The Eternal Current Podcast

Can a melancholy Enneagram 4 practice Delight, or is it only for naturally happy people? Beginning with a Richard Rohr quote, Aaron reflects on the universal invitation of Delight for every one of us, and shares three ways he is learning to be present to The Presence in the present.

Rev Christine Lee on the relentless joy of karaoke, shining the light without ignoring the darkness, and the gift of practicing delight with others.

Shauna Niequist offers her definition of the Spiritual Practice of Delight, and then invites us to practice it in tangible and helpful ways. She embodies what she preaches, and offers a winsome road map to join the goodness.

Author, host of the “Sinner Saint Sister” podcast, and yoga instructor Allison Sullivan joins Aaron to talk about ways we can all begin healing from the last couple years.

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, returns to share a lifetime of experience with Night Prayer, the science behind evening meditation, and what he does when prayer gets boring. Winsome and deeply wise.

Rev Christine Lee, the priest in charge at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, joins Aaron to reflect on her experience with the prayer of Compline. From her earliest experiences as a new priest to the overwhelming days of Compline to a community practice of Compline last fall, Christine helps us get to the heart of it. She also answers the question “Why should we pray other people’s prayers, rather than just make up our own?” A wise and grace-filled guide.

Aaron invites us into the story of A New Liturgy No 10: Night Prayer -- a contemplative, music-carried Compline service. (Released 09.28.22) In this episode, Aaron tells the story of the project, shares his heart for Compline, and plays a few sections of the new recording. Learn how to create holy space at the end of each day to release it all back into God's hands.

Shauna Niequist teaches us a form of prayer based on the words of Jesus and a master chef's approach to recipes. Fresh, insightful, and incredibly practical for anyone who desires to pray in a more whole-hearted way. Shauna also shares the heart behind her brand new book, I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet, which is available this week.

Actor and Producer Mark Wahlberg joins Aaron to talk about his new film, Father Stu, and the tension between the way of Jesus and the messy brokenness of the church. Plus, they talk about golf. A lot.

Pastor and writer Glenn Packiam returns to share wisdom from his book, The Resilient Pastor, and speak into our plans for the Pastors, Priests & Guides retreat. The heart-felt conversation is meant for pastors, priests, and ANYONE following Christ during this tumultuous and disillusioning season.

Musician and author Stu G tells the story of his incredible Beatitudes Project: an album, book, film, podcast and e-course. Spending more than a decade creating art based on the beatitudes has given Stu deep insight and fresh language for Jesus’ words. Inspiring.

Mark Scandrette joins Aaron to talk about the Beatitudes and how Christ’s words lead us back into reality. Speaking from his book “The Ninefold Path of Jesus: Hidden Wisdom of the Beatitudes”, Mark invites us into new ways of hearing, and new tangible practices. Compelling and practical.

Inspired by the brand new A New Liturgy No 9: The Beatitudes project, Aaron invites us to dive into an embodied practice of the beatitudes. In this first episode, he shares the heart behind the project and why the neighbor-loving, peace-making Way of Christ is the only hope for our world. Aaron also plays numerous clips of the new liturgy recording, along with stories about the process and reflections on how to engage the liturgy. anewliturgy.com

Speaker, pastor, and author Steve Carter helps us explore “The Thing Beneath the Thing: What is hidden inside and what God helps us to do about it.” Steve has a brilliant and winsome way of translating deep truths into our actual lives. A tender and really helpful conversation.

Dominique Dubois Gilliard unpacks his new book, Subversive Witness, to help us name our privilege and use it for the sake of others. A deeply biblical and subversively beautiful call to live a cruciform life in the way of Jesus.

Greg Khalil, co-founder of the Telos peacemaking organization, helps us understand the profound simplicity AND unimaginable complexity of the Israeli / Palestinian conflict. More importantly, he invites us to become a tangible part of the solution. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Rev Dr Michael Battle shares about his life-changing work with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, choosing restoration over the cycle of retribution, and the brilliantly subversive Way of Christ. A crucially important conversation and a brand new guided practice.

Rev Canon Dr Stephanie Spellers names the searing truth about the state of the American church, AND offers a clear-eyed and contagious hope for what might still be possible. Based on her brilliant new book The Church Cracked Open, Rev Stephanie offers a story of disruption, decline, and new hope for Beloved Community.

Pastor and author Brian Zahnd helps us enter into Holy Week by retelling the big Story of Christ's journey to the cross. Rather than perpetuating the myth of redemptive violence, Brian invites us to join this subversive, self-giving, radical Way. A non-partisan, beautifully provocative invitation into the vision, politics, and revolution of Jesus.

David Bailey, Ashlee Eiland, and Drew Jackson reflect on the previous episode with Dr Barbara A Holmes. From their experience in the black church—and moving through life in black bodies—they explored Dr Holmes’ vision of the universal moan and invited us all to participate in appropriate ways. A beautiful and stretching conversation with three incredible guides.