In this final podcast on the “Fruit of the Spirit,” Paul contends that self-control, the ninth “fruit of the Spirit,”  is a primary instrument of hope. He offers that hope is the purpose behind persistence toward a “promised land.” Self-control helps to keep us on track in our journey, despite the distractions, discouragement and dismissals that inevitably cross our path.

Ep. 35: Fruit of the Spirit - Self-Control, Part 3

In the first episode of the first series, Dr. Paul Patton explores what it means to "steward the stirrings of one's soul," and how it contributes to spiritual growth. How do you determine what is worth remembering, and then once you remember it, how do you move closer toward retrieving it on command?

Learn more about Dr. Patton here: https://www.theccsn.com/paul-patton/

Ep. 1: Stewarding the Stirrings of Your Soul, Pt. 1

(Series 1, Episode 2). In the second episode of the series "Stewarding the Stirrings of One's Soul," Dr. Paul Patton continues to explore what it means to "steward the stirrings of one's soul," and how it contributes to a growing sense of "sacred interiority." When was the last time you were inspired? What does it mean to be inspired and why does living in a digital culture make it difficult to recall such moments of inspiration? Examples from Jesus and the Apostle Peter are considered. 

Learn more about Dr. Patton here: www.theccsn.com/paul-patton/

Ep. 2: Stewarding the Stirrings of Your Soul, Pt. 2

In the third episode of the series “Stewarding the Stirrings of One’s Soul,” Paul reflects on what is meant to be an ultimate “soul stirring,” a dominant truth that serves as the hub of our cognitive wheel, what the ancient Jews called a “Shema.” He offers that our Shema prioritizes our truth assertions and is meant to be memorized, even recited aloud twice each day, consistent with the practice of the recited Shema in ancient Israel. What is your “Shema?” What truth assertion is so central that it is the hub of your cognitive wheel?

Learn more about Dr. Patton here: www.theccsn.com/paul-patton/

Ep. 3: Stewarding the Stirrings of Your Soul, Pt. 3

Paul continues with encouragement in identifying a central confession, a "shema." In so doing, Paul suggests, we begin the intentional process of strengthening our sacred interiority. Patton gives examples of how to choose a central confession worth memorizing and re-stating daily. He concludes by sharing a central confession for the church, British philosopher and pastor, John Peck's "I Have a Vision."

Ep. 4: Stewarding the Stirrings of Your Soul, Pt. 4

In the final podcast in his series, "Stewarding the Stirrings of the Soul," Paul offers more biblical examples and stories from church history surrounding the mind-building exercise of memorizing central confessions and soul-stirring inspirations.

Ep. 5: Stewarding the Stirrings of Your Soul, Pt. 5

In this podcast, Paul talks about the importance of building an alphabetized index while engaged in Bible reading. In focusing, especially, on reading a chapter of Proverbs associated with the calendar date (i.e. reading the 20th chapter on the 20th day of the month).

Ep. 7: Cultivating the Daily Habit of Bible Reading, Pt. 2

In this podcast, Paul introduces his new series on wise engagement with the 24-7 invitation of pop culture. The series employs the metaphor of pop culture as an unrelenting, always available “dance partner” and posits the question of moral and spiritual significance, “Who’s leading whom in the dance?”

Ep. 8: Your Dance with Pop Culture: Who’s Leading Whom in the Dance? Pt. 1

In this podcast, Paul gives an autobiographic glimpse into his life-long struggle with balancing “entertain me” binges with mass media and the over-arching challenge to redeem the time. He ends the program by sharing the “junk food” fantasy scenario. This is the second of his introductory podcasts setting up his emphasis in developing “sacred intentionality,” “sacred interiority,” and “sacred identity” in our dance with pop culture.

Ep. 9: Your Dance with Pop Culture: Who’s Leading Whom in the Dance? Pt. 2

In this podcast, Paul offers the “fruit of the Spirit” as the cultivated objectives in the garden called our lives. He briefly discusses the first of the nine virtures, “agape love.” He asserts that “agape love” is operationally defined as “caring about the best interests of the object of love, regardless of their response.” He further suggests that “agape love” provides an operationalizing purpose for our existence, a central “why” for our journey—to cultivate our capacity to love sacrificially. In times of cultural, community and individual distress, such biblically-informed “purposes” help us stay focused and motivated in life’s journey.

Ep. 11: Fruit of the Spirit - Agape

In this podcast, Paul continues with his focus on the “Fruit of the Spirit” with a second look at the God-given virtue of “joy.” He suggests that biblically informed joy is by its very nature “paradoxical,” that is, joy and grief can be experienced simultaneously. He concludes by looking at the grief and depression of Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,” as an example of the paradoxical nature of joy. Paul points to the prophet’s mental demonstration in Lamentations, Chapter 3, of “calling to mind” an over-arching truth that gives meaning in times of despair.

Ep. 13: Fruit of the Spirit - Joy, Pt. 2

“Soul Stirrings” is Dr. Paul Patton’s 5-7 minute attempt to provide clarifying, maybe even inspiring, nuggets of insight about faith, communication, and culture along the journey of our existence. Paul is Professor Emeritus of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, a former pastor, theater practitioner, author, and playwright. This podcast, certainly assuming Judeo-Christian presuppositions, draws steadily from the biblical witness. The concept of “soul stirring” is readily tied to Jewish rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s insight that moments of inspiration come and go, yet “having been inspired never passes” (Heschel, Man Is Not Alone, Harper and Row, 1966, p. 78). In other words, if one can retrieve the inspiring insight from literature, from performance art, or even the memorable quip of a friend as circumstances invite clarity and depth, one has an oasis of the mind whenever it is needed. A “soul stirring” is a truth, an insight, an observation that stirs the soul to reconsider its assumptions and reflect on its current course.

The topics covered include the “Fruits of the Spirit,” as laid out in Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians, nine virtues cultivated over a lifetime in the garden of one’s life. Another over-arching theme is the wise engagement with the title-wave of pop culture, technology, and media entertainment offerings that can inadvertently move us away from a healthy balance of work and rest. As the podcast’s introduction asserts, “where all things regarding faith, communication, and culture are considered.

Ep. 35: Fruit of the Spirit - Self-Control, Part 3

Soul Stirrings

Related tracks