Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble

• Harnessing Words That Heal: How Encouragement Transforms Fear and Builds Community

  Show Notes: Episode 138 — Words That Hurt, Words That Heal: How Language Shapes Encouragement and FearWelcome to another episode of To Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble and Rev. Dr. Brad Miller! This episode delves into the powerful influence of words in our daily lives, exploring how language can either build up or tear down individuals and communities. Bishop Trimble and Dr. Miller candidly discuss the challenges of living in a culture often dominated by negative or fearful dialogue, and offer practical, faith-rooted strategies for using words that heal rather than hurt.Three Major Takeaways from This Episode:Words Carry Tremendous Power — and Responsibility Both hosts emphasize how words are like seeds planted in fertile soil, especially for children. Bishop Trimble shares wisdom from a 91-year-old author, reminding us to be mindful of what we say around young people and throughout our lives. Early experiences with bullying and negativity can have long-lasting effects, but so do experiences with encouragement and affirmation. In our current world — saturated with harsh language, blame, and shame, especially on social media and in public discourse — it is vital to remember our responsibility to speak life-giving words.Overcoming Fear with Understanding and Loving Language The conversation pivots on the idea that negative words often stem from, and fuel, fear. Bishop Trimble references Marie Curie: “Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less,” urging us to replace fear-driven rhetoric with words rooted in understanding and affirmation. The call is for intentionality: instead of contributing to a culture of fear, we’re challenged to use dialogue that seeks to bless, support, and bring peace to ourselves and others, echoing biblical principles of love for God, neighbor, and self.Practical Strategies to Speak Life and Encouragement The episode rounds out with real-world approaches anyone can adopt: expressing gratitude, offering words like “I appreciate you” or “Let’s work together,” and even intentionally choosing affirming names during everyday interactions (like having your Starbucks cup labeled “Joy”). Both hosts discuss the value of taking time-outs—not just for children, but for adults needing to reset in tense moments. They encourage listeners to write down words of affirmation for themselves and others, and to use these as daily practices of self-care and encouragement. Bishop Trimble closes with his personal mission: “To encourage all people with the love of Jesus Christ to rise to their highest potential.”Final Thoughts: In a world often marked by discouragement, this episode calls us to be intentional encouragers—offering words that heal, bless, and empower. Let’s all strive to speak life into a world that desperately needs it.Tune in next time for more inspiration and encouragement on To Be Encouraged!

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• Resurrecting the Golden Rule: Love, Justice, and Encouragement in a Discouraged World

  Show NotesIn this uplifting episode of the To Be Encouraged podcast, Rev. Dr. Brad Miller welcomes Bishop Julius C. Trimble for a reflective and timely conversation about resurrecting the Golden Rule in a divided and often discouraged world. Their discussion centers around how faith, justice, and love can lead us forward in challenging times, with practical encouragement for listeners to become positive catalysts in their communities and beyond.Three Key Takeaways:1. Resurrecting the Golden Rule Is Essential Now Bishop Trimble urges listeners to revive the Golden Rule—"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"—in both personal relationships and at a societal level. Amid rising rhetoric of retribution, violence, and division, he reminds us that this foundational teaching of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke is not merely a nice idea, but a mandate for how we build justice and peace in our communities. Applying the Golden Rule means advocating for policies and behaviors that lift up the most vulnerable and ensure dignity for all, not just those who look or think like us.2. Love and Justice Go Hand in Hand The episode draws from the teachings of Jesus, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and even the Methodist tradition's early social creed—highlighting that true Christian love is active, disciplined, and rooted in justice. Bishop Trimble emphasizes that being loving doesn’t mean being passive; rather, it’s a call to action—standing up for the oppressed, speaking out against injustice, and practicing nonviolence. This love is not conditional or sentimental, but a force for transformation and accountability.3. Take Initiative—Find Your Circle and Act A practical tip from Bishop Trimble is to find three friends you can talk and pray with about hard issues—to process what troubles you and what brings you joy, and to support one another toward compassionate action. He encourages listeners to not just worship together, but to also pray, serve, and advocate for justice as a community. Moreover, he challenges the church to not be a private club but a force for public good—inviting both conversation and courageous action in addressing issues like healthcare, education, and care for the marginalized.Final Encouragement:Both Rev. Dr. Brad Miller and Bishop Trimble remind us that there’s never a wrong time to do the right thing. Let’s be people who shine the light of the Golden Rule in our daily actions and boldly encourage others to do the same, uplifting our neighbors—and our world—with justice, compassion, and hope.Listen and share to help inspire a resurgence of kindness and justice!

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• Peacemakers Needed: Responding to Gun Violence and Polarization with Hope

  In this deeply reflective episode of the To Be Encouraged Podcast, Rev. Dr. Brad Miller and Bishop Julius C. Trimble confront the urgent crisis of rising gun violence and political aggression in the United States. Together, they discuss the emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges facing communities, churches, and individuals as they seek hope and healing in troubled times.Below are three key takeaways from the conversation:1. Violence Is a Symptom of Deeper Isolation and Spiritual CrisisBishop Trimble and Rev. Dr. Miller delve into how gun violence is not just a political or legal issue, but a broader reflection of societal isolation, loneliness, and a spiritual void. Many perpetrators, especially young people, are searching for meaning and a sense of belonging—sometimes finding it in destructive places. The conversation highlights the importance of churches and communities reaching out to those who feel disconnected, breaking cycles of loneliness, and offering genuine relationships and support.2. Faith Calls Us to Be Peacemakers, Not Just ObserversDrawing on scripture and the teachings of theologians like Miroslav Volf, Bishop Trimble emphasizes that true Christian practice is not passive—it’s about “mending the world.” The episode challenges listeners to go beyond mere church attendance and actively “be the church” by living out Jesus’s call to be peacemakers in everyday life. This means denouncing violence, promoting mutual respect, building bridges across politics, race, and religion, and refusing to categorize others as enemies—even when differences exist.3. Hope and Change Require Active Engagement and LeadershipDespite grim statistics and pervasive rhetoric of retribution, both speakers find hope in people of faith who refuse to give in to despair. Bishop Trimble encourages “never to grow weary in well-doing” and calls for a renewed investment in mental health, respectful dialogue, and community action. Whether by checking in on isolated neighbors, advocating for nonviolent solutions, or promoting policies that respect the sacredness of life, listeners are reminded that healing and transformation are possible when individuals and institutions lead with love, courage, and compassion.Final Word:This episode is both a lament for the present and a call to action for a more peaceful, just, and connected future. As Bishop Trimble puts it, the “way of love and the way of peace is not a way of weakness, but a way of strength.” Listeners are invited to be agents of that strength in their own lives and communities.Subscribe to To Be Encouraged for more conversations that inspire hope and meaningful change.

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• Embracing Grace and Empathy: Leading with Love in Discouraging Times

  Show Notes: Episode 135 – Grace and Empathy: Expanding Compassion in Difficult TimesWelcome to another heartfelt episode of the “To Be Encouraged” podcast with Bishop Julius C. Trimble and Dr. Brad Miller. In this thought-provoking conversation, Bishop Trimble opens up about the recent loss of his mother and how this experience has deepened his reflections on grace, empathy, and the vital role of compassion in today’s world. Together, they explore the challenges of fostering unity and offer practical guidance for listeners eager to encourage and uplift those around them.Here are three key takeaways from today’s episode:1. Grace Is Meant to Be Expanded, Not HoardedBishop Trimble shares reflections on his mother’s legacy—a life spanning over a century marked by resilience and unconditional love. He emphasizes the importance of not only receiving God’s grace but also actively extending it to others. Too often, society restricts grace to those who are similar or familiar, shrinking the community of compassion. Both Dr. Miller and Bishop Trimble underscore that true grace is inclusive, and they challenge listeners to resist patterns of division and instead become "amplifiers of God’s grace.” As Bishop Trimble puts it, “God loves us—how come we can't find a way to really express that love to more people, if not all people?”2. Empathy, Sympathy, and the Power of ListeningThe discussion draws an important distinction between empathy (feeling with someone through shared experience) and sympathy (feeling for someone). Both are essential, but Bishop Trimble points out that real transformation often begins with genuine empathy—the sense of connection that comes from shared vulnerability. They also highlight the act of listening as a transformative, even radical, practice. “The act of listening is…an act of vulnerability,” Bishop Trimble reminds us, emphasizing that listening to another’s story is a first step in breaking cycles of hurt and misunderstanding.3. Leading with Compassion and Clear ValuesDrawing inspiration from Brene Brown’s “Dare to Lead,” Dr. Miller and Bishop Trimble discuss leadership as fundamentally rooted in service, trust, and vulnerability. Authentic leadership, they argue, comes from servant leadership and the courage to act out of one’s values. Gratitude, a clear sense of purpose, and prayer are practical ways to remain grounded and to lead by example. Bishop Trimble encourages listeners to “choose an attitude of gratitude,” practice the ministry of presence, and actively seek justice and peace in their communities.Tune in to hear how stories of personal loss, hope, and faith can inspire all of us to “encourage 2 million people” and be agents of grace in our world.

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• Living Peace and Love: Bishop Trimble’s Mother's Wisdom for a Divided Nation

  Welcome to another powerful episode of To Be Encouraged with Rev. Dr. Brad Miller and Bishop Julius C. Trimble. In this deeply personal and socially relevant conversation, Bishop Trimble shares insights shaped by current national events and the enduring legacy of his late mother, whose life spanned an incredible 102 years.The discussion opens with an unflinching look at the recent militarization of Washington, D.C., following President Trump’s decision to place National Guard troops and federal authorities throughout the city. Bishop Trimble, who spends part of his year in D.C. due to his work with the General Board of Church and Society, describes the palpable tension and concern among residents. He highlights the unique, often overlooked challenges of D.C. “taxation without representation” and the effect such federal moves have on the community's sense of autonomy and safety. Both Brad and Bishop Trimble critique this approach as performative and an erosion of what Trimble calls “democratic compassion,” pushing instead for investment in social services, mental health, and community policing.As the episode turns from public events to the personal, Bishop Trimble remembers his mother, Mary Belle Pryor Trimble, and the simplicity and power of her guiding words: “peace and love.” These were not idle platitudes; they were principles she embodied throughout her life and taught to her family, her church, and her countless students. Her regular encouragement to “put on the whole armor of God” from Ephesians 6 provided her family with the spiritual tools to persist and seek justice and compassion amidst adversity.Key Takeaways:Compassion Over Control: The episode challenges the logic and humanity of militarized responses to social issues, urging instead for approaches rooted in compassion, evidence-based data, and support for those most in need.Faith in Action: Both Bishop Trimble and his mother exemplify “active peace and love,” making it clear that following Christ means more than “thoughts and prayers”—it means engaging in the hard work of justice, generosity, and inclusion.Legacy as Action: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the legacies they build each day through choices, echoing the wisdom that our impact is not in what we accumulate, but in the love and peace we extend to others.Resilience in Troubled Times: The conversation shows how grounding oneself in faith and positive example can sustain courage and hope in seasons of unrest, loss, or discouragement.This episode is a heartfelt call to action—reminding us that, especially in discouraging times, peace and love are not passive ideals but active, impactful commitments.

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