This Undivided Life

Lisa Sharon Harper, is the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican…or Democrat (The New Press, 2008); Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011); Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014); and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right (Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, 2016). The Very Good Gospel, recognized as the "2016 Book of the Year" by Englewood Review of Books, explores God's intent for the wholeness of all relationships in light of today's headlines.

In 2015, The Huffington Post named Ms. Harper one of 50 powerful women religious leaders to celebrate on International Women's Day. In 2019, The Religion Communicators Council named a two-part series within Ms. Harper's monthly Freedom Road Podcast "Best Radio or Podcast Series of The Year". The series focused on The Roots and Fruits of Immigrant Labor Exploitation in the US. And in 2020 Ms. Harper received The Bridge Award from The Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation in recognition of her dedication to bridging divides and building the beloved community.

Lisa is host of the Freedom Road Podcast, cohost of The FOUR Podcast and author of her weekly column on Substack, "The Truth Is…". Her much anticipated book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family And The World–And How To Repair It All, is now available!

Rob Decker is a certified personal trainer with extensive experience working privately with clients as well as for major high end establishments such as Equinox and Lifetime Fitness. He currently resides in Colorado.

Rob is also a CCAR (Center for Addiction Recovery) Coach. CCAR focuses on providing individuals with the skills needed to guide, mentor and support anyone who would like to enter into or sustain long-term recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. Rob's unique skills and compassion for kids has made him an excellent youth mentor, as well.

Rob is a published author and public speaker who has appeared on numerous podcasts speaking about his faith and his commitment to fitness. If you would like to have Rob speak and share his story.

Burdens, bags, extra stuff we carry in life, can and do pull us down. These extra bags we carry can weigh on us, and keep us from a more lite and abundant life. Scott and Troy talk about some of these bags that do weigh us down in life. We use the poem by Drew Jackson, These Bags as our reference.

Amy Julia Becker is an award-winning writer and speaker on personal, spiritual, and social healing. She is the author of four books, including To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing, and Hope, and she hosts the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast.

Becker is a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv). She lives with her husband and their three children in western Connecticut.

Scott and Troy talk about the importance of a well rooted life, because in life there will be challenges and storms.

John Blase is an author, poet, and former pastor. He loves questions more than answers. As he states on his website ..."My credo, if it can even be called such a thing, rides piggyback on the slithering black curved back of the lovely question mark.

I don't have many answers, but I do have questions…"

Joshua S. Porter is pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. He is also a former member of the experimental art-punk band, Showbread, and the author of the novel Punk Rock Vs. the Lizard People. Find out more and connect with Joshua at joshuasporter.com. He is also the author of two books, one which we highlight in this interview: Death to Deconstruction: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion.

It's our 3rd annual books of the year episode for This Undivided Life. Scott picked 3 titles, and Troy picked 3 as well. Of the many books we both read, these were our 6 favorite books of the year.

Scott's picks:

Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams

According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible by Graeme Goldsworthy

Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King

Troy's Picks:

Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren

Stumbling Toward Eternity: Losing and Finding Ourselves in the Cross of Jesus by Josh White

Walk a Little Slower by Tanner Olson

It's easy to do, to not give yourself the permission to just be human. Often we give grace to others, but don't do the same for ourselves. Scott and Troy talk about the beauty of giving ourselves what we often need, grace. Grace to be human in all our fraility.

William "Bill" Edgar is an American apologist and professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He has been called by Charles Colson "one of evangelicalism's most valued scholars and apologists."