Welcome to Faith Break
We are thrilled that you found us. Our passion is helping people connect with God. Listen Live on several radio stations or just listen to the recorded episodes. We keep the most recent episodes for your enjoyment and encouragement. We also keep previous episodes for your edification and enjoyment.
Rev. Carol Gathagan
Rev. Gathagan, retired Pastor in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, is the producer and the voice of Faith Break. To learn more about Rev. Carol Gathagan, just click on her image or click HERE.
Read The Kernel
This tree reminds me of the tree of life. Rooted in the soil a trunk grows. From it come the branches and leaves. Each one different. Rooted in God’s love we grow in Jesus as the trunk to our individual part of creation. Thanks be to God.
Lady Liberty welcomes Caroline and other passengers as they enter the gateway into America at last.
Many of the facts and stories I am passing on to you have come from my father’s family history, “We
Downings, Warts and All”. Rev. Ivan Paul Downing Sr. self-published in 1989. After dad typed it using an Underwood typewriter, he copied and placed it in notebooks for each of his six children. Mom (Helen) and he traipsed the countryside interviewing family and friends and taking pictures so we would be able to visualize important people and places. They had no idea I would be passing our story on into the twenty-first century. Because I am a Celtic storyteller, it is my duty to keep the tradition and memories alive. This is how I remember it, each of my siblings has their own version. As C. S. Lewis wrote, “You see things from where you stand and what you experience”(My interpretation) How true.
In her book Leaving
Ordinary, Donna Gaines writes that she has a friend who calls the time between our praying and God answering our prayers “gap time” (pp. 19). We often pray earnestly and desperately to God for a miracle or help in situations we or loved ones are facing. We hope for an immediate answer but find ourselves waiting in “gap time”. If you find yourself there today, take courage! You are in good company. God’s Holy Word, the Bible, is filled with examples of waiting for prayers to be answered.
Faith Break marks 20 years Inspirational spots now expanded to internet!
By Linda T. Gracey For the Altoona Mirror
Encouraging words can go a long way to brighten someone’s day. Those words could come from a friend, family member or Faith Break.
Originally started as 60-second spots on three local radio stations 20 years ago, Faith Break has now expanded to the internet where additional messages of hope and inspiration can be found on Facebook.
The voice behind the messages is the Rev. Carol Gathagan, a United Methodist pastor who served eight churches in the State College and Altoona area from 1988 to 2004.
Although she retired from full-time preaching more than 10 years ago, Gathagan of Bellwood continues to go the studio each month to record inspiring words that can be heard on Mix 94 WBRX-FM in Cresson/Altoona, Classic Rock 94.3 WBXQ-FM in Patton/Altoona and 1370 WKMC-AM in Roaring Spring/Altoona.
Faith Break is broadcast on those stations weekdays between 10 and 10:30 a.m. and again between 3 and 3:30 p.m.
Radio listeners can also hear past spots on the Faith Break website: www.myfaithbreak.org.
When my dad was 8 years old, he was sent to work for a farmer named Mr. Johnson. His first job was to sort potatoes by putting seed potatoes into a separate pile. Mr. Johnson told him what to do and left him on his own. When he returned and checked on dad, he found he had only one small pile of seed potatoes.
He said, “Well Ivan, I see you haven’t got much done today” … dad replied, “I’m having too much trouble making all these decisions. Dad needed help deciding which potato went where.
Do you need help making a decision? The Bible tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)
What We Leave Behind
It was a blizzard! I looked out my study window and couldn’t see anything but a curtain of snow. In a way it was nice because we were not to leave the house unless it was an emergency so we had a snow day to read a good book, watch old movies or nap. It didn’t work out quite that way because some of us decided that since we were trapped in the house we could get at some of those chores we have been putting off. I cleaned and polished my kitchen cabinet doors until I could see myself in them. While I was busy doing that, there was activity going on outside that I couldn’t see. The next morning, after it stopped snowing, I was amazed to see deer tracks all over my yard. A crow was strutting around looking for his morning treat of bread crust that my husband tosses out and there were cat tracks right up to our doorstep. All these were evidence that we had had visiters during the storm.
Sometimes our lives seem like blizzards. There is so much happening at one time that we can hardly focus on what is happening at the moment. Work, family, school and shoveling snow are just a few examples. When all is said and done, I’m wondering what evidence we will leave behind for future generations. Will our faith shine through like footprints in the snow that will show that we were able to weather the storms of life? Will future generations remember how God guided us through tough times in the 21st century and how God rejoiced with us during the amazing times when we witnessed miracles happening all around us?
Look around today and see the wonders of the world and rejoice. Go out and leave some footprints in life so that people who come after us will see that “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 NRSV).
God Bless You!
Rev. Carol
Check out your Spiritual GPS. The Bible