Category: Compass Podcast

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This is the June/early July 2022 edition of the Rethink Church audiomagazine presented on the Compass podcast.

Throughout June of 2022, our content focused on being Spirit-filled. What does that mean? Well, we have some great posts about encountering and moving with the Holy Spirit. In this edition of the audiomag, we’ll hear:

• “Pigeons, boundaries and the Holy Spirit” by Joseph Yoo
• “5 powerful practices to reclaim your spiritual flow” by Madison Myers
• “The kingdom of God is like the Force” by Nathan Webb

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We’ll be back with some deep topics in August:

• How do sit with being Christian when we don’t agree with everything being done in the name of Christianity?
• Whether or not there’s a reason for our hardship in our lives.
• The sacred represented in the natural world.

And more, of course!

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This was a conversation with Kate Bowler, who, at the time of original recording, was a well-regarded but not-so well-known college professor and author. She was on the verge of releasing a book called “Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved…” which then blew up.

The book came out of Kate’s cancer diagnosis. At the time, it was a stage 4 diagnosis… which is a pretty bleak diagnosis. The book details her wrestling with the idea that God might have made this happen. And it’s somewhat ironic because as an academic, Dr. Bowler researched the prosperity gospel–the idea that faith makes good things happen.

It’s an internal conflict as old as belief. So this episode is timeless

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Deep in the media vaults of the United Methodist denomination are old radio shows all about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. It would seem odd that a religious organization would be so invested in that topic. Meanwhile, NASA has funded theological projects and several faith leaders have invested in the astro-sciences.

What is going on? Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to with faith and theology?

Let’s dive into the relationship…

This episode features excerpts from “Night Call”–a radio production from the late 1960’s. The show was produced by a predecessor of United Methodist Communications and discussed cultural issues of the day, including racial justice, Vietnam, the sexual revolution… and UFOs.

Also appearing on this episode (from the modern day) are Drs. Lucas Mix and David Wilkinson. Rev. Dr. Lucas Mix is a writer, Episcopalian priest, consultant for NASA, project coordinator at Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), and the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. Dr. Mix hosts the Space on the Page podcast for the Library of Congress. Reverend Professor David Wilkinson is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University and has PhDs in astrophysics and systematic theology.

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This episode is a re-presentation of one of our first Compass podcast episodes and it’s about our personal roles in the proliferation of racism and racial reconciliation. Despite the fact that the material presented in this episode by Rev. Brian Tillman is several years old, it’s still right on point and still really needed.

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Throughout May of 2022, our content focused on connection. And we have some great posts about how we are connected in community and how we can build stronger connections–both internally and externally. In this edition of the audiomag, we’ll hear:

“The Way of Righteousness and grace in the Star Wars universe” by Ryan Dunn: https://www.umc.org/en/content/righteousness-and-star-wars

“Community is a contact sport” by Joseph Yoo: https://www.umc.org/en/content/community-is-a-contact-sport

“Five video games to enrich your faith” by Nathan Webb: https://www.umc.org/en/content/5-video-games-for-faith

And “Do you reject evil?” by Mandy McDow: https://www.umc.org/en/content/do-you-reject-evil

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We’re talking with Lisa Colon DeLay in this episode about her journey of physical and spiritual integration. It’s a journey where she discovered that we are dualistic beings who are part spiritual and part material. We’re both/and. And recognizing that opens us up to utilizing spiritual practices that impact our physical states as well as physical practices that impact our spiritual health.

Lisa Colon DeLay is an author specializing in teaching spiritual growth, healing, and transformation as weekly broadcaster on the Spark My Muse podcast. Lisa also provides spiritual companionship. Her most recent book is “The Wild Land Within”.

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Ready to tackle a couple tough ideas? In this episode of Compass, Rev. Dr. Mark Teasdale helps us adopt a healthy understand of the Christian ideas of evangelism and salvation.

Mark Teasdale is E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church, and is the author of Evangelism for Non-Evangelists, Methodist Evangelism, American Salvation AND, most recently, Participating in Abundant Life which was the prompt for our conversation here on the Compass podcast…

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Throughout April of 2022, our content focused on seeking after Jesus. And we have some great posts about some teachings of Jesus that challenge us and nurture us. In this edition of the audiomag, we’ll hear:

“Christian judgement and the blessing of grace” by Joseph Yoo

“Batman, Easter and rebirth” by Nathan Webb

“Three teachings of Jesus for value-filled living” by Madison Myers

And “Why Christians care about the environment” by Ryan Dunn

 Let’s enter into our April 2022 edition of the Rethink Church audio magazine.

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You have gifts and you are a gift to the world around you.

Don Everts is a pastor who had a startling realization while dealing with the ups and downs of pastoral and personal life: everyone is a gift. Including that vocal parishioner. Including that strange relative. Including himself.

Including you, too.

Don is the senior pastor of First & Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri, and is a writer for Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Hopeful Neighborhood Project. Don has spent almost three decades helping people on college campuses and in the local church become good stewards of their God-given gifts. His many books include The Reluctant Witness, The The Hopeful Neighborhood, and, most recently, Discover Your Gifts: Celebrating How God Made You and Everyone You Know… all of which feature original research from Barna and biblical insights for our everyday lives.