This episode guest hosts, Rev. Wesley Smith and Kevin Ward, dicuss the curious question; Where can we find God in Classic Rock?

Our two guests this week are both avid rock enthusiasts and musicians, playing guitar in their spare time. Let's here them dive into our latest curious topic on how God relates to rock and roll greats.

Our guest host, Mary Ana Smith, sits down with Rev. Carrie Wright to discuss her journey as an adoptive mom. Adoption seems to many as more of a challenge than a blessing, but Carrie feels the opposite having not only adopted two children, but also having fostered many. If you have considered fostering or adopting then this episode is a must listen!

Guest Info

What gives Carrie life is spending her days with people of all ages learning to give praise to God. We are all on this journey in different stages but each of us are called to praise in one way or another. The arts are the ways that she hears God the best and she loves it when others are bringing their “song” as well. Carrie fell in love with making music at 8 years old and that love continues to weave through her especially in the midst of worship. She is an ordained Deacon in The United Methodist Church and the Associate of Music and Worship Arts at Williamson’s Chapel UMC. Carrie is married to Clay, a tech guru working for Coca Cola Consolidated and stays busy chasing after their 4 kids ages 9 to 18.

It certainly feels good to help others in need. We donate food, money, and even time to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. And, oftentimes we assume that we have done what's best for them. But was it the best for them? Or, was it something that made us feel good in the moment? This is a tough question to ponder and our guest on this episode shares some incredible insights and wisdom to help us tackle it.

Guest Info

Is it acceptable to question God or Christianity if you call yourself a Christian? Does doubt mean you're not truly a Christian? Should faith be so unwavering that questioning is off-limits?

These were questions I wrestled with in my youth, and I believe that misconception still lingers today. In this episode, our guest will help us explore the beauty of curiosity and how asking questions can deepen our faith.

Guest Info

Mandy Pallock passionately believes that lives will change as people engage with God’s Word. She is happily married to the man of her dreams, Peter, and they are raising three children together in South Texas. She’s a writer, speaker, and podcaster at presentlyengaged.com.

Mandy is a co-creator of Life Purpose Planning, a tool to help high schoolers and young adults understand and live out their God-given life purposes. She knows that discovering our purpose starts with asking a good question.

Mandy has over 20 years of professional experience in print and digital communication in the non-profit sphere. She has written for and supported Bible Study Fellowship, Splendeur Magazine, Character Training Institute (now Strata Leadership), and more. And she’s cheering for you as you live out your God-given life purpose!

We all love TV or movies in some way, shape, or form. Entertainment is a form of enjoyment for most of us. I believe we'd all agree, however, that a movie or TV show today looks vastly different than it did just 20 or 30 years ago. Our guest on this episode produces wonderful and educational Christian films and even worked in Hollywood for a time. His insight is invaluable and he provides us with great things to consider as we mull over our curious question.

Guest Info

Craig Dehut is a seasoned freelance video producer with over fifteen years of experience. In 2015, he co-founded Appian Media alongside his business partner, Stuart Peck, driven by a shared concern for the lack of engaging biblical media for young people. Their vision was to bridge the gap between the youth and Bible study through professionally produced, accurate, and free content. Appian Media has since produced multiple award-winning series, podcasts, workbooks, and children's videos, reaching millions worldwide.

Links

This episode is intentionally released just before election day. We know that voting season can sometimes bring out the worst in even the kindest and most loving individuals. In quieter moments, it’s easy to love and accept others. However, when those around us express beliefs and feelings that differ greatly from our own—especially when they openly voice those differences—it can be challenging to maintain that "loving feeling."

How do we navigate the complexities of loving others in a time of such diverse opinions? Our guest is here to help us explore this topic, offering valuable insights and practical tools for fostering understanding and compassion.

Guest Info

Kim Gilson was born to be a teacher. As far back as she can remember, she played school in her room, teaching dolls and stuffed animals from a chalkboard, and holding parent/teacher conferences with those who struggled. As she grew older, the stuffed animals became real students, to whom she taught band and then math. As her career in public education blossomed, Kim learned her passion was teaching adults, making difficult topics easier to understand and enjoying laughter in the process. The sudden loss of her husband, Paul, to a blood clot in 2014 sent her on a personal journey of grief and a battle to reclaim joy in her life for her and her sons. Wanting to share her zeal for life with others, she became a certified Zig Ziglar trainer, speaker, and coach. After retiring from public education in 2022, she felt a calling to utilize her teaching and speaking skills to revitalize the hearts, minds, and dreams of people, activating them towards fulfilling their God-given purpose.

https://excellivate.com/

This is an uncomfortable topic - especially for clergy and others who serve the church. We understand anger toward the church. We get it. But how do we help those who are angry at the church and angry at those within the church keep their faith strong? It's hard ... especially in today's divisive world. Our guests today have some amazing insights to share and they do a great job exploring this curious question!

Guest Info

Pastors Wes and Toni Ruth Smith are the lead pastors of Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church in Mooresville, North Carolina. They have been serving the church for over 20 years and bring with them incredible wisdom and love for God and for the church. Their daughter attends Appalachian State University and their son is a junior in high school.

Links from this episode:

Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown

** This episode addresses more adult concepts and may not be suitable for a younger audience.

Addiction is more prevalent in our society than we may realize. And, addiction is not limited to certain demographics - it touches them all. When we are in a relationship (any type of relationship) with someone who is struggling with addiction we may wonder if we will perpetually be the person picking our loved one up, getting them out of trouble, or being devasted by their actions. We wonder, "Will they ever heal and recover from this?"

Our guest on this episode is a recovering addict and shares his experience with us. It's powerful. He donates his time and energy helping other men who struggle with addiction. This episode is full of hope if you find yourself in a relationship with an addict.

Guest Info:

Logan is a born & raised Alaskan, married to his gorgeous bride Carrie, who herself is a 4th-generation Alaskan; and together they are raising 4 amazing but crazy little monkeys. Their life is a simple one - they love their family time, their dogs, and exploring the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. And yet, absolutely none of this should be possible today. For years, Logan did just about everything in his power to destroy his marriage and his life. Logan was a raging sex addict. Porn, affairs, hiring prostitutes, and more had simply become a way of life for Logan. He thought he had no hope. In 2016, God began to change all that. Through Recovery, God transformed Logan’s life and his marriage. Logan and his wife Carrie each now lead Recovery groups, doing what they can to give back by sharing the gifts that God has given.

Logan's Website

Logan's Instagram