InkleDeux Podcast

AJ is on sabbatical, so Brandon is joined by, friend of the podcast, Walther. They discuss devotions, what they are and how they can help us in our faith journey.

This week, Brandon and AJ talk about the curse of getting what you ask for. Why does it seem like we rarely get what we want from God? And even more so, when we do, it goes wrong?

This week, AJ and Brandon talk about the idea of applying Biblical texts to our own lives after Brandon came across the line, "Goliath is not your anxiety." How can we apply Biblical lessons to our lives without co-opting them?

This week, AJ and Brandon discuss the difficulties of living as a Resurrection people. Why does it seem to get harder to remember that life triumphs over death the further past Easter we get?

This week, Brandon asks AJ about what seems to be a recurring pattern in salvation, where God reveals Himself and also opens the eyes of those who receive His revelation. Why doesn't God open everyone's eyes? And how is it that people are able to encounter the Truth and still turn away from it?

Building off the conversation about Pontius, Brandon and AJ take a look at St. Peter's call out of the crowd at Pentecost for putting Christ to death by lawless men.

This Easter, Brandon talks to AJ about reflecting a bit on the interactions between Jesus, Pontius Pilate, and the Chief Priest. What do the earthly leaders reveal about themselves in their interactions with the Christ?

This week, AJ and Brandon talk about the ways Brandon has felt the world around him shape him as they try and identify some ways to be in the world without being of the world.

This week, AJ and Brandon discuss beauty as a path to God. Why does it seem to be used so sparingly? How can it be used well?

In this week's episode, Brandon and AJ continue looking at what CS Lewis says about different ways people consume art. How do we make sure to let the art do its work.

This week, Brandon brings some questions from a CS Lewis book on criticism to the pod. He and AJ discuss the difference between using art and being impacted on it and the dangers of using your passions.

This week, AJ and Brandon take their conversations about the pope and synods into a more personal conversation about how we are called to lead in our daily lives.

This week, Brandon asks AJ about the Synod on Synodality and what those crazy Germans were getting up to. It's not breaking news, but it's a relevant discussion with the advantage of avoiding hot takes.

This week, Brandon asks AJ some follow ups on papal elections. How much of the election of a pope is about human, political machinations? How much is divine guidance by the Holy Spirit? How can we tell?

This week, AJ brings up Pope Francis' current health situation and talks with Brandon about the Pope's broader role in Christianity. Even if you aren't Catholic, the Papacy remains influential.

In this week's episode, Brandon approaches AJ about his idea that our messaging on Christ is the source of a lot of people's confusions about Him. Specifically, that people overemphasizing Christ's humanity or divinity are a big part of the problem.

This week, Brandon wants to talk about the Jesus commercial in the Super Bowl. Does it make sense to take such a broad strokes approach to evangelization? Is it evangelization at all? Is that a good use of $8 million? What is the actual message they are spreading? Do any of these questions even matter?

Wrapping up their look at examples of priests, prophets, and kings in the Lord of the Rings, AJ and Brandon compare the rule of Aragorn and Denethor, steward of Gondor. They also crystalize some of the patterns between all three offices and think about what that means for their own lives.

This week, AJ and Brandon continue looking at Middle Earth and Christ's three offices being depicted. This time, it's with a look at the priesthood as seen in Gollum and Frodo (and Sam).

In this week's episode, AJ and Brandon discuss Tolkien's depictions of good wizards and bad as a parallel to the messianic office of the prophet. What do Gandalf and Saruman show us about the right and wrong ways to live the prophetic call?

This week, Brandon and AJ resume their conversation about Tolkien's Middle Earth. What starts as a conversation about how change in perfection must be a loss becomes a conversation about how we experience our fall and God's salvation of us as ongoing stories rather than single historical events.

This week, Brandon and AJ spend their time comparing the modern trust in progress and development with Tolkien's own skepticism and doubt about development in time.

After their week off for Christmas, Brandon and AJ talk about the magi and what they can teach us about wisdom outside of the Covenant.

As Christmas draws ever nearer, Brandon shares his frustrations and misgivings about adult gift exchanges and AJ wants to broaden the definition of what a gift is. We talk Red One, love languages, projecting preferences, all in the name Christmas!

This week, Brandon and AJ spend some time looking ahead. What are they hoping to see happen in the coming year? What books and travel? What opportunities for growth will they hopefully seize?