The Blues and Advent

Advent is a rhythm of waiting. Waiting for deliverance from a darkness. That can mean different things for each of us meandering through various seasons and life. In the Christian tradition this observance awaits liberation ushered in by a Saviour. This idea, or notion in history, only means something if your faith tradition or worldview ties Jesus’ victory over death as the pronounced symbol that ultimately all “that ain’t right”, in our lives and in the world, will and can be reversed for goodness. We hold this tension, a now but not yet, of living out the fulness of our humanity versus struggling with the defeats. A continuous cycle that clings to the hope spoken through Advent that in the end, the former will win out now and forever.

Give Peace a Chance?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately following the violence in Gaza and Israel. What unique thought can I possibly add to the corpus of material and calls to action already online? Nothing really. I also think about how we ought to respond. Thought I suppose this makes an assumption–response. Christians should have a clear direction here. When Jesus shares his core teachings (Matt. 5 and Luke 6) peace making is explicit,

“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.” (Matt. 5:9)

If this were a sermon I might opt for a phrase that, “Jesus is calling us to act as peace MAKERS not peace TAKERS!” It sounds better in my head….

I’ve often wondered if noticing beauty is a practice. We often say some folks have, “an eye” for things that strike us as beautiful. I think we all have it. And it’s something we can cultivate–an intention to spot and create beauty. In fact, finding beauty is an act of repair. , This becomes more poignant when it’s finding beauty amidst the rubble. My partner has been sharing Palestinian artists/creators on socials during this time of upheaval. That’s beauty amidst the rubble for sure. A repair of brokenness in our midst, cultivated to pose as a form of resistance.

Beauty and joy are connected. One follows the other. How so?

Listen for more.

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent. Grab a blanket and cup of something warm and hot and settle in…. This first Sunday of Advent will look at hope and annunciation.

*Advent as a liturgical tradition does not necessarily follow the typical Advent wreath lighting of candles (symbols of hope, joy, peace, love). They are (I believe) distinct practices (same same but different). I’m going to swing between the two by using the themes but also influence from the lectionary ‘A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church’ by Dr Wilda Gafney. I invite you to use these reflections over the coming weeks in whichever way that fit your own traditions be it lighting an advent candle or something else.*

I (Rohadi) have had the pleasure to endorse a number of books in 2023 and that includes Go Wide. Reimagining the Landscape of Theology. If we take seriously the notion of decolonizing and deconstructing Christianity, that journey needs signposts along the way to help guide us to a more life giving faith. This book by Matte Downey is going to help, and this podcast episode is a teaser of what’s inside.

Here’s my endorsement:

“Downey develops an expansive and relational hermeneutic adept for a more liberative and inclusive posture in our modern world. This wider theological imagination is indeed “dangerous”, as Downey concludes, because it subverts hegemonic power systems that describe a far too narrow view of who God is.”

A little more about Go Wide:

What happens when we sidestep the notions of hierarchy and verticality in how we think about God, the world, and all things theological? How does emphasizing the expansiveness and breadth of God affect how we read the Bible and engage with topics such as salvation and the church? Using the lens of latitude, Martha (Matte) Elias Downey reframes familiar biblical stories and reimagines theological concepts, purposefully circumventing the oppressive, top-down dynamics of hierarchy. This book encompasses a broad range of theology by combining biblical interpretation, systematic theology, practical theology, and a selection of personal anecdotes. Here is an accessible and inclusive foray into theology for anyone interested in a fresh take on an ancient course of study.

I have a PhD in dramatic theology and spend my time pondering the meanings of stories and texts, seeking wisdom in unexpected places, learning to ask better questions, labouring over my words, taking photographs of every little thing, feeling all the feelings, and drinking copious amounts of chai. This is where I share what I’m learning, thinking about, and seeing in the world. Nothing is final. All is in process.

Find her at https://mattedowney.wordpress.com/ and on Instagram.

Find Rohadi at www.rohadi.com and on Instagram. Please rate the podcast wherever you’re listening!

Leaders either become a scandal to those they lead or embrace the scandalous way of Christ.

Part 2 of 2 featuring JR Woodward. We discuss his latest book, an iteration of his recent dissertation, on the Powers and church leadership. The Scandal of Leadership is now available wherever books are sold. Those in church leadership of any kind will find this conversation a crucial component to diagnosing systemic problems in church leadership formation. Both episodes derive from a deeply theological understanding of leadership, and digs into spiritual formation as well. CW: we do discuss Power through a spiritual lens that includes topics of spiritual warfare ranging from Christ, Satan, and so forth.

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Part 1 of a 2 part interview featuring author, catalyst, and teacher, JR Woodward. JR recently released a book, The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church. In an age where church leaders are hitting the news cycle for all the wrong reasons, JR details a theological outlook on WHY. If you’re connected to church leadership, church planting, or overall interested in diagnosing the deep systemic problems in church leadership, these two episodes will be for you. Both outline interesting theological insights (which is typically not the style of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast). Listen in to learn more, and check out the episode summary for a snapshot.

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We interrupt Season 10 with this bonus episode responding to the war breaking out in Israel and Palestine and how Christians might respond.

This is a repeat of last week’s newsletter (sign up on the homepage). A important article to read is penned by: Rabbi Dayna Rattenburg.

Welcome to Episode #70 with author Mekdes Haddis. Her debut book is called “A Just Mission. Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality.” Listeners who have read Rohadi’s book, When We Belong, will know the nascent Ethiopian connection formative to his journey in deconstructing Christianity. We launch off from his story to draw into Mekdes and her formation as an evangelical Christian in Ethiopia, how her perspectives are different than western thought, and how that may inform the way the church can conduct missions, but more importantly, how we all can find life giving church community outside of white hegemony.

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A season on authors and their new books. In this episode I feature Caroline Sumlin. Here’s a brief synopsis of her debut.

BREAK UP WITH THE STANDARD

From believing that the pinnacle of beauty lies in blonde hair and blue eyes, to believing we must maintain 24/7 productivity, we receive the message from every corner of society that, in one way or another, we aren’t enough.

As a result…we chase. We chase perfectionism. We chase productivity. We ignore trauma. We change ourselves to mold to the status quo. We erase our cultural identities to subscribe to Western culture. Our mental health suffers in silence. Our feelings of unworthiness deepen. All because we live in a society that determined that there was one ideal version of a human and everyone else was inferior.

Your chase ends today.

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