Episodes
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Joe talks to award-winning and Billboard-charting artist Flamy Grant, the 'shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen' from North Carolina. As well as sharing their story of growing up in the evangelical church, they talk about the need to trust peoples' experiences and how, so often, we have a view of God who 'doesn’t love very well'. Along the way, Flamy talks about mystical encounters, dealing with opposition and abuse and why, in the end, it's all about joy.
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Paddington in PeruFlamy Grant- Website -
We talk about prayer and laughter, about creativity, and about the everyday acts of hope that help us transcend the news. Also we discuss judging a theology by the fruit it bears. Meanwhile Nick talks about his retreat and there is a lot about cheese. Business as usual, then.
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Westonbirt, The National ArboretumPaddington in PeruDeadpool & WolverineNorman Wirzba, Love's Braided Dance - Hope in a Time of CrisisTen Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right NowWSJ: X Algorithm Feeds Users Political Content—Whether They Want It or NotWaitrose: Christmas Stollen, Panettone & Pandoro -
Episodes manquant?
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In times of disappointment, darkness and fear, how should we respond? What difference can we make? We talk about joy as a revolutionary act, and how we can refuse to join in the game. Also, we discuss reclaiming labels such as 'Christian', and we have powerful stories about the power of prayer, mystical coincidences and, of course, parking spaces. Brought to you by Saint Joe of the Cheese and St Nick, patron saint of innuendo.
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Battle, East SussexWhere did the Battle of Hastings happen?William I 'The Conqueror'HereticAll Saints' DayShow of Hands - Roots -
We have an interview with singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph. He talks about his career, the craft of song-writing, his campaigning worked the importance of just turning up. And we end, of course, with a song.
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Martyn JosephMartyn Joseph - Chapel Porth BeachLet Yourself TrustTour Dates 2024Liberal Backslider -
Is God really in charge of the universe? Do prophecies actually happen? We have some fascinating feedback about hearing from God and how he is calling us to collaboration and co-creation. Meanwhile, Nick quotes Ezekiel and Joe goes all mystical about Robins.
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Dear Evan HansenAlex Horne and the Horne SectionRobinBearded TitEssence–energies distinctionThomas Jay OordEzekiel 37:1-14 The Valley of Dry Bones -
In this episode we explore one of the central questions of theology: is it right to pray for a parking space? If we believe in an interventionist God, then what kind of intervening does he do? Does Joe really have the spiritual gift of parking? Also, we touch on sadness as holy ground, grieving for past versions of ourselves, and how to respond when people present prophecies and words of knowledge. Oh and it was our eight anniversary this week. Not that one of us noticed…
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Hunter's MoonThis week's Hunter's Moon – the biggest supermoon of 2024Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone FishingDaniel Pink, The Power of RegretCabel Sasser, Panic - XOXO Festival (2024) -
Joe talks with Shaun Lambert about mindfulness, wonder, and the need to 're-perceive' God. As well as actually leading us in a contemplative exercise, Shaun talks about strengthening our 'attention' muscles, encountering God in the present and becoming a more responsive but less reactive presence. All this and Diadochos of Photiki too!
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Nick Cave interview with Stephen ColbertThe Boy And The HeronGoram IPA ZeroLucky Saint BeerShaun Lambert, Mindful FormationDiadochos of PhotikiScargill MovementEphrem the SyrianMark 9:15 -
We talk about the virtuous circle of comfort: how what we receive we can share with others. Also whether the real purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us to pay proper attention to our lives and to learn the right lessons. What if God is not arranging the events of our lives, so much as asking us to pay attention to them? Meanwhile, Nick has a correction to make, and Joe receives some good news about cheese.
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HobbyRSPB MinsmereGreat green bush-cricketLudwigInside Out 2Pendon MuseumWittenham ClumpsTeresa of Ávila2 Corinthians 1:3-4Graham Lawton, This Book Could Save Your Life -
Nick has had a bad week. We talk about approaches to resilience, the meanings we attach to events, our tendency to project bad stories, what perspectives might help us through really rubbish moments and how sometimes your favourite Bible verse doesn’t help that much. Meanwhile Joe introduces the 'numes' – a new scale to measure numinous moments and places. And we hear from a listener who is going through the menopraise. Genius.
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Resilience in Life and Faith: Finding your strength in GodRudolf Otto's Concept of the "Numinous" -
Three. Hundred. Episodes. Who'd have thought it? We think about some of the key things we have learned, and are still learning through doing this podcast. We reflect on such topics as what we think about God, how we read the Bible and the amazing capacity of theology to annoy you in entirely unexpected ways. And in the end, it turns out Jesus is still very important. Thank you for all your support - now go and enjoy a Negroni.
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Negroni weekKarl RahnerNick Cave, Wild God -
Joe interviews John Philip Newell about his new book The Great Search. What are the things we are really yearning for? Who are the prophets to whom we should pay attention?
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John Philip NewellEtty HillesumSimone WeilMartin BuberEdwin MuirJulian of NorwichCarl Jung -
Yes! The brothers have reconciled and the podcast band is back together. So, in this week's show we talk about redeeming the word 'religion', what it is that we can give to the church, whether Jesus was a bit smitey (again) and in the words of one contributor, the 'ready brek feeling of the warmth that Jesus can bring with that desire to be a better human being'. Also, we touch on the dangers of satire and we start to discuss some aspects of a twenty-first century faith. Phew!
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Sam's very long email on a twenty-first century faithMartin Buber -
This week's episode is all about money. Why are we so embarrassed by it? Why do we fear dealing with it? Is ethical investing worth it? And do we really have to tithe? Thanks to Sian MacInnes FPFS for her great input on today's show.
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eccr.org.uk (now the Just Money Movement)VouchedFor -
We talk about the benefits of belonging, and not belonging, to a church. Are there perspectives and opportunities that we can get from a church that we can't get elsewhere? When is it right to leave? And, most importantly, is there anyone is not able to sit?
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Yes, we're talking again about the Bible, this time discussing how the Bible was compiled and what Paul meant by the line 'All the writings are God-breathed'. Also, we have a truly wonderful final email, and loads of feedback on whether our listeners are friends, companions, pilgrims, fellow community members, paying punters or family members. We don't know, but we're very grateful for all of you!
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Olympic sport climbingMen's kayak cross final | Paris 2024 Olympics | BBC SportMarcion of Sinope -
A mixed bag this week. We talk about Christian outrage over the Olympics, about the need to belong (without being defined by our belonging) and how Joe actually found himself singing worship songs. Also we consider whether our listeners are really our friends, or, as Nick so tenderly puts it, 'potential threats'. Whatever the case, thank you for being… something or other.
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Deadpool & WolverineChalk streamDionysusChristians shouldn’t be offended by the Olympics opening ceremony -
In this episode we dive deep into the idea of the wrathful God. Can we understand it in a different way? And what do we do with all the bits in the Old Testament where the almighty gets all smitey? Are the accounts of the tribal, violent, Old Testament God real? Or are they stories? And if they are, how do we read them? Meanwhile, Nick has been spending time with hundreds of dead people, and Joe thinks that all Independent Financial Advisors are out to get him.
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Renovaré Life with God podcast Episode 275: Nick Page — The Bible as Holy GroundInside Out 2Chaldon MuralHythe Crypt (Ossuary)Mid-faith Crisis Episode 51: The Mystery of the CrossMid-faith Crisis Episode 50: The Scandal of The CrossGeorge MacDonald – The Consuming FireWilliam Placher, Narratives of a Vulnerable God:Nick Page, The Badly Behaved Bible -
We're back! And after a long break there is a lot of catching up to do. Has Nick really stopped watching the news? Is there actually such a thing as a Purple Hairstreak Butterfly? Is the Mid-faith Crisis Podcast the Kendal Mint cake of spirituality? And what happened when Joe took Nick to the theatre?
Also - our friend Andy is carrying out some research looking at how podcasting is becoming a significant resource for those who are going through some sort of faith shift in their lives. Will you help by taking part in a short survey? Go here.
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Take a short survey on how podcasting is affecting your faith journeyNo knead bread recipeRolf Dobelli, Stop Reading the NewsNews is bad for you – and giving up reading it will make you happierSgroppinoChurch of St John the Baptist, Inglesham, WiltshireTreecreeperCathedral - Forest of DeanWilding moviePurple HairstreakThe Book of MormonKendal mint cakeStacey Solomon - Sort Your Life Out -
Joe interviews friend and fellow celebrant Claire Bradford about her experiences walking the Camino. They discuss the importance of doing things when you can, the Joy of Missing Out and and how the pilgrimage, far from being about solitary detachment, led to an amazing sense of community and connection.
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Claire Bradford - Creating CeremonyCamino de SantiagoEpisode 212: An Interview with Oliver BurkemanThe Way -
Joe talks to friend of the podcast Dave Tomlinson about his book 'OMG, A Bad Christian's Prayer Book'. Dave also chats about prayer, and about the need for us to be committed to hope or, as he terms it, 'defiant imagination'.
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Dave Tomlinson on FacebookDave Tomlinson: The Holy ShedOMG A Bad Christian's Prayer Book - Montre plus
