Podcasts about AAH

In this theologically rich episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony delve into the Parable of the Lost Coin from Luke 15:8-10. They explore how this parable reveals God's passionate pursuit of His elect and the divine joy that erupts when they are found. Building on their previous discussion of the Lost Sheep, the brothers examine how Jesus uses this second parable to further emphasize God's sovereign grace in salvation. The conversation highlights the theological implications of God's ownership of His people even before their redemption, the diligent efforts He undertakes to find them, and the heavenly celebration that follows. This episode offers profound insights into God's relentless love and the true nature of divine joy in redemption. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Lost Coin emphasizes that God actively and diligently searches for those who belong to Him, sparing no effort to recover what is rightfully His. Jesus uses three sequential parables in Luke 15 to progressively reveal different aspects of God's heart toward sinners, with escalating emphasis on divine joy. The coin represents something of significant value that already belonged to the woman, illustrating that God's elect belong to Him even before their redemption. Unlike finding something new, the joy depicted is specifically about recovering something that was already yours but had been lost, highlighting God's eternal claim on His people. The spiritual inability of the sinner is represented by the coin's passivity - it cannot find its own way back and must be sought out by its owner. Angels rejoice over salvation not independently but because they share in God's delight at the effectiveness of His saving power. The parable challenges believers to recover their joy in salvation and to share it with others, much like the woman who called her neighbors to celebrate with her. Expanded Insights God's Determined Pursuit of What Already Belongs to Him The Parable of the Lost Coin reveals a profound theological truth about God's relationship to His elect. As Tony and Jesse discuss, this isn't a story about finding something new, but recovering something that already belongs to the owner. The woman in the parable doesn't rejoice because she discovered unexpected treasure; she rejoices because she recovered what was already hers. This illustrates the Reformed understanding that God's people have eternally belonged to Him. While justification occurs in time, there's a real sense in which God has been considering us as His people in eternity past. The parable therefore supports the doctrines of election and particular redemption - God is not creating conditions people can move into or out of, but is zealously reclaiming a specific people who are already His in His eternal decree. The searching, sweeping, and diligent pursuit represent not a general call, but an effectual calling that accomplishes its purpose. The Divine Joy in Recovering Sinners One of the most striking aspects of this parable is the overwhelming joy that accompanies finding the lost coin. The brothers highlight that this joy isn't reluctant or begrudging, but enthusiastic and overflowing. The woman calls her friends and neighbors to celebrate with her - a seemingly excessive response to finding a coin, unless we understand the theological significance. This reveals that God takes genuine delight in the redemption of sinners, to the extent that Jesus describes it as causing joy "in the presence of the angels of God." As Jesse and Tony note, this challenges our perception that God might save us begrudgingly. Instead, the parable teaches us that God's "alien work" is wrath, while His delight is in mercy. This should profoundly impact how believers view their own salvation and should inspire a contagious joy that spreads to others - a joy that many Christians, by Tony's own admission, need to recover in their daily walk. Memorable Quotes "Christ love is an act of love and it's always being acted upon the sinner, the one who has to be redeemed, his child whom he goes after. So in the same way, we have Christ showing the self-denying love." - Jesse Schwamb "The coin doesn't seek the woman. The woman seeks the coin. And in this way, I think we see God's act of searching grace... The reason why I think it leads to joy, why God is so pleased, is because God has this real pleasure to pluck sinners as brands from the burning fire." - Jesse Schwamb "These parables are calling us to rejoice, right? Christ is using these parables to shame the Pharisees and the scribes who refuse to rejoice over the salvation of sinners. How often do we not rejoice over our own salvation sufficiently?" - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript [00:00:08] Jesse Schwamb: There still is like the sovereign grace of God who's initiating the salvation and there is a kind of effect of calling that God doesn't merely invite, he finds, he goes after he affects the very thing. Yeah, and I think we're seeing that here. The sinner, spiritual inability. There's an utter passivity until found. The coin doesn't seek the woman. The woman seeks the coin. And in this way, I think we see God's act of searching grace. It's all there for us. And the reason why I think it leads to joy, why God is so pleased is because God has this real pleasure. To pluck sinners as brands from the burning fire. Welcome to episode 472 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:57] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. [00:01:01] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. [00:01:02] Jesus and the Parable of the Lost Coin [00:01:02] Jesse Schwamb: So there was this time, maybe actually more than one time, but at least this one time that we've been looking at where Jesus is hanging out and the religious incumbents, the Pharisees, they come to him and they say, you are a friend of sinners, and. Instead of taking offense to this, Jesus turns this all around. Uses this as a label, appropriates it for himself and his glorious character. And we know this because he gives us this thrice repeated sense of what it means to see his heart, his volition, his passion, his love, his going after his people, and he does it. Three little parables and we looked at one last time and we're coming up to round two of the same and similar, but also different and interesting. And so today we're looking at the parable of the lost coin or the Lost dma, or I suppose, whatever kind of currency you wanna insert in there. But once again, something's lost and we're gonna see how our savior comes to find it by way of explaining it. In metaphor. So there's more things that are lost and more things to be found on this episode. That's how we do it. It's true. It's true. So that's how Jesus does it. So [00:02:12] Tony Arsenal: yeah. So it should be how we do it. [00:02:14] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. Yeah, exactly. I cut to like Montel Jordan now is the only thing going through my head. Tell Jordan. Yeah. Isn't he the one that's like, this is how we do it, that song, this is [00:02:28] Tony Arsenal: how we do it. I, I don't know who sings it. Apparently it's me right now. That was actually really good. That was fantastic. [00:02:36] Jesse Schwamb: Hopefully never auto tuned. Not even once. I'm sure that'll make an appearance now and the rest, somebody [00:02:42] Tony Arsenal: should take that and auto tune it for me. [00:02:44] Jesse Schwamb: That would be fantastic. Listen, it doesn't need it. That was perfect. That was right off the cuff, right off the top. It was beautiful. It was ous. [00:02:50] Tony Arsenal: Yes. Yes. [00:02:51] Affirmations and Denials [00:02:51] Jesse Schwamb: I'm hoping that appearance, [00:02:53] Tony Arsenal: before we jump into our, our favorite segment here in affirmations of Denials, I just wanted to take a second to, uh, thank all of our listeners. Uh, we have the best listeners in the world. That's true, and we've also got a really great place to get together and chat about things. That's also true. Uh, we have a little telegram chat, which is just a little chat, um, program that run on your phone or in a browser. Really any device you have, you can go to t Me slash Reform Brotherhood and join that, uh, little chat group. And there's lots of stuff going on there. We don't need to get into all the details, but it's a friendly little place. Lots of good people, lots of good conversation. And just lots of good digital fellowship, if that's even a thing. I think it is. So please do join us there. It's a great place to discuss, uh, the episodes or what you're learning or what you'd like to learn. There's all sorts of, uh, little nooks and crannies and things to do in there. [00:03:43] Jesse Schwamb: So if you're looking for a little df and you know that you are coming out, we won't get into details, but you definitely should. Take Tony's advice, please. You, you will not be disappointed. It, it's a fun, fun time together. True. Just like you're about to have with us chatting it up and going through a little affirmations and denials. So, as usual, Tony, what are you, are you affirming with something or are you denying again, something? I'm, I'm on the edge of my seat. I'm ready. [00:04:06] Tony Arsenal: Okay. Uh, it is, I thought that was going somewhere else. Uh, I'm, I'm affirming something. [00:04:13] AI and Problem Solving [00:04:13] Tony Arsenal: People are gonna get so sick of me doing like AI affirmations, but I, it's like I learned a new thing to do with AI every couple of weeks. I ran across an article the other day, uh, that I don't remember where the article was. I didn't save it, but I did read it. And one of the things that pointed out is that a lot of times you're not getting the most out of AI because you don't really know how to ask the questions. True. One of the things it was was getting through is a lot of people will ask, they'll have a problem that they're encountering and they'll just ask AI like, how do I fix this problem? And a lot of times what that yields is like very superficial, basic, uh, generic advice or generic kind of, uh, directions for resolving a problem. And the, I don't remember the exact phrasing, 'cause it was a little while ago since I read it, but it basically said something like, I'm encountering X problem. And despite all efforts to the contrary, I have not been able to resolve it. And by using sort of these extra phrases. What it does is it sort of like pushes the AI to ask you questions about what you've already tried to do, and so it's gonna tailor its advice or its directions to your specific situation a little bit more. So, for example, I was doing this today. We, um, we just had the time change, right? Stupidest thing in the world doesn't make any sense and my kids don't understand that the time has changed and we're now like three or four weeks past the, the time change and their, their schedule still have not adjusted. So my son Augie, who is uh, like three and three quarters, uh, I don't know how many months it is. When do you stop? I don't even know. When you stop counting in months. He's three and a quarter, three quarters. And he will regularly wake up between four 30 and five 30. And when we really, what we really want is for him to be sleeping, uh, from uh, until like six or six 30 at the latest. So he's like a full hour, sometimes two hours ahead of time, which then he wakes up, it's a small house. He's noisy 'cause he's a three and a half year old. So he wakes up the baby. The baby wakes up. My wife, and then we're all awake and then we're cranky and it's miserable. So I, I put that little prompt into, um, into Google Gemini, which is right now is my, um, AI of choice, but works very similar. If you use something like chat, GPT or CLO or whatever, you know, grok, whatever AI tool you have access to, put that little prompt in. You know, something like since the time change, my son has been waking up at four 30 in the morning, despite all efforts to the contrary, I have not been able to, uh, adjust his schedule. And so it started asking me questions like, how much light is in the room? What time does he go to bed? How much does he nap? And it, so it's, it's pulling from the internet. This is why I like Google Geminis. It's actually pulling from the internet to identify like common, common. Related issues. And so it starts to probe and ask questions. And by the time it was done, what it came out with was like a step-by-step two week plan. Basically like, do this tonight, do this tomorrow morning. Um, and it was able to identify what it believes is the problem. We'll see if it actually is, but the beauty now is now that I've got a plan that I've got in this ai, I can start, you know, tomorrow morning I'm gonna try to do what it said and I can tell. The ai, how things went, and it can now adjust the plan based on whether or not, you know, this worked or didn't work. So it's a good way to sort of, um, push an ai, uh, chat bot to probe your situation a little bit more. So you could do this really for anything, right. You could do something like I'm having, I'm having trouble losing weight despite all efforts to the contrary. Um, can you help me identify what the, you know, root problem is? So think about different ways that you can use this. It's a pretty cool way to sort of like, push the, the AI to get a little deeper into the specifics without like a lot of extra heavy lifting. I'm sure there's probably other ways you could drive it to do this, but this was just one clever way that I, that this article pointed out to accomplish this. [00:08:07] Jesse Schwamb: It's a great exercise to have AI optimize itself. Yeah. By you turning your prompts around and asking it to ask you a number of questions, sufficient number, until it can provide an optimize answer for you. So lots, almost every bot has some kind of, you can have it analyze your prompts essentially, but some like copilot actually have a prompt agent, which will help you construct the prompt in an optimal way. Yeah, and that again, is kind of question and answer. So I'm with you. I will often turn it around and say. Here's my goal. Ask me sufficient number of questions so that you can provide the right insight to accomplish said goal. Or like you're saying, if you can create this like, massive conversation that keeps all this history. So I, I've heard of people using this for their exercise or running plans. Famously, somebody a, a, um, journalist, the Wall Street Journal, use it, train for a marathon. You can almost have it do anything for you. Of course, you want to test all of that and interact with it reasonably and ably, right? At the same time, what it does best is respond to like natural language interaction. And so by turning it around and basically saying, help me help you do the best job possible, providing the information, it's like the weirdest way of querying stuff because we're so used to providing explicit direction ourselves, right? So to turn it around, it's kind of a new experience, but it's super fun, really interesting, really effective. [00:09:22] Tony Arsenal: And it because you are allowing, in a certain sense, you're sort of asking the AI to drive the conversation. This, this particular prompt, I know the article I read went into details about why this prompt is powerful and the reason this prompt is powerful is not because of anything the AI's doing necessarily, right. It's because you're basically telling the AI. To find what you've missed. And so it's asking you questions. Like if I was to sit down and go like, all right, what are all the things that's wrong, that's causing my son to be awake? Like obviously I didn't figure it out on my own, so it's asking me what I've already tried and what it found out. And then of course when it tells me what it is, it's like the most obvious thing when it figures out what it is. It's identifying something that I already haven't identified because I've told it. I've already tried everything I can think of, and so it's prompting me to try to figure out what it is that I haven't thought of. So those are, like I said, there's lots of ways to sort of get the ais to do that exercise. Um, it's not, it's not just about prompt engineering, although that there's a lot of science now and a lot of like. Specifics on how you do prompt engineering, um, you know, like building a persona for the ai. Like there's all sorts of things you can do and you can add that, like, I could have said something like, um. Uh, you are a pediatric sleep expert, right? And when you tell it that what it's gonna do is it's gonna start to use more technical language, it's gonna, it's gonna speak to you back as though it's a, and this, this is where AI can get a little bit dangerous and really downright scary in some instances. But with that particular prompt, it's gonna start to speak back to you as though it was a clinician of some sort, diagnosing a medical situation, which again. That is definitely not something I would ever endorse. Like, don't let an AI be your doctor. That's just not, like WebMD was already scary enough when you were just telling you what your symptoms were and it was just cross checking it. Um, but you could do something like, and I use these kinds of prompts for our show notes where I'm like, you're an expert at SEO, like at um, podcast show notes. Utilizing SEO search terms, like that's part of the prompt that I use when I use, um, in, in this case, I use notion to generate most of our show notes. Um, it, it starts to change the way that it looks at things and the way that it, I, it responds to you based on different prompts. So I think it, it's a little bit scary, uh, AI. Can be a strange, strange place. And there's some, they're doing some research that is a little bit frightening. They did a study and actually, like, they, they basically like unlocked an AI and gave it access to a pretend company with emails and stuff and said that a particular employee was gonna shut out, was gonna delete the ai. And the first thing it did was try to like blackmail the employee with like a risk, like a scandalous email. It had. Then after that they, they engineered a scenario where the AI actually had the ability to kill the employee. And despite like explicit instructions not to do anything illegal, it still tried to kill the employee. So there's some scary things that are coming up if we're not, you know, if, if the science is not able to get that under control. But right now it's just a lot of fun. Like it's, we're, we're probably not at the point where it's dangerous yet and hopefully. Hopefully it won't get to that point, but we'll see. We'll see. That got dark real fast, fast, fast. Jesse, you gotta get this. And that was an affirmation. I guess I'm affirming killer murder ais that are gonna kill us all, but uh, we're gonna have fun with it until they do at least. [00:12:52] Jesse Schwamb: Thanks for not making that deny against. 'cause I can only imagine the direction that one to taken. [00:12:57] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. At least when the AI hears this, it's gonna know that I'm on its side, so, oh, for sure. I, for one, welcome our new AI overlords. So as do Iye. [00:13:05] Christmas Hymns and Music Recommendations [00:13:05] Tony Arsenal: But Jesse, what are you affirming or denying today to get me out of this pit here? [00:13:09] Jesse Schwamb: So, lemme start with a question. Do you have a favorite Christmas hymn? And if so, what is it? [00:13:16] Tony Arsenal: Ooh, that's a tough one. Um, I think I've always been really partial to Oh, holy Night. But, uh, there's, there's not anything that really jumps to mind my, as I've become older and crankier and more Scottish in spirit, I just, Christmas hymns just aren't as. If they're not as prominent in my mind, but oh, holy night or come coming, Emanuel is probably a really good one too. [00:13:38] Jesse Schwamb: Wow. Those are the, those are like the top in the top three for me. Yeah. So I think [00:13:42] Tony Arsenal: I know where you're going based on the question. [00:13:44] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, we're very much the same. So, well maybe, so I am affirming with, but it's that time of year and people you, you know and love and maybe yourself, you're gonna listen to Christian music and. That's okay. I put no shade on that, especially because we're talking about the incarnation, celebrate the incarnation. But of course, I think the best version of that is some of these really lovely hymns because they could be sung and worshiped through all year round. We just choose them because they fit in with the calendar particularly well here, and sometimes they're included, their lyrics included in Hallmark cards and, and your local. Cool. Coles. So while that's happening, why not embrace it? But here's my information is why not go with some different versions. I love the hymn as you just said. Oh, come will come Emmanuel. And so I'm gonna give people three versions of it to listen to Now to make my list of this kind of repertoire. The song's gotta maintain that traditional melody. I think to a strong degree, it's gotta be rich and deep and dark, especially Ko Emmanuel. But it's gotta have something in it that's a little bit nuanced. Different creative arrangements, musicality. So let me give two brand new ones that you may not have heard versions and one old one. So the old one is by, these are all Ko Emanuel. So if at some point during this you're like, what song is he talking about? It's Ko. Emmanuel. It's just three times. Th we're keeping it th Rice tonight. So the first is by band called for today. That's gonna be a, a little bit harder if you want something that, uh, gets you kind of pumped up in the midst of this redemption. That's gonna be the version. And then there are two brand new ones. One is by skillet, which is just been making music forever, but the piano melody they bring into this and they do a little something nuanced with the chorus that doesn't pull away too much. From the original, but just gives it a little extra like Tastiness. Yeah. Skill. Great version. And then another one that just came out yesterday. My yesterday, not your yesterday. So actually it doesn't even matter at this point. It's already out is by descriptor. And this would be like the most chill version that is a hardcore band by, I would say tradition, but in this case, their version is very chill. All of them I find are just deeply worshipful. Yeah. And these, the music is very full of impact, but of course the lyrics are glorious. I really love this, this crying out to God for the Savior. This. You know, just, it's really the, the plea that we should have now, which is, you know, maranatha like Lord Jesus, come. And so in some ways we're, we're celebrating that initial plea and cry for redemption as it has been applied onto us by the Holy Spirit. And we're also saying, you know, come and fulfill your kingdom, Lord, come and bring the full promise, which is here, but not yet. So I like all three of these. So for today. Skillet descriptor, which sounds like we're playing like a weird word game when you put those all together. It does, but they're all great bands and their versions I think are, are worthy. So the larger affirmation, I suppose, is like, go out this season and find different versions, like mix it up a little bit. Because it's good to hear this music somewhat afresh, and so I think by coming to it with different versions of it, you'll get a little bit of that sense. It'll make maybe what is, maybe if it's felt rote or mundane or just trivial, like you're saying, kind of revive some of these pieces in our hearts so we can, we, we can really worship through them. We're redeeming them even as they're meant to be expressions of the ultimate redemption. [00:16:55] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, I, um, I heard the skillet version and, uh, you know, you know me like I'm not a huge fan of harder music. Yeah. But that, that song Slaps man, it's, yes, [00:17:07] Jesse Schwamb: it does. It's [00:17:07] Tony Arsenal: good. And Al I mean, it, it also ignited this weird firestorm of craziness online. I don't know if you heard anything about this, but Yes, it was, it was, there was like the people who absolutely love it and will. Fight you if you don't. Yes. And then there was like the people who think it's straight from the devil because of somehow demonic rhythms, whatever that means. Um, but yeah, I mean, I'm not a big fan of the heavier music, but there is something about that sort of, uh. I don't know. Is skill, would that be considered like metal at all? [00:17:38] Jesse Schwamb: Oh, that's a loaded question. Probably. [00:17:39] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So like I found, uh, this is, we're gonna go down to Rabbit Trail here. Let's do it. Here we go. I found a version of Africa by Toto that was labeled as metal on YouTube. So I don't know whether it actually is, and this, this version of skill, it strikes me as very similar, where it's, ah, uh, it, it's like, um. The harmonies are slightly different in terms of like how they resonate than Okay. Other harmonies. Like I get [00:18:05] Jesse Schwamb: that [00:18:06] Tony Arsenal: there's a certain, you know, like when you think about like Western music, there's certain right, there's certain harmonies when, you know, think about like piano chords are framed and my understanding at least this could be way off, and I'm sure you're gonna correct me if I'm wrong, is that um, metal music, heavy metal music uses slightly different. Chord formations that it almost leaves you feeling a little unresolved. Yes, but not quite unresolved. Like it's just, it's, it's more the harmonics are different, so that's fair. Skillet. This skillet song is so good, and I think you're right. It, it retains the sort of like. The same basic melody, the same, the same basic harmonies, actually. Right. And it's, it's almost like the harmonies are just close enough to being put into a different key with the harmonies. Yes, [00:18:52] Jesse Schwamb: that's true [00:18:53] Tony Arsenal: than then. Uh, but not quite actually going into another key. So like, sometimes you'll see online, you'll find YouTube videos where they play like pop songs, but they've changed the, the. Chords a little bit. So now it's in a minor key. It's almost like it's there. It's like one more little note shift and it would be there. Um, and then there's some interesting, uh, like repetition and almost some like anal singing going on, that it's very good. Even if you don't like heavier music. Like, like I don't, um, go listen to it and I think you'll find yourself like hitting repeat a couple times. It was very, very good. [00:19:25] Jesse Schwamb: That's a good way of saying it. A lot of times that style is a little bit dissonant, if that's what you mean in the court. Yeah. Formation. So it gives you this unsettledness, this almost unresolvedness, and that's in there. Yeah. And just so everybody knows, actually, if you listen to that version from Skillet, you'll probably listen to most of it. You'll get about two thirds of the way through it and probably be saying, what are those guys talking about? It's the breakdown. Where it amps up. But before that, I think anybody could listen to it and just enjoy it. It's a really beautiful, almost haunting piano melody. They bring into the intro in that, in the interlude. It's very lovely. So it gives you that sense. Again, I love this kind of music because there's almost something, there is something in this song that's longing for something that is wanting and yet left, unresolved and unfulfilled until the savior comes. There's almost a lament in it, so to speak, especially with like the way it's orchestrated. So I love that this hymn is like deep and rich in that way. It's, that's fine. Like if you want to sing deck the Holes, that's totally fine. This is just, I think, better and rich and deeper and more interesting because it does speak to this life of looking for and waiting for anticipating the advent of the savior. So to get me get put back in that place by music, I think is like a net gain this time of year. It's good to have that perspective. I'm, I'm glad you've heard it. We should just open that debate up whether or not we come hang out in the telegram chat. We'll put it in that debate. Is skillet hardcore or metal? We'll just leave it there 'cause I have my opinions, but I'm, well, I'm sure everybody else does. [00:20:48] Tony Arsenal: I don't even know what those words mean, Jesse. Everything is hardcore in metal compared to what I normally listen to. I don't even listen to music anymore usually, so I, I mean, I'm like mostly all podcasts all the time. Anytime I have time, I don't have a ton of time to listen to. Um, audio stuff, but [00:21:06] Jesse Schwamb: that's totally fair. Well now everybody now join us though. [00:21:08] Tony Arsenal: Educate me [00:21:09] Jesse Schwamb: now. Everybody can properly use, IM prompt whatever AI of their choice, and they can listen to at least three different versions of al comical manual. And then they can tell us which one do you like the best? Or maybe you have your own version. That's what she was saying. What's your favorite Christmas in? [00:21:23] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And [00:21:24] Jesse Schwamb: what version of it do you like? I mean, it'll be like. [00:21:28] Tony Arsenal: It'll be like, despite my best efforts, I've been un unable to understand what hardcore and medical is. Please help me understand. [00:21:37] Jesse Schwamb: Oh, we're gonna have some, some fun with this at some point. We'll have to get into the whole debate, though. I know you and I have talked about it before. We'll put it before the brothers and sisters about a Christmas Carol and what version everybody else likes. That's also seems like, aside from the, the whole eternal debate, which I'm not sure is really serious about whether or not diehard is a Christmas movie, this idea of like, which version of the Christmas Carol do you subscribe to? Yeah. Which one would you watch if you can only watch one? Which one will you watch? That's, we'll have to save that for another time. [00:22:06] Tony Arsenal: We'll save it for another time. And we get a little closer to midwinter. No reason we just can't [00:22:10] Jesse Schwamb: do it right now because we gotta get to Luke 15. [00:22:12] Discussion on the Parable of the Lost Coin [00:22:12] Tony Arsenal: We do. [00:22:13] Jesse Schwamb: We, we've already been in this place of looking at Jesus' response to the Pharisees when they say to him, listen, this man receives sinners and eats with them. And Jesus is basically like, yeah, that's right. And let me tell you three times what the heart of God is like and what my mission in serving him is like, and what I desire to come to do for my children. And so we spoke in the last conversation about the parable lost sheep. Go check that out. Some are saying, I mean, I'm not saying this, but some are saying in the internet, it's the definitive. Congratulation of that parable. I'm, I'm happy to take that if that's true. Um, but we wanna go on to this parable of the lost coin. So let me read, it's just a couple of verses and you're gonna hear in the text that you're going to understand right away. This is being linked because it starts with or, so this is Jesus speaking and this is Luke 15, chapter 15, starting in verse eight. Jesus says, or a what woman? She has 10 D drachmas and loses. One drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it. And when she has found it, she calls together her friend and her neighbors saying, rejoice with me for I found the D Drachma, which I lost in the same way I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. [00:23:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. On one level, this is, uh, again, it's not all that complicated of a scenario, right? And we have to kind of go back and relo through some of the stuff we talked about last week because this is a continuation of, you know, when we first talked about the Matthew 13 parables, we commented on like. Christ was coming back to the same themes, right? And in some ways, repeating the parable. This is even stronger than that. It's not just that Christ is teaching the same thing across multiple parables. The sense here, at least the sense I get when I read this parable, the lost sheep, and then the prodigal, um, sun parable or, or the next parable here, um, is actually that Christ is just sort of like hammering home the one point he's making to the tax collectors and or to the tax collectors or to the scribes who are complaining about the fact that Christ was eating with sinners. He's just hammering this point home, right? So it's not, it's not to try to add. A lot of nuance to the point. It's not to try to add a, a shade of meaning. Um. You know, we talked a lot about how parables, um, Christ tells parables in part to condemn the listeners who will not receive him, right? That's right. This is one of those situations where it's not, it's not hiding the meaning of the parable from them. The meaning is so obvious that you couldn't miss it, and he, he appeals, we talked about in the first, in the first part of this, he actually appeals to like what the ordinary response would be. Right? What man of you having a hundred sheep if he loses one, does not. Go and leave the 99. Like it's a scenario that anyone who goes, well, like, I wouldn't do that is, looks like an idiot. Like, that's, that's the point of the why. He phrases it. And so then you're right when he, when he begins with this, he says, or what woman having 10 silver coins if she loses one, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until he, till she finds it. And of course, the, the, the emphasis again is like no one in their right mind would not do this. And I think like we think about a coin and like that's the smallest denomination of money that we have. Like, I wouldn't, like if I lost a, if I had 10 silver coin, 10 coins and I lost one of them, the most that that could be is what? 50 cents? Like the, like if I had a 50 cent piece or a silver dollar, I guess, like I could lose a dollar. We're not really talking about coins the way we think of coins, right? We're talking about, um. Um, you know, like denominations of money that are substantial in that timeframe. Like it, there was, there were small coins, but a silver coin would be a substantial amount of money to lose. So we are not talking about a situation where this is, uh, a trivial kind of thing. She's not looking for, you know, I've, I've heard this parable sort of like unpacked where like, it's almost like a miserly seeking for like this lost coin. Interesting. It's not about, it's not about like. Penny pinching here, right? She's not trying to find a tiny penny that isn't worth anything that's built into the parable, right? It's a silver coin. It's not just any coin. It's a silver coin. So she's, she's looking for this coin, um, because it is a significant amount of money and because she's lost it, she's lost something of her, of her overall wealth. Like there's a real loss. Two, this that needs to be felt before he can really move on with the parable. It's not just like some small piece of property, like there's a [00:26:57] Jesse Schwamb: right. I [00:26:57] Tony Arsenal: don't know if you've ever lost a large amount of money, but I remember one time I was in, um, a. I was like, almost outta high school, and I had taken some money out of, um, out of the bank, some cash to make a purchase. I think I was purchasing a laptop and I don't know why I, I don't, maybe I didn't have a credit card or I didn't have a debit card, but I was purchasing a laptop with cash. Right. And back then, like laptops, like this was not a super expensive laptop, but. It was a substantial amount of cash and I misplaced it and it was like, oh no, like, where is it? And like, I went crazy trying to find it. This is the situation. She's lost a substantial amount of money. Um, this parable, unlike the last one, doesn't give you a relative amount of how many she has. Otherwise. She's just lost a significant amount of money. So she takes all these different steps to try to find it. [00:27:44] Understanding the Parable's Context [00:27:44] Tony Arsenal: We have to feel that loss before we really can grasp what the parable is trying to teach us. [00:27:49] Jesse Schwamb: I like that, so I'm glad you brought that up because I ended up going down a rabbit hole with this whole coined situation. [00:27:56] Tony Arsenal: Well, we're about to, Matt Whitman some of this, aren't we? [00:27:58] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, I think so. But mainly because, and this is not really my own ideas here, there's, there's a lot I was able to kind of just read and kind. Throw, throw something around this because I think you're absolutely right that Jesus is bringing an ES escalation here and it's almost like a little bit easier for us to understand the whole sheep thing. I think the context of the lost coin, like you're already saying, is a little bit less familiar to us, and so I got into this. Rabbit hole over the question, why would this woman have 10 silver coins? I really got stuck on like, so why does she have these? And Jesus specific about that he's giving a particular context. Presumably those within his hearing in earshot understood this context far better than I did. So what I was surprised to see is that a lot of commentators you probably run into this, have stated or I guess promulgated this idea that the woman is young and unmarried and the 10 silver coins could. Could represent a dowry. So in some way here too, like it's not just a lot of money, it's possible that this was her saving up and it was a witness to her availability for marriage. [00:28:57] The Significance of the Lost Coin [00:28:57] Jesse Schwamb: So e either way, if that's true or not, Jesus is really emphasizing to us there's significant and severe loss here. And so just like you said, it would be a fool who would just like say, oh, well that's too bad. The coin is probably in here somewhere, but eh, I'm just gonna go about my normal business. Yeah. And forsake it. Like, let's, let's not worry about it. So. The emphasis then on this one is not so much like the leaving behind presumably can keep the remaining nine coins somewhere safe if you had them. But this effort and this diligence to, to go after and find this lost one. So again, we know it's all about finding what was lost, but this kind of momentum that Jesus is bringing to this, like the severity of this by saying there was this woman, and of course like here we find that part of this parable isn't just in the, the kingdom of God's like this, like we were talking about before. It's more than that because there's this expression of, again, the situation combined with these active verbs. I think we talked about last time that Christ love is an act of love and it's always being acted upon the sinner, the one who has to be redeemed, his child whom he goes after. So in the same way, we have Christ showing the self-denying love. Like in the first case, the shepherd brought his sheep home on his shoulders rather than leave it in the wilderness. And then here. The woman does like everything. She lights the candle, she sweeps the house. She basically turns the thing, the place upside down, searching diligently and spared no pains with this until she found her lost money. And before we get into the whole rejoicing thing, it just strikes me that, you know, in the same way, I think what we have here is Christ affirming that he didn't spare himself. He's not gonna spare himself. When he undertakes to save sinners, he does all the things. He endures the cross scor in shame. He lays down his life for his friends. There's no greater love than that. It cannot be shown, and so Christ's love is deep and mighty. It's like this woman doing all the things, tearing the place apart to ensure that that which she knew she had misplaced comes back to her. That the full value of everything that she knows is hers. Is safe and secure in her possession and so does the Lord Jesus rejoice the safe sinners in the same way. And that's where this is incredibly powerful. It's not just, Hey, let me just say it to you one more time. There is a reemphasis here, but I like where you're going, this re-escalation. I think the first question is, why do the woman have this money? What purpose is it serving? And I think if we can at least try to appreciate some of that, then we see again how Jesus is going after that, which is that he, he wants to save the sinner. He wants to save the soul. And all of the pleasure, then all of the rejoicing comes because, and, and as a result of that context. [00:31:22] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:23] Theological Implications of God's People [00:31:23] Tony Arsenal: The other thing, um, maybe, and, and I hope I'm not overreading again, we've, we've talked about the dangers of overreading, the parables, but I think there's a, and we'll, we'll come to this too when we get into the, um, prodigal son. Um, there is this sense, I think in some theological traditions that. God is sort of like claiming a people who were not his own. Right. And one of the things that I love about the reform tradition, and, and I love it because this is the picture the Bible teaches, is the emphasis on the fact that God's people have been God's people. As long as God has been pondering and con like contemplating them. So like we deny eternal justification, right? Justification happens in time and there's a real change in our status, in in time when, when the spirit applies, the benefits that Christ has purchased for us in redemption, right? But there's also a very real sense that God has been looking and considering us as his people in eternity past. Like that's always. That's the nature of the Pactum salutes, the, you know, covenant of redemption election. The idea that like God is not saving a nameless, faceless people. He's not creating conditions that people can either move themselves into or take themselves out of. He has a concrete people. Who he is saving, who he has chosen. He, he, you know, prior to our birth, he will redeem us. He now, he has redeemed us and he will preserve us in all of these parables, whether it's the sheep, the coin, or as we'll get to the prodigal sun next week or, or whenever. Um. It's not that God is discovering something new that he didn't have, or it's not that the woman is discovering a coin, right? There's nothing more, uh, I think nothing more like sort of, uh, spontaneously delightful than like when you like buy a, like a jacket at the thrift store. Like you go to Salvation Army and you buy a jacket, you get home, you reach in the pocket and there's like a $10 bill and you're like, oh man, that's so, so great. Or like, you find a, you find a. A $10 bill on the ground, or you find a quarter on the ground, right? Yeah. Or you find your own money. Well, and that that's, there's a different kind of joy, right? That's the point, is like, there's a delight that comes with finding something. And again, like we have to be careful about like, like not stealing, right? But there's a different kind of joy that comes with like finding something that was not yours that now becomes yours. We talked about that with parables a couple weeks ago, right? There's a guy who finds it, he's, he's searching for pearls. He finds a pearl, and so he goes after he sells everything he has and he claims that pearl, but that wasn't his before the delight was in sort of finding something new. These parables. The delight is in reclaiming and refining something that was yours that was once lost. Right? That's a different thing. And it paints a picture, a different picture of God than the other parables where, you know, the man kind of stumbles on treasure in a field or he finds a pearl that he was searching for, but it wasn't his pearl. This is different. This is teaching us that God is, is zealous and jealous to reclaim that which was his, which was lost. Yes. Right. So, you know, we can get, we can, maybe we will next week, maybe we will dig into like super laps area versus infra laps. AIRism probably not, I don't necessarily wanna have that conversation. But there is a reality in the Bible where God has a chosen people and they are his people, even before he redeems them. [00:34:52] Jesse Schwamb: Exactly. [00:34:53] God's Relentless Pursuit of Sinners [00:34:53] Tony Arsenal: These parables all emphasize that in a different way and part of what he's, part of what he's ribbing at with the Pharisees and the, and the scribes, and this is common across all of Christ's teaching in his interactions and we get into true Israel with, with Paul, I mean this is the consistent testimony of the New Testament, is that the people who thought they were God's people. The, the Jewish leaders, especially the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes, the, the sort of elites of, uh, first century Jewish believers, they really were convinced that they were God's people. And those dirty gentiles out there, they, they're not, and even in certain sense, like even the Jewish people out in the country who don't even, you know, they don't know the scriptures that like, even those people were maybe barely God's people. Christ is coming in here and he is going, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Like you're asking me. You're surprised that I receive sinners and e with them. Well, I'm coming to claim that which is mine, which was lost, and the right response to that is not to turn your nose up at it. The right response is to rejoice with me that I have found my sheep that was lost, that I have reclaimed my coin that was lost. And as we'll see later on, like he really needles them at the end of the, the, uh, parable of the prodigal son. This is something I, I have to be like intentional in my own life because I think sometimes we hear conversion stories and we have this sort of, I, I guess like, we'll call it like the, the Jonah I heresy, I dunno, we won't call it heresy, but like the, the, the like Jonah impulse that we all have to be really thankful for God's mercy in our life. But sort of question whether God is. Merciful or even be a little bit upset when it seems that God is being merciful to those sinners over there. We have to really like, use these parables in our own lives to pound that out of our system because it's, it's ungodly and it's not what God is, is calling us. And these parables really speak against that [00:36:52] Jesse Schwamb: and all of us speak in. In that lost state, but that doesn't, I think like you're saying, mean that we are not God's already. That if he has established that from a trinity past, then we'd expect what others have said about God as the hound of heaven to be true. And that is he comes and he chases down his own. What's interesting to me is exactly what you've said. We often recognize when we do this in reverse and we look at the parable of the lost son, all of these elements, how the father comes after him, how there's a cha singer coming to himself. There's this grand act of repentance. I would argue all of that is in all of these parables. Not, not to a lesser extent, just to a different extent, but it's all there. So in terms of like couching this, and I think what we might use is like traditionally reformed language. And I, I don't want to say I'm overeating this, I hope I'm not at that same risk, but we see some of this like toll depravity and like the sinner is lost, unable to move forward, right? There still is like the sovereign grace of God who's initiating the salvation and there is a kind of effect of calling that God doesn't merely invite, he finds, he goes after he affects the very thing. Yeah, and I think we're seeing that here. There is. The sinner, spiritual inability. There's an utter passivity until found. The coin doesn't seek the woman. The woman seeks the coin. And in this way, I think we see God's act of searching grace. It's all there for us. Yeah, it's in a slightly different way, but I think that's what we're meant to like take away from this. We're meant to lean into that a bit. [00:38:12] Rejoicing in Salvation [00:38:12] Jesse Schwamb: And the reason why I think it leads to joy, why God is so pleased is because God has this real pleasure. Jesus has this real pleasure. The Holy Spirit has this real pleasure. To pluck sinners as brands from the burning fire. You know, it was Jesus, literally his food and drink like not to be too trite, but like his jam went upon the earth to finish the work, which he came to do. And there are many times when he says he ammi of being constrained in the spirit until this was accomplished. And it's still his delight to show mercy like you're saying He is. And even Jonah recognizes that, right. He said like, I knew you were going to be a merciful God. And so he's far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. But that is the gospel level voice, isn't it? Because we can come kicking and screaming, but in God's great mercy, not because of works and unrighteousness, but because of his great mercy, he comes and he tears everything apart to rescue and to save those whom he's called to himself. [00:39:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. I love that old, um, Puritan phrase that wrath is God's alien work. And we, you know, like you gotta be careful when you start to talk that way. And the Puritans were definitely careful about everything. I mean, they were very specific when they spoke, but. When we talk about God's alien work and wrath being God's alien work, what we're saying is not, not that like somehow wrath is external to God. Like that's not what we're getting at of Right. But when you look at scripture and, and here's something that I think, um. I, I don't know how I wanna say this. Like, I think we read that the road is narrow and the the, um, you know, few are those who find it. I think we read that and we somehow think like, yeah, God, God, like, really loves that. Not a lot of people are saved. And I, I actually think that like, when we look at it, um, and, and again, like we have to be careful 'cause God, God. God decreed that which he is delighted by, and also that which glorifies him the most. Right? Right. But the picture that we get in scripture, and we have to take this seriously with all of the caveats that it's accommodated, it's anthropopathism that, you know, all of, all of the stuff we've talked about. We did a whole series on systematic theology. We did like six episodes on Divine Simplicity and immutability. Like we we're, we're right in line with the historic tradition on that. All of those caveats, uh, all of those caveats in place, the Bible pic paints a picture of God such that he grieves over. Those who are lost. Right? Right. He takes no delight in the death of the wicked. That's right. He, he, he seeks after the lost and he rejoices when he finds them. Right. He's, his, his Holy Spirit is grieved when we disobey him, his, his anger is kindled even towards his people in a paternal sense. Right. He disciplines us the way an angry father who loves us, would discipline us when we disobey him. That is a real, that's a real thing. What exactly that means, how we can apply that to God is a very complicated conversation. And maybe sometimes it's more complicated than we, like, we make it more complicated than it needs to be for sure. Um, we wanna be careful to preserve God's changeness, his immutability, his simplicity, all of those things. But at the end of the day, at. God grieves over lost sinners, and he rejoices when they come back. He rejoices when they return to him. Just as the shepherd who finds his lost sheep puts that sheep on his shoulders, right? That's not just because that's an easy way to carry a sheep, right? It's also like this picture of this loving. Intimate situation where God pulls us onto himself and he, he wraps literally like wraps us around himself. Like there are times when, um. You know, I have a toddler and there are times where I have to carry that toddler, and it's, it's a fight, right? And I don't really enjoy doing it. He's squirming, he's fighting. Then there are times where he needs me to hold him tight, and he, he snuggles in. When he falls down and hurts his leg, the first thing he does is he runs and he jumps on me, and he wants to be held tight, and there's a f there's a fatherly embrace there that not only brings comfort to my son. But it brings great joy to me to be able to comfort him that that dynamic in a, uh, a infinitely greater sense is at play here in the lost sheep. And then there's this rejoicing. It's not just rejoicing that God is rejoicing, it's the angels that are rejoicing. [00:42:43] The Joy of Redemption [00:42:43] Tony Arsenal: It's the, it's other Christians. It's the great cloud of witnesses that are rejoicing when Aah sinner is returned to God. All of God's kingdom and everything that that includes, all of that is involved in this rejoicing. That's why I think like in the first parable, in the parable of the lost sheep, it's joy in heaven. Right? It's sort of general joy in heaven. It's not specific. Then this one is even more specific. It's not just general joy in heaven. It's the angels of God. That's right. That are rejoicing. And then I think what we're gonna find, and we'll we'll tease this out when we get to the next par, well the figure in the prodigal son that is rejoicing. The one that is leading the rejoicing, the chief rejoice is the one who's the standin for God in that parable. [00:43:26] Jesse Schwamb: Right, exactly right. So, [00:43:27] Tony Arsenal: so we have to, we have to both recognize that there's a true grief. A true sorrow that is appropriate to speak of God, um, as having when a sinner is lost. And there's also an equally appropriate way to speak about God rejoicing and being pleased and delighted when a sinner returns to him. [00:43:53] Jesse Schwamb: That's the real payoff of this whole parable. I think, uh, maybe all three of them altogether, is that it is shocking how good the gospel is, which we're always saying, yeah, but I'm really always being moved, especially these last couple weeks with what Jesus is saying about how good, how truly unbelievable the gospel is. And again, it draws us to the. Old Testament scriptures when even the Israel saying, who is like this? Who is like our God? So what's remarkable about this is that there's an infinite willingness on God's part to receive sinners. [00:44:23] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:44:23] Jesse Schwamb: And however wicked a man may have been, and the day that he really turns from his wickedness and comes to God by Christ, God is well pleased and all of heaven with him, and God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, like you said, but God has pleasure and true repentance. If all of that's true, then like day to day, here's what I, I think this means for us. [00:44:41] Applying the Parable to Our Lives [00:44:41] Jesse Schwamb: Is when we come to Christ for mercy and love and help and whatever anguish and perplexity and simpleness that we all have, and we all have it, we are going with the flow. If his own deepest wishes, we're not going against them. And so this means that God has for us when we partake in the toning work of Christ, coming to Christ for forgiveness, communing with him despite our sinfulness, that we are laying hold of Christ's own deepest longing and joy. [00:45:10] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And [00:45:10] Jesse Schwamb: Jesus is comforted when we draw near the riches of his atoning work because as his body, even his own body in a way is being healed in this process. And so we, along with it, that I think is the payoff here. That's what's just so remarkable is that not only, like you're saying, is all heaven kind of paying attention to this. Like they're cognizant of it. It's something worthy of their attention and their energies and their rejoicing. But again, it's showing that God is doing all of this work and so he keeps calling us and calling us and calling us over and over again and just like you said, the elect sinner, those estr belongs to God and his eternal purpose. Even that by itself, we could just say full stop. Shut it down end the podcast. Yeah. That's just worthy to, to rejoice and, and ponder. But this is how strong I think we see like per election in particular, redemption in these passages. Christ died for his chief specifically crisis going after the lost coin, which already belongs to him. So like you were saying, Tony, when you know, or maybe you don't know, but you've misplaced some kind of money and you put your hand in that pocket of that winter coat for the first time that season and out comes the piece of paper, that's whatever, 20 or whatever, you rejoice in that, right. Right. It's like this was mine. I knew it was somewhere, it belonged to me, except that what's even better here is this woman tears her whole place apart to go after this one coin that she knows is hers and yet has been lost. I don't know what more it is to be said. I just cannot under emphasize. Or overemphasize how great God's love is in this like amazing condescension, so that when Jesus describes himself as being gentle and lowly or gentle and humble or gentle and humiliated, that I, I think as we understand the biblical text, it's not necessarily just that he's saying, well, I'm, I'm displaying. Meekness power under control. When he says he's humble, he means put in this incredibly lowly state. Yeah. That the rescue mission, like you're saying, involves not just like, Hey, she lemme call you back. Hey, come over here, says uh. He goes and he picks it up. It's the ultimate rescue, picks it up and takes it back by his own volition, sacrificing everything or to do that and so does this woman in this particular instance, and it should lead us. I think back to there's this virtuous cycle of seeing this, experiencing this. Being compelled by the law of Christ, as Paul says, by the power of the Holy Spirit and being regenerated and then worshiping, and then repenting, and then worshiping, and then repenting, and then worshiping. Because in the midst of that repentance and that beautifulness recognizing, as Isaiah says, all of these idols that we set up, that we run to, the one thing they cannot do for us is they cannot deal with sin. They cannot bring cleanliness and righteousness through confession of sin. They cannot do that. So Christ is saying, come to the one you who are needy, you who have no money. To use another metaphor in the Bible, come and buy. And in doing so, we're saying, Christ, Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. And when he says, come, come, I, I've, I have already run. After you come and be restored, come and be renewed. That which was lost my child. You have been found and I have rescued you. [00:48:04] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And these, these are so, um, these two parables are so. Comfortable. Like, right, like they are there, there are certain passages of scripture that you can just like put on like a big fuzzy warm bathrobe on like sn a cold morning, a snuggy. Yeah. I don't know if I want to go that far, but spirits are snuggy and, and these two are like that, right? Like, I know there are times where I feel like Christ redeemed me sort of begrudgingly, right? Mm-hmm. I think we have, we have this, um, concept in our mind of. Sort of the suffering servant, you know, like he's kind of like, ah, if I have to do it, I will. Right, right. And, and like, I think we, we would, if, if we were the ones who were, were being tasked to redeem something, we might do it. You know, we might do it and we. We might feel a certain sense of satisfaction about it, but I can tell you that if I had a hundred sheep and I had lost one, I would not lay it on my shoulder rejoicing. I would lay it on my shoulder. Frustrated and glad that I finally found it, but like. Right. Right. That's not what Christ did. That's right. Christ lays us on his shoulders rejoicing. Right. I know. Like when you lose something, it's frustrating and it's not just the loss of it that's frustrating. It's the time you have to take to find it. And sometimes like, yeah, you're happy that you found it, but you're like, man, it would've just been nice if I hadn't lost this in [00:49:36] Jesse Schwamb: the That's right. [00:49:37] Tony Arsenal: This woman, there's none of that. There's no, um, there's no regret. There's no. Uh, there's no begrudging this to it. There's nothing. It's just rejoicing. She's so happy. And it's funny, I can imagine, uh, maybe, maybe this is my own, uh, lack of sanctification here. I can imagine being that friend that's like, I gotta come over 'cause you found your coin, right? Like, I can be, I could imagine me that person, but Right. But honestly, like. This is a, this is a situation where she's so overcome with joy. She just has to tell people about it. Yeah. She has to share it with people. It, it reminds me, and I've seen this, I've seen this, um, connection made in the past certainly isn't new to me. I don't, I don't have any specific sorts to say, but like the woman at the well, right. She gets this amazing redemption. She gets this, this Messiah right in front of her. She leaves her buckets at the well, and she goes into a town of people who probably hate her, who think she's just the worst scum of society and she doesn't care. She goes into town to tell everybody about the fact that the Messiah has come, right? And they're so like stunned by the fact that she's doing it. Like they come to see what it is like that's what we need to be like. So there's. There's an element here of not only the rejoicing of God, and again, like, I guess I'm surprised because I've, I've, I've never sort of really read this. Part, I've never read this into it too much or I've never like really pulled this out, but it, now that I'm gonna say it, it just seems logical, like not only is God rejoicing in this, but again, it should be calling us to rejoice, right? Christ is. Christ is using these parables to shame the Pharisees and the scribes who refuse to rejoice over the salvation of sinners. How often do we not rejoice over our own salvation sufficiently? Like when's the last time? And I, I don't want to, this is, this can be a lot of loss. So again, like. God is not calling every single person to stand up on their lunch table at work, or, I don't know if God's calling anybody to stand up on the lunch table at work. Right. To like, like scream about how happy they are that they're sick, happy, happy. But like, when's the last time you were so overcome with joy that in the right opportunity, it just over, like it just overcame you and you had to share it. I don't rem. Putting myself bare here, like I don't remember the last time that happened. I share my faith with people, like my coworkers know that I'm a Christian and, um, my, they know that like, there are gonna be times where like I will bring biblical ethics and biblical concepts into my work. Like I regularly use bible examples to illustrate a principle I'm trying to teach my employees or, or I will regularly sort of. In a meeting where there's some question about what the right, not just like the correct thing to do, but the right thing to do. I will regularly bring biblical morality into those conversations. Nobody is surprised by that. Nobody's really offended by it. 'cause I just do it regularly. But I don't remember the last time where I was so overcome with joy because of my salvation that I just had to tell somebody. Right. And that's a, that's a, that's an indictment on me. That's not an indictment on God. That's not an indictment on anyone else. That's an indictment on me. This parable is calling me to be more joyful about. My salvation. [00:52:52] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. One of the, I think the best and easiest verses from Psalms to memorize is let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Yes. Like, say something, speak up. There's, there's a great truth in what you're saying. Of course. And I think we mentioned this last time. There's a communal delight of redemption. And here we see that played out maybe a little bit more explicitly because the text says that the joy is before the angels, meaning that still God is the source of the joy. In other words, the angels share in God's delight night, vice versa, and not even just in salvation itself, but the fact that God is delighted in this great salvation, that it shows the effectiveness of his saving power. All that he has designed will come to pass because he super intends his will over all things that all things, again are subservient to our salvation. And here, why would that not bring him great joy? Because that's exactly what he intends and is able to do. And the angels rejoice along with him because his glory is revealed in his mighty power. So I'm, I'm with you. I mean, this reminds me. Of what the author of Hebrew says. This is chapter 12, just the first couple of verses. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses in this communal kind of redemption of joy surrounding us. Laying aside every weight and the sin,

In the shadowed corners of early 20th‑century Americalurked a man whose crimes would shock the nation. Albert Fish, known as the‘Brooklyn Vampire' and the ‘Boogeyman,' was not just a murderer—he was a figure of almost mythic horror, blending sadism, cannibalism, and religious obsessioninto a chilling portrait of human darkness. In this episode, we peel back the layers of his life and crimes, exploring how a seemingly ordinary man became one of history's most infamous predators.  Time Stamps 00:00:00 - 00:00:58 - Network ad, theme & intro00:00:58 - 00:27:46 - Background00:23:54 - 01:06:22 - Murders, arrest and trial01:06:22 - 01:37:45 - Next episode announcement,general chat, closing theme  Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check ourother podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul,Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 21st of November, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to 2 Corinthians 5:17:”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” No regrets about the past. If you're a new person in Christ, you've got to look forward. Remember, I'm the farmer. You can't plough a straight line if you keep looking behind you. We've got to move forward. There is no future in the past. I looked up the Oxford dictionary to find out the literal meaning of the word “regret”. Do you know what regret is, young person? “Aah, I shouldn't have done that. I wish I hadn't done that,” and the older people, ”Man, I should have thought more. I should have phoned my friend before he died, but he's gone now and I won't get a chance to speak to him again in this life.”A regret, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “to feel sorry or to be disappointed about something that you have done or something that you should have done.” There's no point in looking back, we've got to move forward. Now, C S Lewis, is one of my favourite authors, a very deep man in the Lord. A man who had a previous life, he was actually an atheist, he had no time at all, he didn't believe in God, and then he had a beautiful encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is what he says. He says, ”You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”Isn't that beautiful? I'll say that once again. I think it's very pertinent today to somebody who's trying to come to grips with maybe something terrible that happened in the past. You wish you could rectify it, but you can't. He says you can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start, that's today, where you are, and change the ending! Let's do it, you and I, let's say: Lord, we are so sorry for the mess-ups we've made in the past, the people that we've hurt, the things we should have done and we didn't do it, but Lord, I want to start today and I want to change the ending of my life. In Jesus' name, amen.God bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 19th of November, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of John 6:35 (Amplified Bible): “Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Saviour] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].” Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Have you ever been to a bakery very, very, early in the morning, where they make the bread at the back of the bakery and bring it out on trays? It is looking so beautiful, so brown and a delicious aroma. Aah, I love it so much, and then when you cut a slice of that bread, and you take some fresh farm butter and you spread it over liberally, and it starts to melt into that hot bread, I don't think there's too much that tastes better than that!That's why I get up in the morning at 4 o'clock, because I don't like to eat stale bread. I don't like to eat bread that is old. I don't like to eat bread that is contaminated by the things of the world. We must get the Bread of Life, every single morning before anything else. Before we listen to the world news, before we start phoning other people and getting different opinions of different world events, we must go to the bakery, my dear friend. Radio Pulpit always says to me when we talk about evangelism, it is one hungry beggar showing another hungry beggar where to find bread. He says where to find the bakery, because that's where the spiritual Bread of Life is. So, young person, today I want to tell you, get up in the morning and get into your quiet time room, wherever that might be. Open your Bible and read the Word of God, and that word will sustain you for the whole day, but if you don't go to the bakery early in the morning, you'll have to put up with stale bread, contaminated bread, which will confuse you.Get to the Bread of Life. His name is Jesus!God bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 4th of November, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of John 4:34: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”We want to speak about food. What is your favourite food? Well, being a cattle farmer, my favourite food has got to be steak! I know that I have one young man who is very dear to me, and his favourite food is vegetables because he is a vegan. So we have got a lot of things to talk about. He respects what I love and I respect what he loves. But you know, we are not talking about that kind of food, are we? No. We are talking about doing the will of the Father. That is what fills us up more than any physical food. I love to carry a pocketful of sweets. That's right. I can hear mothers say, “That is not good for the children.” Well, mom, a little sweet is not going to hurt them, and when I go to church these little children come and stand around me and I know why they are there, because they know I have a sweetie for them. Visitors must think, “Aah, look at the way the children flock to Uncle Angus - oh, it must be because he is a holy man.” No, it's because children love sweets! But folks, I want to tell you now, it's so important to do the thing that God has told you to do. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him (His Heavenly Father who sent Him)…” And not only that, but to finish the job.I don't know about you, but when I have had the chance to speak to somebody who is struggling, someone who just needs prayer, or a young person who needs godly counsel, that is the food that sustains me. After I have been to a meeting where I have been able to pray for someone in hospital, where I have been able to preach the Gospel to a crowd of people and see the response, that fills me more than any physical food. Today, go out and do the will of Jesus Christ and love people, and I want to tell you, you will be filled to the brim, pressed down, shaken together and running over.Jesus bless you today, as you eat the food that the Father is going to give you.God bless you and goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 29th of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Exodus 25:40, and this is what the Lord says to Moses: ”And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” The building of the tabernacle - keep it to the pattern.Then we go straight to the Gospel of John 14:15. Jesus says:“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”Don't tell people you love them, then do the opposite. “You shall know them by their fruit,” Jesus says. An apple tree produces apples, and an orange tree produces oranges. We really need to keep to the pattern. You know what a blueprint is, young man? A blueprint is something that you have been given by a builder, and then he says, ”Build it according to the blueprint. Do not change anything because it is proven, this building will stand if you build it according to the blueprint.” Smith Wigglesworth said, ”Jesus said it, I believe it and that settles it.” No arguments! What does the word say, that is your pattern for this life. That is your blueprint. You know the wisest man that ever lived, according to the word of God, was Solomon, and if you look at Ecclesiastes 1:9, He said, ' ... And there is nothing new under the sun.” It has all happened before, it will all happen again, but we've got some whizz-kids thinking they are inventing something new. Nothing new under the sun. I sound like an old man, don't I? Well, I'm getting old, and I want to tell that young lady, I wish that I knew when I was your age what I know now, and I wouldn't have made so many mistakes and I wouldn't have hurt so many people.The Lord told a farmer named Noah to build an ark. He said build it according to the blueprint, and he did, and the ark never sank, did it? There is nothing new. Running your home - run it according to the principles of God. Discipline in your house, love your wife, submit to your husband, respect your parents, discipline your children. These are according to the blueprint.What about business? “Aah, my people don't want to work for me.” Maybe because you don't pay them correctly. What about having a quiet time every morning? You say, ”Uncle Angus, you're always telling us that.” Of course, I am, because that's where you'll get your instructions for the blueprint that you are going to implement on that day. Practise what you have been taught.Jesus bless you and goodbye.

Join us for a profound, contemporary deep dive into the poetry of patience and the paradox of ambition.This episode features a full, accessible analysis of two timeless poetic codes that explain the biggest frustrations in your life:Ghalib's Unbearable Wait (The 'Hote Tak' Metaphor): We break down the famous couplet, "Aah ko chahiye ek umr asar hote tak, kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hote tak," and explain the beautiful, tragic metaphor of life unfolding too slowly for the human heart.The Unending Search: We analyze the philosophical question, "hai justuju k khub se hai khubtar Kahan...," and why we are eternally restless, always chasing a perfection that may not exist.The Modern Connection: Finally, we connect this 17th-century wisdom to a modern reality, using Zakir Khan's popular "shirt story" to show how the world's delay often kills the value of the prize.This is the ultimate Emotional & Ambition Hack for anyone who feels the emptiness after achieving a long-held goal. Listen now to find peace in the pursuit.Tags:Urdu PoetryGhalibZakir KhanLife HacksSelf-ImprovementPatienceAmbitionMotivationLongingPhilosophyDeep ThoughtsPodcastPersonal Growth

In the quiet suburbs of Wichita, Kansas, a killer moved unnoticed for decades. He called himself BTK—Bind, Torture, Kill—and he taunted police with cryptic letters while livinga double life as a church leader and compliance officer. Ten victims. Thirty years of silence. And a trail that went cold—until one digital slip unravelled it all. Time Stamps00:00:00 - 00:00:53 - Network ad, theme & intro00:00:53 - 00:23:54 - Background/childhood00:23:54 - 00:52:25 - Timeline of murders and mediacommunications00:52:25 - 01:19:50 - Quiet period, communicationsfrom 2004, arrest/trial01:19:50 - 01:48:01 - Next episode announcement,general chat, closing theme  Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check out our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

“It was supposed to be a night of escapism—a midnightscreening of a summer blockbuster. But on July 20, 2012, inside a packed theatre in Aurora, Colorado, fiction gave way to horror. A lone gunman, clad in tactical gear, opened fire on unsuspecting moviegoers, leaving 12 dead and 70wounded. His name: James Holmes.”In this episode, we unravel the chilling descent of a once-promising neuroscience student into one of the most infamous mass murderers in American history. We'll explore the psychological complexities behind Holmes' actions, the courtroom battle over sanity and culpability, and the haunting legacy of the Aurora theatre shooting. Was it a calculated pursuit of infamy—or the tragic unravelling of a mind in crisis? Time Stamps00:00:00 - 00:01:09 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:09 - 00:27:42 - Background and childhood00:27:42 - 00:56:42 - Events leading up to/the cinemashooting, Holmes' journal analysis00:56:42 - 01:18:36 - Trial and aftermath01:18:36 - 01:45:13 - Next episode announcement,general chat, closing theme  Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check ourother podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul,Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

In 2014, a quiet California town became the epicentre of a chilling tragedy. Behind the headlines was a young man whose story—marked by loneliness, obsession, and agrowing detachment from reality—raises urgent questions about mental health and digital influence. This episode explores the psychological and societal threads that led to the Isla Vista incident, offering insight without sensationalism. It's a journey into the mind behind the violence—and what we might learn from the warning signs. Time Stamps 00:00:00 - 00:00:56 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:00 - 00:40:50 - Background and childhood00:40:50 - 00:54:34 - Behaviour escalation00:54:34 - 01:25:29 - Events of 23rd May 2014 andaftermath01:25:29 - 01:29:51 - Next episode announcement,closing theme **Our general chat section will be released as aminisode as this episode was rather long!**  Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check ourother podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul,Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

In the autumn of 2002, a terrifying pattern gripped America's capital. Ten people were dead. Cities were paralyzed. Police scrambled for leads while citizens ducked behindgas pumps. But behind the rifle was a duo more complicated than anyone expected—and a plan that stretched far beyond random violence. The case blends psychological manipulation, national panic, and a methodical plan that was more complex than anyone initially realized. This episode dives into the chilling sniper spree that became one of the most unforgettable manhunts in modernhistory.  Time Stamps 00:00:00 - 00:01:01 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:01 - 00:38:30 - Events of October 200200:38:30 - 00:49:40 - Links to other shootings,evidence analysis, media coverage00:49:40 - 01:08:51 - Background of suspects,arrest/charges, trial and aftermath & next episode announcement01:08:51 - 01:26:49 - General chat/recommendations andclosing theme Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check ourother podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul,Mike, Dan and Cheer

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 21st of July, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of Luke 12:37. This is Jesus speaking: “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” I want to speak about appointments. You know what they say? You snooze, you lose! It's funny but it's actually not that funny, is it? There is no excuse for being late for an appointment. You see, it tells the person that they are not really that important to you. It can ruin a relationship forever. Young man, when you are dating a young girl and you are trying to make an impression, if you get there late, I am telling you now, you are in big trouble. If you are late for your wedding day, it's not a joke. You can ruin the rest of your relationship.What about if you are late for the birth of your baby? That's almost unforgivable. “Yes, but I had something else on” - no, priorities! If you are late for your finals, you are writing your final exams and you are late, it can ruin your career. Now, you say, how can we alleviate this potential tragedy in our lives? One word, discipline! Discipline! Get up in the morning. “Aah but, I work late.” It doesn't matter. Get up in the morning, have a good quiet time with Jesus every single day, not now and again, every single day.Priorities, very important! Who is first in your life? Jesus Christ, second - your family, third - your work or even your ministry, and then always be ready, be packed and be ready for the doorbell to ring. I can't wait for that doorbell to ring, I am telling you now. Settle your accounts, owe nobody anything, and then when He calls, He will say, “I have arrived”, and you and I will say by the grace of God, “Here I am, Lord. I am packed, I am ready to go.” Jesus is not coming soon, He is on His way, I tell you! Have a wonderful day, but really sharpen up, get your act together, because He says He is coming like a thief in the night, and you won't even hear about it.God bless you and be ready for the great day,Goodbye.

Most people who use social media are aware of the dangers which can manifest in many forms. Scams, lies, catfishing, the list goes on. In 2019, 19 year old Denali Brehmer was approached by a millionaire from Kansas known as 'Tyler', who was willing to pay her $9 million dollars, to record a murder and send it to him. Denali lured her friend Cynthia Hoffman to a local park and with the help of afew friends, they carried out the abhorrent request.  Time Stamps 00:00:00 - 00:01:00 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:00 - 00:07:03 - Background00:07:03 - 00:28:59 - Events leading up to and murderitself 00:28:59 - 00:38:00 - Arrest/charges, trial andaftermath00:38:00 - 01:18:17 - Next episode announcement,general chat/recommendations *SPOILER WARNING* - Final Destination: Bloodlines, Tucker & Dale vs Evil, Bodies Bodies Bodies, M:I Final Reckoning, The Ugly Stepsister, Speak No Evil, Sunrise on the Reaping (Book & cast for thefilm), Twister/Twisters, Fred & Rose West documentary (Netflix),  Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check ourother podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horrorwith hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

In April 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, 20 year old Mary Collins was excited to be going to her friends apartment to hang out and have fun. They picked up her favourite food and all was going well until the small gathering took a darker turn. They spike Mary's drink with drugs and soon after her friends turn on her. But why would her so-called friends want to harm her?Time Stamps00:00:00 - 00:00:54 - Network ad, theme & intro00:00:54 - 00:17:58 - Background00:17:58 - 00:47:04 - Incident *TRIGGER WARNING*, missing persons report and investigation 00:47:04 - 00:54:44 - Arrest/charges, trial and aftermath00:54:44 - 01:18:17 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations *SPOILER WARNING* - Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes (Disney+), Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read (Discovery+), Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+), Trap (2024) and M. Night Shyamalan filmography Closing theme (pop punk AI version)Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 20th of May, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in 2 Corinthians 11:3: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.” We have got to keep it simple, very simple. When the devil tempted Eve in the garden, he didn't say, “God said this…” No, he asked her the question in Genesis 3:1:“Has God (really, has He) indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?” You see, that is how the devil works, he doesn't attack you straight on. He plays with your mind. He says, “It's not that bad, is it?” We need to keep the Gospel simple. There is nothing difficult about the Gospel.I looked up the Oxford Dictionary to find out the literal meaning of the word, “simplicity” and one of the meanings is “clean lines”. Keep it clean, don't let it get congested. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith you cannot please God, and he who believes must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God said it, we believe it, that settles it. We must be careful that we are not too clever for our own good because the devil will help you along.A lot of people in South Africa are starting to write exams, whether it be for your final year in school or university, and I want to tell you about something called cheating. Cheating is a sin. You cannot cheat. “Aah”, you say, “but Uncle Angus, it is not going to hurt anybody else. It is just going to help me along.” No, what it is going to do, it is going to open the door for the devil to come in and play havoc with your life. Remember, there is nothing new under the sun - the wisest man who ever lived said that. “Did God really say...?” That is how the devil works. “Is it really going to hurt anybody? No - well, then do it!” I want to say to you today, you need to watch out for the slyness of the devil. I was taught when I was a new Christian, “Look out for the 3 “P's”. What are the 3 “P's”? It is not a joke. The first P is power. When you get power, you want more power because people listen to you and you start thinking that you are something when you are not. That is the first “P”. The second one is petticoats. I am talking to the men. Look out for the temptation of the devil. You shouldn't go anywhere with a woman who is not your wife by yourself, because of the temptation of the devil. “Aah, but it is just a one-night stand. No-one will find out.” Do you know how many letters I get from men who are broken because they let their wives down? It has destroyed their marriage. Then the pennies, chasing the money. Chasing the money, you don't pay your income tax. You think you are clever? I want to tell you something now, you will be caught out. That is exactly what happened to Eve in the Garden of Eden.Today, let's sharpen up our act and let's not give the devil a chance to move in. God bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

Hacı Dayı ile Hacı Teyzenin evlerindeki duvar saati günün birinde tık demiş, durmuş. Birkaç gün sonra oğulları eve geldiğinde saatin çalışmadığını fark etmiş. “Buna bir kalem pil alıp taksaydınız ya” deyince, iki tonton “Aah, ah” ile başlayan bir cümleyi ayna anda söylemişler. Biri “Yavrum, pil aldık ama…” demiş, sözü diğeri tamamlamış: “…takmasını bir türlü denk getiremiyoruz ki.” Oğul, pili yerine oturtamadıklarını zannetmiş.

On February 4th 2009, 53 year old Takao Terada was found dead in his home in western Tokyo. Police has initially concluded that this was a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning; however, when 2 more men are found in May and August of the same year, Police conducted a thorough investigation; reviewing financial records and their internet history. This would eventually lead them to 34 year old Kanae Kijima. But how was a young middle-class girl from Hokkaido, linked to all 3 men? Time Stamps00:00:00 - 00:01:07 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:07 - 00:06:44 - Background00:06:44 - 00:22:26 - Victims and MO00:22:26 - 00:35:34 - Arrest/charges, trial, appeals and aftermath00:35:34 - 01:09:29 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations *SPOILER WARNING* - Butter by Asako Yuzuki (book based on the case of Kanae Kijima), The Smiley Face Killers, Dexter (TV series), Adolescence, Black Mirror S7, Sinners (no spoilers), Toxic Town, From (S1), Tokyo Ghoul (S1), Closing theme (pop punk AI version)Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

November 2001, Renton, Washington. Gary Leon Ridgway was working at the Kenworth Truck Factory when Police arrived to arrest him on suspicion of murdering four women nearly 20 years earlier. Advancements in DNA profiling and lab testing, enabled investigators to link Ridgway to more murders from the same time. Almost 50 women had suffered at the hands of Ridgway. Following his arrest, police interrogated him numerous times over a 5 month period, hoping they would learn Ridgway's motive for brutally killing these women and to finally put the monster behind bars. **TRIGGER WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT/DESCRIPTIONS OF MURDER**Time Stamps00:00:00 - 00:00:57 - Network ad, theme & intro00:00:57 - 00:18:14 - Background00:18:14 - 00:42:29 - Bodies found, investigation and interrogation (over 5 months)00:42:29 - 01:18:49 - Arrest/charges, more detail from interrogations, trial and aftermath01:18:49 - 01:40:04 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations *SPOILER WARNING* - (From (Now TV/Sky), Severance (Apple TV), The White Lotus S3 (Now TV/Sky), Adolescence (Netflix), The Twister: Caught in the Storm (Netflix), It Ends with Us (2024), The Shallows (2016).Closing theme (pop punk AI version)Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 7th of April, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Zachariah 3:4: “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” A beautiful promise from the Lord, to take away all of our sin. Then we go to the Book of Revelation 19:8: “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Yes, we are talking about the marriage day, that wonderful, wonderful occasion when you and I will meet our beloved Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom. The Lord is preparing a great marriage feast for you and me when we meet Him in Heaven. You and I are the church and the bride, and Jesus is the Bridegroom. I want to ask you a question. Are you ready? Am I ready? You know, I love weddings. I have had the privilege of marrying off my children and my grandchildren. What an occasion it is! The excitement when the mothers are getting the food ready, the bride and the bridesmaids are getting their dresses ready, the bridegrooms are cleaned up. These boys have had a nice shave. They are ready with their beautiful suits on. It is an incredible occasion, the flowers in the church are magnificent. It is a joyous occasion and lots of fun.I remember, my very dear brother in Christ - his son was getting married to my youngest daughter, and he offered his vintage tractor. Yes, it was an inheritance he got from his grandfather and I want to say to you, this tractor was imported from England and was working up in Central Africa. He brought it to the farm and said he would drive my daughter and me to the chapel in this tractor. What a wonderful machine. Pop, pop, pop as it went up the hill, but it did have a little bit of a problem with the exhaust. There was a lot of black smoke and maybe even the occasional drop of oil. Now, my daughter had a beautiful white dress on! Aah, but we sorted that out because we gave her a lovely umbrella, but I want to say to you today there must be no oil, there must be nothing in our garments that will tarnish the wedding day. The Lord said He has given us new garments and we need to go to church, we need to go to the wedding day, clean. Are we ready for that great and wonderful day when we meet our beloved Jesus face to face?Prepare yourself because that day is coming very soon. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

À partir du 1ᵉʳ avril 2025, plusieurs réformes importantes entrent en vigueur en France, impactant divers aspects de la vie quotidienne. Voici un aperçu des principaux changements :Revalorisation des aides socialesLe Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) est revalorisé de 1,7 % pour tenir compte de l'inflation. Ainsi, une personne seule percevra désormais 646,52 € par mois, soit une augmentation de 10,81 €. Un couple avec deux enfants bénéficiera de 1 357,70 €, contre 1 334,98 € auparavant.La prime d'activité connaît également une hausse similaire. Par exemple, un bénéficiaire célibataire sans enfant verra son allocation portée à 633,21 €, soit une augmentation de 10,58 €. Pour un bénéficiaire avec trois enfants, la prime atteindra 1 393,08 €, en hausse de 23,29 €.De même, l'Allocation aux adultes handicapés (AAH) est revalorisée de 1,7 %, portant son montant maximal de 1 016,05 € à 1 033,32 €.Durcissement des règles d'indemnisation du chômageLes allocations chômage sont désormais mensualisées sur une base de 30 jours, quel que soit le mois, entraînant une perte de 5 à 6 jours d'indemnisation par an pour les demandeurs d'emploi. De plus, les bornes d'âge pour la durée d'indemnisation sont relevées de deux ans : l'âge ouvrant droit à 22,5 mois d'indemnisation passe de 53 à 55 ans, et celui donnant droit à 27 mois passe de 57 à 59 ans.Modification des conditions d'indemnisation des arrêts maladiePour les salariés du secteur privé, le plafond du salaire pris en compte pour le calcul des indemnités journalières est abaissé à 1,4 fois le Smic, contre 1,8 fois précédemment. Cette mesure réduit le montant des indemnités perçues par certains salariés en arrêt maladie.Élargissement du prêt à taux zéro (PTZ)Le PTZ est désormais accessible à tous les logements neufs sur l'ensemble du territoire français, et ce, jusqu'au 31 décembre 2027. Ce dispositif, réservé aux primo-accédants sous conditions de ressources, vise à faciliter l'accession à la propriété en permettant d'emprunter sans intérêts.Augmentation des frais de notaireLes départements ont désormais la possibilité d'augmenter les droits de mutation à titre onéreux (DMTO), communément appelés "frais de notaire", de 0,5 point pour une durée de trois ans. Cette hausse, si elle est adoptée localement, pourrait alourdir le coût des transactions immobilières pour les acquéreurs.Obligation d'une autorisation de voyage pour le Royaume-UniÀ partir du 2 avril, les citoyens français et européens devront obtenir une autorisation électronique de voyage (ETA) pour se rendre au Royaume-Uni. Cette autorisation, similaire à l'ESTA américain, coûte 12 € et est valable deux ans. La demande peut être effectuée via une application dédiée ou sur le site officiel du gouvernement britannique. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

17 March 2000. A devastating fire breaks out in the main building at a religious commune in Southwest Uganda, claiming the lives of over 300 people. It was initially determined that it was a mass suicide, however further investigation revealed that the doors and windows had been nailed shut, preventing people escaping. Further investigation leads to the discovery of multiple mass graves. But who and why would anyone do such a cruel and callous act? *Attention pop punk fans*Please stick around for the closing theme. You will not be disappointed! 00:00:00 - 00:01:05 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:05 - 00:18:48 - Background00:18:48 - 00:41:52 - Commune in Southwest Uganda incident & aftermath00:41:52 - 01:05:56 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations (Sleep Token, Opus (film), Nosferatu, The Room, The White Lotus, ACOTAR/Throne of Glass), closing theme (pop punk AI version)Twitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 24th of March, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Romans 13:10:”Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Then we go on to Galatians 5:14:”For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”Love fulfils the law. You see folks, we can't work our way to heaven. No. We've got to understand something. If we love God, then we will do the right thing. Love keeps the marriage pure. You don't have to try and obey the law and not have an affair with another woman or with another man. No, you love your wife so much that you could never bring yourself to having an affair with another woman. That's what love does. Love is so powerful. Love keeps a man honest. A man cannot love God and steal. You can't do it. Your conscience will not allow it. Love keeps a man honest. It makes it very easy to obey the Ten Commandments because you don't want to break them. Love covers a multitude of sins. I want to say to you today, how about just saying sorry to someone. “Aah but I've got my rights.” No, you don't have any rights. When you gave your life to Jesus, you surrendered all your rights. Go to the person and say, ”I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm sorry if I took that thing from you. I'm giving it back to you.” Most of all, say to your loved one, ”I am sorry for shouting or being selfish.” You see, there's no more condemnation when you are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. Love brings freedom. Yes, freedom from yourself, most of all. Okay, you don't have to work so hard, it's all been paid for. Grace means undeserved loving-kindness.I loved my old mom. When I came home with my school report, she would only ask me one question before she even opened the report, ”Angus, did you do your best?” I'd say, “Mom, honestly I did my best.” And if it was 40% or 50%, it was good enough for mom. She took the pressure off me. Now, when Jesus said, ”It is finished,” He meant you don't have to work at it; you just have to receive it! Now go out in freedom today, knowing that the Lord goes before you.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

L'Allocation aux adultes handicapés (AAH) est une prestation sociale française destinée à garantir un revenu minimum aux personnes en situation de handicap. Son attribution repose principalement sur l'évaluation du taux d'incapacité de la personne, indépendamment de la pathologie spécifique dont elle souffre.Critères d'attribution de l'AAH :1. Taux d'incapacité :80 % ou plus : La personne est éligible à l'AAH si son taux d'incapacité permanente atteint au moins 80 %.Entre 50 % et 79 % : L'AAH peut être accordée si le handicap entraîne une restriction substantielle et durable pour l'accès à l'emploi, reconnue par la Commission des droits et de l'autonomie des personnes handicapées (CDAPH). 2. Conditions supplémentaires :Âge : Avoir au moins 20 ans (ou 16 ans si l'individu n'est plus considéré à la charge de ses parents pour les prestations familiales).Résidence : Résider de manière stable et régulière en France.Ressources : Ne pas dépasser un certain plafond de ressources, fixé annuellement et variable selon la situation familiale.Pathologies ouvrant droit à l'AAH :Il n'existe pas de liste exhaustive de pathologies prédéfinies ouvrant droit à l'AAH. Toutefois, certaines maladies, en raison de leur nature invalidante, sont fréquemment reconnues par la Maison départementale des personnes handicapées (MDPH) lors de l'évaluation du taux d'incapacité. Parmi elles :Maladies neurologiques :Sclérose en plaquesMaladie de ParkinsonÉpilepsieTroubles du spectre autistique :AutismeMaladies génétiques :Trisomie 21 (syndrome de Down)Dystrophie musculaireMaladies psychiatriques :SchizophrénieTrouble bipolaireDépression majeureMaladies chroniques invalidantes :Polyarthrite rhumatoïdeMaladie de CrohnDiabète de type 1 et 2FibromyalgieMaladies neurodégénératives :Maladie d'AlzheimerAffections cardio-respiratoires sévères :Insuffisance cardiaqueAsthme sévèreCancers :Notamment ceux entraînant des limitations fonctionnelles importantesProcessus d'évaluation :Chaque demande est examinée individuellement par la MDPH. Une équipe pluridisciplinaire évalue l'impact de la pathologie sur la vie quotidienne, la capacité à travailler et l'autonomie de la personne. Cette évaluation aboutit à la détermination d'un taux d'incapacité, qui conditionne l'éligibilité à l'AAH.Durée d'attribution de l'AAH :L'AAH est attribuée pour une durée variable, en fonction de la stabilité ou de l'évolution prévisible du handicap :1 à 2 ans : Si une évolution favorable du handicap est attendue. 3 à 5 ans : Si le handicap est stable ou peu susceptible d'amélioration. 10 ans ou à vie : Pour les handicaps graves et irréversibles avec un taux d'incapacité d'au moins 80 %.Conclusion :L'attribution de l'AAH repose sur l'évaluation du taux d'incapacité et de l'impact du handicap sur la vie quotidienne, plutôt que sur la reconnaissance d'une pathologie spécifique. Ainsi, toute maladie ou condition entraînant une incapacité significative peut potentiellement ouvrir droit à cette allocation, sous réserve de l'évaluation effectuée par la MDPH. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 19th of March, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Psalms 50:23: “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;…” Then we go straight to the Book of Acts 16:25-26: “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.”Oh, this morning how are you feeling? Are you feeling bound with chains of fear, stress, depression, anxiety? Why don't you try praising the Lord? You know, there is incredible power in praising the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ inhabits the praise and the worship of His people. One of the strengths of the Salvation Army is their singing and their brass band as they march down the streets, singing the praises of God. We have a boy's school not far from us, up in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. They major in music and singing, and before their voices break, they sing. Aah, I want to tell you, ladies I love listening to you singing but when these little boys sing, they reach pitches that no woman can reach as high, and I really feel the presence of Almighty God when these little boys praise and worship the Lord with their instruments and their voices. With the Mighty Men Conferences all over the world, the highlight for me is the praise and worship. It absolutely melts the hearts of hardened men, men who come there who are angry, men who come there who are fighting the good fight and they are down and out, and when the music starts, you want to really see it, it is incredible. You know, they say they can hear us singing from 15 kms away, that's about 8 miles away, when you get tens of thousands of men entering into praise and worship. No wonder the prison gates flew open and the chains fell off the prisoners!I love to watch them. I get a bird's eye view from the platform, tens of thousands. When the music starts they stand there with their arms folded, they are shy maybe, embarrassed, maybe some angry and then as the music proceeds, their arms drop down by their sides, and then after a few more minutes, their hands start wiping tears away from their faces, and then eventually their hands are raised up into the sky, worshipping their King, totally unaware and unconcerned of anybody around them. Then of course that “Amen”, that war cry. “Amen” by the way means, “so be it” and the devil runs for his life.Jesus bless you. Today go out and praise and sing to the glory of God!Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 10th of March, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of Mark 14:41: “Then He came the third time (that's Jesus) and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough!” Folks, it's wake up time. There is no time left for sleeping! Jesus is coming back very soon. Then we go straight to 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (AMP Bible) We need to wake up. We need to take authority in our homes. Really folks, we need to tell our children, “In this house, we are Christians, in this house we don't do things like that, in this house we are followers of Jesus Christ. You will pray and we will spend time with the Lord and you will not bring that filth into this house.”“Aah, but dad, everybody else is doing that.”“It doesn't matter - not in this house!” We have to look after our families. Jesus says, “Stop sleeping, it is enough.” Remember - it might be your business, “Well whatever will be, will be.” Well, that's not the attitude. Stand up like a man and get back into the fight. Remember, the best form of defence is attack. If the Lord is on your side, you have nothing to fear. Don't listen to the lies of the devil which are defeat - “You will never make it, you are washed up, you are done.” Don't listen to that. Remember the word of the Lord. You see, that thing that you fear is not going to go away by having a sleep - no, no, no! You have got stand up, face the enemy eye to eye and say, “This far and no further”. Draw a line in the sand. But how are we going to do this? I will tell you how you are going to do it - by prayer. You see, Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane when the disciples were sleeping. Three times He came and said, “Watch and pray.” Folks, I am telling you now, you need to watch and pray. Gentlemen, you need to get out of bed in the morning, you need to be on your knees praying for your beloved wife and your children. Yes, it's not your wife's job, it's your job. Children, you need to pray for your parents. Oh yes, they need help. You need to pray for your headmaster and your teacher. You need to pray for your friends, and Jesus will undertake.God bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

August 1988,  South Yorkshire. 21 year old Anthony Arkwright is brought in for questioning following a burglary at his neighbours house. It was well known in the area that Anthony had trouble with his neighbours, so this was nothing out of the ordinary. Following his release, another of Anthony's neighbours, Marcus Law, is found brutally murdered in his flat by his mother. Anthony is arrested and confessed to more murders, leading police to believe that this was not just a normal neighbourly disagreement. 00:00:00 - 00:01:07 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:07 - 00:15:11 - Background00:15:11 - 00:21:01 - Murder of Marcus Law and initial interrogation00:21:01 - 00:23:35 - Murder of Raymond Ford 00:23:35 - 00:28:31- Murder of Anthony's grandfather & housekeeper00:28:31 - 00:39:52 - Trial and aftermath00:39:52 - 01:05:56 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations (Nope/alien invasion, Gabby Petito docuseries, Apple Cider Vinegar/Belle Gibson docuseries, Criminal Minds), closing themeTwitter: @crimeslikeInstagram: @crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 27th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of Mark 12:42 (Amp.Version): “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite.” Then we go on a little bit to verse 44, and Jesus said: “For they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.” Folks, a very small coin, worth a fraction of a penny. Now, some young people don't even know what a penny is anymore, but the older people listening to this message, if you look at the picture, you will see I took a photograph of a one penny, a South African coin minted in 1946. You see, people often give from their overflow. That old lady gave from her very substance. She gave the very money that she had left. God doesn't need your money, God doesn't need my money, He wants our attitude, He wants our heart. Some of the most generous people I have met in my life are wealthy people. It is not about the money, it's about the heart of the thing. When we give, we must give not expecting a return. You see, when you give to a poor person, it is as if you are giving to God because there is no return from that person, and God knows that. That is why He says in Matthew 25:40:”…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”Aah but folks, come on now, we know the heart of our God. Our God is a giver, He gave us His only begotten Son so that we, you and I, would have eternal life. You see, God is a giver by nature. So we don't give to God like an investment, like we want something back. No, we give to God because we love Him. If you want an investment back, go and give your money to a bank or an insurance company where you will get a return. When you give to God, no strings attached. You give it to Him because you love Him, but He will give it back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over.Jesus bless you and have a great day,Goodbye.

July 2019, Utica, NY State. 17 year old influencer Bianca Devins and a friend she met online, Brandon, Clark attend a concert in NYC. They meet with a mutual friend Alex and everything seems to be going well. But Bianca would sadly not return home. She is fatally attacked by Brandon, who boasts about the crime online, sharing pictures of her mutilated corpse. But what would drive a person to murder their friend in cold blood? 00:00:00 - 00:01:13 - Network ad, theme & intro00:01:13 - 00:23:32 - Background and events prior to murder00:23:32 - 00:49:58 - Murder, evidence posted online and arrest00:49:58 - 01:05:07- Trial and aftermath01:05:07 - 01:36:26 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations (including ACOTAR, David Lynch and Entourage (!?)), closing themeTwitter:@crimeslikeInstagram:@crimesliketheseMusic by: Glitterwolf,TwitterSpotify Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network!Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and CheerInstagram:@aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 10th of February, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan with a thought for the day. We go to the Gospel of Matthew 19:27: “Then Peter answered and said to Him, (that's Jesus) “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” Well, Peter always got to the point, didn't he? Then we go down a little further to verse 29, and Jesus replies, “(and you) shall receive a hundred-fold and inherit eternal life.” That's the reward! Jesus is a giver, He is not a taker. He doesn't need anything from you or from me but what He does want is our complete love and obedience. That's what He requires, what the disciples gave to the Lord. To prove that our Lord is a giver and not a taker, look at John 15:13, Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” It's the greatest thing that you can give anybody. You know, my brother's wife, who I respect a lot, gave one of her kidneys to her brother so that he might live. Folks, that is what we call giving. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a giver, He is not a taker! I remember a story about a former drunkard, and after a few months, his friends would tease him and say, “This stopping drinking, not going to the pub with all of us, what has that actually benefited you? You don't seem to have changed at all.” And he smiled and said, “Oh yes, I have changed a lot.” They said, “Well, in what way have you changed?” “Aah”, he said, “I now have furniture in my house.” He said, “On a Friday night, I bring my pay cheque home to my wife, I give it to her and she can feed my little darlings. Oh yes, things have changed for me.”Folks, I want to say to you today, you can never out-give Jesus Christ. I am a personal testimony of that. He has changed my life completely and is still busy doing it - from making me a selfish, self-centred man, hopefully to a loving man who loves his family and his fellowman. Today remember, you cannot out-give the Lord. Give it all to Him and He will give it back to you a hundred-fold. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

In May of 1936, in Tokyo, Japan, a gruesome discovery was made at an inn in the Ogu red light district. The victim, Kichizō Ishida, was found to have died from asphyxiation, but had also been brutally mutilated. It didn't take the police long to track the potential suspect, who was last seen at the inn, leaving the room where Ishida had been found. But could a young Geisha turned sex worker be guilty of such a heinous crime?  00:00:00 - 00:01:01 - Network ad, theme & intro 00:01:01 - 00:26:51 - Background  00:26:51 - 00:56:36 - Murder in the red light district, arrest, trial and aftermath 00:56:36 - 01:16:50 - Next episode announcement, general chat/recommendations, closing theme Twitter: @crimeslike Instagram: @crimeslikethese Music by: Glitterwolf, Twitter Spotify  Check our other podcast on the Black Fur Network! Aah!fter Horror with hosts Paul, Mike, Dan and Cheer Instagram: @aahfterhorrorpodcast

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 2nd of December, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of Mark 1:15:“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Wow, what a beautiful, clean, crisp statement made by the greatest preacher who has ever walked on the face of the Earth. This is what He says, I'm talking about he Master Himself, Jesus Christ. He says the time is fulfilled. There's no time to waste, my dear friend, we are coming to the end of another year. Don't say next year, there might be no next year. The time is fulfilled. Number two: Jesus says He's coming back soon. You better be ready for that. Aah, but He's been saying that for 2000 years. My dear friend, maybe tonight your soul will be required of you by the Lord.Jesus is coming back very soon. Therefore we need to repent. What does repent mean, young man, young lady? It means to say sorry and to stop doing it and start living a Godly life. Then the Lord says finally, “Believe in the gospel”. Stop arguing about it, stop trying to disprove it - just believe it. Believe it! Believe that it is the truth and that it is God's Holy Word. That is what that scripture verse means.Now I'm a preacher and I want to tell you something now, if you don't strike oil within five minutes, stop boring! That great evangelist, George Whitfield said, ”If you don't finish your message within 30 minutes, even the angels will start getting bored.” We need to get to the point. We need to tell people about the coming of the Lord.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 8th of November, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of John 8:9: “And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” Alone with Jesus, what a special time of the day! It must become your most privileged time of the day, a time never to be neglected, my dear friend. Maybe we feel a little nervous or shy being alone with Jesus, a bit like when you went out on your first date. Can you remember that? When you had to get all dressed up smartly to try and impress that young lady or that young lady putting on her best dress and asking her mom, ”Do I look all right because he's coming to fetch me in a few moment's time.”Aah, but when you've spent many years and you're married and you've got children and maybe even grandchildren, aah, it is so beautiful to know each other, to be in each other's presence, and so it is when you've walked with the Master for many years. You can't wait to be with Him in the early morning before the noise and the distractions of this world take away your attention from the lover of your soul. Do not waste precious time. Savour these moments because they might even save your life. He is gentle to your troubled soul. He will give you clear direction and even confidence and peace in your heart before you have to face the day. You say, ”But I get very busy and I don't have a time to spend with the Lord.“ Oh, you need to get up earlier in the morning, my dear friend. Yes, that is one appointment you must never neglect. That is the very appointment that could save your life. You see, Jesus was left alone standing with that woman. She was the woman that the Pharisees accused of being an adulterer but Jesus said, ”Woman, where are your accusers?” And she said, ”No one Lord.” And he said, ”Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”That's what the Lord wants to do for you and I today. He wants to sit with us alone, He wants to encourage us, He wants to love us, He wants to direct us. He's a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's not the accuser, the accuser is the devil. Early in the morning, spend time alone with Jesus. It will change your life.Jesus bless you and goodbye.

This week we sat down with Jennifer Page from the “I Talk to Ghosts” podcast. She's a professional spirit medium and spooky podcaster. We had a great conversation about medium readings, tarot, honing your abilities, dealing with skeptics, divine inspiration, and of course pets. We learn how to tell our analytical brain, “I love you, but shut up.”Pour yourself some Spooky Tea and join us where The Activity Continues.This episode is hosted by just the Amys. Megan will be back next week. The Activity Continues is a paranormal podcast where soul friends, Amy, Megan, and AP chat about pets, true crime, ghost stories, haunts, dreams, and other paranormal stuff including the TV show, The Dead Files. We also sometimes interview interesting people, whether it be a paranormal professional, a Dead Files client, or a listener with spooky stories. This episode was recorded on September 23, 2024, and released on November 7, 2024. Chapter MarkersThese might be slightly off if a promo has been added postproduction00:00:00 Intro00:00:40 Hello!00:02:50 Welcome Jennifer!00:05:35 Living in Haunted Homes00:12:26 Pets00:15:48 Podcast Inspiration00:20:02 Talking to Your Spirit Guides00:26:44 Receiving messages from passed loved ones00:32:15 Dreams00:37:21 Memorable Experiences with spirits or readings00:47:02 Different Mediums, different results00:53:20 Advice for people who want to see a psychic/medium for the first time01:03:17 How to get in touch with Jennifer01:06:28 Wrap up and Next week01:08:39 Outro Episode links:Aah! Zombies!! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027762/I Talk to Ghosts: https://www.italktoghosts.com/Jennifer on our site: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/guests/jennifer-page/for AI artwork https://www.fotor.com/referrer/1ygaknya Credits:Hosted by: Amy Lotsberg, Megan Simmons, and Amy PiersakGuest: Jennifer PageProduction, Artwork, and Editing: Amy Lotsberg at Collected Sounds Media, LLC.Theme song. “Ghost Story” and segment music by Cannelle https://melissaoliveri.com Socials and other goodies:Our website, https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theactivitycontinues Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theactivitycontinues/ Reddit: https://new.reddit.com/r/TheActivityContinues/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheActivityCont   Blog for extras: https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/blog/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theactivitycontinuesYouTube: https://bit.ly/TAC_videos Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/hWnBLL SEND US YOUR PARANORMAL STORIES!Email: stories@theactivitycontinues.com and maybe it will be read on the show!Or visit our website, https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/ and click on the microphone icon to leave a message and maybe it will be played on the show! BE OUR GUEST!Are you a The Dead Files client, or a paranormal/spiritual professional, and are interested in being interviewed on our show? Let us know by filling out our guest form:https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/guests/intake/ Affiliates/SponsorsPlease see our Store page for all the links for all our affiliates. https://www.theactivitycontinues.com/store/ Thank you for listening, take care of yourselves. We'll see you next week!Become a Patron, join our Ghosty Fam! https://www.patreon.com/theactivitycontinuesJoin our Ghosty Fam over on Patron, https://www.patreon.com/theactivitycontinues/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tac/donations

La taxe foncière, payée par les propriétaires de logements comme par les entreprises, ne cesse de s'alourdir. En 2024, elle devrait progresser, au minimum, de 3,9 %, certaines villes prévoyant une augmentation pouvant aller jusqu'à plus de 20 %.Elle devient donc une véritable charge pour certains contribuables. Il est cependant possible d'en être exempté. Et d'abord pour des raisons liées à l'âge. Ainsi, les contribuables âgés de 75 ans et plus, au 1er janvier 2024, profitent d'une exonération totale de la taxe foncière.De leur côté, les propriétaires âgés de 65 ans et plus ont droit à un dégrèvement, pour peu qu'ils justifient d'un certain niveau de ressources.En effet, la modestie des revenus permet aussi de profiter de l'exonération de la taxe foncière. Si le propriétaire d'une résidence principale respecte les conditions de ressources, elle est accordée automatiquement, alors qu'il faut en faire la demande pour une résidence secondaire.Pour en bénéficier, il ne faut pas dépasser certains seuils, fixés à 12 455 euros par an pour une part fiscale ou à 19 107 euros pour 2 parts.Les ressources des titulaires de certaines allocations correspondent à ces limites. C'est notamment le cas des bénéficiaires de l'Allocation de solidarité pour les personnes âgées (ASPA), de l'Allocation adulte handicapé (AAH) ou de l'Allocation supplémentaire d'invalidité (ASI).Il est également à noter que les résidents d'une maison de retraite ou d'un Établissement d'hébergement pour personnes âgées dépendantes (EHPAD) peuvent être dispensés de taxe foncière. À condition, toutefois, qu'ils satisfassent aux conditions de ressources prévues et que leur résidence principale soit inoccupée.Enfin, le logement lui-même peut permettre de bénéficier d'une exonération de la taxe foncière. C'est notamment le cas si le propriétaire d'un appartement ou d'une maison a entrepris des travaux de rénovation énergétique.Mais l'exonération n'est consentie que pour cinq ans, au maximum. Elle peut être partielle ou totale et dépend de l'ampleur des travaux réalisés.Par ailleurs, les propriétaires de logements neufs profitent d'une exonération limitée à deux ans. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 7th of August, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of Matthew 9:28-29:“And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And the blind men's eyes were opened. The key there is, “be it according to our faith.” Now, in Luke 17:5, the disciples said to the Lord, “Please increase our faith.” That is a good prayer and I am going to pray that prayer for you at the end of this little message. I can hear somebody say, “But how do you get that faith to trust God for a miracle?” Well, the answer is found in the Book of Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When you spend time reading your Bible, spend time praying, God increases your faith. Abraham is regarded as the father of faith. The Bible tells us in James 2:23: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.” He is the only man that we hear of in the Bible that is called the friend of God, because he believed. Faith is not a feeling, faith is a fact. ”For we walk by faith, not by sight.”2 Corinthians 5:7And by the way, it is never a walk in the park! It is not easy. Let me tell you, many a time when we step out in faith things seem to get harder, don't they, than easier? But the reward is mind-blowing. Aah, friends, I haven't got time to tell you of the things that God has done when we trust Him. The secret is the prayer of faith. That's what moves the hand of God, not prayer, the prayer of faith. You have to believe what you are praying, and we need to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17).Father, I want to pray for my friends, listening to this message. Many are in deep trouble, they need help. Lord, even as the two blind men said, “Lord please, heal us”, and the Lord said, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And they said, “Yes.” I pray for my friend, Lord, listening to this very message that You will increase their faith to believe You for the impossible. In Jesus name, Amen. God bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

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I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 2nd of August, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Acts 20:24. Paul says: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” We have got to keep the main thing, the main thing. We have to focus on what God has called us to, which is to tell people about Jesus. It's very simple. We have to do it in our workplace, we have got to do it on the sports field, we have got to do it in the classroom. It is all about preaching the good news, the Gospel of Christ, and you and I need to finish the race. We need to complete the task and we mustn't waste time. Now maybe you say to me, “But I have never had the privilege of being able to preach from a pulpit or a platform”, but that doesn't matter. These men that we are reading about, Paul, Peter, James and John - these were men who preached in the workplace. They weren't even allowed in the synagogues. The other day, a group of people arrived on the farm and they came to buy a horse from my son. I greeted them and we started talking about horses. Of course, I have got a horse, you know that! His name is Snowy, that's right, the kids love him. They are always asking me, “How is Snowy doing?” So we started up a conversation. I told them I have been riding horses since I was 19 years old and they told me about their horses, and then slowly but surely the conversation swung around to all the Mighty Men meetings that we have had on this farm, to people's lives that have been changed through the preaching of the Gospel in the open air.Today, don't underestimate where God has called you. If you are a school teacher, you have got an instant congregation in front of you, day after day. What a privilege! If you are working in a factory, you have got a whole group of men and women you can tell about Jesus. I am not talking about Bible punching. I am talking about you telling them how Jesus has impacted your life. Maybe you are a homemaker or a housewife. Aah man, those are the people I salute the most. You know, Jesus had a mother, her name was Mary. She was dedicated to looking after Him and Him alone, but look what happened from her obedience - the Son of God! I want to tell you today, go out there, keep the main thing, the main thing. Focus on the work God has called you to, and most of all, enjoy it. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

He's just not that into you! Or maybe he is? Or maybe we all need to just snuggle up with a good mug of tea, put on some comfy pants and watch ourselves some romantic comedies. In this episode, join Lexi and Ben and maybe Nora Ephron to really get into the world of funny romance movies. (Please note that Nora Ephron is not actually IN this episode). Are you more of a "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" kinda person, or maybe a "The Notebook" person? Listen now and pick your romantic poison!Jess Says:- I was going to say Swedish berries but like is that a gummy??? idk- Rooked is mommy, thanks for the shout out - Ryan is so tickled- You missed When Harry Met Sally!!! I just think it's iconic and the diner scene is so good- Ryan and I's song is The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys (idk why, it's a song that Ryan always liked and I didn't know it until we started dating and we both love it)Transcript:Keywords: gummies, candy, romantic comedies, romcom, chick flick, relationship, breakup, puppet, MuppetLexi 00:01 Just regular gummy bears. Ben 00:03 Oh, I guess that's all right. I'm partial to real fruit gummies. Lexi 00:09 I like a bear in a gummy.Ben 00:11 Yeah. Lexi 00:13 Or a coke bottle. I like a good cola bottle. Ben 00:13 Coke bottles are good. What's your ultimate gummy? I don't think we've ever talked about gummies.Lexi 00:19 Iced tea.Ben 00:19 There's an iced tea gummy?Lexi 00:19 There's an iced tea gummy by the makers of the... Haribo?Ben 00:27 Haribo, yeah. Lexi 00:29 They also make an iced tea gummy. Ben 00:30 I don't think I've ever seen that one, but I'm down with some Haribo. Lexi 00:32 I've only ever found it in the candy store in Banff.Ben 00:36 Wow, I like their mixed gummies. I'm a gummy stan.Lexi 00:41 Me too. I can say no to a lot of candy, but a gummy? I have a hard time passing up a gummy. Ben 00:48 It just feels right.Lexi 00:49 It does.Ben 00:49 Okay. Taking away any sort of extra-special types of gummies, what's like a normal gummy go-to for you?Lexi 00:58 Um...Ben 00:59 If you had to choose sort of the run-of-the-mill, you can find them at the drugstore, Shoppers Drug Mart. Lexi 01:04 Coke bottle. Any type of coke bottle. Ben 01:06 All right, all right.Lexi 01:06 A blue shark. I like a blue shark. Ben 01:07 Ooh. Lexi 01:07 I like a gummy bear.Ben 01:12 Mm, mm, mm.Lexi 01:12 And then, if I'm hard pressed, I'll do a gummy worm. Ben 01:12 Mm.Lexi 01:17And then, everything else, I can kind of say no to. What about you?Ben 01:20 I'm partial to sour gummies. Lexi 01:23 Mm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Ben 01:23 I do like them. So, a sour soother is pretty good. Dina-sour, if you will. Lexi 01:29 Yeah. Very good. My mom used to have those in bulk when she was a high-school principal, and I would just eat them off of her desk all the time. Yep. Ben 01:36 Yeah. I used to hang out in a hot tub with my older brother when we were finished high school, but hadn't moved on with life yet, and we'd sit in the hot tub out back, and just eat sour soothers till, like, 3 in the morning. Lexi 01:50 Well, you know, there's worse things. Ben 01:51 Yeah, right?Lexi 01:53 Do you have a favourite colour of gummy? Ben 01:55 Oh, no. I've never really worried about that. I do like those fried egg looking ones though from Haribo, as well. Lexi 02:00 Mm. Like the 10-cent candies, which are more like a dollar, like just the mix of things.Ben 02:05 Yeah, I like a mix, as well, like a little mix bag, but I like the sour packages. If we are talking about king of gummies, for me, it's a jube-jube.Lexi 02:14 Really? Ben 02:15 Or a Jujube. Yeah, I mean, I'll eat them fresh or not fresh, but they are definitely better when they're fresh. They haven't gone all hard and shit. Lexi 02:23 Yeah. I miss the pink package of gummy bears. That was the king of gummies--Ben 02:29 Oh, I don't know that package. No, I don't. Lexi 02:31 Do you remember that? Like, I remember being a child in going to see The Lion King in theatres and my mom was like, "You can get a snack," and I was like, "I want gummy bears," and it was in a pink package.Ben 02:45 Huh.Lexi 02:45 And the gummy bears—the bears themselves—spelled out the word "gummy". Ben 02:47 Wow, I do not recall those at all, but that's dope. Lexi 02:51 And they were my favourite. Oh, they were... I'll see if I can find pictures of them, but my god, it was my favourite. Ben 02:57 There's a period from 14 to 16 where I was convinced that I liked wine gums, but now, as a more cultured individual, I realize that those are kind of trash. Lexi 03:07 Yeah, they're not...Ben 03:07 Yeah. They're bottom-of-the-barrel gummies, if we're being honest.Lexi 03:11 Yep.Ben 03:11 You know, I can still appreciate a run-of-the-mill, like a frog or, you know, even a fuzzy peach.Lexi 03:17 Mm-hmm.Ben 03:17 They're a little too sweet for me. Lexi 03:20 You know, sometimes, I don't like a whole package of fuzzy peaches, but I'd like, like, two or three.Ben 03:25 Yeah, if they're mixed in. Yeah, if they're thrown in with, like, a little dime bag. Lexi 03:27 Yeah, if they're mixed in, perfect. Little dime bag.Ben 03:31 Little bag of candies.Lexi 03:34 Sounds nice.Ben 03:34 Apparently, when the previous generation was younger, those were one cent, and then when we were kids, they were like 5 cents, and now they're like a quarter a candy.Lexi03:42 Yeah, it's wild.Ben 03:42 It's inflation, motherfuckers. Nobody's earning anymore, but those gummy prices just keep risin'. [Lexi laughs] Lexi 03:48 Gotta pay the gummy toll... the gummy tax?Ben 03:51 Something like that. I've always wanted to make my own gummies at home, but it seems like a complicated process. Lexi 03:56 Oh, god, no. No, I don't wanna see what the sausage is made of. I just wanna eat the gummy.Ben 04:01 I mean, out of sausages to make, I feel like a gummy's a pretty benign sort of thing to see. [chuckles]Lexi 04:08 Well, it's gelatin, so it's like ground hoof.Ben 04:10 Yeah, yeah, you put-- a little hoof or... No, I guess it's just ground-up hoof, isn't it? [laughs]Lexi 04:14 It is. It's ground-up bone and hoof and--Ben 04:16 You know what? Would you prefer we didn't use the entirety of the horse?Lexi 04:19 No, you know... [both laugh] Is it...? Can you...? Is it pig or what type of hoof is it? [laughs]Ben 04:25 I straight up don't fucking know. This is a perfect opportunity for Jess to jump in and educate us.Lexi 04:34 What type of hoof is in gelatin?Ben 04:34 Yeah, what's the most prominent type of hoof in gelatin? If you know, please write in. That e-mail address again is everyone@dorkmatterspodcast.com. Lexi 04:44 I hope the answer is fish bones or something really weird.Ben 04:47 Yeah, it's fish bones.Lexi 04:47 Chicken beaks. The answer is chicken beaks. Like, "Ah, yes."Ben 04:50 You know what it is? If we're being honest, it's probably all these things – everything that you can't put in anything else, yeah. Lexi 04:54 Ah, it's a mishmash. All the hoofs and beaks.Ben 04:58 And some big anus for good measure, you know? [Lexi laughs] That's where you get the tart from. You need a little pucker? [both laugh] We're terrible. Lexi 05:10 We're terrible. [both laugh]Producer Jess 05:12 [magical chime] Really bad news. I did not want to look this up because I wanted to continue enjoying gummies, but then my curiosity got the better of me. Okay, so this is from snopes.com, fact-check gelatin source. I'm going to just read this verbatim. "Sometimes the most innocuous of foodstuffs contain constituents whose origins are less than appetizing. Such is the case with JELL-O, a dessert that has graced millions of dinner tables since its 1897 debut.Underneath JELL-O's jiggly wholesomeness lurks a secret many consumers are disconcerted to learn: JELL-O is made from gelatin, an animal product rendered from the hides and bones of animals, typically pork skins, pork, horses, cattle bones, and split cattle hides." So yeah, you were right, Ben and Lexi; it's all of the above. No fish bones. Sorry if gummies are ruined. They are for me. [magical chime]Ben 06:13 We had some other intro topics. Did you still want to do that or is this good enough? Lexi 06:17 Oh, yeah. No, this is good. Let's punch it. Ben 06:20 All right, let's do the theme song then. [Dork Matters theme music, Dance by YABRA plays]Voiceover 06:51 [echoing] Dork Matters.Ben 06:53 Welcome back to the podcast. This is Dork Matters, a dorky podcast for dorks, and I'm your Dad Dork host, Ben Rankel. And, with me every time we do the show, is your Edorkater, Lexi Hunt. Yeah. Irreplaceably. With us, irreplaceably, Lexi Hunt. Lex, what are we doing today? We're not talking about pig anuses anymore. Lexi 07:14 We're not talking about pig butts. I mean, maybe we are. I mean. Ben 07:16 Maybe. Lexi 07:19 [both chuckle] I mean, anything is possible. We're talking about romantic comedies. Ben 07:25 There's gotta be a pig butt or two in there.Lexi 07:28 You gotta kiss a couple of pig butts to find the right one. Is that right? Ben 07:31 Yeah, to find a good one. Well, won't you bring us here?Lexi 07:36 This was really popular on Instagram. A lot of people were chiming in. Ben 07:39 Yeah, romcoms are a thing. It's interesting to me because I feel like the romcom is kind of gone. Lexi 07:49 The romcom is gone.Ben 07:49 Like the good one, like the blockbuster, like the big-release romcom is gone.Lexi 07:53 Yeah.Ben 07:53 That was a thing of the '90s and it's gone now.Lexi 07:56 Yeah, it's a Hallmark...Ben 07:56 Like, they just can't make bank anymore, can they? Yeah, it's a Hallmark Channel exclusive.Lexi 08:01 Yeah.Ben 08:01 Speaking of, I've got a fun game for you to play a little bit later. Lexi 08:03 Oh, okay. I'm looking forward to that one. Ben 08:05 Surprise for you after the break. Lexi 08:06 Okay. Well, a romantic comedy is just what it sounds like. It is a comedic movie that is centred around the relationships, typically between a man and a woman, although we're starting to see more movies branch out into other types of relationships. And so, it's nice to see. Ben 08:21 Bros. Lexi 08:22 Yeah, but it's also romantic comedies can be associated with negative stereotypes, one might say – a "chick flick", perhaps?Ben 08:32 Mm.Lexi 08:32 I found a great article actually called The Problem with Chick Flicks and I thought it kind of sums it up quite nicely with this quote from Deborah Barker. In the book literally titled Chick Flicks, she says, “The chick flick has been defined variously as escapist entertainment for women, simply as films men do not like, as examinations of capable independent female characters and their empowerment, as emotional ‘tearjerkers,' as tales of female bonding, and as the antithesis to male-oriented action films”.Ben 09:05 Well, we got a lot going on there and I think the primary one is the outdated sort of gender norms.Lexi 09:13 Mm-hmm.Ben 09:13 But also, there's the malignment of female-centric media, you know, the same way that things that women like in very many different aspects of media are kind of talked down to, like, you know, boy bands, etc. "Well, it's not good music. It just appeals to girls," and it's, you know, been used, I think, to malign a lot of different culture that could be engaged with more sincerely by dismissing it because it's femme-centric.Lexi09:46 Mm-hmm. Well, and it's not unheard of... I think it was Chevy Chase who actually said, like, "Women aren't funny," and so romantic comedies--Ben 09:56 Old racist, misogynistic Chevy Chase.Lexi 09:59 Old Chevy.Ben 09:59 The guy too racist to stay on Community. Lexi 10:04 Just, there's so many issues with him and there are so many great examples from Saturday Night Live of funny women, but so, you know, romantic comedies aren't exactly touted for being great examples of writing or even comedic writing, or even of, like, great romantic writing. They're kind of like the stereotype is they're these trashy, kind of like fun films that a bunch of gals get around and drink a bottle of pink wine and cry and laugh and have a good time. Ben 10:35 We call it rosé. Lexi 10:37 Rosé. Like, part of me is like, "What the hell's wrong with that? If that's what you're doing with a group of pals..."Ben 10:41 Absolutely.Lexi 10:42 ...who cares? Do it.Ben 10:43 Again, and this is like it's okay for dudes to get together and watch UFC, but you know, femmes can't get together and watch a romcom that's somehow... Like, we're supposed to think less of that than a bunch of guys watching people hit each other. Lexi 10:54 If you like the movie, watch the movie. And some of the movies, we'll talk about in a little bit. One of them was actually suggested to me by a dude friend of mine because he was like, "This movie makes me laugh every single time. It's hilarious So..."Ben 11:07 Hmm. Is it Bridesmaids? Lexi 11:10 It is not, actually. The other thing that I was reading about too, in doing research for this here episode, was about the--Ben 11:18 Research? Not on Dork Matters. Lexi 11:22 Yeah. Dork, dork, dork. Nerds!Ben 11:23 We have show notes, folks. We actually do way more work on these than I think comes across when we record them. [both laugh]Lexi 11:32 "The guy with the... What's the name of that guy? [snaps fingers] The guy with the face." [laughs]Ben 11:35Oh, that's a personal failing. [chuckles]Lexi 11:38 But, I was reading about the Bechdel Test. Ben 11:41 Alison Bechtel, comics legend. Lexi 11:43 Mm-hmm. The Bechdel-Wallace test is a test that measures the representation of women in film and other fiction. It's a test that asks whether a work of fiction basically features at least two female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man on screen or in the book, or whatever. Ben 12:01 Right. And it's been expanded since that original definition, but I don't know where we're at now to include some other criteria. But, yeah.Lexi 12:08 Yeah.Ben 12:08 Yeah, and again, the thing that some people forget about the Bechdel Test is that it is the lowest bar that you could step over.Lexi 12:16 Yes. [laughs]This is not meant to be like, "Hold your head up high and fly a flag." Like, this was the bare minimum. You had enough female representation in a film to have two people talk to each other, that are femme, that were not talking about the masc character in the film and, like, is a very low bar to clear [whispers] and a lot of media does not clear it.Lexi 12:41 Well, and especially romantic comedies because, so often, romantic comedies are typically centred around like the heteronormative man-woman, cis relationship, and so--Ben 12:51 Man-woman, man-man relationship.Lexi 12:55 Yeah, it's typically that triangle of--Ben 12:58 Yeah, M-F, M-M.Lexi 13:00 --man dates woman, woman has problem with man for some reason, starts dating other man. Original man wants to get her back with something very...Ben 13:07 Grandiose?Lexi 13:10 ...grandiose. Gets her back. There's usually some type of rain. Ben 13:13 Oh, yeah, you gotta have rain. Lexi 13:15 And then everything ends hunky dory. Ben 13:18 Yeah, happily ever after. There are a few that subvert that trope, and one of those is on my list...Lexi 13:26 Yep. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.Ben 13:30 ...of favs, which is what I call faves, which is short form for favourite.Lexi 13:33 That is true.Ben 13:35 Can you hear the "u" when we say favourite? Lexi 13:37 Fav-our-ite.Ben 13:38 [chuckles] I feel like we can. We're Canadian, so we say the "u". Fav-our-ite col-our.Lexi 13:44 Col-our. [laughs]Ben 13:47What else we got? Although I do get tripped up because I want to add one to major. Lexi 13:51 Mm, mm-hmm. Ben 13:52 Trips me up. Lexi 13:54 Can't do it.Ben 13:54 I can't just put a "u" in whatever I want, but I want to. That "u" is important to me. Where were we? Lexi 14:01 Uh, we've talked about what they are. Let's get into it. Let's talk about what's your favourite-- your top three. Ben 14:07 Our top three? Okay, let's go. Why don't you lead us off here? Lexi 14:11 Yeah. Okay, I'm going to start with--Ben 14:14 Give me your favourite. Tell me why it's your favourite, and then let's chat about it. Lexi 14:17 So, this is the one, I was going through a breakup. I was very, very, very sad, having a hard time. Ben 14:24 Do you want to give us more details on your personal life? Lexi 14:26 Nope. I was very sad.Ben 14:27 Who did you break up with? How long were you going?Lexi 14:30 Don't want to talk about it, but I was very, very sad and my friends, Jillian and Dylan—as I like to call them, Dillian because they're a couple—Ben 14:37 Or Jillan.Lexi 14:38 Jillian... Nope. Jillan?Ben 14:40 J--J--Jillon.Lexi 14:40 I like to call them Dillian.Ben 14:41 Dillon? Dillian is better.Lexi 14:45 They are huge fans of the romcom, and Dylan was actually like, "You have to watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall." It is so ridiculous and over the top, and this was right around the time Forgetting Sarah Marshall came out. That was, like, what? 2007, 2008, in and around there. Ben 15:03 Earlier than we'd like to admit. [Jason Segel sings Peter You Suck, from Forgetting Sarah Marshall]Lexi 15:05 Yes, but it was hilarious. Now, okay, in hindsight, yes, Russell Brand. Now, by today's standards, not a good dude. Also, Jonah Hill.Ben 15:14 There was a long while there, where we're like, "Hey, this dude's telling it like it is in a more progressive bent," and...Lexi 15:19 And now we're like, "Oof." But, at the time, so you have people-- it was kind of like that frat pack group of dudes.Ben 15:27 Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.Lexi 15:28 So, you got Jonah Hill. Who else is there? Mila Kunis, Russell Brand... Oh, my god. I've completely.Ben 15:37 Star of the show. [song continues]Jason Segel 15:38 [sings] It's so self-loathing, go see a psychiatristI hate the psychiatristWell go see one anywayI don't like the psychiatristYou need to go see oneSee a psychiatristI'm not going.Lexi 15:48 Jason...Ben 15:50 You got this.Lexi 15:50 Segel.Ben 15:52 Yeah. I was gonna do a caw for you, like [caws]. Is that seagull or is that...? [laughs]Lexi 15:57 'Cause, in my head, I could see him, but I was like, "It's not Sudeikis. That's--Ben 16:00 No.Lexi 16:03 So basically, there's a breakup. He takes it hard. He has to get over Sarah Marshall. He goes to Hawaii, and hilarity ensues.Ben 16:12 Guess who's there?Lexi 16:12 Bill Hader's in it, and Sarah Marshall is there. They have this great time of, like, one-upping each other and being sad on the island. But, what I really liked about the movie was, after they leave Hawaii and things don't end well, he goes back and it shows him kind of pushing through his depression and still coping with it, still being sad, and still trying to work on himself, versus trying to get back to a relationship that, as the movie kind of goes on, you see he keeps having all these flashbacks of Sarah, and then they're so perfect at first, and then as the movie goes on, the flashbacks kind of show how the relationship actually wasn't that perfect. Ben 16:50 Rose-coloured glasses--Lexi 16:52 --start to come off. Ben 16:54 Yeah, yeah, the idealization or, you know, turning somebody into an idea as opposed to dealing with them as they actually were. Lexi 17:02 Yeah. And, seeing it from her perspective too, because she points out that he was actually quite depressed and she was trying to help him through it, but eventually had to save herself because he was not taking care of himself and she had to make this hard call. And so, then you start to empathize with her, that she's not just this bitch that she's been cheating on him. She's a person who also was really struggling. And then, it really wraps it up with, like, yeah, he kind of dates Mila Kunis to kind of get over her, but they both kind of separate and become buds in the end, and it just culminates in the funniest, cutest Muppet/puppet Dracula musical. [Jason Segel sings Dracula's Lament from Forgetting Sarah Marshall]Ben 17:43 You know we love-- we love puppets here.Lexi 17:44 And it's just so funny. We love puppets and so that--Ben 17:47 With the exception of part-time guest host, Stephanie Gerk, who is afeared of puppets.Lexi 17:52 --is not a fan of puppets. Jason Segel 18:05 [sings] And I've been living too hard to believeThat things are going to get easier nowI'm still trying to shake off the painFrom the lessons I've learnedAnd if I see Van Helsing, I swearTo the Lord I will slay him! (A-ha-ha-haa!)Take it from meI swear I will let it be so! (A-ha-ha-ha!)Blood will run down his faceWhen he is decapitated... (Aah!)His head on my mantle is howI will let this world knowLexi 18:31 But, I just love that, at the end, he wants to do this ridiculous musical and he does it. He finds a way to bring it together and I just love that movie. [song ends] There's one specific line, Ben, that I think about constantly and it's from Russell Brand's character is missing a flip flop and he's trying to find it and he's like...Russell Brand [18:45] [with Lexi quoting along sporadically] "Excuse me, missus. I lost a shoe-- like, this one. It's like this one's fellow. It's sort of the exact opposite. It's not like it's evil or something. Just, you know, a shoe like this, but for the other foot. Otherwise, I'd have two right...Lexi 19:07 And I think that is so funny. [laughs] Ben 19:12 I knew it was going to be that part. Lexi 19:13 He was funny in it.Ben 19:13 He was funny. It's too bad it didn't work out for him to be a good person, overall.Lexi 19:16 So, forgetting Sarah Marshall, I love you. Ben 19:20 A fantastic pick and that idea of focusing on oneself as a means of growth, as opposed to focusing on a relationship that didn't work and obsessing over it, is something I think I appreciate from that film as well, which leads me into my first pick, in a similar vein, which is 500 Days of Summer. [500 Days of Summer Main Title by Mychael Danna Rob Simonsen plays]Lexi 19:40 Ooh.Ben 19:40 We got Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zoe Deschanel, who I'm generally not a New Girl fan. Lexi 19:47 No. I go back and forth on her but, yeah.Ben 19:50 Yeah. Yeah. So basically, you know, guy meets girl, guy and girl have relationship, relationship seems great to one, not to the other. Eventually, it falls apart and JGL's character spends a lot of time just being like, "What went wrong? Why didn't this work out? What did I do wrong? What did she do wrong?" obsessing over this failed relationship until eventually somebody kind of is like, "Hey, you are being a bit of a loser about this. You need to stop and actually think about how this relationship was going," and it's a similar situation to FSM, if you will, as we call it – us Marshall-heads.Lexi 20:29 Mm-hmm. [both chuckle]Ben 20:29 In that he realizes that he has built up this sort of idealized version of the relationship, and even himself and Zooey's character, in the relationship as well. And then, you get... It's told out of order, as well, so you kind of start with the breakup and then work back to sort of how that happened and you start with more of his perspective on things and kind of him as the protagonist and like the victim. But then, as you get through it more, you realize how much JGL's character has pushed this other character into something she was very clear about not wanting to start with.Lexi 21:06 Mm-hmm. Ben 21:08 And we eventually find out that basically she wanted to keep things casual, and then eventually they clicked enough that, you know, he pushed her and sort of not nagged but, you know, insisted upon a relationship that she wasn't comfortable with. And then, it somehow shocked Pikachu-face when it doesn't work out the way he wants. And then, she goes off and finds a thing that he wanted with her, with somebody else and, you know, it kind of culminates in a moment where he's like, "Why? Why did you tell me you didn't want this?"Lexi 21:33 Yeah.Ben 21:33 "And yet, you immediately went out and found it with somebody else," and she said, "I didn't want it with you. It didn't work with you. You know, you weren't the right person for me."Joseph Gordon Levitt 21:43 I mean, it doesn't make sense. Zooey Deschanel 21:47 It just happened. Joseph Gordon Levitt 21:49 Right, but that's what I don't understand. What just happened? Zooey Deschanel 21:53 I just... I just woke up one day and I knew. Joseph Gordon LevittKnew what? Zooey Deschanel 22:03 What I was never sure of with you. Ben 22:03 And it's a very honest and humbling moment. And then, you know, the end of this movie is him finding a way to move on past his obsession over this failed relationship and better himself. And, that leads to sort of the culmination of his movie, which is like, you know, finding a way to be a better person and healthier relationships in the end. And, I like that as well.Lexi 22:26 Yep.Ben 22:26 Did you ever watch it? Lexi 22:27 I did watch it and I found it not my favourite of his work. Ben 22:36 So, I think for me it was a zeitgeist thing, as well, like same for you for Sarah Marshall. I had gone through a relationship and had found myself sort of obsessing over, like, "Why didn't this work out?"Lexi 22:48 Yeah.Ben 22:48 "I thought we had all of this," and then going back and being like, "Oh." Eventually, after spending some time working on myself and getting some distance and feeling better about where I am as a person, I can look more objectively at the relationship and be like, "Oh, here's some places that I pushed when I didn't need to," or when they didn't want me to and seeing some stuff that was there that you don't want to see when it breaks up initially. Lexi 23:11 They do a really good job in that movie of showing how a relationship can really bring out the worst in decent people, because I found his character, he really ran the gamut in that movie because there's moments where I was like, I understood him, I related to him, and then other times where I was like, "God, you are like an incel," because he was so angry. [Ben laughs]Ben 23:32 Yeah. Lexi 23:32 And I was like, "God, get over it." And it was right around the time that the friend is kind of like, "You're not doing well.”Ben 23:39Yeah, it's his little sister, I believe, who's like, "You're kind of an asshole about this."Lexi 23:42 Yeah. And I think we all have that in us. Like, we've all had a relationship—maybe not a romantic relationship, even a friendship—that's brought out not good things in us. And, sometimes, it takes a person who's really brave and really cares about you to be like, "You're not well." That's a hard thing to say to someone. Ben 24:01 Do you respond well to that? I find, not for me. I think I have to, like, live five to six years afterwards and be like, "Oh, fuck."Lexi 24:08 I do when it comes from certain people. Like, I have a couple of friends in my life, like if they were to sit me down and be like, "I'm concerned about you," then I'd be like, "Oh, shit." Like, I would take it super seriously because, for the most part, those people would not get involved in my problems. So, if they were to sit down and say like, "I'm concerned," I would be like, "Okay, I'm taking this seriously," and that's basically what happened with Forgetting Sarah Marshall. [both laugh] Dillian was like, "Hey, bud, you're sad. You okay?"Ben 24:40 Yeah. [Lexi laughs] Yeah, yeah, 500 Days, as well. His little sister's like, "You're only thinking about happy stuff. I saw a lot of stuff that was not very happy."Lexi 24:49 Yeah.Ben 24:49 There's the part where I think it's a party where he finds out she's engaged and he turns into a real piece of shit there. And, there's a quote during the, like, press junket from this movie where Joseph Gordon Levitt himself is like, "I need people to understand that I am the protagonist of this film. I am not the hero, and I don't think anybody should be looking at me as a heroic person in this movie."Lexi 25:09 Yeah.Ben 25:12 And I just get that. Yeah. I felt that at the time, the obsession, the confusion, the anger.Lexi 25:18 Mm-hmm. Totally. Love it. Ben 25:20 And that's what that makes that one stick for me.Lexi 25:22 That's a good pick. Ben 25:22 The title, though, not my favourite. It's a little twee. 500 Days of Summer... Oh, because her name is Summer and they're together for 500 days.Lexi 25:29 Yeah. Oh!Ben 25:32 Wow. That's a year and a half. That's a long time.Lexi 25:33 That's a good long time for a relationship that...Ben 25:36 It's not nothing, but it's also not enough to be like, it's worth your everything--Lexi 25:42 Well, and it's also, if you think about it from the other side of it, 500 days to be in a relationship that you never wanted to be in, in the first place, like, ooh.Ben 25:49 Oh, my god. Yeah, it's rough. When you start moving back through that movie and realizing that she was like, "I want to keep it casual," and he just sort of--Lexi 25:55 --like, forces her into a relationship. Ben 25:57 Pushes. Just pushes. Yeah, he just pushes and is never cool or chill about it.Lexi 26:00 No. Hence the incel part where I'm like, "Okay." [laughs]Ben 26:05 Yeah, absolutely. No, absolutely. And it was before we had a word for that or, you know, a bunch of people watched that movie and we're like, "Oh, god. She's bad to him."Lexi 26:14 She should have just said, "Yes," and gone along with it. Ben 26:15 Yeah. "Why didn't she marry him even though she didn't feel like he was the right person for her?" [Lexi laughs] "He loved her so much, and he treated her really good, and when you treat someone good, they have to give you anything you want."Lexi 26:27 Like, "Oh, boy." Reminds me of a friend from art school. [Ben laughs] I've said it before – best piece of dating advice I ever got from them was, "You don't date nice." Like, it's not a good enough reason to stay with someone. Like, "They're nice to me." Like, "So what? Everyone should be nice to you."Ben 26:41 Yeah. Everybody should be nice to you.Lexi 26:43 Yeah.Ben 26:43 Yeah, absotootly, as they say on Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go, because they're trains and they toot. [steam train whistle blows] Yep. Absotootly. [Lexi sighs] Sorry about that. Should we keep going or do you want to do mid-break? It's your call. Lexi 26:59 Let's do one more and then we'll go mid-break. We'l do three and three. Okay.Ben 27:02 All right. All right, I'm gonna do the next one.Lexi 27:04 Oh, okay.Ben 27:06 Is that okay with you, or do you wanna do the next one?Lexi 27:07 No, no. You go. You go. Ben 27:09 All right, I'm launching into a problematic fave... Lexi 27:13 Okay.Ben 27:12 ...which is You've Got Mail.Lexi 27:15 Yeah.Ben 27:15 It's a Nora Ephron flick. It's Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's re-starring together again after their first tilt at Sleepless In Seattle, which is another favour of mine, but we'll do that some other time. [Over the Rainbow by George Fenton from You've Got Mail plays] You've Got Mail, I loved. I watched the hell out of this movie. I thought it was romantic as heck until somebody confronted me and, like, this entire movie is based off of a premise of complete power imbalance towards the male character who lies and manipulates the other person and then puts her out of fucking business, all while being very callous and still trying to court her surreptitiously.Lexi 27:56 Yeah.Ben 27:57 But it still has a special place in my heart because I liked it for so long. And then, so after I was confronted with how terrible the relationship in this movie actually is and being like, "Oh, fuck, they're right," I still like the film and I had to slow down and be like, "What is it that I actually really loved about this film?" and I realized it's the character of New York in You've Got Mail. I am in love with this version of New York that they show, which admittedly is very twee and non-existent. It's almost a Friends version of New York.Lexi 28:33 [chuckles] Yep.Ben 28:33 Almost. But, it's just this really romantic version of New York, to me, where like people just stroll around and there's a Joni Mitchell soundtrack to this thing that kind of slaps, and it's just one of my favourites, and I like Parker Posey a whole lot. Lexi 28:49 Parker Posey is an absolute treasure. Ben 28:52 So, she's a delight in this as an executive who gets kind of dropped by Tom Hanks' character and is just sort of like, 'Fuck it. I don't care. I'm successful and awesome. I don't need... Like, this doesn't matter to me."and just sort of shrugs him off. And, you get a great Greg Kinnear as a nut who is really obsessed with typewriters.Lexi 29:11 Mm-hmm.Ben 29:12 I love that bit. [music continues] And... Whats his name? Steve Zahn plays a character that works in this, like, little independent bookshop who is just--Lexi 29:20 He's always like a zany--Ben 29:22 --zany, bonkers weirdo. Yeah.Lexi 29:23 He always plays a zany kind of like, "What are we gonna do with him?" kind of character.Ben 29:28 Yeah, we get a great line from him in this film, which is, "I'm going to the nut shop where it's fun." It's a real classic.Lexi 29:37 I will say, the Nora movies, they do a great cozy vibe.Ben 29:43 Yeah.Lexi 29:43 Like, everybody's got a good scarf, the kitchens always very nice.Ben 29:46 Yeah, the lighting is good.Lexi 29:46 Like all of the Father of the Bride movies, they just feel like you're having a cup of cocoa and a big-- Ben 29:54 They're very white, though. Lexi 29:55 Yeah, they're super white. Yeah.Ben 29:56 Yeah. Lexi 29:57 Very like Connecticut. Ben 30:00 Yeah, we get what's-his-face in You've Got Mail as the bestie, which is Chris... Oh, my god. This is gonna kill me. Fucking, now he's come back as a comedian again and he's very transphobic and nobody's a big fan of him returning.Lexi 30:17 Oh, who is it?Ben 30:17 Dave Chappelle. God, that took me enough.Lexi 30:19 Oh. Dave Chapelle is in that? No.Ben 30:18 Yeah, he's the best friend. Lexi 30:22 Are you sure?Ben 30:23 Not anymore. You're making me really question myself. I've watched this movie, like, 3,000 times. Lexi 30:27 I feel there's no way Dave Chappelle is in You've Got Mail. [music continues]Ben 30:30 I'm almost positive he is. To Google! [old-school computer bleeping] [scratching record, DJ-style]Lexi 30:39 Looking at it right now. Oh, my god, you're right. Ben 30:42 He's in it. Yeah, he plays Tom Hanks' best friend/assistant/whatever his job is. Lexi 30:48 I find that shocking. It has been so long since I have seen that movie. Ben 30:54 Yeah.Lexi 30:57 My goodness. Ben 30:57 It's been a minute now for me too, 'cause I don't have time to do anything anymore, but yeah. Yeah, so the whole premise is manipulative and wrong, and he treats this woman like shit, in person, and then, via these emails that they're sending is just romantic and nice. And for, like, two thirds/three quarters of the movie, he knows who she is, she doesn't know who he is, and he never bothers being like, "Hey, I'm actually the guy you're emailing with. Let's deal with this relationship on an equal footing." He just fucking manipulates her. Yeah. Lexi 31:32 No, he catfished her before it was catfishing and this was the precursor to shitty social media relationships where it's like, "Don't talk to me in public, but online we can, like, sext, and it'll be cool."Ben 31:42 And then they meet up in the park and she's like, "I hoped it would be you." And then I'm like, "Nah, real life, she'd be like, 'You motherfucker.'"Lexi 31:50 "No, you didn't." Ben 31:50 Shove him in the water.Lexi 31:51 Yes, she should. That's how it should have ended – just, "Fuck you," right in the water.Ben 31:56 "You fucking piece of shit," and just shoves him into the water. [both laugh] Yeah. Lexi 32:01 "You've ruined my life. But don't worry, you can be the little honey bun at home."Ben 32:04 Yeah, "You destroyed the shop that my mother started," and that's supposed to be a great release for her, according to this movie.Lexi 32:12 Hey, she finally let her mother go. Ben 32:13 Yeah, "You troubled yourself too much with this shop. This shop wasn't really for you. It was for your mom." No, it's for her, too. It's her business. And now what? She gets to go edit books or something for Parker Posey? I guess that's not that bad.Lexi 32:25 No, it sounds kind of nice too, but...Ben 32:26 Yeah, Parker Posey hires her in the end, which I think is great. [chuckles]Lexi 32:30 [sighs] Yeah.Ben 32:30 [Dreams by The Cranberries from You've Got Mail plays] Anyhow, I still like the film from the version of New York, we get to the Joni Mitchell opening. Greg Kinnear is great. Steve Zahn's awesome in it. And then, you also have this like story where Tom Hanks' character's father is on his third wife and he's got these two little siblings from, like, his grandfather's just disgusting relationship with a younger woman and his father's disgusting relationship, and then eventually the nanny leaves with the second or third wife or whatever. It's amusing.Lexi 33:01 Yeah, there's some jabs in there, but okay.Ben 33:03 Anyhow, I can't do faves without talking about it, even though it is problematic and, you know, I now see a lot of issues with that film's writing, but... [both chuckle] I had a huge crush on Meg Ryan for a long time. [music fades out] What is your second one? Do you have a great lead in? Lexi 33:23 I do because actually, as you were talking, I changed my mind about--Ben 33:29 Oh, my goodness. What?!Lexi 33:29 I did.Ben 33:32 I saw that a pop up on the screen here that said, "Lexi has edited the show notes."Lexi 33:35 I made a change. So, I've changed my second one to others to kind of chat about, runner up, whatever. The next movie romcom that I'd like to talk about is Baby Mama. Sorry.Ben 33:47 So, I've never heard of this.Lexi 33:47 [Stay Up Late by The Talking Heads from Baby Mama plays] Oh, Benjamin. It is awesome. Okay, so we've got Tina Fey, we've got Amy Poehler, we've got Greg Kinnear, and Dax Shepard. So, the whole premise is Tina Fey... Again, this movie was recommended to me by Dillian. Ben 34:07 Oh, it's coming back to me now. Lexi 34:09 And it's about Tina Fey, who's this corporate lady who she's getting up there in age and she wants to have a baby, but she's not in a relationship. So, she decides to just hire a surrogate who turns out to be Amy Poehler, who kind of plays this like white trash crazy lady. Ben 34:28 Yeah. Yeah. Lexi 34:28 And the two of them forge this, like, really unlikely friendship, and meanwhile are having their own, like, issues with men on the side. And I feel like it's a romantic comedy about friends and, like, yes, there's male love interests in both of the ladies' lives, but it's more or less like it's the coming together of two unlikely friends to form a really strong relationship. Ben 34:48 Mm-hmm.Lexi 34:49 And it is funny as shit. I loved it. To this day, still makes me LOL. I love it. Ben 34:56 Yeah, laugh out loud for the younger generation. Lexi 35:00 Just, there's one scene because. I worked at--Ben 35:02 Wafflecopter.Lexi 35:02 I worked at a well-known grocery store...Ben 35:07 We all know by now, if you listen to the show.Lexi 35:07 I worked there, and we used to joke about it all the time that this movie came out 'cause it kind of felt like working in this, like, corporate, natural grocery store, where the owner of the store is, like, fabulously rich and wealthy and very like, not down to earth, but then is also pretending to be this hippy.Ben 35:26 Only hires granola people. Lexi 35:28 Well, no, but like is pretending to be this hippie and kind of is, but absolutely so disconnected from life, and there's one minute, and it's they played by Steve Martin and he plays such a good wacky, hippie billionaire. He rewards Tina Fey's character with five minutes of uninterrupted eye contact [Ben laughs] and it's just so good. Ben 35:52 My god, I can't do a three count of eye contact with anybody. Five minutes is  fucking torture. It's like staring into the sun. Lexi 35:58 It's so funny and the whole thing, it starts with Liz Lemon-- [laughs] Tina Fey's character--Ben 36:05 I feel like when you have a prominent actor, you can call them anybody from their oeuvre of films or whatever. Lexi 36:12 Yeah. Tina Fey's character is looking for a new location for one of their new grocery stores, which is basically like a Whole Foods, and she scouts out a place which is Greg Kinnear's juice shop and they forge a bit of a romantic relationship that way. That man plays a good romantic lead. Ben 36:29 Yeah, he's unthreatening and has sort of big eyes.Lexi 36:32 Yeah. Very gentle, deer-like qualities.Ben 36:36 [laughs] Yeah, he's a deer man.Lexi 36:38 He is a dear man. But, if you haven't seen it, Ben, you need to watch Baby Mama. It's hilarious. [song continues]Ben 36:42 Yeah, I'll check it out. I'll put it on the to-watch list, for sure. Awesome. [music fades out] Well, if that wraps up the second, I think it's time for us to go to our mid-show break. [sings along with "Who's That Pokémon?" theme music] Da-na, na-na... [record scratches off record] No, no. What? Da-na... [record scratches off record] No, we're not doing it, not this time.Lexi 36:56 Whaaaat?Ben 36:57 [sings along with "Who's That Pokémon?" theme music] Da-na, na-na... [record scratches off record] We're not doing Who's that Pokémon? [gasps] We're playing a game I've stolen from another podcast called My Brother, My Brother and Me, in which I offer you a Hallmark rom comedy description.Lexi 37:11 Okay.Ben 37:12 I'm going to give you a romcom title and description. You tell me if it's Hallmark or AI [Lexi laughs] in a segment I like to call... [playful music plays] Hey, I?Lexi 37:23 Oh, wow.Ben 37:25 Hallmark or AI?Lexi 37:25 AI.Ben 37:27 AI, question mark. I don't know. So, that's the game we're playing today. Lexi 37:31 Okay.Lexi 37:31 Yeah, let's do it. Ben 37:31 Let's get into it. You ready for your first one? [romantic music plays] The title of this romcom is Love Notes and Bookstore Blunders. "In a quaint bookstore nestled in the heart of a bustling city, a shy and reserved librarian finds herself caught in a whirlwind romance with a charming but disorganized writer who accidentally swaps their notebooks, leading to a series of comedic mishaps and unexpected connections as they embark on a journey to retrieve their misplaced musings and maybe find love along the way." AI or Hallmark? [music ends]Lexi 38:03 I'm going to go with AI.Ben 38:04 Ding, ding, ding! That is AI. Well done. Lexi 38:07 Yay!Ben 38:07 [laughs] What gave it away? Lexi 38:11 It's a little too on-the-nose.Ben 38:12 Is it too on-the-nose?  You just wait. Some of these Hallmark ones are very...Lexi 38:16 Okay. Well, no, I mean like I don't have... Yeah, okay. Give me the next one. Let's do this. Ben 38:20 The next one here is Cupid's Catering Chaos. [romantic music plays] Lexi 38:24 Oh, god. [Ben laughs]Ben 38:26 "When an ambitious but overwhelmed chef reluctantly agrees to cater her ex's wedding, she finds herself entangled in a comedic web of mistaken identities, culinary calamities, and unexpected romance when she collides with the charming wedding planner determined to make the event perfect, forcing her to confront her past and maybe find a second chance at love." [music ends]Lexi 38:49 I'm going to say that's Hallmark. [wrong buzzer sounds]Ben 38:50 It's AI. Lexi 38:53 Agh. Okay, okay.Ben 38:57 All right. All right, let's do one more.Lexi 38:59 Okay.Ben 38:59 Let's see if you'll land this one. The next one is called Dater's Handbook. [romantic music plays] "Cass is searching for the man of her dreams, except she thinks she has found the ideal man. She finds out she's wrong after a few dates and decides to read The Dater's Handbook, a guide that outlines the expectations a man should achieve. George follows all the expectations in the handbook, whereas Robert doesn't, but he's equally charming. Blah blah, blah blah blah." Basically, should you follow your heart or the expectations of others? That's it. [music ends]Lexi 39:29 I'm gonna go with AI. [wrong buzzer sounds]Ben 39:31 It's Hallmark.Lexi 39:32 No! Oh, my god. Ben 39:35 Dater's Handbook, 2016m starring Meghan Markle in this cast.Lexi 39:40 No.Ben 39:40 Yeah, and two people I've never heard of as the other competing men. [Lexi sighs] Anyway, I could play this game all day, but it does lead you to wonder if perhaps AI is writing everything that comes out of Hallmark. [Lexi laughs] Lexi 39:56 I mean, reading some of the titles that came out around Christmas-time, I was just like, "My god. This is awful."Ben 40:04 I'm not going to do the full thing, but here's a couple more. There's one called Finding Normal.Lexi 40:08 Ooh.Ben 40:08 So boring. Summer Villa, generic as hell. Hidden Gems. Lexi 40:12 Yeah, I've heard of that one. Ben 40:13 Deliver by Christmas--Lexi 40:16 I've heard of that one too. Ben 40:15 Just My Type.Lexi 40:18 Oh. Ben 40:18 So, I think the thing I'm taking away here is that the more specific the title is, the more likely it is to be AI. The actual Hallmark ones are boring as hell. Lexi 40:28 We should write one of these. Ben 40:30 We absolutely should. Lexi 40:32 Like, "Man in sweater likes pie." Like, "Oh."Ben 40:34 Yeah, it's called Pie of my Eye. [laughs]Lexi 40:38 Pie of My Eye.Ben 40:39 When an artisanal sweater maker accidentally has their yarn delivered to the equally artisanal pie maker next door, hilarity ensues.Lexi 40:52 Basically, there's so many ones like The Truth About Cats and Dogs. Ben 40:56 Yeah. Lexi 40:56 Like, that's another one of like the dogs meet in the dog park.Ben 40:59 Well, that's not Hallmark.Lexi 40:59 40:59 No, but I'm just saying that lie they could definitely do one where it's like, "The people at the puppy store are next door to the kitten store and they fall in love, but will cats and dogs ever truly get along?" Like, "Eugh." Puke.Ben 41:13 Yeah, because cats are the opposite of dogs. Lexi 41:16 Cats are girls and dogs are boys. [both laugh]Ben 41:17 Yeah. There's a term for that stupid thing in psychology, but I don't remember what it is, so fuck that. Anyhow, [sings along with "Who's That Pokémon?" theme music] Da-na, na-na-na. [speaks] AI? The worst fucking title for that.Lexi 41:33 That's a good one.Ben 41:35 All right, I'm glad we got to switch it up a little bit. Let's go into our final choices here.Lexi 41:40 Yeah.Ben 41:40 Why don't you take it away? Lexi 41:42 Okay, for my final romantic comedy shout-out of the evening, I'd like to... [laughs] It makes sense to me. My movie pick is Idiocracy. Ben 41:55 Okay. Yeah. [Buckaroo by Buck Owens from Idiocracy plays] This is a strange one for me. I don't necessarily think of Idiocracy as a romcom or as a prescient look into the future that we now live in. Lexi 42:06 Yeah, it's a documentary about our current day and age.Ben 42:10 Yeah.Lexi 42:10 No. I just find like the two-- well, I guess there's three main characters in. it. So, you've got Maya Rudolph and then one of the Wilson boys--Ben 42:19 Luke.Lexi 42:19 Luke Wilson, fall in love in a hopeless place, Ben.Ben 42:25 A hopeless place being what amounts to now, 2024 America. Lexi 42:32 The future. It's just so funny because both of them are kind of like useless in the present day, but then they wind up--Ben 42:38 But really shine.Lexi 42:38 But then they wind up-- they're absolute geniuses—geniusi?—in the future. Ben 42:44 Yeah, geni.Lexi 42:44 Geni. And they come together to, like, have a really positive relationship that's built on respect and kindness, and I think that's something that we should all aspire to is just like doing the best you can, be nice to each other, look out for everybody around you, and be respectful. And that movie is so hilariously bad and so much of it, Terry Crews, as the president who rides a motorcycle, and my favourite is when he--Ben 43:17 They're spraying Gatorade on all the lawns. Lexi 43:19 When he's doing the state of the address and he's walking up and down the stage and just like into the microphone is like, "Shit." Like, that is so funny. That entire movie is amazing and it is a great romantic comedy. I don't care what anyone says. Ben 43:35 No, we ain't here to judge. You get to choose what you like, and I think that's a fantastic choice. Lexi 43:41 Other favourite part of the movie is when he's in prison—Luke Wilson's character—is in prison and he goes up to the guards and he's like, "Hi, excuse me. I'm actually I'm supposed to be getting out," of jail and the guards are like, "Then you're supposed to be in that line, stupid." [laughs] "Yeah, right. Sorry." [laughs] Ah, it's so good.Ben 43:59 The idea that, you know, a completely sort of average to below-average intelligence like myself could someday be useful or possibly a genius is very appealing to someone like me, so I get it. Lexi 44:15 Great movie. Ben 44:17 Idiocracy, apparently a romcom. Lexi 44:19 Yep. It is. It is.Ben 44:20 I'm letting you have it. I ain't challenging that. Lexi 44:22 Prove me wrong, world. Prove me wrong. Ben 44:24 None of us want to take the time to do that. We're all very busy.Lexi 44:27 Busy. Well, I definitely have a lot of shout-outs about runners up, but I think we'll probably talk about them in just--Ben 44:32 Let's do it. Let's go around in a minute. I'm going to do my next one quickly here and it's Music and Lyrics. [Main Theme from Music and Lyrics by Adam Schlesinger plays] After I started my relationship with [imitating Borat] my wife, [in usual voice] we decided to exchange romantic comedies that we enjoyed, and I presented You've Got Mail to Fiona and I was like, "Did you love it? Did you love it?" and that's when I got the, "Actually, it's fucked up and here's why" back from Fiona. [Lexi laughs] And then, she's like, here's a romantic comedy where the two main people are on a more even footing with each other and it was Music and Lyrics. This is a movie starring everyone's favourite British dude--Lexi 45:17 Hugh Grant. Yep.Ben 45:18 High Grant. I can't believe I just blanked on his name, who is a sort of washed-up or retired pop star from the '80s – think like George Michael from Wham, but he's straight. So, he was a young pop megastar and now he's sort of washed up and then Drew Barrymore as a... What is she? A house sitter in this movie, if I'm remembering correctly? She ends up watering his plants for some reason while he's busy taking jobs, writing shitty lyrics for shitty pop stars that he doesn't really care about, and he's just in it for the pay check and they come to a point where she starts meddling with his lyrics, and they get together and they start working on the music and lyrics together and they form this really lovely relationship where they are equals in it and they're both contributing to all aspects of it and we get this great fake Shakira in the movie that I think is just wonderful. Lexi 46:15 Mm-hmm. Ben 46:17 And it was the juxtaposition of the romcom that I'd offered up as a fave versus this one that has made it a fast fave for me, and also came from the person that I chose to spend the rest of my life with--Lexi 46:30 Aw, that's sweet.Ben 46:30 --which makes it a very special movie to me that I've watched many, many times, but it's just a lovely, wholesome romantic comedy full of laughs because Drew Barrymore is, generally speaking, charming when she's not crossing picket lines. Writers' strike reference there, for everybody.Lexi 46:47 That's true.Ben 46:50 And, you know, Hugh Grant is charming, always charming, and that makes this my third pick. Music and Lyrics – go watch it if you haven't watched it yet. I think you'll enjoy it. Lexi 46:59 He's kind of like the British, Greg Kinnear, isn't he? Ben 47:04 Yeah, yeah. Lexi 47:05 Or Greg Kinnear is the American Hugh Grant. Ben 47:08 Yeah, that sounds better. I think that's the way we put it. Greg Kinnear is an American Hugh Grant, with less staying power. Lexi 47:15 Yes. Yeah.Ben 47:18 I mean, what's that new movie that's Guy Pearce that was like Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant and is like a... [pause] Woof. We're bad at this. It's like a a crime movie.Lexi 47:33 Is it, like, The Gentlemen?Ben 47:33 A British crime. Is that what it's called? The one with the blond guy that looks like Thor that isn't Thor.Lexi 47:39 Yeah, that's Charlie...Ben 47:41 Yeah, yeah.Lexi 47:42 The Gentlemen.Ben 47:42 Yeah, Charlie Hunnam and is that called The Gentlemen?Lexi 47:46 Yeah.Ben 47:46 Yeah, it's a great one and Hugh Grant's playing this like smarmy-ass tabloid reporter. Lexi 47:53 I'm just double checking. Ben 47:54 It's great. He's wonderful.Lexi 47:55 Matthew McConaughey's in it.Ben 47:57 Yeah. Lexi 47:58 Colin Farrell. Oh, yeah. That's a great... Have you seen the TV show?Ben 48:02 There's a TV show based off of this?Lexi 48:05 Yeah, it's on Netflix. There's a series now that's kind of in the same universe. It is excellent. Ben 48:09 Oh, wow. No, I haven't, so there's a drop. Lexi 48:10 Yeah, Guy Ritchie also works on that one too. It's wonderful. Ben 48:16 Hugh Grant's very likeable and hilariously this is not Notting Hill, which other people might choose as his more prominent romcom adventure, but...Lexi 48:27 I'm just making sure. Yeah. Charlie Hunnam, Michael McConaughey...Ben 48:32 Is he in Love Actually?Lexi 48:32 Who? Charlie?Ben 48:35 No, Hugh Grant.Lexi 48:37 Yes, he is. He's the prime minister.Ben 48:37 Is he the president or I mean the premier-- yeah, prime minister. [chuckles] And he's the one that basically has the really inappropriate relationship with his staffer. Lexi 48:45 There's a lot of inappropriate relationships in that whole film, but yes. Ben 48:50 What I wanted to do, since we were talking about how great the response was on Instagram, is just shout out some of the favourites from the listeners here.Lexi 48:58 Yeah, do it.Ben 48:58 Somebody suggested that... Oh, username... I'm bad at this. We don't usually actually remember to call people out on the show, so... @timothywinchester offered up a classic romantic comedy called I've Got Your Number, and they suggested that it's more fun than they expected. For worse, the same person—Timothy Winchester—offered up Holiday in Handcuffs, which looks like a Hallmark movie with that dude from Saved By the Bell and, for some reason, they're handcuffed together.Lexi 49:30 Oh.Ben 49:30 I don't know. Let's keep going. What else we got? The F Word is a recommendation from somebody.Lexi 49:36 Ainsley? Ben 49:36 Was it Ainsley?Lexi 49:38 Yes, Ainsley suggests The F Word. Ben 49:41 Also known as What If? in other countries. Yeah, for some reason I can't see who actually sent these in to me anymore. Lexi 49:46 Oh, I can kind of see here, I can see Dave, who was just recently on the podcast, Dave Stone, said PS I Love You is a great romantic comedy. Ben 49:54 Oh, cool. We got...Lexi 49:58 Ryan Webb says the worst is Love, Actually. Ben 50:02 Of Rooked podcast – our homies over at Rooked.Lexi 50:05 Of Rooked podcast.Ben 50:05 I would say sister podcast. Mother podcast? Brother podcast. Anyhow, Ryan. Lexi 50:11 Yeah, probably mother podcast. The best is She's All That. Ben 50:15 As they posit, it's a prequel to the Scooby-Doo movie. Lexi 50:19 What else do we have here? We have @photoguy79 says How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the best, but only for the bullshit scene. Matthew McConaughey 50:27 Lexi I think you're running away. Drew Barrymore 50:32 Why don't you save your mind games for your next bet? Okay, I am not running away.Matthew McConaughey 50:36 Bullshit.Drew Barrymore 50:36 [softly] Excuse me. Matthew McConaughey 50:39 [softly] You heard me. [romantic music plays] [softly] Bullshit.Lexi 50:44 What else we have? Ling Zena has a couple – While You Were Sleeping, probably the biggest one, Irish Wish, is a cool premise but with zero chemistry and the friendships make no sense. Ben 51:02 It's a Lindsay Lohan romcom.Lexi 51:03 Yeah. And, I feel like that was like her comeback movie.Ben 51:07 Her attempted revival.Lexi 51:07 Like, she wanted... This was going to be... Yeah.Ben 51:10 Yeah. Did not work. And the same user gave us While You Were Sleeping, which I enjoyed, I remember watching that, but it is a weird premise, as well...Lexi 51:20 It is.Ben 51:21 ...where Sandra Bullock is so in love with--Lexi 51:24 --a person she doesn't even know because she's--Ben 51:25 With Peter Gallagher. Yeah, because she sees him at the train.Lexi 51:30 Yeah. She's made up this fake world for themselves. Ben 51:31 This delusional relationship, and then eventually, that all comes to light and it's terrible, but she falls for his brother, Bill Pullman... RIP.Lexi 51:38 [laughs] Aw.Ben 51:40Peter Gallagher, if you don't recall, is Sandy Cohen from The OC. [sings along with OC theme song] Dana-nana-na-na-na. California, here we come. [speaks] Right, that's enough. So, thank you for submitting those. Lexi 51:52 Yeah.Ben 51:52 I think that's everybody. Lexi 51:53 Yeah, yeah. And we have some runners-up to kind of throw down. We won't go into big detail, but there's a lot of really great ones. I'm going to throw out there 10 Things I Hate About You. Ben 52:03 Yeah, yeah. That's on my list of runners-up as well. 10 Things I Hate About You is fantastic. We got some Joseph Gordon Levitt and his brother, Heath Ledger. Have you ever seen those memes where they put like their faces together and it looks like the same guy? [Heath Ledger sings Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You]Lexi 52:16 Yeah, if they're the same person. Julia Stiles.Ben 52:18 Julia Stiles.Lexi 52:17 There's Alexis from... Well, Alex, from Alex Mack.Ben 52:24 I don't know.Lexi 52:24 You never watched Alex Mack?Ben 52:27 No.Lexi 52:27 [gasps] Ben, what were you doing in the '90s?Ben 52:30 It's the blonde one, though, but I--Lexi 52:31 It's The Secret World of Alex Mack. Like Alexis...Ben 52:34 But I I mean, I know who you're talking about and I had a huge crush on her when I was younger. Yeah. 10 Things I Hate About You is just fantastic because of Heath Ledger's bleacher scene. Lexi 52:44 Larissa Oleynick. Thank you. Sorry.Ben 52:46 No. Please.Lexi 52:46 There we go.Ben 52:48 Heath Ledger's dancing up and down the bleachers bit is pretty fantastic. Lexi 52:54 Yeah, it's a great one. So, 10 Things I Hate About You, Bridesmaids – another one about, like, finding yourself before you can care for others. You have to care for yourself.Ben 53:04 Yep.Lexi 53:05 Really great. And another one where a friend comes forward and says, "You're not doing well. I care about you. You got to get your shit together," so great, great movie.Ben 53:15 Maya Rudolph plays the friend who comes forward and is like, "You are effing this all up."Lexi 53:20 Well, she's actually-- there's a couple of people that go forward and kind of say that. Sookie St. James actually sits her down and says, "Get your shit... Better get your poop in a group." Maya Rudolph shits in the street. Ben 53:31 Yep. Yep. Yes, diarrhea. [blows raspberry] Diarrhea. If you're sitting in a Chevy and you're feeling something heavy...Lexi 53:38 Oh, what have I done?Ben 53:40 Diarrhea. [blows raspberries]Lexi 53:40 I'd also like to throw out The Princess Bride. That was what I swapped out Baby Mama for.Ben 53:46 Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.Lexi 53:47 I love The Princess Bride. I think that it is--Ben 53:49 [imitating Peter Cook] Mawage. Twoo wuv.Lexi 53:52 There's so many great moments in that movie about love and friendship. Ben 53:56 "Witch, get out of here!" "I'm not a witch. I'm your wife."Lexi 54:01 Perseverance. Whenever anybody asks me to like, "Hey, what are you up to? You never post pictures of yourself on Instagram," I always send them a picture of Miracle Max and I say, "I'm not looking my best these days," and then I post that, and people... I like to laugh, Ben. I like to laugh.Ben 54:17 I wouldn't say you look that much like Miracle Max. Passing resemblance at most. Lexi 54:22 Thank you, but I feel like I do, at my best. But anyway, great movie. Andre the Giant. Delightful.Ben 54:24 Yeah. Uh-huh. Absolutely. It is a delight. Another one I wanted to talk about is The Notebook. It's not one of my faves. I just like the fact that Ryan Gosling apparently did not get along so much with Rachel McAdams that they hate each other to this day.Lexi 54:43 Really?Ben 54:43 Yeah, they apparently just did not gel on set. Because it was everybody's favourite romance movie when it came out. It was a huge hit and I just love that little factoid that they apparently just did not work well together to the point that they still dislike each other. Lexi 54:59 [laughs] Hey, whatever. The working relationship--Ben 55:04 The Wedding Singer. Drew Barrymore is a great romcom star. Lexi 55:07 Ah yes, she is. And Adam Sandler is a really good opposite for her. Ben 55:11 Yeah. And we get a redo with them as well, later on, in kind of the same way that we got Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. We've got 50 First Dates, which is actually a super charming film. Lexi 55:20 It is.. And there's a song in there that I sing to myself in the car all the time. Ben 55:25 Which song is? Lexi 55:28 [sings along to Forgetful Lucy by Adam Sandler] Cracked her head like Gary Busey. [Ben laughs] Bum, bum, bum. [speaks] It's such a great little. He's a good singer, Adam Sandler. Ben 55:37 The more I think about it, the more I really like that film, the way that it ends with just sort of like finding a way forward together, even though things can't be the way they were initially, and I think that's--Lexi 55:47 Yeah, or the way they want it.Ben 55:50 Yeah. And I think that's kind of sweet and beautiful is that it's still worth having, [song continues] even though it's changed and it's harder and there's more to it. There's more difficulty. It's kind of about-- I mean it's literally about an injury, a life-altering injury for a person, but it's, you know, kind of about the idea of like for better or for worse sort of idea of a relationship and caring for a partner as their health needs change. And, that's kind of-- that's romantic.Lexi 56:16 Yeah. Well, it's unconditional love. Ben 56:19 Yeah. There you go. Thank you for summing that up in two words [chuckles] what took me about 50 paragraphs? I am AI. You can tell that we live in an AI because I am just spewing out nonsense that I've heard before.Lexi 56:33 What else we got? Ben 56:34 Groundhog Day, I want to talk about because I love Groundhog Day. I think it's funny. As a romcom though, it is disgusting. Lexi 56:43 It's all about manipulation, but...Ben 56:46 Yeah, exactly. Again. He never learns. Bill Murray's character never learns to be a better person. He learns how to game the system to get what he wants.Lexi 56:54 Yes. Yeah.Ben 56:54 It is literally the wrong message to be sending to people that want to find a healthy relationship. Lexi 57:01 But, at the same time, too, I feel like he's punished for it because he's basically in purgatory. Like, somebody did the math and something like he lived 9,000 years or something.Ben 57:10 Yeah. Yeah, to get all these things right. Lexi 57:12 He is a horrible person, but, yeah, he's stuck in his own personal hell. Ben 57:18 I don't feel like this movie gives us a change for him.Lexi 57:21 No.Ben 57:21 More that he just finally gets the game right and presses all the controls in the right way.Lexi 57:24 Yeah, absolutely. Ben 57:26 He never engages. I mean, I guess the idea is that he finally, when he stops trying and actually engages, is sort of the premise, but I never really felt that way. I felt like he's just trying. Lexi 57:37 Figured out how to game it. Yeah.Ben 57:38 Yeah, exactly. But anyhow, it's still a fun film and I quote what's-his-name who plays Ned. "Ned? Watch out for that step. It's a doozy."Lexi 57:53 That's a good one.Ben57:55 Gross Point Blank is a blast. I like the idea of an assassin romcom.Lexi 58:00 Where he goes back to his high school reunion, trying to make something of himself.Ben 58:02 Yeah. Yeah. Assassin is in the doldrums because he's like, "Oh, I never saw myself being an assassin. Let me go back to my hometown and see if I can find myself again."Lexi 58:14 Tom Cusack is a is another good romantic comedy guy. Ben 58:16 Did you just call him Tom Cusack? Lexi 58:17 What did I say? Ben 58:18 I think you said Tom. But, I like Tom Cusack. He's like his evil twin brother...Lexi 58:23 What's his actual...? John Cusack.Ben 58:24 ...for Johnny, Johnny. Lexi 58:25 Oh, god.Ben 58:30 Yeah, and you get Dan Ackroyd as a kind of menacing villain. Lexi 58:30 Yeah. Mm-hmm.Ben 58:31 With a bad haircut. Lexi 58:34 Many levels to hi

This is episode 666. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Read more about the Institute for Excellence in Sales Premier Women in Sales Employer (PWISE) designation and program here. Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! Register for the IES Women in Sales Leadership Development programs here. Today's show featured an interview with Antonia Van Becker and Greg Lee from the Self Health Institute. GREG'S ADVICE:  “Our body really pays attention to what we do in our brain, and really pays attention to what we do in our body. If we can consciously take a breath when we go to do important actions, and that breath is actually anchored in some of the things that we learn in processing our emotions, a conscious breath is an amazingly powerful thing to do before we pick up the phone to make the call. “Aah,” call. ANTONIA'S ADVICE: “When you're taking that breath, whether it's before you're going on stage or picking up the phone, you're breathing in and you are right here, right now. You're thinking of present moment awareness, not worrying about the past or fearing the future. You are right in the present moment where the love happens, the healing happens, the knowing happens so that you can project your true spirit right in the moment.”              

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 3rd of May, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Proverbs 20:22: "Wait for the Lord, and He will save you." I read a beautiful quotation by James Hudson Taylor. He was the man who took a thousand families to China to preach the Gospel, by faith! He says, "Quiet waiting before God would save from many a mistake and from many a sorrow. We need to wait for the Lord. It will save making many mistakes by quiet waiting upon the Lord Jesus Christ. This will save us from many a sorrow, quiet waiting."I am just thinking at the moment of all the students that are going to be writing exams again very shortly. I want to say to you, when you go into the exam hall and you sit down to write that important exam, take all the time they have given you. Do not rush. You see, some of the bright stars, they will write up their answers and they will be up and out of that exam hall so quickly, and that will put pressure on you. It will make you panic. "I better hurry up!" No, take your full time and when you have finished writing your paper and you have still got a half an hour, sit there quietly, spend a little bit of time in prayer and go through your answer paper again. I guarantee that you will pick up one or two mistakes, and that might just give you those extra marks you need to pass.I want to say to that businessman, don't make a rash decision. Tell them you will come back tomorrow. "Aah, but they said I have to make a decision todayotherwise the deal is off." Well, rather let the deal be off. There is no pressure from the Lord. There is no rushing. That crop that you want to plough in - I have done it myself before. You want to plough it in because you can see there is nothing coming in from this crop. Just wait a little bit. You will be very pleasantly surprised. You might just get that last shower of rain that will just turn the crop and get it full to the brim with good grain. Folks, we need to wait upon the Lord quietly, and we won't make as many mistakes as we have in the past, and we won't be so sorrowful. That proposal that that young man has made to you, just wait, young lady, there is no rush. Tell him you will come back to him, you are going to pray about it. Absolutely, and then you can be sure that God is with you on that decision that you have made.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

When you're talking about Indian movies, he's a cine qua non [note from editor: stop it]: Raj Kapoor (1924–1988). We look at Shree 420, Chori Chori, and Aah, with detours into Sangam, Mera Naam Joker, Bobby, Prem Rog, and, yes, Ram Tere Ganga Maili. • We love how his films always have ideas and messages, especially the socialist ones! • Why does Nargis's departure from his life seem to turn him into a dirty old man when he's behind the camera? • And why does he seem to go downhill in the color film era? • Do you prefer him as an actor or as a director - or are those inseparable concepts? • What's your favorite performance? • And what's your favorite song sequence in one of his directed projects? • If you want to watch the adorable musical performance at the end of Aah (though it's a bit spoiler-y), try this link https://youtu.be/jpkWkZ6Kf0Y?si=OzvIBrY0HZZw6qKS&t=7944 (start at 2:12:24 if it doesn't automatically). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram and Twitter Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbolly on Twitter Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast. https://boxd.it/qSpfy Our logo was designed by London-based artist Paula Ganoo @velcrothoughts on Instagram https://www.art2arts.co.uk/paula-vaughan

Aah, springtime. Bees floating from flower to flower, eating nectar and taking pollen as they go. But there are other, stranger things that pollinators collect. This is part 1 of an episode featuring UCR entomologist Quinn McFrederick, where we discuss some of the little-known things that pollinators pack and take with them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/can-i-bug-you/message

Reddit rSlash Storytime r prorevenge where Jerk neighbors put up their house for sale today…on my birthday! **My ex's arbitrary deadline for having kids is coming up & I want to use my toddler to wish him a Happy Birthday. **High School Bully Got His **Revenge on my stalker **Revenge on my neighbors for not keeping the floor common area clean. **Try to fool me, enjoy being made a fool **Revenge on school playing the same song on repeat between 8am and 6pm for 10 days. **Changed numbers to avoid debt collectors? Let me help you with that. **Aah...that's a refreshing soda . **So you outraced the Older Lady, I'll take care of that. **Won't stop calling me to collect someone else's debt? How would you like their new phone # and address? Oopsie, hung up on ya. **You ding my car. You suffer the minor inconveniences! **I am the jerk and a decade later, I'm still not sorry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why resistance isn't always a bad thing.Friction — that's Professor Huggy Rao's metaphor for the forces that hamper workplace efficiency. But as he says, some friction can be helpful — if you know how to use it.In his book, The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder, Rao and coauthor Robert I. Sutton explore how operational obstacles show up in the workplace and, more importantly, what we can do about them. Through what Rao calls “friction fixing,” leaders can “take out the bad friction to make the right things easy to do [and] put in good friction to make the wrong things harder [to do].”As Rao discusses with host Matt Abrahams on this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, leaders can eliminate bad friction through good communication. “Communication matters a lot,” he says. “The simple rule is, make sure a 10-year-old can understand it on the first try.”Episode Reference Links:Huggy Rao: Website Huggy's Books: The Friction Project, Scaling Up Excellence, & Market Rebels Huggy's Successful Communication Recipe - “Ah! Aha! Haha!” by Ramji Raghavan Ep.14: Be Better at Work: How to Communicate Better with Coworkers and Employees: Website / YouTubeConnect:Email Questions & Feedback >>> thinkfast@stanford.eduEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn Page, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInStanford GSB >>> LinkedIn & TwitterChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionHost Matt Abrahams introduces guest, Huggy Rao, and his latest book on the importance of focusing on friction to become our best selves.(00:01:24) Scaling Mindsets and CommunicationInsights on scaling excellence and the critical role of simple communication in fostering the right mindset.(00:04:28) AstraZeneca: Scaling SimplificationA case study on simplification efforts at AstraZeneca & the gift of time that they gave their employees.(00:08:49) Understanding Friction: Terrible and WonderfulThe dual nature of friction, highlighting its role as both a hindrance and a catalyst for decision-making. (00:11:05) Jargon MonoxideComplicated jargon's impact on organizations, and the need for simplicity in communication.(00:13:03) The Art of StorytellingThe benefits & goals of storytelling, creating moral elevation & emotional connection.(00:15:12) Job Titles and AccountabilityAn experiment on the impact of personalized job titles on team performance and accountability in tech startups and the introduction of “good friction”.(00:17:57) The Final Three QuestionsHuggy shares his strategy for reducing friction in his life, a story about the communicator he most admires, Saul Alinsky, and his three ingredients for a successful communication recipe, Aah! Aha! Ha-Ha!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 188 of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, our guest is Canadian actor and puppeteer, Marty Stelnick! Some of Marty's best known roles includes performing Ooh on Playhouse Disney's Ooh & Aah morning block. He also puppeteered on series such as Nanalan, Whoop's Littleburg and Mr. Meaty, created YTV's The Fuzzpaws, voiced Grant and Iggy on What's Your News? and many more!

On behalf of Anthony and myself, I want to begin by issuing a disclaimer about this week's episode of TCD (sorry Lucy).You could be forgiven for assuming such a decision could be down to a more than excessive use of bad language, or an inadvertent turn of phrase that in hindsight was a little unfair or unkind. Or maybe even that the accuracy of the material contained within was so far wide of the mark, that it managed to exceed the generous levels of tolerance we allow ourselves.Actually it's none of these things.Ant's straight off a plane from LA and I'm straight off a heavy day's rehearsal. The reality is Chapter 195 just isn't us at our shimmering best, so we thought it only fair to warn you in advance, apologise, and say it won't happen again, (unless it does).Don't get me wrong it is still worth a listen, actually it's quite amusing in places, but it's a reminder that we are only human after all (well part-human at least).The one thing we aren't though is downhearted, in fact we're looking forward to regrouping for #196 un jet-lagged and post-gig-relieved. Aah...Love'n'clean feathershPlanet Marzipan Podcast - Episode 23TCD Merch StoreBecome Purple and support the showThe Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014FacebookInstagramWebsite

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 6th of January, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Isaiah 28:10. The Lord says:"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,Line upon line, line upon line,Here a little, there a little."That is how you and I will get through this year, 2024. This is not a 100-metre sprint; it is a long-distance race. There are 366 days that we are going to move through and we are going to do it slowly, very slowly, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Now, if you read this chapter you will see that the Pharisees, the so-called intellectuals, theological intellectuals, pooh-poohed this. They said, "This is for children, it's not for us." But I want to tell you that the Lord has written this for every one of us. He has shown us very clearly that we need to do it His way; otherwise, it is not going to work. We had an old lady who lived here with us at Shalom for many, many years, a very faithful intercessor. Her name was Aunty Peggy. Aunty Peggy used to write poems for me. I still have them in my possession. She called herself Tortoise O'Neal, that was her surname, Peggy O'Neal, and she called me Buchan Hare, because I was always running flat out all over the place, and she was just quietly walking along and she always got to the top of the hill before me, normally with a nice ice cold Coke. Aah, folks - line upon line, precept upon precept! We really need to understand this principle of the Lord. How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time. How do you run a thousand miles? One footstep at a time. We really need to pace ourselves this year and obey the word of God. Do you know, this scripture is so serious, that the Lord repeats it in verse 13 of Isaiah 28. He says: "Line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." That's how your business will succeed, that's how you will get your degree, how you will finish strong, and how your crop will be nice and golden to harvest if you persevere with it, slowly but surely.Jesus bless you and have a lovely day,Goodbye.

- Wall Street Worried About Tesla Stock - Reuters Expose: Tesla's Defect Cover Up - Panasonic Axes EV Battery Plant - Kia Canada Hides Sales from Kia Korea - VW Group Joins the NACS Parade - Ford Finds 20-HP Under Raptor R Hood - Canada To Ban ICE In 2035 - Half of Buick Dealers Quit Overs EVs - NSU's Early Aerodynamic Testing - Sandy Munro To Star on AAH

- Tesla Mexico Takes a Siesta - UAW's Fain Shows Up on VW's Doorstep - Germany Yanks EV Subsidies - Nikola's Trevor Milton Gets Prison Sentence - Manchin Says No to All Chinese Battery Materials - NIO Takes Drive-By-Wire to New Level - Chrysler to Give Pacifica Significant Refresh - Toyota Adds PHEV to Crown Sport Lineup - Generative AI Slashes Forvia's R and D Costs - Sandy Munro on AAH

Can you guess when I joined GISHWHES for the first time? Aah, nostalgia for Team AngrySandwich! So clearly I enjoy this episode (at least until the last two minutes...) :'D Dean finally gets a little respite from his feelings via the aforementioned sandwich, only for realty to crash back down on him ten times as hard. And he and Sam each have a heartfelt conversation with Bobby, before the aforementioned last two minutes. But before that, we have an awful lot of fun... A return to the mytharc and Dick Roman and a glimpse at the sinister larger plans the Leviathans are carrying out while the narrative strips Sam and Dean of everything they love... even the simple things like "electricity" and "running water." LINKS! The Superwiki page My tag (only 3 pages and half of them are gifs, so really here's my rewatch notes from July 2017) Lizbob's Dean and Cas are In Love series The fic I can remember off the top of my head where I sneaked Ranger Rick in: Around the World in 24 Days, technically part 5 of the Tumblr Anonymous ‘verse (aka Project Beyonce). It's over 101k, rated M, and destiel, based on the Amazing Race. I made Rick one of the easter egg cameramen, so it's not like he's got a big part. But never pass up a chance to plug your own work! :D --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spngeorg/support