Life In The Gray

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In this sequel episode, we update everyone on how we're processing through our different faith journeys, addressing common questions we've received, and finding common ground along the way. We also discuss a hodgepodge of topics, ranging from social justice in the Orthodox tradition, to what we mean when we say "I believe in the Bible," to theosis (Christlikeness), to doctrine and the idol of certainty.   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

Based on a number of conversations, Derrick takes some time to further contextualize and clarify his newfound journey into Christian-Humanism, further defining the 'what' and the 'why' behind it all. This includes comparisons with Secular Humanism, practical applications of CH in our world, and why the word 'Christian' is not always helpful in conversations with others. 

This one's a long time coming! In our rawest, diciest, most transparent episode yet, Luther and Derrick discuss where the last year of their faith journeys has taken them. Throughout this discussion, we wrestle with a question that many in our world are asking themselves: 'Am I still a Christian?' This podcast will never be the same again... Timestamps Introduction (0:00) Luther's Journey into Eastern Orthodoxy (5:50) Derrick's Journey into Christian-Humanism (32:30) Closing Thoughts (1:16:10)   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

How do we navigate death in a death-denying culture? Joining Derrick today is professor and author J. Todd Billings, whose recent cancer diagnosis has given him a sobering perspective on life. He enlightens us on how he's learned to embrace his mortality, and how we too can healthily navigate life in the midst of pain and suffering. Timestamps Writing in the 'Gray' (0:00) Embracing Our Mortality (3:04) Redefining 'Sheol' (8:41) How To Navigate Suffering in Our Relationships, Churches, and Bibles (18:53) Narratives & Near-Death Experiences (40:50)   Dr. J. Todd Billings is the Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. An ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America, he received his M.Div. from Fuller Seminary and his Th.D. from Harvard. Check out his latest book The End of the Christian Life: How Embracing Our Mortality Free Us To Truly Live Connect with Dr. Billings at: jtoddbillings.com   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track

The Old Testament can be tricky to navigate. But thankfully, biblical scholar and author Tremper Longman III has dedicated his life to helping people better understand it. We discuss principles of interpretation, the problem of divine violence, and the Apocrapha.  Timestamps Introducing Tremper Longman III (:54) Principles for Interpreting the Old Testament (OT) (8:45) Divine Violence in the OT (16:31) Other OT Controversies (37:45)   Dr. Tremper Longman III (B.A. Ohio Wesleyan University; M.Div. Westminster Theological Seminary; M.Phil. and Ph.D. Yale University) is the Distinguished Scholar of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. He has written over 30 books including commentaries on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, and Nahum. His most recent book (with the psychologist Dan Allender) is God Loves Sex: An Honest Conversation about Sexual Desire and Holiness. His books have been translated into seventeen different languages. In addition, as a Hebrew

We're on another road trip, this time driving from our co-host Michelle's wedding! We chat it up with the wives to discuss our dating experiences, whether or not we can change our spouse, and our best marriage advice.  Timestamps What do you appreciate about marriage? (1:56) Can you change your spouse? (11:40) Lightening Round: First Date, Wedding Song, Favorite Vacation (29:16) Our best marriage advice (39:48)   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

In Post-Christian America, what does the church need to do in order to be relevant and effective? Should the church be focused on tweaking its current model, or does it need to tear it all down and start over with a fresh approach? Joining us is Caleb Keller, a leader of BILD's national CityChurch Network. Caleb is committed to nurturing church communities in a way that's grounded in the Scriptures. Timestamps One Man's Passion for the Local Church (3:46) The Current State of the Church (9:24) The Church in Scripture: Descriptive vs. Prescriptive (12:34) The House Church Movement (15:48) The Future of the Church (27:06)   Caleb has been a part of the BILD and Antioch School team since 2016, following a decade of non-vocational work with the team. Caleb works together with the leaders of Antioch School programs, helping them complete their certifications, and training them in the BILD paradigm and systems. Locally, he is part of the leadership team of the CityChurch of Ames-Des Moines, and helps to le

Acclaimed writer and filmmaker Kevin Miller (Hellbound, JESUSA) joins Derrick to wrestle with the relationship of violence to Christian nationalism, scapegoating, and the afterlife. Is there ever a good reason to use violence? Does the Bible teach us to use violence when necessary? Is God violent towards his enemies? Will God eventually save everyone? Buckle up for this one!  Timestamps The Journey of a Documentary Filmmaker (0:00) The Nature of Evil (18:03) How We Justify Violence (30:51) Jesus the Scapegoat (44:00) God & Violence in the Bible (54:18) Hellbound? (1:10:37)   Kevin Miller has worked on over a dozen films, including documentaries, feature films, and short film projects (he's Kevin Miller XI on imdb.com) and over a hundred books, both fiction and non-fiction, many of which he worked on as an editor. His best-selling debut novel Up the Creek has sold over 10,000 copies and has topped Amazon.com's Canadian literature chart for over 9 weeks. Kevin's career has taken him all over the p

We're back in a new year with Season 5! After the storm that was 2020, we discuss how to pick up the pieces and rediscover what we might've lost in the chaos: a sense of purpose. Joining us is none other than the Destiny Activator herself, Jennifer Fonseca.  Also listen in for a major announcement regarding Michelle and Season 5.  Timestamps Season 5 Updates/Announcement (0:16) Introducing Jennifer Fonseca: Destiny Activator (4:30) Purpose and Our Work (13:31) Purpose and Our Identity (16:53) How To Find My Purpose (29:15)   Jennifer currently serves as the Destiny Activator / Assistant Director of Career Development at Palm Beach Atlantic University, while managing her private coaching practice. She is published in a NASPA Journal and Player magazine. She earned her M.Ed. at the University of Toledo (after reading and embracing What Color is Your Parachute), and has a B.S. in Journalism/Public Relations from Bowling Green State University. She was certified by Gallup in 2003 in StrengthsFinder, and

Ready for some unfiltered 'Gray?' Recorded on a road trip back in February, this might be our most ridiculous episode yet! We'll be back in January for the premiere of Season 5. In the meantime, Merry Christmas from the Gray and stay safe!    Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com  

Is God's Spirit only in Christians? What do Christians often misunderstand about the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit confront injustice in our world? Joining us this episode is none other than renowned biblical scholar Jack Levison in one of our most lively, challenging, and thought-provoking discussions yet.  Timestamps The Faith Journey of a Scholar (1:56) The Spirit Throughout the Bible (16:20) The Experience of the Spirit (30:51) The Spirit In Our Lives (48:38) The Spirit In Our World Today  (1:02:15)   Jack Levison holds the W. J. A. Power Chair of Old Testament Interpretation and Biblical Hebrew at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. Raised in a tract house in Levittown, New York, Jack left to attend Wheaton College, followed by an MA at Cambridge University. When he returned from England to pursue doctoral studies at Duke University, Jack fell in love with a divinity student, Priscilla Pope, whose office is now just down the hall from him at SMU. With essays in the Huff

Two years ago, we checked in with Derrick to see how his views had changed over time. Now it's time to do the same with Luther as we hear how his views have changed on owning a gun, women in ministry, tithing, sex, and even the Bible.      Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED   Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ   www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

What do we make of George Floyd, police brutality, Black Lives Matter, white supremacy, and protests across the nation? Luther and Derrick once again engage in a passionate conversation on race and why it matters for this moment we find ourselves in.   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

Are conspiracy theories outlandish speculations or covered-up truth? It's time to find out which of us is the craziest as we each share a well-known conspiracy theory that we believe has some shred of credibility based on evidence. Does your favorite conspiracy make the cut?   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

What starts off as a rant about the "Christian Girl Instagram" develops into a larger conversation about how social media can hinder us from practicing spiritual disciplines solely for an audience of One.   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

Can a civilized conversation about politics still happen in this day and age? We give it a shot on this week's episode, once and for all revealing where we each stand on issues, parties, and even presidents.    Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

We're back! In our Season 4 premiere, we tackle one of the grayest subjects of them all: God and suffering. We examine the Coronavirus through the lens of God, church, and culture, while giving our predictions for where all this is heading, and how it will shape the world as we know it. On a lighter note, we also give updates about what we've been up to the last eight months.    Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIRED Track Name: "The Process" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2Q License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode Music promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

For this last episode, we present an unfiltered, intimate conversation about what it means practically to live life in the gray. Listen in for such exciting revelations as to who came up with our name and tagline, what our favorite episodes are, what we learned about each other from this experience, what our plans are for the future, and what this podcast means to us. Life In The Gray has been a grand experiment in being transparent as we processed through our thinking out loud with trusted friends. We encourage you to find a group of trusted friends and do the same. Due to changing life circumstances, we have decided to put Life In The Gray on an indefinite hiatus for the time being. Feel free to check out any older episodes you might have missed, and continue to follow us for updates to see what we are up to next. We thank everyone for making this a memorable journey, and we hope to return someday; until then, when things aren't black or white, continue living life in the gray. Cheers!

Is America more like Israel, God's chosen nation? Or like Babylon, an idolatrous empire? We assess the sins of America's past and present in this intense discussion featuring Casey Cook, the Wives, and even Derrick's daughter.