Restlessness is a Gift

After a LONG time away, the otherWISE podcast is back with an episode that I know you’ll enjoy. In this conversation, Catherine McNiel talks about the way we navigate different seasons of our spiritual journey. We talk about gardening and how the writing life informs the way she engages with God in different stages and states of growth. Her new book, All Shall Be Well: Awakening to God’s Presence In His Messy, Abundant World releases on Tuesday, August 6th.

Catherine is a writer and speaker who seeks to open eyes to God’s creative, redemptive work in each day—while caring for three kids, two jobs, and one enormous garden. Catherine's first book, Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline, was an ECPA finalist for New Author. She’s on the lookout for wisdom, beauty, and iced coffee.

Music by Robert EbbensCover art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

In today’s conversation we have the chance to talk with Carol Berry, artist and author of Learning From Henri Nouwen and Vincent Van Gogh: A Portrait of the Compassionate Life.

We talk about the lived, incarnational kind of wisdom that both Nouwen and Van Gogh exhibited in their life and work. Also, we talk about the intersection of these two luminous figures with Carol and her husband’s life in ministry from L.A. to the northeast. Carol Berry presents us with a clear picture of what the compassionate life really looks like by asking us to see things through the lens of the psychologist/priest and the “failed” missionary artist.

Carol Berry is an artist, educator and lecturer at the Vermont Humanities Council. She has also published chapters in the books Compassionate Eschatology: The Future as Friend and Turning the Wheel: Henri Nouwen and Our Search for God. She has an MA in art education from California State University.

Casey Tygrett’s book, As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life, is also available now.

Music by Robert EbbensCover Art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

Today we talk with author & lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley about the life crisis that led him to develop a system of simple, soul-saving habits. His book The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose In An Age of Distraction is a practical look at how we can incorporate those same life-giving practices into our own lives.

Justin is a mergers & acquisitions lawyer living with his wife Lauren and four boys in Richmond, Virginia. He spent several years in China working with The Urbanity Project and also as the director of Thought & Culture Shapers, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the community through the arts.

We also discussed the book God In My Everything: How An Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God.

Music by Robert EbbensCover Art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

This week’s conversation is a BIT different as it is an ACTUAL conversation.

Our guest, Austin Gohn, generously suggested that we spend some time the similarities and intersections of two recent books. Austin’s recent book, A Restless Age: How Saint Augustine Helps You Make Sense of Your Twenties is closely aligned with your “esteemed” host’s, As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories In Our Spiritual Life.

In this conversation, we talk about St. Augustine and how the restlessness of young adults today mirrors the restlessness of Augustine himself. What might Augustine have to say to our restlessness these days?

We also tap into how memories and specifically the writing of a spiritual autobiography can be extremely helpful to our present and future spiritual growth.

Austin Gohn (M.Div., Trinity School for Ministry) is one of the pastors of Bellevue Christian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has written for Fathom Mag, Gospel-Centered Discipleship, The Living Church (Covenant), and The Gospel Coalition. Find out more at www.austingohn.com. 

One BRILLIANT book we also mention is The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, an immediate must-add for your reading list.

Music by Robert EbbensCover Art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

We’ve had a few weeks off from the podcast - did you miss us?

We return with the FIRST return guest of the otherWISE podcast, our dear friend C. Christopher Smith. His new book, How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation In the Church is a relevant and helpful resource for both individuals and communities.

Christopher helps us walk through the theology of communication, the way our bodies work on a conversational basis, and gives some insight into communicating in our divisive social media culture.

C. Christopher Smith is a long-time member of the Englewood Christian Church community on the urban Near Eastside of Indianapolis, founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books, and acclaimed author.

Chris was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the Southern Maryland suburbs of the nation’s capital. He graduated from a large public high school, and came to the midwest to do his undergraduate work at Taylor University, an evangelical liberal arts school. After college, he got a fellowship to study history and philosophy of science at Indiana University, eventually graduating with an M.A. He has lived in central Indiana for over 25 years.

He and Jeni Newswanger Smith have been married for almost 20 years. They have three teenage children, and live intentionally as part of the Englewood Christian Church community in the Englewood neighborhood.

Books we talked about:

Sherwin Nuland, The Wisdom of the Body

Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Henri Nouwen, Donald McNeill, & Douglas Morrison, Compassion

Willie James Jennings, Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible

Don’t forget you can also pick up a copy of Casey’s new book, As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life wherever you buy your books!

Music by: Robert EbbensCover Art by: Eric Wright/Metamora Design

This week on the podcast, we talk with author and pastor Aubrey Sampson about her book The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament. This isn’t just a book, this is a recollection of Aubrey’s life experiences, journeying with Jesus through the darker spaces of life.

Aubrey is a church planter, speaker, and the pastor of discipleship and equipping at Renewal Church in the Chicagoland area. She is also the author of Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul.

Aubrey writes for Propel Women and is currently earning her Masters degree in Evangelism and Leadership. She and her pastor-husband Kevin have three hilarious sons--which is to say there's a lot of Fortnite, Marvel, and Arsenal Football Club noise on in the background of her life. Connect with Aubrey at www.aubreysampson.com or @aubsamp.  

We talked (again) about the wonderful book The Critical Journey: Stages In the Life of Faith and if you’re curious about the Enneagram you can read Chris Heuertz’s (husband of otherWISE guest Phileena Heuertz!) book The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth.

Music written & recorded by Robert Ebbens.Cover art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design.

This week, we talk with author and pastor Kellye Fabian about the challenges of her life and the birth of the book Sacred Questions: A Transformative Journey Through the Bible.

Kellye serves at Willow Creek Community Church where she is the Pastor of Protection, Conciliation, and Doctrinal Casework. She has written daily devotionals, small-group content, and class curriculum, in addition to leading spiritual discipline workshops and spiritual practices. Formerly a trial attorney, Kellye has a Certificate of Spiritual Formation through the Transforming Center and is pursuing a master of arts degree in New Testament at Northern Seminary. She lives with her family in the Chicago area.

Music for the podcast provided by Robert Ebbens..Cover art by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

This week on the otherWISE podcast we talk with author Ed Cyzewski about how contemplative practices (including driving in silence!) reconnected him with a deep stream of ancient Christian wisdom. HIs book Flee, Be Silent, Pray explains how these contemplative practices give context and depth to our formation today.

Ed is a freelance writer, editor, and retreat leader. He is the author of multiple books and also an encouraging newsletter on contemplation and writing. You can find more about Ed on his website. He and his family currently live in Nashville, TN.

Books we mentioned on the podcast:

Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Way of the HeartThomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander

Music for the podcast provided by Robert Ebbens.

Logo by Eric Wright/Metamora Design

On this episode of the otherWISE podcast, we talk with writer Bonnie Kristian about her book A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What it Means to Follow Jesus Today. Bonnie walks us through discerning what is “doctrine” and “dogma” and provides a few examples historically of what it means to interact with each other wisely along the journey with Jesus.

Bonnie is weekend editor at The Week and fellow at Defense Priorities. Her writing has also appeared at other publications, including Time, CNN, Politico, The Hill, Relevant Magazine, Rare, The American Conservative, and more. In 2016, she graduated from Bethel Seminary with an M.A. in Christian Thought, and is currently exploring options for Ph.D. work in ethics. You can find more about Bonnie on her website.

Music this week is provided by my dear friend Robert Ebbens. Cover art is courtesy of Eric Wright/Metamora Design.

This week the otherWISE podcast RETURNS!

This episode debuts a new format, some new music by my good friend Robert Ebbens, and an extended conversation with poet and community leader Padraig O’Tuama.

Poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama’s work centres around themes of language, religion, conflict and art. Working fluently on the page and with groups of people, Pádraig is a skilled speaker, teacher and group worker. His work has won acclaim in circles of poetry, politics, religion, psychotherapy and conflict analysis.

He is currently finishing up time as the Community Leader at the Corrymeela community in Belfast, Ireland. His books include:

Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community, Canterbury Press, 2017.  

In the Shelter  Hodder & Stoughton and Hachette Ireland, Feb 2015.

Sorry for your Troubles. Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2013

Readings from the Books of Exile. Norwich, Canterbury Press, 2012 .

“Human in the City” and 12 poems, Discovering the Spirit in the City. London: Continuum 2010.

We talk about everything from the history of the northern portion of Ireland, the way poetry is evidence of a poet’s hunger, and the wisdom that comes in seeing how God teaches us through story and poetry together. I mention a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart as well.

If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and rate on iTunes when you have a chance. Thanks!