The Brothers Zahl

The brothers deliver their most counterintuitive episode yet with a conversation about divine foolishness and the crucified God. Recommended and referenced resources include:

Books: On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard Forde, Kingdom Grace and Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon, The Crucified God by Juergen Moltmann, Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall by Christophe Lebold, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Movies: Green Light, The Darjeeling Limited, Red Beard, Rome Open City, The Battle of Algiers, Flight

Paintings: The Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthais Gruenewald

Plays: The Family Reunion by TS Eliot

Poetry: "The Four Quartets" (especially East Coker) and "Journey of the Magi" by TS Eliot

Songs: "Flyin Like an Eagle"by Tony Loeffler, "Waterloo" by ABBA, "War on War" by Wilco, "Over at the Frankenstein Place" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, "Bring It On" by Nick Cave, "Can't Be Serious" by Ginny, "Mission Impossible" by Freestyle, "Bob Lind (The Only Way Is Down" by Pulp, "Wall of Death" by REM, "Empty Me Out" by Liz Vice, "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe, "Tough" by Martin Vogel, "Doctor Wu" by Steely Dan, "Mountain of Transfiguration" by Andy Squyres, "Anthem" by Sandra McCracken

The wait is over! After a two year layoff, John, David, and Simeon open season four with a jumbo-sized episode on The Law. Thou shalt listen (or else). Recommended and referenced resources include:

Books: Law & Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints) 10th Anniversary Edition by William McDavid, Ethan Richardson and David Zahl; Les Miserables by Victor Hugo; Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan; Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Augustine's "On the Spirit and the Letter"; The Antinomian Disputation by Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians by Martin Luther, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl (Chapter 4)

Movies: Dead Poets Society, Chocolat

Documentaries: Buck, The Last Dance, Free Solo, The Turnaround, King of Kong, Listers

Television: Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Jim Gaffigan Show ("The Trial" and "He Said She Said" in particular)

Songs: "Thou Shalt Not Steal" by Glenda Collins, "Numbers" by Weezer, "I Ain't Into That" by The Rappin Rev, "I Fought the Law" by The Bobby Fuller Four, "Condemnation" by Depeche Mode, "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror" by Elvis Costello, "Pick Me Tonight" by Tina Turner, "Love Is the Law" by The Seahorses, "What You Won't Do" by Bobby Caldwell, "Feel the Pressure" by The Charlatans, "You Could Be More As You Are" by Saada Bonaire, "Perfection as a Hipster" by God Help the Girl, "You Should Never" by My Bloody Valentine, "The Straight and Narrow" by Spiritualized, "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by Honey Cone, "Stars" from Les Miserables, "Surface Pressure" from Encanto

For the bonus-length finale of season three, the brothers delve into the monumental topic of parenting, exploring how they were raised as well as how they're trying to raise their own kids. Thankfully, a very special guest is on hand to help them.

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Recommended and referenced resources include:

Books: Grace in Practice by Paul Zahl, Listening by Anne Long, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist, Augustine's Confessions

Articles: "Me, My Father, and Russell Wilson" by Mina Kimes

Television: Bluey, Parenthood (2010-2015), Love on the Spectrum, Lonesome Dove

Movies: Parenthood (1989), The Ice Storm (1997), Forrest Gump (1994), Friendly Persuasion (1956)

Talks: Grace in Family Relationships by Mary Zahl

Songs: "Mr. T's Commandment" by Mr T, "Mama Say" by Kwame, "Son of Your Father" by Elton John, "Problem Child" by The Beach Boys, "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" by The Breeders, "Rebel Without a Clue" by Bonnie Tyler, "Shine Jesus Shine" by Graham Kendrick, "Rubberneckin" by Elvis Presley, "Listen to the Band" by The Monkees, "Phone Home" by Johnny Chingas, "God's Children" by The Kinks, "Save Me" by Nanette Workman, "Suedehead" by Morrissey, "Come Back Home" by Tom Hooker, "No Matter What" by Badfinger, "Love Will Never Die" by Paul Lowe featuring Peace Train

Time to talk about the biggest day in the Christian year! Resurrection is the theme of this episode--physical, spiritual, metaphorical, ecclesial, musical, you name it. Note: this one was recorded live, so the sound is a little less sharp.

Recommended and referenced resources include:

Poetry: "Seven Stanzas at Easter" by John Updike, "Descending Theology: The Resurrection" by Mary Karr, "Easter" by George Herbert

Art: "Resurrection" by Piero della Francesca (1463), "The Resurrection" by Otto Dix (1949), "Easter Morning" by Caspar David Friedrich (1835), "The Resurrection, Cookham" by Stanley Spencer (1924-7), "Travoys Arriving with Wounded at a Dressing-Station at Smol, Macedonia, September, 1916" by Stanley Spencer (1919), "Risen Christ and Soldiers" by Germain Pilon (1572), "Isenheim Altarpiece" by Matthias Gruenewald (1516)

Television and Movies: Rev Season 3 Episodes 5&6, The Passion of the Christ

Articles: "Finitude and Death" by Katherine Sonderegger in The T&T Clark Companion to the Doctrine of Sin

Songs: "Love Is Stronger Than Death" by The The, "Sunrise" by Pulp, "How a Resurrection Really Feels" by The Hold Steady, "He's Alive" by Dolly Parton, "Resurrection Shuffle" by Tom Jones, "Photograph" by Ringo Starr, "Candy" by 1910 Fruitgum Company, "Don't Worry About Death" by Melon, "Back to Heaven" by Number One Ensemble, "I Don't Wanna Be a Solider Mama" by John Lennon, "I Am the Resurrection" by The Stone Roses, "Dance or Die" by Kool Rock Steady, "Get Up and Boogie" by Silver Convention, "Revenge" by The Eurythmics, "Death Is Not the End" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Sing Hallelujah" by Bob & Karin

John, David, and (mainly) Simeon do their best to bring the third person of the Trinity into view. Recommended and referenced resources include:

Movies: Red Beard, Rising Son, Rize, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That, Pride and Prejudice

Books: The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience by Simeon Zahl, The Holy Ghost: A Spirited Comic by John Hendrix, Make Way for the Spirit by Christoph Blumhardt, Theophilus North by Thornton Wilder, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Poetry: "Whitsunday" by George Herbert

Paintings: "The Pentecost" by El Greco, "Pentecost" by Jean Restout, Duccio's Maesta

Music: A Love Supreme by John Coltrane, "Let the Wind Blow" by The Beach Boys, "Wind Chimes" by The Beach Boys, "Cool, Cool Water" by The Beach Boys, "Feel Flows" by The Beach Boys, "Tears in the Morning" by The Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys, "Handle with Care" by The Traveling Wilburys, "Holy Ghost" by The Bar-Kays, "Faith and Fire" by Vivian Reed, "Strange Changes" by Lyndsey Paul, "Revival Day" by Savage Rose, "Yahweh" by U2, "Somebody Tell Me Where's the Beef?" by Britten, "Unchained" by Van Halen, "Touched by the Hand of God" by New Order, "Full of Fire" by Al Green, "Holy Spirit" by Limousine