The Well Said Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Well Said Podcast
A weekly conversation about following Jesus amidst the tensions & challenges of our post-christian culture.
How do we become people who are truly generous? One principle that has been at work in our lives is the observation that we will never be truly generous unless we perceive ourselves to be truly wealthy. If we see ourselves as those who are always lacking and in need, we will have a very difficult time being liberal in our giving. The message of the gospel is not merely that we are saved out of hell, or that our sins are forgiven. It goes much further than that. It tells us that, in Jesus, we are loved, bought, accepted and redeemed. We are welcomed into the family of God and we are given the infinite riches of heaven itself. This mindset causes a revolution in how we see ourselves in the world.
Deconstruction has definitely been a buzzword this past year. With the scandals in and around christian circles, comes another wave of disillusionment and doubt. How do we process this as christians? Too often, when we as christians come across a friend or loved one who is going through a challenging season in their faith, whether its doubt or questioning, we get very defensive and insecure ourselves. And that makes sense. We get defensive when our deepest beliefs are challenged.
One of the most important ways we can begin to work through this challenging question is to hear a story about how it actually happens in the life of a fellow christian. What we learn along the way is that honest questioning is one of the most important ways that God teaches us both of our own limitations, as wells as his faithfulness.
Every generation has its temptations and challenges. One of the great blessings of our time is affluence. We have so much stuff. Many of us were raised not knowing any true needs. And in the midst of that, we are formed by technology to think that the greatest things in our life can come to us through the swipe of a screen or a click of a button. So its no surprise that our generation has a real issue when it comes to diligence, responsibility and work ethic.
So how do we think biblically about the concepts of work and money? How do we build our lives around a healthy set of values and convictions about where we put our energy and resources? This week on the podcast we take on the question of our work and money in a "quick success culture". Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think! Full episode link in bio!
This week on the podcast we take a moment to think a little more deeply through the process of uprooting our fears. As I mentioned in the previous post, the challenge with fear is that it can masquerade itself so well in the under layers of our hearts. Fear can become a deep mover of our worldview and our goals that we take it as a normal way to live.
The joy and power of the gospel comes at us in this specific challenge. It unmasks the foundation of fear as our inherent weakness and guilt as sinners. We respond in fear because, deep down we know that we have failed and that we can’t make ourselves right. The justifying power of the blood of Jesus comes to erase this guilt at its root. It washes us clean and brings us into the family of God as though we have never sinned. And it gives us a sure daily foundation to continue the task of uprooting false fears in our life and walk in joyful courage with our King.
How do we make sense of the craziness in the world around us today? And how do we protect our own hearts and minds in the process? This a talk that I did at one of our True North Worship Nights. I hope you find it helpful!
What's it like being a police officer today? This week on the podcast, we get a chance to hear an answer to that question. With all the political upheaval of the last few months, some of us have to deal with the results more than others. Most of us see the mischaracterization and inaccuracies from a distance. And then we go back to our regular lives, unchanged. Others have to suit up and go to work every day, facing the realities of a world angry and divided. Our law enforcement officers have been in that latter category these last couple of months.
Now, please understand as someone who holds to a biblical theology of the depravity of man, I am not one to paint one side or the other in perfect, flawless color. In our divided world, everyone is plagued by sin. And that includes our attempts at justice. No police force or police officer is perfect and there are certainly abuses that must be corrected. And yet, in the noise and anger of the moment, we often overlook the significance of the work that is done all around us - the work that never makes it to the news. The work of protecting our communities. The work of chasing down real bad guys. The work of hauling in drunks who are vomiting all over your back seat and spewing profanities at you all the while.
This is a work that deserves our attention and our respect. This week on the podcast I sit down with a good friend of mine who works in law enforcement and take some time to see things from his perspective. Episode link in bio!
We all know that relationships are one of the most important aspect of our lives, but what does it actually take to build richer relationships? The challenge with this question is the fact that over our lives we get into certain relational habits the prevent us from cultivating richer and deeper connections. Often times, we are not even aware of these habits. What is more, these habits are often difficult to analyze in ourselves because, most likely, the people in our lives have similar habits.
This is where we see one of the great blessings of life in the community of Christ. As a body of Christ, we are a diverse collection of folks from all walks of life, who help counterbalance our weakness and help to demonstrate to us aspects of Jesus that we have been previously blind to. At the end of the day, the perfect example of rich relational wisdom is Jesus himself. He is the only one who came and loved us perfectly. When we take moment to look at his life, there are a few key characteristics of building richer relationships that we can see. This week on the show we take a moment to dive into some of these specific details and how they play out in our everyday relationships.
Here is a brief outline of the discussion. Rich relationships include: * Letting people in to your inner life * Learning to take others in * Cultivating trust * Learning to let things go and not hold on to grudges * Communicating real presence
I think one of the single most important threats to our physical, social and spiritual health comes at us through the influence that technology is having on our hearts and minds. I know that sounds extreme and perhaps cliche. I know that I am saying this on social media. But for those of you who know me, you know that I don’t use such sweeping statements lightly.
We live in the age in which the apocalypse is coming about not through external forces but through the internal crumpling of our mental fabric. And we are doing it too ourselves. This week on the podcast we tackle the question of protecting and cultivating our minds and hearts in a distracted digital age. The thing is, there is a specific reason why technology, and social media in particular, has had such a powerful impact on society - it has found a way to tap into our deepest heart longings, and to set them ablaze. To make us perpetually addicted to the salt water that makes our souls drier and drier. Of all people in society today, we as christians need to be experts is soul care. And yet, resources that we are give in Scripture and biblical community often go unnoticed.
What is the first rule of marriage? “Its always the guy’s fault”. You may have seen that on a meme or a tee shirt. It's become a common phrase today, and it's meant as a sarcastic statement for the fact that women won’t ever give in in an argument until the guy admits his fault in the situation. Ironically, the statement can be surprisingly true when considered a bit more carefully from a biblical lens.
From the very beginning, Scripture shows us that men are created as leaders who bear a significant element of responsibility for the things that go on in their homes, church and communities. This highlights a God-built feature of differences between the roles of men and women, especially in marriage. God has given us men the unique calling of protecting, providing and leading. And when something has gone downhill, there is an inevitable element of responsibility that we bear. How do we shoulder this calling? And what does this responsible leadership look like in guys, especially in the context of relationships? This week on the podcast!
One of the great dilemmas of our age is the “Peter Pan Syndrome”. Our younger generations are having a tougher and tougher time growing up into adulthood. We are “launching” later and later in life, and even with that, many are failing that launch miserably. One of the underlying issues causing this is an assumption that adulthood is where all our fun, freedom and joy goes to die. We want to hang on to the “young and free” years because we believe that this is our only season in life where we will have fun.
I turn 30 in two months, and with a mortgage and three kids in the minivan I think it's safe to say we are neck deep into the adulting world. This week on the podcast we pause for am minute to reflect on this journey and how adulthood is surprising us. One of the most foundational surprises I am seeing personally is that I am having way more fun than I ever did. Sure life is more complex. But its also way more rewarding. The layers of growth, challenges and deepening knowledge of God are yielding an experience of daily life that is much richer than the years when I was simply “young and free” (though honestly I still very much consider myself very young and more free than ever before). Full episode link in bio. Enjoy the show!
What is a woman? Interestingly, this has become one of the most controversial subjects today. The beauty of God’s creation order arises in the variety and distinctiveness of his purposes for his creatures, not their sameness. As christians living in a culture that continually presses down on us with a philosophy that flattens out manhood and womanhood into sameness, the only way that we will grow and thrive is if we have roots firmly planted in the beauty and complexity of God’s design. This week on the podcast we try to start that conversation, or at least share some of the things that we have learned over the last 7 years together.
The last couple of weeks have transformed the world as we know it. It is now impossible to go back. Two weeks ago seemed so peaceful and innocent. But here we are. Washington State has the most cases of the coronavirus or COVID-19. This is a challenging time for us, as we are scrambling to readjust to the new information that we face every day. How do we root ourselves to Christ? How do we move forward in wisdom?
Is all power inherently evil and corrupting? Does that fact that I possess certain gifts or opportunities in life automatically rob someone else of having those gifts? How do we react to the reality of inequality in our world? One of the key assumptions that powers your answers to these questions is how you see the world. Either the world is created by a good, infinite and powerful God, or the world is the result of blind forces.
If God is the King of kings, then all questions of power and authority must be measured against the standard of his ultimate power. If God is the giver of all gifts, then all that we have must be seen as a gift from him, which we must steward properly. But if there is no God, then there are no gifts, no real authorities - and all power and privilege is abusive and dangerous.
This week on the podcast we dig down into some of these thorny issues and share some thoughts on how we as christians can think through them more effectively and clearly.
Jake's story of faith has many twists, turns and detours in the road. It includes playing football for the UW and then going on to play in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans. Today Jake is retired from the NFL and focuses his life on leading his business, Locker Room Fitness, being an active part of his church community and leading his wife and kids into a life more rooted in the gospel. Enjoy the show!
This week’s episode is a recording of a talk I did on the subject of faith in the face of doubts. For more information, check out @truenorthbellingham on Facebook or Instagram. Enjoy the show!
Have you ever had the experience of seeing someone you know what away from the faith? Many of us have been there. It's a challenging experience. One that kinda rocks your world and makes you question your own standing in the gospel. If that person walked away from Jesus, how do I know that I won’t either? How do I know that my faith is even real? How do I know that its not just a product of the way I was raised?
Or here’s another one. We all know friends or relatives who have lived in the church community for a long time, who verbally confess faith in Jesus, but at the end of the day, they don’t really live it out. They don’t feel anything during worship. They find the Bible dull and boring. And yet they say they believe in Jesus. What is the difference between your faith and there’s? Is it just emotions? Why is it that Jesus is so real to you and yet so distant to them?
As challenging and uncomfortable as these experiences are, they are a huge opportunity for us to truly grow up in our convictions about who Jesus is and who we are as his disciples. No matter how long we have been christians, we are in a continual need of challenging and questioning our relationship to him with the goal of exposing false attitudes and deepening our love for him. Faith only grows through our wrestling. Without that internal struggle, our love dries up. There is no such thing as a christian who is always solid, strong and never doubts.
We got married 7 years ago. It was the middle of December and everyone was in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle. I was in the middle of a nursing program in college. We had no money. I sold my car to pay wedding and honeymoon expenses. And yet, despite the challenges and hurdles, these past 7 years have been a journey of joy and growing love. Anyone who is married knows that all joy in marriage is the result of hard work, humility and wisdom. And these things don’t come naturally.
As we look back at ourselves 7 years ago, we see two very different people. God has shaped and molded us so much these past few years. So many lessons learned through failure and repeated attempts. In this week’s episode we take a moment to look back over some of the top lessons we’ve learned and how we continue on the path of growth as a family. Enjoy the show!
This week on the podcast we tackle the question of pain and suffering. Why does a good God allow bad things to happen? How do we think through this as followers of Jesus? The interesting thing is that often times this issue is framed as a problem that christians have to answer, because we say we believe in a God who is both good and powerful. The reality is that the question of evil and suffering is a central question for every single worldview and belief system.
Here’s the other important point: at the end of the day, no matter what perspective you ask it from, no human religion or system of thought has an answer that perfectly satisfies all our questions. At the end of the day, all answers end with some element of mystery. The question is, does your answer enable you to truly live in a world that is both beautiful and broken? Does your answer provide you with a story big enough to enable you to live, to love and to fight in life’s battles with courage and hope? Does it enable you to throw a feast under the shadow of death? We argue, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only one that provides that kind of answer.
Hey y’all, I am so excited to share this episode with y’all. A couple of weeks ago I sat down with Sergey to hear about his journey of serving God, following the call of the gospel and how it eventually landed him in the coffee industry. Our deepest beliefs and convictions will always bleed out from the heart and mind out to our fingertips. This story is a very fascinating example of that fact. The method for Mirror Coffee starts out in the years of experiences, traveling and spiritual development for Sergey.
Check out @mirrorcoffeeroasters on Instagram and Mirror Coffee Roasters on Youtube for their first product drop this week!
The holiday season can be a complicated time. On the one hand, we are surrounded by the warm lights, sounds and smells of celebration. We’ve got our Christmas vibes goin. And we love it. But on the other hand, it can be a depressing reminder of the fact that these warm and wonderful emotions sometimes vanish and we realize we can’t just squeeze out joy. Actually sometimes we can find ourselves feeling quite powerless to truly connect with the experience of joy that we know we should be feeling.
Why is it that in this season, of all times, we feel like God and joy are distant and detached? How do we inspect our hearts and minds to see his presence more clearly? How do we tune our view of God, so that we can learn to experiencing his loving and giving heart?
Short answer: trinitarian fullness. The glorious picture that the Bible presents about God is that before anything, he is an overflowing relationship of love, joy and wonder. Christianity teaches us that this is God, no matter who we are. This is God before we ever wanted to know him. And this is God even when we know we fall short. Enjoy the episode!
PS - Here is the link for the sermon we mention - sermon starts at 30 min. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uluQUZolsM8
To be human is to worship. Or put another way, to be human is to be a creature of ultimate desire. We worship the things that we desire and seek after most, because we look to these for satisfaction, peace and completeness. Though we are created to know and love the One who made us, our sin leads us to believe the lie that our ultimate satisfaction and well being can be found in other things. This really is the essence of sin: placing ultimate hope for satisfaction in anything outside of God.
This is also what makes our lives so complicated. This is why we struggle with so many things that we know are wrong. Our hearts and our desires often run deeper than we can see directly. The heart is a deep well of mystery. Thus, we have a hard time identifying the sources of our daily struggles. This week on the podcast we sit down with my wife and talk about how the gospel of Jesus comes in to destroy our idols and equip us to expose those idols and uproot them, replacing them with a deeper and richer life of worship. Enjoy the show!
One of the most complex seasons of our lives is the season of dating and transition into marriage. No two stories are exactly alike. And there really is no perfect formula one can prescribe that will guarantee safe passage to these rough and challenging waters. Quite unfortunately, christians have often done harm by adding unhelpful or even harmful ideas and expectations to dating and marriage.
In this episode, we pause to reflect on some of the lessons we have noticed in the last few years. As part of this conversation, we talk about the history of Joshua Harris’ book, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” and both the positive and negative impact that it has had. At the end of the day, the deepest challenge for us as christians in this question is to not merely respond defensively to the ideas of our culture but to actually cultivate a rich perspective of relationships and sexuality that is rooted in the Bible. Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think!
Here is the link to Harris' Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybYTkkQJw_M&t=5s
Alright guys so this past month we have officially moved into the mini-van world. This was once again a reminder for my wife and I that life is moving along quickly and we are not the 23 year olds we used to be. We are growing up. We are moving though the 20’s, with the 30’s coming in fast. So this week we pause and think out loud about what it means to be growing up. What it means to be young. What it means to stay young. And what it means to embrace the maturity and wisdom that comes with age.
When we look around we realize quickly that we live in a culture that is obsessed with youth. Sure its good to be young and free. It's good to have energy and dreams. But being young also means being naive. It means lacking wisdom. It means that there is so much we have yet to learn. This latter emphasis seems to be totally missing today. Young people are placed at the center of the culture and given the stage. Not only is this bad for the world. It's bad for us young people. It doesn’t help us grow up in wisdom and maturity. And it makes it very difficult for us to understand what it means to be an adult. Enjoy the show!
Following Jesus today means so much more than just reading your Bible and going to church. If God is real, and if he desires to dwell in our hearts and lives through the gospel message, then it is a life that must be full of life. It's supposed to peel back the curtains on reality. It's supposed to show us the world in brighter color. Teach us to feel more deeply. Instill in us a deep sense of hope. And most importantly, usher in a truer sense of God’s presence.
So how do we combat our sense of fallenness and disenchantment and recapture the wonder? I think that this is one of the most important questions that christians need to be asking today. We can’t settle down for the basics. We need to be dissatisfied with the vague and shallow experience of our culture and demand more. Ask greater questions and seek a deeper experience of spiritual life. There is no way that we can capture this question in its fullness in one episodes. But perhaps here is a start! Enjoy the show!
Here is the link for the True North Conference sessions for Saturday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRvalZmjxT8&t=7661s
The book that we mentioned was N. D. Wilson’s Death By Living.
These last few months have been quite the rollercoaster for our family. It's been almost a year now since we started the initial process of getting licensed as foster parents. As you might guess, this was kind of a crazy step for us. A time full of uncertainty, questions and even a bit of fear. The process took a bit longer than we anticipated, but we are in! And now that we are neck deep, we thought it would be a good time to take a moment and share you guys how it's been and what we’ve been learning.
The focus of this podcast is the challenge of following Jesus in our post christian culture. And at the end of the day, this journey has been one of discipleship for us. All the new people we have met, the stories we have crossed paths with, the opportunities that we have witnesses - all serve to expand our understanding what it means to love God and neighbor. Despite the immense challenges, it's been such so amazing to see how Jesus really walks with us in things we do in his name. And the more we need him, the richer his grace.
Also check out the website to Skookum Kids at http://www.skookumkids.org
Where has the magic gone? Why does it often feel like faith in today’s world is like trying to run with weights on your feet? Why do we sense a continual tug of doubt even though we’ve been following Jesus for a long time now? These are just some of the questions that we often ask as we try to make sense of our hearts as followers of Jesus today. The short answer is this: we live in a world that has been disenchanted.
Here is the link to the lecture by James K. A. Smith - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-not-to-be-secular-responding-to-a-new-millennium/id1160981662?i=1000376038579
Check out well-said.org for more details on this show and others!
What is fatherlessness and why is it one of the biggest factors that lead to increased crime rates, mental illness and even medical problems? In an individualistic culture, we are very good at prizing the rights of the individual. And yet we are very bad at understanding the importance of the family and the role of men. And yet the cliche that we are all used to is incompetent, absent or withdrawn men. What we forget is the fact that the results of this problem are not isolated to me, but leave their mark on every part of our lives.
Al Mohler interview link - - https://albertmohler.com/2013/09/16/a-culture-increasingly-hostile-to-men-a-conversation-with-psychologist-helen-smith
Where have all the good men gone? I understand that it today’s politically charged culture, that question itself can be seen as offensive and controversial. But here’s an observation that I’ve seen lately. For all the ways that christians today seek to stand against the progressive push in sexuality, we are have largely failed to articulate and model and powerful vision of biblical masculinity. As a result, the younger generations of men are left without model or example, and become sitting ducks to the weak and pessimistic manhood of modern culture.
Our goal in this conversation was just to plant the flag for the beauty, power and joy of biblical masculinity. We understand that we are both young men in process. We need to grow in wisdom, understanding and strength ourselves. And yet we see that there is no future to the community of the saints around us without a compelling call to biblical masculinity. Enjoy the episode!
Here is the link to the article we mention on the show: - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/not-safe-but-good
After we finally put the kids down to bed, my wife and I decided to sit down and finally put down some thoughts about what we've been learning over the last six years of marriage and family. One of the first things that we wanted to start with is to challenge our modern expectations of the good life.
So here's the key question that will shape the most significant portion of your life: what do you expect from love, marriage and family? More specifically, what part does pain and trails play in your theology of progress and growth. Whether we realize it or not, most of us will often resort to the common assumption that, though discomfort is unavoidable, we need to work as hard as we can do avoid it.
The great plot twist of the gospel is that God accomplishes victory through situations that feel like defeat. Through death, he gives us life. And it is through our daily embrace of death that we grow in wisdom, maturity and richness of heart. This idea puts a completely different spin on what we expect from love, marriage and family. Enjoy the show!
What does genuine faith look like? This past weekend we had the great opportunity to attend Reality Conference at Word of Grace Bible Church in Battleground WA. Dr. Matthew Jones spent the weekend unpacking this awesome and practical topic. This episode we take a moment to sit down and talk about the highlights and our favorite moments. - Check out the conference Q and A at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRE7Y8fzDx0 - Check out Matt Jones sermons at - https://www.delreychurch.com/sermons
As we open the episode on this dense and complex subject this week, one of the things we try to show is that all politics are merely an extension of the personal world into the public sphere. There is no such thing as a perfect public/private split. The reality is that all politics is a battlefield of the gods - our deepest personal desires and values coming out into the open and colliding head on. Enjoy the show! Check out the links and show notes below!
Links: - "Them" by Ben Sasse - https://www.amazon.com/Them-Hate-Each-Other-Heal/dp/1250193680/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sasse+them&qid=1552969831&s=gateway&sr=8-1 - "How the Nations Rage" by Leeman -https://www.amazon.com/How-Nations-Rage-Rethinking-Politics/dp/1400207649/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+the+nations+rage&qid=1552969909&s=gateway&sr=8-1 - Almohler.com
More surrounded than ever. And more alone than ever. That is what we are as a culture. Technology, sexual ethics and personal freedoms all feed into a cultural tide that is hard to shake, even if you say that you believe in a different way. As christians, we are constantly bathed in the mindset of radical individualism, a message that tells us that our greatest joy is found when every possible option is left open.
And yet the only way to keep all the options open and hold on to every freedom is to commit to nothing and no one. The moment you commit to a job, a person, a truth, you are by nature closing the door to the freedom you had before. To stay in the world of choice is to be stuck in limbo. Today we are surrounded by people who are trapped in their own personal freedom, their own little island in the cosmos. And more than ever we long for a rediscovery of true friendship.
The night before he was killed, Jesus said, “No greater love is this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” The one who shaped the world into being, the one who upholds all things, entered our broken world to give his life to us and to call us his friends. This is the rediscovery of friendship at its source. And it this is the only thing that has the power to fuel true friendship in every season of life. Enjoy the show!
Show links: - Tim Keller's message on friendship: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/friendship/id352660924?i=1000353131441&mt=2 - Ben Sasse's latest book -https://www.amazon.com/Them-Hate-Each-Other-Heal/dp/1250193680/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3683CT8SRSKOJ&keywords=ben+sasse+them&qid=1551769263&s=gateway&sprefix=Ben+Sasse+%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1
In one of his recent songs titled “Family Photo", Andy Mineo recounts the painful experience of his dad not showing up to his wedding. The song goes on to powerfully explore the pain and challenge of emotions that we try to bury with time, only to have them rise up even stronger later in life. This is particularly true in our challenges and tensions in the relationships that we have with our parents. One of the toughest challenges of transitioning into adulthood is rebuilding our relationship with our parent from that of a dependent child, to an independent adult. This process is often full of tension, conflict and pain. And this is something that follows people deep into their adult life. Contrary to the common cultural assumption, we cannot just break out and start a new life. We are the people the we have been made to be by our surroundings. The beautiful thing is that, when we look at the gospel, we see the power the Christ gives us to not only face our challenges, but also to work through them and grow in deeper faith. Check out the link below for the song from Andy Mineo, and detailed show notes below. Enjoy the show!
Is there any aspect of your humanity that has more power to bring either pleasure or pain than your sexuality? I think that’s a tough question to answer. Probably not. Our sexuality is that aspect of ourselves that is inseparably tied to almost every aspect of our life - physical, spiritual, emotional, relational and psychological. This is why when we look at a spiritually broken and confused culture, we also find profound sexual brokenness and angst. Without a proper understanding of this aspect of ourselves, we will struggle in every other aspect of our identity.
So how do we as christians properly understand and relate to this world’s sexual brokenness? More in this week’s show.
Show links: - Support us at https://www.patreon.com/wellsaid
Is change possible for me? Is it really possible for me to be like that fruitful tree that stays green even in the raging desert heat? Is it really possible for me to overcome my anger? My insecurity? My anxiety? My fears? My laziness? My self doubt? My weakness in relationships? My impatience? My addiction?
According to to the message of Jesus, the answer is a resounding yes. 100% yes. The work that Jesus begins in your heart through the gospel is a work that is not ceased until it is complete. Not only this, it is a work that brings the biggest guns that God has in his arsenal into our very hearts. Therefore, as christians, we must learn to tap into these resources. We must learn to live a life that is marked by habits and rhythms of life that are constantly unpacking the power of God in our hearts.
This week we unpack three essential spiritual habits that help unlock the power of the change that Jesus brings into our lives. Enjoy the show!
For further reading on this, check out the awesome little book by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp called "How People Change".
Happy New Years guys! As we were sitting around drinking coffee on New Years day, we decided to turn the mic on and record some thoughts on the passing year. Dan agreed under one condition: that HE as the guest would be interviewing ME. He didn't give me a heads up on the questions. And as it always goes, Dan and I had a great conversation that covered everything from Kombucha to the gospel to the end of the world to loving our wives and serving our neighbors. Enjoy!
Welcome back to the Well Said Podcast where we are talking about the joy and the complexity of following Jesus in our ever-changing post christian culture.
We are sorry we missed you guys last week. This week we are making it up to you guys with a very special episode. Today I’m over at Grace Church Bellingham and I am excited to be able to talk with Sam Hebert about singing and song writing. Sam is the worship director at Grace, and he also leads a young adults Bible study. He also has taken time in the past couple of years to start writing and recording some of his own music.
Sam welcome to the podcast! We had an amazing conversation that covered everything from dating, breakups, creativity, gospel ministry and the healing power of Christ in our toughest times. Enjoy the show!
So sorry we missed you guys last week! This week we dive in the deep end of the pool! In our attempt to jump into our growth and wisdom, we often jump to the assumption that our biggest need is that we fill our mental bookshelf with good information, especially when it comes to the knowledge of God and his truth. And yet, one of the things that we fail to see is the fact that the bookshelf itself is built by core assumptions and perspectives that are deeply engrained in our view of the world.
Links to recommends: - https://www.amazon.com/Things-Earth-Treasuring-Enjoying-Gifts/dp/1433544733 -https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-cultural-moment/id1342868490?mt=2
Often times we get the impression that christians are defined by what we aren’t allowed to do. And in that list we often see things like don’t offend, don’t say and do hard things, and don’t enjoy life too much! Well this week we want to press hard against that grain. And we want to dive headlong into the season of celebration by boiling down the basic christian philosophy of life to three key words: fight, laugh, feast. The God we worship is the God that invented THIS universe. The universe of gigantic burning balls of fire hovering in solar systems. The universe of raging storms, thick cut bacon, apple cider, giant delicious smelling turkey, songs, dance, joy and love. To know him and to know his story is to live in his world with our eyes wide open.
Some of you guys may notice that this summary is not original to us. We actually stole it from the CrossPolitic Podcast (which is one way of pointing y’all over to them to go check it out!). And yet we have taken the liberty of giving it our own personal spin. So, what does it mean for us to live in this world as if Jesus really is who he says he is? How do we respond to the reality of a world that is both broken and beautiful? And how do these truths breath fire into our holiday festivities? My friend Victor joins me this week to talk about how we fight, laugh and feast. Enjoy the episode! Also check out the links below to the books we mention!
https://www.amazon.com/Things-Earth-Treasuring-Enjoying-Gifts-ebook/dp/B00QSNG4MG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1542702285&sr=8-2&keywords=the+things+of+earth
https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Tilt-Whirl-Wide-Eyed-Wonder-ebook/dp/B002EPNHHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542702225&sr=8-1&keywords=notes+from+a+tilt-a-whirl
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Living-Life-Meant-Spent-ebook/dp/B00A0VP98M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542702262&sr=8-1&keywords=death+by+living
Over the last hundred years, movies and television have changed the way that we interact with the world. They have given us a new and powerful avenue to communicate ideas and emotions. The powerful blend of image, story and sound has a potency that seems to be constantly growing. In a world grasping for meaning and fulfillment, movies are a key reference point. And when you look at the current landscape for great films, the work of Christopher Nolan stands as a powerful example.
This week we take some time to talk about some of our favorite movies and why they have had the impact that they have. We also take some jabs at how we have seen the movie industry misunderstood and mishandled by people around us, and how we as followers of Jesus need to think about them. Enjoy the show and let us know what you think!
How do we make sense of the emotional battles that rage in our hearts everyday? How do we react to the seeming powerlessness that we sometimes sense against the waves of high or low that come at us like a tide? One of the key things that the biblical narrative helps us see in the heat of our daily inner termoil that is yes indeed, there as aspects of ourselves that we don’t have direct power to change. We cannot undo some of the most foundational aspects of our brokenness. Our bodies and hearts will forever escape our total comprehension.
Sometimes this means facing a daily onslaught of fears and anxieties. Sometimes this means watching the dark clouds of gloom roll in on us. And yet, in the midst of this, the story of Jesus helps us see that, as faith in him awakens our hearts to a new life in him, we do realize that we have the daily choice of activity responding to the clouds and the fears, either in the direction of faith, or the direction of sin. More on this in this week’s discussion!
- Get connected with biblical resources
- CCEF.org
- Christians get depressed too by David Murray
- How people change by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp
- Running Scared by Ed Welch
- Depression: Looking up from the stubborn darkness by Ed Welch
- http://www.sbts.edu/theology/center-for-biblical-counseling/resources/
How does the church need to think about things like depression, anxiety and the church? The short answer is that they need to start thinking about it, rather than jumping to conclusions. We need to start reading our Bibles more carefully, taking seriously the experiences we see describes in many of its characters, and seeing how God gives hope to us even in the midst of our most challenging seasons. Full podcast episode link in bio! Enjoy and let us know what you think!
- Get connected with biblical resources
- CCEF.org
- Christians get depressed too by David Murray
- How people change by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp
- Running Scared by Ed Welch
- Depression: Looking up from the stubborn darkness by Ed Welch
- http://www.sbts.edu/theology/center-for-biblical-counseling/resources/
Welcome back! We are excited to hit the ground running, introduce new plans and my new co-host Max! Along the way you get to know a little bit about him, and about what we both see a fatal flaw in the way that our generation often perceives spirituality.
It's been a blast working on this first season of the podcast! This week, we take a step back, think about what we learned, what we thought were some of our most important conversations, and what we are looking forward to in the next round of conversations! Also, we'd love to hear from you! What are your favorite moments from season one? What do you hope to see in the future? Send in your thoughts through any of our social media links or our website at well-said.org. See ya'll in a couple of weeks!
This week we circle back to a giving a broader view of the Reformation, the ideas that it gave rise to, and how it contrasts different views of God's sovereignty and our freedom. How is it possible that God is both in control of all things, and yet he gives us a life of true choices and real significance? The heart of the answer is simply this: mystery. There are some things we know to be true, and yet can’t fully reconcile. And yet, this idea, that some of our most important questions leave us to an answer like mystery makes us very uncomfortable today. We want clarity because it gives us a sense of control. But God wants something else, he wants our trust. Can we trust him with the answers that we can’t fully put together in our head? More on this week’s conversation.
There is perhaps no question that is BOTH as complex and practical as the question of God's control and our freedom in the world. The debates on this rage both in theological and philosophical circles, as they do on park benches, bus stops and college classrooms. As humans we need to know that our lives and our decisions matter. At the same time, we long to know that the world is not merely some cosmic accident. So what does the Bible teach on the sovereignty of God and the free will of man? How do we reconcile these issues? And how do we understand that different perspectives on this question? All on the show this week!
It seems that no matter where we look today, we find some foundational aspect of our culture being questioned and dismantled. Doubt is the reigning virtue of today, at least when it comes to questions of faith and God. This doubt inevitably seeps into our skin if we live in this culture. Like it or not, as a christian today, you will be bombarded by questions about your faith. Even more unnerving, the very notion of faith in God is questioned. Not only are we challenged in the details of our faith (eg. Did Jesus exist? Is the Bible historically accurate? etc), but the very idea of confident faith in God and his revelation is eroded today. It seems to many people to simply be a superstitious artifact of history, not something modern people can take too seriously.
To every christian out there today: the question is not IF you will face doubt. The question is WHEN. And how you respond. When we look at the christian message, is there any room in it for a proper experience of doubt? Does the experience of doubt mean that I am not a faithful christian? That something is wrong with me?
What is the kind of church in which true community can be forged? What are the essential ingredients? Is it the lights? The pastors hairdo? The skill of the worship band? Bouncing off of the last discussion, we take a moment to look at the core ingredients of the church that can grow in real life and faith together.
What we find in this discussion is that, just like with family, there are many different kinds of "good churches". The families of the followers of Christ come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. And yet, amidst the diversity, there are core characteristics that give rise to true life. And these core characteristics are often not what we would first expect.
One of the marks of a secular culture is loneliness. People are brought together by a common truth, in a world where truth is whatever you prefer, we all have our own truth and we all live on islands. To be human is to be built for community. As those who have been reconciled with God, one of the most important callings of the church today is to build and demonstrate true community.
We live in an age when we have two extremes in our approach to work, which are often found in the same person. On the one hand, work is a major source of identity for us. It gives us meaning and worth and purpose, it keeps our lives going. That is why we are always trying to find “the perfect career” that fits our life and character, we want to climb the ladder, build our portfolio and qualifications. Work, in that sense, is often the "god" of the modern person's life. On the other hand, we want to as little true hard work as possible, and have as much leisure and fun as possible. We are an entertainment driven age and we face a major struggle between production and consumption in life.
As christians, we face an extra layer of challenges in this area. Many christians often adopt a dualistic view of life in which the "spiritual" is important and the "physical" is passing and worldly. In this perspective, we are often left asking, "does my work matter?" It seems that the emphasis in church is that the main thing that matters is church ministry, missions work and evangelism. If it does, why does it matter? Is it merely an avenue for evangelism to people? Enjoy the episode!
Why is the church often so suspicious or even dismissive of art and artists? How should christians think about creativity and how does it fit into our mission to make Jesus known in the culture today? This week’s conversation dives into a subject that is totally off the table for many people in the church today. Aleksey and I take some time to reflect on the role that art and creativity has had in our lives, the influences that have shaped us and point to some areas in the church we hope to see growth.
One of the major players that have helped shape my view of art and creativity is the stuff coming out of Humble Beast Records, especially the Canvas Conference on Creativity and Theology. Please do check them out! This group of guys has been working hard for the past 10 years to produce faithful art for the church. Art that challenges us. Art that cultivates us. Art that helps us take our skills and passions to the broken world in which we live in order to tell a better story.
- The Canvas Conference on Creativity and Theology - http://www.thecanvasconference.com
- Art and the Bible By Francis Schaeffer
- The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis
- The Stories We Tell and Recapturing Wonder by Mike Cosper
In part 2 of our conversation on the relationship between the church and the world, we hit on some practical points on how we as christians are supposed to draw the lines in our life in a secular culture. We also take note of some of the common mistakes that we as young believers make in our response to church culture that is too strict or traditional.
Some of our listeners had issues with us discussing secular music these past few weeks. This brings up a very important issue that we want to discuss over these next two episodes. What is the mission of the church to the world around? How does a christian properly work through their relationship to the surrounding culture?
Links to books mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/Total-Truth-Liberating-Christianity-Captivity-ebook/dp/B0022VV0OK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525192550&sr=8-1&keywords=total+truth https://www.amazon.com/What-Mission-Church-Justice-Commission-ebook/dp/B005LIH9N2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1525192581&sr=1-1&keywords=what+is+the+mission+of+the+church
One of the clearest way to get to the heart of any culture is to look at what they believe about sexuality and relationships. For love to last in this individualized age, we are goin to find more and more that we need a more clear definition of what love is and why we should do it. As individualism presses down on our need for love, we need ways and reasons to answer our individualism, answers that will be stronger than the individualism itself.
At the very center of who we are as humans is the need for belonging and love. This is inseparable from our very biological make up and is expressed our sexuality. That is why one of the clearest ways to see the spiritual state of a culture is to look at what they believe about sexuality and human relationships. Our views on love and physical intimacy are the heart of our humanity. If you picture our current culture like a cake with many layers, then Taylor Swift’s music gives us a very neat slice of all the layers. As we look at the evolution of her music, we see the full spectrum of experience and perspective that one might take given our secular and individualistic age. We also include a clip of Jordan Peterson, giving a good summary of the deep confusion that we see today. Enjoy the show! Link in bio.
The crazy thing about the human heart is that lots of times we allow ourselves to be transformed by the world around us in a passive way. How does faith and worship work? Most often we are captivated by some picture of the good life. So idea that promises fulfillment or satisfaction. That longing our desire turns into a faith assumption. We invest trust and conviction in it. That faith assumption then leads us to act on that faith as we pursue this thing that promises joy. That is actually worship at its core: a life of pursuing our desires. And a lot of it happens outside religious buildings. Thats worship 101: captivated hearts lead to faith, which leads to worship.
Often times, being a believer today means living under the pressure of a world that claims that faith and facts are at odds. Why do we as Christians seem to be clinging to her face so much when the rest of the world moving on with facts and science and technology? In our discussion, we try to show that, at the end of the day there is no such thing as people who are religious and people who are religious. We are all captivated in our hearts by something. We all invest faith in that something. And we act on that faith, in worship of that something.
As we navigate the crazy and complex waters of culture and faith, we must understand that our process of keeping up with the culture will constantly be putting pressure on our definition of the very heart of christianity. And if you aren’t constantly pursuing a deeper understanding of the historic and biblical definitions that have shaped the church for centuries, you will most certainly loose them.
Before diving into the deep end of the pool, we take a moment to reflect on our stories of faith and church life. We take note of the changes that we see around us in the church. We reflect of the frustrations that we have experienced in the church. And we point to the core things that have shaped us, giving us a distinct view of what the future looks like for us who seek to be faithful followers of Jesus in a changing world.
Hey guys! Welcome to the Well Said Podcast. My name is Andrey and on the pastoral intern at living Word Bible Church where I'm responsible for youth and young adult ministries. I'm also a part-time student at Southern seminary. Every week I'll be sitting down with my friend Alexy and we are talking about the beauty and complexity of following Jesus in a post Christian culture.