Podcasts about blue ocean faith

We live amidst profound cultural and spiritual divisions but can feel adrift in terms of what to do about it apart from judging people across the divide from us. Historic spiritual wisdom does have some thoughts, some of which turn out to be quite practical. Dave Schmelzer walks us through a provocative case study with insights from Franciscans, Zen thinkers, and psychologists, along with his own experiences.Mentioned on this podcast:Not the Religious Type and Blue Ocean Faith, by Dave Schmelzer, and Further Along the Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck as books that discuss the stage theory we look at here. The Wisdom Pattern, by Richard RohrThe many books of Ken Wilber (here's one that addresses things on this podcast)Weekly online groups (and a Sunday service) around these things that you should totally check out. More info at connect@journey-on.net

Dr. Harold Trulear from Howard University speaks on Psalm 23, the paralyzing effect of fear, and God’s presence with us in the midst of turmoil—all in the context of the the devastation of Covid and the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th.  Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at […]

  We offer a few thoughts on why the church remembers the story of the magi visiting baby Jesus each year. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

As life moves forward, faith changes for many people, which can feel unsettling. Where, some might ask, is Jesus in whatever this new phase is? Dave Schmelzer has processed this with lots and lots of people. Here's the best stuff he's learned.Mentioned on this podcast:The Seek CourseNot the Religious Type and Blue Ocean Faith, by Dave SchmelzerJourney to the Heart, edited by Kim Nataraja  

As life moves forward, faith changes for many people, which can feel unsettling. Where, some might ask, is Jesus in whatever this new phase is? Dave Schmelzer has processed this with lots and lots of people. Here's the best stuff he's learned. Mentioned on this podcast: The Seek CourseNot the Religious Type and Blue Ocean Faith, by Dave Schmelzer Journey to the Heart, edited by Kim Nataraja    

In the second sermon of our Lenten series, we talk about seeing the book of Job as the spiritual transformation of a man in the face of suffering and how he forges a new path in the midst of his pain and confusion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at […]

In the second sermon of our Lenten series, we talk about seeing the book of Job as the spiritual transformation of a man in the face of suffering and how he forges a new path in the midst of his pain and confusion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at […]

In this introduction to our Lenten Sermon Series, Job & the Religious Mob: A Courageous Dissent, we talk about where the book of Job fits into the larger revelation of God to humanity. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In this introduction to our Lenten Sermon Series, Job & the Religious Mob: A Courageous Dissent, we talk about where the book of Job fits into the larger revelation of God to humanity. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Taking Bonhoeffer’s lead, we look at what it means to be led by the Spirit discerned through the Jesus of the Disinherited. This is the final sermon in our Nurturing the Spirit in Spirituality series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Taking Bonhoeffer's lead, we look at what it means to be led by the Spirit discerned through the Jesus of the Disinherited. This is the final sermon in our Nurturing the Spirit in Spirituality series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

The first to be filled with the Spirit in the gospel of Luke were women used to being shushed, who then spoke up to challenge the powers of the day—this is the deeper purpose of strange-to-many practices like speaking in tongues and loud vocalizations. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, […]

The first to be filled with the Spirit in the gospel of Luke were women used to being shushed, who then spoke up to challenge the powers of the day—this is the deeper purpose of strange-to-many practices like speaking in tongues and loud vocalizations. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, […]

Jesus’s empathetic love has the power to help us heal. Through the story of Lazarus’s death, we see a God who meets people in their grief in the personal way they need God to respond. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Jesus’s empathetic love has the power to help us heal. Through the story of Lazarus’s death, we see a God who meets people in their grief in the personal way they need God to respond. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Jesus drew his emphasis on “love your neighbor as yourself” from the book of Leviticus. It’s helpful to consider self-love (self-kindness) from an much older tradition than the self-esteem movement of the 1960’s. Similar aim, different path. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Jesus drew his emphasis on “love your neighbor as yourself” from the book of Leviticus. It’s helpful to consider self-love (self-kindness) from an much older tradition than the self-esteem movement of the 1960’s. Similar aim, different path. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In this timely sermon we visit various ways Christians have thought about the ethics of war and violence. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In this timely sermon we visit various ways Christians have thought about the ethics of war and violence. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Satan is the mother (or father) of all monsters in the Bible. In Hebrew, satan, is not a Proper Name for a spirit being so much as a function-role that plays human society, especially scapegoating: accusation. This is the second sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, […]

Satan is the mother (or father) of all monsters in the Bible. In Hebrew, satan, is not a Proper Name for a spirit being so much as a function-role that plays human society, especially scapegoating: accusation. This is the second sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, […]

The demon Rabisu, the crouching vampire predator, holds no power over us because we can face our demons without fear of separation from God. This is the first sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

The demon Rabisu, the crouching vampire predator, holds no power over us because we can face our demons without fear of separation from God. This is the first sermon in our Advent series: Monsters of the Bible. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In the first four centuries of Christianity, the most common symbols of the faith were the Good Shepherd, the vine and the fish. We take a look at the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23 to get a better understanding of the importance of that metaphor. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and […]

In the first four centuries of Christianity, the most common symbols of the faith were the Good Shepherd, the vine and the fish. We take a look at the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23 to get a better understanding of the importance of that metaphor. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and […]

Research shows that listening to sad songs when we’re sad is helpful. Psalm 126 is a song meant to accompany us in a time of sadness—and offers the comfort of dreaming of a time when the sadness is replaced by glad songs. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Research shows that listening to sad songs when we’re sad is helpful. Psalm 126 is a song meant to accompany us in a time of sadness—and offers the comfort of dreaming of a time when the sadness is replaced by glad songs. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Most of the world experiences the boundary between this world and the “beyond world” as a semipermeable membrane. More interaction-connection possible, as Scripture bears witness with the phrase: “We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Most of the world experiences the boundary between this world and the “beyond world” as a semipermeable membrane. More interaction-connection possible, as Scripture bears witness with the phrase: “We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.” Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In Matthew 7 Jesus talks about bad fruit and good fruit. Guest Speaker Liz Dyer applies this parable to the effects of non-affirming and affirming theologies. This is the final sermon in our annual membership renewal series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In Matthew 7 Jesus talks about bad fruit and good fruit. Guest Speaker Liz Dyer applies this parable to the effects of non-affirming and affirming theologies. This is the final sermon in our annual membership renewal series. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

How Fundagelicalism Turned Scripture Into Something it was Never Meant to be, How to Get it Back and Manage Any Emotional Fall Out. This is the fourth sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

How Fundagelicalism Turned Scripture Into Something it was Never Meant to be, How to Get it Back and Manage Any Emotional Fall Out. This is the fourth sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

The sermon uses apocalyptic teachings from the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus to give voice to the anger of those who have been mistreated by toxic religion. This is the third sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

The sermon uses apocalyptic teachings from the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus to give voice to the anger of those who have been mistreated by toxic religion. This is the third sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Using the story of Jonathan eating honeycomb (1 Samuel), we talk through the importance of paying attention to our emotions in helping us determine healthy vs. unhealthy spirituality. This is the second sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Using the story of Jonathan eating honeycomb (1 Samuel), we talk through the importance of paying attention to our emotions in helping us determine healthy vs. unhealthy spirituality. This is the second sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Evangelicalism is arguably the most influential religious movement in Christianity. Where did it come from? What’s the back story? What’s a positive vision for the role of deconstruction in building a more authentic spirituality? This is the first sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

Evangelicalism is arguably the most influential religious movement in Christianity. Where did it come from? What’s the back story? What’s a positive vision for the role of deconstruction in building a more authentic spirituality? This is the first sermon in our membership renewal series, eXvangelicals: Beyond Toxic Religion. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

In the second sermon in our series, Dave Nelson gives his testimony, and we reflect on the harm inflicted on us by cultural narratives about what it means to be male or female. We also talk about how God doesn’t dominate us, but lets us present ourselves without shame.Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

In the second sermon in our series, Dave Nelson gives his testimony, and we reflect on the harm inflicted on us by cultural narratives about what it means to be male or female. We also talk about how God doesn’t dominate us, but lets us present ourselves without shame.Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including […]

We live under socially constructed ideas about gender and what it means “be a man.” But a closer look at Scripture reveals that Jesus was a gender bender. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

We live under socially constructed ideas about gender and what it means “be a man.” But a closer look at Scripture reveals that Jesus was a gender bender. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

In this new, story-filled podcast focusing on an experience of Jesus that's fun, contemplative, practical and cultural, Dave Schmelzer of Blue Ocean Faith talks about how the new documentary The Biggest Little Farm makes a case for what spiritual masters have been saying for millennia. Namely, that learning to observe what looks like a threat to your happiness (rather than immediately fighting it) can offer a way into a new, connected life--in which, as a throw in, the problem at hand spins around to become a benefit.  Mentioned in this podcast:The Biggest Little Farm Explore a new online small group around these ideas (or check out a live group in Los Angeles). Contact mail@blueoceanfaith.org.  Isaiah 11:1-9A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,    the Spirit of counsel and of might,    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,    or decide by what he hears with his ears;but with righteousness he will judge the needy,    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth...Righteousness will be his belt    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.The wolf will live with the lamb,    the leopard will lie down with the goat,the calf and the lion and the yearling together;    and a little child will lead them.The cow will feed with the bear,    their young will lie down together,    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.The infant will play near the cobra’s den,    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.They will neither harm nor destroy    on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord    as the waters cover the sea.

In this new, story-filled podcast focusing on an experience of Jesus that's fun, contemplative, practical and cultural, Dave Schmelzer of Blue Ocean Faith talks about how the new documentary The Biggest Little Farm makes a case for what spiritual masters have been saying for millennia. Namely, that learning to observe what looks like a threat to your happiness (rather than immediately fighting it) can offer a way into a new, connected life--in which, as a throw in, the problem at hand spins around to become a benefit.    Mentioned in this podcast: The Biggest Little Farm   Explore a new online small group around these ideas (or check out a live group in Los Angeles). Contact mail@blueoceanfaith.org.    Isaiah 11:1-9 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;     from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—     the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,     the Spirit of counsel and of might,     the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,     or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy,     with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth... Righteousness will be his belt     and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb,     the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together;     and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear,     their young will lie down together,     and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den,     and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy     on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord     as the waters cover the sea.

Guest Speaker (and worship director) Cassie Brabbs draws from her experiences raising her three children, as well as her own childhood, to discuss the importance of learning empathy and inclusion.Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Guest Speaker (and worship director) Cassie Brabbs draws from her experiences raising her three children, as well as her own childhood, to discuss the importance of learning empathy and inclusion.Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Empathy is a precursor to Jesus’ acts of compassion. Why is empathy in decline today, despite all the empathy hype? Understanding the 3 kinds of empathy and the 3 major empathy blockers. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Empathy is a precursor to Jesus’ acts of compassion. Why is empathy in decline today, despite all the empathy hype? Understanding the 3 kinds of empathy and the 3 major empathy blockers. Learn more about Blue Ocean Faith, including service time and location, at a2blue.org.

Dave Schmelzer is the executive director of Blue Ocean Faith, an innovative network that dreams together of seeing an experience of Jesus thrive in non-traditional settings. With his wife, Grace, he founded and pastored a large church in Cambridge, MA and has written several books, including Not the Religious Type: Confessions of a Turncoat Atheist. He podcasts (at Blue Ocean World), produces short spirituality videos for new audiences, and will shortly begin blogging, all of which can be found at blueoceanfaith.org or at Blue Ocean Faith's Facebook page. __________________If you call Journey your home, you can give here as an act of worship. If you'd like to invest in Journey's mission to reach those in our community and around the world then join us by giving in the Journey app or on our website at https://journeycommunitychurch.com/giving.