The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

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Four Eyes Media

9 episodes

3 days ago

Can we believe the resurrection of Christ actually happened? The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn delves into the historicity of the resurrection and how this event changed human history—past and future! We interview authors, historians, personalities, and academics to dive deeper into this key historical event that changed human history. The conversations between a contemporary songwriter and members of the scholastic community will offer rare moments of insight for believers and skeptics. Melanie Penn introduces this podcast with the launch of her album, The Rising.

Religion & Spirituality

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Religion & Spirituality

Episodes (9/9)

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

Beyond Certainty: Unpacking The Resurrection and Holy Saturday with Joseph Yoo Part 1

In this week’s episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie Penn speaks with Joseph Yoo, an Episcopal priest known for his dynamic presence on TikTok and other social media platforms. Joseph and Melanie delve into the complexities of the resurrection and the often-overlooked period of Holy Saturday. Joseph emphasizes that it’s normal to have questions about faith, highlighting that certainty is the opposite of faith, not doubt. He also discusses the importance of acknowledging and processing mourning and grief, relating the disciples’ experiences after the crucifixion to everyday struggles. Joseph encourages us not just to believe in the resurrection as an event, but to consider the transformative power of a personal encounter with the risen Lord—and ask yourself, “Have you seen Him?” This is episode one with Joseph—in episode two, we’ll unravel the enigmatic role of Judas in Jesus’ crucifixion and its profound impact on the resurrection story.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“The Resurrection is what drives us as a religion. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity.” - Joseph Yoo

“Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. Certainty is. Once you’re certain about something, you don’t need faith because you have all the answers.” - Joseph Yoo

“[The disciples are mourning Jesus’ death] and they don’t know how to mourn because the mourning is so deep. And there’s so much richness in their mourning that we don’t talk about it at church because it makes everyone feel uncomfortable.” - Joseph Yoo

“I feel like there’s actual relatable experiences that the disciples felt that we feel as well two thousand odd years later. And I just don’t think that we allow people to explore it enough. The only time we talk about grief is like when there’s a memorial service at the church.” - Joseph Yoo

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Mosaic Episcopal Church
Michael Frost

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Joseph Yoo’s website
Joseph Yoo’s Facebook
Joseph Yoo’s Instagram
Joseph Yoo’s TikTok

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

*The Rising Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media.

3 days ago

19 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

The Imprint of the Resurrection in Our Everyday Lives with Pete Enns

This week we take another deep dive into the story of the resurrection with biblical scholar Pete Enns. Together, Melanie and Pete explore the historical context of the Bible, the varying accounts of the resurrection, and its impact on everyday life. Pete and Melanie discuss everything from the counterintuitive nature of the Easter story to the broader concept of resurrection in Jewish belief, and even personal rhythms of faith. Discover why the inconsistencies in the gospel narratives might just make the story more human and more true.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“One cannot have contentment in the Christian life without the darkness. Dying is the only path to resurrection and that is the way of knowing God. There is no shortcut.” - Pete Enns

“Richard Rohr does say that ‘life is about learning to let go.’ It's a series of letting go moments so that when the last letting go comes—your life–-you're ready because you've been doing this all along, right? And I think that's a beautiful, inspiring and emotional way, for me, of thinking of the nature of the Christian faith.” - Pete Enns

“Living well is learning how to die to your ego, to the fascinations we have with things and with possessions, and to be able to let go of things so that you can be raised to newness of life and continually—not just once when you raise your hand in church, but this is a pattern of life.” - Pete Enns

“What we have [in the Gospels] is people bearing witness to their faith in Christ and what that looked like, and there’s a lot of agreement between the four Gospels, but there are also a lot of differences, and that’s just the way it is.” - Pete Enns

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Eastern University
The Bible for Normal People Podcast with Pete Enns and Jared Byas

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Pete Enns’ Facebook
Pete Enns’ Twitter
Pete Enns’ Instagram

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

*The Rising Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media.

1 week ago

21 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

Living Daily in the Spirit of The Resurrection with Margaret Feinberg

In this inspiring episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie sits down with author and Bible teacher Margaret Feinberg to discuss what it means to live daily in the spirit of the resurrection. Margaret shares profound insights from the resurrection narrative, highlighting the significance of Christ entrusting the message to women and what that means for us today. She also introduces practical ways to remember the resurrection, including the power of daily declarations rooted in scripture that can rewire our brains and shift our perspective from death to life. The conversation delves into the Hebrew word ruch for spirit, breath, and air, emphasizing the closeness of the Holy Spirit, and explores deeper meanings behind the figures in the Old Testament, revealing how God’s Spirit has been at work all throughout history. Finally, Margaret touches on the common doubts embodied by Thomas and Christ’s compassionate response, offering comfort and encouragement that His resurrection power is coming for us all.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:

“I love the moment Christ walks out [of the tomb]. It proclaims in word and deed and in miracle that death does not have the final say. And who does He first entrust this message to? Women. It is such a liberating and empowering message for you, for me, and every woman out there.” - Margaret Feinberg

“It’s so easy to go to those negative places. A simple practice we all can engage in is making declarations that are rooted in scripture and begin rewiring our brain toward a new reality. Where there is death, I will speak life. Where there is brokenness, I will speak wholeness. And that can really begin to shift things, not just for ourselves, but for those around us.” - Margaret Feinberg

“Christ embraces us and our doubts and our fears and our questions and our skepticism, that there’s no question that is too big or too hard for Christ and His compassion and His resurrection power to answer.” - Margaret Feinberg

“When we let go of our final breath, that resurrection power that is in Christ is coming for us. And we will get to stand face to face with the one who made us and loved us more than we could ever imagine.” - Margaret Feinberg

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
The God You Need to Know by Margaret Feinberg

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Margaret Feinberg’s website
Margaret Feinberg’s Facebook
Margaret Feinberg’s Instagram
Margaret Feinberg’s X
Margaret Feinberg’s YouTube

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Show more...

2 weeks ago

16 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

The Rising Album: A Producer’s Perspective with Ben Shive
In this episode of The Rising Podcast, join Melanie as she welcomes her long-time collaborator and friend, award-winning music producer Ben Shive. Ben, known for his incredible musical talent and insight, has produced all of Melanie’s albums, including The Rising, a resurrection album they co-wrote. They delve into their creative process, discussing how they crafted songs inspired by scripture, navigating the delicate balance of interpretation and faithfulness. The conversation expands to explore what it truly means to be an artist and creator, touching on themes of calling, workaholism, and the importance of Sabbath in a technology-driven world. Ben shares deeply personal insights into his spiritual journey and the challenges of balancing artistic ambition with spiritual discipline. This episode offers a unique perspective for artists and creators of all kinds, as well as anyone interested in the intersection of faith and creativity.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“We really didn’t want to feel like we were putting words in Jesus’ mouth that makes him my Jesus… one that I find to be easier to grapple with… So I remember feeling some humility writing the “Jesus” song. - Ben Shive

“He's my Dad, so He doesn't go 'shame on you.' He goes 'yes, I know that's what you did. I saw you do that.' It's like when my kids mess up, I'm not going to catch them so I can bust them. I'm hoping they get caught so that we can talk about it and they can learn and grow. That's God's attitude toward me." - Ben Shive

"I'm not in control of who the music reaches and how they feel about it when it reaches them. So my goals have become a little bit more about what the work is supposed to be like. What should the process feel like? What's an honoring way to work?"- Ben Shive

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Remembering by Wendell Berry
A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band by Rich Mullins
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
“Holy is the Lord” by Ben Shive and Andrew Peterson
The Sermon on the Mount

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Show more...
3 weeks ago
17 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

A Revelation of the Resurrection: Ismail Youssef’s Spiritual Transformation
In this compelling episode of The Rising Podcast, Ismail Youssef—also known as Ish of Arabia—is a former Muslim who left Islam to embrace Catholicism, rejecting what he sees as the contradictions, injustices, and oppressive teachings of Muhammad. On the show, Ismail shares his journey of spiritual awakening, revealing how a dream ignited a transformation from Islam to Christianity. Ismail details his personal encounter with Christ and articulates insights on faith, the resurrection, and the power of divine connection.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“There’s a more direct connection in Christianity to God. It’s more of a friendship connection. So this idea that God was a friend who was going to help me out on my day-to-day life was very foreign to me and didn’t make much sense to me until I saw how it influenced the Christians around me.” - Ismail Youssef

“I realized that there's a God and He loves me and He hasn’t abandoned me. And He’s not far away, He’s right here. All He wants me to do is put my faith in Him.” - Ismail Youssef

“God’s always on the mind, because He lives inside you now.” - Ismail Youssef

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Ismail’s interview on Pints With Aquinas Podcast
Flavius Josephus

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Ismail’s Instagram
Ismail’s YouTube

*Correction/clarification: It is stated at 00:40 that Ismail was born in Egypt. He was actually born in Nova Scotia.

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

*The Rising Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media.
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1 month ago
26 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

The Hope of the Empty Tomb: Father Ambrose Criste, O.Praem.
This week on The Rising Podcast, Melanie speaks with Father Ambrose Criste about the resurrection and its meaning for Christians today. Father Ambrose shares his love for the biblical accounts of Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, including the profound meaning of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. He also highlights the empty tomb as evidence of the resurrection and the hope that belief in the risen Christ offers to a world that fears death.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“Faith is a gift. There are very often obstacles that stand in the way between us and faith. And those obstacles have to be removed.” - Father Ambrose Criste

“Life would be so meaningless if you didn't know on faith that there’s something beyond this life, and that this life and everything we love about it and enjoy about it will carry with us into the next life. I don’t know how people would find any meaning in their life without that.” - Father Ambrose Criste

“God knows your darkest secrets, but that doesn't make Him love you less, it makes Him love you more. He loves you more because He knows how much you need to be loved. And He calls you by name.” - Father Ambrose Criste

“The lower we humble ourselves before the Lord, the higher He raises us up.” - Father Ambrose Criste

Guest’s Links:
St. Michael’s Abbey website
St. Michael’s Abbey Facebook
St. Michael’s Abbey Instagram
St. Michael’s Abbey X
St. Michael’s Abbey YouTube

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

*The Rising Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media.
Show more...
1 month ago
19 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

Doubting Toward Belief: Molly Worthen’s Journey to the Resurrection
Historian Molly Worthen, a former skeptic who once envied those with faith, embarked on an unexpected journey toward belief in Jesus' resurrection. Her academic work in American religious history led her to examine Christian claims more deeply. Conversations with a pastor and advice from theologian/Christian apologist Tim Keller prompted her to reconsider her skepticism, as she found the evidence for the resurrection more compelling than she initially thought. This shift in perspective on the supernatural culminated in her baptism in a Southern Baptist church, a surprising turn for someone with an academic background who had previously dismissed such beliefs. Worthen’s story illustrates how open-mindedness and supportive relationships can lead to profound and unexpected changes in one’s convictions.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“From that fairly early point, age 18 or 19, I think I already detected in myself a real envy of people who had a religious home, who had some confidence in a set of answers to the big questions.” - Molly Worthen

“I realized I had a lot of questions that I had never looked into. Despite being a historian of Christianity, I’d never really, in a close and thoughtful way, investigated the basic historical claims of the faith.” - Molly Worthen

“The case for the reality of the resurrection was just a whole lot better than I thought. And the case for my old worldview was starting to crumble.” - Molly Worthen

“I have read the gospels plenty of times, it’s part of my job description. But I had always read them out of duty, I was never gripped by them. But there was a grittiness and a reality—especially in Jesus’ encounters with the people He heals—that really arrested me for the first time.” - Molly Worthen

“Maybe we’ll get to hang out with the apostles one day. It’s almost a credit to their humanity and respect for one another that they just let each other tell the story like they were friends.” - Melanie Penn

“My faith is very fragile. I am always having to revisit the questions I've been wrestling with for a long time and needing reassurance, and I'm always hungry to read more and learn more. Even if you feel fairly firm in your faith, I think you need a community where you can ask those questions without being afraid that you'll be taken as some kind of heretic.” - Molly Worthen

“I think it's so important—whether you're a Christian or a seeker—to find a community that is comfortable with doubt. I would encourage people who have questions to persist in finding, until they find a conversation partner who supports them.” - Molly Worthen

“Christianity is unique among the world religions in that it stands or falls on a discrete event that believers say happened in history. And it happened close enough to our own time that there actually is evidence.” - Molly Worthen

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
The New York Times
The New Yorker
Foreign Policy
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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1 month ago
23 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

Doctrine or Reality?: Why Christianity’s Cornerstone Event Holds Up Today with Gavin Ortlund
Join Melanie Penn on The Rising as she welcomes Dr. Gavin Ortlund—pastor, author, speaker, and apologist. In this episode, Gavin and Melanie delve into the historical evidence of the resurrection of Christ. Dr. Ortlund discusses common skeptical theories against the resurrection, such as grave theft and hallucination, and explains why the disciples’ willingness to die for their eyewitness accounts is compelling evidence. He also introduces the “criterion of embarrassment” from the Gospels, highlighting how the apostles’ unflattering portrayals of themselves lend credibility to their testimonies. Plus, hear why the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit means believers today are in a better position than even the apostles were. Discover more about Dr. Ortlund’s work, including his YouTube channel, Truth Unites, and his upcoming book, Why Christianity Makes Sense.

Thought-Provoking Quotes:
“People are really searching for hope right now and they’re so desperate, they look everywhere. So I want to talk about the reasons we have for peace and joy and assurance in who Jesus is.” - Gavin Ortlund

“We have an epidemic of anxiety, and I think some of that anxiety relates to spiritual questions. And I think happily, there are some answers to those questions.” - Gavin Ortlund

“My arguments for Christianity only take me so far. They're not getting me all the way to certainty and that's true for the resurrection as well. I think historical evidence and arguments are compelling. They're good witnesses, but they don't produce faith in your heart.” - Gavin Ortlund

“I'm not interested in an apologetics that kind of pulls back from the way the rest of human life works. I'm interested in one that speaks to people where they're at, gives honest answers to honest questions.” - Gavin Ortlund

“The book of Jude says, have mercy on those who doubt. That is comforting, that it's in the Bible. What that tells us is, I don't want to glorify doubt, as though it's a good thing, but genuine Christians have doubts.” - Gavin Ortlund

“The Holy Spirit is our greatest comfort and consoler. He gives assurance, he gives peace, he gives joy. Think of a warm, pleasant breath falling upon you that takes your fears away. This is what the Holy Spirit can do. And just pray with confidence and pray with expectation that he will be able to meet our needs based upon what Christ has done in history and now what the spirit does inside of us.” - Gavin Ortlund

*Watch this interview on the YouTube channel!
*All episode music is by Melanie Penn.

Guest’s Links:
Truth Unites website
Truth Unites Facebook
Truth Unites Instagram
Truth Unites X
Truth Unites YouTube

Connect with Melanie:
The Rising (Album)
Website
Facebook
Show more...
1 month ago
23 minutes

The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

[TRAILER] Coming Soon: The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn
Introducing The Rising Podcast! Hosted by singer/songwriter and worship leader Melanie Penn, this podcast delves into the pivotal event of the resurrection. Episodes will be released weekly, coinciding with Melanie’s new album, The Rising: A Resurrection Album.

The album’s songs narrate the resurrection story, from Holy Saturday to Christ’s Ascension. In The Rising Podcast, Melanie interviews authors, historians, personalities, and academics, fostering conversations between a contemporary songwriter and a spiritual community of theologians, thought-leaders, and scholars. These discussions aim to offer rare insights for both believers and skeptics.

The Rising Podcast is launching soon—subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode!

Connect with Melanie:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Spotify

*The Rising Podcast is a production of Four Eyes Media.
Show more...
1 month ago
2 minutes