Redeemer Connects

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb for their responses to a conversation between Sam and a Chicagoland Police Officer. We respond to his thoughts, feelings and experiences during the recent protests and riots along with his reaction to what happened to George Floyd. We respond to his encouragement to see all people as individuals and to get to know their name and their story. Sam and Caleb discuss the difficulty of being a police officer who everyday is interacting with people having the worst day of their lives. All in all, we hope that our listeners would join us in postures of humility to listen, learn and love from all sides and then ask ourselves what Jesus would have us do.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we have a conversation with a police officer.

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb for their conversation on recent events with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. We react to the racial injustices that we've seen as well as wrestle with our own white privilege and racist tendencies. This is a raw and real conversation from two white men about situations that we do not fully understand. Our prayer is that you listen in your own humility and that you can hear our humility as well. God has created ALL of mankind with the imago Dei--the image of God--and that every single human being that we encounter reflects the image of God. As a result, we are called to love, see and value all people, no matter what they look like, no matter what they believe, no matter how they act. The Gospel message in it's entirety is one of reconciliation, restoration and renewal that Jesus has begun to usher in. That's the Gospel that we Jesus followers proclaim.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk about racial injustice and white privilege.

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb for their conversation on the new world that is almost exclusively virtual and the emotional, mental and physical toll that it can take on us. How can we find rest in a world that has gone virtual? Our days are full of video calls where we are limited in our engagement as virtual beings only. It's become exhausting. Every single one of us needs rest, even from a schedule full of virtual meetings. We talk about the different kinds of rest most needed, especially Silence, Solitude and Stillness. What is God offering us in these moments of rest? What are the Sabbath blessings he has for us? We also mention the Enneagram, one of our favorite topics!

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk about being "Zoomed Out."

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb and special guest, Dr. Brenda Neyens, for their conversation on Emotional Intelligence and the effects that COVID-19 is having on our Emotional Health. Even though this pandemic puts us all in the same storm, it doesn't necessarily mean that we're all in the same boat. In order to respond to that, we discuss practical ways to pinpoint where and how these stressful times are affecting us as well as how to clearly address those things to find growth and relief.

Brenda completed her doctoral degree in spiritual formation ministry from Ashland Seminary. She has worked at King of Kings Church in Omaha and The CORE counseling since 2004. Her role includes intern supervision, mentorship of community and church leaders, and the creation of groups that make it easy for people to take the next step in their walk with God. Brenda’s outside interests include short-term mission trips, a great cup of coffee, loving on her nieces and nephews, and attending sporting events.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk about emotional intelligence.

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb and special guest, Dr. Jeff Mallinson, for their conversation on a religion of cruel power. We discuss how so often we exchange the good news of the Gospel for a religion of power--cruel power at that. We willingly sacrifice the things in life that are good, true and virtuous for things that bring us power, prominence and prestige. But maybe during this pandemic of COVID-19, the things that we once sacrificed have been revived to bring us back to the ever-present grace of God.

Dr. Jeff Mallinson joins us from Concordia University in Irvine, CA. He is a speaker, podcaster, and writer. He specializes in the history of ideas, especially as they shed light on the ways in which religious and philosophical ideas can both emancipate and enslave individuals. He is Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Concordia University, Irvine and Co-Founder of taosurfers.com and protectyournoggin.org.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk a religion of cruel power.

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb and special guest, Luke Bond, for their conversation on hurts, habits and hangups. We discuss how everyone is shaped and affected by a variety of things that happen in life--and not always for the better. We are all in need of authentic and vulnerable community that reminds us of the love, grace and mercy that God has for us. Every one of us needs recovery from something. For that reason, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Northern Colorado is beginning a new ministry called Celebrate Recovery.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk about our hurts, habits and hangups, along with Celebrate Recovery.

Join Pastors Sam and Caleb and special guest, Dr. Joel Oesch, for their conversation on how we might be able to find authentic and genuine community in a world that has suddenly been forced to operate primarily online. Is that even possible? What do we miss from not being physically present together? Should church and other community groups begin to exist exclusively online and virtually? How has this crisis rewired our habits and rituals for both good and bad? On this episode, we wrestle with these questions and more during our conversation from our Facebook Live video.

Dr. Oesch joins us from Concordia University in Irvine, CA. He holds a PhD from Concordia Seminary and is a graduate of Yale University. Dr. Oesch has served as the Director of the Graduate Programs in Theology for Christ College, Concordia since 2012. His research interests include embodied theology, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and contemporary culture.

With everything said, we know that God works all things out for good and that Jesus is reigning on the throne! In the end, everything is going to be ok. So grab a drink and pull up a chair as we talk about finding a community in an online world.