1. Do you sometimes feel like the closer you get to GOD the more you are misunderstood by man? If so isn’t this kind of weird as one would think that becoming more like Christ should make us more loving, gentle and meek so then in turn we should be easier to understand?

2. Leviticus 16:29 says: “And it shall be a statute to you FOREVER that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.". Now, I know that Jesus as the sacrifice is the new and permanent atonement for us, but why, knowing that Jesus would someday die for our sins, did a God command that we afflict ourselves, and why do we not honour this day when we were commanded to do so forever?

Q&A #156 - Jesus Healing in COVID 19, Fear Not and Does John 6:65 imply predestination

1. I also saw the discussion regarding my question about Jesus and what he would do today during COVID. I have a follow up question. If Jesus would continue to heal and lay hands on the sick IE Lepers what are the ramifications for us? Should we be doing this as well as we have are supposed to be able to do the same as Jesus did. John 14:12.

2. The Bible often commands us to ‘Fear not’, would fear itself be a sin because it is a command or would the sin of fear come more into play when we let it stop us from what God is calling us to so it becomes disobedience?

3. Does John 6:65 imply predestination? What does it mean?

Q&A #155 Sin or Foolishness, Are we supposed to be alone, Rich young ruler and Jesus in covid 19

1. The more I read the Bible the more I see the common themes of wisdom VS foolishness and holiness VS sin. My question is, is there a difference between foolishness and sin or are they just different perspectives in the same thing?

2. In Genesis God creates a women after seeing it is not good for man to be alone. But in Corinthians Paul says he wishes church members would remain unmarried. How do I reconcile this?

3. Is there a specific context that we should have in mind when Jesus tells the Young Rich Ruler to go sell all his possessions, and give them away? Just because I know that in some cases it's not very wise to give away all you have because then you become dependent upon other people to help you, and you can't really help people yourself in the way you could if you had those resources.

4. If Jesus were physically here today would he disobey the government and continue to ignore social distancing, lay hands on people and encourage mass gatherings for messages?

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Resources Listed

Q&A #154 Apprenticing Jesus, is Eternal Fire a real place?, dying twice and does God have seven spirits?

1. (1:40) I would like to ask that if you had one book to suggest on how to best apprentice JESUS, what would it be?

2. (11:30) In Matthew 25:41 Jesus talks about being cast into an eternal fire. Is that a real place or is that a story telling mechanism?

3. I understood that it was appointed that we each die once. In Revelation 21 v-8 it states that those that receive the lake of fire "hell" are given a second death, How can you die a second time? I thought your next place was permanent?

4. (21:20) Twice in revelation it says that God has seven spirits, but I thought there was only one spirit, the Holy Spirit. Who are the other six?
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Resources Listed

(Book) The Great Omission - Dallas Willard

(Book) The Divine Conspiracy - Dallas Willard

(Book) After You Believe - N.T. Wright

(Book) The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

(Book) Reading Revelation Responsibly - Michael J. Gorman

Q&A #153 Security, New scriptures, modern sacrifice, marriage help, and being transformed

1. (0:41) For security reasons should the church not be locked during the day when there is only the secretary there?

2. (1:15) Last week you talked about how many books can be inspired by God but only the Bible is regarded as scripture? But isn't that only because a group of Christ followers decided the books we have are important, hundreds of years after Jesus left and all the disciples died? What's stopping that from happening again with modern "inspired" books so there is less room for misinterpretation due to cultural issues we misunderstand in the new testament?

3. (11:20) The Bible talks so much about sacrifice and how its important to sacrifice to the right thing in the right way. But I'm having trouble putting those terms into modern society where we don't sacrifice anything anymore. How do I apply all these teachings on sacrifice to this time we live in?

4. (18:30) In addition to prayer to soften my heart and his, which I’m already doing, is there anything else you can recommend to encourage my husband to take a more active role in our home? Whether it’s household tasks, taking care of our kids or praying and doing a Bible study together he acts like he’s doing me some big favour by participating in our lives. I want him to step into his role as leader in our home but he seems to have no interest and any conversation I try to have with him about it is met with defensiveness and not an openness to hear my heart. I thank him and tell him often how much I appreciate what he does do and affirm him often but honestly, it’s exhausting sometimes to thank him for every single thing he does that is just part of being an adult. I’m drowning carrying it all myself but no matter how many times I share that with him it only helps for a couple days and then it’s back to business as usual. I’m open to any suggestions you may have.

5. (26:30) Romans 12:2 says "do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." I used to think this was simple, but as I get older I see more and more how I am so conformed to cultural patterns right from childhood that I don't even know what renewing my mind means, and so I am never able to experience the transformation I long for. I've looked to history to learn how, and I just can't seem to find anyone who really has shed their cultures patterns fully so whatever transformation they experience seems to die in their lifetime or shortly after. This seems to be the story of every revival ever. Is it actually possible to live out Romans 12:3? If so how? And if you have an answer how does anyone know it isn't confirmed to culture as well?
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Resources Listed

(Book) Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer

(Book) Growing True Disciples - George Barna

Q&A #152 Female Voice, Jesus a Nephillim, Inspiration, Sex, Joel Osteen, Enneagram, Evolution, Change the church and parenting

1. (1:29) I do enjoy your panel, but I think it would be enhanced with the female perspective. Where are the female pastors?

2. (2:30) Is Jesus a nephilum? And if so is that bad?

3. (5:15) Of course Jesus' words are the Word of God, and New Testament writers were eye-witnesses but is it really the only Word of God? I feel when 2 Peter and 2 Timothy talks about scripture being God-breathed, they are referring to the Old Testament (since that's all they had at the time). I am not saying many of their words were not Spirit-led (they were) but when, for example Phillip Yancey prays before he writes a book that the Spirit will lead him, will the Spirit not lead him? Will his book not also be led by the Spirit. In one letter Paul is specific to say that this particular opinion is not of the Lord, but of him (1 Cor 7:12).

4. (9:15) There seems to be a lot of different religious views on sex. In your view, what is the purpose of sex? Is it only for procreation?

5. (10:20) I've been listening to a lot of Joel Osteen sermons and I really have been impressed by God's promises to bless us materially, but my in-laws have been following his teachings for years and they are still poor as dirt. How come God promises material blessings to everyone but not everyone seems to receive those blessings?

6. (23:09) What are your enneagram numbers?

7. (28:01) In previous conversations on this podcast, there has been discussion about the possibility of human evolution being a tool God used to created humans. Entertaining this possibility, at some point our evolutionary ancestors were really just animals and not humans at all. does that open the possibility animals can have some sort of relationship with God? Does that mean animals were also made in the image of God, or at least could eventually become a creature that is the image of God?

8. (35:45) I you could change one thing about our church, what would it be?

9. (37:40) I keep hearing that we need to parent our kids like God parents us. And usually the sentiment behind that is that God shows a ton of grace until he has no other choice but to use discipline. However it seems the parents that tell me this have kids that are out of control. I don't really know what to think about this because on one hand God's children, the Israelites, acted this way as well. But on the other hand, the wisdom of proverbs, and many other stories in the Bible, seem to promote discipline to ensure a child is not spoiled. Thoughts?

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Resources Listed

(Video) L.a. Marzulli on the Nephilim - The Nephilim Trail by LA Marzulli - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDW7VQozgB4&feature=share

(Book) Lost World of Genesis One - John Walton

(Book) In the Beginning - Henri Blocher

Q&A #150 - Illuminati, Mega-church pastors, Nephilim, Wexit and the Shack

1. The illuminati - what is the church's take on its existence and its potential link to satanism?
2. Why are so many well known pastors of mega churches and other influential church leaders being caught up in adultery the past few years? These pastors seem to come from different denominations and geographical areas, so what is the common factor?
3. What are the Nephilim the old testament talks about? Are they still around?
4. What's your take on wexit?
5. Have any of you watched the movie "The Shack" And if you have what is your opinion on it?

1. I have a friend who has been wrestling with self harm and suicidal thoughts because of his anxiety and depression for a long time and he has gone to the hospital lots and they just give him more pills and the pills make him feel awful and more depressed and numb and then he gets more anxious. I believe God wants to help but how?

2. In our current state on earth we have pain, death, suffering, sadness, boredom, and other not so pleasant things. However without pain and death, exploration and adventure in God's beautiful creation would lose much of its excitement. Without pain and the risk of exposure, relationships would not require hard work and could never be as deep and meaningful as they are here. Yet the Bible says that in heaven, there will be no more pain, death, or tears. As good as that sounds, I wonder if an eternity without those things would get tedious no matter how much pleasure and fulfillment in God there is. What are your thoughts on this?

1. In Revelation 12:11 it says that “they have conquered him (the accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” I would think that most people who claim to be Christian’s would agree that “There is power ….. In the precious blood of the Lamb 🎶” But I don’t think I’ve ever thought of the idea that the word of our testimony would have any power over the enemy? Or in context, do you think this verse is saying that it is specifically only the testimony of martyrs that has power?

2. James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. Being people who teach, what does this mean to you personally?

3. I have to volunteer at a Christian charity with someone who always shoots down everyone's outreach ideas because the idea "could trigger someone". It doesn't matter the topic or idea, our team is being crippled because he wants to find gentle solutions and make sure nobody anywhere gets offended. Any ideas on how to address this?

4. At Christmas time, a man went into a church in the Southern States with a shotgun. The man was quickly disabled by armed security and members of the congregation who were armed. How would the staff who believe in nonviolence process this event given many lives were probably saved by people with guns in church?

5. I have one of "those" friends. The kind where they think we're way closer than I think we are, mostly because I don't really get along with them. Every time we get together I feel sucked dry, frustrated, and never want to see them again. They just don't see how terrible they treat everyone around them, and it hurts the most to see how bad they treat their own family. I've never seen them even try to love another person even though they say they love God. I'm torn because I don't see myself being close enough in relationship to call them out in a loving way, but I also have no interest in getting any closer, I just don't want to see them again. What do I do?

6. Buddhist principles are pretty mainstream - popularized in movies, shows and by celebrities. It seems to me Christians have accepted these principles and now incorporate a version of them in their practices. (Meditation, mindfulness, non-violence etc) Apart of me can’t help but feel it is wrong to accept and amalgamate another religion. Where do we draw the line?