DRIVING THEOLOGY

In this episode, I have a bit of an epiphany. I made a connection that I had not previously made. Not sure if it will hold up to scrutiny, but I'll put it out there none the less.

Pope Francis has passed. As far as I'm concerned, he was a man who desired to be like Jesus and did a pretty good job, considering all the trappings of his office. He will be sorely missed by millions and is not easily replaced.

Going off of a FB meme, I explore atonement theology once again, going deeper and farther than ever before.

By request (thanks, Stephen), I introduce the fine peopole we have been gathering with and mentoring to. I try to hide specific names to protect privacy, tho I hope I don't reveal too much.

After a brief review of The Chosen Season 4 episodes 1-3, I give a quick overview of Mark chapters 1-4, bringing up something that disappoints me about the parables of Jesus.

Current actions by POTUS have me and others wondering is out way of government is going through a transformation. What has Christians behind this President and what does that mean?

March 11 this year came and went, like it has the past 14 years, with many memories of that fateful day 14 years ago when Japan was hit with a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami as well as thousands of aftershocks. The day many lives were changed forever.

There are sayings of Jesus that are mysterious, and this is one of them.

What do YOU think happened on the cross? What atonement theory do you ascribe to? Did you know that many over millennia have thought differently than we do today?

I had a breakthrough thought today: America First policy is narcissism on a national scale... JD Vance needs to clean up his theology. He couldn't be more wrong about Christian love.

I watch the Super Bowl this year and was underwhelmed by the halftime show, not to mention the actual game. I have been challenged since to give Kendrick Lamar another try, to try harder and look deeper into what he was saying. I have flip flopped on my take.

John 1 says of the LOGOS, it was in the beginnings, all was created by him, and that the LOGOS was God. Hebrews 1 says that God spoke to our ancestors at various times and ways, but today, speakes to us thorugh His son, the exact representation of God. How then, do we think we can shrink this LOGOS into a mere collection of writings?!

After a bit of catching up, I delve into Mark 1: The beginning of Jesus's ministry. Spirits abound in this chapter of all kinds, Holy Spirit, evil spirits, angels, Satan, etc. What's it all about?

Like it or not, DT is president once again. Biden is not. Neither is Harris. Lightening has struck for a second time. What is going on? Well, once you take Christ out of Christianity, anything is possible.

In this episode, I talk about a new project I am undertaking, and it involves reaching for and impossible, at least up to now, goal. This is what we humans do. Or so it seems. We spend much time reaching out for the unknown, the never done. Also, I give a pre-introduction to a book by Gegory Boyd, which I have not completed yet, and I try to anticipate where it might be going. The Book is titled, "Inspired Imperfection".

The fourth week of Advent, and this year I have chosen Peace, which I hope you have! Merry Christmas!

I don't usually choose to represent "faith" as one of the advent themes, but I will this year. Hope you get something out of it. Merry Christmas!

Week 2 of Advent, Joy. Joy springs from fulfilled hope, and when that hope is well placed, the hope is all the greater! Merry Christmas, and happy Advent!

Advent has begun. Merry Christmas! I HOPE it is all you need it to be! *There is a funny mistake here when I'm talking about the three "omni" words. If you find it, let me know!

Gaslighting is a word that is becoming more and more prevalent in our everyday parlance. But do we really know what it means? Do I? I'm not sure, but here is my stab at it.

Here I explore Thanksgiving and the problem it has become to some people given the true history of Europeans in America and their treatment and impact on the indigenous population.

Do you ever feel like you know what to do, but are powerless to do it? Me, too. Me, too. Story of my life, and the story of the history of the world. Generally, we know what's right. It's a simple thing, usually. But, there are times when we don't, for many reasons. As for the church, even though we know we shouldn't, we seem powerless to resist the seductions of empire, be it Rome, England, or the US. They invite us to join them. They promise to push there agenda in exchange for their vote and loyalty. And the church seems always to acquiesce. Why is that? Why are we not satisfied with Jesus as Lord, why do we clamour for a king!

In this episode, I get a bit confused with my Bible, mistaking the Sermon On The Mount verse, Matthew 6:19-21, for the conversation with the Rich Young Ruler(Luke 18)... Oh well. They both mention "Treasures in Heaven", so I'll call it a win.

Halloween has always been one of my favorite days of the year. For as long as I can remember, I have always looked forward to that night. Something about the dark and mysterious always excited me. It still does in many ways. But, is it healthy? Is it right, good, even? Maybe.

When someone you respect does or says something that seems out of character for them, how do you react? Do you lose respect for them or give them the benefit of the doubt?

If you could find something that if widely accepted and adapted would make the world a better place, would you keep it to yourself? Not me. But seriously, though this may not save the world, it would make it more livable and more peaceful. That's not bad, right?

This post might come across as ani-semitic, but I sure hope it doesn't. I am not a Christian Zionist, in other words, I have my doubts that the fate of the world depends largely on what takes place in Palestine and the Israeli State. Not that those events don't effect the rest of the world. I just don't think they are cosmically relevant. I think that the way we treat our neighbors is of much greater import. And I want to be found to be always have stood with the downtrodden, the poor, the outcast, the sick, the imprisoned, immigrant. I believe this is what Jesus taught us. This is seeking first His kingdom.

This episode begins with way more than you need to know about my current diet and exercise regimen, and ends with a follow up to last weeks podcast. Enjoy!

Here, I muddle my way to, I think, a good place in this episode. Here, I rehash some old ideas while perhapas approaching them in a new way.

In this episode, I go back to when it all started (in some ways...) and the guy who challenged me to enter into the inner life-Stephen Farmer.

There is now a cult of America nationalists in the US, and Trump is their chosen one. No, this is not true of all DJT followers, but it is true for many. But is the adoration of the Evangelical church doing Trump any good, or is it playing right in to his narcissism?

First, sorry for the quality of the audio. I had some mishaps and had to boost the volume and do some cutting using editing software. AND I'm not great yet at recording in my new car which has a lot of bass. I'll work on it. Thanks for your patience. In this episode, I tackle the topic of Christian Nationalism, especially the current US version.

There is one thing that can drag me into politics. Just one thing.

Violence. We worship it in the US. We glorify war. We idolize our troops. We believe at the core of our beings that violence is a legitimate way to solve our and the world's problems. And Trump nearly died from an assassin's bullet-because we have failed to live out Christs example of violence absorption.

For a while now, authority has been under unprecedented attack; churches are losing members at an alarming rate, children do not respect their elders, police and other officials are under attack. What's going on here? Is there a common thread connecting these and other events together. I'm not sure. But I do have one idea...

Well, here comes another election, and here comes the US voters, ready to once again prove that they have no idea what makes a good leader and have absolutely zero ability to encourage those with the skills to lead a country effectively to pursue political office. Ugh.

Does your Bible illuminate Christ, or does Christ illuminate your Bible? This distinction is actually pretty huge. I explore this and more in this episode.

A bit of a history of my relationship with the sport of basketball and the Boston Celtics, as well as the current NBA Season and the Celtic's recent crowning as NBA champions for 2004. The Celtics had one of their best seasons and post seasons to date. And yet, sports media outside of Boston refused to believe in the Celtic's record, numbers, and as they continued to rack up win after win, and even as they won 80% of their games, and made it to the Finals, still, most of the media picked the Dallas Mavericks to win. even though the numbers indicated otherwise...

Historically, the greater a leaders authority, the harder their fall from grace. Pastors lately are falling like flies. But, are we partly to blame for their demise? Is there something that we do which causes their great falls?

What you think of hell just might be the biggest thing wrong with Christianity in the world. If it is inaccurate, it is a big loss for the world. If it's right, then God is not as good as we thought.

Is sports, especially competitive sports, compatible with the Christian life, with following Jesus? My thoughts are yes and no. It depends. Yes, sports is a subject mentioned in the Bible, but what does that really mean? So is genocide, slavery, adultery, etc.

This is a bit of a review of a book by Jonathan Haidt, "The Anxious Generation". Though this is a new topic for me, I feel this is too important and needs to be out there, regardless of my lack of a grasp on the topic. We are raising anxious kids, and we need to figure out why kids today are more anxious than ever, and how to help them.

In this episode, I explore my relationship with "church", the journey I have been on since birth, and how I have come to know Christ (such as it is). I also explore my relationship with American Christianity, which has been quite a rocky road.

Mixing in a few book reviews by Nehisi Coates and Brian Zahnd , I explore the Cross of Christ, it's symbology and meaning, especially what it has come to mean to me.

Sometimes, you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, life loses its meaning. Sometimes, all hope is lost. But then, the dawn comes, the flower blooms, and beauty reveals itself. If you are in a dark place, the only hope I can give you is that I have been there too. It does end. In this life or the next.

Jesus is the final revelation of God, the ultimate expression of the Father, the perfect image of the invisible God. And to know him is to find rest. If you haven't found rest, perhaps you haven't found him. Not all of him. Not the truest version of him. And don't we all want that, to know who God is and to rest in him?

This is one of the most rambling journeys I've ever taken. Not sure why. Maybe the weather? Too little sleep? Too much sleep? Don't know, but I really went off on a tangent in this one. More than usual. But, I think I actually brought it together at the end. You be the judge.

What is the history of christian participation in politics? What has been the outcome of the current involvement with christians in politics? Are politics and christianity compatible? Why or why not?

We are all unique(If we are all unique, are we unique at all?!). Each of us has a set of personality traits that make us who who we are. They are also signposts of where we have been and what we have experienced. How does this translate spiritually?

Every generation is burdened with the mistakes of the past. The young people of Japan are no exception. They will be tasked with solving a unique set of problems, through no fauly of their own. The young people of every country are in a similar situation. Such is the way of the world.

There has been much talk about what exactly the Kingdom is, how to bring it about, who is in and who is out. When it will come, or when it did come. Here I delve into the nature of the kingdom, what I think it is and what I think it isn't.