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Peaceable And Kind

Peaceable And Kind

Written by: Reach Right Network
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Welcome to "Peaceable and Kind," the podcast where we explore the transformative power of living out Jesus' call to peace and kindness in our everyday lives. Each week your host, Derek Vreeland, will delve into the stories, Scriptures, and practical steps that help us embody these essential Christian virtues. Join us as we talk with inspiring guests, reflect on Scripture, and discover ways to bring peace and kindness into our homes, communities, and the world. Whether you're seeking encouragement, guidance, or a deeper understanding of your faith, "Peaceable and Kind" is here to support and uplift you on your spiritual journey. Let's embark together on this path of grace, compassion, and love, living out the true essence of our faith. Thank you for tuning in, and may the peace of God be with you always.Reach Right Network Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 124: The Work of the Soul - A Conversation with Andrew Arndt

    Episode 124: The Work of the Soul - A Conversation with Andrew Arndt
    Oct 15 2026
    In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland sits down with pastor and author Andrew Arndt to talk about the work of the soul and the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Andrew shares about his own spiritual journey, from the charismatic renewal to a ministry context where charismatic spirituality has blended with liturgical and sacramental practices. Andrew is the author of Streams in the Wasteland, a book that introduces readers to the spiritual wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. His new book, The Work of the Soul: 40 Days with the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, takes that ancient wisdom and offers it as a daily devotional journey. Derek and Andrew discuss who these ancient Christian saints were, why their wisdom still matters, and how their insights can help modern Christians attend to the formation of the soul. The conversation also explores the potential of The Work of the Soul as a resource for Lent. Forty days of listening to the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers provides an invitation to slow down, examine our lives, and allow God to do deeper work within us. Key Takeaways Andrew Arndt shares his journey from charismatic renewal into a spiritual life that embraces charismatic, liturgical, and sacramental traditions. The Desert Fathers and Mothers offer a rich tradition of wisdom for the work of spiritual formation. Ancient Christian wisdom can speak directly to the challenges of modern discipleship. The Work of the Soul turns the sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers into a 40-day devotional journey. Lent provides a natural setting for engaging the practices and wisdom found in the book. The work of the soul involves slowing down, paying attention, and allowing God to form us more deeply. Books Mentioned The Work of the Soul: 40 Days with the Sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers — Andrew Arndt Streams in the Wasteland — Andrew Arndt Vulnerable God — Kenneth Tanner Subscribe to Andrew’s Substack: https://theandrewarndt.substack.com Has Peaceable and Kind been meaningful to you? Support the show by: Leaving a review Giving us a 5-star rating on your podcast app Sharing this episode with a friend Support the work we are doing at thepeaceableway.com Subscribe to Derek’s Substack: https://substack.com/@derekvreeland Learn more about Derek’s work as a pastor and author: derekvreeland.com Interact with Derek on Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky, or Facebook
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    25 mins
  • Episode 123: Church as a Recovering Community

    Episode 123: Church as a Recovering Community
    Oct 8 2026
    In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland explores why recovery from hypocrisy cannot happen in isolation. We need the church, but we need a church honest enough to admit its own flaws and gracious enough to make room for people who are still being transformed. The church Jesus is building has always been a messy family filled with imperfect people who need a Savior. Derek draws from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together to explore what happens when our idealized vision of Christian community becomes more important than the actual people God has placed around us. Bonhoeffer calls this idealized vision a “wish dream.” When the illusion of a perfect Christian community is shattered, we have an opportunity to discover genuine Christian community. The episode also explores the church as a place of grace, confession, Communion, patience, and spiritual formation. Rather than demanding that people have their lives together before they belong, a recovering community welcomes people into the process of becoming whole. Derek describes this movement as belong, believe, become. Within this kind of community, we learn to practice humility and courage alongside people who share our need for grace. Key Takeaways We need Christian community to recover from hypocrisy. The church is a family, and families are messy. A healthy Christian community makes room for honest vulnerability and ongoing transformation. Bonhoeffer warns against loving an idealized vision of Christian community more than the actual Christian community. Disillusionment can become a sacred gift when it exposes unrealistic expectations about the church. The church is centered on two realities: Jesus is the Savior, and we are all people who need a Savior. Holy Communion reminds us that we come to the table by grace. Public shame and legalistic policies can drive sin deeper rather than creating genuine transformation. Churches where grace abounds can become safe places for hypocrites to bring their hidden lives into the light. Christian community should allow people to belong, believe, and become. Virtue is formed within a people who share a common story. Christian love makes sense within the story of Jesus' incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus said our love for one another would demonstrate to the world that we are his disciples. Books Mentioned Life Together — Dietrich Bonhoeffer Scriptures Mentioned Luke 2:11 Matthew 11:29 Romans 5:20 1 Corinthians 13:13 John 13:35 Has Peaceable and Kind been meaningful to you? Support the show by: Leaving a review Giving us a 5-star rating on your podcast app Sharing this episode with a friend Support the work we are doing at thepeaceableway.com Subscribe to Derek’s Substack: https://substack.com/@derekvreeland Learn more about Derek’s work as a pastor and author: derekvreeland.com Interact with Derek on Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky, or Facebook
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    35 mins
  • Episode 122: Living Free of Hypocrisy

    Episode 122: Living Free of Hypocrisy
    Oct 1 2026
    In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland brings his exploration of hypocrisy and virtue to a practical conclusion. Drawing from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, Derek considers Elder Zosima’s warning to stop lying to ourselves. Hypocrisy is one form of self-deception, but Dostoevsky’s character Fyodor Pavlovich reveals another possibility: playing the buffoon so we never have to become the person we know we need to be. Both paths can cause us to lose ourselves. Derek reviews the central themes of the series: hypocrisy divides our being and doing, while virtue helps bring them back into harmony. Drawing from Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas, he describes virtue as the formation of our character, the right ordering of our loves, and an ordered disposition of the soul. Recovery requires growing in awareness of who we are and practicing the kind of life we are becoming. The episode concludes with four practical steps for becoming “hypocrites no more”: admitting our hypocrisy, practicing honest self-reflection, receiving God’s forgiving grace, and adopting new habits. Derek adapts the Ignatian Prayer of Examen as a practice for uncovering hypocrisy and encourages listeners to bring hidden sin into the light, receive God's grace, and develop habits that cultivate integrity. Key Takeaways Hypocrisy involves living as a divided person, with our being and doing out of harmony. Self-deception can keep us from recognizing the truth about ourselves. We can lose ourselves by managing our image or by using performance and buffoonery to avoid genuine change. Virtue helps bring our inner and outer lives back into harmony. Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas each offer important perspectives on virtue and human flourishing. Recovery begins with honest awareness and a willingness to practice what we are becoming. Hidden hypocrisy must be brought into the light. Self-reflection helps us recognize why we pretend and what we are trying to gain or avoid. God's forgiving grace is essential to the recovery process. New habits are necessary because habits form our character. The Four Steps of Recovery from Hypocrisy Admit to your own hypocrisy Bring hidden hypocrisy into the light and acknowledge the damage it has caused. Take time for self-reflection Review specific moments of hypocrisy and ask what you were trying to gain and what you were afraid of. Open yourself to God's forgiving grace Receive God's forgiveness rather than continuing to hide, rationalize, or justify your actions. Adopt new habits Put practices in place that help bring your being and doing into greater harmony. The Hypocrisy Examen Derek adapts the five movements of the Ignatian Prayer of Examen to help us examine our hypocrisy: Acknowledge God's presence and love. Ask the Holy Spirit for courage and insight. Look honestly at a specific moment of hypocrisy. Ask why you pretended, what you hoped to gain, and what you feared. Consider how you can respond differently the next time. Books Mentioned The Brothers Karamazov — Fyodor Dostoevsky Nicomachean Ethics — Aristotle On Christian Doctrine — Augustine Summa Theologiae — Thomas Aquinas Scriptures Mentioned Luke 9:24–25 1 John 1:9 Psalm 51 You can find the complete Ignatian Examen at https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/ Has Peaceable and Kind been meaningful to you? Support the show by: Leaving a review Giving us a 5-star rating on your podcast app Sharing this episode with a friend Support the work we are doing at thepeaceableway.com Order Derek's new Bible Study Series, God in the Neighborhood: Book 1: Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us || https://amzn.to/42jSZAs Book 2: Crucifixion: 8 Lessons on How God Saves Us || https://amzn.to/459bNUk Book 3: Resurrection: 8 Lessons on How God Restores Us || https://amzn.to/40T0sp0 Check out the Merch Store: derekvreeland.com/merch Learn more about Derek’s work as a pastor and author: derekvreeland.com Interact with Derek on Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky, or Facebook
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    40 mins
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