Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
1,571 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago -Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
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Episodes
Legs MADE STRONG so they don’t FRACTURE S5e22 acts3:7
November 18, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.46 MBSend us a Text Message. Legs that don't get walked on get weak of muscle and of bone strength. Ask any astronaut. It is called Wolff's Law in orthopedics. If a person lame from birth were to suddenly jump up and start leaping around, something would happen: HE'D BREAK HIS LEGS immediately. Unless...his legs were made STRONG first. You just have to love scripture, because this is exactly what happens. The details add credence to the account. You just cannot make this stuff up. Join me...
Changing Minds About MONEY S5e21Acts2:45
November 17, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.36 MBSend us a Text Message. The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon those who learn, are cut to the heart, repent and believe. Now what. What about my stuff? What about my money? What happens now? Well, everything changes. We find the early church not take "vows of poverty", but move toward taking "vows of PROVISION." We find the Holy Spirit move them not towards financial communism, but towards financial COMMUNITY. We see what happens when the people of God begin to have the eyes and p...
An Army Marches On It’s STOMACH S5e20 Acts2:42
November 16, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.4 MBSend us a Text Message. It is said that an army marches by it's stomach. What does the newly formed army of God march by? We find out in one of the most famous passages in the book of Acts. We find they are DEVOTED early on to four things. There is no expiration date to any of them. That is, marks of Christian practice STILL TO THIS DAY should be characterized by these principles. Here they are: 1. Words of God--teaching. There is a lot of Jesus to know and appreciate. A lot of podc...
Calling The FAR OFF S6e19 Acts2:39.mp3
November 15, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBSend us a Text Message. It is a beautiful thing to watch the good Lord call the FAR OFF. I suppose not too many are perfectly close. Today we see the Lord call 3000 stubborn, unforgiven, unrepentant, ignorant, refusing souls. At least, they start out that way. God is surely at work: Revealing what He wants them to know from the Old Testament and the words of Jesus; convicting and cutting their hearts, helping with turning and repenting; forgiving sins, gifting Himself in the Holy Spirit...
Repentance Is NASTY Business S5e18 Acts 2:38
November 14, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.46 MBSend us a Text Message. Repenting is a NASTY NASTY business. It is painful. It is humbling. It is scary. It is humiliating. It is agreeing with God. It is changing my mind. It is resolving to change. It is having faith in the right thing. It is receiving forgiveness. It is agreeing I have sin. It is agreeing I am in big trouble because I have sin.It is the HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD. The road of CONVICTION leads to the square of Repentance. The road of having God call you to Himself lea...
Cut To The Heart S5e17 Acts2:37
November 13, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.07 MBSend us a Text Message. Subtitle today is "how does one become a Christian?" Usually, we hear of faith, belief, receiving, coming, confessing or calling on Jesus. But today, we find out there is a step BEFORE that. After hearing that the Holy Spirit is predicted from 800 years before; after walking with Jesus for 40 days after his execution; after being reminded that the big cheese DAVID pointed to Jesus, after finding out there is now a fulfillment of reigning on "David's" throne; and ...
Are You HARDCORE? Know For Certain! Acts2:36 S5e16
November 12, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.5 MBSend us a Text Message. Are you HARDCORE devout convert? Are you a super-Jew? If so, then Jesus is your guy. You killed Him, but you can and should KNOW FOR CERTAIN He is God. How? Well, you are such good Old Testament scholars, that let's use that source. And David is your hero? Well, he talks about Jesus too. Let me interpret correctly Ps 16 and Ps 110 for you. And what about the craziness of this loud, fire representing, wonders-of-God-proclaiming miracle you have seen in the Galil...
You KILLED JESUS so Pay Attention S5e15 Acts2:23
November 11, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.12 MBSend us a Text Message. Devout Jewish Men and Women of Jerusalem KILL JESUS. So saith Peter. He says you Jews used the hands of Lawless Men, the Romans to do the dirty work. You killed Jesus. So pay close attention to who He is. 1. Attested to by God. If you like God, you should have liked Jesus. God endorsed Jesus by the miracles. 2. The big one: HE LOOSED the pangs of death. The Father, who you are such big fans of, raised Jesus from the dead. If so, you should be paying very cl...
Only People From Minneapolis S5e14 Acts2:21
November 10, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.22 MBSend us a Text Message. The good Lord is POURING out His Spirit. However, the target of this generosity is the very prickly humanity. He pours on imperfect, uncooperative flesh. It is a good thing. Perfect people don't need a Savior. But there is a time limit. We have during the "last days" to receive it. The "last days", from a Biblical view have an expiration date of the moment He comes back. The disciples enjoyed the first of the last days. We may be living the last "last day". ...
Pour Forth My Spirit, Just Like I Said S5e13 Acts2:18
November 09, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.5 MBSend us a Text Message. A group of mockers witnesses the Holy Spirit being POURED FORTH on people. To explain, Peter goes back 800 YEARS! God told of this long ago. What are you so surprised at? Shouldn't you have been waiting and expecting this? Is this the best way to respond to a momentous event in the life of this planet? This pouring is one of liberality, fullness, over-the-topness, to the point of almost wastefulness. Those in the "last days" get the Spirit in scandalous generosit...
Mock Or Ask A Good Question. S5e12 Acts2:13
November 08, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.05 MBSend us a Text Message. The Holy Spirit is introduced to the planet. Peter says the Person of the Holy Spirit CAN BE KNOWN. You could ask a good follow up question after meeting His acquaintance such as "What does this mean?" Or, you could instantly MOCK and make a verbal attack against the miracle, the men, or the message. Some choose to scorn the MEN by accusing them of drunkenness. We find out here that the Holy Spirit is a morning Person because He's come before 9am. ;-) Peter, with...
Mapping The World God Cares About S5e11 Acts2:9
November 07, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.11 MBSend us a Text Message. God has gathered in Jerusalem Jews and converts from all over the known world to witness the coming of the Holy Spirit. He goes to great effort to bring them there. He goes to great effort to pre-convert them to the truth of the one true God of Israel. Then, He goes to GREAT EFFORT to TELL US where they are all from. We would be wise to listen. They come from 1000 miles to the east, 800 miles to the north, 1400 miles to the west and 400 miles to the south. Th...
They’re Not Really Jerusalem Jews S5e10 Acts2:5
November 06, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.41 MBSend us a Text Message. Two groups of people are present for the Pentecost of the Holy Spirit. The receivers, who are a group of people including the disciples from 80 miles away in Galilee. Then there are "local" Jews living in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit does not yet come upon them. They just get to watch and respond. Even though, we find out they are DEVOUT men from every nation under heaven. We get a geography lesson which we must soon talk about too. We find that they are Jewish a...
First Contact Of A FIRST CONTACT S5e9 Acts2:1
November 05, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.4 MBSend us a Text Message. Today is our FIRST CONTACT with an amazed, perplexed group of devout Jew's FIRST CONTACT of a group of Galilean Apostles and disciple's FIRST CONTACT with the FIRST CONTACT of the Holy Spirit upon our planet in a new way. We get to hear about the Holy Spirit coming anew and see some of the first reactions of those who were in the firing line of this revelation. It is a day of first impressions as the wonders of God are discussed. We probably should be paying parti...
The Last Spiritual Dice Role S5e8 Acts1:26
November 04, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.44 MBSend us a Text Message. The disciples need a 12th guy. They know that the Lord knows who it is. Their problem is how do THEY get the message all the way from heaven to the room they are in. How do they do it? You'll never guess. It is DICE. Spiritual Dice. They rolled lots. You just can't not enjoy the Bible. They believe the prophesy of David from a thousand years before, "Let another take his office", in referring to Judas. Of note, for 2000 years, since Moses, these spiritual d...
Why 12? Why Not 11? Acts1:20 s5e7
November 03, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 4.93 MBSend us a Text Message. Why were there 12 disciples originally? Because Jesus said so. Why were there 11 disciples after the last supper? Because Judas said so. Why were there 12 disciples after the ascension? Because DAVID, King David of 1000 years before said so! (and the Holy Spirit who wrote through David, of course) We find the negotiations and figuring out of the early church here. They first search the scriptures (and maybe ask Jesus who was with them for 40 real days). Then th...
Being Known For NO’s ACTS1:20 s5e6
November 02, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.13 MBSend us a Text Message. There was a man who had a secret life and fooled everybody. Everybody thought he "was one of us" and shared even in ministry. But he didn't fool Jesus. He knew all along. Eventually, the whole world knows his nasty actions. No one names their kid after this guy. He was the last guy in history to have this name: JUDAS. How did this happen? Judas had lots of opportunities. In fact, for 3 years, he probably had yielding opportunities in his soul every breakfas...
Obstinantly Persistent Prayer Music Acts1:14 S5e5
November 01, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBSend us a Text Message. An orchestra is a good example of what it means to be of 1 ACCORD. It is a group that is literally one the same page, with the same timing, following the same leader, and producing one product with their many inputs. This is the inspiring description of the early church when all of it could be squeezed into one room. They DEVOTED themselves to this. They remained faithful in an intimate, sticky, obstinately persistent way. They attached themselves to the orchest...
Smelling The Ascension Acts1:10 s5e4
October 31, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.36 MBSend us a Text Message. Between the resurrection and the ascension, Jesus could be seen, heard, touched. Based on His cooking, I'm presuming He had taste and smell. This is the body that Jesus took with Him into heaven. Different, but a lot the same. This probably tells us a little bit of what our resurrection and relocation to heaven might be/will be like. Also, the angel attendants tell us He is coming back in the same way. Probably visibly, with sound, touchable, etc. The next tim...
No PERSON = No Power. Acts1:8 s5e3
October 30, 2021 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.83 MBSend us a Text Message. Today let’s listen to the LAST WORDS OF JESUS. We probably should pay attention. He’s in Jerusalem, after the resurrection. He’s been around for 40 days and is leaving. He said it was to our advantage that He leaves, but this is still very confusing for all of His followers. He promises POWER. This is a fine thing. Who doesn’t want some extra-special power? But let’s be careful here. What is the source of this power? Actually, that is the wrong question. I...
From this page onward it's gonna be DIFFERENT s5e2 Acts1:8
October 29, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.09 MBSend us a Text Message. It is 33 AD. Jesus has been around 40 days since the resurrection. Dead people have arisen and joined the church. Jesus has been telling everybody NOT TO GO ANYWHERE, something is going to happen here that you will want to be around for. He is setting up the Holy Spirit. From this moment onward, everything will be different. The LOCATION of the place of God is going to be different. The mechanism of the working of God is going to be different. The purposes ...
FIRST PODCAST After Jesus’ Life Acts1:1 S5e1
October 28, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.3 MBSend us a Text Message. The Old Testament is primarily about the character, activity, and interaction of the Person of the FATHER with the people of God. The Gospels are primarily about the character, activity and interaction of the Person of JESUS with the people of God. The rest of the New Testament is primarily about the character, activity and interaction of the Person of the HOLY SPIRIT with the people of God. Today Luke tells us to WAIT, but from here on out it is going to be go! go...
My LAST PODCAST. Lam3:24 S4e141
October 27, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.2 MBSend us a Text Message. This is the Last Podcast of Be With Me, at least in the Gospels. We have come full-circle in the chronological life of Jesus. We started 19 months ago in Luke 7. That was 575 episodes ago. I was startled this morning in finding out our verse for the day was again Luke 7:1. Nobody told me this was going to be my last podcast when I woke up! (If you really want to listen to that first published podcast, blast back to season 1, Episode 4.) That starting point, tho...
DESPERATE Process Of PERFECTION Mt5:48 S4e140
October 26, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.1 MBSend us a Text Message. Jesus ends a very pesky section of Scripture with the the even peskier, "You therefore must be PERFECT..." Rather than this leading us to pride, Listen today as it leads us to our KNEES. Perfect= mature, complete, not lacking any moral quality, fully developed. It assumes not a magical end point, but more of a PROCESS of growth, a PROCESS of maturity, and a PROCESS of development. So this section has some great topics to pick in which we may be not quite perfect...
Make COMMON GRACE A Bit More Common Mt5:45 s4e139
October 25, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.07 MBSend us a Text Message. The Lord asks us to make COMMON GRACE a little more common. It is one of His characteristics. It is a way that He demonstrates Himself to the world. It is a way that He uses to make it easier for people to enter into His kingdom. He reminds us that He uses creation in such a way: "He makes the sun rise on the evil." He uses the blessings of this life in such a way: "He sends rain on the unjust." He even allows some JOY and gladness in people that don't yet li...
Why Shouldn’t I HATE My Neighbor? Mt5:43 s4e138
October 24, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.3 MBSend us a Text Message. Loving neighbors might be easy. Loving and seeking the highest good for my enemies definitely is not. Why might I want to participate in this activity? We are supposed to be involved in reflecting, resembling, and representing Jesus on this earth. We are supposed to be bearing His image and here, doing what He did. Why? I'd say first, because He said so. Second, because by bearing this family resemblance activity, we demonstrate we "get it" that He did the sam...
Stay Out Of The RETALIATION Lane Mt5:38 s4e137
October 23, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.01 MBSend us a Text Message. There is a lot to do as a Christian. One thing the Lord asks us NOT to concern ourselves with is RETALIATION. Self-Justice. Now don't worry, HE'S GOT THIS. There is going to be perfect, holy, justice sprinkled with mercy and love and wrath and punishment, etc. But we always get this wrong. So today, Jesus asks us to STAY OUT OF THE LANE OF RETALIATION. This is His lane. We have SO MANY other things that we can productively be concerned with. The charge of th...
Keep Your Words (with No Extras) Mt5:37 s4e136
October 22, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 4.97 MBSend us a Text Message. Make a promise. Keep a promise. Say yes, mean yes. Say no, mean no. Or, stick a few words in there that give support to your otherwise weak, untruthful words?!?! Does saying, "I swear on the Bible", or "I swear on my mother's grave" prop up already weak words? No. Jesus is saying cut out the middle man. Start with true words. End with true actions. Or, start with a no and mean it by actions. Let us be people of true words and actions consistent with those...
No Easy Divorce Because There’s No Easy Marriage Mt5:32 s4e135
October 21, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.32 MBSend us a Text Message. Jesus says there is no "easy divorce." Consider this: the "easiest" way to get out of a marriage is DEATH. That means that everything else is MORE DIFFICULT than death. Why is divorce so hard? Well, here is the principle that it is founded upon. GOD DOES THE JOINING. Yes, there are relational bonds, dna bonds (children), financial bonds, companionship bonds, and sexual bonds. But the big bond is marriage is not given by the bride, the groom, the parents, or the...
The Osteosarcoma-ness of Lustful Intent Mt5:29 s4e134
October 20, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 4.96 MBSend us a Text Message. Osteosarcoma is a nasty bone tumor that grows aggressively, spreads aggressively, and basically it aggressively wants to kill you. Similarly, little old lust has the same pattern. So rather than a response of, "It's no big deal. Everybody does it. I'm OK", today's passage sounds a loud alarm. Everybody you meet today is going to be wrestling with this issue. Certainly, if it is in our power, we would do best to consider how my behavior can best help my neighbor. ...
Lustful Intent Leads To Exactly What? mt5:28 S4e133
October 19, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.42 MBSend us a Text Message. Looking can lead to looking with lustful intent. This is bad because it is equated with adultery. Who says so? Jesus is clarifying the 10 commandmentsin his sermon on the mount. We understand this to be so because He says so, and He is the author of the Old and New Testament truths. Adultery is taking something that is not yours to take. This may be someone else's spouse or their future spouse. Adultery is receiving something that was not theirs to give. This...
Fix Your MURDER Problem Before Worship s4e132 Mt5:24
October 18, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.28 MBSend us a Text Message. You won't like this lesson on anger anymore than yesterday's. He goes all practical on us and reminds us that stuck human relationships can result in a stuck relationship with God. He tells us that ongoing anger is equal to ongoing MURDER. So, He doesn't want it in His church. Or, at least He wants us to major on the major and go first and fix our MURDER problem before coming to worship. He feels quite urgent about the topic. Why don't we? He deeply cares about...
This Will Probably Make You Angry Mt5:22 s4e131
October 17, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.35 MBSend us a Text Message. Listening to this podcast for 7 minutes will probably make you angry. I'm angry that the Lord lowers the bar of murder all the way down to anger. Specifically MY ANGER. But I LIKE being angry sometimes. I LIKE calling people names. I LIKE wreaking havoc with my mouth every now and then. I have always been like this. I don't want to change. Here is something you won't like: We are LIABLE for our anger, verbal abuse and name calling. That is, someday we wil...
You Will NEVER ENTER The Kingdom Mt5:20 s4e130
October 16, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.36 MBSend us a Text Message. Jesus says that if you don't do this task, you will NEVER enter the Kingdom of God. We probably should pay pretty close attention to that task. What is it? Being BETTER in keeping all the Old Testament laws than the current world record holders of that sport: the Pharisees. In fact Jesus says that even THEY don't make it. The line exceeds what they accomplish. In fact, it is perfection. Good luck with that. So, though the Bible reveals all kinds of divine char...
Salty Bright Glorifying City On A Hill Mt5:14 s4e129
October 15, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.19 MBSend us a Text Message. Today in 7 minutes we assess our characteristics, our location and our purpose. We are to be a shiny, influential, purposeful person and group of people. We are to be using our gifts and using them in the right way and in the right location. Today we look at ourselves via pictures of a CITY, a LAMP, and a bit of SALT. You just gotta love Jesus. Then we look at the place, the LOCATION of these influences. Finally, we see if we are hitting the goal of glory. Ther...
Let’s Get Some (eternal) Perspective Mt5:12 s4e128
October 14, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.31 MBSend us a Text Message. On the first day of the High School my kids went to, the seniors greeted the incoming freshman buses. They cheered and encouraged the incoming freshmen. Basically, they said, "you can do this...be encouraged...you can walk this walk...you can take the hardships...the reward is great!" It was a gauntlet of encouragement. So are the beatitudes. This is the final line. You are not the first. You are not alone. Your difficulties are well known to those who have go...
TRACING Over Jesus’ Response To Reviling Mt5:11 s4e127
October 13, 2021 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.51 MBSend us a Text Message. The beatitudes are a little crazy. They say that I am BLESSED if somebody REVILES me. That is, they use the harshest verbal attacks possible. The modifier is that my representation and reflection of Jesus' characteristics is such that it is not really an attack against ME, but against HIM. It is for His sake. He tells us how to respond to REVILING in 1 Peter 2: 21-23. He suffered in exactly this way and leaves us an UNDERWRITING, or an example. We are supposed...
Persecution=purchase, Possession, & Presence Mt5:10 s4e126
October 12, 2021 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBSend us a Text Message. Persecution=Purchase, Possession & Presence Mt5:10 s4e126 Don’t be surprised if following Christ leads to some push back. The holy living and the good news is all very confrontational. At this very moment, brothers and sisters are being persecuted for their faith. Ironically, it is one of the surest signs of the Lord’s purchase, possession of us and His presence in our lives. I have even heard Christians YEARN for persecution. There is an expectation of sufferi...
The Violent Message Of Peacemakers Mt5:9 s4e125
October 11, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.14 MBSend us a Text Message. We are able to help people make peace with God because of violence. We are liable to receive violence when this peacemaking is offered. Peacemaking is a bloody enterprise. Peace with God requires the expunging of the impossible(sin), given to the improbable(fallen, separated, unholy knuckleheads). Oh, and its' ambassadors are inadequate(previous knuckleheads). This is the "family business" that adopted sons and daughters get to be involved in. We didn't exactly...
Shooting bullets of PURITY to SEE GOD ps119:9,11 s4e124
October 10, 2021 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.54 MBSend us a Text Message. Why might I want to pursue purity and become a mini-Puritan? Just so I can stop at the NO? Nope! One shoots bullets of purity so that one gets to the YES; that is so that you SEE GOD. We are majoring on the PRACTICAL today with 3 bullets: 1 Cor 10:13 Am I the only one? Where is God? Is this too much temptation for me? Is this beyond my ability? How can I get out of this? This passage answers all of those questions. Ps 119:9,11 Should I memorize this passage? Am ...
100% Pure Maple Syrup Heartedness Mt5:8 s4e123
October 09, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.21 MBSend us a Text Message. There is a perfect standard of heart holiness that God requires. He gets to make the rules. The big question is then how do we get there? It is so very important. Our heart is the core, the inner seat, the will, our very soul. From it springs our thoughts and words and actions. It is the great battleground of our life. We are supposed to have this area done perfectly. Likely we have some work to do in this area. Change that, we DO have some work to do in this...
Mercy=Kindness Towards The Undeserving Mt5:7 s4e122
October 08, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.12 MBSend us a Text Message. Kindness is being nice to someone you should be nice to. Mercy is being nice to someone who specifically doesn’t deserve it. Of all the people you “should” be nice to today, There is one person who is at the end of the line. She is exactly the last person you should be nice to. She cannot repay you anything. Worse, let’s say she can, but she WON’T. She refuses to return the kindness you offer. Knowing all of this and then extending kindness to this person, no...
Road To SATISFACTION Paved With…mt5:6 s4e121
October 07, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.13 MBSend us a Text Message. We all want SATISFACTION. It is not a bad goal. What is the road to satisfaction paved with? Today we find out. I don't know about you, but I experience hunger and thirst as actual pains. Welcome to my world. Being a friend of Jesus is to seek satisfaction by seeking a bit of this hunger and thirst pain. We are to be hungering and thirsting for righteousness. He wants us to be wanting personal righteousness, personal holiness, personal sanctification after we...
The POWER And APPROACHABILITY Of meekness.Mt5:5 s4e120
October 06, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 4.92 MBSend us a Text Message. How do you win a crying, scared two-year old child? Wrong answer: with POWER and command, "STOP CRYING!" Right answer: with meekness. You still are the adult in the room, you have 'infinite' power. But you make yourself approachable. You have both the power to help, but the gentleness to make the assistance receivable. Welcome to the beatitude: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. It is exactly how Jesus describes is core heart DNA: I am gen...
Charlie Brown Was Right! Mt5:4 s4e119
October 05, 2021 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.54 MBSend us a Text Message. "Good Grief" said the wise Charlie Brown. Let's consider for 7 minutes what can be good about GRIEF, MOURNING and WEEPING. Jesus agrees with Charlie. Blessed are those who weep and mourn. There is plenty in the here and now to grieve over. First, there is stuff "out there": fallen world, leaders, churches, etc. But then more up close and personal, there is stuff "in here": health, aging, frailty, decay, and the big category of SIN: lust, anger, tongue, appetites,...
The POSTURE of Poverty. Mt5:3 s4e118
October 04, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.15 MBSend us a Text Message. What is your friend if you are a friend of Jesus? What benefits and assists the Christian walk? Alternatively, are there things that could drag you down with liability? Welcome to the BEATITUDES. It is a bunch of BLESSED ARE...that turns the world upside down. Blessedness, says my study bible, is the "state of well-being of relationship with God." It is more profound than just "happy". Pure poverty may get us there. It may lead us toward immediacy, urgency, a...
Their Names Are On The Wall Of Heaven Mk3:16 s4e117
October 03, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.2 MBSend us a Text Message. The names of the 12 Apostles are literally going to be on the gates and on the foundations of the heavenly city of the New Jerusalem. The place where you are going to live forever, is going to have these guys names carved into the wall. Apparently, they are pretty important. They are first called IN so that they can go OUT. They are called in to BE WITH HIM (does this sound familiar to any listeners of this podcast?) and eventually sent OUT. They are charged to ...
From WOE IS ME to GO WITH HE Mt12:21 s4e116
October 02, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.44 MBSend us a Text Message. 600 years before Jesus, Isaiah perfectly reveals Him. It is enough to single-handedly believe and follow Jesus forever. Isaiah notes four things we now see more clearly: That God takes great pleasure in Himself. The three Persons of the Trinity think the other Persons of the Trinity are pretty special. Do do otherwise would be blasphemy. The people of God are a bunch of losers, unchosen, poor, foreign, unpowerful people. Knuckleheads. God looks at us and says,...
Value Of Man/woman > Sheep Mt12:12 s4e115
October 01, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.28 MBSend us a Text Message. Mankind is assessed for its' VALUE today. What IS the VALUE of a man or a woman? Well, the good news is that it is MORE THAN that of a SHEEP. Come to think of it, our value is more than rules too. The Bible has a lot to say about our care for animals. BTW, they don't know what day it is so they are just as likely to fall into a pit on that day as any other. Our care and stewardship doesn't stop because of the calendar. This kind of work can indeed be done on t...
David Breaks The Law & Lives Mt12:3 S4e114
September 30, 2021 08:00 - 8 minutes - 5.68 MBSend us a Text Message. Jesus reminds His adversaries, "you know the Old Testament story about David UNLAWFULLY eating bread devoted to the Lord and for His priests, right?" It's in the Bible. You should know the story, and its' MEANING, especially as it relates to "breaking the Sabbath". When the New Testament refers to something like this in the Old Testament, it is like a trumpet call to flip back and see what happened. It is a very good spiritual habit to go on these non-rabbit-trai...