“Statistics is … dehumanizing.” Is this an odd thing for a stats “cheerleader” to say? Jason Wilson doesn’t think so. In this podcast convo about his book, we wrestle with the value & nature of stats, and how people of faith might want to consider engaging with them. youtu.be/AZGAw2W2UCo

“Biology, and particularly genetics, is often used as an antidote for blame. Here is the old Pelagian wine in new genomic bottles... If something is a ‘natural event’ then perhaps it is not a contradiction of the moral demand?” @kph3k.bsky.social from Original Sin

In ep 98 of Jolly Thoughts, Brian Zahnd & I chat about his latest book, what it takes to be a heretic, and French Canadian microtonal rock. Check it out wherever you pod or over on YouTube or Substack! (cc @brianzahnd.bsky.social) youtu.be/mkAm218m5tY

On ep 97 of the Jolly Thoughts pod, “mon frere d’un autre mere” (Paul Baloche) joins me to talk songwriting, worship leading, AI, and the difference between writing for “the Church” and “a church”. Find it wherever ye pod, or over here on YouTube: youtu.be/_hecJPNZEz8

What’s the matter with the Church? (or, rather, “Does the Church still matter?”) Check out episode 95 of the pod to hear Carmen Imes make the case. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAzU...

The cross is hopeless without the resurrection. The resurrection is meaningless without the cross. The middle knows only the start, but the end tells the tale. #holysaturday

Why did they crucify Jesus? Did they believe he was ‘God’? No, but neither do 43% of American evangelicals. The better question is: Did they believe that Jesus was claiming to be ‘God’? Mikel Del Rosario thinks the answer is “Yes”... even in the Gospel According to Mark: youtu.be/8NjK9Nq2UQ8?...

Alex Fogleman is trynna let the catechesis outta the bag! (Don’t blame him for that dad-joke… ‘twas all me.) In this episode of the pod, we dig into his new @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social book, “Making Disciples: Catechesis in History, Theology, and Practice”, which… 💣 youtu.be/1kqFr9wIuO0?...

“Oversaturation is not the same thing as abundance.” - Alyson Pryor Ep 92 of the Jolly Thoughts podcast, wherein Alyson Pryor chats with me about her new book, "Come Away & Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats"

“Christianity is a rational faith”, I often like to say. “Yes… and it is built on the irrational”, Dr Greene likes to say. In “Drunk In The Spirit”, Merrill gives us a dizzying walk through the Bible’s wild whackiness. Join us on ep 91 of the Jolly Thoughts pod and sip! 🍺 marcjolicoeur.substack.com

There’s just something about elevation, verticality, “mountain-top experiences” that seem to be the language of the divine for humans. But… is God not also with us in the valley? Checkout ep 89 of the pod with @revniebauer.bsky.social : youtu.be/C6QfpEWd0F0?...

Can strawberries & bannock be “communion”? Could smoke ever substitute for water in Christian baptism? While striving to ensure our rituals are simultaneously faithful and meaningful, what (if any) are our non-negotiables?

In ep 87 of the Jolly Thoughts Pod @mburtwrites.bsky.social & @kkramermcginnis.bsky.social (co-authors of “The Myth Of Good Christian Parenting”) argue that understanding our children as ALSO our siblings (in Christ) makes a big difference. What do you think? (link in bio) youtu.be/6P5f1cj0H5k?...

Who was John the Baptist? You might feel like you already know the answer, or you might not even care about that question, but either way, @religionprof.bsky.social’s recent pair of works (Christmaker and John of History, Baptist of Faith) will very likely change your mind. youtu.be/eZxKrFZqquk?...

When in Rome… Don’t Necessarily Do As The Romans Do (especially if you’re a Christian). In ep 84 of the Jolly Thoughts pod I sit down with an absolute classic(ist), Dr Nadya Williams, who unloads a ton of 🤯 insight about the way culture has impacted the Church. Listen wherever you pod (video 👇)

What if your memory wasn’t… your memory? youtu.be/uri4XmDNViU?... (@mikecosper.bsky.social, ep 7 of The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea maaaaaay have broken me 😬)

I don’t ALWAYS talk about the Ship Of Theseus (though, admittedly, I do seem to talk about it an inordinate amount…), but at least in this instance, @bmietana.bsky.social seemed to think it was relevant. religionnews.com/2025/04/15/c...

Got to write about ancient papyrus, Egyptian rubbish heaps, megachurch worship, Martin Marty and the Ship of Theseus all in the same story religionnews.com/2025/04/15/c...

"Most Christians today don’t know the worship songs that Jesus sang." @marcjolicoeur.bsky.social explains why the Psalms have nearly vanished from modern church music—and what that means for our theology. 🎙️ Full episode: buff.ly/41fePmV #TBMpo#TBMpodcast #BiblicalMind #HebraicThought

Who’s really deciding what worship songs we sing on Sundays? 🎶 Dr. @marcjolicoeur.bsky.social reveals how four major churches dominate modern worship music. 📺 Watch: https://buff.ly/4iAhnDt 🎧 Listen: https://buff.ly/41fePmV 📖 Read: https://buff.ly/4gZF5rh #BiblicalMind #HebraicThought

When someone hints at or reveals their pain, is our natural reaction to lean INTO or AWAY from that vulnerability? In this conversation, Natasha Dongell shares part of her experience of loss, and helps us think through grief as an opportunity for connection. marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Would Jesus have been born if He weren’t (as the carols say) “born to set” His people “free”? Matthew Bates & I chat about this & much more in this ho-ho-holiday ep of the Jolly Thoughts pod: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pk9...

WHY THE GOSPEL? // Beyond music-genres and theo-debates, “the gospel” is first & foremost a political declaration. Matt Bates schools me thereupon in the most recent CHRISTmas episode of the Jolly Thoughts podcast. 🎅🏻✝️🙏 marcjolicoeur.substack.com

Ep 76 of the Jolly Thoughts Pod with the unduplicatable Mike MacNeil wherein we chat about politics, remote-access villages, Jordan “B” Peterson, and the difference between PRIVATE & PERSONAL. youtu.be/LCsBtzgwChw?...

What could go wrong? www.pillarcatholic.com/p/swiss-chur...

“Being told to participate - while in fact being unable to participate - is deeply dispiriting to worshipers, especially worshipers with anxiety…” (pg 152 of Worship In An Age Of Anxiety) …

In case anyone ever doubts how hardcore I have been about Contemporary Christian Music… …Behold, my mountain bike’s brand name. (paging doctors Freud & @drleahpayne.bsky.social )

If slaves had such an integral hand in the creation of the Bible, how did the Bible end up being viewed as "pro-slavery"? @candidamoss.bsky.social has thoughts: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aumq...

On ep 71 of the Jolly Thoughts pod, @candidamoss.bsky.social walks us through her latest book (God’s Ghostwriters) and shares how expanding our view of who we’re reading the Bible WITH can have a massive impact on our view of its meaning. Link in bio.

My recently-posted conversation with David Bennett has garnered some of the longest “watch times” of any reels I’ve ever posted. If interested, you can watch the full conversation on my YouTube channel:

Coffee, Music, God. My conversation with Epoch Coffee’s mastermind and Jewish trumpeter extraordinaire, Conor Conway. t.co/m7O0or69iQ

"Being a pastor is not a right anyone can have. Some things are disqualifying even if love and forgiveness take place." David Drury daviddrury.substack.com/p/repentant-...

“Nothing else distinguishes the unjust & just more than this, that in adversities the unjust man complains & blasphemes because of impatience while the just man is proved by patience.” - Cyprian, circa 250 AD

The difference between being “in the groove” and “in a rut”? Perspective.

The (hypothetical) Year of Jubilee as described in Leviticus 25: if it had been practiced, would it have been a) progressive or b) conservative?

This was among the most important of this excellent show’s episodes to listen to, in part because of its critique of certain approaches to religions like Christianity, in part because of its (intentional or otherwise) self-critique of the instrumentalization of religion.

Episode 62 of the Jolly Thoughts pod is with W David O Taylor, and it was a landmarker for me! As someone who has always had a tortuous/torturous time integrating my artistic identity with my (primary) identity as a Christ-follower, this convo hit home. Available now (link in bio).

How do you feel about “religious fasting”? (3 of 3)

“And whenever there is a form devoid of spiritual power, law will take over because law always carries with it a sense of security and manipulative power.” — Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline (2 of 3)

“…fasting has developed a bad reputation as a result of the excessive ascetic practices of the Middle Ages. With the decline of the inward reality of the Christian faith, an increasing tendency to stress the only thing left, the outward form, developed…” (1 of 3)

Something baffles me about ads for AG1: 1) They emphatically claim that if you take AG1, you won’t need to take ANYTHING else. 2) They offer you a one-year supply of vitamin D supplement with your trial. 🫠

marcjolicoeur.substack.com // @drleahpayne.bsky.social

Data is only “neutral” before it is observed. Observation is interpretation, and interpretation shapes destination. If that (☝️) is true, then perhaps we ought to keep it in mind whenever someone is “just sayin’”. 🤷‍♂️

Been sleeping on this one for over six months, but stoked to FINALLY be able to share this conversation with @drleahpayne.bsky.social about the rise & fall of Contemporary Christian Music, the enneagram, and dudes who can rip phone books in half…. convo goes live via Jolly Thoughts Pod TOMORROW!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour’ and ‘hate your enemy’..." (Matthew 5:43) Why is "neighbour" contrasted with "enemy"?

"Of all the parts of our worship, singing comes nearest to the heavenly worship; as it raises the affections to heaven when the soul is happy in God; and makes us almost forget that we are in the body." - from the version of the "Large Minutes" of The Bible Christians wtsociety.com/files/wts_jo...

Over the holidays, my fam worked through The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings (film) trilogies. It was the first time I'd watched them in a long time, and never had I seen them stacked like that. I gotta say: It definitely hit different this time 'round.

Micro-course is online now @ Kingswood Learn! I wanted to name it “Worship… You keep saying that word…” as an homage to The Princess Bride, but the good folks at Campus EDU thought better of it. 😆 www.kingswoodlearn.com

From me: What makes a good Canadian? A Muslim 'parental rights' marcher speaks out. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Publishers: Maybe, should we discourage authors from putting YouTube URLs in their footnotes? Surely we have better solutions for this…