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Do Not Forsake Me, O LordA Psalm of David,for the memorial offering.1O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,nor discipline me in your wrath!2For your arrows have sunk into me,and your hand has come down on me.3There is no soundness in my fleshbecause of your indignation;there is no health in my bonesbecause of my sin.4For my iniquities have gone over my head;like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.5My wounds stink and festerbecause of my foolishness,6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;all the day I go about mourning.7For my sides are filled with burning,and there is no soundness in my flesh.8I am feeble and crushed;I groan because of the tumult of my heart.9O Lord, all my longing is before you;my sighing is not hidden from you.10My heart throbs; my strength fails me,and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.11My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,and my nearest kin stand far off.12Those who seek my life lay their snares;those who seek my hurt speak of ruinand meditate treachery all day long.13But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,like a mute man who does not open his mouth.14I have become like a man who does not hear,and in whose mouth are no rebukes.15But for you, O Lord, do I wait;it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.16For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,who boast against me when my foot slips!”17For I am ready to fall,and my pain is ever before me.18I confess my iniquity;I am sorry for my sin.19But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,and many are those who hate me wrongfully.20Those who render me evil for goodaccuse me because I follow after good.21Do not forsake me, O Lord!O my God, be not far from me!22 Make haste to help me,O Lord, my salvation!

Great Is the LordOf David.1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;fight against those who fight against me!2Take hold of shield and bucklerand rise for my help!3Draw the spear and javelinagainst my pursuers!Say to my soul,“I am your salvation!”4 Let them be put to shame and dishonorwho seek after my life!Let them be turned back and disappointedwho devise evil against me!5Let them be like chaff before the wind,with the angel of the Lord driving them away!6Let their way be dark and slippery,with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!7For without cause they hid their net for me;without cause they dug a pit for my life.8Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!And let the net that he hid ensnare him;let him fall into it—to his destruction!9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,exulting in his salvation.10All my bones shall say,“O Lord, who is like you,delivering the poorfrom him who is too strong for him,the poor and needy from him who robs him?”11 Malicious witnesses rise up;they ask me of things that I do not know.12 They repay me evil for good;my soul is bereft.13But I, when they were sick—I wore sackcloth;I afflicted myself with fasting;I prayed with head bowed on my chest.14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;as one who laments his mother,I bowed down in mourning.15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;they gathered together against me;wretches whom I did not knowtore at me without ceasing;16like profane mockers at a feast,they gnash at me with their teeth.17How long, O Lord, will you look on?Rescue me from their destruction,my precious life from the lions!18I will thank you in the great congregation;in the mighty throng I will praise you.19 Let not those rejoice over mewho are wrongfully my foes,and let not those wink the eyewho hate me without cause.20For they do not speak peace,but against those who are quiet in the landthey devise words of deceit.21They open wide their mouths against me;they say, “Aha, Aha!Our eyes have seen it!”22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent!O Lord, be not far from me!23Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,for my cause, my God and my Lord!24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,according to your righteousness,and let them not rejoice over me!25Let them not say in their hearts,“Aha, our heart's desire!”Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”26Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogetherwho rejoice at my calamity!Let them be clothed with shame and dishonorwho magnify themselves against me!27Let those who delight in my righteousnessshout for joy and be gladand say evermore,“Great is the Lord,who delights in the welfare of his servant!”28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousnessand of your praise all the day long.

Titus 2:1-15But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Daily Anglican prayer - Monday morning – 28th July 2025. Readings NRSV: Psalm 71; 2 Samuel 10; John 8. 31-47. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Monday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.   1 God's love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  Romans 5.5     Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.     2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Marvellous Acts I will sing a new hymn to my God:  O Lord you are great and marvellous,  you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.  Let the whole creation serve you:  for you spoke and all things came to be;  You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:  no one can resist your voice.  Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:  rocks melt like wax at your presence;  But to those who revere you:  you still show mercy.  Judith 16.13–15     3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Creator Spirit, Advocate promised by our Lord Jesus: increase our faith and help us to walk in the light of your presence, to the glory of God the Father; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading 2 Samuel 10; The Ammonites and Arameans Are Defeated 1Some time afterward, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him. 2David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent envoys to console him concerning his father. When David's envoys came into the land of the Ammonites, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think that David is honouring your father just because he has sent messengers with condolences to you? Has not David sent his envoys to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” 4So Hanun seized David's envoys, shaved off half the beard of each, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away. 5When David was told, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.” 6When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, as well as the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. 7When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors. 8The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; but the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country. 9When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans; 10the rest of his men he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13So Joab and the people who were with him moved forward into battle against the Arameans; and they fled before him. 14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 15But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans seven hundred chariot teams, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2nd Reading John 8. 31-47. True Disciples 31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free'?” 34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. 38I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” 39They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.” Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God.   7 The Canticle, A Song of Isaiah ‘Behold, God is my salvation:  I will trust and will not be afraid;  ‘For the Lord God is my strength and my song:  and has become my salvation.'  With joy you will draw water:  from the wells of salvation.  On that day you will say:  ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;  ‘Make known his deeds among the nations:  proclaim that his name is exalted.  ‘Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:  let this be known in all the world.  ‘Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:  for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.'  Isaiah 12.2–6      8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity.      9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.    10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day   Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    Prayer of the Week   Following the seventh Sunday after Pentecost Provident Father, With the prayer your Son taught us always on our lips, we ask, we seek, we knock at your door: Help us so to seek that we may truly find, So to ask that we may joyfully receive, And so to knock that the door of mercy may be opened for us Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.   Let us Pray Let us pray for the world and for the church. God, how great your majesty abounds before us. We thank you for all your generosity. May the peace and blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be abundant across all nations and countries forever more. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Holy God divine and merciful, your blessing on the people is loved by all, for which our gratitude knows no end. Grant, we pray, your saving blessing on all those experiencing times of trouble or strife, that they may receive the guidance of wisdom to lead them to a path of safety. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Almighty God, hear our prayer to bring about a change throughout the people, we ask for your grace to relay the wisdom to each man and each woman how to co-exist in peace and the will to do so, to continue to respect one another and teach their offspring to do so also. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Monday 30 June The Diocese of Niassa – Anglican church of Mozambique and Angola The Parish of Bundaberg West: Sue Barker, Michael Vercoe Inala Careforce All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we are created  and by whose love we are redeemed:  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    God did not give us a spirit of cowardice  but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.  May we rekindle the gift of God within us.  Amen. see 2 Timothy 1.6–7   Music by John Keys – Anglican Chant Canticle organ accompaniments. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSV bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.

Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders1A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. 3And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. 4Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. 5The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. 6Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, 7that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. 9For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. 12For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.14“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. 15But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, 16if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

Get access to Daily Prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Friday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 85Benedixisti, Domine1You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *and blotted out all their sins.3You have withdrawn all your fury *and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.4Restore us then, O God our Savior; *let your anger depart from us.5Will you be displeased with us for ever? *will you prolong your anger from age to age?6Will you not give us life again, *that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your mercy, O Lord, *and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *for he is speaking peace to his faithful peopleand to those who turn their hearts to him.9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *that his glory may dwell in our land.10Mercy and truth have met together; *righteousness and peace have kissed each other.11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *and righteousness shall look down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *and our land will yield its increase.13Righteousness shall go before him, *and peace shall be a pathway for his feet. Psalm 86Inclina, Domine1Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *for I am poor and in misery.2Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *save your servant who puts his trust in you.3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *I call upon you all the day long.4Gladden the soul of your servant, *for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *and great is your love toward all who call upon you.6Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *nor anything like your works.9All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *and glorify your Name.10For you are great;you do wondrous things; *and you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O Lord,and I will walk in your truth; *knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *and glorify your Name for evermore.13For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.14The arrogant rise up against me, O God,and a band of violent men seeks my life; *they have not set you before their eyes.15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.16Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *give your strength to your servant;and save the child of your handmaid.17Show me a sign of your favor,so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzekiel 1:28-3:328 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.2 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.' 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. Hebrews 4:14-5:614 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.5 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,“You are my Son,    today I have begotten you”;6 as he says also in another place,“You are a priest forever,    after the order of Melchizedek.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsAscension DayAlmighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Habitual Pt. 4: Solitude By Louie Marsh, 2- 9-2025   Intro. Last slide T-Shirt.   1) The difference between solitude & loneliness is CHOICE.   “18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”” (Genesis 2:18, ESV)   · All spiritual disciplines are personal DECISIONS.   “15But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:15–16, ESV)   2) Solitude helps me restore my…   ·  PEACE   “3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)   ·  OBJECTIVITY   “17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, ESV)   · sense of SCALE.   “6I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places; 7I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.” (Psalm 102:6–7, ESV)   ·  ENERGY   “29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29, ESV)   ·  PRIORITIES   “12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, ESV)   3) Solitude is an indicator of my spiritual HEALTH.    “39And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,” (Luke 22:39–45, ESV)   Slides of garden   The area it encompasses is flat and measures less than 57 square yards (47 1/2 square meters). The garden is located on the western foot of the Mount of Olives, beyond the brook Kidron, and is only a short distance from Jerusalem. The villages of Bethany and Bethphage are also located very near it.   “35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, ESV)

The devotion for today, Thursday, December 05, 2024 was written by Kris Baker and is narrated by Dana Goodenow. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Luke 8:15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Support the show

1ST Peter 1 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Amos 7:7-15 7This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; 9the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” 10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'” 12And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” 14Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees,15and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' Psalm: Psalm 85:8-13 8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *        for he is speaking peace to his faithful people        and to those who turn their hearts to him. 9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *        that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; *        righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, *        and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *        and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him, *        and peace shall be a pathway for his feet. Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Serve God And Nothing Else 1 Samuel 12:14-15 14If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! 15But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

Let Freedom Ring Part Two: Free to Follow God's Call, Gal. 1:11-2:10 By Louie Marsh, 6-9-2024   Called: In 2014 the Selective Service System mistakenly sent notices to more than 14,000 Pennsylvania men born between 1893 and 1897, ordering them to register for the nation's military draft and warning that failure to do so is "punishable by a fine and imprisonment." The agency realized the error when it began receiving calls from bewildered relatives last week. Chuck Huey, 73, of Kingston, said he got a notice addressed to his late grandfather Bert Huey, a World War I veteran who was born in 1894 and died in 1995 at age 100. "I said, `Geez, what is this about?' It said he was subject to heavy fines and imprisonment if he didn't sign up for the draft board," he said. "We were just totally dumbfounded." God's Call – farmer comes in excited, saw GPC in the sky, says to wife, God's calling to preach the gospel, she says no it means go plow corn! 1) respond to GOD'S CALL – not man's call!   “11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11–12, BSB)   2) dedicate myself WHOLEHEARTEDLY to Jesus!   “13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:13–14, BSB)   3) Remember two things:   Jesus has a plan for MY LIFE.   “15But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased” (Galatians 1:15, BSB)   “4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love” (Ephesians 1:4, BSB)   I must STAY focused on Him.   “16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.” (Galatians 1:16–17, BSB)   4) Practice proper INDEPENDENCE.   “18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie. 21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.” (Galatians 1:18–24, BSB)   5) Practice real ACCOUNTABILITY.   “1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. 3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” (Galatians 2:1–5, BSB)   Real accountability isn't CONTROL   “6But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —those leaders added nothing to me.” (Galatians 2:6, BSB)   It's being responsive with an OPEN HEART.   6) Serve God out of MY CALLING!   “7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8For the One who was at work in Peter's apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles. 9And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:7–10, BSB)   ENCOURAGE others to do the sam

To mark chapter two. The Gospel of Mark. Chapter two is where we find ourselves this morning. You remember that we're in year b, which is to say that the second gospel is correlating with year b. And we are only in chapter two.00:00:22But if you remember, it took us forever to get out of chapter one a few months ago. Because one is just jam packed with things that other gospels expound on even more. Remember that Mark is pretty tight in how he. And short, if you will, in how he says things. And so go with me here to mark chapter two.00:00:43And once you're there, go ahead and stand.00:00:51Notice these words as found in Mark 223 in this episode of Jesus life. One Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were going through the grain fields. And as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? And he said to them, have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food?00:01:23He entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest. And ate the bread of the presence. Which it is not lawful for any but the priest to eat. And he gave some to his companions. Then he said to them, the Sabbath was made for humankind.00:01:43And not humankind for the Sabbath. So the son of man is lord even of the Sabbath. Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath. So they might accuse him.00:02:06And he said to the man who had the withered hand come forward. Then he said to them, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath. To save life or to kill? But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger.00:02:26He was grieved at their hardness of heart. And said to the man, stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him how to destroy him. Lord, we're thankful for your word this morning.00:02:50We pray now that you, Holy Spirit, would come and help. Lord, we need your help. I need your help this morning. And we pray that the same holy spirit that inspired these words originally by Mark's hand. Would inspire us today.00:03:10And enlighten our minds so that we may obey you and love you. We pray this in your name. Amen. You can be seated in this text today. We.00:03:28It's kind of an interesting one. And you know, you have some big text where it's like something wow happens. And there is a miracle here. But the thrust of the text really has to do with law. And Sabbath and observation or observing these things.00:03:48And when we start talking about law, most people start yawning. Nobody reads a law book, for instance, except for lawyers, right? And you remember that the Pharisees are ultimately experts at the law, okay? So that's, you know, nobody, I don't think, does their, what do you call it, leisurely reading of the law or bylaws or this sort of thing like that. Just is not on most people's radar to do.00:04:15But the Pharisees, I guarantee they probably would relax sometimes, reading commentary on the law. That's how much they liked it. That's how expertly they knew how to decipher it. And you'll remember too, and this is helpful in our text today. Is to remember that the Pharisees also had laws that.00:04:33Oral laws that they had created. That were not in the word of God as the law, all right? But that they had put around the law in order to protect from ever breaking the law. Okay? So just think of it like this.00:04:48You've got the law of God at this center circle, okay? And then around that you put fences so that nobody even gets close. Cause you know, when you have something sacred. Or you have somet

Why does God want us to be humble? • May 5, 2024 • Eric StillmanThis morning, I am in the fifth week of a sermon series through the Old Testamentbook of Daniel that will take us up until the summer. To recap, God has allowedIsrael to be conquered by Babylon as discipline for their sins. The main charactersin this story are Daniel and his three friends, commonly known as Shadrach,Meshach, and Abednego, who are attempting to remain faithful to their Goddespite being in exile and being faced with the attempts of the Babylonian King,Nebuchadnezzar, to reprogram them into loyal Babylonian servants. Up to thispoint, despite God's clear challenges to Nebuchadnezzar's pride, the king has yetto bend the knee to God. But in chapter 5, we get a unique view of the world fromthe king's perspective:Daniel 4:1–37 - King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of everylanguage, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! 2It is my pleasure totell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God hasperformed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! Hiskingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation togeneration. 4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented andprosperous. 5I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the imagesand visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that allthe wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them thedream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into mypresence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of mygod, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of themagicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is toodifficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions Isaw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle ofthe land. Its height was enormous. 11The tree grew large and strong and its toptouched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful,its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals foundshelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 “In thevisions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, amessenger, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down thetree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let theanimals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15But let the stump andits roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of thefield. “ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with theanimals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of aman and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.17“ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, 

Acts 9:10-25 10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19and taking food, he was strengthened. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Saul Escapes from Damascus 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ 12Therefore, just assin came into the world through one man, anddeath through sin, andso death spread to all men[a]becauseall sinned13for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, butsin is not counted where there is no law.14Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was notlike the transgression of Adam,who was a type ofthe one who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded formany.16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. Forthe judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses broughtjustification.17For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousnessreign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18Therefore, as one trespass[b]led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c]leads to justification and life forall men.19For as by the one man'sdisobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man'sobedience the many will be made righteous.20Nowthe law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased,grace abounded all the more,21so that,as sin reigned in death,grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

To Love and serve one another. - By: Pastor George Lehman None of us are exempt, there are no spectators.  The roots of joy grow deepest in the soil of Love & service. Where there is love and service there will always be great joy. As children of God, we need to re-look at the motives of our heart.  Are we truly loving and serving one another, are we really building Godly relationships? Question:  How committed are you to having / promoting Godly relationships? E.g. setting your own desires and needs aside for a moment to love and serve others? Galatians 5:13-15 (Amp) - 13For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.  14For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.  15But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another. (The sign that you are truly free. How you love and serve others.) In our lives we have this wonderful freedom of choice: We are the sum total of our choices - Chose your bike/car. - Chose your career. - Chose what we will do with the 24 hours of a day. Considering this scripture text, Paul is telling the Galatian people we are not under the law of Moses with its complex of “Dos and Don'ts” but in this new freedom, it carries with it an awesome responsibility.  Now that, as a child of God you have been set free, Paul warns in verse 13. Don't let your freedom become an excuse for: - selfishness, - self-comfort, - self-concern, - self-pleasing, - self-interests. We will all face this temptation in our new Christian life to arrange our time and our lives around ourselves and our own pleasures. Not leaving an opening for loving and serving others. In contrast to a selfish, self-centred lifestyle, what does the Word tell us to do? Galatians 5:13b (Amp) - But through love you should SERVE one another. God always works where His people meet His conditions. The 1st condition – UNTY amongst the people who are seeking Gods visitation. We are not called to pray for unity, but rather to exercise it. Psalm 133:1&3b (Amp) - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  3)……for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]. Unity is not optional.  God commands it from us! Steps to loving and serving relationships. #1  Realize that loving and serving relationships are twofold.  (It takes 2 to tango). You cannot have a meaningful, loving, serving relationship by yourself.  It takes at least one more person.Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. Let go of any baggage, so you can be free to pick up your cross and serve others. Stop fighting with yourself. Philippians 2:4 (Amp) - Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not (merely) his own interests but also each for the interest of others. #2  Do to others as you would have them do unto you. (Practice the principle of mutual action.) - Love others and they will love you. - Care for others and they will care for you. - Help others and they will help you. NB!!  If others don't do it back, it's because they have a problem, not you. #3  With determination work on your God-centred loving and serving relationships. James 1:19-20 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. It does produce; but not what God desires. To carry grudges, bitterness, unforgiveness, hurts, harboring ill feelings, it destroys the one carrying it.   1 Peter 4:8 - “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.   Which are your God-centred loving and serving relationships? - Your relationship with God; - Husband & wife; - Parents toward children; - Between children; - With the church (brothers & sisters in the Lord); - Your employer – or as the employee; - Then the others. #4  Love above everything else. 1 John 4:19-21 (Amp) - 19We love Him, because He first loved us.  20If anyone says, I love God and hates (detest, abominates) his brother (in Christ) he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.  21And the command (a charge, order, injunction) we have from Him:  that he who loves God shall love his brother (believer) also. Jesus sums it up this way: John 13:34-35 (NIV) - 34A new commandment I give you:  Love one another as I have loved you.  So, you must love one another.  35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Let us not just be Christians, confessing our new life by name only.  But really begin to consciously, actively and obediently love and serve as God has commanded us to do. Romans 14:19 (Amp) – So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. Let us ask God to strip away anything that causes strife, dis-unity, contention [arguments/ disputes], and disharmony. For next week - ‘The Tongue'. One of those Power tools in our toolbox that if we use it correctly; mostly everything will go well.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________LentLet my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141:2 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 86Inclina, Domine1Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *for I am poor and in misery.2Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *save your servant who puts his trust in you.3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *I call upon you all the day long.4Gladden the soul of your servant, *for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *and great is your love toward all who call upon you.6Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *nor anything like your works.9All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *and glorify your Name.10For you are great;you do wondrous things; *and you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O Lord,and I will walk in your truth; *knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *and glorify your Name for evermore.13For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.14The arrogant rise up against me, O God,and a band of violent men seeks my life; *they have not set you before their eyes.15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.16Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *give your strength to your servant;and save the child of your handmaid.17Show me a sign of your favor,so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsJeremiah 9:17-24English Standard Version17 Thus says the Lord of hosts:“Consider, and call for the mourning women to come;    send for the skillful women to come;18 let them make haste and raise a wailing over us,    that our eyes may run down with tears    and our eyelids flow with water.19 For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion:    ‘How we are ruined!    We are utterly shamed,because we have left the land,    because they have cast down our dwellings.'”20 Hear, O women, the word of the Lord,    and let your ear receive the word of his mouth;teach to your daughters a lament,    and each to her neighbor a dirge.21 For death has come up into our windows;    it has entered our palaces,cutting off the children from the streets    and the young men from the squares.22 Speak: “Thus declares the Lord,‘The dead bodies of men shall fall    like dung upon the open field,like sheaves after the reaper,    and none shall gather them.'”23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Mark 12:1-12English Standard Version12 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:“‘The stone that the builders rejected    has become the cornerstone;11 this was the Lord's doing,    and it is marvelous in our eyes'?”12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away. Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Third Sunday in Lent (Anglican Prayer Book)ALMIGHTY God, consider the sincere desires of your humble servants, we humbly pray, and stretch out the right hand of your power to defend us against our enemies; through Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

Trusted & Trustworthy Pt. 5 – A Steward Let's God Use their Gifts By Louie Marsh, 2-11-2024     1) I can't be a good steward and IGNORE my gifts.   “10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: (1 Peter 4:10 ESV)   ·       This doesn't mean I use all of them all the TIME.   “15But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.” (Galatians 1:15–17, ESV)   ·       But when I'm called, I GO!   “8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9And he said, “Go, and say to this people: (Isaiah 6:8–9a, ESV)   2) A Good Steward REJECTS…   ·       PERSONAL exaltation.   “17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (James 5:17–18, ESV)   "Oh wow brother - you must really pray alot!"  "My, you must sure be spiritual!"   ·       GIFT exaltation.   “17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:17–20, ESV)   Whether it's tongues, teaching or whatever…it's wrong!   ·       Gift DELUSION   “3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned…6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;” (Romans 12:3–6, ESV)   ·       The wrong MOTIVATIONS for using my gifts.   “15Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.” (2 Peter 2:15–16, ESV)   3) A good Steward EMBRACES…   ·       Using my gifts to SERVE others.   “7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)   ·       Using my gifts to GLORIFY God.   11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10–11, ESV)   ·       Using my gifts when I don't WANT TOO.   “1Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.”…  (Jonah 3:1–3a, ESV)        

Mark 6:1-29   1He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. 14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." 23And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Acts 4: 13-22 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Who Do You Deny: Self Or Jesus? Jesus Himself Said You Will Either Deny Self Or Deny Him. Isaiah 14:12-15 12How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 86Inclina, Domine1Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *for I am poor and in misery.2Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *save your servant who puts his trust in you.3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *I call upon you all the day long.4Gladden the soul of your servant, *for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *and great is your love toward all who call upon you.6Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *nor anything like your works.9All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *and glorify your Name.10For you are great;you do wondrous things; *and you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O Lord,and I will walk in your truth; *knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *and glorify your Name for evermore.13For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.14The arrogant rise up against me, O God,and a band of violent men seeks my life; *they have not set you before their eyes.15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.16Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *give your strength to your servant;and save the child of your handmaid.17Show me a sign of your favor,so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsGenesis 28:10-17English Standard Version10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”John 1:43-51English Standard Version43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsSt Bartholomew the ApostleAlmighty and everlasting God, who gave to your apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach your Word: Grant that your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (ESV) 10To the marriedI give this charge (not I, but the Lord):the wife should not separate from her husband11(but if she does,she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), andthe husband should not divorce his wife. 12To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.14For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.15But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you[a]to peace.16For how do you know, wife,whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Luke 5:12-1612While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”13And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.14And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”15But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.16But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

1st Peter Pt. 8: Judgement & the House of God By Louie Marsh, 7-23-2023   1) When I suffer for Christ, I should REJOICE!   “12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12–14, ESV)   ·       It's NORMAL for Christians to suffer.   ·       Tests are not punishment, but to help me see the TRUTH.   2) Am I a Christian? Do I BELONG TO CHRIST?   15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:15–16, ESV)   “26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26, ESV)   ·       The word “Christian” changed it meaning over time.   Example – Gay [show video], Jesus Freak.   o   Best literal translation is probably, “belonging to Christ” or “slave of Christ.”   “28And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”” (Acts 26:28, ESV)   ·       Christians viewed spiritual slavery to Jesus as FREEDOM.   “18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”…“22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Romans 6:18,22, ESV)   3) Judgement begins with…ME?   17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17, ESV)     4) When I suffer I must TRUST God.   18And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:18–19, ESV)   “15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.” (Job 13:15, ESV)   “16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:16–18, ESV)  

Today we are talking with Zach Beach and we are looking at creative ways to expand your skillset and diversify your offering. If you are still doing things the traditional way, then you are blending into the crowd with a million different agents.ResourceGet a Copy of Zach's BookReal Estate Marketing DudeThe Listing Advocate (Earn more listings!)REMD on YouTubeREMD on InstagramTranscript:What's up? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the episode of Real Estate Marketing Dude Podcast. Folks, the market has changed. We're going to change with it. And what we're gonna be talking about today is a way to do that. If you're still doing business, the way you have 12 months ago, you're probably suffering. There's a reason why 60,000 real estate agents that I keep saying is probably 40,000.00:04:11:23 - 00:04:27:04It's going to be 150,000. It doesn't matter because when the market shifts, people don't know what to do. And most of you've never seen a shift in your life. And to the tune of like 80 plus percent of all real estate agents have never seen a shift. When the shift happens, it's the opportunity. This is when people make their money in real estate.00:04:27:14 - 00:04:42:20And what we're going to be talking about today is a creative way to go ahead and do that. If you're are a real estate agent or your lender and you're still doing things traditional, there's nothing that makes you different. The reason why some people make a lot of money in real estate is because they do things no one else knows how to do.00:04:43:01 - 00:04:59:00And that's why we're going to chat about today. And the more problems you can solve, the more money you will make. And if you're doing what everything else does, like every other agent, there's a million of you guys, a million real estate agents. Great. I could go out and sell a house. Good. Fucking big deal. I have access to the MLS to anyone can sell a house.00:04:59:00 - 00:05:20:00It's how you sell it that makes people hire you. It's the value you bring to the table, which is a skill set. Today we're going to be talking about creative financing in real estate so you can see how you do deals, how you can advise on deals and bring value to the table. Because the one who does is the one who's going to not only succeed in this market, but they're going to take market share.00:05:20:07 - 00:05:41:06So without further ado from smart real estate coach dot com, we have Zachary Beach to come in and schools today. What's up, Zach? Why what's going on, my man? I couldn't agree with with I couldn't agree with you more with most of the things that you said there. Although I'm not a real estate agent, I work with many real estate agents and show them how to get on the investment side.00:05:41:21 - 00:06:05:15But also my partner was a broker owner for 18 years and my other partner was a realtor for eight. So totally get that side of the business. But now is the opportunity, especially is less opportunities in the traditional side or rear in their heads. Now is the opportunity to get on the investment side, especially in an unstable market, which is exactly where creative financing it's said every real estate agent should be in investing.00:06:05:15 - 00:06:21:02Like if you're investing, you should. I mean, if you're sitting and you should be investing. ECOtality doing if you're not that's all purpose because you'll burn out. I burnt out ten years in a real estate agent if you're really doing deals like if you're doing 30 plus deals a month, 40, 50, 60, you're burnt out after ten years.00:06:21:02 - 00:06:36:21It's it's a hard business and it burns you out. So I ended up in San Diego. But let's get into this thing on on creative financing. And one I want you to tell us a little bit about what type of creating financing you're doing. So I know the exact property types and all that, and then I got a whole bunch of other questions.00:06:38:06 - 00:06:59:16Yeah. So, you know, me and my family have been buying specifically to create a fantastic for over ten years now, we've been teaching people on how to actually execute our creative financing strategies with our trademark three a system for about ten years now as well now have done hundreds of millions of dollars worth of deals without using cash, without using credit, without going to banks.00:07:00:07 - 00:07:27:20So the three strategies that we used after we kind of utilize those three things as, as our, as our rules per se are our lease options buying properties subject to the existing loan and seller finance. So a lease option, really, all that is, is just the ability to control an asset without ownership, with the intent to go ahead and sell it on a on a lease option, most likely owner financing it.00:07:27:20 - 00:07:46:21Just when you're you're speaking with sellers and you're solving a seller's problem and they want to be your bank. And this goes great with a lot of people that have, voila, equity in their property or have no debt where it's second homes or have inherited properties. They see that asset or they see that property is now a liability on that asset.00:07:47:03 - 00:08:11:09And you can go in and step in and they can get some cash flow from it. I lost a lot of tax benefits associated with it and then the last one would be buying a property subject subject to the existing loan, which really is the complete opposite of owner financing. It's where a property has little equity in the property and you go ahead and you close on this property subject to the existing loan, meaning the loan is going to remain attached to the seller's credit.00:08:11:16 - 00:08:31:06So that can be paid off. But title will transfer to your business. And that's that's how we control these assets own these assets. And then our primary exit strategies are rent to own or owner financing as well. So we do two creative on both sides. Okay. I need to talk to you about something after this podcast on that.00:08:31:13 - 00:08:48:11All right. So let's start let's dig deep in. Let's let's lease option as lease option, give you equitable right their interest to go ahead and actually like do show with the property. So I could dumb that down for people. Yeah, 100%. I mean, that is basically what at least that option gives you the ability to then go market the property to an end buyer.00:08:48:17 - 00:09:12:11Our end buyers tend to be people that need time in order to qualify for loans. Is the UN bankable people and what they really need is time. So that's anybody that has a legitimate hiccup in their credit, somebody that is an entrepreneur and a self-employed business person because they need seasoning. It could just be anybody that right now that needs time because they could qualify for a loan at 3% and now they can't qualify for 7%.So these are legitimate buyers that just need time. So, yes, the lease option agreement and we do it slightly different, which is which is really important. If you actually if you have people that have done creative writing deals, listen, this podcast, here's a small tweak that you can make right now. Or if you're brand new at real estate investing, you're going to be doing it right day one.And I think it's different than what everyone else is doing. And that is when we go ahead and lock down a property in our lease purchase agreement, we actually lock in the position of the seller and all we're guaranteeing is paying off the loan in the future and giving the seller the equity that we locked in to. The difference between us and someone else is most other people's lock in a purchase price.So they have zero protection for a down market and they don't get the benefit in the principal pay down or the appreciation as much of the appreciation on the property. So really cool tweet there for you as well, Suze. We're controlling that asset now. We're going to go ahead and sell the property on a lease option as well.It's also known as a sandwich lease option. So what's it out there? A scenario of that? Because here's where I think a lot of agents, if they're putting together these deals and whatnot, most you guys are lenders or agents listening to shows. I'll speak through that. Give me a scenario where I'm coming across and where this might be just my play.So like because books here's what the reality is. You see a lot of distressed deals and people are going be open to these type of conversations. Right. And you need to know how to take them down, not only just for yourselves, but like you might have some other client. You're doing this on behalf and ultimately you just need to know how all this stuff works because it just puts you in a different category.So give me a let's do it like an example, like how this would play out. Yeah, absolutely. So if I'm if I'm also listening or listening to this and I'm looking through this as a lender or a or realtor lens, right now, if I'm a realtor, I'm sitting and I'm saying anything that doesn't fit inside my current box because I'm not I'm not suggesting after you listen this podcast, that you completely throw out your normal business.You keep that running everything that fits inside of your box and anything that does not fit inside of your box. All right. Well, now you have options for you solve a seller's problem because that's all creative financing, is it just we have different tools and mostly more tools to solve someone's problem because we don't fit inside a box.And then if I'm a lender, if I'm a lender, I'm able to add a realtor, but I'm looking at more probably the buyer side where buyers that cannot qualify for loans and it's roughly 60 to 80% of the market right now can't walk into a bank and get a loan because they need time and they need more money down.I need higher credit score. They need to see if I'm the lender. I then look for somebody selling all these options to help them work on their credit. And then now you're banking on that. You able to sell that loan in 24 months or 12 months or 36 months. So you from a lender perspective, you said something important is that here's where because here's the here's what happens is that a lot of the real estate agents and guys, this is another option you offer.This is another service you offer. Just doesn't have to be the only service you a vast majority of buyers are looking to go listed. You're out. People buy the same way for you, so don't overthink this. But he says something really important is that because here's here's where all agents come through. I have a fiduciary duty from the National Association of Realtors, and I need to always act in the best interest of the seller.Folks, highest and best dollar is not always in the best interest of the seller. Get that shit out of your head. You have to realize that the only reason people like Zachary and the other millions and millions of real estate agents are investors in the world. Exist is because they're nothing more than just problem solvers for people that have house issues, period.That's all this is. So there is no taking advantage of people. When you're just 100% transparent, tell them exactly what you're doing. But trust me, they will never sign off on it if it's not doing them a favor. And if not, you're just not practicing ethically and you should get you're asking, but you know, you could be ethical and be a real estate investor.There's a million ways to do it. So because I know what people are saying oh at I'm that means you're going to that's that's fraud. No, dude. Yeah. I need to understand how how it works. And if the seller is not willing to play ball well, then it's just not an option for them. But when they are in these situations, it is.So the lease option would be somebody. What's the seller scenario on there? Who's more likely wanting to do a lease option? Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up. So lease options, I mean, they don't they're kind of a best seller, but it's the simplest way to start creative financing. So a lot of real estate investors start there because they can solve a seller's problem and not have title transfer.So these are the deals you hear. It's like no money down deals and creative mindset because even if you bought property and you didn't have to pay a seller a down payment, you still have to pay for closing costs. So these are the no money down deals. So if you know a seller that is interested in getting top price is interested in not paying a realtor commission, right?Because they want to maximize their profits, but most importantly, is willing to wait for their equity because they would rather maximize their profit. So that's an important distinction when it comes to creative writing that is in it. In a scenario where a seller has equity, their their pain threshold has to be greater, that they want a higher price or more profit than they need their money now.Yeah. So that that tends to happen. But also, I mean there's about 80% of our deals that we've done over the past ten years just in creative writing are coming from expired listings because they've gone on the market, they've received feedback, they either agreed with it or not, and then their options are Now do I go list in take on that feedback like I got to paint the house or I going to lower my price or I get to do X, Y and Z or they find something like us.So it's like, okay, I get it. The traditional market didn't provide you the solution you were hoping for. So now here's how we may be able to structure the deal. And then now they can go ahead. And instead of going through another six month process, they can now go ahead and actually make a move and we can close on this relatively more quickly.So that's where a lot of the deals come from that are for sale by owners because there's people out there that will not no matter what, even if you're the best age in the world, hire a real estate agent. Yeah. So now we can go direct to them and now we can structure something that that solves the problem.So again, if I'm an agent, I'm listening because I'm assuming a lot of agents you've been directly I'm listened to this podcast and that is it's you you can make multiple options for somebody where you can say, here's what this looks like. If I list your house and here's all the benefit you're going to get, here's the profits.But also here, I just want like, you know, I buy real estate here. I can provide some solutions. Here's what this may look like, because you mentioned a point earlier which is not all highest and best is always the best option for people. Sometimes people come to us because they want time and flexibility like they don't want to sell and immediately have to leave their house or somebody is behind on payments and they need that thing to be caught up immediately.And they can't wait 90 days to close or 60 days to close or somebody is has no equity in their house and they actually have to pay you out of pocket in order to close on this deal. So just so many different scenarios like that makes sense. So somebody that the lease option that would be someone who has what's their equity situation usually like or is it just more of like like let's just paint a picture for the market right now people what seven at least in my markets in like California 7% interest rate on like a $1.5 million house is a big difference than a 4% on a $1.5 million house.So what? But a lot of the people out here have a lot of equity over the last few years. The reality is it looks like things aren't selling the way they were because of the interest rate hike. You know, it's sort of buying people in the house. So the problem that people are having, those, they can't sell that house that they live in.Now, if that's primary owner. Yeah. And then replace the same type of lifestyle with a comparable property. So that's issue number one because it's a lot smaller house that they would get at today's rate. The second half of that is that a lot of these people aren't able to sell what they think it's worth and people are starting to come to the reality of like, Oh shit, the market isn't quite what it is, but they might be willing to wait for it to come back.Is that an ideal scenario here? Someone who can't sell right now, but they're willing to wait and then they have a tenant with an option there and then yeah, here's here's three. These are three general managers, three generalized say motivations or problems we for sale is whether it's a lease option subject to owner finds it perfect what is they want to maximize their profits to is they need debt relief or three is they're settling for they want a poor estate or tax planning purposes.00:18:01:01 - 00:18:26:15UnknownThose are three reasons why people would go a creative financing route because yeah, you're right, there's a lot of transition right now in the market. There's a lot of things that are happening where sellers are unable to sell their property for what they owe. And now exactly what you're saying, which is they have this idea of what the price the price was 6 to 12 months ago, and now they have unrealistic expectations of their house.00:18:27:05 - 00:18:53:09UnknownSo if I'm a creative financing real estate investor, although I'm not suggesting you always buy market or above market, but what I am suggesting is price is just one of the terms that we care about. If I buy your house right now at Market value and even though it's slightly inflated and I have ten years to pay off and I have the benefit of principal pay down, I'm going to cash flow that thing and I'm going to sell it at a higher price to a tenant.00:18:53:09 - 00:19:17:06UnknownA buyer, I don't know. That price is always a small factor in my decision making process, where the traditional market is like the number one factor in their decision making process. Now, it's actually more of a factor, I would say, than even the interest rate on the property, because most people buy for the price or you know, what they did during cover with support for the interest rate and not the price.00:19:17:06 - 00:19:40:00UnknownAnd now we're seeing what's happening with that, which means people under underwater. So just those three factors tend to be and I know they may be generalized, but it's all about solving someone's problem because I could buy a property on a lease option that has no debt and just the seller does not want to give up title for tax planning purposes or the benefit of ownership.00:19:40:16 - 00:20:03:20UnknownThey also might not want to transfer title because they don't trust me, which is understandable for some, and they can also buy a property. We always decide we're on a lease purchase which has zero equity in the property and if that's the case, it just the term length is going to be more important to me because any time I'm buying a property with no equity, I need two things to happen.00:20:03:20 - 00:20:25:21UnknownI need the price to appreciate over time, which you and I both know, especially if we go through cycles over time, it's going to always increase and I need the principal pay down to go to pay down on the interest and the mortgage balance on that property over time because then that creates equity. So we bought a we said we bought a lease option from a seller for ten years, ten year lease options.00:20:25:21 - 00:20:50:18UnknownYou just want to give up for whatever reason up in Northern Massachusetts, she relocated to D.C., got another property, get a new mortgage, and she had a vacant house because it expired off the market for about six months, was paying 20 $300 basically just to keep it up. Never was there. We were able to solve that problem because we stepped in to start making those mortgage payments, filled the property with a tenant buyer.00:20:51:05 - 00:21:09:11UnknownThat lease option lasted up to eight years on that house. She had no equity at the time. That property ended up netting about $170,000 over the course of the time frame. For her, for me, for us, not for us. And she was able to walk away and not actually have any problems, which, you know, that solves their problem as well.00:21:09:11 - 00:21:28:13UnknownSo I you just you, you name different scenarios and different all different facets of life and all the people's different challenges. And it just the decision making for them is that they want to wait for well, the seller of that she got the price she wanted to back then she's locked in for eight years. But she also gets there's eight years of write offs and all that, right.00:21:29:06 - 00:21:50:10UnknownYeah. Plus she sold the realtor at the time. She would have paid, you know, 15,000, $20,000 out of pocket the between realtor closing costs and she was paying 80 plus about $12,000 by making month, even though it's going to hurt you know it was 2000 dollars amortized right but she's still paying out of pocket that's $12,000 six months with a vacancy.00:21:51:00 - 00:22:09:14UnknownWe were able to solve that and step in and solve a problem really quickly. And she saved money and that we had an asset that we can now go in. So it makes sense to me. I think the seller finance has a lot of opportunity coming up with a lot of these people that can't sell their properties but have equity and are willing to carry paper.00:22:09:22 - 00:22:31:01UnknownCan you talk a little bit on that and you see an opportunity with seller finance more so now that the rates have gone up and the market shifted, then prior? Oh, it's always been one of our favorite strategies we primarily were targeting and it's still due to this day. But I say targeting meaning like we're we're going to do direct mail pieces or looking for a specific property type.00:22:32:04 - 00:22:58:20UnknownIt's we're looking at debt free houses, huge benefits for you as a real estate investor and a lot of tax benefits for the seller. If you can if you can strike a deal with them and solve a problem where now you in the seller get to determine the terms of the mortgage. How powerful is that? Yeah, because if you go ahead and buy a property traditionally who controls the terms of the mortgage, it's the bank.00:22:58:24 - 00:23:17:00UnknownThey tell you how much money you need now, what your credit score needs to be, what the immunization schedule is going to be, if there's, you know, if there's any other collateral, it's just it's insane. So when we go to buy a property now, it's if I can solve the seller's problem now, meaning the seller, I get to decide what the interest rate is, if any.00:23:17:02 - 00:23:39:03UnknownThere's plenty of deals that we do where it's 0% interest, and you must be wondering why people do that. Lots of sellers because they're getting just principle month over month, don't have to go ahead and report for interest as income. So we have different strategies where I can actually pay a premium on the house but pay in principal only.00:23:39:21 - 00:24:01:20UnknownAnd now the seller's actually getting the full amount in place. And as far as capital gains go, they get to stretch it out right over how. Yeah, that's really time frame we're doing. So you here that is. But this is the skill set I opened up with you guys is you have to like know this shit. Like you have to know what tax advantages are for seller so that you can present that.00:24:02:05 - 00:24:15:01UnknownBecause if you look at the numbers, it looks like a bad deal. But when you actually do the math, you're like, this is actually a good deal. When you talking about if you don't know how to explain that to it to a seller, you know, I don't know what to tell you. This is where you need to sharpen.00:24:15:01 - 00:24:34:07UnknownThis is what people look for in these markets. But look what he's saying. You guys at every every other sentence he's saying problem, solve, problem, solve, problem, solve. And that's the key here is that you're in business to be a house problem solver. You don't have to overthink any of this stuff, in my opinion. Let's get into the marketing of this because I know people are going want to ask about that.00:24:34:20 - 00:24:58:22UnknownHow are we finding these types of sellers? You mentioned one, he's going after debt free houses, but how else are you locating? Yeah, so I it's these people because agents are like, oh, it sounds easy, but it's not. If I'm an agent, I am already in front of how many people per month. Yeah. Where I can make additional offers.00:24:58:22 - 00:25:24:21UnknownSo if you're already involved in real estate investing, where you're an agent, you're lender, you're a wholesaler, you're a fiction flipper, you're buying like you're already in front of people. It's now and you can just pick up one extra deal per month or every other month. It makes a dramatic difference when we look at our deals. It ranges from, say, $40,000 on the low end semi over the course of about 24, 36 months on average, up to $250,000.00:25:25:18 - 00:25:43:10UnknownThere's there's deals in which are just 60 months and there's multiple six figures just because of how they're structured. Yeah. So I'm saying that because you don't have to do as many deals. It's not like this. This does have to be a high volume business if you get the right deals. We have a we have an investor up in New Hampshire.00:25:43:13 - 00:26:06:08UnknownHe's done five deals. They all averaged over $100,000 over the course of 48 months. And just because you have a full time job, two or yeah, he was a he's a government contractor and he's just doing this on the side for his retirement. Yeah. But again, back to your point, as far as marketing goes, it's it's really simple in our we we pull expired listings to cancel withdrawn for sale by owners.00:26:06:14 - 00:26:24:24UnknownWe make direct contact with them. We reach out to them via phone and as though they doing it maybe 3 hours to go make it a handful of deals and reach out to a couple people. I set up an appointment with a seller that has he has got a lot of equity in his property, but there's tenants he doesn't like and and that's why he's selling.00:26:25:02 - 00:26:47:09UnknownSo really can solve this problem rather easily as he could still cashflow this property. And I get cash flow too. And he's still a professional company instead of a tenant. So dear landlord then and then. So we have that and then you have direct mail pieces that of course lead to, you know, a virtual assistant pulling together the information and then you're following up.00:26:47:21 - 00:27:05:06UnknownIt's really we try to keep this three as uncomplicated as possible and shore up your as you grow and scale, you can do Facebook ads and Google ads and you can you can spend a lot of money on online marketing. Or it could be you could spend very little in this business too. And so generate the deals you need.00:27:06:02 - 00:27:22:15UnknownYeah, it goes back to the if you have a budget and you can leverage your time with it. Right. But if you don't then you need your time to do the work. So but I want he said something else a couple you guys this isn't like a every agent like if you're full time or what if you're in real estate full time.00:27:22:15 - 00:27:35:07UnknownWe got to way. You're right you could be title rep. Listen, this doesn't matter. This is like something most people I see get into real estate investing started on the side, literally. They're like, Oh, I'm just going to do a deal or two and see how it goes. Like, Oh, fuck, I made a lot of money. I mean, go out, do this deal.00:27:35:07 - 00:27:51:11UnknownI'm going to to a year and three year and something you could grow passively, but it is something I would put on your radar this year, you guys, because I mean we're targeting distressed hard I'm such in my entire model I'm going right after the distressed markets but I know what's coming and I'm well ahead of all of you guys.00:27:51:11 - 00:28:14:21UnknownI'm like three years ahead of you guys. It doesn't you don't have to be. And I'm not saying that in a bragging type of way. I'm just saying I know what's coming. And, you know, over the last 12 months, I've been sort of formulating our idea. We're doing a lot of sale leasebacks. For example, there's different creative options that we're putting in there because people are going to look for creativity because the traditional listing isn't as easy to get rid of the property.00:28:15:04 - 00:28:34:19UnknownSo you're going to see a lot of these opportunities open up. Mark my words, I guarantee you it's going to happen. Would you agree with that? I think in every market, too, I don't care where you're at in the country. I'm positive this is going to happen. Guys. Yeah, I'm not as I would say, I'm not as decisive as you on that as far as how how drastic the market's going to shift.00:28:34:19 - 00:28:55:08UnknownAnd I think we're all due for a market shift no matter what, especially with the unprecedented times and COVID and what happened afterwards. I think there's a reason why creative fighting is like the number one and talked about and searched on subject right now talk about being ahead of our time. We've been doing this now for over ten years just in this market.00:28:55:08 - 00:29:20:09UnknownI'm just in creative writing. I haven't done anything else in real estate investing since the 2008 crash. And we've noticed, as always, when there's turmoil in the market now, creative financing options become a a more normalized, traditional way of buying and selling real estate because when there's turmoil, that means that the market needs more help, needs more solutions.00:29:20:13 - 00:29:46:07UnknownYes. And that's exactly what we're seeing right now. We're seeing more deals and better deals because we're able to really saw people's problems. And as you're saying, what's interesting is even if people aren't distressed because they hear so much noise, they actually feel distressed, which means that there are actually there's a lot of sellers that will sell properties either below market or more creatively just because they hear everything that's going on.00:29:46:07 - 00:30:02:02UnknownAnd although they're in a really good position, they don't feel like they are. And now we can go ahead and step in and solve that problem as well. You feel like the temperature's changed with sellers and you guys are doing a nationwide thing if students all over. But and because before it was like sellers are sort of dicks like fuck you, I'm not going to sell my house, this thing is worth it.00:30:02:03 - 00:30:34:08UnknownThis is the Taj Mahal. Like no one's touch this thing for less than $10 million, but now they're starting to open up a little bit. Right. And it takes 6 to 8 months for that to happen, which is I think we're there now because it's hard. The market is always lagging behind, even like I remember back in 29 or 2010 when the market was depreciating so fast that the comps on paper were showing higher than what the true values that people are willing to pay big are a major issue in the BPOs and the appraisals at that time, because the market was depreciating fast and it was going up.00:30:34:08 - 00:30:53:00UnknownSo in the last six months of comps, if you're Joe with a 200,000 or sales price, but that's not 175. Well, you're at a there's it's hard to get the bank to accept that but it came I caught up. So you're going to see that in this market as well. And I think there's going to be more. More and I'm not saying you get fucking like crazily distressed.00:30:53:00 - 00:31:15:05UnknownI just think that there's going to be people I know there's people with higher credit card debt right now. I know that the people who bought in the last 12 months are all underwater that got FHA or VA financing. So there's dire situations that now on the flip side of that, their payments are very affordable. Right. So you don't know what they're going to do with it and we don't know if people are going to do that.00:31:15:05 - 00:31:33:15UnknownBut what I know is that there's people that are looking at their houses and what they do with them in way more creative ways than they were just in school. Listed on Zillow or for sale by owner. But on the MLS that's going to make a whole lot of money. Yeah, I'm Mike and I think it's important that you hit on exactly what you just said, which was one of our strategies buying property subject to.00:31:33:15 - 00:31:51:09UnknownI mean, what we're what we're doing right now is we're buying properties with 3% interest rates, two and a half percent interest rates where nobody else can get access to 7%. So as long as you can solve that seller's problem, because if I'm a seller and I'm underwater, I don't know where to go. I'm not a real estate investor.00:31:51:16 - 00:32:08:10UnknownYou know, we know. Sit tight, wait or move out and turn into an asset. And because you get it, because you get cash flow on it. But most people don't think that way. And now all of a sudden if something dramatic cabins they walk through these exit. I like this scenario let's walk through it so they get an idea.00:32:08:10 - 00:32:32:15UnknownSo let's just say and we're actually have one here in San Diego and most of these loans, you consumer the early FHA or VA, is that accurate? Can you assume a conventional. Well, I'm not assuming anything. Just I mean, the because there's different I'm thinking of subject to mortgage but you could actually assign mortgages to and there's a lot of real estate agents you're doing stick VA's VA loans you can assume if you choose to.00:32:33:03 - 00:32:53:06UnknownBut remember my rules or our rules, and that is we don't sign personally on debt. So what we're doing and I know with the subject deals, the number one worry is about the down sales clause and everybody freaks out about it. But the truth is, it's like, do you want sales calls? And I have a specific measurement, but I have heard of very few do on sales scores happening.00:32:53:21 - 00:33:23:24UnknownBut I know that there are techniques that are attorneys have suggested how we acquire the properties primarily, primarily through family trusts because the Garden State Germain Act, I think it's 1982 or 84 states that a do on sales clause cannot be called if it's for state or taxpaying purposes for a transfer of title. So then we just buy the trust that is like one, two, three, Jump Street Smith Family Trust, and we're the beneficiary of that property.00:33:24:15 - 00:33:42:12UnknownI like it. It's very smart, though. So and at the end of the day, a lot of these deals in which we're doing, is it worth the risk of the on sales clause being called? Because there's other ways to pivot, too, because basically the bank saying that they're going to foreclose and do on sales. And how long does that take?00:33:42:14 - 00:34:13:16UnknownMany times. In many cases, it takes a long time. You can exchange the beneficiary back to the seller in order to protect the seller, you could sell the property before it's fully been completed. There's just so many different ways in order to structure these. And in most cases, because I can already hear people saying, in most cases, when we buy properties like this, we're actually improving the seller's credit because most of this most of these circumstances, they may be behind on payments or they don't have any equity in their home.00:34:13:16 - 00:34:37:03UnknownSo we're actually improving the lives of the sellers by doing this because it's still attached to their credit. And they're they're benefiting from that because we're always making our payments on time, because at the end of day, it's our asset. We're trying to get this thing the finish line makes sense. I could do it. Any other things? Thoughts, wild things you want to see or mention?00:34:37:03 - 00:35:00:17UnknownAnybody know? I just would say this and that is credit. Finances are a lot of fun because every deal is different. At the end of the day, there's still deals that are happening now. We've done hundreds and hundreds of these great fancy deals. There are still deals that we approach now that have nuances that we have never seen before and that we get to work through and and structure out, which is a heck of a lot of fun.00:35:00:17 - 00:35:26:18UnknownBut know this too. If this is the first time you've heard of creative financing from a guy from Massachusetts that talks super fast, then they're used to this notion they just know like this was a my intent for today was a perspective change to say there are other options out there that you may not be familiar with that can help solve people's problems and also make it very profitable for you as a real estate investor.00:35:27:08 - 00:35:57:14UnknownSo I encourage you and I know we wanted to give a giveaway today, which is I encourage you to go read our first Amazon bestseller book, Real Estate on Your Terms. You get it absolutely free, so you not going to go buy it on Amazon. I'll give it to you right now for free. We'll actually ship it to you at no cost and you just have to go to wicked smart books dot com forward slash marketing guy with a get smart books dot com for XYZ marketing guy And in that book you're going to hear not only our stories, but you're also going to see how each one of these transactions comes to play in00:35:57:14 - 00:36:16:18Unknownthere. And in those case studies, why the seller did it, why the buyers did it, and then how the cash flows there. So a lot of good a lot of good material for you to go through. And then at that stage, you'll now be able to start my, my, my guess is you'll start recognizing more opportunities than you maybe passed up on.00:36:17:24 - 00:36:40:23UnknownLove it. Why don't you tell everybody where they can find you online as well and make sure you guys go ahead and get that download. I'm going to get it as well and check it out. But what you tell them what your website is, you guys have a these guys coach, they train. If you guys want to learn this stuff like go on their site, buy some of their info or their products and then you guys can learn more about it.00:36:40:23 - 00:37:00:14UnknownBut my point today is getting yourself out of your traditional mindset and realizing the opportunities are going to be all around you. They always have been, but I think it is a big opportunity coming up in the next few years of concentrating on because everyone is scared and they're all hiding in the closet because they're being a bunch of pussies and they're scared and don't know what the hell is going to happen to them.00:37:00:14 - 00:37:18:10UnknownAnd they're worried about this and they're worried about that. And at the end of the day, you guys, you got to just man up, woman up. You got to make the change. Nobody's got it. No one can do it for you. You got to do it. You just have to learn it. And what you know in your head, in the skills you have, is what makes the difference between what happens during this time.00:37:18:20 - 00:37:39:02UnknownSo, yeah, you can find you can find us at smart real estate coach dot com fans on Instagram TikTok Facebook at Smart Real Estate Coach Also on YouTube at Smart Real Estate Coach, we have over I think it's over 300 deals structure of Sunday's now we call them where it's either our deals or the deals that we helped our students do.00:37:39:10 - 00:38:01:13UnknownAnd we literally whiteboard it out where we found the seller, what the deal looks like, why the buyer needed us, what the payments were, the paydays on it. They'll they'll continue to help share with you exactly how this may work in your current business model right now. Sweet man. Well, appreciate you sharing your insight today. We appreciate all you guys listening.00:38:01:13 - 00:38:16:09UnknownAnother up. So the real estate marketing do podcast folks. If you have any additional questions, want to check out our new software. We just lost referral suite ecom. This is part of suite assist and if you're looking for a referral marketing system that firms your database makes them not forget who the hell you are, what you do. This is all you need.00:38:16:22 - 00:38:32:20UnknownLearn about it, research it, and then I'll follow you around the internet and so you can buy it. And we'll meet in the middle somewhere. Referrals to and referrals Slate.com. Appreciate it, dude. You guys have a great week and we'll see you guys next Saturday. Bye bye.

1 Peter 4:12-19 12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Two ways to support Common Prayer DailyBecome a Patron on PatreonMake a One-Time DonationVisit our website for a beautiful Daily Office Experience and More - www.commonprayerdaily.com----------------------Friday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 85Benedixisti, Domine1You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *and blotted out all their sins.3You have withdrawn all your fury *and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.4Restore us then, O God our Savior; *let your anger depart from us.5Will you be displeased with us for ever? *will you prolong your anger from age to age?6Will you not give us life again, *that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your mercy, O Lord, *and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *for he is speaking peace to his faithful peopleand to those who turn their hearts to him.9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *that his glory may dwell in our land.10Mercy and truth have met together; *righteousness and peace have kissed each other.11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *and righteousness shall look down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *and our land will yield its increase.13Righteousness shall go before him, *and peace shall be a pathway for his feet. Psalm 86Inclina, Domine1Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *for I am poor and in misery.2Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *save your servant who puts his trust in you.3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *I call upon you all the day long.4Gladden the soul of your servant, *for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *and great is your love toward all who call upon you.6Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *nor anything like your works.9All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *and glorify your Name.10For you are great;you do wondrous things; *and you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O Lord,and I will walk in your truth; *knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *and glorify your Name for evermore.13For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.14The arrogant rise up against me, O God,and a band of violent men seeks my life; *they have not set you before their eyes.15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.16Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *give your strength to your servant;and save the child of your handmaid.17Show me a sign of your favor,so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzekiel 1:28-3:328 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.2 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.' 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. Hebrews 4:14-5:614 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.5 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,“You are my Son,    today I have begotten you”;6 as he says also in another place,“You are a priest forever,    after the order of Melchizedek.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsAscension DayAlmighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

Daily Devotionals with Religionless Christianity are a quick walk through the word. Each day we look at either a verse or two from scripture a meaningful commentary or other inspirational writing. Also, we include a daily Psalm, Proverb and a prayer. In today's show, March 21st 2023, we are looking at Luke 20:41-44, Psalms 23:1, Proverbs 21:15But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David's son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”' David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”” Luke 20:41-44Daily devotionals Monday-FridayReligionless Christianity Podcast every SaturdayGrab a T-Shirt: Apparel — Religionless Christianity (religionlesschristianitypodcast.com)PLEASE COME JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE MINISTRY:DISCORD- https://discord.gg/W5nACNcVUxFACEBOOK- https://www.facebook.com/ReligionlessChristianityPodcastTWITTER- https://twitter.com/ReligionlessCPARLER- https://parler.com/user/ReligionlessChristianityPodcastSUPPORT THE MINISTRY:AMAZON AFFILIATE- https://amzn.to/3lV4cBPBEST BUY- https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/15JqMmBUY ME A COFFEE- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/RCPodcastCHRISTIAN BOOKS- https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/home?event=AFF&p=1222679Listen to other Podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community#ChristianPodcast #ChristianityAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Steve and Adam discuss the drama in the banking industry, and the potential impact on Registered Investment Advisers. Transcript: 0:06Welcome to crypto for planners.0:09I am Steve Larsen and with me is Adam Bloomberg and today we're going to cover what's going on with the banks and in the economy, Adam, how are you feeling about everything that's going on right now?0:21And you know, Steve, I am feeling okay considering, you know, kind of teetering on the brink of financial collapse, whatever that is that the economy are you personally that's on the brink of collapse.0:32The answer to that is, yes, it is.0:36Actually both, both are kind of teetering right now, but that's okay.0:40It's where we are and, and you know, you and I are here to chat about it.0:44Yeah, we are.0:45So what we're not going to do today is really give you a thorough recap of what happened that's already been done much better by better journalistic outlets than Adam and I talking on a zoom.0:55However, for those of you that you brought up to speed, there were three major bank failures here in the last several weeks.1:02They were all coincidentally crypto related for various reasons that we may get into.1:07And so we really want to cover what's going on.1:10Obviously, it's spread into some concern over bigger contagion that's going on.1:15But we really want to talk about what's going on with these three banks and how it might affect advisors, right?1:23And so well important important note there is the middle bank in their rights Silicon Valley Bank was actually not much of a crypto bank.1:31It was, it was a tech centered bank, it was created, you know, basically to service those companies that were getting VC funding in, you know, mainly in the Silicon Valley area at first.1:43But really those those companies that were getting VC funding in the tech arena.1:47and so they were actually notoriously not a crypto bank.1:50They did not like banking crypto related companies.1:53They like banking kind of web two related companies.1:56Fintech, those kind.1:58So that the middle of the three banks was really not a crypto related.2:03And remember the first one wasn't a, wasn't a total failure.2:06It was a bank that just wound down operations because they said we're not gonna have enough money if we don't wind down now and they gave and that Silver Gate, I'm referring to, they gave everyone their money back.2:16So again, I know we're not trying to recap everything, but when we see headlines and this, this is how it affects advisors, right?2:23Your clients see headlines about bank failures and bailouts and everything and that's really not what we're seeing here, we didn't have a full on failure from Silver Gate.2:33They wound down operations because, and we can go into the fact that they were, they had a, you know, a loan from the Federal Home Loan bank kind of pulled out from under them, but they gave everyone that gave all their deposits, depositors their money back and got rid of operations.2:52And with Silicon Valley Bank, it was just a run on the bank that didn't really need to be there.2:57And then with, with signature bank in New York, that one's kind of up in the air.3:03We still don't know, we, we still don't know they're there.3:06The fed is calling it a failure and we had to take it over and I'm a little leery of that.3:11Yeah, it was shut down via press release.3:13It would appear without much more of a formal process.3:17Exactly.3:18Yeah, it's one of those things like if you're a baseball player and you find out you got traded because someone sends you a tweet or something.3:23It's kind of like that.3:24Very, very similar.3:26I, you know, I know that, that I had some thoughts on it over the weekend and I think you may have summed it up in a, in a tweet.3:32It was something to the effect of, is this the dumbest bank run of all time?3:38Yep.3:38That sounds about right.3:39It was an incredibly dumb, but it was you know, and what you and I, what I kind of intimated to you earlier today and I think I said on Twitter is so many people that, I don't know, there are so many people that I know and, you know, I'm, I'm relatively privileged.3:55Right.3:55I have people, you know, all my friends have, have gone to college and their doctors and lawyers and in business and such, they still don't understand how fractional banking works and they don't understand that the inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices and, and how that works.4:11So when they start reading headlines and these people are your clients right there.4:15They're the clients of advisers in plant or how they're, they're clients of advisors.4:19We talked to their reading these headlines going, oh my gosh, there's a banking crisis and the reality is there's really not a, I don't understand what the crisis is.4:29Right?4:30That, that's the trouble.4:31But, but it's one of those things on as a bank run starts, once it starts, it just keeps going, it's kind of self perpetuating.4:39hmm.4:40Is it being a crisis of confidence more than more than anything?4:43And let's, let's move over to that.4:45Let's move into how it, it does affect advisors and how a potential change in the macro environment is going to affect, affect practices.4:53So, for example, yesterday, so we met with my R A, we met with the team on Sunday, we decided to get something out to the clients on Monday just because there's so much bad information and so many scared headlines.5:07As you know, I'm not a big Twitter person, but I made the mistake of getting on there for, you know, about 20 minutes at night that I thought the world was collapsing and then I remembered why I stay off of their But what, what, what we, what we did.5:19So we put, we put on a webinar for clients and really the focus was, of course, here's what's going on, but we spent a lot of time going through basically the different types of accounts.5:28So you mentioned how people don't understand fractional reserve banking.5:31Well, we, we wanted them to understand what a bank account is, you know, how they don't have all the deposits on hand to cover the clients.5:39And also the F D I C insurance is tied to that.5:42What does that mean?5:43And then over on the brokerage side, that's not for actual reserve.5:46So they're supposed to be your assets that aren't loaned out or borrowed against or anything else, you know, whether that's the case, that's a different story, but that's at least theoretically how it works.5:55And then there is civic S I P C insurance on that and how that works.6:00So that's kind of, that's kind of where we started at our firm.6:03Yeah, and that's a great place to start for any advisor is to just kind of help your clients understand and then you can, you can move forward from there and once they have a better understanding, then you can move forward and go.6:15All right, let's, we can talk individually with all of you about where your account sit, what kind of risks there are in those accounts because that's your job as the advisors to, to know about these things and then, and then to help them through it.6:27So that's a good place to start is not to go, is not to go full on Twitter.6:32You know, all caps, this has to stop or you have to hate the government or everything's falling.6:37But let me just explain to you how all these work and then if you need to come talk to us, but which you probably did, if you need to come talk to us about it, you can schedule an appointment and we'll talk about your different accounts, whether they're at banks, whether their brokerage accounts wherever and what they mean, what kind of risks there are, whose money it is officially.6:59And you know, let's have those discussions.7:01And as I said, most people don't understand how all that works.7:04So if you just explain it to it and your job as the advisor is the first, is that first line of education, then that's a good place to start.7:13Now, now, what if people, you know not?7:16What if clients started with where I started with, right?7:18Like there's a run on crypto banks there after the crypto banks.7:22This is about crypto and it's not about crypto at the same time.7:25So that gets, that gets a little more confusing as far as the bank fundamentals.7:29I certainly don't think so, but as far as the crypto banks being targeted.7:32Yes.7:33So where do you, where do you think crypto as it relates to advisors fits into this scenario here?7:42So the hard part is, you know, as we've seen it very much seems like the crypto related banks are being targeted by the government, right?7:51And there's plenty of stuff to read, there's plenty of stuff that is conspiracy theory and some of it that is probably not at all conspiracy theory that is the crypto banks or the crypto industry, I guess is being targeted in one way you target that is you go after the banks that are banking, the actual companies and those companies being exchanges, those companies being, you know, like circle which offers us D C or U S dollar coin, you start targeting those banks and saying you're no longer allowed to exist.8:19And therefore all your depositors have to get their money back.8:22And I got to go find another bank and eventually crypto companies run out of banks, run out of places that, that they can hold their money.8:28So where it affects, where it comes down to affecting clients is you go.8:33All right.8:33What is, what do we feel is the U S government's attitude towards crypto.8:40It's obviously this current administration is negative, is a negative attitude towards crypto.8:45Where does that affect?8:48Then where does it affect your investments in crypto?8:50Prices?8:50Well, kind of what we saw is, is prices went down for a little while in terms of Bitcoin and Ether and the other crypto assets and then they have taken off the last few days.9:01Now, whether that's because the tough part to know is, is that because the government quote averted a banking crisis and we're all happy that we're not all losing our money or is it because we're starting to realize the cracks in the banking system and the cracks in the financial system and go, oh, maybe this is the, this is part of the solution and therefore there's going to be more usage of Bitcoin and usage of the theory and it could be a combination.9:30And it makes you wonder, are we shifting from an attitude where, hey, the government's coming after crypto, crypto is in trouble too.9:38Hey, the government's coming after crypto crypto super important, you know, because really they know they're not just coming after crypto, they're coming after your economic freedom and now it's more important and that's certainly the optimistic take, but I think it warrants watching as the government goes harder.9:54Does, does the adoption increase?9:56And the price increase because of that.10:00Right.10:00Exactly.10:01And, and we can go that route, which is kind of the conspiracy theory route, which I don't feel is very conspiracy theory anymore.10:07I think it's pretty, they've made it pretty obvious, but if the route is, I don't like the fact that I'm subject to what, what happens with the banks and therefore I'm subject to what happens with the central bank and the fed.10:19There's a way to opt out of that.10:21It doesn't have to be with everything, but with some of your money, there are ways to opt out and the way you opt out is you hold onto your assets and that's exactly what crypto is.10:29It's, I'm going to take care of my own assets so it could be, I'm worried that the government's gonna have full, you know, purview over everything I do and, and full visibility and everything that, that I spend my money on or it's, I'm not so much as worried about that, but I kind of want to have some of my assets where I have full control over it and that's what the education for clients, right about how fractional reserve banking works and about how your accounts work is.10:56Once you've handed the money over to the bank, you're kind of not in full control.11:00And if you want to have this full control, once you understand that you go and they're probably going to go.11:05Alright, how do I, how do I get control of my assets?11:07Well, that's kind of what the crypto system is building.11:10It does have a lot of warts right now.11:12It's not the easiest user experience, all of those things, which are getting better.11:16But at least for advisors, you kind of see now why there's a need for it and maybe now is the time to start learning about it and we're gonna, you know, totally self you know, self promotion here.11:27But this is, that's kind of what we're trying to do here, but this maybe is the time to learn about it because maybe now the system, it makes a little more, more sense.11:37And even if you weren't behind some of the speculation behind the price of Bitcoin, now you kind of go, oh, I see where the idea of custody my own assets or my clients wanting to custody their own assets.11:49Kind of makes sense.11:50This is a system that does that, that's, that's, that's well said, and one of the practical effects, you know, on, on the R A firm was the switching of the banking partners.12:02So obviously getting money on and off in and out of the accounts, my friends at Gemini Vitria and, and so, you know, they were processing wires through silver gate, you know, and then it, then it changed and then now I think it's jpmorgan or something.12:16Don't, don't quote me under, they switched to, but, and again, and I know another great great provide in the space for advisors that again, they've been fined through all this.12:25He's a great custodian, but they've had to redo the banking provider in the on and on off and on a couple of times and it's just been a pain in the butt.12:32So it wasn't any funds at risk, but certainly operationally and logistically getting money on and off was affected throughout this.12:40And Adam transition into the last thing we want to talk about, which is what does this mean for defi and self custody that you mentioned.12:49And I use those to link it because the choke point in both places is the cramping.12:53It's getting money out of your bank in the crypto.12:56And that's, that's the first thing it needs to be tackled if we're going to really go any direction.13:00But specifically in the defi where, where it leaves defi is, it's hard because you're right.13:07The on and off ramps are the tough part.13:09We still pay for most of our stuff in dollars.13:12We still mostly get paid in dollars, whether it's your business, whether you're an employee, whatever you generally get paid in dollars and you at some point, if you want to participate in the defi system, have to convert that into crypto.13:24So I think it leaves us honestly in some tough points.13:28coin base is still, you know, kind of the biggest on off ramp here in the US.13:33And it's gonna be really tough for the government to put a clamp on coin base because they're a publicly traded company because everything is really pretty transparent.13:42And it's at some point you can't just basically snuff out an entire publicly traded company.13:48So I think that's, you know, coin base is still there and, and going a little bit further into where it sits with defied the things that coin base released in the last few weeks, right, which is their base, which is their layer two on top of Ethereum.14:05their wallet is a service, product code, whatever it is, it's coming out, which is basically now, I'm going to have this on ramp on the coin base and then probably more easily transmit, move that into defi on chain as we, as we say it.14:20I think that's, those are pretty important in the fact that coin base is still there and, and coin bases is moving these things forward, not to be like an advertisement for coin base, but again, being a publicly traded company,, and, and having the relationships they have and having the amount of money they have, they're, they're kind of the, the, I don't know the bellwether right now.14:40They're, they're kind of what we're all looking for as for as far as the on and off ramps and then you get into defi that's probably the on off ramp.14:47Eventually, we probably see us more of earning money on chain, meaning I'm going to earn in crypto, I'm going to get paid from my company's wallet to my wallet or my company's, you know, crypto account to my crypto account.15:00There is probably going to be more of that and more of that, you know, you X is being built and more of these products are being built.15:06And again, as the advisors, it's gonna be kind of incumbent to understand how all that works.15:11If my clients getting paid in crypto, I better understand what that means and, and how to take on those risks.15:17Because honestly, before last week, would you have even thought about the risk, the risks inherent in your bank accounts at federally chartered banks?15:28No, no, I wouldn't have and I don't think most people were we, you know, and, and part of like I mentioned, the education, different clients was, hey, within your Schwab account here, we can, we can put it at C D s at 10 different banks.15:40If we need to, we can get it diversified out, we can stand with these limits because even though it's unlikely, it's still, why not?15:48Like why wouldn't we be more safe than not in doing that?15:53And you bring up a good point about coin base, they are, they are aligned with us As much as possible with people who want crypto to succeed because they're not a fractional reserve bank and they do segregate assets and they are regulated and they're kind of the best of all worlds and, you know, to somebody like Geminis credit.16:11So, are they accept?16:14Right.16:14They were going out there trying to generate yield from a black box and got in trouble with the product and all that.16:19But as, but as, as far as, you know, segregating the customer's assets specifically on the institutional side, they do it as well.16:28but, but that, that's looking more and more attracted by today.16:30Right.16:30At least have your assets in an institution where they can't lend them out or chop them up or pull them together.16:40Exactly.16:41And as the adviser having to do some of that due diligence, right.16:45On, not only the custodian, you're, you're using for your clients for crypto, but on who they do business with who their banks are.16:52Like where, like if you keep going down the line, where are the risks further and further down the line and you might, you know, as the advisor, throw your hands up and go, well, I don't, I just don't want to get in this crypto thing.17:02I'll just stick to traditional assets.17:04Well, look, banks got hit right.17:07Like who, who's to say there's not a run on, you know, some other bank who's to say that there's not more that's being created more that we're going to see in the near future.17:17You, you know, I think, I don't know if we've mentioned Fidelity.17:20There's fidelity is a custodian.17:21Their fidelity is a bank as well.17:23Right.17:23So everyone's going to be impacted by what happens next with what the Fed does and what the federal government and central bank do with, with banks because they're all, all of our money is so intertwined.17:37So it's an important wake up call to go.17:39All right.17:40It's time to start doing a little bit of risk management.17:42A little bit of due diligence, more so than we did in the past where we just said, we totally trust that the government has it under control and go.17:51All right, we need to find out where the risk points are and going back to the idea of Gemini and Coinbase like, okay, we need to do that, that, that kind of risk assessment and due diligence as advisors, just like you need to on all of your custodians and fidelity.18:04Fidelity is a great bridge between the two worlds right there, legitimate crypto custodian.18:10And they're obviously, you know, a top 234 legit traditional custodian for advisors and they're, they're in both worlds for sure.18:19And there's somebody again that can serve as a great on ramp between the two worlds and they're not doing a whole lot of it now.18:26And the reason is because of this regulatory uncertainty and the attacks that they see coin based taken that these banks are taken and who knows what's going on behind the scenes.18:35But at some point, we're going to need these larger companies who understand both worlds to step up to step up and, and fight for crypto hopefully.18:44Yeah.18:44And I think they will.18:46And if we could go back a little bit, I think, and I apologize for continuing to go back.18:50But when we started this conversation a little bit is what is the, what is the impact on these quote crypto banks or these banks that we're happy to, to bank crypto companies getting shut down and advisers, talking to clients in this feeling of, oh my gosh, the government's trying to shut down crypto.19:09There's no more banks.19:10Well, you just mentioned Fidelity is a pretty large traditional finance bank, a pretty large traditional finance custodian and a pretty large crypto custodian and is, is getting bigger every day and delving into that a little bit more.19:25chase, I mean, as much as Jamie Diamond talks badly about crypto, they still do quite a lot of banking for crypto companies.19:32And let's not forget, you know, Bank of New York Mellon, which is maybe the largest custodian in the world is, is the, you know, they're the custodian of choice for a lot of huge crypto hedge funds and banks.19:44And I don't feel like, and I don't, I don't want to make assertions but those companies aren't going down anytime soon.19:50Those are not banks that are going to fail anytime soon because there be too big to fail banks.19:55Right.19:56And they're all full on into crypto.19:58They're not backing away at all their custody ng assets or custom digital assets, traditional assets.20:03They're mixed.20:03So I don't want there to be this feeling of, oh, my gosh, they said they shut down Silver Gate and signature.20:10It's all done because there are much larger banks than those two that are perfectly happy delving into crypto.20:18Yeah.20:19I think my overall take and it's, it's a topic for another podcast but it's not that they're trying to kill kryptos that they're trying to control crypto and these are smaller, more independent banks who maybe don't have the revolving doors of people moving from the board of directors and general counsel through the Treasury department back to the banks, like the bigger ones, where they do have control.20:39So I would say it's more of a, more of a wanting it under their thumb than a, let's kill it altogether type of attitude coming out of the government.20:50Yeah.20:50Yeah, I agree.20:51You're right.20:52It's more of a control, how can we control it and kill it and if we need to tamp it down a little bit till we figure out how to get control, that's probably where we are at this point.21:02but, but again, there's plenty of business to go around, there's plenty of building that's going on in, in the crypto world and we're seeing every day more needs for solutions like this not to totally take over the traditional finance system and, and kick it out of the way.21:18But you see a little bit here and there as to how I can, I can take on some of that custody and take off, take on some of the things that crypto gives us the transparency, the instant settlement, the the self custody.21:32Great summary.21:33So let's go ahead and wrap it up there.21:35It's enough bank talk that I think anybody should be subjected to at one sitting.21:38Hopefully there's some value there for you.21:40Let's end with a pitch.21:42You're gonna hear from us a couple of times.21:44The pitches to go to crossroads, crossroads 23 the planet out conference in ST Louis last week of April Monday through Monday.21:52Tuesday.21:53Is it 24th, 25th?21:54I should have had that up or something like that.21:56Yes, 20 24th and 25th in ST Louis.21:59Come get your tickets and most importantly, Adam, maybe people understand the speaker lineup we have and that's why they're not buying tickets.22:07Yeah, I'm not quite sure like it's a pretty killer speaker lineup.22:09So you and I have talked about banks and clients and regulation and stuff.22:12So we have Commissioner Hester Purse is leading off our conference.22:16So we're gonna get to ask an sec commissioner, you know, have her talk about what's happening with compliance and regulations of the SEC, which is pretty important to us as advisors.22:24And we're gonna get to ask questions among after that, we have Matt Hogan from bit wise, is gonna talk about the state of the market.22:31We're gonna have a compliance panel with compliance attorneys and compliance officers where again, it's all discussions, you get to ask questions and if you're an advisor that's in the crypto or wants to be in two days, you're gonna get just about everything answered that you want.22:45We're gonna have Tyrone Ross in the 41 financial crew that's gonna talk about how they're building kind of the R I A or the future using certain tools, some crypto, some not crypto, some web two and, and yeah, kind of new tools that are out there.22:58So there are so many others.23:01We're gonna talk about data and research and where you get your information and indexes and, and all of that.23:06But it is an absolutely killer lineup for any.23:08It's very focused on advisers wanting to add crypto to their practice.23:13Yeah.23:13Hit the planet dot com slash crossroads and you can get the details on time and date hotel and buy your tickets.23:20We are using N F T s for tickets were trying to get sidetracked, explaining that, but no, you don't have to pay with crypto.23:26Yes.23:27Even though we're doing N F T tickets, you can pay with your credit card specifically and hopefully your company's credit card makes it a lot easier on everybody.23:35All right, Adam, thanks for jumping on the podcast with me.23:38Hope there is some value there.23:41Hope so.23:41Thanks for having me. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plannerdao.substack.com

First Sunday in Lent The Collect: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?” 2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'” 4But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Psalm: Psalm 32 1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *        and whose sin is put away! 2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *        and in whose spirit there is no guile! 3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *        because of my groaning all day long. 4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *        my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *        and did not conceal my guilt. 6 I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *        Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. 7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *        when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them. 8 You are my hiding-place;   you preserve me from trouble; *        you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *        I will guide you with my eye. 10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *        who must be fitted with bit and bridle,        or else they will not stay near you.” 11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *        but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. 12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *        shout for joy, all who are true of heart. Epistle: Romans 5:12-19 12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—13sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.19For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,' and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” 7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” 11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Find Your People, Day 5By Jennie AllenEphesians 2 tells us that we—you and I and everyone ever to live—were dead in our trespasses and sins and that we were children of wrath, meaning that we deserved for God to send a meteor our way. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:3-5).Jesus rescuing us from our sin and giving us a way out changes not only our eternal future with Him, but also empowers us to love like Him here. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).You and I are to give that reconciliation and hope away to living, breathing, broken, longing people. God purposefully set you in your place and in your time to love people in such a way that they will feel their way toward Him and find Him.Jesus not only provides the means to live a full, thriving life with each other and with Father God, He also modeled how it would look! He laughed and learned and sang and grew up in the context of a village. He found His people in unexpected places, not universities or temples. His people were prostitutes, uneducated fishermen, hated tax collectors, children, and mothers-in-law. They were often, by any onlooker's estimation, the wrong ethnicity, the wrong gender, the wrong age, the wrong status, the wrong personality type, the wrong people.Jesus's people were all wrong—except that they were willing. And they were wanting. And they were all in.Jesus made a habit of pushing away crowds and eating with His twelve. Within that twelve, there were three He spent the most time with. But what began in a village with a tight group of people would reach generations and the ends of the earth. This is the endgame of community: we find our people, and together we build safe, beautiful outposts that offer the love of God.God, in this weary, tired world it feels like just more work to be “all in” with people who have hurt us or could hurt us. Help me to focus on the endgame: building a community, a circle of friends, that can be a beautiful beacon of Your love. May nothing stand in the way of the relationships You are preparing for me. Amen.I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:4‭-‬8Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17‭-‬19

My podcast with the brilliant Marc Andreessen is out!We discuss:* how AI will revolutionize software* whether NFTs are useless, & whether he should be funding flying cars instead* a16z's biggest vulnerabilities* the future of fusion, education, Twitter, venture, managerialism, & big techDwarkesh Patel has a great interview with Marc Andreessen. This one is full of great riffs: the idea that VC exists to restore pockets of bourgeois capitalism in a mostly managerial capitalist system, what makes the difference between good startup founders and good mature company executives, how valuation works at the earliest stages, and more. Dwarkesh tends to ask the questions other interviewers don't.Byrne Hobart, The DiffWatch on YouTube. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Read the full transcript here. Follow me on Twitter for updates on future episodes.Similar episodesYou may also enjoy my interview of Tyler Cowen about the pessimism of sex and identifying talent, Byrne Hobart about FTX and how drugs have shaped financial markets, and Bethany McLean about the astonishing similarities between FTX and the Enron story (which she broke).Side note: Paying the billsTo help pay the bills for my podcast, I'm turning on paid subscriptions on Substack.No major content will be paywalled - please don't donate if you have to think twice before buying a cup of coffee.But if you have the means & have enjoyed my podcast, I would appreciate your support

Scripture Reading: John 18:28-19:16a 28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor's residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. 29 So Pilate came outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They replied, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”31 Pilate told them, “Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!” The Jewish leaders replied, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” 32 (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)33 So Pilate went back into the governor's residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Then Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked, “What is truth?”When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, “I find no basis for an accusation against him. 39 But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?” 40 Then they shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged severely. 2 The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they clothed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him again and again and said, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly in the face.4 Again Pilate went out and said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no reason for an accusation against him.” 5 So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Look, here is the man!” 6 When the chief priests and their officers saw him, they shouted out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “You take him and crucify him! Certainly I find no reason for an accusation against him!” 7 The Jewish leaders replied, “We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die because he claimed to be the Son of God!”8 When Pilate heard what they said, he was more afraid than ever, 9 and he went back into the governor's residence and said to Jesus, “Where do you come from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you know I have the authority to release you and to crucify you?” 11 Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”12 From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!” 13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in the place called “The Stone Pavement” (Gabbatha in Aramaic). 14 (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, “Look, here is your king!”15 Then they shouted out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your king?” The high priests replied, “We have no king except Caesar!” 16 Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.Main ThemesPilateThe Jewish authorities sentence Jesus. Jesus' apostles—most notably Peter—desert him. Then the time comes for the Romans to get involved.The first question we ought to ask is: why? Why must the Romans be involved at all? I have discussed this already, so I will be brief. The Romans depended on delatores—accusers—to bring criminals to justice. These accusers could be individuals or councils, such as the Sanhedrin. In particular, the Sanhedrin was composed of the aristocratic elite of the most important city in Israel. The Roman governor would certainly cooperate with such a group.The Jews deliver Jesus to Pilate “very early in the morning,” probably around 6 am. For Romans, “late morning” in the summer months was before 8 or 9 am. A Roman governor would probably end his public transactions around noon, leaving some time for leisure. In fact, Romans rarely slept in; doing so could carry the implication of drinking or partying the night before.When the Jews deliver Jesus, they avoid entering into the “governor's residence”—the praetorium. There is some debate whether the praetorium was Fortress Antonia, adjoining the temple courts, or the old palace of Herod the Great. The lavishness of Herod's old palace, which would have been preferred by a Roman governor, along with confirmation from other ancient writings seem to support the latter alternative. Either way, why did the Jews not enter the praetorium? Because houses of non-Jews were ritually impure and entering them would render a Jew impure as well, keeping him from fully participating in the Passover festivities. This concern for ritual purity serves as evidence of the aristocrats' hypocrisy: they spent the night ignoring the weightier matters of the law, such as justice and fairness, to then show concern for more superficial rituals. Recall Matthew 23:23-24:“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!Notice Pilate's attitude. From Josephus' writings (an ancient Jewish historian) we know that originally Pilate was quite unsympathetic towards the Jewish customs. In John, we find a Pilate much more willing to avoid unnecessary friction. He comes out to meet the Jewish elite, accommodating of the fact that they could not enter the home. However, Pilate also shows some annoyance with the situation. He asks, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” The response is, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” If we read between the lines, Pilate's question does not seem like an honest request for information. He seems to be aware of the accusation but remains unconvinced that this is a matter worthy of his involvement. The Jews insist they would not seek audience before Pilate if Jesus was not really a criminal.The Jewish elite finally speak truly when they say, “We cannot legally put anyone to death.” As I explained last session, only the Roman governor could order a person killed—particularly by crucifixion. Notice, therefore, that the only way in which Jesus' words could be fulfilled (e.g., “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32) was if the Jews involved the Romans. This was expected, indeed planned, by Jesus.Roman citizens could not be legally crucified, but slaves and provincials could be, generally for rebellion against Rome.Pilate was known for his brutality. He had sometimes executed Jews without trial. The Jewish elite knew that if they wanted Jesus dead, they were asking the right guy. They may have expected no hearing at all, even if Roman law technically required one. But there were politics at play. An overly cruel governor could give rise to revolts by the provincials. In fact, later in his life, Pilate's excessive use of capital punishment cost him his office. We also have other reasons to believe that Pilate may have been trying to be more careful than usual. His patron, Sejanus, was executed in the year 31 AD. If the crucifixion happened in the year 33 AD, then Pilate found himself in a precarious situation with little political support. Even if the crucifixion happened in the year 30 AD (the other widely argued for date), Pilate may have already been feeling the mounting opposition to his patron. Pilate himself was only an equestrian, a class lower than senators. Finally, there is likely some personal animosity at work as well. Pilate had gained some political savvy by this point, but he probably strongly disliked the Jews. Pilate may have been fair to Jesus simply to spite the Jews.Pilate Questions JesusAccording to normal judicial procedure, the accuser spoke first. So, Pilate had to already be aware of the charge of treason when he begins Jesus' interrogation. The question Pilate asks is, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Ain't that the million dollar question! In classic Johannine fashion, this moment drips with irony. Pilate is probably employing sarcasm, perhaps even mockery. But the gospel audience understands that the question is serious—the most important question ever, in fact. Is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, the High Priest, the King, God himself?Notice that Pilate's question is strange in one regard: so far no one has used his exact terminology. Jesus' detractors do not calling him king of the Jews. Jesus himself does not make the claim with those exact words. The title is not even a traditional Christian confession. Christians will call Jesus Messiah, Christ, Lord, or perhaps even King of Israel or King of Kings, but generally not King of the Jews. There is irony in the fact that a Gentile is one to speak with such insight, even if he spoke more than he knew.Jesus' reply plays on the irony of Pilate's question. Jesus retorts, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?” Allow me to rephrase it as, “Oh, so you can tell? You figured it out on your own or someone told you?” Pilate's response makes perfect sense, “I am not a Jew, am I?” In other words, “How would I know? I am not a Jew.”If up to this point the conversation had a mocking tone, it becomes serious as Pilate asks, “Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” This is a hefty question. Paraphrased, Pilate says, “Your people wish me to have you killed. Why?” There is also some legalese at play here. If a defendant failed to offer a defense, the judge would ask about the charge three times before convicting the defendant by default.Jesus explains that his kingdom is not of this world. He offers a simple proof. If his kingdom were of this world, his followers would be fighting to free Jesus; they would probably be fighting against Jews to establish Jesus as King and fighting against the Romans to liberate Israel. They are not. “As it is,” meaning, “look around, there is no fighting,” Jesus' kingdom is certainly not political. But Jesus does not deny the charge against him. Jesus affirms he has a kingdom: “my kingdom is not from here.” If Jesus were trying to win his trial, this was not a wise move.Pilate picks up on Jesus' confession. “So you are a king!” To whatever extent Pilate is following standard trial procedure, notice that this is the third time the charge is brought up to the defendant. The defendant's lack of defense will result in a conviction by default. (Although, perhaps the conversation simply developed this way and the governor is not thinking in terms of legal procedure.) For the last time, Jesus fails to defend himself. “You say that I am a king.” This statement can be taken in a few different ways. Jesus may mean it as, “You say I am king because I am.” As an older commentary puts it, “Thou sayest; for I am a king.” Another alternative is that Jesus bypasses the title and instead affirms the substance of the accusation. Then we could rephrase Jesus response as follows: “Is King the proper title for someone like me? I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me. Does that make me king?” However we interpret Jesus' response, it is not a denial of the charge against him. Jesus may have sealed his fate.Pilate ends the conversation with another million dollar question, “What is truth?” The true tone and intent behind his questions is hard to discern. Maybe Pilate is mocking Jesus' and his commitment to truth. After all, Pilate lived a life of Roman politics and military prowess. Truth? Who cares. Power—that's what really matters. We can almost hear his argument: “Do you think a man is convicted because he is guilty? He is convicted because he is weak. Do you think the powerful escape justice because they are righteous? Don't be naïve! Do you think only the wicked are conquered and enslaved? We conquer devils and saints alike. Do you think the righteous rule the world? The strong rule over all. Do you think that kings speak only truth? They don't yet go ahead and disagree with them and see what happens. Do you think truth matters at all? Don't be a child.”However, there is a good chance Pilate means his question earnestly. The other gospels tell us that Pilate knew Jesus to be innocent. Moreover, Pilate's wife had received a vision confirming Jesus was blameless and should not be convicted.So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?” (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.) As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.” Matthew 27:17-19We can imagine a corrupt ruler of a corrupt nation being asked by a corrupt ruling council to brutally crucify a man he knows to be innocent and asking himself: “What is truth? Is there anything worth fighting for? Anything worth sacrificing for? If so, what is that truth? Where does it come from?” These could be the questions of a wicked man who is beginning to see that what is right and wrong is not simply a matter of power.Pilate Attempts to Release JesusPilate finds no (legal) fault in Jesus and attempts to release him. Pilate follows a custom of releasing one prisoner during Passover (as scholars call it, the “paschal amnesty custom”). A Roman governor was free to issue amnesties. We have record of Romans sometimes releasing prisoners en masse on local feasts. During their own festivities, Romans usually delayed punishments. So, the custom described in John would not have seemed odd in the ancient world.Pilate gives the Jewish people a choice: Jesus or Barabbas? To Pilate's surprise, the people exclaim: “Barabbas!” There is irony upon irony here. Jesus was accused of being a revolutionary but found to be innocent. Barabbas was an actual revolutionary! Technically, the word used in verse 40 is “robber,” but that was a euphemism for revolutionary. As the NET's translators' note 118 explains:Or “robber.” It is possible that Barabbas was merely a robber or highwayman, but more likely, given the use of the term ληστής (lēstēs) in Josephus and other early sources, that he was a guerrilla warrior or revolutionary leader. Moreover, the Jewish leaders allegedly acted against Jesus to prevent a revolution that could destroy Israel. John 11:49-50:Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.”Yet, they requested the release of the very type of person who would bring demise to the nation just 40 years later.Abusing the PrisonerThe FloggingJewish law allowed for up to 40 lashings (Deuteronomy 25:3). To make sure that one did not accidentally exceed the lawful numbers of blows, the Jews only dealt 39 lashings. The Romans were not beholden to such a limit. In fact, the text indicates a more severe flogging. As the NET's study note 1 explains:Three forms of corporal punishment were employed by the Romans, in increasing degree of severity: (1) fustigatio (beating), (2) flagellatio (flogging), and (3) verberatio (severe flogging, scourging). The first could be on occasion a punishment in itself, but the more severe forms were part of the capital sentence as a prelude to crucifixion. The most severe, verberatio, is what is indicated here by the Greek verb translated flogged severely (μαστιγόω, mastigoō). People died on occasion while being flogged this way; frequently it was severe enough to rip a person's body open or cut muscle and sinew to the bone. It was carried out with a whip that had fragments of bone or pieces of metal bound into the tips.The Roman scourging could be so severe that sometimes victims that were not sentenced to death died. There are accounts of scourgings that left the victim's bones exposed. It was a horrific practice.Jesus was probably tied to a pillar or post and beaten with flagella, which as the quotation above explains, were leather whips with interspersed knots with pieces of iron or bone, which left skin hanging from the back in bloody strips.The Mocking“The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they clothed him in a purple robe. They came up to him again and again and said, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!' And they struck him repeatedly in the face.” (John 19:2-3)The crown of thorns may have been made for mockery more than torture, although it may have served both purposes. It was probably made from the branches of an available shrub, such as acanthus. The thorns may have been turned outward to simulate a crown instead of inward to produce bleeding. The main point was making Jesus look like a king to then sarcastically mock him. We have records of the Romans abusing other prisoners, even by adorning them as king as well. So, the scene being described is entirely in keeping with Roman practice.Purple was an expensive dye in the ancient world. Consequently, purple clothing was often worn only by the wealthy elite or royalty. For example, the robes of Hellenistic princes were purple. To complete Jesus' costume, the Roman soldiers give him a purple robe. However, if purple was so expensive, would the soldiers dare waste such an item of clothing? The Gospel of Matthew gives us an important clue. In Matthew 27:28, the same item is described as a “scarlet robe.” A scarlet robe would have been worn by a Roman soldier and it was cheaply dyed in contrast to expensive royal purple—but it resembled a king's robe. Imagine a child pretending to be a superhero. His parent may tie a towel around the child's neck and then refer to it as a cape. On one hand we understand that it is a towel, but on the other hand we clearly understand it is meant to represent a cape and would refer to it as such. Similarly, although the soldiers probably used a scarlet military garment to clothe Jesus, everyone understood it was meant to represent a royal purple robe.Finally, the soldiers chant, “Hail, king of the Jews!” In the Eastern Roman Empire, those who worshipped Cesar would chant “Hail, Cesar!” The soldiers purposely utilize the same chant for Jesus to add to their sarcastic mockery.Pilate's Second AttemptPilate's Attempt to Release JesusAfter the scourging and mockery, Pilate attempts to release Jesus once more. Presumably hoping that the flogging had satiated the Jews' bloodthirst, Pilate presents the horrifically bloodied Jesus to them an exclaims, “I find no reason for an accusation against him.” In other words, “Hasn't this innocent man suffered enough for whatever he did to annoy you? Can we be done with this whole ordeal?” The words that Pilate actually uses carry even more irony. Pilate says, “Behold the man!” This sounds strikingly similar to words of God to the prophet Samuel as God presented Israel's first king:When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said, “Here is the man that I told you about. He will rule over my people.” 1 Samuel 9:17Moreover, “behold the man” is the whole reason for the gospel. God became man! To quote C.S. Lewis, “The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation.” Had God not become man there would be no Gospel, there would be no story to tell, there would be no chance of killing God. We should behold indeed!The Jewish religious elite respond by demanding, “Crucify him!” Pilate has no reason to crucify Jesus, so he responds, “You take him and crucify him!” Pilate's response is a bit metaphorical. The Roman soldiers will have to be the ones to carry out the execution, but it will be done so at the behest of the Jews not the Romans. As we will see throughout the next few verses, John does not exculpate Pilate, who is too weak to save a man he believes to be innocent, but the brunt of the guilt for Jesus' execution is placed squarely on the Jewish elite's shoulders.Why do the “chief priests and their officers” demand execution? Because they have a law and according to that law Jesus ought to die for claiming to be the Son of God. Notice this is a different charge from what Pilate was told earlier—that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews. However, both charges are related. Since Caesar was understood to be divine, a claim to be a son of a god could be understood by the Romans as a political claim to office. Nonetheless, Pilate seems unconvinced. For Pilate to declare Jesus innocent implies Pilate understood Jesus' claims as merely philosophical, not political.To the reader of John's Gospel, the claim that the law demands Jesus' death because he claims to be God's son would be laughable if it weren't so tragic. The law would certainly demand such a penalty—if the claim were false! That's the whole question. Is Jesus telling the truth or not? Jesus provided miracle after miracle after miracle to substantiate his claims, but nothing sufficed for the religious elite. The careful reader will also detect a deep irony. Jesus is the incarnation of their law (“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.” John 1:14). To say that the law demands the death of Jesus is to say that Jesus demands the death of Jesus.Pilate More Afraid than EverWhen Pilate is informed that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, he becomes “more afraid than ever.” As a Roman, Pilate would have been familiar with tales of deities appearing in human form and of the harsh consequences to the mortals who rejected them. Consequently, Pilate seems to take the claim of Jesus' divinity quite seriously—ironically, much more seriously than the Jews who witnessed miracle after miracle. A Roman proves more willing to believe the Jewish Messiah than the Jews.Pilate takes Jesus' words so seriously that he immediately grasps the importance of determining Jesus' origin.Recall the following verses:The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all. He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. John 3:31-32Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!” John 6:32-34Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?” John 6:41-42The Jews were either too obtuse or too obstinate to understand Jesus when he spoke as being “from heaven,” “from above,” or “from God.” Pilate, who has heard none of these statements, immediately demands such an explanation. “Where do you come from?”Jesus does not respond. In this way, Jesus seals his fate—a fate not brought upon the Jews or the Romans but controlled by Jesus himself all the while.Pilate responds either in annoyance, hostility, or (less likely for a Roman ruler) earnest concern: “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you know I have the authority to release you and to crucify you?” If, against the odds, Pilate is truly concerned for Jesus, we could take his statement as: “I have the power to help you, but you have to give me something to work with! Help me help you!” If we understand Pilate's statement to be less friendly, we could rewrite his words as saying: “You dare disrespect me while your life is in my hands!” Perhaps Pilate meant his words both ways. Pilate may have been trying to help Jesus while taking offense that, as a scholar (Brown) points out, “by not answering Jesus is somehow looking down on [Pilate].”Jesus' attitude towards Pilate is wholly unexpected, which may have been what earned him some credibility before the Roman ruler. A prisoner, particularly one facing crucifixion, would praise the judge's integrity. Jesus does nothing of the sort.No Authority Except by GodJesus makes clear to Pilate that no, Jesus' life is not in his hands—not ultimately anyways. Pilate has power over Jesus only because God has made it so. If God had so desired, Pilate would have no authority. This statement is partially exculpatory. Pilate may be choosing incorrectly but at least the situation he finds himself in is not of his own making. The Jewish elite, on the other hand, are much guiltier. This messy situation (to use a severe understatement) was not brought upon them. They caused it.The idea that God establishes and uses rulers is not foreign to scripture. We find it both in the Old and the New Testament. The interaction between God and government is a difficult topic that goes well beyond our current study of John. Merely as a introduction to the topic, I quote other verses that touch on the matter.Some of the key passages in the New Testament include:Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation because it is God's servant for your well-being. Romans 13:1-4aBe subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 1 Peter 2:13-15Throughout the ages, Christians have interpreted these passages differently. Some take them as universal teachings with no exceptions. They would argue that Christians should obey the government regardless of how wicked it is. Romans 13, for example, was heavily preached by German churches in the 40s to convince Christians to follow the Nazi government. Most Christians have taken a more nuanced approach, recognizing the general principle that Christians should be exemplary citizens for the sake of the Gospel. However, the government should be disobeyed or even opposed in a number of situations, like when the government requires Christians to engage in sinful behavior. Some of the key passages in the Old Testament include:“Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7“This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, . . .” Isaiah 45:1aThese Old Testament verses may not seem as impactful as the New Testament verses quoted above, but in context they are nothing short of scandalous. The verse in Jeremiah is written as God decrees the exile of the Jews to Babylon, after the Babylonians utterly destroyed the kingdom of Judah and decimated the Israelites. In the midst of the tragedy, as the Jews are carried off as captives and slaves, God commands them to pray for peace and prosperity for the captors! In an unfathomable twist of events, God will use the nation of Babylon—the same nation he used to destroy his people—to prosper his people. The verse in Isaiah has a similar context—God using the Persians to subdue nations. A gentile king is called anointed.God uses rulers, even the evil ones.Pilate's Third AttemptPilate is so impressed by his conversation with Jesus that he is determined to release him. Although I have tried to keep my opinion mostly out of the discussion, I think this is clear evidence that Pilate's dialogue should not be read mostly with a mocking or hostile tone, but in earnest. Some Eastern Christian churches, such as the Ethiopian and Coptic Orthodox Churches hold that Pontius Pilate later converted to Christianity himself. So they revere Pilate as a saint. These conversion narratives are late and hard to rely on as historical accounts, but I think they make more sense of the text than the negative view of Pilate developed by Western tradition.Whether Pilate was beginning to believe Jesus or not ends up becoming irrelevant. The Jews twist his arm. The Jewish elite threaten Pilate that if he lets Jesus go free, they will tell Caesar that Pilate released a man claiming to be king—i.e., a traitor to Caesar! Pilate has a political calculation to make. Could he defend himself of a treason charge? Could he explain that Jesus' kingdom was not of this world? Recall the discussion above regarding Caesar's precarious political support. His patron had either already been killed or there was mounting opposition against him. Caesar himself was nothing more than an equestrian with a questionable record as a governor. Ultimately, is it worth becoming a martyr for Jesus? Alas, despite Pilate's belief that Jesus was innocent, he opts for political expediency. He caves to the threats of the Jews and condemns Jesus to crucifixion. Again, this moment shifts the weight of blame between the Jewish elite and the Roman governor. Pilate was guilty of weakness—he knew what was right but lacked the courage to see it through. The Jewish elite were guilty of deliberate wrongdoing.The trial reaches its climax in a shocking statement. In my opinion, one could argue that all the hypocrisy, antagonism, and wickedness of the Jewish religious elite builds up to this one stupefying statement: “We have no king except Caesar!” The Jewish religion, at its core, believed that God was their ultimate king ruling from everlasting to everlasting. Moreover, God had and would again appoint a human king over the Israelites, but the king would come from their own people. No foreign king could ever be the true king of Israel—much less Caesar who claimed to be divine. I provide scriptural support for these point below.Notice that in the Old Testament, God is called Israel's Judge:I have not done you wrong, but you are doing wrong by attacking me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites! Judges 11:27bJudge in this context referred to a political office meaning something akin to ruler.God was not often called King of Israel in the Old Testament, but the implication was always clear from his role, for example, as the one who fought wars for the nation of Israel.Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands, for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal. Joshua 10:42-43Indeed, when the Israelites demanded a king “just like all the other nations have,” God decried this as a rejection of his kingship.The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods.” 1 Samuel 8:7-8aWas the concept of demanding a human king intrinsically wrong? No, it was the sinful motives underlying the request that amounted to a rejection of God's authority and plan. In fact, God had promised the Israelites a human king.When you come to the land the Lord your God is giving you and take it over and live in it and then say, “I will select a king like all the nations surrounding me,” you must select without fail a king whom the Lord your God chooses. From among your fellow citizens you must appoint a king—you may not designate a foreigner who is not one of your fellow Israelites. Deuteronomy 17:14-15But regardless of whether a human person ruled over Israel, God's kingship endured forever.But you, O Lord, rule forever, and your reputation endures. Psalm 102:12 (literally “sit enthroned” forever)Moreover, God promised a future king to Israel who would rule forever and bring upon the wonderful promises of the eschaton.For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David's throne and over David's kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7With that background in mind, again consider the high priests exclaiming, “We have no king except Caesar!” Caesar was not their king, and he was certainly not their only king. This statement amounts to the kind of blasphemy for which they sought to kill Jesus.Thursday or Friday: When Did Jesus Die?Verse 14 seems to place Jesus' death during Passover (Thursday) instead of the day after (Friday) like all the other Gospels. At least initially, this presents a difficult harmonization question. Are the gospels contradictory with one another? Did John make a mistake? I was going to write somewhat extensively about this question, but I found a great summary of the issue and potential answer:In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus dies the day after Passover. But in John, it seems like he dies on the Passover. Can these be reconciled?The Last Supper is clearly a Seder, a Passover dinner (Matt 26:17-19). Passover lambs were sacrificed earlier that day, Thursday, Nisan 14. Jesus died the next morning, Friday, Nisan 15. However, at first read, John seems to place Jesus' death on the Passover, making it Friday, Nisan 14 (which would only occur in a different year). The chief priests do not want to enter Pilate's palace so that “they might not be defiled but eat the Passover” (John 18:28), and Pilate sends the titulus (the sign for Jesus' cross) proclaiming Jesus as king on “the day of Preparation of the Passover” (John 19:14).There have been a number of proposals attempting to deal with these two different accounts. Some suggest that John is ignoring historical accuracy to make Jesus' death coincide with the slaying of the Passover lambs. Others suggest that John and the Synoptic authors were using different calendars. Although it is true that some early Jews, most notably the Essenes, followed a different calendar, I don't think that really solves the problem in John.Here's the solution I find most likely. “Day of preparation” (παρασκευή, paraskeuē) is also the standard word for “Friday” for early Jews and Christians, since Jewish households had to prepare for the Sabbath every Friday. John clearly means Friday, since he says that this παρασκευή was the day before Sabbath (John 19:31). The other Synoptic Gospels also call the day of the crucifixion παρασκευή (Matt 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54). So the phrase “Preparation of Passover” (παρασκευὴ τοῦ πάσχα) can simply mean “Friday of Passover [week]” rather than “preparation for Passover.” That makes it the same day and date as the accounts in the Synoptic Gospels.What about the chief priests' desire to “eat Passover” that night, after Jesus' death? (John 19:31) While this is definitely evidence for the belief that John has a different chronology, there is a reasonable explanation. Passover is not only a single meal, but a week of festivities, with more than one sacred meal. The chief priests would be more likely than most Jews to be involved in multiple rituals during Passover week, and all of them would have required ritual purity.Personally, I find the suggestion that John got the crucifixion day wrong to be so unlikely as to be untenable. Even if we took the most liberal understanding of the Fourth Gospel's authorship and postulated it was not written by John or his disciples, the other gospels were already popular. The author of the Fourth Gospel, whoever he was, would have known exactly when the crucifixion occurred. The suggestion that John moves the date of the crucifixion to make a theological point seems to me also highly unlikely. Sure, ancient authors were allowed, even expected, to take more liberties when writing a narrative than a modern author might. But there is no indication in the text that John is writing anything but an accurate and chronological description of events. He even provides the time of day in which the events occur. To take this interpretation is to severely undermine the historical reliability of the Fourth Gospel.

Isaiah 9:6-7Summary: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the beginning of the establishment of God's eternal Kingdom. Jesus has come to redeem and rescue but one day in the future, He will take His place as the One True King.Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.Understanding the Big Picture of the Kingdom.1)   God is Creator and King.  Genesis 1:1 (ESV)n the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.John 1:1–5 (ESV) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.2)   The devil leads a rebellion against the LORD.Isaiah 14:12–15 (ESV) 12“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.3)   The Devil is judged BY GOD!  Luke 10:18 (ESV) And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.4)   The Devil leads man to rebel against God.Genesis 3:15 (ESV) 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.”5)   God promises a Savior and KING to the world. Gen 3:14,15Genesis 3:14–15 (ESV) 14The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I 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.”6)   Jesus brings us the Good News of His Kingdom.John 3:16–17 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.7)   HE CONTINUES THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM THRU HIS CHURCH.Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”8)   AT THE APPOINTED TIME HE WILL RETURN TO PUT HIS KINGDOM INTO FULL EFFECT!Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV) 11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.9)   The One True King will reign forever and ever.Revelation 21:1–6 (ESV) 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Isaiah 9:6-7Summary: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the beginning of the establishment of God's eternal Kingdom. Jesus has come to redeem and rescue but one day in the future, He will take His place as the One True King.Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.Understanding the Big Picture of the Kingdom.1)   God is Creator and King.  Genesis 1:1 (ESV)n the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.John 1:1–5 (ESV) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.2)   The devil leads a rebellion against the LORD.Isaiah 14:12–15 (ESV) 12“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.3)   The Devil is judged BY GOD!  Luke 10:18 (ESV) And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.4)   The Devil leads man to rebel against God.Genesis 3:15 (ESV) 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.”5)   God promises a Savior and KING to the world. Gen 3:14,15Genesis 3:14–15 (ESV) 14The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I 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.”6)   Jesus brings us the Good News of His Kingdom.John 3:16–17 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.7)   HE CONTINUES THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM THRU HIS CHURCH.Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”8)   AT THE APPOINTED TIME HE WILL RETURN TO PUT HIS KINGDOM INTO FULL EFFECT!Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV) 11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.9)   The One True King will reign forever and ever.Revelation 21:1–6 (ESV) 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Today's Reading: Small Catechism: Sacrament of the Altar, part 5Daily Lectionary: Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 20:1-15But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Small Catechism Sacrament of the Altar, part 5) In the Name + of Jesus. Are you cool enough to commune? That seems like a silly question, but sometimes that is what it sounds like is being referred to when we talk about being worthy to receive the body and blood of the Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar. Is that what really lies behind the notion of being worthy to commune? Is admittance to the table based on some kind of ecclesiastical coolness factor and if it is, you want to be cool, don't you?The language about worth makes it sound like there is something that you can do to make yourself worthy to receive communion. If this was the case, then communion would be the reward you got for being properly prepared for it. It would be the recognition that you had made yourself worthy. The Lord's Supper would become the meal that you earned through your efforts. You did your part, now God is bound to do His. If worthiness to commune was based on your efforts how many times a year could you do the work necessary to commune?Thankfully this is not what the language of worthy to commune is referring to. There is no coolness factor, ecclesiastical or otherwise that you have to worry about or work towards. Communion, like baptism, like the gospel itself, is not a reward, it is a gift. Communion is not something that you earn the right to receive by making yourself worthy. Like all gifts, it is something that is given. You don't get communion; you receive it as a gift. If communion is a gift, then so too is the status of being worthy to receive it. Belief in the words ‘given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins is what makes you worthy to commune. The belief that the Lord's Supper is for you is all you need to approach the altar week after week without worry or fear that you are unworthy. The very faith that makes you worthy to receive the gifts of God is in itself a gift of God. He is the one who made you a Christian and He is the one who has made you worthy to commune. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We dare not ask how this can be, But simply hold the mystery And trust this word where life begins: “Given and shed for all your sins.” (The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, LSB 634 st 5)-Pastor Grant Knepper is the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, Oregon.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane BamschStudy Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.

Life Under the Sun Pt. 9 Living a Life that Works! By Louie Marsh, 10-23-2022     4 PHILOSOPHIES OF LIFE THAT DON'T WORK: MATERIALISM WOKE HUMANISM FATALISM   GOD'S WAY DOES WORK!   1) God is there & HE CARES for me!   “1But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.” (Ecclesiastes 9:1, ESV)   2) God has only given me so much TIME.   “2It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all (Ecclesiastes 9:2–3a, ESV)   3) God says evil lurks in MYHEART.   . Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” (Ecclesiastes 9:3b, ESV)   4) There is hope for the living in the LIVING GOD.   “4But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” (Ecclesiastes 9:4, ESV)   HOW TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE:   1) Live HAPPILY  where ever you are!   “7Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7, ESV)   Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes – God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Eccl. 9:7 (Mes)   2) Live in PURITY & THE POWER of the Spirit!   “8Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:8–9, ESV)   3) Throw yourself completely into WHATEVER!   “10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, ESV)   4) Remember: MY ABILITY doesn't guarantee my success.   “11Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11, ESV)   5) God's Wisdom is more EFFECTIVE than my strength.   “15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.” (Ecclesiastes 9:15–16, ESV)  

And He said to them, “Go into all the world (B)and preach the gospel to every creature.mark 16:15 Ecclesiastes 9:13-16 etter To Be Wise than Foolish 13Once I saw what people really think of wisdom, and it made an impression on me. 14It happened when a powerful ruler surrounded and attacked a small city where only a few people lived. The enemy army was getting ready to break through the city walls. 15But the city was saved by the wisdom of a poor person who was soon forgotten. 16So I decided that wisdom is better than strength. Yet if you are poor, no one pays any attention to you, no matter how smart you are. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Jeremiah 1:4-10 4Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” 9Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Psalm: Psalm 71:1-6 1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be ashamed. 2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; incline your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; you are my crag and my stronghold. 4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor. 5 For you are my hope, O Lord God, my confidence since I was young. 6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother's womb you have been my strength; my praise shall be always of you. Epistle: Hebrews 12:18-29 18You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;29for indeed our God is a consuming fire. Gospel: Luke 13:10-17 10Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” 13When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” 15But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” 17When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

The Conversion of Saul 9But Saul,stillbreathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went tothe high priest2and asked him for lettersto the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging tothe Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him,Saul, Saul, why are you persecutingme?5And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said,I am Jesus,whom you are persecuting.6Butrise and enter the city, and you will be toldwhat you are to do.7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,hearing the voice but seeing no one.8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened,he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10Now there was a disciple at Damascus namedAnanias. The Lord said to him in a vision,Ananias.And he said,Here I am, Lord.11And the Lord said to him,Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a manof Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in andlay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.13But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man,how much evil he has done toyoursaints at Jerusalem.14And here he has authority fromthe chief priests to bind all whocall on your name.15But the Lord said to him,Go, forhe is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my namebefore the Gentiles andkings and the children of Israel.16ForI will show him how muchhe must sufferfor the sake of my name.17SoAnanias departed and entered the house. Andlaying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight andbe filled with the Holy Spirit.18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, andhe regained his sight. Thenhe rose and was baptized;19andtaking food, he was strengthened. Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues Forsome days he was with the disciples at Damascus.20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying,He is the Son of God.21And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man whomade havocin Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?22But Saulincreased all the more in strength, andconfounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by provingthat Jesus was the Christ. Saul Escapes from Damascus 23When many days had passed, the Jews[a]plotted to kill him,24but theirplot became known to Saul.They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,25but his disciples took him by night andlet him down through an opening in the wall,[b]lowering him in a basket.

1And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. 3Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against mea and I will restore it to you.” 4They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” 5And he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.” 6And Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is witness,b who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous deeds of the LORDthat he performed for you and for your fathers. 8When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them,c then your fathers cried out to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. 9But they forgot the LORD their God. And he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor,d and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against them. 10And they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, that we may serve you.' 11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barake and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety. 12And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king.f 16Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.22For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests andthe captain of the temple andthe Sadducees came upon them,2greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaimingin Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3And they arrested them andput them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.4But many of those who had heard the word believed, andthe number of the men came to about five thousand. 5On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,6withAnnas the high priest andCaiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired,By what power orby what name did you do this?8Then Peter,filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders,9if we are being examined todayconcerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel thatby the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,whom God raised from the deadby him this man is standing before you well.11This Jesus[a]is the stone that wasrejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.[b]12And there issalvationin no one else, forthere is no othername under heaven given among men[c]by which we must be saved. 13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.14But seeing the man who was healedstanding beside them,they had nothing to say in opposition.15But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,16saying,What shall we do with these men? For thata notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.17But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn themto speak no more to anyone in this name.18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John answered them,Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,20forwe cannot but speak of whatwe have seen and heard.21And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them,because of the people, for all were praising Godfor what had happened.22For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20CHAPTER 913 I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. 14 There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. 15But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.CHAPTER 101 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. 5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. 11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. 14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. 16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! 17 Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! 18 Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. 19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. 20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

In this episode we discuss... ways rural pastors and the church can support families in the education of their children.We must educate children:Deuteronomy 11:18Proverbs 22:62 Timothy 3:14-15But what about the rest of the education? Do we need to teach them 5x5 and how many electrons nitrogen has?We take time to discuss through options around homeschool, classical school, private school, and public schoolThen, we give tips for parents weighing these optionsStuff Rural Pastors Can Use Review:Need a new pair of hiking sneakers? TJ reviews the shoe for you!Our Quote of the Day:The education of children for God is the most important business done on earth.  It is the one business for which the earth exists.  To it all politics, all war, all literature, all money making ought to be subordinated; and every parent especially ought to feel, every hour of the day, that next to making his own calling and election sure, this is the end for which he is kept alive by God- this is his task on earth.  - Robert Lewis DabneyCONTACTCall and leave a message at (570) 724-3741Email: ruralpastorstalk@gmail.comWebsite: http://ruralpastorstalk.buzzsprout.com/SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: http://facebook.com/ruralpastorstalkTwitter: @ruralpastorsLISTENItunesSpotify

           May 15, 2022                                                                                                 Achilles Week 4Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.  Song of Solomon 2:15But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.  For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house.  They flourish in the courts of our God.   Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.   Psalm 92:12-13JESUS' COMMUNITYJesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.  He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.  Mark 3:13I need a community that ______________________.Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River.  He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.  Luke 4:1-2My community that loves Jesus: _____________________Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?  What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?  2 Corinthians 6:14I need a community that is ____________________. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Hebrews 10:24What is my community that is on mission: ________________________Every Member is a ___________________.Every _______________ is Important.Everyone is a ________ at something.I need a community that ______________________.Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  James 5:16We go to Christ for our ________________________. We go to the Church for our _______________________.My Community that brings Freedom:  _________________——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Jerry Wierwille”] Galatians 5:13-18 For you, brothers and sisters, were called to freedom; only do not use the freedom for an opportunity to indulge the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, in the command, Love your neighbor as yourself. 15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16Now I say, walk by the spirit and you will absolutely not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, with the result that you are not doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. “Freedom” means freedom from the powers of the old age—the power of sin, the cosmic forces of evil, and the law. “Christian freedom in the Spirit means voluntarily offering oneself in service to one's fellow Christians, in opposition to living in line with the self-centered and self-serving orientation of the flesh.” (DeSilva, NICNT) “Flesh” refers to the power that is in us from our life connected to Adam and his fall. It presses us to satisfy our desires and inclinations in ways that are totally devoid of God. “It is the sum total of the impulses, urges, and desires that lead human beings away from virtue toward self-promotion and self-gratification, often at the expense of the interests and well-being of others, of the harmony of community, or of the accomplishing of the purposes of God in our lives, communities, and world.” (Desilva, NICNT) Romans 8:1-8 John 15:4-5 Galatians 5:24-26 Be encouraged if you feel the battle raging inside you. The sign of the spirit at work in your life is not that you are free from bad desires but that you experience the war that is going on inside you.The post The War Within first appeared on Living Hope.

1 Timothy 2:13-15 How Eve and Paul were alike, by Bruce C. E. FlemingThe focus of this episode is: 1 Timothy 2:13-15 How Eve and Paul were alike“What's this Dad?” I asked picking up the flat and pointed piece of chipped stone. “That's an arrowhead son,” he replied. “What's it doing here, Dad?” “Ahh. That's a great question!”“What's this doing here?” is what many ask when they come across the verses that are numbered as 1 Timothy 2:13-15. They ask, “Why do we find these words in this place?” One could say we have several figurative arrowheads to consider in these verses.- Why does Paul here bring up the Garden of Eden, and Adam and Eve?- Did they have something to do with the wayward women leaders Timothy was correcting in Ephesus? What?- Where in the text does the reference to Eden end in these verses?- Why does Paul bring up the birth of The Child in verse 15?- And who are “they” at the end of verse 15b?These questions can all be answered. We can answer them now because we have asked the right questions.We can answer them because we have looked at the context and the main actions Paul is recommending in 1 Timothy 2:8 to 3:16. We can answer them because we are not off-the-track wandering in the weeds looking for the answers to the wrong questions, which I'm afraid so many have done.Let's look at the literary structure of the passage as Paul presented these ideas. As we do we see where verses 13-15 belong in the development of Paul's thought. He has not written a linear progression of ideas in a 1, 2, 3 manner. He has written using a rainbow pattern of parallel ideas. The main idea is in the middle. On either side are ideas that echo and complete each other.Because verse 9 has no verb and begins with “likewise” we have to start back in verse 8. Then come verses 9-15 which are Paul's focused advice about correcting-in-order-to-restore-to-ministry the subgroup of wayward women overseers in Ephesus.In verse 8 Paul gives a command to Timothy. He wishes for the wayward men overseers to preach and pray in public worship with holy hands (not tainted by sin) with sound doctrine, which is not a source of angry disputing.In verses 9, 10 and 12, Paul gives a parallel command to Timothy. He wishes for the wayward women overseers to preach and pray in public worship with proper outward dress and behavior.In verse 11 Paul makes use of this passage's only imperative verb where he says, Let these women learn! as good students paying attention.Then, Paul opens a parenthesis in verses 13-15a before he returns in 15b to advice that parallels his earlier advice. That advice concerned the formerly wayward women overseers Timothy was to retrain and restore to ministry. Verses 13-15a serve as a digression. In them Paul justifies the course of action he is recommending. He explains why he is prescribing such gentle correction for them.Remember, with the wayward leaders Hymenaeus and Alexander back in 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul turned them over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. But with these women wayward overseers he is recommending a very different kind of teaching. They are not being handed over to Satan to be taught. They are to be allowed to learn and get retrained as good students from Timothy himself, or by Priscilla or by other faithful overseers in the church at  Ephesus.Here's my paraphrase of verses 13-15a in the context of verses 2:11 to 3:111Let the women overseers who were wayward learn in quietness and with all studiousness. 12I am not permitting them to teach men in an incorrect way, but to be retrained in quietness.13Why? For, God formed the two in the Garden, Adam and then Eve 14and Adam was a first-degree eater. He was not deceived but sinned on purpose. But Eve was deceived and as a second-degree sinner, to that degree, she became a transgressor.15But she, Eve, would be saved through the birth of The Child who was to come, as will the women you are retraining if they persevere in faith, love, sanctification and self-control.3:1“Faithful is Jesus the Logos, the Word,” so if any one of those you are correcting aspires to oversight, that woman or that man desires a good work!Like Paul, like EveWhy? The Gospel of Mark recounts how Jesus' disciples were slow to learn the lesson of the multiplied loaves. First, Jesus fed the 5,000 from a few loaves and some fish (Mark 6:35-44). A second time, Jesus multiplied a handful of food into enough for four thousand people (Mark 8:1-9). A little while later, Jesus and his disciples found themselves in a boat with just one loaf of bread. The disciples were hungry and began to worry. Oh, what could they do in these dire straits?Carefully, Jesus talked to them about their cares and about their blindness to His power to provide for them again and again. He reminded them of all that had happened. Yet they still didn't understand (Mark 8:14-21). They needed to be told again.In similar fashion, just in case his message has not been fully understood, Paul adds several more verses in 1 Timothy 2. He wants to make sure his instructions about the correction of the errant women teachers are clear.Why does he recommend retraining for these women? In verses 13-15a, Paul calls attention to relevant details from the Garden of Eden.Because “intent” counts. Paul starts verse 13 with the conjunction “for” in Greek. He gives a reason “for” what he has just recommended. Then, he refers to Genesis 3. In the Garden of Eden there were two kinds of sinners. And in Ephesus, where Timothy was, there were two kinds of sinners:1. sinners who were deceived and sinned, and2. sinners who knowingly and defiantly sinned.In verse 13, Paul draws a clear distinction between the first man and the first woman. By referring to their two distinct creations, he focuses attention on them as two distinct individuals.13For Adam first was formed, then Eve.The lesson of verse 13 isn't who was first, but that there were two individuals created in the beginning – first one, then the other. Paul further distinguishes between these two by using the names, “Adam” and “Eve.”The use of these names in their historical setting is strikingly anachronistic. The woman was not called by the name “Eve” until Genesis 3:20. Yet, Paul uses that name referring to moments in history (Gen 2) that occurred before she was known as Eve.Similarly, the name “Adam” did not refer only-to-the-man at the point in time referred to by Paul in 1 Timothy 2:13. The name “Adam” could refer to them both (Genesis 5:2 – “He called their name Adam”). The man took the name “Adam” for himself, only after God judged him. Breathtakingly, the man rebelled one more time after God spoke to him in Genesis 3:17-19. This was another act of rebellion and self-rule, as opposed to submission to being ruled by the Creator.The man had named the animals who were subordinate to him in the Garden of Eden. He used the naming formula and called them their names. This is similar to the naming formula used today when the Queen or King of England says, “I dub you Sir So and So.” The first chance the man had to respond positively to God's speeches to the serpent, to the woman and to him, he responded negatively! He called the woman a name using the naming formula he used for the animals. He presumed to rule over her by naming her and treating her like just another one of the animals.How was she to respond to that? God was her Creator. God alone was her ruler. God was their Ruler. What to do with a husband who presumed to usurp God's role by ruling over her in this way?Two kinds of eaters. This is important to understand. In 1 Timothy 2:14, after distinguishing clearly between the first two individuals at Creation, Paul focuses on why and how each individual sinned.While it is clear that each one in the Garden is disobedient to God's command, the following differences exist between them after the Attack by the serpent tempter:1. The man was not deceived. He sins deliberately and knowingly (Gen 3:12).2. The woman was deceived and only then does she sin (Gen 3:13).In the Garden, God takes these differences into account when imposing judgment on the serpent tempter, on the woman and on the man. God imposes a curse on the serpent. The Hebrew word “curse” is used.Using words in a way parallel to his words to the serpent tempter, God imposes a curse on the soil. This curse is “because of” the man (Genesis 3:17). The Hebrew word for “curse” again is used. It is only used these two times.No “curse” is imposed on the man or on the women. Significantly, no curse is imposed because of the woman as had occurred because of the man. In Genesis 3, the Hebrew word “curse” only occurs in reference to the man (and the serpent tempter).There is something very different between the man's motives and actions. There is something very different in the way God treats the one and the other of these two humans in Eden.How does Paul know the woman is deceived? In Genesis 3:13, the woman says so, in an accurate admission to God of her wrongdoing. In 1 Timothy 2:14, Paul notes that the man is a different kind of sinner. He “wasn't deceived.” This distinction drawn between the two sinners is a distinction for Timothy to follow in correcting those who had gone astray in Ephesus.In 1 Timothy chapter 1, Paul referred to how God had judged him gently. Discerning Paul's intent, God dealt gently with him, and even put him into ministry because he had acted ignorantly and in disbelief (1:12).In modern-day courts, even murderers are judged differently, according to their intent. There is “murder in the first degree” for those who kill on purpose, or “with malice aforethought.” And there is “murder in the second degree,” or “manslaughter,” for those who kill but not with malicious advance planning.“Murder one” receives the harshest punishment. Manslaughter merits a lighter sentence.Paul had been a second-degree sinner. The way God dealt with him as a second-degree sinner is the way he wants Timothy to deal with those at Ephesus who also sinned in the second degree. The women described in 1 Timothy 2:9b and 12 are to be treated like Eve, and like Paul, who had not sinned on purpose. He is to let them learn and emphatically so.To underline this, in verses 13 and 14, Paul refers to the two sinners in the Garden in a different order from when each one sinned. If Paul had been preoccupied only with details of timing in Eden, he would have referred first to the woman and then to the man. Instead, he twice refers first to Adam, who sinned on purpose.Here is my paraphrase of verses 13-14 (italics added):13For, God formed the two in the Garden, Adam and then Eve14and Adam was not deceived, but Eve was deceived,  and to that degree became a transgressor.Don't be deceived! Some people charge that since the first woman was deceived in the Garden, all women are more easily deceived than all men! But Genesis does not teach this. Neither does Paul.Even though the man and the woman were co-regents over the earth by the Creator's decree (Genesis 1:27-30), some people claim that the timing in the creations of the man and the woman makes the man superior to the woman in some way.Indeed, this was the position held by rabbis at the time of Paul. They thought that a theological consequence could be discerned behind the sequence of events in the Garden. C. K. Barrett (Pastoral Epistles, p. 56) quotes their midrash: “Adam was first in creation, Eve [first] in sin.”Surprisingly, John Calvin held to this position. Even so, he found himself compelled to argue against it, admitting (Commentaries, 21) that any theological conclusions based on the “order of creation, appears not to be a very strong argument in favor of her subjection; for John the Baptist was before Christ in the order of time, and yet was greatly inferior in rank.”Verse 15a – Closing thoughts on Eden.It may seem tiresome to work our way over one interpretive “bump” after another. But as every good road builder knows, it is important to keep leveling the roadbed until it becomes flat and serviceable for all those who follow.In verse 15a, there is one more noticeable bump that needs to be smoothed out before the entire passage in 1 Timothy 2 can be clearly understood. It has to do with Paul's reference in Greek to “the Childbearing.” According to the Greek in the first part of verse 15, Paul writes:15aBut she will be saved through the Childbearing…The singular pronoun – “she” – of verse 15a refers to the woman who is discussed in verses 13-14 just before it. “She” is Eve!“The Childbearing” of Eve refers to the future birth, future for Eve, of the promised Child. Mary was the physical mother of Jesus, but Eve was his ancestor. Eve's “childbearing” resulted in the eventual “childbearing” of Jesus.The word “childbearing” is a collective singular noun, a single word packed with the promise of many. This way of speaking may seem awkward to the modern reader. But it is used twice in Genesis 3 when God first gives the promise of a Savior.In Genesis 3:15, God gives the menacing promise to the serpent that the “seed” or “offspring” of the woman will crush his head. The word “seed” is a collective singular noun.In the Hebrew wording of Genesis 3:16, Line 1, God promises the woman that she will have multiplied “conception.” The word “conception” is also a collective singular noun.Looking back at the Garden of Eden from the perspective of history, one can identify the promised “seed” of verse 15, and the “conception” of verse 16, as Jesus. Paul's use of the collective singular noun – “the Childbearing” – in 1 Timothy 2:15a in the context of a discussion on the Garden of Eden brings to mind Eve's promised offspring. This would have been recognized immediately by Timothy and the Jewish Christians at Ephesus, as a reference to the promised One, the Messiah.Eve would be eternally saved through her forward-looking faith in the coming birth of the Child. The women in Ephesus are saved through their faith in this same Child as well.Each one of us today faces the question of this Child. What will we do with Jesus?- Because in the Garden of Eden back in the beginning there had been an attack,- because the man and the woman were now mortal and hiding from God,- because their perfect union with God had been ruptured, God promised the certain conception of the seed of the woman.Why would God promise this? Why would God bother to do so?We learn over and over again in God's revelation in the Bible that God sent Jesus into the world because we need a Savior who will die in our place. When we ask God to forgive us and to send the Holy Spirit into our heart in new birth and the start of everlasting spiritual life, it is like we have one foot already placed firmly in heaven. We have the assurance repeated over and over again in the Bible that when we die God will pull up that other foot too. We instantly will be with Jesus firmly standing in heaven.The best Bible verse on this is that other 3:16 verse. In the Old Testament, in Genesis 3:16, God promised Eve that truly she would have conception of the Child who would crush Satan's head. In the New Testament, in John 3:16 we have this promise:For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.Once again, we see the love of God reaching out to us. We see God helping us return back to Eden in a perfect relationship with God with no break to occur ever again.This complete summary of Eve's situation in 1 Timothy 2:13-15a – as a deceived sinner in the 2nd degree, who is going to be saved because she places her faith in the coming Child – allows Paul to move on to a summation of his instructions to Timothy. He does this in the second half of verse 15 in verse 15b.In verse 15b, Paul changes subjects. He moves on from a singular subject, “she,” to a plural subject, “they.” If the first half of verse 15, verse 15a, had been counted as the end of verse 14 we could have seen this more clearly. Perhaps it is best to think of 2:15b as a new verse, or verse 16.In these words with a plural subject, Paul encourages once again the women who are learning, per his command in verse 11, to follow the wholesome pattern of those who have been right-living overseers all along, as he has described them in verses 9a, and 10.He names four aspects of right living and teaching that must be evident in their reformed lives:15bif they remain in faith, and love, and sanctification with all seriousness.The good news is that God gives John 3:16 to us today.  It is good news that was promised back in the Garden of Eden. It is good news that actually took place as Jesus hung on the cross and died for our sins, rose again, ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of all who believe in Him and receive His gift of payment for our sins.Does that include you? If “Yes” is your answer, then I rejoice with you!Does that include you? If “Not yet” is your situation then I encourage you to pray to Jesus right away. Ask His forgiveness. Ask to be born again and for the Holy Spirit to come live in your heart. Like Eve, you too can be saved through the birth of The Child!LINKS

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Matthew 21:12-22 12 Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer”;    but you are making it a den of robbers.' 14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David', they became angry 16and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?' Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies    you have prepared praise for yourself”?' 17He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. 18 In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. 19And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!' And the fig tree withered at once. 20When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?' 21Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will be done. 22Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.'   Reflection: My house is not a den of robbers, but I have to admit that it's not always as much a house of prayer as I would like. Sometimes I don't pray as I ought to because I let other things take priority, or I get overwhelmed with the multitude of people and things to pray for and I shut down. Sometimes I try to pray with my head more than my heart and I over-complicate my prayers. However, prayer can be beautifully simple, and as Jesus reminds us in today's reading, it can be as beautifully simple as that which comes from the mouths of infants and nursing babes. Jesus tells us that we should pray with faith - the kind of faith that can move mountains. As we anticipate the coming of our Lord, let our time of waiting be marked by faithful, mountain-moving, prayer.