Itinerant

There is something magical about walking through the woods when every leaf is turning a brilliant shade of orange and red. The warmth perceived in the colours of the leaves create the most brilliant offset to the cooler days and longer nights. As the sun sets through their canopies, they reflect their fiery colors back into our vision as a reminder that the sun’s warmth will soon return anew.

Fall is here. The days are officially shorter and the nights, cooler. The warmth of summer has began to fade. The beautiful allegory of nature marches onward. And its wonder is imbedded in our creative thought and it brings us a hope of a plentiful harvest.

The Autumn Equinox has a way of inspiring people, including myself, and giving them a melancholic joy for the time to come. It’s as if the humid fog begins to clear and though the earth may start to still, the heavens begin to come alive inn a clearer, deeper way. We begin to feel small and yet content. The metaphor of life moves around us and we are part of its exotic dance.

Pardon the poetic prose, I just can’t help but to attempt to paint just how inspiring this season is. It brings most of us a joy that sinks into our bones, deeper than the cold and warmer than the mid-day sun. And this isn’t a new feeling. Autumn has inspired beautiful parables and poetry as long as mankind has charted the turn of the earth herself. And that is what I want to explore today. Let’s take a deeper look at how the Autumnal equinox has inspired our deeper, esoteric minds to grasp the beauty of religion in a way no other season can. Oh, and to our Southern Hemisphere listeners, bookmark this and circle back in about six months. We will get there in time.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com.

I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit us there at https://therecklesspursuit.com.

And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

There was once a boy born of a virgin. His mother’s name was Mari and her husband’s name, Joseph. He was born in a cave and was heralded by angels foretelling his coming to shepherds who watched their flocks by night. At age 12, he attended a special write of passage and at the age of 30, he was baptized in a river - though sadly his baptizer was later beheaded.

He had 12 disciples, performed miracles, cast out devils, and healed the sick. He was called the Son of man, the good shepherd, the way, the truth, and the light. He delivered a sermon on a mountain. And on one dark day, he was crucified on a cross between two thieves, was buried in a tomb, and was said to have raised from the dead on the third day. His symbol became known throughout the world as a symbol of life and atonement. And of course, the man we are speaking of had a name. though it might not be the name you are expecting. His name was Horus, the Egyptian god of the air.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com.

I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit us there at https://therecklesspursuit.com.

And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

In the 13th century BCE, two men found themselves standing before one of the greatest rulers of their time. As they stood in his courtroom, they boldly demanded that their people be freed from years of captivity. You see, the man leading the charge held a special position in this court. Despite being a descendant of Abraham, he was raised in this very palace as a prince. But how could anyone turn a blind eye when faced with the torture and murder of your kin. It was time to take action. God had raised him up and gave him favor for such a time as this.

Moses and Aaron beseeched Pharaoh to release their people in the name of the Lord but the Egyptians were a people of many gods. To demand the release of slave labor and throw their entire civilization into shock was not in Pharaoh’s interest. He had no commitment to the God of the Israelites and saw no need to do as Moses and Aaron commanded. Even after Pharaoh demanded proof their God was indeed real and Aaron cast his rod to the ground and it became a snake, Pharaoh did not care enough to set their people free. After all, Pharaoh’s court magicians were able to perform the same works, albeit their snakes did end up as a snack to Aaron’s.

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened to them. In order to free their people, it was going to take more than a parlor trick or a smooth tongue. It was going to take something much, much worse. It was going to take blood.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com.

I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit us there at https://therecklesspursuit.com.

And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

Around 970 BC, a young boy, only fifteen years of age, took his seat on the throne of the promised land. Despite being younger than his brothers, he was appointed as king over Israel due to a covenant previously made between his father and God. He was an offering; a symbol of atonement if you will. A token of peace after his father’s lustful nature brought discord between he and the Lord. But soon the young boy would grow into arguably the greatest king to ever rule over God’s chosen people.

He did many wonderful things for the nation of Israel. It was by his hand that the first temple was constructed. Under his reign, Israel became exceedingly wealthier then they had ever been. But none of this is what we think of when we think of the heir to David’s throne. What we think of first and formost is wisdom. Wisdom that far exceeded what is considered normal. Wisdom given directly by God upon the king’s request.

After receiving such a gift he would go on to write the book of Proverbs, a few of the Psalms, as well as Ecclesiastes and a self titled book of poetry about his romantic pursuits. Yes, King Solomon is one of the most influential biblical characters you will come across, and my personal favorite. But wisdom comes at a price, a very high price. And that cost is the price of knowing because sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com. I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit us there at https://therecklesspursuit.com.

And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

In the Country of the Gadarenes, around 30AD, a small ship could be seen drifting in from the west. Upon the sea af Galilee, a group of men had just survived one of the harshest storms one could imagine surviving. Of course, they had a miracle worker on board so they had that going for them. Upon docking, A man approached from nearby. But this was no ordinary man. As a matter of fact, this was not just a man at all for the Bible says he was infested with demons.

Naked, bruised, and living amongst the graves, this man had been known to all the peoples of Gadarenes as a demoniac. People lived in fear of this crazed man who had been tormented by a legion of spirits. They would bind him in chains and detain him outside of the cities to keep him from stirring up trouble but due to the strength the spirits lent him, he would in time snap the shackles from his wrists and would be free to roam the cemeteries and trouble the people once again.

I call it irony, but the idea of a man possessed freeing himself from his shackles to be (and I use air quotes here) “free” and yet still being tormented by many demons is an interesting foreshadow to what was about to come. It’s almost symbolic in a sense because freedom, at least for this man, was right around the corner. And upon coming out to meet Jesus at the bay, this is exactly what he received. With a simple one word answer the pleading demons were cast out of the man and into a heard of pigs which met their fate there on those cliffs next to the sea.

Demons are an intricate part of our religion, yet so many of us have absolutely no idea what they even are, much less how they got here. We see them as members of some satanic army but what if I told you that maybe, just maybe – they were all in our heads – or at least, were.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com. I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit us there at https://therecklesspursuit.com.

And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

Imagine deciding who would be your next business partner based on the flip of a coin. Or deciding which car to buy based on a roll of the dice. Need to find out if someone has been lying to you? Play a quick game of eeny-meeny-miny-moe. Yea, that ought to do the trick. To say someones guilt can be based on a draw of the hat or a major life decision should be taken up to the odds of a coin toss would seem to be bordering on frivolity, by far one of - if not the furthest thing from a rational idea one could have. Many Christians would argue I’m sure that such decisions should be taken to God in prayer first. Some might even argue that the idea of a game of luck deciding one’s fate would be passing into the realm of witchcraft, allowing the devil to decide one’s outcome. Even the name, cleromancy just sounds a bit too wicked for most of us.

But despite our discomfort with this idea, the fact is that cleromancy is at the core of some of the most major decisions in Christian history. From the Jewish counsel to the apostles themselves, they all used cleromancy to decide God’s will. In the Bible this practice took on quite a few forms but the one we know best I’m sure will ring a bell. It was a few small sticks, stones, or other material tossed on the ground and read based on their height or color. These practices are best known to us simply as casting lots.

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Thank you for joining us this week on Itinerant. You can find out more information about this show at itinerantpodcast.com. Itinerant is presented by The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is dedicated to offering a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. My wife, Elaine and I address a new topic every week to help those of us who desire a community that is welcoming and not judging of our questions. If you feel like a christian outcast, like church hasn’t had the answers you need, or maybe you’re still in church but just need a little something extra, then The Reckless Pursuit might just be for you. Find out more about it at therecklesspursuit.com. There you can also find all of our links to our social media and all things Itinerant as well.

Now, Go bravely and keep digging. You never know what you might find.

“The apostle to the apostles”, The one whom Jesus loved more than the disciples, The first witness to the resurrection of the Christ. - These are all identities given to a woman so deeply ingrained in christianity that the amount of falsehoods about her life far outnumber the facts. Though only mentioned briefly in the gospels, she has sparked countless stories, doctrines, and ideologies that the church has tried to suppress and mould but have yet been unable to. Who is this woman that held such esteem with Jesus Christ Himself?

Her name is Mary. Mary of Magdala but we most likely know her by the simplified name, Mary Magdalene.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Itinerant. If you enjoy the show, take a moment to subscribe, rate, and share it on with a friend. Word of mouth is a powerful thing and your recommendation is much appreciated. You can find out more about me and the show at itinerantpodcast.com. I co-host another podcast called The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. And until next time, keep searching, you never know what mysteries lie ahead.

To the ancient Greeks, he was known as Deucalion, the son of Prometheus. The Hindu call him by the name King Manu as found in the Chronicle of Matsya Purana. The Quran labeled him as “The true messenger of God”. And of course, the Mesopotamians capture a detailed and all but familiar version of him in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Yes, this man is known by many names but the most common and familiar has yet to be said. You most likely know him simply as Noah.

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Thank you for joining us this week on Itinerant. You can find out more information about this show at itinerantpodcast.com. Itinerant is presented by The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is dedicated to offering a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. My wife, Elaine and I address a new topic every week to help those of us who desire a community that is welcoming and not judging of our questions. If you feel like a christian outcast, like church hasn’t had the answers you need, or maybe you’re still in church but just need a little something extra, then The Reckless Pursuit might just be for you. Find out more about it at therecklesspursuit.com. There you can also find all of our links to our social media and all things Itinerant as well.

Now, Go bravely and keep digging. You never know what you might find.

Christianity as we know it has been shaped by an untold number of lives and events throughout history. Much like how limestone is slowly washed away to create stunning natural works of art, so too has our faith been shaped by the acts of others that for better or worse, are forever held captive in the structures of religion. Sadly, many of these aspects of our faith have long been swept off by the current of time but if we look close enough we can still see the unique thumbprint they left behind. Join me, Cody Johnston, as we travel upstream into the depths of Christian history to better understand the people that have influenced our faith. But let me warn you, the journey might leave you with more questions than answers. This is, Itinerant: Biblical History Beyond The Bible. Presented by the Reckless Pursuit.

Visit Itinerant online at: http://itinerantpodcast.com

This show is brought to you by The Reckless Pursuit. The Reckless Pursuit is a show dedicated to providing a safe place for Christians to ask unsafe questions. If you need a community of people where you can talk about your questions safely, we might just be your tribe. No matter your current church status or even religious views, all questions are welcome to help us grow and lay down our spiritual baggage. So if you feel like a spiritual Nomad we invite you to stop and rest. The journey is long but the beauty lies within it. Visit The Reckless Pursuit here: https://therecklesspursuit.com/