Faith in the Cracks
Just like new plants sprout in the cracks of the sidewalk, faith can grow and develop in the cracks of our lives. Whether the cracks are cracks of time in our daily schedule or cracks in our lives from changes, pressure, or life in general, when we allow God's word to seep into the cracks, new things can blossom.
Episodes
149 episodes
Christmas
Joy and Light have been a theme in the previous weeks. this week, we welcome the joy and the light of the Christ Child into the world. May we step back from the crazy of Christmas as see God's presence in the fragile and vulnerable Christ Child...
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Season 3
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Episode 50
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5:05
The Growing Light of Advent
As we enter the 4th week of Advent and as we are in midst of Hannukah, light continuing to grow is a central them. With recent events like the shooting in Australia, we see darkness rear up, but we are reminded that light, although it starts sm...
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Season 3
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Episode 48
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4:46
Advent
Advent is the first season of the liturgical year in the church. It is a time when we wait for the Christ child to be born again and we wait for Christ to come again. It is a time when we wait and we talk about where God is at work in us and ar...
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Season 3
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Episode 47
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5:05
Thanksgiving
The Apostle Paul in writing to the young churches of the New Testament always expresses his gratitude for them. Amidst the conflict in the communities and the turmoil of Paul's life, he always gave thanks. Gratitude can steady us in stress and ...
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Season 4
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Episode 46
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5:09
Falling Leaves
If you have been outside, you have noticed leaves everywhere. Bags of them on the side of the street, leaves still covering the lawn, and leaves lazily floating downward. They remind me of God's relentless grace. Leaves keep coming, like God's ...
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Season 3
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Episode 45
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4:57
All Will Be Well
Drawing from 2 Thessalonians 2 and Julian of Norwich’s assurance that “all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well,” this episode explores how faith can flourish in the cracks—where life is messy, uncertain, and still held b...
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Season 3
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Episode 44
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6:30
Do what you can
As the government shutdown continues and we are seeing food insecurity problems skyrocket with SNAP not being funded, how can we help? I think by and large people want to help and don't know how. For food insecurity issues right now, donate a f...
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Season 3
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Episode 43
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6:25
Active Waiting
Minor Prophet Habakkuk laments to God and shares his frustration at the wickedness he sees around him. Feels familiar. God answers that if it seems like justice has not come, to wait, for it is coming. When there are destructive hurricanes, cor...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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7:50
Creating in the Chaos
Thomas Cahill's book "How the Irish Saved Civilization" walks through the downfall of the Roman Empire and how in the chaos the world almost lost all of the classic literature, poetry, theology, philosophy and that once Rome fell, there were no...
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Season 3
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Episode 41
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6:55
St. Brigid of Kildare
St Brigid of Kildare was one of the historical people I encountered on my pilgrimage to Ireland. She was a bold figure and her historic life was mixed with the folklore. She established a monastery in Kildare where nuns and monks worked, lived ...
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Season 3
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Episode 40
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8:11
How Will You Live?
I have just returned from a Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage in Ireland. We encountered many "Thin places" and learned much along the way. Join me in pondering the question of "How will you live?" A question asked by our guide while at the monast...
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Season 3
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Episode 39
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6:51
Thin Places
Celtic Spirituality refers to Thin Places. Those places were we feel closer to God. These thin places can be in holy sites but they can also be just about anywhere. Look for thin places this week. Notice when you feel God close at hand.
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Season 3
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Episode 38
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4:58
Grace Amidst Division
The past couple weeks have shown the deep divide. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has brought all the rage from both sides. Some had no idea who he was. Others revered him. Others were hurt by his rhetoric. And where ever you were, that...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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8:08
Bearing with One Another
There is a famous camp song "They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love." Too often, the world doesn't know us because we don't act in love. We are human. We are imperfect, but the world is watching. They want to see how we respond when times...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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7:31
When the World Feels Like Too Much
This week has been a lot. Another school shooting, death of Charlie Kirk, wars in the middle East and Ukraine, and any number of person issues for any of us. It is too much. People often say, "God won't give you more than you can handle." Howev...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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5:15
What's So Amazing about Grace
John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace was a slave trader until a profound experience with God's grace changed him. Jesus talks about forgiveness and grace being given and the need for it to be passed on in the Gospel of Matthe...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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6:49
Being Real
Life can be more difficult when we feel the need to hide our truest selves. We need spaces in which we can be real. Church has for a long time been a place where it often feels like one must "keep up with the Joneses." What would happen if we m...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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4:53
All the Points Matter
Whose Line is it Anyway always used the phrase "and the points don't matter." However in life in community, we all have unique gifts and talents and more like a painting by Georges Seurat in the style of pointillism - every point matters. So br...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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6:14
Reading the Instruction Manual
Lego sets come with instructions. The bigger the set, the bigger the book or books. There are step by step instructions of how to build what's on the box. The Bible is the Christian Instruction manual. It is the inspired Word of God that can he...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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7:38
Rhythms of Life
It is August so it is back to backpacks and football games. There is a rhythm to the fall and honestly there is a rhythm to everything in life. Whether it is the back to school routine instead of more laid back days of summer or it is the churc...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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7:25
Survival Mode
That space where it is all you can do to take the next step. Flight, fight or freeze has kicked in and you are simply trying to survive the day. Survival mode happens to all of us and it is not where we are at our best. Even when we are in surv...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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6:52
Grace Bats Last
Anne Lamott has been quoted as saying "Grace always bats last." In Ephesians Paul reminds us that grace is a gift of God. It isn't anything we can beg, borrow, or steal. we can't earn it. God gives it. Grace invites us into the story, even if w...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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6:23
Do the Good You Can Do
As we have watched flooding and wars going on all around the world, it is hard not to fall into despair. But recently I have had opportunities to do things for people that they could not repay - nor did I expect them to. Random acts of kindness...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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5:25
What is mine to hold?
In a world in crisis, what is mine to hold? I cannot solve the Middle East, Ukraine, ICE, the floods, so what is mine to hold. The Bible repeatedly tells us not to be anxious but to cast our cares on God. How do we do that? How do we do what we...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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5:19