Hi! I’m JR. Forasteros

    Welcome to my corner of the web.

    I’m an author, pastor and podcaster (which basically means I love words, love to talk and love to collaborate). I think everyone has a story, and I’d love to know yours.

    I wrote a book about what we can learn when we look for ourselves in the villains of the Bible (yes, including Satan).

    The sins of wrath, idolatry, and abuse of power are closer to us than we think. How do we guard against them? We learn not only by following moral exemplars—we also need to look at the warnings of lives gone wrong.

    In this fictionalized narrative, I reintroduce you to some of the most villainous characters of Scripture. I show you what you can learn from their negative examples, with figures such as Cain, Jezebel, King Herod, and even Satan serving as cautionary tales of sin and temptation. Their vividly-told stories to help you understand their motivations, and the biblical and cultural exposition point out what we often miss about their lives.

    You’ll soon discover you might have more in common with these characters than you would like to admit. Take a fresh look at the scoundrels of Scripture, and find sound pastoral guidance here to walk the path of righteousness.

    Find out more about the book here.

    It’s available pretty much wherever books are sold!

    Podcasts

    I love podcasting because I love collaboration and conversation. Here are the podcasts I currently co-host.

    The Fascinating Podcast

    Kathy Khang, Matt Mikalatos, Clay Morgan and I have the most compelling conversations with the most fascinating people we can find. Tune in! 

    StoryMen

    My first podcast, on pop culture, history and theology. (It's been rebranded as The Fascinating Podcast!) Catch our first 199 episodes, where we interviewed a ton of authors, from George R. R. Martin and Mark Waid to Peter Enns and Julianna Baggott. 

    In All Things Charity

    Wesleyan Feminist Theology from me, Tara Tomas Smith and Heather Gerbsch Daugherty

    Bible Bites

    This is Sunday School for the 21st Century. Tom Fuerst, Elizabeth Glass Turner and I work through the Bible 20 minutes at a time. This is high-quality Biblical education with a small side of fun. 

    Don't Split Up!

    It's the first rule for surviving a horror film. Join Mo, Stacey, my wife Amanda and me as we investigate horror films new and old to find out what makes them tick... and why we love them so much!

    Origami Elephants

    What happens when an agnostic philosopher and an Evangelical pastor talk about religion and philosophy? Mostly good stuff - especially since we use pop culture and current events as the window into our topics. Bryne Helen Lewis and I dive deep!

    Messages

    Listen to every sermon, plus those of my preaching team. Plus the talks I give elsewhere (assuming I can get my hands on them!).
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    Messages

    An atheist, a hip-hop theologian and an Evangelical pastor review the STARZ TV show American Gods episode by episode. Kate Sanchez, Daniel White Hodge and I explore what the show says about religion. 

    The Stuff You’ll Probably Like Weekly Newsletter

    Every Friday, I’ll send you a collection of pop culture recommendations. Movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, graphic novels – anything I think you’ll like. You get a devotional reflection (which is some of my favorite stuff I write every week – I’m not afraid to get a little weird). You get a list of all the podcast episodes, blog posts and talks I created that week. And newsletter subscribers are always the first to get updates on my newest projects.

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    Sermon Previews

    Manuscripts and Discussion Guides

    • Mirabel the Peacemaker – Enneagram 9
      Mirabel the Peacemaker – Enneagram 9
      Do you know someone who feels like a warm plate of chocolate chip cookies? Maybe you know someone who's gentle, kind and filled with care for everyone around them. They're probably an Enneagram 9 [...]
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    • Abuela the Challenger
      Abuela the Challenger
      Do you know someone who is a little prickly, who has a tough exterior and a strong sense of justice? A person who stands up for the little guy, but also has a tendency to steamroll people? Then [...]
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    • Encanto and the Enneagram
      Encanto and the Enneagram
      ENCANTO is one of the most popular movies in recent memories. It's packed with spiritual truth - and each character offers us a picture of the possibility of transformation. This summer, we're [...]
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