October’s Recommended Reading
Heartache of Promise: A Prison of Silence Unlocked
by Merita Atherly Engen
A compelling critique of purity culture and the silence it imposes on countless individuals, woven through one woman’s deeply personal journey to liberation.
Can a lost self ever be restored?
Rose-Marie Clarke lives in a culture of silence and “perfection” with an undertow of family secrets. In this dynamic, she fails to recognize her deep love for one man. She ignores her heart until she can no longer hear it, making choices that can never be undone.
Failing to recognize the lie she is living, Rose-Marie strives to obtain love’s promise within a marriage, with children, poverty, and a fledgling faith.
When her first love returns, Rose-Marie’s repressed emotions awaken, but fear arises. Is emotional honesty worth the risk of losing all she’s worked for? Does God have the answers to free her heart?
Thank You!
We want to take this moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our supporters for your invaluable role in the Renewed Heart Ministry community and for your dedication to our mission of fostering love, justice, compassion, and healing. Your support is the bedrock of our work. Your support empowers us to do what we do. At a time when ministries like ours are being asked to achieve more with fewer resources, your support is incredibly important, and we want to simply say thank you. Whether in our larger society or within our local faith communities, Renewed Heart Ministries remains committed to advocating for change, working towards a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for everyone, and being a source of love in our world. From all of us here at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you for your generous support. We deeply appreciate each and every one of our supporters.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
Last Week’s Social Jesus Posts
Articles posted each week at https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/
Bartimaeus and Christians of Privilege, Part 1
The Bartimaeus story has social, political, and economic dimensions that are rarely touched on in some sectors of Christianity.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2024/10/bartimaeus-christians-privilege-part1/
Bartimaeus and Christians of Privilege, Part 2
I can’t help but see a critique of Christian nationalism in the contrast between James, John and Bartimaeus in this story.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2024/10/bartimaeus-christians-privilege-part2/
Bartimaeus and Christians of Privilege, Part 3
Proximity doesn’t guarantee change. But it does provide the opportunity for change, through crossing lines that we have created.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2024/10/bartimaeus-christians-privilege-part3/
New Episode of “Just Talking
Season 2, Episode 33: Mark 10.46-52. Lectionary B, Proper 25
Each week, we’ll be talking about the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming weekend in the context of love, inclusion, and social justice. Our hope is that our talking will be “just” talking (as in justice) and that during our brief conversations each week we’ll be inspired to do more than just talking.
If you teach from the lectionary each week, or if you’re just looking for some thoughts on the Jesus story from a more progressive perspective within the context of social justice, check it out.
Watch at:
The Social Jesus Podcast from RHM!
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
Last week:
Season 1 Episode 28: Bartimaeus and Christians of Privilege
Mark 10:46-52
“We create so many lines based on social differences that we must learn to step across.
Whether these lines are gender, social class, education, race or culture, or sexuality, when we choose to enter into relationship with those who are different from us, we experience that proximity which has the power to change the way we perceive and act. Proximity doesn’t guarantee change. But it does provide the opportunity for change. Crossing lines that we have created and defined by our differences is the doorway to relationship. Our relationships have the potential, if we allow them, to help us understand more of the experiences of others who are different from us. As these relationships grow, we learn how others live in our society and have experiences different from our own. If we choose to respond to this awareness with empathy, we begin to discern, perceive, and understand broader realities. We begin to look at our world differently.”
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/bartimaeus-and-christians-of-privilege
Upcoming Events
November 16, 2024
Good News Fellowship (via Zoom)
Toronto, Ontario Canada
For info: 304.520.0030
Weekly Zoom HeartGroup on Wednesday Nights
Each Wednesday evening, Glendale City Church will be hosting a Zoom-HeartGroup led by Herb Montgomery. Our discussion each week will focus on the content in Renewed Heart Ministries’ weekly eSight articles, The Social Jesus podcast, and RHM’s Just Talking YouTube show. The time of each Zoom session will be on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Pacific/10:00 p.m. Eastern.
For more information and for the link to participate each week, contact RHM here.
Audiobook Available Now on Audible
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels (2nd Edition)
by Herb Montgomery, Narrated by Jeff Moon
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity. Readers will journey through the Gospel narratives, discovering the ways in which the Jesus of these stories challenged the political and religious establishments of his time. Herb Montgomery draws parallels between the societal issues faced by the people of Jesus’ era and the challenges of the present day, sparking reflection on the role of faith in addressing contemporary political and social issues. Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Available now on Audible.
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