This week in the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, we talk about one of the most beloved of all Jesus’ stories, the Prodigal Son. The word prodigal means ‘wasteful or extravagant.’ We ask the question, which person in the story was the most wasteful? The first son who wasted his inheritance, the second son who wasted is position in the family, or the father who wasted his dignity and place of power?
Rob Leveridge pulled double duty with the Voice in the Wilderness and the featured song. Both were great.
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Click on the link below to listen to the latest episode of the Pulpit Fiction Podcast. This is the podcast for preachers, seekers, and Bible geeks. Rev. Eric Fistler and I spend about an hour each week with the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. We have two main Bible study portions as well as segments from special guests, music, and whatever else comes to mind. You can listen directly here, or you can go to http://PulpitFiction.us to get all the show notes, links to what we talk about, and download the podcast to your mobile device and listen anywhere you go.
This episode is for the second Sunday in Lent. The two main readings are the Pharisees warning Jesus and his subsequent sorrow over Jerusalem, and the promise God makes to Abram. Our Psalmist in the field, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, examines Psalm 27. There’s also a great song by talented artist Amy Cox. Click on the link below to listen now.
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According to google maps, the journey along the Jordan River from Nazareth to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is 166 kilometers, or 103.2 miles.
In 2013, we had our first Advent Run/Walk to Bethlehem. As a way to promote living well in the midst of a season that is notoriously difficult on healthy habits, we went on a run together. The goal was to honor the journey of Mary and Joseph by running the 103 miles it takes to get from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We promoted the run through this blog and at The Pulpit Fiction Podcast. We asked people to log in their runs and walks online, and shared updated results a few times between Thanksgiving and Epiphany. The results were phenomenal. Even though I bowed out early because of a terrible chest cold, the 2013 Advent Run had 23 different people log 67 different runs for a total of 255 miles. The runs took place in 14 different states and London, England. Our longest runner was Jessica, who ran 30 miles. My Pulpit Fiction partner Eric ran 6 times for just over a marathon (27.2 miles). We reached our goal of 103 miles in just two weeks, so we created a challenge goal. We decided to honor the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt (as told in the Gospel of Matthew) and go 333 miles. We didn’t make that goal, but I think that is a good goal for 2014. Here’s how to participate: Follow this link, and then book mark it. This year we added a “Group” option. If you are a part of a church, club, or class that wants to participate in the #AdventRun, then tell people to enter their group name. We’ll compile individual, group, and total miles. You won’t be able to register a run/walk until Thanksgiving – November 27. We’ll keep it open until Epiphany – January 6. Follow The Fat Pastor on Facebook
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Dear Amy Poehler: You are amazing. Please come on our podcast. #AmyOnPulpitFiction
Yesterday I read this story from a website called Deadline. It is painfully short, so I’ll sum it up for you: The greatest TV show ever is coming. OK, so that’s not exactly what it says, and I don’t know if Amy Poehler’s newest project will live up to my expectations, but I am excited about the possibilities.
My wife and I love Parks and Recreation. It is smart, funny, poignant, and touching. It is full of lovable, flawed, believable, and honest characters. I could go on and on about how much I love that show. You can bet that every episode of its upcoming final season will be appointment television for my wife and I. And now Amy Poehler is in production of a show for NBC with a similar style that is set in a church. Imagine it: Nick Offerman as a member of the trustees. Aziz Ansari as the youth pastor. Aubrey Plaza as the secretary. Rob Lowe as the District Superintendent. Adam Scott as the finance chair. Chris Pratt as the leader of the praise band (Church Rat).
So here’s the part where I ask you for some help. If you are as excited about this as I am, then do me a solid. Go on twitter and use the hashtag #AmyOnPulpitFiction. You may or not be aware of the fact that I co-host a podcast called Pulpit Fiction. It’s a weekly discussion between my friend Eric Fistler and me. We talk each week about the Bible, pop culture, sermon writing, the church, and other fun stuff. We’re just two good friends who are pastors talking about the Bible. In addition to our weekly podcast, we do periodic Thursday Night Specials.
During these Thursday Night Specials we interview authors, musicians, and other awesome people. We’ve had some great conversations with Adam Hamilton, Rachel Held Evans, Nadia Bolz Weber, and Jennifer Knapp. We want to talk to Amy Poehler about this new show. It would be incredible. It’s a long shot, but it would probably be the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m not sure if Amy is on twitter. The closest thing to a personal twitter account she has is @smrtgrls. Her partner in producing the show is Aisha Muharrar. Her twitter handle is @eeshmu. Today I sent a letter to 3Arts Entertainment in hopes that it would somehow get to Amy. Any help you can give us in getting noticed would be greatly appreciated.
So please, right now, go to Twitter and ask Amy and/or Aisha to be on Pulpit Fiction. Tweet something like “@Smrtgrls and @eeshmu So excited about your new project, please go on @pulpitfpodcast to talk about it #AmyOnPulpitFiction”
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Here are the final results of the First Annual Fat Pastor/Pulpit Fiction Virtual Run to Bethlehem. The results were originally announced on the Pulpit Fiction podcast. Here are the final entries, from Thanksgiving Day until Epiphany. Our orginal goal was to compile 107 miles, which is the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem. We reached that goal in about two weeks, so we extended a challenge goal. We decided to go, as the Holy Family did in the Gospel of Matthew, all the way to Egypt. We decided that 333 miles would be our second goal. Since we extended the distance, we also extended the time frame to include Epiphany. As a group, we completed 255 miles. This was enough to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem and back, but not enough to escape Herod.
23 different people made a total of 67 entries in our Advent Run. There were entries from 14 different states plus London, England.
I was barely able to participate. I ran in a 5-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. The next day I had a 103 fever, and wasn’t well until January.
I’ve gotten back into running now, but I’m hoping next year I’ll be able to participate more fully in our Advent Run.
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