BIBDIG - Spirituality meeting reality.

"What if our father's faith is misleading?" Murray Murdoch, recently retired professor of history from Cedarville University, comes to our microphone to share his story of encountering racist teachings at Bob Jones University, and the the crisis it created in his spiritual growth.Epistemology is the study of how we know what we know, and in the stories Murray shares, we get insight into the quest every thinking Christian must undertake alone: to build one's own world and life view by the examination of all the evidence available.

George Tabac of Chicago returns to the Bibdig microphone to discuss his take on Ezekiel 39 and Revelation 19 -- the "burning" of the weapons of war meant to destroy Israel, the "burying" of the slain, the destruction of "beast" and "harlot", and the "smoke" that will remain in those system's aftermath. Be prepared to have your assumptions stretched and your worldview rocked. Times of blessing are ahead, when even the bad guys learn from their mistakes.

Carm Luke turns 98 years young in June. She shares her faith -- undinted and undaunted after 80 years of realistic, fact-based devotion to God. Her key emotion? Gratitude. Her ever-present, "can't wait" hope? The kingdom of God upon earth. Carm's vision is uncompromising: life and equity for all people. It would not be enough to tell folks the troubles were good for them.  Evil -- actual evil -- was permitted.  Every problem of human history requires a splendid solution if we will all be satisfied that a loving God did the wise and loving thing -- for our good. The deepest tragedies will become the perfect introduction to unbounded joy. In this podcast, Carm shares her excitement that at long last, the darkness will soon come to an end.Another in a series of "the faith of our fathers and mothers."

The resurrection of all people ... and the blessing of all through two different parts of the seed of Abraham. That's the grand vision we discuss in this second interview of Richard and. Shirley Evans of Portland, Oregon. Much of the discussion revolves around his book -- a life-long effort just published: Hear, O Israel (let not your heart faint).

Richard Evans was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force when Owen first met him, and Owen had just filed for conscientious objector status. But they were both baptized the next day, as "Christian soldiers". This interview occurred 50 years later. Now, Richard and Shirley exemplify the "Faith of our Fathers and Mothers". The purpose God has in all his dealings with the human race? Richard describes it as "A Loving Creation."

In this final episode of the Truth-seeking series, we consider the weight of tradition on the search for truth. George Tabac of Chicago joins Owen in a discussion of his 1995 research paper, "The Three Anointings of David".  King David was anointed by the Prophet before he was king, then by his tribe's elders after Saul died and his reign began in Hebron;  then by the entire nation when he set up his throne in Jerusalem.  George shows how each of these anointings revealed the steps Jesus has been taking toward his destiny as King of Kings. Though Jesus' kingdom was "not of this kozmos" or order of things at his first advent, he rebuked Satan at the beginning of his ministry and defeated him on the cross. Psalm 2 describes the present time, as Jesus reigns among his brethren, the Christians who welcome him as king ... and it won't belong before the entire world anoints him as its monarch when his reign as Messiah is seen and recognized by all. The story of David's anointings also reveal the five giants Jesus must face -- Goliath before he becomes king, the Dragon, Beast, and Image of the Beast/False Prophet who deceive and exploit the world in the Book of Revelation, and finally Satan himself whose destruction is promised after the Millennium completes its work of educating and restoring Planet Earth and "ALL" the people who have ever lived .These insights into history and prophecy serve as the backdrop, really, of the final episode of the "Truth-Seeking" series, and the first installment of a new "Faith of our Fathers and Mothers" series. To be successful in truth-seeking, we need to take a grown-up approach (1 Corinthians 10:15) which considers tradition and learns from the past, but does not fail to discern the mistakes and sins of previous generations. George Tabac, a "father of faith" for Owen throughout the last 50 years, shares the wisdom and joy of his search and service for Truth.

Recorded on the eve of the pandemic, this episode features the improv humor stylings of Cassidy Russell, Zeke Blackwell and Vincent Migliore. From Adam and Eve to John the Baptist, these A-list comedians risk their reputations to explore the humor in the holy and profane.

If you think you've heard of the Passover before, listen to this episode of the Bibdig podcast. Matt Kerry shares dozens of scriptures which show that this little Sunday School story (or Chabad House lesson if you are Jewish) is rich with meaning, and brimming with fresh hope. Matt and Owen study what the Bible has to say about this most ancient of rituals. To the Jews, the Passover celebration is like Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July all rolled into one transformative celebration of the past and future!

The night before he died, Jesus chose to spend the evening with his closest friends. He broke bread with them, and gave them a special insight into what that unleavened bread meant to them and to the entire world of mankind. Like the bread that materialized in the night-time, Jesus provides nourishment. Like the matsos eaten by the apostles at the annual Passover celebration, the bread was broken. This symbolized that Jesus' body was shed on their behalf.In this podcast Todd Alexander shares his understanding of the last supper and its bittersweet qualities. What Jesus was thinking, and the important lessons of humility and service he wished to teach his disciples that night.This episode emphasizes the element of "communion" or common participation -- the special fellowship of the spirit which all true followers of Jesus share.

Up till now we have looked at the most basic analytical tools of truth-seeking: verifiable facts, observable actions, historical records, logical deductions,  In that world, journalists and scientists are on equal or firmer footing than Christians who have been taught to distrust those sources, while giving creedence to unreliable "faith-based" voices. The result in recent years has been, frankly, a disaster for many Christians. The world needs people who love God to grow up and fact actual facts.But Truth has many aspects -- so now we slide onto the thin ice where a lot of Christians are entirely too comfortable-- but where every authentic Christian feels some essential guidance. This is the area of the Grace of God -- specifically, the perception that the Man we have never seen is alive, and living in us. This ineffable, immaterial experience is the fault-line between two entirely opposite world-views. And it is a very important part of the confidence that is so maddening to the good skeptics of our time. Christians are confident that we are being heard, and our questions are being answered. We fully understand why honest skeptics take a cautionary approach in this area, and recognize the dangers we are facing: self-deception, wishful thinking, overconfidence bias, confirmation bias. All of the progress we've been trying to make toward a solid basis of fact can be completely upended by the false hope that comes from misplaced religious "certainty". "Faith" is often mere credulity, a bogus, foolish flight of fancy.Yet the Bible affirms a special promise: "The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise." [Psalm 25:14, God's Word Translation]In this Podcast we are exploring the notion that one very important reason why skeptics are correct to doubt most of what they hear from Christians is that most folks who have jumped on the Jesus bandwagon have not been paying close attention to what the Bible itself says. James T. Burson is one clear voice who is joining Owen in this episode to discuss the clarity of the Bible's promises of reconciliation for all (Colossians 2:10) ... in contrast to the popular Christian narrative which expects most people to be permanently outside of the grace of God.And so today's podcast is: The Grace of God -- destined to benefit all, but as yet only perceived and received by a few.

If the Bible is relevant to modern man, it MUST contain prophecy that withstands careful scrutiny. Until recent decades, most claims of that nature could not be verified because the precise dates of ancient events simply could not be known. In this episode with David Rice of San Diego, we examine prophecies in Daniel 9 and the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Revelation and the Psalms, among others. In this episode we will consider the astounding claim that the whole purpose of God is the restoration of the entire planet, and all its people, in a Messianic era about to begin.

The Bible is not afraid of skeptical analysis. In fact, it has welcomed and received more than its share of challenge for the last 150 years, and still enjoys its role as a participant in the march of human progress. The best work of skeptics -- exposing the pride of Christianity and falsehood anywhere -- is precisely what the Bible stands for.In this episode Jeff Hausmann discusses his upcoming book, "A Mirror Not So Dark" -- a look at the origins of the Bible and the internal prima facie evidence that shows integration, harmony and consistency of message across the centuries of the Bible's composition. This is the eighth in our series on "Truth-seeking".

Hal Holbrook has died at 95; Owen shares his Hal Holbrook story, defines skepticism in a positive way, and explores what Christians can learn from skeptics like Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Jacob, Deborah, Tamar, Job and Paul. He also quotes from the writings of contemporary skeptics like Michael Shermer and Marilyn Price-Mitchell. Why we should teach skepticism and critical thinking to our children, and why skepticism should give us the ability to have constructive dialog about the existence of God while, in Michael Shermer's words, "keeping our emotions in check."Examples of honest skepticism in action throughout the Bible. The study applies Deuteronomy 17 to today's world, and sees in the words of Abraham, Daniel and the Apostle John, a harmony between questions and faith. Closing with a reading of Mark Twain's War Prayer.

Humans are creatures of habit, and unless we make the acquisition and testing of new information a habit, we will get into a rut. That's the observation of Jeff Hausmann, who was decisively and firmly an Atheist -- for good reasons -- until he encountered information which he confronted, tested, and finally accepted as more persuasive. Then, Jeff tells the story of how he settled into a new normalcy of his chosen Christian belief, until he again began to question and test the assumptions he had embraced. Is it possible to be a life-long truth-seeker? Can you keep your old friends if you do? Will you make new friends if you keep challenging your own religious assumptions? These are some of the issues we discuss in episode 206 of the Bibdig podcast.

Strange times ... what are we learning? In this interview with Pastor Carl Ruby, he shares his anger at Mr. Trump after the Capitol riot, and how he found his voice again. Don't miss this exploration of the deep questions and vital principles that Christians as well as non-Christians are learning in the strange times in which we live.

Wow, what a time -- when millions disagree on the most basic questions of truth and falsehood. Truth is no longer just a perception or an opinion, it's a moral imperative that has life or death impact. This episode confronts fellow-Christians on their support of Donald Trump and examines both contemporary and ancient sources to find principles by which truth can be discerned.

Truth seeking is a life and death matter in this era of official lies and deadly disinformation. But Christians don't own truth-seeking and the faith it leads to. In this episode Owen interviews Hank Lentfer, a writer and philosopher who has written two books that we discuss in the podcast... Faith of Cranes and Raven's Witness -- the Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson.Hank tells the story of his journeys as an advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the Arctic. He describes his personal realization that his bitterness toward humans for habitat destruction was going to rob him of the gratitude and joy he needed to share with his unborn child. He had nine months to find that joy and faith, and he found it in the wilderness of their home in Gustavus, Alaska. The Sandhill Crane is a major part of the story. Every spring and fall they fly over his land, and their 60 million years of unchanging consistency speak volumes of the reliability of the Universe. Even without confidence in a written revelation, faith in the principles of goodness is possible. In a letter Hank writes to his daughter before she is born, he says "A prayer for gratitude. Gratitude is the pool in which all good things gather. It is the combined state of acceptance and humility, awareness and faith, joy and sorrow, compassion and caring. It resonates through an open heart like a finely tuned guitar."

What God is doing? Is this planet, this troubled world, the end of the story, or the beginning? As we continue our series on truth-seeking, I decided to slot an interview from last spring in at this moment ... to suggest the notion that the heart of God can often be more clearly seen in music than in the doctrinal teachings that seem to box us in to a notion of a dark an angry deity who fumes at the willfulness of men and angels.What are God's intentions for the human race? In music -- ancient, classical and contemporary -- we find a more positive and hopeful tone. That's what Tim Krupa and I discuss in this episode. Recorded at Cannon Beach, Oregon, with the sounds of the ocean in the background, I hope you enjoy our discussion of the transforming power of music in the lives of both Christians and others.A postscript discusses three important parts of being a victorious Christian -- honesty, service, and love without hypocrisy. It is episode 202 (Season 2, Episode 2)

Season two of Bibdig packs a sharpened focus and exciting lineup of topics and guests. The "big theme" of this season is "Christianity for Grownups". In this episode Owen Kindig shares the story of his best friend's battle with cancer over fifty years ago, and the impact Owen still feels today. The experience led to a quest for truth, and Owen is not bashful about examining the importance of facts -- objective reality -- to find our way around the Universe, regardless of our religious beliefs. Join us for a primer on realistic, mature thinking, and an inspiring launch of a podcast series that promises to be truly thought-provoking.

The shore of the Columbia River on an unseasonably warm February day was the perfect place to open up about how God led four very different friends. Dan was a wandering spirit and an over-achiever. Janet was a self-confident woman who became discouraged with her own relational choices. Claudia was overwhelmed with self-doubt and only gradually adjusted her thinking, while Brent was a confident, happy-go-lucky Canadian who found himself confronted with an entirely new way of looking at the world. Two came to Jesus early in life, two much later. Two were raised in Christian homes, but only one pursued her childhood training throughout life. What did God do, and how did God lead them? Where are they headed now, and what is their vision for the future of the human race? This is the big-picture yet transparent, intimate portrait of four people who love God and feel loved by God today.

If it weren't for the explosions of supernovas, life would not be possible anywhere in the Universe. Andy Weeks, a pastor of the Berean Bible Students Church of Lombard, Illinois is also an avid amateur astronomer. In our interview, he likens the dance of a white dwarf and red giant around each other, followed by a massive explosion of the white dwarf, to how the difficulties in our lives are used by God to create life. Our spiritual growth -- the most important part of our lives as Christians, is nurtured and shaped by the tragedies and hardships of our lives.Andy and Owen discuss the challenges of serving people, mistakes he has made, and the ways in which God has equipped him for this work.

Val Weeks' smiling eyes had been crying. It was February 15, and her mom had passed away earlier in the week, from a sudden and unexpected battle with cancer. We talked about her mom and dad, the spiritual legacy she had received from them, and her new favorite song, Well Done by The Afters. We took the liberty of using portions of the underscore from that song which we purchased from The Afters, to provide the bed for Val's tribute to her mom that week. She explained why it was her new favorite song, and how the song described the conversation she was sure her mom had with her Savior only a few days before. Val also talked about her career as a coach of girls and boys in track, and her efforts to be at peace with the Church as her own spiritual journey sometimes led her to different opinions and priorities than her close friends and confidantes.Purchase Well Done and other songs and merchandise by The Afters at http://theafters.com

The 2nd half of my time with Christian provocateur and Christocentric Universalist Jim Henderson wraps up our discussion of his 3Practices.com methods and training. Then we launch into a discussion of his question, "What if God actually LIKES us?" He also tells us about his efforts to promote the No Joke Project and other forays into civility in this polarized, toxic time.Toward the end I ask him his favorite scripture, and he gives me two very interesting verses that we don't think about every day... and interviews our waitress.I think you will enjoy this high-energy conversation with one of the most prolific Christian thinkers of the last decade.

Every Christian has a story, and sometimes the "seeker" just stumbles into the light, so to speak. But others simply won't take no for an answer. They are on a quest for something that feels right, something that feels large, loving, and all-encompassing -- a set of answers that seem worthy of a God who calls himself "the Almighty". That's the kind of story Kathy Rosenberg tells. Interested in God, drawn to the Bible as a small child, she led her family from church to church until she found answers that felt right.Kathy tells me her story, and then we discuss her expectations for how comprehensive and all-inclusive the love of God for the human race will be, as she finds it described in the Bible. At the end of our conversation Kathy shares one of her new favorite passages, from 1 John chapter 2.

Tim Krupa of Cannon Beach, Oregon looks back on the experiences of his life that made him look for what is simple, what is the essence, what is the core of Jesus' teachings and the Apostle Paul's power. The discussion starts with a meditation on eternity, inspired by the ocean outside his window, and then settles into a deep discussion of the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, then John, then Romans, Colossians and Ephesians. Tim is one of the most effective Christian preachers Owen has met, and the conversation is as entertaining as it is informative and thought-provoking.

Part 2 of my interview with George Pantalos. We consider the importance of blood for bringing oxygen to every part of every vertebrate's body -- and also for removing waste chemicals and transmitting heat. Beyond that, we discuss the spiritual implications of blood -- especially when one person gives of their own blood to help another person live.We also George's work for the last decade to help the FDA protect the integrity of the blood supply at the same time that they are making blood donation possible for all people whose blood is healthy.

George Pantalos has been floating around, studying blood flow and heart function for forty years. With degrees in both aeronautical engineering and human physiology, Dr. P has been a participant in the study of blood flow in space travel. In this episode George shares his research, from his years as a student at Ohio State to his 17year stint in the biomedical engineering faculty at the University of Utah, and 20 years at the University of Louisville. George has also flown 45 times in NASA's parabolic weightlessness simulator aircraft, developing experiments that can be used in Zero G's to study the impact of weightlessness on the human body. I think you'll be as excited as I am to learn about the latest discoveries that George and his research teams have made in the area of human survivability on a multi-year trip to Mars and back.

I met Linda Lawson Miller when we worked together on a workshop of the Israel Leadership Institute in Columbus, Ohio in February. She is a deeply committed supporter of Israel. She shares many aspects of her life including the impact of Christian school and Christian ministry on her children, and her own vision for understanding and writing about Israel. This dramatically different interview shows the flip side of critiquing the Church -- focusing instead on what is true, what is real ... and recognizing that all human efforts at religion will naturally fall short because of the impact of power and politics upon our lives.She lives by Golda Meir's motto: Show up. Pay attention. Speak from the heart. And don't be attached to the outcome.

Randy Hughey joins me for the conclusion of our high speed chase through the tunnel of life. After recounting what felt like the utter death of faith at the hands of a beloved church community, in this episode we trade perspectives on the pathway home. What, after all, is the purpose we are called for? Are we supposed to be engaged in a quest for prophetic and doctrinal truths? Or is our largest challenge to understand peace and pursue excellence? Where is God leading us, and what does he have in mind for the world? Are things supposed to be burned up? Is Armageddon a real thing? Is it in our hands? Is it the end of everything, or only of a few bad things, and the beginning of a great many wonderful things? Towards the end Randy floored me by launching into a powerful quote of one of my favorite scriptures: Micah 6:6-8: With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Owen interviews Randy Hughey during a pandemic, after a catastrophic loss of faith. Sounds ominous but both the personal and the world-wide apocalyptic troubles reveal a great deal -- not only the faults of our nations and our churches, but also the reality of good mixed with bad in our own hearts.Is the purpose of Christian fellowship to help individual disciples with the pursuit of truth? Is truth an objective reality or a subjective perception without the necessity of facts, observation, and rigorous testing? These questions underscore the process in Randy Hughey's life that led him from seeking participation with others in the quest for truth, to focusing primarily through meditation and personal research to find a vetted sense of reality in his own heart.

Evidence of a positive future plan from the very beginning. A deep conversation with Chris Miller, Professor of Bible at Cedarville University. In this wide-ranging discussion we look at the threads of wisdom, redemption, good character, and bad character that are woven throughout the Old Testament narrative. "There aren't 66 books. It's just one book." Chris shares his love of the book of Judges, insights from the lives of Joseph, Samson, David, and many others. Owen confesses his heresies, and Vern Culp sings the song he wrote with Rosie Palof: "It's time to turn around." Chris has been teaching the Bible, primarily Old Testament, full time for 39 years -- 29 at Cedarville. Currently he is also writing a commentary on the book of Matthew.

Estera, a Christian who migrated to the United States from Romania, has been a brilliant student, a loving parent, a valued employee, and a faithful Christian... but she has always lacked confidence in herself and wondered why some aspects of her life were so difficult for her. She shares how she can sense the hand of God guiding her toward inner peace.

The most difficult gap between spirituality and reality may be an individual's purported relationship with God. What can anyone know, and how can they be sure? In this conversation with a close friend, we explore the mystery of human relationships with the divine.Errata: The Christian writer I referenced in our conversation was Bruce Wilkinson, NOT Bruce Willis!

Like yesterday’s interview of Jim Henderson, today we feature a Christian leader who shoulders responsibility for justice — especially the poor, the widow, and the immigrant alien. Discover the amazing journey of Carl Ruby, pastor and advocate for social justice and refugee rights, when you listen to Bibdig episode 5. Carl tells the story of his efforts to teach principles of truth-telling, fact-checking, and civil conversation within the Christian community.Here are Owen's personal observations of the arc of Carl's spiritual journey:Carl Ruby started as a farm boy in Michigan, born into a conservative Evangelical family. He attended Cedarville as an undergrad, and fit right into the WASPy culture during those years when it had morphed into a "regular Baptist" Ohio college. He enjoyed being involved in his student life leadership program, and when he graduated the college offered him a job. By the time I met him in the mid-80s, Carl was a bright young leader studying for his Ph.D. in Educational Administration. I had the pleasure as a slightly older outside consultant to interview Carl every two years for the Cedarville admissions video. I began to observe something happening to his world-view during the next few years. Perhaps it grew out of his travels with students to help hurricane victims wherever they were needed. Perhaps it came from his efforts to bring contemporary, more culturally diverse Christian voices to student chapel and co-curricular programs. Or maybe it was that appreciation for human freedom which the Apostle Paul observed to be a companion of true disciples of Jesus at the beginning of the Christian enterprise. I can speak from first-hand experience that when Carl accompanied over a hundred CU students each year for a Civil Rights tour across the South, that love of freedom and sadness over American slavery also reached deeper and deeper into Carl's soul. Before I completed my 25-year stint as the Cedarville admissions video producer, Carl became the VP of Student Life. And then I "graduated" and moved to Seattle and then Sitka, and I lost track of Carl.When I finally caught up with him again in February for this interview, we hadn't seen each other for almost a decade. But in that intervening time Carl had left Cedarville, and had spent three years working to bring immigration reform to the United States. I guess he failed at that... :-) Now Carl is Senior Pastor at the Central Christian church in Springfield, Ohio. He is living proof of how a human being’s heart can change profoundly, no matter where we work or worship, and what our circumstances may be. For me, another old white guy who doesn't fit the stereotypes that naturally flow from our upbringing, Carl and I are exceptions that prove spirituality can and often does get transformed by reality.New York Times article on Carl's sudden departure from Cedarville: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/16/us/a-christian-college-struggles-to-define-itself.htmlCarl's church website is ccspringfield.org

There is another virus, more contagious than Covid19. It is called Polarity2020. It attacks the ears first, and then makes our eyes roll whenever someone disagrees with us on politics or religion. Jim Henderson has studied how successful people learn to listen carefully, sit in the room with difference, and not compare their best with others' worst. Jim shares his 3 practices for crossing the difference divide.Errata: David Augsburger is still alive, and associated with Fuller Theological Seminary, not Wheaton. His quote that Jim Henderson shares in this interview is worth remembering:“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”It is from Dr. Augsburger's book, "Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard."

Why we need mercy in the pandemic....and how we are already receiving mercy. Owen reflects on the people who suffer and the challenges they face. Mary Gauthier's epic song, Mercy Now, is featured twice in two beautiful a capella performances by Sitka singer Leah Mason.

What does it feel like to face the possibility of a death that may come sooner than we expected for ourselves or our friends? And what do we prefer to think about what happens next for each person in the world?

Meet Owen Kindig, your host and his special guest for episode 1: his partner in life, Beth.Together they reminisce a bit and discuss how they feel on the cusp of a potentially life-threatening disruption, the Coronavirus Pandemic. Surprisingly lighthearted and serious, all at the same time....