Faith Improvised
By Tim Gombis
Faith ImprovisedJan 24, 2023
Reason, Passion, Ignorance, and Expertise in Politics
Steve and I talk about passion and reason in the populace, and the place of expertise in politics.
What We've Learned About Teaching
Steve and I talk about a bunch of stuff, but especially about what we've learned about teaching.
You Are Not Your Job, Pt. 2
In this episode, Steve and I continue our conversation about who we are and what we do, along with a bunch of other stuff.
You Are Not Your Job
In this episode, Steve and I talk about our identities in relation to our jobs and careers.
Chosen Family
In this episode, Steve and I talk about a bunch of stuff, but especially about the notion of chosen family.
Adventures in Public Education
In this episode, I give some updates about the last month or so, and Steve and I talk about the football playoffs and about our experiences in public education.
Tim Gets Some Perspective
In this episode, Steve and I talk about a bunch of different topics, but especially some recent lessons in perspective.
Gaining Perspective on Our Suffering
In this episode, Steve and I talk about how holding onto a right perspective helps us deal with our suffering.
Doing What You Love & Maintaining Perspective
In this episode, we ended up talking quite a bit about Johnny Marr's autobiography, Set the Boy Free, and the sort of person Marr embodies. He stayed focused on what he loved--playing guitar--and remained committed to those around him, which kept him from losing his perspective on life.
I also mentioned a few books: Underland, by Robert Macfarlane; Empire of Pain, by Patrick Radden Keefe; Devil House, by John Darnielle; and, of course, Johnny Marr, Set the Boy Free.
Long Walks & Laughter
In this episode, Steve and I talk about some of the healing dynamics associated with our practice of taking long walks and the healing power of laughter.
The Challenges of Our Intellectual Journeys
In this episode, Steve and I reflect on our personal transformations over the last 25 years, and the emotional, relational, and intellectual dynamics involved in those.
The Place of Pain and Suffering in the Pursuit of Happiness and Wholeness
In this episode, Steve and I talk about how painful situations can be catalysts for growth, and under what conditions that can happen.
The Quest for Certainty in an Uncertain World
In this episode, Steve and I talk about certainty and uncertainty, reflecting on Mark C. Taylor's comment, in his book, After God, that "Certainty is the symptom of death; uncertainty, the pulse of life."
Tragic Violence in the Middle East & The Importance of Memory
The Origins and Expressions of Individualism in American Protestantism
Conspiracies, Intellectual Humility, and Arrogance
True Grit: Navigating a Cold, Indifferent Universe
We mention this article about the film by Stanley Fish, and the book by Adam Nayman, The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together.
Pursuing Happiness, Wholeness, and Healing, Pt. 2
Pursuing Happiness, Wholeness, and Healing: Introducing Season 5
Evangelism Is Not the Task of the Church
Concluding Season 4
Reading New Testament Letters, Pt. 3
Reading New Testament Letters, Pt. 2
Reading New Testament Letters, Pt. 1
Reading Biblical Narratives, Pt. 3
Reading Biblical Narratives, Pt. 2
Reading Biblical Narratives
The Bible Is a Library, Pt. 2
The Bible Is a Library
The Questions the Bible Asks of Us
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 15
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 14
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 13
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 12
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 11
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 10
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 9
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 8
The Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 7
I also mention the soon-to-be-released book by Isaac B. Sharp, The Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressirve, Feminist, and Gay Christians--and the Movement that Pushed Them Out (Eerdmans: 2023).