Podcast appearances and mentions of christian spirituality

This episode explores the twenty-eighth saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways."View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode, prophet teaches on spiritual hunger under which expounds on the four kinds of appetite as well as the twokinds of hunger.Kindly listen and be blessed.

This edition of the Tao of Christ is a little different. For one thing it is shorter than usual. Also I am taking a break from the Gospel of Thomas. I will get back to it in a week or so. Today I am reading my blog post for today. I have a blog that I publish once or twice a week called Spiritual Reflections by Marshall Davis. Normally it is just in a written format, but today I thought I would record it in an audio format as well. If you are interested in subscribing to my blog you can find my blog here:https://spiritualreflections.substack.com/View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

jchasedavis.comSupport the show!! - https://www.patreon.com/chasedavisFarmer Bill Provisions - https://farmerbillsprovisions.com/ - code FULLPROOF 20%Legacy Profits Club - https://www.skool.com/legacyprofitsclub/about?ref=1b0c2acb5f0d4781be13ed56801c8fbbGo to ionlayer.com and use code FPT to get $100 off your first kit. “The Next Rob Bell: A Review of John Mark Comer's “Practicing the Way”” - https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/the-next-rob-bell-a-review-of-john-mark-comers-practicing-the-way/https://x.com/tyler_austin55/status/1942243205010862449SummaryIn this episode, Chase Davis and Tyler Cox discuss John Mark Comer's book 'Practicing the Way' and its implications for contemporary Christianity. They explore Comer's approach to spiritual formation, the concept of apprenticeship with Jesus, and the emergent church movement. The conversation critiques Comer's reinterpretation of evangelism and the role of the church, emphasizing the need for a balanced understanding of Christian doctrine and practice.Support the showSign up for the Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/chasedavisFollow Full Proof Theology on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fullprooftheology/Follow Full Proof Theology on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fullprooftheology/

In this inspiring message, guest speaker Michael Rondon takes a break from the regular series to dive into Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount. Michael explores the Beatitudes, unpacking the eight blessings that Jesus presents as a roadmap to a fulfilled life, emphasizing a desperate dependence on Christ and a heart for Scripture. He challenges the congregation to live as "salt" and "light" in the world—called to be rare, precious, and impactful in Jesus' name, influencing their communities without being diluted by cultural values. Michael encourages believers to embrace kingdom values over worldly virtues, pursue intimacy with God, and return to Matthew 5-7 annually for spiritual renewal. Join us for a compelling call to live boldly and sacrificially for Christ, starting where you live, work, and serve.Watch all our sermons on our YouTube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

In this episode, prophet teaches on the seven dimensions of sacrifice as well as the law of life force, vibrations, & energy.Kindly listen and be blessed

This episode is on the 27th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. It is actually two sayings. One is about finding the Kingdom of God. The other is about seeing the Father. These are both ways of talking about spiritual awakening. He talks about this in the context of the spiritual disciplines of fasting and Sabbath. The first is about true fasting. The second is about true Sabbath-keeping.It reads: "If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the Kingdom. If you do not observe the sabbath as a sabbath you will not see the Father." I understand these sayings as talking about space and time – spacetime - from a nondual perspective. In other words the world is not what you think it is. View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

07/11/2025 - Joshua Spatha -calling the church back to authentic Christian spirituality

In this episode, prophet teaches on sacrifice and the benefits of sacrifice under his teaching on the 7 pillars of christian spirituality.Kindly listen and be blessed

Is society producing more narcissists, or producing more people susceptible to abuse by narcissists? How has narcissism evolved in our internet age?In this episode, we explore the evolving nature of narcissism in the internet age and its impact on church communities. We discuss the shift from authority-based to algorithm-based influence, the rise of performative narcissism, and the attack on empathy.Our guest is Dr. Chuck DeGroat, the Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI.  He is also a licensed and practicing therapist, a spiritual director, author of five books, his newest book, Healing What's Within. He also wrote When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse.Join the launch team for Landscapes of the Soul by filling out this form (hit the title to buy the book). We need you to propel this book forward. Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

This episode is on saying 26 in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "You see the sliver in your friend's eye, but you don't see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend's eye."This saying in the Gospel of Thomas has a famous parallel in the Gospel of Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”The differences between the canonical and noncanonical versions are few but important. They are the difference between duality and nonduality.View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

This episode examines the 25th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "Love others like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye.” Among other aspects, it explores how love of others guides social and national morality from a nondual perspective.View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode, Joel and Rhys talk with returning guest Fr Greg Peters about his most recent book, Anglican Spirituality: An Introduction. The discussion covers the three-fold Rule articulated by Martin Thornton, its relation to mission, the value of poetry in theology and spirituality, and more. Other books by Fr Greg include The Monkhood of All Believers: The Monastic Foundation of Christian Spirituality, Thomas à Kempis: His Life and Spiritual Theology, and The Story of Monasticism: Retrieving an Ancient Tradition for Contemporary Spirituality.You can email us at holycofe@gmail.com or follow us on X at @holycofe1.

In this episode, prophet continues to teach on the second pillar, spiritual laws , under which he teaches on the law of separation and consecration.Kindly listen and be blessed.

In this episode,prophet continues to teach on the second pillar of Christian Spirituality which is Spiritual Laws Kindly listen and be blessed.

This episode explores the 24th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. His disciples said, "Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it." He said to them, "Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark."This saying is about the spiritual search for the Eternal Christ. Jesus disciples say to him, "Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it.” In answering their inquiry Jesus directs them to what the Quakers call the Inner Light. View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode, Prophet continues to teach on the second pillar: spiritual Laws under which he continues to teach on the spiritual laws that the believer must operate in.Kindly listen and be blessed.

This episode covers the twenty-third saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus says: "I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one." Here is a slightly different translation: "I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and you shall stand as a single one." This verse deals with the rarity of spiritual awakening and the nature of spiritual awakening. In discussing the nature of awakening I will explore the three spiritual stages of life leading to awakening.  View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

What comes to mind when you hear “Holy Spirit”? For some of us, it's confusion, baggage, or maybe just silence. We've either over-sensationalized it or under-taught it. But what if we've missed the depth and presence of the Spirit because we've skipped the beginning of the story? In this conversation, I talk with Margaret Feinberg about rediscovering the Holy Spirit - not just in Acts 2, but from the very beginning, hovering over the chaos in Genesis. Margaret invites us to see the Spirit not as some vague force that shows up only in ecstatic moments, but as a deeply personal, present, creative force that's always been at work - in beauty, in community, in dreams, in discernment, in the ordinary and the extraordinary. We talk about how the Spirit empowers us for creativity, nudges us toward each other, and invites us to live attentive lives. We tell stories of the Spirit's work across cultures and in everyday moments. So join us as we discover that the Holy Spirit is closer than air we breathe.Margaret Feinberg, one of America's most beloved Bible teachers, speaks at churches and conferences and hosts the popular podcast The Joycast. Her books and Bible studies, including Taste and See and More Power to You, have sold more than one million copies and received critical acclaim and national media coverage from the Associated Press, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and more. She was named by Christianity Today as one of fifty women most shaping culture and the church today. Margaret savors life with her husband, Leif, and their superpup, Zoom.Margaret's Book:The God You Need to KnowSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Friar TimeThrough meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Friar TimeThrough meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

In this episode prophet teaches on the secon pillar of Christian spirituality: spiritual laws.Kindly listen and be blessed.

In this, episode , prophet concludes on the first pillar of christian spirituality under, which he expounds on the armour of God . Kindly listen and be blessed.

The twenty-second saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas is the clearest example of Christian nonduality that we have in any gospel. Some of these metaphors in this passage are familiar to us from other sayings in the Gospel of Thomas, as well as similar sayings in the canonical gospels. Others we have not come across before. Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, "These nursing babies are like those who enter the kingdom." They said to him, "Then shall we enter the kingdom as babies?" Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter the kingdom."View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode prophet continues to teach on the 7 pillars Of Christian Spirituality underweight he continues to teach on the armor of God. Kindly listen and be blessed.

In this episode, prophet continues to teach on 7 pillars of christian spirituality under which he teaches on the responsibilities of the christian soldier . He further goes on to give 18 facts about satan .Kindly listen and be blessed.

The twentieth saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas is one that is familiar to Christians who have read the canonical gospels. It is known as the parable of the Mustard Seed. Thomas' version goes like this:The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what the kingdom of Heaven is like." He said to them, "It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of heaven."At first hearing it may sound identical to the New Testament parable. But listen again. Here is the version found in the Gospel of Luke. Pay attention to the differences.Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”They sound similar, but the small differences make a big difference. Let's look at the differences and what they teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven, which is Jesus' term for Divine Awareness.View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

We are living in a world that seems to be unraveling at the seams - where chaos, polarization, and anxiety have become our default settings - we need a different way of being. Today, I'm sitting down with Eric Clayton, who's been wrestling with the question: What if peace isn't just the absence of conflict, but a transformative way of living? Eric's new book, "Finding Peace Here and Now," isn't another self-help manual. It's an invitation - a roadmap drawn from Ignatian spirituality that challenges us to look deeper. How do we build peace when everything around us seems designed to tear us apart? How do we find stillness in the storm, not by escaping the world, but by showing up differently? We'll explore how peace starts within us, how it's cultivated through compassion, creativity, and a willingness to see the humanity in everyone - even those we disagree with. This isn't about being passive. It's about a strength so profound it can disarm violence without raising a hand. If you're feeling overwhelmed, if you're searching for hope in a world that seems to have lost its way, this conversation is for you. So join us as we walk through what peace really means. Eric Clayton is an award-winning writer and author of three books on Ignatian spirituality and everyday living, including, "Finding Peace Here and Now: How Ignatian Spirituality Leads Us to Healing and Wholeness," "My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars," and "Cannonball Moments: Telling Your Story, Deepening Your Faith." He has a children's book, "Our Mother, Too: Mary Embraces the World," which was co-authored by Shannon K. Evans releasing this year. Eric is the deputy director for communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States where he manages the award-winning weekly column, "Now Discern This," guest hosts "AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast" and provides filming, writing and audio support for a range of multimedia projects. He has an MA in International Media from American University, a BA in International Studies and Creative Writing from Fairfield University and a graduate certificate in the Ignatian Tradition from Creighton University. He lives in Towson, MD with his family.Eric's Book:Finding Peace Here and NowEric's Recommendation:Changing PlanesSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

This week, we share a sermon of sorts offered by Bill Haley to the staff of World Vision's DC office in the wake of the 2016 election. His posture, wisdom, and exhortations remain only-too-relevant these days.The Handout Accompanying Bill's RemarksExplore the Full Archive of Bill's Sermonsinthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracleSupport the show

In this episode, prophet teaches and expounds on the 6 areas tthat Satan builds strongholds Kindly listen and be blessed

In this episode we look at the 18th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. “The disciples said to Jesus, ‘Tell us how our end will be.' Jesus said, ‘Have you discovered the beginning, that you look for the end? For where the beginning is, there will the end be. Blessed is he who will take his place in the beginning; he will know the end and will not experience death.'" View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

In this episode, prophet concludes his teaching by expounding on the weapons that satan uses in his attacks, together with the 6 areas satan uses to build strongholdsKindly listen and be blessed.

I had to take the call. When a PR firm reached out to Wine Talks to ask if Gisela Kreplinger would be an appropriate guest...I jumped all over the opportunity. We all have questions about wine as it is discussed in the Bible. Is it hypocratic? DId Noah become drunk? How is wine to be viewed in today's culture? You will be impressed and inspired by the answers from Dr. Gisela Kreplinger. Gisela Kreglinger might just convince you that wine is much more than a mere beverage; it's a divine conversation starter. Imagine taking a sip and feeling not just the intricate flavors but also a brush of the sacred, a whisper from God, as she puts it. In this episode of Wine Talks, Gisela unravels the profound tapestry of wine's role in theology and spirituality. You'll explore how this ancient drink transcends being a symbol to become a tangible blessing, richly woven into the fabric of biblical narratives—from Noah's resilient grape planting to Jesus' miracle at Cana. Gisela takes us on a fascinating journey through history, explaining how wine's spiritual dimension has been celebrated across civilizations yet diminished in modern consumerism. You'll discover the wisdom imbued in the Lord's Supper and how wine functions as a social connector, a medium of storytelling and confession around the table. This episode challenges us to revive an organic kinship with wine, grounded in its ability to evoke memory and emotion—what Gisela calls "holy tipsiness." Join us for this enlightening dialogue, and you're bound to come away seeing that each glass of wine offers a deeper, divine connection waiting to be savored and cherished.

In this episode, prophet continues to teach on the facts about spiritual warfare under his teaching on the 7 pillars of christian spirituality .Kindly listen and be blessed.

In this episode, prophet continues to teach on his teacing on the 7 pillars Of Christian Spirituality . Kindly listen and be blessed

In this episode, prophet finalises on the goals of Satan's attack and teaches on the 4 main ar3as that Satan attacks. Kindly listen and be blessed

In this episode we look at the fourteenth saying in the Gospel of Thomas.Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth - it is that which will defile you."This saying deals with the issue of religion, and in particular religious practices or disciplines. Jesus previously dealt with this subject in part in the sixth saying. Here in the fourteenth saying, Jesus goes deeper into the topic of spiritual practices. He mentions the same four practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving and diet. But in this saying he emphasizes the dangers inherent in religious practices. View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

Today we look at the thirteenth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. “Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like." Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like." Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out." And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up." This saying in the Gospel of Thomas stands in clear contrast with the famous passage in the canonical gospels where Peter gives his famous confession of faith.  The Gospel of Mark says: “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”In Matthew's gospel Peter gives a longer and more famous answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”The difference between the canonical and noncanonical accounts is the difference between traditional Christianity and Christian nonduality. View Marshall's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Marshall-Davis/author/B001K8Y0RU

Today I look at the twelfth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. This saying is different from all the previous ones in that it deals with leadership in the early church. But it also contains some spiritual truth, which we will see in a moment. It reads: “The disciples said to Jesus, ‘We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?' Jesus said to them, ‘No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.'"

Join Stasi and her favorite guest – her husband, John – for an encouraging and insightful conversation about living in daily, intimate communion with Jesus. Drawing from John's new book, Experience Jesus. Really., they share personal stories and wisdom from the saints, revealing how God's presence is not just a metaphor but a reality available to all who seek Him. If you're longing for deeper experiences with God and all that is available, this episode is for you. Open your heart and step into the invitation of deeper communion with God.…..SHOW NOTES:…..Go deeper with John's newest book Experience Jesus. Really: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder through Everyday Encounters with God  https://amzn.to/4jEwBZ7VERSES: Revelation 3:20 (NLT) – Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) – Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Ephesians 2:6 (NLT) – And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT) – Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.John 15:4–5 (NLT) – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.John 6:35 (NLT) – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

John Eldredge joins us today. We're living in a moment where most people report either a lack of or no experience of Jesus in their daily lives. The war right now is for your attention. Every algorithm, every notification, every distraction is designed to keep you from the one thing your soul is actually craving: intimacy with Jesus. We've been grandchildren of the Enlightenment, disciples of the internet, consuming endless content about faith without actually experiencing the living, breathing presence of Christ. But what if - and this might sound wild - what if Jesus is actually waiting to meet you right now? Not in some distant, theological concept, but in the very moment you're listening to this. Your soul is wired for connection. You were created for intimacy with the Father, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit. This isn't just for special saints or mystics - this is for you. Ordinary people can become ordinary mystics, experiencing God's presence in the most mundane moments of life. So buckle up. We're about to dive into a conversation that isn't just information - it's an invitation. An invitation to turn your heart, to create sacred space, and to encounter the living Jesus in a way that will absolutely transform everything. Are you ready? John Eldredge is a New York Times bestselling author, counselor, and teacher who has inspired millions to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. He is also president of Wild at Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God's love, and learn to live in God's kingdom. John and his wife, Stasi, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To learn more, visit www.wildatheart.org.John's Book:Experience Jesus. Really.John's Recommendations:Experiencing the Depths of Jesus ChristThe Practice of the Presence of GodSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowEmail jjohnson@allnations.us, so we can get your creative project off the ground! Support the show

This is the eleventh saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Listen to what Jesus said: "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?"This is really a collection of sayings. There are four pairs, but they are all connected. The first one is about two heavens. The second one is about life and death. The third is light and darkness. The fourth is about one and two. I will explore them in these segments.

This is the tenth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and look, I'm guarding it until it blazes." Another translation puts it slightly different: “I have thrown fire upon the world, and look, I am watching till it blazes.” What does this saying in the Gospel of Thomas mean? Spiritual awakening is fire. The world as we know it is consumed as if by fire.

This is the ninth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "Look, the sower went out, took a handful of seeds, and scattered them. Some fell on the road, and the birds came and gathered them. Others fell on rock, and they didn't take root in the soil and didn't produce heads of grain. Others fell on thorns, and they choked the seeds and worms ate them. And others fell on good soil, and it produced a good crop: it yielded sixty per measure and one hundred twenty per measure."This doesn't mean what you think it means! Or what the church says it means!

The eighth saying in the Gospel of Thomas is a big fish story. Jesus said, "The man is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of little fish. Among them the wise fisherman discovered a fine large fish. He threw all the little fish back into the sea, and easily chose the large fish. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!" 

2/13/25 - David Torkington is a Spiritual Theologian, Author and Speaker who specializes in Prayer, Christian Spirituality and Mystical Theology. For the past fifty years, he has been communicating to his audience his profound love of the traditional and authentic Mystical and Biblical Theology that has inspired all his writings on prayer. In Passport to Perfection, renowned author David Torkington, whose books have reached over 450,000 readers worldwide, presents a practical guide to deepening your prayer life, embracing divine love, and achieving spiritual fulfillment. The book offers timeless wisdom and a clear pathway to experience a profound connection with God through prayer, meditation, and contemplation. Today, David will share with us some insights from parts three and four of the book, "Contemplation" and "Sacrifice". Get the book at https://essentialistpress.com/bookshop/passport-to-perfection/ Learn more about David's work at https://davidtorkington.com/

Today we look at the seventh saying in the Gospel of Thomas, which is the Parable of the Lion and the Man. Jesus said, “Blessed is a lion that a man eats, because that lion will become human. Cursed is a man that a lion eats, because that lion will become human.” 

In this episode I look at the sixth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. It reads: “His disciples asked him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we observe?" Jesus said, "Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain undisclosed."The topic is spiritual practice. I briefly mention the four spiritual disciplines that the disciples ask Jesus about in the gospel of Thomas. Then I look at the parallels in the New Testament gospels. Then we look at what Jesus says in the Gospel of Thomas about these and how that is alike and different from the other gospels.

Today we look at the fifth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest." That is a translation of the Coptic text.The Greek version, which dated earlier, adds another line. Jesus said, “Know what is in front of your face and that which has been hidden from you will be revealed to you. For there is nothing hidden that will not become clear and nothing buried that will not be raised.” Greek Oxyrhynchus Papyri (200 AD)This talking about the revelation of the gospel of nonduality. It is saying it is both hidden and obvious at the same time. 

This episode looks at the fourth saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus says, “A person old in days will not hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and the person will live. For many of the first will be last and become a single one.” Anyone who is familiar with the New Testament gospels will hear similarities to the biblical sayings of Jesus that center on children. It is well-established that Jesus used children as examples of what it means to be in the Kingdom of Heaven – the Spiritual Realm, the Presence of God. The saying in the Gospel of Thomas adds a couple of details that bring us further into this teaching. Here he clearly teaches nonduality.This saying in the Gospel of Thomas is Jesus' equivalent to the famous Zen koan about your original face. “What is your original face before you were born?” Jesus is directing our attention to what Buddhists call the Buddha Nature. What we might call our divine nature or the image of God. He is saying that we all know this original nature. Every child knows this. The spiritual search is rediscovering what we used to know.

I have taken several trips to the Eastern Mediterranean countries to visit Biblical sites – Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt. One year I took a trip to Greece that followed the journeys of the apostle Paul. One of my favorite sites was not a biblical one. It was Delphi on Mt. Parnassus. It was said that the maxim "Know thyself" was inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo there. Today it is called self-inquiry. These words are the teaching of Jesus, according to the third saying in the Gospel of Thomas. Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

Episode Summary:Dr. Rachel Wheeler joins me today on Holy Heretics to discuss ecospirituality and the practice of rewilding both our life and faith.Let's be honest, Christians have a horrendous relationship with the natural world, best understood through a combination of harmful historical, theological, and cultural influences. Growing up evangelical meant believing the world was bad and, as a result, ecological well-being and the health of the planet were seen as secondary or unimportant compared to “getting saved.” In addition, an overt emphasis on the afterlife as well as a history of colonialism has often led to a devaluation of our earthly home.From a theological perspective, one of the most influential ideas shaping Christian attitudes toward nature is the concept of dominion described in Genesis 1:28, where humans are given authority over the Earth and its creatures. Historically, this idea was interpreted as humans being granted the right to exercise control over nature and exploit its resources. Western Christianity interpreted "dominion" not merely as stewardship but as mastery or ownership over creation. This led to an anthropocentric (human-centered) worldview, where human needs and human desires were placed above the health of ecosystems and non-human creatures.Thankfully, we are evolving.Ecospirituality has gained significant attention and popularity in the modern world due to a convergence of ecological, spiritual, political, and social challenges. It refers to a spiritual perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of all life and emphasizes the sacredness of the natural world. It involves an awareness of the Earth's ecosystems, the understanding that human beings are part of a larger web of life, and the recognition that spiritual growth is inherently tied to the health and well-being of the planet.Ecospirituality often incorporates elements from various spiritual traditions, including indigenous wisdom, pantheism, animism, Buddhism, and environmental ethics. It seeks to address the environmental crises through spiritual practices, such as reverence for nature, rewilding, meditation, forest bathing, and radical kinship with all sentient beings.This rising interest reflects a growing recognition that environmental issues cannot be addressed solely through scientific or political means, but also require a profound shift in our worldview, values, and spirituality.So, where do you start? How can you change your relationship with the natural world as an integral part of your faith journey?Dr. Rachel Wheeler invites us to see ourselves and the world around us in radically new, yet ancient ways. Drawing from the deep wisdom of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, Dr. Wheeler reminds us that we humans aren't separate and distinct from creation, but in fact we are mutually dependent. While still emphasizing our human responsibility to steward the Earth and its resources, Dr. Wheeler sees human beings not as masters but caretakers and co-creators with nature. Her book, Radical Kinship: A Christian Ecospirituality, is available now!Bio:Professor Rachel Wheeler teaches courses on the Bible, Christian spirituality, ecospirituality, and spiritual practices at the University of Portland. She earned a PhD in Christian Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union Berkeley and her other degrees reflect interests in monastic studies, literature, and music. She is particularly interested in the so-called desert Christians who lived in Egyptian, Palestinian, and Syrian deserts during late antiquity and her first book, Desert Daughters, Desert Sons: Rethinking the Christian Desert Tradition, offers a feminist critique of these Christians' practices. She is also interested in how people interpret their pro-environmental behavior as spiritual. An enthusiastic knitter and cyclist, she enjoys very much living in Portland, Oregon, with her spouse and two cats.Please follow us on social media (use the buttons below) and help us get the word out! (Also, please don't hesitate to use any of these channels or email to contact us with any questions, concerns, or feedback.)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review, or share on your socials