The Be2Live Hope Givers Podcast

Mary was a young woman when an angel came to her.  The Angel didn’t force his way but invited her, asked her for permission, to take a risk, to participate in the greatest story ever told in the history of our world. She accepted the invitation. She knew the risk that she would take of possibly being stoned to death for adultery, disowned by her family, and an outcast in her community. But she stepped out in faith and said yes. Joseph was invited as well through a dream. The two of them for the next nine months would be on this journey together, hoping that what they had heard from the angel was actually true.

Today, God is inviting you to be part of the greatest story that is being written, to participate in Christmas by giving hope, love, grace, and mercy to the world around you. He is inviting you into a story of healing and redemption. God is still writing His story today and He is inviting us to be participants. It is an invitation of heaven!

The Christmas story is about heaven embracing earth in all of its beauty and ugliness. It is a story of a God who comes to the earth to let us know we are not alone in this world. In fact, there is a God who is intimately involved in our lives. On this podcast, we look at Matthew 1 and the geology of Jesus. God doesn’t do anything by mistake. Everything God does is with intention and purpose. When we read the geology of Jesus we quickly realize that God’s lineage is not one of all Kings, royalty, or even prestige. His family line is full of broken, messed up people who many made horrible choices with their lives. Yet, here is God, putting himself in the same lineage that many would think are unredeemable. What God is communicating is he embraces ALL of us, even our messed up broken lives. Be encouraged, you are not outside the embrace of God’s loving, gracious, merciful, forgiving arms.

I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite times of the year. It brings back such great memories of my growing up years in northwest Ohio. Family, food, and football on those cold and crisp Thursday afternoons. Plus my uncles snoring on the couches watching football games. But there is something that bothers me about Thanksgiving, it’s our “why.” Why are we thankful? What is our motivation for being thankful? Take a listen as there is a reason why we shouldn’t be thankful.

In this life, whether we realize it or not, we follow someone or something. We either follow celebrities, political figures, social media feeds, or ourselves. But we are following someone and it is important to stop and consider do we like the direction we are going. Maybe a better question, do we like the person I’m becoming? Am I a better version of myself today than I was yesterday?

Maybe we should consider following someone else? On this podcast, we consider what it might look like to follow Jesus.

We are starting a new season of The Be2Live Hope Givers Podcast. In this new season, we are doing short 10-minute podcasts to challenge you, encourage you, and give hope for your day.

Have you ever felt as though you weren’t enough for someone’s love or acceptance? Have you ever thought you had to earn someone’s love? We can believe that we are not enough to be loved by someone, anyone. We can feel as though we need to perform at a high level, at school, at work, in sports, or even at home, for us to be loved. But there is good news, God isn’t that way, and he reveals that to us in Jesus. So what does God require of us to be loved by him? Take a listen.

Have you ever wondered what a person born in Africa’s experience is of living in the United States? Stanley Osei moved to the United States from Ghana as a young man. On this podcast, Stanley shares his experience and what it has been like for him to be an African living in the United States. You might be surprised by what you hear. Stanley shares his struggles, joys, and hopes he has for his life and his family. He also shares his hopes for the church.

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Families come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ethnicities. Sometimes, these families are blended. Raising a bi-racial family is a beautiful and challenging journey.

Tom and Robin Rossmanith, who are white, have an adopted son and an adopted daughter, both children of color, plus one birth daughter. Tom and Robin share honestly about their journey as parents of a bi-racial family. They are vulnerable about the joys and struggles as well as how they have worked through helping each of their children become a strong young man and strong young women. If you are parents of a bi-racial family or are considering being parents of one, take a listen to their journey.

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Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib – Article

Shades of Black: Celebration of Our Children – Book

It’s All Good Hair: The Guide to Styling and Grooming Black Children’s Hair – Book

Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales – Book

Let’s Sit with that a Minute – A Private Facebook Group

Raising Biracial & Multicultural Children – Facebook Page

Al Letson – Radio Show Host

PACT and Adoption Alliance

Kevin Gwin, of Pursue Scholars, and I discuss important topics of racism in America today as well as why Chicago is a city of hope. This was a hard, but good conversation with Kevin as we discussed many topics such as systemic racism, implicit bias, as well as the what does God and the Bible have to say about these topics. Listen in to learn, grown, and advocate with us for justice.

“In the Bible, over and over we find these stories that are attacking the systemic way we have approached particular communities or groups of people based on there status in society. The systems piece is all over the place (in scripture).”

“The Bible is not just addressing individuals, but communities, governments, and ethnic groups as well as individuals.”

“If God has called us to love our neighbor, He has called us to love our neighborhood.”

“If we are willing to look for injustice in the American story it is often related to race.”

Kevin Gwin is the Executive Director of Pursue Scholars, which “holistically (spiritually, socially, and financially) supports emerging urban Christian leaders in their pursuit of higher education. We are looking for the next generation of leaders.” To find out more information about Pursue Scholars go to there website at http://Pursuescholars.org

Kevin has also offered some great resources to learn more about systemic racism.

Mass Incarceration:

New Jim Crow

Just Mercy (also see the movie)

Rethinking Incarceration (especially good for those who want to consider this theologically)

Systemic Racism in Housing:

The Color of Law

History of Racism in the Church:

The Color of Compromise

Divided By Faith

Insider Outsider

America’s Original Sin 

The sin of “Manifest Destiny” and “Doctrine of Discovery.”

Unsettling Truths

Chicago is a city frequently used as an example in many race discussions, mostly in a negative light. But what is really going on in the city? Do people really care about the issues that are plaguing the city? Believe it or not, Chicago is a city of hope and change!

In part one of “Chicago, A City of Hope,” Kevin Gwin discusses his experience living on Chicago’s west side. We talk about topics such as 

Kevin Gwin is the Executive Director of Pursue Scholars, which “holistically (spiritually, socially, and financially) supports emerging urban Christian leaders in their pursuit of higher education. We are looking for the next generation of leaders.” To find out more information about Pursue Scholars go to there website at http://Pursuescholars.org

Kevin has also offered some great resources to learn more about systemic racism.

Mass Incarceration:

New Jim Crow

Just Mercy (also see the movie)

Rethinking Incarceration (especially good for those who want to consider this theologically)

Systemic Racism in Housing:

The Color of Law

History of Racism in the Church:

The Color of Compromise

Divided By Faith

Insider Outsider

America’s Original Sin 

The sin of “Manifest Destiny” and “Doctrine of Discovery.”

Unsettling Truths

February is Black History month in America. On this season of the Hope Givers Podcast, we will be having conversations with people about race in America. 

There is a lot of discussion in our world today about race and racism. Yet, most of the conversation centers on police brutality, mass incarceration, and fatherless homes of black men which is very important! But have we ever stopped to consider what the black woman’s experience is in America? Have we taken time to listen to the stories of discrimination against black women in the workplace and in public? Have we considered that a black woman’s hair, which she is born with, has implications on how she is treated in America?

Dani Kilgore, the Outreach and Missions Pastor at Marin Covenant Church in Marin County, joins us on this episode to talk about the black woman’s experience in America and the discrimination and racism experiencing today. We cover all sorts of essential topics that black women face, such as

These are hard conversations, but conversations we must participate in to understand and empathize. 

Dani Kilgore is facilitating an incredible celebration of Black History this month through her church at Marin Covenant. Here is what she has on tap:

Feb. 2 – Green Book movie viewing

Feb. 5 – Concert and Conversation with Saxophonist Ryan Kilgore

Feb. 12 – The New Black America – Millennial Culture Conversation

Feb. 16 – Cooking and Culture – The Story of Soul Food 

Feb. 19 – Her Crown of Glory – Movie, and Discussion of Black Hair

Feb. 26 – The Black Church

ALL EVENTS start at 7:00pm 

You must RSVP to https://mcc.breezechms.com/form/bhm

#BlackHistoryMonth #Blackwomen #whitepassing #racisim #discrimination #hope #hopegiverspodcast