As we start to anticipate the time of Advent and ultimately the birth of Jesus, what are some of the contextual things we should be aware of? Each historical period had an influence on God's people. To kick off the "Advent of Advent" mini-series, we are going back to a conversation I had last year with Dr. George Athas. He is a professor at Moore College and the author of an excellent book Bridging the Testaments. Today we revisit his overview of the major time periods leading up to the Roman Empire's arrival on the scene along with his explanation of Jewish thought that makes the gospels' claim that Jesus is from the line of David so explosive.

Listen to the original podcast with Dr. Athas Here: Part 1 and Part 2

Find out more about Dr. Athas HERE

Read more about his book HERE

See his many other writings HERE

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Today is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Melesse Woldetsadik. We are following up on the need for discernment when blaming problems on the spiritual realm. In our post-modern world we have a tendency to dismiss spiritual beings to focus on science, and yet there are moments and situations that cannot be solved through the medical world or psychiatry. But others can, right? So how do we hold all these tools and how do we know which tool is needed for a particular problem? How do we know when medicine is a valuable part of the solution and when prayer is THE solution?

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Melesse Woldetsadik is the Pastor at Beta Selam Evangelical Church in North Carolina. He has a fascinating context of growing up in Coptic Christianity and walking away from the faith only for God to pull him back through dreams and specific spiritual experiences. He had many encounters with the spiritual realm even before he decided to train to be a pastor. Come sit around the podcast table a Melesse shares with us his many experiences and what he has learned about the spiritual realm.

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We pick up the conversation with Fr. Andrew talking about Demons. Who or what are they? You may be surprised to know that the term 'demon' originally referred to lesser spiritual beings (neither positive nor negative), but the early Christians used it pejoratively to describe pagan gods. In the Bible, these beings create chaos and involved in both oppression and possession.

Today's episode also includes a short analysis of the movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' (With Spoilers!) highlighting its themes of redemption, self-sacrifice, and the portrayal of demonic influences.

Find out more about Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick with links to his books HERE

Listen to The Lord of Spirits HERE

Listen to his review of K-Pop Demon Hunters (with spoilers!) HERE

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Fr. Andrew joins the Context Matters podcast again to talk about his wildly popular podcast series called The Lord of Spirits. We talk about the biblical and traditional texts to lead to this study of the unseen realm as well as why people in modern world should be aware of this world. We start by exploring who and what angels are -- their ranks and appearances, and how they interact with the physical and spiritual realms. This episode bridges the gap between ancient mythological perspectives and modern scientific thinking, revealing a world that's more enchanted than we might realize.

Find out more about Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick with links to his books HERE

Listen to The Lord of Spirits HERE

Listen to his review of K-Pop Demon Hunters (with spoilers!) HERE

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This is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Dan Darko about his book Against Principalities and Powers.Today we talk about the concept of salvation and spiritual warfare as depicted in the book of Ephesians. Dr. Darko also ellaborates on the relationship between Spiritual Powers with the community's identity as part of God's family. We end the episode with the correct understanding of spiritual warfare.

Read more about Dr. Dan Darko HERE

Explore his book Against Principalities and Powers HERE

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Dr. Dan Darko takes us on a journey from Ghana to post-war Croatia, England, and the United States. Each place adds to his unique questions he asked of the biblical text. This leads us to explore the role of the spiritual realm in the letter to the Ephesians. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the power of faith, the presence of spiritual realms, and the challenges of modern religious consciousness.

Read more about Dr. Dan Darko HERE

Explore his book Against Principalities and Powers HERE

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Writer, Producer, and Filmmaker Nicholas Ma joins us to talk about his latest documentary titled "Leap of Faith". In today's episode we explore the unspoken topics that often divide communities and underscore the universal quest for mutual belonging. The participants in the documentary were invited to meaningful dialogue around race, homelessness, and socioeconomic disparities, but the conversation they returned to over and over again was about sexuality. Even through uncomfortable disagreements, the documentary helps the viewer notice the relevance of love and empathy, the power of small actions to create positive change, and the profound effect of being seen and acknowledged by others.

Read more about Nicholas Ma HERE

See the trailer for Leap of Faith HERE

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