Continuation of the previous episode about the spiritual meaning of gender. Listen to the first one before this one. I continue to explore lots of ways the living metaphor of gender teaches us about the proper relationship of humans to God. At a certain point I get slightly specific about private parts, which I think is extremely relevant to the topic, but you might want to pre-screen this before letting children hear it. 

Letters to Laodicea

L2L-034 Spiritual Meaning of Gender, pt 2

Merry Christmas! from Demas! This is my first episode in a long while, and I have started a new study which should help people better discuss one of the big social issues of the day -- gay marriage. Instead of focusing on why homosexuality is wrong, I focus on the reason marriage and gender were instituted as they are in the first place. Why were we created male and female in the first place? It is a spiritual metaphor and a lesson from God. I'm trying to present a more thoughtful presentation than simply quoting Leviticus 18:22 to a gay person, because in the current social climate, we need to be more thoughtful. 

L2L-033 Spiritual Meaning of Gender, pt 1

PLEASE listen to parts 1 and 2 of Light Pollution or you will not understand my ramblings in this episode. I discuss several poetic metaphors from a certain poet of the romantic era, and how they relate to the words of Jesus and Paul, specifically in 1 Cor 13, and John 14. I also encourage everyone to see the movie THE TREE OF LIFE, which is a deep and thoughtful cinematic meditation on God. 

L2L-032 Light Pollution, pt 3

I revisit my previous episode "Light Pollution" and extend the metaphor and read some scriptures that have similar themes. Hopefully this episode encourages us to acknowledge God in all our ways. Here's the link to the Hyperspace Star Polytope Slicer that I referenced in the podcast. http://dogfeathers.com/java/hyperstar.html Settings: Hyperplanes: FC-24-cell 3-Symmetry: Octahedral(3) Section slider: -0.69 Shell Slider: #22 Slide the Section slider back and forth to rotate the shape in the 4th dimension, causing the shape to enter our dimension from the dimension above. In the same way, paradoxes are part of a unified whole. The opposing thoughts are only seemingly disconnected due to our own barriers to perception. These barriers will eventually be removed, as Paul says, "when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." — 1 Corinthians 13:10 

L2L-031 Light Pollution, pt 2

I discuss love, and also bring up some topics from previous episodes: normative power of the actual, and spiritual game theory. It seems that being salt and light does the work of preventing the new moral decay inherent in the "actual" becoming normal (ie progressive social issues). I also relate a practical example of spiritual game theory. This episode's graphic (if you listen with an iOS device) is a screengrab from The Sound of Music, where they are singing a song about "nihil ex nihilo" in the context of love. This is where I got the idea for the episode, when it made me notice that God is the first source of love, and without him we can't love. 1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 

L2L-030 LoveSaltLove

L2L-029 MoralBankruptcy

Prophecy and the end times as seen through the lens of Willy Wonka. I illustrate the theory of the "new new world order," first explained to me by Frank Lordi and Chris White on the Frank & Chris Show. In subsequent discussions with Chris, I developed this idea of how to visually represent some of the timelines in Bible prophecy. In this episode, I read Matthew 24 and 2nd Thessalonians 2, but there are more I could have used. I also analyze the lyrics to "Pure Imagination," the song in the film which is a much-covered song, giving the same false hope as "The Rainbow Connection." Charlie & the Chocolate Factory clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jhvReU4TIc 

L2L-028 Forced Perspective

This is the "warm shower" after last episode's "cold shower." I talk a bit about the circumcision of the heart, and show how the attitude of postmodernism is basically the uncircumcision of the heart. I also show how we can find hope in the midst of postmodernity, and how we can show hope to others, becuase as the postmodern self tries in vain to connect and "be known," the fact is that we already are known by the Creator—someone much more worthy to be known by, and to know, than say, a celebrity tweeting you back on twitter. 

L2L-027 Biblical Postmodernity 2, Cult of Celebrity Pt. 9

This is a continuation of episode 22, Songs About Rainbows, Cult of Celebrity, Pt. 7 I was looking for evidences of postmodernity in the Old Testament, and this is what I found. If you haven't listened to Songs About Rainbows, please listen to it first. This episode is a bit of a cold shower, but a necessary one. A warm shower is coming very soon, in the second half of Biblical Postmodernity, which is a little more hopeful. For a bit of hope in the interim, here is 2 Chronicles 7:14 - "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 

L2L-026 Biblical Postmodernity 1, Cult of Celebrity Pt. 8

The 1-year mark for Letters to Laodicea! I discuss my podcasting setup, to encourage those who have expressed interest in starting their own show. Soapboxes are cheap these days, here's mine: M-Audio Micro-Track 2 Recorder http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Microtrack-II-Portable-Recorder/dp/B0019R17FK It's great because it's small and has an included microphone, and also has 1/4" inputs for receiving a signal from a mixer or other equipment. At $199 it's a great deal. SanDisk 4GB CF card http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-SDCFH-004G-A11-ULTRA-Retail-Package/dp/B00065ANYW/ Gives you a good amount of recording time, I've never filled it up with a single show's worth of talking ProLine desktop mic stand http://www.amazon.com/ProLine-MS112-Desk-Boom-Stand/dp/B000J0N5TY/ Pop filter http://www.amazon.com/Nady-MPF-6-6-Inch-Microphone-Filter/dp/B0002CZW0Y/ Mackie 402 compact mixer http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-402-VLZ3-Premium-4-Channel-Ultra-Compact/dp/B00132EJJW/ You can probably find a mixer that has an integrated recorder and forget the one I listed above, but I liked the idea of being mobile if I needed to be. Sennheiser e835 dynamic microphone http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-E835-Dynamic-Cardioid-Microphone/dp/B00006I5R7/ Any voice microphone will do fine. I prefer dynamic over condenser because it doesn't pick up every little noise, and if I get close and/or project, the noise level is acceptable in a moderately "quiet" environment. You don't need total studio conditions. Planes flying will obviously get picked up, but we're not making television, we're writing postmodern epistles. 2-foot dual 1/4" TRS cable (mixer out to recorder in) 2-foot XLR cable (mic out to mixer in) 2-foot XLR-to-1/4" TRS cable (microphone direct to recorder) 

L2L-025 Podcasting

I received some encouraging answers to prayer lately. God is awesome! I hope this episode can encourage you to increase the frequency and fervency of your prayer life. God is faithful and is listening. 

L2L-024 Responses - Whirlwinds, pt 4

This episode is about prayer. Lately I have been in intercessory prayer for specific people and I've noticed very distinct evidences that the Lord is working in their lives. Mountains are starting to move, and it is amazing. 

L2L-023 Availing Much - Whirlwinds, pt 3

I contrast modernism vs post-modernism through two songs about rainbows. One was the first number from the 1979 movie The Muppet Movie, "Rainbow Connection" performed by Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson). The second song is from The Gregory Brothers (http://youtube.com/schmoyoho) and Yosemitebear (http://www.youtube.com/user/Hungrybear9562). Whereas Jim Henson was creating something within the old system of getting an idea approved by the various Hollywood gatekeepers and then producing an original work "within the system," the YouTube generation isn't interested in original work. Even beyond pastiche, we literally create derivative works such that the Double Rainbow song was "written" haphazardly while Paul Vasquez was witnessing a rainbow, and then arranged and composed by the Gregory Brothers. I discuss my thoughts on the implications, using other examples from the Gregory Brothers. The Gregory Brothers http://youtube.com/schmoyoho YosemiteBear http://www.youtube.com/user/Hungrybear9562 http://yosemitebear.net/ The Rainbow Connection http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM Postmodernity (section: History) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernity Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV (my caps) "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." 

L2L-022 Songs About Rainbows - Cult of Celebrity Pt. 7

First original episode after joining RRN. I give my thoughts about the "ground zero mosque" government-media psy-op that is going on in the culture these days. And then I play a David Guzik sermon on Matthew 25, and I discuss the way I conceptualize the 'talents' in the parable of the talents. If what I say has merit, then 1st-world Christians have been doing far too much digging. 

L2L-021 Being Ready

Reposting for new RRN listeners. What does it mean to be a child of God? I discuss some thoughts on this issue in the context of my previous episode Light Pollution (check that one out first). Resist the temptation to dismiss everything I say in this episode by saying something like, "We aren't supposed to stay spiritual children, but rather grow in Christ." By saying that, you miss my point—I agree we are to grow. But we are also to be humble and childlike if we expect to be the greatest in the Kingdom. 

L2L-020 Like A Child (Repost)

A labor of love from a Hollywood christian. We'll discuss things related to the post-modern culture as it relates to scripture. The letter from Jesus Christ to the church at Laodicea, found in Revelation 3, is relevant to anyone living today, especially in America and the West. May we all reexamine our daily lives in the context of this letter, and make the necessary adjustments to become perfect in Christ.

hubhopper

Letters to Laodicea

hubhopper