111. Incompetent to Counsel?

With this episode I begin a series of four which in one way or another considers the relationship between pastoral ministry and clinical counseling. In so doing I wade into water some might call hot. I know that what I will suggest will not be shared by others. Still,...

10 [Reset]. Pastor Puddleglum

This episode is one of what I call a ‘reset.’ I regularly re-post older episodes like this one which was originally released in July of 2021. I think it is still relevant. One of the things I want to do with Greatheart’s Table is to encourage pastors, as one friend...

110. What the World Needs Now Is Love

We’re spending a couple of weeks thinking about the idea of love, both for God and for others, and if you want to be a part of the conversation, feel free to email me. Or, you can head over to Substack where the same content shows up in print form and interact there....

109. What’s Love Got To Do with It?

I’ve noticed over the years that it is somehow easy for Christians to become rather cynical about the idea of ‘love.’ The word and the idea have been used in overly sentimental ways, of course, but I sometimes wonder if the distance some put between themselves and the...

9 [Reset]. The Eyes of the Chooser

This is another one of our resets, episodes that aired some time ago which I’m re-recording and posting to allow me some space to catch up on other projects. My son Seth is an artist, a musician, and a wise observer of my spiritual vulnerabilities. He knows the kinds...

108. AI, Dating, and the Problem of Evil

Quite a few of you are new and may be uncertain of what we’re doing here or why, and many may wonder where the name comes from. For all such mysteries, I recommend that you scroll back and listen to episode 67 called “Mr. Greatheart and This Metaphorical Table.” And...

107. A Grief Neglected

In this episode, we take a somber turn, and consider pastoral grief. I can’t recall this being addressed elsewhere, and yet as I’ve thought about it, it’s hard to think of a more consistent theme pulsing across the pastoral landscape than loss and the consequent...

106. 5 Rules for Pastoral Life

I write Greatheart’s Table with pastors in mind, but I know that often the themes I address apply much more broadly, and so many of you are not pastors at all. This post, aimed towards sharpening pastoral ethical standards, nevertheless lands broadly. As Christians,...

8 [Reset]. A Quiet Place, Part 2

This episode is another reset, one that first aired in June of 2021, and it addresses a theme I’ve often returned to: the need for pastors and others in ministry to have friends. As I get older and my friends move away or in other ways my friendships change I’m...

7 [Reset]. A Quiet Place, Part 1

Hello, all. I’m Randy Greenwald and I want to welcome you to Greatheart’s Table. After the last episode, some have taken to addressing me “Whiney Pastor.” Given the positive response that that episode generated, I’m okay with that. Contrary to what some thought after...