Ep. 3: Christianity, Priesthood, and Lattes - A Conversation with Author and Orthodox Priest, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

In this third episode of Brews, Beards, & Shipwrecks, Jamey sits down with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick to discuss his life growing up as a child of Protestant missionaries, his journey into Orthodoxy and the priesthood, and about how much he can't stand rap music. Fr. Andrew is the author of several books, the host of several podcasts, the father of several children, the husband of one wife, and the pastor of one church. "Brews Beards & Shipwrecks" Theme Song by Royal Ruckus.What’s your deal?The difference between a “pastor” and a “priest.”On cassocks and magic.The calling of humanity is to be “priests.”Interconnectedness of relationships.Can’t you pray right now? Why do you need a church?Part of being human is a drive for community.Loneliness.Experiencing the divine in nature vs. coming together in community to experience the divine together.“It’s actually easier for me to pray in that liturgical context with other people, than it is for me to try to keep up a prayer rule on my own.” Fr. Andrew’s childhood years as a missionary kid.His dad was in the Navy, then they became missionaries to Guam.Becoming Orthodox. Dad’s concerns about Orthodoxy.No crisis of faith, but sort of hit a lull in his faith. “Once saved, always saved.”The Baptist “Liturgy” and “Just As I Am.”Mega church and Triangle Tim and Tina.The Man Behind the Curtain—Disillusionment with Protestantism.“Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats.The search for beauty. “Shipwreck" by Cookbook and Uno.Mas from The Robertson Bullies EP. A conversation with a friend. Searching Orthodoxy online.First visit to an Orthodox Church.“I remember seeing that and having a sense that heaven met earth. That God was somehow in that room in a way that I had never been able to sense before.”An Irish Catholic break-up story.Seminary and priesthood and changing religion scared the girl off.The 3-5 year crisis mark for converts.A graduation gift: traveling to England on pilgrimage.Meeting Met. Anthony Bloom.Jamey’s solidifying his break with Protestantism and Anglicanism.Anniversary of Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring.On Mormonism. “Departures” by Royal Ruckus, featuring Shedlyn, Jeremiah Bonds, and Kalvin Coolidge. From The Summer of the Cicadas double LP. On the Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy book.On the An Introduction to God book.Upcoming book: Bearing God, a book about St. Ignatius of Antioch.The Areopagus podcast with Pastor Michael Landsman.On religion and secularism.On coffee: drip, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Ethiopian coffee.On “The Latte Show” song by Royal Ruckus, from the Self-Titled LP. Available free at http://noisetrade.com/royalruckus.Fr. Andrew recommends a latte with honey and almond syrup.Beard care tips.Socials! Fr. Andrew’s favorite rap song? “I affirm you even though I can’t stand that part of what you’re doing. For me, rap is like someone shouting or screaming in my face.” Snippet of “Pray” by MC Hammer. Watching 8Mile with Fr. Andrew. On battle rap.On Weird Al. “White and Nerdy” by Weird Al Yankovic Background instrumentals by J-Dilla. Honorable mentions: “Ode on a Grecian Urn" by John Keats, Michael Scott from The Office, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy book, Introduction to God book, Bearing God, Areopagus Podcast, How (Not) to Be Secular by James K.A. Smith. http://orthodoxyandheterodoxy.org http://summerofthecicadas.com  http://facebook.com/royalruckusofficial http://twitter.com/royalruckus http://instagram.com/royalruckusofficial