Several years ago, a phenomenon swept through the church world, and it has been gathering momentum and exploding in popularity ever since! It's a personality type assessment, they say, an insightful tool designed to promote self-reflection and help you gain a deeper understanding of your inner self. It's the Enneagram, and we're talking about it! Where did it come from? Why are so many people of faith obsessed with it? Does it have its roots in the occult? Should we steer clear? Even more important, what's your Enneagram number? How does it help you make sense of you? Join us as we explore the murky waters of the mind, soul, and psyche!

The world is abuzz with this new play toy. It's a financial platform - a new currency - a revolutionary system for creating wealth and exchanging funds without any government oversight, regulation, or control. It seems intangible - mysterious - but it is very real. Bitcoin is the granddaddy, with all sorts of smaller currencies called altcoins making their own splash. Some say this is the way we will all do business in the future. Some have used it to support all kinds of nonprofits and relief organizations in countries where currencies have failed or transactions are prohibited. Others say there is a sinister feel to it. This could possibly be a harbinger of the One World Order or the One World Currency! Will crypto take over the world? Will sinister forces co-opt this new format and regulate buying and selling for everyone? Is this the mark of the beast? That's what we're talking about today!

Today, we continue our series on TABOOS. There's no doubt about it. The genie is out of the bottle - the toothpaste is out of the tube. AI is here, and it's not going anywhere. We interact with AI every single day, whether it's GPS technology or Alexa. Many of us have found AI to be extremely helpful and time-saving! This machine is our research buddy, our vacation planner, and in many ways our problem solver. But - is it okay to use our AI to write sermons, worship songs, and Bible study content? Do we trust it to be theologically sound and somehow in tune with the Holy Spirit? Where do we draw the line when it comes to matters of the Spirit? And we know that in our world today, many are turning to AI for personal issues. Advice, counseling, even therapy! There are emerging companies that offer customizable AI companions for a subscription fee! Is this ethical and moral? Have we gone too far? Jump in! Let's tackle the big issues!

Today, we revisit a series we did some time ago - TABOO! Are there things in this world that Christians should not engage in? How holy - different - set apart should we be from secular life? Is it okay for Christians to smoke - drink - swear? Where do we draw the lines? There are things the Bible tells us are clearly off limits, clearly sinful. But what about things the Bible is silent about? We don't want to be legalistic, but we do want to live lives of integrity and witness to our faith. Today, we ask the question. Should Christians watch movies? Our first reaction would be, sure - within reason! Again - where do we draw the line? No horror, excess violence, inappropriate language, nudity, and sex scenes? It's just a little mindless entertainment! But is it okay for us to watch other people sin for our own entertainment? These are the questions we are tackling today, and it's going to be lively!

Today, we conclude our series on how the Bible we know and read today came together - why these 66 books are included, which ones were left out, and why. We have the idea that the canon of Scripture - especially the New Testament - was decided upon by a group of old bishops with bad motives and a sinister agenda, huddled around a smoldering fire with their robes drawn tight. Actually, these sacred writings were collected and compiled in a much more organic way. The Gospels were written by faithful eyewitnesses, copied and distributed among fledgling churches. The Letters were written by the apostles themselves, then collected for posterity by their friends, their traveling companions. As the Christian movement exploded, demand for these collections grew, and they became an integral part of worship and liturgy in the churches. There were councils involved later on, and some writings were disqualified for good reasons we will talk about. The end result - 27 books we know as the New Testament!

Between the Old Testament and the New Testament writings in our Bibles, there were 400 years. They call it the Silent Period. It was anything but silent! Jewish writers, rabbis, and scholars were feverishly writing. They produced volumes of works interpreting, commenting, and expanding on the wisdom contained in the Hebrew Bible. Some were historical fiction, some proverbs and oracles, and others were interpretive commentaries, filling in the blanks to help their readers make sense of difficult theological concepts in their newfound Greco-Roman context. They were not Scripture, but they were useful, highly prized, and widely read. Jesus read them. So did Paul, Jude, Peter, and the other apostles. We know this because ideas, concepts, and even direct quotations show up in many of the New Testament writings! They're under the surface, but once you spot them, it's undeniable! What are these ancient books, and why should we read them? Jump in - let's go!

Not every Bible is alike. If you look at a Protestant Bible, you'll find 66 books. That's what most of us are familiar with. But if you pick up a Catholic Bible, you'll discover 9 extra books! If you open an Orthodox Bible, you'll see 14 extra books! And if you happen to come across an Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, you might see up to 23 extra books! What are these books? Who wrote them? Should I read them - can I trust them - or should I be wary of them? These extra books are a collection of 2nd temple Jewish writings - and yes, you should read them! They are not Scripture, but they are valuable and important. The early Church called this collection the Deuterocanon - the 2nd canon. It later became known as the apocrypha, which means hidden. What are we to make of all this? That's what we're exploring today. Join us as we dive into this fascinating body of sacred work - the apocrypha!

Sometimes we view the Old Testament in our Bibles like Grandma's attic. We don't think about it. Sometimes we even forget that it's there! But when we go up there, we find some really cool stuff! In today's episode, we want to dispel that notion. The Bible is one story that points to Jesus. Let's stop calling it the Old Testament. Let's call it what it is - the Hebrew Bible! Like all those Star Wars prequels, the Hebrew Bible is part of the story! It gives us context - it fills in the blanks. It shows us how God has constantly and faithfully worked through time to bring us to where we are today - and to take us where we are destined to go - into a forever life surrounded by the presence of God! So, how did we get this part of our story? Where did these books come from? How were they assembled? How did they survive thousands of years? That's what we're exploring today. Come with us!