REVERENT AND REBELLIOUS

Welcome to Episode #45! we're almost to the 1-year milestone - and we thank all our followers and subscribers. You make all this worth it! You'll notice we had some technical difficulties producing this remote episode - but the content is so fire we had to push through! Please excuse our glitchiness! Today we tackle a couple of phrases we throw around all the time. They sound good! So good - we assume they're in the Bible. When God closes a door - does He really always open another one? Did God close the first door? Is He obligated to open a second? And - is God really in control? The Bible doesn't say that! What does the Bible say? Jump in! Let's find out together!

Today we continue our series where we unpack phrases and sayings that are so commonly used - we think they're in the Bible! Does everything really happen for a reason? Will God really never give us more than we can handle? It sounds good - wise - maybe even Biblical! But as we dig into these familiar tropes - we'll see that they are not only not in the Bible - they run counter to the very message of God's love - mercy - and faithfulness! Jesus never said these things - Paul didn't - the Bible doesn't SAY THAT! Join us as we put all the pieces of this bizarre puzzle together!

There are certain phrases woven into our existence - baked into our culture. They sound so good - so right! Wise words - pearls of wisdom we might say. We've heard and used them so frequently that we naturally assume they come from Scripture. They're in the Bible! Problem is - THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY THAT! In fact - when we look closely and discern what they are really saying - we discover that some of these "wise words" actually go against the words of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus! In this mini-series, we are going to tackle some of the most popular examples, and the most frequent offenders. we'll show you where they came from - what the Bible actually says - and why they're so dang damaging - and dumb! We begin with our 3 favorites. GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES - WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND - and TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE. Grab a handrail - it's gonna be quite a ride!

Is the planet Earth a globe - a sphere - suspended in space - spinning at a high rate of speed - surrounded by stars, planets, and galaxies - circling the fiery ball of gas we call the sun? Well, duh! Everyone in the world knows that is exactly what it is! Except - hundreds of thousands of people would say you're wrong! Earth is flat1 It's a stationary disk with an ice mountain rim around it situated under a molten glass dome! These people are not mouth-breathers or bottom-dwellers. They are legit scientists - educated - articulate - international celebrities that you would know - even highly Biblically literate pastors and theologians! And - their arguments are quite compelling! How did they get there? What do they know that we don't know? Join us as we journey into the crazy mixed-up world of the FLAT-EARTHERS! You may never see the world in quite the same way ever again!

If you thought the whole Hebrew Roots thing was strange - it gets stranger! We're continuing down the road of movements and organizations that are - but are not cults. Cult-ish, if you will. Today we meet a RAPIDLY growing - highly motivated and mobilized group - the Hebrew Israelites. These people believe the original Israelites were of African descent. Thus they are the true descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the other Biblical figures - who were, by the way - all black! They also wrap in those of Latin descent and Native Americans. They are the descendants of the scattered Northern tribes of Israel! Like the Hebrew Roots folks, they adhere strictly to the Torah, with all of its commandments and dietary laws, and keep all of the Feasts, Festivals, and High Holy Days, including strict observance of the Sabbath. They are the fastest-growing religious movement in North America. They hold concerts, demonstrations, and evangelistic conferences, and when they march they are in full dress - showing up by the thousands! Several prominent athletes and entertainers have joined their ranks, and they show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Join us today as we courageously dive down rabbit holes even rabbits are afraid to go!

There is a movement sweeping rapidly across the Christian landscape today. It's a movement of small, tight-knit communities - and they're popping up everywhere! Their claim is - that the Christian Church has lost its way. It has been deceived - duped - for thousands of years! There is a missing piece of the puzzle. What is that missing piece? Torah observance! The Law - the Old Covenant - has not expired - it has been renewed in Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection! Therefore, we must observe all the rituals, feasts, and festivals as prescribed in Exodus - Leviticus - Deuteronomy - just like the ancient Israelites! Sabbath - Yom Kippur - Purim - the Feast of Tabernacles - dietary restrictions and cleanliness rituals - all must be woven into our lives to be true, faithful Christians! It's a thing. It's a reality. It's coming to your church and your community. Is it true? Are they right? Let's find out!

For centuries Christians have believed and accepted that Adam and Eve were the first and only humans - created by God - from the dust - and that all people can ultimately trace their lineage back to these two original humans. But - in light of modern scientific and archaeological discoveries - the many advances in DNA research and the mapping of the human genome - and the careful study of the Biblical text - we have questions! Were there other humans on the earth with Adam and Eve - before Adam and Eve? Was there a pre-creation creation that got wiped out when Lucifer fell to earth? This one might bend your noodle! Join us as we humbly attempt to unravel this crazy conundrum and solve a few mysteries along the way!

Here's an uplifting topic! HELL. Is it a thing - is it a place - is it real? If so - what is it? What does it look like? Is it permanent? Did God create a cosmic torture chamber to torment forever those who reject Him? Who goes to HELL - what will it be like when they get there? Are there demons with pitchforks - fire - terror - weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth? We have so many questions! It might surprise you to discover what we discovered. There is more than one way to understand HELL - theologically and Scripturally! If you are willing to look - study - lift the lid - and look deeper - the Bible has some interesting - and shocking things to teach us about HELL. Join us as we attempt to find out just what in HELL is going on!

Today we talk about what has become a phenomenon - perhaps even an epidemic in the church world over the last decade or so. It seems like every week we hear about another prominent pastor or major ministry leader who is forced to resign over accusations of immoral or toxic behavior. Aggressive or abusive leadership - spiritual abuse - adulterous affairs or sexual abuse - financial impropriety. It seems to be running rampant and we wonder where it all ends! Where does this come from? What kind of cultural dynamic fosters this kind of behavior? Is it narcissism - media attention - or is the pressure of sustaining such a large platform simply too heavy to bear? Do we even need megachurches, book tours, and massive conferences? Join us as we do our best to diagnose and evaluate this depressing and destructive trend!

Now we get down to it! Today we're talking about the pew jumpers - the room runners - the tongue talkers - the holy rollers! It's the Pentecostals! Where did they come from, and why do they do what they do? And what's the difference between a Pentecostal and a Charismatic? Today we track through one of the greatest moves of God and expressions of faith in all of Church history! From the bubbling of ecstatic supernatural phenomena in the First Great Awakening to the Azusa Street Revival to the advent of the mega-churches to the faith healers - we cover it all - to the tune of 500 million Pentecostals worldwide! What happened - how did it happen - why - and how can we ride the wave? Join us as we move in the power and the presence of the Spirit!