Fourthstream - Finding Hope

Fourthstream.com weekly podcasts are focused on non-religious, kingdom spirituality. Kingdom spirituality: a state of experiencing an authentic connection with God resulting in a satisfied mind. Insights into authentic spirituality: King first - then Kingdom - then church.

Q003 - What Is Truth? 07/15/2026

Q002 – Is There One True God? 07/08/2026

Q001 - Where Did The Jews Come From? 06/24/2026

S10E032 - Am I a Kingdom Scribe? 06/16/2026

S10E31 - What are the Kingdom Rewards? 06/09/2026

S10E30 - Why Submission Of Self? 06/02/2026

S10E29 - What Is Kingdom Courage? 05/27/2026

S10E28 - How Do I Live Gratefully? 05/20/2026

S10E27 - Suffering And Honor 05/13/2026

S10E26 - Humility And The Kingdom 05/06/2026

S10E25 - What Is My Kingdom Mission? 04/29/2026

S10E24 - How Do I Pray The Kingdom Way? 04/22/2026

S10E23 - What Is Organic Growth? 04/15/2026

S10E22 - What Makes A Kingdom Marriage? 04/07/2026

S10E21 - What Makes A Kingdom Home? 03/31/2026

S10E20 - What Is Kingdom Character? 03/25/2026

S10E19 - Am I Experiencing True Community? 03/11/2026

S10E18 - How Does Spirit Happen for Me? 03/04/2026

S10E17 - Do I Know God? 02/24/2026

S10E16 - Is Jesus My Healer? 02/18/2026

S10E15 - What Is Connectivity With God? 02/10/2026

S10E15 - What Is Connectivity With God? It is one thing to know ABOUT someone but we go much deeper when we connect through personal knowledge and shared experiences. What are the keys to finding personal connection with God? Is it indeed possible to "hear God's voice" as some people talk about? Are we truly able to walk side by side with God? This is key: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Knowing God is both easy and complex. The more we choose to honor Him the deeper our relationship with Him becomes. By walking side by side with Jesus we find connectivity with our Father. The Bible appears to indicate that honor, transparency, and fluidity in sharing myself with Him is huge. Our connectivity grows as we choose to honor Him more than we choose to honor ourselves. Easier said than done. And yet this is exactly what Jesus showed and taught us. The more focused we are on honoring Him the more truthful and transparent we become. Think about it. It is kind of dumb to try to hide things from the One Who sees everything. If we choose honor and transparency, we live in a fluid relationship with God. Everything to learn. Nothing to lose. An endless life process of spiritual growth. We are meant to mature in our faith: "When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 Pursuit of personal connectivity results in spiritual maturity: "Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." Hebrews 5:11-14 Can you see the thread? Jesus spent much time explaining this connectivity to His disciples. To know and follow Jesus is to re-connect with our Father. Honor was everything to Jesus. Transparency with His Father was His complete pursuit. When this becomes a back and forth fluidity we can know we are hearing the Voice of God - just as Jesus did. Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” John 7:28,29 To think about: What is the difference between "knowing about" and finding connectivity? What is the nature of personal knowledge that comes through friendship? In what ways is it possible for us to share experiences with the Father? How deep is your desire for honor? In what ways are you open to being transparent with God, and what brings this about for you? What are the fruits of connectivity? (Things like Acceptance, Confidence, Peace of mind, and Reassurance.) Is there any reason this should not be a clear choice for one who is serious about God? Dave and Burnadette Related Links (this is deep): /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/40060215

S10E14 - What Is God Treasure? 02/03/2026

S10E14 - What Is God Treasure? God Treasure is Kingdom Treasure After teaching His incredibly transferable Kingdom parables (the Sower, the Wheat and the Weeds, the Seed, the Leaven, the Hidden Treasure, the Costly Pearl, and the Dragnet) Jesus makes a curious statement and asks His disciples a question in Matthew 13:51-52. “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Let's give this some careful thought as we encounter what the God Story says about treasure. Jesus is crystal clear regarding the perishable and imperishable (Matthew 6:19-24) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." He then includes a Light and Darkness metaphor: “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Is He saying that wealth is evil? No. It appears He is once again is commenting on what shows honor. √ What is capturing your heart? It is very difficult to avoid the concerns of this life, but quite important to keep "a clear eye" with regard to earthly treasures. √ How do we allow Jesus and His Kingdom to captivate our hearts so that we can be good for the mission of the Kingdom church? √ Paul talks about making use of the world but not making full use of it. Where do you land on this? "But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away." 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 The Treasure Process "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs and pains." 1 Timothy 6:6-10 If Jesus has all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden within Himself (Colossians 2:3) - then knowing Him is everything. We exchange what our world can only offer temporarily for the Kingdom circle: Pure Heart, Know God, Do Kindness, Grow Life. These are the treasures which will travel with us into the life to come! This is interesting: "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward." Hebrews 11:24-26 It seems to us that God Treasure is our greatest value. Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39985965

S10E13 - Clarity Within The Chaos 01/20/2026

S10E13 - Clarity Within The Chaos To our Fourthstream Friends! It seems timely to dive once again into the Turbulence and Imperfection which appear to be chasing the human family. You can find our book on this subject under Fourthstream.com/Learning/Books. Clarity from Chaos Several weeks ago we were rear-ended by a semi on I-80 traveling to share Jesus things at an awesome conference in Cedar Rapids, where we were to speak in the hearing of many serious-minded young men and women. In one moment our entire world turned over. Focus and clarity of purpose were consumed by chaos. Yet our lives appeared to have been spared by the careful, surgical, hand of God. At one point our doctor remarked “did the trucker even slow down at all?” Our car was totaled, all three of us were beaten up, and each with no apparent broken bones or major lacerations (we were told this in the ER in Grinnell). Lots of pain. In those cold minutes waiting for the ambulances to arrive (30 minutes?) we were communicating our gratefulness and concerns to each other. My son stepped up, my wife held to faith, and I moaned. It was so surreal I had difficulty processing - I really had never experienced such force trauma in all my life experiences. Burney found my heavy coat and put it over me as window and windshield glass fell everywhere. Then we needed to wait. Air bags spent and flapping in the winter wind. Here is the part I wanted to share with you. I have never had a near death experience, but as I sat there everything became very white. As I remarked about this (in my blurry, painful, frosty mind fog) I looked over at my son John and told him that his jeans had snow all over them - that they were shining. He and Burney were quiet. Then from the back seat “are you dying?” I responded with the words “I am not sure.” And then it hit my heart - it did not matter. My soul was settled. I was ready to take the final steps of this life and move on. Her next words “I love you” were perhaps the last thing I would hear on this earth. Life is so complicated: birth, growing up, living it all out, and preparing for a final exit. I wanted to let you know that above the pain and fear I felt peace. Jesus is not only the King of the earth, He is MY King. And now I have been given more days to attempt to honor Him from my heart and with the works of my hands. Faith often unfolds in the midst of trouble, right? So it looks like yet another faith pivot in my life. Deep inside I am both grateful to be alive and longing to move forward. Thanks for being our friends - praying for us - and joining us in the path of Jesus faithfulness. We will see what this next phase entails! Here is the idea. “We live within a great paradox. While we work hard to control the circumstances and issues of our lives there are many things which are dictated by realities. These things are not insignificant in their power to impact our peace of mind and our contentment - about where we have come, who we are, and where we feel we are headed. More often than not life has delivered us some kind of turbulence – even chaos. Imperfection resides everywhere, and pain and uncertainty surrounds us in the form of challenges and disappointments – even within our most cherished hopes and dreams. This unpredictable mix reaches out to cover the end of our journeys as well: what exactly does happen when I die? It is easy to get stuck on the questions "why me?" or "what did I do wrong?" The God Story reality is that turbulence and imperfection are everywhere. We have no good choice but to look Up. Worth reasoning through in a very personal way, Dave and Burnadette and John /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39795015

S10E12 - What Is The Real Battle? 12/10/2025

S10E12 - What Is The Real Battle? PURITY IN HONOR AND SURVIVAL AND VICTORY IN LIFEWARNING - THIS IS A LONG AND INVOLVED CONVERSATION - BUT WORTH YOUR TIME! “I am in my early 70’s. Much has changed in the realm of what is pure and what is impure during my lifetime. But then, of course, information has exploded (Daniel 12:4). We struggle like never before when it comes to our sexuality, our intimacy, and our oneness as a man and a woman. You know this. Those with open eyes understand. There are several anchors in God’s Word which are able to help deliver us from being consumed by impurity and lust. This is tricky. But take the time to reason through this for your own welfare - and for those you love. While this can look different for a man or a woman, we are both offered the opportunity to honor God and one another through our purity choices. This has little to do with being religious and much more with being spiritually free. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 contains the most focused discussion of honor for God through purity - though the subject is woven throughout the God Story. From it we learn that: √ It is God's heart for us to be "set apart" in our purity (sanctified) √ Our purity is not merely an issue of body but involves our mind, conscience, heart, and soul. We are apparently "called to this." (intergenerational apology?) √ Sexual purity means we will "possess our vessels" in honor and choose to abstain from immorality. It is not difficult in the Biblical corpus to define purity vs immorality. (open any book of the Bible) √ Setting aside "lustful passions" we are to subject this part of us to honor - both to God and our choices not to "transgress or defraud others." We are "hijacked to this" √ The Holy Spirit given to us when we believe in Jesus allows us to "go over and above" what has become our most natural entrapment. This is neither a man problem or a woman problem. Let's take a look at the uphill challenge we face. #1 The Roots of Human Destruction “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” - Genesis 4:7 There are relatively very few people at this point in the world. Cain and Abel have much to reveal to us about the new trajectory of man and womankind. Several textual questions: - What is our countenance? - What does it mean for it to be lifted up? - What does it mean to “do well?” - What does crouching at the door imply/look like? - Why does sin desire me? - How do I “master" it? #2 The Reality of God’s Plan for Purity So here is a mind blower. As you read do not make the mistake I have before where I have thought this is only directed toward a male. Not so. It is for us both. “Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well. Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain (digging flow) be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving life encounter and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; be exhilarated always with her love. For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a "calamitous one" not belonging to you? For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths. His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin. He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.” Proverbs 5:15-23 Several textual questions: - What fountain is being discussed here? - What does exhilaration look like over a day? A year? A decade? Into your 70’s and beyond? - What makes a man or woman invite the calamity of adultery into our lives, and what is the scope of this upon a heart, mind, and conscious? - How much importance/focus does God place upon our purity and why? What is His goal for us? #3 The Partnership of Intimacy Burnadette and I have been partners for over 50 years. We married selfish, but because we have mutually submitted to Jesus we have found oneness. It is a choice, according to Paul - the unmarried one - which belongs to us both. Here is one of the trickiest passages about intimacy. “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” - 1 Corinthians 7:3 Some people see this as unenlightened - even neanderthal. Several textual questions:- What duty is described here? - How does this happen when men and women are so different? - Why the conversation about authority - and why here? - What is the ultimate goal within our hard work in our sexuality (pun intended)? #4 The Roots of Porn and Immorality - The sons of God and the daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-7. “Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” √ What was the impact upon the seed of Adam (our gene pool - our mind pool? our heart pool?) Is there any doubt that these are angels? √ What was God’s response to the condition of those who were to bear His image? √ Why is Noah so key and where does he fit into our lives? The strategies of Satan in opposing God and His people: exploitation and spiritual death. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Confuse. Consume. Divide. Conquer. Devour. Impurity has ancient roots of dishonor toward our Creator. Sexual sin consumes the God-life in us. We overcome personal impurity by overcoming satan’s influence in our lives, and dismantling strongholds and lofty things (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). THIS IS AS OLD AS THE GARDEN STORY The spirit of Asherah is represented in a Phoenician goddess. One of three: Asherah, Astarte, and Anath - she is emblematic of the choice of any human to replace our Creator with a seductive idol. She is the phallic invitation - note her historic images highlighting her breasts and vagina. Sexual impurity is idolatry and brings many levels of bondage. “She” is destructive and holds people captive and harms and robs everyone who chooses her. She literally drains life from relationships. We are so desensitized to her work we have developed many takes on who she is and what harm and control she exerts when we give our hearts over to her. She must be overcome by God-strength and spiritual warfare (more later). The Spirit of Jezebel is clear from the Biblical character of the same name. Read about Elijah, Ahab, and Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31; 18-21; 2 Kings 9) and Revelation 2:20. She is manipulative, self-serving, wicked and seductive, and a flesh and blood example of how a person can be a linchpin for evil (prophets of Baal). That any one person can be this evil is telling. Jezebel goes way beyond seduction to slavery. When the spirit of Jezebel is ignored or embraced the descent is inevitable. Can you see her activity and presence in these last 50 years (and beyond)? Babylon the Whore is summarized in Revelation 17:1-7: “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.” And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” In Jordan Peterson’s book “We Who Wrestle With God” we ran across this quote and thought it was very insightful into the warfare where we find ourselves against the “whore of Babylon.” It helps us with perspective on the roots - and the solution to our dilemma of impurity. “The key to understanding the nature of the feminine descent into chaos in the biblical text is to be found in identification of the common, uniting and context-establishing theme of habitation in Babylon—the degenerate city that also happens to be the habitation of the matriarch of all whores: “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon, the Great, The Mother of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth” (Revelation 17:4-5). It is all the people who inhabit the great but false edifice who become unable to communicate, after all—men, and women with them. What happens when the patriarchal degenerates, and loses its unity; when it cheapens itself, and becomes sinful? The matriarchal loses its higher purposes, as well, fracturing and regressing, making itself subject to the twin forces of power and hedonism that inevitably rise up when the God who, properly reigns above dies, however temporarily. "The Whore of Babylon is the spirit that makes herself present—even worshiped—when women employ the power of sexual seductiveness as a tool of manipulation and advance and for the purposes of immediate hedonistic self-gratification. This—the degeneration of femininity into commoditized sex—is an inevitable consequence of moral failure on the masculine side, even though it is not something only to be laid at the feet of men. The proclivity for this to occur is an analog to the temptations of the Luciferian intellect. The immense sexual attractiveness of healthy, beautiful women is a gift or talent that, like intelligence, can go terribly wrong. This is much more likely to occur, of course, when the male community has abandoned its responsibility, not least to abide by the sacred dictates of monogamy—to substitute for that casual pleasure and worship of the power that makes such pleasure at least temporarily more available (albeit only to a few, however unsustainably and unreliably, in the final analysis, even to them). This is not to understate the complicity of women: the temptation to flaunt and profit by what is attractive regardless of consequences, future and social, is a clear and prominent hallmark of female manipulativeness and immaturity. The Dark Triad or Tetrad traits described previously in relation to men predict also, for example, feminine proclivity to trade sex for desired resources (money, most directly) or to avoid the productive and generative responsibility of marriage and motherhood. The “brutish form” referred to is the true identity lurking behind the mask of shallow sexual attractiveness monetized in the present world so often, and in so many diverse forms—all produced, distributed, and purchased by the technological sons of Cain. The full domain of such sin and the all-encompassing span of its nature is revealed within the relevant texts, as well, in other complex manners. First is the association between Babylon and harlotry, per se, which we have already alluded to: The denigration and exploitation of women (by others and by themselves), particularly on the sexual front, is linked in the biblical corpus and then more explicitly by commentators with the rise of the prideful and technocratic spirit of Babel. This may well be something necessary to reflect upon in a time when technology has allied itself with prostitution in a manner so widespread and pervasive that it is a kind of perverse miracle. Some twenty-five percent of total web traffic involves the dissemination of pornographic material. This is certainly the technologically mediated subjugation of the feminine to the hedonistic and narrowly economic and, more deeply, the alliance of the prostitute (or her virtual equivalents) with the terrible spirit of arrogant irresponsibility characterizing the builders of the eternal Babylon. It was the possibility of broad access to pornographic material that was even one of the driving factors for both the development and widespread instantaneous and enthusiastic adoption of the world wide web. So why do YOU think immorality is so powerful and invasive into humanity? STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS TO COME: #5 How do we overcome and be victorious in something so prevalent? We must dive more deeply into: √ Understanding and engaging in spiritual warfare (and the evil one's current strategies) √ The pursuit of transparency and a clear conscience √ Courageous spiritual confrontation of satan’s schemes √ Prayer for protection for my wife and myself and my kids and grands √ Using the sword of the Spirit and the shield of faith for true knowledge and open eyes We will never be free from this temptation while in these bodies. Yet there is a WAY to "master it." What a complicated challenge. We get it. In Yet in Jesus we can find victory. Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39351160

S10E11 - Will You Reign With Me? 12/02/2025

S10E11 - Will You Reign With Me? Throughout the entire Word of God the idea of reigning means God has, does, and will always have dominion. Rulership. He IS the King. His Kingship was displayed throughout all of history and humanity when King Jesus arrived on earth to conquer death. Paul explains to Timothy that the following statement can be counted on because it represents the truth expressed throughout the Word of God - a "thread" if you will. "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13 Let's break this down: We can count on this statement because it is reflective of the entire story for all the nations. When we surrender our lives to Jesus we die to ourselves. Our self-kingship is over - submitted to the King Himself. When we live steadfastly in the truth we experience endurance. But if we deny the truth of Who He is and what He has accomplished He will deny us. Believing is reciprocal. His work and our work meet (or not). Yet if we find ourselves unfaithful or faithless He is resolute in His faithfulness to us - because to do otherwise He would have to deny Himself inasmuch as He has bought us with such a great price. The idea that we will "reign with Him forever" is a mind blower. We can count on this for sure: we WILL accompany Him in death. We will make our forever existence with Him. If we continue to engage His work on earth with our hands we will become kings with Him. "While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately." Luke 19:11 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you will be in authority over ten cities.’" Luke 19:17 When we become a follower of Jesus we enter into His eternal identity. We serve Him because we have already become Kings - apparently destined to reign with Him through faith in the Messiah. "And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:5 This world is going to give way to a new heavens and earth. "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea." Revelation 21:1 As we said: mind-blower! So to summarize: √ There is only one true king over the earth √ He conquered death for all who choose to believe in His name √ When we "die" by humbling ourselves we come to life √ If we deny Him He denies us our God-friendship and all it entails √ If we are weak in faith He holds on to us - because we are a part of Him √ We then reign forever in a new heavens and earth - we become kings! A pretty amazing promise! Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39243770

S10E10 - What Is Real First Place? 11/26/2025

S10E10 - What Is Real First Place? Doesn't it feel great to come in first place? And it so seldom happens! There is only one first place in any event or competition. Has this happened for you? Exhilarating. Rewarding. For most of us (such as myself) a never experienced event. No matter how attainable it is the promise of the prize that motivates. "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 SO SELF-CONTROL APPEARS TO BE KEY. FOCUS. DILIGENCE. THE ULTIMATE FIRST PLACE But guess who gets them all!? Every first place. This is probably why it feels so good to win at anything. We are emulating something locked into the image of Adam - and within our Rescuer for sure. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." Colossians 1:15-20 HOW HONOR BRINGS US INTO FIRST PLACE Jesus' whole purpose was to honor His Father. His focus was to always place His Father's will above His own. It is the same for us. It is why: “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” Luke 9:48 Our whole purpose is to Honor Him. We find the path of honor by becoming less. “He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30/John the Baptist - cousin of Jesus. √ How do we find honor with God? √ How do we give true honor to people? √ What causes us to live an honorable life? √ What does honor bring to the life to come? (2 Timothy 2:12) This kind of honor is character-based - woven with resolve and deep belief about my importance and my worth. Perhaps first place requires a humility that more often looks like last place. Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39178690

S10E9 - Come To Me 11/18/2025

S10E9 - Come To Me When Jesus appeared on earth He engaged 100% in His mission. He was sent by His Father (Father-Son-Holy Spirit) to buy back the lost souls of mankind and to offer escape to every son of Adam and daughter of Eve. He extends Kingdom partnership to any and all who see the need and live out the same heart of rescue Jesus embraced. This is the nature of deep connectivity with the purposes of our King. Let's break down Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-29. These words give us incredible practical insight into experiencing connectivity with the King of the earth. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29 COME TO ME Walk toward me and follow my ways. Walk WITH me. Choose daily to leave futility and move toward meaning. WEARY & HEAVY LADEN Move beyond the tough work of being human and the weights of the accumulations of this life. Beyond toil, loss, fear, anger, and hopelessness into the "light" of God. REST I give you upward satisfaction and hope for an unburdened forever. The meaning you long for is found in following Me, My example, and living out your own faith, hope and love. MY YOKE Come and lift with me and share (and relieve) the weight of never-ending toil - knowing you are not alone and your strivings have purpose. Together we plant seeds, cultivate the Kingdom crop, and prepare for an incredible eternal harvest. GENTLE & HUMBLE IN HEART I have come to where you are. I understand you. I forgive your weaknesses and your sin. I AM grace. I bring you your freedom. EASY & LIGHT My yoke is offered to help make the load bearable. "A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two." I am pulling with you and for you. As we follow Jesus' example we become a community of light: "...for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light."Ephesians 5:8 THE BIG PICTURE WE SHARE IN: Because of the mercies of God we have been included and invited to things beyond our wildest dreams. Paul discusses this in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. In His resurrection, (has any other religious figure in all of history accomplished such a documented feat of conquering death? - No), we find what no one else can offer. It is in the death of death we find our greatest hope. "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him (the Father). When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all." Following Jesus is all about connectivity. We find the way, the truth, and the life by following in His teachings and His footsteps. We come to Him and invite others to do the same. And there is no pressure in this. "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:7 Come to Me. This is peace, meaning, and rest to the fullest extent! Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/39078930

S10E8 - Believe In Me 11/11/2025

S10E8 - Believe In Me Knowing Jesus is very personal. Even though millions have and will believe in Him, every relationship is individual. Unique. Filled with potential for personal honor. Jesus' disciple John watched all of this unfold with his own eyes, and several decades later wrote down his gospel so that we, too, could experience belief that would be able to sustain us in this life and carry us into the life to come. This growing belief (faith) helps us to interact for our own personal spirituality. John used the word "believe" to describe this in his gospel and his letters. Believe means to entrust ourselves to Him and have confidence in the power and truth of His Words. In this podcast we contemplate what it looks like to have growing faith in Jesus. It doesn't matter what background story you have - your ability to believe is a gift from God - if you want it! To do this we follow some of the "thread" John includes in his Gospel. This can help us unfold the hundreds of examples and teachings through the stories found in the Word of God. JESUS IS THE FOOD & WATER OF LIFE Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." (John 6:35) “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38) In short (and long) Jesus is the One Who sustains us. We can come to Him for spiritual food (see John 6) and by believing in Him have received the water of life which has been placed within us. This allows us to live lives of continual reconnection with our Father-Creator. THE GROWTH OF OUR FAITH "...but if I do these works, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:38) When speaking with the woman at the well: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25) So He feeds us spiritual food in this life, sustains us with living water placed within us (the Spirit), and gives us the gift of resurrection after this life is finished. We will NEVER die! THIS PROCESS BEGINS THE MOMENT WE BELIEVE We now move into a life based upon Light rather than darkness. No longer are we groping around - we have the lamp of God showing us our path through darkness and into light. “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." (John 12:46) This includes living above and beyond fear, which is a huge gift found through believing. In John 14:1 Jesus says “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." WE BECOME CONDUITS OF LIFE TO THOSE AROUND US “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20) This is cool: “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:24-31) Belief in Jesus is a life-giving process that once begun - never ends! I begin to learn about my Father through my believing Jesus connection, and over and over again find myself "...drawing near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) Lots of turbulence around us for sure! Peace to your believing heart! Dave and Burnadette More: /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/38993540

S10E7 - The Mysteries 11/04/2025

S10E7 - The Mysteries How do you navigate true mysteries? What things are already known? What is becoming known as the story unfolds? While the Word of God is plain concerning most things, there are also aspects of God's will which are filled with unfolding mystery. This occurs on a global scale (no man knows the hour or the day) while throughout time things continue unfolding personally - generation after generation (such as people awakening to God). About God mystery: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8/the first and the last "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, Who was and Who is and Who is to come." Revelation 4:8/the true story of time. At the center of mystery is the Bride of Jesus. This Bride is made up of all who are being purified for the greatest wedding of all time (Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:9) "Of this church I was made a servant according to the stewardship from God placed upon on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been made plain to His saints. Those whom God willed to make known the nature of the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." Colossians 1:25-29 Let's return to Matthew and to Jesus' Kingdom parables where He takes the time to present the nature of the Kingdom to His current and future disciples (followers). Each metaphor gives us insight into what He is doing and where we fit into His plans for us - as we find ears to hear and eyes to see. They unfold mystery for each one of our souls. The Sower (Matthew 13:18-23) teaches us why things are the way they are. Seeds, soil, sower. Hours of meditating for our ears and eyes as we seek to hear and see. The Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-31) helps us contemplate why there is so much deceptive turmoil in the world. These "tares" were weeds that were almost indistinguishable from the crop, and ripping them out would wreck the harvest crop. The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) Though small it exceeded all seeds in growing power. We function based upon appearance. God considers fruit and crops. The Leaven (Matthew 13:33) Jesus is the mystery ingredient. His Spirit animates our spiritual growth. It transforms the bread. It transforms us. The Treasure (Matthew 13:44) What a great story about value! True treasure means real value. It transforms our approach. Where we set our heart. The Dazzling Pearl (Matthew 13:45-46) This pearl transcended most treasure. It was birthed and grown by God and discovered by men. Once valued it became the apple of this dealer's eye. The Dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) Here we return to the end of the age when all "fish" will be brought in by dragnet and sorted out. So many mysteries - so little time. Don't fall into the trap of casting our King and His mysteries as lackluster or boring. When our eyes are open to true value the world of our soul animates! √ We will reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2:12) √ All things will be made new. (Revelation 21:5) √ We will share His glory. (Revelation 19:7) √ We will know as we have been known! (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2) This is so cool! "Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret (circle) of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant. My eyes are continually toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net." Psalm 25:12-15 Enjoying the unfolding mystery with you! Dave and Burnadette /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/38908625

S10E6 - Eyes to See 10/28/2025

S10E6 - Eyes to See What does it mean to see with spiritual eyes? Because we are created in God's image we have body, soul, spirit, heart, mind, and conscience. From this amazing mixture comes our ability to live out His greatness. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord God we dishonored Him. Our inherent greatness would now become a millstone of self-perpetuation and arrogance. We would no longer see the world through our God-eyes. Paul summarized this well: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." Romans 1:18-23 In Isaiah 6:1-3 we find the prophetic backdrop for all Jesus did to rescue mankind. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord..." In the prophets we find the root reason and purpose for the miracles of Jesus. "Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see; who have ears but do not hear. Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. Do you not tremble in My presence?" Jeremiah 5:21-22 "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house." Ezekiel 12:1,2 God wants us to have open spiritual eyes and ears. Notice that the only two-step miracle of Jesus occurs in context of this same "eyes and ears" quote from the prophets in the book of Mark: And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” Mark 8:22-26 Now return to Isaiah 9: "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land - the light will shine on them...For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His dominion or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this." What does all of this mean? √ Jesus explains to His disciples why He speaks in parables. (Matthew 13:10-17/He wants us to see and hear) √ He gives the parable of the sower so we can understand the "big picture." √ He then explains the mysteries of the Kingdom: (sower), wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, the leaven, the treasure, the magnificent pearl, and the fishing net √ Jesus discusses this in Revelation 2-3 as He explains Kingdom connection to the Church. At the end Jesus asks a key question for all of us: “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:51-52 We will return to this passage as we complete our series (in a few weeks :) These Kingdom parables are huge. We must understand them. Meditate upon them. Integrate our lives into the truths Jesus presents in them. Simple yet complex. Understandable yet so deep. A gift to the sons of Adam and Eve - a gift to you! Here's to open eyes to see and ears to hear for ourselves and our neighbors! Dave and Burnadette /episode/index/show/fourthstreamfindinghope/id/38810900

Fourthstream - Finding Hope

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