Why did Jesus tell his disciples to go buy a sword if he wanted them to love their enemies and turn the other cheek (Lk. 22:36), or that he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword and fighting even among family members (Mt. 10:34)? Was he less of a pacifist than we thought? And what’s more, how should these verses be used in the current debates among Christians concerning guns in our country, the modern-day equivalent to a sword? Yeah, no big deal.

In what will likely be the last and final episode some of you will ever listen to, I completely ignore all good common sense and waltz into the completely not at all contentious, totally-won't-upset-anyone hornet’s nest of Christians and their guns (#prayforpete #RIPLikestarspodcast).

However, my aim is not to give yet another divided political opinion or take a strong stance on the gun debate, but rather to do my best to interpret the Bible properly and seek to wisely apply it to our lives today. And while it would be impossible to keep my opinion completely out of it - I do my best

Listen in, but remember, you can disagree with someone and still be their friend! (Unless we are arguing about whether you think running is an enjoyable hobby. It isn’t, you’re crazy, and we simply cannot be friends, sorry.)

**** This episode was updated with a slight edit on 5/28/2023. I felt a comment I made was a bit too flippant and unnecessary so it was removed.

Should Christians take one another to court? The apostle Paul writing his first letter to the Corinthians didn't seem to think so. But is that something that that still applies to us today or was it more related to their cultural context? On this episode we look at what was likely behind that passage and what it might mean for us.

We also look at the ancient practice of casting lots to discern God's will, which was essentially doing a random drawing and trusting God to assure you picked correctly. Is this the best way for us to discover what God wants from us today? We walk through what this looked like for the ancient world and how there is a better way forward for Christians today, specifically by seeking guidance from the Bible, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.

Be sure to rate and review the podcast, as well as share with anyone who you think may benefit from hearing this discussion!

Got a question? Email me: [email protected]

Have you ever wrestled with all the passages in the Old Testament that appear overly violent and harsh? What are we to make of Scriptures that appear to suggest God was behind some of it? In this bonus episode of a message I gave at Rise City Church, I address the challenging issue of divine violence. While emphasizing the importance of interpreting Scripture correctly, I argue that God's use of violence is not arbitrary but a last resort to eliminate evil, and His wrath is a result of love, not a lack of it. Focusing on God's compassion and willingness to forgive, using the Book of Jonah as an example. We need to start with faith in God's goodness and seek understanding while shining in a world that needs to see that goodness.

Throughout the Old Testament the name of God – Yahweh - is often spoken of as being important and “above every other name.”  But what is such a big deal about His name, and what does the word even mean for that matter? In this episode we dive into the story of Moses first being told God’s name at the burning bush and how “I AM” speaks to far more than just his personal label, but a title that represents his ultimate position and power within the universe at large.

Following on this big idea, we also talk through Paul’s command in Romans to “pray continually”.  How is such a thing even possible?

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review and be sure to subscribe to receive updates on all new releases!

And don't forget you can check out full videos on the Like Stars YouTube channel: youtube.com/@likestarspodcast

On Palm Sunday the crowds hailed Jesus as a conquering hero. Yet just a few short days later many, including one of his closest followers had turned their backs on him and called for his execution. What led to such a massive act of betrayal?

In this message, given at Rise City Church, I examine the ways in which people's expectations of the coming Messiah did not match who Jesus actually was. And how the kind of savior they were hoping for was not the one He turned out to be. What are our expectations of Jesus and what happens when He doesn't turn out to be what we wanted Him to be?

What is it about conspiracy theories that grab our attention and why does it seem like so many Christians gravitate towards them?  In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, we talk through some of the problems with allowing our minds to focus too much on the negative in society and of always living in distrust, as well as the dangers of continually looking for an “enemy” to blame the world’s problems on.  As opposed to how Paul’s statements in Philippians about choosing our focus on the good can bring about a healthier and happier life.

We also examine a common question Christians have regarding habitual sins and how we can overcome them.  For many genuine and committed Christ followers, there are patterns of brokenness that continue to linger no matter how much we seem to fight them, and it can grow to feel hopeless that true change will ever come. But as we discuss in this episode, there is hope when we choose to fight these battles the right way and with the right perspective.

Got questions for a future podcast?  Email me: ⁠[email protected]⁠.  I would love to hear from you!

You can also WATCH the video of this episode on the Like Stars YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@likestarspodcast

Women should be silent in church. It's disgraceful for them to pray without their heads covered. They can't teach or have authority over a man... what do Biblical statements like these mean for the church today?  If they are meant to be followed, why don't most churches actually follow them?  And even among those that claim to, why do most only follow them a little bit but don't go all the way and actually force women to stay silent and cover their heads.

The question of how we should interpret and understand Biblical passages that seem to limit a woman's ability to be involved in ministry and leadership in the  church is an important one with much disagreement.  So in Part 2 of my discussion on this topic, I break down 3 of the  most difficult New Testament passages on women and the church; 1  Corinthian 11:2-13 that calls for women to cover their heads, 1  Corinthians 14:34-35 that says women are to be silent in church, and 1 Timothy 2:11-15  that appears to forbid a women to teach or have authority over a man.

For each passage, I examine the cultural context of these verses and  what that might mean for our reading today in light of other New  Testament passages that appear to suggest otherwise.  Not to suggest  that ALL scripture should change with culture, but those that are  closely intertwined and directly influenced by an ancient culture  possibly should be.

Finally, I examine the original creation story in Genesis 1-3 and show  how the tension between men and women and the battle for control and  dominance over one another is not part of God's original design, but a  result of sin and human rebellion against His intentions.

Where do women fit within the work and leadership of the Church? This question, along with the much large issue of whether Christianity has been good for women in general, is a fairly hot button topic in many Christian communities.  What's more, the answer tends to vary greatly depending on how one reads certain key Biblical passages about women in both the home and in ministry.  

On one hand, it can't be denied that some verses in Scripture appear, on the surface, to be oppressive to women and diminish their opportunities to lead, subjugating them to the authority of men and perpetuating a long history of patriarchal dominance.  Texts that go as far as to say women should be "silent" in church, not able to teach or have authority over men.  

On the other hand, we see actual real life examples of women leading all over the New Testament and early church.  Elevated and championed by Jesus more than anyone else in history and sometimes, commissioned, empowered and praised for leadership by the very same person - the Apostle Paul - who wrote the most difficultly negative verses about women in the church.  So how are we to understand this issue today?

In Part I of what this 3 part discussion I begin to break down this issue by examining the cultural background of the Biblical world and its general attitude towards women and how that played into certain statements in the Scriptures.  In the Part II, I will go through the 3 most difficult passages in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy, and in Part III there will be an actual discussion with a female pastor who has had to work through these issues in lived experience.  Throughout this entire discussion it will be my contention that women should be free to lead in any avenue they feel called and Biblical passages that appear to say otherwise are simply not being read within their appropriate cultural context.

Wisdom is all about having the insight to properly weigh the options in order to make the best choice possible.  But how do you do that when temptation is constantly tipping the scales the wrong way? We can see in the Scriptures that Jesus did, but was that because He was God, or was his overcoming of temptation something we can mimic in our own lives?  In this bonus episode from a message I preached at Rise City Church, I talk through how Jesus overcame temptation and the way in which we can follow in His footsteps to find freedom ourselves.