So I thought this is a little different than our usual format, so we may have to get used to it.

We usually record with headsets on, we don't pass a mic, so I thought that what we would do would be more of a panel discussion.

I've been coming here for three years, and I noticed that you guys usually do a panel with Q&A.

And so I thought that would be worthwhile to do for the format of our podcast.

I also realized that not everybody may be familiar with a podcast from what I've talked to people.

So basically it's a form of internet radio that has evolved and developed over almost 20 years now.

It's the fastest growing form of digital media in the U.S., and so it's become a valuable tool

for churches and theologians and parochurch organizations like 1517 to be able to communicate

the gospel. And so we've been doing our show for almost four years now. And it's been a blessing

to be able to come to Norway for the last three years. And I've done podcasting sort of in the

background while the podcast was going on.

I've had Jim Ness again and John Plus on from the last couple years to the show.

And so we're honored to be invited back once again, and this time to have the podcast incorporated into your conference.

So thank you for that.

So I'm just going to ask everybody some questions

about their talks. The general theme has been comfort, and I wanted to address maybe some

pushback that people may have on this kind of theme. And the first question I would have is as a general issue, when we're doing

theology for the sake of comfort, how do we address those who would say, well, that is just

turning theology into another form of therapy, that Christianity is being put up as an alternative to sort of solve your sadness,

but a therapist could do the same, or a Buddhist could do the same, or some other form of

religion.

What is unique, so to speak, about this Christian form, or how do we avoid becoming purely therapeutic?

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