The Darash Chai Experiment
The Darash Chai Experiment
Aaron Bishop

In the beginning there were two trees in the Garden of Eden. One, a tree that brought life. The other, a tree that brought death. The serpent showed up and placed the focus of mankind on the tree that brought death. Is it possible that we as a race have been focusing on the wrong tree. We talk about good and evil, right and wrong. We discuss what is moral and what is immoral. All of these questions, however, were on the tree that brought death. Perhaps it is time to shift our focus. To stop looking to the tree of death by asking the question of good and evil. Rather, let's start asking the question of life and death. If we can shift our assumptions on this most basic of questions, we can change our entire paradigm. If we change our paradigm, we can change the world. What will be the result? I do not know, but you are invited to come along and join us as we Seek Life.

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Episode Listing

  • S3 E48 – The Hero’s Tragedy – Judges 11

    Jephthah is a Biblical character that is often trotted out as the epitome of the tragic hero. A man who gives his all, including those he loves, for the success that he so desperately craves. The tragedy of Jephthah is a profound lesson on unintended consequences, rash vows, and difficult choices, and how all three can bring a man who is on top of the world, down to the lowest place that a man can go while still alive.

  • S3 E47 – The Broken Pattern – Judges 10

    Throughout the book of Judges we have seen a pattern that was spoken of clearly in chapter 2, and which has been repeated throughout the book. Well, this chapter we see the pattern begin again, but when we examine it closely, the pattern is broken from what we have been primed to expect. The people sin, they are turned over to their enemies, they cry out for release, but when God responds, He does not do so as expected, and in this broken pattern we discover an abiding truth about God and His interactions with men.

  • S3 E46 – The Hero’s Downfall – Judges 9

    The story of Gideon is over, but for the first time in the course of Judges, we are told a story that does not include a single Judge. Instead, we are treated to a narrative that covers the lives of Gideon’s children, and in the lives of his children we find the great tragedy of Gideon. The legend and hero in his own time passed on his own self-importance to at least one of his sons, and that son takes steps that destroy Gideon’s name and legacy.

  • S3 E45 – The Hero’s Homecoming – Judges 8

    The initial battle for Israel is over, but there is more fighting to be done. Just like the heroes of legend and popular media, Gideon is on a journey, and as the war wraps up, he takes those final steps of the hero’s journey. Coming home. And just as with every other hero who completes the Hero’s Journey, Gideon returns home to find that while his home had not changed, he himself has. And in this change there is a trap and a warning about the treachery of men’s hearts when a man is thrust into fame.

  • S3 E44 – The Hero’s Weakness – Judges 7

    The story of Gideon is one of the more famous stories in the book of Judges. It is the story of a commander who is forced by God, to whittle down his own forces before facing an enemy of massive size. And when we tell of this story we often highlight Gideon, the man, the hero, the legend. But what we fail to recognize is that the reason that Gideon’s forces were whittled down was so that Gideon would be made weak. So that God would get the glory for the victory, not a man. But we, just like everyone else, we make it about the man, and in doing so we ignore the weakness inherent in this man.

  • S3 E43 – Courage and Doubt – Judges 6

    The next judge in the book of Judges is Gideon. A mighty man of valor who will fight the enemy before him with only a small band of unarmed combatants. A man who is called by many a coward when the story begins. But when we stop and consider what Gideon is doing and the opposition that he faces we find a completely different story. Gideon is a man of great courage, but he is also a man full of doubt. A combination of traits that God can work with to accomplish his plans.

  • S3 E42 – The Story of the Song – Judges 5

    Judges 5 is a unique chapter in the book of Judges. While every other chapter is narrative and tells of the exploits of one judge or another, chapter 5 is a song that was sung by Barak and Deborah in celebration of their victory over Sisera and Jabin. So why is it that this book takes a break from the story at this point in the narrative in order to hold a musical number? Well, the answer is found in the story that the song tells.

  • S3 E41 – Who’s the Judge? – Judges 4

    In chapter 4 we are introduced to a new judge for Israel. And the identity of this judge is quite controversial. The common assertion that is made is that it is Deborah who is the judge of chapters 4 and 5, but others say that the judge is Barak. So is there any indication anywhere else in scripture of who this judge is? Let’s find out.

  • S3 E40 – Imperfect Saviors – Judges 3

    There are 12 Judges spoken of in the book of Judges but we only read stories of 6 of them. And when we stop and examine the sort of men that we are told of in these longer narratives, we find that they are not the rich and powerful. Each of the men chosen to be a judge has a problem. There is something about them that would keep them from leadership in this society, and yet these broken men are the men that God chooses to enact His will and bring salvation to Israel.

  • S3 E39 – The Cycle of Sin – Judges 2

    There is in the stories of Judges a cycle that repeats over and over and over again. It is a seven step cycle that starts and ends with Israel in a state of sin and seeking salvation. And this cycle is one that every Christian is likely familiar with as we experience this cycle repeatedly in our own lives. So what is this cycle and is there a way to break this cycle?