The Past & the Presence

This is an interim episode explaining my reasoning for taking a break and what I plan to do for the future of this show. It is also a sincere thank you to those that listen. I am just a guy trying to figure out life as best as I can (and using history to do it). This is to all of you who listen to me babble on and on - thank you.  

In this episode I sit down with Frank Tappe and talk about the origins of American Christianity. We begin by discussing the Great Awakenings that took place in America and analyze the source of power needed to fuel those movements. Ultimately, the context of the United States allowed for open religious structure without any clerical authority mandating instruction. As one historian wrote, it was the "Democratization of American Christianity." Without teaching or training, they led by the Holy Spirit. I hope this conversation encourages all of us to look inward to acknowledge the power we seek outside of God's presence. May the Holy Spirit, through the work of Christ, be the only power we need. 

In this episode I sit down with my other sister, Jillian, to talk about the rise of institution making and process of providing, teaching, and giving to the "least of these."  This continues the ongoing season centered around nineteenth-century America. I hope the episode pushes you to adopt the mind of Christ and pursue God's presence in any context. Enjoy. 

In this episode I have my friend Isaac Holt on to talk about the Erie Canal and how we look at the idea of progress. I hope this episode moves you to acknowledge both the beauty in material progress and the harm of prioritizing material progress over the rest of our lives. With every conversation, we are talking about history, Jesus' direction in our lives, and what are lives could look like today. We are trying to understand the complexities of life and move ourselves into God's Presence. I hope you enjoy. 

In this episode, my sister, Jadyn, and I dig into the foundation of woman's rights advocacy in America. We begin by discussing the movement as it gained momentum in the nineteenth century. We do a brief discussion over the tension around gender roles and the Bible. Lastly, we discuss the complexity of women's rights today. I hope you enjoy our conversation. 

Welcome to the first episode of the Past & the Presence. In this episode, I discuss what motivated me to start this podcast and how there are benefits to looking at the past from multiple angles. I hope you enjoy!