Guitars and Theology Podcast

The Wednesday evening group helped me process a text from a friend. Then we talked about the question, "What is holiness?"

A real hero bleeds, fails, and grows, because the line between good and evil isn't out there, us and them, but much closer.

Was Jesus racist? What is the children's bread? And other questions... (from Mark 7:24-30)

This chat is about the leftovers in the multiplication of food miracles. It's about how we deal with leftovers historically vs now, and it's about what Jesus wants to do with broken people, and the broken pieces of our lives. Also, cheese is amazing.

47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he...

After Jesus raised a little girl from the dead one town over, we read in Mark 6 that he couldn't do any mighty works in his hometown because of their unbelief. What's up with that?

43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came t...

“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and NOT as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)

Why in the world were people so drawn to John the Baptist? What are some negative associations many of us have with the word "repent?" What is repentance NOT? What is it? What are 6 elements of a great apology? Is repentance easy or hard? This is based on Mark 1:1-8

The good The beautiful The true

2 Peter 3 seems as relevant as ever.

It isn't enough to avoid the wrong things (empty and sweep the house). In order to really live the abundant life we are designed to crave, we have to "fill the house." The question I keep considering over and over is, "How do we do that?"

People don't do what's most logical, we do what we believe will make us feel good. Science, psychology, and marketing all verify this, and it makes us often confused by our own choices and the choices of others. How do we leverage this insight for our thriving? How does this impact our approach to God and inviting others to the life of faith?

"The tongue is connected to the heart!" (Theresa said that during the chat.) James 3 provided the context of this Whiteboard session.

What matters most? This chat is about the bullseye of the target and what we tend to get sidetracked by instead. (Based on the parable of the good samaritan in Luke 10).

John 15:4-5 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

An easter message from Romans 5. "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Rom 5:10)

"As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life." John 3:14-15

The master of the banquet tasted the good wine, but didn't know where it came from. He completely missed both the miracle and the divine love it revealed. How often do we do that?

The Lord Almighty fights for us. Therefore teach us to fight with weapons of light, not carnal weapons the way of the cross, not the way of the sword to bless and not curse (Rom 12:14), to give thanks and not grumble. As we suffer injustice, following Jesus, we entrust ourselves to our Faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19) Pain and pleasure come and go, but God remains. So today...

Coming home to God also entails coming home to yourself and returning to what you've neglected and misused, learning from Jesus the art of really living.

"The Lord takes pleasure in everything he made." (Ps 104:31)

Don't avoid it. Don't get stuck in it. Go through. 5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. 7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Zion. (Psalm...

This chat centers around the concept of how transformation happens, which is by gazing upon the beauty of God seen in the face of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4 was the main text.

Psalm 63.