Q&A #167 Learning from Christians of Colour, Woke Church, Is Living Springs Opening?

1. I've never attended a segregated church. Yet every Pastor I have ever had has been white. 95% of the images I've seen of biblical figures have been white. The Christian college I went to had an all white staff. Even at Living Springs I don't recall ever seeing a person of color sitting in the center two sections. 
So two questions:
1) what can I do myself to better understand and relate to Christians of color and make them feel more welcome?
2) what can Living Springs do to promote and encourage Christians of color in leadership roles within the church?

2. I keep hearing about woke church, what does it mean?

3. Is Living Springd openeing soon, I see other churches opening?

Q&A #166 Supporting Israel, BLM Riots, Changing our white minds, protesting, combating racism in Canada

1. Does Living Springs support Israel....and if so...how?

2. General intro question - What are your reflections on the events of the past weeks, and the uprising that has occurred.  Would this have even happened to the same extent had we not been in lockdown (ie. Are they in anyway connected?)

3. Considering the phrase “black lives matter” – how do we need to change our attitudes as white people.  Recognizing there has been a strong reaction against it in some circles, is ‘white privilege’ a fair phrase?

4. Is there a place for protesting and should we be participating (would you?)  If not, how do you recommend we engage if we feel strongly

5. While we may not ‘feel’ the impact of Black racism here in Canada like in some places in the States, there are parallels here eg. Indigenous people groups.  How should we be thinking and engaging, supporting or lifting up minorities such as these?

Q&A #165 - Does God give up on people? Do my sins Ruin God's plan for my life?

1. Although we don’t rejoice in the demise of others do you believe there’s a point when God throws his hands in the air so to speak and gives up on Osama, Hitler or a Jeffrey Dommer

2. Do my sins ruin God's plan for my life?

Q&A #164 How should we live, conspiracy, hearing other opinions, leaning on God and I think you guys were wrong...

1. Paul argues that we should be living as foreigners and exiles here in this life. Does that set a precedent that we should not be active politically as Christians and instead just focus on caring for orphans and widows, the poor, etc?

2. I love myself a good conspiracy theory. But I read Isaiah 8 the other day and can't help but think God was telling Isaiah not to listen to any conspiracy theories and simply keep my eyes on Him, and . Am I reading this right or is there more context I'm missing?

Isaiah 8:11-13

For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:11‭-‬13 ESV

3. Last week you talked about exposing yourself to opinions that differ from your own to make sure you don't get stuck in your own cycle of bad ideas. But I've had friends expose themselves to ideas that led them down a road to rejecting the Bible because they liked the other ideas more. Isn't there a danger to exposing yourself to books and media counter to what you believe? I wonder if its not best just to stick to safe Christian books and ideas.

4. You talked about leaning on God in the last podcast, but what does that practically look like when I can't make my mortgage, I can't see my friends, my thought life is spiralling into a black hole, and just going to the store to get food (that I don't have money for) could kill me if I stand by the wrong person. "Leaning on God" Sounds really good in theory but seems really empty and powerless right now

5. In your recent chats about heaven you mentioned that you believe we will be able to remember this life. However Isaiah 65:17 says "For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind'. Did I misunderstand you or am I missing some context in the verse that would allow you to believe we remember former things in the new life?

Q&A #163 - Follow up, heaven healing the nations, knowing what is right, civil worship, end times, leaning on God, our stories, sharing the faith with kids

1) I’ve never heard of the idea of what heaven would be like quite like you all discussed it last week. Where are some of the Biblical references that would lead to those theories? I’d be interested in looking into it more. 

Also, along those lines of heaven being a place where we get to fully enjoy all that God has created, do you think that there will be sex in heaven? If so, does that mean you’d be with the same spouse you had on earth? Do you think that would mean people who die single never get that experience? What if their desires had always been marriage and family, could someone fall in love in heaven? Or have children there? 

The theory you’ve presented is fascinating and has so many nuances.
2) In revelation 2:14, in the letter to Pergamum, Jesus seems to be holding a few things against the church, including eating meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. Yet Paul writes at length in Corinthians that eating meat sacrificed to idols is not wrong in and of itself. So is Paul wrong? Is there different context between the churches? What's happening here?
3) It seems to me that, after binding Isaac on the altar, Abraham never returned to Hebron, but rather went down to Beersheba. Beersheba is also where Hagar had settled with Ishmael. It seemed that Abraham was never comfortable with Hagar and Ishmael leaving, and I've always wondered in the back of my mind whether Abraham and Sarah essentially "divorced" at this time, and Abraham went back to Hagar. I even wondered whether Abraham had rebelled against God for taking Ishmael away and that was why God commanded Abraham to do that to Isaac, ie. to call him on his challenge to God's authority. I even speculate whether, With A. being in Beersheba, Hagar (and the Arab nation) was able to prosper as God had promised. Although it's speculative, I can see it shaking out this way and I'd love a proper discussion on all this!
4) My devout Muslim friend often says she will will pray for me when I discuss an issue with her. It seems, and she also says, that her prayers are often answered. What is happening there?
5) Please differentiate between heart, spirit, soul, and mind. We seem to use these words interchangeably. I don’t think they are the same. Please help

Q&A #162 - Sex in heaven, meat offered to idols, Isaac a BIG rabbit trail, prayers of non-christians, soul/spirit/heart/mind

1) I’ve never heard of the idea of what heaven would be like quite like you all discussed it last week. Where are some of the Biblical references that would lead to those theories? I’d be interested in looking into it more. 

Also, along those lines of heaven being a place where we get to fully enjoy all that God has created, do you think that there will be sex in heaven? If so, does that mean you’d be with the same spouse you had on earth? Do you think that would mean people who die single never get that experience? What if their desires had always been marriage and family, could someone fall in love in heaven? Or have children there? 

The theory you’ve presented is fascinating and has so many nuances.
2) In revelation 2:14, in the letter to Pergamum, Jesus seems to be holding a few things against the church, including eating meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. Yet Paul writes at length in Corinthians that eating meat sacrificed to idols is not wrong in and of itself. So is Paul wrong? Is there different context between the churches? What's happening here?
3) It seems to me that, after binding Isaac on the altar, Abraham never returned to Hebron, but rather went down to Beersheba. Beersheba is also where Hagar had settled with Ishmael. It seemed that Abraham was never comfortable with Hagar and Ishmael leaving, and I've always wondered in the back of my mind whether Abraham and Sarah essentially "divorced" at this time, and Abraham went back to Hagar. I even wondered whether Abraham had rebelled against God for taking Ishmael away and that was why God commanded Abraham to do that to Isaac, ie. to call him on his challenge to God's authority. I even speculate whether, With A. being in Beersheba, Hagar (and the Arab nation) was able to prosper as God had promised. Although it's speculative, I can see it shaking out this way and I'd love a proper discussion on all this!
4) My devout Muslim friend often says she will will pray for me when I discuss an issue with her. It seems, and she also says, that her prayers are often answered. What is happening there?
5) Please differentiate between heart, spirit, soul, and mind. We seem to use these words interchangeably. I don’t think they are the same. Please help

Q&A #161 - Early Jewish/Christian Practice, What to do in Heaven and rage towards our kids...

1) In Acts 2:46 it says that every day the believers continued to meet together in the temple courts. Was meeting in the temple courts everyday a normal practice for a jew? Considering they were now under a new covenant, why did they keep meeting at the Jewish temple?

2) Q&A from my 15 yr old... What does God want us to do in Heaven? We’re supposed to tell others about Jesus on earth, but when we get to Heaven we all believe, so what do we do there? Important to know... the kid does not like music/singing, so praising Jesus is not an answer that flys with him. 😅

3) Any suggestions on how to get through the ever-growing rage I feel towards my children? They push and push and push and now that it’s never ending with no breaks I don’t have the time and space I need to recharge without them in my face constantly. I hate the mom I’m becoming when I’m so easily triggered but I just don’t know what to do when it just eventually boils up and pours out on them.

Q&A #160 - Love thy Gay Neighbour, Pain, Rage, Self-care, Addiction, LGBTQ+ Affirming, Jesus Destroying Satan and Ishmael

1) I often listen to several podcasts a pastor was asked will being gay send you to hell he said no being gay will not send you to hell being self righteous and rejection of the gospel will send you to hell . My wife works with several gays and my neighbour’s are gay they are great friends. We are told to love thy neighbor why do some church s will love there Hindu and Muslim neighbor s but not love there gay neighbor s 🤔what is living spring s believe

2) The Bible seems to indicate that in the next life, there will be no pain and suffering and we will live in peace. But do you think we will still bear the scars from this life's pain? Will we remember where we came from and the hurt we experienced?

3) Any suggestions on how to get through the ever-growing rage I feel towards my children? They push and push and push and now that it’s never ending with no breaks I don’t have the time and space I need to recharge without them in my face constantly. I hate the mom I’m becoming when I’m so easily triggered but I just don’t know what to do when it just eventually boils up and pours out on them.

4) My question concerns pouring ourselves out to n love for others. Pouring would seem to indicate emptying. Is there point at which we are being selfish in not helping someone? Where does one balance serving others and self care?

5) Is addiction actually a personal moral failure or is it a result of a broken world?

6) Is there room for LGBTQ+ affirming people in your church? While I understand your churches drive to love and welcome everyone in, do you think it is possible to be affirming while excluding LGBTQ+ people from participating in leadership, marriage and in the churches beliefs?

7) The Bible says the messiah will destroy Satan, but Jesus came to earth and left, and Satan is still here. Why? (asked by a child reading the action comic book Bible)

8) When SArah and Abraham decided to use Hagar to help God with His promise of a child, I am thinking that is sin / wrong.
The result is Ishmael, trouble amongst the family.
Is not Ishmael the root of the Muslim Faith? Which truly has many many many people...and are always in strife...which is also something God said would happen...consequences of the sin.
Please correct me if I am on the wrong idea here.

Why were we to believe it was a blessing? Why was the consequence of stepping ahead of God in our own not brought to the light in this story.
I agree God sees us, hears us and doesn’t abandon us even when we sin, or run ahead of Him..or not hear Him right though. Consequences are so real...Abraham contributed to the fall in a big way. But his faith was there.

1) With all the layoffs at church, what will happen with kids ministry when church starts back up?

2) I’m working with a Muslim we often share our belief s he was questioning if the prophet Mohamed was mentioned in the bible?

3) In reading Hebrews 5:15-16 it talks about how Jesus was faced with the same temptations we are but didn’t sin - do you think he never sinned because of the God part of him and therefore his closeness to God? Do you think it’s actually possible as humans to live a sinless life? It’s hard to understand that even as a child Jesus never would have lied to his parents or fought with his siblings or something.

4) If Jesus was walking on earth right now, and observed how we celebrate Easter and Christmas, what do you think he would have said about it?

5) We heard a lot from Jesus about what the kingdom of God is LIKE, and I understand that, like the church, it is not a place you go to, but that is is also on earth. So what exactly IS the kingdom of God?

6) I've been casually reading about the different views on hell since Doug preached on it this last year, and I've been struggling with the idea of universalism. I want to believe it because it's amazing, but it just seems to good to be true and it just seems like it's proponents have to jump through hoops to make arguments for it. Is universalism a legitimate belief that is a possibility or is it kind of like a prosperity gospel that just appeals to a deep cultural lie that we can do what we want everything will be alright?

7) I can't do most of my usual stress relief activities like going hiking with friends, going to the gym, or going to a pub to talk things out. I'm feeling like I'm drowning with life and have no way to cope so I just spend most of the day on my phone trying to connect with people and then I have trouble sleeping. I read the story of Jesus sleeping in the storm and really want to be able to do that, but I don't know how to apply that to myself. Help?

8) My younger kids are struggling with the whole idea that lots of people are sick and dying and we can't see our friends or go out because of it. Any suggestions on how to help them understand and work our way through this?

1) is Melissa coming back to the podcast soon? We miss her!

2) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. - Revelation 22:18

So if that’s in the bible, we can assume they knew someone was going to alter it...it was altered the second it was translated to a different language. Now we have an endless number of interpretations and endless debate on which version is right and wrong, is it not best to assume they are all incorrect due to no longer being in their original language and no one knowing 100% the proper translations... how do you decide what is the truth and what has been altered to suit the current ruler at the times will?

I have cheat codes where I talk to God and God responds... does every Christian have that? Because I had a buddy who was raised Christian recently abandon it because he was mad God wouldn’t talk to him...

3) Does God have a purpose in causing the coronavirus or is it just random?

4) I have a christian friend who likes fine art. He has a painting of a beautiful scantily clad woman in his house, and it doesn't seem to bother him or his wife. Is having art like this sinful?