Life + God Podcast

What is liminal space?

Laura Sennott and Alyssa Robinson talk about major transitions and transformations they've experienced in their lives. Liminal space is an interesting concept that holds major growth opportunities for our faith and spirituality. 
Fr. Richard Rohr describes liminal space as, "where we are betwixt and between the familiar and the completely unknown. There alone is our old world left behind, while we are not yet sure of the new existence. That’s a good space where genuine newness can begin.”

How do I deal with change?

Ready or not, change is happening all around us. Rev. Doug Meyer and Alyssa Robinson have a conversation about working through expected and unexpected life changes, and how change can become transformation. 

How does love continue after Jesus’s birth?

The Christmas story doesn't end with Jesus's birth. That's where the story begins. Love is birthed into the world and can begin its good work. Denise Robinson and Alyssa Robinson take a look at the events following the birth of Jesus and witness God's kaleidoscope of love start to take shape.

Bah Humbug! What to do when Christmas wasn’t so merry?

This week in the Men In Progress series, host Dave Casey is joined by Sonny Gann, Kathy O'Keefe, and David Ware to discuss how we can best help those for whom Christmas wasn't so merry. Men In Progress is a monthly series within the Life + God Podcast hosted by the United Methodist Men of Trietsch.

Where is hope in the Christmas story?

Hope may be one of the most vibrant colors in the Christmas Kaleidoscope. Every single character in Jesus's birth story was driven by hope. Let's take a look at all the individual stories of hanging on to hope as they seek Christ. Are we still holding on to hope today? Rev. Gracie Millard and Alyssa Robinson explore elements of hope within in the Christmas story. Where have you experienced God's hope? We hope you'll join us for Christmas Eve worship to experience the hope and love Christ brings. Visit https://www.tmumc.org/christmas to learn more.

What does forgiveness have to do with Christmas?

Forgiveness might seem like an odd topic to discuss during Advent, but Jesus's birth brings us forgiveness of our sins. Why does this matter during Advent and how do we incorporate forgiveness into our busy schedules? Let's take a look at the Bible characters in the birth story who were seeking forgiveness and restoration. Why did God use Jesus to offer forgiveness? Couldn't God have forgiven us without Jesus? Maybe you've wondered this before, too. Rev. Daniel Humbert and Alyssa Robinson discuss how Jesus's birth brings forgiveness to each of us, and how forgiveness is at work in the Christmas story. Learn more about Advent and Christmas at Trietsch at https://www.tmumc.org/christmas.  

Is it possible to feel peace at Christmas?

For many of us, Advent and Christmas feel anything but peaceful. We have errands to run, events to attend, and merriment to make! How can we claim the peace that Jesus's birth brings? It's easy to get caught up in the mayhem of the holidays with all the planning, decorating, purchasing, and more. But we're told every year that Jesus's birth ushered in God's peace for all people. What is the idea of Biblical peace that Jesus's birth was supposed to bring and is it possible for us to create a kaleidoscope of peace this Advent? Rev. Karen Chraska shares her perspective on how we can participate in God's peace this Christmas. Learn more about Advent and Christmas at Trietsch at https://www.tmumc.org/christmas. 

How did Jesus’s birth bring justice?

We like to focus on the peace and beauty of Jesus's birth, but the truth is that Jesus was born into a deeply oppressive culture. Let's bring together all of the elements of injustice surrounding Jesus's birth so we can better understand what Jesus overcame through a kaleidoscope of God's divine justice. God's justice might look different than you imagined. Check out this video from The Bible Project as they explore the theme of justice through scripture: https://youtu.be/A14THPoc4-4.
Learn more about Advent and Christmas at Trietsch at https://www.tmumc.org/christmas. 

How do I juggle my commitments to God, family, and work?

This week in the Men In Progress series, host Dave Casey is joined by Dave Parsons, Mark Czech, and Dart West to discuss how to achieve balance in life while keeping God the priority. Men In Progress is a monthly series within the Life + God Podcast hosted by the United Methodist Men of Trietsch.

What does ”salvation” really mean?

Salvation is a concept that the church has tried to simplify, but it's actually a very complex idea. What does salvation really mean? Is "being saved" something that happens once or multiple times? What does salvation have to do with atonement? Today, Alyssa Robinson and Rev. Gracie Millard dialogue about salvation. Spoiler alert: we end with more questions than answers.