The guys record their final pod together as we send Aaron off to be a senior pastor at Bethesda Church in Huron, South Dakota. While it is indeed bittersweet, we know the Lord has good plans for our good friend. 

Aaron's recommendation: Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship by Jonathan Gibson, https://smile.amazon.com/Be-Thou-My-Vision-Liturgy/dp/1433578190/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HINUZJHDWW99&keywords=be+thou+my+vision&qid=1653327287&sprefix=be%2520thou%2520my%2520vision%2Caps%2C325&sr=8-1

This week the guys tackle Thomas Aquinas, the 13th century theologian. Does he go too far in using the concepts and philosophy of Aristotle to buttress Christian theology? Should we emulate him today? Will Tony's ceiling fall on his head? There is only one way to find out!

Aaron's recommendation: Ryan Reeves lectures on Thomas Aquinas, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xri0AMiAKIo

Class is in session! This week, the guys go into great depth on Augustine and his response to war and calamity in Rome, hopefully showing how it is relevant to our lives today. As a bonus, if you listen to the end, you get to hear them both mess up. It's a real treat.

Their recommendation: Augustine's Confessions, translated by Henry Chadwick, https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Oxford-Worlds-Classics-Augustine/dp/0199537828/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1COFA301IUYYP&keywords=augustine+confessions&qid=1646959139&sprefix=augustine%2520confessions%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-3

This week, the guys look to Athanasius, an early church father who shows us how to stand for what is right and true. 

Our recommendation: Athanasius, On the Incarnation, https://www.amazon.com/Incarnation-Saint-Athanasius-Popular-Patristics/dp/0881414271/ref=sr_1_1?crid=273D39LN11W6L&keywords=athanasius+on+the+incarnation&qid=1646597615&sprefix=athanasius%2520on%2520the%2520incarnation%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1

The guys begin a new series on heroes of the Christian faith, and start by looking at the early church's response to persecution within the Roman Empire. In the process, the discuss how Polycarp is worth emulating.

Tony's recommendation: "The Plot Thickens" podcast: https://theplotthickens.tcm.com/about/

Aaron's recommendation: The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation by Michael Reeves

The 1619 Project has become quite controversial among many. What is it? What should we think about it? How should we approach history? 

Tony's recommendations: Race and Reunion by David Blight, https://smile.amazon.com/Race-Reunion-Civil-American-Memory/dp/0674008197/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DCWWQI1CDUYP&keywords=race+and+reunion&qid=1644179692&sprefix=race%2520and%2520reunion%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

American Slavery, American Freedom by Edmund Morgan, https://smile.amazon.com/American-Slavery-Freedom-Edmund-Morgan/dp/039332494X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RJKD00T1TQXG&keywords=american+slavery%2C+american+freedom&qid=1644179768&sprefix=american+slavery%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1

For their last pod of the year, the guys reflect on how the last year has been, seeing what lessons have been learned and how they can look forward to the future. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This week, the guys close out J. I. Packer's Knowing God by discussing what he calls "the summit of summits"—Romans 8. 

Tony's recommendation: "The Beatles: Get Back" on DisneyPlus.

The guys are back and spend some time discussing a recent article from Aaron, on how to disagree on important issues well. Fortunately, Tony and Aaron agree all the time, so they didn't need it very much...

Aaron's article: "How to disagree like an Anabaptist," https://christianleadermag.com/how-to-disagree-like-an-anabaptist/

Aaron's recommendation: Who Is the Holy Spirit? Biblical Insights into His Divine Person by Malcolm Yarnell III, https://smile.amazon.com/Who-Holy-Spirit-Biblical-Insights/dp/1535937513/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=yarnell+holy+spirit&qid=1637443041&sr=8-1

We're back! After being gone for a few weeks after Tony's third daughter was born, the guys return to discuss the Christian response to Halloween. Should we celebrate it? If so, how? How does the gospel inform it? And what are our favorite candies?

Tony' recommendations: "What I Really Think About Halloween," by Russell Moore, https://www.russellmoore.com/2018/10/31/what-i-really-think-about-halloween/

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C. S. Lewis, https://smile.amazon.com/Surprised-Joy-Shape-Early-Life/dp/0062565435/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635710024&sr=8-1