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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 063C.S. Lewis, Narnia, and the Wade Center (with Dr. David Downing)

Welcome to Episode 63 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this special episode, the Thinklings welcome Dr. David Downing, co-director of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College and one of the foremost scholars on C.S. Lewis. The conversation explores Lewis’s life, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Ransom Trilogy, literary imagination, Christian education, and the work of preserving Lewis’s legacy through the Wade Center. Along the way, Dr. Downing shares insights from decades of Lewis scholarship and offers a glimpse into some remarkable artifacts housed at the Wade Center.

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Carter

Redwall — Brian Jacques

Thinkling Little

Contributions of Selected Rhetorical Devices to a Biblical Theology of the Song of Songs — Mark McGinnis

Thinkling Stearns

C.S. Lewis: A Life — Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet — Alister McGrath

Dr. David Downing

The Pilgrim’s Progress — John Bunyan

Discussion of Lewis’s Pilgrim’s Regress and the Wade Center Annotated Edition

🦁 Main Conversation

Dr. Downing discusses:

His journey to becoming a Lewis scholar

Discovering Lewis through Perelandra and later reading the entire Narnia series twice in a single month

The history and mission of the Marion E. Wade Center

Lewis’s personal library, annotations, and manuscripts

The famous Lewis wardrobe housed at the Wade Center

Why The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe should be read first, despite modern editions often placing The Magician’s Nephew first

Changes Lewis made between British and American editions of Narnia

The theological depth of characters like Edmund and Eustace

Christian imagination, moral formation, and sanctification in Lewis’s fiction

The distinction between the “Ransom Trilogy” and the commonly used term “Space Trilogy”

The future of Narnia adaptations and concerns surrounding modern reinterpretations of Lewis’s work

Classical Christian education, Dorothy Sayers, and The Lost Tools of Learning

🏛️ The Wade Center

Dr. Downing shares fascinating details about the Wade Center, including:

Lewis’s wardrobe from his childhood home in Belfast

Lewis’s desk and personal library

Tolkien’s desk and writing pen

Thousands of books owned and marked by Lewis

Extensive archives devoted to Lewis, Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and other major Christian writers

The Wade Center serves both as a research archive and a museum, preserving the literary and spiritual legacy of these influential authors.

🎭 Special Announcement

The Thinklings discuss the Fellowship for Performing Arts production of The Most Reluctant Convert, based on Dr. Downing’s book about Lewis’s conversion. They also explore efforts to bring the production to Iowa and the continuing influence of Lewis on students and younger generations.

🌿 Final Meditation

Dr. Downing closes with a reflection on 2 Kings 6:15–17, where Elisha prays that his servant’s eyes would be opened to see the heavenly army surrounding them.

He reminds listeners that Christians often become overwhelmed when they focus only on material realities. Christian writers, artists, and storytellers help open our eyes to the deeper spiritual realities that surround us. Like Elisha’s servant, we need God to help us see that reality is far greater than what is immediately visible.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 062The Chronicles of Christmas (Part 2)

Welcome to Episode 62 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this special Christmas episode, the Thinklings continue their annual tradition of sharing book recommendations for the Christmas season. Whether you’re enjoying time off from work, traveling for the holidays, or simply looking for something worthwhile to read, this episode is packed with recommendations ranging from theology and discipleship to classic literature and children’s stories. Along the way, the conversation takes several unexpected turns into education, discipleship, virtue, and the Christian life.

📚 Christmas Reading Recommendations

Thinkling Little

* Hearers and Doers — Kevin Vanhoozer

* Hear My Son: Teaching and Learning in Proverbs 1–9 — Daniel Estes

* Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World — Michael Horton

* When People Are Big and God Is Small — Ed Welch

Thinkling Carter

* A Christmas Carol — Charles Dickens

* The Short Stories of O. Henry

* Peace Like a River — Leif Enger

* The Sign of the Beaver — Elizabeth George Speare

Thinkling Stearns

* Christianity Considered — John Frame

* Letters from Father Christmas — J.R.R. Tolkien

* Christianity for Modern Pagans — Peter Kreeft

* The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C.S. Lewis

Special Guest: Dr. Doug Brown

* The Man Christ Jesus — Bruce Ware

* A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry — Michael McGarry

* Hear My Son: Teaching and Learning in Proverbs 1–9 — Daniel Estes

🎄 Main Conversation

The Thinklings discuss the value of reading during the Christmas season, the importance of imagination in discipleship, the role of ordinary faithfulness in the Christian life, and the slow, often unseen work of spiritual growth. The conversation explores parenting, youth ministry, sanctification, friendship, and the challenge of cultivating wisdom over time.

🌿 Final Thoughts

Growth in the Christian life is usually not dramatic or instantaneous. More often, it comes through ordinary faithfulness, daily obedience, and steady trust in God over many years. Christmas provides a fitting opportunity to slow down, read good books, enjoy family, and reflect on God’s work in our lives.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 061The Shrewd Steward (Part 2)

Welcome to Episode 61 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week, the Thinklings welcome Dr. Josh Boyd back to the podcast for Books & Business before returning to Jesus’ Parable of the Shrewd Steward in Luke 16. The conversation focuses on money, stewardship, self-righteousness, and what it means to truly love God rather than wealth.

📚 Books & Business

* Thinkling Carter — Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

* Dr. Boyd — Literature: A Student’s Guide by Louis Markos and the upcoming Fundamental Lit Forum

* Thinkling Little — The Flirtation Experiment by Lisa Jacobson & Felicia Masonheimer

* Thinkling Stearns — Reflections on finishing the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

📖 Main Content

The Thinklings conclude their discussion of the Parable of the Shrewd Steward (Luke 16), exploring Jesus’ warning against the love of money and His confrontation of the self-righteous Pharisees. The conversation considers stewardship, generosity, eternal priorities, and how believers should think about wealth in light of God’s kingdom.

🌿 Final Thought

Money is a great servant but a terrible master. Christians are called to love God, use their resources wisely, and invest in things that have eternal value.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 60Contentment: What Does It Look Like?

Welcome to Episode 60 of The Thinklings Podcast!

The Thinklings celebrate a podcast milestone, discuss the launch of Dr. Josh Boyd’s new Fundamental Lit reading group, and spend time reflecting on books, reading habits, and the value of pursuing deep study over long periods of time. Andy Stearns then concludes his series on contentment by asking a practical question: What does a contented heart actually look like?

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little

* The Warden and the Wolf King (Wingfeather Saga, Book 4) — Andrew Peterson

Tim shares his continued enjoyment of the Wingfeather Saga, praising Peterson’s storytelling, humor, and layered writing. He reflects on the rereadability of the series and the richness that emerges through repeated engagement with good stories.

Thinkling Stearns

* Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality — Shannon K. Evans

Andy reviews and critiques Evans’ vision of femininity, motherhood, selflessness, and empowerment. The discussion touches on humility, sacrifice, anger, and the differences between contemporary cultural perspectives and biblical teaching.

Thinkling Carter

* Peace Like a River — Leif Enger

Charlie discusses his early impressions of this Minnesota-based novel, highlighting its themes of family, miracles, justice, and Christian faith. The conversation expands into reading goals, audiobooks, and the importance of cultivating lifelong habits of thoughtful reading.

📖 Main Content

Contentment: What Does It Look Like?

Andy concludes his contentment series by drawing on Thomas Watson, Jeremiah Burroughs, Eric Raymond, and William Barclay. Rather than simply defining contentment, he explores five characteristics that mark a genuinely contented heart.

The five marks of a contented heart are:

* A Silent Heart — one that does not grumble, complain, or murmur against God.

* A Cheerful Heart — one that actively bears God-given responsibilities with joy.

* A Thankful Heart — one that gives thanks regardless of circumstances.

* A Heart Not Bound by Circumstances — one whose joy is rooted in Christ rather than changing conditions.

* A Heart That Does Not Avoid Trouble Through Sin — one that refuses sinful shortcuts to escape suffering or responsibility.

The Thinklings discuss how contentment intersects with wealth, relationships, suffering, stewardship, sanctification, and the Christian pursuit of holiness. Drawing from Philippians 4, 1 Timothy 6, and other passages, they emphasize that true contentment is found not in favorable circumstances but in Christ Himself.

🌱 Final Reflection

The episode concludes with an encouragement to choose a meaningful topic for long-term study. Whether contentment, holiness, gratitude, or another virtue, sustained meditation and repeated reflection can deepen understanding and renew the mind. The Thinklings challenge listeners to pursue Christ-centered growth with patience and intentionality.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 59Becoming Lady Wisdom

Welcome to Episode 59 of The Thinklings Podcast!

The Thinklings begin with some lighthearted banter about the upcoming Iowa–Michigan Big Ten Championship game before diving into another round of Books & Business. From productivity and creativity to Christian publishing and storytelling, the conversation covers a wide range of topics before Tim Little presents the third installment of his series on Lady Wisdom in the wisdom literature.

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Stearns

Soundtracks by Jon Acuff

Andy discusses Acuff’s book on overthinking and productivity, prompting a broader conversation about Christian publishing, motivation, wisdom, and the difference between worldly productivity advice and biblically grounded living.

Thinkling Carter

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

Charlie reflects on Peterson’s exploration of creativity, artistic vocation, and faithful stewardship of imaginative gifts. The Thinklings discuss writing, storytelling, habit formation, and the role of Christian artists in shaping culture.

Thinkling Little

The Monster in the Hollows (Wingfeather Saga, Book 3) by Andrew Peterson

Tim shares his enthusiasm for the third installment of the Wingfeather Saga, leading to a lively discussion about fiction, imagination, worldbuilding, and the enduring value of stories that are beautiful, true, and good.

🌿 Main Content

Becoming Lady Wisdom (Part 3)

Tim continues his study of Lady Wisdom, Dame Folly, and the Song of Songs. Focusing on Song of Songs 3 and Proverbs 7, he explores the contrast between the life-giving love of the excellent wife and the destructive allure of Dame Folly. The discussion highlights covenant love, self-sacrifice, marriage, wisdom, and the call to build up one’s household through Christlike love.

Key themes include:

Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly as competing visions of life

The excellent wife as a builder of her household

Biblical love as selfless, sacrificial, and covenantal

The relationship between wisdom, marriage, and the order of creation

“Awakening love” in its proper time and context

🌱 Final Exhortation

The episode concludes with a reflection on biblical love as a “take up your cross and follow Christ” kind of love—deep, covenantal, and empowered by God’s love for His people. Listeners are encouraged to pursue wisdom and cultivate Christlike love in every stage of life.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethinklingspodcast.substack.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 58Thanksgivlings 2022

Welcome to Episode 58 of The Thinklings Podcast!

It’s time once again for the annual Thanksgivlings special. In this extended holiday episode, the Thinklings celebrate Thanksgiving by reflecting on books, interacting with listener emails, sharing stories and jokes from the podcast community, and discussing the Christian virtue of thankfulness. The episode is designed as a longer conversation for listeners traveling home for the holiday season.

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little

Song of Songs for Singles (a book project in progress with Angela Little)

Thinkling Stearns

Simple Trinity by Michael Barrett

An introduction to the thought of Thomas Aquinas by Edward Feser

North! Or Be Eaten (Wingfeather Saga Book 2) by Andrew Peterson

Thinkling Carter

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Thinklings discuss singleness and wisdom in Song of Songs, Trinitarian theology, the Wingfeather Saga, friendship in Tolkien’s work, and why The Lord of the Rings remains one of the greatest stories ever written.

📨 Listener Appreciation

A major portion of the episode is devoted to listener emails received throughout the life of the podcast. The Thinklings answer questions, revisit book recommendations, discuss God’s will and wisdom, share listener-submitted memes, and celebrate the many people who have supported the show. They repeatedly award listeners a “10 on the Thinklings Goodness Scale” while reflecting on memorable interactions from the past year.

🌿 Final Meditation

The episode concludes with a discussion of thankfulness as a distinctly Christian virtue. The Thinklings consider how gratitude flows from recognizing God’s goodness and providence, encouraging listeners to cultivate thankful hearts during the Thanksgiving season.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethinklingspodcast.substack.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 057The Shrewd Steward (Part 1)

Welcome to Episode 57 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week, the Thinklings share updates from their reading, discuss friendship through the letters of Tolkien and Lewis, reflect on Charlie’s role in a production of A Christmas Carol, and then begin a two-part study of one of Jesus’ most challenging parables: the Shrewd Steward in Luke 16.

📚 Books & Business

* Thinkling Carter — The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

* Thinkling Little — The Knowable Word by Peter Krol

* Thinkling Stearns — How Should a Christian Date? by Eric Demeter

📖 Main Content

Charlie introduces the Parable of the Shrewd Steward (Luke 16) and models a method for studying difficult passages. The conversation focuses on literary context, Luke’s presentation of Jesus’ ministry, and the ongoing conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees.

The Thinklings explore how Luke 15–16 highlights the danger of self-righteousness, the Pharisees’ love of money, and Jesus’ call to genuine discipleship. Rather than immediately solving every interpretive question, they emphasize careful reading, context, and observation as the foundation for understanding Scripture.

🌿 Key Takeaway

The way a person views money can reveal the true condition of the heart. Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees challenges listeners to consider whether they genuinely love God or are serving another master.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 056Contentment & Holy Discontent

Welcome to Episode 56 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this episode, the Thinklings share a few book updates, point listeners to the new “Need Books?” list on the website, and then continue Andy’s series on contentment. This time, the focus turns to a good kind of discontent: the desire to know Christ more deeply.

📚 Books & Business

* Thinkling Stearns — The Gathering Storm by Al Mohler

* Thinkling Little — Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

* Thinkling Carter — A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens / Faith drama production

📖 Main Content

Andy discusses Philippians 3–4, showing how Paul can be content in every circumstance while still pressing forward to know Christ more fully.

The main idea: Christians should be content in Christ, but never complacent in their growth. True contentment leads not to laziness, but to joyful striving after holiness.

🌿 Final Thought

The episode closes with encouragement to examine how we view Christ, our sin, and our growth. Because Christ loves and forgives us, we can press on without fear.

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The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 055An Interview with Andrew Peterson

Welcome to Episode 55 of The Thinklings Podcast!

In this special episode, the Thinklings are joined by Andrew Peterson—award-winning singer-songwriter, author of the Wingfeather Saga, founder of The Rabbit Room, and author of the newly released book The God of the Garden. Together they discuss creativity, community, storytelling, nature, imagination, and the importance of place in the Christian life.

📚 Books & Business

Rather than the usual roundtable, the conversation centers around works that all the Thinklings had recently been engaging with:

* The Wingfeather Saga — Andrew Peterson

* Adorning the Dark — Andrew Peterson

* The God of the Garden — Andrew Peterson’s newly released book

Andrew shares the story behind The God of the Garden, explaining how the disruptions of 2020 led him to reflect on the role that trees, gardens, land, and place have played in shaping his life and faith.

🌳 Main Conversation

The God of the Garden

Andrew discusses:

* The relationship between creation and spiritual formation

* How caring for land and gardens shapes people

* The biblical significance of agriculture, trees, roots, seeds, and growth

* The importance of paying attention to the natural world as a means of understanding God’s character

* Recovering a sense of wonder in creation and learning to see God’s handiwork all around us

The conversation explores the idea that Christians often lose touch with the rhythms of creation and how reconnecting with the created order deepens our understanding of Scripture and the Creator.

Community & Creativity

Andrew reflects on:

* The importance of creative communities

* The influence of friendships on artistic work

* The role of The Rabbit Room in fostering Christian creativity

* Writing groups, songwriting circles, and collaborative encouragement

* Why friendships matter more than the projects themselves

He argues that creativity flourishes in community and that Christian artists should resist isolation by cultivating meaningful relationships with fellow creators.

The Wingfeather Saga

The Thinklings also ask Andrew about:

* The creation of songs and poetry within the Wingfeather books

* The development of key themes and characters

* Discovering stories rather than merely inventing them

* The balance of humor, whimsy, and serious themes

* Tolkien’s influence on storytelling and worldbuilding

* The significance of place as a character within great stories

Andrew shares how some of the most important moments in the series seemed to emerge naturally during the writing process, often surprising even him as the author.

📖 Key Themes

* Creation and the Christian imagination

* Trees, gardens, and place

* Friendship and creative community

* Storytelling as discovery

* Tolkien, Lewis, and the Inklings

* Wonder, beauty, and worship

* The role of fiction in spiritual formation

* The value of rootedness and memory

🌿 Closing Thoughts

The episode concludes with a reflection on friendship and creativity, drawing on C.S. Lewis’s vision of small circles of friends whose shared pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness can ultimately help transform the world. Andrew encourages listeners to create, cultivate community, and pursue the good work God has placed before them.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thethinklingspodcast.substack.com