InkleDeux Podcast

As AJ prepares to enter into dad life, he and Brandon say a fond farewell to the podcast that did a lot for them, even if it never did what they thought it would. Thanks for listening. Keep the meaningful conversations happening!

This week, Brandon brings his questions and concerns about the good, the bad, and the meh of investing our mental energies and abilities into unreal fantasies to AJ.

This week, Brandon shares some new thoughts on Exodus with AJ. What if we read the Exodus, and maybe the rest of the Bible as well, as being about God's people, Israel and the Church, instead of from the lens of the "main characters" like Moses?

Brandon continues to help AJ get ready for the arrival of his twin little girls.

This week, AJ comes to Brandon looking for some words of wisdom about being a dad. AJ is a month or so away from becoming a new father to twin girls, so he'll take the advice and guidance he can get.

This week, AJ shares with Brandon some thoughts from rereading the story of David and Saul in the Old Testament. What does David's refusal to take vengeance on Saul teach us about justice and trust in the Lord?

This week, Brandon brings the idea of meditation to discuss with AJ. What is the relationship between meditation and humility? How does Christian meditation differ from some other forms?

This week, Brandon shares some information from a book he's been listening to. It talks a lot about the idea of reward and habit, but he wants to talk to AJ about what that approach to understanding the self leaves out. What is a more whole, Christian understanding of the self?

This week, AJ and Brandon build out from the idea of ought into obligations. So often, we think of obligations as limitations and restrictions. Is it possible, though, that our obligations could actually serve to make us more free?

This week, Brandon and AJ dive a little more deeply into the question of what we "ought" to do. Do our choices matter? Are they free or fated? How are we supposed to choose?

This week, Brandon and AJ continue talking about how our understanding of the nature of creation shapes the nature of our calling, using the Lord of the Rings as a framework and setting.

This week, Brandon and AJ discuss the role of God(Iluvatar) in Tolkien's Middle Earth, specifically in creation and the daily lives of the characters. What can we learn, reflect on, or incorporate into our own lives, world, and relationship with the Almighty? Is creation a completed work already that we are watching play out? Or is it an ongoing process?

This week, Brandon and AJ talk about some of the bleakness of the news cycles. The world doesn't seem to be getting better, and the Bible doesn't always seem to think that it will. So, how do we, as Christians, process this broken world with hope?

This week, AJ and Brandon discuss St. Paul's willingness to keep preaching the truth even after being told by the Holy Spirit and numerous prophets that it would result in his imprisonment and death. What does it take to embrace that level of acceptance of God's will?

This week, AJ wants to hear from Brandon about his own experience and thoughts when it comes to his girls' educations. What are the pluses and minuses when it comes to public and private school?

This week, Brandon follows up with AJ on the pros and cons of working where you worship. It's critical that those leading others in faith never stop growing and developing their own.

This week, Brandon mentions the idea of everyday Christians adopting monastic, and specifically Benedictine, approaches to life, and AJ talks about the relationship between the monastic, contemplative life and the active, evangelistic life.

This week, Brandon and AJ talk about the concept of family as an idol. The conversation quickly branches into a discussion of how we lead children when they realize we aren't perfect.

Continuing with the book on the Rule of St. Benedict, Brandon and AJ discuss the nature and importance of sacrifice and asceticism for the modern Christian.

This week, Brandon talks to AJ about a book he's been listening to that encourages us to adopt some practices from the Rule of St. Benedict for monastic life into our modern, secular lives.

This week, AJ returns from a month long road trip and he and Brandon discuss some observations from his time on the road.

Brandon and Walther continue their conversation on culture and how different it is between countries and communities.

We have an abbreviated podcast this week because Brandon forgot to hit the record button, so he and Walther only had 20 minutes left to continue discussing the culture change when he became a citizen.

In the shadow of the riots in California, Walther and I discuss his journey of becoming a citizen.

Brandon and Walther segue from their conversation last week into one on Plan For Life. If we want to grow in holiness, we have to do it intentionally.