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- Bruce Gordon | Spirituality and the Reformation at 500
Happy Reformation Day! 500 years ago today (this episode is coming out on October 31st, 2017), Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Church in Wittenberg and started the Protestant Reformation. I thought it would be a ton of fun to talk to a "Reformation expert," and I did. What a great conversation!!!
Episode 31 of the podcast features an interview with Bruce Gordon. Bruce is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School and is an expert on late-medieval and early modern periods, with a particular interest in the Reformation and its reception.
Some of What We Talk About:
The meaning and importance of piety
The centrality of prayer for the reformers
Praying the hours of the day was common for the reformers, patterned on the monastic life
The doing of charitable works was part of spiritual practice for the reformers
What changed in terms of spirituality with the onset of the Reformation
How a sense of the mystical, sacredness, and wonder may have been lost with the onset of Protestantism
Why art was removed from Churches in the Reformation period
How the Reformation raises relevant questions for today regarding worship and spiritual practice
The people themselves were empowered to engage with the Scriptures, and each person was empowered to take responsibility for their own spiritual lives.
The importance of the Priesthood of All Believers
Spirituality as grounded in tradition and history
Constantly seek to become more Christ-like at the heart of Christian Spirituality
The richness and wisdom of Christian history
Reclaiming the heritage and understanding the meaning of your liturgical tradition
Why John Calvin is vilified and also revered depending who you talk to.
John Calvin as pastor to refugees and how that shaped his message.
John Calvin’s insistence on God being with you.
Why do we call it the Reformed Tradition
Links and Resources:
Bruce Gordon's Bio at Yale
Calvin by Bruce Gordon- John Calvin’s "Institutes of the Christian Religion": A Biography by Bruce Gordon
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com1 hr 1 min - Kaitlyn Curtice | Finding the Divine in Everyday Places
Episode 30 of the podcast features an interview with Kaitlyn Curtice. Kaitlyn is a Native American writer, teacher and worship leader. Her writing is beautiful, observant, and gracious. Her book, Glory Happening: Finding the Diving in Everyday Places is a book of stories and prayers that remind you to take a closer look at your everyday circumstances, to find the magical beauty in everyday experiences. It is an invitation to live deeply into every moment with the expectation that something good will find you at the end of the day.
Some of What We Talk About:
Staying still and taking in the beauty around you
What is the glory of God?
The difficulty of slowing down
Rhythms of seasons, days, and weeks
The first way we learn about God is through nature
Reading the Bible as an Indigenous person
The temptation of Jesus as wilderness / "learning who you" are story
Understanding Jesus as non-white
The silence of the Church with respect to Indigenous history
The importance of hearing the story of North America’s indigenous peoples
What it means to honor the earth or the land
Observing glory while doing the dishes or other everyday tasks
What it means to stand on holy ground and call yourself blessed
Being rooted in gratitude / counting your blessings
How to practice silence / why it is difficult
Burning sage and sweetgrass as part of prayer
Facing the truth in times of silence
Quotes from the Book"What we choose to see is holy ground for our feet, solace for our tired and often-wandering souls, no matter how everyday. We choose to stop and take in glory; we choose a different reality.”
“God shows up in the whirlwinds,” Barbara (Brown Taylor) would whisper, “in the starry skies, burning bushes, and perfect strangers. When people want to know more about God, the son of God tells them to pay attention to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, to women kneading bread and workers lining up for their pay.” And the more I read Barbara’s words, the more they became the soft-spoken words of my own heart—the journey I’d started in 2014 when we moved to sunny Georgia, and the journey I began in order to learn more about my Native American heritage.
"I recall why exactly I get to stand on holy ground and call myself blessed in a tiny space with a busy schedule and two toddlers running around me day and night.”
Links and Resources:
Kaitlyn Curtice’s website
Kaitlyn Curtice’s Patheos page
Glory Happening by Kaitlyn Curtice
Richard Rohr
Barbara Brown Taylor
Randy Woodley
Episode 10 - Margaret Mullin interview on Indigenous Practices and Spirituality
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com47 min - Laura Alary | Hands-On Spirituality, Kids, and the Church Year
Episode 29 of the podcast features an interview with Children's author Laura Alary. Laura has written several books, including the new Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas and Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter - both written and illustrated for children ages 7-10.
Toward the end of the interview, we talk about an awesome new Children's Bible that Laura has written. You can get Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers today!
Some of What We Talk About:Teresa McDonald-Lee’s interview - talking about spirituality for children
Exploring the liturgical year with children
Themes present in Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas
Prompting wonder in children
Tactile experiences for children in worship - Prayer flags and Fruit juice of the spirit
Walking a labyrinth - Robin McGauley’s interview
Seasonal table - advent wreaths, figurines of biblical people, Jesse Tree (some info on a Jesse tree)
Observing the season of Advent
A daily walk as meditation
Links and Resources:- Laura Alary's Website
- Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas
- Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter
- Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers
Paraclete Press -parents and teachers can see a preview of the new book online here
- Woodlake Books
- Narrative Lectionary
- Children and Worship
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com1 hr - Brian Zahnd | In the Hands of a Loving God
Episode 28 of the podcast features an interview with Brian Zahnd. Brian is the pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri and author of several books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God and A Farewell to Mars.
Some of What We Talk About:- Experiencing dramatic conversion to Christ and the impact moving forward
- Being honest in our approach to the scriptures and centering our understanding of Christ by reading the gospels
- How the Crucifixion of Jesus provides a lens for understanding the violence of humanity
- How God’s "response" to the crucifixion is forgiveness and the sending out of the apostles
- How we mistake violent retribution for justice but God’s justice is restorative
- The place of the Book of Revelation - prophetic critique of the Roman Empire - laden with symbol
- Mystical encounters in prayer - God as love and light
- Spiritual practice - Brian has a regular morning liturgy that he follows. He learned to sit silently acknowledging the presence of Jesus / occasionally something would happen - a mystical direct experience of God / an overwhelming sense of the love of God would be felt
- Trusting a well-crafted liturgy to guide us through our prayer life
- Brian summed up his book Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by saying, "The good news is that God is like Jesus"
Links and Resources:- Brian Zahnd's Website
- Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God
- A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace
- Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the Allure and Mystery of Christianity
- Water to Wine: Some of My Story
- Hans Urs Von Balthasar - Swiss theologian and Catholic priest
- Henri Nouwen
- Stanley Hauerwas
- The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com1 hr 1 min - Bethany Jett | Trusting God in Trying Times
Episode 27 of the podcast features an interview with Bethany Jett. Bethany is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. She has worked on all kinds of projects, including the moving book, Through the Eyes of Hope. She is also one of the founders of the new Serious Writer Academy.
It was truly wonderful to talk to Bethany. She and I met about 18 months ago at the only writers' conference I have ever attended. Since then, we've continued a friendship, mostly talking about writing, and connecting regularly on an online Writers' Chat that she has helped organize.
Bethany is very open about her life and some of the struggles she faces, particularly with having a military spouse that can be posted overseas. In this interview, she really shows both her strength and vulnerability.
Some of What We Talk About:- Living the life God has made for you
- The importance of Youth groups for teens.
- Talking to God throughout the day as a Spiritual Practice
- Finding God in the midst of the day to day moments
- How finding time for God becomes more challenging in adulthood.
- The pressures of parenting
- Teaching our children by modeling spiritual practices
- providing a foundation for children so they can connect with God
- Trusting that God will seek a relationship with your children.
- The Benefits of having a mentor in your Church
- Trusting that God will take care of you when tragedy strikes.
- Relying on God when you need strength to get through the day.
Links and Resources:
Bethany's Website- Serious Writer Academy
- Through the Eyes of Hope
- Lacey Buchanan
- Let God Be Present
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com57 min - S. D. Smith | Kindling Imagination for Kingdom Anticipation
Episode 26 of the podcast features an interview with S.D. (Sam) Smith. Sam is the author of The Green Ember books and is a co-founder of Story Warren, a website for parents and others dedicated to helping foster holy imagination in children.
Sam and I have a great time on this interview chatting about what it means to anticipate the kingdom of God, why the imagination is important, and some of the resources he uses to remain connected to God.
Some of What We Talk About:
Anticipation of the Kingdom of God
Living by an ethic that reflects the Kingdom of God
Teaching and writing books for children that reflect Christianity
What "Kindling imagination” and “holy imagination” mean
Matthew 13 - Parables about the Kingdom and the importance of story
How stories are powerful and shape us as people right from childhood
Connections to God that are present in the writing of The Green Ember and in Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed.
Hope and light embedded in story is vital as we have enough dark in our lives
Incarnational Spirituality
Connections through composed prayer
The Daily Office
Ritual, Routine, and Repetition as spiritual practice
Following Christ as our model for spiritual practice
Fasting and prayer
Ritual gives birth to creativity, excitement
How gloriously creative moments can come from routine practices
God creates extraordinary moments from the routine practices we participate in like liturgy in worship
Receiving God's inheritance as a life-giving gift, not a burden
Links and Resources:
S.D. Smith's Website- The Green Ember
- Ember Falls
- Del Ryder and the Crystal Seed
- Story Warren
- Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
- A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com1 hr 5 min - Sundi Jo Graham | Facing Brokenness
Episode 25 of the podcast features an interview with Sundi Jo Graham. Sundi Jo is an author and blogger, and is the founder of a ministry called Esther’s House of Redemption, which is a faith-based residential discipleship program, located in rural Missouri, offering hope to broken women. They serve women from all backgrounds, ages 18+, who struggle with life-controlling issues, such as alcohol and drug addictions, depression, self-harm, the aftermath of physical and sexual abuse, and more.
You'd think this episode might be super-heavy, but Sundi Jo is great at tackling big issues with grace, kindness, and simplicity.
Some of What We Talk About:
Why forgive and forget doesn’t work.
Forgiveness is a big part of healing.
The importance of actually facing your brokenness
Forgiveness is not a one-time thing
Asking God to be your Keeper
The importance of reading the Bible and Prayer
Counselling matters, friendship matters
Why thinking we’re okay on our own is prideful
Morning routines: coffee and scripture
Journalling
Listening to music as a spiritual practice
Having a better sleep routine
Setting goals
Links and Resources:
Sundi Jo’s Website
Esther’s House of Redemption
Dear Dad: Did You Know I Was a Princess by Sundi Jo Graham
Graham Cooke
Bethel Radio on Pandora
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com39 min - Adam Weber | Talking to God When You Don’t Know How
Episode 24 of the podcast features an interview with Adam Weber. Adam in the pastor of Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, SD, and is the author of Talking to God: What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Pray. What a phenomenal conversation. Adam has tons of energy, so much depth, and wants to help people connect with God in real ways. His book does just that! It is great for people who don’t know much about prayer or God and it provides encouragement for long-time Christians while being engaging for new Christians.
Some of What We Talk About:- Challenges in our prayer lives
- Staying connected to Jesus through prayer
- How prayer gets missed in our busy lives
- The joy that comes from connecting with Christ
- Making prayer routine and converting thoughts into prayers
- How it is okay to ask people for help.
- The importance of surrendering control to God.
- Why we waste time on worry and stress about life goals instead of praying for discernment from God and asking God for wisdom about what to do.
- How to understand God’s calling and the importance of community in hearing God.
Quotes from the Book- “Instead of it being another daily chore, something changes when prayer slowly becomes as natural as breathing. When we figure out that it no longer takes energy. Instead, prayer fills us with it. Prayer fills us with life.”
- “[Prayer] connects us with the One who treads water for us when we’re unable to swim ourselves. The Ultimate Plate Spinner who helps us discern which plates are actually worth spinning.”
- The longer I follow Jesus, the more I find myself praying, God, what do you want? What do you think I need? What is your plan? What is your will? The longer I follow Jesus, the more I find myself asking him to take control. And the more he takes control, the more I get to live into this response—’That was awesome, Dad!’”
Links and Resources:
Adam’s Website- Talking to God: What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Pray by Adam Weber
- Embrace Church
Follow Adam on Instagram- Follow Adam on Twitter
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com58 min - Lindsey Bracket | Fiction & Forgiveness
Episode 23 of the podcast features an interview with Lindsey Brackett. Lindsey is a writer of beautiful words. From her about page, Lindsey writes: "I like to string words together and make stories and images and memories that live and move and breathe in the confines of the imagination.” She observes life, beauty, grace, and God. Her first novel, Still Waters - (released on Sept 8, 2017), has forgiveness as its core theme.
Some of What We Talk About:
What does it mean to be “worthy” of forgiveness?
What are the limits of human forgiveness?
What does “spirituality” mean?
Spirituality is about seeking fellowship with God and trying to see God every day.
Being created with a need to connect with the spiritual because God wants to have a relationship with you.
Every day is a gift and that ordinary things can be God teaching us.
Writing as an overflow of the experience of God.
Being in community through writing.
Using your gifts in service for all kinds of people.
How fiction and different genres helps people enter into a deeper understanding of God, grace, and theological ideas.
Being the same person at church as you are in the rest of your life
Why “God won’t give you more than you can handle” isn’t true.- Spirituality in the family
The home being the primary place of Christian education
Having a quiet time with God
Having a time of listening to God rather than talking
Links and Resources:
Lindsay’s website: Just Write Life
Still Waters by Lindsey Brackett
Jesus Calling Devotion for Kids
Oswald Chambers
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com1 hr 2 min - Steve Brown | The Myth of a Balanced Life
Episode 22 features an interview with Steve Brown. Steve is the president of Arrow Leadership, which is an organization focussed on developing Christian leaders. We talk about how we often want a "balanced life," but that this might be quite different from a Christ-centered life. Steve is passionate about helping people develop sustainable rhythms that support a life centered on Jesus.
Some of What We Talk About:
Gaining basic awareness that God loves you, and why this is so important
Getting out of a performance mindset with God
Serving from acceptance versus serving for acceptance.
The danger of seeking “balance” in life
Being Christ centered rather than seeking balance
What are the sustainable rhythms that support a Christ-centred life?
Having a plan, a place, and a time to connect with God
Praying for God to teach you to abide, and praying on the armor of God
Having a Prayer calendar
The value of Sabbath and how our society suffers from “hurry sickness”
Links and Resources:
arrowleadership.org
sharpeningleaders.com
Leading Me: 8 practices for a Christian Leader’s Most Important Assignment by Steve Brown
Transforming Leadership: Jesus' Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change by Leighton Ford
Centered Life by Jack Fortin
God in My Everything by Ken Shigematsu
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com53 min
About Faithfully Creative
From the publisher's feed
Conversations with writers, musicians, and other artists on the connections between faith and creativity.
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