Thinking God Podcast

Brian McLaren joins the Thinking God podcast this week to discuss, among other things, his new book "The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World's Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to Be Christian." McClaren brings a scholarly pastor's heart to the conversation. Brian is one of the pioneers of progressive Christianity. His book, "A Generous Orthodoxy," is one of the most influential works of the past several decades. He was a voice in the wilderness for a faith that included a bigger view of God.

JT Olson is founder and exectutive director of Both Hands Ministries, a group dedicated to serving widows in need and helping families adopt orphans. He tells the story in his new book, "The Orphan, the Widow and Me."

Pete Enns was the first guest on the Thinking God Podcast in the fall of last year and this episode in an encore presentation of our discussion. Author, scholar, professor and all-around nice guy Peter Enns joins me for the first episode of Thinking God. Pete has his own podcast now as well, and I highly recommend it. Find out more and buy his books at https://www.peteenns.com/

Ashley Cleveland's biography may be called "Little Black Sheep," but there is nothing small about her talent. One of the best vocalists in Nashville, she has blown audiences away with her combination of rock and soul that is as powerful as ever. On the Thinking God Podcast, she talks about music, faith, recovery and more.

Dr. Joel Hunter might be in a category of his own. When he announced earlier this month he was stepping down from Northland, a Church Distributed, after more than 30 years as senior pastor, those who praised his faith and action for those in need and those marginalized in Central Florida included leaders from both the Muslim and Jewish communities. A rare megachurch pastor who believes that working with those of other faiths is the only way to fully minister to the world, Hunter will now devote his efforts in his Florida community in full devotion to "the least of these." He says it's a return to his roots in ministry, which started with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Hunter is one of the good ones, who helps others find the light shining through the cracks in their lives.

Diana Butler Bass is the author of 9 books, a highly sought-after speaker, and one of Ameria's top scholars on religion and culture. She is also articulate and engaging concerning her own spiritual and political journey, and a very good guest.  It's worth your time to find out more about her and her books, and the best plact to do that is here: http://dianabutlerbass.com

Vanna Fox was on her way to the mission field (as a music missionary, no less!), when her path shifted and landed her for the next 17 years on drive time radio in North Carolina. But when she heard the call of the Wild Goose, she left the airwaves to surf the spirit waves of the nation's largest progressive Christian Festival. She likes to laugh, and has a great story. Stay tuned to the end of the bumper music on this podcast for a very special Wild Goose message.

Mark Pinsky is a newspaperman, author, lecturer and insightful man. Did I mention he was a newspaperman? I mean it in the old-school, highest-compliment sense of the word. Pinsky has a drive an desire to find good stories, but to make sure they are written and researched in a manner rare these days, and present them in compelling ways. His books include: "The Gosple According to the Simpsons," "A Jew Among the Evangelicals," "The Gosple According to Disney," "Unfinished Business: The True Story of an Appalachian Cold Case Murder," and "Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith Disability and Inclusion." He still writes regularly for a variety of publications and it is worth you time to Google his name and read his work.

If, as Anne Lamott writes, laughter is the carbonated form of the Holy Spirit, Maggie Rowe is a major distributor of divine carbonation for the third member of the trinity, something for which we can all be grateful. (And for the record), though she worried at one point she was getting close, Maggie has never managed to blaspheme her bubbly supplier. As writer, comedian, actor and the author of "Sin Bravely: My Great Escape from Evangelical Hell," she brings some serious fun to the Thinking God Podcast. You may have seen her in such movies as "Ocean's Thirteen" or "Fun With Dick and Jane," or the monster television series "Arrested Development," a show for which she is also a writer. And for 15 years she has been a key part of the Comedy Central show "Sit 'N' Spin." Maggie is currently writing for the wonderful series "Flaked," which is available on Netflix.  She is also someone who has found a path of recovery from misgued religion to a place of faith and hope, which makes her the perfect guest.

Bill Mallonee talks about three decades of singing/sonwriting, the music business, Neil Young's "More Barn" mixing, living in the Rockies and how his faith has influenced his life and work. I have known Bill longer than any of my other guest to date, and can say he is one of the most under-appreciated artists of his time, and more talented than he knows. And his heart is as big as the New Mexico sky that fills the nights over his house.

From her bio on soulforce.org Alba Onofrio believes in abundant life and fully-embodied, loving affirmation of the spirit, thus vehemently rejects any notion of the Divine that perpetuates fear, harm, and domination of our peoples. She holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University focused on race and gender theologies of sex and sexual ethics based in queer desire. As a Southern Appalachian Latina Femme, Alba found cultural and political home in SONG (Southerners On New Ground) while working for queer liberation in the South at the intersection of race, class, culture, gender, and sexuality. Alba has also been passionate about eliminating borders en la lucha for over a decade through learning, writing, being in community, teaching English for nine years, and providing services and immigrant advocacy as the Executive Director of the largest grassroots Latino community center in North Carolina for several years after graduating from Duke University with a degree in Comparative Area Studies: Lati

Alan Bean is not the astronaut, and it's a good thing because his calling is much higher tha flying in a spaceship. Bean is executive director of Friends for Justice, an organization that "creates a powerful synergy between grassroots organizing, civil rights advocacy, the legal community, the mass media and ultimately the political establishment." As minorities and other disadvantaged Americans find it more and more difficult to get a fair shake in the courts, Bean and his group come along side to help. And help they have. Visit their website friendsofjustice.wordpress.com to read stories of their victories and heartbreaks. You can also support them financially. The bible is on his side. "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." - Isaiah 1:17 God's on his side as well, so if you haven't thought much about justice lately, this podcast might get the old gears turning.

He's a pastor, speaker, scholar and an author whose path to seeking God has been a winding one.  He has been called a Christian anarchist, and over the years worked his way through almost every Christian tradition. He is also a drummer who is redefining trancendence and who has a lot to say that people need to hear. Or maybe it's just me that need to hear his message, though I doubt it. Check out his website at http://reknew.org/ or his podcast. You'll be glad you did.

Jennifer Knapp is a singer/songwriter, author and seminary student who takes her faith very seriously. She is also a great interview. Read more about her and her work at http://ThinkingGod.com

Dr. Dan Allender is one of the keenest voices of the past 25 years on finding healing from sexual abuse. He also believes that to engage the life of God, you have to be engaged with the people around you, your own life, and the live of Jesus (and the scriptures) to find the meaning in the story of our lives.

Dr. Steve Brown really does not care what you think. He is not your mother, your guru or the Holy Spirit. But if you are wise, you will pay attention to this man and what he says. Seriously, if for no other reason than he is the Johnny Appleseed of grace. The founder of the Keylife Network (Keylife.org), says  he’s no guru, but he has been something of a guru to me. Steve is the Johnny Appleseed of grace, since he was writing, taking and preaching about grace, real grace, the kind without a hook in it, decades before most were considering it as an option. He is the author of 18 books, including his latest, “Hidden Agendas: Dropping the Masks That Keep Us Apart,” “Three Free Sins,” “Scandalous Freedom,” and one of the best books on prayer in our generation, “Approaching God.” He is host of the radio programs, heard on more than 600 stations,  “Steve Brown, etc,” and “Key Life” and the “You Think About That” radio spots of hope and encouragement.  He also smokes a pipe and reads Stephen King and doesn’t care wh

Susan Isaacs is an actress, author, and I believe the only non-animated member of the Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism, and she has a cold.She has appeared on “Parks & Recreation,” “Seinfeld,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire,” “Mom,” “My Name is Earl,” and dozens of other television shows and movies. (Including “Scrooged" and in s a nicely framed picture of her in the hands of John Candy in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” He scenes with the great one were cut.) She is also a writer and the Author, of "Angry conversations with God, a Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir."If you haven’t read her book, stop waiting for it to go on sale on Kindle and buy it.

Pamela Hawkins has written more acclaimed books on the Advent season, which starts next week, than anyone in recent history. She is also a retired pastor who works with immigrants and believes there's hope in the world adn that prayer is important. Prepare for Advent but listening to her and checking out her book.

Cathleen Falsani Possley love the Cubs, Jesus and her family. She is also one of our most engaging voices on faith and culture.