The Bridge Builders Forum

Send us Fan Mail Jews and Christians have a complicated history, marked by distance and often hostility. Recently, this relationship has improved, with both sides seeking respect and understanding. However, there’s still a lot of work to do to repair and strengthen this connection.  Gidon Ariel, an Orthodox Jewish teacher, is dedicated to healing the rift and helping build the bridge between Jews...

Send us Fan Mail Was Paul legalistic? Most people would say, “Absolutely Not!” There’s no way, shape, or form that Paul was legalistic. Right? Well, there’s a little problem with dismissing this question. Paul’s letters include several sections with detailed legal discussions, which advise his Gentile Christ-followers how to appropriately apply Jewish law in their situation. So does this mean that...

Send us Fan Mail It is traditionally assumed that when Paul became a Christian, he no longer kept the Jewish and Biblical kosher dietary commandments recorded in the Bible.  How does that commonly held viewpoint harmonize with multiple New Testament texts that affirm Paul as a Torah/Law observant Jewish follower of Jesus?  Check out this 3-minute video to find out! Bridge Builders Forum An educati...

Send us Fan Mail Can learning Jewish insights and Hebrew words help Christians grow in faith?  Many Christians are discovering that learning the Jewish roots of their faith and a little bit of Hebrew goes a long way toward a deeper faith and a better understanding of the Bible.  “Aussie” Dave Adamson is a pastor dedicated to helping Christians understand the Bible through Hebrew insights. And Auss...

Send us Fan Mail Paul’s physical appearance has captured the imagination of many! Ancient and modern commentaries and artistic depictions of Paul frequently present him as average-sized and healthy. The New Testament does not provide explicit details about Paul’s physical appearance. However, clues in Paul’s letters, the Book of Acts, and later sources suggest that Paul's physical features we...

Send us Fan Mail It is widely assumed that Saul the Jew became Paul the Christian on the Damascus Road. According to traditional interpretations, this name change resulted from Paul’s conversion from Judaism to Christianity. But does the New Testament actually say that Paul experienced a name change? And why does this matter? Ryan's book on Paul, "The Weird Apostle" Bridge Builders...

Send us Fan Mail The path to greatness typically includes a lot of practice, ups and downs, and honing your craft in an environment where only a small number of people know what kind of work you’re putting in to climb the ladder. Making it to the “major leagues” in any field…typically requires a commitment to a journey filled with peaks and valleys. As a professional baseball manager coaching in t...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus was called Rabbi. John the Baptist was also. But how about Paul? Was he a Rabbi? And does that make a difference in how we understand the Apostle to the Gentiles? Check out this short video for the sense in which we should and should not think of Paul as a Rabbi. Ryan's book on Paul, "The Weird Apostle": https://a.co/d/fsGrhg6 Bridge Builders Forum An educatio...

Send us Fan Mail For two thousand years, this question has stumped commentators and inspired a lot of creative interpretations. There’s a consensus that Paul’s “thorn” in 2 Corinthians 12 is symbolic. Paul’s not referring to a literal thorn. But what does the thorn represent? Ryan's book on Paul, "The Weird Apostle": https://a.co/d/fsGrhg6 Bridge Builders Forum An educational entity...

Send us Fan Mail Heroes and villains, classic scenes, and transformative stories are why we love the movies. Those same things draw a lot of people to the Bible. Faith and good films spark our sense of wonder and inspire us to live with purpose and hope. But what kind of connections exist between the silver screen and the pages of Scripture? Holden Hardman has thought extensively about this inters...

Send us Fan Mail Healthy relationships require hard work and a lot of wisdom! However, it can be hard to find proven and practical relationship help. Thankfully, Jewish tradition offers a lot of direction to help us nurture positive relationships. Today on The Game Changers Forum, we will discuss relationships and Jewish wisdom with Rabbi Yossi Lerman. Rabbi Yossi will share some practical ways th...

Send us Fan Mail What does Hannukah have to do with the country music singer Chris Stapleton? Well, not a whole lot. But there is a surprising link between one of his songs and this ancient story that took place in Israel over two thousand years ago. Chris Stapleton’s 2020 hit song, “Starting Over" is exactly what the Jewish people had to do in the Hanukkah story. Starting over is typically n...

Send us Fan Mail Does the God of the Bible allow people to protest Him? Is it okay to vent frustration, hurt, and even anger toward God? Sadly, many people have been hurt and even lost faith because of religious perspectives that discourage or condemn protesting God in any way. In this episode of the Game Changers Forum, we will discuss “protest toward God” with Joshua Brumbach, who has not only d...

Send us Fan Mail Motivation and inspiration are overrated concepts. Of course, these things are very important. But success is less about feelings…and it’s not even as dependent on our goals as we might think. Progress and Happiness are more related to our habits and systems. Some habits that lead to success are obvious. Others are more subtle. Today on The Game Changers Forum, I will share three...

Send us Fan Mail The Apostle Paul believed he stood on the edge of the end times. He was persuaded that Jesus set God’s prophetic clock in motion, and in his mind, that clock was moving fast. Typically, Paul’s short-term view of time is underemphasized or ignored. But Paul’s Jewish, apocalyptic, end-times mindset is a huge factor in understanding his letters. Today on the Game Changers Forum, we w...

Send us Fan Mail Israel has a wine production heritage that goes back to Biblical times. But for most of the past two thousand years, you would be hard-pressed to find a bottle of wine made in the Holy Land. But that all began to change in the mid-1900s. And today, Israel has over 300 wineries producing some of the world's best wine. How did Israel’s wine experience such an unlikely resurgenc...

Send us Fan Mail The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans is one of the most influential pieces of literature in the history of Western Civilization. And no book within the Christian Bible has been more analyzed and emphasized than Romans. However, some big misunderstandings about Romans obscure how it’s understood. Today on The Game Changers Forum, we’re going to reframe Romans by looking at it th...

Send us Fan Mail Winning a World Series is something baseball legend Mike Toomey will always be known for. More significantly, however, Mike Toomey has built a legacy. He’s known worldwide for his generosity and commitment to giving back to his industry. Today, we’ll talk baseball with Tooms, but most importantly, we’ll talk about what we can all do now to leave a legacy we’re proud of. 3:50 Mike...

Send us Fan Mail Mendel Lerman is a young Rabbi passionate about inspiring people to grow through the power of Jewish wisdom. He’s part of a game-changing organization called Chabad, which has become a global movement impacting millions of people. What is Chabad’s secret sauce that allows themto have such a huge impact? We’ll discuss that question and more with Rabbi Mendel today on The Game Chang...

Send us Fan Mail Statistics affirm what many of us have observed regarding the state of young men in modern times. There is a growing lack of ambition, focus, and willingness to work and be independent. As a young leader and entrepreneur, Joseph Lambert sees this problem—and he’s trying to do something about it. In this episode, we'll hear Joseph's story and discuss how to inspire and el...

Send us Fan Mail Do you have a dream to write a book? Writing a book is extremely rewarding, but it's also tough work. Most people who start don’t finish. Recently, I wrote and published my first book. And I learned a lot through that process. In today's episode, I will share five ideas to help you write that book you’ve dreamed of. Bridge Builders Forum An educational entity dedicated t...

Send us Fan Mail The Apostle Paul is one of the most influential humans of all time. He is also one of the most misunderstood. "Saint Paul," as he is commonly referred to, is typically framed in terms that make him appear as a Western-minded modern Christian on a mission to start a new religion. That is the familiar Paul. But there's a problem with that Paul. That Paul is not the Pa...

Send us Fan Mail The Game Changers Forum Podcast presents game-changing ideas for a life well lived. This podcast features people and perspectives who are changing the game in leadership, relationships, health, personal growth, and spirituality—especially in the areas of Jewish-Christian relations, education, and bridge-building.  Every episode is dedicated to helping you elevate your game - right...