What is there for a 66-year-old white man to learn from a little girl who was abandoned by her parents, contracted TB Meningitis, TB on the spine, and Hydrocephlis and then passed away at 15 months old?  I can assure you that it is more than you can learn in a lifetime.  Today I am sharing another of those things with you.  

Also, I'm excited to announce that we have launched a Patreon page.  It means you can for as little as one dollar a month (or more) support this podcast.  Now that I'm retired and have no income it would be helpful to cover the costs of this podcast.  So if you can help go to www.patreon.com/skipcollins and sign up!  

Since the beginning of the church, women have been told that they are not allowed to lead in church world.  That role has been given to the men - by God himself.  Personally, I believe our churches are weaker because of it.  Today I talk to Mickie O'Donnell about her 4 decades in church ministry and her thoughts around female leadership in the church.  Below are a number of resources that Mickie mentions in this podcast.  Just click on the title.  

Mickie's Web Site

Jim Singleton talk 

Lean In by Sheryl Sanburg   

You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen  

Gender Roles and the People of God by Dr Alice Matthews   

Paul and Gender by Dr Cynthia Westfall

Within Christianity, everybody pretty much agrees on the fact that both women and men are created in the image of God - but that's pretty much where the agreement ends.  What is the role of the man and the women in the home and in the world?  I have a feeling our wrong theology around these issues has contributed to the domestic abuse and gender-based violence in our world. In this episode, we explore the two theologies, complementarianism and egalitarianism and the impact they have in our families and our world.  

How comfortable are you with referring to God as "she" or God as Mother?  Just because the Bible generally uses the pronoun "he", does that mean we should only think of God as male?  And the more important question is does our view of God being only male add to a warped view of women and their role in the world and the church?  

For the next 3 episodes, we will be asking the question, does our traditional Christian views of male and female add to the problem of violence against women in our world.  

Brett "Fish" Anderson is a unique human being.  A member of ImproGuise, the longest-running show in Capetown, and a voice calling the church and Christians to issues of justice especially in the area of race.  In this episode, I sat down with Brett to hear his story and to talk about things like racism, white privilege, Black Lives Matter and more.  Below are a few links to the things we have spoken about.

Books

Steve Biko - I Write What I Like

Robert Sobukwe - How Can Man Die Better

Web Pages

Brett's website

Brett's Facebook page

Blog - 40 Tips for White People

After last weeks episode on "Who's Truth is THE Truth" I felt like there were some things that were left unsaid.  And in this episode, we ask 2 questions.  Is it ok to believe anything under the guise of "my truth" or are there some absolutes in this world?  And then what happens when your truth and my truth disagree?  

Where do we find answers for the tough questions of ethics and morality in our world?  How do Christians decide where we stand on issues like the injustice or women in leadership or LGBTQI or the many questions that face us in our world.  What happens when what I've always been taught that the Bible says, and my experience of the world don't add up?  Take a listen as we try to decide who's truth is THE truth.  

From a conservative Southern Baptist Pastor to a Progressive Evangelical Christian - That's my friend Mark Baber.  I had the great privilege of sitting down with Mark (on Skype) to talk about the events in his life that have shaped what he believes about life and faith and God.  

Have you ever cringed when you read the line, "the wrath of God", in the Bible or heard a sermon on God's wrath?  Have you ever wondered if you would manage to escape God's wrath?  Yeah, me too.  That's why I did this podcast.  I probably don't have all the answers, but here are some really good questions to ponder!  Is the wrath of God really a thing?

In the podcast, I mention the book below by Brad Jersak.  I've read a couple of his books and have found them really helpful.  Here is the link:

A More Christlike God

I actually love change.  But I know many people struggle with change especially when it comes to Christian beliefs.  Today I sit down to talk with my friend and colleague Mark VanStraaten to talk about what he calls The Law of First Learning.  Mark is the Founding Pastor of Grace Family Church in Durban South Africa.  This is a great conversation that you won't want to miss.