In this episode, our host, Dan Hummel, talks with Paul Putz, the director of the Faith and Sports Institute at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary, and discusses the intersection of faith and sports from a historical perspective. He shares his personal interest in sports and how it led him to study the topic academically. Paul highlights the cultural significance of sports and the narratives they create. He also discusses the role of sports in shaping identity and community. Paul emphasizes the importance of meeting students where they are in their love for sports while also introducing them to a historical perspective. In this conversation, Paul Putz discusses the intersection of sports and Christianity, focusing on sports' historical and cultural context. He emphasizes contextualizing texts and understanding the cultural meaning of sports events and narratives.

----

🖥️ YouTube link = https://youtu.be/GMdOHnxBQ6A?si=XG0Pd7jqk4y8kw1U

----

🔗 Paul's new book = https://www.paulemoryputz.com/

In this engaging conversation, Rachel Pieh Jones and Susan Smetzer-Anderson share their insights on the challenges and lessons learned from living in a cross-cultural context. They delve into topics such as cultural divisions, finding a church community in Djibouti, serving the poor, and the discomfort of returning to one's home country. Rachel's personal stories and reflections underscore the importance of being present with others, fostering a sense of connection and engagement. The conversation underscores the need to recognize and embrace diversity, both in our local communities and in our global perspective. 

----

🔗 Links to episode one:

YouTube = https://youtu.be/lrp6LuR056M?si=e2dCJTYSsxzUTPQd

Apple podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-upwords-podcast/id1537044590?i=1000655399036

Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/0H8OOco9Wo7T69Xh1df2rO?si=13dae89c52c842bb

----

🖥️ View this episode on YouTube

https://youtu.be/AjbF0r0bijc

----

📙 Get Rachel’s books:

https://rachelpiehjones.com/books/

----

⛪️ Connect with Upper House

https://www.upperhouse.org

https://www.facebook.com/upperhouseUW

https://www.instagram.com/upperhouseuw/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/upper-house-uw

In this episode, host Dan Hummel, sits down with Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology and Director of Wheaton College’s Center for Applied Christian Ethics in Wheaton, Illinois. Bacote is the lead for The Black Evangelical Oral History Project, a documentary film that aims to tell the story of black evangelicalism in the United States. The project originated from an event at Fuller Seminary in 2008, where the idea of capturing the history of black evangelicalism through oral interviews was conceived. The documentary features interviews with various black evangelical leaders, highlighting their experiences and perspectives within the evangelical movement. The film explores themes such as the in-between space of black evangelicalism, the challenges of racial reconciliation, and the global nature of evangelicalism. A key goal of the project is to invite more stories, fostering a sense of community and encouraging audience participation. The project aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of black evangelicalism and its significance within the larger evangelical movement.

----

🖥️ Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZeYeGqlEd28

----

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson talks with John Dyer, who holds two positions at Dallas Theological Seminary: Vice President for Enrollment and Educational Technology and an assistant professor of Theological Studies. They discuss media ecology and its impact on society, particularly on technology and the church. John explores the influence of media on our environment, history, and individual behavior. Dyer also delves into the effects of media consumption on spiritual growth and the challenges of online church.

----

John Dyer's website = https://j.hn/

----

📖 Check out John Dyer's books:

➡️ From the Garden to the City: The Place of Technology in the Story of God Revised Addition (Kregel Publications, 2022) https://a.co/d/00E30HKX

➡️ People of the Screen: How Evangelicals Created the Digital Bible and How It Shapes Their Reading of Scripture (Oxford University Press, 2022) https://a.co/d/07vU8bNp

What is on your summer reading list? In this episode, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson has a conversation with Byron Borger, owner of Hearts and Minds Bookstore. They discuss the importance of books and reading in shaping our imagination, empathy, and faith. Byron shares insights on the power of narratives and the impact of literature on our spiritual growth and understanding of the world. He also recommends books that offer guidance on reading thoughtfully and spiritually, emphasizing the transformative nature of literature. The conversation delves into the power of narrative, the practice of deep reading, and the impact of technology on reading habits. It also explores the themes of hospitality, vocation, and the purpose of education. 

----

Order your books through the Hearts and Minds bookstore = https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com

----

📖 Books mentioned in the podcast:

• Imagining Our Neighbors as Ourselves: How Art Shapes Empathy by Mary W. McCampbell (Fortress Press, 2022)
• The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos Press, 2022)
• Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice by Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos Press, 2023)
• Nourishing Narratives: The Power of Story to Shape Our Faith by Jennifer L. Holberg (IVP Academic)
• Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Ageby Rachel B. Griffis, Julie Ooms, Rachel M. De Smith Roberts (Baker Academic, 2024)
• Beauty Is Oxygen: Finding a Faith That Breathes by Wesley Vander Lugt (Eerdmans, 2024)
• Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber (IVP, 2014)
• The Beautiful Madness of Martin Bonham: A Tale About Loving God by Robert Hudson (Self Published, 2023) 

 🎙️Byron’s podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/three-books-for-hearts-and-minds-podcast/id1718813591

Welcome to this special episode of The UpWords podcast! In today's episode, we will relive some of the moments from our events and podcasts and answer the question of what it means to be a good neighbor.

Journey with me as we relive the moments that shaped our semester of ministry and discuss what it means to Love your neighbor as yourself. This is one of Jesus's most well-known teachings. But it begs the question, who is my neighbor? 

In this episode, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson has a conversation with author Rachel Pieh Jones. writes about life at the crossroads of faith and culture. Her work is influenced by living as a foreigner in the Horn of Africa, raising three Third Culture Kids, and adventurous exploration of the natural world. She has written for the New York Times, Runners World, Deadspin, the Big Roundtable, and more. Learn more at www.djiboutijones.com.

----

Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus

📕 link = https://a.co/d/e51Lyw0

----

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lrp6LuR056M

In this episode, host Dan Hummel, sits down with Nadya Williams. She has spent 15 years teaching Classics and Ancient History at secular state universities before walking away in summer 2023. She is the author of Cultural Christians in the Early Church (Zondervan Academic, 2023) and Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity (under contract, IVP Academic). She is a Book Review Editor at Current, where she also edits The Arena  blog. We explore the third-century Christian persecutions, the explosive growth of Christianity, and its profound impact on Roman society. Nadya sheds light on the intersection of ancient traditions and the challenges modern Christians face, showing us the timeless struggle with cultural sins.

----

Learn more about Nadya's book: https://a.co/d/hHHO768

----

View this podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VwUoA1yTrNs

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson sits down with Ross Chapman (Denver Institute for Faith and Work) and Ryan Tafilowski (Denver Seminary) to discuss their new book, Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others. Ross and Ryan show how work is a way to love God, serve our neighbors, and demonstrate the gospel. With a broader understanding of God's work in the world, we are able to engage our daily work as part of how God makes all things new.

Chapters:

03:31 Book emphasizes living as a Christian worker.

09:16 Recruited by the local business owner, developed a love for the city.

11:58 Felt compelled to navigate faith and work.

13:41 Faith at work movement reacts against evangelicalism.

16:54 Favorable chapter discusses two vs four-part gospel.

20:05 Church mission: conversion and participation in transformation.

24:26 Christians can bring redemption beyond sharing faith.

29:19 Finding purpose in Christian calling beyond career.

31:57 Values of work and vocation: God in us.

34:10 Daily tasks provide an invitation to God's love.

38:42 Finding rest and delight in work life.

41:20 Mutual intimidation, humble collaboration, and the ecosystem.

45:59 "Workplace diversity crucial for collaboration and understanding."

47:27 COVID revealed a reevaluation of the relationship to work.

49:58 Expresses gratitude for the invitation.

Our host, Dan Hummel, raises the conversation on faith, pop culture, and storytelling in our modern world and media. In this episode, they explore the relationship between Christianity and pop culture with our honored guest, John Anthony Dunne, associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University and a thought leader on integrating theology with pop culture narratives. John offers a unique take on how Christians should navigate the vast expanse of media, ranging from Hollywood to horror and everything in between.

 ===========

🔗 Links 

https://www.bethel.edu/academics/faculty/john-dunne

https://www.thetwocities.com