Relevant Faith Journey

When the news feels too heavy, it’s tempting to bury our heads in the sand. In this episode, I look at what Jesus asked of his followers, why no political party holds a Christian agenda, and how gratitude, generosity, and civic engagement can help us lift our heads, show up for our neighbors, and let our light shine.

Here are some resources I used in this episode: 

“Why did so many Christian voters support Donald Trump?” by Calvin Cockrill  https://christianchronicle.org/trumpvoters2024/

“These Democrats are making Christianity a centerpiece of their midterm campaigns” by Jason DeRose https://www.npr.org/2026/09/27/nx-s1-5979946/these-democrats-are-running-for-congress-on-christian-faith-will-it-pay-off

The idea of American individualism and it's influence on Christianity is an idea that is explored in Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s recent book Life Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made

Here are some Bible references that I quoted or mentioned in this episode: 

Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:27-31, 1 Timothy 6:17-16, Matthew 5:14-16

In this episode I look at how faith influences Christian politics reflecting on last weekend's No Kings Rally and the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. I unpack some information about the US healthcare system and make a case that it's our Christian duty to fund the Affordable Care Act because of the Biblical mandate to care for those in need. 

Here are a few resources that I used in this episode: 

[1] Link to Houston, TX News interview of grandmas at the No Kings March https://www.khou.com/video/news/nation-world/no-kings-protest-grandmothers-speak-on-national-guard-deployment-cuts-to-cancer-research-in-houston/285-1857905a-f70c-48a6-846e-5f34478024d4

[2] Smithsonian article reflecting on Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-martin-luther-king-had-75-percent-disapproval-rating-year-he-died-180968664/

[3] Tisby, Jamar. The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism. Chapter 8, pages 136-137. I highly recommend this book!

[4] Ecclesiastes 1:13-14, CEB

[5] Proverbs 31:8-9, CEB

[6] Wikipedia article on Israeli healthcare system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Israel

[7] Peter G Peterson Foundation Article “US Healthcare System Ranks Seventh Worldwide—Innovative but Fiscally Unsustainable” https://www.pgpf.org/article/us-healthcare-system-ranks-seventh-worldwide-innovative-but-fiscally-unsustainable/

[8] California Governor’s report on the CalRx Insulin deal https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/16/governor-newsom-announces-affordable-calrx-insulin-11-a-pen-will-soon-be-available-for-purchase/ 

[9] New Evangelical Podcast with Patrick Miller referencing his book Truth over Tribe https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QtB9RpzrBS7VJaoh46Wbv?si=ojY9k59qTp6d2UF3rnQ0zg

[10] Here’s a good illustration of Christians being called out for their veneration of Trump: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BQ8ZpqqpZ/

[11] Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34

I hear this question from time to time: how can you believe the Bible and also believe that homosexuality is not sin? There are variations like, how can you believe the Bible and not condemn sex before marriage as sin? 

In this episode I walk through a shift in perspective around the way we read scripture. I introduce the idea that the Bible might not have been written to be a handbook for sexual relationships. Although picking a verse out of the Bible as justification to take a stand, the work of seeking to know God through scripture is more nuanced. 

In this episode I'll explore the topic of Biblical authority and how it relates to the separation of the United Methodist Church. As with many spiritual things, the issue is more complex than a disagreement on what the Bible says and means.

Here are a few resources that I used in writing this episode:
Sermon on Same Sex Attraction from my dad's church. This is from 2015 and may not reflect the church’s current viewpoint, but I found it an interesting point of research. https://summitchurch.com/GetFile.ashx?Guid=e20165ab-22d0-418c-ade6-b099b3b27186

UMC position on homosexuality https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-the-churchs-position-on-homosexuality

UMC Seperation Agreement: https://www.gracethroughseparation.com/legislation

The Millennial Pastor podcast did a series of interviews on why young Nazarene pastors have been leaving the denomination. It's the source for reasons behind their migration to the UMC and if you’re interested in the COTN I recommend it.

News article reviewing the vote from May's UMC Convention https://www.umc.org/en/content/faith-and-inclusion

Reference for how Jesus separates the righteous from unrighteous: Matthew 25.31-46

I am reflecting on advent seasons past in this episode. As a pastor, I often wrote advent readings and created content for my congregation. One series I am particularly proud of was called the Kindness Challenge. Remembering has helped me think about setting an intention for the next year.

You can see videos of the Kindness Challenge here:
Kindness Challenge 1: https://youtu.be/gcNVxJsZzbM?si=GzpRCdf0Ggo1-_yf 

Kindness Challenge 2: https://youtu.be/D2C1sYI6Mio?si=Nu6_d8lqf12Y9Mba 

Kindness Challenge 3: https://youtu.be/9RZ2n3Yr4bs?si=dRsfv90Qn_0MhE0d 

Kindness Challenge 4: https://youtu.be/BEi6ocJ7c68?si=W4BLrWBPJ8G7fIx0 

I used to say that sexuality shouldn’t define identity. As Christians our identity is first as children of God and followers of Jesus before anything else. I realize now that as a heterosexual woman, being defined by something other than my sexuality is a privilege.

In this episode I'll start with my own journey from quiet support of my friend to fully affirming of LGBTQ+ people. This was prompted by reports that the Church of the Nazarene had removed the senior pastor of San Diego First Church for advocating for more open conversations around same sex marriage. I'll talk about the controversy in the church and expand to discuss the affects of evangelism and colonialism on anti-LGBTQ+ ideas internationally. Real light stuff, right?

Here are some reference materials that I used in writing this episode:
Hirsch, Debra, Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality, IVP, April 2015, page 114. On Amazon.com
From The Point, PLNU’s Student New Media "Dean of Theology and Christian Ministry Allegedly Fired Leaving Faculty, Community Members Shocked and Upset"
Paragraph 31 of the Nazarene Manual
Dee Kelley “A Hope For Change” 
From one of the critics of Dee Kelley https://reformednazarene.wordpress.com/responses-by-point-loma-on-the-homosexual-controversy/
Gallup Poll from 2021
UMC membership and attendance statistics https://www.umc.org/en/content/united-methodists-at-a-glance
Church of the Nazarene Annual/Decadal Statistical Report
PBS News Article https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/where-african-countries-stand-in-their-struggle-toward-more-inclusive-lgbtq-laws
5 Countries in Africa That Have Legalized Same-Sex Relationships in the Past 10 Years
AP News article “Oil Spill from Shell” June, 2023

In this episode I use reflect on Barbie, the movie, to talk about the challenge our culture is having to re-define masculinity.
 
Conservative Evangelicals have been posting on social media that Barbie is inappropriate for children. Since there's no kissing, no sex and "crap" is the worst cus word, I call BS. Seeing a reflection of patriarchy in the form of a Barbieland role reversal has been offensive to far-right conservatives, who continue to assert that men need to be manly, tough and in charge. The value these haters bring is that they validate the experience of many men today.

Lastly, I want to talk about how the crisis of what defines manhood is affecting our relationships. 


Here are some links to content referenced in this episode:
Common Sense Media Review of Barbie
In case you’re like me and didn’t immediately know what “beat off” means Urban Dictionary
Hannah Anderson "Barbie and Ken Go East of Eden" from Christianity Today
Christine Emba “Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness.”
Here’s a link to the full post which I do not affirm, but think is an interesting perspective. Facebook
CBMW Web Site History Page https://cbmw.org/about/history/
Interesting thoughts from @hope_peddler on the future of cis hetero marriages  TikTok
This idea came from a very insightful article by Nicholas Balaisis at Psychology Today.  

How does a man become a leading authority on relationships and parenting, yet has never married or fathered a child?

In this week's episode I reflect on the Amazon Prime Documentary Series "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets." Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were reality TV stars on TLC's hit show "19 and Counting." Their odd lifestyle with so many children drew millions of viewers. In the process of telling their story, we learn about the cult-like IBLP and it's leader, Bill Gothard.

It's tempting to label this group as an outlier--an extreme example of what male headship can do if it's taken too far. But I would argue the IBLP and stories shared in "Shiny Happy People" are not far from mainstream evangelical culture.

Lastly, I share my thoughts on separating the scriptures from systems of oppression in evangelical culture through humility and curiosity.

Let me know your thoughts at www.relevantfaithjourney.com

Resources used in this episode:

Buzzfeed article that recaps Josh Duggar’s trial and explains that his prison sentence was extended. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/josh-duggar-federal-prison-sentence-extended
Washington Post article from 2016 that reports on Gothard’s abuse accusations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/01/06/new-charges-allege-religious-leader-who-has-ties-to-the-duggars-sexually-abused-women/ 

This week I'm diving into the topic of sexual desire. Purity culture taught us that men can't help but be tempted to sexual sin and women are just not that into it. We have been tasked with being the gatekeepers. The truth is that our relationship needs are actually the same.

Both men and women need connection, intimacy and enjoy sexual pleasure. Our culture doesn't make it safe for women to express their sexuality or men to be emotionally vulnerable. But I believe there's hope for healing. Our sexuality is a testament to God’s abundant grace.

Here are a few resources that I used in this episode:  

2001 Forbes article on the business of pornography: https://www.forbes.com/2001/05/25/0524porn.html?sh=5d95108b7984
1999 Guardian article that talked about the history and rise of internet pornography: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/1999/sep/30/onlinesupplement#:~:text=In%201993%20and%20'94%2C%20the,text%20and%20file%20transfer%20capabilities.
The Great Sex Rescue has an extended chapter on how evangelical women have been taught to believe they are obligated to have sex even when they don't want to. Definitely worth the read. I’ll talk more about this in an upcoming post.
Gregoire, Sheila Wray, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, Joanna Sawatsky. The Great Sex Rescue. Baker Books, 2021, page 12.
Forbes article that talks about the Orgasm gap and sites studies that confirm these numbers: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/07/31/what-is-the-orgasm-gap/?sh=e42159660f8e
Baptist News Report on Evangelical’s sex lives https://baptistnews.com/article/do-conservative-evangelicals-enjoy-better-sex-and-marriage-a-response-to-josh-howerton/

This week I am talking about consent and digging into our understanding of sexual violence. Often we imagine a struggle that leaves the victim bruised and beaten. But more often sexual trauma is caused by a partner that assumes "Yes" until he or she hears "No." And that word is more difficult to voice that one might think.

I'll give a real life illustration of our tolerance for sexual violence. Hint: it's political and I questioned if I should cut it out because I am going to tell you how I really feel.

I'll wrap up with a retelling of my own journey toward healing and talk about the power of story telling.

Here are a few resources that are relevant to this episode:

You can read Mel Carney's story and find his book here: https://www.commandatdawn.com/
The CDC has a web site dedicated to information on sexual violence: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/fastfact.html
Transcript of Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood recording with Billy Bush. https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37595321
This article outlines the list of Trump’s accusers https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-sexual-assault-allegations-all-list-misconduct-karen-johnson-how-many-a9149216.html