And Sons

Our culture is obsessed with convenience. Fast and easy sounds great but rarely leads to growth. That's why many have taken the opposite approach, pursuing hard and inconvenient things. But choosing a life based on either extreme is likely to cause damage. The goal isn't to make life convenient or inconvenient based on a set of "auto-pilot" assumptions. It's to ask God what's needed and allow him, as Father, to initiate us as sons through each situation.

In And Sons first livestream, Sam and Blaine talk about the struggle of feeling only adequate at life while others appear to be crushing every goal in sight. It's a time where the verdict starts to come in—or so it seems— on whether you're a success or barely passing. Most feel like they don't measure up. So why try harder if your best still misses the mark? Here's an honest conversation about facing these feelings without losing hope, beating yourself up, or downgrading your future.

Show Notes: For information on future AndSons live streams and access to custom content and gear, go to https://www.patreon.com/andsons.

All movies and stories aren't created equal. They tell us about the nature of reality, form how we see the world, and shape our souls in both good and bad ways. Most people embrace one of two extremes when it comes to story. They either passively consume any and all content, oblivious of how it's affecting their worldview. Or they withdraw from any stories other than those with overt Christian messages. Sam and Blaine suggest a better way—the practice of engaging story by both being aware of what we're taking in while also understanding how God speaks to us through the language of story.

No one likes to think they have blind spots. But, well, no one is immune. We've all had that moment where we thought we nailed it only to realize we somehow misread the person or situation in front of us...yet again. In this MetaDragon podcast (see show notes), Sam and Blaine offer tools to identity and resolve our blind spots when it comes to us, our families, and the world at large. It isn't about trying harder—but seeing life more accurately.

Show Note: Our team has began calling these sorts of episodes "MetaDragon" due to their meta-focus, their intensity, and because we misunderstood something our sound engineer said one day. Esoteric? A little. But now you know about it, so welcome to the MetaDragon.

We miss so much in the world around us due to overfamiliarity—from the sound of a nightly train and the smell of our homes to the sky around the stars. In this AndSons MetaDragon episode (see show notes), Sam and Blaine dive into the concept of negative space. In art, this is the space between figures in a composition. Artists regularly use negative space to enhance their paintings, photographs, songs, and architecture. Yet our lives also have negative space within them—such as the distance we put around the things and people around us. Whether in art or life, the absence of something can be as or more important than the presence of something...once we understand the value of negative space.

Show Note: AndSons MetaDragon Episode

Our team has begun calling these sorts of episodes "MetaDragon" due to their meta-focus, their intensity, and because we misunderstood something our sound engineer said one day. Esoteric? A little. But now you know about it, so welcome to the MetaDragon.

James Arnold Taylor is the man of more than 200 voices—including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Johnny Test, The Flash, and Fred Flintstone. He's also a man who has discovered his own true voice...and enjoys helping others know and like who they are. In this far-ranging conversation, the highly acclaimed voice actor discusses pursuing what you love even when it makes no sense to those around you, the journey of finding his true father, and the power of speaking honestly—whether in the creative process or to those you love.

Show Note: Find out more at JamesArnoldTaylor.com or listen to his podcast, Talking to Myself, at: https://jatactor.libsyn.com

We want a life of ease and comfort. We need the pain and discomfort of running toward the very things that make us feel incompetent or uncomfortable. Sam and Blaine address this topic through the lens of fatherhood, sharing how they're being shaped in this season of low sleep and high demand. Pressing into what feels like too much is messy. But the greater danger is succeeding at a life of ease where you never risk offering beyond your comfort zone. Change starts by inviting God into these areas of your soul that need tending—and a willingness to stop hiding and start saying "yes" to the impossible.

If we were to walk in your home, what would we conclude matters to you based on what's on your walls or in your garage? In other words, where do you spend your money and time? If that feels a bit personal, well, it's meant to. We call it the strategy of stuff. Because, as it turns out, your stuff tells a really revealing story about who you are and what you value. This is your invitation to get curious about what you choose to populate your world with—and why.

Regardless of where you grew up, it likely didn't feel like home in some ways. And that's normal. No earthly home can completely satisfy our soul's longing to belong—or compare to the eternal home God is preparing for us. Whether you felt misunderstood by those closest to you, lacked unconditional love, or had a restless rather than restful home life, this longing to belong causes us all, a times, to feel like exiles. In this MetaDragon episode, Sam and Blaine rethink what our search for home means...and why it matters so much.

Show Notes: This is an AndSons MetaDragon episode. If you don't know what that means, Sam defines it in the first few minutes.

For most, the topic of tattoos sparks an immediate reaction. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, tattoos provide an incredible entry point to the way we see the world and our bodies. It turns out the things we do with—and to—our bodies have more power than we tend to realize. And with tattoos, it's never just about ink on skin. In this conversation, Sam and Blaine talk about the spiritual dimension of tattoos (both good and bad)—as well as some practical and cultural considerations.

Show Notes: This podcast reference the Wild at Heart Spiritual Warfare podcast series (https://wildatheart.org/rhplay/series/podcast/spiritual-warfare) and The Bible Project's Spiritual Beings video series (https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/intro-spiritual-beings/).