Tales of Glory

Did Jesus spend three days in the Grave? We move our timeline investigation to Wednesday morning, the Day of Preparation, which marks the day of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. In this episode, using scripture to rebuild the timeline, we identify the day that Jesus departs for the underworld of Sheol! Tales of Glory, episode 142, is part II of a 4 part multi-episode investigation that rebuilds t...

Did Jesus spend three days in the Grave? If Jesus died on Good Friday in the late afternoon and was resurrected on Sunday, how does this accounting add up to three days? Is the Bible wrong about the three days, or are we missing something in the Western Church? This question is of personal significance to me. Tales of Glory, episode 141, is part I of a multi-episode investigation that rebuilds the...

In episode 140 of Tales of Glory, we are back in the Torah, the book of Exodus, chapter 34. Moses works to restore God's covenant with the Israelites. As Moses meets with God, his face becomes radiant. God promises to deliver the Israelites from the tribes in the land. Timeline: 00:00:00 Intro 00:05:00 Exodus 32 and 33 Recap 00:08:06 Exodus 34 intro 00:13:08 Preparatory Measures verses 1-3 00:...

This is the first of a two-part episode in which we explore Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 4. In part 1, Saint Teresa explains the difference between spiritual betrothal and the Christian covenant of matrimony. As the soul goes deeper in its relationship with God, it will encounter severe trials and warfare from the devil. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Opener - Interi...

In episode 135 of Tales of Glory, we are back in the Torah, the book of Exodus, chapter 33. Chapter 33 continues from the Golden Calf engraved image incident, where God is angry and wants to withdraw His presence from the Israelites. Timeline: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:27 Exodus 33 intro 00:09:43 Withdrawal of the Divine Presence verses 1-6 00:14:02 Moses' Exceptional Status verses 7-11 00:19:33 Di...

We are exploring Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fifth Mansions - Chapter 3. The Fifth Mansion is the prayer stage of spiritual betrothal. Saint Teresa explains that the Prayer of Union is dependent on the soul practicing the two commandments: love God and love the neighbor! Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Opener - Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 2 00:01:10 Introduction - Welcome 0...

Diving into Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fifth Mansions - Chapter 2. The Fifth Mansion is the prayer stage of spiritual betrothal. Saint Teresa explains the stages of prayer development from ascetical to mystical through her classic analogy of the silkworm becoming the butterfly. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Opener - Interior Castle Fifth Mansions Chapter 2 00:01:10 Introduction - W...

In episode 135 of Tales of Glory, we explore the Golden Calf incident in the Torah, Exodus chapter 32. Did Aaron create an idol of Ba'al worship? Or was it something else? Find out why many Christian social media influencers present this story wrong. Timeline: 00:00:00 Intro 00:06:03 Exodus 32 intro 00:09:20 The Making of the Golden Calf verses 1-6 00:19:23 God's Anger and Moses' Inter...

Today, our guest is Abby McKee from The Shift podcast. She is an outstanding prophetic evangelist, dream interpreter, outreach minister, biblical minister of high integrity in scriptural interpretation, and master sourdough baker. Abby discusses 1 Peter 2, where we are the living stones of Jesus. We get some insight into the dangers of false prophecy revealed in Jeremiah 28. 00:00:00 Introduction...

Diving into Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fifth Mansions - Chapter 1. The Fifth Mansion continues the spark from the prayer of union lightly experienced in the Fourth Mansions. In the Teresan nature of explaining mystical experiences, the spark intensifies in the Fifth Mansions. Saint Teresa has a hard time explaining this interior prayer experience. She says the soul is in a sw...

Diving into Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fourth Mansions - Chapter 3. The Fourth Mansions are the transitionary stages of prayer into the mystical experiences. Saint Teresa introduces the Prayer of Recollection, where the soul is supernaturally pulled into the presence of Jesus. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Opener - Interior Castle Fourth Mansions Chapter 3 P7 00:00:42 Introduction - In...

Diving into Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fourth Mansions. The Fourth Mansions are the transitionary stages of prayer into the mystical experiences. Saint Teresa introduces the Prayer of Quiet, where we feel the presence of Jesus. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Opener - Life Chapter XIV - The Second State of Prayer 00:00:55 Introduction - Interior Castle Fourth Mansions Chapter 2 00:02:34....

Diving into Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, the Fourth Mansions. The Fourth Mansions are the transitionary stages of prayer into the mystical experiences. Saint Teresa explains the differences between consolation and spiritual sweetness in prayer. Timeline: 00:01:15 Show Intro - The Interior Castle Fourth Mansions Chapter 1 00:01:26 Brief Intro to the Fourth Mansions 00:02:27 Paragraph 01...

You made it through the first three mansions of the Interior Castle. Your soul has persevered through all the reptiles and trials. In the Third Mansions chapter, part 2, Saint Teresa discusses the importance of renunciation and why we shouldn't ask for spiritual consolations and favors in prayer. Timeline: 00:00:36 Show Intro - The Interior Castle Third Mansions Chapter 2 Part Deux 00:01:13 Brief...

The soul has mastered this praying lifestyle. It knows how to pray and contemplate the Holy Scripture. However, the soul has become too aloof in its prayer abilities and frequently experiences consolation during prayer. So, God puts the soul through trials to purge worldly attachments in preparation for the deeper mansions and stages of prayer. Timeline: 00:00:39 Show Intro - The Interior Castle T...

The soul has made great strides and progress in building its interior prayer life. Praying is now a lifestyle, and a relationship with Jesus is flourishing. Then, all of a sudden, the soul feels distant from Jesus, and the momentum of praying stalls. The buckets from the well are coming dry. The soul is frustrated, but Saint Teresa encourages us not to worry because we have entered the Third Mansi...

How does the soul know it has entered the Third Mansions stage of prayer life? What are the struggles and trials of the soul as it works to avoid temptation and venial sin? The battle can be so intense that the soul may want to quit or backslide. The soul is capable of connecting with God, yet it now feels distant. Teresa has experienced this, and she shares her wisdom about the Third Mansions! Ti...

In Tales of Glory 125, we learn from The Shift podcast co-host Meagan Wright how she follows Jesus's voice, builds small communities with souls, and effectively makes disciples. Meagan, a mom, grandmother, creative and contemplative soul,  worship leader, and a missionary in her own backyard. Meagan discusses how Jesus led her to the desert to build a spiritual oasis. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Intro...

How does the soul know it has entered the Second Mansions stage of prayer life? What kind of struggles and warfare does the soul embrace as it tries to move deeper into Jesus? Over the last three episodes of The Interior Castle, we acquired our fundamental knowledge of prayer life and the practice of His presence, and we are invited to move into the Second Mansions. Timeline: 00:00:00 Show Intro -...

We're diving into Saint Teresa's fascinating treatise on prayer - The Interior Castle. As we wrap up the First Mansions chapters 1 and 2, we take a slight but necessary detour into Saint Teresa's other books, Life and Way of Perfection, to identify a method of prayer she calls recollection. The soul must understand and implement the prayer of recollection to progress from the First Man...

Discover how to go deeper in your prayer life with Saint Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle. In the First Mansions Chapter 2, Teresa emphasizes the need for self-knowledge, humility, and a fear of offending God in our prayer life. Following the discussion is a spiritual exercise to use self-knowledge in your prayer time with Jesus. Timeline: 00:00:00 James 1 v14-15 00:00:32 Introduction 00:02:2...

Discover profound ways to weaponize scripture in your daily prayer life as we learn from spiritual warfare and dead-raising veteran Bishop Rodwell McLean. Bishop Rod shares his battle-hardened wisdom and thoughtful insight on developing a powerful prayer life drawn from his experience expelling demons, healing the sick, and dead-raising. Learn how to draw strength from the Lord and His promises in...

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the intriguing intersection of ascetical and mystical stages of prayer in building a deepening prayer life. Mike delves into the fascinating information in Saint Teresa of Avila's treatise on prayer, The Interior Castle, and unpacks the various forms of prayer she instructs us to use to develop a life-changing, deeper relationship with Jesus Christ...

In episode 119 of Tales of Glory, we have some amazing guests from Whitney Outreach ministries—Pastors Don and Maria Whitney. I always think of Don and Maria as the Josh Gates Expedition Unknown of the missionary world. Like Josh Gates, they have some incredible stories in the regions they've served. The Whitneys are personal friends of mine and accomplished missionaries who have built Holy Sp...

In episode 118 of Tales of Glory, we're having a fireside chat to debrief the ministers who participated in the Spiritual Authority Bootcamp ministry session on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Freedom Culture. Students were trained last summer in spiritual warfare, and we decided to get the class graduates back together to minister in a live deliverance environment and expel unclean spirits. It was...