I am Hal Hammons, a citizen of heaven. I broadcast regular reports of what it is for a child of God to live in Satan's world. My reports typically break down into four segments:"What I've been preaching" -- a point I have made in a recent sermon."What I've been reading" -- A brief breakdown of a book of the Bible or other reading material that has helped me in my understanding or application of the Bible."What I've been hearing" -- news from the internet or other sources about what is going ...
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We are reading the entire Bible through in a year - an average of 20 pages per week. I am Hal Hammons, your host. Every Monday morning (Lord willing!) I will post a short segment to encourage you in your week's reading. We begin with my "first impressions" from the reading this time through, then we focus on "one story," "one verse" and "one word." I hope it motivates you to get in the Book of books and stay there.And check out my Citizen of Heaven podcast also. There we cover the ins and ou ...
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Balancing the Christian Life helps Christians grow. It focuses on practical ways to improve relationships with each other and God, and what it means to be a digital disciple.
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Life in the Forbidden Desert, a conversation with Hal Hammons
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In this episode, Hal Hammons and I discuss some of my past few months' stresses. This is a very personal episode for me. I'm grateful for Hal and I'm grateful for you. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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HALFTIME REPORT: My Best Books of 2024 (So Far)
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I’ve completed more than 100 books thus far in 2024 — a bit behind my pace from 2023, but still, not too bad. And yes, some of those books were on the short side. But not all — I’ve read six books this year that were 500 pages or longer. I try to balance my reading between fiction, non-fiction and inspirational books. Fiction is lagging behind in 2…
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PASSION: The passionate life. "Backyard Brawl." Passion fruit and Passion Week. FLGs (minus the F).
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We’ve accidentally stumbled on a bit of a theme this week. Knives are deadly. Poison is deadly. Passion is deadly, too, and I could not be more serious. This week we’ll cover what the Bible says about living a passionate life and why it’s different from the world’s idea; the rivalry that largely defines the state of Texas; what tropical fruit and t…
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Talking to yourself, a conversation with Mark Dunagan
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Ever wondered how your life might change if you could sit down and give your younger self some sage advice? In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Kenny Embry and Mark Dunagan explore just that, sharing the life lessons and wisdom they've gathered over the years. Discover the divine patterns in mathematics, the pivotal role of reading, and the essenti…
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HALFTIME REPORT: My Thinkiest Books of 2024 (so far)
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Thinking is the whole reason the “What I’ve Been Reading” segment exists on the podcast. In fact, it’s why I read at all. It’s gratifying to read things that confirm what you already were thinking, and that can be a worthwhile exercise. But usually the “thinking” to which I refer in this list is the tougher kind — getting outside my comfort zone an…
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Another experiment, this time talking about the idol of busyness. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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POISON: Snake-handlers. "The Poisoner's Handbook." Napoleon and arsenic. Council of Verona: Poison expansion.
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Poison is bad. You should avoid it, generally. That’s my policy, anyway. And as obvious as I may think that approach is, clearly some people disagree. Today we will deal with people who think the poison of the world can’t possibly hurt them; people so distraught they would rather take poison than deal with their day-to-day lives; the possible benef…
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This is another experiment, and I talk about the idol of self. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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This is an experiment. I wanted to try a short devotion and see if I could do it, and if it was any good. For this week, I want to talk about idols. The first is, in my opinion, the most obvious...greed. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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HALFTIME REPORT: My Most Surprising Books of 2024 (so far)
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When I buy a book, I weigh three considerations: my level of interest, the cost, and the. book’s length (more or less in that order). I will never read a book I don’t want to read. I will rarely pay anywhere remotely close to retail (Hal Hammons, famous tightwad; you know my schtick by now) And I would rather read a short book than a long book; if …
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KNIVES: Moses and Zipporah. "Passover." Sharpness. Spoons.
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A knife is like most tools – helpful when used properly, dangerous when used by the wrong person or with the wrong training. This week we’ll discuss the strangest knife story in the Bible and what it says about our connection to God; the strangest and most beautiful knife story on my bookshelf; the debate over whether sharp knives are worth the pri…
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GROWTH, part 3: with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams
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Today we wrap up my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams, from Lutz, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, respectively; I hope you’ve gotten as much out of it as I did. Links to the great work they do are included in the show notes. Here we discuss the centrality of Jesus in the life and work of a Christian, how we can forget about that from …
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GROWTH, part 2: with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams
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We’re back with more of my conversation with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams. Links to the great work they do are included in the show notes. In our second session, we discuss the problems that may come when growth is the actual goal, and when we accomplish our goal in even more remarkable fashion than we had hoped. If you’re just wishing the church w…
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In this episode, I read the book of Ecclesiastes. The translation I use is the World English Version available here. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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GROWTH: with Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams
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This week I’m blessed to be joined by Edwin Crozier and Tyler Sams. Edwin works with the Christians that meet on Livingston Avenue in Lutz, Florida, and cohosts Text Talk, one of my favorite podcasts. Tyler preaches for the University Oaks church in San Antonio, Texas. In the first segment, we discuss the smallest seed in a Jewish garden and what i…
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MONTHLY REPORT, May 2024: Zero, faith, and Hal's Law.
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My plan this month was to start my halftime report on the books I’m reading this year, but that’s going to have to wait. The plan now is for a show on my most thought-provoking books, another for surprising books, and then one for my best books. I’ll be sharing those with you in June, Lord willing, instead of the regular monthly report. But I just …
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FOUR: Corners and winds. "Indivisible by Four." Toto IV. Council of 4.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed the numbers this month. I have a confession. I did the previous three episodes as an excuse to do this one. This week we’ll discuss the four winds of the earth and how they carry God’s judgment to the four corners of the earth; an example of four-part harmony that works because it doesn’t work; an album that I’ve been wrong ab…
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THREE: The third day. "The Three Musketeers." The Police. The Bottle Imp.
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If 1 and 2 are the most important spiritual numbers in the Bible, and I think they are, then 3 may be the most interesting. Everywhere it pops up in the Bible, fascinating things are happening. This week we will discuss the “third day” – and the other third day, and the other third day; a friendship that transformed an entire genre of literature; a…
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TWO: Your options. "A Tale of Two Cities." Why duos don't last. Two By Two.
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It’s all numbers this month. If “One” is the right place to start, “Two” seems like an obvious follow-up. Feel free to guess what the next two weeks may bring. Here we’ll discuss the “in or out” attitude of Jesus and what we should do if we disagree with Him; a classic novel about how “the best of times” can possibly also be “the worst of times”; t…
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ONE, part 3: with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons
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All month long you listen to me and me alone on this podcast. But early on I determined to let you listen in once a month as I sit at the feet of others. The results are some of my favorite episodes of all. That certainly includes my conversation with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons, which wraps up today. We wrap up by talking about the game of so…
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ONE, part 2: with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons
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We’re back with Keith Stonehart and Paul Hammons, talking about the number one. Keith works with the Fultondale church of Christ in the Birmingham, Alabama, area. Paul works with the Graham church of Christ in north Texas. In this segment, we’re discussing the benefits, and especially the dangers, of obsessing over a single thing. Is it possible to…
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ONE, with Paul Hammons and Keith Stonehart
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We’re talking about numbers this month on the podcast, and we’re starting with the number 1, which seems appropriate. Keith Stonehart joins from the Birmingham, Alabama, area. He preaches for the Fultondale church of Christ. I’ve never met Keith in the flesh, but he’s good friends with my other guest whom I’ve known for all his life and almost all …
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HONEY: Samson and the lion. "Winnie-the-Pooh." "Tupelo Honey." Honey Buzz.
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As I mentioned regarding salt a couple of weeks ago, the Bible says honey is good. Proverbs 24:13-14 compares it to God’s wisdom. Count your calories if you want, but don’t argue with God. This week we’ll discuss the best honey coming from the worst places; the most adorable honey-eater in literary history; the best honey in the world and what it h…
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MONTHLY REPORT, April 2024: "American Wolf" and local fellowship.
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I'm switching to a monthly report. Here you will find updates on what's going on behind the scenes with the podcast, particularly my reading schedule. Today I want to talk about American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee. https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31825422035&searchurl=ds%3D20%26kn%3Damerican%2Bwolf%2Bnate%2Bblakeslee%26sortby%3D17&cm_…
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EGGS: Not scorpions. "Dragon Hunter." Inflation. Praga Caput Regni.
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I said last week fish is one of my favorite proteins. Eggs may be my very favorite. If your chicken will lay it, I will eat it. This week we’ll discuss the goodness of eggs, and of everything else God gives us; the discovery of dinosaur eggs and the hypocrisy it revealed; a new word I invented to connect the price of eggs and the gradual (or not so…
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FISH: Fish sandwiches. "Cod." A poem about fish eggs. Hey, That's My Fish!
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Food month continues with one of my favorite sources of protein. I don’t think it stinks – but you be the judge. This week we’ll discuss the best fish dinner ever, and why it wasn’t good enough; two different looks at fish eggs – one relating to evangelism, one relating to egotism, neither relating to that weird goo that foodies eat on toast points…
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WEEKLY REPORT, April 6-12 -- Romance novels, yea or nay?
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Today I want to tell you about romance novels — why I tend to avoid them, one that fell across my path this week, why I read all 500 pages of it, and the general problems I have with the genre. Books I mention: Cod, by Mark Kurlansky The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruis Zafon Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd for the Lakewoods Drive chu…
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SALT: Salted with fire. "Salt: A World History." Salty language. Concordia: Salsa.
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Salt is good. That’s not my opinion; that’s the word of the Lord Jesus. So far be it from me to have a month devoted to food without adding a sprinkle or two. This week we’ll discuss the worst salt there is and how it can be a blessing; the way salt built the Roman empire, from its roads to its army; the impact for ill the navy has had on our langu…
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WEEKLY REPORT, March 31-April 5, 2024: "Helen of Troy," etc.
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This is the Citizen of Heaven podcast, my report for the week of March 30-April 5, 2024. I am Hal Hammons, citizen of heaven. I’m here with a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on in my life and the life of this podcast. This week’s livestream on Facebook was thwarted by the gremlins in my internet service; apologies for that. Most of my time t…
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BREAD, part 3: with Ryan Joy and Jeff O'Rear
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This is the third and final part of my talk with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Check the show notes for links to the work they do. What kind of bread should we be serving up to the world? Whole grain loaves? Cinnamon buns? Is there a point in giving them something they don’t want? Is a fat-filled half loaf better than no bread at all? We will search fo…
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BREAD, part 2: with Ryan Joy and Jeff O'Rear
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We’re back for more of the first episode of Season 6 — my conversation with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Check the show notes for links to the work they do. We’re talking bread. Or more broadly, we’re talking food. Real food. What does God provide for us? And what kind of substitutes do we convince ourselves will do just as well? Why do cupcakes taste…
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The first month of Season 6 is all food, all the time. And we’re starting with a discussion of Biblical bread with Ryan Joy and Jeff O’Rear. Ryan co-hosts the Bible Geeks podcast and preaches for the North church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jeff preaches for the Judson Road church in Longview, Texas, and was the one who brought the Bible Geeks to my at…
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WEEKLY REPORT, March 24-30, 2024: My "I just read this" pile, etc.
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This week I’m reporting on the books I’ve read, as shared with the Heaven Citizens group on Facebook — please seek us out if you have not already. I characterized this as the books I read this week. In hindsight, “the last couple of weeks” would have been more accurate. Hey, I’m new at this. I’m making this up as I go. Before I start the show, let …
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PLANS: God laughs. "Silas Marner." "Lord willing." Five Tribes.
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This is the last episode of Season 5 – thanks to everyone for coming along for the ride. Getting ready for Season 6 has gotten me in the mood to talk about planning. This week we’ll discuss how our plans bring out God’s sense of humor; how God’s planning process and ours don’t always coincide; why we say “Lord willing” when we pray, and what we sho…
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Yeah, it's been a minute. This time we talk about the "rules of engagement" and how we fight in a loving way. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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SAILING: Winds of teaching. "Charting the Sea of Darkness." Christopher Cross. Humboldt's Great Voyage.
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If money, time, self-discipline, and my wife’s fear of drowning were non-factors, sailing would be the hobby for me. And so, I remain landlocked. Today we’ll discuss how to sail with Jesus instead of going with the prevailing winds; how a quest doomed to failure cost Henry Hudson his life; how the king of yacht rock still calms my spirit; and how k…
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PRAISE: The song of the rocks. "Holy Roar." "Praise This." Steam Up.
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As God’s child, you have the obligation and the privilege of praising Him. Do it well, or do it poorly. As always, you get to choose. Today we’ll discuss actual “rock music” that is in the Bible (please forgive the play on words); a careful venture into the Hebrew language to learn what praise really is; the idea of worship as a competition – an id…
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INSPIRATION, part 3: with the Book Fare podcast
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This is part 3 of my discussion with the ladies of the Book Fare podcast — links and book suggestions are included in the show notes. We close with a short but exciting game of Bring Your Own Book — a game I figured would click with them. Turns out, I was right. Everyone brought their own book to the game, just like we all bring our own preconcepti…
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INSPIRATION, part 2: with the Book Fare podcast
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We continue our discussion with Tricia Culp, Amanda Payne and Elizabeth Nowlin, co-hosts of the Book Fare podcast. That’s F-A-R-E, by the way. Find them wherever you get your podcasts. If you want fun, casual, and, yes, inspiring discussion about books, these are your girls. In this segment we discuss inspiration on a more general level — what lift…
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What inspires you? And what exactly is “inspiration” anyway? To help me find the answer, I brought on some ladies who have been inspiring me of late — the hosts of the Book Fare Podcast — Tricia Culp, Amanda Payne, and Elizabeth Nowlin. A link is in the show notes. In the first part of our conversation we discuss the Bible as the epitome of inspira…
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PIANO: The loud and soft God. "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank." Sonatas. The "Big" keyboard.
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The piano, perhaps more than any other instrument, changed the way music is played. As with a lot of things I tried as a child, I’d be a better person now if I had worked harder at it. Today we’ll discuss where the piano got its name and what it has in common with God; the challenge for an American trying to buy a piano in Paris; the pressure that …
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MOZART: Prodigies. "Mozart and Constanze." Too many notes. Lacrimosa.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of those great ones, like Ludwig von Beethoven, where the last name is all you need to identify him. Like Einstein, or Shakespeare, or Washington. This week we’ll discuss childhood genius and the good and bad things that come with it; Mozart’s less than ideal marriage and its lessons for us; the precise number of note…
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BEETHOVEN: Deafness. "Beethoven: The Composer as Hero." "Wellington's Victory." Symphony No. 9.
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Ludwig von Beethoven is one of two names that come up more than any other when the topic of “history’s greatest composer” is discussed. Herr Mozart gets his day next week, Lord willing. This week we’ll discuss Beethoven’s battle with deafness and how losing it helped him win the war; the heroic nature of his work and how it can help you be a hero t…
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SONGS, part 3: with Michael Eldridge and Brian Rainwater
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This is the final installment from my conversation with Brian Rainwater and Michael Eldridge on the topic of songs. And this is likely what you came to hear — two experts on congregational song music weighing in on what makes a good hymn, which ones have impacted them in a particular way over the years, and what makes the special hymns so special. …
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SONGS, part 2: with Michael Eldridge and Brian Rainwater
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Here’s more of my discussion with Michael Eldridge and Brian Rainwater. Here we talk more particularly about the songs we sing as the people of God, old hymnals vs. newer collections, old-style hymns vs. modern radio fare, how we learn songs and whether it’s worth the effort, and much much more. Apologies ahead of time to Hillsong and their song “O…
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SONGS: with Michael Eldridge and Brian Rainwater
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As Music Month kicks off, I thought it would be best to consult a couple of musicians. Michael Eldridge is a hymn writer and vocalist, perhaps best known for “When I Go Home”; check out his work at acapeldridge.com. Brian Rainwater is Director of Bands at Florida College, and quite the hymn writer as well. In the first part of our discussion we add…
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VISION: God's failed visions. "The Prophet and the Astronomer." "Be Thou My Vision." Libertalia.
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They say seeing is believing. But what does it really mean to “see” something? Is it possible to visualize something conceptual? Something futuristic? Something heavenly? This week I say yes. We’ll discuss the times when God’s vision of the future is wrong, or at least seems to be; an unbeliever’s view of prophecy and the blinders he puts on himsel…
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God is running to you...a conversation with Keith Stonehart
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What does it mean God is running to you...or running after you. Keith Stonehart is a good friend, and he helped me see how God reaches out to us, even when we are not easy to reach. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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UNUSUAL: The Levite and the concubine. "The Bookshop that Floated Away." Bagpipes. Hand-to-Hand Wombat.
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Whether you’re talking about the Bible, the bookstore, the music you hear, or the games you play – it can get pretty strange. But sometimes the strange parts are the most interesting parts. Today we’ll discuss perhaps the most disgusting chapter in Israelite history (and that’s saying something); the oddest bookstore in the world and its piece-of-w…
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Yes, this is a very short episode and a conversation about having empty spaces in your life. Hopefully this is helpful to you. Support the Show.By Kenny Embry
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