Shows
sundaymorningsleepinPentecost and ProtestsIn the midst of protests and riots, what good is Easter? Why bother with Pentecost? Kris starts a conversation with Susan based in Acts 2 about why it is important for the church to engage in antiracism work.2020-06-2620 minsundaymorningsleepinJourney, Week 2: Connections and Intersections"Not all who wander are lost," according to Tolkein. What's your journey? Join us as Susan discusses all the ways we discover God along the road, including in the relationships we form and let go of as we travel, in the story of Ruth and Naomi.2020-03-3113 minsundaymorningsleepinJourney: Not All Who Wander Are Lost"Not all who wander are lost," according to Tolkein. What's your journey? Join us as Susan discusses the journey of the magi from Matthew 2 in this Epiphany message, and continues to meditate on the image of journey for the next six episodes.2020-03-1113 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Search Terms (Christmas Eve)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to find and be Home for Christmas in the gospel of Luke and Galatians.2020-03-1116 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Murder Mysteries and Jesus (Advent 4)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 9:2-7.2020-03-1113 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Getting Ready, Old School and New School (Advent 3)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of the nativity scenes from the gospel of Luke as we talk about preparing for Jesus’ incarnate.2020-03-1020 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Getting Ready, Old School and New School (Advent 3)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of the nativity scenes from the gospel of Luke as we talk about preparing for Jesus’ incarnate.2020-03-1020 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Peace (Advent 2)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12.2020-03-1017 minsundaymorningsleepinHome for Christmas: Hope (Advent 1)In the midst of chasing that warm fuzzy feeling during the holiday season, what if the fierce and flurrying preparations were more of a distraction than a vehicle for finding the presence of the holy among us? Kris talks about what it means to be Home for Christmas in the discussion of Isaiah 2:1-5 and Psalm 122.2020-03-0816 minsundaymorningsleepinWhat Can't Wait: Incarnation (Christmas Eve)In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. God couldn’t wait to be love in the flesh, and we can’t either. Susan shares the urgency of the story in this Christmas Eve reflection.2020-02-1111 minsundaymorningsleepinWhat Can't Wait: Love (Advent 4)In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Love is one of them, and the fourth and final one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Matthew 1:18-25 on the fourth Sunday of Advent.2020-01-2213 minsundaymorningsleepinWhat Can't Wait: Joy (Advent 3)In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Joy is one of them, and the third one discussed by Susan during her sermon on the Magnificat in Luke 1 on the third Sunday of Advent.2020-01-0318 minsundaymorningsleepinWhat Can't Wait: Peace (Advent 2)In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Peace is one of them, and the second one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Isaiah 11 and Matthew 3 on the second Sunday of Advent.2019-12-2420 minsundaymorningsleepinWhat Can't Wait: Hope (Advent 1)In the season of hustle and bustle, there are a few things that just can't wait. Hope is one of them, and the first one discussed by Susan during her sermon on Isaiah 2 and Matthew 24 on the first Sunday of Advent.2019-12-2419 minsundaymorningsleepinRollercoaster FaithEver felt like you were too little and too scared to really make a difference? Here's why Christ the King Sunday is for you! Kris and Susan discuss Luke 1:68-79, rollercoasters, and angels who get fed up with us just not believing them.2019-12-1014 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: What Comes Around Must Go Around (Step 12)Everything that is alive breathes... both in, and out. When we limit one of those movements, we suffocate. The same goes with a healthy spiritual life and a life of recovery -- we have to keep drawing breath into ourselves, and we have to share our breath with others. Kris and Susan wrap up the series on addiction and recovery based on the book _Breathing Under Water_ by Richard Rohr.2019-12-0419 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: An Alternative Mind (Step 11)Prayer isn't just a telephone line to God; it's a zoom lens, a trip to the beach, an alternative operating system for your everyday life. When we are in the process of living into a healthier, more mature self, this kind of meditative practice can help us find a new way through the mazes and mysteries of our lives. Kris and Susan continue their series on addiction and recovery based on on Richard Rohr's _Breathing Under Water_.2019-12-0423 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Is This Overkill? (Step 10)If making amends is the most well-known step in the recovery process, step 10 is probably the most overlooked. How do we take ongoing personal inventory without driving ourselves crazy with criticism? Kris and Susan continue to explore the themes of addiction, recovery, and salvation based on Richard Rohr's book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps.2019-12-0316 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Skillful Means (Step 9)How do you make amends for a past injury without retraumatizing yourself or someone else? Making amends is important in every life and relationship. Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps.2019-10-0121 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Payback Time (Step 8)How do we move away from navel gazing in the recovery process and move toward reconnecting with the world around us? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's book Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps, and discuss step 8: "We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."2019-08-0625 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Prayer and Posturing (Step 7)Ever thought you knew exactly what God needed to do, and you kept telling God about, but it just wasn't happening? What's that about, eh? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps, with a discussion of Step 7, humbly asking God to remove our shortcomings.2019-08-0119 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Ansel Adams and Axe Throwing (Step 6)What comes first - grace or responsibility? Kris and Susan continue their series on Richard Rohr's Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the 12 Steps with Step 6. The full step says "We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."2019-07-2518 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Accountability IS Sustainability (Step 5)Do you have a person you trust with your secrets, with even the things you're most ashamed of? How does bearing each other's burdens help us experience the transforming power of the truth? Kris and Susan continue their sermon series on Spirituality and the Twelve Steps based on Richard Rohr's _Breathing Under Water_.2019-07-1522 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: A Good Lamp (Step 4)We continue our sermon series on Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr with Step 4. Have you the courage to look at yourself in the light? What do you think you'll find there?2019-07-0923 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Surrender (Step 3)What can recovery teach us about faith? Well.... a whole lot, actually. Recovery, enlightenment, and salvation are all similar concepts and are deeply interrelated. Susan and Kris continue a series based on Richard Rohr's book _Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps_ with step 3: surrender, or giving up on being in control of everything.2019-07-0221 minsundaymorningsleepinBreathing Under Water: Powerlessness and Desire (Steps 1 and 2)What can recovery teach us about faith? Well.... a whole lot, actually. Recovery, enlightenment, and salvation are all similar concepts and are deeply interrelated. Susan and Kris embark on a new series based on Richard Rohr's book _Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps_.2019-06-1130 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E51: First Street Gospel - Everyone Loves a ParadeWhat can parades teach us about what we value, who we are, and how we relate to one another? Well, a whole lot. Kris talks about Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, Mark 11, and Reno's LBTGQ Pride Parade.2019-02-1214 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E50: Just One More ThingEver feel like too much is going on and you just never have time to process? Susan tells us about a time when Jesus tries to retreat with his disciples and keeps getting interrupted in Mark 6:30-34, 54-56.2019-02-1212 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E7: Blue ChristmasSometimes it's okay not to be okay. In the midst of big moments of grief, we often want to rush the healing process. But like babies growing up, like Jesus maturing before he began his ministry, we have to let the healing work of God have time to bloom in us. The waiting can be difficult, but when we rush it, it doesn't work. Kris takes a look at Isaiah 9:2-7 for the Longest Night Christmas service.2019-02-1216 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E49: First Street Gospel -- Construction ZoneConstruction zones are rampant, annoying, and ultimately incredibly important for how we live together in safe community. Kris analyzes Amos 7:7-9 and Psalm 85:8-13 for a look at how God's work and construction work can be painful and also essential for how we build strong.2019-02-1116 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E6: Fig Trees and Falling AshTurns out, most things shouldn't surprise us. If we're paying attention, we will notice and be able to respond compassionately to the warning signs around us. Kris spends a little time thinking about death, disaster, and the lessons of Pompeii as we look at Mark 13:24-37.2018-12-2119 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E5: John the Baptist vs Shopping Mall SantaYou better watch out, you better not cry... Actually, Advent is about watching out AND crying. Crying in the wilderness, that is! Changes we make because someone else ("Santa-God"?) might be watching rarely stick around. Changes we make because we are living into a preferred future have a much better chance. Susan digs into Luke 3:1-19 and helps us check our internal whiny children in this 3rd Sunday of Advent message.2018-12-2018 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E48: Party Platter, Herodian EditionJohn the Baptist gets invited to a party in the worst possible way: by losing his head. King Herod's family dynamics might make yours look tame... but what does this have to do with us now? Susan serves up Mark 6:14-29.2018-12-1914 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E4: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Questions?There are some things it is simple too taboo, too awkward, or too embarassing to talk about. And yet... in every question, there is a promise tucked away. Kris reflects on Malachi 3:1-4, and the prophets who are willing to help us look for the promises of God, even in our big, scary questions.2018-12-1417 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 Ep3: You Is Kind, You Is Smart, You Is John the BaptistWhat stories have you heard about yourself, or told about yourself, that give glimpses of key elements of who you believe you are? Whether accolades and affirmation, or tales of infamy, it's amazing how quickly we attach labels to ourselves and others. Perhaps one way to capture the bigger, fuller picture of who we are and who we are called to be, we need to find some quiet, and listen. Susan retells the tale of John the Baptist's dad in Luke 1:68-79 in this Second Week of Advent sermon.2018-12-1415 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E47: Millennials are Cereal KillersTimes change, trends come and go, and navigating the serially new world can be challenging. But change is hard! Susan talks about Jesus's tips for adapting in Mark 3:1-16.2018-12-0518 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E02: Scratch and Sniff Nativity, and Other Invisible TruthsIt's hard to hear an unpleasant truth, but it's nearly impossible to hear a beautiful one. Why do we insist on making Christmas so tender and mild, and what happens if we let it speak to us an uglier truth? Kris delves into Jeremiah 33:14-16 in this Advent episode of the podcast.2018-12-0518 minsundaymorningsleepinS3 E1: A Starry AdventWhat does the second coming of Christ look like to you? Is it more Armageddon or Hunger Games? Does the world go out with a bang or a whimper? Glimpses of God in the world aren't reserved to calm, quiet moments; sometimes God is present when it feels like our whole world is crumbling around us. Susan invites us to take a look at Luke 21: 25-36 and VanGogh's A Starry Night.2018-12-0516 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E46: First Street Gospel: Hospitals and Health ClinicsWhat do you think about when you pass a hospital, pharmacy, or health clinic? What if we let our surroundings inspire us to find ways to create true healing - space for people of all ability levels in our community? Kris dives into Mark 5:21-43 and its practical implications for us today.2018-11-3025 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E45: More Than We Can ImagineWhether it's out loud or in the quietest corner of your heart, at some point in your life, you've probably needed healing from something: medical, psychologiacl, relational, spiritual. So... have you gotten it? What does it look like? What do you need healing from now? Susan dives into the mysterious ways of Jesus in Mark 5:21-43.2018-11-3016 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E44: God Doesn't Play SportsballThe gospel is not something you can win at! There is only the process: learning, growing, listening, discovering, and sometimes, letting God do the heavy lifting. Kris takes a look at our paltry frameworks of winning and losing in the light of the parable in Mark 4:26-34.2018-11-0620 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E43: Game of Thrones, Ezekiel EditionEver feel overwhelmed by political alliances and maneuvering that seem beyond your control? Well, you're not the first. Susan shares Ezekiel's words of hope to his people in Ezekiel 17: 22-24.2018-10-2218 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E42: This Is Not the Savior You're Looking ForEver noticed that people -- even religious people -- can take really stupid things seriously, and really serious things too lightly? Let's talk about blasphemy, baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be. Susan spends a little time interpreting Mark 3:20-35 for us in this episode on irreverence and remembering that even Jesus' own family thought he was a little crazy at least once.2018-10-0520 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E40: Crack Pot ReligionHow might your imperfections actually be places where you encounter God's grace in the world? Kris talks about an ancient Indian story, Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time, and Leonard Cohen through the scripture of 2 Corinthians 4:5-12.2018-09-2715 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E39: God's PlanWhat if church really wasn't a thing we did on Sunday or a building we maintained, but who we choose to be every day of our lives? Kris talks about John 3:1-9, the idolatry of church, the movement of the Spirit, and the witness to the Word in her favorite Canadian musician and poet: a rapper named Drake. (Maybe you've heard of him.)2018-08-0920 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E38: God's BacksideThe disciples are trying to fill an open position, and try to let God make the decision for them. How often do you think God works through the randomness? Susan talks about the enmeshment of your story, our story, and God's story with Acts 1:16-25.2018-08-0915 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E37: A Sheet Ton of Bacon CheeseburgersWhat's your learning style? The kingdom of God is definitely hands-on learning... and Kris discusses some of God's practicums in Acts 10:44-48 and her own church.2018-08-0624 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E41: Who Are You?The terrible beauty of the Bible is not whether or not the stories actually happened, but that they continue to happen. Guest preacher Devin Gardner breaks open the story of Jacob in the context of the queer rights movement, church inclusivity, thriving after domestic abuse, and his own struggle with claiming his identity in the face of overwhelming opposition. Don’t miss this Pride Sunday sermon on Genesis 32:22-32.2018-08-0240 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E36: Close Encounters of the Spirit-Led KindSusan talks about how our stories interact, through the lens of Acts 10:44-48 and the perspective of a parishioner who reported back to her congregation on the death prevention measures of the city of Reno for the homeless this past winter.2018-08-0216 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E35: That One Time Twitter Worked RightBlack Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Parkland students all have something in common: they’re not willing to let their stories be silenced any longer. Kris talks about the importance of listening to each other’s stories and not being barriers to grace through the stories in Acts 8:26-40 and 1 John 4:7-21.2018-07-2419 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 Ep34: What's Your Story?Every person's story has something to teach us about what God is like and how God works. Susan breaks down one story in Acts 8:26-40 and invites you to consider your story, how you tell it, and what it might teach us.2018-07-2016 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E33: Awesome and AwfulHow many things do we miss because we haven't taken the time to process our reactions around them? Jesus's disciples get a taste of this after the resurrection, and Susan breaks it down in reference to Luke 24:36b-48.2018-07-1919 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E32: Can You Believe It?It’s difficult to continue to believe in things we haven’t seen for ourselves, whether we are people of faith or not. It may be up to people of faith to show what is possible so that people can believe it… including finding unity in diversity, and modeling generosity in the midst of scarcity. Kris takes a look at the story of Doubting Thomas and Acts 4:32-35.2018-07-1723 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E31: Put Me In, Coach!Ever found yourself caught off-guard, called into waters a little deeper than you were prepared for? Susan shares stories of beer league hockey players and traumatized disciples dealing with the same challenges as she discusses John 20:19-31 in this post-Easter episode of the podcast.2018-07-1713 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E30: Get Off Your HorseWe will often reach out to God in desperate moments to save us from whatever trouble we are in, but we don't often like God's methods. Jesus epitomizes this in Mark 11:1-11 in his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, and Paul emphasizes it in Philippians 2:1-11. Join Kris as she considers what salvation might actually look like, and how our healing might contribute to the saving of the world.2018-05-1625 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E29: Punching the BearThe story of Palm Sunday often gets whitewashed into a spontaneous, joyous, apolitical parade, which undermines its treasonous, gritty, satirical character. Join Susan as she talks about Mark 11:1-11 and how speaking the truth isn't always the safe choice.2018-05-1615 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E28: For Such a Time as ThisTrees get through storms by preparing, adapting, and supporting one another. Humans survive our storms in the same way. Jesus teaches us a little about what that looks like in John 12:20-33 and Kris draws some connections between his call to be prepared, to not avoid the storms, and to be strengthened through them using the enneagram to wrap up the Lenten series.2018-05-0422 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E27: Covenantal CalesthenicsLife evolves! From grandmas learning to text, to tattoos that change in meaning, to contracts and relationships and even our understanding of who God is… we are each evolving, too! Why wouldn’t God? Susan unpacks Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33 and discusses the difference between being constant and being unchanging.2018-05-0120 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 Ep26: Reclaiming HopeBetween #FOMO and the talking heads on TV telling us we’re heading for the apocalypse, anxiety isn’t hard to come by. It can be difficult to believe who we are, what we have, and what we do is enough. Kris jumps into John 3:14-21 and a discussion of the light in the forest and the light in our lives.2018-04-1216 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 Ep25: Idolizing JesusGod often doesn't provide escapes from the snake-like problems in our lives, but instead offers us a way to heal through them. Could the same be said of the cross? What if Jesus on the cross wasn't the end-all-be-all of a life of faith? What if making the cross central is actually a scandalous way to idolize Jesus instead of worshipping God? Susan brings the fire and the shade with John 3:14-21 and Numbers 21:4-9.2018-04-1015 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 Ep24: Reclaiming BrokennessTrees are huge failures; and, probably, so are you, beeches. That’s okay. Life is a struggle in which we try to love ourselves, love others, and love God, and often fall short of the mark. We can be paralyzed by shame, or we can let grace in and compassion stir us to action once more. Kris explores water into wine and Jesus flippin’ tables in John 2:13-22 through the lens of the Tree Lottery, Twitter wisdom, and a prayer from God.2018-04-0924 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E23: Wild and Whiny, a Freedom TaleAs a citizen of Romania said after the dictatorship there toppled, “We have freedom, but we don’t know what to do with it.” Join Susan for a tour through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and the Expulsion of the Money Changers in John 2:13-22 as we discuss the purpose of freedom.2018-03-3019 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E22: Reclaiming AngerWhat’s the point in being angry? Well…. Perhaps, anger DOES have a purpose. Join Kris to talk about Mark 8:31-38, spruce tree survival tricks for extreme circumstances, and how people of faith can cope with and even transform those situations in life where we feel angry, too, into opportunities for peace, righteousness, and truth to take root.2018-03-2823 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E21: God Is Not Running for a Second TermFaithfulness is not a set of beliefs; it is something we live out in the waiting between the promise and the fulfillment of the promise. Abram and Sarai experience this· as does Peter. Both circumstances result in a name change. Check out this episode, where Susan delves into Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and Mark 8:31-38.2018-03-2421 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E20: How to Be a SuperorganismThe call of Christians is to be loving community -- and being loving community takes work! We take a leaf (pun intended) out of the book of tree communities for the season of Lent, and discuss some methods for opening communication and self-reflection in ourselves and our own relationships. Kris brings the enneagram, trees, and Mark 1:9-15 together to kick off the series.2018-03-2118 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E19: The Sticky Notes on God's Bathroom MirrorIn the midst of all the highs and lows of life that sweep our emotions around, how do we keep hold of who we are? Susan talks about the wilderness between the promises of God and the fulfillment of those promises by God using Genesis 9:8-17 and Mark 1:9-15 (Noah's ark and Jesus's baptism, respectively).2018-03-1317 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E18: Pitfalls and PossibilitiesEvery moment, every decision, is an opportunity to let the worst of us get the better of us, or to let the best of us meet the worst of the world and transform it. Using Mark 2:23-3:6, Kris shares how Jesus dealt with his own crisis moments, and how he shows us what the evidence of God's grace at work really are: liberation, grace, and wholeness.
(Kris also wants to note that she regrets the way she phrased a particular idea in the podcast. Her intention was to say that the healing and wholeness of those with physical disabilities is...2018-03-1221 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E17: Holy Historical Markers, BatmanEver had a "mountaintop experience"? Not everybody does, and not everybody who does knows exactly what to do with them. Susan discusses Mark 9:2-9, and how the messages from the mountain aren't really useful until you find yourself coming back down, anyway.2018-03-0419 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E16: Coming to a Baptismal Font Near YouThe mystical, magical, majestic love of God is something we can't quite get a full hold on, but we try. One of the ways we try is through baptism! Susan expounds on Isaiah 40:21-31 in this most recent episode about an outward sign of an invisible grace.2018-02-2416 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E15: Demon RepellantHow do you know if the nudge you're feeling is God speaking? Kris's advice: look to see if there are any demons on the run. We dive into Mark 1:21-28 and Deuteronomy 18:15-20 in this episode, and we talk about the prophets of God, when exploitation can be a good thing, and how privilege and challenge are not mutually exclusive identities.2018-02-2227 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E14: Demons on the DailySo... do the demons freak you out in the Bible? No worries. There's lots of ways to understand what those are, and in all of those understandings, the truth holds that Jesus' mission is to liberate us from the worst things that grip us: our guilt, shame, fear, and bitterness. Susan takes a look at Mark 1:21-28 and how Person-First Language helps us form a more gracious understanding of who we all are individually and together.2018-02-2020 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E13: Scripture, Scapegoats, and S-hole CountriesEver experienced something great and then told nobody anything about it? Of course not, right? Whether it's our new piece of technology, a great restaurant, a fantastic sale, a new friend, we tend to share good news. The same goes with experiencing God's grace -- we can't help but share it! This sometimes means speaking some good news into spaces that are not willing to receive it. Like standing up against racism, sexism, ageism, and other acts of societal stupidity... Kris shares Acts 19:1-7 and a letter from our United Methodist Bishops.2018-02-1427 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E12: There Are No Mic Drops in HeavenWhile we tend to paint the stories of God speaking to people in scripture with glitter and glam, listening to and answering the call of God can be pretty risky. Samuel experiences this at a tender age in 1 Samuel 3:1-20, and Susan helps us think through how we all experience call shifting, evolving, and challenging us in every stage of our lives.2018-02-1228 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E11: Livin' that Magi LifeWhen it comes to the story of our faith, there is a lot we know, and there's even more that we know we don't know. Perhaps that's why Epiphany is not a single event in the church calendar, but a season and a series of encounters with the God who continues to open our eyes and hearts and minds and doors to the truth and the glory of the reign of justice and love. Kris shares some epiphanies, from silly to the serious, as we discuss Matthew 2:1-12.2018-02-0124 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E10: Rock Paper Scissors BaptismSome things in our lives are all or nothing. Baptism is one of those things -- but the good news is, we're not the only ones "all in." Susan talks about what baptism means and digs a little into Mark 1:1-7.2018-01-2120 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E9: Call Me by My True NamesWhat color is your underwear? Got any lentils in your pocket? Any gold in your champagne? Any black eyed peas on your plate? New Year traditions and resolutions that reflect our hopes abound this time of year as we visualize ourselves differently: with more money, more love, more travel, more beauty. Kris digs into how God visualizes us, and the labels and names that humans use being very different from the labels and names God gives. Check out Isaiah 61:10-62:3 and Luke 2:22-40 with Kris as you contemplate how you will welcome 2018.2018-01-2020 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E8: What Do You See?What we see often says a lot about us.... so what do you see? Do you see the mess in the world? Can you also see the presence of Christ in the midst of it? Kris spends her Christmas Eve sermon looking at Isaiah 9:2-7 and John 1:1-14 and pondering how we experience divine incarnation in the world today.2018-01-1023 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E7: God Makes This World Our Home (Advent 4)We know Christmas is important and all, but do you know the story of your own birth? Kris and Susan join together to discuss Luke 1:47-55, Mary's Magnificat, with detours through the world of "Hamilton," birth stories, and Meister Eckhart... leading slowly to the point: Jesus' birth is just one example of the ways we are bearing Christ in the world, and our stories and our choices matter.2018-01-0616 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E6: May the Joy Be with YouGod loves laughter. And joy. And like water in the desert, may give us exactly what we need -- even if it's not right now. Kris talks about temporal grammar and The Force and pink crushed velvet Jesus and Psalm 126.2018-01-0419 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E5: Joy Is Our True Home (Advent 3)Paul and Polyanna show up to help us understand that Christian identity has less to do with what warms the cockles of your heart and more to do with how you relate to the world and culture around you. Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances is where they suggest we start. Susan helps us take a look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and shares some snapshots of contagious joy to get you started.2017-12-2826 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E4: Love Sharpens the AxeWhile the other three gospels all start with some variant of birth story, the gospel of Mark requires us to wrestle with a wild man in the desert before we are allowed to see Jesus up close. And what does the wild man want? Like Isaiah, he tells us to prepare a way for the God of righteousness and justice to work. So Kris gets into Mark 1:1-8 and three ways we prepare for God to show up in our world: personally, locally, and regionally. With an axe and a shower scene thrown in for good measure.2017-12-1726 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E3: Home Is Where We Meet (Advent 2)Got a favorite holiday movie? So many of them seem to have the theme of coming home. So, where does God live? Where is home? And what does home mean to you? Susan takes a good look at Psalm 85 in this week's sermon for the second Sunday in Advent.2017-12-1518 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E2: God Is Not Your SuperheroWe love superheroes! Love them! But it occurs to us they only ever really fix the problems they have also created, and we cannot depend on them to sweep in and fix all the day to day stuff that breaks our hearts. This Advent, as we await God's breaking into the world again, it's important for us to remember that God doesn't break in to fix it, but to continue to shape us in the covenant to live in compassionate and just community. Living in denial leads to false hope; living in the truth--even when it's ugly-- leads to true...2017-12-0921 minsundaymorningsleepinS2 E1: Come Down Home (Advent 1)Welcome to the second season of the Sunday Morning Sleep In Podcast! We are kicking off a new year in the Christian calendar with Advent, and taking a good look at what needs to be disrupted in order to make room for God to enter the world once more. Susan shares the prophet's prayer from Isaiah 64:1-9, some words about the value of confession, and an invitation to find a home WITH God by making a home FOR God in our lives and our community.2017-12-0616 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 83: Saints and ChildrenHow are Christians, who believe in the Trinity, still able to call themselves monotheistic? Welcome to the world of scandalous theology. Your host, Kris, will share some of the radical ideas in the church about the nature of God, the nature of saints, and just why exactly you are one, too. Join us to learn about perichoresis, co-inherence, deiformity, and 1 John 3:1-3.2017-11-1120 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 82: The Power of All SaintsGod tends to flip our paradigms of power upside down. It's true in the birth, life, and death of Jesus, in the beatitudes Jesus shares, and in the lives of the saints through the centuries. Susan reflects on Matthew 5:1-12 and some of our historical saints: immigrants, teetotallers, prudes, feminists, slaves, a slave trader, pirates, and those who have no idea what they're doing. And, perhaps, if you're willing... you, too.2017-11-0723 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 81: Jesus Is My Boyfriend?God is invisible, ineffable, and untouchable. So... how do we love God? Jesus faces off with his religious authorities in Matthew 22:34-40, and Kris ties it into the Protestant Reformation, dinosaurs, erotic poetry, contemporary praise music, South Park, and pot roast... like you do... all to answer that timeless question: how do we love God?2017-11-0523 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 80: Playdoh ProtestantsSometimes, when you're going about your every day business, you unintentionally spark off something you could never have foreseen. As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther accidentally sparking the Protestant Reformation, Susan shares some words about 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 and how we keep our faith in the love of God which is constantly reforming us.2017-11-0520 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 79: Dual Citizens - Earth, Heaven, and Holding the TensionJesus finds himself stuck between the Temple and the Emperor, and we often are, too. So how do we live in both an earthly nation and a heavenly one? How we invest ourselves and our money is often the truest picture of our values. Kris shares Matthew 22:15-22 and talks about collaboration, subversion, and stewardship.2017-11-0426 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 78: Context, Call, and Character -- 60 Years at St. Paul's UMC in RenoPaul writes a letter to a church in Thessalonica to encourage them, and the same words apply to each congregation seeking to authentically live out God's call to love and serve. St. Paul's UMC in Reno, Nevada celebrated 60 years of service with a sense of humor on October 22, 2017, and we give thanks for their steadfastness of hope in Susan's sermon.2017-11-0419 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 77: UbuntuWhy do we react so strongly to opinions or facts that contradict our worldview? With a little help from science, psychology, and spirituality, we can address and even abate our own reactivity that amplifies anxiety and conflict. Kris suggests we practice intentional gratitude and encouragement for one another as a way of creating communities of peace and joy, based in Paul's similar advice in Philippians 4:1-9.2017-10-3128 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 76: Joy-Shaped HeartThe baby donkey swining on a hammock, or pictures of cute babies, or funny memes... these are some of the places we find bits of joy in our lives. In his letter to the Philippians (4:1-9), Paul describes a way we can shape our hearts with joy. Susan invites us to use our minds to shape our hearts and catch the vision of a God who wishes the world joy.2017-10-3122 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 75: Thoughts and PrayersSick to the gills with politicians offering their "thoughts and prayers" without actually doing anything about the issues that lead to the tragedies that break our hearts? Us, too. So what do genuine prayers do? Do they change situations, or do they change us? Kris digs around in the murky waters of prayer, projection, misdirected hopes, unheard prophets, and honest conversations about gun violence in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, through the lens of Psalm 80:7-15.2017-10-2525 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 74: Take That, PheidippidesEver put in a ton of time and effort, thought you were almost done... and then realized you were working on the wrong project the whole time? We've all been there. Paul talks about making sure we are running the right race, and Susan breaks down the myth of the marathon for us in Philippians 3:4b-14.2017-10-2415 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 73: Top Ten Secrets of Pastors"How dare you?" This is what the religious authorities said to Jesus when he had the audacity to offer minsitry outside of the status quo, and it's a question we all still answer today. How dare we offer grace today? Kris offers the Top 10 Secrets of Pastors in her discussion of Matthew 21:23-32. Links to the studies discussed can be found on the website, sundaymorningsleepin.com.2017-10-2130 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 72: Imitation v. ImpersonationEver heard a good Marlon Brando impersonation? Neither have we. But there is someone we can imitate and still be authentically who we are. Join Susan in diving into Philippians 2:1-13 and how we are called to imitate, not impersonate, Christ.2017-10-1718 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 71: Mirror Mirror"What does the Bible say about...?" The sometimes frustrating and sometimes freeing answer is, "Well... that all depends." We all see scripture and see ourselves reflected in scripture very differently from one another, and even from ourselves at different points in our lives. Susan demonstrates by helping us self-reflect in ten different ways through Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:1-16.2017-10-1020 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 70: The Facts and Figures of ForgivenessEveryone's doing it: most mammals, the Dutch, even skinny Santa Claus! So why do we have such a hard time forgiving? Maybe we make it too complicated, conditional, or transactional. Like voting and cleaning the carpet, Jesus calls us to forgive early and often. Kris runs down some stats and studies about the benefits of forgiveness in relationship to Matthew 18:21-35.2017-10-0626 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 55: Your Story MattersChurch is not full of people who are perfect; church is broken people trying to choose love and doing it imperfectly. And what changes you for the better, may change someone else... but only if you can tell them your story. Kris reports in on what Kimmy Schmidt and Romans 5:1-8 can teach us about what the point of church is. Expect a little denominational reporting on the Commission on a Way Forward, too. For more info on the organizations discussed in the podcast, check out the post on sundaymorningsleepin.com!2017-08-0825 minsundaymorningsleepinEpisode 37: Good Friday: Silver, Water, Thorns, VeilEpisode 37: Good Friday: Silver, Water, Thorns, Veil by sundaymorningsleepin2017-04-1526 min