Podcasts about as paul

"The right thing to do is always the right thing. The people who do that — there's a reason those are the successful guys." - Paul Faust How do you network best at conferences? Why does Paul think voice communication is never going away? What is a “no zero” day? How can being a part of your community distinguish your practice? How did Paul end up playing a character on “The Office”? Connection is Key Paul Faust is the king of custom phone numbers, but he's not just that. He's a catalyst in the legal industry, connecting attorneys nationally, giving counsel to newcomers, and sharing a wealth of materials. Paul knows who's going to which conference, who has a good client packet, and which mass torts need lawyers. He's got a big Rolodex and he's not afraid to use it. And whether you're his client or not, nothing makes Paul happier than finding a way to help you out. Paul started college with no understanding of what he wanted to do — but he knew what he liked and what he was good at: connecting with people. Through an unexpected meeting at a softball game, Paul went into the communications business with his partner Greg Hammerschlag. Together they started RingBoost, which allowed him to focus on his strengths: working with people. As he says, “It's not about phone numbers. It's about human connection. My tool just happens to be your number.” A Helping Hand Goes a Long Way Paul helps people even if they aren't clients and never will be. Being helpful develops trust so that if a lawyer ever does need his services, they already have a relationship. But more than that, Paul sees it as the right thing to do. “At the end of the day, it will come around,” he believes. “People will know that you're not just trying to sell them. You actually believe in what you're doing and that it's the right thing.” From noting ideas on the back of a "barf bag" to attending conferences worldwide, Paul idolizes helping others through the tool of "human connection." The Unconventional is the Future Paul breaks away from convention and thinks outside the box. As he puts it: "I think too many people don't get that by getting out of your regular inbox you see a lot of things you would not normally see." As Paul mentions, he didn't "plan everything," which allowed him to keep an open mind and explore different avenues, such as the one that got him where he is today. Paul reinforces the principle of speaking to "everybody," insisting that "you have no idea where your life's going to take you." With the rise in technological advances, Paul still believes in staying connected. While he is most certainly intrigued by the evolution of technology, he feels as though human contact will always be more significant. Key takeaways: Talk to everybody. You never know what a relationship could bring. Be a resource. Helping people will come back to help you. Your grind may look different. Don't just hustle to hustle. Do what works for your business. Links and Resources The Game Changing Attorney Podcast Michael Mogill Facebook Michael Mogill Twitter Michael Mogill Instagram Michael Mogill LinkedIn Crisp Website Crisp Facebook Crisp Twitter Crisp Instagram Crisp LinkedIn Paul Faust LinkedIn Paul Faust Company Website Cool Guy Paul - The Office 1-800-PREPARE

When you first became a Christian, or even now in your current journey of faith, did you ever feel like the journey with Jesus and living for Him was just ''too hard'' or that the world's struggles and everyday temptations just weighed you down in living for Him? As Paul's letter to the Ephesians is coming to a close, he further discusses instructions for Christian living and instructions for Christian households. As we go through chapter 5, I encourage you to observe and see how we as CHILDREN OF GOD were made to BE DIFFERENT- living holy and blameless in His sight. Click here to READ this devotional: https://meditatehope.weebly.com/blog/made-to-live-differently-ephesians-5 Follow @meditatehope on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/meditatehope/

As Paul finds himself standing trial in Jerusalem, he is able to stand firm because he holds on to the reality of resurrection. This reality helps him to stand firm because it is grounded in historical actuality, because it grants Christ's presence, and because it secures standing before the Ultimate Judge. Likewise, we too can stand firm in the face of the world's judgment and disapproval when we hold on to the reality of resurrection.

-2 Kings 5:1-5 ESV Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” THE INFLUENCE OF A LITTLE GIRL. Naaman was a mighty man of valor and a well decorated military commander of Syria. Because of his military conquests, the king had highly favored him. We are told at the outset that all his accolades are coming from the Lord. Meaning, Syria had triumphed because of the sovereignty of God. Indeed, we can find comfort that every geo-political movements and maneuverings are under the auspices of God. Paul says, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.' [Acts 17:26-28] But, he was a leper. Leprosy is a disease which may cause him to loss his carreer and make him an outcast. In other words, Though the fiercest battle couldn't put him down, leprosy had made him realize his vulnerability. He learned to listen to his wife and her servant, a little Jewish girl. The little girl had believed that the prophet Elisha was the man of God. She must have heard about the many miracles Elisha did. Her faith gave her the boldness to suggest to Naaman's wife, saying, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” The wife and Naaman don't have to believe the little girl. Who was she that the chief commander of the Syrian army should believe her? Yet, she told them the truth anyway. Similarly, we should seek to tell the truth of the gospel in season and out of season. For ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.'[Rom 10:17] True freedom is only by knowing the truth. [John 8:32; 14:6]The power lies not in the messenger but in the message. As Paul had expressed, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” [Rom 1:16] As the little Jewish girl was unnamed and unknown, we should be in our service to the Lord. “He[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.”[John 3:30] It's not us who influence but the power of the gospel and the Spirit. To exalt Christ alone and not ourselves is a very wise pursuit in life. As Solomon had said in his metaphor, “I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege works against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.” [Ecc 9:13-16] ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

As Paul continues his line of thought with the Ephesians, he now brings together the body of Christ as a whole. He has established that Christ reigns over all the gods that the Ephesians have known, he has talked of the sacrifice of Christ setting us right with God. Now he goes to the next step: Christ's sacrifice brings us closer to God, and to each other. There are no insiders and outsiders when the blood of Jesus comes into play. Regardless of Jew or Gentile status, we all belong to him.

Acts 16.15 NLT Lydia and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. Paul's first convert in Europe was a businesswoman. Lydia came from what we now know as western Turkey and was a dealer in the purple cloth for which her home area was famous. As Paul travelled around he normally began his ministry in a synagogue but it would seem that there wasn't one in Philippi. So he went to the river where he met up with a group of women who met together to pray. As Paul spoke with them Lydia responded to his message and was baptised. It is fascinating to see that her first response was to offer hospitality, and it seems that she was very insistent. Hospitality was crucial for the early church because there were no Christian buildings for many years. The only way they could meet would be if people generously opened up their homes. Our homes are interesting places aren't they? In many ways they are an extension of our personalities and it is possible to become extremely possessive of our homes. The phrase “their home is their castle” isn't a joke. It conveys the profound truth that, for most of us, our home is a place of safety and comfort. We long to go home at the end of the day and to relax with those we love and where we feel secure. It is, therefore, very easy for us to be selfish with our homes and to use them merely as a way of satisfying our own needs. The New Testament encourages us to open up the door of our homes. It is good if we have a loving and secure home. It is a gift of God. But it's a gift that needs to be shared. For the last five years my family has had the privilege of fostering. At first it felt like a big thing to do but it has actually proved to be a huge blessing to us. We have been made richer through sharing the gift of our home. In common with all God's gifts, our homes are given so that we can give them away. QUESTION: How have you experienced the blessing of Christian hospitality? PRAYER: God our Father, we thank you for the gift of our homes and the privilege of being able to share them with others. Amen

2 Kings 4:1-7 ESV Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” BRING MORE EMPTY VESSELS One of the sons of the prophets died. His widow approached Elijah seeking for his help. Why? The creditors were going to take his two children soon to enslave them as payment for her debts. Definitely, like the widow, only those who are desperate do seek God's help in prayer, don't they? Is the feeling of self-sufficiency the reason why most don't seek God today? Like the widow, every sinner is in bondage of sin. And, the wages of sin is death.[Rom 6:23] Like the ceditors, death is sure and inevitable to happen, sooner or later. May the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to people and make them realize their need of salvation in Christ alone. [John 16:7-9] Like the widow at Zarepath who Elijah helped, she had nothing but a jar of oil. Elisha had instructed her to borrow empty vessels as many as she could, from her neighbors. She has to pour the oil into these jars, one at a time. And, she has to do it secretly at home. She did exactly what Elisha had told her. Out of God's miraculous power, she poured the only oil of her jar and filled all the jars, one at a time. Thus, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” But, there was nothing more. Thus, the flow of the oil ceased. Simply put, the problem lied to the lack of empty vessels and not on the lack of supply of oil. In our relationship with God, the problem does not lie in God but in us who limit God. The issue is not that God won't use us. But, we lack the consecration that God could use us. As Paul had said, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”[2 Tim 2:21] The power of God depends upon our cleansing. Are we empty vessels fit for God to use? God won't use a vessel full of self and pride, would He? May we all yield to the Spirit's control. As Paul had expressed, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”[Eph 5:18] The Spirit who resides in our hearts should have more of us. ---------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

Intro: I would like to ask a question this morning. Do you think, generally speaking, we are quick to rush to judgement when we meet people? Sometimes, we make assumptions about them based upon their looks, their rumored past, their actual past, their economic status, their political affiliation, their religious affiliation or non-affiliation, etc. Usually, when we rush to judgment, we can go to two extremes that are not true at all. This happened to Paul when they arrived at Malta after being shipped wrecked at sea. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Luke gives us several reasons to be cautious about rushing to judgment. The Reality of Being in a New Place v. 1-2 They were safely on shore in Malta A Roman territory The name means refuge. They were warmly welcomed by the natives Remember, there were 276 people who came ashore The natives did their best to make them feel very welcomed The were sympathetic and built them a fire to keep them warm in the cold autumn weather Paul's Life Shows the Servant Attitude of a Christ Follower v. 3 Christ followers are called to serve, not to be served He gathered a pile of brushwood and put it on the fire to help Paul was willing to pick up the wash towel and the basin to serve others despite the fact the He was an Apostle A Christ follower delights to help with what might be called menial tasks. We do this not for our glory or credit, but for the glory of Jesus who came to serve us and die for our sin Paul also had the Person and work of Jesus Christ at the center of his heart and life and ministry Understand Our Own Fickleness (Inconsistencies) and the Fickleness of Others Who Rush to Judgment v.4 As Paul was helping with the fire, a snake fastened himself to Paul's hand The islanders rushed to judgment and concluded that since Paul was a prisoner, he must be a murder. Although he escaped from the sea, the goddess justice has not allowed him to live They knew Paul was a prisoner and they let their superstitions and imagination and feeling rule their conclusion rather than having all the facts. Oh oh, nothing happened to Paul v. 5-6 Paul shook off the snake and suffered no ill affects The people really thought he would swell up and die, because he was a criminal and, they thought, a murderer. After waiting a long period of time, nothing happened to Paul, so the went to the other extreme and falsely concluded he was a god. Opportunity to Proclaim the Gospel of Christ v. 7-10 Publius welcomed them to his home for three days He was probably the Roman government representative to Malta He showed them generous hospitality Publius' father was sick in bed suffering from fever and dysentery Paul went in to see him and pray He placed his hands upon him and healed him Again, Paul was a servant giving all the glory to Jesus Christ Miracles that are from God are meant to point people to the Savior of their souls and not the servant God, in his magnificent grace, then healed the rest of the sick who came to Paul and they were healed. The People honored the ship wrecked people When they were ready to sail, they furnished the crew and passengers with supplies they need. This is so amazing. Closing: I believe there are some practical lessons we can learn for this passage: First, not all people are like us So, we must be very careful in making conclusions about them before we have facts If we let our feelings or superstitions rule, we will be wrong most of the time Second, not everyone will like us This is a fact of life This is because of the fickleness of our sin natures We, as Christ followers, have probably been guilty of doing the same thing No matter what the circumstances, we are called to serve Christ in a way that brings glory to the cross and the resurrection We all have a past in which we have done things we regret Most of all, let us never forget that the cross of Christ frees us from the past and makes us a new creation. Christ transforms us from the inside out. When we rush to judgment about others, we show our unbelief that Christ is able to give us new birth, new life, and new purpose.

Our journey through the Gospel According to Mark continues this morning with a step forward into a new subsection of the Gospel that will carry us through the end of Chapter 12. Jesus and his followers and the twelve have arrived in Jerusalem.We saw in our text last week, how Jesus gives us a real-life parable, as he curses a fig tree, cleanses the money changers and robbers from the temple, and then the next morning, the cursed fig tree is withered up. Mark envelops the account of Jesus clearing the temple with this story of the fig tree. I mentioned last week how, throughout scripture, that imagery of the fig tree represents Israel -- and, specifically in the context of Mark's Gospel, it represents the temple and all that is associated with it. Jesus announces his judgment against the temple because it was all leaves and no meaningful fruit. It was all show and no substance. The purpose of the sacrificial system was to point the people forward to the Lamb of God who would come to die for the sin of the world. Jesus makes clear for us that the entirety of the Old Testament is pointing forward to him -- bearing witness to what he would come to accomplish. And so Jesus brings judgment against Israel, and specifically the temple activities because they weren't fulfilling the purpose for which God designed them. The entire purpose of their existence was right in front of them and they failed to recognize him. And it is the temple, and the system that surrounds it, that will be the setting of a series of seven conflicts that will take place between chapter 11:27 and the end of chapter 12. These conflicts will occur between Jesus and the temple authorities, the Pharisees, the Herodians, the Sadducees, and the scribes. We might say that in this section, Jesus shifts his target from Israel and the temple, to the religious leaders specifically. In this era in history, the Jewish people were ruled by what is called the Sanhedrin. This was the Jewish ruling council and was composed of representatives from the two major religious parties -- the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And it usually consisted of 70 men -- and was led by the High Priest, who, at least during the New Testament period, served as president of the Sanhedrin. This isn't talked about explicitly at this point in the gospel, but it's helpful to know this backdrop as we discuss this series of conflicts over the coming week, and as we then step deeper into the events of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion later in the gospel. Well with that background and context, would you stand as I read our sermon text for today from Mark 11:27 - Mark 12:12. Just a warning -- this passage is longer than I would prefer to handle in one helping -- but I think it's preferable, because these passages really are one encounter, to handle them as a whole.Starting in Mark 11:27:They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will ask, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?' 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin' …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)33 So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.”Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.'7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven't you read this passage of Scripture:“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?”12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.God, your word is true. We believe it. We acknowledge and confess your authority in all things -- in faith and in life. And so we ask you to speak. We submit ourselves to your word as authoritative and supreme over all things, including over our own wills and desires. Convict us of sin, lead us to the cross. Leave us resting in your grace to sinners. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. As we work through this encounter between Jesus and the Jewish rulers, I want you to see:First, the Authority of Jesus is Questioned.V. 28 - “and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”This is not the first time in the Gospel that the authority of Jesus has been questioned, and it won't be the last time. The word that they use is a fairly common Biblical word. It shows up around 100 times in the New Testament. Let's do a little math -- the Bible that I use at my desk has 225 pages in the new testament. So -- on average, this word shows up once on every other page of the New Testament or so. That's a fairly high frequency.If you remember back to chapter 1 of this Gospel, Mark records for us that the people were amazed because Jesus was teaching “as one who had authority.” And, if you remember in chapter 3, verse 22, the scribes acknowledged Jesus' authority -- but they explained it away by saying that his authority came from Satan.There is an important denial that is part of their questioning of Jesus. V. 28 “who gave you authority to do this?” They are denying the divinity of Jesus -- and, I would argue that they are denying more than that. The assertion is not only that Jesus isn't God, but that he isn't FROM God and he doesn't speak with God's authority. This isn't the sort of passive rejection that we've seen from the disciples in the Gospel so far -- it's much more active than that. It's essentially saying, “We don't know who you are, but we know that you're not from God.”Before we get too critical of these folks, we must examine our own hearts. The reality is that if we are honest with ourselves, none of us really want to live under the authority of Jesus. None of us want to hear the things that Jesus has to say to us. If you doubt me, go back and read the account of Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler in which Jesus says “sell everything, give to the poor, and then come follow me.” None of us like that because most of us have wealth that we don't like to admit causes us to place our trust somewhere other than in God alone. Or, if that doesn't do it for you, read the sermon on the mount, where Jesus calls you a murderer if you've spoken an angry and vindictive word against someone...and an adulterer if you've been guilty of lust. And if that still isn't enough, go back to last week and hear those words of the need for forgiveness -- if we want to be forgiven. And we could go on and on. None of us actually like to be under the authority of Jesus -- at least our sin nature doesn't. We like to prop up our righteousness -- like the Pharisee in Jesus' parable on humility in prayer -- we like to pray “Thank you God that I'm not like that person, or that person, or that person.” It's critical, not only that I notice the immediate context of this passage -- the Sanhedrin questioning the authority of Jesus -- but that I also recognize MY tendency to question the authority of Jesus. Perhaps not an active rejection, but a passive one. We may not say “who gave you the authority”, but instead just ignore his commission. Ignore his call to make disciples. Ignore his persistent reminder that his grace is sufficient. We may not question whether he has the right to do what he does, but instead, become so invested in the affairs of this world that we have no interest or urgency for eternal things. Seeing the denial of Jesus' authority by the religious leaders should never cause us to roll our eyes and laugh mockingly at their hard hearts -- it should always be humbling. It should serve as a wake-up call that if people who had significant chunks of the Torah memorized could reject the authority of God's son, My own sin can lead me to the same result. It should always drive me to self-examination and repentance, rather than pride. Well, now that we've discussed the interaction that leads to the parable, let's explore the parable itself. So, first, the authority of Jesus is questioned:Second, Jesus illustrates the actions of the Religious Leaders.Jesus uses a unique parable to reveal what these religious leaders are doing. I'm not sure if you've noticed it or not, but Mark's Gospel doesn't contain many parables, at least in comparison to Matthew or Luke. In fact, if I counted right, there are only two major parables contained in the gospel -- and then several minor parables that are probably more accurately described as lessons or examples. So what is the parable that Jesus tells?Starting in 12:1 - “A man planted a vineyard…” We will talk about this more in a minute, but suffice it to say that the vineyard represents Israel. We don't necessarily make the connection, but these learned Jews would certainly understand. Back to Verse 1 - He rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. So the man plants a vineyard, builds the infrastructure that was necessary like a watchtower and wine press -- and then leaves it and rents it out on shares. I should also mention that it becomes pretty obvious as we move through the parable that the man who owns the vineyard represents God in the story. When it's time to collect his share of the harvest, the owner sends his servant. And in verse 3 we see that the renters beat him up and send him away with nothing. So he sends another servant and they hit him over the head and treat him dishonorably. He goes back to the owner with his head wound and reports what happened. It's important to note that this is the point at which the parable ventures into absurdity. It's highly unlikely that a real vineyard owner would send a second servant if the first came back beat up and empty-handed. But CERTAINLY, he would never send a third servant. But, we see in verse 5 that this owner did just that -- and this third servant is killed. And the patient owner continues to send, Mark says, “many others.” Some were beaten, some killed. We have a train of casualties because of these greedy and self-focused renters. And this is where the parable takes an unexpected twist -- at least to our human eyes. But, let's be honest, “unexpected” isn't a strong enough word. This could only be called reckless. The tenant says to himself “surely they will respect my son. And so he sends his son and they kill him as well. Now, this is where understanding the cultural practice of land rent would be helpful. Renting out land was a common practice then, just as it is in our area today. The main difference is that if you were renting land and you died without an heir, the renter would likely inherit the property. In V. 7 they say “come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” These bright Jewish minds might have jumped back to the story of Abraham and Isaac when they heard the phrase “beloved son.” Others in Jesus' company likely thought back to the words of the father at Jesus' baptism -- and on the Mount of Transfiguration. It is an absurd parable. We might find ourselves thinking “that's crazy, no tenant would be stupid enough to act like that -- and certainly no landowner would be that reckless so as to get his own son murdered.” And, of course, if that's our reaction, that is exactly Jesus' point. Truly the only thing more absurd than the parable is the fact that it all played out in real life. God, in his patience, sent prophets to warn and call the people to repentance, but Israel kept rejecting and wounding them. And when it seemed like God should probably just smite them all for what was done, he recklessly sent his beloved son. And, as expected, they had him killed. Jesus perfectly illustrates the actions of the religious leaders, and the patient and, dare we say, reckless Love of God. Jesus steps out of the parable with a question for those listening: What then will the owner of the vineyard do?The authority of Jesus is questioned,Jesus illustrates the actions of the religious leaders: and:Third, God pronounces his Judgement upon the Religious leaders because of their Unbelief. Verse 9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”It's important to realize that Jesus doesn't just pull this parable out of thin air. The imagery of a Vineyard representing Israel, or, perhaps, more accurately, the believing people of God, is well established. Listen to how the Prophet Isaiah spoke of this -- and I think you'll recognize almost all of the imagery that Jesus uses in his parable: Isaiah 5:1-7I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard:My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well.Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard:I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed;I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there.I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel,and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in.And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.I think it's safe to say that Jesus leans on Isaiah's prophecy for much of his parable. Now, you can't just take Isaiah and set it over top of the parable of the tenants and expect it to explain everything. But it does help us see the language and the imagery. It gives us a sense of what Jesus is doing. God was looking for a good crop -- for good fruit to come from his people -- but all he found was bad grapes. It's helpful imagery, isn't it? Have you ever gone to the produce drawer in the refrigerator, pulled out that bag of grapes, and realized that you left them in there a few days longer than you should? Shrunken, soggy, probably fermenting. Isaiah says that God was looking in Israel for good fruit but only found bad. And did you notice the reaction of the religious leaders? V. 12: Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.”They want so badly to put an end to this disrespectful, backwackwards rabbi from Nazareth -- they want to shut him up.What the Sanhedrin can never understand is that Jesus is going to take their hatred of him, their rejection of his identity -- and he is going to use it to save the world. Jesus is going to use their rejection of him as the hammer that will nail him to the cross. Or to use Jesus' quote of Psalm 118 - “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…” Jesus would be the cornerstone of an eternal kingdom. You see, this is where the Sanhedrin and the disciples were both wrong. Both of them were thinking of Jesus and evaluating Jesus in terms of earthly power and authority. There is a fascinating conversation that happens between Jesus and his disciples in Acts 1 that makes this clear -- this is the very last recorded conversation with Jesus before he ascends into heaven:The disciples say: 6 Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Think about that question. Ok, Jesus, you died for the sin of the World, and God raised you from the dead, conquering sin, death, and satan. NOW CERTAINLY it must be time for you to get on with the work of restoring the kingdom to Israel. 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The disciples are still focused on Jesus as an earthly king. Short-sighted. Missing the big picture. And It's as if Jesus says “you're asking the wrong question.” The question isn't “when will the kingdom be set up in Israel, but, rather, ‘What is God at work doing next and what is my part in it?” And you can't blame the disciples -- they just watched what had happened to Jesus and they want to be rescued. They want Rome to be conquered and Jesus to establish his kingdom so that they won't suffer the same fate. I can't blame them for that at all. But God has another plan. The parable tells us that the vineyard owner isn't just going to destroy the tenants -- he's going to give the vineyard to others. Unlike Isaiah's prophecy when God comes and destroys the vineyard, making it a wasteland...Jesus says that he will simply destroy the tenants -- the renters -- those tasked with leading and caring for his kingdom -- and he will give it to others. These wicked tenants are the leaders of Israel. Those called to lead Israel into faithfulness but instead led them to fruitlessness. And, of course, as I mentioned last week, within a generation Roman armies would descend on Jerusalem and destroy the temple and scatter any semblance of what they had previously known. We might do well to think of John 1:11 - “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”Now, we want to be careful to have good theology -- to have a robust understanding of God. In the parable, God seems to be reactionary -- to be constantly just responding to the actions of the tenants. But we know that God foresaw all that would take place. God foreknew the rebellion and the hard hearts and the fruitlessness of Israel.God didn't send his son out of desperation like the vineyard owner -- but out of deep and steadfast love. For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. This encounter with the religious leaders, and the Parable of condemnation that follows it, aren't just a message for the religious in the 1st Century -- but a call to repentance for you and me today.This message is intended to give us a glimpse, not only of the rebellion and fruitlessness and unbelief of those in Jerusalem but of us in Dickinson. God sent his son. And his son was rejected. And his son was killed. And God did bring about the destruction of those wicked tenants. And that's where this allegory in our text diverts from reality -- because the grand and unexpected plot twist in real life is that the Son doesn't stay dead. The vineyard owner, by his own authority and power, raises the son back to life. And here's the best part -- when the son rises from the dead, he makes available the promise of resurrection for all who will believe -- EVEN THOSE WHO KILLED HIM. You see, the Son wasn't just a helpless victim sent by a reckless land-owner. He was a willing sacrifice for the sins of the Jewish leader, for your sin, and mine. And so we rejoice today as recipients of the abundant grace and steadfast love of God. Jesus came offering something that the religious leaders of his day couldn't accept -- free, abundant, no-strings-attached, nothing-you-can-do-to-earn-it, amazing grace. As the old hymn says:Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,Freely bestowed on all who believe!And for millennia, people have been stumbling over this cornerstone because it seems too good to be true. Even many professing Christians can't believe that it's ALL by faith. That Jesus did it all. As Paul says, it's a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles. Just believe. Just receive. The son was sent by God -- the son died in your place -- the son rose again guaranteeing that you too might rise one day. Wherever you are at in your faith journey today, just repent and believe the Gospel. God, we are grateful for this encounter that Jesus has with the religious leaders, and the story that he tells that follows it. God, protect us from ever patting ourselves on the back for our faithfulness when we see examples of other's doubt and unbelief. Humble us, Lord. We know that we are just as prone to doubt as anyone else. Lord, lead us to repentance today. Keep us at the foot of the cross. We are so grateful that your kingdom was opened to us. That the gospel was preached to us. That you loved us while we were your enemies. We worship you for sending your son to die for us, in our place. We are grateful for your reckless love and abundant grace. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a very real danger presented itself to the early Church. As the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Galatia, the claims of the Judaizers represented a different gospel than the one he had preached to them, by which they had come to a saving faith in Christ. Central to the controversy was the Old Testament Law, and circumcision in particular. Gentile believers in Christ had been told by Paul that repentance and faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross was primary. The death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah was a promise for all who believed, whether Jew or Gentile. But then the Judaizers came insisting that circumcision was also necessary. And Paul was very clear and direct in confronting them, and in warning the Gentiles not to believe their alternative claims. Not only new converts were deceived and led astray. The Apostle Peter was even intimidated for a time. And Paul told the church in Galatia that when he had been in Antioch, he had rebuked Peter to his face publicly for having tried to appease the Judaizers by no longer associating with Gentile Christians. Peter had been afraid of offending the Judaizers. But in his effort to placate them, he had undermined the gospel message. At heart was not circumcision in and of itself. Paul demonstrated that clearly when he had his disciple Timothy circumcised before undertaking missionary work with Jews. Rather, the chief concern was that circumcision was being made into a primary issue, and the Judaizers were dividing the early Church in a way that represented a real threat not only to unity among true believers, but to the very message of the gospel. In America today, the modern equivalent of the Judaizers is this new brand of Woke Christianity which insists that embracing Leftist ideology is the "works" when James the brother of Jesus says that "faith without works is dead." If we are not clear about that, and if we do not confront this threat of false teaching from within, we will undermine the gospel just as Peter did for a time before he was reproved by Paul at Antioch. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." If social and political activism according to the new Woke orthodoxy are the "good works" which God prepared for us to walk in, we should all be asking how the Church - even the Apostles and all the Church Fathers - missed this for 2,000 years. But then that is just it. They did not miss this because it was not there, and it still is not. Nor will it ever be there, however persistently the manipulative claims confidently issued from the most persuasive sources might tug on our heartstrings. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/garrett-ashley-mullet/support

Will Marais chats to Wayne about the journey he is on with his cancer diagnosis. After receiving the news that he has between 8 and 10 months to live, Will shares about the hope he has and the challenges he and his family have faced with this diagnosis. He explains how they have approached it with the knowledge that God can heal but whether He does or not they are full of hope and confidence that His purpose will prevail. As Paul says in Thessalonians we fall asleep as we no longer experience death if we have died with Christ.

As Paul closes one of his greatest letters, it's refreshing to end on a note that feels like a reunion. Paul hadn't founded the church in Rome and was trying his best to visit, but he did know several people in the area. In the last chapter, he calls them by name. (Even his secretary gets a mention!) This is an important principle. Theology is important, and is orthodoxy. But people are also important, and people are what make the church a body. These are the people who really lived and worked and built this church.

As Paul continues to carry out ministry in Ephesus, he gets to see true revival break out. In our passage, we see that true revival is a supernatural act of God's sovereign grace which exalts the name of Jesus and challenges the strongholds of culture that brings real life change, but also stirs up spiritual backlash. As we are coming out of this strange season of isolation and disruption, may we seek God's face to bring true revival in our own lives, our church community, and in our city!

As Paul directs the Ephesian churches in the way of Jesus, he calls them to imitate God. Jesus demonstrates God's love in laying down his life. Paul continues to challenge followers of Jesus to put behind them their old ways and live like Jesus.

Proper 14 First Psalm: Psalm 102 Psalm 102 (Listen) Do Not Hide Your Face from Me A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD. 102   Hear my prayer, O LORD;  let my cry come to you!2   Do not hide your face from me    in the day of my distress!  Incline your ear to me;    answer me speedily in the day when I call! 3   For my days pass away like smoke,    and my bones burn like a furnace.4   My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;    I forget to eat my bread.5   Because of my loud groaning    my bones cling to my flesh.6   I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,    like an owl1 of the waste places;7   I lie awake;    I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.8   All the day my enemies taunt me;    those who deride me use my name for a curse.9   For I eat ashes like bread    and mingle tears with my drink,10   because of your indignation and anger;    for you have taken me up and thrown me down.11   My days are like an evening shadow;    I wither away like grass. 12   But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;    you are remembered throughout all generations.13   You will arise and have pity on Zion;    it is the time to favor her;    the appointed time has come.14   For your servants hold her stones dear    and have pity on her dust.15   Nations will fear the name of the LORD,    and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.16   For the LORD builds up Zion;    he appears in his glory;17   he regards the prayer of the destitute    and does not despise their prayer. 18   Let this be recorded for a generation to come,    so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:19   that he looked down from his holy height;    from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,20   to hear the groans of the prisoners,    to set free those who were doomed to die,21   that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD,    and in Jerusalem his praise,22   when peoples gather together,    and kingdoms, to worship the LORD. 23   He has broken my strength in midcourse;    he has shortened my days.24   “O my God,” I say, “take me not away    in the midst of my days—  you whose years endure    throughout all generations!” 25   Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,    and the heavens are the work of your hands.26   They will perish, but you will remain;    they will all wear out like a garment.  You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,27     but you are the same, and your years have no end.28   The children of your servants shall dwell secure;    their offspring shall be established before you. Footnotes [1] 102:6 The precise identity of these birds is uncertain (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 107:1–32 Psalm 107:1–32 (Listen) Book Five Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So 107   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,    for his steadfast love endures forever!2   Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,    whom he has redeemed from trouble13   and gathered in from the lands,    from the east and from the west,    from the north and from the south. 4   Some wandered in desert wastes,    finding no way to a city to dwell in;5   hungry and thirsty,    their soul fainted within them.6   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,    and he delivered them from their distress.7   He led them by a straight way    till they reached a city to dwell in.8   Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,    for his wondrous works to the children of man!9   For he satisfies the longing soul,    and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 10   Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,    prisoners in affliction and in irons,11   for they had rebelled against the words of God,    and spurned the counsel of the Most High.12   So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;    they fell down, with none to help.13   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,    and he delivered them from their distress.14   He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,    and burst their bonds apart.15   Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,    for his wondrous works to the children of man!16   For he shatters the doors of bronze    and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17   Some were fools through their sinful ways,    and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;18   they loathed any kind of food,    and they drew near to the gates of death.19   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,    and he delivered them from their distress.20   He sent out his word and healed them,    and delivered them from their destruction.21   Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,    for his wondrous works to the children of man!22   And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! 23   Some went down to the sea in ships,    doing business on the great waters;24   they saw the deeds of the LORD,    his wondrous works in the deep.25   For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,    which lifted up the waves of the sea.26   They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;    their courage melted away in their evil plight;27   they reeled and staggered like drunken men    and were at their wits' end.228   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,    and he delivered them from their distress.29   He made the storm be still,    and the waves of the sea were hushed.30   Then they were glad that the waters3 were quiet,    and he brought them to their desired haven.31   Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,    for his wondrous works to the children of man!32   Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,    and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Footnotes [1] 107:2 Or from the hand of the foe [2] 107:27 Hebrew and all their wisdom was swallowed up [3] 107:30 Hebrew they (ESV) Old Testament: 2 Samuel 15:19–37 2 Samuel 15:19–37 (Listen) 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD show1 steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. 24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back2 to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. 30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” 32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. Footnotes [1] 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks may the Lord show [2] 15:27 Septuagint The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, go back (ESV) New Testament: Acts 21:37–22:16 Acts 21:37–22:16 (Listen) Paul Speaks to the People 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language,1 saying: 22 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language,2 they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel3 according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand4 the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' Footnotes [1] 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic) [2] 22:2 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic) [3] 22:3 Or city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated [4] 22:9 Or hear with understanding (ESV) Gospel: Mark 10:46–52 Mark 10:46–52 (Listen) Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus 46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (ESV)

This week, Paul Downs makes two seemingly contradictory points: One is that his business is on track to have its best year ever. The other is that he expects to claim another huge government subsidy, courtesy of the recently enhanced Employee Retention Tax Credit. As Paul says, if you don't know about the ERTC or if you don't know that its requirements have been relaxed, you probably should check it out. Meanwhile, Jay Goltz tells us what happened when three employees found out what the others were being paid, and Dana White feels a little deflated after talking to an investment banker. Plus: Paul shares his new strategy for coping with the labor shortage.

Slaves of God instead of slaves to sin? As Paul continues laying out what the church looks like, he's made a real progression. Jews and Gentiles equalized by the cross, doing nothing of their own accord, saved only by Christ… but now we are slaves to righteousness? It's difficult to imagine being drawn to righteousness in the same way we're drawn to sin, but the good news is that it's still not our initiative or our own power that gets us there. It's still the power and initiative of God, and the Spirit lives among us to bring this reality to life in us.

Download Ephesians 4-6 We are in the Church Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord Jesus,  We are in awe of what you have called us to do, be, and to live.  We are you ambassadors, your soldiers, and your servants.  Amen. 4 - As Paul is preparing to close his letter to the Ephesian Church, it does give us perspective to remember that Ephesus was a very pagan/idolatrous/lecherous/ungodly city.  Within this city resided the most mature first century church body in the New Testament world.  Those who had been called out of that and into the Kingdom needed to remember that they were called also to bolster and nurture each other like an extended family. Believers needed to hang onto each other and cherish each other.  The Ephesians, as are all church bodies, were a complex mixture, with many parts, each called, each assigned, each employed, they were to function harmoniously.  Gentleness and humility required!  God has given so much to the church and its members, the Spirit simply wished for the church to grow to full maturity, and to operate like a healthy body.  And it was crucial to have the Ephesians resolved to never go back to the pagan ways they had been redeemed out of.  Life in Christ was not a temporary experiment to dabble with and then to go back to revelry so to "mix it up" and feast on some macabre behavior.  All the old life, and it's dark allure, is over-with permanently.  Anger, theft, coarse talk/smack talk, slander et al. -none of this is the mark of a Christian.  They were to treat all and each other as Christ treats all of us. 5 - starts with further reiteration that they were to live in and follow Christ.  The lust and ludeness all around them was to be avoided.  The consequences of trying to mix in with that crowd (that most all of them came out of) would be fatal to their faith.  They were to be ecstatic with the Holy Spirit not inebriated with "spirits"/beverages. Paul was concerned that they lift eachother up and not lord over others.  That requires "coming under" [ let your agenda be a sub- mission]  To over come in faith as a Body of believers they must 'come under' / not 'climb over' one another.  The assertion for immediate families becomes epic instruction to be pondering and exercising.  For wives to feel protected, valued, and valued was ground-breaking no matter what culture in the world was reading Paul's letter to Ephesus.  For husbands to be honored, respected, revered, v.s. jousted with and questioned was what turned Christian men into stalwarts who also were gentle and kind.  The world had never seen this before.  This is part of made the Church a culture that fascinated those who were yet to believe.  Christ's love for his children was being modeled by husbands' love for wives and it was quite a picture. 6 - The Christian home had more obligations as a testimony to the world and to model Christ the Savior.  Children were to obey and fathers were to be compassionate instructors. Slaves and masters had some straight talk to follow too. No threatening or harming or shirking. All were to be reverenced under God.  Paul borrowed from the Roman culture he was immersed in and equated the faith to being suited for battle. The Truth was the belt - heavy exertion required a belt (battle for the faith was not light duty). Righteousness was our Armor - the enemy aimed at the torso first and most. Righteousness was our protection that kept us strong. The Peace of Christ was the shoes - if we were not sharing His peace, we had no rHOlyeason for going anywhere.  Faith is our shield - in battle soldiers would huddle together and lock shields. They were virtually impossible to hit in this position. Likewise, our faith should bring us together for support and encouragement. Salvation = helmet - No helmet and you are not getting off this battlefield alive...no salvation and you're not getting off this earth alive. The World of God in our lives is our sword.  The Holy Spirit is how we advance the cause of Christ; no other way.  This all in mind we are to keep praying for one another and keep sharing our faith in Christ Jesus.    Paul then says his goodbyes to the Church he was most endeared to. The issue that seemed to surface day after day this week was God whispering (however loudly) that He has a better way. In Leviticus a sabbath for people and the land is laid forth as a permanent plan. It is better. Letting 1/7th of the time and the crop go/rest/recuperate will end up bringing you more. This is the original "less is more" maxim. The obedience and blessing passages in Leviticus are also a better way and will preserve them. II Kings shows over and over about how God had a better way - a way that they would not follow. Assassination one after another, child sacrifice (yeesh, what madness!), eventually Israel is over run. One can almost see the Israelites cursing God as their villages are being closed in on. God may have crooned to them "I had a better way and you knew but plugged your ears."  Hezekiah's arrival is a breath of relief. He knew God had a better way and he called on Him. Psalm 106-107 shows that praising God is a better way. In contrast Psalms lists a few who did not follow this better way and paid for it. Jeremiah warned them to sit tight and comply; stay in Judah.  Trying to put up a dog-fight against people who have little regard for life was fool-hardy.  They were yet disobedient, failed to listen (imagine disobedient people not listening! hmmmmmmm) spirited away to Egypt and would be suffering for it. Jonah did not listen to God's better plans that were much better than his, did he?  We've all known this since we first heard this story when we were very young Jesus instructed Mary who had chosen a better way than busying one's self, like Martha, who was scurrying to feed Jesus - who wasn't hungry, eh?!  Jesus taught them a better way to pray Paul urged Ephesians in church living and unity and honoring and instructing  -  it was a much better way than the break-neck-crazy-sin-life they were once living. In terms of those who were pondering 'going back' to their pre-Christian life, it is appropriate to apply the biblical warning from Luke 17:31ff, "Remember Lot's Wife!"  The Ephesians were on a much better path now. Odd that Paul had to bring this up. He just wanted them all to stayyyyyy on this better path.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Tall Heights over Zoom video! Tall Heights launched a new song of yearning, "Hear It Again," out now everywhere you get music. "Hear It Again" is about the blurry lines between home and touring. we started it on tour with Ben Folds and finished and recorded it deep within pandemic isolation. accordingly, it is impregnated with this tension between 2 lost sanctuaries : home at home and home on the road.Tall Heights have relentlessly built a career from the ground up. Starting as buskers on the streets of Boston and now performing in packed venues across North America, Europe, and beyond, the duo has distilled their sound in an organic and unselfconscious way. The unmistakable DNA of their music draws on many elements, but the blend of their two distinct voices, in both harmony and unison, is what elevates it and separates it from the pack.Hailing from the Boston area, Paul Wright and Tim Harrington met each other in their hometown of Sturbridge through Tim's older brother. The friendship blossomed in high school when they both took up the guitar and began working on music together. It didn't take long for them to see the potential hidden in these casual jam sessions. As Paul recalls, “Tim transformed from kid brother to musical collaborator over the course of a summer.”Combining Paul's lifetime of classical training, Harrington's spontaneous artistic instincts, and the prismatic union of their unique voices, Tall Heights' sonic imprint is in a category all its own.Tall Heights' recordings have amassed over 275 million streams. They regularly serve as Ben Folds' backing band, and have toured alongside CAKE, Judah & the Lion, Colony House, and The Paper Kites. They've also performed on both Conan in 2016 and CBS Saturday Morning in 2018. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com.www.BringinitBackwards.com#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TallHeights #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetworkListen & Subscribe to BiBFollow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 

With family: Judges 17; Acts 21 Judges 17 (Listen) Micah and the Levite 17 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” 4 So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained1 one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 7 Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 8 And the man departed from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to sojourn where he could find a place. And as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah. 9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I may find a place.” 10 And Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year and a suit of clothes and your living.” And the Levite went in. 11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. 12 And Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” Footnotes [1] 17:5 Hebrew filled the hand of; also verse 12 (ESV) Acts 21 (Listen) Paul Goes to Jerusalem 21 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.1 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers2 and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews3 at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. Paul Visits James 17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,4 and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. Paul Arrested in the Temple 27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” Paul Speaks to the People 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language,5 saying: Footnotes [1] 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra [2] 21:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17 [3] 21:11 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time [4] 21:25 Some manuscripts omit and from what has been strangled [5] 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic) (ESV) In private: Jeremiah 30–31; Mark 16 Jeremiah 30–31 (Listen) Restoration for Israel and Judah 30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” 4 These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5   “Thus says the LORD:  We have heard a cry of panic,    of terror, and no peace.6   Ask now, and see,    can a man bear a child?  Why then do I see every man    with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor?    Why has every face turned pale?7   Alas! That day is so great    there is none like it;  it is a time of distress for Jacob;    yet he shall be saved out of it. 8 “And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him.1 9 But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10   “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD,    nor be dismayed, O Israel;  for behold, I will save you from far away,    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.  Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,    and none shall make him afraid.11   For I am with you to save you,      declares the LORD;  I will make a full end of all the nations    among whom I scattered you,    but of you I will not make a full end.  I will discipline you in just measure,    and I will by no means leave you unpunished. 12   “For thus says the LORD:  Your hurt is incurable,    and your wound is grievous.13   There is none to uphold your cause,    no medicine for your wound,    no healing for you.14   All your lovers have forgotten you;    they care nothing for you;  for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy,    the punishment of a merciless foe,  because your guilt is great,    because your sins are flagrant.15   Why do you cry out over your hurt?    Your pain is incurable.  Because your guilt is great,    because your sins are flagrant,    I have done these things to you.16   Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured,    and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity;  those who plunder you shall be plundered,    and all who prey on you I will make a prey.17   For I will restore health to you,    and your wounds I will heal,      declares the LORD,  because they have called you an outcast:    ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!' 18   “Thus says the LORD:  Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob    and have compassion on his dwellings;  the city shall be rebuilt on its mound,    and the palace shall stand where it used to be.19   Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving,    and the voices of those who celebrate.  I will multiply them, and they shall not be few;    I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.20   Their children shall be as they were of old,    and their congregation shall be established before me,    and I will punish all who oppress them.21   Their prince shall be one of themselves;    their ruler shall come out from their midst;  I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me,    for who would dare of himself to approach me?      declares the LORD.22   And you shall be my people,    and I will be your God.” 23   Behold the storm of the LORD!    Wrath has gone forth,  a whirling tempest;    it will burst upon the head of the wicked.24   The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back    until he has executed and accomplished    the intentions of his mind.  In the latter days you will understand this. The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy 31 “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” 2   Thus says the LORD:  “The people who survived the sword    found grace in the wilderness;  when Israel sought for rest,3     the LORD appeared to him2 from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love;    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.4   Again I will build you, and you shall be built,    O virgin Israel!  Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines    and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.5   Again you shall plant vineyards    on the mountains of Samaria;  the planters shall plant    and shall enjoy the fruit.6   For there shall be a day when watchmen will call    in the hill country of Ephraim:  ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,    to the LORD our God.'” 7   For thus says the LORD:  “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,    and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;  proclaim, give praise, and say,    ‘O LORD, save your people,    the remnant of Israel.'8   Behold, I will bring them from the north country    and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,  among them the blind and the lame,    the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;    a great company, they shall return here.9   With weeping they shall come,    and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,  I will make them walk by brooks of water,    in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,  for I am a father to Israel,    and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10   “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,    and declare it in the coastlands far away;  say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,    and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'11   For the LORD has ransomed Jacob    and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.12   They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,    and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,  over the grain, the wine, and the oil,    and over the young of the flock and the herd;  their life shall be like a watered garden,    and they shall languish no more.13   Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,    and the young men and the old shall be merry.  I will turn their mourning into joy;    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.14   I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,    and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,      declares the LORD.” 15   Thus says the LORD:  “A voice is heard in Ramah,    lamentation and bitter weeping.  Rachel is weeping for her children;    she refuses to be comforted for her children,    because they are no more.” 16   Thus says the LORD:  “Keep your voice from weeping,    and your eyes from tears,  for there is a reward for your work,      declares the LORD,    and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.17   There is hope for your future,      declares the LORD,    and your children shall come back to their own country.18   I have heard Ephraim grieving,  ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,    like an untrained calf;  bring me back that I may be restored,    for you are the LORD my God.19   For after I had turned away, I relented,    and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh;  I was ashamed, and I was confounded,    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'20   Is Ephraim my dear son?    Is he my darling child?  For as often as I speak against him,    I do remember him still.  Therefore my heart3 yearns for him;    I will surely have mercy on him,      declares the LORD. 21   “Set up road markers for yourself;    make yourself guideposts;  consider well the highway,    the road by which you went.  Return, O virgin Israel,    return to these your cities.22   How long will you waver,    O faithless daughter?  For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth:    a woman encircles a man.” 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes:   “‘The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness,    O holy hill!' 24 And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. 25 For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” 26 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me. 27 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will

Cross TrainingDevelop Character Through TrialRead or WatchHow safe is your car, really? Sure, the manufacturer has told you about the airbags, crumple zones, and rigorous safety inspections, but will your car actually keep you alive in an accident? The auto industry constantly crashes brand new vehicles in frightening ways to make sure they pass the test. They even simulate real people at the wheel with their crash test dummies. But we face tests every day, too — high-speed collisions with temptation and trials that threaten to crush us. Will our character prove sturdy or crumple on impact?We're Cross Training to develop our integrity, one of twelve marks of the Master we're working on this year. Integrity comes when we receive the whole truth, live with purity, develop our character, and speak courageously. So how can we reinforce our character for life's collisions?What You Need to KnowWhen the Bible talks about character, it's talking about the fortitude to pass the test. The Greek word dokimē — translated as character, test, or proof — means to try to learn the genuineness of something by examination (Louw-Nida). Like a soldier tests the strength of his sword in battle, we show our moral makeup every time we face adversity. And like so many commendable qualities of Christ, character doesn't develop overnight. It grows as we continually — and successfully — navigate life's challenges. As Paul said, "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Rom. 5:3-4).God judges our character, not by our outward appearance but by the condition of our hearts. As God told Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7). What You Need to DoKeep your eye on your moral development. Today's many tasks and tests present opportunities for practicing virtue. Attend to your patterns and relationships, mindful of their effect on your character (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33). "Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8). As strange as it sounds, we can find joy in our problems when we see that in Christ, our obstacles improve us rather than tearing us down (Rom. 5:3-5; 8:28-37). Try to see God's creative hand, chiseling away imperfections and sculpting you into his image (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18-4:12; Heb. 12:7-11). It takes perspective and power to see anything good in heartbreak, pain, and frustration, so pray for wisdom from God, trusting that he can help you rejoice in your trials (James 1:2-6). Give special attention to the parts of your life no one sees. Trying to look good can get in the way of doing good. Christ shared an incredible insight into character development when he taught his disciples to do good in secret (Matt. 6:1-9). Think of your character like an iceberg. Most of an iceberg lies submerged underwater and remains unseen. When all of our praiseworthy qualities are seen and praised, it's hard to know whether it's for real. But when we do even more admirable deeds in secret than we do in public, we bolster our character and leave no doubt about our motives.Through the WeekRead (Mon) — Matt. 7:24-27; Rom. 5:1-5; Phil. 2:12-16; James 1:12-27; 2 Peter 1:3-11Reflect (Tue) — What have my choices, attitudes, and trials revealed about me this year?Request (Wed) — "Father, refine me in the furnace of my trials" (cf. Isa. 48:10).Respond (Thu) — Look back at the past year and give thanks for a difficulty you faced, recognizing the growth God can bring from it.Reach Out (Fri) — How has suffering strengthened your character?Support the Show

As Paul continues to inform the Corinthians about things that brought great interest to them he turns his attention to the idea of spiritual gifts, specifically how they are for the building up of the body

How can agencies prove value to their clients and eventually charge more? That's the solution Paul Deraval offers in this episode about founding NinjaCat. After entering the agency world later in his career as a software developer and finding the competition was everywhere, Paul shifted his focus. As Paul says: Who makes money in a gold rush? It's the guy selling the pickax." So he decided to offer his unique data reporting technology to agencies and created Ninja Cat in 2014. They are a digital marketing performance management platform built for agencies, media companies, and brands and help agencies create a . He joins the podcast today to talk about how agencies can prove their value to retain customers and the benefits of having automated reporting. 3 Golden Nuggets The crack in the fortress. Paul found that many agencies were using big black box algorithm platforms for reporting capability that was very limited in scope. Not really designed for that use. And paying a ton of money for it. He decided to focus his business on solving this problem and be the best in the world at helping agencies prove their value to clients by knocking their client reports out of the park. Deliver a story. Know your clients and know their appetite for data. More data isn't always better. So, before delivering an 80-page report that they may not even read, ask what they would like to know and then deliver to them on a silver platter a data story that says here's what we did for you, here's the impact that had on your business. And don't forget to be clear on the point “here's why you should continue to do business with us.” Focus on the meaningful. What do agencies get from using Ninja Cat for their client reports? They get to focus on the meaningful instead of the monotonous. Instead of data chaos and data wrangling and client reporting they automate that process and spend more time actually optimizing campaigns and building client relationships. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher | Radio FM Using Data Reporting to Tell the Story of Your Agency's Value Jason: [00:00:00] What's up, agency owners? Got another great, amazing podcast interview coming right up. This guest has a really interesting story and we're going to talk about how can you really prove your value, prove your worth, your ROI? So you can actually charge more and hold onto your clients better. Because a lot of times, if you don't know the value your clients don't know the value and you're probably not going to hold onto them. So let's go ahead and jump into the episode. Hey, Paul. Welcome back to the show. Paul: [00:00:36] Hey, Jason. Thanks for having me. Jason: [00:00:37] Yeah, man. I'm excited to have you on. So, uh, tell us who you are and, uh, tell us a little bit about your background. Paul: [00:00:45] Yeah, sure. Uh, my name is Paul Deraval. Um, currently I'm the CEO and co-founder of a company called Ninja Cat. We help, uh, large scale agencies and media companies prove value to their customers through, um, automated and highly effective, um, data stories as we call it dashboards as well as, uh, automated PowerPoints and PDFs that really help you as an agency prove value to your customers. Jason: [00:01:11] Awesome. Very cool. And so tell us, how did you come about starting this? And, you know, I know it's an interesting story. Paul: [00:01:21] Yeah. So, long story short. Um, my background is a software entrepreneur. Prior to this, built a SAS company called uh, Easy Facility, an all-in-one platform for health and fitness clubs, like a YMCA or yoga studio. The one tool you needed to get all your different jobs done from member payments to personal trainers, scheduling, mobile apps. Everything. Very big product. Um, was fortunate enough in, did that from 2003 to 2009, uh, when we got acquired, and that, enabled me to do some angel investing. And, uh, one of the investments I made through a, a referral from a, a family friend was, uh, to two brothers starting, um, a digital marketing agency primarily focused on auto dealers. Uh, I'm a software entrepreneur and was looking to make software investments. I was like, ah, you know, I don't understand the agency business. Um, you know, really shouldn't invest in what you don't know, but, I'll take the meeting. Um, but what caught my eye during the meeting was, uh, a digital marketing agency focused on auto dealers, but had their own unique selling proposition, which was two parts. One was an ad creation technology that would scrape an auto dealer's website, find out what inventory they had in real-time. Take that 2010 Honda civic and create a Google ad for it and take it down when the, when the, um, car was removed from the site. I thought that was pretty nifty. Um, and another component of some technology that they built to help them differentiate was, uh, some really nice reporting dashboards. Uh, that basically offered transparency to these auto dealers. Showing them exactly here's where your dollars are going and here is here's the impact it's having, right? Here's how many map views it's driving, how many phone calls it's driving. Um, so that got me excited to the point where I said, all right, I don't understand the agency business, but, um, I'll make a small bet. Um, from there, the agency for about two years, uh, they grew, it was a boutique agency with, with a handful of clients and just run, run by two brothers. Um, the things that we learned in that journey of those first two years was a couple of things. Some of the challenges we faced, uh, was one the segment we were serving, um, back then around at that time that the 2011, 2012 was, you know, customer education. Working with auto dealers in the Northeast who were, you know, more traditional used to advertising in print and, uh, you know, radio and TV. And convincing them they should be putting dollars into Google and Facebook, uh, was one thing. Then the harder problem was convincing them to do it again, right? Retain, expand, and spend more on these digital marketing channels. So, um, we, we were making progress, and definitely, our unique technology helped us. Uh, but another challenge we faced was, um, that was pulling us back it's just how competitive, um, we, we found ourselves in the markets that we were in. And so many agencies out there, right? From, you've got your enterprise agencies, your mid-market. And then you have your solopreneurs out there, you know, slinging, PPC, SEO services, some very qualified and some very unqualified. And we were battling all of them and would just go walk into a dealer or for cheaper clicks. The dealers wouldn't know what that meant. And then there was a battle to like, retain that customer. So it was okay. It just wasn't going, it didn't seem like it was on a trajectory to scale into anything, um, meaningful of an agency. Thankfully, um, around the end of 2013, a competitive agency actually was trying to push one of our auto dealer clients. And, uh, our clients show them the dashboards that we were providing to them. Um, and that agency, uh, actually came to our team and said, hey, would you ever consider white labeling those dashboards? Um, I've seen them, you know, I'm in the business, but have you ever thought about that? The team came to me and said Paul, what do you think? And that was really, uh, one of those true light bulb moments for me. It was like kind of everything going on at once. Like what's our challenges here, right? One of our biggest challenges is, um, that the agency space is, is so competitive, right. And we're fighting with, with everybody out there and the thought was all right, well, we have this unique technology, this reporting ad creation. Who makes money in a gold rush, right? It's it's the gal or the guy selling the pickax. So instead of fighting with everybody, what if we became the arms dealer, right? And sold our unique technology to the agencies out there, giving them a chance to, to compete, uh, and thrive. So, um, I got really excited about that thesis, went home, uh, executed a textbook execution of a lean market validation experiment. Created an Unbounce landing page. I just tested the reporting first, automated reporting from the ad creation. While it was cool, it really wasn't delivering on all the promises of some of that, um, you know, automated ad creation. So I wanted to test out the value prop of, you know, automating report improved value to your customers. One week I came up with a ridiculous name. Created the Unbounce page, uh, got the leads. And then I just did a bunch of discovery calls and found out where the market was being underserved. And what I kept hearing was like, the Acquisios, the Marins, these big black box algorithm platforms helped automate. But the biggest challenge I kept hearing was they were using those platforms for the reporting capability. You know, they weren't so much delivering on some of the promises of campaign automation optimization. But they were not… they were still paying for those tools, using it for reporting capability that was super limited in scope, not really designed for that use case. And paying a ton of money for it, like a large percentage of their media spend. So I was like, wow, there's, there's an exciting opportunity here. There's a crack in the fortress, right? For somebody to come in here and focus on a specific problem, be the best in the world at helping agencies prove their value, uh, to, to clients by just knocking client report out of the park. And then from there, there's a grander vision of helping them take over some of the other jobs from reporting to monitoring, to contribution and such. And we've grown since, but that's, uh, I just made a long story longer. But that's, uh, that's our founding story of Ninja Cat. So we've been at it since 2014. Uh, we pivoted, I came on as CEO. After that experiment, we, we sold off some of those customers and have been, uh, just running, running for that sense. Jason: [00:07:37] So I, I love that story. And I do believe that, you know, proving your worth is showing your clients reports. Now, one of the challenges I've seen over in, in the past is, you know, you're… You know, we've all had these clients, like you're giving them amazing results and then they come to you and they're like, I'm switching. And you're like, what the heck? Right? And you're like, I've been sending you reports. And they're like, well, and what I've seen is they'll check out the report for the first week and then they'll ignore the rest. So what's the best way that you've seen agencies present the reports? Or how do you, how do they, how does, how does the client understand the reports and the first off? Cause a lot of times I've seen I've, I've seen reports from a lot of different tools and I'm like, man, I'm confused. So, what have you seen work for agencies? You know, that are using your platform for really kind of showing the client the value and then really taking it up a notch? Paul: [00:08:46] Sure. So some general things, uh, we've seen and we've done to help our customers elevate their client reporting so that they can achieve the objective of a better proving value. So they can retain and expand within those customers. I'd say the ingredients, the key ingredients is like… First and foremost, I would say, know your audience, right? Um, know their appetite for data, right? Uh, and then deliver it to them on a silver platter a data story that says here's what we did for you. Here's the impact that had on your business. And here's why you should not only continue doing business with us. But here's why you should do more business with us. Look at all these opportunities. High-performing campaigns limited by budget, whatever it might be. So it is not a one size fits all solution, but I think those ingredients of like knowing your audience and their appetite for data and delivering on a silver platter. And if I, if I break that down, what does that actually translate into from like best practices is. You know, um, everyone thinks dashboards first for client reporting because we're data geeks, right? We love dashboards. They're sexy. They're cool. I can access them on my mobile phones, whatever. We've been doing this since 2014 and we have stunning dashboards. Like you can recreate any dashboard on our product. One of our first finding than we thought we were screwed as a company, cause we started off dashboard-only, was like, oh my God, less than 10% of clients ever logged into these dashboards on a given month. We're screwed. We can't sell this, right? We're selling snake oil. You shouldn't be doing reporting dashboards. So I think that's a reality. I think even Google is this data studio blog post published something similar. Like, you know, 10% of clients or something, uh, on average, uh, ever log into dashboards, right? So, one, it's a mix dashboards are critical and kind of table stakes. They offer a sense of comfort and transparency that I can access my data whenever I want and see where my dollars are going and you're not doing anything shady. But the reality is while you might be able to win them with a dashboard. With the transparency and building that trust that's so essential to any client relationship. To truly then retain and expand it's that deliver on a silver platter, right? It's push methodology versus a pull methodology. Which means a push report, some form of a PDF or PowerPoint or web presentation that is less dashboardy, right? Dashboardy is more kind of exploratory. Like data vomit, as I call it, meters and gauges and stick your clients into that and they'll probably misinterpret that data, which I think is one of the big problems. So you give them a dashboard with meters, gauges, data vomit, leave it up to them, to interpret the data for you. To say that you're doing a good job for them. And, you know, probably at least eight times out of 10, they're going to misinterpret that data, uh, in that data vomit. And it's not doing you any, any justice. So it's finding that balance of a dashboard that gives comfort and transparency mixed with on a silver platter, a data story that covers those bullet points. As I said earlier, here's what we did and why you should continue doing business with us and more. And it looks different, right? As an agency, you got to figure it out. You might have different, um, sizes of clients. We have some agencies and media companies that have thousands of very small span clients. And you've got to invest the appropriate amount of time to your client reporting for that segment versus your, your high spend, you know, uh, enterprise clients, right? And what we've seen is you need to automate on the low end, right? But make it feel high touch. If it's just a dashboard and expect them to log in, that doesn't feel as high touch as I can log into a dashboard. Oh, and I also get this beautiful weekly, monthly PDF or PowerPoint with a very digestible story. And then at the high end, right? Walk your customers through it. Or at a bare minimum, don't just send a report. Like in Ninja Cat, and I'm sure you do this and other products, we have workflows that is either set it and forget it, fully automated. Or set up a don't forget it, where the teams can come in at the agency, look at the data and then add their insights, their recommendations, and next actions. And then send it to the client. So those are just some of the best practices. Don't lean… My first biggest suggestion, be aware of data vomit, right? Uh, to be aware of dashboards as your primary, medium of communicating value to your customers. When statistics just over overwhelmingly show that, you know, they hired an agency because they want it to be white glove full service. Don't make them go find the data and expect them to tell you why they should continue doing business with you. You need to be the one telling your customers why they should be continuing to do business with you. Jason: [00:13:09] Yeah. Yeah. I love that you said you got to know your audience too, right? Like really read them and be like, is this person really analytical? Is this person visual? Does this person just be like, I just care about the results. I don't care about how you do it. Just go do it. Or like, you know, do they want to know all the details? Like I think that's so important. A lot of people skip that. And you should really concentrate on that, on the onboarding process of your clients. Like, because I had a, we have our digital agency experience, which is at our house in Durango where our mastermind members come in. And I had, um, a keynote speaker come in, Joey Coleman and he talks about how the first hundred days is the most important if you're going to keep this client for a long time or not. And if you could put that in your onboarding process and really figure out that, like, do you want to know all the intimate details that we're doing? Do you just want to know the results? Like how do you want me to show you that we're working for you? And I think if you just do that, then you could use a cool tool, like Ninja Cat, where. You know, if they want just a basic report, automate the crap out of it, or if they want to meet every week. Okay. Do that. You know, whatever it is. I think that's so important that I think too many of us miss. We have a huge tool. Paul: [00:14:29] One hundred percent. Yeah. That's that's, it's like a report should have, yeah, layers to it, like an executive layer, more strategic layer than a more tactical. And if you're excited about that tactical, but your, your audience isn't, you show up to a meeting and you start overwhelming them with the details. You know, and, and they are like CML or somebody that's high level that doesn't care. They're not actually paying attention to the thing they cared about the most. Why did I spend time on that executive-level first page thing when I should have spent time on the first page? Did I sell more cars? Yes or no? Uh, should I continue doing this? Yes or no. Don't spend an hour talking about negative keywords with me if I don't care about that, right? So, uh, more data isn't always better, and it really…  Just ask the customer, what is the best way? What, what level of detail do you want? Uh, and then just, you know, deliver that to them. Jason: [00:15:13] Yeah. Well, I think we covered a lot of the mistakes. Did we miss any mistakes that agencies do with reporting and upselling and growing those accounts or keeping them? Paul: [00:15:25] No, and just… you know, aggregation. Um, it's a really important thing, right? Is, uh, looking at things, making sure you aggregate. I know it's hard, uh, when you have so many different channels. But making sure you really nail that, um, executive layer of a report, that should be the, the answer to the question that they're, they're seeking. The so what. And then backed up by the, the details under it. But, um, we've seen that too common and it's like, wait, you're giving your client this 80-page report? Jason: [00:15:49] Oh, my God. Oh, that hurts my head just thinking about it. Paul: [00:15:52] Really, really. I, I, no. We, we've had a hundred plus, uh, and some of our clients today still do it. But you know what? They're actually, to your earlier point, my earlier point, there are some audiences that need and want the hundred-plus page report, right? Because they need to see the data broken out. Hospital system by department, by all these different things. If that's what they need, that's what you should deliver to them. So it's not a don't ever give a hundred page report. It's, it's know your audience, but, uh, tell that holistic the holistic story, right? I think when you, you can't fill in the blanks and you show up to a call. And you can't connect, you know how all these different channels are impacting other channels. It's not as good as if you can, clearly. So do your best, find tools, solutions that can really allow you to tell that holistic story and show how every channel impacts, um, each other, even channels that you might not manage, right? Like, why am I ads not performing? Well, look at your reviews, like your reviews on Google. If people saw your reviews, they people probably aren't clicking on your ads. So what impact are your reviews having on your, on your adwords performance? Jason: [00:16:50] That's awesome. Well, Paul, this has all been amazing. Is there anything I didn't ask you that you think would benefit the audience before we tell them about where to go? Paul: [00:17:00] Uh, geez. Good question. Um, that you didn't ask. No, I mean, that's… I think that's, uh, uh, I think we covered at least what we're most used to helping agencies, right? There's lots of jobs to be done. But, you know, the thing where we've focused on being the best in the world that is helping prove value through your client report. And I think we hit a, at least the, the cliff notes and hopefully there's a couple of actionable takeaways that everyone got out of this. Jason: [00:17:27] Awesome. Uh, where can people go to learn more about Ninja Cat? Paul: [00:17:32] Yeah. So, uh, we have a dedicated landing page for, for this podcast. Uh, you can go to ninjacat.io/masterclass. Jason: [00:17:42] Awesome. And, uh, and tell us, what's the number one thing agencies love once they switch over to you guys? Paul: [00:17:52] Uh, that they can focus on the meaningful instead of the monotonous, right? So, instead of data chaos and data wrangling and client reporting. When you can automate that at an effective level then that's meaningful. Really, let's spend more time actually optimizing campaigns and building client relationships. But when you don't have automated reporting and you spend 60 to 70% of your time, which we've seen is common, right? On client reporting because you need to do it. Well, what if you can automate that? What then will you do with that time shifted from, from the monotonous to the meaningful and, and see what impact that has? Jason: [00:18:32] Awesome. Well, Paul, thanks so much for coming on the podcast. We really do enjoy. And, uh, for all of you guys that want to really improve the value that you're doing and really streamline the reporting and just be able to run a better agency. I want you guys to all go to ninjacat.io/masterclass. Go do that now. And until next time, have a Swenk day.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees your eternal security. Because he lives forever, so will you. But his resurrection also gives you a new way to live here and now. In this new way of life, sin and death can no longer have their way with you. As Paul wrote, "sin is no longer your master". Your old self that was under sin's control was crucified with Christ, dead and buried. So count yourself dead to sin and fully alive to God, living through the power of grace. Say along with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

As Paul comes to a conclusion, he gives a final benediction and blessing for those who live and think according to His exhortation of Philippians 4:4-9. This blessing is nothing less than God's promise to be with us. In this final message on the Christian mindset, Nathan Johnson expounds on Paul's statement that “the God of peace will be with you” and gives three incredible realities of what it means for our lives practically. Support this podcast

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. ~ Titus 2:7 (NLT) “Welcome to Walmart” said the employee in the official blue Walmart vest. I smiled at them and said “Thanks.” There was no return smile. In fact, there was no emotion, no expression, just a blank stare from someone who seemed to be hating life at the moment. The employee didn't even make eye contact and was staring blankly out into the parking lot. Like a caged animal, I believe she wished she could be free. “Are you OK?” I asked. “Fine” was the one-word reply I got – still no recognition that I was even standing there. Needless-to-say, my first impression of that store was not a good one. The sad reality is that, as Christians, we sometimes behave in this very same manner. Sure, we may not have a soul-sucking job at Walmart, but often times we portray our faith as something that really isn't that exciting – we just go through the motions that someone taught to us at some point in life. We fold our hands and close our eyes at prayer. Sometimes we kneel, but only when invited. We stand for songs in church when the praise leader says to, and sit when directed to replant ourselves in the pew. We say “Happy Sabbath” at the door of the church on the way out, because that's what we've come to know. And, there is nothing wrong with all of these things. However, we must go beyond the customs and live out our faith. As Paul puts it, “be an example to them by doing good works of every kind.” So, what might this look like? Well, I don't want to put a limit on things, because God's miracles are limitless, but here's a few thoughts. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Give to the needy. Visit the sick. Pray for people you don't know. Share the love of Jesus with others. Invite people into your life. Invite people into your church family (more on that tomorrow). Serve in your local church. Host Bible studies for those who don't think like you already. Stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. And, here's the kicker, do it all with joy and passion. Nobody responds to a grumpy, burnt out Christian. In short, don't be that Walmart greeter. Don't let your faith be seen as a soul-sucking job. Let others see Jesus in you. Let others experience the love and joy that only comes from God.

We are to be unlike the world around us—though we live in the world, we are not to be of the world. As Paul concludes his argument in Philippians 4:9, he declares “look at my life and watch how this is put into practice!” In this episode, Nathan exposes Paul's heart from the passage and exhorts each of us to live lives worthy to be imitated. Support this podcast

As Paul continues his second missionary journey, he wants to break new ground in Asia Minor, which made sense both geographically and strategically. But he is constantly blocked by the Holy Spirit and he ends up being redirected to a completely different region - Macedonia. And like Paul, we too can face unplanned obstacles in life that derail our plans. So, how should we view these unplanned obstacles? Well, we see that under God's sovereignty, these unplanned obstacles are actually unexpected opportunities for the unstoppable Gospel to advance. Rather than complaining about our failed plans, we ought to see what God is doing through His plan and faithfully move forward in obedience.

Jesus Followers Have Much for which to Thank God - His Grace for Our Salvation and Our Freedom to Serve Him MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His Name. Our government has set aside an annual national holiday of Thanksgiving for all Americans to offer prayers for our country; our many blessings; and our special blessings for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, thanksgiving to God, for Christians, should be a lifestyle; and Jesus Followers should not need a special day to give thanks to the Lord. As Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.”. Do you, as a Christian, need a special day to give thanks God because you get so immersed in your life outside of your relationship with God? Do you stop to give God thanks for His grace for you and His blessings to you in your prayer life's personal relationship with God? Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His Name.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, after his loss, you gave Job prosperity, blessing hm with twice as much as he had before, but that has not always felt like my experience. Grant me patience. Help me to trust and wait on you, especially in those areas of my life where I have no idea what you are doing, when my hardship will end, or where you are taking me. In Jesus' name, amen.            Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 115). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (including me). (From Romans 1:16). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 1 Chronicles 16:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4; Psalms 50a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The People of Gerasenes Asked Jesus, the God of the Universe, to Leave; How Often Do You Ask Jesus to Leave Your Life?”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Today's meditation comes from Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13. Introduction For the first thirty years of Jesus' life, He did nothing that the gospel writers saw fit to record, save for the one episode where He remained behind in the temple at twelve years of age, listening at the teachers' feet and astounding them with His wisdom (Luke 2:41-52). He otherwise appeared to be a normal young man, until He was anointed by the Holy Spirit and received power from on high. This marked the beginning of His ministry. He had the power to do miracles at this point, but He had never yet performed one. Strangely, the first thing the Holy Spirit did was lead Him into the wilderness, to be tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1). The Holy Spirit actually intended for the temptations to occur. Yet we know God never leads us into temptation (Matthew 6:13, James 1:13); Jesus was a special case, for this too. Why?  In my retelling, Jesus recited to Himself the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, believing that His own time in the wilderness was a parallel of theirs. They left Egypt (the life they knew), just as He left His old life of obscurity behind. They had never before known power, and then suddenly they were delivered with great signs and wonders. Then the Lord drove them into the wilderness, where they confronted daily needs, and with them, temptations to doubt the Lord's goodness and provision. The story in the Old Testament does not record that it was Satan stirring up the people against the Lord, but then, the Old Testament had (almost) no doctrine of Satan. Presumably he was there, though, and the Israelites gave right in, every time. In order for Jesus to be our perfect sacrifice and substitute, He needed to be tempted in all ways as we were, and yet remain without sin (Hebrews 4:15). So the first temptation, according to both versions of this story in Matthew and Luke, was turning stone into bread. This parallels the temptations of the Israelites in the wilderness: much of their grumblings against the Lord had to do with lack of food and water. Notice that Satan waited to offer this temptation to Jesus until he'd been fasting for forty days, and was literally beginning to starve. Bread was not a luxury, but a legitimate need at this point. Yet would He trust in the Father to provide, or take matters into His own hands? If He did the latter, it would demonstrate potentially two things: lack of trust in God's provision, and also doubt in His own identity.  It's interesting that Satan begins two of his temptations with “If You are the Son of God.” These would not have been temptations if Jesus had no inclination to doubt who He was. Yet after thirty years of doing nothing remarkable, how could He not? Giving in to this doubt would have been sin, though, as “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23), and the root of all sin is unbelief (John 16:9).  The order of the second and third temptations varies in the two accounts in Matthew and Luke, though the content was the same. According to 1 John 2:16, there are only three areas in which Satan tempts us: the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” The temptation to turn stone to bread was lust of the flesh: putting the needs of His body above following God. He responded to this temptation by comparing God's Word to bread: no doubt this was exactly what the original manna in the wilderness was meant to represent.  Pride of life would have been showing off by jumping off the pinnacle of the Temple, just to prove to the Jews (and to Himself) that He had the power to call angels to His assistance. Satan even tried to twist scripture to convince Jesus to fall for this one, adding to and omitting portions of Psalm 91 to suit his purposes. Satan's version of Psalm 91 made it sound as though God had promised carte blanche: complete protection under any and all circumstances. But Jesus understood that His power was not to be spent upon His own lusts (James 4:3)—and indeed, He did not benefit personally from any of the miracles He performed (unless you count taking His portion from the food He multiplied when feeding the 5000 and the 4000). Here too, Jesus responds to the temptation by quoting from Deuteronomy, as He does with all three. As Paul tells us, the Word is a sword, our only offensive weapon against the enemy (Ephesians 6:17). The last temptation according to Matthew's account was the lust of the eyes, as He beheld all the glittering kingdoms of the world. Luke's gospel records Satan's assertion, “this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish” (Luke 4:6). Notice that Jesus didn't contradict this: the earth and all its kingdoms were Satan's, and they both knew it. Jesus had come to earth, in part, to regain the authority that Adam had lost. Here, Satan offered it to Him freely. I doubt Satan realized that the alternative was the cross, since Paul tells us that if he had understood this, he would never have crucified Him (1 Corinthians 2:8). But Jesus knew it, which presumably made the offer all the more enticing. Yet even if Satan had kept his end of the bargain (which is doubtful), regaining authority for Himself only was never Jesus' goal. He wanted us back, and there was only one way to get us. If Jesus had sinned, He could not have become the perfect Lamb of God, our substitutionary sacrifice. He could not have ushered in the New Covenant.    Fictionalized Retelling (from Jesus' POV) It was time.  I had, from time to time over the last six months, lingered some distance away from the Jordan River as my cousin John baptized the hoards of Israel who came to him seeking repentance. I watched smiling, laughing, and sometimes weeping as the prodigals came home.  “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,” I murmured aloud on more than one occasion, bursting with pride in my cousin. But I had never revealed my presence to him over the past six months. His fame grew, though I remained in obscurity.  Until now.  My heart hammered in my chest in a blend of excitement and anticipation as I made my way right down to the banks of the Jordan this time. John was waist deep in the river, helping a middle aged man plunge beneath the waters and come back up again, his nose plugged and eyes closed while everyone around him cheered. Grinning, John released him.  “Bear fruit worthy of repentance, friend!” John shouted after the man as he waded toward his friends, arms thrust into the air in victory and face streaming with water. John turned to see who was next, and our eyes locked. His smile froze while mine widened. Understanding struck him.  “Of course it's you.” He was too far away and the rushing water was too loud for me to hear him, but I saw his lips form the words and his eyes fill with tears. Then he started laughing, even as the tears spilled over onto his cheeks. Answering tears pricked in my own eyes. I had always imagined this moment: how John would react when he realized that I was the Messiah. The reality was better.  “Behold!” John bellowed to everyone around him, making a grand sweeping gesture to me with one hand as he wiped his cheeks with the other. “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.” My chest felt like it might burst with love for My cousin. I waded up to him as he spoke, positioning Myself to be baptized as the others before Me had done. His expression changed from awestruck to appalled, and he held up his hands in protest.  “I need to be baptized by You,” he protested, “and are You coming to me?”  “Let it be so now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” I told him. He shook his head, but in wonder, not refusal. I knelt down, plugged My nose, and closed My eyes, as My cousin took hold of my shoulders and lowered Me below the chilly rushing waters. He lifted Me out again, and I shook My hair and beard, water streaming from My face as I wiped it away. The sky above us was cloudless that day, but even so, it seemed to part like a pair of blue curtains. Beyond it, I saw the scene Ezekiel had described: a still sapphire sea, and a throne surrounded by an emerald rainbow. The One on the throne was all flame and rainbow, more glorious than the sun.  “Father,” I whispered. It was the first time I had ever seen Him with My human eyes.  He rose to His feet, and threw something in the air. As it descended through the parted sky, I could make out the form of a gleaming white dove. It landed on My shoulder. “Holy Spirit!” I breathed, like embracing an old friend. He burned Me, but without pain, as Moses' bush had burned without being consumed. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” My Father declared.  With that, the sky rolled back across the heavenly scene like a scroll. The dove too had vanished, and the burning faded—but He was upon Me still, just like He had come upon the prophets of old in power. I knew He would be with Me from now on, until My mission here was complete.  I turned to John, curious whether he had seen and heard what I had, or whether that had just been for Me. His awestruck expression, still turned toward the sky, told Me all I needed to know. Then he looked back at Me.  “How long have You known?” he murmured.  I smiled back at him. “As far back as I can remember.”  “And yet You never told me!” It was an accusation, but then he held up a hand and said, “No no, I understand. It was better this way. I'd have asked far too many questions, though by all rights I should have guessed.” He shook his head and added to himself, “I must have been intentionally blinded until now; it's the most obvious thing in the world—Jesus! where are You going?”   I was wading back to the banks, and already the crowds had parted to make way for Me. I pointed up to the heavens. “The Spirit compels Me away from here just as surely as if He tugged Me by the hand. I must go.”  “Where?” John called after me. “I'll come with You!”  “Into the wilderness, and I must go alone,” I called, giving him an apologetic glance. “You, meanwhile, still have work to do here.” I cast him one more grin, and made my way through the crowds gazing at Me with amazement on the banks, My robes streaming with water and gathering mud at the hems.   I walked out into the lonely places of Israel, as the chatter of the crowds grew distant behind Me. My clothing dried and stiffened with the sediment from the Jordan as the day progressed. Wild animals heard my footsteps and fled as I drew near. The Holy Spirit pulled me deeper and deeper into the wilderness.  Yet there was another presence here too, besides Him and Me. I felt, though I did not see him yet. His hatred pulsed all around Me, like the heat radiating from the sun. It was almost tangible.  I made camp that first night after the sun went down, and lay My head upon a flat stone for a pillow. I closed My eyes. It was then that I heard the first whispers.  You imagined it all, Satan taunted. There was no open heaven, no Father, no Holy Spirit. You suffer from delusions of grandeur. What are You but a poor dead carpenter's son? I huffed and turned over. “It just happened today,” I said aloud. “At least have the decency to wait a few days before you try to make Me doubt it.”  He fell silent for perhaps an hour. Then when I hovered in that space between sleep and waking, he whispered, You're not the Messiah. You've never done any miracles in your life. John is greater than You are!  I groaned, mostly annoyed to be disturbed out of slumber. Aloud, I countered in a voice thick with sleep, “Born in Bethlehem, of a virgin, from the tribe of Judah and of the line of David. I was called out of Egypt, while Herod massacred the children two and under at the time of my birth. My cousin, also born of a miracle, came in the spirit and power of Elijah and has been my forerunner for six months…” I kept quoting prophecies I had fulfilled already until I sensed that Satan had given up for the night. Then I breathed a sigh of relief, and drifted off at last. Day and night, this cycle repeated—intensely for the first three days, when I was hungriest. By the third day, my hunger receded, and so did the whispers. After that, Satan's daily temptations seemed almost halfhearted, and he gave up easily. “Isn't that just like you,” I panted to him aloud as I crested a hill with a large tree where I could rest in the shade. “Not one to waste your efforts in a battle you know you cannot win!”  I knew I would not feel hunger again for the most part until I literally began to starve, which would happen around day forty. I did not know how long the Holy Spirit intended for me to spend out in the wilderness, though I guessed forty days and nights—that number recurred throughout scripture. The hardest battle would come near the end, when I was at my weakest, both physically and emotionally.  Until then, I walked, I rested, and just when I could stand my thirst no more, I came across streams and springs where I slaked my parched tongue. I quoted the Pentateuch to Myself aloud. I sang the Psalms, inventing melodies for some of them that had never been set to music in My day. I talked to the Father and to the Holy Spirit, though I got no more audible or miraculous responses as I had in the Jordan.  What are You doing out here? What is the point? Satan whispered several weeks in.  “Symbolism,” I informed him, as much for My benefit as for his. “The Israelites left their old life in Egypt, were ‘baptized' as they passed through the Red Sea, and entered the wilderness, where they learned trust and dependence upon God day by day, despite constant opportunities to doubt. Forty years for them; forty days for Me. Then they entered the Promised Land, through the Jordan at flood stage. Jordan means ‘destroyer,' which symbolizes you, of course. The waters of the ‘destroyer' parted and were cut off all the way back to the city called Adam. It was, for them, as if the fall had never happened, as long as they remained on the right side of the covenant. You had no power over them anymore. Only then did they began their work of taking territory and slaying giants. In the same way, after I defeat you in the wilderness, then My ministry will begin. Then I will take down your ‘giants' of sickness, death, and disease, set the captives free, and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.”  If this is Your wilderness experience like what the Israelites experienced, then where is your manna? Satan sneered. God fed the Israelites, but He's happy to let You starve. You know why? You're not really His son. He'll let You die out here like the blasphemer You are. I rolled My eyes at this attempt, though in truth, My stomach responded differently. It growled at the thought of manna.  The awakened hunger persisted after that. At first upon is return, it gnawed here and there and then quieted for the rest of the day. It was worse on the days when I did not come upon a stream. A belly heavy with water could soothe the ravenous beast for awhile.  By day forty, though, the hunger was constant and nearly unbearable. I hardly felt the Holy Spirit's presence at all, but Satan's whispers seemed always just behind Me.  I squinted against the glare of the midday sun, not sure if My eyes were playing tricks on Me. But surely if I were to see a mirage, the shriveled, misshapen being before Me is not what I would have conjured.  “Satan,” I greeted the creature. I had never seen him before with My human eyes, yet I recognized him at once. I looked him up and down, noting the leathery skin like that of a bat, the emaciated features, the beady flashing red eyes. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” I commented. My human eyes had never beheld him in his pre-fall glory either, but I knew the story from Isaiah.  His lip curled at this, returning the inspection. “I could say the same of You, if You truly were who You claimed to be. But You and I both know You're not. At least I once glowed brighter than the morning star. You, on the other hand…” he gave a wheezy laugh. “A delusional carpenter whom God will permit to die of starvation in the wilderness, whose carcass will be picked clean by the vultures.”  “How well-named you are,” I retorted. Satan meant accuser.  “If You are the Son of God,” he returned, circling Me like one of the vultures he had referenced, “command that these stones become bread.” He gestured at a large boulder at my feet.  Immediately My stomach gave a loud, painful growl. Unbidden, I saw the hot loaf in My mind's eye, dripping with butter, sweetened with honey. My mouth flooded with saliva I could ill afford to spare: I was dehydrated enough.  But I had not quoted the Pentateuch for forty days and nights for nothing. I knew the stories: God gave Moses the rod that he used in power to deliver the Israelites from every one of their challenges, and yet he was only to use it as God had prescribed. He could not bring water out of any rock, nor could he do it by any method he chose. When he forgot this, he had forfeited his own right to enter the Promised Land. In the same way, the power of the Holy Spirit was Mine, but I could not use it when and how I pleased—lest I forfeit My Promised Land.  “It is written,” I panted back, swallowing back the saliva, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Satan knew the reference as I did: it was from Deuteronomy. His beady eyes flashed, but he tried to control his expression. I should have felt a flash of triumph, but all I felt was hungry.  Satan circled Me, and fastened his reptilian hands upon My wrists. In a whirl of wind and the blink of an eye, he spirited us together to the pinnacle of the temple of Jerusalem. My eyes widened and I took a step back from the ledge, as down below I saw the bustle of the crowd of worshippers, or priests bearing lambs or goats they had just bought and washed for sacrifice. They did not seem to see us—yet.  “Prince of the power of the air,” I murmured to Myself, amazed. It was an impressive trick.  He smirked at me, and gave an exaggerated little bow. Then his proud expression hardened and he took a step closer to me—too close. “If You are the Son of God,” he hissed, and gestured at the ledge casually, “throw Yourself down.” His words again conjured a clear picture in my mind: the gasps, the cheers, the crowds flocking to Me in amazement. What a spectacular way to announce My ministry! Satan shrugged and added, “For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'” I gnashed My teeth together. That was a misquote of Psalm 91. Technically it was correct, but it was completely out of context. It angered Me how subtle his lies were, though less for Myself, and more for all those precious ones whom I knew he would lead astray with exactly this kind of deceit throughout the ages. I retorted, “It is also written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God!'” This was also from Deuteronomy. “Don't play this game with Me, Satan. You think you know the word better than I do? I am the Word. You cannot win.”  “Oh, can't I?” he whispered back, clutching My wrists in his fists once again. I did not know where he planned to take Me now, but I knew he would choose a different tactic this time. He couldn't make Me doubt My identity, so— I caught My breath. We were at the top of a snow-capped mountain, well above the clouds, though I did not feel cold. This was a vision, I realized. I looked down, and all around me I saw—time. All of it. From the beginning to the end, every glittering kingdom of earth merged with one another, their rising and falling, their wealth and their greatness. But even more than this, I saw the people in those kingdoms: great and small, young and old, good and evil. My heart ached. They were why I had come. I longed for them, so desperately—My sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, all lost and hopeless and hurting without Me! Satan leaned so close to My ear that I could feel his breath upon My neck.  “All this authority I will give you, and their glory. It has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. If You will fall down and worship me, all will be Yours.”  I whirled on him, horrified at the longing I felt. Adam gave the authority of all the earth to him, and he offered it back to Me now. It was precisely what I had come to reclaim, and he now offered Me a shortcut—without the sacrifice.  Without the cross.  “Away with you, Satan!” I snapped. “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve!'” His expression sank into a deep scowl, and he bared his pointed yellowed teeth at Me. Then in a whirlwind, he was gone. I found Myself alone in the wilderness once again, on My hands and knees, panting.  Then I felt a hand on My shoulder. I jerked back, expecting to see Satan once again, but I softened when I saw a beautiful face I somehow also recognized.  “Gabriel?” He smiled at me tenderly, and gestured behind him. There, I saw a cake sizzling upon a stone, and a jug of water. My stomach gave an answering, painful growl. I thought at once of the story of Elijah in the wilderness as he fled to Mount Sinai, and an angel met him along the way with just such refreshment as this.  Gabriel hovered just behind me as I wolfed down the repast, closing My eyes in bliss as I savored the flavors. The cake was smaller than I would have liked, but I also knew better than to break such a long fast with a large meal. Nevertheless, had I had the option, it would have been hard to resist.  When I had finished, I turned back to Gabriel.  “I wonder that I have never met him before,” I said, meaning Satan. “But then, I've never drawn attention to Myself before.”  The angel nodded, and pointed at the sky with a slight smirk. “That got his attention, I think.”  I laughed, and then grew thoughtful. “Yes. But I needed it, too.” Of course, I literally needed the power of the Spirit to begin My ministry—but what I meant was that I had emotionally needed the open vision and the Father's voice, too. After thirty years of obscurity, I had not doubted My identity per se, but the overt confirmation had certainly been a relief. Gabriel understood this.   “That has always been the struggle,” Gabriel agreed. “Physical manifestations of power alert Satan to where the battle is.” Then he added, “He gave up for now, but he'll be back, whenever he thinks You're at Your most vulnerable. He's like the Amalekites in that way.”  I gave a short laugh, catching the reference to the tribe that had first attacked the Israelites in the wilderness by picking off the weak and stragglers among them. “Of course he is. The Amalekites got that strategy from him.” I sighed and mused to Myself, “I'll have to be careful. Anything I say plainly or do in the natural realm is double-edged: he can see or hear it just as surely as those for whom it is intended. Which is why so many of the prophets spoke in mysteries and dark sayings.”  Gabriel sank down to the ground beside Me, mimicking My posture with his arms around his knees. “He never understood any of the prophecies about You until it was too late,” the angel agreed. “Oh, he knew vaguely of course: Seed of Eve, line of Abraham, and that kind of thing—so he did his best to corrupt the earth, keep Abraham's line barren until there were too many of them to bother with that strategy, and then kill or corrupt the Jews in general. But if he could have narrowed it down to Your exact line…” He shook his head. “Even at the time of Your birth, the best he could do was inspire Herod to kill all the babies two and under in Israel. He didn't understand that—” “‘Out of Egypt I have called My Son,'” I finished, quoting from Hosea.  Gabriel nodded. “Right. He was looking for you in the wrong country. The truth was written in black and white—” “But in a dark saying,” I agreed, and bit My lip. I thought of David's seemingly superfluous musical gift of the harp, which turned out to be his ticket into Saul's palace. I, likewise, had a gift for story telling. Now I understood why. I looked up at Gabriel.  “I am to teach the people in parables,” I realized. “So that ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding'…”  “Except for those whose hearts have been prepared to perceive and to understand,” Gabriel agreed.  “By My cousin.” I gave a short laugh, and then sighed. “Even then, I'll have to be careful what I say. He'll be watching Me very closely from now on.”  Gabriel stood and brushed himself off, which was also My cue that it was time to head back to Capernaum.  “Yes,” he said, “I daresay Satan won't take his eyes off of You for a second, from this moment on.” 

This letter from Paul is more than just a reminder of the church's life in Christ, and our life in the body. It's also an answer to challenges to Paul's authority who must have descended upon the Corinthian church. There were hints of this earlier, but now Paul is starting to address it more directly. He also reminds the young church of his love for them, and asks for that love to be returned. Church division is certainly not unique to our times, it was there from the start. As Paul shows us, though, it's important to address those issues. To handle the situation with love is his primary command, though that certainly becomes difficult when we are faced with actual opponents.

After the Apostle Paul started the church in Corinth, others came after him that began to teach the Corinthian Christians differently. These false teachers were challenging Paul's teaching on the resurrection, a crucial and important truth at the heart of the Christian faith. Influenced by the culture around them, they suggested that Christ's resurrection was not a true, physical, bodily resurrection. As Paul responds to these false teachings, he is adamant that it is necessary to believe in the truth of Christ's bodily resurrection. Discover what Paul says are the consequences for our faith if Jesus is not raised from the dead and why this truth is crucial to the gospel message. Learn from Paul's message to the Corinthians why you can continue to stand firm today on the truth and reality of Christ's resurrection.

God found fault with his people. They did not fulfill their obligations in the Old Covenant. This is why a New Covenant was necessary. As Paul wrote no one would be declared righteous through obedience to the law. It can't be done. So God sent Jesus. And He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. But even better, He ushered in the New Covenant. And this new one is not like the old. It's better in every way. Because it's based on God's promises and faithfulness. Which means he will deliver on all his promises to you. As the writers of Hebrews wrote, Jesus is the guarantor of this better covenant. And you can count on Him. And that's good news!

As Paul continues his discussion of “disputable matters” in chapter 14, he shows Christians the way of love in preferring one another and protecting each other's faith.

Morning: Psalms 31–33 Psalms 31–33 (Listen) Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 31   In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;    let me never be put to shame;    in your righteousness deliver me!2   Incline your ear to me;    rescue me speedily!  Be a rock of refuge for me,    a strong fortress to save me! 3   For you are my rock and my fortress;    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;4   you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,    for you are my refuge.5   Into your hand I commit my spirit;    you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 6   I hate1 those who pay regard to worthless idols,    but I trust in the LORD.7   I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,    because you have seen my affliction;    you have known the distress of my soul,8   and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;    you have set my feet in a broad place. 9   Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;    my eye is wasted from grief;    my soul and my body also.10   For my life is spent with sorrow,    and my years with sighing;  my strength fails because of my iniquity,    and my bones waste away. 11   Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,    especially to my neighbors,  and an object of dread to my acquaintances;    those who see me in the street flee from me.12   I have been forgotten like one who is dead;    I have become like a broken vessel.13   For I hear the whispering of many—    terror on every side!—  as they scheme together against me,    as they plot to take my life. 14   But I trust in you, O LORD;    I say, “You are my God.”15   My times are in your hand;    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!16   Make your face shine on your servant;    save me in your steadfast love!17   O LORD, let me not be put to shame,    for I call upon you;  let the wicked be put to shame;    let them go silently to Sheol.18   Let the lying lips be mute,    which speak insolently against the righteous    in pride and contempt. 19   Oh, how abundant is your goodness,    which you have stored up for those who fear you  and worked for those who take refuge in you,    in the sight of the children of mankind!20   In the cover of your presence you hide them    from the plots of men;  you store them in your shelter    from the strife of tongues. 21   Blessed be the LORD,    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me    when I was in a besieged city.22   I had said in my alarm,2    “I am cut off from your sight.”  But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy    when I cried to you for help. 23   Love the LORD, all you his saints!    The LORD preserves the faithful    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.24   Be strong, and let your heart take courage,    all you who wait for the LORD! Blessed Are the Forgiven A Maskil3 of David. 32   Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,    whose sin is covered.2   Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,    and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3   For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long.4   For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;    my strength was dried up4 as by the heat of summer. Selah 5   I acknowledged my sin to you,    and I did not cover my iniquity;  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6   Therefore let everyone who is godly    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;  surely in the rush of great waters,    they shall not reach him.7   You are a hiding place for me;    you preserve me from trouble;    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.9   Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,    or it will not stay near you. 10   Many are the sorrows of the wicked,    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.11   Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! The Steadfast Love of the Lord 33   Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!    Praise befits the upright.2   Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!3   Sing to him a new song;    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 4   For the word of the LORD is upright,    and all his work is done in faithfulness.5   He loves righteousness and justice;    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. 6   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.7   He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;    he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8   Let all the earth fear the LORD;    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!9   For he spoke, and it came to be;    he commanded, and it stood firm. 10   The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.11   The counsel of the LORD stands forever,    the plans of his heart to all generations.12   Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 13   The LORD looks down from heaven;    he sees all the children of man;14   from where he sits enthroned he looks out    on all the inhabitants of the earth,15   he who fashions the hearts of them all    and observes all their deeds.16   The king is not saved by his great army;    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.17   The war horse is a false hope for salvation,    and by its great might it cannot rescue. 18   Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,    on those who hope in his steadfast love,19   that he may deliver their soul from death    and keep them alive in famine. 20   Our soul waits for the LORD;    he is our help and our shield.21   For our heart is glad in him,    because we trust in his holy name.22   Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,    even as we hope in you. Footnotes [1] 31:6 Masoretic Text; one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome You hate [2] 31:22 Or in my haste [3] 32:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [4] 32:4 Hebrew my vitality was changed (ESV) Evening: Acts 21:15–40 Acts 21:15–40 (Listen) 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. Paul Visits James 17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,1 and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. Paul Arrested in the Temple 27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” Paul Speaks to the People 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language,2 saying: Footnotes [1] 21:25 Some manuscripts omit and from what has been strangled [2] 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic) (ESV)

Jesus Followers Must Carve Out Quiet Times to Listen for the Holy Spirit Who Speaks to Us in His “still small voice” MESSAGE SUMMARY: God will speak to you, but you must learn to listen for Him. Learning to listen for and to God requires focused and "in-tune" listening in combination with a filter for all the in-life clutter that your lifestyles and culture create. As Paul tells us in Romans 10:17, followers of Jesus must listen and hear the Word from the Lord: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.". You are going all the time with stimuli from many different sources – how can God speak or be heard, in a still small voice, through all your noise? To hear and listen for God, "lengthy times in silence and solitude" with the Lord are needed. Times of quiet prayer with God permits the noise and clutter get taken away. Again, in Psalm 141:1, the Psalmist admonishes us to call upon the Lord and to listen for God's Word: “LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Abba Father, I admit that I am often afraid and embarrassed to openly tell you all that is going on inside me — even though I know you know it all anyway. Teach me what boldness in prayer looks like as I draw near your throne of grace. In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 112). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Exodus 19:5; Daniel 9:9-14; John 10:2-16; Psalms 106a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The People of Gerasenes Asked Jesus, the God of the Universe, to Leave; How Often Do You Ask Jesus to Leave Your Life?”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

As Paul wraps up his letter to Timothy, we consider not only the concluding paragraphs but the entire letter. Pauls's purpose in the letter has been to encourage Timothy to fight the good fight. But we should also fight it with friends.

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29 Romans 8:14 -Does the Christian ever long for Heaven? How often do they think of glorification? Christians often discuss sanctification and do not realize that it is only a part of the process for the end goal of glorification. Glorification can be understood because of the assurance in Christ Jesus. In this sermon on Romans 8:14 titled Sons of the Living God, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the theme of Romans 8 is not sanctification, but rather the assurance of a Christian's salvation. It is the absolute security of the final perseverance of all who have been justified by Jesus Christ. As Paul works through this chapter to Romans, he has been outlining several reasons for this assurance. In Romans 8:14, he come to the assurance in terms of sonship with God, which Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues is also the theme of the whole of Scripture. Because glorification is the final goal for all Christians, God would never allow something to prohibit His people from getting there. Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses four points: not all are children of God, Christians are children of God, what this sonship means, and the consequences of this sonship. He leaves the listener with an encouraging message: because Christians are sons and daughters of God, they can look out into this world and never experience despair or panic because they belong to the family ofGod.

As Paul began to take the gospel beyond Jerusalem, he encountered a wide range of people who were bought into an array of religious systems and philosophical thought. Paul's constant aim was to dismantle their false belief and bring the light of the gospel to bear on their world of darkness. Paul was an educated, quick-witted, and versatile thinker, and yet he demonstrated his dependence on God's power to save through faith in the gospel.

Philippians 3.17-18 NLT 'Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.' Paul doesn't pull his punches does he? He tells it like it is! He declares that some people are enemies of Christ. This is very harsh language but he knows that it is essential for the Philippian Christians to know the difference between those who were true followers of Christ and those who were fighting against Him. What they needed was a clear example of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, and Paul says that he himself was the person they should be following. I don't interpret this as arrogance but as a matter of necessity. The Christians, most of whom would have been very young in their faith, needed to have a clear example of what it meant to live for Christ in everyday life. As Paul wrote this, he was in prison so he invited them to pattern their lives on those who had followed his example. This all begs the question of where Paul got his example from and in 1 Corinthians 11.1 he explains that his life was based on following Christ. It's good to follow the example of other Christians. I know that my Christian life has been massively affected by the example that has been set for me by Christians that I have known. I was given the example of carefulness from Peter, gentleness from Frank, graciousness from Victor, faithfulness from David, cheerfulness from Fred, courage from Tim and so on. I wonder who has inspired you, and I encourage you to keep actively remembering and thanking God for their example. But this works in the other direction as well. People are looking at you and me, whether we like it or not. We too are setting an example of what it means to follow Jesus and we need to make sure that it's a good one. QUESTION: Whose Christian example has been particularly important to you? PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for the people who have shown me what it means to follow you. Help me to set a good example for others. Amen

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (Deuteronomy 28:15) 21 Now, we took this text out of Deuteronomy. It's a Greek word which has a compound meanings, or, it means, “two laws.” The Greek word, Deuteronomy, means “two different laws.” And that's just what God has, two different laws. And one of them is a law of death, and the other one is a law of Life. God has two laws. To follow Him, and serve Him and worship Him, is Life; to reject It is death. There is two laws in God. 22 Now, one of those laws was recog-…made recognized to the world, at Mount Sinai. God gave the law to Moses and Israel. Not that the law could help them, but the law only pointed out to them that they were sinners. Until that time, they didn't know what sin was, till they had a law. There cannot be a law without a penalty. A law is not a law, without penalty. So, therefore, “The transgression of the law is sin, and the wages of sin is death.” So therefore, until God made them a law, there was no transgression reckoned to them. If there's no law here that says you can't run over twenty miles an hour, then you could run over twenty miles an hour. But when there's a law says you can't do it, then there's a law and a penalty behind it. 23 Now, death, the law of death, was the commandments given on Mount Sinai, which told man that he was a sinner. And, to transgress God's law, he died. But there's no salvation in the law. The…It was only a policeman that could put you in jail; it had nothing to bring you out with. But then He gave another law, that was at Mount Calvary, where sin was reckoned in Jesus Christ, and there the penalty was paid. And not with…Without law, “but by grace you are saved,” by the grace of God, through predestination of God's foreknowledge of your being. 24 Now we see these two laws, Deuteronomy, speaking of two laws. There was two laws. One was the law of death, and the other one the law of Life. 25 There was also two covenants give to the people. We're going to speak of them in the morning. One of them was given to Adam on condition, “if you do this and don't do that,” but that law was broken. Adam, Eve broke that, in the garden of Eden. Then God made the second covenant, and give that to Abraham, and that law was unconditional. “It isn't what you've done or what you will do;” He said, “I have already done it.” That's grace. That's the law of Life. God did that for Abraham and his Seed after him, that's, all of Abraham's Seed. As the Bible said, “All Israel will be saved,” but that don't mean Jews. As Paul said, “That Israel which is inward, or Israel outward.” “Outward,” as we spoke of the other night, it was Isaac's children, by sex. But the law of God was through Christ, which was Abraham's Royal Seed, that, “by grace all Israel is saved.” That's, “All that's in Christ is saved,” all, God's second covenant. But all these things foreshadowed Christ. 65-0220 - "God's Chosen Place Of Worship" Rev. William Marrion Branham ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order your own copy of the Family Altar at http://store.bibleway.org Appreciate what we do? Consider supporting us: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support

Jesus Followers' Personal Relationship with Jesus Comes from Humility as Sinners Through Seeking God's Mercy in Prayer MESSAGE SUMMARY:  We do not deserve it; but we able to come to God, in a Personal Relationship with Him, because of His Mercy. We are all sinners. As Paul tells us in Romans 9:18: “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.". With God's Justice without His Mercy and His resulting Grace, you would face only eternal death as Justice for your sins. We can never enter God's presence for prayer when we are in our pride with our focus on ourselves. Also, Paul reminds us, in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, that, in your Salvation through God's Grace, Jesus makes us “boast” only in the Grace provided us by God: “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'”. We can only enter God's presence when we humble ourselves in Jesus. Humility and penitence before God invite His presence – here I am, Lord; just as I am; have mercy on me a sinner.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 18:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31; Isaiah 19:22; Psalms 44a:1-13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “God Says: ‘If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I . . . will forgive their sin and heal their land.'”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Philippians 2.22-23 NLT 'But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.' Timothy was clearly very important to Paul. Born in Lystra in Galatia (now part of Turkey) he had a Jewish mother and a Greek father. Paul met him on his second missionary journey and he was a regular companion from then onwards. The letter to the Philippians was one of six letters in which Timothy was named as the co-author with Paul, and the apostle also wrote two deeply personal and moving letters specifically to Timothy who he refers to as his dear son. Here in Philippians, Paul says that he has no one else like him. Everyone else looked after their own interests, but not Timothy, who could be relied upon as a man of faith and someone who genuinely cared. As Paul languished in prison it must have been wonderful for him to know that he had Timothy's continual support. Paul's future was entirely unclear and his many references to death suggest that he wasn't at all certain that he would get out alive. Paul had to rely on those who could continue his missionary work and in Timothy he had someone who had proved himself, and who could be relied upon to take the work forward. Our lives are very different from Paul's, but we also need those on whom we can completely rely. Thank God for the blessing of good friends who share our convictions and our burdens, and who are willing to walk with us whatever happens. There is a wonderful verse in Proverbs that says that “a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18.24) What a gift! QUESTION: Who are you able to rely upon and how do you look after your relationship with them? PRAYER: Lord God, thank you for the gift of friends. Help me never to take them for granted but always to be loyal in my love and support for them. Amen

You know what they say: Parenting is hard, especially when you're undercover KGB operatives masquerading as a suburban American couple. As Paul, Arlo, and special guest Wesley “Wezzo” Mead dive into season 2 of Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields' modern classic The Americans, they discover all the ways child-rearing is difficult for Philip and Elizabeth Jennings. This includes concealing your secret identity; setting up a decoy aunt; keeping your kids out of the church; and shielding them from the dreaded “spurtsposition.” Plus, Paul and Wezzo rock out to the new Fratellis album and share some nice words about Ted Lasso.   NEXT: it's My Favorite Year to take a stroll down Sunset Blvd. on a new Geek Challenge.     BREAKDOWN 00:01:16  -  Intro / Guest 00:14:17  -  Main Topic 01:51:00  -  Outro / Next     MUSIC “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring, Cut (1982) “Here Comes the Flood” by Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (1977)     GOBBLEDYCARES National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/  Support AAPI communities and those affected by anti-Asian violence: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate Support the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund: https://aapifund.org/ Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ Advocate for writers who might be owed money due to discontinuance of royalties: https://www.writersmustbepaid.org/  Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/ Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ Register to vote: https://vote.gov/

As we continue to learn about the large network of disciples, we will discover Prisca (Priscilla is a nickname) and her husband, Aquila, are the ones who correct Apollos's errors about baptism. This is how God has created the church to be: we all strive to pull in the same direction, helping one another as needed. As we read their story, pay attention to the little details about Prisca and Aquila, their roles in the work of God's Kingdom, and the unique ways they participated in the early church. As Paul would put it, diverse gifts, many members, one Lord.

As we continue to learn about the large network of disciples, we will discover Prisca (Priscilla is a nickname) and her husband, Aquila, are the ones who correct Apollos's errors about baptism. This is how God has created the church to be: we all strive to pull in the same direction, helping one another as needed. As we read their story, pay attention to the little details about Prisca and Aquila, their roles in the work of God's Kingdom, and the unique ways they participated in the early church. As Paul would put it, diverse gifts, many members, one Lord.

The Kids Are All Right is a 2010 American comedy-drama film directed by Lisa Cholodenko and written by Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg. It is among the first mainstream movies to show a same-sex couple raising two teenagers. A hit at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, it opened in limited release on July 9, 2010, expanding to more theaters on July 30, 2010.Nic and Jules are in a long term, committed, loving but by no means perfect same-sex relationship. Nic, a physician, needs to wield what she believes is control, whereas Jules, under that control, is less self-assured. During their relationship, Jules has floundered in her "nine to five" life, sometimes trying to start a business - always unsuccessfully - or being the stay-at-home mom. She is currently trying to start a landscape design business. They have two teen-aged children, Joni (conceived by Nic) and Laser (by Jules). Although not exact replicas, each offspring does more closely resemble his/her biological mother in temperament. Joni and Laser are also half-siblings, having the same unknown sperm donor father. Shortly after Joni's eighteenth birthday and shortly before she plans to leave the house and head off to college, Laser, only fifteen and underage to do so, pleads with her to try and contact their sperm donor father. Somewhat reluctantly, she does. He is late thirty-something Paul, a co-op farmer and restaurateur. Despite his seemingly successful businesses, Paul has always shirked responsibility, most specifically in his personal life. After Joni and Laser meet with Paul, Nic and Jules learn what their children have done and, although they don't want Paul infiltrating their lives, want to meet him - especially as Joni and Laser seem to want to maintain some sort of relationship with him. As Paul's relationship with the entire family grows (which includes his hiring Jules to design and construct his backyard), they have an effect on what he wants in life. In turn, he affects their family dynamic as well as each person's relationships outside of it.TaglinesNic and Jules had the perfect family, until they met the man who made it all possible.Hope you enjoy this weeks episode and all the drooling we doing over what celebrities we have crushes on!

You've got your list of prospects, and you know you've got to reach out (because fortune is in the follow up, right?!), because you're committed to doing business. So you're about to dial, or text, or email, and the nervous fear kicks in. Maybe your stomach is churning, or you're sweating, or your mind is racing about how they'll respond. Drop a

As Paul continues to discuss issues that needed to be addressed by the church at Corinth he brought up what we today call church discipline. He clearly lays out 1. What it is 2. Why it is needed for sinners and 3. Why it is needed for the church.

As Paul began to conclude his letter to the Galatians, he focused on the cross of Christ.  He had praise for the cross.  Then he explained the power, the promise, and the persecution of the cross.Learn more about what these aspects of the cross mean for us on today's Treasured Truth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.