Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation

What is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount really about?  Is it an out-of-reach spirituality for the really devoted? Is it a practical guide for political action? A reworking of the Old Testament Law? Or an existential treatise on the intentions that guide our actions?What if it outlines the way toward human flourishing?Dr.  Jonathan Pennington is a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  And a teaching pastor his local church. Dr. Pennington is the author of many books, including Reading the Gospels Wisely, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, and Jesus, the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Need for the Good Life. Find out more about Dr. Pennington here: https://www.jonathanpennington.com/Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting April 29 (2025), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 4pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

God’s true nature is beyond human comprehension. It can never be fully expressed in human words. But Scriptures uses one particular word to describe the distinctiveness of God’s character; this is the Hebrew word hesed. Michael Card is an award-winning musician and performing artist. His many books include Scribbling in the Sand, A Fragile Stone, and Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God's LovingkindnessJoin Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting April 29 (2025), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 4pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

This Holy Week, as Jesus, "the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3), walks toward the cross, we ask what it might be to proclaim this as good news. An older evangelism might ask, Where will you go when you die? But in our age of anxiety and despair, maybe we need to shift to: What do you do with your sorrow as you live?  That Jesus walks with us in our sorrows is really good news. That's what we are talking about today with Dr. Andrew Root. He is the Carrie Olson Baalson professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture and younger generations.  And most recently has written about Evangelism in an Age of Despair: Hope Beyond the Failed Promise of Happiness.Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting April 29 (2025), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 4pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Does doing your job need to feel like losing your life? Can your vocation be part of your spiritual formation? Can we survive digital overwhelm?Dr. Craig Mattson is a researcher, teacher, and writer at Calvin University. He’s the editor of The Mode/Switch newsletter and podcast on Substack, both of which decode workplace culture and the strange etiquettes of digital spaces. Craig’s three books address spiritual formation by attending to the kinds of humans we yearn to be in the digitally saturated spaces of life and work. His most recent book is Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work.Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting April 29 (2025), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 4pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

In a thought-provoking conversation, Ashley Lande, a writer and artist from rural Kansas, shares her transformative journey from psychedelic exploration to finding faith in Jesus. She candidly discusses the risks and complexities of using psychedelics for spiritual enlightenment while emphasizing authenticity in faith. Ashley also reflects on existential questions, identity, and the profound relationship between suffering and spirituality, enriched by her poignant experiences with grief and the solace she finds in music. Her journey is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and redemption.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Kevin Chapman, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, delves into the complex nature of our emotions. He argues that emotions are not just challenges but gifts that can facilitate spiritual growth. The discussion unveils a practical framework called SEAL for emotional awareness and management, emphasizing the connection between emotional mastery and stronger relationships with God and community. Plus, Chapman shares insights on the societal influences driving anxiety in today's world.

Baseball is back. Spring is sprung (depending on where you live). And so we are bringing you the 10 reasons baseball is a mirror for our spiritual formation. And along the way, Geoff and J.R. Briggs share some favorite baseball memories, especially about their first time hanging out in the bleachers at Wigley Field.Here are the reasons, in no particular order:Going HomeAll about FailuresIt's BoringIt starts in the spring (of NEW LIFE)TeamworkRoutinesTraditionThe Cathedrals of BaseballThe Hall of Fameand I forgot the last one...Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

For when the day is long. When you are afraid. When you don’t know what to say to someone you love. When you feel alone. When you’re questioning everything. When you wonder if God is with you.We are talking with the author ofTry Softer, Aundi Kolber, about her new book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and best-selling author of the critically acclaimed "Try Softer" as well as her new book "Strong like Water." She specializes in trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology.Stay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Is depression a biological and chemical problem? Is it a mental and emotional, or relational problem? Is depression spiritual in nature? As our guest today says, how we describe something is how we see it, and how we see it changes how we respond and act towards it.  Dr. John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. For more than a decade John worked as a registered mental health nurse and also worked as a hospital and community mental health Chaplain. In 2004, he founded the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability. John is the author of a number of books, including Finding Jesus in the Storm: The spiritual lives of people with mental health challenges.Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting Nov. 12 (2024), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).

Leaders, pastors, and pioneers of movements are often outward and forward-focused. Often this means leaving the inward life unexplored and ignored. How can leaders tend to the depths within, and how might spiritual directors help in this work? How best can we support and form clergy and leaders? David Clayton is a qualified and experienced Spiritual Director, Supervisor, and Behavioural Analyst. With a unique blend of expertise in behavioral science and spiritual direction, David provides a holistic approach that emphasizes both inner development and practical application. He is committed to guiding individuals on their journey toward greater self-awareness, purpose, and personal growth (learn more about the Monos Collective).Join Attaching to God Learning Cohort: Quieting an Anxious and Avoidant Faith.Starting Nov. 12 (2024), with the live calls on Tuesdays, 2:30pm-3:30pm (EST). Link: https://www.embodiedfaith.life/attaching-to-god-cohortStay Connected: Check out our Attaching to God 6-Week Learning Cohort. Join the Embodied Faith community to stay connected and get posts, episodes, & resources. Support the podcast with a one-time or regular gift (to keep this ad-free without breaking the Holsclaw's bank).