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It is Near
It is Near episodes
- Power of the Cross - Part 2 - Queen Elizabeth and Mikhail Gorbachev
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.
46 min - Power of the Cross - Part 1
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.
51 min - Listening to God
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."1 hr 9 min - Will Smith and Joe Biden on the Big Stage
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.
49 min - Lament for Ukraine
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.
59 min - God's Signature - 3 Metaphors for how his work of grace changes us
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".
41 min - Manliness. (Virtue regardless of sex) A sermon that starts with Psalm 15
In this more in-depth teaching that launches from Psalm 15, Owen looks at the decisions and deeds of characters of the Bible.
43 min - Weakness. A Bible study about real strength. Part 1
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. "
28 min - The 5 Rs of Strrrrrength, a study of Psalm 15.
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.
19 min - ABC's of Salvation 4 - ALL people receive a "feast of fat things"
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.
8 min
About It is Near
From the publisher's feed
For most of its history Christianity has promised blessings for its adherents and curses for those who doubt.
Now, for the first time in the Church's long reign, questions about the…
major claims of Christianity are overwhelming the "gospel".
Is Christianity losing the battle for men's minds? Yes. Is this a tragedy? No. It appears to be the Plan, becoming more clear every day. "It is near" examines the evidence.
Most Christian podcasts seem breathless in their self-defense of "the faith".
Gotta prove that God exists. Gotta set the record straight. Gotta battle atheism.
Gotta defend the Bible. Gotta warn people of future wrath.
"It is near" takes a different approach. First of all, the wrath if almost over. We're living through the "day of his wrath" right now. Just beyond the trouble -- which is aimed at human institutions, especially Christendom, is peace and tranquility that no one dares to hope for. "Even the bad news is good news." Yes, the Bible is true, but events will make that clear soon enough. Yes, there are good reasons to believe there is a God behind all of creation. But he is a much better God than the Church has ever taught its adherents, or explained to the world outside. Much more gracious. With a solution for every human problem, and a refusal to justify the sins of the Church herself.
The notion of human history that begins in disgrace, is haunted by tragedy, and ends in failure for the masses of mankind, is too outrageous to accept. Time for new messages: for the Christian, we say "Turn away from 'turn or burn.''" For the skeptics, we say, "The half was never told you. Of course there was a screw loose in the Christian "gospel" you heard. Of course the Church burned you and blamed you for leaving a dysfunctional human system. Of course a good God would end human injustice, cure cancer, protect the planet, and bring people together. And that's exactly what he's about to do."
The unbelievers' problem has never been with Jesus. He's always been likable enough. It's his Church that stumbles people and makes them look for a non-theocratic explanation of our origins.
Is it possible that Christians -- those who carry the burden of orthodoxy -- have gotten it partly wrong? Is it possible the Bible's depictions of God and his plans have been misunderstood? Is it possible there is significant "good news" that has been ignored?
The incredible claim of this podcast is that, in the face of ages of creed wars stacked against us, "when the Bible is more carefully examined, its message is a thousand times more comforting and more sensible than anyone imagined." Our mission is to prove this thesis to be true for non-Christians taught to believe they are responsible for the failures of our "Christian" world; and it is true for sincere Christians who worry about the myriads of people they have been taught will burn in hell -- including, often, their own closest loved ones.
Could it be that the geopolitical institution we call The Church is itself scheduled for self-destruction? Could it be her followers have been commanded to leave? That Reformation has already been tried and will no longer work?
Who are the words "Come out of Her, my people" addressed to? Who is commanded to "Avoid her sins. Escape her judgment"? See Revelation 18.
If you are interested in evidence that God sees, understands, and has good reasons for allowing crazyness to happen in the world he sent his Son to rescue, tune in.
Is Christianity losing the battle for men's minds? Yes. Is this a tragedy? No. It appears to be the Plan, becoming more clear every day. "It is near" examines the evidence.
Most Christian podcasts seem breathless in their self-defense of "the faith".
Gotta prove that God exists. Gotta set the record straight. Gotta battle atheism.
Gotta defend the Bible. Gotta warn people of future wrath.
"It is near" takes a different approach. First of all, the wrath if almost over. We're living through the "day of his wrath" right now. Just beyond the trouble -- which is aimed at human institutions, especially Christendom, is peace and tranquility that no one dares to hope for. "Even the bad news is good news." Yes, the Bible is true, but events will make that clear soon enough. Yes, there are good reasons to believe there is a God behind all of creation. But he is a much better God than the Church has ever taught its adherents, or explained to the world outside. Much more gracious. With a solution for every human problem, and a refusal to justify the sins of the Church herself.
The notion of human history that begins in disgrace, is haunted by tragedy, and ends in failure for the masses of mankind, is too outrageous to accept. Time for new messages: for the Christian, we say "Turn away from 'turn or burn.''" For the skeptics, we say, "The half was never told you. Of course there was a screw loose in the Christian "gospel" you heard. Of course the Church burned you and blamed you for leaving a dysfunctional human system. Of course a good God would end human injustice, cure cancer, protect the planet, and bring people together. And that's exactly what he's about to do."
The unbelievers' problem has never been with Jesus. He's always been likable enough. It's his Church that stumbles people and makes them look for a non-theocratic explanation of our origins.
Is it possible that Christians -- those who carry the burden of orthodoxy -- have gotten it partly wrong? Is it possible the Bible's depictions of God and his plans have been misunderstood? Is it possible there is significant "good news" that has been ignored?
The incredible claim of this podcast is that, in the face of ages of creed wars stacked against us, "when the Bible is more carefully examined, its message is a thousand times more comforting and more sensible than anyone imagined." Our mission is to prove this thesis to be true for non-Christians taught to believe they are responsible for the failures of our "Christian" world; and it is true for sincere Christians who worry about the myriads of people they have been taught will burn in hell -- including, often, their own closest loved ones.
Could it be that the geopolitical institution we call The Church is itself scheduled for self-destruction? Could it be her followers have been commanded to leave? That Reformation has already been tried and will no longer work?
Who are the words "Come out of Her, my people" addressed to? Who is commanded to "Avoid her sins. Escape her judgment"? See Revelation 18.
If you are interested in evidence that God sees, understands, and has good reasons for allowing crazyness to happen in the world he sent his Son to rescue, tune in.
You may be pleasantly surprised.