A collection of inspirational videos and text featuring America’s finest religious thinkers, stories of personal faith, and reflections on spiritual topics, gathered from television broadcasts of 30 Good Minutes, a weekly multifaith program on WTTW 11 (PBS) in Chicago.
The late Dr. Lewis Smedes was an author, seminary professor, and clergyman in the Reformed Church of America. For more than twenty-five years, he was a Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He also wrote many books, including Forgive and Forget, Caring and Commitment, and How Can It Be All Right When Everything is All Wrong.
Dr. Smedes made 12 appearances on 30 Good Minutes between 1986 and 2002. His message, “Keeping Hope Alive” was first broadcast in November 1993.
Conversations
Lillian Daniel and Daniel Pawlus in conversation with Jacqui Lewis, who says if we really understand that God dwells in everyone, then there are implications for community, and together we can make the world a better place.
Lillian Daniel and Lydia Talbot in conversation with Diana Butler Bass, who says, "An amazing amount of people in their 20s and 30s right now are breaking through all the boundaries and trying to create a generative faith based on love."
Daniel Pawlus and Lydia Talbot in conversation with Rabbi Harold Kushner, who says, "The first bit of advice I'd give to anybody who says I have to do something and I'm not sure that I'm up to it, is to ask them to look back at a time when they had to do something hard and they surprised themselves by how well they could do it."
Spiritual Journeys
Jerry Hiller and Marilyn Rochon lead a weekly, lunchtime series called "Repair My House" at St. Peter's Church in Chicago that teaches people to deal with the challenges of daily life by drawing on the strength that comes from tending to one's spirit.
For Chicago artist, Naomi Pridjian, facing serious illness was at the same time one of the most terrifying and deeply spiritual experiences of her life.
Renowned educator and Quaker writer, Parker Palmer, says one of the biggest things he has learned in life is that the direction of the spiritual journey is not upward but downward, to what Paul Tillich called the ground of being.
Reflections
Vicki Garvey, Director of Spiritual Formation for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, reflects on how God treasures us, just because we are.
Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, reflects on jazz music as a metaphor for democracy and faith.
Writer Tom McGrath, Vice President of Product Development for Loyola Press, reflects on the Psalmists advice, "Do not fret—it only leads to evil." (Pslam 37:8)