For too long God has been used as a weapon to attack people who look, think, and act differently. But in Christ we discover that God is not a weapon. We find that God is love. We find that no matter who you are or where you are from, God is She who delights in you. Read more
I vividly remember one of the few times I saw my dad cry. I don’t remember the details or the reason, but I remember the impression it left upon me. We were sitting in the car, and he was softly singing Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind.” And his voice choked on the lyrics, and tears started rolling down his cheeks. Maybe something was going on in the family, though if so I couldn’t guess what it was. Or, maybe... Read more
Welcome to Jesus Unmasked! Formerly known as the “Girardian Virtual Bible Study,” “Jesus Unmasked” is a weekly exploration of scripture that delves into Jesus’s life and teachings. Over the centuries, Jesus has been obscured by prejudice and bigotry. God in flesh, crucified by human violence, has been invoked to inflict ever more violence on others. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and prejudice against people of other faiths have all been waged in the name of Jesus. These forms of fear... Read more
Show Show Notes Introduction to Acts 2:1-21 The Disciples gathered together in a house. Jews from all around the known world came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish festival of Shavuot. For those who spoke Greek, it was known as Pentecost. Shavuot celebrated the harvest, but also the day God gave the commandments to Moses. In Acts, as the people were gathered, tongues of fire came upon the disciples and they started speaking the same language as the other Jews... Read more
For Jesus, the glory of God is not the glory that comes with uniting against a common enemy. Rather, the glory of God is the glory of love that lifts us up into the divine life of God - that we might love all people and in doing so, that we might be one with God and with all of humanity. Read more
Welcome to the Girardian Virtual Bible Study! Each week we explore the lectionary passage with the help of René Girard’s insights into human relationships. You can join the GVBS at 10:30 am Central on the Raven Foundation Facebook page. This episode explores John 17: 20 – 26. Before we begin, check out Adam’s amazing tatoo! Show Notes: “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them,... Read more
Jesus gives us peace, but not as the world gives. What's this new kind of peace? Lindsey and Adam discuss in the latest episode of the Girardian Virtual Bible Study! Read more
There is an ancient Jewish joke that two in a conflict people came to a rabbi to settle their dispute. One person gave his perspective. The rabbi immediately said, “You are right.” The second person gave his perspective and the rabbi immediately said, “You are right.” The rabbi’s students watched how their rabbi handled this and were perplexed. They asked the rabbi, “How could they both be right? They are saying two contradictory things.” The rabbi looked at them and... Read more
Welcome to the Girardian Virtual Bible Study! Each week we explore the lectionary passage with the help of René Girard’s insights into human relationships. You can continue to join the GVBS at 10:30 am Central on the Raven Foundation Facebook page during the month of May. This episode explores Acts 11: 1-18 and John 13: 31-35. Revisiting The New Commandment “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this... Read more
Julia Ward Howe is famous for writing the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but did you know that later she wrote the "Mother's Day Proclamation" that called for peace? Check out Adam's latest sermon on the radical pacifism of Mother's Day. Read more
Teaching Nonviolent Atonement
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In