The Construction Monk

Welcome to a New Year! In this new series we talk about how to form good habits. We need daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly habits to help us be more healthy in all the parts of our personhood. This first episode is an introduction to that idea. "Closer to Home" is a podcast series by the construction Monk which seeks to help ground us in good habits that can help us better thrive in our...

In this episode of the Construction Monk Podcast, on the final day of 2022, we discuss three aspects of our God-given story. Those three aspects are Hidden Life, Hidden Treasure, and Hidden Story. J. Randall Ory is a Church Anthropologist, Activist, Teacher of Contemplation, and Carpenter. He hosts The Construction Monk Podcast, as well as writing books, and producing videos at his YouTube channel...

What does it mean to humble yourself before God, to be a little child in the Kingdom, to understand you never get out of kindergarten when it comes to your standing before God?

What does cold weather have to do with the favor of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit? And how does God use a spiritual temperature drop to reveal problems in the Church? And if you're interested, check out that Rich Mullins song here; https://youtu.be/oKnm1StIrXE You can catch more content at www.moderncontemplative.com

God is always doing new things. Sometimes it's hard for us to step into those. Sometimes we are prepared for those new things through hard steps, through suffering. Birth pains and growing pains are part of the process of stepping into the new things of God. J. Randall Ory is a Church Anthropologist, Activist, Teacher of Contemplation, and Carpenter. He hosts The Construction Monk Podcast, as...

Who are you, and what do you want? The two driving questions that can haunt us throughout our lives, and the thing God-centered communities are meant to help us figure out. You can catch more content at www.moderncontemplative.com

Ever the same, always new. That's who God is. But how do we balance the new things God wants to do with the old things He's already done in a way that doesn't reject either. What we're talking about is balance in the midst of a God always moving His people forward in His overall plan to redeem all of humanity. You can catch more content at www.moderncontemplative.com

One of the joys of Christmas is partaking of the traditional things we all remember from the time we were little children. One of those joys for me is reading this poem by Clement Clark Moore, known as "The Night Before Christmas" to many. Here's my rendition of that poem. Consider it my Christmas gift for you; the gift of Christmas joy and tradition combined. J. Randall Ory is a Chu...

Life is an adventure! But how do we begin to step into it? God has designed us with a special purpose, and locked it inside us to discover. But we need God's help. That's what our own personal adventure is about. J. Randall Ory is a Church Anthropologist, Activist, Teacher of Contemplation, and Carpenter. He hosts The Construction Monk Podcast, as well as writing books, and producing video...

Am I a Radical? Are you a Radical? Was Jesus a Radical? Is the Church meant to be a Radical element in a worldly society. Has the Church grown too little in it's Radical stance? Find out in this Pop-Up Podcast by the Construction Monk.

Truth can be a bitter pill, but it doesn't have to be. In his letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul gives some sound advice for dealing with bitterness in a truthful, and loving way.

In this episode of "Reading the Room" we explore two songs. Both songs have Christian influence. Both songs use Christian themes and Christian words. One song exemplifies Christian truth, and the other distorts it. Which is which? Here's a clue, it's probably not the one you think. Take a listen to this episode of "Reading the Room" find out which song communicates good...

Why can't everyone just get along!! Most people agree that we live in a very polarized and segregated time. Most people can't agree on the cause or the solution to that problem. What can help change people's minds? I have a few thoughts on that. For more on this topic, see the blog post at https://www.moderncontemplative.com/post/52-common-ground

What is Novelty, and why is it such a bad thing when over-indulged in, and how is it a good thing in its proper place? Find out in this Construction Monk Pop-Up Podcast. For more thoughts on novelty, go to https://www.moderncontemplative.com/post/51-novelty

Church is crazy. Church is messy. Sometimes, we don't like the mess. Sometimes, trying not to be so messy, we make more of a mess. Here's some light-hearted reflections on my own experiences with Church. For more on this topic go to, https://www.moderncontemplative.com/post/50-messy-church

What does life on the other side of the Looking Glass look like? What is it like to become more the person God created you to be. Find out as we wrap up this last episode of the podcast series ELEMENTARY. "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world should be ordered, and the two sides of the natural and the supernatural...

Have you ever felt like those above you weren't sensitive to your situation? It's important that those with great strength have a balancing amount of sensitivity to understand how the power and influence they hold affects those around them. And, it's also good for those with great sensitivity to have a great strength in order to bear it. That's what this podcast is about. For a dif...

What does Harry Potter have to do with God's idea of goodness. How does Satan trick us with what seems good, but isn't? Find out in this seventh installment of the podcast series ELEMENTARY. "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world should be ordered, and the two sides of the natural and the supernatural realit...

What does it mean to be a good, thriving, healthy person in the midst of a not so healthy system. How do we balance our own personal pursuit of growth as an individual, in light of larger systems that may or may not be as healthy as we are? That's the topic of conversation in this podcast by The Construction Monk. For additional thoughts on this, go to the blog post at https://www.moderncontem...

When it comes to trauma, we have to feel it to know what it is, to know it's even there, in order to deal with it, in order to start to heal from it. It's a hard journey, and it doesn't make it easier knowing that it was unintentional from the person who caused it. And don't forget to check out the correlating blog post to this episode on my website. Here's the link! https://ww...

How is God's Kingdom backwards from Satans', and how is that defined most clearly? It's most visible in how both kingdoms operate in their power. "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world should be ordered, and the two sides of the natural and the supernatural reality in which we live. J. Randall Ory is a C...

To get what you want the most, you have to go where you at least want to find it. That's the principle of facing the dragon to get the gold. That's the idea of facing the darkness within in order to overcome what is keeping you from a growing relationship with God, from passing through the looking-glass to the other side. Part of this episode explores a lecture by Jordan Peterson. The link...

Why are you here? What is the purpose of life, and what does Quantum Entanglement have to do with that. Find out in the 4th episode of Elementary! "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world should be ordered, and the two sides of the natural and the supernatural reality in which we live. J. Randall Ory is a Church Anthr...

To move closer to the looking glass, and God, requires becoming a certain kind of person. What is that kind of person like? That's the question we'lll be answering in this third episode of "The Construction Monk" podcast series called "Elementary". "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world s...

What is the essential energy behind these two kingdoms, Gods and Satan's, and how does that affect our everyday lives? "Elementary" is a podcast series that explores two spiritual kingdoms with two competing views on how the world should be ordered, and the two sides of the natural and the supernatural reality in which we live. J. Randall Ory is a Church Anthropologist, Activist, Tea...