Going Away

I've started a new website for the podcast and for my blog. Blogspot has been great, but it is time to move onto bigger and better things (or so they tell me). Check out the new things at www.twelveenough.com

thanks to my four followers - you guys are great.

Would Jesus Own a Credit Card?

Season 6, Episode 2 –Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money

Guest Host – Rev. Dr. Bill Trench, Senior Pastor of the East Greenwich United Methodist Church – check out his blog at www.thinkfaithfully.blogspot.com

After all of the times Jonathan has mentioned the Methodists in a variety of different ways, it was high time that he had one for an episode. Bill Trench brings his “A” game to discuss economics, faith, and justice.

It is no surprise that Bill likes to bring in the ideas of John Wesley into the conversation. Methodists say they have four sources of authority, but we all know they have five – reason, experience, tradition, scripture, and Wesley. Neither Jonathan nor Bill are anti-capitalism (they are not strongly pro-capitalism either), but they are anti-excess. There is a real problem with the amount that some have in comparison with the amount that others have. It is a problem when some are living in lavish excess and others in the abhorrent squalor. I suppose you could say that they are in favor of sharing the wealth.

Perhaps the summary would be to say that the voice of religion needs to have a place at the cultural table when considering matters of economics. There is something deep-seeded about religions (most of them) that pulls people to consider again and again the least of society and to ask how certain policies and practices are effecting them. So it is economic as well as political, but that is no surprise.

Remember, those who can become Christians do, those who can’t be Christians become pastors, and those who can’t be pastors become seminary professors.

Rialage –

Once again, Jonathan is on a rant about close-minded righteous pastors (and Christians in general) assuming that they are right about everything. Maybe the problem is Jonathan…

Bill jumped on that band-wagon, specifically criticizing a literal/fundamentalist approach to scripture

Scripture-

Mark 14:3-9 – yes, there will be poor always but that doesn’t mean we can ignore them. On the other hand we need to take advantage of those moments when we can enjoy the fullness of the presence of Christ.

Watcha’ Into

Jonathan enjoyed the 2011 HBO documentary Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Bill is digging the William Barclay commentaries and cruising in his Mustang. He is not doing both at the same time (unless it is at a red light?)

Again, thanks for listening. Send your comments and questions to 12ecast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate the show on iTunes.

Next episode part 1 of the Ecumenical Breakthrough of Mary with Jakob Thibault and Douglas Perkins

Jesus Once, Jesus, Twice, Jesus Three Times...

Season 6, Episode 1 –The Many Faces of Jesus

Guest Host – Rev. Phineas Marr, pastor of the First BaptistChurch of Kenosha, WI and Adjunct Professor of Religion at Carthage College

Bible Suite, Movement 3 – The Gospels

Our first ever Skype episode – still working out the kinks, but it is promising. For this episode Jonathan is joined by his old friend and one-time mentor Phin Marr. Jonathan and Phin ponder why it is that we have four different stories of Jesus. Really, shouldn’t one be enough?

Each gospel offers a different perspective of Jesus, a different approach and understanding of who Jesus is and there may be some wisdom to this. You can never know someone fully through just one perspective, so with four we find a greater depth to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Perhaps then you can try to offer a fifth perspective (and we always like a fifth) – which would be yours. Listen to the episode, their pithy summary of the different gospels, and consider what your story of Jesus might be.

Rialage –

Phin is from New Jersey, so he is always anger. However, he is especially angry about people telling lies to convince youth to become Christian. Are we really that desperate to bring people to Christ?

Jonathan is angry about the remake of the Left Behind movie. Wasn’t once enough?

Scripture-

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Free yourself from literal reading!

Watcha’ Into

Phin isn’t really sure what he is into. He certainly isn’t into the pop radio top 10, but recommends that people listen to the Beatles classic, The White Album. He also likes Flash, and Gotham

Jonathan is reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. He has a blog post here.

Again, thanks for listening. Send your comments and questions to 12ecast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate the show on iTunes.

Next episode, a break from the Bible Suite and a look at economic justice

Guest Host – Rev. Dr. Bill Trench

Quiet, I'm Reading and Praying at the Same Time!

Season 5, Episode 12– Fourth Time’s the Charm

Guest Host – Rev. Dr. Linda Forsberg, pastor of FirstLutheran Church in East Greenwich

Bible Suite, Movement 2 – Lectio Divina

It is great to have Linda back! Before you read any further, check out her blog which has lots of good stuff. 

After all of the drama and intensity of the previous episodeit will be good to consider a more thoughtful, contemplative approach to scripture. Linda not only brings a calming presence to the episode but a good, in-depth knowledge of the practice of Lectio Divina. Basically, Lectio Divina is a way of reading scripture that calls the reader to be aware of the ways in which God may be engaging the reader through that reading. The text is read four times:

Lectio – asking God what it is that you need to hear

Meditatio – asking God what it is that you need to learn

Oratio – asking God what it is that you need to do

Contemplatio – surrendering to God

With each reading one is called to listen for the ways in which God is present in that moment. It is a different way of reading the Bible from the standard Protestant approach of extensive word studies, in-depth historical overview, and focusing on other forms of minutia. There is something to be said to taking time to just listen for the way God is speaking through a passage.

Rialage –

Linda is angry about bad theology that can be harmful and damaging – spoiler alert, she is not fond of original sin (but who is?)

Jonathan is ticked at people who are pro-climate change and those who decide to do nothing about it, those lazy people who keep living the same way, who don’t make any sacrifices, and never want to change the way they live. Basically, Jonathan is angry at Jonathan.

Scripture-

Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

A rare, calm moment for Ezekiel when he rails against bad theology… it is no surprise that it is used on this podcast

Watcha’ Into

Linda is into 100 miles of bicycle riding as a way to increase awareness of the “Church Beyond Walls” in Providence, RI

Jonathan is into the Bach Cello Suites. He is into playing them on the bassoon which can be problematic or a shock for many cellists, but what does he care, he is a bassoonist!

Again, thanks for listening. Send your comments and questions to 12ecast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate the show on iTunes.

Next episode, Bible Suite, 3^rd movement – The Four Gospels

Guest Host – Rev. Phineas Marr

Let's Start With the Text

Season 5, Episode 11 – Be Careful What You Read!

Guest Host – show favorite, Rev. Darin R. Collins of Berean Baptist Church in Burrillville, RI

In the first installment/movement of his “Bible Suite” Jonathan is joined by Darin to discuss… the Bible. Let’s start with the simple question, how do you read this thing? Darin throws a wrench in just that question by looking at the story of Noah and the Flood (Genesis 5:32-10:1). He brings up the tricky aspect of God planning on destroying the majority of humanity, offers some hermeneutical acrobatics to get around such a reading, and yet is still unsettled. Part of the difficulty is not just the horrific aspects of scripture (rape, murder, betrayal, hatred, oppression, etc.), but the many times that scripture contradicts itself (such as when Jesus corrects a certain interpretations of scripture… “you have heard it said, but I say unto you” Matthew 5:17-48 as an example). It is a tricky thing to read the Bible.

What Jonathan and Darin do is engage the difficulties and complexities of scripture with some honesty and some confusion. If nothing else they stress the importance of reading scripture in a community. It is very important to read the Bible with a group… maybe a book group. You can have a glass of wine while you read which is Biblical because wine is Biblical.

Jonathan did write a whole blog post about this Bible reading thing - read it here

Anyway, read your Bible, but do it with others because it is not an easy thing to figure out.

Rialage –

Spiritual Obesity! Churches grow quickly (like Joel Osteen’s or Mark Dricsoll’s) on a foundation of weak, thin theology, certainty without questioning, feel-good answers, and basic processed crap. This is leading to a spiritual obesity epidemic in our country where people are not getting the whole-grain, home-grown, organic, and crunchy goodness of the gospel. It isn’t healthy.

Scripture-

2 Timothy 3:14-17

All scripture is “inspired” by God and will make you a better person if you let it.

Watcha’ Into

Darin is smarter than he thinks, reading another John Caputo book: The Insistence of God: A Theologyof Perhaps – good for you, Darin!

Jonathan needs to dumb it down – he is reading The Confessions by Augustine of Hippo

Again, thanks for listening. Send your comments and questions to 12ecast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate the show on iTunes.

We Don't Discuss Religion and Politics

Season 5, Episode 10 – Let’s Get Political!

Guest hosts – Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, Executive Minister of the Rhode Island Council of Churches

He is also a member of Jonathan’s church… not that he is ever there, but still on the rolls and still gets letters from Jonathan’s church asking for money.

Read Jonathan’s comments and thoughts on politics and religion at his blog.

From the halls of First Baptist in East Greenwich, RI, Jonathan and Don discuss all of the concerns, considerations, questions, and approaches to the political and the religious. Don had a simple formula of two “P”s:

Policy over Politics

For religion to hold onto some kind of integrity the religious must keep their eye on policy over politics. There is a reality in which politicians will be thinking about themselves and how to further their own agendas and it is easy to fall into that method of thinking. However, it is important to keep your eye on the policy that you are forwarding (and end to hunger, homelessness, immigrant rights, etc.). So two “P” are important, Policy and Politics… and Power

Ok, three Ps

Policy, Politics, and Power

It is important to realize that we are dealing with institutions and principalities that have power over other’s lives. At the same time it is important to realize that we in the religious arena have power. We have power in numbers, we have power in our commitment to policy. When we give into the political then we lose all power. Power is a very real part of the process. So three Ps – Policy, Politics, and Power… and Pastoral Care

Ok, four Ps

Policy, Politics, Power, and Pastoral Care

We are dealing with and working with people. Some of these people have their own religious story and others do not, but they are all people with their own struggles, worries, and ideals. It is important that in working with people in the political arena that we continue to share and show the love of Christ to all that we encounter. Very different for lobbying organizations.

So four Ps, Policy, Politics, Power, and Pastoral Care… unless we have another episode with Don, then there will probably be many, many more.

Rialage –

Don is pining for the Wittenburg Door – a now defunct brilliant magazine of satire poking fun and speaking truth to all aspects of Christianity (and beyond) that make the normal, rational religious folks cringe. Come back Door! Come back!

Jonathan is foaming at the mouth at someone who claims to be Christian who is advocating a taking of arms (not literal arms, but weapons, guns, etc.) in response to Islam. Stupid, stupid, stupid, completely ignoring the theology of the cross, and not to mention, stupid. If you want to read the post (warning, it is pretty stupid), you can find it here.

Scripture-

Matthew 10:16-19 – if you are going to be politically involved then you really should read this passage; be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, and trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit

Watcha’ Into

Don is enjoying time on his boat in the Narragansett Bay (with a Narragansett Light? He didn’t say)

Jonathan enjoyed reading Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. Read his reflections on the book here.

Again, thanks for listening. Send your comments and questions to 12ecast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate the show on iT