Mid-faith Crisis

It’s the first of our series on Nick’s book, The Badly Behaved Bible. We talk about the misinformation surrounding the scriptures, whether Christians have to read the Bible at all, and how we can experience the Bible and not merely ‘study’ it.

• How to Survive the Mid-Faith Crisis: Lee Abbey 8-12 June 2020

• The Badly Behaved Bible on Amazon
• The Badly Behaved Bible on Eden.co.uk
• The Badly Behaved Bible on Hive.co.uk
• The Badly Behaved Bible at Waterstones

How do we deal with feelings of failure? How do we change the wrong narratives that tend to trap us? We explore the power of the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. Featuring an introduction by a very special guest! (Warning: contains cricket references.)

How to run a Mid-Faith Crisis Bookgroup: Download the Complete and Utter Sheet

• Peak-End Theory

Happy Christmas everyone. For some reason Joe has decided that mid-July is the ideal time to reflect on Christmas. So grab a mince pie, pull a cracker and join us to reflect on the idea of incarnation and how crucial it is, not just to Christmas, but to every single day of our life. Also we announce the first Midfaith Crisis Book club. Sort of. Much to his embarrassment, we’re going to work through Nick’s latest book, The Badly Behaved Bible. So get hold of a copy and join us. Or not. Whatevs.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Eden.co.uk
• Buy on Hive.co.uk
• Buy at Waterstones

Nick’s been on a pilgrimage. (Or a pubgrimage as his wife called it). We talk about what defines a pilgrimage, and what makes it different from a hike. (It’s something to do with intentionality, a sacred destination and quality footwear.) Also lots of the usual quality feedback.

• Episode 63: On Pilgrimage with Alexander Shaia
• St Martin’s Church, Canterbury
• The Pilgrim’s Way

Can we really say anything about God? We talk about the need to get rid of old images of God and replace them with new ones. And even then, whether the new ones can possibly tell the real story. It’s all apophatic theology versus kataphatic theology and whether we can ever eff the ineffable. All this plus the new album from Martin Luther Vandross.

A lot of feedback this episode, with people sharing their thin places, and questions about counselling and communities. We talk about the benefits of spiritual direction, Joe wants more bongos in the opening and Nick has to chase the dog.

Yes, we’re back from our trip to the RSPB Minsmere Bird Reserve. And in this, short, but perfectly formed episode, we reflect on what we saw there, talk about letting go of things and the importance of welcoming our visitors - even the unwelcome ones. There’s an email about a visit to Chernobyl and Joe drifts off into talking about death. Happy days.

• The Mid-faith Crisis Bird Sheet
• Nick and Joe in 'Bless Off’ T-shirts

Nick interviews writer and all-round top bloke Adrian Plass. We talk about church, living in community, speaking honestly, some surprising answers to prayer and how he’s finally come to really like God. Also, check out Adrian’s latest books The Shadow Doctor, and Shadow Doctor: The Past Awaits.

We talk about the places where you really get a sense of God's presence. We know that God is with us everywhere and at every moment – but why is it that we feel that presence more in some places than others? Joe talks about the Minsmere Bird Reserve, Nick talks about a cave church on Patmos, both struggle to find the words. There’s a bit of badly-quoted poetry, some great emails, a quote from Saint George Michael and a surprising amount of Bongos.

Nick talks about his new book. Also we look at the importance of asking the right question, the need to recognise what path of life we’re on, and how to build more attentiveness into your day. Not to mention some merchandise possibilities and the therapeutic value of John Wick 3.

Nick Page, The Badly Behaved Bible

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Eden.co.uk
• Buy on Hive.co.uk
• Buy at Waterstones