Voices from the Desert
In the early days of Christianity, men and women fled to the desert and became the wisest sages of their era. Voices from the Desert explores how the wisdom of Ancient Christianity applies to our modern world. Where do the streams of historic Christianity intersect with contemporary Christianity? And how do we come to know God deep in our heart? Join Joshua Hoffert and Murray Dueck for a deep dive into the mystics, union with God, patristic theology and what it all means in our modern world.
Episodes
91 episodes
The heart, it speaks: an interview with Bishop Andrew Miller, Part 2
In continuing the conversation about healing of the heart with Father Andrew Miller of Heartsync Ministries, Father Andrew dives into the four core parts of the heart and the journey of discovery that he went on through counseling, pastoring, a...
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1:10:43
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Discovering the value of synchronizing the heart: an interview with Bishop Andrew Miller, Part 1
Join Josh and Murr as they interview the founder of Heartsync Ministries about his journey of counseling, therapy, and encountering God. From the Jesus People Movement to encountering an angel and finding himself working with severe disassociat...
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54:55
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Dealing with the deep heart: insecurity, delusion, and schemes
The Psalmist tells us that the deep heart of man devises iniquity and plots our schemes. How might the 10 Rules of the Spiritual Life address the deep heart of man with all its lies, insecurities, and delusions? Join Murr and Josh as they dive ...
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1:20:25
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Trust and what to do when it breaks down: Rule #5
In today's day and age we are surrounded with great examples of failed leaders. But does every failure constitute spiritual abuse and manipulation? It sure seems like some think so. Join Josh and Murr as they talk about Rule #5 from the 10 Spir...
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1:20:31
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Structure for the Spiritual Life: Spiritual Rules #3 and 4
Josh and Murr are back at it covering rules 3 and 4 from the Communion with Jesus Christ: 10 Rules for the Spiritual Life pamphlet from the monks at the Hermitage of the Annunciation in New Germany, NS. Today's rules:3. Labour with endur...
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1:08:35
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Giving Structure to the Spiritual Life
Have you ever wondered how to point your life in a God-ward way? Murray and Josh are setting out on a series to cover a monastic document - "Ten Rules for the Spiritual Life" authored by the Orthodox monks in Nova Scotia, Canada at the Goosecha...
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1:15:44
Developing a Sound Mind: an interview with Michael Sullivant Part 2
Once again, the boys are back with Michael Sullivant. Tune in as Michael talks about developing a nest of virtues, how the ancients intuited spiritual growth, synchronizing the mind with Christ, and much more! For more about Michael...
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52:54
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Developing a Sound Mind: an interview with Michael Sulllivant Part 1
Today on the Voices from the Desert, Josh and Murr interview Michael Sullivant and dive into a discussion on discipleship, the sound mind, and spiritual formation. Michael Sullivant is the founder of Radius Ministries along with his wife Terri ...
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52:45
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Questioning theology and meeting a priest: an interview with Chris Hawthorne Part 2
In part 2 of their conversation, Murray, Josh, and Chris talk about ancestral sin vs original sin, discovering the Desert Fathers, the Dark Night of the Soul, the potential witchcraft of "once saved, always saved," and much more)! Tune in this ...
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55:21
Questioning church and theology: an interview with Fr Deacon Chris, an Orthodox priest (almost), part 1
Murray and Josh sit down with good friend Chris Hawthorne to talk about his journey towards the Orthodox priesthood. Chris attended Murray's ministry school in the early 2000's and he and Josh have crossed paths many times. Like many, he discov...
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51:01
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Navigating political outcomes and not losing hope
Another day, another election. This episode was recorded in the wake of the Canadian election. Murray and Josh share their thoughts about political outcomes, where our hope lies, and how God speaks through the circumstances in our lives. Join t...
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58:39
Encountering God at Burning Man: and interview with Will Spencer
On the podcast today, Josh sits down with guest host Rob Mazza to interview podcaster Will Spencer. They talk about Will's journey from the New Age rave scene in San Francisco to encountering Jesus in the desert of Nevada, and then the long cir...
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2:02:53
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Easter, The Crucifixion, and the meaning of Redemption
The central event in all of history. The lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This creation defining moment all too often is reduced to a moral lesson about right and wrong. As Brennan Manning said, "The gospel is absurd and the life ...
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1:13:29
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Where do we go from here? An interview with David Takle part 2
Today, much of the church practices a theology with moral law at centre of the gospel. How are we to reclaim a theology centred on the the actual gospel? Did God come to make a more moral people, or is the gospel about something more profound t...
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1:01:00
What we have been doing is not working. An interview with David Takle - Part 1
In this episode, Josh and Murr sit down to talk with David Takle, in part about his latest book and how we can recapture a Christ centered theology. In the West, we have exchanged a moral law framework as our theological center. In essence, we ...
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1:00:18
Voices from the Desert: WE ARE BACK!
We are back! After a cross country move and many happenings on the farm we are finally back for more Voices from the Desert! Tune in as Murray and Josh revisit why they do what they do and what to expect in the upcoming episodes of your favorit...
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54:49
Discovering Life in the Wilderness: an interview with Andrew Arndt
This is the last podcast of the year folks and it is a doozy. Murray and Josh welcome a new friend, Andrew Arndt - someone like them. Andrew discovered the Desert Fathers while going through burnout and disaffection from the "Charismatic Church...
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1:27:05
Do the disciplines heal the soul?
Presently, there is a resurgence of interest in the "spiritual disciplines". What do these things do and why are we to do them? What are the scary thing the early fathers called "the passions"? What is the relation between the disciplines and t...
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1:18:06
Distinctives, leadership, and the flaws in denominational thinking
On the podcast today, Murray and Josh interview their good friend Steve Schroeder, the President of CMA (www.canadacma.org). Steve talks about above the line thinking, hub and spoke ministries and churches, shifting to an open architecture mind...
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1:21:40
The Growing Divide: Is Jesus the Problem? A dream examined...
It seems that today we are trying our best to build, cast vision, influence, spread the word, bring the kingdom, and create space for the miraculous in our churches and communities. Sometimes, it seems as if the problem is not us, but Jesus. If...
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1:21:54
What are we being healed of?
When it comes to salvation and healing of the soul (see all the previous episodes on the spiritual life), what exactly are we being healed of? Is it sin? Our hurts and brokenness? Our disillusionment? The early fathers of Christianity often spo...
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1:31:41
The Inner Way: Does it Really Matter at All?
If salvation is about making it to heaven, why should we bother with formation here on earth? What do our theories of salvation and eschatology have to do with our present day practices? Murray and Josh take a dive into some patristic wisdom as...
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1:10:00
The Inner Way: When Leaders Fall...
What is the aim of Christianity and salvation? Is it to get as many people saved as possible? To create a moral perfect society? To fulfill the vision of a particular ministry? The mark we set determines a lot about what we do. In ...
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1:17:14
Misconceptions of Prayer, the Teaching of Jesus on Prayer, and How the Fathers Read Scripture
When it comes to how Christians are taught prayer, much of the church has been found wanting. The teaching of Jesus on prayer are often overlooked in favor of some occasional concomitant. What was Jesus thinking when he said, "And when you pray...
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1:29:22
Inner Prayer: the Lord's Prayer and the Sermon on the Mount
Sometimes it seems as if we read the scriptures as a series of commands or instructions, rather than an invitation to follow the way of Jesus and to know him intimately. In this episode, Josh and Murray begin diving into the Lord's prayer and t...
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1:07:15