Learning in Wartime

What does it look like to dialogue in a manner that honors Christ? That's our topic today. Special guest Principal Dustin Williams joins the show along with Chelsea Carrier and Bryce Ballard. 

Together we consider the following specific questions: 

• How does Scripture address the idea of arguing or giving an argument? 
• What does it mean to have a productive dialogue?
• What are ways to find common ground with another person? How we do handle presuppositions? 
• How do you know if someone you’re arguing with is sincere?
• In light of our current climate (especially regarding COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd), what are some ways we can hold productive dialogue with one another?

Special Guest: Principal Dustin Williams

• Dustin currently serves as elementary principal at Providence Academy and has taught classical rhetoric for many years. He serves as Associate Pastor at Springdale Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN, and he's also pursuing doctoral work at Milligan College. 

In this episode, Principal Williams recommends the following books:

• Unoffendable by Brant Hanson 
• How to Argue Like Jesus by Joe Carter
• The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt 

Theme music: 

• "Killers" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do we really need humility? And what exactly is it? On today's episode, we wrestle with these questions and more. Chelsea Carrier and Bryce Ballard join Dane Bundy for this timely discussion. 

Together we consider the following questions: 

• What is humility? And what is it not?
• What does our society say about humility? 
• What's the relationship between humility and confidence (or boldness)? 
• How do we practice and cultivate humility in our polarized culture? 

Theme music: 

• "Killers" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, we wrestle with technology. Chelsea Carrier and Bryce Ballard join Dane Bundy in this timely discussion. 

Together we consider the following questions: 

• What has the Christian faith to do with technology?
• What are the greatest benefits of technology for today?
• What do you wish parents/teachers knew about technology and how it affects their children?
• What worries you most when it comes to technology as it concerns children and adults? What are some practical steps we can take to overcome them?
• What apps or websites do you think parents should be aware of (as a matter of concern and benefit)?

Theme music: 

• "Killers" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, we wrestle with Augustine and his work - The City of God. Annie Ballard and Russell Hendrix join the discussion today! 

Together we consider the following questions: 

• Who was Augustine and why does he matter to the Church today? 
• Why did Augustine write The City of God?
• What are the key themes of The  City of God?
• Does anything in The City of God in particular, or in Augustine in general, speak to classical and Christian education that we would be advised to consider?  
• Why should the common Christian read City of God? If someone's overwhelmed by its length, where do you recommend he or she start?

Special Guests: 

• Annie teaches Latin at Providence Academy and holds a masters in biblical and theological studies from Moody Bible Institute.
• Mr. Hendrix holds multiple degrees in theology and boasts a full life of studying, thinking, and teaching about Scripture and theology. His focus over the years has been in Patristics (the early church theologians) and historical theology.

In this episode, we discuss books that have impacted our lives as well as tips for reading. Annie and Bryce Ballard join Dane Bundy in the discussion today! 

Together we consider the following questions:

• What two books have greatly impacted you?
• What tips do you have for readers?

Concluding section: the titles of the books we recommend!

Special Guest: Annie Ballard

• Annie teaches Latin at Providence Academy and holds a masters in biblical and theological studies from Moody Bible Institute.

Dr. Mark Harrod, Bryce Ballard, and Dane Bundy tackle important questions regarding contentment:

• What's a biblical definition of contentment? 
• What does Scripture say about contentment?
• Is discontentment ever a good thing? 
• What about ambition? Does contentment rule it out? 
• How do we become content with what we have? 

Special Guest: Dr. Mark Harrod 

• Mark has served as the Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church since October 1995. His passions are the proclamation and teaching of God's Word; and helping people grow as followers of Jesus Christ. He is a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Carson-Newman College. He's taught Bible for many years at Providence Academy. Mark and his wife Jodie have 3 children.

Recommended resource: 

• Contentment by Dr. Richard Swenson

Today's segments:

• IN CHRIST: What does creativity look like in following Christ (or disciple-making)? 
• ON STORIES: What’s one thing you wish more Christians understood about creativity, art, or creativity and the Christian life? And what did you think of the Netflix film, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"?
• IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE: In this improvised segment, Dane Bundy, Bryce Ballard, and Chelsea Carrier play the improv game -- "Expert!"

Theme music: 

• "Killers" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• "Sneaky Snitch" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4384-sneaky-snitch
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today's segments:

• IN CHRIST: Dane Bundy and Bryce Ballard discuss the Scriptural basis for the spiritual wilderness.
• ON STORIES:  Dane Bundy and Chelsea Carrier discuss Ray Bradbury's short story, "Ray Bradbury." Dane Bundy speaks about the third principle of how to approach fiction with a Christian perspective, and they announce that next week they'll be discussing the Netflix film, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind."
• IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE: In this improvised segment, Dane Bundy and Bryce Ballard play the improv game -- "Liar!"

Theme music: 

• "Killers" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• "Sneaky Snitch" by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4384-sneaky-snitch
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today's segments:

• IN CHRIST: Dane Bundy and Bryce Ballard discuss the Scriptural basis for God's high call to the ordinary person amid the mundane.
• ON STORIES:  Dane Bundy and Chelsea Carrier discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's short story, "Leaf by Niggle." They announce that next week they'll be discussing Ray Bradbury's short story, "The Pedestrian."
• IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE: In this improvised segment, Dane Bundy asks Providence faculty and staff to collaboratively tell a story one word at a time.

Theme music: 

• Killers by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dane Bundy introduces the idea behind the Learning in Wartime podcast and speaks with Bryce Ballard about a Christian perspective on uncertainty and with Chelsea Carrier on the Christian imagination in the work of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Today's segments:

• IN CHRIST: Dane Bundy and Bryce Ballard discuss what it means to be at war in 2020 and the gift of prayer for this uncertain time. 
• ON STORIES:  Dane Bundy and Chelsea Carrier discuss the Christian imagination by looking at Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, "The Birthmark." They announce that next week they'll be discussing J.R.R. Tolkien's shorty story, "Leaf by Niggle."
• IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE: In this improvised segment, Dane Bundy asks Providence faculty and staff to offer good advice, bad advice, and terrible advice on random topics without any preparation time, of course!

Theme music: 

• Killers by Kevin MacLeod
• Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3952-killers
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/