I was baptized into Jesus on November 25, 1990. That was 34 years ago. In today's episode I sit down to reflect on that with the man, the myth, the legend who led me to Jesus, and baptized me, my father, Pastor Charles Robinson. Love you, Dad!

Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, the LORD appears to Abram to renew their covenant relationship. Among His declarations, God elaborates on the future of Abram's descendants, expands Abram and Sarai's sense of identity, gives Abram a covenant ritual his descendants are to perpetually practice, and makes one particular promise that will require and reveal God's wondrous power. I invite you to join me in this episode as we seek to understand these developments.

Frustrated by her barren state, Sarai comes up with a solution to help her husband produce an heir: she will give her slave girl, Hagar, to him as a surrogate. But when Hagar conceives, she grows contemptive of her mistress. When Abram supports Sarai's power and authority over her slave girl, Sarai proceeds to abuse Hagar. It is a dark and uncomfortable story. But when the LORD's angel appears, the story takes a sudden turn. I invite you to join me in today's episode as we explore how God is paying attention to even the little people.

When the LORD answers a concern voiced by Abram, Abram responds in a very significant way that signals Abram is ready to level-up in his relationship with God. So God initiates a ritual that has ramifications for the historical long game of Scripture's story. I invite you to join me in today's episode as we explore the ceremonial certification of the LORD's relationship with Abram, and what that relationship still means for us today.

Genesis 14 begins by treating readers to a fascinating piece of war drama. But when that war drama eventually sweeps up Abram's nephew, Abram musters his men to respond with a rescue mission. In the wake of his victory, Abram meets two very different kings who each possess very different views of how power is playing out in the land. I invite you to join me in this episode as we explore the role Abram chose to play in that unfolding game of power.

When Abram and Lot's shepherds discover that two large herds cannot occupy the same fields, concerns of scarcity suddenly create conflict. These concerns soon incite Abram to make Lot an offer that actually put the land he was promised at risk. I invite you to join me in this episode as we explore how a relationship with God frames a mindset that transcends scarcity and visualizes how God's goodness is more.

As Abram journeys south, he is confronted by the first stress test of his faith. I invite you to join me in today's episode as we explore how, when Abram's faith first faltered, he learned that God's faithfulness to him does not.

Having received the LORD's call and promise, Abram must now respond. I invite you to join me in this episode as we explore what Abram's response is, and how that response puts him on a road to not just great expectations, but a great and unique relationship.