The Pause Podcast

Today, we put ourselves in the shoes of the scribe who approached Jesus and asked him what the greatest commandment is. And Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” Can it really be that simple? Love God, love people!? Marri and Lindsay both zoom in and zoom out on these verses.

Mindfulness practice: Loving Kindness Meditation

The one where Jesus goes all Hulk in the temple. Marri and Lindsay unpack what made Jesus so righteously anger that day He turned over the tables in the temple… which leads to a conversation about the American Church today. We talk specifically about racial reconciliation and what role the Church should play in the midst of these injustices. We sit in the really hard question - Church, what do you care about?

Mindfulness practice: Contemplative Prayer

The most dramatic Markan sandwich!!! Jesus gets hangry and yells at a fig tree. But as Marri and Lindsay unpack this sandwich about a withered fig tree and overturning tables in the temple, we see what Jesus is really saying - that there’s a connection between our faith and our fruit. Fruitlessness is faithlessness.

Mindfulness practice: Lectio Divina focused on the Fruit of the Spirit

Ah, the Sons of Thunder. James and John ask Jesus if they can sit on his right and on his left in His glory… and Jesus responds OH I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED. Marri and Lindsay unpack what the Kingdom of God has to say about power. Is servanthood really “power” in the Kingdom of God? What does it mean that the first will be last? We deep dive on what it means when Jesus says “not so with you” - and we end up talking about Michelle Obama, John Lewis, Brene Brown, Glennon Doyle, and Jacinda Arden.

Mindfulness practice: Lectio Divina

In our special kid’s episode, Lindsay and Marri are joined by Aidah (Marri’s five year old daughter). Aidah tells a joke and talks to us about how much Jesus loves kids. As we study the story of Jesus letting the little children come to Him, we talk about the connection between being both kingdom-minded and childlike. We can learn so much from those younger than us.

Mindfulness practice: Mac and Cheese Breaths

For our midseason episode, Lindsay walks us through one of Jesus’ more…graphic teachings - the infamous CUT OFF YOUR OWN HAND AND GOUGE YOUR EYE OUT passage. Is this for real? How seriously should we take it?

Mindfulness practice: Confession and Thanksgiving

Marri leads today’s discussion on Mark 9 and explains why verse 24 is her favorite verse in the Bible. We talk about authentic faith and messiness and hope and healing.

Mindfulness practice: Measured Breathing

We’ve reached that pivotal moment in Mark chapter 8 where Jesus turns to His closest friends and asks, “But who do YOU say that I am?” And after hearing their responses (project much, Peter?) - hits Peter with a casual, “get behind me, Satan!” ....Needless to say, there was a lot bound up in their responses. Marri and Lindsay talk about our own responses to Jesus’ question and wonder what those responses might indicate about US.

Mindfulness practice: Body Scan

Did you know that Jesus talked about poop? Right here in Mark 7, as Jesus defies Old Testament food purity laws, he patiently explains to his disciples how the digestive system works. Naturally, we had a field day with this concept and this episode is riddled with potty talk, including a dramatic retelling of a famous personal poop story.

Mindfulness Practice: Breath Prayer from Adele Calhoun

Day 11 in Mark and we’re examining a Sunday School Flannelgraph Classic: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. Lindsay and Marri talk how we can learn to move toward people in compassion and the ways that empathy and forgiveness effect our movement.

Mindfulness Practice: Loving Kindness Meditation