Baldhead Bible Podcast

Ruth and Naomi are back in Bethlehem, home for Naomi, but foreign territory for Ruth. Naomi is happy but sad to return "empty" to the place she left ten years ago. How will these two make it in a society where they are dangerously close to being in financial and physical peril? Plus, this was the time of the Judges where people were even less concerned about the poor, the widowed, the marginalized. See how God takes care of these two women, and along the way, learn something about God's grace toward us.

I am making this week's Baldhead Bible Aftershow: Waxing the Dome available to everyone as I want to introduce you to Pastor Todd Burrow of Bennington Bible Church. This week we are talking about the book of Ruth as that is the new series that we are starting this week. This aftershow episode is free this week, but normally the waxing the dome conversations are only available to our supporters. So if this episode has piqued your interest and you would like to gain regular access to the aftershow, please consider being a supporter of Baldhead Bible Podcast for only $1 a month. By becoming a supporter at that level you will be able to listen to these 10 minutes or so aftershow podcasts where I talk theology and other stuff with my friends. Go check out the various levels that you can support the podcast at patreon.com/baldheadbible.

Welcome to the new series on the book of Ruth. This is a beautiful story of how God is with His people, and He rewards those who choose Him in the middle of a corrupt society. We begin by meeting Naomi and Ruth at one of the darkest moments in their lives when all hope seems lost. Will God protect His people, how will Yahweh provide for them? Listen on to find out.

WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT. I would encourage all parents to listen to this podcast before deciding whether to let their child listen to this week's episode. It is one of the saddest and most brutal stories in the Bible. If it were a movie it would be rated R. But it is also a story that ends the book of Judges, and the writer put it there to make a point. And it is a timely reminder to our contemporary society as well: of what happens to a culture that decides to live by "doing what is right in their own eyes."

Things were bad during the period of the Judges. Israel turns more and more towards apostasy and away from Yahweh. The writer of Judges wants to give us examples of what life was like during this time, and so for the final chapters of the book, we will hear tragic stories of people turning from God. Sad stories, but meaningful stories that we can learn a lot from even today.

This is the final installment in the Samson part of the book of Judges, and boy does Samson go out with a bang. Sadly, it does not end well for Samson, but if he is going down, he is going to take a bunch of Philistines with him.

Welcome to a new show for Baldhead Bible Podcast. It's called Baldhead Bible Aftershow: Waxing the Dome. This is where I chat about stuff that intrigues me in the story I just told, or I share extra content that I was not able to include because of time, or I interview unique and interesting people that can give some insight on the book or character we are currently studying. For the premiere episode of Waxing the Dome, I am interviewing one of my best friends, Pastor Chad Wagner, and I am getting his take on the book of Judges. In this episode, we learn the judge with whom Chad would choose to hang out at a coffee shop and Chad's love for crunchy peanut butter. Baldhead Bible Aftershow: Waxing the Dome is free this week, but, starting next week, it will only be available to our BHBP supporters. To find out more, go to https://www.patreon.com/baldheadbible

Everyone is beginning to know the name of Samson. In this episode, we hear about three exploits of Samson that were so amazing, so miraculous, that the Philistines began to fear his name. What were those fantastic feats that struck fear in the hearts of every Philistine? Listen on to find out.

Samson is a young adult now, and he has decided to get married. A time for rejoicing, right? Well, as we will see with Samson, he tends to live for himself, and this is no different. He's breaking the heart of his parents by marrying a Philistine woman, and he is continually breaking his Nazarite vow with seemingly no notice of God in his life. Yet God chooses to use him despite his failures, and this story is as much a story of the grace of God as it is of Samson. Listen to hear more.

Now we begin the story of probably the most famous Judge of them all. He was big, he was brawny . . . or was he? What does the Bible tell us about the man Samson? This week we learn about Samson's birth and the encounter his parents had with the pre-incarnate Jesus, and we also learn the importance of obedience.