Observations from the Word by The Barking Fox

Demonic Weeds

Our hope for this world is in our Creator's promise to redeem and restore it to the perfection of the Garden of Eden. Right now it doesn't look very much like a garden, but is infested with all manner of weeds and other blights. This is the grim reality of our world, and of us as individuals. Just as our Creator invites and commissions us to take part in the restoration of the world, He expects us to take an active part in cleaning up the gardens of our souls. 
Leviticus 16:1-20:27; Amos 9:7-15; Mark 7:1-23; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 6:10-20; 1 Peter 1:14-16
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Demonic Weeds
Music: "Holy Are You Lord,” Mason Clover, Perception, Abiron Records 2019. Mason Clover’s music is available at https://www.masonclover.com/. 
Photo: Portrait of a weed, by moccasinlanding, July 9, 2019, via Flickr. 

But What If He Doesn’t?

We don't like to think about the fact that we begin dying at the instant of our birth. It's hard enough to cope with that when those we love leave us after a long life, but what if that life is cut short and marked by tremendous suffering? 
Leviticus 12:1-15:33; 2 Kings 5:1-19, 7:3-20; Job 13:15-16; Luke 4:14-30; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28; Hebrews 3:23-28
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: But What If He Doesn't?
Music: "All My Tears,” Cody Ryan Cribbs, Exodus Road Band, Prodigal Son, Exodus Road Records 2022. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.exodusroadband.com/.
Photo: Derek K. Miller (1969-2011) shared with the world his fight with cancer. Photo taken by his father, July 23, 2007, via Flickr. 

The Art of Consecration

We think of consecration as something only for priests and ministers. That's true. Our Redeemer has been creating a nation of priests all along. How does consecration work in a nation consisting entirely of priests - even those who don't yet understand their priestly calling? 
Leviticus 6:8-8:36 Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:23-24; Malachi 3:4-4:6; Luke 9:57-62; 2 Timothy 2:1-13; Hebrews 7:5-10; 1 Peter 2:1-11
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: The Art of Consecration
Music: "Where I Belong,” Solomon O. Lopez, The Born At Home Collections, The Hebraism Project 2014. To hear more of Solomon’s music, visit The Hebraism Project on YouTube.
Photo by Michael Swan, June 4, 2011, via Flickr. 

Making Special Occasions Special

We move through our lives with the expectation that our Creator exists to make life special for us. What if it's the other way around?
Leviticus 1:1-6:7; Isaiah 43:21-44:23; Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 51:1-19; John 4:21-24; Romans 12:1-2; Revelation 21:9-26
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Making Special Occasions Special
Music: "Simple Gifts,” American Shaker Melody by Joseph Brackett, performed by Tim Cooper and Patrick Cannell, YouTube Audio Library, November 2019. Listen to the complete audio on Youtube at https://youtu.be/8fBdKkUYFhM.
Photo: My 6th birthday party had a circus theme, with me as ringmaster in a red coat and top hat. (McCarn family photo, June 8, 1968.)

Vision and A Willing Heart

Our Messiah is building His Kingdom with people who are both willing contributors and people of vision. That's because those who lack one or the other eventually end up building their own kingdoms.
Exodus 35:1-40:38; 1 Kings 7:13-8:21; Proverbs 29:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; 1 Peter 5:1-11
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Vision and A Willing Heart
Music: "Be Thou My Vision,” Celtic Worship, Homeward, Oak Ridge Records 2019. See the official video on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiukM6WHQEQ. Celtic Worship’s music is available at https://celticworship.co.uk/. 
Photo by Angelica Lasala, March 27, 2010, via Flickr.

Recycled Kingdom

These days we're supposed to recycle everything. That's actually something we learned from our Creator. He's been in the recycling business from the beginning - especially when it comes to people.
Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39; Luke 22:23-31; Acts 5:1-11; 1 John 4:7-10
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Recycled Kingdom
Music: "Psalm 29,” Exodus Road Band, The Tree, Exodus Road Records 2017. See the official video on Youtube at https://youtu.be/FAIGcDYXHVI. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.exodusroadband.com/. 
Photo by Andrew, October 26, 2008, via Flickr.

Clothes Make the Man

Do clothes reflect character, or does character influence clothing choice? And what relevance does that question have to God's people?
Exodus 27:20-30:10; Ezekiel 43:10-27; Matthew 22:1-14; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Clothes Make the Man
Music: "Made to Leave” (feat. Mason Clover), Exodus Road Band, Hard Rain, Exodus Road Band 2018. See the official video on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_w1EGc78Y4. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.exodusroadband.com/.
Photo by Dave Bledsoe, August 17, 2014, via Flickr.

Stewards and Tenants

The transition from tenant to homeowner is more than simply exchanging a rent payment for a mortgage. This transition involves a change of identity that teaches us something about the changes our Creator brings us as we let Him.
Exodus 25:1-27:19; 1 Kings 5:12-6:13; Genesis 1:28; Revelation 3:20-22
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Stewards and Tenants
Music: "Born at Home,” Solomon O. Lopez, The Born At Home Collections, The Hebraism Project 2014. To hear more of Solomon’s music, visit The Hebraism Project on YouTube.
Photo by Guy Kilroy, July 15, 2014, via Flickr.