Episodes

Vagabond Diaries #13: The Builder Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, I want to present to you an allegory, a christian alle...

Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. Today is a real treat, I hope. I want to read a chapter from the second book in my award-winning Christian fantasy series fo...

Vagabond Diaries 11: Elizah Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. What should a father say to his adult daughter whose life seems to just be on a downward spiral...

Vagabond #10 Tale of the Unlikely Prince clip- November 10 Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. In today’s Vagabond Diary, I want to read a teaser from my child...

Vagabond Diaries #9: Judas Face Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. Judas Face is a tip of the hat to John Bunyan’s wonderful allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress. Enj...

Vagabond Diaries: Sheila Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Sheila. She’s dead, a horrible violent a...

Oct 20 Vagabond Diaries: Charlie Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Charlie, a successful pastor by...

Oct 13 Vagabond Diaries: Robert Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Robert, a cynical professional j...

Oct 6 Vagabond Diaries: Jude Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Jude, a young man who despises his ...

Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Shula, a royal who has gone to counseling to deal with some relati...

Vagabond Diaries Welcome Back to our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Michelle Angel. She is running a Heavenly Press briefing in front ...

Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #1: Song of Songs 1:2-4. OK, OK… so this is on nobody's Top 5, or 10, or even 50 list. It should be. I hope that I will convince you of how powerful, relevant, and personal this proclamation of the bride of Christ’s desire for her groom. I know, it is likely not what you heard about the Song of Songs. Let me change your mind. Enjoy. It truly deserves to be #1. Next time, we get into my new avant-garde series, Vagabond Diaries. Something new, fun, and different. I c...

This prayer has been so poorly understood and translated so badly, that it is no wonder that it has been largely overlooked. It is perhaps the greatest prayer of faith by someone who has been subjected to arguably the greatest injust in the history of the world, at least before the Cross. What difference does a God-born faith actually mean to someone who has lost it all? What does Heaven sourced faith feel like to beat-up, abused people? Here it is. Let me know what you think. Should it be #2? ...

Teaser: Vagabond Diaries I am taking a short one week break in my summer series, Top 10 prayers of the Old Testament to give you a teaser for my new Gospel Rant Series beginning on Sept 15. It is called Vagabond Diaries. Each week, I will tell a story, a tale, a colorful account of some Biblical character or principle, but not done in the usual way—line by line, precept by precept. No, this will be more like a storyteller, more Chronicles of Narnia-esque—you get the idea. Why? I am passionate a...

This prayer has been often labeled the black psalm. You will see why. It ends, “Darkness is my closest friend,” clearly a slap in the face of the God who loves the unlovable. Can we really say such things to God? Isn’t that a sin? Yes and yes. But such imprecatory psalms have been given to us because they most effectively give us our heart’s real unvarnished words—not careful, theologically accurate and whitewashed words. In this groaning creation, we are going to need such prayers. I just call ...

Vagabond Diaries 2 This is the actual beginning of our new Gospel Rant series called Vagabond Diaries. We are finding fun and creative ways to proclaim the love of God for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely. To accomplish that, we will use every trick in the book: story, drama, satire, comedy, mystery, and even a fun visit to a counselor’s couch to help unpack some biblical truth and application. You’ll see what I mean. This week, meet Jana. What would happen if God tells a woman tha...

As far as I know, this particular prayer is on no one’s Top 10 list of Top Old Testament prayers—but it should be. If you have ever been hurt, betrayed, disappointed, robbed or abused—and who hasn’t—and you have not experienced real justice, reparation, and forgiveness, you are going to love this prayer and it just may end up being something you want to pray to God a lot. It is time that we stop overlooking this prayer and begin to wonder about what Christianity might look like if we took it ser...

Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #5: Hannah in 1 Sam 1 In my recent book, Dance Daughters of the Most High! I did a chapter on Hannah, largely due to this prayer. What makes it #5 in an impressive list of prayers in the Old Testament? You will see. She is the most transparent, aware, honest prayer I know, and the one who seems to most know that she desperately needs a fresh shot of God’s love for the unlovable. Very impressive and hurting lady. She deserves to be at #5. Enjoy. You'll see what I me...

Thanks for the great feedback. I am so pleased that you are enjoying this summer Gospel Rant identifying and looking deeper into my Top 10 Old Testament prayers. Exodus 33 is perhaps the most provocative to-date. For me, it captures the very spirit of what I think is the greatest prayer in the entire Bible—and I don’t mean the Lord’s Prayer—another show for another time. I am referring to Jesus’ humble prayer to his Father, “Not my will, but your will be done.” Moses is a very complicated charac...

This prayer should be of no surprise. It is one of the most recognizable prayers of the entire Bible. But the surprising thing about this prayer is not what David says--well--OK, it is that too--but the more astounding thing is what David is asking God for as a fix. You'll see what I mean. Love feedback, Bill@gospel-app.com. Top 10 Old Testament Prayers #7: David in Psalm 51 Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advert...

SUMMER SERIES: TOP 10 PRAYERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT This one just might surprise you. In Proverbs 30, a man that we know very little about prays an amazing, vulnerable and insightful prayer. In it we learn so much about him and God. This is the prayer of Agur in Proverbs 30. Enjoy. Let me know what you think. bill@gospel-app.com. Top Old Testament Prayers #8: The Prayer of Agur (Prov 30) Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire...

SUMMER SERIES: TOP 10 OLD TESTAMENT PRAYERS #9. This is the first of three of the Top 10 that are from a woman. What does Miriam know about the unique character traits of God? Fun. Love feedback. Bill@gospel-app.com. Top Old Testament Prayers #9: Exodus 15:20-21 (Miriam) Support The Show: https://www.gospelrant.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

BRAND NEW SUMMER SERIES STARTS NOW. What, in my opinion, are the Top 10 prayers in the entire Old Testament? It is a very difficult exercise. So much of the Old Testament is prayers. But there are a few that stand out to me. My main criteria is that the prayer manifests something about the innate unique characteristics of God Himself that must have been revealed to the one praying. I give more weight to those prayers that assume God's unique love for the unlovable, the unloved, and the unlovely...

This is the final of 16 shows on the amazing letter to the Hebrews. The author of Hebrews is writing this very sophisticated homily to Hebrew Christians sometime in the late 50s to mid 60’s CE. It is still an infant church, maybe a decade or two old, and had just survived disruptive expulsion and injustices due to their virulent faith. But make no mistake—persecution is coming and far worse than before. Nero may have already risen to be the Emperor of the Empire and it is only a matter of time u...