Sacred Thoughts Podcast

Christian Nationalism is exploding today. Not just because of adherents to it, like Doug Wilson and Pete Hegseth. But it’s also on our radar because of the swaths of people who are standing against its heinous vision for America – to make the US a primarily white, Christian nation. But something got me thinking over the past weeks about whether there might be a progressive Christian Nationalist vi...

In my series on World Religions, it is now time to move on to one of the oldest religions in our world – Hinduism. Outside of concepts like polytheism, reincarnation, and the caste system, we in the west probably know the least about what Hindus call Sanātana Dharma. It’s also one of the more difficult religions to get our heads around. I hope this episode brings understanding and respect of such...

In this second episode, I continue to offer some introductory thoughts about religion and the study of religion itself. I take a look at some specific terms that will become pertinent in understanding the world’s religions. In the episode I quote Stephen Prothero's book God Is Not One. Here is a brief intro video to that book: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subs...

It has been 10 months since my last podcast episode! As they say, life happened. But I'm glad to be back kicking off a particular series on world religions . This semester I'm teaching a few sections of an undergraduate World Religions class and, thus, I've been thinking more and more about how important it is for us to understand other religions and their adherents. As 19th century religion schol...

It has been two and a half months since my last official episode, but here we are. Today I was able to host C. Christopher Smith of the Englewood Review of Books. In particular, we talked through his most recent published work, The Virtue of Dialogue , and particularly the in’s and out’s of the formative practice of conversation. Have a listen and check out his work at the Englewood Review of Book...

Just over a week ago, a team of mental health professionals led a workshop at our church. It was our second annual training. While Christians are more engaged in the world of mental health, I believe we still find very few teachings and trainings being offered within the setting of the church. This is why I am so very grateful that the leaders in my local church fully embrace the importance of thi...

Today I was able to host Peter Bell who is producer and host of the Sons of Patriarchy podcast . The podcast is dedicated to exposing all types of abuse – sexual, physical and spiritual – within the Reformed church. Much focus has particularly gone into highlighting Doug Wilson and his denomination, the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), as well as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church...

On December 19, Stephanie Chernyavskiy’s story was shared on the Sons of Patriarchy podcast . Stephanie particularly laid out how she was abused within the setting of Neon Reformed Presbyterian Church, part of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Neon, Kentucky. Amazingly, after so many years of spiritual, physical, and sexual abuse, she was able to escape such a perilous situation. If you ha...

More than 700 years before Jesus, a prophet and a king held a meeting in the city of Jerusalem. With the probability of war on their doorstep, Isaiah was sent to king Ahaz with a message of protection and promise. In the promise, the king was told that a sign would be given: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This was the Original Immanuel. But what did...

Today we have entered into a new year as the people of God. The page was turned to the season of Advent, a time of anticipation, waiting and longing for Christ to come. Some 15 years ago, I was drawn into the liturgical church calendar. I never thought I’d be, but I was, thanks in part to the work of Jamie Smith in his Desiring the Kingdom . I began to finally understand it as a rhythmic story, te...

On Monday, I was able to host Mandy Smith on the Sacred Thoughts podcast. She is a pastor, author and all around amazing human being. Her most recent book is Confessions of an Amateur Saint . Though an Australian national, she has lived in the both the UK and the US (being an American citizen as well). With that, we not only discussed her new book, but, having now returned to Australia a couple of...

Today I was able to host Marlena Graves on the Sacred Thoughts podcast. She is a professor, author and speaker. Her most recently authored work is Bearing God: Living A Christ-Formed Life in Uncharted Waters . What is particularly of interest is Marlena’s Puerto Rican heritage, and how that has shaped her life and the work that she’s involved in. I also took time to ask her about the recent dispar...

Today I was able to host Karen Swallow Prior on the podcast. She is a writer, professor and world-traveler. Her most recently authored work is The Evangelical Imagination , which we discuss in the first half of the episode. I then go on to ask Karen about her painful and trying experiences over the last handful of years, particularly in her work at Liberty University, within the Southern Baptist C...

Yesterday I was able to host Dr. Léon Van Ommen on the podcast. He is Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen. Léon is also Co-Director for the Centre for Autism and Theology at Aberdeen. On this episode we looked at the aspects of disability and autism, and how that relates to our theological understanding. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with o...

Yesterday I was able to host Becky Castle Miller on the podcast. She is a PhD student at Wheaton where her research looks at emotions and discipleship in the Gospel of Luke. She is also an emotional health coach. With my own work in emotional health, I’ve been looking forward to this one! You can follow her work at her Substack site as well as her videos on Instagram ( @wholeemotion ). This is a p...

Yesterday I was able to host Andrew Perriman on the podcast. He is a New Testament theologian, lecturer at London School of Theology, has written multiple books, and has been part of a church planting network called Communitas International. On the show we discuss what is known as the narrative-historical method when it comes to interpreting the Scriptures. It will be a great challenge to our typi...

Over my years of teaching in higher education, I have developed plenty of course content – on world religions, Old Testament, New Testament, leadership development, ministry, mission, and other related topics. With that, I wanted to start posting some of that content, which will show up as videos here, but also posting as audio content on the Sacred Thoughts podcast. This first video is free, mean...

For my second episode, I offer some thoughts on recent news in the state of Louisiana – a new law has been signed into place that requires the 10 Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. I also connect this recent news to the topic of my first episode on “The Church in Exile.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

Welcome to the first official episode of the Sacred Thoughts Podcast. I start off by introducing the podcast (what, why, etc) and a bit about myself. I then jump in and discuss the idea of "The Church in Exile." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredthoughts.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sacredthoughts.substack.com For this next episode, I’m posting another session I gave at a mental health workshop for my local church this past November. I explore whether or not we are to trust our emotions. [Apologies if audio seems a bit echoey.]

Most times, our anxiety connects to the future (what might happen). With that, we are not present in the moment. We are stuck in what might be. One way to work through anxiety is through the practice of mindfulness, a slow and deep breathing process that can help ground us in the present. I share a bit more in the short video. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subs...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit sacredthoughts.substack.com For my first episode, I’m actually posting a talk I gave at a mental health workshop for my local church this past November. I offer that we don’t fully understand anxiety, especially in light of wielding Phil 4:6. [Apologies if audio seems a bit echoey.]