Episodes

In this episode, James speaks with Zach Clinton author of Even If: Developing the Faith, Mindset, Strength and Endurance of Those Who Are Built Different. James and Zach discuss the "even if" life, as well as diving into discussion of anxiety, election-related stress, and the importance of attention and focus in the Christian life. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can a...

In this episode, James wecomes Denise Grace Gitsham. James and Denise discuss the way Chrisitan participation in politics differs from participation in politics more generally. Denise is an on-air political commentator and strategist, attorney, speaker, and author of Politics for People Who Hate Politics: How to Engage without Losing Your Friends or Selling Your Soul . Denise has worked at the highest levels of the federal government, from the White House, to the US Department of Justice, to the...

In this episode, James and Nate sit down with Brock Simmons. Brock is the founder of the Always Present Institute. He has many years of experience in executive coaching and organizational development. James, Nate, and Brock discuss the importance of leadership and the various ways of approaching leadership within organizations and within the church. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amaz...

In today's episode, James and Nate welcome Julie Bradley. Julie and Nate have known each other for a long time and attend the same church in Lenxa, KS. Julie talks about the "40 Days of Lament" that she has been leading with her church's prayer ministry and on social media. James, Nate, and Julie discuss the insights lament can provide, as well as the significance of lament as an extension of the church's witness. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and D...

In this episode, James welcomes Christian Werner. She is an SVP with Public Square, a company focused on helping local businesses succeed while upholding specific values that have been abandoned by some of the other major companies in the United States. Christina and James discuss Public Square and the way businesses often sell ideologies rather than products. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witn...

In this episode, James offers a perspective on Halloween that highlights its role in promoting discontentment. He discusses the challenges of being Chrisitan in a consumer society and encourages God's people to rethink the holidays so that they become times for conforming more closely to Christ. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .

In this episode, James welcome Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers. James and Rachel discuss the difficulties associated with prayer. Rachel offers insights intot he ways she has developed a vibrant prayer life. She also discusses the way life's challenges provide us with opportunities to sharpen our relationship with God. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also ...

In this episode, James and Nate use Carl Bernstein's " The Idiot Culture " as a jumping off point to discuss the relationship between Christians and media. They address the various ways the media landscape has changed, as well as looking back to Augustine for wisdom about how to love our neighbor despite our finite capacity to love. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can ...

In this episode, James and Nate discuss some of the ways the Bible and other theological concepts and theologians are pressed into the service of political agendas. They urge listeners not to encourage falsehood, but to hold accountable those who seek to apply biblical language to modern-day politics. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves...

In this episode, James discusses the Sabbath commands, particularly the Sabbath command in Deuteronomy. He offers his thoughts on how Israel's time in Egypt might inform our understanding of the Sabbath commands. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves online course here . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about ...

In this episode, James considers Deuteronomy 8. He discusses the dynamics of obeidence and the way that it aligns us with God's order. He also distinguishes God's promised blessing and the prosperity gospel highlighting the dangers of prosperity and the necessity of remembering God. To connect with James and to find additional content, like the 30-Days in the Gospels Reading Plan or the Walk Through the Gospels course, visit, usefultogod.com . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com an...

In this episode, James discusses 1 Corinthians 9 and Paul's adaptability in relation to U. S. politics. He urges Christian to follow God's example and discusses that challenges of being "all things to all people" in a digital age. For more from James visit usefultogod.com or pick up James's new book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness at amazon.com . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com...

In this episode, James welcomes Ed Uszynski, author of Untangling Critical Race Theory: What Christians Need to Know and Why It Matters. James and Ed discuss Marxism, critical theory, and critical race theory, as well as the biblical idea of partiality. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves online course here . You can purchase Ed's book ...

In this episode, James welcomes Mark Matlock, author of Faith for the Curious: How an Era of Spiritual Openness Shapes the Way We Live and Help Others Follow Jesus. James and Mark discuss Mark's research about the spiritual curious in the United States, the relative lack of curiosity in the church, and how Christians might think about evangelism and discipleship differently. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art ...

In this episode, James discussed Genesis 15-22 (the life of Abraham). He focuses on Abraham's legitimate concerns and the way he learns to trust God rather than chart his own course. Abraham is, in this sense, a model of discipleship becasue God allows Abraham the time to learn how to truth in Him and, ultimately, to become "one who fears the Lord." To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amaz...

In this episode James welcomes Carl Amari. Carl hosts Hollywood360, a nationally syndicated radio show, as well as serving as a producer on a variety of audio projects and movies. James and Carl discuss his early interest in radio dramas and how that led him to create dramatized audio versions of the Bible. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and...

In this episode, James speaks with Dr. May Young who authored a chapter in a book James co-edited titled A Praying People. Dr. Young is an expert on the topic of lament and the book of Lamentations. James and Dr. Young discuss lament more generally and how it can build community in the Church. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves online ...

In this episode, James hosts Amy Williams. Amy is a "hope dealer" working with teens involved in gangs in the Chicagoland area. Here book titled Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God's Eyes offers stories of her time in ministry and encourages Christians to see ourselves and others as Christ see us. James and Amy discuss some of the challenges of working between gangs and churches, as well as the promise Amy sees in young men and women who learn to look with eyes that see and listen with ears...

In this episode James and Nate sit down with Michael Tait and Adam Agee from the Newsboys to disucss the latest movie in the God's Not Dead series, God's Not Dead: In God We Trust. They talk about how God's Not Dead got started, their latest album, and their current tour, as well as diving into their creative process as songwriters and performers. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon...

In this episode, Nate and James discuss the distinction between the right, the left, and Chrisitans. Along the way, they place a strong emphasis on the need for discipleship and offer some practical considerations for Christians seeking to participate in politics. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .

In this episode, James discusses the latest moving in the God's Not Dead series with David A. R. White and Scott Baio. They talk about the movie, the state of the nation, and the ways Christians can get invovled in the political realm. You can catch the movie in theaters beginning on September 12th. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves o...

In this episode, James welcomes Dr. Sean McGever. Sean is the author of numerous books including Ownership: The Evangelical Legacy of Slavery in Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield. James nad Sean discuss early views of slavery, the way that the bible was (at times) used to justify the practice, and the distinction between the institution of slavery and individual practice of that institution. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politic...

In this episode, James and Nate begin and end with a discussion of the Old Testament's treatment of the Trinity. Along the way, they also discuss the Holy Spirit, obeidence, and a variety of other related topics. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . You can also take the Serpents and Doves online course here . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about ...

In this episode, James and Nate consider David French's New York Times peice in which he argues that to save conservatism, he is voting for Kamala Harris. In the piece, he claims that Trump is changing the church. James and Nate discuss whether this is true and offer thoughts on how the church needs to be approaching this year's election. To connect with James, visit usefultogod.com or get his latest book Serpents and Doves: Christians, Politics, and the Art of Bearing Witness on amazon.com . Yo...