Podcasts about Bethlehem

Isaiah 35 presents a beautiful picture of the King’s Highway. Are we on it? Have we taken a detour? Do we even know it exists? In this sermon, I look at the glorious Highway of the King. 10.19.25.The.Kings.Highway.Tim.McCool

In this sermon Brother Luke looks at how walking in obedience is the key to a solid foundation. While it is easy to understand the concept, it is sometimes difficult to execute. 10.22.25.Building.on.a.Rock.Luke.Hagler

What is required of us by the Lord? What does He expect out of us? In this sermon Brother Luke looks at what it means to do justly, which is one of the things the Bible tells us is required of us by God. 10.26.25.What.is.Required.Luke.Hagler

Luke 2 is more than a Christmas reading. Pastor Ron Meyer shows how “taxing times” force us into God's positioning. Bethlehem looked illogical. The manger looked like failure. Yet God was fulfilling prophecy, providing a Passover over hell, and sending provision before anyone saw it. This message calls leaders and disciples to drop self-reliance, embrace obedience, and walk by what is written—not by sight.Scriptures referenced: Luke 2:1–7; Micah 5:2; Psalm 22; Psalm 42; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Isaiah 64:4 / 1 Corinthians 2:9; Matthew 2:13–23; Matthew 7:21–23; Hebrews 11:1.Chapters00:00 Intro: Instant Classic + Theme00:30 “Moving things around” in hard times02:30 Masks off. Honest ministry04:50 Emotions as locators of faith06:20 Grandma check vs IRS letter contrast09:00 “Taxing times” defined11:15 Hostile powers and pressure on believers13:35 Recognizing God is harder than it sounds15:15 “Who do you say I am?” John and Peter under heat18:00 Pastors quitting early problem19:30 Taxation as God's strategy, not the problem20:40 Bethlehem prophecy (Micah 5:2) vs human logic22:40 Forced obedience to fulfill prophecy24:20 The real manger. No petting zoo26:50 “Why have You forsaken me?” Psalms in hardship30:20 Walk by faith when evidence is missing32:20 Why Bethlehem: sorrow → right hand, Tower of the Flock, Passover ridge, House of Bread36:20 Healing testimony: “we needed a miracle”38:20 Stay small in your own eyes39:30 Move again with God: Egypt → Nazareth41:10 Warning: Works without knowing Him (Matt 7)42:40 Messenger vs Message. Let God build44:30 Hardship drives deeper commitment45:40 Stand on what is written46:40 Provision is en route: wise men example48:00 Call: God is in it. Stay in itShow NotesALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISMLocate a CFM Church near you: https://cfmmap.orgWe need five-star reviews! Tell the world what you think about this podcast at: • Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3vy1s5b • Podchaser: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-the-land-cfm-sermon-pod-43369v

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

In this compelling sermon, Pastor Karl dives into Matthew Chapter 2, exploring the journey of the wise men and the early life of Jesus. He unpacks the historical and political context of Herod's tyrannical rule and the profound obedience of Mary, Joseph, and the magi in the face of uncertainty. Pastor Karl emphasizes that faith grows not in comfort but through obedience, even when it feels like exile or leads to unexpected places like Nazareth. Highlighting the transformative power of worship and sacrifice, he challenges listeners to prioritize Jesus' story over their own, trust God's providence in difficult seasons, and remain faithful wherever God places them. Join us for an inspiring message that encourages steadfast faith and submission to God's plan. Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

Luke 2:1-7

Part 20 of "James: Gospel Wisdom for the Christian Life"

Story Sunday: Jesus, Justice & Gaza with Anton DeikAnton Deik — a Palestinian Christian and scholar — shares his family's story and invites us to see the human, ethical, and theological realities of life in Israel-Palestine. He challenges us to reckon with the injustices endured by the Palestinian people and to reflect on what faith, justice, and peace look like in the name of Christ.Anton Deik is Associate Director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice and Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Bethlehem Bible College. Originally from Bethlehem, he has served in ministry and education across East Asia, England, Palestine, and Bolivia. Anton is married to Sara Améstegui (from Bolivia) and together they are parents to Nour Sofia. His background includes serving as Director of Online Education at Bethlehem Bible College, working with Operation Mobilization onboard MV Logos Hope, and leading research projects in computer science with Birzeit University and the Palestinian government.About Story Sunday: Story Sunday creates space for sharing stories and exploring the intersection of faith and spirituality with lived experience.

When you think of popular Bible stories, like the Christmas story, you might imagine particular things — that Mary and Joseph were poor, that they traveled through the desert to get to Bethlehem, or even that Jesus was born in a dirty barn. But are those things really true?Sometimes we approach Scripture with Western eyes and English translations that don't give us a complete picture of the historical and cultural reality of these stories.The new book, Wow! I Didn't Know!: Things You Never Knew About the Stories of Jesus by Dr. Craig & Ginny Evans, dives deeper into Scripture to shine a light on common misconceptions and reveal the more likely facts that can not only deepen our understanding, but change the way we view the stories that many of us know by heart – not only the Christmas story, but many from Scripture.Order your copy of Wow! I Didn't Know!: Things You Never Knew About the Stories of Jesus, and leave a comment on the featured excerpt shared earlier this week for a chance to WIN a copy: https://incourage.me/?p=254539The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!

In this revisiting of a 2024 episode, chef and author Fadi Kattan talks to Mark and Kate about the dangers of simplifying reality; why we should recognize and champion origin, and how doing so is a lesson in humility; the effect the Israeli conflict has had on agriculture; and his cookbook, Bethlehem. We're sharing two recipes from Bethlehem on the Bittman Project – Fig Salad, and Mujadara – and you can find them here. https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/fadi-kattans-fig-salad/https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/fadi-kattans-mujadara/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doug Stuart welcomes Alex Bernardo—host of The Protestant Libertarian Podcast—to unpack his book-in-progress on politics, economics, and New Testament interpretation. Alex argues that modern readers (and many New Testament scholars) import post-Enlightenment categories—“politics,” capitalism, socialism—into the first century and then draw conclusions the biblical writers never intended. His remedy starts before exegesis: nail down stable definitions and widen “politics” beyond elections to how humans relate, wield authority, and organize life together.They zero in on Luke–Acts. From Caesar's census pushing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem to Paul proclaiming the kingdom “unhindered” in Rome, Luke traces the reign of the crucified, risen, and ascended Son of David. In that frame, the Gospel is unavoidably political—not because it tells you how to vote, but because Jesus already reigns. The early church engages authorities without revolutionary violence, trusting the Spirit's power while keeping allegiance to Christ above every rival.Bernardo outlines his method-first opening: concrete definitions of capitalism and socialism; a spectrum framed by liberty versus authority and violence versus nonviolence; and the needed context of Greco-Roman and Second Temple Jewish history. He previews work-by-work studies—Acts 2 and 4 on sharing, the rich young ruler, the widow's mites, Romans 13, and 1 Peter 2—and explains why academic readings often lean left: institutional incentives, limited engagement with primary economic sources, and reliance on secondhand caricatures of economists and traditions (e.g., Hayek, the Austrians). The conversation ranges into theology too: recovering Jesus's concrete Davidic kingship, refusing to sever messianic identity from divine ontology, and practicing interpretive humility that lets the text correct us. Expect a big, careful book (roughly 450–500 pages) that raises the bar for Christians who care about Scripture, history, economics, and real-world power—and a discussion that resists anachronism while inviting principled, peaceable political discipleship today.Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com Use code LCI50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings and also support LCI!Full Podsworth Ad Read BEFORE & AFTER processing:https://youtu.be/vbsOEODpQGs  ★ Support this podcast ★

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

In the latest episode, we delve into a pressing issue that has resurfaced in today's discussions: replacement theology. With Yael Eckstein from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, we explore the historical roots and the dangerous implications of this ideology. Eckstein articulates how this perversion of Christianity has, in the past, led to significant tragedies, including the Holocaust.As we navigate through the conversation, Eckstein highlights the importance of understanding scripture. She emphasizes that many who promote replacement theology do so from a place of biblical illiteracy. To counter this, she urges listeners to study the scriptures and recognize the enduring bond between Jews and Christians.The episode also sheds light on the role of the International Fellowship in supporting Christian communities in the Holy Land, particularly in areas like Nazareth and Bethlehem. Eckstein shares inspiring stories of how the Fellowship provides food and medical assistance, affirming the commitment to stand with those in need.Moreover, we discuss the crucial alliance between the U.S. and Israel, especially in light of recent political events. Eckstein reflects on the overwhelming support from American Christians for Israel and how this solidarity is vital for peace and stability in the region.This episode is not just about addressing the past; it's about looking towards the future. Eckstein encourages listeners to recognize the "silenced majority" of Christians who stand with the Jewish people, emphasizing that their voices need to be heard.Join us in this enlightening discussion that calls for unity in faith and action. It's a reminder of the strength found in our shared values and the importance of standing together against the forces that seek to divide us. Tune in to gain insights that can empower you to make a difference in your community and beyond. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews, and to support Israel and the Jewish people. To learn more, go to: https://www.ifcj.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

We're joined with Kenzie Cardella, Festival of the Lake Spokesperson, talks about the fun-filled event in Mandeville. Rebecca Wildsmith, talks about her father's book, The Road to Bethlehem, and Dr. Luke Arredondo, Executive Director of the St. Brendan Center for Evangelization and Spirituality in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee with Catholic 101 segment.

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

In this special episode, Dangerous Dogma podcast host, Brian Kaylor talks with William Stell, a religious studies professor and author of the forthcoming book, Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity. Kaylor is also joined by guest cohost Jared Burkholder, scholar in residence at Moravian Theological Seminary. This is in partnership with Moravian exploring historical and contemporary issues of concerns involving evangelicals. Burkholder will be giving the annual Walter Vivian Moses Lecture on Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. (ET) at the Bahnson Center on the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Campus of Moravian Theological Seminary. It will also be livestreamed for free. Sign up to watch here.  

In this episode of Luke21, Steve Wood explores the fascinating link between Scripture and science through Colin R. Nicholl's groundbreaking book The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem. Drawing from Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12, Steve discusses how the “woman clothed with the sun” and the “great red dragon” may point to real celestial events surrounding the birth of Christ—and what these signs reveal about God's plan of salvation. For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

Does it matter which Bible we use? Today we often choose a version of that Bible that best suits our personal preferences. With over 50 versions of the English Bible, it is wise to consider how these versions came to be. But the various versions contain so many contradictions with each other until it is …

How often do we act like the Israelites in how quickly we turn away from God? Even after experiencing his great deliverances, we are quick to turn away. In this message, Brother Luke looks at a Savior that stands in the breach to make intercession for us even when we rebel against our God. 10.12.25.He.Stands.in.the.Breach.Luke.Hagler

The Lord is very clear about His view on pride. He hates and resists it. But He is also very clear about humility. I am so thankful we serve a God who is very tender-hearted towards his children when they display humility. In this message I look at how a little humility goes a long …

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

Elaine Heath is the abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Spring Forest centers around communal prayer and meals, a vibrant farm, refugee support, and other ministries you can read about here. You can learn more about Elaine's work as an author and speaker on her website, or in articles like this one from the Center for Action and Contemplation.Many thanks to Elaine and her husband Randall for welcoming Ron and I and our audio producer, Colin, to the farm last June. Besides relishing the good company of our hosts, we enjoyed harvesting cabbage, feasting and praying with the Sunday evening group, walking through the woods, and petting some good-natured goats.Dr. Elaine HeathOn the farm.Someone had to help harvest the cabbage, so Ron and Colin and I pitched in.Elaine, husband Randall, and I in their lovely home.TRANSCRIPTElaine Heath If you are nurtured by traditional church—or let's say, conventional church—keep doing it, but also realize that for other people that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new. So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Dr. Elaine Heath. Elaine is founder and abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community centered on a 23-acre forest and farm property near Hillsboro, North Carolina. The farm supplies a CSA and supports food security for refugees and serves as the setting for outdoor programs for kids, cooking classes, potlucks, forest walks and more. But the Spring Forest community is a dispersed network of people who move in and out of the farm space in a variety of ways. They live on the farm for a time, they visit often to volunteer, or they simply join the community online for daily prayer. We got to visit the farm last spring, and I can tell you that Elaine's long experience with new monasticism, trauma-informed care, and contemplative practice make her an ideal curator of refugia space. The vibe on the farm is peaceful, orderly, and full of life. It's a place of holy experimentation in new ways to form Christian community and reconnect with the land. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Elaine, thank you for talking with me today. It's really great to be with you.Elaine Heath Yeah, I'm glad to be with you too.Debra Rienstra So you served in traditional parish ministry and in religious academia for many years, and then in 2018 you retired from that work to found Spring Forest. Why a farm and a new monastic community? What inspired and influenced this particular expression of faith?Elaine Heath I've always loved farms and forests. But actually, my dream to do this started about 25 years ago, and my husband and I bought a 23 acre property in North Central Ohio, right when I was right out of my PhD program and I got my first academic job at my alma mater, which is Ashland Theological Seminary. So I went there to direct the Doctor of Ministry program, and we bought this beautiful property. It had a little house that looked like the ranger station, and it had a stream and a big labyrinth cut in the field, and it had beautiful soil to grow, you know, for market gardening. And what we planned to do was gradually develop retreat ministries there. My husband was going to build some hermitages up in the woods, because I did a lot of spiritual direction with pastors who were burned out and traumatized, and we felt like that, you know, as I got older and phased out of academia, that would be something we could do together.So we were there for a couple years, and then I was recruited to go to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. And we were very sad to leave our property behind, but we were clear that we were being called to Texas. So we bought a home in the city in a sort of mixed income, racially diverse neighborhood in Garland, and it was a big house with a nice yard, and soon after starting to teach evangelism—which, I kind of created my own path for how to teach evangelism, because I don't believe in selling Jesus or any of those kinds of colonizing things. So I was teaching about living a contemplative life and practicing social and environmental justice and being good news in the world, and being good neighbors to all our neighbors, and thinking of our neighbors as us and not them. And I had them reading Shane Claiborne and the people writing with the emerging church movement at the time, and pretty soon, I had students in my class coming to my office every week. It was a different student, but the same tears and the same kind of narrative: “Dr. Heath, I think I'm going to have to leave the church to answer my call. Tell me what I should do.” And it was because they were being called to do innovative, new monastic ministry, missional, new monastic kinds of things. But our denomination in particular didn't quite get it, even though early Methodism was very much like that.So I realized fairly quickly that this was God calling me through these students to focus my research and writing and my teaching in the area of emergence. Emergence theory, what's happening in the world. How do these currents of emergence intersect with what's happening politically and environmentally, and what's happening, you know, in the economy and with the church. So pretty soon, I don't know, it wasn't very long, I felt God was calling me to gather students and start some experiments outside, out in the city. And so I had a prayer partner, and we were praying for a house to come available, so that we could start a new monastic house. And she came to me one day and she said, “I saw the house coming. It'll be here soon.” And I said, “Okay.” I had no money for a house. You know, kind of a lowly professor, didn't make that much. And within two weeks, one of our neighbors came to me, who didn't really know me well at all, and said, “Hey, my mom has a rental property. It's been in our family for a long time, and we wondered if you might have some students that would like to live there. We won't even charge rent, just pay their utilities and not have drug parties or whatnot.” And I said, “No, that's unlikely,” you know. So I said, you know, I could throw the phone down and ran down to get in her car and go over to this house with her. And we were driving over, and she says, “You know, it's not the best neighborhood.” I said, “Perfect!” But we got there, and it was a really great little three bedroom house in a predominantly Latina neighborhood, and that was our first new monastic house. So I asked three of the students who'd been crying in my office, “Would you be willing to break your leases wherever you live and come and live here for a year?” And I can assign a spiritual director to work with you, and I can write a curriculum for an independent study on the theory and practice of new monasticism. And we can develop a Rule of Life based on our United Methodist membership vows. And they all immediately said yes, and so that's how we got started with our first house.Elaine Heath And then right around the same time, I started a missional house church that was quickly relocated into the neighborhood where most of the refugees are resettled in Dallas, because one of my students brought six Congolese men to our little house church worship, and that that was the beginning of realizing we were called to work with refugees.Debra Rienstra Oh, I see.Elaine Heath So that all got started around 2008. And by 2009, there was a student who came to Perkins who had been a commercial real estate banker on Wall Street. And he came to Perkins as a student. He was an older man. And we were going on my very first pilgrimage to Iona, Northumbria, and Lindisfarne, and Michael Hahn was with us too. He and I team-taught this class, so it was my first one. But it turned out that Larry Duggins, the student, had come to seminary because he really wanted to be equipped to help young adults who were feeling disillusioned with the church but wanted to be out in the world doing good work. And he started describing what he was called to, and I'm like, “Well, that's what I'm doing with these students.” So we joined forces and created a nonprofit called Missional Wisdom Foundation, and within three years, we had a network of eight new monastic communities across the metroplex. They were all anchored at local churches. Some of them were parsonages that weren't being used. And we wove into the expectations and sort of the lifestyle of those houses, urban agriculture.Debra Rienstra Oh, I was waiting for the farm to come back into it. Yeah, because I'm seeing these threads of experimentation and monasticism and place. We're sitting here today on your current farm land. So it's really interesting to hear all these threads being developed early on in an urban context.Elaine Heath Yes, it was quite something. These houses were all in different social contexts. There was one house, the Bonhoeffer house, that was in East Dallas, in a neighborhood that was not only mixed income and racially diverse, but also used to be where the mayor lived. And now there are people who are unhoused living there, and there are also people with nice houses living there. So it was a very interesting neighborhood. So that house, we learned quickly that you needed to take a year to get to know the neighborhood before you try to figure out how you're going to support whatever justice work needs to happen in the neighborhood. But that house got really close with the unhoused community and did a lot of good ministry with the guys and a few women. Then there was one for undocumented workers, the Romero House, and just different social contexts. But all of them had a backyard garden or, you know, some type of growing food kind of thing. And I used to take students to this farm that was an urban farm in DeSoto, which is just south of Dallas, where it was quite small, but these were former missionaries, the type that have crusades and show the Jesus film and everything in sort of poor countries. And then they had an awakening that happened, and they realized they were being called to help people in orphanages learn how to grow their own food in a sustainable way and raise the living standard for the whole village. So they had this little farm, and I would take students there every semester to experience the conversion of thought that this couple had over what mission is, and to experience the beauty and joy of tilapia that provide food for the lettuce, that provide for the bees, you know. So this closed system. So that also affected my imagination about what I really wanted to do in the future.And so gradually, the years—we were there for 11 years, and we lived in community the whole time that we were there. By the time we came here for me to work at Duke, we had a very clear picture of what we wanted to do here. And so we looked for the property back when we had to sell that first farm, when we were so sad about selling it, I had an experience in prayer where I sensed God was saying to me, “Don't give up on this dream. It's sacred, and it will happen in the future on a better piece of property, at a better time in your life for this.” And so when it was time to move here, I said to Randall, “This is the time. Let's look for that property.” So that's how we landed here.Friendly, very contented dairy goats, hanging out in the afternoon.Debra Rienstra Yeah. When talking about your students, you mentioned yesterday that you like to “ruin them for fake church.” So what do you mean by fake church, and how exactly do you ruin them for it?Elaine Heath Well, you know, church is really the people and not the building. You all know that. It's the people and we're called to be a very different kind of people who are a healing community, that neighbor well, that give ourselves away, that regard our neighbors—human and non human—as part of us, whether they think they're part of us or not. We have this sort of posture in life. And when I think of how Jesus formed the church, Jesus had this little ragtag group of friends, and they traveled around and did stuff and talked about it, and they got mad at each other and had power struggles and drama and, you know, and then Jesus would process the drama with them. And he would do these outrageous things, you know, breaking sort of cultural taboo to demonstrate: this is what love really looks like. And so we don't get to do much of any of that, sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, facing forward while the people up in the front do things. And so many churches—maybe you've never experienced this, but I certainly have. The pastor's sort of the proxy disciple while people kind of watch and make judgments and decide whether or not they want to keep listening to those sermons.Debra Rienstra Oh yes.Elaine Heath So when you experience Christian life in a community where it's both natural, it's just the way you live in the world, and it's also liturgically rich, and the life is a contemplative life, and it's also a life of deep missional engagement with the world— that other version of church, it's like oatmeal with no flavoring in it. It makes you, I mean, it's about the life together. It's how we live in this world. It's not about sitting somewhere for an hour once a week and staring forward.Debra Rienstra Right. Yeah, so I would, you know, of course, I would describe what you're describing as refugia, being the people of refugia. You know? Not that I'm—we'll come back to traditional worship and traditional forms of faith and religion. But it seems like what you're doing is living into something you say on your website that we are in the midst of a new reformation in the church, and I certainly sense that too. I think the evidence is all around us, and the research bears out that we've reached this inflection point, and it's a painful inflection point that a lot of people think of as decline, because living through it feels confusing and bewildering and dark and full of loss. So what is your sense of when we are, in this point in history, in particular, for those of us who've been part of church communities, where are we finding ourselves? Why is it so confusing?Elaine Heath I really believe we're in a dark night of the soul as the church in the West and perhaps places in the East too. I know we've exported a capitalist version of church all over the world, sadly. But I believe we're in a dark night of the soul, you know, classically understood, where it's spirit-breathed. It's not that the devil is doing something to us. It's spirit-breathed to detach us from our sort of corporate ego that thinks we get to show up and boss the world around and act like we own the joint.Debra Rienstra We call that church of empire.Elaine Heath Yeah. And so I think that's what's happening. And when, you know, if you study the literature, if you work in spiritual direction, and you're looking at what happens with the dark night of the soul. That's a real dark night, not a clinical depression or something like that, but an actual dark night. You have to go through it. You can't bypass it. You can't work your way out of it. You can't talk your way out of it. And what happens is you find yourself increasingly hungry for simplicity, for a simple but clear experience of God, because it's like God's disappeared. There's a deep loneliness, even a sort of cold hell, to being in a dark night of the soul. And so there's a restlessness, there's a longing for actual experience of God. There's a feeling of futility. Things that used to work don't work anymore. So you know the threefold path? The purgation, illumination and union is one way that we've learned to think about what happens. The purgation part is— we're there.Debra Rienstra We're being purgated.Elaine Heath We're being purgated, yeah. And at the same time that we're having these flashes of intuitive knowing, this sort of illumination is coming. “Oh, let's pay attention to the saints and mystics who lived through things like this. What gave them life? What helped them to keep showing up and being faithful?” And we're having moments of union too, when we feel like, “Oh, discipleship means I make sure that the trees are cared for and not just people. Oh, all living things are interconnected. Quantum physics is teaching us a spiritual truth we should have known already.” So the three parts of that contemplative path are happening simultaneously. But I think what feels most forward to a lot of people is the purgation piece where you're like, “Oh, things are just dropping away. Numbers are dropping. Things that used to work don't work. What's going to happen now?” Sort of a sense of chaos, confusion. Tohu va bohu, yeah.Debra Rienstra Yeah, do you want me to explain what that is?Elaine Heath Yeah, chaos and confusion. From the beginning of time.Debra Rienstra It's the realm out of which creation is formed. So the idea that the spirit is drawing us into this dark night is actually really reassuring. We are where we're supposed to be. And even though it feels confusing and painful, there are these moments of wisdom—that's so reassuring. In fact, one of the things you write: the new reformation is all about the emergence. So this emergence is happening of a generous, hospitable, equitable form of Christianity that heals the wounds of the world. What is your vision about what the church needs to release and hold and create right now?Elaine Heath We need to release everything that even slightly has a hint of empire, that we have thought of as what it means to be the church, because that completely reverts what church is supposed to be about. So giving up empire, we need to take up the great kenotic hymn of Philippians two and actually live it.Debra Rienstra The self emptying hymn.Elaine Heath The self emptying. And it's not—I know that that can be problematic when we're thinking of women or, you know, groups that have been forced to empty themselves in an exploited way. But that's not really what that's all about. It's about showing up to God, paying attention, seeing what God's invitation is, then cooperating with that and just releasing the outcome. That's what that's about, and really finding out, what am I in this world for? What are we in this world for? And being about that and not about something else.Debra Rienstra Yeah, it's hard to release the ways that we have done things. Well, you have a congregation, you have a pastor, you have a sanctuary, you have programs, you want the kids to come, you need tithes, all of those systems. And actually, what you're doing here at Spring Forest—let's talk about that. What you're doing here at Spring Forest doesn't have any of that. Sunday services. There's no church building. You have barn buildings, you have farm buildings. No Sunday school, no adult ed, no choirs, organs, praise bands, any of that stuff, right? Do you think of Spring Forest as a new model for church? Perhaps one among many?Elaine Heath It's one among many. We're definitely shaped by traditional monasticism. We're shaped by early Methodism. We're influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement, and definitely Bonhoeffer's work and a number of others: the Clarence Jordan and Koinonia farms. And so we're influenced by all of those. We do have music sometimes at Forest Feast, if we have someone that can lead it, and, you know, do a good job. But the backbone of our worship life is morning and evening prayer. And that is so wonderful. You were here last night for Forest Feast, and we use the same structure we use for morning and evening prayer, and we have a group of about six people who are writing the liturgies for us, who have been writing for a year and a half now.Debra Rienstra Who are those people?Elaine Heath Well, there's Steve Taylor is our lay leader, and his wife, Cheryl, and then there's Donna Patterson, who's—none of them were here last night. They all had to go somewhere. But some of them are lay people. Some of them are clergy.Debra Rienstra And they don't live here?Elaine Heath No, they live— well, some of the people that write live far away, and they're in our digital community. But, yeah, Steve and Cheryl live in Lumberton, which is, you know, almost two hours away. But they're beautiful. I mean, if you go online and look at some of the last month, look at the prayers and see the—they're just truly beautiful, and they reflect our spirituality of our community.Debra Rienstra Yeah. So the community, it seems to me, you have had people living on the farm itself, but your community, like the Iona community, is both located here on this land, but also dispersed. And so you have that interaction, that conversation between this residential life. So let's try to describe for listeners: there's the farm. You live here with your husband. You have interns from Duke. You have a farm. What do you call Larry?Elaine Heath He's our farm coach.Debra Rienstra Coach, yes, I love that. They have the farm coach who has the farming knowledge that you all sort of follow. You have chefs. They don't live here either, but they come in. So you have a lot of people coming in and out on this farm. And you do regenerative farming. You have programs for kids, you have refugee support, and you can talk about that, trauma informed rest for spiritual leaders. And then a number of other things. The farm produces vegetables and those go to a CSA, and also a lot of it is donated. Why this particular assembly of activities? How does it all fit together? And what are the theological principles beneath each of these endeavors?Elaine Heath The overarching principle is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to every believer and to every person, let's just be honest. And the job of the pastor, the pastor teacher, is to fan those gifts into flame, to help them have the support they need to use their gifts and that the ministries should be shaped by the gifts of the people, which means you can't use a cookie cutter. And we have numerically a small community, but incredibly high capacity of people. So we have these gifts that they have, and then the ministries are emerging out of those gifts. And it might seem like, why do you have refugee support? And you know, just name anything else we're doing. How does this fit together? The organizing principle—okay, so you have the foundation. These are gifts given by the Spirit. Our ministries are emerging from our gifts. And the organizing sort of a cohesive piece is our rule of life that ties everything together. And so our rule of life is prayer, work, table, neighbor and rest. And that rule of life came about after we lived here for a year, when we first started Spring Forest with—there was another pastor that co-founded it with me, Francis Kinyua, who's from Kenya, and he was my student in Dallas, and did all those other things with me. So we invited him to come. We had to work with three different bishops to kind of make it work. But it worked, you know. Anyway, we just waited for a year to see. We had lots of work to do with getting the farm ready to go and Francis and I went to Church World Service right away to say, “Hey, we have a lot of experience supporting refugees, and we would like to do that here as well.” So we got started with that, but we waited a year and then just articulated, what are the practices that we do that are keeping us grounded here and keeping us right side up. And it was those things, so we named it.Debra Rienstra Okay, you were just doing it, and then you named those things.Elaine Heath Instead of creating sort of an aspirational rule and tried to live into it, we named what was actually working, what was actually grounding us and felt life giving.Debra Rienstra Hi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra You do partner a lot with, you know, “regular church folk.” It's that sort of in-and-out permeable membrane. How do you think about the relationship of what you're doing here, with Spring Forest, with the work of sort of standard congregations, is there like a mutuality? How do you think about that?Elaine Heath It's just like traditional monasticism. You've got a community that have this rule of life they follow. People who are not living in the community can become Oblates to the rule of life and have a special relationship. And usually those people go to church somewhere else. Part of our ethic here is we want to resist competition between churches, so we don't meet on Sundays to do things like programmatically. We usually just rest on Sundays and watch a movie and eat popcorn, you know.Debra Rienstra That's a spiritual practice.Elaine Heath But also, so there's that sort of historic piece, and people from churches come here for retreats. Lead teams come for retreats. People come—pastors, we have a lot of pastors who come here for a retreat. But also we are a mission community, so we're very active with supporting refugees. We're very active with the food programs that we have, and that gives people from a church—lots of churches don't have things like that going on. They don't have the resources for it, or they haven't figured it out. But that way, we can partner with churches and people can come here and they can actually get their hands in the soil, and they can teach somebody to read, and they can see little children learning where food comes from. They can help the chef with her kitchen things, you know. So it's a wonderful way to provide spiritual formation and missional formation to congregations that don't have those resources. And we can do these things together.Debra Rienstra Yeah. And that's that's premised on this being a place, an embodied place, a refugia space that people can come to. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful model. Do you yourself ever feel a sense of loss for “the old ways?” And I'm just thinking of this because at the beginning of your book, God Unbound, which is about Galatians, you write about how Paul challenges the Galatians to let go of their tight grip on the past, and you write about how you, reading that, felt yourself like a little bit of a traditionalist, you know, sort of defending, “But what about the past? What about the old ways?” Which you have loved too, right? So, how would you counsel people who have loved traditional church despite everything, and really do feel this sense of loss and wonder anxiously about what's next?Elaine Heath Yeah, I feel empathy. You know, something was going on in the Middle East at the time. I can't remember exactly the situation. There's always something going on, but it had to do with people's culture being wiped out and being told that what they believed didn't count and wasn't right and everything. And I was feeling such grief for them, and then all of a sudden, you know, I'm in Galatians, and think, “Well, that's how those people felt.” And even myself, there are things in my own daily practice that are—they're precious to me. My way of praying in the morning, the facing into the forest, you know, and things like that, that are rituals for me. And thinking, you know, if somebody told me “that doesn't matter,” how hard that would be. So I think in the spiritual journey, we come to the place, if we keep maturing, where we realize, in Merton's words, that so often we think it's the finger pointing to the moon, we think the finger is the moon. And it's that way about rituals and all sorts of things that we do, and we get to a place where we realize that intellectually and even spiritually, in an emotional way. But you can't force people to get to that point. This is something that happens as we grow and mature as life goes by. So what I have said to many people is, “If you are nurtured by traditional church, or, let's say, conventional church,”—because which traditional church are we talking about? One, right here, middle class, white, are we talking about Brazil? —”So if that nurtures you, keep doing it. But also realize that for other people, that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new.” So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on. Because we're in a time of great emergence, as Phyllis Tickle wrote, and we need lots of experiments.Debra Rienstra Yeah. I appreciated what you wrote about trial and error. It's a time of trial and error, and it's okay to try things and have them not work. And that fits the refugia model too, really, really well. I mean, refugia don't always work. They just sometimes fail. Let's talk about a couple of key metaphors that I've noticed in your writings and in the website for Spring Forest too. One is that metaphor of the mycelial network, so the underground fungus that connects the creatures, the beings, the plants, the trees of the forest. I think is a wonderful metaphor too, for the way that faith and climate people, people who are worried about the climate crisis, and also people of faith—it's a great metaphor for how they're finding each other and connecting and building this sort of cultural and spiritual soil where the seeds of the future can grow. How is that metaphor meaningful for you here at Spring Forest?Elaine Heath Well, it means a lot in terms of the first of all, the diversity of expressions of ministry that are even here on the property, but also, especially in our dispersed community, through following the rule of life together, which—we are a practice-based community, rather than a dogma-based community. So as people are practicing those practices where they live and work and play, then they are forming community in a very specific, contextual way where they are. I think of Steve and Cheryl again, the friends I mentioned earlier. He's our lay leader. They live in a, I think a working class neighborhood in Lumberton, which is the land of the Lumbee here in North Carolina. And they have developed a wonderful, just neighborhood ministry there with—and they've been able, through potluck dinners and front yard barbecues and remembering people's birthdays and things like this, they've developed this friendship network in the neighborhood with people that are on complete opposite sides, politically, racially, and this is in the South, where you've got all sorts of issues. And they've taken the sort of ethic of Spring Forest here, but it's caused a mushroom to bloom there that looks really different from here. They don't have a farm, they don't have a forest, they've got this neighborhood. But the neighboring, the praying, the tabling, resting, all of those things are part of how they live there. And so it's fruiting there. And it's the same in other places in the world where we have people that live there.Debra Rienstra It's a good example, too, of how eating together is sacramental, both here and in these other networks that are connected to you. The Garden of Eden and the vision of the New Earth in Revelation are both important to you, that that whole long scriptural arc begin in a garden, end in a garden city, and then the Tree of Life is also your symbol, your logo. So how would you situate our work today as people of faith in that long arc of history, from the garden to the Garden City, and how does the Tree of Life fit into that for you?Elaine Heath There's a way in which the whole story is happening simultaneously. Does that make sense?Debra Rienstra Yeah.Elaine Heath It's all happening beyond time, sort of simultaneously. So sometimes we're living in the garden and we've been deceived, and now we have to figure out what to do, and sometimes we're rebuilding the wall, and sometimes we're on our way to Bethlehem, and sometimes we're in the garden of the new creation. And we can see it, and we're living that truth even while there's still the wall being built. There's a simultaneity to it all. But for me, I think especially of the theology of Julian of Norwich. That's why we have her icon here. There's this vision of love making all things new, that God, Christ, the risen Christ, says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.” All things, not just a handful of people who get the right doctrine, not just—no, all things: horses and amoeba and all things are being made new in mysterious ways that we can't completely know.Debra Rienstra And that's Colossians one and Romans eight as well.Elaine Heath It's this thread that comes through scripture, and we get to participate in that, even while we don't see all the things completely made new, we get to be part of that. And to me, that's what it means to follow Christ. That's what it means to be a disciple. And to be the love of God enfleshed in this world is to keep participating in the making of all things new. This is why healing has such a central role in my theological vision and my practice, is it's making all things new.Debra Rienstra Healing land, healing people, healing communities.Elaine Heath Yeah, yeah. Healing theology. Theology has been so damaged by patriarchy and philosophy and all sorts of things, you know, and racism.Debra Rienstra Colonization. Yeah, so that embodiment is important even theologically, because we're not aiming for some abstract doctrinal perfection. We're not aiming to become disembodied creatures. We're aiming for this embodied redemption. And so working on the farm, healing, you know, getting muddy, walking through forests, harvesting veg, and you're able to invite people into that embodiment. Little kids doing yoga, I think that's wonderful. You know, just finding this kind of rest in their own little bodies. Eating—one of the most embodied and kinship-with-creation things we do, right? Taking it inside ourselves. And that, I think, is condensed in ritual. So I know that you have been playfully experimenting with rituals. I was able to be a part of the Forest Feast last night with my husband Ron and our friend Colin. And it was this beautifully curated event where we shared table together and then went through this prayer sequence that you described, and it was beautifully participative. I noticed you do a blessing of the animals too on the farm. So good thing these are blessed chickens and blessed dairy goats, blessed dogs and cats. What other sort of liturgical shenanigans have you tried to help people live into this embodied faith practice?Elaine Heath We do so many things. It's so much fun. It's never boring. It's never boring. We have a ritual in the fall, in late November, where we tuck the farm in and put it to bed for the winter, and we have the children come, we get some compost. You know, we've cleared out the beds, and they're gonna rest now. And so the children put some compost in. And we have a liturgy that we use. We light candles, and we thank Mother Earth for the food, we thank God for the opportunities. And so this is one of the things that we do ritualistically. We also have a spring ritual. It's very Hebrew-Bible like, right? With these seasons and the crops and the things with the liturgical seasons, we also have done a bunch of things. My favorite one so far was for epiphany, and this was two years ago. And so I had the interns from Duke Divinity School do the bulk of the planning. I just gave them a little bit of guidance about the four-fold order of worship and just some things like that. So we had a journey through the forest. It started here. We went on the forest trail. Of course, it was dark outside, and they had gone ahead and set up fairy lights at certain places where we're going to stop. And one of the interns' fiance was a musician, so he had his guitar, and he had one of those things where you can play the harmonica and play the guitar at the same time, but he was our troubadour, and all of us were the Magi. So there's this troop of Magi, and we would stop at each station along the way, and there were prompt questions that we would take five minutes, and people could respond to these questions. There would be a scripture reading, and we respond to the question, we go to the next station. And it was so amazing. People shared from their lives in a very deep way. It surprised me how quickly they went deep. Well, it was dark, and there were these twinkle lights, and there was the troubadour. Then we finally got up to the Christ child, and we went into the goat barn. And honestly, I get chills every time I even remember this. But the students had set up in the goat barn—and the goats were in the barn. Okay, they were behind a little chain link thing so they didn't step on the icons and everything. But they had set up an altar at the base of the feeding trough with a big icon of Mary with the Christ Child, candles, and some other things there. There were different icons and some fairy lights. And we went in there, and we all crowded in and began to sing. We sang “This Little Light of Mine,” we sang some Christmas carols, and finished the story. And then we came back to the house and had some snacks and talked about what kind of wisdom was given to us since we were Magi. We were going to be people seeking wisdom and seeking—it was the most beautiful thing. And we've done lots of things like that. We see the land here is a primary text to learn from and to listen to and to observe, not as a metaphor, but as, it's actually a conversation partner. So we do things like that.Debra Rienstra That playfulness is so exciting to me, this sense of using our tradition, using our scriptures, using the skills that we've honed as people of faith over generations, singing together, praying together, but experimenting with those things in new contexts and new ways, in new forms of embodiment that are just faithful and yet playful. And so, as you say, people go deep because they're sort of jarred out of their habitual ways, and that can be such a great formational moment and bonding moment too, and it's very memorable. We remember that in ways—you know, you had such joy on your face as you're describing that. What would you say as you look back over the last, well, let's see, it's been almost eight years? Seven, eight years here at this location. What would you say has given you the most anguish and what has given you the most joy?Elaine Heath Oh, anguish. Which story should I tell?Debra Rienstra Yeah, I don't want to make it sound like it's all been beautiful and romantic and perfect.Elaine Heath Whenever you have community, you have drama. Well, you know, at your typical church, you're gonna have drama sometimes. But what we've found a few times, and it's pretty predictable. This happens in traditional monasteries too, which is why they have novitiate periods that are sometimes quite lengthy and sort of staggered, like you put your toe in the water. People of very high capacity who are deeply grounded spiritually and have a real vision for the gospel, are attracted to community life like this. People who are really hurt, who've had a lot of brokenness, especially from religious institutions or abusive situations, trauma that that is unresolved, that has a lot of unhealed wounds, are also attracted to places like this, often with a sort of utopian hope, because of, you know, life's deficits.Debra Rienstra And they feel that this is a place of healing, and they're right about that.Elaine Heath They're right about it. And so what actually happens is sometimes with the person, the second category of person, will come and join in and just be so full of gladness, because, “Oh, these, these are real people, like they're really doing things in the world. This is what I've longed for.” But then, as relationships form, and we're doing life together, and we all bump up against each other at times, the unhealed wounds fester. And the way I see it is, God's bringing them to a place where, if they'll just do their inner work now, now that it's clear what's the next step—if they'll take the next step, whether it's get some therapy, stay on your meds, get some support for your addiction recovery, whatever the things are—if you'll take the next step, then this is a very supportive community that can help you. It's a village that can be around you and you will heal here in the context of this village. But sometimes people are not willing or not able, or it's not time in their own sense of what they can do, and so then they'll leave. Sometimes when people leave, this happens in traditional churches, for whatever reason, this is a common sort of psychological reaction, they'll create some sort of chaotic drama to be the excuse for leaving, rather than have to face the fact that it was time for me to take the next step, and I was too scared. Because that takes a lot of self awareness, you know, to come to realizations about things like that. So I know from talking to people, from, you know, friends that are in traditional monasteries and convents that this is a common thing that happens there. So it happens here sometimes, and it's never easy. It's always painful and always challenging, you know, but with God's help, we get through it. And so that's the anguish, when those kinds of things happen. We've had a time or two where, over the last 20 years, really, where a person would come in, usually a young adult who's very idealistic, and they're like, “This isn't a new monastic community. You're not forcing people to pray three times a day!” You know, whatever the thing is that they have in their head that is supposed to be, because we're pretty gracious, you know.Debra Rienstra You don't get up at three in the morning.Elaine Heath Yeah, that's not us. We can't do that because, especially if you've got families with children and, you know, you've got to get up and go to work in the morning. So sometimes there will be somebody that figures they know more than everybody else in the room, and they want to take over and run the joint. You know, that's not going to happen. So then that sometimes creates some anguish. What about the joy? The joy is—and there's so much to give me joy. I really, really love seeing people come alive, like I really love seeing people who have, especially people who have been harmed by religion, because of their identity or because of anything, and they find deep spiritual friendship. They find how to connect, in Buechner's words, their deep passion with the world's great need, and start a new thing. And it gives them so much joy. And it's actually helping people. It's helping the world. And just sort of fanning that flame, that gives me a lot of joy. I have so much joy being in touch with the land and the animals. I just really experience them directly mediating God to me. I feel the divine life in them, and I feel, I guess I get a lot of dopamine hits when I'm out there harvesting and when I'm, you know, brushing the goats and talking to the chickens and whatnot.Debra Rienstra They are blessed chickens!Elaine Heath They are blessed chickens.Debra Rienstra What advice would you give to church people who, even though they love their church and their community, recognize that something needs to change, but they don't know where to start? What advice would you give?Elaine Heath To start in their own home, if at all possible, start in their own neighborhood. Start having neighbors over for dinner. Do not tell them we're going to have a Bible study now, because that's—it's not to have a Bible study. It's to form friendships with our neighbors. Start neighboring well. Figure out who lives on my street. Who lives across the street? Invite them for dinner. Have neighborhood potlucks. We did this in Texas, right after we moved there, I think they're still going. We'd have 50 people in our house sometimes. But just invite the neighbors for dinner. Have a potluck. Get to know them. Remember their birthdays, go to their kids' graduation. When you find out their mother died, go to the funeral. It's so simple. It's just such basic neighboring. That's where to start. It's not a church program. It's not making you stop going to church somewhere, to go to church over here. What you're actually doing is living church in your own neighborhood. Start doing that.Debra Rienstra Elaine, it's been such a pleasure to be here on the farm with you and to talk with you, get to know you a little bit. Thank you for what you do, and thank you for spending some time with me today.Elaine Heath It's been a joy. Thank you for the interview.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us for show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

What if Christmas wasn't about doing more, but learning how to be more present with your family? In this episode, we're diving into why holiday perfection is stealing your joy and how you can shift from chaos to connection this season.We're talking about practical ways to focus on what really matters—faith, family, and freedom from the pressure to do everything perfectly. You'll discover how to choose meaningful traditions over Pinterest-perfect moments, and how to prepare your heart during Advent so you can actually enjoy Christmas morning.In this episode you will learn:✅Why scrolling social media makes you feel behind and stressed✅How to shift from perfection to presence during the holidays✅3 keys to a more peaceful Christmas✅Simple ways to create meaningful traditions your kids will actually remember✅How to use Advent to prepare your heart, not just check off a to-do listReady to make this your most peaceful Christmas yet? Grab the Christmas Celebration Bundle mentioned in this episode at HowToHomeschoolmychild.com/ChristmasbundleShow Notes:How to Be More Present This Christmas (Without the Holiday Stress)Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Homeschool Coffee Break, where we help you stop stress so you can take a coffee break. Let me tell you, the topic we're talking about today can stress you out, but I'm here to give you some ideas and some solutions.Yes, you can see the background, it's one of my first episodes for this Christmas season, and I think it's really important to figure out what happens when you let go of holiday perfection. What if Christmas wasn't about doing more, but being more present?The Pressure of Holiday PerfectionYou know, I used to try to make everything, well, back in the day, magazine perfect. Y'all are dealing with making everything Pinterest perfect, or Instagram perfect. I used to get a magazine, Southern Living. Actually, I got a whole two rows of them, old copies, and Southern Living had always, around November, December, they'd have an article about decorating the tree, and having the perfect little snacks, and everything was just perfect.Only, anytime I tried that, it didn't work. So, I sort of gave up on it. Some of you may be thinking about, oh, I gotta get the perfect matching pajamas, or just the flawless photos, elaborate crafts. But by Christmas Eve, for myself, and especially Christmas Day after we'd opened gifts, I was exhausted and snappy, and as I've told you before, crying in the car on the freeway.I realized after a couple years like that, that Jesus never asked for perfection. He asked for presence. He just wants our presence with Him.Letting Go of the Comparison TrapHow can we let go of that perfection? And you may not be a perfectionist. But you may still be scrolling social media going, oh, I wish I had… oh, look at them, look at that.That is such a false hope. They are showing you their highlight reels. They are not giving you an accurate picture of what life is like. Because we scroll through Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and we feel behind already. We want our kids to have magical memories, but we forget that we set the tone as well.You see, when we do that, when we are constantly comparing ourselves to other people, we feel guilty. We feel overwhelmed. We feel stressed. And there's one more. Oh, we miss the joy of the season! You know, the season's supposed to be joyful and joy to the world. It is not happening.Your kids are not going to remember the perfect decorations, or the perfect decorating, tree decorating evening. They're going to remember the times as a family. They're gonna remember your peace and your presence with them. We don't need to be doing more, we just need to be present with our family.From Chaos to ConnectionSo how can we go from chaos to connection? Letting go of perfection actually opens the door for true connection.Think about it. What if on Christmas morning, y'all just had a great morning? If you open gifts in, that's great, but you're calm, your kids are happy, the home is at peace. Wouldn't that be awesome?But it doesn't just happen like this. We need to be intentional about it, and that is why I want to talk to you about that. We can use that time of Advent. Advent starts about 4 weeks before Christmas, and every week we can be doing different activities that can prepare our heart.Sometimes it's a heart surgery. We need to look at ourselves and see what do we need to do before God? Are there some sins that we need to confess? And we need to model that, and then show our kids as well. And then the different activities need to be purposeful and intentional.The Three Keys: Faith, Family, and FreedomThe key here is making a shift to faith, family, and freedom.Faith. Putting Christ back at the center. Back at the center of your celebration.Family, focusing on meaningful moments together, not the perfect photo.And then freedom, releasing the pressure to do everything perfect. And just have joy instead!You see, we need to spend that time personally, in faith, with our Lord and Savior, spending time, preparing our hearts for that celebration, and then we need to spend time as a family. That will draw the connections first. You've got up and down connection with God, then we have horizontal connection with our family. And when we build those connections, I think we grow into some freedom, that we don't have to do everything perfect.Practical Ways to Be More PresentSo, what are some practical ways? I would encourage you to pick one or two meaningful traditions that you might do year after year.For our family, I think my kids will all tell you their favorite Christmas tradition was baking pumpkin bread and cookies to sell. They took the profit, and they bought a gift for one missionary family. Every year, we picked a different missionary family. And to this day, they've all said something about that. It's one of their favorite traditions.We did that every year, and they would sell the baked goods, and then we would go to the store and buy it with whatever profit they had, because they had to pay me back for all the ingredients and that type of thing.So, pick one or two traditions. Say no to the activities that drain your family, that drain your spirit, your husband's spirit, your kid's spirit. Focus on time together, not just checking off the boxes. I did that for several years and realized that was not helping our family.I think it's really important that we use that time before Christmas, not as a to-do list with a checklist, but to prepare your heart, prepare your heart for that celebration.The Christmas Celebration BundleNow, it would be nice to have something that's sort of all set out for you, and that's why I did pull together our Christmas Celebration Bundle. I'm going to say this quickly. It's for some of you, it's not for others of you, but it's gonna go back to faith, family, and freedom.We've got items in this bundle, it's all digital, it's a Christmas celebrations bundle.Faith. We have a Star of Bethlehem. This really ties together Bible and history and science, all sorts of things, research, writing, and so this is analyzing from Matthew 2 what is the Star of Bethlehem. We have copy work.We also have fun family activities. This is our Christmas celebration eBook. Celebrate Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. And for those of you that don't know what Epiphany is, here's a little something. It's the 12 days after Christmas, because the Feast of Epiphany is on January 6th.That is the day they… we celebrate the wise men arriving. Now, it didn't really happen in 6 days, but that is the day that we celebrate the wise men going to see Jesus. And so there are traditions, activities, all sorts of things in this one book.And you can see these are for all different ages. We have Christmas around the world. This is more for junior high, elementary, and preschool, and you've got 5 countries that we're gonna, that you can use this as well, with books and crafts and songs and everything. And then we've got Christmas Carol Book, your kids can learn biblical Christmas songs, they can copy it, there's all sorts of things, but that will tie together your faith, your family, and then hopefully give you some freedom, because it's sort of all set out for you. And that is something that can be used year after year after year.Brooke said she got this bundle, and it helped her save time, and guided her to teach her kids the true meaning of Christmas. Another mom, Elena, told me that she became much more intentional with their learning during the Christmas season. She was excited to dive into Bethlehem Star and learn more about astronomy and astrology.That is a bundle available. You can go to HowToHomeschoolmychild.com/Christmasbundle, and you can get that there.Make Christ the CenterYou need to think about this. You don't need a perfect plan, you just need a plan, just a simple one that keeps you focused on Jesus Christ.So let's make this year the year that Christ takes center stage. Christ takes over the heart of you, your kids, and your home.For unto us is born a child, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.Ready to make this your most peaceful Christmas? Grab the Christmas Celebration Bundle at HowToHomeschoolmychild.com/Christmasbundle!

Miscellaneous Sermon (Missions Sunday)

https://slasrpodcast.com/      SLASRPodcast@gmail.com    Welcome to episode 211 of the sounds like a search and rescue podcast, this week we are joined by members of the AMC Trail Crew - Craig Heiselman -  Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator. Craig, plays a critical role in making sure our trails and infrastructure are in good shape for all of us to enjoy. Both Nick and I are trail adopters and are excited to have Craig here to talk about trail work, and volunteer opportunities. Plus, it's been awhile so we will give a run down of current White Mountain proposed projects, some reminders about artist bluff, rescued hikers blame all trails for sending them on a trail that does not exist, recent hikes on Mount Jefferson, Clay, and Washington, plus Nick checks out King Ravine, RMC Huts and his adopted trail, Airline Cutoff, notable hikes, dad jokes, September search and rescues and more,   JOIN SLASR, REKLIS AND FRIENDS LIVE IN NOVEMBER AT FULL CONDITIONS EVENT - TICKETS HERE   About Tay's Summit Challenge Taylor James Steeves Foundation Tay Summit Challenge Instagram Sign up for Tay's Summit Challenge   About AMC Adopt A Trail Program Adopt A Trail Sign Up Form About the Program Topics The benefits of consuming large quantities of Water Artist Bluff - new rules and crowd control  Forest Project Updates Segment with Craig and Nick  All Trails Fails and Abandoned Trails of the White Mountains Dad Joke and Music Minute - Altar - NewDad, Nick loves indie rock Recent hikes - Mike and Nick hike Jefferson, Clay and Washington  Nick goes off and hikes everything on Mt. Adams - Airline Trail maintenance, RMC Huts,  Notable Hikes of the week  Guest of the week Craig Heinselman, Adopt A Trail Coordinator for the AMC  Recent Search and Rescue News Show Notes Apple Podcast link for 5 star reviews SLASR Merchandise SLASR LinkTree SLASR's BUYMEACOFFEE Massive study shows lower mortality if you consume 7+ cups of water,  coffee or tea daily. Cannon Mountain Artist's Bluff Memo https://www.fs.usda.gov/sopa/components/reports/sopa-110922-2025-07.html   Hermit Lake Shelter Pinkham Notch Visitor Center Accessible Trail Establishment Hunting Ravine Winter Access Trail Bridges Replacement Madison Gulf Bridge Replacement  RMC Perch Caretaker Tentsite Creation Success Trail - Culvert Removal off Success Pond Road Franconia Mountain Bike Trails Official Designation Lincoln Woods   Webster Cliff trail  Rescued hikers blame Alltrails for leading them into a treacherous Boulder field Hiker Rescued on Mt. Whiteface - 9/4 Hiker injured in fall on Brooks Fisher Trail, Mt. Webster, Holderness - 9/7 Hiker Rescued on Jewell Trail, Mount Washington - 9/7 overnight to 9/8 Hiker Injured in Fall on Pike Forest Trail in Holderness - 9/12 Injured Hiker on Liberty Trail on Mt. Chocorua - 9/12 Hiker Suffers Medical Emergency on Pine Mountain Trail - 9/13 Injured Hiker Assisted off Sugarloaf in Bethlehem - 9/17 Hiker in Distress - 9/26 Sponsors, Friends  and Partners Wild Raven Endurance Coaching 2024 Longest Day - 48 Peaks Mount Washington Higher Summits Forecast Hiking Buddies  Vaucluse - Sweat less. Explore more. – Vaucluse Gear Fieldstone Kombucha CS Instant Coffee

The story of Jesus doesn't begin in Bethlehem - it begins in Genesis. Rabbi Jason Sobel joins us to explore how the whole Bible, from creation to new creation, points to one Messiah and one redemptive plan. His new book, Transformed by the Messiah, invites readers to rediscover the power of Scripture as one seamless narrative rather than two disconnected halves. In this episode, we trace how the Hebrew Scriptures set the stage for the Gospel: Joseph's betrayal and restoration, the feasts that frame the Kingdom, and the prophetic rhythms that pulse beneath every New Testament page. Jason shows how the Messiah fulfills - not replaces - Israel's story, inviting both Jew and Gentile into God's covenant promises. We also talk about how this restored vision transforms how we live - rooted in God's faithfulness, connected to His appointed times, and awakened to a Messiah who holds all of Scripture together. The goal isn't to add something new but to recover what's been there all along: the unity, beauty, and coherence of God's Word from beginning to end. Key Takeaways The Bible tells one continuous story of redemption, not two separate Testaments. Transformed by the Messiah helps readers see how every part of Scripture points to Yeshua. The Old Testament provides the framework; the New Testament reveals the fulfillment. Joseph's life foreshadows Messiah's rejection, suffering, and ultimate reconciliation. The biblical feasts - especially Sukkot - reveal the shape of God's Kingdom plan. Seeing Jesus through His Jewish context restores depth and meaning to our faith. Transformation in Messiah is holistic: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical - reflecting God's shalom. Chapter Markers 00:00—Welcome & Israel tour crossover 01:17—Rabbi Jason's encounter and journey to Yeshua 08:02—Bridging Old and New without “strange fruit” 15:28—Transfiguration and Sukkot explained 20:02—Numbers, gematria, and the “vav” 27:31—Behind the scenes of The Chosen 32:50—Living Jewish after Oct 7 38:58—Simchat Torah and hostages timing 41:52—Sukkah vs. “roof” (Gog) insight 47:27—End-times drift and loving Israel's Messiah 49:36—From information to formation: practices 54:15—Book release details & where to find it 57:52—Pre-order and why it matters 58:20—Shalom and close This episode invites you to read the whole Bible in high definition - seeing Yeshua where the story has always pointed. Explore more resources at The Jewish Road, dive deeper through Fusion Global at fusionglobal.org, and pre-order Rabbi Jason Sobel's new book, Transformed by the Messiah, to experience how the Jewishness of Jesus brings Scripture - and your life - into full color.

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

Your pelvic floor is ready and waiting for you to break up with these habits:Power-peeing – Going to the bathroom is not a race. Forcing urine out or relieving yourself as fast as you can causes more harm than good to your pelvic floor. Hovering – This seems like a natural solution to avoid germs in public restrooms. But hovering over the toilet tenses your muscles which makes your bladder work harder than it needs to.Peeing “just in case” – Went 15 minutes ago? Maybe going once more is a good idea … or is it? Whether you're heading out for an errand or a road trip, going again “just in case” is training your bladder to go more frequently.  If you're ready to take back control of your bladder, you'll want to listen to the latest episode of The Healthiest You podcast. In Part One of our pelvic floor podcast series, you'll hear from urogynecologist Nabila Noor, MD, and rehabilitation clinical specialist Karen Snowden, PT, DPT, with Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health. How do you know if you have a pelvic floor disorder? What bathroom habits are harming your pelvic floor? How many times a day should you urinate? Can bladder training help? Which exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor? We answer these questions and more on The Healthiest You podcast this month.Chapters:     · 0:01 - Intro     · 0:17 - About your pelvic floor     · 3:31 - When your pelvic floor changes     · 6:49 - Signs you may have a pelvic floor disorder      · 15:54 - Treatment options     · 17:45 - Bladder leaks and overactive bladder      · 20:26 - How to address overactive bladder     · 23:56 - When to stop drinking before bed     · 29:06 - Bathroom no-nos     · 34:07 - Bladder training

Welcome to Salem French Speaking S.D.A Church where our doors are open wide to everyone, and our hearts shut to no one seeking to find a safe place for spiritual life, growth, and fellowship. Together we are working to become like the church we believe Jesus wants us to be. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of loving acceptance, where people can grow spiritually through vibrant worship, honest friendships, a caring fellowship, constant prayer and compassionate concern for the world and the surrounding communities. Salem is part of a world-wide organization with more than 15 million members in countries around the world. We would be happy to have you join us in worship or at one of the church events listed on our calendar. About Seventh-day Adventists Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. What Seventh-day Adventists Believe As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways: More >> Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. More >> So whether you are a spiritual seeker just beginning your walk toward God, or a committed believer continuing your walk with Him, you can find a home at Salem French Church. Please join us as we commit our lives in prayer, lift our hearts in worship, and extend our hands to serve in Jesus Name.

Welcome to the Christmas series! As the weary couple arrives in Bethlehem, there is no family or friends willing to help them. Everywhere they turn, they are turned away. They must find shelter quick… Mary is feeling the pangs of labor…  Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Word&Way President Brian Kaylor talks with William Stell, a religious studies professor and author of the forthcoming book, Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity. Kaylor is also joined by guest cohost Jared Burkholder, scholar in residence at Moravian Theological Seminary. This is the third in a three-part series in partnership with Moravian exploring historical and contemporary issues of concerns involving evangelicals (following conversations with Randall Balmer in episode 189 and Angela Parker in episode 190). Other previous conversations mentioned in this episode are those with David Swartz in episode 180 and Isaac Sharp in episode 100. Watch a video version of this latest conversation here. Burkholder will be giving the annual Walter Vivian Moses Lecture on Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. (ET) at the Bahnson Center on the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Campus of Moravian Theological Seminary. It will also be livestreamed for free. Sign up to watch here. Note: Don't forget to subscribe to our award-winning e-newsletter A Public Witness that helps you make sense of faith, culture, and politics. And preorder the forthcoming book by Brian Kaylor ,The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power.

This episode kicks off Across the Divide's Monthly Book Club. Here Jen has a conversation with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac about his book "Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza." They discuss how the book emerged from Isaac's pastoral work and activism after October 7th. Together they reflect on the theology of a God who dwells amid the rubble in Gaza and Munther's hope on the impact this book will have on the global Christian church.We invite you to read Christ in the Rubble along with the ATD community and consider joining our virtual Book Club conversation on the book for our Patreon supporters on Sunday, October 26, 2025. To learn more and become a Patreon supporter, visit https://www.patreon.com/c/AcrosstheDivideSign up to join the Palestine solidarity delegation: https://forms.gle/asNkGWXgVB5MRAuZ8About the book: “Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac urges readers to recognize that support for Zionism's genocidal project entails a failure to bring a properly Christian theological criticism to bear upon colonialism, racism, and empire. He calls on Christians to repent of their complicity in the destruction of the Palestinian people. And he challenges them to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war.”You can purchase the book here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802885548/christ-in-the-rubble/Rev. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian theologian who serves as pastor of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramallah. He also directs the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice as well as the highly acclaimed Christ at the Checkpoint conferences. His PhD dissertation at the Oxford Center for Mission Studies was published as From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land. He also wrote The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

Wednesday Night Community is back! Join us for The Bible that Jesus Read: 11 Weeks Through the Old Testament. We’ll explore the very Scriptures Jesus studied, quoted, and proclaimed as pointing to Him, uncovering how His story was written centuries before His arrival in Bethlehem.

Welcome to Night 2 of Nights of Hope at the Boys & Girls Club in Bethlehem, PA! In this powerful message titled “He Heals My Diseases,” Mario Trinidad preaches from Psalm 103, declaring that the same God who forgives our sins also heals our bodies. Jesus is still the Healer—yesterday, today, and forever!If you need a miracle in your body, mind, or emotions, this message will stir your faith and remind you that healing belongs to God's children.

Welcome to the Christmas series! Joseph and Mary are almost to Bethlehem, but a storm has come to knock them off course. They endure a near-death experience to finally arrive where they are meant to be. Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Savior who came to fulfill every prophecy and bring redemption to the world. From His foretold birth in Bethlehem to His victory over sin and death, every part of Scripture points to Him as the one true King. This message walks through the Old and New Testament to show how Jesus checked every box the prophets spoke of and how His return will complete God's plan of salvation.If you've ever wondered how we can know Jesus is the Messiah or what the Bible says about His identity and coming again, this message will bring those truths to life and strengthen your faith in the One who came to save us.

Welcome to the Christmas series! Joseph reels in hurt, anger, and confusion. Joseph and Mary have been robbed of everything. They continue their journey, losing hope and patience with each other. What will bring them back to each other? Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Leave Bethlehem - Pastor Tyler Gaulden

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Most haunted houses keep their secrets hidden in the shadows — but not this one.  CJ Reinhard lived in a historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania home for a decade. For eight years, life there seemed perfectly normal. Then, almost overnight, the activity began… and it didn't stop for daylight, company, or reason. What started as small, almost dismissible events turned into chilling, full-blown apparitions and shifting shadows that made themselves known no matter who was watching. Guests saw them. CJ and his fiancée saw them. The house itself seemed alive with a presence that refused to stay quiet. Was it tied to the land's storied past, to an antique mirror, or to the couple's soon-to-arrive child? Could it have been something darker drawn to the home's history in Bethlehem? In this episode of The Grave Talks, we dive deep into the unnerving two-year stretch when CJ's house revealed just how haunted it truly was. This is Part Two of our conversation. #TrueGhostStory #HauntedHouse #BethlehemPA #RealHaunting #ParanormalActivity #HauntedHistory #DaylightHaunting #ShadowFigures #ChillingEncounters #SupernaturalStories #TheGraveTalks #GhostlyApparitions Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! Most haunted houses keep their secrets hidden in the shadows — but not this one.  CJ Reinhard lived in a historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania home for a decade. For eight years, life there seemed perfectly normal. Then, almost overnight, the activity began… and it didn't stop for daylight, company, or reason. What started as small, almost dismissible events turned into chilling, full-blown apparitions and shifting shadows that made themselves known no matter who was watching. Guests saw them. CJ and his fiancée saw them. The house itself seemed alive with a presence that refused to stay quiet. Was it tied to the land's storied past, to an antique mirror, or to the couple's soon-to-arrive child? Could it have been something darker drawn to the home's history in Bethlehem? In this episode of The Grave Talks, we dive deep into the unnerving two-year stretch when CJ's house revealed just how haunted it truly was. #TrueGhostStory #HauntedHouse #BethlehemPA #RealHaunting #ParanormalActivity #HauntedHistory #DaylightHaunting #ShadowFigures #ChillingEncounters #SupernaturalStories #TheGraveTalks #GhostlyApparitions Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Welcome to the Christmas series! Joseph and Mary embark on a treacherous journey to Bethlehem. Joseph struggles to keep up his strength, and Mary makes a mistake that may cost them the entire journey.  Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Linda Nurra, a certified classical homeopath and flower essence practitioner, joins this episode to share her insights into the world of Bach flower remedies. Growing up in Sardinia, she was mentored by a local herbalist whose influence sparked her lifelong curiosity about natural healing. Linda explains how Dr. Edward Bach developed his remedies using simple methods the sun and boiling techniques, to capture the energetic qualities of flowers in full bloom. She breaks down how these gentle, non-toxic remedies can be safely used by anyone, even alongside homeopathy, to support emotional balance and resilience. We also talk about key remedies like Rescue Remedy and Star of Bethlehem, which Linda often recommends for easing shock, stress, and trauma. Episode Highlights: 03:18 - Linda's Introduction to Homeopathy and Bach Flowers 07:42 - How Bach Flower Remedies Are Made  11:35 - Differences Between Homeopathy and Bach Flowers 14:47 - Clinical Practice and Material Medica of Bach Flowers 17:42 - The 38 Bach Flower Remedies 23:16 - Applications and Safety of Bach Flowers 27:56 - How Bach Flowers Work on Mental and Emotional Levels 34:47 - Bach Flowers for Shock and Trauma 43:58 - Bach Flowers for Collective Trauma and Grief 48:11 - Combining and Dosing Bach Flower Remedies 50:54 - Bach Flowers for Personal Growth and Spiritual Practice About my Guests: Linda Nurra is a certified classical homeopath, flower essence practitioner, and educator with a thriving virtual practice based in Santa Barbara, California. A natural teacher at heart, Linda is dedicated to sharing the wisdom of homeopathy and flower essence therapy in ways that inspire, enlighten, and empower others. Her path to healing began nearly three decades ago with an encounter with flower essences, sparking a lifelong exploration of human emotion, consciousness, and the transformative power of nature. This journey eventually led her to homeopathy, where a profound personal experience with a single remedy ignited her full commitment to holistic healing. She went on to earn an advanced practitioner diploma from the School of Homeopathy (UK) and has since trained with leading teachers around the world. With a background in education, curriculum design, and leadership, Linda has served as curriculum director and lead faculty at the Prometheus Homeopathic Institute and has taught at the Los Angeles School of Homeopathy and the Veterinary Homeopathy Institute. She has also published widely and contributed to the homeopathic community as a board member of the California Homeopathic Medical Society. Today, Linda's work focuses on flower essence therapy—a gentle yet powerful complement to homeopathy that supports resilience and self-reliance. She teaches the popular Bach Flower Therapy for Homeopaths certification course, bridging clinical homeopathy with flower essence practice. When she's not teaching or consulting, Linda can be found connecting with the natural world among the oaks, olives, and grapevines of California's Central Coast—her favorite kind of medicine. Find out more about Linda Website: https://www.insighthomeopathy.com/ If you would like to support the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast, please consider making a donation by visiting www.EugenieKruger.com and click the DONATE button at the top of the site. Every donation about $10 will receive a shout-out on a future episode. Join my Homeopathy Hangout Podcast Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelloHomies Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eugeniekrugerhomeopathy/ Here is the link to my free 30-minute Homeopathy@Home online course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBUpxO4pZQ&t=438s Upon completion of the course - and if you live in Australia - you can join my Facebook group for free acute advice (you'll need to answer a couple of questions about the course upon request to join): www.facebook.com/groups/eughom

Welcome to the Christmas series! Caesar's decree for a nationwide census couldn't come at a worse time for Mary and Joseph. But perhaps this journey to Bethlehem is exactly what God planned all along.  Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we face uncertainty, when life gets hard, when things happen that we can’t explain, we’ll often ask: Where is God? But every Christian should realize they are never alone. Jesus is with you. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in this message. Notes: Focus verse - Genesis 22 Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil; For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Sometimes our feelings need to catch up with our faith. #1 Joseph was in a prison cell. He probably felt all alone and abandoned. He was there, not because he broke a law, but because he kept one—God’s law. God was in the prison cell with Joseph. Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)"You meant it for evil; but God meant it for good—to save many people alive.” #2 Let’s go from a prison to a palace and think of Esther. Queen Vashti, to her credit, refused. She would not be humiliated or objectified, not even by the king. Vashti is a role model for young girls and women today.Don’t ever let some guy reduce you to a mere object. You are a woman made in the image God. If you present yourself cheaply, don’t expect to be valued royally. A man needs to value you for who you are on the inside, not only the outside. The most attractive thing is to be a godly and principled woman. Through the providence of God, Esther became the queen of Persia. God is always at work in the life of the believer, every hour of every day. God is now here! Providence comes from the Latin prōvidentia; “pro” meaning "before" or "ahead of time” and “videntia” meaning “to see.” God is in control. #3 The story of Israel at the Red Sea.They were between a rock and a hard place. Exodus 14:13–14 (NLT) Exodus 14:13–14 (NLT) Colossians 1:16–17 Exodus 14:19 A Christophany is an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. John 8:56–58 (NKJV)"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." John 8:56–58 (NKJV)Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" John 8:56–58 (NKJV)Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM!" Luke 24:27 The disciples on the Emmaus Road were literally listening to God incarnate describe His Old Testament appearances. Jesus didn’t begin in Bethlehem; He has always been. The story of redemption started a long time ago in a garden. The Christmas story begins with a tree: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve sinned and lost that sweet fellowship with God. Genesis 3:8 (NLT)“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden.” We can never escape the presence of God. When you walk with God, it is a source of comfort. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” James 1:14–15 (NLT)“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow,it gives birth to death.” The Bible says, “Christ was slain from the foundation of the world.” Genesis 3:15 Pharaoh tried to exterminate the Jews starting with the Hebrew baby boys. Wicked Haman tried to have the Jews wiped off the face of the earth. King Herod hearing that one was born, “King of the Jews,”tried to kill Jesus, but that too failed. Nothing would stop Messiah from coming.Nothing will stop Christ from coming again either. #4 The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. Read Genesis 22 The two of them went together.Genesis 22:8 That is exactly what happened when Jesus went to the cross for us. This gives a glimpse of Calvary from the Father’s perspective, sacrificing His Son, His only Son. Genesis 22:11 Christ died in our place and absorbed the wrath of God. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.