Beatitudes Radio

Black and white. Light and dark. Good and evil. This binary way of cataloging and compartmentalizing our thoughts and experiences is useful when it comes to categorizing much about life. But what about gender identity? When it comes to one’s sexual and/or gender identity, culture has shifted from a simple binary classification, male or female, to include a number of varied identities on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Has religion and, in particular, Progressive Christianity kept pace with this complex and non-binary way of thinking about gender identity? Join us this PRIDE week as Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. examines the implications of using a traditional, binary and conditional Christian lens when it comes to loving and accepting transgender individuals. Explore why now more than ever is the time to align our open and affirming progressive doctrine with not only transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals, but all marginalized human beings. Listen and discover the impact we can make when we not only love and accept but affirm the beautiful spectrum of humanity with its varied colors, races and yes, gender identities.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 6/26/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Interviewee: ellie hutchison (she/her/hers/they/them/theirs), Member in Discernment, Beatitudes Church

 

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Outrage. Recent events and protests across America have reignited our nation’s outcry for justice and racial equality with the nation’s police force once again in the hot seat. With a current statistic of 1 out of every 1,000 black men being killed by a police officer, the narrative looks all too familiar and undeniably systemic. Our continued silence in this matter is problematic and an egregious act that can no longer be employed or tolerated. But how do we as evolving Christians go about framing a new narrative of equality and encourage others to do the same? How do we lend a voice that is both effective and loud? Listen this week as Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. examines the nation’s policing problem and white privilege. Jesus came so that all people could have life! Discover four things we can do as Christians to realign ourselves and our spheres of influence with Jesus’ admonition to care for the least of these and to live life to its fullest. Let’s work together to change the narrative and tangibly make God’s love real by unapologetically refusing to be silent.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church, Phoenix, AZ on 06/12/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:5-10

 

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https://www.beatitudeschurch.org/online-giving

This week America again reached a civil rights tipping point following the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. And while his death was indeed tragic sparking an unprecedented movement of protest against inequality and systemic racism present throughout our society, for many of us, the civil unrest and angst accompanying the protest seemed more a natural consequence of weeks of pent up frustration following the shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic than purely injustice. So how can we make this movement mean more? How do we avoid falling back into the old way of thinking and force ourselves to think differently? Persistence. We invite you this week to listen to a special message from Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. as he explores the long enduring maxim that persistence pays off. Referencing Jesus’ parable in Luke 18, Pastor Tony examines the power one yields by simply being persistent. Listen and discover four tangible practices you can employ to build God up in the world and restore peace. Join us as we radically and persistently make God’s love real for all in a time such as this.

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 06/05/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference: Luke 18:1-8

If you like what you hear, consider donating at:

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Words are powerful. A single word can convey the speaker’s intention both positively and negatively. Our world has been turned upside-down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cacophony of words we’ve had to digest over the past weeks and months to make our world a safer place has been overwhelming. But regardless of the noise, you don’t have to be a great orator to make a difference with your words. Join Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. this week for a look at how our words can break into the chaos and provide peace and healing during this difficult time. Discover three things you can do to craft your words to make a difference for our shared commission to make God’s love real for others today and for tomorrow.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 4/15/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture References: Proverbs 11:12; James 3:1-12

 

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Who are the mothers of the world? This Mother’s Day is most certainly one like no other we’ve ever experienced. With the COVID-19 pandemic confining most of us to our homes, many of us have had to redefine what it looks like to celebrate our mother figures. Despite the restrictions of hunkering down and exercising caution, the pandemic may have actually provided us with the perfect opportunity to reflect on and to broaden our definition of mothering. Listen as our guest speaker, ellie hutchison, examines what it means to mother within this unique moment in history. Discover a new narrative for mothering to take with us as we reemerge on the other side of the pandemic. A narrative that emboldens mothers and other-mothers with a fierce spirit that takes risks and loves on humanity unapologetically. 

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church, Phoenix, AZ on 05/08/20

Preaching: ellie hutchison

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference: Matthew 25:14-27

 

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In a time such as now, the idea of trust in ourselves, humanity and even in God is tenuous and absent for many. How can trust be restored during a pandemic? What about after the pandemic? What voice can you trust? We invite you to listen and experience this week's message from Pastor Jim Meadows as he explores the many ways in which people find certainty. Listen and discover the peace of mind and reassurance one can find when you zero in on the one single voice, that of the divine, that can restore your hope and encourage you to invite trust back into your heart and mind. Then watch as all other voices fade away and certainty resides once again.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 05/01/20

Preaching: Rev. Jim Meadow

 

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6

 

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https://www.beatitudeschurch.org/online-giving

Why did God allow the COVID-19 pandemic? Explanations abound if you Google search this very question. Quite often scholarship points to scripture’s Old Testament story of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when God revealed to Abraham that the cities were to be destroyed for their grave sins in particular those associated with homosexual acts. Many take up this mantle and run saying we are being punished by God with this pandemic for our wicked ways. But within a modern framework, is this story really a viable explanation for our current crisis? Join Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. this week as he examines this Old Testament story from a 21st century perspective. Explore a new way of looking at the story and discover a new lesson to replace that which is no longer working. Learn two insights this new perspective not only says about our view of God, but our response to the pandemic and the challenge that will come if we miss the real lesson of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 4/24/20

 

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference from the Torah: Genesis 19:1-11

 

If you like what you hear, consider donating at:

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One of the most powerful of human needs is the need for significance. To feel special and unique is a need common to all human beings. In times of crisis, such as the current global pandemic, not only do we want to know that we matter to others, we want to be seen and not isolated. Often times we turn to God to reaffirm our significance. Historically, we see this happening to the Israelites when they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. The writer of Genesis introduces us to the Hebrew patriarch, Abraham, who is found special in the eyes of God. For the Israelites in captivity, they identified with Abraham in order to reclaim their lost sense of purpose and significance. Join Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. this week for a look at the shifting views of God throughout the Old Testament history and how it relates to our current situation. Examine the two ways in which we respond to the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic and what it says about our evolving view of God. Discover the importance of unifying that view of God amongst us all to face not only the current pandemic, but the threats and challenges of tomorrow.

 

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 4/17/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: ellie hutchison

Scripture Reference from the Torah: Genesis 12:1-9

If you like what you hear, consider donating at:  https://www.beatitudeschurch.org/online-giving

This Easter Sunday is certainly one like no other we’ve ever experienced. With the COVID-19 pandemic confining most of us to our homes, an in-person worship experience was not possible. This change in how we experienced Easter was both familiar and communal, yet strange and secluded at the same time. And although Jesus’ Easter story has not changed, we invite you to reconsider your interpretation of it today from a new perspective. To veer from a literal focus of this 2000-year-old event of the past and its future promises, to the magic and beauty of the story for us today here and now. Listen as Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. and ellie hutchison apply the wisdom of the Easter story to our world today. Explore how to live in the dichotomy of the story as both dark and light, and to sit in the tomb of your own psychological and emotional struggles and heal. Discover what it means to live life abundantly as Jesus admonished by being true to the Easter story and how to carry this discovery with you out into the world once the proverbial stone is rolled away from all of our tombs and we can reemerge on the other side of the pandemic.

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church, Phoenix, AZ on 04/11/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D. and ellie hutchison

Scripture Reader: Janelle Tapphorn

Scripture Reference: Mark 16:1-4

If you like what you hear, consider donating at:

https://www.beatitudeschurch.org/online-giving

No doubt you are probably navigating the COVID-19 pandemic with a heightened level of uncertainty. With the multitude of mixed messages we receive daily from our leaders and the media at large, a feeling of certainty is at a premium today. Who do you trust? Where do you put your faith? Is it perfunctory to just give it over to God? Join Pastor Tony Minear, Ph.D. this week as he explores the many ways in which people find certainty. Listen and discover the two sources Jesus turned to find certainty in times of trouble and doubt. Do these sources still work for us today through a 21st century lens? Or is it valuable to perhaps reimagine the God of Jesus’ time? Be encouraged to wrestle and ponder these topics in spiritual community with us at Beatitudes Church where all individuals can have authentic and honest discussions in a space of safety and solidarity. Regain your sense of certainty to carry you through to the other side of COVID-19.

Recorded live at Beatitudes Church in Phoenix, AZ on 04/05/20

Preaching: Rev. Tony Minear, Ph.D.

Scripture Reader: ellie hutchison

Scripture Reference: Luke 19:28-38

If you like what you hear, consider donating at:

https://www.beatitudeschurch.org/online-giving