Bespectacled and Curious

For decades Beverly Roberts Gaventa has been one of the world's leading Pauline scholars. In this conversation we explore one of the Bible's most influential—and most misunderstood—letters. We discuss: • Why Romans is not a "Romans Road" • What an apocalyptic reading of Paul actually means • Why Sin and Death are more than bad habits • Paul's use of the Old Testament • Phoebe...

What can tattoos teach us about beauty, meaning, creativity, and the human experience? In this episode I speak with my dear friend Ben Finfrock for a conversation on faith, tattoos, art, beauty, and the human body. Ben shares his journey to Christian faith and how he found his vocation as a tattoo artist. Along the way, he reflects on the theology of tattoos, the role of conscience in Christian de...

What is integral mission, and why has it become one of the most influential concepts in global Christianity? In this episode, I chat with theologian Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst to explore the relationship between evangelism and social justice, the future of the church, and what faithful Christian witness looks like in today's world. Ruth reflects on the legacy of her parents, René and Catherine P...

In this episode, I speak with Toronto painter Ruthia Pak-Regis about art, theology, beauty, contemplation, and the spiritual discipline of learning how to see. We discuss visio divina, abstract art, creativity, vulnerability, and why Ruthia dislikes the label “Christian art.” We also talk about her theological studies at the University of Toronto, being represented by Roberts Gallery (the oldest c...

I grew up on a hobby farm in Canada. We raised animals, processed our own chickens, and ate meat pretty much every day. But I haven’t eaten land animals or birds in over five years. So why did I stop eating meat after growing up on a farm? In this episode, I tell the story of how that shift happened, and why it stuck. It wasn’t one big moment but a mix of experience, circumstance, and eventually,...

In this episode, I speak with theologian Roger E. Olson about his theological journey, including his upbringing in Pentecostalism and the experiences that shaped his later convictions. Olson reflects on his studies with Wolfhart Pannenberg and shares stories of encounters with major theological figures such as Oral Roberts, Jürgen Moltmann, John Piper, Greg Boyd, Stanley Grenz, R. C. Sproul, and R...

What happens when a theology professor is also a rapper? In this conversation I speak with Axel Kazadi of Kingswood University (NB, Canada) about the unusual path that led him to become both. We talk about his journey through a significant crisis of faith, the authors who helped him think his way through it, and how music became part of his theological expression. We also discuss his EP “Remontada...

Klyne Snodgrass taught for more than forty years at North Park Theological Seminary and is widely known for his work on the parables of Jesus. In this episode, we discuss his book You Need a Better Gospel and reflect on a lifetime of scholarship, teaching, and service to the Church. Our conversation explores what the gospel truly is, why participation with Christ stands at the center of Christian...

In this conversation, former Asbury Seminary professor Howard A. Snyder discusses his recent FREE book "Consider the Lilies: How Jesus Saves People and the Land" and reflects on a lifetime of ministry and theological work. We talk about his time studying at Notre Dame with John Howard Yoder, the importance of keeping Jesus central, church renewal, and why caring for the land should not b...