The Apprenticeship Way with Marc Alan Schelske

Episode 041 – Trust Your Instinct About the Church – Interview with Fr. Kenneth Tanner. After everything that’s happened in the past year, are you wondering about whether there’s a place for you in the church? Are you asking questions like “Where do I fit? What I’m seeing around me doesn’t look like Jesus. What do I do? I love Jesus. I want to follow Jesus, but if these other Christians are any indication, I don’t even know if I’m Christian anymore.” Have you had those thoughts? Well, I can tell you from my own experience, and stacks of emails in my inbox, that you are not alone. In this interview with Father Kenneth Tanner, we’ll talk about steps you can take. Show Notes What should we say to people asking these questions? “Yes. This doesn’t look good.” “You are not alone.” “If you’re alarmed by what you see in the church in America, you have good spiritual intuition.” How do we fix this problem of feeling alienated? Admit we have a problem. Our Christian movements and leaders have to admit there is a problem if we want to fix it. Face our amnesia. Most of us have no attachment to the history of Christianity, and some of us have forgotten the testimony of folks who encountered Jesus throughout history. (Not just Biblical history) The historical church in Africa, Asia Minor, and Ireland for instance have much to teach us. If we forget our history, we won’t really know our identity. Listen to the words of our Lord in Matthew 25. Instead of looking to the institution, go to the margins. Jesus says that He will meet us there among the poor, the sick, the hungry, and those who are oppressed. By talking with, being in relationship with, we will be changed and encounter Jesus. Historically, Christians were the most impactful when they went to the margins and served people. This is where we’re off track, trying to amass influence and power for our team. We need the grand reorientation of our minds and hearts to begin to see the world and other human beings the way the Human God does. And then Fr. Tanner just started preaching the gospel. Here’s some quotes: “God loves the world. God made the world in love. It’s because God loves the world that he doesn’t seek to escape the world. He enters the world. He decided to become human, forever identifying himself with every human person.” – Fr. Kenneth Tanner. “Christians must fundamentally begin with the revelation of God that we have in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the one who reveals the Father.” – Fr. Kenneth Tanner. “Jesus always only brings life. He never brings death. He only always brings healing and not disease. He only always brings liberty and not oppression.” – Fr. Kenneth Tanner. “We only come to the point where realize we’re ready to embrace the judgement of God when we understand his character. Perfect love casts out all fear.”  – Fr. Kenneth Tanner. Where can we find hope?  By looking to the broader tradition of Christian history. Listen to faithful Christians from every tradition. In order to see the full picture of Jesus, we must listen to the broad range of traditions—particularly the Christian East of the first 800 years of Christianity. And much more including thoughts on God’s wrath & Judgement, cancel culture, spiritual intuition, the controversies around how to respond to COVID-19 You can also watch and share the video version on Youtube. RESOURCES & OTHER LINKS Today’s Sponsor Discovering Your Authentic Core Values – Life presents us with way too many options. We’re surrounded by potential opportunities, obligations, and distractions. On top of that, our time is limited. We can’t do everything. A meaningful life that is not stretched thin comes from learning when to say no and when to say yes. In Discovering Your Authentic Core Values, I walk you thought a simple, step-by-step process that will help you clearly identify a compass for your life that is unique to you. More than a thousand people have have used this process and many of them have found it deeply helpful. Maybe you will too. Find My Stuff Get The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer and Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World – This little book is free for you by opting in to my email list. Discovering your Authentic Core Values: A Step-by-step Guide Untangle Workbook: A guided journaling process for untangling emotions and finding wisdom. Untangled Heart Course Online. Subscribe to my Email List. You’ll get a free copy of a little book called The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer & Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World. Subscribe to The Apprenticeship Way on iTunes and all other podcasting apps. Find a video version on my Youtube Channel.

This podcast confronts the uncomfortable truths surrounding the January 6 Capitol attack, emphasizing the need to recognize the role of individuals within these events. It calls for spiritual maturity through recognizing and repenting of past lies. Listeners are urged to embrace self-reflection and pursue a journey towards truth, love, and social justice. The importance of accountability within faith communities is discussed, advocating for inclusivity and following Christ's teachings to promote societal progress. Overall, it champions the pursuit of love and change in challenging times.

Joining the conversation is James Prescott, an author and podcaster from England renowned for his candid discussions on mental health and grief. He shares insights on the necessity of creating an 'architecture of grief' to effectively process our emotions. The talk highlights how our unconscious structures may shield us from pain, encouraging listeners to embrace discomfort for personal growth. Prescott emphasizes the transformative power of community and authenticity in navigating collective grief and developing healthier coping mechanisms.

Jesus rebukes Peter with a striking phrase that raises questions about modern Christianity. The discussion contrasts power with love, urging believers to embrace humility and self-sacrifice. Listeners are encouraged to use their privilege for the benefit of others and to follow a path of service. The podcast also highlights the vital role of emotional wellness in spiritual growth, suggesting that true discipleship involves understanding and integrating emotions into faith.

Paul J. Pastor, an award-winning writer and editor, dives deep into exploring spirituality beyond the ordinary. He discusses discovering the Holy Spirit and integrating ancient theology with modern experiences. Paul emphasizes emotional and intuitive understanding, critiquing a purely rational approach to God. Listeners learn to find sacredness in everyday moments and embrace God's presence in daily life, urging a richer, more colorful spiritual journey away from traditional worship.

Explore the tension between being an expert and fostering spiritual growth. Discover how starting over can lead to deeper connections with God. Dive into the transformative journeys of Abram and Nicodemus, who were both called to leave behind their comfort zones. The discussion emphasizes the importance of humility and openness in faith.

Episode 035 – Your Values are Showing! Pain is a terrible thing to waste. At least, that’s what my Trauma Therapist friend says. So, how are we using the pain of this difficult time of pandemic and protests so that we can be better people? This is part 3 of my 3 part conversation with Byron Kehler, a trauma therapist with nearly 40 years of experience. In this last conversation we’ll talk about who the pandemic is revealing us to be, and how we can come out the other side better people. Show Notes Byron Kehler is a trauma therapist with nearly 40 years of professional experience. Learn more about him at www.ByronKehler.com. Production Note: My apologies for the less than ideal audio and a bit of video lag. I’m learning the ropes with remote interviews, and this one didn’t turn out as well as I would like. It’s been edited so that it is as enjoyable as possible. We are experiencing a Real-time Values Clarification Exercise: Therapists and psychologists often use hypothetical situations to help people think through their priorities and values. What we are experiencing right now with the pandemic, protests, and political division is working this same way. “The way we are reacting right now to the circumstances we find ourselves in is revealing our true values.” – Byron Kehler. Values are our priorities and deeply held beliefs including our internal motivations. They serve as a compass for our actions and reactions and often go unevaluated. Aspirational Values are values that we wish we held or even that we say we hold, but that our behavior doesn’t align with. A question we must consider: what does it mean to “love our neighbor as ourselves” in the midst of a pandemic? Here’s a great summary article to Lawrence Kolberg’s Stages of Moral Development that Byron referred to. If you prefer, watch and share the video version on Youtube. Resources Mentioned The Untangle Workbook – Sort out your complicated feelings with this guided journal. The first 30 pages teach you the basics of what emotions are, what is happening in your body and brain when you feel them, and what they mean. The rest of the workbook is a template you can use to walk through an emotional experience so that you can understand it and respond with wisdom. Learn more at the link above. The Untangled Heart Workshop Online – Learn what’s happening in your body and brain when you feel those big emotions, how they are connected to your story, and how to navigate them with wisdom. This is the online version of the live workshop. 5 hours of video teaching, guided journaling exercises, 23-page downloadable notes packet and more. Learn more at the link above. Find My Stuff The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-Given Purpose and Power of Your Emotions. Discovering your Authentic Core Values: A Step-by-step Guide Untangle Workbook: A guided journaling process for untangling emotions and finding wisdom. Subscribe to my Email List. Subscribe to The Apprenticeship Way on iTunes and all other podcasting apps. Find a video version on my Youtube Channel.

Episode 034 – The 5 Stages of Pandemic Grief We are going through deep weeds right now — pandemic, protests, unemployment, so many losses — and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better any time soon. But there’s one important factor that will determine how well we deal with all of it. We are all feeling an important emotion we might not even realize we’re feeling: Grief. What’s going on? Why is this happening? What can we do about it? This is part 2 of my conversation with Byron Kehler, a trauma therapist with nearly 40 years of experience. He’s got some really helpful things to say about what we’re all feeling and how we can face it well. Show Notes Byron Kehler is a trauma therapist with nearly 40 years of professional experience. Learn more about him at www.ByronKehler.com. One emotion almost all of us are feeling right now is grief. Grief is the natural emotional processing of loss. Nearly everyone has lost something during the pandemic. That means we are holding grief. We are really bad at expressing and processing grief because we want to avoid it. Failing to name and process our grief will lead us to much more emotional discomfort and undermine our emotional and spiritual health. If you prefer, watch and share the video version on Youtube. Resources Mentioned Tear Soup – a great book about the process of healing from grief. Also appropriate for children. Sacred Sorrows – a great book about the process of healing from grief. The Untangle Workbook – Sort out your complicated feelings with this guided journal. The first 30 pages teach you the basics of what emotions are, what is happening in your body and brain when you feel them, and what they mean. The rest of the workbook is a template you can use to walk through an emotional experience so that you can understand it and respond with wisdom. Learn more at the link above. The Untangled Heart Workshop Online – Learn what’s happening in your body and brain when you feel those big emotions, how they are connected to your story, and how to navigate them with wisdom. This is the online version of the live workshop. 5 hours of video teaching, guided journaling exercises, 23-page downloadable notes packet and more. Learn more at the link above. Find My Stuff The Wisdom of Your Heart: Discovering the God-Given Purpose and Power of Your Emotions. Discovering your Authentic Core Values: A Step-by-step Guide Untangle Workbook: A guided journaling process for untangling emotions and finding wisdom. Subscribe to my Email List. Subscribe to The Apprenticeship Way on iTunes and all other podcasting apps. Find a video version on my Youtube Channel.

Byron Kehler, a trauma therapist with nearly 40 years of experience, dives into the emotional maelstrom stemming from the pandemic and protests. He unpacks how unresolved traumas resurface during crises, intensifying feelings of anxiety and powerlessness. The conversation highlights state-dependent memory, explaining how our past influences present reactions. Kehler offers insights on self-awareness and managing emotional responses, urging listeners to reflect on their personal histories to break the cycle of trauma in today's chaotic world.

This podcast dives deep into the significance of Pentecost, drawing parallels between breath and the Holy Spirit. It reflects on the tragic events surrounding George Floyd, urging listeners to confront systemic racism. The speaker calls on white Christians to engage actively in anti-racism by listening to marginalized voices and using their privilege to support justice. With practical steps and biblical insights, the discussion fosters a powerful message of unity and the transformative role of the Spirit in the fight against racial injustice.