The Good Life

Healing with a Heavenly Instrument - Sophia Abraham

Today I am interviewing Sophia Abraham, a harpist living in Cambridge. Sophia is a harpist, playing the harp since she was young. She has an MA in music therapy and is quite gifted, using her talents to help people recovering from various sorts of trauma. She and her husband have created Wisdom Harps, where they make and sell smaller, affordable harps for people who are interested in learning to play. She also offers online classes for beginners as well as in various modes of harp playing.

Our discussion ranges from the role of the harp in the healing process for patients, its use in spiritual warfare, how beautiful music opens greater opportunities for evangelism, and why playing the harp is easier than most people think. She even plays a bit for us! It was a great discussion. 

Wisdom Harps (Sophia's Website)

Wisdom Harps Facebook page

Some samples of Sophia's Playing

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
• Harp Meditation
• The Lord of Sea and Sky

The Torah - Genesis 18-32

This is the latter-half of the story of Abraham, in which we see Yahweh change his name and he will face his greatest test on Mt. Moriah. 

The Torah - Genesis 12-17

We come now to the life of Abraham, a new Adam figure called to leave the land of his fathers and go to the land God would show him. 

The Torah - Genesis 1-11

What makes the first eleven chapters of Genesis so foundational for Christians? How do they form the identify of ancient Israel? These are just some of the questions we try to answer in this first Sunday School lesson on the first five books of the Bible. 

Living in a Postliberal World with Susannah Black Roberts

What is the difference between being liberal and postliberal? Who better to talk with than Susannah Roberts, a writer, editor, and podcaster. We talk about her life growing up in New York City (where she still lives part of the year), her conversion to Christianity from agnosticism, and why liberalism is losing its popularity. 

Susannah (@suzania) is the editor of Plough Quarterly and Mere Orthodoxy.  

The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards with Gerald McDermott

Today I enjoyed visiting with Dr. Gerald McDermott. Dr. McDermott is an Anglican priest as well as a church historian and scholar who specializes in the theology of Jonathan Edwards. He has written dozens of books, eight of which focus on various elements of the life and legacy of Jonathan Edwards. 

Today we talk about why Edwards was and still is important, and we focus on Edwards' unfinished book,  A History of Redemption. After many years of research, Dr. McDermott has written a book that seeks to finish what Edwards might have written had he lived to complete it (he tragically died at age fifty-four). We discuss Edwards further legacy, as well as why "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is both the best and the worst known sermon in American history. 

• A New History of Redemption
• Everyday Glory: The Revelation of God in All of Reality
• One Holy and Happy Society - the Public Theology of Jonathan Edwards
• Famous Stutterers

Navigating the Negative World with Aaron Renn

Today I get to speak with Aaron Renn, an author and social commentator. He recently wrote a book called, Life in the Negative World about how life has changed for Christians in the last fifty years and what Christians must do in the twenty-first century to thrive. 

Aaron has an excellent Substack and podcast website. He has also edited the Puritan John Owen's book, The Mortification of Sin, a helpful book for Christians on battling (and killing) sin. 

Today we talk about his book, the need for Christians to do good work, and how to use your gifts well in the world. 

Can Christendom Return? - John Ehrett

John Ehrett is a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He returns today to talk with me about a recent article of his entitled, "Christendom After Comcast." We talk about the desire to return to a better way of life, the paths many people suggest, and what prevents that return from happening. Specifically, we discuss how cable television was one of many elements that restrict our ability to ever go back to "the way things were" and what are steps the church can take to faithfully respond to this new era. 

• Christendom After Comcast
• Ivy Envy

 

Mere Humanity with Dr. Donald Williams

Today I interview Dr. Donald Williams, former Literature professor at Toccoa Falls College. We discuss his book, Mere humanity : G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien on the Human Condition. We discuss what those men have to say about being human and even why their writings effect us generations after they lived. 

Dr. Williams has written several books as well, some of which are listed below.

• Mere humanity : G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien on the Human Condition
• Answers from Aslan
• Ninety-Five Theses for a New Reformation
• Reflections from Plato's Cave: Essays in Evangelical Philosophy

An American Classical Education with Nathan Gill

Today I spoke with Nathan Gill, a Hillsdale graduate, classical education teacher, and administrator. He wrote an article at The American Reformer titled, "Toward a More American Classical Education." We talk about why it's important to not only give your children an education steeped in the wisdom of the past, but for their education to be rooted in the country and regional culture where they live. We discuss what that could look like, as well as how craftsmanship and entrepreneurship make for a uniquely American education.