I got so much great feedback about the Sunday Sermon two weeks ago that I decided to turn it into a series. This message is part two. Sometimes, the way out of our rut is simpler than we think. What is your next, best step to breaking free? If you’d prefer to listen to audio only, please check out the podcast version. Recommended Reading: Jesus’ Alternative Plan by Richard Rohr Returning to Eden by Heather Hamilton Referenced in This Episode:... Read more
I was in the car for 10 hours yesterday and had bursts of conversation with God. I took some notes to share with you. This talk (video above) is a little “out there” and might stretch some of my evangelical friends. Please stick with me. I think you’ll like where we end up. In this talk, I discuss: The need to separate Jesus the first-century teacher from the religious icon passed down to us. The first century understanding of some... Read more
The day we had been dreading had finally arrived. Our oldest child, Alex, was moving out on her own. I had always expected to be relieved to see our kids spread their wings and fly away from the nest. After all, raising healthy, well-adjusted kids who can thrive on their own is nearly every parent’s goal, right? Recently though, as my faith continued to evolve, I realized we had not done a good job of representing spiritual and emotional health... Read more
As we kick off season 4 of the podcast, we’re excited to welcome Kyle Butler and Lola Robbins as our new co-hosts and we’re launching a new format that we hope you will love! In this first episode of the new era, we discuss new beginnings, the story of Esther in the Bible, the US Supreme Court decision regarding Roe vs. Wade, and learning to hear the language of God/The Universe/love to you. It’s a great conversation and we’d love... Read more
We speak of it in hushed tones. Calling for its’ erasure from American society is considered blasphemous. Millions of dollars are spent by individuals and corporations alike to lobby Congress to protect it. We trust it to protect our material possessions. We trust it to protect us from harm and keep our families safe. We trust it to give us victory over other nations in war. We put our faith in it no matter what we say to the contrary... Read more
Sometimes, the world seems like a messed up place. When considering matters of injustice, political manipulation, or religious exploitation, there’s a lot to be angry about. Many of us have been simmering in our frustration and rage for the last couple of years. So what do we do with our anger? A few thoughts… Feel It You have the right to feel whatever you feel. That should go without saying, but we sometimes need reminders about these things. There is... Read more
Prolific author Keith Giles rounds out his incredible “Jesus Un…” series today with his seventh and final volume, “Jesus Unarmed: How the Prince of Peace Disarms Our Violence“. Here’s my quick review from Amazon: “There has long been an ideological disconnect between the non-violent Prince of Peace and many of the people who call themselves by His name. While claiming to worship the One who taught us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, we have stubbornly... Read more
This morning I had a beautiful and life giving conversation with my friend, Joe Machuta, that will eventually be released as a new episode of The Messy Spirituality Podcast. I couldn’t wait to share it with you so I wanted to go ahead and share the uncut video with you all here. In this conversation, we discuss Joe’s eclectic spiritual journey as well as his stubborn love for Jesus. It really is worth an hour of your time and I... Read more
First Baptist Church of Dallas held its’ annual “Freedom Sunday” this week. Basically, it’s a star spangled Sunday morning celebration of the United States of America, its’ military, and our nation’s alleged “Christian heritage” featuring flags, the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem, patriotic hymns, congregational singing, and preaching. A Disclaimer I am a very grateful American. I know what a blessing and privilege it is to be born into a country where we enjoy freedoms that the citizens of... Read more
Official Description from Amazon What happens when two philosophically-minded friends sit down around a firepit to chat about life’s biggest topics? Within these pages, you’ll find out. In The Bonfire Sessions: A Year of Shadow and Flame, authors and podcasters Matthew J. Distefano and Michael Machuga give their readers a glimpse into their very real lives, modeling for others what they believe conversation should look like. With rawness and vulnerability, as well as a large dose of salty language, this... Read more
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