The Safe House Podcast

Episode 92: From the Heart of Charles… John 11:28-37

Live Service for April. 8th, 2026

John 11:28-37
When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Conversation 
It is difficult to be a vessel when wrestling with the feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, and conflict. Timing becomes subjective to the person who is the recipient. Blessing is seen through the lens of the entitled and not the movement of God. Tears can be shed for multiple reasons. 
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Episode 91: From the Mind of Mitchell…

Live Service for March. 18th, 2026

Mark 13:1-13

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

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Episode 90: A Friendly Lesson

Live Service for March. 11th, 2026

Text: Proverbs 18:24

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

That verse forces us to wrestle with a simple but powerful question:

What kind of relationships actually sustain our lives?

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Episode 89: Navigating the Pressing

Live Service for March. 4th, 2026

 

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 

Mitchell Harper

 

Text: Matthew 14:1–21

The Death of John the Baptist

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,[a] 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

 

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

Context Overview

 

In one continuous movement, we see:

•The execution of John the Baptist

•The paranoia of Herod Antipas

•Jesus attempting to withdraw

•The crowd refusing to disperse

•The feeding of the 5,000

 

This is not just a miracle story.

 

This is a leadership-under-pressure story.

 

This is grief interrupted by responsibility.

 

This is ministry while bleeding.

 

⸻

 

Core Proposition

 

Pressure does not signal the absence of God.

It often reveals how heaven moves through us when we are being pressed.

 

Ubuntu Lens Question

 

How do we respond when grief, responsibility, and expectation all press on us at the same time?

 

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Episode 88 - The Church Kid Roundtable: Are We Ready Yet

Live Service for Feb. 25th 2026

Pastor Charles W. Ferguson

Mitchell Harper

Patrick English

Joshua 1:1 1

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant,

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

 

Episode 87 - Ash Wednesday

Live Service for Feb. 18th 2026

Pastor Charles W. Ferguson

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

Episode 86 - “Running Toward Freedom” part 2

Live Service for Feb. 11th 2026

Pastor Charles W. Ferguson

Mitchell Harper

Patrick English

 

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1–2 (NRSV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…”

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

Episode 85 - What It Cost Me to Keep Running

Live Service for Feb. 04th 2025

Pastor Charles W. Ferguson

Mitchell Harper

Patrick English

 

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1–2 (NRSV) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…”

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above