Things Above

James Bryan Smith asks, what is the greatest opportunity you have ever been given? In this episode, James explores this question and explains that our greatest opportunity is to follow Jesus. Smith explains that we have been invited to a relationship with Jesus and how it is the greatest opportunity we have been offered. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part Three 2. Two Minute Morning 3. Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four 4. Grieving with Hope 5. Breath Prayer The post Our Greatest Opportunity appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Brian Zahnd about his book, “The Wood Between the Worlds.” Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story—the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude—that there is always something more to be said. Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Two Minute Morning 2. Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four 3. Grieving with Hope 4. Breath Prayer 5. Conversation with Farrell Mason The post Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part Three appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith, a spiritual practitioner, shares the Two Minute Morning practice for spiritual growth in 2024. He explains the benefits of this quick routine, focusing on gratitude, mindfulness, and setting positive intentions for the day ahead. The practice aims to shift focus from worries to blessings for daily clarity and alignment.

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author and friend Emily P. Freeman. James interviews Emily on her upcoming book, “How to Walk into a Room.” The book will be released in March 2024. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Grieving with Hope 2. Breath Prayer 3. Conversation with Farrell Mason 4. Glory, Grace and Truth 5. Our Soul & Relationships The post Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this episode, James Bryan Smith talks about how we can experience grieving with hope. James opens the episode by talking about what he considers to be his favorite book that he has written, Room of Marvels. Smith reads the foreword of Room of Marvels, written by Dallas Willard, to help further explain how we can experience grieving with hope. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Breath Prayer 2. Conversation with Farrell Mason 3. Glory, Grace and Truth 4. Our Soul & Relationships 5. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three The post Grieving with Hope appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith starts the new year with an episode about a spiritual discipline he enjoys called breath prayer. In this episode, James explains what breath prayer is, and gives several examples of how to practice the soul training exercise yourself. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Farrell Mason 2. Glory, Grace and Truth 3. Our Soul & Relationships 4. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three 5. Longing To Be Loved The post Breath Prayer appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Farrell Mason on her latest book, “Soulfull: A Weekly Devotional to Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit” Farrell Mason speaks to the universal human experience: navigating relationships, coping with change, rebounding from a setback or loss, finding peace, and prioritizing food, fellowship, faith, and regular joy. Soulfull offers balanced and creative ways to pull a little bit of heaven down to our patches of earth. Whether you’re taking a walk in nature, reading a meditation on hope, finding comfort in a prayer, creating a sumptuous recipe for family and friends, or planting an herb garden, Soulfull is an adventure—a mothering toward new growth, an exploration of life-giving experiences, and a joyous resource to nourish your soul and welcome a life filled with more wonder, delight, and meaning. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Glory, Grace and Truth 2. Our Soul & Relationships 3. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three 4. Longing To Be Loved 5. Spirituality & Longings The post Conversation with Farrell Mason appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Jesus is God’s Glory, Grace and Truth.” This is the 4th episode of the series of episodes on the longings of our soul. In this episode, James explains the connection between beauty, goodness, and truth and how they relate to our soul. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Our Soul & Relationships 2. Longing To Be Loved 3. Spirituality & Longings 4. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three 5. Conversation with Jeff Crosby The post Glory, Grace and Truth appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Our souls long for relationships.” Over the last three episodes, James has been discussing the longings of our souls. In this episode, Smith talks about five of the final ten longings of our soul. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Longing To Be Loved 2. Spirituality & Longings 3. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three 4. Conversation with Jeff Crosby 5. The Turn The post Our Soul & Relationships appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author and spiritual director Casey Tygrett. James and Casey discuss Casey’s latest book, “The Gift of Restlessness.”  Casey emphasizes that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on, or move out. Working within the prayerful tradition of writers like Henri Nouwen and Barbara Brown Taylor, Tygrett turns over our innermost questions and holds them up to the light. Where do I belong? What am I here for? Is there enough? And he finds a surprising alignment of these restless questions with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. In that ancient prayer’s pleas for belonging, purpose, sustenance, mending, protection, and rescue, we find freedom to ask basic human questions and permission to befriend our longings. Each chapter offers profoundly spiritual practices that, when taken together, create a spirituality sturdy enough for our unsettled seasons. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual Formation degree Scholarship at Friends University! Related Episodes: 1. Conversation with Casey Tygrett 2. Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part 2 3. Longing To Be Loved 4. Spirituality & Longings 5. Conversation with Jeff Crosby The post Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three appeared first on Apprentice Institute.