We talk about prayer and laughter, about creativity, and about the everyday acts of hope that help us transcend the news. Also we discuss judging a theology by the fruit it bears. Meanwhile Nick talks about his retreat and there is a lot about cheese. Business as usual, then.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
• Paddington in Peru
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Norman Wirzba, Love's Braided Dance - Hope in a Time of Crisis
• Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now
• WSJ: X Algorithm Feeds Users Political Content—Whether They Want It or Not
• Waitrose: Christmas Stollen, Panettone & Pandoro

In times of disappointment, darkness and fear, how should we respond? What difference can we make? We talk about joy as a revolutionary act, and how we can refuse to join in the game. Also, we discuss reclaiming labels such as 'Christian', and we have powerful stories about the power of prayer, mystical coincidences and, of course, parking spaces. Brought to you by Saint Joe of the Cheese and St Nick, patron saint of innuendo.

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• Nick's Blog

Mentioned in this episode:

• Battle, East Sussex
• Where did the Battle of Hastings happen?
• William I 'The Conqueror'
• Heretic
• All Saints' Day
• Show of Hands - Roots

We have an interview with singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph. He talks about his career, the craft of song-writing, his campaigning worked the importance of just turning up. And we end, of course, with a song.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Martyn Joseph
• Martyn Joseph - Chapel Porth Beach
• Let Yourself Trust
• Tour Dates 2024
• Liberal Backslider

Is God really in charge of the universe? Do prophecies actually happen? We have some fascinating feedback about hearing from God and how he is calling us to collaboration and co-creation. Meanwhile, Nick quotes Ezekiel and Joe goes all mystical about Robins.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Dear Evan Hansen
• Alex Horne and the Horne Section
• Robin
• Bearded Tit
• Essence–energies distinction
• Thomas Jay Oord
• Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Valley of Dry Bones

In this episode we explore one of the central questions of theology: is it right to pray for a parking space? If we believe in an interventionist God, then what kind of intervening does he do? Does Joe really have the spiritual gift of parking? Also, we touch on sadness as holy ground, grieving for past versions of ourselves, and how to respond when people present prophecies and words of knowledge. Oh and it was our eight anniversary this week. Not that one of us noticed…

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• Nick's Blog

Mentioned in this episode:

• Hunter's Moon
• This week's Hunter's Moon – the biggest supermoon of 2024
• Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
• Daniel Pink, The Power of Regret
• Cabel Sasser, Panic - XOXO Festival (2024)

Joe talks with Shaun Lambert about mindfulness, wonder, and the need to 're-perceive' God. As well as actually leading us in a contemplative exercise, Shaun talks about strengthening our 'attention' muscles, encountering God in the present and becoming a more responsive but less reactive presence. All this and Diadochos of Photiki too!

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Nick Cave interview with Stephen Colbert
• The Boy And The Heron
• Goram IPA Zero
• Lucky Saint Beer
• Shaun Lambert, Mindful Formation
• Diadochos of Photiki
• Scargill Movement
• Ephrem the Syrian
• Mark 9:15

We talk about the virtuous circle of comfort: how what we receive we can share with others. Also whether the real purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us to pay proper attention to our lives and to learn the right lessons. What if God is not arranging the events of our lives, so much as asking us to pay attention to them? Meanwhile, Nick has a correction to make, and Joe receives some good news about cheese.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Hobby
• RSPB Minsmere
• Great green bush-cricket
• Ludwig
• Inside Out 2
• Pendon Museum
• Wittenham Clumps
• Teresa of Ávila
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• Graham Lawton, This Book Could Save Your Life

Nick has had a bad week. We talk about approaches to resilience, the meanings we attach to events, our tendency to project bad stories, what perspectives might help us through really rubbish moments and how sometimes your favourite Bible verse doesn’t help that much. Meanwhile Joe introduces the 'numes' – a new scale to measure numinous moments and places. And we hear from a listener who is going through the menopraise. Genius.

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• Nick's Blog

Mentioned in this episode:

• Resilience in Life and Faith: Finding your strength in God
• Rudolf Otto's Concept of the "Numinous"