Pandemics, History, Environment, Myths and More: A Conversation with Brad Raley

Every day we are being watched by the ghosts of history past. The hosts of Ryan and Philip’s Conversation Rules have a segment on their podcast; History Has Its Eyes On You. No matter the subject of each episode, they point up the value of knowing how it relates to the past.

Somewhere in the past few years, I met Brad Raley through mutual friends. Our interactions, though only 30 minutes away, came online. Then something written, maybe a comment posted on a social media item, prompted one or both of us to make contact by Facebook Messenger.

Then it happened.

Sitting in the Denver Airport waiting on my flight home, I posted a photo, I think, of a good cup of coffee. No sooner had I done so I received a message, “Are you in the Denver Airport?” Though we only lived about 30 minutes apart, I met Brad as we were both traveling back to Oklahoma from Denver. Me heading back home. Brad heading back to prepare for a move back to Colorado.

Brad earned a PhD in History. I minored in History in college. Brad has taught history as an adjunct and in secondary education. I have taught our girls and am teaching our grands the value of history in order to understand the present. Brad introduced me to Kevin Kruse and others. I, well, I don’t think I could keep up with Brad’s breadth and grasp of history.

Recently, given the Shelter-in-Place in 97% of the Country, Brad had some time and messaged me about podcasting. What better occasion to turn his interest into a conversation! We did just that. It is a wide-ranging conversation and in that format, you will hear what makes an understanding of history important for our present and our future.

If you find the podcast helpful, share it with your friends. Share it with your pastor friends as well as folks you know involved in leadership that touches on the pastoral. Also, consider heading over to iTunes, login, search for patheological and give us a five-star rating and a kind review.

About the Author
Husband to Patty. Daddy to Kimberly and Tommie. Grandpa Doc to Cohen, Max, Fox, and Marlee. Pastor to Snow Hill Baptist Church. Graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reading. Photography. Golf. Colorado. Jeeping. Friend. The views and opinions expressed here are my own and should not be construed as representing the corporate views of the church I pastor.

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