Observations from the Word by The Barking Fox

The Reconstruction of Ourselves

God knew what He was doing when He established a single standard for good and instructed our first ancestors to abide by it. All the world's problems originated in their decision to ignore those instructions and set up their own standards. That's why we really don't have a unified understanding of what good means. All we have is hope that our Creator will fix the problem in us as He fixes the problems we have caused. 
Exodus 38:21-40:38; 1 Kings 7:51-8:21; Genesis 1:1-31; John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16, 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3, 22
Construction of the Tabernacle under direction of Moses. Jan Luyken, 1705, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.
Music: "Rebuild,” 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: The Reconstruction of Ourselves.pdf

A Heart Prepared

It's difficult enough to comprehend the transformative process our Redeemer works within us as individuals. It's even more difficult to comprehend this process in a nation - particularly if it is the kingdom of priests our Redeemer has been assembling for millennia, and into which He calls all the Redeemed. The preparation of individual hearts is what, over time, brings about the transformation of the national heart that will glorify our King and Bridegroom for all eternity.
Exodus 35:1-38:20; Deuteronomy 29:4, 30:6; 2 Kings 12:1-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:17-21; Joel 2:32; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 10:9
Assertion of Liberty of Conscience by the Independents of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 1644. John Rogers Herbert, 1847. (Heritage Collection at UK Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Music: "Old 100th,” Celtic Worship, Morningtide, Integrity Music 2021.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: A Heart Prepared.pdf

Never Disowned

God makes a promise never to leave us or forsake us. That's stunning since we humans have always had a tendency to leave and forsake Him. The Bible says God does this because He loves the world. So how does that work when no person and no nation consistently loves Him back?
Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39; Isaiah 49:14-16; Jeremiah 30:10-11; Zechariah 8:23; Romans 8:38-39
Stephen Lungu's mother abandoned him when he was a young child, but his Heavenly Father intervened to give a new, unshakeable identity in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ). That's why he  become one of Africa's most gifted evangelists. (Photo via African Enterprise Australia.)
Music: "Amazing Grace, " John Newton, performed by the African Children’s Choir, Devotion, African Children’s Choir, 2004. To learn the story of the African Children’s Choir, visit https://africanchildrenschoir.com/.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Never Disowned.pdf

Growing Into The Robes

Do we really get to wear robes in the Kingdom of Heaven? How do we get them? What do we do in those robes? And is there anything we should be doing now to make sure our robes get to that heavenly standard of cleanliness?
Exodus 27:20-30:10; Ezekiel 43:10-27; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 1:4-6, 13, 3:4-5, 6:9-11, 7:9-17, 19:6-8
Gerhard Fugel, "Apocalypse, chapter 6, Souls at the Altar," 1933, via Wikimedia Commons.
Music: "Going to Shout All Over God’s Heaven," Traditional, performed by Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong’s Gospel Book, Warner, 2010.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Growing Into The Robes.pdf

Holy Dogs

"Holy" is a word we throw around in spiritual talk, but do we know what it means? If we don't know what it means, then how can we expect to live holy lives, or explain to anyone why such a thing might be something they would want to do?
Exodus 25:1-27:19; 1 Kings 5:12-6:13; Ezekiel 11:14-16; John 2:18-22, 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16, 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3
Blue has been my special friend ever since she came to live with us as a pup.
Music: "The Puppy Song," Harry Nilsson, Harry, RCA Victor 1969.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Holy Dogs.pdf

Half-Cocked Spirituality

A person may become an adult in the eyes of the law by reaching a certain age, but that doesn't mean he or she is an adult in fact. We could make the case that adult-aged people who continue to act irresponsibly and immaturely are still children in many respects. We can see how that works out in a person's emotions, financial management, employment, and social interaction, but do we see it also in the spiritual realm?   
Exodus 21:1-24:18; Jeremiah 33:25-26, 34:8-22; Genesis 2:16-17, 3:2-3; Psalm 58; Matthew 19:1-9; 1 Corinthians 13
Boy Scout Troop 102, Birmingham, Alabama, April 4, 1976. Standing at the ends of the middle row are Scoutmasters Bill Hard (R) and Bob Taylor (L). Al McCarn is next to Mr. Hard, second from right in the middle row.
Music: "Ralph’s Banjo Special," The Stanley Brothers, The Collection 1958-1960, Marmot Music 2013.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Half-Cocked Spirituality.pdf

Yakety Yak and Blah, Blah, Blah

Obviously we don't get into the Kingdom of Heaven simply by doing good works, or do we? We rightly claim that salvation is by God's grace and mercy, but then we look down on those who stray into legalism, as we call it, by trying to do what the Bible says. Somewhere there's a balance between saying we're saved and not living like it, and living like we're saved, but having no peace. Maybe we find that balance by learning who we are, and Whose we are.  
Exodus 18:1-20:26; Isaiah 6:1-7:5, 9:6-7; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Mark 10:17-22; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:1-6
Daughter looking a phone and ignoring her mother. Photo by verkeorg (National Centre for the Development of Online Youth Work, Helsinki, Finland), February 19, 2016, via Flickr.
Music: “Yakety Yak,” The Coasters, written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, Atco Records 1958. 
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Yakety Yak and Blah Blah Blah.pdf

Faith Without Hats

What is our real motivation for following God? Do we really want to be His people, or is there some hidden motive - a motive we might even hide from ourselves? 
Exodus 13:17-17:16, Judges 4:4-5:31; Genesis 22:1-19; Matthew 14:22-33; Luke 18:1-8; John 6:60-70, 20:19-29; Philippians 3:17-21
Boy Playing on Beach with Pail and Shovel. Photo by Chris McBrien, June 5, 2011, via Flickr.
Music: “Out to Sea / The Shark Cage Fugue” (From Jaws), John Williams, John Williams & Steven Spielberg: The Ultimate Collection, Sony Masterworks 2017. 
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Faith Without Hats.pdf