Mount Vigil

In this end of year episode, Anthony and Blaine unpack three invitations to a deeper life in God in 2025: communion with the Holy Spirit, unceasing prayer, and simplicity. Mentioned in this episode:Norman Grubb Rees Howells, IntercessorLeonard Allen Poured OutJeffrey Greenman Life in the SpiritRichard J Foster PrayerRichard J Foster The Freedom of SimplicityMark Scandrette FreeWhere to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

The Acts of the Apostles is not a complete history of the Church in the first century. But it is a genre-blending masterpiece. It is a historical treasure trove, a catechetical resource, a theological revelation, and a user guide to life in the Church. In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss St. Luke's origins, temple theology, Jewish diasporas, and generosity. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

To follow Jesus is to engage a political project: It is to submit to Jesus as he establishes his upside-down Kingdom by his Spirit through the Church. Anthony and Blaine lay out a few core convictions for a style of political engagement that is anchored in the teachings of Jesus. Allegiance. Enemy love. Prayer. There is no more challenging, satisfying, and liberating way to minister to the life of the community than by embracing the foundational commandments of Jesus.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode: A PDF of "A Christian Political Commitment"Joshua Ryan Butler The Party CrasherDaily Prayer for those far from JesusMatthew Bates Salvation by Allegiance AloneTyler Staton on Cultivating love of neighborLuke BrethertonJon Tyson on Christians in politicsNigel Biggar Behaving in Public

What happened to the northern tribes after the Assyrian deportation? Were they ever gathered back from the nations? How does that relate to the diversity of church expressions today? Is that evidence of schism and disunity, or something else? In this episode Anthony and Blaine discuss Israel's narrative arc in the scriptures as well as an often-overlooked theme: over and over again, God uses the rending consequences of sin as a way to extend His grace to the ends of the earth.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode:Jason A Staples: The Idea of Israel in Second Temple JudaismJason A Staples: Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

Anthony and Blaine (and friends) interrupt their discussion of Church history with a brief, timely encouragement.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

Anthony and Blaine continue their conversation on the Church by examining the canonical relationship between God and His covenant partners. As Joseph Ratzinger put it, "The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is drenched with blood and tears."That's true but it need not be that way. The history of the relationship between Israel and Christendom is fundamentally a history of God's faithfulness, self-revelation, and ultimate redemption.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King Mentioned in this episode:Joseph Ratzinger Many Religions - One CovenantNT Wright Paul and the Faithfulness of GodNT Wright and Rabbi Mark Kinzer "A Dialogue on the Meaning of Israel"Moshe Weinfeld "The Covenant of Grant in the Old Testament and in the Ancient Near East"The Bible Project Ezra and Nehemiah

The Trinity is the fountainhead of reality and the mystery at the center of all things. And so it should go without saying (but it often doesn't) that the Church only makes sense when it's explored in terms of the triune God. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony start with the Trinity and survey salvation history to put the life of the Church in context. From the love of the Father to Covenant Theology, Dionysius the Areopagite's vision of creation to Russian Monastaries founded on perichoresis, this conversation lays the groundwork for a fruitful investigation of the Church.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode:Scott Hahn A Father Who Keeps His PromisesNT Wright The Resurrection of the Son of GodBruce Shelley Church History in Plain LanguageMetropolitan Kallistos Ware The Orthodox WayBishop Robert Barron Word on FireIan McFarland Word Made FleshJames Torrence Worship, Community and the Triune GodThe WandererGilgameshHans Urs Von Balthasar Cosmic LiturgyAthanasius On the IncarnationRob Avis Building Your Permaculture PropertyChristopher Wright Knowing Jesus Through the Old TestamentThe Paradise KingEvlogetaria for the DeadStephen DeYoung The Religion of the Apostles

We're back. In this episode, Anthony and Blaine map out the territory ahead and offer their thoughts on constructive engagement with Church history. In brief: be ecumenical, read like it's your job (wasn't it Aquinas who said "Beware the man of one book?") don't treat anyone (ancient or modern) as stupid, and plan to live differently. Division in the Church is a matter of sin; unity and love in the Church reflects God's own desire. So buckle up: this series is going to be a ride.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

Mount Vigil is going on hiatus; we've wrapped up our two year long Story of God series and we'll be taking the next few months to pray into the future. We're living through the end of an age, as we've said before. That means we're facing unique pressures, and so we need to seek the face of the Lord as ask for His wisdom. We're not quite sure what will come out of this discernment process, but we'll be back next year. In the meantime, the Lord bless you and keep you. Warm regards from MV. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share a few thoughts on responding to current events in terms of allegiance to Jesus. The crisis involving Israel and Palestine is a divisive issue, if you hadn't noticed. The good news for us is that the Gospel of Jesus applies to situations exactly like this one and the Church is empowered by the Spirit to respond in an utterly unique way. We hope some of the thoughts here help you to love God, love your neighbor, and see and operate by the Spirit while Jesus makes it on earth as it is in heaven. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

Blaine's written a book, folks! It's an epic introduction to Jesus in terms of the story of God. If you've been following MV, this book is for you. From night raids and necromancers to witch kings and dragons, Blaine and Anthony talk through the presentation of Jesus in our time.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

We've spent hours contemplating Revelation. Now it's time to hear the text itself. This will be our acid test: Can our long-term engagement with theology, Church history, and culture transform our experience of the scriptures? Can we see Jesus in the Apocalypse? We hope so. But you'll have to listen and see for yourself. Enjoy this dramatic reading of Revelation: we hope you will directly experience Jesus, slain and risen king of the universe, as you hear the voice of God in scripture. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

This is it: the finale of the 5-part series on Revelation, as well as the finale of the 19-part series on the Story of God in the Bible. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony draw together the main threads of the podcast so far: God’s design for the cosmos as revealed in Scripture, the nature of evil, and the restoration of all things through Jesus of Nazareth. “For I consider,” said Paul, “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Friends, there are good things to come. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode:Good books on the whole story of God in the Bible:Stephen DeYoung The Religion of the ApostlesNT Wright How God Became King, Simply Christian, Simply JesusTremper Longman III An Introduction to the Old TestamentMichael Heiser Unseen Realm, Supernatural, The Naked Bible Podcast RevelationGood books on Revelation:Michael Gorman Reading Revelation ResponsiblyScot McKnight Revelation for the Rest of UsGK Biel Revelation: A Shorter Commentary, The Book of Revelation, The Use of Daniel in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature and in the Revelation of St. JohnJustin Bass The Battle for the KeysGood books on following Jesus in Babylon:John Mark Comer Live No Lies, Practicing the WayLetters to the ExilesShane Claiborne Jesus for PresidentWalter Bruggeman Sabbath as ResistanceStanley Hauerwas Resident AliensHenri Nouwen Making All Things New

In this series, Blaine and Anthony have argued that Revelation is the theological capstone of the Bible. Nevertheless, because its method of doing theology draws upon the Jewish (rather than the Greco-Roman) tradition, many of its claims go right over the head of modern readers. In this show, Blaine and Anthony drill down on some of the most notorious elements in Revelation: the 144,000, the  Whore, the Beast, the Mark, and more. The actions of Revelation are not a disturbing fever dream. They are instead a profound picture of the world as it really is, and when we learn read our lives in terms of Revelation, we know how to follow Jesus as he establishes heaven on earth.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode:The Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22Vision of Heaven – 4-53 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9Epilogue – 22:6-21SourcesFor a wonderful introduction, check out:The Bible Project’s Two-Part OverviewPart OnePart TwoFor a good book on the whole of revelation:Michael Gorman Reading Revelation ResponsiblyScot McKnight and Cody Matchett Revelation for the Rest of UsFor a more scholarly take:Richard Bauckham The Theology of the Book of RevelationRichard Baukham The Climax of ProphecyFor a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:Brandon Smith The Trinity in the Book of RevelationTremper Longman III Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes 

“While each church receives a message reflecting its own situation, there is one overarching issue: whether or not to compromise. Specifically, will these churches be faithful witnesses both to Jesus and like Jesus (and John!) by refraining from participation in the cultural norm of pagan religion, including the imperial cult, even if it entails serious consequences: social, economic, and political?” GormanIn this third part of the series on Revelation, Blaine and Anthony continue their discussion on the major movements of the Apocalypse. In particular, they discuss the messages to the seven churches from 1:9-3:22 and the vision of heaven in 4 and 5. Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this episode:The Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22Vision of Heaven – 4-53 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9Epilogue – 22:6-21SourcesFor a wonderful introduction, check out:The Bible Project’s Two-Part OverviewPart OnePart TwoFor a good book on the whole of revelation:Michael Gorman Reading Revelation ResponsiblyScot McKnight and Cody Matchett Revelation for the Rest of UsFor a more scholarly take:Richard Bauckham The Theology of the Book of RevelationRichard Baukham The Climax of ProphecyFor a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:Brandon Smith The Trinity in the Book of RevelationTremper Longman III Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes 

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine continue their Story of God series by returning to the book of Revelation. Questions discussed in this conversation: How does John use the Old Testament? What is the structure of John’s Apocalypse? Who is/are the seven spirits in 1:4? What is going in in John’s prologue? We hope you enjoy.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeJohn’s Use of the Old Testament in Revelation by G. K. BealeThe Climax of Biblical Prophecy: A Guide to Interpreting Revelation by Brian HandThe Seven-Part Structure of RevelationPrologue – 1:1-8Vision of Christ and the Messages – 1:9-3:22Vision of Heaven – 4-53 cycles of 7 Judgements – 6-16Fall of Babylon – 17:1-21:8New Jerusalem – 21:9-22:9Epilogue – 22:6-21

“Revelation is not only one of the finest literary works in the New Testament, but also one of the greatest theological achievements of early Christianity.” So says New Testament Scholar Richard Bauckham, and yet few of us experience it that way. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the literary and theological marvel that is Revelation, drawing on diverse scholarship to frame its historical and prophetic situation. The thesis of this episode is simple: Revelation is a discipleship manual. It orients the people of God to their situation, and it tells them how they should live in view of Christ’s reality.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingSourcesWe know from experience Revelation is challenging. For all those of you who are looking to grasp the message and the blessing of the Bible’s capstone book, here are a few recommended resource:For a wonderful introduction, check out:The Bible Project’s Two-Part OverviewPart OnePart TwoFor a good book on the whole of revelation:Michael Gorman Reading Revelation ResponsiblyScot McKnight and Cody Matchett Revelation for the Rest of UsFor a more scholarly take:Richard Bauckham The Theology of the Book of RevelationRichard Baukham The Climax of ProphecyFor a book on key elements and Old Testament allusions:Brandon Smith The Trinity in the Book of RevelationTremper Longman III Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes

When it comes to anticipating the return of Jesus, two New Testament texts loom especially large: The Olivet Discourse and the Revelation of John. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the first: The Olivet Discourse from Matthew 24 and 25. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples ask two questions: when will the temple be razed to the ground, and when will the final marriage of heaven and earth take place? Jesus answers both questions. He places the destruction of Jerusalem in its cosmic context, and he tells the disciples how they should live in view of his return.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on the culmination of the Story of God: the bodily return of Jesus and the final marriage of heaven and earth.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss the everyday life of the people of God. The Church is a glorious reality; on the ground, it is also a gritty reality. The practice of dying to self is not abstract. It looks like loving real people. It looks like owning our sin. It looks like repenting. It looks like leaving church gatherings and then learning to hang in there. The local gathering is an eternal reality embodied by people in process. In this conversation, Blaine and Anthony share their personal experience of learning to live life in Jesus’s Church.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingShow NotesOrder some lovely prayer bracelets from St. John the Baptist Orthodox Monastery

The Church is the Bride of Christ, and that, more than any other dimension of Church life, is an eschatalogical reality. It is a fact that anchors the purpose of the Church in the bodily return of Jesus and the final union of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss Bridal Theology, sexual ethics, covenant, and the culmination of God’s design for His free creatures.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

“If the Church is really supposed to be yours, you’ll have to make that much more obvious than it is at present.”Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI, paraphrasing the temptations of ChristThe Church is a vital step in the Story of God. It hearkens back to Eden; it picks up the role of Israel. It is military, and it is political. It recalls themes from King David’s time. It prophesies the Return of Jesus. In this episode, Blaine and Anthony begin a conversation on God’s people, discussing in particular the many names given to the followers of Jesus, names that weave together themes from the story so far.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise King

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss the Ascension and Pentecost, linking those events as two sides of the same coin in the story of God. In the Ascension, Jesus has anchored our humanity in the heavens. At Pentecost, the Sermon on the Mount and the Old Testament promises of covenant renewal have been fulfilled. Also in this episode: ancient representations of the creator God, dating Biblical events, Jewish calendars, the unfulfilled Sermon on the Mount, and events from the Second Jewish Roman War.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeThe Gebel El-Arak KnifeThe Wars of the Jews by JosephusThe Apostle’s Creed by Ben MeyerDating Jesus’s BirthdayKarl Barth quote from Church Dogmatics in Outline (PDF)An Ascension liturgy from Anthony (PDF)

In this episode, Anthony and Blaine discuss suffering, surrender, and incarnate spirituality as Jesus’s solution to the World and the Flesh. This is the third installment in a three-part series on Jesus as the crescendo of the Story of God.Also in this conversation: dying to become human, the devil’s counterfeit power, the spiritual life lived in the body, and eros and agape fusing together in the form of the human being.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeThe New Testament translated by David Bentley HartSimply JesusHow God Became King by Tom WrightThe Screwtape Letters by CS LewisOn the Incarnation by AthanasiusBecoming Human by Fr. John BehrLove that Satisfies by Christopher WestThe Religion of the Apostles by Fr. Stephen DeYoungInvitation to a Journey by Rober Mulholland

In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their conversation on the work of Jesus: How, exactly, does Jesus deal with the problem of spiritual oppression? Why does it matter that Jesus reigns supreme over the council? Where is the gate of hades, and what would it mean for Jesus to build a church there? The life and work of Jesus specifically overthrows the spiritual powers of this world. Join the Mount Vigil team for a conversation on the faithfulness of Jesus, the recapitulation of the story of Israel, and more.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeJonathan Pageau’s depiction of everythingThe Origins of Evil Spirits by Archie WrightEden The Bible ProjectJesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes – Kenneth BaileyArise Oh God – Fr. Andrew Stephen DamickJesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI

In this episode, Blaine and Anthony continue their series on the Story of God by arriving, at last, at Jesus. In particular, this show addresses the way in which Jesus deals with sin and death so that the story of Israel, with its law and sacrificial system to manage sin and its prophetic promises to manage death, is brought to its climax.This show is the first installment in a  3-part conversation on the work of Jesus.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeHow God Became King and Matthew For Everyone by NT WrightThe Mediation of Christ by Thomas TorrencePilate the Priest Peter LeithartThe Book of AkathistsJesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVIJesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre

Why did God choose to create the nation of Israel? How was God’s decision to create a people where there was no people part of his plan to deal with sin, death, and spiritual oppression? How does the story of YHWH and Israel prepare humanity for the ultimate revelation of Jesus the Anointed? These are the questions we go after in this next installment in our Story of God series.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeThe Prophetic Imagination – Walter BrueggemannThe Mediation of Christ – Thomas TorranceThe Seer in Ancient Greece – Michael FlowerThat the World May Know – The ministry of Ray Vander LaanWhat is Atonement – The Bible ProjectThe Dead Sea Scrolls Psalms

In this special episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss self-examination. Self-examination, or Examen, is a practice that followers of Jesus have used for centuries to see their lives as God sees them, and, therefore, as they really are.The 5 steps of ExamenCenter yourselfPlace yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for the gift of this day and the gift of God’s love for you.Ask for lightPray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. Ask for the ability to hear clearly and for covering from warfare.Review the dayLet the Holy Spirit guide you as you carefully review the day just completed. Pay attention to specific moments and your feelings at the time.Reflect, express gratitude, and confessFor those moments the Spirit highlights, reflect on what you did, said, thought. Were you drawing closer to God or further from him? What is the Spirit saying about these moments? Pay attention to moments of beauty; thank God for his provision.Look forward to the new day and seek out spiritual friendshipWhat is the Spirit prompting you to ask for in the day to come? What is he calling you to do? Who can you seek out to discuss the themes and questions the Spirit is raising?Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeSacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley BartonStories of the Saints by Carey WallaceBuilding Your Permaculture Property by Rob Avis

In this episode we continue our Story of God series by talking about the Fall, or more accurately the Falls. We explore the origins of evil in the world, including the first human sin, the role of depraved spiritual powers, and the descent into darkness that forms the backdrop for Jesus’ salvation project.Some of what we cover:How the “Fall” is better described as the “Falls”We take a survey of the three big problems: Sin, Death, and Spiritual RebellionWe look at the three big sources of corruption that shape our lives: The World, the Flesh, and the DevilWe end by talking about some of the provision Jesus has made for us given the aboveWhere to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingMentioned in this EpisodeRenovating the Heart by Dallas WillardI Am a Strange LoopExpulsion from the Garden of Eden by Thomas ColePope John Paul II’s Theology of the BodyTheological Lexicon of the Old TestamentConfronting Old Testament Controversies by Tremper Longmen IIIReligion of the Apostles by Fr. Stephen De YoungThe Origin of Evil Spirits: The Reception of Genesis 6:1-4 in Early Jewish Literature by Archie T. WrightNoah movieStories of Your Life and Others by Ted ChiangRenovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms by Jim WilderThe Screwtape Letters: Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil by C. S. LewisBack to Virtue: Traditional Moral Wisdom for Modern Moral Confusion by Peter KreeftThe Bible Project’s Bad Words SeriesThe New Testament: A Translation by David Bentley HartUnhurrying with A Rule of Life: Developing a Rule of Life – John Mark Comer

In this episode we pick up where we left off in telling the Story of God. We ask the big questions like: What is the meaning of life? Why did God create is? What are we here for?Some of the things we cover in this episode:How babies are like rainbow troutHow regenerative agriculture reflects God’s design for peopleEdens within EdensThe trees at both ends of the scripturesWhy people are idolsFractal geometryWhere to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingAdditional NotesPractical Permaculture by Jessi BloomThe Hidden Life of Trees by Peter WohllebenThe Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis (PDF)Theological Lexicon of the Old TestamentPlaying God: Redeeming the Gift of Power by Andy CrouchFractals: The Colors of Infinity  Documentary about the work of Benoit Mandelbrot

We’re interrupting our series on the story of God to talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Church’s response to it.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingSome of the things we cover in this episode:What our fleshly responses and our repentance of those responses looks likeHow Christians can find solid ground in the midst of a powerful media narrativeHow the concept of the Dialectic is working it’s way out in the worldThe typology of empire and nations in the scripturesThe economics of warWhat it looks like to be a prophetic, called out people who bring the Good News in the midst of the devastation of warAdditional NotesJesus for President – Shane Claiborne and Chris HawLife Together – Dietrich BonhoefferMV PrayerSNL COVID SkitProphetic Imagination – Walter BrueggemannBorn in Blood and Fire – John Charles ChasteenBible Project Bad Words Series – Sin/Iniquity/TransgressionAsh Wed and Lent Resources

This is the second in our series on the Story of God. In this episode we discuss the spiritual powers found in the Bible: the Elohim and the Divine Counsel, angels and demons. Our aim is to continue developing the foundations worldview this is not selectively supernatural but embraces the story as we have received it in scripture. We hope you enjoy.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingAdditional NotesThe Unseen Realm by Michael HeiserLord of Spirits podcastThe Bible Project Spiritual Beings Series

This is the first in a series of episodes on the story of God. We’ve talked about seeing reality as a story, we’ve talked about Apocalypse or spiritual revelation as to the nature of that story, and in our Endgame episode we talked about what it’s like at the end of the story. But exactly what story is it that we’re in? Where does it begin and how did we get here?We argue that the place to begin is with God. In doing so we talk at length about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we spend some time discussing the hundreds of years the early Church spent developing this doctrine, we discuss what it means practically in our daily lives that God is a trinitarian God, and we end with a practice that I think you will find helpful in restoring your relationship with the persons of the Trinity.We are invited not only to form our minds around the doctrine of the Trinity but to encounter the Trinity in an immediate and personal way.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingAdditional NotesA New Christian ManifestoA Wind in the House of IslamSuffering: A Test of Theological Method by Arthur C. McGillOrigen On First Principles translated by John BehrThe Early Christian Doctrine of God Richard HansenThe History of the Early Church Podcast – The Story of Christianity from 30 to 451 A.D.The Nicene CreedThe First Council of ConstantinopleNicea and Its LegacyTwo Powers in HeavenThe Athanasian CreedThe Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First CenturyThe Christian Doctrine of God: One being, three persons by Thomas Torrance

Grandmaster Jose Raul Capablanca said that to succeed “you must study the endgame before anything else.” In this episode we talk about endgame, an idea from chess that we extrapolate to answer the question, What is it like to be at the end of a great cosmic war?Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingNotesWe begin by following up on the question of apocalypse posed in the previous episode: what exactly is being uncovered?Moving on we get into a little chess (and poker) endgame theory as a way of charting the territory of this conversation. We talk about the characteristics of a these endgames and then generalize to find out what predictable changes we can expect if we are in an endgame outside the context of gamesWe discuss four characteristics of endgame’s strategic environment:SpeedDeceptionSurprising charactersChaosAfter talking about the qualities of an endgame we ask, what “game” is it that we think we are in the end of?And who are the major players involved and what are their goals? Our non-exhuastive list includes:SpiritsPagansSorcerersHumanistsNihilistsNations and StatistsJesus and his ChurchFinally we end with some words of encouragement for the Christian who is trying to follow Jesus in a world that seems increasingly chaotic.Additional NotesJust the Facts!: Winning Endgame Knowledge in One VolumeZugzwangRuse de guerreCOVID-19 The Great Reset – Klaus SchwabPetrodollar system overviewAtlantic article on sperm count declineMegastatue of Buddha Destroyed in SichuanCanadian Church FiresA Wind in the House of IslamPsalm 2

In today’s episode we talk about Apocalypse: the word, the genre of literature, the spiritual event. We attempt to develop a nuanced, robust, rounded-out sense of Apocalypse, which means “revelation,” a sense that is grounded in the fact that, ultimately, the Good News of Jesus Christ is what is revealed to us in an Apocalypse.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingNotesWe cut to the chase by answering the question, “If this is an apocalypse should I buy guns and crypto?” and then move on to discuss what apocalypse is in the scriptures and in the mind that has been formed by the story of God, and compare this perspective to the ideas that the broader culture have around apocalypse.We discuss why it’s important to seek spiritual revelation in the ways that have been given by God and at the pace he dictates and why the world’s many offers of revelation outside of God’s plan are so harmful to us.We talk about the many challenges facing us when we attempt to have a conversation around the word apocalypse:Why does this word stress me out?Why does pop culture have a whole movie genre called post-apocalyptic?Is there a safe way to talk about this given much of the Church’s misguided and harmful approaches to the subject?We talk about the many senses of the word “apocalypse” in an effort to level-up our ability to think and speak about the subject.We then look at the book of Revelation, otherwise known as the Apocalypse of Jesus given to John, and examine three key errors that often foul up our attempts to appreciate apocalyptic literature in the scriptures.We wrap things up by asking the questions:What do we do in an apocalypse?What is the Good News for us in this time?How can we live free from fear?We hope you find encouragement, comfort, and good counsel in a subject that, when mistreated, can often cause dread, anxiety, and misguided action. Apocalypse is a challenging subject–you may have a lot of baggage associated with it–but with God’s help we think we can confidently navigate this terrain toward the goal of union with Christ.Additional NotesThe story of Elisha, Gehazi, the Syrian army, and the flaming chariotsMcSweeneys: Your parenting choices have caused the apocalypseBarron’s: There will be no student loan apocalypseNew Yorker: Should you have a baby during the global apocalypse? An FAQUS Sun: Apocalypse fears with millions lining up for food and water if power grid is hitNewsweek: PorkpocalypseThe Book of RevelationReading Revelation Responsibly by Michael GormanFour Views on the Book of Revelation edited by C. Marvin PateMicrosoft Patent WO2020060606 – Cryptocurrency system using body activity data

In this episode, Blaine and Anthony discuss a foundational ability, an ability on which the rest of the Mount Vigil work depends: seeing reality.It’s never been easy to see reality well. But it’s especially difficult in our time: the fallout of postmodernism and critical theory, the rise of nihilism, the divisive strategies of social media giants, and the advent of post-human and transhuman ideologies have eroded our ability to hold on to a coherent story. We’re taught to doubt our experience. We’re gaslit by the knowledge brokers of our time.Where to ConnectMount Vigil has come to an end but you can still connect with Anthony and Blaine at their respective blogs:Anthony - Sun TongueBlaine - The Paradise KingNotesIn the first part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that reality is fundamentally narrative, and that a person’s ability to see reality is linked to the clarity of the story they’re living.In the second part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony explore some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a strong sense of reality: an incomplete Gospel, everyday trauma, and technological opposition.In the third part of this conversation, Blaine and Anthony argue that a true sense of reality is dependent on a vision of Jesus, and then explore tactics to recover a strong sense of reality: engaging the real world, living in the family of God, and leaning on three effective discernment strategies. Those are the testimony of the Bible, the consensus of the Church, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.Additional NotesThe GPT-3 AlgorithmThe Social DilemmaThe Age of Surveillance CapitalismThe Google Brain TeamThe Center for Humane TechnologyMIT Tech Review regarding troll farmsDesigning For Behavior ChangeHooked: How to Build Habit-Forming ProductsThe Race to the Bottom of the Brain StemReality PrivilegeMarc Andreessen’s work on the metaverseThe Wim Hoff Breathing Method