Wide Eyed Christianity

There's a movement to slow down in the summer and we're jumping in. Sean and Ben discuss slowing down, getting quieter, and restoring, renewing, or even rebuilding our lives in a different kind of rhythm. Take a Sabbath day more seriously and slow down with us. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

We just had our Blue Ribbon Sunday, which featured the work of the Common Cathedral this year. They minister to people experiencing homelessness in Boston, and Sean spoke with their Executive Director, Amanda Grant-Rose. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Can we forgive ourselves, or must forgiveness be given by someone else? It turns out forgiveness is a complicated thing. Ben and John discuss it on this week's episode. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Do you enjoy the podcast but wonder what it is like at First Baptist Church on Sundays? This episode comes from a recent sermon by Sean Witty, closing with the invitation to communion. If you are in the Newton area, come by some time and see for yourself Sundays at 10 AM. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

With the recent addition of John Boopalan, the staff at First Baptist Church in Newton has been growing. We have even been having full staff meetings lately, the latest of which Sean Witty began by handing out a line of poetry. It was from poet David Whyte, whose work on personhood Sean and Ben discuss this week. Learn more about David Whyte on his website davidwhyte.com If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Sean Witty is on vacation, so Ben is joined once again by John Boopalan, our new Director of Community Life and Theologian in Residence. It should not be surprising that once the two theologians got in a room with mics turned on, they had a discussion about the task of theology. If you want to contact John about small groups, email him at john@fbcnewton.org or meet him in person Sundays at 10:00 am here at 848 Beacon St. in Newton, MA. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app for smartphones. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Sean Witty and Benjamin Chicka are joined by John Boopalan, the new Director of Community Life and Theologian in Residence at First Baptist Church in Newton. Learn a little about his background, interests, and what he will be bringing to the church community.  If you want to contact John, email him at john@fbcnewton.org or meet him in person Sundays at 10:00 am here at 848 Beacon St. in Newton, MA. If you like the podcast, please subscribe to receive all new episodes by searching for it by name in any podcast app for smartphones. Android users can also subscribe on Google Play by clicking here. Apple users can also subscribe on iTunes by clicking here. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Sean Witty discusses the infamous sign in a recent sermon. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

You may know Rob Mathes as the artist responsible for the intro and outro music you hear on the podcast each week. You may not know he hangs out with Sting more than his family, and has incisive commentary about Christianity. This special longer edition of the podcast features a conversation between Sean Witty and Rob Mathes. Learn more about Rob Mathes and find his work on his website robmathes.com Follow Rob on Twitter to stay informed about his new projects @robmathesmusic And, as always, thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro.

Frank Schaeffer joined us during worship on March 5 for some honest conversation. He is the author of Why I am an Atheist Who Believes in God and the subject of the movie let me be FRANK. Buy his book on Amazon by clicking here Watch the trailer to the movie by clicking here Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Dick Simon is founder of the kNOw Them Initiative and joined us on episode 11 of the podcast. In February he joined us on a Sunday for one of our Red Chair Conversations. Just two red chairs, honest conversation with Sean Witty, and questions from the congregation. Dick Simon also gave a TEDx Talk called "The most dangerous Four-letter word" Learn more about Dick, his bike ride across the country, and see his photography on his website Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

"The task of theology is to save the planet." This is what theologian John Cobb said at the New Frontiers in Theology conference recently held in Claremont, CA, where Ben's school is located. Ben elaborates on what Cobb has in mind with this statement, then he and Sean go back and forth on the new and changing role of theology in 2017. It is an exciting time to think deeply about religion! Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Between school and work, dealing with winter weather, and a myriad of other challenges and responsibilities thrown at us every day, there is plenty to be stressed about. On this week's episode Sean and Ben talk about some of their practices for relieving stress. C. S. Lewis fans must check it out. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

This week's podcast topic is, well, the podcast. Sean and Ben discuss what makes them want to venture beyond their traditional pastoral and academic roles to do things like record this podcast and speak at conventions. Spoiler alert: It's all about you! Sean Witty can be found on twitter @seanwitty Ben Chicka can be found on twitter @benchicka First Baptist Church in Newton can be found on twitter @FBCnewton Follow them. Send them topics for the podcast. Send them questions to discuss on the podcast. Tell them what other podcasts you think are worth a listen.

Sean and Ben spent the weekend mere feet away from each other and never knew it. Get to know the two a little better as they talk about what they do for fun, and how that relates to purpose in life. Sean was at the New England Auto Show Ben was at Arisia: New England's Largest, Most Diverse Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention The panels Ben recorded at Arisia can be found on his other podcast project, TheoNerd There was talk of The Purpose Drive Life by Rick Warren. For a theologically sound alternative that was not born out of the self-centered prosperity gospel, read Becoming a Thinking Christian by John Cobb

Sean and Ben are joined by a wonderful member of the First Baptist Church in Newton community, Dick Ransom. Dick discusses the class he is leading Sunday mornings on Jewish, Christian, and Muslim versions of shared Biblical stories, some recent travels abroad, and a little Duke basketball. Shared Stories, Rival Tellings by Robert C. Gregg For a preview of Dick's class, here is a PDF used in a sermon he delivered a few months ago You can attend Dick's class Sundays at 9 AM, downstairs in our Everts room Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! As the 12 days of Christmas continue, we want to give you a little Christmas gift. Lynn Bailey Witty joins Sean and Ben to talk about the creative process and record a couple songs live. Vesele Božić - Hristos se rodi! You can find Lynn's music on her website The historic location Lynn spoke about recording at is Carriage House Studios Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Theologian and philosopher Thomas Jay Oord joins Sean and Ben during this final week of Advent to talk about God's uncontrolling love. God is not limited by external factors or by choice. It is God's essential nature as loving to not control us or the world.  Thomas Jay Oord is a professor of theology and philosophy at Northwest Nazarene University His latest book is The Uncontrolling Love of God: An Open and Relational Account of Providence. You can find a free version of it as an audiobook broken into chapters on Ben's personal podcast project Theonerd. More of Tom's writing, as well as some amazing nature photography, can be found on his personal website. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

Last Sunday was the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and the related theme was joy. Sean and Ben talk about joy, and contrast it with the mere presence of happiness. As Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) said, "In the understanding of the Church, sorrow is not replaced by joy; it is transformed into joy." In the great Ren & Stimpy musical catalog, "Happy Happy Joy Joy" is nowhere near as good a song as "It's Log" Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.

As Advent continues Sean and Ben talk about holding on to hope when things seem hopeless, and the work involved in realizing our ideals. Also, the Dewey Decimal System is named after Melvil Dewey, not John Dewey. Thank you to Rob Mathes for letting us use his song "Wake up Wide-Eyed" off the album Wheelbarrow for our intro and outro. Find more of his work and buy his music on his website.