The Story Is Ending

In this unique first episode, I decided, after months of writing (starting and stopping), to share a different approach on the biblical Sabbath. As I say here a few times, I believe the Sabbath comes directly from the eternal heart of God himself. Its nature is as eternal as God himself. As I point out in a previous episode and from Abraham Heschel's book, The Sabbath, eternity is wrapped up in the sacred Sabbath that is brought into human time. I end this version of the story of the Sabbath with the exile of the Hebrew people.  The next installment will pick up there, leading into how the Sabbath became what it was at the time of Jesus. Hint: it's not what God originally intended and created! 

Hi everyone - finally! I finally sat down with someone to record their story. I met Aaron through the Iron Council.  He's got his own story of redemption from the streets of Denver to the Navy to being a father. God has done some amazing work in and through him. Please enjoy hearing Aaron's story as found within The Story.

I have been wanting to get this on my podcast for some time.  Beginning last year as November started, I challenged myself to read every day from this prayer in the back of John Eldredge's book, Moving Mountains. As I read it day-to-day, I also started adding highlights and God inspired more customization as words and phrases arose in the moment.  This version is the seventh update and I decided to have an easy-to-access audio version as well. Full credit goes to Wild at Heart and their amazing ministry that has blessed me through the years. They have a whole page dedicated to prayers you can download and listen to here. It's where I got the text I copied and pasted to customize, which is definitely something I suggest you do. And finally, if you would like to download a PDF version of the prayer I read from, click here.  

I start my vocational ministry calling with pastoral ministry in Wisconsin. I thought I knew something about ministry. But I did not.However, God shows up in a wonderful way as I finish my time at seminary, despite a stress-filled and ambiguous final semester. 

This is a reading of the wonderful little story of two angels, as written by J. B. Phillps. I thought it would be great for Christmas. Philippians 2:5-13'Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 

Doing something a little different with this episode. I came across a photo in my Instagram feed of a little boy in Afghanistan. I made it the wallpaper background for my phone and multiple times a day I see the image.I've been thinking about what I'd say and how to reflect on this striking image, so rather than write it all out, recording thoughts as a stand-alone episode seems best. Join me as I reflect not just solemnly on the sadness, but joyful anticipation of what Jesus has in mind for all children...who ever lived.  Go to my main page and scroll to the bottom where you will see this image. Click and, with me, take a few minutes to reflect on what this means.  

The Priority of WorshipThis chapter sets the stage for why the seventh day Sabbath is highly relevant for us humans, right down to the end of earth's Story. Hint: It's all about worship. 

I am excited to get this series started! Go to TheStoryIsEnding.com and find the page with some additional notes for this episode. 

Yes, I found her. She found me. We found each other. That, among other things, happened as I finished out my college years to get a B.A. in Theology. Where did we end up? Take a listen and find out. 

Nearly forgetting to get my story updated to today, this first episode takes us through my second year at college, where I met a very special someone. 

Join me as we take a sneak peek into an upcoming new series, The Story of the Sabbath. This is a series I have been wanting to do for a long time because, for one, I just don't see anyone else out there doing this work on the importance of the biblical Sabbath, besides in books. Important and very good books that I will draw from for this series.I'll use the structure of story as I have been talking about to help make this more than a recitation of data. And, some of the topics we'll be looking at through the series:Why true worship is the underlying and not-so-subtle theme of the Bible for God’s peopleThe origins of the SabbathHow its meaning gets carried through the Old TestamentThe Sabbath at the time of Christ (how it got so encrusted)What was he pushing back on? (Hint: not the true Sabbath!)The Sabbath at the time of the apostolic church (book of Acts, John’s writings)After the canon: Why no case was made for the Sabbath while the NT was being written.From Sabbath to Sunday: How it changed and why.A case for a call back to the biblical SabbathThe Sabbath and last day implications: worship and priortiesThe mark of the beastEconomic pressures for God’s peopleThe eternal Sabbath and Sabbath in eternityJesus’ rest and the Sabbath rest — the gospel’s promiseMy own experience with the SabbathI'm looking forward to learning together! 

In this last episode of the series, chapter five, we enter into the very presence of God. We pray with confidence because we've been, all along, getting closer and closer to him.I finish this series with an actual prayer through the sanctuary. I hope it helps!  Click here to see the notes page for this chapter in the Story of Prayer. 

This episode is all about bread. The table of showbread, or bread of the presence. For notes on this episode go here. And, remember, to be on my podcast so I can share a part of your story, email me at thestoryisending@gmail.com

With this episode we spend time at the alter incense, where we pray on behalf of others. Here's the show-specific page with a few extras for you, including a rendering of the altar of incense.

With this episode, we dive deeper into and learn about the first places in the Hebrew sanctuary and prayer life for us. In this chapter on the story of prayer we cover:The East GateAltar of Sacrifice and LaverThe Candleabra in the Holy PlaceGo to here for some more notes and thoughts in including some depictions of the sanctuary itself. 

From the very beginning with our first parents, Adam and Eve, it's clear that God wants a connection with his people. He desperately loves us and has paid a heavy price to keep that connection open.With this first episode in a series on prayer, we will take a look at what God has done in fulfillment of the beautiful promise found in Exodus 25:8 "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst."Click here to see this episode's notes. 

In this latest episode we will finish learning about how we overcome in the war we find ourselves in while taking a close look at the final three churches of Revelation 2 and 3. My story this time includes time in Japan while in the Air Force. Go to www.TheStoryIsEnding.com/overcome for all the notes and Bible references mentioned in the podcast. 

With this episode, my new life begins! And during our Bible study time, we take a look at how we overcome in this war we find ourselves in. In both segments, you will find some practical help in your life as well. 

God can take any space, whether it be physical, spacial, or time, and make it sacred. I believe he did exactly that on what I will call an orchestrated day when I walked into a Taco Bell in the spring of 1991 while living in Florida. Little did I know that day would change my life forever. 

This episode includes an overview of Revelation 12, taking a look at who's involved and how the chapter is broken down into its scenes. This part of my story also includes the slippery slope that was my young single life living in South Florida in the military. I still had questions, but they weren't quite in the front of my mind at this time. For more notes go to the episode page.