Bible Bash: Baalam and the Truth Telling -- Numbers 22
The story of Balaam is a fantastic tale complete with conversations with God, angels with swords drawn, a seemingly stubborn talking donkey, and a seerer’s blessings and curses. What if anything can we learn from this story about our relationships to God and to one another?
In this episode, Liam takes a look at the ways in which we are conditioned to read biblical texts and asks questions about what it means to miss the angel standing in the road, as well as what it means to be a person who beats the truth-tellers among us. More, Liam asks what might it mean to be the talking, truth-telling ass - and to be repeatedly beaten-up for speaking out.
After some discussion, Don offers another text for our reflection.
It's not the end of the world
No, not the end of the world
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
It's no funeral we're attending
Actually, just the beginning
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
It's not the end of the
No, not the end of the world
You can catch a star if the sky is falling down
There's a golden lining up in every single cloud
You can take a frown turn it all the way around
All the way around, all the, all the way around
A fortune teller told me the power's in your mind
You might see a cliff, but I see a way to fly
Flipping off the flop, now I just enjoy the ride
Just enjoy the world, yeah, I just enjoy the ride
what a time
to be alive
Don't say goodbye
It's not the end of the world
No, not the end of the world
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
It's no funeral we're attending
Actually, just the beginning
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
It's not the end of the
No, not the end of the world
You can make a wish even on a satellite
On a plastic lash or anything you like
You can tame a dragon if you're not afraid to fight
Not afraid to fight, no, not afraid
what a time
to be alive
Don't say goodbye (don't say goodbye)
It's not the end of the world
No, not the end of the world
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
It's no funeral we're attending
Actually, just the beginning
Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire
Don't lose hope
Don't say goodbye
Don't say goodbye
Written by: Katy Perry / Paul Leka / Dale Frashuer / Gary De Carlo / Jacob Kasher Hindlin / Andrew Goldstein / Michael Pollack / Madison Love
In each episode of Bible Bash Podcast, , Liam Michael Hooper, a white trans Bible scholar and Don Durham, a white, cis, heterosexual farmer, minister, and podcaster take turns presenting the text. They then discuss. In addition, each episode they present another text, a non-Biblical text of note--religious or secular--that may or may not correspond to the Bible text.
Bible Bash Podcast is a collaborative project created by Liam Hooper, Don Durham, and Peterson Toscano.
Our theme song is Playbill by The Jellyrox. It is available on iTunes, Spotify, or through Rock Candy Recordings. The show is edited by Peterson Toscano.
To share your questions, comments, requests for passages to be discussed, or suggestions for guests who can talk about texts, email Liam & Don: convos@biblebashpodcast.com
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