Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day

We’re revisiting a conversation with Kaitlin Curtice. We talked with Kaitlin back in 2018. She is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. Kaitlin presents on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. In this episode we really focused on how she uses everyday moments as instances of awareness … Continue reading "Relisten: Finding the Divine in the everyday with Kaitlin Curtice"

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 … Continue reading "Spirit-filled: Rethink Church audiomagazine summer 2022"

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!

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 … Continue reading "Relisten: Does everything happen for a reason?"

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 … Continue reading "85: Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to do with faith and theology?"

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.

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 … Continue reading "Connected: Rethink Church audiomagazine May 2022"

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 … Continue reading "83: Integrating the physical and the spiritual with Lisa Colon DeLay"

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 … Continue reading "Holistic evangelism and salvation with Mark Teasdale"

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 … Continue reading "Rethink Church audiomagazine for April 2022"

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 … Continue reading "You have gifts and you are a gift"

All of us encounter anxiety. Current cultural conditions have feelings of anxiety on the rise–and for many anxiety is not a fleeting feeling. It sticks with us and locks us into a spiral of depression, shame, and mental paralysis. Rev. Jason Cusick provides a practical and pastoral approach to navigating anxiety. As he shares his … Continue reading "Disrupting your anxiety through spiritual practices"

In this edition, we present the latest stories from the Rethink Church website and one of our most-read articles from years past. Throughout March of 2022, our content focused on faithfulness. And we have some great posts about what faithfulness looks like in this new age and how we personally nurture our own faith. In … Continue reading "Faithfulness: Rethink Church audiomagazine for March 2022"

This Compass episode explores how Lent leads us into a deeper spiritual connection. Pierce Drake and Ryan Dunn discuss the meaning of Lent and how this special season in the Christian year moves us to seek a spiritual-centeredness through discipline and practice.

Did you know that there are daily practices you can utilize to seemingly slow down the pace of life, center yourself and cause some Divine disruptions in your perception? AJ helps us see that contemplative prayer is for everyone, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. If you’re breathing, you’re capable of contemplative … Continue reading "Powerful peace and contemplative prayer with AJ Sherrill"

This is the February 2022 edition of the Rethink Church audiomagazine presented on the Compass podcast. Throughout February of 2022, our content focused on commitment. And we have some great posts about what commitment looks like in this new age and how we personally nurture our own feelings of commitment. In this edition of the … Continue reading "Commitment: Rethink Church audiomagazine February 2022"

The words we use matter. Words are both a reflection of what we feel inside and a means for influencing our own states of mind. Jonathan Merritt helps us understand how an inability to “speak God” might lead us to feel far from God. He also reveals how utilizing the language of faith influences our mindsets and … Continue reading "Unleashing the power of words with Jonathan Merritt"

In January of 2022, we’ve focused on resilience. And we have some great posts about how you can keep on keeping on through 2022 (and beyond… as these ideas are not bound by this particular place in time). In this episode we’ll hear: “How faith builds your resilience skills” by Ryan Dunn. “Learning resilience in … Continue reading "Resilience: Rethink Church AudioMag January 2022"

We’ve taken several of the most-read articles from the Rethink Church page (www.umc.org/rethinkchurch) and brought them to you in audio form, so you can now get tips on spiritual practices, ideas on social justice interventions, and perspectives on healthy living wherever you listen. In this initial edition of the Rethink Church AudioMag: “5 ways to … Continue reading "Rethink Church AudioMagazine for January 2022"

It’s year-end reflection time! Hosts Ryan Dunn and Pierce Drake review the moments they felt like God “showed up” in 2021. How did you see God showing up in your midst?

Amy Julia Becker is helping us disrupt the cycles of division in our society. Overcoming systems of injustice feels overwhelming for one single person, we don’t feel like our efforts could make a difference. Amy Julia shares her experience with those doubts and committing to justice anyways. Amy Julia Becker is an award-winning writer and … Continue reading "Healing our divides with Amy Julia Becker"

It’s easy to exist in an echo chamber these days. But the holidays, and Jesus’ story, remind us that beloved community neither begins nor exists in spaces where everyone else is just like us. Beloved community begins when we are intentional about participating in settings where we may not have much in common with some … Continue reading "Who is at your table?"

Jacqui Lewis shares how a fierce love that starts with loving ourselves well will change the world. We are fully who we are–fully human–when we realize that we belong to each other. Everyone’s success depends on everyone’s success. So we are called to love one another as we love ourselves. Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is … Continue reading "Bonus: Fierce Love with Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis"

We all have questions about faith. Sometimes those questions are so burning that they start a proverbial fire that threatens to burn our whole system of belief down. Brian Zahnd joins the podcast to share about the ways God is revealed through both the fire and the daily workings of life. Brian Zahnd is the … Continue reading "Reconstructing burned out faith with Brian Zahnd"

What is God doing when bad things happen? In this episode, we discuss this question and the place of hope in the midst of our messy lives with Bishop Jake Owensby. Hope is not merely wishful thinking. Hope digs deeper and moves us in a way that wishful thinking cannot. There is hope because we … Continue reading "Hope when life gets messy with Jake Owensby"

Feeling a bit disconnected? Utilizing a reading plan helps us connect in community and feel connected to the Divine. In this episode, Pierce and Ryan outline simple plans, note the benefits of investing in reading scripture, and offer a special invitation!

One of the marks of monastic communities is that they establish a rhythm of life that calls attention to the holy. Sister Joan Chittister, who is herself part of a Benedictine monastic community, has translated a number of these practices into everyday life for us. You may have heard of Sister Joan–she’s a well-known activist … Continue reading "Simple life rhythms for balance and peace with Joan Chittister"

Why did Jesus say some of the things he said? What do we make of these tough teachings today? Amy-Jill Levine provides some tools for processing. Do we need to sell everything we own? Must we hate our mothers and fathers? At different points in his ministry, Jesus suggested to some people they do those … Continue reading "Wrestling with the tough sayings alongside Amy-Jill Levine"

That video game you’ve sunk the last 7 nights into might be teaching you something about faith and connection. Rev. David Petty joins the Compass Podcast to share the story of the digital outreach community, CrossFire: Faith+Gaming. Rev. Petty points to the intersection of faith, gaming and community. Visit the community at CrossFireCast.com

Douglas McKelvey details his motivation and process for crafting liturgical prayers for everyday events. Making coffee, changing a diaper, mourning the loss of a dog… these are prompts for prayer. Liturgical prayer offers words for the mundane and emotional moments when our own words fail us. Doug McKelvey is the author of the Every Moment … Continue reading "Making any moment a holy moment"

Reverend Shannon Karafanda shares #HolyMischief, a movement inspiring acts of disruption based in love. It seems that the more kindness we show towards others, the more connected we feel towards them. So when we get stuck in cycles of negativity, or feeling like the world is against us, or feeling like everyone around us is … Continue reading "Holy mischief and disruptions of kindness"

Your breathing reflects the very name of God. Rev. Brian Tillman reminds us that God is present in the very breath we take. And then reminds us that injustice is mistreating all those who speak the name of God. Imagine what happens when people breathe the name of God while standing for justice. To see … Continue reading "Breath, justice and the name of God (with Rev. Brian Tillman)"

Steve is one of the few people we’ve talked with multiple times on the Compass Podcast. He just had so many great things to say. Steve also contributed to our Rethink Church blog, offering an important voice at the intersection of mental health, self care and spirituality. We were shocked to learn of Steve’s passing. … Continue reading "Remembering Steve Austin"

Pierce Drake offers a brief prayer exercise for contemplating the truth of who we are–even in the midst of our days. Interested in the book he shares from? Find Every Moment Holy here: https://www.cokesbury.com/9781951872021-Every-Moment-Holy  

In this episode, we’re creating our own stories of disruption through a contemplative prayer practice. The Welcoming Prayer helps us recognize what we’re feeling and where God is in the midst of our experiences.

Worship, prayer and meditation interrupt the world’s cycles of brokenness. Tyler Sit, the author of “Staying Awake” and pastor of New City Church, describes how these practices brought disruption to Minneapolis in the wake of the uprising and Derek Chauvin trial. Rev. Tyler Sit is the church planter of New City Church, a church that … Continue reading "How spiritual practices disrupt our world with Tyler Sit"

Humanity’s great error is that we’ve forgotten we belong to one another. When Father Gregory Boyle was sent to minister amongst the forgotten of Los Angeles, he responded by starting a movement to disrupt the cycles that suggest that one person’s life is worth more than another’s. In this episode of the Compass Podcast, Father … Continue reading "Leaving no one at the margins with Father Gregory Boyle"

Luke Edwards talks with us about fresh expressions of church that are disrupting the cycles of loneliness in our culture.

Dr. Miguel De La Torre, the author of “Decolonizing Christianity”, talks about living in hopelessness while being a person of faith. What does it mean for us to seek out the Jesus of the margins? How will that impact our understanding of faith and our world? Find out more about Dr. De La Torre at … Continue reading "Hopelessness and decolonizing faith with Miguel De La Torre"

Are virtual friendships real friendships? Matt Franks and Zach Bechtold of the Bearded Theologians podcast reveal the ways in which a digitally-native culture does faith and spirituality online.  

Deconstruction and doubts are natural to having faith. AJ Swoboda reminds us that we are not alone in our deconstruction and that reconstruction can be a beautiful, hopeful process. AJ Swoboda is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and world Christianity at Bushnell University. He is the author of a number of books, including the award-winning … Continue reading "Doubt and deconstruction with AJ Swoboda"

Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass and Adam Baker speak on where the faith community has harmed in the realm of mental health, where the faith community has had positive impact, and what still needs to be said regarding mental health and faith. See more from Chrisie and Adam through their podcast page: https://instructionsforlivingalife.com/

AD Thomason joined the Compass Podcast to share his experience encountering freedom through the Spirit. AD is an adjunct professor at Kilns College where he teaches on the History of Human rights and justice, De-colonizing your faith, filmmaking and more. He has spoken in over 15 countries. Native of Detroit, Michigan, AD made it through … Continue reading "Becoming spiritually free with AD Thomason"

Tony Caldwell joined Pierce and Ryan to talk about resilience. What are ways we can move forward in hope when so many of our circumstances feel stuck in sameness? Tony Caldwell is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. He also hosts the Voices of Wisdom podcast and is a featured speaker and writer for Red Letter Christians.org. He … Continue reading "Creating change when stuck in the same"

Does being faithful mean being doubtless? Brian McLaren is back on the Compass Podcast to talk about living with faith and doubt. Brian’s new book, Faith After Doubt, is out now. He provides a glimpse into both the stories behind the book and how he lives with doubt–even while being a faith leader. See more about Faith … Continue reading "Living with doubt"

Lindsey Krinks is a street chaplain and difference-maker. On the Compass Podcast, she shares how you will be a difference-maker, too. Lindsey Krinks is also an activist and a cofounder of Open Table Nashville. Check out Lindsey’s book, Praying with Our Feet, at http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/praying-with-our-feet/402180

Consume less, relate more. Ryan and Pierce felt a strong sense of mourning entering this holiday season. Where is the light shining this holiday time? Rev. Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping gave Pierce and Ryan some ideas for a unique holiday season. For more Compass episodes visit umc.org/compass. Check out more from Rev. … Continue reading "Keeping it simple this Christmas"

Gratitude is good for our bodies, minds and spirits. But we don’t always feel a sense of gratitude, do we? Knowing that gratitude is good, are there ways to cultivate a sense of gratitude? Pierce and Ryan dig into some practices that inspire internal thankfulness. The trick is not simply being thankful for all things. But … Continue reading "Cultivating gratitude"

We all have our own well-reasoned opinions and points-of-view. Why can’t other people see things as clearly as we do? Brian McLaren joined the Compass Podcast noting that all of us carry certain biases, and when we recognize them we are far better capable of communicating our points of view. Brian McLaren is a well-known … Continue reading "Communicating and bias with Brian McLaren"

Self-proclaimed “Nerd Pastor” Nathan Webb, founder of Checkpoint Church, joined the Compass Podcast to discuss gaming, anime, comics, and connecting on a spiritual level. We’re all geeks for something, and Nathan details how our geek-y interests can foster something deeper.