A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast
Welcome to A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast, the podcast where we respond to your questions and comments on issues of faith, social justice and church life. Don't be afraid to write in and ask your question because if it matters to you, it matters to us and it just might be a matter of faith. Whether it be faith in God, faith in others or faith in yourself. We are brought to you by the Office of Faith-Based Investing & Corporate Engagement, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, and Unbound: An Interactive Journal on Christian Social Justice for the Presbyterian Church...
A Queer Lectionary w/ Peter Carlson
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Special Guest:
Peter Carlson, Editor of A Queer Lectionary: (Im)Proper Readings from the Margins - Year A & B; Associate Professor of Religion at California Lutheran University
Question of the Week:
Why (and how) does inclusive biblical interpretation matter even (or especially) for straight/cis Christians?
A Queer Lectionary: (Im)Proper Readings from the Margins - Year B
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Overlooked Words That Illuminate God w/ Varina Buntin Willse
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Special Guest:
Varina Buntin Willse, Author of Beneath and Between: And Other Overlooked Words That Illuminate GodÂ
Question of the Week:
There are a lot of “go to phrases” that we use to describe God. What are some phrases or descriptions that you would say are underused? How can less utilized language and descriptions help expand our understanding of God?
Beneath and Between: And Other Overlooked Words That Illuminate God
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Addiction, Recovery, and The Adult Child w/ Megan DeMatteo
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Special Guest:
Megan DeMatteo, Author of Emotionally Sober and Unimaginably Good:
The Adult Child's Guide to Living a Happy Life
Question of the Week:
We hear about the impacts and challenges of having a parent that struggles with addiction or dysfunctional behavior. In your experience, how did spiritual and emotional growth play a role (or not) in your recovery?
Emotionally Sober and Unimaginably Good: The Adult Child's Guide to Living a Happy Life
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Political Demons and How We Deal With Them w/ Michael Heyes
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Special Guest:
Michael Heyes, Author of Devils of Democracy: America's Love Affair with Political Demons from the Revolution to Today & Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at Lycoming College
Question of the Week:
How do theologies based on fear shape the way Christians understand power, enemies, and democracy? Why are fear and demonization such persuasive and powerful tools in religion and politics?
Devils of Democracy: America's Love Affair with Political Demons from the Revolution to Today
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Why Women Quit Church w/ Sarah Stankorb
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Special Guest:
Sarah Stankorb, Author of Disobedient Women & Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, reporter on the intersection of religion, politics, and gender
Question of the Week:
Why are women leaving the church and Christianity? Beyond simply loss of membership, what is the greater impact and significance of women leaving the Church? Is it possible for progressive faith communities to do the hard work to recognize the harms women have experienced at the hands...
Reclaiming Christian Womanhood beyond Patriarchy w/ Chelsea Kim Long
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Special Guest:
Chelsea Kim Long, Author of Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood beyond Patriarchy; Neighborhood Pastor and Lay Theologian
Question of the Week:
How do patriarchal views of Christianity undermine women and womanhood? How can progressive faith communities help empower women to reimagine their faith and relationship with God?
Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood beyond Patriarchy
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A Matter of...
A Biblical Guide for Our Questions about Gender w/ Will Brown
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Special Guest:
Will Brown, Author of No Longer Male and Female: A Biblical Guide for Our Questions about Gender & Hospital Chaplain
Question of the Week:
How can faith communities invite people who see gender as only “male and female” to have a wider understanding of human experience and what it means to be made in the image of God?
No Longer Male and Female: A Biblical Guide for Our Questions about GenderÂ
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The Openness and Radical Nature of Scripture w/ Rabbi Caryn Broitman
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Special Guest:
Rabbi Caryn Broitman, Author of The Torah is an Open Book: Radical Readings for the Seeker and the Skeptic and rabbi of the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew CenterÂ
Question of the Week:
We’ve talked a lot on the podcast recently about Biblical literalism and Christian nationalism and how the Bible has been used to shame and exclude people. But those conversations have been rooted in a Christian perspective. Drawing from your own Jewish faith and tradition, how would you recommend we interpret and eng...
Blessings and Pilgrimage w/ Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
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Special Guest:
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller, Author of Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life & ELCA Pastor
Question of the Week:
What does it mean to view our everyday lives as pilgrimages? How does that impact the way we understand our lives?
Small Steps:Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life
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Navigating the Intersections of Economics and Faith w/ Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty
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Special Guest:
Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty, J. Roy Davis Family Chair of Theology and History, Director of Doctorate of Ministry Program at Union Presbyterian Seminary; Member of Charlotte Presbytery
Question of the Week:
A major challenge for churches is that they are both religious institutions and also non-profit organizations. How can faith communities navigate the relationship between economics/business and faith and theology to authentically live into our calling as Christians in this context?
Contact Elizabeth: [email protected]
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Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls w/ Chantal Morales McKinney
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Special Guest:
Chantal Morales McKinney, Author of Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls: A Catalyst for Your Spiritual Growth & Episcopal Priest
Question of the Week:
What happens to our faith when our churches or institutions fail? Whether it be because they close or fail to live up to their own values, this can be a devastating event for one’s faith. How can we maintain our faith and also allow it to grow outside of rigid institutional structures?
Chantal's Website
Following Jesus Be...
Spiritual Reflections on the Wonders of the Universe w/ Pamela (Pan) Gales Conrad
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Special Guest:
Pamela Gales Conrad, Author of A Believer's Journey Through the Stars: Spiritual Reflections on the Wonders of the Universe, Astrobiologist, Former NASA Scientist, & Episcopal Priest
Question of the Week:
We often hear that science and faith cannot coexist and are in opposition with each other. How does your experience with astronomy, space exploration and the Mars Rover mission and astrobiology challenge that perception?
A Believer's Journey Through the Stars: Spiritual Reflections on the Wonders of the Universe
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Nerd Faith and Pop Culture w/ Rachel Kessler
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Special Guest:
Rachel Kessler, Author of Nerd Faith: 60 Second Sprints of Spiritual Guidance for the Occasionally Uncool, Episcopal Priest & Chaplain at Kenyon College
Question of the Week:
People often separate pop culture from faith. But how do pop culture and spirituality intersect and how can pop culture actually be an entry point to deeper topics of faith and justice?
Nerd Faith: 60 Second Sprints of Spiritual Guidance for the Occasionally Uncool
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Finding God Everywhere They Told You Not to Look w/ Natalia Terfa
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Special Guest:
Natalia Terfa, Author of It All Counts: Finding God Everywhere They Told You Not to Look; ELCA Pastor, & Host of the Cafeteria Christian Podcast
Question of the Week:
We’ve seen a lot of changes and challenges to the ways we understand what it means to be a person of faith or a church. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic forced communities to embrace new ways of worshipping. What does it mean to embrace new questions and understandings about church or our own faith, es...
Sanctuary for the Soul within the Psalms w/ Marty Folsom
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Special Guest:
Marty Folsom, Author of The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul, Book 1: 1–30
Question of the Week:
Why do ancient prayers like the Psalms still matter in today's world?
The Psalms: A Sanctuary for the Soul, Book 1: 1–30
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War and the Military Industrial Complex w/ Ben Daniel
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Special Guest:
Ben Daniel, Author of Grace Over Guns & Pastor at Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA
Question of the Week:
We often hear about debates between military force ocassionally being justified compared to true, full pacifism. How are we to navigate this debate as Christians?
Grace Over Guns
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The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life w/ Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
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Special Guest:
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Author of Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted Life & Director of Spiritual Formation at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minnesota
Question of the Week:
People often view the Psalms as scriptures for comfort and consolation. But the Psalms are so much more complex. What do we miss by failing to recognize the full experience that the Psalms depict, which include joy but also grief and struggle?
Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Gloriously Disrupted...
The Spirituality of Motherhood and Parenthood w/ Sarah K. Butterfield
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Special Guest:
Sarah K. Butterfield, Author, Podcaster & Ministry Director
Question of the Week:
Life is so busy for parents, and especially for moms and maternal figures. What does it look like to cultivate spiritual practices in the middle of busy “mom life”? How can spouses and partners support moms so they have time for their own spirituality?
Sarah's Instagram
Sarah's website
Connect with God Quiz
Love Like a Mother by Elizabeth Berget
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The Wisdom of Jesus w/ Rick Hamlin
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Special Guest:
Rick Hamlin, Author of Everlasting Jesus: 40 Days of Timeless Wisdom for Modern Living
Question of the Week:
In today’s busy world full of news and noise, it can be a challenge to actually sit down and read scripture. Then when we finally do, we feel compelled to “get through” the reading to get on to the next thing, without actually absorbing any of Jesus’ teachings. How can we intentionally slow down to truly hear Jesus?
Everlasting Jesus: 40 Days of Timeless Wisdom for Modern L...
Reading the Bible with Love w/ Richard Beck
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Special Guest:
Richard Beck, Author of The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible & Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University
Question of the Week:
In a polarized and politicized society, people hold very strongly what they believe is "right" or "the truth" when it comes to understanding and interpreting scripture. How can we read scripture together and have productive conversations about it, while navigating these different understandings and dynamics?
The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read...
Communing with the Ancestors w/ William H. Lamar IV
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Special Guest:
Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Author of Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold UsÂ
Question of the Week:
In a challenging and polarized world, it is easy to focus only on moving forward and not reflect on our own past and history. What do we miss when we forget to acknowledge and understand our ancestors? How does understanding our ancestors impact how see ourselves, especially as Christians?
Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us
Debunking Christian Nationalist Myths w/ Warren Throckmorton
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Special Guest:
Warren Throckmorton, Author of The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History
Question of the Week:
What are the myths that Christian nationalism perpetuates? Who do they empower and how do they misrepresent history and scripture? How can we counter this narrative?
The Christian Past That Wasn't Debunking the Christian Nationalist Myths That Hijack History
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A...
Technology, Culture, God, and Self w/ Aaron Cline Hanbury
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Special Guest: Aaron Cline Hanbury, Author of Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and Self
Question of the Week: As technology advances, our world and our lives become more technology driven. Is this a “good” thing in terms of how we interact with the world, each other, and how we understand God and the divine?
Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and SelfÂ
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What Cinema Teaches us About our Faith w/ Jeffrey Overstreet
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Special Guest: Jeffrey Overstreet, Author of Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema and Through a Screen Darkly and The Auralia Thread series, Professor of Film and Creative Writing at Seattle Pacific University
Question of the Week: We hear that you can experience and find God in the arts. But we also hear how some mediums such as film are more about entertainment or escapism. How can we find God in movies and cinema? How can film help us grow our faith?
Lost & Found in...
How to Live God’s Radical Welcome as a Family w/ Mihee Kim-Kort
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Special Guest: Mihee Kim-Kort, Author of Seeing and Being Jesus in the World: How to Live God’s Radical Welcome as a Family
Question of the Week: It’s hard to be a parent. Our kids and families have so much going on, it is hard to keep track of all the activities. Amidst the busyness, how can parents find the time to engage their children about justice issues in ways that are age appropriate, but also empowering?
Seeing and Being Jesus in the Worl...
What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of Faith w/ Stephanie Spellers
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Special Guest: Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Episcopal Priest in New York City & Author of Church Tomorrow?: What the 'Nones' and 'Dones' Teach Us About the Future of FaithÂ
Question of the Week: We hear a lot about denominational decline and how the "church is dying" because young people are not going to church. But the response often makes it seem like young people are the problem, instead of the church refusing to adapt to new ways of being faith communities. So, why are young people not going to c...
Conversion Therapy...and What We Should Do About It w/ Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez
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Special Guest: Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Author of Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and Belonging
Question of the Week: How can progressive churches counteract the harm being perpetuated by conservative church culture around conversion therapy and disaffirmation of queer Christians?
Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith and BelongingÂ
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Birding as a Spiritual Practice w/ Ragan Sutterfield
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Special Guest: Ragan Sutterfield, Author of Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual Practice
Question of the Week: We’ve heard the phrase “finding God in nature.” What are ways that we can connect with God and grow our spirituality that are unique to bird watching?
Watch and Wonder: Birding as a Spiritual Practice
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An Asian American Experience with American Christianity w/ Kristin T. Lee
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Special Guest: Kristin T. Lee, Author of We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daughter's Reckoning with American Christianity
Question of the Week: Immigrant families may (understandably) focus on “fitting in” with the culture, values, or expectations of the country they move to. But what is lost in the process of trying to fit in and “make it” with the new culture in terms of faith and identity?
We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daughter's Reckoning with American Christianity
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A History of Iran, the US, and Israel w/ John Ghazvinian
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Special Guest: John Ghazvinian, Author, Historian and Former journalist
Question of the Week: Considering the recent attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, so much misunderstanding and misinformation is flooding our news and social media feeds. How are we to understand what exactly is happening and what is the historical context that surrounds this devastating event? And how are people of faith to respond?
America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the Present
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Discernment in the Early Church and Today w/ John Lewis
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Special Guest: John Lewis, Author of Discernment in the Early Church and Today: Reclaiming Paul's Vision for Formation and Community Building
Question of the Week: Today’s world and church seem very polarized. But this is not the first time there have been disagreements, tensions, and distrust in our faith communities. What can we learn from early Christian communities and how they overcame barriers and polarization to become a more unified, cohesive community?
Discernment in the Early Church and Today: Reclaiming Paul's Vision for Formation an...
Three Generations From Slavery to the White House w/ John Wrory Ficklin
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Special Guest: John Wrory Ficklin, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs & Author of An Unusual Path: Three Generations From Slavery to the White House
Question of the Week: Your book chronicles your family’s history which includes slavery as well as serving in the White House across multiple generations in different capacities such as ranging from the White House butler to Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. What role did faith play in your family’s story?
An Unusual Path...
Grief and What to Say w/ Shelby Forsythia
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Shelby Forsythia, Author of Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to Say to Someone Grieving  | What does it mean to really sit alongside someone in grief and mourning? When talking with someone who is grieving, we hear that people worry about saying the “wrong” thing. Others speak too quickly and fall back on language referencing God or the Bible that could actually be more hurtful than helpful. How do we navigate these dynamics to best support each other? | Of Course I’m Here Right Now: Three Actually Helpful Things to...
Ministry with LGBTQIA+ Youth w/ Cody Sanders
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Special Guest: Cody Sanders, Author of A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth, Updated Edition
Question of the Week: How can and should churches be responding to the attack on diversity and transgender rights in the current political context?
A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth, Updated Edition
Cripping Youth Ministry
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The Roots of Horror in Scripture w/ Brandon Grafius
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Special Guest: Brandon Grafius, Academic Dean & Professor of Biblical Studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, and Author of Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture
Question of the Week: We often skip the more horrific and scary parts of the Bible to focus on the “good” and uplifting parts. What do we miss out on by doing this? What do the scarier aspects of scripture have to teach us?
Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture
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Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith w/ Doug Basler
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Special Guest: Doug Basler, Author of All Swirling and Weaving:
Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith
Question of the Week: Christian literature is often focused on academic, intellectual, and non-fiction reading. But how can our faith grow and be challenged through fiction?
All Swirling and Weaving: Reflections on Reading Fiction and Growing in Faith
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Sacred Curiosity w/ Britney Winn Lee
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Special Guest: Britney Winn Lee, Author of Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward Wholeness
Question of the Week: Today’s society is very busy and also very polarized. How do we maintain spiritual and intellectual curiosity in dark times or amidst busy schedules?
Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward WholenessÂ
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How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities w/ Andy Hale
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Special Guest: Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale, Author of Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities
Question of the Week: How can churches and faith communities healthily navigate conflict and tension in this time of polarization? Further, why does conflict in our churches feel so much more personal than conflicts with other members of our communities?
Mending the Fracturing Church: How to Navigate Conflict and Build Trust for Thriving Communities
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Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken World w/ Betsy Shirley
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Special Guest: Betsy Shirley, Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners. Sojourners is publishing Light for the Way: Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken World
Question of the Week: What does it mean to be spiritually resilient when facing major issues in today’s world, such as division, climate change, and Christian nationalism? How do we become resilient and also share that with others?
Light for the Way: Seeking Simplicity, Connection, and Repair in a Broken World
Sojourners
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The Desert Elders w/ Lisa ColĂłn DeLay
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Special Guest: Lisa ColĂłn DeLay, Author of The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today
Question of the Week: Ancient Christians lived and journeyed through deserts, a context that many Christians today do not have. How did the desert inform ancient Christians understanding of faith and God and how can their perspective help us today?
The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today
Spark My Muse Podcast
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