My adopted dad recently passed away as I was already working on thoughts to share about my adopted mom who died 6 years ago. So, I put them all together.

"Don't wait until I'm dead to give me flowers!"

Outline:

00:46 --Intro

4:06--Honoring James/Dad

17:51--Honoring Vangie/Mom

28:53--A Fitting Conclusion

Brian talks with Laura Wilson about her Ph.D. dissertation on St. Dominica, an early deaconess in the church. Get a general intro to the Orthodox church as they discuss Icons and church history. Learn about Hagiography.

Laura's undergrad degree in Art with a minor in Greek influenced her transition to the Orthodox tradition and her faith in general.

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian explore chapters 6–8 of Deconstruct with Jesus: “Take Me Back to Eden,” “The Wounded Healer,” and “We’re in the Endgame Now.”They unpack the opening chapters of Genesis—not as a science debate, but as a poetic, theological vision of God’s intent for creation, humanity’s vocation, and what went wrong. Along the way, they reframe sin as a shortcut and a sickness to be healed, wrestle with the hope that God’s endgame is restoration, and offer practical ways to resist despair in a chaotic world.

Timecodes

[00:00] – Intro: Why combine chapters and move beyond literalism debates

[06:00] – Genesis as ancient myth: God’s intent for creation and humanity’s role

[14:00] – Not perfect—just good: why perfection was never the point

[20:00] – Humanity’s vocation: expanding the garden with God

[23:45] – The fall as shortcut: wanting good things in the wrong way and time

[33:00] – Gratitude as the antidote to temptation

[36:30] – Consequences, exile, and the hope embedded from the beginning

[43:00] – Deconstruction and letting go of old Bible baggage

[49:00] – The Wounded Healer: reframing sin as sickness, not crime

[52:30] – Salvation through solidarity: Christ as the one who takes on our sickness to heal us

[55:00] – The endgame: choosing hope over despair and nihilism

[58:30] – Signs of hope in the world (even if they don’t make the news)

Key Takeaways

• ​Genesis offers a symbolic vision of God’s intention for creation and humanity’s calling, not a science textbook.
• ​Sin is best understood as taking shortcuts—grasping for good things before their time—instead of trusting God’s process.
• ​Viewing sin as sickness shifts the focus from judgment to healing, with Christ entering our brokenness to restore us.
• ​Faith in God’s “endgame” invites hope and purposeful living, even when the world feels chaotic.

Buy The Book!Deconstruct with Jesus by Zachary Bryant

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After a long hiatus, Zach and Brian reconnect to reflect on where they’ve been, what’s going on, and how they’re navigating life lately. In this episode, they talk about dealing with sad news—from personal losses to the daily weight of the world—and share an honest conversation about how to stay emotionally and spiritually grounded. They reflect on the life and work of Walter Brueggemann, explore the tension between awareness and overload, and share small but meaningful practices that help them care for their hearts and minds.

Topics Covered & Timestamps:

[00:00] – Welcome back & life updates

[06:29] – The problem with hot takes in our culture

[11:37] – Remembering Walter Brueggemann and what he taught us

[21:29] – How sad news impacts us personally and spiritually

[29:46] – Coping strategies: limits, boundaries, and breathing room

[36:52] – The role of self-care in times of grief

[48:31] – Encouragement for staying grounded and hopeful

Resources Mentioned:

• ​Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann
• ​The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann

Support the Podcast:

If you found this episode meaningful, leave a review, share it with a friend, or support the work at eremosnashville.com/donate.

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 5, “Paul Needs a Hug.” They explore how the theology behind "total depravity" has shaped the way many Christians view themselves—and why it might be time to let it go. Through humor, honesty, and deep reflection, they reframe grace as something we don’t have to grovel for and invite listeners to see themselves as already beloved.

• [00:00] – Intro: Why this conversation might ruffle some feathers
• [04:55] – Is Jesus changing God's mind about us… or ours about God?
• [10:25] – “What a wretched man I am”: Was Paul writing doctrine or just having a rough day?
• [14:54] – The Bible is for you, but it wasn’t written to you
• [20:19] – Redefining grace: God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves
• [24:30] – Do we actually deserve God’s love? Reframing worthiness and gift-giving
• [35:22] – Identity matters: why believing you're beloved changes how you live
• [53:01] – Practicing receptivity: silence, stillness, and sitting in the loving gaze of God

Some Memorable Quotes from the Episode

“What makes you deserving of a gift is the giver’s desire to give it.” – Zach

“We’re not totally depraved. We’re totally loved.” – Zach

“All God asks of us is regular consent to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.” – Zach

“If your theology isn’t emotionally and psychologically healthy, maybe it’s not good theology.” – Brian

Buy The Book!

• Deconstruct with Jesus by Zachary Bryant

More podcasts and resources can be found at eremosnashville.com

If you found this episode meaningful, leave a review, share it with a friend, or support our work at eremosnashville.com/donate.

In this episode, Zach and Brian continue their series on Deconstruct with Jesus, diving into Chapter 4: No Whipping Boy, No Mermaid, Just Love.

This discussion explores how our understanding of God’s justice and love is often shaped by atonement theories—particularly penal substitutionary atonement—and whether that framework truly aligns with the heart of Jesus.

Zach and Brian unpack the idea that many Christians grow up believing in a God who is inherently wrathful, with Jesus stepping in to shield us from divine punishment. They challenge this view by looking at Jesus’ own teachings, asking whether God’s justice is primarily about punishment or about restoration. They also explore how this affects our ability to trust God’s love, and whether Jesus’ mission was truly successful if most people are still lost.

Using metaphors from history (the whipping boy) and pop culture (The Little Mermaid), they illustrate how distorted views of God’s nature lead to fear-based faith rather than real intimacy. Ultimately, they wrestle with the question: Does God always get what God wants? And if not, what does that mean for us?

• The "whipping boy" metaphor—Does Jesus take punishment on our behalf, or is something else happening?
• The problem with a wrathful God vs. loving Jesus dynamic
• Jesus as the full revelation of God—why this changes how we understand divine justice
• If God desires none to perish (2 Peter 3:9), why do so many?
• Why many Christians struggle to feel loved by God despite believing in His love

Get Deconstruct with Jesus by Zachary Bryant on Amazon

Visit eramosnashville.com for blogs, events, and spiritual direction resources.

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Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Zachary and Brian continue the discussion on Zach's book, Deconstruct with Jesus, diving into Chapter 3.

They explore how faith isn't about having all the right answers but about learning to sit with the unknown. From theological debates to personal experiences, they discuss how embracing mystery can deepen trust in God rather than weaken it.

✅ [01:37] – Why embracing mystery is essential to faith
✅ [03:00] – When “mystery” is used to shut down conversations
✅ [04:44] – The Trinity as the ultimate mystery in Christianity
✅ [08:58] – The “Mob Boss” view of God & manipulative salvation
✅ [15:41] – Science vs. faith—why they don’t have to be in conflict
✅ [17:29] – Trusting without knowing everything—faith as experience
✅ [21:45] – Certainty vs. confidence—why certainty can hinder growth
✅ [26:37] – Openness to mystery & experiencing more of God
✅ [30:59] – How fundamentalism exists on both sides
✅ [35:43] – Is belief in the resurrection “crazy”? Why it’s improbable but not impossible
✅ [37:50] – Experience as evidence, not proof—how faith is built

📖 Buy Deconstruct with Jesus
📜 Get TheEREMOS Lent Guide

If you enjoy the EREMOS Podcast, consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review and sharing it with friends. You can also support our work by donating at eremosnashville.com.

In this episode of the Eremos Podcast, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 2 of Deconstruct with Jesus—The God I Don’t Believe In. They tackle the gods they were handed—the vengeful, the transactional, the distant—and why rejecting those gods doesn’t mean rejecting God altogether.

What if the God we’ve deconstructed wasn’t God at all? What if there’s a God more loving than we ever imagined?

They explore the emotional weight behind deconstruction, the dangers of a faith built on fear, and why some people cling to the idea of hell so fiercely. If you’ve ever felt like the version of God you were given is more harmful than holy—this episode is for you.

📖Get the book!Deconstruct with Jesus by Zachary Bryant →Amazon Link

📩Join the conversation: Have thoughts or questions? Email us [email protected]

🌎Visit Us Online:EremosNashville.com

Timecodes

00:00 – Welcome to the Eremos Podcast00:41 – The Problem with God: Deconstructing harmful beliefs

02:22 – Polytheism & Atheism? The many gods we reject03:35 – The Emotional Arguments Against God: Why most deconstructions aren’t about logic04:54 – The “God Must Think Like Me” Trap: How we project our expectations onto God06:33 – Your God Sucks, But That Doesn’t Mean God Isn’t Real

09:07 – The God of My Understanding: What we get wrong about belief12:33 – Progressive Revelation: Why our understanding of God is meant to evolve18:23 – Jesus as the Way, Not Just the Destination

28:09 – The False Gods We Believed In: Genie God, Kidnapper God, Mascot God & More31:02 – If God is Love, Why Do We Believe He’s a Monster?

36:28 – What if Hell is the One We Create? A new perspective on salvation42:08 – Religion as Control: How theology has been weaponized50:48 – Why Do Some Christians Cling to Hell? (Hint: It’s not about theology)

57:10 – Jesus Is Not Your Mascot: How faith gets hijacked by politics

1:02:59 – The Invitation to Rethink, Not Reject, Faith

In the second episode of the series, Zach and Brian dive into the real meaning ofrepentance. It’s not about guilt or shame—it’s about rethinking everything. They explore Jesus’ call to “repent” (Mark 1:15) as an invitation to deconstruct unhealthy beliefs and embrace transformation.

Timestamps:
00:02 – Intro
04:18 – When did hellfire preaching take over?
12:46 – Repentance as deconstruction
22:21 – Why open-mindedness is a kingdom value
40:07 – Faith isn’t about being right

ReadDeconstruct with Jesus → https://www.eremosnashville.com/books
Featuring music by Scott Simpson → https://www.scottsimpsonmusic.com/

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Lisa shares the story of her son Brendan, who died from an accidental overdose on fentanyl. It's a story of courage, continuing when it's dark, and healing.

"Nobody Grieves Perfectly" is a statement we agreed on.

Lisa appreciated her therapist reminded her, "Of Course!?"

Lisa and I led some Griefshare groups together and we also talked about Compassionate Friends. Click on those links to get more info and find a group meeting near you.

Information on Fentanyl

The Center for Disease Control

The Drug Enforcement Admin