180 - Happiness and Disillusionment: A Conversation

Jeremiah talks about a relational mode of prayer. 

Jeremiah talks about being sensitive and responsive to God’s voice. The hypothesis is that it doesn’t always make sense when God directs us in our lives. The Experiment is to respond to His leading, regardless of our level of understanding. This episode also discusses how The God Experiment will no longer be a weekly podcast. 

Jeremiah and his dad talk about the challenges involved in relating to the Trinity. Topics include how we overcome the possible hurdles in our heart when relating to one Person of the Trinity, as well as the conflict between a relational approach to Christianity and the Western desire for objectivity and logic.  

Jeremiah talks with his dad about two ideas surrounding worship. The first is the view of worship as being primarily a liturgical (or Church-based) expression. The second involves the use of music in personal devotional times, including an example of singing the Scriptures aloud.

It's time to reconnect with your motivation for worshiping God. The hypothesis of this episode is that each person must find their own reason to worship. The experiment is to reconnect with the reasons why you have chosen to maintain a relationship with the Heavenly Father, and then worship Him from that place of personal understanding.

Have you reviewed your priorities recently? The hypothesis of this episode is that we are less effective and less fulfilled if we do not intentionally pursue what matters to us. The experiment is first to identify your priorities, and second determine what to do about them. 

Sometimes doing nothing is the best course of action! The hypothesis of this episode is that it can be an act of faith to wait for God to move. The experiment is to learn how to rest in God as we wait for His perfect will. Scriptures include Isaiah 30 and James 5.

Jeremiah discusses the book he co-authored with Wesley M. Pinkham, entitled "Relational Christianity: A Remarkable Vision of God," recently published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This brief introduction discusses the relationality of the Trinity, and how that translates into the foundational relationality of Christianity and human existence. 

Jeremiah reads and responds extemporaneously to the Gospel of John, chapters 11 & 12. Topics include the resurrection of Lazarus, the Sanhedrin's decision to put Jesus to death, Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet, and Christ's integrity in His relationship with His Father. 

Jeremiah talks with His friend Lewis about John 1:12. Particularly, they focus on the powerful truth that God has given us the ability to choose our relationship with Him. It is up to us to determine if we will be children of God.