Podcast appearances and mentions of michelle morris

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 In this sermon, we are going to address the new trend of AI relationships. A chatbot can fulfill 1 Corinthans 13 easily. But are we creating unrealistic expectations of IRL relationships?

Luke 9:23-24 Jesus challenges his followers to take up their cross and follow him. But what does that actually mean? Pastor Michelle will dig into this important aspect of discipleship for us today.

Ruth 1:11-18 Love is a choice. Not even God coerces us into love. So what happens when we make that choice? God's will breaks out in astounding ways.

Mark 16:1-8 The women hear the news of Jesus' resurrection… and then they run away and tell no one out of fear. But we do know the story. So at some point they must have overcome their fear. Courage is not the absence of fear – it is facing it and refusing to let it stop us.

Luke 23:1-25   Why do we call it "Good Friday?" Rev. Dr. Michelle discusses some of the existing atonement theories and the mystery of what happened both on the cross and in the tomb.

John 13:1-9, 12-17 Rev. Dr. Michelle reflects on the humble ritual of foot washing and its parallels in modern society.

Psalm 46:1-11 (NRSVUE) This Psalm talks about the rage of the world, of kingdoms tearing each other apart. Yet within that we find refuge in God, and particularly in the silence, in the stillness, in the opposition to the madness. A good reminder as we head into the madness of Holy Week.

Psalm 23 There are no Psalms that mention the Sabbath, but this Psalm definitely describes the rest and restoration that Sabbath provides us.

Psalm 63: 1-8 We will listen over and over to this scripture, with the goal of imagining the space it describes and the relationship with God that it describes.

Psalm 63: 1-8  Rev. Michelle has a panel discussion with FUMC's music staff about music, worship, and their creative processes. Ken Weatherford (Contemporary Music and Director of Worship Arts) Rev. Dr. T. Ray Wheeler,  (Associate Pastor/Director of Traditional Music) Matt Nelson (Assistant to Music and Worship Arts, aka. pianist, keyboardist, organist, arranger, podcast creator, etc)

Psalm 139:23-24 We will learn about the practice of The Examen, which is an intentional reflection at the end of every day that invites us to reflect on how we have seen God at work in our lives in the day, as well as how we have served God well or not so well. Then we close with an intentional gratefulness and hope for the next day.

A lot of people talk about “chasing the dream.” Michelle Morris actually did it, and the road there runs through the White House, presidential campaigns, global corporate communications, and a moment that changes everything: a deathbed promise to finally write the books she'd carried since childhood. I loved this conversation because it's equal parts craft talk and life talk, with the kind of honesty that makes you rethink what you're postponing.We get into her novel Comes Around, a gripping suspense story set in small-town Michigan where the pull of home is both comfort and threat. Michelle introduces Hallie McCarthy, a woman in her early 30s whose shiny startup life in San Francisco implodes under federal scrutiny. Hallie drives back to her hometown quietly, stops first at the cemetery, and tries to decide whether she can disappear again before anyone sees her. Then the tension tightens: something, or someone, may have followed her back. Alongside the mystery, we talk about the layered family dynamics that make the book hit hard, especially the older, wiser women who show up with backbone, love, and zero patience for self-pity.Michelle also shares the surprising real-world spark for the opening scene, how she learned the publishing industry after years of “industry-adjacent” writing, and why treating writing like a job can unlock speed, consistency, and better stories. If you love suspense novels, family secrets, second chances, and strong female characters, you'll want to put this on your list. Subscribe, share this conversation with a reader friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.Support the showElsa's AMAZON STORE Elsa's FAITH & FREEDOM MERCH STORE Elsa's BOOKSElsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she's also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today's topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW's career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women's novels. Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

Genesis 1:1-5, 24-31; John 1:1-14 This sermon will be a celebration of God as Creator, but also the God who shared that aspect of who God is – creation – with us. And then, God gave us the responsibility to care for the creation that we co-create with God. We are created to be creators and stewards of creation.

Romans 13:1-7 We will deal with this passage that says we are all under the authority of whatever government is controlling us. Funny how when a person's candidate is in power, they are happy to quote this verse, and when their candidate is not, this verse is conveniently forgotten. Yet in truth, this verse shows up in a letter that covertly tries to get people to resist the ones in power. What is going on here?

Romans 4:1-13 Paul has set up a double straw man (accusations that the Jews have against the Gentiles and vice versa) in the chapters preceding this one. In this chapter, he argues that we are all made family through our faith in Christ. So quit dividing the family over things that don't matter! Sadly, we used this very letter to do exactly that – divide us up.

Romans 1:15-17 This sermon sets up the series where we examine how the letter to the Romans often gets misused, by quoting the passage that kicked off the Protestant Reformation and is often is cited as justification for biblical literalism. There are problems with both understandings that we need to confront.

Isaiah 11:1-9 I hate Charles Dickens. Actually, it is more accurate to say I hate the writing of Charles Dickens. Yet I will not let an Advent season go by without watching at least one version of A Christmas Carol. The story of Christmas, the Dickens one and the biblical one, invite us to learn how to love better. They also invite us to let go of our own expectations and live into a better story than the one we might tell.

Matthew 1:18-25 In "Spirited", we learn that Ebenezer Scrooge has regrets still in the afterlife. He still feels like he has to earn God's love. We will look at that soul crisis up against Joseph having to change his understanding of God's righteousness.

Luke 2:8-20 The heart of "A Christmas Carol" is a man experiencing change after an encounter with four spirits. Probably the most dramatic moment in the birth of Christ is the appearance of the angels, spiritual beings who reorient the lives and faith of the shepherds on the field. Are we open to the same kind of change?

Matthew 2: 1-12 Who owns Christmas? Or who tries to control Christmas? Or who tries to profit from Christmas? It has been a question since Christ was born. This week's movie is Scrooged, and we will look at the ways people in power have tried to control Christmas as we look at Scrooge and King Herod.

Matthew 25:14-30; Joel 2:23-29 Pastor Michelle offers our annual State of the Church address and invites us to envision a new future.

1 Kings 19:9-13; John 11:38-44 Funny thing about death – in our faith it contains the germ of the resurrection. As we come out of the valley season, we realize we were not abandoned. God was with us in the whispers. Like the womb, the cave and the tomb bring us back to life in our faith and call us back to relationship with God.

Jeremiah 7:32-34; Ezekiel 37:1-3 And now something has happened to drive us from God. Maybe it was failure at the revolution. Maybe we feel abandoned. Maybe we have had a loss that threatens to undo us. We are in the valley now. Valleys are where wars take place, and valleys are where the bones of the fallen are bleached in the sun. But is all hope lost?

Numbers 14:26-35; Matthew 4:1-11 Something happens to drive us from the garden. Perhaps it is because we have encountered something in life that a simple, comfortable faith can't address. We are wandering in the wilderness now. And remember – wilderness and desert are the same words in Hebrew. What does our desert season look like but one where our faith is being tried in the refiner's fire? Items on the list: - a two-quart canteen of water (per person) - a magnetic compass - a compress kit with gauze - a topcoat - a red-and-white parachute - a jackknife - a sectional air map of the area - two quarts of vodka - a book entitled "Edible Animals of the Desert" - a plastic raincoat - a cosmetic mirror - a .45-caliber pistol - sunglasses - a bottle of salt tablets - a flashlight (4-battery size)  

Genesis 2:4-9; Revelation 21:22-22:5 We were created to live in a garden, and not just to live in a garden, but to walk in that garden with each other and with God. As we begin this exploration of faith geography, we start from a place where we are true companions of God and find comfort in God's presence.

1 John 4:11-21 Love is risky these days. Well, love has always been risky. But if we can fully step into God's invitation to love both God and neighbor, what do we truly have to fear?

Genesis 32:1-8; 33:1-4; Luke 4:16-30 We are raised these days to be afraid of the stranger. Why? Because we fear the harm they will do us. In these two stories, we see Jacob's fear of Esau is unfounded. But Jesus is still having to correct that fear in people when they try to throw him over the cliff for lifting up the good example of the outsiders.

Genesis 3:8-13; Proverbs 1:7 What is the most important thing we created without the aid of God? Fear. We will look at the genesis of fear and what it,s creation has meant for our relationship with God. And then we will affirm that practically every single time God appears to us, the first thing God says is, “Do not be afraid.” God is trying to get us to undo what we have done. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but not wisdom. We would undo the fall if we would undo fear.

2 Samuel 7:1-29; 11:1-27 How tempting is leadership and power, especially when forming a new national identity? Hamilton and David will be in conversation with each other here.

2 Samuel 7:1-29; 11:1-27 How tempting is leadership and power, especially when forming a new national identity? Hamilton and David will be in conversation with each other here.

Philippians 3:1-16 We will look at the tension of grace and the law, mercy and justice. This biblical theme is played out beautifully in the Javert's hunt for Valjean, and it is exhibited in the life and spiritual journey of the Apostle Paul.

Philippians 3:1-16 We will look at the tension of grace and the law, mercy and justice. This biblical theme is played out beautifully in the Javert's hunt for Valjean, and it is exhibited in the life and spiritual journey of the Apostle Paul.

Ezekiel 12:1-20 We are going to look at what it means to be a prophet. Elphaba will be compared to prophetic figures like Ezekiel. Difference gets attention for justice.

Ezekiel 12:1-20 We are going to look at what it means to be a prophet. Elphaba will be compared to prophetic figures like Ezekiel. Difference gets attention for justice.

John 2:1-12 Jesus turns water into wine, but it is more than just making sure everyone is having a good time. In this first miracle that Jesus performs, we see the heart of what the reign of God looks like.

Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 3:16-17 Jesus begins his public ministry with baptism in the Jordan. What does Jesus' start to his ministry tell us about our faith beginnings?

Luke 2:25-35 Jesus' family presents him at the Temple. Simeon responds in celebration! How do we celebrate Jesus showing up in our lives today?

Acts 10:9-35 On this Fathers' Day weekend, what better way to celebrate than looking at this passage that is arguably the foundation for the best BBQ ever! Especially because neighbors can now truly eat beside one another.

Luke 24:28-32 and Genesis 14:1-8 These stories both have surprise guests who make an appearance. Luckily, both the people walking to Emmaus and Abraham were all ready for just such an event. Are we?

Acts 2:1-11 Pentecost empowers everyone to hear the Good News. How well do we do at making space for all of those voices to praise God together? As we open the doors to another service, let's recommit ourselves to affirming that All Are Welcome.

Exodus 2:23-25; Genesis 35:1-8 This Sunday marks one year from the tornado, but it is also Memorial Day weekend. Both invite us to reflection on what it means to remember and honor the past, and move forward at the same time.

John 12:23-28 On the other side of Easter, we will look at how things that look like death actually give rise to new life. This sermon will also include an update on the State of the Church, as we are in a season of tremendous growth and loss at the same time, and we will explore what it means to be Resurrection people in just such a season.

Luke 24:36-53 God took our worst disaster and turned it into our greatest hope. Not only did the disaster have no power; the mitigation of the resurrection transformed our world into something so much better – a life where we are saved by and can follow Jesus Christ!

Luke 23:13-25, 44-46 On this Palm Sunday, we often kick off our service with the celebration of the people shouting Hosanna. But shortly after that, many of those same people will be shouting “Crucify him! Crucify him!” That thunderous crowd calling down judgment on Jesus is the true storm of disaster. The crucifixion that follows is the destruction it unleashes. Everything is disrupted now.

Luke 10:25-37 When disaster hits, it is time to ignore those divisions among us and help our neighbors, beyond barriers and whatever the cost. The Good Samaritan models for us how to do that beautifully.

Luke 4:1-13 The temptation in Luke involves the Devil trying to mislead Jesus into different (ultimately disastrous) possibilities. Jesus is prepared to keep the Devil at bay. But the passage also ends with these ominous words: “After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.” Disaster may have been averted for now, but it is coming.

Exodus 1:15-20 The story of Shiphrah and Puah show two women who were willing to do what God wants instead of what Pharaoh wants. As a result, the Israelites multiply and become stronger. What does God ask of us? To bring 10% of what we have to him. Imagine if we all actually did that? We would not have any issues of funding in our church. None. But while we work to that point, imagine if just 2 of us who are not giving do start tithing? What happens then? And what happens when we start tithing to our relationship with money? We get a peace we haven't had before. The conference is sure learning that.

Exodus 1:15-20 The story of Shiphrah and Puah shows two women who were willing to do what God wants instead of what Pharaoh wants. As a result, the Israelites multiply and become stronger. What does God ask of us? To bring 10% of what we have to him. Imagine if we all actually did that? We would not have any issues of funding in our church. None. But while we work to that point, imagine if just 2 of us who are not giving do start tithing? What happens then? And what happens when we start tithing to our relationship with money? We get a peace we haven't had before. The conference is sure learning that.

Genesis 6:17-22; Genesis 8:14-22 This sermon will introduce the stewardship emphasis in 2025, and how the pairs of animals will multiply and fill all the earth. But with such precious and limited cargo, why does Noah sacrifice animals first thing off the boat? Perhaps there is a lesson in trusting God.