ALL THAT'S HOLY BLUE COLLAR PODCAST
episode 51 the “b” episode (Asher's on the episode, too)
We got a bit alliterative. We got hung up on the letter “b”.
No, you did not miss the “a” episode. And with Code-man Cody and Crash-test Craig, we’ve got the letter “c” covered already.
Our opening conversation is messy as we discuss fifth-wheels, squishy sounds, and driving from Twin Falls to Arizona.
This week we stay with this wonderful letter and allow it to usher us into theological imagination, homiletic insights, as well as a helping us to further the missio dei (see if you can sense the missiological implications, let us know).
This is the BBQ, Books, and Baseball episode
Barbeque
Cody fires up his brand-new grill with his dog at his side. The audio carries all the sound effects of charcoal bags opening, a dog barking, the clattering of the coals pouring into the chute. Craig waxes poetic about a wagyu roast smoked on the grill and finds homiletic inspiration. If you like beef, you’ll like this episode.
Baseball
From there, Craig get opinionated about how American’s fixation on home runs is ruining baseball and he calls for an alternative to the home-run derby – the base-hit derby. There’s a place for small ball!
Books
We are reading a lot of books. Some for fun, others for formation (transformation and information). We rattle on about some of the books we’ve been reading. Let us know if you have some suggestions. We are reading and keeping authors in mind for conversations on the podcast.
Since we didn’t start with the letter “a”, we see no reason to follow this with the next letter in the alphabet. We will begin thinking about the next alliterative episode. We wonder what that letter might be?
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episode 50: Christine Longhurst: will worship “get back to normal”?
episode 50: Christine Longhurst: will worship “get back to normal”?
Professor of Music and Worship, Dr. Christine Longhurst is our interview this week. However, Cody and Craig hadn’t talked for along time and had a lot of catching up to do. After a few minutes of us gabbing, if you want to hear some real wisdom, forward to 1:24 into the episode and listen to Christine Longhurst discuss her research, Worship in a Time of Pandemic: A Survey of Congregational Practices.
We talk about her mid-pandemic research on the different ways congregations were responding at the time. Of particular interest was the section of the study which contemplated what, if any, effects or learnings churches had encountered would be carried on following the resumption of traditional worship. Would things actually “get back to normal”?
You can read Christine Longhurst’s study by going to her worship resources blog. While, there, look around at the great selection of resources she has developed for liturgical and lectionary-based worship.
Follow Christine at: re:Worship; and at Canadian Mennonite University. Dr. Longhurst’s research can be found at: http://pandemicworshipsurvey.blogspot.com/
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Our intro and concluding music is by At The Speed of Darkness. Follow on Instagram, and buy music from At The Speed of Darkness on Bandcamp.
episode 49: Kurt Willems and Echoing Hope
After spending a number of years talking and thinking about Paul, Kurt Willems realized he wanted to talk about Jesus as the “center of faith.” Kurt’s first book, Echoing Hope: How the humanity or Jesus redeems our pain, provides reflections and exercises and practices to allow the reader to participate. Echoing Hope is published by WaterBrook.
Follow Kurt on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; as well as on the site for Echoing Hope at echoinghope.com where you find bonus material to accompany the book.
episode 47: black history pilgrimage with Anthony Smith
Episode 47: Black History Pilgrimage with Anthony Smith
Cody introduces us to Anthony Smith, pastor, poet, and imaginaut in Salsbury, NC. Anthony introduces us to a lot of incredible perspectives on Black History Month. Linking Black History month to liturgical imagination and historical reflection, Anthony brings out some remarkable insights. Around the 40:00 minute mark, Cody and Craig learn about unlearning whiteness and about “would-be” white people. Also, for aspiring “allies” listen closely.
Follow Anthony Smith at The Transformation Network and on social media on Facebook and Twitter
Following our conversation with Anthony, Cody and Craig cover a lot of ground from Daft Punk and the Blind Boys of Alabama to the contract signing of Fernando Tatis; commemoration of the half-million lives lost in the Covid-19 pandemic and the hopes arising from Perseverance landing on Mars; the politics of (electrical) power in Texas; and concluding with listening to Common Hymnal’s medley of Rose Petals and Lift Every Voice as we recognize the one-year mark following the death of Amhaud Arbery.
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episode 46: positively seinfeldian
episode 46: positively seinfeldian
Positively, no negatively. Seinfeldian, seinfeldish, maybe even incorporating seinfeldianizationary rhetoric.
If you are aware of the show, Seinfeld, you might now how the show was described:
In a wide-ranging conversation, Craig and Cody talked about something. A lot of somethings, even. But just nothing in particular.
However we did discuss a new resource to watch as we are part-way through Black History Month. Beginning February 16 on PBS, The Black Church, “will explore the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews.”
episode 45: Tobin Miller Shearer
Ash Wednesday, continued…
(Before we get too far, my mic died. I sound terrible. Sorry for hurting your ears -Craig)
Following up on last week’s conversation regarding Lent and Ash Wednesday, we get to premiere a wonderful song just in time for your Ash Wednesday time of worship. From Katie and Jacob Eckeberger, better known as, My Anchor Holds, is their newest song, Ashes.
We get to listen to this new song with our guest: scholar, professor, and consultant, Tobin Miller Shearer of the University of Montana (go Griz!), Professor of History; Director of African-American Studies.
“We love Ash Wednesday and all it stands for. Communion is also one of the most meaningful sacraments for us. A couple years ago during Lent, we decided to write a song that highlights the beauty in these elemental, tangible acts of worship that more deeply connect us to one another and to God. It's a way of reminding us that our communities are healed from brokenness, and we are often more connected with God when we keep things simple. Bread, wine, water, earth - these basics will always help us find our way back.” Katie Eckeberger of My Anchor Holds
From Ashes:
“We need to grasp something that’s real/the tangible life-giving God, who is here/Bread to sink our teeth into/and wine to wind us down/water to cleanse all we’ve been through/ ashes to keep us on solid ground/By the light of day/this or promise/so we’ll watch and wait/Disconnected, who we fail to find, God own presence, in another’s eyes/We all cause some pain, we all bear the wounds, of the walls we built, help us break them through….From dust we came and to dust we will return, this flesh and bone be ground and holy earth”
Follow My Anchor Holds: on Facebook and Instagram, and at http://www.myanchorholds.net/
Find My Anchor Holds also on Spotify, CD Baby, and iTunes.
Tobin Miller Shearer
While Tobin links the events of January 6th and insurrection to the foundations of white supremacy, all is not lost. Positively – hopefully – Tobin shares his beliefs that the deep practices and infrastructure of the church are available to transform people to become anti-racist and to dismantle white supremacy. Commitment to baptismal vows, spiritual formation, and Christian education are available tools the church has to engage in this work.
Follow and check out Tobin’s work and writing:
http://tobinmillershearer.blogspot.com
And more in scholarly academic journals.
episode 44: it's beginning to look a lot like...Lent
episode 44: it's beginning to look a lot like…Lent
In keeping with our New Year’s Resolution to look into the upcoming lectionary themes at the beginning of each month, we take most of this episode to discuss themes, approaches, and a few resources for Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Along the way, we talk about Denver’s need for more heroes as we listen to the newest record yet, by Five Iron Frenzy. Check out their website and YouTube page for more information. Lonesome for Heroes, and Renegades. Remember there’s already at least one hero in Denver, our friend Sarah Jackson at Casa de Paz!
Somewhere we diverged and began thinking of the top songs of the rock era, as per Rolling Stone Magazine.
Eventually we get around to discussing Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Lenten thoughts
Here’s a list of links and resources in no particular order:
Lectionary Schedule of texts: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/lections.php?year=B&season=Lent
Lent in a Box: https://michiganumc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Lent-in-a-Box-compressed.pdf
Devotions, by Mary Oliver https://www.docdroid.net/FekUA0P/devotions-pdf
400 Souls:A Community History of African America, by Ibrahim Kendi and Keisha Blain, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624334/four-hundred-souls-by-edited-by-ibram-x-kendi-and-keisha-n-blain/
Not particularly Lenten-themed, but hey, we talked about it! Rolling Stone top 500 Songs (we may have been looking at an outdated list) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/
episode 43: Drew Hart
Episode 43: Drew Hart
In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Drew Hart, Assistant Professor of Theology at Messiah University, Mechanicsburg PA.
Drew has written two books which both tell his own story as an African American in predominantly white spaces, as well as provide directions for discipleship to dismantle racism. Our conversation is wide ranging and covers Drew’s personal story as well as the direction of his professional work as a theologian, researcher, anti-racism leader, and social change practitioner.
Find Drew’s books here:
One of the projects Drew is participating in is the Inverse Podcast. Inverse describes itself this way, “Inverse Podcast belongs to the ones who are dissatisfied with the Bible being used to justify hatred.” One of the books mentioned in the conversation is After Whiteness, by Willie James Jennings.
Stay in touch with Drew on social media, and through his personal website:
https://drewgihart.com/ and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
episode 42: what comes next?
We enter 2021 talking about the rough and rocky ride that has gotten us this far. And we also take some time to talk about upcoming podcasts and plans we are making.
episode 41: The Year in Re-Pre-Review
Enjoying the Days of Christmas following Kate Bowler’s Facebook page - The Catalonian poopper
Pet Peeves about New Year's?
Bringing in the New Year vs Ringing in the New Year
Best year in review show: Death to 2020 on Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes rating is only 29%, which tells you more about me, I suppose.
Trailer https://youtu.be/veUqfcyZ_Bo
Theological issues for 2021?
1. Does theological deconstructionism become a fad leading to fad agnosticism?
2. As crucial as community is to faith formation, what difference might the pandemic make to people who are processing their deconstruction in isolation?
Thinking about Stages of Faith by James Fowler, pg 293
I think it unlikely that person will develop faith beyond the Individuative-Reflective stage without committing themselves to some image or images of a faithful ultimate environment and shaping their lives in the human community so as to live in complementarity with it….The issue is finally not whether we and our companions on this globe become Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Taoists, Confucianist, or Christians, as important as that issue sis. The real question is, will there be faith on earth (Luke 18.8) and will it be good faith – faith sufficiently inclusive so as to counter and transcend the destructive henotheistic idolatries of national, ethnic, racial, and religious identifications and to bind us as a human community in covenantal trust and loyalty to each other and the Ground of our Being (pg 293).
Does the human tendency to find community combine with deconstructionism to move toward polarities?
Cody describes just preaching the Beatitudes becomes polemical, “why are you getting so political?”
And we conclude with a description of an awesome birthday tradition.
See you next year!
episode 40: "Make these messes matter, make this chaos count"
"Make these messes matter, make this chaos count"
Cody and Craig discuss the Christmas star and Covid on eyelids, as well as a lot of other meaningless and profound things. Cody talks about story while Craig bakes bread. We discuss stories and Christmas preparations; Christmas and church life; and turns toward ranting about seasonal pet-peeves. Craig gets all worked up over the misuse of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Items from this episode:
The cost of the Twelve Days of Christmas by PNC Financial Services
SNL – Family Christmas and the Robe: https://youtu.be/FOVCtUdaMCU
Songs for ending a year?
Imogen Heap - Last Night of an Empire: https://youtu.be/p_88sLiksOk
Judah & the Lion - Beautiful Anyway: https://youtu.be/RkdV5CTnx6M
The Avett Brothers – Victory: https://youtu.be/kzq5GmX90_E
episode 39: Silly, Sentimental, & Sacred Songs of the Season
We covered some of our favorite topics in this latest podcast. We talk about Lifetime TV, listen to singing livestock, discuss how we will continue to miss hockey, and the challenges racial injustice what we need to hear arising from critical race theory, and the horror of being in a luxury hotel for several months if you are a millionaire (i.e. NBA athlete). Not only that but we discuss some of our favorite Advent and Christmas songs. We want to find out your favorites, too. Drop us a line on Facebook to let us know your favorite Christmas songs from the categories of silly, sentimental, and sacred. Bonus points for one song that qualifies for all three categories!
Songs we highlighted on this podcast:
Silly
Relient K – I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas
The Kinks – Father Christmas
Sentimental
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon
Relient K – Merry Christmas, Here’s to Many More
Sacred
Caedman’s Call – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Conrad Gebel College Choir – Comfort, Comfort, O My People
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episode 38 Greg Kendall-Ball on Cricket, Truth, and Photography
Cody and Craig have a winding conversation with New York Times photo-editor, Greg Kendall-Ball. Greg perspective on the world is not limited to a viewfinder. Having grown up in South Africa and coming the States in order to attend college, Greg might not see life in the United States the way others do. We dip into the world of cricket (the sport, not the bug) as well as discuss the nature of truth in a post-truth world, acknowledging the challenges existing for journalist.
Greg also provides helpful distinctions between photography as art and as journalism. Greg is a photojournalist, not an artist. We also ask Greg our standard Five Questions. Someday, we hope to enjoy his carbonara with homemade pasta.
Follow Greg Kendal-Ball on Facebook and Instagram. Spending time on Greg’s Instragram allows you to see his fine work.
Also, support local journalism. If you do not subscribe to the New York Times, make sure to subscribe to your local paper.
episode 37: Dr. Thomas Jay Oord photographer and theologian
Cody Stauffer and Craig Morton sit down for a relaxed conversation with Thomas Jay Oord. Tom is a creative theologian, bringing a vital message of God’s ongoing love and relationship with creation. As an open and relational theologian, we make good use of Tom’s time by talking about celebrity pastors, photographing very old pianos, the Center for Open and Relational Theology, and about Northwind Theological Seminary and the advanced program in Open and Relational Studies. In this conversation, as in year’s past, we discuss with Tom the Advent season and the role of the prophetic scriptures in the common lectionary.
Tom’s photo of the ruins of an old homestead and remnants of a piano somewhere in the Owyhee wilderness.
Follow Tom on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Make sure to check out his website at: http://thomasjayoord.com/ and sign up for his newsletters so you can stay informed about his recent writing and photography.
episode 36: Is it CoronAdvent or Advent-a-rona?
On this episode we cover only those elements of the recent election that have a good beat. Paula White sampling may become an entirely new music genre. Additionally, we demonstrate the wonder of randomized music playlists as Audrey Assad’s Mortal, leads into Weezer’s Die You Zombie B*st*rds.
Advent Resources
And through the miracle of time, we review a couple Advent resources and ideas. We highlight the resources from the Presbyterian Church USA and from Godspace.
Godspace has published, Lean Toward the Light This Advent and Christmas which follows the Celtic Advent calendar which adds about two more weeks to Advent, beginning on November 15th.
The PCUSA has produced a devotional guide inspired by theologian, Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited, called Let Us Light Candles. Also, they have produced a four-part video curriculum called, Annunciations: Disruption and Invitation with an accompanying study guide. Annunciations: Disruption and Invitation, “explores the sacred stories of Advent and Christmas through the biblical narratives of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph and….Using brief clips as conversation starters and interweaving them with the biblical narrative and Advent themes….Each week also includes a brief filmed interview connecting the day’s topic with the unfolding impact of COVID-19. The films share stories that are drawn from the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that killed 230,000, gun violence, refugee resettlement, immigration detention and environmental racism.”
Additionally, we talk a great lectionary-based podcast, Lit Liturgy. Over at Lit LIturgy they have been thinking about “cornadvent” and “covid carols” to help you get ready for this Advent and Christmas season.
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episode 35: Adam Eriksen & Signs of the Times
On this week’s podcast, we talk with Adam Eriksen from Clackamas United Church of Christ in Milwaukie, Oregon, and the Raven Foundation. Adam has recently become (in)famous for his clear and concise message-board messages. As a pastor, Adam has been able to turn the simple reader-board, often the domain of cliché puns and programmatic announcements, into a fresh take on the invitational power of the gospel. Regularly, these messages turn into conversations, neighborhood connections, and create new friendships.
Additionally, Adam is a student of the thought of Rene Girard, whose insights inform peacebuilding and conflict transformation. We talk about Girard and mimetic theory and how this may be an especially important skill in this time of our polarized and argumentative society.
Learn more about Adam, Clackamas United Church of Christ, and The Raven Foundation:
· Adam Eriksen on Facebook, and Instagram.
· Clackamas United Church of Christ online, and on Facebook. While at the Clackamas church website, make sure to check out the Merch tab for great mugs, t-shirts, and calendars.
· The Raven Foundation: https://www.ravenfoundation.org/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
episode 34: Sarah Jackson and the House that Love Built
Sarah Jackson joins our conversation. Sarah is entrepreneur of compassion and hospitality. With a heart for the immigrant community, Sarah and her team at Casa de Paz in Denver, Colorado, serve individuals and families who have suffered immigration detention. Our conversation is wide ranging, including information on Sarah’s favorite type of television programming, wisdom from her 3-year old niece, Gabi, and a foundational belief in the abundance of God’s provision and grace.
As we talk about God’s abundance, Sarah describes how, even during the pandemic, Casa de Paz has had the opportunity to grow and develop and expand. Over the past year, Sarah authored a book, The House that Love Built, and has been the focus of a documentary that is now making the rounds at film festivals, Welcome Strangers: A timely story of loving thy neighbor.
Learn more about Sarah Jackson and Casa de Paz by buying the book, and by following on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
And remember to support At the Speed of Darkness, who produced our intro and outro music. You can listen to and support At the Speed of Darkness on Bandcamp at https://atthespeedofdarkness.bandcamp.com/
episode 33: Whitney Mestelle and Inclusive Idaho
episode 33: Whitney Mestelle and Inclusive Idaho
On this episode of The All That’s Holy: Blue Collar Podcast, we speak with Whitney Mestelle, co-founder and executive director of Inclusive Idaho. Whitney brings together three things we really like: faith, cultural issues, and sports. In this episode, Whitney shares about her vision for Inclusive Idaho and begins around the 15-minute mark.
Inclusive Idaho emerged around the response to the killing of George Floyd, as Whitney sought to find a meaningful way for the community to come together. On June 2, Whitney and her team organized the Black Lives Vigil which was attended by over 5000 people gathered around the Idaho state capital. You can learn more about that event through local press reports: Idaho Press and KTVB.
episode 32 just two guys talking
episode 32 Two Guys Just Talking
In this episode, Cody and Craig take time to do two interviews: Craig and Cody. After all the time talking to each other and with guests, we’ve never taken time to interview each other. A part of these interviews was to test out the five questions we ask almost every guest. The questions are: What are you drinking? What are you watching? What are you reading? What are you listening to? And, where would you take us for dinner?
In this rambling episode we cover:
Podcasts:
Musicians:
· At the Speed of Darkness, on Bandcamp
· Orville Peck, a mysterious country-singer whose true identity remains hidden.
· From Wichita, Kansas we talk about Yasmin Nur and her three-piece band.
Books:
· Eric Hoffer and The True Believer
· John Bolton, The Room Where it Happened
Stay tuned, we’ve got some great conversations with activists, writers, and scholars in the coming weeks.
episode 31: 2020s Forsight, A Conversation with Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen
episode 31: 2020s Forsight, A Conversation with Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen
Cody Stauffer and Craig Morton haven’t talked together for awhile, there was a lot to catch up on. So if you’re more interested in hearing from our guests, Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen about their new book, 2020s Foresight, just fast-forward to 47minutes and 30 seconds to hear our special guests.
2020s Foresight
“The book is intended to equip Christian leaders to anticipate some of the new challenges in the 2020s; discover God's shalom purposes for our lives, the church, and God's world; and create innovative new possibilities for our lives, communities, and congregations that both engage new opportunities and advance God's purposes,” states Fortress Press.
Our conversation covers these topics and a wide range of other issues and ideas. These days of incredible discontinuous change make this topic all the more vital.
Learn more about 2020s Foresight and the work of Tom and Dwight by following the 2020s Foresight Facebook page.
Learn more about Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen at the following links:
http://www.newchangemakers.com/
As you listen to the entire podcast, you’ll notice Cody and I are figuring out how we are going develop our podcast going forward. If you’ve got some creative ideas we’d like to hear. Visit our podcast page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/allthatsholy .
Music on this episode is from At The Speed of Darkness. Support his music through Bandcamp.