Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? Well you're not alone.  In today's episode, we're going to unpack that question, exploring how the Bible helps us to process this contradiction. We'll also discuss how to weather the difficult moments in our own lives, and then how we can sit with others with empathy and love when they are moving through tough times.  — Resources * Sarah Bessey: Miracles and Other Reasonable Things [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Miracles_and_Other_Reasonable_Things/LlD9DwAAQBAJ?hl=en] * Peter Enns: Odds and Enns Substack [https://peteenns.substack.com] * Bema Discipleship Podcast  [https://www.bemadiscipleship.com] * Walter Brueggemann: Jeremiah and the Exile  [https://youtu.be/6WcjIwXj86E?si=QTctqgVpfX_Vwec4] — Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2338836/support] This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic [https://pixabay.com/users/24940186/] - *Better Day* from Pixabay. * Website [https://theexileproject.com] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theexileproject/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/exileproject] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theexileproject] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheExileProject] Share your ideas with us! You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com]. Thanks for listening!

587 and Covid

Sometimes a shared felt experience is worth looking at in a new light. So in today’s episode, we’re looking at the coronavirus pandemic in the context of the Exile story from the Old Testament. Walter Brueggemann says that when we go through a community-wide trauma like the exile, we tend to move through three stages: interpretation, reflection and anticipation.  Together, we can consider what felt true in the collective trauma of Covid over the past four years; and how the Israelites learned to process Jewish law and evolve their thinking about God’s nature and the concept of suffering ——— Resources * Stanley Hauerwas: Unleashing the Scripture [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Unleashing_the_Scripture/SXnYAAAAMAAJ?hl=en] * Peter Enns: Odds and Enns Substack [https://peteenns.substack.com] * Bema Discipleship Podcast  [https://www.bemadiscipleship.com] * Walter Brueggemann: Conversations Among Exile [https://www.religion-online.org/article/conversations-among-exiles/] * Walter Brueggemann: Jeremiah and the Exile [https://youtu.be/6WcjIwXj86E?si=QTctqgVpfX_Vwec4] ——— Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2338836/support] This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic [https://pixabay.com/users/24940186/] - *Better Day* from Pixabay. * Website [https://theexileproject.com] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theexileproject/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/exileproject] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theexileproject] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheExileProject] Share your ideas with us! You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com]. Thanks for listening!

The Apple Juice Chair

Get ready, we’re talking about all the things. Feminism, Sodom and Gomorrah, patriarchy, inclusivity, hell, sexual identity, and the Barbie movie. It was a crazy emotional week and we found it impossible to talk about one thing without all the others. Ultimately, in today’s episode, we’re looking towards God's heart for the oppressed and his radical inclusion and empowerment of all people. This is how we know that God is good for everyone. And this is what we are so passionate about.  We also share a challenge at the end of our conversation. If you are curious about a passage of scripture or “hot button topic” that makes you question the goodness of God, please send it to us! We may not have the answers, but we would love to investigate and be curious with you. Never hesitate to reach out. You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com] or reach out via social media @theexileproject [http://instagram.com/theexileproject/]. —— Resources  * Jonathan McIntosh: Patriarchy According to the Barbie Movie [https://youtu.be/rK66s7VQmXE?si=oURP28ihIFH7I6Vw] * Peter Enns: The Sin of Certainty [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Sin_of_Certainty/5yI6CQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] * Megan K Defranza: Sex Difference in Christian Theology - Male, Female, and Intersex in the Image of God [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sex_Difference_in_Christian_Theology/DaC4BwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] * Eric Berkowitz: Sex and Punishment - Four Thousand Years of Judging Desire [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sex_and_Punishment/Bt0REAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] —— Bible References * Genesis 19 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019&version=NIV] * John 4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204&version=NIV] * Matthew 8 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208&version=NIV] —— Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2338836/support] This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic [https://pixabay.com/users/24940186/] - *Better Day* from Pixabay. * Website [https://theexileproject.com] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theexileproject/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/exileproject] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theexileproject] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheExileProject] Share your ideas with us! You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com]. Thanks for listening!

Bonus Episode: Imaginative Prayer

Here is a quick imaginative prayer exercise that you can try for yourself, in real-time, while you're listening. This is a method of connecting with God where you envision yourself stepping into a story from the Bible to encounter Jesus. The beauty of this approach to prayer is that you don't have to say anything out loud, you don't have to be creative, or find just the right words. You don’t have to know the Bible inside and out. This practice we’re about to do together is meant for you to simply come as you are, right now. —— Things to Remember * Fully engage with your imagination. * Use your senses. * God is always with you. * God speaking to you is God’s delight, just receive. * It can be simple and silly and still be with God. —— Resource Links * Lectio 365 App [https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/] * The Pause App [https://www.pauseapp.com/] * Jared Patrick Boyd: Imaginative Prayer [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Imaginative_Prayer/HPMtDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] * Brian Zahnd: Prayer School  [https://www.opentableconference.com/store/spiritual-practices-prayer-zahnd-audio] * Seeds and Water Collective [https://www.seedsandwaterco.org] —— Elizabeth's Holy Spirit Chocolate Cake [https://www.instagram.com/p/C6znw0tOtIo/] —— Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2338836/support] This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic [https://pixabay.com/users/24940186/] - *Better Day* from Pixabay. * Website [https://theexileproject.com] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theexileproject/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/exileproject] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theexileproject] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheExileProject] Share your ideas with us! You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com]. Thanks for listening!

Let’s Get (Not So) Serious About Prayer

Have you ever gotten waxed, had a panic attack and then met God? Have you ever “prayed” about your partner and then realized you were complaining and that is why God gave you BFFs? Have you ever wanted so badly to pray like you were seven years old again? Well don’t worry because SO HAVE WE! In this episode, we share some stories that have become cornerstones in our prayer life. We talk about how God is always present and pursuing us, so the entry point to prayer is super easy. Also, we laugh a lot, because we don’t think prayer needs to be so serious all the time. —— Key Takeaways  * Stop stressing, it's not that serious. * God is always near and always pursuing you. * Prayer is about noticing. * Experiment with prayer, find out what works for you now. * Shift your expectations and experiment as needed. —— Resource Links * Annie Dillard: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pilgrim_at_Tinker_Creek/J4qHCF5kAh4C?hl=en&gbpv=0] * Tish Harrison Warren: Prayer in the Night — For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Prayer_in_the_Night/meruDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] * Heidi Baker Book and Rolland Baker: Training for Harvest [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Training_for_Harvest/dHQfDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0] * 101 Amazing Facts About Guam [https://www.google.com/books/edition/101_Amazing_Facts_about_Guam/FJ31vgEACAAJ?hl=en] —— Bible References * Psalm 51 (The Message) [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=MSG] * Psalm 63 (NIV) [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+63&version=NIV] —— Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2338836/support] This podcast is a production of Worship Lab, and recorded in Brooklyn New York. Our executive producer is Armistead Booker. Our technical director and engineer is Gareth Manwaring. And our sound designer is Oleksandr Stepanov. Music by penguinmusic [https://pixabay.com/users/24940186/] - *Better Day* from Pixabay. * Website [https://theexileproject.com] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theexileproject/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/exileproject] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@theexileproject] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheExileProject] Share your ideas with us! You can email questions@theexileproject.com [questions@theexileproject.com]. Thanks for listening!