The “Thought from Above” in this episode is: Include Jesus in all of your relationships. The relationships we have in our lives are amazing but also challenging. There are times where we want the other person in the relationship to make a change in their life. Even if we are well meaning in our advice, […]

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In this episode, James Bryan Smith sits down with A.J. Swoboda for a Things Above Conversation. A.J. is the author of “Subversive Sabbath” which was Christianity Today’s Spiritual formation book of the year. This book pioneers a creative path to an alternative way of existing. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic […]

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The thought from above for this episode is: Remember the Door. In this episode, James Bryan Smith recites a poem by Samuel M. Shoemaker titled, “So I Stand By The Door” Smith uses the poem to help explain his thought from above and how we too can, stand by the door for others. The poem […]

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The thought from above for this episode is: Faith is acting on what you believe. James uses a story about the Prussian missionary George Mueller to help explain this week’s thought from above. George was crossing the Atlantic in August 1877 when his ship ran into thick fog. He explained to the captain that he […]

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In this episode James Bryan Smith sits down for a Things Above Conversation with author Jan Johnson. James and Jan have known each other for many years and both were mentored by Dallas Willard. Jan is a a writer, speaker and spiritual director who has degrees in biblical studies and Christian spirituality. She has written […]

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In episode 51 titled “Adversity can be a Blessing” James Bryan Smith tells the story of his friend Tim’s biking accident. Tim’s story of healing is an amazing one but there is even more to this story. A few months after his accident, while Tim was driving home from church, he noticed a pair of […]

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“When the clock of one’s own crisis strikes, the hour for believing in the benevolence of a greater mystery is near” (Adrian van Kaam) We all go through our lives and encounter times of adversity. In this Things Above episode, James Bryan Smith shares a story of a close friend who suffered a terrible injury […]

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In this Things Above episode, James Bryan Smith explains the concept of a spiritual mirror. Smith learned about the phrase “spiritual mirror” from George Macdonald, a great Scottish writer and preacher in the 19th century. James quotes from Macdonald’s book Creation in Christ to help explain the concept of the spiritual mirror. “When we think […]

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Josh Larsen sits down with James Bryan Smith for a “Things Above Conversation” about Josh’s latest book “Movies are Prayers.” Josh is the co-host of the radio show and podcast Filmspotting, author of Movies Are Prayers, and editor and film critic at Think Christian, a website exploring faith and pop culture. He’s been writing and speaking about movies […]

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Anger and worry are two emotions we deal with on a daily basis. We worry because we feel like it will help us to fix whatever problem we are dealing with. We use anger to make others behave as we want but in the long haul, it is destructive. In this episode, James Bryan Smith […]

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