Etumon: Recent Episodes
Willis and Alex
Join us as we explore the (perhaps surprising!) Biblical origins of everyday English phrases! (we're not 100% sure on the Biblical origins, but it's more fun if we assume so)
Absolutely feel free to message us here or on Facebook with any comments, questions or feedback!
Our music has been kindly supplied by composer Jonathon Yang. Do check out his amazing work at jhyangmusic.com
Consider following at facebook.com/etumonaustralia and consider supporting at patreon.com/etumon
They say scarcity is the biggest problem in economics - there's never enough of what we want in life. Solutions are often a mere 'drop in the bucket'...what is the real solution then?
Form for comments, questions & feedback
https://forms.gle/cFur97tTeg31UEw98
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
There's hardly a more controversial topic than religion, which means there's plenty of myth and legend mixed in with the truth. Skip the fake news of "old wives' tales" and find out for yourself what Jesus is actually about.
Form for comments, questions & feedback
https://forms.gle/cFur97tTeg31UEw98
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Surely the only thing certain in life is (besides death and taxes) uncertainty. What advice does the Bible give us when we're faced with difficult decisions, unexpected tragedies or the other many myriads of impactful things beyond our control?
Form for questions, comments & feedback:
https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Plus, some life updates.
In our culture, so many of us want to be heard, and plenty of others are far louder than most of us would like. There are many important messages out there, and plenty of trivial, untrue or hurtful voices too. What might Christ advise about the many voices shouting from the rooftops?
Form for questions, comments & feedback:
https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Some say life is a journey. Others say it's a box of chocolates. Could we also say it's a fight?
Life is a struggle, at least at times. What might the origin of this phrase have to tell us about how we 'fight the good fight' in/of life?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Have you ever experienced homelessness? Or been stranded far from home? Or nearly died from a preventable illness?
Most of us, most of the time, aren't in a situation where we are completely helpless. But this has been the experience for many people at many times in history and today. What can we do when we're in such a desperate situation?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Christianity is about being a good person, following rules and doing the right thing, right? Wrong.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
It's not easy to drop bad habits and pick up good ones, let alone change more fundamental aspects of your character. Are we, like leopards, born the way we are now, or is there hope (or fear?) that who we are today will be quite different in the future?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Note - there might be some sensitive discussion towards the end of this clip. We always endeavour to discuss important issues with gentleness, love and respect, but do let us know if you have any concerns or feedback.
What is love? It's an abstract question (and the title of at least one famous song), but since we all want more of it ourselves and want to see our communities and societies built up on this value, it's probably worth thinking about what 'love' means and what it looks like in practice.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Apologies for any unnecessary offence from this episode, in particular. Please send us your thoughts and comments to discuss any concerns with us.
Do good - die - go to heaven - right? Does the last one even exist?
Join us for a rather opinionated discussion on heaven - what it's like, why it's important and why we even think it's there.
We strongly encourage you to engage with us (critically or otherwise) via the Google form. There are probably plenty of questions (like - how do we actually get to heaven?) that we haven't explored.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Jesus died (like most people). But Jesus was also divine, right? So how does it work for the Son of God to die, and what's the significance of all this?
On the origin of the phrase: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/stones-throw.html
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
What's the point of being a 'good' person? Is there justice in this world? Does God actually love us? That's just some of several deep (and important!) questions that this short section of the Bible touches on.
As a bonus, the English words 'puberty' and 'consumer' were apparently first used in the English language in this part of the Bible.
Chapter 2 of the book of Malachi: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%202&version=NIV
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Produced on Willis' insistence, this episode features brief comments on Christmas, a look ahead to 2023 (God willing) and a nominal Xmas etymology.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Some links to carols (yes, as it turns out, we are fans of carols that start with 'O'):
O Come O Come Emmanuel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH7asSGxAxA
O Come All Ye Faithful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKM3DwHlQl0
O Little Town of Bethlehem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqwe97RJ-bg
O Holy Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrWX2RzjYlw
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P97yj-f4sc
Of all the things Jesus said, this one sounds 'weirder' than most. All the more reason to listen in and consider the wisdom behind it.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
How do you think the government's going right now? What would God think about the government? We don't know, but He definitely has some thoughts about 'the powers that be' in this further 'ancient mail' edition of Etumon.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
What's your passion? Your dream job? What would you do every day if time, money or other pressures didn't exist?
In this day and age, unlike any other point in history, so many us have the opportunity to serious explore what we'd love to do with our lives. Why not explore ancient insights that's stood the test of time about the original 'labour of love'?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Content warning: rape, abuse
Some disturbing events in King David's household (and wise words in someone's mouth) touches on important themes that we all should hear.
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Sports teams, celebrities, politicians, empires - mighty as they might be, at one point or another they are all bound to fall. Who were the first 'mighty' to fall, who have now, ironically, been immortalised in this ancient lament from some 3000 years ago?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
The original 'underdog story' of Western culture, but why is this rather graphic account even in the Bible?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Will you see eye to eye with us on the curious origin of this phrase?
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Bask in the expertise of our guest Isaac, who spent a year reading nothing* except the book that this enigmatic phrase comes from!
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
One rendition of the hymn 'Abide with Me': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wS0o7HMJiQ
Jesus as a 'high priest' in the biblical letter to the Hebrews: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%204%3A14-16&version=NIV
Description of the 'Holy City' of Revelation 21: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021&version=NIV
*That is, his study of the Bible was focused nearly exclusively on this book. Tune in to hear more!.
Another special episode - we've gone the extra mile to explore not one, but three phrases!
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
A special episode featuring some of our personal Easter experiences, questions about Easter and, of course, some Easter-related English phrases.
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
An article on historical evidence for Easter: https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/historys-biggest-hoax-the-question-of-the-resurrection/
Possible Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) references to 'blood on one's hands' in Ezekiel 3:18 and Isaiah 59:3: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+3%3A18&version=NIV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+59%3A3&version=NIV
One rendition of the hymn 'Jesus Paid It All': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVFxdNn0INg
Calculating the Easter Date: https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/determining-easter-date.html
On the exact date Jesus died: https://cbs.mbts.edu/2020/04/08/april-3-ad-33-why-we-believe-we-can-know-the-exact-date-jesus-died/
Form for questions, comments and feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflaBgQJ2Se-g-i0SJwGYSbmO3qU3knnVW-NEZxHE9uLU5xFA/viewform
Running out of time is a very common, but this less common, time-related phrase is a gateway to one of Jesus' arguably most controversial stories.
A dictionary definition: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/at-the-eleventh-hour
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Politicians, authors, actors and sports stars may 'fall from grace,' but what did the term first refer to?
Music: White Sand, kindly provided by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
One of Willis' favourites: https://hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less and here's a lovely virtual choir rendition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkIr6eHjqXI
If you want to read some old mail from where the phrase came (approx. 1974 years old this year!) here a link. Only takes ~20 minutes. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201-6&version=NIV
How can I be successful and make a real difference? In other words, what's Jesus' advice on not letting our life 'fall by the wayside'?
Also hear about Willis' not-so-secret talent.
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Join us for a quick tour behind the history of this wake-up call (inaccuracies may abound despite Alex's History degree :/ ) and hear Willis reminisce on his primary school days?
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Join us as we stumble through the original context of this word, exploring what escaping goats have to do with taking blame.
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
Dictionary definition: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/scapegoat
Note: We've reuploaded this episode due to a theological glitch. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Content warning: mentions abuse
We're not 100% certain this super common phrase in everyday English originates from the Bible, but it's probably more interesting to assume so.
Join us to explore Jesus' original version of this phrase in context (you may be surprised. If not, at least you learnt something new. And if you didn't learn anything, get in touch about joining us to help us research.)
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
On the supposed actual day that Jesus died: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/04/april-3-ad-33
Why does God allow suffering? Content warning: Contains very heavy themes, despite arguably being a fairly light discussion.
Without actually discussing what 'skin of my teeth' refers to (though we can probably address that in a future episode if anyone's interested), join us as we explore the philosophical and literary context of this rather enigmatic, yet fairly widely used phrase.
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8
'The Book of Job EPIC READING' from The Backyard Bard https://www.facebook.com/JobReading/videos/568305910535301
Join us in exploring the original parabolic context of this common English phrase.
Note: Willis is trained in Law, hence the lawyer joke :O
Music: White Sand, by Jonathon Yang (jhyangmusic.com)
Form for questions, comments & feedback: https://forms.gle/BoDGk1Mmmz6puswD8