The Untidy Methodist

Seeing the need is important. But once we see the need, it’s even more important to “do something about it” to the best of our ability. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Being “thankful in all circumstances” isn’t always easy to do. The troubles and trials of life can crowd out the things we should be thankful for. How do we “thankfully remember” all our blessings? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

You may already know about the debates in the United Methodist Church over gender and sexuality. What you may not know is how we got here. This Special Edition of The Untidy Methodist brings you the story of two men and how they changed the course of history for the United Methodist Church.

We’ve raised the idea of multitasking to an art form. But in doing so, we’ve begun to realize how difficult it is to try to work on so many things at once. That’s still true when we look at our walk of faith. And, that’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

“Setting our minds on things above” means more than just thinking about how wonderful Heaven can be. It shows in how we live our lives every day, in how we treat each other. Where we “set our minds” lets others know what matters most in our lives. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

How do we guard against those who would misquote or twist Scripture to get their way? “A little knowledge” helps quite a bit. And, that’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This is a word of thanks to all our listeners!

It’s easy to stand firm in the faith when times are good. But, how do we stand firm in our faith during difficult times? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Wesley’s Covenant Prayer is beautifully written and describes so well what following Christ can mean. While the level of commitment required by this prayer can be a bit intimidating, it’s still the roadmap to our best relationship with God. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

We often refer to our congregation as a “Church family”. And, that is true - or at least it should be. How do we show that kind of love and care to each other and to those around us? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

When times are tough, what gets us through the day? It’s faith, it’s trust, it’s knowing in our heart we are still loved and cared for. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

The message of God’s grace is available to everyone, everywhere. What that means, and what we should do about it, are part of what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Sooner or later what we say (and how we say it) will reveal what we are really like. Who we really are. A good heart filled with love and kindness can make a difference in what we say, every day. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

When someone hurts you and wants to make things right, how do you handle it? Do you say “I told you so” and make sure they feel as bad as you once did? Or, is there a better way? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

“Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.” That’s a translation of today’s verse from The Message. Words have more power than we may think, especially when someone is going through a difficult time. We talk about the power of our words in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This is a truly holy day on our calendar, the day we remember the sacrifice of our Savior on a cross. What makes this day a truly “Good Friday”? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

We are told to “test everything” and to “hold fast to what is good” when it comes to matters of faith. How can we “discern” or understand the differences when it comes to our faith? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

A bright light can guide our way. Show us the paths to take. Keep us from falling into danger. What does that mean in our walk of faith? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

How do we place stumbling blocks in our own way and in someone else’s walk of faith? And, how can we instead be a stepping stone that makes that walk easier? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

The idea that someone else in our lives could know literally everything we say and do can be unsettling, and yet that’s exactly what God does know. How do we respond to that, and how can we be glad that this is the case? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

John Wesley wrote about spiritual disciplines that he called “Means of Grace”. In this second part of the series, we hear about Works of Mercy, ways that we both experience grace and share God’s love and grace with others. That’s in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Working hard to do your best is not a bad thing - as long as we remember to care for others along the way. Putting the needs of others first is part of what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

The words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi are good advice to us today. “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary”. How do we set the example of Christ’s love? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

There are enough troubles in this world, especially over the last couple of years, that it can be all too easy to be discouraged. Yet, we are continually reminded to look ahead. To not lose heart. To look to the unseen things that are better than any troubles we may have today. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Events going on right now make this a very perilous time. What can we do to bring greater peace in the world, whether far from home or right where we live? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

These are stress filled times, and it’s far too easy to let worry overtake us. But, worry never solved anything, and we’re reminded of that as we talk about worry in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Most of us want to leave something to future generations, for the people we love. How do we do that while helping others in need today? It’s all about priorities, and remembering that “You Can’t Take it With You”. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

It’s important to know who your friends really are. A truly good friend can be as close as family, while an unreliable friend can cause a lot of trouble. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

John Wesley wrote about Means of Grace, talking about the things that work inward to build our faith and connection to God, and the means by which we reach out to others in following God’s will. In this episode we begin with those things that work inward, called Works of Piety. It’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Why do “good works”? Is that a way to “earn” grace? And if not, why do we talk so much about doing good works? Doing good is a response to grace, not the reason for that grace, and that’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Snow is mentioned many times in the Bible, in some cases as a symbol for divinity and purity, and in others as a symbol of God’s forgiveness, as in, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”. We talk about snow and what it symbolizes in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Having faith doesn’t mean we never have to deal with tough times. It does mean we never have to face them alone. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

If you’ve ever felt like the least likely choice for something, take heart. You may be exactly what God is looking for. It’s the difference between how we look at things and how God looks at us. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Christmastime is full of love, hope, peace, and joy. It’s something we need to remember long after the lights are taken down and the ornaments are put away. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This is a happy and joyful season for so many of us. But, for those who have gone through loss, this can be a very difficult time of year. How does a Blue Christmas service help, and what can we do to help others as well? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This is a season we like to celebrate with the people we love, all our friends and family. But there is more to the love that runs throughout this season. It’s the love we all have been given, and the love we all can share. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This season is a time of peace, of hope, and of joy. True joy is more than just a fleeting emotion. It’s something we can choose to keep in our hearts that can get us through the toughest of times. We talk about Joy in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

This is a wonderful time of year, but it can also be one of the most hectic. As we make all our preparations, don’t forget to enjoy the Peace that the season brings. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

We have entered Advent, the beginning of the Christian year and a time of anticipation and preparation. It’s also a time of hope. Of hope for better times Of hope fulfilled. Of hope in the face of whatever problems we face in life. We talk about hope in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

How well do we welcome people who are new to us? To those who are visiting? How well do we show Christ’s love to the world? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

When others say things that are not-so-nice to you on social media, do you want to say something just as bad right away? Sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor, and that’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

An ambassador to another nation carries the responsibility of representing the values and interests of their home country. They are an example, maybe the definitive example of what their nation is like to people in that other land. If we are called ambassadors for Christ, what does that mean for us and how we should live out our own faith? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Sometimes our faith gets tested by the slings and arrows of life. Yet, that is when we most need that faith, when we most need to be able to trust in a God that loves us all. Placing trust when things are down is what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

A grudge can last a very long time, and it generally doesn’t solve anything. A grudge can be a bigger harm to the person holding it than to anyone else. So, why do we hang on to grudges? And, what can we do about it? That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

In a warning against hypocrisy, Jesus reminded His followers that you can’t really hide from God. Increasingly today, we can’t hide from the world, either. Not in a social media world that chronicles all our lives. It’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

There are different ways of worship, from formal to contemporary and more. We don’t always agree on everything as Christians. But, what we do agree on can be summed up in a creed many of us say routinely every Sunday. Whether it’s the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed or another statement of our faith, it’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Right now, a little encouragement could make a big difference for someone we meet. It can also be a boost for us as well. It’s part of lifting each other up in the faith, and it’s what we talk about today in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Today’s passage has some wise advice for any parent. How we teach our children, how we guide them, and the example we set for them, can make a big difference in their walk of faith. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

In Biblical days, it was the widow and orphan who needed someone to speak up for them. In today’s world there are even more who need us to speak up, to stand up, and to help as best we can. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.

Having faith is easy when the reward is right in front of us. But, there’s more to faith than what we get right now. We believe and have hope, even if we can’t see the end result right now. We trust, we believe, we have faith. That’s what we talk about in this episode of The Untidy Methodist.