Podcasts about after stephen

I love road trips. I always have. When I was a kid, it was trips to see Grandparents down the country roads in Illinois. When we got married, Kimberly and I would drive across the country to B&B's in small towns or out in the country. When we had kids of our own, we would strap them in the car seats and head to Kentucky or Arkansas, or one big Clark Griswold trip out to South Dakota and Montana and Nevada. Of course the mother of all road trips was our sabbatical a couple of summers ago, when we put several thousand miles on the minivan in one summer! And over the years in ministry, I remember fondly youth trips to Green Lake or Colorado or down to Georgia to camp. Veteran youth leaders will tell you that ABY and GaGa ball and the like are great, but there is nothing like the bonding experience of a road trip. I would suggest that Luke must have been a big fan of road trips, too. Remember how he reported in Chapter 9 that Jesus “set his face toward Jerusalem.” The teaching and healing ministry of the Gospel takes place on the road, as he and the disciples travelled from Galilee to Jerusalem. And now, in the short few chapters since Jesus' Resurrection, we have all of these road trip stories. Easter evening, Jesus meets travelers on the Road to Emmaus…it is in the journey that Christ appears to them. Stephen doesn't take a road trip, but his famous sermon—the one that makes everyone mad enough to kill him—is all about how God never really wanted the Temple and was fine in the tabernacle, wandering from place to place on a holy road trip. And—spoiler-alert!—in the next chapter we are going to read about a guy named Saul who is once again on the road, this time the road to Damascus, where some things might happen. For Luke, there is power in the road trip, in the energy and relationship built on the journey. The ministry of Jesus and the Church of Jesus takes place in the dynamism and motion of the journey. And so there should be no surprise when we read today about Phillip, a master of the road trip. After Stephen's death, he started on the road north to Samaria where he preached to Simon Magus and the Samaritans. And now he is on the road south out of Jerusalem, on yet another road trip. As I read it, it may not feel like a long trip, but remember that the Bible and especially the book of Acts collapses time, so that while this story only lasts a few verses, Justo Gonzalez suggests that it might have taken hours or even days. The Two Way folks loved playing around with the road trip in this story a little bit, talking about the Ethiopian must have stopped at the gas station in South Jerusalem on the way out of town. It must have been a Phillips 66 (get it?) and he probably picked up a Slim Jim and a pocket copy of the book of Isaiah to read on the way home to Ethiopia. There really is something for us to discern about our journey of faith, our walk of faith, from what we see in this story. What can this story teach us about our faith? There are three different characters, if you will, that make up this story. Let's look at what each one teaches us. The first character to look at more closely is the Ethiopian Eunuch, who I think has something to teach us about the experience of the outsider. Now, we have to be careful assuming too much about this man. Luke doesn't give us much backstory, or too many details. But it seems to me that part of why he is included in this narrative is his outsider status: • Whether it was the fact that he was an Ethiopian, kind of a catch-all category for all non-Egyptian Africans or simply those with dark skin, which would have made him a racial minority in Palestine. • Or perhaps it was the fact that he was a eunuch, a sexual minority, potentially naturally-castrated and thus considered safe enough to put into position of authority around the Queen, or potentially forcible castrated in order to make him “safe.” • Or perhaps even his role as a government official, which made him a kind of unpopular cultural minority, like the hated tax collectors who had authority over the people. • Or some scholars think that he is what some call a “god-fearer,” someone who believed in Yahweh, but didn't take part in religious practice, perhaps for some of these other reasons; today we might call him “spiritual but not religious” potentially even inviting scorn. • Or perhaps even all four of these categories were relevant, meaning that he was quadruply an outsider! To me, it feels like he saw himself as an outsider because as he read this passage from Isaiah, and engaged in Philip in conversation about it, he asks a fascinating question: “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” From being included. He somehow knew that there were reasons, and likely he had heard them his whole life. Philip must have known them, too. He could have given this man a valid Bible study, based on the book of Deuteronomy, that told him exactly why he couldn't be included. Why he couldn't be baptized as a eunuch and non-Israelite and an outsider. What is to prevent me? The Bible says so! Which is a question that a lot of Christians ask, even today? The figure of the Ethiopian eunuch is one that many identify with, especially those who see themselves as outsiders. Racial minorities connect with the fact that he is from Ethiopia. LGBTQI persons connect with the eunuch's sexual minority status. Or anyone who feels outside of the accepted norm of the church: as single parents or divorced persons or those choosing or not able to have children or choosing or not able to get married. So many have read this story and heard the reasons why they must be excluded, including “the Bible says so.” But look at Philip's response here. Take a look at Character Number Two in the story. Again, Philip could have come at the Ethiopian with some hard-core Bible study. But instead of an aggressive stance, Philip seems to follow the rule of “listen first; talk second.” He gets this feeling, this prompting to walk along that road, and then another feeling/prompting to walk up next to the man's chariot, and so he does, and hears him reading out loud the book of Isaiah. He doesn't walk right in with an agenda of conversion, or a script to read out loud. Phillip simply shows up and listens first. And then, he talks. But even then, he begins with a question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” And the dialogue begins! For Philip, the good news does not come as a pre-packaged speech to deliver to this man, in order to convert him and put him in the win column. It is the beginning of a conversation. To help him understand his truth, and eventually for Philip to share his understanding of the truth. Notice that Philip doesn't listen first and listen second, simply idling until the Ethiopian figures it out for himself. Philip has something to say. But he doesn't unload a Roman Road or Four Spiritual Laws or anything learned in a Tuesday night training session. He listens to the man and his questions. And when the time is right, he speaks. Remember that like Stephen, Philip is one of the Seven, one of the Hellenistic, outsider Jewish Christ-followers, who was put in charge of the food pantry and followed the food pantry right out the door. As an outsider himself, he was able to understand and speak truth to the outsider Ethiopian. Because it became a dialogue, he was able to understand and be understood. A helpful word for those of us 2,000 years later that feel like we want to share the good news of Jesus, but aren't sure how to do it. Listen first and speak second. The Evangelism committee talked about this just this last week, asking how we can encourage those conversations. You know, we live in a world that is hurting and angry and afraid and not sure what to do next. A lot of folks are feeling left out. If we approach these conversations with a willingness to listen and learn, then maybe, the Spirit of God can use us. We can speak our truth, and listen as other speak theirs. Philip teaches us that for the good news to take root, it takes dialogue, patience, and a willingness to listen. So, we have talked about two of the three main characters of the story, but there is a third. Besides the Ethiopian and Philip, the third voice we hear is the voice of the Spirit of God. You know, I don't think it is an accident that all these big moments take place on road trips in Luke and Acts. Because I think that Luke is making a theological point about how God works. In short, these stories remind us that God is on the road. Journey to Jerusalem. The Road to Emmaus. The Wilderness Road. The Damascus Road. This is more than a literary device. The God of the tabernacle in Stephen's sermon is still a God on the move. God is dynamic and active and on the road. This theology of dynamism is crucial for us to remember today. Especially out of a pandemic, when we have yearned so deeply to return to a physical space. Let us remember that the Church has always been scattered and sent! The theology of God throughout Scripture is that God is on the move. The life of faith is a never-ending road trip. This physical space is always meant to be a rest stop to the real work of the Gospel, in the workplaces, and classrooms, and ballfields and coffeehouses of God's world. And let us now add the social networks and virtual spaces and Zoom Rooms. Like Philip, we are called to be responsive and dialogical open to how God is at work out there. Like Philip, we are called to be on the move!

After Stephen was martyred, the disciples were scattered in the persecution that followed. But like hot coals being flung from a fire that is stomped on, they spread the truth of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles in regions away from Jerusalem. One such city was Antioch – a thriving melting pot of people and pagan worship. The new church at Antioch was growing and Barnabas was sent to see what was going on. He encouraged the disciples there, now called Christians, and went to get Saul, the perfect guy to teach these new believers. This was a pivotal moment in the Church.

Did the Sanhedrin intend to fulfill a prophecy of Jesus? No way! But that's what they did. Acts of hatred often backfire upon the hater, but the episode we're about to study must be enshrined in the Unintended Consequences Hall of Shame. After Stephen's murder, which we've just read about in the book of Acts, the ruling council determined to use any means necessary to stamp out this "gospel." They didn't realize they would be spreading the gospel. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am and WRZN 720AM (Gainesville & Ocala, FL) at 7:30am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. RS03222021_1.mp3Scripture References: Acts 8:1-17

After Stephen clearly displays he is the most polite of the hosts, he pulls out a chair for Tiff and the two sit down to discuss “Double Date”. This episode of “The Office” originally aired on November 5, 2009. Host Tiff Arment and Stephen Hackett.

After Stephen clearly displays he is the most polite of the hosts, he pulls out a chair for Tiff and the two sit down to discuss “Double Date”. This episode of “The Office” originally aired on November 5, 2009. Tiff Arment and Stephen Hackett.

On this very special episode, we discuss the Strelitzia, specifically S. nicolai, the White Bird of Paradise. This plant was formative to Matthew's journey as a young plant parent, as we suspect it is for many others, too. After Stephen recovers from shocking past "care" stories, he comes around to "this isn't terrible at all!" Is pruning going to help keep these small? Can the orange-flowering S. reginae bloom indoors? And Matthew low-key promises a gift to Stephen - we should all hold him to that!

After Stephen and Tiff face off in a volleyball tournament, the two sit down with some lemonade and discuss “Company Picnic”. This episode of “The Office” originally aired on May 14, 2009. Host Tiffany Arment and Stephen Hackett.

After Stephen and Tiff face off in a volleyball tournament, the two sit down with some lemonade and discuss “Company Picnic”. This episode of “The Office” originally aired on May 14, 2009. Tiffany Arment and Stephen Hackett.

Acts 8:26-40 -- After Stephen's death, Philip travels down to the desert road in response to God's call. There he meets an Ethiopian Eunuch, who then believes and is baptized.

Allan and Darren welcome Stephen Dziedzic to the podcast, who covers foreign affairs in the Asia Pacific region for Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, based at Parliament House in Canberra. Stephen has spent more than a decade at the ABC, including five years covering federal politics. He also spent two years working for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. The way the media covers international affairs and Australian foreign policy has come up several times on the podcast before, and at times Allan and Darren have both expressed their frustration at some of the reporting! Stephen is asked, if not to defend, at least to explain how the media operates in reporting on Australia in the world in the year 2020, and the rationale behind the coverage. After Stephen provides an overview of his career to date and interest in international affairs, Allan begins by asking how the media landscape has changed since the publication of Allan’s book in 2007 (co-authored with Michael Wesley), Making Australian Foreign Policy. To what extent do the traditional media outlets still act as gatekeepers? The conversation moves to some of the ins and outs of covering foreign policy in Canberra, such as government “drops” of major speeches, and dealing with embassies. Allan asks Stephen for his impression of whether DFAT does a good job of selling itself, in light of a recent critique by Dave Sharma MP. Darren looks to zoom out, asking Stephen about the broader media landscape. How much room is there for foreign policy content and what does it mean for a story to be newsworthy? What about variation in coverage—how different is the ABC to the major broadsheets, and what about the tabloids? After his recent brush with tabloid fame, Allan puts to Stephen the critique that editors act like TV “showrunners”, working to ensure that whatever twists the plot takes, it remains faithful to a predetermined overall narrative. Is that critique unfair? Stephen’s thoughtful response covers a lot of ground, including many of the tricky ethical issues involved and the civic responsibilities of journalists. Following on, Darren is particularly interested in the decision to grant anonymity to government leaks. Allan muses about how difficult it is to get ministers to focus on issues of long-term importance, and the immediacy of media coverage creates similar challenges. How can a journalist turn something s/he knows to be important into news, and does social media help or hurt with that? In the final part of the conversation, Darren pivots to domestic politics, and asks specifically about the “Wolverines” group of MPs who take a hard line on China policy. Is there a political logic to their grouping? Allan asks if generational differences may play a role in explaining divides on China policy. The interview concludes on the distinction between “public interest” and “national interest” in an era of growing geopolitical rivalry. As always, we invite our listeners to email us at this address: australia.world.pod@gmail.com We welcome feedback, requests and suggestions. You can also contact Darren on twitter @limdarrenj We thank AIIA intern Mitchell McIntosh for his help with research and audio editing and Rory Stenning for composing our theme music. Relevant links Stephen Dziedzic’s ABC page: https://www.abc.net.au/news/stephen-dziedzic/166934?nw=0 Dave Sharma, “A diplomatic step-up to match our military step up”, Lowy Interpreter, 13 July 2020: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/diplomatic-step-match-our-military-step Michael Koziol, “'Seriously damaging': ASIO says advice on border security was misrepresented”, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 February 2019: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/seriously-damaging-asio-says-advice-on-border-security-was-misrepresented-20190218-p50ykq.html

After Stephen dies, persecution picks up for the Early Church.

Sunday Sermon • Doug Dortch 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 • “The Worst Bankrupt of All” New Sermon Series • “Virtues That Keep Us Stable – Love” Years ago, I served a church in a community where the local newspaper had a section in each Sunday’s edition in which they printed public records. You could see who got married and who got divorced. You could see who bought property and who sold property. You could see who got arrested and for what reason they got arrested. And worst of all, at least in my mind, you could also see who had filed for bankruptcy. It was all the laundry hung out to dry, both clean and dirty, and you can imagine how each Sunday morning people went rushing out to their driveways to pick up their newspapers to see, in particular, who taken the bankruptcy route, given its “white collar” shame. I, of course, was among the inquiring minds, especially in light of how I might be called upon to do some extra pastoral care either with the filers or the gossipers, or in most cases, both. Over that period of time I learned more about bankruptcy than I ever wanted to know – from a legal perspective and a business perspective and a tax perspective, but primarily from a personal one. I learned that one size of bankruptcy didn’t fit all. There were some forms that were more embarrassing than others, and that while some were used without blinking an eye, there were other forms of bankruptcy that were to be avoided at all costs. It was, I have to say, quite an education. So, I can sympathize with the Apostle Paul as he looked for the best way to extend pastoral care to a community of faith that, if they were not careful, were on the verge of closing up shop because of how they were overvaluing certain spiritual assets, assets that would not be able to sustain them in the long run, while at the same time they were ignoring more valuable ones that were more firmly rooted in the essence of the gospel. And for Paul, the spiritual asset that was by far and away the most valuable of them all was the asset, or, what he called the gift of agape love. Here is how Paul elevates this particular gift. “Though I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Obviously, the word that jumps off the page of this most famous passage of Scripture to me is the word “nothing.” Unlike so many words in the Bible that we’re not really sure what they mean, this one is clear as crystal. It means exactly what you think it means. It means naught, nada, zero, ziltch. It means that you don’t have a leg to stand on or a pot to cook in. It means that your situation is empty, barren, desolate, and bleak. It means that from a spiritual way of seeing things, you, my brother and sister, are the worst bankrupt of all. We like to think of this passage of Scripture as among the “sweet words” of the Bible, maybe even the sweetest. After all, who could get his or her feelings rubbed raw by such a treatise to love? My soul, it gets read at weddings and emblazoned on coffee cups and printed on posters. But the fact of the matter is that Paul intended for these words not to lull people into a state of rest; he meant them instead to be a wake-up call, one that might arrest them from their spiritual stupor before they found themselves in a position from which they could never recover. One of the reasons we tend to miss that point is because of how, unlike the word “nothing,” which we do understand, we think we know what Paul was talking about when he invoked the word “love,” when the fact of the matter is that we may have the wrong interpretation. Ask most people to define love and they will answer in a way that suggests some kind of emotional response. But that’s not the way Paul intended his teaching on love to be understood, which is why he opted for the Greek word “agape” instead of the Greek word “eros” for romantic love or “philos” for brotherly love. Agape love was a God-ordained type of love. It was a love that expressed itself in unconditional regard for others. It wasn’t a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” kind of love. It was a love based on grace, which is why the King James Version translators rightly rendered it as “charity.” You can never pay back this kind of love, certainly not to God. You can only channel it so that God’s love in Jesus Christ flows through you to bring value and worth to the lives of others. Perhaps you can understand now why our world needs such a witness today more than ever. After all, has our world ever been more polarized than it is today? From where I sit it sure doesn’t seems that it has. As someone has said, “The human ego tends to go after two things: it wants to be separate and it wants to be superior” (Richard Rohr, “Just This,” pp. 90-91). It wants to be left to itself and it wants to consider itself better than everyone else. But as Paul reminds us in this most famous passage of Scripture, understanding that your life is not about you is the first step in the journey of discovering the fountain from which abundant life consistently flows. I think about when Paul himself made the discovery. We read the story in the book of Acts. Paul, then known as Saul, had been a part of the mob that had come together to interrogate Stephen, one of the early members of the Jesus community, who had just been selected as one of the seven deacons of the church. It wasn’t so much an interrogation of Stephen as it was a kangaroo court that had degenerated into a bloodthirsty mob, with their sights set on Stephen. As they dragged Stephen out of the city to be stoned, the mob members laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. After Stephen’s death, Paul made his way from Jerusalem to Damascus to see if he could identify any others who were a part of what Jesus followers called “the Way.” Little did he know that just before he would enter Damascus he would run smack dab into the Risen Jesus himself. It was a light from heaven that first got his attention and then the sound of a voice that he would never forget. “Saul, Saul,” said the voice, “why do you persecute me?” Knowing that in fact if it was Jesus, Saul deserved to be sentenced to death himself. But instead of being judged for his bias and his sense of supremacy, the Risen Jesus instead showed Saul an unconditional love, an agape love, so that his life was never again the same. As Paul would later write to the church at Philippi, he came to see what a bankrupt he had been so that he would say, “For whatever gains were to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. And what is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-8). Have you made that discovery in your life? Have you come to see how much you are missing when you focus on yourself and how much you stand to gain when you direct your attention to Jesus? Have you been so seized by the power of Jesus’ unconditional affection for you that you now recognize that the best way for you to show your gratitude is by expanding your horizon to see a much broader and wider universe because you are no longer at the center of it – much broader and wider universe that includes scores of other people who are in desperate need of the same sort of love that changed you for the better? Ruby Bridges was a six year old black child who was the first African-American to attend the predominately white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. The year was 1961. As you can imagine, her first day at Frantz Elementary was no walk in the park. There was an angry mob that had turned out to do their best to intimidate her and cause her to back down. But as she showed up for her first day at the new school, reporters couldn’t help but notice that Ruby had the most peaceful expression on her face. There was something else they noticed – that even though she was surrounded by federal marshals, she took the time to stop and face the mob, silently opening and closing her mouth in their direction for about a full minute. Was she mocking them? Was she taunting them? No, as it turned out, Ruby was praying for them. As she explained it, she didn’t have time to pray for them that morning before she left for school, and so she stopped on her way in to say a brief prayer. When asked by the psychologist what in the world was it she prayed for, the psychologist had to admit that her prayer dumbfounded him and in many ways changed him. “She prayed because the people needed praying for,” the psychologist learned. And so Ruby Bridges took the time to pray a prayer that her parents and her pastor had taught her to pray: “Please God, try to forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing.” As she explained it, “when Jesus had that mob in front of him, that’s what he said too” (“When Ruby Bridges Prayed for Her Enemies,” The Christian Century, 3/24/17). You may remember that the famous American artist Norman Rockwell immortalized that scene in American history with his painting, titled, “The Problem We All Live With.” It’s been almost 60 years and we’re still living with that problem. Maybe if we had bothered to pray for one another in that way, the same way Jesus prayed for us, our world would be much different today. It wouldn’t be as empty. It wouldn’t be as barren. It wouldn’t be as morally bankrupt. But you can change that. And you can be certain that when you do, it will be front page news in the Book of Life, where all of heaven will see it and rejoice. And on that day when you stand before Jesus, you can be certain that he will have seen it too, so that you can stand before him without shame, because you chose to love others unconditionally, which in the economy of the Kingdom of Heaven is without question the greatest asset of them all. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

"Nothing stresses me out. Except having to seek the approval of my inferiors." - After Stephen refuses to sign Tiff’s statement of regret, the two discuss “Stress Relief Part 2”. This episode of “The Office” aired on February 1, 2009. Host Tiffany Arment and Stephen Hackett.

We've been buying from Fazenda Inglaterra for over ten years, and it's a farm that I am very proud to be working with and linked with, as well as the owner (and my very good friend) Stephen Hurst. To tell the story of Inglaterra, I'll hand this over to Stephen of the Hurst variety to tell you how he came to own 'Inglaterra': “Maybe it had always been an idea in the back of my mind – so a couple of years ago when some friends in Brazil mentioned that a small coffee farm was for sale, I had a look. The farm's name (Fazenda Toca Da Onca) means 'hiding place of a small wildcat'. The locals now call the farm 'Inglaterra'. The previous owners had abandoned Toca Da Onca/Inglaterra. So we had to start again, almost from scratch. Some surviving coffee trees were pruned right back and the coffee that you are now drinking is that re-growth from the original old trees. For the coffee people, the varietals are Icatu, Acaia and Catucai. In future I expect coffee cherry varietals to become as well known as wine grape varietals, and to a much wider audience. The farm is located near the lovely spa town of Poços De Caldas in the coffee-growing heartlands of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. The farm's elevation is 950–1300 metres, and it has rich soil. It's on the edge of an ancient caldera/super volcano, whose outline can be seen on satellite images. 50% of the farm is virgin Mata Atlantica forest and as long as I own it, it will stay that way. I am replanting some areas with the help of my local friends Gabriel and Cristiano, without whose assistance this project would never have started." Back to Stephen of the Leighton variety! After Stephen bought the farm there was one varietal he decided to add to the plant stock that wasn't already there, and that varietal was Canario. It's one of those varietals you would never plant if you had to survive on coffee for your living – pests love it, its yield is really low and the slightest change in temperature will result in frost burn; a point proved a few years back when a cold snap experienced in Poços de Caldas left over 25% of this crop damaged. So why grow it then? Well, it produces some of the most delicious coffee you can imagine. Also, it's something that Stephen had always wanted to ask producers to try but was too afraid to ask, so he just went ahead and did it himself! Jump right into this when it's very hot and it's all dark chocolate, but as it begins to cool a little you'll get that shifting towards milk chocolate. It's joined by a hit of pecan nuts too and just a maple sweetness too. There's a hint of fruit too - think dried apricot pieces - for a very well balanced and more-ish coffee. Country: Brazil Region: Minas Gerais City: Poços de Caldas Farm: Fazenda Inglaterra Owner: Stephen Hurst Farm size: 10 hectares Coffee growing area: 5 hectares Altitude: 1,200 m.a.s.l. Varietal: Canario  Processing system: Natural CUPPING NOTES Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, pecan, maple, dried apricot. Clean Cup: (1-8): 6 Sweetness: (1-8): 6.5 Acidity: (1-8): 6 Mouthfeel: (1-8): 6.5 Flavour: (1-8): 7 Aftertaste: (1-8): 6 Balance: (1-8): 7 Overall: (1-8): 6.5 Correction:(+36): +36   Total (max 100): 87.5   Roast Information Medium Dark - through first and give it a little time in the gap to develop, dropping it and looking for the very first pops of second as it cools.

We've been buying from Fazenda Inglaterra for over ten years, and it's a farm that I am very proud to be working with and linked with, as well as the owner (and my very good friend) Stephen Hurst. To tell the story of Inglaterra, I'll hand this over to Stephen of the Hurst variety to tell you how he came to own 'Inglaterra': “Maybe it had always been an idea in the back of my mind – so a couple of years ago when some friends in Brazil mentioned that a small coffee farm was for sale, I had a look. The farm's name (Fazenda Toca Da Onca) means 'hiding place of a small wildcat'. The locals now call the farm 'Inglaterra'. The previous owners had abandoned Toca Da Onca/Inglaterra. So we had to start again, almost from scratch. Some surviving coffee trees were pruned right back and the coffee that you are now drinking is that re-growth from the original old trees. For the coffee people, the varietals are Icatu, Acaia and Catucai. In future I expect coffee cherry varietals to become as well known as wine grape varietals, and to a much wider audience. The farm is located near the lovely spa town of Poços De Caldas in the coffee-growing heartlands of Brazil's Minas Gerais state. The farm's elevation is 950–1300 metres, and it has rich soil. It's on the edge of an ancient caldera/super volcano, whose outline can be seen on satellite images. 50% of the farm is virgin Mata Atlantica forest and as long as I own it, it will stay that way. I am replanting some areas with the help of my local friends Gabriel and Cristiano, without whose assistance this project would never have started." Back to Stephen of the Leighton variety! After Stephen bought the farm there was one varietal he decided to add to the plant stock that wasn't already there, and that varietal was Canario. It's one of those varietals you would never plant if you had to survive on coffee for your living – pests love it, its yield is really low and the slightest change in temperature will result in frost burn; a point proved a few years back when a cold snap experienced in Poços de Caldas left over 25% of this crop damaged. So why grow it then? Well, it produces some of the most delicious coffee you can imagine. Also, it's something that Stephen had always wanted to ask producers to try but was too afraid to ask, so he just went ahead and did it himself! Jump right into this when it's very hot and it's all dark chocolate, but as it begins to cool a little you'll get that shifting towards milk chocolate. It's joined by a hit of pecan nuts too and just a maple sweetness too. There's a hint of fruit too - think dried apricot pieces - for a very well balanced and more-ish coffee. Country: Brazil Region: Minas Gerais City: Poços de Caldas Farm: Fazenda Inglaterra Owner: Stephen Hurst Farm size: 10 hectares Coffee growing area: 5 hectares Altitude: 1,200 m.a.s.l. Varietal: Canario  Processing system: Natural CUPPING NOTES Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, pecan, maple, dried apricot. Clean Cup: (1-8): 6 Sweetness: (1-8): 6.5 Acidity: (1-8): 6 Mouthfeel: (1-8): 6.5 Flavour: (1-8): 7 Aftertaste: (1-8): 6 Balance: (1-8): 7 Overall: (1-8): 6.5 Correction:(+36): +36   Total (max 100): 87.5   Roast Information Medium Dark - through first and give it a little time in the gap to develop, dropping it and looking for the very first pops of second as it cools.

"I didn't kill anyone. Stanley was attacked by his own heart." - After Stephen and Tiff watch a pirated movie on Stephen’s 15” MBP, the two discuss “Stress Relief Part 1”. This episode of “The Office” aired on February 1, 2009. Host Tiffany Arment and Stephen Hackett.

After Stephen's death, the church in Jerusalem was persecuted and the Christians were "Scattered"...But it wasn't a chaotic scattering. God was sowing his people out into Judea and Samaria to have a greater impact.

Series: New HorizonsConversionActs 9:1-31Some conversions are dramatic, and some are almost imperceptible. Every saved person has a life-changing moment. Acts 9 details the second-most influential dayin the history of Christianity. context After Stephen’s death, persecutionbreaks out against the church. Believers scatter throughout the Roman empire, but this has a negative effect on Judaism—wherever the church is located, they are seeing Jews convertingto Christianity. the story Whatever is done to the church is done directly to Jesus. Any time a person is converted, there are those who are skeptical. Following Christ does not insulate from hardships--it often accelerates them. conversion lessons: Salvation is by God’s initiative. All people are spiritually blindwithout Christ. o Irreligiousblindness o Religiousblindness God can save the worst of sinners. Conversion is a dual realization:I’m worsethan I ever dreamed, and He is more graciousthan I’d ever hoped. Every person who issaved in Christreceives a new purpose for Christ. today’s takeaways · Your past does not disqualify you from God’s grace. · Your past does not disqualify you from future usefulness.

Fazenda Inglaterra is a farm we've been buying from for over ten years, and it's one that I am very proud to be working with and linked with. The owner is my very good friend, Stephen Hurst. To tell the story of Inglaterra, I'll hand this over to Stephen of the Hurst variety to tell you how he came to own 'Inglaterra': “Maybe it had always been an idea in the back of my mind – so a couple of years ago when some friends in Brazil mentioned that a small coffee farm was for sale, I had a look. The farm's name (Fazenda Toca Da Onca) means 'hiding place of a small wildcat'. The locals now call the farm 'Inglaterra'. The previous owners had abandoned Toca Da Onca/Inglaterra. So we had to start again, almost from scratch. Some surviving coffee trees were pruned right back and the coffee that you are now drinking is that re-growth from the original old trees. For the coffee people, the varietals are Icatu, Acaia and Catucai. In future I expect coffee cherry varietals to become as well known as wine grape varietals, and to a much wider audience. The farm is located near the lovely spa town of Poços De Caldas in the coffee-growing heartlands of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. The farm's elevation is 950–1300 metres, and it has rich soil. It's on the edge of an ancient caldera/super volcano, whose outline can be seen on satellite images. 50% of the farm is virgin Mata Atlantica forest and as long as I own it, it will stay that way. I am replanting some areas with the help of my local friends Gabriel and Cristiano, without whose assistance this project would never have started." Back to Stephen of the Leighton variety! After Stephen bought the farm there was one varietal he decided to add to the plant stock that wasn't already there, and that varietal was Canario. It's one of those varietals you would never plant if you had to survive on coffee for your living – pests love it, its yield is really low and the slightest change in temperature will result in frost burn; a point proved a few years back when a cold snap experienced in Poços de Caldas left over 25% of this crop damaged. So why grow it then? Well, it produces some of the most delicious coffee you can imagine. Also, it's something that Stephen had always wanted to ask producers to try but was too afraid to ask, so he just went ahead and did it himself! In the cup this is dried apricot mashed up with delicate peach. There's a malty sweetness in there too, which ends on a buttery finish and just a little nudge of hazelnut. Country: Brazil Region: Minas Gerais City: Poços de Caldas Farm: Fazenda Inglaterra Owner: Stephen Hurst Farm size: 10 hectares Coffee growing area: 5 hectares Altitude: 1,200 m.a.s.l. Varietal: Canario  Processing system: Natural CUPPING NOTES Dried apricot, peach, malty, buttery, hazelnut. Clean cup: (1–8): 7 Sweetness: (1–8): 7 Acidity: (1–8): 6 Mouthfeel: (1–8): 7 Flavour: (1–8): 6 Aftertaste: (1–8): 6 Balance: (1–8): 6 Overall: (1–8): 7 Correction:(+36): +36 Total (max. 100): 88 Roast Information Medium/medium dark – nice and steady through the crack and extend the development time, but drop before second gets going.

Fazenda Inglaterra is a farm we've been buying from for over ten years, and it's one that I am very proud to be working with and linked with. The owner is my very good friend, Stephen Hurst. To tell the story of Inglaterra, I'll hand this over to Stephen of the Hurst variety to tell you how he came to own 'Inglaterra': “Maybe it had always been an idea in the back of my mind – so a couple of years ago when some friends in Brazil mentioned that a small coffee farm was for sale, I had a look. The farm's name (Fazenda Toca Da Onca) means 'hiding place of a small wildcat'. The locals now call the farm 'Inglaterra'. The previous owners had abandoned Toca Da Onca/Inglaterra. So we had to start again, almost from scratch. Some surviving coffee trees were pruned right back and the coffee that you are now drinking is that re-growth from the original old trees. For the coffee people, the varietals are Icatu, Acaia and Catucai. In future I expect coffee cherry varietals to become as well known as wine grape varietals, and to a much wider audience. The farm is located near the lovely spa town of Poços De Caldas in the coffee-growing heartlands of Brazil's Minas Gerais state. The farm's elevation is 950–1300 metres, and it has rich soil. It's on the edge of an ancient caldera/super volcano, whose outline can be seen on satellite images. 50% of the farm is virgin Mata Atlantica forest and as long as I own it, it will stay that way. I am replanting some areas with the help of my local friends Gabriel and Cristiano, without whose assistance this project would never have started." Back to Stephen of the Leighton variety! After Stephen bought the farm there was one varietal he decided to add to the plant stock that wasn't already there, and that varietal was Canario. It's one of those varietals you would never plant if you had to survive on coffee for your living – pests love it, its yield is really low and the slightest change in temperature will result in frost burn; a point proved a few years back when a cold snap experienced in Poços de Caldas left over 25% of this crop damaged. So why grow it then? Well, it produces some of the most delicious coffee you can imagine. Also, it's something that Stephen had always wanted to ask producers to try but was too afraid to ask, so he just went ahead and did it himself! In the cup this is dried apricot mashed up with delicate peach. There's a malty sweetness in there too, which ends on a buttery finish and just a little nudge of hazelnut. Country: Brazil Region: Minas Gerais City: Poços de Caldas Farm: Fazenda Inglaterra Owner: Stephen Hurst Farm size: 10 hectares Coffee growing area: 5 hectares Altitude: 1,200 m.a.s.l. Varietal: Canario  Processing system: Natural CUPPING NOTES Dried apricot, peach, malty, buttery, hazelnut. Clean cup: (1–8): 7 Sweetness: (1–8): 7 Acidity: (1–8): 6 Mouthfeel: (1–8): 7 Flavour: (1–8): 6 Aftertaste: (1–8): 6 Balance: (1–8): 6 Overall: (1–8): 7 Correction:(+36): +36 Total (max. 100): 88 Roast Information Medium/medium dark – nice and steady through the crack and extend the development time, but drop before second gets going.

After Stephen is martyred, the disciples are scattered and Philip brings the gospel to Samaria, where amazing works are done through his ministry. At this point, Luke introduces us to Simon to bring our attention to the danger of self-importance. Simon and Philip illustrate a contrast between promoting our own influence or for the influence of the gospel. Who are you preaching through your life? In Simon, we have a warning to not use the gospel to advance our goals. God is not a way to have life; He is life. We can become like Simon when there are motives in our heart other than the gospel. If this is us, we can repent, make our lives about Christ and be filled with rest in Him!

After Stephen ruins the intro, Federico finally gets around to talking about his second iPad Pro and Myke shares a secret.

After Stephen ruins the intro, Federico finally gets around to talking about his second iPad Pro and Myke shares a secret.

Attending to the Little Things人性化的本质其实就是 “kindness”,善意，善良。这些善意体现在产品中，就叫人性化。而我们在人际交往中，小小的善意，也会让你和他人的关系瞬间变得温暖，和谐。但若是忽视了一些小节，有时，也会在不经意间伤害到他人的感情。今天就来分享一篇关于注重小节的美文。这个故事选择《高效能人士的七个习惯》。New Words:courtesy [ˈkɜ:təsi] n.谦恭有礼，礼貌;trampoline [ˈtræmpəli:n] n.蹦床somersault [ˈsʌməsɔ:lt] n. 翻筋斗sensitive [ˈsensətɪv] adj. 敏感的;calloused [ˈkæləst] adj. 铁石心肠的，无情的The little kindnesses and courtesies are so important. Small discourtesies, little unkindnesses, little forms of disrespect make large withdrawals. In relationships, the little things are the big things. 一些看似无关紧要的小事，如忽视礼貌，不经意的失言，最能消耗情感账户的存款。在人际关系中，最重要的正是这些小事。 I remember an evening I spent with two of my sons some years ago. It was an organized father-and-son outing, complete with gymnastics, wrestling matches, hot dogs, orangeade, and a movie-- the works. 我记得几年前的一个傍晚，正是我同两个儿子一起外出活动的时间，一般就是做运动、看摔跤比赛、吃热狗、喝果汁和看电影这些事情。In the middle of the movie, Sean, who was then four years old, fell asleep in his seat. His older brother, Stephen, who was six, stayed awake, and we watched the rest of the movie together. When it was over, I picked Sean up in my arms, carried him out to the car and laid him in the back seat. It was very cold that night, so I took off my coat and gently arranged it over and around him. When we arrived home, I quickly carried Sean in and tucked him into bed. After Stephen put on his "jammies" and brushed his teeth, I lay down next to him to talk about the night out together.电影看到一半，4岁的儿子肖恩在座位上睡着了，6岁的史蒂芬还醒着，我们两个人一起看完了那部电影。电影结束后，我抱起肖恩，走到我们的车前，打开车门，把他放在后座上。那天晚上很冷，于是我脱下外套，轻轻地盖在他的身上。回到家，把肖恩送上床，我又照顾6岁的史蒂芬准备睡觉。他上床以后，我躺在他身边，父子俩聊着当晚的趣事。There wasn't much response on his part. I found myself making conversation. I wondered why Stephen wouldn't open up more. He usually did when exciting things happened. I was a little disappointed. I sensed something was wrong; he had been so quiet on the way home and gettingready for bed. Suddenly Stephen turned over on his side, facing the wall. I wondered why and lifted myself up just enough to see his eyes welling up with tears.他不怎么说话。我发现我一个人在尬聊。史蒂芬不太愿意说更多了。要知道平常他总是兴高采烈地忙着发表意见，我有些小失望。觉得有点不对劲。从回家到准备睡觉，他一直都异常的安静。突然史蒂芬偏过头去，对着墙。我和很好奇翻身一看，才发现他眼中噙着泪水。"What's wrong, honey? What is it?"“怎么啦?孩子，有什么不对吗?”He turned back, and I could sense he was feeling some embarrassment for the tears and his quivering lips and chin.他转过头来，我能感到嘴唇和下巴微微的颤着，流着泪，他有点不好意思地问:"Daddy, if I were cold, would you put your coat around me too?"“爸，如果我也觉得冷，你会不会也脱下外套披在我身上?”Of all the events of that special night out together, the most important was a little act of kindness – a momentary, unconscious showing of love to his little brother.那天晚上我们一起做了那么多事，可是在他看来，最重要的却是我不经意间对他弟弟流露出的父爱。What a powerful, personal lesson that experience was to me then and is even now. People are very tender, very sensitive inside. I don't believe age or experience makes much difference. Inside, even within the most toughened and calloused exteriors, are the tender feelings and emotions of the heart. 这件事无论在当时还是现在，对我来说都是深刻的教训。人的内心都是极其柔弱和敏感的，不分年龄和资历。哪怕是在最坚强和冷漠的外表下，也往往隐藏着一颗脆弱的心。

MSNBC anchor Richard Lui commutes from New York to San Francisco to help care for his father. Stephen Lui, who spent his career as a pastor and social worker, is now retired and suffers from dementia. After Stephen responds to mail from scammers, they begin bombarding him with hundreds of calls asking for money for fake charities and lotteries. But the Luis' story is about more than being scammed, it's about Richard and his family's dedication to caring for Stephen.

After Stephen's stoning scatters the believers, they first encounter Samaritans who receive the Gospel of Jesus. 

After Stephen's death, Saul continued to ravage the Church. During this time the church scattered and so did the gospel. Philip became the first to take the gospel to a non-Jewish people group. The city was transformed and joy increased as they believed the Word.

After Stephen is stoned, Christians began to be spread out throughout the region. The gospel begins to move and impact beyond Jerusalem. Philip goes to the people of Samaria who are under the spell of Simon the Magician, a man of power. The gospel challenges the powers of this world and brings reconciliation and restoration through the grace of God in Christ.

This episode is aptly-titled as Dice and Monkey sit down for a chat with the ever-exuberant Stephen Buonocore of Stronghold Games. After Stephen and Monkey commiserate about their youths (pronounced yoots) in New York City, the conversation turns toward the pain-stakingly detailed process of bringing Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War to the gaming public. All this, plus upcoming releases from both Stronghold and Dice Hate Me Games, some corporate espionage, and all the dirt on the upcoming World Boardgaming Championships. Too much show? Fuhgeddaboudit.

After Stephen's death, all but the apostles fled Jerusalem. Satan's plan for wiping out the church seemed to be working. However, as these ordinary people were running for their lives, they encountered people who asked them why they had hope (or at least why they were running), and they were ready. They shared the gospel, and the Spirit of God continued moving powerfully. In this message we look at what it means for God to call ordinary people into His mission.

After Stephen's murder, the church scattered. Satan thought a major victory had been won, but God had other plans. As the church was scattered, ordinary men and women shared about Jesus. What does it mean for you and I to be missionaries today? What does it mean for us as a church?