Curious Living: Recent Episodes
Rev. Monica Humpal
Albert Einstein is quoted saying, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”
In this podcast we will explore our curious questions as we unpack these curiosities through the lens of Scripture and our Christian faith. Through thoughtful and engaging interviews with neighbors, pastors, and experts, we will walk through some common, and even challenging, questions while valuing individual perspectives along the way. Perhaps these curious conversations will spark the same holy curiosity in you.
It has been such an honor to take this journey of curiosity with you. Thank you for listening and for providing great curious questions for us to tackle. Remember friends, never lose your holy curiosity!
Monica
We all have a story. Even if we believe our story to be unworthy of sharing, it could be the inspiration, empathy, or comfort that someone needs. Our guest on this episode was delightful and has an incredible story herself! Take a listen and think about how you can share your story!
Guest Info
After nearly 20 years in business and finance, I had what I can only describe as a divine interruption. God placed it on my heart to write my own book—not just to tell my story, but to leave a spiritual legacy. That single act of obedience unlocked a greater calling: to help others do the same.
I founded The 1 and Only Publishing to serve aspiring authors—especially those who feel called to write but don't know where to begin or how to afford it. We help everyday people turn their God-given messages, expertise, and experiences into powerful, professionally published books. And we don't just offer services—we offer support, clarity, and belief when others have said "not yet."
My story resonates with faith-based audiences, entrepreneurs, creatives, and purpose-driven people who've been sitting on a message for too long. I can speak to:
Finding purpose in a season of transition or loss Building a mission-led business from scratch The practical and spiritual journey of writing a book How ordinary people can create extraordinary impact through publishing My mission is bold—555,000 books in 10 years, in 10 different languages. But it's not about me. It's about equipping others to leave a legacy, reach those they're called to, and fulfill their God-given assignment through the written word.
Called & Courageous Podcast * Podcast Hub (Buzzsprout): https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526364 * Latest Episode: Obedience Is the New Success * Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podcast Index | RSS Feed
The 1 and Only Publishing – Official Links * Website: https://the1andonlypublishing.com * Email: info@the1andonlypublishing.com * Phone: 301-798-7685
Social Media:
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/the1andonlypublishing
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the1andonlypublishing
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@the1andonlypublishing
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/the1andonlypublishing
More and more adults are realizing that they have experienced trauma in their lives. We may not have realized it at the time. But, now, as adults, we are working through issues, emotions, and struggles and coming to terms wtih the fact that we've carried the burden of trauma for years. Or, perhaps we are very aware that we experienced trauma in our past and are trying to work our way through it while wondering if our faith in God could help us. It's an intriguing question and one that our guest knows all too well. If you have been wrestling with trauma and seeking God in your healing, this is the podcast episode for you.
Guest Info:
Calvin Bagley was raised in a home where education was withheld, modern medicine was forbidden, and extreme religious beliefs replaced love with fear. He was injected with horse medicine instead of being taken to the doctor. His meals were rationed,and his joy was policed. His education consisted of being taught to read by his older sister afteraccidentally learning the alphabet backwards. His world was one of poverty, abuse, neglect, and secrecy.
And yet, he broke free. Today, Calvin Bagley is a nationally recognized entrepreneur and the founder of Nuvo Health, a Medicare-focused company that's helped over 60 thousand people navigate health insurance with honesty and heart. His companies, including The Medicare Store, Medicare Hub, and PlanFit, are transforming the healthcare industry (often known for predatory tactics) by putting people before profits and ethics before compensation.
Calvin is the author of Hiding from the School Bus, a memoir that chronicles his journey from hiding in the sagebrush to avoid the school bus to standing tall and building multimillion-dollar businesses, traveling to all 50 states and all seven continents, and thriving with his family grounded in love and faith.
Calvin was the seventh of nine children. As an infant, his mother handed him to his teenage sister, saying, "This one's yours."; His sister cared for him as if she were his mother until the age of three, when his father forcibly took him from her arms, shouting, "You are not his mother!"; She was never allowed to touch him again.
He was a perpetual outsider, even facing incredible pain at scout camp, when a group of boys attacked him, wielding cactus-covered sticks. At 19, he left home to serve a mission in Brazil for the LDS Church. This changed the trajectory of his life forever. He returned home determined to change his fate. He self-studied and earned a GED at 21. After bombing a college placement exam, his college applications were all denied, but he talked a college admissions counselor into giving him a trial run as a non-admitted student. He later became the most unlikely college graduate, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
His story includes pain and trauma, but also many small triumphs that cumulatively shape his life and personality and have led to his resilient nature. He learned to swim at 22, traveled the world as a flight attendant, rose through the ranks at Bank of America from a teller to a Consumer Market Manager, and married the woman he now calls his saving grace. Calvin doesn't just share a story-he opens a door. On the other side of the door is what's possible when you refuse to let your past define your future.
As a parent of a young adult, I've been a witness to this void of purpose my kids seem to have. They have floundered through so many things - aimless and frustrated. As a parent I want to help them, but it's hard to help and honor boundaries all at the same time. We, as a community, want to help the young adults around us find their purpose, but we simply don't know where to start. Brittany was a fantastic and wise resource to help us tackle this curious question. Take a listen!
Guest Info:
Brittany Sawrey-Coulson is the Director of Content at Trueface and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Phoenix, Arizona. She specializes in working with young adults exploring their identity, purpose, and trauma, and her passion is to help people experience more authentic and deep relationships with God and each other. * Trueface.org is her primary website * Amazon link to The Path: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Different-Contemporary-Allegory-Identity/dp/B0DQR5JD9V * Amazon link to The Path Experience (her small group guide): https://www.amazon.com/Path-Experience-Eight-Session-Small-Discover/dp/B0DSLYVBQY * Link to the animations that go with each chapter: https://www.trueface.org/thepath-videos * Instagram
Financial generosity is vital to our mission as followers of Christ to transform the world in His name. Yet, when churches talk about giving, some people hear “greed” instead of “grace.” In this episode of Curious Living, we dig beneath the surface of the church’s “ask” and explore why generosity matters, what it really supports, and how we can reframe the conversation. Heather was an incredible guest—so insightful and wise. I walked away with new clarity, and I know you will too. Guest Info: Heather M. Day is an author and communication specialist with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of marketing, communications, and nonprofit ministry. She is the author of Money and Spirit: Surrendering Our Finances to the Work of the Holy Spirit. Heather has spent the bulk of her career in the nonprofit arena, including in her current role as Director of Marketing for Barnabas Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and an Executive MBA from Olivet Nazarene University.
Money & Spirit: Surrendering Our Finances to the Work of the Holy Spirit
Our church participated in a demographic survey last year and we were astonished at how many people shared that they feel incredibly lonely. And what surprised us the most was that the largest demographic experiencing loneliness was young adults. So we were excited to talk with Dr. Jake Thurston to get his perspective. He is a young adult and works with young adults so he can speak directly to our curious question.
Guest Info
Dr. Jake Thurston is the lead pastor and church planter of Resilient Church, a growing ministry that serves a large number of students and young adults in the college town of Vermillion, South Dakota. He is an adjunct professor of Bible, Theology, and Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University, Wesley Seminary, and the University of South Dakota. He is married to his wife, Kasey, and has two daughters and one son.
https://www.youneedfriends.com/
https://a.co/d/5J6M4Ai
When we get married or enter into a long-term relationship, we soon realize the stark differences between ourselves and our mate. The flaws that were invisible to us at the beginning are now, perhaps, all we see. This goes both ways because our significant other sees those flaws in us as well. Couples tend to spend a great deal of energy looking for ways to "change" their mate, when, in fact, they don't have the power to create change in others. So, what do you do? How can you encourage your partner to make positive changes? Our guest on this episode has written two amazing devotional books that help us answer that question. She is a lovely person who is wise and so incredibly insightful. You will want to listen and take notes!
Guest Info
Amanda Hayhurst is a Christian author and speaker with a Master’s in Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has been featured in Guidepost, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Focus on the Family. She is the author of the best-selling devotionals Pray for Him and Pray for Her, which have helped thousands move from fix and control to surrender and prayer. She has a passion for encouraging others and considers herself a hype woman for other women. She has been married to her husband, Marcus, for fifteen years and gives God all the glory. They cherish every moment spent with their two young boys and adult bonus daughter.
You can purchase Amanda's Devotions from Amazon through these links:
Pray For Him: https://a.co/d/he3Wcsm Pray for Her: https://a.co/d/3AcIS0q
Visit her website here: https://www.amandahayhurstwrites.com/
In today’s world, clear communication feels increasingly challenging. With so many differences and divides among us, it’s harder to express ourselves honestly and lovingly while being understood as we intend. This challenge is especially visible on social media, where misunderstandings often deepen the divisions between us.
Scripture speaks profoundly to this struggle, particularly in the book of Acts, where the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples to communicate across divides. In the Christian tradition, we call this moment "Pentecost." This year, we celebrate Pentecost on June 8, 2025. It’s a time to reflect on what the Holy Spirit accomplished then—and what the Spirit is calling us to do now to bridge the vast divides in our world.
If you’d like to explore the Scripture passages mentioned in this episode, here’s the list:
- Acts 2:1-12
- Philippians 2:3-4
- 1 Corinthians 13:1
- James 1:19
- Luke 12:12
- Galatians 3:28
- John 13:35
We concluded the episode with this prayer: Holy Spirit, give us the words to bridge our divides, the patience to listen, and the love to unite us as your people. Amen.
Guest Information Rev. Monica Humpal is the host of the Curious Living Podcast, an Associate Pastor at Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church, and a master-certified life coach. Passionate about exploring life’s curious questions, she seeks deeper wisdom and understanding in all she does. Monica resides in Davidson, North Carolina, and cherishes the beauty of the outdoors and Scotland’s landscapes.
This episode guest hosts, Rev. Wesley Smith and Kevin Ward, dicuss the curious question; Where can we find God in Classic Rock?
Our two guests this week are both avid rock enthusiasts and musicians, playing guitar in their spare time. Let's here them dive into our latest curious topic on how God relates to rock and roll greats.
Our guest host, Mary Ana Smith, sits down with Rev. Carrie Wright to discuss her journey as an adoptive mom. Adoption seems to many as more of a challenge than a blessing, but Carrie feels the opposite having not only adopted two children, but also having fostered many. If you have considered fostering or adopting then this episode is a must listen!
Guest Info
What gives Carrie life is spending her days with people of all ages learning to give praise to God. We are all on this journey in different stages but each of us are called to praise in one way or another. The arts are the ways that she hears God the best and she loves it when others are bringing their “song” as well. Carrie fell in love with making music at 8 years old and that love continues to weave through her especially in the midst of worship. She is an ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church and the Associate of Music and Worship Arts at Williamson’s Chapel UMC. Carrie is married to Clay, a tech guru working for Coca Cola Consolidated and stays busy chasing after their 4 kids ages 9 to 18.
It certainly feels good to help others in need. We donate food, money, and even time to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. And, oftentimes we assume that we have done what's best for them. But was it the best for them? Or, was it something that made us feel good in the moment? This is a tough question to ponder and our guest on this episode shares some incredible insights and wisdom to help us tackle it.
Guest Info
Kevin Ward is the Director of Youth, Young Adults, and Missions at Williamson's Chapel UMC in Mooresville, NC. He is married to Amy Ward and has two children, Anna and James. Service and mission is not only important to Kevin but to his whole family. Kevin has worked in the United Methodist Church full-time or part-time for 27 years. Throughout the last 27 years, connecting folks to healthy missions has been a passion of Kevins. Having led or participated in over 40 week-long mission trips, Kevin has seen missions done in both healthy and unhealthy ways. Reflecting on how mission trips and work have impacted both those serving and those being served has helped Kevin develop a healthier model of mission and service work. Kevin believes that being involved in mission and service is something that every Christian is called to do on an ongoing basis. Mission and service should move beyond charity and into something woven to our faith's fabric. It may get messy, but in the mess is where we most often find Jesus. Some suggested reading on the subject: "From Relief to Empowerment" by Laceye Warner and Gaston Warner "When Helping Hurts" by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert "Toxic Charity" by Robert Lupton "Get off Your Donkey!" By Reggie McNeal
Is it acceptable to question God or Christianity if you call yourself a Christian? Does doubt mean you're not truly a Christian? Should faith be so unwavering that questioning is off-limits?
These were questions I wrestled with in my youth, and I believe that misconception still lingers today. In this episode, our guest will help us explore the beauty of curiosity and how asking questions can deepen our faith.
Guest Info
Mandy Pallock passionately believes that lives will change as people engage with God’s Word. She is happily married to the man of her dreams, Peter, and they are raising three children together in South Texas. She’s a writer, speaker, and podcaster at presentlyengaged.com.
Mandy is a co-creator of Life Purpose Planning, a tool to help high schoolers and young adults understand and live out their God-given life purposes. She knows that discovering our purpose starts with asking a good question.
Mandy has over 20 years of professional experience in print and digital communication in the non-profit sphere. She has written for and supported Bible Study Fellowship, Splendeur Magazine, Character Training Institute (now Strata Leadership), and more. And she’s cheering for you as you live out your God-given life purpose!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mandy_pallock/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/presentlyengaged Presently Engaged Podcast
We all love TV or movies in some way, shape, or form. Entertainment is a form of enjoyment for most of us. I believe we'd all agree, however, that a movie or TV show today looks vastly different than it did just 20 or 30 years ago. Our guest on this episode produces wonderful and educational Christian films and even worked in Hollywood for a time. His insight is invaluable and he provides us with great things to consider as we mull over our curious question.
Guest Info
Craig Dehut is a seasoned freelance video producer with over fifteen years of experience. In 2015, he co-founded Appian Media alongside his business partner, Stuart Peck, driven by a shared concern for the lack of engaging biblical media for young people. Their vision was to bridge the gap between the youth and Bible study through professionally produced, accurate, and free content. Appian Media has since produced multiple award-winning series, podcasts, workbooks, and children's videos, reaching millions worldwide.
Links
www.appianmedia.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIwxpYkgLhE&t=3s https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdehut/ https://www.instagram.com/appianmedia/ https://www.facebook.com/appianmedia
This episode is intentionally released just before election day. We know that voting season can sometimes bring out the worst in even the kindest and most loving individuals. In quieter moments, it’s easy to love and accept others. However, when those around us express beliefs and feelings that differ greatly from our own—especially when they openly voice those differences—it can be challenging to maintain that "loving feeling."
How do we navigate the complexities of loving others in a time of such diverse opinions? Our guest is here to help us explore this topic, offering valuable insights and practical tools for fostering understanding and compassion.
Guest Info
Kim Gilson was born to be a teacher. As far back as she can remember, she played school in her room, teaching dolls and stuffed animals from a chalkboard, and holding parent/teacher conferences with those who struggled. As she grew older, the stuffed animals became real students, to whom she taught band and then math. As her career in public education blossomed, Kim learned her passion was teaching adults, making difficult topics easier to understand and enjoying laughter in the process. The sudden loss of her husband, Paul, to a blood clot in 2014 sent her on a personal journey of grief and a battle to reclaim joy in her life for her and her sons. Wanting to share her zeal for life with others, she became a certified Zig Ziglar trainer, speaker, and coach. After retiring from public education in 2022, she felt a calling to utilize her teaching and speaking skills to revitalize the hearts, minds, and dreams of people, activating them towards fulfilling their God-given purpose.
https://excellivate.com/
This is an uncomfortable topic - especially for clergy and others who serve the church. We understand anger toward the church. We get it. But how do we help those who are angry at the church and angry at those within the church keep their faith strong? It's hard ... especially in today's divisive world. Our guests today have some amazing insights to share and they do a great job exploring this curious question!
Guest Info
Pastors Wes and Toni Ruth Smith are the lead pastors of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, North Carolina. They have been serving the church for over 20 years and bring with them incredible wisdom and love for God and for the church. Their daughter attends Appalachian State University and their son is a junior in high school.
Links from this episode:
Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
** This episode addresses more adult concepts and may not be suitable for a younger audience. Addiction is more prevalent in our society than we may realize. And, addiction is not limited to certain demographics - it touches them all. When we are in a relationship (any type of relationship) with someone who is struggling with addiction we may wonder if we will perpetually be the person picking our loved one up, getting them out of trouble, or being devasted by their actions. We wonder, "Will they ever heal and recover from this?" Our guest on this episode is a recovering addict and shares his experience with us. It's powerful. He donates his time and energy helping other men who struggle with addiction. This episode is full of hope if you find yourself in a relationship with an addict. Guest Info:
Logan is a born & raised Alaskan, married to his gorgeous bride Carrie, who herself is a 4th-generation Alaskan; and together they are raising 4 amazing but crazy little monkeys. Their life is a simple one - they love their family time, their dogs, and exploring the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. And yet, absolutely none of this should be possible today. For years, Logan did just about everything in his power to destroy his marriage and his life. Logan was a raging sex addict. Porn, affairs, hiring prostitutes, and more had simply become a way of life for Logan. He thought he had no hope. In 2016, God began to change all that. Through Recovery, God transformed Logan’s life and his marriage. Logan and his wife Carrie each now lead Recovery groups, doing what they can to give back by sharing the gifts that God has given.
Logan's Website
Logan's Instagram
Many parents have pondered this question. And, especially in today's financial climate, full-time working parents is becoming more of the norm. Yet there are increasing demands for our kids - the sports they participate in and the other extracurricular activities. Not to mention trying to help our children develop a deep faith and grow within a faith community. How does a working parent manage all of this? Anna has a lot of wisdom to share with us on this subject.
Guest info:
Anna McLaughlin is a homeschooling mother of four, life coach, podcaster and investor. Over a decade ago, Anna left her demanding career as a corporate lawyer to be more present with her family. She became a reluctant entrepreneur a year later as she realized the kingdom impact of building something to serve others while helping her family financially. Combining her strategic bent as a former lawyer with her insights as a coach as well as her Holy-Spirit-led intuition, Anna encourages women of faith to uncover and own their unique God-given identity in all areas of their lives, so that they might serve with purpose and passion both at home and beyond. You can find her at sheconsidersafield.com or on her podcast, She Considers a Field. Overwhelmed to Overcomer guide: https://sheconsidersafield.com/overwhelmed-to-overcomer-optin-via-flodesk/ The John Mark Comer book she mentioned: https://amzn.to/3UIlORY
No one likes to be uncomfortable (if you do, I'd love to interview you for my next episode!). Many of us may even go to great lengths to avoid discomfort. But what if discomfort is how we grow, how we transform? What if we are missing out on great things when we avoid the hard things?
Guest Info
Erik Allen, raised in a broken home, battled addictions, jailed at 18, and became bankrupt at 21 only to turn everything around. Gave his life to Jesus at 24 and is now 19+ years sober, has a beautiful wife, and two kids, and is breaking the chains of divorce, abuse, addiction, and rejection. He is the host of The Erik Allen Show, and John Maxwell Certified Coach, helping men of faith feel confident in sharing their redemption stories & realizing our past and other people’s opinions of us don’t define our future.
http://erikallenmedia.com/
Our world has so many great tools and resources for those who are married. In many ways, our culture is geared toward married couples much more than toward single adults. And, in today's digital age, the dating scene has become one of skepticism, unrealistic expectations, and disappointment . . . especially for Christian singles seeking likeminded partners. Our guest on today's show encountered this while she was single and felt God's call to do something about it. This episode is eye opening and provides a great deal of hope for Christian singles seeking their life-long mate.
Guest Info
Michelle Apples is the visionary founder of The Christian Singles Hub, a pioneering platform uniting Christian singles globally. Born from her passion for fostering meaningful connections within the Christian community, the Hub provides resources, events, and networking opportunities tailored to singles' unique needs. Michelle's leadership and commitment to empowering singles reflect her belief in the transformative power of faith and community, making her a respected mentor and advocate in the Christian dating sphere. Her beautiful journey of overcoming trauma, obstacles, and limitations to pioneer new endeavours and develop leaders is an inspiration to women and aspiring dreamers everywhere. Also here is the link to my website: https://thechristiansingleshub.com/
How does God interact with us? How would God like us to see and perceive Him? What type of relationship would God want to have with us? How do WE want/need to connect with God? Great questions that many followers of Jesus ask as they work toward deepening their faith. At times, we struggle to answer this question because we were brought up believing that God is beyond us and out of reach so having a "relationship" with God sounds strange. Others of us are simply trying to determine God's will in our lives and how that ties into how we are choosing to lean in and deepen our relationship with God. Either way, it's a great question that is explored in this episode with someone who has explored that question for himself and leaned into it so deeply that he has committed his life to helping others answer this question for themselves.
Guest Info
Shawn Paul has been a devoted believer in Christ Jesus for over 30 years. He is known as an encourager of people and his passion lies in inspiring individuals to run their race in Jesus. He is the founder of LifeisJesusChrist.com, a website where he encourages people through podcasts, videos, and blog posts.
He offers a diverse range of experiences to share, from being a Christian business owner to serving as a full-time missionary in the mission field. Today, he impacts people’s lives around the world.
Finding or recognizing God's presence in the midst of life's struggles can be challenging. We want and need God's support, strength, and compassion but we end up feeling disconnected from God and, maybe even, disappointed at the lack of presence we feel. If you have found yourself in that place listen to this episode. Our guest will unpack his journey with many challenges (happening at once!) and how he found God in the midst.
Guest Info
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Clay Boatright has lived in Texas since 1994, where he and his wife Carole raised three daughters, including identical twins with severe intellectual disabilities and autism. With undergrad and graduate degrees from the University of Memphis, Clay managed two full-time careers for almost twenty years, one in the consumer-packaged goods industry to pay the bills and another as a volunteer advocate for people with disabilities.
Over the years, Clay developed a deep understanding of the disability industrial complex and served on a host of health and education advisory committees, including Board President for both The Arc of Dallas and The Arc of Texas. In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Clay to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Washington, DC, and in 2013, he was appointed Founding Chairman for Texas Health & Human Services’ IDD System Redesign Advisory Committee, which he held for six years. Published multiple times in various media, Clay is often contacted by legislators, the media, nonprofit organizations, and parents of children with disabilities to help understand the challenges that families like his live through every day.
Following Carole’s death in 2020 from ovarian cancer, Clay maintains a close relationship with his daughters and embraces the future with enthusiasm and a desire to help everyone know that God has a plan for their lives. His personal motto is “Life is too important to be taken seriously!”
To learn more, check out www.clayboatright.com or www.godsplanourcircus.com.
Sometimes we don't realize how often, and in how many ways, God speaks to us. God speaks, but are we listening? What is God saying to us today? And, in what creative way is God communicating with us today?
Guest Info
Morgan McCarver was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Her work is inspired by her past and present female mentors and her connection to Victorian corsetry through her scoliosis journey. She received an art degree with a ceramics concentration and a double minor in art history and business in 2019 from Anderson University in Anderson, SC. McCarver was honored to receive the 2019 Outstanding Art Major Ceramics Award her senior year. As a 2020 701 Center for Contemporary Art prize finalist, she had the honor of being the youngest artist to ever make it that far. She is a multi-award-winning artist who recently received an Artist Support Grant to attend a national ceramics conference. She has had the honor of displaying her work in 3 solo exhibitions, “FemininiTEA” 2020, “The Strength of a Wildflower” 2022 and “Postures in Porcelain” 2023. She recently completed a residency at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock Summer 2023 and participated 2022 as well. Her first book, “God the Artist: Revealing God’s Creative Side Through Pottery,” released with Morgan James Publishing January 9, 2024.
She has had the honor of guest speaking on over 30 podcasts as well. McCarver has studios in Asheville, NC and Spartanburg, SC. Her art can be found in various galleries around the Carolinas and Tennessee.
https://www.morganmccarver.com/
Those of us who want to make a difference in the world sometimes feel as though we don't have the power to do so. Could it be as simple as loving others? Our guest on this episode shares intriguing insight into how love really can change the world.
Guest Info
Paul Zolman is the author of "Role of Love." In His wisdom, He placed us in a variety of circumstances that require us to find our way back to His pure love. So, what qualifies Paul Zolman to speak about love? His childhood experience of the opposite of love. From that austere beginning, and the distaste it formed inside him, he searched for and eventually created a method that transformed his life from anger to loving everyone. Growing up in a family of abuse, physical touch became his preferred love style, only because of the regularity. He could almost count on it. It was consistent. He came to think that was the way to express love. But deep inside, he knew that was a twisted belief. He wanted a better life for himself, which is why he created a paradigm shift that works. In this book, you’ll find what helped Paul Zolman move from a childhood boot camp of abuse to being a person who loves everyone and can find good about anyone in any circumstance. This is truly the role of love.
https://roleoflove.com/
Artificial Intelligence has developed at accelerated levels over the past few years. Since the introduction of Chat GBT, it has now become an everyday tool for all of us. We are either excited about the possibilities or frightened of them (or somewhere in between). Our guest on this episode is a best-selling author who has written about AI in his novels. Through his extensive research (and his military background) he has so much to share about our curious question.
Guest Info
International bestselling author Jeffrey Wilson has at one time worked as an actor, a firefighter, a paramedic, a jet pilot, a diving instructor, a Naval Officer, and a Vascular and Trauma Surgeon. He is a U.S. Navy veteran who served more than fourteen years, with multiple deployments as a combat surgeon with Naval Special Warfare (SEALs) and a Joint Special Operations Task Force. He has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other places.
With fellow veteran Brian Andrews, they write, as Andrews and Wilson, multiple #1 bestselling thriller series including the TIER ONE series, the SONS OF VALOR series, the faith-based thriller series THE SHEPHERDS which has been optioned by Sony Affirm for Television, WEB Griffin’s Presidential Agent Series, and now Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Sr. Series for Penguin beginning with ACT OF DEFIANCE coming May 2024 on the 40th anniversary of THE HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER. Other works include the speculative thrillers THE SANDBOX and the upcoming FOUR MINUTES.
Andrews and Wilson have now taken their storytelling to Hollywood, with more than a dozen of their stories optioned and in development for both television and Feature Film with major studios including Sony, MakeReady/Endeavor, Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, Skydance, PictureStart, Walden, and the Cross Brothers who are adapting their wildly popular TIER ONE Series of books as a streaming television series. All of their media projects have Andrews and Wilson attached as producers and they are screenwriters for several as well.
Jeff and his wife, Wendy are Virginia natives who, with their four children Ashley, Emma, Jack, and Connor, now call Tampa, Florida home. He is a passionate supporter of his fellow veterans and in particular the SEAL Legacy Foundation, Folds of Honor, and All Secure Foundation. He leads a Men’s Military ministry for a large church in Tampa, Florida.
www.andrews-wilson.com
Many of us have either read the book and/or watched the movie at Christmastime. But have we truly listened and watched for how Dickens weaves Christianinty into the story of "A Christmas Carol?" If you, like me, have not paid that close of attention, this episode is for you!
Guest Info
Reverend Cheryl Kincaid is a Presbyterian Minister who studied Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel Seminary and has a Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Rev. Kincaid seeks to tell the story of God’s comforting redemptive grace amid an imperfect world. Pastor Cheryl is now the Head of Staff at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Enfield, Connecticut.
Rev. Kincaid is the author of four published books and is the winner of the 2013 Independent Christian Publishers Illumination Reward for bible study. Visit Pastor Cheryl Kincaid's website at https://revcherylkincaid.com/. Visit her website on Charles Dickens faith journey at http://www.dickensandchristianity.com/
Parenting is different today than it was just 40 years ago . . . even just 20 years ago. Christian parens are facing unprecedented challenges when trying to raise children in a Christian household. How can we raise our kids to know God with such obstacles today in society and in the world? Our guest on this episode helps us explore that with some hard questions and great exploration so we hope you'll join us!
Guest Info
Mirella Acebo is a certified life coach and mom (a.k.a., The Life Coach Mom). She has over 10 years of experience leading and teaching women in the area of spiritual growth and personal development. She is a teaching leader at an interdenominational Bible study where she lectures, leads, and facilitates small-group discussions. Her passion is helping busy moms grow as they go -- in every season of motherhood, especially the hard ones! She brings honesty and hope, plus a little humor to daily conversations. Aside from her work as a life coach, Mirella is also a writer, best-selling author (SOS for the MOM), actor, producer, and storyteller with over 15 years experience in the TV industry. She has appeared in many film, television, and national commercials. She and her family live in Los Angeles.
https://www.lifecoachmom.net/
We would all agree that today's world is incredibly divided. This division isn't just political, it's societal, it's religious, it's even within families and between friends. As people of faith we wonder where God is in that division. How is God, or IS God, working in it for good - to help bridge the divide? Our guest on this episode is perfectly equipped to help us explore that question.
Guest Info
Rev. Kenneth H. Carter, Jr. is the resident bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Along with the Cabinet, he gives pastoral and administrative leadership to over 1000 congregations, fresh expressions of church, campus ministries, and outreach initiatives in an episcopal area that stretches across the 44 western counties of the state. Bishop Carter is the author of nineteen books, the most recent being "Unrelenting Grace: A United Methodist Way of Life."
Read more about Bishop Carter HERE.
Buy "Unrelenting Grade: A United Methodist Way of Life"
In today's world, "focus" is hard to come by. Our attention spans are shrinking by the minute and the worldly things that distract us become more and more enticing. We can easily lose the limited amount of focus we have and forget to keep our eyes upon the things that really matter in life. Wes Woodhouse shares his expertise with us so that we can learn how to put our focus on those things that matter most. To truly "pay" attention!
Guest Info
Wes Woodhouse is a husband, father, marathon runner, and fighter pilot. His mission is to build up the next generation of leaders, armed to take on the dynamic challenges of the Attention Age. In 2020 he founded Vector Atlas, a leadership development and attention cultivation agency. Website: https://weswoodhouse.com/
Welcome to our 50th episode! Thank you for listening! In this episode, we will hear from an incredibly brave woman who endured a devastating tragedy. She not only endured, but she grew closer to God and found an incredible hope throughout her experience. She shares all of this with us in this episode so we hope you'll check it out!
Guest Info
Debbie Wilkins Baisden, mom of four boys, was widowed without warning. The depth of pain was only matched by the depth of God’s faithfulness. A former teacher, this remarried widow is a mompreneur with a passion for helping women thrive.
In 2013 she co-created Momsanity, an online community seeking balance in Motherhood, Faith, Fitness, and Nutrition. In 2014 she established Fit With Deb, an online health resource for Nutrition and Exercise.
Described as profoundly opinionated, invitingly authentic, and downright sarcastic, her passion is uplifting others in a way that reflects Jesus. She writes in a down-to-earth style that both teaches and affirms the reader. She promotes balanced living amidst chaos for busy women who love Christ.
Wondering what “free time” is, Debbie lives in North Carolina with her new husband Jason and sons (Paul, Brad, Andrew, and Joshua). http://www.mymomsanity.com http://www.fitwithdeb.com http://www.debbiewilkinsbaisden.com
If you are listening to this episode and were born before the turn of the 21st century, then you may be looking at today's youth and wondering the same thing. How in the world can we help this younger generation be their absolute best when they are being raised in unprecedented times (COVID, technology, etc.) Our guest on this episode is not just talking about helping youth, he IS helping youth today and has a great deal of wisdom to share with all of us.
Guest Info
Motivational consultant, international speaker, and author Ahmard Vital has empowered people globally with his inspirational guidance and tips for self-development. Ahmard provides his audiences with the tools needed to achieve personal success, utilize willpower and determination, and develop strategies that will allow people of all ages to achieve personal and professional excellence.
After nearly a decade of studying the performance habits of high-achieving athletes, Ahmard has developed programs of inspiration and motivation that are beneficial to individuals, professionals, companies, and organizations worldwide.
In 2011, Ahmard published Awaken the Baller Within, which was quickly labeled as the “athlete’s life manual” by some pundits in sports media. This book was taught in more than a dozen colleges and close to fifty athletic departments and sports camps. As a mental performance coach, Ahmard helped secure more than $6 million dollars in scholarship monies and worked with athletes at the Division I level and the National Football League.
Not long after a successful career as a college football recruiting analyst with Scout.com, a
Fox Sports affiliate, Ahmard founded That Guy Media Group and expanded his platform to small business and nonprofit organizations where he focused on dream building, goal setting, and a relentless pursuit of the aforementioned. By teaching his audiences to recognize their strengths, and capitalize on the power that everyone harnesses within, individuals can realize previously unimagined levels of personal happiness and success.
Ahmard is becoming one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the world, working in countries like Zambia and Abu Dhabi (UAE). In the United States, he’s inspired professionals at companies like the Boys and Girls Club, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Salvation Army. His college clients include Prairie View A&M, Houston Community College and West Texas A&M.
He published his second book, I Am More Than Enough, in April 2019 to address many of his clients’ confidence challenges in their personal and professional lives. When Ahmard is not traveling, speaking, or writing, he works as a humanitarian and teen ministry leader, volunteering his time to inspire youth to envision their futures beyond their challenges and circumstances. He is also an avid reader and fitness coach, teaching cycling classes in North Houston.
https://www.ahmardvital.com/
We all endure challenges in our lives. Then, down the road, we face a situation where someone else is having a challenge as well. Do we share our story? Does it matter? Would it really help?
Our stories have power and this is one of the many ways God uses the challenges in our lives to bring about good for us and for others. But, how do we share our story? Should we? And how do we know it will actually make a difference?
Our guest on today's show has recently published a book that can answer these questions and she's gracious enough to share these thoughts on this episode. You will want to listen and take notes as Michelle shares her wisdom and parts of her own story!
Guest Info
Michelle Prince is a best-selling author, sought-after motivational speaker, self-publishing expert, leadership coach, and CEO/Founder of Performance Publishing Group, a “partner” publishing company dedicated to making a difference... one story at a time. She is an advanced certified Human Behavior Consultant and dedicates herself to helping leaders impact the world, using the strengths and talents already within them, to create an extraordinary life and exponentially grow their business. She’s helped thousands become published authors through her consulting, courses, seminars, and publishing services, and founded the “Book Bound Workshop.” She has also published many successful books, including her best-selling Winning In Life Now, The Power of Authority, and her most recent book, SHINE Through Your Story.
Michelle is also an enthusiastic, dynamic speaker who captivates audiences with her authenticity, high energy, and natural ability to connect with any audience. She has been endorsed by some of the most influential speakers in personal development, including Zig Ziglar. She is a Ziglar Legacy Certified speaker/trainer and is honored to be named the Ziglar Brand Ambassador, representing the values and legacy of the late Zig Ziglar.
Michelle helps people ignite their passion, identify their purpose, achieve balance, overcome procrastination, unlock potential, be more productive, succeed in personal & professional goals, and lead an abundant life.
www.MichellePrince.com
www.ShineThroughYourStory.com
www.PrincePerformance.com
www.PerformancePublishingGroup.com
The concept of the Holy Spirit is challenging for Christians to wrap their minds around, let alone those who are not Christians. Oftentimes we simply choose to ignore this part of the triune God because it can be hard to explain and understand. In this episode we will face this curious question head-on with the lead pastor of Williamson's Chapel UMC - Rev. Wes Smith.
Guest Info
To paraphrase Paul, if we don't have love, then there's no point in anything else we do as Christians. Helping the church grow together in love is what Wes is most passionate about. His hope is that members and guests experience the love of God as we worship, gather in small groups, and work together to serve God. Wes enjoys studying the Scripture and then preaching or teaching about God’s Word. If you’re interested in learning more about the Scripture or theology, Wes is the perfect guide in your journey.
Our thoughts are powerful and they drive us to do all things in our lives. As followers of Christ we often wonder what is guiding these thoughts . . . is it us? is it society? is it media? or is it God? Our guest on this episode helps us sort through those curious questions and helps us land in a place where we know how to lean into our faith in such a way that it guides our thoughts, and then our actions.
Guest Info
Victoria Lydon is a Christian Author, Certified Christian Life Coach, Podcaster, Entrepreneur, Speaker & University Instructor with nearly 30 years of teaching & advising experience and her mission is to coach others on how to live their best-thought life in the four main areas of life: health, wealth and purpose, relationships, and faith. Over the years, she's blogged, written Bible studies, taught Sunday School, led small women's groups, and authored two books. She currently writes devotionals for Guideposts Strength & Grace magazine and just released her own 365-day devotional and companion journal called Choose 2 Think: Find Peace, Joy, Hope, Health & Freedom Every Day. Her passions are God, family, baking, playing pickleball with her husband Jim, and traveling.
https://www.choose2think.co/
There is so much trauma in the world - much of it is unresolved and carried around with us. It shows up in many ways - most of which are unhealthy. So how do we heal our trauma to move into a healthier life? How does our faith help us heal? We explore these curious questions in this episode with the author, podcast host, and coach Danielle Bernock.
Guest Info:
Danielle Bernock is a childhood trauma survivor who turned her pain into purpose as an international, award-winning author, dynamic speaker, host of Victorious Souls Podcast, trauma-informed self-love coach, and founder of 4F Media. Her energy, authenticity, and humor help others feel safe and empowered to embrace the change from surviving to thriving.
Website Podcast
Books: Emerging With Wings Because You Matter
Communication is hard - especially when you're married. Not only do we bring different personalities to the table, but we bring all sorts of different ways to think, feel, and do. No wonder it's such a challenge at times to communicate effectively to the one you spend the most time with! Our guests on this episode bring not only a ton of wisdom to the conversation, but they bring their own personal experiences as a married couple who has worked hard to figure this out for themselves.
Guest Information
Pastors Wes and Toni Ruth Smith are the senior co-pastors of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church. They have been married for 18 years and bring with them a great knowledge of experience and pastoral wisdom to share. You can find out more about Wes and Toni ruth by clicking HERE.
We all experience pain and suffering in our lives. And, we tend to respond with, "why is this happening to me?" The truth is that we may never know the "why" behind things, but we can spend quality time exploring the curious question of "is there purpose to be found within this painful experience?" Our guest today has experienced her fair share of suffering in her young life and is a true inspiration. You will be blessed by her story.
Guest Info
Mary Ana Smith is a junior in high school and a member of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church. She is passionate about finding the purpose in pain and looking for the ways God is working through our lives. She has a podcast of her own called Wisdom for the Journey where she explores topics young women and teen girls often struggle with such as faith, body image, and mental health. Links Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Uu2JAIKUqk7fem8It6t5t Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomforthejourney/
The holidays are not so jolly for many people. Grief, sickness, financial worries, stress, relationship issues, and so many other "life" events can lead us to feel "off" during the holidays. We want to enjoy the festivities and have fun, but we just can't. What do we do about that? In this episode, we will hear from not only a wise pastor but a woman who has struggled with this in her own life.
Guest Info
Pastor Toni Ruth Smith is the co-senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, NC. She co-pastors alongside her husband, Wes, and they have two teenage children.
It's one thing to love someone - it's another thing to love them as Jesus loves them. Those who follow Christ feel as though they know what this looks like and practice it daily. But are we TRULY loving them like Jesus?
Our guest on this episode has studied love in a very profound way after experiencing losses and challenges in her own life. Her wisdom comes shining through in this episode.
Guest Information
Kim Sorrelle is an entrepreneur, director of a non-profit organization, author, speaker, and lover of all people. Four months after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, passing away just six weeks later. Kim began questioning the true meaning of love so she dedicated a year to figuring it out. The things that she discovered about love are unlike anything you've heard before and are chronicled in her book, Love Is.
Author of Love Is: A Year-Long Experiment Living Out 1 Corinthians Love Author of Cry Until You Laugh: Real Love, Real Pain, Real Funny Interview with Jack Canfield - Chicken Soup for the Soul
Sharing our faith with others can be intimidating, uncomfortable, and scary. What if they ridicule us? What if we push them further away from God? What do we say? These fears are especially strong when the person we are talking to doesn't believe in God. How do we effectively share our faith with them?
Our guest in this episode is that person who once didn't believe in God. She was witnessed to by her husband and others and shares with us what was helpful in her journey to faith and how we can use those same tools in our own witness journey.
Guest Information
As an atheist who critically thought her way to faith, Wendy Cunningham believes it’s important to evaluate where our beliefs about God come from as we consider where we might be mistaken. This is Wendy’s first solo book project—she coauthored Success Through Failing—but she's been a writer for as long as she can remember. Her blog, www.gainingmyperspective.com, and her podcast by the same name satisfy her desire to inspire, empower, make people laugh, and share truth boldly. Aside from writing and podcasting, Wendy is an entrepreneur, a wife, and a homeschool mom of three. They’re homesteading on 84 acres in Middle Tennessee when they're not traveling.
Sharing our faith with others can be intimidating, uncomfortable, and scary. What if they ridicule us? What if we push them further away from God? What do we say? These fears are especially strong when the person we are talking to doesn't believe in God. How do we effectively share our faith with them?
Our guest in this episode is that person who once didn't believe in God. She was witnessed to by her husband and others and shares with us what was helpful in her journey to faith and how we can use those same tools in our own witness journey.
Guest Information
As an atheist who critically thought her way to faith, Wendy Cunningham believes it’s important to evaluate where our beliefs about God come from as we consider where we might be mistaken. This is Wendy’s first solo book project—she coauthored Success Through Failing—but she's been a writer for as long as she can remember. Her blog, www.gainingmyperspective.com, and her podcast by the same name satisfy her desire to inspire, empower, make people laugh, and share truth boldly. Aside from writing and podcasting, Wendy is an entrepreneur, a wife, and a homeschool mom of three. They’re homesteading on 84 acres in Middle Tennessee when they're not traveling.
We hear it all of the time - how important it is to love yourself. This is rule #1 when building (or rebuilding) self-esteem. But to "agape" love yourself is so much more. It's a deeper love. It's the love Jesus has for us and that's a powerful love.
In this episode, we talk about how to truly "agape" love ourselves the way Jesus loves us. Our guest, Amy Connell, guides us through the importance of this practice and how to integrate this level of love into our everyday lives.
Guest Info
Amy Connell is a certified personal trainer who wants you to take a rest day and a nutrition coach who wants you to enjoy dessert. She founded Graced Health in 2016 to equip women with simple and grace-filled ways to take care of and appreciate their God-created body … and enjoy a little chocolate in the process. Amy is the host of the Graced Health podcast and author of Your Worthy Body: Find Freedom in Health by Breaking All the Rules. She lives in the Houston, Texas area with her husband, their two always-hungry teen boys, and her stray-turned princess pit bull, Grace.
Connect with Amy:
GracedHealth.com Join the Graced Health community on Facebook!
Instagram: @GracedHealth
Facebook: @Graced Health
Amy.connell@gracedhealth.com PurchaseYour Worthy Body: Find Freedom in Health by Breaking All the Rules
This is a tough curious question to address. Many of us have had times in our life when we felt worthless - not of value to anyone or anything - and simply not enough. This leads to struggles with our mental health and contributes to dysfunctional and unhealthy relationships. And, some of us have encountered situations in our childhood that contribute to this feeling of not being "enough" in this world.
Our guest in this episode is a life coach and specializes in helping us embrace our "enough" so that we can move beyond just "enough" and into a place of thriving.
Guest Info
Jenny is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) who runs her own coaching practice, River Life Coaching Pte. Ltd. Jenny is also a qualified lawyer in the U.K., Singapore, and Malaysia. She is passionate about coaching introverted individuals to be more visible on their own terms and empower them to live fully and joyfully.
https://www.riverlifecoaching.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-toh-cpc-acc/
https://www.facebook.com/riverlifecoaching
https://www.instagram.com/riverlifecoaching/
This episode is close to our heart at Williamson's Chapel because it's about caring for kids who age out of the foster care system. We have several families who are foster parents and we are devoted to helping families who foster and the children in the foster care system. Miriam's ministry is powerful and you may feel called to join her in helping these vulnerable children.
Guest Information
Miriam Cobb is the founder and director at Empty Frames Initiative, a non-profit dedicated to empowering orphaned and vulnerable youth as they transition out of state care.
Within this role, Miriam advocates for youth exiting care compiles new and successful resources for this population and develops programs and curricula to meet this international need. Empty Frames Initiative recently published the book, The Story of Foster Care, which served as a pilot of EFI’s photography-based literacy curriculum, Storytelling Through Photography. The book explains foster care from the perspective of 3 former foster youth, 2 social workers, and 2 foster parents, and serves as a model of what Miriam hopes Empty Frames Initiative will be to others: an organization that empowers individuals to tell their stories, become connected to their community, and find hope in Christ.
In 2019 Miriam served on the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking Board of Directors, chairing the Community/Faith Based committee. She continues bringing awareness to the intersection of human trafficking and state care through speaking engagements, seeing this as a significant need that is often misunderstood or unmentioned in the broader discussion of human trafficking. Because many social justice issues can be tied to state care models and childhood trauma, she actively looks
to understand, and engage her community in understanding, the intersectionality of needs.
miriam@fillingemptyframes.org
www.fillingemptyframes.org
Instagram: @emptyframesinitiative
Empty Frames Initiative offers training in life skills, counseling, community, and access to the Gospel. EFI is inspired and driven by the heart of the Father. We believe everyone is created with a purpose.
Chang is hard. Transition is hard. And, yet, we all have to endure it in our lifetime. In this episode, we talk with our very own Pastor Jan who is entering into a huge transition as she enters retirement. She shares her wisdom and experience with us as well as some biblical insights that can help us move through transitions with confidence and grace.
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
Change requires us to make a "shift" - in our thoughts, our attitudes, and our actions. Our guest on this episode explores the concept of a "God shift" and how we can lean into that and respond in such a way that amazing and powerful things can happen in our lives and the lives of those around us. Guest Info
Shayna Rattler, the Founder of the God Shift ™ Movement, is a prophetic minister, author, and speaker who empowers individuals and organizations around the world to experience a God shift that moves them out of disruption into a greater destiny, expectancy, and possibility. She is passionate about helping others develop a deeper understanding of God and the identity they have in Him. Her wit and humor make God’s word relatable and her direct communication style makes it actionable.
Shayna has helped celebrities, influencers, military officers, political dignitaries, pastors, corporate executives, and seasoned entrepreneurs achieve personal growth and organizational excellence. She and her businesses have received multiple awards, she has published 4 books and has been featured in over 450 media outlets. Shayna also hosts the God Shift Podcast and the God Shift TV show.
It's part of our nature to view suffering as a bad thing. But, what if there are blessings that can come from it? What if suffering is a gateway to something better?
In this episode we talk with a guy who can speak from personal experience about suffering and the blessings that can come from it. Podcast host Paul Granger shares his story with us and helps us recognize the upside to our suffering.
Guest Info:
Paul Granger has been serving in inner-city ministries since 2005, with a focus on shepherding others as they seek to "love God and love others". He currently serves with Youth With A Mission in Richmond, is President of New Visions Civic League, facilitates a Community Bible Study, and hosts the "Where did you see God?" Podcast.
Is this "calling" something that I'm driving, or is this something God is genuinely calling me to do? This is a question many of us ask as we try to figure out next steps in any given situation. Are we driving this, or is God?
Our guest for this episode helps us sort through that question and land in a place where we feel confident with our next steps toward God's true calling in our lives.
Guest Information
Kevin Bjorklund is a "creative" live coach who helps his clients determine their true calling in life.
You can follow Kevin on his website, Instagram, or Facebook.
It's crazy how divided we are these days. We argue over most things and we struggle to see the gray in any issue. It seems to always boil down to "I'm right/you're wrong!"
Our guest on this episode has a lot to say about that and wrote a fabulous book that addresses this very issue. Check out the links below to get her book and to read more about her.
Guest Information: Staci Diffendaffer is the author of Unconditioned Love: Healing Hearts and Minds in a Time of Conflict and Division. She’s passionate about breaking down the walls that divide us and creating safe spaces to have healing conversations. Through the love and guidance of God, Staci overcame trauma, depression, and anxiety. After many years of varied abuse, she developed a false belief that most men were a threat. God's transformational healing enabled her to forgive her assailants and stop categorizing people into "good" or "bad" based on past hurts. Staci hopes to inspire her readers to create a compassionate culture that values every person and to better understand that their hardships can be a catalyst for a greater purpose.
Staci's website: https://www.ownyourvictory.com/
Staci on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stacidiffendaffer/
Have you ever wondered what a "normal" Christian is supposed to look like? Well, let's take that up a notch and ask what a "radically" normal Christian may look like! I think we'll all be surprised . . . or, at the very least, intrigued by what our guest for this episode, Josh Kelley, has to say about this. Josh has a fascinating story to share and was a phenomenal guest. You will most certainly be blessed by his insights!
Guest Information
Josh Kelley has been a pastor, bartender, and adjunct Biblical Studies professor. He is a traditionally published author (“Radically Normal,” Harvest House), novelist, writing coach, developmental editor, and ghostwriter.
What he truly loves is communicating life-changing truths in an engaging way and helping others do the same.
Josh has been married for over 20 years and has two teenage daughters. They once spent eight months driving around the country in a minivan, saw 40 states, two provinces, and Tijuana.
Josh's website: https://www.joshkelley.ink/
Josh's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/joshkelley.page
Grieving a deep loss is a process and, at times, we may feel as though we will never have joy again. But there can be joy on the other side and our guest for this episode helps unpack grief and shares hope for the joy that this to come.
We intentionally published this episode as Christmas approaches because we know the challenge many face as the holidays arrive. Others expect us to smile and have joy, as they do, but they simply don't understand how hard it is to have joy in the midst of our grief. We hope that this episode will lift you and help you see the joy that can be found on the other side.
Guest Information
Laura Warfel uses the gifts and strengths God has given her to help others become more than they ever think or imagine they can be. Laura does this by connecting people with other people, with valuable resources, and with the truth and direction found in God’s Word. She enthusiastically shares her expertise in writing, editing, marketing, public relations to help individuals and organizations improve their communications.
Today, Laura's passion is to help one, two, three, fifty, hundreds, thousands of widows to be more than widows. Her goal is to form an army of churches and resources to provide the help widows need to survive and thrive. Along the way, she encourages everyone God sends her way to be more and do more with his/her life.
This episode is packed with fantastic insights and motivation to lean into our faith and trust in a God that ALWAYS provides. Today's world is a bit scary for many of us as we are unsure about our job security, finances, and health. But our God is one that provides for our needs in ways we never imagined. Mike was a fantastic guest with great energy and wisdom to share. Plus, he just interviewed Bob Goff for his podcast (Bob is one of my favorite people!) and that episode is a must-listen. Check out this episode and walk away feeling assured about who you are, who God is, and a deep assurance about God's provisions for your life.
About Mike Thakur
Mike believes that entrepreneurship, fused with faith is the fundamental vehicle for bringing sustainable change to society’s biggest humanitarian issues both at home and abroad. With a lifetime of work in ministry and a deep passion for both business and service, he created WorkLodge as a social enterprise on a mission to change lives along with the Gabriel Project, a 501(c)3 that’s solely funded by WorkLodge to bring hope to the hopeless, through self-sustaining one-off projects. When he’s not inspiring his team and clients to ‘Be Amazing,’ you’ll find him communicating his message on YouTube and everywhere Podcasts play. Mike also has a book coming out in early 2022 so stay tuned for that!
Mike's YouTube channel
Mike's Podcast (search for "Mike Drop" wherever you listen)
Mike's Website
In today's divisive culture we may be finding it harder than ever to express our faith openly - especially in the workplace. In this episode, we unpack this challenge and learn ways to overcome our fear of providing "sacred" leadership in all aspects of our life. Peggy provides incredible insights that can help us navigate this hostile climate and be the people God is calling us to be in the world.
About Our Guest
Peggy Bodde has been a corporate manager or leader for over thirty years and has spent her entire career mentoring women in business. She recently resigned from her position as a senior vice president to become a full-time writer. Peggy continues to pursue her passion for mentoring women by providing free career and leadership coaching.
https://peggybodde.com/
What a cool thing to ponder! How is cooking related to scripture? That is the curious question we are pondering on this episode and I'm sure you will be as intrigued by this conversation as we were!
Guest Info:
Jill Dobrowansky resides in Manahawkin, New Jersey, with her husband of 30 years, Eric. Together, they have one son who recently married the woman of his dreams. Jill has been a teacher and administrator in the public school system for 18 years. She is a proud member of Bayside Chapel, where she is part of the leadership team for Wonderfully Made Ministry and Night to Shine Prom. Jill is also a speaker, blogger, and host of the Feed Your Spirit Podcast. She believes that when we share our stories with others, we glorify God and His love and grace for us. When not spending time writing or interviewing guests, Jill loves to read, cook, and spend time outdoors. Find Jill online at 2 Scripture Sisters, on Facebook or Instagram.
https://2scripturesisters.com/
Sometimes we feel like we are not able to truly make a difference as just one person. Then, we just give up or move on saying, "the larger, more powerful groups or entities will make the difference - I'm just not significant enough."
But we ARE powerful enough to make a positive change in this world! Our guest for this episode helps us identify the many ways we can be a catalyst for change.
Guest Information
Rick Ornelas wasn't always interested in helping others on a global scale despite being pushed repeatedly in that direction by near-death experiences, family tragedies, and deaths. It wasn't until the ever-worsening times of 2020 when he was laid off, isolated, and desperate that he finally got the wake-up call.
His awakening came in the form of divine inspiration and an awe-inspiring spiritual connection when he least expected it. He went from isolated and hopeless, to writing a best-selling book in under three months while envisioning and creating an incredible future. This fulfilled the dream he had been ignoring for years: to build a community of amazing souls to spread positivity, hope, and love while creating a ripple effect throughout the world.
Rick is an author, speaker, and professional coachwho teaches men and women to unlock their amazing potential to create an incredible future and change the world around them.
With a Social Sciences/Communications degree and over 25 years of additional study, he has trained over 10,000 hours in Communication, Sociology, Interpersonal Relationships, and Leadership. He’s the author of 12 Hours of Heaven; Lessons for a Better World and founder of I Spark Change, a global movement and online community of those who seek to make the world a better place one act at a time.
He’s been dubbed a “Positive Change Expert” as the I Spark Change community has grown at a phenomenal rate of over 800%in just a few months.
Rick has been featured in multiple media outlets, including national/international television and radio. He’s a regular writer for Lifehackand a guest contributor for various websites.
This has to be one of my favorite interviews so far. I literally could have talked with El for hours! I believe you will tag this as one of your favorites, too, as El's contagious joy leads us to find our own joy in the midst of, what seems to be, a joyless world. She offers wise and easy tools for us to find joy even in challenging situations in life. And, she provides some of the best advice I've ever heard about how to change our attitude and our negative thoughts. Really good stuff!
Guest Info
El Edwards is an irrepressible silver-lining spotter with a compulsion to say the stuff most other people only say in their heads!
She helps us have fun again, embrace who we are when we're not trying to live by anyone else's expectations, to step into the incredible story God's written for our lives. To be who God created us to be when He dreamed us into existence with His love.
Are you ready to work with El to explore who you are? (Because when you know Whose you are, the real fun can begin!) Find out more about the Itchy Soul Playground, doing life with God in her online community. Visit https://youier.com/join/
We have all been there . . . grieving, frustrated, hurt, angry. We have all had to endure times in our lives when we are devastated and wondering how God could allow such a horrible thing to take place. We cry out to God and ask "why?"
Our guest in today's episode has also had moments like this and she shares how she struggled, cried out to God, and found hope along her own journey. You won't want to miss this!
Show Information
Elizabeth Meyers is an Air Force Academy graduate, the wife of a full-afterburner fighter pilot, and the mother of eight energetic children. This dynamic combination leads to no small amount of chaos in her day-to-day life.
The sudden death of her pre-born son, Timothy, radically altered the course of Elizabeth’s life. Having come through a season of doubting God's faithfulness, she shares her personal journey from trial to triumph to help others overcome adversity so they can live with joy and purpose.
In addition to being an author, Liz is also the host of the weekly podcast Resilient Life Hacks where she and her fascinating guests share a message of hope and healing through inspirational stories and practical applications.
As a motivational speaker and Bible teacher, Elizabeth enjoys expressing theological concepts through relatable metaphors that enhance personal understanding of big ideas for ordinary people.
Through her online coaching and mentoring, Liz equips her clients to overcome adversity and thrive in their purpose by building a stronger spirit, soul, and body. She also offers coaching for those interested in starting their own podcast.
Elizabethmyers.me - this is her website that has the free prayer guide she mentions in the episode
resiliantlifehacks.com - check out her podcast!
elizabethmeyers.me/freebook/ - Download her free book!
Many churches are opening as COVID restrictions are lifted. Yet, churches are finding that the number of people that used to worship on their campus is much lower than before. Part of that is due to the concerns some have for their health as well as those who may not be vaccinated yet. However, there is a part of our faithful population that has become accustomed to worshiping at home. We will always have an online option for folks and we value the need for that type of access for those who are unable to attend in person. But, the question is, will people come back? Will they value in-person worship again? Why is it important that we worship in person?
On this episode, you'll hear from our host, Rev. Monica Humpal, and our producer, Derek Fields. As ministry professionals, they will discuss the value of worshiping in person and how this may evolve moving forward.
Easter is the ultimate reminder of new life, new growth, and how even after a lifeless winter there can be something new. We have all experienced a very long time of feeling lifeless - of feeling as though we want something new. With Easter just around the corner, we can embrace the "newness" it brings and especially how God makes all things new. In this episode, Pastor Jan shares not only some great insights on this concept of God making all things new, but shares some interesting history about "Easter" that answers some burning questions we all have.
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
As followers of Christ, we are called to share the good news of the Gospel with others. We want to do this, and we know we are called to do this, but so often we hesitate. We worry about how the other person will respond. Will they get angry? Will our words push them further away from God? Will we be able to defend our faith if they ask questions? What if we say the wrong thing?
Our guest for this episode, Rev. Joe Precht, oversees the witness ministry of Williamson's Chapel UMC and shares some amazing insights with us on how to effectively share the Gospel of Christ with others. Listen and find out key elements to doing this effectively and without fear of others' responses.
Show Notes
Rev. Joe Precht is the Associate Pastor for Worship, Witness, & Young Adults at Williamson's Chapel UMC. Joe has a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Having served in a wide array of contexts––from the Democratic Republic of Congo to rural North Carolina––he is continually awed by the variety of God’s grace. In high school, kneeling at the Communion table, he received his call to pastoral ministry. His deepest desire is to bring others “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” Joe is married to Mackenzie. They have two young children, Lillian and James.
It's difficult to remain positive these days - especially when so many around us seem to be negative all of the time. How can we overcome all of this negativity?
Life coach, Kerry Rasenberger, joins us in this episode to provide wonderful tools for us to put to use when we are trying to stay positive in today's negative world. Make sure you check out the show notes below to make note of the lists she provides in the show.
Show Notes:
Kerry was born in sunny California and has lived all over this great country, North Carolina has been her home for the past twenty-three years. As a career-oriented mother, has been deeply invested in her children’s lives, schools, sports and activities for over nineteen years. When her youngest of two children was approaching university, she came to the sudden realization that she was about to lose a significant part of her identity and external focus. That, among so many other changes that accompany midlife, forced her to explore her “what’s next?”.
Having had an expansive corporate career and over 25 years of experience coaching executives, staff, and clients to achieve their goals, she found herself turning back to the roots of what gave her purpose in those years - empowering others. Now as a certified and experienced life coach, her passion is to improve the human experience and help others find self-fulfillment. Every person has the power for positive change already -- they just need a little help finding their new path.
When Kerry's not coaching and empowering fellow women, you can find her outdoors hiking in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with her dog Bear, exploring small, local towns, finally having lunch with her girlfriends again, and cherishing every moment with her kids before they go off to college.
Kerry's coaching website: https://www.kerryrasenberger.com/
10 ways to bring positivity back into your life.
- Acknowledge you are in a Negative Mindset
- Make simple changes that give you success
- Gratitude - show it, feel it, live it!
- Perform acts of Kindness
- Self Care/Self Love
- Reduce negative influences
- Reframe your thoughts - I can’t to I can.
- Try to find the good in bad situations
- Be fully present
- Smile more because it is contagious
7 ways to stay positive around negative people:
- Redirect your conversation
- Set Boundaries
- Step away from technology when it’s getting negative
- Give yourself a positive pep talk before seeing someone negative
- Remind yourself that everyone has their own journey.
- Don’t take their negativity personally
- Surround yourself with positive people
Marriages tend to take a back seat whenever life throws a curveball at us. The kids are in two different ball leagues and they are mostly out of town. His job requires traveling now. The kids are having to do virtual school now and need a lot of help with their school work. Her mom moved in with them after her father died. You get the picture.
Life will always get in the way. But, our marriage, that life-long commitment we made with another human being, needs to remain a priority. The question is, how do we do that when all of these other things get in the way? Ted Lowe, the founder of marriedpeople.org, has some fantastic insights for those of us who are married and struggling with how to make our marriage a priority amidst the chaos of life.
Show Notes
Ted Lowe is a speaker, author, and the director of MarriedPeople.org, an organization with the mission of helping you do marriage better. Prior to founding MarriedPeople, he served for almost 10 years as the director of MarriedLife at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, Ted is the author of the book Your Best Us. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, in Pasadena, California. He lives in Cumming, Georgia, with his five favorite people: his wife, Nancie, and their four children.
- Your Best Night In (free event Ted mentioned)
- MarriedPeople Podcast
Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs we have as adults with kids. This grows exponentially when our cute cherub-faced little ones become teenagers. As parents, we continually seek out ways to help our teens become responsible, compassionate, and wise adults. This is not easy - especially in today's world.
In this episode, we talk with Andrew Kirk, the director of youth ministries at Williamson's Chapel UMC. Andrew is phenomenal at working with students but has amazing insights for parents as well. He also shares some great wisdom for us regarding key elements of communicating with our kids and how the church plays an important role in our parenting.
Show Notes
Andrew Kirk is the Youth Ministries Coordinator at Williamson's Chapel UMC. He has been involved in full-time youth ministry for 21 years. He is also the founder of For You Ministries, a youth missions and retreat organization. Andrew is also the proud step-father of a 9 and 12-year-old.
We have been forced to change more over the past 10 months than we ever have. COVID has put us all in situations where we've had to change and adapt if we want to continue life as we know it. Now, with a new year and a whole new set of potential obstacles ahead, we are facing even more change - in our personal lives, in our communities, and in our country.
Changing is not simple or easy for most of us. It requires stepping out of our comfort zone and entering into scary and unfamiliar territory. Many of us fight against change for this very reason. In this episode we ask the question, "how can we better respond to change?" while seeking tools that may help us better adapt to our ever-shifting environment. Cindy Ray is our guest and guides us through this challenging, yet important, topic.
Show Notes
Cindy Ray graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2003 with a master of Science in Pastoral Counseling. She also received her Basic Graduate Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2012. She has been with CareNet Counseling for 6 years after having a private practice in Wilmington, NC for 10 years. She is the Regional Director for CareNet in the Central Piedmont Region. Offices located in Mooresville, Statesville, and Gastonia.
Contact CareNet for more information - they have offices throughout North Carolina.
Follow them on Facebook (CareNet Counseling NC)
It's a new year (thank goodness!) and many of us are already considering what new year's resolutions we plan to make. The question we tackle in this episode is how we can avoid the typical resolutions and adopt goals that are more meaningful and less about us and more about others. Our guest, Whitney Cassell, helps guide our conversation and offers an enlightened perspective. Happy new year!
Show Notes
Whitney Cassell is the Interim Director of Missions and Outreach at Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church. She has a background in teaching and nonprofit work and dedicates her life to serving others. Currently, she is enrolled at Hood Theological Seminary where she is working on her Masters of Divinity. Whitney is also pursuing ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church.
"Peace on earth" is a common quote spoken and read during the Christmas season. But "peace" is far from what many of us feel. Studies show that anxiety and depression is higher than ever due to the myriad of struggles in our world today. So how does one find "peace" in the midst of all of this?
Pastor Jan tackles this tough question and provides incredible wisdom and insight to help us find that peace we are looking for.
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
2020 has been a very difficult year for many of us. It is easy to focus on the negative things COVID has brought into our lives. But, what if we chose to focus on the positive things that have come instead? What if we found a place of gratitude for this moment in time?
In this episode we will do just that. Rev. Dr. Nancy Rankin helps us take a step back and examine our lives through a lens of gratitude - even in this COVID world. Our attitude really is everything so let's join together in recognizing the many good things that we have experienced this year.
Show Notes:
Rev. Dr. Nancy B. Rankin is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and a certified coach through ICF-International Coach Federation. She recently retired as the District Superintendent of the Northern Piedmont District in the Western North Carolina Conference.
Nancy is married to Terry A. Rankin, who is a retired transportation executive, and they have a son who serves as a Lieutenant in Law Enforcement and a daughter who is a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Nurse. They are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.
As with most things these days we are all wondering what our world will look like post COVID. How will things change? How will they remain the same? One of the institutions that has had to make the biggest shift in how they do things is our education system. Not only have the administrators and teachers made huge shifts, but families are having to shift as well. So what does this mean moving forward?
We get some fantastic insights from Jen Chaffman, a local educator and podcast host in this episode. She offers some great wisdom from her perspective in the classroom and her experience in the educational system.
Show Notes
Jen Chaffman is a multimedia production/journalism teacher at Community School of Davidson, where she has worked for the past 17 years. In addition to teaching, Jen co-hosts the Teachable Moments podcast, available as "My Teachable Moments" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play. She enjoys spending time with her husband, dog and two adult sons. Jen's quarantine time has been spent with music, reading, writing, cooking and walking.
The book Jen references, "The Great Influenza" can be found HERE on Amazon.
You can find Jen's podcast, "My Teachable Moments" on most podcast platforms.
This is a question people of faith are struggling with these days. Coronavirus, political division, racial tensions,
We are going to tackle this question through the lens of our faith and what we do know of our loving creator God. Pastor Jan Brittain shares her incredible wisdom and comfort with us and gives us the assurances we need. You won't want to miss this episode that is packed with hope!
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
After being cooped up in our homes and away from others for such a long period of time, many of us may be looking for ways to get back out there and help those in need. Who are these "others?" Are they our neighbors? How can we help them most right now? Are their needs more than they were prior to COVID?
In this episode we talk with the Executive Director of the Mooresville Christian Mission, Amy LaCount, to ask these very questions. She shares some important insights for us as we begin seeking ways to truly help and show love to our neighbors in need.
Show Notes
Amy LaCount has a strong professional background working to alleviate poverty both in local communities as well as in developing countries around the world. She has a deep passion for helping those in need, which stems from growing up in Kentucky where she saw poverty first-hand.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and a Masters of Science in Safety, Security and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University.
Amy lives with her husband Shane (Deputy Chief of the Mooresville Fire Department) and children Avery and JP. She and her family enjoy spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains of North Carolina. “I love all of God’s children and genuinely enjoy meeting people right where they are,” she explained. “My life and work experiences have taught me that we are not to ‘fix’, but to learn and empower each other.”
- Learn more about the Mooresville Christian Mission: www.ourchristianmission.org
- Mooresville Christian Mission is having a virtual Turkey Trot to raise funds for their mission - click HERE to read more and to participate.
- If you live local to the Mooresville area, click HERE to volunteer to serve. Even kids can serve!
- Click HERE to donate to the Mooresville Christian Mission.
- Follow the Mooresville Christian Mission on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
We are living in a time of uncertainty and chaos. Due to COVID we have encountered so many changes and unknowns. There are those whose jobs have literally been eliminated because they are no longer needed. Some who are working from home are suffering because they don't feel as productive. Even parents are questioning their parenting skills as they try, and fail, to help their children with online learning. We are a community of people who are doubting ourselves - doubting our worth.
Cindy Ray is a professional therapist in the Mooresville are and joins us for this episode as we explore the question of "worth." What is it, and how do we determine our own worth. Our hope and prayer is that you walk away from this episode feeling renewed and valued - even in these uncertain times.
Show Notes
Cindy Ray graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2003 with a master of Science in Pastoral Counseling. She also received her Basic Graduate Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2012. She has been with CareNet Counseling for 6 years after having a private practice in Wilmington, NC for 10 years. She is the regional Director for CareNet in the Central Piedmont Region. Offices located in Mooresville, Statesville, and Gastonia.
Contact CareNet for more information - they have offices throughout North Carolina.
Follow them on Facebook (CareNet Counseling NC)
Today's world is incredibly divisive. And that's to be expected, to some degree, because we are all unique individuals with differing opinions. However, we have lost the ability to still like one another if we disagree. In some cases, we see violence erupt due to this divisiveness. So why can't we get along even when we disagree? How is this effecting the church and those of us who are called to love others? And, how can we do a better job of getting along with others and even tolerating those who can't seem to get along with others? Find out in this special "Part 2"as we discuss these issues and this question with Pastor Jan Brittain.
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
Today's world is incredibly divisive. And that's to be expected, to some degree, because we are all unique individuals with differing opinions. However, we have lost the ability to still like one another if we disagree. In some cases, we see violence erupt due to this divisiveness. So why can't we get along even when we disagree? What's the science behind that? And, how can we do a better job of getting along with others and even tolerating those who can't seem to get along with others? Find out in this episode!
Rev. Dr. Mark Young is an ordained Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church with a Ph.D in Pastoral Counseling. After practicing in Maryland for 20 years he relocated to Mooresville in 2006 and started Wellhaven Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy. He offers counseling to the general public for individuals ages adolescent through adulthood, as well as couples and family counseling.
Reverend Darcy R. Hunt is an ordained Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served in parish ministry there for almost 20 years until she went on disability leave due to health issues. She became the Practice Manager of Wellhaven Counseling when they moved to Mooresville. Over the years she has led a number of retreats and offered classes in the areas of prayer, Christian meditation and spiritual growth.
*This is part 2 of a 2-part series*
Our human nature is to judge others within seconds of meeting them. Depending on the circumstances, we deem them a "good person" or a "bad person" based on how they look, their behavior, or their past actions. We ponder this question today as we see more and more hostility in the world, name calling, and inappropriate assumptions being made about people. And, what would (or should) be the Christian response to this question? Are Christians not held to a higher standard when it comes to how we view (and love) others? This episodes dives deeper with questions regarding how we judge and see those who have been imprisoned.
Our guests in this episode are the leaders in a local ministry that supports men who are released from prison by providing housing and recovery. The Foundry House is located in Statesville, NC and is slated to open its doors on September 1, 2020.
Chip McGee is a pastor and leader in the non-profit sector due to his core values that people matter and there’s always hope for a future greater than the present. Formerly a high school math teacher educated at North Carolina State University, he now serves as a Licensed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church as he completes his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Chip also leads an initiative that hopes to lower overdose and recidivism rates in Iredell County by providing housing, workforce development, and a pathway to recovery from addiction through “The Foundry House.” He loves living in the heart of Statesville and enjoying life with his wife, Lindsey, and their three children.
Brian King is a building contractor in North Carolina and lives in the Statesville area with his wife and daughter. He is a licensed local pastor under appointment at Christ Church in Hickory, NC as their Recovery Pastor. He and Chip are the co-founders of the Foundry House ministry.
Our human nature is to judge others within seconds of meeting them. Depending on the circumstances, we deem them a "good person" or a "bad person" based on how they look, their behavior, or their past actions. We ponder this question today as we see more and more hostility in the world, name calling, and inappropriate assumptions being made about people based on the color of their skin. And, what would (or should) be the Christian response to this question? Are Christians not held to a higher standard when it comes to how we view (and love) others?
Our guests in this episode tackle this question from two perspectives: (1) from the perspective of having lived a life of "judgement" and (2) from the perspective of a clergy person who teaches redemption and tries to lead by example.
Our Guests:
Rev. Joe Precht is the Associate Pastor for Worship, Witness, & Young Adults at Williamson's Chapel UMC. Joe has a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Having served in a wide array of contexts––from the Democratic Republic of Congo to rural North Carolina––he is continually awed by the variety of God’s grace. In high school, kneeling at the Communion table, he received his call to pastoral ministry. His deepest desire is to bring others “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” Joe is married to Mackenzie. They have two young children, Lillian and James.
Duke Taylor was raised in the Catholic church and surrounded in the Baptist and Methodist culture. He's a gamecock from South Carolina and worked for a time with YMCA and in NC with the YMCA Camp Seafarer and Camp Seagull on the coast of NC. Today, Duke works as Sr. Proposal Manager in San Diego, CA California, after recently moving from Arlington, Virginia to take care of his dad who had a successful kidney transplant. He loves to volunteer in areas where Christians have an opportunity to generate peace and redemption in the world. Please take time to read reflections from Duke in the attached PDF.
In these days of COVID-19, quarantine, and uncertainty, we are all wondering what happened to our "normal" lives. When will we be able to dine out without masks again? Will our kids go to school like normal? Will I still have a job in six months? For many of us, our lives have literally been turned upside down. This type of stress can affect us in many ways - spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
In this episode we talk with Dr. Connor Donoghue about ways we can take care of our physical health - even when we are stuck at home, can't go to the gym, and are sitting more than we have before. Connor gives some great advice on caring for our physical selves - and how our physical health is directly tied to our spiritual and emotional health. We can't neglect any of these areas and caring for our physical health can help us strengthen our spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Dr. Connor Donoghue graduated from Elon University with a B.S. in exercise science and graduated with honors from Sherman College of Chiropractic. He now works at ChiroLife Wellness Center in Mooresville, North Carolina. They are one the largest Chiropractic practices in the Lake Norman area. They are Wellness chiropractors that put an emphasis on improving the function of nerves that control our organs, glands and blood vessels in addition to the nerves that control our musculoskeletal system. They use state of the art technology to analyze the impacts that lifestyle stressors have had on our patients health and restores peoples health all naturally. They believe that God created the body with an incredible capacity to heal itself and the care they offer facilitates that process by removing interferences/imbalances in our nervous system. "Nature needs no help, just no interference."
Show Notes:
ChiroLife Wellness Center, Mooresville, NC
In these days of COVID-19, quarantine, and uncertainty, we are all wondering what happened to our "normal" lives. When will we be able to dine out without masks again? Will our kids go to school like normal? Will I still have a job in six months? For many of us, our lives have literally been turned upside down. This type of stress can affect us in many ways - spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
In this episode we will talk to Vincent and Laura Ketchie, licensed counselors from Mooresville, NC. They share some great suggestions for remaining emotionally healthy during this crisis or any other crisis. They also provide some very helpful tips for parents who are trying to navigate these circumstances with their children. You won't want to miss this episode!
Vincent and Laura are both licensed professional counselors. They own Christian Counselors of Mooresville in Mooresville, NC. Vincent specializes in marriage counseling, and Laura specializes in women’s issues. For more information on counseling, visit their website ccofmooresville.com.
Show Notes:
Vincent and Laura have a wonderful podcast called Relationship Helpers that can be found on most podcast platforms. You can also check out their website HERE.
In these days of COVID-19, quarantine, and uncertainty, we are all wondering what happened to our "normal" lives. When will we be able to dine out without masks again? Will our kids go to school like normal? Will I still have a job in six months? For many of us, our lives have literally been turned upside down. This type of stress can affect us in many ways - spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
In this episode we will talk with Rev. Jan Brittain about how we can ensure that our spiritual life remains healthy - even when we are under the stressors of COVID. Pastor Jan has so much wisdom to share with us as well as some great tools we can use to remain faithful in the face of this crisis (and any other crisis we may find ourselves in).
Rev. Jan Brittain has served as the senior pastor of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church since 2011 and has been serving the church for over 40 years. Pastor Jan has a passion for preaching and teaching and a special love for her sweet grandson and puppy, Josie B. You can watch Pastor Jan's sermons by clicking HERE.
This episode is full of lively conversation with a pastor from Mooresville North Carolina who is bringing white and black churches together for the purpose of finding common ground and a unified message of anti-racism. Pastor Lawrence is incredibly wise and provides some powerful insights not only as a black pastor who serves a racially diverse congregation, but as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Lawrence Williams is a native of Queens, New York and accepted Christ and became heavily involved in youth and adult ministry at an early age. In 2004, Pastor Lawrence and his family relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina. In December 2005, he founded and established Lake Norman Christian Outreach Church and in 2015 the ministry transitioned into Higher Purpose Church.
Show Notes:
Racial Equity Institute Workshops mentioned in the podcast
https://www.racialequityinstitute.com/ourservices
*NOTE: This is part 2 of this podcast conversation with Dr. Lucretia Berry. Please make sure to listen to episode #01 as well to hear the full interview.*
This is one of the most important questions we can ask right now. Engaging in conversation surrounding the subject of racism is critical if we want true societal and systemic changes to take place. This is not an easy conversation to have, though. It's especially hard for the white community because it often causes discomfort.
Dr. Lucretia Berry has a heart for those looking to begin this conversation. In this 2-part podcast episode she helps us understand where to start and how to keep the conversation going. Her wisdom and background provide a safe and comfortable place to begin.
Lucretia is the creator of Brownicity.com, a contributor for (In)courage.me, and a TED and Q Ideas speaker (Charlotte). As a wife, mom of 3, and former college professor, her passion for
racial healing led her to author What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Towards Racial Healing .
Show Notes
If you'd like to join Lucretia for her virtual 5-Week anti-racism educational course on Tuesdays from 8:00pm to 9:30pm starting June 16th, 2020 please click HERE.
Lucretia's organization, Brownicity, has other opportunities for learning and growth as well. Click HERE to learn more.
This is one of the most important questions we can ask right now. Engaging in conversation surrounding the subject of racism is critical if we want true societal and systemic changes to take place. This is not an easy conversation to have, though. It's especially hard for the white community because it often causes discomfort.
Dr. Lucretia Berry has a heart for those looking to begin this conversation. In this 2-part podcast episode she helps us understand where to start and how to keep the conversation going. Her wisdom and background provide a safe and comfortable place to begin.
Lucretia is the creator of Brownicity.com, a contributor for (In)courage.me, and a TED and Q Ideas speaker (Charlotte). As a wife, mom of 3, and former college professor, her passion for
racial healing led her to author What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Towards Racial Healing .
Show Notes
If you'd like to join Lucretia for her virtual 5-Week anti-racism educational course on Tuesdays from 8:00pm to 9:30pm starting June 16th, 2020 please click HERE.
Lucretia's organization, Brownicity, has other opportunities for learning and growth as well. Click HERE to learn more.
What are you curious about? What questions do you find yourself pondering? I bet many of use ask the same questions, so let's engage in dialogue and explore these curious questions together.