For the bonus-length finale of season three, the brothers delve into the monumental topic of parenting, exploring how they were raised as well as how they're trying to raise their own kids. Thankfully, a very special guest is on hand to help them.
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Recommended and referenced resources include:
Books: Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Listening by Anne Long, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist, Augustine's Confessions
Articles: "Me, My Father, and Russell Wilson" by Mina Kimes
Television: Bluey, Parenthood (2010-2015), Love on the Spectrum, Lonesome Dove
Movies: Parenthood (1989), The Ice Storm (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), Friendly Persuasion (1956)
Talks: Grace in Family Relationships by Mary Zahl
Songs: "Mr. T's Commandment" by Mr T, "Mama Say" by Kwame, "Son of Your Father" by Elton John, "Problem Child" by The Beach Boys, "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by The Breeders, "Rebel Without a Clue" by Bonnie Tyler, "Shine Jesus Shine" by Graham Kendrick, "Rubberneckin" by Elvis Presley, "Listen to the Band" by The Monkees, "Phone Home" by Johnny Chingas, "God's Children" by The Kinks, "Save Me" by Nanette Workman, "Suedehead" by Morrissey, "Come Back Home" by Tom Hooker, "No Matter What" by Badfinger, "Love Will Never Die" by Paul Lowe featuring Peace Train
Time to talk about the biggest day in the Christian year! Resurrection is the theme of this episode--physical, spiritual, metaphorical, ecclesial, musical, you name it. Note: this one was recorded live, so the sound is a little less sharp.
Recommended and referenced resources include:
Poetry: "Seven Stanzas at Easter" by John Updike, "Descending Theology: The Resurrection" by Mary Karr, "Easter" by George Herbert
Art: "Resurrection" by Piero della Francesca (1463), "The Resurrection" by Otto Dix (1949), "Easter Morning" by Caspar David Friedrich (1835), "The Resurrection, Cookham" by Stanley Spencer (1924-7), "Travoys Arriving with Wounded at a Dressing-Station at Smol, Macedonia, September, 1916" by Stanley Spencer (1919), "Risen Christ and Soldiers" by Germain Pilon (1572), "Isenheim Altarpiece" by Matthias Gruenewald (1516)
Television and Movies: Rev Season 3 Episodes 5&6, The Passion of the Christ
Articles: "Finitude and Death" by Katherine Sonderegger in The T&T Clark Companion to the Doctrine of Sin
Songs: "Love Is Stronger Than Death" by The The, "Sunrise" by Pulp, "How a Resurrection Really Feels" by The Hold Steady, "He's Alive" by Dolly Parton, "Resurrection Shuffle" by Tom Jones, "Photograph" by Ringo Starr, "Candy" by 1910 Fruitgum Company, "Don't Worry About Death" by Melon, "Back to Heaven" by Number One Ensemble, "I Don't Wanna Be a Solider Mama" by John Lennon, "I Am the Resurrection" by The Stone Roses, "Dance or Die" by Kool Rock Steady, "Get Up and Boogie" by Silver Convention, "Revenge" by The Eurythmics, "Death Is Not the End" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Sing Hallelujah" by Bob & Karin
John, Dave, and (mainly) Simeon do their best to bring the third person of the Trinity into view. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Movies: Red Beard, Rising Son, Rize, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, Pride and Prejudice
Books: The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl, The Holy Ghost: A Spirited Comic by John Hendrix, Make Way for the Spirit by Christoph Blumhardt, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Poetry: "Whitsunday" by George Herbert
Paintings: "The Pentecost" by El Greco, "Pentecost" by Jean Restout, Duccio's Maesta
Music: A Love Supreme by John Coltrane, "Let the Wind Blow" by The Beach Boys, "Wind Chimes" by The Beach Boys, "Cool, Cool Water" by The Beach Boys, "Feel Flows" by The Beach Boys, "Tears in the Morning" by The Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, "Handle with Care" by The Traveling Wilburys, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar-Kays, "Faith and Fire" by Vivian Reed, "Strange Changes" by Lyndsey Paul, "Revival Day" by Savage Rose, "Yahweh" by U2, "Somebody Tell Me Where's the Beef?" by Britten, "Unchained" by Van Halen, "Touched by the Hand of God" by New Order, "Full of Fire" by Al Green, "Holy Spirit" by Limousine
The brothers talk about "the how of love," also known as imputation. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Movies: Toy Story, Hoosiers, The Best Years of Our Lives, Lilo and Stitch
Books: The Cross and Christian Confidence by Joanna McGrath & Alister McGrath, Coach by Michael Lewis, The Freedom of a Christian by Martin Luther, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl, Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Justitia Dei by Alister McGrath, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Articles 4 and 21 of The Augsburg Confession, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder
TV: Season 2 finale of Stranger Things
Podcasts: "Don't be Good -- Be Great" episode of Against the Rules
Songs: "No Matter" by Lowell, "Crazy the Lord" by Nick the Record, "Gettin' Back on the Good Side of Love" by Don Black and the Breakaways, "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders, "Strange Currencies" by REM, "Why Do I Keep Counting?" by The Killers, "Transformer Man" by Neil Young, "Superbowl Shuffle" by the 1985 Chicago Bears, "I Just Started" by Jackie Moore, "Automatic Amore" by Patrizia Pellegrino, "Love Is a Natural Magical Thing" by Laurie Miller, "The Old Account" by Johnny Cash, "I've Been Surprised" by Josh White
In their most controversial episode to date, the brothers explore the nature of willpower, choice, and control--and how those factors shape our relationships above and below. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Books: The Captivation of the Will by Gerhard Forde, The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt, You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney, Low Anthropology by David Zahl, On the Spirit and the Letter by Augustine, On Nature and Grace by Augustine, Confessions by Augustine, City of God _(Books 11-14) by Augustine, _The Emperor’s New Clothes (“The Brahmin in the Bahamas”) by William Kilpatrick, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Grace in Addiction by John Z
Movies: Walk the Line, Unguarded (30 for 30), and Dave Chappelle on The Secret
Songs: “Can’t Let Go” by Bryan Ferry, “Do It All Over Again” by Spiritualized, “Free Will” by Rush, “I Can’t Let Maggie Go” by Honeybus, “Wise Up” by Aimee Mann, “Last Train to London” by ELO, “Left to My Own Devices” by The Pet Shop Boys, “I Can’t Stop” by The Honeycombs, “Set Me Free” by Karen Silver, “Right Where You Left Me” by Taylor Swift, “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, “None of Us Are Free” by Solomon Burke, “Set Me Free” by Kinks, “Truth Will Come Out” by Honey Cone, “Cry Freedom” by Romie Singh, “Play in the Sunshine” by Prince, “I Need Thee Every Hour” by Ella Fitzgerald, “Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan, “Mercy” by Ohio Express, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by UB40
The long-awaited third season kicks off with an episode about Faith. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Quotations: Philip Melanchton, Capon, and Cave
Books: Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan, Lancelot by Walker Percy, The Family Reunion by T.S. Eliot, The book of Genesis
Movies: Leon Morin, Priest (1961), Prometheus (2012), The Rescue (2021), Field of Dreams (1989), The Book of Eli (2010), Wings of Desire (1987), Friendly Persuasion (1956), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Songs: "Believe" by DMAs, "Do You Believe" by Poolside, "Faith" by The 8th Day, "I Trust" by The Byrds, "Someday" by Glass Tiger, "Faith in Something Bigger" by The Who, "It's Unbelievable (How You Control My Soul)" by Jeanne & The Darlings, "Lay All Your Love on Me" by ABBA, "Letting Go" by Wings, "No Doubt About It" by Hot Chocolate, "Happy Birthday" By Stevie Wonder, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" by ABBA, "I Went to Sleep" by The Beach Boys, "Do You Believe?" by Swamp Dogg, "I've Got Confidence" by Elvis Presley, "I Came to Believe" by Johnny Cash, "I Believe In You" by Bob Dylan
The brothers reconvene for a special one-off on the merriest day of them all. Look for Season 3 in the new year. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Poetry: "The First Coming" by Madeleine L'Engle, "Journey of the Magi" by T.S. Eliot, "For the Time Being" by W.H. Auden, "Descending Theology: The Nativity" by Mary Karr
Movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Holly and the Ivy, Children of Men, 8-Bit Christmas, The Holdovers, Midnight Clear (but also Joyeux Noel, some details of which John mixes into his description)
Television: Call the Midwife Christmas Special, "How We Used Christmas Lights to Fight a War" TED Talk by Jose Miguel Sokoloff, "Christmas Story" The Andy Griffith Show (S1:E11)
Artwork: "Winter Landscape" by Caspar David Friedrich
Books: The Haunted Man by Charles Dickens, Martin Luther's Christmas Book
Music: The Animals Christmas by Jimmy Webb
Songs: “Jesus Christ” by Big Star, “Christmas Was Better in the 80s” by The Futureheads, “Sock it to Me Santa” by Bob Seger & the Heard, “Christmastime Is Here Again” by The Flirtations, “Let’s Get It Together this Christmas” by the Harvey Averne Band, “Always in a Manger” by Paul Westerberg, “O Holy Night” by Duvall, “Silent Night” by Richard Hawley, “Thankful Heart” from A Muppet Christmas Carol, “Santa Claus Is Coming” by The Harmony Grits, “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Annie Lennox, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Once in Royal David City Bells” by Sufjan Stevens, “What Child Is This?” by Carrie Underwood, “The Decree” by Art Garfunkel, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Bob Dylan
The second season kicks off with an extended episode about the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus of Nazareth. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
What are we doing when we pray? In the second episode of the second season, John, David, and Simeon venture a few theories (and a bunch of stories). Referenced and recommended resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
This one could also be called Freedom. Or possibly Fruit. Maybe even Living. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
Depression isn't the only form of mental illness touched upon in this episode, which doubles as a rumination on agency and affliction more generally. Fortunately, it's lot more fun than it sounds! Referenced and recommended resources include:
Quotations: "The Planet Trillaphon As It Stands In Relation to the Bad Thing" by David Foster Wallace, Frank Lake's Clinical Theology
Books and Literature: The Poems of William Cowper, "The Depressed Person" by David Foster Wallace
Movies and Television: You're the Worst (2014-2019), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Pollyanna (2003), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Songs: “Christmastime Is Here Again” by Vince Guaraldi, “What Is Sadness” by Device, “Fear of Ghosts” by The Cure, “Give Mi Wings” by Rod Stewart, “Stop in the Name of Love” by The Supremes, “I Don’t Want to be a Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself)” By Dynasty, “Waking the Witch” – Kate Bush, “Doctor Doctor” by Thompson Twins, “Going Round in Circles” by The Keeper, “The Sun Always Shines on TV” by A-Ha, “Where There is Faith There Is Hope” by Chairman of the Board, “Please Read the Letter” by Robert Plant and Allison Kraus, “Pressure Time” by Vendetta Palace, “Baahubali” by Khoya Hain, “Dancing with the Aliens” by Fab, “Jesu Lover of My Soul”, “I Don't Want to Get Over You” by The Magnetic Fields, “Switching Off” – Elbow, “The Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2
"Jesus saves" reads the bumper sticker. But what does it mean? This one is about soteriology, past, present, and future. Referenced and recommended resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
For the final episode of the second season, the brothers enlist a special guest to help them make sense of getting older. Referenced and recommended resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
In the final episode of the first season, the brothers talk about their all-time favorite word, what John calls "a pool that's shallow enough that babies can wade into it and deep enough that elephants can swim." Recommended and Referenced Resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
The most esoteric sounding subject in the first season may also be the most gut-level. In this episode the brothers discuss the role of art, story, and humor as it relates to ministry and healing. Recommended and Referenced Resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
In their fourth episode, the brothers try to make sense of that oh-so-loaded institution and experience called "Church." Recommended and Referenced Resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
Could also be titled "Evil, Sin, and Suffering", in this episode the brothers delve into the various shades of darkness we experience in the world--and in ourselves. Recommended and referenced resources include:
Please note: the story of Martin Luther burying the child, while derived from his writings (and depicted to great effect in the movie Luther), is apocryphal. .
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
Richard Hooker: "My eager protestations, made in the glory of my ghostly strength, I am ashamed of; but those crystal tears, wherewith my sin and weakness was bewailed, have procured my endless joy; my strength hath been my ruin, and my fall my stay."
Frank Limehouse (March 7, 2010): "I can't tell you what the Devil looks like. In my own mind he wears red tights, has horns and a tail and carries a pitchfork. Other than in the Garden of Eden, in which he is described as crafty and subtle; and Ezekiel, who tells us he was perfect in beauty, I cannot talk so much about what the devil looks like. But we can talk about how the devil operates. St. Peter said, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Interestingly, the devil doesn't come at you only where you're weak. He's very interested in your gifts and strengths. This is where we are most vulnerable. The woman with a charming smile is tempted to “get away with murder.” The salesman with the gift of persuasion, is often tempted to “take ‘em for what they're worth.” God, on the other hand, is most interested in what? Your weaknesses. The Lord said to Paul ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'…"
The second episode, in which the brothers discuss that slippery yet inspiring topic known as holiness (and its opposite). Recommended and referenced resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
The first ever episode, in which the brothers introduce themselves and then jump into the sprawling subject at the center of their lives: capital-G God. Recommended and Referenced Resources include:
Click here to listen to a playlist of the available tracks on Spotify.
