On her 21st birthday, Queen Elizabeth pledged that her lifelong motto would be "I serve." We pay tribute to her for this noble sentiment, and remember that this character quality is the commandment of all true disciples of Christ, according to Jesus in Matthew 20:25-28. In this episode we will contrast the experience of Jesus' followers with the lessons God has been teaching the human rulers of earth. Picking up where we left off in the preceding episode, we examine Psalm 2, and look at the career of Mikhail Gorbachev to see how he was more malleable than most rulers of men in human history.  The Baltic Way, the end of the Cold War, the breakup of the Soviet Union, are presented as evidences that we are nearing the time when a new kind of social structure will be established on planet Earth: a "sabbath" of rest for the entire human race.

When describing the Power of the Cross in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul notices that most people are not impressed. Though Christianity seemed to spread to a place of world domination for many centuries, Paul's words have always remained true: the world at large, whether Jew or Gentile, sees the Cross as an evil or a folly. In this episode we look at the way in which the "the basest of men" govern humanity, apparently with no divine oversight. We will learn from Jesus' statement to the disciples in Matthew 20: those who think and act like Jesus must learn to serve others instead of behaving like lords. We study Daniel's encounter with Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4: God is secretly placing limits on the players on the world's stage.  And from Hebrews 11 we see that faith opens our eyes to God's hand in human history. "There is a Providence which shapes our ends", Shakespeare observed, and this lesson focuses on the visions written down in Daniel and the Revelation. In Part 2 we will look at recent history to see the momentous impact of a person who has been used by God to bring momentous change to the entire world: Mikhail Gorbachev of Russia.

When we listen to God we often try to turn up the volume. But it seems the ancient prophets didn't hear it clearly until they turned their faces toward the wilderness.  In this episode we explore the experiences of Samuel, Moses, Balaam, Jonah, Paul, Barnabas, Zecharias, Mary the mother of Jesus, and others. How do we seek God's word, and what do we do when we receive it? The Bible is full of insights. 

It is Near focuses on the alarming and the hopeful; the frightful and the forgotten; the blinding glare of giant problems, and the dark secrets that lurk even more menacingly in the shadows of global trends. "Amazing Grace" may have taught our hearts to fear, but for most Christians and non-Christians alike, divine grace as commonly conceptualized does not those fears relieve. It is Near will be informative, accessible, comforting, and challenging to every thinking person. It will call Christians to account and provide a breath of fresh air for secularists who, for once, would like to hear a conciliatory and intellectually honest message from a thoughtful Christian voice. Owen Kindig of Sitka, Alaska is your host, and is responsible for the content.

"Even the bad news is good news."

Two actors on the biggest stages of the world go off-script and cause a stir. What can we learn without pointing fingers? A charitable discussion of the limits of human power and the arc of history. The meaning of faith in Hebrews 11, the humbling of one of history's most famous kings in Daniel 4, and a prophecy of the celebration of a planet in Isaiah 14.  With  observations from Russian history and practical thoughts about dealing with our own anger issues. All as part of the series on Strength and Weakness.

The devastation of Ukraine weighs heavy on my heart, and in this episode I turn to the words of David in Psalm 9 and 10 to voice the sadness and yet hope that all people of good will feel at times like this.

Do we reap what we sow? Does deal with us as with sons? Are we like clay in the hands of a potter? All 3 of these metaphors have a Bible basis but don't fully reveal the way God's grace works in our lives. As we work to understand the role of weakness and trials of faith in our lives, we step back to view an overview of what God does in the life of every Christian with this teaching on "God's signature".

Why do good people get run over? This multi-part Bible study starts with the prophecy of Joel 4 and explores the weakness of God's people and part one of understanding the "weakness of God. "

In this more in-depth teaching that launches from Psalm 15, Owen looks at the decisions and deeds of characters of the Bible. 

Welcome to the first episode of Good Words. Psalm 15 is our topic -- the Five Rs of Strength.  We will reflect on righteousness, resolve or resoluteness, responsibility, resilience and results.

All weigh in on the "times of restitution of all things".  All people gain life, joy, peace, justice. Hear the prophets' words: Zechariah, Daniel, Isaiah and more.