Coffee with Creamer

In our second of the new series, From the Producer’s Desk, Barry ponders what it means to step out into the world of ideas and disciplines that weren’t formed explicitly from Scripture—and still remain grounded. Depending on how we address that, we either open ourselves up to learning that deepens our understanding… or we quietly […]

In moments where things seem to be falling apart and our faith is challenged, we could learn a thing or two from the believers in Acts 4. Barry examines how their prayer uses beginning, ending, height, depth, birth, and death to demonstrate who is not in charge, and who is. Scripture: Acts 4    

We begin a new series, From the Producer’s Desk, and Barry discusses why religion persists. While the expectation seemed to be that as we became more “enlightened,” religion would slowly disappear, that clearly hasn’t happened. In fact, even when societies or groups reject formal belief, they don’t stop doing the things religion does. Where does […]

Barry closes this series about extremism covering a variety of current events/topics like ICE, trans rights, DEI, free speech, and censorship. While a discussion of that list may seem the worst idea ever, a focus on these concepts can help us survive it: community, plurality, humanity, and agency.     Scriptures: Prov 11:14, 15:22, 24:6 […]

Barry begins a new series that will help us ferret out various methods of lulling people into extremist beliefs and what often follows—extremist actions. If you are looking to hone your extremist influence, you’ll want to use dehumanizing speech and fearmongering. If not, you may want to use a mirror near you to start a […]

Barry walks us through Psalm 109, pointing out a message that applies to its author, the Messiah and you and me. We may not be as significant as the other things God is doing, but we are to him.     Scriptures: Ps 109, 69 Acts 1:15-20 Lk 22:47-53 Matt 26:51-53 Books: A Grief Observed, […]

Barry finishes his commentary on Hannah, who was originally providing commentary on Augustine in our series on Existential Love. And why that particular name for the series you may ask? Because we have been given a purpose/meaning and it is one that we must choose: to Love as Christ loved us. It is this supernatural […]

Barry begins part 2 of the Existential Love series describing in more detail the complexity of loving the world without simply being part of it. The example is economic in nature. Christian love may call for more than the social interdependency evident in work and service, with its benefits to self and others.     […]

Barry begins a short series during the season of love. He turns to Hannah Arendt and St. Augustine to guide us through a confusing topic that has plagued the church throughout history: how to love the world yet not become attached to it.     Scripture: 2 Cor 4:16-18 Books: Love and St. Augustine, Hannah […]

Barry covers Psalm 108 where David seems to have a conversation with his former self as he is faced with holding onto both faith and struggle at the same time. The end result is taking up his harp and lyre to sing of what he knows will come to pass.     Scriptures: Psalm 108, […]

Barry talks about the difference between reasoning and rationalization. One can get us to the actual truth, while the other simply gets us closer to our favored opinion. He gives us a few questions to help us ferret out which option we are using. Scripture: James 3:1      

Barry finishes up his 10 maxims with one that provides hope for all the others. Perhaps nothing emphasizes better how desolate humanity’s fallen nature is than the impossible step God takes to redeem it.     Scriptures: Ps 53:1-3 Rom 3:9-19 Jude 8-13 Jas 5:19-20 Matt 7:6-7 1 Kings 19:12-18

Barry covers a “commandment” that may be the most juxtaposed to our culture. While we wouldn’t expect to be grateful for suffering (as that would necessitate a change to the word’s definition) we can be grateful for our endurance of it. Barry talks us through this maxim with material, spiritual, social, and aesthetic examples to […]

Barry altered the wording of this maxim from previous presentations because he realized it was too easy on himself! What used to be “brutal honesty” with others has changed to “brutal honesty” with self and this in fact, makes it easier for us to offer kindness to others. This altered mindset places us square on […]

Barry covers our seventh maxim, which encourages us to consider two questions in a particular order before we decide on an action. Honoring this order for these particular questions is especially important in two situations: 1) when faced with decisions in our pragmatic culture, and 2) when suffering enters the picture.     Scriptures: Prov […]

Barry heads toward our sixth maxim, focused on change. At the beginning of the year, it is common to make some new year’s resolutions. In this episode, Barry urges us to direct our changes toward a target, in community, in faith, and even in our origin.     Scriptures: Rom 3:20 Eph 2:8-11, 4:11-16 Phil […]

Barry focuses in on Mary’s Magnificat along with the importance of her faith and obedience. He acknowledges that for many denominations, Mary is sometimes overlooked or downplayed—pushed to the side—rather than seen at the center of the stage where she stands in the text, exemplifying women throughout Israel’s and the church’s story.     Scriptures: […]

Barry heads into the 5th commandment. This one is an especially tricky one, the opposite of which seeps into our lives at every turn. How can we begin to fight back against our sinful nature? We can start by having the highest regard for the person in the world we know to be the most […]

Barry arrives at the fourth maxim, which battles it out with our culture every single day—being a follower. In God’s command to honor one’s parents, he provided a method of training us to be ready to honor others for the rest of our lives.     Scriptures: Ex 20:12 Matt 16:24, 19:18-19 1 Cor 11:1 […]

Barry connects our third maxim to the Sabbath commandment, reminding us that on the seventh day God created nothing material; instead creating a space every week for us to value all things correctly. It is an invitation for us to consider more carefully what’s really real.     Book: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section […]

Psalm 104 reminds us of at least two more things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week. Time and order display God’s faithfulness to those he loves. He continues to engage with his creation moment by moment, evincing that he walks among us now toward a future where all will be made right. Scriptures: Ps […]

Barry is back to the essentials in the 10 maxims series. This time, it’s about the sanctity of human life, and the fact that is intrinsic to bearing the image of God. He challenges us with this statement: If all we mean by the value of human life is the importance of not taking it, […]

Barry begins a new series covering 10 maxims that he believes are essential to the Christian faith. These “commandments” are not those 10 commandments, but they are aligned with them and remind us that these truths will last even when we do not. Number 1: The Lord is as important as we are not.   […]

Barry talks about some of the challenges with populism and a two-party system. He provides a curious example of how, in some instances in populist movements, because of a two-party system, the minority can actually rule the majority. His conclusion? If we value freedom then we have to value it for everyone, even the ones […]

As promised, Barry provides a reflection on the book of Job. While we often think the book focuses on the righteousness and sovereignty of God, he suggests that mercy is the central point to the story. God’s answer to evil’s problem has always been mercy. The mercy of Job is his righteousness.       […]