THE BIBLE: COVER TO COVER Podcast

Within each biblical story, there are deeper truths and mysteries to be discovered, and Peter's imprisonment and deliverance are no exception. The Gospel of Luke is an orderly account of the life of Yeshua (Luke 1:3), and its sequel (the book of Acts) is an account of the early Church and how it spread throughout the Roman Empire. The topic we will cover will be from the book of Acts, chapter 12.
Acts 12 is an illustration of God's amazing grace and His sovereign act of deliverance, saving mankind from their ultimate demise. I address man's responsibility in all of this, along with our call to a life of discipleship. Luke also draws heavily from the Exodus narrative, linking Peter's deliverance to Israel's deliverance from Egypt by Yahweh.
Full article here: PETER'S IMPRISONMENT, HIS DELIVERANCE, and the call to DISCIPLESHIP.

This episode covers a story recorded in Matthew 15 and Mark 7.
Yeshua's encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, and His seemingly derogatory statement towards her. But was it? Yeshua seems to call the woman a dog. From our modern perceptive it is hard to reconcile this hard saying from Yeshua, but when we examine it through the lenses of the biblical authors, the truth emerges. It is a good example as to how important it is to view all of Scriptures first through its historical context, in-order to more accurately interpret the author's original intent.    

Shalom Shalom. May the perfect peace of Yeshua be upon you all. The Apostle Thomas amazes me; despite him being criticized and even being called "Doubting Thomas," I want to speak in his defence and explain why I believe he deserves greater recognition.
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."   (John 11:16, NASB)
Here, Thomas responded to the disciple's concern regarding Yeshua's desire to return to Judiah, to raise Lazarus from the dead. It was at this point in Yeshua's ministry that it had become very dangerous for Him and His disciples to go anywhere near Jerusalem. Thomas's response tells us 3 things about him. First, "Let us also go" expresses his loyalty to Yeshua, and the latter part expresses his willingness to lay down his life for his Lord, while at the same time expressing his pessimistic view of going to Judiah. Now this pessimistic view is realistic, again because of the clear danger of stepping foot into that regent.
At another time Thomas questioned Yeshua:
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"   6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:5-6, NASB)
Yeshua's response is one of the most, if not the most, radical and profound statements in the Bible, and all because Thomas wasn't afraid to ask the question. I truly appreciate Thomas's straightforward character, not afraid to ask and engage his Messiah. Him asking questions is a good argument about his willingness to believe in the words of his Teacher.
The next time the Gospels recorded an interaction between Thomas and Yeshua was after Yeshua had been resurrected. 
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.   25 So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."   26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."   27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."   28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"   29 Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." Why This Gospel Was Written   (John 20:24-29, NASB)
People tend to be very critical towards Thomas, but I would argue that Thomas was expressing how all the other disciples were feeling before their encounter with the resurrected Christ (they all went to their own home). I believe Thomas was the most honest out of all of them, not ashamed to admit his disbelieve. I also believe Thomas was the first to wholeheartedly believe Christ to be God because of his public confession, "My Lord and my God." For that reason, I would argue Thomas's faith was far greater than the rest of the disciples. He was bold enough to question and courageous enough to confess Christ as his Lord and God. 
It was because of Thomas's engagement and questioning that we have greater insight into Yeshua. The more I consider the character of Thomas, the more I recognize his humility and willingness to learn, knowing his own insufficiency, yet willing to trust His Master with all his heart, even at the risk of losing his own life. 
Being more like Thomas means we are willing to seek the truth, instead of letting our doubts silence us. Unlike the other disciplines, Thomas found the courage to ask, and because he asked, he (and us) received the truth.
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.   8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.   (Matthew 7:7-8, NASB)

What is faith? Is faith a gift? Do I have enough faith for salvation? Am I doing enough? These are questions many believers ask and they are important questions to ask and meditate on. We will examine a few biblical texts where faith is the subject and what it looks like in the person that has true saving faith in God.
Faith, believe, and faithfulness carry the same idea both in biblical Hebrew (what most of the Old Testament was originally written in) and Judean Koine Greek (what the New Testament was originally written in). In biblical Hebrew these words share the same root: אמן amen. Most people are very familiar with this word; we use it at the end of every prayer. Likewise, these three words share the same root word in Judean Koine Greek: peitho pi'-tho "to trust". Both words; Amen, and Pistis (derives from the verb peitho mentioned above) can be described in these words: truth, trust, trustworthy, to be reliable, loyalty.
LINK TO ARTICLE:
THE LORD PROVIDE (SEE): THE GIFT OF FAITH
 
MUSIC ATTRIBUTION:
https://freetouse.com/music/epic-spectrum/mission

What is holding you back from drawing closer to Yeshua?
THE WILDERNESS 
The Hebrew word for wilderness is מִדְבָּר midbar, mid-bawr'. What's interesting is that this word comes from the root word, דָבָר dabar; meaning: word, thing. What we call "The Ten Commandments" are not called as such, but in the Hebrew Scriptures; they are called "The Ten Words (Dabarim, words). 
The wilderness is where we hear from God. 
First...
In the wilderness, we are tested (what's in our hearts). In the wilderness, Egypt is left behind (our appetite for things).In the wilderness, we become exposed and vulnerable (self-sufficiency stripped away). In the wilderness, what truly matters becomes our priority (God-dependent vs. self-dependent). 
And then...
In the wilderness, God speaks.In the wilderness, God reveals.In the wilderness, God provides. In the wilderness, God satisfies.In the wilderness, God is enough.
In the wilderness, Hagar was saved; in the wilderness, Moses was visited; in the wilderness, Israel heard; in the wilderness, Yeshua overcame and was strengthened by the heavenly angels. 
So next time you are in the wilderness, praise God, praise God, praise God, and say, "Lord, here I am; do with me as you will." May the Lord keep you, strengthen you, and provide you with enough.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   (Matthew 6:33-34, NASB)
Where can we find enough, and be satisfied?
Yeshua said:"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."   (Matthew 11:28-30, NASB)
LINK TO ALL MY ARTICLES

Because Yeshua was able to perfectly fulfill the will of the Father (by laying down His life through willful obedience), we can, with confidence, walk (with Yeshua, covered by His blood) towards and ultimately into the Holy of Holies (into the glorious presence of God). Our following and walk with Christ is a picture of one journeying into and through the Tabernacle, towards and ultimately into the Holy of Holies (explained in greater detail as we go along).
Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11) and: Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16) So, how can we draw near to the Holy of Holies with confidence?
LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE 
THE TABERNACLE: THROUGH THE LENSES OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN AND YESHUA

What do the Tabernacle, the Garden of Eden, and Yeshua have in common? In this article, we will explore this question. Every detail that went into the construction of the Tabernacle by Moses and the Israelite community had theological significance, pointing back to the Creation story while at the same time pointing forward to Yeshua HaMashiach (The Anointed One). What I will also point out is how all this parallels the journey that every faithful believer experiences as their journey draws them closer to God (James 4:8).
Some of you might have questions, like: "'How is all this relevant for us today?' or 'What significance does the Tabernacle have outside of the ancient Israelite community of the Old Testament?'" I do hope to explore and answer these questions in some way by comparing key texts, imagery, symbols, etc., which the biblical authors used to unify the whole biblical narrative, creating this one unified story. A historical narrative that reveals the nature and character of God and His plan to restore His entire creation.
 
Here's a link to the full article.
THE TABERNACLE: Through the Garden of Eden and Yeshua

Where does one need to go to find Jesus? How does one receive Jesus? And how does one respond to Jesus? These are really good questions which I hope to answer in this episode, by taking a closer look at the character of both Zacchaeus and Jesus, and their encounter.
Below is an article I published a while back that is related to this topic.
https://donnywaldner.wordpress.com/2024/01/25/the-rich-ruler-bartimaeus-a-blind-beggar-and-zacchaeus/

The David and Goliath story is one of the first stories a child learns, and why not? It's a captivating story for most children. In this article, my intentions are not to merely share the already familiar details of this amazing narrative but to examine and unpack certain details that are easily missed. As the title suggests, I want to reveal the hidden gospel message found in this ancient story, which took place about 1,000 years before Christ. I believe that these historical accounts have rich theological significance, are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), and ultimately point to Yeshua the Messiah.
My emphasis will be to examine the stark contrast between Saul (and the Israelites) and David, and then Goliath, and how that all fits into how Yeshua is portrayed in the Gospels. In them, Yeshua is portrayed as the greater David (shepherd king), the greater Moses (prophet), the greater Joshua (Savior), and the greater Melchizedek (high priest).
Yeshua, too, used Scripture to prove that it all pointed to Him: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them (the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus) in all the Scriptures (Old Testament) the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27).
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.   (John 5:46, NASB)
THE FOLLOWING LINK TAKES YOU TO THE WRITTEN ARTICLE
THE GOSPEL HIDDEN IN THE DAVID AND GOLIATH STORY

This is a short introduction to the podcast. 
The following link takes you to my blog post. Articles I publish which are related to this podcast
THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT