We could view and experience Wicked on a surface level, enjoying the music and such and that would be nice. Or, we could engage on a deeper level, letting the symbolism and subtext shape and guide how we view our society and the ways that we live in society.

Author and cofounder of The Raven Foundation, Suzanne Ross joins Jonathan for a conversation about religious freedom, having compassion towards those who do not agree with you, and the wonderful mess of spirituality. 

There are good healthy ways to manage the demands between the expectations of the church and the experience and boundaries of the family.

The danger of guilt can weigh heavy on the pastor and can lead to burnout. It is important for the pastor to have a sense of her or his identity in one’s ordination and to hold to that identity. It is important to not be pulled too far in one direction or another because that can lead to exhaustion and burnout.

Consider what your “best practices” might be for your own faith tradition and how those practices may overlap with other faith traditions. And try to be nice to each other.

Compassion of self can also lead to compassion of others. Listen to others. Listen to yourself. Find compassion.

It is important to have a public space for people to express questions of faith.

Writer and public theologian Adam Ericsksen joins Jonathan for a conversation about false dichotomies in politics, Paul as a public theologian in the book of Acts, and fun with sports and being naked... sorta.

In this current political climate there is a lot to be angry about and Pastor Jabulani McCalister joins Jonathan in expressing anger - but in a kind a pastoral way. They also consider the role of the pastor in calling people to embrace and live into their own spiritual gifts.

It is important for Christians to be involved in the world and to understand the appropriate ways to be involved. It is important for people to have a sense of what is ok and what would be crossing the line. Yet we all need to be honest that there may be a time when that line needs to be crossed and we need to know what it is that makes such a move important. What we want to avoid is missing that important moment, that time when we need to stand up and realize that we are too late in speaking and acting.

Schools sometimes close and sometimes they don't and sometimes they should and sometimes they shouldn't. Luckily, this episode is about much more than school closings, but a lot of time and energy is spent around this very issue.

 In essence, to be happy means to look beyond the physical, material things and instead towards relationships. They can be relationships with family, with the divine, but those positive relationships are the places where deep purpose and happiness can be found.

When we ask for forgiveness we are bringing forward those messes in our lives and hoping something new can come forward. Our faith calls us to give our mess to God and to trust and find the new life that can come from what we may regard as a mess but God may see as a possibility for new life.

We don't need more things. We need relationships. We need to spend time with people who are important to us, not to give them little tokens that are supposed to be place-holders of our affection. Instead, offer your actual affection. Listen and be present.