Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
Tuesday Jul 19, 2016
Christine Sine of Mustard Seed Associates, blogger, author, missionary & gardener joins me today. Christine shares her fascinating journey which took her from Australia all over the world, led her to found Mustard Seed Associates, a Christian charity, create and grow a blog and co-create several books. You'll also hear about how she discovered a deeper spirituality in the routines of every day living, even in the seemingly small discipline of gardening.
Christine talks about the liturgical calendar and how we can use it to help us have a healthier rhythm to life, and precisely what the spiritual rhythms of life are, and how we can build our lives around them. Christine also discusses creativity as a spiritual act, touching on what it means to live an authentic, creative spiritual life in tune with Jesus.
Christine has so much wisdom, experience, insight and enthusiasm, and I know you're really going to be blessed by this conversation. Take a listen!
Tuesday Jul 12, 2016
Tuesday Jul 12, 2016
Today it's the final part of our series with Alexander Shaia on the gospel journey of Quadratos. Today, we examine the book of Luke, and how we mature in service, and take the lessons we've learned, and the good news of the Christ out into the world.
Alexander & I talk about the background the book of Luke, why and when it was written and what this means for us. We discuss how even in the face of conflict and change, and the difficult realities we face every day, we can through the Gospel journey find hope for ourselves, and for others, and a way to take that hope out into the world.
For more information on the Quadratos journey go to Quadratos.com, and if you have any questions for Alexander, send them to james@jamesprescott.co.uk - we may be having a Q & A episode with Alexander sometime soon!
Wednesday Jul 06, 2016
Wednesday Jul 06, 2016
Alexander Shaia returns in the second of our three part journey through the gospel(s).
Today we focus on John, and how we discover joy, even in the midst of the most terrible suffering, and then enter into a resurrection path into a new tomorrow.
Tuesday Jun 28, 2016
Tuesday Jun 28, 2016
Alexander Shaia returns to James Talks today, for the first of a new series over the next three weeks, walking us through the Gospel Journey of Quadratos in much more depth.
In our previous discussion, in Episode 43, we briefly covered all four stages of our journey of identity through the gospels - or as Alexander prefers, the four stages of the one gospel of Christ. In this series we'll be spending entire episodes on different stages, and exploring the books much more deeply.
Today we begin with Matthew & Mark - the story of Matthew is about how we face change, about confronting the truth of the change in our lives & culture, and living with that change. There are dramatic changes which come through Jesus, through alientation, through events in history, and Matthew teaches about that
In Mark, we move through change & confront our own sense of isolation, abandonment, how Jesus often felt this way, how this gospel was written to a people often feeling this way, and what this can tell us about those seasons in our own lives.
Alexander unpacks this all with his relaxed, friendly and insightful way - and will leave you wanting more.
Listen in, and join us next week for John.
*****
If you want to follow the journey in a lot more detail as you listen, go to Quadratos.com & download Alexander's book heart & mind - and if you want to study this in a group, there's other resources there for you to download.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2016
Tuesday Jun 21, 2016
It's the 50th episode of James Talks! Today I share some updates on my latest work, including my upcoming book, blog posts, the podcast, and mostly, a personal reflection on my recent journey.
I talk about what I've been facing & what it's taught me about the importance of going back to confront the pain & struggles from our past we might have buried, in order to move forward, no matter how painful that can be. And I reflect on how it's only then that we can we begin living the full life we were created for. Now.
Next week we start a whole new set of interviews...you can find out more about them in this episode too!
Tuesday Jun 14, 2016
Tuesday Jun 14, 2016
We've all been shocked & deeply moved by events in Orlando this week. Today I posted a blog post about Orlando itself, and in this podcast I discuss the issue of guns, gun crime, and the myth of redemptive violence. From the perspective of a UK citizen living in London, a culture where there is little gun crime & no gun ownership, I share my reflections on the lessons we must learn from Orlando...and why the way of guns & violence cannot go on.
Tuesday Jun 07, 2016
Tuesday Jun 07, 2016
Author, speaker & radio host Matt Ham shares his powerful story today. It's a story of how he nearly lost everything, but instead discovered a life and a faith richer than anything he had known, and learned how to redefine what it means to be rich. It's a story of brokenness, restoration, purpose, healing and grace.
Matt has such a heart to serve others and is a born storyteller with incredible wisdom, born from experience, on how to live a fully rich life of faith, discover your identity in Christ & find meaning and purpose in our lives. He's shared this in his book, on a radio show, and speaking to thousands of people, and I know you're going to be really blessed by his story.
You can follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamsr and find his work at MattHam.com
Wednesday Jun 01, 2016
Wednesday Jun 01, 2016
Brandan Robertson joins me today to share his powerful, moving and often painful story of reconciling an emerging faith in Jesus as a teenager, with his own sexuality. His is a powerful story of being in, then suddenly finding himself out, again and again - and through it all, discovering a deeper, more inclusive spirituality which brings hope to all those who feel excluded by the church, whether it be because of their theology or sexuality.
Brandan is an amazing guy with a heart for Jesus and for all 'Nomads' - people on the outside, and a leading advocate of LGBT inclusion, and has such wisdom and insight to share with us all. It was such a privilege to chat with him, and I know his story will both challenge and inspire you.
You can find him on Twitter @BrandanJR, and check out his new book 'Nomad', available to pre-order now!
Wednesday May 25, 2016
Wednesday May 25, 2016
Dr Don Beck, who joins me today, is a leading authority on Spiral Dynamics. This is a theory about the development of human consciousness, and the human journey. It divides the human journey up into 2 levels of consciousness, and within those two levels are different stages, all of which are part of both our individual journeys, and the journey of humanity as a whole.
Don and I outline these different stages in a very basic way, how they have unfolded through history and we discuss how this revolutionary concept is tied into politics, culture, faith, church, and creativity. We in particularly consider the political situation in America & the world right now, and what the theory means for church and the Christian faith.
Finally, we discuss how we are meant to transcend and include all the different stages, and use the best of each stages, to come to a more unified, inclusive church, life, and world.
I'm still at the beginning of this journey myself, and it's already blown my mind. I think Don's going to blow your mind too.
*****
For more on Spiral Dymanics check out SpiralDynamics.com & to understand stages of consciousness (which are all colour coded), go here, or download this PDF:
www.humanemergence.org/images/Spiral%20Dynamics%20model.pdf
Wednesday May 18, 2016
Wednesday May 18, 2016
Jory Micah joins me today to share her own story, and discuss the important issue of gender inequality in the church today. We discuss her own vision, and what gender equality looks like for Jory in her day to day life, marriage and church.
Jory then shares some practical steps we can take against patriarchy in our own churches or Christian communities, understanding the different perspectives on this issue, and finally offers genuine hope to those who are in the midst of this struggle in their own communities.
Jory has such a passion & heart for this subject, and those who suffer as a result of patriarchy in the church and culture, and it really shines through in our conversation. It's really worth a listen.
*****
Jory blogs about this issue regularly at her site JoryMicah.com & is currently writing a book on this subject. You can follow her on Twitter at @JoryMicah