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Idelette and I had a juicy conversation about what it means, and doesn't mean, to be a Dangerous Woman. We talk about Walter Brueggemann's sermon on Isaiah, the woman who leavens dough with a little yeast and Jesus feeding the crowds. We unpacked what dangerous means to each of us in relation to God, our self and our world. It's the start of a great new season at SheLoves Magazine! Join us! Click here to watch the video!  

These are three books that have cracked open the parables of Scripture in various ways for me. Parables as Subversive Speech: Jesus as Pedagogue of the Oppressed by William R. Herzog II [one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Herzog is a New Testament professor and a liberation theologian, which deeply shapes how he comes to understand the parables of Jesus. He showed me to see the socio-economic and political dynamics that impinge upon our understanding of these small stories. This book is part parable exegesis, part…

Christendom often seemed like a safe camp. I, for one, grew up safe within its walls. Campfire songs, flannel graphs and water colored storybooks fanned my beginner’s belief with sweeping and salvific stories. As I matured into Study Bibles and adult services I found a sturdy faith anchored by creeds, sacraments and plenty of sermons–so many of them about how to be good, stay above the fray of sin and keep out of trouble. In retrospect, the catechism of the…

Born into privilege, Pharaoh’s daughter was nursed on narratives of Egyptian greatness. She grew up among the elite, watching them parade through the palace with their curried favor and entourage of servants. She never lifted a finger and never knew any different. Life was good alongside the Great Nile River, which seemed to wind and bend to her father’s command. She’d often visit the various balconies of his household and observe the slow rise of the mighty pyramids. She marveled…

The most frequent question I get once someone learns I read Walter Brueggemann is “Where should I start?” or “What should I read first?” This is not an easy question, since Brueggemann writes varied kind of works and there are various kinds of readers who ask. Here are a few places you can consider starting: The Prophetic Imagination. [one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]This is Brueggemann’s seminal work. Reading this book will allow you to see how he understands the prophetic task both then and…

This week I'm sharing a simple story from motherhood under my roof. My son and I often tumble into interesting conversations. This time the talk centered on planets, stars and outer space type of things. Sometimes we get to help our kids see connections, sometimes we give them permission to explore and not be afraid. From time to time we even push a bit... do not be afraid of your curiosity, of connections, of science. This was one of those…

Each month SheLoves Magazine selects a theme for reflection. This month the word is GATHER. What stirred in my memory was Jesus saying he wanted to gather us like chicks under his mama-wings... Jesus wanted us huddled and pulled in close enough that we could be fed. But once I was in the thick of the text I noticed another gathering. Jesus alluded to The Great Gathering that all the prophets spoke of, that God dreamed of, people from every…

Am I the only one who enjoys a good commentary, cover to cover, from time to time? This is usually a luxurious summer read for me, taking time to concentrate on an entire Biblical book. Here are some of my favorites…   Isaiah 1-39 & Isaiah 40-66 by Walter Brueggemann. [one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]These volumes will make you swoon and sway as you encounter the words of Isaiah and the potent explanations by Brueggemann. It helps that he is not only a scholar,…

[caption id="attachment_1485" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Great August read...[/caption] So 2014 hasn't been the year I dreamed it would be, if I'm honest. But this isn't a post about that. This is about the books read that will have a lasting impact on me beyond the last word, the last day of the year, or the words "the end." The best Brueggemann book read in 2014 is Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now. In this small volume Brueggemann dips into…

Our streets tremble these days. They quake with so much wrong and woe. How can we think of green garlands and twinkle lights, or send carolers out on the streets still stained with the blood of our sons? Ashen mothers offer their call and response from one street corner to the next, a slow dirge then an anguished cry. They clutch graduation portraits to their chest. Stand in front of cameras testifying to the humanity of their children, the inhumane…