Life Truth Network Master Feed

There’s not a lot of random Internet topics to get us started, but we examine a common phrase that gets misused. The question is… is it Bible based? Or a myth? When hard times come, people often make this claim:

Everything happens for a reason in life.

Or… it only serves to make us stronger.

The statements hold a truth, but it isn’t as universal as people might like to think. An important condition holds the key. Without that important key, there’s no assurance behind the well wishes.

Romans 8:27-28 ESV

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We’ve touched on the word of the week before, but it bears repeating.

Word of the Week

Sanctification

The experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.

In other words, it’s something believers do. Though salvation, or regeneration, is freely given through the working of the Holy Spirit and the price Jesus paid, sanctification is the ongoing, life long process in growing to a higher moral level.

Got questions, or comments?

Let us know how we’re doing, or tell us how you found the podcast. Do you have a favorite show, or segment in the show?

Here’s your chance to tell us, and tell a friend.

Main Topic

The Definition of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

In a boiler room, it is impossible to look into the boiler to see how much water it contains. But running up beside it is a tiny glass tube, that serves as a gauge. As the water stands in the little tube, so it stands in the great boiler. When the tube is half full, the boiler is half full; if empty, so is the boiler.

How do you know you love God? You believe you love him, but you want to know. Look at the gauge. Your love for your brother is the measure of your love for God.”

What Love Is and Is Not

(1 Cor 13.4-7)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(ESV)

* Patience

* Kindness

* Contentment

If a friend gains something, are we happy for them, or upset we don’t have what they got?

* NOT prideful!

* Love places others over self

* Love is well-behaved.

* Love is not selfish.

* Love doesn’t help someone just to manipulate them for selfish gains.

* Love is not angered easily.

* Love won’t judge harshly without knowing the details.

* Love won’t jump to conclusions

* Love often gives the benefit of the doubt.

* Love isn’t always accepting.

* In the world in which we now live, love has often gotten confused with acceptance. But sin is harmful, and accepting it is harmful to the person we are trying to love!

* If a friend is wanting to stay in a burning building, but we refuse to accept this, is that not love?

* Often our compassion to rescue sinners can be mistaken for lack of love. But true love holds the truth dear!

* Note verses 4-7: These are all VERBS. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!

* LOVE = ACTIONS

* LOVE IS NOT JUST FEELINGS/EMOTIONS!

* LOVE IS A CHOICE,

Everybody is back in the chat room today as we get caught up on more random happenings.

Super Power

Today, your challenge is to share your superpower. Your superpower might be

* putting the kids to bed with speed, and grace.

* Whipping up dinner for 20 and not breaking a sweat.

* A special knack for pottery,

* fixing flat tires, or

* soothing fussy infants.

What is it that you do, that no one does as well as you? That’s your superpower.

If you’re lacking of special skills, imagine the skill you wish you had.

We talk about ours, why not drop us a line to tell us yours?

Getting a head start on the topics, Keith shares a word before the other hosts arrive.

In a short passage that Keith titles, Abiding Love for the Brothers, the focus is on 1 John 4:16,20-21. Listen to a few thoughts on the fact that God is love, he abides in love, and how it can be possible to be both loving, and have moments where wrath or anger is called for. The verses depict a test of how we’re doing in reflecting a Godly love, in how we show love to our brothers. Particularly as brothers is defined as other believers, because if we can’t do that… How can we hope to love strangers, meaning the non-believer?

Not wanting to pass up those skipped over verses, 17-19 holds a further measuring stick of how well we’re doing in this love stuff. There’s no place for fear, hate, or lies in showing love to someone. If we do that, we’re doing it wrong. Love should cast out fear, hate, and lies, just as certainly as light casts out darkness, and displaces it.

Co-hosts begin arriving, or at least Nathan does, and we transition to the chat room. We cover a few random topics to get caught up a little since we last recorded together last month.

Though it’s late in the month, we touch base on any new year’s resolutions, or plans on making fresh starts this year. Have you made any resolutions, or attempts at changing habits? Listen to see if we have any new approaches to bible study, or reading?

Keith repeats his comment on the person who found us on Twitter, and liked an episode. It begs the question for each listener to respond. How did you find us, and which episode did you like best so far? Why not tell us? Just as well, go tell a friend.

Main Topic.

With February typically associated with matters of love, the plan is to bring a series of love related topics. One basic principle in those who are planning to be married is finding someone who is compatible with yourself. Or as it is put by the Apostle Paul, being equally yoked.

Open your bibles to 2 Corinthians 6:14. What does this concept mean? Isn’t it true that opposites attract? What’s wrong with that? Just how far should we go with this being equally yoked? Is it a sin to marry outside your own faith, or denomination?

The passage sets up the requirement: “Be not unequally yoked together. with an unbeliever.”

To put it under a microscope, it opens with a phrase that literally means “Don’t become…” The best time to apply this teaching is to take a long look at compatibility issues before you agree to put that ring on your finger. If you find yourself already married, and unequally yoked, there are instructions later in this passage.

There’s a compound word that spreads out into the phrase: “unequally yoked together”.

The idea isn’t all that strange. In a practical way, as you walk through life, a partner who is of like mind, and moves at a similar speed will only enhance getting the work at hand done. The more similar you are, the less conflict you’ll have. The more matched the set, the more affective you’ll be together in life. Sure, opposites spice up the relationship, and make it more interesting, but it’s also the source of most conflict.

There could be many areas where you want things spiced up. One area that should never be compromised on however, is in belief in God. The absolute base line here is over whether your potential partner in life is a believer. Not which denomination they’re in, or where they are in believing the same doctrines within a religion. Are they a believer, yes or no?

Remember, differences mean conflict. It may be cute when the relationship starts out. It may seem like a matter that can be overcome later. The more matched set you are at the start in political, social, parenting, ethics, morality, faith,

Though illness among co-hosts seems to have run its course, there’s still some logistical trouble in returning to the studio to record. Instead we have a special guest.

A telephone interview with Tony Rangel, pastor of Crosspoint Southern Baptist Church, takes us on a dialog of topics that glide through the politics of the recent inaugeration, political failings of both parties, the problem of abortion, and contradictions on that matter as seen by the public eye.

Transitioning into our main topic, keith presents the top Bible searches, as tallied by the folks at Biblegateway.com. After a snapshot look at what the end times study means, we discuss what a prophet is.

What do you think of when you hear the word prophet? What do you think others might call to mind when they hear the word? A fortune teller, a mind reader, a healer, a old man with a flowing beard and robes? Something else?

Tony suggests it’s simply someone who tells others a message from God. Keith shares from the Miriam Webster dictionary definition, and a review of Jewish teachings on how a prophet is defined.

First, a prophet, in some way receives a word from God. Whether a dream, omen, oracle, or a face to face conversation with a burning bush, or similar encounter with God. Then he takes that message to the people to tell them. A supernatural sign often accompanies the message, but only to prove to the audience that the word is truth. The supernatural sign may not be needed, since the targeted people may already be of a heart and mind to receive it. But if the sign, or prediction comes true, there can be no doubt. If that sign fails to come true, the prophet is a false one.

Where does revelation come from for modern day prophets? In times of old, God spoke a word, those prophets were told to write it down. Therefore, event if a prophet today never experiences a supernatural even, we have the revealed word of God available in the words of scripture.

Prophetic ability is a learned gift. Anybody can attain it, and everybody has the potential to be a prophet, if only on a small scale. All it takes is being able to receive God’s word, and telling someone what has been revealed? Does your audience need a sign, a proof that your word is true? The bible is full of self fulfilling prophecies, life truths, and promises of God that can be relied upon for assurance. Nature points to an intelligent creator, and scripture is the words he uses to communicate in very specific ways.

Remember to let us know what you think of the shows, your favorite episode, topic, segment, interviews, guests, or what we can do to keep bringing you a podcast to bless your friends with.

Find out more about Tony’s ministry at Crosspoint Southern Baptist Church, cpconnect.com. Be sure to click the links there to also follow the church on Facebook, and their new live stream on Youtube.

We finally reached the milestone of the 100th episode, but due to lingering illnesses, Keith falls back on a solo episode. It’s still the topic that was going to be presented, but he has to go it alone… sort of.

To make things more interesting than just having one voice to bore listeners to tears, there are a few guest voices to appear, and mix things up. One involves a new update to a bible app that Keith has been using. If you would like more details on it, drop a line to say so and we’ll be sure to share a link, and mention it in another show. For now just enjoy the contribution it makes.

Besides some Retrobots to do some reading, mostly from some input that Nathan shared about our bible passage, other voices from Keith’s other podcast make guest appearances.

The original title for this stop in the Bible survey was: Saul Fails and is Rejected: It says it all, as far as who is in it, and what’s happening at this moment in history. Nathan’s outline puts the title as: Who Had the Better Plan? And is maybe the better title, since it tags the happenings in a way that is relevant through the ages, and the perspective in how people ought to relate to God. But since it’s Keith’s site, and podcast, the title got hacked to pieces once again to reflect the relation of actions, and consequences. It’s still a good way to look at the principle of what’s happening, and why.

The focus is on 1 Samuel 15:17-23, but in the podcast Keith backs it up to the beginning of the chapter, so we can get a little more context of the clear instructions that needed no interpretation, or the need to put spin on a clearly defined mission.

1Sam 15 Review

1,2. God sends Samuel with a command for Saul.

3.

* Strike Amalek.

* Destroy all they have.

* Spare none.

* Kill Man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey

Note: Ouch. I know that’s harsh. It’s graphic. We are in no way encouraging, or condoning behavior like that. We’ve discussed the evil nature of this ancient tribe on the podcast before. Don’t get bogged down by the historic detail. Rather, consider what the principle behind it means. A clearly defined mission that has been presented to you to do.

4-7. Saul gathered the army. He warned the Kenites (non Amalekites) to flee. He defeated them.

Where it goes wrong.

8,9. Saul took king Agog alive, killed the rest. Saul and the people kept the best of livestock, killing only the worthless animals.

More

decline for Saul

10-12. God tells Samuel what happened. Samuel is angry, and grieves all night. Samuel learns of a monument Saul set up for himself. A matter that seems to cause neither anger or grieff.

The confrontation.

13,16. Seeing Samuel, Saul greets him with blessings. Saul claims, “I have performed the command of the lord.” Samuel asked, why all the animal sounds in his ears? Saul becomes defensive of his actions, claiming the people did it. To sacrifice the animals to God. The worthless ones were killed.

Samuel told him, stop. Here’s what the lord already told me.

Focus

I. Saul was nobody. God had raised him up!

17 And Samuel said,

“Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.

II. Saul disobeyed God.

A. God told him specifically to do something. He had other ideas.

18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said,

‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’

19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

B. Saul had his excuses,

Featuring a few moments in the world of old time radio, with the Cowboy Church of the Air. Yes! Where else could you hear a western swing band with both a tuba and bannjo?

Setting out to do a solo episode, since sickness has taken its toll this cold and flu season, Keith first presents a song that Steewart Hamblin was well known for, and the story behind how he came t write it. The version presented is one from Rosemary Clooney, as recorded in 1954.

Long time radio announcer, song writer, singer,and at the time, fairly new Christian, Stewart Hamblin sang over the airwaves. Joined by his wife, Suzy, and their back up group. the Brush Arbor Boys, the Cowboy Church brought a slice of good old camp meeting time, and good, down home music with a blend of country and christian flair.

The show was a commercial venture, where a sponsor helped to bring the gospel message to listeners. Since this podcast isn’t commercial, the in show ads have been snipped.

Playlist:

* Stewart sings, Lend Your Hand.

* The gang discuss past camp meetings.

* Suzy and the brush arbor boys sing, he bought my sol at calvary

* The gang has more discussion of camp meetings, and song inspirations.

* Stewart sings, Partnered with the Lord.

* A musical interlude for inserting a sponsor message. Followed by…

* A discussion of medicine and poison oak gets Suzy wound up about taking the lord into people’s hearts.

* The Brush Arbor Boys sing, A Lot More Laying Down, Than There Is Up Walking Around.

* The Blue Bonnets sing, Yours Only.

* Stewart tells about a song inspiration on a lion hunt, seeing an atomic bomb explosion, and a word about his faith in a creator.

* Stewart sings, Known Only to God.

* Time is out be fore Suzy can launch very far into the tune, , Where Would You Be Tomorrow, If You Had to Die Tonight.

Drop us a line, or check out our Facebook Group to let us know what you thought about the show today.

A solo episode where Keith reviews the shows we posted through the year. We start out with the gospel message, and end up with Christmas. Along the way we cover a range of things including hell and witches.

Episode 48 SPEAKING OF THE GOSPEL, featured the gospel as presented in Galatians 1. We touch base with an ongoing Bible survey in episode 49 BIBLE SURVEY 4: SIN, FORGIVENESS, AND REPENTANCE. It took until close to the end of the month to reach episode 50, OUR FIRST YEAR IN REVIEW, a compilation of clips from shows in the preceding year.

February brought a mixed bag where we spent episode 51, DECISIONS, dealing with our most important decision in life. Then we set the pendulum swinging to explore the reality of the occult in episode 52 WITCHES, THE OCCULT, AND PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. Swinging back to a more timely holiday topic, we get to episode 53 FIRST LOOK AT PASSOVER TRADITIONS. A show to examine how the Jewish passover is celebrated, and what the parts of it mean for Christians. Finally, the month is rounded up in a solo episode where Keith revisits the drama that unfolds with a dragon, and a woman clothed in light. Episode 54 REVELATION 12:5-8.

More solo episodes, and shows without the full group were the theme for March. We get back to a look at the Easter holiday with episode 55 EXTREMELY EASTER56 BIBLE SURVEY 5: SIN UNDER THE LAW. For the first time as a regular host, Chris joins with a selection of difficult, but common questions people have about God and religious things. Episode 57 CHRIS ASKS DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. It’s down to business as we look at episode 58, FOR THE LOVE OF WORK. Is it a blessing, or a curse from God? A solo episode, and a pre-recorded talk Keith gave a few months earlier is presented with episode 59, CALL TO PURITY.

We took a week off for April, but we still responded to crazy things going down in our world with episode 60 THE TRUTH ABOUT A WORLD GONE WRONG. Rather than getting caught up in a mentality of us and them, episode 61 PRAYER OF MEDIATION, is about the benefit we can gain in praying for others. Returning to our Bible survey, episode 62 BIBLE SURVEY 6: OBEDIENCE FROM LOVE, talks about the attitude we should have in obeying what God commands.

In May, we bring back a guest to interview in episode 63, MICHAEL PRINCE: WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKET? We talk about his latest book, and parents keeping their kids safe on line. We take another look at people doing things badly with episode 64, BIBLE SURVEY 7: HUMANITIES DISOBEDIENCE. Don’t you wish

God would just come right out and speak to you? In episode 65 GOD SPEAKS: IT’S A GOOD THING, RIGHT? We look at why that might not be a good idea for most of us.

Even if God played it on you to speak his message to you, the truth isn’t always happy and uplifting. In episode 66 GREAT RESPONSIBILITY, GREAT SORROW, we explore that concept. Time for another solo episode, but this time we share something from the world of old time radio. Episode 67 THE CEMENT OF DEMOCRACY, was a short series to explore what democracy looked like during our nations earliest days. This installment deals with how our young democracy felt about religious matters.

With the

Summer months rolling through in the month of June, we fell back on solo episodes. First, we do a movie review, and examine the topic of how laughter and humor fits into the Bible in episode 68, RISEN LAUGHTER

It was in response to a question from a listener, which is how we came to talk about the topics of episode 69, UNCLEAN ANIMALS PLUS ONE. The pause one part is a brief look at numbers and how they are used in bible writings. In this solo episode, Keith presents a talk he gave a few weeks earlier, episode 70, TREASURE IN HEAVEN.

In July we ranged from the serious to the fun. A solo episode gets the month going with a return to a double feature of old radio shows. Episode 72 INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL,

Or, Nathan’s Solo Christmas Gift, Plus.

An unrecognized Christmas gift? What does that mean? Nathan presents a sermon from Message from John 1:1-18.

You’ll learn how Jesus is eternal, and though he entered the creation that he made, he wasn’t recognized. He became flesh, he came to his own, and was rejected. He is the word, the truth, and the light. But when light entered the darkness, he wasn’t recognized. Still, he was God in the flesh, who came to pay the price, and take the burden of our sin upon himself, so we could be at peace with God.

Continuing with the theme of our previous show, nathan shares a few bits of Bible based trivia. Get the word on some facts, and myths surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Meet the Host. With a little flip flop in the usual order of segments, Nathan catches up on some of his holiday celebration with family, and a cool, high tech digital gadget.

-Enjoy this small bit of fun as our Retrobots phone in a special Christmas greeting. They may be confused, but they mean well.

A crossover episode with Team Jadeth Live.

We substitute a co-host for a special guest host, and have an hour of casual fun. Not that fun wouldn’t be had any way.

To open up we welcome our guest, a different Nathan, from a different state. We have a short segment of Meeting the hosts, and talk about Christmas plans, and a guy named Charlie Brown.

There are a couple …

Random Internet Topics

The first one is a little more serious than intended for a light hearted show, but our guest weighs in on how to approach the Bible as either being literal, or afigurative book. Should we apply it as being alogorical, or parable? If we count it as literal, there are some considerations to remember in its literary styles. If we count it as figurative, the problem to face is in accurately, and consistently interpreting the accounts in it. The key to remember is that it’s God’s book, and it doesn’t contradict itself. If it seems to be contradictary, the intrpretation applied may be taking matters out of context.

Keith brightens the tone a little with a tidbit from Facebook. Don’t worry, he won’t sing it, but he presents… the 12 Gifts of Facebook. j

Main Topic.

Everybody was given the assignment to bring some trivia questions to the table. Chris applies his exprtise in history to bring tidbits on Christmas tradition. Our guest, Nathan brings items of pop culture. Keith has a mixed bag of general trivia, and if Nathan Caldwell could have made it, he would carry the Bible related questions. He somehow manages to get a small voice in, but only because Retrobot Nathan crashed the party.