The New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA, your hosts the Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and/or Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl

In this episode Penny explores the reality of being guided by the Spirit, listening for God’s Spirit, and being driven to do amazing things through Divine Love. Penny unpacks meeting Spirit guided people in a sacred space through the stories of Simeon and Anna as Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate him to God. In this episode Penny shares a message grounded in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 22-40 with the community of Westchester Community Church, United Church of Christ in Westchester, Illinois on Sunday, December 31, 2023. Come explore the possibilities.

Welcome to the New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA with your hosts Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl. Each message explores the challenge of this lived reality through the lens of goodness, hope, and love found in the scriptures of the Christian tradition. About 10 to 20 minutes in length, episodes typically feature a message delivered by Penny or Bill (or both) during a Sunday service.

Penny and Bill (the Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and the Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl) bring a host of lived experiences into their message preparation - including over 35+ years of couplehood. Both are Ordained Ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and co-served a local congregation for nearly 18 years. Both hold a Master of Divinity, Master of Social Work, and PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences. In addition to serving in the local church, Penny has also taught divinity and social work at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Loyola University Chicago, Aurora University, and North Park University. Similarly, Bill has taught bachelor, master, and doctoral level courses at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Aurora University, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, and North Park University. Today, in addition to being guest preachers in churches, they offer individual and couples therapy through their private practice CenterToAwakenKindness.com and offer innovative self-development tools through the Grow I Am Self-Development Active Learning Platform growIam.com Come join the journey and be sure to share it with others.

In this episode - Bill’s message reminds us that it is not always easy to focus on the Divine – even Peter was called “Satan” by Jesus. In his message today, grounded in the gospel Mark, Chapter 8, verses 27-38, Bill explores why Jesus called Peter “Satan” through theological and historical foundations such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. This message was originally presented on Sunday, September 15, 2024 with the community of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Come explore the possibilities.

Welcome to the New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA with your hosts Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl. Each message explores the challenge of this lived reality through the lens of goodness, hope, and love found in the scriptures of the Christian tradition. About 10 to 20 minutes in length, episodes typically feature a message delivered by Penny or Bill (or both) during a Sunday service.

Penny and Bill (the Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and the Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl) bring a host of lived experiences into their message preparation - including over 35+ years of couplehood. Both are Ordained Ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and co-served a local congregation for nearly 18 years. Both hold a Master of Divinity, Master of Social Work, and PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences. In addition to serving in the local church, Penny has also taught divinity and social work at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Loyola University Chicago, Aurora University, and North Park University. Similarly, Bill has taught bachelor, master, and doctoral level courses at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Aurora University, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, and North Park University. Today, in addition to being guest preachers in churches, they offer individual and couples therapy through their private practice CenterToAwakenKindness.com and offer innovative self-development tools through the Grow I Am Self-Development Active Learning Platform growIam.com Come join the journey and be sure to share it with others.

In this episode Bill asks if you know the type... What type? Those type... the type Jesus talks about in today’s scripture. One that says yes – but does nothing. And the other type that Jesus talks about – the one who says “no way” but actually does what they have been asked. Bill also explores the space, functions, and people within the Temple in Jesus’ time as well as our God talk and God walk in today’s world. In this episode Bill shares a message grounded in the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 21, verses 23-32 with the community of Westchester Community Church, United Church of Christ in Westchester, Illinois on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Come explore the possibilities.

Welcome to the New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA with your hosts Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl. Each message explores the challenge of this lived reality through the lens of goodness, hope, and love found in the scriptures of the Christian tradition. About 10 to 20 minutes in length, episodes typically feature a message delivered by Penny or Bill (or both) during a Sunday service.

Penny and Bill (the Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and the Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl) bring a host of lived experiences into their message preparation - including over 35+ years of couplehood. Both are Ordained Ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and co-served a local congregation for nearly 18 years. Both hold a Master of Divinity, Master of Social Work, and PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences. In addition to serving in the local church, Penny has also taught divinity and social work at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Loyola University Chicago, Aurora University, and North Park University. Similarly, Bill has taught bachelor, master, and doctoral level courses at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Aurora University, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, and North Park University. Today, in addition to being guest preachers in churches, they offer individual and couples therapy through their private practice CenterToAwakenKindness.com and offer innovative self-development tools through the Grow I Am Self-Development Active Learning Platform growIam.com Come join the journey and be sure to share it with others.

This is an archived past edition. Please be sure to also try our rebranded The New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA – your hosts Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl.

Archived Original DaRevsUSA: Penny delves into life’s reality – it’s a choice... be bad or good. Each of us can do either. What would a Good Shepherd do? What does civility look like? What type of world do we wish to live in... to create... to leave to a future generation? Do we follow the model of the Good Shepherd or ??? Come – let’s explore. Let your life shine as an example of the Good Shepherd. Be present with Christ here and how – let your light, your love, the radical power of Jesus Christ deep within shine in your life... and share it.

Join DaRevsUSA, Penny and Bill, as they explore and reflect on the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verses 1-10, share in the Lord’s prayer, and join in singing God Be With You Till We Meet Again.

Awaken Kindness by DaRevsUSA, a podcast. A progressive podcast looking at the stories of the Bible that enhance self-care and wellness. Hosted by DaRevsUSA, Rev Dr Penny Taylor and Rev Dr Bill Ressl. Simple (grounded in Christ’s love), fun (sharing some time together), yet profound (grounded in a progressive theological lens).

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For all the mindful contemplative possibilities, visit CenterToAwakenKindness.com

Please note:

At times, scripture contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children, therefore parental discretion is advised.

In this episode Bill looks at free will, the choices we make that become our destiny, the legacy we leave behind. What we do or don’t do has consequences. What impact do our actions have for our life and those around us – destroy or nurture? Today we look at the story of a barren fig tree, the gardener, and the landowner. The landowner wants the barren fig tree cut down - the gardener suggests giving it one more year, one more chance. What happens? Do we make informed choices or do not? What does it mean to have freedom? What does it mean that our choices inform our destiny and the destiny of others – the legacy of our actions? Bill shares a message grounded in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 13, verses 1-9 originally presented during online Sunday worship. Come explore the possibilities.

Welcome to the New Awaken Kindness with DaRevsUSA with your hosts Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl. Each message explores the challenge of this lived reality through the lens of goodness, hope, and love found in the scriptures of the Christian tradition. About 10 to 20 minutes in length, episodes typically feature a message delivered by Penny or Bill (or both) during a Sunday service.

Penny and Bill (the Rev. Dr. Penny Taylor and the Rev. Dr. Bill Ressl) bring a host of lived experiences into their message preparation - including over 35+ years of couplehood. Both are Ordained Ministers in the United Church of Christ (UCC) and co-served a local congregation for nearly 18 years. Both hold a Master of Divinity, Master of Social Work, and PhD in theology, ethics, and the human sciences. In addition to serving in the local church, Penny has also taught divinity and social work at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Loyola University Chicago, Aurora University, and North Park University. Similarly, Bill has taught bachelor, master, and doctoral level courses at the Chicago Theological Seminary, Aurora University, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, and North Park University. Today, in addition to being guest preachers in churches, they offer individual and couples therapy through their private practice CenterToAwakenKindness.com and offer innovative self-development tools through the Grow I Am Self-Development Active Learning Platform growIam.com Come join the journey and be sure to share it with others.