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Flaming tongues, the tower of Babel, the internet and A.I... today we return to the book of Acts and look at the connection between the Pentecost narrative and emerging technology and human accomplishment. Join us to contemplate these issues as we prepare ourselves to receive the Holy Spirit. 

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Bishop Cornelius Bowser was a drug dealer and gang member in one of San Diego's most notorious gangs, but since giving his life to Christ, he has committed his efforts to combating gun violence, intervening in gang conflicts, and creating avenues out of gang life for young men and women who are caught up in the lifestyle. Working with other credible witnesses with lived experience, Bishop Bowser and his organization use the respect and clout of their experience to provide wisdom and direction for young people who are facing many obstacles to find a life heading toward better things than prison or early death. His work is both deep and broad, and he is working here in San Diego, just down the street from us at Living Water. Blessed are the peacemakers. 

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Rev. Carrington Moore is the Executive Director of Common Cathedral, a church seeking to overcome the barriers between housed and unhoused folks in Boston, which has gathered outdoors in Boston Common every Sunday for the last 29 years. He is also a Pastor at Bethel AME Church in Boston. Rev. Moore is a community leader, active in organizing and advocacy in the city and in the church. He has led his church through the Trauma Responsive Congregations Program through Boston University, which is what helped Living Water Church develop our Flow Groups program. He has become a friend and partner - we hope you enjoy our conversation!

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Monte Mansfield is a former professional baseball player who found himself sliding into addiction and homelessness. When he finally realized that he needed to turn his life around, God was waiting through the Salvation Army. Monte shares his journey in sports, addiction, recovery, and now a call into ministry. He is full of joy and hope, an encourager at heart who loves Jesus and has given his life to his service. Husband of our beloved friend Laura Davis (to be featured on a future episode!), we hope that you'll find his testimony encouraging and edifying.

Enjoyed this episode? Find more of Monte here: 
https://www.youtube.com/ @yourneighborhoodhopedealer9579  

https://www.tiktok.com/discover/monte-mansfield-baseball?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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Dr. Brad Kelle is the Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Point Loma Nazarene University and an Ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. He is an accomplished scholar in his field who has specialized in the prophets. He has written a commentary an Ezekiel, is writing another one on Hosea, and in this episode's discussion, we talk about the topic of his book The Bible and Moral Injury: Reading Scripture Alongside War's Unseen Wounds. Brad was kind enough to share his insights around moral injury in our contemporary context, what we need for healing, and how we can be a place for healing in the church. 

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We are blessed to welcome Rev. Dr. Cari Willis to the podcast this week. Cari is a fellow Duke Divinity School graduate, and she serves as a chaplain on death row in eight states. We discuss what life looks like on "the row," what men condemned to death are processing spiritually, how it's possible to maintain strength and hope in ministry filled with pain and grief, and what we can learn from journeying with these men. We hope this discussion brings listeners hope, inspiration, challenge, and calling. 

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In this episode, we look at the time between the ascension and pentecost through the lens of trauma and grief. We discuss the way that the apostles may be working through their difficult experiences as they pray, find meaning in the events that have transpired, and organize themselves, replacing Judas among the 12. 

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Eric Paul is the Director of the West Hawaii Mediation Center and the Coordinator for Justice and Compassion on the Hawaii District in the Church of the Nazarene. He is also a pastor, and he was kind enough to join Pastor Chris during the PALCON conference at PLNU to discuss conflict, mediation, peacemaking, and the centrality of these practices in the work of the body of Christ. 

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This week, we look at the significance of the ascension of Jesus. What does it mean that he is taken up into heaven? Are there ways that we think about heaven that get in the way of our understanding the symbolism and significance of the image presented to us here in Acts 1:7-11? What does it mean for us to expect the return of Jesus to where we are? How are we called to engage here on earth?  We discuss these things and more! 

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Today's episode is about how we approach Acts (and scripture more generally) in terms of perspective. Which characters do we identify with, and what difference does it make? Where do we find ourselves in the book of Acts? 

Join us today and each week as we continue learning to read the text deeply and well, inviting the Holy Spirit to call us forward as disciples of Jesus.