Friday, November 30, 2012

Arrow and Swords Of The Six Review (SBU Podcast)




Christian fantasy author Scott Appleton was kind enough to give us a review copy of his novel "Swords Of The Six" and we'll be sharing that review today. Then a few perspectives on the TV show "Arrow", and a look at what's on Paeter's mind now that he's crossed over to the dark side and finally bought a smart phone.

Plus, a continued look at the consequences of The Fall that we live with every day, and a big announcement about a new site Spirit Blade Productions will be launching in early 2013!




SUBMISSIONS/FEEDBACK

Submit Questions, Comments or Content(written or audio file) to:

paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

OR

visit spiritblade.net/underground to leave a recorded message with your phone or computer for me to play on the show!I'd love for you to be a part of this podcast!

(For more information, visit spiritblade.net/submissions)

MORE CONTENT

For Community, Free Stuff and TONS more, explore the rest of the growing "Spirit Blade" universe at-  http://www.spiritblade.net

Credits
The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors.
Copyright 2012, Spirit Blade Productions
Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, and Sound Ideas.
Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan





Direct Download-http://www.spiritblade.net/podcastepisodes/SBU-245-Arrow_and_Swords_Of_The_Six.mp3

Christian Geek Central!


I wanted to let you all in on something that's been bubbling and brewing for a few months now that I'm very excited about and hope you will be, too!

As I mentioned last month, in early 2013 I plan to launch a new website called "Christian Geek Central". I've already secured the domain name but I've been keeping the details under the radar until now.

Christian Geek Central will not be replacing Spirit Blade Productions but will rather be a product of Spirit Blade Productions. One YOU are invited to help me develop!

My goal for Christian Geek Central (or as I've already started calling it, "CGC") is that it will serve as the central hub and gateway for the best "Christian Geek" content that can be found on the web. It will aim to be both a portal to other sites and a producer of content and community that will interest Christian geeks of all kinds.

The idea for Christian Geek Central came out of brainstorming and discussions with my web designer about the new Spirit Blade Productions website (which is still in development with the aim of launching in the first half of 2013). Some great ideas came out of those conversations, but we soon realized we were talking about a new website that would be distinct from the Spirit Blade Productions website. And since the initial content for Christian Geek Central will determine some choices we make for the redesign of the Spirit Blade Productions site, it makes sense to get Christian Geek Central going first.

Christian Geek Central will first launch "unofficially" in early 2013 (I'm anticipating January or February), at which time I will only be telling the existing Spirit Blade Underground community (that's you!) about it. At first, it will be a very simple site, possibly based on the blogger platform, or something similar that will be easy-peasy for me to manipulate. (I'm open to suggestions!) From there, work will continue on the Spirit Blade Productions website as we build content and community for Christian Geek Central. (Speaking of which, if you'd like to recommend a site for inclusion, send me an e-mail with the URL!)

Once CGC has a good amount of content and the kind of community activity supporting it that I'd like to have in place, we'll probably do a complete site redesign for Christian Geek Central and officially launch CGC to the rest of the world!

For those wondering how CGC will impact the production schedule of Spirit Blade 3, have no fear. December is a very busy month, during which it's almost impossible to schedule actors to audition or record. So with the exception of some initial development on the songs for SB3, December was going to be a low productivity month for SB3 anyway. So instead I'll be giving most of my available time in December to exploring the web and collecting potential content links for CGC, including websites, blogs, podcasts and communities.

Speaking of which, community is something that I want to make a big part of Christian Geek Central. I'm currently brainstorming ways to help that happen, so I'm open to ideas and suggestions. I'd love to somehow take the wonderful community we've developed on the Spirit Blade Underground forums and share that experience with those Christian geeks who may have not discovered the SBU yet because of its strong ties to Spirit Blade Productions. (Not everyone is cool enough to be interested in audio drama and podcasts.)

I'm hoping to connect with a few other people to gain some counsel on the subject. In the meantime, I'd value a slice of your prayer time as I work to discern what God may want to do with this idea and how he would want me to do it.

I'll be sure to give you more details as they come. If you have any questions, ask away! I'd love to hear what you're thinking or wondering!

Thanks for your support!

-Paeter Frandsen

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Free Song Download!


The Christmas season is here again, and that means it's time for me to put my rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" up on our website again for free download!

I've loved this classic carol for years. In 2006 I decided to try my hand at re-interpreting it as a dark electronic piece that brings the words into today's world and acknowledges the years of violence and conflict that have plagued Israel.

I hope you enjoy listening to it, and also take a moment to pray for peace in Israel, and that Jesus would come quickly to end the violence and conflict that defines so much of our world.

You can download the song from now through the end of December on our Free Stuff page.

Monday, November 26, 2012

In Search Of Truth, Genesis 3:19-24



V.19

Death is probably the most significant consequence of sin. Adam and Eve had access to the Tree Of Life, which would apparently sustain them so fully that their bodies would live forever. But God says in verse 19 that Adam's body is destined to perish and be absorbed into the earth again.

V.20

"Eve" comes from the Hebrew root for "life". Adam naming his wife isn't a random insertion into the story. It seems as though Adam suddenly understands the significance of his own mortality and recognizes the treasured and vital role that his wife will play in the survival of the human race.

V.21

Even in the midst of passing judgment, God extends undeserved favor to Adam and Eve by providing them with more durable and protective coverings than the leaf-based clothing they made for themselves.

V.22-24

Before sinning, Adam and Eve had no concept of "good" and "evil". The only thing they knew was God and who he revealed himself to be. They didn't need a concept like "good" to differentiate something from evil, because they had no knowledge of evil. But now they had knowledge of both.

They discovered that there is a "non-God" option. And though God, being God and perfectly consistent with himself, never chooses the "non-God" options, humans do. And every time we choose these "non-God" options in life, we destroy a little of ourselves or someone else.

God is a perfect, just and loving God. Though he wouldn't be if he allowed selfish, hurtful people to harm themselves and each other without restriction. And if God had allowed Adam and Eve to live forever, the world we would live in would be crammed with immortal beings who hurt each other and themselves with exponentially growing intensity for all of eternity.

So ironically, because God is perfect, just and loving, he took immortality away from sinful humanity. However, the invitation is extended to every person to return to God, surrendering themselves to him so that he can rid us of our sin problem and make us compatible with immortality again.

We long for this kind of existence. It's why there are so many fantasy concepts centered on longevity or immortality. Elves, vampires and Duncan McLeods are all expressions of our desire to live forever.

Of course many of these same concepts showcase why it is NOT good for us to live forever. We are broken. In our current state, living forever would be emotionally devastating, exhausting or even horrifying. Immortality only works when those possessing it are completely without selfishness and sin, and are completely fulfilled by a relationship with the infinite God of the universe.

The Tree Of Life is waiting for those who admit their sin problem to Jesus and rely on him to fix their broken and sinful nature. (Revelation 2:7, 22:14) And the life we share with Jesus in eternity will be more amazing than any story we've ever read, seen or imagined.

Next Time- What the first "offering" tells us about humanity and God

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Mars Needs Moms and Superman Vs The Elite (SBU Podcast)




Reviews of Mars Needs Moms and Superman Vs The Elite DC animated movie.



SUBMISSIONS/FEEDBACK

Submit Questions, Comments or Content(written or audio file) to:

paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

OR

visit spiritblade.net/underground to leave a recorded message with your phone or computer for me to play on the show!I'd love for you to be a part of this podcast!

(For more information, visit spiritblade.net/submissions)



MORE CONTENT

For Community, Free Stuff and TONS more, explore the rest of the growing "Spirit Blade" universe at-  http://www.spiritblade.net




Credits
The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors.
Copyright 2012, Spirit Blade Productions
Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, and Sound Ideas.
Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan





Direct Download-http://www.spiritblade.net/podcastepisodes/SBU-244-Mars_Needs_Moms_and_Superman_Vs_The_Elite.mp3

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

30% Off Christmas Sale!



Our Christmas season sale has begun!

Now through December 20th, save 30% off all of our CD products!

Get Spirit Blade: Special Edition and Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual (normally $12.99) for just $9.09!

Get The Spirit Blade: Special Edition Collector's Set (normally $23.99) for just $16.79!

Our archive CDs make great stocking-stuffers for "special features" junkies! Get them both for just $3.49 each!

Discounts also apply to our CD/Download combo packs! (The added download version is less than two dollars more!) Buy one today and keep the download for yourself while gifting the CD to a friend!

And as always, tax and shipping are FREE!!

Don't miss out! Visit our online store right now!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Mars Needs Moms (Movie Review)


Review by "Ken From Honolulu"


Directed by Simon Wells

Voiced by

Seth Green as Milo
Dan Folger as Gribble
Joan Cusack as Mom

Synopsis:
A young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to take her away.

Review(Contains Spoilers):
This movie is sort of an animated film. But they use live actors instead of computer generated characters. They wear suits that catch their actions and the computer turns the actions into a type of animated film.

It is only 88 minutes, so it is not long. I believe the demographic it was aimed at was the 8-12 year range.

The film has a message and doesn’t mind beating you over the head with it. The message is “moms are great, you should love them for all you’re worth.” It almost goes to the point of saying that moms are some kind of demigod. The other message is that men are not involved in the raising of the children.

When Milo gets to Mars, he finds the men are a bunch of dread-locked guys living in the dump. All they seem to do is party all day. Even Milo’s dad is not around. You don’t see any examples of real men in this film.

The only man Milo interacts with is Gribble. As a 12 year old, Gribble’s mother was kidnapped and he tried to save her but failed. If you do the math according to the movie, Gribble is something like 37 years old. The Martians only have babies every 25 years.

Gribble seems to be stuck with a 12 year old mind. The men are portrayed as either stunted with 12 year old minds, or a bunch of losers.

Milo meets up with a Martian girl, who has to be at least 25 years old, since they have babies every 25 years. She acts like a 15-16 year old. At the end of the film her and Gribble get together.

The film glorifies tagging. This girl goes all over the place tagging the gray walls of the Martian city. The film also says you should rebel against those who are older than you, because they are mean and stupid.

The production was great. It was a great film visually.
The story got kind of boring.

Rated PG for sci-fi action and peril

Quality: 8.8/10
Relevance: 7.5/10

What do these scores mean?



Friday, November 16, 2012

Table Top Special, Part 2 (SBU Podcast)





First impressions of games played at "PenningCon" including a playtest of the Spirit Blade Card Game. Plus, a look at the consequences of sin for humanity.


SUBMISSIONS/FEEDBACK

Submit Questions, Comments or Content(written or audio file) to:

paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

OR

visit spiritblade.net/underground to leave a recorded message with your phone or computer for me to play on the show!I'd love for you to be a part of this podcast!

(For more information, visit spiritblade.net/submissions)


MORE CONTENT

For Community, Free Stuff and TONS more, explore the rest of the growing "Spirit Blade" universe at-  http://www.spiritblade.net


Credits
The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors.
Copyright 2012, Spirit Blade Productions
Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, and Sound Ideas.
Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan






Direct Download- http://www.spiritblade.net/podcastepisodes/SBU-243-Table_Top_Special_Part_2.mp3

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

In Search Of Truth, Genesis 3:16-19



VS.16
A special role exclusive to women is childbirth. Many women would say it's the greatest joy they've ever experienced in life. But as a consequence of sin, childbirth is very painful. Even with the advances of modern medicine, there is often more damage to the body, complication in childbirth and greater recovery time required for those who seek to avoid labor pain through medical intervention. What should have been a beautiful experience is now a painful, frightening, or at least complicated and taxing one for most women.

Likewise, the relationship between men and women became damaged at this point. Men and women were created to be equal partners, but verse 16 indicates that there is now a strong tendency for men to not only lead their wives, but rule over them like tyrants. (Some have also concluded that the specific usage of the Hebrew words in verse 16 indicates that a woman's "desire" for her husband includes a desire to dominate him.) So today we live with the reality of conflict in every marriage and frustration as our wills collide. Apart from sin, we think of our spouses first. But in our sin, we try to manipulate and dominate our marriage partners.

VS.17-19
Adam's sin was not simply listening to his wife. The Hebrew word used here for "listened" contains the meaning of "obedience" as well. Adam allowed someone who was on the wrong path to influence him to go along with them. As a result, a primary joy of Adam's is tainted as well.

On average, men are more driven to achieve, produce, provide and "succeed". This isn't to say that many women aren't the same way, but in broad strokes, men are more driven to go out and "take on the world". For many men, what they achieve in their career defines who they are in their minds. (When men meet new men one of their first questions is often "what do you do for a living"?) Men seem wired to take great joy and pride in their work. And again we see this great joy tainted as a consequence of sin.

Even though most of us don't directly grow our own food, the difficulties now inherent to growing food have a trickle-down effect on the entire working world. Ultimately, we all have to work in order to eat. We work to pay the grocer, who pays the farmer who pays his workers to labor and toil over uncooperative soil. The frustration of the worker requires higher pay for his work, requiring the farmer to charge more to the grocer and the grocer to the customer.

Sin has made both the soil and our fellow humans uncooperative, resulting in a work experience in life that is frustrating and unproductive. As a result of Adam's sin and our own contributed sin, attempted productivity is often a discouraging, difficult thing that we face everyday.

I think fans of Skyrim or the board game Agricola intuitively feel this. For some reason, I LOVE collecting herbs and plant samples to mix potions in Skyrim or Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning. For some odd reason I can't describe, I love taking my piece of land in Agricola and making it productive. I believe this is because we were created to create and produce. And a number of games we play as geeks give us a taste of what work would be like without the real frustrations that come with it in day to day life.

The good news is that for those who love and follow Christ, work will one day be restored to the exciting, fulfilling activity it was meant to be. In fact it will be far more enjoyable than the best games we play right now!




Monday, November 12, 2012

Veteran's Day



Taking the day off with family today, as some of you might be doing. I'll be back with a post later this week, but in the meantime feel free to join me in thanking God for the courageous protectors he's provided in our U.S. military branches, or in your own military if you're a friend from overseas.

-Paeter Frandsen

Friday, November 9, 2012

Table Top Special Part 1 (SBU Podcast)



Thoughts on the big Star Wars news from last week, and Part 1 of a two part table-top gaming special. PLUS, an attempt to answer the question "Why did God curse the serpent in Genesis?"



Star Wars/Disney Topic On Spirit Blade Forums- http://spiritblade.forum-motion.com/t906-breaking-news

Paeter's "Thunderstone" Review- http://spiritblade.blogspot.com/2012/04/thunderstone-advance-game-review.html


SUBMISSIONS/FEEDBACK
Submit Questions, Comments or Content(written or audio file) to:
paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net
OR
visit spiritblade.net/underground to leave a recorded message with your phone or computer for me to play on the show!I'd love for you to be a part of this podcast!
(For more information, visit spiritblade.net/submissions)

MORE CONTENT
For Community, Free Stuff and TONS more, explore the rest of the growing "Spirit Blade" universe at-  http://www.spiritblade.net

Credits
The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors.
Copyright 2012, Spirit Blade Productions
Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, and Sound Ideas.
Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan





Direct Download- http://www.spiritblade.net/podcastepisodes/SBU-242-Table_Top_Special_Part_1.mp3

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Two Week GameCon Special Starting This Weekend!



Usually I post the main feature content of the podcast each week in blog format before sharing it on the show, but this week and next that just won't be practical.

The next two episodes of the podcast will focus on two table top game conventions I attended recently, including my thoughts on the games I played and the experiences overall. But the content is just a bit too lengthy as a reasonable blog entry this week, and next week the content is all audio content I recorded at the second "convention" (more on those quotation marks in the second ep.) I attended.

So this is basically a plug to stay tuned and check out the next two episodes of The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast as they are posted right here beginning very soon!

-Paeter

Monday, November 5, 2012

In Search Of Truth, Genesis 3:14-15 (Why did God curse the serpent?)



V.14-15

As I mentioned in a previous post, the idea of Satan turning into a talking animal has long been a strange idea to think about for me. I've already talked about why I choose to believe this encounter literally happened as written, but I'm still left asking myself about the nature of this transformation, and why it is God seems to be condemning a species of animal with no free will that at most was somehow hijacked by Satan to carry out his evil agenda.

It's not very common for biblical commentaries and study aids to address this question, but after doing some research and listening to a few responses to the issue, I've arrived at a conclusion that satisfies me. (Though I'd love to hear your thoughts on this if they differ from mine.)

God is God. He created everything and everyone. He's not just the owner, he's the maker. He is entitled to do whatever he wants with whatever he makes. (Romans 9:21) He is entitled to curse the ground for Adam's sin (Gen. 3:17) or curse serpents, one of them or all of them, because of Satan's sin. (Gen. 3:14)

If this still feels "unjust" in some way, then after further attempting to correct our perspective on God's rights, we should consider the following.

1. I've never once heard a serpent complain that they have been treated unjustly. They're doing as well as any other animal in this fallen world, and the whole curse issue seems pretty far over their oblivious heads. In short, they do not feel as though they have been wronged. They are content, if they can even feel something like our concept of "contentment".

2. These curses are not "compensation" for wrongdoing. If they were, the cosmic scales would be balanced and we would have no need for any future justice to be dispensed from God. Given the clear teaching of a future time of judgment, we know this isn't the case. (Acts 10:42, 2 Timothy 4:1, 1 Peter 4:5)

If not compensation, then what are these curses for?

In part, they are consequences (which differ from compensation), and in part I've concluded that they are teaching tools set in place by God, which remain to remind generation after generation of our sin problem, and also God's promised solution to it.

Which brings us to the curse on the serpent itself. Let's attempt to pick this apart a little more. The first part of the curse reads:

"on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life."(ESV)

By far the most popular assumption here is that serpents once walked on legs of some kind, and that the curse removed their legs and forced them to crawl on their bellies as we see serpents do today.
I don't have any problem with this assumption. God brought about other significant physical changes as a result of sin, such as the curse on the ground and the increased pain in childbirth. (Genesis 3:16-17) However I wonder if the text requires serpents to have had legs before this curse, and how much of this curse is directed at both the serpent as a species and Satan, who took a serpent's form.

A serpent on its belly is not as threatening as a serpent raised and poised to strike. (This was also common knowledge in ancient Egypt, where the author of Genesis was raised and educated). So it may be that God simply made the serpent, which already had no legs, less powerful or apt to strike somehow. It wouldn't be hard to believe that Satan was also cursed to have less power after this encounter. So a "removal of legs" for the serpent doesn't seem to be the only plausible scenario here.

Dust was also closely related with death and the netherworld in ancient Egypt. (Which may be why the author made a point of mentioning Adam's fate to become dust.) Serpents don't thrive off a diet of dust by any means. But their proximity to the ground means they are bound to digest their share of dust throughout life. Of course as curses go, eating a little dust now and then isn't so bad. Which is why I again am persuaded that the symbolism of dust is important here as it pertains to Satan. God seems to be telling Satan that his domain is one of death and hopelessness. He is meant to live knowing that he has already lost his battle with God and death is his path and destiny.

The second half of the serpent's curse reads:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."(ESV)

Obviously we can all relate to the antagonism that naturally exists between humans and serpents. They strike at our legs and we bash in their heads. It's an "understood arrangement" we've had with them for ages. (And one more reason I'm an "indoor nerd", preferring giant-sized fictional snakes over teeny tiny real ones.)

Like serpents, Satan and those who follow him are the enemies of humanity as well. But unfortunately we can't bash in their heads. They are too strong for us, too elusive. Thankfully, there was one human who bashed in the heads of Satan and his servants once and for all.

Satan "bruised the heel" of Jesus by moving men to crucify him, but Jesus crushed Satan and his power over humanity by using the cross to pay for our sins and balance the scales of justice on our behalf. Genesis 3:15 has long been understood as the first prophecy regarding the Messiah.

So I've concluded that, without abusing the serpents of the world, God used them to timelessly describe our enemy, illustrate for us our need for a savior, and set the stage for Jesus, who has defeated evil on our behalf once and for all. The battle is over, sentencing has been passed. Now it's only a matter of time before justice is carried to completion.

Next Time- A look at the consequences of sin for humanity


Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 Review (SBU Podcast)



A review of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 and Ben Avery is back with some thoughts on Marvel, Season 1. Plus, a look at the nature of God as he appears in Genesis Chapter 3. Some of the details may surprise you!

Paeter's Interview at The Strangers and Aliens Podcast- http://strangersandaliens.com/2012/10/episode-30-paeter-frandsen-of-spirit-blade-productions/


SUBMISSIONS/FEEDBACK

Submit Questions, Comments or Content(written or audio file) to:

paeter(at)spiritblade(dot)net

OR

visit spiritblade.net/underground to leave a recorded message with your phone or computer for me to play on the show!I'd love for you to be a part of this podcast!

(For more information, visit spiritblade.net/submissions)


MORE CONTENT

For Community, Free Stuff and TONS more, explore the rest of the growing "Spirit Blade" universe at-  http://www.spiritblade.net

Credits
The Spirit Blade Underground Podcast is written, recorded and produced by Paeter Frandsen, with additional segments produced by their credited authors.
Copyright 2012, Spirit Blade Productions
Music by Wesley Devine, Bjorn A. Lynne, Pierre Langer, and Sound Ideas.
Spazzmatica Polka by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Freesound.org effects provided by: FreqMan










Direct Download- http://www.spiritblade.net/podcastepisodes/SBU-241-Dark_Knight_Returns_Part_1_Review.mp3

In Search Of Truth, Genesis 3:8-13



As often happens, my study has taken a bit of a rabbit trail, or moved at a slower pace than I predicted. We won't be getting to "the consequences of sin for humanity" as I indicated last week, because we've hit another section I'd like to "zoom in on" before moving forward.

The focus of this journey we're taking through portions of the Old Testament is on the nature of God, the nature of humans and what the Old Testament and its customs tells us about the relationship between God and humanity. But now and then we may come across some things that don't fit those categories perfectly, but would feel like a major oversight if we just breezed on by them. So today and next week, although we're continuing in Genesis, we're going "off theme" a bit to tackle some unusual verses I just couldn't pretend not to see.

I enjoyed doing this week's study even more than usual, because it was an opportunity to force myself to find satisfying answers to questions about this material that have sat in the back of my mind for years. Such as, "How does an infinite God walk in a garden?" Or "Why does God curse the serpent if it was really Satan?" And "What is the significance of the serpent being cursed to crawl on its belly and eat dust?"

With these and a few other questions in mind, I dug into all of the best resources I could find and discovered some interesting answers. Not all of them are conclusive, but they certainly satisfied my curiosity and helped me better see the relevance this account has for my life today.

V.8
There are two explanations of this verse that I found compelling. The first, more popular explanation, is that God took on some kind of humanoid form while in relationship with Adam and Eve. He didn't give up any of his infinite nature, but rather temporarily added to it a finite representation of himself, in some ways similar to Christ being both fully God while also being fully man.

The second explanation involves some background info on the Hebrew words here. The Bible Background Commentary published by Inter-Varsity Press says, "Akkadian terminology has demonstrated that the word translated "day" also has the meaning "storm". This meaning can be seen also for the Hebrew word in Zephaniah 2:2. It is often connected to the deity coming in a storm of judgment. If this is the correct rendering of the word in this passage, they heard the thunder (the word translated "sound" is often connected to thunder) of the Lord moving about in the garden in the wind of the storm."

In my own examination of the text, I also noticed that the Hebrew word for "walking" used here to describe God's movement in the garden, is commonly used figuratively. And the Hebrew word for "cool" comes from the root word for "wind".

So another explanation is that God did not take physical form, but instead represented his presence by a storm that may have been frightening and appropriate to God's agenda for judgment.

V.9-13
Although God knows everything, he is likely asking about Adam's location in the same way that a parent asks a child caught in the act, "What are you doing?" In fact God's entire line of questioning parallels a parent's instructive discipline of a child, walking them through their actions to show them how and where they went wrong.

And like a child, a politician, or the average adult if we're honest with ourselves, Adam and Eve both attempt to deflect responsibility for their poor actions to someone else.

Next Time- Why did God curse the serpent?