Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)

Voices in My Head Podcast – Episode 605: Christmas Cards - A Christmas Sermon by Rick Lee James
Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 605: The God Who Lets Us Carry Him
 
In this special Advent/Christmas episode, chaplain, songwriter, and host Rick Lee James shares a chapel message from Springfield Regional Medical Center titled “The God Who Lets Us Carry Him.”
 
Drawing from Jeremiah 10:5 and Matthew 2:13–18, Rick explores the tension between:
 
Idols that must be carried because they are lifeless
And Jesus, God in the flesh, who chooses to be carried as a vulnerable baby
 
 
Rather than the soft, sentimental scenes we see on many Christmas cards, Rick invites us into the real world Jesus was born into—a world of:
 
A small, ordinary village (Bethlehem)
Roman occupation and political fear
Herod’s brutality and the Massacre of the Innocents
Refugee families fleeing in the night
Grieving mothers and real human sorrow
 
 
From there, he proclaims the hope of Christmas:
that God does not wait for a perfect world to show up, but enters the world as it actually is—vulnerable, dependent, “carry-able” in human arms. This is a God who walks at three miles an hour, slowing down to move at human speed, to stop, to touch, to weep, to heal, and even to entrust Himself to us.
 
Along the way, Rick reflects on:
 
Jeremiah’s image of idols as “scarecrows in a cucumber field”
How idols only gain “power” when we give them our imagination
Historical background on Herod the Great and Bethlehem’s likely size
The courage and defiant hope of a God who lets Himself be carried by Mary and Joseph
The contrast between Hallmark-style Christmas and the raw honesty of the Gospel
 
 
The episode concludes with Rick’s original song “Christmas Cards,” a musical meditation on the parts of the story we don’t usually see on our mantels—the fear, the flight, the soldiers in the streets—and the deeper hope that God is greater than the version of Christmas our cards describe.
 
 
Scriptures referenced in this episode:
 
Jeremiah 10:5 – “Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak; they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”
Matthew 2:13–18 – The flight into Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocents
 
 
 
Highlights:
 
Why a God who chooses to be carried is the opposite of a powerless idol
How the first Christmas speaks hope into fear, grief, and injustice
“A God small enough to be carried is a God big enough to save the world.”
Closing performance of Rick’s original song “Christmas Cards”
 
 
 
Connect with Rick Lee James:
 
Website: RickLeeJames.com
Music & merch: search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform
Subscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.
 
 
Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Voices in My Head Podcast – Episode 604: Jason Gray on the “Comfort & Joy” Christmas Tour
 
Hosted by Rick Lee James
www.VoicesInMyHeadPodcast.com
Join me for a heartwarming conversation with award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Gray, recorded just ahead of his performances on the Point of Grace “Comfort & Joy” Christmas Tour.” We talk about the stories behind the music, the collaborative spirit of touring with Point of Grace, crafting a Christmas atmosphere that carries real spiritual depth, and the new holiday single “Comfort and Joy.”
If you love thoughtful songwriting, honest storytelling, and the deeper meaning of Christmas, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Tickets & Tour Info
Point of Grace: Comfort & Joy Christmas Tour with Jason Gray
Date: Sunday, December 14, 7 pm
Location: Centerville Campus of Sinclair Community College, 5800 Clyo Road, Centerville Ohio 45458
Ticket Link: https://www.itickets.com/events/484686
🎶 Learn More About the Artists
Jason Gray
Official Website: https://jasongraymusic.com/ 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6mV2ZtaUPezkXAHaMvVmjc?si=27c866dc31c64990  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jasongraymusic 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasongraymusic/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasongraymusic 
Point of Grace
Official Website: https://www.pointofgrace.net/ 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5y1gFSVnE4DGxUxHeKrGk6?si=kSBfzM9FT9O_TkAKVJ7VYw  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/pointofgracemusic 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pointofgraceofficial/ 
 
Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

 
Episode 603 - Live from Maplewood Church of the Nazarene
CCM artist and chaplain Rick Lee James is our guest this week at Maplewood. Take a few moments to listen in and soak up this message about how we all need to slow down and allow our cups to be filled. Jesus doesn't expect us to do it in our own strength. He wants to help.
 
Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Andrew Osenga on How to Remember - Episode 602 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
Rick Lee James welcomes musician, author, and The Pivot Podcast host Andrew Osenga to discuss his new book How to Remember: Forgotten Pathways to an Authentic Faith. They talk about the spiritual practice of remembering, finding beauty in ancient rhythms, and Andrew’s work on Andrew Peterson’s A Liturgy, a Legacy, and the Songs of Rich Mullins (Live at the Ryman).
Connect with Andrew:
🌐 andrewosenga.com
🎧 The Pivot Podcast — Apple Podcasts
✉️ andrewosenga.substack.com
Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Alex Zakaras, author of FREEDOM FOR ALL - Episode 601 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
Today on Voices in My Head, we’re diving into some big questions about freedom, democracy, and the future of liberal society. My guest is Alex Zakaras, professor of political science at the University of Vermont and author of several works on American political thought, including his brand-new book, Freedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be, releasing on October 28th from Yale University Press, is both a defense and a reimagining of liberalism—what Zakaras calls a “radical liberalism.”
In this work, he argues that the idea of freedom, once central to the liberal tradition, has been co-opted and corrupted, turned into something that benefits the powerful at the expense of working families. He challenges us to see how profound inequalities in wealth, power, and status have broken America’s social contract, fueling division and resentment. But he also offers a bold vision of renewal: building countervailing power, revitalizing unions, reimagining corporations, and even rethinking how we approach climate change and media in a truly democratic society.
Get the book: https://a.co/d/4FFY0Uh
Share
Subscribe now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Episode 600 Celebration! guest host Charles Christian
Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
This week is a special episode where we celebrate 600 episodes. My guest-host tonight is Charles Christian, a Pastor, a Newscaster, a musician, and an amazing author. Charles represents everything this podcast is about, and I am so glad to have him with me on this week's show.
Share
Subscribe now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

What Is Christian Nationalism? - Episode 599 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
Whenever Christians fuse the cross with the flag, we lose our prophetic voice that allows us to call the nation(s) to repentance and justice. This fusion of the church with an idolatrous ideology makes the body of Christ captive to political powers and parties. In doing so, the church abdicates its true allegiance to Jesus and surrenders its freedom to serve him as Lord. The Church cannot serve two masters.
I have been posting often about the dangers of Christian nationalism because it is so different from the way of Jesus and it is not a fringe ideology anymore. Jesus invited people into the kingdom through table fellowship, accepting invitations and offering his own. He never forced belief or grasped for power. The kingdom of God is never advanced by violence toward others, but through self-giving, radical love, even to the point of suffering, so that no harm is done to another. At the heart of his teaching is love for enemies, not domination over them.
Some people respond to posts like this by saying they have never met a Christian nationalist. The reality is that Christian nationalism often shows itself less in individuals wearing a label and more in movements, policies, and rhetoric. One example is the Seven Mountain Theory, which teaches that Christians should dominate areas like government, education, media, and the arts. In our own time, we see this vision advanced through proposals like Project 2025, through leaders such as Russell Vought and Lance Wallnau, and in public policies that aim to insert compulsory religious content into schools or reshape government around explicitly Christian norms.
This is not the way of Christ. His kingdom is built not on control but on love, welcome, mercy, and even love for those who oppose us. And even while I write about these things, it is important to say that Christian nationalists themselves are not the enemy. They are my baptized brothers and sisters. But even if they were the enemy, which I do not consider them to be, the call of Jesus is to love our enemies and live a better way.
Share
Subscribe now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

You Already Have a Relationship with God - Episode 598 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
A reflection on Psalm 15
Share
Subscribe now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Jenn Chenoweth - Episode 597 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
 
Welcome back to Voices in My Head, the Rick Lee James Podcast. My guest today is Jenn Chenoweth, a singer-songwriter whose new EP Out To Get Me was just released. This project is both deeply personal and profoundly spiritual, born out of her own struggles with anxiety, depression, and even a medical condition that threatened her ability to sing. But what makes Jenn’s story so moving is how she reframed her understanding of God—from seeing Him as a taskmaster who was ‘out to get her,’ to discovering Him as a Shepherd who pursues with love and sets us free. Her songs, blending worship, synth-pop, and intimate ballads, invite us into that journey of surrender, healing, and identity in Christ.
Jenn's Instagram
 
Share
Subscribe now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20

Jimmy Carter: More Than A President with Andrew Greer - Episode 596 - Voices in my Head (the Rick Lee James Podcast)
 
On this episode of Voices in My Head: The Rick Lee James Podcast, I welcome Andrew Greer—author, editor, musician, and filmmaker—whose latest projects center on the faith and legacy of President Jimmy Carter. Andrew moved to Plains, Georgia, where he came to know Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter personally in their latter days. From that experience, he has edited More Than a President: Sundays with Jimmy Carter, a new book of Carter’s Sunday School lessons, and directed Plainspoken, the PBS documentary exploring the history and heart of Plains.
In our conversation, Andrew shares how his own faith journey led him to Plains, what he learned from the Carters’ witness, and how both the book and the film preserve a legacy of humility, service, and hope for future generations.
https://www.andrew-greer.com/more-than-a-president
 
 
https://www.andrew-greer.com/more-than-a-president