What do Christians mean by 'worship'? Is it more than mere singing? How can churches worship God corporately, when we all have such different experiences and preferences? How should we worship when suffering and struggles come?  Benita Lim is a worship leader and PhD candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. Having lived through the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Benita shares her experience of worshiping God in the midst of natural disasters, and discusses how, as churches, we can build one another up in spite of our suffering and weakness. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank 

Samuel Johnson was a critic, poet, and essayist, and the author of one of the most influential English dictionaries in history. As one of the finest minds eighteenth-century England, Johnson was in the centre of debates around the place of Christianity in the moral life of the nation, and the role of faith in a post-Enlightenment world. Dr Kirsten Herlin of the University of Austin joins Christy, Joe, and LaRae, to discuss Samuel Johnson's life and faith, as well as his engagement with an increasingly secular intellectual culture. How did Johnson deal with his personal struggles of doubt and weakness? Did the humanism of the English Enlightenment necessarily mean a decline in spirituality? How does Johnson's moral influence come through in Jane Austen and other English writers? Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank 

Xie Dawei suffered from polio as an infant, and has been a wheelchair user ever since. In graduate school in the US, she encountered Jesus and experienced the transformation of her identity. In this episode, Dawei speaks to Christy about her struggles growing up with a disability, how she came to faith, and how she uses her experiences to reach out to others suffering from a crisis of identity. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank 

It's a Valentine's Day special episode on the Overtones Podcast! Christy is joined by her regular co-hosts Joe and LaRae, and also by Joe's wife Deb and LaRae's husband Matt. The two couples share their experiences of marriage, travel, church, and family life, while coming from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  How does marriage look different when it crosses cultures? Is it true that you really marry the whole family? What does the marriage of Christ to the Church teach us about love across differences? Listen as we discuss these questions and more. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Christy, Joe, and LaRae speak with Ida Hu, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Having gone through months of treatment and dealing with depression and doubt, Ida now ministers to women suffering from cancer, offering Christian comfort, hope, and advice to patients, their families, and their churches. Listen, as she shares her story and her wisdom with the Overtones Podcast hosts, and as we discuss ways that Christians can support those suffering with cancer or other illnesses, and their families. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Over a billion people in the world have a significant disability, yet 90% of them will go through life never hearing the Good News. How can Christians reach out to people with disabilities? What difficulties might disabled people face upon arriving at our churches? What does the Gospel have to say about the value of all people? Amberle Brown (co-founder of The Banquet Network) joins the Overtones Podcast to share her story of becoming blind, and how, through her disability, the Lord opened opportunities for ministry to disabled people. Amberle describes how churches can welcome people with disabilities, and shares her wisdom on how we can love and serve our disabled brothers and sisters. Book Recommendation: Disability and the Gospel by Michael Beates Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Christy, Joe, and LaRae are joined by Dougie Read and his mum Rhona. Dougie was diagnosed with autism as a young child: now, he serves his local church as verger, he performs in plays and musicals, and he manages a busy work schedule. Listen as Rhona shares her experience of coping with her son's diagnosis, and helping him through school, speech therapy, church life, and into the wider world. We also hear Dougie's own story of growing in faith and in service to the Lord, as well as his advice on how churches can help to welcome and integrate people with autism.  Book mention: Untypical by Pete Wharmby (amazon link) Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

In the first installment of a mini-series on disability in the Church, the Overtones Podcast hosts discuss disability in the Bible and in Christian history. Why did so many Christians of the past have such a negative view of physical and mental infirmity? How does Jesus' example challenge those ideas? How can we welcome into the Church people who are different from us? Why does the Bible's perspective on disability teach us about God's nature? Listen in, as Christy, Joe, and LaRae discuss these questions and more.   Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Christy, Joe, and LaRae are joined by the Reverend Damian Platt, Vicar of Christ Church Thornton, who shares stories of hospitality and spirituality from his church in North-West England. How does God's character as an abundant provider inform our hospitality? How can churches reach out to their communities through hospitality? And how did growing up in a Blackpool Bed-and-Breakfast impact our guest's views on welcome and community? Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

What do Christmas movies tell us about our culture and its values? Is the "hallmark" happy ending something Christians should hope for? How can Christians celebrate the holidays in a way that honours Christ? Join Christy, Joe, and LaRae as they discuss all things cinematic and festive. Favourite Christmas movies; seasonal motifs in stories; the difference between genuine rest and indulgence; and more. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

How can a small-town coffee shop impact people for Jesus? Can Christians be called to be entrepreneurs and businesspeople? What are the most important principles for Christians in running a business? Christy and LaRae speak to Dan and Carma Miller, founders of the 6:10 Coffee Company in Salem, Illinois, about their experience of starting and running a small business, and how to operate a business along Christian principles.  Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Christy, Joe, and LaRae continue their discussion with last episode's special guest: Joseph, an academic and expert Christianity and Islam. In this episode, we discuss Christian views of modern Israel, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war from the perspective of just war theory, and some of the current issues surrounding Middle Eastern refugees and migrants in the West. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

What is life like for Christians in the Middle East and North Africa today? What are some of the obstacles to Christians evangelising their Muslim neighbours? And have the historic divisions of the Church of Christ weakened her testimony to Muslims? Christy, Joe, and LaRae speak to Joseph, an academic and expert on Christian-Muslim relations, about Christianity in the Middle East and the challenges faced by our brothers and sisters in the region. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

Solving problems, identifying patterns, creating beauty, inspiring awe. Mathematics is about all these things and more, as Dr Andi Wang explains to the Overtones Podcast hosts. Topics discussed: Why should Christians care about mathematics? What can we learn about God through maths? Was maths invented or discovered? Is it subjective or objective? Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

The Overtones Podcast exists to investigate and celebrate the diverse unity of the Christian church around the world. But what do we mean by the word 'diverse'? How should Christians understand diversity? How might a biblical definition of diversity be different from what we hear from the world around us? In this episode, Christy, Joe, and LaRae discuss Christian diversity, how we see diversity in the Bible, and how we can make our churches welcoming for people who are not like us. Producers: Matthew and LaRae Cherukara Music by Leon Riskin Follow us @overtones.thinktank

It's the final episode of Season One of the Overtones Podcast. Christy, Joe, and LaRae are joined by Matt, the podcast's editor and producer, to reflect on our favourite moments of the season, the major themes that have come through, and the ways God has revealed truth through the conversations we've had. Stay tuned until the very end to hear some of what it's really like to record an episode of the Overtones Podcast. Contact us at podcast@overtonesproject.com and follow us @overtones.thinktank  Read and respond to our call for essays on Christian identity and diversity at overtonesproject.com/editorial Producers: Matthew Cherukara, Christy Wang Music by Leon Riskin  

(Bonus Episode - Mandarin) 人該如何面對失去？失去一段寶貴的友誼和愛情是痛苦的，但若失去兒女，更是難以想像的傷痛。而神若是愛、是良善的，為什麼還要讓人經歷生離死別？ 寫過無數膾炙人口福音詩歌的徐世賢老師及其夫人、聲樂家陳仰恩老師，與Overtones Podcast的主持人Christy分享了他們如何在一夜之間，無預警地失去了他們最親愛的兒子。 在這一集的訪問中，徐世賢夫婦將分享愛子樵樵過世後，他們如何直面內心深處的剝奪感和悲痛，並靠著神的恩典帶領，在黑暗的日子中創作充滿平安、安慰，希望、與榮耀的詩歌，並在哀悼中歌唱。 Music featured in this episode: Transformation and Only Jesus Can by Steve Hsu and Chen Yang En Producers: Matthew Cherukara, Christy Wang Music by Leon Riskin Art by Tina Huang Visit overtonesproject.com for more.

Jasmine Lee of US Taiwan Watch joins Christy and LaRae to discuss the current tensions between Taiwan and China, and the nature of the US-Taiwan relationship, as well as current politics in Taiwan and how Taiwanese Christians engage with political issues. How are the strategic and geopolitical interests of the United States tied to Taiwan's freedom and security? How do Taiwanese Christians believe their nation should be defined? And do Christians and churches have a duty to be involved in political affairs?  US Taiwan Watch: https://www.ustw.watch/en  Producers: Matthew Cherukara, Christy Wang Music by Leon Riskin Visit overtonesproject.com for more.

Losing a family member can be difficult, but the unexpected death of a child is especially tragic. Steve Hsu and Chen Yang En join the Overtones Podcast and speak to Christy about the death of their son Qiao Qiao, their experience of mourning and grief, and the faithfulness of God through it all.  How should we deal with the fear, sorrow, shame, and guilt that come with bereavement? How does the Bible offer comfort for those whose loved ones have died in the Lord? How does God bring blessing out of tragedy? Steve and Yang En reflect on these questions, and share the stories of the hymns they wrote while processing their grief. Music featured in this episode: Transformation and Only Jesus Can by Steve Hsu and Chen Yang En Producers: Matthew Cherukara, Christy Wang Music by Leon Riskin Visit overtonesproject.com for more.  

Cynthia Samuel joins the Overtones Podcast team to share the story of her arranged marriage: how she spiritually prepared for marriage, how she and Moses chose each other, and how she has adapted to married life in the UK. What is it that distinguishes Christian marriage across a range of cultural expressions? How does our culture shape our expectations of marriage? And what can we learn from Christians from different cultures? Producers: Matthew Cherukara, Christy Wang Music by Leon Riskin Visit overtonesproject.com for more.