Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith

We have all had times of wandering very far from God; sometimes as an act of rebellion, other times as capitulation to sin. Sometimes circumstances overwhelm us and we find ourselves lost on the path of life. Whatever the cause, we have all found ourselves in a "foreign land," wondering what hope remains. In this episode we look at 3 parables of lostness and the relentless passion of God to find. And when found, boundless welcome that follows. If you've ever wondered if one can stray too far from God - so as to be lost forever - the short answer of Jesus seems to be: no. :-) The text for this episode is Luke 15:1-32 (NRSV). And - as mentioned in the intro - if you'd like to support the podcast and the ministry of Canvas, here's the quick link to give online. It's a huge help to us and tax-deductible! Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"Love is the name of the game" rolls regularly off my tongue; but what does it look like in practice? In this episode we examine some of Jesus's seemingly extreme demands of his disciples and discover they are not a loyalty test, but rather a call to love with vitality and devotion. Such love requires risk, but it can (and will!) change the world. Included are a few examples of what we can do today to put love to work in our lives and the lives of others. The text for this episode is Luke 14:25-35 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Once again, Jesus disrupts dinner party decorum. In this case, it is to heal a man suffering terrible pain. A worthy cause, his Pharisee hosts, would agree. But this particular dinner was happening on the Sabbath, and, well...healings were "work" and should wait. Or should they? In this episode we get another look at Jesus's attempts to reveal the depth of the love of God (and the response of our love for neighbor it should provoke) and how deeply ambivalent we humans can be. The text for this episode is Luke 14:1-24 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The life of faith will have its share of sleepless nights. The question is whether we are having them for the right reasons. In this episode we look at Jesus's parable of the "narrow door" - a stern warning to those who, in their self righteousness, would never bother to question their citizenship within the Kingdom of God. But question they should, question we all should. NOT to foster undue fear, shame and/or anxiety, but so that - like an athlete in training - they might recognize the very real need to be ever on task, preparing or the critical work of the kingdom that is our true mission. In an effort to be especially practical, In the sermon I mention a Rule of Life we did at Canvas for Lent 2016. Here is a link to the .PDF file. If you want to hear more about the idea of Rule, you can listen to Ep. 131 of the podcast. Or read more about Rule here. The text for this episode is Luke 13:22-35. Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Of one thing we can all be sure: the kingdom of God will upend expectations. Religious insiders will find themselves on the wrong end of rebuke while outsiders are welcomed as family. The lowly and humble will be raised up, while the strong discover their weakness; and the most most noble, royal work will be that of the gardener... In this episode regular guest preacher, Ian Farrell, examines a collection of short stories and parables in which Jesus reveals the stunning unpredictability of God's grace. The text for this episode is Luke 13:1-21 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..." This is not simply Jesus's way of warning about the stockpiling of earthly wealth, but rather an invitation to a more direct encounter with God. In this episode our regular guest preacher, Ian Farrell, explores the realm of the "sublime" - the encounter with God that is beyond words and yet of the greatest value. The text for this episode is Luke 12:13-34 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As tension with the Pharisees intensifies, Jesus steps more fully into his prophetic role - warning of impending disaster for those who refuse to repent of their present religious and political allegiances. But to be understood, these warnings (and assurances) must be heard in their proper context. In this episode we practice interpreting such passages from a variety of perspectives to hear what Jesus is - and isn't! - saying about life on the Jesus way. The text for this episode is Luke 12:1-12 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Jesus accepts the dinner invitation of a prominent Pharisee - a meeting that immediately erupts in scandal, as Jesus forgoes the ritual washing expected by his host. It leads to Jesus declaring a series of "woes" - like those of the early Hebrew prophets - condemning the Pharisees for dedicating such energy to the tiniest details of ritual while managing to ignore the greatest commandment of all: to love. For those of us who've been in church a while, it is a reminder that religious action without love is no virtue. The text for this episode is Luke 11:37-54 (NRSV) Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

At first reading, it seems we have met a different Jesus! The preacher of grace and welcome has become a prophet of condemnation, declaring such things as: "Whoever is not with me is against me," and, "This generation is an evil generation..." How do we explain this change in tone? Why the threats of judgment? And what's so wrong with the crowds asking for a "sign" to verify Jesus's authority? In this episode we examine Jesus's battle with evil and our role in a cosmic conflict. The text for this episode is Luke 11:14-36 (NRSV) Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Does prayer make a difference in the universe? Really? Reeaally? Jesus's answer is: yes. And he offers all those who would be his followers instruction in how to pray, and, even more importantly, what the purpose of prayer is. It's a transformative lesson for any and all of us who seriously wonder prayer affects anything, and why our prayers so often seem unanswered. The text for this episode is Luke 11:1-13 (NRSV). Not already subscribed to the podcast? Here's the quick link to iTunes! Want to connect? I'd love to hear from you. You can send e-mail here, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.