Beliefs of the Heart: Reflections

Dec 15 2023 6

Beliefs of the Heart: Reflections Podcast artwork

A reading of Beliefs of the Heart weekly article, followed by a reflection: the reason behind the article, comments from readers, or other versions that were edited out. Live comments by author Sam Williamson. You can find more of Sam's writing at: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/ Special thanks to Keith Medley for his FANTASTIC 27 string guitar background song, Ancestors. You can find more of Keith's music at: http://www.keithmedleymusic.com/

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The War of the World

Dec 15 2023 41 mins

For two thousand years, believers have prioritized the importance of “spiritual warfare” for Christian health. Heck, I was raised Presbyterian, and even Presbyterians taught it.The battle comprises three enemies: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. While most teaching mentions these three enemies, the spiritual warfare enemy most frequently publicized is the Devil. (Though som

Inward Trials

Jun 21 2023 13 mins

Almost every person I speak with has suffered. We hear, "For to those who love God, everything works out for the good," but it doesn't work for us, or at least we have very different ideas of the "the good" is. What is God up to? How good really is that "good"?A reading and commentary on this article: These Inward Trials - Beliefs of the Heartby S

How Do We Handle the Evil Done to Us?

Jun 13 2023 13 mins

Almost every person I speak with has suffered some sort of betrayal from parents or teachers or bosses or spouses. And it affects us on so many levels, most of which we can't see--but our friends can.We are imprisoned.How do we handle the evils do to us?A reading and commentary on this article: The Evil Done to Us - Beliefs of the Heartby Sam Williamson.And very special thanks

Talking With God - Just Like A Friend

Feb 20 2023 14 mins

This podcast describes what is the single greatest lesson (and invitation) that God has been speaking to me about for the last five years.Maybe ten.A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2022/03/09/just-like-a-friend/ by Sam Williamson.And very special thanks to Keith Medley for his FANTASTIC 27 string guitar background song, Ancestors. You can find

Controlling God

Jun 16 2022 17 mins

Three years ago, I dedicated the year to meditating on thinking of Jesus as LORD. Not just savior, not just friend, not just confidante, not as rabbi. But mild Jesus, JESUS AS LORD. And these are my thoughts.A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2022/02/16/controlling-the-remote/ by Sam Williamson.And very special thanks to Keith Medley for his FAN

When Helping God Is Lethal

Jun 08 2022 12 mins

We so often work directly against God in our greatest attempts to help Him. And our efforts wreak havoc in our lives and in the lives of our families and friends. What are we to do?A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2022/02/09/when-helping-god-is-lethal/by Sam Williamson.And very special thanks to Keith Medley for his FANTASTIC 27 string guitar

I Was Mortified

May 10 2022 12 mins

Oh My Goodness! I've been mortified, humiliated, and embarrassed many times in my life (and some of you know those other times), but this was a double mortification: what it said TO me and what it said ABOUT me. Join me in rehashing my mortification.A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2022/02/02/i-was-mortified/by Sam Williamson.And very spe

The Measure of Our Lives

May 03 2022 14 mins

A friend's dissatisfaction with "I only have 6 million dollars to my name" led me to think more about how the world creeps into how we measure our lives.A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2022/01/19/the-measure-of-our-lives/by Sam Williamson.And very special thanks to Keith Medley for his FANTASTIC 27 string guitar background song

Imagine There's No Heaven

Apr 19 2022 12 mins

Lennon's haunting, beautiful, whimsical song has always fascinated me and frustrated me. It's delightful music sucks me into a vortex of lies and death. It is really a deadly song.A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2021/12/08/imagine-theres-no-heaven/ by Sam Williamson.And very special thanks to Keith Medley for his FANTASTIC 27 string

When Salvation Isn't Enough

Dec 01 2021 15 mins

I once observed a man--A Christian man!--desperately trying to gain approval from work colleagues, and it got me thinking about the breadth of God's salvation. Is there a heaven, a kind of heaven, that God wants for us today?A reading and commentary on this article: https://beliefsoftheheart.com/2021/11/03/when-salvation-isnt-enough/ by Sam Williamson. And very special thanks