Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. In previous verses, Paul described the rebellious and wrath-deserving condition that all humans start in by default. This sad condition then highlights the nature of our rescue: God's undeserved favor (grace) toward us. v.8-9 We're going to take just a brief detour from Paul's intended focus in these verses. It's very important to recognize that Paul's intent here is NOT to explain the nature of human free will in the context of God's sovereignty. But because these verses are appealed to in those hotly debated issues, I wanted to acknowledge and briefly comment on that potential elephant in the room. The subject of discussion is often what the w...

The official podcast of Christian Geek Central!  ( http://www.christiangeekcentral.com ) On the Show Today: A review of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and why subtle boasting hurts the Christian Geek. The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors. Copyright 2007-2016, Spirit Blade Productions Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, Jon Adamich and Sound Ideas. Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan

Sally Slick and the Miniature Menace returns us to the world of Young Centurions and to the adventures of Sally Slick and Jet Black, first seen in Sally Slick and the SteelSyndicate . This time around we get right into the action as Sally fumes over being shut out of the local tractor races. With the circus in town, Sally decides to race “unofficially”; of course, Sally leaves everyone else in the dust. After showing up the local bullies and drawing the attention of the circus owner, Sally's prized tractor goes missing! Author Carrie Harris turns out prose with precision and clarity, aimed at a teen audience with an adult reading level. Her action scenes left me breathless and her description of Sally's and Jet's perspective on their adventures plunged me back through time to the days when 100 yards worth of woods around the neighborhood drainage ditch sheltered ninjas and monsters aplenty. Add in a dash of the exotic by having the two of them literally running away...

Ephesians 2:1-7(ESV) 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. As I mentioned in the introduction to our look at Ephesians, in this letter Paul is aiming to help us remove our blinders regarding who we are and what life is about, revea...

The official podcast of Christian Geek Central!  ( http://www.christiangeekcentral.com ) On the Show Today: A review of "The Resurrection Of Gavin Stone" and a look at whether or not fiction needs to have a "message". PLUS, the importance for Geeks to receive and give grace, in that order. The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors. Copyright 2007-2016, Spirit Blade Productions Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, Jon Adamich and Sound Ideas. Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan

Ephesians 1:(19) 20-23 (the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. In previous verses, Paul tells his readers that he has been ceaselessly praying for the eyes of their inward selves to become enlightened, so they can understand and experience a few specific things. First, the hope they've been called to, second the inheritance they have waiting for them, and third, the power of God at work on behalf of believers in Jesus. v.20 Paul then provides a prime example of God's power and might at work on beha...

The official podcast of Christian Geek Central!  ( http://www.christiangeekcentral.com ) On the Show Today: Reactions to the Nintendo Switch Presentation and a review of the movie Morgan. PLUS, what scripture says for insecure control freaks! The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors. Copyright 2007-2016, Spirit Blade Productions Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, Jon Adamich and Sound Ideas. Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan

The official podcast of Christian Geek Central!  ( http://www.christiangeekcentral.com ) On the Show Today: Reviews of Underworld: Blood Wars, Assassin's Creed and Passengers, PLUS what Paeter did over the holiday break. The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors. Copyright 2007-2016, Spirit Blade Productions Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, Jon Adamich and Sound Ideas. Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan