Podcasts about Pittsboro

Date May 24, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we trade the exhaustion of trying to "bat 1,000" for the scandalous grace of Pentecost—a day when God pours out a Spirit not for the perfect, but for "all flesh." We explore how our fragile, forgetful, and silver-haired humanity is exactly where the Holy Spirit chooses to take up residence. You are invited to stop waiting until you have it all together and instead become God's greatest surprise: the Risen Christ showing up in the middle of our beautifully broken lives. References Scripture: Acts 2:1–21 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when music meets marketing? When creativity collides with strategy? When one person masters the art of storytelling across two completely different worlds?In this episode of The WEBB Remedy Podcast, we sit down with Edith McCaskill  - AKA Deja Belle - whose discovered that whether you're crafting a melody or building a brand, it all comes down to storytelling, creativity, and collaboration.In this conversation, we explore:How storytelling shapes both art and businessWhy collaboration amplifies creative impactThe mindset shifts that unlock innovation across industriesPlus, you'll hear something you won't hear anywhere else: an original song created exclusively for The WEBB Remedy Podcast.This is a conversation about finding your voice, building authentic connections, and understanding that creativity isn't confined to a single lane — it's a way of thinking that transforms everything you touch.Unisong, founded in 2026 by Edith "Deja Belle" McCaskill and Tessie Castillo, aims to foster community engagement in North Carolina through inclusive song circles and music workshops that facilitate connection, emotional expression, and personal and collective healing.Learn more about Deja Belle:  www.dejabelle.comUnisong: www.Dejabelle.com/unisongContact Edith McCaskill for marketing needs:  EdithGMccaskill@gmail.com The WEBB Remedy Podcast is produced and edited by Rinnie Orr, WEBB Squared's Executive Director. Podcast Music by Deja Belle and Matty McCaskill.  Our podcast studio is located at 79 West Innovation Hub in Pittsboro, NC.Support the showThank you for listening...Our theme this year is "Changemakers in Motion"To find out how you can be changemaker and connect - check out WEBB Squared.Become a changemaker today! Support WEBB Squared's annual campaign. We would love to hear from you.  Please contact rinnie@webbsquared.org for more information.

Date May 17, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we dismantle the cultural idol of selfish ambition to uncover the radical liberation found in Christ-like humility. We explore the "Christ Hymn" of Philippians, discovering that true divine power isn't found in climbing the ladder of empire, but in the courageous descent to serve others. By choosing the bottom, we find a unity that transcends our divisions and a love that washes the feet of both friend and betrayer alike. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date May 10, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the defiant nature of joy as an unbidden guest that arrives precisely when we expect it least. Drawing on the series Surprise Party: 50 Days of Enchantment, we examine how the Apostle Paul—writing from the claustrophobia of a prison cell—aligns himself with a "do-it-again" God whose very nature is delight. We are invited to stop resisting these fleeting moments of grace and instead receive them as a holy resistance against a disenchanted world. Ultimately, we discover that when joy finds us amidst our grief, it is not a betrayal of our pain but a profound encounter with the nearness of God. References Scripture: Philippians 1:1–18 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date May 3, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we confront the "surprise" no one wants: the devastating gap between the miracle we prayed for and the reality of grief. Amidst the heartbreak of losing a beloved child, we set aside the party to sit in the honest, defiant landscape of Psalm 23. We discover a God who doesn't offer trite explanations but a relentless, pursuing presence—a love that chases us even into the darkest valleys. When words fail, we find our way forward by simply showing up and mirroring the stubborn, enduring mercy that refuses to let us go. References Scripture: Psalm 23 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date April 26, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the radical, countercultural surprise of staying put. In a world that profits from our restlessness, we investigate how the "vow of stability" offers a defiant path toward reenchantment. By looking at the grounded presence of Paul and Silas in a midnight prison cell, we discover that the grace we seek isn't found in our escape, but in our commitment to remain present to the beautiful, heavy reality right where we are. References Scripture: Acts 16:16–34 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever had a job that paid the bills—but left you anxious, unseen, or unsure you could keep going?In this episode of The WEBB Remedy Podcast, podcast host Rinnie Orr sits down with Alexa Avery, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who turned her personal experience with job anxiety into a mission-driven business rooted in dignity and opportunity.Alexa is the founder of Lecca Service Group, a North Carolina-based company providing Airbnb property management and premium cleaning services for vacation rentals and commercial businesses across Durham, Apex, Pittsboro, Fuquay-Varina, Chapel Hill, and surrounding areas.But this conversation goes beyond cleaning and operations—it's about values. Alexa shares how she's building a company culture where people are respected, paid fairly, and supported to grow. We talk about her journey from employee to founder, how community support through WEBB Squared helped her push through imposter syndrome, and what it takes to scale with confidence while staying rooted in purpose.In This Episode, We Discuss:How job anxiety became the catalyst for entrepreneurshipBuilding a business grounded in respect, fair pay, and transparencyThe mindset shift from employee to founderNavigating imposter syndrome as a young entrepreneurHow community support accelerates confidence and growthAbout the GuestAlexa Avery is the founder of Lecca Service Group, established in January 2025. Based in North Carolina, Lecca provides comprehensive Airbnb property management and premium cleaning services for vacation rentals and commercial businesses. Alexa's vision is to expand statewide while building a company culture rooted in dignity, transparency, and opportunity for every team member.Resources + LinksLecca Service Group Follow Alexa AverySupport the showThank you for listening...Our theme this year is "Changemakers in Motion"To find out how you can be changemaker and connect - check out WEBB Squared.Become a changemaker today! Support WEBB Squared's annual campaign. We would love to hear from you.  Please contact rinnie@webbsquared.org for more information.

Date April 19, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the scandalous reach of Easter hope through the lens of Saul's blinding encounter on the road to Damascus. We confront a God who subverts our hierarchies of belonging, trading our rigid "safety patrol" certainties for a grace that reaches the very people we have labeled as "out." By examining the quiet bravery of Ananias, we are challenged to move beyond condemnation and embrace the radical humility required to call an enemy "brother." This is a call to inhabit the "Surprise Party" of the Gospel, where the scales of judgment fall away to reveal a kinship we never thought possible. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date April 12, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we crash the best party you never knew was happening. Jesus doesn't wait for you to unlock the door — he walks through it, wounds showing, saying peace before you're ready to hear it. This is the God who descends rather than demands, who meets us in the locked rooms of our fear, hopelessness, shame, and apathy, and whose first word is always grace. We are not just invited to the party. We are sent to throw it. References Scripture: John 20:19–31 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

4-7-26 Tonight we're getting back together with Carlos Herrera, owner and Meadmaker at Texas Longhouse Meadery in Wylie, Texas. Carlos is the owner and mead maker of Texas Longhouse Meadery, where Nordic inspiration and Texas craft meet in the glass. With over two dozen awards and a passion for building community through mead, Carlos is also the President of the Texas Mead Association, working to grow the mead industry and bring more people into the Longhouse. Carlos, an Army Veteran, a Paramedic, and a Diplomatic Security Specialist, started learning how to make mead from an outgoing mentor. After learning the basics from his mentor, Carlos was injured at work and was sent home to recover. While home recovering from multiple surgeries, he set out to improve his new hobby. After many hours reading, researching, and experimenting Carlos fell in love with mead and really started to hone his craft of mead making. Fast forward several years and Carlos was really making waves in his new endeavors by entering many Mead competitions, winning awards, and giving his fellow competing mead makers quality feedback as a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Certified Mead Judge. To listen live, you can find us on Youtube, Twitch, X (Twitter), and Facebook on the Gotmead Page. On our new platform, chat is part of the podcast! Just comment from wherever you are watching, and we'll see it!! If you'd like to call in, we can get you a link to come on! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meadwench YouTube: YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@Gotmead X(Twitter): https://x.com/RealGotMead Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GotMead Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GotMead JOIN CHAT ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/zEKNujQTtM Listen in! This player will show the latest episode: Sponsor: Look no further than Honnibrook Craft Meadery in Castle Rock, Colorado, for your go-to destination for wonderful, light, and refreshing mead! We have 20 meads on tap and four seasonal mead slushees.  Go to honnibrook.com for review our tap list, upcoming events and to order online! If you want to ask your mead making questions, you can send us a question via email, join to ask a question on the show, or via X @realGotMead and we'll tackle it online! The show runs from 9PM EDT/6PM PDT (United States) for about 2 hours every other Tuesday starting Jan 13, 2026. To join live, you can use this link, and here are instructions on how to join in. Once you enter the waiting room, we get a notification and will bring you in! Upcoming Shows April 21 - Blair Housely - Etowah Meadery Show links and notes Let There Be Melomels by Rob Ratliff The Big Book of Mead Recipes by Rob Ratliff Let There Be Session Meads by Rob Ratliff Upcoming Events April 9 - Valhalla Meadery, Bozeman, MT - Acoustic Jam April 10 - Bløm Mead and Cider, Ann Arbor, MI - Fool Moon Candle Bar April 10 - Bumbling Fools Mead, Minneapolis, MN - Karaoke Mead Up April 10 - Manic Meadery, Crown Point, IN - Paint and Drink: Spring Chickens April 10 - Blöm Mead + cider, Ann Arbor, MI - FoolMoon Candle Bar April 11 - Mershon's Artisan Cider, Stoughton, WI - Wisconsin Cider and Mead Festival April 11 - Wild Blossom Meadery, Chicago, IL - Wine Run 5k Aprl 12 - Clear Skies Meadery, Rockville, MD - Acoustic Jam April 12 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sapulpa, OK - Portrait of Ritual - Painting Birds of Prey April 12 - Moon Dog Meadery, Durham, NC - Modern Calligraphy for Beginners April 14 - Honeytree Meadery, Nashville, TN - Wrights Night and Open Mic April 15 - Mead Hall, St. Charles, MO - Acoustic Jam April 15 - Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery, Chicago, IL - Optimo Swing - Jazz April 16 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sapulpa, OK - Fiber Crafts Evening April 17 - Pips Meadery, Gurnee, IL - Magneen live music April 18 - MAC Ice House, Berkeley Springs, WV - Uniquely WV Wine and Mead Festival April 18 - Starrlight Mead, Pittsboro, NC - Mead-ieval Day April 18 - Hex Meadery, Kaukauna, WI - Link and Ink with Sealed with a Spark and Shelby Lynn April 18 - Grimsby Hollow Meadery, Middleville, MI - Drink Mead, Learn Things: Europe Under Siege: The Weapons that Won Kingdoms April 19 - Crafted Artisan Meadery, Mogadore, OH - Make a Sand Art Terrarium April 19 - Meduseld Meadery, Lancaster, PA - Meadery Dance April 25 - Moon Dog Meadery, Durham, NC - Modern Calligraphy for Beginners April 25 - Manic Meadery, Crown Point, IN - It's Raining Cats and Dogs - Make. your own round house sign April 26 - Oppegaard Meadery, Tukwila, WA - Spring Mead Fest with 8 local meaderies! April 26 - DiFrancesco Meadery, Wrightsville, PA - Artist Mead Up April 30 - McAlpine Meadery, Beach City, OH - 30 Mile Bike Ride May 7 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sapulpa, OK - Trivia Night May June 6 - The Ferm Meadery, Houston, TX - Fire NR Bones live music You can buy mead online at https://shopmeads.com

Date April 5, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we slow down long enough to see what cynicism keeps us from seeing — that resurrection isn't a one-time event that happened long ago, but the very shape of reality itself, breaking through in ordinary moments all around us. We sit with Mary Magdalene in her grief, name the ways disappointment calcifies into resignation, and discover that what finally breaks through isn't argument or evidence — it's Love calling us by name. The world is more alive than we've been giving it credit for. Do you see it? References Scripture: John 20:1-18 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date March 29, 2026 Synopsis In this Palm Sunday sermon, we repent of triumphalism—our desperate need for a God who wins—and discover what's revealed when those false images finally fall. We've all handed our hope to something that couldn't hold it, and called it faith. But the one who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey isn't heading for a throne. He's heading through death. And it turns out, that's exactly where the God who was always there has been waiting. References Scripture: Matthew 2:1–11 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date March 22, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, guest preacher Alyson Tiwari invites us into the most honest question grief ever asks: Where were you? Using the story of Lazarus—and her own profound loss—she explores what it looks like to bring our full, unguarded selves to Jesus, anger and all. Reenchantment, she reminds us, isn't relentless optimism; it's the kind of presence that can hold grief and hope in the same breath, and discover God already standing in the middle of it, weeping. This week's invitation: release the cynicism that numbs, and dare to say, Show me something good. References Scripture: John 11:1–45 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Are you living like a citizen of heaven or a citizen of this world? In this sermon from Philippians 3:17-4:1, we walk through one of the most searingly honest passages in Paul's letters. He names two kinds of people, two ways of walking, and two very different destinations. And he anchors the whole thing in one declaration that changes everything: our citizenship is in heaven. We look at what it means to have your mind set on earthly things, why Paul wept over people in the church, what the four marks of earthly-minded living look like today, and what it actually means to belong somewhere else while you are still living here. This is not a call to escape the world. It is a call to remember who you are in it. Topics covered: The two ways: earthly-minded vs heavenly-minded What it means to be an enemy of the cross Why Demas is a warning for every believer Roman citizenship and why Paul's words hit Philippi hard The coming transformation of verse 21 What Revelation 21 says about where your citizenship is taking you How to stand firm when the drift is real

Date March 15, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we ask what we might be missing when we get stuck pining for the past. Nostalgia is seductive—it feels like home—but it can blind us to what God is doing right now. We explore how the man born blind models a different way: not reaching backward, but saying hello to here. Part of our series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again. The past isn't a destination. It's evidence. References Scripture: John 9:1–41 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date March 8, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, part of our Lenten series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again, we follow Jesus to Jacob's well — where he crosses every line his world drew to sit with a Samaritan woman his culture told him to avoid. We explore how our habit of sorting the world into clean categories — insider and outsider, worthy and unworthy — is the fast track to disenchantment, and how Jesus moves straight through every border not to condemn, but to liberate. Turns out, the best biscuits — and the best of us — rise higher when we're touching. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Date March 1, 2026 Synopsis In our second week of the Reenchanted series, we talk about ditching the intellectual armor that keeps us isolated and stuck in "knowing" all the right answers. Stop trying to think your way to God, and start learning how to feel your way back to the wild, messy, embodied life you were meant to live. It's time to repent of certainty and let your finite, beautiful body be the place where divine grace actually meets you. References Scripture: John 3:1–17 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

This is the Week 1 grounding practice for Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again — a Lenten series from The Local Church. This week's practice is called A List of Mysteries. It's a simple guided meditation designed to help you slow down and practice sitting with what you cannot explain—not as a failure of understanding, but as an act of faith. Take a walk while you listen if you're able. Or find a quiet place to sit and let your imagination do the moving. This practice pairs with Week 1 of the Reenchanted series, where we explore Matthew 4:1–11 and what it means to repent from certainty and believe in simply believing again.

2-24-26 Tonight at 9PM ET, we're talking with Ryan Kretchmer, owner of Barbarian Mead, a meadery in planning in the Philadelphia area. Like many people, Ryan has lived a quiet, normal life growing up in the suburbs of Chicago — quietly wrestling tigers in the Roman Colosseum, serving as a United States Senator, accepting a beauty pageant crown, conducting questionable laboratory experiments, and occasionally floating through low Earth orbit as an astronaut. Unfortunately, a demanding schedule of international diplomacy, space travel, and tiger hand-to-hand combat made it difficult to maintain a work-life balance, so he reluctantly retired from his many prestigious careers. The official story is “career exploration.” The real story is that the tigers unionized and HR got involved. In reality, Ryan is married to amazing and beautiful woman named Mary, who has given him more patience then he usually deserves...and a house full of dogs.  He spent many years working as a general contractor and carpenter, building and renovating homes. After a serious health scare forced him to reassess life and priorities, he stepped away from the physically demanding side of construction and transitioned into working as a quality inspector, where he now evaluates new homes for several national builders. While he no longer swings a hammer all day, the attention to detail and problem-solving mindset followed him into his next unexpected chapter. That chapter began one morning slightly hungover when he checked his email and discovered he had apparently purchased a mead-making kit the night before. Instead of canceling the order, he decided to see what would happen — and promptly fell down a very deep rabbit hole. What started as curiosity turned into an obsession. To date he has made more than 180 batches of mead. He plans to eventually operate **Barbarian Meadery**, where creativity, experimentation, and a refusal to take himself too seriously are part of the process. There are many more batches — and probably a few more questionable late-night purchases — still to come. Cheers. To listen live, you can find us on Youtube, Twitch, X (Twitter), and Facebook on the Gotmead Page. On our new platform, chat is part of the podcast! Just comment from wherever you are watching, and we'll see it!! If you'd like to call in, we can get you a link to come on! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meadwench YouTube: YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@Gotmead X(Twitter): https://x.com/RealGotMead Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GotMead Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GotMead JOIN CHAT ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/zEKNujQTtM Listen in! This player will show the latest episode: Sponsor: Look no further than Honnibrook Craft Meadery in Castle Rock, Colorado, for your go-to destination for wonderful, light, and refreshing mead! We have 20 meads on tap and four seasonal mead slushees.  Go to honnibrook.com for review our tap list, upcoming events and to order online! If you want to ask your mead making questions, you can send us a question via email, join to ask a question on the show, or via X @realGotMead and we'll tackle it online! The show runs from 9PM EDT/6PM PDT (United States) for about 2 hours every other Tuesday starting Jan 13, 2026. To join live, you can use this link, and here are instructions on how to join in. Once you enter the waiting room, we get a notification and will bring you in! Upcoming Shows Show links and notes Let There Be Melomels by Rob Ratliff The Big Book of Mead Recipes by Rob Ratliff Let There Be Session Meads by Rob Ratliff Upcoming Events Feb 25 - Silver Hand Meadery, Williamsburg, VA - A Reading by Stephen R. Lawhead (and mead) Feb 26 - Valhalla Meadery, Bozeman, MT - Meadery Jam - bring your instrument Feb 26 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sepulpa, OK - Karaoke Night Feb 28 - Grimsby Hollow Meadery, Middleville, MI - Drink Mead, Learn Things: Anatomy of a Killer: When Doctors Become Predators Feb 28 - Starrlight Mead, Pittsboro, NC - Mead and Girl Scout Cookie Paring Feg 28 - St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah, MI - Barefoot Music party Mar 1 - Brothers Drake Meadery, Columbus, OH - Sabor Sundays - Salsa and bachata social Mar 5 - Crafted Artisan Meadery, Mogadore, OH - Paint and Sip Mar 5 - Valhalla Meadery, Bozeman, MT - Meadery Jam - bring your instrument Mar 5 - Dancing Skeleton Meadery, Sapulpa, OK - Trivia Night Mar 8 - Clear Skies Meadery, Rockville, MD - Acoustic Jam with Mike Rocke Folk Music Mar 13 - Manic Meadery, Crown Point, IN - Paint and Drink Mar 15 - Jane Austen Society of North America, Columbia, MD - March Mead Madness - Mead Making class Mar 15 - Harvest Ridge Winery, Toughkenamoon, PA - Mead and Cheese Pairing Mar 15 - Frederick CUUPS, Frederick, MD - Mead Making workshop Mar 20-21 Valkyrie's Horn Mead Competition, Minneapolis, MN Mar 21 - Monks Meadery, Atlanta, GA - Armored Combat Exhibition Mar 28 - Zymarium Meadery, Orlando, FL - Bonsai and Cheers with L&J Nursery Mar 28 - Folklore Brewing and Meadery, Dothan, AL - Dothan Songwriters Festival April 11 - Mershon's Artisan Cider, Stoughton, WI - Wisconsin Cider and Mead Festival April 11 - Wild Blossom Meadery, Chicago, IL - Wine Run 5k April 12 - Moon Dog Meadery, Durham, NC - Modern Calligraphy for Beginners April 19 - Crafted Artisan Meadery, Mogadore, OH - Make a Sand Art Terrarium You can buy mead online at https://shopmeads.com

Date February 22, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the tension between our modern obsession with certainty and the ancient invitation to walk by faith. Using the story of Jesus in the wilderness, we see how the tempter's demand for proof is a trap designed to replace intimacy with control. True reenchantment isn't found in five-star guarantees or "crystal stairs," but in the dark corners where we finally stop demanding data and start reaching for a hand to hold. If you've been waiting for a sign before you're willing to believe, this is an invitation to loosen your grip, embrace the mystery, and find the new life that only begins in the dark. References Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org. To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Pittsboro, Mississippi was the site. It was nowhere near neutral, as was evident when the proceedings began with a prayer asking for an one-year extension for Trinidad Chambliss, the Ole Miss quarterback. The prayer was answered. The Clevelands also talk about the opening weekend of college baseball season, the Winter Olympics and a whole lot more.

Special guest preacher Rev. Gail Song Bantum wraps up our series, "Building the Beloved Community."

DateFebruary 8, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by challenging the gap between creed and deed—the painful disconnect between outward piety and lived justice. The 'breach' is the chasm between "what is and how God wants things to be," and our spiritual task isn't to retreat, but to run toward the vulnerability—brick and mortar in hand—and ask, "Where does it hurt?" This is the difficult but life-giving work of becoming Menders of Broken Walls and Restorers of Livable Streets, where God meets us and promises, "I'm here."ReferencesScripture: Isaiah 58:1–12About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateFebruary 1, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by diving into the structural integrity of the 'frame.' We move past the foundation of 'somebodiness' to see how the prophet Micah's call reveals the essential, non-negotiable components: to do justice, embrace hesed (faithful love), and walk humbly with God. These three elements are the core beams and joists of a life of faith, ensuring that your efforts do not collapse into self-righteousness, cheap charity, or burnout, so the Beloved Community you're building can actually bear weight.ReferencesScripture: Micah 6:1–8About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Due to the winter storm on the weekend, we were unable to gather in person. So Brent hopped online to offer a prayer and share a few thoughts about the death of Alex Pretti, what to do with our anger, and more.

DateJanuary 11, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the disruptive power of Jesus's baptism, revealing how it offers a new imagination for how we see the world. Jesus steps into the water to redefine righteousness—it's not about maintaining purity or order, but about radical solidarity that shatters systems of control and exclusion. By claiming our first, revolutionary name as Beloved, we embody a vision in which justice flows like a river and are empowered to take a bold next step toward the healing of God's world.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 3:13–17About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateJanuary 4, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore the stark contrast between the desperate, grasping control of King Herod and the open-handed, joyful trust of the Magi on Epiphany Sunday. Tired of the anxiety that comes with trying to manufacture, manage, and secure every outcome in your life? The Epiphany story is an invitation to receive the gift of God already present. Release your white-knuckled grip, surrender your own agenda, and step into a new year with a posture of open hands and wonder, ready to receive the revelation God is offering.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateDecember 24, 2025SynopsisIn this special Christmas Eve homily, we wrestle with the chasm between the wide-eyed wonder of a child's Christmas and the sleepless anxiety of adult logistics and existential uncertainty. We discover that the Christmas story is not a distant, sanitized tale but a radical, relatable gift of divine presence. It reveals God drawing near—Emmanuel—to stand in solidarity with us amid the pressure, grief, and disorientation of our modern lives. Joy enfleshed is for you.Scripture: Luke 2:1–20About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateDecember 21, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dismantle the myth that joy is a prize to be earned or a mindset to be curated. Digging into the Christmas story—from the animals who bear witness to the cosmic claim of John's sarx—we discover that God has already pitched a tent in the fragile, biological stuff of creation. Joy isn't a reward for overcoming; it's an ever-present sign of God's presence, which holds us through everything and is simply waiting for our attention.ReferencesScripture: John 1:1–5, 14O Magnum MysteriumAbout The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateDecember 14, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we venture into the dark fields alongside the shepherds, discovering that the first announcement of the Incarnation was entrusted to those on the margins. We explore how the angelic proclamation disrupts our fear, revealing a joy that is not a scarce commodity for the pious, but a generous, cosmic invitation for all humanity. This is a story about a God who breaks through the silence to offer a love that is unapologetically inclusive and meant to be shared.Scripture: Luke 2:8–18About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateDecember 7, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the revolutionary idea that joy is a muscle, not a mood. The daily practice of "Repeating the Sounding Joy" offers us a different path at the crossroads of control and trust, training our hearts for resilience instead of despair. We explore how Mary's defiant Magnificat—a song rehearsed over a lifetime—kickstarts an "upward spiral" of hope that disrupts the "downward spiral" of fear that threatened Joseph. Discover how to build the muscle memory of joy, aligning your present heart with God's joyful endgame for the world.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateNovember 30, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we kick off our Advent series, Repeat the Sounding Joy: Practicing an Honest Advent, by reclaiming joy as a defiant and contagious act of resistance. Joy is not a denial of despair, but an empowering force that opens our lips and loosens our tongues to sing of a future that refuses to be limited by current reality. We explore how Elizabeth's loud blessing and Zechariah's prophetic song disrupt the silence of Empire, giving us the courage to bless what God is doing and declare the breaking dawn now.ReferencesScripture: Luke 1:39–45; Luke 1:67–80About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateNovember 23, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we conclude our In Good Company series by venturing into the often-terrifying landscape of our own minds with guest speaker Cody Deese. Rather than treating anxiety as a spiritual failure or a monster to be exiled, Cody reframes our panic as a flare gun from the "internal universe," signaling a deep need for attention and love. He invites us to stop trying to talk our way out of fear and instead feel our way through it, discovering that the Divine is waiting for us right in the center of the storm.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Roy Zwahlen has extensive background in innovation. He serves as Chief Strategy Officer at the Eshelman Institute of Innovation, which develops therapeutics and digital health technologies and startups. Roy recently co-authored the book Race to Innovation: Unleashing the Power of Entrepreneurship for Everyone. He also serves as Associate Dean at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Roy has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctor from the George Mason School of Law. He has executive education in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Chief Strategy Officer executive training from Wharton School of Business. Roy loves spending his early mornings hassling 20+ teenagers as a Seminary teacher in Pittsboro, North Carolina. He has served in bishoprics, elders quorum presidencies, Sunday School presidencies, and in various teacher callings with Primary clearly being the best. Roy, his wife, and their five children—all of whom are much cooler than he is—live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Links https://www.racetoinnovation.net/ Race to Innovation: Unleashing the Power of Entrepreneurship for Everyone Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights In this episode, Roy discusses the intersection of innovation and church leadership, emphasizing how Latter-day Saints can embrace creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to build the kingdom of God. He outlines five principles of innovation that can empower individuals and leaders within the church. Key Insights Innovation in the Church: Innovation is rooted in the ongoing restoration of the gospel, with historical examples from church leaders like Joseph Smith and President Nelson demonstrating the importance of adapting and evolving. Recognizing Potential: Leaders should actively recognize and nurture the divine potential in all members, encouraging creativity and new ideas rather than dismissing them due to comfort with the status quo. Power of Enclaves: Supportive groups or enclaves foster innovation by providing emotional and practical support, enabling individuals to take risks and share their ideas without fear of failure. Enabling Ownership: Leaders should empower members to take ownership of their ideas, allowing them to lead initiatives rather than relying solely on institutional approval. Unique Perspectives: Embracing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of members can lead to innovative solutions that enrich the church community. Accelerating Change: Leaders should focus on how to accelerate innovative ideas, ensuring that they are not just reactive but proactive in creating positive change within their congregations. Leadership Applications Encouraging Initiative: Leaders can create an environment where members feel safe to propose new ideas, such as starting a community service project or a new class, by actively listening and providing support. Building Support Networks: Forming small groups or committees within the ward can help individuals collaborate on innovative projects, leveraging their unique skills and experiences to enhance church activities. Fostering a Culture of Innovation: By promoting a mindset of continuous improvement and openness to new ideas, leaders can inspire members to contribute creatively to the church's mission, ultimately strengthening the community and its outreach efforts. 00:03:34 - Framing Innovation in Church Leadership 00:05:25 - Innovation in the Context of the Restoration 00:07:51 - Challenges of Innovation in Large Organizations 00:09:36 - Autonomy in Local Church Leadership 00:11:25 - Encouraging Local Innovation 00:12:39 - The Role of Individual Members in Innovation 00:14:31 - Importance of Innovation in Church Leadership 00:16:06 - Proactive vs. Reactive Innovation 00:18:07 - Individual Innovation and Community Impact

DateNovember 16, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the third week of our series, In Good Company: A Series on Saints, by meeting John Wesley—a restless striver who felt compelled to earn his destiny. Discover how Wesley's relentless pursuit of holiness gave way to an inexplicable moment of surrender that radically transformed his life and launched a movement. The relentless pressure to be "enough" melts away when we realize that God's love for us is not a reward to be earned, but a gift that comes first. This profound assurance is what liberates us to stop fearing failure and start loving the world.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateNovember 9, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, the second in our In Good Company series, we dive deep into the extraordinary life of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Her childhood lessons about the sacredness of the wild fig tree rooted a life of radical faithfulness. We explore how her seemingly small act—planting seven trees—grew wild and untamed, like the kingdom of heaven itself, becoming a powerful movement for environmental justice, women's empowerment, and political liberation. Our small efforts matter, reminding us that we are called to root healing and hope wherever we are.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateNovember 2, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how St. Ignatius of Loyola—once a vain soldier obsessed with glory—discovered that faith isn't about achievement but friendship with God. Through his story and the encounter between Jesus and blind Bartimaeus, we're invited to consider Jesus's tender question: "What do you want me to do for you?" This first installment of the In Good Company series reminds us that when we embrace our need for divine friendship rather than trying to earn our way to God, our vision is restored and we're empowered to "set the world on fire" with love.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateOctober 26, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we scratch the record on apathy and tune our ears to the Spirit's invitation to dream again. We confront the haunting script that “nothing matters” and pivot toward a defiant, embodied hope—where God restores what locusts devour and empowers all people to imagine and co-create a more just, beautiful world. Expect honest lament, bold re-imagining, and a summons to actionable faith that interrupts despair with possibility.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateOctober 19, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the haunting fear that darkness will devour us. Through Jacob's midnight wrestling match with God, we discover that darkness isn't something to run from—it's a doorway to transformation. Wrestling with God in our darkest moments isn't a sign of faithlessness, but an invitation to experience divine presence and emerge changed, even if limping. Based on Genesis 32:22-31, with references to Barbara Brown Taylor's wisdom on sacred darkness and Kate Bowler's reflections on blessing through struggle.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateOctober 12, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the haunting narrative of isolation and loneliness plaguing our modern world. Pastor Meg Greto challenges the "pandemic of loneliness" by diving into Jeremiah's powerful letter to the exiles, revealing God's unexpected prescription for healing: plant gardens, build community, and seek the shalom (complete peace and flourishing) of the place where you are. Through practical actions and deep connection to both land and neighbor, we discover that God's story always calls us from isolation into beloved community. Scripture references: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateOctober 5, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, the first of our Scary Stories sermon series, we confront the haunting narrative that "might makes right" and discover a profound alternative: God's power is made perfect in weakness. Through the ancient prophet Habakkuk's honest laments and patient waiting, we learn that true strength isn't found in domination or self-reliance, but in admitting our need for God. When we embrace our human limitations instead of denying, distracting, or deflecting from them, we tap into a divine power that transforms both us and the world around us.ReferencesScripture: Habbakuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateSeptember 28, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we reimagine salvation not as a fear-driven, one-and-done transaction but as God's healing and wholeness breaking into real life—personal and communal, present and active. We move from private assurance to public restoration, learning to “work out” salvation together through justice, mercy, and everyday mending. Where the world feels frayed, we become agents of repair, embodying Jesus' pattern of healing, belonging, and restitution—here and now. Scripture: Luke 18:42; Mark 5:34; Luke 19:8–9; Philippians 2:12–13.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateSeptember 21, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon from the "Baggage Claim" series, we confront one of Christianity's heaviest burdens: the doctrine of hell and divine punishment. Brian Recker reveals how fear-based theology creates devastating spiritual baggage in our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Through fresh historical and biblical insights, he reframes Jesus's teachings about Gehenna not as threats of eternal torment, but as urgent calls to build loving communities in the present. Drawing from Matthew 7:12, Luke 19:10, and 1 John 4:18, Recker invites us to exchange our fear-laden baggage for the transformative truth of our belovedness.Pre-Order Hell Bent by Brian ReckerAbout The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateSeptember 14, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the heavy religious baggage many of us carry around prayer and discover a liberating alternative. Through Jesus's radical teaching of the Lord's Prayer, we explore a transformative framework—Attend, Align, Act—that moves us from empty ritual to revolutionary practice. Instead of treating prayer like a spiritual vending machine, we're invited into a dynamic rhythm that awakens us to God's presence, reshapes our desires, and unleashes us as agents of healing in a broken world. This isn't just about changing how we pray. It's about reimagining how we live.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 5:5–15About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

9-9-25 Tonight we're talking with Kris and Karen Pruitt with Kold Prairie Mead in Elizabeth, Colorado. They opened their meadery in 2022 and have been out there kicking it! Kristopher Pruitt's journey into meadmaking began in 2017 with an initial desire to become a beekeeper. Within a short time, his curiosity led him to explore mead, and on Thanksgiving Day that year, he and his wife, Karen, brewed their first experimental batches. Those early efforts quickly earned recognition, beginning with the Mead Free or Die competition and eventually included two Mazer Cups, Best of Show at the Domras Cup, and multiple medals at the Mead Madness Cup in Poland, to name a few of their homebrew accomplishments. In 2022, the Pruitts founded Kold Prairie Mead in Elizabeth, Colorado. The meadery officially launched in 2025, with Kris stepping into the role full-time. Together, they also run 2BeeKPers, their small honey business. Both ventures reflect their shared passion for beekeeping, craftsmanship, and community engagement. Kold Prairie Mead has steadily grown its presence through festivals, tasting events, and partnerships with select liquor stores and brew pubs. Certified through both the MJP and BJCP programs, Kris has judged and competed in mead competitions across the U.S. and internationally, including serving as Best of Show judge for the 2023 Mead Madness Cup commercial division. Driven by a love for craftsmanship and community, Kris values the camaraderie of judging and the shared knowledge that connects meadmakers worldwide. When not immersed in mead, Kris and Karen enjoy traveling—whether discovering new experiences in Europe or exploring closer to home in their 5th-wheel camper—and caring for the bees, chickens, and cats on their property. Join us to talk with Kris and Karen! To listen live, you can find us on Youtube, Twitch, X (Twitter), and Facebook on the Gotmead Page. On our new platform, chat is part of the podcast! Just comment from wherever you are watching, and we'll see it!! If you'd like to call in, we can get you a link to come on! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/meadwench YouTube: YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@Gotmead X(Twitter): https://x.com/RealGotMead Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GotMead Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GotMead JOIN CHAT ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/4PEnAumq Listen in! This player will show the latest episode: Sponsor: Look no further than Honnibrook Craft Meadery in Castle Rock, Colorado, for your go-to destination for wonderful, light, and refreshing mead! We have 20 meads on tap and four seasonal mead slushees.  Go to honnibrook.com for review our tap list, upcoming events and to order online! If you want to ask your mead making questions, you can send us a question via email, join to ask a question on the show, or via X @realGotMead and we'll tackle it online! The show runs from 9PM EDT/6PM PDT (United States) for about 2 hours. To join live, you can use this link, and here are instructions on how to join in. Once you enter the waiting room, we get a notification and will bring you in! Upcoming Shows Show links and notes Let There Be Melomels by Rob Ratliff The Big Book of Mead Recipes by Rob Ratliff Let There Be Session Meads by Rob Ratliff Upcoming Events Sept 10 - Savannah Bee Company, Greenville, SC - Mead and Trivia Sept 11 - KingView Meadery, Pittsburgh, PA - Paz and Ukulele Eddie live music Sept 12 - Brimming Horn Meadery, Seaford, DE - Mead n D&D Sept 13 - St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah, MI - Barn Dance 2025 Sept 13 - The Viking Alchemist Meadery, Smyrna, GA - Mead and Metal Artist Market Sept 13 - Bumbling Fools Mead, Minneapolis, MN - Play Dungeons & Dragons: A Fundraiser for Six Elements Sept 13 - Oregon Honey and Mead Festival, Medford, OR - Event by Cascade Girl Organization and Oregon Honey Festival at Eden Valley Orchards and Winery Sept 13-14 - St. Louis Renaissance Festival, Wentzville, MO - Ticket includes 4 samples of mead, a mead flask and entertainment (festival admission separate) Sept 14 - Furrows to Fences, Fond du Lac, WI - From Hive to Glass: Mead Making Basics Sept 18 - KingView Mead, Pittsburgh, PA - The Honey Earners live music Sept 20 - Texas Mead Fest, New Braunfels, TX - enjoy 8 tasting tickets and a keepsake glass. Sept 20 - Andrews VFW Post 7620, Andrews, NC - Medicinal Mead Class from Gigi is from Nantahala and the Murphy Area Farm and Homestead Bartering group Sept 27 - Starrlight Meadery, Pittsboro, NC - Mead Fest 2025 with CLAWS Oct 4 - Four Brothers Mead, Festus, MO - Viking Festival - Mead on Main Oct 4-5 - House on Willow, Adamstown, PA - Mead, Magic and Mystery Oct 11 - Michigan Mead Cup, Brighton, MI - Competition Oct 11 - Premier Prairie Gardens, Spring Hill, KS - Mead Making Class You can buy mead online at https://shopmeads.com

DateSeptember 7, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we unpack the loaded word "evangelism" and discover a fresh perspective that moves beyond pressure-filled conversion tactics to something more life-giving. Pastor Brent challenges us to reimagine evangelism not as a two-seater transaction but as a communal journey where there's always room for one more – complete with our questions, doubts, and full humanity. Through the lens of Philip's invitation to Nathanael to "come and see," we explore how authentic relationship and radical welcome can transform both ourselves and our world.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 28:16–20, John 1:43–51About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateAugust 31, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore God's radical, relentless love through the beloved children's show Bluey. Diving deep into the episode "Sleepytime," we unpack how cultural narratives of an angry, punitive God have caused profound harm, while scripture actually reveals a tender, compassionate Divine Parent who never gives up on us. Through beautiful imagery of a mother's cosmic love and ancient words from Hosea, we discover that God's essence isn't wrath or disappointment, but an unwavering love that transforms how we see ourselves and how we build community. Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9, 1 John 4:7-12About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateAugust 10, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we wrestle with that universal ache of unfinished business—from summer bucket lists to life's deeper longings. Drawing from personal experience and the ancient wisdom of Hebrews 11, we discover something liberating: faith isn't about checking off every box, but about trusting God in the midst of our incompleteness. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah, we learn that the divine often shows up not in our achievements, but in life's ordinary, unpolished moments—transforming our "undone" into holy ground where grace and humanity meet. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16)About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Abraham Verghese has two acclaimed careers. He's an infectious disease specialist known for his focus on the human side of medicine and a bestselling author of books like “My Own Country” and “The Covenant of Water.” In a recorded live event in Pittsboro, North Carolina, Anita talks to him about the shared philosophy he brings to both professions and probes him about how his own experiences inform how he writes about bodies and relationships. Meet the guest:- Dr. Abraham Verghese, acclaimed physican and authorRead the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platformFollow Embodied on Instagram Leave a message for EmbodiedBuy tickets for our August event at Motorco, all about transformation!Special thanks to McIntyre's Books in Fearrington Village for hosting this event.

Rajeev Tiwari, Director of Student Ministries at The Local Church, preaches a sermon on what sabbath is and how we can enter into it.