We're back in the library as we continue to sort out our house of faith. This time we're thinking about books we don't use as much, and why it's worth keeping old bits of the Bible around, because you never know which bits are going to come in handy. Also, Joe has had some issues with paint, and Nick has been giving martini recipes to medical staff.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• The Dark Night of the Shed | Nick Page
• The Badly Behaved Bible | Nick Page

As we continue our journey around our house of faith we've come to the library. And this week, we're restocking the shelves with your book recommendations. You can find a full list on our website.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• The Sacred Veil | Eric Whitacre

Books mentioned in the episode.

See the complete list of recommendations.

• Faith Unravelled | Rachel Held Evans
• Unforming, De-Westernising Christian Formation | Cindy S. Lee
• Finding Your Hidden Treasure | Benignus O'Rourke.
• Life Of The Beloved | Henri Nouwen
• Unapologetic | Francis Spufford
• Know Doubt | John Ortberg
• Reimagining the Landscape of Faith | Charles and Mary Hippsley.
• There are Rivers in the Sky | Elif Shafak
• Devotions | Mary Oliver
• Universal Christ | Richard Rohr
• The Return of the Prodigal Son | Henri Nouwen
• The True Wilderness | H.A. Williams
• Every Job a Parable | John Van Sloten
• The Badly Behaved Bible | Nick Page
• Speaking Christian | Marcus Borg
• The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse | Charlie Mackesy
• For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain | Victoria MacKenzie
• Kissing Fish | Roger Wolsey

We continue our discussion about prayer, this time focusing on our current approach to prayers and praying. We talk about the role of personality, about confession and the need to be 'meeked', and about finding simple ways to trigger moments of stillness and prayer. Also, Nick reveals his impressive new technique for avoiding difficult prayer situations.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• The Cloud of Unknowing - Wikipedia
• 'Whistling Swans' | Mary Oliver

In the first of our sort-of series on decluttering faith, we look at the prayer room. We discuss the mystery of intercession and think about prayer as 'primary speech', as an art more than a science. Prayer is crucial in our journey of understanding, both of God and of ourselves. So what needs clearing out? And what do we want to keep? (And keep those book suggestions coming!)

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Joe has a sickness bug. Nick has a bad back. In this short and utterly inadequate episode, we talk a little bit about well-meaning but tone-deaf sermons and what really might bring us happiness in the life to come. Also we think a little about books for mid-faith crisis. What are your favourites?

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kids Doesn’t Have to Heal From
• ‎What Dreams May Come
• City of Angels | Wikipedia
• Adrian Plass | Heavenly Playground
• Paul McGee | The SUMO Guy

We're back with our reflections on the Mid-faith Crisis weekend. We discuss the theme of spiritual decluttering and the joy of generous conversation. Also Nick wonders if he's actually had a mid-faith crisis and Joe is accidentally biblical.

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Pied Flycatcher

We talk, in an incredibly expert way, about the afterlife, about nostalgia and longing, about a new heaven and a new earth and about the different dimensions of existence. Also, is Nick the worst Anglican ever, and should Joe be the new Knepp-based host for Springwatch?

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Iolo Williams - Wikipedia
• BBC Two - Springwatch
• Knepp - Rewilding Pioneers
• Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons - Wikipedia
• Ashmolean | In bloom - how plants changed our world
• Bruce Cockburn - Songs - Festival Of Friends

We have a very special interview this week. Joe talks to our friend Ruth about how she is facing terminal cancer. She talks about focusing on what matters, about the normality of death, and about the importance of talking about grief, loss and mortality. There is hope. And there is, above all, 'The ever present one who loves me more than I can imagine and who is with me every step of the way.'

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• Nick's Blog - such as it is

Mentioned in this episode:

• Arts and cultural engagement ‘linked to slower pace of biological ageing’ | The Guardian
• The Swallow, The Owl and The Sandpiper – Sandpiper Trust
• Cancer is so limited | Robert L. Lynn