Spark Cast

Rev. Ryan Eller is the Executive Director of Define American (defineamerican.com). In this opening talk, he shares a call to all of us to consider a more compassionate and educated perspective on immigration.

Jesus is a chapter leader of Define American and the Sparker who conceived this event. He shares personally why this event is so important to him through his personal testimony.

This is a followup Q&R (question & response) with Professor Binford after her talk, "4 Days In Clint."

Chapters 19-26 of Deuteronomy is a long list of various legislation about a variety of topics. For many of us in the 21st century, some of these legal stipulations are ancient, and even barbaric, things like the death penalty, mutilation, bodily fluids, etc. But a longer historical and contextual view reveals that times have always been changing, and we are not immune. But woven into this text are threads of redemptive ethics that transformed societies then, and have the power to transform societies still today. May we be thoughtfully responsible with what God has given us, rather than simply doing what we think the text literally or mechanically says.

When we think of "prophets" and "prophecy," we too often think of some magical clairvoyance or foresight into some radical improbability. The problem is that this is not how messianic prophecy worked in the ancient world. Neither should it work that way for us today. Rather, we are committed to fulfill the calling of the messianic prophetic voice today.

When we think of "judgment," we often think of negative condemnation. But the installment of a judiciary in Deuteronomy is truly about justice, the pursuit of what is good and right in a society. It is this kind of justice—unpersuaded, not bribed, not delayed—that we are to pursue.

Deuteronomy invites us into a reset. No matter where we've been, how we've arrived, there's always the opportunity to to start over. This kind of redemptive renewal is woven into the fabric of our faith.

Five Sparkers share their stories as reflections of our values. We end with a benediction for the next seven years.

Pastors Kevin & Danielle share a brief background on our story to this point, and what brought us through these seven years.