Cliff has an interesting life that mixes ministry with the entertainment industry and his first novel puts one foot in each of those spheres. What I found most interesting about Cliff’s story is that he did not intend to write a novel and when it was all said and done, he did all the work and it took him ten years. I thought that was a powerful story for those of us anxious to get some thoughts on paper and get them out there.

Cliff gives some good advise for artists/writers and he talks about his novel.

[Direct link ep 175 - Cliff Shiepe talks about publishing and Cliff Falls]

You may find it interesting that on Amazon right now, customers who bought his book also bought, “Avatar”. So there’s that.

No but seriously, this is a great conversation about Inspiration, Inerrancy, and what the Bible tells us about Humanity and God. I think you will enjoy the conversation. Be sure to check Thom out online and pick up a copy of his book. But don’t take my word for it, check out the endorsements.

Also, as we mentioned in the intro, check out Michael Dowd’s new Online Teleseminars Evolutionary Christianity. It starts this weekend, and we think it will be stellar, and it’s free.

Quick Links
Evolutionary Christianty
Thom Stark
The Human Faces of God

[Direct link to ep 171 - Thom Stark and The Human Faces of God]

Links:

If you want to help her book a porn gig, click here

Buy Permission to Speak Freely from Amazon

Check out Anne’s blog

Follow Anne @flowerdust

[Direct Link to ep 168 - Anne Jackson, Permission to Speak Freely]

This week Josh talks to Jeff Sharlett about the topic of two of Jeff’s books, christian fundamentalism inside our government. It is like a Dan Brown novel, but with historical accuracy.

To prepare for the episode read this Wiki Article on The Fellowship and C Street.

And after the interview I definitely suggest picking up both of Jeff’s books on the topic.

The Family
C Street

And check out his webpage as well as our favorite

[Direct link to ep 167 - Jeff Sharlet, The Family and C Street]

This week Nick talks to Matt Litton the author of The Mockingbird Parables. We celebrate 50 years of To Kill a Mocking Bird, and talk about his book and his thoughts of teaching this book to his students.

Here are some more thoughts from Matt:

Setting out to write TMP I had been caught up with the realization of religious language losing its power. I grew up in an evangelical, and noticed that some of the language of my own tribe or christian subculture had lost its meaning and effectiveness because I had heard it so many times. More pressing than my own disconnection was that fewer and fewer of my friends knew what in the world we church people were talking about! The disconnect of communication between Jesus followers and culture is sin on many levels -as our culture becomes less “christian” it looks more and more like we are communicating in code. Ours is the language of a ‘divine’ social club – which in many ways (that are mostly inadvertent on our part) – is compassion-less and selfish. Frederick Beuchner’s meditation on the power of “chanting” to help return meaning to words that have lost their flavor or power had me thinking a bit… in post-modern culture – finding fresh ways to tell our story is so incredibly essential.

I have more thoughts on parables and the great divide between the language of faith and popular culture’s ability to understand it. I think it is a great challenge in our quickly evolving culture. Parables are powerful because they are story, and we own story, we define ourselves by story. Business culture has locked into the power of story and have essentially begun using parables to sell us for several years now. It is an effective form of communication. Take for instance the AT&T commercial – with the man and woman missing each other on the train. It tells a modern and relevant story about the power of connection. The couple who might miss meeting will eventually have a child who will be President – but thank God for AT&T. It is essentially a parable teaching us about the importance of having that AT&T connection! We have a story about connection that is way more powerful than that one – and an obligation to share it!
As Jesus reminds us, stories have the power to stick with us, and the ability to lay dormant until we are ready to hear their message… think about that next time you go cell-phone shopping.

[Direct link to ep 166 - Matt Litton, The Mockingbird Parables]

This week Nick talks to Jack Jenkins, from The Church is Alive.

Jack blogs personally here
He tweets @jackmjenkins

I have also included some of his mean harp playing below.

[Direct link to ep 164 - Jack Jenkins, The Church is Alive/Social Media/Obama]

We also talk about his latest book, The Greatest Prayer, which is a look into the Lords Prayer and what it says about Jesus’ core teachings.

We recommend that all of our listeners declare October to be the official Jesus Seminar Reading month, and to pick up a book written by someone from the seminar.

Books We Mention:

The Five Gospels
The Last Week
The Historical Jesus. The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant

[Direct link to ep 163 - John Dominic Crossan, The Jesus Seminar]

Nick also interviews Becky Garrison about her book, Jesus Died for This?

We talk about christian writing and marketing a good bit.

Becky has started podcasting here, and she is tweeting @JesusDied4This.

[Direct link to ep 159 - Becky Garrison, Jesus Died for This]

And while you are buying books, don’t forget to pick up Nick’s book, The Hopeful Skeptic. Every time he sells a copy, his bones grow back together a little more.

Oh and listening on to the podcast, my favorite part is at the end when Josh says, “so you can get the book at rachel held evans. . . or somewhere.” Or somewhere? That’s classic.

[Direct link to ep 157 - Rachel Held Evans, Evolving in Monkey Town]

For more on the three guests click below: Julie Clawson, Everyday Justice
Ben Lowe, Green Revolution Tom Sine, The New Conspirators and Mustard Seed Associates (also, see Christine Sine’s blog)

You can also read Josh’s blog on the oil spill here. 

If you wish to volunteer to help in the clean up efforts, please click here.

Finally, there is a first in this podcast. Drop us a line if you think you know what it is!

Nick & Josh

[Direct link to ep 151 - Oil Spill Roundtable with Ben Lowe, Tom Sine, and Julie Clawson]