Paul’s Thorn

Paul's Thorn Podcast Episode 20: Jacob Wrestles in Peniel

Today's episode takes us to one of the most mysterious and fascinating encounters in the Bible: Jacob wrestling through the night at Peniel in Genesis 32: 22-32.  We'll explore three key themes from this remarkable story: wrestling with God, transformation through vulnerability, and the surprising relationship between blessing and disability.

Paul's Thorn Podcast Episode 19: The Walk to Emmaus

Today we’re walking alongside one of the most moving resurrection stories in the Bible: the Walk to Emmaus, found in the Gospels of Luke 24:13-35 and Mark 16:12-13.

Paul's Thorn Episode 18: In the Wilderness

Today’s episode is called In the Wilderness, and we’re going to explore what Jesus’ time in the desert can teach us about limitation, identity, and the unexpected presence of God in places that feel empty.

Bonus: Winter Birds

Intended as relaxing background audio.  Recorded on a Winter morning on Camano Island.  (Part 4 of a 4 season audio soundscape project)
 

Paul's Thorn Episode 17- Love That Bears the Thorn

What does real love look like when life includes weakness, suffering, or disability? In this episode of Paul’s Thorn, we reflect on 1 Corinthians 13, Paul’s Thorn, and Romans 8 to discover a love that bears, endures, and never lets us go.

Bonus: Fall Birds on the Island

Intended as relaxing background audio.  Recorded on a Fall morning on Camano Island.  (Part 3 of a 4 season audio project)
 

Paul's Thorn Episode 16: Who’s a Good Servant? Dogs, Scripture, and Holy Loyalty

Dogs appear in Scripture as symbols of those pushed to the margins, used as insults, metaphors for shame, and reminders of who society believes does not belong. And yet…again and again, dogs show up near the vulnerable—near the sick, the poor, the forgotten. In one of Jesus’ most haunting parables, it is the dogs who draw close to a disabled, suffering man when no one else will. They notice him. They remain with him. They offer what comfort they can.
So today, we’ll ask some deeper questions:What does it mean that Scripture places dogs alongside the overlooked?What does it tell us about dignity, worth, and compassion?And what might we learn about disability—not from the powerful or the praised—but from those who linger at the edges and refuse to turn away?

Paul's Thorn Episode 15: Making Room at the Inn: Accessibility and the Spirit of Christmas

Christmas is the season of welcome — of making room for Christ, for one another, and for the stranger. Yet, for many people with disabilities, even sacred celebrations meant to embody this spirit have often been physically or socially inaccessible.  The story of Christmas begins with the phrase:  “There was no room for them in the inn.” — Luke 2:7
That verse doesn’t just describe Mary and Joseph’s situation — it’s a reflection of how the world often treats people who don’t “fit” its structures. But the beauty of the Christmas story is that God chose to enter precisely where there was no room — transforming a stable into a sanctuary.  In the same way, accessibility is not just a checklist; it’s a form of incarnation — a way to make Christian love tangible in our spaces and traditions.

Paul's Thorn Episode 14: My Favorite Bible Verses

Today, we’re exploring some of the most beloved passages in Scripture — words that have comforted, challenged, and transformed lives for generations. From the green pastures of Psalm 23 to the quiet power of 1 Corinthians 13, these verses trace a journey through faith, suffering, and love.  We’ll hear them through four different translations — the King James Version, the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, and The Message — not to compare which one is “right,” but to listen for the layers of meaning each voice reveals. Sometimes, hearing the same truth in a new rhythm opens our hearts in new ways. These passages are some of my personal favorites — words that have carried me through both weakness and renewal.

Paul's Thorn Episode 13: Demon Possession and Deliverance

Throughout Scripture, the struggle between good and evil isn’t just symbolic — it’s personal, visible, and often terrifying. From ancient Israel to the ministry of Jesus, the Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of spiritual possession. But in every encounter, there’s a deeper message: authority, freedom, and restoration.
In this episode, we’ll explore how the Bible portrays demon possession — what it looked like, what it meant, and what it tells us about human suffering and divine power.