Christian Questions Bible Podcast

As Christians, we take great comfort in knowing that God is a God of unfathomable wisdom and integrity. We may be faced with things in life we never saw coming, but God is never caught off guard. With His foresight and eternal wisdom, He is not only prepared for anything, but He has preplanned for everything. God is also always as good as His word. He does not make a promise and then haphazardly decide not to keep it. In the Bible, covenants are really solemn promises. Throughout Scripture, God has made many of these promises with the description of being “eternal.” One such covenant was the Law given to Moses. It seems the Law was described as everlasting, and yet the New Testament tells us it loses its validity. Did God change His mind?
Rainbow Covenant and Abrahamic Covenant
When we think of God and His eternal promises, there are two that often come to mind. The first is the promise that God made to Noah when he and his family stepped off of the Ark. God’s promise was to never again flood the earth, and it was symbolized by a rainbow. In giving this promise, God was emphatic: He meant what he said. The second promise that likely comes to mind is the Abrahamic promise. Though far more comprehensive in scope, the bottom line of this promise that most remember is the blessing of all the families of the earth through Abraham’s lineage.

Taken individually, these two promises are highly significant, as they are pointed statements from God. Both of them have to do with an eternal future, and both have to do with things outside of our human control. This is significant because it means that God has unilaterally taken responsibility for their eternal fulfillment. There is great comfort in being able to rely on God’s specifically stated words for the rest of eternity.
An everlasting covenant?
As good as this is, it only scratches the surface. God made other promises that were also labeled as "everlasting covenants." He promised that an eternal ruler would come from the lineage of King David. He also promised there would a “New Covenant,” a “covenant of peace” that would be everlasting as well. Here’s the amazing part - all of these promises are not individual statements about individual events. They are all fundamentally related to one another. They all tell parts of the same path that God revealed to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Check out our April 22, 2024 podcast, “Do the Covenants of God All Last Forever?” for more. Along with these promises, we examine the Law Covenant given to Moses. It will come as a surprise to many that the Law was NOT labeled as "everlasting." In spite of its temporary nature, we dig into the details of how it is one of the vital and interlocking pieces of God’s everlasting plan for humanity. Don’t miss this unique and revealing journey!

Influence. We are all touched by it in countless ways and countless times each and every day of our lives. Influence comes from all corners of life. If we are partial to someone, we generally accept their influence positively. If we are at odds with someone, we generally look down upon their influence. Either way, they influence us. Influence comes from advertising and social media. It comes from politicians and educators; from books, movies and shows. From those who enforce and those who break the law; it comes from our superiors, our peers and our subordinates. Influence has become such a central factor in our world that we now focus on and follow those we call influencers! To have influence is to have power. To have power is to have control. And to have control can easily bring the manipulation and domination of others.
It's nothing new.
The only difference now is where it comes from. Throughout most of history and in ancient days, it was born out of rank. If you had authority, you had influence. Additionally, if you were positioned to advise or guide those in authority, you also had it. This kind of leverage played out at every level of life, from national preeminence down to family and peer group control.
All of that has changed.
When you think about it, those we call “influencers” are essentially random people who have in one way or another become famous. Many of them are athletes or performers. The fame and name recognition achieved through their respective crafts paved the way for them to become coveted influencers. Here’s the interesting thing. Their influence is usually not directly related to their craft. Instead, it is often related to marketing products or giving perspectives on subject matter that they really have no expertise in. Essentially, we let somebody who is famous dictate some of our behaviors in life simply because of their social stature.

Influence was alive and well in Bible times. When we compare the massive influence that both Satan and Jesus have and have had, the biblical picture of influencers takes on a much deeper meaning. Not only can we see how influence works on a spiritual level, but we can see the difference in the methodology of influencing for good versus influencing for evil.

Check out our April 8, 2024 podcast, “How Can We Become Influencers? (Part I) for more. We discuss what influencers look like today and what they looked like in biblical times. We look at biblical influencers who passionately perpetuated evil.  Then we uncover an example of one who influenced many others towards an incorrect result even though his heart was working at following Jesus. We compare these examples with those who influenced with integrity and focus for the ultimate glory of God. The bottom line is, influence is everywhere! Join us for this eye-opening journey through culture and Scripture!

Let’s begin by stating the obvious: the world is a mess! Now, we all know the world has been a mess for a very long time, so the question is, is this even news? The answer is yes, it is! Our present-day mess has everything to do with the ability to be connected with as many perspectives on and interpretations of truth as we would like. We can now easily and often categorize, judge or ignore anything and everything that doesn't fit into our personal worldview. All of this brings us to a place where we effortlessly define good and evil according to preference and not principle. We believe Jesus died and was resurrected to redeem the world from sin, and yet, we are now so much further from godly principles than ever before. How can we harmonize these seemingly conflicting thoughts?
It sure doesn't look like things are getting better...
We are currently witnessing continuous decline of Christianity throughout our world. Such a decline can easily lead us to the conclusion that Jesus’ mission to save the world is crumbling before our eyes. Such a conclusion would not only be a mistake, but it would also actually hide the truth. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Near the end of his ministry, Jesus spoke of his crucifixion and of drawing ALL men to himself. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul tells us that ALL die in Adam and ALL will be made alive in Christ. All of this sounds great, but it certainly does not look like it’s happening.
Prophecy foretold the world would degrade.
When Jesus prophesied about his second coming, he explained that the conditions of the world would be severely degraded, as in the days of Noah. When we look at the immoral and evil that existed then, we can certainly see its parallel today. Jesus not only makes this comparison to alert us of coming trouble, but also to assure us he knew things would look hopeless. The flood of Noah’s day fundamentally changed the way the world worked. Jesus was telling us the time of trouble would also do the same thing. However, this trouble would open the door for God’s kingdom as well.

Okay, so far we seem to be just going down the rabbit hole of death and destruction! Where does Jesus "saving the world" come into play? Check out our April 1, 2024 podcast, “If Jesus' Resurrection Saved the World, Why is it Such a Mess?” for answers. We consider the prophecies of trouble and destruction within the context of the whole message of the Bible. Beneath the surface we can see the core reasons Jesus came to earth and gave himself as a ransom sacrifice. We collect the varied puzzle pieces the Old and New Testaments give us. Once assembled, these pieces present a breathtaking picture of just how Jesus DOES save the world. Join us as we document and appreciate these dramatic biblical lessons!

Everyone experiences loss in their lives in one way or another. How we attempt to cope with those losses depends upon several things. First, the kind of loss we are facing can dictate whether our response to it is mild, strong or severe. Second, our cultural environment offers up expectations as to how our mild strong or severe responses are to be displayed. In biblical days, grieving over difficult losses was often displayed in a very outward, very public manner. The Bible is full of examples of such public crying, wailing, renting of clothes and despair. For many of us in our present-day mindset, these things may seem to be over-the-top and too dramatic. Actually, when we seek to understand all of this lamenting, we find very strong lessons of faith, growth and acceptance.
Help!
Loss is difficult. Sometimes it is unbearable. When we seek help in coping with such things, the counsel is always the same: Go through the experience and don’t try to avoid or hide the emotions. We need to give ourselves permission to feel what we are feeling so we can, when appropriate, move forward to the next step. In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, we are told there is a suitable time for mourning, just as there is a suitable time to dance for joy. The Hebrew word for mourn actually means “to tear the hair, to beat the breasts, to lament or wail.” Wow! For us living now with our current cultural backgrounds, that certainly sounds dramatic.
Biblical lamenting
To be clear, we are not suggesting that our lamenting be so dramatic. What we are suggesting is that we be willing to face our tragedies with an openness to feel them. Why? As we look into the deep lamenting revealed in the Bible, several things begin to rise to the surface. Most striking is that our lamenting not only serves a purpose, but it is also part of a distinct process. There are four essential steps our outward anguish can bring us through. The first step is for us to come face-to-face with the reality of our tragedy. Without this acceptance of the pain of our experience, we would not be able to fully move forward through the healing and growth process of the other steps.

Check out our March 25, 2024 podcast, “Is Mourning Out Loud Over Our Losses Good for Us?” for more. As we lay out the scriptural steps our anguish can lead us through, we also uncover several other reasons besides personal loss that can provoke such outward lamenting. These issues can be a result of our own bad choices, as well as tragedies that don’t happen to us but nevertheless have a dramatic effect on us. Join us as we uncover the strength and growth that can come from our mourning. Though this topic is rarely talked about, it is absolutely a worthwhile investment of our time and attention.

Every serious Christian knows about God’s holy spirit. We not only know about it, but we also often talk about what we believe to be its effects upon our lives. Christians speak of being provoked, directed, protected and guided by the spirit. Some of us claim the spirit speaks to us, or perhaps to our pastor, for the purpose of giving us not only instruction, but prophetic utterances regarding our lives as well. In short, our brand of Christianity or denomination has much to do with how we believe the holy spirit works. So, how does it work? Who is right, and who may be mistaken when it comes to understanding and following this mighty power of God in our lives? Not surprisingly, the Bible says a lot about this subject. It also doesn’t say things about God’s spirit we might assume are true.
God’s spirit is His power and influence.
It has been busy at work in our whole earthly experience. The second verse of the Bible introduced it as the power that made creation happen by describing it as “moving upon the face of the waters.” God’s spirit was actively engaged throughout the entire Old Testament. It gave the prophets the ability to precisely represent God’s will in their words and writings. It gave many the power of miracles, and it gave some elevated powers of creativity. God’s spirit worked mightily with John the Baptist, as it provoked him to stand alone and plainly proclaim the coming of Israel’s Messiah, Jesus.

When God’s spirit came to Jesus himself at his baptism, something new had occurred. For the first time in human history, God’s spirit would not only help and guide, but it would also now dwell within the individual. Jesus was the first of what the New Testament later describes as a “new creation.” This application of God’s power and influence would be offered to those after Jesus, whom God would call to be footstep followers of His son. Their role in God’s plan would be unique and eternal.
How does it work?
With such a high and lofty privilege being offered, the question arises as to how this actually works. Does this mighty power of God take over the person in whom it dwells? Can it talk us through our problems? Does it perform miracles to pave our way through adversity and bring us to abundance?

Check out our March 18, 2024 podcast, “Does God’s Holy Spirit Speak to Us?” for answers. We follow the pattens of how God’s spirit operated in the Old Testament and compare them to the New. We examine the spirit’s mighty introduction on the Day of Pentecost with Peter and the eleven. Interestingly, that incredible experience showed us a template for how God’s sprit does and does not work in our lives. We squarely address whether or not the spirit has a voice or communicates to us in other ways. This is an intense journey. Don’t miss it!

We don’t know much about the spiritual world, especially before the creation of humanity. What we do know is that it was an entirely harmonious world with loyalty and obedience to God at its center. God foreknew that when pride crept into Satan’s heart and was exposed, it would lead to a massive shift in the way things would run. In heaven, it would no longer be business as usual, for now the lessons of sin and disobedience would be unleashed. These painful but necessary lessons would - under God’s power and providence - ultimately bring the whole of His creation back into the harmony it had left behind, only this time that harmony would be for eternity. How would He make this happen?
God existed before time began.
His spiritual creations within and outside of our universe are ageless and beyond our human comprehension. Even His creation of our home, planet Earth and all of its life and abundance, are ancient beyond our reckoning. When God finished with this earthly creation, the Bible said God rested. Let’s understand, His resting was not because He was tired and needed a break. On the contrary, His resting signified He had completed exactly what He had set out to do.
Did God give up on the "old creation"?
It is a startling development when thousands of years later, we are introduced to the concept of God developing a “new creation.” Many questions may arise as a result of this proclamation. Why create something new? Did God’s old creation not work out? Was it flawed? Were there unexpected developments that required God to develop a “Creation 2.0” version? Is God going to scrap the original creation and replace it with this new thing?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding NO! God is far to wise and powerful to need to adjust or revamp His original plans. Such scrambling is left to us as impetuous, imperfect and incomplete human beings. Rather than being a quick fix, God’s "new creation" is actually a crowning jewel He designed to be put in place at the proper time and under the proper conditions.

So, what is this new creation? Who is it, and how does it work? Check out our March 11, 2024 podcast, “What is the New Creation?” for answers. We establish how, not surprisingly, it all began with Jesus and his faithful mission of sacrifice as a perfect human being. We follow how Jesus was and is THE pioneer of this amazing new part of God’s plan. Built upon his glory and honor are even more inspiring details and developments. This new creation also has everything to do with those who are called to be true disciples of Christ. What we uncover here is perhaps one of the most sensational aspects of all of God’s creations at any time in all of history. Don’t miss this mind-expanding revealing of a biblical truth that is so often ignored!

Jesus is the Savior of the world. We all know how he left his heavenly glory with the Father and was reduced to the human condition so he could be the ransom - the corresponding price - for Adam and his fall from obedience and grace. By so doing, Jesus gave the whole human race an opportunity for everlasting life. So, when we look at Jesus, we see him as Savior, Redeemer, the Lamb of God, the author and finisher of our faith, and I could go on and on. So, why address him as the "last Adam”? Simply looking at such a title actually invites a lot of questions, especially since all the other ways we know Jesus seem to be so much higher and honorable. As we look into this, we will find what we always find: inspiring reasons and lessons that unlock an even deeper understanding of all Jesus has done!
Adam was blessed
Though Adam’s tenure as the most honored, privileged and perfect earthly creation of God was short, it certainly was significant. His unique opportunities can be summed up in several distinct proclamations of God right at the beginning. God plainly stated Adam was created in His image, and he was singularly blessed as a result of that. Further, Adam was given the privilege of ruling over God’s beautiful green earth. This showed that God saw he had potential for wisdom, integrity and leadership. Finally, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply so they could fill the earth.
But sin changed the course of those blessings
All was in place for a glorious earthly creation to honor God. That is, until Satan, sin and Adam’s choice changed the course of those blessings. The consequences that followed gave way to death and destruction. To many observers, this looks like a major failure on God’s part. Though it looks like he was caught off guard, the exact opposite is true. God allowed sin and depravity to rear their ugly heads as an eternal object lesson. Enter Jesus as the one who would be called the "last Adam."
Jesus succeeded where Adam failed
The title of “last Adam” holds great significance. God is telling us that he would treat Jesus in the same way as he treated Adam. The difference would be that all of those things Adam failed at would be picked up and powerfully managed by Jesus. The gifts of being in God’s image, blessing, dominion and fruitfulness would all be not only brought back to center, but highly elevated.

Check out our March 4, 2024 podcast, “Why Is Jesus Called the 'Last Adam'?” for more. We systematically work through how Jesus took all of what Adam had failed at and redeemed, repaired, revitalized and renewed each and every piece. This surprising and thrilling journey through Scripture shows us aspects of God’s plan that are rarely ever noticed. Observing and appreciating the work, perseverance and precision with which Jesus as the last Adam accomplished his task gives a whole new meaning to appreciation. Don’t miss this!

 

Our society is in trouble. In many ways, it seems that we have lost our way, and we no longer have a general sense of societal respect. Maybe it’s just me, but when I was a kid, I was clearly shown the importance of valuing others. We were taught to respect those in charge, and respect those who enforced the law and kept order. We were taught to have high esteem for parents and educators. We were taught to appreciate and value all who did whatever their part was, be it big or small. Now it seems we are taught respect should be demanded from others and not given. Our go-to approach encourages disrespecting and demeaning any who don’t fit our personal perceptions of how we think life should look. Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about how honor and respect should work!

It would seem that most entering into marriage do so with high expectations of a life of happiness, fulfillment and companionship. Unfortunately for far too many, these expectations are foreign to their reality. Excluding marriages that end in divorce, how many are truly happy and fulfilled, and how many are simply going along to get along? These are hard things to look at. In order to do so in a positive and growth-oriented way, we need to establish two basic truths for our conversation. First, let’s understand that “Happily ever after” is a fairy tale ending. The feelings it ignites of an everyday bliss-filled life are unfair and not real. Second, let’s understand that our marriages CAN be happy, fulfilled and full of companionship, IF we know what we’re striving for and are willing to put in the effort!

Every genuinely successful marriage has a few things in common. With each of these things, there is always a continual need to focus and refocus as life can relentlessly get in the way. Let’s start with the one thing that most of us think of as obvious - love. We “fall in love” and develop a powerful connection. We cannot imagine that connection ever changing or waning, as it is so strong and binding. We get married. Maybe we have kids. Maybe we have demanding careers. Maybe we have trauma or family issues or sickness or loss. Maybe we grow apart from one another. We wake up one day and realize that our once seemingly indestructible connection is blurred or foggy. Are we done? Is it over?
Can perspective help?
It certainly doesn't have to be, as there are MANY things we can do to rebuild, revive and reconnect. One principle to begin with is perspective. As we observe what has happened or is happening in our marriage, we need to realize we have the power to set our perspective. Most often we feel the pain or sorrow or regret or confusion of what is happening, and those emotions drive our conclusions. This natural and emotional approach can easily end in disaster. However, there is another way. We absolutely need to feel what we feel, but it is important to ask ourselves one important question. This question can open the door to strong, revitalizing possibilities.
How am I seeing my marriage challenges?
Is the glass "half empty" or is the glass "half full"? The fact is, when we see any situation as a “glass half empty” scenario, we are framing it as a loss. Studies have shown that once we frame something this way, it is very hard to reframe it as a gain, as a "glass half full" conclusion. Understanding this simple life equation can change everything. Check out our February 12, 2024 podcast, “Can Marriage be a Happily Ever After?” for more. We delve into the power of perspective and apply it to the foundational building blocks of marriage. Join us for answers - real practical and marriage-enhancing answers!

Jesus was at odds with the scribes and Pharisees. They stood for traditions that had been built upon the foundation of the Jewish Law but were not part of the already complex rules and guidelines God had commanded through Moses so many generations before them. No, these traditions were fabrications, and were likely in place to separate the ruling class from the people. Meanwhile, Jesus stood for the people. He stood for those who were less educated, less fortunate and less prominent, as they were the ones most likely to be open to God’s grace and mercy. This division came to a head shortly before Jesus was crucified, as he directly confronted these leaders with their hypocrisy. In Part I, we began to address the seven powerful "woes" Jesus had proclaimed to them.
How?
It is important to realize how Jesus presented the seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. First, he was in a mixed crowd and began by telling the average people about the danger their spiritual leaders were bringing to them. Jesus said some hard things, and he said them right in front of those very spiritual leaders. Next, Jesus turned to those leaders and proceeded to tell them the depth of their failures.
Why?
He did this for several reasons:

* All he said was true and necessary.
* He knew that his crucifixion was imminent, that he was out of time.
* He loved those religious leaders as members of God’s chosen nation, and he grieved over their fall from God’s favor.

The first three woes Jesus proclaimed to Israel’s religious leaders revealed hard truths about their lives. Jesus began by describing them as hypocrites. They claimed Moses’ authority even though it was far beyond their reach. They sought to convert others to be of the “ruling class” like them, while leaving the average people of Israel without the guidance they were tasked to give. They blindly added confusion to the sacredness of worship in the Temple so the average Jew could not measure up.
"Hypocrites and blind guides!"
Jesus did not stop there. Oh no, there were four more of these woes, and each one dramatically captured their hypocrisy and deeper and deeper failures to truly uphold God’s Law. Check out our February 5, 2024 podcast, “What Did Jesus Really Think of the Pharisees? (Part II)” for more. We walk through the painful realities of these last four woes and focus in on the reasons for Jesus’ blunt approach.

These leaders had proudly and publicly obsessed over tiny details of the Law. They intentionally hid their craft and corruption beneath a shiny, clean appearance. They systematically proclaimed themselves better than everyone else both past and present. Join us for this remarkable journey as we observe Jesus calling out hypocrisy, self-imposed blindness to truth, corruption and devilish behavior. There is SO much we can learn by knowing what NOT to do!

 

Jesus was a wise, loving and compassionate man. His whole reason for becoming a man was to give his life as a ransom for every single human being who ever lived, and you can’t be more selfless and giving than that. Yet, with all of his compassion, Jesus was also one to not mince words when a hard message was needed. This becomes extremely evident when we examine the seven "woes" he proclaimed to the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 23. Of all the words we have recorded from Jesus’ earthly ministry, these are the most blunt and direct. So, what was Jesus really saying to the scribes and Pharisees? Was he showing a fundamental dislike for them? Was he exposing their true characters so everyone could see? Or was he simply expressing his dislike for who they were and what they stood for?
Seven Woes
Jesus knew his earthly mission to present himself as the Messiah and as the ransom price for Adam’s sin, was ending. During those last few weeks of his ministry, there were many incredibly significant events recorded in Scripture for us. Not the least of these was his proclaiming of seven woes to the scribes and Pharisees. These spiritual leaders of the Jewish nation were (with individual exceptions) at odds with Jesus from the moment he began to preach. After 3½ years of being challenged by them, answering their questions, performing miracles in spite of them, asking them questions they could not answer and teaching all of the people to their dismay, Jesus was now out of time.
A Last Attempt
These scribes and Pharisees would not accept him, his message, or the proof of his being their Messiah. On the contrary, they had begun plotting to kill him. Jesus loved them as he loved all of God’s chosen nation. In proclaiming these woes, he was giving them a last opportunity to see the error of their ways. These hard and truth-filled criticisms were done publicly. Why? Because their hypocrisy and self-elevating behavior was paraded about before the people on a regular basis. Both the people and these leaders had a right to know how they continuously and obsessively misrepresented God’s Law for the nation.

Check out our January 29, 2024 podcast, “What Did Jesus Really Think of the Pharisees? (Part I)” for more. We set the context of Jesus’ words and then carefully examine the bluntness of what he said. First, we dig into what he meant by saying, “Woe to you!” with each and every reality he presented. We follow Jesus’ reasoning as he called them “hypocrites” and “blind leaders.” We observe as he backed these bold labels with specific and undeniable examples. This is a big topic, and Part I treats the first three of these seven woes. With each and every example, we pause and consider how to identify and avoid these very tendencies within each of us. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Jesus’ love, wisdom and proclaiming of truth in action!

Let’s face it. We all know that each and every one of us can be better. We can be better human beings, better friends, co-workers, spouses, cousins and certainly better Christians. The challenge here is obvious. Being “better” requires change. Significant change. To be better in whatever area we are focusing on requires a different mindset, which brings different words and actions. This all translates into work! So, how do we go about actually becoming “better”? Where do we start? How many parts of our lives do we try to change? Do we work on them all at once? How do we figure out what the very highest priorities are? What if we fail? How does the Bible guide us with all of these details?
What makes a person want to change?
One of the most obvious answers is that we see something or someone that displays circumstances or characteristics or perceived advantages that we would like to possess. We want to change because we want something different than we already have. This tells us that change - true and lasting change - is driven by more than a desire for something, it is equally driven by dissatisfaction with our current situation.

The idea of dissatisfaction as a driving force is both powerful and potentially problematic. It is powerful because human nature will run towards something with even greater energy if it is running away from something at the same time. Simultaneously being motivated away from one thing and towards another gives us a much higher opportunity for success. As good as this is, dissatisfaction can be problematic when the change we seek is difficult. An inability to achieve the change we sought can trigger an abiding and depressive mental state.
How do we handle this?

* Realize we cannot change everything about ourselves all at once. Overload is a recipe for discouragement and failure.
* Understand that all change is not the same. Some things in life can be changed by altering or adjusting what we say do or think. These alterations build on a base that is already valuable and somewhat established. On the other side of the matter, there are some changes that can only be achieved by abandonment. If we have habits or associations that are toxic, we need to recognize their poison and leave them in our past.

Great! Lots of details, but how do we do it? Check out our January 22,2024 podcast, “It’s Time to Change, but How Much Is Enough?” for more. We walk through the several stages of change and highlight how each stage looks in relation to the altering or abandoning being pursued. Any and every Christian needs to daily work on changing to become more like Jesus. The Bible is full of advice, encouragement and examples of how all of this can be accomplished. Join us for some practical and welcomed biblical advice on how our changing can bring glory to God!

I was recently summoned for jury duty. As I sat in the room at the beginning of the day, the court and its representatives showed some really informative introductory videos on what to expect and look out for when serving on a jury. The main topic they focused on was bias. Their premise was that we ALL have biases and we ALL can be in danger of following them rather than following the simple facts of a case. I was struck by their significant efforts to enlighten and warn about this sometimes subtle but incredibly common enemy of justice. Our claiming to be Christian does NOT somehow magically release us from our previous biases. In fact, our claims to Christianity may even be in jeopardy because of our personal biases. So, how do we learn to recognize this devious and damaging tendency?

For the most part, we think of bias as not being able to see something without a preconceived notion of what it should look like. Our predetermined conclusions can easily sway what we think about whatever it is we may be dealing with. While this can sometimes be a good layer of protection, it more often than not ends up being a detrimental habit. Bias hinders us from seeing a broader perspective than our own. For this brief discussion we will define bias as: an inclination or outlook that prevents an unprejudiced consideration of a matter. 
Bias hinders us in many ways.
One primary and negative function of bias is that it keeps us from listening. Think about how easily our ability to listen to someone else is dependent on how we feel about that other person. If we like them and agree with their perspective, listening is easy. Our preconceived notion of what should be is being bolstered, and that's comfortable. However, what happens if the person we are supposed to be listening to is presenting a contrary or questionable viewpoint? Are we open - or are we only partially paying attention - because their perspective is simply not acceptable or desirable?
Bias can even make us think and act in an unchristian way.
Unfortunately, our bias against those who hold opinions and even facts we would rather not hear, usually prevails. And the sad thing is, this usually happens without us even realizing it! These habitual responses to those who may ruffle our feathers actually shuts down our ability to potentially hear truth. These responses stifle our growth and worst of all, they are unchristian on every level.

Check out our January 8, 2024 podcast, “Is My Christian Judgment Tainted by Bias? (Part I) for more. We examine several striking biblical examples of bias in action. While focusing in on three specific aspects of the destructive power of bias, we also lay out several steps to counter our biases. Because bias can’t simply be turned off, we need to learn how to calm it down and then redirect its energy. Let’s face it, bias is a problem! Join us to see how personally applying biblical principles can change that!

 

We all have heard of the biblical account of Jonah and the whale. Because it is so unique and dramatic, it has been an often-repeated story with many lessons - and rightfully so. What many don’t realize is the magnitude of the events and teachings surrounding this amazing circumstance. First, one point of clarification: it wasn’t a whale, it was a “great fish.” When we examine how and why Jonah came to be in the unlikely position to be swallowed by that fish and what happened afterwards, we end up with a powerful story of God’s will versus our preferences. The bottom line here is that Jonah is an example of what NOT to do when tasked with godly responsibilities. However, he’s also an example of what TO do. Let’s unfold this account and see how both of these descriptions can be true.

Jonah was a prophet of God, and as such, he was bound to go where God told him to go and speak what God commanded him to speak. This was a pretty straightforward setup. You simply do as you are told. There were many prophets before him and many who followed. All of that being said, Jonah had a problem. Actually, he had a lot of problems. God told him to go and preach to the city of Nineveh because they were evil and idolatrous. They were also bullying and taking advantage of God’s chosen people. God told him to tell Nineveh that because of their evil, they would be destroyed in 40 days.
Jonah went in the opposite direction
So, Jonah got up and went. The only problem was, he went the other way. That’s right, he ran away from God and His command. He got on a ship and basically tried to hide from God as he was making his escape. Not to state the obvious, but trying to hide from God is about as effective as a little kid covering their own eyes and thinking you can’t see them. Jonah would find this out in a dramatic way as he ended up in the belly of a fish that God had prepared. No more running, no more hiding.
He was successful yet miserable
Jonah finally did go and do the job that God had commanded. What’s hard to comprehend is how he was so angry at the wholesale repentance of the entire city. Jonah had successfully brought them to honor and worship God, and yet his own emotions and personal hatred for them robbed him of the joy of such a miraculous change.

Check out our January 1, 2024 podcast, “Do I Show Up When God Calls, or Do I Run and Hide?” for more. We dig into Jonah’s experiences along with his emotional and tragic reactions. We examine how God answered these with several uniquely prepared responses. Don’t miss this story! It’s an amazing drama about the enormous inconsistency of human nature and how God can give us the pointed and needed lessons to overcome ourselves.

As Christians, when we think about Jesus and his reason for being born as a man, we’re always inspired by the selflessness of his sacrifice to redeem Adam and all of humanity from sin and death. This gift is truly beyond anything we deserve. When we think of the Messiah, we instinctively think of Jesus. In our last episode, we explored a Jewish perspective regarding their expectations of Messiah. What we found were several differences, but also several inspiring similarities. Today, we delve deeply into many Old Testament prophecies. We’ll focus in on the astounding detail with which they not only describe Jesus, but also provide all of humanity with the hope for a new life and the opportunity to live it forever. The bottom line? We’re blessed to have God’s amazing plan unfold through Jesus our Lord and Messiah.
It's a rare word
The word messiah is only translated as “Messiah” twice in the Old Testament. As we discussed in Part I, this does NOT in any way minimize the importance of who the Messiah is and what he does. When we begin to explore the Old Testament prophecies that describe this chosen one, a startling fact emerges: This Messiah, this chosen one, is the primary subject of countless prophecies written by many God-inspired authors over thousands of years. Though rarely called out by name, he is THE central focus of God’s entire plan for humanity.

Prophecies begin in early Genesis, when God hands down the pronouncements for sin to Adam, Eve and Satan. The fact that the “seed of the woman” would crush the "head of the serpent" (Satan) begins the revealment of Messiah. In Exodus, Moses speaks of a prophet like him, whom the people are urged to listen to. These prophecies continue right through the entire Old Testament. They end in the last chapter of Malachai, the last book of the Old Testament.

Not only are there countless prophecies with incredible details all over the Bible, but they are interlocked in amazing ways. Because Messiah is described in so many different ways, we can research from prophetic writing to prophetic writing and author to author and trace even greater depths of meaning. Finding agreement in these various ways verifies the unity of Scripture and solidifies the inspiration of God’s Holy Word.
As good as all of this is, there's more!
Not only do we have prophecies verifying one another, but we also have them verifying Jesus as the one and only promised Messiah. Skeptics say Jesus could have scripted his experiences to fit what the prophecies said. I suppose that could be true with minor details here and there regarding his earthly life. But it is simply impossible for all of it to have been acted out. Check out our December 26, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part II)” for more. We detail several prophecies and bring them forward to show their unmistakable New Testament fulfillments. This is a scriptural conversation absolutely worth engaging in. Don’t miss it!

 

Christians differ on a lot of things, and sometimes these differences can be troublesome. The basics we all agree on are centered on Jesus. We believe he died for our sins, and we believe he came to give his truest followers the opportunity to be in heaven with him. We also believe he is the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we look at the Old Testament prophecies and have a hard time comprehending why those of the Jewish faith aren’t able to recognize his Messiahship. It seems obvious! Obvious until we realize a few startling scriptural facts. First, the label “Messiah” is only used twice in the Old Testament. It is only used twice in the New Testament as well. This means that what we see as overtly obvious, may in fact be more hidden than we ever thought. So, what do we do now?
Anointed
The word translated “Messiah” only twice in the Old Testament is used 37 other times. Because this word simply means “anointed” or “consecrated,” it actually applies to many individuals. The priests of the Jewish Law were “anointed.” Kings of Israel were “anointed.” As a matter of fact, King Saul was one of those anointed ones. When Saul was pursuing David to kill him and David had opportunities to do Saul harm, his reaction was always the same. He continually repeated that he would not touch the Lord’s anointed.
But there are a lot of chosen ones!
This tells us the position of being one anointed by God is a very special designation. It shows us they have been chosen to do God’s work and represent His way. So, does this minimize our Christian perspective of THE Messiah? Does it make him just another chosen one in a long line of chosen ones? While the short answer is “of course not,” this answer certainly needs a lot of explanation. By digging into many Old Testament prophecies, we learn that Messiah is represented in many different ways. While rarely called the Messiah, he is often described as a king, a priest, a shepherd and a lawgiver. The list goes on.
Was Jesus disqualified?
This understanding helps us to see the comprehensiveness of exactly who Messiah is and what he stands for. However, there are other issues. According to the perspective of some Jewish faithful, Jesus could not be the Messiah due to several points. First, they claim the genealogies given in Matthew and Luke have a variety of problems that would disqualify Jesus. Second, they state that because Jesus died, it means he failed, and that failure disqualifies him as well. What do we do with all of this? Check out our December 18, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Know Jesus is the Promised Messiah? (Part I)” for answers. We open several prophecies, put scriptures in context and uncover the deep truths of how Jesus is plainly shown as THE Messiah. There are inspiring scriptural discoveries here you don’t want to miss!

God gave us the ability to understand and appreciate His plan of the ages by revealing that plan within the pages of the Bible. This plan is focused on the necessary steps to bring ALL of His creation - both heavenly and earthly - to an existence that will completely and forever live in harmony with one another under His mighty hand and will. In Parts I and II of this series, we looked at how that shaping and revitalizing to a state of perfection takes place. It began with the Old Testament heroes of faith, continues with the faithful disciples of Christ now, and will come to include an opportunity for each and every human being later. In this episode, we look at the nations of the world, beginning with Israel. What does the Bible tell us about the perfecting process of all these nations? Plenty!
From early on in biblical history, Israel was THE nation.
They were God’s chosen. But what did that mean? It meant that they were responsible to live to higher standards than everyone else. They were to have God and only God as their Sovereign. They would be blessed if they complied and accountable if they didn’t. Well, we all know what happened. They always suffered consequences for their idolatry and sins and were finally cast off from God’s favor for rejecting Jesus. Ironically, this ultimate show of God’s disfavor of the nation set the stage for their future perfecting.
Back to the land.
God’s promise to Abraham said that the nation born to him through Isaac would eventually bless all the families of the earth. Biblical prophecy plainly shows us where God’s disfavor and their being dissolved as a nation would ultimately lead them. The answer: back to their land. Back to Him. Israel’s perfecting as a favored people is not only in clearly revealed in prophecy, but its steps towards this perfecting are also clearly laid out as well. When we read these prophecies and think about this national journey back to God, it is thrilling. When we realize that the already regathered Israel as a nation in their land is the early stages of this, it's mind-blowing!

The question is, what follows the introductory phases of God’s perfecting of Israel? The answer begins with lots of trouble that will lead to the end of this age of sin and death. The removal of the powers that rule this present evil world will be replaced by the power of God through our glorified Lord Jesus. Prophecy tells us the perfecting of Israel will set the stage for the perfecting of all the other nations of the world as well. How can this be, when the ideologies of the nations are so filled with tension and unrest? Check out our December 11, 2023 podcast, “What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part III)" for more. Find out how Israel and the nations of the world will learn to live in peace, harmony and loyalty to God. The biblical answers here are amazing!

 

In Part I of our series, we focused on how the New Testament describes "perfection." We found that Jesus, though perfect, had to be further "perfected" - further completed - by his personal experiences and sufferings in order to fully pay the ransom price for Adam. Similarly, but on a much smaller scale, Jesus’ disciples have a perfect beginning as well. They are given forgiveness for their sins, they are given God’s holy spirit, and they are called "sons of God." With these perfect gifts, they also need to be "perfected' - to be completed - in maturity in Christ. This present-day perfecting work is clearly defined in Scripture. So, what about everybody else? Does the Bible show a perfecting work for them? It does! Today we will look at another biblical perfecting process that is not as well-defined and is also a future work instead of being a present work.
Jesus saves. Is it that simple?
Belief in the opportunity for all nonbelievers to have a future opportunity at being perfected to an earthly life is not common among Christians. The more common belief is that accepting Jesus now is the only way to be saved. However, many scriptures plainly tell us that God’s justice-based approach to humanity leaves a door of opportunity wide open. 1 Corinthians 15:22 is one of the most basic examples, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” This equation simply says that Adam brought sin and death to everyone, and Jesus took away what Adam brought. Justice is satisfied. Jesus returns things to their original state of equilibrium.
What about Judgment Day?
While this sounds easy, it likely provokes some really good questions. What does this canceling of Adam’s sin mean in a practical sense? Is this an invitation to heaven? What about the Day of Judgment? First and foremost, this is NOT a heavenly invitation for those who are not called to follow Jesus. It IS an invitation to the life that Adam had an opportunity for - perfect human life. Notice we have described it as an invitation and an opportunity. This means that each and every human being will have a say in the matter. This is where Judgment Day comes into play, since its function according to Scripture is to be a time of testing. This 1,000-year time period will be a time of trial so each resurrected human can earn life through learning righteousness.

All of this is in place for the purpose of perfecting the entire human race into a godly, righteous and loyal family. When you look around our world today, this looks impossible and even ridiculous. Check out our December 4, 2023 podcast, “What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part II)” for answers. We dig deeply into Scripture and discover just how God has this massive and complex process of perfecting humankind already in order. These scriptures show us a depth to God’s plan that often goes unnoticed. Don’t miss it!

God has an amazing plan that includes every human being who has ever lived. Rather than torturing billions for eternity in a fiery hell, this plan will give all of humanity a legitimate opportunity to be taught how to live in a godly and righteous way. We’re saying God’s plan gives EVERYONE an opportunity to become perfect in His sight. Now, if you look around at the condition of our world, it’s really easy to roll your eyes and think with all that’s happening, this plan of God’s is pretty lame! Well, it does look that way, but the reality is that this plan works in specific stages. There is a perfecting work happening right now, but it’s NOT focused on everyone. Our three-part series will walk through how and when Christians, non-Christians and all who have ever lived will have an opportunity for perfection.

When we think of somebody being “perfect” what do we picture in our minds? Likely we imagine someone whose physical appearance is flawless, and health is exemplary. Their mind would be sharp, intuitive and brilliant and their voice would be strong and melodious. They would be creative, personable, passionate, and they would be a superb leader. All in all, this is a tall order! We might imagine Jesus fitting such a description, but it would certainly be beyond any of the rest of us.
What is perfection?
In the book of Matthew, Jesus was teaching about God’s graciousness of sending rain and sun upon both evil and good people. He then tells his disciples to "be perfect," just like their Father in heaven is perfect. How can this even be possible? Perfection in the New Testament can be a tricky thing. First, there are several Greek words translated into our English Bibles as “perfect.” Second, none of them mean what our original description implied. The bottom line is these words all point to becoming complete. This can mean being complete in thought or words, actions or example.
Perfect or perfected?
Even though Jesus was perfect, the Bible tells us he had to be “perfected” by way of suffering and experience. The same principle applies to any true disciple of Jesus. We are given the perfect gifts of justification through the blood of Jesus and God’s holy spirit. Having these things, we are also told to strive to be “perfect” - to be complete - as Christians. What does this really mean?

Check out our November 27, 2023 podcast, “What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part I - The Church)” for more. We examine how we can actually spiritually grow into the “perfection” the Bible expects of us. We define the kinds of completeness, maturity and equipping that the New Testament focuses us towards accomplishing. Finally, we also lay the groundwork for examining how God’s plan actually contains a detailed perfecting process for nonbelievers as well. Join us for Part I of this 3-part series as we uncover biblical truths about Christian life, growth and perfection!

 

The world around us moves so fast that it’s easy to forget to pause and consider just how profoundly God has blessed us. In the United States, somewhere tucked in between the massive Halloween parties and the exhilaration of Christmas, Santa Claus, presents and fun, is a holiday called Thanksgiving. While we won’t take the time to discuss how it came to be, we do want to remember why. Thanksgiving’s origin was actually simple. It was proclaimed to pause and consider just how profoundly blessed those settlers were to have lived through a hard winter and now experience a harvest in preparation for the next hard winter. In short, the thanksgiving they gave was to God above, period. Today we’ll talk about a similar thanksgiving to God but under the biblical name of Ebenezers.
The name of a place and a rock
Back in the days of ancient Israel, even before they had a king, Samuel was God’s prophet for the people. In spite of Samuel’s presence, a series of events led them down a road of essentially abandoning God for over 20 years. Finally, under Samuel’s leadership, they begin to turn back towards God. As their enemies the Philistines are preparing to attack, the people urged Samuel to pray to God for their deliverance. God does miraculously deliver them, and Samuel immediately places a big rock as a remembrance of their experience and proclaims, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” He names the rock Ebenezer.

That’s it. Other than being the name of a location, Ebenezer is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. So, why would we be focusing on this one little experience with a named rock for lessons about gratitude? The conclusion is that like so many other things in Scripture, there is an incredible substance beneath the surface. Think about it, this rock was just an ordinary boulder in its natural form. Why not carve it into a shape? Why not engrave something on it? And why name the rock "Ebenezer," of all things? And why say, “Thus far” the Lord has helped? Did Samuel think God was going to change His mind?

Check out our November 20, 2023 podcast, “What is Your Ebenezer?” for answers. We dig into all of these questions and find an amazing depth of wisdom in the answers. With the principles we uncover, we trace Ebenezer-like experiences in the New Testament. We find that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul used these principles as valuable ways of capturing the gratitude we should have when God delivers us.
Life can be hectic.
It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the current of world events, social media and the dramas of every day. All of this is really about gratitude and finding practical ways to keep thanksgiving relevant in very specific ways. It turns out, Ebenezers can be powerful and significant tools to remember God’s deliverance with heartfelt thanksgiving, if we know how to use them. Join us and learn what the prophet Samuel taught by simply naming a rock.

Way back in the 1980’s Bobby McFerrin recorded and released his very popular song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It's a simple and upbeat perspective on living. When you think about it, the title is a profound instruction for life. Don’t worry; instead, be happy! About 100 years before this catchy song, Hannah Whitall Smith wrote an ageless book called The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. In it, she detailed a powerful formula for happy living that was based on complete faith in God and fully surrendering to His will. The message in the song and the book are the same, except the book gives us solid “how to” perspectives for Christians. While we won’t be singing the song or reviewing the book, we will be applying scriptural principles that will help make happiness real in our daily Christian lives.
Do you know how the Bible defines happiness?
The first and perhaps most important point in figuring out what a “happy” life looks like would be to actually define the word. This might sound silly at first. After all, everyone knows what it means to be happy! But do they? When we say, “Happy Birthday,” we are wishing a person to have feelings of goodness and excitement. How about when we look at a happy coincidence? It means we observe events that came together in an unplanned but positive way. When we end a story with “happily ever after,” we are indicating that life for those involved will be smooth and contented going forward. Happy can mean many things!
Biblical happiness is none of the above.
As a matter of fact, biblical happiness is much more about a state of mind than it is about how we might feel in a given circumstance. The Old Testament sets the standard for happiness by the way the Hebrew word is translated. The same word can be “happy,” as in Deuteronomy 33:29, and “blessed,” as in Psalm 1:1. This suggests that happiness for those who are loyal to God is a direct result of that loyalty. It helps us begin to understand that being happy is not an emotional state; rather, it is a focused state of mind.

On the surface, this can sound depressing. You might think, you mean I don’t get to be happy as a Christian? Actually, we are saying just the opposite. Christian happiness can and should be vibrant even when life is not going well. 1 Peter 4:14 says that we are happy - we are blessed - when we suffer reproach for Jesus’ sake. So, how does that work?

Check out our November 13, 2023 podcast, “Is There a Secret for a Happy Christian Life?” for answers. We walk through understanding what true Christian happiness is and what it looks like. Then we then dig into the how to of actually applying it to our daily life. We also examine how Christian contentedness and happiness can give us a truly bountiful life. Join us! This is a journey worth taking as it can open our eyes to a fulfilled Christian life.

Arise and be baptized! This and many other similar scriptural statements have in many ways defined Christianity. Unfortunately, because Christianity is so splintered it applies these very important words and instructions in a wide variety of ways. Some say baptism changes you, others say it is a symbol, and others say it is necessary for heaven. Some baptize infants, others baptize children and others, adults only. Others baptize into a church or denomination, while some "baptize into Christ." Some see baptism as a necessary beginning to walk towards Christ, while others see it as a symbol of having decided to sacrificially follow Christ. How can all of this be one baptism? It can’t! What do we do with all of this? We search the Scriptures and look for the originally intended message behind Christian baptism.
What's the purpose?
When you think about it, baptism is a strange ritual. What would be the purpose of dunking people in water anyway? Do they need a bath? Actually, the whole concept of Christian baptism began with this general objective. Way back in the days of Moses when God gave them His Law, the people of Israel were meticulously instructed about cleanliness. Not only were they told to wash in water after being sick or in contact with a dead body, but they also had to become ceremonially clean by offering a sacrifice before the priesthood. Washing for Israel was an important act of physical cleansing that was tied to their spiritual cleansing as well.
Is this what Christian baptism is all about?
John the Baptist arrives on the scene with a very specific mission regarding the whole nation of Israel. He announces the coming of their Messiah and tells the people to repent and be baptized. His message to Israel is to recognize their sins and demonstrate their repentance with a physical washing - just as the Law had prescribed centuries before. So, is this what Christian baptism is all about?

No. While repentance is a critical part of Christian baptism, it is only a beginning element and in no way represents the whole picture. "Baptism into Christ" has many other elements tied to it. It is important we don't confuse the two. Christians often seem to focus on the repentance part of this picture, and therefore focus on the baptism of John. While important, it does not reflect true Christian baptism.

Check out our November 6, 2023 podcast, “Are Christians Really Baptized Into Christ?” for more. We put John’s baptism and baptism into Christ side-by-side. We also examine several other New Testament baptisms as well. John spoke of a "baptism of the holy spirit and of fire." Jesus spoke of his followers being baptized with the "baptism of his own suffering." The Apostle Paul spoke about being "baptized into Christ's death." How do all these differing baptisms fit together? Join us as we sort out these many New Testament references and put them in order. In the end, it all makes perfect sense, and it all teaches us amazing lessons!

We live in a diverse world, and that can be a really wonderful thing! To observe and embrace the positive differences in our cultures, our backgrounds and our characters is worthy of celebration. Appreciating the immense differences we see in nature due to geographic locations is a fascinating journey through God’s creation. But here is a problem. Diversity, just like most anything else we as imperfect humans celebrate, can go to extremes that take the basic principles of godly righteousness and corrupt them with darkness and evil. This inevitably leads to the destruction of that which is good. What has this got to do with Satan and demons? Everything! Satan and those who follow him are masters of subtlety and can easily make darkness look like light.
Warning!
In his letter to the Ephesian church, the Apostle Paul warns us that we in our Christian journey are wrestling against “spiritual wickedness in high places." When you think about it, this is really creepy. How do you wrestle against something that is SO much more powerful than you and that you can't even see? The answer lies in scriptural understanding, biblical faith and godly wisdom.

What do we know about this spiritual wickedness? Obviously, we know it all comes from Satan and his demons. While this is a good start, all it does is label the source. Our next level of understanding needs to be based on why and how this all began. Before we go any further, a word of caution. Satanic influence is real and powerful, and our foundational rule of operation is simple. Stay away from it! Investigating satanic websites, etc. so you can understand satanic power better is a foolish and unwarranted practice. All we need to know can be found in the Bible’s very detailed explanations of how all of this came about.

As we gain an understanding of the origins of this spiritual wickedness, we will also gain insight into how such evil works. Once again, the Bible gives us a very detailed outline about the process. There are many accounts in Scripture that reveal satanic tactics. The three temptations Satan brought to Jesus, demon possession and Satan “entering” Judas are some examples. As dark as these experiences were, they teach us how to perceive several methods of demonic influence. Our faith can be bolstered when we see these things and realize that they are recorded in Scripture for our protection.

Check out our October 30, 2023 podcast, “How Do Satanic Demons Influence Our World?” for more. We dig into the story behind the story with the beginnings of evil satanic influence in our world. Knowing the "what," "why" and "how" of its origins clues us into some of the motivation behind demonic activities. More than this, we look at how to be prepared against the high-level evil that permeates our world. Join us for this important journey into understanding, faith, and godly wisdom as we face the dark spiritual enemies in our world.

As Christians, we all are encouraged by the scriptural principle that God’s angels are watching over us. What better hands could we be in than those who were sent by God himself to care for our very lives! As encouraging as this scriptural principle is, we need to be careful to avoid turning this reverent truth into some kind of human imagination that skews and corrupts its purity. The Bible is very specific as to the kinds of roles that angels do and do not occupy in our human lives. For us to truly appreciate how angelic influence works, we need to be prepared to accept that MANY of the notions and traditions surrounding angels are simply human-based fantasy and imagination. This may sound disappointing, but it’s actually good news, as we want to define angelic activity through God’s word and His word only!
What's an angel?
There is much more to God’s angels than many of us may think. First and foremost, we need to understand what an angel is. The Old and New Testament words for angel are defined as "messengers" or "deputies." This means angels serve the expressed and specific purpose of the one who sends them. This seems pretty simple and certainly not surprising, however in our human excitement, we can easily misapply this truth.
Let’s get down to the basic questions.
Are we as followers of Christ supposed to know anything about the guardian angels God sends to watch over us? Are we supposed to know their names, or give them names? If they are watching over us, should we be praying to them? And what about a relationship? Should we seek or desire to have some kind of communication with them? What should we expect from them? Are they there to help us out in our everyday lives, and are they in any way at our command?

To understand the truthful answers to these questions, we need to prioritize exactly what we know to be true about angels. Check out our October 23, 2023 podcast, “How do Guardian Angels Take Care of Us?” for details.  We look at several examples of angels doing their work in both the Old and New Testaments. What begins to unfold are the “dos and don'ts” that drive angelic intervention.

First, we learn why all of God’s heavenly host are not called angels. This understanding alone sets a strong foundation for what follows. We then learn how and why angels sometimes played major roles in the experiences of certain Old Testament faithful ones. How and why did an angel intervene in Abraham’s experience with Isaac? Why did Gabriel come to Daniel and speak with him? In the New Testament, why did angels help Peter escape prison and direct Philip to convert the Ethiopian eunuch? Most importantly, why did angelic intervention diminish as the New Testament continued? Join us for this fascinating journey as we observe how God’s angels do and don’t take care of us.

 

In our last episode, we talked about doubt as a permanent fixture in our present world and experiences and how this can be both a positive thing as well as a negative thing. There are many ways the seeds of doubt are planted. It might be as a result of misinformation or misunderstanding. Or when we have a limited perception of our circumstances. We can doubt when we are in a difficult situation or have unmet expectations. Whatever the case may be, itis a very real part of our Christian experience. As we continue our conversation in this episode, we focus on how doubt manifested itself in the New Testament and what we can learn from it. To clearly understand it is to open the door that can diffuse it or use it, whichever brings glory to God!
Choices in the New Testament
Understanding New Testament doubt can be tricky, as there seems to be marked differences in the kinds of doubt that are revealed. The more common words for doubt have the sense of choice and indicate a wavering or hesitation: I am presented with a dilemma and can either handle it this way or that way. On the surface, this can sound simple - you have the choices before you, so just decide already! However, rather than being simple, this kind of doubt can be somewhat paralyzing. If I focus on option A, then this or that may not happen. Option B feels safer, but then I have this inconvenient issue to handle.
You of little faith
Then there is that hesitation or wavering caused by looming and dramatic circumstances when we need to choose right now. The Apostle Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus is a great example of this. The wind is fierce, and the waves are big. Jesus tells Peter to come to him against all common sense and natural law, Peter steps out of the boat to walk on top of the water. He then wavers as he sees the strength of the wind and begins to sink. Jesus saves him then asks, “Why did you doubt, you of little faith?”

Was Peter’s doubting really an example of having “little faith”? Could this in any way have been a constructive doubt? What about the women who went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body and found the body was gone? What about the Apostle Peter’s doubt after he had the vision that instructed him to eat the meat of unclean animals?

Check out our October 16, 2023 podcast for answers. We consider these examples along with several others as we draw lessons from both constructive and destructive doubts. Doubt - just like trust - can keep us safe or get us in trouble. Join us for Part II of this series and learn how to hold on to the positive power of doubt while avoiding its negative results!

Everybody doubts. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? The answer is a resounding yes! Doubt can be a godly tool of necessary and righteous caution just as easily as it can be an ungodly tool of imperfect human judgment and destruction. Appropriate doubt that is fact- and integrity-based is an early warning system that can keep us focused on and engaged in the most important things. This kind of doubt is a welcome addition to our lives and should be counted on. By the same token, highly charged doubt that is primarily fed by feelings and personal preferences needs to be examined and adjusted according to higher godly standards. How can we learn to doubt the doubts we should doubt without doubting the doubts that undoubtedly protect us?
What (or whom) exactly are you doubting?
Learning to question the doubts in our lives that need to be challenged really begins with one important question: What am I doubting? Answering this may not be as easy as we may think. For instance, we may find that we are doubting ourselves. Such doubt could be a needed and welcome warning sign for staying away from certain questionable circumstances. On the other hand, self-doubt could be detrimental to approaching a specific challenge or experience we may need to face. What if I’m doubting God? While answering this question may seem easier to understand, it also needs a bit more clarity. Am I actually doubting God, or am I doubting what I think God should be doing based on my own perspective?
Is doubt destructive or constructive? Yes.
Once we better understand what we are questioning we then want to look at the “why” of the matter. To help with this, we look at biblical examples of doubt, and there are plenty to choose from. As we isolate these examples, we want to put them into two specific categories - destructive doubt and constructive doubt. One clear example of destructive doubt is Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was tempted by Satan, and that temptation caused her to reconsider the specific guidelines God had previously put in place. The obvious question is, why would anyone doubt God’s personally delivered and specifically precise guidelines?

Check out our October 9, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Doubt My Doubts? (Part I)" for answers. We examine the details of Eve’s doubt and compare them with other Old Testament examples of destructive doubts. This exercise begins to unfold a pattern for understanding our negative second guessing. It helps us begin identifying what the building blocks are for our different areas of doubtfulness that are not productive.

We then examine how constructive doubts work and compare those building blocks with those of destructive doubt. We talk about two dramatic examples of biblical characters who used their serious doubts as tools of growth in God’s service. Join us for Part I of this eye-opening journey through one of the most common challenges that humanity faces each and every day. It is "undoubtedly" worth your attention!

Chaos rules. Just look around at the world’s social, political and moral condition. We all want what we want, and we seem to now go to greater lengths than ever before to demand that we have it. Having what we want doesn’t stop there, as we now more often than not demand that what I want is accepted by all. This chaos is not merely limited to my social media presence. Oh no, it expands into my perceived right to relabel any and every aspect of life as I see fit. From politics to family dynamics, to workplace expectations to educational environments, we are running towards a social order founded upon disorder. What are we as Christians supposed to do with all of this? How could these unsettling and monumental developments possibly be a part of God’s plan?
Is the chaos more powerful than God?
Because God is so powerful we might expect that He would have created a world where order and clarity rule. Looking around, our world is clearly not in line with such a seemingly simple guideline. Does this mean the chaos in our society today is beyond God’s ability to manage? The answer here is a simple no. No level of it on any level of creation is beyond God’s capacity to handle. More than that, God has and will often use the chaos of humanity as a tool to further His plan.

We believe the vast majority of the conflict we see around us would - from God’s perspective - fit into the general description of what we will call “permitted chaos.” While chaos can mean complete disorder, it can also mean a disorder that is beyond our capacity to understand or measure. What we see as ridiculously out of control, God can see as a state of affairs that are a means to an end.

Chaos, or perceived chaos, exists in every level of life. It is easy to see it in the big things, like international conflicts and political rivalries. On these levels, we observe the news through whatever version of reporting we have chosen, and then we respond. Our response is often filled with angst and frustration, as what we observed, no matter whose side we are on, is going the wrong way.
Enter our social media experience.
We tell people what we think and often do so in an unfiltered and harsh manner. We now are chaos contributors as we further provoke the ill will and combativeness we are already fed up with.

All of this seems to be a vicious cycle of never-ending unrest. So, what do we do? Check out our October 2, 2023 podcast, “Can We Be Content With Chaos?” for more. We examine the varied kinds of “permitted chaos” God allows to affect our lives and establish patterns of response. In this world, chaos is a given, until God’s kingdom is established. Join us as we face its challenge and find ways to have godly contentment as we cope. This is a journey well worth taking!

 

To claim the name of Christ and call ourselves Christians means we are claiming ourselves to be separate from the world. This sounds like a noble claim - and it is - though sometimes you’d never know it. Think about how many people make this claim and bear the Christian label but seem to be just like everyone else. This is a sad testimony to how, over time, Christian practices have been severely diluted. In many cases, this watered-down approach is to the point of not even being able to recognize true Christian principles. For someone who has just come to Christ, this can be a serious challenge. Are these new Christians being guided into the process of following Jesus’ footsteps, or to some other examples? What should any and every new Christian be focused on learning and growing towards?
Let’s begin with the bottom line.
To be a Christian is work, and this work actually begins even before we claim the name of Jesus. The seemingly little-known fact of the matter is, we don’t simply choose to be Christians; rather, we are called to be Christians. We know this because it was a plain statement of Jesus that he gave as a response to some who were grumbling at his teachings. He said, “No one comes to me except the Father draw him.” So, where is the work? It begins with being open to God’s call. Because this call is NOT an audible voice, those who are called need to be attuned to the change God is drawing them to.
Our response.
Once we are aware of this drawing, our next task is to respond. Jesus informed us throughs parables that responding to the call of discipleship requires an investment of thought and consideration. For many of us, our experience in coming to Christ was energized and emotional. We realized that we were sinners, and we ran towards Jesus for the forgiveness of those sins. While this certainly is a good beginning, it is not what true discipleship is all about. You don’t simply get emotional and then essentially sign a contract that requires you deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus!

Hearing this approach to being a Christian can come across as depressing. All we have talked about is work, thinking, sacrifice and dying for Jesus. Is it really all just work and effort? Of course not! There is MUCH more to this call. Check out our September 25, 2023 podcast, “I’m a New Christian! Now What?” for more. Along with the work, we also examine the blessings. After all, Jesus said that his true followers would be with him in heaven. He said that God’s spirit would dwell within them and guide them. He said that he would give them rest, that his "yoke is easy" and his "burden is light.” Join us as we look at the whole of the journey that true Christians are called to take. It is so worth it!

 

As we have discovered from Parts I and II of this series, God is the Mighty One who has power and authority. He is the Self-Existing One who created humanity in His image for the purpose of having a personal relationship with them. Planet Earth was and is to be the eternal habitation of this human family. As God revealed Himself through man’s experiences, many aspects of His character became evident. He is the Supreme and Exalted Sovereign. He is all-sufficient and caring, and He continually provides. Not only is He "Jehovah Elohim" of individuals, but He is "Jehovah of Hosts." He sanctifies, shepherds and brings peace to those who follow Him. He is our rock, our fortress, and through His providence, He provides salvation. This is a mere sampling of the breadth of God’s character as revealed in the Old Testament.
New Testament/New Depth
With the depth of explanation of who God in the Old Testament, you would think there would be little to add or clarify in the New Testament. Well, nothing could be further from the truth! The New Testament does far more than expand our understanding of God’s name, nature and character. It opens up a whole level of meaning and gives us a whole new depth of appreciation as well.

The way this all happens is really quite simple. In the first two parts of this series, we saw specific and dynamic patterns unfold. The further God’s plan unfolded, the more clearly He was able to be understood. In the beginning, God was the God of power and authority. After all, He created the heavens and the earth. He then became known as the God of relationship as it was revealed that the entire creative process was to accommodate His human creation. Fast forward, and Abraham became a "friend" of God. Fast forward again to when Israel was delivered from slavery and God became the "Lord of Hosts!" From there, He was sanctifier, protector, shepherd, and so much more. As time went on, so the understanding of God increased.
"Father," a radically new title
Now the New Testament rolls in, and it’s time for Jesus to come as the Messiah. This would represent THE single most significant step forward in all of God’s plan. Jesus would come to cancel all of sin for all of humanity through his sacrifice. Such a world-changing step brought a world-changing view of God along with it. And it all came down to one simple common word that had been used through every generation of humanity’s history: Father.

Jesus proclaimed God to be his Father. This had never happened before and would have been a shocking change. More than this, Jesus said that those who followed him would also be able to claim God as their Father! What did all of this mean? Check out our September 18, 2023 podcast, “Who is God? (Part III)” for more. We delve deeply into this amazing description of God and all that it implies. Join us as we work to wrap our own minds around this profound, reverent and inspirational way to better understand God our Father!

So many people believe God is a man-made myth. They see Him as a figment of the imagination of religious zealots who desperately seek some kind of higher power. When you look at mythological gods or the gods of some religious factions, you can certainly see the reasoning for that point. However, when we look at the God of the Bible, it has to be an entirely different story. What other book, what other belief system, gives you such a detailed and specific approach to knowing who God is the way the Bible does? In Part I of our series, we focused on God’s introduction to the world of humanity in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. We then focused on how God revealed Himself to Abraham. As we begin this second part of our series, we recap how God has been revealed through creation and Abraham. This sets the stage for the next steps of seeing who God is.
His personal name revealed for the first time.
In Part II, our next focus is on how God revealed Himself to Moses. If you recall, Moses had been exiled from Egypt and had spent 40 years away from that country. He was drawn to know who God is, so he climbed up Mount Horeb. God presented Himself to Moses through an angel and a bush that burned but was not consumed. While it was here God told Moses of the task to deliver His people out from slavery in Egypt, there was an even bigger message to be given. It was the revealment of God’s name.

Moses was being assigned a task that was clearly over his head and needed dramatic assurance of how it could even be accomplished. God responded by describing Himself as, “I Am that I Am.” He is the Self-Existing one, the God above all who was, is and always will be. He would deliver the enslaved Hebrews, and Moses would be His representative. The lessons for us here are many if we are seeking to serve God. Are we positioned to do what He would have us do? Do we realize the might and power of His very nature, His wisdom, and His plans?
To know the name of God is to know a solemn and reverent truth.
To watch the power of God unfold before you and through you is another matter entirely. This is what Moses experienced. God’s power and plan freed the Hebrews from their generational slavery in Egypt. As they were being led out of that nightmarish captivity, God was declared to have yet another description added to His name. He, the Self-Existing One was now the Lord of all the millions who were being freed. He would become known as the "Lord of hosts," or Jehovah Sabaoth.

As dramatic as all of this is, it only scratches the surface of understanding God. Check out our September 11, 2023 podcast, “Who Is God? (Part II)” for more. We take the discoveries of Part I and use them as a foundation to reach towards an ever-higher understanding of God in Part II. There is SO much to learn! Join us for this ever-expanding discovery into the magnitude of our mighty God!

 

 

Whether we like it or not or believe it or not, the presence of powers higher than our human understanding cannot be denied. The debate begins and rages when we try to label these powers. Our human perspectives, belief systems and even how we claim to apply science all come into play here. As Christians, we by definition believe God is the ultimate source of power. We believe Him to be wise, just and loving in His expressions of that power. But how do we know this to be true? It is no surprise that the answer to knowing who God is exists in a very broad and orderly fashion in the Bible. Literally starting at the beginning will lay a foundation for us to not only begin to understand God, but to also begin to have a deep appreciation of who He really is.
God's power and authority revealed in a name
There are several names and descriptions given to God, especially in the Old Testament. Each of them gives us a different way to grasp the Almighty’s character. For instance, the first five words of the entire Bible set a tone about who He is. Genesis 1:1 simply states, “In the beginning, God created…” This beginning refers to the creation of the earth as a habitable planet. The Hebrew word Elohim used to describe God here in this creative context is specific. Right away we know He was the initial force to make things happen. It was His plan, His power and His authority that put the development of planet Earth into motion.

Elohim is commonly used to describe God when His power and authority are being referenced. This gives us a hint as to how to understand God through Scripture. Because His character is so vast, there is no way to sum it up simply, so the Bible reveals Him in steps. When another aspect of God is being referenced or sought for, another name or description appears. In this way, we can learn to appreciate the depth of His character as our own minds become ready to receive it.

While this may sound like an easy math addition problem, it is far deeper and much more exciting. God is not systematically unveiled to us one character trait at a time; rather, it is done through the real-life experiences of those who follow Him. While this may seem less efficient, it is unspeakably more dramatic!
Who God is, as revealed to Abraham
Check out our September 4, 2023 podcast, “Who Is God? (Part I)” for more. We identify and define the keys the Old Testament puts in place to help us understand who God is. Abraham is a primary example of these keys. Throughout his life, Abraham had a myriad of experiences that challenged him, caused him to doubt and caused him to step out in faith. Through many of these times, God showed Abraham new aspects of His character. These were expressed as amazing names and descriptions of God. Join us for this thrilling journey! Truly knowing who He is may be closer than you think!

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he told his disciples in Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples of all the nations." He told them to baptize these disciples and teach them all that he had taught and commanded them to know and do. Ten days later, God’s spirit came upon the apostles, and this is where the Christian church had its beginning. Fast forward 2,000 years, and we find Christianity divided into countless denominations. We see an apparent decline in Christianity as church attendance seems to be steadily decreasing. So, is going to church a significant marker for being a true Christian? To have a real answer for this question, we need to establish a clear understanding of the scriptural relationship between church and its role in a true Christian’s life.
Where's the church?
Christianity began as a group of individuals who were called out to follow Jesus after his death and resurrection. This group had no organization, except for the apostles and God’s spirit. They had no buildings of their own and would meet wherever they found the space. Often that was at the homes of one another. The point here, is the early church had no church. They had no specific place to go as their official home base of operations. In fact, they themselves were called "the church."

Through the passage of time, this humble beginning became a forgotten fact. As Christianity grew, its focus veered away from simply being called "the church" to making it a destination. In many cases, this destination became more and more elaborate. This led to a focus on the outward appearance of a physical place rather than the inward spiritual growth of those attending. This subtle change and all that comes with it opens up the possibility of a focus that may be spiritually lacking. We are suggesting that in some cases, going to church could very well be a counterproductive activity when it comes to being true disciples of Jesus.
How do I know if I am in such a position of compromise?
Check out our August 28, 2023 podcast, “Do Christians Have to Go to Church?” for answers. We delve into the meaning of “church” in the Bible. It's very different than what we here in the 21st century are used to. Not only does its true meaning serve as a wake-up call, but it also leads us to several other descriptions of what being part of THE church really means.

Each and every one of these descriptions adds deeper understanding as to what our Christianity should be driven by. We learn that meeting together should remain as a relevant part of a Christian’s life. But this activity is not for the purpose of fulfilling a social need or “checking off the box” of doing what we think is required. Join us as we see the Scriptures unfold the amazing privileges and responsibilities that being part of the church requires. Follow these scriptures and church will never be the same!

In our last episode, we talked about many big-picture aspects of how the humbling and amazing privilege of prayer works. We learned that, as is usually the case with true Christian discipleship, there is much more to praying than talking to God about things and letting him know what we need and want. Today we will focus on the details of our prayer life. We will look at many of those simple questions about the practicality of prayer. Questions like, how do we fit prayer into busy lives? How do we pray when we are not feeling grateful for anything? How do we know if God is answering our prayers or if we are just making up answers? 
Obviously, prayer can be tricky.
Here are a few examples of how we can become disillusioned. First, we can get very excited when we think about Jesus saying, “Ask and you shall receive,” so we pray when we want something from God. We have really good reasons for wanting it, so we tell him what’s on our mind and then look for His answer. Time passes and we don’t get what we want. Now we get all bummed out. We don’t understand. We were supposed to receive, just like Jesus said! What we asked for was a good thing, and we’re trying to be a really good person. Why didn’t God respond favorably?
We pray, but maybe we hold back with a few secrets.
Another example. We pray about a challenge we really want God to handle for us. We are detailed and sincere in our request, as we believe this issue needs serious divine intervention. As we pray, we think about some other things we have fallen down on but decide not to pray about those things. After all, they aren't as pressing for us. Besides, we feel like we really don’t want to talk to God about them anyway. Again, time goes by, and we don’t seem to be getting the answers we are looking for. What’s wrong? Doesn’t God see how important this challenge is to us?

These two examples are just the tip of the iceberg regarding the kinds of challenges many of us have with prayer. They typify some of the mystery and disappointment we can face when our prayers don’t produce the kinds of results we are looking for. What are we supposed to do?

Check out our August 21, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Transform My Prayer Life? (Part II)” for some perspective. We take these basic questions and combine them with several others as a starting point for examining the intricacies of prayer. What we find is fascinating! Prayer is a powerful privilege in the lives of Christians that enables us to approach God through Jesus with our requests, our praise and our issues. But here’s the thing. Sometimes we confuse the purpose of prayer to be a tool of fulfilling our preferences instead of following God’s providences. Join us as we ask the questions, learn the differences and apply the lessons to a stronger prayer life!

Prayer is an incalculably awesome privilege, and yet it is massively misunderstood. Prayer can easily become a ritual, an almost automatic activity like brushing our teeth. We know we need to do it because we know it’s really good for us. So, we do it at what we think are the appropriate times and in the appropriate ways. Prayer can also become a time of wishful thinking, a time when we essentially tell God how our lives could and should look. It can also become a complaining session, a finger pointing session and even a pity party. Wait, let’s take a breath! Prayer is the opportunity and privilege to talk to the God of all things through His son Jesus. If we are going to use this amazing tool, we want to be absolutely clear as to how it works and why it works!

Let’s look at a few important and fundamental questions.
First, does God hear every prayer that is offered up to Him?
Going even deeper, does God answer every prayer spoken? There are several scriptures in the Old and New Testaments that give us guidance on this.

The basic answer is no, God does not hear and answer every prayer.Why not? The Bible describes prayers that are not heeded as from those who are wicked, following idolatry and not following God’s Law. We might look at this and think, I’m safe, none of that applies to me! While this may be true, there is another scriptural piece to this equation. How focused am I on seeking God’s will and God’s way over my own? God answers those who truly seek Him.
Second, what about when God says no?
Does this mean we are praying for the wrong things or praying with the wrong attitude? That may be true, and it may not. There are several scriptural examples of very faithful ones receiving “no” answers from God. This can only mean that there are several very good reasons for a no answer.
Third, does God ever want us to stop praying?
While our immediate response to this might seem obvious, there is a much larger and deeper purpose we may be missing. Again, scriptural examples help us understand this.

Check out our August 14, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Transform My Prayer Life? (Part I)” for more. We walk through a detailed explanation of these three fundamental points and set the groundwork for how a vital prayer life actually works. Understanding the attitude of our approach to God and the likelihood of getting strong “no” answers from Him is critical. Our prayers are for the purpose of aligning ourselves with God’s will and way. They should keep us open to hearing Him as we ask, seek and find what He wants us to do. Join us for this journey into the amazing power of prayer. All of this sets the stage for Part II of this series which asks the everyday practical questions of how prayer fits into our busy and emotional lives.

It is a natural human response to want to be recognized for who we are and for what we contribute. This is easy to observe. Just look at a small child who does something to be helpful or obedient. When their parent recognizes and praises their behavior, their face beams with delight! While it is positive and nurturing to praise growth and maturity, we also need to be wary. As with anything else that provokes goodness in our sinful world, the simplicity of building another up can be misrepresented and funneled into the ever-growing competition for status among our peers. Now it’s no longer about building up, it is all about establishing our place in the pecking order and fighting our way to be higher up on that ladder. This is NOT a new phenomenon as the Bible has MUCH to say about avoiding it!
Social status is about recognition
It is about being someone who stands out in a crowd. It’s about being seen through a different filter than everyone else. It’s about people looking up to you and following your perspective on issues and subjects that are important to them. The higher your status in the eyes of others, the more powerful and far-reaching your influence becomes. Strong influence means you have the capacity to change other’s perspectives, and that leads to bending social agendas towards your preferred direction. No wonder we fight over our social status rankings! Power and influence go to those at the top!
Influence
Let’s settle this whole social status thing once and for all because it all boils down to influence. He or she with the greatest influence is he or she with the greatest standing. So, who would that be? It is Jesus! Why? Social status and influence are inevitably determined through the eyes of the beholder. Whose eyes are most important to be in front of? Is it the eyes of this or that generation? No! Simply stated, status and influence are established in the eyes of God. He is the Creator of all things, the Originator of all life and the Designer of humanity’s destiny. In God’s eyes, Jesus is THE greatest influencer that the world has ever seen or will ever see. Jesus changed the destiny of every man woman and child who ever lived, and there is no greater influence.

This being the case, what do we do with social media and the status seeking that surrounds us daily? Check out our August 7, 2023 podcast, “Am I Playing the Social Status Game?” for some insight. We talk about being influencers, but not being status seekers. We talk about using the social media environment to represent, to truly represent what a Christian should be standing for. Having influence is a good and necessary aspect of being a disciple of Jesus and he taught us how to do it! Don’t miss this opportunity to understand the world of influencers and how we can use our influence to bring glory to God!

Today we want to talk about freedom. Not freedom in the sense of being released from some form of physical captivity, and not freedom in the sense of being able to express yourself without fear. No, the freedom we want to focus on is bigger and deeper. It is the freedom we can be given when we are drawn to God through Christ and find our way to becoming a true disciple. True discipleship does have a high cost. The reason for that cost is to insure an eternity of freedom in Christ and a dwelling place with our heavenly Father.
True freedom
It's hard to understand the extraordinary value of true freedom unless we understand what it’s like to live without it. Even though we are Christians, our human experiences we can easily shackle us through circumstances, emotions, disagreements and tragedies. These kinds of things often come upon us without warning and without an ability to prepare for them. We look up and suddenly realize that we are in an untenable position of limitation. We feel trapped and minimized, and hopelessness begins to dominate our hearts.
Our friend from New Zealand
Howie Clare, a Christian from New Zealand, knows how this works all too well. We got to know Howie through our Christian Questions podcast and he agreed to tell us his story. Several years ago, as Howie tells it, he was a happily married Christian man, just working through life and enjoying the journey. He then experienced a completely unexpected marital tragedy and was left in that hopeless state of questioning and grief.

Check out our July 24, 2023 podcast, “Does Biblical Truth Really Make Us Free? (Part I)" for more. Howie lays out his story in dramatic and emotional detail. He shares his doubts, his turmoil and his determination as he faced his life’s challenges. The honest discussion takes us to the further challenges he faced when the stability of his church environment also became an issue. Finally, Howie shares how God’s leadings helped him to, small step by small step put this whole chapter of his Christian walk in order.

As we absorb Howie’s inspiring story, we apply a scriptural backdrop to it. This enables us to see just what true freedom in Christ means and what we have to do to live in its liberty. We all have hard life experiences and sometimes feel imprisoned by them. Join us for Part I of this 2-part series. Listen to the unfolding process of knowing and being set free through God’s truth!

Israel. Just say the name and likely if anyone listening follows anything about events on the world stage, they will have a strong opinion one way or another. This is fascinating because the nations of Togo and Honduras, while not well-recognized in world events, have about the same population as Israel. What is it about this tiny nation on this tiny sliver of land that draws such attention? Biblically, there are thousands of years of history and events that keep Israel in the forefront of world events. From a Christian perspective, we know God had cast them off as a result of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah. So, what’s the story with that consequence? Did Israel lose their standing with God on a permanent basis, or is there hope for their future? If there is hope, what does it look like?
The start of Israel
Tracing the roots of the nation of Israel brings us to a specific point in ancient history.  The seed which was planted to establish their very existence was God’s unique and specific request of and promise to Abraham. God told Abraham (known as Abram at the time) to leave his father’s house so God could bring him to a land in an undisclosed location. If Abram went then God promised that he would greatly bless he and his children, and they’d become a great nation. Through Abram’s posterity God further promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed.

Though this was an amazing promise, it had several logistical issues. First, Abram was already 75 years old with no children. Second, he had no idea where he was going. Nevertheless, he followed God’s direction and many years later had his son Isaac. We all know the account of Isaac and his son Jacob, who had 12 sons and whose name was changed to Israel. The nation was established, just as God had promised.
What about the promise?
We also know that Israel had a checkered history when it came to following God’s laws and direction. This lack of adherence to God’s ways culminated in their rejection of Jesus who was their long-awaited Messiah. Jesus himself told them that they would be cast off from God’s favor. History shows us how that dramatically happened as they lost their land and were dispersed throughout the world for many centuries. The obvious question here is, what happened to God’s promise of their blessing all the families of the earth? Did they forfeit it? Is this blessing somehow fulfilled in a different way?

Check out our July 17, 2023 podcast, “Is the Jewish Nation Really God’s chosen People?” for more. We delve into God’s promise to Abraham and the incredible ways that it has been and continues to be fulfilled. In spite of Israel’s dramatic missteps, God’s plan through prophecy, reveals just how amazing their future role in world events will be. Join us as we walk through history, Bible prophecy and current events. We peer into the future of God’s chosen people Israel and the entire world.

 

 

We have all been wronged by someone. Sometimes the wrong is especially deep and hurtful, and we are debilitated by it. We have all also heard the saying “forgive and forget." The forgiving part sounds like a really magnanimous Christian thing to do. However, it can be deeply challenging, depending upon the hurt we have suffered. The “forgetting” part? Well, that can be overwhelmingly difficult - and in many cases may not even be possible. So, what is a Christian to do? How do we know who and when to forgive? Are the biblical “rules” for forgiving others always the same? What if I forgive and really mean it but then begin to feel like I want to change my mind?
Forgiveness can be tricky.
As Christians, we know we should work to develop an instinctively forgiving attitude. After all, that’s what Jesus lived. The whole reason he came was to forgive sin and create the opportunity for resurrection and future judgment and reconciliation for all. While he preached the message of the kingdom, he was tolerant and forgiving of people because he understood their sinful nature. The question is, can we do what Jesus did? Can we be forgiving like he was?
The answer is...sometimes.
In the New Testament, there are different words that define different kinds of forgiveness. One specific word is only used to describe a pardon for sins that is exclusive to God and to Jesus. This word carries the thought of the actual removal of sins from someone. It is about giving them an opportunity for life without any recollection of or reference to their previous sinful nature. This pardon can only come once the blood of Jesus has been applied to them.

The other kind of forgiveness is a very different story. The word here essentially means “to send away.” It is also used in the New Testament regarding a man divorcing, as in "sending away" his wife. Great! What does this mean for us? How is it possible to send someone’s sins away from us but not actually remove them? Does this mean that we treat them as though nothing happened and just wipe the slate clean? What about the natural consequences of doing wrong to others and hurting them? What if they never say they are sorry for what they did?

So many questions, and every one of them needs a clear and direct response. Check out our July 10, 2023 podcast, “How Do I Know if I Have Really Forgiven Someone?” for more. We establish the kind of forgiveness that the blood of Jesus gives and compare it with the "sending away" concept. We look at the psychology of forgiveness and follow the four phases suggested by some studies. What we find in all of this is a deeper understanding of the healing power that true and appropriate forgiveness can bring. Join us and learn more. This biblical approach might be just what you need to be freed from the pain you’ve been carrying from someone hurting you.

If we make promises, we should keep them. This statement seems simple enough, and yet when we look around, how much confidence do we have in it? Do we see an unequivocal keeping of promises in our political leadership? Do we see it in the business world? The world of advertising or education? Do we even see it in our family and social interactions? In our last episode, we spoke extensively about the fact that God is absolutelya God of promise – what He says, He always does. We as Christians are bound to His promise-keeping standard of excellence as the model for our own words and actions. So, how do we go about raising the bar with our own commitments? What instructions can we find in God’s word that will focus us on keeping our word?

When it comes to promises we are to make one to another, the New Testament is nearly silent about the matter. The Bible - especially the Old Testament - is full of instructions about covenants, which were solemn agreements between people or between God and humanity. The Old Testament also was very verbal about the sober reverence regarding vows, which are promises made to God. All of this gives us a solid basis for commitment to the big things in life. So, what happened to the simple promises we may make in our day-to-day experiences?
How often did Jesus talk about promises?
Jesus never spoke about those simple everyday promises, not even once. Instead, he taught us a simple and honorable statement to live by. This statement was given as part of the Sermon on the Mount. As with everything in that teaching, it is profound, direct and to the point. Jesus simply said, "Let your Yes be yes and your No, no." That’s it! No flowery language, no swearing on someone’s grave or on some respected symbol. Jesus simply reminded us to say what we mean and mean what we say.
Does this mean we shouldn’t make promises to anyone?
Of course not! What it does mean is that we as disciples of Christ are bound to a clearly-defined standard of excellence. Our capacity to keep our word is modeled not only after Jesus, but after God Himself. Our challenge is to grow daily and steadily into a person who can be recognized as trustworthy, simply because of who we are.

How do we do that? Check out our July 4, 2023 podcast, “Are My Promises Reliable?” for details. We examine what promises were made in the New Testament, who made them and for what reasons. What we find is surprising to say the least, as several of these examples are powerful lessons in what NOT to do. We observed that promises made based on outward and sometimes dramatic commitments can be a cover for devious activity. Join us as we delve into applying the simple words of Jesus as life-changing guidance for our daily lives. These are lessons you don’t want to miss!

As Christians, our faith in God should translate into an unquestionable loyalty and trust. If God says something will be so, it is a guarantee it will happen. While this deep faith in the word of God should bring a powerful comfort to our lives, it's also capable of bringing us serious doubts and concerns. How can this be? If God is as good as His word (and He is), then where do the doubts come from? They arise when we do not understand or misapply His Word. They arise when we ourselves stand outside of the circle of God’s protective providence and seek to claim promises not meant for us. In other words, God’s promises to Christians are only meant for true disciples of Jesus. This may sound like an excuse to some, but it is in fact a basis for how God’s favor works in the lives of His true children.

Patience is one of the most understated yet powerful characteristics any human being can have. Most of us think of patience as simply waiting things out – it’s raining and we can’t start the game until it stops, so let’s be patient. While this is one true facet, biblical patience goes much further. The Bible teaches us the kind of patience one needs when going through a hard and perhaps painful experience. This kind of patience adds a factor of endurance to the necessary waiting, as one needs to bear a burden or discomfort for a time. Interestingly, the New Testament adds yet another dimension to the kind of patience we as Christians are supposed to have. As we shall soon see, this kind is all about self-restraint. The question is, am I personally and truly living a life of Christlike patience?
Patience in the Love Chapter
1 Corinthians 13 is commonly called the Love Chapter. It is the Apostle Paul’s very complete and inspiring treatise on what selfless love is and how it works. The very first description of selfless love in verse 4 begins with “Love is patient…” It’s easy to look at this “patient” description and think it means that love is willing to quietly wait for things. While this is a nice thought, it does not nearly capture what this particular word means.
Patience as a fruit of the spirit
We encounter the same issue when we read about the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The fourth characteristic on this list of God’s spirit affecting our lives is also “patience.” Here we can easily think that God’s spirit is expressed in us when we learn to quietly wait. Again, nice thought, but it simply doesn't capture the depth of the word.

This word means to forbear, to have self-restraint, and goes way beyond quietly waiting. It is also different from the kind of biblical patience described as perseverance, which means bearing up under a heavy or hurtful burden for a long time. When we simply wait or bear up under stress, we are usually responding to the circumstances that surround us. These responses are important and necessary qualities of our Christian character. However, forbearance is a response to our own reactions and not to what is happening around us. It is the disciplined restraining of me - my thoughts words and deeds - even when I have a right to react.

Check out our June 19, 2023 podcast, “Does Patience Really Matter?” for more. We dig into several examples of how forbearance works. What we find are powerful examples of the role self-restraint should play in each and every Christian life. This particular aspect of patience is not something most of us practice naturally or even gracefully. Yet, it is spoken of as a central part of our Christian lives. Join us as we uncover this Christlike character attribute and learn how to rely on it in every part of our Christian experience!

The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6 is perhaps the most commonly quoted teaching of Jesus. This prayer is simple and pointed in its focus. “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” This beginning teaches us not only to acknowledge God as Father but to hallow, to reverence, His very name. The next phrase is also simple, perhaps too simple, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Many take this as a two-part statement. First hoping for God’s kingdom and then hoping for God’s will to be done on earth. But is it actually two parts? Is this a petition of hope for two different things, or is it a petition for one glorious and often forgotten part of God’s plan, His kingdom on earth? The entire Bible shouts out a resounding answer to this question!
Are these the same thing?
It is easy to get very confused when we look into Jesus’ words regarding the kingdom. After John the Baptist had been put in prison, Jesus announced the “kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In Matthew’s rendering of the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like a mustard seed, but in Luke it reads the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Then in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray for God’s kingdom to come. So, is it the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven? Is the kingdom at hand or is it coming?
Yes! The kingdom is all of these things and much more.
These seemingly contradictory statements were simply Jesus revealing different aspects of a complex and eternal kingdom. From the very beginning, salvation for all of humanity was in the mind of God. This was the whole reason that Jesus came and died for Adam. His presence on earth as the man Christ Jesus was the initial phase of this kingdom. It was Jesus paying the necessary price and doing the foundational work of calling disciples that enabled the door of the kingdom to open for all.

Jesus teaching us to pray for God’s kingdom to come was showing us to look forward to its full establishment. Check out our June 12, 2023 podcast, “When Jesus Prayed 'Thy Kingdom Come,' What Did He Mean?” for more. We examine further details of how the work of the kingdom’s first phase is continuing even to this day. We look at prophecies that show us how the kingdom’s developmental phase gives way to a serious time of trouble. As Bible prophecies indicate, this trouble is a necessary transition to what God’s kingdom in its full glory will look like. And what will it look like? Join us for a revealing walk through many Old Testament prophecies. They clearly describe God’s coming kingdom, and sometimes in shocking detail. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a preview of the amazing future God planned all along!

It seems like it would be a no brainer to say that following Christ and following Christianity today are synonymous. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Imperfect human beings have always been very adept at creating alternative interpretations and approaches to most everything. Christianity is no exception. In Part I of our 2-part series, we began looking at some specific teachings of Jesus. We began holding Christianity up to the light of Jesus’ words and asked how we were doing with this. We continue the process in Part II. Even though we are asking about Christianity, the resounding question that begs for an answer is this: Am I personally choosing to follow Christ and his original teaching, or am I personally settling for some form of watered-down Christianity instead?

There are countless denominations and groups that all claim the label of "Christian." These vary by country of origin, the passing down of traditions and theological perspective. The variety here can be overwhelming. If you are wondering which churches might be the “best,” try this exercise: Pick a few for the purpose of comparison. Set your sole objective to be finding the best possible representation of Jesus. We are not looking for the best brand of Christianity; we are looking to find Jesus.

In Part II of our series on Christ and Christianity, we looked at four aspects of Jesus’ own teachings to help in this comparison. The first was his simple command in John 14:23: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. Jesus is telling us that our love for him will be made obvious by our keeping and obeying his words.
Cost vs. Blessings
This simple aspect of Christian behavior is easily and regularly overlooked or watered down. Jesus didn’t mean for us to follow only his words that inspire us or make us feel good emotionally or promise us glory in the future. Many times, when Jesus told us things like this, he also told us the rest of the story. He reminded us of the cost of discipleship, of carrying our own cross, of suffering for his sake and of the necessary sacrifice of our own will. When we review some of the many brands of Christianity that surround us, do we see the whole picture of Jesus’ words? Do they feature and explain the costs of true Christianity alongside the blessings of true Christianity?
To tithe or not to tithe
Check out our June 5, 2023 podcast, “Is Following Christ the Same as Following Christianity? (Part II)." We discuss the breadth of Jesus’ spoken words and actions. We also look into what he taught respecting appropriate financial support for Christianity. We examine how we are instructed to interact with and support the brotherhood as well as Jesus’ explanations of God’s kingdom. Join us for this revealing look at Jesus and what he taught us to stand for. It may significantly alter your view of Christianity!

When someone says they are a Christian, their claim can be easily interpreted in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, following the name of Christ has been a dramatically devalued description of religion over many centuries. Think back to the Dark Ages when the church mercilessly hunted, tortured and killed non-believers for the sake of “saving souls” in the name of Christ. Think about the smorgasbord of choices one now has available. We can choose a brand of Christianity that suits our lifestyle and fulfills our preferences. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ was not always this way. In the time of Jesus and the apostles, it meant something higher and had an eternal purpose. The question we all need to ask ourselves is simple. Is my chosen brand of Christianity in complete accord with Jesus’ original teachings?
It's not easy
Whether we want to admit it or not, following Jesus is a really hard task. Think about it, Jesus said that to be his disciple we have to take up our crosses daily and follow him. At its most basic and easy to understand level, this means we are called to live a sacrificial life. In our day, there is a pervasive belief that we should be able to have what we want, when we want, and how we want it. Sacrificing any comfort or convenience is looked upon as an unacceptable compromise. Following Jesus is not easy in our world when it comes to social acceptance.
Another level of challenge
Following the teachings of Jesus is another level of challenge that many Christians may not even be aware of. By definition, the wide variety of Christian denominations available makes finding the original values and standards that Jesus taught elusive. One can easily go church shopping to find a church system that suits them, that makes them feel welcome and comfortable. While there is nothing wrong with seeking a place to worship comfortably, we should not forget the more important question: is what this or that church is teaching accurately and diligently reflecting what Jesus himself taught?

Check out our May 29, 2023 podcast, “Is Following Christ the Same as Following Christianity? (Part I)” for more. We address several pointed teachings of Jesus related to the doctrine of true Christian faith. Accepting that Jesus gave us higher standards than those of the Jewish Law but did not ever contradict the Bible as a whole is a good place to start.
A critical look at what my church teaches
Christianity has developed too much variety regarding important doctrinal teachings. For instance, Jesus taught that death is the absence of life and that fit precisely with the Bible’s overall instruction. Yet, many church groups build their understanding upon other, nonbiblical traditions. The same issue occurs with Jesus’ teachings on the cost of following him. Churches often focus on what they think you get instead of what Jesus teaches us to give, missing the most important point. Join us for this focused, eye-opening and controversial comparison of Christ and Christianity. We look for the truth from Jesus so we can experience the freedom of Jesus!!!

As a Christian, taking the time to understand what we think about is a worthy and necessary investment of our time and effort. When you look at anyone who is truly successful at any endeavor, you will always find that one of the common denominators of their success is controlling their minds. In Part I of this two-part series, we spent considerable time piecing together the groundwork the Apostle Paul laid out in Philippians 4 as a basis for productive Christian thinking. He understood the demands of Christianity and cared enough about his fellow disciples to teach us not only what he knew, but how to apply that knowledge. One major result of his spiritual wisdom was the letter he wrote to the Philippians.

The Apostle Paul’s “dwell on these things” list was and is much more than a gathering up of nice and inspiring things to focus on. It was actually a specific and dynamic grouping of necessary characteristics that every true Christian must understand and internalize. Paul himself made this clear when he told us to "dwell on these things." The Greek word here used for “dwell” is very pointed. It is a precise word for taking inventory of something. It focuses us on giving these featured characteristics a highly calculated and proven value in our Christian walk.
Beautiful and of good report
In Part I, we saw how dwelling on what is true, honorable, right and pure, presents a broad-based foundation for our thinking. Without these characteristics, what follows can easily go off track. The next two characteristics Paul gives us to dwell on are things that are "beautiful" and "of good report." It is easy to see how we can pick and choose what we apply this list to, and end up focused on worldly things instead of spiritual things. With such an easy detour, how do we keep our minds firmly entrenched in godliness?
What do we simply acknowledge and what do we dwell upon?
It all comes down to the straightforward comparison between what we acknowledge and what we allow our minds to dwelling upon. There are many things in our world that are worthy of our notice and support. There are wonderful causes, just and righteous actions, things of beauty and experiences of victory and success that we can and should stand up for. However, this acknowledgment is entirely than dwelling upon things spiritually true, noble, just, pure, beautiful and of good report. These feed our lives in ways that things of the world simply cannot.

Check out our recent podcast “We Are What We Think About, So What Are We Thinking About? (Part II)” for more. As we establish our approach to thought priority, we also look into the last two items on Paul’s list - things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Paul is teaching us a comprehensive way to think and leaves no stone unturned. He lifts our minds above that which is natural to that which is spiritual. Join us for this awakening journey of learning, application and change!

Most of us don’t realize just much of our lives come down to our own personal choices. We have far more power over how we handle our everyday experiences than we give ourselves credit for. Why wouldn’t we claim this power so we can better influence our path? Because we subtly and regularly fall into habits of thinking that lull us into a lukewarm and compliant attitude of submission. The Apostle Paul was all about helping us, as his fellow disciples of Christ, challenge the status quo and reset our minds so we can daily think and choose with spiritual clarity. Much of the letter he wrote to the Philippian Christians focused in on the adverse conditions in life and how to think through them. Examining this letter is the first step to better focusing our Christian thinking!

The Apostle Paul really loved his fellow Christians at Philippi. While on house arrest under Roman guard, he wrote them a comprehensive letter concerning their Christian growth and development. One of his conclusionary teachings in this letter is found in the commonly read verse of Philippians 4:8. Paraphrased it says, "Finally, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure lovely or of good report, if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy, dwell on these things."

This letter to the Philippians is a tutorial on several of the high standards that true discipleship requires. Paul showed us how to handle limiting circumstances by talking about his own imprisonment. He implored all of his brethren to work through their issues in a unified fashion. He focused us on the importance of leaving our old standards of success behind and instead seeking success in a life of sacrifice. These and many other teachings were all in place to address the building up of a mature Christian mind.
A special list
Paul then gave us the list of things he pointed us to and what we should dwell upon. This was no mere listing of nice things to preoccupied us. This was a list of solid, connected, sequential and spiritually-sound priorities. Dwelling on them meant we were to use them as solid foundation stones of our Christian lives.
First on this list was the instruction to dwell on what is true. As we dig more deeply into his teaching, we realize the apostle was pointing us not to general worldly truth, but to godly eternal truth. All of the rest of his “think about this” list had its foundation in this solid beginning. Check out our May 15, 2023 podcast, “We Are What We Think About, So What Are We Thinking About? (Part I)” for more. After comprehensively summarizing the letter to the Philippians, we delve into the meaning of what is true, what is honorable, what is right and what is pure. What we find is the beginnings of a profound and life-altering approach to setting our minds up for true Christian thinking. Join us as we begin to learn what to think about and how to think about it!
 

 

The thought that God is a God of anger - especially in the Old Testament - is alive and well. It’s a very convenient thought. All one has to do is select from the many passages in the Old Testament that show God commanding the destruction of this or that people. It’s easy to say He has anger issues and therefore should not be worshipped. The only problem is that this conclusion is in direct opposition to the truth. To grasp the correct thought, we need to begin by focusing on putting God’s anger into its proper context. This basic exercise opens up a perspective on God’s anger that redefines it. Simply stated, God’s anger is an occasionally used tool of His overwhelmingly just, loving, wise and powerful character. He is SO much bigger than He is given credit for.

In Exodus 32:10, God is speaking to Moses and He is not happy. God had just delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt with miracles and drama. He had called Moses up to the mountain to give him the Law and instructions to bring to this newly-freed nation. Because Moses was gone for a while and they didn’t know when he’d return, the people built a golden calf to worship. God sees this overt disobedience and disrespect and tells Moses, “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them.”
Unreasonable anger?
It is so easy for many to interpret God’s anger in this account as out of control and unreasonable. The irony of this is that when this account is considered in its entirety, it shows us the exact opposite conclusion. It shows us the depth of God’s compassion and mercy. It helps us see that God’s anger - though real - is simply a tool in His hand and not an aspect of His character. On top of that, this account also reveals the process through which God ultimately deals with all of humanity.
All of this comes down to two words.
Further along in the context of God dealing with Moses and the rebelliousness of the people, God describes Himself. Though His description is detailed, there are two particular words that stand out. They stand out because they are only used in the Bible to describe God Himself. They are used together multiple times throughout the Old Testament.

Check out our May 8, 2023 podcast, “Is God an Angry God?” for more. We zero in on the powerful standard God set with Moses in dealing with the rebelliousness of Israel. We then track through many of the other scriptural accounts that use these two special words together as a description of God. What we find is no less dramatic or inspiring. Every time these two words appear together, they expand our understanding of God’s true character. Join us for this is unusual journey that verifies who God is, how He works and all that He stands for in a very unique way.

We all know someone who has been in some kind of altercation that didn’t end well. When we go back and look at the events, we always want to know who started it. What we are looking for is who initially provoked the other party to cause the chain of events that led to someone on some level being hurt. The point is, provoking one another is not usually looked at as a good thing as we think of things like sibling rivalries or having someone “push your buttons.” However, with an appropriate approach, provoking others can be a powerful tool, as it can stimulate them to positive action and conflict resolution. So, how do we do that? How do we provoke others towards everything good and avoid provoking them towards anything bad?
The book of Hebrews
The book of Hebrews is a very deep treatise that emphatically teaches the value of Jesus as the singular centerpiece of God’s plan. It was written (we believe by the Apostle Paul) to help the Jewish Christians of his time put their long-held belief in and reliance on the Mosaic Law to rest. This was no simple task, as keeping the Law was the only way many generations of God’s chosen people could remain in God’s favor. To abandon it and cling solely to Jesus was a quantum leap that many were not easily convinced they should make.
Out with the old!
The Apostle Paul crafted the book of Hebrews as a tool to fully and finally break this reliance on the old Law. In its place he would show them the more spiritual, more powerful and eternal power of Jesus. To do this, Paul used a masterful communication approach. If we examine the book of Hebrews by focusing on how he wrote, we can begin to see this amazing and incredibly practical process unfold.

Check out our May 1, 2023 podcast, “How Do We Positively Provoke Others Without Offending Them?” for the details. We break down the first 10 chapters of Hebrews and home in on how he communicated his message. We sum up each chapter with a summary of what he taught. What we find is a specific, step-by-step process that would open the door for his naturally skeptical audience to be able to hear his message.

This whole process began with the brilliance of not even mentioning his own name. By doing so, he took away any preconceived ideas about hearing from the former Pharisee who now spent so much time with former Gentiles. He next began to craft a common base of credibility that all of those Jewish Christians would be comfortable with. He then focused in on the Old Testament Scriptures as the primary source for his teaching. Paul continued to build his message with subtle power and with outright logic: Jesus was, is and always will be the most important part of God’s plan. Join us as we absorb this process and learn how to communicate with those we love but may disagree with.

 

Christian faith is a big deal. The Bible tells us that faith is a gift from God. It tells us the just live by faith. It tells us that faith without works is dead, and that without faith, it is impossible to please God. It tells us that we can be of little faith needing more and then it tells us that if we have faith like the grain of a tiny mustard seed, we can move mountains. With all of these varied and important applications of faith it is surprising that defining faith and how it really works can be difficult tasks. Faith is far too often described as a feeling or a pathway to believing in something that has no substance. When it comes to biblically defined faith, nothing could be further from the truth!
Christian faith frequently comes under fire as foolishness.
Skeptics seem to love to challenge us to “prove” that there is a God. Their standards of proof require us to show God to them, which is simply not possible. Interestingly, biblical faith is defined as "a conviction of the reality of something unseen, based on credible evidence." We believe in God because we see unmistakable evidence pointing to Him.
Christian faith is a sincere belief in that which is sensible.
Let’s use a cell phone as an example. Think of all the planning, engineering, manufacturing and testing that goes into it. We all use them, and we all credit their manufacturers and the genius minds that created such incredible devices. Now, what would it take for nature to duplicate that creation? Seriously. Would any of us EVER believe that the wind, the sea, the land and elements, on their own by just the forces of nature could create one? Of course not. That would not fit the biblical definition of faith, because believing in such a thing would be foolishness.

While this may be obvious, many critics of Christian faith seem to do this very thing. They credit the forces of nature with creating DNA, which is so complex that it took a decade for our best and brightest to simply map it out so we can begin to understand it. And what about massively complex things like functional eyes, ears and noses? We credit nature, which incidentally does not have a conscious mind, with creating humans who because of their intelligence, can create little things like cell phones. Now who believes in ridiculous things, and who believes in that which is sensible?

Check out our April 24, 2023 podcast, “What Does It Feel Like to Have Real Faith?” for more. We examine biblical faith on several levels. We find that it begins by the grace of God. It is then put into our hands so we can develop it and live according to its direction. True biblical faith is no small thing, and it certainly does not fit the definition that so many label it with. Join us as we unravel the confusion surrounding what faith is and what it is not.

In all of recorded history since Adam, there has never been a time when humanity did not know pain, sorrow, trauma and death. Never. These things are so ingrained into the fabric of our lives that the very idea of not knowing pain and suffering is a pipe dream. And death? It’s a given. Everybody has death touch those around them, as we all eventually will be swallowed up by it. If we try and have someone imagine a world without these things, the thought is often met with the classic response, “That would be great, but it sounds too good to be true!” Why do we bring up this hope that sounds like a fairy tale happy ending? We bring it up because the Bible explains it through many prophecies. We bring it up because we believe it is the true conclusion of the stated plan of God.
It's easy to blame God
Because pain and suffering are hard things to deal with, it can become easy to blame God for our experiences with them. If God loved us, He would never allow these things to happen! I wouldn’t let my children go through such things, so why does God let us go through them? These are but two of the many reactions people have to God in the face if the difficulties of life. You can’t blame people for feeling this way, as a logical, God-based explanation for our current social circumstances is hard to find.
Does He really care?
Along with these kinds of reactions, there are a list of questions people typically wonder about when trying to make sense of God in the context of our current troubles. “Does God really care about the massive suffering that humanity experiences?” is probably near the top of the list. This fundamental question demands a simple yes or no answer. If we were to answer yes, and we absolutely believe that to be true, then another question immediately follows, “If God does care, then what possible benefit could there be from the thousands of years of human suffering we have endured?” Answering this question is by necessity a much more detailed endeavor, as it requires reasoning through several levels of proof. Here again, we believe that there is a sound, scriptural and logical conclusion that can be drawn.

These two questions are a gateway to several other pertinent life questions dealing with God and the existence of things like fear, crime and violence. Check out our April 17, 2023 podcast, “Will the World’s Pain and Suffering Ever End?” for more. We directly approach these and other questions about God and humanity. Our objective is simple. To the best of our ability, we want to be able to square the loving character of God with the sin, pain, suffering and death of our present world. The good news is that there are sound and inspirational scriptural answers that provide hope and opportunity for every human being who has ever lived. God DOES have a plan! Join us as we unfold its solutions!

“It is finished.” When Jesus said these three words, he signaled an ending. He proclaimed to those who were gazing upon his beaten and crucified body that he had completed a specific set of tasks successfully. He had done what he had set out to do. Looking back on this event, some may wonder, what did he really accomplish? If we are living God’s plan, it sure seems disjointed, broken and worthless. But all they can see are the tragedies of human choices and experiences. As we look more deeply into the final moments of Jesus’ earthly life, we will see how they were a catalyst to change the downward sin and death-ridden course that Satan had begun so long before. We will see that Jesus proclaiming, “It is finished” was also a victorious proclamation of what was to begin!

Jesus approached death after hanging on the cross for about six hours. Before that, he had been through an all-night ordeal of betrayal, illegal trials, beatings, mocking and scourging.

At the very end he said two things:

* “It is finished.”
* Afterwards came the loud proclamation of putting his own spirit into God’s hands.

What did he mean?
Though we can’t be sure, “It is finished” seems to have been meant for those around him as he was expiring. While one can look at this statement as a very negative resignation, we think Jesus meant it as a comfort and as a sign of victory.

The list of what was actually finished at this moment of Jesus’ death is surprisingly long. His mission to become “the man Christ Jesus” was a complex mixture of doing unlikely and miraculous things, teaching revolutionary ideas and standing against the religious leaders of his time. In all of this, the theme was always the same. Do, say and stand for only what the Father had put before him. We typically think about “It is finished” in relation to all of these things. But have we ever paused and considered it in relation to what all of this cost Jesus?
Clues in Isaiah 53
The 53rd chapter of Isaiah was a prophetic preview of what the sacrifices of Jesus’ earthly life would entail. Much of what Jesus went through on a personal basis is listed in its verses. When we begin to look at these scriptures just a few at a time, we realize they are showing us a series of very significant personal costs.

Check out our April 11,2023 podcast, “When Jesus Said ‘It is finished,’ What Did He Begin?” for more. Whenever there is an ending in God’s plan, there is always a beginning that follows. Jesus’ crucifixion was no exception. Join us as we examine the many challenging endings Jesus completed and uncover many glorious beginnings he brought about as a result. This journey through his personal sacrifices will deepen your appreciation of just how much Jesus gave to save us all from sin and death.

The last week of Jesus’ earthly life was both eventful and tumultuous. His riding triumphantly into Jerusalem four days before his crucifixion was a dramatic and unmistakable display of hope and respect by the hundreds of thousands who honored him as he rode. The events that would take place after his kingly entrance into the city would also be dramatic, as the wheels of betrayal and murder would furiously spin towards their grisly end. Through all of this, Jesus never faltered in his character or objectives. Today we will focus on the powerful messages and prophetic fulfillments that came from his inspiring ride into Jerusalem, as its meaning is far deeper than many realize.
The Old Testament is full of prophecies, stories and individuals that point to Jesus.
When considered, they give us a panoramic picture of what many of the details of his life would look like. Not the least of these revealed details is the prophecy in Zechariah chapter 9. This prophecy plainly revealed that the Messiah would come to Jerusalem and the people of Israel riding on a donkey and being proclaimed as their king. The prophecy shows the expansiveness of Messiah’s future kingdom, and sadly also alludes to the people rejecting their Savior.

Jesus literally fulfilled this prophecy. He literally borrowed a donkey and rode into the city. Now, one could argue he staged the event. After all, he did have to borrow the donkey! While that detail is true, we need to remember that it was impossible for him to stage the hundreds of thousands who welcomed him, lauded him as king and sought for deliverance through him as their Messiah. He could not have staged such love and adoration.
Why was this particular event so public and so important?
Why did Jesus know it had to happen? It turns out that this prophecy is unquestionably linked to some other Old Testament events that also foreshadowed Jesus and his earthly mission to save the world. It also turns out that this prophecy had to be fulfilled at a precise time because of its connection to these other Old Testament events. One of the amazing parts to this whole puzzle of God’s foresight and providence is the fact that Jesus knew so many of the details and fulfillments ahead of time.

Check out our recent podcast, “Why Did Jesus Ride Into Jerusalem?” for the details. We go over the details of this event commonly known as “Palm Sunday” and their larger meaning. What we find are amazing connections to many other scriptures that profoundly deepen the meaning of God’s plan behind Jesus’ sacrifice. There is one other thing we discuss that we will simply state as a question here. What if the traditional view and appreciation of Palm Sunday was flawed? What if the Bible plainly stated that some important details of this event were absolutely different than the tradition we so easily accept? Join us for this fascinating and inspiring journey into Bible prophecy and its fulfillment!

 

It is a given that life is stressful. We all know that the sheer quantity of input that we are each exposed to from the various parts of our lives is overwhelming. Now come the decisions. Do I watch, do I listen, do I click, do I respond, do I message, do I like? Now comes what is supposed to be the main part of our day, our work, or schooling or caregiving and attempting to do a good job. Next comes our down time, which for many is laughable. It is now in our downtime that we watch, listen, click, respond, message and like, so downtime easily becomes stress time. As Christians, we are supposed to have God’s peace covering our lives. I say "supposed to" because many of us have a really hard time finding that peace in the midst of our daily chaos. Where are we going wrong, and how do we correct it?

 

It’s not too often that those who are young adults rise up to be the heroes of the day. Usually they are in the "figuring life out" stage, but occasionally there comes a young adult who is living far beyond that perplexity. David, who would become known as "a man after God’s own heart," was such a young man. This designation would be made apparent when he visited the battlefront to bring food to his brothers and ended up defeating Goliath. Now, the story of his battle with Goliath is well-known, but the events leading up to that battle? Well, they deserve our attention. Focusing on what David already believed and thought - and what he said and did as a result - will reveal Five Points to a Stronger Christian Life for us. Why not learn how to be more focused on God’s will from a man after God’s own heart?
Literally, a big problem
The armies of Israel stood ready to fight the armies of the Philistines, but they had a really big problem. His name was Goliath. He was a menacing presence, a literal giant of a man standing about nine feet tall. Every day he would stand in the valley between the two armies and put out a challenge for Israel to send their best warrior to fight him to the death. It was a winner-take-all proposition. Goliath’s brash challenge was repeated day after day for 40 days. King Saul and his men stood paralyzed! How could anyone expect to be victorious over such an overwhelmingly imposing figure?
Food delivery!
David, the teenage shepherd from Bethlehem, shows up to deliver food to his three brothers and cheese to their commander. He hears the brash challenge from Goliath, immediately questions what is happening and volunteers to fight the giant. David goes before King Saul, rejects the king's offer to use his own royal armor and boldly goes down into the valley to meet Goliath for this epic battle.

Wait a minute! Why would any king ever agree to sending a teenage shepherd boy with zero military training or experience to fight a seasoned warrior in a winner-take-all battle? The answer here is deep and compelling. The bottom line wasn’t about sending a boy to do the job of an experienced and powerful man. Instead, it was all about sending the right person to meet and defeat an enormous challenge. David was that right person.

Check out our March 20, 2013 podcast, “What Can David, a Battlefront and Cheese Teach Us?” for more. We dive into why David was the right person for this overwhelming task. We look at who he had been during his short life before this challenge presented itself. We breakdown what drove him, why it drove him and how he was able to keep fear from burying him. These lessons ring loudly in our ears. Join us for this inspiring conversation with our special guest Matt Kerry, as we learn from and apply the power of David’s character to our daily lives.

King Solomon ruled over a united kingdom of the 12 tribes of Israel. While the king celebrated the breathtaking splendor of Israel’s civil engineering feats and the exquisite opulence of his palaces and buildings, the people were being suffocated under unreasonably high taxes and forced labor. Tribal jealousies were prevalent between the northern and southern regions, especially between Ephraim in the north and Judah in the south. These conditions, along with Solomon’s impending death, set the table for a never-before-seen fracturing of national unity. But there was hope! In Part I of this 2-part series, we laid the groundwork for what would happen. Simply stated, it all came down to being given extraordinary opportunity and privilege by God and the decisions that followed these gifts.
Solomon's son, Rehoboam
Rehoboam was King Solomon’s son and inherited the throne of Israel when Solomon died. Becoming the king of God’s chosen people was an enormous privilege. Rehoboam had the choice to do things God’s way or to follow in his father’s later footsteps and leave God behind and do them his own way. Israel was in rough shape.
Solomon's servant, Jeroboam
The overworked and overtaxed people rallied behind one of Solomon’s valiant warriors named Jeroboam. This warrior had been told by a prophet that God would bless him and give him kingship IF ONLY he would obey God’s laws.

Here we have two men from two regions of Israel given the opportunity of a lifetime. Both had choices as to how they would handle that opportunity. Both had full knowledge of God’s influence over and protection of Israel. Both also knew of the current sorry state of the nation as it wallowed in idolatry and disunity. As we look from the outside in at the choices these two men faced, it is so easy to see what we would consider as the obvious course of action. Follow God! He has worked miracles of deliverance and victory in the past! Do things God’s way! Let Him bless you AND the people!
Sadly, neither of these men ultimately chose that path.
Israel would be split into two kingdoms and have two kings. Jeroboam would rule over the ten tribes to the north, and they would be called "Israel." He would leave a legacy of idolatry so blatant that his bloodline would end in disgrace. Rehoboam would rule over the two tribes to the south and they would be called "Judah." His legacy was only slightly better.

How could both kings be so foolish? Check out our March 13, 2023 podcast, “Am I Throwing Away My Life’s Greatest Privilege? (Part II)” for answers. As we examine their failed choices, we do so with a mirror of self-assessment in hand. Think about this: if we claim to be true followers of Jesus, thenwe are claiming the highest privilege humanity has EVER been offered! How are WE handling OUR privilege? Are we really following Jesus or just doing it our way like these two kings? Don’t miss this enlightening journey as ancient history reveals our potential present day pitfalls!

When God miraculously rescued His people from Egyptian slavery and established Israel as a nation, He put a system of rulership through judges in place that did not include having a king. We all know what happened. The people complained to the prophet Samuel because they wanted a king like everybody else. Even though they were warned of the dire consequences that a monarch would bring, they stood fast in their desire, so God let them have their way. Saul was Israel’s first king, and we all know how that ended. David was their second king, and his life and reign ended with turmoil. Solomon was their third king. His reign began in wisdom and faithfulness and ended in the grip of idolatry. From that time on, Israel’s unity fractured, and they would never have a king to rule over their entire nation again. What happened? Israel and its rulers would teach us how easy it is to throw away great privilege!
Peace and prosperity come at a price
At the end of King Solomon’s reign, Israel was in a socially weakened state. The people were seriously suffering under the high taxes and conscripted labor that built Solomon’s empire. Israel had also become very idolatrous as Solomon’s godly wisdom gave way to the heathen beliefs of his hundreds of wives. Solomon would leave this unhealthy and ununified nation to Rehoboam, a son of one of those wives.

Before Solomon’s death, another man named Jeroboam had been told by God through a prophet that he would have the opportunity to rule Israel. The prophet said he would be blessed of God if he diligently followed God’s law and instructions. Now, Jeroboam was a valiant and trusted warrior under King Solomon and must have been quite surprised by this prophetic message.
Solomon dies and his son Rehoboam becomes king
Things begin to happen! Many of Israel’s mistreated people approached their new king through the valiant warrior Jeroboam to ask for reasonable treatment. With their request, they promised their loyalty. With this opportunity for godly righteousness right before him, the king responds by seeking to think on it for three days. Now the stage is set. On one hand we have this new King Rehoboam who has a golden opportunity to right a sinking ship. On the other hand, we have Jeroboam who was promised extraordinary blessings from God if he would lead according to God’s principles.

Who would step up and follow the incredible privilege that God put before them? Check out our March 6, 2023 podcast, “Am I Throwing Away My Life’s Greatest Privileges? (Part I)” for more. We walk through these two unique stories of opportunity and observe human reactions to God’s will. There is so much that this account can teach us! The fact is, we also have grand and godly opportunities before us every day. Learning how the responses of these two significant men in Israel’s history can show us the do’s and the don’ts of handling our own life privileges. Join us for these powerful lessons!

Human relationships are a key factor in human survival and well-being. We need them, and God has designed humanity in such a way as to thrive when healthy relationships are present. In Part I and Part II of this three-part series, we drilled down into marriage relationships, as well as family and close friend relationships. We found striking similarities in the “how to” of making these relationships stronger. Much of our input came from 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter." In our final episode of this series, we now look at our relationships within our Christian fellowship. Though the principles remain the same, what we will find here are some significant differences and challenges unique to our calling to Christ.

You may have heard the saying, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your relatives.” The implication is that relationships with relatives will have more inherent challenges due to this unchosen connection. Now think about our relationships with fellow Christians. These connections are based not on our personal preferences or family blood lines. They are based on the blood of Christ only. This means that those whom we would have chosen to avoid or those who were even former enemies are now in the category of being closer than a brother.
A necessary connection with our opposites
If we claim to be true disciples of Jesus, this close connection with those who may be our opposites is a requirement. It can be an invitation for disaster if we attempt to develop it just based upon our human thoughts and feelings. Just ask those who were the earliest Christians, especially after Gentiles were called to Christ along with Jews. Before the call to all nations to follow Jesus, Jewish culture avoided Gentile influence. Now as disciples, both groups were instructed to leave their past thinking, habits and traditions behind and adopt a unified approach as a brotherhood.
Jesus told us to “Love one another as I have loved you.”
How do we do that? How do we make these brotherhood relationships work on such a high level? The answers are abundantly clear in Scripture if we choose to search them out. The first 2 parts of this series laid important groundwork, as they focused on the scriptural principles of selfless love and respect. Putting these principles into practice in all of our close relationships is the necessary staring point.

Check out our February 27, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part III) for more. Using the scriptural basis of 1 Corinthians 13, we delve into the practicality of how to enhance our Christian fellowship. Interestingly, our love for one another needs to be based upon both selfless love and brotherly love. It needs to be profoundly respectful, coming from as pure a heart as we can possibly have. Jesus showed us how to do this, and the Apostle Paul explained it in great detail. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to be better connected to the body of Christ!

 

In Part I, we opened the door to talking about strong and healthy relationships by focusing on marriage. We looked at what it is built upon, what makes it work, what hinders it and how to stay with it when challenges arise. We discovered a powerful scriptural pattern for success that can be traced to the simple descriptions of what selfless love is and is not in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Our next set of relationships will focus on our families and closest friends. In many ways, these relationships are similar to the marriage relationship and what it stands for and therefore can be nurtured and healed with the same scriptural principles. God’s design in all of this is truly magnificent!
Greek to English
There is such a difference between the English and Greek languages. In English, we talk about loving our family, loving our friends and loving selflessly by using the same word, "love." In Greek, these different types of love are expressed with specific and precise words. Greek defines love of family and friends with specific words that are all based on a fraternal relationship. The Greek word for "selfless love" is entirely different and expresses a love and caring that gives without a need to receive. Understanding these differences in the meaning of love helps us to see the depth of the Bible’s instruction regarding our relationships.

Family and close friend relationships are easy targets for frustrations and issues. Because we have such a close natural or chosen connection with these individuals, we are easily liable to fall into misunderstanding and disagreement. Fortunately, the Bible gives us several ways to approach these challenges. One basic piece of scriptural guidance is to simply listen to Jesus. This can come across as almost too basic because we are always supposed to listen to Jesus, so let’s get specific.
In Matthew 7, Jesus talked about judging others.
His guidance was unmistakable as he stated it in an exaggerated example. To paraphrase, he instructed us to remove the log out of our own eye before we try and remove the speck of sawdust out of someone else’s eye. This is a simple lesson that teaches us to right our own attitude and perspective before approaching those things in someone we care about. Being willing to do this shows that we truly care for and respect those in our lives who may be having issues.

This is just one of many practical ways the Bible helps us to feed and nurture our family and close friend relationships. Check out our February 20, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part II)” Further steps and guidance include a deeper grasp of the listening process and what to do after we listen. We also delve into the profound realization of how to connect brotherly and family love with the selfless love that Jesus taught us. Learning to put these things together is learning to have stronger family and friend relationships. What are we waiting for?

 

This may sound odd, but for a moment think about your personal relationships like a car. You depend on your car though you generally don’t think much about it. When you get in it you are ready to go, and if it doesn’t start or it breaks down, it creates issues. A lack of attention and maintenance will inevitably bring trouble. Proper maintenance is key to keep it running smoothly and to keeping you happy. Well, our personal relationships are immeasurably more important than our car, so we need to keep them in good working order as well. Because there are so many kinds of personal relationships, let’s start by looking at marriage. What are some basic principles to keep our Christian marriage going and growing?

When we think about what a healthy marriage looks like, most of us think about being happy. We think about quality time, doing things for one another, encouraging each other, giving to each other and intimacy. Images of things like walking together along a deserted beach or being surprised with a gift or gesture, or going on an adventure or a having quiet dinner for two give us a sense of a powerful marriage connection. All of these things are awesome, and we’d all love to be there! But how do we do it? How do we build our marriages up to this kind of sharing and security?
Let’s face it, life is incredibly complicated and busy.
Even thinking about all of these sharing experiences can be stressful - nevermind actually doing them. The unfortunate equation many of us find even our Christian marriage trapped by looks something like this: Work stress plus responsibility, multiplied by financial challenges, plus social media, multiplied by digital entertainment equals no time and little desire left to intentionally strengthen our marriages! What we would love to have is seemingly inaccessible as we face the tangle and drain of simply living everyday life.
There is a better way.
The starting point to untangle the confusing mess of life’s expectations begins with doing one thing and understanding two principles. The one thing is to self-assess. Decide that the responsibility for making your marriage better lands squarely on your shoulders. Now, you might respond that marriage is by definition give and take, contributions from both sides! You could not be more correct! However, the process of positive change always begins with taking personal responsibility to take the first small steps, regardless of what anybody else does. Simple...but not easy.

Check out our February 13, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part I) for more. We expand on this self-assessing process by homing in on what to focus on, which brings us to our two principles: LOVE and RESPECT. The key here is understanding that the kind of love we are talking about is the kind Jesus showed us. It is a love that graciously, selflessly gives. And respect, well, that’s much bigger than we might think as well. These are just our starting points. Join us for the rest of the story!

We all would agree that truth is important. Legally we know it is critical. When pressed to speak the truth under oath in the United States, you are asked, “Do you solemnly swear/affirm that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God/under pains and penalties of perjury? As important as this sounds, we human beings are often lazy about truth and even afraid of it. Winston Churchill once said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.” So, what is truth? Are there absolute truths? How can we know which ones are reliable and which ones are merely situational?

As they sought to unjustly put Jesus to death, the Pharisees brought him before Pilate and presented their case. When Pilate saw no merit in their accusations, he questioned Jesus without them. After some conversation, Jesus told Pilate that he came to proclaim the truth and those who heed his voice are of the truth. Pilate had a dilemma. Those who accused Jesus were supposed to be truthful religious leaders, and yet Jesus was innocent. How could their story be so far off from what Jesus said? It was here that he uttered his famous question, “What is truth?”
To many, truth is subjective.
We live in a time where information and opinions are overwhelmingly accessible. At every turn, we are encouraged to create and adopt our own personal truths. These conditions result in endless debates and demands regarding the acceptance of our truths. In such a state, truth becomes what we decide it should be. Sadly, we are confused and misled with these conclusions. Why? We have confused “truth” with personal observations, opinions and values.
Have you heard the one about the elephant?
The famous story of a group of blind men seeking to describe an elephant by their touch observations reminds us of this. In one version of the story, the first man thought the elephant was like a snake as he held onto its trunk. The second described it to be like a rope as he held its slender tail. The third man described the elephant to be like a pillar or tree trunk as he put his arms around one of its massive legs. All of these men were right. All of them spoke the truth, and yet none of them could fully describe the elephant, as they were limited by their own perspective.

Checkout our February 6, 2023 podcast, “What is Truth?” for more. We challenge the adoption and acceptance of personal truths as unquestionable truth. We examine what absolute truth is and how it, by definition, must be above and beyond our human framework. The conclusions are inspiring as we see how God and His word can lead us to absolute truth. Truth is always true, even if we choose not to believe it. Join us on our journey towards the freedom that comes from knowing and embracing genuine, unchangeable truth!

There are some questions that are just plain difficult. One of those questions that many believers in God may wrestle with has to do with God seemingly allowing Satan to run the show. Let’s face it, evil stinks and we just want it to go away. Yet, God has continued to let Satan's influence dominate our world for thousands of years! Most Christians believe God is absolutely capable of destroying Satan but begins to fall short when asked why it has not yet happened. Answers touch on God creating all of His spiritual and earthly intelligent beings with free choice, and this is a great start. The key factor in all of this is seeing HOW God gives each being a free choiceand the ability to have fair and just choices.
Unbelievers incapable of seeing the gospel
In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 the Apostle Paul is talking about unbelievers. He describes them as incapable of seeing the gospel. Why are they incapable? In verse 4 he says they have been blinded by Satan, the "god of this world." He is not saying they blinded themselves, or purposefully ignored the gospel. He is clear that they can’t see it because Satan has made it so. When Jesus spoke the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, he made a similar claim. He interpreted the birds eating the seed by the roadside as Satan taking the gospel message before it could be appreciated.
Is Satan in control?
Seeing both Jesus and the Apostle Paul making such plain statements about Satan’s ability to control the gospel’s reach can raise questions. Who is really in charge here? Why hasn’t God stopped - or at least diminished - Satan’s reach, especially regarding the gospel? The answers are simple. God IS in charge. Period. He hasn’t thwarted Satan’s influence because it is not yet time for that part of His Plan. While these are simple answers, they certainly need detailed reasoning and scriptural support to reveal their logic and harmony.

Let’s begin to open the door to those important details. Consider that God’s continued allowance for Satan to keep on living is an integral part of His Plan to benefit ALL of His created beings. Satan’s rebellion actually serves God’s plan in two ways:

*  Satan’s continued existence and influence serve as an undeniable and unavoidable example of what rebellion against God’s righteousness unfolds.
* Satan’s continued existence and influence serve as the basis for testing each and every one of God’s created beings. Every intelligent created being will ultimately choose to stay loyal to God’s righteousness OR ultimately choose to follow the darkness of Satan.

Check out our January 30, 2023 podcast, “Why Doesn’t God Just Destroy Satan?” for more. We provide strong scriptural reasoning to support these two reasons for Satan’s continued existence. We do this by tracing how Satan initially got the power he now abuses. Next, we trace how this power grab exactly fits into God’s eternal purposes and what its end result will be. Join us for an eye-opening journey that helps us see the wisdom, power and love of God!

 

 

Everybody sins. We can’t help it because we are imperfect, and therefore we will inevitably fall. As Christians, we can and should claim the amazing advocacy of Jesus, ask forgiveness, make right what we did wrong and move on. But are there sins that go beyond what Jesus can help us with? Are there "unforgivable" sins? Are there sins that once committed doom us to eternal death? The Scriptures do say such sins exist. The good news is the Bible is specific about what they are and how they work. The difficult news is that some verses are hard to understand, and that can lead to confusion. So, what are sins that go beyond forgiveness, and how can we stay far away from them?
What if I accidentally commit this type of sin?
First and foremost, we need to understand that according to the Bible, no one can commit a sin that dooms them to eternal death by accident. Many seem to walk through their lives with this fear hanging over their heads. What if I said this or did that without realizing it? Or, what if I did something as a joke or out of immaturity or a whim in the past – does that doom me to future eternal death? The answer here is no. Sins with no resurrection are not accidental. Remember, God is just and not vengeful. He is wise and not emotionally driven. He is powerful, not reactionary, and He is love but not weak.

However, this is not to say that being foolish about or disrespectful to God and His eternal power is ever advisable. It never is, as we all bear responsibility for our thoughts, words and deeds. The primary principle that needs establishing in this whole discussion has to do with “who.” Who is liable to committing a sin that leads to eternal death? The Bible unequivocally speaks about a resurrection for all of humanity that brings them an opportunity for reconciliation. This one fact tells us that all of humanity therefore does not have such liability here in this present age. If they did, they obviously would not be raised out of death.
Not all Christians are in this category
The liability to a death with no resurrection falls upon Christians, but NOT on all Christians. Once again, you look at this and think, what? The explanation for this is clearly laid out in Scripture and really is a must see. Check out our January 23, 2023 podcast, “What Sins Can Never Be Forgiven?” for more. We systematically go through the three sets of scriptures that always seem to come up when talking about sins with no resurrection. What we find is a deep subject that has been muddied in its understanding and application over time. Phrases like “speaking against the holy spirit being unforgivable,” “the second death,” “for whom black darkness has been reserved forever” are all put in order. Join us as we attempt to separate out all of the mystery and leave just the plain statements of biblical truth to learn from. You don’t want to miss this!

 

The Bible is full of examples of God’s love, justice, wisdom, power and plan. It is a fountain of mercy and foresight, and a treasure trove of prophecy. Understanding the magnitude of all these things helps us see God as the Sovereign Creator and Father that He really is. But wait, there’s more! Running through ALL of the descriptions we just mentioned is another facet of God’s character - His grace. The word for "grace" in the Bible has many shades of meaning. When we understand how this word is applied to God in both the Old and New Testaments, we are given a profound glimpse into the depth and breadth of His character. God’s grace is and always has been a game changer. Let’s see how!
A gift
God’s grace is often and accurately described as His unmerited favor. On a mere human level, this concept can be exciting and fulfilling. Suppose you know someone who has a favorite sports team. You decide one day that you will buy them two tickets to an important game their team will play in. You buy the tickets not because you are returning some favor, but simply because you want to give them something that was previously out of their reach. Finally, you give them the tickets and they are stunned in their joy and surprise.

This is a tiny example compared to the magnitude of God’s grace. His grace is expressed in many ways at many times under many circumstances. Think of the gift of Jesus. The Bible says God gave us this gift as an expression of His grace. This means that we are ransomed from death because God wanted to give humanity the unmerited gift of an opportunity for eternal life. This gift changes everything about the futures of every human being who has ever lived. It’s a pretty big gift! So, is our reaction to it as joyful as receiving tickets to a big game?
What if they are just paper?
How would you feel if your friend you gave those tickets to never went to the game and instead just stared at the tickets and loved the fact that they had them? Your reaction would be that they missed the point of the gift. You wanted them to be at the actual game and not just appreciate the fact that they could go. It is the same with God’s grace, only on a massively larger level. He doesn’t want us to simply appreciate the opportunity for life; He wants us to live in that opportunity, to change and grow as a result of its presence in our lives. God’s grace always seeks an active response!

Check out our January 16, 2023 podcast, “What Does God’s Grace Do for Us?” for more. We reveal the countless ways His grace is described, give examples of how it works and lay out what it does for us. God’s grace is bigger and more powerful than we think. Do yourself a favor and join us for an awe-inspiring look at the grace that changes the world!

 

We all know people who are visionaries, you know, the kind of people who change the world around them. They see things others don’t. They imagine possibilities others can’t. This often results in them taking risks in ways others won’t. While we appreciate these trendsetters, most of us are not that kind of visionary. However, we can and should be visionaries for our own lives. So, where do we find the inspiration and guidance for our life’s vision? As Christians, the obvious answer is to look to the Bible. The only problem with this is, we often see the Scriptures through the eyes of our own limitations. Today, let’s look more closely to see if we can find a biblically motivated vision for our lives that we can really invest ourselves into.

The prophet Habakkuk had a problem. His vision of the world around him focused on the ever-increasing power of the surrounding heathen nations. He was struck with a fear of Israel being overrun by them. He brought his fearful vision before God in a very forceful and straightforward manner. God answered his fears in a straightforward manner as well. He told Habakkuk that his fears would be realized but that also, God’s will and way would win in the end. God told him that his job as a prophet was to be a watcher. Habakkuk was to write down the message so others could understand how God would eventually prevail. His job was to relay God’s vision of the future to the people.
Habakkuk's problems are our problems
We often have the same kind of problems as Habakkuk had. We too can be easily overwhelmed by our immediate circumstances and future. We too can feel lost when it comes to how to cope with the big unknowns of life. Like Habakkuk, we too can find peace and direction with all of this, but only if we do what Habakkuk did. Habakkuk found a powerful and compelling vision for his life. Finding this vision required him to abandon his old ways of thinking and adopt an entirely new perspective. That perspective was only available to him when he thoroughly committed himself to acting not in fear but in faith.

How can we adopt the same kind of powerful and motivating vision for our lives? Check out our January 9, 2023 podcast, “Does My Life Have a Motivating Vision?” for answers.
Five specific steps
It turns out that there were five specific steps Habakkuk followed to change his vision. The first of these steps was to put his fears and questions before God. He requested answers. He not only requested, he also put himself in a position to hear and accept anything that God would reveal. We’re not prophets like Habakkuk, so we won’t literally hear God’s voice. We can, however, see God’s will through a Bible-based approach to our experiences. Join us as we uncover the steps Habakkuk laid out and learn how to find and follow our own life-motivating vision!

The rapture is a controversial teaching with its basis on one short set of verses in 1st Thessalonians. It is a teaching that has a wide spectrum of interpretations and applications. This teaching tightly unites those who believe in it, but more and more it terrifies many who have some association with it. In Parts I and II of our 3-part series, we began systematically walking through the scriptures in question. As we have attempted to clearly define each element of these scriptures, we have seen many of the contradictions and inconsistencies with this rapture teaching rise to the surface. In Part III, we closely examine what it means to be "caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Our only objective is to adhere to what the Bible really teaches and walk away from anything else.
The main scriptures used to teach a rapture
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NASB) reads: For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. The rapture teaching interprets these verses in a very dramatic way. As soon as Jesus returns with an audible cry and the blast of a trumpet, he miraculously and immediately raises all faithful Christians who had died over the last 2,000 years. In the next moment, he snatches up to heaven those Christians who are still living on the earth. What is left behind is chaos, fear and destruction.
Quick recap
While this rapture teaching uses Scripture as its basis, its conclusions could not be further from the true meaning of those texts. In Parts I and II of our series, we explained the scriptural basis for and the method of Jesus’ return. We discussed how his return begins in a stealth-like manner - as a "thief in the night.” Then we defined the spiritual nature of the "shout" and "trumpet." We talked about what the "dead in Christ" rising first means. We defined what we know and don’t know about their resurrection. All of these carefully considered details firmly disprove the rapture teaching.

Check out our January 2, 2023 podcast, “Do I Suffer from Rapture Anxiety? Part III” for more. We focus in on what it really means to those Christians living on earth at Jesus’ return “to be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Our conclusions are based on the immediate and larger context of these verses, the meanings of the words, and the harmony of the rest of the Bible. The result is a teaching that brings hope and joy, not only to all faithful Christians, but to every other human being as well. Please join us for this in-depth, 3-part study of God’s Word. It may change your life!

 

Christmas is such a great time of year! It gives people something to look forward to, something to be excited about. Decorations spring up and brighten our environment. We love giving gifts and we certainly love receiving them. Most of us get some extra time off to be with family or to just be able to do things. Sadly, the foundational reason behind this great time of year has become less and less relevant. All of this giving and good will stems from recognizing and honoring the birth of the most influential and heroic human being in all of world history. With the birth of Jesus, the world began to change. For most people that change has been imperceptible for the last 2,000 years, but it is happening. How do we know? An angel told us! Did you hear what he said?
400 years of silence
God often communicated with ancient Israel by sending prophets and angels to deliver His messages. Before the time leading up to Jesus’ birth, there was a 400-year prophetic and angelic silence from God. When angelic messages began to be delivered after this 400-year silence, it meant that something of great importance was happening. That something was the birth of Jesus, and it was a sacred and important event in God’s eyes. When angels speak, those being spoken to should listen with care.
Zacharias was literally left speechless
To have one angelic message delivered regarding a specific series of events would be dramatic, especially after centuries of God’s silence. It could easily have left the recipient speechless, and as a matter of fact, that is exactly what happened. Zacharias, the man who would be John the Baptist’s father, was struck speechless when he was visited by an angel and doubted the angel’s message. Zacharias learned much from this, and his experience made him stronger in faith and devotion. The point is, after his initial doubts, he listened to the angel and acted on what he had heard.

To have two angelic messages delivered would be awe inspiring. Mary would be the next recipient of an angelic message. She also listened to the angel, even though her responsibilities from that message would fundamentally change every aspect of her life. One common thread from both of these angelic messages was their connection to ancient biblical prophecies. By listening to the angel’s messages, both Zacharias and Mary were also listening to Bible prophecy.

But this is just the beginning. In all, there were seven messages from God to those who were involved before and after Jesus’ birth. Check out our December 26, 2022 podcast, “Am I Listening to the Angel?” for more. We outline these seven messages and look at their connection to prophecy and God’s plan. What we find is a profoundly revealing pattern. Those angelic messages were not merely meant for those specific individuals to whom they were given. They were and are ageless messages for all of us. The question is, are we listening to the angels?

God’s plan for humanity is powerful, positive and proactive and is built upon the ransom price Jesus paid for every man, woman and child who ever lived. This plan is one of great joy! All scriptural events and prophecies point to the unfolding of this plan. As we observed in Part I of this series, the widely held Christian teaching of the rapture, in all of its varied interpretations, does not seem to fall in line with this plan. Instead of hope, it seems to bring distress and chaos. In Part I, we began systematically looking at the key elements of the scriptures from which this teaching is drawn. Our objective is to look at these texts in the context of the Bible itself and not the context of our opinions or our church's doctrine. Here in part II, we continue to unfold what we believe God’s word actually teaches.

Care needs to be taken when reading the verses in 1 Thessalonians 4 that are used as the basis for the rapture teaching. In Part I of our three-part series, we examined much of verse 16, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.” We found that the shout and the voice of the archangel were spiritual activities, things that could not be perceived by human ears. The shout is the command for all those who died in Christ to rise to heaven. The voice of the archangel is the command of God through Jesus for the reestablishment of Israel to begin, as described in Daniel 12:1.
Is the trumpet of God a literal trumpet?
Because the shout and voice of the archangel are not audible to humanity, we believe that this trumpet fits the same description. It also is a spiritual sounding, but of what? 1 Thessalonians tells us that the shout, the voice and the trumpet all happen at the beginning stages of the return of Jesus. Acts 3:21 tells us that Jesus does not return until the time of final restoration of all things, so we see this as a trumpet signaling restoration. Why? In Old Testament Israel, God had arranged for a trumpet to be blown every 50 years to signal a year of jubilee. What did that mean? It meant that all things were to be restored to the way God had designed them. Jesus returns with the trumpet of final restoration!

Check out our December 19, 2022 podcast, “Do I Suffer From Rapture Anxiety? (Part II)" for more. We elaborate on the magnitude and meaning of this trumpet and what the dead in Christ rising first entails. We then go into the big questions of timing. Do all Christians who are alive at this time instantaneously rise up to heaven when this happens as the rapture teaches? The true answer to this question does not come from Christian tradition; rather, it comes from careful study of Scripture. Join us as we unfold the inspiring truths that the Word of God reveals!

 

Christianity is divided into many denominations and groups. These divisions create a wide variety of teachings that elicit a wide variety of reactions. Take the rapture as an example. In its basic form, it interprets the Scriptures to say that Jesus returns with a shout and a trumpet. He raises the dead Christians to him first and then all those faithful who are still living will be dramatically and immediately taken up to him as well. For both Christians and non-Christians, the drama of this view brings eye rolls and disdain from some, excitement and anticipation from some, and all-out fear, trauma and "rapture anxiety" from others. The rapture is a big teaching based upon a few scriptures. The big question is, does this teaching fit squarely with the original Christian doctrine we learn from the Bible?

The Apostle Paul loved the newly converted and maturing Christians who lived in Thessalonica. He had preached to them and lived among them for a short time. After leaving them, he was unable to return to them due to illness. He sent Timothy to check on them and wrote the letter we now call the book of 1st Thessalonians. This letter was one of fatherly love, compassion and encouragement.

What does this have to do with examining the rapture teaching and the anxiety it brings to some? Everything! In the 4th chapter of this book, Paul was explaining how Christians in their day would be united with Christ at his return and reunited with each other as well. He was teaching them these things to help them cope with their separation from him and the death of some of their brethren. He was tenderly building their faith and in a very fatherly manner telling them, "Everything will be okay!"
Brutal violence or fatherly encouragement?
The many Christians who believe in the rapture teaching see these verses as signals of extraordinary drama and violence: Jesus returns with a shout and calls all Christians alive or dead to him in an instant. This action triggers an overwhelming chaos for those who are left behind, as they will now face severe tribulation. This belief is outright traumatizing to some, and at the very least scary and brutal. It certainly does not fit into the context of a fatherly letter of encouragement. So, what do these verses really mean?

Check out our December 12, 2022 podcast, “Do I Suffer from Rapture Anxiety? (Part I)." We methodically delve into the scriptures in question by asking a lot of questions and finding scriptural answers. The Bible says Jesus "descends from heaven with a shout," and also that he comes as "a thief in the night." How can both be true? Does his return require all these things to happen in a moment? Is this shout to be literally heard throughout our world? How does Jesus have the voice of the archangel? Join us for a journey through some difficult scriptures! In Part I of our three-part series, we begin the point by point shedding of light on what the Apostle Paul was really teaching.

The fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5 are much more than a recounting of nice things to develop as Christians. They are fundamental building blocks upon which any productive Christian life must be built. Whenever we refer to any of these nine characteristics, let’s remember there are two ways we can view them. Take love, for example, the first fruit of the spirit. Many people can exhibit selfless love in their lives, even if they’re not Christians. However, the “fruit of the spirit" love is based on God’s own example through Jesus, and therefore has a higher foundational meaning. The key to understanding all of these fruits is to see that they reflect God’s ways and not the best of our ways. In Part V of our series, we complete our discussion of this fruit and absorb their amazing impact.

In Parts I and II of this five-part series, we extensively covered the 15 sinful deeds of the flesh we humans must fight against. We saw how the Apostle Paul grouped these into specific categories of human behavior. We then moved on to Paul’s listing of the nine powerful and healing fruit of the spirit. Parts III and IV covered love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness. We learned to go beneath the surface to see how the fruit of God’s influence in our lives each contribute to our transformation.
Next on the list are faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
As with the previous fruit, there is a depth here that needs to be explored and understood. Let’s take faithfulness as an example. Sometimes we as Christians view faithfulness as simply doing the things we know God wants us to do. We go to church to learn about the Bible, and we treat others decently. However, the faithfulness the Apostle Paul is teaching us about here is far deeper than that.

The model we are given of faithfulness is not that of each other or even the Apostle Paul. Because it is a fruit, an outgrowth of God’s spirit, this faithfulness is modeled after God himself. There are several Bible verses that tell us God is faithful. But what does that mean? It means that God is loyal to His word and His promises. If He says He will help us in our darkest trials, then that help is guaranteed to arrive. All we need to do is claim it and apply it.
Does my faithfulness portray such clarity and action?
Check out our December 5, 2022 podcast, “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part V)” for more. We define how our faithfulness should be a driving force in our lives and then go on to examine gentleness and self-control. As you might expect by now, gentleness is MUCH more profound than being nice, and self-control is the grand conclusion of everything! Join us as we conclude this revealing journey into what the fruit of God’s spirit can bring into our daily lives!

When the Apostle Paul listed the "fruit of the spirit" in the 5th chapter of Galatians, he placed it right after a nasty list, recounting 15 "deeds of the flesh." This fruit list was positioned as a remedy for any Christian who might struggle with any of those earthly issues. In Part I and II of this series, we examined the depths of sin in that “earthly deeds” list. In Part III we opened up the remedy of the fruit of the spirit and began with love, joy and peace. While these three things seem basic to any Christian, they have deep roots in the teaching and example of Jesus himself. As we continue with Part IV of our series, we address the next three fruits on the list: patience, kindness and goodness. Don’t let the simplicity of these things fool you, as they each have the ability to profoundly change your life!
There's patience and then there's PATIENCE!
When we think of patience, we typically think of someone who is willing to wait, as in, “The lines were long, but we waited patiently for our turn.” In the New Testament, the primary words for "patience" add important details to the idea of simply waiting. They describe patience as having fortitude and perseverance. Now, here’s the surprising thing. The patience listed as the fourth fruit of the spirit is an entirely different word! Its meaning focuses on being willing to be restrained and appropriate. So, why is this kind of patience described as the fruitage of God’s spirit and not the other?

Perhaps it is because this kind of patience is not only more difficult to develop but is also more difficult to realize its need. I can readily recognize the need to bear up under the weight of trial. However, I am much more likely to miss my need for godly restraint because I feel like my human restraint is good enough. I need God’s spirit to help me see such a need.
Who's fruit?
One important thing to remember is that this fruit, this depth of character that we are developing is of God. It is NOT the fruit of any individual Christian, it is the result, of God’s spirit dwelling within individual Christians. Each of these fruits come from God as they reflect His character, wisdom and strength. Letting this thought sink in changes everything. The God of all creation gives us His spirit so we can have His own power and influence guide our lives and change our characters!

Check out our November 28, 2022 podcast, “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part IV)” for more. We closely examine this restraining brand of patience. Then we investigate what kindness and goodness really mean. As you might guess, their meanings are far more profound than what plainly meets the eye. There are nine fruits of the spirit, and this episode captures the middle three. Join us and watch how God arranges for the depth of His character to unfold in us!

Adam was created in the image of God. His physical human nature was fashioned in a way that would glorify God by its very existence. Once he sinned, all that changed. What was once a pure reflection of the heart and mind of God, at best became a muddied and defective reflection. Fast forward thousands of years and we find God’s plan in place to clean up this muddied mess. This cleanup comes through Jesus and his true disciples. As Jesus’ disciples, we are tasked with living above our muddied world. In Part I of this series, we opened up the Apostle Paul’s reasoning regarding walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh. We began examining Paul’s long list of the works of the flesh in contrast with the fruit of the spirit. Today we continue this journey toward walking in the spirit!
The "bad" list and the "good" list
Anytime we read the Bible and come upon a long list of human characteristics, we should always pause and consider. Such lists are either there for a sober warning about what to avoid, or as an invitation to embrace what’s listed for spiritual growth. Interestingly, the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5 gave us both kinds. He first gave us a long list of the "works of the flesh." He then contrasted these with the "fruit of the spirit."

In Part I of this series, we closely examined the first two categories of these works of the flesh:
Category 1 - Intimate Human Desire: immorality, impurity, sensuality
Category 2 - Spiritual Control: idolatry, sorcery
In this episode, we break down the last three categories of the works of the flesh with ten natural human characteristics:
Category 3 - Personal Relationships: hostility, strife, jealousy, anger
Category 4 - Group Relationships: disputes, dissensions, factions, envy
Category 5 - Reckless Behavior: drunkenness, carousing
Hostility, for example, is very much an internal characteristic that lodges and grows in our hearts and minds. Hostility can be present and powerful within us without anyone knowing it’s there.

Paul lists strife right after hostility. To be engaged in strife is to be engaged in contention and quarreling. Guess what feeds such tension-filled relationships? Hostility, of course. Looking deeper, we realize there is a cause and effect relationship between them. In addition, many of these deeds of the flesh were listed in a specific order. Paul has a lot to teach us with these difficult characteristics!

Check out our November 14, 2022 podcast, “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part II)” for more. We dive into how our Personal and Goup Relationships can be ruined by simply acting the way human beings naturally act. We then address Reckless Behavior. The Apostle Paul is teaching us as Christians how avoid these common and painful traps. Join us! To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

It’s a simple equation with a guaranteed end result. Walk in the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. As Christians living in an "anything goes" world, this straightforward statement can be easily overlooked and even ignored. Among the many challenges we face today, being like everyone else is among the most subtle temptations of our human nature. We experience subtle social pressure in our workplace, at school, with friends, family and neighbors. Combine all of that with the never-ending online influence of social media to conform or else be negatively labeled, and we experience an unrelenting onslaught of pressure to conform or suffer. How do we as Christians learn to identify - and then overcome - all that is wrong so we can truly follow all that is right?
The Apostle Paul was concerned.
The Christians in Galatia were struggling with worldly influences coming in among them from several sources. First, there were Christians who came from a Jewish background and believed that all Christians were bound to follow the Jewish Law. Then there were the Christians who came from blatantly Pagan backgrounds. They had to be taught how to live up to Christian standards while flatly rejecting their old ways of life. Christian discipleship has no room for any of this.
The bad list and the good list.
In chapter 5 verse 16 of his letter to the Galatians, Paul takes a deep dive into these issues. He begins with a simple statement, “Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” He then goes on to list the "deeds of the flesh." This was no simple list, as it consisted of 15 different internal and external behaviors for Christians to avoid. Looking closely at this list, we see it is broken down into five basic categories of fleshly deeds.

We might expect that such a comprehensive list of the deeds of the flesh would begin with making sure God is always first. Though idolatry seems to be the most widely pointed out sin in the Bible, it is not at the top of Paul's list. He chose instead to begin with sins of human desire. His first three fleshly deeds to avoid were immorality, impurity and sensuality. When we step back and look at how human nature works, we can really begin to grasp why Paul begins with these difficult aspects of life.

Check out our November 7, 2022 podcast, “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part I)” for more. We put this whole subject into its appropriate context. We then examine the "human desire" category, as well as the "putting God first" category. As we go through these difficult issues, we also draw on the fruit of the spirit that Paul wisely lists right after these negative behaviors. This multiple-part series will closely examine all of these deeds of the flesh as well as the fruit of the spirit. Our objective is to walk only in the spirit and always away from any deeds of sin.

 

"Let go and let God." This simple statement is focused on faith and trust, two fundamental challenges for Christians. We may think it’s easy to have faith, but when we are in times of difficulty, the depth of our true faith is revealed and sometimes revealed as seriously lacking. We may think that we have trust, but when pressed, when we feel like we need answers or changes or insight, our trust becomes scarce while anxiety abounds. All of this can be depressing! We can feel like we are letting God down. The good news is that we are not alone in this struggle to let go and let God. Many of God’s faithful had these same struggles. Because their experiences are recorded in Scripture, we can not only read about their struggle but see how God’s blessing worked in spite of their weakness!
The promise and the problem
Way back in Genesis, Abraham and Sarah were given an amazing promise. God told Abraham to leave his father’s house and go to a new land that God would show him. Abraham listened. He took Sarah and his household and journeyed to this undisclosed location. As dramatic as this was, it wasn’t the biggest part of God’s promise. God also told him that his descendants would inherit this land. The only problem was Abraham and Sarah didn’t have any children. Worse than that, Abraham was already 75 years old and Sarah was 65! While God’s promise was powerful and exciting, it also seemed like it pushed the limits of their reality.
The proposed solution
Abraham and Sarah were classic examples of having been given a direction to follow but not understanding how to get there. Time went on and Sarah did not become pregnant. Years went by and both Abraham and Sarah became perplexed. However, their perplexity was not in relation to doubting God’s promise; rather, it was about how that promise would be fulfilled. After about 10 years with no child, they took matters into their own hands. Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham, and she conceived a son.
And for us...?
This account is full of lessons and guidance for us. First and foremost, it is all about trying to do God’s will. Just like Abraham and Sarah, we sometimes run ahead of what God would have us to do. In their case the result was not fatal, but it did add lots of difficulty and stress. Why would we expect anything less?

Check out our October 31,2022 podcast, “How Do I Let Go and Let God?” for more. We walk through the 25-year account of Abraham and Sarah, beginning with the promise of having a son all the way to the birth of Isaac. What we find are striking and relevant lessons for us to apply in the here and now of our own lives. Join us as Abraham and Sarah’s experiences teach us the depth of faith and trust required to truly let go and let God!

Candy, costumes parties and fun! The Halloween season with all of its excitement and trappings is upon us. On top of the fun and the sugar rush, this is a time of year particularly specializes in seeking to be horrified as another form of entertainment. The party-like atmosphere is generously sprinkled with murder, mayhem, zombies and apocalyptic events - all in the name of thrills. Because of this anything goes approach, Halloween has become an absolute favorite holiday. The question is, should we as Christians celebrate this day? After all, its origin is firmly rooted in Paganism. Its practices are firmly rooted in over-the-top behavior. Is it a sin for Christians to celebrate or have anything to do with Halloween?
Samhain was an ancient Gaelic celebration deeply rooted in Pagan beliefs
It took place at the time of harvest and was one of four seasonal festivals. While Samhain was a celebration of harvest time, it was also believed to be a time when the veil between the spirit world and our physical world was thinnest. Their belief was that spirits - both good and evil - could cross over into our world. While these ancient people anxiously waited for communication from dead relatives, they also feared the wickedness of the vile spirits that could cross over as well. People dressed up as evil spirits and carried carved-out lit turnips as a way to fend off these evil influences.

Fast forward many centuries to today and it is easy to see how the roots of our present-day Halloween celebrations originated with Samhain. Looking back into history through a Bible-based perspective, we see that all of their beliefs regarding the spirit world were untrue. Their beliefs were superstitions that logically developed as the age-old questions about life and death needed some kind of explanation.
Should we participate in the activities of this day?
With this brief view of Halloween’s origins in hand, the question arises as to the propriety of we as Christians celebrating such a holiday. Knowing what we know now, is it wise and spiritually healthy to be engaged in something with such dark origins? As you might imagine, many Christians have many differing perspectives on this question. Some of us say that these origins - and the blatant modern-day satanic aspects - essentially condemn anything connected with Halloween as inherently evil. Others say that their celebrations have absolutely nothing to do with that history or the "evil" side of the day. They say their Halloween is all about kids, having fun by dressing up, family bonding and candy. Which is it?

Check out our October 24, 2022 podcast, “Is It a Sin if I... (Part IV)" where we ask about celebrating Halloween. We dig more deeply into Samhain’s history and look at the present-day perspectives from both sides. Most importantly, we build our discussion upon some very sound New Testament scriptural principles. The Apostle Paul helps us step back, consider and decide how to approach this kind of issue. Join us and then explore the rest of this Sin Series. We share no tricks or treats, but we do share scriptural answers!

Sin is a difficult thing to handle. We are constantly challenged to daily live up to godly standards of righteousness. As our social order expands into countless variations of perceived freedoms, there are many questions that need clarifying regarding what is right and wrong in God’s eyes. Today we examine two of those questions. First, is it a sin if I as a Christian get a tattoo? Opinions on this question vary to an amazing degree. Does the Bible guide us on this? Second, is it a sin of I get a blood transfusion? While this is perhaps a small issue for most of us, there are some who have very deep convictions on this matter. What does the Bible say and doesn’t say?
Tattoos
Tattoos are not just normal to life, they in some ways almost seem like a rite of passage. You decide to express your individuality, so you choose a simple or complex display to put on your body. This display may or may not be visible to the world, but it is your unique signature. What could be wrong with such a thing, especially if you’re a Christian and your chosen ornamentation is a witness to Christ?

The Old Testament does speak out clearly against marking our bodies. As we look into the why of the matter, we find that tattoo-like markings were much more than personal ornamentation in ancient times. Pagan nations often used them as forced labels put upon slaves to mark them as such. They were also used by various peoples to represent spiritual or personal protection. With this background, it is easy to see why God told Israel to avoid such markings. However, do those ancient traditions have anything at all to do with our personal decision to get a tattoo here in the 21st century?
Blood transfusions
Moving on to an entirely different question, is it a sin if I as a Christian get a blood transfusion? While most of the Christian world does not have an issue with this procedure, there are millions who do. Unlike tattoos, this can be a question of life and death. Why would some denominations of Christians forbid the life saving and life preserving transfusing of blood? They claim both Old and New Testaments speak out against it. Do they? Are the majority of Christians missing an important teaching that these few claim is there?

Check out our October 17, 2022 podcast, “Is It a Sin if I…? (Part III)” for more. We get into the practical and spiritual aspects of tattoos. We look at the scriptures, discuss pros and cons and establish a baseline for thinking this question through. Regarding blood transfusions, we examine all of the scriptures cited by those who forbid this practice. By looking at context and broader scriptural reasoning, the answers to this vital issue become clear. Join us for a fascinating journey into these two diverse but important questions as we find answers we all should know!

Jesus’ true disciples go to heaven. Not only did Jesus make this clear, but several other scriptures show this amazing result of God’s grace upon a life dedicated to walking in Jesus’ sacrificial footsteps. In the first two parts of this three-part series, we uncovered many heavenly privileges, inheritances and responsibilities that these faithful ones will have. However, at the end of our last episode, we left one question unanswered. This question has to do with another group of Jesus’ followers. Several scriptures allude to this second group of followers as being faithful - but not as faithful - as his truest disciples. What happens to them? Do they also go to heaven, or do they have another destiny? Fortunately, the Bible gives us this answer and gives it in surprising detail!

As with any challenging task, a life dedicated to following Jesus can result in different levels of success. We always focus on the results of being faithful and receiving the highest reward of being with Jesus in heaven. Those in this class are figuratively referred to as the "bride of Christ” or the "body of Christ.” It is these who are given the specific responsibilities of the “trees of righteousness” in Isaiah 61 we have been uncovering in Part I and Part II of this series. They are the rightful focal point of many teachings, prophecies and descriptions throughout Scripture. They are models of faith in action and examples of sacrifice even unto death.
Who is the great multitude?
But there is another group. While they are described in Scripture as faithful, they are also lacking in some ways as well. Revelation 7:9 describes them this way, “…Behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes…” Some Bible translations call them the "great company" or "great crowd." Revelation continues to describe then as having to experience great tribulation and having to wash their robes in the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice. It is saying they got there, but not without having to be pressed into compliance. So, how does this great multitude end up in heaven if their faithfulness was less than stellar?

Check out our October 10, 2022 podcast, “What Will We be Doing When We Get to Heaven? Part III” for more. We assemble the puzzle pieces for this great multitude. We uncover some of Jesus’ teachings about them, as well as those of the Apostle Paul. We connect these teachings with their descriptions in Revelation and an Old Testament prophecy. What we find is a comprehensive picture that clearly displays the differences and similarities between this great multitude and Jesus’ truest followers. All of this helps us to zero in on what the work, privileges and inheritances of heaven look like and require. Being called to heaven is no small thing. Join us as we dig into and appreciate all that the Bible teaches us about this marvelous future!

Going to heaven is a really big deal. Last week was Part I of our three-part series on what heaven-bound Christians will be doing when they get there. So far, we uncovered the mechanics of why only chosen ones are privileged to go to heaven. We began to scratch the surface regarding what these disciples of Jesus will be doing. Turns out the job descriptions we focused on were nothing like what most people envision as heavenly life. In this episode, we dig deeply into what the responsibilities of those heaven bound will be. In addition, we will attempt to understand the “why” of it all by connecting several prophecies and scriptures. Our discoveries will reveal absolutely inspiring details and descriptions of how God’s plan is destined to work!
Isaiah 61
Jesus himself told us that the prophecy of Isaiah 61 began with a description about him. In the book of Luke, he quoted the first few verses of Isaiah 61 and told his listeners those words were being fulfilled before them. Though Jesus stopped quoting the prophecy, the prophecy didn’t stop describing what would happen after his first advent. It spoke of the Day of Vengeance and the journey of his faithful followers through it. Then the prophecy began to describe his followers after they were given heavenly glory as "trees of righteousness."
Trees of righteousness
In Part I of this series, we confirmed that these strong trees picture Jesus’ glorified followers as deeply rooted and immovable symbols of God’s will and way. Their divinely appointed work on earth is described as massive and important. Among the many facets of the work we discuss on this episode that Isaiah 61 describes, here we will just touch on two: These trees are called “priests of the Lord" and "ministers of our God.”
Priests and ministers
At first glance, we might think that being a priest and minister of God are two ways to describe the same thing. While these two responsibilities do work towards the same end, they are very different in application. The biblical priesthood in ancient Israel was responsible to receive the offerings of the people before God. They taught the people and positioned them to be blessed of God as well. While being a priest is to hold a position before the people, being a minister is doing the work of God among the people. It shows an interactivity with those whom the minister serves.

So, how are trees supposed to be priests and ministers? And what about the Apostle Peter telling us that this priesthood is a "royal" priesthood? What does that mean? And what about Israel? Aren’t they supposed to be God’s chosen people on earth? The Isaiah prophecy addresses all of these questions and more! Check out our October 3, 2022 podcast, “What Will We Be Doing When We Get to Heaven? Part II." The future work of Jesus’ followers is not just fascinating, it is thoroughly inspiring as well. Join us as we look into scriptures that paint a vivid picture of the future!

It’s pretty safe to assume that most every Christian looks forward to being in heaven with Jesus if they are faithful to their call of discipleship. While this can be an exciting and positively overwhelming prospect, it can also be a future that is filled with questions. What exactly will the faithful be doing when they get to heaven? How will they spend their time? Many say that the faithful will be continually worshipping God and His son, and there is truth to this. However, there is more. Much more. Understanding what Jesus’ faithful disciples will be doing in heaven requires first putting all of Jesus’ mission in order. If we know what he came to do and NOT do when he walked the earth as a man, we will then know what he has yet to accomplish and how his faithful followers will help him later.
Who goes there?
To understand the whole idea of being resurrected to heaven, we first need to understand a basic but potentially surprising premise. Simply stated, heaven is NOT the destination for everyone who says they love Jesus. Think about it - all of humanity was doomed to death because of the sin of Adam. Jesus satisfied justice by paying the price for that sin. This meant that all of humanity was now given a just right to a resurrected earthly life. Those who will go to heaven are invited to walk in Jesus’ footsteps and sacrifice their human will as he did. Heaven is not a result of justice; it is an unmerited gift of grace.
What is heaven all about?
While the answer to this simple question is not that easy, there are a few basic heavenly things we can be sure of. First, heaven will be the home of Jesus’ faithful followers. He emphatically taught us in John 14 that there are many “rooms” in his Father’s “house” and he was going to prepare a place for them. The idea of abiding in God’s figurative house is a staggering privilege to say the least!
But what do the faithful DO in heaven?
We learn the answer by paying attention to both Old and New Testament scriptures together. In 1 Peter chapter 2, Peter offers several titles given to the faithful, like “chosen race” and “royal priesthood.” These are not just empty accolades. They describe serious positions of privilege and responsibility. In Isaiah chapter 61, there are further descriptions of what Jesus’ followers will be doing. The Old and New Testaments combine to teach us about the extensive and profound heavenly work of Jesus’ disciples.

Check out our September 26, 2022 podcast, “What Will We be Doing When We Get to Heaven? (Part I)" for more. This is Part I of a three-part series that attempts to methodically put heaven’s privileges, inheritances and responsibilities in order. We analyze the titles and examine the responsibilities that go with them. What we find is a fascinating and unexpectedly clear picture of heavenly power, work and privilege!

 

 

God is all powerful and all knowing. The problem is, we often don’t think about what that really means. Not only has knowledge of God diminished in our day, but respect and reverence for Him are now scarce commodities. Humanity in this technology-driven age is prone to judge without understanding. Our benevolent Creator is an easy target of this. We have discussed many supposed contradictions about God in our Bible Contradictions Series, and we will bring up a few more today. Primarily, we want to look at the relationship between God, us and our hard experiences in life. Does God tempt us? Does God purposely place temptations in front of us as a way to teach or punish? Some say the Bible says yes and others say the Bible absolutely says no. So, who’s right? Let’s actually look at the Bible and find out!

In the few simple and profound verses of the Lord’s Prayer, we have the petition for God to “lead us not into temptation.” For some, this is all the evidence they need to assert that God can and will bring us to the very things that are hardest for us. This view turns this part of the Lord’s Prayer into a bit of a begging session with God. It’s as if we are saying, "God, whatever You do, please don’t lead me to the very precipice of my ability to fail! Please!" But should we have to beg God to not tempt us?

When we combine this scripture with a few other specific texts, we can begin to see where the idea of God tempting us comes from. However, examining this apparent biblical contradiction reveals a completely different conclusion regarding God’s interactions with our weaknesses. Once understood, both the Old and New Testaments echo a resounding message of God’s character and His treatment of humanity.

Check out or September 19, 2022 podcast, “Does God Ever Tempt Us? Contradictions Series” for more. We carefully unfold the several scriptures in question, define the words used and the context of each text to find resounding clarity.
We also examine two other apparent biblical contradictions:

* Does God ever permit us to steal? In the Ten Commandments, God plainly says, “Thou shalt not steal.” Yet he instructed His people to take “spoils” from the Egyptians when He released them from slavery. How can God command the same people to do two seemingly opposite things?
* What about God's ability to see all and know all? Several scriptures tell us plainly that nothing escapes God’s sight and hearing. However, other scriptures seem to indicate that such power is beyond Him. There are examples of people leaving God’s presence, prophets having to report certain events to God and God sending messengers to verify specific circumstances. So, which is it? Does God see and hear all or does he need lots of help and support?

Join us as we journey through these questions to find find sound scriptural answers!

 

 

The actions of God in the Bible are an easy target for criticism. It is so easy to look into this ancient book and pick out events that may not look sensible and even make God look bad and wildly inconsistent. Examining these events carefully does reveal truth and harmony - if we are willing to look for it. One such event is the account where God specifically tells Abraham to take his son Isaac and kill him as a sacrifice to Him. This sounds absurd! How can a God of love, compassion and justice just arbitrarily ask someone to murder their son? What possible good could ever come from such an action? And what about other accounts in the Bible that seem to show God as minimizing the value of human life? These are hard questions. The good news is, the Bible has clear and legitimate answers!

God called out to Abraham one day with a very specific command. In Genesis 22:2 God said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." It would be hard to understand this command from God in any other way than it sounds. To make it even harder to comprehend, remember that Isaac was the promised child born to Abraham and Sarah when they were 100 and 90 years old respectively. Abraham had waited 25 years from the time that God originally promised this child.
How could God even think about undoing such a miraculous fulfillment of His own promise?
This is a searching question. When dealing with such deep and apparent contradictions within the Bible, we need to focus on finding the whole truth instead of jumping to unstudied and shallow conclusions. The fact is, God did NOT want Abraham to murder his son as a sacrifice to show his loyalty to God. How can we be sure of this as it looks to be contrary to what was written? Check out our September 12, 2022 podcast, “Does God REALLY Require Human Sacrifices? for more.

As part of our Contradictions Series, we delve into the details of this intriguing account and find the missing pieces to the human sacrifices puzzle. Solving this issue is just the beginning of answering the sacrificing question. We look at another Old Testament event involving King David turning seven men over to another nation to be executed, seemingly as a price of appeasement to God and that other nation. Wouldn’t that constitute God condoning human sacrifice?

One other supposed biblical contradiction we look at has to do swearing something is true by taking an oath. Jesus seems to flatly reject making any oath for any reason, yet he himself testified by taking an oath. How do we explain that one? Join us for this revealing episode that uncovers biblical truths about issues that many assume to be evidence of biblical inconsistency. The truth is waiting!

 

 

The Bible is a really big book. It was written by about 40 people spanning a period of over 1,500 years and in three different languages. Just these facts alone create a likelihood of its writings being misunderstood, misinterpreted and misrepresented. Claims that the Bible is a wildly contradictory book are numerous and easy to find. In our Contradictions Series, we continue to look at these questions and attempt to answer them one by one. Our process is to consider the immediate context of the scriptures in question and the larger context of the Bible itself. We examine the original meanings of the words involved and attempt to assign the meaning that best fits the scriptural point being made. Solving apparent biblical contradictions is possible; we just need to see the Bible as God would have us see it!
Can God create a rock so heavy He can't pick it up?
To be omnipotent is to be all powerful. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, frequently speaks of God as being almighty. What God does in Scripture certainly verify that power. This sounds pretty simple until you realize that philosophically, being all powerful runs into all kinds of self-contradictory problems. If God is all powerful, can He create a rock so big and heavy that He himself can’t pick it up? Skeptics gleefully pose this kind of question as proof that God cannot be all powerful. This conclusion can then bring us to the next step of God being fallible - and therefore not reliable. Suddenly we look at the Bible and its contents as questionable at best.
Use the right benchmark
While all of this is an amusing intellectual exercise, it completely misses the point of God and being omnipotent. The problem here is the attempt to define whether God is all powerful by the silliness of creating big rocks and having super strength. God created our universe. He is bigger and more brilliant than we can ever imagine. Why not define His being all powerful by His ability to think of and bring into existence such massive and intricate creations? Why not define His all-powerful nature by His ability to have all of these things accomplish precisely what He had planned from the very beginning?

To understand the all-powerful nature of God we need to step back and try to grasp the multi-faceted nature of God. Check out our September 5, 2022 episode, “Is God REALLY Omnipotent?” for more. As part of our special Contradictions Series, we seek out answers by unearthing the details that many overlook. God’s comprehensive nature is described by the many biblical names he is called by. We look at a small sampling of these names for perspective. We then dig into other common questions regarding God’s omnipotence. How could God have ever been unhappy about His creation if He is all powerful? What about the things the Bible says that God can’t do? And what about favoritism? Wouldn’t showing favoritism imply that God that God is limited? Join us for a fascinating journey towards understanding just how supreme and powerful God really is!

To seek and acquire wisdom seems to be a lost art in our technology-laden world. Why spend the time, seeking, gathering, learning, absorbing, internalizing and applying wisdom when you can simply Google it and be told what something means? Why invest time and effort into trying to become a “wise person” when most of your friends and family are likely to disagree with such “wisdom” anyway? Face it, acquiring “godly wisdom” spells social media disaster! While this may be true, we need to step back for a moment and consider some things. While social media may rule the day, godly wisdom is timeless. It never changes, never diminishes and never loses its potency. It is always right and inevitably brings, supports and enhances life. Our first “words of wisdom” for today are: choose that which is eternal!
What an amazing gift from God!
The Bible tells us that King Solomon prayed for wisdom and that God answered his prayer. The way in which God answered that prayer is what gets our attention. 1 Kings 4:29 tells us, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.” This is impressive. For Solomon to be given wisdom tells us he perceived and understood the deep things of life. To be given discernment speaks to his ability to apply that which he perceived. And to be given “breadth of mind like the sand of the seashore” shows us that his wisdom was not confined to certain specialty areas of life. What an amazing gift from God!

Equally amazing is what Solomon did with this gift. He shared it. He made it clear that no matter who you are or what stage of life you are in, the wisdom that comes from reverencing God can and will change your life - if you let it. The book of Proverbs is a collection of many of his writings. It begins by welcoming any and all to listen to and apply the power of godly wisdom. It specifies that even if you are young and naïve, wisdom can and will change your life if you allow it to.
Proverbs Chapters 1-9
The first nine chapter of Proverbs are a practical and orderly treatise on the "what," "why" and "how" of wisdom. Many of these chapters begin with Solomon tenderly beckoning his son to listen to and remember his words of wisdom. He pleads with his son to wear the virtues of wisdom wherever he goes, and thereby be protected from the many temptations of life.

Check out our August 29, 2022 podcast, “What Can We Learn From One of the Wisest Men on Earth?” for more. We overview these first nine chapters and draw out many pearls of wisdom. We observe Solomon’s descriptions of how and where wisdom shows itself. Wisdom can keep us from many kinds of sins, and we delve into many blunt examples. Don’t miss this breathtaking, profound and mind-altering snapshot of the wisdom of Solomon!

 

One of the great Christian challenges of our day is living a God-honoring life in a world that basically thinks you’re nuts. What role should our differences with the world around us play in how we do or don’t fit in with all that goes on each day of our lives? What specific principles do we have that govern our thoughts words and deeds to keep us godly and yet approachable? Jesus’ Parable of the Wineskins answers this. This parable is part of a specific answer Jesus gave to a specific question. His answer also included two other very simple parables. As we will see, these three short examples combine to teach some important lessons relating not only to prophetic events, but to our personal behaviors and choices as well.
The disciples of John the Baptist were troubled.
They had followed the fearless and dynamic preaching of John for Israel to repent of their sins, and now their leader was in prison. Some of John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked him why his followers did not engage in fasting and mourning as they did. This was an important question and Jesus would give them an important answer. However, in his typical fashion, Jesus did not simply answer their question. On the contrary, he took this opportunity and crafted it into a powerful teaching moment, not just for John’s disciples but for his own followers as well.

Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist’s troubled disciples was clear and likely not what they expected to hear. He told them that it was not appropriate for his own disciples to fast, even though John was in prison. Jesus saw that John’s disciples needed to expand their understanding. They needed to realize that Jesus' very presence was the greatest age-changing event that had ever happened. They needed to see that the joy of having Jesus with them far exceeded any sorrow they were feeling. He compassionately taught them this truth by speaking three very short parables.
Jesus gave three special parables to the disciples of John the Baptist
Jesus’ three stories were simple. The first was about the foolishness of patching an old garment with cloth from a new one and ruining both. The second was about the folly of fermenting new wine in old wineskins and the disaster of that old skin bursting to the ruin of all. The third simple story was about not wanting to try new wine because you are comfortable with the old. All three of these stories were about leaving behind something that had value for the sake of moving on to something of much greater value. John’s disciples needed this message - and so do we.

Check out our August 22, 2022 podcast, “Am I Putting New Wine in Old Wineskins?” for more. As powerful as the age-changing message of having Jesus with them was, Jesus’ message in these parables is no less potent to us. Join us for a revealing reality check. It may change the way you see your Christian life!

 

Among Christians, some of the most often quoted and beloved Old Testament scriptures are found in Psalm 23. In very few words, these six verses paint a vivid picture of God’s overwhelming care for His children. The imagery of a shepherd knowing and caring for his sheep speaks to our helplessness as we as God’s children attempt to navigate the harsh terrain of a sin-sick world. Without our shepherd the tumult of everyday life makes it is hard to find true spiritual nourishment. Without our shepherd we would not find absolute rest and would always feel vulnerable. We need to ask ourselves:  Do I put myself completely and faithfully into the hands of my shepherd Jesus? Do I really trust him for all things? Is Jesus the true shepherd of my life or do I merely give him that title?
How do I know the Lord is REALLY my shepherd?
I proclaim to live my faith, to want only God’s will in my life, and to follow Jesus. When it comes down to it, how do I know that my proclamations are more than just mere words? Read the 23rd Psalm. In a subtle way, it presents us with a kind of sincerity test that most of us completely overlook. This test is in the very first verse which in the New International Version reads, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” These seven words are three clear statements of faith.
My needy life
To begin with, I am putting myself in the position of being a sheep. If you know anything about sheep, you know they are needy. They need guidance, are basically defenseless and can learn to closely follow one who cares for them. This is how I am describing myself. I am a needy follower who would be lost on his own. Next, I am affirming that my needy life is unequivocally guided by the Lord. He has complete responsibility for me. This means he knows my unique personality. He knows what I need, he knows where I am weak, and he knows how to handle everything about me.

Following him brings us to the third clear statement of faith: “I lack nothing.” Think about the import of this stance. Because the Lord is the one who guides me and cares for all of my needs, I literally have everything I need. Do you see how the first verse of this Psalm is a sincerity test? If I can answer these three statements of faith in a powerfully positive way, I can read the rest of its verses as a personal promise to me.

Check out our August 15, 2022 podcast, “Is the Lord Really My Shepherd?" for more. We navigate this famous Psalm 23 verse-by-verse. We delve into the inspiring facts of shepherding 2,000 years ago in the rugged and mountainous regions of Judaea. Be ready to absorb the powerful message of what it means to be truly cared for by the Lord. This journey can change your Christian perspective. Don’t miss it!

As long as no one gets hurt, I can do pretty much whatever I want! Such is the battle cry of our present age. We are so advanced in our awareness and thinking that it has become easy to throw off the once-constricting values of ages gone by and just be in the here and now. In our last “Is It a Sin if I…” episode, we looked at things like how we dress and adorn ourselves, cross-dressing and gambling. On this episode, we look at some deep issues regarding the expression of our human sexuality. When it comes to sex, there are many difficult questions that require diligent answers. Our diligence will be firmly centered around applying biblical teaching to our very advanced world today, so hold on! The clear scriptural answers we will uncover are destined to trigger major tensions with those around us!
It's never been like this
The “rules” relating to sex and sexual expression have perhaps become some of the most fluid in all of our present age. What we do and who we do it with are no longer the only considerations. Our most recent generations have integrated technology into its expression and encourage adolescents to freely engage in things once reserved for adults. The 1960’s and 70’s may be remembered as a sexual revolution, but our present time can certainly be seen as a sexual evolution. We are literally changing the role human sexuality plays in our culture into something not previously considered or recognizable.

For Christians, this presents a variety of challenges. As you grow up and are surrounded by an open and accepting sexual culture, you find yourself confronted with several basic conflicts. Christian principles for living are typically entirely different than worldly practices for living.
Christians of our day are often confronted with many questions relating to sexuality

* Is it a sin if I have sex before marriage? How can love be sinful? What if it doesn’t feel like a sin?
* it a sin to get pregnant outside of marriage? Does that ruin my Christianity? Does it somehow condemn my baby?
* What about sexting?
* What about living together?

These are all relevant and difficult questions.

While straightforward answers can be given to each and every one of these dilemmas, we need to go deeper than that. We need to know the “why” of the answers and to understand the biblical construction of morality. We need to be able to match each and every hard question with a sound principle drawn directly from Scripture. Some will think this is out-of-date thinking, but consider this. Are we willing to call our God - who knows the beginning from the end and designed and created all things - old-fashioned?

Check out our August 8, 2022 podcast, “Is It a Sin If I…? (Part II)” for more. We ask these very difficult and blunt questions. Then we answer them with sound scriptural principles. We examine the why and how of standing above the world’s influences. Join us for this challenging and enlightening journey!

Technology, medicine, communication and interdependence allow a previously unimaginable world of seemingly unlimited possibilities of societal advancement and personal fulfillment. Our communication is instantaneous, and our collective demands for entertainment and happiness have never been louder. While some of this has been a blessing, Satan, as this world’s master of confusion, has blurred the lines of morality, resulting in our discovery of new methods for old ways to sin. Our focus as Christians, is to please God and obey His righteous laws as outlined in the Bible. We already know God considers murder, lying and pride as sinful, but what about all the contemporary situations the Bible does not directly address? Do we face gray areas now that never before existed? How can we know what God considers sinful?
There are two easy things to understand about sin
First and foremost, Jesus died for Adam’s sin and for our sins as well. This means there is a final solution to all the problems that sin causes. Second, the Bible’s definition of sin is easy to remember - “to miss the mark,” which means anything less than perfection is sin. As Christians, our job is to take these two understandings and use them as guideposts for how we live our lives. This brings us to asking a lot of questions about a wide variety of areas of life where we can easily be misdirected.
Is it a sin if a woman wears artificial fingernails, jewelry, or makeup?
Many of us might look at this question and roll our eyes, as these things are and have been so common for so long that they are a fundamental part of our culture. However, the Bible does have several texts that can be understood to mean such things should be off limits for Christians. If we claim to follow Jesus and the teachings of the Bible, we need to look at this kind of question with thought and care. What do the Scriptures truly teach on this matter, and am I willing to follow?
Is it a sin if a man dresses like a woman?
While for Christians this question may feel like it would be easier to define, it still needs to be carefully considered. Interestingly, there is really only one Bible text that seems to deal with this question, and that scripture is not a direct statement. To have an accurate understanding on such a matter, we need to be clear on any biblical principles that apply - and there are many!

Check out our August 1, 2022 podcast, “Is It a Sin If I…? (Part I)" for more. We dig deeply into these two questions and lay out WHY we should approach them in specific ways. We also address several other practical and difficult issues that our 21st century lives are sure to encounter including gambling. Join us as we work to put these challenging things into a God-honoring perspective that we can live with daily. Then head over to Part II, where we pose several important questions about sex.

Parenting is a difficult and often unpredictable task. In Episode 1238, we laid a scripturally-principled foundation for managing our parental “what ifs” and imperfections. We also addressed the ever-present challenge of growing confidence and competence in our children as we slowly release our parental control over them. With all of this in place, it is now time to delve into several of the hard and practical matters of bringing children up. The structure of our present society extols a path and process of raising children that is often fundamentally opposed to true Christian beliefs. This leaves us with a lot of questions that may be hard to answer as we seek to apply principles of godliness. The good news is, no matter the question, there is always clear Bible-based instruction available.

As Christians, we should consider the Bible as our guidebook and final word of authority for every aspect of our lives. Even though it does not give us chapter after chapter of parenting advice, it does give us sound, time-tested principles to handle any scenario we parents may face in raising children. This is not only comforting; it strengthens us as well. Parenting in the 21st century looks and feels entirely different than it was thousands of years ago.
Here is a sampling of the questions many of us as parents worry about:

* How do we attain and maintain open and honest relationships with our kids as they go through the many different stages of growing up? Though the Bible may seem silent on this, the principles of God’s approachability to us as His children speaks volumes. When we understand how He loves, listens to and responds to us, we begin to see the patterns and perspectives that parents can and should apply to our own families.
* What do we do when something bad - really bad - happens to our children? On top of being a parent's worst fear, this kind of experience brings us to a place of alarming uncertainty. Our insecurity can begin to be quelled when we again go back to Scripture. We need to draw on the scriptural teachings that focus on what it takes to cope with and overcome our own hard experiences. These principles direct us in how to care for our children in their tragedies.
* What do we do when one or more of our children gets into a really rebellious stage of life? This is yet another powerful parental concern that shouts out for guidance and direction.

Check out our July 25, 2022 podcast, “How Do We Best Support Our Kids Through Their Hardest Times?” for answers as we walk through each and every one of these questions individually. We draw upon God’s perspective as our heavenly Father. Then we delve into many of the biblical teachings regarding building up those who are struggling, learning to apply them to our own children. Join us for a journey through the Bible that brings practical application, hope and courage to our parenting experience.

Raising children never has been an easy task. Methods for parenting have varied dramatically based on what time in history you are bringing up children. Disciplining children in an “appropriate” way looks entirely different now than it did just a few generations ago. The culture you live in as you raise a family also has a powerful impact. We live in an age and culture of technology, where much of life is easily lived through watching or typing onto the screen of your phone. This convenience carries a great potential cost. Are we allowing technology and social media to not only unduly influence our children, but ourselves as well? Are we Christian parents listening to social suggestions regarding what our children need to the exclusion of going back to the basic biblical principles for those answers?

No matter what age in time we live in and no matter what culture we find ourselves a part of, we all want something good or special for our children. A portion of the book of Proverbs is King Solomon writing to his son. He shares some of the wisdom God blessed him with, his life experiences and his warnings about the pitfalls of growing up. As we read these things, it becomes apparent that little has changed over thousands of years when it comes to loving and protecting our children.
What if?
While the desire is the same, the experience of raising children has been completely overhauled. Because the world now fits into the palm of your hand in the form of a cell phone, the variety of challenges we face would be unrecognizable to Solomon. One simple example: the parental challenge of managing all of the “what ifs” their child may face. In ancient times, the “what ifs” were about things like crops, herds, weather, warring factions and overall security. Now our "what if" list is endless. What if my child has emotional, learning or physical issues? What if they get bullied or become a bully?
Christian parents don't need to be overwhelmed!
Just putting the “what ifs” of raising children in perspective is a massive undertaking. While the Bible does not deal with each and every one of them, it does teach us the principles we need to face ALL of them. Interestingly, there is comparatively little written in the Bible about child rearing. The principles Christian parents seek are found in passages that help us cope with the unknown. There is also abundant biblical teaching that shows us how God is our Father and how He parents us. Applying these principles is learning from the best Father ever!

Check out our July 18, 2022 podcast, “Is Parental Discipline of Our Children a Thing of the Past?” for more. We not only handle the “what ifs” of life, we also delve into coping with being a very imperfect parent and appropriate disciplining tactics. Parenting is massively difficult. Join us as we examine its challenges under the bright light of biblical principle and teaching. Parenting will never be the same!

Talking about the Day of Judgment can be difficult. The sad truth is that as magnanimous as the love and mercy of God through Jesus are, the opportunity to fail throughout the Day of Judgment will be very real. God created humanity with free will. The Day of Judgment will be about teaching our race how to use that free will to make righteous choices that lead to eternal life. This will require accountability for all and a heartfelt focus on unlearning and renouncing all things sinful. Because these lessons will be based on the enormous firsthand experiences with sin and death we all have in this age, they will be practical, logical, appealing and learnable. Jesus’ Parable of the Sheep and Goats is a picture of the end results of these lessons.
Jesus was a master storyteller
When he spoke any one of his several parables, he always had specific lessons in mind. To teach those lessons he regularly used common, real-life examples as symbols to make his point. The Parable of the Sheep and Goats is a classic example. Jesus was teaching about the often-prophesied future judgment that will come upon all nations of the world. This particular parable was depicting the end of the Judgment Day opportunities to prove humanity’s loyalty to God. It was a story to illustrate the final accounting for each and every human being.

In some regions of the world, sheep and goats look very much the same. Everyone in Israel in Jesus’ time would have been familiar with sheep, goats and the shepherds that cared for them. The most obvious lesson of this teaching? What may look the same can bring diametrically opposed results. Jesus was establishing that the differences between being ultimately in or out of God’s favor would not be easily detectable by outward appearance. So, why use sheep and goats to illustrate this?
Temperament and behavior
In a surprising number of ways, sheep and goats are opposites. As just one example, once sheep are trained, they habitually follow their shepherd. They recognize and respond to his voice, ignoring other voices. To live an eternally righteous life will require adherence to God’s laws through Jesus. It will require being responsive - not to threats - but to the simple direction of the shepherd. Goats, on the other hand, may occasionally heed the shepherd’s voice but are often preoccupied with exploring their own path. This exemplifies a very self-righteous approach and not a humble, godly approach to life.

Check out our July 11,2022 podcast, “Will I Survive God’s Final Judgment?” for more. We compare several characteristics of sheep and goats to see what Jesus was telling us will keep individuals in or out of God’s kingdom. These differences are amazing and revealing. By using sheep and goats as examples, Jesus gives us surprising details as to what each and every person can and should strive for. The bottom line? It’s all about the heart, the very core of each person. Join us and learn how to be sheep!

 

Our religious world has changed dramatically. In the bygone days of generations past. we had clear lines that marked our differences. Christianity seemed to have clear and unmistakable differences from religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Druidism. Our "one God and one Savior" approach stood in an entirely different category from the multiple-god eternal journey that mystics and Pagans adhered to. Here we are in the age of technology and some of those lines and distinctions seems to be blurred and fading. There are movements now announcing that we are all really on the same journey of enlightenment and walking side-by-side on similar paths. So, is this a good thing? Should Christians embrace these seemingly progressive steps, or should we run the other way?
Paganism is ancient
It has been around longer than Christianity by thousands of years. It was in existence in several ancient cultures long before the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. In a broad and basic sense, Paganism is very much a nature-based belief system. Pagans see life and divinity in everything. All aspects of nature - from plants, animals, air, water and earth are connected to the planets, stars and the universe. This universal harmony is revered and, in some cases, worshipped. The cycles of nature, especially the seasonal cycles of the earth, are markers that illustrate the pattern Pagans see in all of life.
The attraction of Paganism
Living in the fast-paced technology, internet and gadget-filled world of our day, this belief system can come across as a wholesome breath of fresh air. Paganism’s respect for all things and inclusiveness of all people can really feel like a needed reset. This approach can be powerfully attractive to any who are looking for meaning. How should we look at this from a Christian perspective? There are several things here that are easy to appreciate. Does that mean we should recognize both Pagan and Christian alike as being on the same journey?
Not so fast...
As appealing as it might sound to just embrace everyone and move on, there is much more to the story that needs deep consideration. Looking at the appreciative and inclusive approach to life that Paganism describes is only a small part of our needed understanding. Grasping the how and why of this belief system is every bit as important as absorbing the good intentions of its adherents.

Check out our June 27, 2022 podcast, “Can Christianity and Paganism Work Together? (Part I)" for more. We address the similarities and differences between Christian and Pagan beliefs by methodically defining several aspects of Pagan culture and comparing each with biblically-based Christianity. Then we look into a growing Christian movement that suggests the unifying of the two systems is not only practical but advisable. What we find is both enlightening and important. Join us for Part I of this two-part series. See how the Bible guides us through the difficult challenge of finding and following what is respectable and right. Then head over to Part II for an in-depth look at Wicca.

 

Tragedy hurts. But a tragedy that involves the utterly senseless taking of the lives of innocent children is a blow to the heart that can send us reeling. Such a blow is hard to recover from and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, is a most recent and horrifying example of this profound pain. Heated debates typically spring up after such a tragedy as everyone wants answers as to how to stop such things. One resounding question that comes from believers and unbelievers alike is, how can an all-knowing, all-powerful God see such things happen and just, well, just do nothing? If God is love as the Bible says He is, how do we even begin to understand what so many consider to be His utter lack of attention and intervention in such tragedies?
God created humanity in His own image.
This means He gave us the abilities to feel emotion, to think critically and to choose. While these abilities are among the greatest aspects of our human freedom, they are also the most problematic. We are also descendants of Adam and were therefore born into his sinful nature. This means our emotions, critical thinking and choices are distorted by unbalanced and broken perceptions of the world around us. While we are all stuck in this sin-driven pattern, those who commit heinous crimes are particularly noticeable. They ruin themselves and destroy the lives of countless others in the process.

While God does allow our sinful emotions, thinking and choices - and their consequences - to rule our lives, this is not the end result of His plan. The pain and suffering we feel as a result of the senseless killing of children and adults heightens our longing for sin and evil to cease their merciless rule in our lives. The uplifting and relieving news is, God’s plan reveals that this change will occur. As a matter of fact, it will occur in dramatic and unmistakable fashion. The problem is we are not yet at the time for that dramatic transition. Right now, we are left to cope with the hurt and sadness of our ever-present grief and losses. So, what do we do?

Check out our June 20, 2022 podcast, “Why Does God Allow the Innocent to Suffer?” for direction. While there is no miracle cure for the pain we feel, we can take small steps towards being able to manage it. The first of these steps is to try and see our horrific experiences through God’s eyes. Seeing what He sees feeds us the renewal and strength to fight another day. Understanding and applying God’s perspective will help with the acceptance we need to slowly put the broken pieces of our lives back together. Such a rebuilding also provides us with the opportunity to reach out and encourage others in their pain and loss. Nothing is easy here, but by the grace and plan of God through Jesus, we can cope with all of this sadness. Join us and shine the light of God’s truth into a dark place!

 

It’s hard to stay focused, especially when that focus requires attention be given to something that is different and challenging. As Christians living in this 21st century, our responsibility is, as Jesus said when he was only 12 years old, to “be about our Father’s business.” As clear as this objective is, because we are imperfect we sometimes get tripped up and lose our focus. Thank God for His grace given to us through Jesus! What about other times when it’s not just a typical misstep? How about when we fall not just into a careless or impetuous wrongdoing, but into a full-blown choice that leads us towards evil? What do we do to help us come to our senses, and not only retract the wrongdoing but decisively get ourselves back onto the path of God-honoring thoughts, words and deeds?
Personal Choice
Walking away from God’s presence and blessings in our lives can happen in a variety of different ways and on a variety of different levels. Whatever the circumstances we face or the experiences we have, there is always a single, driving, common theme present: personal choice. The simple fact of the matter is, if you and I have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, God will never walk away from it. He is faithful and will always be present for us in every time of need. On the other hand, we have the power to walk away from that faithfulness, should we choose to. The scary thing is that we can walk right out of the protective range of His grace and favor.
Desire and Pride
Why would we do such a thing? It turns out that the Bible clearly details several reasons we can end up in such a condition. Being in the sinful human state we are, falling prey to these motivations for leaving God behind can be easier to follow than we might think. So, what are they? What could cause us to walk away from God’s favor? Desire and pride. Our desire and our personal pride.

Desire is stimulated by what we see and what we feel. Pride is stimulated by the credit we want to have reflected in our lives. The toughest part of all this is that it is all natural - and in our world, it is all encouraged. Essentially, we are saying that walking away from God is a very natural, very human thing to do! Great! Now what?

Check out our June 13, 2022 podcast, “God is Out of My Life! How Do I Get Him Back In?” for answers. We not only carefully examine what parts of our human makeup can draw us away from God, we also address the issues of degree. When we are drawn off course, how far off do we go? What remedies and changes are appropriate and at what stages? Join us for an honest and biblical conversation about our own human tendencies and the solid remedies we can use to keep us in God’s favor.

 

We live in an age of tremendous knowledge, phenomenal technology and unprecedented freedom. On one hand, ours is an age where the individual reigns supreme. I can decide what's right and wrong for me. I can also expect others to make allowances for my conclusions. On the other hand, the Gospel of Jesus Christ tells us right from wrong and moral from immoral. It defines our treatment of others, how to live and why we should live that way. The gospel is all about calling out a people for God’s name through Jesus and proclaiming that God’s kingdom is in fact coming! With the way this world operates, does the gospel message and way of life even matter? Are the personal freedoms of our present social order beyond its reach?

Just before the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven, he spoke very specifically to his 11 disciples about what their mission would be in his absence. The simple truth was that they were to preach the good news of Jesus, salvation and the coming kingdom. They were also tasked with “making disciples of all nations.” This meant that the focus of the gospel message was going to expand beyond the boundaries of Israel and have an impact throughout the entire world.
Paganism vs. Christianity
The challenges the disciples would face as they brought this message to their pagan world back in those ancient times were significant. It was not easy to bring godly humility, godly morality, and discipleship to Christ to the people of that world. Those nations had their own brand of "humility, morality and discipleship," and it was all focused on their pagan gods and rituals. Fortunately, the early church’s challenges, experiences and solutions are recorded for us in the New Testament.
Relevant or obsolete?
Those New Testament epistles and letters help us to focus on the very same mission they were tasked with. In many ways, our present-day challenges with living and sharing the gospel are even more difficult. The standards of that message are exactly the same as when Jesus and the apostles preached. However, the standards of the world have degraded significantly. This makes the contrast between a worldly view of life and a Christian view of life far more pointed. Does this larger-than-life difference in world view make Christianity into a round peg of values that doesn’t fit into the square hole of our culture? Absolutely! What now?

Check out our June 6, 2022 podcast, “Is the Gospel Obsolete?” for more. We dig into what to do with several of the primary principles we stand for as Christians. The fact that we are not on the same page as the world around us regarding values does not keep us from being empathetic with them. As a matter of fact, the whole idea of applying empathy from a Christian perspective is key to grasping the gospel’s relevance in our world today. Join us as we examine how we can, as representatives of the gospel, make a difference!