Upstream
304 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago -There are no ordinary things. We can meet God in the most surprising places…if we only know how to look. Go Upstream, discover a world charged with the grandeur of God—and learn to live in that bigger world.
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Episodes
Singing the Psalms—Even the Ones About Dragons | Brian Sauvé
May 09, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 99 MBIn the center of the Bible is a giant, divinely inspired song book. What would happen if we sang it? Shane welcomes pastor and musician Brian Sauvé to talk about his new album of psalms set to original music: "Even Dragons Shall Him Praise."
Further Upstream - Keeping Faith When God Is Silent
May 05, 2023 12:00 - 51 minutes - 72.1 MBThe theological problem of suffering is distinct from the lived experience of suffering. But remembering God’s character can change everything. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Adam Mabry about his book, When God Seems Gone.
When God Plays ‘Hard to Get’ | Adam Mabry
May 02, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBWhat happens when tragedy, sorrow, or frustration strike and God seems not to hear our prayers? Shane welcomes Adam Mabry, author of When God Seems Gone: Finding Hope When Nothing Makes Sense to encourage faith in the midst of (apparent) Divine absence.
Further Upstream - How Middle-earth Can Reenchant Your Worldview
April 28, 2023 12:00 - 47 minutes - 66.3 MBJ.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary stories may have more to do with the “real world” than most readers realize. Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Austin Freeman, author of Tolkien Dogmatics.
J.R.R. Tolkien the Theologian? | Austin Freeman
April 25, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBWhat do Valar, Elves, and Hobbits have to do with Christian theology? According to their creator, quite a lot! Shane welcomes Dr. Austin Freeman to discuss his book, Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth.
Further Upstream - The Bible Is In a Class By Itself
April 21, 2023 12:00 - 37 minutes - 52.4 MBShane welcomes Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Steven Wedgeworth about the true meaning of the phrase “Sola Scriptura,” and why misunderstanding that phrase can distort a Christian’s worldview.
What “Scripture Alone” Really Means | Steven Wedgeworth
April 18, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 89.2 MB“The Bible is the only book I need.” How biblical (and historical) is that statement? Shane welcomes Steven Wedgeworth, rector of Christ Church Anglican in South Bend, Indiana to explain what the Protestant Reformers really believed about Scripture, and why it matters.
Further Upstream - C.S. Lewis and the Mystery of the Cross
April 14, 2023 12:00 - 44 minutes - 62.4 MBIs there one right theory of how Christ’s atoning work saves us, or does the Bible reveal something more complex and mysterious? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Hal Poe about C.S. Lewis and the Gospel message.
Did C.S. Lewis Know the Gospel? | Hal Poe
April 11, 2023 13:10 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBIf asked to present the Gospel, many of us would speak of God punishing Jesus in the place of sinners. But C.S. Lewis didn’t often speak of it this way. Shane welcomes Dr. Harry Lee Poe, Charles Colson Professor at Union University to talk about how C.S. Lewis answered the question: “Why did Jesus have to die?”
Further Upstream - Why Apologetics Requires Imagination
April 07, 2023 12:00 - 40 minutes - 57.7 MBWhat if it’s not enough to convince people of the historical truth of Christ’s Resurrection? What if it’s just as important to love the Gospel as a story? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about the conversation with Matt Burnett on re-mythologizing Easter.
Re-Mythologizing Easter | Matt Burnett
April 04, 2023 13:08 - 1 hour - 84.8 MBChrist's Resurrection is the turning point that reminds us our world's history is a story that ends in hope. But appreciating stories requires imagination! Shane welcomes Anglican pastor Matt Burnett to explore how imagination can illuminate redemption, worship, and catechesis.
Further Upstream - Looking for Answers, Not Exits
March 31, 2023 12:00 - 59 minutes - 82.9 MB“Deconstruction” has become a well-worn path for those who question aspects of their Christian upbringing. But there’s another option. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on his conversation with Jinger Duggar Vuolo about her book, Becoming Free Indeed.
Disentangle Your Faith, Don’t Deconstruct | Jinger Duggar Vuolo
March 28, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBShane welcomes Jinger Duggar Vuolo of 19 Kids and Counting to tell the story of how she separated her belief in Jesus from her upbringing under the teachings of Bill Gothard, and to explain how questioning well can deepen your faith instead of destroying it.
Further Upstream - The Paradoxes Scripture Solves
March 24, 2023 13:41 - 54 minutes - 75.6 MBAre humans gods or viruses? Should we be merciful or just? Is history headed for disaster or utopia? Such dichotomies are at the center of our cultural debates. But what if there’s a story that harmonizes them? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about Christopher Watkin’s book, Biblical Critical Theory.
The Bible Tells a Better Story Than the Modern World | Christopher Watkin
March 21, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 95.8 MBG.K. Chesterton observed that critics of Christianity often attack it for contradictory reasons. Dr. Christopher Watkin, author of Biblical Critical Theory, argues that this is because God’s revelation is too big for our culture’s false dichotomies.
Further Upstream - Escaping the Prison of Materialism
March 17, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 87.2 MBWe often feel trapped in an anti-supernatural worldview, but if you have the eyes to see and ears to hear, the world is charged with signs of spiritual truth. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Os Guinness about his book, Signals of Transcendence.
How God Gets Our Attention | Os Guinness
March 14, 2023 12:00 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBA dandelion, a song, a mother’s love, the Holocaust; God has used all of these to pierce the godless worldviews of real men and women. Shane welcomes Dr. Os Guinness to tell their stories using his new book, Signals of Transcendence.
Further Upstream - Movies that Move Us
March 10, 2023 15:30 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MBShane welcomes Tim Padgett to talk more about the magic of film, to look back on a few of their favorite titles, and to reflect on wise strategies for introducing movies to young imaginations.
How to Watch Movies Well | John Ehrett
March 07, 2023 21:03 - 1 hour - 87.7 MBChristians can fall into two opposite errors when it comes to entertainment: We either tally up curse words or try to read everything as a biblical allegory. But film is more complex than that. Shane welcomes Spectator World movie reviewer John Ehrett to discuss a thoughtful and God-honoring approach to the movies.
Further Upstream - You’re Doing Philosophy Right Now!
March 03, 2023 14:18 - 45 minutes - 63.8 MBWe may not agree with every answer Greek philosophers gave, but we do have to answer the questions they asked. Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to talk more about Plato, metaphysics, Scripture, and the conversation with Dr. Hans Boersma.
No Plato, No Scripture? | Hans Boersma
February 28, 2023 14:37 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBDo we need philosophy to read the Bible well? What happens if we ignore Athens in our study of Jerusalem? Shane welcomes Dr. Hans Boersma, who argues that everyone does metaphysics whether they know it or not, and that Plato’s thought is particularly helpful for understanding God’s Word.
Further Upstream - Where Did All These (Neo) Calvinists Come From?
February 24, 2023 14:08 - 50 minutes - 70.4 MBShane welcomes Kasey Leander to ask and answer some important questions about Abraham Kuyper, Herman Bavinck, and where their theology fits into the big picture of Christian history and thought—and why they matter today!
The Theology Behind ‘Every Square Inch’ | Cory Brock and Gray Sutanto
February 21, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 85.7 MBAbraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck have become hugely influential in Christian worldview discussions, but what was their worldview? What did they believe, and how did it shape what they wrote and did? Shane welcomes Cory Brock and Gray Sutanto to discuss their new book, Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction.
Further Upstream - Why Abortion Is a Tough Nut to Crack
February 17, 2023 14:23 - 41 minutes - 58.1 MBShane welcomes Kasey Leander to explore what creates demand for abortion historically, and why simply overturning Roe is just the first step in a long process to making such killing unthinkable. They also discuss the role of men in taking responsibility and welcoming new life.
A Street-Level History of Abortion | Leah Savas
February 14, 2023 13:00 - 56 minutes - 77.9 MBRoe v. Wade is a thing of the past, but this is just the latest chapter in the long and contentious story of abortion in America. Shane welcomes journalist and author Leah Savas to explain why knowing that history is critical to protecting unborn lives in the future.
Further Upstream - The Cult of Youth Stifles Faithfulness
February 10, 2023 13:51 - 39 minutes - 55.5 MBShane welcomes Kasey Leander (who is technically still in his twenties) to talk about the difference between our culture’s view of twenty-somethings and God’s view, and why the quest to change the world can obscure what truly matters.
You (Probably) Won’t Change the World in Your Twenties | Nathan Rittenhouse
February 07, 2023 13:00 - 59 minutes - 81.5 MBNathan Rittenhouse joins Shane to explain why, as his grandfather put it, “no one takes you seriously until you’re thirty,” and why for Christians who want to impact the culture for Christ, that’s very good news.
Further Upstream - Diversity Without Unity Is Chaos
February 03, 2023 13:00 - 44 minutes - 62.9 MBShane welcomes Tim Padgett to discuss whether the modern notion of diversity and inclusion has lived up to its promises, and whether it’s possible for very different people to live together in a nation or worship together in a church.
The Gospel Creates Unity in Diversity | Richard Lints
January 31, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 85.8 MBAmerica’s motto is e pluribus unum, “out of many, one.” Yet the modern obsession with diversity and inclusion has left us a nation where citizens have little in common. Shane welcomes Richard Lints to explain how the Church’s mission and very identity reconcile unity and diversity.
Further Upstream - Which Statues Should Topple?
January 27, 2023 20:22 - 40 minutes - 57.2 MBShane welcomes the Colson Center’s Kasey Leander to talk about what it looks like to be “stuck in the present,” and how a careful study of history can keep us from either uncritically idolizing or demonizing those who came before us.
Rooting Your Worldview in History | David George Moore
January 24, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 89.7 MBAffluent, modern people are too often “stuck in the present,” dismissing the past as benighted and bigoted. Shane welcomes author David George Moore to explain why Christians must be students of history, and how to appreciate the people we meet there, warts and all.
Further Upstream - Were Humans Made for Twitter?
January 20, 2023 14:00 - 32 minutes - 46.2 MBShane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Samuel James about how the internet has changed our behavior and speech. As digital platforms come and go, Christians must reemphasize timeless virtues to stay rooted in reality.
Christianity After Social Media | Samuel James
January 18, 2023 16:10 - 1 hour - 83 MBTwitter and Facebook may be in decline, but they leave in their wake a more tribal, fractured, and superficial evangelical church. Shane welcomes Crossway editor and writer Samuel James to reveal how technology has taught us bad habits, and how Christians can recover.
Further Upstream - Feminism, Women’s Bodies, and the Blank Slate
January 13, 2023 13:20 - 37 minutes - 52.3 MBShane and Tim continue the conversation about Abigail Favale’s book, The Genesis of Gender, and explore feminism’s fatal mistake of fighting for women’s rights without bothering to define “woman.”
How Gender Is Destroying Sex | Abigail Favale
January 10, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 88.5 MBWhat is a woman? Shane welcomes Dr. Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender, to discuss how feminism, postmodernism, and bad philosophy made that question impossible to answer, and to show how the Christian vision of sexed embodiment dignifies our differences.
Further Upstream - Why Christians Differ on Liturgy, Smells, and Bells
January 06, 2023 13:00 - 41 minutes - 58.3 MBShane and Tim reflect on the conversation with Frederica Mathewes-Green in light of historical Protestant objections to church holidays, liturgy, and traditional rituals. How should we think about these disagreements in a way that shows love for one another and honors Christ (which is, after all, the purpose of Epiphany)?
Epiphany, Orthodoxy, and Seeing Christ All Year | Frederica Matthews-Green
January 03, 2023 20:55 - 1 hour - 87.1 MBShane welcomes author Frederica Matthews-Green to give an Eastern Orthodox perspective on the feast of Epiphany/Theophany, and to explore how Christians differ on liturgies and traditions meant to reveal Christ in worship.
The Reason for Liturgical Seasons | Ken Boa
December 27, 2022 13:00 - 58 minutes - 79.8 MBShane visits with Dr. Ken Boa to explore the church calendar, particularly Advent and Christmas, and to articulate how this ancient way of keeping time can help conform us to the image of Jesus, even in a secular age.
Moral Metanoia in Christmas Stories | Jessica Hooten-Wilson
December 23, 2022 13:30 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBEbenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch, Imogene Herdman … so many characters in beloved Christmas books and movies experience a dramatic change of heart. Why does this theme resonate at this time of year? Shane welcomes author and literary scholar Jessica Hooten-Wilson to discuss the stories of the season, and why their truth can soften our hearts.
What's Liturgy Got to Do with My Christmas? | Heidi White & Heather Peterson
December 20, 2022 13:09 - 51 minutes - 70.9 MBShane welcomes Heidi White and Heather Peterson for a conversation about the ways in which this time of year excites joy, and how the wisdom of Christianity's past can enrich our Advent fasts and Christmas feasts.
What Are Children For? | Shane Morris
December 13, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 84 MBThis week, we’re sharing a talk Shane gave at the Association of Classical Christian Schools regional conference in Lakeland, Florida. Shane suggests four reasons why God gives us children, and makes a countercultural call to raise and educate those children as sons and daughters of the Last Adam.
Further Upstream - God Wrote the Bible—and History
December 09, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 47.5 MBTim Padgett joins Shane to reflect on the conversation with Alastair Roberts on biblical typology and the birth of Christ. They dive deeper into the counterintuitive story God wrote on the pages of Scripture and history—a story in which small and humble people were used to shame the strong and proud.
Understanding Christmas Through the Old Testament | Alastair Roberts
December 06, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 92.9 MBOn the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus explained how the whole Bible foreshadows Him. As we begin Advent, Shane welcomes Dr. Alastair Roberts to help us see how the birth of Christ fulfilled all of God’s promises to Israel—and to us.
Further Upstream - No, Orthodoxy Isn’t a Conspiracy
December 02, 2022 13:28 - 47 minutes - 66.1 MBTim Padgett joins Shane to reflect on the conversation with Trevin Wax about his book, The Thrill of Orthodoxy, and to dispel some myths and misconceptions about how we confess the great creeds.
Good Doctrine Should Excite Us! | Trevin Wax
November 29, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 86.8 MBThe creeds of Christianity summarize the most paradoxical and surprising story the world has ever known. So why do so many find them boring? This week, Shane welcomes Trevin Wax to explain why the core truths of our faith are an invitation to adventure, using his book, The Thrill of Orthodoxy.
Further Upstream - The Pilgrims, Religious Liberty, and America
November 28, 2022 21:43 - 40 minutes - 57.2 MBTim Padgett joins Shane to think more deeply about the role Puritan beliefs played in the American project, why a value-neutral government is impossible, and why we’re right to give thanks for our complicated national history.
Were the Pilgrims Nuts? | Glenn Sunshine
November 22, 2022 13:00 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MBThe early colonists in New England had an audacious vision to build a “city on a hill”—a vision so audacious that some now call it utopian. This week Shane welcomes Dr. Glenn Sunshine to explore the theology that drove these thankful Pilgrims, and what their beliefs have to do with us today.
The Protestant Case Against Abortion | Steven Wedgeworth
November 15, 2022 14:09 - 1 hour - 97.9 MBCatholic opposition to abortion is well known, but what about Protestants and evangelicals? Shane welcomes Steven Wedgeworth, contributor to the new book, “Protestant Social Teaching,” to tell the complicated and surprising story of the Reformation and unborn life.
Further Upstream - Men and Women Really Are Different
November 11, 2022 13:00 - 46 minutes - 65.2 MBDo the differences between men and women go deeper than physical strength? Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to reflect on the conversation with Anthony Esolen, and to ask how our culture’s assumptions make it tough for us to see what people throughout history have seen.
Why We Need Men | Anthony Esolen
November 08, 2022 13:19 - 48 minutes - 67.1 MBWhy did God make men, and what distinctive masculine traits has our culture denied, to its ruin? Shane welcomes Dr. Anthony Esolen to discuss his provocative and timely book, No Apologies: Why Civilization Depends on the Strength of Men.