Rusty Water Towers

Let's talk about Waylon, Willie, and a lot about tobacco farming. Jennifer and I talked for so long we needed a part 2!

Also, for some reason, I feel the need to define cowboys and we explain life before cell phones.

Dr. Jennifer Moe is Associate Director and Post-Doctoral Fellow of the Young Adult Initiative at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She received her PhD in Christian Education and Congregational Studies from Garrett in 2018. Jennifer’s research interests include the ways in which young women and girls are taught to be “good Christian women” in a variety of Christian religious subcultures and young adults in the United States and their faith practices, including how they are connected (or not) to faith communities. Dr. Moe has served as adjunct faculty in the Religious Education field at Garrett and in the Theology field at North Park University in Chicago. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media:

Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In which I get so excited to celebrate country music and 500 plays that I forget that I already covered Hank Williams, but it still works. Also, I confess to things about Randy Travis and Pop Country icons.

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

This week's episode takes us very close to my churches. Johnny and I talk about the experiences of a new pastor in rural ministry and all his twists and turns. There's also some John Wesley, fried bologna, and a biscuit on the way out the door.

Johnny Norton is a retired licensed local pastor in the Western North Carolina serving at First UMC Stanly as Minister of Connections. Johnny is a former student and now friend and colleague. He’s had me at his churches to teach about all sorts of Methodist things.

Connect with johnny: jmnorton1950@gmail.com

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

This week we get into nineties country, whether my guest, Amber Laffey has the magic touch, meat lockers, Budweiser horses and more.

Amber Laffey is an LLP (hopefully soon to be commissioned as a Deacon) in the Dakotas Conference of the UMC and serves a congregation of about 40 people and also serves as the conference secretary. She currently lives in a small town in South Dakota with her husband, four kids and obnoxious Cockapoo MacGyver.

Amber's Facebook Show: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071463797809

Kate Bowler's Podcast: https://katebowler.com/podcast/

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In this episode, Shannon LeMaster-Smith, the multi-talented writer and singer of our theme song (who also happens to be my wife) joins me on the podcast as we travel down the highway to visit family for Thanksgiving. We talk about life, ministry, music, and much more. You'll here us and the sounds of the road as we travel. One thing I will note, there is some wonky editing because of the microphone giving us problems.

Shannon LeMaster-Smith is the Minister of Discipleship at First United Methodist Church in Newton North Carolina and the Youth Ministry Strategist for the Western North Carolina Conference. She lives in Hildebran, NC with her husband (the host of this podcast), their four dogs and one cat named Cat.

https://deaconshannon.org/

deaconshannon324@gmail.com

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

This week, there's a lot of music. I think we talk about Tanya Tucker, Helen Reddy, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Bonny Raitt, Brandy Carlile (and the rest of the The Highwomen). But really, it's, as always, all about the stories, connections, and the hope we find, even in paperwork season. Join me as Karen Monk and I talk about accents, church ministry, and the realities ministry in the Catskill Mountains!

Rev. Karen Monk is the District Superintendent of the Catskill Hudson District of the New York Annual Conference. She hails from rural East Texas, has spent time studying and working and New York City, but always comes back to rural life and ministry.

Karen's info: karen.monk@nyac-umc.com and https://www.facebook.com/kaaterskill.pastor

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In this episode, Dr J explores music, tells some of his stories and answers your questions. Stay until the end for a grumbly dog.

Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9

Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In this episode we have to define "Meat and Threes," talk about church buses, and dive into remembering our belovedness. Also, Gabe Lee and Michael Twitty show up, and only one is a country singer. My guest is Crystal Imes. Crystal Imes is a social worker with a passion for children, marginalized communities, and returning to some of the old ways we once built community together. Crystal has been with NETworX since 2013 first, as a participant, and in 2015 transitioned to staff.  Crystal currently coordinates the NETworX Yadkin site, as well as working for NETworX NC and NETworX USA in the areas of communications and training. With the tremendous support of her husband and four children (the Fantastic Four), Crystal is completing her Master's Degree in Social Work. In the little spare time, she has, Crystal enjoys spending time in the kitchen with her family passing down recipes and creating brand new ones to help her children carry on both culture and curiosity for generations to come. Theme Song: "Hildebran" by Shannon LeMaster-Smith Crystal recommends: The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty Contact Crystal: https://www.networxusa.org/client/about.html#team & crystal.imes@abccm.org Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com Our Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c474a35725cd41c6 jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In this episode Rev. David Christy joins me. We talk about all night drives from New Orleans, being invited to your church Administrative Council meetings, not being spoken to at barber shops, and Mac Davis.

Theme Song: "Hildebran" by Shannon LeMaster-Smith

Our Guest: Rev. David Christy: Facebook: @david.christy.92, Twitter: @davidchristy66 WNCCUMC: https://www.wnccumc.org/staffdetail/2169446

David Christy is the Catawba Valley District Superintendent, appointed in 2020. He has served Franklinville-Rehobeth Charge (Randolph County); Fair View (Iredell County); Epworth (Concord); Central (Canton); and First (Gastonia) over his 32 years of ministry. He loves Jesus and the church, having served as a delegate to General and Jurisdictional Conferences and as members of various boards. He is married to Pam, an elementary school teacher. They have two children: Luke (married to Kelly) who is a pastor of a two-point charge; and Maggie, who is a teacher assistant in Haywood County. Luke and Kelly have a one-year old, Addie Grace. David enjoys running, trout fishing, and golfing – but isn’t good at any of them!

Consider taking a course with me: https://beadisciple.com/online-christian-courses/music-and-worship-ministry/ifd259-country-music-and-christian-faith/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

Our Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c474a35725cd41c6

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers

In this episode, Rev. Teresa Whetsel joins me, and we talk about the Hank Williams "I Saw the Light," purchasing beans, pheasant hunting, some old cassette tapes, and of course, the joy and hope of small town life, what our communities are known for, and the hope of rural community.

Theme Song: "Hildebran" by Shannon LeMaster-Smith

Our Guest: Rev. Teresa Whetsel: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.whetsel

Rev. Teresa Whetsel is a provisional member of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church where she has been serving rural congregations for 9 years. She is a wife, a mother of 3 grown sons, and a grandmother of one. Originally a city girl, she has found a deep love for serving folks in rural communities.

Consider taking a course with me: https://beadisciple.com/online-christian-courses/music-and-worship-ministry/ifd259-country-music-and-christian-faith/

Our Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @RustyWaterTowers | Twitter: @rustytowerspod | RustyWaterTowers@gmail.com

Our Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c474a35725cd41c6

jlemaster-smith.com/rustywatertowers