Understanding Church

Life is stressful and we all need help getting through difficult times! In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the importance of reaching out for guidance and support when needed.  Our special guest, Mark Heinbockel of Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry , offers services available such as counseling, tutoring, groups and workshops.  Further, the importance of faith and spiritualit...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss those sayings that we say all the time that are not often used as the scripture intended or are not biblical at all! Does God close a door and open a window? Does everything happen for a reason? Does God have a plan for you and what is that plan? Is it true that nothing happens in God's world by mistake? Listen for Pastor Dan's l...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss "at-one-ment" in other words, atonement. God promises us relationship with Him and He is faithful in doing so. But, we keep messing up--it is in our human nature. How do we reconcile or make repentance for such a situation? We don't have to because God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to do it for us. That's the Good News!!...

Just in time for Easter! Pastor Dan and Wendy Farone explain the background and backstory of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday are described so that full meaning and understanding can be experienced in worship. This is a podcast you will surely want to listen to before and during Holy Week. "He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!" Pastor Dan will even explain what that call-res...

This year our 8th grade confirmands reach their formal learning toward becoming official members of the church. They have participated in 3 full years of learning about the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the New Testament, and Lutheranism. During this discussion, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone chat a bit with the 2023 confirmands: Lauren, Blake, Ethan, and Tanner. We talk about the importance of...

In this episode Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the Pastor's recent trip to Israel. A 13-hour trip to Tel Aviv, bus rides, security checks and travel in general seems to be worth the experience of visiting the Holy Land. Pastor Dan offers insight into what the people and landscape is like in modern day Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Sea of Galilee where the biblical story unfolds. Fu...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone answer many questions surrounding the true 'reason for the season' including: Why did Jesus have to be born in the first place? Why did God send Jesus as an infant? Why send Jesus into a place that is so lowly? What was God's hope for creation in sending Jesus? What is God's glorious design in this Savior? Think about what your...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone summarize the key points from Part 1 and discuss the meaning and significance in the worship service. This includes the pillars of worship including the Gathering, Word, Meal, and Sending. The liturgy is designed in such a way that our spirit, from beginning to end, is reshaped, reformed, and renewed so that we can "Go in Peace, Serve the Lor...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone walk through the first half of a worship service using the bulletin as a guide. Download a bulletin here and follow along or visit our website at www.belc.org and click on the Worship Bulletins button . You will be amazed by the intention and purpose of every minute of the worship service, the flow of the service, and meaning behind the Confession...

Have you ever said, "What have I done to deserve this? God must be mad at me?" Does God get mad at us and punish us for our behaviors? During this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone offer some guidance in this commonly misunderstood concept of God's character. 

We are free to choose, right? What are the consequences of our decisions? Are we making the correct ones? God gives humans the ability to choose. Therefore, humans do have free will. But, in our sinful, human nature, do we really make the ones that serve us and God well? In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss free will. The good, the bad, and the ugly! Further, explanation of M...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss what it means to 'get right with God.' Many believe that being a 'good person' or doing 'good things' makes one righteous. Lutheran tradition is that we have "justification by grace through faith apart from the works of the law." How do we get justified or aligned with what God expects of us? What ar...

There is an old Mac Davis song called It’s Hard to be Humble that begins, “Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” This satirical song points out how quickly we determine our place as above that of others. At times we believe that the blessings we have received are of our own making, due to our brilliance and good works. Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the imp...

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control. These are the Fruits of the Spirit. These are the attributes of a person living in accordance with the scripture (Galatians 5:22-23). Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss these attributes and how they apply to your life so that you can participate in these gifts and share them with others. 

Should you go to church? Yes, for a lot of reasons! By the way, guilt is not one of them. Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone share several reasons why you should come to church. The church community and the learning of the scriptures can bring fulfillment and blessings into your life. Who doesn't need that in their lives!? Listen to an honest and realistic conversation about the gifts of being...

What does the word "mysticism" conjure up in your mind? And what does it have to do with church? In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail, Associate Pastor Ellen Lundie, and Wendy Farone discuss the true meaning of mysticism and what it could mean for our lives in faith? We will talk about some historical women mystics (yes, women!) and that you may already be one!! The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hil...

The Third Commandment is Do not take the Lord your God’s name in vain... But, what does that really mean? Are we being told to stop swearing or is it more than that? In this podcast, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss two main points about this commandment: First, that we probably break it a lot in the language we use and secondly, we have to be cautious when we use the Lord’s name to make...

In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the Book of Jonah. We tend to think of this story as being about a cute whale and a man inside who gets spit onto the seashore. But, the Story is SO not about a whale. or spit, for that matter.  The 'big fish' is actually called Leviathan, a sea creature.  There is no whale! Discussion focuses on the biblical intent of the writer...

Do you get road rage? Jealous of the neighbor's vacations?  We are tempted by a force within us that tells us that we aren't enough, that we need to do more, have more, work harder or react to a situation in an emotional way. In this podcast, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss the true meaning of temptation, the underlying root cause of our response to temptations and how to pract...

Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone are joined by Director of Music, Laura Henri, to discuss the importance of communion with Christ and each other through music in worship. We found out some secret talents of our Bethlehem pastors, too! Lots of links in the show notes to explore! Living Lutheran Transcribing Our Musical Heritage https://www.livinglutheran.org/2021/05/transcribing-our-musical-herita...

So...I forgot to hit record! I left in the outtake!  Take Two! In this episode Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone chat with Bishop Kurt Kusserow serving the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod . Discussion focuses on what a synod is and does and how it fulfills the mission "To serve, connect & equip ELCA congregations in southwestern Pennsylvania to tell the story of Jesus."   Further, we...

In this podcast, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss “the point” of a parable. Jesus was genius in His design and approach to teaching in this way. We discuss three main parts to look for in a parable including a complete thought, a point being made (spiritual wisdom), and a deeper understanding of the truth. The book, Luther’s Aesop, is linked below as are the 2 Bible Project videos with ev...

 In this episode, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone ask an important question, "GOT HOPE?"  Hope is something we all need. But, do you truly understand what hope is? Christian hope is different than being a positive thinker or trusting that it will all turn out alright. In trying or unstable times, we can gain great comfort in having hope...real hope. Join us for this important discussio...

Imagine the controversy when a Monk (Martin Luther) and a Nun (Katharina Von Bora) walk into a church and get married! This love story didn't start out that way! Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone walk through the history of how Martin and Katie met, their family dynamics and tragedies, and the partnership that grew between them out of mutual stubbornness and strength. Luther Family Portrait h...

In the second part of this series, Pastor Dan Smail and Wendy Farone discuss even more about the critical contribution of Martin's interaction with the Roman Empire and his impact on our beliefs and practices as Lutherans. We talk about the backstory of his final years and the human side of Luther as he and his wife, Katie, serve others.  On the lighter side, we discuss "What's up w...