Observations from the Word by The Barking Fox

DIY Redemption?

God is the Creator and Redeemer of humanity. That's what we read in the Bible and sing about in worship services, but what do we really think about it? If we could redeem ourselves, would we? And if we could, would we really be all that different?
Leviticus 16:1-18:30; Ezekiel 22:1-6; Exodus 2:11-15; Psalm 35:3; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:14-21, 4:8-12; Romans 10:12-13; Hebrews 9:11-14
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: DIY Redemption?
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.
Photo: Pascal Böhme, Rome, February 16, 2014, via Flickr.

The Cure for Death

We all want to live forever - or do we? Maybe what we really want is relief from the suffering of this life. That's what we expect in the life to come, but what if this life is preparation for responsibilities we will carry in the next life?
Leviticus 12:1-13:59; 2 Kings 4:42-5:19; Exodus 29:19-21; Numbers 19:5; John 8:44, 12:24-26; Romans 6:5-7; Galatians 2:19-20; Hebrews 9:27-28, 13:7-16
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: The Cure for Death
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: Queens Cemetery. Photo by Scott Bateman, December 10, 2008, via Flickr.

What Is A Woman?

Everyone should know what a woman is, just like everyone should know what a man is. When asked, though, could we provide a concise definition? This isn't a political question; it's an existential question.
Leviticus 12:1-13:59; 2 Kings 4:42-5:19; Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-9, 22:23-32; Hebrews 11:6; James 2:18-26; 1 John 1:5-12
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: What Is A Woman
Music: "English Country Garden,” Aaron Kenny, YouTube Audio Library, January 2018. Listen to the complete audio on Youtube at https://youtu.be/vDA19CRK3NQ?si=Pab7lt2liK6kPuAD.
Photo: Colombian Dentist Liliana Patricia Gutierrez Freyle and Darfurian cleaner Hawa Awadallah. (Photo: UNAMID - Albert Gonzalez Farran, El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan February 4, 2010, via Flickr.)

When the Show Must Go On

Life doesn't stop when bad things happen. Sometimes it's better not to ask why, but instead try to help each other get through the hard times.
Leviticus 9:1-11:47, 2 Samuel 6:1-7-7:17; Malachi 3:1-6; Luke 12:54-13: 5; Hebrews 12:1-2, 13:8; 1 Peter 1:13-16
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: When the Show Must Go On
Music: "Putting On the Ritz,” Freedom Trail Studio, YouTube Audio Library, March 6, 2024. Listen to the complete audio on YouTube at https://youtu.be/oTM8NdJ2QSE?si=iOzoLmNUeYCYACtf.
Photo: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the NBC radio studios, May 13, 1942. NBC Radio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Holy Trash Cans

We talk a lot about the "signs of the times" so we can be ready for Messiah's return. That's a good thing, but shouldn't we also be talking about what happens after that?
Leviticus 6:8-8:36; Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:23-24; Isaiah 56:6-7; Zechariah 14:20-21; Mark 11:15-17; Romans 9:14-26; Revelation 21:22-27
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Holy Trash Cans
Music: "Holy Are You Lord,” Mason Clover, Perception, Abiron 2019. Visit https://www.masonclover.com/ to hear more by Mason Clover.
Photo by Scott Beale / The Laughing Squid, June 26, 2009, via Flickr.

Adjusting to the Rule Change

Change happens whether we like it or not. It's always good to ask God about the changes that we experience, whether in our personal lives, or in the wider world. Sometimes He is the author of change. That doesn't mean we have to like it or accept it without question, but if we don't seek His counsel, we might end up opposing Him.
Leviticus 1:1-6:7; Isaiah 43:21-44:23; Hosea 3:1-5; Romans 9:1-5; Ephesians 2:11-22
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Adjusting to the Rule Change
Music: "Origin (Breath of Life Version),” 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 Peter Reed, Cookham, England, May 1, 2006, via Flickr.

When We Take Off Our Armor

If God declares the end from the beginning, then we should have a good idea what to expect before the end of this age if we study His Word. What has He declared that we might have missed, and what might be our responsibility in making His declarations come to pass?  
Exodus 25:8-9, 32:9-13, 38:21-40:30; 1 Kings 7:51-8:21, 20:11; Isaiah 2:2-4, 11:1-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 47:13-23; Matthew 10:6, 15:24; Luke 14:25-34; John 14:27, 16:33; Ephesians 2:11-22; Hebrews 8:8-12
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: When We Take Off Our Armor
Music: "Renaissance Castle,” Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions, YouTube Audio Library, April 22, 2021. Listen to the complete audio on Youtube at https://youtu.be/uW9_6xWN3wo?si=MMUhwQD23j4JQF1W.
Photo: A knight and his horse. Photo by Sean Tbear, July 20, 2012, via Flickr.

Saints in the Hands of an Angry God

It's easy to think about the wrath of God being poured out on unrepentant sinners, but what does God do about unrepentant saints?  
Exodus 35:1-38:20; 1 Kings 7:40-50; Psalm 2:1-12; Matthew 7:15-23; 1 Corinthians 10:1-14; Revelation 3:14-22
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Saints in the Hands of an Angry God
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.
Illustration: A Philadelphia Anabaptist Immersion during a Storm, Pavel Petrovich Svinin, 1811-ca1813, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.