Open Spaces Project with Darren Rusco

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, join us for curiosity, questions, and deep discussions. Let's open up the space and start our conversation!

  1. Mar 30

    61. Gog & Magog (Part 2 of 2)

    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!

    50 min

  2. Mar 23

    60. Gog & Magog (Part 1 of 2)

    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!

    45 min

  3. Mar 9

    59. Testing & Discernment (Part 4)

    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!

    55 min

  4. Mar 2

    58. Testing & Discernment (Part 3)

    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!

    46 min

  5. Feb 23

    57. Testing & Discernment (Part 2)

    Darren and Dillon continue a multi-part conversation on Christian discernment, emphasizing Jesus’ teaching about wolves in sheep’s clothing being identified by fruit rather than appearance or vocabulary. They discuss Galatians 5’s lists of works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit as practical tools for discerning leaders, including not only personal character but also what leaders produce in others through authority. They note discernment often requires time and warn against “unsanctified mercy” that avoids confrontation, referencing Revelation’s rebukes of tolerated harmful teachings and Jesus’ praise in Revelation 2:2 for testing false apostles. The episode distinguishes between a trusted leader who may still teach something incorrect versus a “pseudo” leader who blends in but is not authentic. Darren gives examples: John MacArthur’s tone and statements that, in his view, remove space for disagreement and stir dissension; Rick Joyner/MorningStar’s long-running prophecy of an imminent California earthquake tied to judgment on Hollywood, which Darren argues removed the ability to test, prompted fear-driven decisions, and lacked accountability when it did not occur; and Shawn Bolz’s public words of knowledge later exposed as data mining, with stories of harm to individuals and claims of institutional cover-up, referencing Mike Winger’s documentation and Ezekiel 34’s judgment on shepherds who fail to protect sheep. Darren also recounts Harold Camping’s 2011 end-times prediction and its broader reputational damage to the gospel, including an anecdote shared by atheist author Michael Lewis about his child’s fear. He shares a personal memory from late-80s/early-90s church culture where rapture predictions based on Matthew 24 and 1948/“40 years” fueled fear-based altar calls. The episode closes by warning that cynicism and blanket suspicion are counterfeit discernment, using Acts 17 to contrast Thessalonica’s hostile rejection with Berea’s humble examination, and calling for a balanced posture that tests everything without gullibility or fear. They preview a Part 3 on “testing the spirits.”

    56 min

  6. Feb 16

    56. Testing & Discernment (Part 1)

    In this episode, Darren and Dillon have a conversation on biblical testing and discernment, focusing first on discerning humans—especially anyone claiming to represent God through authority, teaching, prophecy, or leadership. They discuss the seriousness of influence and agreement, the danger of being bound by lies, and why Scripture calls for testing apostles, prophets, and teachers, noting James 3:1 on stricter judgment for teachers because they represent what God is like. The conversation explores how modern Christian language around “calling,” fivefold roles, and “anointing” can become watered down or misused, sometimes equating personal desire or platform with God’s sending, and they contrast that with biblical examples of God commissioning people (Moses, Old Testament prophets, Paul) while also acknowledging the Great Commission applies broadly to all believers. Using Deuteronomy 18, they note predictive prophecy should be tested over time by whether it comes true, implying a waiting period and track record. From Deuteronomy 13 and Revelation 13, they argue that signs and wonders—even if real—do not prove someone is from God, because miracles can be part of a test and can deceive; discernment must evaluate whether the message leads toward loving the Lord. They read Matthew 7:15–20 to emphasize recognizing false prophets not by outward appearance but by fruit, and discuss how evaluating fruit takes time, patterns, and wisdom, including the difference between mistakes and persistent character issues. They warn against uncritical trust in influential leaders, conferences, and platforms, and point to Galatians 5’s works of the flesh versus fruit of the Spirit as a practical checklist for discernment, applying it to church leadership and broader authority. They end by pausing for a Part 2 to get more practical about how to test and discern and to discuss testing spirits, and they invite listeners to test and discern the hosts themselves.

    51 min

  7. Feb 2

    55. Heaven's Timing vs Our Expectations

    This episode explores the intersection of the heavenly and earthly realms through the lens of biblical stories. The hosts discuss the flatline of earthly experiences versus the upward trajectory of divine timing, using examples like Joseph, David, and Zachariah. Addressing the practical aspects of how these insights influence day-to-day life, the conversation delves into perseverance in prayer, the importance of shifting focus to the heavenly realm, and maintaining faith despite apparent delays. Packed with thoughtful reflections and theological discussion, this episode encourages listeners to set their minds on the things above even amidst earthly challenges. 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!

    44 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    54. Christmas and Hanukkah: Embracing the Fulfillment of Jesus

    In this episode, join us for a festive discussion about the intersection of Christmas and Hanukkah. Our hosts delve into the significance of these holidays, sharing historical and theological insights. Explore how Jesus fulfills the story of Hanukkah and understand his divine nature, as prophesied in Psalm 110 and Daniel 8. Learn about the historical background of Antiochus Epiphanies and the Maccabean Revolt, and how these events contribute to the celebration of Hanukkah. Finally, reflect on Jesus' role as 'Emmanuel' and how his life exemplified the intertwining of these sacred holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

    37 min
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4.9
out of 5
17 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, join us for curiosity, questions, and deep discussions. Let's open up the space and start our conversation!

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