This Good Word With Steve Wiens

Have you ever felt like someone was committed to misunderstanding you? What do you with that? Most of us stay in those kinds of conversations for far longer than we should. In this episode, I share what I think is happening with the person who is committed to misunderstanding you, and what you can do about it.

Melissa Louise Johnson is a writer, a Marriage and Family Therapist, and a gifted Spiritual Director. She advocates for embracing authentic beauty in the world through her podcast and her blog, both called Impossible Beauty. We talked about her journey with body image and food issues, as well as how she's writing and revealing a counter-narrative about beauty in a world that still praises thinness at all costs. Check out Melissa's podcast and blog, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Resources mentioned on the episode: The Illusionist (documentary) The Emily Program Melrose Center Hillary McBride

I have David Fitch on the podcast today, talking about post-structuralism, the Matrix, why Chicago has the best weather on the planet, why you were duped into believing it was your idea to vote for your favorite candidate in 2016 - and 2020, and his new book, The Church of Us vs. Them: Freedom From a Faith that Feeds on Making Enemies. You can follow David on Twitter and Facebook.

I attended the Evolving Faith Conference in Denver last week, and I loved it. Evolving Faith is "a gathering for wanderers, wonderers, and spiritual refugees to help you discover...you are not alone." I took some time at the end of each day to record my thoughts about what I experienced that day and how I'm processing it. In Part 1, I talked about how I felt sitting in a room on the first day of the conference, where about 120 faith leaders gathered to listen and learn about what it means to lead our congregations through significant change. It was such a beautiful gift for me to be in a space that was created for me to work through my own questions, fears, and hopes as it relates to the church (Big C), but also the church (little c) that I pastor. In Part 2, I talked about how genuine faith will always evolve. In this episode, part 3, I talk about three final thoughts about evolving faith in general, wrapping it up with some genuine love for my new favorite homiletical hero, Cece Jones Davis. Here are the speakers and curators from Evolving Faith I'd encourage you to follow (sorry I don't have time to link all of these folks, but if you google them, you'll find their websites, or you can go to the Evolving Faith website to find out more. There will also be an Evolving Faith Podcast coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Sarah Bessey Jeff Chu Dr. Eric Barreto Barbara Brown Taylor Danielle Shroyer Dr. Peter Enns Jasper Peters Tanya Marlow B.T. Harman Cece Jones Davis William Matthews Kaitlin Curtice Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes Jennifer Knapp Jen Hatmaker Lisa Sharon Harper

I'm in Denver, attending the Evolving Faith Conference, which is "a gathering for wanderers, wonderers, and spiritual refugees to help you discover...you are not alone." I'm taking some time at the end of every day to record my thoughts about what I experienced that day and how I'm processing it. In Part 1, I talked about how I felt sitting in a room on the first day of the conference, where about 120 faith leaders gathered to listen and learn about what it means to lead our congregations through significant change. It was such a beautiful gift for me to be in a space that was created for me to work through my own questions, fears, and hopes as it relates to the church (Big C), but also the church (little c) that I pastor. This episode is Part 2, where I talked about how genuine faith will always evolve. I'll wrap it up with my final thoughts in part 3 early next week.

I'm in Denver, attending the Evolving Faith Conference, which is "a gathering for wanderers, wonderers, and spiritual refugees to help you discover...you are not alone." I'm taking some time at the end of every day to record my thoughts about what I experienced that day and how I'm processing it. This episode is part 1, where I discuss how I felt sitting in a room today where about 120 faith leaders gathered to listen and learn about what it means to lead our congregations through significant change. It was such a beautiful gift for me to be in a space that was created for me to work through my own questions, fears, and hopes as it relates to the church (Big C), but also the church (little c) that I pastor. I'll be posting more thoughts tomorrow night (part 2) and then I'll wrap it up with my final thoughts in part 3 early next week.

In this episode, I share the five things I learned this summer about making space for loss after my father in law died. If you're dealing with loss, or if someone you love is experiencing loss, I hope this is a helpful resource.

We're always in the process of letting things go - we take breaks from social media, vacations from work, we get injured and can't work out anymore... but how can we be mindful about how we let go of those things, so we really let them go? And when it's time to pick them back up again, how can we grab hold of those things - when it's time to do so - mindfully, instead of trying to hold it the same way we used to hold it? Whether you're taking a vacation, scheduling a day off, or taking time off of a creative project, it's helpful to think through what you are letting go of and how you are letting it go. Enjoy.

This is Part 2! If you missed part 1, check it out here. You're working on something, and you're not done yet, and you don't quite know how it's going to turn out, and you kind of want to quit but you are also oddly thrilled about this project. How do you stay in it? What do you need to keep going? Enjoy.

You're working on something, and you're not done yet, and you don't quite know how it's going to turn out, and you kind of want to quit but you are also oddly thrilled about this project. How do you stay in it? What do you need to keep going? Enjoy.

Steph Williams O’Brien is a pastor, writer, leadership coach, podcaster, and she’s a really good friend. She is a passionate influencer that encourages me to be who I am, ask the hard questions, and to embrace possibility and hope. Check out the full Show Notes here.

Bridget Eileen is a multi-racial gay Christian woman who has chosen to be celibate - but not because the bible tells her so. This conversation was so fascinating to me for a million different reasons - I loved getting to know Bridget and I think you will, too. Click here for the Show Notes and to get in touch with Bridget.

Click here for the ShowNotes.

Lenny Duncan, author of the brand new book, Dear Church: A Love Letter From a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S. Click here for the Show Notes.

Click here for the ShowNotes...

Ashley M. Wilcox is a Quaker minister and founder of Church of Mary Magdalene. She is currently writing a handbook for feminist preachers called The Women’s Lectionary, to be published by Westminster John Knox Press in September 2020. Ashley travels around the country to speak, preach, and lead workshops and retreats. Through her ministry, Ashley brings Friends deeper into their own tradition and helps those in other denominations and faiths experience God through Quaker practices and spirituality. Ashley is a graduate of Candler School of Theology and Willamette University College of Law. Before going to seminary, Ashley worked for appellate courts in Washington and Oregon. Her writing has been published in Friends Journal, Western Friend, and various Quaker anthologies. Ashley was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her partner Troy and their two orange cats. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and make sure to check out her website for more of her writing and preaching. Enjoy!

Brie Stoner is a musician, writer, student, and 2015 alumna of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s Living School for Action and Contemplation. She co-hosts Another Name For Everything, the popular new podcast featuring Richard Rohr. Her music, which has been featured in national and international television broadcasting, includes the production and composition of the soundtracks for the NOOMA film series with Rob Bell. Brie has published blogs for The Omega Center, The Contemplative Society, and Northeast Wisdom websites, and contributed to an anthology edited by Ilia Delio, OSF: Personal Transformation and a New Creation: The Spiritual Revolution of Beatrice Bruteau. Brie has served as content curator and podcast host for Ilia Delio's online forum, The Omega Center, research assistant to Cynthia Bourgeault, and currently serves on staff with the Center for Action and Contemplation. Enjoy! Mentioned in our conversation: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr Falling Upward by Richard Rohr Another Name for Everything: A Podcast with Richard Rohr, hosted by Brie Stoner and Paul Swanson.

Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev founded and leads Beit Midrash of Santa Fe, a multi-faith sacred learning community. He has led workshops at retreat centers, synagogues, churches, and seminaries across the United States, including Union Theological Seminary, Ghost Ranch, Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, and Stony Point Center. His teaching invites learners into an adventurous exploration that engages the body, heart, and soul as well as the mind. He is an experienced spiritual director, accompanying people of many faiths. Nahum is the Scholar-in-Residence at Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe, NM and a Fellow of the Rabbis Without Borders Initiative. His new book, The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets: Then and Now (Orbis, 2019), Rabbi Nahum mines Biblical wisdom to illumine a way forward. His book explores the rich territory of liberating social change as articulated by the Hebrew prophets and lived by Biblical persons. Ward-Lev examines the development of these Biblical liberation themes in contemporary prophetic writers including Paulo Freire, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Martin Luther King Jr., and bell hooks. In clarifying practices for the liberation journey, prioritizing reciprocal relationships, engaging in dialogue, exercising social and artistic imagination, and nurturing a love ethic in public life, his book empowers readers of all faiths and backgrounds to see through a prophetic lens and engage in prophetic action. Please check out RabbiNahum.com if you'd like to get in touch with Rabbi Nahum, invite him to lead a study with your community, and find out more about his work. Enjoy the podcast!

On today's episode, I talked about getting misunderstood - then and moving on. We can't get everybody to see what we are trying to do or understand what we really meant. You can waste a lot of emotional energy trying to answer questions you just can't answer anyway. I told a few stories from John's gospel about how Jesus refused to answer certain questions and just moved on. You can, too. Enjoy.

I got to know Katey Zeh when our mutual friend Erin Lane introduced us, and I’m so glad she did. Katey has experience working as an advocate for women and girls who are being trafficked, which has greatly informed how she reads the bible. The result is her brand new book, Women Rise Up: Sacred Stories for Today’s Revolution. Katey speaks the truth of the abuse, oppression, and erasure women have endured in the stories told in the Scriptures, much of which is still happening in the world today. Click here to enjoy the episode. Connect with Katey: Katey’s Website Twitter Instagram Katey’s Podcast: Kindreds (with Ashley Peterson) “I don’t know anyone who more seamlessly marries her scriptural imagination with an activist sensibility than Katey Zeh. She is a reliable, skilled, and (thanks to be God) altogether human teacher who is not afraid to trouble the waters of some of our most beloved (and forgotten) readings of biblical women – and their enduring witness in our modern lives. If you are looking for an easy bake women’s book study, you won’t find it here. But if you dare to go where few have willingly gone into this study of what it means to be a female follower of God, you will come out the other side just as Zeh hoped: more resilient, more compassionate, and better able to rise up in the face of injustices near and far. I recommend this book to any girl beginning to wonder what relevancy the biblical stories have in her life – and any pastor, counselor, parent, or mentor who cares enough to walk into the complexity with her.” – Erin S. Lane, Author of Lessons in Belonging.

This is a rebroadcast of an oldie but a goodie - I think you might agree that it has aged well in the last two years. Have you ever experienced that awkward moment when someone asks you a question, and you know they want an either/or response, but you just can't go there? Have you ever wanted to demand a better, more expansive question, one that respects the nature of your answer, and the fact that their small question can't contain the truth of your nuanced answer? Well, well, well. You need to get to know Mu. Enjoy! Links: Music kindly provided by Sisters of Murphy (songs: 17 and Green Over Red (Radio Edit). Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. And - I meant to mention this but forgot: Listen to this fabulous interview with Krista Tippet and Padraig O Tuama to hear more about Mu.

On this episode, I talked about how to know when to voice that disagreement, and how to know when to keep silent. I posed five questions you can ask yourself to decide whether or not it's worth it to have that disagreement. Enjoy!

My friend Nate Pyle is a great writer and also a compassionate pastor, who knows about pain and loss firsthand. Professional uncertainty, the intense impact of mental illness, and the struggle to build a family after infertility and a lost pregnancy have left Nate with more questions than answers. One answer he has come to, however, is that God regularly gives people more than they can handle, regardless of the well-known cliche that says otherwise. In Nate's book, More Than You Can Handle: When Life's Overwhelming Pain Meets God's Overcoming Grace, he shares his own story, the stories of others, and a fresh look at the life of Jesus, in order to help people deal with life's inevitable pain. Enjoy! Music on this episode: Julie's Song by Joel Hanson

Alia Joy is the author of Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in All We Lack. She writes poignantly about her life with bipolar disorder as well as grief, faith, marriage, poverty, race, embodiment, and keeping fluent in the language of hope. She lives in Central Oregon with her husband, her tiny Asian mother, her three kids, a dog, a bunny, and a bunch of chickens. Make sure to connect with Alia on her blog, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Enjoy!

When Jon Sweeney and Mark Burrows were reading Daniel Ladinsky's gorgeous translations of Hafiz, they had an idea: What if we translated the work of Meister Eckhart into poetry? The result is one of my favorite new resources: Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart. If you like Rumi and Hafiz, you are going to love this little book. Meister Eckhart was a thirteenth-century priest, mystic, and nearly a heretic. A wide range of current spiritual teachers and mystics, including Richard Rohr, Eckhart Tolle, and Rudolph Steiner, credit Eckhart as being an important influence on their work. In addition, Eckhart's work has influenced 20th century American Buddhism and the Theosophical tradition. In our time, as many of us are hungry to experience God through mystery, paradox, and an embrace of the unknown, Meister Eckhart is a good guide. Enjoy.

Mary and I worked really hard to create an epic Harry Potter birthday party for one of our boys, and it was coming together in such an awesome way that I shared in on Instagram. And it WAS an epic party, in all the good ways, UNTIL it was a complete and utter disaster. Ha! Instagram fail. What does it look like to choose to courageously show up face-to-face with your weakness, your limits, your concerns, your half baked ideas and your ambivalence when it's so tempting to only reveal your curated self? In this episode, I talk about all of that. Oh, and if you'd like to see those Instagram pics, go here. Enjoy.

Homeostasis is the ability your body has to regulate temperature, produce or reduce glucose, eliminate toxins, fight infection, and many other things - without you even thinking about it. What if you had a way to regulate your emotional state of being? Instead of getting swept away in anger, or fear, or shame, what if you could notice those feelings without judging them, allowing yourself to feel them fully, but then separate your self from your feelings so you don't get swept away? In today's episode, I talk about cultivating the ability to have feelings rather than allowing your feelings to have you. Enjoy!

There is an ache that accompanies the season of Advent, and it is related to the invitation that Avent gives us: to name what we're deeply longing for - in our own lives and also in the world. This is easier said than done. In this episode, I name the three most common questions that come up as it relates to naming what we really long for, and I differentiate between the longings that are impermanent and the longings that don't go away. Enjoy! Check out the show notes for links to three podcasts that I'm loving right now, along with ways to find out about my books, my speaking events, and everything else.

On today's episode, I talked about the unique challenges - and invitations - that come when you decide to get back at something that you haven't done for a really long time. I offered four questions that will hopefully encourage you as you go about the business of doing something that feels scary. Enjoy!

I talked with Ruth Haley Barton about how the season of Advent - the four weeks leading up to Christmas - helps us connect with our deepest longings for what needs to be made right in our own souls, and also in the world. I also announced that we're releasing five exclusive Advent episodes which will only be available to Patreon supporters. Click here to become a Patreon supporter and get those bonus Advent episodes. Check out this episode's show notes for more information about Ruth Haley Barton, the Transforming Center, and Advent.

On today's episode, I talked about how my wife's mad organizational skills helped me to see how out of balance my life was, and how I am slowly getting back on track.

In this episode, I talk about how to change your perspective and find joy even when you are suffering through circumstances that aren't changing.

On this episode, I talked about what to do when you've been going, and going and going..... but you don't know how to stop, and you don't know how to do it any other way. Enjoy.

Ashley Hales is the author Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much. Check out the Shownotes for more information about Ashley, her book and how to connect with her.

Archbishop Oscar Romero is being canonized as a Saint by the Catholic Church on Sunday, October 18, 2018. In this episode, I share some reflections on his life and also how we can follow his lead in these times of violence, bitterness, and division in our country. For more on Oscar Romero, check out this episode's Show Notes.

Erin Lane is one of my favorite human beings, and if you listen, you'll know why. If you don't listen, you don't deserve good things. Find out more about Erin on the show notes. Enjoy!

Bonnie Kristian is a theological and political writer who had columns and bylines at publications including The Week, Rare, Time, CNN, Relevant, Politico, The Hill, ReKnew, and The American Conservative. You can find out more about Bonnie, her new book, and how to get in touch with her by going to this episode's Show Notes. Enjoy!

Kathy Khang is the author of Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up. She wrote it to challenge and encourage everyone to find and use their influence to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Find out more about Kathy on this episodes Show Notes. Enjoy!

Check out the Show Notes to find out more about Shawn Smucker and his incredible books, and Tov Music and their breathtaking music.

Jonathan Merritt is the author of the brand new book Learning to Speak God from Scratch, and he's also published more than 3500 articles in outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Buzfeed, and many more. To find out more about Jonathan and to link to the content we discussed in this episode, check out the Show Notes. Enjoy the podcast!

Dan is a good friend of mine who hosts a brand new podcast called The Unlikely Seminarian. Check it out! And check out this episode's Show Notes for links to all the great stuff we mentioned in the podcast. Enjoy.

On today's podcast, I talked about mindfulness. And an eye injury. And a walk in the woods. And asking for help. Enjoy, my friends! In this episode: I mentioned Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh I want to give you free books! Click here for a chance to get SIX FREE BOOKS all from guests I've recently interviewed (or will interview very soon): The Eternal Current by Aaron Niequist Learning to Speak God From Scratch by Jonathan Merritt Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time by Sarah Arthur Experiments in Honesty by Steve Daugherty

Aaron Niequist is the author of the brand new book, The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save us From Drowning. When the limits of his own faith experience left him feeling spiritually empty, Aaron determined God must have a wider vision for worship and community. In his search, Aaron discovered that there was historical Christian precedent for enacting faith in a different way, an ancient and now future way of believing. He calls this third way "practice-based faith." This book is about loving one's faith tradition and, at the same time, following the call to something deeper and richer. By adopting some new spiritual practices, it is possible to learn to swim again with a renewed sense of vigor and divine purpose. Enjoy! For more information about Aaron and to connect with more of his work, visit the show notes page.

Steve Daugherty is a pastor and counselor, and his most recent book is called Experiments in Honesty. Visit the ShowNotes page for more information about Steve Daugherty and his work. Enjoy!

Sarah Arthur has just released A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time, and it's gorgeous! I loved this conversation about Madeleine, who is one of my very favorite authors. For links to all of the content we discussed in the podcast, please visit the show notes page. Enjoy!

In Rethinking Incarceration, Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. He assesses our nation’s ethic of meritocratic justice in light of Scripture and exposes the theologies that embolden mass incarceration. Gilliard then shows how Christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles, offering creative solutions and highlighting innovative interventions. God's justice is ultimately restorative, not just punitive. Discover how Christians can participate in the restoration and redemption of the incarceration system. In our conversation, we talked about: The United States has 5 percent of the world's population but 25 percent of the world's incarcerated. We have more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. There are more jails and prisons than degree-granting colleges and universities, and in many places, more people live behind bars than on college campuses. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. And the church has unwittingly contributed to these problems. You can get in touch with Dominique Gilliard by following him on Twitter, Facebook, or his website. Enjoy the podcast!

Austin Channing Brown is a writer, speaker, and practitioner who helps schools, nonprofits, and religious organizations practice genuine inclusion. Her writing has appeared in outlets like Christianity Today, Relevant, Sojourners, and The Christian Century. Austin Channing-Brown's new book, I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness has quickly become the book everybody is talking about, and it's well-earned. In story after story what it's like to live as a black woman in a world where white culture is still normalized, her unflinching honesty runs parallel to an invitation to create a better world. You can follow Austin on Twitter and Facebook, and you can check out her events calendar here. Enjoy!