The Ascending Word

Alex is manning the ship alone for a few weeks, so the Ascending Word is taking a new shape for a little big. Join Alex as he breaks down some interesting topics and takes some creative leaps to make a new experience for Ascending Word listeners. Check out our show notes to learn more about the articles and research mentioned today. Scripture: Exodus 33:18-23; John 1: 1-3 John Piper - Desiring God C.S. Lewis - Problem of Pain C.S. Lewis - Weight of Glory Lonergan Institute - Understanding Two Kinds of Emanation within God Through a Transposition of Meaning http://lonergan.org/2009/09/08/understanding-two-kinds-of-emanation-within-god-through-a-transposition-of-meaning/ Ryan Dueck - Transposition https://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2014-06/transposition Other resources: https://rickthomas.net/god-is-a-god-of-the-mundane-are-you-content-with-the-ordinary/ https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/power-up/33292-seeing-the-miraculous-in-the-mundane Mark Wynn: Emotional Experience and Religious Understanding: Integrating Perception Have you heard, the WORD

Russ and Alex are bringing the word this week after a week off. We hope you’ve been anticipating the next installment of the Ascending Word! Have you ever dealt with anger issues and not known how to deal with sins related to anger? The answer may be different than what you think. Check out our featured article by Cara Glynn and article from TGC. Tune in each week to hear more from the ASCENDING WORD! Here’s the rundown: Question of The Week: (2:15) Is it a sin to be angry? Ascending Feature: (19:15) Is Your Heart Crowded? - Cara Glynn https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/is-your-heart-crowded/ Around the Web: (31:10) How Common are Church Shootings? - Joe Carter TGC https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/common-church-shootings/ Have you heard, the WORD?

In this episode, Russ and Alex have some fun discussing ethics and whether people can be “good.” After that the boys highlight an article that covers the connection between God and man, and how the goodness of God is juxtaposed with the lowliness of man. Finally, the fellas tie the whole podcast together with a nice encouraging piece on football players getting baptized. Fun stuff! Tune in each week to hear more from the ASCENDING WORD! Here’s the rundown Question of The Week: (2:15) I’m a good person, why do I need to sacrifice more? Author Interview: (19:15) “The Dirt and God’s Breath” by Lexie Childers https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/the-dirt-gods-breath/ Around the Web: (31:10) “NFL Team Uses Hotel Pool For Baptism Prior to Last Night’s Game” - from LightWorkers https://www.lightworkers.com/nfl-team-uses-hotel-pool-for-baptism-prior-to-last-nights-big-game/ Have you heard, the WORD?

This week on the podcast Russ and Alex, talk about being satisfied in the Lord, why we need to do it, and what that looks like practically. They talk about the ironies of Christianity and how they are the beautiful features of the Bible. The fellows also discuss a recent issue regarding the National Anthem and arguments regarding whether or not it can become an idol. It is a contentious issue, but the goal is to bring some Christ-like interpretation to proper place of patriotism in our lives. Here’s the rundown Question of The Week: (1:24) What does it mean to be satisfied in the Lord? Author Interview (18:05) “The Beautiful Ironies of Christianity” by Brian Pell https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/the-beautiful-ironies-of-christianity/ Most Popular: (34:55) “Can the Anthem Become an Idol?” - Matt Ingalls from RELEVANT Magazine https://relevantmagazine.com/article/can-the-anthem-become-an-idol/ Have you heard, the WORD?

Have you ever wondered what worship actually means? Look no further, Russ and Alex tackle that subject in this episode of the Ascending Word. The boys give a very heartfelt discussion of poetry, so if you ever wanted to hear two bros talk about end rhyme and cadence this is the place. Also, stay tuned to hear about how you may have an addiction you may not know you had. Here’s the rundown Question of The Week: (2:41) What does worship mean? Ascending Thoughts Must Read (17:30) “A Lesson from Irma” by Austin Martz https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/a-lesson-from-irma/ From the Web: (30:46) “Why You Shouldn’t be Addicted to What’s Next In Life.” by Luke Lezon - Lightworkers https://www.lightworkers.com/feeling-addicted-whats-next-life/ Have you heard, the WORD?

This week Russ and Alex discuss films and Teddy Roosevelt. They also dig deep into some exegesis. If you have ever had questions on how to read your Bible, or if there will be a decent movie about the life of larger-than-life President Theodore Roosevelt, go no further! Here’s the rundown Question of The Week: (3:00) What’s the best way to read the Bible? Author Interview (21:45) Russ Allen - “Don’t Share Everything About Your Relationship With God” Ascending Thoughts https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/25/dont-share-everything-about-your-relationship-with-god/ Most Popular: (35:19) Adam Graber - “C.S. Lewis on Tech Addiction” Relevant Magazine https://relevantmagazine.com/article/c-s-lewis-on-tech-addiction/ Have you heard, the WORD?

The boys are back and hilarious as ever. They have their stone cold picks of the week, and some fantasy football advice. Oh and they also talk about Jesus. Check out the hilarious hijinks of Russ and Alex on this episode. Question of the Week (4:34) Why does God allow us to be tempted? Ascending Thoughts Must Read (19:15) Hannah Jones - “It’s Hard to be a Christian” Featured on Ascending Thoughts https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/21/its-hard-to-be-a-christian/ Article on the Web (32:01) Paul Sohn - “What Would Jesus’ Personality Type Be?" Featured on Lightworkers https://www.lightworkers.com/jesus-personality-type/ Submit your questions via Facebook, Twitter, or at ascendingthoughts1@gmail.com Have you heard the WORD?

Russ and Alex start off this week by recounting the football games over the weekend, much to Alex's chagrin. No stone cold locks of the week here, just some armchair coaches criticizing the games. Tune in next week for our pigskin picks. Show notes for this week Question of the week: How do you know God is speaking to you? (3:32) Featured Article of the Week: "What Patience Can Give" - Carli Glen (15:34) https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/what-patience-can-give/ Must Read on the Web: (27:08) "Worshipping a Golden Calf on Sunday Morning is Deceptively Easy" - Jared C. Wilson, found on The Gospel Coalition https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/gospeldrivenchurch/2017/09/12/worshiping-a-golden-calf-on-sunday-morning-is-deceptively-easy/ Tune in next week for more fun! Have you heard the WORD?

Russ and Alex are going strong with the podcasts, literally. They talk a lot about lifting weights in this episode, so you should tune in! Rundown for this week: Question of the week - "How do we deal with doubt?" (2:10) Author Interview - "Lessons from the Church of Iron: Commitment" Alex Boggs (14:21) https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/03/lesson-from-the-church-of-iron-commitment/ Must Read of the Week - "Ignore Spiritual “Get Rich Quick” Schemes: A Call for Patient Evangelism" Carl Greggson - The Gospel Coalition (30:01) https://www.9marks.org/article/ignore-spiritual-get-rich-quick-schemes-a-call-for-patient-evangelism/?utm_source=eml-article&utm_medium=eml-article&utm_campaign=eml-article Tune in next week for more shenanigans. Until then, have you heard the WORD?

This week on the Ascending Word, we finally have the boys back together. Russ and Alex host this week's episode of the Ascending Word. Rundown for this week: Question of the Week - "What's the deal with friendship?" (2:40) Must-Read Article of the Week - "Am I letting my feelings get the best of me?" by Cara Glynn (21:45) https://ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/am-i-letting-my-feelings-get-the-best-of-me/ Most Popular - “A Guide to Navigating Really Hard Conversations” by Ali Howard (featured on Relevant Magazine) (32:20) https://relevantmagazine.com/article/a-guide-to-navigating-really-hard-conversations/ Have you heard the Word?

Alex is holding steady, and Russ has taken another week off - what a slacker! Russ will be back next week to join in the shenanigans. For now, we have a fantastic guest host, Sammy Lavoie. She is a fellow contributor at Ascending Thoughts and queen of all things social media. She was a phenomenal guest host with a lot of great ideas. Here's what we have this week: Question of the Week - "Why do we have to learn the hard way?" (2:04) Around the Web/Must Read - "Missionary Dating Will Kill Your Spiritual Life" Relevant Magazine (10:18) Author Interview - Sammy Lavoie "The Treasure of a Mentor" (25:20) Have you heard the WORD?

Russ and Alex are back in action this week mostly discussing lifts and football. In today's episode Russ and Alex discuss the question of week "What does it mean to take God’s name in vain?" (3:15) The Must Read Article of the Week: "Crafty or Naked" - Mitch Raup. (16:40 Web Article of the Week: "God is and God Does" - Samuel James. (29:20) Have you heard the WORD?

In this episode, Russ takes a break and Alex brings in an all new cast of characters. Tony/Danny from Men of Meanz joins to host and Carli Glen joins to discuss her article from the last week. Question of the Week: What do you do when God is silent? (3:25) Must Read Article of the Week: “Do You Have Stockholm Syndrome?” (11:10) Author Interview: Carli Glen "The True Essence of Time.” (20:35) Can you pick out our "word?" Hit us up on Facebook or Twitter! @Ascend_Thoughts

In this episode, Alex and Russ are back together in the same geographic space for the first time in a month. As a result Alex makes fun of Russ's cell phone voice. This week on the Ascending Word:Alex and Russ discuss our Question of the Week, "how do you stand against sin and for people?" (1:27)In the Word Russ and Alex reflected on the must read article of the week, Andrew DiNardo's "Were you There?" (13:30).Alex starts us off with our Popular on the Web segment with Russ Ramsey's "The God Who Broke My Heart" on the Gospel Coalition. (26:30)Can you spot our "Word?" @ us on Twitter, or Comment on Facebook. We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode of the podcast, Russ and Alex talk about the renaming of the podcast, the podcast word of the day, and other fun things. The question of the week was "why do we need accountability," which sparked some great conversations about the need for it and what it looks like in practice. Russ interviews Alex about his article this week, "War to be God." Alex and Russ talk about Freddy from Men of Meanz's article "Beware of the Swiss Cheese Gospel." And they end on the Gospel Coalition's article "Don't Hide Behind a Smiling Emoji." Tune in next week to listen for the Podcast Word of the Day!

In this episode Russ and Alex talk about giving up things for God to find the freedom it provides. Alex asks Russ about his article "He Stood Before the Judge" a narrative take on the crucifiction of Jesus. The fellows discuss Andrew DiNardo's article "There is a God and I'm not Him." It is a great read and includes quotes from the movie "Rudy." We discus our most popular article on the web from the Gospel Coalition, "Stop Overspiritualize Calling." We then wrap up with several jokes and a shout out for what is coming up in the next week.

In this episode Russ and Alex discuss grace and why it matters for Christians. Alex elaborates on his article this week, "Chronicles of Bitterness" in the author interview corner. Russ leads the discussion on the article of the week by Reed Alioth, "The Problem with Worrying." The fellows wrap up discussing not one, but two articles this week from most popular on the web. Listen in to hear their take on online sermons and God's view of closing doors. There is a lot of meat packed into this week's podcast, so as usual check it out!

In this Episode, Russ and Alex discuss the art of decluttering the soul so we can focus on Christ and loving people. They discuss the chaos and calm of city living and the unending energy of junior high youths and what they both learned from each experience. Alex segued nicely into one of his favorite articles of the week, "Why Good Art Matters," by Brian Pell. Russ and Alex finished up with a reflection on Millenials and their role in the church. C.S. Lewis is brought up quite often throughout. Check us out at ascendingthoughtsblog.wordpress.com

In this episode Alex and Tony discuss how to be "all-in" for Christ, Sammy Lavoie calls in to talk about her blog "You Do You, BooBoo," Tony talks about his blog post, "What's In a Name," and Alex and Tony end up talking about cornbread.

In this episode: How do I tell my friends about Jesus?; Author Interview with Freddy from the Men of Meanz Podcast; Article Spotlight - "His Scars Say You're Beautiful" by Cara Glynn; Popular on the Web - "'Wonder Woman': A Peculiar and Unexpected Heroine"; What's New