Cody and Craig visited with one of their friends from a previous podcast, Episode 53: Kalie, part 2 (a look at Genesis 1&2) — the missionplace and Episode 52: Kalie & Pride Month — the missionplace

After Cody and Craig catch up with each other on important issues of world concern (um, not quite) discussing Lent and Ash Wednesday (Ashes, by My Anchor Holds), Shrove Tuesday, and potato donuts.

“That liturgical stuff is crazy, but we’re gonna eat donuts.”

We dig into Lent thinking about

·        Ashes, by My Anchor Holds

·        Subversive Witness, by Dominique Gilliard (see Episode 57)

·        Lent as a time for a new perspective

·        Lent Year C over arching theme of covenant

And we discuss the last of the big winter liturgical calendar festivals, the Super Bowl. As well as merging a conversation of the Marvel Universe into a discussion of Open and Relational Theology

·        ORTLine: Open and Relational Theology Conference

·        Pluriform Love, Thomas Jay Oord. Here’s Tom’s blog about the work.

At 31 minutes, we begin our conversation with Kalie Hargrove, welcoming her back to the podcast. Kalie has some big news about the way the religiously affiliated school are handling (or not handling, as the case may be) trans students.

Kaile is a pastor at First Christian Church of Decatur, Ga., and a seminary student. In the midst of Kalie’s seminary education, suddenly her academic world was changed when her school informed her that they could not accept her as a transperson. Fortunately, she has found a new school in which she can continue her education. But that shift was not her idea, not her intention.

Listen as Kalie explains how:

·        Title IX, a US law that is intended to provide equal access to education creates loopholes for exclusions based on religious exceptions. You learn what Title IX is at www.ed.gov/category/keyword/title-ix

·        She has joined a class action suit through support from REAP, The Religious Exemption Accountability Project

·        And, through all this, Kalie continues to see fruit in the church and the church tradition in which she ministers. We spend some time talking about the Independent Christian Church and the Restoration Movement.

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We spoke with Tobin, Professor of African American Studies, several months ago (https://www.themissionplace.org/allthatsholybluecollar/episode45) and learned that he wasn’t keeping up with University of Montana Football (nonetheless, Go Griz). We speak to Tobin again and meet his long-time friend and partner in struggle to dismantle racism, Dr. Regina Shands Stoltzfus of Goshen College.

Regina is professor in the Religion, Justice, and Society department and worked at anti-oppression and anti-racism for over thirty years.  Over that time, she and Tobin co-founded several anti-racism initiatives for institutions, leaders, and the general public.

We’re visiting with them because of their new book, Been in the Struggle: Pursuing and antiracist spirituality, by Herald Press.

We gained some insight, and we hope you’ll be curious to learn:

·        what is racialization?

·        how does culture play a role in developing both our spirituality and our racialization?

·        in the midst of injustice and oppression, how do both compassion and reckoning function? When might “grace” not be the best approach?

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 Black Friday Record Store Day

https://recordstoreday.com/

Listen to Cody rattle off new pressings of albums and some pressed-again (not repressed) albums.

Buy Black Friday –

https://twitter.com/BBFInitiative

https://twitter.com/blkfoodfridays

Small Business Saturday, November 27, 2021

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

Jacob and Katie O'Neall Eckeberger, aka My Anchor Holds, write and perform music “music for those with an evolving faith.”

We had a really fun conversation with them as we learned about their musical/theological journey. But before we got into that conversation, Cody and Craig were marveling at one of the events in sports culture.

The Washington Post had reported that a pair of Michael Jordan’s used shoes sold for $1.4 million, “shattering a record for game-used footwear.” That’s a lot of money for used shoes. But you learn something new every day – there’s a category of auction items actually called “game-used footwear.” There’s probably a category for just plain used footwear. Maybe your shoes, too?

After about 40 minutes of nonsense covering Advent (learn about Katheen Lundquist and Of the Father’s Love Begotten), sneakers, March Madness medical procedures, and Vikings, we talked with Katie and Jacob.

Then, we began talking about music, worship, and My Anchor Hold’s upcoming EP, Holding Out Faith, being released November 19th. And we also get to listen to the title track “Holding Out Faith”.

Their faith journey provides a hopeful path, especially for all those who are reconsidering the faith they entered into. Theirs is a process of reconstruction. Their music brings both music for audiences to listen to and reflect, while other songs are intended not for an audience, but for fellow journeyers to sing in worship and community. Jacob and Katie comment that worship music is a way to see outside of ourselves. As they describe this perspective and this journey, they state: “we want to connect with anyone from anywhere that has the same passion for finding God in unlikely places and movements of justice that fight for space for everyone” (myanchorholds.net)

One of the questions that lingered long before our conversation began arose from a social media post from Katie, pondering where is worship music to be found for the progressive, left-leaning church, inclusive, and justice-oriented church? We discuss that a many other things.

You can follow on social media, and My Anchor Holds on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MyAnchorHolds/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myanchorholds/

and Twitter https://twitter.com/My_Anchor_Holds and TikTok @mrsoberger

Buy their upcoming EP, being released November 19

Music can be found on Spotify, iTunes, and CDBaby

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The F Episode: How to Have an Enemy

This is the F episode, perhaps it seems we don’t know our letters well. Don’t we mean frenemies, you might be asking yourself. But no! Cody and Craig do stick with the letter “F” through our 50-plus minutes of banter and commentary and opinion, before getting into conversation with our guest.

Some the F’s we talk about include:

·        Felix, as in Allyson, not the cat. Look up Allyson Felix’s new shoe company, Saysh.

·        Freedom, as in the type sung about by the New Respects

·        Fourth-down conversation stats

·        Fantasy Football

We visit with author and Mennonite pastor, Melissa Florer-Bixler and hear about her new book, How to Have an Enemy (Herald Press).

Melissa is a writer and pastor with degrees from Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Her ministry at Raleigh Mennonite Church has been featured in The Atlantic and Sojourners. She writes for Geez Magazine, Christian Century, Mennonite World Review, and The Mennonite, among others. She lives with her husband and three children in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Learn about the value of truth-telling, when the truth is that there are forces working against God’s good news.

Ponder what is means to pastor in a purple church.

Considering the lasting impact of the Trump administration and trumpism.

On pastoring: “my job is not to be the most pious, but to create a discerning community.”

What do we do with anger and can we take on another’s burden of anger so they don’t have to bear it alone?

Melissa also talks a bit about her latest Netflix interest and what’s on her playlist.

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On this episode (LONG in the making but well worth the wait), Cody and Craig quickly discuss a few S topics before chatting with their guest Dominique DuBois Gilliard (author of Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege.

Episode 57: Subversively Sly Sunshine (with Guest Dominique DuBois Gilliard)

ATHBP

Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church. He is the author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores, which won a 2018 Book of the Year Award for InterVarsity Press and was named Outreach Magazine’s 2019 Social Issues Resource of the Year. Gilliard’s latest book, Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege was just published by Zondervan. Gilliard also serves as an adjunct professor at North Park Theological Seminary in its School of Restorative Arts and serves on the board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association. In 2015, the Huffington Post named him one of the “Black Christian Leaders Changing the World.”

In addition to the fascinating discussion about Dominique’s book, Craig and Cody also spent a little time talking about a couiple of S topics:

Both agree that the the coaches and administrators and parents and EVERYONE INVOLVED with the Bishop Sycamore scandal were incredibly SLY, SHADY, and SLIMY

We talk about the SUN finally making an appearance after so much smoke all SUMMER long.

We highlight some SERIOUS SCRIPTURAL ABUSE from the Biden Administration

PLUS a bit more from here and there!

Pertinent Links from the Dominque DuBois Gilliard portion:

Learn about Domique’s denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church

Check out the Christian Community Development Association, where Dominique serves as board member

Read about the School of Restorative Arts at Northpark Theological Seminary

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Craig and Cody make a majestically triumphant return! And this time, they keep the alphabet momentum going by showcasing the letter “M,” including an interview with a new band called Thinking About You Underwater (TAYU).
Mayhem, Magic Beans, and Meteorology
Craig recounts the mishaps on his trek home from Arizona, featuring motor vehicle mayhem, a magic coffee concoction he discovered at a coffee shop while waiting for his car to be fixed, and how smoke affected his journey—which led us into a discussion of the term “contained” when reading reports about wildfires.

Music
Cody interviews the fresh new band TAYU (Thinking About You Underwater). Hailing from Eugene, Oregon, they have an updated retro sound (if that makes sense). They cover the ins and outs of making their debut album in the middle of pandemic, how they formed in the first place, and share a little bit about themselves. TAYU is: Wade Bulger (Guitars/Background Vocals); Grant Williamson (Vocals/Keys); Brandon Ferguson (Bass); and Nick Smo (Drums/Percussion)
learn more and find their socials:
https://linktr.ee/tayu

Mental Health & Athletics
With the recent news surrounding athletes making mental health a priority, Craig and Cody discuss: performance anxiety; pressure from within and without; what athletes owe the public; what coaches can do and prioritize to help athletes be healthy; dealing with choking and the yips; and more.
Pertinent Links:
Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Sian Beilock, Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To               

Masks, Mandates, and Micromorts
18 months into a pandemic, and we’re still discussing issues about personal liberty vs. public responsibility; how and why American Christians are failing Following Jesus 101 and choosing to bow to the idol of personal liberty. Craig shares about a museum exhibit in Arizona that featured hand beaded COVID masks crafted by Indigenous artists in response to the pandemic and in protest of the high-rate of mortality among the Indigenous populations that is linked to their historic treatment in the USA. We also learn about micromorts—a measure of risk of mortality—and a resource that uses your local data to calculate your Micromort in relation to COVID-19.
Pertinent Links:
Microcovid.org
Behind the Mask: Indigenous Artists Speak Out (Heard Museum)
Christians and the Vaccine

Manual Dexterity (Craigs upcoming surgery)
Craig reveals that he has been suffering from Dupuytrens contracture in his hands—which is slowly turning his hands into permanently balled-up fists. But he is having surgery to fix it!

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With Joe, we tackle the following “F” topics:

Food & Faith

We discuss how the pandemic led Joe to discover a passion for cooking food at home with his family and learning the joy of discovery, creativity, and “ownership” with his children when it comes to preparing and eating food

How the restaurant industry is showing the church how to face the new normal, coming out of the pandemic

Joe shares his vision for a restaurant church that would feature a common table setting and a shared family meal from the mind of a top-notch chef

Filthy Rich

We talk about the Great Space Race and Rocket Measuring Contest of the Billionaire Class, and whether there is any benefit to be gained

We discuss the differences in approach between each mission and Billionaire (Branson vs. Bezos vs. Musk) and their connection to the common good, if any

Why simply taxing them more won’t ever work, and how the approach to taxing them and their enterprises will require a creative new tax approach (we even offer some ideas) because the current tax burden falls on the employees, not CEO’s or the corporation.

Football

Though we are talking “F’s” in this episode, we discuss Aaron Rodgers who appears not to give any this offseason

We briefly discuss the revelation that he was offered the largest contract in NFL history—and turned it down

Fantastic Failure

We discuss the hottest new serial style podcast, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” by Christianity Today

We examine the draw toward charismatic, authoritarian leaders

We revisit the early 2000’s through 2015 period discussed in the podcast, plus our own small perspectives on when we realized Mark Driscoll was a bad egg

All this PLUS our usual amount of foolishness and frivolity!

Pertinent Links

Learn more about Joe and connect with his church: Bothell UMC

Order the coffee Joe is drinking: Mt. Comfort Coffee

Check out the podcasts Joe listens to on a regular basis: The Ringer Network and The Dave Chang Show

Listen to the beautiful and amazing Korean music Joe references, a band called LEENALCHI, combining ancient Korean musical storytelling (pansori) with modern K-Pop elements

Check out the podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill from Christianity Today

Read the book The Pastor: A Crisis, by Bradley Jersak and Wm. Paul Young

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Keeping the alliteration theme going, Craig and Cody talk about the letter “O” on this episode! Opening with some, um… QUESTIONABLE (at best) beatboxing and a MUCH too deep of a dive into the anthropological implications of Disney’s Pinocchio (although some profound things were definitely accidentally said), we moved quickly to our O topics for the day:

OHTANI

Like every other baseball fan (and an increasing number of non-baseball fans), we are ENTHRALLED with Shohei “Shotime” Ohtani. What he is achieving this season so far is unprecedented in the history of the game. This discussion was recorded prior to the All-Star Game, where Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to start in the mid-season classic as both a pitcher and a hitter. He is leading the majors in home runs AND pitching very well (one disastrous outing aside). We discuss:

Preaching illustrations using Ohtani’s ability to “be ready in season or out of season.

Why self-labeled “purists” need to get over their disdain of the Babe Ruth comparisons and just enjoy what we are witnessing

OLYMPICS

Our discussion of comparing eras of sports led to a discussion on activist athletes in history, and competitors whose mere existence and life story inspired minorities and moved change forward. The Olympics have historically been a place where international politics have led to some dismal decisions—and this years Olympics are no different. We discuss:

The Nigerian Olympic team being unable to field a 400 team because the JUDGES placed the cones wrong, leading to disqualifications of all competitors.

Caster Semanya, and her lifetime ban from competing due to hormone levels beyond her control

Two Nambian Olympic sprinters, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi were disqualified from competing in the 400 meter for the same reason as Caster—natural testosterone levels too high (though they CAN compete in the 200?)

Sha’carri Richardson essentially being banned from the Olympic team for he use of marijuana.

Brianna Rollins-McNeal and her HIGHLY questionable five-year ban for “tampering with medical records,” when she CORRECTED the medical records incorrect date that was listed (she adjusted the doctor’s mistaken date of a procedure).

We notice the common denominator in ALL of this: women of color being forced not to compete.

OPEN & RELATIONAL THEOLOGY, OORD

We share some insights on Dr. Thomas Oord’s newest book Open & Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas (which features an endorsement from the All That’s Holy Blue Collar Podcast.

We give a basic overview of the book, with Cody sharing some of his favorite things about the book

How open & relational theology is a perfect avenue to explore God during times of trauma and upheaval

And of course a whole lot more!

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Kalie joins us once again— last installment, Kalie shared with us her personal story of transition and embracing fully who she is. This time, Kalie drops some insight on familiar scripture, Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Highlights from this episode include:

How LGBTQ+ people fit in to the creation narrative.

The ways our cultural views shape our take on the creation story, and vice versa.

Kalie notes that we don’t hold nature to strict binary categories, even though the creation story presents God’s creation in general binary categories (earth/sky, land/water, etc.). So why humans?

ACCIDENTALLY PROFOUND STATEMENT ALERT: Cody notes that limiting the image of God even by a factor of one (down to binary) creates a false image, and is thus idolatry.

ACCIDENTALLY PROFOUND STATEMENT ALERT 2: Kalie notes that being like Christ does NOT mean giving up who you are, but is rather about being FULLY who you are.

Kalie talks about how the early church took Jesus’ teachings seriously, and thus began exploding patriarchal norms and cultural constructs of masculinity. UNTIL some leaders put a stop to it with a new interpretation on Jesus’ teachings.

and much, MUCH more.

Pertinent Links:
here is a recently published article Kalie penned for Whosoever (an online magazine that serves as a resource for LGBT Christians)

A book Kalie mentioned:
Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians

A sermon Kalie preached:
Loved and Affirmed from Creation: How LGBTQ+ are Expressions of God's Image in Humanity

Find Kalie and interact with her on instagram: @JustKalieH

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