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Today I'm sharing an episode from the Daily Affirmations Meditation for Women podcast—a show I get to guide with my own voice each day. If you love starting your day with a little inspiration and intention, I think you're really going to enjoy this one. And don't forget to follow on your favorite podcast player if you enjoy this episode. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-affirmations-meditation-for-women/id1625564508 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nurture Self-Kindness: 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Inner Peace & GrowthGift yourself kindness with this 10-minute guided meditation from Calming Anxiety. Host Martin Hewlett guides you to cultivate self-compassion, inner peace, and personal growth through soothing breathwork and uplifting affirmations. Perfect for stress relief, mental wellness, or daily self-care, this episode helps you plant seeds of kindness for your future self. Whether you're new to meditation or seeking emotional balance, this session supports your journey to tranquility. Subscribe now for more guided meditations and anxiety relief content!Key Takeaways:Foster self-kindness with mindfulness and breathwork techniques.Cultivate inner peace and growth through guided affirmations.Ideal for morning inspiration, mid-day calm, or evening reflection.Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBuy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Pain & Anxiety Course: Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew's course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-painBreathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Android: Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBConnect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukYouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/Backing Music: Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3
Today I'm sharing an episode from the Daily Affirmations Meditation for Women podcast—a show I get to guide with my own voice each day. If you love starting your day with a little inspiration and intention, I think you're really going to enjoy this one. And don't forget to follow on your favorite podcast player if you enjoy this episode. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-affirmations-meditation-for-women/id1625564508 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The universe itself was spoken into existence. Light didn't gradually emerge—it was commanded: "Let there be light," and there was light. Matter, energy, space, time—all of it came into being through the power of divine speech. This is the blueprint of reality. Every star, every planet, every quantum particle exists because consciousness spoke it into form. The Big Bang wasn't just an explosion—it was the ultimate affirmation, the first and most powerful declaration that set everything in motion. Here's what most people miss about affirmations: You're not trying to convince some external deity to grant your wishes. You're not begging the universe for scraps. You are exercising the same creative power that brought the cosmos into existence. The same divine consciousness that spoke galaxies into being is the consciousness looking through your eyes right now. When you affirm, you're not hoping something might happen. You're declaring what IS happening from the perspective of your divine nature. Every word you speak with intention and feeling is a creative command that reality must obey, because you are not separate from the source of all creation—you ARE that source, individualized and expressing through this unique point of consciousness you call yourself. Think about this: If the infinite intelligence that created over two trillion galaxies is the same intelligence operating as your consciousness right now, what could possibly be impossible for you? What limitation could actually be real when you're connected to unlimited power? The only question is whether you're going to use this power consciously or unconsciously, deliberately or randomly.
I AM Beautiful Wild Free: A Guided Affirmation and Meditation Podcast
[Season 6, Episode 16] In this heartfelt and hope-filled episode of the I AM Beautiful Wild Free Podcast, we declare with faith: I Pray Blessings Over My Future Husband.This affirmation is for every woman believing that God is preparing, shaping, and covering the man He has chosen for her. With scriptures like Ephesians 1:17, Proverbs 18:22, and Jeremiah 29:11, we speak life, wisdom, and purpose over his journey trusting God to align his steps with His perfect will.Join Erin Marie, @bwfwoman, as she guides you through prayers that bless his mind with clarity, his spirit with peace, his health with strength, and his days with joy. As you declare these truths, you'll be reminded that God's timing is perfect, His promises are sure, and His plans are always for good.✨ You can trust God with your future. You can trust Him with your husband. You can trust Him with your love story.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, rate this podcast and subscribe! For inquiries, email info@manifestherdaily.com.Learn More About manifestHERdaily: https://www.manifestHERdaily.comFollow manifestHERdaily on YouVersion: https://bit.ly/MHDYouVersionWatch manifestHERdaily on YouTube: https://bit.ly/MHDonYouTubeStart Getting Erin Marie's Inspirational Texts: https://bit.ly/MHDaffirmationsFollow manifestHERdaily on Instagram: https://bit.ly/MHDInstagramJoin Erin Marie's Inner Circle: https://bit.ly/MHDComeCloser
Reformed Brotherhood | Sound Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Brotherly Love
In this introductory episode to their new series on the Parables of Jesus, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb explore the profound theological significance of Christ's parables. Far from being mere teaching tools to simplify complex ideas, parables serve a dual purpose in God's redemptive plan: revealing spiritual truth to those with "ears to hear" while concealing these same truths from those without spiritual illumination. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how parables function as divine teaching devices that embody core Reformed doctrines like election and illumination. As the hosts prepare to journey through all the parables in the Gospels, they invite listeners to consider the blessing of being granted spiritual understanding and the privilege of receiving the "secrets of the kingdom" through Christ's distinctive teaching method. Key Takeaways Parables are more than illustrations—they are comparisons that reveal kingdom truths to those with spiritual ears to hear while concealing truth from those without spiritual illumination. Jesus intentionally taught in parables not to simplify his teaching but partly to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy about those who hear but do not understand, confirming the spiritual condition of his hearers. The ability to understand parables is itself evidence of God's sovereign grace and election, as Jesus states in Matthew 13:16: "Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear." Parables vary in form and function—some are clearly allegorical while others make a single point, requiring each to be approached on its own terms. Proper interpretation requires context—understanding both the original audience and the question or situation that prompted Jesus to use a particular parable. Parables function like Nathan's confrontation of David—they draw hearers in through narrative before revealing uncomfortable truths about themselves. Studying parables requires spiritual humility—recognizing that our understanding comes not from intellectual capacity but from the Spirit's illumination. Understanding Parables as Revelation, Not Just Illustration The hosts emphasize that parables are fundamentally different from mere illustrations or fables. While modern readers often assume Jesus used parables to simplify complex spiritual truths, the opposite is frequently true. As Tony explains, "A parable fundamentally is a comparison between two things... The word parable comes from the Greek of casting alongside." This distinction is crucial because it changes how we approach interpretation. Rather than breaking down each element as an allegorical component, we should first understand what reality Jesus is comparing the parable to. The parables function as a form of divine revelation—showing us kingdom realities through narrative comparison, but only those with spiritual insight can truly grasp their meaning. This is why Jesus quotes Isaiah and explains that he speaks in parables partly because "seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear nor do they understand" (Matthew 13:13). The Doctrine of Election Embedded in Parabolic Teaching Perhaps the most profound insight from this episode is how the very form of Jesus' teaching—not just its content—embodies the doctrine of election. Jesse notes that "every parable then implicitly teaches a doctrine of election," because they reveal spiritual truth to some while concealing it from others. This isn't arbitrary but reflects spiritual realities. The hosts connect this to Jesus' words in Matthew 13:16: "Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear." This blessing comes not from intellectual capacity or moral superiority but from God's sovereign grace. Tony describes this as "the blessing in our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation." The parables thus become a "microcosm" of Reformed doctrines like election, regeneration, and illumination. When believers understand Jesus' parables, they're experiencing the practical outworking of these doctrines in real time. Memorable Quotes "The parables are not just to illustrate a point, they're to reveal a spiritual point or spiritual points to those who have ears to hear, to those who've been illuminated by the spirit." - Tony Arsenal "Jesus is giving this message essentially to all who will listen to him... And so this is like, I love the way that he uses that quote in a slightly different way, but still to express the same root cause, which is some of you here because of your depravity will not be able to hear what I'm saying. But for those to whom it has been granted to come in who are ushered into the kingdom, this kingdom language will make sense." - Jesse Schwamb "But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. There's a blessing in our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation." - Tony Arsenal About the Hosts Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb are the regular hosts of The Reformed Brotherhood podcast, where they explore Reformed theology and its application to Christian living. With a conversational style that balances depth and accessibility, they seek to make complex theological concepts understandable without sacrificing nuance or biblical fidelity. Transcript [00:00:45] Introduction and New Series Announcement [00:00:45] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 460 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:54] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. [00:00:59] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. New series Time, new series. Time for the next seven years that, that's probably correct. It's gonna be a long one. New beginnings are so great, aren't they? And it is. [00:01:10] Jesse Schwamb: We've been hopefully this, well, it's definitely gonna live up to all the hype that we've been presenting about this. It's gonna be good. Everybody's gonna love it. And like I said, it's a topic we haven't done before. It's certainly not in this format. [00:01:23] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know what, just, um, as a side note, if you are a listener, which you must be, if you're hearing this, uh, this is a great time to introduce someone to the podcast. [00:01:33] Tony Arsenal: True. Uh, one, because this series is gonna be lit as the kids say, and, uh, it's a new series, so you don't have to have any background. You don't have to have any previous knowledge of the show or of who these two weird guys are to jump in and we're gonna. [00:01:53] Tony Arsenal: Talk about the Bible, which is amazing and awesome. And who doesn't love to talk about the Bible. [00:01:58] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's correct. That's what makes these so good. That's how I know, and I could say confidently that this is gonna be all the hype and more. All right, so before we get to affirmations and denials, all the good ProGo, that's part and parcel of our normal episode content. [00:02:12] Jesse Schwamb: Do you want to tell everybody what we're gonna be talking about? [00:02:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I'm excited. [00:02:17] Introducing the Parables Series [00:02:17] Tony Arsenal: So we are gonna work our way through, and this is why I say it's gonna take seven years. We are gonna work our way through all of the parables. Parables, [00:02:25] Jesse Schwamb: the [00:02:25] Tony Arsenal: gospels and just so, um, the Gospel of John doesn't feel left out. [00:02:30] Tony Arsenal: We're gonna talk through some of the I am statements and some of that stuff when we get to John. 'cause John doesn't have a lot of parables. Uh, so we're gonna spend time in the synoptic gospels. We're gonna just walk through the parables one by one. We're taking an episode, sometimes maybe two, sometimes 10, depending on how long the parable is and how deep we get into it. [00:02:47] Tony Arsenal: We're just gonna work our way through. We're gonna take our time. We're gonna enjoy it. So again, this is a great time to start. It's kinda the ground floor on this and you thing. This could really be its own podcast all by itself, right? Uh, so invite a friend, invite some whole bunch of friends. Start a Sunday school class listening to this. [00:03:04] Tony Arsenal: No, don't do that. But people have done that before. But, uh, grab your bibles, get a decent commentary to help prep for the next episode, and, uh, let's, let's do it. I'm super excited. [00:03:14] Jesse Schwamb: When I say para, you say Abel Para, is that how it works? Para? Yeah. I don't know. You can't really divide it. Pairable. If you jam it together, yes. [00:03:24] Jesse Schwamb: You get some of that. You can say, when I say pair, you say Abel p [00:03:27] Tony Arsenal: Abel. [00:03:31] Jesse Schwamb: And you can expect a lot more of that in this series. But before we get into all this good juicy stuff about parables, and by the way, this is like an introductory episode, that doesn't mean that you can just skip it, doesn't mean it's not gonna be good. We gotta set some things up. We wanna talk about parables general generally, but before we have that good general conversation, let's get into our own tradition, which is either affirming with something or denying against something. [00:03:54] Affirmations and Denials [00:03:54] Jesse Schwamb: And so, Tony, what do you got for all of us? [00:03:58] Tony Arsenal: Mine is kind of a, an ecclesial, ecclesiastical denial. Mm-hmm. Um, this is sort of niche, but I feel like our audience may have heard about it. And there's this dust up that I, I noticed online, uh, really just this last week. Um, it's kind of a specific thing. There is a church, uh, I'm not sure where the church is. [00:04:18] Tony Arsenal: It's a PCA church, I believe it's called Mosaic. The pastor of the church, the teaching elder, one of the teaching elders just announced that he was, uh, leaving his ministry to, uh, join the Roman Catholic Church, which, yes, there's its own denial built into that. We are good old Protestant reformed folks, and I personally would, would stick with the original Westminster on the, the Pope being antichrist. [00:04:45] Tony Arsenal: But, um, that's not the denial. The denial is that in this particular church. For some unknown reason. Uh, the pastor who has now since a announced that he was leaving to, uh, to convert to Roman Catholicism, continued to preach the sermon and then administered the Lord's supper, even though he in the eyes, I think of most. [00:05:08] Tony Arsenal: Reformed folk and certainly historically in the eyes of the reformed position was basically apostate, uh, right in front of the congregation's eyes. Now, I don't know that I would necessarily put it that strongly. I think there are plenty of genuine born again Christians who find themselves in, in the Roman Catholic, uh, church. [00:05:27] Tony Arsenal: Uh, but to allow someone who is one resigning the ministry right in front of your eyes. Um, and then resigning to basically leave for another tradition that, that the PCA would not recognize, would not share ecclesiastical, uh, credentials with or accept their ordination or any of those things. Um, to then just allow him to admit, you know, to administer the Lord's Supper, I think is just a drastic miscarriage of, uh, ecclesiastical justice. [00:05:54] Tony Arsenal: I dunno if that's the right word. So I'm just denying this like. It shows that on a couple things like this, this. Church this session, who obviously knew this was coming. Um, this session does either, does not take seriously the differences between Roman Catholic theology and Protestant theology, particularly reformed theology, or they don't take seriously the, the gravity of the Lord's supper and who should and shouldn't be administering it. [00:06:22] Tony Arsenal: They can't take both of those things seriously and have a fully or biblical position on it. So there's a good opportunity for us to think through our ecclesiology, to think through our sacrament and how this applies. It just really doesn't sit well and it's not sitting well with a lot of people online, obviously. [00:06:37] Tony Arsenal: Um, and I'm sure there'll be all sorts of, like letters of concern sent to presbytery and, and all that stuff, and, and it'll all shake out in the wash eventually, but just, it just wasn't good. Just doesn't sit right. [00:06:48] Jesse Schwamb: You know, it strikes me of all the denominations. I'm not saying this pejoratively. I just think it is kind of interesting and funny to me that the Presbyterians love a letter writing campaign. [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Like that's kind of the jam, the love, a good letter writing campaign. [00:07:00] Tony Arsenal: It's true, although it's, it's actually functional in Presbyterianism because That's right. That's how you voice your concern. It's not a, not a, a rage letter into the void. It actually goes somewhere and gets recorded and has to be addressed at presbytery if you have standing. [00:07:17] Tony Arsenal: So there's, there's a good reason to do that, and I'm sure that that will be done. I'm sure there are many. Probably ministers in the PCA who are aware of this, who are either actually considering filing charges or um, or writing such letters of complaints. And there's all sorts of mechanisms in the PCA to, to adjudicate and resolve and to investigate these kinds of things. [00:07:37] Jesse Schwamb: And I'd like to, if you're, if you're a true Presbyterian and, and in this instance, I'm not making light of this instance, but this instance are others, you. Feel compelled by a strong conviction to write such a letter that really you should do it with a quill, an ink. Like that's the ultimate way. I think handwritten with like a nice fountain pen. [00:07:54] Jesse Schwamb: There's not, yeah. I mean, you know what I'm saying? Like that's, that is a weighty letter right there. Like it's cut to Paul being like, I write this postscript in my own hand with these big letters. Yeah, it's like, you know, some original Presbyterian letter writing right there. [00:08:07] Tony Arsenal: And then you gotta seal it with wax with your signe ring. [00:08:10] Tony Arsenal: So, and send it by a carrier, by a messenger series of me messengers. [00:08:14] Jesse Schwamb: Think if you receive any letter in the mail, handwritten to you. Like for real, somebody painstakingly going through in script like spencerian script, you know, if you're using English characters writing up and then sealing that bad boy with wax, you're gonna be like, this is important. [00:08:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, this, even if it's just like, Hey, what's up? Yeah, you're gonna be like, look at this incredible, weighty document I've received. [00:08:36] Tony Arsenal: It's true. It's very true. I love it. Well, that's all I have to say about that to channel a little Forrest Gump there. Uh, Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight? [00:08:44] Jesse Schwamb: I'm also going to deny against, so this denial is like classic. [00:08:49] Jesse Schwamb: It's routine, but I got a different spin on it this time, so I'm denying against. The full corruption of sin, how it appears everywhere, how even unbelievers speak of it, almost unwittingly, but very commonly with great acceptance. And the particularity of this denial comes in the form of allergies, which you and I are talking about a lot of times. [00:09:09] Jesse Schwamb: But I was just thinking about this week because I had to do some allergy testing, which is a, a super fun experience. But it just got me think again, like very plainly about what allergies are. And how an allergy occurs when your immune system, like the part of your body responsible for protecting your body that God has made when your immune system mistakes like a non-harmful substance like pollen or a food or some kind of animal dander for a threat, and then reacts by producing these antibodies like primarily the immunoglobulin E. [00:09:36] Jesse Schwamb: So here's what strikes me as so funny about this in a, in a way that we must laugh. Because of our, our parents, our first parents who made a horrible decision and we like them, would make the same decision every day and twice in the Lord's day. And that is that this seems like, of course, such a clear sign of the corruption of sin impounded in our created order because it seems a really distasteful and suboptimal for human beings to have this kind of response to pollen. [00:10:03] Jesse Schwamb: When they were intended to work and care in a garden. So obviously I think we can say, Hey, like the fact that allergies exist and that it's your body making a mistake. [00:10:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:10:13] Jesse Schwamb: It's like the ultimate, like cellular level of the ubiquity of sin. And so as I was speaking with my doctor and going through the, the testing, it's just so funny how like we all talk about this. [00:10:25] Jesse Schwamb: It's like, yeah, it's, it's a really over-indexed reaction. It doesn't make any sense. It's not the way the world is supposed to be, but nobody's saying how is the world supposed to be? Do you know what I mean? Like, but we just take it for granted that that kind of inflammation that comes from like your dog or like these particles in the air of plants, just trying to do a plant stew and reproduce and pollinate that, that could cause like really dramatic and debilitating. [00:10:49] Jesse Schwamb: Responses is just exceptional to me, and I think it's exceptional and exceptional to all of us because at some deep level we recognize that, as Paul says, like the earth, the entire world is groaning. It's groaning for that eschatological release and redemption that can only come from Christ. And our runny noses in our hay fever all prove that to some degree. [00:11:09] Jesse Schwamb: So denying against allergies, but denying against as well that ubiquity of corruption and sin in our world. [00:11:15] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I just have this image in my head of Adam and Eve, you know, they're expelled outta the garden and they, they're working the ground. And then Adam sneezes. Yes. And Eve is like, did your head just explode? [00:11:28] Tony Arsenal: And he's like, I don't know. That would've been a, probably a pretty terrifying experience actually. [00:11:33] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's that's true. So imagine like you and I have talked about this before, because you have young children, adorable. Young children, and we've talked about like the first of everything, like when you're a child, you get sick for the first time, or you get the flu or you vomit for the first time. [00:11:45] Jesse Schwamb: Like you have no idea what's going on in your body, but imagine that. But being an adult. [00:11:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, where you can process what's going on, but don't have a framework for it. [00:11:52] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, exactly. So like [00:11:54] Tony Arsenal: that's like, that's like my worst nightmare I think. [00:11:55] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It's like, to your point, 'cause there, there are a lot of experiences you have as an adults, even health wise that are still super strange and weird. [00:12:01] Jesse Schwamb: But [00:12:02] Tony Arsenal: yeah, [00:12:02] Jesse Schwamb: you have some rubric for them, but that's kind of exactly what I was thinking. What if this toiling over your labor is partly because it's horrible now because you have itchy, watery eyes or you get hives. Yeah. And before you were like, I could just lay in the grass and be totally fine. And now I can't even walk by ragweed without getting a headache or having some kind of weird fatigue. [00:12:23] Jesse Schwamb: Like I have to believe that that was, that part of this transition was all of these things. Like, now your body's gonna overreact to stuff where I, I, God put us in a place where that wouldn't be the case at all. [00:12:35] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Sometimes I think about like the first. Time that Adam was like sore or like hurt himself. [00:12:42] Tony Arsenal: True. Like the, just the, just the terror and fear that must have come with it. And sin is serious stuff. Like it's serious effects and sad, sad, sad stuff. But yeah, allergies are the worst. I, uh, I suffered really badly with, uh, seasonal allergies. When I was a a kid I had to do allergy shots and everything and it's makes no sense. [00:13:03] Tony Arsenal: There's no rhyme or reason to it, and your allergies change. So like you could be going your whole life, being able to eat strawberries and then all of a sudden you can't. Right? And it's, and you don't know until it happens. So [00:13:14] Jesse Schwamb: what's up with that? [00:13:15] Tony Arsenal: No good. [00:13:16] Jesse Schwamb: What's up with that? So again, imagine that little experience is a microcosmic example of what happens to Adam and Eve. [00:13:24] Jesse Schwamb: You know, like all these things change. Like you're, you're right. Suddenly your body isn't the same. It's not just because you're growing older, but because guess what? Sins everywhere. And guess what, where sin is, even in the midst of who you are as physically constructed and the environment in which you live, all, all totally change. [00:13:40] Jesse Schwamb: So that, that's enough of my rants on allergies. I know the, I know the loved ones out there hear me. It's also remarkable to me that almost everybody has an allergy of some kind. It's very, it's very rare if you don't have any allergies whatsoever. And probably those times when you think you're sick and you don't have allergies could be that you actually have them. [00:13:57] Jesse Schwamb: So it's just wild. Wild. [00:14:02] Tony Arsenal: Agreed. Agreed. [00:14:03] Theological Discussion on Parables [00:14:03] Tony Arsenal: Well, Jesse, without further ado, I'm not, I, maybe we should have further ado, but let's get into it. Let's talk about some parable stuff. [00:14:13] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, let's do it again. When I say pair, you say able pair. [00:14:17] Tony Arsenal: Able. [00:14:20] Jesse Schwamb: When I say [00:14:21] Tony Arsenal: para you say bowl. [00:14:24] Jesse Schwamb: That's what I was trying to go with before. [00:14:26] Jesse Schwamb: It's a little bit more, yeah, but you gotta like cross over like we both gotta say like that middle syllable kind of. Otherwise it's, it sounds like I'm just saying bowl. And [00:14:34] Tony Arsenal: yeah, there's no good way to chant that. Yeah, we're work. This is why Jesse and I are not cheerleaders. [00:14:39] Jesse Schwamb: We're, we're work shopping everybody. [00:14:40] Jesse Schwamb: But I agree with you. Enough of us talking about affirmations, the denials in this case, the double double denial. Let's talk about parables. So the beauty of this whole series is there's gonna be so much great stuff to talk about, and I think this is a decent topic for us to cover because. Really, if you think about it, the parables of Jesus have captivated people for the entirety of the scriptures. [00:15:06] Jesse Schwamb: As long, as long as they were recorded and have been read and processed and studied together. And, uh, you know, there's stuff I'm sure that we will just gloss over. We don't need to get into in terms of like, is it pure allegory? Is it always allegory? Is it, there's lots of interpretation here. I think this is gonna be our way of processing together and moving through some of these and speaking them out and trying to learn principally. [00:15:28] Jesse Schwamb: Predominantly what they're teaching us. But I say all that because characters like the prodigal son, like Good Samaritan, Pharisees, and tax collector, those actually have become well known even outside the church. [00:15:40] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And [00:15:40] Jesse Schwamb: then sometimes inside the church there's over familiarity with all of these, and that leads to its own kind of misunderstanding. [00:15:46] Jesse Schwamb: So, and I think as well. I'm hoping that myself, you and our listeners will be able to hear them in a new way, and maybe if we can try to do this without again, being parabolic, is that we can kind of recreate some of the trauma. In these stories. 'cause Jesus is, is pressing upon very certain things and there's certainly a lot of trauma that his original audiences would've taken away from what he was saying here. [00:16:13] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Even just starting with what is a parable and why is Jesus telling them? So I presume that's actually the best place for us to begin is what's the deal with the parables and why is this? Is this Jesus preferred way of teaching about the kingdom of God. [00:16:30] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think, you know, it bears saying too that like not all the parables are alike. [00:16:35] Tony Arsenal: Like true. We can't, this is why I'm excited about this series. You know, it's always good to talk through the bible and, and or to talk through systematic theology, but what really excites me is when we do a series like this, kind of like the Scott's Confession series, like it gives us a reason. To think through a lot of different disciplines and flex like exercise and stretch and flex a lot of different kinds of intellectual muscles. [00:17:00] Tony Arsenal: So there's gonna be some exegetical work we have to do. There's gonna be some hermeneutical work we're gonna have to do, probably have to do some historical work about how the parables have been interpreted in different ways. Yes, and and I think, so, I think it's important to say like, not every parable is exactly the same. [00:17:14] Tony Arsenal: And this is where I think like when you read, sometimes you read books about the, the parables of Christ. Like you, you'll hear one guy say. Well, a parable is not an allegory. Then you'll hear another guy say like, well, parables might have allegorical elements to it. Right. Now if one guy say like, well, a parable has one main point, and you'll have another guy say like, well, no, actually, like parables can have multiple points and multiple shades of meaning. [00:17:37] Tony Arsenal: And I think the answer to why you have this variance in the commentaries is 'cause sometimes the parables are alleg. [00:17:44] Jesse Schwamb: Right. And [00:17:44] Tony Arsenal: sometimes they're not allegorical. Sometimes they have one main point. Sometimes there's multiple points. So I think it's important for us to just acknowledge like we're gonna have to come to each parable, um, on its own and on its own terms. [00:17:57] Tony Arsenal: But there are some general principles that I think we can talk about what parables are. So parables in general are. Figurative stories or figurative accounts that are used to illustrate, I think primarily used to illustrate a single main point. And there may be some subpoints, but they, they're generally intended to, uh, to illustrate something by way of a, of a narrative, a fictional narrative that, uh, helps the reader. [00:18:27] Tony Arsenal: Uh, or the hearer is just, it's also important that these were primarily heard, these are heard parables, so there are even times where the phrasing of the language is important in the parable. Um, they're helping the, the hearer to understand spiritual truth. And this is where I think it's it's key, is that this is not just. [00:18:48] Tony Arsenal: When we're talking about the parables of Christ, right? There's people tell parables, there's all sorts of different teachers that have used parables. Um, I, I do parables on the show from time to time where I'll tell like a little made up story about a, you know, a situation. I'll say like, pretend, you know, let's imagine you have this guy and he's doing this thing that's a form of a parable when I'm using. [00:19:08] Tony Arsenal: I'm not, it's not like a makeup made up story. It's not asaps fables. We're not talking about like talking foxes and hens and stuff, but it's illustrating a point. But the parables of Christ are not just to illustrate a point, they're to reveal a spiritual point or spiritual points to those who have ears to hear, to those who've been illuminated by the spirit. [00:19:29] Tony Arsenal: And I just wanna read this. Uh, this is just God's providence, um, in action. I, um, I've fallen behind on my reading in The Daily Dad, which is a Ryan Holiday book. This was the reading that came up today, even though it's not the correct reading for the day. Uh, it's, it's for September 2nd. We're recording this on September, uh, sixth. [00:19:48] Tony Arsenal: Uh, and the title is, this is How You Teach Them. And the first line says, if the Bible has any indication, Jesus rarely seemed to come out and say what he meant. He preferred instead to employ parables and stories and little anecdotes that make you think. He tells stories of the servants and the talents. [00:20:03] Tony Arsenal: He tells stories of the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan. Turns out it's pretty effective to get a point across and make it stick. What what we're gonna learn. Actually that Jesus tells these stories in parables, in part to teach those who have spiritual ears to hear, but in part to mask the truth That's right. [00:20:24] Tony Arsenal: From those who don't have spiritual ears to hear, oh, online [00:20:26] Jesse Schwamb: holiday. [00:20:27] Tony Arsenal: So it's not as simple as like Jesus, using illustration to help make something complicated, clearer, right? Yes. But also, no. So I'm super excited to kind of get into this stuff and talk through it and to, to really dig into the parables themselves. [00:20:42] Tony Arsenal: It's just gonna be a really good exercise at sort of sitting at the feet of our master in his really, his preferred mode of teaching. Um, you know, other than the sermon on the Mount. There's not a lot of like long form, straightforward, didactic teaching like that most of Christ's teaching as recorded in the gospels, comes in the form of these parables in one way or another. [00:21:03] Tony Arsenal: Right. And that's pretty exciting to me. [00:21:05] Jesse Schwamb: Right. And there's so many more parables I think, than we often understand there to be, or at least then that we see in like the headings are Bible, which of course have been put there by our own construction. So anytime you get that. Nice short, metaphorical narrative is really Jesus speaking in a kind of parable form, and I think you're right on. [00:21:25] Jesse Schwamb: For me, it's always highlighting some kind of aspect of the kingdom of God. And I'd say there is generally a hierarchy. There doesn't have to be like a single point, like you said. There could be other points around that. But if you get into this place where like everything has some kind of allegory representation, then the parable seems to die of the death of like a million paper cuts, right? [00:21:40] Jesse Schwamb: Because you're trying to figure out all the things and if you have to represent something, everything he says with some kind of. Heavy spiritual principle gets kind of weird very quickly. But in each of these, as you said, what's common in my understanding is it's presenting like a series of events involving like a small number of characters. [00:21:57] Jesse Schwamb: It is bite-sized and sometimes those are people or plants or even like inanimate objects. So like the, yeah, like you said, the breadth and scope of how Jesus uses the metaphor is brilliant teaching, and it's even more brilliant when you get to that level, like you're saying, where it's meant both to illuminate. [00:22:13] Jesse Schwamb: To obfuscate. That is like, to me, the parable is a manifestation of election because it's clear that Jesus is using this. Those who have the ears to hear are the ones whom the Holy Spirit has unstopped, has opened the eyes, has illuminated the hearts and the mind to such a degree that can receive these, and that now these words are resonant. [00:22:32] Jesse Schwamb: So like what a blessing that we can understand them, that God has essentially. Use this parabolic teaching in such a way to bring forward his concept of election in the minds and the hearts of those who are his children. And it's kind of a way, this is kind of like the secret Christian handshake. It's the speakeasy of salvation. [00:22:52] Jesse Schwamb: It's, it's coming into the fold because God has invited you in and given you. The knowledge and ability of which to really understand these things. And so most of these little characters seemed realistic and resonant in Jesus' world, and that's why sometimes we do need a little bit of studying and understanding the proper context for all those things. [00:23:12] Jesse Schwamb: I would say as well, like at least one element in those parables is a push. It's in, it's kind of taking it and hyping it up. It's pushing the boundaries of what's plausible, and so you'll find that all of this is made again to illuminate some principle of the kingdom of God. And we should probably go to the thing that you intimated, because when you read that quote from, from Ryan Holiday, I was like, yes, my man. [00:23:34] Jesse Schwamb: Like he's on the right track. Right? There's something about what he's saying that is partially correct, but like you said, a lot of times people mistake the fact that, well, Jesus. Is using this language and these metaphors, these similes, he speaks in parables because they were the best way to get like these uneducated people to understand him. [00:23:57] Jesse Schwamb: Right? But it's actually the exact opposite. And we know this because of perhaps the most famous dialogue and expression and explanation of parables, which comes to us in Matthew 13, 10 through 17, where Jesus explains to his disciples exactly why he uses this mode of teaching. And what he says is. This is why I speak to them of parables because seeing they do not see and hearing, they do not hear they nor do they understand. [00:24:24] Jesse Schwamb: So, so that's perplexing. We should probably camp there for just a second and talk about that. Right, and, and like really unpack like, what is Jesus after here? Then if, like, before we get into like, what do all these things mean, it's almost like saying. We need to understand why they're even set before us and why these in some ways are like a kind of a small stumbling block to others, but then this great stone of appreciation and one to stand on for for others. [00:24:47] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think you know, before we, before we cover that, which I think is a good next spot. A parable is not just an illustration. Like I think that's where a lot of people go a little bit sideways, is they think that this is effectively, like it's a fable. It's like a made up story primarily to like illustrate a point right. [00:25:09] Tony Arsenal: Or an allegory where you know, you're taking individual components and they represent something else. A parable fundamentally is a, is a, a comparison between two things, right? The word parable comes from the Greek of casting alongside, and so the idea is like you're, you're taking. The reality that you're trying to articulate and you're setting up this parable next to it and you're comparing them to it. [00:25:33] Tony Arsenal: And so I like to use the word simile, like that's why Christ says like the kingdom of God is like this. Yes. It's not like I'm gonna explain the kingdom of God to you by using this made up story. Right on. It's I'm gonna compare the kingdom of God to this thing or this story that I'm having, and so we should be. [00:25:49] Tony Arsenal: Rather than trying to like find the principles of the parable, we should be looking at it and going, how does this parable reflect? Or how is this a, um, how is this an explanation? Not in the, like, I, I'm struggling to even explain this here. It's not that the cer, the parable is just illustrating a principle. [00:26:10] Tony Arsenal: It's that the kingdom of God is one thing and the parable reveals that same one thing by way of comparison. Yes. So like. Uh, we'll get into the specifics, obviously, but when the, when the, um, lawyer says, who is my neighbor? Well, it's not just like, well, let's look at the Good Samaritan. And the Good Samaritan represents this, and the Levite represents this, and the priest represents this. [00:26:32] Tony Arsenal: It's a good neighbor, is this thing. It's this story. Compared to whatever you have in your mind of what a good neighbor is. And we're gonna bounce those things up against each other, and that's gonna somehow show us what the, what the reality is. And that's why I think to get back to where we were, that's why I think sometimes the parables actually obscure the truth. [00:26:53] Tony Arsenal: Because if we're not comparing the parable to the reality of something, then we're gonna get the parable wrong. So if we think that, um, the Good Samaritan. Is a parable about social justice and we're, we're looking at it to try to understand how do we treat, you know, the, the poor people in Africa who don't have food or the war torn refugees, you know, coming out of Ukraine. [00:27:19] Tony Arsenal: If we're looking at it primarily as like, I need to learn to be a good neighbor to those who are destitute. Uh, we're not comparing it against what Jesus was comparing it against, right? So, so we have to understand, we have to start in a lot of cases with the question that the parable is a response to, which oftentimes the parable is a response to a question or it's a, it's a principle that's being, um, compare it against if we get that first step wrong, uh, or if we start with our own presuppositions, which is why. [00:27:50] Tony Arsenal: Partially why I think Christ is saying like, the only those who have ears to hear. Like if you don't have a spiritual presupposition, I, I mean that, that might not be the right word, but like if you're not starting from the place of spiritual illumination, not in the weird gnostic sense, but in the, the. [00:28:07] Tony Arsenal: Genuinely Christian illumination of the Holy Spirit and inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. If you're not starting from that perspective, you almost can't get the parables right. So that's why we see like the opponents of Christ in the Bible, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, constantly. They're constantly confused and they're getting it wrong. [00:28:26] Tony Arsenal: And, and even sometimes the disciples, they have to go and ask sometimes too, what is this parable? Wow, that's right. What is, what does this mean? So it's never as simple as, as what's directly on the surface, but it's also not usually as complicated as we would make it be if we were trying to over-interpret the parable, which I think is another risk. [00:28:44] Jesse Schwamb: That's the genius, isn't it? Is that I I like what you're saying. It's that spiritual predisposition that allows us to receive the word and, and when we receive that word, it is a simple word. It's not as if like, we have to elevate ourselves in place of this high learning or education or philosophizing, and that's the beauty of it. [00:29:03] Jesse Schwamb: So it is, again, God's setting apart for himself A, a people a teaching. So. But I think this is, it is a little bit perplexing at first, like that statement from Jesus because it's a bit like somebody coming to you, like your place of work or anywhere else in your family life and asking you explicitly for instruction and, and then you saying something like, listen, I, I'm gonna show you, but you're not gonna be able to see it. [00:29:22] Jesse Schwamb: And you're gonna, I'm gonna tell you, but you're not gonna be able to hear it, and I'm gonna explain it to you, but you're not gonna be able to understand. And you're like, okay. So yeah, what's the point of you talking to me then? So it's clear, like you said that Jesus. Is teaching that the secrets, and that's really, really what these are. [00:29:37] The Secrets of the Kingdom of God [00:29:37] Jesse Schwamb: It's brilliant and beautiful that Jesus would, that the, the son of God and God himself would tell us the secrets of his kingdom. But that again, first of all by saying it's a secret, means it's, it's for somebody to guard and to hold knowledge closely and that it is protected. So he says, teaching like the secrets of the kingdom of God are unknowable through mere human reasoning and intuition. [00:29:56] Jesse Schwamb: Interestingly here though, Jesus is also saying that. He's, it's not like he's saying no one can ever understand the parables, right, or that he intends to hide their truth from all people. [00:30:07] Understanding Parables and God's Sovereign Grace [00:30:07] Jesse Schwamb: Instead, he just explains that in order to highlight God's sovereign grace, God in his mercy has enlightened some to whom it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. [00:30:17] Jesse Schwamb: That's verse 11. So. All of us as his children who have been illuminated can understand the truth of God's kingdom. That is wild and and that is amazing. So that this knowledge goes out and just like we talk about the scripture going out and never returning void, here's a prime example of that very thing that there is a condemnation and not being able to understand. [00:30:37] Jesse Schwamb: That condemnation comes not because you're not intelligent enough, but because as you said, you do not have that predisposition. You do not have that changed heart into the ability to understand these things. [00:30:47] Doctrine of Election and Spiritual Insight [00:30:47] Jesse Schwamb: This is what leads me here to say like every parable then implicitly teaches a doctrine of election. [00:30:53] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, because all people are outside the kingdom until they enter the Lord's teaching. How do we enter the Lord's teaching by being given ears to hear. How are we understanding that? We have been given ears to hear when these parables speak to us in the spiritual reality as well as in just like you said, like this general kind of like in the way that I presume Ryan Holiday means it. [00:31:12] Jesse Schwamb: The, this is like, he might be exemplifying the fact that these stories. Are a really great form of the ability to communicate complex information or to make you think. [00:31:21] The Power and Purpose of Parables [00:31:21] Jesse Schwamb: So when Jesus says something like The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, wow, we, you and I will probably spend like two episodes just unpacking that, or we could spend a lot more, that's beautiful that that's how his teaching takes place. [00:31:34] Jesse Schwamb: But of course it's, it's so much. More than that, that those in whom the teaching is effective on a salvation somehow understand it, and their understanding of it becomes first because Christ is implanted within them. Salvation. [00:31:46] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:48] Parables as More Than Simple Teaching Tools [00:31:48] Tony Arsenal: I think people, and this is what I think like Ryan Holiday's statement reflects, is people think of the parables as a simple teaching tool to break down a complicated subject. [00:32:00] Tony Arsenal: Yes. And so, like if I was trying to explain podcasting to a, like a five-year-old, I would say something like, well, you know. You know how your teacher teaches you during class while a podcast is like if your teacher lived on the internet and you could access your teacher anytime. Like, that might be a weird explanation, but like that's taking a very complicated thing about recording and and RSS feeds and you know, all of these different elements that go into what podcasting is and breaking it down to a simple sub that is not what a parable is. [00:32:30] Tony Arsenal: Right? Right. A parable is not. Just breaking a simple subject down and illustrating it by way of like a, a clever comparison. Um, you know, it's not like someone trying to explain the doctrine of, of the Trinity by using clever analogies or something like that. Even if that were reasonable and impossible. [00:32:50] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's not like that a parable. I like what you're saying about it being kind of like a mini doctrine of election. It's also a mini doctrine of the Bible. Yes. Right. It, it's right on. [00:33:00] The Doctrine of Illumination [00:33:00] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's the doctrine of revelation. In. Preached form in the Ministry of Christ, right? As Christians, we have this text and we affirm that at the same time, uh, what can be known of it and what is necessary for salvation can be known. [00:33:19] Tony Arsenal: By ordinary means like Bart Iman, an avowed atheist who I, I think like all atheists, whether they recognize it or not, hates God. He can read the Bible and understand that what it means is that if you trust Jesus, you'll be saved. You don't need special spiritual insight to understand that that is what the Bible teaches, where the special spiritual. [00:33:42] Tony Arsenal: Insight might not be the right word, but the special spiritual appropriation is that the spirit enables you to receive that unto your salvation. Right? To put your trust in. The reality of that, and we call that doctrine, the doctrine of illumination. And so in, in the sense of parables in Christ's ministry, and this is, this is if you, you know, like what do I always say is just read a little bit more, um, the portion Jesse read it leads way into this prophecy or in this comment, Christ. [00:34:10] Tony Arsenal: Saying he teaches in parable in order to fulfill this prophecy of Isaiah. Basically that like those who are, uh, ate and are apart from God and are resistant to God, these parables there are there in order to confirm that they are. And then it says in verse 16, and this is, this is. [00:34:27] The Blessing of Spiritual Understanding [00:34:27] Tony Arsenal: It always seems like the series that we do ends up with like a theme verse, and this is probably the one verse 16 here, Matthew 1316 says, but blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. [00:34:40] Tony Arsenal: And so like there's a blessing. In our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and re receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation. That is the doctrine of of election. It's also the doctrine of regeneration, the doctrine of sanctification, the doctrine. [00:35:03] Tony Arsenal: I mean, there's all of these different classic reformed doctrines that the parables really are these mic this microcosm of that. Almost like applied in the Ministry of Christ. Right. Which I, I, you know, I've, I've never really thought of it in depth in that way before, but it's absolutely true and it's super exciting to be able to sort of embark on this, uh, on this series journey with, with this group. [00:35:28] Tony Arsenal: I think it's gonna be so good to just dig into these and really, really hear the gospel preached to ourselves through these parables. That's what I'm looking forward to. [00:35:38] Jesse Schwamb: And we're used to being very. Close with the idea that like the message contains the doctrine, the message contains the power. Here we're saying, I think it's both. [00:35:47] Jesse Schwamb: And the mode of that message also contains, the doctrine also contains the power. And I like where you're going with this because I think what we should be reminding ourselves. Is what a blessing it is to have this kind of information conferred to us. [00:36:01] The Role of Parables in Revealing and Concealing Truth [00:36:01] Jesse Schwamb: That again, God has taken, what is the secrets that is his to disclose and his to keep and his to hold, and he's made it available to his children. [00:36:08] Jesse Schwamb: And part of that is for, as you said, like the strengthening of our own faith. It's also for condemnation. So notice that. The hiding of the kingdom through parables is not a consequence of the teaching itself. Again, this goes back to like the mode being as equally important here as the message itself that Christ's teaching is not too difficult to comprehend as an intellectual matter. [00:36:27] Jesse Schwamb: The thing is, like even today, many unbelievers read the gospels and they technically understand what Jesus means in his teaching, especially these parables. The problem is. I would say like moral hardness. It's that lack of spiritual predilection or predisposition. They know what Jesus teaches, but they do not believe. [00:36:47] Jesse Schwamb: And so the challenge before us is as all scripture reading, that we would go before the Holy Spirit and say, holy Spirit, help me to believe. Help me to understand what to believe. And it so doing, do the work of God, which is to believe in him and to believe in His son Jesus Christ and what he's accomplished. [00:37:02] Jesse Schwamb: So the parables are not like creating. Fresh unbelief and sinners instead, like they're confirming the opposition that's already present and apart from Grace, unregenerate perversely use our Lord's teaching to increase their resistance. That's how it's set up. That's how it works. That's why to be on the inside, as it were, not again, because like we've done the right handshake or met all the right standards, but because of the blood of Christ means that the disciples, the first disciples and all the disciples who will follow after them on the other hand. [00:37:33] The Complexity and Nuances of Parables [00:37:33] Jesse Schwamb: We've been granted these eyes to see, and ears to hear Jesus. And then we've been given the secrets of the kingdom. I mean, that's literally what we've been given. And God's mercy has been extended to the disciples who like many in the crowds, once ignorantly and stubbornly rejected God and us just like them as well in both accounts. [00:37:49] Jesse Schwamb: So this is, I think we need to settle on that. You're right, throughout this series, what a blessing. It's not meant to be a great labor or an effort for the child of God. Instead, it's meant to be a way of exploring these fe. Fantastic truths of who God is and what he's done in such a way that draw us in. [00:38:07] Jesse Schwamb: So that whether we're analyzing again, like the the lost coin or the lost sheep, or. Any number of these amazing parables, you'll notice that they draw us in because they don't give us answers in the explicit sense that we're used to. Like didactically instead. Yeah. They cause us to consider, as you've already said, Tony, like what does it mean to be lost? [00:38:26] Jesse Schwamb: What does it mean that the father comes running for this prodigal son? What does it mean that the older brother has a beef with the whole situation? What does it mean when Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed? How much do we know about mustard seeds? And why would he say that? Again, this is a kind of interesting teaching, but that illumination in the midst of it being, I don't wanna say ambiguous, but open-ended to a degree means that the Holy Spirit must come in and give us that kind of grand knowledge. [00:38:55] Jesse Schwamb: But more than that, believe upon what Jesus is saying. I think that's the critical thing, is somebody will say, well, aren't the teaching simple and therefore easy to understand. In a sense, yes. Like factually yes, but in a much greater sense. Absolutely not. And that's why I think it's so beautiful that he quotes Isaiah there because in that original context, you the, you know, you have God delivering a message through Isaiah. [00:39:17] Jesse Schwamb: Uh. The people are very clear. Like, we just don't believe you're a prophet of God. And like what you're saying is ridiculous, right? And we just don't wanna hear you. This is very different than that. This is, Jesus is giving this message essentially to all who will listen to him, not necessarily hear, but all, all who are hear Him, I guess rather, but not necessarily all who are listening with those spiritual ears. [00:39:33] Jesse Schwamb: And so this is like, I love the way that he, he uses that quote in a slightly different way, but still to express the same root cause, which is some of you here. Because of your depravity will not be able to hear what I'm saying. But for those to whom it has been granted to come in who are ushered into the kingdom, this kingdom language will make sense. [00:39:54] Jesse Schwamb: It's like, I'm going to be speaking to you in code and half of you have the key for all the code because the Holy Spirit is your cipher and half of you don't. And you're gonna, you're gonna listen to the same thing, but you will hear very different things. [00:40:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, the other thing I think is, is interesting to ponder on this, um. [00:40:12] The Importance of Context in Interpreting Parables [00:40:12] Tony Arsenal: God always accommodates his revelation to his people. And the parables are, are, are like the. Accommodated accommodation. Yeah. Like God accommodates himself to those he chooses to reveal himself to. And in some ways this is, this is, um, the human ministry of Christ is him accommodating himself to those. [00:40:38] Tony Arsenal: What I mean is in the human ministry of the Son, the parables are a way of the son accommodating himself to those he chooses to reveal himself to. So there, there are instances. Where the parable is said, and it is, uh, it's seems to be more or less understood by everybody. Nobody asks the question about like, what does this mean? [00:40:57] Tony Arsenal: Right? And then there are instances where the parable is said, and even the apostles are, or the disciples are like, what does this parable mean? And then there's some interesting ones where like. Christ's enemies understand the parable and, and can understand that the parable is told against them. About them. [00:41:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So there, there's all these different nuances to why Christ used these parables, how simple they were, how complicated they were. Yes. And again, I think that underscores what I said at the top of the show here. It's like you can't treat every parable exactly the same. And that's where you run into trouble. [00:41:28] Tony Arsenal: Like if you're, if you're coming at them, like they're all just simple allegory. Again, like some of them have allegorical elements. I think it's fair to look at the, the prodigal son or the, the prodigal father, however you want to title that. And remember, the titles are not, generally, the titles are not, um, baked into the text itself. [00:41:46] Tony Arsenal: I think it's fair to come to that and look at and go, okay, well, who's the father in this? Who's the son? You know, what does it mean that the older son is this? Is, is there relevance to the fact that there's a party and that the, you know, the older, older, uh, son is not a part of it? There's, there's some legitimacy to that. [00:42:02] Tony Arsenal: And when we look at Christ's own explanation of some of his parables, he uses those kinds, right? The, the good seed is this, the, the seed that fell on the, the side of the road is this, right? The seed that got choked out by the, the, um, thorns is this, but then there are others where it doesn't make sense to pull it apart, element by element. [00:42:21] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm. Um, and, and the other thing is there are some things that we're gonna look at that are, um. We're gonna treat as parables that the text doesn't call a parable. And then there are some that you might even look at that sometimes the text calls a parable that we might not even think of as a normal parable, right? [00:42:38] Tony Arsenal: So there's lots of elements. This is gonna be really fun to just dig stuff in and, and sort of pick it, like pull it apart and look at its component parts and constituent parts. Um, so I really do mean it if you, if you're the kind of person who has never picked up a Bible commentary. This would be a good time to, to start because these can get difficult. [00:42:59] Tony Arsenal: They can get complicated. You want to have a trusted guide, and Jesse and I are gonna do our, our work and our research on this. Um, but you want someone who's more of a trusted guide than us. This is gonna be the one time that I might actually say Calvin's commentaries are not the most helpful. And the reason for that is not because Calvin's not clear on this stuff. [00:43:17] Tony Arsenal: Calvin Calvin's commentaries on the gospel is, is a harmony of the gospels, right? So sometimes it's tricky when you're reading it to try to find like a specific, uh, passage in Matthew because you're, you, everything's interwoven. So something like Matthew Henry, um, or something like, um, Matthew Poole. Uh, might be helpful if you're willing to spend a little bit of money. [00:43:38] Tony Arsenal: The ESV expository commentary that I've referenced before is a good option. Um, but try to find something that's approachable and usable that is reasonable for you to work through the commentary alongside of us, because you are gonna want to spend time reading these on your own, and you're gonna want to, like I said, you're gonna want to have a trust guide with you. [00:43:55] Tony Arsenal: Even just a good study bible, something like. The Reformation Study Bible or something along those lines would help you work your way through these parables, and I think it's valuable to do that. [00:44:06] Jesse Schwamb: Something you just said sparked this idea in me that the power, or one of the powers maybe of good fiction is that it grabs your attention. [00:44:15] The Impact of Parables on Listeners [00:44:15] Jesse Schwamb: It like brings you into the plot maybe even more than just what I said before about it being resonant, that it actually pulls you into the storyline and it makes you think that it's about other people until it's too late. Yeah. And Jesus has a way of doing this that really only maybe the parable can allow. [00:44:30] Jesse Schwamb: So like in other words, by the time you realize. A parable is like metaphorical, or even in a limited case, it's allegorical form you've already identified with one or more of the characters and you're caught in the trap. So what comes to my mind there is like the one Old Testament narrative, virtually identical, informed to those Jesus told is Nathan's parable of the You lamb. [00:44:52] Jesse Schwamb: So that's in like second Samuel 12, and I was just looking this up as you were, as you were speaking. So in this potentially life and death move for the prophet Nathan confronts King David. Over his adultery with, or depending on how you see it, rape of Bathsheba, and then his subsequent murder of her husband Uriah, by sending him to the front lines of battle. [00:45:10] Jesse Schwamb: So he's killed. And so in this parable that Nathan tells Uriah is like the poor man. Bathsheba is like the Yu a and the rich man obviously represents David. If you, you know what I'm talking about, go back and look at second Samuel 12. And so what's interesting is once David is hooked into that story, he cannot deny that his behavior was unjust as that of the rich man in the story who takes this UAM for himself and he, which he openly. [00:45:38] Jesse Schwamb: Then David openly condemns of course, like the amazing climax of this. And as the reader who has. Of course, like omniscient knowledge in the story, you know, the plot of things, right? You're, you're already crying out, like you're throwing something, you know, across the room saying like, how can you not see this about you? [00:45:53] Jesse Schwamb: And of course the climax comes in when Nathan points the finger at David and declares, you are the man. And that's kind of what. The parables due to us. Yes. They're not always like the same in accusatory toward us, but they do call us out. This is where, again, when we talk about like the scripture reading us, the parable is particularly good at that because sometimes we tend to identify, you know, again, with like one of the particular characters whom we probably shouldn't identify with, or like you said, the parable, the sower. [00:46:22] Jesse Schwamb: Isn't the Christian always quick to be like, I am the virtual grounds? Yeah. You still have to ask like, you know, there is not like a Paul washer way of doing this, but there is like a way of saying like, checking yourself before you wreck yourself there. And so when Jesus's parables have lost some of that shock value in today's world, we maybe need to contemporize them a little bit. [00:46:43] Jesse Schwamb: I, and I think we'll talk about that as we go through it. We're not rewriting them for any reason that that would be completely inappropriate. Think about this though. Like the Jew robbed and left for dead. And you know the story of the Grace Samaritan may need to become like the white evangelical man who is helped by like the black Muslim woman after the senior pastor and the worship leader from the local reformed church passed by like that. [00:47:05] Jesse Schwamb: That might be the frame, which we should put it to try to understand it whenever we face a hostile audience that this indirect rhetoric of compelling stories may help at least some people hear God's world more favorably, and I think that's why you get both like a soft. And a sharp edge with these stories. [00:47:20] Jesse Schwamb: But it's the ability to, to kind of come in on the sneak attack. It's to make you feel welcomed in and to identify with somebody. And then sometimes to find that you're identifying entirely with a character whom Jesus is gonna say, listen, don't be this way, or This is what the kingdom of God is, is not like this. [00:47:35] Jesse Schwamb: Or again, to give you shock value, not for the sake of telling like a good tale that somehow has a twist where it's like everybody was actually. All Dead at the end. Another movie, by the way, I have not seen, but I just know that that's like, I'll never see that movie because, can we say it that the spoiler is, is out on that, right? [00:47:54] Tony Arsenal: Are we, what are we talking about? What movie are we talking about? [00:47:56] Jesse Schwamb: Well, I don't, I don't wanna say it. I didn't [00:47:57] Tony Arsenal: even get it from your description. Oh. [00:47:59] Jesse Schwamb: Like that, that movie where like, he was dead the whole time. [00:48:02] Tony Arsenal: Oh, this, that, that, that movie came out like 30 years ago, Jesse. Oh, seriously? [00:48:06] Jesse Schwamb: Okay. All right. [00:48:06] Tony Arsenal: So Six Sense. [00:48:07] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. That movie came out a long time ago. [00:48:10] Jesse Schwamb: So it's not like the parables are the sixth sense, and it's like, let me get you like a really cool twist. Right. Or like hook at the end. I, and I think in part it is to disarm you and to draw you in in such a way that we might honestly consider what's happening there. [00:48:22] Jesse Schwamb: And that's how it reads us. [00:48:24] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I, I think that's a good point. And, and. It bears saying there are all sorts of parables all throughout the Bible. It's not just Jesus that teaches these, and they do have this similar effect that they, they draw you in. Um, oftentimes you identify it preliminarily, you identify with the wrong person, and it's not until you. [00:48:45] Tony Arsenal: Or you don't identify with anyone when you should. Right. Right. And it's not until the sort of punchline or I think that account with Nathan is so spot on because it's the same kind of thing. David did not have ears to hear. [00:48:58] Jesse Schwamb: Right. Until he had That's good point. Ears [00:49:00] Tony Arsenal: to hear. [00:49:00] Jesse Schwamb: Good point. [00:49:01] Tony Arsenal: And he heard the point of the parable. [00:49:03] Tony Arsenal: He understood the point of the parable and he didn't understand that the parable was about him, right? It's like the ultimate, I don't know why you're clapping David, I'm talking about you moment. Um, I'm just have this picture of Paul washer in like a biblical era robe. Um, so I think that's a enough progam to the series. [00:49:20] Preparing for the Series on Parables [00:49:20] Tony Arsenal: We're super excited we're, we'll cover some of these principles again, because again, different parables have to be interpreted different ways, and some of these principles apply to one and don't to others, and so we'll, we'll tease that out when we get there next week. We're gonna just jump right in. [00:49:34] Tony Arsenal: We're gonna get started with, I think, um, I actually think, you know, in the, the providence of, of the Holy Spirit and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and then obviously the providence of God in Christ's ministry, the, the parable that kind of like frames all of the other parables,
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In this invigorating practice centered on actualizing your dreams and mastering the law of attraction, immerse yourself into the sublime threshold of twilight—those serene moments before succumbing to the embrace of sleep. During this peaceful interval, effortlessly craft your desires, envision your goals, and foster a deep-rooted sense of self-belief and tenacity. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to this heartwarming journey focusing on cultivating a charitable and generous spirit within you during those serene moments before drifting into sleep. In this tranquil interval, you effortlessly sow seeds of compassion and generosity, fostering a deep connection with the innate kindness present within you. The twilight stage serves as a harmonious connector between your conscious awareness and innate goodness, paving the way for an open dialogue with your altruistic subconscious. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if luck, abundance, and love were already flowing toward you, waiting only for your belief to open the door? This overnight hypnosis guides your subconscious to align with prosperity, success, and the magnetic energy of attraction while you sleep.©Andrew Green Hypnosis
durée : 00:01:55 - Le vrai ou faux - Iryna Zarutska, une réfugiée ukrainienne de 23 ans, a été tuée aux États-Unis à la fin du mois d'août. La diffusion des images de vidéosurveillance sur internet et le profil du suspect, un SDF afro-américain avec des troubles mentaux, suscitent l'émotion et l'incompréhension. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
Today's Morning Affirmation is: I choose my words carefully.Visit sponsors www.rellalifestyle.com and www.pineholm.ca to help support these daily morning affirmations. You can also subscribe to ad-free affirmations for $0.99/month on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailymorningaffirmation/subscribe
what if your dreams aren't random at all, but oracles guiding your life? this episode is a mystical sit-down with Stella Porta where we explore: dreams as personal oracles, the wisdom and alchemy of bees and other animal symbolism, and the ways our subconscious reveals truths about relationships, trauma, and the soul's path. whether you've been tracking your dreams for years or are just beginning to pay attention to their whispers, Stella's perspective might open a portal into deeper listening, healing, and remembrance. ✨ if you enjoy this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! it helps (more than i can say) to bring more of these conversations to life ✨ i'm letting this episode speak for itself! no introduction, just a sit down with Stella Porta: a dream educator, visual alchemist, and the creator of Honeywomb. Her work serves as a living archive of feminine gnosis. Through dreamwork, myth, and storytelling, she helps women reclaim the symbols that once shaped culture —from the bee to the serpent to the wolf. Her teachings are rooted in the body's wisdom and the ancestral memory that awakens the lineages of the Great Mother. Stella has supported hundreds of women through immersive courses and teaches dreamwork as an embodied tool for weaving realities. She also mentors spiritual entrepreneurs through soulful brand strategy, helping them bring their visions to life in ways that are both magnetic and meaningful. At the core of her work is this truth: our nighttime dreams are oracles. They are living maps that can guide us toward the life our soul longs to create.
This message was inspired by the passing of Charlie Kirk. I don't believe he was truly a racist in real life — I met him, spent time with him, and saw another side. But his last posts online give the opposite impression. That reality made me reflect:
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Welcome to this insightful session focused on smart investing and building wealth, as you enter the strategic planning phase, those crucial moments before making sound investment decisions. During this opportune time, you'll seamlessly set your financial goals, visualize, and manifest a profound sense of financial security and acumen. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this invigorating practice centered on actualizing your dreams and mastering the law of attraction, immerse yourself into the sublime threshold of twilight—those serene moments before succumbing to the embrace of sleep. During this peaceful interval, effortlessly craft your desires, envision your goals, and foster a deep-rooted sense of self-belief and tenacity. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's Morning Affirmation is: My self-care time is sacred.Visit sponsors www.rellalifestyle.com and www.pineholm.ca to help support these daily morning affirmations. You can also subscribe to ad-free affirmations for $0.99/month on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailymorningaffirmation/subscribe
Links & resources:To follow more info about the podcast@levelup.debbienealCheck out my personal instagram account@debbie_neal
Toward the end of this week's episode, Jesse Lonergan says, “With Drome, it feels like I've done...something.” Since he arrived on the scene, the cartoonist has bashed upon the medium, seeing if he'd be the one to break comics. The art form didn't shatter; it became stronger under Lonergan's pressure. Books like Hedra, Faster, Planet Paradise, and Man's Best electrified readers, showcasing what could only be done in comics. Now, in Drome, Jesse Lonergan whales harder upon the medium than he ever has before, and the result is a smashing celebration of comics and creation. Jesse Lonergan has done...something. He is not the artist who started Drome. We are not the readers we were before the first page. A quick flip through Drome and you'll witness a civilization with champions of order raging against champions of chaos. The visuals recall Jack Kirby and Robert E. Howard. Gods watch their toys in their sandbox. Violence everywhere because life is a violent act. It's the best-looking, sword-and-sandal fantasy adventure you can find at your local comic shop. To begin and end your conversation about Drome with its plot is a catastrophic mistake. With Jesse Lonergan, process is the theme. The color story matters. Form is the point. So, let's get real damn nerdy about it. On this week's episode, we excitedly welcome back Jesse Lonergan and, together, tear our way through one of the year's best comic books. We discuss the first images that eventually became Drome. We talk about the CMYK color model. We embarrassingly reveal the names we gave his characters, and celebrate those other artists, such as Geoff Darrow and Matt Lesniewski, who seem to give everything they have to comics. Drome is now available from 23rd St Books. Make sure you follow Jesse Lonergan on Blue Sky, Instagram, Patreon, and his Website. This Week's Sponsors Looking for sci-fi comics that go further than you've ever been before? Then you need 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Whether you're a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 -- a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it'll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! For thirty years, Street Sharks has remained a fan-favorite franchise, but the fearless Bolton Brothers have been cruelly absent from comic book shops. Until now. This September, IDW Publishing launches a brand new five-issue Street Sharks mini-series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The new series celebrates the JAW-SOME characters you already love while exploring new depths to their souls and universe. So, get ready to return to the chaotic streets of Fission City as Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu fight to protect their home against twisted experiments gone wrong, including muscle-bound mutant lobsters, ruthless squids, and deranged scientists. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Stop waiting to feel fully confident, ready, comfortable...dive in and start TAKING ACTION!.Book our Thailand Wellness Retreat Here!! // https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/thailand/thailand-with-olivia-catania-nov-2025.Timestamps:0:30 Don't expect to see yellow cars if you're looking for blue ones!3:05 Gratitude5:15 Last two weeks to book our wellness retreat!7:35 "Ready Isn't a Feeling, It's a Decision."8:56 Discipline vs Motivation11:39 Real Life Examples14:31 Your Life is Made of Your Decisions15:24 Where are you waiting to feel ready?16:48 Confidence Builds By Doing17:51 Life is Meant to Be LIVED19:42 Affirmation.Affirmation: "Every decision I make is proof that I am ready for the life I desire.".WATCH ON YOUTUBE // https://www.youtube.com/@livfiitlistens/videos.Shop my favorite books here // https://www.amazon.com/shop/livfiit?listId=20MNY4GGY77KN*This is my affiliated Amazon Storefront. I do receive a small commission when you shop through this link.*.Youtube (@LIVFIIT) // https://www.youtube.com/c/Livfiit/videosInstagram (@LIVFIIT) // https://www.instagram.com/livfiit/?hlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Welcome to this insightful session focused on smart investing and building wealth, as you enter the strategic planning phase, those crucial moments before making sound investment decisions. During this opportune time, you'll seamlessly set your financial goals, visualize, and manifest a profound sense of financial security and acumen. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New Prayer Book Now Available: Every Day Prayers For Protection Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMKD8XT4Every Day Prayers For Protection Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJSX7ZJ✨ Get your copy of the Autumn Reset here: https://dearfathergod.com/b/CgmHFWebsite: https://iamyarose.com/Buy Me a Coffee/Tea
What if your mind could help your body stay young, radiant, and strong? This overnight hypnosis guides your subconscious to activate the placebo effect — awakening your natural ability to heal, restore, and glow with vitality while you sleep.
Text Us, We Love Hearing From You:)Welcome back to How To Be Fit Over 40: Midlife Conversations with Hicunni.Over the last couple of weeks, we've talked about dreaming big and even shared affirmations to keep those dreams alive. But here's the thing: just saying affirmations doesn't change your life. You repeat those affirmations, but the words don't always feel real. In this episode, we're going to solve that problem by making your dreams believable. I'll show you how to move beyond empty affirmations and use your five senses to create a vision you can actually feel, so you can start living as the person you want to be, right now. Grab your smoothie or cup of tea and join the conversation. Let's go!P.S, Make sure you listen until the end, there's a 5 Senses Visualization included.Scarcity loops don't break by accident. They shift when you practice seeing, feeling, and believing in the abundance you're creating. Start today. Bye for now.If today's conversation spoke to you, my Body Love 365-Day Meditation Journal is the perfect next step. It provides space for daily reflection, helps you release self-doubt, and fosters the habit of believing in the life you're creating. You can grab your copy at https://howtobefitover40.com/pages/resourcesSupport the showHow to Live In Time: 33 Lessons Learned is available now on Amazon.com This book is more than just a project — it's a reflection of 45 years of life, growth, and learning to live on purpose. If the podcast has ever helped you feel more aligned, more grounded, or more encouraged, then this book was written for you.
Today's Morning Affirmation is: My future is filled with exciting adventures.Visit sponsors www.rellalifestyle.com and www.pineholm.ca to help support these daily morning affirmations. You can also subscribe to ad-free affirmations for $0.99/month on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailymorningaffirmation/subscribe
Can your mindset truly influence your health? In Yvonne´s personal experience the answer is Yes. Today, she explores the powerful connection between manifestation, visualization, and healing. Yvonne reveals how affirmations, gratitude, and visualization techniques supported her recovery from several health problems. Yvonne shares practical ways to harness the power of your thoughts and emotions and cultivate a positive mindset even when you are facing health challenges and help your loved ones to do the same. KEY TAKEAWAYS The existence of the mind-body connection is supported by neuroscience and research. Your mindset can play a significant role in your health and the healing process. Imagining positive outcomes and hearing encouraging words can support recovery from illness. When a doctor told her that a hole in her vein would not heal, Yvonne used a 7-step technique that included visualising. It worked, the hole healed itself, it disappeared. Visualisation is key. Use manifestation and visualisation to support your body and the doctor´s efforts to heal you. Dwelling on potential bad outcomes has the opposite effect. It pulls you down both mentally and physically. Even in the face of rare or difficult health events, maintaining a positive outlook and belief in healing is helpful. Preparing yourself mentally before medical procedures helps you to feel less anxious and can improve your overall experience of the treatment process. It is natural to worry that things are not going to work out for you, especially when you are ill. But you need to turn that on its head and imagine what things will be like when everything actually does work out. Both outcomes are possible, but only focusing on the positive one has been proven to support recovery. BEST MOMENTS "I don't have all the answers, but what I know for sure is this: if you are struggling with an illness... manifestation and following the seven steps will help you." "If you believe that you can manifest in the positive, I also do believe that you can manifest in the negative." "What you think actually impacts your physiology, it's impacting the cells in your body, right? There are studies on this." "The best thing is to prepare your mindset. And I know it's not easy." ·do your best visualise, see yourself coming out, hear the words of the doctor, keep those images imprinted in your mind.” "Here are three gratefuls for health… Everything always works out for me. My body is smart, it can heal. My body knows what to do." EPISODE RESOURCES Dr Joe Dispenza - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Joe-Dispenza/author/B001IGX24Q Eckhart Tolle - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Eckhart-Tolle/author/B001H6GZ5K VALUABLE RESOURCES website: pausepenny.com Instagram: @yvonnetchrakian_manifest @pause.penny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-tchrakian-64257619/ HOST BIO Yvonne started her career as a corporate lawyer for one of Ireland's top law firms. After the loss of a baby during pregnancy, Yvonne founded Pause. Penny - which was created to inspire people to manifest their dream lives. She is also a mom of four. Yvonne is a serial manifester, manifesting everything from her dream jobs (yes, multiple), her soulmate, dream house and even her twins! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
Embrace Self-Worth: 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Self-Acceptance & CalmDiscover the power of self-acceptance with this 10-minute guided meditation from Calming Anxiety. Host Martin Hewlett guides you to embrace your self-worth, release self-doubt, and cultivate inner peace through soothing breathwork and empowering affirmations. Perfect for stress relief, mental wellness, or daily self-care, this episode helps you find calm by seeking your own approval. Whether you're new to meditation or seeking emotional balance, this session supports your journey to self-love. Subscribe now for more guided meditations and anxiety relief content!Key Takeaways:Foster self-worth with mindfulness and breathwork techniques.Release self-doubt and stress with guided affirmations.Ideal for morning confidence, mid-day calm, or evening relaxation.Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBuy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Pain & Anxiety Course: Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew's course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-painBreathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Android: Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBConnect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukYouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/Backing Music: Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3
What happens when labor begins with a jolt and never lets up? Katie and Chris McGrath return to the podcast to share the electrifying home birth story of their daughter, Molly. If you caught their first episode you'll remember their playful vibe and thoughtful prep. This time, we dive into what actually went down (spoiler: it's real, raw, fast, and filled with heart). From Jurassic Park inspired affirmations to a quiet, candle-lit bathroom birth (complete with their dog at their side), this episode is about trust, presence, and leaning all the way in. Chris opens up about his role as a first-time birth partner, while Katie shares how she navigated a no-warning, full-throttle labor that left no time for games or playlists. Tune in for a story that's both cinematic and soul-stirring, with just enough geekery to make it classic DIAH. In this episode you'll hear about: Fast, intense home birth stories Natural labor without early labor signs How to create and use birth affirmations The emotional power of partner support Pets at birth: what happened with their dog Giving birth in the bathroom (and loving it) Using humor and fandom (hello, Jurassic Park) for labor strength A first-time dad's honest take on the birth experience Creating sacred space with low lighting, affirmations, and presence How their home birth experience transformed their postpartum journey Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://needed.sjv.io/XY3903 - use code DIAH to get 20% off your first-time, one-time order More From Doing It At Home: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/doingitathome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello, Are affirmations and prayer the same thing—or can they work together to support your mindset and spiritual growth? In this episode, I'm answering a question I hear often from members: "Can I use affirmations if I already pray?" In this episode, you'll learn: The key difference between affirmations and prayer—and how they complement each other Four practical steps to integrate affirmations into your spiritual routine A mini guided practice to help you start blending prayer and affirmation today Looking for an affirmation to support your prayer practice? I'm sharing a powerful one this week exclusively with my email community. Join here: https://choosehappywithmarie.com/ More Links & Resources:
Christina sits down with guest Laura Benson to unpack what really happens when you sell a business, beyond the balance sheet. Together, they dive into the emotional highs and lows of letting go, the hidden challenges owners face, and what it takes to navigate such a life-changing transition with clarity and purpose.Laura shares how redefining success means looking past financial gain and finding fulfillment, connection, and legacy in the next chapter. From the toll business ownership takes, to the power of community, to the surprising journey of self-discovery that follows, this conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and leaders at any stage.At its core, this episode is about more than money, it's about building a life of meaning, serving others, and leaving something that lasts.Follow Laura's journey on instagram
What are Daily Affirmations or Positive Affirmations? Mama D explains what they mean to her and how you may enjoy up to 3 per week by joining her Spreakers Supports Club.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/petals-of-support--5614807/support.Petals of Support is brought to you by Spreaker Prime Please take a moment to Rate and Review this episode. Subscribe and Share http://www.petalsofsupport.comPlease consider being a Supporter of this podcast for $5/month https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/petals-of-support--5614807/supportEmail me at: petals.s@aol.comPetals of Support is a member of the Unfiltered Studios Networkhttps://www.unfpod.com
In the latest episode, Rebecca dives into the profound impact of the subconscious mind on our dreams and aspirations. This episode is a call to action to take control of your mental blueprint and unlock your potential. Here are three key takeaways: • Subconscious Influence on Dreams: The subconscious mind often keeps us in familiar patterns, preferring safety over growth. By understanding its influence, you can begin to break free from these limitations and pursue your dreams with confidence. • Rewiring Through Hypnosis and Affirmations: Hypnosis is highlighted as a powerful tool to access and reprogram the subconscious mind. Alongside, using positive affirmations and visualizations can help align your energy and intentions with your desired outcomes. • Creating Empowering Habits: Shift your everyday patterns to send positive messages to your subconscious. By creating new habits, you can foster new beliefs and outcomes, paving the way for personal and professional growth. Ready to transform your mindset and embrace the abundance that awaits you? Discover how you can rewire your subconscious for success, and if you're eager to go deeper, set up a free consultation with me at callwithRebecca.com. Your journey to a more empowered self begins now!
Want to hear about a specific topic on the show? Text us and we will consider it :)Affirmations work by training your brain to accept new truths, requiring present tense, positive, and personal statements to be effective. We explore powerful mantras for success and abundance along with practical implementation strategies to transform your mindset.• The key to effective affirmations: present tense, positive, and personal• Writing affirmations by hand creates stronger brain imprinting than digital templates• Examples include "I am a successful business owner who attracts dream clients easily"• Abundance mantras like "Money comes to me easily and effortlessly"• Start with one affirmation before adding more to your practice• Keep a digital file of mantras for easy reference• Record yourself saying affirmations and listen daily during routine activities• Implementation strategy: write them down, record, and listen daily It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn fromSupport the showThanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life, the show where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a thriving cleaning business without burning out. Every episode is packed with tips, stories, and strategies you can put to work right away—because you deserve a business that works for you, not the other way around. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss a new release. And if you got value from this conversation, share it with another cleaning business owner who could use the encouragement and practical advice. Let's stay connected! You can find me online at:
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Welcome to this revitalizing meditation centered on fostering enhanced immunity and overall wellness as you delve into the twilight stage, those precious moments before drifting into sleep. In this serene interval, you'll effortlessly align your energies, formulate and embody a deep-seated sense of resilience and wellbeing. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do you ever feel like relationships slip out of your hands no matter how much you give? Why is it that the people you invest the most in often seem to value you the least? What if the key to lasting attraction isn't about working harder, but about understanding the hidden psychology of control, projection, and emotional bonding?In this session of Unlimited Lover - Rapid Attraction Secrets Part 2, Dr. David Snyder pulls back the curtain on the unconscious dynamics that shape dating and relationships. From why the person least invested in a relationship often has the most power, to how identity loss after a breakup can unravel every part of your life, Dr. Snyder explores the uncomfortable truths we don't like to admit—but desperately need to hear.He introduces strategies to:Profile yourself and your ideal partner to avoid wasted time and heartbreak.Create emotional appeal that goes deeper than physical attraction.Build "prizeability" and social value that naturally draws people in.This isn't just theory—it's a tactical framework for creating connection, trust, and deep emotional bonds that actually last.Quotes:"The harder we have to work for something, the more value we give it.""The person who is more able to walk away from a relationship has the most control over the relationship.""Every human being on the planet is moving through the world with a checklist that they use to determine what is the very best anything."Key Takeaways:Profile Yourself First – Write down your top five non-negotiables in a partner and your top five qualities you bring to a relationship. Ask yourself: Am I clear about what I want, or am I leaving it up to chance?Test for Alignment – In your next interaction, notice if the other person's words and behaviors match your standards. If not, practice walking away early instead of investing in the wrong fit.Practice the “Fun First” Rule – On your next date or social encounter, remove sex and intimacy from the agenda. Instead, focus on creating genuine fun and playfulness. Observe how it changes the connection.Episode Timeline0:00:26 – Relationship Dynamics & ControlDavid Snyder discusses the psychology of relationships, control, and the importance of maintaining boundaries and self-identity.0:05:00 – The Emotional Bonding Checklist & ProfilingExplanation of the emotional bonding checklist, profiling yourself and your ideal partner, and understanding projections in relationships.0:10:00 – Social Status, Storytelling, and AttractionThe role of social status, credibility, and storytelling in building attraction and relationships.0:15:00 – Validation, Affirmation, and Testing in RelationshipsHow validation, affirmation, and constant testing shape relationship dynamics and help determine compatibility.0:20:00 – The “Three Magic Questions Protocol”Introduction to the Three Magic Questions Protocol for rapidly generating emotional attraction and trust, including guidelines for asking open-ended questions.0:30:00 – The Echo Technique & Conversational SofteningExplanation of the echo technique, conversational softeners, and how to use them to build rapport and connection.0:40:00 – Product Offers: Unlimited Lover & Attraction MasteryOverview of the Unlimited Lover, Maximum Attraction Mastery program and its components, including self-mastery, soulmate secrets, and attraction mastery.0:50:00 – Advanced Lovemaking Skills & Secret Orgasm TipsDiscussion of advanced lovemaking skills, the Secret Orgasm Tips course, and the importance of sexuality in relationships.Links:To learn more about Dr. David Snyder and everything about NLP, visit:Website: https://www.nlppower.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidSnyderNLPInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidsnydernlp
Today's Morning Affirmation is: I inhale peace and exhale calmness.Visit sponsors www.rellalifestyle.com and www.pineholm.ca to help support these daily morning affirmations. You can also subscribe to ad-free affirmations for $0.99/month on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailymorningaffirmation/subscribe
September Reset!!! Embrace Your New Self for Fall 2025In this episode, I kick off a fresh season with a comprehensive guide to the ultimate September reset for Fall 2025. I share my personal experiences of feeling stagnant throughout the year and the transformative energy shift I felt as September began. I delve into crafting new daily routines, embodying higher-self affirmations, and reprogramming the mind to focus on future goals. I emphasize the importance of physical health, detailing my gut health detox and newfound running routine while advocating for lifestyle changes such as quitting alcohol. I also discuss the significance of revamping our external appearances to reflect internal growth and fostering relationships that uplift and align with this new identity. I encourage listeners to realign their thoughts, prioritize wellness, and let go of past negativity to step confidently into a transformed self for the remainder of the year.TIME GUIDE:00:00 Welcome to the September Reset01:02 Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Stagnation and Change02:07 The Ultimate September Fall Reset04:32 Visualization and Affirmations for a New You08:36 Rewriting Your Self-Concept13:01 Embodying a New Identity21:42 Health and Wellness: Gut Health and Detox33:26 Transforming Relationships and Letting Go36:38 Community Insights and Future Plans40:38 Conclusion: Embracing Freedom Fall
Thank you to our lovely sponsors : *SHOPIFY: Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://www.shopify.com/habitsofagoddess *DRIPDROP: DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code HABITS. *HEADSPACE: Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to https://www.Headspace.com/GODDESS *BETTERHELP: Get matched today with a licensed therapist when you visit https://www.betterhelp.com/habitsofagoddess. * Follow and connect with me here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminerasco and https://www.instagram.com/habitsofagoddess Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@habitsofagoddess/videos *Here's how to support the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitofagoddess *Book a Goddess Chat session with me: https://habitofagoddess.com/products/goddess-chat-calls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Welcome to this revitalizing meditation centered on fostering enhanced immunity and overall wellness as you delve into the twilight stage, those precious moments before drifting into sleep. In this serene interval, you'll effortlessly align your energies, formulate and embody a deep-seated sense of resilience and wellbeing. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to this rejuvenating meditation aimed at guiding you into a deep and healing slumber, as you connect with the twilight stage, those intimate moments leading you to restful sleep. During this serene interval, allow yourself to establish your intentions, visualize, and create a realm of restoration and profound healing. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Take a deep breath in… and as you exhale, feel your body begin to soften, letting go of any tension. Allow yourself to sink deeper into the comfort of your bed, knowing that this moment is for you—this moment is for peace. PAUSE… Start with your feet, feeling them grow heavier as they relax completely. Let the warmth of relaxation move up through your legs, releasing all tightness from the day. PAUSE… Now, feel the softness spread to your hips and lower back. Let your muscles release, your breath becoming slower and more gentle. Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,
In this episode, Brynn and I sit down together to experience something truly special: a rare recorded lecture from the legendary Louise Hay, captured in 1988 and titled Receiving Abundance. Louise Hay was a pioneering teacher in the world of self healing, affirmations, and spiritual empowerment. Through her work, including the bestselling classic You Can Heal Your Life, she inspired millions to recognize the deep connection between thought, emotion, and physical well being.This lecture, delivered at the height of her influence, is a powerful window into the wisdom she shared with the world. With her signature warmth and clarity, Louise breaks down some of her core concepts, self love, belief in abundance, and the art of opening ourselves to receive life's gifts. What makes this recording especially captivating is the audience Q&A that follows, where her responses reveal not just teaching, but real time guidance infused with compassion and truth.Listening now almost forty years later, the message feels just as alive, just as urgent, and just as transformative as it must have felt in that room. It is an invitation to shift your mindset, release limiting beliefs, and step into a fuller experience of abundance. Brynn and I were both deeply moved revisiting this talk, and we can't wait to share it with you. Drop in!www.hayhouse.comLouise Hay Bio:Louise Hay was one of the most influential voices in the modern self-help and metaphysical movement. Often called the Queen of Affirmations, she taught millions how the power of thought and self-love could transform lives. As the founder of Hay House Publishing, she created a platform that launched the careers of countless spiritual teachers and holistic health authors. Her groundbreaking book You Can Heal Your Life has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, introducing the idea that our thoughts and beliefs directly shape our physical and emotional well-being. Even after her passing in 2017, her legacy continues to inspire, offering timeless wisdom about healing, self-acceptance, and the creative power of the human spirit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.