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Suffering & God's Response Pt. 6: God Chooses to Suffer By Louie Marsh, 4-13-2025   1) God's Response to Suffering   · He suffered WITH us.   “21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Matthew 16:21, ESV)   This includes the incarnation, his choosing to give up his divine power (Phil 2) etc.   · He suffered LIKE us.   “40And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:40–44, ESV)   Sweating blood, known as hematidrosis, is a rare condition where a person oozes blood from their skin, often triggered by extreme stress or fear. It occurs when tiny blood vessels near sweat glands rupture, allowing blood to mix with sweat.   · He suffered FOR us.   “4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4–5, ESV)   · He suffered unto DEATH for us.   “28After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28–30, ESV)   2) The Results of His Response   · He EMPATHIZES with us in our suffering.   “14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14–16, ESV)   · He gives our suffering MEANING & PURPOSE.   “3Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3–5, ESV)   “16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18, ESV)   · He offers us FORGIVENESS through His suffering.   “7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” (Ephesians 1:7–8, ESV)   “23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:23–24, ESV)        

How to make our children citizens of Heaven?The series of messages, "Anchored in Christ: a Family that Stands," was presented to members of the West Asia Field, headquartered in Istambul, Turkey, on March 4, 2026. Related themes: Children, Parents, Children's Education, Religious Education.Most of the books mentioned in this presentation ("Child Guidance," "The Adventist Home," "Education," "Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students," and "Fundamentals on Christian Education"), and others may be found here: https://whiteestate.org/books/egw-books/books/.My notes:Two worldviews about raising children:How can we make them relevant and successful people in this life? How to help them inherit eternal lifeGod's vision for parenting:AbrahamGen 17:6-9 - Gen 18:17-19 - NOT:Exo 12:26-27 - Deut 4:9-10 - Deut 6:4-9 - Deut 11:18-28 - Psalm 78:5-7 -Prov 22:6 - Eph. 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.Some ways to provoke children to wrath:Always commanding as the first option instead of askingUsing physical strength to promote obedienceExpecting bad things and making evil prophecies about children (self-fulfilling prophecies)Disciplining them for breaking rules that were not knownPreferring a child among the others (remember Jacob, Joseph, and the other children).Heb 12:5-11 - 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:“My son, do not despise the [a]chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no [c]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.Guidance about discipline in Proverbs:1. Proverbs 13:24He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. 2. Proverbs 19:18Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. (About how parents can avoid destroying their children, see Eph 4:22-32) 3. Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 4. Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. 5. Proverbs 23:13-14Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell. 6. Proverbs 29:15The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. 7. Proverbs 29:17Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.Important points for religious education:To promote obedience - this behavior toward earthly parents will be transferred to the Heavenly Father. Family worshipPersonal communion Sabbath keepingPresence in the churchCheck outside influencesGuide them in choosing friendshipsEntertainment: music, watching, Guide them while choosing their life partner - prevent them from unequal yokeGuide them to honor God in their financial lifeTo have savingsTo put God firstSuggested literature may be found here:"Child Guidance,"⁠ ⁠"The Adventist Home," ⁠⁠"Education,"⁠ ⁠"Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students,"⁠ and ⁠"Fundamentals on Christian Education"⁠

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 78Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsNehemiah 9:26-38English Standard Version26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.38  “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.Revelation 18:9-20English Standard Version9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,“Alas! Alas! You great city,    you mighty city, Babylon!For in a single hour your judgment has come.”11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.14 “The fruit for which your soul longed    has gone from you,and all your delicacies and your splendors    are lost to you,    never to be found again!”15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,16 “Alas, alas, for the great city    that was clothed in fine linen,        in purple and scarlet,    adorned with gold,        with jewels, and with pearls!17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,“What city was like the great city?”19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,“Alas, alas, for the great city    where all who had ships at sea    grew rich by her wealth!For in a single hour she has been laid waste.20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,    and you saints and apostles and prophets,for God has given judgment for you against her!” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 27O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Submission to Authority 13Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a]whether it be to the emperor[b]as supreme,14or to governors as sent by himto punish those who do evil andto praise those who do good.15For this is the will of God,that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, butliving as servants[c]of God.17Honor everyone.Love the brotherhood.Fear God. Honor the emperor. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.19For this is a gracious thing, when,mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? Butif when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.21Forto this you have been called,because Christ also suffered for you,leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten,but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that wemight die to sin andlive to righteousness.By his wounds you have been healed.25Foryou were straying like sheep, but have now returned tothe Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Earth Files Chapter 7 - The Global Reconciliation PlanWebsite: http://www.battle4freedom.com/studio/?dtt-earth-files-chapter7Network: https://www.mojo50.comStreaming: https://www.rumble.com/Battle4Freedomhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk+1%3A13&version=CJBHabakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to see evil, you cannot countenance oppression. So why do you countenance traitors? Why are you silent when evil people swallow up those more righteous than they?https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+29%3A28&version=CJBDeuteronomy 29:28(29)28 (29) Things which are hidden belong to Adonai our G_d. But the things that have been revealed belong to us and our children forever, so that we can observe all the words of this Torah.https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/Bankruptcy%20CodeBankruptcy Code summarytitle of the U.S. Code governing insolvency and debt adjustment. Individuals, whether merchants or not, as well as private corporations, with the exception of certain financial institutions, are subject to the Bankruptcy Code. .... The Code defined bankruptcy procedure and strengthened the hand of bankruptcy judges. Chapter 7 of the code governs liquidation, in which assets are sold and the proceeds are given to creditorshttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A1&version=CJBGenesis 7:1Adonai said to Noach, "Come into the ark, you and all your household; for I have seen that you alone in this generation are righteous before me. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A2-3&version=CJBGenesis 7:2-3Of every clean animal you are to take seven couples, and of the animals that are not clean, one couple; also of the birds in the air take seven couples — in order to preserve their species throughout the earth. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A4-5&version=CJBGenesis 7:4-5For in seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; I will wipe out every living thing that I have made from the face of the earth." Noach did all that Adonai ordered him to do.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A6-9&version=CJBGenesis 7:6-9Noach was 600 years old when the water flooded the earth. Noach went into the ark with his sons, his wife and his sons' wives, because of the floodwaters. Of clean animals, of animals that are not clean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, couples, male and female, went in to Noach in the ark, as G_d had ordered Noach.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A10-12&version=CJBGenesis 7:10-12After seven days the water flooded the earth. On the seventeenth day of the second month of the 600th year of Noach's life all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of the sky were opened. It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A13-14&version=CJBGenesis 7:13-14On that same day Noach entered the ark with Shem, Ham and Yefet the sons of Noach, Noach's wife and the three wives of his sons accompanying them; they, and every animal of every species, all the livestock of every species, every animal that creeps on the ground of every species, and every bird of every species — all sorts of winged creatures. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A15-16&version=CJBGenesis 7:15-16They went in to Noach in the ark, couples from every kind of living thing that breathes. Those that entered went in, male and female, from every kind of living being, as G_d had ordered him; and Adonai shut him inside.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A17-20&version=CJBGenesis 7:17-20The flood was forty days on the earth; the water grew higher and floated the ark, so that it was lifted up off the earth. The water overflowed the earth and grew deeper, until the ark floated on the surface of the water. The water overpowered the earth mightily; all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered; the water covered the mountains by more than twenty-two-and-a-half feet. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A21-22&version=CJBGenesis 7:21-22All living beings that moved on the earth perished — birds, livestock, other animals, insects, and every human being, everything in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life; whatever was on dry land died. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+7%3A23-24&version=CJBGenesis 7:23-24He wiped out every living thing on the surface of the ground — not only human beings, but livestock, creeping animals and birds in the air. They were wiped out from the earth; only Noach was left, along with those who were with him in the ark. The water held power over the earth for 150 days.

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.

We the People Convention PresidentTom Zawistowski suffers Major Heart Attack on 5/22/24He is Home and in Stable Condition and Recorded this Message for WTPC MembersView our Podcast and our other videos and news stories at:www.WethePeopleConvention.orgSend Comments and Suggestions to:info@WethePeopleConvention.org

RLWM Easter Sunday Message - 03/31/24He is Risen!!!  We welcome your comments or send us an email to Rlwmsmedia@gmail.com or visit our website at www.hisredeeminglove.com.  3 Ways to Support the Ministry:- GIVE ONLINE AT HISREDEEMINGLOVE.COM- GIVE VIA THE RLWM APP AT 'CHURCH BY MINISTRY ONE' IN THE GOOGLE/APPLE STORE- TEXT ‘GIVE' TO (336) 360-0443

 12/24He's here! The birth of our gives us hope for the future. Although what we need may not need may not happen immediately Pastor Marlon encourages to work while we are waiting and know that no matter the conditions God can still birth something out of it. Sometimes God has to shake us because he knows that there is more left on the inside.

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:1-31 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). 4 But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.5 On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest's family. 7 After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. 15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, 20 for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.23 When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather,‘Why do the nations rage,and the peoples plot foolish things?26 The kings of the earth stood together,and the rulers assembled together,against the Lord and against his Christ.'27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. 29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, 30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.Main ThemesIntroductionPersecution (But Not Immediately)Persecution is a major theme in Acts. More broadly, persecution seems inseparable with the spreading of the gospel. Christian persecution is recorded by Luke, Paul, non-Christian ancient historians, and early Christian writers. This remains a true fact today. According to data by Open Doors (which I have not corroborated but I have also not heard to be disputed), about 360 million Christians experience intense persecution today. That is about one out of every seven Christians.Nevertheless, despite the intense persecution endured by Christian in the Acts narrative, we might ask: why was the Jesus revolution not completely eliminated quickly and swiftly? Authorities did not move against Jesus' followers the way they did against the followers of other revolutionaries, such as Theudas, the Samaritan prophet, or the Egyptian prophet. Perhaps differences between the political leaders involved accounts for the slower response to early Christians. The more likely reason is that the authorities did not perceive early Jesus followers as a real threat. Neither Jesus nor his followers had taken up arms or spoken of overthrowing the government.The Parable of the VinyardThe above notwithstanding, in chapter 4, the disciples must confront the municipal aristocracy. As I am sure you remember from our study of John, the chief priests and scribes were particular targets of Jesus' criticisms and were his most critical enemies. The same is true in the Gospel of Luke. To understand the conflict in Acts 4, we should read the parable of the vineyard and the tenants found in Luke's first volume.Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed. So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed. So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one and threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let's kill him so the inheritance will be ours!' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never happen!” But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. Luke 20:9-19The parable treats the religious elite as people who may have had legitimate power, but who now have exceeded their proper station rendering them illegitimate usurpers of Jesus the king's rightful position.Public Perception of the AuthoritiesJesus' criticisms of the elite were shared by many others. Most of the minority Jewish sects viewed the elite as little more than Roman political lackeys. Why? Because they were little more than Roman political lackeys.The Sanhedrin—Jerusalem's ruling council—became completely dominated by quasi-Roman appointments and Roman sympathizers. With Rome's support, Herod the Great had installed his own backers in the Sanhedrin, and Rome determined who filled the high-priestly office. By the time of Jesus, the Sadducees were the dominant (although not exclusive) voice in the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees would be unnervingly familiar to us. They claimed to believe in the Scriptures—in the Jewish constitution, so to speak—while denying the Scripture's heart and soul. They did not believe in an afterlife, or the promises and curses of the Bible. The were much like modern “progressive Christians.”This background information helps us to frame the conflict between the apostles and the Sanhedrin correctly. We might be tempted to think of it as Christians versus Jews. This is utterly anachronistic. Both the apostles and the Sadducees claim to lead the people. The apostles claim legitimacy through truth. The Sadducees claim legitimacy through power. The issue is one of political power versus truth.Inventing PersecutionWe should also ask one more introductory question. Would Luke lie about the persecution of Christians? What I mean is, would Luke make it up to make Christians seem courageous? Is Luke going for those highly coveted victimhood points? (Forgive me is my commentary today sounds overly political, but what we read in chapter 4 is quite similar to modern political conflicts. Using language more familiar to us can help us understand what is happening in Acts 4.) The likely answer to these questions is no.To invent political persecution would have been counterproductive to Luke's Christian apologetic. Portraying Christians as opponents of a Roman-friendly ruling council would only worsen Christianity's reputation in the rest of the empire. I say worsen because many in Rome already disliked Jews for their foreign ways and attempts (sometimes successful) to convert Romans. If Luke was inclined to fiction or exaggeration, the more useful narrative would have been to portray Jesus followers as endorsed by the establishment.Trouble with the FuzzPriests, Commander of the Temple Guard, and the SadduceesThe apostles are arrested by the priests, commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees. “Priests” obviously refers to various priests in the temple. We should keep in mind that they would have been under or part of the leadership of the aristocratic priests—a large percentage of whom were Sadducees.The “commander of the temple guard” was a high officer who, according to some ancient reports, occasionally even rose to the office of high priest. His rank seemed to have been only second to the high priest, and his duties included preserving order in the temple. One individual who filled this office close to the time period of Acts 4 is Ananus, who we have reason to believe was the son of the high priest Ananias. If Ananus is the same temple officer as in Acts 4, he later became high priest himself and executed James the Lord's brother.The Sadducees are mentioned only once in the Gospel of Luke—those who deny the resurrection (Luke 20:27). As we read Acts, Luke also tells us that they are the circle around the high priests (Acts 5:17) and form a significant part of the ruling assembly (4:5, 15). From other historical sources, we know they were most likely a well-to-do priestly sect who returned to power after the Maccabean era due to Roman influence. Sadducees rejected Pharisaic tradition probably by claiming Scripture as their only authority. However, because of the people's support for the more Israel-friendly Pharisees, sometimes Sadducees had to play along. In other words, Sadducees had to accommodate populist sentiments.The ArrestChapter 3 ends with Peter calling Israel to repentance. Quoting Deuteronomy and Leviticus, Peter tells them, “Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.” This is the context of the arrest. If one believes Peter's words, then the Jewish authorities appear as the very people disobeying “the prophet.”Why are the authorities arresting the apostles? Is it because the Sadducees reject the doctrine of the resurrection? On its own, that is not the issue. Pharisees also preached an eschatological resurrection of dead people. This theological difference generated considerable conflict with the Sadducees. Yet, we do not have record of the Sadducees using force against the Pharisees. So what's the difference between the apostles and the Pharisees? The apostles preached the resurrection “in Jesus”—the man the Sadducees tortured and killed. This same Jesus was the man that claimed to be the true owner of the vineyard—or, put politically, an alternative and more legitimate priestly authority. By preaching Jesus, the apostles are publicly dishonoring the ruling class. Honor was a paramount value in this society.Night trials were extremely rare in the ancient world. So, the fact that the authorities jailed the apostles overnight and convened in the morning is in keeping with standard procedure.5,000 BelieversLuke clarifies that the political pressure on the Jesus movement does not dissuade the apostles or new converts. This is in keeping with Jesus' predictions.But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses. Luke 21:12-13Luke reports that the number of believers “came to” five thousand. This could mean that 5,000 converted on that occasion or that the total number of believers came to 5,000 in total. Given the population of Jerusalem at the time, the latter is more likely.Rulers, Elders, Experts in the Law (“Scribes”), and the Sanhedrin“Rulers” could refer to temple administrators but more likely refers to the ruling priests, who appear alongside “scribes” and “elders” in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 9:22; 20:1). The term “elders” can apply to local synagogue leadership but can also be connected with chief priests. We should keep in mind that the apostles were young men. So, they would be much younger than these “elders” in a culture that valued age.Experts in the law, that is “scribes,” had knowledge of the law (obviously) and could draft legal documents. Some scribes may well have been Pharisees, given the Pharisees' popular reputation for skill in the law and their availability for training. However, not all scribes were Pharisees. Many of the scribes may have been priests, who may have been better equipped financially to pursue such training.The assembly described in Acts 4:5 consists of the same groups as Jerusalem's “council,” or Sanhedrin. A Sanhedrin was a ruling council equivalent to a senate. Many cities in the ancient world had their own ruling senates composed of the leading citizens. Rome ruled through local aristocracies, and Judea was no different.According to rabbinic (and probably Pharisaic) ideals, judges who proved themselves locally could be promoted to the Sanhedrin, but in actuality the Sanhedrin in the apostles' day probably consisted mainly of members of the Jerusalem aristocracy and wealthy landowners in the vicinity.Jerusalem's Sanhedrin was the ruling council for Jerusalem, the major urban center that watched over Judea. Just as the Roman senate wielded power far beyond Rome because of Rome's power, Jerusalem's Sanhedrin wielded some influence in Jewish national affairs.At some point the Sanhedrin may have held seventy-one members, as tradition indicates. However, even if that were the case, not all members would have been present on all occasions, especially for an emergency meeting.Rulers could use sanhedrins to secure the end they wanted without taking full responsibility for their decision.The high priest presided over the ruling council and hence was Jerusalem's most powerful resident (with the exception of an appointed or visiting Roman ruler), to whom the Roman prefect would likely defer many decisions. Moreover, Luke assumes his audience's knowledge of Annas and Caiaphas, whom he introduced as high priests in his gospel. That Caiaphas held power as long as he did (nineteen years) reinforces the suspicion he was a skilled and ruthless politician.Some people suggest that Luke was incorrect about Annas being the high priest, since Caiaphas was officially high priest in this period. However, as we discussed during our study of John, Luke is aware (Luke 3:2) that there can be a difference between who technically holds the office and who truly wields the power. Annas reigned as paterfamilias. Besides, Luke clearly employs the term “high priests” in the plural for all the leading priests. One could argue that there was only one high priest, since that is what the Old Testament established. However, even Josephus, the Jewish historian, used the plural “high priests” (and more often than Luke). It was standard terminology at the time. This could reflect foreign influence. Perhaps the Jews began to treat the priestly aristocracy just like Greeks and Romans treated their aristocracies, removing some of the religious connotations.The TrialPeter and John stand in the “midst” of the rulers, elders, and scribes. This fits the tradition that the Sanhedrin sat in a semicircle.The authorities begin the trial with the most important question: by what power or by what name did you do this? In this question, “name” signifies authority. Notice that this is the exact question that Peter sought to answer time and time again in chapter 3. He repeatedly made clear that the miracle and the message he preached came by the power and authority of Jesus.Before Peter responds to the question, he is described as “having been filled” with the Holy Spirit—using the aorist passive participle. This verb tense more naturally points back to an earlier infilling of the Spirit (probably Pentecost) but it could mean a new infilling—meaning that Peter received fresh power and inspiration for this particular instance. Grammar alone may not be sufficient to settle the question. Some point to other passages that seem to show multiple infillings of the Spirit.Informed readers might also make a connection between Peter's God-inspired, bold testimony, and that of prophets of old. In the Old Testament, sometimes prophets were empowered by God to confront Kings and other institutions.When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. But God told Shemaiah the prophet, “Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home. Indeed this thing has happened because of me.”'” So they obeyed the Lord's message. They went home in keeping with the Lord's message. 1 Kings 12:21-24He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak with you.” As he spoke to me, a wind came into me and stood me on my feet, and I heard the one speaking to me. He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the house of Israel, to rebellious nations who have rebelled against me; both they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.'” Ezekiel 2:1-4Peter ends up responding “boldly,” but he begins with a respectful address, “rulers of the people and elders.” In rhetoric, this would have been the customary captatio benevolentiae.After the address, Peter's response drips with sarcasm. He asks whether the apostles are being detained for doing a good deed, literally an “act of kindness.” Or perhaps they were detained because a man was healed—literally “delivered.” (Keep in mind the semantic range of the word translated as “healed.” This will be important later.)Peter is both providing a defense and going on offense. The claim is that Peter and John did nothing wrong. In fact, they did something good. And, that the authorities are opposing a good act, which by implication makes them evil. This probably goes without saying, but the argument is predicated on the idea that benefaction is virtuous—an idea universally accepted in the ancient world. Moreover, in the ancient Mediterranean ideology of reciprocity, the proper response to benefaction was gratitude. The ungrateful person was viewed negatively, and to harm benefactors was grossly wicked.Peter then reloads with the phrase, “Let it be known to you.” This prepares the audience for a shocking statement. In rhetoric, a standard practice was charging one's accuser with something. However, to employ that tactic against one's judges was highly unusual. Appealing positively to them would be expected and probably more effective in obtaining a favorable ruling.And what is the shocking truth the authorities must know? “By the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.” Rhetorically speaking, he stabs and then twists the knife.Peter then applies prophecy to bolster his case. “Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.” This is a quotation from Psalm 118:22, but Peter inserts the word “you” to remove all doubt as to whom the prophecy is condemning.The irony in the use of Ps 118:22-23 here is that in the Old Testament, Israel was the one rejected (or perhaps her king) by the Gentiles, but in the New Testament it is Jesus who is rejected by Israel. Remember that this is exactly the prophecy that Jesus used to condemn the authorities.What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never happen!” But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. Luke 20:15b-19.Jesus implied the identity of the “builders.” Peter outright stated it.The cornerstone or topstone (also called capstone) to which Psalm 118 refers is part of the architecture of the temple. Many scholars interpret the “cornerstone” as a “capstone,” the final stone fitted in place to hold the others in place. However, notice what the translators of the NET have to say:[The Greek word can be translated as] “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kephalē gōnias) refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.The TwistPeter finishes his argument by returning to the idea of being saved or delivered. Recall earlier I pointed out that the word used to convey the lame man was “healed” also means “delivered” or “saved.” In verse 12, Peter claims this deliverance can come only through Christ, alluding to a greater kind of deliverance.That no other name provides salvation “under heaven” means that no other name provides it “anywhere.” Notice that Peter leaves little question that salvation is through Christ and Christ alone. There are many Christians and so-called Christians who deny that, but the text does not seem to allow for such theology. (However, exactly how exclusive is the group of people saved through Christ could be debated.) Moreover, early Jewish groups held a range of views, from universalism to the salvation only of a single sect. So, Peter's statement is probably not careless but an idea thoughtfully considered.Uneducated and Ordinary MenThe authorities did not expect the “boldness” of these “uneducated” and “ordinary” men.The authorities almost surely expected these commoners to fear them and seek their favor—as certainly most would have done. But Peter and John answer to a higher authority.The word translated as “uneducated” literally means “illiterate.” Many, if not most, Jewish boys would have had training at least in reciting Torah, and fishermen probably had more education than that. Instead, the term indicates lack of formal education (hence the translation “uneducated”). The term is particularly poignant in the presence of scribes—highlighting the difference between the elite authorities and the disciples.The word translated as “ordinary” formally designates an ignorant person or one who lacks training, such as in philosophy or rhetoric. However, it was used to refer to less educated “common” people.We should notice that the authorities recognized that these men had been with Jesus. Recall the last time people recognized that Peter had been with Jesus. Peter denied his lord three times and let him die alone. This scene in chapter 4 is, in a sense, the redemption in Peter's story arc. The fact that Peter lacked boldness before shows the impact of the Holy Spirit.Although the apostles are uneducated commoners, the authorities are silenced by the facts. The miracle is undeniable. A man lame from birth, a fact to which multitudes could attest since he was placed at the temple daily, was standing right in front of them (see verse 14). What to do?Saving Face—They Get Off with a WarningThe authorities need to save face. They simply cannot allow the apostles to have “the last word.” At the same time, they cannot antagonize the people, who have witnessed a miracle and an act of kindness for a member of the most disenfranchised class. Should they punish a benefaction by having the apostles flogged? This would be unwise. So the authorities release the apostles with a mere warning. The ability to issue the warning shows who is in power without having to actually punish the apostles.We should note that the leaders do not seem to question their own position. Although they cannot deny the miracle, they refuse to consider its implications. Luke may be implying political corruption and hardness of heart among the elite. This would be in keeping with the teachings of Jesus, which explicitly addressed people so set in their wicked ways they would not see the truth. In Matthew 13, Jesus applied a text from Isaiah to them:You will listen carefully yet will never understand,you will look closely yet will never comprehend.For the heart of this people has become dull;they are hard of hearing,and they have shut their eyes,so that they would not see with their eyesand hear with their earsand understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:14b-15 quoting Isaiah 6:9-10No More Talking About JesusThe authorities order the apostles not to speak in Jesus' name. This means not to speak as his representatives or acting on his authority, thus drawing attention to a person who was executed by the authorities. The phrasing, however, creates a narrative contrast between the elite and the apostles. The name of Jesus is precisely the authority and power by which miracles are happening and, ultimately, deliverance.Peter and John openly refuse to abide by the order. There is a sad and almost mocking difference between the “inability” of the apostles and that of the authorities. The apostles are not able to deny or keep secret that which they have seen and heard. The authorities are also unable to deny the miracle (4:16) but they are also unable to acknowledge its implications.The Jewish tradition contained examples of justified civil disobedience, particularly when obedience to God and obedience to the government became unavoidably contradictory. Perhaps the most memorable example is in Daniel 3.Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage demanded that they bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my gods and that you don't pay homage to the golden statue that I erected? Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the statue that I had made. If you don't pay homage to it, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don't serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” Daniel 3:13-18A more prescient example that was probably in the minds of apostles and the authorities was the Maccabean revolt. In the 2nd century BC, when Antiochus ruled over Israel, he encouraged the Semitic peoples of the Mediterranean coast to regard him as the ancient god Baal of the Canaanites. Consider how Britannica explains the lead up to revolution:This conception of revealed religion and of loyalty to the Word of God, rather than to a human king, Antiochus could not appreciate, particularly since he himself delighted in the name God Manifest. In order to extirpate the faith of Israel, therefore, he attacked Israel's religious practices. He thus forbade the observance of the Sabbath and of the traditional feasts, for these had been ordained by a “jealous,” or intolerant, God. All sacrifices were to come to an end. He forbade the reading of the Law of Moses and gave orders to search out and burn any copies that could be found. He forbade the practice of circumcision, for it was this that set the Jews off from other peoples as the one “people of God.” In place of these practices, Antiochus encouraged the development of cultural clubs called gymnasia, in which people gathered to study, to learn, and to enjoy each other's company. After competing in various forms of athletics, men and women used to soak themselves in hot baths. But because the pursuit of the “good” included a delight in the body beautiful, such activities were performed naked. A circumcised Jew taking part in the games in a gymnasium could not therefore hide where his loyalty lay. Finally, in 168 BCE, Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and desacralized the Holy of Holies in the Temple. This was the one place on earth about which Yahweh said “My name” (the expression of his Person) “shall be there” (I Kings).A number of Jews, under their leader Jason, the high priest, took the easy way of conformity with the new universal trends. But with Antiochus's impious act, a strong general reaction set in. Thus, when, later in the same year, Antiochus again entered Jerusalem, this time plundering and burning and setting up his citadel, the Acra, on the hill overlooking the Temple courts, he went too far, for his final act of spite, on December 25, 167 BCE, was to rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem to the Olympian god Zeus.I provide the long quotation above because the Maccabean Revolt was brutal and bloody. (It is from its success in rededicating the temple that the holiday of Hanukkah finds its origin.) This is exactly the kind of revolution the authorities sought to prevent. But, we should notice by now, this is not quite the kind of revolution the apostles sought to start. Should We Be Like Peter?Is the boldness and disobedience of Peter an example for all Christians—an example for us today? Answering this question could take an entire Bible study session, but perhaps we can discern some general principles from Luke's writing.In Luke 20, Jesus is asked about paying taxes to the Romans (Caesar in particular). Jesus responds,“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They said, “Caesar's.” So he said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” Luke 20-24-25We must keep in mind that the context of Luke 20 is people attempting to deceive Jesus into saying something treacherous and worthy of arrest and death. So we should expect his answer to be less than straightforward. However, it is still clear from his answer that government has a proper sphere in which it deserves obedience.At the same time, we must keep in mind Peter's attitude in chapter 4. “Is it “right before God to obey the [authorities] rather than God”? Peter answer, in word and deed, is no.Put broadly, Luke's writings seem to suggest that we should obey the government unless doing so is directly contrary to obeying God. In practice, however, this principle can be hard to apply.

14TheLordGod said to the serpent, Because you have done this,cursed are you above all livestockand above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go,anddust you shall eatall the days of your life.15I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring[a]andher offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel. 16To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be contrary to[b]your husband,but he shallrule over you. 17And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wifeand have eaten of the treeof which I commanded you,You shall not eat of it,cursed is the ground because of you;in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;and you shall eat the plants of the field.19By the sweat of your faceyou shall eat bread,till you return to the ground,for out of it you were taken;for you are dust,andto dust you shall return. 20The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[c]21And theLordGod made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22Then theLordGod said,Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his handand take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever23therefore theLordGod sent him out from the garden of Edento work the ground from which he was taken.24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed thecherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Poetry is not limited to poets.When you1. say more2. in fewer words,you are being poetic.Pithy, insightful statements are poetry.Frederik Pohl was not trying to explain why we increase our purchases of ice cream, alcohol, and entertainment when we are sad, but he summarizes it perfectly in just 20 words:“What I wanted very badly was something to take my mind off all the things that were on my mind.”1In another of his books, Frederik Pohl uses just 15 words to remind us of something we have often seen and always known:“No circumstances were ever so bad that a little human effort couldn't make them worse.”2Frederik Pohl was not a poet or a philosopher, but a science fiction writer born in 1919.Does this next statement conjure an image in your mind?“How clearly I saw what he had become! A man who so loved religiosity that he traded his ethical responsibilities for the brightness of that love.”3 – Arkady MartineArkady Martine is not a poet or a philosopher, but another science fiction writer.“Vanity manifests itself in overseriousness. To the vain, the trivialities of this world are of momentous importance. Everything that happens to a vain person is terribly important.”4– Eric Hoffer, a dockworker“It's steel country, anthracite country, a place full of holes. Smokestacks fume and locomotives trundle back and forth on elevated conduits and leafless trees stand atop slag heaps like skeleton hands shoved up from the underworld.”5– Anthony Doerr, a novelistPoetry is not limited to poets. When you say more, in fewer words, you are being poetic.Most people avoid poetry because they feel it to be sissy, elitist, and irrelevant. After all, who wants to say more in fewer words?Every advertiser on the planet, that's who.Poetic statements jump over the wall of the intellect to land on the softest parts of the heart.And if you win the heart, the mind will follow. The mind will always create logic to justify what the heart has already decided.Transactional writing wins the mind.Relational writing wins the heart.Transactional writing is about features and benefits.Relational writing is about identity reinforcement.Learn to say more in fewer words.People will pay close attention when you speak.Your ads will produce miraculous results.Your meetings will be shorter and more productive.You will be widely admired, much remembered, and often quoted.In the 6th chapter of Matthew's Good News, Jesus tells his followers not to include mindless repetition in their prayers. God doesn't need filler words, and he doesn't need us to repeat ourselves in order to be heard.That's right, God doesn't need filler words.And neither do the rest of us.Roy H. Williams1The Annals of the Heechee, p. 912 The Other End of Time, chap. 153A Desolation Called Peace, p. 2694Working and Thinking on the Waterfront, p.955All the Light We Cannot See, p. 24He started with $200,000 in 2018. Today it is $200,000,000. You can do it, too. Bronson Hill heard Warren Buffet say that people will work the rest of their lives if they don't find a way to make money while they sleep. This week, Bronson reveals to roving reporter Rotbart his successful strategies for passive investment in real estate. You can always count on our roving Reporter to seek out interesting people with fascinating stories for you to hear at MondayMorningRadio.com.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 78Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsNehemiah 9:26-38English Standard Version26 “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. 27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. 29 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. 30 Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31 Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.38  “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.Revelation 18:9-20English Standard Version9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,“Alas! Alas! You great city,    you mighty city, Babylon!For in a single hour your judgment has come.”11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.14 “The fruit for which your soul longed    has gone from you,and all your delicacies and your splendors    are lost to you,    never to be found again!”15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,16 “Alas, alas, for the great city    that was clothed in fine linen,        in purple and scarlet,    adorned with gold,        with jewels, and with pearls!17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.”And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,“What city was like the great city?”19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,“Alas, alas, for the great city    where all who had ships at sea    grew rich by her wealth!For in a single hour she has been laid waste.20 Rejoice over her, O heaven,    and you saints and apostles and prophets,for God has given judgment for you against her!” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 27O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 78Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons2 Kings 5:19-27English Standard Version19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.1 Corinthians 5:1-8English Standard Version5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 20Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

This morning rant is to inform you that all of God's provision that has been provided for his people is only accessible by our faith. We look at several instances in the bible where people receive their healing by using their faith. Mark 5:34He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.Matthew 9:2,22And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee…2 Corinthians 4:13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speakMatthew 4:23-24Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.James 5:16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."1 Peter 2:24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/622a9079e8fb640012cb94f3. I pray that God would "give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18I, pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance" https://plus.acast.com/s/blueprint-of-faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exodus 15:26For I am the Lord who heals you."Psalm 6:2Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.Psalm 30:2Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."Jeremiah 17:14Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise."Isaiah 57:18-19I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel's mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,' says the Lord, 'And I will heal them.'"Psalm 103:2-3Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."Jeremiah 30:17But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord."2 Kings 20:5The is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.'"Jeremiah 17:14Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."Matthew 9:35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness."Psalm 41:3The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.”Psalm 103:2-4Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."1 Peter 2:24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."Proverbs 4:20-22My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”Proverbs 16:24Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”Psalms 107:20-21He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind."Wisdom of Solomon 16:12It wasn't any herb or ointment that healed them but your word alone, Lord, which heals everything.”Psalm 107:20He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave."Psalm 119:50This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”Jeremiah 1:12: Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/622a9079e8fb640012cb94f3. I pray that God would "give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18I, pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance" https://plus.acast.com/s/blueprint-of-faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Gates has a NEW way to steal your money and the FigureHead destroys more US energy - Zach Abraham joinsZack Abraham joins us offers us a spot-on comparison to Chairman Mao's technocratic “solution” to better God's design for wheat growth with The Party's plans in America to better God's design for food, energy and life. Zach also reveals Bill Gates' new strategy to steal your money through, uh … saving the planet (LOL). What does God's Word say? Psalm 78:24He rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.Matthew 6:24-26 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.Episode Links:Unmasking Biden's secret catastrophe unfolding in Alaska — it'll cripple the entire US…Almost every single major Biden official is making a pilgrimage to Alaska; Key Cabinet officials have been visiting Alaska to understand its issues — and to woo the corrupt Senator, Lisa MurkowskiMeet the Green Energy Group Behind the Study That's Driving Calls To Ban Gas StovesRocky Mountain Institute partnered with China to implement 'economy-wide transformation' away from oil and gasWhat is Going On? Three Separate Coin Shop Owners Shocked as Their Bank Accounts Suddenly Shut Down with No Reason Given4Patriots https://4patriots.com Protect your family with Food kits, solar generators and more at 4Patriots. Use code TODD for 10% off your first purchase. Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. BiOptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/toddUse promo code TODD for 10% off your orderBonefrog https://bonefrog.us Enter promo code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your subscription. Bulwark Capital http://KnowYourRiskRadio.com Find out how Bulwark Capital Actively Manages risk. Call 866-779-RISK or visit KnowYourRiskRadio.com Patriot Mobile https://patriotmobile.com/herman Get free activation today with offer code HERMAN. Visit or call 878-PATRIOT. RuffGreens https://ruffgreens.com/todd Get your FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag of Ruff Greens, simply cover shipping. Visit or call 877-MYDOG-64. SOTA Weight Loss https://sotaweightloss.com SOTA Weight Loss is, say it with me now, STATE OF THE ART! Sound of Freedom https://angel.com/freedom Join the two million and see Sound of Freedom in theaters July 4th. GreenHaven Interactive https://greenhaveninteractive.com Digital Marketing including search engine optimization and website design.

GospelMATTHEW 15:21-2821And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________ Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 78Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons2 Samuel 7:18-29English Standard Version18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”Acts 18:12-28English Standard Version12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 13Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 28:10-19a 10Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” 17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19He called that place Bethel. Psalm: Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23 or Wisdom of Solomon 12:13,16-19 1 Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *        you know my sitting down and my rising up;        you discern my thoughts from afar. 2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places *        and are acquainted with all my ways. 3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *        but you, O Lord, know it altogether. 4 You press upon me behind and before *        and lay your hand upon me. 5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *        it is so high that I cannot attain to it. 6 Where can I go then from your Spirit? *        where can I flee from your presence? 7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *        if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. 8 If I take the wings of the morning *        and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 9 Even there your hand will lead me *        and your right hand hold me fast. 10 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, *        and the light around me turn to night,” 11 Darkness is not dark to you;    the night is as bright as the day; *        darkness and light to you are both alike. 22 Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *        try me and know my restless thoughts. 23 Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *        and lead me in the way that is everlasting. or 13 For neither is there any god besides you, whose care is for all people, to whom you should prove that you have not judged unjustly; 16 For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. 17 For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it. 18 Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose. 19 Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins. Old Testament: Isaiah 44:6-8 6Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. 8Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one. Psalm: Psalm 86:11-17 11 Teach me your way, O Lord,    and I will walk in your truth; *        knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name. 12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *        and glorify your Name for evermore. 13 For great is your love toward me; *        you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit. 14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God,    and a band of violent men seeks my life; *        they have not set you before their eyes. 15 But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *        slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth. 16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *        give your strength to your servant;        and save the child of your handmaid. 17 Show me a sign of your favor,    so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *        because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Epistle: Romans 8:12-25 12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 24He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'” 36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

1st Peter – Living as Sojourners and Exiles Pt. 4: I Am a Servant By Louie Marsh, 6-25-2023       1) Submission is the CORE of the Christian life.   “13Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” (1 Peter 2:13–14, ESV)   The words “submit yourselves” are the translation of a Greek military term meaning “to arrange in military fashion under the command of a leader.” One could translate, “put yourselves in the attitude of submission to.” The exhortation is not merely to obey ordinances, but to create and maintain that attitude of heart which will always lead one to obey them. - Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 11 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 60–61.   “1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1–2, ESV)   ·       God created government because we NEED IT.   ·       I submit to God FIRST, everything else after that.   “28saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:28–31, ESV)   2) A submissive heart is the GOD'S WILL for me.   “15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:15–17, ESV)   3) But I work for a jerk!   “18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.” (1 Peter 2:18–19, ESV)   “23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, ESV)   4) Following Jesus HURTS.   “20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20–21, ESV)   5) Jesus suffered to SAVE ME.   “22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:22–25, ESV)  

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 78Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons1 Samuel 1:21-2:11English Standard Version21 The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. 24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”And he worshiped the Lord there.2 And Hannah prayed and said,“My heart exults in the Lord;    my horn is exalted in the Lord.My mouth derides my enemies,    because I rejoice in your salvation.2 “There is none holy like the Lord:    for there is none besides you;    there is no rock like our God.3 Talk no more so very proudly,    let not arrogance come from your mouth;for the Lord is a God of knowledge,    and by him actions are weighed.4 The bows of the mighty are broken,    but the feeble bind on strength.5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,    but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.The barren has borne seven,    but she who has many children is forlorn.6 The Lord kills and brings to life;    he brings down to Sheol and raises up.7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;    he brings low and he exalts.8 He raises up the poor from the dust;    he lifts the needy from the ash heapto make them sit with princes    and inherit a seat of honor.For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,    and on them he has set the world.9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,    but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,    for not by might shall a man prevail.10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;    against them he will thunder in heaven.The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;    he will give strength to his king    and exalt the horn of his anointed.”11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. Acts 1:15-26English Standard Version15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,“‘May his camp become desolate,    and let there be no one to dwell in it';and“‘Let another take his office.'21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 6Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Two ways to support Common Prayer DailyBecome a Patron on PatreonMake a One-Time DonationVisit our website for a beautiful Daily Office Experience and More - www.commonprayerdaily.com----------------------Tuesday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 78:1-39Part IAttendite, popule1Hear my teaching, O my people; *incline your ears to the words of my mouth.2I will open my mouth in a parable; *I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.3That which we have heard and known,and what our forefathers have told us, *we will not hide from their children.4We will recount to generations to comethe praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *and the wonderful works he has done.5He gave his decrees to Jacoband established a law for Israel, *which he commanded them to teach their children;6That the generations to come might know,and the children yet unborn; *that they in their turn might tell it to their children;7So that they might put their trust in God, *and not forget the deeds of God,but keep his commandments;8And not be like their forefathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation, *a generation whose heart was not steadfast,and whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, *turned back in the day of battle;10They did not keep the covenant of God, *and refused to walk in his law;11They forgot what he had done, *and the wonders he had shown them.12He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, *in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.13He split open the sea and let them pass through; *he made the waters stand up like walls.14He led them with a cloud by day, *and all the night through with a glow of fire.15He split the hard rocks in the wilderness *and gave them drink as from the great deep.16He brought streams out of the cliff, *and the waters gushed out like rivers.17But they went on sinning against him, *rebelling in the desert against the Most High.18They tested God in their hearts, *demanding food for their craving.19They railed against God and said, *“Can God set a table in the wilderness?20True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; *but is he able to give breador to provide meat for his people?”21When the Lord heard this, he was full of wrath; *a fire was kindled against Jacob,and his anger mounted against Israel;22For they had no faith in God, *nor did they put their trust in his saving power.23So he commanded the clouds above *and opened the doors of heaven.24He rained down manna upon them to eat *and gave them grain from heaven.25So mortals ate the bread of angels; *he provided for them food enough.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens *and led out the south wind by his might.27He rained down flesh upon them like dust *and wingèd birds like the sand of the sea.28He let it fall in the midst of their camp *and round about their dwellings.29So they ate and were well filled, *for he gave them what they craved.30But they did not stop their craving, *though the food was still in their mouths.31So God's anger mounted against them; *he slew their strongest menand laid low the youth of Israel.32In spite of all this, they went on sinning *and had no faith in his wonderful works.33So he brought their days to an end like a breath *and their years in sudden terror.34Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, *and repent, and diligently search for God.35They would remember that God was their rock, *and the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths *and lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him, *and they were not faithful to his covenant.38But he was so merciful that he forgave their sinsand did not destroy them; *many times he held back his angerand did not permit his wrath to be roused.39For he remembered that they were but flesh, *a breath that goes forth and does not return. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsDeuteronomy 8:11-2011 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. James 1:16-2716 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsThe Sixth Week of EasterO God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

https://youtu.be/QNERLOid4ns The Children's Bread Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt and I want to tell that is the Sunday after Easter, and Jesus is still risen and we still have reason to celebrate. Greetings to everyone worshipping with us in person in the beautiful city of Plano, Tx.A big Texas welcome to everyone joining is online. I want everyone to join me in Matthew 15 where we will read 21-28.   I want God to move in my life tonight.I want God to move in your life tonight.Who wants God to move?Who believes God will move tonight?   Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV) 21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26He replied, “It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.” 28Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.   The Children's Bread I want to talk to you about the Children's Bread.   This story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman features the children's bread. Did you catch it in the story?   Do we know what the children's bread is?   What is the Children's bread?   26He replied, “It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”   22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”   28Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.   Bread represents - Sustenance, strength, vitality, food… Bread is earned by the work of an authority (like a father) and given the children.   Jesus speaks of a bread that belongs to God's children.   Supernatural Bread   Do you agree Jesus is talking about Supernatural Bread?   The Canaanite woman asked for Jesus to do something about her daughter who is under the power of a demon and is suffering.  Is it supernatural bread?   The story ends with the daughter healed and the suffering and rule of the demon coming to an end.  Is it supernatural bread?   We need supernatural bread.   Quick reminded of supernatural bread in your Bible.   Matt 6:11 (NIV) Give us today our daily bread. Jesus teaches us to pray for Bread straight from God.   Bread from heaven… Manna in the Exodus story. John 6:33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”   34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”   Jesus is that bread from heaven…   John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   God gives bread straight from Heaven. Jesus is that bread. Does God provide supernatural bread to His children still?   1 tim 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.   *Luke 11:11 (NIV) 11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for for bread, will give him a stone?... Luke 11”13 (NIV) 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” If you ask for bread… the father gives you bread.If you ask for the Holy Spirit… the Father gives you the Holy Spirit. Supernatural Bread   In the case of Matthew 15, it is clear that the Children's Bread was deliverance from an evil spirit and healing.

1 Peter 2 v18-25 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Joshua 4:19-24 - Joshua 4:19-24 19On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?' 22tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' 23For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God. They are in the Land. In the NT we are in the kingdom. God has performed a great miracle for us to be HIS children. God tells the people to take some rocks from the Jordon and pile them up on dry land as a reminder what God has done for them. God knows people need to continually remember what God has done for them. In the NT, this is why we take communion. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Also, In the Land/in the kingdom we openly identify with God. For the Israelites, this was by circumcision which had a clear message of identification.

A Comeback Story 10-9-22 Acts 7:23-29 23“One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. 24He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man's defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. 25Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn't. 26“The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,' he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?' 27“But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?' he asked. 28‘Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?' 29When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born. Acts 7:30 30“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. Exodus 3:1-2 1One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up. In the midst of the routine, when you least expect it, you are surprised by God's invitation. Exodus 3:4-5 4When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. 5“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. The first thing that Moses hears from this bush is his own name. Moses Questions: Who Am I? Exodus 3:11-12 11But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” God's Answer: I will be with you 2 Corinthians 3:5 5It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. Moses Questions: Who Am I? Who are you? Exodus 3:13-14 13But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, ‘What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?” 14God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God's Answer: I AM I AM your provision (Jehovah - Jireh) I AM your victory (Jehovah - Nissi) I AM your peace (Jehovah – Shalom) I AM there (Jehovah – Shammah) Moses Questions: Who Am I? Who are you? What about them? Exodus 4:1-2 1But Moses protested again, “What if they won't believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you'?” 2Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd's staff,” Moses replied. God's Answer: What's in Your Hand? Exodus 4:3-4 3“Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. 4Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd's staff in his hand.

Luke 16:19-31[Jesus said:] 19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' 25But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' 27He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house—28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' 29Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' ”

Teaching NotesThe Character of the Sluggard He will not begin things How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? Proverbs 6:9He will not finish things The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.Proverbs 12:27 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth! Proverbs 19:24He will not face things The sluggard says, “There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!” Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.Proverbs 20:4 AVHe will lack integrity Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. Proverbs 10:26 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.Proverbs 18:9The Outcome for the Sluggard A lazy person's way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.Proverbs 15:19 NLT Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.Proverbs 21:25 The Causes Physical Causes Iron Deficiency (Anemia) Sleep Deficiency (Sleep Apnoea) Unhealthy or Unbalanced Diet (Diabetes) Dehydration No Exercise/Too Much Exercise Hypothyroidism Fibromyalgia Psychological Causes Lack of Self Esteem Lack of Positive Recognition from Others Lack of Self Discipline stemming from Low Self-Confidence Lack of Interest Fear of Rejection Anxiety/Depression Excessive Dopamine hits (Video Games) Two Lessons for the Sluggard Learn by Example Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.     Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince     or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer,     gathering food for the winter. Proverbs 6:6-8 NLTLearn from Experience I went past the field of a sluggard,     past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere,     the ground was covered with weeds,     and the stone wall was in ruins.  I applied my heart to what I observed     and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber,     a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief     and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34 Going DeeperI went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.Proverbs 24:30-34Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Col. 3:23-24From the above sets of verses, how would you contrast the attitudes towards work? In your own words, how would you define the word "sluggard?" Have you ever gone through a season of life when that described you? If appropriate, share your story. What has to change in a person in order for them to no longer be a "sluggard?" From the passage in Colossians above, what posture should we have towards our work? Is that encouraging or discouraging for you personally? Explain. How do we prayerfully approach productivity in our lives without it becoming a false idol? WFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereChild of God- Mitch Langley/Citizen WayMercy- Elevation WorshipAnchor- Mitch LangleyIt Is So- Elevation WorshipWFC SpeedwayRaise A Hallelujah- Bethel MusicWorthy- Elevation WorshipGoodness of God- Bethel MusicRejoice- Influence MusicBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

Teaching NotesThe Character of the Sluggard He will not begin things How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? Proverbs 6:9He will not finish things The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.Proverbs 12:27 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth! Proverbs 19:24He will not face things The sluggard says, “There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!” Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.Proverbs 20:4 AVHe will lack integrity Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. Proverbs 10:26 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.Proverbs 18:9The Outcome for the Sluggard A lazy person's way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.Proverbs 15:19 NLT Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.Proverbs 21:25 The Causes Physical Causes Iron Deficiency (Anemia) Sleep Deficiency (Sleep Apnoea) Unhealthy or Unbalanced Diet (Diabetes) Dehydration No Exercise/Too Much Exercise Hypothyroidism Fibromyalgia Psychological Causes Lack of Self Esteem Lack of Positive Recognition from Others Lack of Self Discipline stemming from Low Self-Confidence Lack of Interest Fear of Rejection Anxiety/Depression Excessive Dopamine hits (Video Games) Two Lessons for the Sluggard Learn by Example Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.     Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince     or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer,     gathering food for the winter. Proverbs 6:6-8 NLTLearn from Experience I went past the field of a sluggard,     past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere,     the ground was covered with weeds,     and the stone wall was in ruins.  I applied my heart to what I observed     and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber,     a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief     and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 24:30-34 Going DeeperI went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.Proverbs 24:30-34Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.Col. 3:23-24From the above sets of verses, how would you contrast the attitudes towards work? In your own words, how would you define the word "sluggard?" Have you ever gone through a season of life when that described you? If appropriate, share your story. What has to change in a person in order for them to no longer be a "sluggard?" From the passage in Colossians above, what posture should we have towards our work? Is that encouraging or discouraging for you personally? Explain. How do we prayerfully approach productivity in our lives without it becoming a false idol? WFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereChild of God- Mitch Langley/Citizen WayMercy- Elevation WorshipAnchor- Mitch LangleyIt Is So- Elevation WorshipWFC SpeedwayRaise A Hallelujah- Bethel MusicWorthy- Elevation WorshipGoodness of God- Bethel MusicRejoice- Influence MusicBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 3, 2022 - WEDNESDAY 18th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mt 15:21-28 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Prayer can, at times, be an experience of wrestling with God, very much like what Jacob went through when he contended with the divine throughout the night and, at daybreak, received a blessing and a new name (Gn 32:25-29). It is while struggling that faith is purified and perfected. The Canaanite woman, too, in today's Gospel wrestles with Jesus, not employing muscle but words, to make her divine contender concede and bestow on her the prize. In this verbal match with Jesus, the woman exhibits a remarkable concentration on what Jesus is saying, and this enables her to turn his very words to her favor. With this, she enlightens us on a very important but often neglected aspect of prayer — that is, humble and focused listening. The silent space in prayer may very well hold the key to God's response, but we can miss it if we are busy talking and not taking time to listen. Lord Jesus, teach us to be at home with the wordless silence of faith-filled prayer, where you speak directly to our hearts. Amen.

GospelMATTHEW 15:21-2821And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Genesis 3 7Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 16To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 20The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

In less than three years, the Fanbase social content app has raised six million dollars (without traditional venture capital) and is inching toward the one-million user mark. How did co-founder Issac Hayes III take the app from nothing all the way to this? If you ask him, his life spent in the cut-throat music industry gave him the inspiration AND business chops to thrive within the tech space. As the son of legendary R&B artist Isaac Hayes, he was made well aware from the get-go of the exploitative practices by record labels toward musicians. Isaac would go on to notice similar exploitation with social media giants and their users, who were creating content and driving attention, but reaping little of the billions of dollars in revenues being reported by the same corporations.Fanbase is changing those optics. On the app, users can post content — written, photo, video, audio chat, and live stream — for a subscription fee. As Isaac sees it, “monetization for every user is the wave of the future.” For a full glimpse of how Isaac is building Fanbase into a disruptive social media force, you'll want to tune into our interview. Here's what we covered in the episode:[4:10] Fanbase Raised $6 Million From Crowdfunding — Not Venture Capital[6:34] The Most Important Investors Of Fanbase [8:10] Making Investing More Accessible[10:30] How Fanbase Is Acquiring New Customers[11:59] Fanbase's Biggest Business Advantage (Not What You Think)[14:13] “Monetization For Every User Is The Wave Of The Future”[16:18] Why Artists Shouldn't Sell Their Catalogs[22:23] What Isaac Loves About Technology[23:40] What Does Fanbase's Future Fundraising Timeline Look Like?[26:38] Size Of Fanbase's Team Now & In Near-Future[27:51] Atlanta's Underrated Scene Outside Hip-Hp[30:39] Isaac's Influence For Creating Fanbase[32:34] Getting The Music Rights Back For His Dad[33:48] Keeping Black Icons Relevant Post-Death[36:14] Will There Ever Be An Isaac Hayes Movie?[41:45] Fanbase's New FeaturesListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuests: Isaac Hayes III, @isaachayes3  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. _______________TranscriptionIsaac Hayes III 00:00I think monetization for every user is the wave of the future. I keep saying it, I think that there isn't a person right now that isn't subscribed to at least one thing. And one subscription becomes more and more the common vernacular of how we engage with content. Social media is the last, you know, frontier that's left. You know, when you think about TV and film with Hulu, and Netflix, and Disney+, and music with Spotify and Apple Music, and print media with Forbes, and The New York Times, and Billboard, and then productivity software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Word. Like, you don't... You're subscribed to something. You're probably subscribed to an app on your phone that allows you to edit your photos. And so subscriptions are just the language. And so I think that's going to be the language of the future moving forward.Dan Runcie 00:53Hey, 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 executives in music, media, entertainment, and more, who are taking hip hop culture to the next level. Today's guest is Isaac Hayes III. He's the founder and CEO of Fanbase. Fanbase is a company that helps creators better monetize the content they put out. And on Fanbase's platform, followers can subscribe for $3.99 a month to get all of the exclusive content from their favorite creators, or they can follow creators and they can spread love. Love is the primary form of engagement on Fanbase, and it's how creators monetize. The more likes and love they get, the more revenue that they get into their pockets. So Fanbase addresses a lot of the challenges that people have had about social media more broadly. And in this chat, Isaac and I talk about what the journey has been like. He's been able to raise $6 million through crowdfunding. He did it through this platform called StartEngine, and he's had many well-known investors on board, folks like Snoop Dogg, Charlamagne The God, Kandi Burruss, Chamillionaire, Roland Martin, and more. So we talked about his decision to go that path as opposed to the traditional VC route. Isaac and I also talked about the trend of music publishing and the catalog sales that have been happening, and why he actually thinks that a lot of musicians should not be selling their catalogs. He is not the only person to say this, but these voices have been a little bit quieter in this narrative. So it was great to hear his perspective on this. And then we also talked about the other hat that Isaac wears. He is the manager of his late father's estate. His father is the legendary singer, Isaac Hayes. So we talked about what that experience has been like managing the estate, and how his father's experience in the music industry had formed a lot of the work that Isaac Hayes III himself wants to create and the opportunities he wants to do through Fanbase. We also talked about what an Isaac Hayes biopic would look like, and who Isaac Hayes III would want to play his father in a movie. I think he had a pretty good answer. I'm a big fan of this person. So I think you'll enjoy who we said. We also talked about Atlanta's impact, and just how influential that city has been in culture and for Fanbase as well, we had a great conversation, and I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Here's my chat with Isaac Hayes III. All right, today, we got Isaac Hayes III with us. He's the co-founder and CEO of Fanbase, an app that helps creators monetize the content that they put out into the world and get what's there. So Isaac, thank you for joining. And it'd be great to just hear from you how things were going with you and how things been going with Fanbase. What's the latest been?Isaac Hayes III 03:46Man, we just closed our second seed round of $2.6 million on StartEngine. So we've raised a total of $6 million in less than a year. It's been phenomenal. We're adding a lot of amazing functionality to Fanbase. And new features are rolling out in the next couple of weeks, a new version of audio, which is one of our flagship features on the platform that's monetized for all users. So it's an exciting time at Fanbase.Dan Runcie 04:10Can you talk to me about your fundraising process a bit because I know that you crowdfunded the 6 billion. You were able to do it at a few different stages. But what made you go that route, as opposed to the more traditional venture capital fundraising?Isaac Hayes III 04:25Two things: one was just a recommendation by a really good mentor of mine to do so. And it was in COVID, because, you know, we couldn't move. And I had a real kind of like off-putting conversation with a VC. And it immediately reminded me of the music business. And so in my mind, I immediately thought, okay, these seeds are like the label. And I'm like an artist trying to get a record deal. And so starting to gave me the opportunity to go independent, and sell my shares out of the trunk of my car to the tune of $6 million, which gives us better leverage, and lets people know that we don't need venture capital to raise serious cash. And so that's really how it, you know, wind up that being that way.Dan Runcie 05:06Yeah, I heard the comparisons from a lot of people. And I think that the thing you often hear from folks that do crowdfund is that it can take a lot of time to get there. But at least from what I've seen from your process, you were able to get several thousand investors in a pretty short amount of time. So what were the steps from that perspective to keep the momentum hot, and to make sure that you had a strong pipeline?Isaac Hayes III 05:29I think the best thing is, when you're, I think the biggest benefit was the fact that it's a product that the investors can actually use in real time. So it's not like they're giving to something, and they're investing in something and not knowing what the product will be or what it does. They're a part of it in real time. And it's something that's relatable to them. If I go and invest in a tech startup that does something to do with aerospace engines, cool, when I'm not with it every day. I just sit back and hope that they make the best decision possible with my investment. But Fanbase is something that I think is more personal to people because of where we are social media. So I think that gave it a lot of energy, because people are a part of the process, and they feel part of the platform and part of this journey together in real time. So it's something that you can use, you know, and then who better, I got to say, to give actual equity in a social media startup into the users themselves that will actually make the platform grow. Dan Runcie 06:20And I think you're able to find some influential folks with that too, right? You got Kandi Burruss, you got Charlamagne. And of course with their platforms, they're able to help amplify and can connect you with other investors or just other creators, given what they've done.Isaac Hayes III 06:34Yeah, but we honestly haven't used them in that fashion. And I actually don't typically want them or to do that particularly yet. And the reason being is because I like the fact that they are silent in their action, because a lot of times when people of notoriety step out in a space where they're invested in a platform and may turn other people off, that feel like well, I didn't get that opportunity. And in social media, it's more about the users. The most important investors on Fanbase, and we have some really big, big name investors, the most important investors on Fanbase are the actual users, the larger, broader, probably a sea of 8000 plus individuals that have put their money in and actually use the platform on a day-today basis, who will be those day-to-day, you know, hardcore super users. But relationships and those investors that are of a high stature like a Snoop Dogg and stuff like that, their time will come later. They all, I know, they all know exactly when they're going to get on and when they're going to turn the engine up on the platform. So we're just, you know, we're focused on the core audience and the core investors of the platform being what we really focus on at Fanbase.Dan Runcie 07:41And with 8000 investors, you mentioned $6 million raised, it makes it pretty affordable to, you know, for people to be able to have a stake, because I think that's one of the challenges that you often see from institutional money that comes through or some of the minimum buy-ins for some investments is that it isn't always the most accessible for folks that may be interested. So I think you're able to at least allow that to happen given the amount of people that were able to invest for the total amount you have.Isaac Hayes III 08:10Absolutely, I mean, the accredited investor rule has kind of been a barrier for all people, you know. I don't care what race you are, if it's a law that's been in effect since 1933, it's just only given opportunities to rich people to actually invest in early stage companies. So you're coming out of the Great Depression, if you ever wonder why none of your family members got a call to invest in IBM, or Microsoft, or Apple, or Facebook, and so on and so forth. It's this accredited investor rule that is given all the best opportunities of wealth to the wealthy. And so I love the fact that Barack Obama and Joe Biden pass the Jobs Act and allow people like myself to go to my peers and the public to actually have the same opportunity that VCs and accredited investors have to get a piece of the American dream by investing the same way that all these other people have been able to do for 83 years.Dan Runcie 09:01I think we're gonna see the rules continue to break down on that. I know now they have that flexible option where I think if you take the Series 63 or 7 or one of those tests, then you can become accredited. So that's one way to pass the income thresholds. But I feel like even that is probably going to break down at some point. That just feels like where everything is at it.Isaac Hayes III 09:22It should. I mean, one of the seed investors in Uber, a guy by the name of Oren Michels only invested $5,000 into Uber, but when it IPO in 2019 is 5000 was worth 24 million. And I'm like, well, how come we can go to Vegas and spend $5,000 on the crap table or go buy $5,000 worth of lottery tickets, but I can't invest in Uber. And I think that's the real crime is that, you know, it's okay that if you go blow your money gambling in that fashion, but not gambling in in the fashion of investing your money in a startup like Uber, which wound up being very, very successful, so the rules have to change and platforms like StartEngine are breaking down those barriers.Dan Runcie 9:59Right, especially when so many other people using it and giving these startups their early validation are the ones that believe and see in the future. So I feel like those dots got to connect eventually. But...Isaac Hayes III 10:10It will for sure.Dan Runcie 10:11Going back to Fanbase itself and how things are, I read that you have a goal be able to hit a million users in June. And it would be great to hear what your strategy has been in terms of acquiring customers. What's been the most effective thing that you've done to get more creators and users onto the platform?Isaac Hayes III 10:30I think the biggest thing is actually just word of mouth, right? It's the quality of the product. And then I think we're in a very unique time, a very opportunistic time for platforms like Fanbase to emerge, because of this transition from users wanting more access to their following, they're getting tired of words like shadowbanning and content suppression and stuff like that. And algorithms are becoming the enemy of the common user on the platform, or even the super user on the platform, because platforms typically are profitable off ad revenue. And so for that to happen, you can't simultaneously provide visibility for every user on the platform, and then run ads at the same time. That's counterproductive to the business model. Because if that's the case, then the people that buy ads would just go to the users themselves and run ads that way. And then you would have no business model. And so Fanbase is just you know, emerging at a time right now that I think the conversation is different. And ad based, ad-based revenue social media platforms are going to continue to change that puts us right, at the right time to continue to grow. So word of mouth. And then timing is just helping us, and then we have an amazing creative advisory board of young people. There's some other strategic partnerships, and I'm really excited to begin working on that, they're really rooted in community and rooted in the culture of what we want on Fanbase, which is young, centennial people of all races, ages, backgrounds, creating content and monetize.Dan Runcie 11:56What are some of those partnerships? Anything you can share with us?Isaac Hayes III 11:59No, because... And the reason why I can't is because they're really savvy in the way there's things that I think, social media startups, I'll say this, like, I think Fanbase has the best advantage to become a social media unicorn by simply being in Atlanta. And what I mean by that is like Atlanta, is the epicenter of black culture in the United States of America. And what we know about Black culture is Black culture is pop culture. And we know about pop culture, pop culture is what drives social media. So therefore, if you're right at the epicenter of where the viral challenge is going to happen, or the newest, funny influencer, or the dance challenge, or the artist is at, being able to have them be part of Fanbase, and part of that community gives us a really big advantage. So some of those partnerships are rooted in culture, and community, and music. I can't announce them or anything, because it's really dope, though, the way that you have an advantage to do so. And I think a lot of the other platforms know that, which is why they kind of try to pivot in and out. And also try to acquire those users from Atlanta, those the talent, they're like, oh, let's pay them. Let's try to get them, you know, in the same way, but I think Fanbase just has a little bit more of an advantage.Dan Runcie 13:09I hear that and thinking, too, about making sure that the talent gets paid fairly. I think that's been the underlying theme for so much of why you wanted to create this. There have been so many people that we've seen have become viral sensations, or creators who have a strong following, but being able to really tap into that in a meaningful way hasn't always worked. And in some cases, it's everyone else making money instead of them. I think you would have that story about the ghetto Spider-Man and how the person behind that had blown up, but he's the one calling you like, hey, what do I do? Like, is anything that can help here? And you think about that, and you just think about all of these creators, whether it's folks on TikTok, that are, like the guy that does the hands video, you know, he is, you know, one of the biggest creators, but he isn't anywhere on that Forbes list of the top creators. So I feel like you'll be able to bridge that connection of, okay, there's clearly a market gap here and how we can have a platform that can close that and how big of an opportunity that is.Isaac Hayes III 14:13It's an enormous opportunity. I think monetization for every user is the wave of the future. I keep saying it. I think that there isn't a person right now that isn't subscribed to at least one thing. And one subscription becomes more and more the common vernacular of how we engage with content. Social media is the last, you know, frontier that's left. You know, when you think about TV and film with Hulu, and Netflix, and Disney+, and music with Spotify and Apple Music, and print media with Forbes, and The New York Times, and Billboard, and then productivity software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Word. Like, you don't... You're subscribed to something. You're probably subscribed to an app on your phone that allows you to edit your photos. And so subscriptions are just the language. And so I think that's going to be the language of the future moving forward. And so I think that's going to be the language of the future moving forward. And it just, it gives everybody a chance to make money as opposed to the people that the apps highlight to be most successful, because they're the best vehicles for ads to run in between their content. Think about that, like the larger audience on, the greater audience of a platform like Tiktok, since there's really only one kind of like channel. It's literally just a platform of short form video. So the wider audience on their demographic on that platform is a white audience just based off of the United States. So therefore, it would behoove them to have bigger white stars to run ads to monetize that larger audience. So that's what they kind of have to focus on. So Fanbase doesn't worry about that. It doesn't matter who you are. Everybody can be a superstar on the platform.Dan Runcie 15:42Yeah. And that piece about the subscriptions as well, it just, everyone having that and then seeing who can profit off of it. It also makes me think of an exchange you and I had had recently, we're talking about what's happening right now in the music industry and these catalog valuations, too. You had shared perspective that artists actually should not be selling their or publishing their catalogs, because how much room streaming has to grow. And you just look at some of the demographics on that. What's your take on it? And how much bigger do you think this market will get?Isaac Hayes III 16:18Man, I think it'd be massive. Like I said, at the time, last year was 400, I think it was 450 million people were on music streaming services this year, it's like 525. It's jumped up. That's like, you know, almost like 7 to 9% of all the people with the ability to have streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify on their phone, have them over the next decade by 2030, I think it'll be close to a billion people, so that, that'll be almost a little over double what is available. So imagine and that's only that's only like 1 billion, it's less than a billion, not even a billion people a music streaming services, but there's 6.3 billion people on the planet with smartphones, you know, satellite Wi Fi, satellite internet is going to be something that is going to actually be more connected, as opposed to where wires can go. You know, satellites can go to provide people Internet, and then with video, like, there's like 222 million people on Netflix. And there's 6.3 billion people, the available market share is massive. So I mean, as big as a company is Netflix is, they don't even have, you know, they don't even have 7% of the market of available people that can get on their platform, it's more like three and a half. So think of the growth potential that Netflix can have or anybody that's providing subscriptions via content they can have. That's why we're focused on person-to-person subscription content, which I think will trump everything in the future. Dan Runcie 17:42Yeah, it's interesting, because I think there's these two trends happening, because one of the reasons everyone's buying the catalogs is exactly what you said, people see the upside, were streaming's going n the other side, you're also seeing, whether it's Netflix or Spotify, the rapid growth that they may have had once starting to slow down a little bit. So you do think about, yes, you know, a service like Facebook, if we think of that as being like the most ubiquitous thing out there, you know, several billion people on it, but it's also because it's free, right? So it's like, there's some number of what are the total number of people that will be willing to pay $999 in the US for music streaming service, or whatever that price difference may be in their respective place. We still haven't gotten there yet. And I'm curious, you know what that actual number will be. And it's just so hard to know, because I think some people think it's going to be a lot higher. And there's other people that think that we're close to that peak. So who knows.Isaac Hayes III 18:38I don't think we're anywhere near the peak because it's the nature, the market will grow as the youth grow. And so as kids are more like, kids are trained and kind of use to subscriptions, and virtual currency, and app purchases, it's that they've known that their whole lives. I remember when I was first discussing building Fanbase, I spoke to someone that was in their 30s, they were like, I'd never subscribed to another person, right? Why would I do that.? And then I was in the Apple Store, and I just randomly asked this 20, I think the young lady was probably like, 21 years old. I think I asked how old she was. She says I'm 21, I was like, if you could subscribe or what her favorite group was, and my first inclination that she was going to name a very famous artist, and she named an indie band, right? What's your favorite artists? I bet you're gonna name somebody like, you know, Ariana Grande. I said, if you could subscribe to that person for $3.99 a month, that band for $3.99 a month, and they would post videos and they were working on their album or exclusive photos and stuff like that.Maybe, they might let you buy, you know, tickets to their show before anybody else, would you do that? And her answer was like, fuck yeah, $3.99. And I'm like, that's when I was, okay, I gotta do this because they don't care. There was, I remember, there were legions of people that swore they wanted to own a mp3. And I'm like, man, it's $10 a month to listen to everything that's ever been created. Only your mp3 is out of here. That's a done deal. So I think the market will go as the youth decide. And the youth are showing their propensity to spend, or virtually, you know, their Cashapp and Venmo and PayPal, their NFT's, their crypto, they're all in that space. So I think it's going to actually explode way beyond what it is now.Dan Runcie 20:13Yeah, that's a good point. The other thing, too, is that there are just so many other services beyond the digital streaming providers that are offering some type of music experience that's going to drive up the platform, right? Like it doesn't always have to be streaming. It can be in app purchases, the same way that, you know, these kids go wild about V-bucks or whatever it is in these games, it's going to be the same thing there. As more and more of these companies getting music licensing, like, we're going to see that continue to happen. So it'll be interesting.Isaac Hayes III 20:42I'm telling you... I'm spending money on Call of Duty to make my gun cooler or wear cooler outfit. Kids are going to spend money to have access to shoes before anybody else can, tickets before anybody else can, experiences that no one else can have for, you know, small amounts of prices, and that give them exclusivity and clout and bragging rights. Trust me, I know exactly what's going to happen.Dan Runcie 21:07Let's take a quick break to hear a word from this week's sponsor. Let's talk more about today's sponsor Intercept Music. The company is on a mission to empower independent artists everywhere. This is a tale as old as time. Artists and labels have often had to choose between their creative freedom and autonomy and access to marketing and distribution that would catapult their careers. Well, that's no longer the choice, especially today, people can have both and Intercept is one of the companies making that happen. It offers a fully managed advertising and promotional service allows you to distribute your music and you have the opportunity to sell merchandise through its branded online stores. This is your one-stop shop to manage your career and take it to that next level. As an artist or label, Intercept can help you unshackle your monetization opportunities and, as Method Man said himself, you can use this platform and keep 100% of your shit. To learn more, go to interceptmusic.com and learn how this company is helping independent artists like you take their careers to the next level. You mentioned Call of Duty for yourself. Are there any other personal areas that you've been personally where, you know, attracted to, whether it's a single game or a solo thing where, you know, a majority of your attention has gone to?Isaac Hayes III 22:23Just call... I only play one game, Call of Duty. I've been playing Call of Duty for like 12 years, I like content. So I used to fly drones, like, all the time. Like, not just for the fun of flying, but the fun of capturing the actual content and creating content. But other than that, I mean... Social media is like, it's a passion of mine because I liked the connectivity. And I liked the potential. I liked the potential of being disruptive. And where we can create unique experiences via technology. That's one thing I love about technology, technology doesn't give my brain like a limit. I have conversations with my CTO and say, hey, you know, can we do this? And he's like, the question is not if we can do it, it's just how long it'll take us to do it. How many man hours? Well, we could do it. And that's the greatest feeling to have, like, can we make this do this and just do this? He's like, yeah, we could do that. But and so having like, your imagination not being limited. Only the, only limitation is your resources like man hours, and manpower, and funds. And cool. Like, I understand that part. So don't you know, don't give me $100 million dollars, move out of the way. You know, no, don't let me raise $100 million. You want to see an app, like be fly than anything you've ever seen? Fanbase is phenomenal. And we raised $6 million. Imagine what we do, and we raised 60, 600 million, it's gonna be phenomenal. That's why I'm excited. I'm like, oh, it's gonna be go time for sure.Dan Runcie 23:40So what does the future fundraising timeline look like for you? Where do you think you'll raise again? And how big do you think that'll be?Isaac Hayes III 23:46I mean, we've been getting calls, which is kind of curious, because I guess the A&R of what a VC is, their version of A&R has been starting to reach out because they see Fanbase making waves and so now, it's not me going to VCs, but it's VCs coming to us, which is better. So I feel we still have a lot of work to do in a short period of time. But I would like to raise a significant series, a somewhere, you know, in the eight figure range, really to get us, you know, in eight figure range to really get us where we need to be because there's so much involved with data and streaming and music licensing. And so these platforms have to be funded to scale and so we're gonna need it. You know, I love the notion of being able to continue to raise equity crowdfunding with people, and I think I'll find ways to continue to do that. But you also... VCs also serve a very good purpose of their knowledge, their relationships, their experience. So I'm not opposed to them. I'm just sometimes primarily opposed to the terms. So now we can have conversations that are different than that. I'm not opposed to the VCs, I'm just opposed to the terms. So sometimes we just have to work better and making sure we get fair terms by doing things on our own. Dan Runcie 24:54And I think the fact that you're at the place you're at now gives you the leverage to do that, right? I think one of the reasons that the unfair terms happen more often is because the founder or the founders don't come from that place of leverage. They're more so looking for the help just from being able to be sustainable, to keep the lights on and all those things, you have that piece of it checked off, given what you've been able to do with the money you've been able to raise. So it's more so, hey, we're trying to go a bit faster. We're trying to do this, this, and this, if you want to be in it would be great. But if you don't, there's other people knocking at the door who can make this happen.Isaac Hayes III 25:32Yeah, I mean, writing your own path, you know, coming from the music business, I look at like, I look at percentages, so I'm on a platform called PitchBook, where I can see like, how much equity was given up for what percentage and I'm like, what, gave up what, for 39% of the company, and like, hell, oh, no, you can't do that. Because you have to be strategic. And I know, sometimes we want to get our product to market so bad. And we want it, we feel that once we get there, doesn't matter if I gave him this much, it's gonna be successful, I'm gonna be able to do this, but you have to be conservative with equity, you can't be selfish. At the same time, people have got to invest money, they're gonna want significant portions of your company. But I think the more work you do improving your model on your own, the more advantageous you are as a part of the VCs, because now you can work together. I love my team, my team is brilliant, they're smarter than I am, I'm just a big idea guy that want to make sure, wants to make sure that the colors look good, and the energy is right. And then the rest is up for us to really, you know, structure this business. So I like writing our ticket that way by being independent, as I like to say. Dan Runcie 26:34So how big is the team now? And how big do you think it'll be end of this year?Isaac Hayes III 26:38So right now we have a team of 25 developers, and probably 15 other personnel or 40. But I think our development team would probably be 150, given a significant raise, and probably our executive team probably go from like, 15 to 30 people. So it would grow. I mean, you know, and that's with everything, running it, you know, at best case, you know, if I had it my way, because we can build faster and more simultaneous functionality. And then I love you know, being able to pay really smart people to make Fanbase do amazing things and in the right amount of time. So I'm looking forward to that though, we have a game plan to really scale up to a million users by June, it's two months. It's two months, as you know, it's April, you know, saying April 8, so we don't have that much time. But I'm looking forward to the grind.Dan Runcie 27:30And I also got to imagine that the Atlanta community and culture ecosystem you're around has and will continue to have so much of an impact on you. Can you talk about how beneficial it's been from that perspective? I know y'all got The Gathering Spot, and you have so many other execs there. How important has that collective been?Isaac Hayes III 27:51It's been invaluable, because the first conversations that I had about building a startup social media platform happened at The Gathering Spot, they were members that were in the tech space that I looked at as mentors, their names are Jewel Burks, Barry Gibbons, and Justin Dawkins. They are all accomplished tech professionals in their own right, and the fact that I could sit right next to them, like a kid, you know, being able to talk to like, talk to Michael Jordan or whoever be like, yo, how do you do this? How do you do that? How are you able to do these things, and then lending their ear and lending their voice and their information to me is invaluable. I think that was really, you know, the essence of community and Atlanta, especially in the black tech space. They're just tons of brilliant people and I've met met at those spaces, but those three individuals were like instrumental in helping me shape Fanbase to the company because they told me you know, why it's important that you have a CTO that has a stake in the in your company, why is important, like what your deck must look like, why you know, when it's a raise, how you scale, all these things that you have to bring together. And so that's the dope part about it. So the Atlanta communities are invaluable in that fashion. We're all like, there's no ceiling of what you can achieve in a city like Atlanta with black leadership. I was just telling you, I just saw a clip today about Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson being able to be elected to the Supreme Court, Symone Sanders said, if you didn't elect Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia, that would have never happened, he wouldn't have had the votes or the leverage to do so. And so a political community that's aware, that's African American that understands how politics play in the ability for you to scale your business and city like Atlanta is invaluable. That's the probably, the biggest asset to being anybody in the city is, is probably that there's a political foundation that has been built on for over 60 years that kind of gives people the energy and the confidence to try things that no other people would try. Like Tyler Perry saying, I'm gonna build a movie studio, like L.A. & Babyface, and we're gonna bring a record company to the city, like someone like The Gathering Spot, or Pinky Cole with Slutty Vegan, or Tracey Pickett with Hairbrella. Like all these amazing startups that are coming out of Atlanta, Georgia, and have come out of Atlanta, Georgia. So it's a place for you to dream and excel.Dan Runcie 30:02It really is. It's remarkable just to see how much of it stems in. I think so many of you as well have roots in music and how I think that has been the core of what you all have been able to do and achieve. And it makes me think a lot about where your inspiration for why this is so important to you came from. You would obviously seen your dad's experience in the music industry and some of the challenges he had had with unfair contracts and things like that. Can you talk a bit about how that through line was for you in terms of the influence and seeing that inspire where you want to be the most impactful and how that shapes Fanbase?Isaac Hayes III 30:39Yeah, so I mean, as a kid, getting into the music industry, the first thing I learned, before I learned about music notes, I learned about music publishing, and it's just because that's what your family's gonna tell you is like, look, all this creative stuff is great, but know your business, right? Because you can get taken advantage of, don't get caught up in it. It's a joy, like creating music, being a creator is the best feeling in the world, making songs that people want to dance to, and that are part of their lives. And never forget, if you don't have that business, it's going to be something that you're going to wind up having a bitter taste in your mouth about because you've created all this great music, but do you really benefit from it, people that exploit you. So content ownership, ownership of your content, exploiting your content to your benefit has always been something that's been in the back of my mind. So that's why I say I've approached tech with a music industry mindset and nothing gets grimier than in the music business. So like I said, you know, tech is nothing compared to, like, the record business. So if you can handle a record business, you can handle tech, because the deals are what the deals are. The deals are straightforward, you know, the music history just makes up their rules. And so I had a great teacher and my father and my mom who just taught me about the business. So I think that helps a lot. It gave me, it gave me quite a bit of perspective of why artists deserve to get paid more for the content they create. And that's any user on social media. Those are the people that are making these dances go viral. Also the people that are being funny, those are people that are bringing really great thought-provoking content that gets you thinking, get you inspired, get you to vote, get you to, you know, to protest. So we have to, you know, make sure that those people have an opportunity to really make sure that they monetize their energy in that way.Dan Runcie 32:16Definitely, and I hear you on how the music industry, there's so there could be so much lack of clarity on these things. I know one of the things that you've also been pushing towards is to get the music rights back from your dad's music. How has that process been? And where are things right now with that?Isaac Hayes III 32:34So it's just a matter of time. I mean, the good thing about Copyright Law is they expire, they return to the original authors. And so we're just in the process right now of terminating so much as a case publishing, we've terminated all the songs that he wrote from 1963, all the way up to 1968 into going into 69. So there's, you know, his entire songwriting catalog as a songwriter we haven't even gotten to the Isaac Hayes era, but we've terminated you know, one of his biggest works was a song called Hold On, I'm Comin' that he wrote for Sam & Dave that gets used at commercials all the time. So that process is moving along, you know, very steadily and now there's new opportunities and new deals for my family, or equitable opportunities, and the ownership is ours. So it's a great spot to be in right now.Dan Runcie 33:19That's good to hear. I mean, because we've definitely know how tough it can be especially on your side, whether you're an estate manager or you're just more broadly trying to get it back for the sake of your family or loved one so that's good to hear. And on the estate side of it, I know you do manage that. Definitely heard a number of stories of different people that have managed estates over the years, both the good that comes from it, but also some of the challenges as well. Can you talk a little bit about how your experience has been on that front?Isaac Hayes III 33:48I mean, well, I was looking at it,I look at a brand, it's like a hot air balloon. And so the higher the balloon goes, the more people see it. So it's a job I'm going to stay to get that balloon as high as possible before you try to do things so people say well, how come there hasn't been a you know, a movie on your father I was like, well, there's more work the balloon gotta get a little higher. We got to, people got to see a brand and build it. So it's been tough because I think a couple things like icons, black icons are not always held to the same standard or represented in media the way that white icons are. And what I mean by that and that's the job above actually the black community to uplift its own icons to do so. And when I tell people all the time I said, look, you go to the grocery store, and you can practice this exercise, you can go, you can go to the grocery store, and you're always going to see one of four people in a magazine at all times. You're going to see John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Elvis Presley, or Babe Ruth, at any time. And all of those guys have been dead for quite a long time, but they never let you forget their icons. They never let you forget Audrey Hepburn, they never let you forget Marilyn Monroe, they keep their legacy and their icons immortalized by continuing to push them and elevate them through media. Now in black culture, we typically do that for a period of time, but you don't typically see Dorothy Dandridge, or Sammy Davis Jr., or James Brown, or Martin Luther King, or people on covers of magazines just cause right, it's usually in some drama that, you know, some tabloid is trying to bring back up, but just for the sake of doing an amazing pictorial on, you know, Ray Charles, and to let that continue to uplift his legacy. That doesn't happen that often. So we have to take better care of our black icons, and continue to uplift them in media to do so.Dan Runcie 35:32That's a good point about the same faces you already see in the magazines, or you go to the grocery store. I think all the names you mentioned are the ones that you often see. On the movie point, though, I do hope that we do get in Isaac Hayes movie, at some point. I know you're saying that, you know, these days, you got to wait for the bubble to get a little bit bigger. But it's one of those things we're in this moment now where you're seeing, I'm sure you've seen it, too, so many music documented, whether it's documentaries, or the bio pics themselves, and some of them are a lot better than others. But you still know that they all had a ton of money poured into them. So hopefully, while this run is going on, that bubble can meet and the stars can align to make something like that happen.Isaac Hayes III 36:14I think so. I mean, we definitely have a documentary that must be told before feature film, I think a biographical nonfiction version of what really happened and what my dad's life was really like is a story that I think should be told first, and then we could dramaticize that and infantilize that in a way that I think brings young people and old people together. And I have that in my mind of how we merge all these genres together, these generations together to really tell the story of Isaac Hayes because I think he's probably the most relatable icon to the current generation of any icon that's passed away, by the way that he looked, by the way the type of music he created because I'm like, it's like, there's not too many people that still wear clothes like Michael Jackson, or wear their hair like James Brown, but there's several black men with bald heads and beards and sunglasses still in 2022. So the relatability is there. And then in terms of evergreen music, it's just like people continue to sample him to make new records. So I think he has the most connectable thread to the youth coming from his generation to now so we're definitely going to capitalize on that, expand more on that in 2022 and 2023.Dan Runcie 37:32Who would you want to play him in a biopic?Isaac Hayes III 37:27Ah, I've said this before. Just off first glance to the surface is probably Jonathan Majors, right? I like Jonathan Majors. Jonathan Majors is a phenomenal actor. I looked at him, I said he could play him. But then there's like, you know, you never know. I mean, there's always this sea of amazing, you know, talent out there, especially from people... I always get trouble in saying it but let me tell you something, the UK Brits, the Brits got those actors. Like they come from places like, I'm like, most of the shows I've watched on TV, the actors are British, like what? Like Snowfall? Like All American? The Walking Dead? It's like, yeah, those are the guys that you wouldn't know. They're so good at what they do. You would have never thought that but they're so classically trained. And then there's some, you know, amazing actors in the States as well. But you know, even Daniel Kaluuya. I'm like, oh, man, all these dudes? Brits be crushing it. So who knows, though, but Jonathan majors is an amazing actor. And I think he could do a great job portraying Isaac Hayes.Dan Runcie 38:24He's a good one. I'm excited to see what he does at this Creed movie coming up. And the range is there, you saw his Marvel thing, and I've done of course, Last Black Man in San Francisco. He's so good.Isaac Hayes III 38:35Yeah, I'm like, What's he gonna do a Ceed? I'm like, okay, what's going on? Like Creed 3? That's gonna be a good one right there.Dan Runcie 38:41I know. I know. Yeah. Isaac Hayes III 38:41It's going to be interesting.Dan Runcie 38:42That will be good.Isaac Hayes III 38:42Yeah.Dan Runcie 38:43Daniel Kaluuya, of course, I think he's one of the best under 40 actors. I mean, period. He's one of the best folks under 40 we got right now. So I mean, obviously, what he did with Fred Hampton was amazing. So I think he would be legit, but it's good that you brought up the British piece because it's one of these things where we both know, if that happened, people would be you know, all up in arms like they are about a lot of black British folks that play American actors, thought or based off of American icons. But it's like you yourself as the person representing the estate in the family is like no, I would endorse this based on what you're seeing. We know how that conversation would go.Isaac Hayes III 39:24Oh, yeah, no. Yeah, I think again, like I said, Jonathan Majors was the first in mind that I had. And again, you never know who's out there by way, like, even like I watched it just by actors in general. I watch Winning Time, the story about the Lakers and the guy that plays Magic Johnson, they just found him like,Dan Runcie 39:37He's so good.Isaac Hayes III 39:40He's so perfect for the role. That's what I'm saying. Like there's always the right person for the role, it's out there. You got to find them. But it's just like I said, I don't think he's, he hadn't been in anything, I think, a lot of stuff. I don't think he'd done a lot of stuff. But they were like, it's this guy in California, like, give them a go. See, when we came in the room, he smiled. It did that. Like, it's Magic Johnson. He's killing it. So yeah, you always know that and I think, and also, here's another dream of mine, though, is I do want another Shaft film. I want another Shaft film with a modern Shaft, right? I want a modern, you know, modern day Shaft and the person that I think that should play that is Mahershala. Ali. I would love to see Mahershala Ali as a new Shaft do that. I know he's about to be Blade, his plate is full. So but again, yeah, I think Shaft go modernize is something else to do, such a big part of my dad's career. So and I think there will always be an appetite to have a black, you know, superhero in the sense of saying, a person that stood up for his community and fought crime and as a stand up black man. So I think there's always the ability to do that, too.Dan Runcie 40:41Oh, yeah, I think he would be great at that type of role. And I think that Blade definitely gives you some of that imagery of, you know, the black trench coat and everything. And the whole vibe, too. But yeah, I think that'll be good.Isaac Hayes III 40:53Sure.Dan Runcie 40:53Even what artists would, you know, cover the version that your dad did, and you know, with that, I mean, thinking about that, too, for the song perspective? Isaac Hayes III 41:03Yeah, we have a lot of unreleased, I have a lot of unreleased Isaac Hayes music that was recorded around the same time. And trust me, it's some Shaft D stuff in there, some stuff. Like I've been holding on to it for years now. Like I think I transferred those masters in 2014. For eight years, I haven't even really let some of that stuff. Like I said, they won't call about another Shaft at some point. And I'm gonna be ready. I'm gonna be ready to let people check it out.Dan Runcie 41:25Oh, yeah. You know, the call is coming soon, especially the way that content works right now, the call's coming soon. Isaac Hayes III 41:30Absolutely.Dan Runcie 41:31Well, Isaac, this has been great. It's been great to chat, hear more about Fanbase, hear about some of the other things you're working on with regards to the estate. But before we let you go, is there anything else that you want to plug or let the Trapital audience know about?Isaac Hayes III 41:45Of course, to download Fanbase, we have a new version of audio, we have audio chat rooms that are monetized. So a new version of audio is coming in, like, probably, like a couple of weeks, we have our version of TikTok and Reels called Flicks so you can make short form video. And we have stories that are for followers and subscribers. So you can put your stories behind a subscription paywall as well. And I think that's something that's amazing, too. baseLike I said, monetizing content for everybody is just something that I think the world is gonna be all immersive in in the future, say right now is that kind of that friction point where it's like, is it really going to be a thing? And people are going to resist it at first, but once it becomes part of the norm the same way with all these other media verticals, our social media is just a next vertical for subscription.Dan Runcie 42:46Definitely, we see where it's all heading right. 10 years ago, people thought it was gonna be crazy, like, oh, you're gonna pay people at social media to do posts and now influencers do it on the regular. It's just a matter of timing, platform, and everything. And I feel like you got the right mix.Isaac Hayes III 42:40Thank you very much. Appreciate it.Dan Runcie 42:42Thanks, Isaac. This is great. Appreciate it. If you enjoyed this podcast, go ahead and share with a friend. Copy the link, text it to a friend, post it in your group chat, post it in 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. 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

Summary:Everything we know we were taught, whether right or wrong.Young people are very smart and observant; aware.They want to learn from those who love what is being taught.Show Notes:• Introduce the children to everyday life and the fun of learning.• Show them the “how to” specifically as you would like.• Make learning fun and create a closer relationship together.References:Deuteronomy 6:7You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.Proverbs 22:6Train a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.Proverbs 13:24He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.Quotes:• I taught them how to find a book about exercise.• I taught them how to find their ways into the library.• After that first lesson, the parents came to me, thanking me because the children were hungry to read the bible'Take Away:The relationship created between a child and their parents in doing things together is priceless, the children will remember these lessons for a lifetime.

                                Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:                                     “Contrasts Between Covenants”                                                   Hebrews 12:18-24He now comes to his final contrast-picture: Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion, the Law and the gospel, the New and Old covenants, all expressed in majestic contrast.Historical Context:  Israel is stuck in their journey.They got to Mt. Sinai where the Old Covenant was orchestrated, which was centered on the Law.What is the purpose of the Law?  Rom 3:19-20It has always been about the Messiah.            Two Facts about the New Covenant:1.        The New Covenant is Spiritual The Old focused on the physical.They came to Mt. SinaiGod was unapproachable: Ex. 19:16-19His voice was scary: Duet 5:23-27Even Moses was scared.Do you want the physical or the spiritual.The reason he contrast the material, Mt. Sinai with the spiritual, the city of God is to dispel the notion that those who embrace the spiritual are living in a fantasy.  We are the ones who have what will last. 2.       The New Covenant is Eternal              Three Aspects about the Eternal Nature of the New Covenant:       1)  The New Covenant is all about Joy  Joy comes from persecution: Acts 5:40-42Praying and singing: Acts 16:24-25      2)  The New Covenant Includes Inheritance: Rom 8:16-17      3)  The New Covenant brings Redemption The word spoken though Abel's blood  Gen 4:10-11Abel's blood cried out to God (Heb 11:4) from the ground, protesting against his murder and appealing for vindication; but the blood of Christ brings a message of cleansing, forgiveness and peace with God to all who place their faith in Him. 1 John 1:7Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/AnthonyMartino66?fan_landing=true)

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 4, 2021 18th Week in Ordinary Time 21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Jesus became like us in all things, except sin. This is the mystery of the Incarnation. The infancy narratives in Luke's Gospel describe the boy Jesus as advancing in wisdom and age — he developed and grew in every aspect of his humanity. It is in this light that we have to read the initial attitude of Jesus toward the Canaanite woman in today's Gospel. His awareness of the scope of his mission develops only gradually in response to the impulse of the Holy Spirit, to whom he is always open and attentive. Today's Gospel gives us a glimpse of how the Holy Spirit who, through the instrumentality of a foreign woman, brings Jesus to a fuller awareness of the scope of his mission. He is sent not only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but to all. His mission is without confines. Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit's gentle nudges, may we too become conscious of our exclusivist tendencies and be able to check them. Amen.

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)  

Be Patient In The Lord! Are You Patient? Deuteronomy 7:21 - 24 21Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. 22The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. 23But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 24He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.

1 Peter 2:18-25 (ESV) 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.19For this is a gracious thing, when,mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? Butif when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.21Forto this you have been called,because Christ also suffered for you,leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten,but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that wemight die to sin andlive to righteousness.By his wounds you have been healed.25Foryou were straying like sheep, but have now returned tothe Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Disciple Up # 212 I'm a Christian NOT a Victim! By Louie Marsh, 5-26-2021   Intro. Picking up were yesterday's sermon ends, the URL for it is below.   https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/christschurchontheriver/06_The_Gospel_of_John_1-7_Do_I_Want_to_Get_Well.mp3   I'm going to do some recapping of the early parts and then get into the main point here.   1) Do I REALLY WANT to get well?   5  One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6  When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" John 5:5-6 (NIV)   This may be the most profound question in the entire Bible. If it's not then it's certainly one of the most important and profound.   It seems like such a silly question to ask. Surely a man who had been disabled for that many years would love to be healed.   But the truth is, that many of us grow so accustomed to being sick or needy and the attention that it brings them that I'm not really sure that they want things to be any different.   Christ's question to all of us this morning is “Do you want to get well?”   Some of us here today face serious physical illness. But many of us are not physically ill but have allowed other things to ruin our lives. Whether that's alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sexual sin, pornography, greed, people pleasing, fear, etc. We all have to answer this question – Do I really want to get well, or have I become comfortable in my dysfunction and sin?   I have to move beyond just wanting the pain and discomfort to end. What Jesus wants to know is do I want to be well? Do I want to start down the road to becoming like Christ, the real road to recovery.   Is THAT what I want? Or do I just want a little relief from my pain?   2) SOME SIGNS I'M NOT SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING WELL.   I practice BLAME SHIFTING   7  The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” John 5:7 (ESV)   12  The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13  Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:12-13 (ESV)   I make EXCUSES.   I have NO TALENT OR ABILITY.   But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words." Exodus 4:10 (NLT)   It's TO HARD/DON'T KNOW HOW.   6  Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6 (ESV)   I'm too BUSY.   21  Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Matthew 8:21 (ESV)   I use the GOD DODGE.   12  And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13  And Gideon said to him, “Please, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6:12-13 (ESV)   I play the VICTIM  (FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF.)   2  And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3  Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:2-3 (ESV)   Thinking Biblically about suffering, rejection and all kinds of pain will require a major shift in our perspective.   “38So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:38–42, ESV)   “18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:18–25, ESV)   “7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.   16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:7–12, 16-18, ESV)   “21For to THIS you have been called, because Christ also SUFFERED for you, leaving you an example, so that you might FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS. 22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21–25, ESV)   “31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39, ESV)  

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每一个句子都先播放3遍英语发音，接1遍中文翻译，最后再播放一遍英语发音。二、根据英语发音，默写填空，如果无法识别再根据中文翻译进行理解，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1Nothing was going wrong and I was incredibly happy.一切顺利，我非常高兴。2I'm still incredibly upset but at least my honeymoon was perfect.我仍然非常难过，但至少我的蜜月是完美的。3Nowadays they all get along pretty well.现在他们相处得很好。4He was the love of my life and I couldn't wait to be his wife.他是我一生的挚爱，我迫不及待想成为他的妻子。5They had a big argument that night.那天晚上他们大吵了一架。6My older brother is my best friend.我哥哥是我最好的朋友。7It's the most normal thing in the world.这是世界上最正常的事情。8But she didn't give up so easily.但她并没有那么轻易放弃。9I was really happy，and honestly I didn't miss him at all.我真的很开心，说实话我一点也不想念他。10I had to figure out who I was going to invite.我得弄清楚我要邀请谁。11My mom wondered if they could make it work at all.我妈妈想知道他们是否能让它发挥作用。12My Grandad didn't speak to my mom for over a week.我爷爷一个多星期没和我妈妈说话了。13I was so upset.我很难过。14He sounded so sincere.他听起来很诚恳。15I was surprised by his question and took it as a good sign.我对他的问题感到惊讶，认为这是个好兆头。16Everyone was so understanding and told me it wasn't my fault.每个人都很理解我，告诉我这不是我的错。17The real problem was, I felt awfully guilty about it.真正的问题在于我对此感到非常内疚。18It was a lot of work and mom helped me out a lot.工作很多，妈妈帮了我很多忙。19Everything was perfect.一切都很完美。20Everyone was freaking out and opening the doors and windows to escape.每个人都吓坏了，打开门窗逃跑。21I know it sounds insane to most people.我知道对大多数人来说这听起来很疯狂。22They said we were the cutest couple ever.他们说我们是最可爱的一对。23We were so happy together.我们在一起很开心。24He decided he needed to come out clean to her.他决定要对她坦白。25It was love at first sight.那是一见钟情。26They had a long heart to heart conversation.他们进行了一次长时间的谈心谈话。27My grandma was so worried.我奶奶很担心。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每一个句子都先播放3遍英语发音，接1遍中文翻译，最后再播放一遍英语发音。二、根据英语发音，默写填空，如果无法识别再根据中文翻译进行理解，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1Nothing was going wrong and I was incredibly happy.一切顺利，我非常高兴。2I'm still incredibly upset but at least my honeymoon was perfect.我仍然非常难过，但至少我的蜜月是完美的。3Nowadays they all get along pretty well.现在他们相处得很好。4He was the love of my life and I couldn't wait to be his wife.他是我一生的挚爱，我迫不及待想成为他的妻子。5They had a big argument that night.那天晚上他们大吵了一架。6My older brother is my best friend.我哥哥是我最好的朋友。7It's the most normal thing in the world.这是世界上最正常的事情。8But she didn't give up so easily.但她并没有那么轻易放弃。9I was really happy，and honestly I didn't miss him at all.我真的很开心，说实话我一点也不想念他。10I had to figure out who I was going to invite.我得弄清楚我要邀请谁。11My mom wondered if they could make it work at all.我妈妈想知道他们是否能让它发挥作用。12My Grandad didn't speak to my mom for over a week.我爷爷一个多星期没和我妈妈说话了。13I was so upset.我很难过。14He sounded so sincere.他听起来很诚恳。15I was surprised by his question and took it as a good sign.我对他的问题感到惊讶，认为这是个好兆头。16Everyone was so understanding and told me it wasn't my fault.每个人都很理解我，告诉我这不是我的错。17The real problem was, I felt awfully guilty about it.真正的问题在于我对此感到非常内疚。18It was a lot of work and mom helped me out a lot.工作很多，妈妈帮了我很多忙。19Everything was perfect.一切都很完美。20Everyone was freaking out and opening the doors and windows to escape.每个人都吓坏了，打开门窗逃跑。21I know it sounds insane to most people.我知道对大多数人来说这听起来很疯狂。22They said we were the cutest couple ever.他们说我们是最可爱的一对。23We were so happy together.我们在一起很开心。24He decided he needed to come out clean to her.他决定要对她坦白。25It was love at first sight.那是一见钟情。26They had a long heart to heart conversation.他们进行了一次长时间的谈心谈话。27My grandma was so worried.我奶奶很担心。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每一个句子都先播放3遍英语发音，接1遍中文翻译，最后再播放一遍英语发音。二、根据英语发音，默写填空，如果无法识别再根据中文翻译进行理解，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1Nothing was going wrong and I was incredibly happy.一切顺利，我非常高兴。2I'm still incredibly upset but at least my honeymoon was perfect.我仍然非常难过，但至少我的蜜月是完美的。3Nowadays they all get along pretty well.现在他们相处得很好。4He was the love of my life and I couldn't wait to be his wife.他是我一生的挚爱，我迫不及待想成为他的妻子。5They had a big argument that night.那天晚上他们大吵了一架。6My older brother is my best friend.我哥哥是我最好的朋友。7It's the most normal thing in the world.这是世界上最正常的事情。8But she didn't give up so easily.但她并没有那么轻易放弃。9I was really happy，and honestly I didn't miss him at all.我真的很开心，说实话我一点也不想念他。10I had to figure out who I was going to invite.我得弄清楚我要邀请谁。11My mom wondered if they could make it work at all.我妈妈想知道他们是否能让它发挥作用。12My Grandad didn't speak to my mom for over a week.我爷爷一个多星期没和我妈妈说话了。13I was so upset.我很难过。14He sounded so sincere.他听起来很诚恳。15I was surprised by his question and took it as a good sign.我对他的问题感到惊讶，认为这是个好兆头。16Everyone was so understanding and told me it wasn't my fault.每个人都很理解我，告诉我这不是我的错。17The real problem was, I felt awfully guilty about it.真正的问题在于我对此感到非常内疚。18It was a lot of work and mom helped me out a lot.工作很多，妈妈帮了我很多忙。19Everything was perfect.一切都很完美。20Everyone was freaking out and opening the doors and windows to escape.每个人都吓坏了，打开门窗逃跑。21I know it sounds insane to most people.我知道对大多数人来说这听起来很疯狂。22They said we were the cutest couple ever.他们说我们是最可爱的一对。23We were so happy together.我们在一起很开心。24He decided he needed to come out clean to her.他决定要对她坦白。25It was love at first sight.那是一见钟情。26They had a long heart to heart conversation.他们进行了一次长时间的谈心谈话。27My grandma was so worried.我奶奶很担心。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每个句子都会播放两遍常速发音 + 一遍慢速发音 + 一遍常速发音。二、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。三、一定要坚持！加油！1I really want them to be successful.我真的希望他们成功。2I can do what I love to do and help others at the same time.我可以做我喜欢做的事，同时帮助别人。3Volunteering here is adream come true for me.在这里做志愿者对我来说是梦想成真。4she could read by herself at the age of four.她四岁就能自己看书了。5I don't think that's fair.我觉得这不公平。6The man was saved by the doctors in time.医生及时救了那个人。7Mary is a book lover.玛丽是个爱书的人。8But to his surprise, they all agreed to go with him.但令他吃惊的是，他们都同意和他一起去。9Mario loves animals and wants to be an animal doctor.马里奥热爱动物，想成为一名兽医。10How do you know?你怎么知道的？11She still works there once a week to help kids learn to read.她仍然每周在那里工作一次，帮助孩子们学习阅读。12He told the passengers that he must take the man to the hospital.他告诉乘客他必须把这个人送到医院。13A woman next to him was shouting for help.他旁边的一个女人在喊救命。14Too much pressure is not good for a child's development.压力太大不利于孩子的成长。15It's crazy!太疯狂了！16Do you think it comes from a newspaper?你认为是来自报纸上的报道吗。17She said that the man had a heart problem and should go to the hospital.她说那个男人有心脏病，应该去医院。18He got off and asked the woman what happened.他下车问那个女人发生了什么事。19Mario believes he can help him to get his future dream job.马里奥相信他能帮助他得到他未来梦想中的工作。20And they're always comparing them with other children.他们总是把他们和其他孩子比较。21But the driver didn't think about himself.但司机没有考虑他自己。22Maybe you should learn to relax.也许你应该学会放松。23But I want to learn more about how to care for animals.但我想学习更多关于如何照顾动物的知识。24He only thought about saving a life.他只想着救人一命。25Many of them are learning exam skills, so that they can get into a good high school.他们中的许多人正在学习考试技巧，以便能进入一所好的高中。26However, the tired children don't get home until after 7 PM.然而，疲倦的孩子们直到晚上七点才回家。27He volunteers at an animal hospital every Saturday morning.他每周六早上在动物医院做义工。28People shouldn't push their kids so hard.人们不应该把孩子逼得这么凶。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每个句子都会播放两遍常速发音 + 一遍慢速发音 + 一遍常速发音。二、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。三、一定要坚持！加油！1I really want them to be successful.我真的希望他们成功。2I can do what I love to do and help others at the same time.我可以做我喜欢做的事，同时帮助别人。3Volunteering here is adream come true for me.在这里做志愿者对我来说是梦想成真。4she could read by herself at the age of four.她四岁就能自己看书了。5I don't think that's fair.我觉得这不公平。6The man was saved by the doctors in time.医生及时救了那个人。7Mary is a book lover.玛丽是个爱书的人。8But to his surprise, they all agreed to go with him.但令他吃惊的是，他们都同意和他一起去。9Mario loves animals and wants to be an animal doctor.马里奥热爱动物，想成为一名兽医。10How do you know?你怎么知道的？11She still works there once a week to help kids learn to read.她仍然每周在那里工作一次，帮助孩子们学习阅读。12He told the passengers that he must take the man to the hospital.他告诉乘客他必须把这个人送到医院。13A woman next to him was shouting for help.他旁边的一个女人在喊救命。14Too much pressure is not good for a child's development.压力太大不利于孩子的成长。15It's crazy!太疯狂了！16Do you think it comes from a newspaper?你认为是来自报纸上的报道吗。17She said that the man had a heart problem and should go to the hospital.她说那个男人有心脏病，应该去医院。18He got off and asked the woman what happened.他下车问那个女人发生了什么事。19Mario believes he can help him to get his future dream job.马里奥相信他能帮助他得到他未来梦想中的工作。20And they're always comparing them with other children.他们总是把他们和其他孩子比较。21But the driver didn't think about himself.但司机没有考虑他自己。22Maybe you should learn to relax.也许你应该学会放松。23But I want to learn more about how to care for animals.但我想学习更多关于如何照顾动物的知识。24He only thought about saving a life.他只想着救人一命。25Many of them are learning exam skills, so that they can get into a good high school.他们中的许多人正在学习考试技巧，以便能进入一所好的高中。26However, the tired children don't get home until after 7 PM.然而，疲倦的孩子们直到晚上七点才回家。27He volunteers at an animal hospital every Saturday morning.他每周六早上在动物医院做义工。28People shouldn't push their kids so hard.人们不应该把孩子逼得这么凶。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”提示一、每个句子都会播放两遍常速发音 + 一遍慢速发音 + 一遍常速发音。二、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。三、一定要坚持！加油！1I really want them to be successful.我真的希望他们成功。2I can do what I love to do and help others at the same time.我可以做我喜欢做的事，同时帮助别人。3Volunteering here is adream come true for me.在这里做志愿者对我来说是梦想成真。4she could read by herself at the age of four.她四岁就能自己看书了。5I don't think that's fair.我觉得这不公平。6The man was saved by the doctors in time.医生及时救了那个人。7Mary is a book lover.玛丽是个爱书的人。8But to his surprise, they all agreed to go with him.但令他吃惊的是，他们都同意和他一起去。9Mario loves animals and wants to be an animal doctor.马里奥热爱动物，想成为一名兽医。10How do you know?你怎么知道的？11She still works there once a week to help kids learn to read.她仍然每周在那里工作一次，帮助孩子们学习阅读。12He told the passengers that he must take the man to the hospital.他告诉乘客他必须把这个人送到医院。13A woman next to him was shouting for help.他旁边的一个女人在喊救命。14Too much pressure is not good for a child's development.压力太大不利于孩子的成长。15It's crazy!太疯狂了！16Do you think it comes from a newspaper?你认为是来自报纸上的报道吗。17She said that the man had a heart problem and should go to the hospital.她说那个男人有心脏病，应该去医院。18He got off and asked the woman what happened.他下车问那个女人发生了什么事。19Mario believes he can help him to get his future dream job.马里奥相信他能帮助他得到他未来梦想中的工作。20And they're always comparing them with other children.他们总是把他们和其他孩子比较。21But the driver didn't think about himself.但司机没有考虑他自己。22Maybe you should learn to relax.也许你应该学会放松。23But I want to learn more about how to care for animals.但我想学习更多关于如何照顾动物的知识。24He only thought about saving a life.他只想着救人一命。25Many of them are learning exam skills, so that they can get into a good high school.他们中的许多人正在学习考试技巧，以便能进入一所好的高中。26However, the tired children don't get home until after 7 PM.然而，疲倦的孩子们直到晚上七点才回家。27He volunteers at an animal hospital every Saturday morning.他每周六早上在动物医院做义工。28People shouldn't push their kids so hard.人们不应该把孩子逼得这么凶。

Show Notes: Hebrews 12:1-2: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Ashes symbolize: Mourning - Esther 4:3 - And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. Judgement - Lamentations 3:16 - He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes; Repentance - Job 42:6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Death - Genesis 3:14-19 Benediction: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - Now 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.

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示5.fancy 倾慕7.master 掌握，emotion8.feasted 享用10.exceptionlly tough 异常艰苦13.incident，character 品质14.bought15.loyalty 忠诚17.lacked，confidence20.belly 肚22.blank 空洞23.criminal 罪犯，condemned 宣判25.swell 增强27.mice 老鼠29.constantly30.assembled 集合31.knob 球形把手32.hit the roof 大怒34.tinker 修补，gadgets 小装置37.arches 桥东40.novel 小说，was adapted for 被改编41.Torrid Zone 热带43.bared its gums 龇牙45.secret46.gym 健身房47.flew49.effort 努力提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1The car has arrived.车子来了。2He went without my knowledge.他没有让我知道就去了。3It's your turn to go now.轮到你来玩了。4She's a doctor.她是个医生。5He clearly didn't fancy me.他明显对我不感兴趣。6He may be 55， but he's young in mind.尽管他有55岁了，但人老心不老。7You must master your emotions.你必须控制住自己的感情。8We feasted on nuts and candies and cake.我们尽情享用坚果、糖果和蛋糕。9I used to wine with my meals.我过去吃饭时常常配点酒喝。10They've had an exceptionally tough life.他们的一生异常艰苦。11A bright star was shining in the East.东方闪烁着一颗明亮的星。12He modeled himself on his father.他把他的父亲作为自己的楷模。13Incident often brings out character.小事情往往显露品质。14I bought it ready-made.我买的是现成货。15Their loyalty only went so far.他们的忠诚只能到这个程度。16The walls were bare.墙壁光秃秃的。17They still lacked confidence.他们信心还不足。18We'll support you，come what may.不管怎样，我们都会支持你。19Charles got a shock when he saw him.查尔斯看到他时，心里一震。20He has a large belly.他大腹便便。21You've thought of everything!你想到了每件事！22She gave him a blank look.她漠然地看了他一眼。23The criminal was condemned to death.这个罪犯被判死刑。24He was sudden in his actions.他行动迅速。25His anger swelled when he heard.他一听说这个就怒火上升。26It was nice to see Steve again.很高兴又见到了史蒂夫。27I guess there are mice in the kitchen.我猜想厨房里有老鼠。28You say the strangest things sometimes.有时候你说的话非常奇怪。29My parents were constantly in touch.我父母一直保持联系。30The children were assembled in hundred.数百名孩子被集合起来。31This knob goes here.这个球形把手要装在这里。32He hit the roof when I told him.我告诉他时，他勃然大怒。33The machine was at last got to start.机器最后还是给发动起来了。34He likes to tinker at broken gadgets.他喜欢弄坏掉的小器具。35If you lose your way，ask a policeman.你如果迷路了，就找警察问路。36I believe the boy is telling the truth.我认为那个男孩说的是真话。37The bridge has three arches.这座桥有三个拱洞。38There is not a silver hair on her head.她头上没有一个银发。39He has fallen fast asleep.他已酣睡40His novel was adapted for television.他的小说被改编成了电视剧。41Some people live in Torrid Zone.有些人生活在热带。42The children are still wide awake.孩子们仍然完全醒着。43The dog bared its gums at me.狗呲着牙冲我叫。44oh yes?（表示不知情）哦，真的吗？45He leaked my secret.他把我的秘密泄露了。46How often do you go to the gym?你多长时间去一次健身房？47She flew out to join him in Africa.她飞去非洲与他汇合。48The idea came to him in his bath.他洗澡时想出了这个主意。49May your efforts tell in your studies.愿你的努力在学习上取得战果。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示5.fancy 倾慕7.master 掌握，emotion8.feasted 享用10.exceptionlly tough 异常艰苦13.incident，character 品质14.bought15.loyalty 忠诚17.lacked，confidence20.belly 肚22.blank 空洞23.criminal 罪犯，condemned 宣判25.swell 增强27.mice 老鼠29.constantly30.assembled 集合31.knob 球形把手32.hit the roof 大怒34.tinker 修补，gadgets 小装置37.arches 桥东40.novel 小说，was adapted for 被改编41.Torrid Zone 热带43.bared its gums 龇牙45.secret46.gym 健身房47.flew49.effort 努力提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1The car has arrived.车子来了。2He went without my knowledge.他没有让我知道就去了。3It's your turn to go now.轮到你来玩了。4She's a doctor.她是个医生。5He clearly didn't fancy me.他明显对我不感兴趣。6He may be 55， but he's young in mind.尽管他有55岁了，但人老心不老。7You must master your emotions.你必须控制住自己的感情。8We feasted on nuts and candies and cake.我们尽情享用坚果、糖果和蛋糕。9I used to wine with my meals.我过去吃饭时常常配点酒喝。10They've had an exceptionally tough life.他们的一生异常艰苦。11A bright star was shining in the East.东方闪烁着一颗明亮的星。12He modeled himself on his father.他把他的父亲作为自己的楷模。13Incident often brings out character.小事情往往显露品质。14I bought it ready-made.我买的是现成货。15Their loyalty only went so far.他们的忠诚只能到这个程度。16The walls were bare.墙壁光秃秃的。17They still lacked confidence.他们信心还不足。18We'll support you，come what may.不管怎样，我们都会支持你。19Charles got a shock when he saw him.查尔斯看到他时，心里一震。20He has a large belly.他大腹便便。21You've thought of everything!你想到了每件事！22She gave him a blank look.她漠然地看了他一眼。23The criminal was condemned to death.这个罪犯被判死刑。24He was sudden in his actions.他行动迅速。25His anger swelled when he heard.他一听说这个就怒火上升。26It was nice to see Steve again.很高兴又见到了史蒂夫。27I guess there are mice in the kitchen.我猜想厨房里有老鼠。28You say the strangest things sometimes.有时候你说的话非常奇怪。29My parents were constantly in touch.我父母一直保持联系。30The children were assembled in hundred.数百名孩子被集合起来。31This knob goes here.这个球形把手要装在这里。32He hit the roof when I told him.我告诉他时，他勃然大怒。33The machine was at last got to start.机器最后还是给发动起来了。34He likes to tinker at broken gadgets.他喜欢弄坏掉的小器具。35If you lose your way，ask a policeman.你如果迷路了，就找警察问路。36I believe the boy is telling the truth.我认为那个男孩说的是真话。37The bridge has three arches.这座桥有三个拱洞。38There is not a silver hair on her head.她头上没有一个银发。39He has fallen fast asleep.他已酣睡40His novel was adapted for television.他的小说被改编成了电视剧。41Some people live in Torrid Zone.有些人生活在热带。42The children are still wide awake.孩子们仍然完全醒着。43The dog bared its gums at me.狗呲着牙冲我叫。44oh yes?（表示不知情）哦，真的吗？45He leaked my secret.他把我的秘密泄露了。46How often do you go to the gym?你多长时间去一次健身房？47She flew out to join him in Africa.她飞去非洲与他汇合。48The idea came to him in his bath.他洗澡时想出了这个主意。49May your efforts tell in your studies.愿你的努力在学习上取得战果。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示5.fancy 倾慕7.master 掌握，emotion8.feasted 享用10.exceptionlly tough 异常艰苦13.incident，character 品质14.bought15.loyalty 忠诚17.lacked，confidence20.belly 肚22.blank 空洞23.criminal 罪犯，condemned 宣判25.swell 增强27.mice 老鼠29.constantly30.assembled 集合31.knob 球形把手32.hit the roof 大怒34.tinker 修补，gadgets 小装置37.arches 桥东40.novel 小说，was adapted for 被改编41.Torrid Zone 热带43.bared its gums 龇牙45.secret46.gym 健身房47.flew49.effort 努力提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1The car has arrived.车子来了。2He went without my knowledge.他没有让我知道就去了。3It's your turn to go now.轮到你来玩了。4She's a doctor.她是个医生。5He clearly didn't fancy me.他明显对我不感兴趣。6He may be 55， but he's young in mind.尽管他有55岁了，但人老心不老。7You must master your emotions.你必须控制住自己的感情。8We feasted on nuts and candies and cake.我们尽情享用坚果、糖果和蛋糕。9I used to wine with my meals.我过去吃饭时常常配点酒喝。10They've had an exceptionally tough life.他们的一生异常艰苦。11A bright star was shining in the East.东方闪烁着一颗明亮的星。12He modeled himself on his father.他把他的父亲作为自己的楷模。13Incident often brings out character.小事情往往显露品质。14I bought it ready-made.我买的是现成货。15Their loyalty only went so far.他们的忠诚只能到这个程度。16The walls were bare.墙壁光秃秃的。17They still lacked confidence.他们信心还不足。18We'll support you，come what may.不管怎样，我们都会支持你。19Charles got a shock when he saw him.查尔斯看到他时，心里一震。20He has a large belly.他大腹便便。21You've thought of everything!你想到了每件事！22She gave him a blank look.她漠然地看了他一眼。23The criminal was condemned to death.这个罪犯被判死刑。24He was sudden in his actions.他行动迅速。25His anger swelled when he heard.他一听说这个就怒火上升。26It was nice to see Steve again.很高兴又见到了史蒂夫。27I guess there are mice in the kitchen.我猜想厨房里有老鼠。28You say the strangest things sometimes.有时候你说的话非常奇怪。29My parents were constantly in touch.我父母一直保持联系。30The children were assembled in hundred.数百名孩子被集合起来。31This knob goes here.这个球形把手要装在这里。32He hit the roof when I told him.我告诉他时，他勃然大怒。33The machine was at last got to start.机器最后还是给发动起来了。34He likes to tinker at broker gadgets.他喜欢弄坏掉的小器具。35If you lose your way，ask a policeman.你如果迷路了，就找警察问路。36I believe the boy is telling the truth.我认为那个男孩说的是真话。37The bridge has three arches.这座桥有三个拱洞。38There is not a silver hair on her head.她头上没有一个银发。39He has fallen fast asleep.他已酣睡40His novel was adapted for television.他的小说被改编成了电视剧。41Some people live in Torrid Zone.有些人生活在热带。42The children are still wide awake.孩子们仍然完全醒着。43The dog bared its gums at me.狗呲着牙冲我叫。44oh yes?（表示不知情）哦，真的吗？45He leaked my secret.他把我的秘密泄露了。46How often do you go to the gym?你多长时间去一次健身房？47She flew out to join him in Africa.她飞去非洲与他汇合。48The idea came to him in his bath.他洗澡时想出了这个主意。49May your efforts tell in your studies.愿你的努力在学习上取得战果。

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示4.rather damp 相当潮湿7.bound 8.deceive 欺骗10.screaming 尖叫11.acquired 获得12.parade 游行，jammed 阻塞14.coat 大衣15.staved in 撞破18.mayor 市长19.ruined，wheat crop 小麦20.passion 激情21.square 古板24.paused 停顿25.lengths 身位长度26.pulling the string 幕后操纵28.spring-sowing season 春播季节29.bitter 苦30.quieted the engine 关闭发动机32.flooded 淹没34.plenty，absence 缺席35.superb36.adjusted38.bear 忍受41.feather 羽毛，floated 飘42.disapproval 反对44.thick 交情深厚46.at a stand 陷入僵局48.pronounce 发音提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1He dated her on Wednesday nights.他常在星期三晚上同她约会。2He writes children's stories.他写童话故事。3She's dying of cancer.她患了癌症，就要不久于人世了。4It is rather damp in the basement.地下室很潮湿。5He reviewed the whole of his past life.他回顾了他的整个一生。6I have nothing to do with her.我跟她一点关系也没有。7The book was bound in paper covers.这本书是平装的。8It was wrong of you to deceive him.你不应该欺骗他。9At six o'clock the motor started up.6点钟时马达开动起来。10He was screaming for help.他正尖声叫喊救命。11She has acquired some odd habits.她养成了一些奇怪的习惯。12The parade jammed traffic all over town.游行队伍阻塞了全市的交通。13He is long in returning.他迟迟归来。14His coat is worth hundreds of dollars.他的大衣值好几百美元。15The side of the boat had been staved in.那艘船的侧面已被凿穿。16Francine has taken a fancy to you.弗朗辛看上你了。17He got there earlier than we did.他到得比我们早。18My uncle was the mayor of Memphis.我叔叔是孟菲斯市市长。19The storm ruined our wheat crop.暴风雨毁坏了我们的小麦。20Passion kept us together.激情让我们聚在一起。21He's a bit of a square.他有点古板。22I listened to their conversation.我倾听他们的谈话。23The trains don't run on Sundays.火车星期天不开。24He paused and thought for a moment.他停下来想了一会。25We won by two lengths.我们领先两个身位胜利。26Who's pulling the strings?谁在幕后操纵？27Do you know your way around?你精熟业务吗？28The spring-sowing season has set in.春播季节到来了29Good medicines taste bitter.良药苦口。30Boon walked in and quieted the engine.布恩走进来，关掉发动机。31Is she ready or not?她准备好了没有？32The river has flooded the village.河水淹没了村庄。33That's just like him.他就是这么个人。34He'd been plenty busy during my absence.我不在的时候他十分忙碌。35The athlete made a superb jump.运动员做了一个出色的跳跃。36I adjusted my watch to local time.我把表调整到了当地时间。37Allow me to say a few words.让我说两句。38She could not bear me to be away.她不忍我离去。39The kingdom's power declined.王国的势力衰落了。40He touched the bell.他按铃。41The feather floated through the air.羽毛在空中飞舞。42He shook his head in disapproval.他摇了摇头表示反对。43We leave the day after tomorrow.我们后天离开。44She is thick with him.她和他很要好。45I can run a mile in five minutes.我可以在5分钟里跑1英里。46The business is at a stand.生意萧条。47Part-time work is hard to find.兼职工作不好找。48How do you pronounce this word?这个词你怎么念？49May I see your boarding card first？我可不可以先看看您的登机牌？

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示4.rather damp 相当潮湿7.bound 8.deceive 欺骗10.screaming 尖叫11.acquired 获得12.parade 游行，jammed 阻塞14.coat 大衣15.staved in 撞破18.mayor 市长19.ruined，wheat crop 小麦20.passion 激情21.square 古板24.paused 停顿25.lengths 身位长度26.pulling the string 幕后操纵28.spring-sowing season 春播季节29.bitter 苦30.quieted the engine 关闭发动机32.flooded 淹没34.plenty，absence 缺席35.superb36.adjusted38.bear 忍受41.feather 羽毛，floated 飘42.disapproval 反对44.thick 交情深厚46.at a stand 陷入僵局48.pronounce 发音提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1He dated her on Wednesday nights.他常在星期三晚上同她约会。2He writes children's stories.他写童话故事。3She's dying of cancer.她患了癌症，就要不久于人世了。4It is rather damp in the basement.地下室很潮湿。5He reviewed the whole of his past life.他回顾了他的整个一生。6I have nothing to do with her.我跟她一点关系也没有。7The book was bound in paper covers.这本书是平装的。8It was wrong of you to deceive him.你不应该欺骗他。9At six o'clock the motor started up.6点钟时马达开动起来。10He was screaming for help.他正尖声叫喊救命。11She has acquired some odd habits.她养成了一些奇怪的习惯。12The parade jammed traffic all over town.游行队伍阻塞了全市的交通。13He is long in returning.他迟迟归来。14His coat is worth hundreds of dollars.他的大衣值好几百美元。15The side of the boat had been staved in.那艘船的侧面已被凿穿。16Francine has taken a fancy to you.弗朗辛看上你了。17He got there earlier than we did.他到得比我们早。18My uncle was the mayor of Memphis.我叔叔是孟菲斯市市长。19The storm ruined our wheat crop.暴风雨毁坏了我们的小麦。20Passion kept us together.激情让我们聚在一起。21He's a bit of a square.他有点古板。22I listened to their conversation.我倾听他们的谈话。23The trains don't run on Sundays.火车星期天不开。24He paused and thought for a moment.他停下来想了一会。25We won by two lengths.我们领先两个身位胜利。26Who's pulling the strings?谁在幕后操纵？27Do you know your way around?你精熟业务吗？28The spring-sowing season has set in.春播季节到来了29Good medicines taste bitter.良药苦口。30Boon walked in and quieted the engine.布恩走进来，关掉发动机。31Is she ready or not?她准备好了没有？32The river has flooded the village.河水淹没了村庄。33That's just like him.他就是这么个人。34He'd been plenty busy during my absence.我不在的时候他十分忙碌。35The athlete made a superb jump.运动员做了一个出色的跳跃。36I adjusted my watch to local time.我把表调整到了当地时间。37Allow me to say a few words.让我说两句。38She could not bear me to be away.她不忍我离去。39The kingdom's power declined.王国的势力衰落了。40He touched the bell.他按铃。41The feather floated through the air.羽毛在空中飞舞。42He shook his head in disapproval.他摇了摇头表示反对。43We leave the day after tomorrow.我们后天离开。44She is thick with him.她和他很要好。45I can run a mile in five minutes.我可以在5分钟里跑1英里。46The business is at a stand.生意萧条。47Part-time work is hard to find.兼职工作不好找。48How do you pronounce this word?这个词你怎么念？49May I see your boarding card first？我可不可以先看看您的登机牌？

文稿下载 加 公众号 “高效英语磨耳朵”词汇提示4.rather damp 相当潮湿7.bound 8.deceive 欺骗10.screaming 尖叫11.acquired 获得12.parade 游行，jammed 阻塞14.coat 大衣15.staved in 撞破18.mayor 市长19.ruined，wheat crop 小麦20.passion 激情21.square 古板24.paused 停顿25.lengths 身位长度26.pulling the string 幕后操纵28.spring-sowing season 春播季节29.bitter 苦30.quieted the engine 关闭发动机32.flooded 淹没34.plenty，absence 缺席35.superb36.adjusted38.bear 忍受41.feather 羽毛，floated 飘42.disapproval 反对44.thick 交情深厚46.at a stand 陷入僵局48.pronounce 发音提示一、每一个句子都播放2遍美式发音和2遍英式发音。二、同时听不同口音的好处是更加贴近真实的英文环境，高效提升你英语听力的敏锐度。三、自己觉得比较陌生的句子，要反复听。四、一定要坚持！加油！1He dated her on Wednesday nights.他常在星期三晚上同她约会。2He writes children's stories.他写童话故事。3She's dying of cancer.她患了癌症，就要不久于人世了。4It is rather damp in the basement.地下室很潮湿。5He reviewed the whole of his past life.他回顾了他的整个一生。6I have nothing to do with her.我跟她一点关系也没有。7The book was bound in paper covers.这本书是平装的。8It was wrong of you to deceive him.你不应该欺骗他。9At six o'clock the motor started up.6点钟时马达开动起来。10He was screaming for help.他正尖声叫喊救命。11She has acquired some odd habits.她养成了一些奇怪的习惯。12The parade jammed traffic all over town.游行队伍阻塞了全市的交通。13He is long in returning.他迟迟归来。14His coat is worth hundreds of dollars.他的大衣值好几百美元。15The side of the boat had been staved in.那艘船的侧面已被凿穿。16Francine has taken a fancy to you.弗朗辛看上你了。17He got there earlier than we did.他到得比我们早。18My uncle was the mayor of Memphis.我叔叔是孟菲斯市市长。19The storm ruined our wheat crop.暴风雨毁坏了我们的小麦。20Passion kept us together.激情让我们聚在一起。21He's a bit of a square.他有点古板。22I listened to their conversation.我倾听他们的谈话。23The trains don't run on Sundays.火车星期天不开。24He paused and thought for a moment.他停下来想了一会。25We won by two lengths.我们领先两个身位胜利。26Who's pulling the strings?谁在幕后操纵？27Do you know your way around?你精熟业务吗？28The spring-sowing season has set in.春播季节到来了29Good medicines taste bitter.良药苦口。30Boon walked in and quieted the engine.布恩走进来，关掉发动机。31Is she ready or not?她准备好了没有？32The river has flooded the village.河水淹没了村庄。33That's just like him.他就是这么个人。34He'd been plenty busy during my absence.我不在的时候他十分忙碌。35The athlete made a superb jump.运动员做了一个出色的跳跃。36I adjusted my watch to local time.我把表调整到了当地时间。37Allow me to say a few words.让我说两句。38She could not bear me to be away.她不忍我离去。39The kingdom's power declined.王国的势力衰落了。40He touched the bell.他按铃。41The feather floated through the air.羽毛在空中飞舞。42He shook his head in disapproval.他摇了摇头表示反对。43We leave the day after tomorrow.我们后天离开。44She is thick with him.她和他很要好。45I can run a mile in five minutes.我可以在5分钟里跑1英里。46The business is at a stand.生意萧条。47Part-time work is hard to find.兼职工作不好找。48How do you pronounce this word?这个词你怎么念？49May I see your boarding card first？我可不可以先看看您的登机牌？

Be sure to catch the Conscious Spirit Fest October 18 2020 Arizona Bell is the co-founder and CEO of Spirit Guides Media—a growing media network that's dedicated to truth and driven by Spirit—and the host of the podcast A Matter of Life and Death with Arizona Bell. A grief coach and afterlife expert, Arizona is an inspirational speaker with the message that examining death and what happens to us after death is the absolute best way to live our richest, most meaningful lives here on Earth. A rising voice in the spiritual community, she appeared as a panelist on George Noory’s afterlife expert panel at the Afterlife Research and Education Institute Symposium in 2018 and speaks regularly at various conferences and events. Arizona’s book “Soul Magic: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Mystics” is available now. Arizona stopped by on Spiritual Dope as we covered all types of things: What exactly is it about examing death that can inspire you to live your best life? How do you transition from writing for medical journals to spirituality? Different ways to pray & what exactly is OG meditation? Make sure you check out everything Arizona has going on! Catch up with Arizona on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDblWL1H2IZ/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rjRW5oCOi/ brandon handley00:014321 Hey there, Spiritual Dope. This is Brandon Handley on with another outstanding guest Arizona bell, and she is the co founder and CEO of Spirit Guides Media 00:15A growing media network that's dedicated to truth and driven by spirit and the host of the podcast, a matter of life and death with Arizona bell 00:23A grief coach and afterlife expert Arizona is an inspirational speaker with the message that examine that. And what happened was, after death is the absolute best way to live our richest, most meaningful lives here on her. 00:35Arising voice in a spiritual community, she appeared as a panelist on great George Norris afterlife expert panel at the afterlife. Research Institute education Institute's symposium in 2018 00:47And speaks regularly at various conferences and events Arizona's book sold magic ancient wisdom from the modern mystics is available now or is. Oh, thank you so much for popping out today, how are you Spirit Guides00:59Hey, thanks for having me. Brandon, I'm doing really well, actually, uh, you know, you never know in 2020 with ups and downs of of everything. But today I'm doing great. I'm feeling good. How about you. brandon handley01:09I love it. Right, like 2020 if ever there was a a year where you seize the day right you take it for all that you can get out of it because you don't know what's around the corner right Spirit Guides01:20And absolutely, if you're not. If not now, when right brandon handley01:26I love 2024 for what is actually kind of brought brought to us right arm. I think there's opportunity to 01:32Do what you and I are doing on really kind of dig deep and live our authentic lives because you don't know what's around the corner. Really presented itself in 2020 that's my honest opinion. Spirit Guides01:43Absolutely. And just, I'll just riff here for a minute, in my personal life. That's how it worked out. 01:48You know i i hit rock bottom and hit a period of grief in my life. And next thing you know, I'm like, Okay. Life's too short. And it really put the fire under my butt. And I got to step in and live in my purpose. And I think on a collective level that's what's happening with 2020 brandon handley02:03Is what it looks like right a lot. There's a lot of raw files on 02:06A lot bombs and and not to laugh, but it's again just giving us the opportunity to bounce back. And so our spiritual resilience and what that but that kind of shine. 02:15But they kind of shy so I like to start these off with, like, you know, the idea is that the creator speaks through us right and 02:25Universe energies, energy, whatever speaking through us today and it's delivering a message to one of our listeners that can only come through this instance right so what is that message that you would deliver to that person today. Spirit Guides02:40This is man, this is interesting because right before this, I got on. And I do this typically 02:45Every once in a while. I forget, but it's kind of my routine to get to 02:48Get into meditated mode. Before I go on, either my podcast or somebody else's and say, 02:54Let's let the message come through that needs to be heard the most that helps the most amount of people 02:59You know, it's interesting. I've never been asked to to pick what that message is. So you put me on the spot, but um you know i i think that maybe the messages. What you kind of 03:12You said spiritual resilience. I think that that's the message of this year. And that's the message, maybe of this podcast, because that's where we started going right away. And I think just 03:24The fact of the idea that human hearts are so resilient were built in Phoenix's were born to burn and we're born to rise. And I think that it's really 03:33Really important to remember that right now, when everything is burning down metaphorically or literally, you know. So I think it's really important that we remember how resilient. We actually are. brandon handley03:46Built in Phoenix is built on Phoenix's and Spirit Guides03:49I don't know where that came from. That was 03:52That was like our archangel brandon handley03:54Was it right that's it 100% you open yourself up to it and just allowed to kind of kind of come through. 04:02And that's exactly what it is. So, whoever's out there. Just know that you have this built in Phoenix, whatever is kind of sparking you right now. You can kind of fan that and rise up out of the ashes into something more boys than you ever were before. Right. 04:18Totally. Um, so let's let them give some background, right, who is Arizona bell 04:26Yeah, are you 04:27Doing here. Um, you know, give us the lowdown Spirit Guides04:30That's literally what I've been asking myself all year. Who am I, why am I here. No, you know, I 04:37I would have said, you know, for most of my life. Arizona bell is a writer, like, that was my identity that's that's who I showed up as and then a little, little bit over five years ago, about five and a half years ago. 04:50My mother passed away. She was my best friend. 04:53She was 59 when she passed away. I was 30 so that's pretty young, relatively speaking for both of us. And we were very, very close in it. It ripped my world apart. And that was my burned down moment and 05:05And eventually became my Phoenix moment, and it gave me, like I said, the fire under my butt to really step into my full 05:14Purpose and alignment, whereas before I was just sort of dabbling, you know, I was like dabbling one foot into my spiritual purpose and the other into really messing around, and not really committing to anything and 05:27You know, just that kind of stuff. And so, you know, after my mom passed. I did the grieving thing for her, you know, I'm still doing the grieving thing, but I did that pretty hardcore. And then I woke up one day and I said okay like 05:39I'm going to do this, I'm going to do what Spirit wants me to do. So I basically surrendered to that to spirit to source to God to divine energy, whatever you want to call it. I said, All right, listen. 05:52I get that I'm here for a reason. Show me what that reason is. Bring it to me every day and I'll do it. So you know I stepped into service mode. Basically, which I wasn't able to do before I hit rock bottom. And with that. 06:05Came the starting of my company, which originally. Like I said, my background. 06:09Background was in writing. So I started a little digital magazine called spirit guides magazine, because I 06:15I was young, relatively young in the spiritual world and I saw that there was a huge void of spirituality being targeted to younger generations and therefore there's a huge disconnect because 06:26People my age millennials and younger weren't really connecting with 06:31The kinds of websites and graphics and conferences and kind of that that were sort of felt a little bit outdated, but we were hungering for spiritual knowledge so that was kind of the reason I started it. 06:42And that little Instagram magazine has now evolved to a media company we're called spirit guides media and within it. We have podcasts. We're starting a radio station books. 06:54Everything courses and thrown a festival with my good friend from conscious living PR Mona. So we just got everything going on. So that's kind of a hope I answered the question. I don't, I don't know how to fully say who I am or why I'm here. But that's a star, I guess. brandon handley07:09Sure how that that it's a lot for us to work with. Right. So, that is how you and I connected we connected through Mona, Lauren, who was one of the first guest on this podcast. 07:20And you know so super glad that we were able to get connected through her 07:25Checked out spirit. Guys, you've got a lot going on there. Looks like it's kind of a community right of built up around spirituality and. Is that what the intention is just kind of a community for, like, you know, will say for a younger generation. Is that what you're saying. Spirit Guides07:43You know, absolutely. The intention was to build a spiritual community. And even though we are gearing towards gearing it more towards 07:52Visually towards younger people. I mean, spirituality is for everybody. So I have people across the board, you know, but we did. We did kind of dominate that you know 08:0318 to 34 demographic. I mean, that's, that is what our demographic is. And of course there's outliers and the young at heart, and all that. But we did want to make it fresh and hip, you know, and that that was an intention and definitely 08:17The spiritual community aspect of because for me. My personal story is, I was the lone wolf on the spiritual path. I didn't have, you know, I wasn't raised religious I didn't have a spiritual community, as in the spiritual closet, to be frank, so 08:30I did this year I did the spirituality thing by myself. And so I really did want to create a community. 08:37For those that might be feeling the same way. And luckily, with the world that we're living in with technology. It's easier to do that, you know, like we're doing this on zoom right now and and so I'm able to hold courses and 08:49workshops and the festival, even now online and as membership community, so it's it's all able to be done online and it's it's absolutely to have a spiritual community in such a weird time brandon handley09:03And there's no no better time for us so funny you mentioned your demographics, because you're pulling off is right where I started on my demographics. Right. 09:12Right on. And that's and that's simply because I speak to my generation, right. So you're speaking to your generation, you know the language you know on the spiritual connection. 09:21From that perspective. Right. And that's not to say, like you said, there's gonna be there's gonna be people. There's going to be the outliers that you attract but like you're able really well able to speak to that specific group. Spirit Guides09:33Right but but it ends there because I don't do Tick tock. So I don't know. 09:37I don't know how much younger. I can get that brandon handley09:40Tick tock. Tick tock. Some is Spirit Guides09:43For sure. brandon handley09:44Somebody platforms right I'm and I'm doing I'm doing what I do. 09:49Exactly. 09:50So, so I get it, I get it. 09:53When you know I want to give also this kind of premise of what you were into before you got into the spiritual realm, who and what type of content. Were you writing before you got in the conscious 10:08Conscious right Spirit Guides10:09Sure. You know, I think, well, I was doing a couple things. There was what I was doing for work. I was very fortunate to get paid to be a writer. I know a lot of people in the writing world. 10:21seek that out. And what that I was writing for what pays. I was writing for medical journals and medical magazines and medical medical medical I was writing for universities, things like that. 10:34But the big bucks were in the medical field. I was the editorial director at a magazine for physicians and an assistant assistant editor at a magazine an international magazine for doctors and dentists so 10:49And, you know, with my mom passing away, she had cancer. So I was all up in the medical industry going through it with her and I just found myself writing things that I didn't agree with. And so, it hit me. 11:01For a while, I mean, I don't want to get to the specifics, but 11:06Yeah, just 11:09Just the sick, I would call the sickness industry of the of the medical industry and just a lot of things that there were ignoring about actually keeping people healthy and I had to start to believe that maybe there was a an ulterior motive to keep people sick. 11:26So I and I was publishing stuff like that, you know, and that's all up for a matter of opinion, but from what I saw firsthand. 11:35In the medical world with my mom and the unfairness. I will call it of that world I it wasn't jiving for me on a soul level to be writing those things anymore. So there was a there was a pick on my soul that was like, ding, ding, ding, like, hey, you can't 11:49This doesn't feel right and you care about integrity. Don't forget that you care about integrity. Now, on, on the flip side, in my own personal selves. I was always drawn towards I guess soul centered content. 12:03I called it love I called it like I was thinking more romantic love than spiritual, but I, I was always wanting to write about love and like 12:11That kind of stuff. And like relationships and things like that, but um I so I was doing that on the side as well. I was writing for literary magazines and things like that. brandon handley12:21That's fun. That's fun. But I'll tell you what I can. I know what you're talking about with that little prick in the soul resonates with me real hard. I was in the insurance industry. 12:32For a little bit. Right. And I was like, well, you know, you would you do demographics and you would do. 12:40Do a risk assessment on the group as a whole. Right. And there's a sick person or two in there. 12:45You're rich got jacked up with this doesn't make much sense you know these people need the insurance. We're going to raise the rates on them because they need it because they are sick because they are going to use it. 12:53Or industry codes right same thing happens with industry codes. If they're in of, you know, riskier business type 13:00Their insurance rates are going to go up because they've got the they're going to get the most well this person's gone in here. So we're gonna have to race, the race to cover that. So, um, I left, I left. 13:10For very same thing. I was like, for a couple reasons. Actually, one was because of that soul prick right to was because and nothing wrong with people getting off on work every day you know into an office, but I couldn't stand it. I was in my 20s and watching people that were zombies. 13:27Right. What are these these these a tweet covered offices, you know, walk right. I was like, I was like, if this is gonna be my toys. Spirit Guides13:35Yep. Oh, I completely relate to that. Yeah. I mean, look at me, I'm like, 13:40There's no way I can sit in an office. I mean, 13:42I gave it my go you know I gave it my best go but somehow every job i got i ended up 13:48And again, I told you this before. My mom was German. So I was raised with good work ethic. I know how to work hard and so I'd like work hard, prove myself, and then I'd be like, Listen, I gotta start working from home like this isn't working for me. 13:59You know, and somehow I always talk them into it. I guess that's a skill I have but 14:04But yeah, I wasn't meant for that either. I totally hear what you're saying and you know that that unfairness. As I said in that you as you just so eloquently described in the insurance industry. It goes, it goes in every, you know, it's like in the banking industry like brandon handley14:17Somebody who Spirit Guides14:17More like living paycheck to paycheck has to pay the fee to like have a bank account and then you know somebody who has loads of money doesn't have to pay a fee doesn't make sense that brandon handley14:28You know, you know it does. In the end, right, like, but you know we're not going to get into it. Right. 14:34But it's like, Come on, man. Um, so, so you're writing for like medical journals and all this other stuff. You have this kind of bent 14:45You go through this and they jump into the spirituality, his face. I want to want to share with kind of 14:51Peoples. And what was it like for you to begin to lead with spirituality. After what you've been doing your entire life and the Jeff overcoming fears deal with anybody was like, What are you thinking that type of thing. Spirit Guides15:05Oh, big time. Yeah. As far as overcoming fears. So I'll just say a couple things I had the idea for spirit guides 15:14In my head tagline AND EVERYTHING FOR YEARS. YEARS. YEARS. YEARS BEFORE. My mom passed away years I knew I wanted to do it and not even that I wanted to. It was like it was just implanted in my mind my spirits like you're gonna you're going to need to do this. 15:28And I started to get worried when the because i'm a i'm an idea person. So I get lots of ideas. I was starting to get worried when the idea didn't go away because 15:35It doesn't go away. Dang, it's meant for you, you know, brandon handley15:38So, Spirit Guides15:39But I was too scared I was making pretty good money to be creative, you know, who am I to do this. And also, like I mentioned, I'm in the spiritual closet. Okay, I'm a party girl. 15:50On one on one hand, and then I'm a spiritual girl when I go home like it. I did not have spiritual friends. You know what I'm saying. 15:58So there's a lot of fears to overcome. But again, when I got that asked my ass kicked by grief and loss and seeing death firsthand. It was like, all right, you got to live your life and you got to do this. So I basically like 16:13I just kind of like came out of the closet and like didn't like I didn't even make a thing of it like I just was like one day I owned a spiritual media company. 16:22And, you know, some people were like, what are you getting up to these days, you know, but it was it was a leap that I took private privately and probably shocked. Some people when I did it, but I didn't want to go around having to explain myself to a bunch of people so brandon handley16:37That makes a lot of sense. Um, and you're a lot of different types of coaching business Christians question spiritual around to like you know don't have to go share your ideas with others. I'm just go do it right again. Good. 16:51And that was Spirit Guides16:51That was what I chose to do in that moment, because it honestly it made the most sense. brandon handley16:56Of it and then so 16:59You start, you know, I don't know how somebody just goes to earning a 17:04media company, right. So what was that process like did you have to get investors or she is fired off like 17:10On to the Instagram bit or did you find some people to back you, that type of thing. Spirit Guides17:15Now it was completely driven by spirit. And again, I was in surrender mode by that point. So I was like, 17:22I had an arrangement with spirit is like if you want me to do it. You got to bring it to me because I'm not going to go around. 17:28Chasing after all this stuff. So I'm very fortunate that my brother and business partner is a tech developer. So I had that 17:37And I basically called up one of my friends who was a another co founder who became another co founder with us, who I knew was into spirituality and could handle you know some of the things like social media all this stuff. And we just got together as a trio and and literally it was 17:54You know, like guerrilla style startup and 17:58And now the third party left, and it's just me and my brother and we're still we're still running it in that way. And I like that way. I mean, I wish I could sit here and tell you that I had some 18:08Big plan, you know, I, my German mom would have wanted me to have a better laid out plan. But I went with it. You know, I just, we just started on Instagram and started hyping it up because that's where all the kids were and we were trying to, you know, 18:24That's where the kids Billy says where they used to hang out with. So that's where we were talking to, at that time, and 18:30We started to get a following. And then we just launched and and honestly all all I had in mind was to launch a digital magazine. 18:39And because I was a writer. That's all I wanted. You know, and I eventually wanted to write books and stuff. But from that is like all this stuff because I made that arrangement with spirit. 18:48Now I'm like podcast Aston radio station and festival. All these things were like, not my ideas are now they've overrun the thing. So now it's like it's got a mind of its own. brandon handley19:00Reminds me of the Michael singer. Yeah, sort of experiment right um 19:07So talk about what is surrender. Spirit Guides19:11What is surrender mode. Well, I think there's two kinds of surrender mode. There's a surrender mode where we think we're surrendering 19:19Where we say we're surrendering which was me a lot. I mean, I was 19:23I've always been drawn towards spiritual and esoteric stuff so I knew I was writing before my mom that I was writing you know happiness is surrender. That's where you find happiness, but I wasn't doing it. 19:34I wasn't doing it fully. And I only realized that when I did it fully in that was when I had to when I had to fall to my knees. 19:43Because there was nothing else there and, you know, Marianne Williamson, I'm probably going to butcher the, quote, but she says something along the lines of 19:51There's a certain desperation that's required before you're ready to face God and something like that. And that's how I felt. And so to me, that is surrender mode where it's 20:02I am here to serve. 20:05Your like basically I'm using my free will to serve your will spirit. 20:12So it's 20:13To me, that's true. Surrender mode, not just like, Oh, it's okay. Let it go. That bad thing, you know, but actually surrendering to a will, that's greater than your own that's greater than your own ego as well and showing up for it every day reliably brandon handley20:29How do you show up for every day, right, like so. I get it. I love this. I love that. I love the idea of 20:36You know surrender. And it's really kind of how we started the podcast right now less fear talk through you to the listener. Right. And then that Phoenix between now and then there's a. It's kind of like the let go and let God right 20:50Right. brandon handley20:51But to actually, you know, to say it's one thing Spirit Guides20:54How to do it. brandon handley20:55How to do it without freaking out, man. Right, without freaking out because Spirit Guides21:00I never said I didn't freak out. brandon handley21:03I love it. So, um, Spirit Guides21:04But I will say this, I will say this. I mean I I wake up every morning and I meditate and I pray, basically I do that combo and and part of my prayer in my meditation is to say 21:19You know, use me how you want to use me today. 21:22And so that's a way for me that's like a action point for me every morning to state my intention which matters a lot that I'm here to be used for spirits will basically. And so whatever shows up for me that day. 21:38I'm going to do it. brandon handley21:40Yeah assessments. Nice. Right. Um, and then the other part two is 21:50Just the idea that these things keep opening up for you. And I mentioned kind of the surrender experiment from 21:56Michael singer. And the reason I mention it because once you kind of open yourself up to it to be used to be used in service through this universal power. 22:05And I love how you said you know I'm not going for it. It's going to have to come to me right 22:11You said you know what you want. This is what I want. But you know what, I surrender for you to show me the way type of thing, you know, talk a little bit about that because I think that that's 22:21That's very important. Right. I'm a big fan of the idea is like its first of all, most people won't like you said, you know what you want it right you know what you want to do you want to be a writer. 22:31You wanted to start this media company and dig into it, but you didn't know how, but now you got it. Is it fair to say Spirit Guides22:39Yeah, definitely. brandon handley22:40And so this is the point that I'm trying to drive home is that you don't have to know how, but you do have to make the decision that that's what you want a life and that's what I feel like you've done Spirit Guides22:51Right. But I agree with you. You don't have to know how I am living proof of that. You do have to know what what I will say is that asked 23:00For what, when I sit in prayer and meditation every day. I mean, I feel like that's a crucial point 23:07Because we're 23:09I had to. I had to. I didn't know that I always wanted to be a writer because I have that God given skill. 23:16You know, so that's a, that's a natural way for me to go but 23:22I didn't know. I didn't even know what necessarily either. I had to listen in meditation, like I didn't know that I was going to start a media company. 23:30Or a you know that I was gonna, I didn't even know was going to do a podcast. I didn't know the podcast was going to turn into a an internet radio station. I've got those downloads and meditation and prayer. You know what I'm saying. 23:42So, but, and I will, I will circle back to the one thing that I did know is I knew I wanted to be a writer, and I knew that starting this digital magazine basically 23:53would grant, grant me a following. And I knew that in the publishing world today because I had been told this by writers by published writers that you have to have a following to even get looked at basically 24:04Well, and the magic numbers like 10,000, you know. So what we hit 10,000 and then it just kept expanding and expanding and expanding and I was so damn busy. Next thing you know, we're at 50,000 followers and I'm saying to spirit, listen. 24:20I still haven't written the book actually haven't even written 24:23So I'm not going to go around chasing a book deal if you want me to write a book you bring it to me. Now that sounds absurd. 24:29But three months later I had an email in my inbox, saying, hey, we have this book. It's already sold to this major publisher and we think you're great to write it, do you, what do you think brandon handley24:40So they have the concept of the book. 24:42Yeah works on a writer and they needed a writer. 24:45And you read it. Yeah. Spirit Guides24:47And that's the thing these days, they already sell the concept of books, but you know now that sets me up to write the book that I want to write to write the books that I really want to write, you know what I'm saying. So 24:56It's a pause for a second, though, because you know brandon handley25:00There's also the again. 25:04There's, there's the idea of, you know, feeling a little bit of a law of attraction space, making the demand was fear, right, or like the idea of you asking it is given and just let it come to you. 25:17Right right hand to me right if I'm coming from a law of attraction space. I'm like, Hey, I'm here, how to end up here. You're living example of this right and or of 25:28Trusting the universe is another right as like your benefactor, you're like hey universe. This is what I like. You can just go ahead and have that show up. I'm not going to go chasing it 25:40But then it shows up, and you're like, Well, what's next. Spirit Guides25:43Right. And that, that means that means it's for you because you you can go out there and say hey universe. This is what I want. 25:52I'm not going to chase it bring it to me and you're not, you might not get it. 25:57Because it's not meant for you. brandon handley25:58And that's great too. Right. Like I make the lines of, you know, if I would have had a lot of money. When I was younger, or like an open like have liked it. Like, I felt like I wanted, I probably would have died. 26:11Like, I mean, right, it would have been a bad. So the universe is like no 26:16No, no bad idea, right, you're not ready for that. Sorry. 26:20Yeah, and or we don't want you right now, right, you've got more things to do. And that's, that's another thing that I kind of look at this as like if you made it this far in your life and like you're 26:28Still kind of wandering around. I like you know for the for the person that is 26:33So meaningful life, you know, perhaps there is and you know you guys start figuring that out because there's no reason for you still be here. 26:40One 400 what a trillion to be born and make it through like not get hit by a car or a bus eaten all that crazy crappy thing that G and just in some of whatever we know what you're doing out there. Right. But you've lived 26:52And and and and so you've got a purpose and to live it. So one of the purposes that you found is by going through, you know, kind of hitting this rock bottom right, I want to just 27:03dive off dependency the grief coach and afterlife expert aspect of it because we haven't yet. Um, let's talk about how you ends up even there. Spirit Guides27:12Sure. I mean, it's kind of a wild story, um, 27:17Because I, I didn't want to end up there that wasn't I joke. I never thought in my life. I want to be a grief and afterlife expert. 27:26Can can promise you that. But, you know, after my mom passed away. And after I did the really hardcore grieving for for a while. 27:36I just, I think, you know, I had already started spirit guides and I was like, you know, 27:41Like, I want to go train to be a grief coach and it just kind of came to me and I was like, all right, I'll start looking into programs and I did and I found one. And I went and I liked it and i and i just got trained. You know, I just did it, but 27:55But, and I wasn't even 27:57I didn't even know what I was going to do with it. I just felt intuitively intuitively nudge there. So I did it. And then shortly very shortly after I had a medium ship reading 28:09And the medium. Then in the middle, in the middle of it. She's like, and she's a very, very, I had to wait a year to get a meeting with her. She's a very, very popular medium and 28:23In the middle of that she's like, What are you doing, I need to 28:27And she's like, I'm so I'm not gonna take up your time of your reading. But after this. I need to talk to you what you're doing. Like my spirit guides are telling me I need to talk to you. 28:34So we end up having a chat and she's like, Oh, I told her about spirit guides, like I've been trying to reach younger people, and she's like you and then a week later I got an email from her. And she said, I want to invite you to be to speak at this afterlife conference. 28:49And I was like, 28:51I'm not 28:54Know that, like, I'm not qualified to be here and she wrote back, I'll never forget it. And she's like, Arizona, my dear, I have been told that you are going to be a very profound afterlife researcher and you need to be at this event. And I was like, what 29:07So I went to this event to and I sat on a panel talking about spirituality, like in younger generations and my mind blew way open because I didn't know much about the afterlife, other than 29:21My mom had died. I hope she was still alive and I went to a medium to find out, you know, 29:26So I guess the, the, that's the long answer. The short answer is, like, Spirit just drove me there and And ever since that first conference, it was just so obvious that that's what I was going to be doing that I had a place in that world for whatever reason. brandon handley29:43So along with being a CEO media company you're also doing like this grief coach. Is that right, Spirit Guides29:51Yeah, you know, and you know, I hadn't dove into the coaching part as much as I wanted to. Originally, just because I have been so busy now with 30:03And and people grieving everything because grief, you know, grief, there's a misconception. That's grief, just for 30:11a loved one who's passed away grief is for any change dramatic change in your world, which we are collectively experiencing like all of the changes right now, so I am 30:24Drawing more back into that coaching aspect and I'm starting to get some things lined up in that way because I think it's so important and and I've been basically advised by all of my spiritual advisors that that's something that I need to get going on right now too, so brandon handley30:40I love it. Right. So just a little bit about what it means right to 30:45Examine death and use this kind of as a catalyst to live our riches, the most meaningful lives. Spirit Guides30:53Sure. So what people don't know is that there's so much afterlife research out there. 30:59It's not mainstream so we don't hear about it or you know it's not it's doesn't get MAJOR FUNDING so we don't hear about it, but there's so much independent afterlife research outfit out there and there's so much documentation that to me proves that consciousness exists beyond 31:18beyond physical death right i totally spaced out your question, though. I'm gonna go go off on a tangent 31:24Oh, Spirit Guides31:27I get into my afterlife brain. And I'm like, Okay. brandon handley31:30So before I let you go into the next piece of what would it so somebody wants to go buy some information for themselves in the afterlife research. Where's the first place that you would direct them. Spirit Guides31:43So there's an. There's an organization called the afterlife. Research and Education Institute AR e AI and they are great starting off point. 31:53I feel bad because I didn't fully answer your last question, but my mind. brandon handley31:56Told me Spirit Guides31:58But, uh, anyway. So that's a great place to start off at 32:02And they, you know, they are doing research, their funding researchers, all kinds of stuff and and they're just signing up on their newsletter. There's also 32:11There's a newsletter that is run by a couple in Australia. That's really famous. It's called the Friday afterlife report and every Friday, they send out a newsletter of all this afterlife research that's either 32:23From the past or that's come up in the past week there's tons of it out there. So those are the two places I would start the afterlife report. It's with Victor and Wendy's dammit, and then AR e AI afterlife. Research and Education Institute or brandon handley32:38So the question we had was, um, how's examining death. And what happened was the absolute best way to move on. Spirit Guides32:48So, yes, yes, yes, yes. See, now that's a very important question. That's why I was having a hard time letting it go. Um, it's so important because of all the research that's out there, which is what I was getting into. 33:02It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind, from what I've seen. And what I've learned and what I've experienced and what I've researched that 33:10our physical bodies dies die, but our souls. Do not that we continue to live in the afterlife. Okay, so with that being said, the information that our loved ones that spirit guides 33:23That Spirit Guides33:25That arc angels, all of these beings and entities that are in on the other side, the information that can be channeled through them is so vital. 33:37To how we live our best lives. So it's, it's an interesting paradox because we don't tend to think about death or the afterlife until we're faced with it because we're so busy thinking about life and 33:47How we can live our best lives, but from what I've learned is that we can learn a lot about living our best lives from that wisdom that comes through the other side. 34:00And it's a shame that people I feel it's a shame that people my age don't get to do that very often because I'm the youngest one at these events. Okay, like 34:09I still don't know many people that have lost their primary you know parent or something like that, that in my age group, and my peer group so they feel like they are 34:19getting robbed of that wisdom because they're not going to go looking into the death or the afterlife. So I do kind of feel like 34:26It's my job to sort of bridge that gap because there's so much knowledge about how we can best live our lives that comes from looking at those more taboo topics. brandon handley34:37You know what's funny to me is just this morning I was listening to a song, ya know which one I listened to so many um I got a Swami the chain. I'm the 34:49But the idea is that, like, there's one in 1000 that's capable of kind of taking this information right that the what you got. Right, so 35:00You're kind of the light is lighting all those around you, as it were, with what you do. So I think that that's kind of the challenge, no matter what age group is 35:09Right when you when you kind of stumble across this you know it's like you're saying you're like everybody needs to know that you can live this magnificent way. Let's follow me. We're gonna sneak in and and 35:20Rightfully nobody's like I was like, no. 35:23Um, but what I want to hit on though is that, you know, when you experienced this grief when you experienced though your mother's passing 35:36I guess like ripping the veil right between you and the spirit world and 35:42Would you, would you explain it like that. Would you describe it like that. And would you 35:47Would you describe your experience with trying to share this information with other people is being challenging and not being able to accept it. Spirit Guides35:56Um, 35:59Yeah there it was totally an unveiling will say brought me so much closer. I mean, it was even the night, my mom passed away I her apparition came to me and I was awake, like, and she came and hugged me so the veil yeah it thinned an immensely immediately. 36:20Has the information been hard for me to get out and for people to accept. 36:27I want the answer to be that it's been really difficult. Like for dramatic effect, but it hasn't it hasn't. And I think that's because 36:37I'm attracting the people that want it. I'm not, I'm not trying to go out there and be a missionary or 36:44Or an evangelical about anything, you know, and I have zero religious ties or affiliation, which is interesting with afterlife. I mean, every, every 36:53Every serious spiritual or I'm sorry, every spirit serious religion has believed in the afterlife and has after life. 37:01Philosophy and I think that, you know, obviously, a lot of people thrown out religion in their lives. And I think that was kind of like we threw the baby out with the bathwater, kind of thing. 37:10So I'm not, I'm not attached to any religion or anything like that. So I don't think that I come off as missionary. I just think I, I tried to share my authentic experience and people who are looking for. 37:23Some answers to their own grief. They find me and it's so far the. The result has been one of comforting for them, rather than 37:34You know, combative or I don't believe what you're saying. So I maybe I'm fortunate in that but you know it hasn't it hasn't been too difficult. It's actually been very rewarding. I think brandon handley37:44I can see that, especially online. What about a person Spirit Guides37:48Well in person. It's like I'm 37:49Preaching the choir, you know, I'm going to 37:52But I will say this, I will say, even in my because I told you about my history as a, you know, being in the spiritual closet and everything, even the people in my life who like my family who's known me forever and 38:02You know weren't into these things at all. They just by osmosis have 38:07By coming to my events by hearing my podcast, things like that. And now they're there, you know, exploring their own stuff and their own afterlife. And now they've 38:16Had certain people passed away and they're reaching out to mediums and investigating like oh yeah I remember Arizona said this, so let me invest it on my own. So it's kind of like planting the seeds, you know, brandon handley38:27Not 100% i think that what you've done is, is by your by leading by example you've given them permission. Right. 38:33Yeah, showing them that you can step into the space without going on claims. 38:39Right, right. That is a good that it can be a good thing. Um, I like that you kind of touched on, you know, kind of these religions and throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and 38:51As far as I can tell right religions are kind of like this. 38:56Again, just like one of the thousands going to kind of understand this information right and then my kind of wants to do this just the whole 39:03You know, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear right and then does you like Panda hated that lines real 39:11Quick. Um, but the thing. And I think that's the attraction of some of the Eastern philosophies right because they've been so the console like 39:19Christianity bad, you know, the pope did this and you know those priests did that and all these things so that like they just won't accept it, even though, like the exact same thing as being in 99% of the same 39:30thing over here and like these Eastern religions and they're all if you got a contract is out, man. Look what I found, like 39:36You know, so I think that it really gives us people the opportunity to framework right for for their space. 39:43And for everybody else is kind of rejected if there's people like yourself, and I don't like, well, there's this other space. We can hang out into what's been said and all these other places, but you just want to have this different same conversation. Let's do it. 39:54Right, right, right. Um, 39:56Let's talk about 39:57The fest coming up. So this is podcast, I'm probably you know this weekend, which will I know the dates are like 928 or something like that. 40:09But you know what's the festival. Let's talk about what you got a Spirit Guides40:12Spiritual brandon handley40:13On 2020 Spirit Guides40:14Cool. Yeah. So it's the conscious spirit fest. It's a collaboration between myself. 40:20And my company spirit guides media and Mona Loring and her company conscious living PR and so it's conscious spirit fest. It's on October 10 or no, it's not. It's on October 18 I was thinking 10 for October is on October 18 2020 40:36It's a Sunday, and it's basically it's an all day online virtual festival, because that's what we're doing now virtual all day long and 40:45We're so excited about it. We basically curated the event that we wanted to have right now. 40:51You know we are lonely and isolated and we do need spiritual community, one way or another right now. And so we wanted to build something for people to 41:02Unite and people who who are want to focus on Unity right now in this crazy polarized role. And so we've. We have everything from yoga in the morning to guided meditations to sound healing to breath work. And then we have amazing speakers that are talking about everything from 41:21How to deal with this pandemic burnout to energy protection for light workers, we're going to have a medium come and do live medium ship readings and we our keynote speaker is column Adele, who's an astrologer, and he's going to be talking about 41:38You know the astrology coming up, you know, for 20 2021 and all that. And in astrology in these uncertain times and what what what we might have to look forward to, you know, the good, the bad, and the ugly or whatever. 41:51So, so, yeah. It's basically a day for everybody to come together and do all things mystical and create a spiritual community and 41:58And hang out together. So we're really, really excited about it. brandon handley42:02Now this sounds exciting. Like I said, you know, I think I saw Mona's paying off on Instagram. I saw start following it, and it seems like you know 42:10I love what you guys are putting together their talk to me a little bit about the astrologer, I think he's got like a little bit of a baton. What's his What's his Spirit Guides42:17So called Collins handle on Instagram is queer cosmos. And so he has he's he's and he is 42:24He's an amazing gay man and he started doing astrology for the queer community and which is was novel at the time, you know, and but more than that. I mean, he is 42:35He's one of my favorite guests have on my podcast. I'll say that right now. He's so enjoyable. He's brilliant. I mean IQ off the charts and he's he's so fun. So anytime that he's around. It's a good time. And I definitely recommend following him on Instagram at clear cosmos. He's great. brandon handley42:55So yeah, I remember that you're seeing them and chocolate. 42:59Yeah. brandon handley43:00Funny Guy when I grew up. I grew up, like in the gay community, you know, was out in San Francisco, San Francisco in the 80s right and and the one thing that happened out there was like my mom was an altercation with 43:16Her significant other, at the time, and he ended up by children and stuff. And so I ran across it, you know, the neighborhood and got these guys on the bed and they came. I can't rescue my mom so 43:28Oh wow, for the rest of my life, you know, gay guys have a 43:30Have a soft spot in my heart. Right. And it's just been in that community. It's, it's fun, right. Like, I mean, Spirit Guides43:36Oh, there's no doubt about that. brandon handley43:37So it's always a good time. 43:39See on 43:40Where, you know, should I send people to come check out more actually know what before I do that, 43:45I've done this for a minute, just because you know so the idea to have spiritual though. 43:48Is that you get this kind of you for high thru spirituality. Right. And that's like on the on the take us a spiritual dope is about that and then like 43:58You know, what's your spiritual hit right like and it talks about meditation, but when you when you're connected to source where, what does that look like Spirit Guides44:08Whoo. Yeah, there's, there's two for me. So definitely meditation. I'm a avid meditation or 44:15But their original Oh gee, writing, man. That's my space. That's my timelessness, that's the 44:20One place where I don't care if I haven't eaten and that's saying a lot. I love to eat. You know what I'm saying. Like that's that's the time where time flies and I just 44:30I'm in so much joy and I'm so inspired. I'm in spirit. You know that's that's where it is for me is when I'm writing. And so this man I'm preaching to myself right now. I got to clear it more time in my schedule to do it. 44:43But yeah, that's my spiritual dope for sure is is being in that creative zone. 44:50I love that question. brandon handley44:52Thank you. So the idea that too is like i mean i would i would i would say that 45:00You know, create you are creators right 45:03Yeah. And then when you surrender to that creativity. That's 45:08within you, right, that is source flowing through you. Is that fair to say Spirit Guides45:13Oh yeah 100%. I mean, we would we call God the Creator. And if you look at metaphysical principles as above, so below. We are here to create 45:26You know, and that's why that nine to five working somebody else's dream and fluorescent lit room didn't work for me because I felt that called to be creative. I felt, what am I doing here, if I'm not creating brandon handley45:37Something Spirit Guides45:38And now you can be creative, creative doesn't mean writing or painting all the time, creative can mean coming up with a scientific cure for cancer or whatever, you know, using your creative brain. You're in passionate about it. And so I absolutely agree with you. brandon handley45:52I love that you hit on life because 45:55People don't always recognize that they feel like creativity has to be writing painting singing, dancing. Spirit Guides46:02Brain, the arts. brandon handley46:03The classical arts 46:05Yeah, right. But 46:08And I know as somebody one day. 46:11You just got it. What is it that you'd like to create and I'm like, Well, I'm not very creative like 46:14You know you're raising kids are doing this that the other than your training things right, you're making moments, you're creating moments I mean creativity is more than, you know, put a pretty picture right so I love that you hit on that. Thanks for hanging on that. 46:29Yeah, what type of meditation do you do it, you Spirit Guides46:34Got just you didn't do not asked me that question. 46:37I am I am not. 46:39Trained in meditation at all. I'm self taught and 46:44For whatever reason, I'm pretty good at it. I just I lay down you can see my bed back there. I lay down horizontally. I don't sit in lotus position or anything I lay down on my bed. 46:54I play some Native American flute music and I go in 46:57Los brandon handley46:59That's great to write in terms of meditation or a feeling it's got to be done a certain way or like, yeah, I did a really shitty meditation this morning. Spirit Guides47:09I i think 47:11I think I you know it's the keep it simple, stupid like that's that's been my philosophy for 47:17My spiritual path and it's what's worked out for me. Like I and I you know in my company I've seen it all. I promote people that do it all. I'm talking like all the all the modalities and the 47:29Divination tactics and all this stuff and I'm Oh gee prayer and meditation and you know we all just got to do what works for us. brandon handley47:38To so they 47:40Just show us what your prayer. Looks like I always say this because I think of this Norman Vincent feel kind of skip 47:49It's not as good. It's like when he's doing his own in power positive thinking thing. 47:53And talks about this lady testing because you when you pray you don't like out there like a beggar. 47:59You know, you're like oh please give me all these things would you like you demand you know much very somewhere, come what you're talking about, like, 48:07I'm not going after it. It's got to come to me like these are things I want you know. So what's your, what's your prayer look like. Just out of curiosity, Spirit Guides48:13Yeah, I mean it's it. That is a good point it start, the only it starts always with gratitude. 48:20Always with gratitude and and then I do go into my demands. I do feeling that I've, I've had the shift from beggar to 48:30You know, this is, this is what I this is what is going to be brought to me and I, and I've learned that over time through spiritual mentors, saying, you know, you 48:38This is yours for the taking. You can you demand that so I start with gratitude and and I pray for you know what I need. In most of the time that's to take away my 48:50Worries and stresses and concerns because that's the only thing in my way. So I do pray for that to be taken and I pray for the people that I love and I pray that 49:02You know that love walks before me wherever I go. And then I pray to be used, how spirit needs me. And then I say, thank you. 49:11Yeah. brandon handley49:12Um, this will be like my last question. 49:17So when you. I like the idea of writing when you write 49:24With a pen in hand right or doesn't have to be. But I feel like that's what I'm most connected. I like to call it cosmic record player. This is my cosmic needle right 49:36You know, do you have a preference of writing by hand or typing. Spirit Guides49:41I'm 49:43I'm right differently. I write, I write both ways. And I write for different reasons I I write. I typically write 49:52Pen in Hand in my journal when I'm writing for myself and nobody else if that makes sense. And for my own clarity and my own as you say connection. 50:03But it's all about the computer for everything else. 50:07My hand hurts too much. brandon handley50:10Out of out of curiosity, right, like yourself. Once Spirit Guides50:13I do agree with you though there's there's different 50:16A whole different vibe. When you got the pen in your hand. Right, right. brandon handley50:20Now, and look, I mean, it takes a lot to to write Tom by paper. 50:27Pretty fast, man. Spirit Guides50:28Yeah, exactly. brandon handley50:31Okay, so where we're gonna need to go a couple places or warm place. So we're gonna go to find you and the spirit fast. Spirit Guides50:39Sure, I'm okay. Ultimately, you can go to spirit guides media.com for everything that I do. And on top of the navigation. 50:48At spirit guides media com you will see a link that says festival and that is where you can learn more about it. You can see the lineup. The full lineup. I didn't touch on everything. 50:58And also purchase tickets and we are offering a sliding scale pay what you can because times are tough and that is 51:05I feel the responsible thing to do. So we have that offered and other than that, you can find me on instagram at spirit guides media or my personal one is at underscore Arizona bell. I think that covers everything brandon handley51:20No. 51:22Um, well, this event view digitally after the past Spirit Guides51:28Great question. Can't believe I forgot to say that. Absolutely. So if you are able to catch none of it live or half of it live or all of it live and want to watch it again. We will send out a replay of the entire day video. So you'll get to see it all. brandon handley51:43Awesome, Arizona. Thank you so much for stopping by. Spirit Guides51:45Thanks, Brandon. It's been a joy and a pleasure.

Apologies for the various errors in the past few days. Hopefully I am back on track now! I Peter 2 19It is to your credit, you see, if because of a godly conscience you put up with unjust and painful suffering. 20After all, what credit is it if you do something wrong, are beaten for it, and take it patiently? But if you do what is right, suffer for it, and bear it patiently, this is to your credit before God. 21This, after all, is what came with the terms of your call, because the Messiah, too, suffered on your behalf, leaving behind a pattern for you so that you should follow the way he walked. 22He committed no sin, nor was there any deceit in his mouth. 23When he was insulted, he didn't insult in return, when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but he gave himself up to the one who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might be free from sins and live for righteousness. It is by his wound that you are healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your true lives. The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition. Open my eyes to your presence Open my ears to your call Open my heart to you love May I open my arms to others May I open my heart to strangers May I open my door to callers That I may be open you you Lord Open this day and for evermore

2019/1/27 Hiro Hatano Categories: Video: https://osaka.mylifehouse.com/tv/message/seeing-clearly 「はっきりと見えるように！」 マルコ8:22-26 「彼らはベツサイダに着いた。すると人々が目の見えない人を連れてきて、彼に触ってくださいとイエスに懇願した。イエスは、その人の手を取って村の外に連れていかれた。そして彼の両目に唾をつけ、その上に両手を当てて、「何か見えますか」と聞かれた。すると、彼は見えるようになって、「人が見えます。木のようですが、歩いているのが見えます」と言った。それからイエスは再び両手を彼の両目に当てられた。彼がじっと見ていると、目がすっかり治り、すべてのものがはっきり見えるようになった。そしてイエスは、彼を家に帰らせ、「村に入っていかないように」と言われた。 ①シンプルに奇跡を「求める」！ マタイ7:7-8 「求めよ、そうすれば、与えられるであろう。捜せ、そうすれば、見いだすであろう。門をたたけ、そうすれば、あけてもらえるであろう。 すべて求める者は得、捜す者は見いだし、門をたたく者はあけてもらえるからである。 ②イエスは2人になる場所に連れて行った ヨハネ3:16 神は、実に、そのひとり子をお与えになったほどに、世を愛された。それは御子を信じる者が、ひとりとして滅びることなく、永遠のいのちを持つためである。 ③見える以上に、見えるようになった！ イザヤ43:19「見よ、私は新しいことを行う。今、それが芽生えている。あなたがたはそれを知らないのか。必ず、私は荒野に道を、荒地に川を設ける。」 Seeing clearly! Mark 8:22-26 (NIV) 22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” 1,”Seek” miracles simply! ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 2.Taken to a place to be alone with Jesus John 3:16 (NIV) 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 3.Able to see much more! Isaiah‬ ‭43:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 「See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.」

Exodus 40 (NIV)   22Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain 23and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him. 24He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of […]

Isaiah 9:6His name shall be called: Wonderful = this takes care of the dullness of life Counselor = this takes care of the decisions of ife The Mighty God = this takes care of the demands of life Everlasting Father = this takes care of the dimensions of life Prince of peace = this takes care of the disturbances of lifeHe is able to save us. Hebrews 9”25He is able to support us. Jude 1:24He is able to secure us. 2 Timothy 1:12He is able to strengthen us. Ephesians 3:14-19He is able to stretch us. Ephesians 3:30-31If you enjoyed the sermon please contact us at bluespringsbaptisttemple@gmail.com or call (816) 229-7777 Let us know

Worship audio from Maundy Thursday worship - March 29, 2018.Bulletin here, or below.Green Pastures with Jesus is the podcast from Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church of Fairmont, MN. Here you’ll find a variety of segments to lead you to the green pastures of the Word of God, where our Good Shepherd feeds our faith.  Find us online: www.shepherdofthelakes.net or http://facebook.com/shepherdofthelakes Worship is Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.Bible class & Sunday School follow at 10:40 AM.323 E. 1st St – Fairmont, MNpastorhagen@icloud.com or (507) 236-9572 iTunes & iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/green-pastures-jesus-shepherd/id1183522558?mt=2 Stitcher link: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=127180&refid=stprOr simply search for “Green Pastures with Jesus” in your podcast app. Intro & Outro courtesy of Koine - The Church Band. Check them out at www.koinemusic.com, or find them on iTunes & Amazon: Search for Koine. Bible text from Biblegateway.com - EHV.Welcome to Shepherd of the Lakes! We’re here to shepherd Christ’s flock and seek the lost sheep by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all. Come, let us worship!For your convenience, in the back corner of the sanctuary there is a room for any parents with children in need of a quiet place. The restrooms are located on the lower level. Please ask if you have any further questions or concerns. We give thanks, Lord Jesus, for rescuing your people Israel from slavery. We give you thanks for instituting the Passover as a yearly remembrance of that rescue, as well as pointing your people ahead to the coming Messiah. Grant that we always partake of your Supper in faith, as we remember your victory over death and await your triumphant, visible return; AMEN.Clear Teaching about the Lord’s Supper:In addition to Christ’s and St. Paul’s expressions (the bread in the Supper is the body of Christ or the communion of the body of Christ), the following forms are also used: under the bread, with the bread, in the bread. With these words the Roman Catholic idea of transubstantiation is rejected and the sacramental union of the bread’s unchanged essence and Christ’s body may be shown. In the same way, the expression “the Word became flesh” [John 1:14] is repeated and explained by the equivalent expressions “the Word … dwelt among us” [John 1:14] ... showing that the divine essence is not changed into the human nature. But the two natures, unchanged, are personally united. ... Just as in Christ two distinct, unchanged natures are inseparably united, so in the Holy Supper the two substances—the natural bread and Christ’s true natural body—are present together here on earth in the appointed administration of the Sacrament. Formula of Concord, Article 7 (Concordia p. 568)Because He Knew:Jesus came as the perfect fulfillment of the prophetic Passover lamb. That evening, and tonight, Christ gives his disciples his very body & blood for the forgiveness of sins.Background for this Worship Service:The word “Maundy” comes from a Latin word meaning “command.” Maundy Thursday gets its name from the command Jesus gave his disciples “A new command I give you: Love one another,” (John 13:34).Ash Wednesday began Lent. Maundy Thursday ends Lent and begins the Three Holy Days of the Christian Church. Over these three days we contemplate more deeply the body and blood of Christ given and poured out for us in anguish, suffering, and innocent death. We think about the sting of eternal death that Jesus endured in our place; we see the fury of God’s wrath against our sin unleashed on Jesus. We try to grasp the incredible depth of Jesus’ love that would take that wrath in our place so we could receive forgiveness, love, and eternal life.The institution of the Lord’s Supper sets forth the depth of Jesus’ love and gives power to the Church to live out his command. The service begins with the sermon and an exhortation regarding the end of Lent. This unusual arrangement allows the minister to explain the meaning of the Sacrament and the liturgical actions that are to take place so that they may proceed uninterruptedly and vividly from this evening through Good Friday to the Easter celebration.OPENING HYMN: 717 – When You Woke that Thursday Morning (Printed inside the back cover. Soloist will sing v.1)INVOCATIONSERMON based on Exodus 12: Foreshadow, FulfillmentINSTRUCTION FOR THE END OF LENTPlease rise.In this Lenten season we have heard again how our Lord walked the path of suffering which led him to the cross for our salvation. We have also heard our Lord’s call to intensify our struggle against sin, death, and the devil — all that keeps us from loving God and one another. This is the struggle to which we were committed at Baptism; God’s forgiveness and the power of his Spirit to amend our lives continue with us because of his love for us in Jesus our Savior. . . . continued . . . Within the family of the Church, God never wearies of giving peace and new life. In the absolution, we receive forgiveness as from God himself.This absolution we should not doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thus forgiven before God in heaven, for it comes to us in the name and by the command of our Lord Jesus.We who receive God’s love in Jesus Christ are called to love one another, to be servants to each other, as Jesus became our servant. In Holy Communion the members of Christ’s body participate most intimately in his love. Remembering our Lord’s Last Supper with his disciples, we eat the bread and drink the cup of this meal. Together we receive the Lord’s gift of his body and blood for forgiveness and participate in that new covenant that makes us one with him and one another. The Lord’s Supper is the promise of the great banquet we will share with all the faithful when our Lord returns, the joyous culmination of our being reconciled with God and each other.CONFESSION OF SINS:M: Let us confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness.C: Almighty God, merciful Father, I confess to you that I have not loved you with all my heart. In what I have done and left undone, I have pursued my ways instead of your ways. I have not loved my brothers and sisters as myself. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. I am truly sorry for my sins. I repent of them. I beg for your mercy, O Lord.Silence for meditation.Forgive us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Substitute, who suffered and died for us.Cleanse me from my sins. Release me from my guilt. Grant me your Holy Spirit to amend my sinful life. The almighty God has been merciful to us and has sent his Son to die for all. For his sake, God forgives our sins and calls us from darkness to his marvelous light. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.Our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us and reconciled us to God. He has also promised us the power to forgive and love each other; and when Christians speak a word of forgiveness, it is just as sure and certain as if Christ himself said it. Relying on his promise, therefore, let us be reconciled to one another, and extend to each other the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.Everyone turns to each other and says:Peace be with you.Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of Holy Communion you give us your true body and blood together with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. Grant that we remember your life, suffering, death, and resurrection, as you commanded; grant that we daily take up our cross and follow you. By your Spirit, lead us to firmly believe your words and promise, that we may always partake of this sacrament to our eternal good; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.HYMN: 313 – Jesus Christ, our Blessed SaviorThe WordFIRST READING: Exodus 12:21-30The Lord’s Passover.21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take lambs for yourselves according to your family size, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22You shall take a bundle of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and paint the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you are to go out of the door of your house until morning. 23When the LORD passes through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24“You shall observe these instructions as a perpetual regulation for you and your descendants. 25When you enter the land that the LORD will give you just as he said he would, you shall observe this ceremony. . . . continued . . . 26So when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27you will say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Passover to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. When he struck the Egyptians, he spared our houses.’” The people bowed down and worshipped. 28The Israelites went and did all this. They did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 29At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, even all the firstborn of the livestock. 30During the night Pharaoh got up—he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians—and there was a loud outcry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not someone dead. PSALM OF THE DAY: 116, p. 107SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17The reality: Communion.16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. THEME VERSE: 1 Corinthians 11:26As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Thanks be to God!GOSPEL READING: Mark 14:12-26The Last Supper.12On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house that the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16His disciples left and went into the city and found things just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 17When it was evening, he arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be sorrowful and said to him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me in the dish. 21Indeed, the Son of Man is going to go just as it has been written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 22While they were eating, Jesus took bread. When he had blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take it. This is my body.” 23Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. They all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many. 25Amen I tell you: I will certainly not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. HYMN: 104 – Go to Dark GethsemaneCONFESSION OF FAITH: Explanation of Holy CommunionM: What is the sacrament of Holy Communion?C: It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ for us Christians to eat and to drink.Where is this written?The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the Apostle Paul tell us: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’“Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”M: What blessing do we receive through this eating and drinking?C: That is shown us by these words, “Given and poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Through these words we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in this sacrament. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.How can eating and drinking do such great things?It is certainly not the eating and drinking that does such things, but the words, “Given and poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words are the main thing in this sacrament, along with the eating and drinking. And whoever believes these words has what they plainly say, the forgiveness of sins.Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?Fasting and other outward preparations may serve a good purpose, but he is properly prepared who believes these words, “Given and poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is not prepared, because the words “for you” require nothing but hearts that believe.OFFERINGPRAYER: A portion of the Great Litany (composed 1544) Please rise for prayer.Prayer of Approach to GodHoly, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God,Have mercy on us.Prayers for DeliveranceRemember not, Lord Christ, our offenses nor the offenses of our forebears. Spare us, good Lord; spare your people whom you have redeemed with your precious blood.Spare us, good Lord.From all spiritual blindness; from pride, vanity, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all lack of charity:Good Lord, deliver us.From all deadly sin and from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil:Good Lord, deliver us.From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism, from hardness of heart and contempt for your Word and your will:Good Lord, deliver us.From earthquake and tempest; from drought, fire, and flood; from civil strife and violence; from war and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared:Good Lord, deliver us.By the mystery of your holy incarnation; by your baptism, fasting, and temptation; and by your proclamation of the kingdom:Good Lord, deliver us.By your bloody sweat and bitter grief, by your cross and suffering, and by your precious death and burial:Good Lord, deliver us.By your mighty resurrection, by your glorious ascension, and by the coming of the Holy Spirit:Good Lord, deliver us.In our times of trouble, in our times of prosperity, in the hour of death, and on the day of judgment:Good Lord, deliver us.Receive our prayers, O Lord our God.Hear us, good Lord.For the ChurchGovern and direct your holy Church, fill it with love and truth, and grant it that unity which is according to your will.Hear us, good Lord.Enlighten all ministers with true knowledge and understanding of your Word, that by their preaching and living they may declare it clearly and show its truth.Hear us, good Lord.Encourage and prosper your servants who spread the gospel in all the world, and send out laborers into the harvest.Hear us, good Lord.Bless and keep your people, that all may serve you through Godly vocation and ministry.Hear us, good Lord.Give us hearts to love and revere you, that we may diligently live according to your commandments.Hear us, good Lord.Special prayers of intercessionConcluding PrayersSon of God, we ask you to hear us.Son of God, we ask you to hear us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,Have mercy on us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,Grant us peace.Lord, have mercy on us.Christ, have mercy on us.All these things we ask confidently in Jesus’ name, as we join to pray:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever - Amen.CHOIR: Remember MeThe sacramentWe continue in the hymnal on p. 21.DISTRIBUTION: 135 – The Death of Jesus Christ, Our LordWe will sing this hymn in its entirety. STRIPPING OF THE ALTARDuring this time, the chancel paraments and furnishings will be solemnly stripped in token of the Lord’s abandonment by his disciples.  1 O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. 8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? 11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? 12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? 13 But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.14 Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me? 15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. 17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.   Good Friday Worship: 7 PM Easter Sunday: Men arrive at 6:30 AM. Breakfast, 7:30-9 AM.Worship service for the Festival of the Resurrection, with Holy Communion, at 9:30 AM. Bible class will look at 1 Corinthians 15.THIS WEEKFriday 1 Kings 4 7 PM - Good Friday Tenebrae WorshipSaturday 1 Kings 5 9:30 AM - Bible Basics Sunday 1 Kings 6 6:30 - Men arrive to cook breakfast 7:30-9 AM - Easter Breakfast 9:30 - Easter Festival WorshipMonday 7 PM - Council MeetingFriday 3;45-7:30 PM - Family Fun Fair Sunday 9:30 Worship, 10:45 Bible class & Voters’ Mtg NOTESSpecial Council meeting, April 2 at 7 PM.District President Degner will be at Shepherd of the Lakes for Bible class hour on April 8. He will lead us through the doctrine of the call, our orderly calling process in the Wisconsin Synod . . .. . . and the Bible class hour with President Degner will conclude with a brief voters’ meeting to ratify our congregation’s course of action.Scrip is available. Talk to Lisa Swift & see the handout in your mailbox.The Triduum: The “Three Holy Days”The enormous significance of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection has always been the central focus of Christian worship. Prior to the fourth century, Easter Day itself included all three emphases, but thereafter they were distributed over three days of special observance, which Augustine called “the most holy Triduum of the crucified, buried, and risen Lord.” The Latin term “Triduum” means “three days” and refers to the Holy Week services held on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday – the Easter Vigil, an evening service that was the time of baptism for those instructed during Lent. These three days have long been understood as the high point of the church’s year.Since the last half of the 20th century, Lutherans have been rediscovering the richness of the ancient Triduum and adapting the traditional services associated with it for use in evangelical Lutheran worship. Our WELS Commission on Worship included these forms of the Triduum services:- Maundy Thursday communion service with the stripping of the altar;- Service of the Cross of Christ, intended for Good Friday afternoon;- Service of Darkness (Latin “Tenebrae”) for Good Friday evening;- The Great Vigil of Easter, an Easter Eve service intended for Holy Saturday. (Also commonly used as an Easter sunrise service for those without Saturday worship.)This year’s Good Friday worship is a Tenebrae service, focusing on the theme of repentance & restoration. There will be readings from the book of Lamentations, concluding with John’s account of the crucifixion. (By contrast, last year’s Good Friday Service of the Cross of Christ focused on the seven statements of Jesus from the cross.) Conceptually, the Triduum worship services are one service extended over the “three holy days.” That is why there is no closing blessing for the Maundy Thursday service or Good Friday services; there is no invocation for the Good Friday services or the Easter vigil.                                                                                        

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.

REFLECTION QUOTES Every generation Blames the one before And all of their frustrations Come beating on your door I know that I'm a prisoner To all my Father held so dear I know that I'm a hostage To all his hopes and fears I just wish I could have told him in the living years You say you just don't see it He says it's perfect sense You just can't get agreement In this present tense We all talk a different language Talkin' in defense So we open up a quarrel Between the present and the past We only sacrifice the future It's the bitterness that lasts Say it loud, say it clear You can listen as well as you hear It's too late when we die To admit we don't see eye to eye ~“The Living Years” by Mike & the Mechanics (1989) “We live in a time when high self-esteem is encouraged from childhood, when young people have more freedom and independence than ever, but also far more depression, anxiety, cynicism, and loneliness… More than any other generation in history, the children of Baby Boomers are disappointed by what they find when they arrive at adulthood.” ~Dr. Jean Twenge, professor of Psychology at San Diego State University in her book Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled— and More Miserable Than Ever Before “…[U]nderlying all this parental angst is the hopeful belief that if we just make the right choices, that if we just do things a certain way, our kids will turn out to be not just happy adults, but adults that make us happy.” ~Lori Gottlieb, “How to Land Your Kid in Therapy” (The Atlantic, July/August 2011) “We're [parents] always bluffing, pretending we know best, when most of the time we're just praying we won't screw up too badly.” ~Jodi Picoult in House Rules SERMON PASSAGE Selections from Proverbs 7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. (1:7) 1My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life, And peace they will add to you. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (3:1-2, 5-6) 27Cease listening, my son, to discipline and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (19:27) 1A wise son makes a father glad,
 But a foolish son is a grief to his mother. (10:1) 3A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth. (29:3) 1A wise son accepts his father's discipline, 
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (13:1) 32He who neglects discipline despises himself,
 But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. 33The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
 And before honor comes humility. (15:32-33) 12There is a way which seems right to a man, 
But its end is the way of death. (14:12) 24He who withholds his rod hates his son,
 But he who loves him disciplines him diligently. (13:24) 15The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. (29:15) 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. (22:15) 17The eye that mocks a father, And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. (30:17) 18Discipline your son while there is hope,
 And do not desire his death. (19:18) 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. 6Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (22:5-6)

This sermon was given at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Huntsville, Texas by the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, 2010. It was on Luke's Gospel 16:14-31, Proper 21 of Ordinary Time. Luke 16:14-31 The Law and the Kingdom of God 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15So he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 ‘The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force.* 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped. 18 ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. The Rich Man and Lazarus 19 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.* The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.* 24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’

Love God. Love People. The Life of the Cross We have misunderstood the message of the cross if we think that the only thing that is asked of us is to say yes to God’s love. The longer you hang around the complete message of the cross, the more you find that it compels you to act. The cross compels us to respond in obedience and service that is rooted in love. Jesus didn’t just teach us to have a new private spiritual life. He showed us a new way of life altogether. He showed us how we are to live and interact with each other. You know about His death, but do you know how He lived? Does your life reflect how he lived? He taught us not to hate, worry, lust, be consumed with the things of this world. He taught us: Luke 9:23-25 23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Our lives should reflect the way Jesus lived. More than simply contemplating the work of Christ on the cross, we must also be students of Christ’s life and teaching. We can only mirror what we see. If we are not looking at Jesus, we’re not going to be able to act like Him. John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Philippians 2:1-8 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Move from the work of the cross to embracing the life of the cross, the life of loving God and loving people. As we do, we move from being people who don’t even look at Jesus, past being people who try to model Jesus, and become people through whom Jesus lives. John 14:23-24 23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. Love for Jesus leads to obedience. Are you living the life of the Cross? Does your Christian walk reflect knowing only the death of Christ and nothing of His life? We are not only saved by Christ, but are to follow Him.