Born Again and Again with Author Megan Westra
Is all our Christian busyness interrupting our ability to grow spiritually? That is my first question to today’s guest Megan Westra. Megan is a pastor, speaker and an author. Her new book, “Born Again and Again,” touches on many of the words or concepts that may carry baggage for many people undergoing faith reconstruction.
Is all our Christian busyness interrupting our ability to grow spiritually? That is my first question to today’s guest Megan Westra. Megan is a pastor, speaker and an author. Her new book, “Born Again and Again,” touches on many of the words or concepts that may carry baggage for many people undergoing faith reconstruction. In this podcast we talk about moving from an individualistic kind of faith to a more communal view of salvation. We also talk about words that carry baggage and how to listen for a new meaning. You can find out more about Megan at www.meganwestra.com
Giving Up Control and Reconstructing Prayer
At different spots on our path we grow tired of or maybe lose the ability to use some faith practices we have grown up with. For me, a practice I have needed to reconstruct is prayer. I was taught to pray using the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) method but a number of years ago, constantly asking God for "things" just didn't feel very prayerful anymore. So what do we do? We have to reconstruct. On this episode I am talking with Marcia and Tom Hotchkiss.
At different spots on our path we grow tired of or maybe lose the ability to use some faith practices we have grown up with. For me, a practice I have needed to reconstruct is prayer. I was taught to pray using the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) method but a number of years ago, constantly asking God for "things" just didn't feel very prayerful anymore. So what do we do? We have to reconstruct. On this episode I am talking with Marcia and Tom Hotchkiss. Father Tom is an Episcopal priest and Marcia is a spiritual director. So who better than to have on to talk about prayer. Actually we are talking about how Marcia and Tom came later in life to spiritual practices, contemplation and letting go of our own need to be in control.
Trusting Your Interior Self & Listening For God's Guiding
The truest form of reconstruction is when your internal trust of God matches your external experiences with God. The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a seasoned Spiritual Director and a guide for many who are listening to new expressions of God in their lives.
The truest form of reconstruction is when your internal trust of God matches your external experiences with God. The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a seasoned Spiritual Director and a guide for many who are listening to new expressions of God in their lives. In this episode we talk about how it can be difficult to find that interior trust and how we see the Holy Spirit leading people through deconstruction of our traditional faith paradigms. I think I asked my best question yet and we do play a game along the way.
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An Empath, Intuition and Reducing Anxiety Through Practice
If an empath has learned to practice hope, then we can definitely learn to add to our own faith by listening. On this episode of the Reconstruction Calls Podcast, Aaron Manes speaks with Christy Stone (a therapist, spiritual director and an empath) about how to find the higher good in the midst of so much anxiety.
In the COVID season of life we are all living in, what can we learn from someone who feels what everyone else is feeling. If an empath has learned to practice hope, then we can definitely learn to add to our own faith by listening. On this episode of the Reconstruction Calls Podcast, Aaron Manes speaks with Christy Stone (a therapist, spiritual director and an empath) about how to find the higher good in the midst of so much anxiety.
What is an empath? An empath is a person who feels and absorbs other people's emotions and/or physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or find other options here.
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What I've Learned -- A Recall Episode
As a spiritual director, I am a trained listener. In a spiritual direction session often I am just listening for the movement of God in someone's life. Over the course of this podcast I was really struck by a couple of moments so I wanted to bring those back and listen to them again. The podcast is all phone themed (I hope you have picked up on that by now) so let's just call this episode a recall.
As a spiritual director, I am a trained listener. In a spiritual direction session often I am just listening for the movement of God in someone's life. Over the course of this podcast I was really struck by a couple of moments so I wanted to bring those back and listen to them again. The podcast is all phone themed (I hope you have picked up on that by now) so let's just call this episode a recall.
We start with my friend Kim. I wanted Kim to come and to talk about dreams and dream interpretation and what I learned was that Kim believes deeply that her life is speaking to her and when she is truly listening and trusting, she is hearing the voice of God. Now, I am still a bit skeptic of dreams but Kim made me want to listen deeper.
Right after the George Floyd murder, I didn't really want to do a podcast that would ignore what was happening but also I didn't want to pretend that my voice was so important that I would do a podcast on race. I asked a few friends and they encouraged me to add to the conversation but to find a unique way to do that. My friend Beth Childs is a history teacher and an advocate. When Beth and I settled on what we would talk about I was interested but during the podcast, I really felt like I learned so much and mainly I learned that history may not find us the truth but it will definitely let us hear and see multiple points of view of the same occurrence and honestly, I had never thought about that before. Let's listen to that part of our conversation.
And lastly on this recall podcast, my friend Glen is one of my sage friends. In the past six months or so I have been on a journey through the idea of the sacred feminine. When you are exploring new spirituality you often need new practices to recognize this growing area of your life. Prayer is a tricky practice for a lot of people I know and work with so the idea of mother earth and prayer made me want to have Glenn on to talk about that. His ancestors are natives and he has adopted a number of their practices into his own spirituality - I want to listen again today as I ask him about what many native people knew by living close to the earth and just listening to their surroundings.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or find other options here.
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Sadness, Anger, Loneliness: The Emotions Of Deconstruction
Deconstruction, like other types of change or loss, presents itself with recurring emotions and feelings. In this conversation with my friend Brian Brooks we talk about his story and experiences during his deconstruction process a few years ago. My hope here is for anyone currently in deconstruction to hear that they are not alone. For those of us who may be reconstructing, it is healing to hear these stories and reflect on our own journey again. Brian comes from the Church Of Christ tradition so we play a little game about acapella music and get a book recommendation.
Deconstruction, like other types of change or loss, presents itself with recurring emotions and feelings. In this conversation with my friend Brian Brooks we talk about his story and experiences during his deconstruction process a few years ago. My hope here is for anyone currently in deconstruction to hear that they are not alone. For those of us who may be reconstructing, it is healing to hear these stories and reflect on our own journey again. Brian comes from the Church Of Christ tradition so we play a little game about acapella music and get a book recommendation.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or find other options here.
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Pastoring Reconstructing People
Reconstructing people are unique people to be pastoring. If we are coming back to church, often we are coming from dynamic circumstances that may include abuse, loss of faith, radical belief change and much more. I called my friend and my pastor, Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson-White, to get some insight on what that is like. We discuss how to look for a church and why she thinks the deconstruction/reconstruction journey is a move of the Holy Spirit. And of course we play a game and Blair recommends a few books and a podcast in "Hung Up."
Reconstructing people are unique people to be pastoring. If we are coming back to church, often we are coming from dynamic circumstances that may include abuse, loss of faith, radical belief change and much more. I called my friend and my pastor, Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson-White, to get some insight on what that is like. We discuss how to look for a church and why she thinks the deconstruction/reconstruction journey is a move of the Holy Spirit. And of course we play a game and Blair recommends a few books and a podcast in "Hung Up."
Reconstruction Calls, Episode 10 with Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson-White
The Book Of Longings
Sue Monk Kidd has been on a sacred feminine journey for some time now and she beautifully weaves in many of these themes into these characters. We get to hear the quiet prayer lives of the women including their prayers to Sofia. Ana is busy writing the stories of the s/heroes of the Hebrew faith and we even have an encounter with the goddess Isis.
Last year I stumbled onto Sue Monk Kidd. I am extremely late to the game but just happy to be here now. I have read a few of her books that have meant a great deal to me personally - specifically “The Dance Of The Dissident Daughter.”
So when I heard about this new book, “The Book Of Longings” I was excited. The premise is that in his early twenties Jesus met a girl and married her. This book isn’t about Jesus however, it is about Ana, it is Ana’s story. We get to re-live the stories of messiah, John The Baptist, Herod, Pilate and all of the characters from a completely different point of view and one that I believe is really important.
Sue Monk Kidd has been on a sacred feminine journey for some time now and she beautifully weaves in many of these themes into these characters. We get to hear the quiet prayer lives of the women including their prayers to Sofia. Ana is busy writing the stories of the s/heroes of the Hebrew faith and we even have an encounter with the goddess Isis.
Before I read the book, one of my friends said that it made Jesus seem more human. I would echo this. It enabled me to experience the story of Jesus from the ground. So often we can only see Jesus as Christ and I think that the gift of this book is the way we get to see Jesus as a real person, a day laborer, a family man, a husband and a person of great faith who lived his life in his calling.
I can’t recommend this book enough.
More About The Book:
In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything.
Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history.
Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.
Dreams and A Deep Trust
In this episode of "Reconstruction Calls," Spiritual Director Aaron Manes talks with fellow spiritual director Kim Verriere. For several years Kim has been tracking and working with her dreams as part of her faith journey. So mute your line and listen in on this conversation of intentional reflection, listening to your deepest self and hearing from God in a new way; plus you will hear Aaron sing a little Billy Ocean.
In this episode of "Reconstruction Calls," Spiritual Director Aaron Manes talks with fellow spiritual director Kim Verriere. Kim is the founder of the Greater Love Collective (www.greaterlovecollective.org) which as a group is fostering self-discovery through Soulwork, Creativity, and Activism. The GLC provides both resources in these areas and a safe community in which to explore them. Another thing about Kim, and the reason she is on this episode, is that for several years she has been tracking and working with her dreams as part of her faith journey. So mute your line and listen in on this conversation of intentional reflection, listening to your deepest self and hearing from God in a new way; plus you will hear Aaron a little Billy Ocean.
The Way Of The Rose
When you read spiritual books that are more general, they are about information and some story. When you read books on sacred feminine, they are about journey.
When you read spiritual books that are more general, they are about information and some story. When you read books on sacred feminine, they are about journey. I had never heard of this book before, “The Way Of The Rose” but I was interested in how it isn’t looking at the rosary from a catholic point of view but from a journey by its authors as they learned to follow the way of the goddess. They dig back into the history of the visions of Mary (and Isis before her) and listen to their hearts as they make connection with the earth and the newness of life that comes from our mother.
In this book you follow the story of its authors, Clark Strand (a Zen Buddhist Monk) and Perdita Way (A Feminist / Childhood Catholic) as they go from having an encounter with Madonnas all over the world and listening to their “girl” along the way.
I really loved the story and feel compelled to know more about the prayer mantra and practice of the rosary.
More About The Book:
Before a vision of a mysterious “Lady” invited Clark Strand and Perdita Finn to pray the rosary, they were not only uninterested in becoming Catholic but finished with institutional religion altogether. Their main spiritual concerns were the fate of the planet and the future of their children and grandchildren in an age of ecological collapse. But this Lady barely even referred to the Church and its proscriptions. Instead, she spoke of the miraculous power of the rosary to transform lives and heal the planet, and revealed the secrets she had hidden within the rosary’s prayers and mysteries—secrets of a past age when forests were the only cathedrals and people wove rose garlands for a Mother whose loving presence was as close as the ground beneath their feet. She told Strand and Finn:
The rosary is My body,
and My body is the body of the world.
Your body is one with that body.
What cause could there be for fear?
Weaving together their own remarkable story of how they came to the rosary, their discoveries about the eco-feminist wisdom at the heart of this ancient devotion, and the life-changing revelations of the Lady herself, the authors reveal an ancestral path—available to everyone, religious or not—that returns us to the powerful healing rhythms of the natural world.
Non-dualistic Worship Music with Ryan Flanigan
Spiritual director Aaron Manes calls his friend Ryan Flanigan (Worship Director at All Saints Anglican Church in Dallas, TX, and founder of Liturgical Folk - www.liturgicalfolk.com) to talk about reconstructing church music in an era of contemporary and traditional worship services - they also play a game called “OT or T. Swift” along the way.
Reconstruction Calls Podcast - Episode 3
Spiritual director Aaron Manes calls his friend Ryan Flanigan (Worship Director at All Saints Anglican Church in Dallas, TX, and founder of Liturgical Folk - www.liturgicalfolk.com) to talk about reconstructing church music in an era of contemporary and traditional worship services - they also play a game called “OT or T. Swift” along the way.
Faith As A Jenga Tower
Spiritual Director Aaron Manes, calls his friend Kenton Self to talk about the process of deconstruction, and they talk about René Girard, Brian McLaren and Amy Grant.
Reconstruction Calls Podcast - Episode 3
Spiritual Director Aaron Manes, calls his friend Kenton Self to talk about the process of deconstruction, and they talk about René Girard, Brian McLaren and Amy Grant.
The Dance Of The Dissident Daughter
The Sacred Feminine is a journey worth engaging. Our world is dominated by the hierarchical structures of the Sacred Masculine dominant world of faith. Sue Monk Kidd has become a reliable voice for me when it comes to exploring other worlds of spiritual direction.
The Sacred Feminine is a journey worth engaging. Our world is dominated by the hierarchical structures of the Sacred Masculine dominant world of faith. Sue Monk Kidd has become a reliable voice for me when it comes to exploring other worlds of spiritual direction.
In “Dance Of The Dissident Daughter” Sue goes on a journey from faithful evangelical, to mainline protestant, to an out-of-church but overtly spiritual person all because of her journey into the sacred feminine. Her story felt like mine in many ways except her work bringing to life the idea of the mother, the voice of Mary as not only contemplative but powerful figure was inspiring for me. I really enjoyed listening to the changing dynamics of her family in her process.
Her willingness to share her fear, her doubt, and just her realness is inspiring. This book is older but as it was new for me. I believe it may have aged very well and can be used for a long time to talk about the story of transfiguration into the balance between sacred masculine and feminine which we should all seek.
If you are looking for a way out of your ordinary faith box and would like to embrace the wholeness of the earth, the interconnectedness of humanity and a bigger idea of God, this book will help give you that new perspective. It may even be life changing.
More About “The Dance Of The Dissident Daughter” by Sue Monk Kidd
For years, Sue Monk Kidd was a conventionally religious woman. Then, in the late 1980s, she experienced an unexpected awakening, and began a journey toward a feminine spirituality. With the exceptional storytelling skills that have helped make her name, Kidd tells her very personal story of the fear, anger, healing, and freedom she experienced on the path toward the wholeness that many women have lost in the church.
From a jarring encounter with sexism in a suburban drugstore, to monastery retreats and to rituals in the caves of Crete, she reveals a new level of feminine spiritual consciousness for all women—one that retains a meaningful connection with the "deep song of Christianity," embraces the sacredness of ordinary women’s experience, and has the power to transform in the most positive ways every fundamental relationship in a woman's life—her marriage, her career, and her religion.
Reconstruction Calls Episode 1: Mike & Kari Baumann
Spiritual Director Aaron Manes calls his friends Mike and Kari Baumann to talk about evolving in faith as partners and walking the road of parenting as reconstructed people. We talk about everything from Enneagram to DC Talk to growing up adjacent to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.
Reconstruction Calls Episode 1
Spiritual Director Aaron Manes calls his friends Mike and Kari Baumann to talk about evolving in faith as partners and walking the road of parenting as reconstructed people. We talk about everything from Enneagram to DC Talk to growing up adjacent to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.
This podcast was recorded for Arapaho United Methodist Church
Listen on Spotify (Click Here)
Listen on Apple Podcasts (Click Here)
A New Earth
What is the meaning of your life? A better question may be, what is making up your life? Eckhart Tolle’s most recent book, “A New Earth” teaches that life is made up of today, this present moment for it is all we have.
What is the meaning of your life? A better question may be, what is making up your life? Eckhart Tolle’s most recent book, “A New Earth” teaches that life is made up of today, this present moment for it is all we have. This noted teacher of presence goes a step further in helping a reader learn their purpose and then how to marry their inner purpose with their outer purpose - there we will find a truly fulfilled life.
While reading this book I was reminded of how often we are focused on what has happened to us in the past and how we use that to steer our present life. For many of us that means there is pain or shame just below the surface of our skin and we bring that to bear on the world. What I love that Tolle does is that he shows us how all of the great spiritual teachers practice forgiveness and presence in a way that allows them and us to live in a present way with people and the world.
This book felt a little long to me but toward the end there were some real jewels about finding purpose and how if we will engage that can change our lives. I did like “The Power Of Now” more but this book is a great addition.
A question for the comments: As you have done Enneagram or Meyers-Briggs work, how is your number/type affecting your soul or your presence living?
About The Book: An article in Success magazine describes A New Earth as a "self-improvement book" that encourages its readers to live their lives in each present moment and to create happiness for themselves without emphasizing material possessions. Tolle's intent is to change the way human beings think, and he envisions a world population that is increasingly humble, enlightened and pure. According to Tolle, the book's purpose "is not to add new information or beliefs to your mind or to try to convince you of anything, but to bring about a shift in consciousness".
In the book, Tolle asserts that everyone can find "the freedom and joy of life" if they live in the present moment. The book describes human dysfunction, selfishness, anxiety and the inhumanity we inflict on each other, as well as mankind's failed attempts to find life meaning and purpose through material possessions and unhealthy relationships. It asserts that thoughts can have a powerful and beneficial "effect on the healing process", and puts forth a concept of "evolutionary transformation of human consciousness" which prompts the reader to participate in "honest self-evaluation [that] can lead to positive change."
Abandonment To Divine Providence
In a conversation with my spiritual director we were talking about living in the present moment and how intentional living creates presence (and hopefully an incarnate life as well).
In a conversation with my spiritual director we were talking about living in the present moment and how intentional living creates presence (and hopefully an incarnate life as well). He recommended this book. I would recommend an Eckhart Tolle book on presence over this one but I did love a number of the points Caussade makes when it comes to the will of God - "The Holy Spirit is not at work in the world; the Spirit is at work in the hearts of people and transformation of the world comes from transformed hearts." That is true incarnation.
A Question For The Comments: What do you believe about the will of God for your life?
About The Book:
Contained within this volume is the first part of "Abandonment to Divine Providence" by Jean-Pierre De Caussade, a treatise on the practice of total abandonment to Divine Providence, or in other words, completely giving yourself over to God's will. A spiritual classic, "Abandonment to Divine Providence" will delight readers of all faiths as they discover the spiritual guidance that this volume has to offer. Jean Pierre de Caussade (7 March 1675 – 8 December 1751) was a French Jesuit priest and writer. He is especially known for the work ascribed to him, Abandonment to Divine Providence, and also his work with the Nuns of the Visitation in Nancy, France.
Sunday Candy
What Chance conveys about faith is so great. His music is laced with references to church and God and Faith and specifically - his family. Be it his mom or grandma or friends, his community of faith supports his interaction with God.
On Sunday mornings as a kid the worship leader at our church would carry sweet tarts in his pockets and the kids would ask him for candy. This memory came back to me so clearly as I have been working on a series we are doing called “Faith On Vinyl.”
Music artists share their lives and stories and faith in their music. If we are listening closely enough we can really hear it. It has been fun to ask a few friends to teach and after 5 weeks we will have listened to Bowie, Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chance The Rapper and Chvrches.
I am working on Chance The Rapper. What he conveys about faith is so great. His music is laced with references to church and God and Faith and specifically - his family. Be it his mom or grandma or friends, his community of faith supports his interaction with God.
I have been brought to tears listening to Chance and Kanye on “Ultralight Beam” and I definitely have spiritual experiences that connect deeply with my soul in a lot of Chance’s music.
Watch “Sunday Candy” on SNL…
These lyrics speak so much to the idea of how influential you can be to other people on their faith journey…
I am the thesis of her prayers
Her nieces and her nephews are just pieces of the layers
Only ones she love as much as me is Jesus Christ and Taylor
I got a future so I'm singing for my grandma
You singing too, but your grandma ain't my grandma
Mine's hand made, pan fried, sun dried
Southside, and beat the devil by a landslide
Praying with her hands tied, president of my fan club, Santa
Something told me I should bring my butt to church
Who is your “faithful” witness? Who has faith in you - so much that you believe you have a future even in dark times - “You singing too but your grandma’s not my grandma.”
Who are you singing because of today?
Listen Again: The Prodigal
There are moments in life when we can no longer stay at “home.” The lure of the city, a new love, no responsibilities, a change - whatever it may be you have likely lived part of this story.
There are moments in life when we can no longer stay at “home.” The lure of the city, a new love, no responsibilities, a change - whatever it may be you have likely lived part of this story.
The call of the other oftentimes looms too large for us.
From the perspective of the prodigal, going is much easier than staying. Be it right action, rebellion, freedom, growth, or any number of reasons, it is time to go. It has not been a simple path toward leaving but on the day of the first step out that door it is new life.
But what if you have been left? Blame, anger, loss, sadness… Would you change all of your plans to keep them home?
This is not an old story, nor is it a new story - it is a true story.
I’ve been struck lately listening to the Avett Brothers song, “If It’s The Beaches.” It poetically captures the story told from home. Listen with open ears today to these lyrics and hear the voice of home (be it the Father/Mother/Sibling) willing to change their life to be with the prodigal.
Lyrics:
If It’s The Beaches
Don't say it's over
'Cause that's the worst news I could hear
I swear that I will
Do my best to be here just the way you like it
Even though it's hard to hide
Push my feelings all aside
I will rearrange my plans and change for you
If I could go back
That's the first thing I would do
I swear that I would
Do my best to follow through
Come up with a master plan
A homerun hit, a winning stand
A guarantee and not a promise
That I'll never let your love slip from my hands
If it's the beaches
If it's the beaches' sands you want
Then you will have them
If it's the mountains' bending rivers
Then you will have them
If it's the wish to run away
Then I will grant it
Take whatever what you think of
While I go gas up the truck
Pack the old love letters up
We will read them when we forget why we left here
Songwriters: Scott Yancey Avett / Timothy Seth Avett
If It's the Beaches lyrics © BMG Rights Management US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc