In this episode of The Other Realm, Michael and Thabani delve into the intriguing topics of aliens and UFOs, exploring cultural beliefs, scientific perspectives, and biblical connections. They discuss the varying beliefs about extraterrestrial life in Western and African cultures, the phenomenon of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and the overlap between alien encounters and spiritual experiences. 

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to The Other Realm

10:34 - Cultural Perspectives on Aliens

20:15 - Alien Encounters and Abductions

38:20 - The Ariel School Incident

48:32 - Ancient Aliens and Misinterpretations

56:17 - Exploring Sumerian Literature and the Anunnaki

01:01:24 - Ezekiel's Vision: UFO or Cherubim?

01:08:12 - The Nature of Alien Life and Biblical Worldview

Michael and Jason discuss the impact of the gospel on community versus individualism and how individualism shapes our understanding of spirituality and the church. They explore the themes of community, the role of Israel and Jesus in God's plan, and the importance of understanding scripture from a collective perspective. They discuss the concept of election, the display of God's love through Israel, and the significance of using individual gifts for the body of Christ. They end the episode with a huge announcement regarding upcoming transitions in the Eikon Podcast. 


00:00 – Opening Banter

09:59 - The Gospel's Impact on Community vs. Individualism

33:22 - The Exodus and Community Formation

34:57 - The Role of Israel and Jesus in God's Plan

36:45 - Understanding Ephesians: A Collective Perspective

42:24 - The Importance of Community in Salvation

44:39 - Using Gifts for the Body of Christ

01:00:14 – Farewell and Reflections on the Podcast

In this episode of the Icon Podcast, hosts Gianna, Michael, and Jason start a journey of exploring the gospel of Jesus the King. The conversation delves into the importance of storytelling in understanding the Gospel and how different starting points can shape one's perception of faith. They emphasize the importance of context and the narrative preceding the New Testament while addressing alternative interpretations of the Gospel. Michael also explains the crazy connection between the John Wick movies and the Gospel of Jesus.

00:00 – Opening Banter

13:02 – The Gospel: A Central Theme

18:07 – Defining the Gospel

21:12 – The Gospel as a Story

26:59 – The Importance of Starting Points in the Gospel

29:52 – The Importance of Context in Understanding Jesus

32:01 – Identifying the Problem Jesus Came to Solve

34:31 – The Role of Sin and Redemption in the Gospel

36:22 – Exploring Alternative Gospel Narratives

40:24 – The Significance of Genesis in the Gospel Story

46:20 – The Mission of Christians Post-Salvation

49:57 – The Resurrection: A Central Theme in the Gospel

55:54 – The Broader Implications of the Gospel Story

The Eikon Team explores themes of personal growth, spirituality, and the importance of community, as they share their favorite resources and moments of the year. Michael reveals his five favorite reads of 2024 and recommends several helpful online resources. Gianna shares her personal growth and spiritual reflections by looking at her favorite moments of the year.  Finally, they look ahead to what is in store for 2025 with Season 7. 

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Opening Banter

04:05 Life Updates and Personal Reflections

14:14 Michael’s Favorite Books and Online Resources

38:46 Gianna’s Favorite Moments of the Year

48:30 Looking Ahead: Season Seven Preview

In this end-of-season-six episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the concept of new creation and the importance of keeping Christ at the center of our lives. They explore how different passions within the church can sometimes lead to division and how to navigate that in a loving and Christ-centered way. They also touch on the dangers of becoming too focused on one aspect of the gospel and losing sight of the bigger picture. The hosts share personal stories and insights on maintaining unity and love within the body of Christ.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Season Finale Announcement
05:24 - Remembering a Friend and Reflections on New Creation
08:00 - The Call to Be the New Creation
13:08 - Navigating Strong Beliefs and Putting God First
21:05 - Balancing Passion and Love in the Church
29:27 - The Challenge of Different Passions in the Church
35:33 - The Pain of Expecting Everyone to Share the Same Passion
39:33 - Love and Grace as Antidotes to Division
53:37 - Living as New Creations: Taking Small Steps and Focusing on Love

Special Episode: We are making the season finale of our special Patreon series, The Misfits, available this week for everyone to enjoy. This is the eleventh episode in the series so far. If you would like to hear the rest of the series, please help support this podcast by signing up at www.patreon.com/eikonpodcast.com.

Summary: In this episode, the hosts discuss the balance between the church's responsibility to accommodate misfits and the misfits' responsibility to meet the needs of the church. They emphasize the importance of starting with God and grounding oneself in their identity in Christ. They also explore the idea of being an image bearer and using one's gifts to serve others.

Gianna, Jason, and Michael discuss the challenges and misconceptions of marriage and parenting within the context of new creation theology. They emphasize the importance of power-with rather than power-over in parenting and the need for vulnerability and authenticity in marriage. They also highlight the significance of modeling Jesus in both parenting and marriage, rather than just teaching about Jesus. The team then explores the idea of whether baptism should be the primary goal of parenting.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
8:54 - Making Sense of New Creation Families
11:34 - The Pressure to Look Good in a Traditional Christian Family
11:56 - Living Out New Creation in Marriages and as Parents
12:15 - Challenges of Marriage and Parenting
19:39 - Parenting with Power With
25:22 - Modeling Jesus in Marriage
36:08 - Embracing the Process of Growth
43:39 - Living Out New Creation Theology in Marriage and Parenting

In this episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the danger of placing too much emphasis on specific spiritual practices and judging others based on their level of engagement in those practices. They also highlight the significance of work, leisure, and everyday activities as acts of worship. The conversation concludes by acknowledging that everyone's journey of worship is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Chapters
00:00- Introduction and Welcome
11:21 - Redefining Worship: Beyond Singing and Religious Practices
20:22 - Understanding Worship: A Disconnect Between Bible and Vernacular
27:42 - Worship as an Orientation of the Heart
30:19 - Expanding the Definition of Worship
36:39 - Work and Everyday Activities as Worship
46:11 - Embracing a Unique Journey of Worship

The conversation explores the concept of race in the context of new creation. It discusses how race is a construct that emerged in the 15th century. The discussion highlights that race is not a biblical concept and that the Bible focuses more on cultural and religious practices rather than physical attributes. The conversation also touches on the dehumanizing nature of race and the biblical call to challenge and dismantle things like racial hierarchies.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Discussion on the Olympics
13:13 - The Concept of Race in the Bible
19:01 - The Emergence of Race as a Construct
25:16 - The Dehumanizing Nature of Race
29:48 - The Deep-Rooted Issue of Racism
30:38 - The Perpetuation of Racial Superiority
35:31 - Dismantling the Structures of Racism
36:48 - A New Creation Approach to Racism
49:54 - The Limitations of Current Solutions
56:36 - The Need for a Biblical Perspective on Race

In this conversation, Michael Burns and Thabani Antony Mashava discuss deliverance ministries and their focus on freeing people from demonic oppression. What does this Bible have to say about the practice of exorcising demons? Is that something we should be doing today?

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Update on Teaching Ministry in Africa
11:12 - Discussing Deliverance Ministries
22:51 - Critiquing Deliverance Ministries
26:10 - The Problems with Deliverance Ministries
28:57 - The True Power: Faith, Righteousness, and the Word of God
34:13 - Understanding Jesus' Authority and the Role of the Church
37:29 - Testing Spirits and Questioning Experiences
57:49 - Focusing on Jesus and His Authority