Upstream

The first few minutes of Pixar’s 2009 smash hit “Up” are unforgettable for a lot of reasons. We were enchanted and moved watching Carl and Ellie develop a friendship as children, which eventually blossomed into a love that led them to the altar and into the fixer-upper house where they met. We see flashes of their long years together, grieve with their unfulfilled desire f+or children, and watch as they grow older and closer. Then Ellie dies, leaving Carl by himself.

The very next scene may be the most effective transition in the entire movie. Carl, a doddering old man, moves at a tortoise’s pace through his empty house to Bizet’s Carmen Suite no. 2. He wears a glower that tells audiences right away that his life is over and he is waiting to die. Carl has given up on every pursuit but snarling at those who set foot on his lawn.

Into this gloomy senescence walks Russel—a young Wilderness Explorer who shows up at Carl’s front door looking to earn a merit badge for assisting the elderly. Despite Carl’s best efforts to shake this kid, the two get drawn into an incredibly zany adventure to South America where they develop the most unlikely of friendships. By the end, Carl has learned not so much to let go of his past as to honor it—and his deceased wife—by loving and investing in people in the present. He realizes his life is not over. In fact, some of his best adventures may still be ahead of him.

This beloved animated feature perfectly captures the attitude of a new book by Robert Wolgemuth, who joined me this week on “Upstream.” “Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose” is Robert’s guide for men entering the home stretch of their lives and looking to leave a godly legacy. The title comes from long-distance races, in which the starting gun sounds a second time as competitors begin the final lap. It signals runners to give it all they have—to spend the energy they’ve been reserving for the entire race in pursuit of victory. Read the full commentary and subscribe to our newsletter at www.colsoncenter.org/upstream-podcast

What if the home stretch of our race is the most important part? Former Thomas Nelson president and author Robert Wolgemuth joins Shane to talk about his new book, “The Gun Lap: Staying in the Race with Purpose.”

It contains some of Jesus’ most beloved words and deeds, but the fourth gospel has long been dismissed by scholars as historically inaccurate. Dr. Lydia McGrew takes on this consensus with powerful arguments that John gives us the real Jesus.

Atheists tells us science has no need for the “God hypothesis.” But three discoveries in the 20th century challenged materialism and revealed the Mind behind the universe. Dr. Stephen Meyer joins Shane to explore his new book, “The Return of the God Hypothesis.”

What exactly was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and why did God place it off-limits? Would He eventually have allowed Adam and Eve to eat of it? Christian philosopher Owen Anderson and theology writer Alastair Roberts join Shane to debate the tree that wrecked the world.

Many Christians have tried to harmonize evolution with the Bible, but there’s a deeper problem with Darwin’s theory: it denies the purpose and design in creation. Shane welcomes Aquinas expert Dr. Logan Gage to explain why Christians can’t embrace evolution as-is.

C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George McDonald use trees to overcome evil. These practices reflect teaching in the Bible, where God uses trees not only to teach but to provide images of brokenness and grace.

Matthew Sleeth, MD, a former emergency room physician and chief of the hospital medical staff, resigned from his position to teach, preach, and write about the biblical call to be good stewards of God's creation. He joins Shane to share how pausing in Creation, considering trees, leads to robust lessons and redirection in life to find purpose in God's grace in the shade and life provided by trees.

Nature is a necessary nutrient, and PBS and Amazon Prime Host of HighPointers Branndon Bargo can attest to that.  Bargo is a world traveler, a High Pointer, and a student in the Colson Fellows program. Branndon connects his love for the outdoors to a convinced apologetic that there really isn't a square inch man can venture to that God doesn't call His.

Branndon has been through some of the most dangerous passes on earth, nearly dying numerous times, all in a wanderlust pursuit of seeing the beauty of God's creation in the most life threatening locations.  Branndon sat down with Shane to discuss apologetics and the  power of seeing God in nature, having climbed some of the world's top high points. That is the topic of his new TV show, hosted on Amazon Prime and PBS, where Branndon and his brother are venturing to the highest points in each of the 50 States in the Union.

Dr. Gary Habermas, Distinguished Professor of Apologetics and Philosophy at Liberty University joins Shane Morris to discuss the historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection along with the grudging admissions of modern historians who grant that whether they believe that Jesus was raised from the dead or not, that the historical record is clear: The earliest Christians certainly believed it, and many of them claimed to have seen Him after His crucifixion.

Entering the Easter season we acknowledge that God redeems humanity not through a list of doctrinal bullet points but through a powerful true story. 

We acknowledge the King, come to earth, connecting with humans in living, caring, healing, and telling stories. Jesus connected his message to story, and in stories we understand our need for a Savior in profound ways.

Andrew Peterson is a singer-songwriter whose recent accomplishments as an author are making a profound impact on the literary landscape. Andrew's Wingfeather Saga is connecting with young and old alike. Shane visits with Andrew on how he developed the world of Aerwiar, how characters in the story embody personality traits he identifies with, and the foundational impact story has on our soul.