Shows
And Podcast For All - Metallica PodcastBrothers In Arms - Kirk Hammett's broMetallica family in the house, and jumping into your favorite podcast. Just not anyone….a photographer, videographer, producer, and Kirk Hammett’s brother! A true gentleman. Mr. Richard Likong kindly joins the show to tell us about the punk/metal/new wave scene in the early 80s as his younger brother Kirk joined Metallica. Richard tells us about shooting photos of Kirk in Europe during the early days and how Cliff loved his work even more. Other areas discussed include Kirk learning the blues, hearing early versions of Master of Puppets in the garage, partying at the Metalli-M...2021-06-161h 00
Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithIn Praise of the Saving God - Hope in the Time of COVID, Part 04This remains a very difficult time, as crisis seems to mount upon crisis, pain upon pain, fear upon fear. And the question that confronts us is: How do we remain people of enduring hope, while honestly enduring suffering? When we don't seek false escape from pain, diminish it or deny it, but courageously face it, what gets us through? What genuine hope do we have? And how do we experience it? The short answer is: prayer. And prayer can be learned. In this episode we examine Ps. 118 as we learn how to pray deeply. 2020-06-1139 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithSuffering, Character and Hope - Hope in the Time of COVID, Part 03What most of us want amidst suffering is for the pain to end - to be quickly delivered from our distress. And it is tempting to imagine that if God loves us, this must be what he desires as well - a quick and sudden end to our hardships. Perhaps that is the hope of faith, that if we are sufficiently obedient, God will prevent our suffering in the first place (or remove it quickly)? But the Bible makes no such promises. Indeed Jesus himself insists that we will face pain. So what then is our hope...2020-05-2132 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithWhat We Know for Sure - Hope in the Time of COVID, Part 02One of the hardest parts of enduring this crisis is coping with so much uncertainty: How long will it last? Who will be affected? What about the economy? Will there be a vaccine? Who should I trust for information...? The questions can be dizzying and tempt us in some moments to grasp at any hope offered, and at others, to nearly abandon hope. In this episode, we look at the biblical promises of hope - what God does (and does not) assure to his people - so as to ground ourselves in on the bedrock of truth...2020-05-0832 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithNever Waste a Crisis! - Hope in the Time of COVID, Part 01This is the first in an entirely ad hoc series on hope and transformation and how they fit together. It is born out of the pandemic that has swept our world, and my ponderings on what defines the Christian hope and how that hope can shape the world that emerges on this other side of this crisis. This sermon is from March 15, 2020 (the first week of California's social distancing order) and looks at the theological and practical sides of loving our world in the manner of Jesus. The biblical passage referenced in this...2020-05-0632 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithWhat Does God Really Want? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 08Isn't the main point of Christianity to be a good person (and thereby to secure my place in heaven)? I mean, if one is basically moral, reasonably charitable and occasionally saintly, doesn't that please the Almighty? Is the point to please the Almighty? Come to think of it, what IS the point of Christianity? If one were to boil it all down, what's the message of the gospel? In this episode we take up these questions and arrive at a vision of faith that goes far beyond ethics. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon...2020-03-2635 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithHow Does Sanctification Work? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 07I know that as a Christian I am called to sanctification - to a life shaped ever more into the image of Jesus, in short, to a life of sinning less and loving more. And in some areas of my life, I see progress! But in other areas...not so much. Indeed in some facets of my life, I see almost no inner change at all, despite genuine effort. What gives? Do I just need to try harder? Really? (Frankly, much of me is ready to give up and just make peace with a besetting...2020-03-1154 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithDoes Prayer "Work"? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 06Does prayer work? By which we mean, does prayer change anything? Is it supposed to change things? Change external circumstances? Or merely the disposition of the pray-er? And if God knows all that we need and loves us dearly, does his help depend on our prayers or the prayers of others??? In this episode our beloved Ian Farrell takes up the topic of prayer - a practice with which he is intimately familiar - and offers his insights on the purpose of prayer and the means by which prayer affects us and others. The biblical...2020-02-2842 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithSharing My Faith???? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 05Few words in the Christian vocabulary evoke more discomfort than "evangelism" - sharing the story of Jesus in hope that another will join the community of faith. In the 21st century, such efforts can feel relationally disrespectful and intellectually...crazy. Oughtn't we let everyone have their beliefs, not seek to influence them? And do we really expect people to believe in God? The Trinity? The resurrection? Yet one cannot be a follower of Jesus and not hear the call to "make disciples." What to do...??? In this episode our beloved Rev. Ian Farrell shares his wisdom on...2020-02-2644 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithWhat Is Heaven Like? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 04Pop culture overflows with visions of "heaven" - from floating cities with streets of gold to childlike cherubim to the white robed "saved" joyfully playing the harp unto eternity... But these images have little to do with the actual biblical portrait of life in the age to come. In this episode we examine what scripture intends to communicate about New Creation, a world set right. And, even more importantly, how this vision of salvation calls us to life today. The images referenced here: 01 The Billboard 02 Heaven/Hell Diagram 03 (Florence) Baptistry Hell 04 Heaven? 05 Heaven 2? (Raphael) 2020-02-1446 minJesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of FaithWhat Happens When We Die? - 8 Questions on Life, Death, God and Faith, Part 03Of all the subjects we choose to avoid, death is probably first on the list! We fear it for ourselves, and perhaps even more, we fear the pain of the loss of those we love. But at the heart of the Christian life is a discussion about death and our hope in the face of it. In this episode we examine that hope and the courage it gives us to live generously. Specifically we'll look at the tragedy of death, our confidence in the resurrection, and what happens in the time in between... ...2020-02-1149 min