The She-atitudes

So um, remember how we said a lot of life was happening and we were all running amok and had nary a second to catch our breath, much less record a podcast episode? We technically had this little fella on deck, waitin' so cute, and we totally forgot about it. So you know what? Here is your 4K Friday episode from MAY LOL. It's no secret that church attendance in this nation has plummeted in recent years, and a recent piece by Russell Moore stirred a lot of good trouble on the socials as he pondered the reasons why. In it, Moore notes the emergence of a massive "silent exodus" of the millennial generation from institutionalized churches, which we -- four card-carrying, flag-waving millennials -- can tell you is absolutely happening. Young people are leaving churches in shocking quantities. What Moore finds interesting, however, is that this exit from a church is not an exit from faith, as such a move so often signaled in previous generations. These young people, he concludes, aren't leaving their churches because they don't take faith seriously. They're leaving because they DO. And we've got ALL kinds of thoughts about it. (Read Moore's piece here: https://www.russellmoore.com/2021/04/15/losing-our-religion/)

We're BAAAACCCKKKK!!!!! We're back we're back we're back yay hi!!! Hi friends! We're talking with you about freedom today, because yesterday was Independence Day, and America is what it is these days, and we need a fresh reminder of what freedom is really about. Hint: it isn't rights. Not *really*. The national freedoms and the religious freedom we boast aren't quite the same as gospel freedom, and we get into that. We talk about attitudes that enslave us, allegiances that enslave us, fear-based obedience, repentance, and the shame-free love of God that can never EVER be removed from us. We exhort those of you who are shedding fear, even if it means displeasing your communities; we muse on the importance(?) of sin to know grace; and we explore the relationship between life, liberty, and pursuits of happiness within the actual freedom of Christ. Just LITTLE stuff. (Also for your listening enjoyment: a sister FAIL at matching movie quotes. And it's obviously Karli's fault.)

Okay, alright, this was a big one. And there's still so much more to the conversation. We all know that unity is hard to find, right now. And we really do believe that unity is something we're all seeking, even if we vastly disagree on how to get there. But that's the thing: these disagreements on how to get there -- we're letting them get in the way. In our efforts to find unity in this very un-unified world, we fear we're leaning too far into uniformity, and trying to unite details more than the big picture. As if making everything act or look the same will somehow make them the same, and create the peaceful, unified environment we crave. But this doesn't hold. Being "the same" does not make us unified. Uniformity is not the gospel picture of unity, nor is it simply unity in spite of difference. The heart of gospel unity is unity IN difference, even when that looks or feels un-uniform. Because it's that exact un-uniform-ness, ragamuffin, hodgepodge diversity that brings the kingdom its beauty, that brings us together as one Body in pursuit of the same Savior, that hems us into true unity.

It's a wrap on the Beatitudes, friends, and they def end with a bang. Pairing the ideas of peacemaking and persecution together brings more thoughts and questions to mind than we could ever fit into an episode, but better to start the conversation than never have it! There's so much to unpack, here. Like, what does it look like to MAKE peace rather than just KEEP peace? Does peace really feel like contentment? And what about persecution? What is the difference between being persecuted for the sake of Christ's righteousness and being debated against as Christians? Are they the same? And what if, just what if, the persecution we often fear is imminent isn't caused by hatred of Christ, but brought into being by our own actions against our neighbors? And what about the fact that Jesus calls persecution blessed?! What is that even about? (Also of importance: Karli tests Kelsi's knowledge of Disney Channel taglines, while Karli endures one-minute rapid-fire trivia. What actress do you think she could possibly mean when she says, "TEETH!" ????)

Continuing on in our Beatitudes series, we dive in to the ideas of mercy and purity, two concepts we sometimes wonder if we've missed the point of, just a bit. What IS mercy? Is it the same as grace? Is it just a kindness? What does it really look like to practice it, to withhold deserved judgment and punishment, especially in this age of finger pointing and shaming? And what does it look like to truly be pure of heart? Is God's standard the same as the Christian stereotype? Can shock value ever have a purer motive than appropriateness? (Also on the docket: an ode to George Feeney, and our favorite moments from the best season of the year -- Awards.)

We're in week 2 of the Beatitudes series, and spending a lot of time talking about Shania Twain... Not sorry. We do also discuss Jesus, of course, and what it really means to be meek, what our role is if we *don't* fall into the meek category, and that word righteousness -- is it just about pious behavior? (Very big hint: it's also about justice.) This week was a convicting one, although... Every one of these Beatitudes is proving to be. The more time we spend with these blessings of Jesus, the more convicted we feel by them all. And like, ouch... But good ouch.

We are BACK and fresh as freaking daisies after a week off for Spring Break, full of ideas and excitement for this platform and community. We're switching up our opening segments (lookin' at you, pop culture lovers), and kicking off a series which focuses on our namesake: The Beatitudes -- the eight blessings given by Jesus which totally rock the idea of blessing as the world understands it. Today, we focus on the first two groups he blessed: the poor [in spirit], and those who mourn. And while we've seen these phrases countless times on cards and home walls and church bulletins, it may not all be as cut-and-dry as we've come to believe. And it kinda makes Jesus the raddest, even if (when?) it makes us nervous.

O happy day, he is riz y'all! Easter is the day we hinge our faith on -- the hope that we are not only forgiven, but invited into resurrection, into new life, into total freedom. We reflect on the events of the original day -- the empowerment it brought to women, the peace it brought to doubters, the special attention it brought to the guilt-ridden (not to mention, the hope it offered the whole freaking world) -- as well as what this all means moving forward. And also, angel outfits. Because we focus on the important stuff here at the She-atitudes Podcast.

A shorter episode for this Silent Saturday, the day after Jesus died, when those who loved him were left in shock. We talk a bit about Sabbath -- how Jesus' friends would have observed it then, and how we observe it now. We talk about the importance of observing the whole of Easter weekend, even the parts where nothing seems to be happening, and why that might be difficult. We talk about grieving the Jesus you thought you knew, and having the foundation of your life and faith shaken and shattered -- and even the importance of those things. For the truest understandings of who God is cannot resurrect if we cling to the understandings that must die.

Today we set on our minds on the day Jesus died, the day it seemed that all hope was lost. We dive further into details about crucifixion, what Jesus meant when he cried out in "forsakenness," whether Judas' end was redemptive, and how this "good" Friday is good news, even for the resurrection-skeptic. Maybe especially for the resurrection-skeptic.

Today we observe Maundy Thursday, the day before Jesus' death, and the example he began to lay out for us in how to remember who he was, how to serve others, how to surrender, how to pray... This day covers a lot of ground, a lot of feelings, a lot of questions. Join us as we explore even just a part.

After the most bananapants year of grief and change and upheaval and turmoil, we are so ready for this Holy Week. We are so ready to focus these tired days on the center story of our faith, and remember that hope cannot die. And though we were not raised in a tradition that observed Holy Week (as we imagine many of you were, too), we've come to absolutely cherish it in recent years. We love unveiling all the details that continue to provide a roadmap toward the center of God's heart, and the center of our own stories. So we're diving in to each day, asking big questions of each one, and looking for the lessons and applications that still matter today.

Is that what we're calling it? Blessed is conflict? Lots of layers to today's episode, as we process the announcement of Beth Moore's departure from the SBC and all the questions it's triggered. How should we, as believers, conduct ourselves in conflict within our churches? Or in conflict within the world? Can we disagree healthily? Can we even separate healthily? And what IS the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking? We may not have the answers, but we have a TON of thoughts. So buckle up, the sisters are driving fast questions, today!

Hey y'all, we back!!!!! And we need to talk about the ministry of quietness -- which we are all super duper good at, right? It's way easier to believe in the goodness of quiet than actually practice it. Even for the more naturally quiet ones among us, purposefully participating in quiet spaces doesn't come so easily. But engaging quietness as a method of engaging with God is essential to a fruitful faith. And especially now, as the world around us seems only to be getting louder, our spiritual health is increasingly dependent on the intimacy cultivated in quiet places. So shut up and listen (to God, we mean...)

It's today, it's today! One of the very wisest and kindest, Greg Coles, is HERE to talk about his new book "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation" and we could not be more excited to introduce him to you. Greg knows all too well what it's like to feel out of place. And while the details of his life may differ from many our own, the questions he's pondered -- especially those about belonging -- are universal. We all just want to know that we fit, somewhere. We all, in one way or another, feel like a stranger. And perhaps this is the point. Perhaps that is precisely where our truest place of belonging is found. Perhaps that is the place where Jesus is most excited to meet us.

Hi, HI! This week, we're diving into the book of Philippians, a book with verses most of us can quote from memory. But, did you know? Philippians was written at a time that didn't look too different from our own. Heated politics, exhaustion, fear, talk of persecution, actual persecution... The wisdom in this letter has so much to teach us about our current climate, and how to conduct ourselves within it. So let's dive in, and see how those individual verses we know actually fit together to show us the truest citizenship we can claim, and the best attitude we can embody. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The whole sisterhood is BACK(!!) with the second installment of 4K Friday, discussing our thoughts on Dr. Larry Crabb's book "Shattered Dreams: God's Unexpected Path to Joy." Not one of us is living the life we envisioned for ourselves. We have all had to wrestle with God over noes he's given to long-prayed prayers, and the excruciating pain that accompanies those undesired answers. BUT. As Dr. Crabb (or Larry, as we probably-too-familiarly call him) teaches in this book, pain is a pathway for God to move us from shallow happiness into deep joy. The shattering of dreams moves lesser desires out of the way to reveal our greatest dream and desire of intimacy with God, and allows for those to be fulfilled. This book is a game-changer, friends. It's a FAITH-changer. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Oh, you geniuses, you. We just couldn't narrow your questions down into one episode! So we're back for part 2. On today's episode, we dive into questions about dealing with "fallen" Christian leaders, singles in the church, Christian involvement in politics, what it means to "give God all the glory," and more! Seriously -- hearing all that you're thinking about has us so inspired, and we hope you'll only keep sending us your musings.

With Ash Wednesday quickly approaching, readying us for the season of Lent, we take a look at the symbols and reasons for this important time in the Church calendar -- specifically, what it means to come from and return to dust. You won't believe how much dust has to teach us about the gospel, about our identity as believers, how to operate (and not operate) as the Church, and what it looks like to connect to and partner with the Spirit. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

It's our first Q&C, Question & Conversation episode, where we take your questions and turn them into discussion! Featured questions include: Why have denominations? How do you reckon with Bible passages that don't seem to line up with what you know of Jesus? Is "being like Jesus" an authentic desire? Why did God even allow for free will and sin in the world? What would you say to someone who's been "cast out" of the church? And more!!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

***HEAD'S UP, LISTENERS! For our next episode, we want to start opening up some conversations that you already have floating around in your big gorgeous brains. What questions are you asking? What are you wrestling with? Where have you found surprise blessing? Let us know by Thursday, February 4th, and we'll choose a few to discuss. And who knows -- perhaps your idea may one day have an entire episode devoted to it! So contact us on our website, or via email: the.she.atitudes@gmail.com.*** In this week's episode, we dive deeper into Karli's personal story, focusing on her battle with depression -- how God has graciously redeemed it, and also graciously allowed her to keep it. For it is only in our weakness that we learn His strength. Note: we are not licensed counselors, therapists, or doctors. If you believe that you or someone you know may be struggling with mental health, we cannot diagnose or counsel you, but can point you toward professionals who can. Do not hesitate to reach out for help. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

All the sistas in the house!! Every month, Kirsten and Kayti will be stopping by for a bonus episode, bringing in extra perspective and laughs and fire and ain't nobody mad about that! In this month's episode, we consider the blessings of church life during the shut-downs of the pandemic, when blessings can seem so few and far between. And it gets real. It gets raw and honest. There is frustration and questioning, conviction and confession. The pregnant one cries. We all laugh A LOT. It's an accurate capture of life among this sisterhood. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Contrary to the past-tense, lesson-learned tone we often take when telling our life stories, the testimonies that bear witness to God's work in our lives are multi-layered and ongoing. This week, we take a deeper dive into one layer of Kelsi's testimony, and hear how the easy-answer world she grew up in got turned on its head as she entered adulthood and encountered a God less concerned with her answers than her willingness to open herself up to Him. She processes the black-and-white culture that defined her youth, how it began to fail her once she met people who couldn't be met by the answers of that culture, and ultimately, how she began to experience God in the wild, seemingly foundation-less places she assumed He would never go, much less invite her to. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What does curiosity have to do with a growing faith? The answers to that question are seemingly endless... Join us as we begin to just scratch the surface, exploring the relationships between curiosity and creation, our callings, and the church. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

2020 was kind of a b, and 2021 hasn't started off much better -- but that doesn't mean WE can't be better. Join us as we reflect on our own 2020 shortcomings and assess what it looks like to move forward with a repentant, fruit-bearing spirit. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

It's our first show!!! Wooo!!! Join us as we introduce ourselves, and our overall vision for this podcast. Theme music composed by Benjamin Barker and Jonathan Bumpus. Logo by Hannah Williams. Featuring background laughter by Kirsten Saari and barks by Daisy.