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Joshua 9The Gibeonite Deception1As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”' 12Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 14So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.16At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.22Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us? 23Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. 25And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” 26So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation

“40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the 430 years-on that very same day-it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the Land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:40-41the great escape of Exodus was not a random event, but a prophetic declarative promise for our own salvation “12 But the more they (Egyptians) afflicted them, the more they (Israelites) multiplied and grew”. Exodus 1:12Moses was born in a time when the powers at be (Pharaoh) tried to extinguish God's promised people by killing every male infant (Exodus 1:15) Like Moses, Jesus was born in a time when the powers at be (King Herod) tried to extinguish the promised messiah by killing every male infant (Matthew 2:13-16)“11Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Exodus 2:11-12“24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Phil 2:6-8“Moses tried to do the Lord's work in man's wisdom and power and it didn't work”- David Guzik“23Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.” Acts 7:23-25“In Egypt, Moses learned to be somebody; In Midian, Moses learned to be nobody”- David Guzik.“23Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God acknowledged them.” Exodus 2:23-25“6Moreover He said, ‘I am the God of your father-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.'” Exodus 3:6-10“1Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.' 2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them….6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.'” Exodus 6:1-2,6-7“Outstretched arms” means God's sovereign involvement to bring a complete deliverance and redemption“The plagues God brought against Egypt has a definite strategy and purpose. Each of them confronts and attacks a prized Egyptian deity. Not only did they bring punishment against Egypt, the plagues also answered Pharaoh's original question: Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? God used this series of plagues to glorify Himself (especially above the gods, of the Egyptians) and to give Pharaoh a chance to repent.”- David Guzik“An inscription by a Pharaoh on an ancient Egyptian temple gives the idea: ‘I am that which was, and is, and shall be, and no man has lifted my veil'. Pharaoh believed himself to be more than a man he considered himself a god, and the Egyptians agreed.”- David Guzik“ ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'” Rev 1:8PLAGUES vs EGYPTAIN GODS1)Water turned to blood - Hapi (God of Nile)2)Frogs from the Nile - Heket (goddess of fertility; head of frog)3)Lice from dust of earth - Geb (god over dust of the earth)4)Swarms of flies - Khepri (god of creation; head of fly)5)Death of cattle and livestock - Hathor (goddess of love; head of cow)6)Ashes turned to boils and sores - Isis (goddess of medicine and peace)7)Hail rained down in form of fire - Nut (goddess of the sky)8)Locusts sent from the sky - Seth (god of storms and disorder)9)3 days of complete/felt darkness - Ra (the sun god)10)death of the firstborn - Pharaoh (ultimate power of Egypt)“Pharaoh is grieved at the consequences of sin, but not sin itself”- David GuzikIn this Passover, “The blood of the lamb was essential to what God required. If an Israelite home didn't believe in the power of the blood of the lamb, they could sacrifice the lamb and eat it, but they would still be visited by judgement. If an Egyptian home did believe in the power of the blood of the lamb, and made a proper Passover sacrifice, they would be spared the judgement. An intellectual agreement with what God said about the blood was not enough; they actually had to do what God said must be done with the blood.” -David Guzik“God was manifest in the flesh…” 1 Tim 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16“40...

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 6:50)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

Sermon given by Rev Barb Lemmel and Rev Mitch Hay on December 29, 2024Gospel -- Matthew 2:13-23Now after [the Magi] had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord throughthe prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the Magi, he wasinfuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and aroundBethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the Magi. Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There hemade his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 6:50)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 6:50)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

The center of Advent is Emmanuel, God with us. Christ came to our messy earth, our busyness, our imperfection. We embody advent when we invite ourselves into one another's lives and care and love others with Christ at the center. Christ came to overcome darkness and the light is with us. Psalm 37:3-7Trust in the Lord, and do good;    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.Delight yourself in the Lord,    and he will give you the desires of your heart.Commit your way to the Lord;    trust in him, and he will act.He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,    and your justice as the noonday.Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,    over the man who carries out evil devices!Matthew 1:18-23Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 9:56)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 6:50)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

23Now maythe God of peace himselfsanctify you completely, and may yourwholespirit and soul and body be kept blameless atthe coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24He who calls you is faithful;he will surely do it.

From the archives: 1-6-23Now that the Affadavit has been released, we have learned a lot more about the way the investigators went about building the evidence against Bryan Koberger. Especially evidence of the digital variety.In this episode, we hear how Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged to the house where he allegedly murdered Kaylee, Madison, Ethan and Xana 12 times previously, going all the way back to August of last year. Not only that, he returned to the scene of the crime, according to cell phone data, the next morning at around 9 am where he lurked for roughly ten minutes before leaving.Let's unpack it.(commercial at 6:50)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bryan Kohberger's phone pinged at Idaho murder scene hours after killings,12 times prior: investigators | Fox News

Second Sunday in Lent The Collect: O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Psalm: Psalm 22:22-30 22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *        stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;        all you of Jacob's line, give glory. 23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;     neither does he hide his face from them; *        but when they cry to him he hears them. 24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *        I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him. 25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,     and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *        “May your heart live for ever!” 26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *        and all the families of the nations shall bow before him. 27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *        he rules over the nations. 28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *        all who go down to the dust fall before him. 29 My soul shall live for him;     my descendants shall serve him; *        they shall be known as the Lord's for ever. 30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *        the saving deeds that he has done. Epistle: Romans 4:13-25 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. Gospel: Mark 8:31-38 31Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

First Sunday after Christmas The Collect: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Psalm: 147 or 147:13-21 [1 Hallelujah!        How good it is to sing praises to our God! *        how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *        he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted *        and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars *        and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *        there is no limit to his wisdom. 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *        but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *        make music to our God upon the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds *        and prepares rain for the earth; 9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *        and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He provides food for flocks and herds *        and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *        he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *        in those who await his gracious favor.] 13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *        praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *        he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; *        he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, *        and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; *        he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *        who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *        he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, *        his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; *        to them he has not revealed his judgments.        Hallelujah! Epistle: Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel: John 1:1-18 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”)16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Does Washington have a plan B if the Ukrainian counteroffensive doesn't work out? Kelley and Daniel talk to foreign policy and politics writer James Carden about continued maximalist talk in the Beltway, setting up the Ukraine war for another forever war. He also talks about the "peace conference" in Saudi Arabia last weekend and his disappointment that there is no real diplomatic push on behalf of the major powers. Moreover, how politics in Washington are precluding actual debate on Ukraine, whether it be over the new aid package that the Biden administration now seeks or the lack of a real strategy to end the war.Kelley and Dan also discuss an emerging plan in the White House to apparently offer security guarantees to Saudi Arabia, along with other goodies, in return for its normalization with Israel. More from James Carden:The Coming Battle: Who Lost Ukraine? The American Conservative magazine, 8/7/23 When facts cut through the fog of war, w/ Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Responsible Statecraft, 7/25/23Now is not the time for Ukraine to Join NATO, w/ Katrina Vanden Heuvel, The Guardian, 7/6/23 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crashingthewarparty.substack.com

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, August 1st 2023, we are looking at Luke 22:63-65, Psalm 113:4 and Proverbs 1:20, 23Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.” Luke 22:63-65Daily 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:EMAIL- religionlesschristianity@gmail.comFACEBOOK- https://www.facebook.com/ReligionlessChristianityPodcastTWITTER- https://twitter.com/ReligionlessCSUPPORT 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 #GospelAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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, July 31st 2023, we are looking at Luke 22:63-65, Psalm 112:1 and Proverbs 29:23Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.” Luke 22:63-65Daily 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:EMAIL- religionlesschristianity@gmail.comFACEBOOK- https://www.facebook.com/ReligionlessChristianityPodcastTWITTER- https://twitter.com/ReligionlessCSUPPORT 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 #GospelAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mark 4:35-4135 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Colossians 3:15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Second Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 12:1-9 1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7Then the Lordappeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. Psalm: Psalm 33:1-12 1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; * it is good for the just to sing praises. 2 Praise the Lord with the harp; * play to him upon the psaltery and lyre. 3 Sing for him a new song; * sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet. 4 For the word of the Lord is right, * and all his works are sure. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; * the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth. 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, * by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts. 7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin * and stores up the depths of the sea. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; * let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; * he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to naught; * he thwarts the designs of the peoples. 11 But the Lord's will stands fast for ever, * and the designs of his heart from age to age. 12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! * happy the people he has chosen to be his own! Old Testament: Hosea 5:15-6:6 15I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor: 1“Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.” 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Psalm: Psalm 50:7-15 7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: “O Israel, I will bear witness against you; * for I am God, your God. 8 I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; * your offerings are always before me. 9 I will take no bull-calf from your stalls, * nor he-goats out of your pens; 10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine, * the herds in their thousands upon the hills. 11 I know every bird in the sky, * and the creatures of the fields are in my sight. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, * for the whole world is mine and all that is in it. 13 Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, * or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving * and make good your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; * I will deliver you, and you shall honor me.” Epistle: Romans 4:13-25 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 9As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” 18While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Pastor Darrell Jones breaks down Judges 16:23 this morning. 23Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said:"Our god has delivered into our handsSamson our enemy!"Judges 16:23

Follow Guest: John Patrick MorganLinkedIn - Twitter - Facebook - InstagramPersonal Website - Business Website Follow Host: Craig CapursoLinkedIn - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram Show transcript:All right, guys, so welcome to my battle plan. John. It's one of these things where I kind of look on the Internet a little bit and I dabble and see different people that kind of have a message that I like to share or at least just kind of bring people on and have good conversations. And you seem like one of those people that could do that. And so I'm not really exactly sure what it was that prompted me to follow you, but you gave me a very good return message and I thought it was phenomenal. I dug a little deeper and saw this is kind of like your thing. So John, tell people kind of a little bit about who you are. I know that you're in the coaching business.   Speaker 1·00:43And I have some quotes from you that I took off that I'm going to read. And I'm going to say the essence of my life's work, my purpose is to serve the one person in front of me right here in the right now to see them fully, love them deeply and create what they are making and having a meaningful difference in them. So tell me a little bit in our audience who's listening today, who is John? Who is John Patrick Morgan?   Speaker 2·01:08Yeah, thanks for reading that. Yeah, that was one of those things that like just like in a moment of kind of meditative journaling and presence with like, the question is, like, what are the purpose of my life? It just was like crystal clear that's it. When you boil everything down and always has been, it goes back to being my memory. When you read that, where it starts is like being a little kid, taking apart my mom and dad's vcr with a screwdriver and then putting it back together. I've always been interested in just like, how things work. And then that turned inward as I got older and started to be aware that my brain is a vcr, like my mind and my behavior. And I love people, I just love relationships, I love human beings.   Speaker 2·01:53And so everybody's a vcr in that kind of way. And if I can take them apart and put them back together in a way that has the tracking work, remember that the tracking and vidi vhs, so the screen is clear, then I just love that. And so whether it's creating myself with clear tracking or creating another person to have clear tracking, that's my joy. There's other aspects of me too. I call it being a champion. I just love being the absolute best that I can be. I love competition, I love winning, but not to have power over others because I'm afraid I'm not enough, but because I love pushing everybody forward. Let's get that tracking even clearer. If I beat you, then we're both going to grow. If I can inspire you to stay engaged in that competition.   Speaker 2·02:46And so for me, being a champion means being the best, but it also means being in the sense of a king or queen's champion, like really being a champion for another person, really going to battle to use the name of your podcast, for them against whatever it is in them that's getting in the way of them being their best. And so that combined with that kind of like, how does this work? How can I take it apart and put it back together has just driven me and everything that I've done. I had a number of different businesses prior to this, personal development industry business now that I've had for 15 years. But at the core of all of it is conversation as the medium like dialogue between me and another person to create something in the world, in them and in the world.   Speaker 1·03:27So yeah, that's great. And as you're listening, John and I are in similar spaces where we're in the fulfillment business of taking somebody who's struggling with something in the world. The line that I read earlier was actually in response to receiving spam messages on LinkedIn, which I thought was and he said, maybe we're just all looking at this a different way. And you actually called that out. It's like, we're just not looking at this way. But if you take the opportunity that someone had contacted you, a marketing message that you receive is negative in spam as somebody trying to do something. And if you have a way to possibly help them in something you're doing, maybe you don't have to buy with the product, but maybe you can offer a speaking gig.   Speaker 1·04:07Example that was talked about, you mentioned, and this person was trying to sell me tickets to some event, and you're like, Well, I should be who went speaking at that event? And I thought that was such a unique way to think about it. Where does that come from?   Speaker 2·04:18Well, there's two layers to it, actually. Man, thanks for calling that out. That was from ways back. But the first layer of receiving spam is the idea that somebody out there is doing something to me. And so anybody that's getting spam in a way that it's bothering them at all is in a place of victimhood the circumstance and they're creating that. It's like this person is doing something to me by sending this unsolicited thing. It's a whole bunch of meaning and language. And so first and foremost, I always want to be free from any of that s***. And so you could be free from it by not accommodating it by getting a really good spam filter, or you could be free from it from not having this story that's a problem for you. And that's where I began.   Speaker 2·05:02So once I'm free from that mattering and what happens is then love happens, because then you suddenly look out at the world and you can see everybody's innocence. And I just saw that everybody is sending me these messages, unsolicited, quote unquote messages, which is still a victimhood frame, but it's like they're sending me a message, right. And I wasn't judging it, and I wasn't p***** off about it. I wasn't annoyed by it. I saw with their innocence, I was like, oh. Then I could see that they're another human being trying to do something, trying to get somewhere in the world. Funny that's what I help people do. And so the second order insight when you're free, when you're coming from a place of love, is always one of service, and it's always generative, and it's always creative.   Speaker 2·05:45So that came from that space, and it was the idea. So anytime I get an email from somebody now, it's not like, oh, what the h***? It's like, oh, what are they trying to do? How can I help them?   Speaker 1·05:54That's right.   Speaker 2·05:55It might not be to give them my money, but sometimes it is. Believe it or not, I've hired more people that have cold outreach to me than I think most people probably do, because I'm just open and I listen, and I'm like, this dude, this woman can actually help. And I've had some great business relationships with people that literally, you might say, spammed me.   Speaker 1·06:16That's funny. I like that. And it's all perception. I say that we always have a story, and I'm not sure how you go about your coaching and your clients, but I really like to dig into a past. Right. And so I want to do that with you a little bit today. You're living in maui. You got ohana on your hat right now for the listeners that can't see us.   Speaker 2·06:37Do you know what that means? Oh, you do? Awesome, man.   Speaker 1·06:40My daughter says that to me all the time. She watches I forget what show it was. There's like, an alien that is in hawaii. She remembers it all the time, and she says it all the time, so I still picked up. Right. She can love this episode. But where does that come from for you? Where do you derive your roots? You said rhode island really quickly, before we jumped on air is where home was. Talk to me a little bit about.   Speaker 2·07:03How I grew up. Yeah, I grew up in rhode island, in the suburb like place called warwick, which is 20 minutes from providence, the capital. We had a forest in our backyard, and I would go out in the morning and play outside all day and come in when it got dark, and I would be gone out exploring in the forest. And it was a beautiful childhood. We had a boat. I mean, I don't know if most people don't know this, but rhode island has more coastline than california because of all the islands. And so the boating culture there is a phenomenal. People come from around the world to sail in newport, rhode island. So that was a big part of my life growing up on the water. Yeah.   Speaker 2·07:43And then I went to university in my home state and then I studied abroad and then it's like, wow, then the world was my oyster and so I left in my twenty s and I've went back to visit a few times but the rest of my life has been spread around the world, so but family. But you mentioned the word. Ohana, and family. I guess I'll speak to that too. I just have always been and am still really close with both of my parents. I know how blessed I am having worked with a lot of men and women who didn't have the upbringing that I had to be able to have a mother that loves you unconditionally and a father that is there to be a role model and to teach you.   Speaker 2·08:24I was blessed and I had that and I know that those experiences are a big part of what I source from in my coaching. I've got my mother and father photos on my wall. I have a row of some mentors on my wall in my studio here. My mom and dad are at the top, not without challenges, heartbreaking when they divorced when I was 15. So there's certainly some stuff but for the most part I had a loving upbringing with mentorship and so I'm just living that out now as a father myself. And so family was a big thing for me and is central in my life. And when I was walking down the street here in maui and I saw the hat with Ohana on it, I was like, I want to keep that as close to me as I can.   Speaker 2·09:05I've got a bracelet with my son's roomy and asher's names on them to keep them close. The hat's about keeping host belts, all about advertising it a little bit. It's like, hey guys, I love my family so much that I want you to know that family is a real orientation for me.   Speaker 1·09:20I like that. That's great man. And what brought you to Hawaii? How did that trip take place? What in your life? Yeah, this whole podcast essentially we could talk about how cool we are all we want when we're successful in life, but I don't think that helps the general person who is likely the person that we can help. Obviously I don't know what specific avatar you're after, but generally speaking people have some money in a business and they're doing something and they're usually generally preoccupied with life as it's happening and not focusing on some of the things that they can. So what I would say to you is give us a little history of the up and coming you, John and John Morgan and what were things that you faced that you might have overcome?   Speaker 1·10:02I like to see the come up stories because that's the most important part of the people that can relate to a podcast and listening as they're listening to our words and growing. How do you come through the tough times? And did you have any it sounds like you had a great familyhood, if you will, if that's a word. But what were your struggles?   Speaker 2·10:24Yeah, man. I mean, I've had just, like any entrepreneur, I've had, like, massive financial challenges, of course, like, going completely broken into debt and upside down and not being able to afford rent and having a house sit and live with my girlfriend's parents in my late 20s, early 30s, which was really identity destroying for a time. And challenging all the freaking heated arguments about money and screaming at your wife and then realizing it has nothing to do with that. That's just painful. And also like, I had a health thing when I was younger. I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in my 20s, which was really f****** scary, but it set me on a path and my mom but she got later diagnosed as well of just like it expanded my mind.   Speaker 2·11:12I just started thinking looking, because up to that point it was like taco Bell, coca cola, just like I did martial arts but didn't matter what I ate because I was young and so I thought, you know, I was in shape but my body was dying in a way. My autoimmune system, my immune system was being attacked by the garbage that I was eating and so as I woke up to that and started eating healthy, I mean, it expanded my whole world. So it's not just about fitness to me, but it's about vitality and longevity. And I haven't had symptoms in years and one of my doctors said that you might have just cured yourself from this disease. And so that's part of my journey as well.   Speaker 2·11:50As I mentioned, the pain of my parents'separation was and continues to be when you've got a really strong family and then they separate, it's always challenging. It's still challenging at Christmas time, still close with both my parents and it's like there's the awkwardness and stuff.   Speaker 1·12:11I have a similar my parents divorced when I was in my twenty s I was in college, I believe is actually where I heard it first and I actually painted that as part of an identity and we could talk a little bit about identity, too, is that I did have parents that were together. And it was crushing to me, actually, when that happened. My mom actually lives with me here in Tennessee after a divorce that she had a second divorce kind of is what it is. But yeah, that was something that I had some personal struggles with and I'm sure a lot of people as the trend right now. There's a lot of broken homes out there but it's how you deal with it and what you can do with the lessons learned from it. How do you feel? Are you married?   Speaker 2·12:52I am married. Yeah.   Speaker 1·12:53Okay.   Speaker 2·12:54This will be my ten year anniversary this October, right on my sons, two and six. I have two sons, and I'm happy that I mean, I lived with the idea that I will never get married because of what that what's the point? I also loved meeting lots of women and loved my freedom and experience. But it just came a point in my life where I loved my wife. And no, what it was I wanted to have kids with my then girlfriend. And for her, it was like, well, then we got to get married. And I was like, Are you sure? And at the same time, I was reading Joseph campbell's work The mythologist, and he was the one that really showed me that marriage is an enactment of a mythology and that there's a function to that and it's generative and it creates something.   Speaker 2·13:43And I started to appreciate and understand that the living of a story for oneself and between two people is generative of something. It creates a possibility. And so I kind of fell in love with the idea of marriage. Now I f****** love it. Because the ultimate freedom is the discovery that the highest form of freedom is through commitment, not by avoiding it. And so it's kind of a second order experience of freedom in my life now that I find it in commitment as opposed to being not committed, which was when I was younger. It's a different kind of quality of freedom I love. Again, back to the ohana hat. My marriage to my wife and my kids is central.   Speaker 1·14:25That's a great way to put it. You definitely have a way of kind of like explaining and you could tell that you have a deep sense of heart in what you do. I think it's apparent when people watch what you do, there seems like there's a deep purpose of actually fulfilling somebody's in or something. And I've been known as a little bit more cold, although that I have my ways of getting people to move and see themselves in different ways that they've never seen them. I'm definitely a competitor in this to get people to an edge, and it burns me when they don't do what I'm looking for. I think you sound like you have a little bit more compassion. Where does that come from? Is that your upbringing? Is that I think so, yeah.   Speaker 2·15:06I don't know. Who knows, right? I can make up a story, but as I said earlier, my mom's just unconditionally loving, and she was concerned in talking to me, as I learned now, as a parent, it's good to talk to your kids about their emotions so that they find language and meaning and can connect with that inside them. But my mom did that, I guess, intuitively or something. I remember being in the rocking chair and with her saying, how do you feel? What are you feeling? So just having that attention inwardly focused and having it be okay to speak about that and having words and language for that is something.   Speaker 2·15:40And Then I've Continued to take apart that vcr through my Life, like leading Into An embodiment Work in The Personal Development World and Going Deeper and Creating Even More Language and More Internal kinesthetic Awareness to Be Able To speak to that and Having The Courage To Bring It Up In Conversation With Other People and Help Them To Discover that. Right. Like, get the tracking clear, extend that metaphor again.   Speaker 1·16:01Do you feel the people that you work with, it sounds like they're entrepreneurs. And I kind of took your bio from LinkedIn, and I want to ask you about the we us. You have that as your bio is my pronoun. Yeah, talk to me about that. But I want to get on because you also said you talk about love, power, freedom, creating and entrepreneurship. And so you definitely seem like you go in from angle where it's like you're really trying to get deep into this people's soul a little bit, have them feel something because everyone's trying to do something. Not a lot of people feel something. So a little bit more about that whole construct.   Speaker 2·16:35Yeah. The wes. My website for my company is we arecreating.com. Right. And so this idea that what we are is I see the big banging on like, we are the universe expanding. It's not like, oh, the universe is like planets and we're people. Literally. It bangs and here we are, and it's still expanding in the form of memetic expression, in the form of human procreation. It is the expansion of the universe. So we are that universe creating itself. And it's also a declaration. This is what we're up to. We are up to creating the we kind of is a way of relating to all of us. Not as me versus you or me and you. It's just a frame. I remember hearing this once.   Speaker 2·17:29I don't know if that it's true, but I read it somewhere, so maybe it is that the Kiwis, the natives in New Zealand don't even have a pronoun for I. They only have we because they were as invoking their ancestors when they speak. And I just thought that was a beautiful idea. So the west is really a way of just speaking to that in the LinkedIn thing, but it's also a little bit of a jab at the whole pronoun bullshit. You got to tell me how I got to call you in order for you to be safe and okay. I see that as a form of extreme victimhood.   Speaker 1·17:57Sure. Hoping you were going to go that way because it sounded like you came from just such a place of love. I was like, man, is this guy this way or is he this way?   Speaker 2·18:06No, but my love has look. Where is it? I'll show you what my love looks like. I had to move it because my kids I don't know if you guys have a video, but my love is a razor sharp samurai sword, man. Like, my love will cut like a knife or smash like a hammer. So I have no problem with violence and no problem with well, I shouldn't say I have no problem with violence. I have no problem with violence where it's in service of something beautiful. I'm poking fun in that direction as well.   Speaker 1·18:38Good. Now this conversation got good. I'm just making sure you always never know who someone is when they're on the other line.   Speaker 2·18:44Not sway to dance into it, but I appreciate it, but yeah, well, I.   Speaker 1·18:48Want to see what was going on there. And there's a couple of things that I'll talk about and look, I'm the guy that I'll bring up everything anywhere, and look, if someone doesn't want to have it, then we just won't air it. I probably just don't cut things out. But anyway, love, power, freedom, creating, entrepreneurship. Do you feel like when you're talking to somebody and you're in the professional development space, are you feeling like they're just not getting it? And are you more user men, women, both? What would be your tribe?   Speaker 2·19:12Well, most of the time when I'm speaking, I'm feeling like people aren't getting it. But that's because that's where I like to hang out. I pretty much only hang out with mentors and all hire a coach myself if when they talk, I don't get it. Because something that's beyond the precipice of my understanding of my capacity to conceptualize. That's what I'm interested in. That's why I'm taking apart the f****** vcr, because I get that I put this thing in, but how does it turn into that? How is it doing that? Sometimes it can be frustrating for people that are in my world, but that's why we take the money up front. Because it's like, now you got to stick with it and you're in and you'll get there if you stay with it. That's what I believe.   Speaker 2·19:55If you stay in a conversation where you're f****** confused and you're not getting it, then you're going to grow. I can viscerally remember what it was like when I discovered the taoist path. My good friend James tripp, who has been a taoist in tai chi's whole life, could see in a way where paradox was obvious to him, but I was experiencing it as a dichotomy. It's either this or that. And he's like, no, dude, it's both. And I'm like, f***. Whereas now I live paradox. People say to me, sometimes being coached by you is like reading the Dow dei jing. It's like that's because I've read it a hundred times and I live it. And so that's an evolution of mind that comes through hanging with that tension.   Speaker 2·20:36And sometimes to my detriment because sometimes I'm speaking so far out beyond what a person is able to understand that I miss the ability to connect with them. So I am constantly working on how can I build that bridge? I don't know if I answered your question, but.   Speaker 1·20:56We'Ll just have more. We'll just keep asking.   Speaker 2·20:57Okay, cool.   Speaker 1·20:59But I resonate with what you kind of just said as far as, like, look, it's sometimes not here nor there, right? There was a big event that I was at in Miami this weekend where were actually going to be doing a pitch from the stage or an opportunity to offer someone to go deeper with. It's not me. It was the coach that I was working with, coach Michael Burke. And it's going to be like a 997 offer. We thought it, you know, might have like a million dollar take from the event, get 1000 people in. The offer because of what were offering was just so extreme. Didn't get a chance to put it down. There was about eight to 12,000, I don't know, probably 8000 people at the venue at the Loan depot Center.   Speaker 1·21:31And, you know, a minute and 30 seconds before the stage, the organizers like, we can't do it. Something happened. We can't pitch. And he was really the person who didn't want anyone to offer any services from stage. It was just kind of an event for all the agents that were there. It was an insurance and it was a big blow because Coach burt, myself, the team that were working with, kind of put a lot of energy and time into this. And so he was kind of devastated a little bit after the event and kind of just thinking about it and I go, well, it's like that Chinese proverb, maybe it's not Chinese proverb, I don't know what it is. But the proverb where it says, the farmer's son went out into the field, fell off the horse, broke his leg.   Speaker 1·22:11And then he basically came back. All the townspeople were like, hey, that's so unfortunate. And the father was like, maybe it isn't. And then the army comes through the next week and trust the sons and then, oh, that's so fortunate that your son broke his leg. He can't go. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, right? So there's a lot of ways to see it. And I actually brought that up to those guys. I was like, well, maybe there's a better mangle here that something didn't happen for a reason. And trying to look deeper into the wise of many things and trying not to overreact. I think I was definitely in my younger years and overreacted and certainly the more I get into self development, reading much of the books, I think it gives you a whole different look on perception.   Speaker 1·22:47So that's great. Well, let's talk about looking at a couple of things. I pulled some lines and I just want to see how you're going to respond to some of these. So if you're cool with pitch and catch?   Speaker 2·22:58Yeah, man. I don't know what that means, but throw something.   Speaker 1·23:02You will never earn more than your own self worth. What does that mean to you?   Speaker 2·23:05Yeah, well, I don't remember saying that, but I think it's true. Okay, cool. I think that it's true in the sense of like, if you don't believe you're worth something, then you're going to find a way to not be able to receive it. You're going to either not take action on the opportunity that would produce that income, you're going to have some kind of awkward state of being that's going to blow the deal, whatever it is. It's not even just down to a service business. Like, you pay me for this per hour. If I believe that I'm not worth the amazing outcome that this real estate deal looks like it's going to be for me, then you show up in a way that drops the ball. I think that's a pretty awesome statement.   Speaker 1·23:48Yeah. As I'm podcasting, I have these Notes folder, right? I think I'm sure you probably have these different I have so many. And I was like, you know what? Let me kind of get into John because he's definitely a thinker. He thinks of things intellectually. And I was like, let me see where he is on some of these. Here's something. And this will relate to you as a father as well as a business owner. And I'm curious just to see how you take this one. So I have the battle plan. We're like a self development. A lot of people come to me for the fitness and health side things first, just because that's what I was known for in my past. I'm obviously doing a lot more with the business development side mental. I'm even calling myself like the mental mechanic right now.   Speaker 1·24:25I don't even know. I'm just trying to figure out angle that puts me in someone's mind and makes them think to go deeper and we have a conversation. But one thing I brought up to my group was like, the concept is, what if my time with my kids is not what it's supposed to be? For example, the person who works so much and strive so hard to make money for their family. So the generation that will have money is growing and aging will be taken care of versus the father or mother that spends so much time with their kids is more of that average job but is present in their kids life. How do you see the two splits? And I know it's not an easy answer, but is there a better way?   Speaker 2·25:06Yeah, there's a f****** better way, dude. There's always a better way than having to choose between a rock and a hard place. That's my whole commitment in life. That's literally what we stand for. If you read our website that we are creating, we transcend the paradigm of having to choose. Between financial success and spiritual deep personal fulfillment. You could say that being with your family is that. And the better way is saying, f*** that. Between choosing, I'm going to have a business that produces all the financial wealth and abundance that I want, and I'm going to stop working at noon. I'm going to pick my kids up from school. You can hear my passion for this, right? This is my life. This is my commitment.   Speaker 2·25:44When I was just a coach, before I had my company, I was bringing in half a million dollars a year. Like, paying the taxes on that much money, net income, working two days a week, coaching, picking my kids up from school. Like, I start my calls at 07:00 A.m. In Hawaii. I'm done at noon. I work out till two. And then I pick my kids up, we go to the beach. Like, that's my life. And you don't get a life like that unless you are f****** a stand. That is possible that you can have both because there aren't a lot of paths, tasks for how to have both. You have to forge one.   Speaker 2·26:17And the way you forge it is to start with a commitment that I will be with my kids, a substantial amount of time, and I will make all the money I want to make. You don't get that unless you stand for it. And if you buy the story that question comes from, you're f*****. You're never going to get there.   Speaker 1·26:31I love that answer, but let me play devil's advocate, please. Do a job. And he's working and he's doing something. He's maybe not as passionate as you, or a female for that matter. My audience is generally male, so we're going to just speak to the males right now. Female, thank you. But you're the very few people that listen to me, and I'm cool with that. But let's just say the income earner in the household is working. They're putting their time in, and they don't even have that better path. How do you get them there? What's the means? Obviously the pain is there. They want something deeper. They want something more for their life. They want more money. They want more time. How do you even get them to that step? What's that process?   Speaker 2·27:06Well, there's two things, right? Is it that you want to make more money and do you want to make more time? And you can have both, but let's take them one at a time. You want to make more money. The real simple is you got to have more power. And when I say more power, you make more of a difference in less time. That's literally what people are paid for. Sounds like you were worked on Wall Street. I have family who are fund managers. And why are they paid so much? Because of the leverage. The impact that your decision and your research has is highly leveraged. And whether it's in a sole proprietor that's a service provider or a fund manager. It's the same thing.   Speaker 2·27:41How can I make the biggest difference in a conversation in the shortest amount of time has been my fascination for 15 years. And that's why I get $3,000 an hour to be in conversation with the person because of what I can do in conversation with them. So it's like make more of a difference in less time. And how are you going to do that? Well, then we go to the other side because the how is where the fulfillment is going to be in. So how would you love to do that? Well, I'd love to play guitar. Okay, well, cool. So what's the chances that you playing guitar is going to make the biggest difference the smallest amount of time? Okay, maybe for you it's pretty low. It's like, well, then what else do you love to do?   Speaker 2·28:13So let's come up with all the things that you love doing and enjoying and let's isolate down to where you can make the biggest difference, the smallest amount of time, and let's focus in on that. And so then the next obstacle you run into with somebody who's not done what they would love for years or decades because they believe the lie in society that you can't have your cake and eat it, which is a f****** weird statement anyway. But if you live for so long not giving yourself the freedom to do what you love, you not only don't have that in your life, but you lose the contact within to even know what it is that you do love. If you don't give yourself permission to know your inner compass and then to act on it, you lose touch with it.   Speaker 2·28:55And then people will say, well, I don't even know what I love. Well, no s*** you don't. So we got to really slow down with people and start to break them out of their ideas and start to get them in touch with at least their curiosity. And then you have to take action on that to feed your body with the knowing that it's safe and okay. And then that little voice starts to get louder and you can get more in touch that you can start to feel joy in what you love again, and you can start to use it to guide you and your life and your work. So that's a kind of summary, but yeah.   Speaker 1·29:23Now we just woke in. John he's here. Welcome.   Speaker 2·29:28Thanks. Fired up.   Speaker 1·29:30I love it, man. And that's a great response and a great answer because everyone wants to basically have their cake and eat it too. As he mentioned, the weird line and part of my framework is design a life worth living. Right? What's that legacy that you're trying to leave to the generation or the following generation? That's what I want to do is leave a legacy and a generational wealth to my family and to the people that come up but also not allow them just to have it. You know what I mean? Like they got to work for it. There are too many people that have the money and just give their kids blindly. And that's what makes weak society. I think we're seeing that all over the place right now. Yeah, but right on. Let me talk about our senses.   Speaker 1·30:08Let's switch a gear here. Are you a man of faith and spirituality?   Speaker 2·30:13Yeah, I am. Not a particular religion or anything like that. It was raised Catholic, and then I went like full blown atheist for like a few years as I got into science. And then I started traveling and kind of found my spiritual path. And I think at this time of my life finding even more and more faith in something greater than me being at cause in my life in the sense of both inwardly like a small voice that maybe in the past I might have said is my own personal intuition that's guided by my subconscious patterning and is still kind of separate. Whereas now it feels like and I believe that this voice is coming from something beyond just this singular body.   Speaker 2·31:00And the messages that I get to images, through dreams, through meditative inquiry, through asking and listening, which you could call prayer, and also through the circumstances, like for me, surrendering to the circumstances which have a certain resonance to them which have a certain auspicious nature to them, which have a recurring nature to them is following, you could say, the voice of God, in the same way as it would be when I follow it within. So there's all that like being guided in the sense of creation, but then there's also this overarching sense of care that I'm really in touch with, that we are all cared for in a beautiful ways and sometimes we just can't understand what that care why that care looks the way that it does. But that's an all pervading experience for me lately.   Speaker 1·31:52Okay, well, I always bring up the fact that our senses are limiting. Hearing, taste, touch, smell those are only so many things that we can essentially have a relationship with or we could have basically an outcome after we experience one of those things. But when I look at faith and I look at blind faith right? Faith by itself is to believe in something that doesn't currently exist, that you can see, smell, taste, touch. Here you have to believe in something to be true, almost like vision half to something that you want. Is certain ways that I kind of look at that. If you look at these senses, wouldn't it make sense that there are things that we can't see, can't touch, can't smell like germs? We don't know that they're there, but they're there. The ultraviolet rays in the air.   Speaker 1·32:37We can't see those things, but they're there. There's smells that we don't have hearing sounds, pictures that we don't have. So where are you in your spiritual life as far as knowing that there's angels, demons, things of that nature? Do you believe these things exist around us? Do you believe that is more just for the Bible people? What's your thought process there?   Speaker 2·32:56Yeah, I have to start at the beginning, which is, I mean I love that you said doesn't it make sense that there are things that are there that we can't sense? And it's like the idea of making sense is so deep because even when we're trying to connect with something that's beyond our senses we use the phrase make sense to access that right. And so there's a certain way of being in our physical body that is a limitation to our orientation, which is what you're kind of speaking to. And I am so open to there being something other than this idea of just me in both the physical world but also in the non physical. But what I don't have is the idea that I know what those things specifically are and these are their actual names.   Speaker 2·33:42Because I don't believe that the names that we give anything is what anything is. It's just a label, it's just a story. Like the word truth itself. Actually etymologically evolved from the word tree as in an oak tree. Tree became truth. And what is that? It's just something that's there and dependable and solid, but trees can also be cut down. And so I have a knowing that all of it is story. All of it. I'm doing a talk tomorrow for my community called at the Left Hand of God which is about my exploration, what you call it the left hand path in magic or creation, which is the path of descent into the sensory experience.   Speaker 2·34:21It's transcendent, like basically the right handed path seated at the right hand of the father right is the idea that if you do what is morally and ethically good, you'll be pure and you'll be welcomed into the embrace of the all of God, of union. The left handed path is like okay, you're going to go your way and you're going to find God that way, you're going to go into pleasure, into pain, into the things that are socially unacceptable and you're going to find something transcendent of all of these stories and meaning and you're going to meet the divine that way. And so I've been in the last year or two exploring that path involving also the use of psychedelics.   Speaker 2·34:56And so for me when I have an experience that is not the normal experience, whether it's through meditative practice or induced through psychedelics and all of this sensory experience melts away. Only thing you're left with is the possibility that something beyond because there's still something here and this idea of vision or touch is no longer as relevant because I'm touching something that isn't actually there, or is it.   Speaker 1·35:25I was in a Bible study, so I'm a Catholic. I grew up Catholic, but I'm a Christian. I was reborn. But there was a period in my life also that I went to college and we had to take a religion course in college. I went to Sick Heart University up in Connecticut. And they make you take Religion 101. And after doing so, I really kind of just been exposed to the other religions. And I was like, man, why is mine better than anyone else's? And I hated the fact that Catholic priests can't have relations with women and stuff. So I was really having a hard time understanding that.   Speaker 1·35:55And I kind of walked away from the church for a while and went into more like craig ism due to others what you want done to yourself, which is the basic principles of religion anyway, when it's all broken. Down to kind of some constructs and kind of really got into it later in life after having my daughter, there was a client that had exposed me to a message, and I'll do an episode on this for whoever's listening at some point of my walk into religion once again. But about a month ago, were sitting in a Bible study with a bunch of guys, and we talked about, like, what is your being, what is your thoughts? Those things that are inside of you, do they go you can't touch, taste, smell, see them? So that thing, where does it even live?   Speaker 1·36:37What part of your body is it in? Everyone thinks it's here, but is it not? They say the stomach is your second brain. So that's an interesting concept when you're looking at your thoughts, your anxieties, the stresses, your visions, the thing you think about, those don't have any clues to what? Where our senses are. Because those are things that we're internalizing ourselves and we're having a demonstrated capacity to feel a certain way around those where you could feel one way and I could feel another way. And so it's very interesting to see how we are affected psychologically by those things, et cetera. But it's just a concept I kind of want to just run by you as far as, like, your being.   Speaker 1·37:12What is that to you when you hear the word your being, that thing, and that could possibly pass when you leave, what does that mean to you?   Speaker 2·37:20Yeah, well, I have two definitions of the word being because I think there's two that are used out there, and I kind of distinguish them. I say, like, uppercase being is like the presence that is transcendent of story and meaning and even humanness. It's like that oneness experience that you have when you're in a deep meditation. That oneness experience that you have when everybody in the Catholic Church is singing and there's a real presence of Holy Spirit. Right? Like, that's something beyond the stories about me. My memories meaning that's like all uppercase being. And then there's being in what I would call the heideggerian sense to reference the philosopher Martin heidegger, which is to say, being is the house of language. I would say that's an uppercase being, just being.   Speaker 2·38:09And so is this thing being a coffee mug that I'm holding in my hand or is it being a thrown object when I smash it against the wall? Well, it depends on what story that I'm telling and what's happening. Heidegger says a hammer isn't being a hammer that's hanging on the wall in the tool shed unless there's a human out there focused on it or using it. Otherwise it's just unnamed. There's just something there. And so for me, I'm distinguishing the way that you were talking about being. I think you were invoking both in the same definition. And for me that distinction is really important. To go beyond the labels is the being that for me is holy and spiritual and then the other aspect of being. So to bring it back to myself, what is my being?   Speaker 2·39:00Well, my being is our being that goes back to the wii Us pronoun, right? Like in the all uppercase being. And it just is. And it becomes hard to even use language to talk about it. We can signpost towards it, but then language gives up or has to give up. But then there's the other side of it. Like who am I being today? Am I being a kind and loving man? Am I being free? Am I being powerful? Or am I being kind of a passive aggressive d*** with my wife? Like which? Who am I being? And everything in between and all other sorts of things. And being is actually very central to our work as well. And so both the all uppercase being and helping a person be free and connected to a source of love, you could call it God.   Speaker 2·39:42We have a lot of clients that call it God and relate to it that way. And I'm not so hung up on which language a person uses and then like cool, now bring it back down to earth as that love, as God. What and who are you being in the world of form? Are you being? I am a valuable person. Cool. Are you being that I have specific monetary valuable value in the way that I do this service? Even better. That's going to be more likely to produce a material outcome. So we help people to really cultivate a conscious way of being in the world that produces what they want. So for us, being is the bridge between the spiritual and the material.   Speaker 1·40:20Like that. That's good, man. Let me ask you something, a question that as I kind of go a little bit deeper here. What's the number one question that you wish you were asked on these podcasts? What is this thing that you want people in our audience to know about you.   Speaker 2·40:38It's funny when people podcasters often will ask that in advance of a podcast and I always throw it back to them. And I hope that when you think about the mission statement that you read earlier, it will make sense as to why. But the thing that I want most for people in this podcast that are listening to this podcast to know is the thing that's most going to serve them in getting what they want. And so I always throw it back to the podcaster and I say for your audience, why are they here? Why are they listening? And when you can tell me that, then I can tell you exactly what I want them to know or to know about me. Because who gives a s*** otherwise about me?   Speaker 2·41:15I am only relevant in this podcast to the extent at which I serve and make a difference for the people listening. Otherwise, my answer is about me. And that doesn't it doesn't fulfill me. It doesn't really work. That doesn't create many results anyway. So can you answer that? Why are they here? What is your sense?   Speaker 1·41:32100%. Yeah, man. This audience is to be served through what I call the four senses or the four pillars. Faith, fitness, fellowship and finances and the constructs that we live through our life. We discussed up and down and the reason this is kind of a different, maybe off topic episode. Just basically you and I kind of had a small relationship on social media where I was just attracted to some of the things you said. You sent me back a great message and I just said, you know what, this guy just looks like he's going to go in here and he's going to have a deep conversation. We're going to ask some odd questions and kind of just see where this conversation goes.   Speaker 1·42:08Because at the end of the day, too many people come in with an agenda, kind of like me asking you that question. You would see what your agenda is. And I think you're holding true to who you are. The agenda is to serve and to make sure that the conversations I'm having today are present. And something that I don't do well is actually live in the present. I live into the vision of my future, of what I'm trying to accomplish. But I think the people that are listening and being served by this episode are going to understand that there's a lot more to them outside of their own personal agendas. And so when we're developing our faith, our fitness, a lot of people will listen to this for some version of what they think they're going to get out of my fitness.   Speaker 1·42:49I don't really do fitness on this podcast, unfortunately. We talk a little bit about that. I just think it's quite boring and easy and I know it's not for everybody, but it's just do the work and usually the results come and there's a lot of different small things in between that. I think people over complicate as I'm thinking of people who do ice baths because probably they're about £150 overweight and they shouldn't do that first, but that's another story for something else. It's more or less just basically opening up someone's mind to think another way and to know that maybe the way they perceive themselves see themselves or actually interact in the world may not be the way someone else perceives.   Speaker 1·43:22Them, sees them and interacts as you are mentioning your being or how your being is only perceived by the person telling the story about what you're going to do with it. So my wife and I can see something and taste something and have completely different conversations around what happened. Literally, I would walk into the house and feel like I'm okay, but yet she's in a bad mood and now I'm seeing as the enemy, et cetera. So being perceptional, that's great. So this is just a good conversation to have us just kind of take a moment and see ourselves for who we are or who we're being. And I just thought that's where this conversation was going to go and you're actually walking right into it, which is great.   Speaker 2·43:58So now I can answer your question. The question that I wish you would have asked me to play into your question is, how can a person's faith fitness? How can you, john Morgan most help a person with their faith, their fitness, their fellowship and their finances, right? And so that would have been completely out of left field because it's kind of a mouthful. But when I ask myself that question, I sit with it. I don't have to try to figure that s*** out because I have faith. I have faith that whatever shows up when I listen to that question with my heart, that whatever shows up, that's f****** useful.   Speaker 2·44:36So I'm going to let my mouth open and say that's how I've learned to make a big difference in a small amount of time, to trust that, to not try to figure that s*** out, but just trust it and go. So I'm going to do that here. I don't know what's going to come, but what I'm seeing is between miles 20 and 26 of the marathon that I ran a few weeks ago, which I ran without training, I had run two or 3 miles a week on and off over the past year. So I wasn't ready. But I did it. Why did I do it? Because I was and am and continue to be fascinated with how much more we can achieve when we liberate ourselves from ideas that are common. Common ideas like you should stop when it hurts.   Speaker 2·45:21Ideas like running when something hurt means you're going to get an injury. And ideas like injuries are bad. I asked Chat tpt, what is the benefit of injury? There is no benefit of injury. Are you f****** kidding me? Every time I injure my hands on the barbell, they call us and they get thicker and I become more capable of doing things with my hands. There is benefit to injury. I could make a mile long list. And so ideas that are so common that even artificial intelligence can't see beyond them, why is that important for me to share with your team, with your community?   Speaker 2·45:55Because when you look at fitness not as a context to produce an outcome that's for your physical body, but you look at fitness as a context to develop a capacity to do things that are difficult and hard, suddenly fitness becomes the f****** fusion reactor for your entire life. And so when I go out in my barn and I hit the bag I'm a big fan of a company called Fight Camp. They're like the boxing version of peleton, right? Yeah, I do that four or five days a week. You know them f****** love it.   Speaker 1·46:24I own a rockbox Fitness. That's a fitness franchise. I own two of those. So they're kickboxing and functional fitness.   Speaker 2·46:30So I get the same idea. So you get it. So when I go out there and hit that bag and I'm an animal on the leaderboard, it's like I want to beat everybody on the leaderboard. I want to hit it as hard as I can, as fast as I can and keep that pace. Right? Why? Is it because I got some ego trip about beating people on the leaderboard? No. Because I know that if I can do that, when my heart's like, going to explode, when my breath and I can't even keep my breath if I can tell myself to keep going. And what I've done is I've endured. And the word endure etymologically comes from indira. That's Latin for strength. And within what I'm doing when I'm enduring, it's not about, oh, I'm getting to some outcome.   Speaker 2·47:09It's not about, oh, I'm suffering now. I'm not suffering. There's pain and I'm enjoying it. What I'm doing is I'm cultivating strength in my heart. I'm strengthening my heart, which in old Latin was to strengthen the will. And I walk out of that barn and I walk back into my office and there are things that I can do and will do that I wouldn't have done if I didn't cultivate that capacity. So I would say for all the guys listening to this, get f****** fit in your physical body because it will raise everything in your life and don't do it for the outcome. Like, oh, I'm going to have ABS.   Speaker 2·47:39No, when you finish the workout, you just got strength of will and heart that's going to actually benefit you and your finances and your fellowship and your faith so much more than ABS ever could.   Speaker 1·47:49Love it. That's great, man.   Speaker 2·47:51Thanks for asking.   Speaker 1·47:53Thanks for answering.   Speaker 2·47:54You're welcome.   Speaker 1·47:56Love it. This guy loves teen. This guy up. Do you have a tagline? Do you have anything that you would go a quote or motto that you live by?   Speaker 2·48:04Yeah, man, what do you got? I am creating, and my being is primary. I am love as loving awareness, as loving kindness. I am magic. I am the gathering of pattern and power, and I create as I speak. I am that I live the archetypal energy of the king. And I know that you will do as I command. I know that I may be wrong, and that's okay, for I am my justification. I am mastery of energy change over time. That is, I am the mastery of power, and I am the arbiter of time. In fact, I know that I have all the time there is to do with what I will, and my will shall be the whole of the law.   Speaker 1·48:48There's a little taste that is pretty powerful. I like having somebody have something powerful to say and respond. Now I'm going to throw the opposite question. Let me see if I even wrote this one down. Maybe it's on my podcast. I'll find it here and I got my notes, but it was more or less having like, affirmations. Let's see, how do you feel about that? Are you someone who speaks affirmations into somebody? Do you feel like it's just cheap words that people just aren't willing to take action on? How do you feel about affirmations?   Speaker 2·49:23So yes, I feel that affirmations are cheap words. I don't affirm anything. But what I do is I declare every day who I am and who I am being. And that distinction is the distinction that makes the difference. There's been psychological research done on affirmations, and in most cases the research shows that they are not only not productive, but counterproductive. Because to affirm something is try to convince yourself of something that you believe in your heart isn't true. And what it does by speaking it is actually with that lack of presence and that lack of forgiveness. What it actually does is it entrenches the counter belief, and you actually feel worse, feel less happy, less beautiful, whatever it is. And so I don't affirm anything. I say it wasn't the affirmation of 1776 that created the United States. It was a declaration.   Speaker 2·50:13We're not trying to convince anybody. This is a decision. Heads up. This is starting now. And it is. And it comes from a space of letting go of the old. And so for me, there's a deep process, a spiritual process of real liberation and forgiveness from the counter belief that has to take place before there is a declaration. And that needs to be a declaration, not an affirmation. It needs to be a decision, a statement. And those things I just shared with you are part of the declarations that I speak on a regular basis. I journal them. I speak them aloud. I create myself that's the conscious inculcation. Of who I am being, which is a capitalized being, not all uppercase being of that ma'am.   Speaker 1·50:53I have yet to find it, but I don't think I need to. I think you crushed it and I am on the same page. I don't believe you can sit there and just tell yourself it's like the person who gets hype in the gym and does a set and screams loud and makes a big scene. And it's wanting someone to look at them or wanting to empower themselves to do something. When you just sit on the bench and do it, or just take action and get it done. So you set up much more eloquently than I did. Very good. Let's see.   Speaker 2·51:19Well, the best way to teach yourself who you are is to do the thing that's an expression of that. There's no better convincer of identity than an action that comes from such an identity. So for me, speaking can be part of it, but the action that's aligned with that speaking. So if I were being this, then what would I be doing? Cool. Do that, then you're being it. So I'm with you.   Speaker 1·51:39Cool. The more you shine, the more shadows you cast.   Speaker 2·51:45Yeah, I think directions. Yay. F*** yeah. The more you shine, the more shadows you cast. The more you shine, the darker the shadow. The longer the shadow. All that stuff is absolutely true, I think of yourself and of others.   Speaker 1·52:03Why do you think people feel that way when people are out shining them? Do they feel they have something to prove? Do they feel inferior? For the most part, when people see somebody doing something great, they have already a negative attention towards that person and they feel inferior. In my opinion, this is what they feel. Or they feel like they can never achieve that. As opposed to saying, good for that person. Man, that's so cool that they're doing that great thing. It would be cool maybe one day, if I can do something like it and be in motion to say I'm inspired, I'm looking up to this person. I'd like to do more and learn from this person.   Speaker 2·52:36Why do you see their innocence? I see their innocence. Man, it's heartbreaking when I shine and somebody else gets triggered by it or annoyed by it. I am. I feel heartbreak for the fact that they have a story about themselves as not capable, that they're not consciously aware of, and they are feeling the pain of they're feeling their sadness. It f****** hurts to believe the lie that I'm not capable of that. And then I'm so unaware that I'm believing that lie and that I'm even feeling the hurt that I get a secondary emotional response, which is anger. And then I project that away from me outward, as if it's that person, and I look for some flaw in them and try to tear them down. So I'm like seven orders away from what's actually going on.   Speaker 2·53:19So to me, that's heartbreaking, that's whole messes there. And that's what I love to help people with.   Speaker 1·53:25Yeah, I hear you, and I sense it too, and I see people doing certain things like that. I just always say it's like looking at from a scarcity perspective. People are like, oh, I got to cut expenses. And don't get me wrong, you shouldn't be blatantly spending too much. But I always say, just make more money. When I lived on Wall Street and different things happened, had a talk on Harvard way back when, I think it was May, I actually just shared a piece of it the other day, and I said, if I could lose $100,000 overnight, I could gain $100,000 overnight. You know what I mean? And that was part of just being the emotional trauma and the roller coaster of money coming and going, and it's having a deep self worth of who you are and what you can accomplish.   Speaker 1·54:05And the stories that we tell about ourselves become who we are. It becomes a belief in the sense of what we can do. So when we started the conversation with you are your own self worth or you can never outlive your own self worth, it becomes true because that's the story that people paint. How do you help people unpack that? I think both of us are very mental magicians, if you will, when it comes down to what we do with clients, because we could tell them to do X, Y, and Z in the gym or in business, et cetera. But if we can't change the way they think or the way they respond or the way they perceive, we got nothing. So how do you get into that?   Speaker 2·54:36Well, for that one in particular, it's a Bible study for me. You're going to love this one, Matthew. Oh, God, I can't remember the verse right now, but it's the book of Matthew. And you'll know the verse, to those who have more will be given, and to those who have not, all will be taken away. And so I help people to understand that because it's their way of seeing the world that often gets in the way of their efficacy. It's not always a personal limitation. It's their map of reality that often stops them. And so my explanation for that verse is to those who believe that they have more will actually be given, and to those who believe that they don't have those who live in scarcity, all will actually be taken away from them.   Speaker 2·55:19And when you start to look at that in the world, you're like, holy s***, that's true. There's actually I don't know if you knew this in the wikipedia you can find there's a thing called the Matthew effect. It's a principle that has been shown to exist in all areas of life. Financially. Everything literally to those who have more is those get more. The people who get the most funding, they get more funding and it just goes on and on in every area. And so it's true at every level. And it's like if you look at that from a place of victimhood, oh my gosh, I don't have so I'm not going to be given you're not getting it. You're saying you don't have as a way of believing. If you so then start focusing on what you do have.   Speaker 2·55:58You start with what you actually have. Like, well, I have my health, I've got my wife and my kids. And then you start to feel gratitude and then you realize that everything that you have is imagined. And I say to people, it's like, when do you have money? Do you have when somebody says yes to paying you? Do you have the money when they pay the invoice or do you have it when it clears and now it's in funds that you can use? Or do you have to take it out of that bank and have it as cash or do you have to eat it? When do you have it? So having is actually something that's a decision that you make. And so if that's the case, then play with that.   Speaker 2·56:35So I have my health, I have my wife, I have my kids, and I have all the money in the world for money is liquid and it flows in abundance. And I'm telling you right now when I say that I f****** have it, dude, I have it the same way as I had this ohana hat right now. And I'll tell you what, when you have something like that, whether or not.   Speaker 1·56:53You actually have it, more is given love that's powerful. And you give me some great sound clips here. So we'll send those your way.   Speaker 2·57:01Awesome, buddy.   Speaker 1·57:02We'll get you hooked up. So I got two more things. We're closing in on an hour here with this episode and I have two questions to ask you. What would you tell your 20 year old self if you know the advice that you know now? What, what would be the person you know in the that would need the advice that you can give them today in a line or two? Just something that you see that is completely something that's not prevalent when you're in that come up stage. Not to say that my audience is 20 to 30, they're probably 30 or more. The avatar is probably 35. But what would you say to that learning experience that you've got today that you know d*** well didn't serve you earlier?   Speaker 2·57:41I don't know. I always find these the most challenging questions and I'd say bring any question. And the reason I find them challenging is because I don't wish that anything was different in my past. I value all of the quote unquote wrong turns and struggles as much as I do the right turns. Right. I have this Back to the Future fear. Like if I were to go back with the almanac, I'm going to f*** it up. We're going to end up with biffs.   Speaker 1·58:03Going to be high rise. I hear that. And I'm not saying change anything, but what can you see is for me listening to you? Have you always had this sense of inner intersection?   Speaker 2·58:18I used to be more of a d*** and I started to be a nicer, kinder person. So if I could go back, I don't think there'd be any downside of me being less of a d*** sooner. So I'd go all the way back to elementary school. Actually, this is the first time I ever saw it. You've given me a good answer that I'll use in every podcast here. Ford. Like I would go back and I would just show myself how I was unconsciously being a d*** because I was afraid that I had to be sarcastic and one up people in order to be safe and loved. And I just give myself a hug and I'd be like, look buddy, you can be kind and you can still have power. So that's what I would change.   Speaker 1·58:53I like that. And I don't typically ask the typical podcast questions. Usually you're the first person who's actually probably got some random ones that just say, I just want to see how you're going to respond actually.   Speaker 2·59:04Cool man.   Speaker 1·59:04I have different ways to go

Today's Reading: Acts 9:1-22Daily Lectionary: Zech. 1:1-21, Romans 14:1-23Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  (Acts 9:3,4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. During Epiphany we celebrate that the light of Christ shines to people who are in darkness. Saul was immersed in that darkness. Blind to the truth, Saul “ravaged the church, entering house after house and dragging off men and women and putting them in prison (Acts 8:3).” Looking back at his behavior at this time, Paul told Timothy that he was “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). But Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.  He could've struck Saul down to stop him —yet instead  Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus so that He could bring Saul into His light. He condemned Saul's actions with the simple words “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul realized he'd been fighting against God's Messiah. Christ's light had literally struck him blind.Saul deserved punishment and damnation. But Jesus came to save sinners, including Saul. Jesus had died on the cross to take the punishment Saul had earned. When Saul regained his sight after 3 days, Ananias baptized him into Jesus. Instead of darkness, he now knew the light of the truth that Jesus is the Christ —he knew God forgave him of his crimes, and he had eternal life in Christ.Such grace could not be held in silence. Saul went forth as Paul and preached Christ Jesus to Jews and Gentiles. He journeyed tirelessly to bring the light of Christ to those in darkness. He was a shining example of the grace of God: If God could save even him, the chief of sinners, God could save anyone -- no matter what they had done. Christ comes to you, just as he came to Saul. He calls you to repent, He washes away your sins in Holy Baptism, and He gives you eternal life completely by His grace. He stays with you throughout this life until He takes you home to heaven. May the peace of Christ that comforted Paul also be with you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, You turned the heart of him who persecuted the Church and by his preaching caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world. Grant us ever to rejoice in the saving light of Your Gospel and, following in the example of the apostle Paul, to spread it to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.-Pastor Jeffrey Horn is Pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, CA,Audio Reflections Speaker: Patrick Sturdivant, Development and Marketing Executive at Higher Things.Study 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.

Matthew 4:12-23Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Matthew 2:13-23Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:“A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, becausethey are no more.” When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead. Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.” This Gospel is always a buzz-kill when it shows up so soon after Christmas – and on New Year's Day this time around, no less. This story of Herod's “Slaughter of the Innocents,” as it's known, is a fly in the ointment of our Christmas celebrations. It is a turd in our New Year's Eve punch bowl. It is rain on our parade, all the way around. And it's a story we might wish we would have stayed home from on the first day of 2023. It is Matthew's Gospel moving straight from the story of Jesus' birth, told in just a handful of sentences that say nothing about shepherds in fields, mangers in Bethlehem, angels singing “glory to God” or “peace for those whom he favors.” In Matthew's version of the story, Mary takes no time to ponder or treasure any of that in the glow of candlelight, like we did on Christmas Eve.In Matthew's version of the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph are engaged, there's going to be a baby, his name will be Jesus – “because he's going to save his people from their sins” – and that's that. “That's the tweet,” you might say, according to Matthew.And then, some wise men show up, raise the ire of King Herod by tipping him off that this “king of the Jews” has been born, and before you know it, the first family is on the move again – on the run, suddenly – refugees to Egypt – so they can spare their son from the mass murder of children – infants and toddlers, two and under – in Joseph's hometown. Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year!So, in keeping with the theme…Did you know that there's a war going on over in Yemen that's been raging for the last eight years? And did you know that tens of thousands of children have been orphaned there because of it? From what I can tell, the ugliness in Yemen is barely on our radar in the U.S. I suspect the reason that war doesn't make the news, like the one in Ukraine does … the reason their president doesn't get to speak in front of our congress … the reason their plight doesn't make it into our consciousness is two-fold. First, because they are brown and because Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East. And second, because smarter people than me call it all a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. We like the oil we get from Saudi Arabia and don't want to have to pay too much for it. Anyway, all of that is another story.Some call what's happening in Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and it's been going on since 2015. And it made me think of Herod's “Slaughter of the Innocents” because in addition to all those orphans the war has created, 10,000 children have been killed or maimed, and up to two million more have been displaced – just like Jesus – since it all began. Merry Christmas.And did you know there were more mass shootings than there were days in 2022? (Almost twice as many mass shootings as there were days, according to one source I saw.) And did you know that this has been a true statistic every year since 2019? But, I digress. It's Christmas and our theme today is children.Last year, just in the United States, 3,597 children died by gunfire, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nearly two-thirds of gun deaths involving children — 2,279 — were homicides, which have increased by more than 73%, just since 2018. Most of these involved Black children, even though they are a numerical minority in our country. Last year, suicides made up almost 30% of gun deaths among kids, to the tune of 1,078. Unlike homicides, it's white kids – mostly white, teenage boys – who die by suicide using guns, but that's growing among Black and Hispanic kids, too.One last thing. The United States is the only country among our peers – which means, supposedly, that we are “advanced” in terms of industry, technology, standard of living, and what not – we are the only country among such leading nations where gun violence is the number one cause of death among kids. In other countries like ours, kids are more likely to die from car accidents and cancer/diseases.In the US, in 2020, 4,357 kids under the age of 19 were killed with a gun. In Australia, there were 10.In the US, in 2020, 4,357 children under the age of 19 were killed with a gun. In the UK, there were 8.In the US, in 2020, 4,357 boys and girls under the age of 19 were killed with a gun. In Japan, there were 5.Merry Christmas.But, to bring this back to something more closely related to Mary and Joseph and Jesus, on the run, remember, from Herod in Bethlehem to safety in Egypt, it's interesting to know that nearly 130,000 migrant children entered our own government's shelter system in 2022, which was an all-time high thanks to a record number of minors who show up unaccompanied – alone – by themselves – without a parent or a protector or a guardian to claim them. That's 8,000 more than last year – and a statistic that's more than two months old already. Can you imagine how desperate and dangerous things much be for a child to be sent or taken to or left in a foreign land, without a parent, protector, or guardian to claim them? I know kids who won't go to summer camp on their own or children who won't spend the night at a friend's house.Merry Christmas.We are generations away from Herod's “Slaughter of the Innocents,” but all of this is why Matthew invokes Rachel as part of his version of the Christmas story. She weeps for the children – her own and for others, and for ours, I imagine, too.See, when Matthew, by way of the prophet Jeremiah, invokes the notion of Rachel, weeping for her children, he was referring to the people of Israel being banished to exile and captivity in Babylon, and having to pass by the grave of Rachel, one of their matriarchs, whose grief cried out from the ground on which they traveled. That was the weeping and loud lamentation they heard at Ramah.While God promised them hope and deliverance and salvation, in the end, much like the Good News of Christmas means to be for us now, Rachel was the mother who wouldn't let the people forget about the children – her children, their own children, or any of God's children for that matter. Rachel's tears were the rain on their parade.And I think we're supposed to listen to Rachel, still, as we hear this hard, holy story about Herod's slaughter of the innocents and see it happening among us, still, in so many scary, shameful, sinful ways.Rachel is every mother weeping for her children, even while living with hope for what has come – and for what is coming – in Jesus.Rachel is every father weeping for his children, even while searching for the joy that has been born – and that will be born again – in Jesus.Rachel is every parent – and she would/could/should be all of us, together – weeping and wailing and refusing to let our own comfort and joy, our own silent nights, our own peace and prosperity allow us to neglect the reason for Christ's coming, in the first place…To bring good news of great joy to ALL people…To save God's people from our sins…To shine light into the darkness in a way that the darkness cannot, has not, will not … ever … overcome it.Amen. Merry Christmas.

Second Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a 1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” [5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”] 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 11He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;12and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 15Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus.” Psalm: Psalm 42 and 43 1 As the deer longs for the water-brooks, *         so longs my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; *         when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, *         while all day long they say to me,         “Where now is your God?” 4 I pour out my soul when I think on these things: *         how I went with the multitude and led them into the                               house of God, 5 With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *         among those who keep holy-day. 6 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *         and why are you so disquieted within me? 7 Put your trust in God; *         for I will yet give thanks to him,         who is the help of my countenance, and my God. 8 My soul is heavy within me; *         therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,         and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon. 9 One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; *         all your rapids and floods have gone over me. 10 The Lord grants his loving-kindness in the daytime; *         in the night season his song is with me,         a prayer to the God of my life. 11 I will say to the God of my strength,    “Why have you forgotten me? *         and why do I go so heavily while the enemy                               oppresses me?” 12 While my bones are being broken, *         my enemies mock me to my face; 13 All day long they mock me *         and say to me, “Where now is your God?” 14 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *         and why are you so disquieted within me? 15 Put your trust in God; *         for I will yet give thanks to him,         who is the help of my countenance, and my God. 1 Give judgment for me, O God,    and defend my cause against an ungodly people; *         deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked. 2 For you are the God of my strength;   why have you put me from you? *         and why do I go so heavily while the enemy                                oppresses me? 3 Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, *         and bring me to your holy hill         and to your dwelling; 4 That I may go to the altar of God,    to the God of my joy and gladness; *         and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. 5 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *         and why are you so disquieted within me? 6 Put your trust in God; *         for I will yet give thanks to him,         who is the help of my countenance, and my God. Epistle: Galatians 3:23-29 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. Gospel: Luke 8:26-39 26Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— 29for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.35Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.36Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Poor Joseph. It is hard to imagine what a shock it was to him when he learned that his betrothed wife was with child. Understand that, in that society, at that time, this was a much bigger thing that it is today. The role of women in society was different, and her marriage-ability was all that stood between a young woman and starvation—or perhaps prostitution. In some societies, it led to what is called an honor killing—that is, the girl had shamed her family, and the father killed her for it. Israelite law allowed for stoning the girl for playing the harlot, but it was not required. And thus, Joseph decided he would just quietly put the girl away instead.God had chosen well in this man and this girl. They were good people. Joseph was a just man, and his betrothed, Mary, was a remarkably poised young woman. Thus, a messenger from God appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to hesitate to take Mary as his wife because the child she was carrying would be a son who would save his people from their sins. Joseph had to understand that this meant the boy Mary was carrying would be the Messiah. He was to be named, Jesus. Matthew then adds one relevant fact:Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.Matthew 1:22–23Now the prophet being cited here was Isaiah, and the prophecy came in a definite time and place in history. Taken in isolation, I would never have connected this prophecy with the Messiah. Because what Isaiah will offer is a type of something yet to come. (I explained the term type and it’s corollary, antitype in the last program. So keeping this in mind, and realizing that Isaiah has no idea that this prophecy would be applied to Christ by Matthew, let’s consider the context of what Isaiah said. We’ll find it in Isaiah, chapter 7.

It's no secret that touring is the lifeblood of most modern-day musical artists. But while most fans only see the finished product — a head-bobbing performance at Coachella or a sold-out nightclub — few get a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work being done by professionals like Kevin Shivers, a partner in WME's music division. Let this interview with Kevin be your inside look at what goes into the live performances that fuel the entire music industry.Kevin has been with WME since 2008 after a stint in Hollywood. While with WME, he's worked with stars such as Tyler The Creator, Summer Walker, Kid Cudi, and plenty more on their touring strategies. Of course, Kevin's world — much like every other industry — was dealt a massive blow during the past two years. But with live shows seemingly back (knock on wood), Kevin has his eyes toward the future.And the future is an even better fan experience, says Kevin. NFTs, virtual concerts, removing the frictions of going to a real-life show — these are all ongoing evolutions that will better connect superfans with their favorite artists. We covered this near-term future in our interview, plus a whole lot more.Episode Highlights[2:15] How Kevin Broke Into The Entertainment Business [4:00] How Has the Music Business Changed In The Past Two Years? [5:25] The Go-Forward Plan For 2022[6:40] What Spurred Tyler The Creator's Big 2021[9:35] What Data Goes Into Entering New Touring Markets [13:10] Festival Strategies With Artists[14:56] How Has Streaming Changed Touring Trajectory[17:10] The Biggest Touring Mistake[18:30] Social Media's Influence On Touring[19:30] Touring Difference Between Hip Hop And R&B[21:02] How Kevin Measure Success For Himself [23:00] Why Kevin Is So Vested In Mentorship[25:19] Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives Within The Music Industry [28:46] The Impact Web 3.0 Will Have On The Music Industry[31:20] Will Virtual Concerts Replace Live Shows?[32:30] Five-Year Predictions For Music Touring[34:43] How Many Days Will Kevin Spend At Shows In 2022?[35:40] How Do You Find The Next Musical Star?Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Kevin Shivers, Instagram: @bellmeadallstar  Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop's biggest players by reading Trapital's free weekly memo. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands_____Transcription: The Future Of Live Music with Kevin Shivers, Partner at WMEKevin Shivers 00:00You gotta ask yourself after arenas, then what? Where are you going after that? I mean, like, you know, you might already have that plan in your head, but like these careers are, it's a marathon, not a sprint.Dan Runcie 00:18Hey, welcome to the Trapital podcast! I'm your host and the founder of Trapital, Dan Runcie. This podcast is your place to gain insights from the executives in music, media, entertainment, and more, who are taking hip hop culture to the next level. Today's episode is with Kevin Shivers. He's a partner at WME, and he represents some of the biggest artists in the game like Tyler, the Creator, Summer Walker, and more. We talked about how he was able to maximize the big year that Tyler had last year. I feel like Tyler headlined so many music festivals, and had so many appearances. Kevin talks about what it took to make that happen, especially given how turbulent things were with COVID, and all of the restrictions and variants that came through and how he was able to still make it happen. We talk more broadly about music festivals in the strategy that Kevin has for making sure his clients can get certain buildings on the roster. We also talked about Summer Walker and how he was able to do the same for her. Then, we talked more broadly about what it's like as a black executive, especially in representing artists. There are not too many people at agents that are at Kevin's level that look like Kevin, so we talked about that. Some of the advocacy work and mentoring and giving back that he's done and he's prioritized in his career, and so much more. It was great to have Shivers on here. I hope you enjoy this. Here's my chat with Kevin Shivers. All right, today, we got one of the most powerful agents in the game. Kevin Shivers partner at WME. Welcome to the pod, feels like we're long overdue.Kevin Shivers 01:49Thanks for having me, Dan. It's a pleasure. Dan Runcie 01:51Yeah, it's funny because I feel like this time of the year, I always see the festival posters come up for all of the music festivals. And I'm sure you've seen the one where they replace the names of the festivals with the agencies that they're all part of. And whenever I see the WME, I'm like: Man, Kevin was on his game this year. Kevin Shivers 02:10It's definitely not all me, man. There are so many great agents at work here. Happy to be a part of this team. Dan Runcie 02:15So you've been in the game for a while now. But let's take a step back. Because I know you've been working at the agency for some time. But what was it that first attracted you to the business?Kevin Shivers 02:27I had to say it was my mother. When I was a kid growing up, my mother would drag my brother out of movies every weekend. And that's the first time in my head where I got: Wait, I would love to work in entertainment because I love the movie so much. My mother loves movies so much. Even during COVID, she was still going to the movies. And that's like the really, my first interest into the business. When I graduated from high school, I went to college at University of Texas. I majored in film with the plan of moving out to LA and being a producer. And I did move out to Los Angeles, I started interning at The Weinstein Company at the time. And then I went on to this Company Cost of Beanie films, they had a deal at Weinstein. And from there, I kind of entered into the film business, and I got my first taste into: This is not for me, this is not what I want to do in my life. Partly because I was really bad at my job, like I tried, but I didn't want to read 30 scripts a week. This is not what I wanted to do. And then I pivoted, I left there. And I went to this place called Cats Media Group, which is like they did TV sales. And I knew that, that wasn't long term. And I went there to stay in Los Angeles, and to figure it out. And from there, I figured out I wanted to be an agent and WME. I had some experience in music and in Austin like going to shows. I knew a promoter, this guy Charles Adler, Ramsay Three. And at the time, it was the William Morris Agency. And that's my first interest into entertainment. Dan Runcie 03:56Nice. And I feel like the past year and a half, almost two years now. It's probably been unlike any other time period since you've been in this. What's that been like for you?Kevin Shivers 04:05You mean like COVID, and the ways impacted shows? It's been wild, right? Like if I go back to 2020, there was so much going on in the picture of even the world and in all of our lives. You had George Floyd, you had Trump and you had COVID and uncertainty. So 2020, being an agent, it was moving shows from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. That doesn't work for all the social things that are going on in the world to 2021. The first six months were kind of the same of 2020, and the first light in the tunnel I think was Rolling Loud, like Rolling Loud played, and then Lollapalooza was maybe a week or two later. And then you start seeing Austin City Limits and Outside Lands playing off in some tours. And then we started; it started to make sense, then Omicron came along, and we're like back for a period of time back at square one. But it seems like 2022 is gonna bring a lot of joy, you know. Shows are planned, Superbowl is happening in a few days, Pro Sports are going along. So it seems a lot of positivity.Dan Runcie 05:10What do you think will be different for 2022 and 2023 thereafter? Because I feel like it'll be this gradual shift where eventually things will start to feel like the touring schedule is maybe back to somewhat of what it was before COVID. But how long do you think that will really be like? What do you think will be the first year that we can look back at and say: Okay, this is the first year that doesn't feel like it was impacted in any way?Kevin Shivers 05:36I think there's some hope in 2022. If we just changed the way that we're thinking that this is the new world. Things might pop up, the virus might flare back up and flare back down. But let's try to figure out how to move forward. I think I'm starting to see that people are out and about in shows, they are playing sports, you know. The NFL season went through the whole season, they had ups and downs. And I think that like we're starting to see some positivity, lots of hope for 23. Hopefully 23, we get back to some sort of, or we get to some sort of a new normal, where we're living in this new world, and we're just going with the punches.Dan Runcie 06:12I hear that. So I think the good thing for you though is that even, until we got to that point, you've been moving a lot. And I know that Tyler the Creator is one of your bigger clients and 2021 was a big year for him. Headlined a bunch of festivals, dropped his album. What was it like making sure that everything could line up and that you could have everything set for him despite everything else that was going on with the touring business?Kevin Shivers 06:38First of all, I want to say Tyler's a star and a one of a kind of talent, and he knows exactly what he wants. I'm lucky to be a part of his team, and he has an excellent team around them. It starts with the managers Chris and Kelly Clancy, who are amazing people. The business manager, Joe Colone, amazing lawyer, my partner James Ruby, who does International Day watch after her at the agency and all the other people that touchTyler. But 21 was a great year; we got the headline target the headlines for festivals, but it was also we had some goals from, it was also challenging. First thing is the record comes, the record is amazing and it's also finding a window when we can go on sale when COVID is not surging, and I think that the team and I,we all got lucky because we found a window.We knew Tyler was going to headline Lollapalooza and the goal was after you get all the media, the media hype coming from Lolla. We knew he was going to bring an amazing show; that Monday after Lolla, finding that window where we can go on sale and luckily for us, no COVID spikes out Lolla, nothing crazy. And there's no COVID spikes in the world. So that was the first thing, right? I think the second thing when we thought about touring, is trying to find the markets for him to play Tyler, somebody that wants to push the envelopes. And we ended up putting up 35 arenas, breaking in some new markets. I saw last night a show in San Diego. He was like: I could have done 50 shows. I mean, granted, it was nice to have, you know, the tour. And I was like: Okay, we'll see how you feel at, like, night 33 or something. But we were able to break into new markets. Columbus, Vegas, El Paso, Pittsburgh, to name a few. I think the third thing is that Tyler really, really wanted to give the fans the ultimate experience. This is the lineup: Teezo Touchdown, Vince Staples, Kal Uchis. And I think the last thing is, you know, making sure that we hit the sweet spot in pricing. So we, you know, give the fans a place where they can feel happy, a place where they can buy tickets, but also maximizing the gross, keeping ticket sales in the gross. And this was a joint effort with the managers, Chris and Kelly, Michelle Bernstein, who's an excellent marketing ticketing person and AG team led by Cody over there.Dan Runcie 08:56Talk to me a bit more about the new markets and picking those.You mentioned in Pittsburgh, you mentioned El Paso. What are the data that insights are the field that you look for when you're like: Hey, this is somewhere that we want to consider going to that we haven't gone before. And if we do it, is this the type of venue that we should go in this market as opposed to somewhere like LA or New York where he's already proved himself? Kevin Shivers 09:20Well, I think there's a few things, so one is whenever Tyler, any of my clients, I'm always trying to figure out, I want them to play as many places that they can. Just reach all the fans and maximize the opportunity we're on the road because if it's a Tyler recording or whoever it is, or Cody, you're not gonna get to see them every single year. That is a unique experience. But to answer your direct question, it's one looking at the data if it's from Spotify, or our past sales. Two is looking at the markets and seeing if there's a building or venue that makes sense like Columbus. We know that's a place, there's a college town where Tyler's played there before, played there, sold out. I think a smaller room on the onsale, knew there was demand, didn't realize, I mean, the Columbus sales are insane. But this didn't realize like: Wow, that's, I mean that is really like that's a smaller market that has turned into a market, right? I think it's looking at our diverse lineup of talent on the bill, you know, going to a place like El Paso and looking at: Oh, there's probably going to be some Kali fans, and Vince fans and Teezo fans, right? That's a good place. And that's also a place that doesn't get a lot of entertainment. So like, and that ended up being like a home run. So it's like, kind of looking at the whole picture of what you got and talking to a lot of people that are smarter than you in kind of coming up with a plan. And also just working with good people that have a point of view.Dan Runcie 10:47What are the trade-offs that you have to make for those kinds of decisions? Because I imagine that there's the ones that do cross the threshold to be like: Okay, let's make this happen. But you know, kind of like you were saying before, it's tough to try to do 50 shows in a specific short amount of run or whatever it may be. What are some of those considerations you may have to make in terms of the markets that you can't pick? Or the ones you know, that you may not be able to put in this time, right?Kevin Shivers 11:11I think there are a few things. One, it's like really talking to your clients and letting them know, we might, we're going to try to go in this market. This possibility, it might not go the way that we want, but we have to, to me if you're not trying if you're not putting risk on the line, and what are we doing, right? It's like, I'm actually somebody who's okay with failing, right? And I'm not saying that we fail or anything, but I'm okay with doing that risk for the bigger reward. So it's like really, really like getting in there and talking to them about, you know, the strategy, right? And like, the goal, I think the goal should be like, when you go out every two, three years is gaining new fans, gaining that new network.Dan Runcie 11:50Right, especially now. I feel like for someone like him, it's probably been interesting. I know, you've been with him to see the rise and just to see how the fan base has continued to evolve over time. So I imagine he probably even sees things where he's like: Okay, these are the Tyler fans that ,you know, have been with me since the Globin days. If I go to this city versus, you know, you go to this other city. They may not have discovered me as much until Flower Boy or something like that. I'm sure he does. Yeah, it's fascinating. And I think with him too, if we talk a bit more about the festival side of things, he obviously was a headliner, as you mentioned, his Lollapalooza show was broadcasted. I didn't go to the show, but I was able to see it through Hulu, because they had it coming through there. When you're trying to have someone like him, obviously, you have many different artists and they have different levels that they may want to perform at. And ideally, you want to have everyone maximizing and performing at the highest level or being like the highest row on that festival poster. But for someone like Tyler, is it going into the year like: Hey, headline or buster; if we can't be a headliner for this festival, we're not going to do it. Or does it depend on who some of the others are? What are those conversations like? Kevin Shivers 13:07I think when you start a campaign with any artist, it's just like sitting down with the team and figuring out what the goals are, right? And it's all a trajectory and building on the last. I think you want to, the goal is always to build on the last time you were out, to build on the last year, right? And having that conversation. And you know, different artists have different things. Some people want to specifically target these particular festivals, or you know, you're going out in his window, and you could maybe use a festival to route in and out to get the gross-up for the whole tour. It's just like, really just, it's really spending time with the client spending time with the manager to find out, figure out what the goal is in maximizing the opportunities.Dan Runcie 13:49Is it any tougher to do that though? The way that artists can just rise so fast now, especially in the streaming era. Because I know that there's normally the standard, you know, you do your clubs, you can do a, you know, ballrooms or amphitheaters, and then maybe if you get to arenas or stadiums, that's their trajectory. But with people just getting so big, so fast, does that change the dynamic? Or it's like: Okay, how do you still balance what they may have done last time and use that as a reference point versus how quickly they can rise in this era?Kevin Shivers 14:19I mean, look, you have to have a point of view, and you have to have a plan. And you have to have some thoughts, right? And I think that people can really jump up really, really quickly. But we like to use this thing: don't skip steps, right? You know, sometimes if, you know, you can go play in an arena, why not go play multiple nights at a smaller room and build the momentum, build a buzz, meet people on the streets, leaving, not being able to get to the show. So that when you come back around, you still have gas in the tank. I mean, there's no one size fits all plan. It's like, you have to just know who you're working with, spend time and really kind of draw that. Draw that sketch up and map it out and let it listen. A plan is just a, it's just a roadmap. It can be amended along the way. There's no like set in stone thing, but other than like, no knowing where you want to go, knowing what you think, you know, going to be doing the next year, the next five years. That is what's most important.Dan Runcie 15:13That makes sense. And that reminds me of something I heard. I think it was Olivia Rodrigo, who said in some recent interview when he announced her tour. And someone must have asked her something along the lines of: Hey, you had one of the biggest years in pop music this past year, could you have done arenas? And I think she said that same line, you said: I don't want to skip any steps. This is where that is. So I think that's something that definitely rings true. And we're seeing examples of that.Kevin Shivers 15:39Yes. And you gotta ask yourself after arenas, then what? Where are you going after that? I mean, like, you know, you might already have that plan in your head, but like these careers are, it's a marathon, not a sprint.Dan Runcie 15:49So what do you think are some of the mistakes that artists can make? Like, I mean, you don't have to drop any names. You don't got to put anybody on blast. But is there anyone that you think maybe made a touring misstep? Or there's something where you can look back and be like: Ah, if they had done that a little differently, things could have worked out a little bit, you know, whether it's better or worse, or however for them.Kevin Shivers 16:09I think sometimes when people overthink it and end up doing nothing, that's like a bummer for everybody. That's a bummer for the artist. That's a bummer for the fan, that's a bummer for the culture, like, like you're hot, you're popping right now. We really need to see you really, really need to see you show up and pull up on us and see what you have. I think that, that's a mistake, not a mistake, but that's just a bummer for everybody. We want to see, we want to see you do your thing. And I would love it if instead of doing nothing that artists, sometimes people would do something.Dan Runcie 16:39So you think part of it is that there's a hesitancy to try to capture the moment, or sometimes they can be a bit more resolute or hesitant to do things when there is an opportunity to go back out there.Kevin Shivers 16:51Or they just don't know, or they just are trying to get it perfect. And like, you know, you're going to we're all going to make mistakes, there's going to be ups and downs. I think sometimes you just got to go play, you know, you got to give the fans what they want.Dan Runcie 17:04Do you think any of this has become any more challenging in the social media era? Because one thing that I've heard both on the talent side is that artists are even more so particular about how everything looks from a live perspective, because that shot that goes on Instagram or that shot that goes on Tik Tok, that influences ticket sales, especially from, you know, whether it's the first show or whatever it is. Do you feel like artists are feeling like they need to have things more perfect even though deep down, you know, that it shouldn't be that way?Kevin Shivers 17:33I mean, it's got to be really, really tough because the cameras are always on somebody always, you know, whether you like it or not, is documenting things that you do. So I think that I couldn't even imagine how much pressure that is and how tough that has to be. You know that social media can be good. And there can be some other sides where you're like: Wow, this is tough.Dan Runcie 17:52Yeah, I know, we've talked a lot about Tyler and about hip hop overall. But I know another one of the major artists you represent is Summer Walker. And you know, she had a big year, last year as well. And I wanted the differences whether you're planning a tour for, or you're planning live events, in general, for R&B artists, as opposed to someone in hip hop.Kevin Shivers 18:14I don't think there's really many differences, I just think you have to just, it goes back to the same. There's no any artist planning and really just get, you know, in figuring out what the goals that they have and how you can best service them, right? I don't really think there's a different strategy or a different lane. I think if you love Summer Walker, you love Summer Walker, you're gonna go out and see it, right? And she has, she has an incredible fan base.Dan Runcie 18:40Yeah. Okay, that makes sense. Because one of the things I was wondering with someone like her.Knowing how passionate her fan base is, I was wondering if there was a connection of like: Oh, you know, the streams may show this and the data may show this, but because of how R&B fans are, there may be a bit more likelihood that that could translate to ticket sales or purchases as opposed to other genres.Kevin Shivers 19:02You know, I think the fans are going to come out that they love somebody and Summer respects our fans. People like Summer Walker followers, or they just, they love her. I think they're just going to come out and show up and see her play.Dan Runcie 19:14Now. That's real, that makes sense. So for you, I mean, I know, you got a full roster, and you're always making sure that you can maximize them to the best of their abilities. So how do you measure success for yourself as a partner and as someone that's representing them on their behalf? Kevin Shivers 19:30The answer is really simple: Helping others, right? I got into this business because I wanted to help artists grow. And it's like, it starts with the clients like you start thinking about, about people that I work with, like: What can I do to help them? What can I do to help them grow or give them everything that they need? Are we, you know, from last year to this year? Are we showing up every day to help them get to that next level? That's the first thing. I think also the way I measure success. It's like the same thing with helping others. Like it starts for me every day when my assistant Ebony, I think she's gonna be a great executive one day, but am I showing up for her? Do I slow down enough to answer her questions? Do I mentor her? Do I spend time with her? Because like, that's important to me. We have many, many amazing young agents that work here. Am I showing up enough to help them sign up clients? Am I giving them what they need? I think you know, measuring success. Is everybody around you doing well? Are you doing what's good for the organization? I co-run hip hop with Zach, Isaac, Caroline and James Rubby. And Caroline's always saying we got to take care of youngs, you know, it's Justin neighbor's getting what he needs? Is Sarah and Ronnie getting what they need? And then I think it's just, it's really about creating that culture, creating a universe, that the people you will arise into the next level of being selfless. And then also from a DNI perspective of like: What diverse people can we grow? Can we hire? Are we retaining them? These are all the ways that I measure success. I try not to look at what other people are doing. Because I mean, it doesn't really matter. I want to make sure that the organization and the people around me are set up for success.Dan Runcie 21:14I hear that. And I think a lot of the themes you mentioned there align with mentorship, and whether it's being a mentor or support for the artists that are looking to you for guidance, your co-workers and your colleagues. Can you talk a little bit more about why that's so important to you? Because even in reading and hearing other interviews, I know you've been active on that front, making sure that you can use your platform and where you are to pass the torch and help others along the way.Kevin Shivers 21:40I think mentorship is one of these things like, if we're not mentoring, then what are we doing? Why are we even showing up? You have to always be trying to look out for other people. I've had people that looked out for me and my career, people that still look out for me. And I think that is one of the key things. One of the reasons that makes me want to get up every day and come into the office is, like, helping others. I think that's one of the reasons why we're put on this earth to help people. A non-negotiable thing is mentorship. I mean, the crazy fact about, I'll go do an interview, or I'll do a panel and everybody that writes to me on IG or LinkedIn, I write everybody back, everybody. I mean, I probably send more people to the HR department here for jobs than anybody. Because I just want everybody back. I think that's important, because I was once the young kid who wanted to figure this out. And like I didn't know, I had no clue and people helped me. So I think that's a very important aspect of the job.Dan Runcie 22:35100%. And even on a personal level, I remember the first time you reached out to me, Hey, love what you're doing. Hey, how can I help? And you're just like: Oh, who do you want to interview? Oh, I was listening to them yesterday, boom, let's get this done. So even on a personal level, I need you out. You're looking out for me, man. I appreciate that. Kevin Shivers 22:52Yeah, I mean, well, you're doing it. I listen to your podcast every week. I think it's amazing. I think what you're doing for the culture is great. And I just wanted to get to know you and just to help where I can and, and that's just, that's what I think is important.Dan Runcie 23:05Definitely, definitely. And one of the things that you had put out, because a couple years back, but it really stuck out to me was this was right after George Floyd's murder and the music industry had the show must be paused response. And you had written these guest posts on Pollstar and you were talking about how this industry just needs to do better by its black execs specifically on the recruiting front. And I know you were just talking about how, you know, you're always pushing things forward to HR. And I'm sure this must be really personal for you as well, you are one of the few folks that looks like you in the position that you have in this whole industry. So I'd love to hear how you feel like the industry has responded since everything had happened after George Floyd's murder and the response to where we are now in 2022.Kevin Shivers 23:57You know, in response to your comment about I wanted a person who looks like me in the industry. I always say to everybody, I'm amazing, but I'm not that amazing. There's, there should be more people that look like me doing what I do and and you know, partners in hire, right? And I think we still have a lot of work to do. There's good news though. There's positive conversation around DNI, people are aware, people are aware that there needs to be more black people and more diverse people need to have more opportunities. I still think that we need to keep pushing the envelope, we still have a lot more to do in terms of hiring and creating opportunities for black people. The organization's know they have to do better, but they have to buck the old status quo. They have to go outside of the norm. And today to some people, it might be like: Oh, we're taking a risk. No, DNI has to be inside of your lifeline, inside of your blood, inside of your everyday practices. It's not something that you can just talk about once a quarter, you gotta live it, you got to be in it every day. And I believe that the black people need to be promoted, they need to be elevated. They need to be given the same opportunities and shots. When we were interviewing for jobs, I think in any, in any industry, not just entertainment, you need to be interviewing black people, people of color, LGBTQ, there just needs to be more opportunity. We need more Sylvia Rhone's, more Ethiopia's, more tons Jay-Z and Def Jam. We need more leaders, more partners. I mean, we have to just keep our foot on the gas, keep pushing the envelope because this, we're not there yet. But we're going in the right direction. And we need to keep the momentum.Dan Runcie 25:30Right. And I think even an example of that, the folks you just mentioned, I think a lot of folks in this industry are all on a first name basis. And as incredible as all those folks are, how do we get to the point where they're not on a first name basis, because they aren't just the few black execs in there. I mean, it's definitely going to continue to take time. And I think whether it's conversations like this, or the efforts you're doing will help. But I'm hopeful that it can get there eventually. Kevin Shivers 25:55I'm hopeful, too. I think we got to stay targeted and focus. But also at the same time, remember, like, this just didn't happen overnight, right? It's not going to change overnight. But we have to like, we have to keep, we have to stay on this because it can change and it needs to be better.Dan Runcie 26:11Definitely. So let's switch gears a bit. Let's talk a little bit about the future, specifically with regards to touring and technology and what things will look like in, the potential with Web 3.0 and the metaverse. Because now you have agencies that are specifically I'm sure WME likely also has a division where they focus specifically on digital environments, or getting artists lined up on that perspective. How do you look at that? Specifically, with the artists you have on your roster, what the potentials are for them in these digital worlds.Kevin Shivers 26:50I think Web 3.0 is just it's massive, huge, huge opportunity. You know, if you think about the evolution started in virtual, went over to Fortnite, but I just think it brings control back to the artists in a way. Artists had an act like this the whole time, these music artists, they've had fan clubs, they've had social media, but what Web 3.0 does, it gives more control to them. It's gonna give them more power, but like, it kind of cuts out the middleman and I think you know, things are gonna change in the next six months, next five years, it's gonna be an exciting world. If you look at what Coachella did, by selling the NFT, a lifetime Coachella pass. I mean, I think artists are gonna come up with these things where, you know, if you want to be in the front row of my show, here's the NFT for the chance to buy the front row tickets, or maybe it just goes inside of there. And they figure out what to promote, but I just think like, it's an exciting time. Like, it's the, it's endless. I was just on the phone with A Jones the other day, I love what he's doing with Royal. And I think the deal that he did with Nas and Antony Silay is, like,amazing; that looks like where things are headed. I mean, it's just, you know, like any of these things, it's gonna be ups and downs, right? In the Web 3.0, but I just think the opportunity is endless.Dan Runcie 28:01Yeah, things are early, things are also moving really fast. Six months from now, it's gonna look completely different. And I am excited for the artists that are taking advantage early. I feel like I can already imagine Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival having some type of digital environment or some type of experience in the metaverse.Kevin Shivers 28:21I'm sure it will, I'm sure Lollapalooza and some of these other properties. That's where they're headed. I mean, it's gonna be a really exciting time. I just hope people get off the couch, you still come out to show.Dan Runcie 28:35Is that a concern you have though? Like, do you wonder about that in the future?Kevin Shivers 28:39No, no, I was just joking. I mean, I don't think anything can replace the live experience, just like the Zooms are great, right? But I think when you're in a meeting with somebody, it's 10 times better. And I think a concert is 100 times better. I love, I love going to festivals, I've been to them all over the world. And I love seeing the reactions in real time on people's faces from their favorite artists hidden in the stage. So I don't think anything can replace it. I think it's going to only enhance the experience.Dan Runcie 29:07Agreed. That's what I always go back to. Everything in these experiences are additive and isn't a replacement for anything. And I think it'll probably just force more creativity for every aspect, because you're not just trying to have something be a catch all. So I think I'm interested to see how it'll continue to shape live performances and what that can look like from the, you know, the IRL experience. Yeah. And on that note, do you have any predictions for what you think the next three to five years or so will look like specifically in the lifespace? I mean, pandemic notwithstanding, I mean, obviously, I think we'll continue to see the after effects of that, but any type of, you know, evolutions are any type of future changes that you think will see over time.Kevin Shivers 29:51Yeah, I think 2022 is going to be bigger than we thought. I think that hopefully, I think we're headed to a healthy tour environment. I think there's going to be new players in terms of buyers and festivals. And I think the fan experience will that's going to be the thing of the future. I think everyone has realized they have to zero in on the fan from artists curated weekends and festivals to I think even super service in the fan. Think about this, think about a world where service lets you buy a ticket, has a car that picks you up, dinner reservations, great seats, even find you a babysitter.I think that's where we're going, we're going to this place, we're like: Okay, I can't even be, I'm busy. I didn't want to deal with this, boom, hit a button. And this is where we're going. I think that's exciting. Because you know, getting inside of the mind of the fan, what they really want is going to be the next evolution. Dan Runcie 30:42Yeah, even you mapping that out. If you literally could press one button and solve that, I think you'd also just increase the amount of people that can come through, right? You mentioned the babysitter, the amount of people that have young kids, and it's like, you know, just the thought of them needed like, oh, you know, we got to find someone for this to cover for this night. Like, yeah, if all that can be taken care of.Kevin Shivers 31:00Because I think people love live music, and live music is such a treat. But when you think about the hurdles you have to do, you got to put on some clothes, maybe, you know, show starts at seven, get homework, feed your kids, do this, do that. And if you could just take some of that away from them. That's like, you know, bringing the fan experience to a new level.Dan Runcie 31:21Definitely. So I know that you're always on the go with festivals. And you know, I know you love going into them. But I know it's also for your work as well. If you have to guess, how many shows do you think you'll go to in 2022?Kevin Shivers 31:33I can tell you this. I'd rather answer this way. How many days I plan on hitting a lot of festivals in 2022. So I think I'm going to be, I call it 50 to 60 days watching music, right? That's what I'd say.Dan Runcie 31:48Okay. Yeah. All right. And even that, I mean, that's a lot more than the average person. But I mean, it's just incredible. Because you get to just see all the fine tunes, you get to just see everything. And like you mentioned, this is interesting, you're traveling all across the world for this stuff.Kevin Shivers 32:02Yeah. I mean, that's, that's one of the reasons I love doing what I do. I mean, like, really, I get to go see live music in different parts of the world. I mean, I can't even imagine anything better than that.Dan Runcie 32:12Yeah. So last question. Before we let you go. I know we talked a lot about Tyler. And I know from our conversations, just the uniqueness of you seeing that star power and star potential, even from the first time you connect it. How do you find that next tile? Or how do you find that thing to know? Okay, yeah, this is the one that we need for this next generation. Kevin Shivers 32:34Oh, wow. I think when I'm looking to sign somebody, I'm looking for somebody that has a unique point of view, for somebody that is fearless, and then wants to do the work.Dan Runcie 32:43That makes sense. Hear that man. Hey, before we let you go, man, this was great. I'm glad you could come through and make this happen. But is there anything else you want to plug? Or let the Trapital audience know about it?Kevin Shivers 32:54I think everybody should go out and see some shows this year. I think 2022 is going to be a good year, and then one thing I want to say is to somebody who wants a career in entertainment, I think you should go for it. I think you should move to LA, move to New York, move to Atlanta, move to Nashville. Call, email some people; call, email me. I'll probably write you back pretty soon and just go for your dreams.Dan Runcie 33:15What's your email address?Kevin Shivers 33:17Kshivers@wmeagency.com. It's all good.Dan Runcie 33:23Now appreciate that, man. I welcome man. Thanks for coming through this as a pleasure.Kevin Shivers 33:27I appreciate you Dan.Dan Runcie 33:31If you enjoyed this podcast, go ahead and share it with a friend. Copy the link, text it to a friend posted in your group chat, posted to your Slack groups. Wherever you and your people talk, spread the word. That's how Trapital continues to grow and continues to reach the right people. And while you're at it, if you use Apple podcast, go ahead, rate the podcast. Give it a high rating and leave a review and tell people why you liked the podcast that helps more people discover the show. Thank you in advance. Talk to you next week.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

February 17th, 2022 ... Weekly Bible Study: Faith In the Lord Jesus Christ is OVERCOMES ALL! ... Romans 4:13–25 (NKJV) 13For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 23Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 5:1–11 (NKJV) 1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 1 John 5:4–5 (NKJV) 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (NKJV) 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wheelsonfireforchrist/message

First Sunday after Christmas The Collect: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Isaiah 61:10-62:3 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Psalm: 147 or 147:13-21 [1 Hallelujah!        How good it is to sing praises to our God! *        how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *        he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted *        and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars *        and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *        there is no limit to his wisdom. 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *        but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *        make music to our God upon the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds *        and prepares rain for the earth; 9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *        and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He provides food for flocks and herds *        and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *        he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *        in those who await his gracious favor.] 13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *        praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *        he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; *        he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, *        and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; *        he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *        who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *        he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, *        his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; *        to them he has not revealed his judgments.        Hallelujah! Epistle: Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel: John 1:1-18 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”)16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

Gospel FridaysMatthew 2:13-23Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:“A voice was heard in Ramah,wailing and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children;she refused to be consoled,because they were no more.”But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archela′us reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”O God our Father, who by the birth and infancy of Thy Son did sanctify and bless childhood: we commend to Thy love all children, and beseech Thee to protect them from every hurt and harm, and lead them to the knowledge of Thyself and the obedience of Thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen

Today's Reading: Matthew 2:13-18Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 52:13-54:10; Matthew 2:13-23Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Matthew 2:13–15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Emperor Caesar Augustus reportedly once said that it was better to be Herod's pig than his son. That's because Herod executed several of his own sons to prevent them from taking power away from him. So it's really no surprise that when he got wind of a baby born to be king, he turned to violence once more. The Holy Family could have gone anywhere outside of Herod's reach for safety, but the angel directed them to Egypt. Perhaps Joseph was familiar with Egypt and even knew some people there who would let him lay low with his wife and newly born Son. But God certainly knew Egypt. That's where He sent His son Jacob for safety during a famine. And there, Jacob became a great nation. But a time came when Egypt's safe haven became an oppressive prison. So God called the sons of Jacob out of Egypt by His servant Moses.The story of salvation echoes throughout history. God called His sons out of Egypt in the Exodus and He calls His Son Jesus out of Egypt. Both calls are surrounded by death, however. The flight from Egypt and the flight to Egypt are both initiated by the deaths of sons in the final plague and the martyrdom of the innocents. Even though Joseph found safety in Egypt for the Child, His death really was inevitable. The martyrdom of the Holy Innocents bears witness to the death of Jesus.But just as God raised His Son from Egypt, He also raised Him from the dead. And because Christ is risen, the Holy Innocents will also rise. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Ah, what availed King Herod's wrath? He could not stop the Savior's path. Alone, while others murdered lay, In safety Christ is borne away ("Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band" LSB 969, st.3)-Rev. Jacob Ehrhard is pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch

Mark 7:1-23Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother'; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”' (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

This is the post purchase Pro podcast, Episode 18, How to Get Your Existing Amazon Customers to Pay for Your Sponsored Ads.Get your existing Amazon customers to pay for your sponsored Ads. It's like walking into a casino and playing on the houses money. Every time, you cannot lose.Hey, welcome to the episode, guys.We're talking today about making your existing customers more valuable. And it's much, much easier than going out and finding fresh new customers every single month.And a lot of us are using PPC or sponsored ads on Amazon. And we use that to drive more traffic to our Amazon listings, and create sales. Well, that's great.It's a good start, Seth, but when you can make those customers on Amazon, more valuable through additional sales, and follow up sales, and then re-allocate those profits back into PPC. It's literally like, getting your existing Amazon customers to pay for your sponsored ads. It's like walking into a casino and playing on the houses money. Every time You cannot lose.1:11Yeah, Sean. So I think I'll try to break it down a little bit for everyone in terms of how we think about this in our business. So, like, let's say that we created a sale on Amazon, and we've made $5 in profit.1:23Now, out of that $5 in profit, you had to spin some of it on PPC to acquire that customer. It doesn't really matter what it is, but you had to spend some of it to get the exposure if you're not organically ranked for that sale, right?1:36So let's think about this, Let's just say that you made $5. Now, if you call it quits there, the most you're ever gonna make is $5. You could spend all of that on ads pretty easily on Amazon. And now you have made a sale, but you didn't have any profit. But let's imagine this scenario.1:51Let's imagine that you re-engage your customer after the purchase from you one time, and you sell them three additional units over the next 90 days.2:00Now, instead of just making one sale at $5 profit, you have a total of $20 total profit that you can spend out of to acquire that customer.2:09So it's like, literally what you said, John, having your customer pay for your sponsored ads, because you can take that additional profit that we made by generating those extra sales to buy more ads. And you can choose how much of that profit you want to keep.2:24You don't have to keep the whole $15 extra profit. Because if you made those three extra sales, you can literally keep some of it and then redeploy the rest of it to drive more sales, more ranking that way. You can capture more customer e-mails and phone numbers and re-engage even more customers. And it kind of creates this virtuous cycle, right.2:46Exactly, Seth.2:47and you know, since the beginning of time, from the very first business that was established and used any type of paid marketing to attract new customers, the one who could spend the most amount of money to attract a new customer always wins the long game, right? And sometimes, we forget about that because Amazon willingly sends us traffic to our listings.3:09But if we re-allocate those profits on paid marketing, then it's like that self reinforcing virtuous cycle that you like to explain sometimes?3:20Yeah, exactly.3:21So in Amazon it's kinda like a supercharged reinforced cycle because they give you additional ranking for more sales. So it's like you get them you get a sale and you get a new customer, which in our world that means that we capture the e-mail and the phone number so we can remarket to them after the fact.3:38And what does that do? Well? Because we have their information we're able to reach out to the them again and create more sales with that exact same customer. It makes sense, right? So that m

Today I'm going to talk about Jesus. And I'm going to talk about 20 minutes. The title of this sermon is “the cost of freedom,” and the readings today are from 1 Peter 1:18-23 and Mark 9:30-37. Please open your Bible to 1 Peter, and we'll start there after we pray. This prayer is based on Martin Luther's explanation of the 2nd article of the Apostles' Creed in the Small Catechism:O Jesus Christ, true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary—you are my Lord. At great cost you have saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. You have freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not with silver or gold, but with your holy and precious blood and innocent suffering and death. Thank you for doing all this that I may be your own, live under you in your kingdom, and serve you in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as you are risen from the dead and live and rule eternally. Amen.1 Peter 1:18-23Now a reading from 1 Peter 1:18-23.For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.Mark 9:30-37And the holy gospel according to St Mark, the 9th chapter, beginning at verse 30.They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.Support the show (https://secure.myvanco.com/YKER/home)

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?”He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”We love when Jesus lets the Pharisees have it. When they say something stupid or selfish or unholy and self-righteous and Jesus puts them in their place with a well-cited piece of Scripture. He does it more than once in the Gospels and it's awesome. He calls them blind guides and blind fools. He compares them to a brood of vipers and white-washed tombs. It's one of the ways I want to be more like Jesus sometimes.And that's what he's up to this morning. The scribes and the Pharisees are getting after Jesus for letting his disciples eat with defiled hands – for not washing them, first – as their history and tradition instructed them to do. This wasn't just about cleanliness and hygiene, either. The handwashing they were after had as much to do with religious ritual and piety, so the Pharisees and scribes were pointing out the supposed sinfulness of the disciples and judging them for it. So, Jesus pulls that quote from the prophet Isaiah out of his back pocket and uses it to call them all hypocrites. “Hypocrites” because the Pharisees and scribes and religious people of all stripes were using the letter of the law to shame and scare and pass judgment on others, while they, themselves, had plenty to be ashamed of.There's an interesting bit of scripture, removed from this lectionary text for some reason, where Jesus gets specific about it, too. He calls out the Pharisees for creating a loophole, where they could avoid “honoring their father and mother” by declaring the portion of their income they would, could, and should be using to care for their elders, as “corban,” or as an offering to God, which was exempt from such worldly purposes. (In other words, maybe they didn't want to pay for mom's nursing home, so they designated that money as holy, sacred, and blessed by the synagogue so that it was off-limits in some way.) And we know they threw stones, too – literally, threw stones – at women and girls for adultery and divorce and prostitution in ways men didn't have to suffer.And they declared food unclean and people unworthy and sins unforgiveable – which is what all of this with Jesus and his disciples is really about, in the end. These religious people were so good at pointing fingers and casting judgment and declaring who was in or out, who was loved or not, who was chosen or damned, and all the rest.And Jesus's point, I think, is that it's easier to fight and point fingers and cast judgment about the stuff “outside,” than it is to look within ourselves or to wonder about what's within the heart of our neighbor, too.For the Pharisees, this “outside” stuff that left a person “clean” or not was stuff like handwashing … or all of those dietary laws they had to follow … or who was sleeping with whom.For us – these days it seems like the “outside” stuff marks a person – is stuff like masks … and vaccines; political parties … and still, too much of the time, who's sleeping with whom, for crying out loud!We can throw all the proverbial stones we want – and we do, and we are as good at it as the Pharisees, some of the time – but, the genius of God, in Jesus, is that, because he looked so much like those Pharisees and because he looks so much like us, just the same, Jesus compels us all to look in the mirror, and deeper into our own heart of hearts, too.Where are we throwing stones, when we could be offering mercy?Like, maybe that person isn't connected to a community of faith because they've never been invited before or because they've been burned by them in the past.Where are we casting judgment when we could be asking better questions?Like, is it a coincidence that, four of the states with the lowest levels of COVID vaccinated people are also among those ranked lowest in education in our country?Where am I arguing about what's on the outside instead of trying to understand, forgive, maybe even heal, what's on the inside?Like, maybe that really angry, ignorant, naive social media rant is the only vehicle for being heard that those special someones in my Facebook feed have at their disposal.Where am I getting angry when I could be turning the other cheek?Where am I being more proud than humble? More afraid than faithful? More selfish than self-sacrificing? When, where, and why would Jesus let me have it, just like he did those Pharisees so much of the time?There's a line in a Brandi Carlile song called “Looking Out,” where she sings, “Some people get religion. Some people get the truth.” Brandi Carlile, a lesbian who was denied the waters of baptism as a teenager because of her sexuality, sings about how she never got the truth. And I think that's the case for too many people in our world these days.“Some people get religion. Some people get the truth.”Misguided religion draws lines in-between and divides based on differences. Faith and truth draw a gathering circle around to celebrate those same differences.Misguided religion finds fault and flaws. Faith and truth promise forgiveness.Misguided religion stokes fear. Faith and truth offer hope.Misguided religion points fingers. Faith and truth lends a hand.Misguided religion does the same-old, same-old, just because it is the same-old, same-old. Faith and truth get out of the boat and try new things.Misguided religion counts sins. Faith and truth count blessings.Misguided religion lives in scarcity. Faith and truth trust in God's abundance.“Some people get religion. Some people get the Truth.”The Pharisees in Jesus' day were all about religion. Jesus was and is all about the Way, the Truth, and the Life:The WAY of discipleship that calls us to follow in his loving footsteps…The TRUTH of God's grace for the ways we stumble and fall as we go…And the LIFE everlasting that belongs to each of us because we all belong to him.AmenCheck out this performance of Brandi Carlile's “LOOKING OUT” for a little inspiration.

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 8: Letting God Finish the Work Louie Marsh, 8-1-2021   Intro -  pictures of unfinished buildings -  story of house in Mom & Dad's neighborhood.   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   I Must Develop the Proper Perspective on…   My PROBLEMS   “14 … What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b, ESV)   My ACHIEVEMENTS   “5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)   My HEART   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)   The TRUTH   “32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:32, ESV)   Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. John 14:6 (Mes)   Martin Luther – wrote this about the Peasants Revolt, in the tract, “Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants.”   Picture of Luther's Tract   If the peasant is in open rebellion then he is outside the law of God…Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel… Therefore dear sirs, fire here, save there, stab, smite, strangle them, whoever can. If your death result, very well, you can never attain to a more blessed death.”   My RELATIONSHIPS   “10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)   “5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV)   “12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13, ESV)   I Allow God to Finish the Work When I…   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   1) Understand God's goal for my life – CHRIST-LIKENESS.   2) Let God give me His PEACE.   3) Find SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS in Christ!   “24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John 4:24, ESV)   4) Let Christ bring wholeness to my SOUL!   My soul is my –   MIND   “20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20, ESV)   WILL   “24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)   EMOTIONS   “16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:16, ESV)   5) Realize this – God wants my BODY!!   “19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)   “2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:2, ESV)  

I Samuel 21:7, I Samuel 22:6-23 I Samuel 21:7, I Samuel 22:6-23Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. … Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, and he inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD. Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”The post The Villain appeared first on Ascension PCA.

The Gospel of John 1-7, Pt. 3 The Sign of the Son By Louie Marsh, 5-2-2021 Intro: Signs The 5 Man Electrical Band lyrics as recorded by The Five Man Electrical Band in 1971   And the sign said, "Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray" But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn't have a penny to pay So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign I said, "Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me. I'm alive and doin' fine." Wooo!   Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?   5 picture Slides, last one the gas pump!   The story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana is found only in the Gospel of John.   1) I need to PAY ATTENTION to the Sign!   “11This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” (John 2:11, ESV)   John said that it was through this “sign” that Jesus revealed his glory for the first time. John saw glory in Jesus. Glory is a big word meaning honor, dignity, and splendor. These words point to the deity of Jesus. It’s interesting how quietly this miracle took place but how many divine attributes of Jesus can be seen.   Focusing on whether there was alcohol in the wine is an ABUSE the text.   2) Jesus shows me I must live HONORING others.   “1On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”” (John 2:1–5, ESV)   Some say Jesus did this miracle simply to appease his mother. Or, as some have put it, he obeyed her. But Jesus was an adult and was no longer subject to her authority. To this, they may respond that he was honoring her. Or could it be that she exhibited faith with her words, “do whatever he tells you,” and he honored her faith? Either way, we see honor.   3) Jesus shows me His way is always COUNTERCULTURAL.   “6Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.” (John 2:6–7, ESV)   Jesus had the servants fill the ceremonial washing jars, which were used for washing the outside of the body according to the law, and refilled them with something inside the body. This demonstration is just the beginning of his counterculture teaching. Over and over he would come to challenge the ways of the religious leaders, and the thinking of the people.   “8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8, ESV)   4) Jesus shows me His unmatched AUTHORITY.   8And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.” (John 2:8, ESV)   In changing the water into wine, Jesus demonstrated his authority over all things down to the molecular level. Some argue he didn’t turn water into wine but into grape juice. This is simply ridiculous, but just to humor such criticism, it takes a miracle for either transformation to occur. Water doesn’t change its molecular makeup without the authority of the Creator.   Dr. Cliff Lewis explains:   At a molecular level, the water, basically hydrogen and oxygen, was changed into wine that contains sugars, yeast, and water, which contain carbon and nitrogen along with oxygen and hydrogen. Thus, by changing water into wine Jesus demonstrated his authority over even the atomic structure of atoms by commanding oxygen and hydrogen atoms to disassemble and reform into other atoms of different configurations.    The amount of energy it would take to perform this atomic deconstruction and reconstruction is staggering. This intermolecular energy being released is the source of the explosive energy from an atomic bomb. However, since Jesus caused the wine atoms to come back together, he would have to put this astronomical amount of energy into the atoms in order to have them reconstruct. To do so without any visible energy transformation of the liquid (John does not say anything about people noticing the transformation) indicates a mastery of natural law far beyond our current comprehension. And he accomplished it with no physical exertion.   5) Jesus shows me His unmatched POWER.   “9When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”” (John 2:9–10, ESV)   Changing water into wine requires demonstrating power over time and space. Wine requires many processes that cover a long period of time. The growth of the plant. The maturation of the grape. Harvesting the grape. Treading the grapes into juice. The aging time required for fermentation. Great wine takes a long time to ferment. Jesus bypassed the entire timeframe in moments, which only God can do.   6) Jesus teaches me to trust God not PEOPLE.   “23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:23–25, ESV)   “26Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26, ESV)   “8It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” (Psalm 118:8–9, ESV)  

57 In this episode, I start by reading scriptures about what God's word says about being humble.Go to our website to hear all the episodes in this series.Spiritual Warfare The Armor of GodJames 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.2 Chronicles 7:14If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.Luke 14:11For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, they shall inherit the earth.James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.I also talk about the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-23Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just like I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.

John 2:13-25 13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”18So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Weekly Bible Study with Scott (February 2nd, 2021) *** Just because you may be in the Lion's den doesn't mean you give up, it is not over until God says it over! Daniel 6:10–23 (NKJV) 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” 13So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” 16So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” 23Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) 17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

28 In this episode, I begin by reminding you I'm not perfect. I used my superior "copy and paste" skills, and when I copied Romans 3:23, I used Romans 3:23 and changed the chapter to 5, and instead of changing the 23 to 8, I changed the 3 to 8 and left the 8. I don't know why I did it, but I did it.Since we are all "flawed," why would you think I'm perfect and never make any mistakes. That is not me. I encourage you to do your best to be a "doer" of the word but don't ever beat yourself up for making a mistake.He's my example, admit you've made it and move on. If you hurt someone, ask for forgiveness (that's a different lesson) and move on. If your sin is against God, the same thing, ask Him for forgiveness and move on.We are spirit, soul, and body and the scripture I used was1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.We are three parts, and two of the three are at odds with each other and will never see eye to eye.Your body and spirit are constantly fighting to get your soul (mind, will, and emotions) to vote for them. (or to come to their side or way of thinking)John 6:63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.The word was with God.John 14:6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.Isaiah 53:5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.1 Peter 2:24Who Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.Romans 10:9,10That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.Colossians 2:6,7As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.Go back to Episode 1 to hear one of our anchor scriptures. Mark 11:22-23Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.Genesis 1:3Then God said, "Let there be light; and there was light.Genesis 1:4And God saw the light, and that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.Genesis 1:6Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.Genesis 1:10And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.1 Corinthians 13:13And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.I will pick this up on the next episode.Thank you for listening.

27 In this episode I talk about how you are one person but made up of three parts. Those parts are Spirit, Soul, and BodyThe reference scripture is found in1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.I talked about the Apostle Peter talking about putting off his body which he called his tent.2 Peter 1:14knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.Here is the cartoon picture I talked about (you need to go to the website to see the picture) ​John 6:55,56For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.Many left Jesus after He said thisJohn 6:60Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"John 6:63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.I mentioned two scriptures I'm going to talk about in the next episode but the first is 1 Peter 2:24 (I think I said 2 Peter in this episode)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.Isaiah 53:5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

26 In this episode, I begin to discuss the concept of spirit, soul, and body. Adam and Eve were perfect when God created them, and they were one person with three distinct parts.God gave Adam one rule do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.Genesis 2:16,17And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but 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 surely die."You know the story, Eve was deceived by the talking snake, but Adam sinned.As soon as Adam bit the fruit, he went from spirit lead to being spirit dead.1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.John 4:24"God is a Spirit and those that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."Genesis 3:14,15So the Lord God said to the serpent; Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all of the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.In the whole chapter of Genesis one, God spoke everything into existence, and then God said the word and gave His dominion to man. Once He spoke the word, He gave Adam control over all of the earth.God no longer had dominion over the earth; dominion belonged to Adam (and his descendants).There are many things God designed with three parts.(Since God is three parts: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)I further illustrated Adam and Eve were Three parts: spirit, soul, and body.You can see water in three different "states" gas (steam), liquid (water), and solid (ice).Something in Adam had to die when he ate the fruit, but it wasn't his body or his mind because the Bible says, in Genesis 3:7,10Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.Notice Adam "knew" (his mind) his "body" was naked, and he was "afraid" and hid (his body) from God. Using the elimination process, you will discover Adam and Eve's spirit died when they ate of the fruit.I will pick up this lesson in the next episode. Thank you for listening.

First Sunday after Christmas December 27, 2020 Year (cycle): A, B & C   The Collect:  Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament:  Isaiah 61:10-62:3 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Psalm:  Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 [1 Hallelujah!        How good it is to sing praises to our God! *        how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *        he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted *        and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars *        and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *        there is no limit to his wisdom. 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *        but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *        make music to our God upon the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds *        and prepares rain for the earth; 9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *        and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He provides food for flocks and herds *        and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *        he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *        in those who await his gracious favor.] 13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *        praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *        he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; *        he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, *        and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; *        he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *        who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *        he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, *        his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; *        to them he has not revealed his judgments.        Hallelujah! Epistle:  Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel:  John 1:1-18 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

"It Is Well With My Soul."1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.To learn more about Dr. Billie J. Minton's ministries within her Blue Ridge Moment book series, please visit her author website at BlueRidgeMoments.com. Dr. Billie J. Minton's Blue Ridge Moments books; Volume 1, subtitled, "Your Life Is Only As Good As Your Connection With Jesus," and Volume 2, subtitled, "Celebrating Footsteps of A God Dependent Life," and Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's book series may be found at Amazon.com and BlueRidgeMoments.com.

INTRODUCTION:“It’s good fishing in troubled waters” It is a popular saying that refers to thosepeople who often take advantage of situations of chaos or disorder.The saying, in this sense, refers to a real situation: when the waters of a river arerough, it is when more fish can be taken. Thus, it draws a parallel with themoments of confusion, changes or disagreements, of which there are peoplewho tend to take advantage of.The phrase can be interpreted:• as a warning about opportunistic people getting benefits of the ills ofothers.• From another more positive angle, the saying shows that in every adversesituation there is always some opportunity for profit.The current Pandemic and economy crisis clearly shows troubled water.1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 “21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.22Abstain from every form of evil.23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may yourwhole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our LordJesus Christ.”• Let's examine everything while retaining what is good• Let us beware of doing evil• And guard ourselves in spirit, soul and bodyThree scenarios where there is great profit from fishermen, and where you can bethe one who fishes or the one who is caughtOne secular businessTwo of them spiritual, Evangelism and Satan's DeceptionSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TU4ST3G79LFDE&source=url)

First Sunday after Christmas Sunday, December 29, 2019 Year (cycle): C   The Collect: Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament:  Isaiah 61:10-62:3 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Psalm:  Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 [1 Hallelujah!        How good it is to sing praises to our God! *        how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *        he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted *        and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars *        and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *        there is no limit to his wisdom. 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *        but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *        make music to our God upon the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds *        and prepares rain for the earth; 9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *        and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He provides food for flocks and herds *        and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *        he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *        in those who await his gracious favor.] 13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *        praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *        he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; *        he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, *        and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; *        he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *        who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *        he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, *        his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; *        to them he has not revealed his judgments.        Hallelujah! Epistle:  Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel:  John 1:1-18 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

First Sunday after Christmas Sunday, December 30, 2018   Year (cycle): A, B & C   The Collect:  Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   Old Testament:  Isaiah 61:10-62:3 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Psalm:  Psalm 147 or 147:13-21 [1 Hallelujah!        How good it is to sing praises to our God! *        how pleasant it is to honor him with praise! 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *        he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted *        and binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars *        and calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *        there is no limit to his wisdom. 6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *        but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *        make music to our God upon the harp. 8 He covers the heavens with clouds *        and prepares rain for the earth; 9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *        and green plants to serve mankind. 10 He provides food for flocks and herds *        and for the young ravens when they cry. 11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *        he has no pleasure in the strength of a man; 12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *        in those who await his gracious favor.] 13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *        praise your God, O Zion; 14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *        he has blessed your children within you. 15 He has established peace on your borders; *        he satisfies you with the finest wheat. 16 He sends out his command to the earth, *        and his word runs very swiftly. 17 He gives snow like wool; *        he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *        who can stand against his cold? 19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *        he blows with his wind, and the waters flow. 20 He declares his word to Jacob, *        his statutes and his judgments to Israel. 21 He has not done so to any other nation; *        to them he has not revealed his judgments.        Hallelujah! Epistle:  Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7 23Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Gospel:  John 1:1-18 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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.  

Listen HERE! Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookCome to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.Readings for this week:Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.Psalm 15O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord;who stand by their oath even to their hurt;who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent.Those who do these things shall never be moved.James 1:17-27Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.Mark 7:1-8,14-15, 21-23Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

As a final encouragement, Paul and his companions make a rapid-fire exhortation to the Thessalonian church aimed at how they relate to their church leadership, church community, the non-believing world, and God himself. It may seem disjointed or haphazard, but look carefully how the content relates to the previous sections of the letter. ---- 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12–28 12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 1 pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

As a final encouragement, Paul and his companions make a rapid-fire exhortation to the Thessalonian church aimed at how they relate to their church leadership, church community, the non-believing world, and God himself. It may seem disjointed or haphazard, but look carefully how the content relates to the previous sections of the letter. ---- 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12–28 12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 1 pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25Brothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

This is the 15th class on the book of Hebrews. This Bible class was taught at the Pilot Point Church in Pilot Point Texas. The following is the outline of the class. The Work of the Ascended Christ Major points from last week As a system Old Testament Aaronic was inadequate because a new priesthood was prophesied. 2. It was inadequate because it was made up of dying men, where this new priesthood of Jesus isn’t. 3. The Old Testament Aaronic priesthood was appointed by God but there was never an oath given to them. 4. The Old Testament priesthood was tied to the law. 5. With the new priesthood of Jesus we can draw near to God. Hebrews 7 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them 26Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 9 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!  26Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ephesians 5 1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. The work of the ascended Christ Chapter 8 Hebrews 8 1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. 3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. Peter’s references to Christians as a “holy priesthood” or a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5, 9; cf. Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Paul viewed his evangelistic work among the Gentiles, in a manner of speaking, as a priestly work (see “ministering” [Romans 15:16]). His converts were thought of as an “offering” to God. 2. The Philippian Christians were a joy to Paul. Their faith was like a sacrifice that had been given up to God; if necessary, he was willing for his own life to be “poured out as a drink offering” to complement that sacrifice (Philippians 2:17, 2 Timothy 4:6). 3. As the apostle wrote from his incarceration in Rome, he reflected upon the recent support conveyed by Epaphroditus from the church in Philippi. It was an “odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). 4. Note the similar imagery set forth in Hebrews 13:15-16.15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 5. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Revelation 8 3 6. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (12:1-2). Hebrews 8 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. 6But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said[b]: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord John 1 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8 10This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest 12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}