Mount Vigil Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/mount-vigil Mount Vigil is about discipleship for the end of an age. We work to recover the whole story of Jesus and to read the times we're in through to the story of Jesus. We explore everyday practices that help us experience more of Jesus. That way, we can take on more of his nature and find our role in his story. There is a way to thrive in a significant time. Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs: - Anthony - suntongue.com - Blaine - blaineeldredge.substack.com © 2025 Mount Vigil. All rights reserved. 6d36b971-df0c-5b8b-8253-e38ef06a784a no en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 08:37:10 -0600 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:22:30 -0700 https://mountvigil.org/ https://img.transistor.fm/mgxYJbQHO29qK_BMvkTPtZpWlGSr10KFtEMURffAqbY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzI2MTc5LzE2Mzk1/MDg0NTEtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg Mount Vigil https://mountvigil.org/ episodic Mount Vigil Mount Vigil is about discipleship for the end of an age. We work to recover the whole story of Jesus and to read the times we're in through to the story of Jesus. We explore everyday practices that help us experience more of Jesus. That way, we can take on more of his nature and find our role in his story. There is a way to thrive in a significant time. Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs: - Anthony - suntongue.com - Blaine - blaineeldredge.substack.com Mount Vigil is about discipleship for the end of an age. christianity, church, bible Mount Vigil No No 37 | Resisting Excarnation: Three Prompts to Thrive Next Year 37 37 37 | Resisting Excarnation: Three Prompts to Thrive Next Year full c9c9835b-f7a5-4230-9eb1-f6603ba20ff8 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/37-resisting-excarnation-three-prompts-to-thrive-next-year In this end of year episode, Anthony and Blaine unpack three invitations to a deeper life in God in 2025: communion with the Holy Spirit, unceasing prayer, and simplicity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> In this end of year episode, Anthony and Blaine unpack three invitations to a deeper life in God in 2025: communion with the Holy Spirit, unceasing prayer, and simplicity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:19:09 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3081 In this end of year episode, Anthony and Blaine unpack three invitations to a deeper life in God in 2025: communion with the Holy Spirit, unceasing prayer, and simplicity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 36 | The Acts of (the Spirit through) the Apostles (among others) 36 36 36 | The Acts of (the Spirit through) the Apostles (among others) full 11750715-7428-433a-bdc7-eaf6a2be55e6 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/36-the-acts-of-the-spirit-through-the-apostles-among-others The Acts of the Apostles is not a complete history of the Church in the first century. But it is a genre-blending masterpiece. It is a historical treasure trove, a catechetical resource, a theological revelation, and a user guide to life in the Church. In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss St. Luke's origins, temple theology, Jewish diasporas, and generosity. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> The Acts of the Apostles is not a complete history of the Church in the first century. But it is a genre-blending masterpiece. It is a historical treasure trove, a catechetical resource, a theological revelation, and a user guide to life in the Church. In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss St. Luke's origins, temple theology, Jewish diasporas, and generosity. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Wed, 11 Dec 2024 06:19:33 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 5461 The Acts of the Apostles is not a complete history of the Church in the first century. But it is a genre-blending masterpiece. It is a historical treasure trove, a catechetical resource, a theological revelation, and a user guide to life in the Church. In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss St. Luke's origins, temple theology, Jewish diasporas, and generosity. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 35 | A Christian Political Commitment 35 35 35 | A Christian Political Commitment full f1329195-680e-408d-a1ed-6025da4795a4 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/35-a-christian-political-commitment To follow Jesus is to engage a political project: It is to submit to Jesus as he establishes his upside-down Kingdom by his Spirit through the Church.

Anthony and Blaine lay out a few core convictions for a style of political engagement that is anchored in the teachings of Jesus. Allegiance. Enemy love. Prayer. There is no more challenging, satisfying, and liberating way to minister to the life of the community than by embracing the foundational commandments of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:

A PDF of "A Christian Political Commitment"

Joshua Ryan Butler The Party Crasher
Daily Prayer for those far from Jesus
Matthew Bates Salvation by Allegiance Alone
Tyler Staton on Cultivating love of neighbor
Luke Bretherton
Jon Tyson on Christians in politics
Nigel Biggar Behaving in Public

]]> To follow Jesus is to engage a political project: It is to submit to Jesus as he establishes his upside-down Kingdom by his Spirit through the Church.

Anthony and Blaine lay out a few core convictions for a style of political engagement that is anchored in the teachings of Jesus. Allegiance. Enemy love. Prayer. There is no more challenging, satisfying, and liberating way to minister to the life of the community than by embracing the foundational commandments of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:

A PDF of "A Christian Political Commitment"

Joshua Ryan Butler The Party Crasher
Daily Prayer for those far from Jesus
Matthew Bates Salvation by Allegiance Alone
Tyler Staton on Cultivating love of neighbor
Luke Bretherton
Jon Tyson on Christians in politics
Nigel Biggar Behaving in Public

]]> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3212 To follow Jesus is to engage a political project: It is to submit to Jesus as he establishes his upside-down Kingdom by his Spirit through the Church.

Anthony and Blaine lay out a few core convictions for a style of political engagement that is anchored in the teachings of Jesus. Allegiance. Enemy love. Prayer. There is no more challenging, satisfying, and liberating way to minister to the life of the community than by embracing the foundational commandments of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:

A PDF of "A Christian Political Commitment"

Joshua Ryan Butler The Party Crasher
Daily Prayer for those far from Jesus
Matthew Bates Salvation by Allegiance Alone
Tyler Staton on Cultivating love of neighbor
Luke Bretherton
Jon Tyson on Christians in politics
Nigel Biggar Behaving in Public

]]> christianity, church, bible No 34 | Resurrection People: The Church and Israel Part 2 34 34 34 | Resurrection People: The Church and Israel Part 2 full 49f64035-f041-4888-8b22-1dd90aff78b7 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/34-resurrection-people-the-church-and-israel-part-2 What happened to the northern tribes after the Assyrian deportation? Were they ever gathered back from the nations? How does that relate to the diversity of church expressions today? Is that evidence of schism and disunity, or something else? In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss Israel's narrative arc in the scriptures as well as an often-overlooked theme: over and over again, God uses the rending consequences of sin as a way to extend His grace to the ends of the earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:
Jason A Staples: The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism
Jason A Staples: Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

]]> What happened to the northern tribes after the Assyrian deportation? Were they ever gathered back from the nations? How does that relate to the diversity of church expressions today? Is that evidence of schism and disunity, or something else? In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss Israel's narrative arc in the scriptures as well as an often-overlooked theme: over and over again, God uses the rending consequences of sin as a way to extend His grace to the ends of the earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:
Jason A Staples: The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism
Jason A Staples: Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

]]> Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:42:05 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4812 What happened to the northern tribes after the Assyrian deportation? Were they ever gathered back from the nations? How does that relate to the diversity of church expressions today? Is that evidence of schism and disunity, or something else? In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss Israel's narrative arc in the scriptures as well as an often-overlooked theme: over and over again, God uses the rending consequences of sin as a way to extend His grace to the ends of the earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:


Mentioned in this episode:
Jason A Staples: The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism
Jason A Staples: Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

]]> christianity, church, bible No 33 | A Timely Encouragement from Mount Vigil 33 33 33 | A Timely Encouragement from Mount Vigil full db9d9313-dac1-4f7d-950b-439ad0afd3c4 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/an-encouragement-from-mount-vigil Anthony and Blaine (and friends) interrupt their discussion of Church history with a brief, timely encouragement.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Anthony and Blaine (and friends) interrupt their discussion of Church history with a brief, timely encouragement.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:48:13 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 1209 Anthony and Blaine (and friends) interrupt their discussion of Church history with a brief, timely encouragement.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 32 | God Cuts a Deal: The Church and Israel Part 1 32 32 32 | God Cuts a Deal: The Church and Israel Part 1 full ac780992-b0e4-4d05-aa37-f7cfd9752445 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/32-israel-ii Anthony and Blaine continue their conversation on the Church by examining the canonical relationship between God and His covenant partners.

As Joseph Ratzinger put it, "The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is drenched with blood and tears."

That's true but it need not be that way. The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is fundamentally a history of God's faithfulness, self-revelation, and ultimate redemption.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> Anthony and Blaine continue their conversation on the Church by examining the canonical relationship between God and His covenant partners.

As Joseph Ratzinger put it, "The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is drenched with blood and tears."

That's true but it need not be that way. The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is fundamentally a history of God's faithfulness, self-revelation, and ultimate redemption.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:41:39 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3438 Anthony and Blaine continue their conversation on the Church by examining the canonical relationship between God and His covenant partners.

As Joseph Ratzinger put it, "The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is drenched with blood and tears."

That's true but it need not be that way. The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is fundamentally a history of God's faithfulness, self-revelation, and ultimate redemption.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 31 | By Love For Love 31 31 31 | By Love For Love full 840bf751-474a-4bbb-b8a2-d4a281c3a212 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/31-by-love-for-love The Trinity is the fountainhead of reality and the mystery at the center of all things. And so it should go without saying (but it often doesn't) that the Church only makes sense when it's explored in terms of the triune God. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony start with the Trinity and survey salvation history to put the life of the Church in context. From the love of the Father to Covenant Theology, Dionysius the Areopagite's vision of creation to Russian Monastaries founded on perichoresis, this conversation lays the groundwork for a fruitful investigation of the Church.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> The Trinity is the fountainhead of reality and the mystery at the center of all things. And so it should go without saying (but it often doesn't) that the Church only makes sense when it's explored in terms of the triune God. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony start with the Trinity and survey salvation history to put the life of the Church in context. From the love of the Father to Covenant Theology, Dionysius the Areopagite's vision of creation to Russian Monastaries founded on perichoresis, this conversation lays the groundwork for a fruitful investigation of the Church.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> Tue, 16 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3363 The Trinity is the fountainhead of reality and the mystery at the center of all things. And so it should go without saying (but it often doesn't) that the Church only makes sense when it's explored in terms of the triune God. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony start with the Trinity and survey salvation history to put the life of the Church in context. From the love of the Father to Covenant Theology, Dionysius the Areopagite's vision of creation to Russian Monastaries founded on perichoresis, this conversation lays the groundwork for a fruitful investigation of the Church.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 30 | How to Love the Church (aka What's Next for the MV Podcast) 30 30 30 | How to Love the Church (aka What's Next for the MV Podcast) full 506e6767-9868-49cf-b0d4-76252b047ae5 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/30-how-to-love-the-church-aka-whats-next-for-the-mv-podcast We're back.

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine map out the territory ahead and offer their thoughts on constructive engagement with Church history. In brief: be ecumenical, read like it's your job (wasn't it Aquinas who said "Beware the man of one book?") don't treat anyone (ancient or modern) as stupid, and plan to live differently.

Division in the Church is a matter of sin; unity and love in the Church reflects God's own desire. So buckle up: this series is going to be a ride.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> We're back.

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine map out the territory ahead and offer their thoughts on constructive engagement with Church history. In brief: be ecumenical, read like it's your job (wasn't it Aquinas who said "Beware the man of one book?") don't treat anyone (ancient or modern) as stupid, and plan to live differently.

Division in the Church is a matter of sin; unity and love in the Church reflects God's own desire. So buckle up: this series is going to be a ride.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Tue, 02 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3290 We're back.

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine map out the territory ahead and offer their thoughts on constructive engagement with Church history. In brief: be ecumenical, read like it's your job (wasn't it Aquinas who said "Beware the man of one book?") don't treat anyone (ancient or modern) as stupid, and plan to live differently.

Division in the Church is a matter of sin; unity and love in the Church reflects God's own desire. So buckle up: this series is going to be a ride.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 29 | An Announcement from Mount Vigil 29 29 29 | An Announcement from Mount Vigil full 77edf87f-f6d2-4b93-a1a0-bf0812a51ee3 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/29-an-announcement-from-mount-vigil Mount Vigil is going on hiatus; we've wrapped up our two year long Story of God series and we'll be taking the next few months to pray into the future. We're living through the end of an age, as we've said before. That means we're facing unique pressures, and so we need to seek the face of the Lord as ask for His wisdom. We're not quite sure what will come out of this discernment process, but we'll be back next year. In the meantime, the Lord bless you and keep you. Warm regards from MV. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mount Vigil is going on hiatus; we've wrapped up our two year long Story of God series and we'll be taking the next few months to pray into the future. We're living through the end of an age, as we've said before. That means we're facing unique pressures, and so we need to seek the face of the Lord as ask for His wisdom. We're not quite sure what will come out of this discernment process, but we'll be back next year. In the meantime, the Lord bless you and keep you. Warm regards from MV. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Tue, 12 Dec 2023 13:02:25 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 926 Mount Vigil is going on hiatus; we've wrapped up our two year long Story of God series and we'll be taking the next few months to pray into the future. We're living through the end of an age, as we've said before. That means we're facing unique pressures, and so we need to seek the face of the Lord as ask for His wisdom. We're not quite sure what will come out of this discernment process, but we'll be back next year. In the meantime, the Lord bless you and keep you. Warm regards from MV. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 28 | Palestine, Israel, and Divisions in the Body of Christ 28 28 28 | Palestine, Israel, and Divisions in the Body of Christ full 0b4b907d-15fe-40f2-b71d-f856bb6f1944 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/28-palestine-israel-and-divisions-in-the-body-of-christ In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share a few thoughts on responding to current events in terms of allegiance to Jesus. The crisis involving Israel and Palestine is a divisive issue, if you hadn't noticed. The good news for us is that the Gospel of Jesus applies to situations exactly like this one and the Church is empowered by the Spirit to respond in an utterly unique way. We hope some of the thoughts here help you to love God, love your neighbor, and see and operate by the Spirit while Jesus makes it on earth as it is in heaven. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share a few thoughts on responding to current events in terms of allegiance to Jesus. The crisis involving Israel and Palestine is a divisive issue, if you hadn't noticed. The good news for us is that the Gospel of Jesus applies to situations exactly like this one and the Church is empowered by the Spirit to respond in an utterly unique way. We hope some of the thoughts here help you to love God, love your neighbor, and see and operate by the Spirit while Jesus makes it on earth as it is in heaven. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:41:30 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3706 In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share a few thoughts on responding to current events in terms of allegiance to Jesus. The crisis involving Israel and Palestine is a divisive issue, if you hadn't noticed. The good news for us is that the Gospel of Jesus applies to situations exactly like this one and the Church is empowered by the Spirit to respond in an utterly unique way. We hope some of the thoughts here help you to love God, love your neighbor, and see and operate by the Spirit while Jesus makes it on earth as it is in heaven. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 27 | The Paradise King 27 27 27 | The Paradise King full 465dda22-3ae7-4660-8f81-7ef33831327a https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/the-paradise-king-part-1 Blaine's written a book, folks! It's an epic introduction to Jesus in terms of the story of God. If you've been following MV, this book is for you. From night raids and necromancers to witch kings and dragons, Blaine and Anthony talk through the presentation of Jesus in our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Blaine's written a book, folks! It's an epic introduction to Jesus in terms of the story of God. If you've been following MV, this book is for you. From night raids and necromancers to witch kings and dragons, Blaine and Anthony talk through the presentation of Jesus in our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:58:34 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3744 Blaine's written a book, folks! It's an epic introduction to Jesus in terms of the story of God. If you've been following MV, this book is for you. From night raids and necromancers to witch kings and dragons, Blaine and Anthony talk through the presentation of Jesus in our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 26 | Apocalypse 26 26 26 | Apocalypse full 65604fa8-1009-4149-82c9-582d679920f6 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/26-apocalypse We've spent hours contemplating Revelation. Now it's time to hear the text itself. 

This will be our acid test: Can our long-term engagement with theology, Church history, and culture transform our experience of the scriptures? Can we see Jesus in the Apocalypse? We hope so. But you'll have to listen and see for yourself. Enjoy this dramatic reading of Revelation: we hope you will directly experience Jesus, slain and risen king of the universe, as you hear the voice of God in scripture. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> We've spent hours contemplating Revelation. Now it's time to hear the text itself. 

This will be our acid test: Can our long-term engagement with theology, Church history, and culture transform our experience of the scriptures? Can we see Jesus in the Apocalypse? We hope so. But you'll have to listen and see for yourself. Enjoy this dramatic reading of Revelation: we hope you will directly experience Jesus, slain and risen king of the universe, as you hear the voice of God in scripture. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:10:43 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4692 We've spent hours contemplating Revelation. Now it's time to hear the text itself. 

This will be our acid test: Can our long-term engagement with theology, Church history, and culture transform our experience of the scriptures? Can we see Jesus in the Apocalypse? We hope so. But you'll have to listen and see for yourself. Enjoy this dramatic reading of Revelation: we hope you will directly experience Jesus, slain and risen king of the universe, as you hear the voice of God in scripture. 

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 25 | His Government and His Peace - Revelation Part 5 25 25 25 | His Government and His Peace - Revelation Part 5 full 602a00d4-9b98-4eee-95c6-6cb7ab78eb6d https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/25-his-government-and-his-peace-revelation-part-5 This is it: the finale of the 5-part series on Revelation, as well as the finale of the 19-part series on the Story of God in the Bible. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony draw together the main threads of the podcast so far: God’s design for the cosmos as revealed in Scripture, the nature of evil, and the restoration of all things through Jesus of Nazareth. “For I consider,” said Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Friends, there are good things to come. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


Good books on the whole story of God in the Bible:


Good books on Revelation:


Good books on following Jesus in Babylon:

]]> This is it: the finale of the 5-part series on Revelation, as well as the finale of the 19-part series on the Story of God in the Bible. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony draw together the main threads of the podcast so far: God’s design for the cosmos as revealed in Scripture, the nature of evil, and the restoration of all things through Jesus of Nazareth. “For I consider,” said Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Friends, there are good things to come. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


Good books on the whole story of God in the Bible:


Good books on Revelation:


Good books on following Jesus in Babylon:

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:49:38 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4372 This is it: the finale of the 5-part series on Revelation, as well as the finale of the 19-part series on the Story of God in the Bible. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony draw together the main threads of the podcast so far: God’s design for the cosmos as revealed in Scripture, the nature of evil, and the restoration of all things through Jesus of Nazareth. “For I consider,” said Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). 

Friends, there are good things to come. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


Good books on the whole story of God in the Bible:


Good books on Revelation:


Good books on following Jesus in Babylon:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 24 | Beasts and Harlots and Virgins Oh My - Revelation Part 4 24 24 24 | Beasts and Harlots and Virgins Oh My - Revelation Part 4 full 0ab53688-be69-405a-9bd3-b5e1dee0760c https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/74941c81-ad07-40c7-bbbc-c896f44290f0 In this series, Blaine and Anthony have argued that Revelation is the theological capstone of the Bible. Nevertheless, because its method of doing theology draws upon the Jewish (rather than the Greco-Roman) tradition, many of its claims go right over the head of modern readers. In this show, Blaine and Anthony drill down on some of the most notorious elements in Revelation: the 144,000, the  Whore, the Beast, the Mark, and more. The actions of Revelation are not a disturbing fever dream. They are instead a profound picture of the world as it really is, and when we learn read our lives in terms of Revelation, we know how to follow Jesus as he establishes heaven on earth.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> In this series, Blaine and Anthony have argued that Revelation is the theological capstone of the Bible. Nevertheless, because its method of doing theology draws upon the Jewish (rather than the Greco-Roman) tradition, many of its claims go right over the head of modern readers. In this show, Blaine and Anthony drill down on some of the most notorious elements in Revelation: the 144,000, the  Whore, the Beast, the Mark, and more. The actions of Revelation are not a disturbing fever dream. They are instead a profound picture of the world as it really is, and when we learn read our lives in terms of Revelation, we know how to follow Jesus as he establishes heaven on earth.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:58:19 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 6101 In this series, Blaine and Anthony have argued that Revelation is the theological capstone of the Bible. Nevertheless, because its method of doing theology draws upon the Jewish (rather than the Greco-Roman) tradition, many of its claims go right over the head of modern readers. In this show, Blaine and Anthony drill down on some of the most notorious elements in Revelation: the 144,000, the  Whore, the Beast, the Mark, and more. The actions of Revelation are not a disturbing fever dream. They are instead a profound picture of the world as it really is, and when we learn read our lives in terms of Revelation, we know how to follow Jesus as he establishes heaven on earth.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:


The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 23 | Seven Messages - Revelation Part 3 23 23 23 | Seven Messages - Revelation Part 3 full a1bc845d-c6f8-4e6b-8ee1-c401b9f8395b https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/23-seven-messages-revelation-part-3 “While each church receives a message reflecting its own situation, there is one overarching issue: whether or not to compromise. Specifically, will these churches be faithful witnesses both to Jesus and like Jesus (and John!) by refraining from participation in the cultural norm of pagan religion, including the imperial cult, even if it entails serious consequences: social, economic, and political?” Gorman

In this third part of the series on Revelation, Blaine and Anthony continue their discussion on the major movements of the Apocalypse. In particular, they discuss the messages to the seven churches from 1:9-3:22 and the vision of heaven in 4 and 5. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

The Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8

  1. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  2. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  3. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  4. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  5. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  6. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> “While each church receives a message reflecting its own situation, there is one overarching issue: whether or not to compromise. Specifically, will these churches be faithful witnesses both to Jesus and like Jesus (and John!) by refraining from participation in the cultural norm of pagan religion, including the imperial cult, even if it entails serious consequences: social, economic, and political?” Gorman

In this third part of the series on Revelation, Blaine and Anthony continue their discussion on the major movements of the Apocalypse. In particular, they discuss the messages to the seven churches from 1:9-3:22 and the vision of heaven in 4 and 5. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

The Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8

  1. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  2. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  3. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  4. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  5. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  6. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4565 “While each church receives a message reflecting its own situation, there is one overarching issue: whether or not to compromise. Specifically, will these churches be faithful witnesses both to Jesus and like Jesus (and John!) by refraining from participation in the cultural norm of pagan religion, including the imperial cult, even if it entails serious consequences: social, economic, and political?” Gorman

In this third part of the series on Revelation, Blaine and Anthony continue their discussion on the major movements of the Apocalypse. In particular, they discuss the messages to the seven churches from 1:9-3:22 and the vision of heaven in 4 and 5. 


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this episode:

The Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8

  1. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  2. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  3. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  4. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  5. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  6. Epilogue – 22:6-21

Sources

For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 22 | The Capstone of the Bible - Revelation Part 2 22 22 22 | The Capstone of the Bible - Revelation Part 2 full 2506489a-7171-4268-813c-b65319269b50 https://mountvigil.org/the-capstone-of-the-bible-revelation-part-2 In this episode, Anthony and Blaine continue their Story of God series by returning to the book of Revelation. Questions discussed in this conversation: How does John use the Old Testament? What is the structure of John’s Apocalypse? Who is/are the seven spirits in 1:4? What is going in in John’s prologue? We hope you enjoy.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21
]]> In this episode, Anthony and Blaine continue their Story of God series by returning to the book of Revelation. Questions discussed in this conversation: How does John use the Old Testament? What is the structure of John’s Apocalypse? Who is/are the seven spirits in 1:4? What is going in in John’s prologue? We hope you enjoy.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21
]]> Mon, 03 Jul 2023 18:33:33 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3807 In this episode, Anthony and Blaine continue their Story of God series by returning to the book of Revelation. Questions discussed in this conversation: How does John use the Old Testament? What is the structure of John’s Apocalypse? Who is/are the seven spirits in 1:4? What is going in in John’s prologue? We hope you enjoy.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

The Seven-Part Structure of Revelation

  1. Prologue – 1:1-8
  2. Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22
  3. Vision of Heaven – 4-5
  4. 3 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16
  5. Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8
  6. New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9
  7. Epilogue – 22:6-21
]]> christianity, church, bible No 21 | Follow the Lamb - Revelation Part 1 21 21 21 | Follow the Lamb - Revelation Part 1 full 07889166-a9c6-4615-a24a-9933cace3524 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/21-follow-the-lamb-revelation-part-1 “Revelation is not only one of the finest literary works in the New Testament, but also one of the greatest theological achievements of early Christianity.” So says New Testament Scholar Richard Bauckham, and yet few of us experience it that way. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the literary and theological marvel that is Revelation, drawing on diverse scholarship to frame its historical and prophetic situation. The thesis of this episode is simple: Revelation is a discipleship manual. It orients the people of God to their situation, and it tells them how they should live in view of Christ’s reality.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Sources

We know from experience Revelation is challenging. For all those of you who are looking to grasp the message and the blessing of the Bible’s capstone book, here are a few recommended resource:


For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> “Revelation is not only one of the finest literary works in the New Testament, but also one of the greatest theological achievements of early Christianity.” So says New Testament Scholar Richard Bauckham, and yet few of us experience it that way. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the literary and theological marvel that is Revelation, drawing on diverse scholarship to frame its historical and prophetic situation. The thesis of this episode is simple: Revelation is a discipleship manual. It orients the people of God to their situation, and it tells them how they should live in view of Christ’s reality.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Sources

We know from experience Revelation is challenging. For all those of you who are looking to grasp the message and the blessing of the Bible’s capstone book, here are a few recommended resource:


For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4177 “Revelation is not only one of the finest literary works in the New Testament, but also one of the greatest theological achievements of early Christianity.” So says New Testament Scholar Richard Bauckham, and yet few of us experience it that way. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the literary and theological marvel that is Revelation, drawing on diverse scholarship to frame its historical and prophetic situation. The thesis of this episode is simple: Revelation is a discipleship manual. It orients the people of God to their situation, and it tells them how they should live in view of Christ’s reality.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Sources

We know from experience Revelation is challenging. For all those of you who are looking to grasp the message and the blessing of the Bible’s capstone book, here are a few recommended resource:


For a wonderful introduction, check out:
The Bible Project’s Two-Part Overview


For a good book on the whole of revelation:


For a more scholarly take:


For a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 20 | Two Questions at the Mount of Olives - The Return of Christ Part 2 20 20 20 | Two Questions at the Mount of Olives - The Return of Christ Part 2 full f640b624-d63d-478b-91aa-dd2fa9ea2250 https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/20-two-questions-at-the-mount-of-olives-the-return-of-christ-part-2 When it comes to anticipating the return of Jesus, two New Testament texts loom especially large: The Olivet Discourse and the Revelation of John. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the first: The Olivet Discourse from Matthew 24 and 25. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask two questions: when will the temple be razed to the ground, and when will the final marriage of heaven and earth take place? Jesus answers both questions. He places the destruction of Jerusalem in its cosmic context, and he tells the disciples how they should live in view of his return.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> When it comes to anticipating the return of Jesus, two New Testament texts loom especially large: The Olivet Discourse and the Revelation of John. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the first: The Olivet Discourse from Matthew 24 and 25. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask two questions: when will the temple be razed to the ground, and when will the final marriage of heaven and earth take place? Jesus answers both questions. He places the destruction of Jerusalem in its cosmic context, and he tells the disciples how they should live in view of his return.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:44:01 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 5230 When it comes to anticipating the return of Jesus, two New Testament texts loom especially large: The Olivet Discourse and the Revelation of John. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the first: The Olivet Discourse from Matthew 24 and 25. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask two questions: when will the temple be razed to the ground, and when will the final marriage of heaven and earth take place? Jesus answers both questions. He places the destruction of Jerusalem in its cosmic context, and he tells the disciples how they should live in view of his return.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 19 | The Lord Himself Will Come - The Return of Christ Part 1 19 19 19 | The Lord Himself Will Come - The Return of Christ Part 1 full 0ae36487-feee-48d2-be39-c0257b807a6e https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/19-the-lord-himself-will-come In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the culmination of the Story of God: the bodily return of Jesus and the final marriage of heaven and earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the culmination of the Story of God: the bodily return of Jesus and the final marriage of heaven and earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 05:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3911 In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the culmination of the Story of God: the bodily return of Jesus and the final marriage of heaven and earth.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 18 | Praxis Makes Perfect 18 18 18 | Praxis Makes Perfect full 3376d86f-7a0f-4634-a927-8814edb3784b https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/18-praxis-makes-perfect In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the everyday life of the people of God. The Church is a glorious reality; on the ground, it is also a gritty reality. The practice of dying to self is not abstract. It looks like loving real people. It looks like owning our sin. It looks like repenting. It looks like leaving church gatherings and then learning to hang in there. The local gathering is an eternal reality embodied by people in process. In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share their personal experience of learning to live life in Jesus’s Church.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Show Notes

]]> In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the everyday life of the people of God. The Church is a glorious reality; on the ground, it is also a gritty reality. The practice of dying to self is not abstract. It looks like loving real people. It looks like owning our sin. It looks like repenting. It looks like leaving church gatherings and then learning to hang in there. The local gathering is an eternal reality embodied by people in process. In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share their personal experience of learning to live life in Jesus’s Church.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Show Notes

]]> Mon, 08 May 2023 05:03:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3986 In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the everyday life of the people of God. The Church is a glorious reality; on the ground, it is also a gritty reality. The practice of dying to self is not abstract. It looks like loving real people. It looks like owning our sin. It looks like repenting. It looks like leaving church gatherings and then learning to hang in there. The local gathering is an eternal reality embodied by people in process. In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share their personal experience of learning to live life in Jesus’s Church.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Show Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible No 17 | Flesh of My Flesh - The Church Part 2 17 17 17 | Flesh of My Flesh - The Church Part 2 full 5af72691-25e6-415d-956b-dbc9ed96a35b https://mountvigil.transistor.fm/episodes/17-the-marriage-of-the-lamb-the-church-part-2 The Church is the Bride of Christ, and that, more than any other dimension of Church life, is an eschatalogical reality. It is a fact that anchors the purpose of the Church in the bodily return of Jesus and the final union of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss Bridal Theology, sexual ethics, covenant, and the culmination of God’s design for His free creatures.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> The Church is the Bride of Christ, and that, more than any other dimension of Church life, is an eschatalogical reality. It is a fact that anchors the purpose of the Church in the bodily return of Jesus and the final union of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss Bridal Theology, sexual ethics, covenant, and the culmination of God’s design for His free creatures.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 24 Apr 2023 10:31:35 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 2870 The Church is the Bride of Christ, and that, more than any other dimension of Church life, is an eschatalogical reality. It is a fact that anchors the purpose of the Church in the bodily return of Jesus and the final union of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss Bridal Theology, sexual ethics, covenant, and the culmination of God’s design for His free creatures.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 16 | Mysteries of the Kyriakon Doma - The Church Part 1 16 16 16 | Mysteries of the Kyriakon Doma - The Church Part 1 full 7626ee41-2950-4480-b457-8b0c5271d2ad https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-16/ “If the Church is really supposed to be yours, you’ll have to make that much more obvious than it is at present.”
Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI, paraphrasing the temptations of Christ

The Church is a vital step in the Story of God. It hearkens back to Eden; it picks up the role of Israel. It is military, and it is political. It recalls themes from King David’s time. It prophesies the Return of Jesus. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on God’s people, discussing in particular the many names given to the followers of Jesus, names that weave together themes from the story so far.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> “If the Church is really supposed to be yours, you’ll have to make that much more obvious than it is at present.”
Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI, paraphrasing the temptations of Christ

The Church is a vital step in the Story of God. It hearkens back to Eden; it picks up the role of Israel. It is military, and it is political. It recalls themes from King David’s time. It prophesies the Return of Jesus. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on God’s people, discussing in particular the many names given to the followers of Jesus, names that weave together themes from the story so far.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> Mon, 10 Apr 2023 09:01:03 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4233 “If the Church is really supposed to be yours, you’ll have to make that much more obvious than it is at present.”
Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI, paraphrasing the temptations of Christ

The Church is a vital step in the Story of God. It hearkens back to Eden; it picks up the role of Israel. It is military, and it is political. It recalls themes from King David’s time. It prophesies the Return of Jesus. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on God’s people, discussing in particular the many names given to the followers of Jesus, names that weave together themes from the story so far.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

]]> christianity, church, bible No 15 | Cloud Rider, Tongues of Fire 15 15 15 | Cloud Rider, Tongues of Fire full f1b1ab95-21a2-4de2-9b2b-5f09adb80389 https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-15/ In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss the Ascension and Pentecost, linking those events as two sides of the same coin in the story of God. In the Ascension, Jesus has anchored our humanity in the heavens. At Pentecost, the Sermon on the Mount and the Old Testament promises of covenant renewal have been fulfilled. Also in this episode: ancient representations of the creator God, dating Biblical events, Jewish calendars, the unfulfilled Sermon on the Mount, and events from the Second Jewish Roman War.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss the Ascension and Pentecost, linking those events as two sides of the same coin in the story of God. In the Ascension, Jesus has anchored our humanity in the heavens. At Pentecost, the Sermon on the Mount and the Old Testament promises of covenant renewal have been fulfilled. Also in this episode: ancient representations of the creator God, dating Biblical events, Jewish calendars, the unfulfilled Sermon on the Mount, and events from the Second Jewish Roman War.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4383 In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss the Ascension and Pentecost, linking those events as two sides of the same coin in the story of God. In the Ascension, Jesus has anchored our humanity in the heavens. At Pentecost, the Sermon on the Mount and the Old Testament promises of covenant renewal have been fulfilled. Also in this episode: ancient representations of the creator God, dating Biblical events, Jewish calendars, the unfulfilled Sermon on the Mount, and events from the Second Jewish Roman War.


Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 14 | The Carnal Solution - Jesus Part 3 14 14 14 | The Carnal Solution - Jesus Part 3 full f8831baa-d386-40f0-8d9d-d61a93378642 https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-14/ In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss suffering, surrender, and incarnate spirituality as Jesus’s solution to the World and the Flesh. This is the third installment in a three-part series on Jesus as the crescendo of the Story of God.

Also in this conversation: dying to become human, the devil’s counterfeit power, the spiritual life lived in the body, and eros and agape fusing together in the form of the human being.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss suffering, surrender, and incarnate spirituality as Jesus’s solution to the World and the Flesh. This is the third installment in a three-part series on Jesus as the crescendo of the Story of God.

Also in this conversation: dying to become human, the devil’s counterfeit power, the spiritual life lived in the body, and eros and agape fusing together in the form of the human being.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3730 In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss suffering, surrender, and incarnate spirituality as Jesus’s solution to the World and the Flesh. This is the third installment in a three-part series on Jesus as the crescendo of the Story of God.

Also in this conversation: dying to become human, the devil’s counterfeit power, the spiritual life lived in the body, and eros and agape fusing together in the form of the human being.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 13 | Siege on Hades - Jesus Part 2 13 13 13 | Siege on Hades - Jesus Part 2 full 9af83c02-f10c-4bbc-b895-600ac5e89add https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-13/ In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their conversation on the work of Jesus: How, exactly, does Jesus deal with the problem of spiritual oppression? Why does it matter that Jesus reigns supreme over the council? Where is the gate of hades, and what would it mean for Jesus to build a church there? The life and work of Jesus specifically overthrows the spiritual powers of this world. Join the Mount Vigil team for a conversation on the faithfulness of Jesus, the recapitulation of the story of Israel, and more.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their conversation on the work of Jesus: How, exactly, does Jesus deal with the problem of spiritual oppression? Why does it matter that Jesus reigns supreme over the council? Where is the gate of hades, and what would it mean for Jesus to build a church there? The life and work of Jesus specifically overthrows the spiritual powers of this world. Join the Mount Vigil team for a conversation on the faithfulness of Jesus, the recapitulation of the story of Israel, and more.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 07:55:59 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3379 In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their conversation on the work of Jesus: How, exactly, does Jesus deal with the problem of spiritual oppression? Why does it matter that Jesus reigns supreme over the council? Where is the gate of hades, and what would it mean for Jesus to build a church there? The life and work of Jesus specifically overthrows the spiritual powers of this world. Join the Mount Vigil team for a conversation on the faithfulness of Jesus, the recapitulation of the story of Israel, and more.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 12 | Apocalypse Priest - Jesus Part 1 12 12 12 | Apocalypse Priest - Jesus Part 1 full 67e04e02-e67e-4c1c-92e6-6ae2f455e7ee https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-12/ In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their series on the Story of God by arriving, at last, at Jesus. In particular, this show addresses the way in which Jesus deals with sin and death so that the story of Israel, with its law and sacrificial system to manage sin and its prophetic promises to manage death, is brought to its climax.

This show is the first installment in a  3-part conversation on the work of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their series on the Story of God by arriving, at last, at Jesus. In particular, this show addresses the way in which Jesus deals with sin and death so that the story of Israel, with its law and sacrificial system to manage sin and its prophetic promises to manage death, is brought to its climax.

This show is the first installment in a  3-part conversation on the work of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4044 In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their series on the Story of God by arriving, at last, at Jesus. In particular, this show addresses the way in which Jesus deals with sin and death so that the story of Israel, with its law and sacrificial system to manage sin and its prophetic promises to manage death, is brought to its climax.

This show is the first installment in a  3-part conversation on the work of Jesus.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 11 | Israel 11 11 11 | Israel full 67068980-6aa7-4968-8b2c-cd6f14fc10ee https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-11/ Why did God choose to create the nation of Israel? How was God’s decision to create a people where there was no people part of his plan to deal with sin, death, and spiritual oppression? How does the story of YHWH and Israel prepare humanity for the ultimate revelation of Jesus the Anointed? These are the questions we go after in this next installment in our Story of God series.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Why did God choose to create the nation of Israel? How was God’s decision to create a people where there was no people part of his plan to deal with sin, death, and spiritual oppression? How does the story of YHWH and Israel prepare humanity for the ultimate revelation of Jesus the Anointed? These are the questions we go after in this next installment in our Story of God series.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2023 20:30:51 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 7627 Why did God choose to create the nation of Israel? How was God’s decision to create a people where there was no people part of his plan to deal with sin, death, and spiritual oppression? How does the story of YHWH and Israel prepare humanity for the ultimate revelation of Jesus the Anointed? These are the questions we go after in this next installment in our Story of God series.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 10 | Examen 10 10 10 | Examen full f1926fd3-8113-41bc-b979-1e7adc0e911a https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-10/ In this special episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss self-examination. Self-examination, or Examen, is a practice that followers of Jesus have used for centuries to see their lives as God sees them, and, therefore, as they really are.


The 5 steps of Examen

  1. Center yourself
    Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for the gift of this day and the gift of God’s love for you.
  2. Ask for light
    Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. Ask for the ability to hear clearly and for covering from warfare.
  3. Review the day
    Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you carefully review the day just completed. Pay attention to specific moments and your feelings at the time.
  4. Reflect, express gratitude, and confess
    For those moments the Spirit highlights, reflect on what you did, said, thought. Were you drawing closer to God or further from him? What is the Spirit saying about these moments? Pay attention to moments of beauty; thank God for his provision.
  5. Look forward to the new day and seek out spiritual friendship
    What is the Spirit prompting you to ask for in the day to come? What is he calling you to do? Who can you seek out to discuss the themes and questions the Spirit is raising?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this special episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss self-examination. Self-examination, or Examen, is a practice that followers of Jesus have used for centuries to see their lives as God sees them, and, therefore, as they really are.


The 5 steps of Examen

  1. Center yourself
    Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for the gift of this day and the gift of God’s love for you.
  2. Ask for light
    Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. Ask for the ability to hear clearly and for covering from warfare.
  3. Review the day
    Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you carefully review the day just completed. Pay attention to specific moments and your feelings at the time.
  4. Reflect, express gratitude, and confess
    For those moments the Spirit highlights, reflect on what you did, said, thought. Were you drawing closer to God or further from him? What is the Spirit saying about these moments? Pay attention to moments of beauty; thank God for his provision.
  5. Look forward to the new day and seek out spiritual friendship
    What is the Spirit prompting you to ask for in the day to come? What is he calling you to do? Who can you seek out to discuss the themes and questions the Spirit is raising?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 3975 In this special episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss self-examination. Self-examination, or Examen, is a practice that followers of Jesus have used for centuries to see their lives as God sees them, and, therefore, as they really are.


The 5 steps of Examen

  1. Center yourself
    Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for the gift of this day and the gift of God’s love for you.
  2. Ask for light
    Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. Ask for the ability to hear clearly and for covering from warfare.
  3. Review the day
    Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you carefully review the day just completed. Pay attention to specific moments and your feelings at the time.
  4. Reflect, express gratitude, and confess
    For those moments the Spirit highlights, reflect on what you did, said, thought. Were you drawing closer to God or further from him? What is the Spirit saying about these moments? Pay attention to moments of beauty; thank God for his provision.
  5. Look forward to the new day and seek out spiritual friendship
    What is the Spirit prompting you to ask for in the day to come? What is he calling you to do? Who can you seek out to discuss the themes and questions the Spirit is raising?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 9 | Down From the Mountain of God 9 9 9 | Down From the Mountain of God full ae0e9312-ebe2-491c-8951-0a9387950cde https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-9/ In this episode we continue our Story of God series by talking about the Fall, or more accurately the Falls. We explore the origins of evil in the world, including the first human sin, the role of depraved spiritual powers, and the descent into darkness that forms the backdrop for Jesus’ salvation project.

Some of what we cover:

  • How the “Fall” is better described as the “Falls”
  • We take a survey of the three big problems: Sin, Death, and Spiritual Rebellion
  • We look at the three big sources of corruption that shape our lives: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
  • We end by talking about some of the provision Jesus has made for us given the above

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> In this episode we continue our Story of God series by talking about the Fall, or more accurately the Falls. We explore the origins of evil in the world, including the first human sin, the role of depraved spiritual powers, and the descent into darkness that forms the backdrop for Jesus’ salvation project.

Some of what we cover:

  • How the “Fall” is better described as the “Falls”
  • We take a survey of the three big problems: Sin, Death, and Spiritual Rebellion
  • We look at the three big sources of corruption that shape our lives: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
  • We end by talking about some of the provision Jesus has made for us given the above

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> Wed, 18 May 2022 13:06:38 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 10847 In this episode we continue our Story of God series by talking about the Fall, or more accurately the Falls. We explore the origins of evil in the world, including the first human sin, the role of depraved spiritual powers, and the descent into darkness that forms the backdrop for Jesus’ salvation project.

Some of what we cover:

  • How the “Fall” is better described as the “Falls”
  • We take a survey of the three big problems: Sin, Death, and Spiritual Rebellion
  • We look at the three big sources of corruption that shape our lives: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
  • We end by talking about some of the provision Jesus has made for us given the above

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Mentioned in this Episode

]]> christianity, church, bible No 8 | Eden Inception 8 8 8 | Eden Inception full d5b64aaa-714a-4935-ae43-6472dee6efef https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-8/ In this episode we pick up where we left off in telling the Story of God. We ask the big questions like: What is the meaning of life? Why did God create is? What are we here for?

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • How babies are like rainbow trout
  • How regenerative agriculture reflects God’s design for people
  • Edens within Edens
  • The trees at both ends of the scriptures
  • Why people are idols
  • Fractal geometry

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> In this episode we pick up where we left off in telling the Story of God. We ask the big questions like: What is the meaning of life? Why did God create is? What are we here for?

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • How babies are like rainbow trout
  • How regenerative agriculture reflects God’s design for people
  • Edens within Edens
  • The trees at both ends of the scriptures
  • Why people are idols
  • Fractal geometry

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> Wed, 27 Apr 2022 11:05:06 -0600 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 6018 In this episode we pick up where we left off in telling the Story of God. We ask the big questions like: What is the meaning of life? Why did God create is? What are we here for?

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • How babies are like rainbow trout
  • How regenerative agriculture reflects God’s design for people
  • Edens within Edens
  • The trees at both ends of the scriptures
  • Why people are idols
  • Fractal geometry

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible No 7 | Ukraine, Empire, and the Kingdom of God 7 7 7 | Ukraine, Empire, and the Kingdom of God full 6db758c4-0169-4c6f-ba72-35fe897f908b https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-7/ We’re interrupting our series on the story of God to talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Church’s response to it.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • What our fleshly responses and our repentance of those responses looks like
  • How Christians can find solid ground in the midst of a powerful media narrative
  • How the concept of the Dialectic is working it’s way out in the world
  • The typology of empire and nations in the scriptures
  • The economics of war
  • What it looks like to be a prophetic, called out people who bring the Good News in the midst of the devastation of war

Additional Notes

]]> We’re interrupting our series on the story of God to talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Church’s response to it.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • What our fleshly responses and our repentance of those responses looks like
  • How Christians can find solid ground in the midst of a powerful media narrative
  • How the concept of the Dialectic is working it’s way out in the world
  • The typology of empire and nations in the scriptures
  • The economics of war
  • What it looks like to be a prophetic, called out people who bring the Good News in the midst of the devastation of war

Additional Notes

]]> Tue, 01 Mar 2022 23:12:41 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 7541 We’re interrupting our series on the story of God to talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Church’s response to it.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Some of the things we cover in this episode:

  • What our fleshly responses and our repentance of those responses looks like
  • How Christians can find solid ground in the midst of a powerful media narrative
  • How the concept of the Dialectic is working it’s way out in the world
  • The typology of empire and nations in the scriptures
  • The economics of war
  • What it looks like to be a prophetic, called out people who bring the Good News in the midst of the devastation of war

Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible, ukraine, war, empire No 6 | The Powers 6 6 6 | The Powers full 36e0c323-89d4-476e-b383-717bcdd2a50c https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-6/ This is the second in our series on the Story of God. In this episode we discuss the spiritual powers found in the Bible: the Elohim and the Divine Counsel, angels and demons. Our aim is to continue developing the foundations worldview this is not selectively supernatural but embraces the story as we have received it in scripture. We hope you enjoy.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> This is the second in our series on the Story of God. In this episode we discuss the spiritual powers found in the Bible: the Elohim and the Divine Counsel, angels and demons. Our aim is to continue developing the foundations worldview this is not selectively supernatural but embraces the story as we have received it in scripture. We hope you enjoy.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:42:26 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 4905 This is the second in our series on the Story of God. In this episode we discuss the spiritual powers found in the Bible: the Elohim and the Divine Counsel, angels and demons. Our aim is to continue developing the foundations worldview this is not selectively supernatural but embraces the story as we have received it in scripture. We hope you enjoy.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible, divine counsel, supernatural No 5 | Trinity 5 5 5 | Trinity full 1d41fad3-f2d5-4e4f-a106-60115b75c3e2 https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-5/ This is the first in a series of episodes on the story of God. We’ve talked about seeing reality as a story, we’ve talked about Apocalypse or spiritual revelation as to the nature of that story, and in our Endgame episode we talked about what it’s like at the end of the story. But exactly what story is it that we’re in? Where does it begin and how did we get here?

We argue that the place to begin is with God. In doing so we talk at length about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we spend some time discussing the hundreds of years the early Church spent developing this doctrine, we discuss what it means practically in our daily lives that God is a trinitarian God, and we end with a practice that I think you will find helpful in restoring your relationship with the persons of the Trinity.

We are invited not only to form our minds around the doctrine of the Trinity but to encounter the Trinity in an immediate and personal way.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> This is the first in a series of episodes on the story of God. We’ve talked about seeing reality as a story, we’ve talked about Apocalypse or spiritual revelation as to the nature of that story, and in our Endgame episode we talked about what it’s like at the end of the story. But exactly what story is it that we’re in? Where does it begin and how did we get here?

We argue that the place to begin is with God. In doing so we talk at length about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we spend some time discussing the hundreds of years the early Church spent developing this doctrine, we discuss what it means practically in our daily lives that God is a trinitarian God, and we end with a practice that I think you will find helpful in restoring your relationship with the persons of the Trinity.

We are invited not only to form our minds around the doctrine of the Trinity but to encounter the Trinity in an immediate and personal way.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> Fri, 04 Feb 2022 12:35:37 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 5880 This is the first in a series of episodes on the story of God. We’ve talked about seeing reality as a story, we’ve talked about Apocalypse or spiritual revelation as to the nature of that story, and in our Endgame episode we talked about what it’s like at the end of the story. But exactly what story is it that we’re in? Where does it begin and how did we get here?

We argue that the place to begin is with God. In doing so we talk at length about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we spend some time discussing the hundreds of years the early Church spent developing this doctrine, we discuss what it means practically in our daily lives that God is a trinitarian God, and we end with a practice that I think you will find helpful in restoring your relationship with the persons of the Trinity.

We are invited not only to form our minds around the doctrine of the Trinity but to encounter the Trinity in an immediate and personal way.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible, Trinity, trinitarian theology, trinitarian philosophy, early church, church history No 4 | Endgame 4 4 4 | Endgame full 406e1c99-dec6-43cc-bfa8-fce0c2efb97a https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-4/ Grandmaster Jose Raul Capablanca said that to succeed “you must study the endgame before anything else.” In this episode we talk about endgame, an idea from chess that we extrapolate to answer the question, What is it like to be at the end of a great cosmic war?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes
We begin by following up on the question of apocalypse posed in the previous episode: what exactly is being uncovered?

Moving on we get into a little chess (and poker) endgame theory as a way of charting the territory of this conversation. We talk about the characteristics of a these endgames and then generalize to find out what predictable changes we can expect if we are in an endgame outside the context of games

We discuss four characteristics of endgame’s strategic environment:

  1. Speed
  2. Deception
  3. Surprising characters
  4. Chaos

After talking about the qualities of an endgame we ask, what “game” is it that we think we are in the end of?

And who are the major players involved and what are their goals? Our non-exhuastive list includes:

  • Spirits
  • Pagans
  • Sorcerers
  • Humanists
  • Nihilists
  • Nations and Statists
  • Jesus and his Church

Finally we end with some words of encouragement for the Christian who is trying to follow Jesus in a world that seems increasingly chaotic.


Additional Notes

]]> Grandmaster Jose Raul Capablanca said that to succeed “you must study the endgame before anything else.” In this episode we talk about endgame, an idea from chess that we extrapolate to answer the question, What is it like to be at the end of a great cosmic war?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes
We begin by following up on the question of apocalypse posed in the previous episode: what exactly is being uncovered?

Moving on we get into a little chess (and poker) endgame theory as a way of charting the territory of this conversation. We talk about the characteristics of a these endgames and then generalize to find out what predictable changes we can expect if we are in an endgame outside the context of games

We discuss four characteristics of endgame’s strategic environment:

  1. Speed
  2. Deception
  3. Surprising characters
  4. Chaos

After talking about the qualities of an endgame we ask, what “game” is it that we think we are in the end of?

And who are the major players involved and what are their goals? Our non-exhuastive list includes:

  • Spirits
  • Pagans
  • Sorcerers
  • Humanists
  • Nihilists
  • Nations and Statists
  • Jesus and his Church

Finally we end with some words of encouragement for the Christian who is trying to follow Jesus in a world that seems increasingly chaotic.


Additional Notes

]]> Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:16:28 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 9277 Grandmaster Jose Raul Capablanca said that to succeed “you must study the endgame before anything else.” In this episode we talk about endgame, an idea from chess that we extrapolate to answer the question, What is it like to be at the end of a great cosmic war?

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes
We begin by following up on the question of apocalypse posed in the previous episode: what exactly is being uncovered?

Moving on we get into a little chess (and poker) endgame theory as a way of charting the territory of this conversation. We talk about the characteristics of a these endgames and then generalize to find out what predictable changes we can expect if we are in an endgame outside the context of games

We discuss four characteristics of endgame’s strategic environment:

  1. Speed
  2. Deception
  3. Surprising characters
  4. Chaos

After talking about the qualities of an endgame we ask, what “game” is it that we think we are in the end of?

And who are the major players involved and what are their goals? Our non-exhuastive list includes:

  • Spirits
  • Pagans
  • Sorcerers
  • Humanists
  • Nihilists
  • Nations and Statists
  • Jesus and his Church

Finally we end with some words of encouragement for the Christian who is trying to follow Jesus in a world that seems increasingly chaotic.


Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible No 3 | The Great Unveiling 3 3 3 | The Great Unveiling full 0dc0dfb4-7c22-4423-8f4e-9ec914ce6785 https://mountvigil.org/mount-vigil-podcast-episode-3/ In today’s episode we talk about Apocalypse: the word, the genre of literature, the spiritual event. We attempt to develop a nuanced, robust, rounded-out sense of Apocalypse, which means “revelation,” a sense that is grounded in the fact that, ultimately, the Good News of Jesus Christ is what is revealed to us in an Apocalypse.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes

We cut to the chase by answering the question, “If this is an apocalypse should I buy guns and crypto?” and then move on to discuss what apocalypse is in the scriptures and in the mind that has been formed by the story of God, and compare this perspective to the ideas that the broader culture have around apocalypse.

We discuss why it’s important to seek spiritual revelation in the ways that have been given by God and at the pace he dictates and why the world’s many offers of revelation outside of God’s plan are so harmful to us.

We talk about the many challenges facing us when we attempt to have a conversation around the word apocalypse:

  • Why does this word stress me out?
  • Why does pop culture have a whole movie genre called post-apocalyptic?
  • Is there a safe way to talk about this given much of the Church’s misguided and harmful approaches to the subject?

We talk about the many senses of the word “apocalypse” in an effort to level-up our ability to think and speak about the subject.

We then look at the book of Revelation, otherwise known as the Apocalypse of Jesus given to John, and examine three key errors that often foul up our attempts to appreciate apocalyptic literature in the scriptures.

We wrap things up by asking the questions:

  • What do we do in an apocalypse?
  • What is the Good News for us in this time?
  • How can we live free from fear?

We hope you find encouragement, comfort, and good counsel in a subject that, when mistreated, can often cause dread, anxiety, and misguided action. Apocalypse is a challenging subject–you may have a lot of baggage associated with it–but with God’s help we think we can confidently navigate this terrain toward the goal of union with Christ.


Additional Notes

]]> In today’s episode we talk about Apocalypse: the word, the genre of literature, the spiritual event. We attempt to develop a nuanced, robust, rounded-out sense of Apocalypse, which means “revelation,” a sense that is grounded in the fact that, ultimately, the Good News of Jesus Christ is what is revealed to us in an Apocalypse.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes

We cut to the chase by answering the question, “If this is an apocalypse should I buy guns and crypto?” and then move on to discuss what apocalypse is in the scriptures and in the mind that has been formed by the story of God, and compare this perspective to the ideas that the broader culture have around apocalypse.

We discuss why it’s important to seek spiritual revelation in the ways that have been given by God and at the pace he dictates and why the world’s many offers of revelation outside of God’s plan are so harmful to us.

We talk about the many challenges facing us when we attempt to have a conversation around the word apocalypse:

  • Why does this word stress me out?
  • Why does pop culture have a whole movie genre called post-apocalyptic?
  • Is there a safe way to talk about this given much of the Church’s misguided and harmful approaches to the subject?

We talk about the many senses of the word “apocalypse” in an effort to level-up our ability to think and speak about the subject.

We then look at the book of Revelation, otherwise known as the Apocalypse of Jesus given to John, and examine three key errors that often foul up our attempts to appreciate apocalyptic literature in the scriptures.

We wrap things up by asking the questions:

  • What do we do in an apocalypse?
  • What is the Good News for us in this time?
  • How can we live free from fear?

We hope you find encouragement, comfort, and good counsel in a subject that, when mistreated, can often cause dread, anxiety, and misguided action. Apocalypse is a challenging subject–you may have a lot of baggage associated with it–but with God’s help we think we can confidently navigate this terrain toward the goal of union with Christ.


Additional Notes

]]> Sat, 01 Jan 2022 18:54:50 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 6017 In today's episode we talk about Apocalypse: the word, the genre of literature, the spiritual event. We attempt to develop a nuanced, robust, rounded-out sense of Apocalypse, which means "revelation," a sense that is grounded in the fact that, ultimately, the Good News of Jesus Christ is what is revealed to us in an Apocalypse. In today's episode we talk about Apocalypse: the word, the genre of literature, the spiritual event. We attempt to develop a nuanced, robust, rounded-out sense of Apocalypse, which means "revelation," a sense that is grounded in the fact that, ultimately, christianity, church, bible No 2 | Reality is a Revelation 2 2 2 | Reality is a Revelation full eec2c91c-52ce-4198-83f2-d046dc783d43 https://mountvigil.org/mv-podcast-episode-2/ In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss a foundational ability, an ability on which the rest of the Mount Vigil work depends: seeing reality.

It’s never been easy to see reality well. But it’s especially difficult in our time: the fallout of postmodernism and critical theory, the rise of nihilism, the divisive strategies of social media giants, and the advent of post-human and transhuman ideologies have eroded our ability to hold on to a coherent story. We’re taught to doubt our experience. We’re gaslit by the knowledge brokers of our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes

In the first part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that reality is fundamentally narrative, and that a person’s ability to see reality is linked to the clarity of the story they’re living.

In the second part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony explore some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a strong sense of reality: an incomplete Gospel, everyday trauma, and technological opposition.

In the third part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that a true sense of reality is dependent on a vision of Jesus, and then explore tactics to recover a strong sense of reality: engaging the real world, living in the family of God, and leaning on three effective discernment strategies. Those are the testimony of the Bible, the consensus of the Church, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.


Additional Notes

]]> In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss a foundational ability, an ability on which the rest of the Mount Vigil work depends: seeing reality.

It’s never been easy to see reality well. But it’s especially difficult in our time: the fallout of postmodernism and critical theory, the rise of nihilism, the divisive strategies of social media giants, and the advent of post-human and transhuman ideologies have eroded our ability to hold on to a coherent story. We’re taught to doubt our experience. We’re gaslit by the knowledge brokers of our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes

In the first part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that reality is fundamentally narrative, and that a person’s ability to see reality is linked to the clarity of the story they’re living.

In the second part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony explore some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a strong sense of reality: an incomplete Gospel, everyday trauma, and technological opposition.

In the third part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that a true sense of reality is dependent on a vision of Jesus, and then explore tactics to recover a strong sense of reality: engaging the real world, living in the family of God, and leaning on three effective discernment strategies. Those are the testimony of the Bible, the consensus of the Church, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.


Additional Notes

]]> Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0700 Mount Vigil Mount Vigil 6890 In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss a foundational ability, an ability on which the rest of the Mount Vigil work depends: seeing reality.

It’s never been easy to see reality well. But it’s especially difficult in our time: the fallout of postmodernism and critical theory, the rise of nihilism, the divisive strategies of social media giants, and the advent of post-human and transhuman ideologies have eroded our ability to hold on to a coherent story. We’re taught to doubt our experience. We’re gaslit by the knowledge brokers of our time.

Where to Connect
Mount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:

Notes

In the first part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that reality is fundamentally narrative, and that a person’s ability to see reality is linked to the clarity of the story they’re living.

In the second part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony explore some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a strong sense of reality: an incomplete Gospel, everyday trauma, and technological opposition.

In the third part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that a true sense of reality is dependent on a vision of Jesus, and then explore tactics to recover a strong sense of reality: engaging the real world, living in the family of God, and leaning on three effective discernment strategies. Those are the testimony of the Bible, the consensus of the Church, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.


Additional Notes

]]> christianity, church, bible No