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.

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

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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.

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🔗 Links 

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

https://www.thetwocities.com

In this episode, our host, Susan Smetzer-Anderson, speaks with Aaron White, a pastor from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, about the transformative potential of true kinship and the profound possibilities of living out the Beatitudes and connecting with the marginalized. Aaron relentlessly advocates for building relationships across boundaries (such as economics) that often keep people in silos—dislocated and disconnected. But building genuine relationships can be a game-changer in the lives of individuals and communities. Please tune in to this vital conversation and join us in relearning the power of genuine connection and honest hospitality. You can also glean more of Aaron’s insights through tuning into his tcaptalk at the 2024 Kingdom Justice Summit.

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Links:

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⛪️ Aaron's work = https://www.missioncentral.ca/profile/aaron-white

📗 = http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/recovering/393810

🏫 Course = https://infinitumlife.teachable.com/p/creative-way-down-surrender

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Daniel Johnson, has an engaging conversation with Jim Stump, Vice President of Programs at BioLogos. They discuss the importance of bridging the gap between science and faith, and how churches can engage with science to prevent conflicts that drive youth away. Don't miss their insightful conversation on technology's impact on relationships and the importance of gracious dialogue. We explore the themes of Jim's new book, The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolutions Leads to Deeper Faith (HarperOne 2024). Plus, they delve into topics like creation care, justice issues, and the balance between scientific evidence and religious beliefs.

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🔗 Links

BioLogos Website

Loving My Neighbor in a Technological World Article Online

The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to Deeper Faith (HarperOne, 2024) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-sacred-chain-james-stump?variant=41080666587170

This episode of The UpWords Podcast brings insightful perspectives on faith, society, and history to light. In today's episode, host Dan Hummel engages in a thoughtful conversation with distinguished professor Janine Giordano Drake, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Indiana University.

We dive deep into the roots of American Christianity's engagement with social and labor issues. Janine brings her expertise in US labor, working-class history, and American religious history to explore the complex interplay between faith and the fight for social justice in the early 20th century.

We'll uncover the surprising cohesion between Roman Catholics, the social gospel movement, and Protestants as they navigated the intersections of Christianity with capitalism, advocating for unions, fair wages, and the end of child labor. Our journey includes a look into the past with the socialist ideals thriving in working-class churches, challenging the mainstream Protestant denominates, and shifting the landscape of labor movements.

Our discussion takes a turn towards the impact of such dynamics during the tumultuous era of World War I and the Great Steel Strike of 1919, drawing parallels that resonate with social movements a century later. As we peel back the layers of history, Janine not only educates us on the conservative stance of the social gospel compared to the grassroots movements of the time but also reflects on the contemporary Christian community's engagement with similar debates.

So, whether you're a history buff, a seeker of spiritual depth, or someone interested in the social threads that knit our society together, this episode promises insights and revelations. We explore the tangible effects of historical conflicts on today's faith and labor conversations and consider whether we can still see the imprint of these early 20th-century struggles in our present day.

Join us as we journey through time with Janine Giordano Drake, unraveling the story of how the social gospel moved beyond church walls and into the world of labor and social reform. 

Check out Janine Giordano Drake’s book, The Gospel of Church: How Mainline Protestants Vilified Christian Socialism and Fractured the Labor Movement = https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-gospel-of-church-9780197614303?cc=us&lang=en&

In this fresh UpWords conversation with Steve Cook—President of Workplace Chaplaincy Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director of Operations at Marketplace Chaplains—we learn how workplace chaplains can powerfully influence the stability and wellbeing of workplaces.  

Steve’s 40 years of experience speak to questions that often weigh on marketplace professionals and pastors: What does a corporate chaplain actually do? How might faith, empathy, and corporate responsibility intersect and benefit both employees and business? What goes into building a corporate culture that elevates compassion, ethics, and trust? 

Tune in for Steve’s answers, and look below for some of his guiding principles. 

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Link to the St. Martin of Tours story (see page 5): http://www.preciousheart.net/chaplaincy/Chaplain-Etymology.pdf

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Principles for Chaplains, “good Samaritans,” and “good neighbors” to follow:

1. Bathe in prayer
2. Be available
3. Do some life together
4. Be patient and be faithful
5. Wait to be invited in
6. Rely on the Holy Spirit
7. Watch God at work! 

In this powerful episode with Julie Bolos, we dove deep into the heart of caring for vulnerable children. Julie shared her invaluable experience from New Hope Peru to the Christian Alliance for Orphans, highlighting the urgent need for family-based care over institutional settings. We discussed the profound impact of trauma on a child's development and the importance of personal connection and individualized care. Our heartfelt conversation also touched on the transformative role of community and church support in building robust family environments for these children. It's clear that together, we can foster a world where every child finds the love and nurturing they need to thrive. Thank you for joining us on this journey to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable.

Julie Bolos is a compassionate advocate for the welfare of children in care systems. Her insights into the dynamics between paid caregivers and the children they look after have cemented her reputation as a keen observer and an empathetic voice for the voiceless. Julie understands the delicate emotional balance required in these relationships, recognizing the children's acute awareness of the transactional nature of professional caregiving.

Throughout her career, Julie has unwaveringly pointed out the psychological impact on children who learn to suppress their emotions and negative behaviors to meet the expectations of a system that often rewards compliance over genuine well-being. She passionately argues that every child's needs are unique and require tailored solutions that acknowledge their individuality. Bolos's advocacy work emphasizes the creation of environments where children feel genuinely cared for and allowed to express themselves fully rather than merely adapting to the implicit norms of institutionalized care.

Julie's mission is propelled by a deep understanding of the emotional complexities involved in care systems, and she tirelessly works towards reforms that prioritize each child's individual needs, advocating for a world where their emotional health and personal growth are placed at the forefront of caregiving practices.

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Links

• Christian Alliance for Orphans = https://cafo.org/
• New Hope Peru = https://donate.newhopeperu.org

Today, we're embarking on a fascinating journey through time, text, and technology with our guest, Brent Seales, is the Gill Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Kentucky, as well as Principal Investigator for the Digital Restoration Initiative, funded in part by a major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Brent, a visionary in the intersecting worlds of computer science and digital imaging, will take us through the transformative power of digitizing historical texts. Together, we'll delve into the seismic shifts in teaching and career paths brought on by the pervasive reach of computer science into every conceivable field.

Yet, as we embrace the advancements of the digital age, Brent doesn't shy away from addressing its darker side—particularly the tangible consequences that rapid tech adoption can have on society's younger generation via social media's expansive influence.

We explore Brent's unique trajectory from a music student to a luminary in computer science—a journey shaped by the orchestral strands of a music teacher's advice and the reverberating chords of curiosity and faith. We'll uncover how his work at the University of Kentucky intersects with unlocking the secrets of ancient artifacts and contributes to our collective understanding of cultural heritage.

From discussions on AI's ethical quandaries to the evocative narratives of science fiction that mirror our technological quests, Brent's insights promise to both challenge and inspire.

So tune in as we unravel the threads of Brent Seales' story—a tapestry woven from the codes of the past and the pixels of the future—right here on the UpWords podcast.

In this engaging conversation, Scott challenges us to think about our obsession with the afterlife and invites us to trust in grace, as matters of birth, death, and rebirth are beyond our control. We'll uncover the richness of Jesus's narrative, exploring how the Christmas season isn't just about the commerce that clamors for our attention, but a time to ponder the profound meaning of Jesus’s birth.

Scott shares insights from his art, which strays from the trodden path of traditional Christmas illustrations while reflecting on the deeply spiritual encounter with the biological miracle of childbirth. Through his work, Scott seeks to bridge the distance between our societal aversion to vulnerability and the need to embrace our tender hearts for deep understanding.

Together, we'll unpack why Jesus’s embodiment as a human requires us not only to reflect but also to engage physically through practices like pilgrimage. Scott's transformative art and stories urge us to consider Jesus's incarnation not just as a historical event, but as an ever-present reality. And as Scott will reveal, our journey with Christ also means apprenticeship to our own mortality.

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View this episode on YouTube = https://youtu.be/OuDt1bvm_oA

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Scott Erickson is an artist, author, performance speaker, and creative curator who mixes autobiography, mythology, and aesthetics to create art and moments that speak to our most profound experiences.

Using his passion and commitment to craft, Scott has been a working artist for over a decade and has had his work appear on CNN, National Geographic, and various magazines, newspaper outlets, and book covers.

He is the co-author of Prayer: Forty Days of Practice and May It Be So, the author of Honest Advent and Say Yes.