The Eternal Current with Aaron Niequist

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 29: THE ETERNAL CURRENT WITH AARON NIEQUIST

What if the faith isn’t simply believing things about God, but practicing the way of God? 

What if faith isn’t knowing things about the Divine, but experiencing the Divine all around you? 

That’s what Aaron Niequist and I talk about in this episode. 

Aaron is a liturgist, writer, and pastor. He’s worked as a worship leader at Willow Creek Church and Mars Hill Bible Church. He’s also the creator of A New Liturgy, which is a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings as well as The Practice, which is a formational ecumencial practiced-based community at Willow.

He’s the author of the book The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning and host of the Eternal Current Podcast.

I think wherever you find yourself on the spiritual journey, you’ll connect with much of what Aaron speaks about in this interview.

Aaron reminds us that faith isn’t something we have to believe; it’s not simply a bunch of doctrines we have to believe is right or true. Instead, it is learning the ways of the Divine; ways that we can experience God all around; ways that allow us to enter into the flow, or eternal current, that is happening everywhere.

To learn more about Aaron, be sure to visit his website. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

As you experience a practice-based faith and learn to swim in the eternal current of the Divine, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

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Digital Dimensions of the Divine with Rev. Jim Keat

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 28: DIGITAL DIMENSIONS OF THE DIVINE WITH REV. JIM KEAT

Rev. Jim Keat is a Digital Minister. He currently serves at The Riverside Church in NYC and with Convergence Network.

In my opinion, Jim is a Creative Theologian. One who is exploring the expansiveness of the Divine and the depths of the spiritual life through the digital.

Through his work, Jim is leading all of us into a deeper reality and truth. We talk about being a digital minister, the freeing faith journey, we get a bit heretical, and talk about how breathing and running can center ourselves upon the Divine. 

Jim and I have been connected through Twitter for years. How we got connected, I don’t remember, but since then exchanged tweets, threads, and retweets. It was so great to finally connect with him in a different digital medium.

Jim has a plethora of videos, podcasts, media projects, and content that explore the spiritual life. For years, his work has impacted me and I hope as you explore his creations, they will impact you as well.

His newest project is called Free and Simple, which chronicles his journey living in an airstream with his wife.

Other known projects Jim created include, Be Still and Go, The Word Made Fresh, Thirty Seconds or Less, and many more. You can learn more about all his media projects, videos, podcasts, and content on his website: jimkeat.com. Be sure to follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at the handle, @IdeasDoneDaily.

As you continue to breathe and run, seeking the Divine through digital dimensions, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

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Truth Bombs and Cheese with David Rice

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 27: TRUTH BOMBS AND CHEESE WITH DAVID RICE

Truth bombs and cheese.

This has been the theme of so many of my conversations with David Rice. David is one of those guys who, when he speaks, you listen.

Over the few years that I have known David, he has spoken so many truths that I needed to hear. He may not even know the impact that his words, encouragement, and truth bombs have had on my life and soul.

For years, I have kept a journal where I catalog thoughts, quotations, and ideas I want to remember. I have multiple quotes from David in this journal. Under one quote in the journal I had written: “Another truth bomb from David.”

In this episode of the podcast, David and I talk about spiritual formation, church, and...cheese.

Yep, cheese; my guess is you didn’t expect that one.

David is a pastor, practical theologian, former cheesemonger, chef, gardener, father, husband, and a vessel for truth bombs. You can learn more about David via his website  and you can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

As you continue on this journey of spiritual formation within a church and as you wake up to the reality of God in your life, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

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Spiritual Wandering with Traci Rhoades

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 26: SPIRITUAL WANDERING WITH TRACI RHOADES

In a time when so many Christians debate and argue, fight and exclude, Traci Rhoades is a loving voice of unity encouraging each of us to deeply love the Church instead of divide over our beliefs about the church.

In this episode of the podcast, Traci shares how she, as a small-town southern baptist, discovered and fell in love with liturgy, prayer beads, silence, the book of common prayer, and the broad church experiences of other traditions. She moved from not simply loving her particular faith tradition and church experience, but loving the Great Tradition, the historic church experience.

What I enjoyed about this conversation is that Traci and I share the belief that the church, as flawed and messed up as she is, continues to be a way for us to encounter and experience the Divine.

In all her wonders, the church has a way, a mystical and mysterious way, of drawing us nearer to the Divine. 

When we move away from arguing that our tradition is right while others traditions are wrong we can actually find the church to be a beautiful diamond; a treasure that we can cherish.

Traci just released a book called, Not All Who (Spiritually) Wander Are Lost. If you’re like me, a bit of a church mutt, not sure where you land or what church is your style, this might be a great resource for you. 

If you want more information on Traci, you can check out her website and blog. Also, be sure to connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.

As you spiritually wander, trying to find hope in the Church and discover the Divine, may you have peace, may you have calm, and may you have happiness.

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Reconnect with Ed Cyzewski

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 25: RECONNECT WITH ED CYZEWSKI

Is it possible to be less anxious?

Can social media be a tool we use rather than a tool that uses us?

How can prayer calm our minds and help us discover the Love of the Divine?

These are just some of the topics I address in this episode with Ed Cysewski.

Ed is a writer, editor, and author of multiple books. He blogs a lot on prayer and writing. 

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Two of his books we talk about in this episode are: Flee, Be Silent, Pray: Ancient Prayers for Anxious Christians and Reconnect: Spiritual Restoration from Digital Distraction. Both of these are great resources for those individuals who grew up in an evangelical world, are searching for spiritual practices that can enable them to encounter God, and for practical advice on how to disconnect from the distractions of our digital devices and discover spiritual renewal.

You can follow Ed on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to Ed’s newsletter to receive free content. If you like this episode, be sure to SHARE it and REVIEW it on Apple Podcasts.

As you seek to reconnect with the Divine by protecting your time, maintaining one-on-one interactions, and finding silence in your day….may you have peace, may you have calm, may you have happiness. 

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The Shift with Colby Martin

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 24: THE SHIFT WITH COLBY MARTIN

What if faith is a dynamic evolving rather than a static arriving?

Well, it is.

And, Colby Martin shares with us just what this means and how we can SHIFT from a conservative understanding of Christianity to a progressive one and still find union with God and others. 

That has been my journey. I grew up in a conservative home, attended conservative churches and youth groups, and thought faith was about having the right answers, knowing the proper doctrine, and sharing the correct truth to others. It was a static arriving, to say the least.

Yet, what I have discovered, and found to be incredibly freeing, is a faith that is dynamic evolving not simply knowing the right doctrine.

I’m so thankful for Colby’s work and giving us the grace to pursue faith, even if it leads us from a conservative to a more progressive Christianity. If we’re honest, I think more of us are on such a journey, but are petrified of being viewed as heretics or unorthodox.

But what if the shift wasn’t heretical, but instead a way to experience a fuller faith and know God in fresh and exciting ways?

This is what Colby and I discuss in this episode of my podcast. I was so excited about this conversation as I’ve been following Colby’s work for many years. I was almost giddy, but I played it cool.

Colby is the author of Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality and The Shift: Surviving and Thriving After Moving from Conservative to Progressive Christianity. He also is the co-pastor, with his wife Kate, of Sojourn Grace Collective in San Diego, California as well as host the podcast, The Kate and Colby Show. Be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as get some free stuff on his website. 

I hope this conversation will give you the freedom to explore a shift in your faith, the permission to experience faith in a new way, and the ability to discover the Divine all around you.

As you continue to experience the Shift, one that will ultimately lead you to a dynamic evolving faith, may you have peace, may you have calm, may you have happiness.

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Meditation with Yael Shy

SEASON TWO - EPISODE 23: MEDITATION WITH YAEL SHY

The first time I meditated, tears streamed down my face the entire time.

The second time I meditate, tears again streamed down my face the entire time.

The third, fourth, and fifth time, tears continued to flow.

I turned to meditation when I was completely overwhelmed with life, ministry was unbearable, work was so stressful, and I felt like my faith was having little positive effect on my soul.

And so, with noise-canceling headphones on, I sat alone in a basement of a church building and discovered the incredible power of meditation. It was as if all the stress, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed flowed out of my body through those tears.

Meditation taught me how to relax, how to find peace and calm, gave me a tool to handle anxiety, and became a foundational practice in my life.

In this episode, I have the chance to speak with Yael Shy, who I first met and heard speak at the National Association of College and University Chaplains Annual Conference. She spoke on rest as resistance and revolution, and after hearing it, I knew I needed to get her on this podcast. 

Yael is the Senior Director of NYU’s Global Spiritual Life Center, Founder and Director of MindfulNYU, which is the largest campus-wide mindfulness initiative in the country, and the author of the book, What Now? Meditation for Your Twenties and Beyond.

Available on Amazon, Powell's, or B&N.

Yael shares how meditation has revolutionized her life, rekindled her faith, and allowed her the tools to manage anxiety and stress. For both of us, meditation became a way for us to have a fuller calmer life.

One of her points that struck a deep chord with me was her definition that meditation is ending internal suffering and enhancing love externally. 

At the end of the episode, Yael guides us through a short meditation. I hope that as you meditate with her, you become more aware of any suffering within your mind, the way love can heal you, and the Divine all around you.

You can learn more about Yael on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Some books Yael recommends in this episode are: Tea and Cake with Demons and The Way of Tenderness. She also recommends the apps Ten Percent Happier and Journey Live.

As you let life breathe you, seeking to end suffering internally and extend love externally, may you have peace, may you have calm, may you have happiness.

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