spiritual — Seminary Stowaways

God Said Nap

Welcome aboard, Stowaways, to the eighth episode of Seminary Stowaways, where we make the lively discussion of the seminary classroom accessible to everyone. Today we’re talking about Sundays. Or, Saturdays, if you want to be really-hard core. The Sabbath. The most ignored commandment, and in my mind, kind of the weirdest. It hardly seems to have the same urgency as “Do not murder”. It’s for people who make their own schedules and enjoy leisurely mimosa-brunches on Saturday. Not for people who wake up to children jumping on their faces or who are SERVING brunch on Saturday. In this episode, Luann walks us through an exploration of the Hebrew roots of Sabbath and explains the difference between keeping the Sabbath and embracing Sabbath-keeping practices. And that un-relenting business of life that make a day of rest seem both unattainable and lazy? Well, we get to the bottom of that too.

My Thinking Cap

This week Luann and I are take some time to build a framework before we jump into the next class that she tackled in seminary: Worship Practices. We’re doing this because the class turned out to be totally different that she expected. Like any class, content is very influence by the teacher, and her teach this term came from a very strong viewpoint. Luann found herself dissatisfied with the explanations that she was being given. As she asked more and more questions, well… it started to reminded her of the days that drove her away from the church all those years ago. And that led to many conversations between the two of us. About the very specific theology this professor embraces, about the places where critical thinking isn’t always welcome and even (eventually) about Worship Practices).

God's A Big Boy

In this episode of Seminary Stowaways Luann share what she has been learning about the spiritual discipline of Lament. We look at the Psalms for guidance on how we can approach God when we are full of pain, anger, confusion. Is there a right way to lament? Is it possible to go too far - to be too uncensored as we pour out our hearts before God? Hosts Hannah and Luann have very histories when it comes to telling God just what we think of the painful times in our life. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Hannah ConnorFebruary 25, 2019lament, discussion, stowaways, seminry, spirituality, spiritual, disciplines, psalms, bruggemann, honesty

Animal Messengers and Other Ways to Hear From God

This week Luann is sharing what she’s been learning in seminary about discernment, as explained by beloved writer, philosopher and pilgrim, Henri Nouwen. Is discernment a gift or a discipline? How does God want to speak to us? What is required on our part? What if we don’t feel like God is saying… much of anything? And what does Nouwen say about the worst possible thing God might be saying to us: Wait.

Hannah ConnorFebruary 11, 2019seminary, stowaways, discernment, nouwen, Henri nouwen, christianity, christian, spirituality, spiritual, conversation, women, men, bible, church

God Is Like a Hot Dog

Where do spiritual disciplines come from and why are they such a central and challenging part of the Christian faith? What exactly are they? Can we opt out? Make up our own? Luann shares what she’s been learning about spiritual practices in seminary. Don’t miss it, Stowaways!