Know God

Send us a textWhat Are The Women Supposed To Do? is a survey of 2 books by Beth Allison Barr. The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth - BrazosPress/Baker Publishing. ©2021Becoming the Pastor's Wife: how marriage replaced ordination as a woman's path to ministry - Brazo's Press, Baker. © 2025Tony, Sandy, and Micah talk about women in church leadership in this survey.Stories of the rise of women can distract us from the place of women in culture and in the church, including during New Testament times. We may be inclined to think this is somehow a recent aberration of culture or the church. This is a total misconception that it's only in recent times - the last 60 years - that women are being “allowed” into church leadership. The complaint against churches with women in leadership is that the church is copying culture. Our survey of these books introduces our listeners to Beth Allison Barr, a professor of Medieval history at Baylor University in Texas. Her books provide important and unique insight to this issue.Passages include:Genesis 12:7, 15:1; Galatians 3:16; Romans 16:1-7;& Hebrews 13:17.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Our Creator God is true north. The primary landmark that we should always be able to see is, “I am created body and spirit. Wonderfully and fearfully made! Finally, alignment with our community brings us full circle in our life. Physical drives and desires can't be “running the show.” The human spirit cannot be in denial of the life of one's body. Healthy self-awareness is to live in harmony with one's total self - body & spirit. These alignments are the source of immunity to a life of deceiving others through out own self-deception. Alignment is wholeness in our community and world. Scriptures include Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; 2Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1Peter 2:11-12; 2Timothy 3:1-15; and James 2:26.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Demonstration moves faith beyond a crisis of inaction. Am I making a demonstration of my faith in the face of doubt? Am I dominated by unbelief nor doubt? Look at these questions with us.Chuck Templeton & Billy Graham, each Christian communicators, intersected in the middle of the 20th Century. Their story lends some potential insights to the question of mere faith or vibrant demonstration. The tendency to oversimplify life with God as going to church and a certainty about all the BIG questions - rather than daily demonstrations of love - muddles, clouds, and drains the souls of people who care about the stuff God cares about. Faith is not lived without a “demonstration” to change the conditions of others for the better. Life is not simply strong convictions of beliefs, but action producing vibrant faith. Passages include: James 2:19-24, 26; Acts 10:38; Romans 4:18-21; Genesis 12:1-2, 13:17-18; Hebrews 6:13-15, 18-20; & 1Timothy 6:18-19.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

We introduce spiritual odyssey by following the unique journey of naturalist John Muir. Season 6 starts by considering the obstacles of faith and ways others are able to clear the way to faith. Our conversation in this podcast starts with Muir's shift from a regimented church upbringing to his embrace of life in a natural, wild environment. His sense of place reflects his experience of the “natural revelation” of the Creator. Muir's conviction was “you need to take more time in nature.” In nature he experienced solace and connection with God. Passages include Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:17-20, Acts 15:19, Mark 1:1, and Micah 6:8.Support the Show.TonyKafka on Patreon

This podcast is for Earth Day. And this podcast is a call to Christians about our  responsibility and call to take care of the planet. Since the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, people around the world have been called to do something to take care of the earth. In one of our recent podcasts, The Science of Awe, we talked about the 1968 “Earthrise” photo taken by the Apollo 8 astronauts. A new perspective - the long perspective of seeing the great blue planet in its beauty and its vulnerability. The “Earthrise” photo was also a catalyst for the first Earth Day.This makes the desolation of the planet unbearable to think about. Landfills overflowing. Air and water pollution. Microplastics. Forever chemicals. Climate change. Deforestation and desertification. War with massive waste of resources and the desolation of regions of the earth. In this podcast we challenge ourselves from a biblical perspective. Scriptures referenced include Genesis chapters 1-2, Psalm 24, and Romans 8:19-22.Happy Earth Day! Take care of the planet!Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

How did Jesus live out his own teachings? This question is addressed with a meditative guide designed for the week before Easter - “Holy Week.” We read from Jesus' “Sermon on the Mount” and from a few moments during the last week of his life found in the gospels. It's a meditation to help each one of us see Jesus' way of life.Five readings are provided that may be listened to consecutively as a whole “hour of prayer,” or as 5 devotional segments separated by short musical interludes. Each segment is two and one-half to three minutes playtime. Listen altogether or over a period of days. The scripture readings are from the New International Version of the Bible.Each meditation segment follows an order: Micah will read from the Sermon on the Mount, then Sandy follows with a gospel reading, with Tony ending each segment with a meditative prayer. These are the five meditation segments:Meditation 1: The meek will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5. Matthew 21:1-11.Meditation 2: Father, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:5-13. Matthew 26:36-44.Meditation 3: Turn the other cheek. Matthew 5:38-40. Matthew 27:1-2, 11-31.Meditation 4: Love your enemies and pray for them. Matthew 5:43-45. Luke 23:3, 14-23, 33-34.Meditation 5: The persecuted will rejoice. Matthew 5:10-12. Matthew 28:1-10.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Listen in on this third episode on AWE - the anticipation of awe at the end of time. Awe comes from a spiritual experience - wrestling with life and death. A focus on apocalyptic scenarios misses the essence of the renewal of all things in the future. We may expect to be more impressed with the physicality of end times rather than the inner experience, and in the spirit realm. The awe at the end of times  is a future based on the experience of the presence of God making his home among people. God has been introducing that new experience all along the way. This is the basis of experiencing awe in the end of times.Scriptures discussed include Romans 8:18-23, 1 Corinthians 15:35-55, Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation 21:1-6, and Colossians 1:15-20.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

This Know God episode is our second  on AWE. We demonstrate finding awe in the texts and stories of the Bible. We discussed 8 pathways to awe as presented in the book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, by Dr. Dacher Keltner. Scriptures discussed include Psalm 23, Genesis 28:12-18, 1 Kings 3:23-28, Luke 23:46-48, and Hebrews 12:25-29.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

The science of awe took off with the Apollo 8 mission of 1968. This episode explores the intersection of scientific research and biblical narrative as we consider the amazing benefits of the experience of AWE!You've likely seen the iconic photo “Earthrise” taken by the crew of Apollo 8. For the first time humans saw their blue home planet rising above the forbidding lunar horizon. Awe enveloped them as this view of Earth changed their lives. Some say the beginning of the study of awe at the academic level began because of that Apollo 8 mission. Join us as we discuss “What is awe?” gleaning from scientific research and biblical teaching. Passages discussed include Luke 5:20-26 and 7:9-17.We discuss 8 pathways to awe, from the work of Dr. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley. He and his colleagues identify eight different pathways to experience awe: 1) The moral beauty of people, 2) nature, 3) collective effervescence,4) dance movement, 5) the cultural stuff of visual design, 6) music, 7) spirituality, and 8) big ideas in life and death. Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Community Context is the third podcast in the CONTEXT series. Community context involves slowing down, reading details, connecting dots, and giving attention to the street signs of our local communities. Listen to our conversation about, “How can I become a good neighbor?”Many people don't know their communities, and their communities don't know them. Many people are sitting in their house; they don't know their neighbors and are pretty much content with that. We could just be a little more human as we take the initiative to connect with others. Grasping community context will get us on the right track. I became fascinated to understand the concept of community context while reading the book Contextual Intelligence: Unlocking the Ancient Secret to Mission on the Front Lines by Leonard Sweet and Michael Beck.Scriptures include Ephesians 4:18-24 and Matthew 6:26–29.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Relational Context is about finding opportunities to develop stronger connections with others. Sometimes referred to as relational intelligence,  we describe how it takes trust, authentic love, as well as a commitment to a “not ‘on the clock' kind of time with others. As a God-created facet of humanity, to not possess relational intelligence is to experience something clouding it, blocking it, veiling it, or to simply be afraid of it.Gain insights and tools for relationships as we discuss passages, including Matthew 7:1-3, John 2:43-51, and John 3:1-12.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

CONTEXT informs translation and core principles of the Bible. In this episode the translation of the Greek word lambano as  “take” or “receive” is covered in detail. Context is shown to be key to determining translation. It even has implications for how we view Jesus Christ. Key passages highlight this significance.Gain new insight in the significance of “receive versus take” as we discuss passages, including Philippians 2:5-8, John 1:11-14, and Philippians 3:12-14.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

What is the impact of rivalry? Can I feed rivalry and competition outside of my church life and not work counter to the environment of the church? Rivalry impacts behavior not only in athletics and business, but also in recreation, education, church, and politics. We discuss that the opposite of  rivalry is be a teammate. Insights into the impact of rivalry will come from history, and biblical passages, including Galatians 5:16-21, 1 Timothy 6:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Titus 3:9, Philippians 1:15-18, and Matthew 20:1-16.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

Why is this podcast called, “Know God”? The vision of Jesus was that we can know God. It's reciprocal. God knows us; we know God. The hope that one can know God, to intimately have an experience in relationship with the Creator of the universe, is an incredibly high goal, but is exactly what we believe each person can have.We take an approach of giving tools and lenses to people who are searching. Knowing God is so much bigger than mere rationalism. It's intimacy and wholeness.Scriptures discussed include John 17:3, John 10, and 1 John 4:7-9.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

How can I recognize when a church may be off track, out of kilter? Here's a resource outlining characteristics of a church in good shape. This is the 4th and final episode on church as the visible Christian presence in a society or community.We give our take on 6 biblical metaphors describing a healthy and authentic church. These metaphors are like snapshots of a church. What does it look like? How does it function? When is it the best version of the design Jesus had in mind? These metaphors vary from body, building, assembly, flock, kingdom, and family.Scriptures include Epheseians 3:2-6,Ephesians 4:3-6, and 1 Peter 5:1-3.Support the showTonyKafka on Patreon

When someone says I'm going to give church a try the next question is, “Which church?” Here's a resource to make one aware of the factors that may help make that decision. This is Part 3 of the series on church.Churches are diverse. Many nuances make individual congregations unique. Here are some musings on the style of churches. How the church feels when I walk in the door. How it plays out in relationships. We discuss the impact that church life of the American frontier during the early 19th Century continues to impact church now. Camp meetings became a template of revivalism and nondenominational Christianity. Church size and organization structure strongly determine the experience of those entering into the life of a congregation. Scripture includes Acts 16:31-34 with a discussion of “household” as a translation of the Greek “oikos”.Support the show

In this deep dive into Christian denominations we hope to create pathways of understanding. We dive deep into background issues that make denominations different from each other. Many nuances make church denominations and congregations unique. Understanding these can only enhance understanding among believers. Our season 1 podcast, “5 Principles of Interpretation” answering, “How do you build your faith from the core out?” is a good companion to this podcast. When someone says I'm going to give church a try the next question is, “Which church?” Here's a resource to make one aware of the factors that go into making that decision.Support the show

Church experience can have a lot of negatives, still, in this podcast we talk about how one life can make a difference in the lives of other people in this environment we call the church. Meet Mary, who when her church closed said to herself, “I decided to pick up my faith one more time and find a new church.” Find out why and how she made church life better for many.  We could get so hung up on the details of the structure or doctrine of the church, that those can be spot on to what we believe is right, and the church can be unhealthy in relationships because people are not being open and honest and not connecting with each other. Scriptures include Acts 11:19-26.Support the show

The ideal “to never stop praying” has fed a misconception that the most heartfelt practice of prayer is impromptu, extemporaneous, or conversational.Mindful prayer IS in the moment, yet that does not mean that the words of my prayer must always be without forethought. Impromptu prayers can leave us with fewer and fewer words to speak to God. This approach to prayer may become just as repetitive as any prepared or memorized prayers. We  consider new approaches to prayer to help move us out of prayer doldrums, engaging our creative selves to be intimately talking to God. Scriptures include 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 6:7-13, and Psalms 3, 5, 8 and 139.AND, there's a lot of singing in this episode - impromptu singing!Support the show

Let's talk dirt and plants, “nature” and mindfulness, and spiritual experience. It's common to think that nature has little to do with Christian spirituality. We discuss ways we can be in the elements and experience God - to know him better. Knowing our elemental composition may lead us to engage fully in life. Listen in as Tony, Sandy and Micah share personal ways they connect to nature. The last 10 minutes includes an exploration about the elemental nature of church sacraments. Bible passages include Genesis 2, Psalm 8, and Psalm 139.Check out our previous podcast (Season 2, Episode 9, Let's Talk About Zombies & Ghosts.Support the show

Meditations with pace, rhythm, and cadence can strengthen the practice of mindfulness. Words or phrases that help one to be in the moment rather than in the future lead to the best practice in mindfulness. Find passages to coincide with your circumstances such as:Meditations of inner serenity; Meditations of personal or spiritual growth;Meditations of community. Mindfulness is a fundamental practice to let good dwell in one's heart and soul. Passages in this podcast include Psalms 27 and 46; Zephaniah 3:17; Colosians 2:5-7; and Matthew 25:40.Support the show

A perfect way to practice mindfulness is during seasons like Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas or any other spiritual holy day or season. Jesus asked his followers to keep watch (vigil) with him on the night he was betrayed. His birth found shepherds keeping watch over their sheep at night. Keeping watch opens us up to new spiritual experiences. Passages include Mark 14:32-42.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tonykafka)

What's the big deal about mindfulness? Why bother? Many are drawn to mindfulness through the desperation of their anxiety. Others are looking for a competitive edge in the workplace. Some practice it to be one in reality. Some Christians pursue mindfulness to attain a holiness of life and others to know God. Explore reasons to practice mindfulness with us in this podcast. Passages include Psalms 131 and 46. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tonykafka)

Listen in on a conversation that introduces the why and how of the practice of mindfulness. Growing in mindfulness in a simple moment sets us up to be mindful in a chaotic moment. One leaves behind the double-mindedness that works against mindfulness. Passages include Genesis 2:7, James 4:8, and Luke 6:44-46. Previous podcasts referenced are Zombies and Ghosts and What is a Soul?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tonykafka)

We want to share a Christmas meditation for this season. You may be longing for a good Christmas experience and we want to encourage you. In this podcast we share how we may experience Christmas peace. What can you do to have that peace? Listen to this meditation for some ideas.

What is a mentor? How can I find one? How can I be a good one? A mentor in the basic sense is a role model in some area of life: work, family, spirituality, and so on. Become acquainted with the mentoring relationship of Paul and Timothy found in the Bible. Mentees are inclined to imitate a mentor. It's the reason they may have chosen that person as a mentor. A mentor is looking for someone who is striving to grow.

Some people feel isolated at work because the system has come off the rails. It has become a place where a person doesn't feel supported, doesn't  feel credit is given for the work done. Exhaustion is the rule of the daily grind.COVID has probably put the spotlight on what was already the case. How are we to approach the Great Resignation of 2021?We think about how we can find joy in our work. We are trying to find the answer to “What is my spot on the team?” Scriptures include Genesis 1:28, Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, 3:22 and 4:8-10, and Ephesians 4:28.

Making amends is defined and compared with merely asking for forgiveness. Recovery groups and counselors, religions and sacred writings all speak to how people make things right with those they've hurt or used. An alternative to amends, forgetting, is addressed. Forgetting can help us find our way to the light. Scriptures considered include Luke 19:7-9, Matthew 5:23–24, and Luke 6:31. 

How can I be aware of the presence of God day by day? I'm placing guiding markers: Love and Faith and Hope. Every day we come to a moment when we act on the most important thing that needs to happen today. That is to connect with God. We experience God when we put a priority on his presence and imitate his nature of love.

How can I recognize when someone is abusing me? How can I make a good decision on spiritual teachers? A toxic teacher puts forward novel or elitist ideas that reflect their broken character rather than the inspired Word of God. Toxic teachers eventually become focused on gaining (& controlling) followers. The warning signs of toxicity are discussed along with traits that make followers vulnerable to toxic teachers. Paul's letters to Timothy are the primary resource in this podcast.

Are science and faith in conflict and exclusive of each other?A lot is encompassed in “science and faith.” But fundamentally, it all comes down to cosmology - views about origins. Listen in as we cover some common ground in this discussion. Passages include Genesis 1:1, Romans 1:18-20, Hebrews 11:6, and Ecclesiastes 12:13.

How can I be sure? How do I have assurance of being right with God when I'm so uncertain about my life? How can I know I'm saved when I feel so far away from God? This episode visits these questions and provides assurance. Assurance is confidently believing that we're connected to God. We refer to a previous podcast about God. Here's that link: Know God podcast on God's will.

What should a person expect out of aligning one's mind and heart to biblical teaching? Two alternatives are contrasted and have everything to do with the desire to have “enough” for the good life. Scriptures include 1 Timothy 1:5, 5:6, 6:5-19; and Luke 12:13-26.

Times of great disruption are the moments to draw close to God in community with others. Consistent connection in community is what gives us herd immunity to all kinds of evil and chaos and sets us on a positive life. Scriptures include Acts chapter 11.

Intimacy with God comes in unexpected ways and moments. One's connection with God is made healthy by connection with other people. Scriptures include Luke 24:30-32; Acts chapters 1, 2, 4, 11, and 13.

What was Jesus asking His followers to do when he said, “Do not judge”? Did He want us to close our eyes to error and evil? Is there room to assess others, especially when we know we are not perfect? Listen in as we search for some balance on this question. Scriptures discussed include Matthew 7:1-6, Romans 2:1-4 and 14:12-13, and James 2:1-13.

Have you ever wondered about the extent of the power of Satan? Why do people do wrong? How can evil be overcome? Scriptures in this podcast include James 1:13-15, Romans 7, 1 John 4:1-4, Ephesians 1:18-23, Luke 10:10-24, James 4:1-10, Ephesians 3:8-11, 1 John 5:4, and Revelation 20:7.

The names of Satan in the Bible reveal a lot about his identity and power. Going beyond popular culture and mythology, discover a genuine description of the one who is the master of deception. His kingdom of darkness is being overcome by Christ's kingdom of light. Scriptures include Genesis 3, 2 Corinthians 11, Ephesians 4:26-27, 6:10-17, and Matthew 16.

When parents model living by truth with the humility that it takes to change their convictions, children learn to develop and respect their own conscience. In this episode learn how to identify and live by your inner convictions and encourage others to do the same.

Jiminy Cricket and the story of Pinocchio is a well known picture of the conscience. Our conscience can be seamless with the truth that we know and the how we live our lives. The conscience is a fundamental aspect of our being and can be developed to be an asset for a healthy, happy life. Scriptures include Romans 2:14-16; Romans 14:1-6, Psalm 51, and 1 Timothy 1:5-9.

Humans are made in the image of God. What does that mean? What are the far-reaching implications? Does that mean humans are like an artistic depiction, or maybe a mirror reflecting the image of God? Listen in as we consider these and the implications of this biblical teaching. Passages include Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; Colossians 3:9-11; and Psalm 8.

Following up on an aspect of the previous episode, how, when does a human become a living soul? The brief conversation about soul and the image of God have huge ramifications on everyday life and ultimate values. This short bonus episode discusses Genesis 1:27 and the origins of human identity.

Didn't know that the Bible mentioned zombies? Or ghosts? Maybe, maybe not. In this episode we take a look at some questions. Are human beings only evolved animals or are we spiritual creations able to interact with the spirit realm? Are humans unique in this universe? What is our place in the universe? In a discussion of “soul” - psyche - consider what it means to be human. Scriptures referenced include Hebrews 11:3, 2Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, Matthew 26:41 & 10:28, and 2 Corinthians 5:4.

Transitions are inevitable and can be felt most strongly in the Christmas season. We struggle to believe that the end is better than the beginning. Knowing that the end of anything in this life is not the end of everything; it's only the end of something because by faith we have already begun eternal life in Christ. So, to live fully now we embrace endings to be ready to start new beginnings. Passages include Luke 2:1-19, Ecclesiastes 7:8-10, and Ezekiel chapters 36 & 37.

Build your confidence in reading a book of the Bible by letting it be its own primary key to interpretation. In Part 2 see examples of the immersive approach to listening, reading and interpreting. This episode includes discussion of 1 John 5:16-17 figuring out the sin that leads to death; and 1 John 2:18-27 which has the interpretive challenges of the antichrist and “How long is the last hour?”

Build your confidence in reading a book of the Bible by letting it be its own primary key to interpretation. In Part 1 discover an immersive approach to listening, reading and interpreting. This will produce growth in knowing God, knowing one's self and knowing the culture of the book, and so understanding its intended message. This episode includes discussion of 1 John 2:4 and 3:4-6.

Paul's guidance to the early church calls men and women to function together in leadership, within a community of quietness and peace. Consider the view that restrictions on women are not the final word on the giftedness and calling of women in church leadership. This podcast takes a deep dive into the details of 1 Timothy chapters 2, 3 and 5 concerning female and male leaders. Scott Stocking joins us in discussing the passages that are used to restrict women from church leadership and the reasons to understand that Paul is addressing the character and not the gender of those leading and exercising their giftedness.

How can inter-generational relationships mesh more smoothly? “OK Boomer” is used by Millennials to dismiss Boomers. And over the last decade, Boomers have been disrespectful of Millennials. Is there any way to bring respect to the dialogue? We explore 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus for guidance in Bible principles.

Women have been church leaders since the church began. Follow a brief historical and biblical overview women leadership in churches. Scriptures include Acts 2:17-18; Joel 2:2:28-32; Romans 16:1-12; and many more.

We can find ourselves overwhelmed by the paradox of tolerance. Let's explore the framework of tolerance and this paradox. Consider the vision found in the Bible for the keys and benefits of healthy tolerance.

Making consideration an absolute priority in our interactions with each other goes a long way in nurturing healthy and honest relationships, communities and governments. Scriptures referenced include 2 Timothy 2:22-26, 1 Peter 2:12-17, 1 Peter 3:17 and James 3:13-18.