Paul’s Thorn

Today’s episode is called In the Wilderness, and we’re going to explore what Jesus’ time in the desert can teach us about limitation, identity, and the unexpected presence of God in places that feel empty.

Intended as relaxing background audio.  Recorded on a Winter morning on Camano Island.  (Part 4 of a 4 season audio soundscape project)  

What does real love look like when life includes weakness, suffering, or disability? In this episode of Paul’s Thorn, we reflect on 1 Corinthians 13, Paul’s Thorn, and Romans 8 to discover a love that bears, endures, and never lets us go.

Intended as relaxing background audio.  Recorded on a Fall morning on Camano Island.  (Part 3 of a 4 season audio project)  

Dogs appear in Scripture as symbols of those pushed to the margins, used as insults, metaphors for shame, and reminders of who society believes does not belong. And yet…again and again, dogs show up near the vulnerable—near the sick, the poor, the forgotten. In one of Jesus’ most haunting parables, it is the dogs who draw close to a disabled, suffering man when no one else will. They notice him. They remain with him. They offer what comfort they can. So today, we’ll ask some deeper questions: What does it mean that Scripture places dogs alongside the overlooked? What does it tell us about dignity, worth, and compassion? And what might we learn about disability—not from the powerful or the praised—but from those who linger at the edges and refuse to turn away?

Christmas is the season of welcome — of making room for Christ, for one another, and for the stranger. Yet, for many people with disabilities, even sacred celebrations meant to embody this spirit have often been physically or socially inaccessible.  The story of Christmas begins with the phrase:  “There was no room for them in the inn.” — Luke 2:7 That verse doesn’t just describe Mary and Joseph’s situation — it’s a reflection of how the world often treats people who don’t “fit” its structures. But the beauty of the Christmas story is that God chose to enter precisely where there was no room — transforming a stable into a sanctuary.  In the same way, accessibility is not just a checklist; it’s a form of incarnation — a way to make Christian love tangible in our spaces and traditions.

Today, we’re exploring some of the most beloved passages in Scripture — words that have comforted, challenged, and transformed lives for generations. From the green pastures of Psalm 23 to the quiet power of 1 Corinthians 13, these verses trace a journey through faith, suffering, and love.  We’ll hear them through four different translations — the King James Version, the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, and The Message — not to compare which one is “right,” but to listen for the layers of meaning each voice reveals. Sometimes, hearing the same truth in a new rhythm opens our hearts in new ways. These passages are some of my personal favorites — words that have carried me through both weakness and renewal.

Throughout Scripture, the struggle between good and evil isn’t just symbolic — it’s personal, visible, and often terrifying. From ancient Israel to the ministry of Jesus, the Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of spiritual possession. But in every encounter, there’s a deeper message: authority, freedom, and restoration. In this episode, we’ll explore how the Bible portrays demon possession — what it looked like, what it meant, and what it tells us about human suffering and divine power.

Today, we’re diving into a topic that many believers and scholars are just beginning to talk about: neurodivergence in the Bible. Neurodivergence is the idea that there isn’t just one right way for a brain to work. That human minds exist across a spectrum of ways of thinking, feeling, processing, and perceiving the world.  Some of us are linear and structured. Some are deeply emotional. Some are intensely focused, and others are beautifully scattered and creative. And all of it is part of the image of God. So what if some of the great figures of Scripture—the prophets, the poets, the visionaries—experienced the world differently? What if their differences weren’t obstacles to their calling, but part of it?

In today’s episode we will be exploring a profound and sometimes painful part of the Christian journey: the dark night of the soul...those seasons when God feels silent, prayer feels empty, and faith feels harder to hold onto. Together, we’ll uncover how the dark night connects to Scripture, how it shapes the Christian life, and how, even in silence, God is doing His deepest work. 

The story of Job gives us a profound lens for thinking about suffering and disability—not just in terms of physical pain, but also how it touches relationships, emotions, theology, and community. By tracing key moments in Job’s journey, we can see how his experience speaks powerfully about the realities of disability today.

Intended as relaxing background audio.  Recorded on Labor Day morning on Camano Island.  (Part 2 of a 4 season audio project)

In Part 1, we explored the mystery of God’s will as it relates to worship and obedience. Today, we’re going to dive deeper into Scripture and theology to see how disability fits into God’s plan, not as an accident or punishment, but as something that can carry divine meaning.

Part 1 of a 2-part series on the will of God. The will of God is often a mystery, felt most tenderly in the experience of disability, where questions of weakness, limitation, and purpose arise without easy answers.

Today’s theme, especially as it relates to disability in the Bible, is the idea that experiencing hardship can be an honor—an invitation to share in the suffering of Christ.  Part 2 of a 2 part series.

Today’s theme, especially as it relates to disability in the Bible, is the idea that experiencing hardship can be an honor—an invitation to share in the suffering of Christ.  Part 1 of a 2 part series.  

In our first interview episode, I speak with my husband Brian Vincent about his thoughts on God, disability, and the Bible.

Mini-episode about why the fifth podcast is running late. :)   Song: "Voice of Strength remix v1" by  RubyMinimalistKoto201769 and Udio.    

Background sound recorded on a peaceful spring morning in the Pacific Northwest.

In Episode 4 we will be talking about how the Apostles used healing and encounters with disability to continue Jesus’ ministry in the following ways: Demonstrating the power of Jesus' name Fulfilling the continuation of Jesus' mission Authenticating their authority Creating moments of conflict and decision Prefiguring final restoration

Part 2 of a 2-part exploration of how disability and healing are used in the ministry of Jesus. Key themes are: Prioritizing Faith Over Physical Wholeness Including the Marginalized Symbolic and Spiritual Healing Redefining Strength and Power

Part 1 of a 2-part exploration of how disability and healing are used in the ministry of Jesus. Key themes are: Revealing His Divine Authority Demonstrating the Kingdom of God Challenging Sin and Social Stigma

In this first episode of the podcast Angelie Vincent will be talking about Paul’s Thorn in the Bible, her personal disability story, and sharing her faith journey including learning to reconcile what it means to be both disabled and a Christian in the context of the Bible and God’s mission for her life.