We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the best of rituals by neglecting the care they require. So, we’re excited for how a return to old ideas a...
Jan 31, 2021•26 min•Season 7Ep. 21
There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships. Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward. Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. How broken connections are restored. But also, how the way of Jesus leads us into health in unexpected w...
Jan 24, 2021•32 min•Season 7Ep. 20
There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships. Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward. Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. How broken connections are restored. But also, how the way of Jesus leads us into health in unexpected w...
Jan 18, 2021•29 min•Season 7Ep. 19
There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships. Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward. Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. How broken connections are restored. But also, how the way of Jesus leads us into health in unexpected w...
Jan 10, 2021•29 min•Season 7Ep. 18
There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships. Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward. Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. How broken connections are restored. But also, how the way of Jesus leads us into health in unexpected w...
Jan 03, 2021•28 min•Season 7Ep. 17
Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough? The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works...
Dec 27, 2020•23 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough? The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works...
Dec 20, 2020•24 min•Season 7Ep. 15
Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough? The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works...
Dec 13, 2020•23 min•Season 7Ep. 14
1. Don't try to stay busy 2. Feel what you feel 3. Don't be afriad ★ Support this podcast ★
Dec 11, 2020•11 min
Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough? The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works...
Dec 06, 2020•23 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough? The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works...
Nov 29, 2020•23 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Originally part of an online interactive lecture. ★ Support this podcast ★
Nov 27, 2020•15 min
We believe in a God who wants us to know that we are welcome. The narrative arc of the gospel—from creation to a restored earth—keeps expanding to include individuals, families, tribes, kingdoms, and finally, the multitudes of nations. God never stops making more room. Last year we talked about different ways our hospitality reflects our room— making God. This year we want to build on that conversation and explore God’s vision for what we create as we gather. How we move from isolation into conn...
Nov 22, 2020•30 min•Season 7Ep. 11
As I see it there are a number of options within Christianity: 1. some people go to heaven, some people go to hell 2. some people go to heaven, some people go to the grave 3. some people go to heaven, some people go through hell 0:00 Introduction 07:10 Biblical Arguments for Universalism 14:41 Biblical passages for Hell 19:46 Theological Arguments for Universalism 21:35 Theological Arguments Against Universalism 25:25 Theological Arguments Against Hell 29:02 Who is Most Moral? ★ Support this pod...
Nov 20, 2020•31 min
We believe in a God who wants us to know that we are welcome. The narrative arc of the gospel—from creation to a restored earth—keeps expanding to include individuals, families, tribes, kingdoms, and finally, the multitudes of nations. God never stops making more room. Last year we talked about different ways our hospitality reflects our room— making God. This year we want to build on that conversation and explore God’s vision for what we create as we gather. How we move from isolation into conn...
Nov 15, 2020•28 min•Season 7Ep. 10
We believe in a God who wants us to know that we are welcome. The narrative arc of the gospel—from creation to a restored earth—keeps expanding to include individuals, families, tribes, kingdoms, and finally, the multitudes of nations. God never stops making more room. Last year we talked about different ways our hospitality reflects our room— making God. This year we want to build on that conversation and explore God’s vision for what we create as we gather. How we move from isolation into conn...
Nov 08, 2020•26 min•Season 7Ep. 9
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Nov 01, 2020•30 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Rather watch? Here's the youtube link https://youtu.be/3q_9qh0OV8I ★ Support this podcast ★
Oct 29, 2020•19 min
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Oct 25, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 7
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Oct 18, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 6
The church was vandalized a few weeks ago which was unfortunate but it did give us a good reason to talk about where our popular fascination with the number 666 comes from and why we should all stop worrying about the Antichrist. Revelation is not about the end times (it's about the end of time) and it is certainly not about anything as small as a one world government. If you want to read all of the footnotes head over to Academia.edu to read my work. Be warned it's kinda long and boring. https:...
Oct 13, 2020•14 min
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Oct 11, 2020•28 min•Season 7Ep. 5
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Oct 04, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 4
The gospels contain a few uncomfortable stories of demon possession. How do we read these stories as modern audiences? Should we accept them at a surface level? Do we chalk them up to ancient misunderstandings of mental health issues? Or can we explore to uncover the sophistication of ancient storytelling and look for the parables hidden in these texts? ★ Support this podcast ★
Oct 03, 2020•19 min
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Sep 27, 2020•29 min•Season 7Ep. 3
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Sep 20, 2020•26 min•Season 7Ep. 2
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene Ionesco A good question is a superpower. So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent. But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. I...
Sep 13, 2020•25 min•Season 7Ep. 1
In the Genesis poem of creation, God makes the world with words. God says light, night, sky, land, seas, sun, moon, birds, fish, animals, human beings. And it is all so good. Every day we make our world with words, too. Happy, sad, afraid, want, listen, hope, stop, heal. What we speak, we understand. What we want, we name. What we hope for, we shape with consonants and vowels. Words are powerful things. Faith is built with words, too. And if you have been a person of faith most of your life, you...
Sep 06, 2020•21 min•Season 6Ep. 53
In the Genesis poem of creation, God makes the world with words. God says light, night, sky, land, seas, sun, moon, birds, fish, animals, human beings. And it is all so good. Every day we make our world with words, too. Happy, sad, afraid, want, listen, hope, stop, heal. What we speak, we understand. What we want, we name. What we hope for, we shape with consonants and vowels. Words are powerful things. Faith is built with words, too. And if you have been a person of faith most of your life, you...
Aug 30, 2020•22 min•Season 6Ep. 52
In the Genesis poem of creation, God makes the world with words. God says light, night, sky, land, seas, sun, moon, birds, fish, animals, human beings. And it is all so good. Every day we make our world with words, too. Happy, sad, afraid, want, listen, hope, stop, heal. What we speak, we understand. What we want, we name. What we hope for, we shape with consonants and vowels. Words are powerful things. Faith is built with words, too. And if you have been a person of faith most of your life, you...
Aug 23, 2020•20 min•Season 6Ep. 51
