Podcasts about brueggemann

 For this "Rebroadcast", Karl & Will share their episode originally released way back in November of 2014- "Game Boy Advance (#136)!" Enjoy this blast from the past, where the guys spotlit on some of the best music for this very nostalgic handheld system!

To be born from above involves a mystery. Unfortunately, taking its cues from the scientism of the Enlightenment, western evangelicalism tried to make the gospel a kind of scientific formula—a pseudo-science of biblical facts, atonement theories, and sinners' prayers—when it's more like a song, a symphony, a poem, a painting, a drama, a dance, a mystery.

Jon and Jennifer Brueggemann are from Thayer County, NE and have homeschooled their 7 children. Today we cover the gamet on issues about government control and eliminating Christ from our lives.

The third temptation was to avoid the cross. But the cross is how Jesus re-founds the world. Instead of being organized around an axis of power enforced by violence, at the cross Jesus reorganized the world around an axis of love expressed in forgiveness.

 In this laidback and conversational episode, Karl & Will catch up and talk about what's been going on lately, share and discuss a couple great VGM tracks, and answer a handful of listener questions. Enjoy!

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC February 8, 2026. “Piece Us Together” series. Texts: Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 5:17-20 Our guest preacher last week invited us into the ancient wisdom of Micah 6:8—to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. In response to that sermon, someone commented online: “Sad when preachers preach from the old fallen Old Testament. God speaks through Jesus and Jesus said he was to be our only teacher.” I had to hold back from replying with a bit of pastoral snark: I guess you missed the day in class when Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” Jesus' whole life is an embodiment of the righteousness the law seeks to teach and the justice the prophets longed to proclaim and enact. In Scripture, “law” isn't a cold rulebook or a list of religious regulations. It's God's teaching for how a community actually lives—how neighbors treat one another, how power is exercised, how workers are paid, how the vulnerable are protected. Jesus does not stand over the law and the prophets, correcting them. He stands within them, holding together what has too often been pulled apart—faith and life, prayer and practice, belief and behavior. Jesus does not discard the law and the prophets; he pieces them together, aligns them with flesh and breath and human relationships, and shows us what they look like when lived fully. Jesus comes to help us align our lives with the deep purposes of God so that peace with justice—what Dr. King called the Beloved Community—can begin to take shape among us. That is why Isaiah 58 lands so powerfully today. Isaiah and Jesus are speaking the same theological language, even as they speak in different moments. And Isaiah does not ease into the message. He comes out of the gate strong: “Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they want God on their side.” That little phrase—“as if”—is a doozy. Isaiah is describing a people who are deeply religious: faithful in worship, earnest in prayer, fluent in the rituals and language of faith—as if they were practicing righteousness, as if they had not forsaken God's ordinances. This is not hypocrisy in the cheap sense. It is being faithful in form, but disconnected in practice. They want God near. They want God responsive. They want God on their side. But even as they do all the religious things—fasting, sackcloth, ashes—they forsake God's ordinances—the Hebrew word is mishpat: meaning justice that treats people fairly and equitably. They are acting religious without making God choices, without doing justice. In our current context, it would be very easy to take that “as if” and aim it outward. To point fingers at national leaders who wear big crosses around their necks, hold Bibles for photo ops, show up at public prayer services and then post vile, racist images, enact cruel policies, and unleash violent overreach. It would be easy for me, especially after what I've seen and heard recently, to let my anger form words that strike like a fist. I recently returned from Minneapolis. I heard firsthand stories of families targeted by ICE—stories of fear that lives in bodies and homes, stories of trauma caused by aggressive and dehumanizing enforcement. I've stood at the sites where neighbors lost their lives as they sought to defend and protect others. I also heard anger—anger rooted not only in what is happening now, but in decades of suffering that has gone unseen, unheard, and unaddressed: unmet needs, unacknowledged harm, voices crying out long before the rest of us were paying attention. Isaiah would tell the truth about all of that. Jesus would too. Truth-telling is part of faithfulness. But Scripture is equally clear that how we tell the truth matters. Neither Isaiah nor Jesus believes that mockery creates peace. Neither believes that humiliation heals wounds. Isaiah is clear: the fast God chooses is not one that strikes with the fist or points the finger. Walter Brueggemann reminds us that to be prophetic is not simply to condemn wrongdoing, but to name pain, to let suffering be seen and heard. That happens when we listen to stories we would rather avoid, when we allow another person's fear or anger to interrupt our assumptions, when we allow the realities of human suffering to disrupt the status quo. Brueggemann writes, “The replacing of numbness with compassion… signals a social revolution.” Healing—personal or communal—does not begin with denial. It begins when pain is clearly named and acknowledged. In Minneapolis, I had the opportunity to practice listening to stories I would have preferred to avoid. I heard how African American, African, and other immigrant communities struggle to maintain trust and true solidarity. As one of the few white people in the room, I heard stories of perhaps well-meaning, mostly white progressives who alienate Black communities over ideological issues while ignoring the chronic poverty and violent injustice they face every day. “They talk about unity, but want uniformity,” someone said. “They turn out in record numbers in this moment—but can they say the names of the young people in our community who are shot in the back on a regular basis?” I found myself thinking about how the intersections of race, class, ideology, and power I encountered in Minneapolis echo right here in Washington, DC. And all I could do—and all I can do right now—is ask God to keep me open and available: open to listen, open to learn how my own heart and practice need to change, and open to receive guidance about how to lead us, as a congregation, in faithful response both locally and nationally. That is what Isaiah calls for. And that is what Jesus fulfills. Jesus does not abolish the law and the prophets; he embodies them. Grace, in Jesus' life, is not God letting us off the hook. Grace is God drawing near—giving us strength to change, courage to repair, and patience to stay in relationship when walking away would be easier. Righteousness, in Scripture, is not moral superiority. It is right relationship—with God and with one another. Justice is not an abstract ideal. It is fair and equitable treatment that restores dignity and life. Grace does not replace these. Grace makes them possible in real life. Isaiah makes this concrete. The work of justice and righteousness he describes is not lofty or abstract. It looks like ordinary—and costly—faithfulness: loosening the bonds of injustice, undoing heavy yokes, letting the oppressed go free, sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the unhoused poor, clothing the naked, and—this one cuts close—not hiding from your own kin. Right now, there are many who have every right and reason to hide. Because if they leave their driveway, they risk being stopped, dragged from their car, and taken to a detention center without due process—or even a question about their citizenship. Because if they go to school, they might be used as bait to lure a parent into detention. Because if they go to worship, they may be rounded up simply for having brown skin or wearing a hijab. But for many of us, hiding takes a different form. We hide when we scroll past suffering because it overwhelms us. When we tell ourselves someone else is better equipped to respond. When we protect our comfort instead of risking connection. When we retreat because we are not the ones being targeted. Isaiah refuses to bless that retreat. And Jesus fulfills that refusal by drawing the circle of kinship wider and wider, putting his own life on the line in true solidarity and love. Peace—real peace—does not come from choosing the right side or going through the motions of religion or shallow relationships that avoid telling the truth. It comes from aligning our lives with the way of God's love as embodied in Jesus. And that alignment is not abstract. It looks like courage without cruelty. Truth-telling without humiliation. Resistance without dehumanization. In Minneapolis, I was struck by stories of people who are embodying exactly that. The resistance in that city right now is overwhelmingly nonviolent, creative, organized, and relentlessly resolute in defense of their neighbors. And my heart aches as I reflect on Renee Good's last words: “I'm not mad at you.” And Alex Pretti's… “Are you okay?”—spoken while trying to help a woman who had just been pepper-sprayed during an encounter with immigration agents. In moments of grave danger, these siblings resisted harm without surrendering their humanity—or anyone else's. That is strength shaped by love. That is what we are called to embody. Isaiah dares to imagine what becomes possible when lives are aligned with God's way of love: light breaking forth like the dawn, wounds healing, guidance emerging, communities rebuilt, streets restored for living. We—even we—can become repairers of the breach, restorers of what violence has torn apart. Most of us won't do this in grand gestures, but in daily choices. So maybe this week, we—all of us—can be intentional about our choices: to listen before reacting, to stay present when retreat feels safer, to use our resources—time, money, influence—to stand with neighbors rather than hide from them. Not selective solidarity, but embodied faithfulness. These are the pieces that make for peace. And by God's grace, they are the pieces Christ is still fitting together—in us, among us, and through us—for the healing of the world.

What Peter, James, and John saw in the Transfiguration of Christ was prophetically anticipated in what Moses saw in the Burning Bush.

In this episode, Ken returns to the work of Walter Brueggemann, this week exploring the tension between order and justice in the New Testament through the life and ministry of Jesus. Brueggemann contends that God is always on the side of justice, even when it disrupts the order of theday. Jesus focused much of his ministry on those excluded from societal benefits enjoyed by those with power, showing compassion not only through individual acts of justice and mercy but by boldly challenging systems that oppressed anddehumanized the powerless. He exposed how law, order, and religious systems and structures were often used to manipulate and preserve power for some at the expense of so many others.According to Brueggemann, opposition to Jesus was mobilized primarily because his actions threatened the political and economic order of his time. When we stand with the harmed and marginalized, the powers that be – those who benefit from the status quo – will often move against us. Jesus calls the Church to share in his mission – to be his hands and feet in ministries of justice and prophetic protest.Jesus represented God's intervention into the social powers, institutions, and ideologies that crushed the powerless and diminished human dignity. The prophetic witness of both the Old and New Testaments affirms that God's desire for justice cannot be contained. God's will WILL be done, and the Kingdom WILL come. So take courage and do not lose hope in the pursuit of justice and the ministry of shalom. Good Friday has passed, and Easter is coming! This episode was recorded on February 6th, 2026.

To fully understand what Jesus says about fulfilling the Law and the Prophets at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, we first have to understand Isaiah's prophecy of the ancient ruins restored.

In this episode, Ken Shuman reflects on a passage from a book by an Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann as well as on Mt. 15:1-9. In the passage Brueggemann discusses the difficult relationship between faith and politics - and further, chaos versus order and justice versus injustice. The kings were the agents of order in the history of the people of Israel, and the prophets were the agents of justice. Justice is a major concern throughout scripture - justice for everyone, and particularly those who have no power.Brueggemann concludes that when royal order conflicts with God-willed justice, order must yield to justice - even if it creates a system of disorder in the process. In fact, the Bible celebrates justice at the expense of order, although it holds both as important. Moreover, we as the people of God - the people of shalom - have a responsibility and a call to speak to injustice.This episode was recorded on January 30, 2026.

SHOW NOTES: Segment one (02:45): Conversation with Dr. Walter Brueggemann This program originally aired August 21, 2019, as episode 4 in our 10-part BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism. One of the most influential Bible interpreters of our time, Dr. Walter Brueggemann was the author of more than 100 books, including The Prophetic Imagination. He passed away June 5, 2025. Visit his official website to learn more about his work and his legacy. This was the fourth episode in our 10-part series on Christian nationalism in 2019. Other episodes are available at this link or on the feed called "BJC Podcast" on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), SoundCloud, Spotify, and more. Amanda mentioned the Easter Monday message she sent in 2025, which quoted Dr. Brueggemann from this episode. Sign up for our email list to get more emails by visiting this link. To learn more about BJC's work countering Christian nationalism, visit ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org or BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.   

It's time for another installment of Marcato Radio! Once again, it's another non-stop collection of outstanding video game music. Some tracks you've heard before, and some you have not! Enjoy!

The kind of Christianity Christ blesses is on that is in harmony with the Beatitudes.

Like the Phial of Galadriel that was a light in dark places when all other lights go out, we pay attention to Jesus as a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the Morning Star arises in our hearts.

"Where were you?” –Copyright 2026 ISBN978-976-97826-1-7.mp3"Where were you?" Copyright 2026 ISBN978-976-97826-1-7 By Dr.William Anderson Gittens, D.D.BibleHub. (n.d.). Job 38:4. https://biblehub.com/job/38-4.htmBrueggemann, W. (2002). *The book of Job: A commentary*. Westminster John Knox Press.Brueggemann, W. (2002). Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute, Advocacy. Fortress Press.Clines, D. J. A. (1989). *Job 38–42: A commentary*. T&T Clark International.Clines, D. J. A. (1989). Job 38-42: A Commentary. Hendrickson Publishers.Dr.William Anderson Gittens, D.D."Where were you?" Copyright 2026 ISBN978-976-97826-1-7Habel, N. C. (1985). *The book of Job*. Eerdmans.Habel, N. C. (1985). The Book of Job: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press.Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Pique vs. peak vs. peek. https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/pique-vs-peak-vs-peekPope, M. H. (1965). *Job: Introduction, translation, and notes*. Doubleday.Pope, M. H. (1965). Job. Anchor Bible.Tigay, J. H. (2004). *The JPS Torah commentary: The book of Job*. Jewish Publication Society.Tigay, J. H. (2004). The JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy. Jewish Publication Society.Westermann, C. (1994). *The structure of the Book of Job*. Augsburg Fortress.Westermann, C. (1994). The Structure of the Book of Job. Augsburg Fortress.Whybray, R. N. (1989). *The book of Job: A survey of modern approaches*. Cambridge University Press.Whybray, R. N. (1989). The Book of Job: A Literary Study. Eerdmans.Wikipedia. (2023). Job (biblical figure). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_(biblical_figure)Wolfram, D. (2014). *The theology of Job and the divine speech*. Journal of Biblical Literature, 133(2), 275–291.Wolfram, M. (2014). Theology of the Book of Job: The Justice of God. Oxford University Press.Support the showCultural Factors Influence Academic Achievements© 2024 ISBN978-976-97385-7-7 A_MEMOIR_OF_Dr_William_Anderson_Gittens_D_D_2024_ISBNISBN978_976_97385_0_8 Academic.edu. Chief of Audio Visual Aids Officer Mr. Michael Owen Chief of Audio Visual Aids Officer Mr. Selwyn Belle Commissioner of Police Mr. Orville Durant Dr. William Anderson Gittens, D.D En.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning Hackett Philip Media Resource Development Officer Holder, B,Anthony Episcopal Priest, https://brainly.com/question/36353773 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning#cite_note-19 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning#cite_note-:2-18 https://independent.academia.edu/WilliamGittens/Books https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=william+anderson+gittens+barbados&oq=william+anderson+gittens https://www.academia.edu/123754463/ https://www.buzzsprout.com/429292/episodes. https://www.youtube.com/@williamandersongittens1714. Mr.Greene, Rupert

Four o'clock in the afternoon is just four o'clock in the afternoon…unless you encounter Jesus in some new and unexpected way. When that happens, that four o'clock in the afternoon will change your life. Divine encounters are real—and though they cannot be scheduled or manufactured, they should be expected. These divine encounters or mystical experiences need not occur at some sacred time on in some especially spiritual place—they can occur in the most ordinary places at a most ordinary hour, like four o'clock in the afternoon.

 For this "Rebroadcast", Karl & Will share their episode originally released way back in August of 2015- "1991 (#176)!" Enjoy this blast from the past, where the guys spotlit on one year in video game music history, and arguably one of the most seminal years there ever was: 1991.

For people who are like broken reeds and smoldering wicks, the tenderness of Christ is good news.

Send us a textEXPECTATION VS. REALITYDisappointment with God | Part 1 Senior Pastor Keith StewartJanuary 4, 2026Some of the deepest spiritual pain isn't simply what happens to us—it's what we thought God would do and didn't. When expectations collide with reality, disappointment isn't far behind. This Sunday we're starting a new series: “Expectation vs. Reality.” We'll talk honestly about disappointment with God—where it comes from, what it reveals about what we really believe, and how that disappointment can either spiral into discouragement… or become the doorway to deeper faith and healing. If you're carrying questions, confusion, or a heavy heart—you're not alone. And you don't have to pretend. If you know someone who's walking through a hard season, feel free to share this with them.”Discussion Questions 1. Expectations reveal themselves in pain - “Expectations are never apparent until they're unfulfilled.” Where in your life right now are unmet expectations creating disappointment—and what might that disappointment be revealing about what you truly believe (about God, yourself, or life)? 2. Stealth expectations - Brené Brown calls them “stealth expectations”—the expectations we don't even know we have. What are some “silent contracts” you've placed on God or other people (unspoken demands like “You should know,” “This shouldn't happen,” “I don't deserve this”)? How have those shaped resentment or shame? 3. The spiral of disappointment - Disappointment can move toward discouragement → disillusionment → depression → defeat.Where have you seen that progression at work in your own life (or someone close to you)? What are the early warning signs that tell you you're slipping into that spiral? 4. Sorting cause and blame - The message challenged “blueprint theology” and victim-blaming, and explored the nature of life (broken world), people (sin and freedom), and God (His heart breaks first). Which of those categories helps you most right now—and which one is hardest for you to accept emotionally? 5. God can handle the truth - The Psalms give us language for honest lament, anger, confusion, and grief—without pretending. What emotions do you most struggle to bring to God (anger, fear, disappointment, sadness, doubt)? What would it look like this week to pray more like a lament psalm—honest, unfiltered, and trusting? 6. Disorientation as a doorway - Brueggemann's pattern: orientation → disorientation → reorientation. Where would you say you are in that cycle right now? What might “reorientation” look like for you—not necessarily a quick fix, but a deeper, truer relationship with God in the middle of your disappointment?

The story of the Wise Men from the East led by a star to worship the Christ child is one of the most enchanting stories in the gospel. And for two thousand years this story has fascinated artists of all kinds—painters and poets, composers and writers.

 It's Guest Host Takeover time!! 4 mystery hosts spotlight on 2 incredible and very different recent beat-em-up soundtracks: TMNT- Shredder's Revenge & Absolum! Enjoy!

Incarnation is salvation. The moment the Word became flesh and joined the human race, salvation for humanity was guaranteed. Everything connected with this would have to play out in due course—a human life, death upon a cross, resurrection on the third day—but salvation for the human race was guaranteed the moment Mary said, “Be it unto me according to your word.” With the birth of Jesus, humanity would no longer be founded in Adam but founded in Christ. Incarnation is salvation.

In 735 BC Isaiah gave a prophecy to king Ahaz about a young woman giving birth to a boy called Immanuel—a prophecy that seemed to be fulfilled with the birth of Hezekiah and the destruction of Aram and Samaria. But there was to be a much deeper fulfillment of this prophecy—as deep as Sheol, as high as heaven—because the testimony of JESUS is the spirit of prophecy.

In this ROCKING episode, Karl & Will celebrate the incredible music of both Hades 1 & 2, by Darren Korb! Featuring a killer playlist hand-picked by the 4 biggest Hades fans in the marcato discord!

It's very hard to take Messiah as he is, when you have your own expectations of what Messiah is supposed to do. But Advent is about waiting. So while we're waiting on the world to be saved, let's take Christ as he is and not to make him do something or be something that isn't Christlike.

The royal monarchy of Judah was established by David, the youngest son of Jesse. But after two and a half centuries the Davidic monarchy was mostly a regime of corrupt kings. That's when Isaiah foresees a shoot, a branch, a new root from the line of Jesse who will be the sevenfold Spirit-anointed king who establishes righteousness and justice.

For this "Rebroadcast", Karl & Will share their episode originally released way back in July of 2014- "Zelda: A Link to the Past (#122)!" Enjoy this blast from the past, where the guys took an in-depth look at the legendary SNES score!

The Hebrew prophets were poets of profound imagination. Poetry was their medium for pronouncing judgment and for offering visions of hope. The Hebrew prophets were not pragmatists or political activiststhey were Spirit-inspired poets possessed with prophetic imagination. They could imagine a world that did not yet exist, but one they believed would come. And the among the greatest of the Hebrew poet-prophets is Isaiah son of Amoz.

Part 2! Karl, Will & Marty once again spotlight on the incredible score to Mario Kart World! This time, they focus on the phenomenal remixes. There's really something for everyone here. Enjoy!

As Redemption Church recently honored the life and ministry of Walter Brueggemann in our Saints series, we are sharing this powerful conversation with the beloved theologian. In this episode, Dr. Brueggemann discusses the profound, practical, and prophetic meaning of the Sabbath. He argues that the Sabbath is not a mere luxury but a radical, disciplined act of resistance against the modern "Pharaoh" of industrial consumerism and its "rat race" demands for more production, consumption, and acquiring. He identifies our constant electronic connections and the "endless sports activity for kids" as key signs of this anxiety-driven system, proposing that Sabbath is the revolutionary practice of creating a "community of unanxious presence" in a world that is anything but.

In Jeremiah's day Jews had to learn how to live as exiles in Babylon. The New Testament refers to the baptized as citizens of heaven who also have to learn how to live as exiles in Babylon.

It's Nintendo Month! This year, Karl, Will & Marty spotlight on the incredible score to Mario Kart World! For Part 1, they focus on the amazing original music, and Part 2- the phenomenal remixes. Enjoy!

On this special episode, Amy talks with Bobby about his new book, Reading the Bible with Brueggemann: Scripture's Power to Remake the World. We discuss the nature of truth, the power of imagination, whether and how Jews and Christians can read the Bible together, and whether or not God exists, among many other things. We also encourage you to buy Bobby's book, which you can find here: https://store.acupressbooks.com/products/reading-the-bible-with-brueggemann

Join Dr. Robert Williamson and your host, Bill Davis, as they discuss Robert's new book Reading the Bible with Brueggemann. Together they'll dive into some of Dr. Brueggemann's famous and lesser known works and why they matter for the church today. "Reading the Bible with Brueggemann" can be ordered at https://store.acupressbooks.com/products/reading-the-bible-with-brueggemann

When asked about the resurrection, Jesus spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as being alive to God. If we think carefully about this, it has enormous theological implications on how we understand when resurrection occurs.

For this "Rebroadcast", Karl & Will share their episode originally released way back in January of 2014- "Best of the Nintendo 64 (#96)!" Enjoy this blast from the past, where the guys discussed some of the best music for this nostalgic system.

S5: E1 – North To The Future: Season 5 Introduction This episode is the first of a new season. In Season 5 we will be considering the Alaska State Motto – “North to the Future” as a model for how we positively think about the future.      #anchoredcity https://anchorageutc.org https://www.facebook.com/AnchorageUTC @AnchorageUTC   Resources Used I Make This Episode: https://www.sloww.co/meta-crisis-101/#:~:text=“There%20are%20a%20large%20number,driving%20a%20multitude%20of%20crises. Brueggemann, W., 2001, Prophetic imagination: Revised edition, Fortress Press, Minneapolis. https://sites.kpc.alaska.edu/jhaighalaskahistory/timeline/ https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase https://www.loc.gov/collections/meeting-of-frontiers/articles-and-essays/alaska/the-alaska-purchase/ https://adn.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A14454275A04DAA79%40NGPA-AKADN-16ECE792ABD24C01%402439510-16ECE6ADAD9C84CD%400-16ECE6ADAD9C84CD%40?search_terms=%22North%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%22&text=%22North%20to%20the%20future%22&content_added=&date_from=1967&date_to=1967&pub%255B0%255D=14454275A04DAA79&pdate=1967-01-19 https://adn.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A14454275A04DAA79%40NGPA-AKADN-16ECF36AB617AF4B%402438383-16EB964A551A4594%401-16EB964A551A4594%40?search_terms=state%2Bmotto%2Bcontest&text=state%20motto%20contest&content_added=&date_from=1963&date_to=1963&pub%255B0%255D=14454275A04DAA79&sort=new&pdate=1963-12-19 https://adn.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A14454275A04DAA79%40NGPA-AKADN-16ECF361B3337BC3%402438369-16ECF09BF7EE588A%408-16ECF09BF7EE588A%40?search_terms=state%2Bmotto%2Bcontest&text=state%20motto%20contest&content_added=&date_from=1963&date_to=1963&pub%255B0%255D=14454275A04DAA79&pdate=1963-12-05 https://adn.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A14454275A04DAA79%40NGPA-AKADN-16ECE90537133808%402439579-16ECE89290A8E94B%4025-16ECE89290A8E94B%40?search_terms=%22North%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bfuture%22&text=%22North%20to%20the%20future%22&content_added=&date_from=1967&date_to=1967&pub%255B0%255D=14454275A04DAA79&pdate=1967-03-29 https://adn.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A1445094F387BC7E2%40NGPA-AKADN-194760379DE2579B%402438486-194526309F9863C2%4072-194526309F9863C2%40?search_terms=state%2Bmotto%2BContest&text=state%20motto%20Contest&content_added=&date_from=1964&date_to=1964&pub%255B0%255D=1445094F387BC7E2&pdate=1964-03-31 https://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/ak_motto.htm#:~:text=In%201963%2C%20as%20the%20100,The%20Alaska%20Statutes%202004

John the Elder tells us that the world under the sway of the evil one is driven by pride, greed, and lust. (Think of how much advertising appeals to pride, greed, or lust.) This world (prophetically called Babylon) cannot be harnessed for good—even though religious ambition for political power imagines it can. The task of the church is not to reappropriate the engines of pride, greed, and lust, but to be something altogether different—the kingdom of Jesus Christ energized by faith, hope, and love.

"The nuns taught us that there are two ways through life—the way of nature and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you will follow. Grace doesn't try to please itself, accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked; accepts insults and injuries. Nature only wants to please itself. Get others to please it too. Likes to Lord it over them, to have its own way. It finds reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it, when love is smiling through all things. They taught us the no one who loves the way of grace ever comes to a bad end. I will be true to you whatever comes."- The Tree of Life

In this spooky episode, Karl & Will spotlight on the underrated, groovy score to Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the DS! Happy Halloween!

Job was a blameless man caught in a contest between the divine and diabolical that he knew nothing about. He lost his wealth, his health, and all ten of his children. His friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to comfort him but end up accusing him. Job defends his integrity in a series of poetic debates that lasts for 27 chapters. Then Elihu enters the story...

For this "Rebroadcast", Karl & Will share their episode originally released way back in July of 2014- "Adventure!" (#120)!" In this blast from the past, the guys share some of the best music from both classic point-and-click adventure games from the likes of Lucasarts and Sierra, but also other kinds of adventure games too. Enjoy!

Job is a poetic book probably written in the fourth or fifth century BC, possibly written in Persia. The authors (there appears to be more than one) were almost certainly Israelites—but the story itself occurs outside of Israel and doesn't appear to have Jewish characters. The book is a poetic exploration of the problem of suffering and our response to it.

The prophets and psalmists of lament show us how to find faith and hold on to hope in the time of tears.

 It's time for another Guest Host Takeover! Mystery hosts present a fun episode called "Japanese Games Go Hollywood!" What an interesting topic. Enjoy some awesome VGM and discussion!

“I believe” is a powerful statement. When we express our faith in Jesus we are not saying one thing, but four things. The shape of faith is made up of four sides: belief (what we do with our minds), confidence (what we do with our hearts, trust (what we do with our bodies), and allegiance (what we do with our will). Growing as people of faith requires growing in all four areas. 

Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God primarily in parables. These parables are not folksy illustrations to help us better understand the point—quite the opposite in fact. The parables of Jesus are often deliberately disorienting. Jesus wants to throw us off balance so that we might stumble into a previously unknown world—the world of God's grace where many of our most common assumptions are subverted.

 In this episode, Karl & Will spotlight on 2 short but awesome chiptune soundtracks released this year. Bunny Bomber Blast and Dreams of Aether. Enjoy some excellent recent chiptune VGM!

The gospel story of the cross says this: Because of God's love the Son of God came into the world, and despite his actions of love, healing, and mercy, the Son of God was ultimately rejected, condemned, and crucified by a sinful world built upon violent power. And yet, in that moment, when the world did its very worst, the Crucified One was not condemning the world, but saving the world.