{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Healing Eden, Part 14: When Hope Seems Lost (Hannah)","description":"With this episode we step into the story of a woman named Hannah \u2014 whose deep personal pain symbolically reflects the larger, spiritual state of Israel, as she lives in a time (the end of the age of the Judges) when the whole project of salvation seems to be hanging by a thread. Israel is constantly turning away from YHWH and facing judgment for it \u2013 and it seems God may be reaching his breaking point. Indeed, the very covenant of salvation itself feels very much in jeopardy. But through Hannah\u2019s tears of lament, God begins to move very graciously for her and, through her, for Israel \u2013 preparing the way for Samuel, for David and ultimately, for Jesus. It\u2019s a reminder that the story of salvation almost always begins in moments that feel hopeless - when all we can do is pray to God out of our fear and grief. It\u2019s right about then, that God shows up to save anew\u2026! I also mentioned in the introduction that all four installments of Rev. Mike Regele's course, A Primer on Christian Nationalism: What It Is, Why It\u2019s Not Christian, and What We Can Do in Response, are now available (along with his PowerPoint decks) on the Canvas website. It is a truly outstanding piece of work that explains both the inner logic of Christian nationalism and how we might most constructively respond to it. Highly recommended!! And if you have thoughts on the sermon, the series, the podcast..., I'd love to hear them. You can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram.  And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You\u2019re tax-deductible gift to Canvas is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two! Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 1:1-18 (NRSV)  ","author_name":"Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith","author_url":"http:\/\/www.jesusat2am.com","html":"