DRIVING THEOLOGY

Why are Evangelicals so hell-bent against universal healthcare? What are they afaid of?

Just something I threw together today! Enjoy!

For the first time, recording from home, "driving" from my desk during this covid-19 era, I talk a bit about a Thomas Merton book I am starting, as well as life in covid-19 Earth, ending with Exodus Cry, an organization dedicated to ending human trafficking.

How has your life changed in this Covid-19 era? What kinds of adjustments have you made as far at the gathering of the Body of Christ? What, if anything, have you changed about what you believe about the nature of the meeting of the church? Also, what does it mean to "make God in your image", a popular accusation made about people who challenge the status quo theologically?

A couple of months into the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded some ten days ago, my update on the spread of the disease is very out of date, as the US has taken the top spot in numbers of active cases. Church goers everywhere aren't able to go to church in this COVID-19 pandemic. What are they discovering about church from their homes? How are paradigms being challenged? "In this world you will have tro...

If Jesus came to save the world, and yet very few are destined for salvation, how good is Jesus at the job of salvation? On the other hand, if he is good at saving people, then shouldn't there be a greater number of people saved than not? "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart: I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 What does it mean if Jesus has overcome the world, and yet there is...

How are you getting along in this new reality?

As of the beginning of March, schools are all closed in Japan, other than kindergartens due to the coronavirus. Lucky me, I work in Kindergartens! People are going crazy, paranoid, and have began hoarding. This always happens here in Japan. What do we have to fear? Can we get to a place of peace even in the face of a possible pandemic?

A recent trip to the clinic for an MRI on my shoulder helped me realize that receiving a correct diagnosis alleviates a lot of the stress and suffering that comes with injury or sickness. Jesus came to give us a correct diagnosis, to pinpoint the cause of human suffering, sin and death. What he found might surprise you!

Why is it so self evident that willing participants learn better than captive participants? Some on this, as well as a continuance on the subject of the history of the western hemisphere, and how the pursuit of money influenced many "good" people to make some horrible decisions, decisions which negatively affected millions of people over hundreds of years, namely chattel slavery.

A poor attempt to celebrate Black History Month. I am grossly under qualified to give a podcast on African-American History, but still felt the need to contribute what I could. Is racism dead? Will it ever die? Racism is alive and thriving in today's world. How can a willingness to engage with a person's history, contribute the the alleviation of racism?

What are some of the influences that have made you who you are, have programmed you to think the way that you think? Is it even possible to have a truly open mind? A bit of a scatter-brained episode, but perhaps there is something here for everyone!

The differences between people, cultures and religions are legion. But aren't there many things that everyone, everywhere agree on? How can a focus on our commonly held beliefs and truths better facilitate intercultural dialogue? Apologies for the rain noise. God caught in a downpour.

Did you know that every individual person has a unique way of comprehending the world? That everyone wears a different lens, and even when we observe the same event, we will perceive in differently, that our unique lens dictates what we see? We may know this, but we usually act as if we don't. This podcast is in preparation for an omnibus lecture series that I gave in January at Ibaraki University...

Here we go again. The US is in another conflict with another country. How the US mistakenly is perceived as a chosen people when actually, we are just the newest Babylon. How knowing the truth about this will go a long way in bringing you closer to the heart of Jesus.

Greta Thunberg is shaking things up in the world. What is she after? What does Peace mean? Shalom? How does that relate to reconciliation? How does that relate to the environment?

SO SORRY for having the sniffles during this podcast (and others). But, being true to my original format, I don't edit (except for whole podcasts deemed worthless). In this episode, I talk about the Bethlehem Candle, the second candle of Advent, and why it is sometimes referred to as the Bethlehem Candle. Bethlem is associated with faith in that the people were patiently waiting for the coming Mes...

Archeology is giving us a very different picture of the environment where Jesus was born. More myth busting of Christmas traditions-in a good way!

Vamping on trees, and how the Christmas tree can be a great and meaningful metaphor. Also, so myth-busting on Christmas trees.

A make-up podcast after losing a recording to weak batteries... This is a reflection on a church planting conference which I attended here in Japan with my friend Cam.

Sorry for the delay! Changing formats recently has added a few steps in the process and revealed my laziness. AND it's just been a very busy winter. But, in the spirit of staying true to my promise, I have been recording podcasts, just not getting them released. I will try and release a few or more a week in order to catch up. Thanks for your patience and for continuing listening.

We are told to pray. Many times by many disciples and Jesus. We are told that even when we don't pray, the Holy Spirit prays for us. So why pray at all? What is the benefit of prayer? How does it work? I don't have answers, but I do explore two ideas here that might start the conversation.

If at all, in what circumstances does God allow us to employ violence to solve problems? Are there any circumstances where Jesus employed violence (toward the living or dead)? Did he hurt anyone? If not, what do you use to justify your own violent proclivities?

What or who is the Word of God? Is it the Bible? Is it Jesus? Can it be both? If we revere the Bible as infallible and inerrant, are we putting it in a place of worship? Are we adding a fourth member to the trinity?

Could the metaphors of Hell throughout the Bible be describing the process of coming to the end of one's self, the process of realizing that all you have been longing for and searching for in yourself and the world and its systems either are unattainable, or worse, once attained did not satisfy? Is the process that brings you to the loving arms of Jesus Hell?