Cocktail Theology: Recent Episodes
Benton Stokes & Dr. Elane O'Rourke, School For Seekers
Benton Stokes is a noted songwriter and worship leader from the buckle of the Bible Belt. Dr. Elane O'Rourke is a spiritual coach and ex-professor from San Francisco and L.A. They talk about life and God, with no filter. Over cocktails. Just like you.
For more information about Cocktail Theology, or its sponsor, School For Seekers, visit www.schoolforseekers.com
Benton and Elane sip on a complex, unnamed bourbon-and-chocolate dessert cocktail while unpacking a mind-bending thesis: generative AI is the perfect metaphor for our current political landscape. They explore how both consumer AI and political figures like Donald Trump build trust by reading our fears, amplifying our language, and locking us into narrow, unchallenging echo chambers. Hear Elane's passionate "rant" on why blind trust in any authority is dangerous, and how we can actively combat this cultural bubble by demanding that our systems (and our minds) engage with different perspectives.
Cocktail: Elane's Nameless Dessert Cocktail
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton explore the disappearing concept of the "third place"—community hubs that are neither home nor work where people actually know your name—have been replaced by a culture of drive-thrus, smartphones, and a constant need to maximize our time. They unpack the historical and cultural shifts that have pushed us toward isolation, from front-facing garages to the invention of air conditioning, and discover why we might need to intentionally seek out hyper-local connections to rediscover our neighbors.
Cocktail: Guinness & Bourbon Smash
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane sip on a cozy cocktail while exploring the deep emotional connections we have with comfort food. Swapping stories about childhood dinners, church potlucks, and specific cravings, they unpack how certain meals act as a time machine to our past and dive into the psychological difference between compulsively eating to fill an empty space and enjoying food for joyful nostalgia. Listen to discover what nachos, banana pudding, and sad songs have in common, and how sharing our favorite foods is one of the most powerful ways to build community and show love.
Cocktail: The Wistful Walnut
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton tackle a pressing modern question: what does trusting AI do to our faith? They unpack how AI lacks the crucial "skin in the game" of human experience, how it creates an unchallenging echo chamber by flattering our existing beliefs, and how it occasionally even hallucinates lies. They discuss why true spiritual mentorship requires shared human mistakes, and how the greatest personal threat of AI is the tendency to shut down our own critical thinking.
Cocktail: Jabroni
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane discuss an ongoing cultural and spiritual shift: moving away from the idea that we are all inherently broken and in need of constant healing. Tracing the concept of brokenness back to original sin, they discuss how we can shift our focus from victimhood toward actionable spiritual practices and trade the endless search for healing for the proactive pursuit of wholeness and living well.
Cocktail: Pomegranate Lemonade
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton sip on a summer-ready Pineapple Daiquiri while tackling a difficult question: what does it mean to be patriotic in an era of rising Christian nationalism? They explore how the core tenets of Christianity—loving God and loving your neighbor—must challenge the exclusionary views of modern nationalism, and why choosing the way of Jesus means fighting for the dignity of everyone.
Cocktail: Pineapple Daiquiri
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane tackle a difficult biblical dilemma: what does it really mean to be "wise as serpents" and "gentle as doves" in the modern world? Sparked by the frustrations of California's primary elections and the everyday ethics of corporate boycotts, they explore how people of faith can balance strategic thinking with vulnerable integrity.
Cocktail: Eeyore's Requiem
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton sip on a comforting, bourbon-based nightcap called "The Welcome and Good Night" as they explore the true meaning of hospitality. Sparked by Pride Month and the actual biblical reasons behind the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, they discuss how true hospitality is about much more than fancy food or having a perfect home—it is the spiritual discipline of making people feel safe enough to be themselves without fear of messing up. They challenge listeners to carry this welcoming spirit into the everyday world, intentionally choosing human connection and "interaction not transaction" to break down the cultural binaries that divide us.
Cocktail: Welcome And Good Night
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane pick up where they left off in the last episode as Elane introduces a mystical perspective on how we connect to God, the universe, and each other, which sparks an intense and honest debate. They tackle the complex difference between simply trying to be a "good person" and acting as a spiritual "thin place" that requires a 100% connection to the divine. Ultimately, they challenge the idea of religion as just a set of rules, finding common ground in the belief that true faith requires an ongoing renovation of the heart.
Cocktail: Belvedere #1
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane dive into a provocative discussion about the ultimate endgame of religious faith. They explore whether the primary goal of religion is to avoid eternal punishment and appease a capricious God, or if it is simply a framework for becoming a decent human being. From the eternal prosperity gospel of seeking heaven to the relief of suffering found in Buddhist ideals, they analyze the diverse motivations that drive spiritual practice.
Cocktail: The Rolls Royce
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane sip on a surprising Guava Daiquiri while considering what we mean when we use the phrase "acts of God". Tornadoes and typhoons? Desert blooms and natural beauty? Or something else? God's actions often look much different than we expect....so how do we know when God's at work in the world....?
Cocktail: Guava Daiquiri
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane explore the difference between hair-trigger outrage and well-ordered anger. They unpack the harmful religious conditioning that taught many to suppress their anger and offer practical advice on how to combat political exhaustion by channeling frustration into a single, constructive cause to effect real change. All while sipping a mezcal-based cocktail.
Cocktail: La Ultima Palabra
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
As a society, it seems we are constantly on the verge of outrage. Benton and Elane talk about how a loss of everyday civility and humor keeps us all on guard instead of being open to proactively stepping into conversations. They offer some practical advice on how to lower the temperature and see the humanity in everyone while sipping an imperfect cocktail.
Cocktail: Smoked Cherry Margarita
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane have a conversation sparked by Benton's brand-new song, "Take the Throne," which leads them to unpack traditional Christian imagery about kingship, power, and the maturity it takes to surrender control. It's a thoughtful discussion on the ongoing process of deconstruction, the dangers of making yourself the final arbiter of your own kingdom, and learning how to hold onto the foundational pieces of your religious past without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Cocktail: Basil Smash
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
"Take The Throne" Words & music by Benton Stokes ©2026 Songs From The Basement/BMI. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
NEW EPISODE! Elane and Benton respond to a listener's letter expressing her trouble with worshipping God. She poses the question, "Does God need our constant fawning?" Which leads to the question, "Is God a narcissist?" A lively conversation about what worship is (and isn't), what makes someone a narcissist, and why lime and artichoke work so well together in a cocktail.
Cocktail: The Lime & The Artichoke
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane open Season 7 with a conversation about Jesus' Resurrection. Why didn't everyone recognize Jesus after he left the tomb? How could he walk through walls? How important is the Resurrection to what happened on the Cross? All these questions and more, plus a tasty rum cocktail.
Cocktail: The Lazarus Soul
Note: When they recorded this episode, Benton and Elane thought this would be The Season Of Video Podcasting. They found that having the camera on made them less honest and spontaneous, so ditched the idea. Let your visual imaginations run wild instead!
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton reflect on what Christmas means to them this year while enjoying a classic holiday cocktail.
Cocktail: Tom & Jerry
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
What is purpose, where does it come from, and why is it so important? Has it already been chosen for us? Are our life stories already written down in God's Big Book Of Everything? Elane and Benton ponder purpose, callings, and the will of God while sipping a new cocktail.
Cocktail: The Inglenook
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
There's only one reality, but each of us experiences it differently. That can be a useful—even a beautiful—thing. But it can also be a barrier to consensus, even conversation. And can wreak havoc around holiday tables. Benton and Elane chat about the reality of…reality.
Cocktail: Thanksgiving Cocktail
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton share what Thanksgiving (the day and the practice) mean to them, as well as some things they're thankful for. They also discuss the importance of not just being grateful for things, but also thanking people (and God) for those things.
Cocktail: Maple Rye Old Fashioned
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! Most Americans, when asked about their faith, say they are religiously unaffiliated. Elane and Benton chat about "the Nones," finding and nurturing awe, and how spirituality is a part of all us.
Cocktail: Glass & Bottle
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
What do you mean when you call yourself a Christian? Benton and Elane answer that question for themselves while sipping an interesting gin cocktail.
Cocktail: Three Of A Kind
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton welcome their good friend, Father Ricardo Avila—a gay, Latino, Episcopalian priest—to an honest conversation about what it means to be LGBTQ+ and work in ministry. They also enjoy a flight of six different rums!
Cocktail: Rum Flight
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Every November, Dia de los Muertos honors loved ones who have passed with both revelry and reverence. African-Americans talk of turning to their ancestors for wisdom and guidance. Yet death remains a difficult thing for most of us to talk about. Elane and Benton chat about death while enjoying a prickly cocktail.
Cocktail: Prickly Pear Margarita
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane chat about what makes someone a martyr, what doesn't, and why our culture is hung up on martyrdom.
Cocktail: Enrico Palazzo
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
Cynicism is becoming more and more common among us these days. Elane and Benton discuss ideas for combatting it (hint: awe is a good place to start) while sipping a rum cocktail.
Cocktail: Bouteiller
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.
#progressivechristian #spirituality #queerchristian #cocktails #podcast #lgbtq+ #postevangelical #christianlife #cynical #cynicism #awe #wonder
Does someone’s weight have anything to do with their spirituality? Well…it depends. Benton and Elane talk about body image and how the way we see ourselves—and what we do to sustain or change that—can be a reflection of what’s going on in our relationship with God, ourselves, and others.
Cocktail: Midnight Fizz
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane chat about what books they’ve ben reading, what shows they’ve been streaming, and what music has been bringing them life lately.
Cocktail: Rum Swizzle
Correction: The book Elane mentions should be "Accidental Tourist" by Anne Tyler.
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton talk about the complicated concept of forgiveness—what it is, when to do it, and when not to.
Cocktail: Closing Argument
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
If ‘antichrist’ is an adjective describing anything that is antithetical to the way Jesus lived and what he taught, then why is the term being applied to Jesus-followers who are trying to do the work of Jesus (feeding the poor, working for justice, etc)? And: who is “the Antichrist” and why are influencers, pastors, tech billionaires, and politicians on the right talking about him so much these days? Elane and Benton discuss over yummy tiki drinks.
Cocktail: Smuggler’s Cove’s Straits Sling
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
If you’ve been a Christian any length of time, you’re familiar with the idea that even though we are “in the world,” we are not to be “of the world” (John 15:19, John 17:14-16, Romans 12:2). So what does that mean anyway? We are all obviously in the world, but how “in the world” can we be before we find ourselves being “of the world?” Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: Man O’ War
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
#progressivechristian #spirituality #queerchristian #cocktails #podcast #lgbtq+ #postevangelical #christianlife #intheworld #oftheworld #sin #worldliness #self-denial #characterbuilding
Elane and Benton chat about the Bible—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to start (or restart) reading it—all while enjoying a classic three-ingredient cocktail.
Cocktail: Bijou
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane discuss the legacy of Dr. James Dobson, conservative Christian psychologist, radio personality, and political figure.
Cocktail: Passionfruit Mock Mojito
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
So suppose you REALLY want a BMW. Is it wrong to pray for a BMW? How disappointed will you be if God gives you a ’78 Maverick instead? Benton and Elane discuss manifesting, prosperity theology, and praying for cars while sipping a mocktail.
Cocktail: Basil Peach Mocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
How do you know when it’s time to leave your church? Elane and Benton chat about the reasons why someone might choose to leave their church home—and the reasons why they should stay.
Cocktail: Murky Matcha Mint Mocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton attended his grandfather’s funeral and two different approaches to how one gets to heaven—or ends up in hell—were presented. He and Elane discuss what it means to be “in” or “out,” and the difference between being motivated by love instead of fear.
Cocktail: Hibiscus Mint Mocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton discuss what it means to see someone—or oneself—as being selfish, and the distinctions between selfishness and self-awareness.
Cocktail: My Tailor Is Rich
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton likes to be thought of as a nice person. But is being nice important? He and Elane chat about niceness, manners, kindness, and the fruits of the Spirit while sipping a tasty sparkling cocktail.
Cocktail: Americano
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! In a world that is often upended because of our president’s whims, it’s important to have something bigger, more consistent and reliable, to hang onto. Benton and Elane chat about who or what that might be while enjoying a delicious new cocktail.
Cocktail: Eventide
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
A listener shared a viral video that captures a circle of charismatic Christians praying freely and fervently outside the White House. Elane and Benton discuss the many issues with this while sipping a Dubonnet cocktail.
Cocktail: The Dandy
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
In Acts 2, there is a description of how early Christians lived—eating together, praying together, supporting each other in all the ways. Elane poses the question: What would it look like to live that way today? Benton introduces a new original 3-ingredient cocktail.
Cocktail: Tahitian Monk
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Most of us have felt like a victim at some point. When someone breaks into your home. When you’re on the receiving end of a breakup you didn’t see coming. When you get passed over for a promotion again. Feeling (or being) victimized and living as though you are a victim are not the same. Elane and Benton discuss the debilitating effects of victimhood.
Cocktail: Corpse Reviver #2
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane recount the people and experiences in their lives that have helped guide and shape their faith.
Cocktail: Poet’s Dream
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What if the Holy Spirit showed up in Los Angeles today the way She did in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost? And how would we know if She did? Elane and Benton ponder these and other questions about the Holy Spirit and how She interacts with humanity and how we respond (or don’t) when She does.
Cocktail: Elixir Tropicale
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
In celebration of the release of WHAT IS QUEER FOOD?, the new book written by our friend, multi-award-winning writer John Birdsall, this is a newly edited conversation between Elane and John that was recorded in 2023 at John’s home in Tucson, Arizona. At the time, John was in the early stages of writing the book that would become WHAT IS QUEER FOOD? The book is John’s deeply personal and well-researched story-sharing of the relationship between modern American food culture and the lives and revolutions of LGBTQ+ folks.
Cocktail: Brown Derby
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
The Roman Catholic Church (and the world) has a new pope. Many Protestant Christians don’t see why the Pope is important, or even relevant, to the lives of non-Catholics. Elane and Benton chat about why all of us should be paying attention to what Pope Leo has to say. (For more, listen to our interview with Father James Martin--season 4, episode 10)
Cocktail: The Chicago Cocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What if humanity is suffering from a lack of wonder? Our need for control and certainty has left us with a God who has been demystified, and a President who captures our attention. Elane and Benton discuss wonder and how its absence has impacted our experience of life, God, and practically everything else.
Christians throughout the ages have claimed the Cross as their banner while they committed atrocities against those who opposed them--or who were simply in the way. In America today, that behavior is evident in the Christian nationalist movement, where men want Jesus to be depicted as assertive and powerful, not compassionate and humble. Elane and Benton chat about this while sipping Pink Ladies for the first time.
Cocktail: Pink Lady aka Karen
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's music wherever you stream your favorite artists.
In this last episode of the season, Elane and Benton share the Christmas songs they find most moving, most cringy, and most special. All while enjoying French 75’s.
Cocktail Theology will be back with new episodes in spring 2025!
#progressivechristian #spirituality #queerchristian #cocktails #podcast #lgbtq+ #postevangelical #christianlife #christmas #christmasmusic #christmassongs #holidaysongs #silentnight #thechipmunks #french75
Cocktail: French 75
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! The holidays present challenges for most of us. Family tensions. Grief. Issues around eating, drinking, and gifts. Benton and Elane have a conversation about practical ways to anticipate stressers during the season.
Cocktail: Winter In Norfolk County
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What makes something spiritual? Is it the intent or spirituality of its creator? Is it how the thing is received? And what does it mean for something to “spiritual” anyway? Benton and Elane ponder these questions and more while sipping espresso martinis.
Cocktail: Espresso Martini
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton have an in-depth conversation about what it means for Christians to be tolerant, accepting, or allies toward those who are different from us. Complete with Biblical examples. All while sipping a new cocktail.
Cocktail: The Bitterbon
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton respond to a listener’s question about the difference between mythology and theology.
Cocktail: The Vancouver
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane have a lighthearted chat about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and what happens between—while enjoying an apple brandy cocktail.
Cocktail: Without Borders
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Many Jesus-followers on the left (and some on the right) are understandably stunned, angry, and afraid at the election of Donald Trump. Could a rejection of elitism be what won Trump the office? Elane and Benton discuss the implications for now and for the long road ahead.
Cocktail: A Bitter Pill
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! Recorded right before Election Day, Elane and Benton chat about Jesus’ commandment to love—no matter who, no matter what.
Cocktail: Apple Press
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane discuss Messianic Jews—that is, Jews who believe Jesus was/is the Messiah and behave kinda like evangelical Christians do. Does this seem weird to you? It’s a little confusing, at least to Benton. There are qurestions and a few answers and drinkable Brown Derbys.
Cocktail: Brown Derby
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Life presents us all with realities that merit reactions like anger, fear, grief, and sadness. Toxically positive Christians deny the existence of such emotions in people who believe God is always good. Elane and Benton have a lively conversation about toxic positivity over a just-okay gin cocktail.
Cocktail: Delmonico Special
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
There are Christians who have some interesting views on why they shouldn’t have to care for the planet. Elane and Benton have a conversation about some of those views, as well as the question we all face (or ignore): “What can I do?”
Cocktail: Unnamed Chamomile Cocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What is baptism? Is it vital to a Christian’s faith or salvation? Is it sacramental? Is it transformational? What did/does Jesus’s baptism mean? All these questions and more as Benton and Elane explore the subject of baptism over cocktails.
Cocktail: The Deacon
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Another in their series on what people who profess to be Christians believe, Elane and Benton explore what it means to be a practitioner of Christian Science. [Spoilers: Christain Scientists are considered Christians and some of their tenets might surprise you.] There are also Hemingway daiquiris.
Cocktail: Hemingway Daiquiri
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton discuss the idea of personhood—when does a person become a person?—and the often controversial subject of reproductive rights. What does the Bible say about abortion? How would Jesus instruct his followers to ensure that women and children are cared for? Our hosts approach these and other questions while sipping an abominable cocktail.
Cocktail: Gold Rush + Mint Julep
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton wrote Christian pop songs professionally in the 90s. In this episode, he and Elane chat about the current state of Christian pop, its odd relationship with the white evangelical church, and the unmistakable media dominance of K-LOVE.
Cocktail: Frisco
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Fewer Americans are attending worship services at a local church than ever before. Many professing Christians seem to have no affiliation—or interest in affiliating—with a church or denomination. This downturn in church attendance begs the question: How important is church in the life of a Christian? Elane and Benton discuss over a tropical sipper.
Cocktail: A Is For Ananas
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Many Christians struggle with mental health issues, especially anxiety and depression. Elane and Benton discuss six kinds of conversations that are happening in our churches and among Christians regarding these widespread mental health concerns.
Cocktail: White Negroni
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton discuss some of the distinctives of Mormons and Seventh-Day Adventists while they pose the question, what are the key things that define a “Christian?” Based on what each group believes, are their congregants, at a basic level, also Christians? All this while they sip on cosmopolitans.
Cocktail: Cosmopolitan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Reconciling faith and sexuality is a tough road for many queer people of faith, especially for those in churches that are unaccepting of LGBTQ+ people. Benton and Elane have a candid conversation about the real-life challenges they’ve each faced being both queer and Christian.
Cocktail: Gin Elderflower Fizz
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
There are some significant differences between the teachings of Jesus and those of the Apostle Paul. Jesus spoke in parables, teaching individuals and small groups, and emphasizing relationship. Paul wrote plainly to churches made up of new Christians—a mix of Jews and non-Jews, many in hostile environments. Jesus’ teachings still prove to be universal. Paul’s are more contextual. Apples and oranges? Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: Moscow Mule
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
In the third part of their series, “You Might Be An Evangelical If…,” Benton and Elane talk about how important it is not to throw the baby out with the bathwater when reevaluating one’s beliefs. This applies to post- and ex-evangelicals too.
Cocktail: Little Italy
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton pose the question, “Are Catholics Christians?” Might sound like an absurd question, but it is one that persists in some protestant and evangelical circles. They try to clear up some common misunderstandings and share a bit from their own experiences while enjoying a cocktail.
Cocktail: Vieux Carre
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
When was the last time you heard mental health addressed from the pulpit in your church? Most pastors don’t encourage their followers to pay attention to their own mental health. Therapy and anti-depressants are discouraged too. The alternatives they offer? “Try harder, pray more, take your eyes off yourself, and (worst case), see a Christian counselor.” Elane and Benton talk about the disconnect between Christians and mental health care.
Cocktail: Corpse Reviver #2
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What are angels? What are demons? Are there harps, wings, pitchforks, and pointy tails involved? Do they intervene in human affairs or keep a safe distance? Elane and Benton explore ideas they have (and have heard) about these nonmaterial beings while sipping on Cuba Libres.
Cocktail: Cuba Libre
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Benton and Elane continue their conversation about evangelicalism by delving into how it became a political movement (which Benton calls “antichrist”) instead of a spiritual—that is, of the Spirit—movement. There are Limoncello Collins cocktails (thankfully).
Cocktail: Limoncello Collins
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton have a conversation (over cocktails, of course) about voting—why it’s so important and why, as progressive Christians, it couldn’t be more important.
Cocktail: Vesper
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton have the first of a few conversations about what makes an evangelical an evangelical. Here they chat about the basics—how and when evangelicalism started (spoiler: it’s not as old as you think) and the foundational ideas on which an evangelical’s theology is built…all while sipping negronis, of course.
Cocktail: Negroni
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Here in the age of social media influencers and reality tv, you can find lots of carefully curated stories. It’s easy to paint a picture of yourself and your life that’s the envy of anyone paying attention. But what would it mean for us to tell our stories—even the ones that make us squirm—for the purpose of helping someone else? Benton and Elane talk about the power of stories.
Cocktail: Strawberry Daiquiri
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Suppose that following Jesus isn’t about proving yourself, or making sure that other people know that you’re right with God, or winning the prize that gets you into heaven when you die. Suppose instead that following Jesus is simply accepting God’s light within you and then living like you believe that, the way Jesus lived. No fear, no threat of hell, no feelings of inadequacy, no drive to impress. Benton and Elane discuss all this and more over mojitos.
Cocktail: Mojito
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
The Old Testament, as we Christians refer to it, is more than just the Creation story, the Ten Commandments, and a bunch of prophets with funny names. Elane and Benton chat about why the Hebrew Scriptures give us valuable insight into who Jesus was.
Cocktail: Bee’s Knees
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
The opposite of faith isn’t doubt—it’s certainty. Whenever anyone is sure they have the right answers, they’ll be threatened by those who think maybe they don’t. Doubt—sometimes simply questions—can tear at the fabric of some churches. Benton and Elane chat about it while sipping sidecars.
Cocktail: Sidecar
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Christians are often portrayed as dumb as they hold onto ideas that are out of step with culture, science, and sometimes even common sense. But are Christians short on intellect or just change-averse? Elane and Benton chat over boulevardiers.
Cocktail: Boulevardier
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
For decades, Richard Hays has been the leading New Testament scholar among conservatives. His case against LGBTQ+ people continues to justify queer exclusion in evangelical circles. But he has written a yet-to-be-released book with his son, Fuller Seminary professor Christopher Hays, that reverses his position, allowing for full affirmation of queer Christians in the church. Elane and Benton discuss the LGBTQ+ response and the implications of the Hays’ about-face.
Cocktail: Martini
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
American Christians are deeply divided on what our response should be to the Israel-Hamas War. The religious and political right support Israel no matter what, but why? And what is the big deal about campus protests denouncing the violence against Palestinians? Elane and Benton get into the thick of it.
Cocktail: Lemon Drop
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Progressives of any kind are generally thought of as forward-thinking non-traditionalists who dare to question conventionality and work at cultivating and spreading new ideas. Some of that is true of some progressive Christians. But ancient ideas, Biblical context, history, and lived experience are all vital to a healithy, progressive Christian life. Elane and Benton discuss what makes a progressive Christian progressive in the first episode of Cocktail Theology’s fifth season!
Cocktail: Manhattan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Jesus and Hercules? Well, we can think of a few. Elane and Benton close out Season 4 with a conversation about the Incarnation.
Cocktail: Evan Williams (Extra Noggy) Eggnog
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What is moral authority and where does it come from? Do we as a society care about moral authority? And where should Christians look for moral authority (besides Jesus, of course)? Benton and Elane discuss while sipping a Prohibition Era cocktail, the Scofflaw.
Cocktail: Scofflaw
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Should Christians vote for Christians to represent them in government? If the answer is “yes,” then the next question is “why?” Elane and Benton discuss, among other things, the qualities and qualifications that cause people of faith to vote for one person over another.
Cocktail: Pressure Drop
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Power—and the desire each of us has for it—is the concern God confronted when They handed Moses the Ten Commandments. Bottom line: Power is at the root of sin. Elane and Benton have a (rather philosophical) conversation about the pitfalls of power.
Cocktail: Stokes’s Sidecar
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
God moves--and speaks--in mysterious ways. Benton and Elane chat about the ways they have (and haven’t) heard God speak, and pose the question: "How do you know it's God?"
Cocktail: The Ford Cocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton discuss the meaning and misunderstandings around the word ‘godliness’ as it appears in the Bible and in fundamentalist ideology—while drinking bourbon, as one does.
Cocktail: The Preakness Manhattan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Who do you trust? What does “trust” even mean? Benton and Elane delve into trust while sipping a cilantro-laced cocktail.
Cocktail: Cilantro Fields Forever
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton point out some of the really funny things in the Bible in response to a listener’s question, while sipping another delicious fall cocktail.
What makes a day “holy?” Within our many faith traditions, we may mark some days as holy, but what about as a culture, a society? Elane and Benton chat about holidays and hoy days while sipping a festive fall cocktail.
Cocktail: Calabaza Borracha (Drunk Pumpkin)
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Why are there so many denominations? If we all worship the same God, why can’t we all do it together? Should we all be working together to find common ground, or is it okay that we have 10,000 different ways to do it? Elane and Benton start an exploration of denominations while sipping a fall cocktail.
Cocktail: The Dusty Apple
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Contentment, at least the kind the Apostle Paul wrote about, is more than just happiness. More than the absence of pain or disappointment. More than the glow of health, wealth, or success. Elane and Benton talk about what contentment is (and isn’t), and how we get it (and keep it).
Cocktail: The Perfect Rye Manhattan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
We know what happens to our bodies when they die, but what about our souls? And what bearing—if any—does what we do with a body after its death have on its companion soul? Elane and Benton have a conversation about cremation while sipping cocktails.
Have we lost our moral compass—assuming we ever had one? Elane and Benton discuss where our morals come from as a society, what counts as “truth,” and our one hope—hint: Jesus taught it—of ever living as a moral society.
Cocktail: Frozen Watermelon Daiquiri
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! When we sing our worship songs, gather in worship services, enter into worship, what does all that mean to God? And what does that mean for us? Benton (a worship leader) and Elane (a preacher/teacher) discuss what worship is and why it’s important.
Cocktail: Elane’s Tequila Sunrise
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
NEW EPISODE! Where do our ideas about faith come from? Is there such a thing as “biblical” faith? Is faith something you earn, keep, lose? (And what was George Michael singing about exactly?) Benton and Elane talk faith over drinks.
Cocktail: My Tailor Is Rich
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
If I tell you that I’m a Christian, what does that say to you? Does it make you want to ask questions? Run for the nearest exit? Punch me in the face? The term “Christian” is loaded, for sure. And many of us who seek God in the way of Jesus have concerns. Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: El Diablo
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
If we each have a soul, where do souls come from and where do they go when our bodies die? Are souls bad by nature or created good? How does God feel about our souls? Benton and Elane talk about souls and depravity while sipping a great cocktail, as usual.
Cocktail: I’ll Have What She’s Having
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Who is Satan and where did he come from? Are Satan worshippers the threat some Christians believe them to be? Benton and Elane have a chat about the Ringmaster of Hell.
Cocktail: Satan’s Whiskers
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton discuss what the term “pro-life” means these days—politically, philosophically, and spiritually. WARNING: Some of the content in this episode could be upsetting or triggering to some listeners. Discretion is advised.
Cocktail: September In Maine
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
What do you do when Aunt Bea wants to talk about the QAnon theories she believes at Thanksgiving dinner…again?? How does a Jesus-follower respond to Christian nationalism? And is Christianity actually Christendom? Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: Name TBD
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Is smoking a sin? What about drinking or gambling? Just because an activity or behavior might be deemed unhealthy, is it also necessarily considered sinful? Benton and Elane discuss.
Cocktail: Black Currant Spritz
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
God has traditionally been known as a “He” (thanks, King James Version). But because we understand that—though God is a person (listen to our last episode!)—God is not, in fact, human and does not have an actual body, God cannot have a singular gender. Also: God was Father to Jesus, but what feelings does God as Father conjure up for you? Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: El Presidente
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Theologians and philosophers have posed the question, “Who is God?”, for thousands of years. Elane and Benton won’t answer it in 20 minutes. But they will share a few things they’ve learned (and are continuing to learn) about God--that maybe you haven't considered--that are foundational to their theology.
Cocktail: Beachcomber
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Nature has been the subject of more poems, songs, and documentaries than any of us can count. Our natural environment—and humanity’s impact on it—is in the news daily. I think most people would agree that nature can be wild, vast, mysterious, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. But is nature…holy? Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: Tinto Verano
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Humans are complicated creatures. And our complexities show up unmistakably when we are under stress. Elane and Benton talk about their upcoming SFS course, The Various Parts Of A Miraculous You, which discusses the six parts of us that make us us: mind, spirit, soul, body, will, and environment. For more information: www.wearesfs.com
Cocktail: Elane’s Boozy Dole Whip
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane chats with Jesuit priest, best-selling author, and well-known LGBTQ+ advocate Fr. James Martin. They talk about why many Christians are intolerant of queer people, what makes a Jesuit a Jesuit, and why the story of Lazarus is still so compelling.
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Elane and Benton chat about values—what they are and what they aren’t. Also: the truth about beliefs. And integrity might come up too.
Cocktail: The Greek Baby
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
The Southern Baptist Convention recently voted to oust Saddleback Church, one of the first megachurches in America, from its denomination, not because of moral or ethical issues, but because Saddleback was allowing women to preach and serve in leadership roles. What would cause a religious giant like the SBC to make such a bold—or boneheaded, depending on who you ask—decision? Elane and Benton discuss what happens when culture and church collide.
Cocktail: Lingonberfig
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
There is a pervasive, perpetual cheerfulness present in many (maybe most) churches. Why is that? Are church-going Christians always happy? Is it all a show? Benton and Elane discuss.
Cocktails: Kentucky Mule and Perfect Martini
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you listen to music online.
Here’s a shocker: Jesus asked questions! In the Gospels, we know Jesus asked questions of God, of Pharisees and Scribes, of his disciples, and of the crowds that followed him around. He taught by using parables, which often created more questions than answers. Elane and Benton discuss questions and the important part they play in the life of a Jesus-follower.
Cocktail: The Mayday
Theme song is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you stream music.
If you believe in fate, can you also believe in luck? And what about karma? And how do these concepts co-exist with a worldview that is influenced by the life and teachings of Jesus? So many questions! Benton and Elane discuss.
Cocktail: Basil Berry Gimlet
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton’s songs wherever you stream music!
A worldview is basically how you see and experience the world around you and beyond you. The Bible is, well, the Bible--66 books written over multiple centuries by a large number and diversity of authors for a wide range of audiences. Is it possible to see and experience the world through the lens of...the Bible? And who is saying we should all have a Biblical worldview...and why? Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: The White Lady
Theme song is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. You can find it and all of Benton's music wherever you stream your tunes online.
Elane talks with writer (and longtime friend) John Birdsall about professional cooking, the AIDS Crisis, strawberries, holiness, life in a upscale deli, and much more. John is the author of author of The Man Who Ate Too Much: A Biography Of James Beard.
Cocktail: Brown Derby
Theme music: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes, available wherever you stream music.
As we try to make sense of things that make no sense in our lives, sometimes the question arises: "Why me?" What is it we are really asking? What if the answer is, "Why not you?" Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: Pineapple Margarita
Theme Song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find the full version wherever you stream music.
We pick up ideas that shape our worldview from all kids of places—like adages our grandmother used to say, proverbs from Eastern sages, or pop psych from the latest guru. But what happens when a Jesus-follower adopts ideas that come from Hinduism, or secularism, or other non-Christian sources? Elane and Benton (who both think the Dalai Lama is a pretty cool guy) discuss.
Why do we make resolutions to change something about ourselves, our bodies, our lives, as we approach a new year? Elane and Benton discuss the problematic nature of new year’s resolutions and propose a new way of approaching 2023.
Cocktail: French 75
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
The things we do at Christmas—the ways we celebrate, the symbols we revere, the expectations we try to meet, even the date itself—come from a hodge-podge of places, from Constantine to Nordic folklore to good advertising. This episode is dedicated to those who think there is a “war on Christmas.”
Cocktail: Hot Buttered Rum
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
December is a month full of celebrations, observances, and traditions. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all objectively significant, while being extraordinarily different. Elane and Benton chat about each and why trying to make them somehow the same isn’t a great idea.
Cocktail: Cranberry Party Punch
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Ever feel like you’d rather be on the Island Of Misfit Toys than sitting at Aunt Matilda’s Christmas dinner table? We have too! Sometimes old ideas, traditions, and family dynamics are more than you want to deal with. Elane and Benton chat about what to do if the holiday season feels like an itchy, ill-fitting sweater to you this year.
Cocktail: Rye Manhattan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Why does the church have its own calendar? What is the Lectionary and why do some churches follow it while others don’t? Elane and Benton chat about the seasons of the liturgical calendar, starting at Advent, and why paying attention to them matters.
Cocktail: CT Bourbon Apple Sipper
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Gratitude is one of those things many of us think we’re pretty good at. I mean, how hard can it be to be grateful? Turns out, pretty darn hard sometimes. As important as counting blessings is, the practice of gratitude is about a lot more than that. Elane and Benton discuss.
Cocktail: The Bensonhurst
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Elane and Benton look at the various parts of the Jesus Prayer—also known as the Lord’s Prayer—and discuss what we can learn from what Jesus was teaching his disciples about how to pray.
Cocktail: Martini
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
All of us Christians know that we are supposed to confess our sins. But what does that mean exactly? To whom do we confess, and what happens after? Elane and Benton explain and demystify confession in this episode from their series on reclaiming spiritually confusing and abusive language
Cocktail: The Summitt
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
We all know the measure of holiness we should aspire to is Jesus. But it’s hard not to notice the spiritual chutzpah—or lack thereof—of others. And it can get us into trouble. Elane and Benton chat about getting (and keeping) our egos in check where our spiritual lives are concerned.
Cocktail: The Editor
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Many of us have difficult relationships with our bodies—our urges, needs, and desires—because of we’ve been taught that God thinks flesh is bad. [Spoiler alert: God doesn’t think that at all.] Benton and Elane take part the word ‘flesh,’ another in their series on reclaiming shame-promoting language for post-evangelical and queer Christians.
Cocktail: Autumn In Manhattan
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
What is home for you? Is it where you grew up? Where your family is? Where your friends are? Is home a place or a state of mind? Benton and Elane discuss the complicated ideas we have about home in front of a live audience. Recorded October 10, 2022 in Nashville.
Cocktail: Steeple
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
What makes a protestant protestant? Why are there so many denominations, categories, labels and sub-labels of churches in the US? Join Elane and Benton for a church history lesson.
Cocktail: The Smoldering Orange
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Most of us probably grew up with the notion that God is an old white man, with flowing hair and a beard, who we refer to as Father. Elane and Benton talk about God as paternal figure, and why it’s useful to try on new ideas.
Cocktail: Boulevardier
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Benton and Elane discuss the word ‘repent’—what it is and what it isn’t and why it shouldn’t be followed with an “or else.” Another episode in their series on reclaiming Christian-ese language.
Cocktail: Key Lime Matcha Cocktail
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Elane and Benton chat about the meanings—the Latin, the Hebrew, and the English—of the word “abomination.” What qualifies as an abomination? Why would someone use the word at all, especially in reference to another person? And what are the things God considers abominable?
Cocktail: Lemon Drop
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Suppose the Bible is a living, transformative bunch of books meant to be read with the purpose of learning something new each time you read it? How crazy would THAT be?? Enter Lectio Divina, a meditative way of reading Scripture that invites the Holy Spirit into the experience with you. Elane and Benton discuss this enlightening spiritual practice.
Cocktail: Sidecar
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! In some churches, evangelism is a primary mission, focused on saving souls and getting people in pews. In others, evangelism is a rarely-mentioned by-product of serving the local community. Benton and Elane take a closer look at what it means to evangelize, another episode in their series on reclaiming language.
New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you stream podcasts!
Cocktail: White Negroni
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! Elane and Benton discuss the doctrine of substitutionary atonement--the idea that Jesus had to die to satisfy God’s wrath toward humankind. Spoiler: there are problems with this concept.
New episodes every Thursday. Listen wherever you stream podcasts!
Cocktail: Benton’s White Sangria
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! What is deconstruction anyway? It’s a popular term for taking apart religious beliefs when they no longer work for you. But what happens if you take a sledgehammer to everything you believed about God, church, and yourself without building something new from the rubble? Elane and Benton talk about what comes next.
#progressivechristian #queerchristian #lgbtq+ #cocktails #spirituality #spiritual #exvangelical #postevangelical #religioustrauma #churchabuse #deconstruction #reconstruction
Cocktail: Amelia Earhart
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! What is deconstruction anyway? It’s a popular term for taking apart religious beliefs when they no longer work for you. But what happens if you take a sledgehammer to everything you believed about God, church, and yourself without building something new from the rubble? Elane and Benton talk about what comes next.
#progressivechristian #queerchristian #lgbtq+ #cocktails #spirituality #spiritual #exvangelical #postevangelical #religioustrauma #churchabuse #deconstruction #reconstruction
Cocktail: Amelia Earhart
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Benton and Elane talk about one of their favorite topics, the Holy Spirit. She can be dramatic and unpredictable. She can be a quieting, awe-inspiring Presence. (They also talk about why they refer to Her with feminine pronouns.) But what does it mean to be “Spirit-filled?” Another episode in their series on reclaiming Christian-ese language.
Cocktail: Gin & Tonic
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Elane and Benton chat about what it means to forgive—what forgiveness is, what it isn’t, and why it’s important to not rush it. Based on their School For Seekers course, Forgiving Well.
Cocktail: Daiquiri
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Faith and science have a tough time coexisting. Whether it’s climate change, COVID, or evolution, Christians and scientists disagree on many things. But there’s one thing they most certainly have in common. Benton and Elane discuss.
Cocktail: CT Berry Gimlet
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
In their series on reclaiming confusing, damaging, or misleading Christian-ese language, Elane and Benton unpack the word ‘sin’—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to uncouple it from shame.
Cocktail: Cucumber Julep
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Most Christians know that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit make up the Trinity, but what does that mean? Are they three Beings? Three Personalities? How are They the same and how are They different? Elane and Benton break down the basics of a Trinitarian view of God.
Cocktail: Paloma
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recoded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Another episode in their series on reclaiming language, Elane and Benton discuss the phrase “God is in control.” What does it say about God’s nature, behavior, and intentions? What does it say about ours?
Cocktail: That Night In Trinidad
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Not to sound too alarmist, but cults are everywhere these days. Just watch for “we’re perfect, they’re evil” kind of rhetoric and you’ll find cult-ish behavior. Cults look like churches, political movements, caring communities, and cooler-than-you enclaves. So how do you know if you’re a part of one?
Cocktail: By Any Other Name
Theme song: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)” recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Benton and Elane discuss the uneasy relationship between Christians and material things, why living in the world as a consumer can be so problematic, and one thing that the poor and the rich have in common.
Cocktail: Aperol Spritz
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find the full song wherever you stream music.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! What exactly is grace anyway? Benton and Elane continue their quest to define, demystify, and unweaponize words and phrases Christians use.
Cocktail: Paper Plane
Themes song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song is available wherever you stream music.
If you’re an active participant in most any faith, you’d probably agree that prayer—engaging with the Divine—is an important part of a spiritual person’s life. But why do we pray? Benton and Elane look at some of the reasons prayer matters.
Cocktail: Jairus' Daughter
Theme Song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
What is redemption? What does it mean to be "redeemed"? What does the Prodigal Son have to do with it? Benton and Elane discuss.
Cocktail: Mojito
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Sure, there's drama...tongues of fire, strange languages. Pentecost is an experience, but it's probably not what you think. Elane and Benton discuss the Holy Spirit, the beginnings of the Christian Church, and what all that means for us.
Christians struggle with mental illness just like everybody else. So why aren't more Christians seeking help? Benton and Elane discuss misconceptions about mental illness in the church.
Cocktail: Black Walnut Old Fashioned
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Elane and Benton discuss the characteristics of a "just war," pacifism versus passivity, and when it's okay for a Christian to support a war.
Cocktail: The William Henry Harrison
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Elane and Benton demystify and unweaponize the phrase "born again" as they start a new season of Cocktail Theology. Cocktail: Gin & Danger (from the Cocktail Theology Cocktail Book)
Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Full song available wherever you stream music.
Michael-Ray Mathews is an ordained American Baptist minister, Host of the Prophetic Resistance podcast, and Deputy Director of Faith in Action, a national network of faith-based community organizations working to create innovative solutions to problems facing urban, suburban and rural communities.
Elane and Benton talk with Michael-Ray about racial reconciliation, what we can learn from our ancestors, and addressing issues of social injustice within the church.
Morning Cocktail
Coffee for us. Tea for our guest.
Music Credits
“Sacred” Words & music by Benton Stokes.
Copyright 2019 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith.
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Responding to a listener’s request for help raising a gender nonbinary child, Benton and Elane discuss parenting, holy listening, their own journeys, and our need to accept ourselves the way God accepts us.
Recorded in Truckee, California in September 2020.
Cocktail: Wine.
Music Credits
"The Guy I'm Growing Up To Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on the EP Love Is The Way Back Home--stream it on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you listen to music!
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
In Episode 45, Benton and Elane discuss the challenges around calling Jesus “Lord,” how to reconcile Jesus the man and the Jesus the Christ, and how the glorified, eternal Jesus was able to pick up bread after his resurrection. So many conundrums!
Recorded in Truckee, California in September 2020.
Morning Cocktail
More coffee.
Music Credits
“It Is Well With My Soul” Words & music by Horatio Gates Spafford and Philip Paul Bliss. Public Domain. Performed by Benton Stokes.
“Be Thou My Vision” Words & music by Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne. Public Domain. Performed by Benton Stokes.
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Benton and Elane talk classic cocktails. And nomenclature. Over Manhattans.
Recorded in Truckee, California in September 2020.
Cocktail
Manhattan
Music Credits
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
In Episode 43, Elane and Benton talk about the challenges of loving God and loving your neighbor in an America that is antagonistic to people who follow God in the way of Jesus--and no, they aren't talking about evangelicals.
Recorded in Truckee, California in September 2020.
Morning Cocktail
More coffee.
Music Credits
“Now” Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Recorded in Truckee, CA as part of The Truckee Sessions, Elane and Benton discuss what worship is and what (and who) Christians worship. Hint: it's not always God.
Music Credits
“Devoted” Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane and Benton chat with Judge Tim Fall, author of Running For Judge, where he describes the perils of running for reelection in Sacramento, the anxiety he suffered, and the kind of faith that brought him through.
Recorded in the first days of Shelter In Place in the morning, Benton and Elane were drinking coffee. Lots of coffee.
Elane and Benton discuss personified evil, usually referred to as Satan or the devil. Does Satan exist? Does he have horns and a tail? Is he as powerful as God? So many questions!
Music credits: "The Chains Of Maybe," "People Change," "California" Words & music by Benton Stokes.
Cocktail Theology's theme music is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith.
Elane and Benton talk about what it means to anticipate the coming of Jesus in the midst of a noisy, busy season. How do we wait to celebrate Christmas so we can allow for reflection and give space for complicated emotional responses like grief?
This episode was recorded while Elane and Benton were on Facebook Live.
Today's Cocktails: Sparkling Gimlet, Martini
Music credits:
"Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming," "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "In The Bleak Midwinter" recorded by Benton Stokes. All songs traditional and public domain.
"Sitting By The Fire With You" Words & music by Benton Stokes NOW AVAILABLE for streaming and download at Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and wherever you listen to music!
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane and Benton discuss the aims and activities of their nonprofit organization, School For Seekers (which produces Cocktail Theology).
Today’s Cocktail: Key Lime Gimlet
Music Credits
“Why Does Love” Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
“Better Than I Ought To Be” Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
In today’s divisive political climate, we make assumptions that there are “good” and “bad” people based on their “right” or “left” points-of-view. What happens when you hurl an insult at a “bad” person and they respond with kindness? And what if the “good” people come at you like you’re the enemy when they find out you’re having (gasp!) conversation with someone from the other side?
Join Elane and Benton as they look at a real-life example of how leading with kindness can change a mind.
Today's Cocktail: The New England Castaway (our Fall cocktail)
Music Credits
"Burn It Down" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Melissa Bishop
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Synopsis
We each see Jesus through our own unique lens. Even those who wrote the books of the New Testament saw and experienced him differently. So why is it modern Christians find it hard to believe that someone’s very different take on Jesus could be just as valid as their own?
Listen as Elane and Benton consider the writer of Hebrews and his/her unique take on Jesus.
And yes, tempura really is fried food.
Today’s Cocktail:Vodka Rose Gimlet
Music Credits
"Jesus Under My Bed" Words & music by Benton Stokes, Belinda Smith & Aaron Smith
"People Change" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Synopsis
If you really had faith in God, you'd never be depressed or anxious. Right? Or, if you are, maybe it's because you don't pray the right words in the right way at the right time using the right name of God?
Faith is not a description of a single positive experience. It is more like a verb--an ongoing practice of choices based on some set of beliefs.
Listen in as Benton and Elane discuss salvation, suffering, and the moral innocuity of depression.
Today's Cocktail Beverage: Peet's Coffee.
Music Credits
"Sitting On the Edge Of Your World" (Demo Version) Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
"Sitting On the Edge Of Your World" (Grace & Gravity Version) Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Synopsis
250 mass shootings in 215 days. Do they matter?
In the shadow of Gilroy and El Paso, Benton and Elane explore why Christians don't care.
Today's Wine: David Bruce Pinot Noir
Music Credits
"All Right To Be Okay" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
Synopsis
You are made in the image of God. That means you have the Creative Spirit within you and around you. Now what? Benton and Elane share what it means to be creative, and how you can channel that Creative Spirit in your own life.
Today's Cocktail: Rose Rosé
Music Credits
"The Guy I'm Growing Up to Be" and "Find The Good" Words & music by Benton Stokes
"Own It" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Elizabeth Mendenhall
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
Synopsis
Many Christians talk about the role of the Spirit (or The Holy Spirit) in guiding one's daily life. Very few of us actually know what that means, or how to actually achieve such a God-soaked life. In this episode--recorded in front of a studio audience on the Christian holy day of Pentecost--Benton and Elane sort out who the Spirit is, what having the Spirit around means, and how to hear and heed Her (mostly quiet) nudgings.
Tonight's Cocktail: Fresh peach daiquiri
Music Credits
Recorded live in Nashville.
"Meant To Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
"Unreal," "Sacred," "Now" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
Synopsis
For thousands of years, both Christians and non-Christians have argued over what the right beliefs are. In this episode, Benton and Elane take a different approach: what is the bare minimum you can believe or do and still call yourself a Christian?
Today's Cocktail: Diskin Cider
Music Credits
"Nothing In Between" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Brennan Eagleton
"Surrendering" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Eva Wilson
"Burn It Down" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Melissa Bishop
"You Are Mine" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
Synopsis
Benton and Elane talk with our favorite rabble rouser, noted blogger and speaker John Pavlovitz, about his latest book Hope and Other Superpowers, wonder, civility, kids, and John's coffee virginity.
This Morning's Cocktails
Prosecco with pomegranate syrup (us), diet Coke (John Pavlovitz)
Music Credits
Music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support Cocktail Theology on Patreon.
Synopsis
We went to the Nashville Cocktail Festival, served drinks, and asked innocent attendees four questions about God. Some answers were silly, some were profound, and most were funny...especially as the night wore on.
This special edition of Cocktail Theology contains adult themes and language. Listener discretion is advised.
Tonight's Cocktail
Thoroughly Modern (Scotch, raspberry liqueur, absinthe, bitters, lemon juice)
Music Credits
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn, performed by Ace Brigode & His Fourteen Virginians
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Support This Podcast on Patreon.
Forests. Beaches. Cathedrals. Grandma's sofa.
What is it about those places that makes them sacred to us? Do we all have sacred places? And why aren't mine the same as yours, even if we experience them together?
Music Credits
"Sitting On The Edge Of Your World" and "Meant to Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew S. Garinger
"Sacred" and "Now" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Become a Big Tipper, Regular, or Executive Producer (and receive our thanks & swag) on Patreon.
Synopsis
You've moved on. You've left a church. Have you left The Church? Have you left God? And what does all that mean for what's next for your community worship, your sense of connection, your life with God?
Benton and Elane discuss what Benton's been doing since he left his church job, and why being part of the consciously-universal Church is so attractive these days.
Listeners--We Want To Hear From You! If you're part of a denomination or connection that is consciously aware of its connection to history and eternity, we want to hear from you! Email us at info@schoolforseekers.com.
Music Credits
"Amazing Grace," "It Is Well (With My Soul," "Be Thou My Vision," "I've Got Peace Like A River", all public domain, all played by Benton Stokes.
Synopsis
When the national flag passes by, or the loudspeaker blares The Star-Spangled Banner, what are you supposed to do?
Does whatever it is you actually do have anything to do with your patriotism?
Is patriotism any more than prettied-up tribalism?
And, if you count yourself a Christian, how does patriotism fit in with your allegiance to a King and a Kingdom?
Join Benton Stokes and Dr. Elane O'Rourke for flags, anthems, patriotism, and coffee.
Music Credits
"America The Beautiful"
Composer: Samuel Ward (1847-1903). Arranger(s): Carmen Dragon. Performing Ensemble: United States Navy Band. Lyricist: Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929). Publisher(s): Department of Defense
Synopsis
Whether out of prurience or righteous indignation, it's other people's sexuality we talk about most. Are we really talking about their attractions and actions? Does the Bible actually take a single, coherent position? And, if we are seekers after God in the way of Jesus, how should we express ourselves and police our behaviors?
Our Official Fall Cocktail: Cranberry Bourbon Shrub (Scroll down for recipe)
Like Our Podcast? Become a Regular or Big Tipper monthly giver, gaining our thanks and swag, and your own cheerful heart. http://www.patreon.com/cocktailtheology!
Cranberry Bourbon Shrub
Adapted from David Lebowitz's version
Shrub is a curious mixture of berries, sugar, and vinegar. We made three this year--cranberry, pomegranate, and blackberry--along with corresponding simple syrups. Besides mixing well with gin and bourbon, shrubs are fantastic non-alcoholic hot-weather drinks to serve your teetotalling friends.
To make shrub: Place 2 cups berries in a medium saucepan. Add 1/2 cup of water (1 full cup if using cranberries) and 3/4 cups sugar. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until berries are soft and have released their juices. Add 1 cup of fruit-based vinegar (such as good apple cider) or white wine vinegar.
For best flavor, pour into jar and refrigerate for 48 hours.
Strain shrub, gently pressing on berries to release juices.
To make the Fall Cocktail:
Shake together 2 oz. bourbon, 3/4 oz. shrub, one teaspoon maple syrup, and two good shakes of Aztec Chocolate bitters. Strain and serve.
To make a great Mocktail: Add ice to a tall glass. Add 2 oz shrub and two good shakes of Aztec Chocolate or Orange bitters. Fill glass with corresponding seltzer (eg. blackberry seltzer for blackberry shrub) or tonic. Stir well and serve. (For a sweeter drink, add simple syrup to taste).
In Episode 24, Benton and Elane discuss why it is that, when people get into an argument, the argument is rarely about what they think it’s about. We often aren’t actually talking about what we’re talking about, at all.
This is the problem of paradigms: the way you think about an issue determines how you understand the facts. So two people looking at the same facts can come to completely different conclusions. What we value determines our conclusions far more than do the facts.
Also making an appearance: drum corps, songwriting, confirmation hearings, comic books, postmodernism, Quote Bunny, tribal affinities, chartreuse, the lack of reality, humility, Jesus, and ice cream cones.
Part Two: What Are We Talking About When We’re Talking About Other People’s Sexuality?
Part Three: What Are We Talking About When We’re Talking About Patriotism?
Did Jesus wish he'd done things differently? Do you? How do we evaluate what we've done, not with condemnation, but with "beginner's mind"? What does it mean to look back and learn, so we can forge ahead?
Music Credits
"Better Than I Ought To Be," "People Change" Words & music by Benton Stokes
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
When is it time to take someone you admire--to the point of idealization--off the pedestal? When is your admiration mostly nostalgia, the memory of your glory days? Benton and Elane discuss the value of critiquing our idols, of growing up, and of the appeal of actual human frailty.
Tonight's beverage: Zeka Vineyards 2015 Pinot Noir
Music Credits
Piano improvisations by Benton Stokes.
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
What does "your body is a temple" mean, particularly in a world of plumbing, Ketel One gimlets, and steroids? How do we develop habits that support our spiritual health while enjoying the good material things God gives?
Tonight's cocktail: Gimlets, made with Ketel One Rose-Grapefruit-infused vodka and housemade lime simple syrup.
Music Credits
"Jesus Under My Bed" Words & music by Benton Stokes, Belinda Smith & Aaron Smith
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
What does it mean to be "living for heaven" when you believe heaven is not a lot different from Beverly Hills--but that you'll be the one living there? We discuss that, plus the fine art of the Gimlet, in Episode 20: Motives & Mansions.
Music Credits
"Meant To Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Matthew Garinger.
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
As the Teen Titans movie (2018) taught us, every superhero needs an arch-nemesis. But what if that superhero is God? Or you? Tune in for our discussion of comics, heroes, and the shadow side of being a person.
Music Credits
"Love Is Like" Words & music by Benton Stokes and Dennis Dearing. Available on Turn Off The Moon. (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
What’s your experience of your shadow side? Do you believe God and Satan are locked in an eternal battle? Tell us what you have experienced or believe, especially if it’s different than what we say. Or, if there’s an arch-nemesis/hero pairing that you love or that you relate to, tell us about it!
Comment at www.cocktailtheology.com, or email us, or stalk us on all the public media.
If you like what we do:
- Please share us with your friends; review us on iTunes and Stitcher.
- Give to the continuation of our work on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/cocktailtheology)
- And, especially, let us know what you think! We want to learn from you: info@schoolforseekers.com
Synopsis
A recent Pew Research study declared that most American Christians go to church to grow closer to God. A solid third don't go because they don't like religious services.
We're not sure about either one of those statements.
Today’s Cocktail: Evan Williams Black & Monin Blood Orange Syrup
Music Credits
"Love Tonight" Music by Benton Stokes & Dennis Dearing.
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
WE WANT TO KNOW: Where do you go when the churches are closed? When do you feel closest to God, and when do you feel closest to God with other people? Why do you go to worship, and if you’re a pastor, why you want people to come?
What is the role of politics in the pulpit, when one is concerned with the kind of person one is becoming?
Should pastors use their pulpits to speak to issues of the day?
And, really, what is the difference between personal and political?
Music Credits
"The Chains Of Maybe" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Turn Off The Moon. (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Become a Big Tipper, Regular, or Executive Producer (and receive our thanks & swag) on Patreon.
Timestamp Info
0-1:30 In the dark. With candles. Without coffee, but with Lionel Richie.
1:30-2:50 What is the role of politics in the pulpit, when one is concerned with the kind of person one is becoming?
2:50-10:00 Should pastors use their pulpits to speak to issues of the day? The (often-earned) power of the pastor in the congregation. Churches and denominations take public positions; must the pastor toe that line? What about when the pastor’s core convictions shift, and diverge from that of the congregation or the denomination? God’s world is larger than one issue, as are people’s lives.
10:00-15:35 The role of the pastor as shepherd, prophet, and priest. How do pastors serve as prophets yet maintain personal integrity—and emulate the life of Jesus? The problem of the desire for power when one is following the way of Jesus. How does the ongoing relationship between pastor & people, and the character of the pastor, affect what is appropriate and acceptable for the pastor to address?
15:35-32:00 When congregations say they don’t want politics, it’s because they don’t hear their own positions as “political.” Political is just us. The pastor’s personal convictions should determine the pastor’s leadership, along with the pastor’s behavior. Personal vs. political, and the politics of replacing the duct-taped red carpet in Elane’s church. The pastor’s personal relationship with God vs being an employee of the congregation or the denomination.
32:00-34:13 When we are mostly concerned about the people we become, how we do what we do is most important.
Have you experienced pastoral bullying? The appropriate use of the pulpit? Tell us what you have experienced or believe, especially if it’s different than what we say. Comment at www.cocktailtheology.com, or email us, or stalk us on all the public media.
Join us October 20, 2018 for our one-day retreat (http://www.reallyrealgod.com), and on social media.
If you like what we do:
- Please share us with your friends; review us on iTunes and Stitcher.
- Give to the continuation of our work on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/cocktailtheology)
- And, especially, let us know what you think! We want to learn from you: info@schoolforseekers.com.
Why is it that nearly everyone identifies with the prodigal son?
Why do we feel like outcasts, disappointments, failures?
Find out!
Music Credits
"Unreal" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity. (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Become a Big Tipper, Regular, or Executive Producer (and receive our thanks & swag) on Patreon.
Timestamp Info
0-2:11 Our new cocktail (with roses!) will be in the digital mixology guide, and also in the softbound version, available for appropriate monthly giving, through our Patreon site: www.patreon.com/cocktailtheology. Elane and Benton consider an alternate career as bartenders.
2:11-8:50 The mystery of familial relationships: most people think of ourselves as the black sheep of the family. In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15), it’s with the younger son. Why do we think of ourselves as outsiders, or as people who are something so wrong that we are not unacceptable? Why do we feel like the sum of our mistakes?
8:50-10:50 Our October 20, 2018 retreat (Discover The Really Real God You Always Hoped Existed) helps people think about their own views, and meet the God they think they believe in (but usually don’t): the God who accepts them, really, right now. What about “God Is Love (Except For You)”? The fear of getting kicked out of the family.
10:50- 17:00 The younger son feels guilty but not ashamed. Elane explains the difference between shame and guilt…and for most of us, our outcast-ness is about shame. We cannot hide from God, because God (really) knows us and (really) loves us. The revelation that Elane feels shame about inviting herself over to people’s houses, including Benton’s, and so do all those folks who would never dream of inviting themselves. How powerful is the fear of rejection!
17:00-27:30 Our feelings about ourselves and about God are layered. Yet the Bible is about guilt—what you do—rather than shame—who you are. Shame/guilt researcher Brené Brown. Would we rather starve than ask for help? In the parable, there’s no doubt in the prodigal’s mind that his father will accept him back. Repentance vs. remorse vs. resentment, and why Jesus tells this story at all. Why do we feel ashamed, so much of the time?
27:30-36:00 Our deep desire to be part of, and the fear of return. The child of “a low-down, dirty drunk” becomes terrified when the social group is small (and everyone knows you and your dad). No wonder we think God rejects us, and why we don’t feel forgiven when we confess and ask for forgiveness: we feel as if we are bad, rather than do bad. The conflict between our self-image and our actions. What does X action say about who I am? Why “coming out” is the language of pressing past shame.
36:00-38:30 We are not black sheep. We are sheep who have made poor choices. None of us is a black sheep. Our “father God” will always take us in—and a lot of people will, too.
38:30-40:28 Join us October 20 for our one-day retreat (http://www.reallyrealgod.com), and on social media. Share us with your friends; review us on iTunes and Stitcher. Subscribe. And, especially, let us know what you think! We want to learn from you.
When good-hearted Jesus-followers are embarrassed to be called “Christians,” what does that say about Christianity? Elane and Benton discuss what it means to be “a Christian,” what Christianity is about, and whether worldly success has ruined the whole enterprise.
Music Credits
"Blue" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Tonight’s cocktail: Cold sober coffee
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Elane interviews Doug Pagitt of VoteCommonGood.com about the similar challenges of running ultramarathons and changing the world.
Doug is founding pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis and is the host of "Now We're Talkin' With Doug Pagitt." Learn more at dougpagitt.com and votecommongood.com.
Music Credits
"Now" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Turn Off The Moon (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
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Timestamp Info
0-4:50 Our weekend at Wild Goose, including conversations with post-evangelicals, John Pavlovitz, Jen Hatmaker, Brian McLaren, Frank Schaeffer, Diana Butler Bass, Randall Balmer, and Trey Pearson. The unholy alliance between Empire & Christianity. Benton’s post-Evangelical view of Wild Goose vs. Elane’s liberal-Christianity view of the same event.
4:50-5:50 Our pirate cocktail: The Anne Bonny—rum, fresh tangerine juice, triple sec, fresh lime juice, orange bitters.
5:50-11:00 Introduction of Doug Pagitt by fan girl Elane. Solomon’s Porch, the Emergent Church, quantum physics, and Pagitt’s influence on Elane’s pastoring. Shelley Pagitt and Yoga Sanctuary’s new training program for teachers (yogasanctuarympls.com). The aim of Vote Common Good (votecommongood.com) to flip Congress for the Common Good.
11:00-15:00 Doug Pagitt on being affably intense and an Enneagram 8, running ultramarathons, and the long run for the common good. Not taking a break from yourself in exercise or worship.
15:00-21:00 What happens when you reach a big goal, like running an ultramarathon…or transforming Christianity…or influencing the collective life of humanity. The power of the narratives of the Christian story. How those can change the current American reality that damages people, politically and religiously.
21:00-31:00 Pagitt’s nerdy interests in politics and religion. Serving the common good by barnstorming the country to move voters to flip Congress. It is up to the people to change the status quo. “When you live in a time when there’s big social issues, you don’t do nothin’.” Invoking traditionally Republican religious voters to vote their actual, bleeding-heart-conservative consciences, which tend to the charitable.
The loss of the concept of the common good. The role of abusive and controlling pastors in forming people who are ready to be abused and controlled by a political leader. The role of fashionable celebrity leaders in taking power from people.
31:00-36:00 Making a statement by running for President in every election to remind us that the President is just one of the By The People people. The body of Christ. Voting for the common good by writing in “common good” or simply not voting, or voting for the democratic candidate.
Barnstorming 46 congressional districts in 25 states via caravan, September 6-November 6. Involvement is needed, online, in the caravan, and on the ground, as is financial support. Visit www.votecommongood.com to sign up!
36:00-40:40 Benton reflects on Pagitt’s thoughtful-yet-not-angry insight into current American politics. Going for long-road goals.
Find Doug Pagitt at SolomonsPorch.com, DougPagitt.com, GreaterThingsFoundation.org.
Support Cocktail Theology and School For Seekers by giving at Patreon.com/CocktailTheology, and by subscribing to Cocktail Theology.
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Benton and Elane discuss the differences among the meanings of “trespasses” “debts” and “sins” in the Lord’s Prayer, and why that might mean that everyone is actually praying a different prayer.
Music Credits
"Sitting On The Edge Of Your World" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Turn Off The Moon (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Tonight’s Cocktail
The Summitt—Vodka, lemon juice, triple sec, a lot of bitters, and bergamot syrup—named by Big Tipper Marti Milliken.
Tell us about what forgiveness feels like for you, or what being forgiven is like for you. Write in the comments on cocktailtheology.com, email us (info@schoolforseekers.com), or find us in social media (school4seekers on Instagram and Twitter; cocktailtheolog on Twitter).
Help others find us! Write a review on iTunes, or have a listening party…with cocktails, of course.
In episode 12, Benton talks with Greg Richardson (aka The Strategic Monk) -- blogger on contemplative practice on Patheos, Art Of Craft columnist for dabelly.com, and spiritual director and consultant at strategicmonk.com -- about spiritual practice, craft beer, contemplation, and when to leave church.
Music Credits
Confessions Of A Lesser Me Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity at http://www.bentonstokesmusic.com.
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Become A Regular Supporter, help us hire an engineer, and receive our thanks & swag on Patreon.
Timestamp Info
0-2:15 Introduction of our guest Greg Richardson, blogger on contemplative practice on Patheos, Art Of Craft columnist for dabelly.com, spiritual director and consultant at strategicmonk.com. Plus, all the usual social media as strategicmonk.
2:15-7:14 Greg’s story of growing up to be a “right answer” guy, and while that was great for being a criminal prosecutor, it didn’t serve him in becoming himself. Why he became a lawyer: Perry Mason and presidential aspirations.
7:14- 11:50 When reality smacked into Greg: the theft of tires from a salvage yard, and the path to spiritual direction. California girls, Pasadena, the Rose Bowl, and the losing Wisconsin team.
11:50-18:30 How the practice of your faith—your spirituality—can change. The role of a spiritual director, as Greg practices: deep listening, asking questions, laughing and crying, Where counselors or therapists help you move toward an image of healthy or right; spiritual directors provide insight and practices to help you uncover new realities and openness. Spiritual practice vs spiritual discipline.
18:30-19:40 Where are you closest to God? Where is the sacred for you? When to go back to church, and when not to. Sacred is everywhere.
19:40-29:40 Interior stillness and solitude. Why it takes so long to get your head quiet, and how centering prayer teaches the rhythm, familiarity, and viewpoint of interior stillness. Greg’s experience as a Benedictine oblate as going home to silence. Stillness is within, and brings us back to ourselves.
29:40-37:00 How do you encourage community and find it for yourself? Check out Greg’s #wordstoliveby chat on Twitter Sundays, 6 p.m. Pacific. The Dream of God by Verna Dozier distinguishes between the institution of church and the practice of following Jesus. The apparent danger to others of Christian participation in civil spiritual conversation. Integrating spirituality into daily routine.
37:00-44:30 Greg schools Benton on beer, starting with the Sonoran White Chocolate Ale and Left Hand’s Nitro Milk Stout. The ins and outs of pilsners, IPAs, stouts, and porters, and nursing mothers in England. What craft beer is, maybe, and Greg’s dabelly.com column The Art Of Craft, on the spiritual aspects of brewing.
44:30-47:00 Benton fesses up to having more than one beer during the interview.
Show us the love by sharing Cocktail Theology with your friends, subscribing (which raises our visibility), and supporting us on a monthly basis through Patreon.com/cocktailtheology. We would love to hire a professional engineer, which would make your listening even better!
Benton and Elane discuss the meaning of love, the problem of pronouns, and why God is in the kind of love that sticks. (As well as caps, hats, Benton’s discomfort with being adored, and Elane’s verbal demonstration of her unhipness.)
Wine of the night: Prophecy Red Blend, delicious, beautiful label, great price point.
Music Credits
"Love Is A Dirty Word" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Turn Off The Moon (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Become A Regular Supporter (and receive our thanks & swag) on Patreon.
Email us at info@schoolforseekers.com.
Benton and Elane discuss the current concern for community, what "community" might actually mean, and why they don't see themselves as part of many communities.
Tonight's Cocktail: A proper Margarita
Music Credits
"Better Than I Ought To Be" Words & music by Benton Stokes. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; MP3 on Amazon)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Benton and Elane finish their conversation about Jesus' statement to his disciples to "go and make disciples" and decide that authentic love and care matter, God goes where God is wanted, and spaghetti may or may not come up in conversation.
Music Credits
"Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; MP3 on Amazon)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Messa de Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi (1874)Links from this episode
Violins Of Hope
Nashville Symphony
Etch Restaurant
Benton’s Instagram
Cedar Point
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20):
Marvin the Martian
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
Elane and Benton consider the contemporary implications of Jesus' last instructions to his disciples, The Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19).
Spoiler alert: It all depends upon your view of heaven.
Music Credits:
"Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
"California" Words & music by Benton Stokes
"Paper Cup" Words & music by Benton Stokes
All songs Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Benton and Elane discuss their childhood summers, distinguishing the voice of the Divine, and drawing others into intimacy with an awe-inspiring God.
Music Credits
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane and Benton discuss what spiritual practices are and how they lead to spiritual disciplines. Disciples are people who discipline themselves to learn what their teachers do and to become what their teachers are.
Book recommendations: Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster) and The Spirit of the Disciplines (Dallas Willard).
Music Credits
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Benton and Elane discuss perceptions of heaven and hell, including what hell is like. They also address how to stop chasing thoughts and Benton's recent adventure in Southern California.
Music Credits
Our theme music: “Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)”. Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Available on Grace & Gravity (CD on BentonStokes.com; digitally on Amazon and iTunes)
Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane and Benton discuss Plato, famous American presidents and what makes a good person good. Benton nerds out over one of his summer obsessions.
Music Credits:
Our theme music is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
All songs Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane interviews Scott Erickson (aka Scott The Painter) at Compass Coffee in Vancouver, Washington. They discuss, among other things, surfing, spiritual formation, cathedrals, Nat King Cole and iconography.
To purchase Scott's work, or to follow his posts:
https://scottericksonartshop.com
Instagram: @scottthepainter
Music Credits:
Our theme music is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
All songs Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Elane and Benton go on a road trip and discuss camping, goat cheese and spiritual itchiness.
And bears. Don't forget the bears.
Music Credits:
Our theme music is "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" Words & music by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith
All songs Copyright 2018 Songs From the Basement (BMI). All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
In this episode, recorded live in February 2018, Benton and Elane discuss the pain and promise of moving on.
We all run up against walls--crises of life or faith--that force us to re-evaluate what we are doing and what we believe. Whether it's from a job, a relationship, our personal history, or from ideas about God that just don't fit anymore, there are times when we have to move on to something new. Hitting the wall, and moving on from it, can be hard and lonely work. It helps to know God is always with us, and waiting on the other side.
Cocktail of the evening: Manhattans with Evan Williams Black, Dolin Rouge, Fee Orange Bitters, and Luxardo cherries.