We all have, or have had, people who have touched our lives and influenced us in positive ways. Because of them, something in us has changed ... our own sense of worth, our worldview, the way we engage with others, the way we...
The journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is long. The disciples have heard a lot, seen a lot, and done a lot ... including shushing and turning away marginalized persons who have come seeking Jesus. As usual, however, Jesus invi...
How many times did Jesus have to tell them, “It’s not about status!”? Just because society tells you that status matters, doesn’t make it so. But the disciples didn’t get it, and sometimes we too forget. If you want to be fir...
Money, money, money, money ... Money. The O’Jays said, “some people gotta have it.” (“For the Love of Money,” Philadelphia) But Jesus told the rich young ruler to go and give it all away, then, come follow him. We all know ho...
“I’ve Got the Power” is not just the name of a song by Snap played in clubs and on radio stations ... it has been a foundational principle for groups of people ... especially men ... since the days of Moses. It continued into...
“We are Companions on the Journey” ... a hymn sung many times in Community of Christ gatherings, and words we need to keep in mind as we navigate our personal spiritual journeys of life and faith. Like the disciples, we somet...
There is no such thing as a dumb question. At least that’s what some people say. There are, however, questions that, when asked, may make one seem less smart. What’s worse is when someone thinks they know the answer so doesn’...
Jesus’ ministry is taking a turn ... toward Jerusalem, and anyone who wants to be a follower will need to “take up [their] cross” and follow him. With each step toward “Jerusalem,” the cost of following gets more and more co...
Dive into the heart of the Christian tradition with us on "Coffee to Go." This week, we're in Mark's Gospel, witnessing Jesus' encounters with a Syrophoenician woman and a deaf man. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith as they unpack the complexity of Jesus' actions, the coexistence of our best i…
Leave it to the Pharisees to pick and choose which laws they want to follow while forgetting something a little more important ... the greatest commandments ... love God, and love one another. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blak...
Hopefully, followers of Jesus can say, without hesitation, that they believe in Jesus, but is that enough? The world is crazy, and we are faced with so much that can challenge or even scare us. In this episode of Coffee to Go...
But I don’t want to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Do I really have to? Thank goodness Jesus talks in metaphor. What he really wants is for us to “abide” in him... to be so closely aligned with him that he becomes for us...
Believing things about Jesus is good. As a matter of fact, knowing what you believe about Jesus is a great place to start, but it’s not necessarily life-changing. It’s when you come to the point of believing in Jesus that thi...
What happens when we’re hungry for something, and it’s not what Jesus is serving? Many, if not all, have been in that place where we’re so hungry that, until we are fed physically, we can’t think about anything else...at leas...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg ... abundance or blessing. You may have what you believe is THE correct answer, but apparently, there are sound arguments for both. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter a...
“Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest. Oh wait, there are crowds of people gathering who need our help first!” Have you ever felt like just when you were about to get a chance to enjoy some much-needed res...
The desire to gain power and to keep it can make people do crazy, if not awful, things... even when they don’t really want to do them. Such is the case in today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark. Join hosts, Karin Peter and ...
Who does he think he is? Jesus, that’s who! This week we find Jesus teaching in the synagogue, and the people are astounded. How could this “son of a carpenter” know all of these things? Well, besides the fact that he’s the S...
Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith as they dive into a captivating exploration of faith, healing, and the transformative power of Jesus' presence in this episode of "Coffee to Go." Delving into the Gospel of Mark, they un...
This week on "Coffee to Go," Blake Smith and Karin Peter explore the theme of faith in the face of life's storms, drawing from the Gospel of Mark where Jesus calms a raging sea. The hosts discuss the misconceptions surrounding faith and challenge the idea that it should be used to compare oneself t…
Holy Invasion... doesn’t that sound intriguing? Perhaps a bit scary or creepy rather. In this episode of Coffee to Go, we find Jesus speaking in parables. Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider the importance of approachi...
Turn down the noise! (After you listen to this episode of Coffee to Go, of course). Sometimes the chaos that results from large gatherings can get a bit overwhelming... and Jesus did not get a “pass” when it came to crowds. ...
Take a break. Put your feet up. Grab some coffee. Whatever it is you do to rest. Just don’t confuse that kind of rest with Sabbath. In this episode of Coffee to Go, we find Jesus and his disciples clashing with the religious...
What’s more confusing than the old, “Who’s on First?” Abbot and Costello routine? If you have no idea what ... or who ... we’re talking about ... Google it! Then, grab your coffee and your thinking cap because today is Trinit...