Shows
Devices and DesiresAlcohol, Marijuana, and Soft DrugsDan Trippie joins us to discuss alcohol, marijuana, and soft drugs.2021-05-2755 minDevices and DesiresThe Social DilemmaWe discuss the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma.2021-05-061h 13Devices and DesiresThe Intellectual Life and DiscipleshipWe sit down with Dr. Phil Reed to discuss why the life of the mind is essential if we are to flourish as people of God.2021-04-2958 minDevices and DesiresHow Urban People Relate to the LandBeforeIn the city,Empty lots areMonumentsTo scarcity.The soil is crackedAnd scarred,Overgrown with weedsWho offer some kind Of green,But only takes away.NowIn the city,Gentle hands trainedin Gospel abundanceOf the countryAre healing the soil,Kissing its scars,Breaking it openIn new ways for, Greener,Generative kinds.2021-04-151h 13Devices and DesiresFamily CatechesisHow do children relate to faith? What is our culture’s narrative? How does it fall apart? And what does it look like for the gospel to open up from within that secular culture?We interview Danielle Hitchen from Catechesis Books.2021-04-0149 minDevices and DesiresMinistering in a Conservative/Progressive CultureFr. Bryan ministers in a more progressive culture, within the city of Buffalo. Fr. Andrew ministers in a more conservative culture in Texas. How can we learn together how the gospel transcends these cultural forces and speaks the transformation of Jesus to all places?The Reverends interview each other about the various challenges they face in reaching their respective communities, and share some of the ways that they're meeting those challenges with the Gospel.2021-03-251h 10Devices and DesiresSeason 02 TeaserHere is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can expect in Season 02 of Devices and Desires.2021-03-1809 minDevices and DesiresThe Jordan Peterson PhenomenonIn this episode, we talk about Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson. Peterson rose to fame in 2016 with a resistance to progressive academic culture, lectures on the pscyhological significance of biblical stories, and the best-selling book "12 Rules for Life."Why are young people - especially young men - drawn to a scholar like this?We talk with Joseph, an atheist philosophy major who converted to Christianity. Joseph turned toward Christian faith, not in spite of, but because he was drawn more deeply into ideas and truth, and this path included a major influence by Peterson, who is...2020-08-051h 16Devices and DesiresRead the News Like a Christian: Part 02Part 2 of our Episode on the News. We apply the 7 Classic Virtues to being a reader of the news: Prudence, Courage, Temperance, Justice, Faith, Hope, and Love.Also, Andrew wades into a Saudi cultural controversy, and Bryan discusses specific news sources to read or avoid.2020-07-221h 12Devices and DesiresWhat is News? Part 01What news is really worth paying attention to?What's just entertainment, or divisive, or a diversion? How can we use the news to be better Christians, rather than to give into the spirit of the age?This is Part 1 of a two-part series on the News: What is the News?2020-06-261h 01Devices and DesiresIs the Church Essential?Is the Church essential? As churches grapple with government directives about when to open after the COVID-shutdown, we’re confronted with this question. We’re talking about whether the church is really essential: not just in light the COVID-19 pandemic, but also as it pertains to our secular age.2020-06-071h 01Devices and DesiresAnxiety in our Modern AgeWe sit down with Dr. Sam Cloud to discuss Anxiety in this day and age and what the church's response should be.Dr. Cloud is an attending physician at the Erie County Medical Center, where he specializes in emergency medicine. He'll give us insights into how anxiety influences health outcomes, and how faith can impact that.We'll take a look at the big picture about why our culture seems to produce higher anxiety than in the past, and how the church can be a beautiful witness in the midst of that.2020-05-281h 02Devices and DesiresSex and SocietyWhat narratives for sexual relationships are affecting us in the 21st century?How are those narratives failing us?And what does it look like for the gospel to flourish in a sexually broken culture? For singles and for couples?In this episode, we'll take a theological look at how God "made us male and female" so that the church can better live out a life of faith and flourishing.Our main reference point is the book Divine Sex, by Jonathan Grant.2020-05-141h 17
Devices and DesiresWas the Nuclear Family a Mistake?What's wrong with the nuclear family in the 21st century? What role does it play in the church and in the life of discipleship.We're continuing to seek a sacred world in a secular age, and today we're following up on a point made at the end of our last episode on Smartphones. Namely, how have we changed the way intergenerational relationships work over the years? What are we doing wrong that we're not even seeing?We're using a resource that made our heads turn immediately after recording the episode on smartphones:"The...2020-04-271h 08Devices and DesiresSmart Devices and DesiresHow does technology affect the life of faith and discipleship in the 21st century?Specifically, the use of mobile technology (Smartphones, wearable tech) makes our lives and minds a lot different than they were 15 years ago. What does this mean for us theologically? Practically?We'll engage in particular with two resources:1. "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?" by Jean Twenge. The Atlantic, Sep. 2017.2. Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon, by David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock. (2019) This book recaps extensive statistical research by the Barna...2020-04-161h 00Devices and DesiresLet Us Explain...Welcome to Devices & Desires. We're seeking a sacred world in a secular age, and looking deeply into the life of faith in today's culture.We all long for something. As St. Augustine wrote, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." But rather than despair, we see within the cracks of our culture an opportunity for the Gospel to spring forth, bringing new life to the surface. Our hope is that you will track with us on this journey, and, to start out on...2020-04-0251 min
Transforming Lives Together PodcastConversations: Round TableIn light of the current Coronavirus pandemic, I sat down with Fr. Bryan Wandel, Rector of Church of the Atonement, Dn. Matt Traylor, Curate of Church of the Atonement, and Fr. Andrew Thebeau, Curate of St. Bartholomew’s to have a round table discussion about our current state of affairs in the church, and how the church can stay connected and move forward in ministry while adhering to the restrictions, and social distancing practices necessary to help flatten the curve of this COVID19 outbreak.Just a note before get going: This episode may sound a little different fr...2020-03-201h 09
Transforming Lives Together PodcastEpisode 18 - Making the Good Samaritan StrangeWHO IS THE GOOD SAMARITAN?In our Eighteenth episode, we press pause on our study series to hear from Fr. Andrew Thebeau, Curate of St. Bartholomew’s, as he takes us deeper into one Jesus’ most well-known and beloved parables.Throughout His ministry, Jesus liked to utilize parables as a means to teach people about the Kingdom of God and how we are to live for the Kingdom of God. These were stories that, though on the surface dealt with worldly situations, carried a deeper spiritual truth. If you’re familiar with the Gospels, then there...2019-07-1927 min