Christian Questions Bible Podcast

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." It is one of the Ten Commandments, so it must be important. But, what does it really mean? Is it just about the words we use or is there more to it than that? Can our thoughts and actions also be a manifestation of taking God’s name in vain? What is the end result of carelessly handling God’s name? How do we become more aware of ourselves so we hold the name of God with reverence, honor and respect?

There are many accounts in the Bible that really run along the edge of reality for many of us here today. Think about it – Balaam’s donkey talks, the sun stands still for Joshua in a battle, Jesus rises from the dead and goes to heaven… These are fantastic and unbelievable to many. And then there is the story of Noah. Here is a man around 500 years old who builds a boat to save his family and the animals from a devastating flood! Now THAT is amazing! So, what is there about this story of Noah that rings true for us today? Is his experience a warning for us here and now?

Morality. Here in the 21st century, morality has become a moving target. In any given circumstance, its interpretation can be diverted, diminished or even dissolved, depending on what one may feel is right at the time. Is this the way life is supposed to work? Are we all supposed to only follow our own internal barometer or are we designed to follow an external constant? Is human nature a self-directing mechanism that will bring us to higher and higher levels, or is human nature in its present state a sin-directed mechanism that brings us to idolatry? Do we know better, or is there something that we better know?

Satan. The Devil. The Adversary. These are but a few of the names that describe that powerful spiritual being who fell from heaven and opposes God. Many people don’t believe he exists. Still others look at the Bible and point out how Satan is such an infrequent player in the Old Testament and a dominate player the New Testament. They use this observation as proof of the evolution of the idea of Satan. So, is he real or just a convenient fabrication of Christianity to keep people in line? If he is real, what kind of influence does he have? Should we be afraid?

Enemies. For some of us, naming them is easy – we can put a name and a face to them and recite the reasons we have to consider them enemies. For others, the idea of an enemy may be more related to a general group who may have a different ideology, or a different political perspective. Whatever makes someone your enemy, the question remains, how do you treat them? Jesus says to love our enemies, but is that really a practical statement? Doesn’t loving an enemy overlook and minimize the very reasons that they may justifiably be our enemies? Stay with us!

Followers of Jesus today are bombarded on every side with agnostic and atheistic philosophies that erode faith. In science, the theory of Evolution is embraced by many as the best explanation of man’s existence on earth, of course without the necessity of a supposed mythical creator. However, in recent decades the scientific debate over the explanation of origins has taken a turn with the appearance of the theory of Intelligent Design. The result has produced a dramatic and often faith-strengthening debate. For a Christian, this comes at a perfect time, supplying us with additional reasons to accept the Bible narrative of God as Creator. So what’s it about? Stayed tuned for a lively discussion of: Is God Really the Creator?

DUE TO THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THE EVENTS WE WILL DISCUSS, THIS PROGRAM MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. Tragedy is a part of life. We all know those who have suffered through it. Many times it gets the best of people, and sometimes people cope, but occasionally you find those who truly overcome it to a point that the tragedy is merely a memory and can serve as a tool of growth and example. Today we will tell such a story. It is true story of bad things happening and how faith in God, perseverance and the right help transformed those bad things into overcoming lives.

Love God. It is a simple enough commandment - easy to say, repeat and remember. But what does it really mean? Are there different ways of expressing love for God and does God look for different results depending on what age of humanity we live in? Most of all, is loving God - no matter when and where we live - enough?

Faith. It is the basis of all religion, for it is faith in something larger than oneself that draws people to a common belief. Faith. It is a necessity in any functional society, for it creates the environment for citizens to rely upon their leadership. Faith. It is a key in any deep and enduring relationship, for it provides the fertile soil that feeds a lifetime of growing together. Faith. It is critical in the bringing together of two at-odds parties, for it provides a bridge that both parties may equally travel upon. Faith. It is a staple of our lives – so how do we make it firm, unshakable and permanent?