I have spend all four decades of my life in the church. However, over the last decade serving and leading in kids ministry, God has done an amazing work of reframing my faith.
I now have a deeper understanding of God’s true character, what the mission and purpose of Jesus is, and what the Holy Spirit’s roll is in my life. God did all this through a gentle process of unlearning and relearning. A process which I am confident will continue until the day He returns.
Many of the links, podcasts, and books included below have been instrumental this reframing process. They have also been invaluable in expanding my emotional capacity for my immediate family.
I hope and pray you will find something new and wonderful in this list!
With love,
Elisa
audio and podcasts
PODCAST: Exploring My Strange Bible
Listening to Dr. Tim Mackie preach through the Gospel of Matthew was very healing and instructive for me. God used him to re-tone Jesus as he talked about the person and perspective of Jesus.
VIDEO: The Bible Project
This is a fantastic resource to help you read the Bible as one unified story that leads to Jesus. They make animated videos and podcast that help illuminate the context, literary styles and original language of the Bible. Also helpful hints not how to find themes that run through all sixty-six books. I can’t recommend their site more, it has been life changing!
PODCAST: The Place We Find Ourselves - Podcast
Adam Young, LCSW/MDiv hosts a podcast on telling your story and healing from the shame of your past. I have found this podcast powerful on my own healing journey and hope you might find the same. I want to specifically highlight his episodes on Attachment Theory and The Big Six. They are an excellent start in thinking about how you were parented and how we are meant to parent.
AUDIO: Parent Well Conference 2019
We started parent well in February of 2019. We had planned a second conference March of 2020 (featuring Adam Young) but had to cancel due to the pandemic. We have audio recordings from the main sessions in 2019. I would love for you to have the recordings for free! Use the discount code: LEADER.
PODCAST: Brené Brown
Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston. She has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and her latest book, Dare to Lead. Brené hosts two podcasts: Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix. The Call to Courage special debuted in April 2019.
PODCAST: Dr. Curt Thompson
Psychiatrist, speaker and author Curt Thompson connects our intrinsic desire to be known with the need to tell truer stories about ourselves — showing us how to form deep relationships, discover meaning and live integrated, creative lives. He has two podcast Being Known and Neurofaith as well as many wonderful YouTube videos of his teaching. My favorite podcast series is called Going Scared. He talks about doubt, anxiety and being known and loved:
Being Known & Loved: Podcast & Spotify
AUDIO: The Gottman Institute
The Gottman Institute is dedicated to combining wisdom from research and practice to support and strengthen marriages, families, and relationships. It brings the knowledge of research to therapists — and the insight of therapists to researchers. This link between research and practice reflects the collaboration of John and Julie Gottman, whose combined research and clinical experience is extensive, and incomparable.
AUDIO: Dr. Daniel J. Seigel
Dr. Siegel is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. An award-winning educator, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of several honorary fellowships. Dr. Siegel is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational organization, which offers online learning and in-person seminars that focus on how the development of Mindsight in individuals, families and communities can be enhanced by examining the interface of human relationships and basic biological processes.
PODCAST: Ask NT Write Anything
The weekly podcast that connects you to NT Wright’s thought and theology by allowing you to ask the questions. Presented by Premier Unbelievable in partnership with SPCK and NTWrightOnline. Hosted by Justin Brierley. It’s great cause you can just look for a question you have and see what he thinks!
PODCAST: Selfwork
Dr. Margaret, a psychologist for over 25 years and the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression. I created The SelfWork Podcast in 2016 to explain mental health treatment, and to give you the chance to consider therapy without thinking it's weird or somehow suggests you can't "fix" your own problems.
PODCAST: BEMA
The BEMA Podcast is a walk-through of the context of the Bible and the Text itself, as well as surrounding history. We deconstruct our common readings of the Bible and attempt to reconstruct them through the lens of historical context. The main body of work is contained in Seasons 1–5, and we encourage you to start with episode 0 and continue in order through episode 204.
PODCAST: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
In Ruth Haley Barton’s 30-minute episodes, you will discover how forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God in the midst of leading (or just living) is the best thing you bring to leadership. The Transforming Center has additional resources for pastors, Christian leaders, and the congregations and organizations they serve.
Books for Grownups
God Has a Name - John Mark Comer
Miracles and Other Reasonable Things - Sarah Bessey
Life Together in Christ - Ruth Haley Barton
I Take My Coffee Black - Tyler Merritt
The Gospels - Sarah Ruden
The Kingdom New Testament - N.T Wright
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Looking for more recommendations?
Elisa Booker is Pastor of Children and Families at Trinity Grace Church and co-founder of Parent Well. Her littles, Elizabeth and Benjamin, keep her humble and exploring. She and her husband, Armistead, love names with more than seven letters and adventuring together around Brooklyn. She is passionate about seeing humans experiencing life free from shame and cooking really yummy food.
