Tilly and Abigail cozy up and chat about wisdom. What are some of the companion virtues that run in a pack with wisdom? What are counterfeit forms of wisdom that we see today? (I.e., "deep thoughts" of oversharing Christian writers, pragmatism that is really just worldly wisdom, "humor" that is really just scoffing, etc.) They also talk about the delights of wisdom, how scripture directs us to ask for it, because it's a gift. Wisdom comes from scripture, but must be mediated through the work of ...
Jan 24, 2023•165 hr 20 min
Tilly's husband Justin joins the podcast to talk about something he's been trying to train her in for the last ten years: intellectual virtue. How do we become God-honoring thinkers, who are honest, teachable, open to reason, lovers of truth, curious, attentive listeners, just, courageous, studious, and patient? How do we recognize intellectual virtue in other voices that we tune in to? Can we change our minds when the evidence demands that we do so? Can we also protect ourselves from becoming r...
Jan 17, 2023•190 hr 41 min
This week, we're joined by Jenni Naselli for a relaxed conversation about how our families keep the Advent season. We also touch on the day-after slump, which strikes all and sundry, and the ways to bless others when you're the guest instead of the host. We'll be taking a break for the Christmas season. We'll pick up and finish out Season 3 in the new year! See you then!
Nov 29, 2022•173 hr 18 min
Today, Abigail and Tilly talk about how to practice affirmation in the home and in the church. How do you affirm other human people--husband, children, friends, family--without falling into flattery, or even idol worship? Jumping off of Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree, they try to get a handle on how God-centered affirmation can be a tool for building people up and strengthen relationships.
Nov 22, 2022•104 hr 41 min
This week, Joe Rigney joined us on the podcast to talk about parenting. We discussed what it means to show our children the Father's pleasure in them by demonstrating our own fatherly or motherly pleasure. We also chatted about sharing interests with our kids, discipline in an atmosphere of fellowship, and parenting special needs kids. (And Jane Austen?!?)
Nov 15, 2022•198 hr 8 min
Abigail and Tilly discuss the human tendency to assume that to abstain from something is more virtuous than to partake in it. They relate this to women in the church bumping up against each other's consciences and practices. Why is it that women often take one another's convictions as a personal challenge? How can we allow iron to sharpen iron without being at the mercy of every suggestion made by another family's personal practices?
Nov 08, 2022•169 hr 28 min
In episode 34, Abigail and Tilly cozy up in separate states again to talk about confession. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins one to another. What does that mean on the ground? How do we practice the regular confession of sin in our homes and in the church, and what exactly does confession do for us?
Nov 01, 2022•176 hr 34 min
Abigail's husband Tom joins the podcast to talk about parenting! He shares wisdom from his years growing into fatherhood. Fathers have the unique responsibility to proclaim godly precepts to their kids and to pursue holiness for themselves and their family, in order to prepare godly offspring.
Oct 25, 2022•150 hr 51 min
This week we discuss the sin of sloth. What does the Bible say about the sluggard? What does sloth it look like on the ground? Is it possible for such busy women to even BE slothful? (Hint: yes it is) Fun times discussing the sin nobody thinks they struggle with.
Oct 18, 2022•158 hr 54 min
Tilly and Abigail settle down in person in a fourth-floor office of Bethlehem College and Seminary to catch up on life. 10 and 20 year wedding anniversaries, graduating children from high school, new hobbies, new responsibilities, new human beings, and why you shouldn't approach the Bible the way Abigail approaches painting a picture of a mountain... nothing is below our notice in this first episode of Home Fires, Season 3.
Oct 11, 2022•216 hr 58 min
Tilly and Abigail close out season 2 by answering as many as possible of all the good questions listeners sent in. They talk about: Keeping a home during the single years, the Enneagram, book recommendations, disagreeing with presumed Christians on major issues, raising daughters to think about homemaking, education, and work, maturing in the faith (if you're already reading your Bible), and truths that get them through the difficult days.
Feb 28, 2022•230 hr 41 min
Andrew Peterson joins the podcast to talk about his newest book, The God of the Garden, as well as the creative process, the Wingfeather Saga, his emotional life, and raising children in a creative home. This was a really fun conversation.
Feb 21, 2022•187 hr 18 min
Alistair Roberts joins us to share some of his thoughts on how the whole Bible attests to the roles and relations of men and women. It's possible that there was more talk about Song of Songs in this discussion than in any previous episode, but it wasn't our fault.
Feb 14, 2022•273 hr 23 min
Tilly and Abigail discuss the nature of story, and ways that stories have shaped them and their children through the years. How do we tell our family stories to our children? What stories do we feed them as we seek to shape their loves and characters?
Feb 07, 2022•214 hr 18 min
In a conversation that was cut for time, Tilly and Abigail chat about friendships with men. What does it look like? What does it not look like? Why the push in Christian circles to reaffirm intimate friendships between men and women who aren't married? How do we relate to one another in the church as brothers and sisters?
Jan 31, 2022•48 hr 11 min
Nancy Wilson joins us to talk about homemaking as a calling that changes shape through the years. The details change quite a bit from when kids are small, to when they're teenagers, to when they leave the nest and the home continues to be a center of ministry. In every stage, homemaking is a calling that requires walking by faith.
Jan 24, 2022•186 hr 21 min
This week, Tilly and Abigail discuss friendships past, present, and future. How do friendships bless and edify us? How can we be better friends in those seasons when we are tempted to ask, "but who is being a friend to me?"
Jan 17, 2022•202 hr 1 min
Tilly and Abigail cozy up indoors in separate states to talk about the heart of gratitude, how it is affected by social media, and then social media itself and how to use it. With different social media habits that serve different ends (and different seasons of life), they each have something to share about how social media interplays with their spiritual and social lives.
Jan 13, 2022•217 hr 8 min
David Mathis joins us in this first episode of 2022 to talk about the scriptural pattern of humble-self. What do we do when God's hand descends and presses us down, stripping us of our possessions, relationships, and dignity? What spiritual practices prepare us to humble-self? How do we talk about our sin before God and others? Are we actually as special as we think we are? (hint: yes and no) We found this conversation incredibly practical and encouraging!
Jan 03, 2022•208 hr 21 min
In the last episode of 2021, Tilly and Abigail talk about whether we can know things, and whether we can make confident assertions about any of the things we know. When we women encounter people we disagree with--in person or in the internet world--our instincts tell us to swerve and avoid disagreement. Is there anything we should be willing to argue about this Christmas season? Popular wisdom says the more mature you become, the less you can be sure about. Is this true? Does humility mean becom...
Dec 13, 2021•197 hr 8 min
In this slumber party style episode, Tilly and Abigail get real relaxed and chat about the things their families do to rev up for the advent season. Why does Christmas get more stale every year for some, and better and better for others? Also, is Abigail going to sing her original Christmas hymn next episode? Does she need a pie cart? Also, why does Tilly's son sit and stare at a train for half hour stretches, and what is a 48-hr shower?
Dec 06, 2021•209 hr 34 min
Are homes just the place where we put our keys down at the end of the day, watch some TV, and fall into bed? Why are the home and workplace such separate realms for most families? Few of us are running a family farm anymore. So what can we do to make our homes a center of productivity, culture-building, learning, and true recreation?
Nov 29, 2021•432 hr 41 min
Tilly and Abigail talk about how mothers in particular engage in the great battle against "the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). The home is not located safely behind the combat line, out of danger; rather, the line of combat runs right through the home. Women are in active combat roles, so what are the areas of Satan's attack that might be specific to Christian mothers?
Nov 22, 2021•449 hr 54 min
Abigail and Tilly discuss empathy with Joe Rigney, author and President of Bethlehem College and Seminary. When we are ministering to one another in the church and home, is "empathy" as it's commonly understood always helpful? How does the sharing of another person's emotions help us to love them well, and how could hinder us in loving them well? How do we discern the righteous response to another person's joy, anger, and grief?
Nov 15, 2021•239 hr 52 min
Tilly and Abigail talk about Abigail's new book, Bread of Life. While each of them (by coincidence!) keep an eye on pumpkin bread baking a few rooms away, they discuss baking and the Christian walk, Jesus as the "what is it" manna, Eve spewing out the word of God in order to accept and digest the lies of the serpent, and four kinds of Bible reading women... this episode is a fun preview of a beautiful, practical, and beautifully written book about Jesus, the bread of life.
Nov 08, 2021•466 hr 48 min
Abigail and Tilly catch up and tell about the biggest things that have happened in life over the past year. They make no promises at all about the super duper secret planned episodes for season 2, but leave you to imagine all those exciting guests and topics!
Nov 01, 2021•216 hr 26 min
In Abigail's bedroom, the ladies settle into deep armchairs with cups of tea and chat about Christmas. In their most relaxed conversation to date, they manage to talk about a few substantive things... but first they find they must discuss monochromatic Christmas decor, "fencing" Christmas like you would the Lord's table or the marriage bed, and why it's a bad idea to gift gifts to charities in a giftees name. This is the final episode of Season 1.
Dec 16, 2020•119 hr 45 min
Tilly and Abigail talk about envy. What do we do when others are blessed in ways we aren't? What if they have the family, the talents, the home, the life we wish we had? How do we handle the borrowed glories God bestows on others? Why isn't God as "fair" as we are? In our very first in-person recording, they try to subdue the silliness and get down to business on a topic that both find fascinating and that Tilly has written a book about ( Seeing Green , 2018).
Dec 08, 2020•137 hr 45 min
Abigail and Tilly are joined by two British blokes to talk about stories and the Christian home. How can we tell stories in our homes that will strengthen our faith and plant seeds in our children? What narratives do we tell ourselves throughout the day, and how does this affect our joy? What are the false narratives our culture is telling, and what how does the Great Story contrast with those false narratives? James Cary and Barry Cooper are Reformed Brits with a background in comedy and writin...
Dec 01, 2020•117 hr 42 min
Kevin DeYoung joins Tilly and Abigail to bring us all up to speed in the conversation about complementarity. Within the complementarian world, there are some who call themselves "narrow" or "thin" complementarians. This camp believes we should be very careful to say anything about different roles for men and women outside the church and the home, where scripture is most explicit in its commands. On the other hand, "broad" or "thick" complementarians hold that if there are different roles for men...
Nov 24, 2020•110 hr 20 min
