Discussion of the holiday of Purim. Esther also has several apocryphal additions that are included in some editions of the Bible. They are not canonical, but they do provide an insight into the time when they were composed.

In the aftermath of Haman's execution, three months pass and the edict to kill the Jews still stands. Esther again visits the king unbidden and persuades him to let Mordecai issue a new decree. Mordecai begins a program of intimidation against the enemies of the Jews.

The king has begun to be uneasy about Haman and the scope of his power. His midnight reading of the chronicles and his decision to honor Mordecai bespeak second thoughts. Haman makes a fatal misstep when he responds to the king's question about honoring someone. Meanwhile, Esther prepares her trap for the unwary Haman.

The elevation of Haman to power and the beginning of the conflict between him and Mordecai. Discussion of what Haman's selection meant in the context of Persian court politics and of the reason why Mordecai would not bow down to him. Beginning of Mordecai and Esther's plan to dispose of Haman.

This first session gives the historical background to the Book of Esther, introduces the characters and explores the personality and manner of governance of King Ahasuerus. We also discuss how Esther came to be chosen as queen.

The lure of idols lies in the human desire for works salvation. We think that the busier we become, the holier we get. False gods pander to that desire. A lamentation over Ephraim and a promise of eventual return.

God chose to tell us about Himself using the vehicle of a book. If people understood what the book is trying to do and how it should be read, there would be a lot less junk theology. Torah means teaching, not law, so the Bible should be read as a guide book. As an example this talk covers the two creation stories in Genesis - why there are two and what we are to learn from that.

Malachi, written after the Babylonian exile, addresses a jaded and cynical priesthood. They are just going through the motions to satisfy the crowd and maintain their places in society. In this they are very similar to much of the modern church.

With the current court rulings on homosexual 'marriage' and health care, the government has forfeited the pretense of moral authority. Now words mean whatever the strongest say they mean. Curiously, this presents a great opportunity for believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Being surrounded by hostiles simplifies our problem greatly.

Joy is a major theme in Scripture and in certain cases we are commanded to rejoice. What is joy and how does one summon it on command?