The E-Life Podcast

Design Highlights (Part 1)

Joe Burnham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:42:43 -0500

So, if there was a story before the story, if God designed the world to work differently than the one we experience now, how were things different before people decided that they wanted to be in charge? This is the first of two podcasts that explore themes in the first two chapters of Genesis.

Why Allow Evil?

Joe Burnham — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:56:23 -0500

This week Joe takes on the issue of evil. If it's true that God created the world one way and now things function differently because of our desire to dethrone God, why doesn't God do anything about it?

Joe offers a few thoughts on ways that God might use evil for good, and then offers a thought on how to think about God in hard times.

Wanting to be the Creator

Joe Burnham — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:09:34 -0500

In this episode, Joe intended to go one way and all of a sudden found himself off in a totally different place than planned, one that left him wrestling with his own desire to be the creator rather than a creature.

An analogy for this which he misses in the podcast is the idea of children hitting that age when they decide to do everything on their own ... even if it ends up hurting them. In a similar way, everyday, when we do things our own way, we're like children looking at our Heavenly Father and declaring, "My way is better."

As for definitions of a few terms used in the podcast:

God's Story Before Our Story

Joe Burnham — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:17:49 -0500

Over the first five weeks of the podcast we've been laying a foundation for the source of the story that Christians use to make sense of the world around them. This week, we begin to explore the elements of the story itself, beginning with the simple words, "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth."

The Bible Says What?

Joe Burnham — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0500

This week Joe finishes out his in-depth look at the introduction in the eLife by offering a few tips on how to read the Bible. His suggestions include:

How is the author inviting me to read these verses?
What was going on in the world that impacts what's written here?
What's happening in this book on the whole?
What do these passages tell me about Jesus?

Which Gospels?

Joe Burnham — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Last week Joe started talking about the Bible and how it came together as a book that fleshed out the story of the Creed, corrected early errors in the teaching of the faith, created a continuity in the story of Jesus, and helped Early Christians make sense of what was becoming their Old Testament.

But how exactly did the New Testament come together, and what about all those Gnostic Gospels like Thomas, Judas, and Mary Magdalene? How do we know that we can trust the books we have in our Bible today?

What About the Bible?

Joe Burnham — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Last week we looked at the story behind the story, a narrative that ultimately was universalized in the form of the Apostles' Creed (as well as the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds). This week, we expand from the Creeds and consider the Bible's role in the telling of the Christian story.

The Story Behind the Story

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:00:00 -0500

The eLife isn't an original story, rather, it's a retelling of an ancient one. So, what's the story behind the story?

This week Joe explores the formation of the Apostles' Creed, an ancient statement of faith that was used when somebody converted to Christianity and was baptized. This same statement of faith is what forms the foundation of the elemental life.

In the process, he also discusses early approaches to evangelism and the Council of Nicea, where, at least in common thought today, Jesus was voted to be God ... which is a major misunderstanding of what really happened.

The eLife Begins

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Yes, it's finally here. Almost a year after launching the site and teasing out the idea, the eLife podcast is now off and running.

This week we'll lay out how the podcast connects to the book, talk about who the podcast is for, and give a quick glance at what's to come.

Thanks for the patience, I'm look forward to what's to come!

My Life in the Cycle

Joe Burnham — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:00:00 -0500

It's been months since the eLife podcast was supposed to launch and it's going to be a few more.

Part of the process of writing a book about the life of faith is having to apply the context to your own life and faith. As I've taken myself through the cycle personally, it's become clear that I need some extensive time in the fire.

Therefore, I'm taking a few months (or more) off from pastoral ministry to allow God to do this hard work in my life and prepare me for whatever it is that he has me in for on the other side.

eLife Intro

Joe Burnham — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:35:47 -0500

Welcome to the eLife podcast, a podcast that flows from the concepts presented in the book, the elemental life. This week we'll introduce the cast, let you know where things are going, and let you know how you can be a part of the journey.

To share your thoughts on the eLife, send an mp3 to Joe via email or call the voicemail at 206-203-2383.