Geocaching Scripture

We zoom it this time to talk about the Mark of the Beast, 666, in Revelation 13. John’s strange symbol/cipher has spillt much ink in speculation as to what he was talking about. Was it a riddle we are supposed to sleuth out? Was it a veiled reference to leaders at the time he was writing? Does Kirk Cameron know? The answer is...well, complicated. It brings in symbolism, apocalyptic genre, linguistics and all kinds of fun stuff. Tune in.

Dan and Josh are back in the mineshaft talking through table etiquette in the first century. Minding your manners back then wasn't just a matter of good form, it was the nerve center of social interaction and cultural exchange. So, when Paul tells them to bring someone's lifestyle and character into consideration, he's asking for quite a bit. We also talk through various awkward meals and family occasions. 

On his last night before being executed, Jesus takes the time to wash 24 feet. What was important about this moment? Why did Jesus do the grunt work? Guest host, and Josh's dad, Angus McDonald, helps us talk through this ancient, hygienic practice that suddenly became utterly meaningful. Father and son talking about the Father and Son. Enjoy. *episode pic is the very lovely Heather McDonald having her foot washed at our wedding. 

We look at Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the temple in Luke 21. This is often mistaken for language about the Second Coming itself, which is probably inaccurate. Jesus discusses the devastation of the temple and the change in God's relationship to humanity that follows. Dan discusses being left in a tree stand in the dark for the rapture and Josh talks about weird things he saw on the beach this one time. 

Melchizedek is a strange character who walks out of thin air and encourages Abraham in Genesis 14. Then he appears again briefly in Psalm 110 and makes one more cameo in Hebrews 7 and environs, never becoming much more clear. Us nerds take a look at who he might've been and how he plays into the story, and also how we can hold faith without knowing everything. We also consider marketing "Nerds in the Word" official cardigans, but we will wait for your votes. 

Peter eats with Gentiles and then wusses out and Paul calls him out on it. Circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, Kosher eating, these were the signs of Israelite identity, what are the signs of this new Christian community? We talk through this, and discuss cowboy hats and board shorts and compulsory ankle tattoos all of an early Wisconsin Morning. 

The podcast formerly known as GEOCACHING SCRIPTURE, now known as Nerds in the Word takes a gander at one of the stranger conversations Jesus has. He sees a Gentile woman and says, essentially, "What up dog?" Why would Jesus address her with this common ethnic slur? What does this conversation mean? We go into linguistic background, we go into ethnic context, we go into the Targum because why not and try to get to the bottom of this one. We also announce our new name, new look, same old geeks. The interrupting cow makes a brief appearance, followed by the interrupting sloth. 

It's negative five degrees and it's time to party! Josh and Dan discuss James 2, where the irascible old apostle forbids favoritism among God's people. Why was the so important back then? What did it mean in that society, and what does it mean in ours? Tune in, and help us find a new name for the podcast...

Lazarus and the rich man – a familiar, if somewhat confusing, story from Jesus about these relatable opposites. What do the details tell us? Why does Jesus give the beggar a name? Why does the rich man speak to Abraham? Also where to go in the New York subway for a geocache. 

Jesus cleansing the temple is an episode we can look at over and over – there's much to see here. On a certain day in a certain moment, Jesus disrupted the center of Israelite identity at the time, crashing symbols and making waves we still feel today. We talk through the significance of the word "robbers" (it's not what you think), the importance of welcoming all people and what you can find at the grave of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood.