Illuminate

Artists have a way of seeing the unseen. Especially what is unseen to majority of society. Audrey Assad & Brady Toops are two people who definitely see what most others don't. And they're no longer afraid of sharing what it is they see.  Both have created & recreated careers in the liminal landscape that hosts the intersection of musical entertainment & leading worship. They share some raw & hilarious thoughts on who they used to be & where they find themselves today. And they share a little bit of their art along the way.  ___________________________ @audreyassad | audreyassad.com @bradytoops | bradytoops.com Opening Theme Music by Future of Forestry To watch the conceptual short films featuring composer Tony Anderson, go to http://youtube.com/TonyAndersonMusic or http://vimeo.com/TonyAndersonMusic Look out for Tony's new album, CHASM. Available 10.10.18 COMING SOON: new stock visuals licensing site, http://shop.illuminate.us A NIGHT OF HOPE tour: Nov 29 - Dec 2 (featuring Ann Voskamp &am

Artist & author Makoto Fujimura illuminates the relationship between faith & art like no other person I've met. His artwork (based on an ancient Japanese painting style called Nihonga) has been featured in contemporary art galleries around the world, in places like Chelsea New York, Haifa Israel, & Hong Kong.  While "Mako" has one step in the art world, he has his other foot in the Church, speaking life into Her artists, adding color a black-&-white world of religion that has been stripped of beauty & visual theology. He especially has a sensitive heart for artists in the Church, who often feel used, misunderstood, & ultimately exiled. His passion for curating a "theology of making" has landed him a role at Fuller Seminary as the Director of Culture Care Initiative at the Brehm Center.  Mako is back on the ILLUMINATE podcast to talk about the concept & practice of "Culture Care", something I believe both the Church & the culture at large so desperately needs in these divisive t

When it comes to leading worship, liturgist & writer Aaron Niequist likes to swim in the deep end. Coming from a small stream of evangelicalism, Aaron has wrestled & fought with questions like, "Is this all there is? Is there more to worship than a setlist & a sermon?"  His questions about worship styles & Sunday morning practices only scratch the surface, for Aaron is always swimming deeper, seeking after the substance beneath all the worship styles.    During this journey through doubt & deconstruction, Aaron discovered the rich treasure of ancient Christian practices & the beauty of liturgical worship. And he's spent years experimenting with the concept of importing these ancient practices into modern worship settings. Through many successes & failures, Aaron has gleaned much wisdom, which he shares in his new book, "The Eternal Current: how a practice-based faith can save us from drowning".  And I'm so grateful to Aaron for coming onto the podcast to share some of the stories

With Daniel Henderson, the craic is always 90. That's Irish for "pretty great." Over the last few years, Daniel has become one of my closest friends. Legend has it he won the Irish Brewer's Cup & competed on the worldwide stage in Melbourne for World's Best Cup of coffee. He does make a pretty mean cup. A year later, that would lead Daniel set out with his friends to open up a cafe in Northern Ireland called "Lost & Found". On this episode, Daniel shares the ups & downs of chasing big dreams, losing his identity to his creative passions, & the journey of finding himself again in the world of professional ministry.  _______________________________ Daniel Henderson is @surfmister on Instagram. Lost & Found is located in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.  Theme Music: "Homeward" by Future of Forestry "No Greater Unknown" by Jonah Ramey (search on Spotify or iTunes) "The Eternal Current" by Aaron Niequist (available on Amazon) Please consider supporting this podcast by giving at least $1 a month vi

Traveling the world is one of the main things that has inspired my creativity & shaped my worldview. In this episode, I sit down with longtime friend & fellow globetrotter Jonathan Smyth (aka "Biscuet") to talk about living overseas, traveling to unlikely places, & how that's affected the way we see the world around us.  "Biscuet" has had his hands in the worlds of video production, event producing, English teaching, & marketing. He's applied all of these gifts at his current job with ELIC, an English-teaching organization that sends teachers all over Asia & the Middle East. _________________________________ Jonathan Smyth: @Biscuet on all the socials http://elic.org 

The practice of tea ceremonies is an ancient liturgy that dates back many centuries. More than a simple drink, tea has been used to welcome dignitaries, stop wars, & cloak Christians celebrating Communion in secret.  In June 2018, I joined illuminator Makoto Fujimura & a group of artists for a unique trip to Israel-Palestine. Our main objective was to perform Rikyū tea ceremonies in key "holy sites" throughout the Holy Land, bringing a spirit of peace & Shalom to this very conflicted land. Joining Mako is Japanese Tea Master-Apprentice Keiko Yanaka & her husband, Osamu.  Photos from our tea ceremonies in Israel: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk5--_9BX5d/?taken-by=sproctor   _________________________ Makoto Fujimura: Twitter & IG @iamfujimura, http://makotofujimura.com  Keiko Yanaka: Twitter @joyinthehouse7 Osamu Yanaka: Twitter @WILLIAM_JOY Nihonga Refractions on Instagram: @nihongarefractions  Listen to more of Mako & Keiko discussing Tea & Communion here: https://fullerstudio.fulle

Live presentation on "visual liturgy." Presented by your host, Stephen Proctor.  Recorded on March 26, 2018 @ Nebraska Christian College (https://www.nechristian.edu) Opening Theme Music by Future of Forestry. To see & listen to more talks like this, visit: http://illuminate.us   

Let's say you happen upon a burning bush, & a voice calls out from the flames, "Make Me a cup of coffee." What type of coffee would you prepare? Why? And what does this have to do with ANYTHING?! These are the kinds of conversations that I have with Scott Davis, the most interesting person in the world I have ever met.  For the past few years, Scott has run a (pseudo) members-only coffee shop in Nashville, TN. It feels more like a speakeasy than anything else. And if I really dig down into my imagination, then I would describe Scott's space like the rabbit hole in the timeless classic "Alice in Wonderland." And Scott would no doubt be the White Rabbit. Or the Mad Hatter. I can never decide.  So before I set out on my long road trip to Portland, I sat down with Scott in his space "Noteable Blends" one last time. I hope you enjoy. ___________________________________ SHOW NOTES Scott isn't on Twitter. Or Instagram. And he hates Facebook.  It took him years to finally cave in & buy an iPhone, but he still

Welcome back to the ILLUMINATE podcast! This episode kicks off Season 2 with my story of moving to the City of Roses... Portland, Oregon! ______________________________________ SHOW NOTES "Breathing Strings" Live in Europe: https://www.gofundme.com/csduta-breathing-strings-in-europe Please donate to help David Swick & I make this unique concert tour & recording possible! =) The ALOHA 360 podcast & blog: http://thealoha360.com http://illuminate.us 

Instrumental music moves me more than any other art form. It's always been my dream to work with composers & orchestras to create immersive environments that fuel the imagination.  David Swick is a composer & songwriter in Nashville who’s working on a really interesting instrumental project. One of them is so unique and beautiful that I thought I’d bring him onto the ILLUMINATE podcast and let him share with you all his latest collaborative project called "BREATHING STRINGS."  Get ready to hear some beautiful music & to be inspired by David’s story & creative process.  _____________________________________________ SHOW NOTES   David Swick on Twitter: @davidwswick David on Instagram: @davidswick Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/dswick Download "Breathing Strings": https://breathingstrings.bandcamp.com/releases   The Radial Conservatory: http://theradialconservatory.com Vol I on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/volume-i/1292962281 Vol I on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7mynP0

Few have explored the intersection of art & faith like David Taylor, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary & the Brehm Center for the Arts. David is the perfect blend of artist & pastor, and his thoughtful perspective on liturgical art is a true gift for the Church these days. David has edited & authored books such as “For the Beauty of the Church”, “Contemporary Art & the Church”, & most recently, “The Theatre of God’s Glory”. In each book, he casts a vision for the arts, helping the Church develop a broader & deeper language for the role creativity plays in our faith. Much of which is shared on this episode.  ________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES David Taylor Twitter: @wdavidotaylor  http://artspastor.blogspot.com   “Contemporary Art & the Church”: https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Art-Church-Conversation-Theology/dp/0830850651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496673092&sr=8-1&keywords=contemporary+art+and+the+church   “The Theatre of God’s Gl

Religion & Politics. Two of the most exhausting topics known to mankind. Jonathan Martin is a pastor & author who takes a prophetic, bold approach to these issues... especially on social media. In this episode, Jonathan & I discuss the tension of engaging in politics without becoming partisan. We'll also dive into his period of doubt & deconstruction, which led him to integrate liturgical formation & sacramental theology into his Pentecostal faith. _____________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES FOLLOW JM ONLINE: twitter: @theboyonthebike instagram: @jonathanamartin JONATHAN'S BOOK "Prototype" https://www.amazon.com/Prototype-Happens-Discover-Youre-Jesus/dp/1414373635/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502318977&sr=8-2&keywords=jonathan+martin "How to Survive a Shipwreck" https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Shipwreck-Help-Already/dp/0310347971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502318977&sr=8-1&keywords=jonathan+martin TD Jakes' "The Polemics of Politics & the Pulpit"

Urban Doxology is a ministry that writes the soundtrack of reconciliation in the racially diverse & gentrifying neighborhood of Church Hill, Richmond, VA. An “urban doxology” is any liturgy, preaching, or music & arts that crosses boundaries in ethnicity, race, & class that prepares God’s people for the City of God. In this episode, David Bailey (Founder & Executive Director of Arrabon) talks about his church's creative ministry of reconciliation in a community historically plagued by racism & socio-economic divisions. And out of their ministry flows the most interesting & unpredictable art... both musically & visually. ________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES Follow David Bailey on Twitter – @davidmbailey, @urbandoxology & @wearearrabon http://ARRABON.com http://urbandoxology.com (best place to see their modern urban iconography) Please donate & buy their music! Edited & produced by Chad Michael Snavely - http://chadmichael.com

This is Part Two of Jeremy's Stanley's story of experiencing the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem the day before Easter. His encounter with the flame left his skeptical soul filled with wonder & mystery. And it left his expensive camera with a few burn marks. Jeremy Stanley is a world-traveling photographer & videographer; he's also one of my best friends in the world. _________________________________ Jeremy Stanley - @jeremystanley For photos from his trip to Jerusalem, check out his Instagram: @jeremystanley jeremystanley.tv To learn more about Eastern Orthodox Christianity, check out the following resources: – HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH podcast: "Orthodoxy, with an Eastern Flavor" – "The Orthodox Way" by Bishop Kallistos Ware Music: Intro track: “Christos Anesti” by Petros Gaitanos Outro track: “Song of Every Soul” by Young Oceans Edited & produced by Chad Michael Snavely (chadmichael.com) For more info on art, liturgy & projection technology, visit my site: illuminate.us

Did you know that (almost) every year, mysterious fire shoots out from the tomb where Jesus was buried? Yeah... neither did I. Not only is Eastern Orthodoxy the most ancient Tradition of Christianity, it also continues to be one of the fastest growing. But despite this fact, the Eastern Orthodox Church & it's practices remain a mystery to most Protestant & Evangelical Christians. One of the greatest mysteries in the Orthodox Tradition is the ancient celebration of the Holy Fire, which takes places annually on Holy Saturday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. (This is the site where they believe Christ was crucified & buried.) One of my best friends in the world, Jeremy Stanley, a world-traveling photographer & videographer, went to Jerusalem this past Holy Week & experienced the Holy Fire ceremony first-hand. But his journey towards the flame was not without great trial & conflict. _________________________________ Jeremy Stanley - @jeremystanley For photos from his trip

What can superheroes teach us about worship music & Christian art? More than you might think. Tyler Huckabee has a fresh & honest perspective on faith, culture & the arts... one that I really enjoy. In this episode, we discuss everything from religion & politics to current trends in worship music. And as it turns out, Chance the Rapper & comic book superheroes can teach us a lot about style vs substance when it comes to our art. Tyler Huckabee – @TylerHuckabee Some of Tyler's favorite voices: Jonathan Martin – @theboyonthebike Alissa Wilkinson – @alissamarie Bradford Davis – @_BWD_ "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?" http://theweek.com/articles/555603/who-killed-contemporary-christian-music-industry "Table for Two" by Caedmon's Call (from 40 Aces) Outro Theme music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Produced & Edited by Chad Michael Snavely

What happens when we use our "worship" as a tool for evangelism? And how does this affect the soul of worship leaders & artists producing seismic experiences for Sunday morning? Dr. Sarah Scott brings both her strong theological sensibilities & her loving mothering skills to the table in this conversation. Sarah's not on any of the socials but you can read more about her here: http://www.vanguard.edu/music/faculty/sarah-scott/ Theme Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self

What is LENT all about? And how can it calibrate us in this disorienting season of violence, protesting, political turmoil, & exhaustion? This is the 3rd episode in a special series that follows the Church Calendar, featuring Fr. Chad Jarnagin of Luminous Anglican Parish in Franklin, TN. Intro Music: “Lily White as the Back of a Howling Dog's Eye” by The Radial Conservatory Fr. Chad Jarnagin – (@)chadjarnagin The Luminous Podcast – itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lumin…d1053905000?mt=2 The Liturgists' mediations for LENT (for their patreon supporters only): https://www.patreon.com/theliturgistspodcast ON EARTH (by Michael Gungor & Tyler Chester) – https://www.musicbed.com/artists/on-earth/43617 CALIBRATE { music for meditation } – a playlist of almost 7 hours of music for LENT: https://open.spotify.com/user/worshipvj/playlist/1v4ScVaGoEuBTs9xLjFp6V

2016 was quite the year. So much that I flew all the way to England over New Years to meet up with some close friends, just so we could put up in some small, old pubs & vent about all that's taken place in the past year. One of the pubs we went to was The Eagle & Child in Oxford. The Eagle & Child has been home to some of the most fascinating & inspiring conversations between artists & writers such as C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkien & their misfit band of "Inklings." While we are far from Inkling-status, we still thought it would be fun to hang out with their ghosts & partake in a somewhat riveting conversation about the status of the world's craziness. Luckily, I brought my podcast mic along. Enjoy. ___________________________________ SHOW NOTES Tom Read: @tom_read + http://chariotsmusic.com Jeremy Stanley: @jeremystanley + http://jeremystanley.tv Theme Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Produced & Edited by Chad Michael Snavely

Embracing the season of Epiphany causes us to look back & reflect on the spirit of Christmastide. This is the 2nd episode in a special series that follows the Church Calendar, featuring Fr. Chad Jarnagin of Luminous Anglican Parish in Franklin, TN. Music: “Immanuel” by Tony Anderson & Timbre Cierpke "Interlude" by LuminousCITY / Chad Jarnagin Fr. Chad Jarnagin – (@)chadjarnagin The Luminous Podcast – itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lumin…d1053905000?mt=2