God Geeks

GodGeeks Bible Class: Noah and the Flood

James — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:10:15 +0000

5/16/22 – Spirit Christology, The Force, and Lawton Thompson

James — Tue, 17 May 2022 03:09:26 +0000

I know I said there would not be a new episode until this summer, but here is a bonus episode with Pastor Lawton Thompson. Enjoy!

4/28/22 – Wisdom, Heart Attacks and Arcade Fire

James — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 18:03:57 +0000

Seminarian Andrew Asp joins James to discuss Ecclesiastes and the meaning of life, Call Day and cardiac events.

3/26/22 Worship and Culture Part 2

James — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:37:08 +0000

Joey Bluege and Lawton Thompson are back to continue our discussion of the intersection between worship, faith and culture. In this episode we discuss the medieval church, online church and general God Geekiness.

3/25/22 – Worship and Culture Part 1

James — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 14:50:08 +0000

Pastors Joey Bluege and Lawton Thompson join me to discuss the intersection between worship and culture. This is a supersized episode and will be broken into 3 parts. Joey and Lawton are fellow Lutheran Geeks at Concordia Seminary so we end up getting into the Lutheran weeds a bit. I do my best to unpack out “Lutheranisms” for you all.

10/10/21 – Laments, Arcade Fire, and the Oh Hellos

James — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 01:31:39 +0000

Pastor Lawton Thompson joins James to discuss the Psalms, Laments, modern rock music and more.

12/18/20 – Godgeeks Jr, Interstellar Ethics

James — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:55:58 +0000

Ryann and James wrap up their conversation on ethics. James geeks out about Interstellar and N.T. Wright.

Helpful links:

The Garden the Curtain and the Cross

Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright

12/10/20 – GodGeeks Junior, Bonhoeffer, Empathy

James — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:41:37 +0000

Ryann is back for part two of our discussion on ethics. This week we look at ethics from a 2nd Article perspective and dive into some Dietrich Bonhoeffer… it is not as boring as it sounds.

GodGeeks Jr. Podcast – Thanksgiving Ethics, First Article, Minecraft – 12/1/20

James — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:45:49 +0000

Ryann joins Pastor James for our first official GodGeeks Junior episode. We discuss ethics from a First Article perspective Whats that mean? You will have to listen to find out.

GodGeeks Podcast – GodGeeks Jr, Ethics and Taskmaster 11-20-20

James — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:09:10 +0000

My wife Ryann joins me to discuss our new podcast series, GodGeeks Jr. We also discuss moving during the pandemic, ethics classes, TaskMaster and more.

Quarantine Episode 2

James — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 23:35:40 +0000

Quarantine Episode 1

James — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 03:27:38 +0000

God Geeks needs your help.

James — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 22:51:34 +0000

The Cleland’s are moving to St. Louis and we need your help. To give, visit http://soulthirstchurch.com/donate and select “Cleland Seminary Support”. Every little bit helps and will go towards God Geeks and my ministry formation at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Concordia has graciously provided a full tuition scholarship, however, I still need to raise enough money to cover housing, insurance, books, and all of the things that go into running an online ministry. Thank you for all of your prayers and for your continued support.

2/11/20 – Worship Wars, The Rise of Skywalker

James — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:08:42 +0000

Part 2 of my conversation with God Geeks Victor Minetola, Nate Huse and Frank Hart. Our longest episode yet. We had way to much fun, hope you do too.

1/15/20 – The Mandalorian, The Cheshire, and More.

James — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:40:37 +0000

After a long break, the Podcast is back! Pastors Victor, Nathan, and Frank join Pastor James for 2 supersized episodes about all things ministry and Star Wars. Part II coming soon. Don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes.

Vlog Episode 7: Lego Christmas

James — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 20:53:36 +0000

Vlog Episode 6: The Perfect Turkey

James — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 01:35:22 +0000

Vlog Episode 5: Halloween Gospel

James — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 01:13:19 +0000

Everything I know about trick or treating I learned from TV and Movies.

I never got to trick or treat as a kid.

If you grew up with a Christian mom in the bible belt in the 80’s, you just might know what I am talking about.

This year was a big deal for me because my mom went trick or treating with my kids.

My mom was the best mother ever, is the best mother ever.

And like Many Christian parents in the 80’s were she was afraid of halloween.

Afraid of drugged candy,

Afraid of kidnappers,

Afraid of witches and warlocks,

Afraid of demonic forces,

Afraid Of Halloween turning her children into satan worshipers who listen to hard rock.

As a child I was afraid of halloween. Every year it rolled around and while other kids were having fun and getting free candy, I was up all night afraid of witches, demons, and satan.

When I was in high school I was invited to my first Halloween party, I was so excited. Then I got there, well meaning parents sat all of us kids in costumes down and shown a video about the evils of halloween. I felt so guilty and scared.

Its funny how the church has demonized halloween. How we have forgotten the Gospel. How we have forgotten that because of Christ we do not have to live in fear.

We do not have to live in fear of demons, witches, the evil one, sin or death. We have the confidence of Christ. He has defeated sin, death and the devil. Evil runs from him and we are his church, his people. And that is some good news. We can with confidence, laugh at the devil, even mock him, and have some fun trick or treating.

So go run around in a Superman costume until you can’t carry anymore candy. Live life with confidence that you are right with God because of Christ. Have some fun next Halloween reminding the devil that he has lost.

Vlog Episode 4: Fairgrounds Gospel

James — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 21:09:33 +0000

I find life to be life like the fairgrounds.

It can be entertaining, fun, and full of wondrous sites, sounds, tastes and smells.

But sometimes I find it simultaneously, loud, crowded, confusing, overwhelming.

It is full of temptations, traps, and distractions.

Everything is vying for your attention.

Life, like a fairground, is beautiful, confusing, and complicated.

You have limited time and resources that you want to make the most of.

It is hard to make a plan.

Much of my life I have felt disillusioned and lost.

I fret and worry over figuring out what God’s plan is for my life.

Where should I go to school, what career should I choose, who should I marry,

what should I do with my life?

I never seem to find an abundantly clear answer to these questions?

I’ve listened to friends, family, media, my own inner voice, they all give different answers…

What is God’s plan for me? Sometimes I feel lost.

But then I remember, God’s plan for me is greater than

The University I attend,

The career I choose,

The person I marry,

God’s plan is greater than the choices I make.

God’s plan for my life is Christ. It always has been.

It is that simple.

I am free to explore and make mistakes in the giant fairground of life because

Christ has rescued me from sin and death.

God’s plan for me was finished on the Cross and in Christ’s resurrection I have new life.

No matter what big or little life choices I make, Christ is there.

No matter what job I do, or city I move to, Christ will be there and there will be fellow human beings who need his love.

God’s plan for my life is Christ and that is some good news.

Vlog Episode 3: International Gospel

James — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 21:42:58 +0000

Vlog Episode 2: 8 Bit Gospel

James — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 05:11:04 +0000

Join James at the National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Tx and find out if the good news of Jesus Christ is like a video game.

Vlog Episode 1: Tikka Masala Gospel

James — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 02:54:15 +0000

1/31/18 – Cohorts, Preaching and The Last Jedi

James — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 18:51:58 +0000

A couple weeks ago I got to hang out with a special groups of God Geeks. Join us for a lively discussion about preaching, teaching, and The Last Jedi.

11/3/17 – The Meganerd, Stranger Things 2, and Skydiving

James — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 17:45:05 +0000

Danial Megison joins James to talk about youth ministry, Stranger things 2 and his insane addiction to jumping out of planes and gliding like a flying squirrel. This week we discuss Stranger Things, but don’t worry, this is a spoiler free episode.

10/18/17 – Phil Seris, Freshman Theology and The Defenders

James — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 18:18:22 +0000

I know. I know. It has been a long time. We took a few weeks off, those few weeks turned into months. We missed the ending to The Leftovers and an entire season of Game of Thrones. But, we are back with a new format, and inferior sound (including me banging my hands on the table every ten seconds). Please pardon my growing pains as I take the helm of the God Geeks ship. The Padawan has become the inept master. Bill will be back off and on as a guest. In the mean time, enjoy meeting some of the God Geeks in my life.

May the Force be with you,

James