Where does the soul come from? Is it created by God or does it come from our parents and ultimately from Adam? Michael explores Creationism and Traducianism as it relates to the origin of the human soul, explaining them along the way.
Continue reading →Michael investigates our misconceptions concerning the body and soul, exploring the Platonic and NeoPlatonic influences on Christian thought, which has produced dualistic and body-dismissing conceptions of human nature and the source of sin.
Continue reading →Michael examines the challenge of reconstructing history from fragments concerning people and events that were certainly obscure in their time, leading to a phenomenon he terms 20/20 Hindblindness.
Continue reading →Michael explores the relationship between trauma and calling by analyzing “Redeeming Heartache” by Dr. Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel. They classify trauma into orphan, stranger, and widow categories, linking them to the roles of prophet, priest, and king. Michael critiques their insights, highlighting gaps in their analysis while integrating his own perspective on the three powers.
Continue reading →Michael explores internal and external standards for values of good, right, and true, emphasizing the balance between individual and collective values.
Continue reading →Michael delves into the dynamics of the affections and their ordering. He lays out foundational concepts for affective change, suggesting initial steps for processing emotions.
Continue reading →Michael discusses the connection between the Holy Spirit’s gifts and the human spirit’s powers, noting how Jesus’ roles as prophet, priest, and king are reflected in church members and offices. He highlights the potential for discord due to diversity in gifts but emphasizes God’s purpose of unity and growth within the church.
Continue reading →In this bonus episode of Being Something Extra, Michael discusses the conventions of comedy and tragedy. He analyzes how the films Uncut Gems and The Room subvert traditional expectations, transforming tragic scenarios toward conventionally comedic outcomes.
Continue reading →Michael addresses self-awareness and its challenges due to overlapping powers. He categorizes these overlaps: desire connects will and affections, plan connects will and intellect, and dream connects intellect and affections. Standards for these overlaps are habit for desire, conviction for plan, and taste for dream. Resolving conflicts in the three powers generally happens in the overlaps or agreements of the powers
Continue reading →Michael explores the complex dynamics of superiority and submission, emphasizing the important distinctions between domain, power, and authority. He highlights how internal submission fosters personal wholeness, while external submission can lead to peace and productivity within communities.
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