Freedom Current Podcast Freedom Current

(Ep 12) Do girls care when boys win at camp games?—Do boys hope they do?—Brock is not on the fence about Portuguese—Jeremiah owns Viking romance novels—The pizza in Mt. Summit is not kitschy—The guys recommend the Jesus stories to Bible newcomers—What “watching” is”—Cup of wrath--Bitterness—Authority figures—The fatherhood of God the Father, the faith of Jesus God the Son—Two kinds of prayer for us to pray ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read Matthew 26:36-56 where Jesus takes his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to help him pray before he is crucified for our sins. How do we pray when we recognize that we are facing hardships that God wants us to go through? Jesus shows us! This is a story about agony and prayer and the freedom we have when we submit by faith to God our good and wise Father. If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- Matthew 26:36–56 (ESV) [36] Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” [37] And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” [39] And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” [40] And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. [44] So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. [45] Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” [47] While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. [48] Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” [49] And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. [50] Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. [51] And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. [53] Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” [55] At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. [56] But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teachin

(Ep 11) The guys start a new year—Brock had a baby—Jeremiah grows as a parent—New pants are discussed—Hot sauce stories are shared—Black holes bend space and time—Simon’s boat sinks but his heart soars—Brock makes a guarantee, and Jeremiah shares a secret, related to the meaning of emptiness—“What would you do if you saw Jesus today?” ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read Luke 5:1-11, where Peter meets Jesus and is confronted by the awesome glory and amazing grace of God. As the second verse of "Amazing Grace" says, it is grace that teaches us to fear God and then it is grace that then relieves those fears. This is a story about providential emptiness, trusting Jesus, and amazing grace! If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- Luke 5:1–11 ESV [1] On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, [2] and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. [3] Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. [4] And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” [5] And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” [6] And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. [7] They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. [8] But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” [9] For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, [10] and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” [11] And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teaching us the gospel every week and for providing the resources for us to bring the remedy of Jesus Christ to the needs of our city! http://remedycitychurch.org/ 4. And, thanks and all glory to God for answering our prayers as we've desired to start this podcast!

(Ep 9) The die is cast differently with far-ranging consequence—Certain music is outside the guys’ budget—Brock knows things, and Jeremiah counts to ten—Bible translations are discussed—Religious neurosis is stressful—What is it like to serve a God whose highest desire is mercy? ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read about Jesus, his free and liberal mercy with his disciples, and his confrontation with those who disapprove of such mercy. The conflict comes from religious people who claim to have knowledge but cannot really lay claim to a personal relationship with God. If they could, they would have known what Jesus knew: That God desires mercy over sacrifice, grace over performance. Self-righteous is not unique to any one religion or to religion at all. In fact, self-righteousness creates or becomes it's own religion, exalting the self to the level of arbiter, chooser, law-giver, conscience, and god. Jesus is not intimidated by such false gods; it is grace when he confronts them in us. And if we bend to him, he will not break us. He'll give mercy and salvation. This is a story about God's genuine care for us, and in this is freedom! If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- Matthew 12:1–21 [1] At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. [2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” [3] He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: [4] how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? [6] I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. [7] And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” [9] He went on from there and entered their synagogue. [10] And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. [11] He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? [12] Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” [13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. [14] But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. [15] Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all [16] and ordered them not to make him known. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: [18] “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. [19] He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; [20] a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; [21] and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (ESV) ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teaching us the gospel every week and for providing the resources for us to bring the remedy

(Ep 8) The guys talk about a conviction they have—Brock steals Jeremiah’s Jeopardy! money—John 3 contains one of the more well-known verses of the Bible, John 3:16, and the guys get excited about it’s context ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read John 3, where Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, when no one can see. The world around Nic is opposed to Jesus, but Nic is curious. He has an open mind. He wants to hear more. He is not afraid of disagreement or discussion or learning. Jesus encourages him to think more deeply than he is accustomed to thinking and points out that a person cannot change himself, not in the way that will bring him to God. Instead, Jesus notes, a person needs God to change him. Then Jesus talks about how that happens, how you know that happens, and how you can respond to God in faith. This is a story about radical change and the freedom that comes only from God, available to any and all. This is a story about God's love! If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- John 3:1–21 (ESV) [1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” [3] Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” [4] Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” [9] Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” [10] Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? [11] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. [12] If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? [13] No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (ESV) ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teaching us th

(Ep 7) The guys talk about their hobbies outside the box—Brock coins the phrase “GPS for life”—Jeremiah asks, “Why do we want to give directions?”—The guys consider the problems of judgmentalism and the ease of sliding into it—Brock reminds us all, “God’s not mad at you,” if you are in Christ, so fall on the mercy of Christ—They reflect on Jesus’ words about what really defiles us ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read about washing up from Matthew 15. While some individuals were concerned about ritual hand washing, they never saw that God gave such a ritual as a metaphor, as a way of pointing to regular heart washing, routine conscience examination. Jesus connects the dots for them by noting that hand washing doesn't bring about the spiritual goals they have in mind, closeness with God. Our hearts are far dirtier than our environments, and if we could see with our conscience they way we might see with our eyes, we'd realize that we have some sprucing up to do. The freedom that comes from such honesty and self-reflection is a divine gift, that is, if we are leaning on Jesus and not merely on what the rest of mob around us finds acceptable. This is a story about personal honesty and self-reflection! If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- Matthew 15:1–20 (ESV) [1] Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, [2] “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” [3] He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? [4] For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ [5] But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” [6] he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. [7] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: [8] “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; [9] in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” [10] And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: [11] it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” [12] Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” [13] He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. [14] Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” [15] But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” [16] And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? [17] Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? [18] But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. [20] These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (ESV) ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teaching us the gospel every week and for providing the resources for us to bring the remedy of Jesus Christ to the needs of our city! http://remedycitychurch.org/ 4. And, thanks and all glory to God for answering our prayers as we've desired to start this podcast!

(Ep 6) The guys have been recovering from life, so they have a little catching up to do—Jeremiah does his best comment voice—Brock explains coffee’s goodness, the nature of electrocution, and the reality of the Internet—Jeremiah remembers his grandma—The vicious cycle of guilt and pride is analyzed as counter to the freedom current we have with Jesus ----- Discussion: Brock and Jeremiah read about the sermons of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus from Matthew chapter 3. John offered, commanded, advised repentance, on the authority of God the Holy Spirit, and he said that boasting in ethnicity, lineage, family background or upbringing, etc., is not enough to restore relationship with God. Repentance is actually freely available to any and all. And with repentance comes closeness with God. This is a story about the road to peace with God! If you don't have a Bible to follow along, below is the passage that we are reading: ----- Matthew 3:1-17 (ESV) [1] In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, [2] “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [3] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” [4] Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, [6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. [9] And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. [10] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [11] “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” [13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [15] But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (ESV) ----- Credits: 1. Thanks to Brad Adams for creating, recording, and mastering all of the music for the Freedom Current podcast! The intro, the outro, etc. were done by Brad in his home studio. Thanks so much, Brad! 2. Thanks to Halteman Village Baptist Church in Muncie, Indiana for giving us office space for Jeremiah and Brock to film and record this podcast! http://www.hvbchurch.org/ 3. Thanks to Remedy City Church in Muncie, Indiana for teaching us the gospel every week and for providing the resources for us to bring the remedy of Jesus Christ to the needs of our city! http://remedycitychurch.org/ 4. And, thanks and all glory to God for answering our prayers as we've desired to start this podcast!