Can Satan put thoughts into our minds? Yes. He can and he does. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone where the man, whom the Bible calls "a man after God's own heart," experienced a deadly downfall. King David was seduced by Satan into taking a forbidden census. As a result, David and the people of Israel experienced the consequences of David's foolish actions. Yet, as the story unfolds, we see the love and mercy of the Lord God. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a...

Satan comes into the presence of the Lord God? Really? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone where the greatest man living at that time found himself in Satan's crosshairs. Satan wanted to inflict misery on Job to make Job curse God. There are two big takeaways in this episode, one about Satan and one about the Lord God. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

Who are the "sons of God" and the "Nephilim" in Genesis chapter 6? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores this challenging question. The world was full of evil during the days of Noah, 120 years prior to when the Lord God destroyed the world through a worldwide flood. And who was behind this evil? The devil and other rebel angels. Fortunately, the devil has been defeated by Jesus, and we are equipped to take our stand against him. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of...

How much do like snakes? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores the snakes in the Bible as a prelude for the war zone in the Garden of Eden that involved a snake, the devil, and our first parents, Adam and Eve. The devil used the snake to deceive Eve into doubting God's Truth and God's Love. The result of being snake bit by the devil was deadly for Adam and Eve and for us too. But, although the devil won the battle that day, he would never win the war. Jesus crushed him with his death and...

At various times and places in the Bible, the devil shows up to wage war against God's people. God's people can find themselves in a War Zone doing battle with the devil. Thankfully, we wear the full armor of God. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores the origin of the devil which was good, but what followed was bad. The devil is an example of a good supernatural entity gone bad. Although there are many questions the Bible doesn't answer for us, there are clues as to what happened with...

What was the most tragic crime ever committed and by whom? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the murder of our first parents, Adam and Eve by the Devil himself. The Devil lied to the first couple about what God had said. They believed the lie and disobeyed God. Their disobedience destroyed the perfect life and relationship God had intended for them when he created them in his own image. But that's not the end of the story. God decided to restore that life and relationship through...

Who was responsible for Jesus' murder? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the murder of Jesus by identifying all the perpetrators—Judas Iscariot, the Jewish religious leaders, Governor Pontius Pilate, the Roman soldiers, and two others. Jesus' murder was predicted by the prophet Isaiah seven hundred years before Jesus lived. Isaiah described both Jesus' death and those responsible for it.  If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider...

Jesus and Barabbas—the innocent for the guilty. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the circumstances involving Jesus and Barabbas. Barabbas was a bandit, a murderer, and an insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the Roman government in Judea. He was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Yet he was set free. In contrast, the innocent Jesus was sentenced to death and not set free—the innocent for the guilty. But that wasn't anything new in God's economy of justice. If you enjoy this...

There are three Bible threads that link Judas Iscariot back to the Old Testament: two in the book of Psalms and one from the prophet Zechariah.  In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the multiple crimes committed by Judas, a man from Kerioth. Judas Iscariot spent three years with Jesus, hearing his teaching, seeing his miracles, and learning about God's grace and mercy and forgiveness. Despite all this, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. All the crimes would have been...

Despite Samson's unfaithfulness in his life, the Lord God shows his faithfulness and grace to Samson. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes of both Samson, who was the most undisciplined and reckless of all the judges, and Delilah, who is the Bible's most famous "femme fatale." If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all our resources to help you on your walk of faith! Videos,...

The big takeaway for this episode is: "God’s wrath against us is satisfied because of God’s love for us." In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crime committed by Achan at the battle for Jericho and the resulting justice of the Lord God. Dr. Becker recommends a book authored by J.I. Packer, Knowing God. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all our resources to help you on your walk...

Espionage, prostitution, lies, and deception are at the heart of this story. Yet it has a happy ending. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes committed by Rahab and some spies from Israel. The actions of the prostitute Rahab turned out to be amazing! Dr. Becker mentions Josephus’ account of Rahab. That can be found at https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-5.html. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your...

In today’s episode, the story of Joseph is interrupted with a complicated and sordid tale of broken promises, deception, prostitution, and immorality. Dr. Bruce Becker investigates the crimes committed by Jacob's son Judah and Judah's daughter-in-law, Tamar. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all our resources to help you on your walk of faith! Videos, devotions, books, podcasts, and our blog...

Jealousy in the heart can lead to outward deadly actions - lying, human trafficking, and potentially murder.  In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker examines the crime committed by Jacob's ten oldest sons against their little brother, Joseph. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! Check out all our resources to help you on your walk of faith! Videos, devotions, books, podcasts, and our blog are available at...

Back by popular demand! Another series on true crimes in the Bible.  In this first episode, Dr. Bruce Becker investigates a complicated crime involving multiple people. It's not one of the more familiar crimes in the Bible, but it is one that shows the total depravity of the heart, both among pagans and believers in the Lord God. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your day, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! https://bit.ly/464qExB Check out all...

There are different kinds of apathy, and they show up in different ways. Apathy in others can be annoying and frustrating, but there is one kind of apathy that is deadly for each of us. It is spiritual apathy. Dr. Bruce Becker explores the Bible's examples of the deadly sin of spiritual apathy and its preventative cure—zeal for our God and other people. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we end up betraying God,...

Do you ever worry, experience anxiety, or fear what you can't control? The Bible is filled with examples and encouragements not to worry but, rather, to trust in our amazing, powerful, and loving God.  Dr. Bruce Becker unravels the thread of worry in today's episode. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in these traitorous attitudes are the seven deadly sins—but...

What do lying, bearing false testimony, smooth talk, flattery, and the insidious half-truth have in common? They are all forms of deception. And, who is the master of deception and the ultimate deceiver? Satan of course.  Dr. Bruce Becker addresses both questions in today's episode.  "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in these traitorous attitudes are the seven...

We explore laziness by also looking at . . . work and rest.  Dr. Bruce Becker reveals the cycle God designed at creation that balances work and rest. Dr. Becker also tells us the next three traitorous attitudes he'll be covering! "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in these traitorous attitudes are the seven deadly sins—but there are far more in number. Dr....

There isn't a single passage in the Bible that explicitly calls gluttony a sin. So why is it considered one of the deadly sins? Dr. Bruce Becker looks at this traitorous attitude through the seven passages in the Bible that address gluttony. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in these traitorous attitudes are the seven deadly sins—but there are far more in...

Lust. The Bible speaks of it in two ways: as an overwhelming desire, and as unrestrained sexual craving. Additionally, there's a Bible thread that weaves together two major characteristics of lust: sexual immorality, and idolatry. Dr. Bruce Becker explores the traitorous attitude of lust, showing us how destructive it is. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God, others, and ourselves. Included in...

Anger in and of itself isn't wrong. The Bible tells us that. What we need to be careful of is letting our rage lead us to act irrationally and immorally, which can have disastrous results. Dr. Bruce Becker drills down into rage, showing us how it leads to resentment and revenge, destroying relationships with others and with God. But there are also two types of anger that aren't bad: righteous anger and the wrath of God. "Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins" looks at the attitudes that...

"Envy," "jealousy," and "coveting." We use these words interchangeably, but they are not synonymous. For instance, jealousy can be positive or negative; the Bible speaks of godly jealousy. But envy is never in a good light in the Bible. And what about coveting? Well, the starting point for coveting is envy. Dr. Bruce Becker explores this traitorous attitude of envy by looking at six examples in the Bible. We'll see how envy destroys relationships—with people, family, and God. Dr. Becker...

Greed has a straightforward definition: not being content with what one has. Are we greedy? Do we find ourselves afflicted with this traitorous attitude? And what does the Bible say about greed? Dr. Bruce Becker dives into what the Bible says about greed, looking at its traitorous threats as well as some people whose lives were ruined because of greed. Traitors—More Than Just the 7 Deadly Sins looks at the attitudes that can turn us into actual traitors—when we can end up betraying God,...