The Weight

Show Notes:Christianity offers a radical redefinition of community that challenges the priorities and sensibilities that we in the church have come to embrace. Christians follow a savior who instructed his followers to relinquish belongings, wealth, and social status in order to follow him. Christians are a part of a universal church that began with a group of believers who shared everything they had with the community that they were a part of. It’s easy to see how such an example has become less prolific, specifically in the American church. What does it look like to try and create such a counter cultural way of community again?Shane Claiborne seeks to challenge the Church, through word and example, to recognize that such a way of living is not only doable, but well worth pursuing, especially in the face of the disparities that exist for marginalized people. To reflect this possibility, he helped found “The Simple Way,” a neighborhood that seeks to create spaces for all of its members to belong and thrive. Shane has developed prominence as a speaker, activist, and best-selling author on his journey of sharing the story of this community while also being a “champion of grace” in advocacy for the homeless as well as his active opposition to war, the death penalty, and gun violence among other issues. In this conversation from 2018, Shane reflects on the ways in which Jesus Christ inspires counter-cultural, sacrificial living. He challenges Christians to reckon with the norms and values we have adopted that inherently impede us from living the life that Christ calls his followers to live. Resources:Shane is the head of Red Letter Christians, “a movement of people who seek to take Jesus seriously by endeavoring to live out His radical, counter-cultural teachings as set forth in scripture.” Follow their work here: https://www.redletterchristians.org/Follow “The Simple Way”: https://www.thesimpleway.org/Follow Shane on the Web: http://www.shaneclaiborne.com/Follow Shane on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShaneClaiborneFollow Shane on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaneClaiborne/

Show Notes:The place of Christianity in the greater culture is constantly changing. With constant changes comes increased challenges for Christians in terms of maintaining integrity in terms of witness and practice. What are the new ways that temptation permeates our daily lives? How do we stand firm in timeless convictions in ever changing times? How do we set our eyes on Jesus Christ despite the circumstances of the world around us?In today’s episode of The Weight, we engage these questions with Leonard Sweet, a scholar of United States culture, semiotician, historian, and United Methodist minister. Currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor Emeritus at Drew Theological School, Sweet has built a reputation as one of the most influential voices in Christianity who seeks to communicate the Gospel by bridging together the worlds of faith, academia, and culture. Sweet is passionate about the role of the Church in the world and what a faithful future can look like for the people of Jesus Christ, especially in an increasingly divisive culture. In this episode, Sweet speaks bluntly about the aspects of today’s world that concern him, but also offers a vision of Christianity as a faith that isn’t separated from the culture of the world, but indigenous in it. He challenges listeners to recognize the ways that the Spirit of God can work through the culture of the world to make miracles happen and “bring the best out of the worst.”Resources:Check out Len Sweet’s book “Ring of Fire: Walking in Faith Through a Volcanic Future”https://www.amazon.com/Rings-Fire-Walking-through-Volcanic/dp/1631463942Listen to Len Sweet’s podcast “Napkin Scribbles”https://leonardsweet.com/podcasts/Follow Len Sweet on the web: https://leonardsweet.com/Follow Len Sweet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lensweetFollow Len Sweet on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LensSweetSpots

Show Notes:Two years ago, long before we launched The Weight, Chris and Eddie sat down with Pastor Michael McBride of LIVE FREE, a faith based movement dedicated to stopping gun violence and ending mass incarceration. In addition to this role, Pastor McBride has served on a number of local and national task forces with the White House and Department of Justice regarding gun violence prevention, boys and men of color and police-community relationships, most recently as an Advisor on President Barack Obama’s Faith Based Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.Though recorded in 2018, this conversation is just as relevant as ever, engaging topics of racial justice, gun violence, and the Church’s need to consider and overcome the blockades that stop it from proactively addressing these issues. Recorded soon after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that took the lives of 17 students, McBride reflects on his experience as a pastor in communities that have faced significant levels of gun violence and how it informs his advocacy, pastoral care, and perspective on what “faith in action” must look like in the face of societal injustice. He also reflects on the racial injustices he has personally faced as a black man and has seen systemically embedded in society in a way that often goes overlooked or ignored. Pastor McBride challenges the American church to do the “soul-searching” necessary to recognize the places in which we need to further let our values, both individually and collectively, be transformed by the message and power of Jesus Christ. Resources:James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Treehttps://www.amazon.com/Cross-Lynching-Tree-James-Cone/dp/1626980055A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.https://www.amazon.com/Testament-Hope-Essential-Writings-Speeches/dp/0060646918Willie Jennings, The Christian Imaginationhttps://www.amazon.com/Christian-Imagination-Theology-Origins-Race/dp/0300171366/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+christian+imagination&qid=1592406687&s=books&sr=1-1Follow Pastor Mike McBride on the web: www.pastormikemcbride.comFollow Pastor McBride’s organization LIVE FREE: livefreeusa.orgFind Pastor McBride on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.mcbride.3956

Perhaps the weightiest topic there is is the one that we all must face: death. Much of our lives can be spent evading this reality until it comes crashing into our lives somehow. What might it look like to adopt a posture towards death that not only makes us more prepared, but helps us live life more abundantly? To engage this question, we welcome Dana Trent! Dana Trent is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and professor of World Religions and Critical Thinking at Wake Tech Community College. An ordained Baptist minister, Dana served as a hospital chaplain in what is known as the “death ward,” where she accompanied individuals and their families through the passage from life to death. Inspired by this experience, as well as the death of her mother, she authored the book “Dessert First: Preparing for Death While Savoring Life,” where she reflects on this experience and her lessons from it. In her conversation with Chris and Eddie, Dana discusses how churches and individuals can engage the topic of death and grief in a more meaningful way, especially with the backdrop of a deadly pandemic. She also helps us consider how “humor and tears are not mutually exclusive” and how even in the midst of grief and death, joy and levity can be found.RESOURCES: Dana Trent’s Book “Dessert First: Preparing for Death While Savoring Life”https://www.amazon.com/Dessert-First-Preparing-Death-Savoring/dp/0827206690Listen to other episodes:  https://www.theweightpodcast.comThe Weight on Instagram:  @theweight_podThe Weight on Facebook:  @theweightpodThe Weight on Twitter:  @theweight_podDana Trent on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaB690iTPH2896cywwyh3JgDana Trent on Instagram:  @jdanatrentDana Trent on Twitter:  @jdanatrentDana Trent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jdanatrent.author/Dana Trent on the web:  https://jdanatrent.com/

We are living in an unprecedented time. Churches are currently faced with difficult decisions over how and when to reopen their doors. How has COVID affected Christian worship? In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Adam Hamilton. Hamilton is an author and a Senior Pastor at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The Resurrection is one of the largest churches in Methodism. Hamilton discusses the frequent zoom calls with his staff, the opportunity to learn and connect with other pastors in the United States, and the unexpected rewards in the midst of having to remain at home. Listeners will learn what Church of the Resurrection is doing and how they will approach reopening. All three pastors Chris, Eddie, and Adam examine and consider the new form of ministry that focuses on online worship. Hamilton emphasizes the importance of holding onto the knowledge gained during this time and applying it to the future. Resources:• Jason Gray's song, “Order, Disorder, Reorder”https://open.spotify.com/track/4f6gwNw4W4k11LBvrJib9f?si=oA_ZNeuzRI-fq08uVET7Qg• Listen to other episodes:  https://www.theweightpodcast.com• The Weight on Instagram:  @theweight_pod• The Weight on Facebook:  @theweightpod• The Weight on Twitter:  @theweight_pod• Adam Hamilton on Instagram:  @revadamhamilton• Adam Hamilton on Twitter:  @revadamhamilton• Adam Hamilton on the web:  adamhamilton.org• Church of the Resurrection:  www.cor.org 

Christianity is often exhibited as a guide to truth and morality, but descriptions often fall short of its ability to help us access the fullness of beauty. Creatives are needed in Christianity to help guide the Church on a journey to engaging the fullness of God’s own creative power. One creative who does this faithfully is Lo Alaman. Lo serves as the Director of Community Life at The Harvest Church in The Woodlands, Texas. In addition to his day job, Lo is well known for his spoken word that he crafts to help people have a fuller grasp of the beauty offered to us all through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lo has performed throughout the country and is emerging as one of the utmost creative leaders within Wesleyan movements in the South. In today’s episode, Lo helps us discern the essential nature of creativity in the Church’s work of guiding people to an holistic understanding of the love of Jesus Christ.  We also discuss the ways in which the creative skill sets of the emerging generation should be more valued by the Church as it continues to grow in size and mission.The Weight - Afterthoughts:We've realized that a lot of great conversation actually happens AFTER we say goodbye to our guests and turn the microphones off. So, we decided to turn the mics back on (and a camera) and create a new segment called, Afterthoughts. This will live on our new YouTube channel and you can find our Afterthoughts on this episode NOW!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_VemjLVyPw&feature=youtu.beResources:As mentioned, Lo’s spoken word performance for his wife during his wedding went viral on Facebook and Youtube, serving as validation of the reach that creative expressions can have. Watch it here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rbC1uq4hwmA3Ax8_B_TvoQGH7hyO6Fc2b9XLc5KqQ_M/edit?usp=sharingHere is a curated list of his performances at the church he currently serves, Harvest Church.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJhvjAmHgkApShZrd7pHcQucXs5aIG6bxOne of his most shared pieces, Lo performs “The Gospel” at RHETORIC 2015.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuG5aRgtCKkFollow Lo on social media:Tik Tok:  @lohasgoodnewsInstagram:  @lothepoet

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

A serious dialogue on race and equity is imperative for the life of the church, a truth that we are painfully reminded of in the aftermath of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. How can the Church do better in its pursuit of justice for all? How can we pursue reconciliation that isn’t shallow or even callous, but rather is honest about the work that still needs to be done to bring about substantive change? How can we posture our hearts, minds, and actions towards the vision of God’s creation where all are truly cared for, valued, and protected?To engage this conversation, we talk to Bishop James Swanson, the Episcopal Leader of the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Bishop Swanson honestly discusses issues such as white privilege, opportunity disparity, and how the Church should take an honest assessment of the need for repentance in terms of the ways we have discounted or disparaged the experiences of others for the sake of our convenience. As an African-American man who has seen racism in many forms throughout his life, Bishop Swanson opens up to us about his hopes for his children and grandchildren and the work that needs to be done to create a better world for them. 

What could it look like to use this time of physical distancing to reclaim the transformational power of spiritual community? In this week’s episode, we engage that question with Rev. Dr. Kevin Watson, Assistant Professor of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Candler School of Theology. Professor Watson’s research interests focus on the early Methodist practices of class and band Meetings: gatherings where the pursuit of holiness and the abundance of grace go hand in hand to bring about personal transformation. An essential part of John Wesley’s structure for the Methodist movement that he founded, band and class meetings are small group gatherings that encourage holiness by giving participants the grace and space to be honest about the state of their souls and the sins that they have struggled with. In reflection on Wesley's class meeting and band meeting structure, early Methodist leader George Whitfield once said, "My Brother Wesley acted wisely, the souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in class, and thus preserved the fruits of his labor. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand.”  In this episode, Chris and Eddie talk with Professor Watson about the importance of a renewed focus on this type of intentional, vulnerable community and how being a part of one, even if virtually for the time being, can help us confront our sins and grow in holiness during this time of global crisis.Resources: How to Quickly and Easily Launch Online Class MeetingsProfessor Watson gives a clear, step by step guidance on how you can engage the early Methodist practice of Class Meetings while physically distancing. Professor Watson’s WebsiteProfessor Watson posts regular reflections on Wesleyan theology and its application to modern life on his personal website. You can also learn more about him and his writings.The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group ExperienceProfessor Watson writes about the structure of class meetings; a small group experience designed to lead participants to deeper discipleship.The Band Meeting: Rediscovering Relational Discipleship in Transformational CommunityProfessor Watson writes about the structure of Band Meetings; a gathering that is typically geared for smaller, same gender groups where the honest confession of sins is encouraged for the sake of experiencing substantial grace. 

In the face of disruption brought about by COVID 19, businesses throughout the world are finding ways to adjust not only for the sake of themselves, but for the sake of their communities. One of those businesses is Blue Delta Jeans, a clothing manufacturer in North Mississippi that is known for their high-end, custom blue jeans. When the pandemic became a reality in the United States, it forced Blue Delta CEO Josh West and his team to ask the question, “What’s next?" The answer has brought about a transformation of their operations as they have transitioned much of their focus from clothing production to the production of face masks for frontline healthcare workers.Josh joins us in today’s episode of The Weight to discuss his company’s experience, socially conscious entrepreneurship, and his thoughts on how businesses leaders can find innovative ways to work toward the common good.Resources:Learn more about Josh’s company Blue Delta Jeans here: https://www.bluedeltajeans.com/In this article from late March, Mississippi Today chronicles Blue Delta’s transition from jeans production to masks.https://msbusiness.com/2020/03/blue-delta-shifting-from-jeans-production-to-masks/For Christian leaders working in the church, non-profit, and for-profit sectors, we’ve been paying attention to the work of Praxis Labs which focuses on redemptive entrepreneurship. Here are two recent articles to go deeper: https://journal.praxislabs.org/strategies-for-winter-redemptive-leadership-in-survival-times-f15a7791035ahttps://journal.praxislabs.org/leading-beyond-the-blizzard-why-every-organization-is-now-a-startup-b7f32fb278ff