DRIVING THEOLOGY

Why are we are told to love ourselves first by Jesus, being that so many Christians believe that you can't love others until you learn to love yourself. This just seems wrong to me. Track with me for a few minutes (or 40) and be sure and leave some feedback on facebook or under comments. Thanks!

A continuation, somewhat, of the previous review of Brian Zahnd's book, this episode explores this theory in light of the 18th anniversary of the Twin Tower Bombing of September 11, 2001. Who's really to blame?

First 10 minutes are a recap of my summer activities, so if you want, skip ahead! After that, I give a bit of a review of Brian Zahnds book, Postcards From Babylon. Enjoy!

Is simply what we call the process of the creation trying to understand the creator? Maybe not, but follow me here anyway, and we'll see where we end up! Don't mind the poor quality audio. It's just an experiment that will be fixed next episode.

Rehashing the same subjects from last week, a final review of "Christ The Eternal Tao", and a report on my chapel talk at the university.

Various musings on a chapel talk I did the day after recording this, and on the book, "Christ The Eternal Tao".

If you have spent much time learning a skill, whether it be a musical instrument, a second language, a sport skill, or whatever, you will recognize this truth: progress often comes by way of breakthroughs. We often imagine that we will progress in an even crescendo, but in reality, we get to a point where we feel like we have plateaued and are not progressing, only to experience a sudden breakthro...

When it comes to addiction, which methods help recovery, and which make matters worse? Are we really seeking a solution or are we happy to continue our current methods, which are largely ineffective?

Tragedy strikes my family yet again, spurring me to contemplate death, punishment and reward yet again.

How does salvation really "work"? What is our part in it? Grace? Freedom? Unconditional Love? How do they play into it? So often, they are "tailored" ideas that somehow are diminished from their absolute definitions and become "christian" versions of these ideas. But, what if they actually mean just what they say?

Do you ever wish that you knew then what you know now? That the younger you somehow knew instinctively what it has taken you a lifetime to figure out? You're not the only one!

Many believers opt out of celebrating different holidays when they conflict with religious holidays, or when they are perceived as pagan, or at least as not Christian. Many still ignore these conflicts. Who's right? Who's wrong?

The Jesus Prayer has been uttered for hundreds of years by many contemplatives, mystics and faithfuls. Here I talk about my still very early experience with this prayer and thoughts about it.

While reading a book by a friend, I received confirmation about something which I have suspected to be true for some time: Love transforms. I've spoken of it before in this podcast, but it is the kind of truth which needs to be approached time and again, as it is of the utmost importance if we are to progress as a people made in the image of Christ. Change is something which everyone wants, in som...

As you learn to hold your beliefs and values more lightly, you realize that you change, or at least adjust, your beliefs more readily and more often, allowing for more rapid spiritual growth and maturity. Or at least that's what I think!

A rather allergic episode (sorry for the sniffles)exploring our proclivity for commemorating negative events that happened to large swaths of the world, but how we have very few positive events which we remember that have affected the entire world. Why is this?

Where can you look and NOT find Christ? Just how much of himself has he built into creation?

Why do you believe what you believe? Continuing the discussion on deconstruction, I take a bit of a different approach referring to a recent project I've been doing around the house.

What did you used to believe that you no longer believe? What is the value in reevaluating your beliefs? Can you say you are maturing as a christian if our theology is not progressing?

All is well. Do you believe this? No? That's no surprise because on some level or another, all is definitely NOT well! So on what level is "all" well?

The first several minutes are just me catching up and possibly giving you TMI. If that is the case, skip about the first 10 minutes. I won't know and won't mind! Then more thoughts on the Cosmic Christ and The Eternal Tao.

Socrates said famously, "know yourself". How well do you know yourself? Do you ever say, as I do, "Who am I?" How can we know more about ourselves, personally, but also as the human race? Who are we? Where can we go for answers?

How do you go about navigating this space between the two dimensions in which we live, the physical and the spiritual?

2018 wrapped up super crazy for me! Hardly had time to catch my breath! But now that 2019 is here, what resolutions or goals have you made? What is your track record in the past with New Year's resolutions? If you're like me, not so great! Maybe we are chasing the wrong goals?

Understanding the Love of Jesus, leads to Joy, The fourth candle of (our) advent.