SkyPilot: Faith Quest

This episode looks at the season of Advent and ways of observing it that are so important to some Christians that they will become angry if these traditions are changed.   ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle? Contact me via email:     Dan@skypilot.zone And be sure to check me out on Facebook:  https://www.facebook....

This is an episode designed to help discover how much we have to be thankful for. If you would like me to send you either of the two items mentioned in this podcast, please email me @  Dan@SkyPilot.zone ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle? Contact me via email:     Dan@skypilot.zone And be sure to check me out on F...

The question for this episode was submitted by a listener.   Obviously, there is no way to definitively answer the question, but the quest promises to be fun, interesting and *hopefully*  humorous. ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle? Contact me via email:     Dan@skypilot.zone And be sure to check me out on Facebo...

This podcast takes a look at a edict from Kublai Khan regarding gambling to see how it relates to the creation story in the book of Genesis. ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle? Contact me via email:     Dan@skypilot.zone And be sure to check me out on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest ...........

Mark Twain was an author, humorist, and a courageous voice of change in a tumultuous time in our nation’s history. With as often as he spoke on the contentious subjects of the day, it would be easy to see him as a man who lived without fear regarding the consequence of his words.  But there was one story that he wrote that was considered so potentially incendiary he chose to not publish it for fea...

Miracles are tricky things.  They were (and are)  the razzle-dazzle that attracted so many people to Jesus.  But they also leave many modern readers feeling as if they no longer live in the time of God's wondrous works.     This podcast episode takes the story of the healing of Blind Bartimaeus  ( Mark 10:46-52) as an opportunity to discover how we might approach these miraculous stories in o...

A recent sporting even had a most curious thing happen: a player got cheered and then booed  by the very same fans without any of the game having been played yet.  This podcast episode tell that story, explores the strangeness of this event, and then explains how it reveals us something about human nature and our relationship with God.  ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theo...

Last week I ended the podcast by saying that tolerance is not our goal. Some of the response to that episode asked this question: "What's wrong with tolerance?" This week we take a look at the word tolerance, what it originally meant,  what it means today, and ultimately what might be a better alternative. ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or reli...

Have you ever wondered where the writings of Dr Seuss and and Paul's letter to the Roman church intersect?  Have you pondered what this intersection may mean to how you are to live your life or how you are to view others?  No?   Oh well, this episode answers those questions - even if you have never asked them. ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious...

Most of us grow up hearing the age-old advice: in social settings, avoid talking about politics and religion. Interestingly, Facebook (a social network) is inundated with both. This episode explores the nature of many of the religious posts on Facebook, and explains why they are so troublesome.  ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would l...

In 1950, after a friend experienced the death of a family member, Albert Einstein wrote him a letter of condolence and comfort. In the letter, Einstein described a particular singular focus as being the "one issue of true religion”. One can't help but pay attention when Einstein implies that either a religion deals with this particular issue, or it is a false religion.  This episode shar...

Recently, our daughter suggested I watch the tv show Ted Lasso. After much reminding, I finally watched it and encountered something I hadn’t before. This show is hopeful and makes me feel good. It got me thinking: what is so different about this show? This episode answers that question.  ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me...

Vacations are supposed to be a time of rest and renewal, and – at their best – a time of self-discovery and learning. But sometimes they are little more than times of scheduled activity without any sense of reflection attached. Our most recent vacation was a literal deep dive into rediscovery. I learned an old lesson in a new way. ——————————-——————————————————————————— Have a spiritual, theologica...

The title of this episode is the opposite of click-bait.  We tend to shy away from the unfamiliar - preferring to seek out experiences that are comfortable and familiar, and except to a very few of us, this name is VERY unfamiliar.  And yet, Wa-ThooHuk is someone you have very likely heard of...just by another name. This episode tells about his story, ventures into  a very famous part of his story...

This is the final installment in a three part series           # 75 Who Is this Guy? ( the story of Josephus)          # 76 What Is So Special about 70?          #77  Who Were The Pharisees? For many of us in the Christian faith, we know know two things about the Pharisees: 1 - Jesus was critical of them 2 - They were all hypocrites One of these is true, and the other is not.  This episode attempt...

This is the second in a three part series           # 75 Who Is this Guy? ( the story of Josephus)          # 76 What Is So Special about 70?          #77  Who Were The Pharisees? This episode takes a deeper look at the year 70CE and explains why it is important to scholars when studying Christian scriptures. It also reveals why this date was such  a turning point for Judaism and Christianity.  ——...

This is the first in a three part series:           # 75 Who Is this Guy? ( the story of Josephus)          # 76 What Is so Special about 70?          #77  Who were the Pharisees? One of the most important dates in Judeo-Christian history is 70 AD.  The events that occurred that year would dramatically change Judaism forever, and profoundly affect  the way we approach Christian biblical scholarshi...

I recently saw a post on Facebook.  It expressed the poster's desire to win the lottery and finally be able to make the world a better place.  I was struck by this post because I myself have also purchased lottery tickets while quietly made plans to make the world a better place. And so, this episode was born.  It asks the question: can winning the lottery really help me become more generous?...

It is easy to be dazzled by spectacle, and the Bible is no different. Jesus can walk on water or restore sight to the blind, and suddenly we find ourselves awestruck - incapable of seeing anything by his really amazing miracle. But, often the spectacle is actually keeping us from seeing a more important lesson within the story.  This podcast looks at the miracle of feeding the 5000, attempts to lo...

The question for this episode was taken from a Reddit group. It caught my attention because it is a question caught between the traditional theological response on one hand, and  the observations of everyday believers on the other. Any first-year theology student knows what the answer to this question is supposed to be – if you are following in line with tradition.  But as is often the case, the c...

There are those who believe that science is the enemy of faith, and those in the science community who believe that faith is the very antithesis of their chosen field. I have always loved studying science AND theology, and I don’t see my passion for both as needing to be reconciled, but, rather, that they actually compliment each other. There certainly are differences between the two, but where is...

There are lots of similes and metaphors for the love of God.  This podcast offers three: One taken years ago from our son's preschool classroom, another from a retreat I attended in my early ministry, and the third is my favorite (and of course, my own creation).   Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle? Contact me via email:     Dan@skypilot.zone And...

This podcast combines a terrifying passage from scripture, another passage we don't talk about very much (concerning the way Jesus died), and some scripture passages that probably get far too much attention. It is an attempt to deal with the Bible openly,  honestly, and reverently, while endeavoring to make sure that everyone is seen as beautiful children of God. Have a spiritual, theological...

The hymn I Sing a Son of the Saints of God says, "You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too." But...what makes someone a saint?  This episode tells the story of a mentor of mine who exhibited what I believe to be an essential trait of anyone who is trying to l...

Paul's letter to the Galatians says that God's followers will display the following traits: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control."  Episodes of this podcast have given a lot of attention to love, but perhaps it is time to take a look at the rest of the list.  This episode explores our elusive quest for joy.  It looks at...