The Story Is Ending Mike Hansen

In this unique first episode, I decided, after months of writing (starting and stopping), to share a different approach on the biblical Sabbath.

As I say here a few times, I believe the Sabbath comes directly from the eternal heart of God himself. Its nature is as eternal as God himself. As I point out in a previous episode and from Abraham Heschel's book, The Sabbath, eternity is wrapped up in the sacred Sabbath that is brought into human time.

I end this version of the story of the Sabbath with the exile of the Hebrew people.  The next installment will pick up there, leading into how the Sabbath became what it was at the time of Jesus. Hint: it's not what God originally intended and created! 

Hi everyone - finally! I finally sat down with someone to record their story. I met Aaron through the Iron Council.  He's got his own story of redemption from the streets of Denver to the Navy to being a father. God has done some amazing work in and through him. Please enjoy hearing Aaron's story as found within The Story.

I have been wanting to get this on my podcast for some time.  Beginning last year as November started, I challenged myself to read every day from this prayer in the back of John Eldredge's book, Moving Mountains. As I read it day-to-day, I also started adding highlights and God inspired more customization as words and phrases arose in the moment.  This version is the seventh update and I decided to have an easy-to-access audio version as well.

Full credit goes to Wild at Heart and their amazing ministry that has blessed me through the years. They have a whole page dedicated to prayers you can download and listen to here. It's where I got the text I copied and pasted to customize, which is definitely something I suggest you do. 

And finally, if you would like to download a PDF version of the prayer I read from, click here.  

I start my vocational ministry calling with pastoral ministry in Wisconsin. I thought I knew something about ministry. But I did not.

However, God shows up in a wonderful way as I finish my time at seminary, despite a stress-filled and ambiguous final semester. 

This is a reading of the wonderful little story of two angels, as written by J. B. Phillps. I thought it would be great for Christmas.

Philippians 2:5-13

'Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
who, existing in the form of God, 
did not consider equality with God 
as something to be exploited.
Instead he emptied himself 
by assuming the form of a servant, 
taking on the likeness of humanity. 
And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself 
by becoming obedient 
to the point of death — 
even to death on a cross. 
For this reason God highly exalted him 
and gave him the name 
that is above every name, 
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth — 
and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 
to the glory of God the Father. 

Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 

Doing something a little different with this episode. I came across a photo in my Instagram feed of a little boy in Afghanistan. I made it the wallpaper background for my phone and multiple times a day I see the image.

I've been thinking about what I'd say and how to reflect on this striking image, so rather than write it all out, recording thoughts as a stand-alone episode seems best. 

Join me as I reflect not just solemnly on the sadness, but joyful anticipation of what Jesus has in mind for all children...who ever lived. 

 Go to my main page and scroll to the bottom where you will see this image. Click and, with me, take a few minutes to reflect on what this means.