Podcast

The Week In Review (early September)

The Summer lull is over and things are really picking up as we turn the corner toward Fall. I wanted to let you know about three of things you might be interested in.

It is not too late to join the learning cohort for the ABC’s of (modified) Theology. Our first discussion (A is for Atonement and B is for Baptism) is this Thursday at 3pm (PST). Sign up and join in!

I was the guest on the What If Project podcast this past week.

APPLE – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-if-project/id1397047558#episodeGuid=whatifproject.podbean.com%2F235d0dfd-da93-3503-ab13-db844a7bcbcc

SPOTIFY – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KkXpBNG5uTt7pqF5OAwk0?si=FCI9fdtKQ5S56FxruIO79g

PODBEAN: https://whatifproject.podbean.com/e/episode-112-bo-sanders-talks-to-me-about-how-we-met-the-surplus-of-meaning-and-leaving-evangelism/

Lastly, if you liked the sermon The Shape of Race, I would encourage to visit www.VermontHillsUMC.org media page to subscribe to the YouTube and Podcast channels.

What If Bo

Thank you for all the support, feedback, and shares. It really helps to expand the conversation.

September 2, 2020 0

Rachel Held Evans Tribute

Rachel Held Evans was a popular author and blogger. Her voice will be missed.

This 2011 interview with Bo is a wonderful snapshot of her work, her insight, and her generous spirit.

https://www.peacingitalltogether.com/podcast/2019/5/10/rachel-held-evans-tribute

You can post your comments here or on the show’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PeacingItAllTogether/ or email connect@peacingitalltogether.com

Please support the show through Patreon https://www.patreon.com/peacingitalltogether

You can also buy your book and seeds at https://elohehseeds.com/

The next reading group May 14

May 10, 2019 0

Theopoetics of Transition

I had the pleasure of being on the Theopoetics Podcast to talk about my transition away from evangelicalism.

I retired from evangelism early this year but have not really had the chance to debrief that with anyone. My friend Tim reached out to offered me the space to do that publicly.

It was a wonderful experience and we covered a LOT of ground. The 1/4 was about the past but then we moved into the present and the future.

The episode is called Theopoetics of Translation (episode 13)

Please listen and let me know your thoughts.

March 14, 2019 2

The Angel of History

On the most recent Peacing It All Together (episode 34: Progress) I talked about why I don’t identify as a progressive.

Progress is not inevitable
What we call progress is not always progress
There is a shadow side to the light of ‘progress’
Progress often has unintended side-effects that a create greater capacity for tragedy and devastation. This can be economic, environmental, or societal.

I talked to Randy about Walter Benjamin’s Angel of History. He says:

His face is turned toward the past. Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage and hurls it in front of his feet. The angel would like to stay, awaken the dead, and make whole what has been smashed. But a storm is blowing from Paradise; it has got caught in his wings with such violence that the angel can no longer close them. The storm irresistibly propels him into the future to which his back his turned, while the pile of debris before him grows skyward. The storm is what we call progress.

On the wiki page critic British critic Terry Eagleton, a sophisticated and politically engaged interpreter of Benjamin , for instance, wrote: “In one of his shrewdest sayings, Benjamin remarked that what drives men and women to revolt against injustice is not dreams of liberated grandchildren, but memories of enslaved ancestors. It is by turning our gaze to the horrors of the past, in the hope that we will not thereby be turned to stone, that we are impelled to move forward.”

Please listen to the episode and join the conversation on the FB page

My friend John E wrote me:

I was ponding how one might respond to the Angel of History. One might decide that life is futile or that since the world sucks one should just grab what they can for themselves and to hell with the rest, neither of which I believe. Last night Jeff Goldblum was on Late Night with Steven Colbert. Steven reminded him that when Jeff was last on his show (November 8,2016) Jeff had said that he would not let the election dis-inspire him. So he asked, “How does Jeff Goldblum stay inspired?” Jeff shared this quote:

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to the future generations.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

That sounded like a pretty good response to the Angel of History. -John

I would love your thoughts.

February 21, 2019 1

Hope They Serve Tacos In Hell (and other updates)

2019 is off to an frantic start so I wanted to give you an update about some fun I have been having.

At Vermont Hills I am enjoying a new sermon series. Two weeks ago was “God Loves Groups” about how the gospel has to be more than getting one small part of you (as an individual) to a good place after you die. That is too small a gospel.

This past week was about how the concept of ‘Hell’ functions in our psyche and how we need to take the sting out of this hellish idea. (Video below)

Peacing It All Together podcast comes out every Monday. This past week Randy and I talked about being a good ‘ally’ on Ally: Do’s and Don’ts

Progressive Bible Study (now called imBible Study) just finished the book of Ruth so Katie and recorded a Ruth Recap podcast that was a LOT of fun.

Sunday School (no called Brain Storming w/ Bo) is going through the alphabet. D is for Demythologize was a good podcast. E is for Emergence (and ecclesiology) comes out tomorrow. This Sunday is G is for Gay Christians where we are going to unClobber the Bible.

Let me know you thoughts. I would love to hear your comments, concerns, and questions.

February 14, 2019 0

Religionless Church Interview

Last week my interview with Mason Mennenga came out. I had so much fun recording it and we cover a variety of topics.

my spiritual migration
academic interests
interactive church
Religious but not spiritual
nerdy takes on Bonhoeffer and ‘the world come of age’

He also has a wonderful style for his podcast where he features the music of a different artist every time. He chose Workman Song for this episode and it really came together.

Please listen to the episode and then let me know what you thought! https://masonmennenga.com/religionless-church/2018/9/19/bo-sanders-practical-theology-and-church-20

October 2, 2018 0

Disagreeing Well

I had the opportunity to be on the UMC podcast Get Your Spirit In Shape.

My interview is Ep. 43 called Disagreeing Well.

It’s no secret that people disagree, sometimes vehemently. When our opinions match, it is easy to have a conversation. When we are on opposite sides of an issue, talking can be far more challenging, but often more fruitful. In a time when opinions are strong in both our public and church lives, learning to disagree well is important.

To learn some techniques for disagreeing well, we talked with the Rev. Bo Sanders, a United Methodist pastor who leads his congregation in weekly conversations about a variety of topics. Bo shares great tips for getting out of our “echo chambers,” and learning to listen and talk to those with whom we disagree.

You can watch the youtube video , or listen on Stitcher, or Itunes (where it comes up as episode 1 right now because it is most recent)

I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and concerns.

You might also like to hear the background thinking behind Interactive Church http://vermonthillsumc.org/podcast/interactive-church/ on my church podcast.

Please share these with your friends and followers – I am trying to starter a larger conversation!

September 19, 2018 0

New Podcasts for Sept 2018

Randy and I are enjoying the Peacing It All Together podcast. We are slowly picking up listeners and seeing the kind of conversation that we were hoping for.

A couple episodes to highlight:

Episode 14 was about peace being more than the absence of war.

In Episode 15 Randy introduces the Native American tradition of peacemaking.

Episode 17, which came out yesterday, asks ‘where do you get your news?’ and I would love if you would let me know about good sources as we construct a ‘resources’ page.

The church podcast is back this week. We took the summer off to catch our breath and enjoy the amazing weather.

Check out my short sermons – like this one on handling conflict well.

We also have great conversations at the table – here is Sara talking about finding the sacred in the EVERY day.

The thing I am most excited about it the return of Sunday School! Last year we had 1 big topic each week. This year I am layer 4 topics each week to form a theme. I hope that you will tune in to these dynamic conversations (I use an interactive style).

September 9, 2018 0