Podcasts about afflictions

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“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 St. Isaac places hope after the first labor of virtue for a reason. A man must first discover that his virtues cannot save him. He fasts. He keeps vigil. He disciplines the body. He restrains the passions. He learns obedience to the commandments. Yet even after these labors something remains uncertain within him. The heart still trembles before the future. The mind still calculates. The soul still tries to secure itself. Virtue alone does not destroy fear. Because fear is rooted in the illusion that life depends upon us. So Isaac begins to speak about hope. Not optimism. Not religious comfort. Not the quiet belief that God will make things easier. Divine hope is something far more terrible. Divine hope appears when a man finally believes the words of Christ. “Make no provision for the flesh.” The man who hopes in God no longer arranges his life around survival. He arranges it around God. This is why Isaac describes the man who ceases to give thought to worldly provision. Such a man has not become careless. He has become free. He has discovered something the world does not understand. God is not an idea that accompanies life. God is life. The world trains us to think first about preservation. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Security. Reputation. Position. The future. Even religious men often organize their spiritual life around these concerns. They seek God but only after they have secured themselves. Christ reverses this order. Seek first the Kingdom. Not second. Not after your plans are settled. Not after the future is secured. First. When this commandment is believed, everything changes. Afflictions no longer appear as threats. Loss no longer appears as catastrophe. Uncertainty no longer produces panic. The man who hopes in God has already placed his life in God's hands. Nothing remains to defend. This is why the saints could live with such strange freedom. They possessed little. They planned little. They secured little. Yet they lacked nothing. The world itself began to serve them. Not because they controlled the world but because they had already abandoned it. Divine hope therefore exposes the false hope that governs most lives. False hope says God will protect the life I am building. True hope says God Himself is my life. False hope clings to stability. True hope walks where Christ walks. Into uncertainty. Into poverty. Into the wilderness. Into the Cross. And yet the man who walks there does not despair. Because he has discovered something greater than safety. He has discovered the faithfulness of God. This is why Isaac places hope after the discipline of virtue. Virtue trains the body. Hope gives the heart to God. Without hope the ascetic life becomes anxiety dressed in religious clothing. With hope the man becomes light. He lives before God without calculation. He labors. He prays. He stands watch over the heart. And he entrusts everything else to the mercy of God. Such a man has begun to believe the Gospel. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:38:12 Janine: Happy are you poor 00:40:55 Jessica McHale: I feel as though the money, savings, job, housing I have is all a gift from God. My life has been a little complicated and I see these material things as passing--I don't have hope in them at all--but I feel blessed at what's He's given me. My job allows me to say the Hours and attend Divine Liturgy or Mass daily. If I lose all material things, it's no loss. God will provide. Living simply, even though I have security in "savings etc" makes me really see how unimportant material things are. I don't need most things the average person needs. I have a long way to holiness though, :). But this helps me to try to focus on God throughout the day and become more "ascetic" in the modern world. Praise God. 00:45:46 Nypaver Clan: Page # ? 00:45:50 Anthony: There are people Our Lord did not call to follow Him in the evangelical counsels.  The Gadarene demonic.  The man blind from birth. Even Nicodemus. Maybe I'm trying to justify myself, but I wonder if the evangelical counsels are for some people but not others 00:45:59 Andrew Adams: Replying to "Page # ?" 182 00:46:02 Eleana Urrego: 182 00:46:09 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "182" with

Sometimes – we're just living life the best way we know how, honouring God and Whammo, something so unfair hits us – right out of the blue.  You've been there too, right?   His Way, Not Ours There are times in life when bad things happen to good people. And perhaps you are someone who believes in Jesus and you have been living your life just the best way that you know how; just day after day walking with Him and all of a sudden "Whamo"; something happens. The sky turns dark and all of a sudden you are in one of those dark, black times that we can go through in life. A time of loss or pain or sickness or whatever it is and you kind of look around and think, "What is going on here, God? I mean I know I'm not perfect but every day I just get up and just do my best and I walk with You and now this!" My hunch is that there are a few people who kind of relate to that today. And so I want to deal with that because when bad things happen to good people, it's such a shock – it seems so unfair, especially when we take a look around and we see there is a whole bunch of "good" things happening to some really 'bad' people out there. "What is going on, God?" Well, over these last few weeks on the programme we have been just working our way through Psalm 34 in a series that I've called, "Dark Night, Bright Light". Psalm 34 is a Psalm written by King David and King David was a man who went through more dark times in his life than you or I would ever hope for. And yes, he makes some mistakes but right from the beginning God had him picked as a man after His own heart. And yet David lived through so many dark and difficult times; scary times; on the run for his life from King Saul who wanted to kill him, for years; battles with enemies and it looked like he would lose and yet, God would show up. When you take a look at his life and you weigh David's life on our human scale of justice, well, you come to the conclusion David was definitely one of the good guys. He tried with all his might to honour God and even though some days, he blew it, he was probably the greatest King that Israel ever had. And I'm sure that as David would take a look at his life, he'd probably come to the same conclusion. And yet this man went through so many difficult things – dark and lonely times – times when his people criticised him and times when he was in fear of his life. So God, what's going on? Why is that? How come bad things happen to good people? I'm not sure I can answer all of those things. I mean, God is God and He decides those things but as we continue to walk through Psalm 34, let me share with you David's own wisdom on this, because Psalm 34 is a Psalm where he looks back on all those bad times and he reflects with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Let's pick it up in Psalm 34, verse 15, he writes: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all. Well, David doesn't even bother with the "why" question here, does he? When we hit those dark times the first question we want to know is 'Why me, God? Why is this happening? Right? And the second question is: "How long is this going to go on, God – how long?" Well, David doesn't carry on with any of that. He seems in this Psalm to accept the sovereignty of God and after all that he has been through in his life, he draws this obvious conclusion – Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. In other words, stuff happens – it just does. Jesus put it this way: Your Father in heaven causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and He sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Good stuff and bad stuff happens to good people and bad people – there you go, that's just it. And it seems to be a rule that the more a man or a woman turns their lives to following hard after God, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the more afflictions they suffer. It's such an incredible contradiction because on the one hand, God wants to bless us – He does – all the way through His Word the Bible, He tells us that. But on the other, when we set our hearts like flint to follow Him, it seems like the rest of the world wants to stop us. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. "Many" – gee, there's one of the promises of God! I don't hear many people shouting, "Halleluiah, Amen" to that promise. But the Lord delivers us from them all. His eyes are on His people; His ear is attentive to their cry. We cry out, He hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. You know what I have learned? He doesn't always deliver us in the way that we expect Him to. Sometimes we want Him to do one thing and He does exactly the opposite. Sometimes we cry out to Him and things seem to get worse. Sometimes we want Him to do "A" and He turns around and does "B". And sometimes it seems like His solution; His answer means that we lose and someone else wins. But in the wondrous fabric of His mighty plan for our lives, He is so much more interested in our characters – who we are – and our relationship with Him than He is in our perceptions of what we think we need and our comfort. He is so much more concerned about His glory shining out into this world than He is about some of the things that at the time, well, we think they are important but in the bigger scheme of things, they really aren't. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans chapter 5: Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and this hope doesn't disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And the longer we walk with God the more afflictions we have to suffer, the more we discover the truth of King David's words: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all.   It's not Fair You know when I think when the darkness is the worst? I think when something happens to us that's not fair – someone treads on us or hurts us or stabs us in the back and it's not fair. And when that happens, instead of running to God, we are so tempted to behave badly – to stoop as low as the person that has hurt us. If they stabbed us in the back, well, we have to do the same only ten times worse. Many are the afflictions of the righteous and we will avenge them all, right? No, that's not what God tells us in Psalm 34: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, He says in verse 19, but the Lord delivers us from them all. But boy, oh boy, it is so tempting to carve the other guy's heart out isn't it? I want to take you to one of the most challenging verses in the Bible, for me – I mean, really challenging. It's talking about when things happen that are not fair and it's about a slave and his or her master. It was written a thousand or so years after King David penned Psalm 34, by the Apostle Peter. Come with me almost to the end of the New Testament – to the letter, First Peter – it's a letter to Christians who were being persecuted. They were going through incredibly dark times; it was incredibly unfair, and Peter writes this piece of wisdom. First Peter chapter 2, verse 18 and listen, if you have a Bible, open it up, come with me here to this verse – First Peter chapter 2, verse 18. This is what he writes: Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God but how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. This is what you are called to because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats, instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. He, Himself bore our sins in His body on that tree so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness: by His wounds you have been healed. For you, like sheep, have gone astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and the overseer of your souls. Do you find that challenging? I certainly do. See there's something in our makeup that when injustice happens to us; when we are on the receiving end, we want to rail against it and in the hurt and the pain and the anger – we want revenge, we want justice ... Peter is writing to slaves – I mean, slavery is something in the twenty first century, we just find disgusting and abhorrent and yet here in God's Word, Peter is writing to slaves - one human being, being owned by another human being, to labour without payment – human degradation at its worst. How can one person do that to another? And yet Peter says: "Submit to your masters who are harsh." Slave, submit to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh, for it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. See, travelling through pain, we want to end that pain in our own strength – it is a natural human instinct. It is so unnatural to honour God in that place. It is so unnatural to wait for Him to deliver us. It is so unnatural for us to do what is commendable in God's eyes but if you suffer for doing good and you endure it this is commendable before God. To this you are called because Christ suffered for you; leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps. It is unnatural to suffer for doing good but it is commendable before God and in that, Christ is our example. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth and yet when they hurled insults at Him, He didn't retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats instead He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. See – insults and He didn't retaliate! Imagine what the Son of God could have done to those people? When they hurled insults at Him, He bore them like nails in His flesh; when He suffered, He didn't make any threats; He didn't utter any words of revenge. And you might say, "Berni, how can you be preaching this stuff at me? How can you believe this stuff? This is so hurtful." Well, the answer and the solution come in the very next verse. Listen: Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. There it is again – a millennium after Psalm 34 was written, Peter is saying exactly the same thing that David said in Psalm 34, verse 19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. So many of the things that happen to us in life aren't fair but in that darkness God's light shines; a certain hope. Look at how Peter finishes off this letter: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore, under God's might hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.   God's Deliverance I just want to finish up today by encouraging you that God is in the deliverance business. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, Peter writes in First Peter chapter 5, beginning at verse 5: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. You know, for me as I have travelled through these incredibly dark times, every now and then, when I have been treated unfairly – what I have learned is that it is not about getting my outcome or my way – it's about humbling myself before God and that is so hard sometimes. It's about being like Christ and saying, "God, not my will but Your will be done." And God somehow always, always comes through and so do I, but as a changed man. A few more of the rough edges knocked off; a little of God's polishing here and there – definitely a work in progress but it changes you, little by little. When we are passed over; when we are being ignored; when someone who is half as good as us is promoted twice as quickly; when people whisper behind our backs, those are painful times. Yet they are precious times when we have a choice to make – to get our own back or to humble ourselves under His mighty hand; to retaliate and threaten or to wait patiently in pain for God to deliver us like He did with Jesus; to be like everyone else in this world or to be Christ like - to be about the devil's business or about God's business. We started off today looking at this wonderful part of Psalm 34, beginning at verse 15: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. You see, God's eyes are on the righteous; He does hear our cries. And God is a righteous God – we are going to look at that next week. God is against those who do evil and ultimately, there will be a price for those people to pay. One day they will stand before God and be judged. When we cry out God hears us and He delivers us from our troubles. When we are broken hearted; when it's so dark and it's so lonely and it's so scary, He is in that place. And even sometimes when we can't see it, He's out there protecting us; keeping us safe; doing things that we can't imagine. Take a look back a page or two at Psalm 31, beginning at verse 20. See, this is one of those times that David is talking about that is so unfair. This is what he writes: In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from the intrigues of men. In Your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Praise be to the Lord our God, for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight," yet You heard my cry for mercy when I called to You for help. Love the Lord all His saints. The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud He will pay back in full. Be strong and take heart all you that hope in the Lord. Isn't that wonderful? Isn't it sometimes when we are the subject of the intrigues of men and accusing tongues, it's God who keeps us safe in Him? And when we come through that and we see what's happened and we are changed, we can look back and say, "Praise be to God for He showed His wonderful love to me when I felt like I was in a besieged city." Have you ever felt that? In relationships it's like everyone turns against you and you feel like you are under siege. Praise be to the Lord for He showed His wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In alarm I said "I am cut off from Your sight" yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. So often in those dark places it just kind of feels like there is no one there. It feels like "I'm cut off" – we are afraid and we cry out "I'm cut off" but God is always in that place. Can I just say to you from now on, when you are suffering afflictions; when you are the subject of human plots or accusing tongues; when you are in that incredibly dark place; when you feel cut off like a city under siege; when it's black, I believe that the Holy Spirit is going to shine a light into that dark place. I remember back in my life when it hurt so much and it was so dark, I just quietly sat there in pain and somehow the Holy Spirit turned my heart to humble myself. See, I was so used to lashing out – I was so used to stooping as low as the other people who were inflicting the pain and yet the Holy Spirit did something. And I believe that as we receive His Word today, the Holy Spirit is going to speak His Word, this Word into your heart, one day, just when you need it. Just when you feel like a city under siege; just when you are in that dark place, this beautiful Word that we have looked at in Psalm 34 and Psalm 31 and First Peter chapters 3 and 5, this is the very Word of God. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. I don't know about you but some days are really rotten. You know, we go along; we do; we live our lives just the best way we can and something comes out of the blue and it's so unfair and you know, it's so unexpected and it hurts and it's scary. And dark nights – well, they are so dark aren't they? They are so lonely and often so painful but in that dark night there is a bright light and it's a light that shines when we put our trust in Jesus Christ – the same Jesus who suffered a scandalous death on the cross; a death that was unfair; a death that He didn't deserve. When they hurled insults at Him; when they beat Him and when ... He just took it. He just humbled Himself because He knew there was a purpose; He knew that He would have to die for you and me. When we put our faith in that Jesus to deliver us in His time and His way, He will. See, we can have faith in Jesus from a distance; you know, we can believe in Him with our heads from a long way off but that sort of belief is pretty useless when you get to one of those dark nights. Because Jesus never meant for us to have Him at arm's length; He never meant for us to believe in Him just with our heads; He never meant for us to say, "Well, yea, I have an insurance policy", He meant to be part of our lives. And when we believe Him with our lives – do you know what that means? It means in those dark times when people are doing bad things to us, not lashing out in pain. It means saying, "You know, I'm not going to do the thing that comes naturally, which is wrong, I'm going to humble myself; I am going to believe in Jesus' deliverance with my life and just sit here and be like Christ – not like the rest of the world." When we believe like that with our lives; when we put our lives on the line and honour Him in those times of affliction, that's when He shows up. For God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us from them all. May He bless you as you receive His Word, today?

Sometimes ?' we're just living life the best way we know how, honouring God and Whammo something so unfair hits us ?' right out of the blue. Join Berni Dymet, on Christianityworks as he opens God's Word and to discover what God's up to in those difficult times. Support the show: https://christianityworks.com/channels/cw/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's tough when bad things happen to good people ?' especially when we see good things happening to bad people ?' God what is going on here? Why are you letting this happen to me? Why don't you join Berni as he takes a look life ?' from a different perspective. Support the show: https://christianityworks.com/channels/adp/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You welcome brethren join me as look at afflictions

Sunday School: February 1, 2026  Teacher: Teacher Nathan Ruble

In this message, Bishop Walker teaches according to Psalm 119:71. Visit our website https://www.aplaceofrefugechurch.org Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aplaceofrefugechurch  Also enjoy these powerful podcasts: The Way 2 Go Podcast - https://goo.gl/xmctVQ Making People Productive Podcast - https://goo.gl/R53KGa The L.I.F.E. Podcast - https://tinyurl.com/4t2vapjb

There's a painful truth most people never admit: the men who look confident, successful, and put together are often the ones collapsing internally.They're hiding, performing, people pleasing, and losing themselves one tiny lie at a time.In this episode, I'm explaining a major shift:my podcast is no longer called Sex Afflictions and Porn Addictions.It's now called Patterns of Power.And I didn't change the name because it sounded better.I changed it because over 14 years of doing this work, I realized something I couldn't ignore anymore:If the framework keeps men stuck in shame, fear, and identity collapse…it might get their attention, but it won't build the life they want.In this episode, I break down:Why “addiction language” helps some men early on… but can hold others back long-termHow the real issue is often patterns, not pornWhy sex isn't the root problem… it's the relief valveThe shift from running away from a problem → to building a system that makes you unstoppableHow power, integrity, self-leadership, and capacity are the real transformationBecause shame keeps people quiet.Power builds movements.If you're a leader, founder, executive, or high performer who knows something is “off” internally…this podcast is for you.Ready to interrupt the patterns and step into your power?Visit: mindfulhabitmastery.comIf you're struggling with sex and porn addiction and need direct support:Visit: mindfulhabithelp.com

Wednesday Evening

Missionary Jon Eide preaches about the eternal hope found in Christ.

L'année 2026, placée sous le signe du Cheval de Feu, apporte avec elle un nouveau schéma énergétique de votre maison, influencé par les étoiles volantes. Ces énergies subtiles, en constante évolution, façonnent notre environnement et impactent divers aspects de notre vie quotidienne. Dans cet épisode, le tout premier de la saison 12, je vous propose une exploration approfondie des étoiles volantes pour 2026, en mettant l'accent sur :Le positionnement annuel des étoiles volantes : comprenez comment chaque étoile se positionne dans les différents secteurs de votre habitat et les influences spécifiques qu'elles apportent. Les étoiles favorables et défavorables : identifiez les zones de votre maison qui bénéficieront d'énergies positives et celles qui pourraient nécessiter des ajustements pour atténuer les influences moins bénéfiques.Les afflictions annuelles : où se trouvent-elles et quoi faire pour ne pas les réveillerConseils pratiques pour harmoniser votre espace : découvrez des recommandations concrètes pour optimiser l'énergie de votre lieu de vie en 2026, en utilisant un des 5 éléments chinois en cure ou en activateur.Vous pourrez ainsi créer un environnement harmonieux qui soutiendra votre bien-être, votre prospérité et vos relations tout au long de l'année.Prêt(e) à transformer votre espace de vie en un sanctuaire d'énergie positive ? Appuyez sur "play" et laissez-vous guider vers une meilleure compréhension des influences énergétiques de 2026 !

Send us a textPhilippians 1:12-14But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Support the show

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Rabash. What Does It Mean that the Righteous Suffers Afflictions?. 9 (1988) (01.03.2002)

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Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Seven and Verse Ten

Preached at Gospel Lighthouse in Bossier City, La.www.Churchlighthouse.com

WORD

Jose and Dolo are TURNING UP for one of the wildest cards of the year as UFC 323 storms into Las Vegas. This episode is nothing but smoke, energy, and straight fight-week chaos as the guys break down every matchup that's about to blow the roof off T-Mobile Arena.We're talking:

Balanced Belief | Colossians 1:24-26

Stay Connected With UsWebsite: anchorfaith.comAnchor Faith Church Facebook: www.facebook.com/anchorfaithAnchor Faith Church Instagram: www.instagram.com/anchorfaithPastor Earl Glisson Facebook: www.facebook.com/earlwglissonPastor Earl Glisson Instagram: www.instagram.com/earlglisson

Mike Riccardi • Colossians 1:24–1:27 • Sermon Notes (Video)

Mike Riccardi • Colossians 1:24–1:27 • Sermon Notes (Video) • Grace Pulpit

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Ever had a game session so draining that even your dice lose levels? In this episode, the RPGBOT crew resurrects one of D&D's most dreaded mechanics: energy drain, and the undead horrors that made it famous. From the White Box to Pathfinder 2e, Tyler, Randall, and Ash relive decades of pain, permanent debuffs, and emotional damage, all in the name of understanding why we're so glad energy drain is (mostly) dead. Grab your holy symbol, chug a potion, and prepare for a nostalgic necrotic nosedive. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you want to keep your creative energy undrained, support the RPGBOT.Podcast on Patreon. Patrons get ad-free episodes, early access to our Masterclass recordings, and exclusive bonus content from Tyler, Randall, and Ash. Join us today at patreon.com/rpgbot — and help keep our hit points (and our humor) at full strength. Show Notes The RPGBOT crew takes a dark, funny journey through the history of energy drain — one of tabletop RPGs' most punishing and misunderstood mechanics. Starting with OD&D's dreaded Wight, they trace how "losing levels" evolved across editions — from instant death in AD&D to hit point maximum reduction in D&D 5e and drained conditions in Pathfinder 2e. Along the way, Ash shares stories from her Ravenloft campaign, Tyler explains why undead needed to be terrifying, and Randall asks the eternal question: "Did anyone actually have fun with this rule?" Covered Topics: How energy drain first appeared in the OD&D White Box The connection between Wights, vampires, and permanent level loss Why AD&D and 3.5 made energy drain one of the most hated mechanics ever Pathfinder 1e and the dawn of "negative levels" D&D 5e's kinder, gentler approach — max HP reduction instead of level loss Pathfinder 2e's drained and doomed conditions, and how they replace energy drain The evolution of innervation and life drain spells How modern systems preserve undead flavor without destroying players' progress A philosophical question: Should tabletop games hurt this much? Plus: a tangent about Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and how much punishment is too much Mentioned Creatures & Mechanics: Wight, Vampire Spawn, Shadow, Ghoul, Varghoul Innervation / Enervation spell Negative levels, Hit Point Maximum reduction, Drained condition Resurrection penalties in 3.5e and Pathfinder 1e Afflictions, Fortitude saves, and Constitution death spirals Key Takeaways Energy drain began as a brutally punishing mechanic — losing levels in OD&D and AD&D could erase hours of play progress instantly. Pathfinder 1e softened the blow with temporary negative levels, while still terrifying players with math-heavy penalties. 5e and PF2 modernized the concept into simpler, narratively cleaner effects like HP maximum reduction or the drained condition. Undead identity survived — even as the math got easier, the flavor of losing your vitality to a vampire or wight remained iconic. Players prefer tension over punishment. Modern systems preserve danger without making players rage-quit. Energy drain mechanics reflect evolving design philosophy — from simulationist suffering to storytelling sustainability. DM takeaway: Make undead scary through story and tension, not through math that kills fun. How to Play Holidays This Christmas season, while you're recovering from your own levels of exhaustion, the RPGBOT.Podcast is re-releasing our "How to Play" Series for Pathfinder 2e — perfect for new players and GMs ready to explore the system over the holiday break. And if your friends are just starting out in Dungeons & Dragons, introduce them to the Remastered Series of How to Play Dungeons & Dragons from RPGBOT.Podcast. Whether you're new to Pathfinder, new to D&D, or just want to survive another undead encounter, these episodes are your ultimate player's guide. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Ever had a game session so draining that even your dice lose levels? In this episode, the RPGBOT crew resurrects one of D&D's most dreaded mechanics: energy drain, and the undead horrors that made it famous. From the White Box to Pathfinder 2e, Tyler, Randall, and Ash relive decades of pain, permanent debuffs, and emotional damage, all in the name of understanding why we're so glad energy drain is (mostly) dead. Grab your holy symbol, chug a potion, and prepare for a nostalgic necrotic nosedive. Join the RPGBOT Patreon If you want to keep your creative energy undrained, support the RPGBOT.Podcast on Patreon. Patrons get ad-free episodes, early access to our Masterclass recordings, and exclusive bonus content from Tyler, Randall, and Ash. Join us today at patreon.com/rpgbot — and help keep our hit points (and our humor) at full strength. Show Notes The RPGBOT crew takes a dark, funny journey through the history of energy drain — one of tabletop RPGs' most punishing and misunderstood mechanics. Starting with OD&D's dreaded Wight, they trace how "losing levels" evolved across editions — from instant death in AD&D to hit point maximum reduction in D&D 5e and drained conditions in Pathfinder 2e. Along the way, Ash shares stories from her Ravenloft campaign, Tyler explains why undead needed to be terrifying, and Randall asks the eternal question: "Did anyone actually have fun with this rule?" Covered Topics: How energy drain first appeared in the OD&D White Box The connection between Wights, vampires, and permanent level loss Why AD&D and 3.5 made energy drain one of the most hated mechanics ever Pathfinder 1e and the dawn of "negative levels" D&D 5e's kinder, gentler approach — max HP reduction instead of level loss Pathfinder 2e's drained and doomed conditions, and how they replace energy drain The evolution of innervation and life drain spells How modern systems preserve undead flavor without destroying players' progress A philosophical question: Should tabletop games hurt this much? Plus: a tangent about Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and how much punishment is too much Mentioned Creatures & Mechanics: Wight, Vampire Spawn, Shadow, Ghoul, Varghoul Innervation / Enervation spell Negative levels, Hit Point Maximum reduction, Drained condition Resurrection penalties in 3.5e and Pathfinder 1e Afflictions, Fortitude saves, and Constitution death spirals Key Takeaways Energy drain began as a brutally punishing mechanic — losing levels in OD&D and AD&D could erase hours of play progress instantly. Pathfinder 1e softened the blow with temporary negative levels, while still terrifying players with math-heavy penalties. 5e and PF2 modernized the concept into simpler, narratively cleaner effects like HP maximum reduction or the drained condition. Undead identity survived — even as the math got easier, the flavor of losing your vitality to a vampire or wight remained iconic. Players prefer tension over punishment. Modern systems preserve danger without making players rage-quit. Energy drain mechanics reflect evolving design philosophy — from simulationist suffering to storytelling sustainability. DM takeaway: Make undead scary through story and tension, not through math that kills fun. How to Play Holidays This Christmas season, while you're recovering from your own levels of exhaustion, the RPGBOT.Podcast is re-releasing our "How to Play" Series for Pathfinder 2e — perfect for new players and GMs ready to explore the system over the holiday break. And if your friends are just starting out in Dungeons & Dragons, introduce them to the Remastered Series of How to Play Dungeons & Dragons from RPGBOT.Podcast. Whether you're new to Pathfinder, new to D&D, or just want to survive another undead encounter, these episodes are your ultimate player's guide. Welcome to the RPGBOT Podcast. If you love Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and tabletop RPGs, this is the podcast for you. Support the show for free: Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast app. It helps new listeners find the best RPG podcast for D&D and Pathfinder players. Level up your experience: Join us on Patreon to unlock ad-free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT Podcast, chat with us and the community on the RPGBOT Discord, and jump into live-streamed RPG podcast recordings. Support while you shop: Use our Amazon affiliate link at https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ and help us keep building tools and guides for the RPG community. Meet the Hosts Tyler Kamstra – Master of mechanics, seeing the Pathfinder action economy like Neo in the Matrix. Randall James – Lore buff and technologist, always ready to debate which Lord of the Rings edition reigns supreme. Ash Ely – Resident cynic, chaos agent, and AI's worst nightmare, bringing pure table-flipping RPG podcast energy. Join the RPGBOT team where fantasy roleplaying meets real strategy, sarcasm, and community chaos. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

Speaker: Sr. Pastor Richard ParksScripture: Psalm 119:64-72Objective: Affliction, though painful, is purposeful—it draws us closer to God, teaches His Word, and strengthens our faith.

Send Us Your Prayer Requests --------This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus! Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Afflictions have in them some token of God's displeasure against sin, which those who are exercised by them are led by the consideration of unto a fresh view of the vileness of it; for although afflictions are an effect of love, yet it is of love mixed with care to obviate and prevent distempers. Whatever they are else, they are always chastisements; and correction respects faults.

Send Us Your Prayer Requests --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Taste and see how good your suffering Lord is – it'll make your own afflictions very sweet. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

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Title: Comfort in Our AfflictionsPreacher: Trey BehnSeries: 2 CorinthiansPassage: 2 Corinthians 1:3–11

Matthew Shores Preached from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 on afflictions

9/3/25. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: 2 Corinthians 4:16. Momentary Afflictions, Eternal Glory. Resources: biblehub.com; logos.com; ChatGPT; and Life Application Study Bible. Listen daily at 10:00 am CST on https://kingdompraiseradio.com. November 2021 Podchaser list of "60 Best Podcasts to Discover!" LISTEN, LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE! #MinutesWord; @MinutesWord; #dailybiblestudy #dailydevotional #christianpodcaster #diversity https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9zaXqv64YaCjh88XIJckA/videos https://m.youtube.com/@hhwscott

In chapter 1 of 2nd Corinthians Paul tells us that Gd comfort us in our afflictions. What afflictions did Paul mean? You can support the show at Buymeacoffee.com/laymenscup If you are listening on iTunes, please subscribe and leave a review.  Laymen on iTunes If you have comments or questions for us, you can email us at laymenscup@gmail.com. Find us on YouTube by searching for LaymensCup. Make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell! We are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/laymenscup. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter @laymenscup. It is always our hope to get the Gospel out to as many people as possible and you can help us by sharing the show. Word of mouth is the greatest way we will get the show out to the masses. Thank you. Please pray for us, as we are praying for you. Kemp, Bob, Shaun, and Ann Our Sponsors Candee Land Creations Navigating Neverland with Amy Carolina Furniture Mart 

Send us a textWhen difficulties and sever afflictions happen to us one of the greatest resources is friends who come alongside of us. One Biblical example of this is the story of Job. Although it is common and fair to point out the non-helpfulness of his friends speeches in response to his sufferings we should recognize their coming to be with him in his sufferings. Sometimes our friends can help us physically but the greatest gift they bring or convey is their presence with us.Job 2 v 11ff "Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great." Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

God uses every concern and hardship in your life to perfect you, giving you quiet contentment now and a confident hope for heaven. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

This message unpacks how affliction, while painful, can be a refining tool in God's hands, shaping us and drawing us closer to His Word.

Let me give you a lesson in evolution that will explain the way your mind is wired.    Not just for you, but for your future generations.    Back in the day, God designed human beings to pass on information via our DNA.    When you plug in a USB into a computer, you can transfer information.    In our DNA, there are 12 Terabytes in our sperm that transforms information.    You are carrying trauma in your DNA that has not been healed.    If you don't reset the trauma in your childhood, you're going to pass it on to your children.    How do you do it?     Read books.  Meditation. Reiki. Exercise.  Plant medicine.   Your parents may not have had the resources to heal this trauma, but you do.    And they're free.    If you want to stop the trauma of the past, it's time to deal with it in the present.    No excuses.      About the ReWire Podcast   The ReWire Podcast with Ryan Stewman – Dive into powerful insights as Ryan Stewman, the HardCore Closer, breaks down mental barriers and shares actionable steps to rewire your thoughts. Each episode is a fast-paced journey designed to reshape your mindset, align your actions, and guide you toward becoming the best version of yourself. Join in for a daily dose of real talk that empowers you to embrace change and unlock your full potential.    Learn how you can become a member of a powerful community consistently rewiring itself for success at https://www.jointheapex.com/   Rise Above

First World Finger Afflictions by Maine's Coast 93.1

We would love to pray for you! Please send us your request here. --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Time frays at the edges, shadows move on their own, and something unseen waits beneath the floorboards of the Alaskan Hotel.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateIN THIS EPISODE: The Alaskan Triangle is already known for strange and bizarre activity – so it should be no surprise that a hotel located in the triangle might experience a few bumps in the night. (The Demonic Haunting of the Alaskan Hotel) *** After picking up a sex worker to assault and murder, a serial killer made the mistake of underestimating the determination of his victim to stay alive… and lost his own life in the process. (The Hooker Who Stopped a Serial Killer) *** Chucky the doll isn't real. Neither were any of the dolls that came to life on shows like “The Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits” – but that doesn't mean real haunted dolls don't exist, and it's not just “Annabelle” and “Robert” on the list. (When Haunted Dolls Attack) *** Ilse Koch was a female concentration camp guard and she was so ruthless and evil even the Na*is had her arrested. (Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald) *** They reside atop dizzying heights and are often unnoticed by human eyes but ever watchful of our movements. They have 'observed' us for centuries. We'll look at the history and purpose of gargoyles and grotesques. (In The Protection of Gargoyles) *** Outside of Washington, D.C. lies an abandoned institution with a thoroughly disturbing past. We'll look at the history and horrors of Forest Haven Mental Asylum. (The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = Introduction00:01:12.945 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode)00:03:20.449 = The Demonic Haunting Of The Alaskan Hotel00:15:21.499 = The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer00:22:01.048 = When Haunted Dolls Attack00:45:24.870 = Ilse Koch, The Witch Of Buchenwald00:57:00.094 = In The Protection of Gargoyles01:04:25.779 = The Afflictions of Forest Haven Asylum01:11:53.958 = Show Close, Verse, and Final Thought01:12:57.056 = BloopersSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Demonic Haunting of the Alaskan Hotel” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w47e9“The Hooker Who Stopped A Serial Killer” by Roger Kim for Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2ffhcv4n“Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald” by Laura Allen for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yr3a4dvy“In The Protection of Gargoyles” by Angela Sutherland for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3j94t765“The Afflictions Of Forest Haven Asylum” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/34p6fe79“When Haunted Dolls Attack” by MD Bastek for Horror Obsessive: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckuhxk6=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: March, 2022EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AlaskanHotel