Wheeler...Beyond Sunday

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep. 15: Getting Needled

In this episode of Wheeler… Beyond Sunday, Amanda, James, and Sarah dive deep into Ginger’s latest Lenten sermon, "Getting Needled." Inspired by the story of the rich man in the Gospel of Mark, the team explores the "hammer blows" of Jesus’ call to discipleship: Go, sell, give, come, and follow.
From shocking statistics about the 300,000 items in the average American home to James’s prized "Space Jam" Jordan 11s, we’re getting honest about the clutter in our closets and our hearts. We discuss the sentimental weight of the things we keep, the "Marie Kondo" moments of our faith, and why Jesus "needled" the rich man not out of judgment, but out of genuine love.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Weight of Wealth: Why Americans own 40% of the world's toys and spend $45 billion on self-storage.
Sentimental Struggles: Why it’s so hard to throw away a three-sizes-too-small t-shirt or a collection of Bath & Body Works candles.
The "Whiteboard Night": Seeking signs and affirmation from Jesus in the middle of big life decisions.
Making Room: How clearing out old Sunday school "clutter" (literal and figurative) made space for the growth of Wheeler’s children’s ministry.
True Joy vs. Temporary Happiness: Finding the peace that doesn’t come from a Target "dollar spot" find, but from serving others.
Reflection Question: Is the "treasure in heaven" enough for us, or is there something standing in the way of us following Jesus completely?
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The "Fab Three" are back. 01:21 – Shocking Stats: 300,000 items and the storage unit boom. 06:44 – The Grail: James brings out the Space Jams. 09:18 – Sentimental Clutter: Why we give feelings to inanimate objects. 12:11 – The Rich Man’s Dilemma: Compliance vs. Inner Peace. 23:28 – The Five Imperatives: Go, Sell, Give, Come, Follow. 27:32 – "Sucker" for a Sale: Marketing tricks and local business. 37:52 – The Minimalism Experiment: Seeking peace through less. 46:57 – The History of Advertising: From war bonds to "drip." 57:31 – Letting Go of the Past: Lessons from Isaiah and Paul. 01:03:45 – Serving vs. Stuff: Where true joy is found. 01:08:51 – Closing Prayer.
Connect with us: 📍 Visit us at Wheeler Church 🎧 Subscribe for more weekly reflections on faith, life, and the "Beyond Sunday" journey.
#Lent #WheelerBeyondSunday #FaithAndFinances #Minimalism #ChristianPodcast #GospelOfMark #Community

Wheeler... Beyond Sunday | Ep 14: Merch Doesn't Count

Does wearing a Christian t-shirt or having an "I Am Second" bumper sticker make you a better Christian? What happens when our actions don't match the merchandise we wear?
In this episode of Wheeler... Beyond Sunday, Derek, Jill, and Sarah dive into Pastor Ginger's challenging sermon, "Merch Doesn't Count." The crew kicks things off by talking about the merchandise we love to represent—from sports teams to WWJD and tap-to-pray bracelets—and how quickly the massive spiritual merch industry can become a trap if our hearts aren't in the right place.
The conversation shifts into the danger of treating faith like a "good Christian" to-do list and the modern-day Pharisee trap of measuring our righteousness against others. The team reacts to a powerful story from Pastor Ginger about a heavily tattooed woman showing grace to a judgmental church couple at Captain D's, and they tackle what might be the hardest area of judgment for believers to drop today: politics.
Join us as we discuss what it really means to ditch the checklist, let go of our judgment, and truly take up our cross in our daily lives.
Episode Chapters
00:00 - Intro & The merch we wear (Braves, Bengals, & Diet Coke)
02:07 - Christian merch: WWJD, Verselets, & Tap-to-Pray Bracelets
06:48 - When bad behavior ruins the Christian bumper sticker
10:10 - The danger of the "Good Christian" checklist
16:04 - The Pharisee vs. Tax Collector: Comparing our faith
20:33 - Pastor Ginger's Story: Tattoos, Captain D's, and unexpected grace
25:21 - The hardest judgment to drop: Politics & Faith
29:48 - Ditching the checklist & actually taking up your cross
33:24 - Closing Prayer
About Wheeler... Beyond Sunday
Faith doesn't end when you leave the building. Wheeler... Beyond Sunday is a podcast by Wheeler United Methodist Church designed to keep the conversation going all week long. Join us as we explore scripture, tackle real-life questions, and grow together as a community.
Connect with us!🔔 Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode!👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video and leave a comment below about a time you had to ditch the "checklist" in your own faith journey.🌐 Learn more about our church and ministries at: WheelerChurch.com

Wheeler... Beyond Sunday | Ep. 13: At A Cross Road

Have you ever had all your life plans work out exactly the way you envisioned? Yeah, us neither. In Episode 13 of Wheeler... Beyond Sunday, Amanda, James, Derek, and Aubrey sit down to discuss the kickoff of our new Lenten sermon series. Drawing from Pastor Ginger's recent message on the Gospel of Matthew, the group talks about what happens when Jesus brings us to a "crossroad" and inevitably interrupts our best-laid plans. ​ From the disciples abruptly dropping their fishing nets to our own modern-day struggles with giving up control, we explore what it truly means to trade our comfortable expectations for God's better purpose. The team shares personal stories of navigating unexpected life changes, job transitions, and the humbling reality that following Jesus doesn't always make life easier. We also dive into Wheeler UMC's recent strategic reset, discussing the difficult but necessary process of releasing outdated traditions so the church can reignite its mission for the future. ​ Join us as we challenge our comfortable notions of what church "should" be and learn to embrace the crossroads. ​ Episode Chapters 00:00 - Intro, Coffee, & Kicking off Lent 02:37 - Do your life plans ever work out perfectly? 06:04 - Dropping the nets: The reality of answering Jesus' call 16:30 - Pastor Ginger: "The best-laid plans of mice and men" 23:20 - The Disciples' confusion when their expectations were shattered 32:20 - What does following Jesus actually cost us today? 36:12 - Pastor Ginger: Giving up something good for something better 45:40 - Wheeler's Strategic Reset: Reflect, Release, Reframe, Reignite 54:17 - Challenging our comfortable notions of church About Wheeler... Beyond Sunday Faith doesn't end when you leave the building. Wheeler... Beyond Sunday is a podcast by Wheeler United Methodist Church designed to keep the conversation going all week long. Join us as we explore scripture, tackle real-life questions, and grow together as a community. Connect with us! 🔔 Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode! 👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video and leave a comment below with a time your plans were changed for the better.

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep. 12: He's Kidding, Right? Learning to Pray for Your Enemies

Welcome back to Wheeler Beyond Sunday! 🎙️ We close out Pastor Ginger's "Prayer Pressure Problems" series with what might be the most challenging sermon of the bunch — and the most timely. This week, James, Jade, and Sarah tackle Jesus's jaw-dropping command from the Sermon on the Mount: Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.
He's kidding, right?
From a church member's stunning act of grace at the scene of a tragedy, to MLK preaching forgiveness while fire hoses and police dogs were turned on his people, to a friendship that started with middle school rivalry and ended with a best man speech — this episode gets personal, honest, and occasionally convicting.
In This Episode:
The shocking response of a grieving church member that stopped Ginger in her tracks
Why "love your neighbor" was already a stretch — and "love your enemy" felt impossible
How our political and ideological divides have given us new "enemies" we didn't have before
James's best friend who he couldn't stand in seventh grade (yes, really)
MLK's sermon "Loving Your Enemies" and how he said it while living it
What "being perfect as God is perfect" actually means in Wesleyan theology (spoiler: it's more doable than it sounds)
Henry Nouwen on why prayer for enemies is the most powerful — and most difficult — prayer there is
📚 Scripture & Resources Referenced:
Matthew 5:43-48 (Love your enemies)
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., "Loving Your Enemies"
Henry Nouwen, Letters to Marc About Jesus
Sermon Excerpt: Pastor Ginger reads MLK's powerful words on finding the image of God even in those who hate you — and reminds us that image cannot be erased.
Whether you're struggling with a fractured friendship, a family divided by politics, or just someone who cut you off on the way to work, this episode asks the question: Have you prayed for them yet?

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep. 11 | Is God Even Listening? Unanswered Prayers & Faith

In this episode, we tackle one of faith's hardest questions: Is God even listening when our prayers seem unanswered?
Join Amanda, James, Sarah, and Aubrey as they get vulnerable about times they've questioned whether God hears them—from personal tragedies to watching others receive miracles while feeling left behind. We explore the real meaning behind Jesus' words about prayer in their original Greek context, discuss how to celebrate answered prayers without hurting those still waiting, and examine Mother Teresa's surprising struggle with feeling God's silence.
Topics Discussed:
Crisis of faith from unanswered prayers
Why "ask and you shall receive" doesn't mean what we think
The difference between miracles and "ordinaries"
How "thoughts and prayers" can become a call to action
Mother Teresa's decades of spiritual darkness
Finding peace when God's answer is "not yet" or "no"
This continues our sermon series "Prayer, Pressure, Problems" with Pastor Ginger's message on finding reassurance that we're always at the center of God's heart—even when it feels like our prayers fall on deaf ears.

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep 10: We Can't Hide

In this episode, Amanda, James, Sarah, and Jill discuss the third sermon in Pastor Ginger's "Prayer Pressure Problems" series: "We Can't Hide."
Drawing from Psalm 139, the group explores a fascinating Cambridge study about how preschool children believe they can't be seen if they don't make eye contact—and how we as adults do the same thing with God. They open up about times they've tried to hide from God due to shame, anger, grief, or fear of disappointing Him.
In this episode:
Why we avoid keeping company with God when we're struggling
The pressure to be "perfect Christians" and how it affects our prayer life
Personal stories about mental health, loss, and trying to hide brokenness from God
Sarah's powerful plant analogy about what grows in the light vs. what we keep in darkness
Why God already knows our secrets and loves us anyway
What to say to someone who's afraid to pray
The conversation reminds us that we are always in God's presence, fully known and fully loved—and that there's nothing we could do or be that would take that love away.
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Join us as we discuss what it means to stop hiding and start keeping company with the God who's been waiting for us all along.

Wheeler... Beyond Sunday | Ep 9: Finding Your Unique Prayer Style

Join Pastor Ginger Isum in conversation with Renie Morris, certified spiritual director and lay leader for the Tennessee Valley District of the Holston Annual Conference, as they explore what it means to "keep it real" in prayer.
In this episode of Wheeler...Beyond Sunday, we continue our series on prayer by addressing the pressure many of us feel to pray "the right way". Ginger and Renie discuss how our unique personalities, life stages, and circumstances should shape our prayer practices—not conform to someone else's spiritual rhythms.
In this conversation, you'll discover:
Why "pray as you can, not as you can't" is transformative advice
How everyday activities like baking bread, knitting, folding laundry, and walking can become sacred prayer time
The difference between spiritual direction and therapy, and how a spiritual director can help you discern God's movement in your life
Practical ways to develop prayer rhythms that fit your real life—not an idealized version
Why it's okay to address God in ways that feel authentic to you
How labyrinths, breath prayers, and centering prayer can help when words fail
Whether you've struggled with journaling, felt guilty about your prayer life, or wondered if there's more to prayer than Sunday morning, this honest conversation offers permission to meet God exactly as you are.
 

Wheeler... Beyond Sunday | Ep 8: Prayer Pressure Problems

Welcome back to Wheeler Beyond Sunday! In this week’s episode, Pastor Ginger is joined by her "BFF" and special guest, Pastor Patrice Wells from Liberty Hill United Methodist, for an honest and refreshing conversation about prayer.
As Wheeler begins a new five-week series on "Prayer Pressure Problems," Ginger and Patrice pull back the curtain on the struggles even clergy face when it comes to connecting with God. They dismantle the myth that prayer requires a "special voice" or eloquent words, instead defining it through a beautiful and simple lens: Keeping company with God.
From the "crop duster" prayers of daily life to the profound "dark night of the soul," this episode explores why we often put too much pressure on ourselves and how to find our way back to a natural, sacred dialogue with the Divine.
Highlights include:
The "Prayer Voice" Myth: Why we don't need to pray like the "saints of old" to be heard.
The Power of Silence: Learning from Ginger’s New Mexico desert experience and the beauty of just being in the same "room" as God.
Prayer as Transformation: Moving past the "effectiveness trap" to see how prayer changes us rather than just our circumstances.
The Theology of Breath: A powerful look at how every breath we take is literally an utterance of the Divine name.
Navigating the Wilderness: Honest reflections on praying through grief, loss, and the times when words simply won't come.
Whether you feel like your prayer life has hit a wall, you're struggling with the "busyness" of life, or you just need to be reminded that God is as close to you as your own breath, this episode offers a warm and grace-filled space to breathe and begin again.
Join the conversation as we learn to take the pressure off and simply enjoy the companionship of the Father!
Scripture Reference: Luke 5:16 (and Jesus’s various withdrawals to prayer throughout the Gospel of Luke)
Wheeler Beyond Sunday is a podcast where we continue the conversation from Sunday morning, diving deeper into the sermon and exploring what it means to live out our faith throughout the week.

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep. 7: Praying for a Breakthrough

Welcome back to Wheeler Beyond Sunday! In this week's episode, Amanda, James, Jill, and Derek dive deep into Ginger's powerful sermon on breakthrough prayer, based on Luke 3:21-22 and 4:1-13.
As we step into the new year, the team explores what it truly means to pray for God's guidance and surrender our will to His. They discuss the challenge of living into our prayers versus simply saying them, wrestle with the age-old struggle of giving up control, and unpack the profound mystery of Jesus being fully human and fully divine.
From personal prayer practices in the car and shower to Wesley's Covenant Prayer, the conversation gets real about why it's so hard to let go and let God. The team also examines Jesus's baptism and wilderness temptation, discovering fresh insights into His humanity and what it means that God, through Jesus, has experienced everything we experience.
Highlights include:
Why "your will be done" is harder than it sounds
The power of breakthrough prayer in both personal and church life
Wrestling with Jesus's humanity in the wilderness
Wheeler's new church-wide breakthrough prayer initiative
The importance of dreaming big dreams without limits
Whether you're struggling to surrender control, looking for a fresh start in your prayer life, or wondering what it means to be part of a "set apart" community, this episode offers honest conversation and practical encouragement.
Join the conversation and share your own breakthrough prayer experiences with us!
Scripture Reference: Luke 3:21-22, 4:1-13
Wheeler Beyond Sunday is a podcast where we continue the conversation from Sunday morning, diving deeper into the sermon and exploring what it means to live out our faith throughout the week.

Wheeler...Beyond Sunday | Ep. 6: Great Expectations — Looking for Jesus in 2026

Welcome back to Wheeler Beyond Sunday! 🎙️ We're kicking off 2026 with the story of the Magi and their journey to meet Jesus — a story packed with great expectations.
In This Episode:
Why winter might be the worst time to make New Year's resolutions (and why we do it anyway)
The three hawks that circled like the Trinity on moving day
Amanda's beach notebook moment: "I can hear you calling. What is it?"
How Janie and Deb poured from full cups into empty ones during camp week
Derek's story of being unwelcome but finding Jesus in a Chicago church
Sarah's Wednesday night dinner origin story at Wheeler
What it means that the Magi — outsiders, Gentiles, foreigners — were welcomed by Mary and Joseph
📚 Scripture & Resources Referenced:
Matthew 2:1-12 (The Magi's journey)
William Barclay's Daily Bible Studies Commentary
Sermon Excerpt: Pastor Ginger shares her hawk/Trinity moment and asks: "Do we expect to meet Jesus when we wake up in the morning? At the grocery store? In the homeless person standing on the street?"
Whether you're a resolution-maker or not, this episode will challenge you to live expectantly in 2026 — watching for God in creation, trusting His guidance even when it makes zero sense, and extending radical hospitality to everyone we meet. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. ✨