The Weight

What does it take to imagine a world without war? How do we begin to believe that as a possibility? Eddie and Chris begin a series on war with guest Stanley Hauerwas, noted theologian and ethicist. Dr. Hauerwas asks us to contemplate the hard questions of war and nonviolence, but he knows the answers don’t come easily.Dr. Hauerwas is a long-time professor at Duke Divinity School and Duke University School of Law. He served as chair of theological ethics at the University of Aberdeen and was named America’s best theologian by Time magazine in 2001. Dr. Hauerwas has authored numerous books, including Resident Aliens, co-authored by Will Willimon, Living Gently in a Violent World, and 2011’s War and the American Difference. Resources:Find out more about Dr. Hauerwas, his publications, and appearances at stanleyhauerwas.org.Buy War and the American Difference

Shownotes:It is undeniable that sports have always played a significant role in our society. They have a unique way of uniting, inspiring, and exciting mass populaces in a manner that is irreplicable. For many communities in America, the sports scene plays a vital role in terms of general morale, and for many, economic vitality. Furthermore, sports have served as a therapeutic and restorative outlet for communities in the face of tragedy. However, this outlet that we have often taken for granted has turned from a therapy to a threat as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the globe. Stadiums stand empty, seasons are postponed or cancelled, and the future of our favorite pastimes are up in the air.We feel the weight of this absence in our lives. Joining us to discuss what it is that makes the absence of sports so impactful is Wright Thompson. Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN.com with an extensive career in sports journalism. A native Mississippian, Wright is well known for his work with ESPN’s 30 for 30 special covering the intersection of Ole Miss Football and the tumultuous events that took place on campus during its integration in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in 1962.Throughout his life, Wright has been immersed in the world of sports and has a deep understanding of the impact it has on culture, as well as the void it leaves when they are not around during times of crisis. Resources:The Ghosts of Mississippi  http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=mississippi62&redirected=trueMichael Jordan Has Not Left the Buildinghttp://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/Michael-Jordan/michael-jordan-not-left-building

Vulnerability is hard. Feeling broken can lead us to feeling shame, and shame can lead us down hard and difficult paths. But today’s guest has a resounding word of hope for all of us, despite our brokenness, despite our shame.Toni Collier is the founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color, which helps women process through trauma and find hope for the future. She is a speaker, podcast host, and author who uses her own brokenness to help others see that good things can still happen, that broken crayons can still color. Toni and her husband Sam founded Story Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where they live with their two kids.Resources:Learn more about Toni Follow Toni on Instagram and FacebookBuy Toni’s book, Brave Enough to Be BrokenStill Coloring PodcastLean more about Broken Crayons Still Color

James K.A. Smith is a returning guest to The Weight, this time for a conversation about his newest book, How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now. He, Eddie, and Chris talk about the redemptive work of God’s love and grace in the broken parts of our lives. Our brokenness is part of our story, and it’s something God uses to bring us to an even better place than we could have imagined. Getting to that better place is difficult, especially as we live in a world that would rather gloss over the problems of our past than acknowledge the pain in order to move forward.Jamie is professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is an award-winning author of a number of books, essays, and articles. His work focuses on building bridges between the academy, society, and the church.Resources:Learn more about James K.A. SmithFind out about his booksFollow him on Twitter and FacebookListen to his previous episode on The Weight

Our guest today is Dr. Angie Ward, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Associate Professor of Leadership and Ministry at Denver Seminary. Angie is the editor of a series of books called Kingdom Conversations, compilations of essays by various authors and theologians that help us reframe our context and the inherent love we should feel for those around us.Angie has over 30 years of leadership and teaching experience in church, parachurch, and Christian higher education ministry. She believes that proximity is key to changing how we see the world around us, and being invested in our communities can lead to real change--within ourselves and those around us.Resources:Kingdom Conversations: When the Universe Cracks: Living as God’s People in Times of Crisis Kingdom and Country: Following Jesus in the Land that You Love The Least of These: Practicing a Faith without Margins

The intersection of science and theology can lead to some heated discussions, but for Dr. Josh Gladden, it’s more about being open and curious and willing to think beyond what the eye can see. Today’s episode dives into the Webb Telescope, the moral questions of certain scientific advancements, and how God fits into our ever-expanding world.Dr. Gladden is the Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs at the University of Mississippi. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the Pennsylvania State University in 2003, and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He is a member of Oxford University United Methodist Church, where Chris serves as Lead Pastor (and where Eddie previously served as co-pastor with Chris). Resources:Webb Space Telescope

Our world is busy. Our lives are busy. Our time is filled with tasks and lists and work and errands and obligations. How do we slow down and open ourselves up to letting God disrupt our lives? Today’s guest, Dr. Lyn Pace, talks Chris and Eddie through using the liturgical year to engage the season we’re in and how to emphasize certain moments within each season of the church calendar. Dr. Pace is Chaplain of Oxford College at Emory University. He joined Oxford College in 2009, after working at Wofford College as the associate chaplain, director of service learning, and director of the Bonner Scholars Program. He received his BA degree in religion and history from Wofford College in 1999 and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Emory's Candler School of Theology in 2002. He is the author of  The Sacred Year: A Contemplative Journey through the Liturgical Year. Resources: Buy The Sacred Year

HBCUs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, serve an important role in the education system of the United States. Today on The Weight, Chris and Eddie talk to Dr. Ivy Taylor, the President of Rust College, an HBCU in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Dr. Taylor consistently values the importance of education in general and the significance of HBCUs specifically in the United States. Dr. Taylor is a native of Queens, New York. She received her academic degrees from Yale University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Pennsylvania. She spent twenty years in San Antonio, Texas as an affordable housing advocate, educator and elected official before transitioning to her role as president of Rust College. Dr. Taylor served as mayor of San Antonio, Texas for three years and as a member of the San Antonio City Council for five years. Even before working at Rust College, Dr. Taylor identified education as a key factor to helping people thrive, which in turn helps communities thrive. Resources:Learn more about Dr. TaylorLearn more about HBCUsLearn more about Rust College

Show Notes:In this episode, Eddie and Chris have a hopeful conversation about the future of the church with guest Winfield Bevins. Winfield is an author, artist, pastor and church planter who sees younger generations longing to be a part of a bigger story. They are looking for something deeper, and they’re finding themselves diving into liturgical traditions of the Church.Winfield is the director of Church Planting at Asbury Seminary and has helped train church leaders around the world and start churches and non-profit organizations. He is also the Executive Director of Creo Art Guild, a collective of Christian artists who bring beauty, goodness, and truth to the world through the arts.Resources:Learn more about Winfield on his websiteFollow Winfield on Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterLearn about Creo Art GuildBuy Liturgical Mission and Ever Ancient Ever New

We welcome Dr. Edgardo Colón-Emeric to The Weight for a discussion of Maundy Thursday (the day Christians commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples before his arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection) through the lens of the ministry of Fr. Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980. Edgardo was drawn to the way Archbishop Romero read the gospel through the context of where and when he lived, especially how Romero dedicated himself in his short time as Archbishop to the lives of the people he served, who mostly lived in overwhelming poverty.Edgardo is dean of Duke Divinity School, the Irene and William McCutchen Professor of Reconciliation and Theology, and director of the Center for Reconciliation. He earned his Masters of Divinity from Duke University in 1997 and his Ph.D. from Duke University in 2007. He was also the first Latino to be ordained as an elder in the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.Resources:Buy Óscar Romero’s Theological Vision: Liberation and the Transfiguration of the Poor