Podcasts about grateful the transformative power

A Thanksgiving Special: John talks about being thankful and interviews author and theologian Diana Butler Bass on gratitude and what it means to be truly grateful. He promotes her Substack "The Cottage" and also her book "Grateful : The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks". Then regulars Rhonda Hansome, Keith Price, and professor Corey Brettschneider join him for a special round-table discussion on what we have to be thankful for. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three weeks ago, we heard about Jesus preaching his first sermon in his hometown synagogue. On that day as he addressed the congregation, Jesus claimed these words as his Mission Statement, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” And, from that point on, his ministry was about living into those words. Today, Jesus speaks to his followers, those who have made a real commitment to follow him, and he lays out his Vision Statement.   As Jesus comes down from the mountain to the plain to speak, it is clear the writer of Luke's gospel wants us to know that Jesus' words today are spoken to the disciples, to the church, to us, to all who follow him. Jesus looks out on the followers who stand before him and sees the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the women, and the slaves, and he begins preaching a radical sermon proclaiming the promise of a new society. In this promise, he is not talking about some ideal utopia. This sermon is a call to a radical life of discipleship, a way of living in the world that turns the way of the world upside down, because what he is essentially saying is, “Blessed are all of you who are disregarded by the powerful, for you are God's beloved community.”  It is interesting, as Jesus lays out his vision of a new community, he blesses history's losers!  The blessings he proclaims were truly a protest against injustice!  No wonder it was radical.  And, no wonder it is still radical today! Before we begin to look at what Jesus is saying, it is important that we understand what the word “blessing” means as used here in scripture.  The Greek word for “blessing” ascribed to Jesus in these Beatitudes is makarios.  This word means “happy” or “favor.” In Christian scriptures, the word specifically means God's favor, often called “grace.”  So, what Jesus is saying is “Favored are the poor, God's grace is theirs.”  He is not saying “Be happy for poverty.”  Essentially, he is saying to the people, “God privileges the poor.  If you are poor, you are favored by God.  God's gifts are with you.”  As one commentator puts it, “The elite in God's kingdom, the blessed ones, are those who are at the bottom of the heap of humanity.”  In the culture of that time, this was shocking, and I must say it is still shocking in our time. Jesus turns things upside down and drives home some topsy-turvy news regarding the order of things in God's kingdom.   Jesus is speaking directly to the disciples and each one of us as he invites us into his holy venture to live out our faith. Jesus is not describing an ideological agenda or a political platform.  He does not provide us with an abstract or empty definition of discipleship.  He is not listing for us qualifications describing some “how to” method to get into heaven.  Jesus is describing a vision of God's reign which he totally and completely embodies.  What he is doing is calling all of us to become faithful and effective agents of God's reign right here and right now.  And, quite frankly, for those of us who live in middle class America, his words are so very challenging.  The “rules of engagement” of Jesus' reign stand in sharp contrast to the presumed rights of the prosperous as he talks about wealth, abundant food, the good stuff of life and all that we consider blessings.  Jesus' words and vision are simply at odds with the way things are in our lives and in the world.  Jesus knows that we are possessed by our possessions and the so called “blessings” we feel we have and enjoy.  Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, when talking about this passage, says that most people think of blessings in this way:  Blessed are the rich, for they own the best stuff.  Blessed are the sexy and glamorous, for everyone desires them.  Blessed are the powerful, for they control the kingdoms of the earth.  Blessed are those who get everything they ever wanted; they alone will be satisfied.  Blessed are the famous, for their reward is eternal life.  Money, beauty, power, achievement, and fame – we hold these things in esteem.  If only we had them, or just one of them, we would be blessed.  (Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, pl 140.)   Yes, these aspects of life are what we tend to name as “blessings.”   But, Jesus sees these as characteristics of the lost and proclaims woe to any of us who find ourselves looking at life in this way.  By proclaiming woe to this way of life, Jesus announces the evil and injustice in our way of living and thinking.  Jesus says the poor and the hungry are the ones who are blessed or favored, for their fortunes are going to be reversed.  He says, “Are you weeping?  You are blessed because you will laugh.  Do people hate, exclude, and revile you on account of the Son of Man?  Jump for joy, for your reward is great in heaven; their grandparents hated and excluded the prophets too.”  Jesus is saying God is not impressed with what we consider blessings.  In fact, all that we consider “blessings” misrepresents his message.  Oh, yes, Jesus is again turning this world, our thinking, and even our conventional assumptions about religion upside down.  Jesus blesses those who suffer, and he curses those whose wealth, comfort, and prestige are built upon exploiting that same suffering.   Now, quite honestly, as we live in the cushioned environment of our so called “blessings,” many of us would probably say, “I am not poor, but I identify with the poor,” or “I work with the poor,” or maybe even “I send money to the poor, I care about the poor.”  We might even want to quibble about the definition of “poor,” or “hungry” or “weeping.”  Surely, we the faithful, are among the blessed.   So, if we are honest with ourselves, we need to ask, “If we are not the poor, the hungry, the weeping, or the excluded, what are we to hear from this so-called “good news?”  Pastor Laura Sugg, when thinking about this question, suggests: Again, remember Jesus first sermon. Luke's Jesus is fulfilling God's compassion for the oppressed.  In that first sermon, Jesus' first words to people in Luke's Gospel repeat the words from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” (4:18a) Throughout Luke's Gospel, Jesus lives this out these words by talking with those on the margins, challenging the status quo, and convicting those who feel certain they are righteous.  (Feasting on the Word, p. 240.)   The kingdom of God that Jesus embodies is not some abstract theological term about a time and place the world has never known.  Jesus is calling us to be faithful agents of God's reign right here and right now.  God's kingdom, God's reign, breaks through when we love our enemies.  It takes hold when we do good to those who hate us.  It comes alive when we bless those who curse us.  It shines brightly when we pray for those who abuse or mistreat us.  It shows up when we honor the request of the beggars and work to change the economic structure that creates injustice.  When we live our lives by the principle of “do unto others as you would have them do to you,” and when we love all others as God calls us to love, we truly live out our citizenship in God's kingdom and bear witness to God's reign.   I must say, living this kind of life is not easy.  In fact, it is very difficult. It is the way of the cross.  It means we must become vulnerable and that is a condition most of us would rather avoid.  But Jesus is always unsettling us and, as he tells us that the order of things in God's rule is reversed, we discover that life with God means knowing what poverty and hunger and sorrow and being cursed look like.  It means knowing how it feels to be overlooked and discounted.  It means knowing what it is like to be hated.  And it means living in solidarity all others and admitting our total dependence upon God.  When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor,” he upended and overturned the politics of blessing.  He preached blessings were more than happiness.  They were a social vision showing what God desires for the world. And, as New Testament scholar, Luke Timothy Johnson says, this vision is indeed the great theme of Luke's entire gospel. Mary first articulates this vision when she finds out she will give birth to a son, and Jesus then claims his mission, lives it, and lives into that social vision throughout his entire ministry.  Professor Johnson writes: God reverses human status and perception: in a downward movement, [God] scatters the arrogant, pulls down the mighty, sends the rich away empty. But God also, in an upward movement, exalts the lowly, fills the hungry, and takes the hand of [the poor]. Precisely such a reversal is announced by Jesus in his Beatitudes, his blessings and woes, and it is enacted by him in the narrative of his entire ministry. (Gospel of Luke in the Sacra Pagina Series, Volume 3; Collegeville, Minn.: The Liturgical Press, 1991; p. 44.)   People of God, as Jesus' disciples, we too are called to live Jesus'    mission and live into Jesus' vision for the sake of this needy, hurting world.

Guest Bio: This week we welcome back one of our favorite guests Dr. Diana Butler Bass! Diana is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University. Diana regularly speaks at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events for religious leaders, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues. She writes at The Huffington Post and The Washington Post and comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR. (Selected) Published Works: Grounded: Finding God in the World - A Spiritual Revolution; Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening; A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story; Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith; and Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks; Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence. Guest Website/Social Media: www.dianabutlerbass.com Facebook: @d.butlerbass Twitter: @dianbutlerbass Theme Music Provide by: Forrest ClayTwitter: @clay_k Facebook: @ForrestClay Instagram: @ForrestClayEnjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: “Does God" and "Recover" Forrest Clay's music is available on: iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, and anywhere good music is found! Donate/Patreon: Check out our website www.thedeconstructionists.com to become part of our Patreon family, listen to all of our past episodes, subscribe for future episodes, connect with us on social media, read our blog, or get your hands on one of our many cool t-shirts or pint glasses! The Deconstructionists Podcast is produced by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecordingWebsite by Ryan BattlesAll photos by Jared HevronLogos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen PfluigT-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode of Flashback Friday was originally published on: November 21, 2018 Jason Hartman starts today from his Aunt Joanie's house discussing a recent trend among her renters: lease breaking. Joanie has noticed that several of her tenants seem to be jumping in to the buy side after they had given up over the summer. Jason and Joanie discuss why this might be and the correlation between rents and home prices. Then Jason talks with Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. in religious studies and award-winning author of 10 books including her newest, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. The two dive in to why being grateful is important, both for the community and the individual. Diana explains the 4 dispositions of gratitude and the health benefits that come from being grateful. PLUS, don't forget to take advantage of Jason's massive Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale! Key Takeaways: [4:01] People are starting to break leases more often [7:02] Fear of loss is more powerful than desire for gain [9:26] Rents and prices are inversely correlated [11:23] Why Aunt Joanie got into real estate Diana Butler Bass Interview: [16:15] Gratitude actually makes you healthier [21:34] Gratitude functions out of our higher brain, whereas fear functions out of our primal brain. It also helps things in you physically like blood pressure [24:39] The world has changed and we need to stop acting solely from our fear instincts [25:37] The 4 dispositions of gratitude [30:06] Play isn't just about competition, it's about appreciation, movement, and celebration. Ritual celebrations of thanksgiving are important parts of our culture Website: www.HartmanEducation.com www.DianaButlerBass.com www.Twitter.com/DianaButlerBass

In this very first episode of Powers & Principalities (termed Episode 0, because it acts as a bridge between this show & Exvangelical), I talk with Diana Butler Bass about the early history of fundamentalism in white evangelical Protestant Christianity in America.  The conversation went surprising places, and while I expected to provide a survey-style overview of the development of white evangelicalism, once we got to the Scopes Monkey Trial we ended up talking about cycles of trauma and shame.  Diana Butler Bass is the author of several books, including Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks (Bookshop.org, Amazon*). She also publishes a weekly newsletter, The Cottage, on Substack. Subscribe here. Support Blake's work by telling people about this show, following him on Twitter & Instagram, and by subscribing to The Post-Evangelical Post newsletter.  (*Affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase the book from these links--another great way to support the show!) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/powers--principalities/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/powers--principalities/support Get full access to The Post-Evangelical Post at postevangelicalpost.substack.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very first episode of Powers & Principalities (termed Episode 0, because it acts as a bridge between Exvangelical & this show), I talk with Diana Butler Bass about the early history of fundamentalism in white evangelical Protestant Christianity in America.  You can subscribe to the new show feed right here on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere. Diana Butler Bass is the author of several books, including Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks (Bookshop.org, Amazon*). She also publishes a weekly newsletter, The Cottage, on Substack. Subscribe here. Support Blake's work by telling people about this show, following him on Twitter & Instagram, and by subscribing to The Post-Evangelical Post newsletter. (*Affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you purchase the book from these links--another great way to support the show!) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/exvangelical/support

No matter our religious beliefs, we can all celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. But there's far more benefit to giving thanks than we ever imagined. Even scientists have discovered the good that being grateful brings to our minds, our bodies and our spirit. Diana Butler Bass, the author of "Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks", talks about the healing we can have personally when we give thanks, but also, how we can heal a divided world by becoming a "thankful society."

Dr. Diana Butler Bass writes and speaks widely on issues of spirituality, religion, culture and politics. Her work has appeared on NPR, PBS, Time and The New York Times. Her most recent book is Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks in which she offers suggestions for reclaiming gratitude that can lead to greater connection with God, our loved ones, our world, and even our souls. Butler Bass balances her professional work with an avid interest in Virginia politics, environmental issues, and Duke basketball.

Dr. Diana Butler Bass writes and speaks widely on issues of spirituality, religion, culture and politics. Her work has appeared on NPR, PBS, Time and The New York Times. Her most recent book is Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks in which she offers suggestions for reclaiming gratitude that can lead to greater connection with God, our loved ones, our world, and even our souls. Butler Bass balances her professional work with an avid interest in Virginia politics, environmental issues, and Duke basketball.

Are you ever guilty of feeling a sense of entitlement in your relationships and friendships? Did you know that the opposite of entitlement is gratitude, and that practicing gratefulness can pull us out of that scarcity/entitlement mindset?Diana Butler Bass is on Good God talking about her book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. She describes the spiritual practice of gratefulness and her own journey of discovering gratitude.

Our guest, Diana Butler Bass, returns to the show to discuss her new book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. The book has just been released in paperback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, our gospel focused on call.  It specifically focused on Jesus’ call to Peter and the disciples.  Today, Jesus addresses the disciples, those who have chosen to follow him, those who have made a real commitment to follow him.  Today, as Jesus comes down from the mountain to the plain to speak, it is clear the writer of Luke’s gospel wants us to know that Jesus’ words today are spoken to the disciples, to the church, to those who follow him.  As Jesus looks out on the followers who stand before him, he sees the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the women, and the slaves, and he begins preaching a radical sermon proclaiming the promise of a new society.  This Great Sermon on the Plain is a call to a radical way of discipleship, a way of living in the world that turns the way of the world upside down, because what he is essentially saying is, “Blessed are all of you who are disregarded by the powerful, for you are God’s beloved community.”  In this sermon, as Jesus lays out his vision of a new community, he blesses history’s losers!   The blessings he proclaims were truly a protest against injustice!  No wonder it was radical.  And, no wonder it is still radical today! Before we begin to look at what Jesus is saying, it is important that we understand what the word “blessing” means as used here in scripture.  The Greek word for “blessing” ascribed to Jesus in these Beatitudes is makarios.  This word means both “happy” and “favor.”  In the Christian scriptures, the word specifically means God’s favor, often called “grace” or “abundance.”  So, what Jesus is saying is “Favored are the poor.”  He is not saying “Be happy for poverty.”  Essentially, he is saying to the people, “God privileges the poor.  If you are poor, you are favored by God.  God’s gifts are with you.”  In the culture of that time, this was shocking, and I must say it is still shocking in our time because our social structure is not all that different from quid pro quo Roman culture and society.  In this Sermon on the Plain, Jesus turns things upside down and drives home the topsy-turvy news regarding the order of things in God’s kingdom.  Jesus is speaking directly to the disciples and each one of us as he invites us into his holy venture to live out our faith. Jesus is not describing an ideological agenda or a political platform.  He does not provide us with an abstract or empty definition of discipleship or sainthood.  He is not listing for us qualifications describing some “how to” method to get into heaven.   Jesus is describing a vision of God’s reign which he totally and completely embodies.  What he is doing is calling all of us to become faithful and effective agents of God’s reign right here and right now.  And, quite frankly, for those of us who live in middle class to upper class America, his words to us are so very, very challenging.  The “rules of engagement” of Jesus’ reign stand in sharp contrast to the presumed rights of the prosperous as he talks about wealth, abundant food, the good stuff of life and all that we consider blessings.  Jesus’ words and vision are simply at odds with the way things are in our lives and in the world.  Jesus knows that we are possessed by our possessions and the so called “blessings” we feel we have and enjoy.  Quite frankly, most contemporary people have a very different idea of what makes a blessed life.  Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, when talking about this passage, says that most people think of blessings in this way: Blessed are the rich, for they own the best stuff.  Blessed are the sexy and glamorous, for everyone desires them.  Blessed are the powerful, for they control the kingdoms of the earth.  Blessed are those who get everything they ever wanted; they alone will be satisfied.  Blessed are the famous, for their reward is eternal life.  Money, beauty, power, achievement, and fame – we hold these things in esteem.  If only we had them, or just one of them, we would be blessed.  (Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, pl 140.)   Yes, these aspects of life are what we tend to name as “blessings.”   But, Jesus sees these as characteristics of the lost and proclaims woe to any of us who find ourselves looking at life in this way.  By proclaiming woe to this way of life, Jesus announces the evil and injustice in our way of living and thinking.  Jesus says the poor and the hungry are the ones who are blessed, for their fortunes are going to be reversed.  He says, “Are you weeping?  You are blessed because you will laugh.  Do people hate, exclude, and revile you on account of the Son of Man?  Jump for joy, for your reward is great in heaven; their grandparents hated and excluded the prophets too.”  Jesus is saying God is not impressed with what we consider blessings.  In fact, all that we consider “blessings” misrepresents his message.  Oh, yes, Jesus is again turning this world, our thinking and even our conventional assumptions about religion upside down.  Jesus blesses those who suffer, and he curses those whose wealth, comfort, and prestige are built upon this same suffering.  Now, quite honestly, as we live in the cushioned environment of our so called “blessings,” many of us would probably say, “I am not poor, but I identify with the poor,” or “I work with the poor,” or maybe even “I send money to the poor, I care about the poor.”  We might even want to quibble about the definition of “poor,” or “hungry” or “weeping.”  Surely, we the faithful, are among the blessed.   So, if we are honest with ourselves, we need to ask, “If we are not the poor, the hungry, the weeping, or the excluded, what are we to hear from this so-called “good news?”  Pastor Laura Sugg, when asking this question, suggests: Luke’s Jesus is fulfilling God’s compassion for the oppressed.  Jesus’ first words to people in Luke’s Gospel repeat the words from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” (4:18a) Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus lives this out by talking with those on the margins, challenging the status quo, and convicting those who feel certain they are righteous.  (Feasting on the Word, p. 240.)   The kingdom of God that Jesus embodies is not some abstract theological term about a time and place the world has never known.  Jesus is calling us to be faithful agents of God’s reign right here and right now.  God’s kingdom, God’s reign, breaks through when we love our enemies.  It takes hold when we do good to those who hate us.  It comes alive when we bless those who curse us.  It shines brightly when we pray for those who abuse or mistreat us.  It shows up when we honor the request of the beggars.  When we live our lives by the principle of “do unto others as you would have them do to you,” and when we love all others as God calls us to love, we truly live out our citizenship in God’s kingdom and bear witness to God’s reign.  I must say, living this kind of life is not easy.  In fact, it is very difficult.  It means we must become vulnerable and that is a condition most of us would rather avoid.  But, Jesus is always unsettling us and, as he tells us that the order of things in God’s rule is reversed, we discover that life with God means knowing what poverty and hunger and sorrow and being cursed look like.  It means knowing how it feels to be overlooked and discounted.  It means knowing what it is like to be hated.  And, it means allowing ourselves to become vulnerable, living in solidarity all others, and admitting our total dependence upon God. Listen again to Diana Butler Bass’ words about this passage.  She writes: When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor,” he overturned the politics of blessing.  He preached that blessings were more than happiness.  They were a social vision.  God gives gifts to everyone, but especially to the vulnerable and those at the bottom of society.  Gifts are not only for the few, but wildly distributed for all.  And the people at the bottom?  The losers?  God’s favor resides with them.  God has uniquely blessed them.    What is the proper response to gifts?   Blessing is an invitation to give thanks…..a blessed community is a grateful community.  [When Jesus spoke to the people on that day, that gathering] started as a crowd, and the way opened for them to become a society formed by gratitude. (Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, pl 142.)   Jesus calls us to live into this social vision of a blessed community as he speaks to us today.  The world desperately needs such grateful, inclusive, open, blessed communities.   I pray God continually forms us and shapes us into this kind of community of grace and gratitude.

Jason Hartman talks with Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. in religious studies and award-winning author of 10 books including her newest, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. The two dive in to why being grateful is important, both for the community and the individual. Diana explains the 4 dispositions of gratitude and the health benefits that come from being grateful. Key Takeaways: [2:37] Gratitude actually makes you healthier [7:56] Gratitude functions out of our higher brain, whereas fear functions out of our primal brain. It also helps things in you physically like blood pressure [11:00] The world has changed and we need to stop acting solely from our fear instincts [11:59 The 4 dispositions of gratitude [16:28] Play isn't just about competition, it's about appreciation, movement, and celebration. Ritual celebrations of thanksgiving are important parts of our culture Website: www.DianaButlerBass.com www.Twitter.com/DianaButlerBass

Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)!!! Jason Hartman starts today from his Aunt Joanie's house discussing a recent trend among her renters: lease breaking. Joanie has noticed that several of her tenants seem to be jumping in to the buy side after they had given up over the summer. Jason and Joanie discuss why this might be and the correlation between rents and home prices. Then Jason talks with Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. in religious studies and award-winning author of 10 books including her newest, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. The two dive in to why being grateful is important, both for the community and the individual. Diana explains the 4 dispositions of gratitude and the health benefits that come from being grateful. PLUS, don't forget to take advantage of Jason's massive Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale! Key Takeaways: [4:01] People are starting to break leases more often [7:02] Fear of loss is more powerful than desire for gain [9:26] Rents and prices are inversely correlated [11:23] Why Aunt Joanie got into real estate Diana Butler Bass Interview: [16:15] Gratitude actually makes you healthier [21:34] Gratitude functions out of our higher brain, whereas fear functions out of our primal brain. It also helps things in you physically like blood pressure [24:39] The world has changed and we need to stop acting solely from our fear instincts [25:37] The 4 dispositions of gratitude [30:06] Play isn't just about competition, it's about appreciation, movement, and celebration. Ritual celebrations of thanksgiving are important parts of our culture Website: www.HartmanEducation.com www.DianaButlerBass.com www.Twitter.com/DianaButlerBass

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon goes solo and discusses his Thanksgiving traditions and how he tries to practice gratitude. Then, Gordon tells us about the recent conference he attended and his nomination for Best Therapist Blog from 2018 Best of Therapist Resources Awards. Later, we learn how networking can have a positive impact on ourselves and the lives of others in the community. Gordon then discusses the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why and what some students in Michigan did to address teen suicide with a program called 13 Reason Why Not. Lastly, Gordon sends thoughts and prayers to Paradise, CA and everyone affected by the shootings plaguing our country. Practicing Gratitude, Kindness, and Compassion Gordon reveals how he is grateful for all the therapists out there because of the hardships they carry. Also, Gordon reminds us to practice compassion and kindness toward yourself and others. Solo practicing can be a lonely time, so it is essential to practice gratitude toward your relationships with others. During the conference, Gordon reveals how he was able to form bonds with other therapists and get affirmation that his work is recognized. Then, Gordon encourages us to rally around each other and be grateful for the work everyone does to help others. Networking Gordon discusses how networking with like-minded colleagues and doing advocacy work will have a positive impact on your life and the lives of the others. Recently, in Texas, there was a push to do away with licenses to limit the ability of therapists to give diagnoses. Mental health provider associations did away with this push. Networking with others help make changes to policies and prevent ones that could do damage to the community. Staying involved is another way to show gratitude, by understanding the city and showing a genuine interest in your community. Resources Mentioned: 2018 Best of Therapist Resources Awards BrighterVision Therapist Experience Podcast Products from Amazon.com -40% Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Price: $10.16   Was: $17.00   -26% Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy Price: $11.08   Was: $14.99   Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks Price: Check on Amazon Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer.  PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.

Our guest, Diana Butler Bass, returns to the show to discuss her new book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Several weeks back, Blue Ocean Faith's Dave Schmelzer invited members of Blue Ocean's mailing list who regarded themselves as "done with church" to fill that out for him. After a hundred detailed responses within the hour, Dave started compiling. Here, he, Christina Roberts and Ryan Bauers take a first pass at passing on what they've learned and what it might mean.  Mentioned in Today's Podcast: Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People Are Done with Church but not Their Faith | By Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope The Vanishing Neighbor: The Transformation of American Community | By Marc J. Dunkelman What I'm Into: The Long Goodbye | By Raymond Chandler Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks | By Diana Butler Bass      

Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the award-winning author of ten books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, and her latest work, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. She speaks regularly at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues internationally. She has taught in colleges and seminaries and has commented on religion, politics, and culture in various media. The recipient of numerous grants and awards, she holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from The General Theological Seminary in New York, serves on the board of Public Religion Research, and is an advisor on the project for a National Museum of American Religion in Washington, D.C. We spoke about various issues around modern Christianity and the substance of her new book on gratitude. Learn more about Diana Butler Bass here: https://dianabutlerbass.com/.

We’re going to spend some time this month thinking about gratitude.  As we begin, I want to call your attention to the reference in the announcements about the new book by Diana Butler Bass, entitled, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving...

Let us all be grateful for the wisdom of Diana Butler Bass. In this episode she talks about her new book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, and how gratitude subverts the hostility of current-day American political and religious life. Guest Bio/Info: Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. Find Diana here: dianabutlerbass.com Twitter: @dianabutlerbass Facebook: facebook.com/d.butler.bass Special music by Peter the Canary Keeper: soundcloud.com/peterthecanarykeeper Get connected to Mason: masonmennenga.com Patreon: patreon.com/masonmennenga Twitter: @masonmennenga Facebook: facebook.com/mason.mennenga Instagram: masonmennenga

Author and religion scholar Diana Butler Bass has tried on many forms of Christianity, from growing up Methodist to becoming an Evangelical Christian for years and then joining the Episcopal Church, where she started exploring Centering Prayer and eventually meditation. Though her 10 books span a range of facets on Christianity, Bass says writing her most recent book, "Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks," saved her life.

Most of us know that gratitude is good…and good for us. But, many of us find it hard to sustain a meaningful life of gratefulness. So says Diana Butler Bass, who is the award-winning author of ten books on American religion. Her latest book is called, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. She says “Gratefulness is not a magic fix, but it might just be the bright star directing us to a new and better place.” You can find more about Diana's latest book on her website: http://dianabutlerbass.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the podcast I have John Lustrea as a co-host instead of a guest. Diana Butler Bass has written a thoughtful book titled, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. If you've not heard of Diana before, she is the award-winning author of 10 books on American religion. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from […] The post Diana Butler Bass-episode 132 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

This week, Diana Butler Bass (@DianaButlerBass), historian and author of the new book Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Grace, joined Ana (@anamariecox). Diana wrote the book during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, and she talked about how the act of practicing gratitude helped her to deal with the myriad ways the Administration was making the country worse. She also talked about how that conception of gratitude is different than the transactional practice many -- including the President, who constantly asks for thanks after doing anything -- believe it is. She and Ana dove into how thinking of gratitude and grace as something that is simply done out of thanks, and makes life better for you and those around you, helps people deal with whatever problems they may face in their daily lives. You can find Diana’s book here: http://dianabutlerbass.com/books/grateful-the-transformative-power-of-giving-thanks/ Get in touch with us on Twitter at @crooked_friends, or email us at withfriendslikepod@gmail.com. Thank you to our sponsors! Go to stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the page and enter FRIENDS for up to $55 in free postage, a digital scale and a four-week trial. Visit texture.com/friends for a 7-day free trial. Get 25% off your first order and a 30-day free trial at thrivemarket.com/friends.

Our guest, Diana Butler Bass, returns to the show to discuss her new book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aired Wednesday, 18 April 2018, 8:00 PM ETDiana Butler Bass – Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving ThanksAs a boy growing up in the fifties and sixties, my family stressed the importance of gratitude. My siblings and I were taught to be truly grateful for everything in our lives. My father took ill when we were very young and we did not have an easy life, but our gratitude for what we did have diminished any sense of lack or want. This same gratitude was shared by almost everyone around us.In today’s stress filled and divided world, gratitude seems to be put aside and in some instances, forgotten. How important is it for each of us to look at our lives and feel and express genuine gratitude, both personally and as citizens of our country.My guest this week on Destination Unlimited, cultural observer and theologian Diana Butler Bass says that “gratitude is central to both our personal and political lives” and “it may be the single most important spiritual practice we can engage in times of turmoil and conflict.”Diana is the author of ten books on American religion, politics and culture and comments widely in the media about faith and public life. She holds a PhD in religious studies from Duke University, has taught at the college and graduate level, is currently an independent scholar, and teaches and preaches internationally on matters of religion and spirituality. She lives in Virginia with her family. Her website is dianabutlerbass.com and she joins me this week to discuss her new book, Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks.

Guest Bio: This week we welcome back one of our favorite guests Dr. Diana Butler Bass! Diana is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University. Diana regularly speaks at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events for religious leaders, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues. She writes at The Huffington Post and The Washington Post and comments on religion, politics, and culture in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, and NPR. (Selected) Published Works: Grounded: Finding God in the World - A Spiritual Revolution; Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening; A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story; Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith; and Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks. Guest Website/Social Media: www.dianabutlerbass.com Facebook: @d.butlerbass Twitter: @dianbutlerbass Special Guest Music Provide by: Bo Baskoro twitter: https://twitter.com/bobaskoro Facebook: https://facebook.com/bobaskoromusic/ instagram: https://instagram.com/bobaskoro SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bo-baskoro Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: “This Time” & “The Light” from the Architecture EP. “Other Side” from the I Keep My Eyes Closed EP and the singles, “The Woman” and “High (Keep Up).” Bo Baskoro’s music is available on: iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, SoundCloud, and anywhere good music is found! https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bo-baskoro/883122926 DECONSTRUCTIONISTS LIVE!!! We have a live event in Denver on April the 28th! Grab your tickets here: www.thedeconstructionists.com/events/ or at www.eventbright.com (search deconstructionists podcast live) Donate/Patreon: Check out our website www.thedeconstructionists.com to become part of our Patreon family, listen to all of our past episodes, subscribe for future episodes, connect with us on social media, read our blog, or get your hands on one of our many cool t-shirts or pint glasses! Website designed by @ryanbattles The Deconstructionists Podcast is produced by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Diana Butler Bass is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the award-winning author of ten books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World —A Spiritual Revolution (HarperOne, 2015) and Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks will be released by HarperOne on April 3, 2018. She regularly speaks at conferences, consults with religious organizations, leads educational events, and teaches and preaches in a variety of venues in the United States and internationally. Her bylines include The Washington Post, The New York Times Syndicate, and The Huffington Post. She has commented widely on religion, politics, and culture widely in the media including USA TODAY, Time, Newsweek, CBS, CNN, FOX, PBS, NPR, Sirius XM, and CBC.

This week's guest is the author, scholar, and historian Diana Butler Bass. Ms. Bass has written several books on church history and American Christianity. In this conversation, we discuss her life of faith through the lens of her recently re-released memoir *Strength for the Journey: A Pilgrimage of Faith in Community*. We also discuss the impact of the 2016 election on evangelicalism, and the state of American Christianity today. To order her memoir, click here: http://amzn.to/2FtuweL (affiliate link) To pre-order her upcoming book *Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks*, click here: http://amzn.to/2DX79gy (affiliate link) Visit dianabutlerbass.com to learn more about her work and sign up for her twice-monthly newsletter: http://dianabutlerbass.com/ Thanks to my loyal Patreon supporters for helping make this show possible. Support Exvangelical by visiting patreon.com/exvangelicalpod. Join the Exvangelical Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/332199817139241/ Follow Blake on Twitter @brchastain and follow Exv on Twitter @exvangelicalpod. Music: Intro: "Night Owl" by Broke for Free Interlude 1: "Resurrection Fern" by Iron & Wine Interlude 2: "Freedom Hangs Like Heaven" by Iron & Wine Outro: "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car" by Iron & Wine