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Scripture For Today:  2 Thessalonians 3:2“And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.”What John Had to Say About Prayer pt 7The last several days, we have been studying what John had to say in 1 John 5:16 about a “sin unto death.” “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” Then we referenced the five qualifications outlined in Hebrews 6:4-6 which outline the ONLY time that someone may commit a “sin unto death.” 1.     They are enlightened and see their lost condition and need for a Savior. 2.     They have tasted of Jesus Christ and been born again. 3.     They are filled with the Holy Ghost. 4.     They have grown Spiritually enough so they are not just a “baby Christian” feeding on the milk of God's Word. They are Spiritually mature enough to be feeding on the “meat” of God's Word with a deeper understanding. 5.     They have had the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, or the “powers of the world to come” operating in their lives and ministries. We covered a couple of situations in how someone can meet these five criteria. I focused on someone who leaves the Christian Faith and swears allegiance to another, like Islam.  I also shared with you how someone may be in a situation where they must act a certain way and do certain things, but that they are still maintaining their faith in Christ. Usually, this will involve someone who is not in the ministry, not walking in the Gifts of the Spirit, etc. How will you know if someone has committed a “sin unto death” or not? Again, the obvious would be someone who curses Christ, swears allegiance to another and persecutes Christians who refuse to do the same. You see this in the Middle East on a daily basis. But yet, there are plenty of Christian brothers and sisters there that refuse to kowtow to the demands that they recant their Faith. And they suffer greatly for it. Some pay with their lives.  But they refuse to renounce Christ because they understand they are only passing through this life. Amen! So, again, “How will you know whether or not pray for them?” is the question. John said in 1 John 5:16, “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” The best way I can explain it is, if the Holy Spirit tells you NOT to pray for a person, THEN it is too late. They have already committed a “sin unto death.” There have only been a couple of instances in my last 27 years where the Lord told me “stop praying for them.”  In every instance, it involved a fellow brother and laborer in ministry who had fallen into sin and left the ministry. When I inquired to WHY, this scripture came to the forefront of my mind. I may have had some inkling as to what their life had become and knew it was in opposition to the Lord – but I've prayed for others that had left the faith as well and they came back into right standing with God and repented of their sins. They may not have gone back into the ministry, and they shouldn't have, but at least they came back to the saving Grace of God. But why these others was I told to “stop praying for them?” Because they had sworn off the Blood of Christ.  They had committed the unpardonable sin. The Lord showed me that. Then He showed their ultimate destination… The Lake of Fire. Forever. It is a sad, sad thing when the Lord shows you that you need to stop praying for someone.  I cannot even describe the sickening feeling.  And if I feel that way – I can imagine how it must make the Lord feel. Amen… I want to pray for you, right now, that if you have any loved one – or if YOU, yourself, are listening to me right now and you are sorrowful for your sins, it's not too late. As you can see from the five criteria, the people who are beyond repentance have no sorrow for

TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com    97X     PODBEAN   Apple Podcast    webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net     Code: wellbuilttda 15% off   Here's a sharable link: https://wellbuiltsupplements.com/discount/wellbuilttda   Daily Greens probiotic, vegan protein, whey protein, Digestive enzymes, Omega 3's, Performance energy, Performance BCCA's, Vitamins for men, Vitamins for women and a whole lot more.  Right now I am pumping the greens and Pre-workout and loving them both… Heres a secret “I'm on them right now as I do my podcast”.    Guys, looking to get away and enjoy the outdoors? Aug 6-8 join us for our 1st CampX at Astico Park - Camping   , hiking, canoeing   , kayaking, fishing   spending time with other Christian men. MESSAGE US or follow the link to register!  https://www.97x.fm/Events?fldEventID=717295     revolution4fathers.com Jesus t-shirt!  Giant slayer water bottles, hoodies, t shirts Man up shirts… on a cross changed my life       Negative early life conditioning.   The website the mental guru states this about mental conditioning: Mental conditioning is a powerful method of training your mind to work in a certain way which is advantageous to you. ... Imagery training develops and strengthens your belief about being capable of achieving your goals. It allows you to create a mindset that no matter what, your dreams will come true.   Proverbs 22: 5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them. 6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.… 8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.…     V. 5 Perverse = twisted, a generation that is twisted over time.  V. 5 Gaurds = Keeping charge of a garden, watching over the growth of plants.  V. 6 Train up = each child has a certain bend like each plant has different unique needs.    NOW HERE IS THE KICKER IF YOU DON'T DO THIS… we now see what happens in a persons life.  They are ruled over, they are oppressed, they are slaves to a bad job, a bad boss, they will get taken advantage of, their anger will lead them to despair.    so back to our original thought: negative early childhood conditioning… has had what impact on your life?      Now the good news - We can recondition our lives, our minds and our hearts.  How? Through Gods word. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, Not habits, not friends, not church attendance, not discipline… but by simply renewing your mind with scripture. I will let you in on a little secret I do… I have one go to verse that I consistently think on and act on. It is this: James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. This helps me in 2 direct ways: one, I have to pause and ask God… time to reflect and wait. Secondly I have to listen. If he freely and generously gives wisdom than I want to hear it when he speaks. But more importantly he typically speaks and backs it up with his word. I daily put his word into my heart. His word is a light unto my path.  This simple little step keeps me from immediately falling back into my early negative childhood conditioning. It allows me the space to connect with God and not my own natural tendencies.

Paul continued in his letter to the Ephesians to reveal what Christ had been teaching him during those years while he was imprisoned, first by Roman deputies in Israel and then finally in Rome under probably Emperor Claudius initially. These doctrines are so necessary for us to know, and the most central teachings are the main focus here such as the Body of Christ and then the many other dimensions of the Sacred Secret revealed to Paul for us Gentiles. We find these truths taught with clarity and power in chapters 2 & 3 of this marvelous letter:Chapter 2:Satan is presented as the Prince of this world: 2:1The depths of sin in our old nature and his pending wrath towards the unsaved: 2:3The heavenly blessings of being in Christ Jesus: 2:5-7Salvation by grace through faith not of works: 2:8-10Access to God and blessing for Gentiles was provided through Christ's shed blood: 2:13-17And, both Jew and Gentile are “one” in Christ in his Body: 2:18-19Chapter 3:The dispensation of the grace of God: 3:1-2The dispensation of the mystery the Christ: 3:3-4The nature of this sacred secret and its essence for Gentiles in particular: 3:5-6Paul, administrator of grace and conveyor of grace truth to the Gentiles: 3:7The eternal purpose of God — to make all see the dispensation - 3:8-11

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” Matthew 10:5–7The very last words of Jesus, just prior to His Ascension into Heaven, expands the mandate we read above that Jesus gave to His Apostles. He later says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19). Eventually, Jesus sends the Twelve and all of His disciples to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. But here, prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and prior to the completion of Jesus' earthly mission, He instructs the Twelve to go only “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Thus, Jesus gives a sort of priority to the preaching of the Gospel to those who have already been entrusted with the revelations of the Old Testament. That is, the teachings of the Law of Moses and the prophets.Though, today, we must all hear the call from our Lord to “make disciples of all nations,” we must also hear this unique commission to first preach to those who are already members of the family of God. And though, today, the Holy Spirit has already come and the Gospel has already gone forth far and wide, there is still an important spiritual lesson to be learned by Jesus' progressive commission from those of the family of God to those who do not yet know the Gospel.Start with yourself. By hearing Jesus give special emphasis to His Twelve to go first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, you should hear our Lord speaking especially about you. You, who were baptized, have been confirmed and have received Holy Communion, now have a special obligation to listen to and respond to the Gospel of Christ. From there, God entrusts you with the sharing of the Gospel in a special way to those who also share your faith. For that reason, parents are uniquely obliged to share the Gospel with their children. Friends within the same faith community are uniquely obliged to reach out to others who share their faith. And pastors of the Church must do the same. The Gospel is now universal and must be proclaimed to all people, but this passage appears to highlight the importance of sharing the Gospel with fellow disciples of Christ.We know from our daily life that there are many who profess faith in Christ who still are not fully evangelized. There are many who have received the Sacraments but lack the deep faith to which they are called. It can appear that most fail to worship our Lord every day, and many fail in their prayerful worship each and every week. Therefore, it is useful to place yourself into this Gospel passage and to hear our Lord call you to especially devote yourself to the sharing of the Gospel with those who have already become members of His Church, even if it is only in name.If we begin with ourselves, seeking to daily grow deeper in our life of faith, praying and seeking out the will of God, then God will more easily be able to use us as He wills to share the faith with those who belong to God's family but whose faith may be weak. And for those who are “all in” and have truly given themselves over to Christ, God will certainly also use you for the proclamation of the Gospel to those who have not yet come to know Christ through the gift of faith.Reflect, today, upon the invitation Jesus gives to you to be His evangelist. First, look at your own life and do all you can to allow the Gospel to transform you into a fervent follower of Christ. From there, be open to the many ways that God wants to use you every day to inspire others to become followers of our Lord. Start with your family. Pray for them. Be attentive to the promptings of grace God gives to reach out to them. Then turn your eyes, also, to the wider community. Allow the Lord to lead, follow His voice, and He will use you in many ways to help others come to know His burning love for them.My universal King, You came to establish Your Kingdom in the lives of all people. You call all Your creatures to faith in You. Help me to be among the first who turn to You with my whole heart. Please also use me to become an instrument of Your saving grace to those whom You've put into my life. My life is Yours, dear Lord. Use me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2021 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5,10-16 [1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 4And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armoured with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.' 10And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.' 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20David rose early in the morning, left someone in charge of the sheep, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 23As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.] 32David said to Saul, ‘Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' 33Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.' 34But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.' 37David said, ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.' So Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you!' 38 Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David strapped Saul's sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.' So David removed them. 40Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.' 45But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand.' 48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. or 57On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58Saul said to him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?' And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.' 18When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them. Psalm: Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133 9 The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, *        a refuge in time of trouble. 10 Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, *        for you never forsake those who seek you, O Lord. 11 Sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion; *        proclaim to the peoples the things he has done. 12 The Avenger of blood will remember them; *        he will not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Have pity on me, O Lord; *        see the misery I suffer from those who hate me,        O you who lift me up from the gate of death; 14 So that I may tell of all your praises    and rejoice in your salvation *        in the gates of the city of Zion. 15 The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug, *        and in the snare they set is their own foot caught. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; *        the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands. 17 The wicked shall be given over to the grave, *        and also all the peoples that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, *        and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Rise up, O Lord, let not the ungodly have the upper hand; *        let them be judged before you. 20 Put fear upon them, O Lord; *        let the ungodly know they are but mortal. or 1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *        when brethren live together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil upon the head *        that runs down upon the beard, 3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *        and runs down upon the collar of his robe. 4 It is like the dew of Hermon *        that falls upon the hills of Zion. 5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: *        life for evermore. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 6As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.' 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'

WE ARE CELEBRATING ONE YEAR of THE THOUGHT VAULT!Currently, we are enjoying a "Best of " series to celebrate crowd favorites from this past year in preparation for new episodes coming soon! In the previous episode, we talked about the Power of our Brains, and touched on one tool in particular that has been scientifically proven to help us be more present in our everyday moments > and that is meditative prayer, and in a simple phrase > practicing mindfulness. Today's episode we are diving deep into this! I get pretty vulnerable and discuss in this episode the struggles I've been challenged with since I was in elementary school. It has been very arduous and exhausting journey, and something I struggle with still from time to time. Let's start with the basics first of what meditative prayer is…Meditation: is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.Prayer:  can be defined as talking to God, but it is much more than that. Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for Him. Through living a life of prayer, we respond to Christ's work of salvation and communicate with the very source of and purpose for our existenceSo in essence meditative prayer (or as some refer to it, Christian Meditation) is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God / Christ as your saviour.  It's simply about deeply focusing on God's presence and His word. Taking a purposeful moment to focus solely on your relationship with Christ, by emptying your mind of the world and totally filling your mind with His presence and peace.During my research, I was able to devour so many Christian resources on meditative prayer. Listen in to the episode to hear more insight on this. Bible references in this episode: ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37‬ ‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭26:2‬ Psalm 119:15Psalm 119:148‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:16‬ ‭‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬Meditation has been proven to relieve stress, help with many physical ailments, and when we are focusing on prayer, we are strengthening and connecting with Christ. “You do not have a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7The main points of meditation are1- relaxation2-intent 3- refocus on ChristI share in the episode how I used meditative prayer during our miscarriage. And how I dealt with that difficult time. You can listen to each episode's exercise by visiting https://boldpearls.com/meditations Thank you for listening to this episode! Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode! It would mean so so much. Let's help everyone feel better about we are walking thru in this season. Until Next time, “Do Not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Romans 12:2, Go live with bold intention, bye for now!JOIN THE BOLD INSIDERS FACEBOOK GROUP https://boldpearls.com/insiders

THE WEEK OF EXAUDI - TUESDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 10:24-33I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows weak because of all my foes. Psalm 6:6-7The chief requisite for a consistent confession of faith is a firm faith, and it is almost certain that the cross will follow upon a consistent confession of faith. Another experience that we will have, whether in life or in death, is that all that we have done can be represented in such a light that it seems to be opposed to God and Scripture.It would be better for us to learn this from men here in this life rather than from the devil in death. For men can never push a matter beyond our ears. But the devil has a very sharp tongue and can push something right into our heart, making it tremble, and filling us with such fear that we imagine ourselves to be lost and ruined and that heaven and earth, God and all His angels, are opposed to us. This is what the prophet is speaking about in the words quoted above from the psalm. It is hard to stand fast in such a situation.From all this, you also see why so few actually confess their faith in a thoroughly consistent manner. One man is afraid of his wife; another man is afraid of his children. There is also concern for property. There are also those, and they are perhaps a majority, who are afraid of themselves.SL 11:994 (5)PRAYER: Remove from us all fear of men and other earthly considerations, heavenly Father, and let our confession at all times ring out loud and clear, in Jesus' name. Amen. Editor's note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today's sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:244-254.

Proverbs 12:7The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm. (Proverbs 12:7, NLT) 1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.  I Tim 5:85:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  Family is a covenant community of loyalty and love How can we be a blessing to our family as an example?Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.   1. Be faithful in seeking the truth           Proverbs 23:23-24 “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." 2. Be faithful in serving the family.     set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.       3. Be faithful in waiting for the Spirit to work. 

Proverbs 12:7The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm. (Proverbs 12:7, NLT) I Tim 5:85:8Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Understanding about Family   1. Definition of Family      Family is a covenant community of loyalty and love growing together (** put this on the screen when I am discussing biblical definition)         2. Purpose of Family Deut. 6:5-9 says, Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.    3. Direction of Family          Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.      4. Operation of Family           Love & Discipline        5. Prayer for Family 

THE WEEK OF QUASIMODOGENITI - TUESDAYLESSON: PSALM 27The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7The fruit of Christian faith is peace, not merely the outward peace which we sometimes enjoy here on earth but the peace which Paul mentions in the Epistle to the Philippians, the peace “which passes all understanding.” Where this peace reigns, one should not and cannot apply the standards of human reason. This is also clear from the Gospel under consideration (John 20:19-21). At first, the disciples sit behind locked doors in great fear of the Jews. They cannot go abroad; death stares them in the face on all sides. There is external peace here. No one is really harming them. But inwardly their hearts are floundering and have no peace or rest.The Lord comes to them in the midst of their fear and terror, calms their hearts, and makes them joyful. He takes away their fear.He does not do this by removing the danger but by changing their hearts so that they cease fearing. This does not change or remove the animosity of the Jews, because they are angry and wrathful just as much as before. Outwardly, everything remains as it was. But the disciples are changed inwardly; they gain so much boldness and confidence that they joyfully declare, “We have seen the Lord.” Christ calms their hearts so that they become courageous and bold. They are no longer concerned how much the Jews may rage against them.SL 11:726 (5-6)PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fill our hearts at all times with such boldness and confidence that we never compromise our faith because of the fear of men, but speak out clearly, loudly, and joyfully, for Christ sake. Amen.Editor's note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today's sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 2:352-63.

We will always see the goodness and kindness of Jesus in the midst of sinners and sufferers. We should not only call Him good when we are feeling the good; we should call Him good even in the unknown. We will be experiencing the grace and goodness of God for all of eternity, and we will never see the end of His love toward us.Who He Is… Jesus Forevermore! (Easter 2021 with our Mandarin Family)Scripture: Ephesians 2.4-7Jesus, who is rich in mercy and lavish in love, he seats us in the heavens that he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2.7The opening lines of this song speak life and hope.  Come out of hiding… take a moment and find rest in this worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkDqQtfs0w * You and I are made alive in Christ that he might lavish us in his immeasurable grace. Because his grace is immeasurable and on display, your failures and flaws can never outstrip his grace in kindness. How does this bring freedom for your soul? How does a deeper understanding of His grace in kindness provide an authenticity in your relationship with Jesus?… with others?   * What is your reaction to these two statements in light of the scripture studied today:  For those not in Christ, this life is the best it will ever get. Yet, for those in Christ, the best moments this life offers is the worst that it will ever get. * Savor this quote and share a couple of meaningful truths that you learn from a father of our faith: Here Am I, and the children which thou hast given me awaiting the Father’s blessings; and shall thenceforward rejoice together, in consummate, uninterrupted, immutable and everlasting glory, in the love and embrace of each other, and joint enjoyment of the love, mercy and grace in the kindness of Christ. - SpurgeonBut God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  -- Ephesians 2:4-7 (CSB)

Welcome to Hope City Church! NEW If you are new to Hope City text “HCNEW” to 33777 SERMON GUIDE Book of Galatians Part 5 - Saved Sinners Big Idea: There's no such thing as a “better” Christian. Galatians 3:1-14 1Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ's death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 8What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. 10But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law.” 11So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised. Righteousness = to be free from guilt or sin. Righteousness is being right with God. CONNECT Connect with us! Visit the Hope City Church website at https://realhopenow.com/ , connect through the Hope City Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/realhopenow or download the Hope City Church Louisville app from the android or apple app store. CARE If you or a loved one is in need of prayer or care, we would love to help! Simply open the Hope City Church Louisville app, click on "Pastoral Care" or "Prayer Request" and fill out the form so that we can know how we can help. GIVE Our heart is to share as much hope with as many people as possible, and you make that happen because of your generosity. Click the link below to give. http://www.realhopenow.com/give/ Thank you for tuning in to today's service. We'll see you soon!

John 5:118 (ESV) The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath 5:1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3In these lay a multitude of invalidsblind, lame, and paralyzed. 5One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? 7The 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. 8Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk. 9And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. 11But he answered them, The man who healed me, that man said to me, Take up your bed, and walk. 12They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk? 13Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, My Father is working until now, and I am working. Jesus Is Equal with God 18This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Psalm 34:1-7 1I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. 4I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6This poor man called, and the Lordheard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

IX. The Correction of FearYou believe that being afraid is involuntary. 2But I have told you many times that only constructive acts should be involuntary.105 3I said that Christ-control can take over everything that doesn’t matter, and Christ-guidance can direct everything that does, if you so will.1062 Fear cannot be Christ-controlled, but it can be self-controlled. 2Fear is always associated with what does not matter, and prevents me from controlling it. 3The correction is therefore a matter of your will, because its presence shows that you have raised the unimportant to a higher level than it warrants. 4You have thus brought it under your will, where it does not belong. 5This means you feel responsible for it. 6The level confusion here is perfectly obvious. 7The reason that I cannot control fear for you is that you are attempting to raise to the mind level the proper content of lower-order “reality.”107 8I do not foster level confusion, but you can will to correct it.3 You would not tolerate insane behavior on your part, and would hardly advance the excuse that you could not help it. 2Why should you tolerate insane thinking? 3There is a fallacy here you would do well to look at clearly. 4You believe that you are responsible for what you do but not for what you think. 5The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. 6What you do comes from what you think. 7You cannot separate the two by giving autonomy to your behavior. 8Behavior is controlled by me automatically as soon as you place what you think under my guidance.4 Whenever you are afraid, it is a sure sign that you have allowed your mind to miscreate; that is, you have not allowed me to guide it. 2It is pointless to believe that controlling the outcome of misthought can result in real healing. 3When you are fearful, you have willed wrongly. 4This is why you feel you are responsible for it. 5You must change your mind, not your behavior, and this is a matter of will. 6You do not need guidance except at the mind level. 7Correction belongs only at the level where causation is possible. 8The term does not really mean anything at the symptom level, where it cannot work.5 The correction of fear is your responsibility. 2When you ask for release from fear, you are implying that it isn’t. 3You should ask, instead, for help in the conditions which have brought the fear about. 4This always entails a willingness on the part of your separated mind. 5At this level, you can help it. 6You are much too tolerant of mind wandering, thus tacitly condoning your mind’s miscreations. 7The particular result never matters, but this fundamental error does. 8The fundamental correction is always the same. 9Before you will to do anything, ask me if your will is in accord with mine. 10If you are sure that it is, there will be no fear.6 Fear is always a sign of strain, which arises whenever the will to do conflicts with what you do. 2This situation arises in two major ways:1. 3You can will to do conflicting things, either simultaneously or successively.108 4This produces conflicting behavior, which would be tolerable to the self (though not necessarily to others) except for the fact that the part of the will that wants something else is outraged.2. 5You can behave as you think you should, without entirely willing to do so. 6This produces consistent behavior, but entails great strain within the self.7 If you think about it, you will realize that in both cases the will and the behavior are out of accord, resulting in a situation in which you are doing what you do not will. 2This arouses a sense of coercion, which usually produces rage. 3The anger then invades the mind, and projection in the wrong sense becomes likely.109 4Depression or anxiety is virtually certain.8 Remember that whenever there is fear, it is because you have not made up your mind. 2Your will is split, and your behavior inevitably becomes erratic. 3Correcting at the behavioral level can shift the error from the first type to the second, but will not obliterate the fear. 4It is possible to reach a state in which you bring your will under my guidance without much conscious effort, but this implies the kind of habit pattern which you have not developed dependably as yet.9 Although people say that God will never ask you to do more than you can, they do not understand it themselves. 2God cannot ask more than you will. 3The strength to do comes from your own undivided will to do.110 4There is no strain in doing God’s will as soon as it is also your own.10 The lesson here is quite simple, but particularly apt to be overlooked. 2I will therefore repeat it, urging you to listen. 3Only your mind can produce fear. 4It does so whenever it is conflicted in what it wills, thus producing inevitable strain because willing and doing become discordant.111 5This cannot be corrected by better doing. 6But it can be corrected by higher willing.11 The first corrective step is knowing it is fear. 2After taking this step, you might benefit temporarily by adding another step before going on with the corrective process: Try saying to yourself that you must have willed not to love somehow or somewhere, or the fear which arises from behavior-will conflict could not have happened. 3Then follow the previous instructions.11212 If you consider what the process really means, it is nothing more than a series of pragmatic steps in the larger process of accepting the Atonement as the remedy. 2From this viewpoint, the steps can be reworded as follows:1. 3Know first this is fear.2. 4Fear arises from lack of love.3. 5The only remedy for lack of love is perfect love.4. 6Perfect love is the Atonement.7The final procedural step is inherent in the last statement.113 8We have emphasized that the miracle, or the expression of Atonement, is always a sign of real respect from the worthy to the worthy.114 9This worth is reestablished by the Atonement.13 It is obvious, then, that when you are afraid, you have placed yourself in a position where you need Atonement because you have done something loveless, having willed without love. 2This is precisely the situation for which the Atonement was offered. 3The need for the remedy inspired its establishment. 4As long as you recognize only the need for the remedy, you will remain fearful. 5However, as soon as you use the remedy, you have also abolished the fear. 6This is how true healing occurs.14 It may help if you say this prayer to me:2I would like to pray that my will be united with thine, recognizing that thy perfect love will suffice (or correct) for my imperfect love.3I pray that I may accept the Atonement with conviction, recognizing its inestimable worth, and my own divine worth as part of this identification with thine.4I pray that my fear be replaced by an active sense of thy love, and thy continual willingness to help me overcome the split or divided will which is responsible for my difficulty with this.5I accept the divinity of the messages I have received,115 and affirm my will in both accepting and acting upon the Atonement principle.6Here I am.15 The major problem that you have is the continuing split will, which naturally interferes with your true identification. 2To the extent that you hold onto this split, it will take longer to get through and will markedly interfere with your own integration efforts. 3Reliance has to be placed on me, which is sufficient once you do this without distantiation or division in loyalties. 4This will be strengthened through a continual affirmation of the goal you want to achieve and an awareness of its inevitability. 5In this way, you will perceive and know your true worth, and the importance of maintaining a complete identification.

Proverbs 23:7The power of our thoughts can create complete confusion or complete control. The choice is entirely up to us.~Pastor Rodney Harrell

VIII. The Sole Responsibility of the Miracle WorkerWe said in a previous section that the miracle is an expression of miracle-mindedness.97 2Miracle-mindedness merely means right-mindedness in the sense that we are now using it. 3Right-mindedness neither exalts nor depreciates the mind of the miracle worker or of the miracle receiver. 4However, as a creative act, the miracle need not await the right-mindedness of the receiver. 5In fact, its purpose is to restore him to his right mind. 6But it is essential that the miracle worker be in his right mind, or he will be unable to reestablish right-mindedness in someone else.2 The healer who relies on his own readiness is endangering his understanding. 2He is perfectly safe as long as he is completely unconcerned about his readiness, but maintains a consistent trust in mine. 3Errors of this kind produce some very erratic behavior, which usually points up an underlying unwillingness to cooperate. 4These errors inevitably introduce inefficiency into the miracle worker’s behavior and temporarily disrupt his miracle-mindedness. 3 We have established that for all corrective processes, the first step is know that this is fear.99 2Unless fear had entered, the corrective procedure would never have become necessary. 3If your miracle-working propensities are not working, it is always because fear has intruded on your right-mindedness and has literally upset it (i.e., turned it upside down).4 All forms of not-right-mindedness are the result of refusal to accept the Atonement for yourself. 2If the miracle worker does accept it, he places himself in the position to recognize that those who need to be healed are simply those who have not done so. 3When you feel the vast radiation range of your own inner illumination, it will be because you are aware that your right-mindedness is healing.1005 The sole responsibility of the miracle worker is to accept Atonement himself. 2This means that he knows that mind is the only creative level, and that its errors are healed by the Atonement. 3Once he accepts this, his mind can only heal. 4By denying his mind any destructive potential and reinstating its purely constructive powers, he has placed himself in a position where he can undo the level confusion of others. 5The message which he then gives to others is the truth that their minds are really similarly constructive, and that their own miscreations cannot hurt them.6 By affirming this, the miracle worker releases the mind from overevaluating its own learning device (the body), and restores the mind to its true position as the learner. 2It should be re-emphasized that the body does not learn, any more than it creates.101 3As a learning device, it merely follows the learner, but if it is falsely endowed with self-initiative, it becomes a serious obstruction to the learning it should facilitate.7 Only the mind is capable of illumination. 2Spirit is already illuminated, and the body in itself is too dense. 3The mind, however, can bring its own illumination to the body by recognizing that density is the opposite of intelligence, and therefore unamenable to independent learning. 4It is, however, easily brought into alignment with a mind which has learned to look beyond density toward light.8 Corrective learning always begins with awakening the spiritual eye, and turning away from belief in physical sight. 2The reason this entails fear is because you are afraid of what your spiritual eye will see, which was why you closed it in the first place. 3We said before that the spiritual eye cannot see error, and is capable only of looking beyond it to the defense of Atonement.102 4There is no doubt that the spiritual eye does produce extreme discomfort by what it sees. 5The thing that you forget is that the discomfort is not the final outcome of its perception. 6When the spiritual eye is permitted to look upon the defilement of the altar, it also looks immediately toward Atonement. 7Nothing which the spiritual eye perceives can induce fear. 8Everything that results from accurate spiritual awareness merely is channelized toward correction. 9Discomfort is aroused only to bring the need to correct forcibly into awareness.9 What the physical eye sees is not corrective, nor can it be properly corrected by any device which can be physically seen. 2As long as you believe in what your physical sight tells you, all your corrective behavior will be misdirected. 3The reason why the real vision is obscured is because you cannot endure to see your own defiled altar. 4But since the altar has been defiled, this fact becomes doubly dangerous unless it is perceived. 5This perception is totally nonthreatening because of the Atonement. 6The fear of healing arises in the end from an unwillingness to accept the unequivocal fact that healing is necessary. 7The fear arises because of the necessary willingness to look at what you have done to yourself.10 Healing was an ability which was lent to human beings after the separation, before which it was completely unnecessary. 2Like all aspects of the space-time belief, healing ability is temporary. 3However, as long as time persists, healing remains among the stronger human protections. 4This is because healing always rests on charity, and charity is a way of perceiving the true perfection of another, even if he cannot perceive it himself. 5Most of the loftier concepts of which humanity is capable now are time-dependent. 6Charity is really a weaker reflection of a much more powerful love-encompassment which is far beyond any form of charity that humanity can conceive of as yet. 7Charity is essential to right-mindedness, in the limited sense in which right-mindedness can now be attained.11 Charity is a way of looking at another as if he had already gone far beyond his actual accomplishment in time. 2Since his own thinking is faulty, he cannot see the Atonement himself, or he would have no need for charity at all. 3The charity which is accorded him is both an acknowledgment that he is weak and a recognition that he could be stronger. 4The way in which both of these beliefs are stated clearly implies their dependence on time, making it quite apparent that charity lies within the framework of human limitations, though toward the higher levels.12 We said before that only revelation transcends time.103 2The miracle, as an expression of true human charity, can only shorten it at best. 3It must be understood, however, that whenever you offer a miracle to another, you are shortening the suffering of both. 4This introduces a correction into the record, which corrects retroactively as well as progressively.

VII. The Miracle as the Means of HealingThe new emphasis will now be on healing. 2The miracle is the means, the Atonement the principle, and the healing is the result. 3Those who speak of “the miracle of healing” are combining two orders of reality inappropriately. 4Healing is not a miracle. 5The Atonement, or the final miracle, is purely a means, while any type of healing is a result.2 Atonement is the remedy. 2The degree of error to which it is applied is irrelevant. 3Essentially, all healing is the release from fear. 4But to undertake this you cannot be fearful yourself. 5You do not understand healing because of your own fear. 6I have been hinting throughout that you must heal others.89 7The reason is that their healing merely witnesses to yours.3 A major step in the Atonement plan is to undo error at all levels. 2Illness, which is really “not-right-mindedness,” is the result of level confusion in the sense that it always entails the belief that what is amiss in one level can adversely affect another. 3We have constantly referred to miracles as the means of correcting level confusion.90 4In reality, all mistakes must be corrected at the level at which they occur.4 Only the mind is capable of error. 2The body can act erroneously, but this is only because it has responded to misthought. 3The body cannot create, and to believe that it can, a fundamental error responsible for most of the fallacies already referred to, produces all physical symptoms.5 All physical illness represents a belief in magic. 2The whole distortion which made magic rested on the belief that there is a creative ability in matter, which can control the mind. 3This fallacy can work either way; that is, it can be believed either that the mind can miscreate in the body or that the body can miscreate in the mind. 4If it can be made clear that the mind, which is the only level of causation, cannot generate effects beyond itself, then neither confusion need occur.6 The reason why only the mind can make or create is more obvious than may be immediately apparent. 2Spirit has been created. 3The body is a learning device for the mind. 4Learning devices are not lessons in themselves. 5Their purpose is merely to facilitate the thinking of the learner. 6The most that a faulty use of a learning device can do is to fail to facilitate learning. 7It does not have the power in itself to introduce actual learning errors.91 8The body, if properly understood, shares the invulnerability of the Atonement to two-edged application. 9This is not because the body is a miracle, but because it is not inherently open to misinterpretation.7 The body is merely a fact in this world. 2Its abilities can be, and frequently are, overevaluated. 3However, it is almost impossible to deny its existence in this world. 4Those who do are engaging in a particularly unworthy form of denial. 5The use of the word “unworthy” here implies simply that it is not necessary to protect the mind by denying the unmindful. 6There is little doubt that the mind can miscreate. 7If one denies this unfortunate aspect of its power, one is also denying the power itself.928 All material means which you accept as remedies for bodily ills are simply restatements of magic principles. 2It was the first level of the error to believe that the body created its own illness. 3Thereafter, it is a second misstep to attempt to heal it through noncreative agents. 4It does not follow, however, that the application of these very weak corrective devices is evil. 5Sometimes the illness has sufficiently great a hold over an individual’s mind to render him inaccessible to Atonement. 6In this case, one may be wise to utilize a compromise approach to mind and body, in which something from the outside is temporarily given healing belief.9 This is because the last thing that can help the non-right-minded (or the sick) is an increase in fear. 2They are already in a fear-weakened state. 3If they are inappropriately exposed to a straight and undiluted miracle, they may be precipitated into panic. 4This is particularly likely to occur when upside-down perception has induced the belief that miracles are frightening.10 The value of the Atonement does not lie in the manner in which it is expressed. 2In fact, if it is truly used it will inevitably be expressed in whatever way is most helpful to the receiver, not the giver. 3This means that a miracle, to attain its full efficacy, must be expressed in a language which the recipient can understand without fear. 4It does not follow by any means that this is the highest level of communication of which he is capable. 5But it does mean that it is the highest level of communication of which he is capable now. 6The whole aim of the miracle is to raise the level of communication, not to impose regression (in the improper sense) upon it.11 Before it is safe to let miracle workers loose in this world, it is essential that they understand fully the fear of release. 2Otherwise, they may unwittingly foster the belief that release is imprisonment, which is very prevalent. 3This misperception arose from the attempted protection device (or misused defense) that harm can be limited to the body. 4This was because of the much greater fear (which this one counteracts) that the mind can hurt itself.93 5Neither error is really meaningful, because the miscreations of the mind do not really exist. 6That recognition is a far better protection device than any form of level confusion, because of the advantages of introducing correction at the level of the error.12 It is essential that the remembrance remain with you that only mind can make or create. 2Implicit in this is the corollary that correction belongs at the thought level and not at either level to which correction is inapplicable. 3To repeat an earlier statement, and also to extend it somewhat, spirit is already perfect and therefore does not require correction. 4The body does not really exist, except as a learning device for the mind. 5This learning device is not subject to errors of its own, because it was made but does not make.94 6It should be obvious, then, that correcting the maker (or inducing it to give up miscreation) is the only application of creative power which is inherently meaningful at all.13 We said before that magic is essentially mindless, or the destructive (miscreative) use of mind.95 2Physical medicines are a form of “spells.” 3In one way, they are a more benign form, in that they do not entail the possession fallacy, which does enter when a mind believes that it can possess another. 4Since this is considerably less dangerous, though still incorrect, it has its advantages.96 5It is particularly helpful to the therapist who really wants to heal, but is still fearful himself. 6By using physical means to do so, he is not engaging in any form of enslavement, even though he is not applying the Atonement. 7This means that his mind is dulled by fear, but is not actively engaged in distortion.14 Those who are afraid of using the mind to heal are right in avoiding it, because the very fact that they are afraid has made them vulnerable to miscreation. 2They are therefore likely to misunderstand any healing they might induce and, because egocentricity and fear usually occur together, may be unable to accept the real Source of the healing. 3Under these conditions, it is safer for them to rely temporarily on physical healing devices, because they cannot misperceive them as their own creations. 4As long as their own vulnerability persists, it is essential to preserve them from even attempting miracles.

THE WEEK OF INVOCAVIT - THURSDAYLESSON: EPHESIANS 6:10-17Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” Matthew 4:7The devil's second temptation is quite different from the first one but quite similar to it in its absurdity.Here the devil teaches us to tempt God, just as he urged Christ to throw Himself from a pinnacle of the temple. This was quite unnecessary in any case, because there would probably have been a good set of stairs available on which He could have climbed down. That the devil here tried to induce Christ to a temptation of God is quite clear from Christ's reply.Wherever the devil comes upon a heart that trusts God in the hour of want and need, he quickly abandons concerns for bodily welfare and greed and makes his assault from quite a different angle. “If you want to be all spiritual and trusting,” he says, “I'll give you some help.” He proceeds to come at you from another direction: he tries to get you to put your faith into something that God has not commanded you to believe and does not want you to believe.It may be that God has supplied your house with bread, as He does annually throughout the whole world, and you refuse to make use of it, making want and need for yourself, declaring, “We are to put our faith in God. I will not eat the bread but wait till God sends me bread from heaven.” That would be tempting God. For He does not tell you that you must still hope for what you already have and keep on working for it. How can you hope for something you already have?SL.XI.539,17-18AE 76,370-71PRAYER: Lord God, heavenly Father, our old evil foe, the devil, was cunning enough and brazen enough to attack even your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. When he tempts us into unbelief and wrong beliefs, you have shown in our Son's example how to overcome the devil's temptations. Grant us your grace and strength to do this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

III. The Proper Use of Denial48When you are afraid of anything, you are acknowledging its power to hurt you. 2Remember that where your heart is, there is your treasure also.49 3This means that you believe in what you value. 4If you are afraid, you are valuing wrongly. 5Human understanding will inevitably value wrongly, and by endowing all human thoughts with equal power will inevitably destroy peace. 6That is why the Bible speaks of the peace of God which passeth (human) understanding.50 7This peace is totally incapable of being shaken by human errors of any kind. 8It denies the ability of anything which is not of God to affect you in any way.2 This is the proper use of denial. 2It is not used to hide anything, but it is used to correct error. 3It brings all error into the light, and since error and darkness are the same, it abolishes error automatically. 4True denial is a very powerful protective device. 5You can and should deny any belief that error can hurt you. 6This kind of denial is not a concealment device but a correction device. 7The right mind of the mentally healthy depends on it.3 You can do anything I ask. 2I have asked you to perform miracles, and have made it very clear that these are natural, corrective, healing, and universal.51 3There is nothing good they cannot do. 4But they cannot be performed in the spirit of doubt. 5You have asked yourself why you cannot really incorporate my words. 6But remember my own question before you ask yours: “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”524 The idea of cannibalism in connection with the Sacrament is a reflection of a distorted view of sharing.53 2I told you before that the word “thirst” in connection with the Spirit was used because of the limited understanding of those to whom I spoke. 3I also told you not to use it.54 4The same holds for expressions like “feeding on.” 5Symbiosis is misunderstood by the mentally ill, who do use it in that way.555 But I also told you that you must recognize your total dependence on God, a statement which you may not have liked.56 2God and the Sons He created are symbiotically related. 3They are completely dependent on each other. 4The creation of the Son himself has already been perfectly accomplished, but the creation by Sons has not. 5God created Sons so He could depend on them because He created them perfectly. 6He gave them His peace so they would not be shaken and would be unable to be deceived.6 Whenever you are afraid, you are deceived. 2Your mind is not serving your soul. 3This literally starves the soul by denying its daily bread.57 4In this connection, there is a poem about the Holy Family that says:5Where tricks of words are never said,And Mercy is as plain as bread.587 God offers only mercy. 2Your own words should always reflect only mercy, because that is what you have received and that is what you should give. 3Justice is a temporary expedient, or an attempt to teach you the meaning of mercy. 4Its judgmental side arises only because you are capable of injustice if that is what your mind makes.8 You are afraid of God’s will because you have used your own will, which He created in the likeness of His Own, to miscreate.59 2What you do not realize is that the mind can miscreate only when it is not free. 3An imprisoned mind is not free by definition. 4It is possessed, or held back, by itself. 5Its will is therefore limited, and not free to assert itself.9 It is all right to remember the past, provided you also remember that anything you suffer is because of your own errors. 2As an analogy, imagine a very young child who falls down the stairs when an adult has her arms open in welcome at the bottom of the stairs, and who then develops a totally unwarranted fear of that adult. 3The misstep which causes the child’s fall has nothing at all to do with the adult, just as your own missteps have nothing at all to do with me.10 Denial of error is a very powerful defense of truth. 2We have slowly been shifting the emphasis from the negative to the positive use of denial. 3Remember, we have already stated that denial is not a purely negative device; it results in positive miscreation.60 4That is the way the mentally ill do employ it. 5But remember this thought: Never underestimate the power of denial. 6In the service of the right mind, the denial of error frees the mind and reestablishes the freedom of the will. 7When the will is really free it cannot miscreate because it recognizes only truth.11 False projection arises out of false denial, not out of its proper use. 2My own role in the Atonement is one of true projection; that is, I can “project” (or extend) to you the affirmation of truth. 3If you project error to me (or to yourself) you are interfering with the process. 4My use of projection, which can also be yours, is not based on faulty denial. 5But it does involve the very powerful use of the denial of error.12 The miracle worker is one who accepts my kind of denial and projection, unites his own inherent abilities to deny and project with mine, and imposes them back on himself and others. 2This establishes the total lack of threat anywhere. 3Together we can then work for the real time of peace, which is eternal.

II. The Cause of the SeparationThis section deals with a more fundamental misuse of knowledge, referred to in the Bible as the cause of the fall (or separation).27 2There are several introductory remarks which are intended to make these explanations less fear provoking. 3First, I draw your attention to a couplet from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream:4Be as thou wast wont to be;See as thou wast wont to see.285These words were said by Oberon in releasing Titania from her own errors, both of being and perceiving. 6These were the words which reestablished her true identity as well as her true abilities and judgment.29 7The similarity to your release is obvious.2 There are also some dictionary definitions which will be helpful. 2Their somewhat unusual nature is due to the fact that they are not usually the first definitions listed. 3Nevertheless, the fact that each of them does appear in the dictionary should be reassuring.4project (verb): to extend forward or out305project (noun): a plan in the mind316world: a natural grand division323 We will refer later to projection as related to both mental illness and mental health.33 2It has also been commented on that Lucifer literally projected himself from Heaven.34 3We also have observed that you can make an empty shell, but cannot make nothing at all.35 4This emptiness provides the screen for the misuse of projection.4 The Garden of Eden, which is described as a literal garden in the Bible, was not originally an actual garden at all. 2It was merely a mental state of complete need-lack. 3Even in the literal account, it is noteworthy that the pre-separation state was essentially one in which man needed nothing. 4The tree of knowledge, again an overly literal concept (as is clearly shown by the subsequent reference to “eating of the fruit of the tree”), is a symbolic reference to some of the misuses of knowledge referred to in the section immediately preceding this one.36 5There is, however, considerable clarification of this concept which must be understood before the real meaning of the “detour into fear” can be fully comprehended.5 Projection, as defined above (this refers to the verb), is a fundamental attribute of God, which He also gave to His Son. 2In the creation, God projected his creative ability out of Himself toward the Sons whom He created, and also imbued them with the same loving will to create. 3We have commented before on the fundamental error involved in confusing what has been created with what is being made.37 4We have also emphasized that you have not only been fully created, but also been created perfect.38 5There is no emptiness in you. 6The next point, too, has already been made, but bears repetition here: The Son, because of his own likeness to his Creator, is creative.39 7No child of God is capable of losing this ability, because it is inherent in what he is.6 Whenever projection in its inappropriate sense is utilized, it always implies that some emptiness (or lack of everything) must exist, and that it is within your ability to put your own ideas there instead of the truth. 2If you will consider carefully what this entails, the following will become quite apparent:7 First, the assumption is implicit that what God has created can be changed by your own mind.8 Second, the concept has intruded that what is perfect can be rendered imperfect or wanting.9 Third, the belief has arisen, and is tolerated, that you can distort the creations of God, including yourself.10 Fourth, the idea has entered that since you can create yourself, the direction of your own creation is up to you.11 These related distortions represent a picture of what actually occurred in the separation. 2None of this existed before, nor does it actually exist now. 3The Sonship was created as a natural grand division, or projecting outward of God. 4That is why everything which He created is like Him. 5Projection as undertaken by God was very similar to the kind of inner radiance which the children of the Father inherit from Him. 6It is important to note that the term “project outward” necessarily implies that the real source of projection is internal. 7This is as true of the Son as of the Father.12 The Kingdom of God, in its original connotation, included both the proper creation of the Son by God and the proper creation by the Son in his right mind. 2The latter required the endowment of the Son by God with free will, because all loving creation is freely given. 3Nothing in either of these statements implies any sort of levels, or, in fact, anything except one continuous line of creation, in which all aspects are of the same order.13 When the “lies of the serpent” were introduced, they were called lies because they are not true.40 2When man listened, all he heard was untruth. 3You do not have to continue to believe what is not true, unless you choose to do so. 4All of your miscreations can disappear in the well-known “twinkling of an eye,” because they are a visual misperception.41 5Your spiritual eye can sleep, but remember, a sleeping eye can still see.4214 One translation of the fall, a view emphasized by Mary Baker Eddy and worthy of note, is that “a deep sleep fell upon Adam.”43 2While the Bible seems to regard this sleep as a kind of anesthetic utilized for the protection of Adam during the creation of Eve, Mrs. Eddy was correct in emphasizing that nowhere is there any reference made to his waking up. 3While Christian Science is clearly incomplete, this point is much in its favor.15 The history of humanity in the world as you see it has not been characterized by any genuine or comprehensive reawakening or rebirth. 2This is impossible as long as humanity projects in the spirit of miscreation. 3It still remains within you to project as God projected His Own Spirit to you. 4In reality, this is your only choice, because your free will was made for your own joy in creating the perfect.16 All fear is ultimately reducible to the basic misperception that you have the ability to usurp the power of God. 2It is again emphasized that you neither can nor have been able to do this.44 3In this statement lies the real justification for your escape from fear. 4This is brought about by your acceptance of the Atonement, which places you in a position to realize that your own errors never really occurred.17 When the deep sleep fell upon Adam, he was then in a condition to experience nightmares, precisely because he was sleeping. 2If a light is suddenly turned on while someone is dreaming and the content of his dream is fearful, he is initially likely to interpret the light itself as part of the content of his own dream. 3However, as soon as he awakens, the light is correctly perceived as the release from the dream, which is no longer accorded reality. 4I would like to conclude this with the biblical injunction “Go, and do thou likewise.”4518 It is quite apparent that this depends on the kind of knowledge which was not referred to by the “tree of knowledge,” which bore lies as fruit.46 2The knowledge that illuminates rather than obscures is the knowledge which not only makes you free, but also shows you clearly that you are free.47

We begin our new season with the book of Proverbs. Although the book begins with a title ascribing the proverbs to Solomon, it is clear from later chapters that he was not the only author of the book. Pr 22:17 refers to the "sayings of the wise," and 24:23 mentions additional "sayings of the wise." The presence of an introduction in 22:17-21 further indicates that these sections stem from a circle of wise men, not from Solomon himself. Ch. 30 is attributed to Agur son of Jakeh and 31:1-9 to King Lemuel, neither of whom is mentioned elsewhere. Lemuel's sayings contain several Aramaic spellings that may point to a non-Israelite background. If Solomon is granted a prominent role in the book, most of Proverbs would stem from the tenth century b.c. during the time of Israel's united kingdom. The peace and prosperity that characterized that era accord well with the development of reflective wisdom and the production of literary works. The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings; 3for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; 4for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man — 5let a wise person listen and increase learning, and let a discerning person obtain guidance — 6for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles. 7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/PRO.1.CSB If you love the Stories Of Truth podcast, we'd love for you to subscribe, rate, and give a review on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Until next time! Follow Us on IG @Astoryoftruth Facebook @Astoryoftruth Online: https://www.podpage.com/stories-of-

I found that knowing a little bit about the ancient world really helps me understand the Bible. For instance, the Israelites that came through the Exodus had known of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because those stories were passed down. But they lived in Goshen in Egypt so they were also very familiar and acquainted with over 1500 other named gods that the Egyptians worshiped. So one of the things you need to know is the way that the ancients viewed their gods. They saw gods kind of as super-powerful, like super powerful humans. They had all the human attributes and you had to appease them and you had to keep them from getting mad at you.Here's one thing about the ancient gods: they did not have relationships with people. You just tried to stay on their good side. There was no notion of having a relationship with them. They were also very high off high up and far away so it was inconceivable that a god would dwell with his people. Now imagine how these words must have sounded to the ancient Israelites:"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:6-7The prophet Isaiah also said:"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14Emmanuel means "God with us." The notion of a God dwelling with His people is so completely foreign. It doesn't exist in any other religion and yet, that is what we have in Christ. That's what we dwell on this time of year because we don't love and serve a God who is high up and far away. We love and serve a God who is closer than close, nearer than nearer. Emmanuel, God with us.

Show Notes:Susie Allison is a former teacher turned stay-at-home mom of 3 and the woman behind Busy Toddler! Her mission is to bring hands-on learning back to childhood, support others in their parenting journey, and help everyone make it to nap time.What we talked about: Meeting her husband their first night of college and getting married a month after they graduatedWanting to start a family and walking a long road of infertility At that time people didn’t talk about infertility and it wasn’t a common thing to discuss on social mediaTook 4 years, almost 5 rounds of IVF, countless IUIs Walking into their last round of IVF knowing that they were going to close the chapter on biological kids if not successfulHaving success and ending up with their son Sam 9 months later Their 2nd was a complete medical miracle and a surprise pregnancyAfter their 2nd turned one, they decided to try again and she got pregnant again right away Knew that she wanted to stay home with her first child, SamAfter having her second, Kate, she was in survival mode and missed spending time with her son Wanting to try to do an activity each day and not finding anything that was inexpensive and easy, which led to her creating activities of her ownSeeing a hole on Instagram for parents looking for kids' activities The guilt our parenting generation has around not playing with our kids 24/7The more they can play independently, the betterThere are a lot of other ways to connect with your childHer success has been a gradual work-up, now her entire life is Busy ToddlerWorking between 40-60 hours because it doesn’t stop on the weekends Sensory bins are agelessKids learn about math, science, reasoning, cause and effect and life skills from sensory binsTeaches self-control, which studies have shown is a direct link to success for kids later in life No dumping, no throwing, no eating and you take it away when they break those rulesNot having room in their house for having a ton of craft suppliesLive within your means and be happy with what you haveThe process of writing her bookA real life, moderate approach to parentingWanting to put together a book that combines parenting and activitiesFollow Susie on Instagram or her website. Follow Mommin’ Podcast on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks so much for listening and for supporting our podcast! Please rate the show, leave a review if you liked what you heard and make sure to subscribe on Amazon Music, iHeartRADIO, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or TuneIn!

Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort for God's People 40Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and cry to herthather warfareis ended,that her iniquity is pardoned,that she has received from theLord's handdouble for all her sins. 3A voice cries:In the wilderness prepare the way of theLord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4Every valley shall be lifted up,and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,and the rough places a plain.5And the glory of theLordshall be revealed,and all flesh shall see it together,for the mouth of theLordhas spoken. The Word of God Stands Forever 6A voice says, Cry!And I said,What shall I cry?All flesh is grass,and all its beautyis like the flower of the field.7The grass withers, the flower fadeswhen the breath of theLordblows on it;surely the people are grass.8The grass withers, the flower fades,but the word of our God will stand forever. The Greatness of God 9Go on up to a high mountain,O Zion,herald of good news;lift up your voice with strength,O Jerusalem, herald of good news;lift it up, fear not;say to the cities of Judah,Behold your God!10Behold, the LordGodcomes with might,and his arm rules for him;behold, his reward is with him,and his recompense before him.11He will tend his flock like a shepherd;he will gather the lambs in his arms;he will carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those that are with young.

1 Peter 4:7 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/farhoodman/support

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.IntroductionOur O.T. character today is a minor character. And yet doesn't mean he isn't important.The relationship between David and Jonathan (Saul's son, next in line for the throne) was intimate.Jonathan's son becomes disabled -- but this is not what matters most. Rather, what we are about to study is an excellent illustration of grace.2 Sam 4:4 — Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.Distressing news led to his nurse dropping him. (Reminds us of death of Eli on hearing another battle report.)Escaping potential assassins, nurse runsSource of medical condition = human error.Born blind v. blinded in acid attackBorn with heart problem (Kurka) v. asbestos / careless companyQuite possibly that in time he couldn’t even remember ever being able to walk without assistance or crutches.Image of grace, not just for medical situationsMental health issuesTrauma (e.g. PTSD or abuse)Sin cripples us9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”Lo-debar means nothing.This underscores the humble situation of Mephibosheth.9:5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”Mephibosheth need not fear; David is not assassinating potential political rivals -- quite the opposite!"Dead dog" => humility9:9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.”There is no merit in the case of Mephibosheth. Disability brings no entitlements.Provision in perpetuityThe "king's table" (provision, not necessarily presence)Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet.Grace brings us to the King’s presence.Sons (and daughters) of the King!Mephibosheth is no longer a boy -- he is a grown man and a father.16:1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”Ziba shows grace to the king and his men -- or is this disingenuous?Mephibosheth has political aspirations -- really? (Is Ziba speaking the truth?)Compare Mephibosheth's disposition to that of Adonijah in 1 Kings 2:15.16:24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. 25 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. 27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. 28 For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” 29 And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” 30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”Mephibosheth's lack of grooming indicates his grief over the coup, not giddy expectancy that his own situation now stands to gain.BetrayalDeceptionSlanderHow do we react when this happens to us?Is Ziba speaking the truth?Division of property is redolent of 1 Kings 3:26 (“Let him take it all” —  like the prostitute who spoke honestly)GraceMephibosheth shows grace.Doesn’t try to fight his steward, who betrayed himCould also have been bitter towards his nurse. But he models a better way.Received grace, and therefore shows grace?David -> MephiboshethMephibosheth -> ZibaThe story of Mephibosheth is there to answer a question: What sort of man should be the ruler of God's people? What kind of a man deserves to be king? The one who realizes he too is crippled in both feet. The world has a tendency to exalt bullies. See 1 Sam 8.As "Son of David," Jesus treats the lame outcast poor marginalized in the same way.Luke 14:14; 18:14.The human tendency is to turn a story of humility into one of personal triumph. (How a David reaches out to a Mephibosheth!What should the church look like? It should picture restored humanity. A church of elevators. Not going up if someone is left behind. Walk alongside those who are lame. Yet to find healing.Examples of disabled persons who respond graciously.Richard Turner, card mechanic, blind yet grateful for his condition (Watch Dealt).My friend Tom, who thanks God for his Multiple Sclerosis every day.A middle-aged Christian leader recently stricken with diabetes -- and yet does not evince even a trace of bitterness.A one-legged Christian sister, wounded in drive-by shooting, who models joy and love (not self pity).Our own suffering may lead to our developing empathy -- to a ministry (see 2 Cor 1).ConclusionLife isn't always fair. (In fact, it usually isn't fair.)The point is not to receive justice or equality. In Mephibosheth's case, the point was not to receive healing, but to draw near to God -- to receive and model grace.We are all needy.Disabled by damage inflicted by others -- or by myselfHandicapped by ignoranceCrippled by sinShow grace; let things slide.Mephibosheth does not demand equality (50/50 split with Ziba), nor in fact anything at all (he is happy for Ziba to have it all). His life is not defined by material possessions.Example: Christians and lawsuits.To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? - 1 Cor 6:7The early Christians did not take people to court (see NT chapter notes on 1 Cor 6) -- especially one another!Care for the needy, the infirm, and the disabled.FurtherMeriba’al seems to have been Mephibosheth's original name (1 Chr 8:34; 9:40). Mephibosheth = "from the mouth of shame" (Hebrew).Yet there is no shame in being needy, nor in receiving help from others.For, as Jesus said, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:8). Listen also to the podcast on Jonathan, father of Mephibosheth, and David, his benefactor.

Set His Face (like a flint) Luke 9:51Great visual soundbite today: Jesus SETS HIS FACE towards Jerusalem (and the cross). The concept is current, mentioned twice already even in Luke 9 where he predicts his trip, the suffering, the death and the resurrection. It is also ancient, where the Suffering Servant prophesy tell us He'll Set his face like a flint way back in Isaiah 50:7The disciples are pretty quick to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans. We do a quick history lesson to explain why it actually makes a whole lot of sense. The nasty assyrians send mesopotamian COLONISTS to live and marry with a Jewish remnant in the region of Samaria. The Samaritans are a current reminder of a very bad time, are the wrong nationality, serve a bunch of bad gods, and even practiced CHILD SACRIFICE. It has only been 752 years. The wound is still FRESH.Listen and appreciate how Jesus does not get distracted or detoured. He's got some wonderful work to do on the cross for you and me and the Samaritans and the Assyrians. Jesus SETS HIS FACE towards Jerusalem

Readings from the Fort Dodge Messenger for Friday, August  7The volunteer Voices of IRIS read newspapers aloud to keep over 11,000 blind and print disabledlisteners informed and connected to their communities.Learn more at IowaRadioReading.org

Readings from the Cedar Rapids Gazette for Friday, August  7The volunteer Voices of IRIS read newspapers aloud to keep over 11,000 blind and print disabledlisteners informed and connected to their communities.Learn more at IowaRadioReading.org

Notes - disability should not be a factor when you are considering to date someone any more than food preferences or any other petty factor should come in to play yes it is a little bit different that's for sure you will be a caregiver however there is some sort of caregiving involved in all relationships yes it will be on a different level yes your life may look a little different but it all depends on how you view it and your mindset which is everything in life . At the end of the day you have to decide what's important to you as with any relationship but at the end of the day connection would ideally be the most important . And then everything else is secondary and Falls in to place in the end - obvious benefits - parking and parking permits - VIP treatment - a place to rest when you're tired - extra space for groceries and shopping bag and other items extra hands to hold things - you can get a lift when you're tired of walking! - not so obvious benefits - support and encouragement - I think someone in a wheelchair can definitely provide support and encouragement more then the average person who doesn't have a disability because we have had to face hardship at an earlier age and can be a very empathetic individual because of that unique life experience and you will get an emotional bond like no other and connection is so important and essential for all human beings . - experiencing life in different ways certain activities may look different but it doesn't mean they can't be done or experienced together example certain sports cooking parenting going to the beach etc may look different but can still be done together in adapted Ways . And again you have to decide what's important to you so for example it's important for you to be able to physically go skateboarding with your significant other that's not something I can physically do however I can still be in Close proximity to you And cheer you on and support your passions . If you're looking for someone that can cook you a gourmet breakfast on valentine's Day or your birthday. My pca or someone else will have to do that but if you're looking for someone that can find Great recipes and be creative with food that's something I can do and I can be in the kitchen with you and read the recipe directions ect and be a test taster! So it's all about your perspective and no disability is the same and everybody is impacted by it in different ways so it's important not to assume and ask questions and get information. For more information about this you can listen to episode 2 of the podcast misconceptions about people who use wheelchairs and dating someone who uses a wheelchair where I provide more resources on dating somebody who uses a wheelchair. But don't be afraid to use a support group Google can be your friend and feel free to consult a professional if need be dr. therapist ect - I hope this episode gives you a new perspective and helps to alleviate any concerns or fears anyone who's listening may have in regards to being in a relationship of any kind with someone who uses a wheelchair and especially when it comes to being in a romantic or sexual relationship with somebody who uses a wheelchair. -And remember communication is key with any type of relationship - something else that I want to say here I'm human too I don't try to be an inspiration or a role model I just try to love and guide others - always remember love will save the world and peace out --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-rubin-mayersohn/support

God in the lockdown. Thankfulness and Promises. Thankfulness and promises. Genesis 9:8-17 Philemon 1:4-7The post Thankfulness and Promises appeared first on Bedhampton Church.

What does Jesus say it means to be a disciple? That's the question we're discussing on The Hero of the Story. Listen in as we discuss: The core ideas at the root of the entire message of Matt. 5-7The importance of the Sermon on the Mount beginning with the BeatitudesIf Jesus was contradicting the Old... The post Discipleship and the Sermon on the Mount [The Hero of the Story] appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Prov. 31: 30 charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the LORD will be ( praised ) -shine charm and beauty don't last Pro 1:7The fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge    Fear of God in a woman is praiseworthy . Prov 8:13 The fear of the lord is to hate evil  A woman who fears God will shine ! Something is different charm and beauty are outward. Fear and reverence for God is inward Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility is the fear of Yahweh = wealth and honor and life -reverently worshipping, obeying, serving Trusting Him with awe filled respect Is your focus on inner or outer beatty? Previously recorded.   Hear Truth @gloribites Wear Truth @gloricreations Support by shopping www.gloricreations.com  

This episode has #NOSTALGIA written all over it! I thought it was important to share some background about my journey of being curious about technology ever since I was a kid, and how it transformed me into the person that I am today! Youtube Link to the device that I was referring to (Speak and Read): https://youtu.be/btrnJd7IbeM?t=7The very first Website that I worked on with my classmate (Hani): https://web.archive.org/web/20021014123102/http://trulyqatar.com/mpage.htm

Episode 2 The Biggest Secret to Creating A Positive MindsetIn Episode one, we talked about the Power of our Brains, and touched on one tool in particular that has been scientifically proven to help us be more present in our everyday moments > and that is meditative prayer, and in a simple phrase > practicing mindfulness. Today's episode we are diving deep into this! I get pretty vulnerable and discuss in this episode the struggles I've been challenged with since I was in elementary school. It has been very arduous and exhausting journey, and something I struggle with still from time to time. Let's start with the basics first of what meditative prayer is…Meditation: is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state.Prayer:  can be defined as talking to God, but it is much more than that. Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for Him. Through living a life of prayer, we respond to Christ's work of salvation and communicate with the very source of and purpose for our existenceSo in essence meditative prayer (or as some refer to it, Christian Meditation) is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God / Christ as your saviour.  So basically  Christian meditation is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a bible passage) or an adoration and reflecting on the meaning in the context of the love of GodIt's simply about deeply focusing on God's presence and His word. Taking a purposeful moment to focus solely on your relationship with Christ, by emptying your mind of the world and totally filling your mind with His presence and peace.During my research, I was able to devour so many Christian resources on meditivate prayer. Listen in to the episode to hear more insight on this. Bible references in this episode: ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:37‬ ‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭26:2‬ Psalm 119:15Psalm 119:148‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:16‬ ‭‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬Meditation has been proven to relieve stress, help with many physical ailments, and when we are focusing on prayer, we are strengthening and connecting with Christ. “You do not have a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7The main points of meditation are1- relaxation2-intent 3- refocus on ChristSo keeping these three steps in mind, you can focus your thoughts on what you're dealing with. We are all living in uncertainty right now. Different areas of our lives aren't balanced, and we are struggling to keep our thoughts renewed. I share in the episode how I used meditative prayer during our miscarriage. And how I dealt with that difficult time. You can listen to each episode's exercise by visiting https://boldpearls.com/meditations Thank you for listening to this episode! Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode! It would mean so so much. Let's help everyone feel better about we are walking thru in this season. Until Next time, “Do Not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… Romans 12:2, Go live with bold intention, bye for now!Follow us on instagram and checkout Facebook too! 

“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”  John 16:7The hearts of the Apostles were conflicted.  They were filled with grief, but they were also trying to trust what Jesus said to them.  Jesus told them He was ascending to His Father and that it was better for them that He go.  Why?  Because if He goes, He will send the Holy Spirit to them.  On a human level, it would have been quite hard for the Apostles to let go of their daily interactions with Jesus.  They certainly missed seeing Him with their eyes, touching Him and hearing Him.  But Jesus made it clear that even though He was leaving He would be with them always.  And He would also send the Holy Spirit upon them to lead them, give them courage, and teach them all truth.  They would now be His presence in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.We never had the privilege of seeing Jesus in the way the Apostles did.  But we do have the same privilege of Him being with us always.  And we have the same privilege of receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  This is good.  It is very good.  But it is a good that we often miss.  We may have been confirmed, but we may also still fail to let the Holy Spirit in and transform our lives.  In less than two weeks, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost.  This is the annual celebration of the fulfillment of this promise of Jesus.  On that day we commemorate the fact that the Holy Spirit has come and that we are now in the time of the Holy Spirit.  Reflect, today, and over the next couple of weeks about the Holy Spirit.  Humbly admit to yourself if you need to let the Holy Spirit become more alive in your life.  Trust that Jesus wants you to receive Him in His fullness.  And be not afraid to let this union take place.Holy Spirit, please come to me.  Help me to fan into flame Your presence in my life.  May I receive You who was promised by Jesus in Your fullness.  Holy Spirit, Divine Jesus, Merciful Father, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2020 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

The Purpose of Proverbs Proverbs 1:1-7- 1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. What is Wisdom? "Wisdom is a moral rather than an intellectual quality. To be “foolish” is to be godless (Ps. 14:1; comp. Judg. 19:23; 2 Sam. 13:13). True wisdom is a gift from God to those who ask it (Job 28:12–28; Prov. 3:13–18; Rom. 1:22; 16:27; 1 Cor. 1:17–21; 2:6–8; James 1:5). “Wisdom” in Prov. 1:20; 8:1; 9:1–5 may be regarded not as a mere personification of the attribute of wisdom, but as a divine person, “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). In Matt. 11:19 it is the personified principle of wisdom that is meant." V.2- "To know wisdom" Proverbs 4:5–7-"Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight." Proverbs 7:4-5-"Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words." Proverbs 8:5-"O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense." Proverbs 16:16-"How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." Deuteronomy 4:5–6 1 Kings 3:9–12 2 Timothy 3:14–17 Website-http://theproverbiallife.com/ Ways to Support the Ministry Merch- https://teespring.com/stores/the-proverbial-life Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/ProverbialLife PayPal-Teameramirez@gmail.com CashApp-$teameramirez Venmo-Edwin-Ramirez-75 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-proverbial-life/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-proverbial-life/support

Pastors Joe Naumann and Neal Radichel discuss the many functions of Immanuel. Twin Steeples is a production of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota.  Today's topics include:A brief devotion on Philippians 4:4-7The content available online for your spiritual growthThe upcoming voters' meeting, teacher call, communion plans, and confirmation date.A doctrinal discussion on 1 Corinthians 15:26A look at TLH #209 "Who Is This that Comes from Edom" 

This is the Resurrection Sunday message amidst the Coronavirus crisis. Jesus gives us hope through trials because he conquered his trials by rising from the dead. Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-7The video of this message is available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/DAN0qTJ23Yg

In Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” Satan is shown as alluring. Why did Jesus not succumb.Readings for the First Sunday of Lent (Year A) 1st March 2020.Reading 1Gn 2:7-9.3:1-7The creation of our first parents, and sin.PsalmPs 51:3-4,5-6,12-13,17Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.Reading 2Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12,17-19Where sin increased, there grace increased all the more.GospelMatt 4:1-11Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and was tempted.

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  Mark 6:7The first thing that is worth pointing out in this passage is that Jesus “summoned” the Twelve.  This means He brought them to Himself.  Sure, we can read this as simply meaning that He, in a sense, called a meeting with them.  But we should look deeper.  We should see in this summoning the fact that Jesus was not only calling a meeting, but rather, He was drawing them to His very person.  In this act of summoning, the Apostles were personally encountering Jesus, receiving His grace and power, and being changed themselves.From there He sent them out two by two.  This is also significant.  Jesus knows our human weakness.  He knows that by ourselves we will most likely fail, but with the Christian support of another we are greatly strengthened.  This is because Jesus’ mission is not only something we do ourselves, it’s something that is communal as well.  We are each one piece in His mission. However, to fulfill that mission, we need the love and support of others.  We need to go two by two into the battle.So what about this authority that Jesus gave them?  It’s often not appreciated for what it is.  Jesus very much does want to give us authority over the evil one and his minions since they are far more powerful than us.  So, if we are to have a chance in the battle, we need Jesus’ authority.  This is not only some supernatural power to cast out demons; rather, it’s much more extensive.  So what is this authority and how do we exercise it?First, it’s the power of true Christian charity.  Charity, or love, overwhelms the evil one and renders him powerless in our lives.  Selflessness, sacrifice, humility, faith, truth, etc., are among the most powerful weapons in our battle.  The evil one does not know what to do with these.  We do not necessarily have to engage in some sort of dramatic spiritual warfare to do battle.  Simply love God and live that love in your daily life and you will, in a sense, be casting out demons left and right!  We will have the victory in our Christian living because God will take care of all the rest.  It’s His mission and He is the one summoning and sending us.  So do not be afraid to follow His lead!Reflect, today, upon this three step process that Jesus initiates with His Apostles and know that He desires the same with you:  1) He summons you, daily, to Himself; 2) He sends you forth to bring His love to others; 3) He gives you the authority and power you need to fulfill His will.  Be open to this process and our Lord will use you abundantly.Lord, give me the love, courage and strength I need to live out Your divine plan.  I hear You summoning me and I choose to respond with generosity.  I willingly accept the authority of that grace into my life so that You can accomplish all that You desire.  Jesus, I trust in You.Source: catholic-daily-reflections.com

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. 7The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

It is Not a Silent Night(Advent Series: Because of Bethlehem; Message Two) Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.3A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.5And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.6A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.7The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.8The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”9You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his armsand carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:1-11) A. Israel was longing for a word of peace-centered encouragement 1. They had been through a major battle and lost “Assyrians came down like the wolf on the fold, and his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; and the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, when the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee” (Lord Byron) 2. There had been no comfort among the Israelites; no peace in their lives 3. A new king promised the Israelites they could “go home” to Jerusalem B. They had been waiting for the “consolation” of Israel 1. The hope was that God would come and set everything right in the world 2. As word spread, hope was renewed - even though the reality was yet to come THE MESSAGE A. This text is God’s instruction to the prophet Isaiah1. It affirms that God’s ultimate purpose is not destruction but redemption 2. Those who speak God’s word to God’s people are to say, “Comfort!” “Your rod and your staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4) “As one whom his mother comforts, so I,” said God, “will comfort you.”(Isaiah 66:13) a. “Comfort” isn’t about “peace and quiet”; it’s not about being comfortable “He will come to build and destroy; he will destroy the heavens and the earth - subverting everything and everyone to judgment...” (Peter 3:10,13) “He will come to separate and to gather. As a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff, Christ will winnow his harvest - burning the chaff with fire and gathering his wheat into barns” (Matthew 3:12) b. “Comfort” (lit. “with strength”) is a word of strength and encouragement; an intimate word; a reminder that whatever grievous punishments they’ve endured, they’re in the past B. No matter how severely the Lord has dealt with you, be comforted: his grace, forgiveness, and restoration will bring you home THE MEANING A. Few people realized the event that took place in Bethlehem B. Now we can clearly see Jesus’ completed work 1. Our world is out of joint 2. The warfare the prophet talks about, is it ever really finished? C. That’s precisely the kind of world Jesus entered, to set everything right 1. He came to be one of us so that he could take up residence in us 2. He represents a peace - comfort - that reminds us, God has not forgotten us! a. Now he stands with us in this messy world as our crucified and risen Lord b. Nothing has changed. Everything has changed. All because of this child. c. There are no silent nights; but if we acknowledge Jesus, we can have a peaceful one 3. “Comfort to you!” because in Jesus your forgiveness is assured, your victory guaranteed, and your peace eternal D. Don't wait: open your heart and receive what God promised. Make sure this is for you!

Exodus 3.7The year 2020 is the year 5780 on the Hebrew calendar; the year that slaves are freed, debts are forgiven, and Gods mercies are manifested to the fullest extent. 3 things God is restoring us to:-His glory-Our fullest identity, authority and understanding-His promises

Let Leaders Lead – v.1-4Who are the leaders:Overseeing shepherds – v.2Exemplary – v.3Humble Yourselves – v.5-7The gospel levels and raises us – 1 Peter 5:6Stand Firm – v.8-14Satan’s uses tactics to deceive and destroy people2 Corinthians 2:11Tactic 1 = Twist truthTactic 2 = Remind & shameTactic 3 = Tempt & fan the flame withinFour Promises: God will Restore, Establish, Strengthen, SetTo find out more about BridgePoint Church, located in Gloucester, Virginia and led by Pastor William Erps, visit us online at:https://bridgepoint.church

THE ACCUSER - When The Devil Knocks, Part 2 - 10.27.19 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NLTSatan is the DECEIVER who attacks your mind with lies. Satan is the DESTROYER who attacks your will with pride.Satan is the ACCUSER who attacks your heart with accusations.… no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you … Isaiah 54:17 NLTTHE ACCUSERThen I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. Revelation 12:10When the devil talks to you about God, he lies.When the devil talks to you about you, he accuses.Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. Zechariah 3:1-3 The devil is the accuser.Jesus is your advocate. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1 NLTThe angel said to those who were standing before him,“Take off his [Joshua’s] filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” Zechariah 3:4Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. 6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. Zechariah 3:5-7The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin.God knows your sin but calls you by your name.For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The Damascus Road 1Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6“But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. Saul’s Baptism 10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. 11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Key takeaways:The four gospels all tell a unique perspective of the same story. They all claim Jesus is the Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Hebrew Scriptures.Mark is widely considered to be the oldest Gospel.The genealogies at the start of Matthew have hidden design patterns in them that unify the Old and New Testaments.The story of Zacharias and Elizabeth at the start of Luke is meant to layer onto the story of Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament. This is a key design pattern of Luke. Luke likes to create the characters in his book based off Old Testament figures.Quote: “(The gospels) are constantly and from the first moment tying the Jesus story back into Hebrew scriptures. There isn’t a story or teaching about Jesus that isn’t packed with Old Testament allusion.” In part 1 (0-5:00), Tim and Jon briefly recap the last episode. Tim says he’s going to unpack four ways that readers can better understand and uncover themes in the gospels.In part 2 (5:00-14:00), Tim dives into advanced ways to read these accounts. One way to take your reading of the gospels to the next level is to get a Bible that shows when a Gospel is citing or quoting an Old Testament passage. For example, Tim focuses on the book of Mark. Most scholars view Mark as the oldest of the gospels.Mark 1 shares links to both Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 4:5-6 in the first verses.Mark 1:1-3The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:“I will send my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord,make straight paths for him.’”Tim says that this should alert the reader to the fact that Mark is heavily influenced by the Old Testament. Mark is reading the Old Testament, and his Gospel is structured around and informed by the Hebrew Scriptures.In part 3 (14:00-22:30), Tim then looks at the start of Matthew. The book begins with a genealogy. This genealogy is broken into three movements of fourteen generations: fourteen from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile, and fourteen from the exile to Jesus.In order to stick to this pattern, Tim notes, generations would have been left out. So why would Matthew use this pattern?There are several thoughts. One is that the number fourteen is the numerical value of the name “David.” So Matthew is disguising his claim that Jesus is a new and better David in this genealogy.Tim also mentions that four women are mentioned in this genealogy. Each of them are non-Jewish women. Again, why does Matthew do this? He wants you to know that Gentile women in the Old Testament played a crucial role in carrying on—and in some cases rescuing—the messianic seed.In part 4 (22:30-32:30), Tim dives into the opening of the Gospel of Luke. The story of Elizabeth and Zacharias is meant to map onto the story of Abraham and Sarah. Both couples are old and have no children or heirs. Luke then moves onto the introduction of Mary. Mary’s response to the angel’s proclamation is different than Zacharias’ response. So Luke uses a lot of character design to overlap Old Testament and New Testament characters in order to show a new act of God.In part 5 (32:30-47:30), Tim dives into the opening in the Gospel of John. There are themes of Genesis 1 (“In the beginning”) and Lady Wisdom from Proverbs 8 in the opening lines of John. Many modern Western readers find John's writing style to be the most approachable and easy to understand. John's links and callbacks to earlier Hebrew Scriptures are more obvious to the untrained eye than in the other gospels.In part 6 (47:30-end), Tim and Jon dive into Mathew 11.Matthew 11:2-6When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”Tim says that this passage is heavily influenced by Isaiah 35 because Jesus quotes from this passage to answer John's question about whether he is the Messiah or not.Isaiah 35:1-7The desert and the parched land will be glad;the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;they will see the glory of the Lord,the splendor of our God.Strengthen the feeble hands,steady the knees that give way;say to those with fearful hearts,“Be strong, do not fear;your God will come,he will come with vengeance;with divine retributionhe will come to save you.”Then will the eyes of the blind be openedand the ears of the deaf unstopped.Then will the lame leap like a deer,and the mute tongue shout for joy.Water will gush forth in the wildernessand streams in the desert.The burning sand will become a pool,the thirsty ground bubbling springs.In the haunts where jackals once lay,grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.Show Music:Defender Instrumental by TentsMind Your Time by Me.SoSubtle Break by Ghostrifter OfficialSerenity by JayJenAcquired in Heaven by Beautiful EulogyFor When It’s Warmer by SleepyfishEuk's First Race by David GummelShow Resources:What Are the Gospels?: A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography by Richard BurridgeReading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction by Jonathan PenningtonA brief overview of Jewish history pre-Christ and during Roman rule.For more on the different scholarly views on the meaning and background of Lady Wisdom in Israelite history, see Michael Fox's Anchor Bible Commentary: Proverbs 1-9 on pages 331-345 and 352-359.Show Produced by:Dan GummelPowered and distributed by Simplecast.

What are you doing with your sword?   While I understand that Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; it is more than exquisite beauty, extravagant design or even the intricate craftsmanship that made the Napoleon Bonaparte sword the 2nd most expensive sword in the world. The supporting story that the golden studded handle was held in the hand of the French emperor and used on the battlefield was a major factor that brought the $6.5 million selling price.   The Bible gives us a list of notable swords, the primary tool of defense; swords that brought freedom and deliverance; swords held in the hands of triumphant warriors-  the sword of: Gideon Goliath Saul Jehu    No Swords? As valuable as the sword was, we see a time in Israel's history where the people didn't have swords or spears.   1 Samuel 13:16-19 NIV 16Saul and his son Jonathan and the men with them were staying in Gibeah in Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Mikmash. 17Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three detachments. One turned toward Ophrah in the vicinity of Shual, 18another toward Beth Horon, and the third toward the borderland overlooking the Valley of Zeboyim facing the wilderness.   19Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles f sharpened. 21The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.   22So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.   How do you win wars with an army that has no weapons? Well God did it by raising up a man, one man, with one of only two swords in the whole land. A man of courage, and faith...a man that would seek God's will, a man named Jonathan-King Saul's son. You should read this amazing story of Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14.   Stop believing the lie that because you are just one person that there's nothing you can do. Too often we do nothing because we feel that our little doesn't make a difference anyway. That is simply not true.   Sword of Goliath Probably the most famous of the above mentioned swords is Goliath's sword.   It is fascinating that this sword is famous for what Goliath didn't do, instead of what he did do with it.   4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.   David answered Goliath's accusation 1 Samuel 17: 45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!”   Continuing in 1 Samuel 17 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.   Did you see that?  Goliath wasn't even holding his sword; it was still in its sheath. David pulled it out and cut off the giant's head. Saul's scared, chicken hearted army were rallied when they saw the head of their defeated enemy in David's hand.   Fuel your courage with someone else's victory. What if that army had whined, "Why doesn't anything like that happen to me?" No! Instead, they understood they were part of one army! David's victory was their victory. It catapulted the whole army from chicken hearted, knee knocking fear that caused them to cower and hide into a courageous pursuit of their enemy.     Saul appointed David as commander over his army. David was a very successful leader and loved by the people. I believe it was in this role that David learned to use a sword quite skillfully.    A parade! After a successful battle David and his army were welcomed home with something like a ticker tape parade where the women sung a triumphant song as the soldier paraded past. "Saul had slain his thousands. David has slain his ten thousands." Their sweet tribute was bitter in Saul's ears. King Saul's jealousy festered into a ravenous plot to murder David.   Saul was jealous. After yet another jealous rage where King Saul threw his spear at David, David escaped. He ran to the High Priest Ahimelech. And this is why I believe David was skillful with a sword, He asked Ahimelech for a sword or a spear.   1 Samuel 21:9 “I only have the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah,” the priest replied. “It is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. Take that if you want it, for there is nothing else here.”   Wrapped in a cloth in a safe place...that's what you do with something valuable; you tuck it in a safe place so nothing happens to it.   But look at what David says.  “There is nothing like it!” David replied. “Give it to me!”   Ahimelech retrieves the sword from it's hiding place and hands it, still wrapped, to David. David unwraps the sword crafted for a giant as he remembers the moment he held this very same sword in his hand for the very first time. He remembers the exhilaration that flooded him; the fight-God's fight. The victory-God's victory. The defeat- the enemy's defeat. He had never gone back home; his life would never be the same; but He served a God that would never change--   Would He...Could He?  Could God be faithful  again...now in this situation- in this difficult situation as he ran to save his life. His actions seem to prove that He believed God would be faithful even in the darkest situation; because he ran to the high priest.   I saved the best sword for last. The sword of Bonaparte may be the 2nd most expensive sword, but I want to be sure you know the most valuable sword is the "Sword of the Spirit." Paul reminds us that God has not left believers defenseless.   We've been given both defensive and offensive weaponry so we can stand against the devil's strategy.   Ephesians 6:17 NIV Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   The sword of the Spirit.  It is the Sword of Spirit that fought through Jonathan. It was the Sword of the Spirit that defeated Goliath. And it is the Sword of the Spirit that God has provided for you to win the battle that you are facing right now.   You know that?  Of course you do!  There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of books, maybe thousands of sermons that have been preached on the subject...yet the landscape is strewn with defeated believers!   Is it God's plan for believer's to be defeated by addictive habits and enslaved by sin? Have God's weapons failed us?   You know the answer to that question; you know with your heart that God has a different plan than that for His church!   God's Words says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 "King James Bible (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)   If our weapons are so strong, then why are we so weak?   I see 3 reasons in the stories I've listed above.   1. No blacksmith. 2. Fear stopped them. 3. A stored sword.   1. No blacksmith. A blacksmith forges a blade.  When you read the Scriptures causally, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit you'll never forge it into promises that you can grip with your heart and speak with your mouth. When you look at 2 Corinthians 10:4 the word used "word" is rhema. It means the spoken word of God.   Become a student of God's Word. Take Scripture personally. Let it become a whisper, a promise, a strategy for your life. But, not a student that collects, like world famous sword collectors, instead use it skillfully by declaring and speaking God's Word into your situation.   2. Saul's army was afraid. So they cowered, shook, dreaded, stared, grumbled, but never raised their weapon against the enemy until David came on the scene.   Again and again we see God works through partnerships! God wants you to step out and use your sword. Whatever lie has you cowering in a foxhole, get up, use your sword and declare God's Word.   3. A stored sword. No one can win your battle for you! You may have the greatest sword, a Goliath sword...none like it...tucked into a safe place...even in a holy place, completely useless. When David came on the scene and defeated the giant, the army rallied from their fear and used their swords.    I want to remind you that a Savior from the lineage of David has come on the scene- Jesus. He defeated the enemy...death, hell and the grave on the cross. And, because He defeated the enemy, you can too! But you can't do it hiding. You have to use your sword...speak God's Word...specifically designed by God into your situation. Pray it. Declare it. Sing it. There is power in God's Word. Inside your Bible it is living seed, but dormant. When you take that seed and believe it and declare it, persistently and diligently, listening for God's strategy. God brings the victory.   So you know exactly what I've been patiently waiting to ask you...   What are you doing with your sword?  

Proverbs: A ‘Collation’ – Continued from June 9th & 30th Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. 4:7The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools. 3:35 Check out Weekly Words of Wisdom ... a new WWW for each...

Part 7 of 7The seventh installment of the 2014 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.​Chris Nicholl – emcee“An Evening with Mr. Spencer and Mrs. Julie Penrose,” portrayed by Mike Stephens and Star Edgington. Right click here to download and save the mp3 file. [...]

Part 6 of 7The sixth installment of the 2014 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.Mike Olsen — Emcee"The Ethical Industrialist: William Jackson Palmer & the Gilded Age," by Katherine Scott Sturdevant​"The Palmer Girls & Their Impact on Colorado Springs," by Susan Fletcher Right click here to download and save the mp3 file. [...]

Third Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 05, 2019   Year (cycle): C   The Collect:  O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   First Lesson:  Acts 9:1-6,(7-20) 1Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 5He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?' The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' [7The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.' He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.' 11The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision* a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.' 13But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.' 15But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.' 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.'] Psalm:  Psalm 30 1 I will exalt you, O Lord,   because you have lifted me up *         and have not let my enemies triumph over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *        and you restored me to health. 3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *        you restored my life as I was going down to the grave. 4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *         give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *         his favor for a lifetime. 6 Weeping may spend the night, *         but joy comes in the morning. 7 While I felt secure, I said,   “I shall never be disturbed. *         You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as                            the mountains.” 8 Then you hid your face, *         and I was filled with fear. 9 I cried to you, O Lord; *         I pleaded with the Lord, saying, 10 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *         will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness? 11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *         O Lord, be my helper.” 12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *         you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy. 13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *         O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever. Epistle:  Revelation 5:11-14 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!' 13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, ‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!' 14And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!' And the elders fell down and worshipped. Gospel:  John 21:1-19 1After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.' They said to him, ‘We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?' They answered him, ‘No.' 6He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?' because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.' 16A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.' 17He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?' And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.' 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.'

Part 5 of 7The fifth installment of the 2014 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.Mike Olsen — Emcee"This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let it Shine:' Pioneers for Racial Justice in Colorado Springs," by Lucy Bell"A Study of Influences: The Close Friends & Business Associates of William Jackson Palmer," by Leah Davis Witherow​ Right click here to download and s [...]

“Isaiah and the Kingdom of Jesus” Isaiah 9:1-7The promise God proclaimed through Isaiah was the that corruption and oppression of the nations would be brought to an end through Jesus.

Part 4 of 7The fourth installment of the 2014 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.Mike Olsen — Emcee"Freedom for Whom? Robert LeFevre, the Freedom School, & the Birth of Modern Libertarianism," by William J. Schultz“Mafia on the Front Range,” by Katie Rudolph Right click here to download and save the mp3 file. [...]

Acts: 6:1-7The first new leaders in the church were for the compassion ministry, to share the load with the Apostles and to make sure everyone felt included.

Acts: 6:1-7The first new leaders in the church were for the compassion ministry, to share the load with the Apostles and to make sure everyone felt included.

FREE GUIDE LINK: https://songwritertheory.com/freeguide/Website: https://songwritertheory.com/Follow Me on Twitter: @josephNVadala Episode Writeup:Necessary DefinitionsInterval: The distance between two notesSemitone: The smallest interval we have in western music. Moving up a string by one fret on a guitar or going to the very next note on a piano are both examples of a semitone.Semitone = Half Step2 Semitones = 2 Half Steps = 1 Whole Tone = 1 Whole StepThe 2 Parts of an IntervalQualityThere are 5 different qualities of intervals:PerfectMajorMinorAugmentedDiminishedPerfectPerfect intervals are so-called as they have nearly-perfect consonance. In other words, they sound REALLY pleasant and agreeable.There are only 4 perfect intervals: Perfect Unison (or Perfect 1st - aka the same note as the original), Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, and Perfect Octave (perfect 8th).This leaves the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th that do not have a perfect interval. These numbers have major and minor intervals instead.Major1st, 4th, 5th and 8th all have perfect intervals, so the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th are left to split between major and minor.The major interval is always 1 semitone higher than the minor. The major is also the “happier” sounding of the major and minor intervals.MinorAny interval that can be major can be minor. Take away one semitone from a major interval, and you have that minor interval.Minor intervals tend to sound darker and more sad than major intervals. AugmentedAugmented intervals are one semitone higher than a Perfect or Major interval.Perfect + 1 semitone = AugmentedMajor + 1 semitone = AugmentedDiminishedDiminished intervals are one semitone lower than a Perfect or Minor interval.Perfect - 1 semitone = DiminishedMinor - 1 semitone = DiminishedSo, if we put all this information together, you’ll notice that intervals always follow a pattern. With “->” representing going up 1 semitone, this is what we have:Diminished -> Minor -> Major -> AugmentedDiminished -> Perfect -> AugmentedNumberThe quality of interval is combined with the number of the interval. Usually, the number is simply the distance between letter notes.Do you understand the alphabet? Good, because that’s all you need here. For example, how far away is G from C? C, (D, E, F), G. Since we count both the start and end note, this would be a 5th.B from C? C, (D, E, F, G, A), B => 7thE from C? C, (D), E => 3rd3 Rules of IntervalsNext I’m going to give you 3 rules to remember that will help you think through intervals.Rule 1:Incrementing up by one quality will always be going up 1 semitoneExamples:Minor 2nd -> Major 2nd = Up 1 semitoneDiminished 7th -> Minor 7th = Up 1 semitoneAugmented 6th -> Major 6th = Down 1 SemitoneRule 2:Incrementing up by one number will always be going up 2 semitonesExamples:Minor 2nd -> Minor 3rd = Up 2 semitonesPerfect 4th -> Perfect 5th = Up 2 semitonesMajor 6th -> Major 7th = Up 2 semitonesMajor 3rd -> Major 2nd = Down 2 semitonesRule 3:All numbers have either perfect or both minor and major intervals, not bothExamples:There is a Perfect 4th, there is not a minor or major 4th.There is a major and minor 3rd, there is not a perfect 3rd. 

Part 3 of 7The third installment of the 2014 Pikes Peak Regional History Symposium, Bigwigs & Benefactors of the Pikes Peak Region.Mike Olsen — Emcee"Howbert, Waite, & the Ladies: The Colorado Gubernatorial Election of 1894" by William G. Thomas "Unwitting Benefactors: American Indians & Tourism in the Pikes Peak Region" by Erinn M. Barnes Right click here to download and save the mp3 file. [...]

WHAT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT IN 2019? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/SexDrugsbacon/support

1 Kings 6 :7 7The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.

When the Chief Shepherd Shall Appear 1st Peter 5:1-7The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, […] The post When the Chief Shepherd Shall Appear appeared first on Bethany Baptist Church.

Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookCome to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.Reading for this Week:1 Kings 19:4-84[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.Psalm 34:1-81I will bless the Lord| at all times;  the praise of God shall ever be | in my mouth. 2I will glory | in the Lord;  let the lowly hear | and rejoice. 3Proclaim with me the greatness | of the Lord;  let us exalt God’s | name together. 4I sought the Lord, who | answered me  and delivered me from | all my terrors. R 5Look upon the Lord| and be radiant,  and let not your faces | be ashamed. 6I called in my affliction, and | the Lord heard me  and saved me from | all my troubles. 7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who | fear the Lord  and de- | livers them. 8Taste and see that the | Lord is good;  happy are they who take ref- | uge in God! REphesians 4:25--5:225So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.John 6:35, 41-5135Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Acts 5:17-6:7The imperfect church will persevere.

*Hymns may not match audio.  All material is used for Spiritual/Educational Purposes.   SUNDAY Evening Prayer God, come to my assistance.- Lord, make haste to help meGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spiritas it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen. HYMN Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way! Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine! Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red! Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest! Mary the mother, Christ the Mother's SonBy all things blest while endless ages run. Amen. Melody: Mary the DawnIrregularMusic: Anon   Or: Your name is Our Lady.You alone are Mother of Godand raised high over all the earth.O Spouse of God, we celebrate you with faith,we honor you with longing,we venerate you with awe;at every moment we exalt youand reverently proclaim you blessed. St. Germanus of Constantinople (c. 638-730)   PSALMODYAnt 1: O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity. Or: Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Christ. Psalm 110:1-5,7The Messiah, king and priestChrist's reign will last until all his enemies are made subject to him (1 Cor 15:25). The Lord's revelation to my Master:"Sit on my right:your foes I will put beneath your feet." The Lord will yield from Zionyour scepter of power:rule in the midst of all your foes. A prince from the day of your birthon the holy mountains;from the womb before the dawn I begot you. The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change."You are a priest for ever,a priest like Melchizedek of old." The Master standing at your right handwill shatter kings in the day of his wrath. He shall drink from the stream by the waysideand therefore he shall lift up his head. Ant. 2 By your miraculous birth from the virgin you have fulfilled the Scriptures: like a gentle rain falling upon the earth you have come down to save your people. O God, we praise you. Or: With the Lord is unfailing love; great is his power to save. Psalm 112The happiness of the just manLive as children born of the light. Light produces every kind of goodness and justice and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9). Happy the man who fears the Lord,who take delight in all his commands.His sons shall be powerful on earth;the children of the upright are blessed. Riches and wealth are in his house;his justice stands firm for ever.He is a light in the darkness for the upright:he is generous, merciful and just. The good man takes pity and lends,he conducts his affairs with honor.The just man will never waver:he will be remembered for ever. He has no fear of evil news;with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.With a steadfast heart he will not fear;he will see the downfall of his foes. Open-handed, he gives to the poor;his justice stands firm for ever.His head will be raised in glory. The wicked man sees and is angry,grinds his teeth and fades away;the desire of the wicked leads to doom. Ant 3 Your blessing and fruitful virginity is like the bush, flaming yet unburned, which Moses saw on Sinai. Pray for us, Mother of God. Or: In the beginning, before time began, the Word was God; today he is born, the Savior of the world. OUTSIDE LENT   Canticle                                                      See Revelation 19:1-7The wedding of the lamb Alleluia.Salvation, glory, and power to our God:(R. Alleluia)his judgments are honest and true.R. Alleluia, (alleluia). Alleluia.Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,(R. Alleluia)all you who worship him, great and small.R. Alleluia, (alleluia). The Lord our all-powerful God is King;(R. Alleluia)let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.R. Alleluia, (alleluia). The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,(R. Alleluia)and his bride is prepared to welcome him.R. Alleluia, (alleluia). LENT   Canticle                                                      1 Peter 2:21-24The willing acceptance of his passion by Christ, the servant of God Ant. For our sakes God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the holiness of God. Christ suffered for you,and left you an exampleto have you follow in His footsteps. He did no wrong;no deceit was found in His mouth.When He was insulted,He returned no insult. When He was made to suffer,He did not counter with threats.Instead He delivered Himself upto the One who judges justly. In His own bodyHe brought your sins to the Cross,so that all of us, dead to sin,could live in accord with God's will. By His wounds you were healed. FIRST READING                                                       Galatians 4:4-5 When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. OR                                                      Zechariah 9:9a Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,    shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!See, your king shall come to you;    a just savior is he. OR                                                       Revelation 12:1-6 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days. SECOND READING From a sermon by Saint Sophronius, bishop(Oratio 2, in sanctissimae Deiparae Annuntiatione, 21-22, 26, PG 87, 3, 3242, 3250)   Through Mary the Father's blessing has shone forth on humankind   Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. What joy could surpass this, O Virgin Mother? What grace can excel that which God has granted to you alone? What could be imagined more dazzling or more delightful? Before the miracle we witness in you, all else pales; all else is inferior when compared with the grace you have been given. All else, even what is most desirable, must take second place and enjoy a lesser importance. The Lord is with you. Who would dare challenge you? You are God's mother; who would not immediately defer to you and be glad to accord you a greater primacy and honor? For this reason, when I look upon the privilege you have above all creatures, I extol you with the highest praise: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. On your account joy has not only graced men, but is also granted to the powers of heaven. RESPONSORYThe God of power has given me his strength. - The God of power has given me his strength.He has kept me in the way of holiness. - and has given me his strength.Glory to the Father... - The God of power has given me his strength. Or: Through you we drink from the wellsprings of salvation, O Blessed Virgin Mary. - Through you we drink from the wellsprings of salvation, O Blessed Virgin Mary.From the sacred wounds of Christ, - O Blessed Virgin Mary.Glory to the Father... - Through you we drink from the wellsprings of salvation, O Blessed Virgin Mary. CANTICLE OF MARY                                                      Luke 1:46-55Ant: Blessed is the womb which bore you, O Christ, and the breast that nursed you, Lord and Savior of the world. My soul rejoices in the Lord.   My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear himin every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm,he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel,for he has remembered his promise of mercy,The promise he made to our fathers,to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. INTERCESSIONS To Christ, Emmanuel, whom the Virgin conceived and brought forth, let us give praise and pray to him:    Son of the Virgin Mary, hear us. You gave Mary the joy of motherhood,-- give all parents true joy in their children. King of peace, your kingdom is one of justice and peace,-- help us to seek the paths of peace. You came to make the human race the holy people of God,-- bring all nations to acknowledge the unifying bond of your love. By your birth you strengthened family ties,-- help families to come to a greater love for one another. You desired to be born into the days of time,-- grant that our departed brothers and sisters may be born into the day of eternity. Our Father ... God our Father,may we always profit by the prayersof the Virgin Mother Mary,for you bring us life and salvationthrough Jesus Christ her Sonwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.   Alternative Prayer   Father,source of light in every age,the virgin conceived and bore your SonWho is called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace.May her prayer, the gift of a mother's love,be your people's joy through all ages.May her response, born of a humble heart,draw your Spirit to rest on your people. Grant this through Christ our Lord. May the Lord bless us,protect us from eviland bring us to everlasting life. -  Amen.

Worship audio from Dec 24, 2017 - Christmas Eve Candlelight service.Bulletin here, text at the bottom.Green Pastures with Jesus is the daily 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.                 elcome 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. Lord Jesus, bless our Christmas celebrations. You know me far better than I know myself; you came to this world as a baby in order to create peace between me and you. Grant me a quiet heart to hear your Word, and remind me again with the joy of your birth; AMEN.The Gift of Christmas:“In the obedience of this person Jesus . . . Christ has covered all our disobedience, which dwells in our nature and its thoughts, words, and works. Our disobedience is not charged against us for condemnation; it is pardoned and forgiven out of pure grace alone, for Christ’s sake.”Formula of Concord, Article 3 (Concordia p. 545)Our worship this evening is an adaptation of the Lessons and Carols service traditionally held at King's College, Cambridge, England, on December 24th every year. Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve, 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s College after experience as an army chaplain. The lessons for tonight have been used for almost 100 years to recall God’s promise to send a Savior, as well as that promise’s fulfillment.   EXHORTATION & PRAYERPlease rise.Dear people of God, in this Christmas season, it is our duty and delight to hear again the message of the angels and, in heart and mind, to go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us — the Christ Child lying in a manger, born to save us.Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God from the first days after our fall into sin to the glorious redemption brought to us by this holy child.But first, let us pray for people all over the world who would delight with us to know the good news of Jesus Christ and who would join with us in singing his praises. Let us pray for the people of our community and our church.And, because this would please the Lord, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who are sad, the lonely and the unloved, and the elderly and the little children. We especially remember all those who do not know the Lord Jesus, those who do not love him, and those who by unrepentant sin have grieved his heart of love.Finally, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us in heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, who died in faith, and who live before the throne of God and praise him each day in his temple. We confess that we are united with them as we are united with one another.To sum up all these petitions, let us pray as Christ himself taught us: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.OPENING HYMN: 55 – Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15God promises that a descendant of Eve, as the champion and substitute of all mankind, would win a victory over Satan and rob him of his power.8They heard the voice of the LORD God, who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9The LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13The LORD God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly,and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel. SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18God repeats his promise: All nations will be blessed through Abraham’s descendent. 15The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said, “I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your descendants greatly, like the stars of the sky and like the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the city gates of their enemies. 18In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”   CONFESSION OF FAITHFrom the Augsburg Confession, Article 3:M: Our churches teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God, assumed the human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary. C: So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to reconcile the Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin and guilt, but also for every sin of all humanity. He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. There he forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts to rule, comfort, and make them alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin.The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, according to the Apostles’ Creed.THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7The Promised One will rule on David’s throne forever.2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.On those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. ... 6For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. His name will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7There will be no limit to his authority and no end to his peace. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now on and forever.The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this. HYMN: 42 – Come, Your Hearts and Voices RaisingFOURTH LESSON: Micah 5:2-4God points to the place where the Messiah will be born.2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come the one to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from ancient times, from eternity.” 3Therefore he will surrender them until the time she who is in labor gives birth to a child. Then the remainder of his brothers will return to the children of Israel. 4He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth. FIFTH LESSON: Matthew 1:18-25The angel’s announcement to Joseph.18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20 But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”24 When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25 but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her firstborn son.[f] And he named him Jesus.CONFESSION OF FAITHAdapted from Dr. Martin Luther’s seventh sermon on John 1, from 1537/8. (LW 22:102f)M: John’s Gospel says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Earlier, John called the Word ‘God,’ then a Light which came into the world and created the world - and yet, was not accepted by the world. C: With this word ‘flesh,’ we see how God has assumed our human flesh and blood. Human reason cannot comprehend the mercy of our God, choosing to share our humanity. M: We Christians learn to prize and esteem these words, for herein we see the gospel. The Son of God did not take on himself the nature of angels, but humbled himself and took on the seed of Abraham. C: Jesus Christ, who is of my flesh, blood, and soul, is seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. The humanity of Christ is enduring proof of God’s mercy toward me, on account of Jesus. M: These words are not given for you to misuse or merely take up on occasion; these words are given for you to believe. C: Therefore, we should constantly have such words in our heart and on our lips. Let us learn not to argue with the devil when he tempts us; rather, let us put him to flight with the heartfelt words: “The Word became flesh for me!”M: The eternal Son of God ‘committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;’C: And though he was not guilty of death, he became man for our comfort and salvation. Yes, he became a curse and sin for us, in order to deliver us from the eternal curse, and to justify us. M: We believe the Scriptures and confess with the holy Christian church, which existed at all times and will endure until the end of the world: This article of our Christian faith, together with all the others, is firmly and solidly established by the apostles & prophets, the spokesmen of the Holy Spirit:All: That Christ, our Lord and God, assumed true human nature; and that he became a natural man like any other man. He dwelt among us, with a human body as you & I have; he was nourished and grew as every other human, except without sin. SIXTH LESSON: Luke 2:1-7The birth of our Lord.In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. ( . . . continued . . . )6And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. HYMN: 61 – Hark! The Herald Angels SingSEVENTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-20The angel’s announcement to the shepherds.8There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. 18And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. HYMN: 263 – All Glory Be to God on HighSermon based on Luke 2: A Song about PeaceOFFERINGAfter the offering, an usher will come to your pew and light the candle nearest the center aisle. Please then light the candle next to you until all the candles are lit in the pew. When all the candles are lit, the lights will be dimmed. Remember to tip the unlit candle and leave the lit candle vertical.PRAYERO God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ; grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so may we also behold him with sure confidence when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever;Amen.BLESSINGMay he who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one, fill us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - be upon you and remain with you always;Amen!CLOSING HYMNPlease be seated for our closing hymn:Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav'nly hosts sing, Alleluia; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, Love's pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.December 31 worship at 9:30 AM & 7 PM. All are welcome to the parsonage (517 Tilden St) for fellowship after New Year’s Eve worship. Adult confirmation for Ingrid Chrisman, Josh Chrisman,Travis & Ventura Ulrich will be next Sunday.                                                           THIS WEEKToday Joshua 12 9:30 AM - Advent 4 Worship with Holy Communion 6:30 PM - Christmas Eve Candlelight WorshipMonday Joshua 13Tuesday Joshua 14Wednesday Joshua 15Thursday Joshua 16Saturday Joshua 17 9:15 AM - Bible Basics: Fellowship & EvangelismSunday Joshua 18 9:30 AM - Christmas 1 Worship with Holy Communion 7 PM - New Year’s Eve Worship with Holy Communion  Looking Ahead to Next Sunday:Theme Christmas 1Color WhiteLiturgy CW p. 15 with Holy CommunionHymns 78, 77, 5, 76Readings from Isaiah 45, Colossians 3, Luke 2; Psalm 111Verse of the Day Colossians 3:15   

Following Jesus Following Jesus starts with a Divine Interruption 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,”he replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. When God interrupts our lives, it’s often an invitation to do something uncomfortable. 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” How God speaks to us: Through His Word All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Through Other People "Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”" - Acts 9:17 Through Our Circumstances Through Prayer God will never command anything contrary to what he has already revealed through Scripture. When God commands us to do something uncomfortable, we must do the uncomfortable thing. 17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. 19….Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. -Acts 9:17-20

F$*k Sake! Not Another Podcast? Ep 7The murders of rap superstars Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G have never been solved but the panel sit down to do the job that the Las Vegas Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department could not do: Solve the crimes and let listeners know EXACTLY what happened the nights when these two young men were murdered. Or maybe they just talk absolute bollocks. You decide.Download Here

Mentally Un-Table Adventures, Dungeon World Season 2 episode 7The guest star pokes his nose in the grail quest and girls who glow or have strange eyes should be handled with caution.

By Pastor Missy Jenson Acts 9:1-19a Pew Bible The Conversion of Saul 9Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 5He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ 7The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ 11The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision* a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ 13But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ 15But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul* and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Pastor Zenzile Legend March 16, 2014 Daniel 1 1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Rev. 2:1-7The ministry at Ephesus v1The message for Ephesus v2-7The missing from Ephesus

1Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. 4He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good. 7The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. 8Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility. 9Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

Romans 4:23-25; Matthew 28:1-7The four most CAPTIVATING words in the Bible: "He is not here"The four most CELEBRATED words in the Bible: "for He is risen"The four most CHALLENGING words in the Bible: "come see the place"The four most COMMANDING words in the Bible: "Go quickly and tell..."...the message of PARDON - Romans 4:24-25;...the message of PEACE - Romans 5:1...the message of POWER - Ephesians1:19-20...the message of POSITION - Ephesians 2:4-6

click here Visit the Recover In Christ web site. Passage John 1 : John 1 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.