Why do we get lines from Shakespeare and the Bible confused? Our host Chara explains why this is a common mistake happens and why the eternal Word of God is greater than the greatest work of Shakespeare. Verses Referenced: Psalm 119:89; 1 Peter 1:24-25; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Numbers 6: 24-26 Articles Referenced: How the Bible Influ…

If you enjoy listening to The Bible Never Said That, we've got another great show that you'll want to add to your playlist. Let us introduce you to How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice! In this podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helpi…

The promise here is that through Christ, I can find the strength to be content in any and all circumstances. Verses Referenced: Philippians 4:11-13, Galatians 1:10, James 4:13-15, Philippians 2:14-15, James 1:6-8 Articles Referenced: 10 Habitual Sins Women Especially Struggle With by Chara Donahue: https://bit.ly/3rsVwoV What Does it Mean “I Can Do…

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. – Proverbs 29:18 We’ll break this verse down, looking at several different versions, to get closer to a correct interpretation and application of this verse. Verses Referenced: Proverbs 29:18; Romans 1:18-20; Genesis 28:12; 2 Corinthians 12:1-7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17…

Most people who believe this is a Biblical idea use 1 Corinthians 10:13 as a support. But Chara helps us understand that the context of this is when we are under temptation, not suffering, and the weight of life’s circumstances. The idea that God won’t allow us to go through anything we can’t bear is just not supported in Scripture. This is not a c…

In this episode, Chara dives into a verse that has divided many Christians: "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..." Verses referenced: 1 Peter 3:18-22, Acts 2:38, Galatians 1:6-10, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 2…

VERSES REFERENCED: James 5:13-20, Numbers 12:13-15, 1 Kings 17:20-22, Mark 5:21-43, Acts 5:15-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 8:1-3, Revelation 21:4 ARTICLES REFERENCED: Why Doesn’t God Heal Every Sickness, Disease, and Illness? By Chris Russell: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/explore-the-bible/why-doesn-t-god-heal-every-sickness-disea…

In this episode of the Happy Rant, Ted Kluck, Ronnie Martin, and Barnabas Piper wander to and fro through a variety of topics: 1. Who we are, a brief introduction for new listeners 2. What we love about podcasting together 3. How we would describe our show: The Seinfeld of podcasts, a Piper family dinner party, and a description to aspirational col…

What does it mean for God to give us the desires of our hearts? Chara looks at what we misunderstand about this verse and what it really means for our desires. Verses Referenced: Psalm 37, Philippians 1:6, Deuteronomy 6:5, John 14: 27 Articles Referenced: The Promise of Peace by Chara Donahue: https://anchoredvoices.com/2016/06/16/the-promise-of-pe…

"The ultimate promise is not that we would escape suffering in this life, but that God will make every one of our agonies an instrument of his mercy, to do us good in the here and now, and the hereafter." - Joni Eareckson Tada Verses Referenced: Romans 8:28-31, Luke 22:40-44 BOOKS REFERENCED: - Counseling Through the Psalms: https://bit.ly/3wGUE2e …

Have you heard Proverbs 22:6 spoken as a promise, rather than using it as a principle? When we do this, we can come to some false conclusions about our parenting. We need to get clear about what our role in our relationship with our children and their own responsibilities toward God. VERSES REFERENCED: Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 127:4, Deuteronomy 24:16,…

We need to take time to wrestle with these verses from the Law. The good news is, Jesus gives a great sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, to clarify the Old Testament law for his listeners. Verses referenced: Exodus 21:22-25, Leviticus 24:17-20, Deuteronomy 19:16-21, Romans 12:19-21, Matthew 5:38-42, 1 Peter 3:8-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Hebrews 10:30 …

The Bible clearly says “Judge not.” But, it also says “Judge rightly.” You can make a defense for both if you pick out individual verses, so let’s explore all of them a bit more, in context, to get a better understanding of judgment. Articles Referenced: Judge Not, That You May Judge Well by Jon Bloom Books Referenced: All That's Good: Recovering t…

Episode 39: Putting Jeremiah 29:11 Back in Context This verse is plastered in walls, coffee mugs, and diaries. But without its historical and scriptural context, we miss its original intent and, thus, its meaning for us now. Don’t despair – if this verse comforts you, it still will when we’re done. Chara’s book recommendation this week: The Non-Pro…

We’re kicking off a new series called “Out of Context”. For the next ten episodes, we’ll look at a verse in the Bible that is commonly taken out of context. We’ll unpack it’s original meaning and figure out from there what it might really be saying to us, today. Verses referenced: John 2:13–16, Psalm 91:11-12, Luke 4:1:13, Revelation 22:12, Matthew…

Before we start our new series, we’re going to remind ourselves why it is so important to know what the Bible never says. Verses Referenced: Revelation 19:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 4:5-6, 2 Samuel 7:28, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 119:89, Matthew 24:35 Articles Referenced: 1. The Inerrancy of Scripture-Chapter 5 by Wayne Grud…

A lot of upbeat, positive, motivational sayings pop up around this time of year. Today, we are going to discuss one that I appreciate for its attempts at offering hope, but bristle at its limitations. Today, let’s unpack the ideas behind “New Year, New You.” The good news is, a new you is never limited to a specific date or time of year. Christ can…

Will our troubles really be "out of sight" next Christmas? The Bible doesn't say that. We are those who live knowing that "in this world you will have trouble..." Thankfully, the end of this Bible verse ends with a firm promise - "but take heart! I have overcome the world." In this episode, Chara discusses how our hearts can be light this Christmas…

Scriptures Referenced: Luke 1:34-38; John 6: 5-13; Luke 2:4-21; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Psalm 126:1, Philippians 4:8 Songs Referenced: Carol of the Drum by The Trapp Family Singers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwBSy3dVAKo Articles Referenced: A Wise Imagination by Chara Donahue: https://www.joyofit.org/blog/a-wise-imagination How the ‘Little Drummer…

Today we’re kicking off our Christmas series – “The Bible Never Said That… Even if Christmas Songs Do” Notes: Songs Referenced: Santa Claus is Coming to Town by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie Books Referenced: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis Verses Referenced: Isaiah 43:11, Isaiah 44:6, Psalm 139, Romans 1:25, 2 Peter 1:6, 1 …

**Chara is going to do a special holiday miniseries! Send Chara a message on her site or on Facebook with the Christmas sayings and songs that have no real basis in Scripture!** You can find Chara at Anchored Voices | Facebook | Twitter Today, though, we’re talking about love. How would you fill in this blank: “Love means ______”? Verses referenced…

In this episode, we look at the life of King Saul and how his plan to ask for forgiveness and not for permission backfired on him. Chara also unpacks why we cheapen forgiveness when we look at it as anything other than costly. Articles Referenced: Wikiquote: Grace Hopper Want to Succeed in Life? Ask for Forgiveness, Not Permission Verses Referenced…

In this episode, Chara and Peter discuss why so many of us take 1 Timothy 6:10 out of context and grab onto it as truth. What they cover: 1. What the text actually says, and how God wants us to view money. 2. Why we make an idol out of money (security, influence, status) 3. Why we matter apart from our money 4. How to think about poverty 5. God’s c…

When children are put first, it becomes not only unhealthy but devastating. If the aim of life fails short of what is pleasing to God most of all (to glorify him and worship him above all things) we are building our lives on shifting sands. What we discussed: 1.How does your day begin? Are you willing to start your day with Christ? 2.If the kids’ s…

Too many people in the church carry falsehood: if people are sick or suffering, they must have hidden sin.” The worldly version of this is: “If you are suffering, you must have done something to deserve it.” The Bible never says this. Today, Chara’s friend and mentor Laura Chica sits down and unpacks why we believe this and what the Bible really sa…

Today I'm talking with Matt Maceira, founder of an international street ministry called Be Bold Street Ministries. Be Bold is on the streets 7 days a week in Salem, Oregon. They serve and share the love of Christ with all people from all walks of life. Matt lived on the street for many years and wanted to address the saying, "Homeless people are la…

Here is Part 1 of Chara's interview with Matt – be sure to check it out! What we talk about this week: 1. Why “man up” is a popular idea, but why it’s not theologically sound. 2. The difference between toxic masculinity and masculinity that Jesus modeled for men. 3. Instead of telling men to “man up” – here’s a better encouragement. Notes: Verses R…

When I heard Matt MacCollin speak on breaking free of addiction, I knew that you needed to hear what he had to say. What we talked about: 1. Why Matt uses to word “victory” rather than “recovery” 2. Why “fake it ‘til you make it” leaves us destitute 3. Why the book of James was so helpful for Matt during his trials 4. Why “fake it ‘til you make it”…

Today, we’re wrapping up our first half-truth series. If you know your bible, you know the bible says that we reap what we sow. But we need to be able to discern between true, anchored hope, and false hope. We should give; we are absolutely called to be generous. But when we give, we need to check our hearts. Are we giving to be seen? Or are we giv…

This saying is meant to boost self-esteem. But self-esteem is a fickle thing, and the Bible never tells us to seek it. But when we look to the only perfect person to walk the earth, Christ, we find a better thing than self-esteem. *** Verses Referenced: Hebrews 10:12-13; Job 1:3; Job 1:8; Job 3:1–3; Philippians 3:12; Ephesians 1:3-7; 2 Cor 3:18; 2 …

Many of us who glory in our independence love to say, “God is the only one I need.” When we do this, we miss out on one of the great gifts of God: the family of believers God has given us. God clearly says he will meet our needs, not be the only one we need. Just look at our origin story- “It is not good for man to be alone.” Verses Referenced: Phi…

The Bible clearly says “Judge not.” But, it also says “Judge rightly.” You can make a defense for both if you pick out individual verses, so let’s explore all of them a bit more, in context, to get a better understanding of judgment. Articles Referenced: Judge Not, That You May Judge Well by Jon Bloom Books Referenced: All That's Good: Recovering t…

Is All Sin Equal? Yes… and no. Yes, all sin is equal in that all sin separates us from God. Apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ, all sin – big and small - condemns us. For those who believe, all sin is also covered by the blood of the cross. However, not all sin is equal in that there are varying consequences for varying sins. In this episo…

This is one of the oldest excuses in the book. In fact, this is the first excuse man and woman make after they sin. Is there any truth in this phrase? In this episode, Chara looks at legitimate instances of spiritual stronghold from the enemy, and when "the devil made me do it," becomes a mere excuse. Verses referenced: Genesis 3:11-13; 1 Peter 5:8…

This is one of those half-truths. God wants us to be happy. He also wants us to be holy. It’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and. In this episode, Chara helps us understand how to think about our happiness and what God does and does not desire for us. Verses Referenced: Psalm 37:4, Galatians 5:16, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 John 2:17, Psalm 37:9-11, 1 J…

We struggle in a society where no absolute truth is acknowledged, where “your truth” and “my truth” can be completely opposite and yet somehow equally “true.” In an attempt to be tolerant, we have risked giving up the discernment needed to draw a line between what is true and false. We are settling for individualized truth rather than what is true.…

This phrase is so popular that even Dictionary.com has an origin story for it. In this episode, we dive into why "cleanliness is next to Godliness" is problematic. Chara helps us understand why there were so many rules and regulations around cleanliness in the Old Testament, and what, if anything, we can and should take from that today. Scripture R…

Too many people explain away the toxicity in their relationships with this saying. What does the Bible say about love? It says: love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evi…

Is there any merit to the notion that “ignorance is bliss?” Chara unpacks this idea and looks at it through the lens of the Bible. We look at the story of Apollos to see how God interrupted his ignorance so that the gospel could spread. Articles Referenced: 7 Steps to a Deeper Understanding of the Bible 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives …

When people evaluate their lives, they see the need to evaluate their priorities. It is wise to assess how we spend our time, but to say life is all about balance is placing too much stock in an abstract idea. For the Christian life, it can only ever be all about Christ. Finding balance seems like a sound way to operate in life. But we break down w…

We can’t just discover bad habits and sin patterns and shrug our shoulders, saying, well, no one can change. Nope. That is not what the Bible says about putting off the old self. Verses Referenced: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Acts 4-15; Acts 9:26-28; Mark 14:51–52; Corinthians 9:6; 2 Timothy 4:11; Colossians 2:13-14; John 10:27-29 Articles Referenced: 10 T…

There is a hope more powerful than time. That hope is Jesus. But how do we find healing when days might be hard to face, when each step is a struggle? Verses Referenced: Genesis 6-9, James 4:7, Psalm 46, Romans 12:2, John 1:3-4, Isaiah 61, Psalm 6, 1 John 4:16, 1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 4:13 Articles Referenced: 10 Theological Statements That Are Theolo…

This is a sneaky little lie that tells us relationships can function well on a 50/50 bargain. But as Jesus followers, we look to a higher standard, one where we strive to outdo one another in showing honor and love. Verses Referenced: 1 John 3:16, John 15:13, 1 Peter 4:10, 2 Samuel 17:27-29, 2 Samuel 19:31-39, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Psalm 1:1-3, Gene…

Verses Referenced: Psalm 46:1; Exodus 20:18-22; 2 Corinthians 11:25-31; Hebrews 11:32-38 Book Referenced: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: https://amzn.to/3qgnDpt Radical by David Platt: http://lfwy.co/3mvKTxe The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripkin: http://lfwy.co/2I2HUxy Articles Referenced: 10 Popular Statements that Are Theol…

Those who believe in Christ have the joy of living with the hope of heaven, not just the joy of the journey. The journey helps us be transformed into Christ's likeness, but the destination holds the promise of an everlasting, perfect life with Jesus and the fellowship of believers. Every life journey ends in one of two destinations, and those desti…

Most people who believe this is a Biblical idea use 1 Corinthians 10:13 as a support. But Chara helps us understand that the context of this is when we are under temptation, not suffering and the weight of life’s circumstances. The idea that God won’t allow us to go through anything we can’t bear is just not supported in Scripture. This is not a ca…

This mantra – looking out for one’s own interests above all others – comes from a culture that has seen humanity fail time and time again. A culture that is wounded, that cries out, “You can’t trust anyone!” But adopting this mantra moves us away from Christ and into a place of self-preservation. Looking out for #1 was never what guided Jesus. His …

We hear this idea everywhere, and we want to trust it. We want our hearts to speak and offer pure advice. But our voice is not God’s voice, and our hearts don’t always offer wise counsel. Jeremiah 17:9 plainly tells us, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” From Carpe Diem to YOLO, the world has always p…

It’s good to want to grow, to be a better person. But Jesus calls us to a specific kind of growth. Our spiritual growth is not about attaining perfection, but surrendering to and being led by our perfect Savior. In this episode, Chara unpacks the damage that the mentality “God helps those who help themselves” can have on a Christian’s life, and giv…

Rest is a spiritual discipline we are really good at neglecting. You may have once said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” as a way to assuage your spiral into burnout. It might work for the moment, but a chronic lack of real rest drives us straight toward anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. In this episode, Chara dives into what God's Word really has to …