Shows
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchThe Resurrection Is For The Hopeless – April 20, 2025Luke 24: 1-12
Happy Easter everyone! This week Melissa Florer-Bixler preached from the Gospel of Luke. The women Disciples (the men having scattered) around Jesus, despite their deep grief and despair, stayed with Jesus through his arrest, death, and burial, and then returned only to find the tomb empty save for shining beings that declared his resurrection. The women shared this with the other Disciples, only for them to disbelieve because they had not stayed to witness and to suffer the same trauma as the women during Christ's crucifixion. Melissa reminds us that the resurrection in meant for...2025-04-2211 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchThe Gospel of All Creation – April 13, 2025Luke 19: 28-40
What could we possibly have to learn about the Gospel message from a donkey? Luke spends as much time in his Gospel on the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as he does on the Lord's Supper. Melissa Florer-Bixler reminds us this Palm Sunday that our Anabaptist ancestors were keenly aware of the spiritual lessons to learn from the suffering and death of their animals, which brought life to their owners. Likewise, our suffering in serving and giving to our neighbors, the poor, and the incarcerated gives life and reflects the lessons we...2025-04-1511 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchGod’s Love is Reckless – April 6, 2025John 12: 1-8
This week Melissa Florer-Bixler preaches on Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive funerial perfume meant for Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead. Mary knows that Jesus plans to go Jerusalem soon to die, and her offering is a reckless offering of love, not just grief, as she sacrifices in a moment a precious heirloom meant to anoint many generations to come. During Lent we often focus on confessing our weakness, but Mary's story reminds us of the power in confessing our love, without consideration for pride or cost. The perfume would have...2025-04-0809 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchStewardship, not Ownership – Feb. 23, 2025Acts 2: 43-47
Much of the focus of Pentecost is on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the signs, wonders, and languages being heard and spoken. Melissa Florer-Bixler reminds us this Sunday that the Apostles selling their possessions and giving the money to those in need was also a significant part of the signs and wonders seen that day. The example set was the idea of mutual care within the community. The state and those in power will never provide sufficient aid to the poor because they do not share our value of all of God's children...2025-02-2312 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchSheep in the Midst of Wolves – Feb. 16, 2025Matthew 26: 47-56
As a pacifist, if you could end cancer or stop the next Hitler and save millions just by killing an innocent person, would you do it? These ridiculous scenarios are often posed to Anabaptists, seeking the knife's edge that would cut through our nonviolent convictions. Melissa Florer-Bixler points out this week that all four gospels share a story with a similar scenario. To save Jesus from Judas and the mob coming to arrest and crucify him, all that needed to happen was a disciple to cause the death or mutilation of a young slave of...2025-02-1811 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchFollow the Water of Life – Feb 9, 2025Romans 6: 3-4
What does it mean to baptized into Jesus' death or walking in the newness of life? Melissa Florer-Bixler unpacks this passage in Romans by explaining some of the symbolism of baptism, the three fold nature of baptisms, and what this means for us as Christians and Anabaptists.
The water used in baptism is ubiquitous in our lives and essential for life, yet we can drown in only a few inches of it. Water is death and life within one substance. Our submersion represents a death of self that somehow still connects us to...2025-02-1011 min
Raleigh Mennonite ChurchWhat To Do With Worry – Dec. 1, 2024Luke 21: 25-36
What do you do when the stress, cares, and bad headlines of this world weigh you down and threaten to choke out the life-giving good news of the Gospel? As Advent begins, Melissa Florer-Bixler looks to this week's passage in the Gospel of Luke for inspiration. Jesus had just finished informing his followers that imprisonment and persecution would come to them. He instructed, however, that the way out of this looming fear was not through mental and physical distractions, but (rather paradoxically) from paying more attention...to the right things. Look beyond all the catastrophes...2024-12-0311 min
Cafeteria Christian#295 Women of FireEmmy and Natalia decide to open the Bible to the book of Judges to see what wisdom for today might be found in these not-so-modern stories. Links: www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Melissa Florer Bixler: https://substack.com/home/post/p-1513710202024-11-181h 03
The CurrentMelissa Florer-Bixler - How to Have an EnemySend us a textHow do we navigate the challenging concept of enmity within the Christian faith while remaining committed to justice and peace? Join us for a profound conversation with Melissa Florer-Bixler, pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, as she unpacks these complexities through her experiences and insights from her book, "How to Have an Enemy." We examine the nuances of defining true enemies, especially in the context of systemic power dynamics, and discuss how to address these conflicts with the grace and teachings of Jesus. Anger plays a pivotal role in social change, but h...2024-10-2950 min
The Collective VoiceFaith Transitions with Joshua Luckett: Embracing TransitionsIn this episode of Faith Transitions, Rev. Phil Dieke interviews Joshua Luckett about his faith journey and his work at the Stewpot, a resource center for people experiencing homelessness. Joshua shares how his upbringing in a socially liberal household clashed with the socially conservative theology of the Southern Baptist church he attended. He discusses the catalysts that led to his faith transition, including reading the Gospels and witnessing the response of evangelicals to the Trayvon Martin case.Joshua also talks about his love for transitions and his desire to invest in the communities he serves. Overall, his faith...2024-06-3054 min
Explore the Latest Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social ScienceStraight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity by Chris FurrPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/707643 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Straight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity Author: Chris Furr Narrator: Ruby Fay Harris, Roberto Ché Espinoza, Christopher Grove, William Andrew Quinn Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 27 minutes Release date: November 14, 2023 Genres: Social Science Publisher's Summary: As the cultural conversation around race, gender, and sexuality has evolved, straight, white men are becoming increasingly aware of their privilege. But many may be left thinking, 'OK, what am I supposed to do about it?' 'We need a way forward beyond feelings of g...2023-11-1430 min
Let Your Ears Be the Gateway to Knowledge With Full AudiobookStraight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity Audiobook by Chris FurrListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 707643
Title: Straight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity
Author: Chris Furr
Narrator: Christopher Grove, Roberto Ché Espinoza, Ruby Fay Harris, William Andrew Quinn
Format: Unabridged
Length: 07:27:44
Language: English
Release date: 11-14-23
Publisher: Christianaudio.com
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Non-Fiction, Christianity, Social Science
Summary:
As the cultural conversation around race, gender, and sexuality has evolved, straight, white men are becoming increasingly aware of their privilege. But many may be left thinking, 'OK, what am I supposed to do about it?' 'We n...2023-11-147h 27
Download Latest Full Audiobooks in Religion & Spirituality, ChristianityStraight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity by Chris FurrPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/707643 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Straight White Male: A Faith-Based Guide to Deconstructing Your Privilege and Living with Integrity Author: Chris Furr Narrator: Ruby Fay Harris, Roberto Ché Espinoza, Christopher Grove, William Andrew Quinn Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 27 minutes Release date: November 14, 2023 Genres: Christianity Publisher's Summary: As the cultural conversation around race, gender, and sexuality has evolved, straight, white men are becoming increasingly aware of their privilege. But many may be left thinking, 'OK, what am I supposed to do about it?' 'We need a way forward beyond feelings of guilt, o...2023-11-1430 min
Gravity Commons PodcastMelissa Florer-Bixler: Finding God in the Old TestamentAs part of our series on reading and interpreting the Bible, we talk with pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler about how to find God in the Old Testament, reading it as a Christian without succumbing to the pitfalls of antisemitism and supercessionism. She wrote about these issues in her book Fire by Night: Finding God in the Pages of the Old Testament.Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent times studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Much of her formation took place in the L'Arche...2023-10-3150 min
Netarts Friends Church PodcastThe Song Jesus (Probably) Fell Asleep to Over and Over (Luke Series Pt. 4)The songs we sing to our children reveal something about us. They function like a window into our inner world. They reveal our own fears, our hopes, and our dreams for the future. This episode will take you through some guided writing as you reflect on Mary's song (the Magnificat). Credits and Sources:Joel Green, Leonard Sweet, Tim Geddert, Hannah Reyes Morales, Dennie Palmer Wolf, Gerhard Lenski, William R. Herzog II, Donald Kraybill, Eugene Peterson, Scot McKnight, Richard Rohrbaugh, Bruce Malina, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, Justo Gonzalez, Brian Zahnd, David Garland, David Fitch...2023-09-2430 min
The Armchair AnabaptistBonus: Poets, War and the Human Inside the EnemyBonus! Poets, War and the Human Inside the Enemy: On this episode of The Armchair Anabaptist we hear from guests Melissa Florer Bixler, Dr. Carol Penner, Dr. Betty Pries, Dr. Thomas Yoder Neufeld and Brian Zahnd.
Find more information, including links to resources and a full transcript, at www.theodidaktos.ca/the-armchair-anabaptist/poets-war-and-the-human-inside-the-enemy. 2023-09-0534 minThe Armchair Anabaptist13: Where the Rubber Meets the RoadWhere the Rubber Meets the Road: On this episode of The Armchair Anabaptist we hear from guests Dr. Betty Pries, Dr. Ronald J. Sider, Pastor Melissa Florer Bixler and members from Many Rooms Church Community, Deborah, Jennifer, Stephanie and Travis.
Find more information, including links to resources and a full transcript, at www.theodidaktos.ca/the-armchair-anabaptist/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road.2023-06-2746 minThe Armchair Anabaptist12: You're Gonna Have 'EmYou’re Gonna Have ‘Em: On this episode of The Armchair Anabaptist we hear from guests Greg Boyd, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Cameron McKenzie, Dr. Carol Penner and members from Many Rooms Church Community, Deborah, Jennifer, Stephanie and Travis.
Find more information, including links to resources and a full transcript, at www.theodidaktos.ca/the-armchair-anabaptist/youre-gonna-have-em.2023-06-1345 minThe Armchair Anabaptist11: The Tough StuffThe Tough Stuff: On this episode of The Armchair Anabaptist we hear from guests Dr. Betty Pries, Melissa Florer-Bixler, Brian Zahdn and members from Many Rooms Church Community, Deborah, Jennifer, Stephanie and Travis.
Find more information, including links to resources and a full transcript, at www.theodidaktos.ca/the-armchair-anabaptist/the-tough-stuff.2023-05-3043 minThe Armchair Anabaptist10: What it Ain'tWhat it Ain’t: On this episode of The Armchair Anabaptist we hear from guests Melissa Florer-Bixler, Dr. Carol Penner, Dr. Betty Pries and Brian Zahnd.
Find more information, including links to resources and a full transcript, at www.theodidaktos.ca/the-armchair-anabaptist/what-it-aint.2023-05-1641 min
Tent Talks with Dr Stephen BackhouseLove 3: How to Love an Enemy with Melissa Florer-BixlerThe love of enemies is the most famous, and least practiced, of all forms of love. We talk with Melissa Florer-Bixler, who is an Anabaptist activist, Mennonite pastor and author, amongst other things, of How to Have an Enemy.You can find our more about Melissa and her work HERE. How to Have An Enemy is available widely. You can find out more about it HERE.Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE.
2023-03-2832 min
Gravity Commons PodcastMelissa Florer-Bixler & Shawn McCain Tirres: Why Christian Centrism Doesn't WorkIt's common to hear Christians say things like "Christianity is neither right nor left, but a completely different kind of thing," and "Both the far-right and far-left are two sides of the same coin: fundamentalist extremes with different beliefs," and "“The problem is polarization."These phrases are often employed toward a Christian "third way" politics that seeks to affirm the truth that the church is not bound by the left/right binary of US politics, but this way of talking about how the church relates to politics doesn't actually work on the ground, and usually ends up be...2023-03-071h 10
Straight White MaleInterview with Melissa Florer-BixlerChris talks with Melissa Florer-Bixler about patriarchy, who bears the burden of unity in our communities, and what it might mean for communion to fail.Find Melissa's work at melissaflorerbixler.com. Contact Chris at chrisfurr.com.The Straight White Male podcast is recorded at Arbor Ridge Studios in Chapel Hill, NC and produced by Jeff Crawford. Find Jeff and the studio at arborridgestudios.com. Music by Josh Kimbrough.2023-02-141h 09
Gravity Commons PodcastWhat We Learned This Year: Retrospective and Christmas Spectacular!Christy, Matt, and Ben look back on 2022 and reflect on breakthroughs, challenges, learning, growth, and their favorite podcast episodes, as well as look to what 2023 will bring for their lives and the podcast. Ben and Matt also open a Christmas gift from Christy.Podcast episodes mentioned:David Ford: A Fresh Encounter with Jesus Through John’s GospelMarc Alan Schelske: Cultivating Spiritual Growth Through JournalingDeconstructing Spiritual Practices, Embracing New Paradigms (Book series beginning)KJ Ramsey: Stepping Through Fear Toward the Voice of LoveMelissa Florer-Bixler: How to Have An EnemyBrandon O’Brien: How We Misread Scripture With Western Eyes2022-12-2039 min
Progressive Christian podcastsHow to have an enemy: Melissa Florer-BixlerDo you have an enemy? Even if you do, you might not want to admit it, or say who!
Melissa Florer-Bixler has thought a lot about enemies, especially in the political context of Donald Trump’s presidency. It gets complicated for her, because she is a pacifist Christian. How do you deal with enmity, when Jesus commands you to love your enemies?
The solution isn’t always understanding and reconciliation.
Melissa Florer-Bixler is pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church in North Carolina. She is the author of Fire by Night and How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace.2022-12-0100 min
Pastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era[RELOAD 2 of 2] EPISODE 304 - Pro-Choice or Pro-Life IIOriginally aired 7/13/2021. For additional context, listen to the whole episode as it was originally aired RIGHT HERE.As originally posted.Mennonite Pastor, Duke Graduate and author, Melissa Florer-Bixler, joins to talk about what she calls “reproductive justice.” Is a living embryo an actual living person? Is it mere tissue waste? “No” and “no,” according to Melissa. We discuss these matters and reflect on a truth that many evangelical Christians do not want to face: their pro-life stances are actually conditional and far from consistent. Just ask a beautiful (and desp...2022-07-1154 min
A Bigger TableMelissa Florer-BixlerPastor and author Melissa Flower-Bixler joins us to talk about her book, How to Have an Enemy.2022-06-1341 min
She Will Not FallLet's Talk Liberation: Melissa Florer-BixlerOn this episode, I talk to Melissa about all things liberation and the work she is doing with folks in prison.
Follow Melissa on IG: @melissa.florerbixler
Follow SWNF on IG: @shewillnotfallcollective
patreon.com/iammariellet , $iammariellet
Learn more about Melissa:
Melissa Florer-Bixler is a Mennonite pastor and an author. She lives in Raleigh, NC and persists with her community to free people from prisons and to build a world that no longer depend on the logic of incarceration. She was educated at Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary, and by the...2022-06-0323 min
Better on the InsideMelissa Florer-Bixler: The Church IS Political and Moving Toward Beautiful, Pointless Wastes of MoneyMelissa Florer-Bixler (AKA the Notorious MFB) is an absolute BOSS. Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, (that's right... a Mennonite!) and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She has spent a lot of time investing in local organizing efforts in her county and has been the hands and feet on the ground to make the lives of real people better. The Notorious MFB has written wonderful stuff online and a new book called How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace that you absolutely should read.
2022-04-211h 03
The Moral Minority ShowS7E3: How to Have an Enemy | Melissa Florer-Bixler“Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” This teaching from Jesus of Nazareth is often considered the epitome of forgiveness and forbearance. Author and pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler believes that perhaps this has been occasionally misapplied, and has a much richer interpretation, particularly for those who have been abused or have been oppressed. How can marginalized people follow the way of Jesus while fulfilling Christ’s vision of uplifting the lowly?
Follow Melissa:
www.melissaflorerbixler.com
How to Have an Enemy2022-04-091h 05
Gravity Commons PodcastMelissa Florer-Bixler: How to Have An EnemyIn divided times, how do we work for justice and make real peace? Melissa Florer-Bixler joins us to discuss her prophetic book, How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace to get at these very questions. Melissa draws from the Scriptures and her work among those contending for justice to give […]
The post Melissa Florer-Bixler: How to Have An Enemy appeared first on Gravity Leadership.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gravity-leadership-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy2022-03-221h 04
The Englewood Review of Books PodcastEpisode 40: Reviewer Roundup with Justin Cober-Lake and Sara EasterlyJoel hops into the host seat for a fun and freewheeling conversation with a few ERB reviewers about recent publications they've written about, what they are looking forward to in publishing, and of course, what we are all currently reading.Justin Cober-Lake is a pastor in central Virginia. He holds an M.A. in American Studies from the University of Virginia and has worked in academic publishing for the past 15 years. His editing and freelance writing have focused mostly on cultural criticism, particularly pop music.Sara Easterly is an adoptee and...2022-03-2142 min
Called to be Bad"Bad Peacemaker" with Melissa Florer-Bixler -- Called to be Bad Podcast Ep. 5Send us a text"You love your enemy by making a new world that is a good world....even for your enemy."In Called to be Bad Ep. 5, pastor, author, and "peacemaker" Melissa Florer-Bixler and I talk about what loving your enemy actually means. Our conversation centers around her book, "How to Have and Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace." We dig into various touchpoints from her book, such as: anger, abolitionist work, white supremacy, and more. Resources: ✨Melissa's Website: https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/✨"How to Have an...2022-03-2137 min
The MennoCastNavigating Polarization with Kyle PennerIn this episode, we’re talking with pastor, author, and Social Media Enthusiast, Kyle Penner. Join us as we talk about the COVID-19 pandemic. How should we deal with the polarization in our communities? Do Christians have a role to speak up politically? And how do we deal with the hate from people who claim to love Jesus?Kyle is one of the pastors at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, Manitoba. During the pandemic, he has been outspoken on social media, encouraging people to follow government mandates and get vaccinated. He was also part of a provincial ad...2022-02-281h 09
The Vicars' CrossingSeason 6 Episode 8: Melissa Florer-BixlerToday we welcome Melissa Florer-Bixler. Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent times studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Much of her formation took place in the L'Arche community of Portland, OR. She is the chair of L'Arche North Carolina and a steering committee member in broad-based organizing in her county. Melissa's writing has appeared in Christian Century, Sojourners and many other publications. From time to time she publishes academic writing. She and her spouse parent three children.Today we will discuss L’Ar...2022-02-2859 min
The Better Samaritan PodcastA Pastor and a Psychologist Unpack Why Pastors Are Joining the Great ResignationPastors can't stop talking about this recent article by Melissa Florer-Bixler, Raleigh Mennonite Church and the chair of L'Arche North Carolina. Nearly half of pastors under 45 have considered leaving ministry in the past year, along with much of the rest of the workforce—a phenomenon which seems to be unique to the U.S., for various reasons.Since Jamie conducted research on pastors who stayed in their communities after Hurricane Katrina, Kent sat down with the two of them to ask:
What is the 'Great Resignation,' and why are pastors joining it?
How do church co...2022-01-3137 min
Profane FaithS.6 E.7 How to Have an Enemy: Rev. Melissa Florer-Bixler!!!EXPLICIT!!! The amazing and sharp theologian herself, Melissa Florer-Bixler joins me this week and oh do we go in on some things! We even touch on a hostile White take over of the U.S.! Yeah, listen in!2022-01-241h 12
ing PodcastEpisode 2: "Defunding?" (with special guests, Kris Henderson, Ben Tapper, and Rev. Melissa Florer Bixler from Defund the Police? An Abolition Curriculum)Over the past years, Mennonite Church USA received requests to provide an Anabaptist-grounded resource for clergy and congregations to engage in learning about the call for police abolition. In today's episode, ~ing host, Ben Wideman is joined by three of the people - Kris Henderson, Ben Tapper, and Rev. Melissa Florer Bixler (past guest on season 1 of ~ing Podcast) - all of whom who helped create a new curriculum titled, Defund the Police? An Abolition Curriculum. This resource is an initial guide for congregations who are desiring to begin or continue their reflection on what it means to engage...2022-01-1831 min
Not Holier Than YouEpisode 13, How to Have an Enemy Chapter One (kinda, but not really) and Chapter Two (mainly)This “season” of the podcast, we are trying to give brief and focused responses to the chapters in the new bok by Melissa Florer-Bixler, How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Search for Peace, by Herald Press. Together, we’ll try to pinpoint a few key elements in each chapter, as well as perhaps some underlying concepts that may not be as obvious. Hopefully, our dialog will help you with your reading through this book. At one point, Karla mentions a study guide that is available for this title. It is available at Herald...2021-12-2900 min
Define the Relationship Podcast – Seeds ChurchHow to Have an Enemy with Melissa Florer-Bixler: Episode 34
On today’s podcast Darlene and Ted are joined by pastor, activist and author Melissa Florer-Bixler to explore her new book How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger & The Work of Peace.
Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent times studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Much of her formation took place in the L’Arche community of Portland, OR. Now she prefers the Eno River and her garden in Raleigh, NC. She is the chair of L’Arche North Carolina and a steeri...2021-11-191h 02
ExistentialEpisode 77(Got a Lot of Enemies) with Melissa Florer-BixlerIn this episode, we welcome back Melissa Florer-Bixler to talk about her new book "How to Have an Enemy." This conversation spans abolition, unity, and justice. Anyone who has wrestled with how to navigate our polarize society, this is a conversation for you!
Show notes:
To support incarcerated people: https://bailproject.org/
Contend with our Melissa:
On twitter: @MelissaFloBix
Her book: https://bookshop.org/books/how-to-have-an-enemy-righteous-anger-and-the-work-of-peace/9781513808130
Contend with us:
http://patreon.com/coreyevanleak
2021-11-1744 min
all that's holy: blue collar podcstepisode 58: the F episode with Melissa Florer-bixlerThe F Episode: How to Have an EnemyThis is the F episode, perhaps it seems we don’t know our letters well. Don’t we mean frenemies, you might be asking yourself. But no! Cody and Craig do stick with the letter “F” through our 50-plus minutes of banter and commentary and opinion, before getting into conversation with our guest. Some the F’s we talk about include:· Felix, as in Allyson, not the cat. Look up Allyson Felix’s new shoe company, Saysh.· Freedom, as in the type sung about by the New Respects2021-10-2300 min
Circle of HopeRomans 11 (Fishtown | 10.17.21)Melissa Florer-Bixler, pastor and author of How To Have An Enemy and Fire By Night, speaks at our Fishtown congregation.2021-10-2219 min
Inverse Podcast"How To Have An Enemy" with Melissa Florer-BixlerMelissa Florer- Bixler is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent time studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Much of her formation took place in the L'Arche community of Portland, OR. Now she prefers the Eno River and her garden in Raleigh, NC. She is the chair of L'Arche North Carolina and a steering committee member in broad-based organizing in her county. Melissa's writing has appeared in Christian Century, Sojourners, Geez, Anabaptist Witness, The Bias, Faith&Leadership, and Anabaptist Vision. From time to time she publishes academic writ...2021-09-1450 min
A People's TheologyMelissa Florer-Bixler: How to Have an EnemyMason chats with Melissa Florer-Bixler about her new book How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace. We chat about who are enemies, how we are to love them, and much more.
Guest Bio/Info:
Melissa Florer-Bixler is a Mennonite pastor and writer.
Find Melissa here:
melissaflorerbixler.com
Twitter: @MelissaFloBix
Instagram: melissa.florerbixler
Facebook: facebook.com/melissa.florerbixler
Special music by Joe Day:
Spotify: Joe Day
Instagram: joeday
Get connected to Mason:
2021-09-0145 min
Future ChristianMelissa Florer-Bixler tells How to Have an EnemyIn this conversation, Melissa talks about the idea behind her new book, How to Have an Enemy and what she means when she says "enemy." Melissa also talks about power imbalances in conflict, communal vs. individual anger, and how to properly love an enemy. Melissa also believes that the "work of liberation is to create a world where enemies are freed from enacting harm" and that drives her work.
Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent times studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Mu...2021-08-3149 min
The F Word: Conversations On Faith with Matt MiofskyEpisode 27 // Melissa Florer-BixlerMy guest today is author and pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler. Melissa is the author of How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace, which looks closely at what the Bible says about enemies--who they are, what they do, and how Jesus and his followers responded to them.
https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/2021-08-3146 min
The F Word: Conversations On Faith with Matt MiofskyEpisode 27 // Melissa Florer-Bixler My guest today is author and pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler. Melissa is the author of How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace, which looks closely at what the Bible says about enemies--who they are, what they do, and how Jesus and his followers responded to them.https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/ 2021-08-3146 min
Story Power Podcast"How To Have An Enemy" with Melissa Florer-BixlerOn today's episode of Story Power Podcast, Jen talks to Melissa Florer-Bixler about her new book- How To Have An Enemy, Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace.
Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She spent time studying in Israel/Palestine, Kenya, and England. Much of her formation took place in the L'Arche community of Portland, OR. Now she prefers the Eno River and her garden in Raleigh, NC. She is the chair of L'Arche North Carolina and a steering committee member in b...2021-08-2447 min
The Fellowship HallMelissa Florer-Bixler- How to Have an EnemyOn this episode of the Fellowship Hall, we hear from Rev. Melissa Florer-Bixler, the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, about her new book How to Have An Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace. Melissa is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and earned a Masters in Religion from Duke University. To love your enemy means that you must first have an enemy. Her new book explores this concept and sheds light on what it looks like to live out the real, transformational biblical justice that the gospel calls us to.You can purchase copies of...2021-08-1038 min
Faith in a Fresh VibeAnger, Enemies, and Dismantling Congregational Whiteness with Melissa Florer-BixlerEpisode #36 Featuring Pastor and Author, Melissa Florer-Bixler
In the final episode of the summer season 5 edition of Faith in a Fresh Vibe, we welcome pastor Melissa. This insightful episode offers a number of interesting and pragmatic ways to re-think Christian formation. Ranging from leadership formation for predominantly white congregations seeking racialized justice, to to tangible ways to access and unlock scripture in new and exciting ways. Find Melissa online at her website: https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/. Also her social media links on Twitter and Instagram. Here’s a bio:
Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Me...2021-08-0953 minFaith in a Fresh VibeAnger, Enemies, and Dismantling Congregational Whiteness with Melissa Florer-BixlerEpisode #36 Featuring Pastor and Author, Melissa Florer-Bixler
In the final episode of the summer season 5 edition of Faith in a Fresh Vibe, we welcome pastor Melissa. This insightful episode offers a number of interesting and pragmatic ways to re-think Christian formation. Ranging from leadership formation for predominantly white congregations seeking racialized justice, to to tangible ways to access and unlock scripture in new and exciting ways. Find Melissa online at her website: https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/. Also her social media links on Twitter and Instagram. Here’s a bio:
Melissa is the pastor of Raleigh Me...2021-08-0953 minPastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era307 - How to Have an Enemy (w/ Melissa Florer-Bixler)Mennonite Pastor, Duke Graduate and author, Melissa Florer-Bixler, talks about her newly released book, How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace. She explains why she is an "empathy skeptic" and how she can have rage for some one like President Trump while still wanting him to be free, as there's no healing that comes from a desire to see one punished. She poses an important question: what are some justice-related issues that Christians can agree to disagree on and what issues are universally intolerable and incongruent to the gospel of Jesus Christ? “We ne...2021-08-0358 minFaith in a Fresh VibeRohadi Previews "When We Belong" and Intros Season 5 GuestsWelcome to Season 5!
How about a quick intro into the latest season of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast? Guests include Terence Lester, Starlette Thomas, the_decolonized_christian, Melissa Florer-Bixler, and Chandra Crane. I open this season, however, with an inside look at my forthcoming book, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. You get an exclusive preview inside as I share direction and the heart of why I am writing a story on deconstruction and decolonizing Christianity. It’s part my story, and part a pathway forward unto liberation. Don’t miss out on this...2021-08-0229 minFaith in a Fresh VibeRohadi Previews "When We Belong" and Intros Season 5 GuestsWelcome to Season 5!
How about a quick intro into the latest season of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast? Guests include Terence Lester, Starlette Thomas, the_decolonized_christian, Melissa Florer-Bixler, and Chandra Crane. I open this season, however, with an inside look at my forthcoming book, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins. You get an exclusive preview inside as I share direction and the heart of why I am writing a story on deconstruction and decolonizing Christianity. It’s part my story, and part a pathway forward unto liberation. Don’t miss out on this...2021-08-0229 min
Snarky FaithHow to Have an Enemy"To have enemies as a source of liberation—for ourselves and for those who do harm—is to recognize structures of power and their relationship to identity... We have enemies in particular and curious ways, ways that do not make sense within the structures of violent power-keeping around us. Instead, we are people who have set down our lives within the reconciliation of all things." -Melissa Florer Bixler Christianity tells us to love our enemies. Jesus commanded it, but how do we do it, and who are our enemies? In a polarized world, it is easy to pi...2021-07-1456 minPastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era304 - Pro-Choice or Pro-Life (Part 2): "Christian, Pro-Choice" w/ Melissa Florer-BixlerMennonite Pastor, Duke Graduate and author, Melissa F-B, joins to talk about what she calls “reproductive justice.” Is a living embryo an actual living person? Is it mere tissue waste? “No” and “no,” according to Melissa. We discuss these matters and reflect on a truth that many evangelical Christians do not want to face: their pro-life stances are actually conditional and far from consistent. Just ask a beautiful (and desperate) couple who went the in vitro fertilization route, were successful, but have additional frozen embryos that will never be used. What does a consistent pro-life stance look like and what sorts of hypoc...2021-07-131h 13Pastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era303 - Pro-Choice or Pro-Life (Part 1): Pro-GraceWhile some people call ProGrace.org “Pro-Life Lite,” others label it as teetering on pro-choice. Angie Weszely and her organization (Pro-Grace) takes heat from both sides, and as you’ll hear in this episode, Angie doesn’t believe Jesus would own either label. He always starts with grace, and this seems to be something unfortunately lacking in many hearts of those in the pro-life camp. Co-host Ellen Mauro, who considers herself a “pro-life liberal” and one who is pro-life but votes pro-choice, joins us to talk about perhaps the most polarizing and potentially heated issues of the century. ProGrace.or...2021-07-0843 min
MadangMadang Podcast: Melissa Florer-Bixler, Ep.8Welcome to Madang.
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.
Here in the 8th episode of Madang, I talk with pastor and activist Melissa Florer-Bixler. Florer-Bixler is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and a graduate of Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. She is chair of L’Arche North Carolina and a steering committee member in broad-based organizing in her county. She writes for Sojourners, Faith...2021-06-2552 min
Until We Get CanceledHow to Make Enemies & Alienate PeopleReturning guest, Melissa Florer-Bixler, is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church and author of many books – most recently: “How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger & the Work of Peace.” The book tackles just about everything that the white Church needs to start having hard conversations about.The question that emerged for Melissa after the 2016 election – as it did for many of us, I’m sure – was, “How the hell did we end up with a white supremacist as the president of our country?” When white Christians began grappling with this question, their response was, “We’re so divided! How do we t...2021-06-061h 16
Love Rinse RepeatEp83. How to Have an Enemy, Melissa Florer-Bixler“No good comes from the denial of enmity.” I spoke with Melissa Florer-Bixler about her new book, How To Have an Enemy. The question, she emphasises, is not whether to have enemies, but how to have the right enemy. We also talk about the myth of the Christmas Day truce, problems of 'unity', and why Melissa's job as a pastor isn't "to create a politically diverse church where people share their ideas dispassionately in an attempt towards middle ground or mutual transformation.” We end with a discussion about what the church can offer in a society riddled by inequality, dispos...2021-05-0352 min
Christianity Without the Crap - Podcast#67 How To Have An Enemy w Melissa Florer-BixlerMany feel that empathy is the key to loving enemies… But does empathy really change the systems that create enemies? It’s the systems & structure of society that put us at odds, & those systems hurt our enemies too. Loving our enemies means fighting to free us all. Donate at:www.patreon.com/christianitywithoutthecrap Facebook: www.facebook.com/christianitywithoutthecrap Instagram: www.instagram.com/christianitywithoutthecrap Email: cwoc.mark@gmail.com cwoc.tammy@gmail.com2021-04-061h 01
The Foxes & Fowl PodcastMelissa Florer-BixlerMelissa Florer-Bixler is a Mennonite pastor, in Raleigh NC, and the author of a compelling new book called "How to Have an Enemy."2021-03-2536 minExistentialEpisode 59 (The Church of A**holes) with Melissa Florer BixlerCorey has a conversation with Melissa Flores Bixler who is a Mennonite minister and has radically re-imagined what a faith community in the US Can look like.
Contend with Melissa:
On Twitter:
@MelissaFloBix
2021-03-1735 min
ing PodcastEpisode 14: "Finding" (with special guest Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler)On today’s episode ~ing host Allison Maus sits down with Melissa Florer-Bixler, pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, and author of Fire By Night: Finding God in the Pages of the Old Testament, and the upcoming How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace, both published by Herald Press. Pastor Melissa will be talking about the ongoing communal work of finding God in scripture, and later in the show will be discussing her upcoming book about loving our enemies.
We are grateful for the continued support of Everence, a faith-based financial services organization wh...2021-01-1244 minUntil We Get CanceledYou Can’t Even Have A Thanksgiving Dinner With Your Racist Uncle These Days (or: Fixing the Hurt at the Soul of This Nation as We Hurdle Towards the 2020 Election)Melissa Florer-Bixler is the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church and an author. Her book “Fire by Night” is one of the best books on the Old Testament that we’ve read in a long, long time, and she writes as a feminist working to dismantle whiteness — so that’s pretty dope. She’s currently working on a new project for a second book about enemies and how to have them, and man are we excited to see how that comes together. There’s even a chapter about your racist uncle!Speaking of which… we really get into the state of our...2020-11-011h 14
Faith and Capital55 | The Family: When Unity Oppresses with Melissa Florer-BixlerWhat is the nuclear family and in whose interests does it serve? Why do calls for Christian, family, and national unity in the U.S. come at the expense of exploited and oppressed peoples? Melissa Florer-Bixler (@MelissaFloBix) is here to warn us of that bad unity!*note: had some internet issues during the interview, so there are some spots where I recorded in the missing words!Faith and Capital is on instagram, twitter, and facebook!Contact: faithandcapital@gmail.comMusic by Amaryah ArmstrongSupport the Show.2020-10-1748 min
Love Rinse RepeatEp49. Reading the Bible, Melissa Florer-Bixler and Emmy KeglerHow does one pick up a Bible and start to read it?
It’s a deceptively complex question. And in the time of COVID19 when many people are reaching for their Bibles outside of their familiar contexts of a worshipping community, shared liturgy and the proclamation of the word, it’s a question well worth considering.
To help us consider it I sat down with two wonderful pastors, authors, and friends of the podcast, Melissa Florer-Bixler and Emmy Kegler. We talk about the questions we bring to scripture and the questions scripture asks of us. I as...2020-04-0256 min
Invisible TruthsEpisode 29: Does this make the world free?Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler and I disuss what has kept her in the church despite its flaws, the role of justice work in faith and Jay-Z's place in the rap-game. Tune in.
Website:
https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/ (https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/)
Podcast:
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/raleigh-mennonite-church?fbclid=IwAR0GhLflOo8dmkMuvNCSFxu7Ea2jUUUkjrBG5zFmg-bt0fJ3gYwKfheZnxA (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/raleigh-mennonite-church?fbclid=IwAR0GhLflOo8dmkMuvNCSFxu7Ea2jUUUkjrBG5zFmg-bt0fJ3gYwKfheZnxA)
Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Night-Finding-Pages-Testament/dp/1513804189 (https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Night-Finding-Pages-Testament/dp/1513804189)
Support this podcast2020-03-0240 min
A People's TheologyMelissa Florer-Bixler: Fire by Night and the Old Testament
Torah-pen those Bibles (#BibleJokeFail), because Melissa Florer-Bixler is here to talk all about her book Fire By Night. We chat all things Old Testament, including how Christians ought to read the Old Testament and how it can transform how we live in the world.
Guest Bio/Info:
Melissa Florer-Bixler is a writer and pastor with degrees from Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Her ministry has been featured in The Atlantic and Sojourners. She writes for Geez Magazine, Christian Century, Mennonite World Review, and The Mennonite, among others.
Find Melissa here:
...2019-10-0251 min
Closing Argument with Walter HudsonPastor Nathan Roberts Is In The House!Our favorite lightening rod, Pastor Nathan Roberts is in studio, as is Quinn Nystrom, the Minnesota Chapter Leader of Minnesota Insulin for All, which is part of T1International who is committed to affordable and accessible insulin for all who need it. Later, Pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler, of Raleigh Mennonite Church and writer of the book, Fire By Night: Finding God in the Pages of the Old Testament, joins by phone to talk the death of the small church.2019-07-1700 min
Peace of the CityFire by NightPentecost Sunday message by Min. Melissa Florer-Bixler, pastor at Raleigh Mennonite Church.2019-06-1015 min
Dismantle Podcast65. "You Can't Be What You Can't See" with Melissa Florer-BixlerAuthor and pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler sat down to chat about women's roles in the church, the Scriptural context, her experience as a pastor, and her new book which dives into the significance of the Old Testament.
Connect with Melissa:
@melissaflobix
melissaflorerbixler.com2019-06-0527 min
Permission To BEFire By Night w/ Melissa Florer-Bixler"She writes as a feminist working to dismantle whiteness, a disposition that emerged from sticking near to Jesus Christ for almost four decades."
Melissa Florer-Bixler is an author, the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church, a graduate of Duke University, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Join us as we talk about the realties of U.S. history, the importance of recognizing and standing with marginalized communities, and her newly released book, Fire by Night: Finding God in the pages of the Old Testament.
Click here to find out more about Melissa and for this episode's show notes.
2019-05-2050 min
Noises From The AtticEp 21 – Melissa Florer-Bixler, Author of Fire by NightI sit down (virtually) with Pastor and Author Melissa Florer-Bixler to chat about her new book about the Old Testament, Fire By Night, as well as her work with prisons, justice and more.
http://southernersonnewground.org
https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com
2019-04-0300 min
Love Rinse RepeatEp25. Fire By Night, Melissa Florer-Bixler“From page to page, chapter to chapter, book to book, we encounter the human and divine in the same verse, the same ink, as one bleeds into the other.”
I sat down with Melissa Florer-Bixler to talk her new book Fire By Night: finding God in the pages of the Old Testament. This is an exceptional, exciting, and accessible work, drawing us into the nuance, beauty, and challenge of the OT in order to draw us deeper into the life of God. We talk about reading slowly, how difficult texts often reveal parts of ourselves we’d rather...2019-03-1248 min
The Peace LabEpisode 25: PeaceLab Episode 26: Bystander Intervention with Melissa Florer-Bixler and Joy ShaverMelissa Florer-Bixler and Joy Shaver of Raleigh Mennonite Church stop by the PeaceLab to discuss Bystander Intervention.
You can find the Bystander Intervention Sunday School curriculum at www.pjsn.org/bystander.2017-12-1100 min