Discernment Episodes

During the Red-letter journey, we encountered the Thomas. It occurred to me that we didn't know much about Thomas except this one phrase that has lingered through history - "Doubting Thomas". When Jesus is ready to turn back toward Judea, in the face of imminent danger - Thomas stands up and basically says to the other disciples: If He's going to face death, we're all going with Him. It's worth taking a deeper look at Thomas and reframing his legacy. https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/j25gsat...

We're on the last leg of Jesus' journey to the cross. One shift that I'm noticing is a focus on logic and argument derived from Scripture. Earlier in Jesus ministry, it was more about actions. Lately, Jesus is showing a command of scripture and the Law that is irrefutable. If you want to go find these arguments, look no further than where the Jews pick up stones. When Jesus presents an argument to the Jews that they cannot respond to intellectually, they always resort to violence. Such is the...

Did it ever occur to you to ask why Jesus arrived at this point in history? Why did Jesus show up when he did? What would have happened if he had waited. When we arrive on the scene in the New Testament, John the Baptist is already calling the Pharisees a brood of vipers. That particular term is used again by John and twice more by Jesus. Why the Jews first? I would argue that the entry of Jesus in the first century begins as a rescue mission. First to save the sheep that are not just lost but ...

Imagine you have been watching the dialog in John 8 unfold in a courtroom. The Bible loves courtroom metaphors by the way. Jesus is defending himself. He is facing the jury, giving his closing testimony. God is in the Judges seat. Abraham is in the witness stand. And, oh yes, Satan is their in the courtroom too... he's at the prosecution desk, frantically taking notes. This podcast picks up at that seen so you don't have to imagine it. We've recreated what could basically be Jesus closing test...

As I continue to ponder John 8:21-30, my mind was connecting the meaning of all that we have discovered up to this point in our red-letter journey. Walking chronologically with Jesus through the gospels helps afford you the same maturity of thoughts and ideas that the disciples would have been going through. It's only fitting that each encounter feels more deeply meaningful. I like to consider myself the 15th disciple. Matthias was the 13th replacing Judas. Paul, the 14th and the rest, you, m...

We approach a very common story in John 8. It is the morning after the Feast of Booths. Jesus is up early and still teaching. The pharisees detect and opportunity to trap Jesus. They bring out a woman they claim is an adulteress and the story unfolds. I don't think it's a surprise to those listening to this podcast that we use AI to help dig deep into scripture. Just so you know that none of these podcasts are a one-way AI conversation, today, we left the commentary and the challenges intact....

So, I walked into today's program preparation like every other day. But something clicked and given the context of where we are in scripture, I just didn't expect it. Earlier today, I did a study on the history leading up to the birth of Jesus. Then, on a completely unrelated part of scripture, that study became relevant. It wasn't the central theme, but it was a key component. But that was only part of it. As I'm reading, I'm watching how divine orchestration plays out. And it is there that ...

It's a subject that comes up again and again. "Once saved, always saved". And inevitably, embedded in that argument is "They went out from us, because they were not of us…” (1 John 2:19) leading to the response that if someone leaves the faith they were never saved in the first place. So, we tackle that head on. Let your discerning heart guide your faith. Sometimes, when you hear something like this, your inclination is to remain quiet. After all that's your preacher saying that (and it often is...

This was such an odd request that we had to pay attention. The request was to act in response to the main character - the Demon - in the movie Nefarious. Nefarious is a psychological horror film centered entirely on an intense conversation between an atheist psychiatrist, Dr. James Martin, and a convicted serial killer, Edward Wayne Brady, in a prison on the day of Edward's scheduled execution. The psychiatrist must determine Edward's sanity to decide if the execution can proceed, but Edward ...

I think we have covered The Prodigal pretty well both in context and doctrine. There is one last thing that shines a light worthy of our attention. The KJV of the last line: It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. AGAIN? If I read that literally, at some point in his past, the brother was alive, then died and then alive again. The only way I can interpret that given the doctrine that we've uncovered ...

We created this Berean filter to evaluate our own interpretation of scripture and to interpret scripture using scripture. Today we started a conversation based on the transcript from a video by AOC Network on YouTube called: This May Be Why Jesus is on His Way… The THIRD DAY is FAST Approaching! https://youtu.be/CCwlqlUF9cA?si=U7lZZ6o150BWoz1W Sometimes it feels like we are talking to Data, from Star Trek. We had to teach our Berean Filter bot to be a little more forgiving; yet, still maintai...

We step off our Red-Letter journey for a second. We may do more of this depending on feedback. In today's world, we learn through a variety of different media. Some think watching the Chosen is akin to reading the Bible! It is not but I won't begrudge anyone watching that series. There are far worse places you can go and hear what sounds like Biblical knowledge. But the media-scape pays attention to what you pay attention to. So it is not hard for other disinformation to cross your path. YouT...

The Bible warns of deceptions. I'm not so sure a lot of Christians are ready for it. Today, we jump off the Red-Letters and jump into a rabbit-hole over 4 million people have ventured! We take a YouTube video and apply our Berean Filter to its claims. Look: just because something is cloaked in "science" or even used and documented by the government entities does make it any more real, though many people believe it. Here's the video we're launching this podcast discussion from. Video Title:...

We've followed the disciples on this chronological red-letter journey so far covering a period of a little over a two year of Jesus' ministry. Through all of that, we have the benefit of the Bible, the New Testament and 2000 year's worth of commentary and still we find it hard to fathom what happens next! Some of us want to take Peter aside and say: "Dude, don't you get it!" Sometimes, we want to help Jesus turn the tables over in the temple! We want to wag our fingers at the Pharisees! Are w...

Numbers are all over the Bible and their use is not random. When you start paying attention, you see their meaning everywhere and perhaps even prophecy. Episode Link: https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-not-so-secret-meaning-of-numbers

Can Quantum Physics help explain God. Let’s explore some of the connections between quantum science and scripture.

This just stopped me and made me think. This message was in one of those short takes on YouTube that was taken from Instagram. I captured the content on Instagram to create this short quick-byte. You can see the original Instagram posts here, follow Mike Donehey, and listen to his music. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-_B8eZpi0L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_-7UTEpZiR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== YouTube Channel: htt...

The Bible is not meant to be read passively like a novel. It requires careful study, reflection, and a willingness to grapple with complex ideas. Interpretations and Translations: The Bible has been translated and interpreted in numerous ways. Understanding the nuances of different translations is crucial for forming your own understanding. The Role of Commentary: Commentary can be helpful, but it's important to remember that it's not scripture itself. Use commentary as a tool for underst...

You are living your life as an interactive novel with God as the author and humans as the characters, highlighting the balance between God's sovereignty and human free will. Your journey is different from everyone else's. Each of us has a story. Let's explore why God wants to be part of that journey. Isaiah 46.10 - I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ Deuteronomy 30:19 - This ...