How is the mentality of a golfer different than that of a baseball player? What are some lies that grief tell us? Where is God in tragedy? What is the role of connections in career opportunities? How is a sports journalist similar to a pastor? 

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All these questions and more are explored in this interview with Rev. Billy Byler.

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He's in first year as the lead pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Winfield, Kansas. He answered the call to ministry in 2012 after a seven-year career as a sportswriter in Augusta, Ga. He is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville with a degree in Mass Communications in 2005. He is also the chaplain of the Winfield Fire and EMS Department, and he lives with his wife (CJ) and 1-year-old daughter (Hazel) in Winfield.

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Connect with him and the ministry that he is a part of at https://www.winfieldnaz.org/.

We are so fortunate to have another special edition of the Listening Chair! As a part of Southwestern College Homecoming, we moved our equipment downstairs in Deets Library, pulled out the Listening Chair from Rev. Wendy Mohler-Seib's office, had the kind folks at Fresh Ideas put together some snacks for us, and had our FIRST audience for our THIRD live show! T'was a blast!

What does Mr. Rogers have to say about the job you chose? Can any good come from singing hungover in a church choir? What can we learn from the things grief takes from us?

All of these and more are explored with our guest, Dr. David Dault. 

Dr. David Dault is the host and executive producer of the award-winning radio program Things Not Seen: Conversations about Culture and Faith. The show is distributed nationwide through PRX, the Public Radio Exchange. Along with Fr. Dan Horan, he co-hosts The Francis Effect, a podcast that explores contemporary political issues through a lens of Catholic faith. He is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary and received his Ph.D. in theological studies from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Dault currently holds teaching appointments at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Loyola University Chicago, and serves as a visiting scholar for theology and media at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. His book, The Accessorized Bible: Scripture as Commodity and Ubiquity, is forthcoming from Yale University Press, and Dr. Dault is the authorized biographer of Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann. He lives with his family in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Connect with him at thingsnotseenradio.com/ and follow him @NotSeenRadio

The Listening Chair is an outlet of the Institute for Discipleship (IFD).

We took the show on the road! Meg & Miranda (along with guest hosts Molly Just, Wendy Mohler-Seib, and Carly Redding) interviewed teens, young adults, volunteers, and youth leaders during Youth 2019. 

As guests joined us in the Listening Chair, we asked them:How do you know God loves you? How do you share your love back with God?What do you love to do or make?

Youth 2019 had several thousand United Methodists come together for 4 days of discipleship, worship, Bible study, service opportunities, and life-changing fun! They were able to experience inspiration, support, and challenges to grow authentically as a world-changing disciple of Jesus Christ. It was a highly engaging time for young people to explore the variety of ministries of the United Methodist Church.

You'll ALSO hear us ask things like - What's your favorite thing to get from Buc-ees? Where did you get your tshirt that has Jesus riding a velociraptor? What's the opposite of fear?

The Listening Chair is an outlet of the Institute for Discipleship (IFD).

This episode is sponsored by the Summit Youth Academy - a week for high school juniors and seniors to explore their faith, learn Wesleyan theology, and connect with other youth.

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Amp It Up! Worship Band Camp - Where for or five life-changing days, high school students will be mentored and taught by local worship leaders and will have the opportunity to perform with other Christian bands, artists, and high school and college worship leaders.

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Southwestern College - a private liberal arts college, founded in 1885 by Methodists in south central Kansas. Today its Winfield campus is the residential hub that guides students to lives of meaning and service, with well-rounded academic and extra-curricular offerings attracting traditional-aged students from throughout the nation and world. Southwestern College Professional Studies provides options for online students in any location and has been named a top provider for persons serving in the military. The college continues to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

How does becoming a parent change your faith life? How does one get wifi in the park? What moments call for crankin’ up the stereo? All of these questions and more are unpacked in this episode with Karl.

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Karl J. Forehand was a bi-vocational pastor for 20 years and has training in spiritual leadership coaching, plant-based nutrition, and spiritual direction. He lives in Missouri with his wife, Laura, and dog, Winston. He has three grown children and two grandchildren. Check out his website! You can also order his book- "Apparent Faith: What Fatherhood Taught Me About the Father's Heart"

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This episode is sponsored by BeADisciple.com - a hub for Christian Online Education. The Listening Chair is an outlet of the Institute for Discipleship (IFD).

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No animals were harmed in the making of this episode ;)

What is God trying to tell us through our dreams? What can we gain from reflecting on our ancestor’s choices? What can we find in feeding the ducks? What if we didn’t shy away from hard questions over the systemic issues of racism, classicism and sexism?

..These questions and more are unpacked with Dr. Ellison in this episode. Dr.Ellison is a professor at Emory University in Atlanta and is the founder of Fearless Dialogues.

..Fearless Dialogues is a grassroots organization committed to creating unique spaces for unlikely partners to engage in hard heartfelt conversations that see gifts in others, hear value in stories, and work for change and positive transformation in self and other. .

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Ellison is author of Fearless Dialogues: A New Movement for Justice and Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men. Ellison’s research focuses on caring with marginalized populations, pastoral care as social activism, and 20th and 21st century mysticism.

..Connect with him at www.gregoryellisonii.com/.

"The funniest question I get from people about our online courses is , 'do I have to be online the entire length of the course?" Shares this matriarch of the explosively formative, and ecumenical online learning hub, BeADisciple.Com. .For the past 14 years, Lisa Buffum has been growing an online greenhouse for all spiritual quandaries, and during this interview, she shares its origin story. You'll hear how one moment of holy discontent for her led to her taking BeADisciple from 1 online course to a platform that has served over 14,000 people in nearly 1,400 courses with their CEU needs. ..Get spiritual formation on your schedule at www.BeADisciple.com today. ..@GreatplainsUMC @UnitedMethodistChurch #beadisciple.com #onlinelearning #christianformation #onlinechristianlearning #CEUs

The hosts of the ever-enlightening, uber-popular and hilarious podcast, "The Heretic Happy Hour" add some real spunk to the launch of season 2. Keith Giles, Matthew Distefano and Jamal Jivanjee share laughter and deep thoughts from their own unexpected vocational experiences. 

We know you will want more time with them when this episode ends, so head on over to https://heretichappyhour.com/.

"Sometimes your confidence takes a while to catch up to your desire."~Mitch Michael Herman..With nearly 400 shows a year, @MitchMichael knows music. Not only does he know it, but he knows how to make it through a variety of genres and instruments. With an insane range and mad guitar skills, this worship leader and adult -alternative artist shares the most underrated musicians (hint: purple rain) and stories of recognizing that a plan B was not needed EVEN as a musician. Are you teetering between your plan A and your plan B in your professional choices? Give this ep. a listen and find encouragement, fellow listener. .

"You are born with something, something you can't control, something you must figure out. I love being part of the figuring out."  ~TaviniaStarting our Season 2 strong is caseworker and Southwestern College Alumnus, Tavinia Tucker. Do you feel like you are still figuring out your talents? Your purpose? Then give this one a listen and allow her to shower you with wisdom. She explores times in her life when one should trust intuition and decisions that call for a figurative round table of mentors and loved ones.  Also....she hosts the podcast, 'Coddiewomplers', so give that a listen too! ..#vocation #caseworker #mentalhealth #collegegrad #recentcollegegrad #irishtravels #ireland #travellove #lovetotravel #jobsearch #deptofmentalhealth #wisdom #inspire #christianpodcast #podcaststhatinspire #whatsmynextstep #mynextstep #whatsmypurpose #lifepurpose #lifecall #calling #coddiewompler

Friends, sadness filled our studio this week as Miranda’s hard drive crashed losing the final edited version of this episode. As the episode was saved in two different places, the version you are about to enjoy was salvaged. We apologize that the sound quality won’t be as stellar as our other episodes, but we assure you that the content and the talent are topnotch.

Many moons ago while studying theater at McMurry University of Texas, co-host and producer, Miranda Priddy wrote this one-act play, Suit. It had three performances on campus and then recessed into the crevices of a Microsoft Word folder until the time came for it to tell its tale once again.

That time has come.

Its tale is one of the expectations, confused priorities, and heartache of our professional and personal dreams. Its a tale that asks all the right questions and it’s a tale of nuanced wit and blatant wisdom. Its a tale that will leave you thinking, “Why did this only have one-act; for I could listen to seven more.”

You’ll meet Peter and Greg who think differently about the suits that life has put them in. When an opportunity presents for a wardrobe change, will they take it or not? Listen in to find out.

This readers theatre piece was brought to life by students, a staff person and an alum of the Southwestern College Theatre Department. This podcast is recorded in the Southwestern College library, so while some of them had a short walk to our studio, two joined us from two different states. We hope the fun that was had rings through in your earbuds.

The cast and how to connect with them is as follows:

GREG, Tanner Schartz - Late twenties, early thirties. Loves his job, wife, and life.

PETER, Matthew Porter - Early twenties, college dropout, has great aspirations.

BRIANNA, Miranda Nation Hofmeister - Young, beautiful, and an idealist.

MAYA, Offspring of co-host, Meg, Henley June Calvin- Contains an imagination almost as big as her heart.

HEATH, William Wade - Quiet, reserved, silent strength.

Stick around after the play, for there is a Q&A with the actors where they share on their pet peeves as audience members, upcoming projects and their favorite roles which they someday hope to play.

This is the final episode of season 1, so be looking for a few special episodes this summer (2019) and then we are back to every other Saturday this September. Got a guest suggestion? Message us on Instagram. Did you love this episode and want more convos on the search of one's life purpose? Well scroll on down, ‘cause you got 29 other episodes just waiting for ya! :)

Support us on Patreon so we can keep bringin’ you some clarity, courage and comfort with your career-based decisions. Even a dollar a month makes a huge difference!

Listen with you soon!