Podcasts about all god

Paul moved from doctrine to practice, from the truth to its application in daily living. In order to encourage his readers to turn away from their false teachers Paul reminded them of their union with Christ. He also urged them to continue living in keeping with their position in Christ. Chapter three begins the practical division of the book of Colossians. Paul now moves to the positive. Not only does the death of Christ relate to the believer but so does the resurrection of Christ. The one relates to our salvation in the past; the other relates to our future. Not only is the Christian to relinquish his pre-death life but he is to seek the post-resurrection life of Christ. Jesus liberated us from legalism. We have new privileges in Christ. Chapter three launches our responsibility to live up to our privilege.             Chapter 3 follows chapter 2. In chapter 2 he talked about those things which are below. He's thinking about those things that are on the earth, and he defined those things which are on the earth. And then he goes into chapter 3 and says, “But if you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.”   Our passage is really a hinge passage.  In the first half of Colossians, we have four chapters and we're moving our way into the second half now, in the first half as Paul tends to do in many of his letters, he is making many revealing statements of theological truth.  This includes statements where he is saying things like here is who Christ is.  That's one category of these revealing statements, here is who Christ is.  He is the image of the invisible God, He is the firstborn of all creation, by Him all things were created, He is before all things and in Him all things hold together, and He is the head of the body, the church.  So, it's here who Christ is.  Then there are these statements of here is who you are, Christian.  You were formerly alienated and engaged in evil deeds, but “now you have been redeemed and forgiven and reconciled, now you have been rescued from that domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13) and transferred into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”  So, it's here who Christ is; here is who you are, believer.  Then category three; has been and here is who they are, meaning the false teachers.  Those would be the ones who would seek to take you captive through philosophy and empty deception.  Those would be the ones who would seek to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or festivals or new moons or Sabbath days.  Those would be the ones who would seek to defraud you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of angels.  Those would be the ones who would take their stand on visions that they say they have seen and who are inflated without cause in their fleshly mind.  And those would be the ones who promote self-made religion (Colossians 2:23), self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, which he says, “are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”    But in Colossians 3, Paul is moving away from this is who Christ is and this is who you are, and this is who they are type of statements, he's moving away from these revealing statements to giving us more commands.  Now he is going to do so in Colossians 3 and 4 and be no less theological and no less doctrinal, but the words here in Colossians 3 and 4, that we're going to cover in the future have more of a finger in your chest, step on your toes, this is what you have to do now tone to them.            In verses 1 and 2, he is going to highlight events that happened at a fixed point in the past.  “You have been raised up with Christ,” he says.  Then in verse 3 he is going to use a different verb tense, one that has more present-day ramifications.  “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  In verse 4 he is going to get into yet another verb tense, one that is more futuristic in its orientation when he says, “When Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  So, as we survey this section of inspired Scripture what we're going to witness is Paul not only slowly transitioning from giving more commands than mere statements.  Layered on top of that we're going to see him make these statements that pull in from the past, that point to the present and also highlight the future.  It's a magnificent section of Scripture.  No wonder H. C. G. Moule, the old Anglican bishop, said this.  He said, “It is one of the golden paragraphs of the whole Bible” "If then you were raised with Christ" OR therefore since We could translate "If" as "Since" (first class condition in Greek). It introduces another "in Christ" position that Paul assumed to be true for the sake of his argument and which is indeed true (cf. 2:20). Paul returned to his thought about the believer's union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (2:9-15).           That God has already raised us with Christ, is an assumed fact. It is a fact that God has raised us with Christ (Eph 2:5,6). God sees better than we do but he expects us to see what he has done in Christ with the eye of faith. This has nothing to do with our feelings. We cannot taste, feel or smell positional truth. Our position in Christ is infallible, unalterable, eternal and exalted. God said it and our faith lays hold of it. All God wants is for us to lay hold of our privilege by faith. Our present resurrection with Christ is one of many expressions of our position in Christ. Positional truth cannot change. It is something we have forever with Christ. God provides our position with Christ. He establishes this position forever entirely apart from merit at the moment of our salvation. We can draw power daily from this resource. PRINCIPLE: God expects us to live the Christian life on the declared fact of our resurrection with Christ.                    Two present commands identify the Christian's responsibilities: "keep seeking" (v. 1) and "set your minds on" (v. 2). Since God raised us with Christ, and we are already as good as seated with Him in heaven, we should keep seeking heavenly things. Keep looking up (cf. Heb. 12:12:1-2) "seek those things which are above" is translated as Keep Seeking "Seek" is the first of many commands in the remaining practical section of Colossians. "Seek" means to pursue, search for, endeavor to obtain, desire to possess. If a legalist were writing this he would write "Don't ...." but Paul writes "Seek..." God wants us to apply our eternal privileges to time. Make those privileges our scope of daily living. Center our lives on the ascended and glorified Christ. "'Seek' (zeteite) implies here not an investigation but an effort to obtain.       We are to travel in this world as we walk through our lives, but instead is a reference to the direction that our gaze should be going, as those whose citizenship (Philippians 3:20) is in heaven, as those whose inheritance (I Peter 1:4) is reserved in heaven and as those who (as Hebrews 11:16 says) are awaiting a heavenly country.           What you seek is what your ambition is. Your ambition is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) The devil doesn't care what on earth you may seek, as long as you do not seek those things which are above.        The next verses explain how to go about seeking things above. Non-Christians are earth-bound, secular, materialists. They operate in a world of taste, see and feel. They spend all their time trying to keep body and soul together. That is life to them. They do not know that there is more to life than that. For the Christian, his life is Christ (v.4). This is far more than existence. When we center our lives on Christ, life takes on a purpose, a life worth living.           The Bible is the mind of God reduced to writing. We have what we need for the Christian life in writing. We have the Holy Spirit to help us dig it out.            God wants us to rest on what Christ has done, not on what we do. Everything we have before God is because we have been incorporated in Christ at our salvation. The Christian experience must relate to our position in Christ. "where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" Jesus is seated at "the right hand of God." This is the completeness of our position. Our status quo before God in Christ is already finished in God's eyes. Our position is complete in the mind of God. "The description of Christ as 'seated at the right hand of God' is another implied response to those who were seeking to diminish Christ's role as mediator, inasmuch as the right hand of God is a metaphor for the place of supreme privilege and divine authority."5 Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." "Set your mind on things above"           The Christian's second responsibility it to continually set his or her mind on the things above (the things of heaven; i.e., our spiritual blessings and hope, our Savior's desires, etc.) rather than on the things that are only physical and temporal. They should occupy a large place in our thought lives.        Paul turns to a stronger term than "seek" of verse one -- "Set your mind." "Set your mind" places stress on the whole bent of life while "seek" emphasizes the pursuit of more concrete goals.     "You must not only seek heaven; you must also think heaven." 1 lightfoot            From now on the Christian will see everything in the light and against the background of eternity. He will no longer live as if this world was all that mattered; he will see this world against the background of the larger world of eternity. … He will, for instance, set giving above getting, serving above ruling, forgiving above avenging. The Christian will see things, not as they appear to men, but as they appear to God."2             "The Christian has to keep his feet upon the earth, but his head in the heavens. He must be heavenly- minded here on earth and so help to make earth like heaven."3            The two commands differ in that the first emphasizes the more practical pursuits of life whereas the second stresses the whole bent of the life. The first is outward and the second is inward.         Intellectual brilliance, advanced education, or unusual physical strength are not required for a Christian to become great in God's estimation. What He requires is faithful perseverance in the basics of the Christian life. Any Christian can do this since we all have the help of the Lord Himself.           If the Christian is to survive in spiritual war, his mind must focus on eternal things (2 Cor. 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   "Seek" in verse one implies striving; Set your mind implies concentration. "Mind" includes understanding, attitude and the will. It means to employ one's faculty for thoughtful planning, with emphasis upon the underlying attitude -- to have an attitude, to think in a particular manner as in the attitude that Christ Jesus had (Phil. 2.5).            "Christ's sitting at God's right hand is the exercise of all the majesty and the power of deity according to his human nature."2 "That is a place, heaven itself, where a glorified Man, Himself God the Son, is seated, His work of salvation finished."3     This word also means to keep on giving serious consideration to something -- to ponder, to let one's mind dwell on, to keep thinking about, to fix one's attention on as here -- "Let your mind dwell on the things which are above." God wants us to love "things above." The Greek emphasizes "things above." "Things above" are the things which are ultimately essential, belonging to God. He wants our desire to orient around them.    Our greatest need is to think about God's divine operating assets which he has provided for us. God wants us to think about Christ and what he has done for us. We need to think about our union or position with him eternally. "not on things on the earth" "Things on the earth" is set in contrast to "things above." These are moral things, not physical things. This is not Gnostic contempt for material things. Paul is not pushing spiritual escapism such as becoming a monk or hiding from everyday life. Rather, our Christianity operates within the framework of everyday life whether in work or marriage. God created physical things for our enjoyment (Ps. 24).           Philippians 3:19-20 contrasts those who "mind earthly things" with those whose citizenship is in heaven. PRINCIPLE: God does not want us to focus on the trivial but on the eternal. APPLICATION: Most of the things we think about are materialistic. It is not wrong to think about material things as long as material things do not become ultimate importance in our hearts. We must make a living; we must shop for groceries. God expects us to become productive members of the human race.   Our problem is we think about material things exclusively. If we are earthbound, we will be miserable. We will have a worm's eye view of life instead of a bird's eye view. Materialism is so insidious that we succumb to it without realizing it. If we are honest, there is none of us who are not susceptible to it. We are forced to admit that "I do have materialistic tendencies." We do not need faith when we deal in material things. We taste, feel, see and touch material things but faith takes us into another arena. Faith takes us into a spiritual stratosphere. There we can see things we could not see with a material viewpoint. Faith is the spiritual telescope that brings the things of God afar off near to our soul. We can, therefore, see things we could not otherwise see. Faith puts reality on intangible things. Eternal things are real but they are only real to those who have faith to see them. It was written of Moses, "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27). God calls upon us to think about eternal things. He wants us to be heavenly-minded. However, we are not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. Most of us are so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good.    Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Raising a daughter with a heart of compassion and Christ-like love means helping her see the dignity, value, and worth of every person—including those who are differently abled. But as parents, how do we guide our girls in developing genuine empathy and understanding? How can we equip them to navigate friendships with peers who have disabilities with confidence, kindness, and a Biblical Worldview?  In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, host Patti Garibay, Founder & Executive Director of American Heritage Girls, welcomes Shauna Amick, disability rights advocate, mother of a child with Down syndrome, and a key member of Joni & Friends, the global ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada. Together, they explore how families can instill in their daughters the heart of Christ when it comes to inclusion, friendship, and honoring those with disabilities.  We'll dive into Shauna's powerful personal story—how her daughter's diagnosis transformed her faith and deepened her understanding of God's purpose in suffering. She shares insights on how parents can model and teach empathy, drawing from both scripture and her work with Joni & Friends. We'll also discuss practical ways to help young girls befriend and uplift peers with disabilities, address common fears or misconceptions, and reinforce the truth that every life is created in God's image.  Patti and Shauna also highlight the long-standing partnership between American Heritage Girls and Joni & Friends, including the development of the All God's Children Badge Program, AHG's Serving Persons Impacted by Disabilities National Day of Service Initiative, and the new children's book A Paintbrush for Joni.  If you're a parent, grandparent, or mentor looking for Christ-centered wisdom on raising a compassionate, service-minded daughter who sees all people through God's eyes, this episode is a must-listen.  To learn more about disability ministry resources that can transform your family's approach to inclusion and service, visit joniandfriends.org.  Find an American Heritage Girls Troop near you, visit americanheritagegirls.org       Add even more Biblical wisdom to your parenting quiver, visit raisinggodlygirls.com

"All God's giants have been weak people"-Hudson Taylor. God meets the weak and becomes their strength. When that happens our mindset shifts from I can't do this without you to I won't do thus without you.

For your convenience and as an outreach of our ministry, this video is shared from our Sunday Worship Service. This week we begin the season of Lent by reading about the Temptation of Christ from Luke 4:1-13 and hearing from Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 describe nearness to God as shelter. ​[Leader:] The God of our ancestors heard our cries; [Deut. 26:7, 8]and saw our oppression when we were slaves in Egypt. [Ps. 91:1, 9, 15–16][ALL:] God brought us out with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,with signs and wonders God brought usthrough the wilderness.​[Leader:] The Lord, our shelter, our refuge, our dwelling place, says,[ALL:] “When my people call to me, I will answer them;I will be with them in trouble;I will show them my salvation.”www.JesusLoves757.com/sunday

Today Deacon Harold & Ace are sharing from the Beacon of Truth Playlist talking about the song "All God's People" by Queen. The purpose is not to over spiritualize songs but ones that have spoken to us and maybe you and what we can learn from them as we apply wisdom and truth to our faith. Also looking at Soulful Psalm 98.

For your convenience and as an outreach of our ministry, this video is shared from our Sunday Worship Service. This week we read from Luke 9:28-36 and Exodus 34:29-35 with a sermon by Pastor Scott Crowder that looks at what it means to glorify Christ in our lives, choosing virtue over vice.[Leader:] What is God's will?[ALL:] God's will is to reconcile all things to himself in Jesus Christ and to establish his kingdom on the earth. His will is revealed in the whole of Scripture and especially in Jesus Christ, whom I am called to serve and imitate with my whole life. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Psalm 119:1-16, 104-5; Proverbs 4:1-9; Matthew 22:36-40; John 6:39-40; Romans 8:28-30; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:78-19)​[Leader:] What does God desire to accomplish in your life?[ALL:] God desires to free me from captivity to sin and transform me into the image of Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy Spirit. (Exodus 33:18-23;34:29-35; Psalm 27:4, 7-14; Matthew 17:1-9; Romans 6:5-II; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18)www.JesusLoves757.com/sunday

Wednesday, 5 March 2025   For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,' and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it.” Matthew 8:9   “For I also, I am a man under authority, having under me soldiers. And I say to this, ‘You go,' and he goes. And to another, ‘You come,' and he comes. And to my slave, ‘You do this,' and he does.” (CG).   In the previous verse, the centurion showed great humility before Jesus. He noted he was unworthy that the Lord would come under his roof, and rather implored Him to just speak a word and his servant would be healed. Next, he explains how he knew Jesus could do that, beginning with, “For I also, I am a man under authority.”   The KJV inexplicably leaves out the word kai, translated as “also.” It is found in all manuscripts. The centurion is placing himself in the same situation as Jesus. They are both men and they both have powers subject to them. Leaving out the word also destroys the comparison and sets the centurion apart from Jesus, distancing the entire discourse he is about to make from Jesus.   As for his words, the meaning is not that he is under someone else's authority but that he is a man who possesses authority over others. Being a centurion, both were true, but his words refer to those under him. He led a contingent of one hundred men bearing arms. But he would also have servants under him as well.   Understanding this, he explains what his authority entailed, saying, “having under me soldiers.”   A soldier in the Roman army was led by those appointed over him and he was to comply without asking why. His superiors were given the absolute right to make decisions for him and he simply responded with obedience and compliance. He had no right to disobey unless his superior was in violation of Roman law.   This is how militaries are normally run. There is to be adherence to lawful orders without question or complaint. When this structure breaks down, the effectiveness of the unit and the army will be compromised. Therefore, the centurion continues with, “And I say to this, ‘You go,' and he goes. And to another, ‘You come,' and he comes.”   This is the life of an underling in the military. The word that is spoken is to be considered an order. In a word as just mentioned by the centurion, there is no occasion to say, “Why do I have to do that?” or “I will be there in twenty minutes because I am having dinner now.” Rather, immediate and absolute compliance is expected.   The reason for this is that when the time for engagement of an enemy comes, the soldier must be so thoroughly conditioned to obedience that he will not hesitate. Even in the face of death, his responsibility is to the one appointed above him. And this is because the one appointed above him went through the same process of growing through obedience that he is now going through.   Eventually, each higher level was to give the same obedience to those above them until the decision was left at the feet of the emperor, the final and supreme decider who represented the Roman Empire. Understanding this, the centurion continues with, “And to my slave, ‘You do this,' and he does.”   Here is a new word, doulos, a slave or a bondservant. The word can be literal or figurative and the state can be voluntary or involuntary. This is different from the pais, servant, of verse 8:6. That generally signifies a child under training which emphasizes the ongoing development that is needed to attain the height of his destiny.   The doulos may very well be born as a slave, live as a slave, and die as a slave. He may have no destiny to attain. Rather, he was normally considered property and would often even be a part of the next generation's inheritance.   Like the soldier, such a person had no right to question why. He had nothing on which he could base a complaint, and if he were to attempt to escape, he would be subject to intense discipline or even death. As such, their life was one of obedience without question.   Understanding the nature of these two categories, the reason he is saying these words to Jesus becomes evident. This centurion understood that Jesus held authority. His word was a command and its compliance to His word was absolute. If Jesus spoke a word of healing, it would come about as surely as the centurion's soldier or slave would comply with his own directive word.   Life application: This Gentile had heard the word about Jesus, had understood that what he was told was a sign of authority, and had then equated this authority to his own. The miracles that had been told him made him understand that what he had heard meant that what Jesus could do signified power within the spoken word itself.   Therefore, he perceived Jesus was unlike any doctor or physician who had to wield his intelligence, physical stamina, skill with a knife, etc. Rather, the only effort required to accomplish His word was to utter it.   In other words, the centurion was demonstrating faith in Jesus' power without even having seen it with his own eyes. He knew what he heard was true and he accepted that it was so.   Now, with the word about Jesus' fulfillment of the law, death in fulfillment of it, and resurrection from the state of death, we have the chance to likewise participate, by faith, in what Jesus is doing. He is building a church in the presence of His Father. All God asks us to do is believe. Through faith, we are counted righteous before God.   This is the message of the Bible. God sent His Son on a mission. Jesus accomplished that mission, and now He offers us the chance to join Him in what He is doing. The way to participate is to believe that it is so. Believe and receive. Eternal life awaits!   “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Ephesians 2:5-11   Heavenly Father, You have made our reconciliation with You as simple as it gets. You just ask for faith that we accept the word, believing that You have done everything necessary to restore us to You through Christ our Lord. We believe and we receive! Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

Are you feeling drained, overwhelmed, or spiritually disconnected? In this powerful episode, host Jodie Chiricosta sits down with Mindy Caliguire to discuss her transformative journey of soul care—learning to move from exhaustion to a life of deep spiritual renewal. As the founder of SoulCare, Mindy is dedicated to helping others cultivate inner health while pursuing their calling. She opens up about her struggles with burnout, the importance of abiding in Christ, and the practical tools that can help you reconnect with God in a meaningful way.Jodie and Mindy dive into what it truly means to flourish—moment by moment, day by day—while navigating the demands of life and leadership. They also explore how soul care goes beyond self-care, offering a deeper, lasting restoration that comes from aligning with God rather than just managing stress. Whether you're a leader, a caregiver, or simply someone longing for rest, this conversation will inspire you to nurture your soul and embrace a life of abundance. Don't miss this uplifting and insightful episode!Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netYou can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

To be faithful with what God has given us is the most important thing. In our dying moment, it is all that will matter to us. All God requires, and all of God's promises of reward are based upon faithfulness - not performance, and not great accomplishments. What God gives a person, as far as knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, and the truths of the Word of God that make up God's ways, he must never water down or mix with false doctrine for any reason, if he expects to hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." How faithful have you been with what you once knew to be true?

Embracing the Father Heart of God changes everything! Listen as Anna Harris, founder of Defined by God Ministries, shares her powerful journey of overcoming feelings of abandonment and discovering her true identity as God's beloved daughter. From adoption struggles to embracing the Father's unconditional love, Anna reveals how this revelation sparked healing and spiritual growth.In this episode, you'll learn how to overcome feelings of rejection, embrace your identity as God's child, and find practical steps to deepen your relationship with Him. If you're seeking healing and transformation through God's love, this episode is for you. Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONALand to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.net FOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares X: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

In a world full of distractions, how in the world are we supposed to hear God's still small voice? When people say things like, “God told me, or God said,” what does that sound like? And how do I know who's talking? Discover the joy, peace, and genuine happiness that comes from living a life in alignment with God. In this episode of the Powerhouse Podcast, Coach Megan explores the fulfillment and freedom found in a purified life, free from deceit and rooted in God's love and rewards for His diligent followers. Learn how to move forward with a clean slate, embracing a life where God's got your back. Quotes:   2:02       “   Part of becoming a successful person and a mature developed person is…”   3:08      “   All God things are good things, but not all good things are God things.”   8:15      “  Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time.”   MASTERMIND 2025 https://mastermind.powerhousepageantry.com   Grab our BRAND NEW FREE PAGEANT COURSE: powerhousepageantry.com/freecourse  READY TO BE YOUR BEST SELF? GET THE “THINK LIKE A WINNER” COURSE HERE: https://powerhousepageantry.com/tlaw-sales-page   For more free pageant coaching content, follow us on IG  www.instagram.com/powerhousepageantry  wwwinstagram.com/meganswansonrhodes www.youtube.com/@powerhousepageantry   If you want to place higher or win your pageant this year, and you're ready to work with us, click here to apply for a free call with Coach Megan to create your “Place Higher” strategy for 2025 and see if you qualify to work with the best coaches in the pageant world! https://sessions.powerhousepageantry.com/chat  

What if your deepest pain was actually preparing you for your greatest calling?In this powerful episode, Dawn Gibler shares her journey of faith, healing, and purpose. From discovering unresolved trauma to working in an anti-trafficking ministry, she reveals how God transformed her pain into a calling. She discusses her transition from teaching to becoming the Awareness and Intervention Director at Elijah Rising, where she empowers women trapped in exploitation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dawn's story is a testament to God's grace, healing, and the power of perseverance. It is also a reminder that healing is a journey, and God patiently walks with us through every step. Whether through ministry, personal struggles, or unexpected opportunities, He uses all things for His glory.If you've struggled with unresolved pain, overcommitment in ministry, or finding balance in your faith walk, Dawn's story offers encouragement and hope.Rate the Show!Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration!Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests.Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today!Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org,Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmericaYoutube: SomebodyCaresAmericaRumble: SomebodyCaresX: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares AmericaYou can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

Our readings today – in Exodus and Romans tie in together in their reference to the exaltation of Moses, now ready, in God's sight, to serve him after 40 years of preparation “in the land of Midian.”  Moses is now a meek and humble man (Numbers 12 v.3) – God can now use him. Paul's points in our Roman's chapter (9) are illuminating: first, he states  how God “says to Moses, ‘'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy… So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.'” [v.15,16] In our Exodus reading yesterday we saw how God could not use Moses' own “will and exertion” [2 v.11-15].  Paul then drives home the lesson that one cannot deserve, i.e. ‘earn' God's blessing by their own efforts. All God's blessings are an expression of God's mercy. This is parallel to talking about God's grace; therefore it is really saddening today when so many talk and write glibly about ‘grace' as though it is an ever-flowing factor that they can be certain about – regardless of how they behave, Paul next makes the point that “Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth'”. [v.17]  This is not the proclamation of God's actual name as an intellectual understanding, but of God's reputation that was about to be established by what he did.  We will read of this in the next few days; the dramatic deliverance from Egypt of the descendants of Jacob. In relation to this look carefully at our reading in Exodus 3  where God's name is given as , “I will be what I will be” [v.14 – as shown in the ESV footnote] Primarily, this means God will ‘make' his name, that is, his reputation, by what is about to happen – “This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” [v.15]   Their deliverance from Egypt became a ‘memorial' which all generations would look back to – as a foundation for their confidence in God.  Thus, when we come to read Psalm 135 and its praises to the LORD we will see the full significance in v.8-13 of the LORD's name and “renown.”  It is fully expressed in Isaiah 63 v.11-14 how you God “led your people to make for yourself a glorious name.”  Daniel makes the same point in his impassioned prayer (9 v.15)  In the same way we look back to the sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior – and how God made for himself the name of ‘Father.'  We are privileged to call God  ‘Father' – but how many “hallow” that name when they say the Lord's Prayer.  Do we?   Just as vital is to ask; how many are striving to make a ‘name' for themselves which Christ will “remember” when the time comes for him to “confess' what those in his service have achieved according to the “talents” given to them?  Think about what Jesus says in Rev. 3 v.5, “The one who conquers (him/herself!) … I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”    Our ‘name” that Christ will “confess” will be achieved in many different ways; for example, to quote James 1 v.27, “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”   

In the Kingdom, some people receive more than others. In the Kingdom, some people know Jesus deeper. In the Kingdom, some people experience greater things. Often, the difference between those who experience ALL God has for them and those who live a limited Christian life is they don't truly believe they are a very qualified candidate for the miraculous. There's enough to go around, you're not in competition, and God desires to pour his miracles over you today, RIGHT NOW! Subscribe to the latest sermons: http://bit.ly/TBCsermons To learn more about The Block Church: http://theblockchurch.org/ Stay Connected Facebook: http://bit.ly/2vOiaLa Instagram: http://bit.ly/2nzZNWB Twitter: http://bit.ly/2KEScPL #theblockchurch #ChurchOnline #Onlinechurch

Dereje Zeleke of All God's Children International joins the podcast to talk about supporting vulnerable children and families in Ethiopia using TBRI. Links from this episode: AGCI TBRI Ambassador Organizations Follow Dereje: LinkedIn | Facebook

Pay attention! God has something to say to you! Throughout Paula Mullen' life God has directed her in various ways. Listen as she shares her inspiring journey of faith, from her immigrant roots and Catholic upbringing to her transformative experiences with prayer, fasting, and motherhood. Discover how she found God's guidance through trials, embraced the joys of adoption, and balanced career, marriage, and family life, all while trusting in His provision. You'll be encouraged in your faith walk and inspired to pay attention to His gentle voice too!Rate the Show!Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration!Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests.Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today!Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org,Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.net

You'll only go so far if you're a Christian in a backslid lifestyle. Once you get into sin God will point it out. It's then your responsibility to get rid of that sin by repentance. Christians today have turned their backs on God and are wallowing around in their pigpen. God knows what you're doing and not done. He sees you from afar when you're in sin. He welcomes you to come back to Him. All He wants is for you to say, “I'm sorry.” If you're a Christian, then you know when you've sinned. We all have something we do that's sinful. It might be the thoughts you have on others while you're driving. When you turn your back on God then you're spiritually dead. God doesn't make mistakes. He does exactly what He says He's going to do. All God wants is for us to walk in His path after Him. Do you have a hard time walking a Christian walk? More than likely you're lost and never been saved. It's not a struggle to be Christian because it is not self that makes one a Christian.

'About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized, and the voice was heard from the Heavens bearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13 17; Mark 1:9 11; Luke 3:1 22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Chist and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Great Horologion)   When Thou was baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee. — Troparion of Theophany   'But Christ's descent into the river has also a further significance. When Christ went down into the waters, not only did he carry us down with Him and make us clean, but He also made clean the nature of the waters themselves... The feast of Theophany has thus a cosmic aspect. The fall of the angelic orders, and after it the fall of man, involved the whole universe. All God's creation was thereby warped and disfigured: to use the symbolism of the liturgical texts, the waters were made a "lair of dragons". Christ came on earth to redeem not only man but through man the entire material creation. When He entered the water, besides effecting by anticipation our rebirth in the font, he likewise effected the cleansing of the waters, their transfiguration into an organ of healing and grace.' Bishop Kallistos, "Background and meaning of the Feasts" in the Festal Menaion.   The western feast of Epiphany, also on this day, commemorates not Christ's baptism but the adoration of the Magi.

Did you know you have a unique and vital role in God's masterpiece? From seemingly small acts to courageous decisions, God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. The women in Moses' life—midwives, mothers, sisters, and even Pharaoh's daughter—each played a key role in fulfilling God's grand plan, demonstrating how faithfulness in our daily tasks can lead to incredible outcomes.Join host Jodie Chiricosta as she explores these inspiring stories and unpacks how you, too, are part of God's intricate design. Through scripture and powerful examples, discover how saying “Yes!” to God's call transforms your life and helps fulfill His eternal purposes. No matter how small your role may seem, God's plan for you is significant, and His work is nothing short of a masterpiece.Tune in and be inspired to embrace your place in God's extraordinary story!Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.net

John 1:1-13,1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. The first Sunday of a new year is a good time for a new series — and to give spiritual focus to a new year. New years are like new beginnings. The old is gone. It's over. You can't change it. Now the new has come. All of 2025 lies ahead. What might this new year bring? And who might we be together as a church in 2025?I'm not sure we could find a better new-year's passage than these opening verses of John, because what they mainly do is celebrate Jesus. That's how we will start 2025 as a church: making much of Jesus, considering him, enjoying him, marveling at him — which is how John opens his Gospel. Three Excellencies of JesusThe apostle John, who will five times call himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (13:23; 19:26; 20:2, 7, 20), knew Jesus as closely as anyone during his earthly life. And as his dearest friend and companion, he begins his Gospel in awe, in a spirit of worship. Perhaps you felt the dramatic flair as you heard these verses read.John begins like a show that opens with fog on the stage. He talks about a particular person, but uses images, and doesn't reveal this person's name until verse 17. This person is the Word, he says, capital W. The Word of God who is with God and is God.And he is the true Light. Other lights are secondary at best, and he eclipses them when he shines in his full strength. And this world was made through him, John says, and he came into the world he made, and the world did not know him. Who is this person? We'll see next week in verse 14 that he became flesh, human, and dwelled among us. Then finally comes verse 17: the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through . . . Jesus Christ.So, John begins in this dramatic, worshipful spirit with elevated and “rhythmical prose.” These opening verses are not poetry, but they are stylized, carefully chosen words with short, punchy sentences and striking repetition of key words: Verses 1–3: beginning, word, word, God, God, word, beginning, God, made, made, made.Verses 4–5: life, life, light, light, darkness, darkness.Verses 7–8: witness, witness, light, light, witness, light.There is fog and rays of light as John introduces and anticipates the key themes that are to come. And as John worships in these opening verses, he celebrates three particular excellencies of Jesus Christ.So, here's our plan: let's celebrate with John these three excellencies of Jesus as we begin 2025.1. Jesus Is God's Word to the World (verses 1–3)That is, he is the divine Word. This is the lead image in these verses; John starts with Word and comes back to Word in verse 14. Until he names him as Jesus Christ in verse 17, he is the Word.Why Word? John could have started, with his dramatic flair, in so many ways. Why start with Word? Why not Son, S-O-N? Why not sun, S-U-N? Why not Christ or King or Lord?John writes in Greek. And the word for word in Greek (logos) has a certain intrigue. It often was invested with philosophical significance. Logos was provocative, yet at the same time, its connotations were not too fixed and singular. It was flexible enough for Christian use.But more than that was the Hebrew background. The Old Testament is chalk full of the divine Word: God's word to his prophets, and God's speaking through them to his people. And John starts with “In the beginning,” which brings to mind Genesis 1, where the Bible begins with “In the beginning...” And you know what (or who) is the sleeper in Genesis 1? The Word of God. Eleven times Genesis 1 says, “God said”; four more times, “God called”; two more times, “God blessed.” If you ask, How did God create the world? What did he do to create? How did he act in Genesis 1? The clear answer is he spoke. He said. He called. He blessed. He made the world through his Word (as Hebrews 11:3 says, “the universe was created by the word of God”).But more than even that, as we'll see in this Gospel, Word anticipates the fullness of Christ, in his coming, as God's final, decisive Word. Jesus is not just a revelation of God, and even a very special revelation of God. He is the climactic and decisive revelation of God to humanity. As verse 18 will say, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” And Jesus will say to Philip in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus is God's Word to humanity.All God's lowercase words are preparing the way and pointing to his uppercase Word, Jesus. God's singular word, for all time, for all humanity, is Jesus.So, John begins his Gospel in verses 1–3:In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.Here John bundles together two essential truths about this divine Word. One, the speaking, self-reveling, self-disclosing of God almighty — is God himself: “the Word was God.” And this divine Word is not just God's own self, but two, he is God's eternal fellow. He was “with God” — which is not an adversarial with but a with of peace, love, mutual joy, shared life. It's a with of intimacy, companionship, personal relationship — a with-ness of persons before creation.The divine Word is God and with God. One divine essence, as the church would learn to say, and (here) two divine persons, as we'll soon see in this Gospel — Father and Son. (And soon enough a third divine Person will emerge!)What do we mean, then, when we celebrate Jesus as the Word of God? As God, he is fully divine, fully God, God himself. And as God's Word, he reveals God, perfectly. He proceeds from God to reveal God. He makes God known to us. Jesus shows us God and tells us about God. He is God himself and the climactic and final place that we look to, and listen to, that we might know God. He is the divine Word who became human: Jesus Christ.Tangible Word in 2025So, how might we make it tangible here at the outset of a new year? What difference might it make in 2025 that Jesus is the divine Word, God's word to us?Well, for one, know this about yourself, and learn to live in light of it: you were made to receive a Word from God. Or, say it this way, God made you to hear his revelation and respond to him. One of the strangest things about you, next to your nose, is those holes in the side of your heads. Have you ever thought about that? You have holes, God-designed holes, on either side of your head. And you know what those holes are made for? Words. Not just sounds and noises. Mainly words. The height of human hearing is receiving words.God made us to hear the words of our fellow humans, and he made us to hear him through his word, whether read or heard from someone reading aloud or heard through preaching. God made our souls, our inner person, to feed and live by hearing words through our ears. Like Jesus said, battling Satan's temptations in the wilderness, and quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”Try this for 2025: What if you attempted to have God's Voice, through his Word, be the first voice you heard in the morning? Not the word of texts and emails and notifications. Not the anxious voice of national news. Not the endless scores and numbers of ESPN and fantasy football. Not the broken English your aunt posts to Facebook, or the clips from your niece on TikTok.What if day after day, the first voice you heard was God's through his Word, Jesus, through his word, the Bible? How might your soul live, really live, if you started the day hearing God himself, feeding on God himself, in Jesus, rather than on the gravel of news and other noise?2. Jesus Is Our True Light (verses 5–9)Divine Word is the main term, but true light is the dominant image (light appears seven times in verses 4–10).In the rest of the Gospel, we'll see light is about salvation from our sin and the death sin deserves. But here, right after verses 1–3, light is first about creation. The Word shines in his world and makes sense of the world like no other light. Verses 4–9:In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.Three quick clarifications. First, look at the word “overcome” in verse 5. Other translations have “comprehend.” A good word that's a close equivalent in English is “grasp” (another is the verb “master”). You can grasp someone physically and overcome them; you can also grasp something mentally and understand it. I think that's what John means here: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.” This anticipates the rejection theme we'll see again in a few moments, and throughout this Gospel.Second, see the word “true” in verse 9. We will see this over and over. When John says “true,” he doesn't just distinguish true from false, but the real and genuine from rival claims — true bread, true worshipers, true drink, true vine. Sometimes, he means ultimate. The light that came before was true (in nature and in the Old Testament), but now the true light has come, the ultimate light. It's a contrast with what came earlier and anticipated what was to come, and has now come, in Jesus. Creation itself and all the more the Old Testament and Israel and its temple and regulations gave light. But now the true light has come, the definitive light, the climactic light, the ultimate light.Which leads, third, to that phrase “gives light to everyone.” What does John mean that Jesus, “the true light . . . gives light to everyone”? Or better, how does he shine on all humans?His shining on all humans does not mean he saves them all, or even that all humans hear the name and full story of Jesus. They will not hear his name and the truth about him if Christians don't send and go and tell. What “shine on all humans” does mean is that Jesus divides humanity. His light divides the world. We'll see this in verses 10–13. Before the light comes, all are in the darkness of sin and death:John 3:19,“…this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”John 12:46,“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”Because of sin, our world is in darkness. The divine light shines enough to condemn through creation. And the divine light shines through the law and prophets and God's first-covenant people. Then in Jesus comes the true light, and for two thousand years, he has been the decisive issue in the world. What you do with Jesus, how you respond when the true light shines on you, either leads to life, or keeps you in the grip of death.Which brings to mind a famous statement by C.S. Lewis:I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.Jesus, the true light, is the one person who makes sense of the world. Or, Christianity is the faith that makes the most sense of the world in which we live. Its account of the world's goodness in the doctrine of creation. Its account of the world's pervasive darkness in the doctrine of sin. And its account of hope and redemption in the coming of the Divine Word, the true light, to secure for us real life. Which leads to the third image, and the one that meets us most deeply where we are as humans, as we'll see in verse 12.3. Jesus Gives Us Real Life (verse 4)The Gospel of John has much to say about life: God's life, human life, spiritual life, abundant life, and the most frequent mention, eternal life. For now, we'll just touch on this theme, and then we'll enjoy it scene by scene in the coming months.Just as the backdrop or contrast for light is darkness, so the contrast for life is death, or perishing (10:28), wrath (3:36), and judgment (5:29). Life begins with God. Jesus, like his Father, has life in himself (5:26). He creates and gives life, and he is able to give spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead because of sin. Jesus is “the bread of life” (6:48), “the resurrection and the life” (11:25), “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6).In verse 4, Jesus, as God, is the source of all created life: “In him was life.” As God, he breathes life into all who live. But they are born into sin, and walk in darkness, under divine wrath and the just sentence of death, destined to perish forever. But Jesus lays down his own life to give life to his people (John 10:11, 15, 17; 15:13).This life is eternal, indestructible life, and it begins now, in the heart, in this earthly life (4:14 and 6:27, 33, 35; 6:63; 8:12; 10:10). We drink and eat now, by faith, and have divine life already in our souls by the Holy Spirit. And this spiritual life now leads to eternal life, which is the most important meaning of life. (Life eternal is already in those who believe: 5:24, 39-40; 6:53-54)And what is the essence of this eternal life? John 17:3: “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”Death and Life in Verses 10–13How, then, does the life that is in Jesus relate to verses 10–13? Remember we said that Jesus, the true light, divides humanity. All are born into darkness. The light shines, and some come to the light; others turn from the light. Verses 10–11:He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him [the rejection theme we saw in verse 5]. 11 He came to his own [that is, his own land or home], and his own people did not receive him.The point here is life. Those who reject him, who is the life, do not have life — life in their souls now, and eternal life in the age to come.But then, verse 12:But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right [“authority”] to become children of God, 13 who were born [birth! That's life!], not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.There are two key elements here in having this life that is in Jesus. First is the legal, the “right.” What does John mean by “the right” to be children of God? This is right, not might. It's not power; it's authority. Official, formal, objective arrangements have been made such that there is a new covenant people, new covenant children, who are not based on ethnicity but faith. Not on first birth, but on new birth.When the Divine Word himself came, when the true light arrived, he brought with him a new formal arrangement for the people of God. Their right to be God's children, heirs of all his promises, and recipients of all privileges comes not through natural, human birth. John says: “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man.” How, then, does it come?That's the second element: the subjective. The heart. The inner person. You are not born into his new-covenant people, but born again into his people. We call this “new birth.” What is it?God himself is the source of this new life in the soul. It is birth “from above,” birth by his choice, spiritual birth in his timing. Our action and choice is not determinative but God's. But we experience it.The cry of this new life, then, is believing in Jesus — not just faith (noun) but believing (verb). It's active, not static. John emphasizes this in his Gospel by never using the noun for “faith” (pistis), while using the verb “believe” (pisteuō) 98 times.Which leads us to John's stated purpose for why he wrote this Gospel, 20:31:“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”That would be worth memorizing and praying regularly for yourself and others in 2025: John 20:31: Father, help me to believe and keep believing that Jesus is the Christ [long-promised human hero-king], the Son of God [both rightful king of Israel and eternal second person of the Godhead], and that by believing I may have life in his name.” If you're with us this morning, and you do not yet believe, this Gospel was written that you might (for the first time) believe and experience real life in your soul, and one day, eternal life. And if you believe in Jesus already, as perhaps most of us do in this room, this Gospel was written that you might keep believing, and grow stronger in believing, and deepen and enrich your experience even now of the real life in Jesus. The essence of this new life is not the external, outward circumstances of our lives that we're so prone to focus on. The essence is in us, the inner person, the heart, the desires. And so we end with the word “receive” in verse 12: “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”Receive Jesus with JoyWhat does it mean to “receive” Jesus? To receive him is to believe in him, but in what way? How do you receive him?You can receive something you don't like. You can receive a blow to the face. You can receive a pink slip. You can receive a traffic ticket. That's not the kind of receiving we're talking about here. We're not talking about receiving as a burden, or receiving with apathy. Jesus means to be received as a treasure.What's so amazing about this new birth, from God, is that he gives us a new heart. He puts in us new desires, so that when the divine Word comes to our ears, when the true light comes to our eyes, God's own life in us doesn't recoil from Jesus, or ignore Jesus, but receives him with joy. I believe in him. I enjoy him. I prize him. I treasure him.This heart is the heart of my prayer for us as a church in 2025: that we would receive him with increasing delight. Week after week, in the Gospel of John, glad reception. Give me more of Jesus. No apathy. No boredom. No burden. But eagerness. Joy.Our question for a new year is this: Where are you going for life? Where are you going for joy? Where are you trying to satisfy the deepest longings of your soul?Are you trying to drink it? Eat it? Watch it? Play it? Perform it? Accomplish it? Scroll it? I sat down next to a guy on a plane a couple months ago, just scrolling vigorously. Like he wanted life. He wanted joy. Like his soul was thirsty and he was trying to find something to satisfy. And he kept scrolling and scrolling, and I thought there's no way he can do this for more than a few minutes. And he scrolled like that, seeming so thirsty, for the whole flight from Atlanta to Springfield, Missouri.Are you like that, in front of a screen, at your job, in your eating and drinking, in your relationships, in your exercise, your automobile, your home decor — just vigorously clawing to find satisfaction there?What would it mean for you to “have life” in Jesus in 2025? Really have life? What needs to go? Or diminish? And what do you need to receive with joy more often and more deeply?Church Alive in '25And so we come to the Table to feed on Jesus for spiritual life, and drink in his grace, for life in our souls.Cities Church, let's seek to be fully alive in 2025 — alive in Jesus, and alive to Jesus.If you have new-year's resolutions, fine and good. Eat better. Exercise. Fine. Good secondary resolutions. But what are they serving? What's the focus? What if the focus were this: real life in your soul — Holy Spirit given and sustained affections for Jesus?

Send us a text6 Words of Wisdom for 2025 and Beyond!You'll never find peace living out of another person's head. If you are constantly worried about what other people are thinking, you will never be free to be who it is that God created you to be or free to do whatever it is that God has called you to do.God's not looking for ability, but availability. All God needs is your yes. It doesn't matter how unqualified you feel, but are you willing to say yes?Your weakest friend spiritually is the devil's strongest entry point. Surround yourself with friends who love Jesus as much as you do or more.If you can't say something nice, don't. If you can say something nice, do!  We live in a culture that is so critical…always criticizing everything! We aren't afraid to speak our minds and tell others how it should be. It's a lot easier for us to say mean things to others, than actually be nice. I encourage you, even if you don't have something nice to say, find something nice to say anyway.Never let what you did yesterday determine who you become today. When you mess up, run to God! When you run to Him, that's not when He first found out about it. He's not looking at you with an attitude of “How could you!” But He's looking at you with an attitude of, “Oh, my goodness, my daughter! I love you so much! Let's get through this together!”Choosing to forgive can't change your past, but it can change your future. Forgiveness isn't a feeling. Many people think, “I can't forgive because I'm still hurting.” Or “They don't deserve to be forgiven because of what they did.” Forgiveness is a choice, and it affects you more than it does them anyway. You forgive, because when you do, it sets a prisoner free…that prisoner is you! When we choose to hold onto unforgiveness, it makes us bitter. It changes us and not for the better. Ladies, check your emails this week for updates on the New UncommonTEEN App!!To ask your Ask Me Anything Questions or if you need prayer, head on over to UncommonTEEN.com.For the Ask Me Anything Questions, click on the RED BUTTON at the top of the screen. These questions may used on a future episode of the UncommonTEEN Podcast!For any prayer requests or more personal questions, click on the YELLOW CHAT TAB at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. These will not be used on the podcast unless you say you would like it to be used. Connect with Us!Website: UncommonTEEN.comInstagram: @uncommon.teenUncommonTEEN Live Conference: UncommonTEENlive.com

“The Mercy of God” by Pastor Mark (Scripture Reference … Psalm 86:5-7)5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.Ephesians 2:4-54 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)Psalm 103:108 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.Romans 10:1111 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.Sermon Notes:God's Mercy Brings Forgiveness God's Mercy Has No Limit God's Mercy Is Available to All God's Mercy is Guaranteed to Those Who Believe Feel free to learn more about this church and our ministries and activities. Web - https://firstbaptistwelcome.comPodcast - First Baptist WelcomeFB - https://www.facebook.com/FBCWelcomeOnlineInstagram - firstbaptistwelcomeYouTube -First Baptist Church WelcomeOur service times are every Sunday morning service at 11am.We also do a Live Service on Youtube, and our website.Online giving: https://firstbaptistwelcome.com/giving/Our service times are Sunday school - 9:45 am all agesSunday service - 11am (LIVE) as wellYouth service(Jesus Mafia) - 6:30pmTuesday night - Ladies Online Bible Study - More info https://firstbaptistwelcome.com/online-bible-study/Wednesday night 6:30 Men's bible study7:30 pm Bell choirOur LIVE services are at 11:00amWebsite www.firstbaptistwelcome.com/liveAnd on YouTube First Baptist Church WelcomeAbout 11:20 (just after praise songs)

Every year it feels like it's never going to come, until finally Christmas eve is here. After thousands of years of prophecy and after 400 years of waiting for a word from the Lord, Jesus finally came. All God had promised came through in the person of Jesus.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/todayssinglechristianSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sermon Series: “The Incarnation: God's Unwavering Commitment to His World” Sermon Text: Luke 2:1-16 Sermon Title: “Why the Incarnation?” Sermon Slides: SLIDE 1 – Sermon Title Slide SLIDE 2 – Today's Big Idea: In Jesus Christ … There's Good News for All God's Creation. But There's Even Better News for All God's People. SLIDE 3 – Point 1: The Incarnation is Good News … for All God's Creation. (Lk. 2:1-5, 8-10) SLIDE 4 – Colossians 1:15-17 – “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created … all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” SLIDE 5 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 6 – Matthew 3:13-17 – “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' … And when Jesus was baptized … he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” SLIDE 7 – Genesis 6:5-8 – “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth … So the Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.'” SLIDE 8 – 1 Peter 3:18-20 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God … in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared …” SLIDE 9 – Insert a Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 10 – Point 2: The Incarnation is Even Better News … for All God's People. (Lk. 2:6-7, 11-16) SLIDE 11 – Hebrews 10:5-7 - "Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me'.... Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.'" SLIDE 12 – Genesis 6:17-18 – “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven … But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.” SLIDE 13 – Exodus 2:1-3 – “Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.” SLIDE 14 – Insert a Copy of Point #2 of Sermon SLIDE 15 – Four Uses of This Sermon for Our Church and Lives. SLIDE 16 – God Rescuing the Whole Creation, Doesn't Mean God Saves All People. SLIDE 17 – Enter Into the Better Ark … to Be Saved from Judgment. SLIDE 18 – Stay Inside the Better Ark … to Stay Safe from Judgment. SLIDE 19 – Angels Announced. Mary Carried. Shepherds Shared. Now it's our Turn.

Scott Cheatham, CEO of e3 Partners and I Am Second, was raised in a Christian, entrepreneurial family in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Scott started off in the business world as a successful entrepreneur living the American dream. But God got his attention in a powerful way, and led him to sell it all without knowing where God was taking him next. Through baby steps of radical obedience, God led his family to the nations to plant churches in one of the darkest places in the world.   Today, Scott's business expertise and church planting experience have come together as he leads e3's church planting network across over 100 countries. Scott is also closely involved with the Coalition of the Willing, a massive coordination effort among church planting organizations to see the gospel reach every person and village.    Major topics include: Scott's inspiring story of radical obedience to God Maturing a church plant into a healthy church Building accountability structures in church plants Tips for telling your story and sharing the gospel Collaboration between church planting organizations to advance the gospel QUOTES TO REMEMBER “The more obedient we were to Jesus, the more we were prompted to want to do more.” “We have a mission statement for our family and it's simply this: Lord, help us to leverage every give, talent, and resource You have given us for the full extent of Your glory.” “Our life with Jesus is just baby steps of incremental obedience.” “We should be asking, ‘Lord, open our minds and our hearts to the opportunities that we have in front of us to have spiritual conversations.'” “There's not power in your words. There's power in Jesus' words.” “God's the one who does the work.” “When we speak the truth in love, God does the work.” “All God is asking for us is the simplicity of obedience.” “God is setting the world's stage for hope in Jesus.” “Ask yourself, ‘Where am I investing in lostness?'” LINKS FROM THE SHOW E3 Partners I Am Second Coalition of the Willing The Finish Line Community Facebook Group The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Acts 2:43-47 | The New Testament Church And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.

Do you yearn for true peace and a sense of God's favor in your life? That's exactly what He desires for you! In a world often marked by uncertainty and fear, Mary's story offers timeless wisdom and inspiration. Imagine her fear and doubt when the angel Gabriel appeared with life-changing news—yet she chose to trust in God's goodness.Join host Jodie Chiricosta as she unpacks the profound truths from Mary's journey. Discover how shifting your focus to God's love can calm your fears, renew your faith, and fill your life with His peace and favor. This episode will encourage you to embrace God's unshakable promises and walk in His divine plan for you. Don't miss this powerful episode!Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.net

“Thou, O God, hast prepared of Thy goodness for the poor.” — Psalm 68:10 All God's gifts are prepared gifts laid up in store for wants foreseen. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fulness which He has treasured up in Christ Jesus, He provides of His goodness for the poor. You may trust […]

Saturday, 30 November 2024   Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Matthew 5:25   “You be quickly well-minded to your opponent, while which you are on the way with him. Lest ever the opponent, he may deliver you to the judge, and the judge should deliver you to the assistant, and into the prison, you will be cast” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His hearers that they should leave their gifts before the altar and go to be reconciled to their brother. Only after that should the person offering come and offer his gift. Now, He brings in a parallel thought from society to show how this precept is something that is understood even in everyday experience. He begins with, “You be quickly well-minded to your opponent.”   Here is a word found only once in the New Testament, eunoeó. It comes from two words signifying “good” and “consider,” “comprehend,” or something similar. Thus, it gives the sense of being well-minded or finding reconciliation. Here, Jesus is making a comparison to the previous thought:   First, you reconcile to your brother. You be quickly well-minded to your opponent.   Just as it is on earth towards one's opponent, so should it be towards God who watches over the state of enmity that exists between brothers. With that, He continues with, “while which you are on the way with him.”   These words correspond to the thought, “you leave, there, your gift before the altar, and you depart.” Both are in the process of doing something. The person in society is on his way somewhere while the one coming to the altar is on his way to presenting his gift. Again, Jesus is giving a real-life example of how things are so that the precept just stated is understandable to His audience. From there, He next says, “Lest ever the opponent, he may deliver you to the judge.”   In this case, the opponent is being equated to the brother who has something against the offeror of the gift at the altar. He may appeal to the Lord (being equated to the Judge in Jesus' example) in his heart, prayers, or tears. Such a precept is found several times in the law, such as –   “If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.” Exodus 22:26, 27   When the Judge hears the complaint and agrees with it on behalf of the offended brother, Jesus next says, “and the judge should deliver you to the assistant.”   Here is another interesting new word, hupéretés. It comes from two words signifying “under” and “to row.” Thus, it is an under-rower, meaning a crewman on a boat. This term became synonymous with a subordinate who executes orders by those appointed over him. The word will be found twenty times in the New Testament, and it is variously translated as an officer, assistant, attendant, servant, or even minister.   The judge, ruling against the offender, hands him over to his underling to execute the judgment he rendered. In this case, Jesus says, “and into the prison, you will be cast.”   The point here is that Jesus is equating the life of the man with a seared conscience to someone who lives his spiritual life in this manner. Unless he changes direction and considers his ways, he is bound to be cast out of the Lord's presence and into hell, just as the offender before the judge is cast into prison, away from those who live properly in society.   Life application: One can see the difference between those under the law and those in Christ. Under law, the possibility of condemnation exists for such a person who turns from what is proper and fails to heed what the law demands. However, Paul says this of the believer's state in Christ (those in the Spirit) as opposed to those under law (those in the flesh) –   “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:1-8   The point of Jesus' words is that unless grace is extended to the offended brother, grace will not be extended to the one who offended him. In Christ, grace is extended to the offender before he does anything. All God expects of His people is to believe the message of reconciliation that is offered through the sacrifice of Jesus.   Once that is accomplished, the person is sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14) and is granted new life. He enters the New Covenant and becomes a part of what God has offered for the salvation of the human soul. The law was a necessary step to understanding this. In seeing how life under the law is, one who is wise will then be impelled to seek out the grace that is poured out in the law's fulfillment, meaning the finished work of Jesus Christ.   Heavenly Father, we come before You grateful for what You have done in Christ. You have made the first move, offering us salvation without us doing anything except believing that Jesus' work is sufficient to reconcile us to You. And we do believe! Thank You for Jesus who alone has done such great things. Hallelujah for Jesus! Amen.

Gratitude has profound power in our lives. Acknowledging God's hand in our victories can bring strength, joy, and hope. Join host Jodie Chiricosta in revisiting George Washington's timeless Thanksgiving Proclamation and the stories of Miriam and Deborah, and explore how every situation is an opportunity for celebration and thanksgiving. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your own blessings, write your own anthem of gratitude, and experience how expressing thanks deepens your connection to God. This isn't just about looking back but moving forward with renewed purpose, peace, and the assurance that God is working in your life. Take a moment to listen—you'll find inspiration to carry with you into the next season!Rate the Show!Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration!Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests.Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today!Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org,Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.net

The Lesson: Psalm 107:1-3Sermon: “We Are Grateful for All God's Blessings”Preaching: Rev. Bill Britt, Senior Minister The post 11.24.24 | We Are Grateful for All God's Blessings appeared first on Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.

"But Trap wasn't a flop!" you scream to the heavens. "Neither financially, nor critically!" you wail, desperately. "It made 83 million on a 30 million budget! And it got a mixed, but not-awful 52 on Metacritic!" But the uncaring Gods of Flop offer no comfort. Because whatever your personal feelings, Trap has inspired STRONG OPINIONS, and besides, when you have a great guest like Linda Holmes, you surrender to the whims of the floppiverse.We're in season 2 of FlopTV! Pop in for individual episodes, or get a price break with a season pass! Peruse the full line-up and/or get tickets here! And hey, while you're clicking on stuff, why not subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets?!”Wikipedia page for TrapRecommended in this episode:Dan: Daisies (1966), All God's Children (2024)Stu: Azrael (2024)Elliott: Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974), Lifeforce (1985)Linda: Hot Frosty (2024)For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com and get $45 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code FLOP at checkout.

It truly is ALL God, including money, the government & everything else. ;) And we dive INTO this today with the one and only Carolyn Lovewell, (formerly Carolyn Elliott) author of the best selling book, existential kink. Todays episode covers everything from being embodied in your spiritual practices, to the USA's government, and the Power you hold when you choose to enjoy this crazy, epic, wonderful life. FREE QUIZ: Your Magnetic Mnifestation Style Join the Magick Woman Membership Cauldron $88/mo or $888/year   Find Carolyn's Work HERE, including her book Existential Kink Carolyn's Instagram HERE Instagram: Autumn Magick Woman Podacst

Two religious leaders in Brooklyn became concerned about rising tensions between Black and Jewish residents, and try to launch a new effort to create more understanding between the two communities. But that experiment proved more difficult than they imagined. The new documentary "All God's Children" follows Rabbi Rachel Timoner and Reverend Dr. Robert Waterman, and celebrates its world premiere as part of DOC NYC. We speak with the Rabbi and Reverend, along with director Ondi Timoner. This segment is guest-hosted by Tiffany Hanssen.

Life is full of seasons, each marked by joy, pain, challenges, and growth. Yet, when we turn to God's Word and seek Him, we can bear fruit in every season. Peg Arnold knows this firsthand. Through personal struggles—including infertility, health crises, career changes, financial hardship, and family loss—she has experienced God's faithful presence as her foundation. Join Peg and host Jodie Chiricosta as they share how God's unwavering goodness transforms challenges into deepened faith and prepares us for what lies ahead. Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares X: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

The most common instruction in the Bible is "do not be afraid," yet we humans are frequently fearful and worrisome. What's worse is that often we don't even recognize the deeper fears. These are the fears that cause us to pull back from God. Most men suffer from one of the following three fears: God has some limit. I'm too bad or broken for God to love My choices are too terrible for God to love Intellectually we may deny it - intellectually we know those aren't true. But deep down that fear can drive us to live our lives in a way that keeps us away from the Lord. Join me in this episode as I explore these fears and how to confront them. In order to trust the Lord and say "yes" to His will, we need a deeper humility and willingness to surrender. All God requires of us is to align our will to His. Do not worry about the rest. I also invite you to check out my free Manly Strengths Assessment at https://catholiclifecoachformen.com/manly-strengths-assessment-signup/

When you judge someone, you are only setting the standard for the judgment on you. When you judge someone, you have forgotten to guard yourself. All God has ever asked us to do is remind people that it is Him that we are accountable to. Our time as Christians is more useful if we spend our time and energy on finding things that we can do—not on things each other shouldn't be doing.

The spiritual realm is real—angels, demons, heaven, and hell all exist beyond what we can perceive with our natural senses. God operates in this supernatural realm, and it's natural for us to be curious about it. In fact, God invites us to seek Him and explore these mysteries, but with a clear focus on Him alone. The Bible provides specific guidance on engaging with the supernatural, warning that ignoring His Word can leave us vulnerable to the enemy—Satan, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. Join host Jodie Chiricosta as she explores God's instructions on the supernatural and shares remarkable stories of people who have experienced supernatural encounters.Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares X: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

All God's Children International, based in Vancouver, is close to reaching its $22 million goal for the Unlocking Hope campaign. The funds raised will help transform the lives of over 1.2 million vulnerable children worldwide by empowering local leaders and disrupting trauma. Learn more and donate to the campaign at https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/all-gods-children-international-seeks-donations-for-its-unlocking-hope-campaign on www.ClarkCountyToday.com. Hashtags: #AllGodsChildren #UnlockingHope #ChildAdvocacy #Nonprofit #VulnerableChildren #TraumaDisruption #Colombia #GlobalImpact #ClarkCountyWa #LocalNews

The more hectic and chaotic your life becomes, the more you need to slow down and smell the roses. Seriously...when you cut off daily interaction in God's creation, you life perspective becomes muted, missing out on ALL God has to say to you! Let the close of the day, when you take a downward turn away from the noise of life, lead you to stop and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with the deliberate time of mediation before God. DONATE You can help support this podcast by clicking our secure PayPal account. For donation by check, make payable to Transform This City, P.O. Box 1013, Spring Hill, Tennessee, 37174. “gwot.rocks” is a ministry of Transform This City, a registered 501(C)(3) The Four Spiritual Laws - how you can be born again and have eternal life?The Spirit Filled Life- how you can live each day in the power of God'd Holy Spirit!Voices From The Past Volume 1 & 2"Other Things with... " YouTube ChannelCut & Paste Personal Invitation to invite your friends to check out “gwot.rocks” podcast: I invite you to check out the podcast, “gwot.rocks: God, the World, and Other Things!” It is available on podcast players everywhere! Here is the link to the show's home base for all its episodes: http://podcast.gwot.rocks/ (Ctrl+click to follow the link) LIFE HELPSgwot.rocks home page Transform This City Transform This City Facebook gwot.rocks@transformthiscity.org Thank you for listening! Please tell your friends about us! Listen, share, rate, subscribe! Empowering Encouragement Now segments are based in part on C.H. Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotions (public domain.)ChatGPT and/or Bard may be used at times to expedite research material for this podcast.Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian StandardBible®, Copyright © 2016 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. ChristianStandard Bible® and CSB® is a federally registered trademark of Holman Bible Publishers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part two of the "Face To Face" series. Pastor Lindsey Seals continues the series talking about mirror distractions. We can't let distractions keep us from accurately seeing ALL God wants us to see when we look at the mirror.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael and Natalie explore the power of words and how shifting language norms have played a role in deepening societal divides. They reflect on the subtle ways polarization can infiltrate our lives and how, as parents, we can equip our girls to resist these pressures through a Biblical Worldview. By teaching our daughters to recognize division as a tactic of the enemy, we can help them lean into the unifying power of the Holy Spirit.  Drawing inspiration from Romans 12:9-18, the hosts explore the idea that true Christian unity is rooted in love, humility, and hospitality. They share practical tips for fostering conversations with your daughters that invite understanding rather than division, emphasizing the value of asking questions like, “What do you think God feels about this issue?”  Rachael and Natalie also highlight the importance of demonstrating “radical hospitality,” offering a seat at the table to those with differing views while remaining grounded in Biblical Truth. The hosts discuss real-life examples, including the story of King David and Mephibosheth, as a reminder that God calls us to extend compassion and grace, even to those who might challenge us.  Finally, the episode connects these concepts to the American Heritage Girls (AHG) Program, where girls learn servant leadership through badges like the Identity Badge, All God's Children Badge, and the Social Skills & Etiquette Badge. This year's theme of VISION challenges girls to put on “Godly goggles” and view others the way God does, equipping them to bring unity and peace into their communities.  Tune in for an encouraging discussion on how Christian families can bridge today's cultural divide through Biblical hospitality, unity, and love. Don't miss this powerful episode of Raising Godly Girls, where faith meets practical advice for nurturing Godly character in today's challenging world.    Find an American Heritage Girls Troop near you, visit americanheritagegirls.org       Add even more Biblical wisdom to your parenting quiver, visit raisinggodlygirls.com

All God’s people are called upon to be leaders.

It was fun seeing Fox Butterfield, the first New York Times correspondent in China since 1949, in Portland, Oregon back in July. I last visited Portland in 2022, and you never quite get over the sight of Mount Hood dominating the horizon on a clear summer day in its awesome fashion.Fox welcomed me to his home, perched on a small hill in a modestly upscale suburb. A history enthusiast, he has lived through and witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in modern history: from meeting Harry Truman as a teenager with his grandfather, to studying under John Fairbank, the progenitor of Chinese studies in America, to reporting on the Vietnam War and helping expose the Pentagon Papers, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize. Though trained as a China specialist, he only began his reporting inside China in the late '70s, culminating in his book China: Alive in the Bitter Sea. This bestseller set a benchmark for generations of China correspondents. Later in his career, Fox shifted his focus to domestic issues of race and crime, writing acclaimed works like All God's Children and In My Father's House.Talking to Fox was a breeze. I was pleasantly surprised that his spoken Chinese remains impressively sharp — his tones and pronunciations are still spot-on. Of course, we did most of our chatting in English. This piece will explore his early experiences, particularly his family background, his time at Harvard, and his reporting during the Vietnam War. While the bulk of the piece may not focus directly on China, it offers a glimpse into the intellectual formation of one of America's most prominent China watchers and how both domestic and global forces shape U.S. perceptions of China.Enjoy!LeoIndexSeeing China with Joe Biden and John McCain in the 70sCyrus Eaton, Lenin Prize and family legacy in Cold War“Rice Paddies”, and studying under John Fairbank at HarvardFrom Pentagon Papers to VietnamReporting on the frontlines in Vietnam Seeing China with Joe Biden and John McCain in the 70sCould you talk about your first trip to China?I was the Hong Kong correspondent for The New York Times from 1975 to 1979 because that's where we covered China in those days. I couldn't go to China until 1978, when I attended the Canton Trade Fair. That was my first trip to China; I can barely remember it.My second trip to China was much more memorable. In 1979, when the U.S. and China were about to normalize relations, China invited the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to visit, and I was invited as a New York Times correspondent. In those days, China had a shortage of hotel rooms, at least for foreigners, so they made everybody room with somebody else. The Chinese government assigned me to room with the naval liaison to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was a Navy captain named John McCain.For two weeks, John McCain and I were roommates. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together and traveled everywhere. McCain's best friend on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was Joe Biden. So, the three of us did almost everything together for two weeks. That one is easy to remember. What was your impression of Joe Biden?Joe Biden was a nice man, very earnest, but he was a typical career politician that when he approached somebody, he always grabbed them by the hand. He was tall, had a strong handshake, and would give them a big smile and grab their hands. He kept doing this to the Chinese, who didn't really know what was going on because they're not used to being touched that way, especially not somebody almost breaking their hand.So I finally said to him, “Senator.” And he'd say, “No, call me Joe.” I said, “Okay, Joe, please don't grab Chinese by the hand. It's kind of rude and offensive to them, and they don't understand it.” He would say, “Well, why not?” And I said, “Because that's not their custom.” He'd say, “Okay, thank you very much.” And then, five minutes later, he'd do the same thing over and over again.John McCain and I became good friends, especially because I had seen McCain in prison in Hanoi when I first started working for The New York Times, and we bonded over that shared history during our trip to China. They allowed me to go into his prison in 1969, and I was the first reporter to find out that John McCain was still alive when his jet fighter was shot down over Hanoi.I saw him then and as roommates 10 years later in China. We had a great time, and I would take him out and say, “Let's sneak away from our handlers and see how Chinese really live and what they really say.” We just went out and talked to people, and he thought this was a lot of fun.“He said something straightforward and obvious, but I had never thought about it. He said China is the oldest country in the world with by far the largest population. It's a big, important place.”That's a wonderful tale. What made you initially interested in China?When I was a sophomore at Harvard as an undergraduate in 1958, there was a fear that the United States was going to have to go to war with China over those two little islands, which Americans call ‘Quemoy' and ‘Matsu' and Chinese people call ‘Jinmen' and ‘Mazu'.America's leading sinologist and Harvard professor of Chinese studies, John Fairbank, decided to give a public lecture about the danger of the United States going to war for those two little islands.I attended his lecture. He said something straightforward and obvious, but I had never thought about it. He said China is the oldest country in the world with by far the largest population. It's a big, important place. Why would the United States want to go to war with China over those two little islands? It made no sense logically. And we had just finished the war in Korea. As I listened to him, I realized, “Gee, I don't know anything about that place.”So I began to audit his introductory class on the history of East Asia. And in the spring, I decided to take a second class in Chinese history that Fairbank was teaching. As a Harvard undergraduate, I would find out my exam grades at the end of year from a postcard you put in the exam booklet. When I received my postcard back from the final exam, it said: “please come to see me in my office, tomorrow morning at 10.” “Oh no,” I thought I really screwed up my exam. So I went to see John Fairbank. I was nervous, especially because he was a great man, a big figure on campus, and the Dean of Chinese studies in the United States. So I went in, and he said, “Fox, you wrote a wonderful exam. Have you considered majoring in Chinese history?” I went, “oh, no, I had not considered it.” I was so relieved that I had written a good exam.He said, “Well, if you are, you must immediately begin studying Chinese.” At that time, Harvard did not teach spoken Chinese, only classical written Chinese, and there were just about 10 people, all graduate students.So Fairbank said, “here's what you do. Going down to Yale, they have a special program that teaches spoken Chinese in the summer because they have a contract with the Air Force to teach 18-year-old Air Force recruits how to speak Chinese so they can listen to and monitor Chinese air force traffic.”So I spent the summer at Yale studying Chinese with air force recruits. I took classical written Chinese classes when I returned to Harvard that fall. Luckily, I got a Fulbright Fellowship to go to Taiwan after I graduated, so I studied in the best spoken Chinese program at the time run by Cornell University.Cyrus Eaton, Lenin Prize and family legacy in Cold WarI wonder whether there's any family influence on your China journey. Your father was the historian and editor-in-chief of the Adams Papers, and your maternal grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, was one of the most prominent financiers and philanthropists in the Midwest. Could you speak on the impact of family legacy on your China journey?My father certainly instilled a love of history in me. That was always my favourite subject in school and the one I did best in. Eventually, my major at Harvard was Chinese history. My father didn't know anything about China and never went. My mother visited Taiwan and stayed with me for ten days in the 60s.My maternal grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, would fit the Chinese notion of a rags-to-riches success story. He grew up in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia, Canada, and went to college in Toronto with the help of an older cousin. This cousin went on to become a Baptist minister in Cleveland, Ohio, across the lake. Among the people in his parish was a man named John D. Rockefeller — yes, the original John D. Rockefeller.The cousin invited my grandfather and said he had a job for him. So my grandfather started off as a golf caddy for John D. Rockefeller and then a messenger. Ultimately, he founded his own electric power company in Cleveland — Ohio Electric Power — and became quite influential. He had multiple companies but then lost everything in the Great Depression.During World War II, my grandfather heard about a large iron ore under a lake in Ontario through his Canadian connections. By then, he had already formed connections with President Roosevelt and then Truman, so he said, “If you can give me some money and help underwrite this, I can get Canadian permission to drain the lake for the iron ore deposit,” which became the world's richest iron ore mine, Steep Rock Iron Ore. That's how he got back into business. Truman and my grandfather ended up having a close connection, and he used my grandfather's train to campaign for re-election in 1948. My grandfather was an unusual man. He had a real vision about things.He was trading metals with the Soviet Union as well.I don't know the details, but when Khrushchev came to power, my grandfather became interested in trying to work out some arrangement between the United States and Russia, which is where the Pugwash movement came from. He was inviting Russian and American scientists to meet. They couldn't meet in the U.S. because it was against American law, but he arranged for them to meet in his hometown of Pugwash, Nova Scotia. We had American and Russian nuclear physicists meeting to discuss nuclear weapons in this little village. Eventually, he invited some Chinese people to come.At one of these conferences, I met Harrison Salisbury, an editor of The New York Times and the first NYT Moscow Correspondent. I was just starting out as a stringer for The Washington Post, but Salisbury saw something in me and suggested I send him a story. That connection eventually led to my job at The New York Times.He must have known people pretty high up in China too.I don't know the China connections; he didn't know Mao or Zhou Enlai. He did have a close relationship with Khrushchev, to the extent you could. It started with the Pugwash movement.He just sent a telegram to Khrushchev and became friends?Yes. What do you call that, guanxi?I guess so. Do you remember when he won the Lenin Peace Prize?I do. I think I was in Taiwan at the time. I didn't go to the ceremony.How did you feel about his activities growing up?I was never too sure what was going on. My mother had the intelligence of her father—in fact, she looked remarkably like him—but she was skeptical because she always felt that he was making all these big deals but wasn't looking out for his own family.What was your mom like?My mother was a smart woman. She went to Bryn Mawr during the Depression, but my grandfather refused to let her take a scholarship because it would signal he had no money. She worked full-time while in school and graduated near the top of her class. She was angry at him for making her life difficult for his own pride.My mother worked all her life. By the time I reached college, she was working at Harvard University, which was unusual for the time. She started as a secretary but eventually became the registrar in charge of all the records. When she died in 1978, the Harvard Crimson published a tribute saying she had been the most helpful person to many undergraduates.What did you want to become as a teenager?I wanted to be a baseball player. Yes, for a long time my life revolved around baseball. I thought I was pretty serious. Some time in college, I realized I wasn't going to become a major league baseball player, and I became much more interested in the life of the mind.“Rice Paddies”, and studying under John Fairbank at HarvardDid you think of Asia growing up?There was really almost nothing until I mentioned, in my sophomore year, when I was 19, beginning in 1958 as an undergraduate at Harvard studying with John Fairbank. No courses offered at high school that I could have gone to. Even at Harvard, the Chinese history class was almost all graduate students. Harvard undergraduates could take an introduction class to the history of East Asia, which included China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Harvard students nicknamed this course “Rice Paddies.”That's the famous course by Fairbank and Reischauer. What was it like studying with those two legends?Well, they were both significant people in every way. Fairbank helped start the field of Chinese history in the United States. Reischauer certainly started studying Japanese history.In my first year, they had just finished a textbook for the Rice Patties course. It had not been published as a book yet, just a mimeograph form. They gave us these big books you had to carry around, like carrying one of those old store catalogues with hundreds of pages printed on one side. You would bring these things into class. One was called East Asia: The Great Tradition, and the other East Asia: The Modern Transformation.What was John Fairbank like as a person?Intimidating. He was a tall, bald man, always looking over his glasses at you. But he was charming and friendly, and if he sensed that you were interested in his field, he would do almost anything for you. He reached out to students in a way that few other faculty members did.“He was an academic entrepreneur and missionary for Chinese studies, and was creating the field of Chinese history in the United States. Before him, Chinese history didn't exist for most Americans to study.”And he had regular gatherings at his house.Yes. His house was a little yellow wooden house dating back to the 18th century, right in the middle of the campus. Harvard had given it to him, and every Thursday afternoon, anybody interested in China who was in Cambridge that day was invited. You never knew who you were going to meet. Fairbank was a kind of social secretary. When you walked in, he'd greet you with a handshake and then take you around to introduce you to some people. He did that all the time with people. He was an academic entrepreneur and missionary for Chinese studies and was creating the field of Chinese history in the United States. Before him, Chinese history didn't exist for most Americans to study. I always wanted to major in history. That subject appealed to me and was my strongest area of study. I took some American history and intellectual history classes, but the Chinese history class became the one that I really focused on. I couldn't tell you exactly why, but it was interesting to me. The more I read, the more I liked it. After that first Fairbank class, I signed up for the more intensive modern Chinese history class and whatever else Harvard had. I signed up for a Japanese history class, too. At the end of my senior year, John Kennedy named my professor Edwin Reischauer his ambassador to Tokyo. So, on my way to Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar, I stopped in Tokyo to meet Reischauer at the US Embassy, and two of Reischauer's grown children took me around Tokyo. I reported in Tokyo later in my career.Was Ezra Vogel working on Japan at the time?Yes, Ezra had. Ezra was in my Spanish class in the first year. He hadn't yet decided what he would focus on then. We sat next to each other. We were always personal friends even though he was a bit older. He was a nice man and became a professor later. I sat in the same classroom with several other older people who went on to teach about China, including Dorothy Borg. Even then, she had white hair. She worked for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York but was taking classes at Harvard. When I first went to China, she was still involved with China.So, from that group of Americans studying China at Harvard at that time, many went on to do things related to China, including Orville Schell, Andy Nathan and me. I did not know Perry Link while in Harvard.Many major figures in China studies today were at Harvard with you.Yale had Mary and Arthur Wright, but they were graduate students at Harvard with me and went on to become full professors at Yale. This must be because that was a place where Fairbank was an evangelical figure that people gravitated towards, and he was preaching this new faith of Chinese studies.From Pentagon Papers to VietnamWhat did you do after Harvard?I spent a year in Taiwan when I graduated. I wanted to stay, but Fairbank hurried me up to get back to graduate school.Did you listen to Fairbank?I was going to get my PhD at Harvard and teach Chinese history, but after five years, I became less interested in actually studying Chinese history.During the 1960s, the Vietnam War happened. Vietnam is kind of a cousin of China, so I started reading everything I could about Vietnam. I even started a course on Vietnam so that Harvard undergraduate and graduate students could learn about Vietnam.I got a fellowship to return to Taiwan to work on my dissertation about Hu Hanmin. At that time, many American GIs were coming to Taiwan on what we call R&R — “rest and recreation.” The U.S. government made a deal with the American military that anyone who served in Vietnam for a year had an automatic R&R, a paid week leave to go anywhere in Southeast Asia. Many chose Taiwan to chase pretty young Chinese girls. So, GIs would show up in Taiwan and didn't know what they were doing. I would see them on the street, go up and talk to them.I became more interested in Vietnam over time. A friend told me, “You're spending so much time reading newspapers about Vietnam, you should become a journalist.” It hadn't occurred to me. By chance, I met a correspondent from The Washington Post, Stanley Karnow, who was the Hong Kong correspondent for the Post and covered Vietnam for quite a while. He asked me to be his stringer, a part-time assistant. So I would send my story to him, but he'd never do anything with it.I was discouraged, and that's when I met Harrison Salisbury through my grandfather in Montreal. Salisbury asked me to send stories to The New York Times. I thought I was a traitor to my job with The Washington Post. But it wasn't really a job; it was in my imagination. When I sent Salisbury my first story, I received a cable from the foreign editor of The New York Times saying they had put my story on the front page and given me a byline. My parents at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts saw it that morning, and they wondered, what is Fox doing?” They thought I was working on my PhD dissertation.“Oh, that looked like our son there.”The story was about Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, who was becoming Chiang Kai-shek's successor. I wrote about how he was going about it. That was a good news story, so The New York Times sent me a message and said, “If you'd like to work for us, we'll be happy to take more stories.”So I started sending them stories once or twice a week, and after four or five months, they gave me a job offer in New York. That was just one of those lucky breaks. I guess The New York Times correspondent who made that initial contact with me, Harrison Salisbury, who had won several Pulitzer Prizes, must have seen something in me.What's your relationship with your editors over the years? Generally pretty good. They certainly intimidated me at the beginning. The person who actually hired me was the foreign editor at The New York Times, James Greenfield. When I returned to New York, it was New Year's Day, the end of 1971. James asked me about my training and asked me to spend the next couple of months sitting at the foreign desk to watch how they do things. I couldn't even write stories for a while; I just handed them the copy that came up. I later got promoted to news assistant and was asked to find something interesting and write one story a week. I wrote some stories about Asia for the newspaper. They wouldn't give me a byline at first as I wasn't a reporter. My first assignment was to Newark, New Jersey, which had gone through a series of terrible race riots in the late 1960s. I was going to be the correspondent in Newark.This was after they hired you and during those two years of training? Yes. One day, I was covering a story. The new mayor of Newark — the first black mayor of a major American city — called a meeting in city hall to see if he could stop the riots.He was trying to bring people together: white, black and Hispanic. Within ten seconds, everybody was having a fistfight. People were knocking each other out with the police and mayor in front of them. The mayor yelled at people to stop, and they still kept punching and hitting each other with big pieces of wood right in City Hall. And I was there. Two very large black men grabbed my arms behind my back. The nasty term for white people in those days was “honky”. They said, “What are you doing here, honky?” They began punching me in the stomach and hitting me in the head. I thought I was going to die right there before I finally broke free. I got to my office to send my story of the city hall by telephone across New York City. And they put that story on the front page.Your second front page at The New York Times. So the editor of The New York Times was a very intimidating man, Abe Rosenthal, a gifted correspondent who'd won several Pulitzer Prizes. He won a Pulitzer Prize in Poland and Germany. I got this message saying, “Mr. Rosenthal wants to see you in his office immediately.”I thought, “oh jeez I'm getting fired.” I just got beaten up in City Hall and they're going to fire me. So I walked in, and he said, “Fox, that was a really nice story.” He said, “you did a really good job on that story. We have another assignment for you. I want you to go over to the New York Hilton Hotel”, which was about ten blocks away.He told me that one of our correspondents, Neil Sheehan, had gotten a secret government document, the Pentagon Papers, which were boxes and boxes of government documents. Neil couldn't read all that by himself, so I had to go and read it with him. Besides, I knew about Asia. By that point, I had read as much as I could about Vietnam. I also knew Neil Sheen because I had helped him come to Harvard to give a talk about Vietnam while I was a graduate student. So we actually had a good relationship. I spent the next two months in Neil's hotel room reading documents, but two of us were not enough, so a third and eventually a fourth correspondent were brought in. Did you understand the risk you were taking working with the classifieds? You could be arrested. Right, yes. I had to tell my parents, “I can't tell you anything about what I'm doing.”When we finally started publishing, I wrote three of the seven installments, which was amazing because I was a junior person. Abe Rosenthal called me back into his office after we finished, and said, “Fox, you did a nice job on this, so we're sending you somewhere. We're sending you to Vietnam.” He said, “I want you to go immediately.” So I went from the Pentagon Papers to Saigon. That was a surprise. That was not where I wanted to go. In fact, what I really wanted was to go to cover China, but that would have meant Hong Kong. But Vietnam turned out to be fascinating. There was always something happening.Reporting on the frontlines in VietnamCan you talk about your Vietnam experience?It was an experience at many levels. Intellectually, it was seductive because there was so much going on, people getting shot every day. The only way to truly understand it was to be there.You could divide the correspondents into those who stayed in Saigon and those who went out to the field. I wanted to be in the field as much as possible. I spent time on Navy ships and even in a fighter plane, hitting what appeared to be factories.The GIs, or “grunts”, wanted to know what we wrote about them, and some would come to our office in Saigon. Sometimes they were angry. A few correspondents received threats, but we mostly had a good relationship. The more you were willing to go out into the field, the more respect you earned. I was out there from the beginning.Vietnam was more complicated than I initially thought. If you were strictly anti-war or pro-government, you missed the full picture.You had been against the war before. How did you feel once you were there?I was part of the anti-war movement and then found myself in the middle of the war. I got to know many ordinary Vietnamese who were actually happy to have Americans there because the communist soldiers would threaten to confiscate their property. Vietnam was more complicated than I initially thought. If you were strictly anti-war or pro-government, you missed the full picture.What was the relevance of the Pentagon Papers then?The Pentagon Papers showed that the U.S. government was deceiving the public, but we were also helping some people. It was more complex than the extreme positions made it seem.Were you at risk of being arrested for the Pentagon Papers?Possibly, yes. My name was on the case, but by that time, I was in Vietnam. I put it out of my mind.How long were you in Vietnam?I was in Vietnam from 1971 to 1975, with breaks in Japan. The New York Times didn't let anyone stay more than two years at a time because of the exhaustion of war. But I kept going back and stayed until the last day of the war in 1975 when I left on a helicopter to a Navy ship.I took the place of a brilliant female correspondent, Gloria Emerson. I inherited her apartment, and Vietnam was as exciting a place as it could be. There was always something to do, something to see, something that you shouldn't see but wanted to see. Vietnam was all that I talked about for four years. I stayed until the last day of the war, April 30th, 1975.Did you get hurt during the war?I was hit by mortar fragments and lost my hearing for almost a month. Once, I was left behind after the unit I accompanied ran into an ambush. I had to walk three hours to get back to safety.Vietnam absorbed all parts of your brain, your mind, your body, and your psyche. It just took over.How did the war experience change you?It depends on the individual. Some correspondents loved Vietnam and never wanted to leave. Others were terrified and left without a word. Even today, I still belong to an online Google group of ex-correspondents in Vietnam, and I still get dozens of messages every day. They always want to discuss Vietnam.Back in the day, some got afraid and just left. I had several friends who would literally just leave a message at their desk saying, “Please pack my belongings and send them back to New York.” It's hard to generalise and have an ironclad rule about. It was different from regular assignments in most other countries.Well, Vietnam was certainly special.Vietnam absorbed all parts of your brain, your mind, your body, and your psyche. It just took over. When the war ended, I came out on a helicopter that landed on a Navy ship. The captain said I could make one phone call. I called my editor in New York and said, “I'm out, I'm safe.” He replied, “Good, because we're sending you to Hong Kong.”Recommended ReadingsFox Butterfield, 1982, China: Alive in the Bitter SeaJohn Fairbank, Edwin Reischauer and Albert Craig, 1965, East Asia: The Modern Transformation, George Allen & UnwinEdwin Reischauer & John Fairbank, 1958, East Asia: The Great Tradition, Houghton MifflinAcknowledgementThis newsletter is edited by Caiwei Chen. The transcription and podcast editing is by Aorui Pi. I thank them for their support!About usPeking Hotel is a bilingual online publication that take you down memory lane of recent history in China and narrate China's reality through the personal tales of China experts. Through biweekly podcasts and newsletters, we present colourful first-person accounts of seasoned China experts. The project grew out of Leo's research at Hoover Institution where he collects oral history of prominent China watchers in the west. Peking Hotel is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Lastly…We also have a Chinese-language Substack. It has been a privilege to speak to these thoughtful individuals and share their stories with you. The stories they share often remind me of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. I hope to publish more conversations like this one, so stay tuned!Correction note: An earlier version of this piece incorrectly referred to sinologists Mary and Henry Wright as "Fords." We thank reader Robert Kapp for bringing this to our attention. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Faith and obedience go hand in hand.  What leads us to obey God is the fact that we trust Him.  If you don't trust him, you won't obey Him.  Faith is a choice.  Obedience is a choice.  Every time we do something just because God “said so” we are acting in faith.  Main Points:1. By faith we believe in the Word of God. This faith leads us to submit ourselves in obedience to our Savior. We obey because we truly believe. A lack of faith leads to a lack of obedience.2. We must admit that it's not always easy to obey. It's also not always easy to believe. Yet, this is what God calls us to. It's easier to obey when we can picture how God will bless our obedience, but so much harder when we don't see the point of it. God does not always reveal the why behind his call to obedience. 3. All God requires of you is to keep putting one foot in front of the other as you walk the walk of obedience. Your steps of obedience is the proof of your faith in God.Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 11:8 - "By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” James 2:17 - “Faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”James 2:26 - “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

God is faithful. He will never leave or forsake you! Bridget Kidd has seen this up close and personal. She knows it is true. Listen as Bridget shares how God saw her through some pretty tough and trying times, helping her, even when she was angry at Him. She has learned the importance of trusting God, renewing the mind, and practicing forgiveness, even when it is difficult. Bridget has learned that God brings beauty from the ashes of our trials and remains with us always Join Bridget and host Jodie Chiricosta as they share how no matter the struggles you face, God promises to be with you, guiding and supporting you through every trial.Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares X: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

Do you long to hear God's voice? It's not only possible but essential. Dinah Thompson has learned that God wants to speak to us because we're His children. Her experiences in missions and witnessing God's intervention have only deepened her desire to hear His voice. Join Dinah and host Jodie Chiricosta as they share how you too can learn to hear God's voice more clearly day by day.Rate the Show! Click here for SHOW NOTES!Start a Her God Story Podcast Club! Learn more here!Share this message with a friend and subscribe for weekly encouragement and inspiration! Check out HerGodStory.org for a FREE 6-WEEK DEVOTIONAL and to see upcoming guests. Want to help Widows and Orphans? Join our growing company of women meeting special needs of parentless children and nurturing their unique gifts so they can be ALL God has in mind for them! And help meet real needs of women who have given a lifetime of service to God! Support the Somebody Cares Widows and Orphan fund today! Learn more about the ministry at SomebodyCares.org, Read Jodie's BLOG at LivingYourFaith.netFOLLOW US ON:Facebook: @SomebodyCaresAmerica Youtube: SomebodyCaresAmerica Rumble: SomebodyCares or Twitter: _SomebodyCares.Instagram: SomebodyCaresAmericaLinkedIn: Somebody Cares America You can also receive periodic ministry updates or join our prayer team by signing up here!

Every single week, we send a new message across the world. He says Mosaic has incredible people who give generously and sacrificially to make this possible. He wants you to become a part of our support system. Allow Jesus to speak to you in a way that will change your life. In all of human history, there has never been a place where God was not at work. The question is not, is God working, but are you working with God? All God wants from you is, I am willing. In this moment, there was a simple invitation to everyone who was willing to come. Our dream was that mosaic would be the community that would commit itself to reaching the outlier. I'd like to propose that we spend the next ten years creating communities, not just in LA and in London. When God moves in history, there is an overflow of talent. We have to destroy the idea that if it's for God, all that matters is how sincere you are rather than how committed you are. You must become the best version of you. Be the measure of your life.

Dr. Ben Carson catches up with Jep and Jessica Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame. They share their experiences with faith, family values, and the importance of community involvement. The Robertsons share their personal story of adopting their son, Gus and the challenges and rewards of transracial adoption. Their new children's book, Dear Valor, addresses these themes in a kid-friendly manner. Additionally, they talk about their influence through All God's Children International and the Faith, Family, and Freedom event. Tune in to hear their perspective on fostering strong family ties and faith in today's society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Curtis Chang and Good Faith contributor Andy Crouch strike a chord in their exploration of the dynamics of modern Christian worship music. Their conversation covers the ways that average Christians are becoming limited in their singing abilities, the concert-like performance style of worship leaders in our sanctuaries, and the commercial influence of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Curtis and Andy contend a musical reformation in the worship lives of believers is needed urgently today, and offer some practical tips on how to get started.   Listen to The Kingdom of Jesus and get sheet music, lyrics, and prayers for your church   Donate to Redeeming Babel HERE   Bring The After Party course to your church or small group!    REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: Buy Ken Myers book All God's Children Wear Blue Suede Shoes: Christians & Popular Culture (Amazon)   Beautiful Things by Gungor   Job 3 (Job's First Lament) ESV

Amy is joined by Dr. Dee Mosbacher and Dr. Boden Sandstrom to discuss their documentary, Radical Harmonies, exploring the history of the women's music movement, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, and how countless lesbian lives were transformed through lyrics and song.Dee Mosbacher, M.D. Ph.D., is a psychiatrist and an Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker. Dr. Mosbacher has been an activist for women's health since the early 1970's. She has directed and/or produced a total of nine documentaries on homophobia, including Out for a Change, Addressing Homophobia in Women's Sports, All God's Children, De Colores, and No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Dee and her spouts, who is also a psychiatrist, Dr. Nanette Gartrell, worked to eliminated homophobia in the DSM. Dr. Mosbacher is the founder and president of Woman Vision, a nonprofit organizations whose mission is to promote social justice through the production of educational films and video.Boden Sandstrom, Ph.D., was the winner of the American Musicology Society Philip Brett Award. She was a leading sound engineer on the women's music circuit, and in 1975 she founded Woman Sound with singer Casse Culver. She toured with many performers, including Chris Williamson and Lily Tomlin, and did sound for the major women's music festivals and concerts at the time. She has a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, an M.S. in Audio Technology, and an M.L.S. in Library Science. Before retiring, Dr. Sandstrom was a lecturer and technical coordinator in the School of Music at the University of Maryland.