In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk core memories, superegos, uncool churchgoers, and revenge vampires. Also, Dave sights a celebrity while Sarah dials up some French-Canadian cartoons. Oh, and the gang flips out over Fargo! Click here (https://conference.mbird.com/) for more information, or to pre-register for our NYC Conference (4/25-27). Click here (https://linkst.thecut.com/view/6309327606c1220f7549d11fk9w96.12b/ab349fd3) to read Kathryn Jezer-Morton's newsletter on "Why Are Parents So Fixated on Core Memories?" Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/04/27/online-guilt-super-ego-edmundson/) to read Michael Roth's review of Mark Edmundson's book in The Washington Post, "What Would Freud Say About Our Online Lives?" Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/january-web-only/russell-moore-edmundson-guilt-freud-superego.html) to read Russell Moore's piece on "Grace in the Age of Guilt" in Christianity Today. Click here (https://reactionaryfeminist.substack.com/p/you-need-to-be-cringemaxxing) to read Mary Harrington's newsletter, "You Need to Be Cringemaxxing." Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/revenge-vampires/) to read Sarah's Mbird post on Revenge Vampires.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Tetris, youth groups, paganism, and magi interlopers. Also, Dave plays some bingo while RJ questions the wisdom of the buddymoon. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/why-everyone-is-obsessed-with-the-kid-who-beat-tetris/) to read Angela Watercutter's piece on Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Kid Who Beat Tetris in Wired. Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2023/12/23/fun-is-dead/) to read Karen Heller's essay, "Fun Is Dead" in the Washington Post. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/12/paganism-right-and-left/676945/) to read "The Return of the Pagans" by David Wolpe in The Atlantic. Click here (https://mbird.com/bible/why-the-magi-matter/) to read Derek Sweatman's reflection on "Why the Magi Matter" on Mbird.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk top words, millennial motherhoods, cancerous insights, and sad Christmases. Everyone also gives a few recs from the year gone by. Click here (https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year) to read about Mirieam-Webster's word of the year. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/arts/rizz-oxford-word-year.html) to read about Oxford's. Click here (https://mbird.com/social-science/parenting/thou-shalt-have-a-thing/) to read Jordan Griesbeck's post on Mbird, "Thou Shalt Have a Thing." Click here (https://www.vox.com/features/23979357/millennials-motherhood-dread-parenting-birthrate-women-policy) to read Rachel Cohen's essay for Vox, “How Millennials Learned to Dread Motherhood.” Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/december-web-only/christian-wiman-zero-bone-despair-cancer-christian-faith.html) to read Josh Jeter's interview with Christian Wiman on Christianity Today. Click here (https://mbird.com/holidays/christmas/put-the-sad-back-in-christmas/) to read Sarah's article, "Put the Sad Back in Christmas." The closing song is "Medium Christmas" (https://open.spotify.com/track/6csw8AC2Z3KmR7Fa1q9NYX?si=768270daa5ad4059) by Caroline Fowler and is included with permission.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk passive aggression, teenage misery, jazz flute comebacks, and wartime prayers. Also, Sarah celebrates Wally Moon day while Dave declares the worst of the meats. Click here (www.mbird.com/support) to respond to the opening appeal. We need your support! Click here (https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/11/21/sorry-you-feel-that-way-why-passive-aggression-took-over-the-world) to read Josh Cohen's essay on Passive Aggression in 1843 Magazine. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/11/27/the-fall-of-my-teen-age-self) to read Zadie Smith's piece, The Fall of My Teen-Age Self in The New Yorker. Click here (https://mbird.com/music/andre-3000s-flute-in-the-midst-of-loudness/) to read Blake Nail's Mbird article on "André 3000’s Flute in the Midst of Loudness". Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/26/magazine/phil-klay-interview.html) to read the interview with Phil Klay in the NY Times Magazine, "Finding a Moral Center in this Era of War."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk eldest daughters, crypto parents, and a pair of awe-inspiring conversions. Also, Dave binges some Curb while Sarah discloses the worst thing someone said to her in the early days of grief. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/11/first-born-children-eldest-daughter-family-dynamics/675986/) to read Sarah Sloat's piece on The Plight of the Eldest Daughter in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-sam-bankman-frieds-parents-14eef581) to read Katie Roiphe's WSJ essay on "Why Are We So Obsessed with Sam Bankman-Fried's Parents?" Click here (https://talkingbird.fireside.fm/372) to listen to Simeon Zahl's talk from Minneapolis, "The World Is a Hospital". Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/05/awe-by-dacher-keltner-review-the-transformative-power-of-wonder) to read the review of Dachner Keltner's book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform You Life (https://amzn.to/47ISfVB) in The Guardian. Click here (https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/kat-von-d-on-church-im-seeking-more-traditionalism-i-dont-want-to-go-to-a-concert/) to read about Kat von D's conversion. And click here (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx8NGK2sp8E/) to watch the video of her baptism. Click here (https://unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/) to read Ayaan Hirsi Ali's column, "Why I Am Now a Christian" on UnHerd.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk canine anxiety, celebrity memoirs, and dispensaries (of grace). Also, Sarah prays for high waistlines while RJ uncovers a stroller conspiracy. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/dog-anti-anxiety-meds-treatment/675715/) to read Rose Horowich's "Too Many People Own Dogs" in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/31/opinion/matthew-perry-loneliness-addiction.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) to read Patti Davis's column in the NY Times, "Matthew Perry and the Loneliness of Addiction." Click here (https://amzn.to/47cCs1v) to order a copy of John Z's Grace in Addiction, published by Mockingbird. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/10/the-woman-in-me-britney-spears-memoir/675748/) to read Spencer Kornhaber's review of Britney Spears's new memoir. Click here (https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2023-10-17/stanford-scientist-robert-sapolskys-decades-of-study-led-him-to-conclude-we-dont-have-free-will-determined-book) to read Corinne Purtill's profile of Robert Sapolsky in The LA Times. Click here (https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/muddling-through) to read Matthew Sitman's essay on Muddling Through that he references in the Know Your Enemy clip (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Z77HoC2S5knpM8i0ubhjg?si=3582ba16d12b4505) (used with permission).

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk oral hygiene, couples' conflicts, and the Minnesota board of pardons. Also, the gang finally explains the show's name. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/opinion/truth-flossing-cold-medicine.html) to Adam Mastroianni's piece on "Do I Have to Keep Flossing?" Click here (https://www.thecut.com/article/couples-fight-conflict-resolution-esther-perel.html) to read the interview with Esther Perel about the 3 Things Every Couple Fights About. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/us/minnesota-board-of-pardons.html) to read Dan Barry's profile of the Minnesota Board of Pardons (and view the incredible photos by Todd Heisler). Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/doormats-are-holy/) to read Dave's post, "Doormats Are Holy." Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/gods-compassionate-indifference-to-sinners/) to read about "God's Compassionate Indifference to Sinners" by Todd Brewer.

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk astrology, masculinity, and minor league saints. Also, a certain Scorpio experiences the opposite of good will on a visit to Good Will. Click here (https://reductress.com/post/why-i-dont-believe-in-astrology-unless-it-reaffirms-something-i-already-thought/) to read the Reductress article "Why I Don’t Believe in Astrology Unless It Reaffirms Something I Already Thought." Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/07/10/christine-emba-masculinity-new-model/) to read Christine Emba's essay "Men Are Lost. Here's a Map Out of the Wilderness" in the Washington Post. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/08/heroic-toxic-masculinity-boys/675172/) to read Caitlin Flanagan's "In Praise of Heroic Masculinity" in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/saint-of-second-chances-review-the-doc-that-is-making-grown-men-cry) to read "Why Baseball Doc ‘Saint of Second Chances’ Is Making Grown Men Cry" by Nick Schager in The Daily Beast. Click here (https://mbird.com/the-magazine/mercy-begets-mercy/) to read Katelyn Beaty's essay "Mercy Begets Mercy" in The Mockingbird. Click here (https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw0KTDjsC3r/) to read Andy Squyres's devotion "I Saw God".

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mission trips, mistaken restaurant orders, Indian toilets, and toxic achievement culture. Also, RJ pines for Portugal while Sarah considers turning off the radio (but doesn't). Click here (https://conference.mbird.com/) to learn more about Mbird's upcoming Minneapolis conference (9/29-30). Click here (https://mbird.com/grace-in-practice/why-i-love-short-term-mission-trips/) to read Joshua Musser Gritter's piece Why I Love Short-Term Mission Trips. Click here (https://www.forbes.com/sites/justcapital/2023/08/18/the-restaurant-of-mistaken-orders/?sh=7e0d682a3d5c) to read Forbes's article on The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders. Click here (https://amzn.to/3PpG9ZI) for more details on Mary Cail's new book, Dementia and The Church. Click here (https://www.economist.com/obituary/2023/08/24/bindeshwar-pathak-realised-that-indias-future-depended-on-toilets?giftId=7a8034fa-6a67-43b4-aead-8eff8b25adc3) to read The Economist's obituary for Bindeshwar Pathak. Hypocrisy Click here (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/09/how-achievement-pressure-is-crushing-kids-and-what-to-do-about-it/) to read the interview with Jennifer Breheny Wallace in The Harvard Gazette. Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/advertise-your-hypocrisy/) to read Dave's post about Advertising Your Hypocrisy. The devotion discussed at the end of the cast, written by Melina Smith of Storymakers (https://www.storymakersnyc.com/), is taken from the upcoming devotional edited by Katie Koplin and published by 1517 Press, Encouragement for Motherhood. It comes out in Spring of 2024.

Back from their summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk tourism, punctuality, Swiftie conferences, and the new old age. Also, RJ remembers the elephant butte while Sarah plays the food game. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/the-case-against-travel) to read Agnes Callard's "The Case Against Travel" in The New Yorker Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/timing-is-everything-the-ethics-of-being-late/) to read Sam Bush's post on the Ethics of Being Late Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/08/career-retirement-transition-academic-programs/675085/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email) to read David Brooks' essay on "The New Old Age" in The Atlantic Click here (https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/151959-the-supper-of-the-lamb-a-culinary-reflectio) to read the Robert Capon quote that Sarah references (from The Supper of the Lamb) Click here (https://mbird.com/the-magazine/impossible-forgiveness/) to read Dianne Collard's testimony, "When the Words Become True", taken from the Mercy Issue of The Mockingbird Magazine Click here (https://mbird.com/store/) to subscribe to The Mockingbird Magazine

In their last episode before the summer hiatus RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk tip creep, accomplished achievers, grieving comedians, and Tim Keller. Also, a Condon brings home the trophy for Best Dancer at the Middle School Dance. Click here (https://mbird.com/support/) to respond to RJ's opening appeal. Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-tipping-prompts-are-suddenly-everywhere-1c8bbd20) to read Rachel Wolfe's report on Why Tipping Prompts Are Suddenly Everywhere for the Wall Street Journal. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/opinion/youth-achievement-happiness.html) to read Adam Gopnik's column on What We Lose When We Push Kids to Achieve in The NY Times. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/17/arts/television/grief-stand-up-comedy.html) to read the piece about Grief in Stand Up Comedy by Nick Zinoman. Click here (https://mbird.com/grace-in-practice/tears-of-hope-and-gratitude/) to read Stephanie Phillips tribute to Tim Keller. And here (https://mbird.com/week-in-review/may-20-26/) to read Dave Z's appreciation of the same.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk baby name consultants, coronation invitations, and escape room birthday parties. Also, Dave finally reveals the Mockingcast's methodology while Sarah loses an appendix. Click here (https://www.vox.com/culture/23708179/unique-baby-names-2023-trends-tiktok) to read Rebecca Jennings' article about baby name consultants in Vox. Click here (https://www.theredhandfiles.com/why-are-you-going-to-kings-coronation/) to read Nick Cave's response to the coronation. Click here (https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-millennial-men-are-turning-to-the-book-of-common-prayer/) to read about "Why Millennial Men Are Turning to the Book of Common Prayer" Click here (https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/02/health/murthy-loneliness-isolation/index.html) to read CNN's report on the Surgeon General's Loneliness Advisory. Click here (https://mbird.com/conferences/is-anything-not-a-cry-for-help/) to watch Dave's talk from the NYC Conference, "Is Anything Not a Cry for Help?" Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/04/psychology-studies-narratives-limitations/673846/) to read in The Atlantic about how Adam Mastrioanni ruined two birthday parties. Click here (https://mbird.com/suffering/an-unsolicited-review-of-the-mockingbird-conference-that-no-one-wants/) to read Ben Maddison's Unsolicited Review of the Mockingbird Conference.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk road rage, representation, financial obsession, and extremely short sermons. Also, RJ narrowly avoids a lemon squeeze, while Sarah learns something shocking about New England Puritans. Click here (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-04-05/beef-netflix-ali-wong-steven-yeun) to read the LA Times article about Beef. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/04/money-income-happiness-correlation/673713/) to read Michael Mechanic's piece in the Atlantic, "Stop Asking Whether Money Buys Happiness." Click here (https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/the-limits-of-forgiveness/) to read Elizabeth Bruenig's essay for The Point, on "The Limits of Forgiveness". Click here (https://mbird.com/bible/the-light-has-come-to-stay/) to read Sarah's Easter devotion The Light Has Come to Stay. Click here (https://mbird.com/poetry/forgiveness-has-risen-the-easter-sermon-of-st-john-chrysostom/) to read the Easter sermon of St John Chrysostym.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk subjective age, the danger of knowingness, the perils of project religion, and the hope of Holy Week. Also, RJ reveals why he's in sales, not management. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/04/subjective-age-how-old-you-feel-difference/673086/) to read Jennifer Senior's essay on "The Puzzling Gap Between How Old You Are and How Old You Think You Are" in The Atlantic Click here (https://psyche.co/ideas/our-big-problem-is-not-misinformation-its-knowingness) to read Jonathan Malesic's piece on the problem of Knowingness in Pscyhe Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/seventy-times-seven-review-a-shock-to-the-conscience-daf95979) to read Barbara Spindel's review of Alex Mar's Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy (https://amzn.to/40GeSH3) in The Wall Street Journal Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/church/the-cognitive-distortions-of-legalistic-preaching/) to read Anthony Robinson's post on Mbird about "The Cognitive Distortions of Legalistic Preaching"

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk almond moms, wellness curses, and theories of change. Also, Dave runs away from a German. Click here (https://mbird.com/shop/magazine/issue-22-sickness-health/) to order a copy of The Sickness & Health Issue of The Mockingbird. Click here (https://mbird.com/support/) to become a monthly supporter of Mockingbird (and receive a complimentary magazine subscription!). Click here (https://mbird.com/literature/the-2023-mockingbird-book-club/) for more information about the Mockingbird Virtual Book Club, including how to sign up. Click here (https://conference.mbird.com/) to pre-register for the 2023 Mbird NYC Conference (4/27-29). Click here (https://mbird.com/social-science/parenting/grace-for-almond-moms-like-me/) to read Sarah Condon's piece on Grace for (Almond) Moms Click here (https://mbird.com/the-magazine/the-wellness-journalism-guru/) to read the Mbird interview with Rina Raphael Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/04/equity-language-guides-sierra-club-banned-words/673085/) to read "The Moral Case Against Equity Language" by George Packer in The Atlantic Simeon Zahl's essay on "The Cure of Souls: Theories of Change in Christian Ministry" is currently only available in The Sickness & Health Issue (https://mbird.com/shop/magazine/issue-22-sickness-health/) of The Mockingbird. But you can watch him deliver it as a conference talk here (https://vimeo.com/710521177). Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/wheres-the-next-brick/) to read Francis Spufford's piece for Mbird, "Where's the Next Brick?"

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk NBA scoring records, Manhattan treadmills, imposter phenomena, and children with addiction. Also, a cat named Esther says the Sinner's Prayer. Click here (https://kareem.substack.com/p/what-i-think-about-lebron-breaking) to read what Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Thinks About LeBron James Breaking his NBA Scoring Record Click here (https://www.thecut.com/2023/02/the-fleishman-is-in-trouble-effect.html) to read Caitlin Moscatello's essay "The Fleishman Effect." Click here (https://covenant.livingchurch.org/2023/02/06/secular-neglect-salvation-anyway/) to read Wesley Hill's reflection on the theology of Esther, "'Secular' Neglect, Salvation Anyway." Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/13/the-dubious-rise-of-impostor-syndrome) to read "Why Everyone Feels Like They're Faking It" by Leslie Jamison in The New Yorker. Click here (https://mbird.com/addiction/xl-grace/) to read Cole Huffman's testimony about his son on Mbird, "XL Grace."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk sleepover stories, mindfulness apps, prison ministries, and dangerous cliches. Also, Sarah lipsyncs to Amy Grant while Dave avoids the noid. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/parents-saying-no-sleepovers-tiktok-controversy/672821/) to read Erika Christakis' Case for Sleepovers in The Atlantic Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/are-mental-health-apps-worth-trying/) to read the Dear Cloud column in Wired about mental health apps. Click here (https://welltodo.substack.com/p/the-latest-wellness-trend-is-long) to read Rina Raphael's Well to Do newsletter. Click here (https://richardbeck.substack.com/p/reading-the-bible-with-the-damned-e48) to read the second installment of Richard Beck's "Reading the Bible with the Damned" series. Click here (https://richardbeck.substack.com/p/reading-the-bible-with-the-damned-980) to read the third installment. Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/comforting-the-comfortable/) to read Todd Brewer's piece for Mbird "Comforting the Comfortable". Click here (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-this-fish-went-fishing-for-people-matthew-4-12-23/id1097866296?i=1000596152950) to listen to the sermon Sarah references by Jacob Smith.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk one-downing, dry January, raging creatives, and Nigerian faith healers. Also, Sarah reveals how to get people to care, and Dave finally says what we're all thinking about RJ. Correction: around the 30 min mark, when Dave says "Johnny Walker" he meant to say "Jack Daniels." Click here (https://www.facebook.com/colbertlateshow/videos/564068128572213/) to watch the clip of Colbert speaking with Quinta Brunson Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/-dry-january-challenge-2023-drinking-meaning-benefits/672695/) to read The Atlantic interview about Dry January Click here (https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/the-creative-underclass-is-still) to read Freddie deBoer's newsletter on the Raging Creative Underclass Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/24/opinion/miracles-neuroscience-proof.html) to read Molly Worthen's piece about Miracles in the NY Times. Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/god-has-made-a-decision-about-you/) to read Jim Nestingen's forward to Free to Be

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk words of the year, overly honest friendships, gift giving snafus, and Rob Delaney's late son Henry. Also, RJ gets chosen while Sarah throws shade at some Swifties. Click here (https://watch.angelstudios.com/) to watch The Chosen Click here (https://www.instagram.com/kobecampbell_/) to check out Kobe Campbell's Instagram, and here to pre-order (https://amzn.to/3Yxj7nA) her book, Why Am I Like This? Click here (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fWIgYUbfqfHRDP8c16Py8?si=0cf40eb69b7643d4) to listen to the episode of Heavyweight Dave mentions, and here to order (https://amzn.to/3hHwpx5) the audio of Nick Cave's Faith Hope and Carnage Click here (https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/word-of-the-year) to read about Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/12/do-real-friends-tell-truth-confrontation/672437/) Stephanie Murray's piece on Friendship in The Atlantic Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/style/holiday-best-gift-stress.html) to read "Unpacking the Psychology of Gift Giving" by Kate Murphy in the NY Times Click here (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221205-the-upsides-of-feeling-small) to read about The Upsides of Feeling Small via Robert Fisher and the BBC Click here (https://mbird.com/humor/rob-delaneys-water-in-the-desert/) to read Drew Colby's piece on Rob Delaney's Water in the Desert on Mbird

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk sleep tracking, the therapy/gospel dichotomy, public apologies, and the Second Coming. Also, Sarah almost ruins a baby shower. **Click here (https://mbird.com/support/) to respond to the opening appeal to support Mbird **Click here (https://mbird.com/the-magazine/calling-all-insomniacs-the-sleep-issue-is-available-to-pre-order/) to read (part of) CJ's opener for the Sleep Issue of the magazine Click here (https://mbird.com/shop/magazine/issue-21-sleep/) to order your copy of the Sleep Issue today Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/12/opinion/mental-health-therapy-instagram.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) to read Tara Isabella Burton's piece for the NY Times, "The Problem With Letting Therapy-Speak Invade Everything" Click here (https://www.bradeast.org/blog/therapeutic-church) to read Brad East's post "A Therapeutic Church Is an Atheist Church" Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKCmefQdplI) to watch the trailer for the documentary Stutz, directed by Jonah Hill Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/14/the-case-against-the-twitter-apology-matthew-ichihashi-potts-forgiveness-danya-ruttenberg-on-repentance-and-repair) to read Jill Lepore's essay on "The Case Against the Twitter Apology"

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk the moneyballing of everything, the perils of oversharing, the contradictions of adult orphanhood, and the beauty/difficulty of Sunday School. Also, RJ overshares some feelings about our national pastime. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/10/sabermetrics-analytics-ruined-baseball-sports-music-film/671924/) to read Derek Thompson's newsletter on what Moneyball-for-Everything Has Done to American Culture. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/11/people-oversharing-tmi-friendship-boundaries/671970/) to read Michael Waters' piece in the Atlantic on The Decline of Etiquette and the Rise of 'Boundaries'. Click here (https://link.thecut.com/view/627d4040011d714f65c392fahkt5t.5yh/215374ad) to read Kathryn Jezer-Morton's column for The Cut on Adult Orphans. Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/church/pumpkins-unicorns-and-saints-of-god/) to read Jane Grizzle's post for Mbird on Pumpkins, Unicorns, and Saints of God. Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/preaching-that-connects/) to read Todd Brewer's piece on Preaching That Connects.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk moralized therapy, misunderstood jobs, and the underrated upsides of an altar call. Also, Sarah laments the snow crabs while RJ loses a wrestling match. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/opinion/therapy-america.html) to read Mychal Denzel Smith's article "Why Do People Think Going to Therapy Makes You a Good Person?". Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/opinion/us-mental-health-awareness.html) to read Huw Green's article "We Have Reached Peak 'Mental Health'". Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/10/job-work-reality-editor-doctor-nurse/671657/) to read The Atlantic's poll on "What People Don't Understand About Your Job". Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/october/bring-back-altar-calls-church-community-russell-moore.html) to read Russell Moore's column on Bringing Back Altar Calls. Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/where-god-met-me/) to read Ken Sundet Jones's piece on Mbird, "Where God Met Me".

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk vanishing cursive, gentle parenting, church families, and grieving rockstars. Also, RJ reveals why he doesn't like writing thank-you notes, while Sarah sings one, er, hell of a spiritual. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/10/gen-z-handwriting-teaching-cursive-history/671246/) to read Drew Gilpin Faust's piece on how Gen Z Never Learned to Read Cursive in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-harsh-realm-of-gentle-parenting) to read Jessica Winter's profile of The Harsh World of "Gentle Parenting" in The New Yorker. Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/church/one-big-unhappy-family/) to read Sarah Hinlicky Wilson's piece for Mbird, "One Big (Unhappy) Family?". Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/12/magazine/nick-cave-interview.html) to read the NY Times Magazine's interview with Nick Cave. Click here (https://amzn.to/3xUcakP) to order his book Faith, Hope, and Carnage.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk deceased royalty, love languages, low anthropology, moralized effort, and virtuous bewilderment. Also, Sarah calls the midwife while RJ goes insane. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/05/opinion/work-labor-morality.html) to read Peter Coy's newsletter about The Moralization of Effort. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/27/well/family/love-languages-author.html) to read The NY Times article "The Sixth Love Language Does Not Exist" by Alisha Haridasani Gupta. Click here (https://mbird.com/tv/unexpected-grace-in-an-italian-beef-sub-shop/) to read Jane Grizzle's piece about The Bear. Click here (https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/episode-3/umc.cmc.659oibwcfz7hih0jojjxaa4m1?showId=umc.cmc.6f30byk8irj415q467mjppidr) to watch episode 3 of the first season of BBC's Call the Midwife. Click here (https://hedgehogreview.com/web-features/thr/posts/in-praise-of-bewilderment) to read Alan Levinovitz's essay In Praise of Bewilderment in The Hedghog Review. Click here (https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/436012) or here (https://amzn.to/3DjwoIn) to order a copy of Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself) by David Zahl. Please help us spread the word by sharing and reviewing, too!

In their first episode following the summer hiatus RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Frederick Buechner, worker productivity scores, Effective Altruism, and Afrikaner sadness. Also, Sarah's sabbatical diverts her somewhere... fabulous. Recommendations: The Brothers Zahl (https://thebrotherszahl.fireside.fm/) podcast, Soultime (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/soultime-christian-meditation/id1369059690), Radical Love (https://amzn.to/3cw8FcY) by Zachary Levi, Better Call Saul, and The Neal Morse Band (https://www.nealmorse.com/) Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/opinion/columnists/frederick-buechner-inner-depths.html) to read David Brooks' "The Man Who Found His Inner Depths". Click here (https://mbird.com/literature/corresponding-with-buechner/) to read Mischa Willet's "Corresponding with Buechner". Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/14/business/worker-productivity-tracking.html) to read about The Rise of Worker Productivity Score by Jodi Kantor and Arya Sundaramin the NY Times Magazine. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/15/the-reluctant-prophet-of-effective-altruism) to read about The Reluctant Prophet of Effective Altuisim by Gideon Lewis-Kraus Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/07/south-africa-apartheid-white-afrikaners-the-inheritors/670554/) to read Eve Fairbanks's piece taking the pulse of contemporary Afrikaners in The Atlantic.

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk insane crafts, normie churches, dying neuroscientists, the healing power of children's books and hope in a weary world. Click here (https://mbird.com/support/) to respond to the opening appeal and support The Mockingcast. Click here (https://mbird.com/shop/magazine/issue-20-success-failure/) to order a copy of The Success & Failure Issue of The Mockingbird Magazine. Click here (https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Olbj1iTXQSX3q9FkHt67FFoyDMBzOmoIOjfo1gXsdt7xUH3YspjkYai-FuY3LICBrMwkIL8YJ6538KqBGpsf6LcHIScTZP8QIxM-PXMsJK0%3D) to join our digital mailing list. Click here (https://mbird.com/conferences/2022-nyc-conference-recordings/) to listen to the recordings from our recent New York Conference. Click here (https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/05/she-invented-adulting-her-life-fell-apart) to read the Vanity Fair interview with Kelly Williams Brown. Click here (https://www.bradeast.org/blog/church-for-normies) to read Brad East's post about Church for Normies. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/terminal-cancer-neuroscientist-prepares-death/621114/) to read David Linden's piece in The Atlantic, "A Neuroscientist Prepares for Death." Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/03/style/and-now-the-200000-face-lift.html) to read the NY Times report on the $200,000 Facelift. Click here (https://mbird.com/literature/viewing-the-world-with-the-eyes-of-an-eight-year-old/) to read Joey Goodall's article on Viewing the World With the Eyes of an 8-Year Old. Click here (https://onbeing.org/programs/kate-dicamillo-for-the-eight-year-old-in-you/) to listen to Krista Tippett's interview with Kate DiCamillo. Click here (https://www.abc.net.au/religion/david-newheiser-an-uncertain-hope-in-a-pandemic-world/13865150) to read David Newheiser's piece on An Uncertain Hope.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk library fines, viral dynamics, sad teenagers, and Easter vendettas. Also, Sarah has quite a run-in at the airport. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/nyregion/nyc-library-fines-books-returned.html) to read the report about returned library books in NYC. Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/law/second-dates-library-fines-and-doing-good/) to read Matt Pearson's commentary on the returned library books for Mbird. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/the-end-of-alcohol/) to read Virginia Heffernan's essay for Wired about The End of Alcohol. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/) to read Jonathan Haidt's essay on Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/04/american-teens-sadness-depression-anxiety/629524/) to read Derek Thompson's report on Sad Teenagers. Click here (https://youtu.be/08C-1PB-w3Y?t=2774) to watch/listen to RJ's Easter sermon. And here to listen (https://youtu.be/bUUSe58nOoo?t=1280) to Dave's post-Easter one. For more info about the NYC Conference, click here (https://conference.mbird.com/).

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk goblin modes, unproductive sabbaticals, shaming complexes, and historical miracles. Also, Sarah takes a tour of a church crypt, and RJ sees yellow (and a lot of movies). Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/14/slobbing-out-and-giving-up-why-are-so-many-people-going-goblin-mode) to read The Guardian's piece on Goblin Mode. Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/the-gift-of-leisure-to-a-hustling-world/) to read Peter Seversen's post for Mockingbird on The Gift of Leisure in a Hustling World. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/03/28/the-shaming-industrial-complex-cathy-oneil-the-shame-machine-owen-flanagan-how-to-do-things-with-emotions) for Becca Rothfeld's rundown of The Shaming Industrial Complex. Click here (https://www.vox.com/22969804/forgiveness-gibson-logan-paul-jk-rowling) to read Aja Romano's column for Vox, Everyone Wants Forgiveness, But No One Is Being Forgiven. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/russia-ukraine-war-stopped-internet-culture-war/627122/) to read Rinee DiResta's piece for The Atlantic, "The Ukraine Briefly Put America's Culture War in Perspective." Click here (https://mbird.com/theology/gods-hand-in-human-history/) for David Clay's post on God's Hand in Human History. *For more details, or to pre-register for our upcoming conference in New York City, please click here (https://conference.mbird.com/). *

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk healthy forgetfulness, vengeful superheroes, theories of enchantment, and personalized religion. Also, Dave breaks some troubling news to a bunch of children. Click here (https://conference.mbird.com/) for more details or to pre-register for our upcoming conference in New York City (April 28-30). Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/opinion/pandemic-memory.html) to read the NY Times column on forgetting the pandemic. Click here (https://mbird.com/film/the-batman-satisfied-vengeance-and-a-symbol-of-hope/) to read Blake Nail's review of The Batman on Mbird. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/can-chloe-valdary-sell-skeptics-dei/617875/) to read The Atlantic's profile of Chloe Valdary and her Theory of Enchantment. Click here (https://richardbeck.substack.com/p/stop-sneering-and-get-to-work) to read Richard Beck's newsletter about Joel Osteen and CCM. Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/church/the-relief-of-lent/) to read Sarah's column on The Relief of Lent. Click here (https://www.welcometothetent.com/) to learn more about The Tent to which Sarah is contributing.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk cheugy parents, happy churchgoers, urgent prayers, and long defeats. Also, while Dave makes a Pink Floyd faux-pas, RJ does some stitching. Click here (https://katiecouric.com/lifestyle/katie-realizes-shes-cheugy/) to read Katie Couric's confession of cheugy-ness. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/21/magazine/laurie-santos-interview.html) to read the NY Times Magazine's interview with Laurie Santos. Click here (https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/on-nagging/) to read The School of Life's entry On Nagging. Click here (https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/02/18/liturgy-cross-petitions-241765) to read Torey Lightcap's piece on Polite vs Urgent Worship in America Magazine. Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/church/no-ones-making-a-docuseries-about-ordinary-churches/) to read Jason Micheli's post on why Nobody Is Making a Docuseries about Ordinary Churches.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk porch pirates, fading friendships, trivialized trauma, and hopeful humor. Also, God works through a robot vacuum cleaner. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/do-good-doorbell-cams-make-good-neighbors/) to read Meghan O'Gieblyn's answer to the question "Do Good Doorbell Cams Make Good Neighbors?" in Wired Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/03/why-we-lose-friends-aging-happiness/621305/) to read Jennifer Senior's essay on "It's Your Friends Who Break Your Heart" in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/22876522/trauma-covid-word-origin-mental-health) to read Lexi Pandell's column on "How 'Trauma' Became the Word of the Decade" in Vox Click here (https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/02/04/stephen-colbert-gives-deep-response-dua-lipa-faith-question/6666742001/) to watch Stephen Colbert's surprising response to Dua Lipa's question about humor and faith. For more information about Dave speaking at RJ's church on Feb 26&27, visit the website (https://www.holytrinitywpb.org/faithandlife) for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach, FL.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Wordle distractions, parenting silos, mental midwinters, and undeserving fairy tales. Also, Sarah recalls the glory of heads-up seven-up. Click here (https://newsletters.theatlantic.com/galaxy-brain/61eefb8bdc551a0020852bf1/too-much-information/) to read Charlie Warzel's newsletter about Wordle backlash. Click here (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/why-no-one-can-hear-parents-screaming) to read Anne Helen Petersen's newsletter on Screaming Parents. Click here (https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/why-you-may-be-experiencing-a-mental-midwinter/) to read The School of Life's entry on Mental Midwinters. Click here (https://mbird.com/literature/parables-of-grace-happy-endings-for-the-undeserving/) to read Benjamin Self's piece on Fairy Tales Click here (https://mbird.com/holidays/plans-and-resolutions-divinely-interrupted/) to read Stephanie Phillips's essay on Divine Interruptions.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk habit formation, performative meetings, Latin American religion, and the benefits of falling apart in church. Also, George Costanza chimes in with some tips on working less. Click here (https://mbird.com/conferences/nine-days-until-tulsa/) for more information about our Tulsa Conference (1/21-22). Click here (https://mbird.com/same-old-song/crafting-the-gospel-focused-sermon-for-lent/) for more information about the Same Old Song "Preaching During Lent" virtual event. Click here (https://mbird.com/theologyreligion/a-light-year/) to read Sarah's post about "A Light Year." Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/01/2022-is-not-the-year-for-new-years-resolutions/621070/) to read Faith Hill's column on how "New Years' Resolutions Are Not the Vibe of 2022". Click here (https://www.economist.com/business/2022/01/08/the-rise-of-performative-work) to read the Economist piece on "The Rise of Performative Work." Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-catholic-church-is-losing-latin-america-11641914388) to read The Wall Street Journal's investigation into Why the Catholic Church Is Losing South America. Click here (https://sojo.net/articles/why-i-cry-church?fbclid=IwAR2Qk1ootMOjCW5yoGb532R-JnzOcOgc8gRzJsEL4UwNzyDX2mIJuySdjGA) to read Mallory McDuff's article on Why I Cry in Church.

To respond to the opening appeal and support the work of Mockingbird, please click here (https://mbird.com/support/). All gifts are tax-deductible. Our last episode of the year in which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mallstalgia, gift aversions, parent-child privilege gaps, and gambling addictions. Click here (https://tropicsofmeta.com/2021/11/29/mallstalgia/) to read Jason Tebbe's piece on mallstalgia for Tropics of Meta. Click here (https://mbird.com/everyday/law/i-hate-presents/) to read Sarah Hinlicky Wilson's confession, "I Hate Presents." Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/opinion/poor-dad-rich-kids.html)to read Esau McCaulley's op-ed on how to raise middle-class kids if you grew up poor. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/11/world-our-casino/620791/) to read Stephen Marche's article about how America's Gambling Addiction is Metastasizing in The Atlantic. Click here (https://mbird.com/news/america/risky-business-a-high-stakes-gambling-addiction/)to read Sam Bush's reflection on Risky Business.

In which Dave, RJ, and Sarah talk college essays, supermodel insecurities, ferocious coziness, and because-because propositions. Also, Sarah attends a Renaissance Festival and Dave visits some European comic book stores. Click here (https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/authenticity/articles/how-to-be-yourself) to read Joseph E Davis's piece on "The Studied Art of the College Application Essay" Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/emily-ratajkowski-and-the-burden-of-being-perfect-looking) to read Carrie Battan's review of Emily Ratajkowski's book in The New Yorker Click here (https://mothersundertheinfluence.substack.com/p/is-cozy-season-a-cry-for-help) to read Kathryn Jezer-Morton's newsletter asking "Is Cozy Season a Cry for Help?" Click here (https://thecorners.substack.com/p/sin-boldly) to read Nadia Bolz-Weber's sermon "Sin Boldly" This episode is dedicated to the memory of John Owen, a member of the Condon family who died recently.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk the fastest growing sport in America, the allure of conspirituality, exvangelical hashtags, and renamed churches. Also, a pair of golden girls wipe the pickleball court with Mr. Zahl. Click here (https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/10/how-pickleball-won-over-everyone) to read Craig Coyne's piece on "How Pickleball Won Everyone Over" in Vanity Fair. Click here (https://www.metmuseum.org/press/exhibitions/2021/da-corte-roof-garden-commission) to check out Alex Da Corte's sculpture on the top of the Met. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/10/fix-facebook-making-it-more-like-google/620456/) to read Ian Bogost's piece "People Aren't Meant to Talk This Much" in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/oct/17/eva-wiseman-conspirituality-the-dark-side-of-wellness-how-it-all-got-so-toxic) to read Eva Wiseman's exploration of "The Dark Side of Wellness." Click here (https://mbird.com/theologyreligion/faith-after-exvangelical-deconstruction/) to read Zack Verham's piece on "Faith After Exvangelical Deconstruction." Click here (https://unherd.com/2021/10/god-save-us-from-trendy-vicars/) to read Giles Fraser writing about Trendy Vicars (and St. Mike's).

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk travel selves, generational generalizations, optimistic pitfalls, and forgiving bad fathers. Also, Sarah spies some aliens and RJ jumps off several cliffs. Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/psychology-travel-vacation-identity-transformation/2021/10/07/19e2615c-2204-11ec-8200-5e3fd4c49f5e_story.html) to read “You’re a Different Person When You Travel” by Jen Rose Smith in The Washington Post. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/its-time-to-stop-talking-about-generations) Louis Menand’s essay “It’s Time to Stop Talking about ‘Generations’” in The New Yorker. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/09/hope-optimism-happiness/620164/)to read Arthur Brooks piece on The Difference Between Optimism and Hope. Click here (https://comment.org/death-and-forgiveness) to read Joseph Keegin's essay on Death and Forgiveness.

In which Sarah, Dave, and RJ talk self-awareness, gracious friendships, nap ministries, and the "gift" of rejection. Also, RJ explores his haze-ability while Sarah buys a bridesmaid dress. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/opinion/psychology-consciousness-behavior.html) to read David Brooks column on "Is Self-Awareness a Mirage?" Click here (https://time.com/6100956/anne-lamotts-advice-could-stop-you-from-drowning-in-cynicism/) to read the interview with Anne Lamott in Time. Click here (https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/) to read about the Nap Ministry. Click here (https://mbird.com/religion/testimony/rejection-and-the-good-news/) to read Dave's water polo story. (And here (https://amzn.to/39ELSXp) to order the book in question). Oh and click here (https://www.storymakersnyc.com/) to learn more about Storymakers.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk favorite comedians, status games, personal progress, deconversion narratives, and the allure of re-enchantment. Also, somehow RJ keeps winning. He's insufferable that way. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxD3pT8C9-A) to watch Norm Macdonald deliver the Moth Joke. Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/29/we-all-play-the-status-game-but-who-are-the-real-winners) to read Will Storr's article on Status Games in The Guardian. Click here (https://unherd.com/2021/09/life-is-one-big-status-game/?fbclid=IwAR0CTppnvmGeHQcDyNX_1m6wc5gmNIULZkgzCsorFoptR8BZg3N__zS9ePs) to read Ed West's review of Storr's book on UnHerd. Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/august-web-only/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-personal-progress.html) to read Hannah Anderson article in Christianity Today on how COVID Killed Our Sense of Personal Progress. Click here (https://thepointmag.com/criticism/uncertain-terms/) to read Shivani Radhakrishnan's article "Uncertain Terms" in The Point. Click here (https://amzn.to/3hHpX6l) to order Megahan O'Gieblyn's new book God Human Animal Machine.

In their first episode after the summer hiatus, Dave, RJ and Sarah talk misbehaving consumers, trapped perfectionists, and controversial forgiveness before taking a detour to a little church in Mississippi. Also, Sarah dons a babooshka while Dave drums up some tips. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/08/pandemic-american-shoppers-nightmare/619650/) to read Amanda Mull's article on how American Shoppers Are a Nightmare Click here (https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/08/10/the-perfectionism-trap) to read Josh Cohen's essay on The Perfectionism Trap Click here (https://thecorners.substack.com/p/if-you-cant-take-in-anymore-theres) to read Nadia Bolz Weber's newsletter on what to do If You Can't Take In Anymore Click here (https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/2021/7/12/22379647/vox-conversations-elizabeth-bruenig-forgiveness-social-media) to read the Vox interview with Elizabeth Bruenig about forgiveness Finally, click here (https://mbird.com/grace-in-practice/a-vision-for-the-broken-hearted/) to read Sarah's account of what happened with the stained-glass window

In their last episode before the summer hiatus, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk brand loyalty, thought-terminating cliches, father's day championships, the religion/psychoanalysis intersection, and God's downstairs neighbor. Also, RJ changes his mind about Michael Jordan (sort of). *To support Mockingbird, please visit www.mbird.com/support. * * To read Sophie Gilbert's review of Cultish, click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/06/review-cultish-amanda-montell-language-fanaticism/619165/). * To read Hanif Abdurraqib's column "On Sneakers", click here (https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2021/06/07/on-sneakers/). * To read Kelsey Osgood's essay on "Ernest Becker and Our Fear of Death", click here (https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/culture-of-life/ernest-becker-and-our-fear-of-death). * To read Nightbirde's piece God Is On the Bathroom Floor, click here (https://www.nightbirde.co/blog/blog-post-title-three-2rjnk).

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk spite, ubiquitous burnout, chaplaincy booms, and our conflicted relationship with newness. Also, Dave marvels at how refreshed the cicadas are looking. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/05/why-are-we-so-spiteful/618865/) to read Charlie Tyson's review in The Atlantic on Why Are We So Spiteful? Click here (https://vimeo.com/553832309) to watch Todd Brewer's talk on Anger ("If Jesus Had a Twitter Account") from our Tyler Conference. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/burnout-modern-affliction-or-human-condition) to read Jill Lepore's essay on Burnout in The New Yorker Click here (https://www.thecut.com/2021/05/quitting-your-job-as-self-care.html) to read Katie Heaney's piece on The Clock-Out Cure in The Cut Click here (https://www.vice.com/amp/en/article/epnd8e/why-chaplains-are-in-high-demand-in-an-increasingly-secular-america) to read Vice's article on Why Chaplains Are in High Demand in an Increasingly Secular America Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/05/facing-the-strange/) to read Sam Bush's post on Facing the Strange Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/05/god-loves-a-cliche-i-hope/) to read Dave's post on Becoming a Cliché Recommendations: * Click here (https://amzn.to/3yA8Z0o) to order Spencer Reece's All the Beauty Still Left * Click here (https://open.spotify.com/album/1sp2pqP1wjFDoWhzUZikhg?si=bSLwQv1fQvSQjSq_4qU6Bw) to listen to Natalie Bergman's new album Mercy * Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/arts/music/sinead-oconnor-rememberings.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab) to read the profile of Sinead O'Connor in the NY Times

Recorded live in front of an audience at the Mockingbird Tyler festival, Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk ambivalent mothers, Nordic expectations, getting "on top of things", and elite religiosity. Also, Sarah indulges in some, er, splendid show-and-tell. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/05/make-your-mom-happier/618811/) to read How Adult Children Affect Their Mothers' Happiness Click here (https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/04/finland-happiness-lagom-hygge.html?utm_source=digg) to read about The Grim Secret of Nordic Happiness in Slate. Click here (https://www.oliverburkeman.com/so/a7Nb2UVuo?languageTag=en&cid=d91ad76d-bd35-4739-bf6e-8b03ed849a33#/main) to read Oliver Burkeman's newsletter on mastery. Click here (https://jecs.substack.com/p/another-obstacle-to-elite-religion) to read Audrey Pollnow's newsletter on elite American religion. Click here (https://mbird.com/2019/02/prisons-of-sadness-and-a-love-much-greater-than-evolution-requires/) to read Michael Gerson's sermon from The National Cathedral.

Surprise! It's a special edition episode of The Mockingcast, in which CJ Green introduces the unpredictable content of the Surprise issue (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-17-the-surprise-issue/) of The Mockingbird magazine. You'll hear an incredible personal essay read by author and professional listener, Helena Dea Bala; an interview on unexpected grief with the Rev Liz Tichenor; and a discussion about jazz and John Coltrane with musician Sam Bush. Plus some stuff about Disneyland. Lots of twists and turns, needless to say. Click here (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-17-the-surprise-issue/) to order the issue.

In which Dave, RJ and Sarah talk subtraction strategies, birth order effects, Bieber's redemption, and the spiritual dangers of courting controversy. But maybe that's just what a couple of oldest children (and one middle child) would discuss. Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/04/15/psychology-innovation-subtraction-addition/) to read The Washington Post's report on our aversion to subtraction when it comes to problem solving. Click here (https://time.com/5953372/birth-order-personality-traits/) to read Lynn Berger's article in Time on Birth Order. Click here (https://time.com/5953372/birth-order-personality-traits/) to read Zach Baron's profile in GQ on The Redemption of Justin Bieber. Click here (https://www.ligonier.org/blog/oncontroversy/) to read John Newton's letter on the dangers of courting controversy.

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk vaccinated no-no's, real estate obsessions, recalibrated ambitions, and Easter messages. We almost titled it House Hunters: The Mockingcast Edition. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/29/things-fully-vaccinated-people-are-still-not-allowed-to-do) to read The New Yorker's list of Things Fully Vaccinated People Are Still Not Allowed to Do. Click here (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/no-im-not-ready) to read Anne Helen Peterson's newsletter, "I'm Not Ready." Click here (https://thepointmag.com/criticism/house-hunters/) to read Nora Caplan-Bricker's essay "House Hunters" in The Point. Click here (https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/elle-voices/a35854177/ambition-anxiety/) to read Lotte Jeffs' piece "A Life More Ordinary" in Elle. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/03/to-get-happier-admit-when-youre-wrong/618245/) to read Arthur Brooks' article on Humility and "How to Get Better at Admitting You're Wrong" in the Atlantic Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soDQCXLa1ug) to watch RJ's Easter sermon.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk last chance basketball programs, true selves, teenage errors, and gracious dispositions. Also, Sarah gets kicked off AOL Instant Messenger. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-YCKtBb0L4) to watch the trailer for Last Chance U: Basketball. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/sherry-turkles-plugged-in-year) to read the New Yorker's profile of Sherry Turkle. Click here (https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7mwa3/why-your-true-self-is-an-illusion) to read Vice's article on "Why Your ‘True Self’ Is An Illusion" by Shayla Love. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/america-has-lost-ability-forgive/618336/) to read Graeme Wood's piece "America Has Forgotten How to Forgive" in The Atlantic. Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/03/you-will-regret-reading-this-post/) to read DZ's reflection on Regret and here for his piece (https://mbird.com/2021/03/the-doctrine-of-grace-vs-the-disposition-of-grace/) on The Doctine of Grace vs The Disposition of Grace. Click here (https://www.artbible.info/art/large/495.html) to view the painting by James Tissot that RJ references, "What Our Lord Saw from The Cross".

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk baby busts, Instavangelists, and epiphanies of the heart. Also, RJ comes clean about his favorite Disney princess. Clue: It's not Anna or Elsa. Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-19-baby-bust-is-here-11614853803) to read The Wall Street Journal's report on the intenational baby bust. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/05/opinion/influencers-glennon-doyle-instagram.html) to read Leigh Stein's piece on The Empty Religions of Instagram. Click here (https://unherd.com/2021/03/will-we-remember-our-covid-dead/) to read Giles Fraser's column on changing attitudes toward memorials. Click here (https://www.christiancentury.org/article/how-my-mind-has-changed/i-m-philosopher-we-can-t-think-our-way-out-mess) to read James K.A. Smith's essay on The Intelligence of Love. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/tim-keller-growing-my-faith-face-death/618219/) to read Tim Keller's reflection on "Growing My Faith in the Face of Death."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Covid-Deutsch, the advice column boom, and grieving video game characters. Also, Sarah cozies up to some ghosts while dancing to DMB. Click here (https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/02/germans-words-pandemic-life.html) to read Rebecca Schumann's overview of the new German words being invented to describe pandemic life. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-age-of-peak-advice) to read The New Yorker's profile of The Age of Peak Advice. Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/02/one-simple-rule-for-never-making-a-bad-decision/) to read Sam Bush's One Simple Rule for Never Making a Bad Decision. Click here (https://catapult.co/stories/matt-ortile-column-grief-mother-narrative-video-games) to read Matt Ortile's essay for Catapult on grief and gaming. Click here (https://www.abc.net.au/religion/samuel-wells-job-and-the-love-stronger-than-death/13169588) to read Samuel Wells' sermon on Job and the Love Stronger than Death. Click here (https://thebrotherszahl.fireside.fm/) to check out The Brothers Zahl podcast!

Highly recommended for Mockingast listeners: All six episodes of the first season of Mockingbird's brand-new podcast are available now at https://thebrotherszahl.fireside.fm/ -- or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe today!

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk peripheral relationships, nervous breakdowns, and nighttime prayers. Also, after making a startling discovery in her father's desk drawer, Sarah goes shopping for yoga pants. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/bring-back-the-nervous-breakdown/617788/) to read Amanda Mull's piece on how The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship Click here (https://www.thestar.com/life/relationships/2021/02/09/are-people-having-more-sex-during-the-pandemic.html) to read the report in the Toronto Star about decreasing sexual activity during the pandemic Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/02/the-moms-are-not-alright/) to read Jane Grizzle's post on how The Moms Are Not Alright Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/bring-back-the-nervous-breakdown/617788/) to read Jerry Useem's article Bring Back the Nervous Breakdown Click here (https://renovare.org/articles/how-to-pray-while-drowning-in-doubt) to read the excerpt from Tish Harrison Warren's new book, "How To Pray While Drowning in Doubt"

In which RJ and Dave hear from Sarah about her first month of grief, before talking together about family estrangement, faulty memories and the blindspots of Jefferson's Jesus. Also, Dave breaks up with a friend while Sarah goes to the zoo. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/01/why-parents-and-kids-get-estranged/617612/) to read Joshua Coleman's article in The Atlantic about Why Parents and Children Get Estranged Click here (https://www.thecut.com/2021/01/i-want-my-family-to-love-me-unconditionally.html) to read Heather Havrilesky's column addressing the "I Want My Family to Love Me Unconditionally" inquiry Click here (https://mbird.com/2021/01/confessions-of-a-former-youth-minister/) to read Dave's Confessions of a Former Youth Minister Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/04/what-thomas-jefferson-could-never-understand-about-jesus) to read Vinson Cunningham's rundown in The New Yorker of "What Thomas Jefferson Could Never Understand About Jesus"

In their final episode of the year, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk mer-baby mishaps, library impermanence, celebrity pastors, and their increasing distaste for Advent. To support the Mockingcast, text "MCAST" to 77948. We need your help! Click here (https://www.instagram.com/p/CIns4NIBLV0/) to read Sarah's message about the tragic news she received just after recording (that RJ mentions in the prelude). Please pray like mad for the Condon family. Click here (https://www.facebook.com/5405219/posts/10102013365940365/?d=n) to read Elizabeth Faidley's incredible write-up of the Pearl the Mermaid Baby Saga, which includes a picture of you-know-who (you've been warned). Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/magazine/public-libraries.html) to read Ben Donick's piece about Library Books. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/12/a-mockingbird-gift-guide-2020-edition/) to persue our gift guide. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/us/carl-lentz-hillsong-pastor.html) to read Ruth Graham's article on the Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/12/thou-shalt-be-needed-but-never-needy-sad-clowns-lonely-men-and-covid-friendships/) to read DZ's post about Sad Clowns. Click here (https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/the-crisis-of-christian-celebrity) to read David French's column on The Crisis of Christian Celebrity. Click here (https://mbird.com/2012/12/another-week-ends-advent-mudballs-freaks-and-geeks-christian-pariahs-yiddish-petraeus-hitchcock-communion-and-scott-walker/) to read Walter Russell Mead's meditation on Advent.

In this special extended episode of The Mockingcast, Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Sports Issue (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-16-the-sports-issue/) of The Mockingbird magazine, featuring interviews with journalist Anna Katherine Clemmons, legendary skateboarder Christian Hosoi, and former Falcons cornerback (and current chaplain) Jason Webster--beamed in, it would seem, almost straight from Friday Night Lights. The game is on! Click here (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-16-the-sports-issue/) to order the issue.

In which we celebrate the 200 episode milestone by talking soul toupees, American happiness, None elevator pitches, and the compelling perfectionism of Yeshua. Also, Dave comes to grips with his ADD, Sarah starts a new hobby, while RJ serenades them both like some kind of overgrown Dutch choirboy. Click here (https://mbird.com/2013/11/dont-look-now-but-your-soul-toupee-is-showing/) to read about Soul Toupees. Click here (https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/america-the-anxious/) to read Ruth Whippman's article on America the Anxious. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/americans-and-god.html) to read Eric Weiner's piece on what it's like to be a None. Click here (https://mbird.com/2013/04/the-radicaly-optimistic-pessimism-of-jesus-and-the-merciful-impasse/) to read a portion of Francis Spufford's Yeshau chapter from Unapologetic (https://amzn.to/32L1y8g). Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-real-roots-of-midlife-crisis/382235/?single_page=true) to read the article Dave mentions about mid-life crises. Click here (https://mbird.com/2014/09/over-confident-men-and-underestimating-women-some-thoughts-on-shame-and-leadership/) to read Sarah's post on Overconfident Men and Underestimating Women.

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk living inside the news, POW uncertainty, segmented sleep, and American paradoxes. Also, RJ peeks behind the Iron Curtain while Sarah scores some great lamps (buffalo check). Click here (https://magazine.mbird.com/) to preview and/or order the Sports Issue of our magazine. Click here (https://store.mbird.com/shop/books/daily-grace-the-mockingbird-devotional-vol-2/) to pre-order the new Mockingbird Devotional, Vol 2. Click here (https://www.oliverburkeman.com/so/c4NMEIvqK?cid=d91ad76d-bd35-4739-bf6e-8b03ed849a33#/main) to read (and subscribe to (https://www.oliverburkeman.com/?utm_campaign=4387e677-b126-46b0-8821-e0f115fde8c4&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=d91ad76d-bd35-4739-bf6e-8b03ed849a33)!) Oliver Burkeman's newsletter, The Imperfectionist. Click here (https://www.thecut.com/2020/11/first-person-essay-my-therapist-was-right-about-uncertainty.html) to read Lisa Miller's column in The Cut, "My Therapist Was Right About Uncertainty." Click here (https://tedium.co/2020/10/30/segmented-sleep-history/) to read about Second Sleep on Tedium. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/10/why-life-has-gotten-more-comfortable-less-happy/616807/) to read Arthur Brooks's explanation why Americans have gotten unhappier as they've gotten more comfortable.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk private lives, political junkies, Craigslist confessionals, and the surprising hope of 2020. Also, RJ feels his (lonely) feelings while Sarah buys a birthday cake. Click here (https://mailchi.mp/3bb0c2fbceb4/the-great-rearranging) to read Mo Perry's Great Rearranging newsletter. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/opinion/polarization-politics-americans.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage) to read the NY Times article about "the real divide in America." Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/10/when-the-solution-is-to-listen-the-timely-reminder-of-helena-dea-balas-craigslist-confessional/) to read CJ's write-up of Helena Dea Bala's Craigslist Confessional. Click here (https://www.1517.org/articles/2020-is-a-great-year-for-the-church) to read Chad Bird's rationale for why 2020 Is A Great Year For the Church.

In which RJ, Dave, and Sarah talk gracious play, burned out children, burned out workers, burned out clergy, and the hope of unconscious bias training. Also, RJ gets down to some liturgical reggae. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/magazine/nba-bubble.html) to read Sam Anderson's article on the NBA bubble. Click here (https://mbird.com/2015/05/grace-is-play-our-magazine-interview-with-nimi-wariboko/) to read our interview with theologian Nimi Wariboko. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTg1ES13yLw) to watch the video for The Pioneers' "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah." Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/09/anne-helen-petersen-burnout-millennial-parenting/616406/) to read Anne Helen Peterson's interview about millennial parenting in The Atlantic. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/how-work-became-an-inescapable-hellhole/) to read the excerpt of Anne Helen Peterson's Can't Even in Wired. Click here (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-contours-of-clergy-burnout) to read Anne Helen Peterson's newsletter about clergy burnout. Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/03/unconscious-bias-training-fad-mps-pc-jesus-sin) to read Peter Ormerod's column on unconcscious bias training in The Guardian.

For too long, the podcasting industry has flooded our ears with self-indulgent commentary and lazy sermonizing. Well, the answer to your commuting conundrum is finally here! We at Mockingbird are obsessed with side-stepping the noise and bringing 200 proof grace directly to your earbuds. Simple and seasonal, yet thoughtfully sourced and designed to fit in with your busy lifestyle, brace yourself for your new favorite listening experience. There is only one Mockingcast, and this is it. In all seriousness though: To read the interview with Lana Del Rey, click here (https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/who-is-lana-del-rey-jack-antonoff-september-poetry-cover). To read the review of The Twittering Machine in Book Forum, click here (https://www.bookforum.com/print/2703/a-psychoanalytic-reading-of-social-media-and-the-death-drive-24171). To read Bloomberg's "Welcome to Your Bland New World," click here (https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-09-07/welcome-to-your-bland-new-world-of-consumer-capitalism). To read Duo Dickinson's "Love Across the Political Divide," click here (https://mbird.com/2020/09/no-sense-love-across-the-political-divide/). Oh and to read DZ's reflection on the Before films, click here (https://mbird.com/2020/09/we-are-all-sociopaths-for-love/).

A jumbo-sized episode in which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk spiritual consultants, anxious NBA stars, the charity of Frederick Douglass, and the hope of Julian of Norwich. Also, a hapless kayaker receives an ironic rescue. Click here (https://wnyt.com/albany-new-york-news/jimmy-macdonald-of-albany-was-rescued-from-lake-george-by-paulist-fathers-priests-on-a-floating-tiki-bar/5850670/) to read the full opening news report. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/business/remote-work-spiritual-consultants.html) to read Nellie Bowles's NY Times profile of spiritual consultants in the workplace. And here (https://mbird.com/2020/09/spiritual-consultants-at-the-gates-of-a-great-unraveling/) to read Dave's commentary on it. Click here (https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29743235/clippers-paul-george-says-dealt-anxiety-depression-bubble) to read the ESPN story on Paul George. Click here (https://americancompass.org/the-commons/dignity-to-endure/) to read Chris Arnade's "Dignity to Endure." Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/hate-sinner-not-book/616066/?utm_source=ayjay&utm_medium=email) to read Alan Jacobs's article "Hate the Sin, Not the Book." Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/09/pandemics-and-the-theology-of-the-cross-julian-of-norwichs-hope/) to read Nathan White's piece on Julian of Norwich's Hope.

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ talk college reopenings, internal deputies, racist sinners, and recovering pharisees. Also, Sarah is absolved of her lunchable guilt, and Mrs Heijmen finally becomes an adult. Click here (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/08/24/college-covid-strategies-dont-adequately-address-typical-student-behavior) to read the Inside Higher Ed piece on college reopenings. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/09/defund-your-inner-police/) to read Sarah's post on Defunding Your Inner Police. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/08/12-steps-for-the-recovering-pharisee/) to read Tim Kreider's article, "I Am a Meme Now." Click here (https://spectator.us/racism-sin-all-sinners-black-lives-matter/) to read Theo Hobson's column "Racism Is a Sin and We Are All Sinners." Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/08/12-steps-for-the-recovering-pharisee/) for 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk school reopenings, comparative suffering, digital hygiene, and the crisis of capacity. Also, RJ decides to invest in some outdated (but comfortable!) furniture. Click here (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/your-school-districts-reopening-survey) to read Your School District's Reopening Survey on McSweeney's. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/08/love-compassion-and-the-relative-suffering-of-christ-on-the-cross-intimations-by-zadie-smith/) to read Zadie Smith's thoughts on "Suffering Like Mel Gibson"--and see the meme we mention. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/cloud-support-why-do-i-keep-refusing-os-updates/) to read Meghan O'Gieblyn's response on Wired to the question of "Why Do I Keep Refusing to Install OS Updates?" Click here (https://unherd.com/thepost/watch-the-christian-case-against-morality/) to watch Giles Fraser's talk on "Christianity and Morality: The Story of an Uneasy Relationship." Oh and click here (https://amzn.to/30Xihot) to order the expanded paperback edition of Seculosity.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk marriage models, bored believers, fragile meritocrats, and reconciled congressmen. Also, RJ catches up on some Netflix while Sarah dabbles in prophecy. Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/altrias-net-revenue-falls-11595938465) to read the WSJ article on Smoking. Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/july-august/coronavirus-covid-19-killing-soulmate-model-marriage-good.html) to read the article about COVID-19 Killing the Soulmate Model of Marriage. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/07/freedom-to-be-bored/) to read David Clay's Mbird piece on the Freedom to be Bored. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/opinion/sunday/white-fragility-meritocracy.html) to read Ross Douthat's column on The Real White Fragility. Click here (https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/social-justice-solipsism) to read Kat Rosenfield's "Master Cleanse". Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/07/forty-eight-years-after-john-lewis-was-attacked/) to read the excerpt from John Lewis's final book.

In which Dave, RJ, and Sarah talk curated authenticity, shameful beaches, and imputing baseball coaches. Also, Sarah does some Corona math while and Dave weighs the wisdom of a Shakespearean admonition. Oh don't miss the surprise at the end. Click here (https://medium.com/honestly-yours/rachel-hollis-mommy-blogger-and-relationship-coach-is-getting-a-divorce-4ae26b998ec4) to read Shannon Ashley's column on Medium "Girl, You've Been Made." Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/it-okay-go-beach/613849/) to read Zeynep Tufekci on how "Scolding Beachgoers Isn’t Helping". Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/reopening-psychological-morass/613858/) to read Tess Wilkinson-Ryan's article for The Atlantic on the psychological morass of reopening. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/28/magazine/coach-fitz-s-management-theory.html) to read Michael Lewis's essay on Coach Fitzgerald's Management Theory (or here to listen (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-be-good-be-great/id1455379351?i=1000474336483) to the episode of Against the Rules about it).

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk lonely dads, radical acceptance, hashtag preaching, and anger in the Bible. Also, the Heijmens pray someone into a fender-bender while Sarah takes a break from social media. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/06/god-of-our-lonely-fathers/) to read Sam Bush's article about God of Our (Lonely) Fathers. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/06/radical-acceptance-path-change/613015/) to read Ekemini Uwan's piece about Radical Acceptance and the New Normal. Click here (https://www.1517.org/articles/hashtag-preaching-and-whack-a-mole-worship) to read Chad Bird's column on Hashtag Preaching and Whack-a-Mole Worship. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/opinion/george-floyd-psalms-bible.html) to read Esau McCaulley's article about What The Bible Has to Say About Black Anger (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/opinion/george-floyd-psalms-bible.html).

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk picky eaters, casual racism, George Floyd, and Brendan the Navigator. Also, Dave presses some steel while Sarah reheats some frozen garlic bread. Click here (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/health/picky-eaters-wellness/index.html) to read CNN's report on picky eating. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/opinion/how-to-talk-to-a-racist.html)to read The NY Times piece on How to Talk to a Racist Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html) to read CT's article on the Gospel Legacy George Floyd left in Houston Click here (https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2020/05/18/it-is-good-to-be-here/) to read Fr Stephen Freeman's "It's Good To Be Here. Click here (https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/11/20/a-tale-of-two-churches/) to read the NY Review of Books article on A Tale of Two Churches.

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ talk Calvin and Hobbes, dirty dishes, prayer science, and oscillating faith. Also, RJ risks domestic discord to rearrange the silverware, and Confetti Egg Condon make a cameo. Click here (https://www.polygon.com/comics/2020/5/13/21254476/calvin-and-hobbes-comic-strips-books-quarantine) to read Chuck Wendig's article on "Calvin and Hobbes and Quarantine." Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-dishes-will-never-be-done/2020/05/19/e558ef5a-965e-11ea-9f5e-56d8239bf9ad_story.html) to read Ellen McCarthy's article on how "The Dishes Will Never Be Done." Click here (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-of-prayer-11589720400) to read about "The Science of Prayer." Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/05/good-news-that-never-goes-out-of-style/) to read Todd Brewer's "Good News That Never Goes Out of Style." To respond to the opening appeal and give to Mockingbird, please visit www.mbird.com/support.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk middle school meddling, Waffle House fisticuffs, worthless baseball cards, and weird Christians. Also, Dave gets cut from a basketball team (or two). Click here (https://www.newsweek.com/2020/05/22/bestselling-author-judith-warner-how-parents-screw-their-middle-school-kids-1501869.html) to read an excerpt of Judith Warner's new book, And Then They Stopped Talking to Me Click here (https://twitter.com/redditships/status/1260126130687881217) to read about the full Waffle House report Click here (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29143131/150000-worthless-baseball-cards-coronavirus) to read Ryan Hockensmith's article about "My Priceless, Worthless Baseball Cards" (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29143131/150000-worthless-baseball-cards-coronavirus) Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/opinion/sunday/weird-christians.html) to read Tara Isabella Burton's feature on Weird Christianity (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/opinion/sunday/weird-christians.html)

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk guilty pleasures, quarantine fatigue, 1st century exorcisms, and eccentric branches of the welfare state. Also, Dave turns to ebay while Sarah lets them eat cake. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/05/the-acquittal-of-our-guilty-pleasures/) to read Ian Olson's article on The Acquittal of Our Guilty Pleasures Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/04/groundhog-day-horror-movie-quarantine/610867/) to read Megan Garber's appraisal of Groundhog Day Click here (https://theweek.com/articles/909137/when-time-stops) to read Damon Linker's When Time Stops Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/exorcisms-jesus-and-modernity/) to read Todd Brewer's post on Exorcisms, Jesus and Modernity. Click here (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/church-leaders-should-not-talking-like-middle-managers-time/) to read Tom Holland's argument for why Church Leaders Should Not Be Talking Like Middle Managers in this Time of Crisis.

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk Michael Jordan, productivity epiphanies, and Kierkegaard's glorious failures. Also, Dave goes full Regency while Sarah expounds on Russian dynasties. Click here (https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/4/27/21237752/michael-jordan-the-last-dance-legacy) to read Brian Phillips' piece on Michael Jordan the Story Versus Michael Jordan the Man. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/question-productivity-coronavirus/)to read Laurie Penny's essay on how Productivity Is Not Working. Click here (https://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org/the-pursuit-of-kierkegaardian-virtue/) to read Thomas J. Millay's review of Sylvia Walsh's new book on Kierkegaard and Religion. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/the-freedom-to-do-nothing/) to read Sarah Denley Harrington's post on The Freedom to Do Nothing. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/quarantine-side-effects-the-mini-existential-crises-from-staying-at-home/) to read Lydia Suitt's reflection on Quarantine Side Effects.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk corona shaming, prepared forgiveness, parental anxiety and essential churches. Also, RJ finally finds out how the cow ate the cabbage. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html) to read Jennifer Weiner's piece on The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming. Click here (https://thepointmag.com/criticism/the-stutterers-song-bill-withers/) to read Emily Lordi's The Stutterer's Song: Remembering Bill Withers Click here (https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/agnes-callard-the-emotion-police/) to read Agnes Callard's article on The Emotion Police Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/05/childhood-in-an-anxious-age/609079/) to read Kate Julian's What Happened to American Childhood? Click here (https://unherd.com/2020/04/where-is-god-in-this-covid-horror/) to read Giles Fraser's post on Where Is God in this COVID Horror?

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave talk the ministry of weirdness and the hope of post-Corona grace before lamenting the popularity of lament. Also, Sarah reassesses Pokemon while RJ complains about his boss. To read Sam Anderson's profile of Weird Al, click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/magazine/weird-al-yankovic.html). To read Amanda McMillen's piece on Grace Before and After Corona, click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/i-needed-grace-before-corona-and-ill-need-it-after-too/). To read Todd Brewer's essay on "More Than Lament", click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/more-than-lament-the-strange-boldness-of-christianity/). To read The NY Times interview with Kate Bowler about living in the face of fear, click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/us/kate-bowler-cancer-coronavirus.html). To read Josh Musser Gritter's post about "When Jesus Got Infected", click here (https://mbird.com/2020/04/when-jesus-got-infected/).

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ talk celebrity backlash, culpability anxiety, remote worship, and New York trauma. Also, Dave does his best Coach Taylor impression while Sarah learns from widows.

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk favorite memes, anticipatory grief, apocalyptic pick-up lines, and other impossibilities. Also, Sarah organizes a Zoom happy hour, and RJ shakes his neighbor's hand.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk corona-couples, corona-parents, corona-jobs, and the perils of giving advice. Also, RJ takes things too personally, Sarah skips Morning Prayer, and no celebrates Lazarus's life. Articles discussed: Jennifer Senior's "Welcome to Marriage During Coronavirus" (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/opinion/coronavirus-relationships.html) "Lowering the Bar in Parenting" (https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/how-to-work-from-home-with-kids.html) via The Cut Productivity in a Pandemic (https://www.thecut.com/2020/03/how-to-work-from-home-with-kids.html) Click here (https://humanparts.medium.com/against-advice-5873773158c5) to read Tim Kreider's polemic Against Advice Click here (https://jasonmicheli.org/2020/03/18/i-wont-be-doing-any-celebrations-of-life-after-this-pandemic/) to read why Jason Micheli won't be doing any celebrations of life

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ talk new corona-realities, compassion shortages, and Martin Luther's advice for pandemic survivors--before giving their quarantine recommendations. Also, RJ goes bodysurfing while Sarah prays for teenagers in love. * Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/opinion/pandemic-coronavirus-compassion.html) to read David Brooks' column on how Pandemics Kill Compassion. * Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/january-web-only/martin-luther-coronavirus-wuhan-chinese-new-year-christians.html?fbclid=IwAR3ounBmcWXiIxXUys_PoRMrXtpElfHkMo7H5rUOq6XDbjKHXfHhYMTYcg8) to read Emmy Yang's article on What Martin Luther Teaches Us About Coronavirus. * Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/03/people-i-am-praying-for-right-now/) to read Sarah's list of people she's praying for. * Click here (https://www.facebook.com/mockingbirdmin/) to follow the Mockingbird Facebook page, where daily video devotions will be posted starting on Monday.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk dating Lady Gaga, reading MeMaw's bible, reckoning with coronapanic during Lent, and forgiving other people's enemies. Also, Sarah leaves a trail of bodies behind her while Dave listens to Big Pink. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/opinion/sunday/lady-gaga-boyfriend.html) to read about Lady Gaga's new boyfriend's ex-girfriend Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/02/having-been-this-way-before-blessings-from-the-elderly/) to read Sarah's article about the blessings of the elderly Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/a-photographers-parents-wave-farewell?fbclid=IwAR1Snpnj9wU5cQEJO8USI2nyGslVnSmMDQRm-iPaHm-vq1b8qXdQR4f_Vx0) to view A Photographer's Parents Wave Farewell Click here (https://religionnews.com/2020/03/03/fleeing-coronavirus-and-finding-our-mortality/) to read Tara Isabella Burton's piece on fleeing coronapanic. Click here (https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2020/02/25/can-you-forgive-someone-elses-enemies-3/) to read Stephen Freeman's post on forgiving other people's enemies.

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk closeness-communication bias, Type of Guy Theory, nuclear family breakdown, and skipping church. Also, Florida man RJ Heijmen reveals why he speaks so quickly, and Sarah discloses her least favorite sermon. Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/02/the-new-mockingbird-newsletter/) to sign up for The Mockingbird Digest. Click here (https://www.mbirdtyler.com/) for more info about the Mockingbird Festival in Tyler, TX (4/3-5). Click here (https://conference.mbird.com/) to sign up for the 2020 Mbird Conference in NYC (4/23-25).

In this special episode of The Mockingcast, Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Future Issue of The Mockingbird magazine, featuring interviews with historian Tom Holland and NY Times technology columnist Nellie Bowles. Also, once-and-future Mbird authority Will McDavid provides what may be the world's foremost take on the intersection of Marcel Proust and the Left Behind series. Grab your copy of The Future Issue today at magazine.mbird.com (http://magazine.mbird.com/).

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ talk 50 year old aspirations, middle school peers, and knitting purity spirals. Also, Rev. Condon takes us on a tour of that frightening place known as "Secular Sarah Hell." Click here to read Jennifer Weiner's article "I Feel Personally Judged by J.Lo's Body" (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/opinion/jlo-superbowl-performance.html) Click here to read Lydia Denworth's article on The Outsize Influence of Your Middle School Friends (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/01/friendship-crucial-adolescent-brain/605638/) in The Atlantic. Click here to read Gavin Haynes' article on "How Knitters Got Knotted in a Purity Spiral" (https://unherd.com/2020/01/cast-out-how-knitting-fell-into-a-purity-spiral/). Click here to read David Brooks' piece, "Jesus Is a Jew." (https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/jesus-is-a-jew/)

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk advanced status games, gracious cheerleaders, deathrow mercies, and anti-institutional performancism. Also, Ken F promises to let them all cut in line. Click here (https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/who-wants-to-play-the-status-game-agnes-callard/) to read Agnes Callard's article "Who Wants to Play the Status Game?" Click here (https://mbird.com/2020/01/netflixs-cheer-law-and-grace-in-action/) to read Todd Brewer's piece "Netflix’s 'Cheer': Law and Grace in Action." Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/january-web-only/just-mercy-film-bryan-stevenson.html) to read Christianity Today's interview with Bryan Stevenson. Click here (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2020/01/the-decline-of-us-ness-bowling-alone-and-dying-alone/) to read Philip Jenkins' post "The Decline of Us-ness: Bowling Alone and Dying Alone."

In the first new episode of 2020, RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk Parkinson's Law, algorithmic decades, and neonatal epiphanies. Also, Dave sees Little Women, Sarah preps for Twin Day, and things stop going according to RJ's plan. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/12/why-you-never-have-time/603937/) to read The Atlantic's explanation of Why You Have No Time Click here (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katherinemiller/the-2010s-have-broken-our-sense-of-time) to read Katherine Miller's essay on how The 2010's Broke Our Sense of Time Click here (https://www.npr.org/2020/01/07/794022766/why-we-cant-sleep-documents-the-unique-pressures-on-gen-x-women) to listen to the interview with Ada Calhoun about Gen X judgements Click here (http://lonnielacy.com/what-we-hold/) to read Lonnie Lacy's sermon What We Hold

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk sassy mom merch, overrated advents, and the theology of foster care. They also share their favorites from 2019. Oh and RJ sings... a lot. Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/the-quiet-protests-of-sassy-mom-merch) to read Jia Tolentino's article on "The Quiet Protests of Sassy Mom Merch." Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/opinion/sunday/christmas-season-advent-celebration.html) to read Tish Harrison Warren's NY Times column about Advent. Click here (https://mbird.com/2018/12/mary-definitely-knew/) to read Ben Maddison's "Mary Definitely Knew." Click here (https://mbird.com/support/donate/) to respond to the invitation at the beginning and support The Mockingcast!

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk generational warfare ("OK boomer"), Sunday morning racial reconciliation, refugee puppetry, and America's favorite Dolly. Also, Sarah gets beeped for the first time--but probably not the last. Throughout it all, hope abounds. Oh and to take RJ up on his offer, visit www.mbird.com/support (www.mbird.com/support). Click here (https://www.vox.com/2019/11/19/20963757/what-is-ok-boomer-meme-about-meaning-gen-z-millennials) to read Aja Romano's article in Vox about the OK boomer meme. Click here (https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/11/20/a-tale-of-two-churches/) to read Batya Ungar-Sargon's "A Tale of Two Churches" in the NY Review of Books. Click here (https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/20/world/sesame-workshop-syrian-refugees-trnd/index.html) to read about the Ahlan Simsim children's show. Click here (https://mbird.com/2019/11/when-jesus-tells-a-boob-joke-dolly-partons-america/) to read Sarah Condon's piece "When Jesus Tells a Boob Joke".

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk cancel culture, aging taboos, and the church-pocalypse. Also, Sarah goes shopping for jeans. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/style/what-is-cancel-culture.html) to read John McDermott's article "Those People We Cancelled? They're All Hanging Out Together". Click here (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/04/why-we-cant-tell-the-truth-about-aging) to read Arthur Krystal's "Why We Can't Tell the Truth About Aging". Click here (https://mbird.com/2019/11/when-people-tell-me-its-hard-to-find-a-church/) to read Sarah's article "When People Tell Me It's Hard to Find a Church". Click here (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-millennials-are-skipping-church-and-not-going-back/2019/10/27/0d35b972-f777-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html) to read Christine Emba's column "Why Millennials Are Skipping Church and Not Coming Back". Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/opinion/american-christianity.html) to read Ross Douthat's piece "The Overstated Collapse of American Christianity".

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk procrastination, child-ing, and going home with Beth Moore. Also, RJ's three-year-old wakes up with a song in his heart. To read Tim Kreider's article about procrastination, click here (https://humanparts.medium.com/the-art-of-not-doing-art-95cdd7baee53). To read Agnes Callard's article about panic and parenting, click here (https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/parenting-and-panic-agnes-callard/). To read Wesley Hill's article about unnecessary gifts, click here (https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/unnecessary-gifts/). And to read Sarah Condon's article about Beth Moore, go here (https://mbird.com/2019/10/go-home/).

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk about noonday demons, divine surprises, and the doctrine that rhymes with schmotal decavity. Also, RJ comes clean about why he watches SEC football. Click here (https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/social-justice/economic-justice/the-noonday-demon) to read Jonathan Malesic's essay "The Noonday Demon." Click here (https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/09/30/rigorous-grace-a-conversation-between-leslie-jamison-and-kaveh-akbar/?utm_source=The+Paris+Review+Newsletter&utm_campaign=fb5a65fb86-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_Weekly_12072018_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_35491ea532-fb5a65fb86-55918917&mc_cid=fb5a65fb86&mc_eid=35fe499107) to read "Rigorous Grace: A Conversation Between Leslie Jamison and Kaveh Akbar." Click here (https://www.christiancentury.org/article/first-person/how-i-learned-love-doctrine-total-depravity) to read Heidi Haverkamp's article "How I learned to love the doctrine of total depravity."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk about raising boys, surviving Instagram, and grasping the moral legacy of the Christian revolution. Also, Marshall Heijmen scales the roof while Neil Condon takes us to Danger World. Click here (https://mbird.com/2019/09/when-the-world-calls-them-otherwise-god-calls-them-good/) to read Sarah's article about boys. Click here (https://www.thecut.com/2019/09/who-would-tavi-gevinson-be-without-instagram.html) to read Tavi Gevinson's (long) article about Instagram. Click here (https://www.newstatesman.com/dominion-making-western-mind-tom-holland-review) to read John Gray's review of Tom Holland's new book,_ Dominion (https://amzn.to/2mZXfV8)_. Go here (https://www.storymakersnyc.com/) to learn more about StoryMakers.

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk about the temptations/lessons of nostalgia, Taylor Swift's doctrine of forgiveness, and the "Age of American Despair." Also, RJ recites the full lineup of the 86 Mets. This episode is dedicated to Emily and Alex Large. Click here (https://gen.medium.com/i-toured-the-new-brady-bunch-house-and-it-did-not-go-as-planned-61248a370ee9) to read Joel's Stein article "I Toured the ‘Brady Bunch’ House and It Did Not Go As Planned." Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/opinion/sunday/taylor-swift-lover.html) to read Scott Hershovitz's column "Taylor Swift, Philosopher of Forgiveness." Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/opinion/sunday/the-age-of-american-despair.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share) to read Ross Douthat's essay "The Age of American Despair."

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk hard seltzer, early NFL retirements, and the (non)virtue of niceness. Also, Sarah shares her recipe for meat water. Click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/08/why-summer-white-claw/596920/) to read Amanda Mull's article "White Claw Is What Happens When Being Cool Becomes Exhausting." Click here (https://deadspin.com/football-doesnt-let-you-leave-1837662990) to read Nate Jackson's column "Football Doesn't Let You Leave." Click here (https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2019/august/virtue-vice-why-niceness-weakens-our-witness.html) to read Sharon Hodde Miller's take on "Why Niceness Weakens Our Witness."

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave return from their summer break to talk school stress, ideal women, millennial nuns, and the gift God gave Stephen Colbert. Also, Sarah reveals her favorite film franchise. Click here (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/17/opinion/sunday/childhood-suicide-depression-anxiety.html) to read the article "We Have Ruined Childhood by Kim Brooks Click here (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/aug/02/athleisure-barre-kale-tyranny-ideal-woman-labour?fbclid=IwAR1mQ1y6T2EXiE_dW6nO3SPO8sjou8r-FDMs2FOi4Z9oLErnI0RoE6BlAp8) to read "The Tyranny of the Ideal Woman" by Jia Tolentino Click here (https://www.huffpost.com/highline/article/millennial-nuns/?guccounter=1) to read "Behold, The Millennial Nuns" by Eve Fairbanks Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB46h1koicQ) to watch the clip of Anderson Cooper interviewing Stephen Colbert

In this, the third of three special summer mini-sodes, RJ, Sarah, and Dave converse on the subject of hope (and why it is not the same thing as optimism). Dedicated to the memory of James Harte.

In this special episode of The Mockingcast, Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Family Issue (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-14-the-family-issue/) of The Mockingbird magazine, featuring interviews with education expert Alfie Kohn and Silver Linings Playbook creator Matthew Quick. Oh, and Carrie Willard explains why our family lives are like those moldy leftovers in your refrigerator. Order your copy of The Family Issue here (https://magazine.mbird.com/shop/issue-14-the-family-issue/).

In this, the second of three special summer mini-sodes, Sarah, RJ, and Dave try to put words to the Holy Spirit. Also, RJ totally loses it in Denny's.

In this, the first of three special summer mini-sodes, RJ, Sarah, and Dave discuss what's meant by "the bondage of the will," and why it's not a bad thing. Also, Annie Condon has a good cry.

In which Sarah, Dave, and RJ talk diabolical mirrors, marital submission, and contingent self-esteem. Also, RJ eats a whopper (but keeps his balance). The articles discussed include: "The Devil Lives in the Mirror" (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/june-web-only/satan-demonic-devil-lives-in-mirror.html) by Jessica Hooten Wilson via Christianity Today "Stop Blaming the Devil" (https://mbird.com/2019/06/stop-blaming-the-devil-you-can-do-bad-all-by-yourself/) by Sarah Condon "Is Marriage Obsolete?" (https://www.thecut.com/2019/03/marriage-an-investigation.html) by Heather Havrilesky via The Cut "The Pursuit of High Self-Esteem Is Making Us Miserable" (https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/kzmkva/the-pursuit-of-high-self-esteem-is-making-us-miserable) by Shayla Love via Vice

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk summer expectations, arrival fallacies, and the most American heresy of all. With rocks. The articles discussed include: "The Tyranny of Summer Expectations (https://www.mbird.com/2019/06/the-tyranny-of-summer-expectations/)" by Carrie Willard via Mbird.com "You Accomplished Something Great (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/smarter-living/you-accomplished-something-great-so-now-what.html)" by A.C. Shilton via New York Times "If I Only Understood the Arrival Fallacy I'd be Happy (https://www.mbird.com/2019/06/if-i-can-just-understand-the-arrival-fallacy-ill-be-happy/?highlight=arrival%20fallacy)" by David Zahl via Mbird.com "The Age of Pelagius (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/june-web-only/age-of-pelagius-joshua-hawley.html)" by Joshua Hawley via Christianity Today "Semi-Pelagianism Glossay Entry (https://www.mbird.com/glossary/semi-pelagianism/)" via Mbird.com

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk sleep technology, reckless generosity, and back row churches. Also, Sarah would like an epidural, all the time. Oh and to take RJ up on his offer, visit www.mbird.com/support (www.mbird.com/support). The articles discussed include: "Sleepless in Silicon Valley (https://www.economist.com/business/2019/05/16/sleepless-in-silicon-valley)" via The Economist "Morehouse College Grads are Suprised (https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/19/us/morehouse-robert-smith-student-loans-trnd/index.html)" by Eliott C. McLaughlin via CNN "Is This Fair to Families who Saved? (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/05/23/robert-smith-pledged-pay-off-morehouse-graduates-student-loans-is-this-fair-families-who-saved/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.eb99c25e0233)" by Michelle Singletary via The Washington Post "Back Row America (https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/06/back-row-america)" by Chris Arnade via First Things "The Only Places on the Streets That Understand (https://www.mbird.com/2019/05/the-only-places-on-the-streets-that-understand/?highlight=back%20row%20america)" by David Zahl via Mbird.com

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave reunite to talk pop culture homework, judging other people's relationships, and the lives and deaths of Rachel Held Evans and Jean Vanier. Please note: this is not the episode where Sarah cries the whole time. Articles discussed include: "When Did Pop Culture Become Homework? (https://longreads.com/2019/04/26/when-did-pop-culture-become-homework/)" by Soraya Roberts via Longreads "Let's Face It, We All Judge Other People's Relationships (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/03/why-we-judge-other-peoples-relationships)" by Oliver Burkeman via The Guardian "Rachel Held Evans, Hero to Christian Misfits (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/rachel-held-evans-death-progressive-christianity/588784/)" by Emma Green via The Atlantic "Jean Vanier Made Us All More Human (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/april-web-only/jean-vanier-died-larche-community-tribute.html)" by Bethany McKinney Fox via Christianity Today

In which Sarah, Dave, and guest co-host Aaron Zimmerman talk shifting Instagram aesthetics, fashionable funerals, and Easter hope. Also, Sarah inherits some QVC jewelry. Articles discussed include: "The Instagram Aesthetic is Over (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/04/influencers-are-abandoning-instagram-look/587803/)" by Taylor Lorenz via The Atlantic "The Funeral as We Know it is Becoming a Relic (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-funeral-as-we-know-it-is-becoming-a-relic--just-in-time-for-a-death-boom/2019/04/14/a49003c4-50c2-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html?utm_term=.74cb907e1f57)" by Karen Heller via The Washington Post "What Happened in Church on Sunday, I Think (http://www.garrisonkeillor.com/)" by Garrison Keillor via garrisonkeillor.com

Recorded live at the 2019 Mbird Tyler Conference, in which Sarah and Dave are joined by Aaron Zimmerman and Matt Magill to talk text etiquette, grown-up dreams, and ladders to the sky. Also, Matt sings (better than RJ). Articles discussed include: "Texting Means Never Having to Say Goodbye (https://slate.com/technology/2019/03/texting-slack-internet-conversation-goodbye.html)" by Jane Hu via Slate "Stop Asking Kids What They Want to Be When They Grow Up (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/smarter-living/stop-asking-kids-what-they-want-to-be-when-they-grow-up.html)" by Adam Grant via The New York Times "The Ladder of Divine Ascent and Moral Improvement (https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2019/04/04/the-ladder-of-divine-ascent-and-moral-improvement/)" by Stephen Freeman via Ancient Faith Ministries

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave talk college admissions, 1st century charity, and the benefits of preaching as "a dying man to dying men." Also, RJ lives the solution. Articles discussed include: "Kids, Don't Become Success Robots (https://www.wsj.com/articles/kids-dont-become-success-robots-11552604595)" by Peggy Noonan via The Wall Street Journal "How the Poor Became Blessed (https://aeon.co/essays/the-poor-might-have-always-been-with-us-but-charity-has-not)" by Pieter van der Horst via Aeon "Things We Cannot Say (https://www.mbird.com/2019/03/things-we-cannot-say/)" by Conner Gwyn via Mbird.com

In this special episode, editor Ethan Richardson takes us through the new issue of The Mockingbird print magazine! Featuring interviews with existentialist boxing guru Gordon Marino, reconstructed Mbird contributor Connor Gwin, and legendary children's author Sally Lloyd-Jones. Order your copy at magazine.mbird.com (magazine.mbird.com).

In which RJ, Sarah, and DZ discuss Hollis-mania, intuitive eating, and useless awards. Also, RJ sucks on a rock. Articles discussed include: "Girl, Follow Jesus (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/girl-stop-apologizing/)" by Jen Oshman via The Gospel Coalition "'Girl, Wash Your Face' is a Massive Best Seller With a Dark Message (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lauraturner/rachel-hollis-girl-wash-your-face-self-help-book)" by Laura Turner via Buzzfeed "Intuitive Eating: The Latest Diet Trend is not Dieting (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/02/intuitive-eating/583357/)" by Amanda Mull via The Atlantic "Love Gone Wrong: When Ash Wednesday Falls on Valentine's Day (https://www.mbird.com/ct_sermon/love-gone-wrong-when-ash-wednesday-falls-on-valentines-day-sam-bush/?highlight=sam%20bush)" by Sam Bush via Mbird.com "All Awards are Stupid (https://lybio.net/jerry-seinfeld-all-awards-are-stupid/comedy/)" via Seinfeld

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ discuss millennial evangelism, how to talk to someone who's grieving, and what depression can teach us about the human condition (and God). Thankfully, Sarah cracks a bunch of jokes too. Articles discussed include: "Half of Millennial Christians Say It's Wrong to Evangelize (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/february/half-of-millennial-christians-wrong-to-evangelize-barna.html)" by Kate Shellnut via Christianity Today "What to Say (and What Not to Say) to Someone Who's Grieving (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/smarter-living/what-to-say-and-what-not-to-say-to-someone-whos-grieving.html)" by David Pogue via The New York Times "Prisons of Sadness and a Love Much Greater Than Evolution Requires (https://www.mbird.com/2019/02/prisons-of-sadness-and-a-love-much-greater-than-evolution-requires/)" by David Zahl via Mbird.com

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk punk-rock piety, fake meat, and hungry children. Also, in Texas queso counts as a protein. Articles discussed include: "The Moral Indecency of the Away Message (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/07/opinion/going-away-message.html)" by David Brooks via the New York Times "Objects of Despair: Fake Meat (https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/01/28/objects-of-despair-fake-meat/)" by Meghan O’Gieblyn via The Paris Review "I’m a Little Too Fat, a Little Too Giving. I Think I Know Why. (https://humanparts.medium.com/i-am-a-little-too-fat-im-a-little-too-generous-i-think-i-know-why-e97cd25b7eeb)" by Kristine Levine via Medium

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave try to make sense of familial estrangement, millennial burnout, and recovering musicians. Also, Sarah gets real at the bus stop. Articles discussed include: "I Cut Off All Contact With My Mother. It Made My Life Much Better. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/i-cut-off-all-contact-with-my-mother-it-made-my-life-much-better/2019/01/18/cc454e9e-1529-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html?utm_term=.b6c5fae1e5eb)" by Harriet Brown via The Washington Post "How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work)" by Anne Helen Petersen via Buzzfeed "Are You Burned Out? (https://www.mbird.com/2019/01/are-you-burned-out/?highlight=burnout)" by David Zahl via Mbird.com "Pastor, Why Are You Hiding? (https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2019/january-web-exclusives/pastor-why-are-you-hiding.html)" by Chuck DeGroat via Christianity Today

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave kick off the new year by throwing out their boundaries and sitting at the feet of an incarcerated preacher. Also, RJ almost gets a hug. Articles discussed include: "Prison Was My First Pulpit (https://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2019/january/prison-first-pulpit-domestic-violence-incarceration.html)" by Morgan Lee via Christianity Today

On this special one-off, Dave speaks with Dr. Todd Brewer about his picks for the top (academic) theology books of the year. You can read the whole list here (https://www.mbird.com/2019/01/the-top-theology-books-of-2018/).

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave explore why we all take the same travel photos, how marriages become unstuck, and what the outrageous generosity of Christmas looks like. Also, Neil gets a MorfBoard. Articles discussed include: "Why We All Take the Same Travel Photos (https://www.wired.com/story/why-all-travel-photos-are-the-same/)" by Laura Mallonee via Wired "Love is Not a Permanent State of Enthusiasm: An Interview With Esther Perel (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/love-is-not-a-permanent-state-of-enthusiasm-an-interview-with-esther-perel)" by Alexandra Schwartz via The New Yorker "Gatorade and Gum and the Grace of Christmas (https://www.mbird.com/2018/12/gatorade-and-gum-and-the-grace-of-christmas/)" by Carrie Willard via Mbird.com To support Mockingbird (and The Mockingcast), go here (http://www.mbird.com/support/donate/).

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave get to the bottom of "the sex recession," weigh the challenges of self-promotion, and explore what happens after you accidentally kill someone. Also, RJ tries to affirm himself, with mixed results. Articles discussed include: "Why Are Young People Having So Little Sex? (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/12/the-sex-recession/573949/)" by Kate Julian via The Atlantic "Everything Is For Sale Now. Even Us. (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/opinion/sunday/gig-economy-self-promotion-anxiety.html)" by Ruth Whippman via The New York Times "What Happens to Your Life When You Accidentally Kill Someone? (https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/nov/29/what-happens-to-your-life-after-you-accidentally-kill-someone)" by David Peters via The Guardian

In which Dave, Sarah, and RJ figure out how to cry in their offices and optimize their Sunday mornings. Plus, the gospel according to Stan Lee. 'Nuff said. Articles discussed include: "Where to Cry in an Open Office (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/opinion/sunday/where-to-cry-open-office.html)" by JiJi Lee via The New York Times "Trading Brunch for the Eucharist (https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/trading-brunch-for-the-eucharist/)" by Sarah Dahl via Comment "Stan Lee, Generational Alienation, and Spider-man: An Aspiring Novelist Becomes a Comics Legend (https://www.mbird.com/2018/11/stan-lee-generational-alienation-and-spider-man-an-aspiring-novelist-becomes-a-comics-legend/)" by Wenatchee the Hatchete via Mbird.com

In which Sarah, Dave and RJ talk about disgraced Chinese coal workers, dodgy motivational techniques, and moral futility. Also, Marshall crosses the parking lot on his own. Articles discussed include: "What It's Like To Be On The Blacklist In China's New Social Credit System (https://www.npr.org/2018/10/31/662696776/what-its-like-to-be-on-the-blacklist-in-chinas-new-social-credit-system)" by Stacey Vanek Smith and Cardiff Garcia via NPR "Science Confirms It: People Are Not Pets (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/opinion/sunday/science-rewards-behavior.html)" by Alfie Kohn via The New York Times "Existential Despair and Moral Futility (https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2018/10/24/existential-despair-and-moral-futility/)" by Stephen Freeman via Ancient Faith Ministries

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave try to make sense of corporate surveillance, opioid obituaries, and merciful mothers. Also, several solid Salmon stories. Articles discussed include: "The Employer-Surveillance State (https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/10/employee-surveillance/568159/)" by Ellen Ruppel Shell via The Atlantic "Obituary: Madelyn Linsenmeir, 1988-2018 (https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/madelyn-linsenmeir-1988-2018/Content?oid=21797604)" via Seven Days "A New Recipe: Grace in Family Life (https://www.mbird.com/2018/10/a-new-recipe-grace-in-family-life/?highlight=grace%20in%20family%20life)" by Dorothy Martyn via Mbird.com

In which Sarah, RJ, and Dave discuss their hobbies (and lack thereof), the recent supreme court hearings, and the not-so-secret life of pets. Also, the Condons rent the wrong movie. Articles discussed include: "In Praise of Mediocrity (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/opinion/sunday/in-praise-of-mediocrity.html)" by Tim Wu via The New York Times Elizabeth Gilbert (https://www.facebook.com/227291194019670/posts/dear-ones-its-monday-morning-and-the-godawful-news-cycle-is-about-to-begin-again/2021763874572384/) via Facebook "Nursing Juliet (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/well/family/dog-end-of-life-family-children-love.html)" by Danielle Offri via The New York Times

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave talk branding in marriage, personality tests, and Christian Rock. Also, Sarah gets a title for her next book. Articles discussed include: "Honey, I Swept the Floor! (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/31/style/modern-love-honey-i-swept-the-floor.html)" by Brooke Williams via The New York Times "The Tyranny of Personality Testing (https://newrepublic.com/article/151098/personality-brokers-book-review-invention-myers-briggs-type-indicator)" by J. C. Pan via The New Republic "The Unlikely Endurance of Christian Rock (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/09/24/the-unlikely-endurance-of-christian-rock?mbid=synd_digg)" by Kelefa Sanneh via The New Yorker

In which Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Deja Vu Issue of our print magazine--with the help of Jacob Smith, Nancy Hanna, and Simeon Zahl. Also, to take advantage of the special deal Ethan mentions, head on over to magazine.mbird.com (http://magazine.mbird.com/shop/) and enter "CAST" in the memo line of the order form.

In which Dave, RJ and Sarah come clean about parenting paranoia and weigh the benefits of taking things for granted. Also, Robert Capon drops a bomb. Articles discussed include: "Motherhood in the Age of Fear (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-of-fear.html)" by Kim Brooks via The New York Times "Is Safetyism Destroying a Generation? (https://quillette.com/2018/09/02/is-safetyism-destroying-a-generation/)" by Matthew Lesh via Quillette "A Quick Word on Christian Freedom and Ill-Taught Piano Students (https://www.mbird.com/2018/09/a-quick-word-from-robert-capon-on-freedom-and-ill-taught-piano-students/)" by Robert Capon via Mbird.com "In Defense of Taking Things For Granted (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/25/opinion/sunday/take-things-for-granted.html)" by Neal Tognazzini via The New York Times

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave interpret the signs, buy too much stuff and visit a cancer ward. Also, Sarah wonders what Mother Mary is thinking right now. Articles discussed include: "I Am the Universe, and Humans Are Correctly Interpreting My Signs (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-am-the-universe-and-humans-are-correctly-interpreting-my-signs)" by Ginny Hogan via McSweeney's "We Are All Accumulating Mountains of Things (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/08/online-shopping-and-accumulation-of-junk/567985/)" by Alana Semuels via The Atlantic "The Cure For Racism Is Cancer (https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/513/the-cure-for-racism-is-cancer)" by Tony Hoagland via The Phoenix Sun [Apologies for the fidelity of Dave's voice on this one - the tech demons really did their worst (but should be exorcised next episode)]

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave comb through their Google search histories, uncover some Useful Knowledge and go to church with Garrison Keillor. Also, RJ embarrasses his kids. Articles discussed include: "Sorry Mom, Your Floss Dance is Just Embarrassing (https://www.wsj.com/articles/sit-down-mom-the-floss-dance-is-just-for-kids-1532625645)" by Joanna Sugden via The Wall Street Journal "Everybody Lies: How Google Search Reveals Our Darkest Secrets (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/09/everybody-lies-how-google-reveals-darkest-secrets-seth-stephens-davidowitz)" by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz via The Guardian "Oh, the Humanities! (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/opinion/oh-the-humanities.html)" by Ross Douthat via The New York Times Garrison Keillor (https://livingchurch.org/2018/08/07/keillor-describes-healing-prayer/) via The Living Church

In which Sarah, RJ and Dave make it all look so easy, not just keeping the law but planting a church. Also, RJ goes car shopping. Articles discussed include: "Medical Report: Woman Hospitalized After Attempting Effortless Lifestyle (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/medical-report-woman-hospitalized-after-attempting-effortless-lifestyle)" by Patricia Lawler Kenet via McSweeneys "Warning: Warnings Are Useless (https://www.mbird.com/2018/07/warning-warnings-are-useless/)" by Troy Elliott via Mbird.com "Death and Resurrection (but Mainly Death) in Church Planting (https://www.mbird.com/2018/07/death-and-resurrection-but-mainly-death-in-church-planting/)" by R-J Heijmen via Mbird.com

In which RJ, Sarah, and Dave relive eighth grade and try to figure out who's the most "washed" (spoiler alert: it's RJ). Also, Mr Rogers makes an appearance.

In which Dave, Sarah, and guest host Aaron Zimmerman talk Hollywood evangelists, suicidal men, and detained children. Also, Aaron gets a new office.

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave win the narrative on obituaries, Kate Spade, and political addictions. Plus, Sarah chases her son up the stairs.

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave talk about the royal wedding sermon, YouTube Vegans, and the only empirically verifiable Christian doctrine. Also, Philip Roth was not astonished.

RJ, Sarah and Dave try to wrap their heads around race in America, techno-utopias and Vietnamese conversions. Also, Dave goes on way too long about Michael Jackson.

Recorded in front of an audience at the 2018 Mockingbird Conference in New York City, Sarah, RJ, and Dave discuss adulthood, body positivity, and chicken sandwiches. Also, RJ searches in vain for an Applebees.

In which Ethan Richardson takes us on a tour of The Humor Issue of our print magazine and in the process gets to the bottom of some very silly business--with the help of Ben Maddison, Aaron Zimmerman, Caroline Henley and Harrison Scott Key. Also, the world's first ever game of Who Said It: Wonder Showzen or Soren Kierkegaard?

After sharing their least anxious journal entries, Sarah, RJ and Dave come clean about loneliness, AA and self-forgetfulness. Also, RJ talks way too much about Spider-man.

RJ, Sarah and Dave tell Mr. Rogers stories before talking deconstruction, doubt and good news. Also, Sarah shares the recipe for her favorite Holy Week treats.

In which RJ, Sarah and Dave discuss their waning interest in the Oscars and their waxing interest in the psychological, theological and cinematic dimensions of imputation. Also, RJ's son does well on his math test (but poorly on his grammar quiz).

Recorded in front of an audience at the 4th annual Mbird Conference in Tyler, TX, Dave is joined by long-time contributors Aaron Zimmerman and Charlotte Getz, as they talk Billy Graham and the opioid crisis. Also, Aaron ponders some things you can't say. Click here (http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/americas-opioid-epidemic.html) to read the Andrew Sullivan essay they discuss.

RJ, Sarah and Dave talk Olympic forgiveness, resurrected Valentines and their favorite Wednesday of the year (Ash). Also, RJ drinks some free juice.

Sarah, RJ and Dave talk football (https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/the-case-against-tom-brady/551837/), motivation (http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hari-kasser-junk-values-20180121-story.html) and self-improvement (https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/glory2godforallthings/2018/01/30/slow-road-heaven-spiritual-life-doesnt-work/) before consulting the NY Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/opinion/sunday/cancer-what-to-say.html) on what suffering people really want. Also, Sarah airs her distaste for the term "Cradle Episcopalian" (https://livingchurch.org/covenant/2018/02/01/cradle-episcopalians-who-cares/).

After not-so-humbly bragging about themselves, RJ, Sarah and Dave dive into the Aziz Ansari / #MeToo headlines, which leads into a discussion of their favorite atonement models. Also, RJ sings highlights from The Little Mermaid.

Sitting in for vacationing RJ this week, Dr. Todd Brewer joins David and Sarah to talk about the top theology book(s) of 2017, as well as hopes and fears for the new year. Together they try to answer the question, "what is church for?" Please note: we had some technical issues on this episode, which sadly made a good portion of Todd's track unusable - he had a lot of wonderful things to say!

In our second episode after the hiatus, RJ, Sarah & Dave talk about Persistent Pirates, U2, Facebook Guilt, Exercise Cults, and Christmas. To read the review of U2's new record, click here (http://www.mbird.com/2017/12/a-conspiracy-of-hope-and-light-reviewing-in-u2s-songs-of-experience/). To watch/listen to Chamath Palihapitiya's interview about the fallout of social media, click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=541&v=PMotykw0SIk).[Minutes 20-30 are the most relevant.] To read Zan Romanoff's article about The Consumerist Church of Fitness Classes, click here (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/12/my-body-is-a-temple/547346/). For the Christmas devotion from Will Willimon, go here (http://www.mbird.com/2015/12/strange-gifts-in-the-season-of-receiving/).

Our first "proper" episode in eight months(!), David and Sarah are joined by new co-host RJ Heijmen, as they talk Disneyland, church types, sexual harassment, male libido, Advent, and the difference between justice and revenge. Click here (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/types-of-church) to read the McSweeney's list. Click here (http://www.mbird.com/2017/11/masculinity-in-crisis-unexamined-libidos-and-the-organizing-principle-of-lady-bird/) to read Stephen Marche's article about Male Libido (and David's commentary on it. Click here (http://www.mbird.com/2017/11/love-the-art-hate-the-artist/) to read Abby Farson Pratt's article about the troublesome distinction between art and artist. Go here (http://ruminations.generousorthodoxy.org/2011/11/advent-season-begins-in-dark.html) to Fleming Rutledge's Advent devotion. And click here (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/give-and-take/id1054531804?mt=2) to subscribe to Scott Jones' terrific Give and Take podcast.

Delivered at the 2017 American Academy of Religion conference (AARSBL) in Boston, MA on Nov. 19, 2017.

Delivered November 19th, 2017 at All Souls Anglican Church in Wheaton, IL.

Delivered on October 15th, 2017 at All Souls Anglican Church in Wheaton, IL.

Closing question and answer session on Saturday afternoon, October 28th, 2017, with four of the speakers at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.

David addresses the crowd on Saturday morning, October 28th, 2017, at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.

Daryl addresses the crowd on Saturday morning, October 28th, 2017, at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD. (www.daryldavis.com)

Sarah addresses the crowd on Saturday morning, October 28th, 2017, at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.

Jacob addresses the crowd on Saturday morning, October 28th, 2017, at our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.

Adam opens the second day (October 28, 2017) of our "500 Years of Grace" event All Saints Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase, MD.

Nick opens Mockingbird's "500 Years of Grace" Event in DC.

Drew discusses how Christ keeps our feet moving.

Most people will recognize Stephen King’s It as the one about the killer clown. Which it is. But at 1100 pages, it has to be more than that, you know? In his dedication King writes: “Fiction is the truth inside the lie”—which, I’ll admit, I still don’t fully get—but that’s nevertheless a good place to begin investigating one of It’s running themes: extracting the truth from the lies, particularly the ones we tell ourselves. Centered around a group of raggle-taggle tweens, It is a story about growing up and facing fears, about selectively remembering (and discarding) our early painful memories. What the characters develop, as their first line of defense against the killer clown in question, is an elaborate but ultimately fragile method of narrative construction that carries them into adulthood: Mike Hanlon, one of the story’s protagonists, explains, “We lie best when we lie to ourselves.” It’s true for all of us. With the recent deluge of social studies concerning #confirmationbias, and with the self-righteousness of American politics cropping up wherever we look—not to mention moral dispatches from Starbucks cups—there’s never been a better time to take a second glance at the stories we tell ourselves. If spun right, “taking control of your narrative” can sound just as liberating as “taking a trip to Aruba”; but the late David Carr, in his memoir, The Night of the Gun, illustrates the exhausting side of this self-embossed coin: “You spread versions of yourself around, giving each person the truth he or she needs—you need, actually—to keep them at one remove.” So let’s get all our narratives in one place and talk about them, Friday, April 28, 3:30PM, at the 10th Annual Mockingbird Conference. We’ll discuss some of the best stories told by liars and madmen, including some by me and some by you. And—of course—we’ll talk about the great, final page-turner that illuminates the truth about us and pulls us into it, not as tragic heroes but as pardoned villains.

At last year’s NY Conference we mined deep, but there’s a ton more to share. In this breakout, we will continue to explore the world of obscure Christian funk and electronic music from yesteryear. We will learn about why early Christian hip-hop floundered so after its inception (hint: the reason is theological). And we’ll remember how radical it is to introduce a Moog into your worship band, in 1974 (!!). Then there’s Mr. T’s song about the Ten Commandments. Are you wondering what happened to Jimmy Mamou when he read the Bible in Hawaii? What about the nu-wave album that Gary Numan’s favorite guitarist made about the Holy Ghost? Or what Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s poetry sounds like when read aloud over a funky, clavinet-heavy groove? (note: Germany will be making a strong showing this year). I can’t wait to share it all with you… Praise the Lord!

The time for the most wondrous conference – the Mockingbird NYC spring conference – has rolled around again, and the powers-that-be have condescended to let me come and do a breakout session! I’m going to talk about a book I’ve been writing for 3 years now called “The Word of the Cross.” I’m very excited about this material! The Cross is our Solution? The Corinthian church was a mess. There were divisions and theological quarrels and pride about obscure knowledge. Gross sexual sins were being tolerated. Church members were suing one another. There was idolatry, overeating at potlucks, and a carnal fascination with spiritual gifts. If anyone ever talks about the early church as a model of success, they certainly don’t mean this particular early church. Paul wades into this familiar-sounding morass of fleshliness and spiritual immaturity with a very unlikely message: For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor 1:18-2:5) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4) Paul considered the cross of Christ to be so important and central to this mess of a church that he began and ended his letter to them with it. In fact, he was determined to know nothing else among them, and he delivered it to them as of first importance. The question is, how does the cross of Christ speak to these terrible (if all too familiar) problems? Is it possible that the cross of Christ, far from being some obscure point of doctrine or the subject of strange and dusty old hymns, is in fact the power of God which holds the key to addressing the very real carnality and fleshliness in the church? The Word Made Flesh is a Crucified Word In the first chapter of the book of John, we learn that the “Word” which was in the beginning was with God, and was God. If Jesus Christ is the very word of God made flesh, then what is He saying to us? He didn’t just speak God’s words — He actually is God’s word. What is the message of this word of flesh and bone and blood? Of all the things He taught, there was no greater word than the cross. You can be certain that every word that Jesus spoke and every action He took was done in light of His crucifixion. When He rose from the dead, He was not raised as a completely healed man as if newborn. He retained the scars. His crucifixion has become an essential part of His identity. This preserved evidence of crucifixion was proof to the disciples of His identity, that the risen Savior is the the Savior who has suffered. He describes Himself to John in the vision as the One who was dead, who is alive forevermore (Rev 1:18). It is the Lamb standing, as if slain, who is worthy apart from all creatures, to open the scroll in the Father’s right hand (Rev 5:6). He is worthy because He was slain, and purchased men for God with His blood. (Rev 5:9). He is known as a slain lamb, and His worthiness is that He was slain. All of heaven understands the centrality of the cross of Christ. An Infinite Well of Atonement Theories There seems to be some controversy in some circles about whether this atonement theory or that atonement theory of the cross is true. I have come to think that not only are almost all of these theories true, but they are not even exclusive. The cross is speaking virtually everything that God ever wants to say to us at once – so many important and beautiful things! Far from being exclusive, these words of the cross are like the bones and sinew and organs and nerves which together make up a human body. They are like the many facets of a single exquisite diamond. They are like many rivers which come together to fill up the ocean. The cross speaks a powerful word of crushing law while at the same time it speaks a liberating word of lavish grace. The cross speaks forth perfect justice, and at once speaks forth a startling mercy. The cross speaks forth the wrath of God at the same time that it speaks forth an enduring declaration of the love of God. The cross speaks that God understands our suffering, and that our worst circumstance can be turned around to become something beautiful. The cross says that we will in Christ transcend the ever-present problem of evil within ourselves and all round about us. The cross speaks forth that God understands our suffering and is able to cause even our most grief-stricken and sorrowful times and our most shameful failures to turn out for good. The cross speaks forth a powerful grace in the form of penal substitution – for which I will give, not simply a biblical defense, but a philosophical defense. I hope everyone walks out convinced that this strange doctrine is really a very deep well of incredibly scandalous and delicious grace. In the end, the cross speaks forth a theologically profound word, and it also speaks forth a most tender and effectual pastoral word. The word of the cross speaks forth the only true transformation available to us as humans. The cross is the truest and surest word written supernaturally by the very finger of God Himself on the fabric of human history.

Perhaps the most basic piece of information about the Christian faith — so basic that in the West it is more assumed than taught, even to the unchurched — is that there is one God. We don’t have to think much about this. When somebody says they are religious, we assume that they believe in one God and not many. People might ask, “Do you believe in God?” or say, “I don’t believe in God,” but the question, “Which of the gods do you believe in?” would take most of us by surprise. It isn’t only Christians who speak of one God, of course. Jews and Muslims make a core assertion of God’s unity, but not only they. Plato could both speak of God in the singular or plural as he found it necessary. We encounter “God” or “the god” or “gods” in the writing of pagans ancient and modern, and it isn’t always clear what the difference is between these expressions. The Bible, if we read carefully, mainly complicates. The ancient Hebrew word for God (elohim) is the grammatical plural of the singular noun for a god (el), and though it often means one God, the God of Israel, sometimes the same word indicates “gods” instead. So Psalm 86:8 — “There is none like you among the gods (elohim)…” Or even more confusing, Psalm 82: “God (elohim) has taken his place in the divine (el) council; he judges in the midst of the gods (elohim).” We aren’t left in the middle of such confusion, of course. The Bible does teach (in both Old and New Testaments) that there is only one God. But if the Israelites of old struggled to maintain adherence to their singular deity, one wonders why or whether the matter has become so much simpler for us. Are we so faithful, or are we fooling ourselves? Contrary to descriptions of the modern world as having undergone “disenchantment,” of the loss of God or the gods from the public sphere, we might instead observe that the gods are as numerous as ever, though hidden under other names. Officially an atheist, Nikita Khrushchev could say, “History is on our side. We will bury you.” What sort of being is history, do you suppose, that it could have sides and determine our fate? To this we could compare Darwin’s invocation of “Selection” or modern references to “the economy” or “the market,” all-powerful forces to which we owe our lives, our intellectual homage and our labor. From this angle, our cultural assumption that there is one God (and here we might summarize the narrow vision of contemporary Western atheism as, “There is no God but God, and I don’t believe in Him”) looks like little more than a cover story, a distraction from the truth that we have multiplied gods beyond measure. It should be clear that saying there is one God, and having but one God, are not the same thing at all. This is not a question of counting — if we find ourselves more polytheistic than feels right for scrupulous Christians, it isn’t because our arithmetic went bad and we forgot to stop at one (or is it three? Three and one? Three in one? God-math is hard). In this breakout we’ll try to get our hands dirty with the question of how to have just one God in a world that has gone “very religious in every way.” To do this we’ll enlist help from as many of the gods as we can manage, learning what they have to teach, and finally observing how they appear in the light of the One preached to us as the Crucified.

“The Academy” is a term used by both insiders and outsiders to speak about the world of biblical scholarship. It is a term meant to ascribe prestige and importance to one’s profession and life work. To be a card-carrying member of “the guild” – to use another term of esteem – is to be part of an elite club of professionals trapped by the perpetual need to justify their significance. But to most people, “the academy” is a term of intimidation to create a feeling of inadequacy on the part of the so-called, non-specialist layperson, thus making the Bible and faith itself feel like something you’re not qualified to have an opinion about. Along the same lines, the last 40+ years of Pauline scholarship – with its almost iconoclastic radicalism – has so thoroughly revised the traditional understanding of Paul that many, if not most, feel unable to understand the Bible at all. This breakout session has three, related goals. I first hope to offer a pointed critique at recent interpreters of Paul and their overall practice of interpretation, particularly those within what are known as the “New Perspective on Paul,” and the “anti-imperial Paul.” By way of critical-historical inquiry, these scholars ironically offer an allegorical reading of Paul by constantly reconstructing what St. Paul really said and overlooking what he actually said. Secondly, I hope to outline a positive vision for how to read the Bible, one that views it not as a riddle to be solved by the specialist, but as a conversation partner that wants to be charitably heard on its own terms, without being overinterpreted. Finally, I will examine Galatians 3:24-25 to offer some critical self-reflection on how Paul has been understood by Luther (and, by extension, Mockingbird!).

Kendall Jenner once said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” Just kidding! It was Maya Angelou who said that. But now that I have your attention, do you agree? Because I’ve had to give this topic A LOT of thought lately. My family was recently uprooted from Atlanta to Sydney, Australia because #grace, and the fallout has been…a bit of everything. No demogorgons have shown up, but that hasn’t squelched the similarities with Stranger Things because a) said comparison allows me to equate myself with Barb in our hair color and suffering; and b) this new life in the Down Under feels not totally unlike the Upside Down–absence of Winona Ryder notwithstanding–what with the disorientation, opposing seasons, and strange lighting patterns (aka Daylight Savings flipped). Kendall Jenner, Winona Ryder, and Barb: is that click-baity enough for you? Well, allow me to further tease that I’ll be providing handy keys on how not to assimilate in a foreign country, embarrassing stories about my (lack of) driving skills and language difficulties, further details of my IKEA breakdown–all as a guide to managing depression: Aussie Edition. But the big kicker will be what home means for those of us torn between an upside-down world and the Upside Down Kingdom. Spoiler alert: tons of ambivalence, a Ron Burgundy reference, cities with oceans attached. Oh, and wine. Lots of wine.

This breakout is entitled “The Reformation Today” because “Is the Reformation Over?” has already been taken by everyone writing at First Things or The Gospel Coalition. Also, because at Mockingbird we believe the answer to that question is a resounding “NO.” In order to make my pitch, I believe the shake up at the burger chain Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s has a lot to to say. For seventeen years, Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s defined their business not by amazing fast food burgers (when it comes to fast-food burgers they are the best) but instead by sexy models eating the burgers. Interestingly enough, this actually led to a drop in sales over time. A new ad campaign is throwing all that to the wind, with Carl Sr. coming back to office and taking Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s back to its roots: really, really good burgers and amazing customer service. Is the Reformation Over? It is–if the Reformation has to do with smoke machines or sermons on sex and community development. As in life, the present is never understood by looking to the future (Carl Jr.). We understand the present by looking to and understanding the past (Carl Sr.). In this breakout, we will take a trip back to our roots as Reformational Christians, and look briefly at some of the overlap between the English and German Reformations, which all came together in the person of Dr. Robert Barnes. Then using “The Reformation Essays of Dr. Robert Barnes,” we will define and answer the big question at the heart of the Reformation: “How is a person justified before God?” That is the question. That question will help the church get out of the realm of trying to be cool and get back to the “Carl Sr. of Christianity.” With this question answered, we will examine some important pastoral implication in the midst of real pastoral ministry because when this question of justification is not answered correctly the real power and strength of Christianity is lost. This breakout is for anyone, especially those who are interested in pastoral care and practicing it from a perspective of “by grace alone!”

According to the Pew Research Center (see here and here), over half of American adults who were sampled (59%) believe that, in general, science is often in conflict with religion. But “conflict” is only one way of seeing how science and religion might relate. Other possibilities include “independent”, “competition”, “dialogue”, “discussion”, “engagement”, “partnership”, “collaboration”, among others. Some, like scientist and theologian Alister McGrath, take a more nuanced approach, and describe the relationship as complementary, while historian John Hedley Brooke (writing before Facebook was a thing) simply described the relationship as: “It’s complicated”. How about you? How do you view the relationship between science and religion? We (Bonnie and Bethany) have spent a great deal of our professional and personal lives thinking about how science and religion might relate. We’ve heard people tell us that Christians can’t be scientists, on the one hand, and that theology is the queen of the sciences, on the other – and everything in between. One of us is a scientist (Bonnie) and one is a theologian (Bethany) and we’d like to invite you on a brief journey on the history of how we’ve gotten into this complicated relationship through our disciplines of psychology and theology– and more importantly, hear your thoughts on –the unanswered questions about how science and theology speak to the suffering in the world and in personal lives.

Nietzsche said that he would only believe in a “God who dances.” As Mockingbird devotees, and survivors of three marriages, Debbie and I have come to believe in a dancing God. Yet, this view of God only came after years, many years, in which we didn’t. A romantic courtship, with breathless excitement and anticipation of an American-dream marriage, quickly turned into a marriage of unmet expectations from both sides. Indeed, each of us hurt the other (albeit unintentionally) in the very fashion that would cause the most pain. We unknowingly tread upon the past hurts and expectations that each of us brought into the marriage. Our marriage devolved into separate lives with no hope of reconciliation–none. We certainly didn’t believe in a dancing God–in one who could bring dance into our marriage. We believed in a God who rewarded effort and wise decisions. We thought we had married the wrong person. In fact, we each wished that the other was dead or that we were dead. But then, the dancing God, the God we talk about at Mockingbird, stepped in. By God’s limitless grace, we both began learning of a God who knew the depths of our dark hearts–the true extent of our sinful flaws–but loved us nonetheless with His limitless, eternal love. Over the years, as we became more convinced of God’s unfathomable, eternal love for us, we began to love each other. My favorite parable is the one concerning the “treasure in the field.” Virtually always, the “treasure in the field” is construed as the Kingdom of God. Yet, when you review the parables surrounding it (the lost coin, the lost sheep), it becomes abundantly clear (as I first learned from CI Scofield) that we are the “treasure in the field,” that Christ sold everything (gave His life) to purchase. The character of a Kingdom is determined by the character of the King. This King is the savior and redeemer of individuals, of marriages, and of all creation. As Sally Lloyd Jones writes in Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing: “God made everything in his world and in his universe and in his children’s hearts to center around him–in a wonderful Dance of Joy! It’s the dance you were born for.”

Dynamite does one thing well: it blows stuff up. Dynamite is no more than an absorbent material, such as sawdust, soaked in a highly combustible chemical called nitroglycerin. The absorbent material makes the nitroglycerin much more stable. Attached to the nitroglycerin infused sawdust is either a fuse of a blasting cap. Once lit, the fuse or cap creates a small explosion that triggers the larger explosion in the dynamite itself. Once ignited, the dynamite burns extremely rapidly and produces a large amount of hot gas in the process. The hot gas expands very quickly and applies pressure, and thus blows up or explodes. The Greek word dynamis (δύναμις) is commonly translated as “power of God.” A college professor of mine once smacked his hands down loudly on the podium and said: “the Gospel is dynamite, exploding faith into the heart of the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The Gospel, to me, from that day on, has been dynamite. It blows up the Old Adam and creates from the rubble the New Man who by faith stands in Christ alone. The idea that it was the Gospel of Christ––either through the stand-alone proclaimed Word, or the Word as it is connected to water in Holy Baptism or the bread and wine, body and blood, in Holy Communion––as the Means of Grace (media gratiae) through which God brings sinners to Himself was an idea unique to the Reformation. The idea itself is simple but carries with it immense implications. If God blows up my Old-Adam with the dynamite of the Gospel, then it is His work that saves from beginning to end. I do nothing to save myself; He does everything. This has always vexed Christians, especially new Christians. If God has saved me of His accord and His work on account of Christ, what can I do now for God? How can I serve Him? How can I say thank you? Often, the answer to this question leaves the questioner disappointed. The answer is, God doesn’t need your service. He is the almighty creator of heaven and earth. By His Word, all things were made that have been made. By His Word, He performs great miracles. By His Word, your Old Adam is constantly blown up with the dynamite of the Gospel. You need Him; He doesn’t need you. The Reformers had an answer for this one too. The Reformers realized that it was not the monks and priests of the church that were doing “super works” to please God. They saw that the everyday person served God, but did so in a way that had not previously been recognized. The Reformers called this the doctrine of vocation. We are all called to freely love and serve those whom God has called into our lives. We don’t always recognize the form that this service will take. And we certainly serve them imperfectly; often badly. Sometimes this service will look like changing a diaper. Sometimes it will be getting a cup of coffee for your spouse. (Thus, some of the most common and important vocation are being a dad or mom, husband or wife.) Sometimes it’s telling someone that you love them. Sometimes it’s standing next to a friend as they bury a loved one. The one thing we know is that it will probably look very standard, and will likely be difficult to recognize as “unique.” To quote Gerhard Forde as he tries to explain Luther’s ideas on this topic: “Whatever call there might be for more extreme action, it must be remembered that Luther’s idea is that first and foremost one serves God by taking care of his creation.” (Gerhard Forde, A More Radical Gospel) So then, the Gospel is the dynamite that constantly blows up the Old Adam in us, and then God uses the rubble to, by the work of the Holy Spirit, build up saving faith, trust, in our hearts saving us on account of Christ alone. He then calls people into our lives, inviting us to love them and be loved in return, serve them and be served in return, all through the ordinary everyday motions of our daily, often boring lives. This is the Christian vocation. When we fail––and we do––he forgives once more through the dynamite of salvation, the Gospel of Christ.

I don’t “read much” and I don’t “look the part” I’m not “seminary trained” or even “theologically inclined.” I don’t “know what ‘Pelagian’ means” and I “don’t look comfortable in front of an audience” I “sleep in my make-up” and “also with stuffed animals” I guess I “talk too much” and I “sweat when I’m nervous” and I “can’t remember names” because I’m “too concerned with myself” even though I “don’t bathe regularly” and I’ve “let myself go.” I haven’t “learned my lesson” my “coffee hasn’t kicked in yet” I haven’t “kept calm” or “found my bliss” but I’m “talking at this conference anyway.” On the surface of things, Moana (Disney) tells the story of a model-gorgeous Polynesian girl who saves her people through sheer grit and perseverance. Bennett Brauer would say: She “has what it takes” she “does her part” she “takes the bull by the horns” and “pulls herself up by her sandal-straps.” In our culture today – so driven and exhausted by the lie that our success (our salvation) is in our own hands – this is an incredibly seductive notion. (Don’t all of us, even we gospel-warriors at Mockingbird, operate under this impulse every day?) As we take a closer look at this beautiful film, what we will discover is a character riddled with self-doubt. She is neither capable nor equipped to offer life and rescue to her village (which is slowly being consumed by a “terrible darkness”). Moana, like me, like you, has only one credential: she is chosen. In this breakout session, we will explore how aspects of this remarkable narrative offer us – lowly, incapable, and weak – grace, hope, and a way forward in the grind of our everyday lives as Christians. We possess neither the ability, free will, power, nor the righteousness to repair ourselves and escape the wrath of God. It must all be God’s work, Christ’s work, or there is no salvation.” — Michael Horton.

It doesn’t take long at Mockingbird before one hears about… yes, here it comes… Law and Gospel. It is the name of the book after all. And while most of the fun is to be had in observing this versatile skeleton key to the human condition illustrated in everything from Finding Dory to David Bowie, or from Black Mirror to Axl Rose, the original Law/Gospel illustration, of course, came from Martin Luther’s BFF, Lucas Cranach the Elder, as evidenced below. On the left, expectation and obligation – with help from sin and death – send a helpless streaker toward an unwelcome barbeque (that’s Law). On the right, expectation is met by fulfillment. As the good news sinks in, a super-soaker of imputing blood jet streams from a side-wound, while sin and death get busted by a deputized sheep (that’s Gospel). It would be perfectly serviceable to offer an extended talk on such wonderful illustrations, one of which bedazzles the front of Paul Zahl’s Short Systematic Theology. Cranach, after all, painted several variations, each of which convey different nuances to Law/Gospel dynamic. Nevertheless, addled as I am by the oppressive law of academia, with its merciless demand for originality, I am incapable of delivering something so straightforward, which, at any rate, has been done well in several top-notch publications. Instead, I thought I’d look to artists from whom one would not expect such a message. Indeed, at the tenth anniversary conference I shall contend the Law/Gospel message can be found concealed in artists a long way from Wittenberg. The thrilling truth of grace emerges in art history just where you’d expect to hear something different (hence my title, “Hearing Law, Seeing Gospel”). What if the dynamic famously painted by Cranach could be found incognito in Orthodox icons, peeking from the unsurpassable achievements of Michelangelo and Pontormo, concealed in Catholic kitsch, even shining through the cult of creativity in contemporary art? It’s all succinctly conveyed in the witty title, “camouflage Cranach,” really, but my wife said that sounded terrible.

We’re living in an age of “subjective sovereignty,” where life is “all the feels” and emotional offense is king. It is a time less describable by policy discord and differences of opinion, but instead by vindictive joy and holy rage. Arguments are couched in first-person noise—disagreements have the sting of personal attacks—which means the arguments are, on the whole, harder to argue or critique. As we’ve become “touchier” about the things we care about, the logic behind those sensitivities has also faded. This trend goes hand in hand with another trend that’s been provoked, namely, that America is only becoming more spiritually bankrupt/unmoored. David Brooks recently wrote along these lines, that Religious frameworks no longer organize public debate. Secular philosophies that grew out of the Enlightenment have fallen apart. We have words and emotional instincts about what feels right and wrong, but no settled criteria to help us think, argue and decide. You’d think this would lead to the age of great moral relativism, where all the objective strictures are let go and the only mantra remaining is “You Do You.” But this hasn’t happened. Instead, Brooks writes, “society has become a free-form demolition derby of moral confrontation.” It seems we feel so much, but we can’t seem to agree on why we feel it and who’s to blame. So the answer, of course, is to get some Truth, right? Get to church! Fall on the Rock! God provides the mooring—the why behind your hurt—and the cross gives you your scapegoat. The Good News gives you your needed justification. But what do you do with all that rage? Therapy? I don’t know about you, but the term “therapeutic” has always bristled—it sounds like the hippy-dippy opposite of “grounded” or “objective.” It sounds a lot more like “You Do You”—do what feels good to you. But this is largely a misunderstanding, mostly because of counseling that truly hasn't helped. Just as God gives us the Good News, God also administers his healing in the gracious counsel of another. With the help of some of our favorites, let's look into the relationship between the objective News of the Gospel, and very subjective (though no-less-real) needs we carry around with us every day, and how those needs are addressed within the realm of pastoral care and counseling.

Closing Saturday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in New York City, given by David Zahl. Delivered April 29th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.

Saturday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in New York City, given by Nicole Cliffe (The Toast). Delivered April 29th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.

Saturday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in New York City, given by Duo Dickinson. Delivered April 29th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.

Friday evening talk at our 2017 Conference in NYC, given by The Rev. Fleming Rutledge. Delivered April 28th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.

Friday afternoon talk at our 2017 Conference in NYC, given by Oliver Burkeman (The Guardian). Delivered April 28th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church.

Second Friday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in NYC from Dr. Simeon Zahl. Delivered April 28th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church. Subtitle: "The Lost Doctrine of Sin.

Friday morning talk at our 2017 Conference in NYC from The Rev. Sarah Condon. Delivered April 28th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church. Subtitle: "The Losing Battle of Being in Charge".

Opening talk at our 2017 Conference in NYC from The Rev. Aaron Zimmerman. Delivered April 27th, 2017 at St George's Episcopal Church. Subtitle: "The Secret of Mockingbird's Success".

Our guest this week is Jeffrey Hanson, author of "Kierkegaard and the Life of Faith: The Aesthetic, the Ethical, and the Religious in 'Fear and Trembling'". Then the roundtable talks Yik Yak, the breeding grounds of resentment and more Melissa Febos.Special Guest: Jeffrey Hanson.

Our guest this week is Tony Jones. Tony is a theologian, author and the trade editor at Fortress Press. He's also a consultant on Hulu's popular serial drama "The Path". Then the roundtable talks happiness, headwinds and the Zacchaeus option. Special Guest: Tony Jones.

Our guest this week is Emily Esfani Smith. She's the author of The Power Of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Then the roundtable talks tribalism, storytelling and failure.Special Guest: Emily Esfahani Smith.

Our guest this week is Adam Morton. Having successfully avoided the pitfalls of money and social standing, sometime Mockingbird contributor Adam Morton serves as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church and associate pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, both in Lancaster, PA. His wife Tasha does more or less the same thing, but competently. Together they parent a very wide toddler. Adam is inordinately proud of his standing as a native Minnesotan, and supports the state’s athletic teams in true Lutheran fashion, seeing all things through suffering and the cross. For fun he shouts expletives at uncomprehending electronic devices, paints models for games he only sometimes gets around to, and tries to sleep through whatever the cats are doing. After the conversation with Adam, David Zahl and Scott Jones are joined by Mandy Smith to talk about outrage, the church escaping the world and the denial of death. Special Guest: Adam Morton.

This week's guest is Melissa Febos. She's the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (St. Martin’s Press 2010) and the forthcoming essay collection, Abandon Me (Bloomsbury 2017). Then the roundtable comes to you live from Texas at the mbirdtyler.com conference. Special Guest: Melissa Febos.

Our guest this week is Jason Micheli. Jason is a United Methodist pastor. He's the author of Cancer Is Funny: Keeping Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo. He's the co-host of the Crackers and Grape Juice podcast. Then roundtable talks loved, religion and death. Special Guest: Jason Micheli.

This week our guest is Stephanie Butnick, co-host of Tablet Magazine's popular podcast Unorthodox. We have now had all three co-hosts as guests. We saved the best for last! Then the roundtable talks eating your way to immortality, atheist conversion studies and concludes with a story of what love is all about. Special Guest: Stephanie Butnick.

In this special episode of The Mockingcast we give a preview of some of the content of Mockingbird's quarterly print magazine. Several contributors are featured including Dr. Helen Zoe Veit. She's the author of Modern Food, Moral Food. Special Guest: Helen Zoe Veit.

Our guest this week is Nadia Bolz-Weber. She is a pastor, author, speaker, fitness jedi and poster child for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Then the roundtable tackles fat shaming, date hating, food solidarity and the definition of a sermon.Special Guest: Nadia Bolz-Weber.

Our guest this week is Carlen Maddux, author of A Path Revealed: How Hope, Love And Joy Found Us In A Deep Maze Called Alzheimer's. Then the roundtable talks "people analytics", living in bubbles and the foolish culture of the carnival. Special Guests: Carlen Maddux, Lindy Jones.

This week our guest is Paul Walker. Paul is the Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, where Mockingbird is headquartered. He’s also a longtime friend of Mockingbird and spoke at the first Mockingbird conference in New York City. After our conversation with Paul the usual suspects talk about the death of the American dream, frames of mind and the stories we tell ourselves.Special Guest: Paul Walker .

Our guest this week is Jennifer Underwood. Jennifer is a lawyer, wife and mother of 3. She  blogs at the Houston Moms Blog. Then the roundtable talks about profanity and honest, shame, forgiveness and Silence.Special Guest: Jennifer Underwood.

Dr. Todd Brewer, New Testament Professor at General Theological Seminary, comes on the podcast to talk about Mockingbird’s best theology book list of 2016. Then the roundtable talks about, among other things, Good Riddance Day.

Our guest on our Christmas episode is Rev. Mandy Smith. She has recently written about dealing with mixed emotions during the holidays. She also created an advent art exercise to help cultivate child-likeness. Then David, Sarah and Scott talk business, Christmas gifts and how to grow old.

This week’s guest is Simeon Zahl. Simeon is a theologian who teaches at the University of Nottingham. His work focuses on the role of emotion and feeling in the spiritual life. He’s also David Zahl’s brother. Then David, Sarah and Scott talk about judgyness, the significance of place and reflect on the legacy of Henri Nouwen.

In this special episode of the Mockingcast Scott Jones is joined by Duo Dickinson, the renowned architect and episcopalian. They talk about what you do when your holiday is not so happy.

Our guest this week is Benson Shelton, Rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Culpeper, Virginia. Then the roundtable talks empathy, reality myths and Charlie Brown.

This week’s guest is Makoto Fujimura, author most recently of Silence And Beauty: Hidden Faith Born Of Suffering. His book is a personal engagement with the great Shusaku Endo novel Silence, adapted recently to film by Martin Scorsese. Following the interview our roundtable discusses comprehensive credit ratings, atheism, and the forthcoming Scorsese film.

Please enjoy this special Thanksgiving holiday episode of the podcast. Sarah and Scott with the help of some material from Evolving Out Loud reflect on what our Thanksgiving dinner tables tell us about ourselves.

Our guest this week is one of America’s great theologians, Robert Jenson. He’s joined by Adam Eitel, who helped put together Jenson’s most recent book A Theology In Outline: Can These Bones Live? Then we talk Episcopal heartbreak, attachment theory and the cult of progress.Special Guests: Adam Eitel, Robert Jenson.

This week’s guest is Suzanne Stabile, co-author of a new book on The Enneagram entitled The Road Back To You. Then the roundtable talks about the past week’s events and the passing of Leonard Cohen.

On this special episode of the podcast Scott sits down in NYC with singer, songwriter and playwright Jim Knable. For more about Jim you can go to www.jimknable.com.Special Guest: Jim Knable.

Friend of the show Mark Oppenheimer returns to share about his recent adventure with Episcopalians. He also explains why he quit the NY Times and why he still writes to his daughter in cursive. Then the usual suspects talk Bill Murray, teen anxiety and Cormac McCarthy.Special Guest: Mark Oppenheimer.

The Mockingcast turned one year old yesterday and what a year it’s been! On this special episode we reflect on the past year and reflect on the Reformation rediscovery of 100 proof Gospel that inspires everything that Mockingbird is and does.

This week we talk with Zac Hicks, Worship Pastor at Cathedral Church of the Advent and author of The Worship Pastor: A Call To Ministry For Worship Leaders And Teams. Then Scott and Sarah are joined by a mystery guest to discuss the contents of Another Week Ends.

This week our guest is Devorah Heitner, author of most recently, Screenwise. Following our conversation the usual suspects discuss the contents of Another Week Ends.

Our guest this week is Mike McHargue, host of the Ask Science Mike podcast and co-host of The Liturgists podcast, both wildly popular. He’s also the author of Finding God In The Waves: How I Lost My Faith And Found It Again Through Science. Then David, Sarah and Scott discuss the contents of Another Week Ends.

Our guest this week is Katelyn Detweiler. Her most recent novel is Transcendent. She lives, work and writes in Brooklyn. After Scott’s conversation with Katelyn some of the usual suspects talk about moral licensing, call out culture, and the beauty of the transcendent God in the flesh.

This week we have Jeffrey Pugh as our guest. He’s the author, most recently, of Homebrewed Christianity’s Guide To The End Times: Theology After You’ve Been Left Behind. Then David, Sarah and Scott talk about judgmental children, losing friends over politics and dealing with mental illness in the church.

On this special edition of the podcast we talk with the staff who puts together Mockingbird’s print magazine. We also speak with social psychologist Carol Tavris, interviewed in the magazine, and Brian and Debbie Solum, who together wrote a piece for this issue entitled Confessions of Parental Recidivists: Searching for Hope in Raising a Mentally Ill Child.

We all need a little help from our friends, and ultimately from the Friend of Sinners. This week features a conversation with the one and only Paul Zahl and his longtime friend Duo Dickinson, renowned architect and lifelong Episcopalian. Then Scott is joined by his friends David Zahl and Sarah Condon to talk Springsteen, Late Night TV and whether to ditch the smartphone.

Our guest this week is Kenneth L. Woodward, one of the deans of American journalism. Ken was the religion editor at Newsweek for 40 years. He most recent book is Getting Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama. Then Scott, David and Sarah talk time travel, clowns and poetry.

This week we have two guests, both actively involved in the work and mission of church life on the ground. The R.J. Heijmen works at St. Martin’s Church in Houston, Texas. His responsibilities there include Stewardship and oversight of all Christian Education Ministries of the Parish. He continues to play a supervisory role in Student Ministries and is a regular participant in the Family Table service. However, in this interview he talks more about his work before St. Martin’s, when he attempted to plant a church in the heart of New York City. Rick Heltne is partner in the firm SIMA Partners for Churches, whose mission is to serve as partners in the crucial journey of churches in the midst of leadership transitions. After the conversations with our guests some of the usual suspects talk about the contents of Another Week Ends.

Our guest this week is Mark Tietjen, author most recently of Kierkegaard: Missionary To Christians. Then the roundtable remembers (with laughter) Gene Wilder, talks about the alternate universes, and why we feel the need to shout into the abyss.

On this episode of The Mockingcast our guest is Bart Campolo. Bart is the humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California. He also has a popular podcast called Humanize Me. After our conversation with Bart, Ethan Richardson and Sarah Condon join Scott Jones to talk cell phones, religion on the small screen and in American life, and the nature of the perfect day.

Our guest this week is Richard Beck, author of most recently Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and the Devil for Doubters and the Disenchanted. Then the roundtable talks Animal Farm, happiness rules and the danger of nostalgia.

Our guest this week is Krista Tippet, host the wildly popular NPR show On Being, and the author of several books, most recently Becoming Wise: An Inquiry Into The Mystery And Art Of Living. Then Scott, David and Sarah talk fashion and friendship.

This week our guest is Jonathan Master, author most recently of A Question Of Consensus, which deals with post-Reformation understandings of the doctrine of assurance. He also hosts the podcast Theology On The Go, and edits the online magazine Place For Truth. He also serves as the Dean of the Divinity School at Cairn University. Then Sarah, David and Scott talk helicopter parenting, philosophy and the emotions, and narciphobia. The post Rest Assured appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we have Rebecca Schiff as our guest, author of the amazing book of short stories, The Bed Moved. Then we introduce a new listener profile piece. Our first guests: Kyle and Liz Dupic. Wow! Then the usual suspects……Sarah come back! The post Everything Moves appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we welcome Peter Leithart to the show as our guest. He is the author most recently of Delivered From The Elements Of The World: Atonement, Justification, Mission. He also directs the Theopolis Institute. Then our roundtable talks Mayberry, Taylor Swift v. Kanye, and life and love.  The post Peter Leithart, Don Knotts & The Orthodoxy Of Romance appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Paul Zahl is back. He and Mary Zahl just returned from England, where they saw their grandson baptized. He also returns to the Mockingcast today to talk Brexit, why he does his podcast, and what preaching is all about. Then the usual suspects discuss all manner of content featured in Another Week Ends, including Pokemon Go (which Scott and his lovely wife Lindy have both downloaded). The post PZ Returns appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Our guest this week is Kimm Crandall, author most recently of Beloved Mess: God’s Perfect Love For Your Imperfect Life. Then Scott, David and Sarah discuss the contents of Another Week Ends. The post Life Is An Authentic Mess appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we feature an interview with Miroslav Volf, Professor of Theology at Yale University and author most recently of Flourishing: Why We Need Religion In A Globalized World. Then David Zahl, Sarah Cond0n and Scott Jones discuss Seinfeldia, Good and Bad Religion, and the increasing anxiety in modern life. The post Religion’s Place In A Chronically Anxious World appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this special, spontaneous episode David Zahl, Will McDavid, Lindy Jones and Scott try to make sense of where we’ve Game of Thrones has been, where it is, and where it’s going. Enjoy! The post Bonus Cast: Game Of Thrones Recap And Review appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Our special guest this week is Liel Leibowitz, senior writer at Tablet Magazine and co-host of Unorthodox, one of the greatest podcasts on the web. Liel and Scott thought their conversation was nearly apocalyptic in magnitude, hence the title of the show. After the conversation with Liel, Scott and David Zahl are joined by Leslie Hall to discuss the contents of Another Week Ends.  The post The Ecumenical Apocalypse appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Our guest this week is author and literary critic Jonathan Levi, whose most recent book is Septimania, a ” strange and magical picaresque romance.” Then Scott is joined by David Zahl and Sarah Condon to consider questions like: “Do we live in the Matrix?” and “Did Jesus have a wife?”. The post Did Jesus Have A Wife? Do You Have Septimania?!? appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week Scott Jones talks with Erik Guzman about his new book, The Seed: A True Myth. Then Scott is joined by the usual suspects to talk about, among other things, the dangers of being authentic and doing what you love. The post Should You Ever Be Authentic Or Do What You Love? appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This is the second of an ongoing, albeit semi-regular series, where the host of the Mockingcast goes to the cinema with his lovely wife, Lindy. This episode we review Love and Friendship, a film inspired by Jane Austen’s unpublished novella. Happy listening! The post Bonus Mini-Cast: Lindy and Scott Review “Love And Friendship” appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

We have one of the top experts on Zombie Apocalypses on the show this week. Alissa Wilkinson teaches at King’s College in New York City. She is the author most recently of How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World (co-written with Rob Joustra). Then the crew gets into the content of Another Week Ends, and yes, Sarah talks Gorilla Mom.  The post How’s A Gorilla Mom Like Me Gonna Make It Through The Zombie Apocalypse? appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we have as our guest Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, the author of numerous books and essays, including her most recent work, Nurture The Wow, a deeply affecting, funny, insightful meditation that challenges readers to find the spiritual meaning of parenting. Then the usual suspects discuss faith conversions, safe spaces, saying you’re sorry and the Gospel in Vietnam. The post Nurture The Wow appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week’s show features an interview with Fleming Rutledge about her recent book, The Crucifixion:Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ. Then the usual suspects review the contents of Another Week Ends.  Scott, David and Sarah talk social media and emotional health, whether we have free will, and consider a documentary that reminds us that the Gospel is first, foremost and forever for sinners. The post The Gospel Is For Sinners appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this special episode of the podcast we talk about the most recent issue of our magazine which is all about the Church. We talk with the editor of the magazine, Ethan Richardson, as well Molly Worthen, Professor of History from UNC and New York Times contributor. The episode concludes with a panel Scott Jones moderated and a conference about Reformed Theology and the Mission and Life of the Church in North America sponsored by the Missio Alliance.  The post Special Episode: The Church Magazine Edition appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode Scott talks with Rev. Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert, Professor of Homiletics at Howard Divinity School. Dr. Gilbert teaches preaching and is also a student of its history. Following the interview Scott is joined by David Zahl and a special guest sitting in for Sarah Condon, Leslie Hall. Among other things the three of them consider the role of jokes in church. The post Preaching Can Be Powerful, But Should It Be Funny? appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we’re joined by John Newton, author of the Falling Into Grace: Exploring Our Inner Life With God. Following that conversation David, Sarah and Scott discuss the content of Another Week Ends.  The post Falling Into Grace appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode Scott talks with Geoff Holsclaw, author of, most recently,  Transcending Subjects: Augustine, Hegel and Theology, and the co-host of the Theology On Mission Podcast. The usual suspects (Scott, Ethan Richardson and Sarah Condon) go on to talk Choose Your Own Adventure books, smugness, as well as reflecting on a story about a judge that sentences a veteran to 24 hours in jail, then joins him behind bars. The post What Is True Freedom? And What’s The Deal With Choose Your Own Adventure Books? appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we air a conversation that David Zahl and Scott Jones had with Derek Webb at the 2016 New York City Conference. Then the usual suspects discuss the contents of Another Week Ends.    The post Our Conversation With Derek Webb, Thoughts On Prince, And The Joys Of Crashing Weddings appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this special episode of the podcast all our content was recorded live from the #mockingbirdnyc2016 conference. Our usual cast of characters, with the welcome addition of Jacob Smith, talk about the story and identity of Mockingbird, and Scott has a conversation with one of our speakers, Dr. Ted Peters, joined by his wife Karen. If you couldn’t make it to the conference or you’re in NYC with some free time and can’t get enough of #mockingbirdnyc2016, check it out! The post The Mockingbird NYC 2016 Podcast appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episiode Scott talks with Mandy Smith, author of The Vulnerable Pastor. Then the panel talks about the loss of a great artist, Merle Haggard, and reflect on the anniversary of the loss of a great preacher of grace, Michael Spencer. We also consider what antinomianism really is and if it’s a probem. The post Vulnerability, Loss & The Anti-Law appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we are privileged to talk with noted author Chris Bachelder about his newest book, The Throwback Special. We also discuss some of the highlights of Another Week Ends, including the American Psycho musical and Microsoft’s genocidal social media bot Tay, as well as considering the relationship between faith and doubt in a post-Easter world. The post Tay The Twitbot Has Spoken, We’re All American Psychos Now appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode my mystery guest who’s secret identity is revealed on the podcast joins me to give a first look and reaction to the just released Batman V Superman film. SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers start at minute 12. The post Special Episode: The Superman V Batman First Look appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

On this episode released at the end of Holy Week we talk art history with Matt Milliner of Wheaton College. He talks about three great artists and their eventual forsaking of their own performace idolatry. Then Ethan Richardson and Sarah Condon join our host to talk about the contents of Another Week Ends. The post The Passion of Christ and Our Passion for Performance appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we have Jacob Smith back on the podcast to talk about preaching and hearing sermons during Holy Week. David, Sarah and Scott also record live from the Mockingbird Tyler conference in the Lone Star State. The stars and night are big and bright, clap, clap, clap….! The post Preaching and Hearing The Word In Holy Week And A Live Recording From #MbirdTyler2016 appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week Scott talks with David Dark, author of  Life’s Too Short To Pretend You’re Not Religious. You can click here for the full length, unedited version of the conversation. Then Scott, David and Sarah talk about moral aligment, criticism and the trajic nature of suicide. The post Life’s Too Short To Pretend You’re Not Religious, Let The Healing Begin appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we sit down with John Zahl to talk music and movies. Then David Zahl, Sarah Condon and Scott Jones discuss the contents of  Another Week Ends.  The post The Power of Empathy, The Excesses of Leadership and The Episcopalian Skeletor appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this week’s episode we debut our new co-host, Sarah Condon. Sarah is an Episcopal priest, wife, mom and regular Mockingbird contributor. She, David Zahl I talk about Donald Trump, Flannery O’Conner, Facebook-like options and the power of extending gracious and encouraging words from a distance. As always you can find all the things we reference on our website, mbird.com. The post Meet Our New Co-Host… appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we’re priveleged to have Mockingbird contributor and Rector of Calvary-St.George’s in New York City. (http://www.calvarystgeorges.org) He shares some thoughts on the theology of the cross and how it can inform the Lenten season, keeping it from being yet another venue for the pursuit of a theology of glory that celebrates human religiosity rather than clinging to divine grace. We also look at the content of Another Week Ends with Kanye fan and Mockingbird contributor, C.J. Green. The post A Lenten Theology Of The Cross appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode of the show we talk with some really interesting people. We begin with a conversation with J.R. Rozko, co-director of the Mission Alliance (www.missioalliance.org). They are doing a series of conference gatherings to explore what different past traditions have to offer the church and its mission in a post-Christian future. We’ll actually be doing a live recording of the show at their May gathering in Philadelphia which will look at the Reformation tradition (http://www.missioalliance.org/gatherings/reformedevent/). Then we chat with Aaron Zimmerman, rector of St. Alban’s Church in Waco Texas. He shares his top five insights for preachers who want to preach more life giving and graced sermons. (http://www.stalbanswaco.org/sermon-podcast). We conclude talking about our wrap up post, Another Week Ends. As usual you can find all the content we discuss at our website www.mbird.com. The post The Protest Vote and The Magic of Protestantism appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we talk with first time guest Stephanie Phillips about the dance working career moms have to do and how she changed her dance steps. Then David Zahl shares some thoughts about the nature of criticism (the literary and artistic kind), beauty and the place of the church in the world. The post Everyone’s A Critic appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode of the Mockingcast we have Sarah Condon reflecting on the futility of the New Year’s Resolution and how it connects to the Lenten journey. We also have Ethan Richardson sharing his take on the contents of Another Week Ends, the weekly round-up post from www.mbird.com. The post Regret, Resolve and the Possibility of Relief appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This special edition of the Mockingcast comes to you by the good graces of Greg Strawbridge. Greg is a pastor in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He’s also a musician and an online sound producer extraordinaire. You can find his interviews, sermons and talks at wordmp3.com. Greg and I had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Oppenheimer, editor of Tablet magazine, regular New York Times contributor, host of the Unorthodox podcast, and one of only two authors published in both Playboy and The Christian Century. The conversation is a virtual Judeo-Christian jubilee where we talk about faith, culture and life and everything in between. The post A Conversation With Mark Oppenheimer appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we talk about the contents of Another Week Ends with David Zahl as he hunkers down in preparation for the first impending blizzard of 2016. The post Talking Science, Shame, and Satire in the wake of the Snowpocalypse appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this week’s episode we cover the highlights of Another Week Ends with David Zahl. As usual all the content we mention can be found on our website: www.mbird.com. Have a great weekend. The post David Bowie, David Brooks and the God Who Hates When We Hate Our Mess appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this special edition of The Mockingcast we talk with Will McDavid about the state of the Church as of 2015. We also get a rundown on Todd Brewer’s best theological reads from 2015. The post Mockingcast Special Edition: The State of Theology and Church in 2015 appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode C.J. Green breaks down the highlightd of Another Week Ends. We consider the power of Derek Webb’s recent published confession, talk about failure and mediocrity, and consider how the story of our lives isn’t always one we can chart with any kind of rational metric. All this and a special guest appearance by Paul Zahl who reflects on the rise of Trump and what it tells us about the country and ourselves. The post The Power of Confession, The Fear of Failure, and Paul Zahl on Donald Trump appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

    This is our Christmas Show. It’s short, sweet and full of Christmas cheer. Enjoy. And Merry Christmas! Show Notes: Here is the essay by Dan Harmon which was quoted at the beginning of the show. The post Have Yourself A Mockingbird Christmas Time appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode we not only run down some of the most interesting stories in Another Week Ends, we talk about food shaming and judgment at holiday parties, as well as offering our own review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The post Stuff Your Face In Front Of The Elf On The Shelf, Right After You Go See Star Wars appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Another week ends…In a world that seems unpredicable, chaotic and sometimes downright scary both the religious and the irreligious seem drawn to creating hermetically sealed safe spaces. But no matter what you can’t escape door to door proseletizers. Maybe that’s a good thing. All this and more in this week’s episode of the Mockingcast. The post Find Your Safe Space appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This week we talk about the increasing burden of shame in our culture and the new trend of “prayer shaming.” We also talk a little about Bill Murray as secular saint and consider why we’re all drawn to D.I.Y. spirituality. To read about all this and more check out this week’s edition of Another Week Ends: http://www.mbird.com/2015/12/another-week-ends-prayer-shaming-gracious-sermons-magical-libraries-st-bill-of-murray/ The post There’s No Shame In Being Bill Murray appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

Every year at the end of November we gather with friends and family eat, drink and watch football and listen to people tell us how grateful we should be. What’s the source of gratitude and what robs us of the ability to be grateful? In this special edition we chat with Sarah Condon about grace, parenting and bringing toddlers to church. The podcast concludes with a homily from David Zahl entitled “The Mother of all Virtues.” For resources mentioned in the podcast or to find out more about Mockingbird visit our website: www.mbird.com.     The post Thanksgiving Edition…Grace and Gratitude appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In this episode of the Mockingcast we look at the a phenomenon in Palo Alto and what it tells us about the performance pressure cooker in which we all find ourselves. We also ask what grace has to do with it.   The post Asking Polly What To Do When You’ve Been Pulverized In Palo Alto appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

How does wonder shape the way we approach people outside the faith, people with whom we deeply disagree and how might it help us see our own stories? All that and Guns N’ Roses on this week’s edition of the Mockingcast.   The post Wonder As A Wellspring Of Life appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This is a special episode of the Mockingcast where we preview the most recent issue of the Mockingbird Magazine, which deals with Technology and how it shape us and our culture. You can order the issue here: http://magazine.mbird.com/shop/. The post Mockingcast Special Edition: The Technology Issue Preview appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

In our second episode we consider what it takes to accept failures, begin again with levity and grapple with self-deception. We also conclude with a thought about the Jesus that makes it all possible. The post The Surprising Jesus And The Story of Self-Justification appeared first on New Persuasive Words.

This is the first edition of the Mockingcast, the podcast of Mockingbird Ministries (www.mbird.com). In our first episode, Scott Jones converses with the Director of Mockingbird, David Zahl, about the content of their weekly roundup post “The Weekender”. Mockingbird seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways. The name was inspired by the mockingbird’s peculiar gift for mimicking the cries of other birds. In a similar way, Mockingbird seeks to repeat the message we have heard – God’s word of grace and forgiveness. In Scott’s words, Mockingbird is all about “a grace infused and grace entranced spirit of Christian cosmopolitanism.” The post The Mockingcast Premiere Episode appeared first on New Persuasive Words.