The Faithful Presence Podcast Faithful Presence

Michael and Dr. Mullen discuss connecting the social implications of the gospel to the salvific, the messiness of pastors trying to navigate social media's impact on ideological development, the impact of the "Big Sort" on mission, and whether people "have" opinions or "are" their opinions, the false humility of individualized truth claims, "changing the world," the importance of curiosity, interrogating our own beliefs first, and other great nuggets. Work Cited"The Big Sort," Bill Bish...

Michael and Dr. Bobo plumb the depths of seminary education, working in both the public and theological worlds, navigating culture, a redemptive view of vocation, and how a divinity degree helps with bioethics conversations. Works CitedThe Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, Os Guinness (2003)Bumper music: The Diplomats of Solid SoundFor more information on Faithful Presence, connect with us at faithful-presence.org.

Michael talks with scholar, author, and Faithful Presence board member, Dr. Randy Newman, about his most recent book, "Questioning Faith." Together they explore getting to know people, suffering, alcoholism, Christopher Hitchens, the importance of switchbacks, and how many books Dr. Newman has actually written. For NPR's interview with Christopher Hitchens referenced by Dr. Newman, go to: https://www.npr.org/2010/06/05/127495653/christopher-hitchens-unusual-and-radical-life. Dr. Ran...

Michael interviews Dr. Justin Bailey on his recent book and the importance of wedding ideological and cultural formation to emotional formation. Together they discuss aspects of Dutch-culture in NW Iowa and Chicago, the relationship of mental health to ideological discernment, the development of partisan polarization, power plays and changing the world, and how the five lenses paradigm can equip us for participating well in Christ's mission of making all things new. Bumper mu...

In this episode, Michael hosts "D.B." and "Supe," two Chicago area pastors from vastly different demographic contexts living in the same Congressional District. Together, they explain how their love of the gospel and excellent preaching formed a friendship that pulled both into the work of racial reconciliation in their individual congregations. Finally, they explore the cultural objections to such services, the obstacles to pursuing reconciliation, and why these services matter to the public...

In this episode of the podcast, we dig back into the vault (aka Michael's computer) for another gem for the much-heralded "Tommy Tapes" delivered in 1995 during a church planting conference. In the public square, networking is an essential skill for flourishing. It is how relationships are made, opportunities opened, and agendas advanced. And, while we should never see people as projects, we are called to "proclaim the excellencies of the one who called us out of darkness and into ...