The Open Spaces Project Podcast

Open Spaces Project

The podcast of Open Spaces Project explores and untangles Christian spiritual concepts. Hosted by Darren Rusco and produced by Dillon Jacobsma, we take you on a thoughtful journey through faith, scripture, and spirituality. Blending humor and heart with in-depth conversations, we make the mysteries of faith accessible and enjoyable to everyone. Whether you're a lifelong Christian or simply curious about the Bible, join us for curiosity, questions, and deep discussions. Let's open up the space and start our conversation!

  1. Oct 26

    71. The Year of Uzziah: A Turning Point in History and Prophecy

    Darren and Dylan discuss how major events become “timestamps” (e.g., 9/11, COVID, personal life markers) and use that idea to frame Isaiah 6, which begins “in the year King Uzziah died.” They trace Israel’s divided-kingdom history from Solomon through Rehoboam and Jeroboam, then focus on Uzziah’s long, prosperous reign marked by military and agricultural advances, his prideful act of offering incense in the temple, and the resulting judgment of leprosy and quarantine while his son Jotham governed. They connect Uzziah’s era to a widely remembered earthquake referenced in Amos and Zechariah, add Josephus’ account linking the quake to Uzziah’s temple sin, and suggest Isaiah’s throne-room vision, the shaking heavenly temple, and his prophetic commission were tied to covenant crimes on earth. They also explore seraphim as throne-room beings and tease a follow-up episode on Leviathan. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the podcast! Join the conversation and share your thoughts and experiences regarding all things faith, scripture and spirituality. For more information about our podcast, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠openspacesproject.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our producer, Dillon Jacobsma, contact him at dillon.a.jacobsma@gmail.com. All artwork and podcast editing was provided by Dillon with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seta Design Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Special thanks to our talented music composer, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Penketh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thank you for listening! Stay faithful, stay open and keep exploring!

  2. Oct 12

    70. Every Resurrection in the Bible

    Darren and Dillon follow up their Moses-and-Elijah discussion by having a light, curiosity-driven conversation about resurrections (“dead raisings”) in the Bible and what they reveal about faith and God’s power. They start with Hebrews 11, noting Abraham believed God could raise the dead before any biblical example existed, then walk through Old Testament cases with Elijah, Elisha (including the unusual revival via Elisha’s bones), and speculate whether Jonah may have died and been raised. They then cover New Testament resurrections by Jesus (widow’s son, Jairus’s daughter, Lazarus), Jesus’ own resurrection, and Matthew’s puzzling note about many saints rising after Jesus’ resurrection, plus later apostolic examples with Peter and Paul. They end by emphasizing wonder, imagination, and Jesus as the ultimate resurrected one and giver of life.

  3. Sep 22

    69. Why is God so Inefficient?

    If you would like to help support the podcast, you can donate at the link below. https://openspacesproject.raiselysite.com Darren and Dillon open by talking about what they call the “inefficiency” of God, how an all-powerful God often works slowly and through people instead of acting instantly. They use the Acts 10 story of Cornelius and Peter to highlight visions, angels, the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and how God brings Peter to see Gentiles as clean and included. This leads to a broader discussion of God’s pattern of partnership, patience, and waiting for human agreement (“amen”), contrasting quick divine intervention with slower growth through obedience. They share fatherhood analogies like building a doghouse with kids and creating treasure hunts, and end by encouraging listeners to examine what voices they’re agreeing with, reject fearful thoughts, and seek alignment with what God is doing.

  4. Sep 7

    68. Moses, Elijah, and the Cloud: The Transfiguration Explained

    Darren and Dillon chat through the Transfiguration story, focusing on why Moses and Elijah show up and what their presence might mean. They explore the setting leading up to it, Caesarea Philippi near Mount Hermon, and discuss the idea of certain mountains as “thin spaces” where the spiritual and physical overlap. Reading details from Matthew 17 and Luke 9, they picture the disciples witnessing Jesus’ dazzling change, the appearance of Moses and Elijah, and the cloud that follows. The conversation dives into how Elijah was taken to heaven, the mystery around Moses’ burial and a reference in Jude to a dispute over Moses’ body, and how this could connect to Revelation’s “two witnesses.” They end by emphasizing wonder, imagination, and the importance of witnesses in God’s story.

  5. Aug 31

    67. When Marriage Ends: A Biblical Case for Remarriage

    Darren and Dillon discuss a biblical view of divorce and remarriage, arguing that Jesus not only allows but effectively promotes remarriage after divorce when the biblical texts are read in their historical and linguistic context. They examine Matthew 5:31–32 and Matthew 19:3–9, distinguishing the Greek apoluo (to send away/separate) from apostasion (certificate/legal divorce), and contend Jesus confronts men who “put away” wives without legally divorcing them, thereby leaving women unable to remarry and vulnerable. They interpret the “except for sexual immorality” clause as addressing who is responsible for adultery in such situations, not restricting divorce or remarriage. They also connect Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:10–11 to prohibiting remarriage during separation, emphasize humility due to varied pastoral views, warn against shaming divorced/remarried people, and share pastoral experiences and a reversal of earlier counsel against remarriage.

  6. Aug 17

    66. The Significance of the Temple Land (Part 5): Does it Still Matter? Future Temple, Antichrist, End Times

    Darren and producer Dillon discuss whether the physical location of the Jerusalem temple still matters in the Temple series’ fifth episode. Darren reviews Solomon’s temple, its destruction by Babylon in 586 BC, Zerubbabel’s second temple, and Herod the Great’s major rebuild before Jesus, noting debates about the true temple location (Temple Mount vs. the City of David) and related archaeology like the Gihon Spring, Hezekiah’s tunnel, and the Pool of Siloam. They explore two views: the temple’s purpose being finished in the new covenant versus a future physical temple before Jesus’ return, engaging scriptures including Daniel’s “abomination of desolation,” Jesus’ prophecies (Matthew 23–24; Luke 21), Romans 11, and 2 Thessalonians 2 about the “man of lawlessness” in God’s sanctuary. Darren speculates a future temple revival tied to Israel’s eventual embrace of Jesus, alongside warnings about deception, polarization, and uncritical political stances toward Israel.

  7. Aug 10

    65. The Significance of the Temple Land (Part 4): David's Choice, Plague, and Divine Intervention

    Darren and producer Dillon continue the Temple Land series by zooming in to the exact temple site, focusing on 1 Chronicles 21 and its link to Mount Moriah. They discuss David’s sinful military census, the tension between accounts saying Satan or God incited it, and God offering David three punishments; David chooses three days of plague, during which 70,000 men die. An angel of the Lord moves toward Jerusalem but is stopped at Ornan the Jebusite’s threshing floor, leading Gad to instruct David to build an altar there. David insists on paying full price, offers sacrifices, and God answers with fire from heaven, after which the angel sheathes his sword and the plague halts. They connect this site to Abraham and Isaac and to Solomon later building the temple there, previewing a final episode on why it matters today and future temple questions. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the podcast! Join the conversation and share your thoughts and experiences regarding all things faith, scripture and spirituality. For more information about our podcast, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠openspacesproject.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with our producer, Dillon Jacobsma, contact him at dillon.a.jacobsma@gmail.com. All artwork and podcast editing was provided by Dillon with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seta Design Studio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Special thanks to our talented music composer, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adam Penketh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thank you for listening! Stay faithful, stay open and keep exploring!

  8. Aug 3

    64. The Significance of the Temple Land (Part 3): Priestly Bloodlines and Tabernacles

    Darren and Dillon trace God’s long journey of bringing His presence back to the “special land” (Jerusalem) through Israel’s history, focusing on the tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and the troubled high-priestly bloodline. They review Aaron’s sons, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, and Phinehas receiving a covenant of perpetual priesthood, then explain how an “alternate timeline” emerges with Eli—later understood as descending from Ithamar rather than Phinehas—leading to judgment on Eli’s house, the Ark’s capture by the Philistines, and the massacre at Nob, where only Abiathar escapes to join David. David later establishes a dual high priesthood with Abiathar and Zadok (from the true line), and a two-tabernacle system (Hebron sacrifices and Jerusalem worship). Under Solomon, Abiathar is banished, fulfilling prophecy against Eli’s family, and the Zadok line is restored, connecting later to Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the false high-priestly line in Jesus’ time.

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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

The podcast of Open Spaces Project explores and untangles Christian spiritual concepts. Hosted by Darren Rusco and produced by Dillon Jacobsma, we take you on a thoughtful journey through faith, scripture, and spirituality. Blending humor and heart with in-depth conversations, we make the mysteries of faith accessible and enjoyable to everyone. Whether you're a lifelong Christian or simply curious about the Bible, join us for curiosity, questions, and deep discussions. Let's open up the space and start our conversation!

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