Look to Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible

In a departure from the usual, this episode features an interview with Justin Gerhardt from Holy Ghost Stories (my fave podcast) about Exodus chapter 1. In this episode: cheeky midwives, a Pharaoh God isn't willing to quit too soon, a pre-gospel, and seeing God as "person." You're going to love it!

Scripture never tires of reminding us of God's faithful, never-giving-up love and mercy. Here in Jonah we get an expansive vision and a playful spin on His for-everybody compassion. In this episode: salvation via being swallowed, love for the haters, gentleness Jonah didn't deserve, and a glimpse into the way God's been using this story to call me back to a holy assignment. 

What does God want? And is it weird that GOD (the all-powerful source of everything) would have wants? Listen as we consider one way God is like us (or we're like Him). In this episode: the way of the minor prophets, forgetting God, and being remembered. 

When you first met God Who did you know Him to be? What characteristic of His is the foundation of your experience and trust? 

In this episode: an impossible challenge, a hopeful challenger, and a God Who lights up the hidden places. Plus, a look at how those initial moments of connection with God shape our relationship with Him going forward AND what to do if you feel like God is definitely not revealing mysteries to you. 

Sometimes we simply refuse to return to God. Who is He when that happens? In this episode: a baby writhing in blood, a salvation & transformation story, a terrible turn involving a lot of promiscuity, and one more chance. Plus, did you know God carries Ezekiel around by his hair?!

Who is God to you when your home's been burned down, when your children are starving, when the people you hate are victorious, when your neighbors are literally eating their babies? In this episode: an unflattering perspective, heartache-colored metaphors, and a God who looks different depending on where you're standing. 

Maybe you know God is the Potter and we are the clay. Did you know clay has a say in what it becomes? In this episode: the not-so-straightforward relationship between maker and made, embracing (or fighting) your destiny, and the never-too-late reality of God's mercy. 

Have you ever wished somebody would just pick you up and carry you? And then you remembered you're a grown person? No problem--Yahweh carries grown people, too. In this episode: a primer on how idolatry works, why it doesn't work, and God's better, stubborn love. 

Yes, I get it, it's sexy. But is it good sexy? And could it possibly, in any universe, represent the love between Jesus and His bride? In this episode: many questions and one sure thing about God as revealed in (what I perceive to be) the most confusing book in the Bible. Join me as I pretty much completely disagree with the traditional interpretation of Song of Songs. Exciting! 

Craving a little "Everything is meaningless?" Sometimes it's exactly the message our heart feeels. What can we learn about the identity of God from the teacher who struggled to make sense of this chaotic, unjust world? More than you might think. In this episode: truth that isn't the whole truth, my emo phase, and how Heaven changes everything. 

Is wisdom inside or outside of you? Do you seek it or is it your birthright? In this episode: all things wisdom, why the Proverbs don't always apply, and a reminder that you're not as wise as you think you are. 

When David asked the question, Who is God? Psalm 23 was his answer. What might yours be? In this episode: why I love Psalm 23, why I love the God of Psalm 23, and a psalm about money, magic, and white rabbits. 

Who is God? Is He just? Do you have the right to ask? How would God describe Himself? Listen on; we have answers!

In this episode: So much revelation! A peak behind the veil, all the cool stuff God knows and you don't, and what happens when you see God as He is. 

Is the book of Esther (one of two books in the Bible that do not mention God) simply a secular history? Or is it a kind of puzzle, an exercise in seeing and knowing? In this episode: a "rape fest," exilic darkness, and a crash course in knowing what God's up to.

This week, a very popular passage of scripture which may not mean what you think it means. In this episode: Entering Jerusalem like it's Hogwarts, stories to make you feel guilty, and a God who wants to skip the guilt and throw a party. 

When God punishes us for walking away, we're on our own. Right? In this episode: enough guilt to drown in & a little relief. 

Who is God when you don't know what to do? Are you willing to be still, and let Him be Who He is? In this episode: a very good prayer, lots of corpses, and loads of plunder.

What happens when we start to think God needs us? David finds out in I Chronicles 17. Listen to discover God's gentle reorientation. In this episode: why you feel humble when you win an Oscar, a God who likes traveling, and cuddles on the throne. 

Have you ever found yourself at the absolute edges of your ability? If you have, perhaps you, like the woman in II Kings 4, have encountered the God who lives there. It’s one of His very favorite places to move. In this episode: A woman who needs help and a God who makes a lot from a little.

Tis the season for feeling tired and overwhelmed and straight outta gas (2020-2022 have been so very taxing). Looking for a little light? Consider Elijah. Better yet, consider Elijah's God. In this episode: a snack made by an angel, a desert hike, and an unforgettable whisper.

Does God striking Uzzah dead terrify you? It terrified David. Until it didn't. This week we're asking, "Is God scary?" and "Can we get close to Him?" In this episode: a self-indulgent plan, an unexpected death, and a very strong second effort. 

"Bible reading isn't for shaming real men and women who happened to have their real lives exposed in the pages of scripture. Bible reading is for discovering Who God is when real men and women live real lives in His presence, wrapped in His unfailing love." In this episode: a man on the run, a pile of dead priests, and the most romantic gesture.

Ruth is more than a love story; it's a forbidden love story in which God appears to break His own rules. Is it a sin to marry a Midianite or not? More to the point, is it a sin to BE a Midianite? The answers help us see God more clearly. In this episode: your Bible crush, a baby blessing, and some very good news for those of us who're far away and wanting to come home. 

What does it feel like to be forgotten? God knows. Maybe better than you do. In this episode: a repeating cycle, learning empathy, and the time I wore a stonewashed denim vest. 

Not all passages of scripture look great on a t-shirt. What's God doing with this hardening of hearts and the annihilation of an entire people group? Is God a racist? Is He violent? Does He show preferential treatment? In this episode: retribution, a warrior angel of the Lord, and a God who shows no partiality. Turns out, God isn't on your side. 

When I miscarried my first two babies I wondered if my husband and I would ever have children. We decided to write a letter to the child we hoped we'd have about who we hoped she'd be. Deuteronomy is something like that. 

In this episode: a ban on kidnapping, daily paychecks, and a glimpse at the God who never overlooks the poor and powerless.

What happens when Aaron and Miriam mess with God's friend? It'll make you glad He's your friend, too. In this episode: Moses makes a (probably) bad choice, his siblings make a (definitely) bad choice, and God lays down the law. 

Does God prefer perfection? Leviticus sure does make it seem that way. What does that mean for us imperfect folks? In this episode: a prohibition on dwarves in the priesthood, a quote from Spiderman, and this gem: "This is the kind of trouble you get in when you think the whole Bible is about you."

Why does God care so much about the details of His house? And what does how much He cares say about Who He is? Let's see... In this episode: luxury materials, a story about my husband's obsession with house plans, and no hinting. 

This week we're reading Genesis 4 (Cain & Abel) and asking, "Who is God?" The answers might surprise you. Listen to hear about an enchanted earth, talking back, and why "don't be like Cain" is an incomplete way of reading. 

What's Look to Love? It's a better way to read the Bible! In this episode we'll talk about why we don't love God even though we want to, and we'll make a plan to fall in love on purpose. Included: a story about a time I made a boy cry and a quote from Shakespeare about flirting. 

Intro music by Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, "Fighting for Love"