Resources

Below are the resources recommended by our guests, with links to purchase them on Amazon.
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Spiritual Formation

Mere Christianity is a classic work from CS Lewis. It helps us to understand the life a Christian must walk in greater depth, and with deceptive simplicity.
She Reads Truth
Alexis Noelle recommends She Reads Truth. With their reading plans, podcast, and uniquely designed Bible with art and helpful info in the margins, it can be a great way to get into God's word, and stay focused on His word, not the frills.
Jordan Awe recommends Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a german pastor and theologian who lived and was eventually martyred during World War II, but found during his imprisonment he had a lot of time to reflect and write. This book his meditation on community and the church, which Jordan has found to be vital in shaping his understanding of the church and how communities work together as an artist and Christian.
The Bible Project
Houston Coley recommends The Bible Project aims to ​help people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable, engaging, and transformative. We do this by showcasing the literary art of the Scriptures and tracing biblical themes from beginning to end. Rather than taking the stance of a specific tradition or denomination, we create materials to elevate the Bible for all people and draw our eyes to its unified message. They have a variety of resources, including animated videos, a podcast, articles, and Bible reading plans to help you engage with Scripture in a fresh and thoughtful way.
Practicing the Way
​John Van Deusen recommends Practicing the Way, ​is an online resource that helps people grow in their spiritual life and develop themselves through practices and healthy rhythms that go as far back as the ancient church. It is a great place to start to begin learning more about these practices and developing a Rule of Life.
The Book of Common Prayer
I recommend that those interested in exploring more about liturgy look in to the Book of Common Prayer. I specifically recommend the ACNA 2019 Book of Common Prayer, as that's what I've been using. I'd recommend looking at the Collects and Occasional Prayers near the back, as well as the standard liturgy used for Mass and the Daily Office, both of which are in the front half. You can download the book for free on the ACNA website linked above.
Rule of Life Worksheet
I recommend taking time to look at this rule of life worksheet if you are finding yourself overcommitted, and having difficulty managing your commitments. It is a great tool to help you find some balance and structure to your life, with a healthy balance of work, relationships, rest, and prayer.
You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith
​Fr. Kris Rolls recommends You Are What You Love. "It gives us an understanding of what it means to be human that moves beyond modernities assumption that you are just a brain on a stick" and "that information will save the world." It focuses instead on that we are oriented to love, highlighting especially Augustines famous quote "you made us for ourselves, and our hearts are restless till they find our rest in you." The book helps us to understand human flourishing as orienting our loves towards God and towards holy things.
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J. M. Nouwen
​Fr. Kris Rolls recommends The Return of the Prodigal Son. This book is a reflection by theologian Henri Nouwen on famous painter Rembrandts painting of the Prodigal Son.
The Holy Post Podcast
Sophia Medawar recommends the Holy Post Podcast. Hosted by Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) and Skye Jethani (award-winning author and speaker) , Sophia appreciates the way it accessibly handles deep theology, while also engaging well with the secular world.
Providence by John Piper
Craig Apel recommends Providence by John Piper, a book which he is currently reading. "It's just impacted me hugely". ​John Piper draws on a lifetime of theological reflection, biblical study, and practical ministry to lead readers on a stunning tour of the sightings of God’s providence — from Genesis to Revelation — to discover the all-encompassing reality of God’s purposeful sovereignty over all of creation and all of history.
Praying The Psalms by Daniel Henderson
Craig Apel recommends Praying the Psalms. The books lead you through all 150 psalms, gives some context, and then leads you through the prayer using the framework of the Lord's Prayer. This book has radically influenced Craig's prayer life.
"Prayer and scripture reading are to intersect... It's when the two intersect and we begin to have a conversation about the things God has raised that we begin to have a conversation with Him.

General

The Reflective Life together with Reflections on the Movies can provide valuable guidance in how to look for God's voice and God's presence in life and in the art that you consume.
Madeline L'Engle is an incredibly valuable Christian writer. Her poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works are invaluable for any Christian striving to be a storyteller or engage in the artistic life.
Of her works, I recommend Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. This was an early read for me in my journey to understanding art in the kingdom of God.
Stories are Soul Food Podcast
Nate Knobloch recommends the Stories are Soul Food Podcast. Hosted by writer N.D. Wilson and Brian Kohl, the podcast examines stories with the analogy of them being soul food. Are you feeding yourself junk food or healthy food? This podcast focuses on discernment of different elements in stories, and highlights seeing them through a Christian perspective.
Jo-Ellen Ming recommends The Heart of the Artist by Rory Noland. The book focuses primarily on the role of the artist within the context of the church, and explores many of the joys and pitfalls of an artists life.
The Art Within Podcast
​Houston Coley hosts the Art Within Podcast, which is dedicated to creating connection and conversation around art, community, and integrated faith—in both the digital and physical realms. Join the discussion as Nate and Houston engage with current issues of film, the internet, the church, philosophy, and culture in efforts to cultivate a community where listeners can connect and grow in our understanding of how art and people work together with the transcendent.
The Rabbit Room​
The Rabbit Room cultivates and curates story, music, and art to nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. Founded by author and singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson, The Rabbit Room has now grown into a press, a theatre program, a beloved arts conference called Hutchmoot, a podcast network, an event space and community center called North Wind Manor, and more. Above all, however, the Rabbit Room is a vibrant community of creators, thinkers, writers, and art enthusiasts. Their website is full of great resources for aspiring artists and Christians.
The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron
Spencer Davis Milford recommends the Artist’s Way (not to be confused with our podcast). This book focuses on helping you work through what’s going on inside of you to help your inner artist flourish, and help you connect with your creativity. Through self reflection and suggested structures in the book it aims to help you find consistency and peace in your artistic work.

Acting

Jordan Awe recommends prospective actors look into Michael Chekhov. His technique focuses largely on imagination and physicality, imaging how the character behaves, walks, what you look as the character, and stepping into that. Chekhov's book To The Actor on the Technique of Acting is a great introduction to  his method.
Jordan Awe ​recommends Actions: The Actor's Thesaurus. Using actions and goals is a core part of acting, and this book helps actors who may be struggling with how to play a scene to find a verb, choose an action, and work to play that on stage.

Fiction

Ellie Knobloch recommends that you read the works of George MacDonald. She has been reading Lilith, and Phantastes is one of his most hailed works, and contributed to CS Lewis' growing faith in Christ. Ellie appreciates how George MacDonald presents ideas and truths that cannot be neatly summed up in a short sentence, but instead seem to play much more into mystery, which is often a lost virtue in our day and age.
John Taylor recommends The Great Divorce by CS Lewis. It is his favorite book, bar none, and he finds the works and life of Lewis to be a good example of how Christians can use art to work through their own views of Christ and God.
The Great Divorce is about a bus ride to heaven, and a chance for the dwellers of hell to see the light and come to heaven. Lewis unpacks his views on heaven and hell, the divine, culture, and much more in this classic novel.
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
​Fr. Kris Rolls recommends Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry. "You cannot be a creative human if you're not wholeheartedly flourishing within a body of people . . . that novel is a persons discovery of their vocation, their calling in life, their place in a community. There's all sorts of reasons I recommend it as good and beautiful in and of itself. It's quite a lovely book." 



​
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
“Virgil Wander is a sweeping story of new beginnings against all odds that follows the inhabitants of a hard luck town in their quest to revive its flagging heart. Carried aloft by quotidian pleasures of kite-flying, movies, fishing, baseball, necking in parked cars and falling in love, Virgil Wander is a swift, full journey into the heart and heartache of an often overlooked upper Midwest.”​

For me, this book helped me stay connected to my humanity this year, and slow down and rest in the simple joys of life both in the book and in my own life.
​
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
“Set in a not-too-distant America, I Cheerfully Refuse is the tale of Rainy, an aspiring musician setting sail on Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife. An endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, he seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs, and remote islands of the inland sea. As his guileless nature begins to make an inadvertent rebel of him, Rainy’s private quest for the love of his life grows into something wider and wilder, sweeping up friends and foes alike in his wake.”

This story resonated with me because of the kindness and goodness of many of the characters, the hope which persevered, and the small moments of joy and goodness which spat in the face of bleak scenarios.

Music

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Robert Nordling recommends the Calvin Institute of Christian worship. He describes it as a "deep and wide resource" for those wanting to delve deeper into the topic of music and theology. They provide a wide range of practical resources to artists and all those interested in worship.
Dr. Jeremy Begbie
Robert Nordling recommends people look into the writings of Dr. Jeremy Begbie. He has written extensively on the topic of music and theology, and has appeared on several podcasts. He serves on faculty at Duke Divinity School
Marathon Daze by John Van Deusen
This raw, beautiful, album is both gentle and resonant and angst ridden and cacophonous at the same time. But it beautifully reflects the world we live in and the feelings of trying to stay anchored in God through the chaos. It features songs wrestling with our hurried culture, the bombardment of advertising and political slogans we face, the tensions of the church, and pairs them with songs that are earnest prayers to God for peace, grace, and help, along with injunctions to the listeners and to children to live a fuller, richer, and healthier life.

Poetry

Lynn W. Francis recommends reading Madeleine L'Engle's ordering of love. Madeline L'Engle was a prolific Christian writer, and her poetry delves into her reflections on beauty, loss, faith, and devotion.

Dance

For His Glory Ballet
​Casey Adams owns For His Glory Ballet, a dance studio in Allendale Michigan. For His Glory Ballet training is designed to train up a dancer with quality ballet instruction with the sole focus on bring glory to God in everything they do. Training emphasizes technique, proper placement and alignment, strength, discipline, heathy body image, and encourages the dancer to strive to be the best dancer they can be. They offer classes for ages three on up.
Ballet Magnificat!
Casey Adams recommend anyone interested in Ballet, and serious about wanting to develop in the discipline look up Ballet Magnificat!
It was a formative program for her, and helped her to see the real connection between her love of dance and her love for God. They are a professional company based in Jackson, Mississippi, but they host regular workshops and a summer intensive, which Casey highly recommends!

Local to Grand Rapids, MI

The Stray Music & Arts Cafe
Susie Finkbeiner recommends that writers look to build community through writers conferences and local organizations. One that she recommends is a cafe in Grand Rapids, MI, The Stray. Specifically she highlights their Storyteller's Night's, which happen periodically. I personally have grown to love The Stray over the last year and a half, with my wife. It is a great hub for artists, and provides a wonderful atmosphere to work on your art and build community.
Calvin Center for Faith & Writing
Susie Finkbeiner recommends that budding writers look up the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing from Calvin University. Specifically she cites the Festival of Faith and Writing as a wonderful event for education and community building. After a couple of years off due to COVID, they will be resuming their in person festival in 2024. 

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