Michael returns for the 2025 RTA podcast season with an offering of three word-pictures for patrons and artists. First, “Space Station Christianity” seeks to answer the question, “Are the arts and beauty actually essential?” Second, “Antibiotic vs. Probiotic Culture” seeks to show the distinction between Culture War and Culture Care. Finally, “Miniature for Scale” frames some advice for making art about larger-than-life realities. We hope these word-pictures help to clarify your relationship to the arts as we delve this season into “flourishing” with the arts.

Stay tuned until the end to hear “Brother Please,” from the single America!, by Warbler. Many thanks again to Ryan Lane of Civilized Creature for providing our theme music for the season, in this case an instrumental version of his track “Spirit Move” from the album Whose House.

LINKS

Kevin Kelly, Out of Control, pdf

Biosphere

“Are Sermons Enough to Preach the Whole Counsel of God?” (Part 1 of 2), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

“Are Sermons Enough to Preach the Whole Counsel of God?” (Part 2 of 2), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Noella Marcellino

“Miniatures Add Grand Scale,” by Simon Gray

Mystery and Manners, Flannery O’Connor

Support Renew the Arts and Porchlight

Renew the Arts is on a mission to see patrons and artists partnered in communities to create art that enriches our lives, shapes our homes, and helps us love our neighbors.

Your support will sustain our team, help us continue to develop our Porchlight network (and web app), and fuel our efforts to inspire art patronage.

Donate

Start Here

If you provide your email address, we can get to know one another!

No, it's not a trap. We promise not to bombard your email inbox. In fact, most people complain we don't send enough emails! But here's what you can expect:

  1. In the following week or so you'll get a few messages. These are individually designed to catch you up on all the great things we're doing!
  2. Once you're caught up, you can expect (on average) one email a month, keeping you updated on the progress we're making toward our mission to liberate Christian creativity.
  3. And once you have a handle on our work, we can try to get you plugged in. Maybe you're an artist who wants to get more involved. Maybe you want to keep tabs on our projects. Whatever has drawn you to our work, this is the best way to get plugged in.

You have Successfully Subscribed!