Acts 17. Paul made sense of the scriptures the Jews had been reading their whole lives, but the hardline Jews were threatened by the story of Jesus and furious with Paul. Confronted by truth, they ran the truth out of town. But Paul continues on, opening the scriptures wherever he went, changing his approach as necessary and winning converts to the Gospel. God has invaded the world bringing radical life change in his wake.
Pastor Daryl is back. A soulless, AI country artist is marching Trump had a rough week. 50 yr mortgages, H1b visa holders needed to replace "untalented" Americans, "prices are coming down!" Trump needs to get back on brand. Is the Washington machine blunting MAGA & MAHA? Has MTG lost her Georgia mind? Are UAPs just a spiritual distraction leaking into the physical world? Can Autistic kids read minds?
Acts 16:16-40. Todd worships too big for his church. The Devil is the father of lies, but he often uses the slices of the truth in his attempts to trip us up. Paul didn't need or want the endorsement of demons. When he throws the demon out, local business leaders whip up a riot and Paul and Silas are caught in the storm. But even in jail, they still find a reason to praise, and God has a miracle waiting for them in the midst of injustice and mistreatment. God is always at work.
Carrie’s back from her first cruise. Government shutdowns, SNAP benefits, and an utterly useless Republican Congress. Obamacare was always designed to fail and push us into a single payer system. Are younger voters souring on Trump? Either Trump’s team is incompetent or the system may be a Gordian knot too big to unravel. The reevaluation of the Israel narrative is healthy. The 1958 Universe 25 Experiment eerily mirrors society today. “When a population no longer needs to struggle for survival and no meaningful roles exist… social and behavioral collapse becomes inevitable.”
My lovely daughter Kate and her lovely friend Sophie joined me for this week's Beers With Jesus while Carrie is off cruisin'. It was ladies' choice for the story this week, and they chose the prodigal son. We explored the setting for this story, the characters' perspectives and challenges, and we found ourselves marveling again at the overwhelming, ever widening forgiveness and love of God.
Carrie is gone this week, trying to reason with hurricane season, but my friend, former pastor Daryl, fills in and we discuss the current topic many on the right are tearing themselves apart over - the modern state of Israel. Together, we try to find the truth behind the evangelical claims that God blesses those who bless Israel.
Acts 16:1-15. Intro opinions on tithing. God demands all. Quick Screwtape Letters review. After Paul fiercely argues for gentile Christians' freedom from the demands of the Law, he seemingly caves to the Jews and circumcises Timothy. But perhaps it's not as contrary as it seems. Though tribalism is necessary in the world, among Christians, we leave tribalism behind and embrace true brotherhood in Christ.
31ATLAS, the mysterious outer space phenomenon is racing toward earth. Alien invasion now scheduled for around Thanksgiving. Observe, Prepare, Understand, The Gate Awaits. Or maybe it's just a big space rock. We discuss the mad dash to AI and advanced technology. There are no brakes on this ride. What exactly are we rushing toward? What are we chasing? Are we trading are humanity for a Suzanne Sommers robot? And, of course, the government shutdown and news of the week.
Acts 15. The early Church grapples with letting the laws and traditions and customs of Judaism go while embracing the new work Jesus was doing among the outsiders. Doctrines and practices are formed even while institutionalism is destroyed. Is grace enough, in spite of how badly we want to add requirements to God's salvation. We want to out-god God. Todd & Carrie wrestle with the predominate view of hell as eternal punishment.
Peace is breaking out in the Middle East, and all because of Trump and his cooperation with surrounding Arab countries. The days of extreme Muslim terrorists may be coming to an end. America is no longer Israel first. John Fetterman is more based than many Republican senators. Sweden, like all of Europe, is falling to the Muslim invaders they've willing let in. Diversity is not our strength. Tish James, NY AG, is screaming again. It's FINE if democrats commit mortgage fraud! All on the NY state tax payers' dime.
Paul and Barnabas challenge the existing structures and systems of every town where they bring the Message of the Gospel. The closer God gets, the more threatened worldly systems grow. And often, the spirit of the age responds in violence. But Paul and Barnabas don't back down in the face of resistance. As Christians, taking the message of Christ to the world, we must be attentive for those on whom the Spirit is working, those who are ripe for the complete life change to which Jesus calls us.
Democrats shut down the government to give more freebies to illegal immigrants, the largest part of their base. Trump isn't perfect and his administration certainly isn't, but when Trump trolls the left, I fall in love all over again. New pope may be a leftwing lunatic. Mormons and Israeli fan fiction are taking over Todd's X feed. Can we have a rational conversation about Israel? Probably not, unfortunately.
On his first missionary journey, Paul takes the pulpit, breathes deep and dives in to tell the Jews the good news of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Initially, those in the synagogue are receptive to Paul and Barnabas, but soon jealousy takes over and the Jews create an ugly scene. They had no place for living God in their lives. Paul & Barnabas just shake their heads and move on to the outsiders and many in the city respond with joy and receive the message of a new hope.
The FBI is on the Charlie Kirk case; check back in 50 years. Our government is ready, willing and able to lie to its own citizens. The Jimmy Kimmel psy-op by Disney saved freedom of speech. Hillary Clinton is scared of white Christian men. The UN hates America. Is there a place for political retaliation? Trump must get a grip on kitchen table issues fast. The world wasn't ready for Kamala and Mayor Pete's chest-feeding apparatus. Is there justice coming for parents lied to about the training of their kids?
Acts 13. The church at Antioch was blessed with gifted preachers and teachers. In that fertile soil, God prepares Paul for authoring much of the New Testament. "In that circle of intensity and obedience." God uses both proclamation and demonstration of the faith to bring lost sheep home. God uses a wide variety of gifts and personalities working together to accomplish his will.
Charlie Kirk. The man. The legend. Charlie's was a life well lived. Though he was killed for his Christian faith and strong political opinions, Charlie's legacy lives on. We explore his impact on us personally and his wider impact on the culture. Then the FBI and law enforcement lies began almost as soon as he was killed. Why does our government always fabricate the dumbest stories? Where do we go from here?
Herod scores political points with the Jews by killing James and imprisoning Peter. But while Peter slept between two guards in peace, the church prayed. Once the angel shows up, Peter's deliverance still required obedience. Jesus frees us, but we have to follow him out of the prison. The early church prayed with expectation.
While Trump is declaring war on crime in Chicago, leftist politicians are lining up shoulder to shoulder with the criminals. Disgraced Fed Governor Lisa Cook wants lower rates for her but you. The entire deep state is going to war with Big Pharma against RFK Jr for protecting our children. The trans movement is an attack on women. The Senate is one of the last deep state holdouts, filled with RINO squishes. America's leftist government taxes citizens to fund a Muslim invasion of the West.
Acts 11. God is widening out his covenant to all Jews & Gentiles, beginning with Cornelius, and though God is clearly at work, Peter must deal with the fallout with the rest of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. When God bursts out of the carefully prepared boxes churches set for him, Christians always get uncomfortable. We want a predictable God and an entertaining Sunday Show. When God starts to shake things up, too often the faithful are left shaken.
Delusional trans storm troopers are hunting Christian children. "Hate crimes" are ridiculous. Take crime seriously & stop trying to read minds. Democrats continue to light their own party on fire in protest to Trump actively making America great again. JD Vance drops truth bombs. How will Trump deal with the housing crisis? Cracker Barrel bends the knee to America. Slim Shady has opinions. Humanity is unbalanced.