Before they started this week’s episode of STEP INTO THE STORY podcast, Phil was a little nervous that Paul Gould might be a little too smart to keep up with. After all, philosophers aren’t exactly known for their casual conversations. Thankfully, Paul used his years of classroom experience to put lofty theological and philosophical ideas in terms that we all can understand.
Though he started his career in accounting, Paul and his wife, Ethel, felt God was calling them to college ministry. During his own college experience, he had a life-changing encounter with the truth of the gospel, and he wanted to help other students discover this truth as well.
Interestingly, Paul found himself drawn to the hard conversations about God and the Bible. He spent time with the “intellectuals,” digging deep into the weighty, uncomfortable questions so many people are discouraged from asking in church. Paul knew God was big enough to answer all of these questions, and he was passionate about letting others know that too. God was preparing him for a life in a place many Christians are afraid to go: the world of philosophy.
Today, Paul is the Director of the Master’s Program in Philosophy of Religion at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He’s the author of several books, including Cultural Apologetics, a book focused on showing that Christianity is both reasonable and desirable to the world today. He also founded an organization, The Two Tasks Institute, with the same mission.
In this illuminating conversation, Paul shares his heart for philosophy and apologetics: “It’s working to help show that Christianity is true to the way the world is and true to the way the world ought to be. In other words, it satisfies the longing of the human heart to be rightly related to reality, but it’s also beautiful and satisfying as well.”
On this episode of STEP INTO THE STORY, Phil talks with Alisa Keeton, founder of Revelation Wellness. Alisa shares Revelation's truly Christ-centered approach to health and wellness, helping people love God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
On this mini-episode of STEP INTO THE STORY, Steven Curtis Chapman takes us behind the scenes of the music video for his hit song, "The Great Adventure." You definitely want to hear him tell this story of a horse that tried to take him on a very different kind of adventure.
On this episode of STEP INTO THE STORY, Phil talks with Christian music pioneer Steven Curtis Chapman about why he believes his music has resonated with so many people, what led his family to adoption, and how they have learned to grieve and trust God completely in the midst of their deepest tragedies.