Coffee To Go Episodes
Coffee to Go is a regular feature on Faith Unfiltered Podcast that invites listeners into the sacred rhythm of the Christian liturgical year. Hosted by Karin Peter and Blake Smith, each episode offers a thoughtful reflection on the seasons, scriptures, and holy days that shape our spiritual journey.
Whether you’re on your morning commute, taking a walk, or pausing for a quiet moment, Coffee to Go provides a companionable space for grounding yourself in the story of God — one sacred moment at a time.
Because sometimes, the Spirit speaks best in the spaces between… and a little coffee doesn’t hurt, either.
Whether you’re on your morning commute, taking a walk, or pausing for a quiet moment, Coffee to Go provides a companionable space for grounding yourself in the story of God — one sacred moment at a time.
Because sometimes, the Spirit speaks best in the spaces between… and a little coffee doesn’t hurt, either.
Dec. 1, 2024
783 | Coffee to Go | First Sunday of Advent Year C
It’s a new liturgical year, and we’re still journeying with Jesus. As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded of God’s gracious welcome and hospitality ... full of justice and mercy. From interpersonal division to wars between nations, our world is full of chaos, there are those who would like us to think that the end of the world is coming and that THIS is “the generation that will not pass.” But we know that God is with us, and because we have experienced God’s gracious hospitality in our ...
Nov. 24, 2024
781 | Coffee to Go | Proper 29 Year B | Reign of Christ
How often do we ask a question with a “hoped-for” answer in mind? That’s exactly what is going on in this week’s gospel lectionary passage when Pilate comes face to face with Jesus. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for this final episode in Year B of the lectionary cycle. Listen carefully as Pilate questions Jesus, and Jesus, in typical Jesus fashion, turns the tables ... answering questions with questions while pointing to a kingdom like no other. Then, take time to look for evidence of...
Nov. 17, 2024
779 | Coffee to Go | Proper 28 Year B
“And the walls came a tumblin’ down.” Actually, by the time the Gospel of Mark was written they probably already had. But, imagine sitting outside the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, and having Jesus tell you that it would all be coming down. Scary? Upsetting? Maddening? Perhaps all of the above. Bad stuff happens all the time, but in the midst of it, we have the assurance that we are not alone... and we ought to focus our attention on the hope that is resident within us because of o...
Nov. 10, 2024
777 | Coffee to Go | Proper 27 Year B
Mark’s telling of the story we have come to know as “The Widow’s Mite” is a story about faithful generosity... or is it? Maybe it’s really about Jesus pointing out economic injustices. Giving one’s “spare change” means different things to the wealthy and the poor. And, in this case, the widow may have been the very source of the other’s abundance. Listen in as co-hosts Karin and Blake, sit across from the treasury with Jesus and ask some tough questions. In the end, they’ll let you decide what’s...
Nov. 3, 2024
775 | Coffee to Go | Proper 26 Year B
Though it may have seemed like it, not everyone was trying to trick or test Jesus. Some actually just wanted to engage in honest dialogue with them. That is the case with the Scribe in today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark. As it turns out, Jesus doesn’t mind the questions... as long as we’re asking the right ones. Like ... “what matters most?” Ultimately, like the Scribe, we’re on a journey. Who knows, we also may also may “not be far from the Kingdom of God.” Until we get there though, don’t...
Nov. 1, 2024
774 | Coffee to Go | All Saints Day
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 see and understand God. These are our “saints.” These are the ones we remember on All Saints Day. Many of them are no longer with us physically, some may even, at best, be unlikely saints. But, they are saints just the same. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they h...
Oct. 27, 2024
772 | Coffee to Go | Proper 25 Year B
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 invites them to come. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they point out the importance of focusing on and examining our own journey with Christ, rather than pointing the finger at those who have gone before. Like the disciples, we participate in silencing the voices of o...
Oct. 20, 2024
770 | Coffee to Go | Proper 24 Year B
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 first, you need to be last. Makes perfect sense...right? Grab a cup of coffee and join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for another look into Jesus’ interactions with the disciples as told in the Gospel of Mark. Hurry... the good seats are going fast!! Download Transcript Th...
Oct. 13, 2024
767 | Coffee to Go | Proper 23 Year B
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 how that ended. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for a look at that memorable passage from the Gospel of Mark. Maybe the problem wasn’t really money, but the power that money and other possessions have over us. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfilt...
Oct. 6, 2024
764 | Coffee to Go | Proper 22 Year B
“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 the days of Jesus, and it continues today. So, what does Jesus have to say about it? Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, to get an idea of what is really behind the interchange between Jesus and some Pharisees in the 10th chapter of Mark. Don’t get too caught up in the...
Sept. 29, 2024
762 | Coffee to Go | Proper 21 Year B
“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 sometimes forget what and who is the focus of our journey. In those moments, our salt loses its “flavor.” Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for a look at what Jesus has to say about where our focus should be and how important it is to “have salt in [ourselves] and be at pe...
Sept. 22, 2024
759 | Coffee to Go | Proper 20 Year B
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’t see a need to ask any questions. Join hosts, Karin and Blake, for a walk through Mark 9:30-37 where the Twelve find themselves in that exact position. If nothing else, perhaps you’ll find comfort in knowing you’re not the only one who didn’t understand. Download Transcrip...
Sept. 15, 2024
756 | Coffee to Go | Proper 19 Year B
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 costly. That’s right... some things in life may be free, but discipleship is not one of them. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for a closer look at this week’s passage from the Gospel of Mark (8:27-38). Before you pick up your cross... spend some time thinking about who...
Sept. 8, 2024
753 | Coffee to Go | Proper 18 Year B
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 intentions and flaws, and the assertiveness of faith. 💭 Reflect with us on how we balance our divine presence with our human moments. How do we assert our faith in a world that often tells us to be ...
Sept. 1, 2024
751 | Coffee to Go | Proper 17 Year B
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 Blake Smith for this week’s “journey with Jesus” in the Gospel of Mark. As is his way, Jesus is ready to set the Pharisees straight on what types of things make the top of his “what matters most” list. When all else fails... focus on relationships. Hand out floaters ... not sink...
Aug. 25, 2024
748 | Coffee to Go | Proper 16 Year B
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, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith suggest that it is not enough to simply believe. What Jesus calls us to do is abide in him. When we abide in him, we are transformed. How we see the world and act in the world... the very course of our life... is forever changed. Download...
Aug. 18, 2024
745 | Coffee to Go | Proper 15 Year B
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 a life source. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they explore what it means to abide in Christ. Then, take time to this week to figure out for yourself what abiding means for you. Just know, that you’re probably going to ask and answer some pretty hard questions ab...
Aug. 11, 2024
742 | Coffee to Go | Proper 14 Year B
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 things begin to change within you. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they explore what it means to “partake” of the “bread” that Jesus offers. It will do more than fill your stomach... it will change your heart. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfil...
Aug. 4, 2024
741 | Coffee to Go | Proper 13 Year B
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 least that’s what it feels like. In this week’s episode of Coffee to Go, Jesus is serving up a helping of deeper relationship with God, and the crowd is wanting something more. They’re so focused on getting what they think they need, they miss what they truly need. Sound familia...
July 28, 2024
738 | Coffee to Go | Proper 12 | Year B
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 and Blake Smith, join Jesus and the disciples on a mountainside and in a boat, both of which lead them to ponder whether or not these were literal miracles, or if that even matters. Maybe it is simply the fact that God sustains in all circumstances that matter. Either way, th...
July 21, 2024
735 | Coffee to Go | Proper 11 Year B
“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 rest, something “more pressing” came up? Well, you’re not alone! In this week’s episode of Coffee to Go, that is exactly the situation in which Jesus and the disciples find themselves. Join host Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a look at the importance of balancing blessing and s...
July 14, 2024
732 | Coffee to Go | Proper 10, Year B
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 Blake Smith for a look into the story of Herod and John the Baptist. See what is possible when power is at stake. Think deeply about how to recognize systems of power in your everyday life and find encouragement to speak truth to those systems. Download Transcript Thanks fo...
July 7, 2024
729 | Coffee to Go | Proper 9
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 Son of God, he’s taken the time to be with people where they are... to experience “the world” with fresh eyes ... and to push on with the work to which he has been called ... in spite of the naysayers and critics. Grab your sandals (no need for bag, bread, or money), and shak...
June 30, 2024
727 | Coffee to Go | Proper 8
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 unpack two miraculous stories that not only showcase the incredible faith of those who encountered Jesus but also remind us of the boundless love and grace available to all. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! I...