruth Haley Barton, a dear friend and the Director of the Transforming Center in Chicago, Illinois.  The music on this episode is by Page CXVI (used by permission) from their album Advent to Christmas. 

The season of Advent marks the beginning of the church calendar, and it's a season of naming our deepest longings, those places in our lives where everything feels shrouded in darkness and hopelessness. It's a season to ask for light to come into those places, for Christ to come into those places. It's a season to practice waiting for the impossible to become possible.  My conversation is with Ruth Haley Barton, a dear friend and the Director of the Transforming Center in Chicago, Illinois.  The music on this episode is by Page CXVI (used by permission) from their album Advent to Christmas. 

Last week (episode 206), I had such a great conversation with Jennifer Dawn Watts that we immediately scheduled a time for her to interview me. I found myself reflecting on some of the things she asked me - and some of the surprising ways I answered - days after we talked. I hope you enjoy our conversation. 

Jennifer Dawn Watts is the Founder and CEO of Living Well Counselling Services, with two locations in Calgary Alberta offering services in person and worldwide via telephone and online AND she's one of my favorite new friends. We could have talked for hours!!!! For more about Jenn, make sure to check out the Show Notes!     

Have you ever felt like someone was committed to misunderstanding you? What do you with that? Most of us stay in those kinds of conversations for far longer than we should. In this episode, I share what I think is happening with the person who is committed to misunderstanding you, and what you can do about it.