Stories Are Soul Food

Do we win down here? And what does winning look like? We'll tell you what it doesn't mean: holding on to your own life, and your own happiness, until they're pried from your fingers. But is it accurate to say we "lose" here on earth -- but win ultimately in heaven? The guys use MacArthur bashing on postmillennialism as a jumping off point to discuss an optimistic eschatology vs a Viking eschatology, what kind of story the Lord of the Rings would be if Frodo had had his throat cut by an orc, why Christians think it's prideful to talk about "winning" on earth, and -- finally -- how to actually win, because we serve a Lord who DID win, and wants us to follow in his footsteps. MacArthur has done a ton of winning vs mask tyrants, and he illustrates a wonderful truth: that "Christ is Lord" is the reason you have kids, start businesses, go on vacations, host block parties, and much more. Truth is, winning looks like sitting on a throne on top of a pile of skulls. And one of the best ways to behead an enemy is to convert him. #sasf #storiesaresoulfood #MacArthur #wewindownhere #christislord #merechristendom #lotr #twokingdoms #ndwilson #graceagenda

PSA: The LAMPC discussion for Jesus Revolution got postponed a week (sorry, it's almost like Jon Erwin is busy or something). In the meantime.... Puke or pass out: Ah, the joys of spring sports! Nate coaches track, BK coaches little kid rugby, and life lessons abound. The takeaway is that both boys and girls should be playing spring sports. Nate can't remember any individual moments from his school education, but can remember a multitude from high school sports. Brian thinks Nate must have been a very different kind of student. The guys discuss how good it is to have unhinged parents screaming at your kid on the basketball court. They discuss how good it is to be made to puke. They also discuss the dangers of being obsessed with sports. All around, another good time is had on the SASF podcast. A final PSA: Send in your Jojo Rabbit questions sooner rather than later to brian+sasf@canonpress.com, so we can be sure to see them before we record. #StoriesAreSoulFood #sasf #sports #football #basketball #JojoRabbit

LAMP Club is postponed a week because John Erwin, director of "Jesus Revolution", is coming on the SASF pod next week to discuss the movie himself! So in the meantime: You might remember that Nate had thrown out some reckless bait about Breaking Bad. A few bold listeners pushed back: Surely Breaking Bad isn't so very Bad, is it? The guys dig into the nuts and bolts of Christian artistic appreciation: the responsorial tier (what does the audience do with what they've watched), the aesthetic tier (how well or poorly is it made), and the objective tier (does God like it). You'll find such a system of criticism maps perfectly onto the classical trifecta of the true, the good, and the beautiful. So how does that apply to Breaking Bad? Listen to find out. Hint: It doesn't look like hosting a Breaking Bad party with rock candy in place of meth, as some Christians have done. The guys also discuss the next LAMP Club pick, which will be Taika Waititi's "Jojo Rabbit." #StoriesAreSoulFood #sasf #BreakingBad #JojoRabbit

Why do we remember novels better than our own memories? The discussion dives into the importance of interviewing elderly relatives to preserve family histories. Tips on encouraging children to share their own stories highlight how every moment weaves into a larger narrative. Emotional depth is explored through storytelling, contrasting cherished books with personal creations. Finally, there's an analysis of 'Jesus Revolution', inviting listeners to reflect on its unique narrative techniques and societal messages.

Time to discuss a movie that's on both Brian and Nate's Top-10 list: Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away." (Consider this a bonus LAMPC, because Nate won't let it be a real one.) But first, a quick follow-up from a listener regarding Slumdog Millionaire: Does Salim's sacrifice make him a Jesus figure? To help answer this, remember the SASF rule that if you can't understand WHY a villain did what they did, they're a cardboard character (i.e., bad). Next, let's address the elephant in the room: Is Spirited Away too weird to be good? What's with the pig transformation and the jumping heads and the big baby and the stink spirit? Don't get caught looking at the ornamentation of the story -- Spirited Away is Japanese art layered on top of western story structure. The combo is wholesome enough for parenting lessons. And what's even better, Miyazaki also has the film work as a post-war investigation of Japan -- all set in a spirit bathhouse. Last teaser: one of Nate's favorite stills in all of cinematography is in this movie. #sasf #StoriesAreSoulFood #SpiritedAway #Miyazaki #StudioGhibli #stinkspirit #bathhouse

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the concept of bad taste in art and how to fix it. They explore the idea of not treating your preferences as the standard and recommend copying the biggest Creator. They touch on objectivity in art and how it can make people angry. The episode ends with a call for reviews that will make one of the hosts cry (with cheerfulness or anger).

It's time for the second every LAMP Club -- and we know you enjoyed/suffered through "Slumdog Millionaire" as much as we did. But first, Nate has a tragic story about airports and the coming collapse of our workforce (if you're not in the mood for airport depression, skip to minute 29:46 for the start of the LAMP discussion). "Slumdog" cleaned up awards and money in equal measure, and it's easy to see why. The story of two brothers is a compelling one -- but each brother has a problem. What does the movie want you to think about their relationship? Is it a problem that this movie deals with tragedy and yet doesn't take itself seriously? What about the Bollywood soundtrack? Turns out joy in the midst of pain is deeply human. The guys dive deep in the second ever Look At Moving Pictures Club. #SASF #StoriesAreSoulFood #SlumdogMillionaire #Lion #Bollywood #LAMPClub

The question is simple: Do you want to be like God? If so, you need to buy your kids a pet, because He filled a world with 'em. (Is it that simple? Listen to find out.) You'll meet a billion garter snakes in this episode along with Timothy the Owl, Odd the Mouse (tragedy of sentimentality there), Scout the Beagle, Rosalind the Tortoise, that green vine snake that tried to take a piece out of Nate, and several of Brian's failed wildlife experiments. The guys have fun in this episode telling stories about various and sundry snakes, birds, dogs, tortoises, rats, and other pets they encountered. #NDWilson #Sasf #storiesaresoulfood #Pets #DominionMandate #Mice #Beagles #Owls #Snakes

Delving into the legacy of King Solomon, the hosts discuss his potential presence in heaven and the lessons his story holds for parents and leaders. They explore the challenges of passing on inherited legacies, balancing tradition with progress, and ensuring a positive impact for future generations. The conversation touches on themes of bravery, lineage, wisdom, and the importance of long-term thinking.

Find out next Month's LAMP Club movie pick within the first thirty seconds of this podcast. And then stay for a delightful discussion of the Prince of Egypt and why Nate wrote a story called "The Rise and Fall of Circumcision"; why Lewis's wood between the worlds kicks the multiverse's butt; why time travel is possible and how you can pray in light of it; why the end of Prince Caspian is weird but awesome; why vampires are lame; how JK Rowling could have ruined The Prisoner of Azkaban; and more in this SASF smorgasbord. Sign up for our mailing list at canonpress.com/sasf and send any more questions we need to answer. #NDWilson #SasfLamp #Sasf #storiesaresoulfood #PrinceofEgypt #smorgasbord