Maybe I'm Amazed
82 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago -Dr. James Howell is the head pastor at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. Throughout his career, he's developed meaningful relationships with a wide spectrum of people, and he's taken time to learn each of their stories. Maybe I'm Amazed is a collection of amazing conversations James has with amazing people experiencing everyday miracles.
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Episodes
Systems of Inequality and Faith with Greg Jarrell
April 15, 2024 12:25 - 39 minutes - 71.4 MBDr. Howell talks with Greg Jarrell about the ongoing and historical systems of inequality that result in urban renewal and gentrification, and the role religion plays in that process. Greg is a scholar, cultural organizer, and the author of Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods.
An Evening with Kate Bowler
March 20, 2024 01:54 - 1 hour - 113 MBDr. Howell hosts Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author, host of the Everything Happens podcast, and Duke University professor. Kate shares her journey of finding resilience amidst life’s challenges and looks deeper into the themes of her new book, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!
Spiritual Practice and Faith with Matt Miofsky
February 27, 2024 04:59 - 32 minutes - 59.6 MBDr. Howell talks with Matt Miofsky about faith and the importance of spiritual practice in everyday life. Founder and Lead Pastor of The Gathering, a United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, Matt is also the author of several books, including his latest, The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer. Matt graduated from Washington University, where he played football, and completed his Master's of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Jonathan Eig on Biographies of King, Ali, and Other Legends
February 06, 2024 15:33 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MBDr. Howell talks with award-winning biographer and bestselling author Jonathan Eig about his recent biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr. (King: A Life) and Muhammad Ali (Ali: A Life). Eig's books have been listed among the best of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Eig studied journalism at Northwestern University, and was a reporter for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, The Dallas Morning News, Chicago Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
Ken Howle on the History, Hospitality, and Transformative Experience of Lake Junaluska
January 24, 2024 16:30 - 37 minutes - 68.2 MBDr. Howell talks with Ken Howle about Lake Junaluska's rich history of hospitality and connection. Howle, executive director and a long-time leader at Lake Junaluska, oversees its preservation, development, and outreach, ensuring it will continue to be a sacred place of renewal and transformation for generations to come.
Laura Belcher on the History and Life-Changing Work of Habitat for Humanity
December 18, 2023 14:17 - 33 minutes - 61.3 MBDr. Howell talks with Laura Belcher, President & CEO of Habitat Charlotte Region, about the history and life-changing work of Habitat for Humanity.
Our Church and Our Denomination: What’s Next?
November 27, 2023 17:40 - 57 minutes - 106 MBIn October, Dr. Howell and Dr. Mark Holland, co-founder and executive director of Mainstream UMC, an advocacy group working for unity in the Body of Christ and the United Methodist Church. Together, talked about where the United Methodist Church is right now, what is coming up at General Conference in May, when our future will be decided, what’s at stake, and how we can be involved.
Jan and Ron Kimble: Domestic Violence Changed their Lives Forever, Now Their Story Helps Others
October 28, 2023 10:02 - 35 minutes - 64.9 MBDr. Howell talks with Jan and Ron Kimble about their daughter Jamie and how domestic violence changed their lives forever. Now, through the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, they are sharing their story to help prevent domestic and intimate partner violence and encourage healthy relationships.
Rev. Dr. Clifford Matthews on Faith, Mental Health, and Our Connection with Each Other
October 13, 2023 10:30 - 44 minutes - 81.5 MBDr. Howell talks with Rev. Dr. Clifford Matthews about his journey as a pastor and a therapist and his work on citywide initiatives to address race, affordable housing, and poverty. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Dr. Matthews is the senior pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate.
Jeremy Coffey on Good Soles and Providing Opportunity
September 28, 2023 18:55 - 31 minutes - 58.3 MBDr. Howell talks with Jeremy Coffey, founder of Good Soles, an organization that provides steel-toed boots and non-slip shoes to our neighbors in need while they transition out of homelessness. Good Soles was born out of a random act of kindness at a stop light and has provided more than 6,500 pairs of footwear over the last five years.
Being Church in Costa Rica with Wil Bailey
September 06, 2023 23:20 - 41 minutes - 75.2 MBDr. Howell talks with Wil Bailey about his experiences with mission work in Costa Rica and the value of building relationships and being church together. A North Carolina Conference Missionary, Wil received his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School in May 2003 and has been commissioned as a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Individual Volunteer.
Finding God Along the Borders with Rev. Laura Heikes
July 27, 2023 22:24 - 47 minutes - 86.3 MBDr. Howell talks with Pastor Laura Heikes, Lead Pastor of McAllen First United Methodist Church in Texas, about what it's like at a church on the border and finding God in unexpected places. Pastor Laura has a Master of Theology from Asbury Theological Seminary and is the author of Finding God: Discovering the Divine in the Gritty and Unexpected.
Rev. Magrey deVega on Wrestling with the Questions Jesus Asked
July 03, 2023 11:00 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBDr. Howell talks with Rev. Magrey deVega, senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida, about his book Questions Jesus Asked and the theological reflection involved in looking deeply at those questions.
Why Turkey is the Holy Land, Too, with Dr. Mark Wilson
June 09, 2023 02:31 - 25 minutes - 47.2 MBDr. Howell talks with Dr. Mark Wilson about Turkey - its biblical history and archeology and what it looks like today. An archaeologist and historian, Dr. Wilson is founder of the Asia Minor Research Center in Antalya, Turkey and author of Biblical Turkey: A Guide to the Jewish and Christian Sites of Asia Minor. Dr. Wilson serves as a Research Fellow in Biblical Archaeology at the University of South Africa and an Associate Professor Extraordinary of New Testament at Stellenbosch University.
Dr. Wil Gesler on Therapeutic Landscapes and Healing Places
May 23, 2023 16:36 - 27 minutes - 51 MBDr. Howell talks about therapeutic landscapes and healing places with Dr. Wil Gesler, author of Healing Places and retired Professor of Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Gesler's major research interest is health care delivery, and he has made significant contributions to cultural geography, Africa, and social theory.
Conspiracy Theories with Dr. Steve Cheyney
May 04, 2023 20:18 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBDr. Howell talks with Dr. Steve Cheyney about the appeal, study, and understanding of conspiracy theories. The University Pastor and Honors College faculty member at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Cheyney holds a B.S. from Western Carolina University, a master’s degree from Duke University, and a doctorate from Emory University.
Rev. Grady Moseley on His Lung Transplant, Hope, and Healing
March 28, 2023 19:44 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBDr. Howell speaks with Rev. Grady Moseley, a Presbyterian pastor and general contractor, about his recent lung transplant and the hope and healing throughout that process.
Karen González on the Theology and Politics of Immigration
February 22, 2023 14:18 - 36 minutes - 66.1 MBDr. Howell talks with Karen González, speaker, writer, public theologian, and immigrant advocate, on the theology and politics of immigration and the need to be welcoming. Ms. González is the author of Beyond Welcome, which draws from the Bible and her own experiences immigrating from Guatemala as a child to examine why the traditional approach to immigration ministries and activism is, at best, incomplete, and, at worst, harmful. A former public school teacher, Ms. González studied theology...
All About Bells with Brian Childers
February 02, 2023 15:59 - 34 minutes - 63.3 MBDr. Howell talks with Brian Childers, Director of Handbells and Children's and Youth Music, about the musical history of bells, how handbells are played, and how they enrich worship at church. Brian is also an accomplished composer, conductor, and clinician, and serves as Music Advisor for Handbell Musicians of America, helping to promote the wealth of handbell music in the AGEHR Catalog.
Regina Židonienė on Community and Refugee Service in Lithuania
January 19, 2023 18:14 - 17 minutes - 32.7 MBDr. Howell talks with Regina Židonienė, Director of the VŠĮ Pagalbos Center in Birzai, Lithuania, about the difference they are making in their community. Recently, she was awarded by the mayor "for constant concern for the children and families of the district experiencing social risks, daily assistance to refugees from the war started by Russia in Ukraine. For long-term, systematic, comprehensive assistance to war refugees from Ukraine. For the ability to convince partners to choose the mo...
Dr. Eric Meyers on a Life in Archaeology
January 05, 2023 17:01 - 40 minutes - 74 MBDr. Howell speaks with Dr. Eric Meyers, a world-renowned archaeologist, professor, and author, about his life and how archaeology informs our understanding today. Dr. Meyers and his wife Dr. Carol Meyers have conducted archeological digs in relation to biblical and Judaic studies throughout their careers.
Dr. Leighton Ford on Belief and Accepting Christ
October 31, 2022 17:06 - 31 minutes - 56.9 MBAs part of the Good Questions, No Easy Answers series, Dr. Howell talks with Dr. Leighton Ford on “What is Belief and What Does it Mean to Accept Christ?” A Presbyterian minister and a leader in world evangelism, Dr. Ford has spoken in 40 countries and is the author of nine books, including his most recent, The Attentive Life.
Kate Bowler on Why Bad Things to Happen and Is Life Ever Enough?
October 12, 2022 16:09 - 28 minutes - 51.8 MBDr. Howell speaks with Kate Bowler on what it means to face hardships and how we love each other through these challenges. Kate Bowler, Ph.D. is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, professor at Duke University, and incurable optimist. She studies the cultural stories we tell ourselves about success, suffering, and whether (or not) we’re capable of change.
Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel on Community and Compassion
October 04, 2022 13:46 - 37 minutes - 69.3 MBDr. Howell speaks with Dr. Lillian Daniel on the importance of community in the church, how the community deals with hardships and tragedy, and the need for compassion. Dr. Daniel is a preacher, teacher, and writer in Iowa. She has spoken at the National Cathedral, Duke Chapel, Kings College, London, and Queen's College, Ontario, but on Sundays, you can find her preaching at First Congregational Church in Dubuque, Iowa.
Dr. David Wilkinson on Science and Faith
September 26, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 63.5 MBDr. Howell talks to Dr. David Wilkinson about science and faith, wrestling with questions about creation and life in the universe, and the importance of having a space in church to ask these questions. Dr. David Wilkinson received his PhD in theoretical astrophysics at Durham University. After this he studied theology at Cambridge and became a Methodist minister and since then has held a number of different positions at Durham University in apologetics and theology. He is now Principal of ...
Dr. Carol Harston on Healing from Bad Theology
September 19, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 64 MBAs part of the Good Questions, No Easy Answers series, Dr. Howell talks to Dr. Carol Harston, an ordained Baptist pastor and pastoral researcher who leads the Eden Hill Initiative, where she converses with those who have grown up around traumatizing theology and helps them move toward healing.
Dr. Chris Green on the Bible and Inspiration
September 12, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 63.6 MBAs part of the Good Questions, No Easy Answers series, Dr. Howell talks to Dr. Chris Green about the Bible, inspiration, and truth. They discuss how God is using these stories to tell us about ourselves and about God. Author of All Things Beautiful: An Aesthetic Christology, Dr. Green is Professor of Public Theology at Southeastern University, Director for St. Anthony Institute of Theology, Philosophy, and Liturgics.
Mark Miller "Is There a God?" and Music
August 29, 2022 23:24 - 36 minutes - 67.3 MBDr. Howell begins the Good Questions, No Easy Answers series by speaking to Mark Miller about the question Is There a God? and how music helps us define our faith. Mark serves as Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School, Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University, and Minister of Music of Christ Church in Summit, NJ.
Dr. Dianne Collard on Loss, Forgiveness, and Art
July 29, 2022 01:39 - 39 minutes - 72 MBDr. Howell speaks with Dr. Dianne Collard, missionary and author of I Choose to Forgive, about her story of loss, forgiveness, and how it lead her to become an advocate for artists.
Slice Penny and His Extraordinary Story to Ministry
July 21, 2022 22:52 - 35 minutes - 64.2 MBDr. Howell speaks to Slice Penny on his call to ministry, how mistakes can lead to new beginnings, and how small things within the church can lead to major changes in others' lives.
Loss of a Son and Changing the Message at Church with Julie Wood
July 01, 2022 10:01 - 39 minutes - 71.7 MBDr. Howell speaks with Julie Wood, author of Changing the Message and mother of Ben Wood, on the heart-breaking journey of navigating the loss of her son and a mission to change the message within the church to "Do No Harm" and treat others with kindness.
A Discussion on E. Stanley Jones with Dr. Jack Harnish
June 24, 2022 05:37 - 32 minutes - 60.3 MBDr. Howell speaks with Dr. Jack Harnish, a retired United Methodist pastor, author, and preacher, on E. Stanley Jones—one of the most remarkable evangelists and missionaries of the 20th century.
Gary Chapman on Relationships and The 5 Love Languages
June 09, 2022 21:39 - 28 minutes - 52.9 MBDr. Howell speaks with Gary Chapman, New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages series, retired pastor, and the director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, about relationships, faith, and The 5 Love Languages.
Craig Hella Johnson on Musical Composition and Deeper Connections
May 31, 2022 23:25 - 35 minutes - 64.6 MBDr. Howell talks with Craig Hella Johnson, Grammy-winning founder and Artistic Director of Conspirare renowned as one of today’s most influential voices in choral conducting. They speak about conducting, composing, and deeper connections between music, spirituality, and the world. His work, Considering Matthew Shepard, will be at Myers Park UMC on June 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Ed Price on New Opportunities at Community Matters Cafe
May 20, 2022 01:49 - 26 minutes - 48.3 MBDr. Howell speaks with Ed Price, Chief Operating Officer of Charlotte Rescue Mission, about the new opportunities and transformation occurring at Community Matters Cafe.
Rev. Dr. Gary Mason on Toxic Religion
May 13, 2022 02:56 - 34 minutes - 64 MBDr. Howell talks to Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, a Methodist Minister in Northern Ireland and professor known for his work with reconciliation, about toxic religion and national identity.
Dr. Henry Perry on the Moral Imperative of Global Health
May 06, 2022 00:31 - 27 minutes - 49.6 MBDr. Howell speaks with Dr. Henry Perry, a physician with graduate training in sociology and anthropology who has three decades of experience in the management and evaluation of health programs in developing countries. He is the founder of the NGO Curamericas Global and talks about giving his life to serving others, global health, and how we are called to address this great moral issue.
Genealogy, History, and Slavery with De Kirkpatrick
April 29, 2022 02:18 - 31 minutes - 58.2 MBDr. Howell talks to Dr. H. D. "De" Kirkpatrick, forensic psychologist and author of Marse: A Psychological Portrait of the Southern Slave Master and His Legacy of White Supremacy, about genealogy, history, and slavery.
John Kilgo on Journalism, Basketball, and Dean Smith
April 22, 2022 02:11 - 26 minutes - 48.2 MBDr. Howell speaks to John Kilgo, an award-winning newspaper columnist, about basketball, journalism, and Dean Smith.
Can We Talk About Israel with Daniel Sokatch
April 07, 2022 15:51 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBDr. Howell talks with Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund and author of Can We Talk About Israel: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted, about the history of Israel and how people talk differently about the complex story between Israelis and Palestinians.
Jesus and... Prayer with Professor Rebekah Eklund
March 31, 2022 17:05 - 42 minutes - 78.2 MBDr. Howell welcomes back Rebekah Eklund, Professor of Christian Scripture, Theology, and Ethics at Loyola U Maryland. Professor Eklund gives us insight into how we pray and the meanings we can find within the Lord's Prayer.
Race and the Supreme Court with Vernon Burton
March 24, 2022 22:14 - 42 minutes - 78.1 MBDr. Howell speaks with Vernon Burton, Professor of History at Clemson University, the Director of its Clemson CyberInstitute, and author of Justice Deferred: Race and the Supreme Court, on the history of race and the Supreme Court and how these issues are impacting current events.
Jesus and... Ukraine with Bishop Patrick Streiff
March 15, 2022 23:27 - 29 minutes - 53.7 MBJoin us as Dr. Howell talks with Bishop Patrick Streiff, who is working non-stop with Methodists in Poland and Romania fielding refugees from Ukraine.
Mental Health with Melissa Bernstein
March 03, 2022 14:16 - 33 minutes - 60.5 MBDr. Howell talks to Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of LifeLines, about mental health and her journey to stay steadfast and balanced in the face of life’s ups and downs.
Food Insecurity and Hunger with Tina Postel
February 22, 2022 18:18 - 33 minutes - 45.9 MBDr. Howell talks to Tina Postel, Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays, about food insecurity, hunger, and how we can help as a community.
Peter Eisenstadt on Howard Thurman
February 15, 2022 01:38 - 36 minutes - 66.8 MBDr. Howell speaks with Peter Eisenstadt, Affiliate Professor of History at Clemson University, Editor of the Howard Thurman Papers, and the author of Against the Hounds of Hell: A Life of Howard Thurman. Together they look at the work of Howard Thurman, a prolific author, esteemed preacher, and mentor to most of the key Civil Right leaders and their non-violent approach back in the 1950s – and also a deeply spiritual man and writer of beautiful devotional materials.
Dr. Willie Jennings on “Jesus and… Race,”
February 07, 2022 18:55 - 40 minutes - 73.6 MBDr. James Howell speaks with Dr. Willie Jennings, Yale theologian and author, on “Jesus and… Race,” looking at race theologically, not politically, as well as how it impacts the church and our lives.
Combating Human Trafficking with Susan Coppedge
January 27, 2022 21:27 - 30 minutes - 56.5 MBDr. James Howell talks to Susan Coppedge, an attorney and former US Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Listen as she talks about her amazing work to bring justice and protect vulnerable people.
Jesus and … Judaism with Dr. Amy Jill Levine
January 20, 2022 22:54 - 32 minutes - 59.6 MBDr. James Howell talks to Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of Jewish Studies and New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Jesus was Jewish. Did he invent a new religion, asking people not to be Jewish? Why did being Jewish and being Christian split and get complicated? AJ is always smart, witty, and inspiring.
Jesus and ... the Gospels with Dr. Ben Witherington
January 13, 2022 22:09 - 40 minutes - 93.7 MBDr. Howell talks with Professor Ben Witherington, a child of our church and renowned New Testament scholar, on “Jesus and…the Gospels.” Are they reliable? Are there others? Should we read them literally or figuratively? Why does the historical Jesus matter?