On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 30 - Coming Out in the Church w/ Registered Runaway

by Ben Howard

This week Ben talks with the ghost-blogger Registered Runaway about his experience of coming out in an evangelical church. We discuss the reasons behind ghost-blogging and listen as "RR" tells us about his personal experience of depression and pain that led him to come out of the closet. We also talk about the love and acceptance of family and friends, the importance of affirming churches, and breakdown some widely believed myths about gay people. It's a fantastic conversation filled with vulnerability as well as some great laughs and I hope you enjoy it.

Follow Registered Runaway on Twitter @Runaway_Writes and read his blog over at RegisteredRunaway.com.

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here: 

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com.

You might also like:   

• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 29 - DOMA, Prop 8, and Exodus International
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 28 - The Church Is Johnny Cash
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 27 - A Diverse Church For People Just Like You w/ Christena Cleveland

On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 15 - Drawn In: A Creative Process for Artists Activists and Jesus Followers

by Ben Howard

In this week's episode Ben interviews author and artist Troy Bronsink about his new book "Drawn In: A Creative Process for Artists, Activists and Jesus Followers" from Paraclete Press. They talk about the importance of art in the church, the way we can view church itself as an art form, and the importance of engaging in creative activities even for people who don't consider them artists. Join in, be inspired and enjoy!

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

If you'd like to find more information about Troy's book, check out his website or the book's Facebook page. You can purchase it on Amazon here.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com.

You might also like: 

• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 14 - On Contemporary Christian Music 
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 13 - Not Your Mother's Morals 
• On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 12 - Atticus Finch Comes to Life (An Interview with Lee Camp)

On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 14 - On Contemporary Christian Music

by Ben Howard

Sebastian and Ben sit down with guest Ryan Hawk to discuss his time in the CCM band Jackson Waters, what he learned from his time in the industry, and how the church and the Christian music industry interact. Join us as we talk about how to make young soccer moms cry, the battle for artistic integrity, and the late great One Tree Hill. We hope you enjoy and please rate and review to tell us how you liked the show!

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com.

On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 13 - Not Your Mother's Morals

by Ben Howard

This week on the show we bring you an interview with author Jonathan Fitzgerald (Huffington Post, Patrol) where we discuss his new e-book Not Your Mother's Morals. We talk about the rise of the New Sincerity in popular culture, hipster culture, the awesomeness of Judd Apatow movies, and the possible backlash found in shows like HBO's Girls.

Be sure to check out Jonathan online at www.notyourmothersmorals.com and on Twitter @jon_fitzgerald. Also, you can find Not Your Mother's Morals on Amazon or anywhere that e-books are sold.

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com.

On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 12 - Atticus Finch Comes to Life (An Interview with Lee Camp)

by Ben Howard

In this special episode of the On Pop Theology podcast, I interview Dr. Lee Camp, theology and ethics professor at Lipscomb University as well as the mind behind the Tokens radio show, about Tokens, his latest book Who Is My Enemy? and even a little college football. Join us as we discuss taking yourself too seriously, bad book titles, and a story about an elderly woman who really doesn't like it when Notre Dame loses to the Jesuits. 

Be sure to check out Tokens online at www.tokensshow.com and on Twitter @TokensShow. If you're in Nashville, don't forget to buy your tickets for the March 7th show at Collins Alumni Auditorium entitled "The Birds and the Bees and Loving Thee." Enjoy, and as always, please rate and review the show, we'd love to hear your feedback. 

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.  

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here: 

Peace,
Ben 

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com

On Pop Theology Podcast: Episode 9 - The Godfather (Of The Podcast), Part II

by Ben Howard

This week on the podcast we return to my conversation with Dr. George Goldman of Lipscomb University. But first, Sebastian and I have a quick conversation where I express my disappointment in him not having seen The Godfather.

Then, in Part 2 of our conversation, Dr. George Goldman and I talk about celebrity pastors, impression management, American Idol, the he went to a Jonas Brothers concert, One Direction, theologians and baseball, why soccer players and basketball players are crazy people, the violence in football and the time when Dr. Goldman's three year old son learned how to use Twitter. I hope you enjoy!

You can download the podcast by clicking here. Or you can subscribe to the podcast by searching "On Pop Theology" in the iTunes music store. If you download the show through iTunes, please be so kind as to rate and review us. We want your feedback and it helps the show to grow.

Also, remember to "Like" On Pop Theology on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @OnPopTheology for all the updates, posts, and links throughout the week.

Finally, if you'd like to stream the podcast, you can do that here:

Peace,
Ben

If you have any questions, comments, or if you just want to say hi, you can contact us at onpoptheology [at] gmail.com

Between Jobs Anonymous

by Jonathan Harrison

"Hi my name is Jonathan and I'm between jobs"

Millions of tired souls cry out, "Hi Jonathan!"

"Umm...I'm not sure how it happened. I went to graduate school like everyone said to do. I graduated with a 4.0. I had connections in my chosen line of work, and well, it just wasn't enough."

The assembly responds, "Yes." "Lord have mercy." "Ummmmmmhmmmmm." "Preach!"

"And well," suddenly becoming comfortable, "I didn't understand, so I crashed for about three months. I let it get me down, but I'm back up now and I've recently created a blog about my dream career (libranding.blogspot.com, see what I did there?).  I have had four or five interviews over the past month, and I've learned to work harder at both work and in my free time. I get the feeling that one of them will come through. It's been a difficult journey, but I want to thank y'all and God for the support."

*Applause*

End scene.

Ok, I'm technically partially employed like a lot of other people out there, but ten hours a week isn't cutting it. The job market right now is brutal: really, really brutal.

Earlier in the year, I believed having a semi-decent interview would be enough to land me that position, but then employers started passing me over for positions that I really, really wanted. I have good experience. I'm a pretty awesome person. So why wasn't I getting hired?

Then I realized that it wasn't that I was a bad worker, it was that everyone out there is going the extra mile, and a semi-successful interview is not enough to get you a job. You need a great interview, good experience, do tons of little things right, be godfather of the interviewer's children and if you're lucky they'll send you a personally written rejection email.

But I love a challenge, and I've taken the challenge head on.

Being an unemployed Christian takes everything about unemployment up a notch. Spiritual people will tell you that, "You're where you are because God wants you to be there."  Meaning, of course, that God wanted me to not have a job the past six months.

Hmm. I guess I could see how that's legit.

I've learned a lot about myself and my work ethic, and I've also learned a certain sense of humility, but I wouldn't say that to anyone else who is currently unemployed. Sometimes your connections don't follow through, sometimes your networking doesn't network, sometimes you get a Masters in a field whose job outlook has fallen from above-average to abysmal in three short years (Forbes listed the MLIS as the #1 worst masters to obtain. Ahead of MFA for crying out loud).

If being unemployed has taught me anything, it's that you can have every reason in the world to be a wonderful worker, but finding a job will still elude you.   

Jesus loved everyone, but he had a special place in his heart for the poor and downtrodden. I'm not putting myself in this category because I'm supremely blessed, but unemployment hits the poor the hardest. I'm not saying Jesus would have said, "Blessed are the Unemployed", but I am saying that it sounds like something he would of said. Just think about it.

If anyone is unemployed and reading this, don't give up. You'll find something. Be smart, pray and if you have a passion, do it.

If you don't, then I hope you find it. If you need encouragement, hit me up (seriously). I won't be able to do much besides encourage you, but sometimes we really need that in our lives. Anyways.

A semi-serious post from someone who is seldom semi-serious.  Blessings.

Jonathan Harrison is a partially employed librarian. If you know of anyone who is hiring in the Nashville area, hit him up. He's been teaching himself nonprofit marketing over the past  8 or 9 months and is semi-sure that's what God wants him to do since he really, really enjoys it.  He loves data mining, has an avid understanding of web design, and really enjoys live-feed Shiba Inu puppy cams.  He can also be serious if need be. He writes over at http://driedhumor.wordpress.com/ (not serious) and http://libranding.blogspot.com/ (very, very serious).