Struggling for Purpose

Mark Charles ran for President of the United States in 2020. His campaign focused on building a common memory among Americans and making our nation one where “We the People” means “All the People”.

The Charles-Wallace campaign raised more money than any other independent bid for President and outperformed all other independents at the ballot box.

Mark’s book, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, outlines the troubled history of the United States and calls Christians to acknowledge and repent of the abuse that was perpetrated on indigenous people in the name of Christ.

Signed copies of his book are available on his website.

In this interview, Mark talks about his Presidential campaign, the troubled history and myths of American exceptionalism, and how he plans to continue to spread his message of conciliation.

You can follow Mark Charles in Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

The white Christ candle stands in the center of the Advent wreath. It represents Christ as the center of our worship and the center of our lives.

Today we reflect on the four candles and their meaning. We recognize that without Christ none of the aspects of Advent would be possible.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13 ESV)
Christ is our hope.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3 ESV)
Christ prepare our hearts.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8 ESV)
Christ is our Joy.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
Christ is Love.

Together: Christ is our hope. Christ prepare our hearts. Christ is our joy. Christ is love.

You can find the other days of Advent here: 1st Sunday, 2nd Sunday, 3rd Sunday, 4th Sunday.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

This week we’re adding a 5th candle in the center of the wreath. It symbolizes Christ and how He is to be at the center of our lives. We will light that one at the Christmas Eve service. The fourth candle this week represents Love. Angels announce the birth of Jesus, our savior, whom God sent because he loved us.

It’s sometimes hard to explain love to children. Around this time of the year children tend to see our expression of love for them by what they find under the tree.

It takes a while with some children but eventually they learn that the gifts we get them don’t quantify but symbolizes our love.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 NKJV)

God, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to save us all from our sins. Thank you that He is the gift of love for all mankind and that you give this gift freely. Help us to show your love to others through the rest of the Christmas season and all year long.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

Today we celebrate the joy of knowing that Christ came to save us. We share in the joy that both Mary and Joseph must have felt at the birth of their son, a son who would deliver the world from sin and death.

What I find so significant about this joy is that it isn’t just an emotion, it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Sure, happiness is attached to it but when you really take time to consider what Christ’s arrival on earth means for humanity you truly experience an unspeakable joy (1 Peter 1:18).

What this means for us as Christians is that circumstances and trials cannot take away this joy. We can feel sad, afraid, and even lonely yet at the same time Christ’s joy can abide in our hearts.

“And Mary said, ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.'” (Luke 1:46-50 NET)

Father, our hearts are full of joy as we reflect upon the coming of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that what we feel isn’t just an emotion but a fruit of Your Holy Spirit in us. Help us to share this joy with others this Christmas season.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

If you did not grow up with Advent traditions in your church and home, it is still an important time of the year for us as Christians. Here are four reasons to celebrate Advent:

“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'” (Luke 3:4-6 ESV)

Father, help us to prepare our hearts for your message of love. May we walk before you with humble hearts and be a voice on earth for your Son until His return.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

2021 will be here soon. I’m thinking about the direction of this podcast and I want to know what you think.

Listen to the episode and comment below with your opinion.

Also, check out the giveaways I’m hosting:

CSB Holy Land Bible Review and Giveaway

Christmas Under the Stars ft. Lauren Daigle – Review and Album Giveaway

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

As we enter into the Advent season, I thought I’d put together a few podcasts that reflect my thoughts and communicate the importance of the Advent tradition.

You don’t have to celebrate with candles or a wreath but Christmastime is the perfect season to reflect on Christ’s coming to the world and his eventual return.

Here’s an excerpt from Christianity.com’s description of Advent:

Some people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think that it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.

Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The church now sings [this] song in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of [Christ’s] second coming.

Today is the first day of Advent. It’s the season where we celebrate the coming of Christ. We remember His first coming and anticipate his second.

Hope springs eternal as we look to the return of our King. Until then, may you be at peace knowing what God foretold has come to pass and will be completed.

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom 15:12-13 ESV)

Israel looked to the writings of the prophets and hoped for a Messiah. Their hope was in Him who would come and ours is in Him who has come. So we light this candle to symbolize our hope in Christ and our expectation of His return.

Lord, you are the light of our world. O gracious God of promise, we prepare to worship together as we await the fulfillment of your wondrous plan. Help us to grow as we hear your Word and live in your love. May the light of your love always shine in our hearts. (Source)

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

Minister Christopher Perkins is an associate pastor at Redeemed Christian Center in Jackson, TN. I first met Minister Perkins through the Christian Podcasters Association.

I recently heard him discussing urban apologetics on his podcast and wanted to have a conversation with him about it from the perspective of someone who lives in white, suburban America.

I hope you enjoy this conversation and it spurs you to have similar conversations with Christians who don’t share the same background and experience as yours.

Connect with Minister Perkins:

• The Underground Church
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Tiktok

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

Things didn’t go as planned for today’s episode. I hope you’ll join me for the next one.

Support the podcast when you buy me a coffee! If you’re listening in a new podcast app, hit that boost button and send me some Satoshis.

Music: “Loopster” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.