Pulpit To Pew

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin dive deep into the Book of Ruth. This short book but long story details the lives, hardships, and redemption of Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, and the early lineage of King David and eventually Jesus. Within its narrative and lessons, we learn of Ruth as a powerful and resilient woman who represents the threshold of grief and hope. Ruth is the biblical gold standard of loyalty and self-sacrifice. Her story is one of hope, faith, and the power of love overcoming fear and violence to make all things new. Her self-giving and loyal actions have been an inspiration to millions of Christians, Jews, writers, and artists. You should really get to know Ruth. Readings: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17Hebrews 9:24-28Mark 12:38-44 About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life. Learn more about Christ Church Cathedr

  There are so many secular views of what Heaven may be. Most are child-like, non-theological and created with comforting imagination. No one knows the real Heaven, but God's Kingdom is described in many ways throughout the Old and New Testament. In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the secular and sacred nature of Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Where is Heaven? When is Heaven? Heaven is a real place created by God for his People, and Its ultimate end is not floating in the ether but is made new and fully here in the present. Plus, Rev. Gibson explains the Church's view of the Saints, the dearly departed, and their connection to us and the presence of God. Key Takeaways > Heaven described in Isaiah and Revelation is a goal and vision. A vision that shapes us in this broken world to have hope so we can participate with God to work to heal it, recreate it, and make it new and whole. > All the things and people that have been created by God continue in Him. > Prayers to the Saints and to our loved one

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the Disciples and their constant and almost comical chronic misunderstanding of Jesus's teachings of humility and prophecy of his tragic suffering and crucifixion. Jesus preached a message of extreme service and sacrifice for others. Yet, just like us, the Disciples frequently fell to ego, earthly desires and pride. This week's show focuses on defeating the ego, never forgetting your mission, a lifetime of learning, embracing the mindset of the eternal student, and silencing the talk, talk, talk in our heads. Rev. Gibson shares the insights of Ryan Holiday, and his book Ego Is The Enemy and the many lessons within its covers. Metallic, Megadeath, Gilda Radner and Marlon Brando are all discussed, and Johnny can't quit talking about Season 3 of Netflix's Daredevil series. The key takeaway from this installment of Pulpit to Pew: silencing our ego and embracing this "silence" creates a space for God's work to be done within us and in the world. This silence starts

No one prays to God to be "tested"? Usually, we pray to be shielded from such trying times. Does God test us? Rev. Beverly Gibson discusses her belief that God does, and why asking to be tested can be a blessing. Johnny Gwin inquires about the life of Job and the lessons that his example can teach us. Also, Rev. Gibson talks about the Church's, society's, and her views on the tragedy and trauma of divorce. There is growth in suffering. Relationships and bonds are tried and forged in the hardest of times. How can we create positive outcomes from pain and tragedy? Lastly, Jesus (in his constant testing by the Pharisees) shows us how to expect the law but to dig deeper into its meaning and purpose. Be more than followers of the rules. Recognize the suffering of others, be compassionate, humble, and do not fall into the trap of the hardness of heart.   Readings: Job 1:1; 2:1-10Psalm 26 Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12Mark 10:2-16 About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to unde

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the weekly lectionary lessons and Rev. Marshal Craver's beautiful sermon on how we can be set free of our addictions. Jesus loves us regardless of our faults, sins, and fixations (good and bad). He wants us to be free of the servitude of unhealthy obsessions, and our devotion to the wrong things. Assigning too much attachment to "things" erodes our freedom and harms our relationship with God, others who depend on you, our neighbors, and our community. Truth, humility, compassion, and the ability to ask for help are the holy multitool for cutting out the habit of assigning too much devotion to the things that can become a barrier to becoming the person who we want to be, and who God made us to be. We all have our golden calf or banana in a coconut. We hold on to those things very tight. However, for real transformation, we must work to strike our addictions with a sword, dig deeper, and do more than stop our actions. We must change our hearts. Read

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin talk about the nature and identity of "the wicked" and the creation and summoning of Death. Who is The Righteous Man from the Wisdom of Solomon, and why is he reviled as "inconvenient"? What does the 1982 Disney film, Something Wicked This Way Comes, have to teach us about humility, courage, facing our shadow selves, and drawing closer to God? Drawing closer to God starts with us inviting God to be present more in our lives and practicing this purposeful action will bring more light and peace into our dark and shadowy world. Key Takeaways: The Wisdom Literature of the Bible is an excellent guide for the faithful to explore the nature of righteous living. Our arch-enemies are not always external. Most of our biggest struggles and conflicts stem from the darkest (and unknown) parts of ourselves. Look inward to find our true selves that can fully participate in a life with God. Drawing closer to God can start by bringing our "Sunday Selves" to our Monday mor

It is said that last week's lesson can be fearful for the Priest and send them into fits of trembling. Plus, according to Rev. Gibson, most of the ears in the pews don't want to hear the hard lessons of Mark 8:27-38. How does the world see Jesus? How did the disciples see Jesus? How do we see Jesus? Jesus's story and mission pivot at this point of Mark's Gospel and he has to deliver a hard message of what is going to happen to him. What is going to happen to anyone that picks up their cross and follows him? Ridicule, suffering, and death. Not the message his entourage wanted to hear, especially Peter. Then like now, spreading the message of Jesus is hard when the lessons focus on self-denial and sacrifice instead of success and abundance. Truly following Jesus as a disciple in this world is hard, uncomfortable, deep, and dangerous. If we choose to walk with Jesus on his mission the first step is assessing how we see and experience him. How do we see Church and its place in our life? What is truly important i

All desires are not the same. There are the personal wants and desires, and then there is God's desire for us. God longs for us and wants us to be connected to him and those around us. Are your and God's desires aligned? How would you know? When our hopes and wants align with God's calling that is called the "heart's desire". Jesus healed the deaf and mute man in Tyre so that he could hear and speak clearly. Are we clearly listening to what God wants from us? And when we have unearthed our "heart's desire" are we expressing that with genuine "heart" in our words and actions? In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the nature of delighting in the Lord, faith, longing, transformation, and getting the most out of Church.  Resources: Psalm 37:4 As Kingfishers Catch Fire - By Gerard Manley Hopkins Readings: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23James 2:1-10, [11-13], 14-17Mark 7:24-37 About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates

Hello my fellow Pew People, it's FOOTBALL SEASON in the South and tis' the season to wear our favorite team apparel, avoid our rival team neighbors and family members and LIKE me last Sunday - miss Sunday Service. So, my playing hooky from Church as well as Rev. Gibson having a bye week from the Pulpit this weekend and the need for a PuIpit To Pew show I dug thru the P2P vaults of unused show tape and found some relevant instant replays. Bonus: a tape with a personal confession, or personal foul (OK...last football pun!) dealing with my struggles of prioritizing the bigger things in life and allowing uncontrollable, external and small things to get in the way of me best the best version of myself. The self that that doesn't just talk like a person in the Way of Christ but acts that way as well. Especially one that doesn't embarrass himself in front of my sweet and wonderful Grandmother. Again, I am so sorry about last Iron Bowl Grandma Clayton. I hope you enjoy this candid conversation between parishioner an

In this episode, Rev. Gibson concludes the final hard lessons of the Bread Of Life Discourse (John 6:56-69) and delves into Paul's Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) letter to the Ephesians. Jesus's words and ideas challenged, confused and ran off many of his early disciples. What would it take for you to walk away from Jesus? Or, your Church? What about eternal life confuses and makes others uncomfortable? What are the rulers, authorities, and roaming spirits of evil are you letting into the interior of your life? Rev. Gibson suggests that we all need to try to break away from daily negative influences, take time, and create a quiet space to contemplate higher thoughts and things that challenge our beliefs, habits, and mindset. Spiritual growth comes from being aware of what we take in mentally and spiritually, continuous learning, listening not just hearing, and silencing negative voices and powers that can knock you off your path.   Resources: Marcus Aurelius Earl Nightingale - The Strangest Secret Reading

In moments of difficulty, most people will cling to their past, become apathetic, disoriented, and cease to stop going forward in life, goals, and projects. Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark) ran into mountains on his canoe expedition to the Pacific Ocean in 1805. A heartbroken Lewis shook off his frustration, regrouped, led his team out of their canoes, reframed his vision, trusted his training and found a way to fulfill his mission. In the Bread of Life Discourse, Jesus asked the audience to see a new way to understand God. Many listening rejected this radical message but many were open to Jesus' shocking message of a loving God and eternal life through accepting him as a new "Bread of Life." Most things in life rarely turn out like it was planned and predicted. Ideas and new information challenge our views, perceptions, and beliefs. When reality stands in the way of our hopes, completing important work or reaching a final destination we have 2 choices. One, we can quit! Or, we can shake off the disappo

Most of us know a Bible is revered, sacred and important but is it alive to you and a part of your daily life? In this episode, Rev. Gibson and parishioner Johnny Gwin explore Keri Smith's Wreck This Journal, Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book, John The Divine's eating of a sacred scroll, Jesus's Bread of Life Discourse and discusses meditating, consuming, and metabolizing the Word of God. From cover to cover The Bible's teachings, words and actions offer a lifetime all-you-can-eat buffet of spiritual nourishment that can expand our faith, reveal the endless world of God's love, and enrich our lives. Let's take our Bible's off our dusty shelves, devour it's teaching, and share its strength with others.   Readings: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33Ephesians 4:25-5:2John 6:35, 41-51 Resources: Wreck This Journal - by Keri Smith Eat This Book - by Eugene Peterson   About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the week

Download | Subscribe  In this episode, Rev. Gibson discusses her lifelong love of reading, her admiration of educator and author Samuel Holt Monk, Nathan confronting King David, Midrash, and the lessons from the Bread of Life Discourse. Kind David needed the intervention of Nathan's Rich Man/Poor Man story of the Ewe to be enlightened about his abuse of power and sinful acts concerning Bathsheba and Uriah. Jesus taught his high concepts and holy ideas to his followers in simple stories and parables so they would be able to grasp his promise of "something more" with Him and the Bread of Life. Reading and hearing stories allows us a way to see ourselves in the mirror of narrative, events, and characters. This "seeing yourself" can aid us in the awareness of understanding our true selves and how we interact with the world around us. Am I the rich man, or the poor man? Am I the hero, or the villain? This reciprocal internal and external self-examination (and realization) from literature, more specifically script

In John's Gospel of the loaves and fish feeding the multitudes (John 6:1-14) Jesus felt the need to feed the 5000 followers waiting to hear him speak because he knew they were hungry. Transforming 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into a horde of food fed those followers physically but also spiritually. His loving gesture and service filled their bellies but it also nourished the belief, faith, and commitment. The bounty and scarcity of food have always been so important our BC and AD human existence and evolution. Today, and a little closer to our own lives - the passion for making and serving others genuine food might be engrained in our Southern DNA. Heck, it's practically another religion in these parts. John T. Edge explores this shared Southern food culture and history with his research and southern food stories in his book The Potlikker Papers. Food is a common thread and a powerful force in our lives and community. It's one of life's necessities but it can also be symbolic, unifying, and a kindness (watch

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny talk about seeking refuge, making a place to dream and pray, and how we must make ourselves a dwelling place for the Lord. Johnny goes on his own Indiana Jones search for the location of the Ark of the Covenant and Beverly shares her vacation stories and insights from Arkansas, Christ of the Ozarks, and Thorncrown Chapel. Rev. Gibson's sermon this weekend focuses heavily on the inspiration of the safe and purposeful space of Thorncrown Chapel. This beautiful and peaceful sacred tourist destination that offers travelers and guests tranquility and inspiration for a guest to worship, look inward, rest and dream. Who are monuments and buildings of worship like Thorncrown Chapel and Christ of the Ozarks built for, God or his us? Beverly and Johnny explore the nature and our need for these architectural and spiritual havens, portals, and locations. To round out this show Rev. Gibson discusses the universal quest many have to find shelter and peace in this noisy and disruptiv

In this episode, inspired by Groucho Marx (and Rev. Gibson being on vacation), we have pulled audio out of the well-guarded archive vaults of Pulpit To Pew and Deep Fried Studios. Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the intriguing Old Testament scripture, ancient archeology, and spiritual mystery of Moses' death and disputed location of his tomb. We hope you enjoy this short Pulpit To Pew episode and after listening to this podcast if someone tries to quiz you on the whereabouts of Moses' tomb you can smartly say, "God only knows." Resources: The Unknown yet Known Place of Moses’ Burial Why are the circumstances of the death of Moses so mysterious?   About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life. Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral. Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central) Pulpit To P

Inspired by David's Song of the Bow written in the throes of grief due to the death of King Saul and Jonathon, in this episode Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the nature of grief and it's power on artists as a spark of creativity. From Milton to Donne, to David Bowie and Warren Zevon artists throughout history have created some of their greatest works by venting their sorrow or deciphering their feelings about death in poems, song, painting, and literature. Can death be defeated? What does our understanding of Jesus's life and death show us about our perspective of death and grief? Resources: 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Two recent nonfiction books: Nina Riggs - The Bright Hour (2018) Paul Kalanithi - When Breath Becomes Air (2016) Poems: John Milton “Lycidas” (1638) Alfred Lord Tennyson - In Memoriam (1849) Ben Jonson, “On my first son” (1603) William Wordsworth, “Surprised by joy” (1815) John Donne “Divine Meditations” sonnet #10, “Death be not proud” (1635) Donne’s poem references 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54. Music: David

This episode is centered on just some kids, their lives, times, struggles, creations and significant influences on the world. Rev. Gibson (struggling thru a summer head cold) discusses her theological connectivity of a young King David, Jesus, his disciples, and punk-poet Patti Smith. All these luminaries found themselves (voluntarily and involuntarily) in a new world of suffering, pain, fear, and violence and on their journey, they all endured and eventually created something important, transformative and beautiful out of the mess all around them. On a boat tossing and turning in a storm Jesus saved his friends and questioned them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?". With what all that these young Disciples had seen how did they not have the conviction to be brave in the storm and trust Jesus and their divine mission? Why did wanna be artist, poet, and musician Patti Smith know that to follow her dream she had to courageously leave the comfort of her small hometown and stick with her plan in the big,

Paul writes in last week's epistle "we walk by faith, and not by sight", what does this mean for those where faith is their point of view? Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny discuss Divine vision and how humans can not see the hearts of others or beyond the limited vision of the "right now." While we may not be able to see the hearts of others, we can learn to evaluate our own and then discern the real values and things that matter to us in our past, present and future. This examination along with simply living, humility, compassion, and love of neighbor are the proverbial "mustard seeds" that must take root in ways seen and unseen to help our polarized world adopt the "New Creation", the Kingdom of Heaven point of view. This core of a life in faith can be found in Scripture and all of Jesus's teachings, but we have to be open and able to hear it.   Readings: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:132 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17Mark 4:26-34  Resources: Richard Rohr   About Pulpit To Pew Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between

In this episode, Johnny Gwin asks Rev. Gibson to discuss the meaning of "hearing God" and how modern society views this prevalent, misunderstood and ridiculed phenomenon. Historically, many have spoken of hearing God. Hearing the words and actual voice of God are well documented throughout the Bible. Anecdotally and culturally many have said that God's voice and presence can be heard in unique, personal and creative ways such as music, nature, earthquakes, deep space and even simple vibrations. Beethoven once said that "music was a fuller way to God." Samuel Taylor Coleridge waxed poetically about the sound of the divine in nature and God's presence in the wind across the string of a beautiful harp. The writer Tilden Edwards in his book Living in the Presence: Disciplines for the Spiritual Heart focuses on the awareness of God all around us especially in the dimension of sound and silence. Shared stories across many religious traditions have mentioned hearing and experiencing the Godhead through common thing