In this season finale, we go through the eight things we believe are necessary to build a life you love! We returned to Upstream a year ago and will now be taking a break to finish our individual book projects. We look forward to returning with more episodes this September. We would love to hear from you in the meantime - our original email address is struggling, so please use the contact form at jimandjon.com instead. You are the reason we do this, thank you for listening!
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 160
This week we reflect on the dozens of Christians we know (including ourselves) for whom real, lasting change feels nearly impossible. If we champion the redeeming Gospel of Christ, why is this? Are we doomed to wallow in our sin and shame until we are made perfect in eternity, or is there a better way? Armed with some wisdom from Dallas Willard, Jim will lead Jon (and you) out of this miserable sinner Christianity and into the bright sunny secrets of change. Thanks for listening! -NOTE- our busi...
Feb 07, 2025•59 min•Ep. 159
Happy New Year! Recorded on New Year's Eve, in this episode Jim and Jon look back on 2024 and forward to 2025. Where did they succeed and where did they fail? What do they have hope for in the year ahead, and what do they dread? We hope you will join us in mindful reflection, and looking forward with expectancy. What is your Word of the Year for 2025? Let us know at info@jimandjon.com
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 158
Recording IN PERSON for the first time in months, Jim and Jon have a spoiler-free discussion of the recently released film Conclave. This movie, from a secular studio, seems to be asking the Church to have a conversation about ambition, faith, and certainty. What does it, and the world at large, seem to want from the Church? In what ways should the Church respond, whether it aligns with the desires of the world or not? Let us know your thoughts on the film and this discussion of it at info@jiman...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 157
Fall is upon us, and that means two things: cozy weather, and introspection! This month Jim and Jon talk about the importance of context, the fight against shame in one's relationship with God, and give advice to their younger selves. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoy recording, and would love your feedback at info@jimandjon.com!
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 156
This month, we're talking about one thing and one thing only: Meaning, baby! How do you find meaning in a world that everyone around you claims, and lives as if, is meaningless? Jim and Jon have two points each on how they see meaning in their own lives, and give you tools to find it in your own. Weigh in on the Great Participle Fiasco of 2024 at info@jimandjon.com!
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 155
This month, Jim and Jon discuss lessons from the David narrative, take comfort in the will of God, and discuss ways to reach those in despair today. Thanks for listening to this extra long episode!
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 154
This week, Jim interviews Jon on things he's learning about marriage, anxiety, and the future, and gives his thoughts as well. Then they have a discussion about Christian excellence, and seeking to be the best you can at what you do while honoring God and keeping your heart right. So grateful for your time, thanks for listening!
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 153
Join us for an in-person special! In this bonus conversation, we explore more of our evolving thoughts on free grace salvation, and the mechanics of abiding in Christ. We also talk about the new film Horizon: An American Saga, and our favorite western movies of all time! Send us your favorite westerns, too, and join us on the first Friday of the month for the next full episode.
Jul 12, 2024•51 min•Ep. 152
This month we talk about free grace, waiting on the Lord, Christian ambition, and more! Stay tuned for an in-person recording, with further discussion on free grace. Thanks for listening!
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 151
This month we talk about how to live in the Sabbath rest of Christ at all times; how we are to exercise the authority given to us by Christ to serve others; surprising lessons from data on de-Churched Americans, and more! Thanks for listening.
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 150
This month we talk about how to serve others like Christ while maintaining boundaries, explore assurance of salvation, and much more! Catch us on the first Friday of the month for the next episode. (Also a correction: in this episode Jon says that Merry the Hobbit kills the Witch King on the Pelennor Fields. What he MEANT to say is he aids in the Nazgul's defeat. Obviously Eowyn deals the killing blow, and it's awesome. But Merry broke his ward of invulnerability with the blade from the barrow-d...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 149
We are so excited to announce that the indefinite Upstream hiatus has come to a close! This time around the show will be monthly, and much more of a hang-out, where we just catch up and discuss what we have been learning this month. You can expect some more laid back vibes and production. We will be back here on the first Friday of each month for more father and son conversations, and hope you will join us! If you have any feedback at all on the new episode/format, we are dying to hear it! You c...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 148
In the final (for now) episode of Upstream, we go over our favorite episodes, things we're most proud of, things we struggled with, and what we have in store for the future! But more than any of that we express our gratitude, truly, for all of the listeners and supporters who've tuned in over these three years. It means more to us than you probably know, and we hope you continue to have your own meaningful conversations with those in your own circles. We love you guys - keep an eye out for what ...
Feb 21, 2022•42 min•Ep. 147
In our penultimate episode, we answer questions sent in by our wonderful listeners! Ranging from fun queries to some of the more serious variety, check this one out if you want to hear more of our opinions on various topics. We were thrilled with the number of questions we received and are so grateful for our regular listeners. We will talk to you next week for the final episode - an Upstream retrospective and 'what's coming next'!
Feb 14, 2022•48 min•Ep. 146
We're back this week with an expanded discussion on a topic touched on in last week's episode: Are your thoughts and feelings related, and can you change them? We bring in more wisdom from Dallas Willard, as well as some personal breakthroughs to view this question from multiple angles. Stay tuned 'till the end for a very important update on the future of Upstream, and send us questions or comments you have for next week's Q&A Special!
Feb 07, 2022•38 min•Ep. 145
This week we reflect on a chapter of Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard, where he lays out the six components that make up human nature. What happens when these components are in agreement, working together? What happens when they're askew? We explore this list, including the parts we emphatically agree with and the parts that might make us (or one of us; take a guess who) hesitate. Got a question for us? Send it our way! We would love to answer it in our upcoming 'Listener Mail' episode.
Jan 31, 2022•38 min•Ep. 144
This week we have a Jon Thoughts for you, recapping Jon's biggest takeaways from Lessons From the Saints - a workbook by Maxie Dunnam - as well as some freshly-formed thoughts on C.S. Lewis' "Till We Have Faces." Jim will be back for next week's episode, see you then!
Jan 24, 2022•23 min•Ep. 143
We've shared a number of mindfulness tips that we believe can change your life, and this episode might have our most powerful one yet. This tool has to do with managing your self-love and, merging this idea with our new perspective on culture, we think you can love people better than ever, and live out Proverbs 20:5 - "The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out." Have an awesome week!
Jan 17, 2022•45 min•Ep. 142
The wrath of God is, for most people, an uncomfortable concept. Sometimes, when talking about wrath or judgment in a way to reduce anxiety on the topic, we can veer towards belittling or making light of it. So, without taking the teeth out of the Biblical truth of the matter, what is the deal with the wrath and judgment of God? Is there a way to view this reality that is both accurate, and gives people peace? Tune in this week to find out!
Jan 10, 2022•44 min•Ep. 141
Happy new year! In the first episode of 2022, we have part two of our conversation on "living as a pilgrim," using 2 Timothy as a guide to dive deeper into what that looks like, and walking through the many situations that might challenge that lifestyle. Got a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know!
Jan 03, 2022•45 min•Ep. 140
It's that time again! At the end of last year (Episode 87) we discussed the potential of 2021 and some of our goals for the year. We are back to review the year, share some personal highlights, evaluate how we went about achieving our goals, and set new ones for 2022. We are so thankful for our listeners! Have some of your own goals for the coming year? We'd love to hear them.
Dec 27, 2021•32 min•Ep. 139
Jim's on his soapbox! After a frustrating interaction, he had a moment of clarity and this week brings you a list of six things you can do to be a great Christ-following American. Jon hears this list for the first time on-air, and will either talk him down or rage alongside him. We hope you enjoy this father and son conversation - have a great Christmas!
Dec 20, 2021•46 min•Ep. 138
In another installment in our long-running "grace and works" conversation, this week we explore a new, fresh take on the metaphor Jesus uses in the gospels; that you will know a tree by its fruits. How can we use this image to reconcile the tension between the grace we know we are given, and the lifestyle standards we are called to? And what do we do if we are consistently falling short of those standards? Tune in to find out!
Dec 13, 2021•43 min•Ep. 137
This week Jim helps Jon break down two ideas he had recently inspired by the book of Hebrews; both concerning the nature of what it is to live by faith in a world that is only a shadow of the one that is to come. These metaphors have the potential to reshape some of our thoughts and questions about one of the great mysteries of our faith. Did they help you? Let us know!
Dec 06, 2021•43 min•Ep. 136
Everyone has two lives: one that is observable from the outside, and one that exists primarily in your head; an ongoing conversation you have with yourself for your entire life. For many people, the inner life can be a place of constant frustration, where the ongoing monologue is a cycle of hurt, pride, and shame. But what if this inner life could not only be relieved of its pain, but become the source of all your peace, joy, and endurance. We believe this is absolutely possible, and here is a s...
Nov 29, 2021•54 min•Ep. 135
Culture, whether healthy or unhealthy, always seems invisible. This makes any attempts to purposefully alter, or recreate culture frustratingly difficult. But what if you could directly affect the culture around you in very tangible ways? Or even create culture? Well in this episode, we break down a way for you to do just that!
Nov 22, 2021•52 min•Ep. 134
There seems to be a huge gap between the abundant, peaceful, overcoming life that Jesus promised and described in the New Testament and the life that most of us are living. What gives? In this episode Jim discusses the journey he is on to close that gap between the life the New Testament describes and the life he is actually living. Hopefully you can join the journey with him to the abundant life!
Nov 15, 2021•37 min•Ep. 133
In a moment of cohesion between ancient and modern wisdom, this week we discuss the shared theme of Romans 1 and Occam’s Razor: that almost always, the truth is right in front of our faces. As we navigate a world that seems to grow more complicated every day, how can we cut through the noise and seek real, powerful truth? We’ve got some ideas. Thanks for tuning in – let us know what your takeaway from this conversation was!
Nov 08, 2021•40 min•Ep. 132
This week's conversation is about majority and minority cultures. Statistically, the majority of Americans still consider themselves Christians - so why is it that in regards to all other lifestyle statistics (marriage, finances, etc.) true Christ followers seem to be a small minority? And if they are a minority, how does that change their relationship to not only the larger secular public, but also other professing Christians? In a sequel to last week's episode, Jim and Jon discuss these questi...
Nov 01, 2021•47 min•Ep. 131
