Barry talks about the difference between reasoning and rationalization. One can get us to the actual truth, while the other simply gets us closer to our favored opinion. He gives us a few questions to help us ferret out which option we are using. Scripture: James 3:1      

Barry finishes up his 10 maxims with one that provides hope for all the others. Perhaps nothing emphasizes better how desolate humanity’s fallen nature is than the impossible step God takes to redeem it.     Scriptures: Ps 53:1-3 Rom 3:9-19 Jude 8-13 Jas 5:19-20 Matt 7:6-7 1 Kings 19:12-18

Barry covers a “commandment” that may be the most juxtaposed to our culture. While we wouldn’t expect to be grateful for suffering (as that would necessitate a change to the word’s definition) we can be grateful for our endurance of it. Barry talks us through this maxim with material, spiritual, social, and aesthetic examples to […]

Barry altered the wording of this maxim from previous presentations because he realized it was too easy on himself! What used to be “brutal honesty” with others has changed to “brutal honesty” with self and this in fact, makes it easier for us to offer kindness to others. This altered mindset places us square on […]

Barry covers our seventh maxim, which encourages us to consider two questions in a particular order before we decide on an action. Honoring this order for these particular questions is especially important in two situations: 1) when faced with decisions in our pragmatic culture, and 2) when suffering enters the picture.     Scriptures: Prov […]

Barry heads toward our sixth maxim, focused on change. At the beginning of the year, it is common to make some new year’s resolutions. In this episode, Barry urges us to direct our changes toward a target, in community, in faith, and even in our origin.     Scriptures: Rom 3:20 Eph 2:8-11, 4:11-16 Phil […]

Barry focuses in on Mary’s Magnificat along with the importance of her faith and obedience. He acknowledges that for many denominations, Mary is sometimes overlooked or downplayed—pushed to the side—rather than seen at the center of the stage where she stands in the text, exemplifying women throughout Israel’s and the church’s story.     Scriptures: […]

Barry heads into the 5th commandment. This one is an especially tricky one, the opposite of which seeps into our lives at every turn. How can we begin to fight back against our sinful nature? We can start by having the highest regard for the person in the world we know to be the most […]

Barry arrives at the fourth maxim, which battles it out with our culture every single day—being a follower. In God’s command to honor one’s parents, he provided a method of training us to be ready to honor others for the rest of our lives.     Scriptures: Ex 20:12 Matt 16:24, 19:18-19 1 Cor 11:1 […]

Barry connects our third maxim to the Sabbath commandment, reminding us that on the seventh day God created nothing material; instead creating a space every week for us to value all things correctly. It is an invitation for us to consider more carefully what’s really real.     Book: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section […]