This episode is all about the joyful practice of giving - with a story about how Kris' fatal gift giving flaw leads to lots of laughs - and a reminder that God gets just as much excitement out of giving us gifts as we do out of giving gifts to each other. Check out this episode and John 3:11-17.

Christmas is right around the corner so we're getting in spiritual shape by practicing JOY all month long! This week, we rearrange a Christmas tree, build some LEGO, and watching a Christmas animated classic as we discuss the spiritual practice of Imagination and Isaiah 61.

We have talked about how we relate to money: remembering, releasing, reimagining our stories, and now, restoration! In the uncertainty of “what’s next?” Jesus’ disciples try to go back to their familiar, ordinary lives… but perhaps that’s where the miracles are always hiding. We talk about saints, fishing, an episode of The Office (US) and unintentional faith in the context of John 21.

Content Warning! Hi guys, we tend to keep it G on this podcast, but this episode does talk about a fairy tale that includes sexual violence and regular violence, so we wanted to let you know before you hit play!

Happy Halloween, a few weeks late! What do Cruella DeVil, a group of humble Christians singing praise songs, and you all have in common? Well, probably a lot more than nothing, but for today’s purposes, we’re talking about how we re-write our own stories, and how we use our imagination to do it! We have been remembering our stories, releasing the parts that don’t serve us anymore, and now we will reimagine them with compassion, for healing, and transformation! Scripture (not included in the episode) is about the Year of Jubilee continued – Leviticus 19:9-10 and 25:8-12.

As we go through wildernesses and promised lands, there come endings and beginnings – times to rethink which parts of our story we will carry forward, and what we need to let go of. As we consider our Money Stories, some of the things we need to release may be causing us pain or shame, or just not working anymore! Susan and Kris discuss Deuteronomy 15:1-11, and how we practice letting go so we can live into our purpose.

Most people we know don't like talking about money. Maybe they have it, maybe they don't, but it's uncomfortable to bring up! It's good to know we didn't invent complaining--the Hebrew people perfected it long ago and it served them well! They complained about slavery and God led them to freedom; they complained about not having enough to live on, and God provided and also invited them to think about living differently. (Check out the story in Exodus!) They had a money story, and so do we-- and it's important to be able to remember it! So we are kicking off our series on stewardship with remembering our own money stories. No shame allowed!

How can loving God and loving your neighbor be the same thing? And why on earth would it taste like chicken? Kris dives into Luke 10:25-37 and finding what is holy on the ground.

And perhaps manners are not Jesus' first priority when it comes to you living a fully awakened, fully loving, fully engaged life? Just a thought. Susan tackles the tale of the ten lepers from Luke 17:11-19, and what OTHER things (besides saying "please" and "thank you") might be working in this story and in our lives.

Priority #1 according to Jesus in the Bible is to love God... but what does that mean? How do we love what we cannot see? Kris has some ideas. Check out Mark 12:28-34 and Jesus' way of prioritizing our lives of faith.

We're back! After a multi-year hiatus, we're bringing the sermons back to the podcast waves. Susan launches season four with a look into 2 Timothy 1:1-14, and answering the unasked question: what have I been given, really?