The Color of Dust

After discussing their favorite poets, the fellas pick up where they left off in the book of Ruth (3:14-18). Take a look at the chapter headings below to see the ground they cover. Thank you for listening, and if you have a moment, share The Color of Dust with others. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts 03:54 Favorite Poets and Their Influence 12:52 The Nature of Poetry and Personal C...

Seth says, “Acedia is the cultural air we breathe.” One way to undermine sloth, is to discover the goodness of the law. From the book of Ruth (3:12-13), Boaz will be our guide. Through his life, we apprehend the law as a person—a good person. And we uphold the law not to perform, but to love. So if you want love to become ‘second nature,’ then you’ll enjoy this episode. Then obedience might become...

What at first appears to be a meandering in the pasture of a Kansas sheepfold, turns into a profound meditation on the presence of God in our daily routines, the people that cross our paths, and our acts done when no one seems to be watching. Our text for the episode is Ruth 3:11, “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a...

“Not dying is the terminal thing.” In this episode, we continue our exploration of blessing. Here’s the text we’re ruminating on: “And he said, ‘May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich’” (Ruth 3:10). Thank you for making this journey with us, and take a look at the chapter h...

We consider the power of personal blessing on today’s episode. Perhaps you’ve never been blessed before, or maybe you would like to bless someone, but how do you do it? What does it mean?  Ruth's story is set against a backdrop of generational curses. Boaz's blessing to Ruth signifies her worthiness and connection to God. Blessings in the Bible often come with intentionality and purpose. Ruth is u...

Each dialogue we have about the book of Ruth seems even more important than the last. Our passage reads, “Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! He said, ‘Who are you?’ And she answered, ‘I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.’” (Ruth 3:7b-9). In...

“God was there first.” The fellas dig deep into this crucial theme of the book of Ruth. We examine Ruth and Boaz at the threshing floor in 3:6-7a—considering both the moral implications and cultural context. We explore the meaning of the grain heap, how to interpret Scripture, the thread of redemption, intimacy, and the nature of goodness itself. Take a look at the chapter headings below to see th...

Here is the poem Sam Kee wrote and read for episode 19 “Non-Dual Polarities.” The poem is based on Ruth 2-3. Forbidden Places She dared to breach the vanguards Of the tall golden garden Not content with just the corners She moved away from edge Closer than the others Not content to glean the crumbs from table Closer still Until she reached the hem of garments Reached deep into the handfuls Caught...

As we head to the threshing floor, we discuss the upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God. We uncover (no pun intended, Ruth) some of the risky and risqué behaviors our heroine is planning in order to secure a marriage proposal—and ultimately save the world. We end up calling these paradoxes ‘non-dual polarities’ and invite you to wrestle with them as we did. Along the way, Sam reads his poem ‘Fo...

We have arrived at a turning point for Naomi—she who was empty and bitter is being filled. But how? Today, we talk about the miracle of favor and acceptance. Along the way, Jack describes the agricultural processes of threshing and roasting grain. Take a look at the chapter headings below to see the ground we cover. The music in this episode was written and played by Jack Baumgartner. Chapters 00:...

We continue our journey through the book of Ruth. Take a look below at the chapter headings to see the ground we cover. Make some time to sketch, write, compose, bake, or build, as you listen to this episode—and then send us what you created (through Instagram or email)! The music in this episode was written and performed by Jack Baumgartner. Mail all Baby Ruth candy bars to New Boaz Farm in Kansa...

On episode 16, we played a song that Jack wrote in response to our series on the book of Ruth. Here is a recording of his song and its lyrics. We’ve also included a picture of Jack playing the song on his harmonium. “Ruth and Boaz” by Jack Baumgartner daughter of my dreaming mother of my homeland husband of my sorrow there is famine in our bones it is hard to understand it is easy to know it but i...

Brokenness and bitterness give way to fruit—the harvest. We continue our journey through the book of Ruth with a discussion of chapter 2. Take a look at the headings below to see the ground we cover. Jack plays a very moving new song he wrote this week for the episode. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Prayer 03:28 The Symbolism of the Harvest 21:02 Boaz, a New Adam and a Pillar in the Community 25:...

Where else are you going to hear the book of Ruth—which is an agricultural-themed book—discussed by actual farmers? Only here on The Color of Dust! We make those crucial connections between the land, covenant, and exile, speaking directly to farming, femininity, and friendship. We also explore God’s ‘golden mean,’ which will change the way you perceive your life. Take a look at the chapters below...

The book of Ruth is both a profound love story and a journey of faith. Today we begin our exploration, sharing some art along the way. Take a look at the chapter headings below to see the ground we cover, and devote some time to reading the four chapters of Ruth on your own. We welcome your thoughts, feedback, and questions. Also note that we’re ‘sketching’ our way through Ruth—so feel free to joi...

With just a few lines, a wizard can cast a spell and make something appear out of nowhere; in the same way, with just a few lines, an artist can drag his magical ‘wand’ across a piece of paper and make something appear out of nowhere. In today’s episode, we consider the power of drawing—it is both a form of listening and spiritual practice. Seth reads his poem ‘Avocation,’ and we consider the rece...

“Life is always more beautiful when you know the story,” Jack says on today’s episode. Do you know the story of The Color of Dust? Take a look at the chapter headings below to see the territory we cover in this honest episode. We apologize for Sam’s audio—it got corrupted somehow and sounds pretty awful. However, as you’ll learn from the episode, this, too, is a ‘darling’ we need to kill. So, grab...

We begin with an original poem from Seth called “Tell Me, Tell Me, Tell Me, Elm!”. We discuss the idea of forever ‘tinkering’ with artistic creations. This leads to trees, sheep, wind, words, and sight. Jack seeks to give you permission to trust the many ways you perceive, including your imagination. It’s a risk, but it’s real. And perhaps gratitude is the best way to develop the spiritual sensori...

In his book A Secular Age , Charles Taylor says it is as if we now live in a closed-system, in which nothing beyond is able to enter. He calls it the “buffered self.” The trouble is, Jack Baumgartner never got the memo. In this conversation, we begin to explore the concepts of imagination and spiritual sensorium. The invitation is to pay attention and have attuned eyes and ears to the language of...

Fauns…Hippocentaurs…Questing Beasts…Oh my! As we turn to the final panel of Matthias Grunewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece , we discover the Church’s first hermit. Saint Paul the Hermit played a significant role in Jack’s own life, especially when Jack himself was a hermit for four years. In this episode, Jack reads to us from The Golden Legend and John Moriarty; Seth teaches the four-part Medieval herm...

St. Anthony is depicted on the holymost panel of the Isenheim Altarpiece battling demons. His extraordinary life is a gift not just to those of his time, but to many more future sufferers. Through the spiritual technology of Grunewald's Isenheim, we are invited to witness this other world swirling within our own. We close with a poem by Rilke and a guitar meditation from Jack. This is our third of...

Probably most today believe that science and psychology offer better solutions to our modern problems than a piece of art or literature. But what if we have misdiagnosed our core problems? What if we are too focused on eliminating what does not belong that we fail to see what does belong—and the great story in which we are participating? Having spoken about the outer panels of The Isenheim Altarpi...

Matthias Grunewald was one of the greatest painters ever to live, known for his Isenheim Altarpiece. But you may not know that this masterpiece was created for the most broken people of its time. In this special Good Friday episode, we meditate on the cross as a mirror, in what we’re calling The Isenheim Effect.  Also in this episode, we present the poem “April Prelude” by Maya Clubine. Now, here...

In this episode, Jack, Seth, and Sam explore the concept of failure in art and its role in personal growth. They discuss a central image in Jack’s linocut “The Spiritual Mechanics of Labor and Rest,” which features the crotch. The focus is on the wrinkles and the word 'obedience.' They delve into the idea of risk in art and how it can lead to beauty and transcendence. They also examine the role of...

There are many treasures in this episode. We start by talking about the symbolism of the candle and then explore the definition of art. We discuss the hierarchy of art, the tension between rarity and commonality of art, the role of novelty, and the differences between theological aesthetics and aesthetic theology. Then we go into the power of different art forms, the process of creating art, and p...