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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. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

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. Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

This is a re-edit conversation from 2024 with Dr. Lanta Davis. Her book Becoming by Beholding is a wonderful conversation partner with some of the recent podcast episodes. Her book will prompt you to think about the connection between art, imagination, and theology. How did the historic church think about the imagination and spiritual formation, and can we do a better job of that in today's environment? Are we aware enough of what we "behold" and how that creates an impression on our lives? And how did the Protestant church lose its ability to gaze on images and allow them to stoke our imagination? You can find Lanta Davis' book HERE Read more about Dr. Davis HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Today we continue the conversation with Arrabon's founder, David Bailey. We talk about what the "Gospel of the Kingdom" means along with several of Arrabon's resources to equip all kinds of audiences for understanding Scripture and spiritual formation. There are so many tools  available to help a diverse group of Jesus followers, despite their differences, learn to grow and mature as God's people.  Find out more about Arrabon HERE Download Arrabon's free Lent resource The Winding Road Explore Arrabon's resources on Spiritual Formation Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

David Bailey is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon. As a public theologian, David helps to bring wisdom, theological imagination, and moral imagination to the way that Christians show up in the world. He created Arrabon as a way to equip Christ's followers to actively, creatively pursue healing in their communities, to be a foretaste of the kingdom of God, an agent of healing, and an agent of reconciliation in their community.  Find out more about Arrabon HERE Download Arrabon's free Lent resource The Winding Road Explore Arrabon's resources on Spiritual Formation Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

When two contradictory commands about remembering past events refused to be reconciled, Dr. Megan Roberts began exploring new theories to help her exegetical work. Trauma theory helped explain the Israelites engagement with memory. And working on what God's comfort can say to traumatized people hit a deep and personal cord in her own life.   Read more about her work in Isaiah HERE You can find many of her sermons and teaching at Prairie College on their YouTube channel HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Biblical texts can be hard to read for several reasons - the poetry or images are challenging, or the emotion is strong, or the text seems to contradict itself in strange ways. In this episode, Dr. Megan Roberts from Prairie College tells us what draws her to these challenging texts and how they have a personal impact on her own life.  Read more about her work in Isaiah HERE You can find many of her sermons and teaching at Prairie College on their YouTube channel HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Last week Dr. Faro introduced us to the significant literary theme of women who advance the story of salvation. Today we hear example of the Matriarch Sarah and how she and Mary the Mother of Jesus share some common characteristics. We also talk about Hannah's song and about a little known figure named Jehosheba. How do these unexpected women play critical roles in the salvation story? Discover more about Dr. Faro HERE Explore her new book HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. Ingrid Faro joins us today to talk about the "highway" that runs through the literary structure of the salvation story. Seeing women as crucial players in moving the story of God forward is not common, but Dr. Faro introduces us to why this is so important for readers of the biblical text. Today we begin a conversation about her new book Redeeming Eden: How Women of the Bible Advance the Story of Salvation.  Discover more about Dr. Faro HERE Explore her new book HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Brad Nelson and Brad Gray from Walking the Text continue their conversation about the rich theology embedded in every phrase of the Lord's Prayer. How does "Holy be Your name" involve the community of believers? Why is receiving and giving forgiveness so essential? This is only a taster for their new film called "The Lord's Prayer" and their recently released  book titled Bringing Heaven Here.  Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the Text Watch the movie trailer for The Lord's Prayer Purchase the book Bringing Heaven Here Instagram / Facebook: @thesacredthreadtv Instagram / Facebook: @angel Instagram / Facebook: @evolvestudios Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

So many of us memorized the Lord's Prayer. Some congregations quote it together every week. It is so familiar that we don’t always stop to think about the theologically rich statements it is making. Today, helping us slow down to think about the prayer are  Brad Gray and Brad Nelson from Walking the Text. They recently released a film called "The Lord's Prayer" and wrote a book titled Bringing Heaven Here.  Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the Text Watch the movie trailer for The Lord's Prayer Purchase the book Bringing Heaven Here Instagram / Facebook: @thesacredthreadtv Instagram / Facebook: @angel Instagram / Facebook: @evolvestudios Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

 Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but that is not the only significant location in the Christmas story. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand how Luke introduces his readers to Jesus. The origin story continues all the way to Jerusalem where we meet Simeon and Anna. We talk about why the location of this encounter matters and the beauty of the words spoken matter to all of us.  Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  HERE Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel HERE Discover Dr. Beck's books HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life?  Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  HERE Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel HERE Discover Dr. Beck's books HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use?  Find out more about Dr. Schaser HERE Explore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew Read short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website HERE Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place. Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!