The Yellow Balloons Podcast

S 3 Ep 7: The Father and The Manager

In this episode, we continue working through The Book of Ezekiel as it pertains to the theme of exile and return. Chapter 14 leads us into an exploration of some of the roles God plays in our lives and how they serve as metaphors for the way he provides and cares for us. The first two examples in Ezekiel focus on God as a father and God as the head of an enterprise.   

S 3 Ep 8: Conformed To Christ

We continue looking at different examples of God’s provision and care in The Book of Ezekiel. In our previous episode, we explored God as father and God as the head of an enterprise. Now we move to discussing God as husband to the nation of Israel. What is our response to the ways God cares for us? He does not want us to be an adulterous people. He wants us to be conformed to the image of Christ.

S 3 Ep 9: Choice And Consequence

In this episode, we continue to explore the metaphors of God as father, manager, and husband. What is our part? Using Ezekiel 17 and 18 as a guide, we explore the power and the opportunity of our choices. We examine the oaths of Israel and an invitation for all of us to choose life as opposed to death. No matter what setting we find ourselves in, we have to do our best to remain faithful, to stay true, and to continue to steward the choices in front of us.

S 3 Ep 10: Hard Lessons

In this episode we look at Ezekiel 20 and evaluate the natural consequences of the choices of Israel. God will discipline the nation but he will never abandon his chosen people. As a loving Father, his correction is not about coercion or strictly a punishment. It is a guide, a tool to teach us how to learn, improve, and repair the consequences of our poor decisions. Through Ezekiel, we see a recount of Israel’s history and all the times they rebelled against God, as well as his relentless faithfulness to beckon them toward home.

S 3 Ep 11: Unreasonable Requests

In this episode, we talk about the seemingly unreasonable things God asks of Ezekiel. We often feel the same way - what God is suggesting seems unfair or beyond our capacity. Do all of the requests of God have a point and a purpose? How does Ezekiel respond to God’s call and how should we? God doesn’t exist to make people comfortable. In fact, following Him often adds a unique set of difficulties to our daily lives. But faithfulness is always worth it in the end

S 3 Ep 12: The Testimony of Seth Cuneen

In this special episode, we are joined by West Point graduate and army veteran Seth Cuneen. Seth shares with us his experience with the military and how it relates to The Book of Ezekiel and the theme, Exile and Return. During his time in the service, Seth encounters several examples of rules, authority, and unreasonable expectations. He is asked to trust the process. And although he may not see or understand, these expectations are building him and his fellow soldiers toward a deeper sense of unity and purpose.

S 3 Ep 13: Habakkuk’s Plea

In this episode we begin to explore the theme of Exile and Return in a new book of the Bible. Habakkuk is a minor prophet who makes a plea to God for justice, and he gets a confusing response. There is a lot for us to learn in the conversation between God and Habakkuk, a crucial distinction between destruction and refinement, and a vital connection to the message of The New Testament.

S 3 Ep 14: The Final Sacrifice

In this episode, we return to The book of Habakkuk, and find connections between Habakkuk and another minor prophet, Obadiah, as well as one of Paul’s most important letters, The Book of Romans. We wrap up Habakkuk with a look at Christ’s death as the final sacrifice and the call for us to respond by choosing a life of righteousness.       

S 3 Ep 15: Far From Home

In this episode, we explore the theme Exile and Return within The Book of Daniel. The events of Daniel unfold during the great Babylonian Exile when the Israelites were relocated to a foreign land. Looking through the historical context and the story of this famous character, we see the challenges of faithfulness during a particularly difficult phase of Israel’s history. We explore the relationship between Daniel and King Darius, the ruler of the Babylonians.

S 3 Ep 16: Fight For The Kingdom

In this episode, we continue looking at Daniel in the time of the Babylonian Exile. We discuss the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. We also look at a significant prophecy of Isaiah and the story of King Cyrus. There is a spiritual battle throughout history. These characters were involved and so are we. It is our time to fight for God’s kingdom and we can learn a lot from those who went before us about what it means to fight.