Vox Veniae Podcast

Values: Empathy

Gena Minnix continues our series on our Vox Values by focusing on Empathy and how essential empathy is for diversity [1 Corinthians 8].

Value of Empathy
Theologians use “incarnation” to refer to God’s radical act of empathy: God became like us, in order to be with us and experience what we feel. We strive to reciprocate that in our relationships. This means creating space to listen, feel, and be with people who are different than us. We try to be an intentionally diverse community including background, life stage socioeconomics, sexual orientation, and orthodoxy. Sometimes we do that well, and sometimes we fail. However, we try to practice empathy for both the marginalized and the marginalizers, and allow that empathy to guide us in our responsiveness to injustice. Through authentic spiritual community we learn to be transformed through grace and Christ’s spirit. You will find people here who will embrace and bless you. You will also find people here who will disagree with and challenge you. All of that is a good thing, necessary for healing and wholeness. (1 Cor 8; 1 Cor 12)

Reflection
Where in my life have I experienced God’s empathy?
Do I tend to listen more closely to what someone knows, or how someone feels?
With whom do I find it easy to empathize? With whom do I find it difficult?

Resources
Vox Values
Movie: Inside Out
Podcast: On Being (Ruby Sales)
MWG: Discussion Guide

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Values: Posture

Jason Minnix continues our series on our Vox Values by focusing on Posture and the complex journey of humility and how it’s embedded into Jesus’ interaction with humanity [Philippians 2].

Value of Posture
God gives grace to the humble. And a posture of humility emerges as we receive grace in community. Jesus, though equal with God, emptied himself of power and made himself human. We are called to a deep acceptance of this messy humanity, both ours and others, just as Jesus practiced. We have God’s DNA yet live within our shadow, ashamed to live the fullness of God’s vision for our lives. Humility is choosing to see ourselves and others more accurately – both our light and darkness. Each person has profound intrinsic worth and carries God’s spark. We will work to consider others in addition to ourselves – recognizing that caring only for ourselves is just as damaging as neglecting ourselves which leads to another form of self-centered living. (Phil 2)

Reflection
Where am I being invited to a deeper acceptance of my messy and loved humanity?
How can I trust Jesus to teach me how to carry my life and calling with simple faithfulness this week?

Resources
Vox Values
MWG: Discussion Guide

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Values: Artistry

Gideon Tsang starts our series on our Vox Values by focusing on Artistry and what it looks like to be a community that participates in being creators [Genesis 2].

Value of Artistry
We are a community of makers. We live into God’s resemblance of artistry that was envisioned in the garden. The ultimate act of creativity is God’s redemption of the world back to its original vision. We’re invited by the Gardener to garden again. The narrative that some people are creative and some are not is false. We are all artists, makers and creators made in the image of God. (Gen 1)

Reflection
What can you beautify with love this week?
How can you participate in an act of creation that scares you this next month?

Resources
Vox Values
Video: Where Great Ideas Come From (David Lynch)
Film: Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Podcast: Revisionist History – Hallelujah
Film: Don’t Think Twice
Book: Rising Strong (Brene Brown)
Video: Attending to Place
MWG: Discussion Guide

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Growing Up

Jason Minnix interviews Gideon Tsang, Weylin Lee and Harmon Li as they reflect on the first 10 years of Vox and the experiences of growth and development individually and as a church community [1 Corinthians 13:11-13].

Reflection:
What is the vulnerable edge where I most need God’s grace today? What insulation am I being invited to let go of?
Where is the conversation at between my individual journey and the developmental journey of Vox today?

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Wisdom: Who We Are

Gideon Tsang speaks about the journey of figuring out who we are and the relationship between our interior and exterior life [Proverbs 3:13-18].

Reflection:
Does who you are inform what you do or vice versa?
Why do you value what you value?

Resources:
Film: I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead
Book: Michael Jordan: The Life
Film: Tree of Life

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The Nature of Rest

Jason Minnix speaks about rest through a relational lens of how we are connected to each other and God [Isaiah 58:8-14].

Reflection:
What might it look like to mindfully leave space in my week to respond to those who are in suffering?
What does rest look like for me this week, and how might I entrust my long-term desires to God in those spaces?

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Good Conflict

Gena Minnix speaks about how disconnection be a crucial part of developing love for God and others [Luke 12:49-53].

Reflection:
What issues prompted Jesus to wage good conflict?
In what areas of life might God be calling me to nonviolent conflict?

Resources:
Video: Invisibilia – Disarming A Robbery
Video: TED Talk – Jamila Raqib

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Near Faith

Jason Minnix speaks about how faith carries us through hope in that which is not yet [Hebrews 11:1-3,8-16].

Reflection:
How can we hold the tension of unfulfilled desires in a meaningful way?
Whose faith are we invited to be near?

Resources:
Podcast: Mystery Show – Case #3 Belt Buckle
Book: It’s Not You
Poem: The Moment

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Contentment

Weylin Lee speaks about some different rhythms that facilitate our experience and practice of contentment [Luke 12:13-21].

Reflection:
What are certain possessions or attachments which we might need to let go of because they generate anxiety and fear?
What are the areas we have neglected in our pursuit of our possessions and attachments?
What do our choices reflect about our value and perspective of our possessions?

Resources
Film: O.J. Made in America
Book: The Cardinal and the Deadly
Art: Megacities Asia
Book: The Paradox of Choice

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Prayer as Intimacy

Jason Minnix speaks about the different portals of intimacy that allow us access with God [Luke 11:1-13].

Reflection:
What are some of our habits that need to be interrupted in order for us to connect with God?
How can we practice asking in an attempt to deepen intimacy?
What are some experiences of contemplation that we can attempt as prayer?

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Justice

Nicolas Acosta speaks about the kind of biblical justice that we should integrate into our conversations and lives [Amos 8:1-12].

Reflection:
How can we think in terms of system and not individualizing issues?
How can we stand and be near those who are suffering in order to learn more about who God is and who we are?
How do we tend to both the spiritual and physical aspects of injustice and the gospel?

Resources:
Figure: Gustavo Gutierrez
Short Story: Gabriel García Márquez The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World

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Privilege and Love

Jason Minnix speaks about privilege and love in light of the recent tragic events that transpired in Minnesota, Louisiana and Dallas. Angel Miller, Jason Ikpatt, and Claudia Harding also share their personal stories. [Psalm 82].

Reflection
How am I being invited into my strength with Christ, to engage my privileges, in small/sustainable ways, and stand with those who have less voice, power and safety?
How am I being invited into my frailty with Christ, to make room for God to care for my wounds and the weight of all the stories of pain I carry in my body?

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Freedom

Gena Minnix talks about the invitation we have to practice freedom and what some of those practices might look like [Galatians 5:13-23].

Reflection:
How might I use my freedom to practice love in a more concrete way?
What would it look like to belong to Christ and others more freely?

Resources
Movie: Eddie the Eagle
Vox Rhythm of Life

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Healed into Community

Following the tragedy in Orlando, Gideon Tsang gives a homily as a confession in hopes that we can all be healed into community.

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Iconography & Meaning

Gideon Tsang interviews the artists who were part of the Artist Residency led by Stefan Eicher who was visiting from Reflection Art, our partner in India. The theme of the residency was iconography and each artist captured a story through their painted icon.

Reflection:
How can we experience our faith and ask questions of meaning instead of judgment?
How can we contemplate by asking continual questions of meditation?
How can we practice our faith and not let it simply be a cognitive exercise?

Resources:
Movie: The Lobster

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Making Culture

Stefan Eicher visits from our partner in India (Reflection Art) and talks about how art begins with and connects us with the story of God [Genesis 1].

Reflection:
How are you a maker and creator in your context and work?
What would it mean for you to participate and collaborate with the story of God?
What is your mark that you can make on this world (both metaphorically and literally)?

Resources:
India Partner: Reflection Art
Event: Artist Residency Open House

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Practicing Discomfort

Weylin Lee talks about some practices of discomfort that might be helpful in our attempt to live more fully out of our true self [Luke 7:1-10].

Reflection:
Who are some people that you need to practice listening to fully understand their story and lens?
What are some things generating stress and worry in your life that you need to surrender?
How can you stay in the discomfort of self-reflection in order to grow your capacity to receive grace?

Resources:
Video: The Barkley Marathons
Prayer of Examen

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Covenant Member Interviews

Weylin Lee interviews new covenant members who are choosing to partner and collaborate with the Vox community. Jedda Bragg, Autumn Barker, and Jon & Amy Pattillo share their stories.

Reflection:
What does it mean to covenant with community for the sake of the other?
What does healing look like in your life?
What does relationship and community look like for you?

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Pentecost

John Chandler talks about the significance of Pentecost in our lives. [Acts 2:1-21].

Reflection:
In what areas of life am I being invited to wait?
Where do I sense God calling me now?

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Receiving Grace

Gideon Tsang talks about the challenge of receiving grace in our lives and how Mary demonstrated this in her life. [Luke 1:26-38].

Reflection:
Who are the messengers of grace in our lives?
What are the impediments in our lives that limit our ability to receive grace?
What are some practices that will help us be more aware of God’s grace that is always around us?

Resources:
Video: Mr. Rogers and Joan Rivers
Book: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Music: The Life of Pablo by Kanye West

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