The guys over at Homebrewed Christianity recently posted an interview they did with N.T. Wright.  The interview was full of some really great sound bytes that I went ahead and divvied up to make your life easier

You can listen to or download the interview in its entirety here.

On being a bishop. Download audio file (wrightbishop.mp3)

On the unfortunate split between church and academy. Download audio file (wrightpastorwriter.mp3)

On returning to fulltime academic work. Download audio file (wrightteacher.mp3)

On Bart Ehrman. Download audio file (wrightbartehrman.mp3)

On John Shelby Spong. Download audio file (wrightspong.mp3)

On Luke Timothy Johnson. Download audio file (wrightjohnson.mp3)

On Marcus Borg & John Dominic Crossan. Download audio file (wrightborgcrossan.mp3)

On Jurgen Moltmann. Download audio file (wrightmoltmann.mp3)

On E.P. Sanders. Download audio file (wrightsanders.mp3)

On Karl Barth. Download audio file (wrightbarth.mp3)

On Stanley Hauerwas. Download audio file (wrighthauerwas.mp3)

On his most recent book, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters and why he chose to write about eschatology before ethics. Download audio file (wrightafteryoubelieve.mp3)

On the difference between Aristotelian virtue and Christian virtue. Download audio file (wrightchristianvirtue.mp3)

On the role of character and virtue in other religions. Download audio file (wrightreligiousvirtue.mp3)

On cultural virtue. Download audio file (wrightculturalvirtue.mp3)

On the renewing of our minds when they have become largely detached from the rest of who we are. Download audio file (wrightrenewing.mp3)

On Christianity Post-Postmodernity. Download audio file (wrightchristianitypostpostmodernity.mp3)

On the after-after life. Download audio file (wrightafterlife.mp3)

What NT Wright is reading, thinking, and planning for his “big book on Paul” as the next in his Christian Origins series. Download audio file (wrightreading.mp3)

What we can expect from NT Wright in his new role. Download audio file (wrightfuture.mp3)

About a month ago I offered a book review of Tending to Eden: Environmental Stewardship for God’s People by Scott Sabin.  Scott is the Executive director of Plant with Purpose.

Plant With Purpose is an international environmental organization that transforms lives in rural areas where poverty is caused by deforestation. For over 25 years, Plant With Purpose has provided lasting solutions to heal the relationship between people and their environment by planting trees, revitalizing farms, and offering loans to create economic opportunity.

Yesterday, I had the chance to actually interview Scott and ask him a few questions about the book.  Besides providing an overview of Plant with Purpose and the book, Tending to Eden, we spend some talking about the devastation in Haiti, one of the places where they serve, the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation, and the relationship between creation care and the gospel.  The whole interview (~ 22 mins.) is worth the selection of the book that Scott reads toward the end.

If you’re reading this in a feed reader and don’t see the audio player, click through to see it.

Use THIS LINK to see others who wil be participating in the blog tour today, to find out more about Plant with Purpose, and to purchase the book.  If you buy the book through the Amazon link on this page, a portion of the proceeds will directly benefit the rural poor.

Dear lifeasmission readership, I have a special treat for you today.  By way of interview, I get to introduce you to missions mobilizer extraordinaire, Amy Garrington.

lifeasmission: So Amy, first things first, tell us all just a little bit about yourself?

Amy: Just a simple mid-west gal, grew up in Iowa, went to college and worked for a number of years in Indiana, and I recently finished up a graduate degree at Fuller.  In college, God gave me a heart for the nations and I have had the opportunity to travel to a number of places through my time as a missionary and as a missions mobilizer.

lifeasmission: What the heck is a missions mobilizer?  Sounds lame.

Amy: Right, lots of people ask me that.  Basically, by way of recruiting, training, and strategic placing, I get to try and help people and churches in North America develop a heart and passion for being a part of God’s global work.  And… you’re lame.

lifeasmission: Gesh, that sounds incredibly boring and basically meaningless.  Have you done anything that actually matters?

Amy: Hmm… guess I misinterpreted that whole life-as-mission thing?!  To try and be a bit less boring, I also had a brief career in Hollywood appearing on Eli Stone, Samantha Who, NCIS, and Bones, but you’re gonna have to look pretty hard to catch me in the crowd scenes!

lifeasmission: Now you’re talkin’, that’s more like it.  I guess you’re pretty versatile and you mentioned before that you’ve had the chance to do some traveling.  We here at lifeasmission would love to know about some of your favorite traveling spots.

Amy: I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to meet some pretty amazing people (and try some pretty amazing food!) in places all over the world!  Choosing a favorite is pretty challenging.  After living in Russia for a year, the city of Vladimir will always have a special place in my heart.  Other favorite spots might include Beijing, China, Vienna, Austria and the greater Los Angeles area.  Any chance I get, I love exploring new cities with good friends!

lifeasmission: Done any exciting travel lately?

Amy: Oh, yes!  In September I began a trek across the Western United States, starting in California and traveling through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa.  Since arriving in my new home state of Illinois, I have had the opportunity to travel to Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and most recently, Tennessee!

lifeasmission: Any more traveling planned in the near future?

Amy: Most definitely!  Over the next several months I’m looking forward to making a handful of trips to visit some special people in my life along the banks of the Mississippi, but I am most excited as I anticipate my first trip to NYC in February!   Did I mention it’s over Valentine’s Day?!

lifeasmission: Ooooh, Valentine’s Day!!  That brings us to the important stuff.  Everyone knows that you are one of the most sought after bachelorettes in the Windy City.  How’s playing the field going for you?

Amy: Funny you should ask    Soon after arriving in the Windy City, winds from the south blew a very special man into my life in a new and unexpected way.  Though we’ve known each other for almost 2 years and been cultivating something of a friendship from a distance over the last year and half or so, his “coincidental” visit in October left both of us feeling that there may be something more there.  Keenly aware of his need to move quickly, he soon after told me of his feelings and desire to pursue a dating relationship in spite of the miles between his home in Memphis and mine in Chicago.  So the past few months have been full of phone calls, packages, emails, text messages, and all-too-short visits.  So I guess you could say this Windy City bachelorette has been swept off her feet.

lifeasmission: Wow, I can hear the sound of hearts breaking all over Internet.  Sounds like a pretty special deal.

Amy: Yes, definitely special, but that’s not the 1/2 of it.  Through this one new relationship has come a ton of other great new relationships as well.

lifeasmission: Cool, tell us about those.

Amy: I’ve been invited into a whole network of very special people and it’s been a joy to eat, laugh and spend time with all of them!  I’ve had the opportunity to meet some pretty great folks in the Akron/Canton area as well as the greater Memphis area.  I’ve felt pretty blessed by the hospitality I’ve received and the circle of community that I’ve been welcomed into.

lifeasmission: Sounds great.  Barring any sudden calls back to Hollywood or boring mobilizer stuff, will you be available for comment and questions from the great reader base here at lifeasmission?

Amy: My press secretary is actually off for the holidays, so I will do my absolute best to respond to whatever your readers throw my way.

lifeasmission: I know I speak for everyone here at lifeasmission when I say that we will be anxious to hear much more from you in the future.  Any parting words?

Amy: Keep reading, loyal readership!  Hopefully this won’t be the last you hear of me!