Apprenticeship Podcast

Some thoughts on missions

I am wrapping up my thoughts on Living in Babylon. It's been a long journey. On to other things. Find me at Apprentice2Jesus.com.

One of the key people used by God to spark my love for Scriptures is Dr. Don Meyer. He served as VP for Academic Affairs at North Central University when I was a student and taught a Bible Study Methods Class that ignited a passion for Scriptures in my own life. He went on from NCU to become President of University of Valley Forge in PA. I interviewed him on his passion for Scriptures and how that has been used in his life to impact so many around the world.  You can follow me on my blog at Apprentice2Jesus.com 

We need to have spiritual rhythms in our lives as we enter the Babylonian exile of the culturalized American church. One of those necessary rhythms is the Scriptures. I have been exploring how I have come to love Scriptures and now I am exploring how that passion for Scriptures came alive in others. This episode is an interview with three African American pastors in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. They talk about their love for Scriptures and how they pass that along in their contexts. It is an enjoyable conversation.  My guests: Pastor William Land of St. Albans Church of God in Christ in St. Paul Pastor Carl John of Faith City Church in St. Paul Pastor David Myles of New Hope Church in the western part of the Cities My blog: Apprentice2Jesus.com 

A love for Scripture is a much needed rhythm in the life of the believer. Looking ahead (along the theme of Living in Babylon) it is important to learn that passion from others. Dr. Amy Anderson is my guest in this episode, along with some former students: Jonathan Maus, Daniel Shoemake, Ian Devaney, Samuel Keefe, and Michael Woods. Dr. Amy talks about her lifelong love for teaching and hunger for learning. Her former students then give witness to how that love for Scripture developed in them, and Dr. Amy played an important role during that development. It is a marvelous conversation worth your time.  Follow me at Apprentice2Jesus.com

White American conservative Christianity has done quite the job in hiding what the CHURCH really is when it comes to Christianity. If we are going to be in spiritual Babylon, we need to rediscover the beauty and power of the CHURCH of Jesus Christ.  You can follow me at my blog: Apprentice2Jesus.com

Studying and reading the Scriptures has been a lifelong joy. I want to share a life-changing time when this really came alive to me. We need the Scriptures to come alive for us once again. Find me on the web HERE. 

Dr. Dennis Edwards and I have a conversation on spiritual rhythms he has found helpful in his life as we talk about the way forward in our "Living in Babylon" series. I also ask Dr. Edwards about lessons from the historic black church we can take into our "Babylonian exile." The language Dr. Edwards uses to describe "exile" and "diaspora" is very valuable and added to my learning.  NOTE: This episode was recorded before the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial so it doesn't reflect the verdict.  Dr. Edwards is author of Might from the Margins: The Gospel's Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice.  He also authored two new articles in Christianity Today worth your time: "Sometimes You Have to Shake the Dust Off Your Feet" and "The Derek Chauvin Verdict is Good. But I'm Still Groaning"  Dr. Edwards also referred to a book by Shively Smith called Strangers to the Family.  You can find my thoughts at Apprentice2Jesus. 

These are some off the cuff thoughts on spiritual discipline and discipleship as I was reading through 2 Timothy 3-4. We need to learn to embrace ALL of discipleship and not just the "nice stuff." We need to learn to embrace the suffering Paul talks about to Timothy.  My blog. 

As the American church moves into the spiritual wilderness of the Babylonian captivity, it is vital to have deep rhythms and liturgies in our lives. A basic rhythm is prayer. I explore this in this episode. Apprentice2Jesus.com

I am exploring the idea of "Living in Babylon" with an eye toward the thought, "How should we live? What should the inform the American church in this time of spiritual exile?" This episode is an interview with the Rev. Kimberly Deckel. She is soon to be rector of All Souls Church in Phoenix, AZ. She talks about spiritual rhythms in her life and we also pick up the conversation on racial justice.  Some resources: My blog. All Souls Church Phoenix. Reading: Esau McCaulley's Reading While Black Willie J. Jenning's The Christian Imagination Charles Octavius Boothe's A Plain Theology for Plain People Podcasts: The Disrupters Podcast (Esau McCaulley) Truth's Table Podcast

Last year I had a series called "Leaving Babylon." This is a series title still in flux as I try to grasp all that the Lord is doing with the American church. I am back to "Living in Babylon" and now want to focus on what it will take to live as the Body of Christ in a new mindsight. My goal is to walk with joy and prepare us as the Body of Christ for what is ahead. To do that we need to find those spiritual rhythms in our lives that become the "base note" of our living. That has been the liturgy for me, along with my learning from the historic black church and other ethnic churches.  Join me on this powerful journey.  Apprentice2Jesus website. 

Traci Rhoades is author of the book Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) are Lost. The conversation centered around the topic of the book: learning more about the Church. In a time when we can easily grow bitter toward the Church, Traci has found a journey of joy.  You can find Traci at her website. Also on Twitter and Facebook. Another book she references is Putting Joy into Practice by Phoebe Mikhail.  You can find me at my blog.  This was a life-giving episode I hope you find as enriching as I felt when it was over. 

We have been bound up in "Christendom" or "culturalized Christianity." It is time to leave it. The Spirit is giving the invitation to move to a new place, NOT go back. In this time of disorientation, we need to learn to lament.  Apprentice2Jesus.com

We are going through another election season. "Living in Babylon" is a series that was birthed in the 2016 election cycle and I've had it stirring in my heart since that time. With the national election just under 40 days out, I need to say some things from Jeremiah 27-29. Buckle up. 

I am back exploring some thoughts on "leaving the Babylon of our own making." This episode looks at some of the things that have become idols in the American Church and how God is dealing with the Church to remove these idols.  You can find out more about me at Apprentice2Jesus.com 

I sat with local southern Alabama friends on a Zoom call to discuss Confederate monuments and how we remember history. It was a learning session for me.  Find more on my blog: Apprentice2Jesus.com

I sat down recently with two pastors that serve locally in Daphne, Alabama. They are pastors at Macedonia Baptist Church. I was also able to sit down in that conversation with a retired police Lieutenant from the Daphne Police Department. We had a good conversation about policing, community service, and how policing works in a local context. Be sure and visit my website: Apprentice2Jesus.com

In this episode I sit down with local pastors where I live in Baldwin County, AL. They bring their perspectives in life as well as what they see as a crucial moment for the Church in finally stepping up to tackle racism.  In this conversation we have Pastor Charles Jackson of Macedonia Baptist  Church, Father Taylor Ishii of Church of the Apostles, and Pastor Rich  Mueller of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Apprentice2Jesus.com https://www.facebook.com/PathToPeaceAL/ (Path to Peace is the organization I work with in Baldwin County to bring white churches and black churches together in conversation.)

I explore the question "How did we get here?" What led us to this Babylon of our own making? Find me at Apprentice2Jesus.com  Also my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos

In our chaotic times we need to think about truly living out the Kingdom of God rather than living out political agendas.

In this episode I sit down with youth speaker Terrence Talley and review the week's tragedies with the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis cop. We had an in-depth discussion on racism and what Terrence has personally gone through in his own life. How can we move forward as believers in this cultural climate and see the image of Christ formed in those around us? You can find out more about Terrence at TerrencTalley.com.  You can also follow me at Apprentice2Jesus.com

This is a discussion on the issues of racism we still deal with in our nation. My guests are Marlena Graves, author and activist, and Dennis Edwards, Professor of New Testament at North Park Seminary. Marlena Graves is author of the forthcoming book, The Way Down is Up: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself. Dennis Edwards is the author of the forthcoming book, Might from the Margins: The Gospel's Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice.

I had the privilege of interviewing Jay Kim, author of Analog Church: Why we need real people, places, and things in the digital age. I wanted to ask about the necessitated move to digital the American Church has had to go through in the time of isolation with coronavirus. 

In this final episode of the season I want to explore racism in the American Church. I will be adding notes in my blog where I post this particular episode to link to Apprentice2Jesus.com. This is the longest episode and I apologize for that in advance. I am also still learning podcasting so there is a lot of segments. I apologize in advance for that as well. 

I am exploring two major issues within the American conservative Church context. Women in ministry and racism. This episode features three influential women who have personally impacted my life and ministry.

In this episode I want to explore the Azusa Street Revival. This is a time where a particular group of people did not have the cultural pressures present that we see in the culture around them at that time or in our day. Why was that event so different?

I am working to get back into podcasting! This is my first attempt and my first series is going to be on two major issues in the American Church. Those issues that stir my heart the most right now are racism and women in leadership. I hope you listen in.