Our special guest, Dr. Diana Butler Bass, shares how the Zacchaeus story illustrates Jesus's radical upending of the patron system of the first-century, causing gratitude to emerge in the heart of Zacchaeus.

Most popularly known about the story of Jonah is the big fish and the controversy (?) discussion (?) around the "miracle" or "myth" of that event. However, this story is far deeper, more profound and more convicting than that. It is more about the categories we put people in, and the challenge to love our enemies.

This is a very informal follow up conversation between Rabbi Ari and Pastor Danielle on a variety of questions about the book of Esther.

Our friend Rabbi Ari led us through the reading of the Megillah, the scroll of Esther. With song, and wit, we tell the story of hiddenness, irony, and redemption.

How shall we live when we're in "foreign lands?" How do we maintain faithfulness, in the midst of tempting compromise?

Suffering. Justice. Blame. Innocence. These are all challenges and ideas that emerge in this, the most ancient of texts we have in our Bible. Predominant on all of them, however, is wisdom.

There is always a temptation to be like those around you, to be seduced into their way of living. Yet, our story is one where we are to be different, to be a light to the nations, not like them.

This is the recorded conversation from our Communal Meal following service, on finding our place in this world.

Our guest Dr. Cyndi Parker continues our series on Story, and what role the concept of "place" has in our narrative. Far from a simple geographical location, understanding our place is about becoming aware of how the physical space within which we find ourselves informs how we belong to the world and to each other, and how we find meaning in all the spaces of our lives.