ReDiscovering God

We continue to endeavour to understand these troubling stories in the Old Testament. The genocide of Israel against the nations of Canaan are described as something that God commands then to do. However, as we have come to understand the God that Jesus knew we realize that such a terrible event should never be ascribed to God and must be attributed to the enemy and their that comes to steal, kill and destroy. The pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

We continue in this episode to look at the other major event that gets attributed to God. The destruction of the world at the end of the age. Is this actually caused by God? Does God in the end find it necessary to use force to concur the evil that has plagued this planet for so many years. The PDF for his episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscoveringgod

Seldom talked about is the story of the Flood . It is like the elephant in the room when we consider the character of God and how the Old Testament describes God as not only destroying the people but the animals and the plant life on earth. We talk a close look at this story and prove several reasons this could be understood another way. The PDF for his episode is available at www.redisoveringgod.ca.#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscovering God

We have confirmed that God is Always Good and now we continue to consider the last 4 situations where it seems the opposite is the case . The ever burning fire, The Sexual Abuse of David's Wives, Fire from the Sky, and Did God Send Venomous Snakes to kill the Israelites? In the end God is faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.The pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscovering God

Is God Always Good or is There More? This question is motivated by so many situations in the Bible where God comes away looking very rigid and even vindictive. In this episode we lay a firm foundation on the life of Jesus that reveals that God is certainly good from Matthew's perspective. Then we begin to look at three of seven situations where scripture portray the opposite perspective. When looked at more closely we discover a very consistent picture of God and his goodness. The PDF document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen. #Rediscovering God

There are seven shocking ways that Jesus is superior to all other Prophets and writers of the Bible. Traditionally we tend to treat all writers of the Bible with equal weight and importance. However, when we discover who Jesus is and the ways in which He is superior to all of scripture and other prophets we need to listen very closely to what Jesus taught and let it take precedence own our lives. The Pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

There are seven shocking ways that Jesus is superior to all other Prophets and writers of the Bible. Traditionally we tend to treat all writers of the Bible with equal weight and importance. However, when we discover who Jesus is and the ways in which He is superior to all of scripture and other prophets we need to listen very closely to what Jesus taught and let it take precedence own our lives. The Pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

As we start out the New Year we are giving you a look at our personal lives. Who we are and how this journey has affected us. #Ian Hartley#Warre Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

It's true He wants to fulfill the desire of you heart to live happily ever after and He wants to do that with you. His love for us is absolutely amazing. He has abundant life to share with us. He is the alpha of life, the beginning of life, the creator of life. He generates life in himself. He wants you with Him for all eternity. It is the ultimate love story. All human stories are pieces of the story. Join us as we revel in this reality. The pdf is here. www.rediscoveringgod.ca# rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kat#Sascha Steenbergen

This third part of the Mantra addresses what the Bible says about what God does with out sins. It is shocking to realize that God understands we did not choose to be born here on this planet with its mess of a situation. When we understand what is really going on and have the courage to believe what God has already done it transforms our lives. We are never the same again. The pdf is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son to illustrate how God feels about each one of us, even if we have rebelliously left Him in our past as wanted Him to leave us alone. But this Father, who had been so shamed by his arrogant son excitedly welcomes him home and showers him with gifts to convince him that he is truly a son and not a slave. What a beautiful picture of how precious we are to the Father. The pdf can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

We begins a series that we call Ian's Mantra. In this first one we look at the people that were called by name by God. The conclusion is that if God knows them by name He also knows you and me by name. It is true. God know you by name. You are so important to Him I had to tell you. The pdf of this episode can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgo#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

As we conclude this series on God and Evil we look closely at the cross to discover if there is anything revealed about the agency of evil. If there was ever a time for God to lash out at sinners that would have been the time. We were killing Jesus but in the process we made him suffer to the greatest extent possible. Instead God in Jesus asks them to be forgiven and excuses them for the didn't know what they were doing. What an amazing God we have come to discover. The pdf is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

There he is hidden in plain sight. The destructive power attempting to destroy the Seven Churches, demonstrated in the Seven Seals, presented in the Seven Trumpets. His advocacy for violence and evil is presented in the Seven Battle scenes. He also engineers the Seven Last Plagues to destroy the planet. Join us to discover the hidden enemy in the book of Revelation. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscovering god#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

The clear teaching of Jesus is that there is only one that is responsible for the evil in this world. Clearly Jesus indicts Satan for human suffering and moral evil. He is the one that comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came to bring life, abundant life. Jesus exonerates God in every way of any complicity with evil. He is pure light, goodness and love. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

While sins causation is a mystery the Bible does identify the being in which it originated. This identification was not clear to the Old Testament writers. They simply attribute everything good and evil to God. It is clear in the Old Testament that evil and violence originated with God. We will look at the Old Testament evidence. But then in part 2 Jesus sets the record straight and unveils the true god of violence and brutal warfare. The PDF is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveriggod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

Catastrophes and tragedies are not God's punishment or justice for wrongdoing. They are the consequences of living on this planet. The second meaning of justice is restorative justice. He knows that we did not choose to be born on this planet, into this world of sin. God's heart is to bring restoration to all that are affected by sin. Rather than punishment or revenge He wants to heal and restore. The PDF is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sasha Steenbergen

Traditionally Christians have held that the "Justice of God" means punishment. This thought brings some people satisfaction to know that one day there will be a reckoning for the wicked who seem to get by so easily. We will explore the idea of punitive or retributive justice that is dependent on violence for its implementation. It is common to believe that the ultimate form of retributive punishment ever invented is an ever-burning hell for the rejecters of God's lifestyle. The second meaning of justice is restorative justice which will be considered in part 2. The PDF is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Rediscovering God#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

Listen to this episode BEFORE you read the Old Testament! It is essential to understand what was added to the book of Job to realize that there is a God that protects and a devil that brings strife. This is critical to understand as we read the Old Testament where they simply attribute everything that happened supernaturally to God. There was very little understanding of the devil until they came back from captivity in Babylon. The book of Job should probably have been put at the very beginning of the Bible. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kat#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscovering God

The Bible admonishes us to Fear God and yet we are supposed to Love Him? How on earth can you do both. I have discovered that I can't trust someone that I also fear? In this episode on the journey too Rediscover God we unpack the reality that the Bible is an ancient document written centuries ago. Words have different meaning than they used to and therefore they need to be understood in the context of where they are written. We discover fear has many different meanings. Join us on this journey. The PDF is available at www.rediscovderinggod.ca.#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

In this episode we talk about the nine things that God has done and the two things He can do. These are amazing insights that we all need to remember when we are tempted to question God's attitude toward us. Some things never change. While there are many things God cannot do there are many that He has areal done. Rest in the reality. The pdf is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.#Ian Hartley#WARREN KAY#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscoveringgod

We mistakenly think that God made us to serve Him, worship Him, and love Him and that He blames us and condemns us because of our faults. However the reality as revealed in scripture is vastly different. Join us to discover what Jesus has revealed about why God has made you. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscoveringgod

If God is omnipotent then he cannot be good because evil exists. If God is good then he cannot be omnipotent because evil exists. There is a solution at the end of the presentation. We will discuss 9 things that God cannot do in this episode and the in part two the things God has already done and the things He can do. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #Ian Hartley#WARREN KAY#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscoveringgod

We mistakenly think that God made us to serve Him, worship Him, and love Him and that He blames us and condemns us because of our faults. However the reality as revealed in scripture is vastly different. Join us to discover what Jesus has revealed about why God has made you. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscoveringgod

Join us on our journey to understand the God that Jesus knew. Today we consider questions like Does God Allow or permit Evil? Does God have Abusive Relationships? Where was God in the holocaust? Where was He in the genocide in Rwanda? Or on 911? There are no simple answers as some Christians would like to believe. Is God in Control? The answer is Yes and No. The answer depends what kind of control one has in mind. The answer is Yes and No. You will need to listen to find out. Check out the pdf at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscoveringgod

The picture of God in the Old Testament would suggest that God is very different than the way Jesus describes Him. But you say God does not change. So Jesus must have gotten it wrong. While it is true that God does not change there is something that is essential to see. It is the essence of God that does not change. Just like our instruction to our children changes as they growup so the way God relates to us changes as we grow. Join us to discover what it is about God that never changes. God is so amazingly consistent and invites us to believe in Him. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Sascha Steenbergen#Warren Kay#rediscoveringgod

It is essential to understand these 8 aspects of the ancient writings of Scripture. Without this understanding we all run the risk of concluding with Richard Dawkins that God is an absolutely terrible being. The list of adjectives he uses to describe God is horrific. Join us on this journey today to understand the God that Jesus knew. Go to the website for the pdf document. www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Sacsah Steenbergen#Warren Kay#Rediscovering God

How can I believe in a God that is so angry and arbitrary? With a basic reading of the Bible people come away with a view of God that is apparently angry and arbitrary. For those who grow up in church we often have become immune to these stories and statements that describe God as destroying His enemies and wiping them off the face of the earth. We seldom question the Bible and simply accept it for what it says. As a result we are drawn to Jesus and have serious reservations about God. Join us on this depressing picture of God that is portrayed in the Old Testament. But take heart there is good news to come. Check out the pdf document available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscovering god#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

In this episode of ReDiscovering God we continue to look at the view that Moses has of God as described in the first five books of the Bible and the view of God that Jesus gave in the New Testament. When we look at them beside each other the contrast is amazing. Not that Moses' witness is invalid because he was able to move the view of people be more civilized and follow closer to the way God was calling them to be. But the essential part is to realize that is not where it ends. Jesus comes and reveals a view of God that is so amazing. Especially as it is seen in contrast to Moses's view. Be sure and down load the pdf from the website. www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sasha Steenbergen

In this episode of ReDiscovering God we look at the view that Moses has of God as described in the first five books of the Bible and the view of God that Jesus gave in the New Testament. When we look at them beside each other the contrast is amazing. Not that Moses' witness is invalid because he was able to move the view of people be more civilized and follow closer to the way God was calling them to be. But the essential part is to realize that is not where it ends. Jesus comes and reveals a view of God that is so amazing. Especially as it is seen in contrast to Moses's view. Be sure and down load the pdf from the website. www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscovering god

The Spirit within will determine our interpretation of any biblical passages we read. This became crucial as we discover how passages can be understood very differently. As we desire to understand the God that Jesus knew to becomes essential that we have the Holy Spirit within to teach us about Jesus who is God in the flesh. We discover how James and John could be so wrong in their understanding of the story of Elijah and Jesus had to rebuke them and tell them He did not come to destroy. They had a spirit of violence and destruction just like many of us do when we settle with an interpret the Bible that attributes so much violence and destruction to God. Jesus says, 'No my Father is just like me - if you have seen me you have seen the Father." The PDF for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscoveringgod

Jesus rests in the tomb and then early Sunday morning the women are coming to the tomb to finish the job of embalming His body when there is a great earthquake, the guards faint and an angel tells them Jesus is not here, go tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee. As they are leaving Jesus meets them and they fall at his feet, clinging to Him. The guards are bribed to say they had fallen asleep and that they disciples had stolen His body. Matthew concedes the book with the great commission that Jesus gave them to go to the world to teach, to make disciples and to baptize. The pdf can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Rediscovering God#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

Jesus is turned over to the soldiers to be crucified. They treat Him terribly, mocking, and hitting Him. He is then taken to be crucified. The taunt to 'save yourself' comes at Him from every side. After responding to the criminal at His side assuring him that he would be with Jesus in paradise, Jesus cries out to the Father "why have you forsaken me?" It is evident that Jesus felt forsaken by His Father. Then Jesus cries out again and released His spirit and dies. His body is taken to be placed in a tomb and guards are put in place to ensure the disciples don't steal his body and claim He had been raised to life. The pdf for the episode can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#rediscovering god

In Chapter 27 of Matthew Judas realizes he has made a terrible mistake in betraying Jesus. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Jesus would allow himself to be arrested. He comes in to the leaders and confesses his wrong doing and makes restitution as best he could by returning the money they had paid him to betray Jesus. And Yet the guilt and shame is so overwhelming he goes out and takes his own life. He just cannot live with himself a moment longer. The end of the wicked is foreshadowed in the death of Judas. The trial of Jesus proceeds even though Pilate and others make it evident that He is innocent. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscovering God

Jesus predicts his Betrayal again as they are at the Last Supper. It is so amazing that even though Jesus knows Judas' heart He still washes his feet and includes him in this last meal together. It is just a matter of hours and Judas will betray Jesus. Jesus then predicts Peter's denial of Jesus. And then Matthew takes us with them into the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays with the Father for the cup to be taken away. He invites three of the disciples to join him in prayer but they fall asleep repeatedly. Jesus is then betrayed and to everyone's amazement he allows himself to be arrested. Jesus is taken to the council and Peter denies Jesus three times as Jesus had predicted. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#rediscoveringgod#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

As we unpack this chapter we note that Jesus references his imminent death seven times in this chapter and three times in the book of Matthew and yet because it went against their narrative they miss this entirely and his death catches them totally by surprise. One wonders what Jesus could have shared with them if they had come to believe what he was wanting them to understand. Then in Bethany Jesus is anointed by a woman while at a meal in Simeon's home. After this event Judas agrees to betray Jesus into the hands of the pharisees. We conclude this episode with the story of the Last Supper. The pdf of this episode can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Rediscovering God#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells three parables as the cross is looming in his consciousness. Each one demonstrates the primary ethos of the Kingdom of Heaven is mercy. We discover there is a very close relationship between the oil referred to in the parable of the ten girls and mercy. Then in the three servants we discover that one of them saw his master as being without mercy which illustrated that we react to God in the way we see him. The last story is of the sheep and goats who either lived a life of mercy or apathy toward the marginalized of society. We discover that mercy is the foundation of the final judgement. The pdf is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #ReDiscovering God#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen

In Matthew 24 Jesus responds to the disciples who want him to notice the beauty of the temple buildings and he responds with the news that all these buildings will soon be completely demolished. He then sites many things that will happen before the destruction of Jerusalem and/or His Second Coming. We have mistakenly taken these signs to urge his followers to be faithful because his return is close at hand. But Jesus gives only one sign to depend upon and that is the spread of the Good News of the Kingdom to all the world. He leaves no doubt that the coming is unexpected and known only to the Father. The pdf can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

In Matthew 23 Jesus exposes these church leaders for who they really are by using some very harsh words, calling them hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, snakes, and sons of vipers. However, it is essential that we understand the tone of Jesus voice. As he concludes he reveals his heart. He is like a mother hen wanting to save her chicks from the coming destruction. He is calling out to the church leaders to change their ways so a great destruction can be avoided. But not they took no heed to His warning and history tells us that within 40 years Rome came and destroyed the city and the temple and many, many people.This pdf can be found at www.rediscovderinggod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#ReDiscovering God

In this 22nd Chapter of Matthew the Pharisees try to corner Jesus regarding taxes, the Resurrection and then the Commandments. It was a challenge for Jesus to always be on the lookout for the traps they would set for Him. Jesus was quick with His responses that left them with nothing to say. Yet He wants us to follow his example of loving as he loved is more important than being quick witted. The pdf for this episode is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

In this episode of ReDiscovering God Matthew includes the story Jesus told of the Wedding Banquet. Jesus is clear that everyone is invited to the wedding banquet and in the end only those who didn't really want to be there were not there. It seems evident that the man who was there without the wedding garment was perhaps feeling as he looked around at the people who were in attendance were nor his kind of people and so insisted on not wearing the wedding garment that was provided. Check out the pdf document at www.rediscoveringgod.ca#Ian Hartley#Warren Kay#Sascha Steenbergen#Rediscoveringgod

In the second half of Matthew 21 the authority of Jesus is challenged by the religious people who fled from the temple when Jesus arrived and sent everyone out that had made it a market rather than house of prayer. Jesus then tells the story of the two sons who the father asked to work in the vineyard. Jesus is illustrating the first shall be last and the last first yet again. The tax collectors and prostitutes who were the last in the religious people's minds were actually going to be the first into the kingdom of Heaven. The religious leaders were the last in Jesus eyes. The chapter concludes with the story of the parable the Evil Farmers with which Jesus draws them in to actually condemning themselves without realizing it util it was too late. The pdf can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

Jesus now enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The contrast is significant of the Roman Kings that ride in on a war horse and now the Messiah - King of the Jews comes riding on a donkey, his feet no doubt almost dragging in the dust. Everyone flocks out to see and welcome Him into the city. They expect him to set up an earthly kingdom and conquer the Romans. But he instead goes to the temple and drives out the animals and their sellers that had turned it from a place of prayer into a market. Those who question the nonviolence of Jesus point to this story and the fig tree as examples of his violence. However it is his authority not his violence that caused the people to flee. We also address the diagnosis of the fig tree which reveals his disappointment in the nation of Israel that were found to be barren of the fruit that God wanted it to bare. The pdf is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.

The Parable of the Vineyard workers is an amazing example of the lavish unfairness of God. In this parable Jesus includes the Gentiles which was unthinkable for the Jews. This story takes on increased importance when we remember it is following what Jesus taught in chapter 19 regarding Peter's question, "What will we get, we have left everything?" This story is about rewards rather than the Gift of Eternal life. Jesus again predicts his death. But they still don't get it as James and John's mother comes with her request. Jesus then heals two men who are blind and they follow him. The pdf is a www.rediscoveringgod.ca

In an attempt to trap Jesus the Pharisees ask Him a question about divorce. Jesus responds and tells them that divorce was never part of God's plan but only allowed because of the hardness of their hearts. God seems to specialize in concessions because there are many times He works with us where were are instead of insisting we conform to the high goal He has for us. We note that the situation for divorce back then was much different than it is today. Jesus blesses the children and confronts a rich man with the hard reality that it is not easy for the rich to enter the kingdom. The pdf is located at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

The story of the Unforgiving Debtor has been misunderstood by many forever. Floyd joins us and expands our understanding of this passage that Jesus told and at the same time the teaching Jesus made regarding forgiveness. Don' t miss this amazing discovery as we Rediscover this Awesome God!

We begin this chapter with a discussion as to who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus brings in a child and tells them they must become as little children. Then the importance of a person that has wondered away is illustrated by the story of the lost sheep who Jesus searches for while the flock is left in the open fields. He is making the point that He will risk the safety of the flock to search for the lost. Then the process for building community and dealing with disputes that could disrupt that community are presented. The chapter concludes with a parable that emphasizes the importance of forgiveness. The pdf for this episode can be found at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

In chapter 17 Jesus follows his declaration of six days earlier when he told them of his impending death, with this trip up the mountain to meet with God. Three disciples are accompanying him as he is suddenly transformed with God's presence. The disciples see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and Peter exclaims his willingness to build three shelters for them. In doing so he reveals his idea they are on par with each other as to importance. Then the voice of God is heard declaring that Jesus is His son and they should listen to him. Implied in that statement is the realization that Jesus is to be held with greater importance than Moses, who brought the law and Elijah, one of the prophets. Join us as we continue on this journey of listening to Jesus. The pdf is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.

Jesus predicts that He would die and be raised again but the disciples just could not understand such a concept. They knew the Messiah would live forever. The Bible told them so. As a result they were not prepared for what Jesus was telling them would happen. No one expected Jesus to die and once He die no one expected He would be raised again. Peter even protested the idea and Jesus called him an agent of Satan. This was the ultimate temptation for Jesus - that He would not need to die to reveal the full extent of God's love for us and enable us to believe that we are included in His Kingdom. The pdf for this episode is at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.

In Chapter 16 Jesus intentionally takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi where he asks then the important question: Who do you say that I am? Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit declares that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus declares that He will give the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. We take a close look at what that actually means. The pdf for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.

Jesus addresses bad traditions that the Jews were very careful about following and then proceeds to give a case study in how to show mercy at the expense of tradition by travelling between 30 and 50 miles to the region of Tyre and Sidon where he is met by a woman with a request to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus leads her along to demonstrate to the disciples their thinking. The woman sees through the game and persists to plead her case and finally Jesus heals her daughter and sends her on her way. Again Matthew includes the statement (one of ten such statements) where Jesus heals all who came to him. Then he includes the feeding of 4000 who were no doubt gentiles. Again breaking from tradition to give mercy to people in need. The pdf for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca.