On this episode of Rediscovering, I have the honor of interviewing Strahan Coleman, a writer and musician from New Zealand. Strahan's work has been formative in my life, and I pray that this conversation is a blessing to you! We talk about his new book, Beholding, stumbling through God-given dreams, dead dreams, grieving, and living prophetically. My favorite kind of conversation. Thank you, Strahan!

Links:

Buy "Beholding" by: Strahan Coleman

More from Strahan

Buy "The Rage Against Grace" by: Jordan Sleed

In the anger that comes with aching for a better world, we are left longing for power. It's inescapable, this desire to see God. John begins his gospel describing Jesus as the One who offers us "power to become children of God". But the power to become what we long to be isn't accessed through anger and control. It's accessed through trust, or acceptance of God as he is. Is there a way God is inviting you to accept him as he is, right now? 

“He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1v11-13, NRSV

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Keep in touch! Email me: [email protected]

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“The birth of righteousness and love in this stern world is always a virgin birth.” -Frederick Buechner

We're made to tell and hear stories. As we approach Christmas, we might be reminded of the slowness in our own stories. If you're like me, you'll find it hard to go through seasons of slowness without getting demanding, forceful, and even confused about whether God is still with you or not. God continually shows up in surprisingly gentle ways. He takes the long route of development, and I believe it reveals something about his nature. I believe it reveals that he cares more about you and I than he does the timeline.

Here's the poem I quoted:

“I now see this is who you’ve always been

The Writer who is unafraid to set down the pen

To look at the words written with delight and grace

Until they carry this love that cannot be erased”

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Keep in touch! Email me: [email protected]

Buy my book

See you soon!

Friends, this conversation was such a joy. Andy Squyres has quickly worked his way into being one of my favorite songwriters (and writers). As you'll hear in the conversation, it's not just his cleverness and wit (although he has it). It's his willingness to, as he says, "tell the whole story" through pastoral artistry. We cover a lot of ground in this interview, but not without thoroughly examining said ground.

At the time of this interview, Andy was beginning this new, pivotal moment of his life. Yet the clarity and soundness of mind he brings to the common questions many are asking in the Post-Christian West doesn't leave you feeling unheard or confused. Perhaps he sums his artistic vocation and its place up best when he says: "I'm confusing... I'm not confused, but I'm confusing." While his words may, to some audiences, feel like a stumbling block, his work is not based in resentment, polarization, or anything of the power-grabbing sort. It's rooted in love, and it's been a blessing to me. I pray this conversation, and his writings bless you.

More about Andy.

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I'll see you soon. Thanks so much for listening!

Holy Saturday is a confusing day. Thankfully, we know the good news of it leading to Easter Sunday. But, is there something to be learned from its initial uncertainty? Is there an invitation to learn to pray more vulnerably on a day like Saturday?

"Saturday"

Rain on Holy Saturday

Grieved, uncertain, and shrouded in gray

Rain is the language of Saturday

Birds still sing, as if they know something

And I have one thing to do: wait

This poem is in my book, "The Rage Against Grace"

Good Friday invites us to notice where our zealous expectations of God lead to disappointment. Where do we go from there?

"Friday"

Misunderstood and patient King

Accused and slapped under cover of night

Abandoned by friends under rule of fight or flight

Misunderstood and patient King

Congratulating the meek, poor, and oppressed

Promising an unrecognizable, longed-for sabbath rest

You are not who I thought you would be

You cast down my sword to set me free

Yet defenseless and cold I still cannot see

Death as the inauguration of jubilee

Misunderstood and patient Friend

In darkness I find it easy to pretend

Warming my hands by the fire in regret

It’s almost truth to say I never knew you

Because I did not quite, yet

Find this poem in my book, "The Rage Against Grace".

Brennan Manning once wrote: “I've decided that if I had my life to live over again, I would not only climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets; I wouldn't only jettison my hot water bottle, raincoat, umbrella, parachute, and raft; I would not only go barefoot earlier in the spring and stay out later in the fall; but I would devote not one more minute to monitoring my spiritual growth. No, not one.” 

As somebody who devotes a lot of attention to stat-keeping, this brings up a necessary question: Is keeping track of spiritual growth more harmful than it is helpful?

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Contact me: [email protected]

Buy my poetry book: https://www.amazon.com/Rage-Against-Grace-Healing-Resistant/dp/1952842638/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QNABUB3R2740&keywords=jordan+sleed+the+rage+against+grace&qid=1646696706&sprefix=jordan+sleed+the+rage+against+grac%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1

I'll see you soon. Thanks so much for listening!

I love praying with Psalm 73. In my questioning of what is fair, I often feel that I'll be safe once I have an answer. But an answer isn't big enough to hold a whole human life. It's enough to bring encouragement, relief, and direction at most. Refuge in the Living God follows the relief that comes (or doesn't come) from answers.

Reducing our expectations of God may seem wise, but ends up being draining. Perhaps God is better than we've imagined. And perhaps we can pray like that's true.

Generally, I want to have certainty about my day-to-day life, almost like the certainty of a checklist. I want to feel in control. This is why I find it interesting that, throughout Scripture, God chooses to speak to His people through dreams and visions. Dreams are often blurry. They leave us with a lot of questions. Why is this such a popular method of communication for God?