#022: Overcoming Giants - Part 1

This week we listen to the children of Church Requel read us the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Then we hear a fascinating and insightful discussion with these same children about the meaning of the story.  Finally we listen to this weeks sermon, part 1 of "Overcoming Giants."

Music for this week's podcast is Giants by Evan Kraft from the Giants album.

#021: Redemption

In this episode I talk about redemption, what it is and how it should impact us.  We have stories of redemption, both in and out of the church. Catch up with Mary Kay and me and hear about the changes I've made in my online security.

Here's what I have lined up for you this week:

[00:35] Introduction and Chatter - I share how Roc and Kim became such good friends with Mary Kay and me.  I tell the story of how Mary Kay and I had both a Catholic priest and a Protestant pastor officiate at our wedding.  Our 33rd anniversary is next week and we are celebrating with our friends, Roc and Kim.  Then I introduce the content on this week's podcast.

[13:10] Backups, Passwords, and Online Security - I talk about Mat Honan's story of hackers breaking into his online accounts and wiping his Macbook, iPhone and iPad.  I wrote about this last week.  In the podcast I talk a little more about what I've done since and the challenge of changing everything online.

[33:00] Garbage Redemption - Tara Woodard-Lehman, a Presbyterian chaplain at Princeton University, writes about her secret love of garbage, and how her father taught her to restore that which was lost and disposable.  She and her students have created a mosaic filled with broken pieces.

[38:24] Love and Redemption - David Brooks, a columnist for the NY Times, received an amazing essay from an 80-year old man, redeemed by the unconditional love of his wife.  Fifty-five years into their marriage, she developed Alzheimers and he writes about taking care of her.

[50:17] Redeemer Kinsman - Pastor Jon Miller writes about the Redeemed over at SermonCentral.com.  He also takes his Bible references from Ruth 2 and gives us a very good explanation of the connection of redeemer between Boaz and Christ.

[1:04:45] CR Sermon: "Sealed With A Sandal" - This is the replay of Sunday evening's sermon at Church Requel.  Listen as I talk about loyalty, love and redemption.

[1:31:32] Wrap Up - I review what happened at Church Requel Sunday evening and wrap up the podcast.  There will be no podcast next week.  We'll return on Monday, August 27th, with Episode #22.

Music for this week's podcast is "Redeemed," by Big Daddy Weave, from their album, Love Come To Life.

#020: Temptation

In this episode I talk about Temptation, what it is and how we should handle it.  We consider temptation from a Biblical spiritual perspective as well as physical and psychological.

Here's what I have lined up for you this week: 

[00:25] Intro and Personal - Catch up with me on this past week. The good news about working a month ahead. Going to the museum with Grayden. Celebrating my sister's 49th birthday. Intro to rest of podcast.

[14:41] 5 Steps of Temptation - Here are the basics of temptation, what we might call Temptation 101.  Lessons from Satan's temptation of Eve in Genesis.  The devil uses the same strategies against us today.  Many thanks to Dr. Clay Hallmark for his 2004 sermon, "Dealing With Temptation."

[26:53] Don't Resist, Refocus! - This comes from Pastor Rick Warren's July 9th tweet on Twitter: "You defeat temptation by refocusing, not resisting. What you resist, persists. Instead just turn your attention elsewhere."

[31:21] Use Your Mind To Change Your Brain - If we've learned nothing else, we know this: resisting temptation can be extremely challenging. None of us is a stranger to temptation, but nothing makes it clearer how powerful craving and desire can be than when you watch a person's life begin to unravel because he/she gave in. Dr. Rebecca Gladding provides tips on the Psychology Today website about resisting temptation.  Read about her 4 steps to change your brain... and cravings.

[45:54] 3 Temptations That Can Destroy Your Marriage - Denver clinical psychologist and marriage therapist Dr. Susan Heitler writes about the 3 "A's" - three main temptations that destroy marriages.

[59:45] CR Sermon "Playing With Seduction" - This is the talk from Sunday evening at Church Requel.  Our text is from Judges 16, the story of Samson and Delilah.  We learn about 4 sin danger zones to avoid. You can follow the sermon notes at YouVersion.com.

[1:35:00] Wrap Up - I wrap up the podcast with a short review of the Church Requel service Sunday night.  It was an emotional evening.  I talk about how I have struggled in the past recovering from such emotional involvement with a sermon.  You can watch the video, "Free" by Journey Box Media at YouTube.  You can download it for a fee at WorshipHouse Media.

Music for this week's podcast comes from "Temptation" by Diana Krall on her Temptation album.