shalom

We live in a world in which it is so easy to demonize and dehumanize people who are not like us.  Or we categorize people and forget their humanity.

But that’s the exact opposite of what Jesus did.  Jesus humanized people.  He treated every human being as a beloved child of God.  Jesus treated every individual he encountered as a person.

That’s what we're discussing in this conversation with Paul Louis Metzger, the author of More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Paul Louis Metzger is professor of Christian theology and theology of culture at Multnomah University and Seminary and the author of More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture.
• We have a tendency in our society to turn people into things.
• The issue of treating people as things has become very personal for Paul Louis Metzger ever since his son suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident several years ago.
• Personhood, according to Paul Louis Metzger, has to do with inviolability, unfathomability, and unrepeatability.
• Attributing personhood to one another is a matter of seeking to affirm an individual’s agency, showing them respect, listening to them, and being present with them.
• Paul Louis Metzger reflects on the way those with Down’s Syndrome are often thought of as having a lower quality of life, when the opposite often seems to be true.  And, yet, the value of their personhood is frequently in question.
• Markus Watson reflects on the ways churches tend to “thingify” people, both inside and outside the church.
• When we talk about people, communities, and families as giving units, that’s the language of commodification.
• People consume, but people should not be reduced to patterns of consumption.
• Paul Louis Metzger unpacks the Prodigal Son story as a way of thinking about treating people as persons.
• “When we gain a sense of our significance and worth—not because of how big our church is or how well-known we are or whatever the case might be, how many books we sell, how many this or how many that—but because we are loved.  We exist because we are loved.  That frees pastors up to evangelize better.  To be better shepherds.  They’re not going to be hired hands or wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• New Wine Institute
• Uncommon Good, Uncommon God (Patheos blog)
• Books mentioned:
  • More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture, by Paul Louis Metzger
  • The Way of Chuang Tzu, by Thomas Merton
  • Beyond Thingification: Helping Your Church Engage in God’s Mission, by Markus Watson
  • Life of the Beloved, by Henri Nouwen
  • Sharing Faith, by Thomas Groome

Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

This week we share a "Space for God: BIBLE" reflection from Steve Park (Founder and Executive Director of Little Lights DC).  Steve guides us through the arc of scripture related to God's coming Kingdom of Justice and mutual flourishing.  He offers us a rousing invitation to join God's special work of caring for the oppressed and marginalized.

View Our Complete Archive of “Space for God” Prayer Practices

inthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracle

How can we avoid burnout in ministry?

Jason Young is a keynote speaker, coach, and consultant who helps churches and businesses thrive, and the co-author of Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright.

In this episode, Jason Young and Markus Watson get real specific about what can lead to burnout in ministry and what we can to do prevent it.


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Jason Young is a keynote speaker, coach, and consultant who helps churches and businesses thrive, and the co-author of Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright.
• Jason wants to help leaders, not only prevent burnout in ministry, but structure their lives and ministries in such a way that they truly thrive in all areas of life.
• “When discouragement creeps in, destruction is nigh.”
• According to Jason Young, burnout in ministry leadership is not inevitable.
• Control isolates.  Control rarely invites.
• Staff members want to know two things in their work:
  • Will I be successful if I do this?
  • What’s in it for me?
• Jesus, too, was motivated by what was in it for him.  Hebrews says it was “for the joy set before him” that he endured that cross.
• Jason Young discusses the connection between entanglements and burnout in ministry.
• According to Jason Young, leaders read too much.  Maybe leaders need to do less reading.
• Sometimes in all our reading and consuming of information, we may begin to forget the voice of God.
• In his early ministry years, Markus Watson wanted to attend lots of conferences.  In his middle ministry years, Markus took lots of classes.  At this stage of his ministry, Markus recognizes that he’s filled his mind with plenty of information; now he wants to pursue life experiences.
• Exhaustion and burnout in ministry leadership doesn’t show up suddenly; it creeps in and slowly drains you.
• “If God called you to ministry, it’s his.  And he would like for you to be openhanded with his ministry because he wants to trust you with more.”

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Book mentioned:
  • Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright, by Jason Young and Jonathan Malm
• Jason Young:
  • Catchfiredaily.com
  • Drjasonyoung.com
• Church Leadership Institute

Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

If you grew up in the church, you may have spent a lot of time thinking about things like the rapture and the mark of the beast.  Or about the Soviet Union’s  role in bringing the anti-Christ into the world.

But is that what Revelation is really about?  Does Revelation say anything to us today?

Scot McKnight and I discuss his book, Revelation for the Rest of Us--not only what it means to put Revelation in its historical context, but also how Revelation helps us today live as “dissident disciples."


THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Scot McKnight is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Revelation for the Rest of Us.
• Scot read a lot of books about the end times when he was a young Christian.
• It wasn’t until he studied Jewish apocalyptic literature while working on his Ph.D. that Scot McKnight began to rethink what Revelation really is about.
• Revelation for the Rest of Us is not exactly a commentary, but it is meant to show us how to read the book of Revelation theologically.
• Scot McKnight explains that Revelation is a first-person account of a series of fantastic visions in which God shows that the suffering people of the world will experience justice, with special focus on the followers of Jesus who are suffering under the Roman Empire.
• Revelation tells us that the suffering people of the world are going to experience justice. And God is not asleep. God will awaken, in a sense, to act in this world to bring justice to those who are oppressed.
• Scot McKnight says the problem that John is addressing in Revelation is Babylon, or Rome, and its corruptions, and the fact that Babylon is creeping into the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3.
• Those who follow the Lamb will by definition become dissidents and resistors to Babylon and its ways.
• Revelation is full of either-or language. The dragon is contrasted with the Lamb.  Babylon is contrasted with New Jerusalem. Followers of Jesus are contrasted with those who have the mark of the beast.
• The marks of Babylon include:  idolatry, emphasis on opulence, violence and murder, image and branding, militarism, economic exploitation, arrogance.
• Scot McKnight reflects on the ways pastors can lead today in a society that in some ways bears the marks of Babylon.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Scot McKnight:
  • Substack articles
  • Twitter - @scotmknight
  • Facebook
• Books mentioned:
  • Revelation for the Rest of Us, by Scot McKnight
  • A Church Called Tov, by Scot McKnight
  • The Second Testament, by Scot McKnight
  • Guide to Survival, by Salem Kirban
  •  The Late Great Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey
  • Left Behind, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
  • Beyond Thingification, by Markus Watson
  • Salvation by A

Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.

Did you know Spiritual Life and Leadership has been named the #1 Spiritual Leadership Podcast by the Feedspot Podcasters Database? Check it out HERE!

John 20:19-23 // Tom Nelson

As Jesus appears to his disciples, he greets them with one word that emotionally changes everything.  It was the Hebrew word, shalom which is translated here in English as peace. Shalom is much more than an absence of conflict like we mostly use the word peace today.  Shalom embodies the presence, power, and proximity of the kingdom life Jesus was inaugurating in the world through his atoning death and death-defying resurrection. The word Shalom here directly connects Easter with Eden.  In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis we encounter the original creation garden of Eden which means delight. The Garden of Eden was a place where original creation happened, but not only a place but a comprehensive reality when all was well in the world, all was as God designed and desired his very good creation to be. Before sin and death brought disintegration and death to God’s good world and to his crown of creation. With just this one-word greeting, the resurrected Jesus makes this connection with his awestruck disciples. Jesus is saying,  I am who I said I am, I have done what I have come to do. Remember on the cross, I said it was finished. I meant it. It is in me you can have the flourishing life your heart longs for.

Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49052676

Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new

23.04.16

Michael Strassfeld was one of the co-authors of The Jewish Catalog, a book released in 1973 (happy 50th anniversary!) that served as a kind of "Jewish do-it-yourself kit" -- and became one of the bestselling Jewish books of all time. He joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to speak about a new book of his being released in 2023, entitled Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century.

Access full shownotes for this episode via this link. 

And if you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here!

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Yana Jenay Conner to discuss Genesis 1 & 2. In these two chapters we learn about God and the identity and purpose he gave humans.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Genesis 1 & 2 gives us a vision for how the world was in the very beginning. One word that is used to describe this dynamic is shalom. How would you describe shalom and how/where do we see it show up in these first two chapters of Genesis?
• What is the vision of the life that God designed for us?
• What is one way you see people fighting to find identity outside of who God is?
• What kinds of things do you do to cultivate shalom/work towards the flourishing of those in your immediate community?
• How does Genesis 1 & 2 and the theme of shalom point us toward the gospel? 

Guest Bio:

Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com. 

Helpful Definitions:

• Shalom: Wholeness

Reflection Question:

Where are you finding identity outside of God?

Continue Learning:

If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

• Scripture Passage: Genesis 1 & 2
• Video: Bible Project Shalom Video
• Book: God of Creation by Jen Wilkin
• Article: What Perfect Shalom Looks Like

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Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Let’s read Matthew on its own terms and not in Luke’s shadow

Today we read the stories of two men, one faithless and untrusting (Ahaz in Isaiah) and one faithful and trusting (Joseph in Matthew).

When I read this, I am reminded of John Dun Scotus – Francisan theologian of high middle ages - "The Incarnation is caused simply by God's generous and free love, and is not provoked by anything a mere human creature has done [i.e., because of the Fall].”

Finish with quick overview of Advent

-         Peace – shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness. Shalom more than absence of war, but the overcoming of strife, quarrel, and social tension, the prevention of enmity and war between people, groups of people and nations. 

-         Hope – Jim Wallis

-         Gift of Joy which we nurture

-         Love – John Duns Scotus

What I want to happen:

During this week I invite you to take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God with us has both brought love into your day; and through you brought love into the lives of others. I also invite you to reflect on what has led you away from love.

You can read the notes here

This week, we are excited to share a Soundings Seminar from 2017 on a topic that is still all-too relevant today—The Discipleship of Peacemaking. Bill Haley is joined by the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Telos Group, Todd Deatherage; together, they reflect on both the practical and spiritual dynamics of building and sustaining peace in our modern world, with a particular focus on the still-ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine. Our world needs more followers of Jesus committed to building peace wherever they are, and we hope you are blessed and enriched by this conversation.

Learn More About Telos Group

Bill's Reflections on Israel/Palestine

inthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracle

In this special bonus episode, Brittany shares one of the many messages she has given as a missionary. In July, Brittany had the privilege of speaking at a tea ceremony event (sado or chado in Japanese) held by her church in Japan. After studying the Zen Buddhist roots of Japanese tea ceremony, she considers the main principles of sado with a Christian, biblical perspective. And that led her to the concept of shalom, or “peace” in Hebrew. 

---

Show Notes and References:

Click here to support me by donation --> Buy Me a Coffee!

Books and Resources on Japanese Tea Ceremony:

• Zen and the Art of Tea by D.T. Suzuki (audiobook) --> View on Amazon for Audible
• The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura (book) --> View on Amazon
• The Omotesenke Tea Culture (website)
• “4 Principles of Chado” (Zen Wonders) (website)
• “An Introduction to Chado” (Urasenke Konnichian) (website)

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Hebrews 7:1-3

Andrew and Edwin look back at the priest king Melchizedek to learn about Jesus. He is high priest. He is also a king. Specifically, He is the king of righteousness and the king of peace.

Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.
 
  Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.
 
  Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here.

We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more.

Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.
 
Thanks for talking about the text with us today.

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If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser:

Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=9934

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The Law of Attraction allows for infinite possibilities, infinite abundance, and infinite joy. It knows no order of difficulty, and it can change your life! The law states that you will attract into your life whatever you focus on. Whatever you give your energy and attention to is what will come back to you. And the law never fails....

Keep listening as I teach you what the Law of Attraction is, how it works and give you a simple exercise to start attracting more happiness, more love and more abundance into your life instantly!

Dear friends, if you enjoy what you are learning from this podcast, please share it with your friends and on your social media feeds! Tag me @caroszabocoaching and please help me share my LOVE energy and this important information by leaving a review on Apple Podcast! THANK YOU, I am so so grateful for your time and care 🙏

And if you are wanting to truly transform your life to a life that you will just LOVE, go to The LifeCoach Academy website  (www.thelifecoach.academy) to read all about this incredibly life transforming 6-Month course. We meet online once a week for one hour, AND you get your own private life coach weekly as well!

What you are going to learn in this training is going to just….BLOW…YOUR…MIND!!!

Are you ready to change your life? This class my friends is the step to creating the HAPPY, SEXY, SUPER ALIVE life you have always wanted! Trust me, it works! AND I teach it all to you live from the comfort of your home!!!

I look forward to seeing you in class! Click here to enroll!

If you wish to DM me privately, feel free to do so @caroszabocoaching on Instagram!

I send you so SO much LOVE...no matter where you are in the world!
Ciao Ciao!

Caro.

Thank you for listening and sharing this episode! Follow me on Instagram @lovesexenergywithcaroline ♥️

Our energy is our attractor, our super power! And each of us have control over the energy we create. I'm Caro your host from Los Angeles! In this episode I share personal stories with you to let you in on how I…turn…myself...ON! It’s a powerful energy! It’s a vibe! It’s become my identity, and it’s electrifying!

Keep listening and start "turning yourself on" to attract all that you want and desire in your life!

Haverim, if you love what you are learning from this podcast, and if you are wanting to transform your life to a life that you will just LOVE, go to our website  (www.thelifecoach.academy) to read all about our incredibly life transforming course.

What you are going to learn in this training is going to just….blow…your…mind!!!

Are you ready to change your life? This class my friends is the step to creating the HAPPY, SEXY, SUPER ALIVE life you have always wanted! Trust me, it works!

I look forward to seeing you in class! Click here to enroll!

If you wish to DM me privately, feel free to do so @caroszabocoaching on Instagram!

I send you so SO much LOVE...no matter where you are in the world!
Caro.

Thank you for listening and sharing this episode! Follow me on Instagram @lovesexenergywithcaroline ♥️

In this episode, I let you in on what SEX means to me, and on how SPIRITUALITY can take your sex life and your orgasms to a whole new level! I'm Caro, the French, Italian, American, Tunisian Jewish Sephardi girl living in Los Angeles, and I welcome you to Episode 83!

My friends, if you love what you are learning from this podcast, and if you are wanting to transform your life to a life that you will just LOVE, go to our website  (www.thelifecoach.academy) to read all about our incredibly life transforming course.

What you are going to learn in this training is going to just….blow…your…mind!!!

Are you ready to change your life? This class my friends is the step to creating the HAPPY, SEXY, SUPER ALIVE life you have always wanted! Trust me, it works!

I look forward to seeing you in class! Click here to enroll! Next class opens APRIL 5TH!!!!! DON'T MISS IT!!!!

If you wish to DM me privately, feel free to do so @caroszabocoaching on Instagram!

Sending you all so SO much LOVE...
Caro.

Thank you for listening and sharing this episode! Follow me on Instagram @lovesexenergywithcaroline ♥️

Join Tennison and Ginelle as they interview their friend Ally George.  Ally is from Florida and  was on staff in Belize with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Destination Paradise from September 2009 – June 2017.  She enjoyed leading many DTS (Discipleship Training School), FCM (Foundations in Counseling Ministry), outreaches, as well as being a member of the campus leadership team CLT (Circle Leaders Team) and Speaking while on staff.
She has a passion for seeing people become free from fear and painful struggles by the power of the Holy Spirit! She loves the process of discipleship and coaching.  She has been trained through Thrive Ministries and RARE Leadership in the understanding and development of relational skills.  She desires to be a lifelong learner who is continually growing in trust and understanding of God.

If you have been impacted by what you have heard in this podcast and would like to support us in our mission to help people experience healthier & deeper relationships with God, themselves, and others, go to: tableandwell.org/#donate
For more information about the Table go to: tableandwell.org/communitytable
To start on your journey to relational health go to: tableandwell.org/intro
To watch this and other Podcast go to our YouTube Channel: Table & Well co

Abraham Hicks said “As you think, you vibrate. As you vibrate you attract." Everything in life is vibration! When you are vibrating at a higher frequency level, you feel lighter and happier! Keep listening my friends, as today I share with you my easy steps to raising my energy from the very moment I wake up in the morning! Follow my simple directions, and notice the change in your life INSTANTLY!

My friends, if you love what you are learning from this podcast, and if you are wanting to transform your life to a life that you will just LOVE, go to our website  (www.thelifecoach.academy) to read all about our incredibly life transforming course.

What you are going to learn in this training is going to just….blow…your…mind!!!

Are you ready to change your life? This class my friends is the step to creating the HAPPY, SEXY, SUPER ALIVE life you have always wanted! Trust me, it works!

I look forward to seeing you in class! Click here to enroll! Next class opens APRIL 5TH!!!!! DON'T MISS IT!!!!

If you wish to DM me privately, feel free to do so @caroszabocoaching on Instagram!

Sending you all so SO much LOVE...
Caro.

Thank you for listening and sharing this episode! Follow me on Instagram @lovesexenergywithcaroline ♥️

With all that is going on in the world at the moment, I am feeling the need for togetherness. We are ONE, and together our energy is powerful. Listen in as this week, I am offering you a guided meditation to help you connect to me and to each and everyone of us so that together we can help bring peace to the Ukrainian people, and connect to the LOVE within our souls to help you create the reality you dream to have in your life.

My friends, if you love what you are learning from this podcast, and if you are wanting to transform your life to a life that you will just LOVE, go to our website  (www.thelifecoach.academy) to read all about our incredibly life transforming course. 

What you are going to learn in this training is going to just….blow…your…mind!!!

Are you ready to change your life? This class my friends is the step to creating the HAPPY, SEXY, SUPER ALIVE life you have always wanted! Trust me, it works! 

I look forward to seeing you in class! Click here to enroll!

If you wish to DM me privately, feel free to do so @caroszabocoaching on Instagram or Facebook!

Sending you all so much LOVE...
Caro.

Thank you for listening and sharing this episode! Follow me on Instagram @lovesexenergywithcaroline ♥️

Isiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,because they trust in you.

Isaiah 2

This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Sermon Series: The Character of God

Isiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

II Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you!

The meaning of Peace

Shalom: Presence of Harmony

God of Peace

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace of God

Implications

1.     Life together as a church

2.     Personal life