On a very loose podcast, the group tries to answer what to do when you feel you need your faith back, and how you're doing better than you think you are.

This podcast sounds undedited, but trust me, it is very edited.

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The Gospel of John, from its opening chapter, challenges us. Rather than begin with the story of the Nativity, it first rewrites Genesis from a Jesus-centric point of view.

John tells us to listen, to hear, that God is speaking to us. This should not strike us as unusual, since God has been in the speaking business for a long time. And if we just want to hear ourselves speak, we miss out our chance to hear God speak.

Plus, a trick for making sure you always hear what others have to say.

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A follow-up question about the New Jim Crow podcast series asks if the conversation about black imprisonment is perhaps too one-sided. The group… does not agree!

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Chapter Five brings us to a fitting bookend for our series, as the whole book has called us to a life of action. The verses remind Donyale of a Twitter hashtag: #nomorethoughtsandprayers - a call to people to bring about concrete action, not vague feelings.

James was also bringing a similar mindset against those who said “go in peace,” yet did nothing to stop the problems of the day. But James also calls on those same people to pray - in fact, call the community together to pray, underscoring it is our collective responsibility to care and alleviate suffering.

When we pray, we are responding to God’s urging. We are responding to God’s invitation to get a glimpse of God’s understanding of others and the world.

We can understand the hashtag, but let us not give up our prayers.

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As we wrap up our discussion on Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” with Trinity United Methodist Church, Kenneth Jackson returns to the conversation to address the problems of trying to address a system built to consistently, repetitively keep people down. It leads to a discussion about what the church – and what we, as individuals – are required to do by our love of Jesus and willingness to follow his direction.

The discussion will continue in the coming weeks, depending on what you ask us about! Reach out to us with a question: fmhouston.com/ama.

A strange experience on Houston light rail reminded Andy how we need to show grace and love in this time of recovery. “This is a great time for the church to be a pastor to one another."

We are mist, James says. So why do our actions matter? Because time IS short. We need to make the most of these moments. “Yes you are mist. But you’re here now. And that MATTERS.”

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In the middle chapters of “The New Jim Crow,” Michelle Alexander breaks down racism baked into the justice system, and the group talks about being raised with different expectations, and passing those lessons along to their children. Plus, the exhaustion that comes with constantly being teachers, but the responsibilities we have to educate the people that we talk to.

Got a question or a response? Reach us at fmhouston.com/ama!

Andy’s mom warned him early that his tongue could get him into a lot of trouble - and boy, has it.

The third chapter has a very profound idea about how small things can take us drastic directions. A person who proclaims the gospel is someone who must have their words under control.

The way we can bring heaven upon this earth can be just as simple as paying attention to the words that we are saying.

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On our first podcast discussing “The New Jim Crow,” Andy and Donyale are joined by Trinity United Methodist’s Deirdre Barrett. The group discusses what stands out in the early chapters of Michelle Alexander’s book, including her statement that “colorblindness is not the answer, it’s the problem.”

The discussion fans out into the call each member felt like the book put on them, including learning to find beauty in diversity without being threatened by it, and trying to find an equal amount of justice and forgiveness.

The discussion will continue for two more weeks! Got a question? Visit us at fmhouston.com/ama.

While studying the life of Ernest Hemingway via the new Ken Burns documentary, Andy is inspired about the importance of action, and urges the congregation to concentrate on positive, God-honoring actions and see where that leads them.

"In our actions, in what we’re doing... let’s see what God can do."

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