Context Matters

From an early age, Rabbi Moshe was fascinated with the original languages of the biblical and rabbinic texts. He has traveled around the world and worked with many congregations, but teaching in the classroom is one of his favorite vocations. He is a well loved professor at Jerusalem University College where he developed a course titled The Parables of Jesus and Jewish Meshalim, which became a fav...

From an early age, Rabbi Moshe was fascinated with the original languages of the biblical and rabbinic texts. He has traveled around the world and worked with many congregations, but teaching in the classroom is one of his favorite vocations. He is a well loved professor at Jerusalem University College where he developed a course titled The Parables of Jesus and Jewish Meshalim, which became a fav...

Dr. Lawson Stone is a Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Seminary. He specialized in early Israelite history and religion, and he wrote a commentary on the book of Judges, making him an excellent scholar to help us understand stories about violence. How should we read these problematic texts?  Find out more about Dr. Stone HERE Watch his video series on Violence in the Old Testament HERE Contact...

Dr. Lawson Stone is a Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Seminary. He specialized in early Israelite history and religion, and he wrote a commentary on the book of Judges, making him an excellent scholar to help us understand stories about violence. How should we read these problematic texts?  Find out more about Dr. Stone HERE Watch his video series on Violence in the Old Testament HERE Contact...

Last week we talked about the command "Do not to take the name of the Lord your God in vain" that can be more accurately translated “You shall not bear the name of Yahweh your God in vain.” This week we discuss how Sinai still matters to a modern church. How doe we interpret some tricky laws so that we still Bear God's Name?  Find Dr. Imes' book Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters Find Tor...

Dr. Imes' thesis is that the command "Do not to take the name of the Lord your God in vain" can be more accurately translated “You shall not bear the name of Yahweh your God in vain.” Dr. Imes then explains the logic behind Bearing God’s Name (also the title of her book) and what that means for the modern church today. Find Dr. Imes' book Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters Find Torah Tues...

Dr. Longman has written prolifically about the context of the Old Testament, but this week we get to talk about the Exodus account. Can we read "the simple meaning" of the text? Is this history or is it figurative language? What happens to the rest of our theology if we decide the Exodus is figurative? Overall, I think it is exciting to have a chance to talk about "controversies" while holding spa...

Dr. Longman has written prolifically about the book of Genesis, but there is an ongoing rub in Christian communities about how to handle the creation narratives in Genesis 1–2. Can we read "the simple meaning" of the text? Is it enough to "just have the Bible" and not take the time to dig deeper in the ancient Near Eastern text? Plus, the New Testament mentions figures like Adam and Eve, so is tha...

 Dr. Yeshaya Gruber is my colleague at the Israel Bible Center where I developed a course that roughly follows the content of my book. He sits in the interviewer chair to ask me questions about why this book is necessary for the Christian audience. The book is available here (or through your local bookstore)   Encountering Jesus in Real World of the Gospels. It is also available as an audio or   e...

 Dr. Yeshaya Gruber is my colleague at the Israel Bible Center where I developed a course that roughly follows the content of my book. He sits in the interviewer chair to ask me questions about why this book is necessary for the Christian audience. The book is available here (or through your local bookstore)   Encountering Jesus in Real World of the Gospels. It is also available as an audio or   e...

Dr. Gafney and I also discuss  why the original Hebrew language is important and how the bias (intentional or invisible) of the interpreters will influence how YOU read the text and think about God. Learn more about Dr. Gafney HERE    Buy her book Womanist Midrash and look at her upcoming book The Women’s Lectionary: Preaching the Women of the Bible Throughout the Year.   Contact me through Narrat...

Catherine Ricketts is an essayist and songwriter whose nonfiction centers on the arts, grief, joy, and spirituality. Her artistic and thoughtful skill is evident in her writing. Her openness about personal challenges is an invitation to readers. To those who have courage, here is the path. It is hard. But come. Find out more about Catherine Ricketts and sign up for her newsletter HERE . Read her e...

Catherine Ricketts is an essayist and songwriter. Her nonfiction focuses on the arts, grief, joy, and spirituality. Her beautifully crafted words usher her readers into difficult places and then she stays to point readers towards the beauty and the light. Find out more about Catherine Ricketts and sign up for her newsletter HERE . Follow her on Instagram (@bycatherinericketts) Contact me through N...

Nicolas Kotar comes from a long line of priests in the Orthodox church, yet he chose to make a career out of literature - although he ended up ordained in the church as well! He writes epic fantasy and science fiction inspired by Slavic fairy tales. Why? Because, as he says, fairy tales, particularly Russian fairy tales, have profound, even spiritual meaning that makes them worth reading again and...

Nicolas Kotar comes from a long line of priests in the Orthodox church, yet he chose to make a career out of literature - although he ended up ordained in the church as well! He writes epic fantasy and science fiction inspired by Slavic fairy tales. Why? Because, as he says, fairy tales, particularly Russian fairy tales, have profound, even spiritual meaning that makes them worth reading again and...

Reverand Dr. Jaqueline Dyer is the Associate Director of the Doctor of Social Work Program and Associate Professor of Practice at Simmons University's School of Social Work. We are discussing her chapter called "From historical trauma to Shalom."  Find out more about Dr. Dyer HERE Explore more in the book The Gospel Haymanot Contact me through Narrative of Place Other resources:   Join Cyndi Parke...

Find out more about Dr. Dyer HERE   Explore more in the book The Gospel Haymanot Contact me through Narrative of Place Other resources:   Join Cyndi Parker's   Patreon Team ! Learn more about me and sign up for Food and Wine Tours of Israel/Palestine. Buy my new book Encountering Jesus in Real World of the Gospels   or listen to the audio or read the eBook ! And please leave a review!    

Dr. Jill Firth is a lecturer of Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College in Parkville Australia. She contributed to the newly released book titled The Bible and Mental Health  and is one of the editors of Grounded in the Body, in Time and Place, in Scripture . You can find out more about her HERE . And you can find her on Twitter HERE . Other resources:   Join Cyndi Parker's   Patreon Team ! Lea...

Dr. Jill Firth is a lecturer of Hebrew and Old Testament at Ridley College in Parkville Australia. She contributed to the newly released book titled The Bible and Mental Health  and is one of the editors of Grounded in the Body, in Time and Place, in Scripture .You can find out more about her HERE .And you can find her on Twitter HERE . Other resources:   The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Bruegg...

Jazz is the best combination of freedom and protest-not only in its sound but in the music theory itself. It seems to be made to contain the words of Frederick Douglass . Learn more about Ruth Naomi Floyd   and sign up to be notified of her new releases! Get David Blight's book on Frederick Douglass   HERE Join Cyndi Parker's   Patreon Team ! Learn more about me and sign up for Food and Wine Tours...

Jazz is the best combination of freedom and protest-not only in its sound but in the music theory itself. This week we talk about the Bible as improv music. Each soloist, each member of that band is aligned and united in the conversation, but yet have a chance to speak their own words and their own beliefs and their own opinions. But then they come back together united, and the democratic music to...

Dr. Glanville was a professional Jazz musician who later specialized in biblical studies. This week we discuss how two opposite sounding emotions are heard together in the Blues. We also discuss how the Blues and Jazz are foundational for so many other music genres we love. It also can be a great metaphor for how we bring biblical traditions to bear on our lives today. If you want to join Mark Gla...

Dr. Glanville was a professional Jazz musician who later specialized in biblical studies. Dr. Glanville teaches us how to hear the foundational characteristics in Blues music and then shares with us what the history of the Blues. Join us for a great conversation and a personalized concert! AND if you want to join Mark Glanville for weekly Jazz and Vespers, you can see him live on Facebook each Sun...

Does sailing on the Mediterranean change your perspective when you return to Jerusalem? Dr. Stutzman thinks it does. And the ancient rules of the Sea? Well, if they are "avoid disaster," then they most certainly continue to apply today!  Join the Patreon Team !  Learn more about Dr. Linford Stutzman HERE See Dr. Stutzman's book Sailing Acts Want to go on his trips? Look here for a comfortable vers...

Discover how Dr. Stutzman went from a conservative Mennonite family to finding a love for sailing and for following Paul's footsteps...er, wake? Why does the water create such a different atmosphere for Paul's ministry? Join the Patreon Team !  Learn more about Dr. Linford Stutzman HERE See Dr. Stutzman's book Sailing Acts Want to go on his trips? Look here . Learn more about me and sign up for Fo...