Voices from the Desert

On the podcast today, Murray and Josh interview their good friend Steve Schroeder, the President of CMA (www.canadacma.org). Steve talks about above the line thinking, hub and spoke ministries and churches, shifting to an open architecture mindset, and the difference between call and assignment. The boys go deep in this one. Join the Voices from the Desert crew as they dive in!

For more about Steve Schroeder and CMA, visit: https://canadacma.org/
For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/
For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

It seems that today we are trying our best to build, cast vision, influence, spread the word, bring the kingdom, and create space for the miraculous in our churches and communities. Sometimes, it seems as if the problem is not us, but Jesus. If Jesus would just get on board with our plan things would go swimmingly. Murray had a dream a few years ago that illustrates the point perfectly. And it all has to do with the inner way. Tune in as Josh and Murray share their perspectives!

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

When it comes to salvation and healing of the soul (see all the previous episodes on the spiritual life), what exactly are we being healed of? Is it sin? Our hurts and brokenness? Our disillusionment? The early fathers of Christianity often spoke of healing in relation to "the passion". What did they mean by that?
Join Josh and Murray as they dive in to what the earliest "voices from the desert" had to say about healing of the soul.

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

If salvation is about making it to heaven, why should we bother with formation here on earth? What do our theories of salvation and eschatology have to do with our present day practices? Murray and Josh take a dive into some patristic wisdom as they discover what it means to be "saved."

"Someone asked Abba Anthony, ‘What must one do in order to please God?‘ The old man replied, ‘Pay attention to what I tell you: whoever you may be, always have God before your eyes; whatever you do, do it according to the testimony of the holy Scriptures; in whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. Keep these three precepts and you will be saved.’"

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

What is the aim of Christianity and salvation? Is it to get as many people saved as possible? To create a moral perfect society? To fulfill the vision of a particular ministry? 

The mark we set determines a lot about what we do. In light of all the recent scandals in leadership, Murray and Josh talk about what measurable effect inner prayer and the way of Christ ought to have on leadership. Join the Josh and Murray as they dig in to the topic!

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

When it comes to how Christians are taught prayer, much of the church has been found wanting. The teaching of Jesus on prayer are often overlooked in favor of some occasional concomitant. What was Jesus thinking when he said, "And when you pray..." and why do we ignore these kinds of statements? The way of Jesus is clearly interior prayer and the early church fathers read scripture with that in mind. Join Josh and Murray as they dive in to explore the interior way of prayer!

For more about Josh, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

For more about Murray, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

To donate to Josh and Murray, visit; https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=iSuZ4y8BDYnoa5OBH5e0T5F6UX0w0bxjfKzBcKhtmLrVZhQ24Y6gJu3uIJox8Q5dvTofJ6Sqa0uF0cXW

Sometimes it seems as if we read the scriptures as a series of commands or instructions, rather than an invitation to follow the way of Jesus and to know him intimately. In this episode, Josh and Murray begin diving into the Lord's prayer and the Sermon on the Mount. Is the Lord's prayer a formula to pray? Is the Sermon on the Mount a great moral teaching? Or is there perhaps more to both of these popular passages that can help us navigate the murky waters of the heart.

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

All of our practices are pointed towards the end of turning the inner gaze towards the heart to discover the Father within. What happens when a culture adopts practices that turn the gaze inward but all they find is an empty abyss? Join Josh and Murray as they talk about training the thoughts to discover the beauty of God and lead a prayerful exercise walking through Scripture.

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

What roles does the imagination play in prayerful exercises? Are visionary experiences a thing for today? Join Josh and Murray as they dive into the writings of the Christian mystics to see what they have to say!

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/

To check out the book Murray recommended: https://www.amazon.com/Jesuit-Guide-Almost-Everything-Spirituality/dp/0061432695/

Today on the podcast, we interview CR Wiley, an author, podcaster, and pastor. CR Wiley co-hosts The Theology Pugcast. CR Wiley is a reformed pastor who discovered great a value in Athanasius's Life of Anthony. Helping us discern trust and make sense of the world, this 1500 year old monk has a lot to say to modern Christians. Join Voices from the Desert as they dive in with CR and Anthony the Great!

For more about CR Wiley and to purchase the books he has written, visit: https://crwiley.com/

For more about Murray Dueck, visit: https://www.samuelsmantle.com/

For more about Joshua Hoffert, visit: https://www.windministries.ca/