Things Above

In episode 51 titled “Adversity can be a Blessing” James Bryan Smith tells the story of his friend Tim’s biking accident. Tim’s story of healing is an amazing one but there is even more to this story. A few months after his accident, while Tim was driving home from church, he noticed a pair of eyes looking at him from the road. Unsure of what he saw, he turned around to go and see what it was. When he arrived he found a man lying on the ground in extreme pain next to a damaged bicycle. The man’s name was Bernie and he had been riding at the Boulder Valley Velodrome in Erie when he was hit by a van, whose driver kept going instead of stopping to help. Tim immediately called an ambulance and stayed with Bernie until they arrived telling him, “I was in this same situation as you, if they can fix me they can fix you. Everything is going to be okay.” Bernie made it to the hospital and was in critical condition, had it not been for Tim, Bernie says, he may not have lived. Tim was a guardian angel for Bernie, he visited Bernie serval times in the hospital and they have formed a very strong friendship. Later on Tim’s father asked him, “if you had not been in your own biking accident, would you have noticed Bernie in the ditch that night?” Time replied, “I am not sure, but I know this, my awareness of life and my appreciation of life, and my focus on letting God lead me, has made me a different person. Bernie and Tim have become good friends and Bernie is now on the road to recovery, he hopes to be out of the hospital by November. This however is not the end of Tim’s story. He reached out to the person who had hit him and wanted to let her know that he was doing well and that she did not need to feel guilty about what had happened. Tim set up a time to meet with her and he told her Bernie’s story. She was overwhelmed and began to cry, but Tim let her know that had he not been through his accident he may have never saved Bernie’s life. This story of healing is amazing on so many levels. May we all turn to God in our times of trial, and may we all live with eyes wide open so that God can use us to rescue those who are lost and hurting. Related episodes: 1. Adversity can be a Blessing 2. The Gift of Pain 3. Episode 00 4. Spiritual Mirror 5. Jesus is Praying for You The post Open Your Eyes appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

“When the clock of one’s own crisis strikes, the hour for believing in the benevolence of a greater mystery is near” (Adrian van Kaam) We all go through our lives and encounter times of adversity. In this Things Above episode, James Bryan Smith shares a story of a close friend who suffered a terrible injury but was able to find hope through his adversity. Where do we turn when the clock of crisis strikes in our lives? James friend Tim chose to turn to the benevolence of a greater mystery, namely The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we face adversity we can either turn to God or turn away from God, which way we turn makes all the difference. But the story of our faith teaches us that it is in those times we need to take our eyes off of the pain and onto God, and to trust that God can overcome evil with good, that God can make all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) In that sense adversity can be a blessing. Key Verse: Romans 8:28 Related episodes: 1. Spiritual Mirror 2. The Gift of Pain 3. Moved to Pray 4. Jesus is Praying for You 5. Jesus Holds Everything Together The post Adversity can be a Blessing appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this Things Above episode, James Bryan Smith explains the concept of a spiritual mirror. Smith learned about the phrase “spiritual mirror” from George Macdonald, a great Scottish writer and preacher in the 19th century. James quotes from Macdonald’s book Creation in Christ to help explain the concept of the spiritual mirror. “When we think Christ, Christ comes; when we receive his image into our spiritual mirror, he enters with it. When our hearts turn to him, that is opening the door to him, that is holding up our mirror to him; then he comes in, not by our thought only, not in our idea only, but he comes himself, and of his own will. Thus the Lord, the Spirit, becomes the soul of our souls, becomes spiritually what he always was creatively; and as our spirit informs, gives shape to our bodies, in like manner his soul informs, gives shape to our souls. In this there is nothing unnatural, nothing at conflict with our being. It is but that the deeper soul that willed and wills our souls, rises up, the infinite Life, into the self we call I and me, makes the I and me more and more his, and himself more and more ours; until at length the glory of our existence flashes upon us, we face full to the sun that enlightens what is sent forth, and know ourselves alive with an infinite life, even the life of the Father. Then indeed we are; then indeed we have life; the life of Jesus has, through light, become life in us; the glory of God in the face of Jesus, mirrored in our hearts, has made us alive; we are one with God for ever and ever” (George MacDonald, Creation in Christ) It is as if Jesus is waiting for us, waiting for us to set our minds on him, and the moment we do, MacDonald says, Christ comes. James goes on to say that as we set aside time to—as MacDonald puts it—think Christ, the image of Christ is being imprinted in our hearts. And in so doing, we become not someone else, but we become truly who we are, truly ourselves, truly the person God designed us to be. Christian spiritual formation means that we are being formed into Christlikeness. That is what MacDonald is describing. By setting our minds and heart on Jesus, we open the door to Him, and he enters, and his image is now reflected in the spiritual mirror in our hearts. “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18) The glory of the Lord shines upon us like the reflection in a mirror, and as we gaze upon Jesus with the spiritual mirror in our heart, the same image of Jesus is transforming us into his image. Related Episodes: 1. Already Present 2. The Last Word 3. Christ is All Around Us 4. Remember the Door 5. Open Your Eyes The post Spiritual Mirror appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Josh Larsen sits down with James Bryan Smith for a “Things Above Conversation” about Josh’s latest book “Movies are Prayers.” Josh is the co-host of the radio show and podcast Filmspotting, author of Movies Are Prayers, and editor and film critic at Think Christian, a website exploring faith and pop culture. He’s been writing and speaking about movies professionally for more than two decades. In this episode, Josh and James dive deep into the impact art has on our theology. Movies do more than tell a good story. They are expressions of raw emotion, naked vulnerability, and unbridled rage. They often function in the same way as prayers, communicating our deepest longings and joys to a God who hears each and every one. Josh brings a critic’s unique perspective to how movies function as expressions to God of lament, praise, joy, confession, and more. His clear expertise and passion for the art of film, along with his thoughtful reflections on the nature of prayer, will bring you a better understanding of both. Enjoyed this conversation? Check out these other Things Above Conversations: 1.Conversation with William Paul Young 2.Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 2 3.Conversation with Jen Pollock Michel 4.Things Above Conversation with Brian Zahnd 5. Conversation with A.J. Swoboda The post Conversation with Josh Larsen appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Anger and worry are two emotions we deal with on a daily basis. We worry because we feel like it will help us to fix whatever problem we are dealing with. We use anger to make others behave as we want but in the long haul, it is destructive. In this episode, James Bryan Smith explains this glorious thought: relax, Jesus runs the universe. When we face problems, when we feel ourselves becoming angry or anxious, we do well to turn to Jesus, to invite him into our situation, to see our situation in light of Jesus and his resources and his power and his provision and his wisdom. Smith explains that we are not to act as if don’t care about these moments in our life but rather we should turn to Jesus in these moments. James closes the episode by quoting the chorus to the gospel song “Because He Lives” “Because He Lives” “Because he lives I can face tomorrow Because he lives All fear is gone Because I know he holds the future And life is worth the living Just because he lives” Key Verse: Colossians 1:15-20 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Related episodes: 1. Second Chances 2. Episode 00 3. Hope 4. Worry 5. Moved to Pray The post Jesus Holds Everything Together appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this Things Above conversation, James Bryan Smith interviews William Paul Young. Paul is best known for his book The Shack which has sold over a million copies. Young is a native of Alberta, Canada and now lives in Washington with his wife Kim. He is also the author of The Crossroads, Eve and Lies We Believe About God. In this episode, Paul and James discuss the struggles that came with publishing The Shack as well as how it became such a huge success. Paul explains that he only intended to write The Shack for his kids and how he never expected it to become as big as it did. James asks Paul to give us a deeper explanation about his writing process and how it impacts his faith life. Later on in the conversation, Paul gives us a few examples from his life where he struggled with his faith and how he was able to find God during those difficult moments. Paul and James both give explanations about how we can experience trinitarian reality in our daily lives. If you are interested in seeing Paul in person he will be speaking and leading a workshop at The Apprentice Gathering 2019. Register here! Enjoyed this conversation? Listen to other Things Above Conversations here: 1.Things Above Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 1 2.Things Above Conversation with John Ortberg 3.Things Above Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part 1 4.Conversation with Jen Pollock Michel 5. Conversation with A.J. Swoboda The post Conversation with William Paul Young appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Discovering our identity can be a lifelong journey. We all want to know who we are. In this episode, James Bryan Smith explains how our journey towards self-discovery is found in the invitation to be with Jesus. If we are to discover who we truly are, we must do so through discovering Jesus’ call to us. Smith goes on to explain that we are God’s beloved – that is our true identity. Jesus knows each of us individually, and sets each of us on a unique mission. By responding to Jesus’ invitation, we are called into Christ’s company. We know who we are when we discover we have been written into His story. He – and His story – are beautiful, good, and true. And in Him, so are we. Related episodes: 1. Your Identity is in the Invitation 2. Identity 3. Already Present 4. Guilt versus Shame 5. The Gift of Pain The post Your Identity is in the Invitation appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this Things Above Conversation, James Bryan Smith interviews author Emily P. Freeman about her latest book, The Next Right Thing. People average 35,000 daily decisions. Some of those decisions can really wear us down, which leads to the problem of chronic hesitation and decision fatigue. Emily’s book helps the reader make decisions with clarity, with confidence, and with God. If you have trouble making decisions, because of either chronic hesitation you’ve always lived with or a more recent onset of decision fatigue, Emily offers a fresh way of practicing familiar but often forgotten advice: simply do the next right thing. With this simple, soulful practice, it is possible to clear the decision-making chaos, quiet the fear of choosing wrong, and find the courage to finally decide without regret or second-guessing. Whether you’re in the midst of a major life transition or are weary of the low-grade anxiety that daily life can bring, Emily helps create space for your soul to breathe so you can live life with God at a gentle pace and discern your next right thing in love. Listen to the first Things Above Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Check out Emily’s podcast here! Enjoyed this conversation? Listen to other Things Above Conversations here: 1. Things Above Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 1 2. Conversation with Josh Larsen 3. Things Above Conversation with J.R. Briggs 4. Conversation with Jen Pollock Michel 5. Things Above Conversation with Greg Boyd The post Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 2 appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

It’s not abnormal for people to wonder, where is God? Maybe life isn’t turning out the way you hoped. You’ve lost a job or a loved one or your sense of purpose. And this causes us to feel alone, or at least very distant from God. If you feel distant from God, it begs the question, who moved? It turns out, God is already present. In Psalm 139, the psalmist says: “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. So whether or not we feel or experience God’s presence with us is not determined by God, but determined by us.” Why is it important for us to recognize God’s presence? For starters, it leads to a richer, fuller life. Conversely, failure to recognize God’s presence leaves us restless, distracted and dull. Here are five practices to increase awareness of God’s presence: 1. Take time each hour to give God some thought. Offer Him your consciousness for just a few minutes throughout the day. 2. Reserve an empty chair in your room for Jesus. Imagine him sitting with you as you work or read or visit with someone. 3. Memorize Scripture. By holding God’s word close to your heart, you will feel His presence. 4. Imaginative prayer. Pick a passage from the gospels and place yourself in the story. What do your senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and feel) detect? 5. Practice “beauty-spotting.” Pay attention to the beauty the surrounds you. Key verses include Psalm 139, Psalm 16:8. Related episodes: 1. Guilt versus Shame 2. Blessed 3. God’s Joyous Being 4. Wired for Worship 5. Source of Life The post Already Present appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In the latest Things Above conversation, James Bryan Smith talks with Jen Pollock Michel about her latest book, Surprised by Paradox. Among many things, they explore the depths of topics, such as paradox, awe, certainty, mystery, and calling. They even share a couple of jokes about a paradox that you won’t want to miss. Surprised by Paradox invites us to recognize that, in a world filled with ambiguity, many of us long for a belief system that provides straightforward answers to complex questions and clarity in the face of confusion. But while there are certainties in Christian faith, at the heart of the Christian story there is also a paradox. Jesus invites us to abandon the polarities of either and or in order to embrace the difficult, wondrous dissonance of and. Michel’s book helps us recover the paradoxes and mysteries that keep us sane. By them, we learn to trust in a God who is way bigger than our limited expectations. As Michel says, “God has set the world alight with his presence. We just need eyes to see.” Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of Teach Us to Want and Keeping Place. Her third book, Surprised by Paradox, released on May 14. She lives with her husband and their five children in Toronto. You can follow Jen on Twitter. Enjoyed this conversation? Listen to other Things Above Conversations here: 1. Things Above Conversation with Chris Heuertz 2. Things Above Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 1 3. Things Above Conversation with John Ortberg 4. Things Above Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part 1 5. Things Above Conversation with J.R. Briggs The post Conversation with Jen Pollock Michel appeared first on Apprentice Institute.