sundaymorningsleepin: Recent Episodes
sundaymorningsleepin
This episode is all about the joyful practice of giving - with a story about how Kris' fatal gift giving flaw leads to lots of laughs - and a reminder that God gets just as much excitement out of giving us gifts as we do out of giving gifts to each other. Check out this episode and John 3:11-17.
Christmas is right around the corner so we're getting in spiritual shape by practicing JOY all month long! This week, we rearrange a Christmas tree, build some LEGO, and watching a Christmas animated classic as we discuss the spiritual practice of Imagination and Isaiah 61.
We have talked about how we relate to money: remembering, releasing, reimagining our stories, and now, restoration! In the uncertainty of “what’s next?” Jesus’ disciples try to go back to their familiar, ordinary lives… but perhaps that’s where the miracles are always hiding. We talk about saints, fishing, an episode of The Office (US) and unintentional faith in the context of John 21.
Content Warning! Hi guys, we tend to keep it G on this podcast, but this episode does talk about a fairy tale that includes sexual violence and regular violence, so we wanted to let you know before you hit play!Happy Halloween, a few weeks late! What do Cruella DeVil, a group of humble Christians singing praise songs, and you all have in common? Well, probably a lot more than nothing, but for today’s purposes, we’re talking about how we re-write our own stories, and how we use our imagination to do it! We have been remembering our stories, releasing the parts that don’t serve us anymore, and now we will reimagine them with compassion, for healing, and transformation! Scripture (not included in the episode) is about the Year of Jubilee continued – Leviticus 19:9-10 and 25:8-12.
As we go through wildernesses and promised lands, there come endings and beginnings – times to rethink which parts of our story we will carry forward, and what we need to let go of. As we consider our Money Stories, some of the things we need to release may be causing us pain or shame, or just not working anymore! Susan and Kris discuss Deuteronomy 15:1-11, and how we practice letting go so we can live into our purpose.
Most people we know don't like talking about money. Maybe they have it, maybe they don't, but it's uncomfortable to bring up! It's good to know we didn't invent complaining--the Hebrew people perfected it long ago and it served them well! They complained about slavery and God led them to freedom; they complained about not having enough to live on, and God provided and also invited them to think about living differently. (Check out the story in Exodus!) They had a money story, and so do we-- and it's important to be able to remember it! So we are kicking off our series on stewardship with remembering our own money stories. No shame allowed!
How can loving God and loving your neighbor be the same thing? And why on earth would it taste like chicken? Kris dives into Luke 10:25-37 and finding what is holy on the ground.
And perhaps manners are not Jesus' first priority when it comes to you living a fully awakened, fully loving, fully engaged life? Just a thought. Susan tackles the tale of the ten lepers from Luke 17:11-19, and what OTHER things (besides saying "please" and "thank you") might be working in this story and in our lives.
Priority #1 according to Jesus in the Bible is to love God... but what does that mean? How do we love what we cannot see? Kris has some ideas. Check out Mark 12:28-34 and Jesus' way of prioritizing our lives of faith.
We're back! After a multi-year hiatus, we're bringing the sermons back to the podcast waves. Susan launches season four with a look into 2 Timothy 1:1-14, and answering the unasked question: what have I been given, really?
In the midst of protests and riots, what good is Easter? Why bother with Pentecost? Kris starts a conversation with Susan based in Acts 2 about why it is important for the church to engage in antiracism work.
"Not all who wander are lost," according to Tolkein. What's your journey? Join us as Susan discusses all the ways we discover God along the road, including in the relationships we form and let go of as we travel, in the story of Ruth and Naomi.
"Not all who wander are lost," according to Tolkein. What's your journey? Join us as Susan discusses the journey of the magi from Matthew 2 in this Epiphany message, and continues to meditate on the image of journey for the next six episodes.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to find and be Home for Christmas in the gospel of Luke and Galatians.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 9:2-7.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of the nativity scenes from the gospel of Luke as we talk about preparing for Jesus’ incarnate.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of the nativity scenes from the gospel of Luke as we talk about preparing for Jesus’ incarnate.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12.
In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 2:1-5 and Psalm 122.
In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. God couldn’t wait to be love in the flesh, and we can’t either. Susan shares the urgency of the story in this Christmas Eve reflection.
In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Love is one of them, and the fourth and final one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 on the fourth Sunday of Advent.
In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Joy is one of them, and the third one discussed by Susan during her sermon on the Magnificat in Luke 1 on the third Sunday of Advent.
In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Peace is one of them, and the second one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Isaiah 11 and Matthew 3 on the second Sunday of Advent.
In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Hope is one of them, and the first one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Isaiah 2 and Matthew 24 on the first Sunday of Advent.
Ever felt like you were too little and too scared to really make a difference? Here's why Christ the King Sunday is for you! Kris and Susan discuss Luke 1:68-79, rollercoasters, and angels who get fed up with us just not believing them.
Everything that is alive breathes... both in, and out. When we limit one of those movements, we suffocate. The same goes with a healthy spiritual life and a life of recovery -- we have to keep drawing breath into ourselves, and we have to share our breath with others. Kris and Susan wrap up the series on addiction and recovery based on the book _Breathing Under Water_ by Richard Rohr.
Prayer isn't just a telephone line to God; it's a zoom lens, a trip to the beach, an alternative operating system for your everyday life. When we are in the process of living into a healthier, more mature self, this kind of meditative practice can help us find a new way through the mazes and mysteries of our lives. Kris and Susan continue their series on addiction and recovery based on on Richard Rohr's _Breathing Under Water_.
If making amends is the most well-known step in the recovery process, step 10 is probably the most overlooked. How do we take ongoing personal inventory without driving ourselves crazy with criticism? Kris and Susan continue to explore the themes of addiction, recovery, and salvation based on Richard Rohr's book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps.
How do you make amends for a past injury without retraumatizing yourself or someone else? Making amends is important in every life and relationship. Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps.
How do we move away from navel gazing in the recovery process and move toward reconnecting with the world around us? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps, and discuss step 8: "We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
Ever thought you knew exactly what God needed to do, and you kept telling God about, but it just wasn't happening? What's that about, eh? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps, with a discussion of Step 7, humbly asking God to remove our shortcomings.
What comes first - grace or responsibility? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps with Step 6. The full step says "We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
Do you have a person you trust with your secrets, with even the things you're most ashamed of? How does bearing each other's burdens help us experience the transforming power of the truth? Kris and Susan continue their sermon series on Spirituality and the Twelve Steps based on Richard Rohr's _Breathing Under Water_.
We continue our sermon series on Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr with Step 4. Have you the courage to look at yourself in the light? What do you think you'll find there?
What can recovery teach us about faith? Well.... a whole lot, actually. Recovery, enlightenment, and salvation are all similar concepts and are deeply interrelated. Susan and Kris continue a series based on Richard Rohr's book _Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps_ with step 3: surrender, or giving up on being in control of everything.
What can recovery teach us about faith? Well.... a whole lot, actually. Recovery, enlightenment, and salvation are all similar concepts and are deeply interrelated. Susan and Kris embark on a new series based on Richard Rohr's book _Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps_.
What can parades teach us about what we value, who we are, and how we relate to one another? Well, a whole lot. Kris talks about Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Mark 11, and Reno's LBTGQ Pride Parade.
Ever feel like too much is going on and you just never have time to process? Susan tells us about a time when Jesus tries to retreat with his disciples and keeps getting interrupted in Mark 6:30-34, 54-56.
Sometimes it's okay not to be okay. In the midst of big moments of grief, we often want to rush the healing process. But like babies growing up, like Jesus maturing before he began his ministry, we have to let the healing work of God have time to bloom in us. The waiting can be difficult, but when we rush it, it doesn't work. Kris takes a look at Isaiah 9:2-7 for the Longest Night Christmas service.
Construction zones are rampant, annoying, and ultimately incredibly important for how we live together in safe community. Kris analyzes Amos 7:7-9 and Psalm 85:8-13 for a look at how God's work and construction work can be painful and also essential for how we build strong.
Turns out, most things shouldn't surprise us. If we're paying attention, we will notice and be able to respond compassionately to the warning signs around us. Kris spends a little time thinking about death, disaster, and the lessons of Pompeii as we look at Mark 13:24-37.
You better watch out, you better not cry... Actually, Advent is about watching out AND crying. Crying in the wilderness, that is! Changes we make because someone else ("Santa-God"?) might be watching rarely stick around. Changes we make because we are living into a preferred future have a much better chance. Susan digs into Luke 3:1-19 and helps us check our internal whiny children in this 3rd Sunday of Advent message.
John the Baptist gets invited to a party in the worst possible way: by losing his head. King Herod's family dynamics might make yours look tame... but what does this have to do with us now? Susan serves up Mark 6:14-29.
There are some things it is simple too taboo, too awkward, or too embarassing to talk about. And yet... in every question, there is a promise tucked away. Kris reflects on Malachi 3:1-4, and the prophets who are willing to help us look for the promises of God, even in our big, scary questions.
What stories have you heard about yourself, or told about yourself, that give glimpses of key elements of who you believe you are? Whether accolades and affirmation, or tales of infamy, it's amazing how quickly we attach labels to ourselves and others. Perhaps one way to capture the bigger, fuller picture of who we are and who we are called to be, we need to find some quiet, and listen. Susan retells the tale of John the Baptist's dad in Luke 1:68-79 in this Second Week of Advent sermon.
Times change, trends come and go, and navigating the serially new world can be challenging. But change is hard! Susan talks about Jesus's tips for adapting in Mark 3:1-16.
It's hard to hear an unpleasant truth, but it's nearly impossible to hear a beautiful one. Why do we insist on making Christmas so tender and mild, and what happens if we let it speak to us an uglier truth? Kris delves into Jeremiah 33:14-16 in this Advent episode of the podcast.
What does the second coming of Christ look like to you? Is it more Armageddon or Hunger Games? Does the world go out with a bang or a whimper? Glimpses of God in the world aren't reserved to calm, quiet moments; sometimes God is present when it feels like our whole world is crumbling around us. Susan invites us to take a look at Luke 21: 25-36 and VanGogh's A Starry Night.
What do you think about when you pass a hospital, pharmacy, or health clinic? What if we let our surroundings inspire us to find ways to create true healing - space for people of all ability levels in our community? Kris dives into Mark 5:21-43 and its practical implications for us today.
Whether it's out loud or in the quietest corner of your heart, at some point in your life, you've probably needed healing from something: medical, psychologiacl, relational, spiritual. So... have you gotten it? What does it look like? What do you need healing from now? Susan dives into the mysterious ways of Jesus in Mark 5:21-43.
The gospel is not something you can win at! There is only the process: learning, growing, listening, discovering, and sometimes, letting God do the heavy lifting. Kris takes a look at our paltry frameworks of winning and losing in the light of the parable in Mark 4:26-34.
Ever feel overwhelmed by political alliances and maneuvering that seem beyond your control? Well, you're not the first. Susan shares Ezekiel's words of hope to his people in Ezekiel 17: 22-24.
Ever noticed that people -- even religious people -- can take really stupid things seriously, and really serious things too lightly? Let's talk about blasphemy, baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Susan spends a little time interpreting Mark 3:20-35 for us in this episode on irreverence and remembering that even Jesus' own family thought he was a little crazy at least once.
How might your imperfections actually be places where you encounter God's grace in the world? Kris talks about an ancient Indian story, Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time, and Leonard Cohen through the scripture of 2 Corinthians 4:5-12.
What if church really wasn't a thing we did on Sunday or a building we maintained, but who we choose to be every day of our lives? Kris talks about John 3:1-9, the idolatry of church, the movement of the Spirit, and the witness to the Word in her favorite Canadian musician and poet: a rapper named Drake. (Maybe you've heard of him.)
The disciples are trying to fill an open position, and try to let God make the decision for them. How often do you think God works through the randomness? Susan talks about the enmeshment of your story, our story, and God's story with Acts 1:16-25.
What's your learning style? The kingdom of God is definitely hands-on learning... and Kris discusses some of God's practicums in Acts 10:44-48 and her own church.
The terrible beauty of the Bible is not whether or not the stories actually happened, but that they continue to happen. Guest preacher Devin Gardner breaks open the story of Jacob in the context of the queer rights movement, church inclusivity, thriving after domestic abuse, and his own struggle with claiming his identity in the face of overwhelming opposition. Don’t miss this Pride Sunday sermon on Genesis 32:22-32.
Susan talks about how our stories interact, through the lens of Acts 10:44-48 and the perspective of a parishioner who reported back to her congregation on the death prevention measures of the city of Reno for the homeless this past winter.
Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Parkland students all have something in common: they’re not willing to let their stories be silenced any longer. Kris talks about the importance of listening to each other’s stories and not being barriers to grace through the stories in Acts 8:26-40 and 1 John 4:7-21.
Every person's story has something to teach us about what God is like and how God works. Susan breaks down one story in Acts 8:26-40 and invites you to consider your story, how you tell it, and what it might teach us.
How many things do we miss because we haven't taken the time to process our reactions around them? Jesus's disciples get a taste of this after the resurrection, and Susan breaks it down in reference to Luke 24:36b-48.
It’s difficult to continue to believe in things we haven’t seen for ourselves, whether we are people of faith or not. It may be up to people of faith to show what is possible so that people can believe it… including finding unity in diversity, and modeling generosity in the midst of scarcity. Kris takes a look at the story of Doubting Thomas and Acts 4:32-35.
Ever found yourself caught off-guard, called into waters a little deeper than you were prepared for? Susan shares stories of beer league hockey players and traumatized disciples dealing with the same challenges as she discusses John 20:19-31 in this post-Easter episode of the podcast.
We will often reach out to God in desperate moments to save us from whatever trouble we are in, but we don't often like God's methods. Jesus epitomizes this in Mark 11:1-11 in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, and Paul emphasizes it in Philippians 2:1-11. Join Kris as she considers what salvation might actually look like, and how our healing might contribute to the saving of the world.
The story of Palm Sunday often gets whitewashed into a spontaneous, joyous, apolitical parade, which undermines its treasonous, gritty, satirical character. Join Susan as she talks about Mark 11:1-11 and how speaking the truth isn't always the safe choice.
Trees get through storms by preparing, adapting, and supporting one another. Humans survive our storms in the same way. Jesus teaches us a little about what that looks like in John 12:20-33 and Kris draws some connections between his call to be prepared, to not avoid the storms, and to be strengthened through them using the enneagram to wrap up the Lenten series.
Life evolves! From grandmas learning to text, to tattoos that change in meaning, to contracts and relationships and even our understanding of who God is… we are each evolving, too! Why wouldn’t God? Susan unpacks Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33 and discusses the difference between being constant and being unchanging.
Between #FOMO and the talking heads on TV telling us we’re heading for the apocalypse, anxiety isn’t hard to come by. It can be difficult to believe who we are, what we have, and what we do is enough. Kris jumps into John 3:14-21 and a discussion of the light in the forest and the light in our lives.
God often doesn't provide escapes from the snake-like problems in our lives, but instead offers us a way to heal through them. Could the same be said of the cross? What if Jesus on the cross wasn't the end-all-be-all of a life of faith? What if making the cross central is actually a scandalous way to idolize Jesus instead of worshipping God? Susan brings the fire and the shade with John 3:14-21 and Numbers 21:4-9.
Trees are huge failures; and, probably, so are you, beeches. That’s okay. Life is a struggle in which we try to love ourselves, love others, and love God, and often fall short of the mark. We can be paralyzed by shame, or we can let grace in and compassion stir us to action once more. Kris explores water into wine and Jesus flippin’ tables in John 2:13-22 through the lens of the Tree Lottery, Twitter wisdom, and a prayer from God.
As a citizen of Romania said after the dictatorship there toppled, “We have freedom, but we don’t know what to do with it.” Join Susan for a tour through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and the Expulsion of the Money Changers in John 2:13-22 as we discuss the purpose of freedom.
What’s the point in being angry? Well…. Perhaps, anger DOES have a purpose. Join Kris to talk about Mark 8:31-38, spruce tree survival tricks for extreme circumstances, and how people of faith can cope with and even transform those situations in life where we feel angry, too, into opportunities for peace, righteousness, and truth to take root.
Faithfulness is not a set of beliefs; it is something we live out in the waiting between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise. Abram and Sarai experience this· as does Peter. Both circumstances result in a name change. Check out this episode, where Susan delves into Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and Mark 8:31-38.
The call of Christians is to be loving community -- and being loving community takes work! We take a leaf (pun intended) out of the book of tree communities for the season of Lent, and discuss some methods for opening communication and self-reflection in ourselves and our own relationships. Kris brings the enneagram, trees, and Mark 1:9-15 together to kick off the series.
In the midst of all the highs and lows of life that sweep our emotions around, how do we keep hold of who we are? Susan talks about the wilderness between the promises of God and the fulfillment of those promises by God using Genesis 9:8-17 and Mark 1:9-15 (Noah's ark and Jesus's baptism, respectively).
Every moment, every decision, is an opportunity to let the worst of us get the better of us, or to let the best of us meet the worst of the world and transform it. Using Mark 2:23-3:6, Kris shares how Jesus dealt with his own crisis moments, and how he shows us what the evidence of God's grace at work really are: liberation, grace, and wholeness.
(Kris also wants to note that she regrets the way she phrased a particular idea in the podcast. Her intention was to say that the healing and wholeness of those with physical disabilities is not necessarily in the changing of differently-abled bodies but in the adaption of our world so that people across the spectrum of physical and mental ability are fully included and welcomed in human community.)
Ever had a "mountaintop experience"? Not everybody does, and not everybody who does knows exactly what to do with them. Susan discusses Mark 9:2-9, and how the messages from the mountain aren't really useful until you find yourself coming back down, anyway.
The mystical, magical, majestic love of God is something we can't quite get a full hold on, but we try. One of the ways we try is through baptism! Susan expounds on Isaiah 40:21-31 in this most recent episode about an outward sign of an invisible grace.
How do you know if the nudge you're feeling is God speaking? Kris's advice: look to see if there are any demons on the run. We dive into Mark 1:21-28 and Deuteronomy 18:15-20 in this episode, and we talk about the prophets of God, when exploitation can be a good thing, and how privilege and challenge are not mutually exclusive identities.
So... do the demons freak you out in the Bible? No worries. There's lots of ways to understand what those are, and in all of those understandings, the truth holds that Jesus' mission is to liberate us from the worst things that grip us: our guilt, shame, fear, and bitterness. Susan takes a look at Mark 1:21-28 and how Person-First Language helps us form a more gracious understanding of who we all are individually and together.
Ever experienced something great and then told nobody anything about it? Of course not, right? Whether it's our new piece of technology, a great restaurant, a fantastic sale, a new friend, we tend to share good news. The same goes with experiencing God's grace -- we can't help but share it! This sometimes means speaking some good news into spaces that are not willing to receive it. Like standing up against racism, sexism, ageism, and other acts of societal stupidity... Kris shares Acts 19:1-7 and a letter from our United Methodist Bishops.
While we tend to paint the stories of God speaking to people in scripture with glitter and glam, listening to and answering the call of God can be pretty risky. Samuel experiences this at a tender age in 1 Samuel 3:1-20, and Susan helps us think through how we all experience call shifting, evolving, and challenging us in every stage of our lives.
When it comes to the story of our faith, there is a lot we know, and there's even more that we know we don't know. Perhaps that's why Epiphany is not a single event in the church calendar, but a season and a series of encounters with the God who continues to open our eyes and hearts and minds and doors to the truth and the glory of the reign of justice and love. Kris shares some epiphanies, from silly to the serious, as we discuss Matthew 2:1-12.
Some things in our lives are all or nothing. Baptism is one of those things -- but the good news is, we're not the only ones "all in." Susan talks about what baptism means and digs a little into Mark 1:1-7.
What color is your underwear? Got any lentils in your pocket? Any gold in your champagne? Any black eyed peas on your plate? New Year traditions and resolutions that reflect our hopes abound this time of year as we visualize ourselves differently: with more money, more love, more travel, more beauty. Kris digs into how God visualizes us, and the labels and names that humans use being very different from the labels and names God gives. Check out Isaiah 61:10-62:3 and Luke 2:22-40 with Kris as you contemplate how you will welcome 2018.
What we see often says a lot about us.... so what do you see? Do you see the mess in the world? Can you also see the presence of Christ in the midst of it? Kris spends her Christmas Eve sermon looking at Isaiah 9:2-7 and John 1:1-14 and pondering how we experience divine incarnation in the world today.
We know Christmas is important and all, but do you know the story of your own birth? Kris and Susan join together to discuss Luke 1:47-55, Mary's Magnificat, with detours through the world of "Hamilton," birth stories, and Meister Eckhart... leading slowly to the point: Jesus' birth is just one example of the ways we are bearing Christ in the world, and our stories and our choices matter.
God loves laughter. And joy. And like water in the desert, may give us exactly what we need -- even if it's not right now. Kris talks about temporal grammar and The Force and pink crushed velvet Jesus and Psalm 126.
Paul and Polyanna show up to help us understand that Christian identity has less to do with what warms the cockles of your heart and more to do with how you relate to the world and culture around you. Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances is where they suggest we start. Susan helps us take a look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and shares some snapshots of contagious joy to get you started.
While the other three gospels all start with some variant of birth story, the gospel of Mark requires us to wrestle with a wild man in the desert before we are allowed to see Jesus up close. And what does the wild man want? Like Isaiah, he tells us to prepare a way for the God of righteousness and justice to work. So Kris gets into Mark 1:1-8 and three ways we prepare for God to show up in our world: personally, locally, and regionally. With an axe and a shower scene thrown in for good measure.
Got a favorite holiday movie? So many of them seem to have the theme of coming home. So, where does God live? Where is home? And what does home mean to you? Susan takes a good look at Psalm 85 in this week's sermon for the second Sunday in Advent.
We love superheroes! Love them! But it occurs to us they only ever really fix the problems they have also created, and we cannot depend on them to sweep in and fix all the day to day stuff that breaks our hearts. This Advent, as we await God's breaking into the world again, it's important for us to remember that God doesn't break in to fix it, but to continue to shape us in the covenant to live in compassionate and just community. Living in denial leads to false hope; living in the truth--even when it's ugly-- leads to true hope and transformation. And since it primarily has to do with people, it is intrinsically political. How will you speak up and use your voice to build compassionate, just community? Kris delves into Isaiah's lament in chapter 64:1-9.
Welcome to the second season of the Sunday Morning Sleep In Podcast! We are kicking off a new year in the Christian calendar with Advent, and taking a good look at what needs to be disrupted in order to make room for God to enter the world once more. Susan shares the prophet's prayer from Isaiah 64:1-9, some words about the value of confession, and an invitation to find a home WITH God by making a home FOR God in our lives and our community.
How are Christians, who believe in the Trinity, still able to call themselves monotheistic? Welcome to the world of scandalous theology. Your host, Kris, will share some of the radical ideas in the church about the nature of God, the nature of saints, and just why exactly you are one, too. Join us to learn about perichoresis, co-inherence, deiformity, and 1 John 3:1-3.
God tends to flip our paradigms of power upside down. It's true in the birth, life, and death of Jesus, in the beatitudes Jesus shares, and in the lives of the saints through the centuries. Susan reflects on Matthew 5:1-12 and some of our historical saints: immigrants, teetotallers, prudes, feminists, slaves, a slave trader, pirates, and those who have no idea what they're doing. And, perhaps, if you're willing... you, too.
God is invisible, ineffable, and untouchable. So... how do we love God? Jesus faces off with his religious authorities in Matthew 22:34-40, and Kris ties it into the Protestant Reformation, dinosaurs, erotic poetry, contemporary praise music, South Park, and pot roast... like you do... all to answer that timeless question: how do we love God?
Sometimes, when you're going about your every day business, you unintentionally spark off something you could never have foreseen. As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther accidentally sparking the Protestant Reformation, Susan shares some words about 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 and how we keep our faith in the love of God which is constantly reforming us.
Jesus finds himself stuck between the Temple and the Emperor, and we often are, too. So how do we live in both an earthly nation and a heavenly one? How we invest ourselves and our money is often the truest picture of our values. Kris shares Matthew 22:15-22 and talks about collaboration, subversion, and stewardship.
Paul writes a letter to a church in Thessalonica to encourage them, and the same words apply to each congregation seeking to authentically live out God's call to love and serve. St. Paul's UMC in Reno, Nevada celebrated 60 years of service with a sense of humor on October 22, 2017, and we give thanks for their steadfastness of hope in Susan's sermon.
Why do we react so strongly to opinions or facts that contradict our worldview? With a little help from science, psychology, and spirituality, we can address and even abate our own reactivity that amplifies anxiety and conflict. Kris suggests we practice intentional gratitude and encouragement for one another as a way of creating communities of peace and joy, based in Paul's similar advice in Philippians 4:1-9.
The baby donkey swining on a hammock, or pictures of cute babies, or funny memes... these are some of the places we find bits of joy in our lives. In his letter to the Philippians (4:1-9), Paul describes a way we can shape our hearts with joy. Susan invites us to use our minds to shape our hearts and catch the vision of a God who wishes the world joy.
Sick to the gills with politicians offering their "thoughts and prayers" without actually doing anything about the issues that lead to the tragedies that break our hearts? Us, too. So what do genuine prayers do? Do they change situations, or do they change us? Kris digs around in the murky waters of prayer, projection, misdirected hopes, unheard prophets, and honest conversations about gun violence in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, through the lens of Psalm 80:7-15.
Ever put in a ton of time and effort, thought you were almost done... and then realized you were working on the wrong project the whole time? We've all been there. Paul talks about making sure we are running the right race, and Susan breaks down the myth of the marathon for us in Philippians 3:4b-14.
"How dare you?" This is what the religious authorities said to Jesus when he had the audacity to offer minsitry outside of the status quo, and it's a question we all still answer today. How dare we offer grace today? Kris offers the Top 10 Secrets of Pastors in her discussion of Matthew 21:23-32. Links to the studies discussed can be found on the website, sundaymorningsleepin.com.
Ever heard a good Marlon Brando impersonation? Neither have we. But there is someone we can imitate and still be authentically who we are. Join Susan in diving into Philippians 2:1-13 and how we are called to imitate, not impersonate, Christ.
"What does the Bible say about...?" The sometimes frustrating and sometimes freeing answer is, "Well... that all depends." We all see scripture and see ourselves reflected in scripture very differently from one another, and even from ourselves at different points in our lives. Susan demonstrates by helping us self-reflect in ten different ways through Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:1-16.
Everyone's doing it: most mammals, the Dutch, even skinny Santa Claus! So why do we have such a hard time forgiving? Maybe we make it too complicated, conditional, or transactional. Like voting and cleaning the carpet, Jesus calls us to forgive early and often. Kris runs down some stats and studies about the benefits of forgiveness in relationship to Matthew 18:21-35.
Biblical math never makes a whole lot of sense to us, but this time Jesus really goes over the top when he teaches Peter about forgiveness. Susan helps us sit with Matthew 18:21-35 and consider what forming this kind of forgiveness habit means for people of faith.
The way people talk about salvation often seems to come with a lot of fire and brimstone baggage... but is that what salvation is really about? Kris digs into Romans 13:8-14 to talk about healing, making space, and building holistic lives with stories about racism, churches responding to the floods in Houston, and busy lives that can experience salvation here and now, if we decide to pay attention.
What do Chinese food, pizza delivery, airports, fishing boats, and the Ten Commandments have in common? Susan describes what it means to love your neighbor during our discussion of Romans 13:8-14.
Like mastering a musical instrument, excelling in a sport, or any other thing that requires steady discipline and practice, becoming a more Christ-like person is an ongoing challenge for Christians. So, let's practice! Kris offers Romans 12:9-21 and a tool called the Rule of Life to help organize your spiritual chaos as you engage in your Christian practice.
What do you do when your expectations about your life, you relationships, your kids, your call, or even your Jesus... just aren't met? Susan gives us a glimpse of Peter's up close and personal look at what happens when we try to constrain God to our ideas of Should and Supposed To in Matthew 16:21-28.
Your body is complicated and suprising and functional (and sometimes dysfunctional)... so it's a perfect metaphor for how we have to try to work together in Christian community. Kris wows us (and perhaps grosses us out) with fun facts about the human body and thoughts on Romans 12:1-8. To donate to UMCOR, go to UMCOR.org.
Jesus changes one of his disciple's names to "Rocky," and announces that the whole church is built on enthusiastic followers, even when they are inconsistent like Simon. The conversation touches on "Dogma," funny stories from ministry, tattoos, Frank Turner, Anne LaMott, Oscar Romero, and "The Good Place" as Susan leads the discussion on Matthew 16:13-20.
A follow-up to episode 61, Susan talks about the moment after Jesus preaches about actions being louder than words... when Jesus has to put his actions where his words have been. Jesus has to act in a way that is outside his purview... and discovers, perhaps, his vision has been too small. Join us as we discuss Matthew 15:10-28 and how God often calls us to hop over the holy fences we construct.
When it comes to most things in life, your impact far outweighs your intentions. It's true for Jesus as he gets on the case of some Judgey McJudgersons in Matthew 15:10-20, and it's true for us now. Often, the real measure of what we care about is seen not in what we think, but in what we do and say. With some help from Chesca Leigh, Kris takes us through some tips on how to be an ally and live a life that reflects our truest, deepest values.
In the story where Jesus walks on water, the disciples have normalized the storm, and the truly scary thing is seeing that there is hope beyond it. Hope doesn't let us cower in the boat, but calls us, also, to step out onto wild waves and rough waters. Kris talks frankly about Charlottesville the day after the white supremacists marched, racism, and our vow as people of God to oppose evil and injustice through Matthew 14:22-33.
We have no shortage of inputs telling us to be afraid, to think of everyone else as Other. Susan takes a look at Matthew 14:22-33 and the invitation Jesus offers us to be brave and nervy in the face of these fears, even when we might falter or fail, because courage is holier that the isolation and hatred we fall victim to when we cannot choose love in the face of fear. (References to Episode 31: Rejection, and Episode 16: Nardly Faith (feat. the Rev. Michael Harrell.)
This is the episode where Kris calls trans* people boring. Just like mustard seeds, yeast, and all the other diverse yet mundane things Jesus compares to the kingdom of God, we humans also embody heaven on earth. So why would we judge those who express that divine spark differently? Kris offers a basic primer on gender identity and sexual orientation alongside Matthew 13:31-33, 41-52.
There are those pivotal moments in our lives when we need to evaluate what gives us life and what does not. Susan guides us through the weeds in Jesus' parable about a field, and a man's surprising choice about how to handle the mix of wheat and weeds in Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43.
Kris and Susan kick off the month of parables in Matthew 13 with the tale of the foolish farmer, and stories about God's kingdom showing up in the most unexpected places.
Church is not full of people who are perfect; church is broken people trying to choose love and doing it imperfectly. And what changes you for the better, may change someone else... but only if you can tell them your story. Kris reports in on what Kimmy Schmidt and Romans 5:1-8 can teach us about what the point of church is. Expect a little denominational reporting on the Commission on a Way Forward, too. For more info on the organizations discussed in the podcast, check out the post on sundaymorningsleepin.com!
Even prophets disagree. But what?! On what do we rely when there are so many voices with alternative messages of "truth"? Susan breaks down Jeremiah 28:5-9 and the complicated simplicity of stepping out in faith.
"Somebody should really do something about ________...." Well, how about you? The work of the church is many, varied, and only sometimes successful, but the result is always healing and liberation. Kris talks about Matthew 9:35-10:8, how the church has lived up to and failed to live up to its permanent homework assignment from Jesus. What should the church be doing now? Has the answer changed that much?
When you're a kid, it's expected you'll dream of what you want to be when you grow up. When you are a grown up, what do you do with your big dreams? Do you hold on, or let go? Susan tells us the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:1-15, and what they learn about God's dreams.
Ever feel overwhelmed? Yeah, we thought so. Everyone does from time to time. So how do you hold on to your hope and maintain your perspective? Kris takes a look at Genesis 1:1-2:4 and offers a few simple guidelines for feeling grounded in the midst of chaos.
Church conflict is nothing new, but figuring out how to live together in peace might not have changed much in the last 2000 years. Susan breaks down 2 Corinthians 13:5-14 and Paul's side of the conversation as the church in Corinth struggles to keep the reconciling work of Christ central in their life together.
The Spirit of God in scripture is never contained to the places most people think it "should" be... Kris tells a story from Numbers 11:24-30 (and Acts 2:1-21) about God inspiring people to speak truth, even when they're not in the "right place" at the "right time." Then we talk about the other people who continue to speak truth to us now, in art, science, and every other discipline. (To see some of the art works that Kris discusses, check out Harmonia Rosales' "Creation of Adam" and Kristen Visbal's "Fearless Girl.")
Back from vacation, Susan leads us down on a wild goose chase for flaming tongues, brisk winds, and worship tricks as we talk about the Pentecost story in the Acts 2:1-21. We search out the Holy Spirit as both comfort and cattle prod in the biblical story and in our own lives.
The farewell speech of Jesus to his disciples has been used to claim the exclusive truth of Christianity for a long time, but is that what Jesus really meant to leave people with? Kris talks Imposter Syndrome, trusting God, and trusting that God is bigger than religion's hubristic mistakes.
Where exactly does God live? Is there a blueprint? An address? Jesus confuses his disciples with his own Venn Diagram image of the dwelling-place of God in this flashback to his talk with them before his crucifixion in John 14.
We are all different -- but tension does not stem from being different. Tension stems from not seeing our shared humanity. Between Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, personality types and some Wesleyan/Islamic theology, Kris discusses Hebrews 12:1-3 and how we run the race, not the same, but together.
There are the garden gates to keep pests out, baby gates to keep babies in, the gates of hell and the pearly gates of heaven to keep everyone else in their place, and government scandals that all attach -gate to the ends of other words... but what does Jesus really mean when he says he is the Gate? Susan spins some shepherd scripture for your consideration through the lens of John 10:1-10.
How often do we give our souls away to grade givers, and look for affirmation of our worth outside of ourselves? Perhaps there is a better way. The disciples on the road to Emmaus, the United Methodist Church, and all of us have experienced deep disappointments in life, but Christ beckons us to look deeper to find our worth and our call. Kris wanders into Luke 24:13-15 and invites you to come along for the journey.
What's the difference between a trip and a journey? And where is home for you? Susan delves into the story of the walk to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, and ponders how Christ shows up with us even--and perhaps most especially--when our destination is unknown.
Do you ever wonder if other people are more spiritual than you? It's possible you are just a different spiritual type than them. Kris discusses Dr. Corinne D. Ware's study on Spirituality and the story of Doubting Thomas in John 20:19-31.
When settlers were taking stage coaches to travel the great West, there were three kinds of tickets they could buy - and one meant that when there was trouble, it was their taks to get out and push. Susan tells us about Jesus' return to his disciples after the resurrection in John 20:19-31, when he lets them know it's time to get out and push.
Could things get any worse? It seems like the end of the world is always right around the corner, and we are terrified. But what if there was a different way? What if there was hope? Kris explores Matthew 28:1-10 through the lens of monster movies and suprising stories of reconciliation and justice. Happy Easter!
The angels in the Luke account of Easter are not comforting - instead they ask the women a simple question: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" Well, why do we? What happens when we step back and try to take in a broader perspective? Susan shares the resurrection story from Luke 24 and encourages us not to jump to conclusions too quickly.
Interruptions may knock us off our track, but on the other hand, interruptions may also knock us off our track! God is constantly bidding for our attention, and Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem is one of the last desperate attempts for us to snap out of our routines and try a radically differnet way of being in the world. Kris reflects on the Turn Toward study, Matthew 21:1-11, and the stunning conclusion of the sermon on the mount in Matthew 7.
It's Palm Sunday, and as we reflect for the last week on the broken places in our lives that God can craft into beauty and blessing, we talk about the different kinds of relationships in our lives. Susan shares three stories from Matthew and Mark about the life of relationships and how they shape us and transform us.
Whether it's on a crime scene, inside an antique clock, in scripture, or in your own life story, witness marks are the trace evidence that help you put together your understanding of what happened and how it all works. Kris examines Matthew 7:15-23 and Jesus's words about not settling for expert opinions or easy passwords, but looking for evidence of the kingdom of God all around you, the witness marks of the way of justice and joy, as a way of experiencing it right here and now.
Susan shines a flashlight into our attics, basements, storage units, and back closets to help us clear out the clutter. If God the Master Craftsman can work through our broken places, imagine what God can do with our healthy places! All through the lens of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21.
Is it concerning or comforting to know that the people who have gone before you have screwed up just as much as you have, are, and will? Perhaps it is both. Have some funny stories from the front lines, a brief lesson in Jewish travel history, and a charming princess tale for the road as Kris expands on Jesus' sermon on the mount, which continues in Matthew 7:13-14.
We've all been dumped by someone or something -- a friend, a significant other, a job, a role, an ATM... Rejection is part of life... but we get to choose not to dwell there. Susan talks about a couple of disciples who knocked the dust off their sandals and moved on in Acts 13, and 1 Peter 5:7.
Ever have a hard time saying no? Feel like you're spinning your wheels? Wonder what the point of praying is? Kris talks about Jesus' advice in Matthew 7:6-12 to seek and discern what is best, and give your best to that. Shoutouts to Annie Dillard, brain science, Mike McHargue (Science Mike), and Mark Yaconelli along the way.
Ever tried driving only by looking in the rear-view mirror? It doesn't work very well. Neither does living your life through the lens of your regrets. Susan offers us some words about letting go of the mistakes of the past so we can move forward into joy and potential using Psalm 51:1-15 and the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 16.
Ever get distracted? Perhaps during prayer, or important moments or events in your life, or just doing your everyday routine? (Squirrel!) Good news -- after much research and biblical study, we've decided you're completely normal. Susan digs into Matthew 11:28-30 and John 4 to help us find some centering in our restlessness.
There are good ways and bad ways to judge. Being judgmental is not a Christian value, but using our judgment to reduce harm certainly is. So what is a proper way to judge? Kris offers up Jesus's thoughts from Matthew 7:1-5.
Can you remember your first act of rebellion, or your last? Rebellion isn't always a bad thing -- sometimes it serves a purpose. Susan kicks off her sermon series on Broken Things with a conversation about our great heritage of running away, getting in God's face, and growing closer even in the midst of it in Ezekiel 20:13-20.
It says it on our money, it says it in our scriptures, but do we really put our trust in God? Here's how you might know: are you making decisions based out of insecurities or anxieties, or resting in the abundance of God's love? Kris talks history, The Office, "compassion fatigue," rote religion and intentional spiritual practice as the journey throught Jesus' sermon on the mount continues in Matthew 6:24-34. For ideas about your own Lenten practice, check out http://www.rethinkchurch.org/articles/spirituality/2017-lenten-photo-a-day-practice
Mystery is not something we can box up tidily - it's something that may take us some time to process and articulate properly. The disciples are befuddled by Jesus' transfiguration in Matthew 17, and Susan encourages us to give ourselves permission not to know everything right away, either.
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arrive." The Beatles remind us that life can be a little rough, but our job is still to figure out how to fly. How do you respond when the world beats you up? Jesus has some advice, and Kris distinguishes between what it means to be perfect and what it means to be persistent in Matthew 5:38-48.
Did you ever play Follow the Leader when you were a kid? Jesus continues his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, and Susan offers us a playful lens for how to live into the Kingdom of God now.
Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount and challenges his listeners to understand that building relationships is more than checking off boxes and dressing them in religious lace. Reconciliation is hard work! Susan distills Matthew 5:21-37.
How do we live when our political leaders do not reflect our values? Jesus is gonna tell you, in Matthew 5:13-20, and Kris may or may not tie it in to Hamilton, baseball, and George Eliot.
What on earth might Paul have to say about the Room of Requirement? Susan considers 1 Corinthians 2:1-13 and avoiding trying to boil God down to cute aphorisms.
Jesus says, "Blessed are..." and then follows it up with a bunch of things that are not always healthy, wealthy, safe, or enviable. So what does "blessed" mean, anyway? Susan dives deep on what it means to recongize God's presence with us in all circumstances during her reflection on Matthew 5:1-12.
First in a six-week series on Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, Kris takes a closer look at the Beatitudes - the blessings for the unlikeliest people - in Matthew 5:1-12. These invitations to simplicity, hopefulness, and compassion lead us into a different way of being IN the world that may find us beautifully disappointed in the judgments OF the world.
Is faith a set of beliefs, or a way of being relational with God and one another? Guest preacher Mike Harrell explains what the word faith actually means in the New Testament, and how it has changed over time. Scriptures include the story of Peter walking on water and the woman who anointed Jesus with nard in the gospel of John. (Stick around at the end for a giggle fit that survived the cutting room floor.)
If Jesus was perfect, what's up with him deciding to be baptized? And what does it mean for us now? Guest Preacher Rev. Anthony Fatta unpacks Matthew 3 and invites us to contemplate baptism not as a goal, but as a first step on the staircase of our whole lives in God.
We say God is love, but we also say we love our shoes or our favorite sports team or french fries. So what does love really even mean? Kris ties Jesus' final farewell to his disciples in John 14 into Micah 6:8 as we consider what loving one another actually looks like.
God loves you as you are, and loves you too much to leave you there. If even Paul can call a bunch of jerks "saints," there's probably some hope for us, too. Susan shares 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 and some ideas about working on ourselves for the sake of the kingdom.
We are called into the world that is messed up, not out of it. Kris reflects on Matthew 2:13-23 and New Year's Resolutions.
Matthew puts the brakes on Christmas cheer by reminding us we are still in the real world, which is ever so slightly less shiny than the tinsel on our tree. Susan invites us to look at the whole picture in our lives and in Matthew 2:13-23.
We have a vision of hope, but is it ever going to happen? Kris reflects on Isaiah 2:1-5.
Susan expores the story of Jesus' birth in Mark 1:1-8, with no birth, just a wild man in the wilderness.
The danger of Christmas can be getting us stuck in nostalia or judgment... but John the Baptist seems to think there's a better way to greet Christ. Perhaps hope lies elsewhere. Kris explores Matthew 3:1-12.
Whose side are you on, anyway? Is it the side of the conquering hero, or the side of the scruffy rabbi changing lives one at a time? John the Baptist and Kris wrestle with who Jesus is, in Matthew 11:2-11.
When we are faced with hard choices do we choose God's way or the easy way? Matthew's birth story takes a long look at Joseph, Herod, and some random wise men from the east. Susan discusses Matthew 1:18-21 & 2:1-12.
Luke has yet another telling of the birth of Jesus, so join Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and the angels as they break out in song. Susan talks about joy in Luke 1:13-16, 30-33, 41-46, 2:10-15.
Sometimes it's easier to just walk away... but if we engage in the challenges in our lives, we may just find some joy lurking there. Kris talks about Joseph's choices and Matthew 1:18-25.
Light comes into the world and darkness does not overcome it. John speaks in poetry to describe the cosmic connection that Jesus has with God and humanity. Susan rhapsodizes John 1:1-18.
Is "believing in Christmas" about a list of doctrines and facts, or is it more about living lives of joy, hope, forgiveness, empathy, solidarity, and justice? Kris discusses that rhetorical question and more while discussing Luke 2's birth narrative.
It's Christmas Eve and what a mess! And yet... this is exactly where God chooses to enter in. Susan talks about ALL the Christmas scripture, the whole messy cast of characters, and why we may not be that different after all.