Held, Not Squeezed Apr 26, 2022

So...I recently found myself conversing with my five year old about jeans.

It all started when my favorite pair of jeans sprang a leak.  In an effort to explain why I was so upset about it, I told her, “Good jeans are supportive and sturdy. They never pinch. They don’t hurt your stomach when you sit down. And they get softer and...

Continue Reading...
 
Hebrew Midwives of Exodus 1: Live Webinar Short hebrew bible midwives webinar Apr 19, 2022

Enjoy this short clip from a recent live webinar event where Dr. Jody Washburn discusses the Hebrew midwives of Exodus 1 and interacts with the work of biblical scholars Tikva Frymer-Kensky and Kat Armas.

Continue Reading...
Be Still & Know: An Embodied Approach curiosity embodied embodied life embodied reading let go old testament psalm 46 relax sacred space Apr 12, 2022

Our culture is built on multi-tasking and productivity. If we have a spare moment, we are often scrolling or looking over our to-do list. In the Old Testament, there are numerous times when we are encouraged to “be still.” There are actually at least 3 different verbs in Hebrew that can be translated as “to be still, to be...

Continue Reading...
El Shaddai: God of the Breasts ancientart ancientartifacts divinefeminine embodied reading god as mother Mar 29, 2022

When we pray, do we envision God with exclusively male motifs and characteristics, or is there room in our prayer and spiritual practice for the divine feminine, for the God who blesses breasts and womb?

Depictions of female figures as representations of the divine were commonplace in the ancient Levant, the region of the Bible’s origins....

Continue Reading...
Active Reading: A Method For Deeper Engagement active reading bible reading critical reading engagement expanding our perspective hermeneutics isaiah 5 metaphor mindset old testament passive reading scripture song of songs viticulture Mar 22, 2022

How to Actively Read:

Last week we began exploring the difference between passive reading and active reading, and how this relates to our own particular Bible reading style.

It is natural to sit back and just listen to a sermon, including Scripture being read. But is this active engagement? When I teach college students how to engage with...

Continue Reading...
What Is Your Bible Reading Style? active reading bible reading critical reading engagement habits hebrew bible mindset passive reading Mar 15, 2022

What is your Bible reading style? Do you skim through known stories? Focus on the Psalms? Perhaps, you feel most comfortable in the New Testament and avoid Old Testament jargon. Or, maybe the majority of your interactions with Scripture involve listening to sermons. 

It is healthy to examine our habits. Our brains are wired for repetition;...

Continue Reading...
Making Music in the Tension ancestors being and becoming grandmother theology legacy life as music tension Mar 11, 2022

Tension is an essential part of human life. This is the case whether we appreciate it or try to avoid it at all costs. I recently heard Nick Rea, of Preemptive Love Coalition, illustrate the importance of tension in life using the analogy of instrument strings. Too much tension, and the string breaks. Too little, just a thunk or twang. Just the...

Continue Reading...
God as Mother in the Bible god as mother metaphor motherhood Mar 08, 2022

In our own minds is "she" inherently less than "he"?

In many religious traditions, language used to refer to God is exclusively male. God is a he or a him. God is a father. Yet the God of the Bible transcends gender and is also portrayed in feminine language and imagery. Prominent among feminine images and metaphors for God is mother. ...

Continue Reading...
Wait! You Mean There Were Female Prophets? expanding our perspective female prophets hebrew bible old testament prophecy and divination prophetesses woman prophets Mar 01, 2022

“Wait. There were female prophets???” Her shock hung in the air, almost palpable. And her exclamation echoed the surprise and measured curiosity of countless students who, upon learning of female prophets in the Bible, aren’t sure whether to be suspicious of what they are reading or resentful that they have never heard of a...

Continue Reading...
Letters to My Daughter: Voice findingmyvoice letterstomydaughter loveaslabor storywork Feb 25, 2022

Dear D, 

Last night when I came to your room for bedtime stories, I found you standing tall with your hand on your hip telling Papa that you WERE big enough for the hand-me-down clothes he had recently stowed in your closet. Listening to your conversation, seeing the focus and resolve in your eyes, I found my heart swelling with gratitude...

Continue Reading...
5 Ways To Tend To Your Vineyard determination disappointment embodied reading goals habits hebrew bible inspire isaiah 5 mindset motivation reflection song of songs viticulture Feb 22, 2022

Stinking Grapes and Unmet Expectations-Part 2

Last week we discussed Isaiah 5 and the Song of the Vineyard. We explored the vintner's response to unmet expectations. The response began with reflection, asking the questions that often accompany unmet expectations. However, a deeper reflection period is skipped over, which is met with unresolved...

Continue Reading...
Women and Resistance Stories: The Midwives in Exodus Feb 18, 2022

Have you wondered what roles women played in the story of the Exodus? Do you enjoy talking about often overlooked characters in famous stories?  Join us March 8, 12:00-1:00 pm Pacific Time for a conversation about the midwives in Exodus. 

 

Do you know others who might enjoy this kind of conversation space? Invite them to join us...

Continue Reading...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Don't miss our weekly blog!

Sign up to receive new blog posts directly to your inbox and be the first to know about courses and other resources.