Presence

Hope Against Hope IV

2008-10-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Richard Goetze explores a possible third interpretation of life beyond the grave: inclusivism. What if God's agenda is to redeem and reconcile the whole of creation?

Hope Against Hope III

2008-10-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Continuing his exploration of the various interpretations the after life, Richard Goetze contemplates the theory of annihilation. Is hell just an empty void of separation?

Hope Against Hope II

2008-10-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Richard Goetze continues his series by looking at the traditional interpretation of the nature of hell.

Hope Against Hope I

2008-10-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

Richard Goetze begins his series by exploring the role and necessity of questioning in the life of a believer. Why are questions imperative? What is the place of uncertainty?

Exiles - Part 1

2008-09-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

The majority of the Jewish scriptures and traditions were born and created in times of exile and displacement. Henry provides a historical overview of exile, and how it links to the exiles of our own lives.

Plots & Stories, Part 2

2008-09-14T19:27:00.001-07:00

Every story has a POV, a point-of-view. Here we discuss the ramifications of the perspective our lives our lived by... and where that perspective comes from.

Plots & Stories, Part 1

2008-09-09T08:37:00.001-07:00

Considering the metaphor of "story" as a way to think about our lives. Here we consider the role of choice and risk in story development, and ask how these factors define a life well lived.

Brushstrokes VI

2008-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

Images and idols -- the history of the relationship between the Church and the arts has been a sordid affair over the centuries. In wrapping up Brushstrokes, we look at the parallels between images, idols and creativity in faith.

Brushstrokes V

2008-07-14T18:02:00.001-07:00

Art expresses something deep about the way we look at the world. Richard (graffiti artist) and Alexis (painter) discuss how their art reflects their perspectives on truth, faith and justice.

Brushstrokes IV

2008-07-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

Art as a metaphor: Simon discusses his work with stained glass creation and restoration; Shirley demonstrates her work with pottery and ceramics, and highlights the parallels between creativity and spirituality. [Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, the podcast is unavailable for this week.]

Brushstrokes III

2008-06-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Participation in art as in faith; the key of involvement. Plus thoughts on art by Will and Aaron.

Brushstrokes II

2008-06-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

How is the concept of truth represented in art? And how is this kind of "truth representing" similar to (or different than) the way theology communicates truth? Is theology an art?

Brushstrokes I

2008-06-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

What makes art "art"? How come we don't consider music as a subcategory of mathematics like the ancients did? Why are all these questions important when it comes to understanding spirituality?

Colossians 8 - Wrap Up

2008-06-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

We conclude our discussion of Paul's letter to the Colossians, watching several of the main themes of the letter culminate in practical notes and advice to his personal friends in the community.

Colossians 7 - Contending

2008-05-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

In one of the most debated passages included in the Bible, Paul claims that he is suffering in his body what is "lacking in regards to Christ's afflictions" -- we're not solving two thousand years of theological debate, but it's an interesting discussion!

Colossians 6 - Controversies

2008-05-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Paul's letter is read by a community that is caught restructuring its social order; the message that "all are equal" has radical implications for power relationships. We jump right into the controversies of what Paul had to say to about wives and husbands, slaves and masters.

Colossians 5 - Truth

2008-05-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

"What is truth?" Following up from the previous week's discussion about the nature of truth and belief, we explore the concept of "truth" from a philosophical and historical standpoint. When Paul says that the "Gospel is true" -- what is he getting at?

Colossians 4 - Worldviews

2008-05-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Whether we're in the Roman empire, in a mysterious religious cult, or a worshiper within the Greco-Roman religion at the time, Paul's letter inherently raises (and discusses) one of life's most important question: how can one person's perspective of the world be better than someone else's? Obviously the conversation is as important today as it has been at any other time in history.

Colossians 3 - Knowledge

2008-04-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Paul is quite concern in his letter that his readers do not fall prey to the "deceptive teach" of certain heretics. To shed some light on this, we explore the remnants of "mystery religions" of the time and the embryonic stages of gnosticism.

Colossians 2 - Empire

2008-04-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Paul writes adamantly that all powers -- visible and invisible -- are subject to the son, including all thrones, powers, rulers and authorities. If we were reading this letter as inhabitants of the Roman empire, what would we be hearing in these words?

Colossians 1 - Letters

2008-04-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

We begin our study of Paul's letter to the Colossians, and start by wrestling with the difficulties that confront anyone who sets out to understand a letter that is almost 2000 years old.

The Failed Sacrifice (Easter Sunday)

2008-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Did God have to kill Jesus in order to forgive humanity? This Easter we contemplate the cross and resurrection from a different perspective: instead of Jesus saving us from God's wrath, how is Easter a picture of God saving us from ourselves?

Compassion: faith that saves

2008-03-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

Richard Goetze unpacks the story of Jesus, Simon, and the "sinful" woman as told in the Gospel of Luke.

Miracles: God prefers to not do them alone

2008-03-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

Richard Goetze explores the practical side of caring by examining the role of human participation in miracles.

The Compassionate Christ

2008-03-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

Richard Goetze discusses the emotional, human and deeply caring dimension of Jesus. In a world of competition, what does it mean to practice compassion?