Host Dave Lester and his friend Mike Mason are joined by Laura Pugh- a wife, a mother, a teacher and an advocate for the least of these- to talk about Genesis 15:12-21. The first half of Genesis 15 involved a beautiful vision of Abram's descendants being as numerous as the night time sky. Now comes a disturbing prophetic dream of Abram's descendants being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. On this episode, we talk slavery, the problem of suffering, views of the afterlife, ancestors and more.

Sources for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart Ehrman

*"Who Were the Kenites in the Bible?" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_kenites_in_the_bible.htm

*"Kenizzites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/k/kenizzites.htm

*"Kadmonites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/k/kadmonites.htm

*Hittites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/h/hittites--the_descendants_of_heth.htm

*"Who Were the Rephaites?" Gotquestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/Rephaim.html

*"Amorites" wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorites

*"Who Were the Canaanites and Why Did God Order Their Destruction?" by Mike Leake. biblestudytools.com. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-were-the-canaanites-and-why-did-god-order-their-destruction.html

*"Who Were the Girgashites in the Bible?" biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_girgashites_in_the_bible.htm

*"Who Were the Jebusites in the Bible?" biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_jebusites_in_the_bible.htm

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Dave Lester is joined by authors Billie Hoard (a previous guest on the "Drunk and Naked Noah" episode) and Dr. Paul Hoard (his literal neighbor down the street) to chat about their new book: "Eucontamination: Digust Theology and the Christian Life". The book is an intersection between theological and psychological ideas and is super fascinating, contains many CS Lewis quotes and contains relevant challenges for the church in our present age. We also relate a recent news story involving Rev David Black being shot in the face with a pepper ball while protesting the government's treatment of immigrants to disgust theology and eucontamination.

**Buy the book "Eucontamination: Disgust Theology and the Christian Life" right here: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385213726/eucontamination/

References for this episode:

*Read Dr. Paul Hoard's Substack: https://paulhoard.substack.com/

*Read Billie Hoard's Substack: https://substack.com/@billieiswriting

*"Freud's Last Session: Finding the Other in the Question of God" by Dr. Paul R. Hoard and Billie Hoard. The Other Journal. https://theotherjournal.com/2024/04/freuds-last-session/

**The Integrative Mindset by Brad D. Strawn and Earl D. Bland. https://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Mindset-Practicing-Association-Psychological/dp/1514002205

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Host Dave Lester talks about the horrific murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He also plays Charlie Kirk's ugly comments regarding race, DEI, affirmative action and more that have been called out by many people including the black community and black pastors. Analysis is offered regarding those comments. Furthermore, Dave discusses Kirk's comments about Taylor Swift's engagement and Kirk's surprising comments on the Tucker Carlson Show about Gen Z and economics.

Sources Used For This Episode:

**"Is Hate Speech Free Speech? What to Know After Charlie Kirk's Death?" by Angele Latham. msn.com. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/is-hate-speech-free-speech-what-to-know-after-charlie-kirks-death/ar-AA1MPeOx?ocid=BingNewsSerp

**"Eric Metaxes Answers Hard Questions About the Murder of Charlie Kirk" Real Talk with Marissa Streit. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=eric+metaxes+answers+hard+questions+the+murder+of+charlie+kirk&mid=243CFC256AC15541970F243CFC256AC15541970F&FORM=VIRE&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0

**"Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Finds Its Lost Cause" by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/charlie-kirk-ezra-klein-tanehisi-coates

**"Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps Vs Drawing Lines". The Ezra Klein Show. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-ta-nehisi-coates.html

**"Charlie Kirk: Black Crime is a Major Issue in Our Country" Media Matters. https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-black-crime-major-issue-our-country

**"Charlie Kirk: Affirmative Action Does Not Address the 'Real Problem' of 'Black Crime' and Black Fathers abandoning Their Children". Media Matters. https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-affirmative-action-does-not-address-real-problem-black-crime-and-black

**Charlie Kirk goes on Unhinged Racist Rant: 'Prowling Blacks Go Around For Fun to Go Target White People- That's a Fact." Media Matters. https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-goes-unhinged-racist-rant-prowling-blacks-go-around-fun-go-target-white

**"Charlie Kirk: 'If I See a Black Pilot, I'm going to be Like, 'Boy, I Hope he's Qualifed'" Meidas News. https://meidasnews.com/news/charlie-kirk-if-i-see-a-black-pilot-im-going-to-be-like-boy-i-hope-hes-qualified

**"Right Wing Pundit Charlie Kirk Claims Taylor Swift's engagement Travis Kelce is a sign she'll Become Conservative". The Independent-UK. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/charlie-kirk-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-engagement-b2814724.html

**"Charlie Kirk : How Debt Has Radicalized Young Americans" The Tucker Carlson Show. https://tuckercarlson.com/tucker-show-charlie-kirk-2025

**"I Forgive Him- Erika Kirk on Alleged Shooter of her Husband Charlie Kirk." https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=erika+kirk+I+forgive+him&mid=EE8F196A2DD5C821EEE6EE8F196A2DD5C821EEE6&FORM=VIRE&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0

**"Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy" by Haleluya Hadero Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/black-clergy-and-christians-grapple-with-charlie-kirks-legacy/

**"If You Are Elevating Charlie Kirk, Consider Who You Are Crushing Underfoot" by Nijay K Gupta. https://nijaykgupta.substack.com/p/if-you-are-elevating-charlie-kirk?fbclid=IwY2xjawM_6_xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsbgWctGNDZw8jKmHsK4RSaVTLT98Nbn0zy7b1DV8g6wv4L8Bga_iiinCL40_aem_wMsCyjml22syZZN7ud3vSQ

**"Proof Charlie Kirk Is Not a Racist" The Official Tatum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlv7YljaUPE

**"The Myth of Low Income Black Father's Absence From the Lives of Adolescents". By Jay Fagan. Future of Families & Child Well-Being Study

Host Dave Lester is joined again by long time friend, Mike Mason, to discuss Genesis chapter 15:1-11. We chat about Abram challenging God over his childless status. Then God makes a huge promise to Abram while ushering him outside on a clear night. The promise: Abram's descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Also talked about his acts of faith producing declarations of righteousness and the strange ritual of cutting animals in half and birds of prey being chased off.

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 by Victor P. Hamilton

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne by Wilda C. Gafney

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

On this special episode, host Dave Lester discusses the religious impulse in humanity to create sacred Scriptures (documents that human beings for a very long time have considered inspired by God). From that foundation, Dave gives a general survey as to when the books of the Bible were written and talks about the process leading up to their canonization and then transmission down through the ages.

Sources used for this episode:

*The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development and Significance by Bruce M. Metzger

*Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why by Bart D. Ehrman

*The Bible by Karen Armstrong

*Against Apion by Flavius Josephus

*First Apology by Justin Martyr

*Against Celsus by Origen

*Systematic Theology I by Dr. David Plaster (Syllabus)

*"Hinduism Religion" Britannica by Vasudha Narayanan and Wendy Doniger. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hinduism

*"Buddhism Religion" Britannica by Giuseppe Tucci and Joseph M Kitagawa. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Buddhism

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Having quite the challenging year, host Dave Lester shares about his cancer diagnosis and his journey (so far) this year. He also shares some reflections about faith and a Bible passage in Acts 17 that he has thought about.

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

On this special episode of the podcast, host Dave Lester discusses 3 author's thoughts and views of the Bible.

Sources used for this episode:

*The Bible by Karen Armstrong

*The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley

*Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne by Wilda C. Gafney

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

On this special episode, Dave Lester is joined by his son, Reuben! There is talk of favorite Bible stories, what kinds of Bibles Reuben reads and his favorite verse. It was so much fun!

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIrV Adventure Bible for Early Readers by Lawrence O Richards

*The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story by Sergio Cariello and David C. Cook

*The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Host Dave Lester is joined by his friend and former pastor, Brent Rood, to discuss the Lot kidnapping situation and Abram springing into action for the rescue. Abram leads 318 men on a daring night time raid against kings and their armies around the Dead Sea.

Brent also discusses his background in fundamentalism and his views of the Bible.

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 by Victor P. Hamilton

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Dave Lester is again joined by Mike Mason and they explore the strange text of Genesis 14 which involves two different alliances of kings going to war with one another around the Dead Sea. And then there are tar pits! And Lot is kidnapped!

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 by Victor P. Hamilton

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*"Battle of Siddim" Wikipedia article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Siddim

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong