Christian Realist: Recent Episodes
V. Pickering
In the midst of the world's chaos, the Christian Realist is a peaceful island of common sense and inspiration. Considering contemporary issues from a perspective of both open-minded rationality and devotion to God, each podcast includes a short sermon and scripture reading, a worship song to sing along with, and a time of prayer.
In this long-awaited third episode on "Bridging the Divide," we discuss the story of Noah's Ark as a teaching on how God works in the part of the story of civilizational collapse where we are now--i.e. shortly before the "Flood" (ecological and social collapse).
A discussion of how the story of Cain and Abel and describes the cycle of civilizations rising and falling, how that relates to social breakdown and Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. today, and how to find calm and resolution in the midst of political crises. With music and prayer.
First episode in the series on bridging the political left/right divide. How the left/right political divide may reflect the left/right structure of the brain and how the historical-and-present trajectory of increasing left-hemisphere dominance relates to the story of Adam and Eve. Sermon, song, and prayer.
A short sermon on how accepting the evil of the situation we face enables us to respond appropriately. With a beloved classic hymn and a prayer.
A short sermon on the depressing times we live in, why things are likely to get worse, and how we might respond. With a Taize chant and prayer.
What the bargaining stage of grief might look like in the pandemic, and a guided exercise in learning from the story of Job, with a worship song, and prayer.
Second episode in a series on the COVID-19 pandemic and stages of grief. This episode discusses what to do and what not to do with your anger, drawing on wisdom from the Bible, history, a very rough understanding of the Buddhist tradition, neuroscience, and, obviously, personal experience. Also shared is a song and prayer.
First episode in a series on grieving well during the COVID-19 pandemic. This episode explores the first stage of grief, denial, and includes a worship song and prayer. (The title is a reference to the Month Python sketch, "Take Your Pick.")
A sermon on what Paul didn't know, what he got wrong, and what he got right about the resurrection of Christ; with a stirring Easter hymn and a prayer.
A message about Jesus' self-sacrifice and our calling in a chaotic world, with an impressively-rhymed classic hymn and a prayer for those engaged in important work during this challenging time (that includes you, by the way!).
A mini sermon on Jesus washing the disciples' feet, with a top-shelf worship song and prayer.
The story of my evolving understanding of the Atonement, with reflection on trusting God while following a path into uncharted territory. And an old-timey worship song to sing along with.
A short sermon on what it means (and doesn't mean) for the stories in the Bible to be true, with a classic hymn, and brief prayer.
A short sermon on what it means to be "born of the Spirit" from a neuroscientific perspective, with an inspiring worship song and brief prayer.
A short message on how disappointment is actually very promising, with a reading from Isaiah and an awesome worship song.