Observations from the Word by The Barking Fox

Divine Lapse of Judgment?

On top of all the other hard questions about why things are as they are, how about this: if God knew that it wasn't good for human beings to be alone, but He also knew that getting two or more humans together would inevitably result in conflict, was He setting us up for failure from the beginning? 
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9; Isaiah 51:12-53:12; Genesis 1:28, 2:18-4:16; Matthew 7:1-5; John 7:24; Acts 3:23-26; Romans 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, 11:17-34
Grimes County Courthouse, Anderson, Texas. Photo by Patrick Feller, March 9 2018, via Flickr.
Music: "Song of Glory,” Exodus Road Band, Heart of the Matter, Exodus Road Records 2016. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.exodusroadband.com/.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Divine Lapse of Judgment?.pdf

Chili Pepper Protocol

Chili peppers make food interesting. Aficionados of extremely spicy food have developed an ability to tolerate the hottest of peppers because of the enjoyment they bring. Building that tolerance requires time, effort, dedication, and the ability to withstand considerable discomfort and pain - kind of like what we need to get along with other people. 
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17; Isaiah 54:11-55:5; Matthew 23:23; John 10:1-18; Ephesians 2:8-22; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 4:7-8
The dangerous, yet tasty, Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia). Photo by The Barking Fox, August 24, 2022.
Music: "Hallelujah (Acoustic),” Mason Clover, Raw, Abiron Records 2014. Mason Clover’s music is available at https://www.masonclover.com/.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Chili Pepper Protocol.pdf

Even Without Bread

One question we don't like to ask is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Maybe we don't like to ask it because we don't want to know the answer. 
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3; Genesis 1:27-28, 2:15; Psalm 122:1-9; Matthew 4:1-4, 6:24-34, 28:18-20; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9
Photo: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Swaziland, June 1, 2007, via Flickr.
Music: "Psalm 36,” Exodus Road Band, Heart of the Matter, Exodus Road Records 2016. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.exodusroadband.com/.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Even Without Bread.pdf

Because I Said So

The Bible says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen. Does "seen" also mean "understood"? If so, then maybe faith includes trusting that God understands the things that still baffle us. That may be the supreme act of faith, because it means humbly conceding that we don't have all the right answers, yet trusting that He does - especially when His answers are different from ours. 
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10, 30:5-6; Matthew 5:17-21, 23:13; Mark 12:28-34; Galatians 3:29; Revelation 7:9-10, 22:18-19
Mother and Son. Photo by Oleg Afonin, January 11, 2015, via Flickr.
Music: "Your Prayer," Mason Clover, An Intimate Look, Abiron 2008. Visit https://www.masonclover.com/ to hear more by Mason Clover.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Because I Said So.pdf

A Corner on the Beach

We all want to reach the Promised Land of the Messianic Age, when all is made right and there really is peace in the world. Or so we say. Since that blessed age is not here yet, we still have room to pretend to yearn for it while we rearrange our own little kingdoms in the ways we find most agreeable. 
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22; Isaiah 1:1-27; Daniel 9:4-5; Matthew 21:28-32; 2 John 5-6
Done with the beach. Photo: Kevin Dooley, February 11, 2007, via Flickr.
Music: "We Want to Go Home (Feat. Ross),” Mason Clover, The Isaiah 43 Project, Abiron 2011. Visit https://www.masonclover.com/ to hear more by Mason Clover.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: A Corner on the Beach.pdf

Responsible Unfairness

Why do people continue to hold the Bible up as the definitive authority for life if it is rooted in ancient patriarchy and is inherently unfair to women? That's a valid question. The answer is just as valid, although it may not be what we expect, or what we want to hear. 
Numbers 30:2-36:13; Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:1-16, 31:31-34; Genesis 2:15-16; Isaiah 28:14-18; Hosea 13:12-14; Ephesians 5:21-33; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Angry mother and daughter. Photo: verkeorg, February 19, 2016, via Flickr.
Music: "Psalm 25,” Exodus Road Band, Heart of the Matter, Exodus Road Records 2016. This song and others by Exodus Road Band are available at https://www.youtube.com/c/ExodusRoadBand/featured.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Responsible Unfairness.pdf

A Form for That

Why would anyone ever submit to all the restrictions and oversight that comes with military service? It's just not right to the sensibilities of people who appreciate self-esteem and individualism. But then, individualism can mean isolation from others. It's very hard to live in community when we're isolated - and if we're not in community, how do we learn to love our neighbors as ourselves? 
Numbers 25:10-29:40; Jeremiah 1:1-2:3; Luke 7:1-10; Acts 5:1-11, 8:9-24
Pfc. Jennifer Reynolds fills out in processing paperwork on the back of Pfc. Enrique Baena at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, after their return from deployment in Iraq, December 6, 2011. Photo: JBLM PAO/Jim Bryant/NW Guardian, via Flickr.
Music: "National Emblem," Edwin E. Bagley, The United States Army Concert Band, Marches of America, Altissimo 2005. Music by the United States Army Bands is available at https://www.usarmyband.com/.  
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: A Form for That.pdf

Settling for Division

We are bred for conflict, or so it seems. Even in the games we play, are objective is to win at the expense of others. Is that how our Creator designed us? Maybe, but it's more likely that in His eternal perspective, the winners are the ones who enter the Kingdom together with those they have helped along the way.
Numbers 22:2-25:9; Micah 5:7-6:8; Genesis 12:3; Deuteronomy 2:8-9; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, 6:1-8
A friendly game of Catan.
Music: "Overture” (feat. Eben Mann), 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.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Settling for Division.pdf