Getting Honest with God & Belonging to Myself w/ Kristi Hepp No. 95

Josh talks with Kristi Hepp about her new record "In Between the Gardens." This is the third episode that maps Josh's history with Oklahoma City where Kristi originally hails from. The focus question of this episode is the focus question of Kristi's record, what is a human being fully alive? In this episode, we discuss whether we could make a record that Kristi would want to listen to. Can she belong to herself? Can she even enjoy the sound of her own voice singing her own songs? We discuss the necessary fear and pain that the Holy Spirit invites us to name, and how loving ourselves requires us to receive God's love. And how this means getting honest with God about our deepest questions, doubts, and even anger.

Please support and share Kristi's music: kristihepp.bandcamp.com/album/in-betw…n-the-gardens

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theinvitationcenter.org/school-of-prayer

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Be sure to purchase this new record!

Suffering & The Mystical Body of Christ w/ Charlie Hall No. 94

What do we do with suffering? Why would we want to cooperate with the pain? How can suffering be helpful?

There are many reasons to be concerned with the way organized religion handles these very vulnerable questions. In this episode, I talk with worship leader Charlie Hall, an old friend about these things. That we can engage such vulnerabilities after so much time--this bears witness to the mystical body of Christ that exists beyond time and space.

The prayer for this episode: that we might recover a deeper trust in God and other people, to be honest about our suffering, and not alone.

I visited Oklahoma City in December of 2017 to gain support during the launch of the Invitation as a not-for-profit. OKC had been a spiritual home for much of my early adulthood. This conversation with worship leader, Charlie Hall is the second of two conversations I recorded during that trip. As I review the previous conversation with Brock Bingaman (episode #94) and this one with Charlie, my heart is full of gratitude for the spiritual reality of the church.

All music by Josh Banner except the closing track, Mystery is by Charlie Hall from his album, 2008 record The Bright Sadness, Six Steps Records.

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To learn about the Invitation School of Prayer:
theinvitationcenter.org/school-of-prayer

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theinvitationcenter.org/socl

The Jesus Prayer & the Philokalia w/ Brock Bingaman No. 93

Maybe breath prayer could be helpful for your Lenten journey this year?

This is a conversation I had with Brock Bingaman, pastor of All Saints Community Church in Oklahoma City, about the Jesus Prayer and a book he co-edited on the Philokalia. Brock is an old friend I was glad to reconnect with for this conversation.

Books recommended in this episode:

The Philokalia: A Classic Text of Orthodox Spirituality ed. Brock Bingaman and Bradley Nassif;

The Orthodox Way, Kalistos Ware;

Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings—Annotated & Explained, Christine Valters Paintner

Subscribe to the Invitation podcast:
theinvitationcenter.org/subscribe

To learn about the Invitation School of Prayer:
theinvitationcenter.org/school-of-prayer

To learn about the School of Contemplative Listening:
theinvitationcenter.org/socl