THE CHARGE with Dennis Metzler

Desire and the Christian Life--A Theological Approach: "The Gift of Thorns" with Dr. A.J. Swoboda

Dr. Swoboda looks at desire from a theological perspective. Our discussion covers God's desire, human desire, Satan's desire, fleshly desire, undesired desire, ordering desire, duty and desire, and best practices as they relate to desire.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. A.J. Swoboda is professor of Biblical Studies and World Christianity at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon and the author of several books. Check out "The Gift of Thorns: Jesus, the Flesh, and the War for Our Wants"
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Thorns-Jesus-Flesh-Wants-ebook/dp/B0CKMSW3G3?crid=DR8MTKNGBKFN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.20h19l532WbYg7EmmGjF1m0vPSF-K9ln14Vto-L_oHuYLpQHduBD9eLq0PQ07tgbJlmFlcDxUQCvy9E8xXuJfbOt0GVF5Oml2zFoAoeW95yiNtMXVSnTN8iH9W3SiT04G5sWv2ODiDCicFtJPG7RIkboFy23tbs9Dk5_AkCZXUERMygg0RM3IxDf47SN3bLYdPaNwvoMwBUC4gELZsYg6hWc3v2UtK733wTXuEoqcMI.9RV7eddk6uJFtzQq38zzsmBJ8wwYE7Il07pKj5f95XU&dib_tag=se&keywords=aj+swoboda&qid=1732740452&sprefix=%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1

The Question of Divine Omnipotence: Dr. Katherine Sonderegger’s Systematic Theology

Dr. Sonderegger discusses divine omnipotence in light of Scripture, Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Barth, and process theologians. We look at omnipotence as it relates to God’s benevolence, theodicy, meticulous providence, sovereignty, God’s attributes, holiness, humility, weakness, the cross, the supernatural, “acts of God”, subjectivity and objectivity, the Trinity, and God’s mutable immutability.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. Katherine Sonderegger is Professor of Theology at Virginia Theological Seminary and the author of many books including “Systematic Theology: Volume 1, The Doctrine of God” Follow the link to check out the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Doctrine-God-1/dp/1451482841?crid=2TSNL0NAOWBS7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EM66sPwuipw57MtMuxIHbVlmQiwrU3imBUFkUhhzzrIbOpjDc-tANuwvqN8LWqjG3R2K7V9aQvytADqaTEh45RuE6PAKq10r8EE_Kz5JlM7NiKItFMjJd7UByThIBVrrNrmvNVqONjaOD4SUMP09-Q.1gmT9YN1A_p7A9O4xQ0IJO9iI024fXrALcp0FZjTLPo&dib_tag=se&keywords=sonderegger+systematic+theology&qid=1730928043&sprefix=sonderegger+%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-1

Christian Personalist Ethics: More Than Things with Dr. Paul Louis Metzger

Dr. Metzger explains the nature and place of personalist ethics from a Christian perspective. We discuss his understanding of a person, his categories of faith and entangled ethics, hope and eschatological ethics, and love and embodied ethics as well as his metaphysical and methodological frameworks. Metzger continues with various contemporary ethical issues including disability, utilitarianism, marriage, sexuality, physician's assisted suicide, immigration, and finally space exploration.
 
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or shoot me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Paul Metzger's book "More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture":
https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Things-Personalist-Throwaway/dp/0830850910/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W15ZEGC2NYB2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.BzBDwK5424JvQPb8OZrNgk5YRu2I27yPEGe0NGEM_ZHGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.npJ8HyeYsES_H08tMceOSVK0fGE216N3F4qWVfKiLUY&dib_tag=se&keywords=More+than+things+metzger&qid=1729394224&s=books&sprefix=more+than+things+metzger%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-1

Michael J. Gorman's Big NT Theological Ideas: Resurrectional Cruciformity, Missional Theosis, & More

New Testament Scholar Dr. Michael J. Gorman explains his views on significant theological concepts: Paul's narrative spirituality and narrative soteriology, kenosis, justification by co-crucifixion, participating in Christ, resurrectional cruciformity, missional theosis, early Christian ethics, non-violence, and new covenant atonement.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. Gorman's books: Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross
https://www.amazon.com/Cruciformity-Pauls-Narrative-Spirituality-Anniversary/dp/0802879128/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2Y2UJB7B330SX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bK0MSPE-2VlODO7Pik1vBl__X0tch427tYSGFCB9NgDCsXJiruDkdLplP6ysd77OF7rA9UH4tLyql_NdipFXlRAYQInioF7vjFg92NO52jMLrtBbrrGKcuu2l-cjvBRBkAnDSPMWvSlPL3m3CcV5o93bJlfZbosg6jds1fV0snaTbs_jGQXdKDbnV0OHxvXUmhsKSzUqCUtITcKyt9ES2GGU-rXNxvDIJM1kkVuKwUQ.VZqhyznfgbnlmNbm1V1lk2uFGCFvhh3qnsnDlE8MYF8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Michael+J.+Gorman+books&qid=1727908360&sprefix=michael+j.+gorman+books%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-8
Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul's Narrative Soteriology
https://www.amazon.com/Inhabiting-Cruciform-God-Justification-Soteriology-ebook/dp/B0039808FM/ref=sr_1_12?crid=2Y2UJB7B330SX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bK0MSPE-2VlODO7Pik1vBl__X0tch427tYSGFCB9NgDCsXJiruDkdLplP6ysd77OF7rA9UH4tLyql_NdipFXlRAYQInioF7vjFg92NO52jMLrtBbrrGKcuu2l-cjvBRBkAnDSPMWvSlPL3m3CcV5o93bJlfZbosg6jds1fV0snaTbs_jGQXdKDbnV0OHxvXUmhsKSzUqCUtITcKyt9ES2GGU-rXNxvDIJM1kkVuKwUQ.VZqhyznfgbnlmNbm1V1lk2uFGCFvhh3qnsnDlE8MYF8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Michael+J.+Gorman+books&qid=1727908360&sprefix=michael+j.+gorman+books%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-12

Atonement Theology, Theories, and Models with Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen

Dr. Kärkkäinen discusses the atonement in relation to soteriology and reconciliation as well as the concepts of theory, model, and metaphor. We cover Christus Victor, recapitulation, ransom, satisfaction, moral example, and penal substitution models. Karkkainen then focuses on the non-violent understanding of the atonement and then considers the Incarnation, the suffering of Jesus and God, sacrifice, God's wrath, the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the eschatological consummation as they relate to atonement.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. Kärkkäinen's book "Christ and Reconciliation: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, Vol. 1"
https://www.amazon.com/Christ-Reconciliation-Constructive-Christian-Pluralistic/dp/0802868533/ref=sr_1_6?crid=ZUC9DG6F47KT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mpXYDzAo2gnJwz1rYh_4txNCM0raKRR2PdSE3O2TICppPywmFknJfC2CeL-dEdrEX1T6OgTqNGn5jScI4ag-awOMXJu4-ltGR3TLvTLu_OpGyigQ5aOoP0woCUOUZRdjMYx4UGhX8mPsw0awGXVFOyMVk39lqfsBcCyArMdU8uoTQV0M3YnRiDVBnf8L19n9lU4MbNIWrvHM2XIm19Cw7Xl2ue8bxjRS8EhxBMofpjg.uHV2X1M3BmQAzBtSNM073qVzVK0Wk2YW0Kl-BMEM48o&dib_tag=se&keywords=Karkkainen&qid=1723304286&sprefix=karkkainen%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-6

Dr. Alister McGrath--Christian Apologetics: An Introduction--Why Believe in God?

With three doctorates from Oxford and over 50 books to his credit, Dr. Alister McGrath is well-equipped to discuss apologetics including core elements, the inference to the best explanation, Dawkins' demand for a proof, and points of contact including a sense of longing, the beauty of the world, the ordering of nature, a sense of wonder, a sense of moral obligation, existential anxiety, and the fine tuning of the universe. He then covers narrative apologetics, enlightenment rationalism, the alleged incompatibility of science and religion, and materialist reductionism. McGrath also considers several Christian thinkers including Chesterton, Lewis, Sayers, Schaffer, and Taylor. We finish up with a look at creation and evolution.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. McGrath's book Christian Apologetics: An Introduction
https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Apologetics-Introduction-Alister-McGrath/dp/1119906938/ref=sr_1_1?crid=321KA6H8FVU57&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7tWvXqRiyZ6LGfLelPWzjiTitKMx_a95H4Dzvz6pMqMQnCu9T-73_HvB_aVXqTFxcJKcYD61jz-wExhavrf4OsMzPmpfqUz6ryhqMjMxkPQ.ibzJL2LJcLGKAO3mGIZFZpo4U3XDLCJcjFPvSxXcDqw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Alister+MCGrath+Christian+Apologetics+an+introduction&qid=1719869239&sprefix=alister+mcgrath+christian+apologetics+an+introduction%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1

Liberating Those on the Margins: "The Beautiful Gate" with Dr. Bob Ekblad

Bob Ekblad discusses the nature of his ministry to the marginalized, his philosophy of ministry, the theology of the cross, the "outside the gate" concept, the biblical "powers", the church as resisting community, and several stories where he put his faith into action.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out "The Beautiful Gate: Enter Jesus' Global Liberation Movement":
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Gate-Global-Liberation-Movement/dp/1540815668/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CGCZXB3FAY7A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pyz68zmoy3UNgFQgEKcyjw.v0KiVlJnIKGTIFvZDuESoKQk3xPlN4MaOlAOwIXvzQk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+beautiful+gate+ekblad&qid=1726360514&sprefix=the+beautiful+gate+ekblad%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1
Check out the audiobook:
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Gate-Global-Liberation-Movement/dp/B0D8K1QJ29/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CGCZXB3FAY7A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pyz68zmoy3UNgFQgEKcyjw.v0KiVlJnIKGTIFvZDuESoKQk3xPlN4MaOlAOwIXvzQk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+beautiful+gate+ekblad&qid=1726360514&sprefix=the+beautiful+gate+ekblad%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1

Bonhoeffer: Pacifist or Conspirator Against Hitler? Discipleship in a World of Nazis w/ Mark Nation

Historical orthodoxy has it that Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in some way at some level in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Dr. Mark Thiessen challenges this reading of history, arguing that Bonhoeffer maintained his pacifism till the end. Dr. Nation considers the views of other Bonhoeffer scholars, the biographical work of Eberhard Bethge, the writings of Bonhoeffer, and the thoughts of others who knew Bonhoeffer. We finally consider the ethical implications of this issue for the church today.
I, Dennis would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. Mark Thiessen Nation is Emeritus Professor of Theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and the author of "Discipleship in a World Full of Nazis: Recovering the True Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer" and "Bonhoeffer the Assassin?: Challenging The Myth, Recovering His Call to Peacemaking". Check out his books at:
https://www.amazon.com/Discipleship-World-Full-Nazis-Recovering/dp/1725295083/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MEGFXEMC4RJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L2LVqowIILC6KqWdj9oUax-WYTVwLiQyapwntoT-QIM.OTu1ZkaIw-EQkP5nmv0oWHJo6Qjyt3EZCWh1-srRfwA&dib_tag=se&keywords=discipleship+in+a+world+full+of+nazis&qid=1721683328&sprefix=%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Assassin-Challenging-Recovering-Peacemaking/dp/0801039614/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MEGFXEMC4RJW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5owDZEJ_FtMvgFpOLXvIAU1xb48ew-P86G82DGjeN0AFzpIts0_tHN67cUYBzIAFZFsnEGteeRd0hqEVSrdGOw.6AoVJQYOO0y2QUAD66pL-JlM9z66I-bmhVrBL_deJwM&dib_tag=se&keywords=bonhoeffer+the+assassin&qid=1721683358&sprefix=%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-1

What Should I Believe? ----Curveball: God and the Journey of Faith with Dr. Peter Enns

Dr. Peter Enns discusses his personal story, Wesley's quadrilateral, Rohr's tricycle, orthodoxy, OT biblical stories as something other than history, his critique of conservative biblical interpretation, C.S. Lewis and theosis, science and evolution, and near death experiences.
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. Peter Enns is Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University. Check out his book "Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming (or How I Stumbled and Tripped My Way to Finding a Bigger God)"
https://www.amazon.com/Curveball-Coming-Stumbled-Tripped-Finding/dp/0063093472/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.otwHgjPMX7inUuEUQNYMJoIw41RmtUZkINjkW0IVmj3hKHuGlT5C6vOx2agZdIdL0kAphLQ6YelzDjN-8xI8U7bbFWNhA219-vs7hbJRtCLaZ3npq1PHFBpLhcqYOy3EsSo3p2KIl8G1Avs8-5TbnwfesuzMEIDc4YHyPZ-rUxXlZjlTldDqBSoLL_uhbX-f.UIFY6jPvy4zC4LC4FRrECKGgXIkjo3XBYur8N1BuZBw&qid=1715215467&sr=8-1

Persons: Nature, Thought, Feeling, Perception, Will, Origin: Joshua Rasmussen: Who Are You, Really?

Dr. Joshua Rasmussen discusses various lines of thought related to understanding the nature and origin of the human person. We look at inquiry in terms of introspection, reason, and the scientific method as well as feelings according to eliminativism, reductionism, non-reductive materialism, and the something more view. We next consider thought in relation to the aspects of aboutness, structure, truth-value, logical linkability, and counting arguments. Dr. Rasmussen then explores five theories of perception (direct realism, phenomenalism, intentional theory, representationalism, window theory) and the will, freedom, determinism, and compatibilism. We next tackle the value of the individual, intrinsic value, the value puzzle, the mind-body problem, epiphenomenalism, dualistic interactionism, the conscious substance theory, the self, oneness, point of view, and self-awareness. We move on to the origins of persons, the construction problem, mind-making, the binding problem, the unity of a conscious self, three views of identity (body, psychological, soul) dichotomist and trichotomist views, and the prior identity hypothesis. Dr. Rasmussen discusses the emergence of consciousness in terms of strong emergence, incongruent emergence, and substance emergence. Finally, Dr. Rasmussen answers the question, 'how could a first-person conscious substance come to exist?'
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or email me at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Joshua Rasmussen's book "Who Are You, Really?: A Philosopher's Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Persons" published by IVP Academic in 2023.
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Are-You-Really-Philosophers/dp/1514003945/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.K17XpoqY_hxpYlQ363dtg8vKhBXVKg1nxqo9vZ7s-0AsT7ZNDMLtjV7D5ul0k4Gc4jt2AMR1veP-DqxxWerT5L-ll_zCdJxBiSgS0WRn4e3WjlHVxD3v98-gr6m6mu-1m1bL8Qbmx1ixu9UuMUdLD3YYrhXJHGuShj6zeYjJtUOivy9pXsH75c4LmsDUVBl3JhJTBYXPadZYLu-ztFYSsYs8BLb-FsSaXxXEgyNXFrk.vleJKWZfmH4KKGSer6fTfZJl92R-u47TOiWXsANxWfg&qid=1718406540&sr=8-1