The Eremos Podcast

Journey of Grief #5 I James and Vangie Hunter

My adopted dad recently passed away as I was already working on thoughts to share about my adopted mom who died 6 years ago. So, I put them all together. "Don't wait until I'm dead to give me flowers!" Outline: 00:46 --Intro 4:06--Honoring James/Dad 17:51--Honoring Vangie/Mom 28:53--A Fitting Conclusion https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/652169-don-t-wait-until-people-are-dead-to-give-them-flowers

The Orthodox Faith, Art, and Hagiography with Laura Wilson

Brian talks with Laura Wilson about her Ph.D. dissertation on St. Dominica, an early deaconess in the church. Get a general intro to the Orthodox church as they discuss Icons and church history. Learn about Hagiography. Laura's undergrad degree in Art with a minor in Greek influenced her transition to the Orthodox tradition and her faith in general.

God Doesn’t Want to Ctrl+Alt+Delete You | Deconstruct with Jesus # 7

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian explore chapters 6–8 of Deconstruct with Jesus: “Take Me Back to Eden,” “The Wounded Healer,” and “We’re in the Endgame Now.”They unpack the opening chapters of Genesis—not as a science debate, but as a poetic, theological vision of God’s intent for creation, humanity’s vocation, and what went wrong. Along the way, they reframe sin as a shortcut and a sickness to be healed, wrestle with the hope that God’s endgame is restoration, and offer practical ways to resist despair in a chaotic world. Timecodes [00:00] – Intro: Why combine chapters and move beyond literalism debates [06:00] – Genesis as ancient myth: God’s intent for creation and humanity’s role [14:00] – Not perfect—just good: why perfection was never the point [20:00] – Humanity’s vocation: expanding the garden with God [23:45] – The fall as shortcut: wanting good things in the wrong way and time [33:00] – Gratitude as the antidote to temptation [36:30] – Consequences, exile, and the hope embedded from the beginning [43:00] – Deconstruction and letting go of old Bible baggage [49:00] – The Wounded Healer: reframing sin as sickness, not crime [52:30] – Salvation through solidarity: Christ as the one who takes on our sickness to heal us [55:00] – The endgame: choosing hope over despair and nihilism [58:30] – Signs of hope in the world (even if they don’t make the news) Key Takeaways * Genesis offers a symbolic vision of God’s intention for creation and humanity’s calling, not a science textbook. * Sin is best understood as taking shortcuts—grasping for good things before their time—instead of trusting God’s process. * Viewing sin as sickness shifts the focus from judgment to healing, with Christ entering our brokenness to restore us. * Faith in God’s “endgame” invites hope and purposeful living, even when the world feels chaotic. Buy The Book!Deconstruct with Jesus [https://www.amazon.com/] by Zachary Bryant More podcasts and resources at eremosnashville.com [https://eremosnashville.com/] If you found this episode meaningful, leave a review, share it with a friend, or support our work at eremosnashville.com/donate [https://eremosnashville.com/donate].

We're Back. Sad News!

After a long hiatus, Zach and Brian reconnect to reflect on where they’ve been, what’s going on, and how they’re navigating life lately. In this episode, they talk about dealing with sad news—from personal losses to the daily weight of the world—and share an honest conversation about how to stay emotionally and spiritually grounded. They reflect on the life and work of Walter Brueggemann, explore the tension between awareness and overload, and share small but meaningful practices that help them care for their hearts and minds. Topics Covered & Timestamps: [00:00] – Welcome back & life updates [06:29] – The problem with hot takes in our culture [11:37] – Remembering Walter Brueggemann and what he taught us [21:29] – How sad news impacts us personally and spiritually [29:46] – Coping strategies: limits, boundaries, and breathing room [36:52] – The role of self-care in times of grief [48:31] – Encouragement for staying grounded and hopeful Resources Mentioned: * Sabbath as Resistance [https://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Resistance-Saying-Culture-Expanded/dp/0664263299/] by Walter Brueggemann * The Prophetic Imagination [https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Imagination-Walter-Brueggemann/dp/1506449309/] by Walter Brueggemann Support the Podcast: If you found this episode meaningful, leave a review, share it with a friend, or support the work at eremosnashville.com/donate.

Paul Needs A Hug! | Deconstruct with Jesus # 6

Welcome back! In this episode of the DwJ series, Zach and Brian dive into Chapter 5, “Paul Needs a Hug.” They explore how the theology behind "total depravity" has shaped the way many Christians view themselves—and why it might be time to let it go. Through humor, honesty, and deep reflection, they reframe grace as something we don’t have to grovel for and invite listeners to see themselves as already beloved. * [00:00] – Intro: Why this conversation might ruffle some feathers * [04:55] – Is Jesus changing God's mind about us… or ours about God? * [10:25] – “What a wretched man I am”: Was Paul writing doctrine or just having a rough day? * [14:54] – The Bible is for you, but it wasn’t written to you * [20:19] – Redefining grace: God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves * [24:30] – Do we actually deserve God’s love? Reframing worthiness and gift-giving * [35:22] – Identity matters: why believing you're beloved changes how you live * [53:01] – Practicing receptivity: silence, stillness, and sitting in the loving gaze of God Some Memorable Quotes from the Episode “What makes you deserving of a gift is the giver’s desire to give it.” – Zach “We’re not totally depraved. We’re totally loved.” – Zach “All God asks of us is regular consent to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.” – Zach “If your theology isn’t emotionally and psychologically healthy, maybe it’s not good theology.” – Brian Buy The Book! * Deconstruct with Jesus [https://www.amazon.com/Deconstruct-Jesus-Rethinking-Faith-Again/dp/B0DTT9K6JX] by Zachary Bryant More podcasts and resources can be found at eremosnashville.com [https://www.eremosnashville.com] If you found this episode meaningful, leave a review, share it with a friend, or support our work at eremosnashville.com/donate.