Back in episode 63 of Seminary Dropout I talked with Arleen Spenceley about her book Chastity is for Lovers.
Today Arleen had me on her blog for a quick interview about chastity and marriage.
Check it out here!
Back in episode 63 of Seminary Dropout I talked with Arleen Spenceley about her book Chastity is for Lovers.
Today Arleen had me on her blog for a quick interview about chastity and marriage.
Check it out here!
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Scott Sauls serves as senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Scott’s planted churches, lived in the big city (NYC), and speaks at church conferences and retreats.
In his first book Jesus Outside the Lines, Scott dissects the issues that keep us apart and points out that Jesus almost never fits within the lines of either side the culture wars. He cuts through the caricatures we often use to dehumanize each other and shows how each side of many issues has some valid concerns but ultimately each tend to neglect some part of the Gospel message.
Some things we talk about on the show…
…the concept of “outrage porn”.
…the role of social media in our divisions.
…loving people and extending kindness to those with whom you disagree.
…Scotts story of a fellow pastor he worked alongside and agreed on almost nothing.
…Jesus’s strong words for the Pharisees.
Sponsorship
If you’re interested in advertising your non-profit, conference, or other endeavor send me an email at shane[at]shaneblackshear.com
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 44: Preston Sprinkle, Author of Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence
Seminary Dropout 61: Carl Medearis on Israel, Isis and Tea with Hezbollah
Troy McLaughlin, is the founder of Project Pastor, and has a podcast by the same name. He asked me onto the show and I had a great time talking with him about ministry and life.
You can hear the interview here on the Project Pastor website.
If you heard my interview with Austin Channing Brown in episode 66 of Seminary Dropout you might remember me referencing a piece she wrote on her blog called ‘Black Bodies White Souls‘. It’s an important read and you really need to read it in it’s entirety, but what I specifically referenced in the interview were these portions:
“I’m not giving white, Christian adults anymore easy answers. If you want to know what to do, my answer is this: risk death. …Risk the death of your dream home and “safe” neighborhoods. …Risk the death of your comfort in majority, dominant spaces. …Risk the death of your social and professional circles. Risk what we risk just trying to live.
…Choose a new neighborhood where your fate is intimately tied to the fate of people of color.
My question to Austin was -How do we give up that dream home, “safe” neighborhood, comfort in majority, dominant spaces, and social & professional circles, without simply gentrifying the places where we wind up?
This has become a very important question for me personally since moving to one such neighborhood a few years ago. I have good intentions but I know that if I’m not purposeful in the way that I live in this place I’m as likely to be blinded by my privelege, pride, and any other sin as anyone else.
Austin answered my question well, and you should listen to that episode to hear it, but the medium of podcasting only gave us so much time. Part of Austin’s answer was a friend of hers, Krista, who has done this very thing, and done it well.
Then a few weeks ago I received an email from none other than Krista herself. She heard the interview and was kind enough to write down some things that she’s learned herself. The list was so helpful and profound that I asked her if I could share it here. She agreed.
It’s important to note that these are really things that would make anyone a good neighbor in any context.
1. I don’t pretend to care. Let me explain: I think earlier in my life, I would have dialed up the extrovert in me and gone overboard in getting to know my neighbors. Now, my neighbors are a priority but there are days that I say hi and go on into my house. I used to tell my students “read the mood of the train and follow suit – if everyone is reading a book, don’t sing to your ipod. If everyone is singing to their ipod, don’t read a book.” I think I do that with my neighbors.
2. I wish you could meet my neighbor Rita. She knows everyone, and invites people to be good neighbors by asking me too. Not long after we moved here, Rita (my next door neighbor) asked that while her water was worked on she could take a shower at our house. We said yes. But I remember thinking that it probably took lots of guts to ask. She then needed to stay over a few nights due to a house work. This sounds like she was mooching, but it didn’t feel like that at all. Rita is a part of who our family is now. The interesting thing I have learned is that you find ways that others want to be neighbored. Think of it like love languages for neighbors. Rita figured out pretty quickly that the way to be a neighbor to us was helping us clean – seriously the best gift to offer us! Its random, and completely unexpected when she does, but whenever she does I could just kiss her feet! She hates to cook, and I love to cook, so she eats about three times a week with us. None of us would have happened if we hadn’t said yes to that first weird request. Neighboring is like improv, say yes and…
3. Kids make this easier. Since my husband stays home with our son full time, they know everyone in a three block radius – seriously. In fact, the amount of people that say “Hi Ben” on the blocks surrounding our house that I don’t know (when its me and Ben) is pretty crazy – but its a great way for me to meet people. I don’t say this so that everyone has kids – but Jim could chose to stay in our fenced in back yard and not know people – but they (and we) go to the local parks, the school playground up the street, etc.
4. My mom taught me from an early age to be hyper local in my interests without saying the world beyond is bad. Therefore, I am on a lot of lists in the community – we get the neighborhood newspaper but not the Chicago Tribune, any business or non-profit within a 12 block range I am on email or facebook with, there are several community activists that I follow on twitter etc. So I know my block well, but I also keep tabs on what folks are working on in terms of systemic injustice – I try to attend any events that my block feels strongly about and having a wide community support matters – because frankly it matters to my family and to those on my block. I think having kids makes me think about the neighborhood being ours more in this way as well – my kids are being raised here – I want good schools for my block and neighborhood. I want to have police act differently because I value having people hanging out on my block to be a village to my kids. If we are scared to do so, the village ends in someways for my kids.
5. When we moved in, I took down the “We Call the Police” sign intentionally. If the block decided that a neighborhood watch should go into effect, and we had a community sign – then yes, I would do it. But on my own, no way. I think I realized that I had become a west sider when I saw the police I was scared, my neighbor’s stories and at this point my own family’s interaction with the police hasn’t been good.
6. My neighbors are important and my block is important, but I don’t have to share that with tons of people. I am not doing this to prove anything. Its just life, and yes, its the life I chose in different ways than my neighbors – but I really like that I am raising my child here, that my neighbors know that I love fruit and bring any extra over for me, that one neighbor comes over when she had an American comfort food and she says “Can you make it for me?” (I have learned how to make several classic comfort dishes thanks to these requests), that two tweens come regularly to my house to hang out playing with my 2 year old and then need to run back up the block every hour or so to report that they are still at Jim and Krista’s house, that my son has three older boys to run around with that think its cool to have a shadow, and that Ben is learning three languages just by hanging out with people from our block.
Krista Dutt tries to be a good neighbor on the west side of Chicago. She enjoys cooking, exploring Chicago, and playground dates with her son, Benjamin and husband, Jim. Krista coordinates Mennonite Central Committee’s work in Chicago with Anabaptist churches. Have a conversation with her at @kristadd.
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Since growing up in the trauma of poverty, violence, and the inner-city landscapes void of opportunity, Romal Tune has triumphed to the heights of a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Howard University and Duke University School of Divinity, an ordained minister, and the author of an Award-Winning Book entitled, “God’s Graffiti”. Romal not only asks the question of WHY for many of the broken systems and structures in our world- education, poverty, community engagement, and more– he is also answering the HOW question, empowering others to create solutions and responses, currently in four continents around the world.
In “God’s Graffiti” Romal uses people in the Bible to tell his own story and reveal how he overcame adversity and setback along the way.
If you’ve followed Seminary Dropout for a long time then you probably already know who Tony Kriz is. Tony teaches in colleges and universities around the country on topics of authentic faith, spiritual formation, cultural integration, cross-spiritual communication, and sacred friendship.
Tony’s new book “Aloof” deals with an issue that all Christians face but few talk about, the fact that God often seems distant and silent. Tony uses his own stories to explore what it means to follow a God who at times feels aloof.
Sponsorship
Seminary Dropout has ended it’s run with it’s previous sponsor and is now available for new sponsors. If you’re interested in advertising your non-profit, conference, or other endeavor send me an email at shane[at]shaneblackshear.com
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 022: Philip Yancey
Seminary Dropout 71: Natasha Sistrunk Robinson on Jesus, Leadership, and Race
After you listen to my interview with Dave Wilkie on Seminary Dropout, enter to win his new collection -A Second Shot of Coffee with Jesus. You get 5 entries for each task you complete below.
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If you’ve been apart of Christian culture for long enough you’ve probably suffered the indignity of a ‘christian comic strip’; heavy-handed, ham-fisted, and most of all not funny. Dave Wilkie the creator of Coffee With Jesus is here to help. The comic manages to juggle cultural critique, poignancy, and oh yeah, it’s super funny.
You can find new strips weekly on Radio Babylon’s Facebook Page.
A Second Shot of Coffee with Jesus, a paperback collection of the strips, was also just released in paperback form. Enter here to win a copy!
Things discussed on the show…
Sponsorship
Seminary Dropout has ended it’s run with it’s previous sponsor and is now available for new sponsors. If you’re interested in advertising your non-profit, conference, or other endeavor send me an email at shane[at]shaneblackshear.com
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 43: David Leo Schultz, Director & Producer of ‘Ragamuffin’
Seminary Dropout 51: Michael Gungor Talks Creation, Music, & Art
Calling all Baby-Boomers, Gen X’ers, and Mellenials who grew up in the Christian bubble. It’s time take a little walk down memory lane.
4. Davey & Goliath
This was way before my time. This was way before most of our times. The first D&G episode was created in 1960. Produced and financed by the United Lutheran Church in America, D&G became a cultural force. Three million people watched D&G at it’s height.
D&G episodes dealt with important life lessons and even helped explain theology in a way that was relatable to children. The show holds up surprisingly well even for being off the air since 1975. The show also featured black characters, which is something that even shows today often fail to do.
The production value was as good as it got in its time, and even now looking back, the claymation is truly beautiful.
3. Gerbert
I’m pretty sure Gerbert played on The Family Channel on Sunday mornings as the Blackshear family was getting ready for church. Gerbert was the product a guy named Andy Holmes who used the puppet to entertain kids in the hospital in Abilene, TX.
Gerbert the show had relatively high production value, especially for its time. The show couldn’t help itself and often included musical interludes lead by actors that most likely were church members who had nothing better to do after church one Sunday but put on an ill-fitting costume and memorize a few lines. Nevertheless Gerbert communicated concepts of Christian morality without being too preachy and with relatively little camp.
2. McGee and Me
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s a Christian bookstore was magical alternative world. They had T-shirts like any store at the mall but these took the logos of the mall T-shirts and christianized them. Golds Gym became Lords Gym (It took me a really long time to understand what that shirt was parodying and who can blame me, it doesn’t even rhyme), Coca-Cola became Jesus Christ (in Coca-Cola font), and so on and so forth. There was music too, music of every genre that the secular music store had, and many times with very similar cover art, but this was ‘christian’ music.
Then there was the VHS section. It was probably 1/20th the size of a video stores selection, and let me tell you, it got weird. Budgets were low, writing was bad, and puppets abounded. It’s amazing that amongst the riffraff we all stumbled into McGee and Me.
I dare say that McGee and Me could stand toe to toe with any childrens television programing of its time. It was well written, mostly well acted, and the opening credits featured a Goldberg machine that was (ostensibly) created by the main character who was wicked smart and an amazing artist. I was neither of those things but I liked the idea of being those things so suffice it to say that 7-year-old me was definitely on board.
M&M featured animation on top of live acting which in retrospect was probably a respectable technological feat in 1989.
1. VeggieTales
How did this get made? I mean seriously. How did it get funded? How did someone have the vision to bring christian programing not only up to date, but in many ways lead the way for secular programming?! Veggie Tales debuted in 1993. That’s right 1993! Remember Toy Story was released in 1995! Computer animation was still in its infancy at this time. VT must have cost a fortune back then and had some very intelligent, and visionary people behind it (which reminds me, Phil Vischer, please come on Seminary Dropout).
I think VT was the first christian programing that’s almost as fun to watch as an adult as it is for a child. Pop culture references and clever puns abound. You’re kid won’t catch them, but you will.
VT was so good that secular programming wanted them. VT was on NBC at one point with the overtly religious content edited out, and now a reiteration of Veggie Tales (Veggie Tales in the House), runs on Netflix.
Before Bob & Larry plush toys became ubiquitous and VT took over your dvd collection, VT was a clever and fun show with the highest production quality around.
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On Pete’s website it says that he is a “provocative writer, philosopher, storyteller and public speaker” , and it’s true he is provocative, in fact his words can make some of us in the church squirm a bit, but you don’t have to agree with Pete to find his thoughts and ideas insightful.
Rollins new book ‘The Divine Magician’ is about reimagining the message of Christianity. Using the illustration of the steps involved in a magic trick; the pledge, the turn, and the prestige, Rollins proposes that the Eucharist might include some of the same elements.
Some things we discuss on this episode:
How Pete’s upbringing has affected the type of theology & philosophy he’s come to practice today.
Remember our beloved sponsor for this episode is Deidox Films. If you like the podcast and want to support it then please check out Deidox and tell your pastor, worship leader or whoever organizes your worship gatherings about it. This week I recommend the short film James.
Deidox produces beautiful, high quality, short documentaries about the real lives of Christians.
Deidox Films is a 501(c)3 film production and distribution company. They are media missionaries. Their mission is to produce and promote documentary films that help the Church reflect Christ and redeem culture.
Their purpose is to partner with Pastors and Church leaders to help make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission. They do this by creating visual models of faith that provide practical examples of modern-day disciples.
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 42: Christian Piatt
Seminary Dropout 24: Danielle Shroyer
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For the last ten years, first at Mars Hill Church and now at Willow Creek Church, Aaron has been trying to invite people into a worship journey that moves beyond singing songs. As Aaron tried to create something “new”, he discovered that many have had this figured out for generations and generations. They call it “The Liturgy”.
And so Aaron has been wrestling with the question: How do we bring the depth and wisdom of the Liturgical tradition into the questions and struggles of today? What can we learn? How can our past shape and launch us into the future? Since the word liturgy means “the work of the people”, how do we best invite our spiritual communities into this work?
On the show we discuss…
Aaron’s faith background and how he discovered beauty in liturgical traditions.
a New Liturgy, a worship experience project that Aaron has put together along with some friends.
The Practice, a liturgical gathering associated with Willow Creek.
Media We Mention:
Remember our beloved sponsor for this episode is Deidox Films. If you like the podcast and want to support it then please check out Deidox and tell your pastor, worship leader or whoever organizes your worship gatherings about it. This week I recommend the short film James.
Deidox produces beautiful, high quality, short documentaries about the real lives of Christians.
Deidox Films is a 501(c)3 film production and distribution company. They are media missionaries. Their mission is to produce and promote documentary films that help the Church reflect Christ and redeem culture.
Their purpose is to partner with Pastors and Church leaders to help make disciples and fulfill the Great Commission. They do this by creating visual models of faith that provide practical examples of modern-day disciples.
If you liked this episode then you might also like…
Seminary Dropout 51: Michael Gungor
Seminary Dropout 60: Shauna Niequist
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