Gift Girls' Faith Book Club

Episode #7.   “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son” John 3:16. Created to steward God's creation, we humans have in many ways turned away from our original call. With humility and God's unending mercy we can begin to change. Together we can face our apathy, despair, and denial, as we examine both the problems and opportunities before us. Join us in this urgent conversation as we respond to How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, by Bill Gates. 

Many of us white kids were raised to believe that the problem of racial inequity was mostly solved with the civil rights movement. With God's grace and the Holy Spirit's gentle prompting, join the conversation as we investigate our own complicity in the complex structures that hold racism in place.

Episode #5. Bundle up, bring your cup of tea, and join Tanya and Dawn for a special advent conversation under stars. Equal parts reflection and sweet laughter, come  muse on the embodied coming of the light as the sparks fly...

Episode #4.   Shake up all your theological assumptions with us as we glimpse our comfy Christianity, in all its idolatrous ways, with Pete Rollins. Where do we find our identity? How does “the Christ event”  inform how we listen to the other. Equal parts brainy and experiential this book is a must read for anyone in need of fresh vision for what it means to be a Christ follower.

Why this Podcast? What are we doing and where are we going? 2020 has turned all our plans upside down, but we're still in the game. Getting our feet with season 1, Dawn and Tanya are jumping into uncharted territory with season two. Come rip the lid of the tidy box we like to keep Jesus in. Pull away the safety net of our assumptions. Say hello to a fresh vision for following Jesus. Consider new voices and join the conversation. 

What do we do when our worst fears become reality? One of the oldest tales in human history, journey with Job as he laments, grieves, complains, rages, and ultimately finds peace with God. Ancient yet timely, this tale profoundly resonates for our current day as we cope with life during a global pandemic.

Let Robert D Lupton open our eyes to the disturbing reality that our “unexamined generosity” may be causing more harm than good to our neighbors in need. Can we discipline our compassion with wisdom to expand our positive impact?

Episode #13. Wrapping up a fabulous first season, we reflect on our adventure into podcast land. It has been a thrilling journey of humble learning and joyous discovery. Get a sneak peek at what's in store for season two!

The Gospel of Matthew not only holds the story of Jesus, but is jam packed with his parables, speeches, warnings, and exhortations. Because of his words the trajectory of human history has been forever transformed. This gospel account of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is still changing lives and communities. Come listen to Matthew with us!

Episode #11.   Get the tissues ready because you'll be laughing so hard you'll need them. With Jen Hatmaker a spoonful of laughter makes the medicine go down, as she ruffles feathers, tosses out truth bombs, and generally disrupts our comfortable church routine. Interrupted takes us along on the Hatmakers' journey from their safe and predictable lifestyle christianity, to the wild ride of living on mission for Jesus. Bring it on Jen! We love you! 

The Psalms are a natural place to experience contemplative prayer. The psalmist has a posture of confidence, reverence, and total surrender before the Lord, punctuated by silence (selah). Can we allow the text to read us? What is revealed in the silence?

Episode #9. Exhausted with hearing  your own constant chatter when you pray? Do you sometimes feel that your prayers are a one way conversation? Tiny yet profound, AJ Sherrill's book Quiet: Hearing God Amidst the Noise, offers practical tools for deepening our experience of contemplative prayer. If you have never encountered contemplation as a Christian practice, get ready to hone some stillness and simply be with God. For some it will be a challenge, for others it will feel like a homecoming. Join the conversation with Tanya and Dawn as they plumb the depths of this refreshing book. 

The Book of James with its tenacious, invigorating, imploring words just seemed right paired with The Great Emergence, the book by the vivacious and brilliant Phyllis Tickle. This high energy text might go well with a vigorous walk, or an impromptu dance around the kitchen!

Episode #7. Never a dull moment with one of our favorite church history buffs Phyllis Tickle, as she helps us understand some of the historical patterns of growth and change within the Church and our society as a whole. If you've never encountered Church Emergence theory you may need to take a deep breath and clear your head to make room for some mind expanding concepts. Join the conversation with Tanya and Dawn as they explore this eye opening book, and also take a look at The Book of James.

What better scripture to pair with Nadia Bolz- Weber's Accidental Saints than fellow reluctant prophet Jonah from The Book of Jonah? This may be God's holy scripture but it is witty, wry, and gets right to the point.

Episode #5. With glee we celebrate Nadia Bolz-Weber's, Accidental Saints. This is a searingly authentic, and often hilarious story of one minister's foibles and failures leading her congregation of beautiful misfits. Tanya and Dawn discuss their experience of this game-changing book, and also take a look at Jonah the reluctant prophet.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, with themes of reconciliation and unity, pairs sweetly with Richard Rohr's book Simplicity. In six lively chapters, this iconic text holds some of our most treasured verses right alongside some of our lesser appreciated ones! Working through this tension is part of the beauty in considering the letter in it's entirety. Take a deep breath, quiet your mind, and let's give Ephesians a fresh full hearing.

Episode #3. This episode Tanya and Dawn are diving into contemplative prayer with a conversation about Richard Rohr's Simplicity, and the accompanying scripture reading: The Letter to the Ephesians. Father Richard is a brilliant author and communicator, in touch with the current moving of the spirit and deeply steeped in the complex history of the Church. If you have never encountered this transformative leader you are in for a treat. So brew some coffee, get out your journals, or gather a friend or two, but get ready for inspiration and new ideas. We have a link to reflection questions based on The letter to the Ephesians, Simplicity, by Richard Rohr and the Gift Girls' Faith Book Club's conversation.

Vibrating with joy and thanksgiving, The Letter to the Philippians was an easy choice to pair with Ann Voscamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. We are convinced that the scriptures come alive when experienced in longer segments. So we invite you to take a deep breath, relax and let these words wash over you as if for the first time.

Episode #1. With grateful hearts we dive into this gorgeous book, full of wisdom and beauty. In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voscamp illustrates a challenge for us: to begin a practice of naming the gifts in our lives. Tanya and Dawn discuss their experience of this beautifully poetic story of a mother's struggle from despair to joy, and we will also hear a bit of the back story of Gift Girls' Faith."