Brian McLaren talks about his new book, 'Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart'. He and Joe discuss how denial is exhausting, why our enemies are not people, but systems and how we all need to exercise our power to show up. 'Once you discover the God of love you fire all your other gods'. Also, remember, humans are a mess, but the birds are awesome. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Nick Page:...

This week we discuss the relationship between human skills and endeavour and the work of God. Or as Nick put it, 'Why does God get all the praise when I did all the work?' Does the fact that we live in a God-filled universe mean that the Divine should get all the credit? Or, by dismissing humanity's input are we actually devaluing the fact we are made in the image of God? And if that sounds too deep, there's a lot of custard. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email...

There's a lot about depth this week. We talk about dusting off the Bible and reading more deeply, and how the mid-faith crisis can be accompanied by different emotions, including the desire to go deeper. Oh, and Nick has been down a well. As if that wasn't deep enough we discuss our target demographic, Joe's bulging portfolio and the way in which so much of the church has taken Jesus' teaching on leadership and done the complete opposite. Warning: contains anger, bewilderment, grief and...

We thought it was time to revisit the stages of faith – which is really what this podcast is all about. Joe takes us through his understanding of the six stages, but as well as exploring the crisis itself, we also look at the signs which tell us that we might be emerging into a newer, deeper faith. Also, Joe has a theme and Nick might still be recovering. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Let There Be...

It’s our new year themes episode. Joe’s had a bad week so is behind with his homework. Nick has broken his Lenten fast from anger in a spectacularly ill-judged way. And we have thoughts about beetroot. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly – The Conversation Barbie Ostara and the Hare: Not Ancient, but Not As Modern As Some Skeptics Think Beetroot The State of the Culture, 2024 Liquid...

It's Easter! And we reflect on what Easter means for us this year and how we can see our own faith journeys patterned in the events of Holy Week. Meanwhile, Nick is impressed by Hot Cross bun technology and Joe has discovered the word 'heuristic'. Happy Easter everyone. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Flaming June Sideways: Brain Strain Heuristic

As the song goes, 'Praise him on the trumpet, the psaltery and harp!' But why? In another of our excitingly named Moderately Interesting Questions, we explore the nature of praise. Does God demand it? How do we approach it? And what the heck is a psaltery anyway? We talk about praise as gratitude and heightened appreciation, how it needs to be based on intellectual content, and why attempts to do mood-altering worship never really work. Yes, it's worship on the dancefloor, so you'd better not...

We delve into the feedback this week, especially various reflections on the What is the Point of Joe?' episode. Also we talk about being the person that God imagined, how we over-value and over-share achievements, the role of regret, and whether the true sign of Christlikeness is getting 40% off at Mountain Warehouse. And we have some brilliant historical research on church crockery and a lot of stuff about gemstones, most notably, beryl. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through...

Joe talks to Jo about the menopause. And perimenopause. And post-menopause. What is it and why does it matter? And why don't we talk about it more? You will learn a lot. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly: A Conversation for Church Leaders Limes Nick's microblog Courage Coaching What the fog? Facebook group

Joe is having an existential crisis and, worryingly, is asking Nick to help. So we discuss meaning and purpose. What are we here for? What is our calling? Is there a purpose to our lives or are we just fooling ourselves? Is it true that everyone on earth is a pun? Does Joe's purpose involve cheese? Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Wensleydale cheese Intercourse, Pennsylvania

We discuss Lent, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. We reflect on the purpose of fasting, the way that Lent creates contours in the year, and the cheery fact that we are all going to die. From dust we are made and to dust we shall return. But what kind of dust? That's the question. Also in the new, fabulous 'Thankful for Food' feature, Nick, inexplicably forgets to mention pancakes. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this...

Last week we talked about lots of different kinds of church. This week we're thinking about the purpose. What, actually, is the point of church? What are we supposed to do? And has this whole thing just been market research so that Joe can start a cult? Warning: there's a lot of food in this episode, none of it healthy. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Staying Defiantly: A Conversation for Church Leaders Black...

Last week we asked what people would like to see in a church. Turns out a lot of people have an opinion. A lot. We talk about the need for safe places, shared values, and how to balance evangelical roughage with full-fat, dairy liturgy. Most of all, though, it's a feast of feedback. Common themes include food, honesty, trust, food, the need for a safe place, music, no music, inclusivity, more food, silence, listening and, er, food. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your...

Welcome to our first ever publicly broadcast planning meeting. And just to get us started, Nick has a few of what he is calling 'Mid-faith Crisis Moderately Interesting Questions'. Snappy. Before that, we talk about haggis, ghosts, whether it's wrong to get angry and the idea of church as a place to share stories. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Haggis Burns Night Ghosts

We're back! And we talk about what life has been like in the past week or so. We discuss how we can support one another in grief and mourning, how our faith affects our approach to these times and how, even though we can say goodbye with hope, pain and loss are always real. Meanwhile, Nick is enjoying the improvements in oven chips technology and we discuss whether Baptist church meetings would prepare you for Traitors. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email...

Happy Not-the-actual New Year! We start this year with an interview with Paul McGee, aka The SUMO Guy. Among other things, Paul talks about his faith journey, about the importance of hippo time and how it's better to have a 'to be' list than a 'to do' list. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Mr Bates vs The Post Office Paul McGee - The SUMO Guy

Joe is back from Mexico and Nick has got out of bed. We think briefly about our highlights of the podcasting year, before going on to talk about different kinds of fear, and whether we are actually more insignificant even than worms. Thanks to you all for your support this year. See you in 2024! Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine

Joe is in Mexico where, assisted by Harvey the dog and an un-named cat we reflect briefly on the importance of knowing that, wherever we are, Jesus is with us. Also, we pay a visit to Nether Hell and wonder why humans can't hibernate. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Herod's Secret Policeman Murder on the Orient Express Death on the Nile Colour Revolution:Victorian Art, Fashion & Design Viaticum

After a brief bout of illness, we're back. As well as catching up with each other, we talk about leaving and returning, and ponder on whether everything is the incarnation. Also, Nick has written a new Christmas story and we talk way too much about our Ebenezers. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Herod's Secret Policeman Advent 2023: In the Midst! Crown Him with Many Crowns Come Thou Fount of Every...

Nick has been to a leadership summit and the results are mixed, to say the least. We talk about how to build an environment which might encourage contact with God. And Joe talks to friend of the show Brian Draper about his new advent series. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Episode 74: Effing the Ineffable Atomic Habits Nick Page, 7 ways to stop sinning Dallas Willard "Your system is perfectly designed to...

This week we have an interview with poet Harry Baker. As well as performing some of his poetry, he talks about faith and prayer, and about how creativity is, inherently, a worshipful act. As he says, 'If I didn’t write poetry about dinosaurs then who would?' Christmas, Tradition, Truth and Total Bauble - talk by Nick Page at Southwark Cathedral Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Harry Baker: Website 'A Love Poem...

We reflect on the interview with Olivia Jackson, and explore the need for us to have more confidence, and the way in which so many Christian organisations get built around their star names. Also, Nick is having strange feelings about model railways and we have a rebuke from a listener. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: John Wright, The Observant Walker The Beatles - Now And Then (Official Music Video) Mud - Tiger...

This week we have a fascinating interview with Olivia Jackson, author of (Un)certain. Described as 'A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith' it's a fascinating insight into the experiences of people going through spiritual change. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned in this episode: Alfred the Great Jackson Pollock Kardomah Olivia Jackson - (Un)certain

In this episode, we talk about the pain of the mid-faith crisis, and the difficulty of dealing with the loss of what you used to believe. We used to be anointed, but now we're un-nointed. So, how does that affect us mentally and physically? If we are in the ministry, what happens about our job? We discuss the importance of change, writing a eulogy for our old beliefs, and whether we need doctrinal viagra. Support the podcast Contact the podcast through your email machine Mentioned...