TEN FOOT POLE

The pinnacle text of terror, buckle up.  Pastor Andrew and Pastor A.J. dive into our last installment of the Judges study with the hardest violence for us to wrestle with: violence where God does not show up.  What do we make of this in our faith and our lives? This discussion is about the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19.  Discussion guide is available at www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges Discussion Questions: Do we accept this treatment of women as just a part of history? Or something systemic still at play? What do you make of the silence of God in this story? What do you make of the question of “theodicy”? The age old question of where is God? When and how does God show up? What agency is on us? Do we need to ask for help to receive it from God? How do we use the law to create our own society and what we want even if it’s contrary to what God may want for us? I.e. pick and choose Old Testament laws to enforce? Who is sacrificed at the altar of the phallocentric world? What is your working theology of violence in the bible after this study? What does this tell us about God? Other notes: “Homophobia and Masculine Domination in Judges 19-21” James Harding, University of Otago, New Zealand, published November 2, 2016 in the journal: The Bible & Critical Theory.  https://bibleandcriticaltheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/vol12-no2-2016-homophobia-and-masculine-domination-harding-662-2594-1-PB-1iuc3eo.pdf  Dr. Crystal Hall’s Women in Ministry and Money Workshop: https://www.crystalhallphd.com/events

In our 4th installment of our Judges Study, we take a look at the second part of Samson’s story: the part where Delilah tricks him, cuts his hair, and he commits mass murder with his own suicide.  Where does God fit into all of this? Join Pastor Bre and Pastor A.J. in this heavy conversation about Samson’s final vindictive act.  Discussion guide is available on our website: tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges Discussion Questions: If Samson’s story is a literary story for the need for a hero in exile, what is the point of this story? What do you think Delilah’s agency is in this situation? The Devil? Saving her people? Just between a rock and a hard place as a woman? Does it matter who Delilah is or what her motivations are? Do you think that Samson’s actions are an act of deliverance? Does God allow these bad things to happen to them? Why? What does this mean for us? What does this tell us about God? 

We are in week 3 of our special Judges study about God-Ordained Violence.  We pick up this week with Samson.  Samson is a figure that has been held in high regard as a hero of Israel… but is he? Tune into this conversation with Pastor Elise to learn more about his story and the violence that surrounds this iconic biblical figure. Study guide for this episode is available at tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges Discussion Questions: 1. What have you learned about Samson in Sunday School?  How did this reading and discussion change your image of Samson? 2. Do you see Samson as a deliverer? Why would God ordain Samson’s actions of violence? 3. The slippery slope, what is the point of all of these stories in our scripture? 4. Is this violence God’s way or is it our way? 5. God still cares for Samson through all of his ups and downs.  What does this tell us about how God relates to us?   6. What does this tell us about God? Downloadable discussion guide: tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges

In week 2 of our Judges: A Study of God-Ordained Violence, we pick up with the judge: Gideon.  Gideon has a large army to defeat their enemies but God wants them to do it with a smaller army to get all the glory.  Pastor Kyle gives us some great grace-filled insight into God and our relationship with the divine during troubled times.  Discussion guide at: www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges Discussion Questions: 1. How have you experienced the conditioning of men versus women and glorifying violence? 2. How do you hear that God wants them to get glory with a small army so they can’t have it themselves? Is this God ordaining this violence? Or is it what Pastor Kyle says, “if you want violence, I’ll give it to you,but it’s not what you need.” 3. “Power and violence are the things people want more than they want true wisdom, God offers the better and we keep taking the worse. We have as much free agency as we want and God says you can keep taking the bad as much as you want until you realize it’s just too bad for you.” Are these actions of God actually out of love? 4. Pastor Kyle introduces the threshing floor versus wine press metaphor. Are we trying to do it the wrong way and just missing God’s instructions? 5. Is God anti-violent or non-violent? Do you get that in the story of Gideon? 6. What does this tell us about God?

Rabbi Evan and Pastor A.J. dive into the first part of our new study of God-ordained Violence.  We outline some background information for Judges, talk about the specific story that takes place under the leadership of the Judge Deborah, including a tent stake through the head.  The next 5 weeks will include uncomfortable conversations around violence that happens in the Bible, God’s role in this, and how do we respond.  This episode talks about Judges 4:12-24.  You can download the study guide materials at https://www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges  Discussion Questions: 1. Before we start, how do you perceive violence in the Bible? 2. How do you theologically understand “God-ordained” violence in the Bible? 3. How do you perceive Jael’s actions? Hospitality? Hospitality in times of war? 4. What is your theological understanding about the 5th commandment? In times of war? 5. Listening to Rabbi’s perspective on this violence, what differences do you notice in your own theology? 6. What does this tell us about God? Other notes: 1. Visual for Song of the Sea/Song of Deborah: https://www.museumofthebible.org/magazine/collections/yom-va-yosha-and-the-song-of-the-sea   2. ELCA Social Statement on Peace: https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/PeaceSS.pdf?_ga=2.58500010.1204821829.1726546425-502595238.1726546425

We have reached the end of season 3 and with it, some tough questions.  The "circumcised" or "uncircumcised"? Who is in, who is out, and who is closer to God?  Spoiler alert, no one.  The author of Ephesians draws us in to ask some very important questions of our time and face head on what it means to put the hostility in our world to death on the cross. This is no small feat.. join with us in this hard conversation.  Pastors A.J. and Bishop Gohl discuss Ephesians 2:11-22 for Sunday, July 21, 2024. Discussion Questions: 1. What hostilities do we (you) need to put to death? 2. What do Paul's words say to us in our current reality? 3. How do we understand the grace that is given to both sides? 4. What is our role in the storm as followers of Jesus? 5. Where is the Good News? DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded before the shooting at former President Trump's campaign rally. Though, I think it should be taken into consideration in light of these words from Ephesians.

Pastors A.J. and Andrew go on some long tangents but bring us home to some super powerful topics.  John the Baptist is beheaded on a sacrificial altar of power.  Many people in our world are sacrificed on similar altars. Who is sacrificed? What privileges do we have and how do we recognize them and understand them in our world? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in the world filled with altars of power?  We dive into Mark 6:14-29 for Sunday, July 14th, 2024.  Discussion Questions: 1. Who is being sacrificed in the story? 2. Who gets sacrificed in your community? 3. What is your privilege biography? 4. How does this affect how you see the world? 5. What is our call as followers of Christ? 6. What's the Good News?

Pastor Emily and Pastor A.J. veer away from the lectionary once again to talk about a bit of an uncomfortable topic: the destruction of Sodom.  Join in this conversation as we dispel the homophobia in this text and discuss the true issue at play here: hospitality.  What does it mean for us to be hospitable as children of God? Dive into our conversation about radical welcome in the name of Christ. Discussion Questions: 1. What does hospitality mean to you? 2. What does it mean that God values hospitality so highly? 3. What are grey area decisions that we have to make? 4. What does it mean to be hospitable in the church? 5. What covenant would you come up with as a community?

So grateful to welcome back Pastor Kelsey to bring home our Pride Month showcase episodes.  Pastor Kelsey came out as queer and then was led into ministry.  Pastor Kelsey shares that even in the midst of judgment and discrimination, Jesus loves you and makes space for you.  We briefly talk about Mark 5:21-43 for Sunday, June 30th, 2024.  Discussion Questions: 1. What parts of your identity were you scared others would not accept? 2. What Bible story or character do you identify with in your life? 3. What have you been carrying for you? 4. Who paved the way for you to get to be you in the world? 5. What is the Good News?

Pastor Colby is the author of Unclobber: Rethinking our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality. He joined Pastor A.J. for the amazing recording in front of a live audience at the Delaware-Maryland Synod Assembly in June 2024.  Pastor Colby shares his story and “coming out of the theological closet”.  Unclobber walks through the 6 passages of scripture that are commonly used to exclude and abuse the LGBTQ+ community at the hands of “Good Christians”.  Well, as Pastor Colby shares with us, they are wrong.  Join us as we dive deep into these clobber verses and click on the link below to get your copy of Unclobber! Discussion Questions: 1.  When has your heart and your head been out of alignment? 2.  What have you been historically taught about some of these passages? 3. Have you studied them extensively? What did you learn? 4. What do you think the church should do with LGBTQ+ folks in our midst? 5. What is the Good News? Other notes: Buy “Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality”:  https://a.co/d/36tSiba  Buy “The Shift: Surviving and Thriving after Moving from Conservative to Progressive Christianity”: https://a.co/d/9fGGNYI 

On this week’s episode, Pastor A.J. welcomes Jamie Bruesehoff, author of “Raising Kids Beyond the Binary: Celebrating God’sTransgender and Gender-Diverse Children”.  Transgender and gender-diverse humans are the target of so much hate and political stigma, and as called followers of Christ, what can we do to protect, advocate, and welcome those beloved children of God in our midst?  Jamie shares her story, some tips, and what all those out there who are allies can do to include and welcome our gender diverse siblings in Christ.  Discussion Questions: 1. Has your congregation spent time in conversation about transgender and gender-diverse folks? 2. Where are you in your personal journey, mile marker 2 or 17? 3. What are steps that your church/community can or has taken to create an inclusive space? 4. What work do you see in your community that still needs to be done? And how can you help? 5. How is God calling you share the Good News? Other notes: More about Jamie: https://www.jamiebruesehoff.com/ Buy “Raising Kids Beyond the Binary”: https://a.co/d/gJTRNte Buy “A Kid’s Book About Being Inclusive” by Rebekah Bruesehoff: https://a.co/d/j44Swr6 

Pastor A.J. and Rabbi Evan dive into the “fall” of humanity.  What are the different perspectives and theological meanings to this story in Judaism and Christianity?  What are the differences? We talk about how this story affects our understanding of good and evil and our very relationship with our creator God.  For those that follow the RCL this episode talks about Genesis 3:8-15 for Sunday, June 9th, 2024. Discussion Questions: 1. What’s your working definition of sin? 2. Where does sin come from? 3. How does the perspective that Rabbi gives challenge your traditional beliefs? 4. Does God need humanity? 5. Do you do good things to “make up” for sin or something else? 6. How do you feel about the concept that God may have lied to them? Other notes: Correction: *Jesus’ genealogy is taken back all the way to Adam in the Gospel of Luke not Matthew. 

Is the Sabbath for us or are we for the Sabbath? Jesus challenges us once again by breaking the rules and paves the way for us to evaluate how we do church.  Who is church for? How important are your giant stained glass windows? Pastor Andrea and Pastor A.J. dive into the gospel lesson, Mark 2:23-3:6, for Sunday, June 2nd, 2024.  Discussion Questions: 1. Does your church have very strong feelings about where things are located in the church? 2. What would happen if you moved stuff around? 3. How does this challenge our communities? 4. What would it say to the world around us to make changes? 5. Where is the Good News?

What’s it like to be heirs to the kingdom? Or have you been told that your “sins of the flesh” keep you out?  Well, my friends, Pastor Jon and Pastor A.J. talk about what it means to be a part of the body of Christ, a member of the second part of the Trinity, and who it’s for.  Guess what, it’s you!  This episode talks about Romans 8:12-17 for Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024 with some Galatians 5 scattered in there.  Discussion Questions: 1. What does it mean to you to be seen as part of the Trinity body? 2. What have you been told about the “sins of the flesh”?  3. How have you internalized this? 4. What does it mean to be heirs of the promise? 5. What theological ideas have you been engrained with in your life that you have had to un-learn? 6. What embodied experiences do you experience God? Live Recording Event Info: “Unclobber: Rethinking our misuse of the Bible on homosexuality” by Pastor Colby Martin. https://a.co/d/axRhIYV Live Recording Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/476139701613332/

“Maybe that’s the real gift of the Spirit: to hear and discern God’s Good News.” Is Pentecost really just the disciples' graduation from disciple school? Or is it more like their “confirmation”? Where it’s really the beginning of the next chapter of their faith and ministry. All glitter ashes aside, Pastor A.J. and Pastor Joe dive into some Pentecost, graduation, new wine, and confirmation based conversation about Acts 2:1-21 for Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024. Discussion Questions: 1. Is linguistic diversity a curse from God or a gift? 2. What does Pentecost share with us about diversity? 3. We hear that God breaks down barriers. What is to prevent you (anyone) from hearing the good news? 4. When is change in our faith good? Or when should we push back at change? 5. As we discuss diversity of language and culture, what are church culture differences that are good?

Is Judas a bad guy? Why or why not?  Pastor Kyle and Pastor A.J. dive into all the possibilities and offer some grace for our faith’s biggest villain. Judas Iscariot is the guy who sells out Jesus, but he also was included as a chosen disciple.  What does it mean that Jesus chose him? Is it a mistake? Or is he just a part of the story because we need a villain? Let’s talk about it.  Pastor Kyle and Pastor A.J. dive into Acts 1:15-26 for Sunday, May 12, 2024.  Discussion Questions: 1. Do you think Judas is bad? Why or Why Not? 2. Is there a need to have a bad guy in the story of Jesus? 3. Who do we scapegoat in our faith? 4. The super hard question: who deserves grace? 5. Is there anyone outside of God’s grace? 6. What does it mean to “cloak them in our own honor” to you? 7. What does it mean that God chooses to partner with us? Even as flawed people that we are? 8. How does it reframe the story of Judas reco Other Notes: The Nonviolent Atonement - J. Denny Weaver https://www.amazon.com/Nonviolent-Atonement-J-Denny-Weaver/dp/0802849083

Down the rabbit hole we go!  We finally found a topic that makes Pastor A.J. uncomfortable! What if Jesus’ last commandment to the disciples is not what it seems? What does that mean for us? Is there a Johannine "messianic secret commandment" that we missed? Does it mean anything to us a couple thousand years later? Join Pastor A.J. and Brother Ryan as we venture down the rabbit hole where things may not be what they seem, but maybe we still come out beloved and renewed on the other side.  This episode talks about John 15:9-17 for Sunday, May 5th, 2024. Discussion Questions: 1. “I give you a new commandment that you love one another” or “I give you a new commandment in order that you love one another.”  Do you think this translation difference changes the meaning? 2. If it does change the meaning, what does that mean to you? 3. What does it mean to love as Jesus asks? 4. What does this commandment mean in light of Jesus fulfilling God’s commandments on our behalf? 5. How are we to live knowing that we cannot be perfect and that God will make up the difference no matter what? 6. What is the good news? Other notes: Greek text notes referenced by the Rev. D. Mark Davis: https://leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com/2015/05/in-order-that-you-love.html Learn more about the Lutheran Franciscans at https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/

Happy *almost* Mental Health Awareness Month! To kick off Mental Health Awareness month, Pastor A.J. shares part of the story of the prophet, Elijah.  Elijah experiences some trauma, burnout, depression, and some suicidal ideation.  It’s uncomfortable stuff. Frequently, the response to mental health from Christianity has been less than helpful.  Sometimes pastors act like psychiatrists and sometimes the “Christian” approach is just to pray more. This is not the divine response that Elijah receives.  Elijah is treated in mind, body, and spirit in his time of need.  Let’s dive into 1st Kings 19:1-18 and talk about what God may want for us to be happy and healthy. Discussion Questions: 1. What have you been taught about mental health from your family? 2. What are your experiences of mental health conversations and the church? 3. What things would you like to learn more about during Mental Health Awareness Month? 4. What in the story of Elijah do you resonate with? 5. How do you feel God’s response to Elijah is helpful? 6. What does this tell us about God and God’s relationship with us?

Archivist and historians, Melinda and Andy, share a dark secret from St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina: St. Matthew's was an enslaver. Melinda and Andy dive into what we know and don't know about Alexander, his life, and work here. We talk about the implications of a church-owned slave. What does this mean for us today? Why is this important for us to talk about? Tune in for this 20-Foot-Pole episode of German church folk in the 1800s in the south. (*acknowledgement: we are three white people talking about slavery and racism in an attempt to learn from our past to inform our future) Discussion: 1. Does it suprise you that a Lutheran church (or church in general) owned a slave? 2. What are the implications of this kind of history? 3. What does it mean for us to be church in the wake of this revelation? 4. What do we do now? Let us pray, Gracious and merciful God, we repent of our sins of the institution of slavery, hatred, racism, and continued negligence to work for justice and peace for all of your children. We humbly ask your forgiveness and ask for courage and guidance to work towards this justice in our church, nation, and world today. In your holy name, we pray. Amen. Recommended reading from Melinda and Andy: My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem

This week Pastor Kelsey and Pastor A.J. dive into 1st John again.  We will discuss sin, who sins, who gets forgiveness, and what it all means.  We will look at different perspectives on sin and grace, and ultimately, find the good news in Jesus.  This episode talks about 1st John 3:1-7 for Sunday, April 14, 2024. Discussion Questions: 1. What are experiences that you have had that have made you more compassionate towards others? 2. Do you think God desires us to be perfect? Or do you think God is looking for something else from us? 3. What is the good news? WHy does the good news set us free? 4. What will you do with this good news?