Coffeehouse Contemplative

This week's episode was almost a bad idea, but then I realized that and changed it. How do we spot a bad creative idea, and what makes it bad? I explore that while sharing a few bad ideas I've had over the years.

PRE-ORDER MY NEW ADVENT EBOOK: Four Weeks: Reflections for Advent

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

What do you do when some part of your life just...stops? It was a part of your meaning-making and helped form part of your identity, and now it's just not there any more? What are our options when we suddenly have to start over?

30 Days of Writing

My Month of Writing, Derailed

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Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

Remembering and giving thanks for the life of a recently departed mentor, the Rev. Richard Plant.

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

When is an ending really an ending? What does it look like to measure our lives less by calendars and clocks and more by seasons? Changing our perception of the ebbs and flows of our lives may help us identify signs of change, both past and present.

Episode 52: Enjoy the Day

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Managing Transitions by William Bridges and Susan Bridges

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

Sometimes we do everything as best we can when discerning a new venture, but once we begin we may still discover that it wasn't the right fit after all. What could cause this, and how might we react after?

Episode 55: Notes on Discernment

Episode 48: This, Too, Is a Lesson

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

So many things factor into a good and faithful process of discerning what we are called to do. Here are 8 factors (among others) that are important to consider when figuring out where we may be meant to go next.

Episode 54: Don't Say That

Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

Coffeehouse Contemplative: Spiritual Direction for the Everyday

Jeremiah 20:7-12

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

When we consider trying something new, how often might we tell ourselves that we might be too young/old/inexperienced/quiet/outgoing/etc. to actually do it? We might be depriving ourselves by squashing our ambition before we start, or soon after we try. The story of Jeremiah's call helps give insight to moving past these initial statements.

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

What keeps us from trying something new? It could be a variety of factors, some rational and others less so. But how do we know whether it will be good for us until we actually venture out and do it?

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

We take such great pains to try to tame or "seize" time, because we're often told that this is the way to measure our worth. But there's a different way to approach the limited amount of time that we have, and it's by something besides our calendars and to-do lists.

Episode 51: Summer Sabbath

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

No Perfect Time: Brief Essays on Life and Faith

Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder

The podcast is taking July off, so this will be my last episode for a month. To that effect, I want to reflect on the concepts of rest and sabbath, and why they're so important and necessary to experience a full and joy-filled life.

Genesis 1:1-2:4

Sabbath by Dan Allender

Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann

The Nap Ministry

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Music: "Reflections" by Wild Wonder