Context Matters

In Part 2 of the conversation ]about her book Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story, Dr. Matheny walks through her own working definition of hesed, describing it as both something God does and a way of being that God's people are invited to embody. She and Cyndi unpack how two-thirds of the word's biblical uses point back to God's character, and how that opens up space for humanity, as image-bearers, to reflect that same quality back into the world.

Explore the book Hesed the Seed of the Biblical Story from @bakerpublishinggroup Here

Read more about Dr. Jennifer M. Matheny HERE

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Ever tried explaining a word that shows up 250+ times in the Bible... and still can't quite pin it down? That's exactly the puzzle Old Testament scholar Jenny Matheny sits down to unpack with Cyndi this episode. Using her own growing up context in Napa Valley and the French wine concept of terroir to help people explore the concept of the Hebrew term hesed. This word defies easy translations because it is so thick with meaning. 

Explore the book Hesed the Seed of the Biblical Story from @bakerpublishinggroup Here

Read more about Dr. Jennifer M. Matheny HERE

Listen to Dr. Megan Roberts talk about a trauma informed reading of Isaiah: Part 1 and Part 2

Listen to Dr. Ericka Dunbar talk about reading Ruth as Horror: Part 1 and Part 2

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

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How does prayer fit into the formation and healing of our imagination? As we continue our conversation with Dr. Justin Bailey, he addresses prayer as reorienting our attention, priorities, and requests within Jesus' story. We also contrast cheap, clichéd hope with costly hope shaped by confession, suffering, and the Spirit’s reminder of the larger biblical story.

Find out more about Dr. Bailey and his book HERE

See his chapel talks that started the whole book project HERE (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Contact Dr. Bailey HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

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In our recent conversations about spiritual formation, the use of the imagination has come up several times. Why is the imagination so significant in spiritual formation? Don't we simply need to learn more data about the Bible? Out of early misgivings about the models of discipleship we often use in the church, Rev. Dr. Justin Bailey decided to focus his work on discipleship and the imagination. Today Justin joins us to talk about his newest book titled Disciplining the Diseased Imagination: Spiritual Formation and the Healing of Our Hearts.

Find out more about Dr. Bailey and his book HERE

See his chapel talks that started the whole book project HERE (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Contact Dr. Bailey HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

This is a re-edited broadcast of a conversation with Dr. Michael Rhodes from 2024. Is it possible that Western Christianity and modern American life is shaping us to become people who are NOT good at doing justice, and loving mercy, and showing kindness? We know of such concepts but do we embody such concepts in the world around us? This week kicks off a several week conversation with scholars about different aspects of discipleship. We start today with a fellow Old Testament scholar, Dr. Michael Rhodes. He is a professor in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in Aukland, New Zealand. He is the author of Formative Feasting and Practicing the King's Economy. 

We start with the impetus for his new book Just Discipleship, which you can find HERE.  

What is biblical justice? Is it different from other forms of justice? 

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

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