Soul Ramblings Podcast

In this episode, we will be discussing Luke 10 and Jesus' command for us to go and the requirements of patience and risk as we do. Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry   Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/  

In today’s fast-paced world, we are under a constant pressure to achieve more and more, leading us to focus on productivity as the ultimate goal. However, have you ever thought that productivity might not be everything? In this episode, we will be discussing the subtle differences between productivity and effectiveness, why productivity is so dominant in today’s world, and the importance of striving for effectiveness. Plus, we see the effectiveness living by what is probably the most radical, ridiculous, and important statement Jesus ever made in Luke 6.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

On this episode, we compare Jesus to the Christian Nationalist movement of our time and explore what Paul says about our call to be unified and keep the faith during these times through our current resurrection.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

On this first episode of 2025, we talk about accepting the light, living in the light and reflecting the light in a world of darkness.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The Christmas episode features a rebroadcast of a sermon I preached 2 years ago called "Prepare Him Room".   Merry Christmas!   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry   Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The fourth week of Advent asks us to ponder where would we be without the faith of Mary and Elizabeth? In today’s passage from Luke 1:39-55, Mary allows herself to become God’s magnifying glass, through which “the whole world can read and understand the gospel. Where would we be without Mary? Where would any of us be without any of God’s little magnifying glasses all around-those who have shined with the power of faith in spite of the odds, those who have borne Christ to us and enabled us to read how much God loves us?   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: St Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The third week of Advent features the prophet Zephaniah’s words and they “must have seemed ludicrous to those who first heard them. And the call to rejoice and not to fear may seem ludicrous to us, knowing all that is happening in our world today. How can we proclaim joy in a broken world? We use the words of Leonard Cohen, Karl Barth, and John the Baptist to tell us how.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: St Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The second week of Advent features the beginning of the Good News in Mark 1:1-8.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: St Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The first week of Advent features Jesus' encouragement to wake up in Matthew 24:36-44.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: St Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The 200th episode of Soul Ramblings features the story of Blind Bartimaeus from Mark 10.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: St Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

We find ourselves in a moment where we have some choices to make. Like the Israelites in Joshua 24, we simply have to make a decision about whether we’re serious about loving God and loving neighbor, whether we’re serious about living the promise or just talking about it. So, what’s it gonna be?   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

Maybe we need to learn about seeking to imitate the humility of Christ.  Plus, we celebrate my wife's birthday this week with a special song.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

Arguments and division seem to be the norm these days.  We can't save ourselves, so what do we do?   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry       Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

Have you ever felt used? It’s a crummy feeling to be treated as a pawn or stepping stone in someone’s plan, as an unwilling object used for another’s benefit or pleasure. It’s dehumanizing and it’s painful, but there is another way to think about being used. God wants to use us and in Mark 10:17-31, a wealthy man gets a direct invitation from Jesus to be used by God for good in God’s kingdom. He rejects this invitation because he cannot let go of his wealth. How will you respond to this invitation? I also give some reasons I don’t engage in online controversies and arguments, plus I have 2 books to suggest to you which I have recently read. This month is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Book Suggestions: Celebration Of Discipline by Richard Foster Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson     Links Mentioned: Donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:  https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

On this episode, as we pop open a beer and discuss faith, we answer the question of "what does the Bible really say about drinking?".  Plus, we evaluate what our politics and allegiance should be in light of James 2. This month is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Links Mentioned: Donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:  https://stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

The writer Flannery O’Conner reportedly once said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you odd.”  In the midst of a chaotic and violent world, a world of malevolent authorities and powers, we are called to be odd, and in our very oddness lies our freedom. Our freedom to show compassion.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

In Matthew 14, we see that rather than leaning into Jesus, we begin to drown in our own fear of insufficiency. We don’t want to deal with the mess and the hunger. I mean, the needs that surround us seem insurmountable.  It’s been said that “one of the hardest lessons for believers to learn is that the Lord does provide.” It really is that simple. We are to live by faith and never use our “lack of whatever” as an excuse not to do what God is calling us to do for those in need. In other words, "You give them something to eat."   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Links Mentioned: Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

I'm changing my tone a bit on this episode in response to recent violence and violent rhetoric coming from the Christian community.  It's time to call out heresy and say, "No"!   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Links Mentioned: St. Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://www.stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

Current events and the news can cause us anger.  That…is the problem.  Anger…you can always find a long list of things to be angry about. Today’s episode looks at Jeremiah 23:1-6 and shows another way to handle that anger. “Come to Christ…who is peace.”  But what if we've already exploded in anger? There's good news.....no matter how you might feel about yourself. No matter what you have done. God loves you just the way you are. Still, the world is a messy, controversial, and broken place. We cannot continue sticking our heads in the sand and hoping it all goes away. We don’t need to be afraid.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry     Links Mentioned: St. Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://www.stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com

George Carlin had a popular standup routine about stuff and our obsession with stuff. We are reminded by Jesus to not put too much faith in our stuff.  Plus, Lutheran pastor Judy Kincaid says of the story of the beheading of John the Baptist from Mark 6:14-29, "I feel like slamming my Bible on the pulpit and asking, 'What the heck is this? Why is this story in the Bible? Where is the good news in this story?'” The good news is that Jesus is having a party too, and we are all invited.   Grace, Peace, Cheers! 🍻 Jerry   Links Mentioned: Gideon's Promise: https://www.gideonspromise.org/ St. Jude Children's Reasearch Hospital: https://www.stjude.org Soul Ramblings on Substack: https://soulramblingspodcast.substack.com Email Soul Ramblings: soulramblingspodcast@gmail.com Soul Ramblings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulramblingspodcast Soul Ramblings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulramblingspodcast/ Soul Ramblings is a Tiki Hut Media Production: https://www.tikihutmedia.com