Our conversations focusing on Ephesians 6:10-20 have delved into the deep question and need that lives in every human heart—with everything that comes at us in this life, where can we turn for true protection? How can we face the attacks of this world, stay standing and cultivate a heart that is still open, whole and capable of generative, loving work?  Once again, Christ shows us the way, demonstrating the protection offered by each aspect of armor as He made His way to the cross, faithfully oriented towards the Father. The Father received his beloved Son and raised Him up. Christ Jesus ..read more

In our next episode, Patrick and Jonah begin to explore Paul’s exhortation to pray—“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” Eph 6:18 (KJV). What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? First, we acknowledge our need, then choose where to turn. Having taken up the sword of the Spirit, and aware of the spiritual battle all around us, we offer our prayers to the true source of wholeness and healing. And finally, we become a chalice, opening ourselves to receive God’s will.   Support the show Many thanks to Camilla Lake for show notes and Podcast/Patreon production and comm ..read more

Jonah and Patrick walk us through Paul’s call to “put on the whole armor of God” so that we might stand against the schemes of our spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:10-20). Having clothed ourselves in the belt of truth, the breastplate of right relationship, the shoes of peace bringing good news, the shield of faith and the helmet of healing salvation, we earned the right to take up the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Only with this preparation can we hope to wield the sword rightly, freeing us from our enemies, rather than succumbing to them. Christ clothed himself in human ..read more

In this episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series, Patrick and Jonah help us reimagine what is meant by the word “salvation.” They work to pinpoint the longing of the human heart that is related to the word—the longing for safety and protection from all that afflicts us. But where can true safety and deliverance be found? The strange power of Christianity is to seek this safety in the person and life of someone who bore such terrible humiliation and pain—to experience the mystery of salvation at the cross.  Support the show Many thanks to Camilla Lake for show notes and Podcast/Pat ..read more

The next episode of our series “Letter to the Ephesians” focuses on the spiritual protection offered when we put on the “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). Jonah and Patrick explore the nature of salvation, the protective aspects of a helmet, and how our thinking can reflect either the thoughts of God or the thoughts of the adversaries. The spiritual battle for control of human thinking wages on. When we open our minds, when we put on the helmet forged by Him and endeavor to think His thoughts as revealed in the Gospel, then we can enter into the redemptive realm of salvation, a realm that ..read more

What is the protection God offers us, as described in Ephesians 6:10-20? The next episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series continues with the discussion of the “shield of faith” as protection against the flaming arrows of the adversary. Jonah and Patrick share examples out of their own experience, pointing to a protection that is established when we turn towards him and begin to sense our true self in Christ Jesus. In Him, our true self lives protected. Support the show Many thanks to Camilla Lake for show notes and Podcast/Patreon production and communications. Thanks also to Elliot ..read more

In this episode, Patrick and Jonah lead us into the next aspect of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:16) —“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” What are the characteristics of a faith that can offer us protection against the flaming darts of the adversary? Paul points towards this earlier in his Letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:16-19). Rather than adherence to a set of beliefs, faith is a dynamic activity meant to be built upon over time. Our growing trust in Christ becomes a portal through which He can enter our hea ..read more

The next episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series takes us a step further in the practice of putting on the armor of God. Jonah and Patrick delve deeply into Ephesians 6:15, “shoe your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (translation by Patrick Kennedy). Jonah offers the picture that Christ forged these shoes of protection during his Temptation in the Wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). We can see how the Gospel oriented Christ Jesus to the will of the Father in each temptation and thus protected him as he battled the dark forces attempting to divert him from his mission ..read more

In the next episode of our ”Letter to the Ephesians” series, Patrick and Jonah continue to help us understand what it means to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Through Christ, we are gifted a belt which separates truth from deception; a breastplate of radiant sun energy that puts us in right relationship with reality, with human beings, and with God, while offering protection despite our pain and suffering. Next, we are to put on shoes for the way—shoes that prepare us to stand and walk in the world, sharing His Gospel and Peace.  Support the show Many thanks to Camilla L ..read more

In the fourth episode of our ”The Letter to the Ephesians” series, Jonah and Patrick share with us their reflections on the next element of the “armor of God” from Ephesians 6:10-20. What does it mean to put on the breastplate of righteousness? First, they explore some regular-world usages of righteousness, the self-oriented, “self-righteous” kind, when we proudly stand our ground justifying, protecting and defending whatever image of self we are clinging to in the moment. Righteousness in the heavenly worlds, however, is permeated by the signature of relationship—most importantly, our heartfe ..read more