Since the show is "finished" (for now), the Patreon site is no longer active. However, there are still hosting costs, and I still have expenses! If you would like to show gratitude with a small donation in a very easy way, you can do so at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crttc. No account creation required! Support the show…

After two and a half years, we've reached the very last episode of the Tao te Ching! I'm not sure what's next for me, but at least for now, I'll stop regular posting here as I focus on some other pressing things in life and brainstorm possible future ideas. This chapter is a nice summary of three of the key themes of the Tao te Ching that we've foc…

Chapter 80 presents Lao Tzu's vision of the ideal society, the "Taoist utopia". Although it is not a "realistic" picture at first glance, writing it off would be a big mistake. The chapter not only praises minimalism and simple living, but also contains a thinly veiled but cutting cultural critique that is just as relevant today as it was 2600 year…

We're skipping chapter 78 since we looked at it all the way back in episode 6! Chapter 79 is focused on the complex repercussions of human conflict. This is a shorter episode, and I'll split it into just two pieces: 1. "Just let it go" - conflict resolution the Taoist way 2. Peace is worth the risk - Christ as the ultimate example See more at www.c…

Chapter 77 describes the Tao as being like the drawing of a bow, where the top is brought down and the bottom is brought up. It is a cultural critique about how the way of man tends to upset the natural balance of things. The episode will have three general thematic movements: 1. Equilibrium and balance in the universe and in our lives 2. The "Robi…

Chapter 76 takes us back to the familiar territory of "weakness" that is actually strength. Living things are soft, supple, flexible, and "weak". Dead things are hard, brittle, rigid, and "strong". I'll start this episode by sharing about one of the most influential - and meek - men I've ever known. Then we'll break it up into two basic sections: 1…

In this episode, we look at chapter 75, which critiques the greedy leadership of Lao Tzu's China or any government in general. I'll start with reading from Jesus's parable of the foolish rich man as well as his famous words on "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The rest of the episode is pretty simply divided into two parts: 1…

Doruk Cansev is a life coach and author of the book Balanced: Unleashing the Power of your Personality, which I used as the inspiration for the structure of episode 59. I also covered my notes on his book much more in-depth on the most recent Patreon members exclusive episode. Today we discuss Taoism a bit, but we dive deep into his books and discu…

In this episode, we look at chapter 74, which is a bit different in tone and content than other chapters around it. The central focus is the fear of death, and the central metaphor is the "Master Executioner" - whose job we should not try to take. We'll look at a literal interpretation first, followed by a more spiritualized/metaphorical one. 1. Th…

Here's an outline to help follow this complex episode! Today we'll look at chapter 73, which seems a bit disconnected and confusing at first (which is why it took me two extra weeks to prepare). We'll touch on a few side topics, then we'll spend the majority of the book relating this chapter's idea of perfect wu wei to the seven areas of balance id…

Chapter 72 doesn't really offer an obvious interpretation at the first reading. The variations between translations and the disjunctions between the sections makes it a bit complex. Fortunately, there is a common theme that the most traditional interpretations tend to agree on, and then as always we will take a bit of liberty and move in a more cre…

Chapter 71 is cryptic, obscure, and one of my absolute favorites. This chapter continues the theme on knowledge from the previous chapter, but focuses especially on ignorance - the fact that we are all ignorant in so many ways, and that not knowing that we don't really know is not just bad, it's a spiritual sickness. I open with a confession of my …

In this episode, we look at chapter 70, which is one of the most depressing and least didactic/informative chapters in the Tao te Ching (which is why it took me an extra week to prepare this). Here we have Lao Tzu break into a quasi-lament on how no one understands him or follows his teachings, despite how simple they are to understand. With some c…

In this episode, we look at chapter 69, which is incredibly tough to deal with since it is primarily focused on giving advice to military generals. As a Jesus-follower committed to nonviolence, I didn't know what to do with it at first, but with some clever maneuvering and use of paraphrases, I was able to bring it around to something more Christli…

In this episode, we look at the famous chapter 67, where Lao Tzu presents the "Three Jewels" - the entire Taoist ethics summed up in three words: compassion, moderation, and humility. I'll start by sharing about how Christ's compassion demonstrates the compassion that God built into the way the universe works and the way people work. Then we'll loo…

In this episode, we look at chapters 66 and 68, which continue the train of thought of non-contention and wu wei that we started last week, but this time in relation to leadership. I'll start with talking about the characteristics of servant leadership, then focus on the chapters one by one: 1. Chapter 66 - the best leaders take the attitudes of se…

Sorry for no episode this week. I was down for the count with the flu last week. (Not COVID!) Head on over and subscribe at the Patreon page to get early access to the next episode. :) Support the showBy Corey Farr

In this episode, we look at chapter 63, which is all about tasks and problems. I'll start by talking about how learning how to break big tasks into small pieces has radically transformed my life, then we'll break down the chapter into two main sections: 1. A "mini-sermon" on wu wei (action without action) through a series of paradoxes 2. The active…

In this episode, we look at chapter 62, which is one of the only chapters where Lao Tzu compares good and bad people and the ONLY chapter where he uses a word often translated as "sin". I'll start by talking about how radically countercultural and even offensive Jesus's teachings of enemy-love are in the Middle Eastern culture I work in, then we'll…

Support the showBy Corey Farr

As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. Here are the original show notes: A wild journey prompted by a ridiculous plot line from one of my favorite book series of all time. How much divine revelation is embedded in creation? Is …

As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes: Thanks Bob (not Brian like I said in the episode!) for this profound insight. Both the Tao t…

As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes: It's finally here! The first Patreon exclusive episode will continue to dig into the theme o…

I'm flying home to the US for the next eight weeks! I most likely won't be able to continue putting out regular episodes, but I will share some of the past exclusive episodes I've done for Patreon subscribers. If you aren't a subscriber and you like what you hear, head on over to the Patreon page to get access for only $5/month. Support the show…

In this episode, we look at chapter 65, which is yet another "political" chapter. I'll start with sharing a little of my journey from deciding to go to seminary to wrestling with the idea of what it means to "do theology". Then we'll look at the chapter from two very different angles: 1. Avoiding "cleverness" - simplicity and integrity in leadershi…

from LOCAL 6 NEWS CLICK ORLANDO: "Florida man accused of trying to steal horses, riding them home." What kind of man breaks into his neighbor's barn to rename his neighbor's horses? A cowboy kind of man. A cowboy kind of Florida man. Vaxxed and unmasked, the WPOE team returns in-person for the Season One Finale to talk about life in pre-post-pandem…

This is, of course, the followup to last week's episode on our "feminine" side. Today, we'll look at the masculine - the yang to match last week's yin. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Today we'll follow last week's structure by looking at three sets of virtue characteristics aiming towards three goals/ideal…

Episode 5 was called "Getting in touch with God's feminine side" and it has been a really popular episode. Today, we'll do the first of two episodes on our "feminine" and "masculine" sides, or our yin and yang virtues. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Lao Tzu shows us quite clearly that all people need a bal…

from LOCAL 10 NEWS: Florida woman drops pants, licks man, dances naked in Waffle House parking lot Heather installed a stripper-pole in her living room. You can imagine what happens next. But you don't have to imagine, do you? That's what we're here for. The WPOE team discusses the origin story of Waffle House and Trump's ties to Cracker Barrel the…

As Monty Python would say, "And now for something completely different!" This week I'll give some insight and explanation into what is, next to Taoism, probably the most important and influential foundational belief system in my life: Christian Anarchism. It sounds a lot more edgy than it is in some ways, though. Christian Anarchism is not about tr…

In this episode, we look at chapter 60, which has several very different ideas all smashed into one. I'll start with a meditation on the nature of our relationship to the "ghosts" in our lives - the people who try to bring us down. The rest of the episode is divided into a few parts: 1. "Ruling a nation is like cooking a small fish" - the importanc…

In this episode, we look at chapters 58-59, which (in my estimation) offer two very different narratives for approaching life and leadership, with two very different results. I'll bring in two core concepts from theologian Walter Brueggemann (link below) to flesh out the discussion. I start with a meditation on Ecclesiastes 11 and the nature of int…

from the HERALD TRIBUNE: "Florida man steals parrot from Venice pet store by putting bird in shorts pocket" COVID-19 is a lonely planet, especially for people like Roger, who's been looking for love in all the wild places. Speaking of wild places, it's Spring Break in Florida, and all the masks are off! The WPOE Team tracks our collective Covid tra…

Support the showBy Corey Farr

In this episode, we look at chapter 56, one of the most directive and imperative chapters in the Tao te Ching. The first half of the episode sets the stage for the chapter, then I break down four of the central commands in the chapter and how we see them exemplified in the life of Jesus: 1. Blunt your sharpness - the sharp edge of arrogance 2. Unti…

Back in December, I had a conversation with two Christian-Taoist "kindred spirits", Jeff and Stacie from the Protect Your Noggin podcast. Since I haven't been able to finish prep for this week's regularly scheduled episode, I figured I would share (part of) that interview with you here, since I had a great time doing it! This will give you a lot mo…

Zip-Tie Guy and his Mom tell their side of the story in this Special Sedition Edition of WPOE. And the WPOE Team returns with a rendition of Jess's favorite 90's gay-raver tune, "I Do Both Jay and Jane." Caleb pitches his million-dollar idea: Tandem-Bike Capitol Riot Tours. And the Team lays out the pros and cons of Senator Joe McMansion's pandemic…

In this episode, we finish chapter 55, talking about the danger of resisting decay and trying to "prolong the life" of things that are in decline. I start the episode by sharing my own discomfort with the word "evangelical" and my great struggle with trying to hold onto it and now my honest desire to reject it entirely due to the current situation …

In this episode, we start looking at chapter 55. We'll cover it from another angle this week, but today I want to dig into the word "constancy", also translated as the eternal and unchanging. I start the episode by sharing a few poems, most of which I've shared on the show before, to prime the pump for thinking about how we think about God. The res…

In this episode, we look at the second part of chapter 54, which encourages us to be rooted in Te (virtue). I start the episode by introducing what I call the "Bonhoeffer principle" - that loving your vision/dream of community more than the community itself will ultimately destroy it. The rest of the episode explores the dynamics of virtue in commu…

In this episode, we look at the first part of chapter 54, which encourages us to be rooted in Te (virtue). I start the episode sharing about how last Sunday I completely failed to live rooted in the Tao as the chapter says. The rest of the episode explores what it looks like to evaluate how we are doing as far as Taoist-Christian virtue goes by loo…

This is my attempt at a Christmas special, although I admit I may come across as a Grinch or a Scrooge. Please bear with me until the end of the episode to see that (hopefully) that's not the case. Episode 39 looks at chapter 53, which is primarily a critique of the materialism and hoarding of the rich and ruling class. I start by considering how o…

Episode 38 looks at the second half of chapter 52, which is intensely complex and profound. Using Paul Tillich's Christian definition of the "eternal now", we're going to a deep dive into what is hopefully a very new perspective (or at least was for me) on repentance and forgiveness. We'll end up a long way away from the words of Lao Tzu - and yet …

Episode 37 looks at chapter 52, which is intensely complex and profound. I start by musing on the importance of guarding our words and senses in Lao Tzu's style in the midst of a world of constant information overload and communication lacking in nuance. 1. The mother and the children - the unity of all things, Lao Tzu's "theology", and absorbing t…

Episode 36 looks at chapter 51, in which the abstract Tao, the origin and sustainer of all things, points to the more concrete virtue of Te, the selfless and ever-giving behavior of those in touch with the Tao as they emulate it. For Lao Tzu, we can only understand Te/virtue by first observing Tao/the order of all things. For Christians, we should …

Episode 35 looks at chapter 50, which talks about four kinds of people who relate to desire and their own mortality in very different ways. We'll discuss consumerism and desire with everything from razor-sharp critiques from a Taoist commentator, profound meditations by Christian mystics, a clever parable by Blaise Pascal, and even an analysis of t…

from Orlando Sentinel: "Man stranded at Lake Eola fountain after stolen swan boat floats away" from Travel + Leisure: "Man Arrested After Sneaking On To Abandoned Disney World Island For Quarantine" Oh, the things people will do to make it to Disneyworld just one more time. After taking a long break in their own private pandemic staycation bunkers,…

Episode 34 looks at chapter 49, which is all about loving your enemies and staying faithful to the unfaithful. It has such strong resonances with the teachings of Jesus that it is impossible not to see a connection, but we're going to take it a lot deeper today. I start the episode by contemplating just how difficult it is to really learn how to lo…

Episode 33 looks at chapters 47 and 48, which give two us two different but intimately connected themes: (1) internal wisdom and (2) deconstruction/unlearning. I open by talking about so many different ways in which I've had to learn to deconstruct and unlearn when it comes to my own life, goals, and even personality. The rest of the content is div…

Hey everyone! I've got some good news and some bad news today. Which would you like first? 1. The bad news - Due to some big changes in my life, the regular CRTTC show will now be switching to a biweekly production. 2. The good news - For the weeks when there is no regular episode, I will be doing special extra episodes for my Patreon supporters. (…