Gospel Rant

Vagabond Diaries: Sheila Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Sheila. She’s dead, a horrible violent abusive death following a horrible, violent and abusive life. What does she look forward to? You might be surprised—and troubled.    Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW. Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Oct 20 Vagabond Diaries: Charlie Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Charlie, a successful pastor by most measurements, at least until he is exposed as being an addict. What now?   Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW. Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Oct 13 Vagabond Diaries: Robert Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Robert, a cynical professional journalist who is always looking for an angle, for a story. Hey, it's his job. So when he hears about some company actually doing something good, he is suspicious and is convinced there is a story behind the story. Does he find one? We will see.   Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW. Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Oct 6 Vagabond Diaries: Jude Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Jude, a young man who despises his brother and blames his father for his mess. We pick up the trial against the father with Jude on the stand. .    Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.   Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Shula, a royal who has gone to counseling to deal with some relational intimacy issues related to her marriage.    Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Michelle Angel. She is running a Heavenly Press briefing in front of reporters from Reuters, CNN, ABC, and Fox. What could go wrong?   Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #1: Song of Songs 1:2-4. OK, OK… so this is on nobody's Top 5, or 10, or even 50 list. It should be. I hope that I will convince you of how powerful, relevant, and personal this proclamation of the bride of Christ’s desire for her groom. I know, it is likely not what you heard about the Song of Songs. Let me change your mind. Enjoy. It truly deserves to be #1. Next time, we get into my new avant-garde series, Vagabond Diaries. Something new, fun, and different. I can’t wait to get your feedback.  You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.   Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #1: Song of Songs 1:2-4.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This prayer has been so poorly understood and translated so badly, that it is no wonder that it has been largely overlooked. It is perhaps the greatest prayer of faith by someone who has been subjected to arguably the greatest injust in the history of the world, at least before the Cross. What difference does a God-born faith actually mean to someone who has lost it all? What does Heaven sourced faith feel like to beat-up, abused people? Here it is. Let me know what you think. Should it be #2?  You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW. Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #2: Job in Job 42:5-6.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Teaser: Vagabond Diaries I am taking a short one week break in my summer series, Top 10 prayers of the Old Testament to give you a teaser for my new Gospel Rant Series beginning on Sept 15. It is called Vagabond Diaries. Each week, I will tell a story, a tale, a colorful account of some Biblical character or principle, but not done in the usual way—line by line, precept by precept. No, this will be more like a storyteller, more Chronicles of Narnia-esque—you get the idea. Why? I am passionate about proclaiming the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely anyway I can. Let me know how we do.  In this first Vagabond Diary, meet Veronica. Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.  Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This prayer has been often labeled the black psalm. You will see why. It ends, “Darkness is my closest friend,” clearly a slap in the face of the God who loves the unlovable. Can we really say such things to God? Isn’t that a sin? Yes and yes. But such imprecatory psalms have been given to us because they most effectively give us our heart’s real unvarnished words—not careful, theologically accurate and whitewashed words. In this groaning creation, we are going to need such prayers. I just call this my psalm.  You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.   Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #3: Ps 88.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Vagabond Diaries 2 This is the actual beginning of our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application.  You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Jana. What would happen if God tells a woman that he’s going to crash an airplane—unless?  Enjoy! Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

As far as I know, this particular prayer is on no one’s Top 10 list of Top Old Testament prayers—but it should be. If you have ever been hurt, betrayed, disappointed, robbed or abused—and who hasn’t—and you have not experienced real justice, reparation, and forgiveness, you are going to love this prayer and it just may end up being something you want to pray to God a lot.  It is time that we stop overlooking this prayer and begin to wonder about what Christianity might look like if we took it seriously. Maybe Solomon really was wise?   You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #4: Solomon in 1 Kings 8.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #5: Hannah in 1 Sam 1 In my recent book, Dance Daughters of the Most High! I did a chapter on Hannah, largely due to this prayer. What makes it #5 in an impressive list of prayers in the Old Testament? You will see. She is the most transparent, aware, honest prayer I know, and the one who seems to most know that she desperately needs a fresh shot of God’s love for the unlovable. Very impressive and hurting lady. She deserves to be at #5. Enjoy.  You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE or FOLLOW.   Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #5: Hannah in 1 Sam 1Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Thanks for the great feedback. I am so pleased that you are enjoying this summer Gospel Rant identifying and looking deeper into my Top 10 Old Testament prayers. Exodus 33 is perhaps the most provocative to-date. For me, it captures the very spirit of what I think is the greatest prayer in the entire Bible—and I don’t mean the Lord’s Prayer—another show for another time. I am referring to Jesus’ humble prayer to his Father, “Not my will, but your will be done.” Moses is a very complicated character. This prayer of his is genius and should be in our repertoire. You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE. Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #6: Moses in Ex 33.Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This prayer should be of no surprise. It is one of the most recognizable prayers of the entire Bible. But the surprising thing about this prayer is not what David says--well--OK, it is that too--but the more astounding thing is what David is asking God for as a fix. You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com.  Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #7: David in Psalm 51Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

SUMMER SERIES: TOP 10 PRAYERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT This one just might surprise you. In Proverbs 30, a man that we know very little about prays an amazing, vulnerable and insightful prayer. In it we learn so much about him and God. This is the prayer of Agur in Proverbs 30. Enjoy. Let me know what you think. bill@gospel-app.com. Top Old Testament Prayers #8: The Prayer of Agur (Prov 30)Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

SUMMER SERIES: TOP 10 OLD TESTAMENT PRAYERS #9.  This is the first of three of the Top 10 that are from a woman.  What does Miriam know about the unique character traits of God? Fun.  Love feedback. Bill@gospel-app.com. Top Old Testament Prayers #9: Exodus 15:20-21 (Miriam)Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

BRAND NEW SUMMER SERIES STARTS NOW.  What, in my opinion, are the Top 10 prayers in the entire Old Testament? It is a very difficult exercise. So much of the Old Testament is prayers. But there are a few that stand out to me. My main criteria is that the prayer manifests something about the innate unique characteristics of God Himself that must have been revealed to the one praying. I give more weight to those prayers that assume God's unique love for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. You will see what I mean. Love feedback. Bill@gospel-app.com. Top Old Testament Prayers #10: Psalm 62- My Soul Finds Rest!Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is the final of 16 shows on the amazing letter to the Hebrews. The author of Hebrews is writing this very sophisticated homily to Hebrew Christians sometime in the late 50s to mid 60’s CE. It is still an infant church, maybe a decade or two old, and had just survived disruptive expulsion and injustices due to their virulent faith. But make no mistake—persecution is coming and far worse than before. Nero may have already risen to be the Emperor of the Empire and it is only a matter of time until Christians will be horribly persecuted like never before in its short history. The Author is passionate for the well-being and clarity of their faith and the rescuing redemptive work of the Kingdom through them. But he is obviously worried, referring to their faith as drifting and dull, their understanding of their faith and their calling being just infantile Christian. So what’s the cure? You may not like it. God’s Plan A is not what we might think, and there is no Plan B. Welcome to Hebrews: The Bible’s Warning

Welcome to Gospel Rant and God’s Love for the Unlovable Show. We are in the last stages of our journey through the book of Hebrews: Chapter 12. In the end, says the author of Hebrews, if you want to stop your ongoing spiritual drift, if you want to stop spiritual dullness and be free from shame and guilt, you need faith. If you want to feel more that Jesus adores you as much as the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father, you need this powerful filling of the Spirit daily. How?Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.