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

Rest Now!

Season 5, Episode 9 – Vacation and Sabbath

Guest hosts – Marilyn, Anthony F., Anthony J., Beth, and Jeremiah Malone – all related to Jonathan and still willing to take part in this podcast.

Here is the breakdown:

Anthony F. – Jonathan’s dad; a pediatrician and grandfather

Marilyn – Jonathan’s mom; former camp director, former physical therapist, current grandmother and daughter

Beth – Jonathan’s sister; child therapist (play therapy); mother and aunt

Anthony J. – Jonathan’s son; violinist; teenager; youtube at those_wierd_kids

Jeremiah – Jonathan’s son; tuba player; smart aleck

Some of them are members of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Albany, NY

The last of the summer episodes – we will get back to the breakneck speed of recording and posting soon.

From the pastoral, rolling hills and bucolic golfing grounds of Massanutten, VA Jonathan has pulled in his family members to speak about the notion of Sabbath. It figures that even while he is supposed to be on vacation Jonathan still has to do some kind of work-related thing.

First, Sabbath is different then just getting a day off. It is finding that time to reconnect, recharge, and perhaps most importantly finding balance or harmony with one’s relationships. These relationships include those with the family, those with creation, those with the community, that with the self, and that with God. When it is put that way it seems kinda important, doesn’t it?

Part of Sabbath is going to church. Not just because your mother will yell at you if you don’t go to church, but there is something important about being with other people who ascribe and celebrate a similar faith and hold to similar values. Jonathan offered the notion (from Walter Breuggemann) that Sabbath can be an act of protest in the face of a society that is constantly moving from one thing to the next. It is saying that being busy is not always important and does not necessarily increase one’s value as a person.

If nothing else, it is important to step out of the regular rhythms of the week, be intentional about relationships, and take a break. After all, you deserve it!

Rialage –

Watch out all of you golfers because Jonathan is not happy with you. Something about not letting him run on the courses because it isn’t safe. Now if it were disc golf that would be a whole other story.

Marilyn is angry about the behemoth car seats and how much time and energy they take to move from one vehicle to another. It would be better to just have the kid rest on your legs, right?

Jeremiah is angry about the stupid, seemingly arbitrary rules that adults dictate from on high telling kids what they can and cannot do. Stupid rules!

Anthony F. is angry about kids (and adults) not wearing bicycle helmets. Seriously, wear the darn helmet.

Anthony J. realizes that adults just don’t understand especially when it comes to eating.

Scripture-

Micah 6:8

It is a fun one that has a high bar!

Watcha’ Into

Marilyn is into taking a challenge – specifically the rope course/zip line

Anthony J. is into swimming. For some reason when he is holding his breath he can think better.

Beth is kinda into Orange Is The New Black but even more is into playing Ultimate (Frisbee).

Anthony F. is into photography, but even more into not taking pictures and being in the moment without a camera at his side (he is also into experiences of withdrawal)

Jonathan is into Parker Palmer’s book Let Your Life Speak – good read on vocation and living

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

Holy Spirit Batman!

Season 5, Episode 8 – Don’t Hold Me Back

Guest hosts – Elisai Echevarria, member of Calvary BaptistChurch of New Haven, CT and Rev. Felipe Candelaria, pastor with the Inglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico

We are in summer mode which is why there was a long break between episodes. Isn’t it nice to have time to listen to previous episodes?

Jonathan is still in Wisconsin (or at least he was when this episode was recorded) and he thought that it might be neat to record another episode. He didn’t plan it, he didn’t prepare, but just decided to go ahead and do it. On top of that he thought it might be fun to have two guests instead of one for this episode. What got into Jonathan’s head?

Well, based on the conversation one could say that it is the working and movement of the Holy Spirit. If you are going to talk about the Holy Spirit, then what better than to have folks from the Hispanic community to be a part of the conversation? We are not saying that white folks are not aware of the presence and movement of the Spirit, but that they just seem to be a little more quiet and calm and sleepy when engaging with the Holy Spirit. Our brothers and sisters in the Hispanic community, on the other hand, seem that have a heightened sensitivity towards the presence of the Holy Spirit and continue to call for Mas y mas!

The conversation touches on the two scriptures that speak about the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:1-10) but then quickly moves to abuses of power. It seems that some folks like to claim that the Holy Spirit is moving them to ask for more money, more power, and more fancy cars. This is not good.

On the other hand, some folks – like many white folks - like to keep the Spirit quite, controlled, and in line. This is also not good. We need to be open to the presence and the movement of the Spirit, to not restrict the presence of the Spirit, and always be aware of those who through various means use claims of the presence of the Spirit to grab power.

Rialage –

Jonathan has issues with nuts. Specifically the nuts who think it is ok to carry any gun you want wherever you want. I guess these are the open carry gun nuts. It just isn’t safe for everyone else. Put your guns away. Carry bread and roses instead. Jonathan is pro open carry of bread and roses.

Felipe has issues with the Apostolic movement as it has been occurring within the Hispanic community. This might be a website about them.

Eli is angry at the Prosperity Gospel. It is just weak and dangerous theology!

Scripture-

Genesis 25:29-34

Watcha’ Into

Felipe is reading a biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer (maybe this one by Eric Metaxas) – a righteous individual if there ever was one!

Eli is reading Radical by David Platt and enjoys working with young people in his church.

Jonathan is just hanging out with his friends. What a lazy slob!

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 – Sabbath with the Malone Family (or some of them)!