Get Your Spirit In Shape

You have probably heard the aspirational promise of The United Methodist Church: “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.” Typically, we think of it as a goal for our churches. But what if we all lived into it every day… even while driving? Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

Meet Bishop Harald Rückert of the Germany Central Conference. In this conversation, we learn that he once studied food technology, plays the saxophone, and speaks 4 languages. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

Many people around the world do not have easy access to clean, safe water. Have you ever wondered what you can do to make a difference? In this podcast episode, Lorrie King from the United Methodist Committee on Relief shares how pervasive the problem is, and offers everyday tips that will help us conserve and … Continue reading "Ep. 020: God’s Precious Gift of Water with Lorrie King"

Do you struggle with prayer? Ever wonder if you’re doing it ‘right’? United Methodist pastor and author Adam Weber offers tips and thoughts to improve your prayer life. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

What can we learn about God and our faith from children? The interviewers of 59 children for an advertising campaign for The United Methodist Church share the surprises, the laughter, and some of the special moments they shared with the kids. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

Life can be crazy, especially for parents. In this podcast episode a United Methodist pastor shares what she has learned through motherhood. Betsy Singleton Snyder is the author of Stepping on Cheerios: Finding God in the Chaos and Clutter of Life. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

In this podcast episode, we talk with the Rev. Rebecca Rutter who believes living simply not only benefits our planet, it can deepen our spiritual lives as well. She challenged herself to build a 98 sq. ft. tiny house, which gave her big ideas about faith, going green, and living simply. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org … Continue reading "Ep. 016: Peace, Simplicity and a Tiny House with Rebecca Rutter"

Hymns draw us closer to God, and have much to teach us. In this podcast episode, a United Methodist scholar shares what some Lent and Easter appropriate hymns by Charles Wesley, say about life, faith, death, and resurrection. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

A phone call can change our lives in an instant. In this podcast episode a United Methodist pastor shares how the crisis of a cancer diagnosis impacted his life and faith. Micheli is author of Cancer is Funny: Keeping Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

Is it wrong to have questions? United Methodist author and podcaster Mike McHargue talks about his journey from belief to atheism and back to a new question-embracing faith after a personal encounter with Jesus. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

Christmas is a season of singing as we celebrate, and those songs are often expressions of our faith. Author and professor Paul Chilcote shares some of the themes in the hymns of Charles Wesley, that will help us as we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: http://youtube.com/umcvideos Facebook: http://facebook.com/unitedmethodistchurch Twitter: http://twitter.com/umchurch

We sometimes think about giving as a Christian obligation, something we ought to do. Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship for The United Methodist Church, invites us to reconsider that way of thinking. He shares how generous living is a spiritual discipline that brings us joy. Sharing what we have is a privilege, a way of … Continue reading "Ep. 011: Generosity is Good for the Soul with Ken Sloane"

At a time when many of us are longing to hear a word from the Lord, 95-year-old Shirley Bachelder receives explicit instructions about what to put on a billboard, who God has chosen to be her new, best friend, and where to sleep and eat when they were on the road together. “He’s interested in … Continue reading "Ep. 010: Life lessons from a 95-year-old United Methodist churchgoer with Shirley Bachelder"

Finding a faith community in college can be challenging. Students who grew up in a local church had those ministries provided during their childhood and teenage years. Now, often for the first time, they need to seek out a place to worship and connect. The Rev. Sheila Bates of Higher Education and Ministry, and a … Continue reading "Ep. 009: College, Church and Faith with Sheila Bates"

When we become Christians, we begin a lifelong journey of following Jesus every day. John Wesley taught the early Methodists to meet together in small groups called classes, to help one another along the way. The United Methodist Church continues to encourage Christians to gather in discipleship groups that will help us grow in our … Continue reading "Ep. 008: Everyday Disciples with Steve Manskar, Melanie Gordon, and Chris Wilterdink"

Getting a new pastor can be unsettling for a congregation. United Methodist pastor the Rev. Bob Kaylor, an author and speaker about pastoral transitions, shares ideas on how we might be receptive to new clergy leadership, and help our congregation move through a season of transition. Mostly, though, he wants each of us going through … Continue reading "Ep. 007: Changing Pastors? It’s Going to be Okay with Bob Kaylor"

In another special episode from General Conference, we have edited together snippets from conversations with several of our United Methodist bishops as they tell us about their emphasis on prayer before and during General Conference. Our bishops led a 131 day prayer vigil before General Conference, are leading another during General Conference, and are making … Continue reading "Ep. 006: We Believe in Prayer: Bishops’ emphasis at General Conference"

In this special episode from General Conference, I get to chat with Hannah Foust, a 14-year-old United Methodist in Indiana. Hanna felt God calling her to do something to help those in Burkina Faso without clean water. She didn’t wait until she was older, she got started right away. To date, she has raised enough money … Continue reading "Ep. 005: Called to Serve with Hannah Foust from General Conference"

Have you ever thought of using Facebook in your spiritual life? The Rev. R. Scott Miller, a United Methodist pastor in Ohio and the founder of TeKnowPreach, shares some ideas about how we can use social media to grow spiritually, and to share the story of our faith journeys when we post. Follow us: Web: … Continue reading "Ep. 004: Can You Be Social and Spiritual Too? with R. Scott Miller"

Whitney Simpson, a United Methodist spiritual director, stopped by the studio for a conversation about finding and creating sacred spaces in our everyday lives. Simpson shares some great, practical tips for enriching our spiritual journeys and deepening our relationship with Jesus by finding those special spaces to be with God. Follow us: Web: http://www.UMC.org YouTube: … Continue reading "Ep. 003: Sacred Spaces with Whitney Simpson"