Podcast appearances and mentions of Blake Smith

What if our mountaintop experiences weren't just for our enjoyment? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith in a brief exploration of Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush—a moment of holy ground, divine revelation, and a call to action on behalf of people who are suffering. Together, they challenge us to look beyond inward spiritual experiences and ask how our encounters with the sacred can move us toward justice, compassion, and service. Grab your coffee and join the conversation as we discover what it means to find holy ground wherever God's work of healing and liberation is happening. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

What happens when fear turns strangers into threats—and courage looks like disobedience? This week on Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the story of Moses' birth and the courageous women who defied an oppressive system to protect his life, reminding us that liberation sometimes begins with ordinary people refusing to cooperate with injustice. From the fear of immigrants and the misuse of power to the hidden strength of women and the sacred practice of listening across cultural differences, this episode connects the ancient story of Exodus to the realities of our world today. Grab your coffee and join the conversation as we ask what it means to confront fear, challenge harmful systems, and make space for the stranger. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

What relationships in your life are more important than any issue or event that may have broken them down? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a brief exploration of  Joseph's emotional reunion with his brothers and sit with the challenging idea that every hardship isn't always somehow part of God's plan. Instead, consider where God is present when the blessing doesn't come—and discover the deeper blessing found in healing, restored relationships, and reconciliation. Grab your coffee and join the conversation as we reflect on how we can move from asking “Why is this happening to me?” to trusting, “God is with me. I am not alone.”  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Keff Ciardello opens the show discussing the return to the Bobcats for edge rusher Tymere Jackson, Bruce Feldman's 2026 "Freaks List" featuring two Bobcats that are on this episode - OL Sully Burns and DL Chancellor Owens - and some quick notes from Texas State's fall camp/media day. Followed by 8 interviews with Texas State safety Ryan Nolan (18:26), defensive tackle Chancellor Owens (22:35), edge rusher DonTerry Russell (29:49), defensive tackle Phillip Bradford (36:49), left tackle Sully Burns (40:29), tight end Blake Smith (47:51), wide receiver Beau Sparks (51:31) and quarterback Brad Jackson (55:46). *Sponsored by thegalindocollective.com and FamilyFirstCremationServices.com*

When family rivalry, favoritism, and betrayal send a young dreamer into a pit, things can get a little crazy.  This week on Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the complicated story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37, uncovering themes of injustice, human brokenness, and the ways we lift others up—or put them down. As Joseph's story points toward a larger biblical narrative, we're invited to examine our own relationships and ask: Who have I lifted up today, and who have I put down? Join the conversation and discover a simple spiritual practice for increasing the “ups” and reducing the “downs” in our lives. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Great things can happen when a congregation stops asking, “How have we always done this?” and starts asking, “What does our community need now?” In this episode of What's Brewing, Blake Smith talks with Brooke and Thomas Schlenker of Highland Park, WA Congregation about their sacred (and un-conditional) yes to congregational leadership and to new ideas ... embracing experimentation, and becoming comfortable with the discomfort of change. Highland Park offers a compelling glimpse of what can happen when faith communities prepare well, take risks, learn from failure, and follow where the Spirit leads.  Listen to more episodes in the What's Brewing series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Wrestling with God can be painful, but it just might be worth it if it transforms us. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Jacob's mysterious nighttime struggle in Genesis 32—and the lasting mark it leaves on him. Be prepared to reflect on the ways our own encounters with God, uncertainty, and the sacred can leave us changed, sometimes even limping into a new way of being. As we wrestle with the questions and challenges of our own lives, we're invited to slow down, pay attention, and discover what blessing might be waiting for us in the darkness.  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

What if nothing—not suffering, rejection, failure, or even our deepest pain—could separate us from the love of God? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith as they explore Romans 8:26–39 and Paul's powerful assurance that God's love is not reserved for a select few but is expansive, extravagant, and available to all. Reflect on how divine love meets us in the midst of suffering and calls us to become people who practice that same lavish love through compassion, justice, peace, and deep listening.  Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go Series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Paul Blake Smith, Friday, July 24th, 2026, 3 PM ET Topic: The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Cover-up Paul Blake Smith BIO: Paul Blake Smith has completed his latest project, a nonfiction book for Llewellyn Publishing, set for release on Wednesday, July 8th, 2026: The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Cover-up (available for preorder on Amazon). It's all about the shocking yet little-known April 1941 UFO crash outside his hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This exciting new book will offer some revised and updated information on the amazing, otherworldly saga. Additionally, Paul wrote the recent nonfiction best-sellers President Eisenhower's Close Encounters and The Nixon-Gleason Alien Encounter, both of which are now in the slow process of being turned into future motion pictures. These two Foundations Publishing works were also awarded audio-book status via Tantor.com. Paul was born, raised, and educated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was a four-year Mass Communications Major with an English Minor at that river town's Southeast Missouri State University. He still resides in the Show-Me State, now with eight books under his belt and more to come, but no, he's never actually seen a UFO or an ET. Paul can be found on social media, including Facebook, Twitter (“X”), Instagram, Linked-In, Pinterest, and Bluesky. He has been a guest on numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the live, internationally syndicated Coast to Coast A.M. He has also been interviewed by local television news outlets and newspapers. His most recent books can be found on his website, paulblakesmith.com. Social Media: https://paulblakesmith.com/ Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-blake-smith-33815b65/ IG: http://www.instagram.com/paulblakesmith/ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/majjikcat/paul-blake-smith-books/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.smith.1884 BlueSky: http://www.paulblakesmith.bsky.social United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

What if the most powerful way to change hearts and minds is simply to invite someone into your family? In this moving episode of Grounds for Peace, Palestinian American filmmaker Monear Shaer shares the deeply personal story behind his documentary Gaza Is Our Home, offering an intimate window into his family, the beauty of life in Gaza, and the devastating realities they have endured. Joined by hosts, Linda Stanbridge and Blake Smith, Monear explores the power of storytelling to restore humanity, challenge narratives, and call us to bear witness when suffering is hidden or forgotten. This is a compelling conversation about family, faith, courage, and the responsibility we each have to see in order to learn, and act for peace.  Watch the film, “Gaza is Our Home.” Reach out to Monear or his team via email monear@gazaisourhome.com or support@gazaisourhome.com  Learn more about the Community of Christ 2026 Peace Forum. Listen to other episodes in the Grounds for Peace series. Download the transcript.Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell with Paul Blake Smith July 21st, 2026 EP: 103 Most people think Roswell was the beginning of America's UFO mystery. But what if the real starting point happened six years earlier? In 1941, a presumed airplane crash near Cape Girardeau, Missouri sparked a story of strange wreckage, alleged alien bodies, government involvement, and a cover-up that may have reached some of the most powerful figures in American history. Author Paul Blake Smith joins ParaTruth: Reborn to discuss his book The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell and the case that challenges everything we think we know about America's first contact story. Was this simply wartime rumor? A hidden military incident? Or one of the most important UFO cases buried beneath the shadow of Roswell? Join Justin and Erik as they separate fact from fiction and ask: Did the UFO cover-up begin before Roswell? Guest Bio: Paul Blake Smith was born and raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and attended that town's Southeast Missouri State University, where he was a 4-year Mass Communications Major with an English Minor. He has written eight previous books, for Argus, Foundations, and now Llewellyn Publishing, plus two in audio form at tantor.com. His two most recent books have been signed by producers for possible future motion pictures. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

My guest on the show today is returning guest and all-around friend of the pod David Sessions, a Boston-based freelance writer and the co-host, along with Blake Smith, of the relatively new Off Christopher Street Podcast and and Substack newsletter, about the history and present of gay male life and culture in America. David, Blake and I have recorded a crossover episode of Eminent Americans that focuses on their new endeavor, which should be out in the next month or two or three, but on this episode David and I are talking pornography, its ubiquity, the effect it may or may not have on our culture and kids, and related issues around technology, moral panic, and modern life. A few key differences between the two of us structure the discussion. One is our ages. David is 40. I'm now 50, and though it's not a huge difference from one angle, it represents a fundamentally different generational growing up experience when it comes the internet, social media, and smart phones, none of which I basically had growing up, all of which David got relatively early on.Another is kids. I have three of them. David doesn't have any. And a third is our backgrounds. I'm from a liberal secular Jewish home in the northeast where sex was discussed pretty openly, and porn wasn't permitted but wasn't really stigmatized either. David grew up in what he describes as a deeply conservative, Christian-nationalist home. He went to a Christian college, married a good Christian woman, and then came out as gay in his mid-thirties.One consequence of that background, for David, is that he's unusually attuned to some of the ways that mainstream discourse around issues like porn, smart phones, the internet, and social media has been influenced by savvy right wing Christian groups, who recognized pretty early on that if they wanted to move the mainstream they would have to find rhetorical frames that weren't aversive to establishment media. So instead of sin and god and traditional values they talk about public health harms, addiction, exploitation, objectification of women, etc.So David comes to these debates with an awareness of how they've often been covertly shaped by religious groups and motives. He also has the experience, as a gay man, of living a pretty flourishing social life that is enabled in all sorts of positive ways by the technologies that a concerned parent like me can easily fall into perceiving as purely pernicious.And one last thing I want to bring up, which I think is important as context for this conversation, is that so many of the discussions around the effects of tech on kids lack a real perspective on how it plays out differently depending on the socioeconomic class of the kids in question. Who is really speaking for, or from, the kids who aren't living with the kind of social and cultural capital that David and I both, albeit in very different ways, had growing up. Two parent homes, relatively intact communities, financially secure, high parental investment, and so on. David and I, and my kids, and his kids if he has them, have been or will be raised with psychological protective factor layered on top of psychological protective factor. What about the kids who don't have all that? Are we condescending to their parents in imagining that their kids are just at the mercy of the evil tech gods, that they're not able to sufficiently protect and nurture them. Or, alternatively, are we just basically ignoring them when we have these discussions, as elites, as though their kids are just like our kids, having basically the same experiences. I don't know, and David doesn't either, and – and this is maybe the worst part – who would I even turn to to help me answer it? So that's in the background of this conversation too.Two quick housekeeping notes. The first is a thanks to Joshua Howard for manfully editing this episode, as he has the last few. The second is that this the last episode of what I will retrospectively refer to as the scrappy, underground, indie era of this podcast. Starting in a week or two, I'll be launching a partnership with Arc Magazine, which is published out of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. I'll say more about that when we officially launch, but one thing I'll say now is that Arc's touch on the content and vibe of the show will be very very light. Occasionally I'll have on a guest who is doing something for the magazine, there will be brief promos for other Arc content, and I hope to do some fun experiments that I didn't have the bandwidth to do when it was just me and producer Robert. For the most part, though, I'm going to go about my business as I've done for the last few years. I'll have on whoever I want. We'll talk about whatever I want. And I'll swear whenever I fucking want.Peace. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit danieloppenheimer.substack.com/subscribe

Belonging matters! What does it mean to find a place where you truly belong? Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they explore Jacob's dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:10–19) as a story of pilgrimage, migration, and unexpected encounters with God's presence. Reflect on how our journeys—whether across borders, through life's transitions, or back to cherished places—shape our identity and reveal that our deepest home is found in God's abiding presence.  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript.Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Darkness Radio presents The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Coverup with Researcher/Journalist/Author, Paul Blake Smith! In 1941, a presumed airplane crash changed history. Immediately after, the US government covered it up. This thrilling book reveals the truth of America's first contact with aliens. There are plenty of books about the 1947 extraterrestrial encounter at Roswell, New Mexico. But only this one uncovers the full story of the UFO crash at Cape Girardeau, MO—six years before Roswell. Paul Blake Smith reveals how and why this crash was covered up— and where they took the evidence. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew about it. Harry S. Truman—Missouri senator at the time—knew about it. Did Albert Einstein know about it, too? Did the alien technology culled from the crash help refine the atomic bomb? This book presents meticulous research, historical documents, and thrilling witness accounts so you can decide what really happened that night. On today's show, we talk to Paul Blake Smith, Author of "The UFOBombshell Before Roswell..." about the circumstances behind America's first contact with Aliens as well as some of the players involved.  We also talk about what happened with the Alien bodies and wreckage from the crash.  Why are the ties to Freemasons local and national so strong in this case?  And how MO41 got the nation ready for Roswell and other alien incursions! Get "The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Coverup" here:  https://bit.ly/4fDIM8EWant a new spot to hang out, have that perfect dinner, and see some great entertainment? Look no further than Jellybean and Julia's in Coon Rapids, MN.! https://jellybeanandjulias.com/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennisThere are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website! Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/#paranormal  #supernatural  #metaphysical  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #paulblakesmith #theufobombshellbeforeroswell #presidentfranklindelanoroosevelt #presidenttruman #alberteinstein #firstufocrashinamerica #capegirardeau #missouri #paranormalbooks #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #alienhumanhybrid #alienabduction #alienimplant #Alienspaceships  #disclosure #shadowpeople #AATIP #DIA  #Artificiallife #artificialintelligence #AI #space-X #NASA #ISS #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory 

Darkness Radio presents The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Coverup with Researcher/Journalist/Author, Paul Blake Smith! In 1941, a presumed airplane crash changed history. Immediately after, the US government covered it up. This thrilling book reveals the truth of America's first contact with aliens. There are plenty of books about the 1947 extraterrestrial encounter at Roswell, New Mexico. But only this one uncovers the full story of the UFO crash at Cape Girardeau, MO—six years before Roswell. Paul Blake Smith reveals how and why this crash was covered up— and where they took the evidence. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew about it. Harry S. Truman—Missouri senator at the time—knew about it. Did Albert Einstein know about it, too? Did the alien technology culled from the crash help refine the atomic bomb? This book presents meticulous research, historical documents, and thrilling witness accounts so you can decide what really happened that night. On today's show, we talk to Paul Blake Smith, Author of "The UFOBombshell Before Roswell..." about the circumstances behind America's first contact with Aliens as well as some of the players involved.  We also talk about what happened with the Alien bodies and wreckage from the crash.  Why are the ties to Freemasons local and national so strong in this case?  And how MO41 got the nation ready for Roswell and other alien incursions! Get "The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri's 1941 Crash and Coverup" here:  https://bit.ly/4fDIM8EWant a new spot to hang out, have that perfect dinner, and see some great entertainment? Look no further than Jellybean and Julia's in Coon Rapids, MN.! https://jellybeanandjulias.com/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennisThere are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website! Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/#paranormal  #supernatural  #metaphysical  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis #paulblakesmith #theufobombshellbeforeroswell #presidentfranklindelanoroosevelt #presidenttruman #alberteinstein #firstufocrashinamerica #capegirardeau #missouri #paranormalbooks #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #alienhumanhybrid #alienabduction #alienimplant #Alienspaceships  #disclosure #shadowpeople #AATIP #DIA  #Artificiallife #artificialintelligence #AI #space-X #NASA #ISS #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory 

Tonight on GhostBox Radio with Greg Bakun, Greg talks with Author Paul Blake Smith about his newest book, “The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri’s 1941 Crash and Cover-Up”. There are plenty of books about the 1947 extraterrestrial encounter at Roswell, New Mexico. But only this one uncovers the full story of the UFO crash at…

Are you playing it safe with your life, or are you scattering your gifts with reckless abandon? In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith dig into the famous Parable of the Sower from the Gospel of Matthew. Positioned in the midst of "Ordinary Time"—the liturgical season built for growing in our discipleship—this scripture challenges us to look closely at the soil of our own hearts.Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

This week, one of our elders, Blake Smith, shares about the Church as the Bride. The Bride is one of the most frequent ways the Bible refers to the Church and the analogy of Christ and the Church displayed in marriage is deeply meaningful. The Church is an imperfect, yet wholly loved and chosen Bride, and we get to be pursued by the greatest Bridegroom of all time. Listen in as we unpack The Church as the Bride of Christ.

The wait is over! In this episode of Grounds for Peace, host Blake Smith sits down with Joelle Wight, director of the upcoming 2026 Peace Forum, to talk about the highly anticipated return of the church's flagship peace event. Joelle shares how we can embrace "faithful disagreement" with wonder, what to expect from the brand-new Creative Reuse Pop-Up, and the incredibly inclusive ways for adults, youth, and global online congregations to participate.   Secure your early bird registration before September 1st!Listen to other episodes in the Grounds for Peace series. Download the transcript.Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Although some people see it as such, grace is not a free pass to sin! In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the idea of "newness of life" offered through Christ. Together they wrestle with the tension between grace and discipleship, reminding listeners that grace is not a license to remain unchanged but an invitation to walk a new path. Join them as they reflect on how God's grace accompanies us every step of the journey toward transformation and freedom. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

This week on Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the story of Abraham and Sarah, where hospitality, divine promise, and unexpected laughter intersect. Through Sarah's famous exchange with God, they uncover the humor woven into scripture and reflect on how God's presence accompanies us through uncertainty and surprise. The conversation invites listeners to consider what it means to welcome strangers, trust God's promises, and find joy even in life's most improbable moments. Join us as we discover that sometimes faith grows not only through reverence, but also through laughter. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Trinity Sunday invites us into one of Christianity's most profound and challenging ideas: God as divine community. In this episode, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore how our language for God shapes our understanding of the sacred, the importance of inclusive imagery for the divine, and why expanding our vocabulary can create space for more people to encounter God. Through thoughtful conversation and practical spiritual practices, they encourage listeners to experience the Trinity in fresh ways—as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer; Life, Heart, Breath; and beyond. Join us as we reflect on how language, community, and grace help us deepen our relationship with the Divine. Listen to more Coffee to Go episodes. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

What does Pentecost have to say in a world shaped by division, nationalism, and fear of difference? In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the story of Acts 2—not as a tale of spectacle, but as a radical vision of inclusion, diversity, and God's Spirit moving beyond borders, labels, and walls. Together they reflect on the Spirit as wind, fire, and holy disruption, asking where divine presence is breaking barriers in our own communities today. Join the conversation as they consider a challenging question for Pentecost: if God embraces diversity, how might we do the same? Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Wait. Rest. Bless. As Easter gives way to Ascension Sunday and the anticipation of Pentecost, this episode of Coffee to Go explores what it means to be “story bearers” of hope, love, and Christ's witness in the world. Reflecting on Jesus' final words to the disciples, Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider the sacred invitation to wait, rest, and receive before stepping into renewed purpose. In a culture that resists slowing down, they ask: What if waiting itself is a blessing? Join the conversation as they reflect on being clothed with the Spirit, finding grace in stillness, and preparing to become a blessing for others. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Sometimes we have to wrestle with tough passages and/or themes in scripture. The only option is to avoid them, and that's never good. They're in there for a reason. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith on this sixth Sunday in the Easter season as they wrestle with the difficult and often misunderstood themes of suffering, persecution, and hope found in 1 Peter 3:13–22. Get ready to challenge harmful interpretations that glorify suffering and instead explore how the early church found courage and resilience in the way of Christ. Find ways to respond to hostility, frustration, and fear not with retaliation, but with gentleness, compassion, and hope.  Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go Series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Don't put away your Easter decorations yet!! In this Easter-season reflection on the Gospel of John 14, Karin Peter and Blake Smith wrestle with one of Jesus' most quoted—and often misunderstood—statements: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Together, they reframe this passage not as a boundary of exclusion, but as an invitation into a way of being shaped by compassion, trust, and divine presence. Through personal stories and theological insight, they explore how God's promise of “dwelling places” speaks to our deep longing for belonging and peace. Listeners are invited to consider what it means to walk the way of Jesus daily and to create spaces where that love can be experienced and shared. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Shepherds, and bandits and gates ... Oh my! In this Easter-season episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Jesus' words in Gospel of John 10, where shepherds, bandits, and gates become powerful images for discerning the voices that shape our lives. Together, they reflect on what it means to recognize the voice of Christ—not merely in sound, but in the substance of compassion, justice, and love. Moving beyond rigid boundaries, the conversation reframes “the gate” as a way of living that embodies the very character of God. Listeners are invited into a daily spiritual practice of reflection, asking not only who they follow, but how their own voice guides others along the way. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

The road to Emmaus, a familiar story opens into a deeper invitation: what if Christ is already walking beside us, unrecognized? In this Easter reflection, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore how divine encounters often come disguised in ordinary moments—through conversation, hospitality, and the breaking of bread. Together, they wrestle with the ways distraction, assumption, and expectation can blind us to God's presence, even as our hearts quietly burn within us. This episode offers a thoughtful invitation to notice, receive, and be transformed by the subtle yet sacred ways Christ is revealed in everyday life. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Step into the second week of the Easter season with Coffee to Go as Karin Peter and Blake Smith step out of the gospels and into the weekly lectionary scripture being used by Community of Christ as a focus for worship. This week, they explore the powerful message of 1 Peter—a call to live into a “living hope” even when faith feels difficult or uncertain. In a world marked by division, fear, and pushback, what does it really mean to follow Jesus beyond belief and into action?  Tune in for a thoughtful conversation that will encourage you to take a small but meaningful risk in sharing your authentic faith this week. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Step into the quiet mystery of Easter morning as this episode of Coffee to Go explores the resurrection story from Gospel of John 20:1–18. Beginning in the darkness before dawn with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, the conversation reflects on how the Gospel's movement between darkness and light mirrors our own journeys from confusion to understanding. Along the way, Karin Peter and Blake Smith invite listeners to consider how Christ's resurrection meets us personally—sometimes in moments we recognize only later. As you reflect on your day, pay attention to where hope, light, and the risen Christ may be calling you by name today. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Everything in his life and ministry brought him to this day... and the opposition thought they had won. But we know the story doesn't end here, and we can call it Good Friday.  Unfortunately, for those who were present on that day, there was little good about that day. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a reading of the Good Friday story from the Gospel according to John and a blessing. Then, let us wait together. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

It's the night before the Passover... the last night that Jesus will have with the disciples ... to be their leader and to give them advise ... and instead of a lecture, he takes off his outer robe, kneels in front of them and washes their feet. It makes you wonder if what you value in a leader or strive for in your own leadership qualities is what Jesus had in mind. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they help us think more deeply about what we value in ourselves and in others.   Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

Women's History Month has come to a close, but it's turtle time, so mention it all, and don't be all, like, uncool in your Herman Munster shoes! Mark celebrates 20 years of Bravo's Real Housewives, which started airing in March 2006 with The Real Housewives of Orange County. He goes on a nostalgic ride through all the cities, ladies, drama, and so much comedy, and has invited friends and fellow fans Dan Anderson, Solana Sorrento, Valona Shehi, Blake Smith, Branwyn Ritchie, Movie Geek Meg, and Tim Murdock (from Happy Horror Time) to round out his own Ultimate Girls Trip cast and share their favorite moments. Bye wig, bye ashy, and goodbye Kyle! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, but this familiar story carries deeper layers than we often notice. In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Matthew's account of Jesus entering Jerusalem through insights from New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine, revealing the bold risk and intentional symbolism behind the moment. Amid the chaos of a crowded Passover festival and the watchful presence of Roman power, Jesus' humble procession on a donkey becomes a striking contrast between domination and servant leadership. The longing for liberation was deeply real and immediate. As the journey into Holy Week begins, you're invited to reflect on where you stand in the story and how you might respond to the cries for liberation still heard in our world today. Book mentioned in this episode: Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week by Amy-Jill Levine Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

As Lent draws to a close, this episode of Coffee to Go reflects on the powerful story of the raising of Lazarus in Gospel of John 11. Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore what the story reveals about grief, faith, and the surprising ways God's presence meets us in life's most difficult moments. Rather than seeing suffering as something caused by God, they consider how moments of loss can become opportunities for God's love and healing to be revealed. The conversation invites listeners to ask: when the unexpected happens, do we respond with fear—or with deeper belief? As Lent moves toward Holy Week, the episode offers a simple spiritual practice: treat every new morning as a “Lazarus morning,” a fresh chance to begin again. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey.   NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ. 

In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the powerful and complex story from Gospel of John 9:1–41, where Jesus heals a man born blind. As they wrestle with difficult questions about blame, suffering, and faith, the conversation moves beyond ancient assumptions to examine how modern people still search for someone to blame when life goes wrong. Together, they reflect on what it means to truly “see”—and how spiritual blindness can show up in judgment, labels, and our tendency to focus on what's wrong instead of what's good. Get ready to take off your blinders and ask yourself... Who am I failing to see, and what might change if I looked again? Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Sunday, March 1st, 2026 If you like what you hear, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Podcast, and our website.  Instagram @MedoraChurch Facebook @MedoraChurch Podcast @MedoraChurch Website medorachurch.com 

In the middle of cultural tension, gender barriers, and social division, Jesus chooses conversation, compassion, and connection—revealing living water where others might only see boundaries. Together, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith invite listeners to hear the story with fresh ears, imagining the real voices, emotions, and lived experiences behind the text. The episode highlights how belonging can come before believing and how one unexpected encounter can spark a powerful witness of faith. As Lent calls us to turn and go a new way, this episode asks: where might we cross divides and share the living water we've experienced? Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

On this Second Sunday of Lent, Coffee to Go journeys into Gospel of John 3:1–17 and the midnight questions of Nicodemus. What does it really mean to be “born from above”—and why are we so desperate for clear, concrete answers? Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the tension between certainty and trust, grace and effort, and the radical claim that God's love is for the whole world—not just the “right” believers. Instead of clinging to John 3:16 as a simple formula, they invite us to linger with John 3:17 and its promise of a love that refuses to condemn. It's an honest, hope-filled conversation about walking a Spirit-led path—even when there are no road signs. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

“If you humble yourself before the Lord” ... you will be in the perfect position for Lent. In this Ash Wednesday episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith turn to Psalm 51 – the ultimate example of humility and repentance, to think about the importance of self-reflection and turning our hearts toward God for a good “cleaning.” But beware, cleaning the heart takes on special meaning in the Hebrew scriptures.  Asking for a clean heart is asking for a whole lot more than just getting a “bath.” It's about getting a whole makeover. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Listen to the Percolating on Faith episode on Satan. Book mentioned by Karin Peter is: The Quest for the Historical Satan, by Miguel De La Torre and Albert Hernandez. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Welcome to The Cafe, the latest addition to the Faith Unfiltered Podcast family and the Brewed Awakening series. Grab your coffee or tea, or whatever makes you feel most grateful and kick back for a casual conversation among friends. In this episode of The Cafe, you'll hear about serviceberries, generosity, and reciprocity.  Panelists Nick Keehler and Linda Stanbridge are joined by guest Blake Smith to talk about gift economies and how they can change the world one relationship, one life, and one ecosystem at a time. You will likely find that you are more a part of gift economies than you think! Listen to more episodes in the Brewed Awakenings series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

A little more time on the mountain, and a lot more light! In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith invite listeners into the luminous mystery of Transfiguration Sunday, the powerful turning point that bridges the season of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent. Join Karin and Blake on the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James, John, and a couple of unexpected guests. See how God's glory is illuminated in Jesus. And then, spend some time exploring what God is illuminating in you.  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

February is a month that has been established as Black History Month. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't need a month dedicated to persons and voices that have not otherwise been acknowledged for their incredible contributions to our shared history? Join host Blake Smith for this time of meditation meant to focus our attention on the forgotten and/or silenced voices that are equally important in the telling of our story. Pause for a few minutes to consider the choices each of us needs to make so that all voices are heard, and the richness of culture that surrounds us is allowed to thrive. Original post date: February 4, 2025Listen to more episodes in the Awaken to God's Presence series. Download TranscriptThanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

You are blessed... and you are blessed, but thoughts, prayers and blessings may not be enough.  At least not for the poor and the marginalized and the outcast ... and, well you get the idea. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a walk through the beatitudes found in the fifth chapter of Matthew. Pay close attention to whom Jesus says is blessed, and why. We'll give you a hint ... he's not talking to the rich and powerful. He's talking to those who are living and acting in the middle of the struggle and on behalf of others.  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

What are you willing to risk for the mission of Christ? The price was pretty high for John the Baptist, the disciples, and especially for Jesus himself. Going against the grain is rarely easy. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a conversation that touches on the counter-cultural nature of Jesus' Kingdom, the marginalized status of the first disciples, and the urgency of taking risks for restoration, reconciliation, and healing. Listen to other episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

It's time to meet the rest of the panel for the new Brewed Awakenings panel series. From extroverts with lots to say to introverts trying to find a voice and fill up space, there is room for everyone at this table. Join host Blake Smith in a sit-down with the other half of the panel, Nick Keehler, Mary Cusack, and Linda Stanbridge, who will be bringing hard conversations about important topics to the forefront. Listen in to find out why they agreed to be on the panel and what areas of social justice get them excited. Want to make sure they cover a topic that you want to hear about... send them a note in the comment section. Listen to more episodes in the Brewed Awakenings series. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

If we could learn one thing from John the Baptist, it ought to be that being a disciple means pointing others toward Jesus ... with our actions, with our words, and with the way we treat others. It's not about drawing the attention of others toward us. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith focus on how John points toward Jesus ... the one who takes away the sin of the world ... the one of whom John said, “after me comas a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” (John 1:30, NRSV). Who is it that you can point to that shines a light on Christ with their life?  Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Walk towards the light!!  Don't worry, not “that” light... the star in the East.  Join Karin Peter, Blake Smith, and the Magi on a trip to see the one who has been promised. On this Sunday of Epiphany we walk toward the light that is Jesus ... a light that is for all people and draws them to follow on a journey that symbolizes seeking and honoring God. Once you've made this trip, you'll likely go home a “different way,” seeing the world from a different perspective. At least we hope so. Learn more about the nativity in episode 532: Percolating on Faith | Christmas with Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith. Listen to more episodes in the Coffee to Go series. Download the Transcript. Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Blake Smith and Dr. Karen Stollznow catch up on recent headlines and new literature. First, Blake discusses a "ripped from the headlines" update regarding the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case. We revisit the tragic story of Morgan Geyser, her recent escape from a halfway house, and the media's handling of the mental health and transgender aspects of the story.Later, Karen reviews a pre-publication copy of the upcoming book How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines. Does the book provide a blueprint for creating ghosts, or is it a cultural tour of famous haunts? Karen breaks down the architectural history, the folklore, and where the book lands on the spectrum of skepticism.Key Topics• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.• Slenderman Segment:    • Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (MonsterTalk Ep #86).    • Morgan Geyser's conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.    • A critical look at the prison industrial complex, mental health care in the US, and the current moral panic surrounding transgender individuals in media coverage.• Book Review Segment: How to Build a Haunted House (Coming April 2026).    • A review of the book for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).    • Analysis of the Myrtles Plantation, Borley Rectory, and the Winchester Mystery House.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.