CURIOUS WHAT MY FAVORITE PODCASTS ARE?

 

Emblem for Google Podcasts Manager, unfortunately no longer available.

A while back, I asked if I should start a Pod Cast. Obviously (I'm guessing), I haven't. But what Podcasts do I listen to? Which would I be interested in that I can't get on my server? What is a draw for me to get interested in a Podcast?

I could build up a lot of suspense and make you read through a lot of stuff, but I'll start with the first one, and tell you what I do listen to, in alphabetic order.

1. Bible Study For Adults. This podcast is designed for leaders and students who are using this topical approach from Lifeway Publishers (Southern Baptist Convention). Each quarter is divided into two parts. The first part of this quarter was "Thrive: Living On Purpose, and they just started "Navigating Family Conflict."

2. Explore The Bible. This has a lot in common with the above, basically because like "Bible Study for Adults," it is from Lifeway Publishers. The difference between the two is that this one goes through books. For example, as I write this they're in their second quarter on the book of Acts, with the previous quarter doing the first 12 chapters, and the remaining 16 this quarter.

3. The Gospel Project. How many of these podcasts are connected to Lifeway? Only three, but putting them in alphabetic order has Lifeway's three curriculums at the top. The Gospel Project is similar to Explore The Bible, except it goes through the Bible through the course of three years. This quarter, they just got started in Genesis. There is a difference between this Podcast and the others: This one is aimed solely at teachers. It has one hostess instead of two or three people talking about the lesson. It tends to be shorter as well.

4. Lithoscry (aka Ravens Cry). Hosted by Glenn Remsen. Those who have followed my blog will recognize that name. I interviewed Glenn earlier this year. (Click here to see the interview) Most of the interviewees are Christian rock and metal bands, though there are others as well, such as Richard Blackaby from Experiencing God and "The Chosen" creator Dallas Jenkins. 

5. Reconstructing Faith. Back to Southern Baptists! Trevin Wax from the North American Mission Board hosts this two semester (at this point) series about how to strengthen the church. This one is more like a news series, with various interviewees, soundbites, etc. 

6. The Reformed Libertarian Podcast. This is put out by the Libertarian Christian Institute (who also have their own podcast), and is hosted by Kerry Baldwin and Gregory Baus. I find it interesting combining Reformed Theology with Libertarian Political Philosophy. One note - both hosts are Anarchists, believing we would be better off without government. Still don't buy it, but still listen.

7. Thru The Bible With Dr. J. Vernon McGee. This is one I listen to on the website rather than a podcast channel, and I'm basically keeping up with the current radio broadcasts. Dr. McGee goes through the Bible every 5 years, alternating between Old and New Testaments. For example, he just finished Titus and Philemon and started on Daniel. Dr. McGee is no longer with us, but the program has been going on, not just here in the U.S. but around the world.

8. Unshaken Faith. This is hosted by Alisa Childers and Natasha Crain. Both have their own Podcasts. I enjoy them working together, dealing with Christian Worldview and modern society. The past few weeks, they've been dealing with the After Party and its shortcomings. 

What other podcasts am I interested? Well, when I get caught up with some of these, I'll add Child Evangelism's Fellowship One:Seven to the rotation. I have interest in the podcasts by Alisa Childers, Allie Beth Stuckey, Natasha Crain, Russell Moore, Will Cain, Libertarian Christian Institute, and The Catch with John Fisher. Plus, my friend Eddie Kross has one coming out tomorrow!

However, one drawback. I subscribed to Podcasts on Google Podcasts. Google Podcasts decided to stop operating, and transferred my podcasts to YouTube. They stay on my list, but should I search for one that wasn't already on my roster - e.g. Natasha Crain - or if I cancel one to time and then decide to resubscribe - e.g. The Catch with John Fisher - I find I'm unable to get them on YouTube. 😢 So I'm debating changing to Spotify or Apple (let me know if you have any suggestions). By the way, I listen to them on my phone at work. 

What interests me? Well, it helps if I'm familiar and have a positive opinion of them. True, it will help to hear divergent views, but not while I'm working!  One major thing is the length of time. Raven's Heart and Reconstructing Faith are hour long, but I prefer half an hour or less, The Lifeway curriculum podcasts, Thru the Bible, and Unshaken Faith consistently hit that time constraint, and Reformed Libertarian varies but often is that short.

I rarely get comments, but does anybody following this have any favorites?

352 UNNAMED MIDIANITE VIRGINS - BIBLICAL PEOPLE I'M CURIOUS ABOUT (PART 2 OF 6).

"Hope in a Prison of Despair" by Evelyn DeMorgan

Yes, I'm into an obscure portion of Scripture today: Numbers 31. You probably are aware of Balaam and his talking donkey (Numbers 22-24), who was hired to curse Israel but blessed them instead. It's possible you know that Numbers 25 tells how Moabite women seduced men of Israel  at Baal Peor to turn them to idolatry, and God sent a plague against those. But then, Numbers 31 tells of God telling the Israelites to take vengeance on the Midianites. No Israeli casualties, but killed in that battle was Balaam the false prophet.

Well, the children of Israel took home booty. Lifestock was no problem. The women were. Moses was mad at them, based on the crisis at Baal Peor. So they inquired of God, and they were told to kill the married women, but they could spare the virgins. The total of women prisoners, then were 32,000. 

Then, the spoil was divided 50-50 between those who fought and those who didn't. The Lord asked for a tribute of 1 of 500 from the fighters and 1 of 50 of the non-fighters. By the way, the divided booty included the ladies. The number set aside for the Lord were 352 (32 from the soldier's share, 320 from the people's).

But what does it mean for them to be given to the Lord? Sacrifice? That is inconsistent with the entirety of Scripture. Were they set apart for the priests and Levites? The High Priest is to marry within Israel, but no prohibition for other priests or Levites. Did they form an order of nuns? No record of that.

Speaking of no record: I went to the commentaries/study Bibles I have to see if they offered any clarification. Nope. J. Vernon McGee, one of my go-to sources, skipped over all the booty discussion. The Ryrie Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, and the Complete Jewish Study Bible added nothing. Well, Ryrie did point out that Numbers 31:28-31 mentioned 1 of 500 of the soldiers share went to the Lord as an offering and 1 of 50 of the people's share were given to the Levites, but that's all.

I thought of writing a novel dealing with these ladies and what they went through. Were they angry and bitter? Were they fearful and miserable? Or did at least some of those 352 women come to believe in the God of Israel?

GOD'S PEOPLE ARE A REMNANT, AND IT'S LARGER AND MORE DIVERSE THAN YOU SUPPOSE.

Castaways at Strand by Polish painter Franciszek Ksawery Lampi

 

 I usually agree with Dr. J. Vernon McGee and with A. W. Tozer. However, there is one point I strongly disagree with them.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is telling God, repeatedly, that Israel killed all God's prophets, and that he alone is left. (Never mind that a guy named Obadiah hid and fed 100 prophets.) God tells Elijah that there are 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed to Baal or kissed his image.

In listening to McGee, he comments that the 7,000 didn't do much for Elijah. (He admits in his printed notes he wasn't kind to the remnant.) Likewise, Tozer said that if the 7,000 were doing what they should be, Israel would not be in apostasy.

In the text, are these two gentlemen accurate? I don't think so. These men were faithful to God. There is no indication that they were called to anything more than that. They were presented as evidence to Elijah he wasn't alone.

Should the remnant have done more for Elijah? How could they? 1 Kings 17 states God had Elijah hide, first by a brook where he was fed by ravens, and then in Queen Jezebel's homeland eating cakes with a widow and her son. Could they have stood with Elijah at Mount Carmel? Did they need to? Nope.

Let's look at how the term "The Remnant" is used in Scripture. The KJV uses that term 89 times, 83 of those being in the Old Testament. It's used 25 times in the historical and poetic books, usually from the Hebrew word yathar, referring to a residue. In other words, we're talking about leftovers, about an excess.

If you're good at math, you'll guess that the remaining 57 times appear in the prophets, and you'll be right. Isaiah and Jeremiah use that term 16 times each. The prophets, though, are using the related words shear and sheriph. These reflect a residue, those who escaped, survivors.  Kind of like the castaways in the painting above.

So let me return to the title of today's blog. "God's people are a remnant, and it's larger and more diverse than you suppose." Who am I quoting? Myself. If someone wants to create a meme and quote me, go for it! But let's break down what I'm saying. 

First, I'm saying we're a remnant. Yes, the remnant is a numberless multitude (Rev. 7:9-17), but it's still a remnant. Leftovers. The survivors. A minority movement. 7,000 people weren't a lot. Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord will be in the kingdom (Mt. 7:21-23). 

I remember a Church of Christ radio preacher who said, "Do I believe the Church of Christ is the only ones who will be saved? No. I believe we're the only ones who have hope of being saved! One in a thousand will get in." He's echoing my point - it's not the professors but the possessors. The true church is a remnant.

My second point is that the remnant, though small, is not as small as we think it will be. If Elijah listened to Obadiah, he would have realized there was a remnant of 100, not 1 (that one being Elijah). But God revealed that remnant was 70 times larger than Obadiah's estimate. God is the one who reserves the remnant.

One controversial book I've read is The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church by Marv Rosenthal. There's a lot of what he said that can be questioned, but one thing he said rang true. When John saw the numberless multitude (again, Rev. 7:9-17), one of the elders asked who they were. Rosenthal pointed out that John did a lot of question asking in Revelation, but this is the only time John was asked a question. Rosenthal's interpretation is that this numberless multitude is the Church from Pentecost to the end, and showing John the end result of the small, persecuted band John lived with.

The remnant, I believe, will also include those that we're not expecting. Revelation says it will include all nations, and thus obviously all races. The Church of Christ radio preacher is probably astonished as he sees he's in heaven with a whole batch of people who aren't in the Church of Christ. Calvinists, there will be Arminians among the Remnant. God can save whoever He wants - He's not limited to your theology and biases.

So allow me to conclude that when you feel isolated, you're not alone in feeling isolated, and you're not alone as being a member of the remnant. God has reserved many you aren't aware of. Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 5:9.

But now, I'll mark the calendar when Ignescent, a band I recently reviewed, hits Indianapolis in a couple of months on their Remnant Tour!

GUEST BLOGGER BECKY REYNOLDS: PRAYER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP

 This is a first for the blog, and one that I hope comes more often: A Guest Blogger! And that first guest blogger is my wife, Becky! 

Technically, this was not written as a blog. The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee is meeting in a solemn assembly this week, and Becky wrote this as a prayer to share with friends. I asked if it was okay to post it in my blog, and she agreed. So below is her introduction and prayer.

Friends, I am sending this to a diverse group in every sense, except for our common faith in Christ, "worked out in love."  (Galatians 5)  I am uncomfortable with saying "too much," but I want you to be able to pray with me and others. (smile)

The 26 members of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee is meeting this week in a "solemn assembly," with a couple of men known to seek God. Years ago, Dr. J. V. McGee said we need to put behind "sins, sorrows and blunders" Some of you already know of this very important week for the Executive Committee, but I mention it so that each of us can join in prayer (in the power of the Holy Spirit) and have our own faith, courage and joy increased. May we hear God's word, believe Him, obey Him, and bear the life of  the Spirit.Here is a start of prayer for us.

 

"Every day I thank You, Father, for Your grace that is real and personal!  God, may I believe You and believe fully Your sovereignty, goodness and grace. May I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. May I allow You to be God alone, first in my thoughts/meditations, meaning/purpose, will/choices, relationships and affections. May I grow in gratitude/thankfulness, character/truthfulness,wisdom/understanding and forgiveness/mercy. May my disciplines and schedule be strengthened as I hear Your word and trust and obey You. 

 

"As Dr. Charles Stanley says, I know that obedience is doing what You say, when You say it, and the way You say to do it. Every bit of faith and knowledge I have is from small acts of obedience, and repentance when I disobey. Father God, only Your Spirit gives joy! And joy always, always follows obedience.

 

"Father, experienced people have said that revival must begin at the top for it to last. I am thrilled that these men and women have set aside time in order to put behind the past, to hear You, and to know where You are and what You are doing. That investment of their time will bear dividends in the leadership of Southern Baptist churches, but not only SBC churches, but the American church as a whole, and then beyond. I ask that You protect their investment from the enemy of the gospel, and establish this as a marker in the life of the church of Jesus Christ for generations to follow! 

 

"Please cause holiness and love to increase. Give power to the word of God, to church leadership, church planting, and relationships at churches across this nation and the world. Cause  holiness and power to increase and give power to my local church. The generations after us will become desperate to hear 'It is written.' Let us give young families, young adults and children what they need and deserve -  the word of God lived out in truthfulness and love. 

 

"Thank You Father for the Lord Jesus and for Your Holy Spirit!My hope is to give You joy, Lord. 

 

"In Christ, Amen."