This sermon explores the stories of two unique judges, Shamgar and Deborah, in the Book of Judges. It highlights how their stories expand the narrative of salvation and leadership, challenging the Israelites' preconceived notions. The sermon suggests that even in the midst of the conquest of Canaan, there are hints that salvation and leadership can come from unexpected sources, such as a Canaanite warrior (Shamgar) and a woman (Deborah). The story of Jael, a foreign woman who defeats Sisera, fur...
May 19, 2024•32 min•Season 10Ep. 36
Listen in as we grapple with the challenging depictions of divine violence in the Hebrew scriptures, contrasted with Jesus' message of grace and love. We delve into how these ancient texts can be reinterpreted through the compassionate lens of Jesus' life, steering clear of projecting our biases onto the divine. With insights from Robert Allen Warrior's analysis on the implications of conquest narratives for indigenous peoples, this conversation urges a thoughtful examination of our spiritual ev...
May 12, 2024•28 min•Season 10Ep. 35
In our conversation, we explore the deep connection between joy and suffering, pondering biblical narratives set in valleys symbolizing the depths of despair and the peaks of hope. Hear about the transformation from pastoral work to personal wellness, and the embracing of healthier habits that bridge the physical with the spiritual. As we share these stories, we are reminded that true joy is not the denial of pain but the acknowledgment and transcendence of it, offering a path to a joy that pers...
May 06, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 34
In our conversation, we explore the deep connection between joy and suffering, pondering biblical narratives set in valleys symbolizing the depths of despair and the peaks of hope. Hear about the transformation from pastoral work to personal wellness, and the embracing of healthier habits that bridge the physical with the spiritual. As we share these stories, we are reminded that true joy is not the denial of pain but the acknowledgment and transcendence of it, offering a path to a joy that pers...
Apr 28, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 33
In our conversation, we explore the deep connection between joy and suffering, pondering biblical narratives set in valleys symbolizing the depths of despair and the peaks of hope. Hear about the transformation from pastoral work to personal wellness, and the embracing of healthier habits that bridge the physical with the spiritual. As we share these stories, we are reminded that true joy is not the denial of pain but the acknowledgment and transcendence of it, offering a path to a joy that pers...
Apr 21, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 32
Through the shadows of the Babylonian exile toward discovering unexpected moments of joy with the enigmatic prophet Ezekiel. We peel back the layers of history to understand how these dark times were pivotal for Jewish literature and self-reflection, fostering a rich soil from which the Hebrew scriptures grew. Listen in as we unravel Ezekiel's apocalyptic visions, and consider how catastrophic events can unexpectedly renew our sense of joy in body and soul. In our conversation, we explore the de...
Apr 14, 2024•31 min•Season 10Ep. 31
Join us as we embark on a five-week journey, unwrapping the layers of joy within the fabric of biblical history and our everyday lives. Listen in as we explore the difference between joy, pleasure, happiness, and fun, dissecting the nuanced ways we can train ourselves to spot and sustain a sense of joy that persists even beyond the highs of celebratory moments like Easter. Drawing from Michel de Montaigne's insights, we'll ponder the profound impact of joy that arises not from the exceptional, b...
Apr 08, 2024•31 min•Season 10Ep. 30
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Apr 03, 2024•28 min•Season 10Ep. 29
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Mar 25, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 28
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Mar 18, 2024•32 min•Season 10Ep. 27
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Mar 11, 2024•32 min•Season 10Ep. 26
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Mar 04, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 25
Our journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much si...
Feb 25, 2024•32 min•Season 10Ep. 24
Mk 6 Any text is produced in a particular time, place, and context. In the case of the Bible, that context is always very different from ours as readers. “White North American Christians, especially those of us from the privileged strata of society, must come to terms with the fact that our reading site for the Gospel of Mark is empire, locus imperium ” (Ched Meyers, Binding The Strong Man ). This location means that we have to do the work, as best we can, to separate ourselves from our assumpti...
Feb 19, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 23
Confidence to be ourselves. Together. We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keep...
Feb 12, 2024•27 min•Season 10Ep. 22
Confidence to be ourselves. Together. We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keep...
Feb 05, 2024•28 min•Season 10Ep. 21
Confidence to be ourselves. Together. We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keep...
Jan 29, 2024•29 min•Season 10Ep. 20
Confidence to be ourselves. Together. We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keep...
Jan 22, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 19
PART TWO: Opinions have a way, over time, of being fossilized, and that's a real danger as we enter into a new year, imagining all of the possibilities for change and growth. When your opinions get stuck, they become narratives, no longer just statements about how we view the world, but now stories that tell us how we must view the world. And this is why the practice of continually letting go is far more difficult and, to be honest, I think, far more important than we often realize, because some...
Jan 15, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 18
PART ONE: Letting Go Opinions have a way, over time, of being fossilized, and that's a real danger as we enter into a new year, imagining all of the possibilities for change and growth. When your opinions get stuck, they become narratives, no longer just statements about how we view the world, but now stories that tell us how we must view the world. And this is why the practice of continually letting go is far more difficult and, to be honest, I think, far more important than we often realize, b...
Jan 08, 2024•28 min•Season 10Ep. 17
At its heart, this season holds the mystery of how God became human. And if it’s true, the story of Christmas celebrates the full extent of divine fragility. If it’s true, it asserts a bold claim: that God stands in solidarity with our shared experience. This is a solidarity for life’s deepest valleys and soaring heights. For its lush and flourishing places and also those dry and forgotten places in our hearts. This Advent, we trace the landscapes of our lives in search of the path God takes tow...
Jan 03, 2024•28 min•Season 10Ep. 16
At its heart, this season holds the mystery of how God became human. And if it’s true, the story of Christmas celebrates the full extent of divine fragility. If it’s true, it asserts a bold claim: that God stands in solidarity with our shared experience. This is a solidarity for life’s deepest valleys and soaring heights. For its lush and flourishing places and also those dry and forgotten places in our hearts. This Advent, we trace the landscapes of our lives in search of the path God takes tow...
Dec 18, 2023•30 min•Season 10Ep. 15
At its heart, this season holds the mystery of how God became human. And if it’s true, the story of Christmas celebrates the full extent of divine fragility. If it’s true, it asserts a bold claim: that God stands in solidarity with our shared experience. This is a solidarity for life’s deepest valleys and soaring heights. For its lush and flourishing places and also those dry and forgotten places in our hearts. This Advent, we trace the landscapes of our lives in search of the path God takes tow...
Dec 11, 2023•31 min•Season 10Ep. 14
At its heart, this season holds the mystery of how God became human. And if it’s true, the story of Christmas celebrates the full extent of divine fragility. If it’s true, it asserts a bold claim: that God stands in solidarity with our shared experience. This is a solidarity for life’s deepest valleys and soaring heights. For its lush and flourishing places and also those dry and forgotten places in our hearts. This Advent, we trace the landscapes of our lives in search of the path God takes tow...
Dec 04, 2023•26 min•Season 10Ep. 13
Mark 5 Buckle up for a metaphorical ride across Lake Kinneret, where we scrutinize Jesus' encounter with a man tormented by demons. This tale gets eerie, political, and ultimately heartfelt. As we delve into the metaphorical representation of possession, Jesus' role in pacifying the storm and emancipating the man from his demons becomes more apparent. When our narrative returns to the familiar side of the lake, you'll witness Jesus' interactions with a wealthy man and an unclean woman seeking he...
Nov 27, 2023•32 min•Season 10Ep. 12
Mark We explore the contrasting approaches of Jesus and the Pharisees, as described in the second narrative package of Mark. In this section of Mark, Jesus begins to confront his religious critics, the Pharisees, who, despite their liberal ideologies, were often at odds with Jesus. We discuss an enlightening debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about prioritizing faith over tradition, a topic that unveils Jesus' remarkable ability to challenge and transform pre-existing notions. We also see Je...
Nov 20, 2023•29 min•Season 10Ep. 11
Mark 4 We explore the contrasting approaches of Jesus and the Pharisees, as described in the second narrative package of Mark. In this section of Mark, Jesus begins to confront his religious critics, the Pharisees, who, despite their liberal ideologies, were often at odds with Jesus. We discuss an enlightening debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about prioritizing faith over tradition, a topic that unveils Jesus' remarkable ability to challenge and transform pre-existing notions. We also see ...
Nov 13, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Mark 2+3 We explore the contrasting approaches of Jesus and the Pharisees, as described in the second narrative package of Mark. In this section of Mark, Jesus begins to confront his religious critics, the Pharisees, who, despite their liberal ideologies, were often at odds with Jesus. We discuss an enlightening debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about prioritizing faith over tradition, a topic that unveils Jesus' remarkable ability to challenge and transform pre-existing notions. We also se...
Nov 06, 2023•31 min•Season 10Ep. 9
Mark is generally considered to be the earliest of the four gospels we have in our Bibles. In fact, the consensus is that Mark served as a reference for what Matthew and Luke would later write. Mark is fast-paced, moving quickly through Jesus’ life, probably offering our first look at the historical Jesus. And in that look, we see a Jesus who is focused on the practical concerns of those he serves. Economics, politics, pressures, these are the issues that shape Jesus’ teachings in Mark. He may h...
Oct 30, 2023•32 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Mark is generally considered to be the earliest of the four gospels we have in our Bibles. In fact, the consensus is that Mark served as a reference for what Matthew and Luke would later write. Mark is fast-paced, moving quickly through Jesus’ life, probably offering our first look at the historical Jesus. And in that look, we see a Jesus who is focused on the practical concerns of those he serves. Economics, politics, pressures, these are the issues that shape Jesus’ teachings in Mark. He may h...
Oct 22, 2023•28 min•Season 10Ep. 7
