#138: Relational Resilience for the Exhausted (with Heather Thompson Day)

Professor, author, speaker and all-around delightful person Heather Thompson Day is our guest on The Puddcast—something I’ve been hoping to make happen for 3 years. Dr. Heather is Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University, and the author of 8 books; including her latest, I'll See You Tomorrow: Building Relational Resilience When You Want to Quit. Heather shared her perspective that all relationship is sacred, and that ministering the gospel is often as simple as reflecting people’s human dignity back to them. We reflected on living with delight and purpose, inside the mundane limits of our actual lives. Heather unpacked the myth of self-reliance and explained how not all relationships have to be strong, intimate ones to still have profound value and sacred impact. If you’re tired and have not much left to give right now, this one is for you.

Jonathan PuddleJune 27, 2023communication, boundaries, relationships, community, faithComment

#129-B: Debriefing Jonathan Martin on the road away from God

Time for another B-Side! Tryphena and I kept the mics rolling after we bid farewell to Jonathan Martin, and we leaned into his thoughts on God walking with us, even as we think we’re walking away. We riff on the divine power revealed in human agency, finding peace in the knowledge that God is present in everything, discerning the simple next steps in front of us, and walking life out in community.

Jonathan PuddleJuly 18, 2022b-side, deconstruction, jonathan martin, god's love, faith, hope, holy spirit, community, freedomComment

#129: Finding hope on the road away from God (with Jonathan Martin)

Pastor, writer and social leader Jonathan Martin returns to the show to explain how the journey that we’re each on is the journey we need to be on. Using the story of the disciples leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus, Jonathan explains that even when we think we’re walking away from God, love finds us on the road. Tryphena and I ask him about the risky nature of doubt, of how granting freedom works as a pastor, and how to be honest about the harm done to us, while holding on to hope that perhaps healing is possible after all. It’s beautiful and raw and real, if you’ve felt at all disillusioned by God or church or the world in the last few years then I commend this to you wholeheartedly.

Jonathan PuddleJune 28, 2022deconstruction, god's love, faith, hope, holy spirit, suffering, life, community, jonathan martinComment

#126: Love, freedom and conflict (with Ashley Abercrombie)

This month I got to interview a true kindred spirit, Ashley Abercrombie. Ashley’s message of embracing transformative love by bravely facing disagreement and conflict was challenging to me in all the best ways. Ashley grew up in the American South before moving to Los Angeles and Manhattan. Along the way, she faced addiction, perfectionism, sexual assault and more, and today is a writer, podcaster, pastor and mom to three young kids. Her latest book is called Love is the Resistance: Learn to disagree, resolve the conflicts you've been avoiding and create real change. It’s excellent.

Jonathan PuddleMarch 25, 2022love, conflict, boundaries, community, toxic peopleComment

#83: Why Would Anyone Go to Church? (with Kevin Makins)

My guest this week is Kevin Makins, pastor of Eucharist Church in Hamilton, Ontario. Kevin and I chatted about walking away from God, building communities that are safe for people questioning their faith, and how Jesus shatters the idols we make out of our churches and communities. This conversation presents a hope-filled, loved-centred path forward for the church in secular society. It’s full of joy. You’ll love it.

Jonathan PuddleJune 19, 2020covid-19, jesus, hope, pastoring, church, communityComment

#80: Redeeming Touch (with Lore Ferguson Wilbert)

Lore Ferguson Wilbert is a long-time blogger and author of the new book, Handle With Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry. Lore (pronounced Lor-ee) joined me on the show to discuss the wonder of the Incarnation, the playfulness and delight of Jesus, platonic vs sexual touch, healthy touch in community, and my wife’s philosophy on hugging. For a healthier church, for a healthier, more embodied world, I highly commend this interview and Lore herself to you.

Jonathan PuddleMay 28, 2020covid-19, touch, embodiment, community, metoo, churchtoo, jesusComment

#76: Death and rebirth (with Jonathan Martin)

Jonathan Martin is an author, pastor and host of The Zeitcast, and he is one of the biggest influences & encouragements in my life and work. Jonathan joined me on the show this week to chat about seasons of life, allowing things within us to die, and placing hope in a resurrection that we can’t orchestrate ourselves. We touched on grief, community, hope, church life and the importance of intentionally incarnating rebirth within our own lives.

Jonathan PuddleApril 23, 2020covid-19, death, resurrection, deconstruction, grace, community, jonathan martinComment

#8: Does easy sex block your destiny? (with Rob Kowalski)

Rob and I discussed whether cheap sex can block you from reaching your destiny, if I missed out on fun times by getting married young, and how to build a fulfilling community of friends while you wait for someone special.

Jonathan PuddleJuly 12, 2018sex, dating, relationships, destiny, communityComment

#3: God is Community

I was raised in a Christian community living environment and it planted seeds inside me that I just can't seem to shake. God eventually had to take me out of the institutional church for those seeds to grow, and out there in the wilderness I learned that God himself was a community of love. Now I get to practice community inside the traditional church again.

Jonathan PuddleFebruary 15, 2018community, god, god's goodness, god's loveComment