Season 6, Episode 8 – Closed Fisted

Guest Host – Andy Arndt, Chaplin at the Branchville Correctional Facility in Branchville, Indiana

Take deep breaths, breath in through your nose and out through your mouth and think about your options.

After the episode with Phin on an angry God, it was appropriate to have an episode that speaks to violence on a larger scale. Violence is something that is not easily avoided in our culture or our churches and demands a response in one way or the other. Just trying to be aware of all of the places where violence emerges in our society is difficult on its own – from our children’s shows to our business meetings (the term “bullet point” is in a way a violent term). Trying to avoid it while still living and participating in the customs and activity of the world is even more difficult. On the one hand, as people of the world we have to learn and struggle to navigate in such a world that is immersed in violence. On the other hand, as Christians we are called to live a different way, according to God’s Kingdom which many Christians profess to be void of violence.

It is important to remember that it was violence that was the cause of Christ’s death and he did not respond in kind. In his resurrection we do not find a response around the notion of “getting even” but instead around love and forgiveness. So many Christians seem to forget this, seem to embrace the violence that is very real in our world, and accept it as a given. Christ calls us to a better path.

The book that Andy mentioned was You Shall Not Kill or You Shall Not Murder, by Wilma Ann Bailey

Rialage –

Don’t go to Walmart and don’t support torture. Need we say more? Probably. In fact there is a little more nuance to the Walmart thing and the torture thing. You probably should just listen to this section.

Scripture-

Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ so stop worrying and fretting over the small things!

Watcha’ Into

Jonathan is into Treasure of the Sierra Madre even though he has no idea who is in it. Cary Grant? Seriously? How can anyone mistake the great Humphrey Bogart for Cary Grant!?

Andy is into snow and Christmas. He got one so far.

Again, thanks for listening. Check out the website: www.twelveenough.com Send your comments and questions to twelveenough@gmail.com (new e-mail address), and don’t forget to rate the show on iTunes.

Next episode: Calvinism! With Pastor Josh Mancini