In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin dive deep into the Book of Ruth. This short book but long story details the lives, hardships, and redemption of Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, and the early lineage of King David and eventually Jesus. Within its narrative and lessons, we learn of Ruth as a powerful and resilient woman who represents the threshold of grief and hope. Ruth is the biblical gold standard of loyalty and self-sacrifice. Her story is one of hope, faith, and the power of love overcoming fear and violence to make all things new. Her self-giving and loyal actions have been an inspiration to millions of Christians, Jews, writers, and artists. You should really get to know Ruth.

Readings:

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

There are so many secular views of what Heaven may be. Most are child-like, non-theological and created with comforting imagination. No one knows the real Heaven, but God's Kingdom is described in many ways throughout the Old and New Testament. In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the secular and sacred nature of Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Where is Heaven? When is Heaven? Heaven is a real place created by God for his People, and Its ultimate end is not floating in the ether but is made new and fully here in the present. Plus, Rev. Gibson explains the Church's view of the Saints, the dearly departed, and their connection to us and the presence of God.

Key Takeaways

> Heaven described in Isaiah and Revelation is a goal and vision. A vision that shapes us in this broken world to have hope so we can participate with God to work to heal it, recreate it, and make it new and whole.

> All the things and people that have been created by God continue in Him.

> Prayers to the Saints and to our loved ones in the Cloud of Witnesses lift us up and unify us to the Divine and strengthens our unity as a community gathered in Christ.

> We do not come to God, he comes to us.

> New life comes from God's power over death.

Readings:

Isaiah 25:6-9
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the Disciples and their constant and almost comical chronic misunderstanding of Jesus's teachings of humility and prophecy of his tragic suffering and crucifixion. Jesus preached a message of extreme service and sacrifice for others. Yet, just like us, the Disciples frequently fell to ego, earthly desires and pride. This week's show focuses on defeating the ego, never forgetting your mission, a lifetime of learning, embracing the mindset of the eternal student, and silencing the talk, talk, talk in our heads. Rev. Gibson shares the insights of Ryan Holiday, and his book Ego Is The Enemy and the many lessons within its covers. Metallic, Megadeath, Gilda Radner and Marlon Brando are all discussed, and Johnny can't quit talking about Season 3 of Netflix's Daredevil series. The key takeaway from this installment of Pulpit to Pew: silencing our ego and embracing this "silence" creates a space for God's work to be done within us and in the world. This silence starts by accepting the reality of the present, exercising humility, following the acts of Jesus, and putting our calling before our being. Enjoy the show!

Resources:

Ego Is The Enemy - by Ryan Holiday

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

Readings:

Job 38:1-7, (34-41)
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

No one prays to God to be "tested"? Usually, we pray to be shielded from such trying times. Does God test us? Rev. Beverly Gibson discusses her belief that God does, and why asking to be tested can be a blessing. Johnny Gwin inquires about the life of Job and the lessons that his example can teach us. Also, Rev. Gibson talks about the Church's, society's, and her views on the tragedy and trauma of divorce. There is growth in suffering. Relationships and bonds are tried and forged in the hardest of times. How can we create positive outcomes from pain and tragedy? Lastly, Jesus (in his constant testing by the Pharisees) shows us how to expect the law but to dig deeper into its meaning and purpose. Be more than followers of the rules. Recognize the suffering of others, be compassionate, humble, and do not fall into the trap of the hardness of heart.

 
Readings:

Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Psalm 26 
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the weekly lectionary lessons and Rev. Marshal Craver's beautiful sermon on how we can be set free of our addictions. Jesus loves us regardless of our faults, sins, and fixations (good and bad). He wants us to be free of the servitude of unhealthy obsessions, and our devotion to the wrong things. Assigning too much attachment to "things" erodes our freedom and harms our relationship with God, others who depend on you, our neighbors, and our community. Truth, humility, compassion, and the ability to ask for help are the holy multitool for cutting out the habit of assigning too much devotion to the things that can become a barrier to becoming the person who we want to be, and who God made us to be. We all have our golden calf or banana in a coconut. We hold on to those things very tight. However, for real transformation, we must work to strike our addictions with a sword, dig deeper, and do more than stop our actions. We must change our hearts.

Readings:

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50


About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin talk about the nature and identity of "the wicked" and the creation and summoning of Death. Who is The Righteous Man from the Wisdom of Solomon, and why is he reviled as "inconvenient"? What does the 1982 Disney film, Something Wicked This Way Comes, have to teach us about humility, courage, facing our shadow selves, and drawing closer to God? Drawing closer to God starts with us inviting God to be present more in our lives and practicing this purposeful action will bring more light and peace into our dark and shadowy world.

Key Takeaways:

• The Wisdom Literature of the Bible is an excellent guide for the faithful to explore the nature of righteous living.
• Our arch-enemies are not always external. Most of our biggest struggles and conflicts stem from the darkest (and unknown) parts of ourselves.
• Look inward to find our true selves that can fully participate in a life with God.
• Drawing closer to God can start by bringing our "Sunday Selves" to our Monday morning lives.
• Embracing righteousness, humility and sharing God's light repels the "the wicked" around us that is summoned by the World.

Readings:

Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37

Resources:

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Film (1982)

Ray Bradbury

Waiting For My Real Life - Colin Hay Documentary 

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

It is said that last week's lesson can be fearful for the Priest and send them into fits of trembling. Plus, according to Rev. Gibson, most of the ears in the pews don't want to hear the hard lessons of Mark 8:27-38. How does the world see Jesus? How did the disciples see Jesus? How do we see Jesus? Jesus's story and mission pivot at this point of Mark's Gospel and he has to deliver a hard message of what is going to happen to him. What is going to happen to anyone that picks up their cross and follows him? Ridicule, suffering, and death. Not the message his entourage wanted to hear, especially Peter. Then like now, spreading the message of Jesus is hard when the lessons focus on self-denial and sacrifice instead of success and abundance. Truly following Jesus as a disciple in this world is hard, uncomfortable, deep, and dangerous. If we choose to walk with Jesus on his mission the first step is assessing how we see and experience him. How do we see Church and its place in our life? What is truly important in life and what worldly things must we deny ourselves for spiritual growth?

Readings:

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 116:1-8
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38

Resources:

Of Gods and Men - Film

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

All desires are not the same. There are the personal wants and desires, and then there is God's desire for us. God longs for us and wants us to be connected to him and those around us. Are your and God's desires aligned? How would you know? When our hopes and wants align with God's calling that is called the "heart's desire". Jesus healed the deaf and mute man in Tyre so that he could hear and speak clearly. Are we clearly listening to what God wants from us? And when we have unearthed our "heart's desire" are we expressing that with genuine "heart" in our words and actions? In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the nature of delighting in the Lord, faith, longing, transformation, and getting the most out of Church.

 Resources:

Psalm 37:4

As Kingfishers Catch Fire - By Gerard Manley Hopkins

Readings:

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
James 2:1-10, [11-13], 14-17
Mark 7:24-37

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

Hello my fellow Pew People, it's FOOTBALL SEASON in the South and tis' the season to wear our favorite team apparel, avoid our rival team neighbors and family members and LIKE me last Sunday - miss Sunday Service. So, my playing hooky from Church as well as Rev. Gibson having a bye week from the Pulpit this weekend and the need for a PuIpit To Pew show I dug thru the P2P vaults of unused show tape and found some relevant instant replays. Bonus: a tape with a personal confession, or personal foul (OK...last football pun!) dealing with my struggles of prioritizing the bigger things in life and allowing uncontrollable, external and small things to get in the way of me best the best version of myself. The self that that doesn't just talk like a person in the Way of Christ but acts that way as well. Especially one that doesn't embarrass himself in front of my sweet and wonderful Grandmother. Again, I am so sorry about last Iron Bowl Grandma Clayton.

I hope you enjoy this candid conversation between parishioner and priest...actually it's more than that. Rev. Gibson has been my co-host of Pulpit To Pew now for 2 1/2 years and we have developed an off the mic friendship. Well, I think so, it's hard to tell because Beverly is such a very nice person in general. Anyway...I consider her a trusted friend and steady voice - not just my spiritual sherpa. I mention this because most of my favorite podcasts are more than interviews and information. Great podcasts feel like personal and interesting conversations not in a studio but over a meal or wine. Conversations I want to eavesdrop on when I am sitting next to an animated couple or table full of rowdy friends next to me at a restaurant - or even better a BAR. I think this episode really nails this type of podcast format.

The title of this podcast - College Football Vs. Church is a bit cheeky but Beverly and I touch on some very big issues about Scripture, the role of the Church, dealing with our neighbors (good and not-so-good), and walking the Christian talk. Have a great football season and let's all try to remember that some things are bigger than mascots, school ties, team slogans, and bitter rivalries. Saturday is for team colors and fun but we should all recognize that we are on the same team on Sunday. Enjoy the show!

- Johnny Gwin

In this episode, Rev. Gibson concludes the final hard lessons of the Bread Of Life Discourse (John 6:56-69) and delves into Paul's Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) letter to the Ephesians. Jesus's words and ideas challenged, confused and ran off many of his early disciples. What would it take for you to walk away from Jesus? Or, your Church? What about eternal life confuses and makes others uncomfortable? What are the rulers, authorities, and roaming spirits of evil are you letting into the interior of your life? Rev. Gibson suggests that we all need to try to break away from daily negative influences, take time, and create a quiet space to contemplate higher thoughts and things that challenge our beliefs, habits, and mindset. Spiritual growth comes from being aware of what we take in mentally and spiritually, continuous learning, listening not just hearing, and silencing negative voices and powers that can knock you off your path.
 

Resources:

Marcus Aurelius

Earl Nightingale - The Strangest Secret

Readings:

1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11], 22-30, 41-43
Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69

About Pulpit To Pew

Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.

Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)

Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

Engineered, edited, and produced by Johnny Gwin