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.
12enough
A blog connected with the podcast 12enough - a podcast about Christian faith and culture.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Would Jesus Own a Credit Card?
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
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Jesus Once, Jesus, Twice, Jesus Three Times...
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
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Quiet, I'm Reading and Praying at the Same Time!
Guest Host – Rev. Dr. Linda Forsberg, pastor of FirstLutheran Church in East Greenwich
Bible Suite, Movement
2 – Lectio Divina
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, 3rd movement – The
Four Gospels
Guest Host – Rev. Phineas Marr
Monday, October 6, 2014
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
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.
Friday, September 26, 2014
We Don't Discuss Religion and Politics
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.
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.
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