We all go through difficult times in life - and sometimes they leave us all a little bit broken. What does it mean when God mends our hearts and our lives? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
We are finding in multiple studies that money is no guarantee of happiness. So, what really is “living the good life”? Is it a life of leisure, or is it something that takes a lot more effort? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth about the differences and divisions that were cropping up among them. Sad to day, that’s something that still happens today. What can we learn from the divisions of the past, and how can we be more united today? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
When life’s most difficult times arrive, we often hear that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is that what the verse really means? How DO we get through the toughest of times? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
In a world searching for wisdom, focus is the key. It’s true in the sense of being able to find what you are looking for. Even more, it’s true in the sense of being able to retain that wisdom once you find it. For the way we learn and grow in our faith, it is in no small measure a matter of focus. That’s what we talk about today, on The Untidy Methodist.
Each of us has gifts and talents that can be used to “let your light shine before others”. That’s not always easy to do. Will our gifts make a difference? Are our gifts good enough to share? We all have something we can do to shine - and that’s what we talk about today, on The Untidy Methodist.
What we say, and how we say it, can reflect who we really are as Christians. It’s important before we speak to “Remember Who You Are”... and to Whom we belong. That’s what we talk about today on The Untidy Methodist.
How we help a child start their path in life can make a big difference as they grow up. But, how much credit or blame should we take from the paths they take as adults? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
The Methodist movement has contributed so much to the music of our faith over the years. Today, there are even more styles of music, all composed and sung to praise God. Is it all just “joyful noise” or is it truly music to God’s ears? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
Paul wrote to Timothy about interacting with both old and young people in Ephesus. The gifts of every generation are important, even and especially today. Whether young or old, we have important roles to play. We talk about that in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
There’s a lot more to “sharing each other’s burdens” than you may think. It’s easy to say we are there for someone when things are going great - but what about when things are really tough? How do we show love and care when someone truly needs it? How do we help someone through difficult times in their lives? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist
We hear the phrase in Psalm 103, “as far as the east is from the west”, and we use it to describe how our relationship with God is healed and renewed. It is something we say we believe...but is it something we truly, fully accept? We talk about that in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
We don’t always associate gentleness with powerful action. But, a gentle nature can still change the world. We can all find “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as we let our “gentleness be evident to all”. We talk about gentleness in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
John Wesley was a “man of one book” - and he gave Methodists a good framework for studying and interpreting the Bible. That’s a lifelong process - and it’s important not only to understand what is in the Bible...but also what’s not to be found there. We talk about studying the Bible in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
In one of the more familiar passages in the Bible, Jesus tells someone to “go and sin no more”. It brings up the question for all of us - What’s Next for us as individuals, and as a people when we recognize where we fall short and when we receive God’s grace? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
Through all the changes we see swirling about us, there are just as many opportunities for us as people of faith. What happens next depends on how we embrace the new beginnings we find every day. That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
It’s easy to love people we know, and to be afraid of or even hate people we don’t know. How does Jesus’ talk with the Woman at the Well fit in with the worries, fears, and hate we see in today’s world? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
1 John tells us that words aren’t enough - that God calls us to love “with actions and in truth”. Other people judge us more by what we do than what we say...and it’s only when we follow through with actions that we show God’s love to the world. We talk about that, and more, on The Untidy Methodist.
As we get older, we often wistfully remember days gone by. We often think of those days as “the good old days”. But, we can’t just live our lives in the past...and in some ways, the “good old days” were not quite as good as we remember them. Today is the day in which we can make a difference for God’s Kingdom. We talk about that and more, in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
Patience may be a virtue, but does it mean simply tolerating things as they are? Or, does it call us to keep trying when things go wrong? That’s what we talk about today, on The Untidy Methodist.
In 1980, singer-songwriter Mac Davis had a hit with a song titled, “It’s Hard to Be Humble”. While we may not be as full of ourselves as the character in that song, it’s also hard for us at times to show the kind of humility we read about in the Bible. Real humility, putting others’ needs above our own, is what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
We often talk about and even repeat well-known blessings as part of our services. But, there are two important questions when it comes to the blessings we share. Are we ready to accept blessings when they come our way? And, are we ready to be that blessing to someone else in need? That’s what we talk about today, on the Untidy Methodist.
In the wake of the death of George Floyd, protests are being heard in all 50 states and even in other lands. “No Justice, No Peace” is often heard in these demonstrations. But, what IS justice? What does it mean for our society? What does it mean for us as Christians? That’s what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
In a time of unrest across the country, John’s call means even more to us. How can we deal with so much fear, anger, and hate? That’s what we talk about today, on the Untidy Methodist.
God calls on us to never give up, to keep praying, and to know that our prayers are heard. That’s not always so easy to remember in times like these, but it’s so very important. That’s what we talk about today, on The Untidy Methodist.
This is turning into the summer of our discontent (to turn a phrase), and it’s all too easy to give in to worry, fear, and even anger. How did Paul find a way to feel “peaceful happiness” in any circumstance...and how can we find that contentment today? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
At a time that we haven't been able to gather for in-person worship, the question comes up...what IS the church? Is it just a building where we go on Sunday? Does it matter what we do when it's safe to return? That's what we talk about today, on the Untidy Methodist.
When people look at us, what do they think a Christian is like? Do they see the change that Christ's love has made in our lives? That's what we talk about on this episode of The Untidy Methodist.
"Each day has enough trouble of its own" has never been more true than today. How do we keep the worries and fears of today from overwhelming us? From taking our focus away from God's will for our lives? That's what we talk about today, on the Untidy Methodist.
It's what we do when no one else is looking that shows who we really are. It's what we do when we don't have to do it that matters. That's what we talk about in today's Untidy Methodist.
