Podcasts about as peter

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ~ 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT) One of the best-selling categories of books is the self-help genre. These books promise to give the reader all of the information that they need to attain their greatest desires. Want to become thin overnight? There's a book that will tell you how. Most likely it will tell you to eat better and exercise more. Want to land that perfect boyfriend or girlfriend? There's a book that will give you some awesome pick up lines. Want to become a billionaire? There are lots of books about that. Mostly, though, these books help the authors become billionaires while us poor folk scratch our heads and wonder why we aren't rolling in the cash. Of course, then there is the more modern invention of life coaches. A life coach is someone that you hire to help you navigate through life. Whether it is romantic advice, career guidance, or just someone to cheer you on, you can rent a coach that will do all of that for you. In our Christian walk, sometimes we too look for guidance from various sources. We turn to outside help in order to guide us in the ways of being a good Christian. Whether it is a book, blog, vlog, or sermon, we seek wisdom from others on how to live a godly life. Here's the problem: That's not biblical. As Peter, a guy who walked and talked with Jesus, stated, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” Our source of information on how to live a godly life must come from God himself. So, where do we find the knowledge on how to live a godly life? A couple of sources stand out: 1) Prayer. Prayer connects us with God in a holy conversation. 2) A book. However, this isn't a self-help book. It has all of the knowledge necessary to know God. It's called the Bible. Both of these sources are infallible. In other words, they can't lead you wrong. So today, and every day, spend quality time with God in prayer. Spend time in his book, the Bible. Let God be your life coach. Read His best-seller. You will be blessed.

Hello, world! Jason Bliss from the Sharing Insights Podcast here. I've been on one heck of a journey. Over the last 9 months, I've dived into permaculture, exploring different ways we can develop sustainable homesteads and communities for a better way of life. We've interviewed a whole host of amazing people, all with their own unique experiences and insights to share with the permaculture community. Last month I decided to assemble a recap episode to look back over the show's highlights and discuss what I'd learned along the way. When I began, I had one goal in mind: To tell the story of my adventure doing these interviews and my personal takeaways from them. As I started putting it all together, I quickly realized that this approach didn't capture the essence of what I had intended for this episode. Initially, I wanted to do a bit of studying to see if I could compile a list of best practices and use them to create a guide for new and veteran landowners alike. My hope was that they could use these guidelines to take inspiration from and improve their own business models for greater impact. After some reflection, I've decided to restructure my recap into six separate episodes, each one covering a unique aspect of project stewardship. This way you won't just get the cliff notes on each topic, but rather a genuine contemplation of the relevant subjects that I feel they deserve. In part 1 of this series, I'm going to jump right in and start with the topic of financial sustainability since it's something that brings a lot of listeners to the show. Part 2 will focus on advice regarding hosting guests, volunteers, and students. Part 3 will focus on Community, both internally and regionally. Part 4 will review what I've gathered regarding land management tips. Part 5 will address some of the more interesting information about Physical Infrastructure. Finally, in Part 6 we'll wrap it up with a few words about cultivating impactful belief systems. With our roadmap set, it's time to get to work and tackle our first, big topic: Financial Sustainability Financial sustainability is a topic that almost everyone on Earth thinks about on any given day of the week. It can make or break a project. It can lead a team to high-fives or heads hung low. Whatever your opinion on money, chances are you need it, and you could make more of an impact with it than without it. I'm sure this generalization could be challenged, but I'm also sure there are many people who share this opinion. While much of the advice offered by my guests focus on improving the efficiency of their overall designs — ultimately affecting the project's bottom line — there were several important bits of advice that I'd like to focus on in hopes that the messages might sink in even deeper. How does a volunteer program work? I'll start with my first guest, Suzanna Leff of Finca Amrta. The focus of her interview was hosting volunteers. I begin here because the topic of hosting volunteers is very much wrapped up in financial sustainability (or lack thereof) for many projects. Unfortunately, an improperly designed volunteer program can easily steer a project toward financial crisis. Many people think of hosting volunteers as a form of free labor. With time, most landowners find this thinking fairly inaccurate, especially in places like my own home, Costa Rica. The time and energy that goes into hosting and training volunteers can far exceed the costs of hiring local laborers for the same job. In some places, with high labor costs, this can work, but it still must be executed with good business sense. Suzanna does what many veteran projects end up doing. She charges her volunteers a small fee to cover the costs of their stay. Suzanna points out that charging for the volunteer program should be relative to the education and experience that you're offering them. Volunteering is an invaluable experience for people, and these places need the support. That said, inviting a bunch of inexperienced people into your program requires a significant degree of guidance. If you're going to invite volunteers in to help “contribute their energy” to your project, you'll be wise to make sure that they're contributing their energy toward activities that are going to produce or save sufficient revenue to cover the expenses of hosting them. At this point, it may be worth mentioning some of the hosting factors that are often easily overlooked. I'm not only talking about obvious consumables like food, toilet paper, gas, and electricity. We also have to consider additional expenses like broken dishes, broken tools, poorly completed projects that need to be taken apart and redone, overuse of glue, screws, paint, & other resources that should be used conservatively. What about time? How much time does it take to teach someone how to do something? How much time does it take to teach them about rural living? Where is the value of that time when two months later they leave to go traveling somewhere else? How about time spent helping them evolve through their conditioned belief systems? Consider conflict management, as well. Discussing simple discomforts and attempting to accommodate those discomforts all take up valuable time. Are you helping them arrange travel? Do they do less work on the days before or after going on a trip? What happens when they decide to lean more into the vacation part of their working vacation? Do you have to take time to figure out a way to communicate the fact that they aren't meeting their agreement? What about when they get ill and can't perform, yet need to be attended to with attention and medicines from your personal first aid kit? When hosting volunteers and giving them access to your valuable tools, materials, and time, there are many expenses to consider. It's nice when you have someone with you long enough to get settled in and become a truly valuable part of the team, but how often does that really happen? It's safe to say that not every volunteer will come through in a way that truly adds more value than they expend. For this reason, many veteran projects that host volunteers regularly learn to only accept skilled volunteers, or charge for the education that unskilled volunteers require to start contributing the real value they intended to your project when they first signed up. My own project ignored this wisdom for many years, becoming the place other projects called on when they had an unskilled person at their gates looking for a free vacation. The bottom line is that although we had a lot of fun hanging out with these people, it cost us time that we might have better spent on our children, ourselves, and revenue-generating activities. Another popular model for keeping money flowing through a project to meet its many needs is growing food and creating value-added products for sale. Suzanna has a few products that her volunteers help her make, such as herbs for tea, herbal salves, and chocolate, although her distribution market is very small. Charging volunteers for the experience to work, live, and eat in this charming place is how she's stayed open for over 30 years. What about digital products? Ed Bernhardt, from New Dawn Center, likewise has a few small physical products that he and his wife sell at their local farmers' market, like tea blends and his “kombucha for the plants”. He's also written a few small books that he can now sell digitally for passive income. Many people are finding digital products to be a highly sustainable, zero-carbon, renewable resource that can be used to bring ongoing support to their projects. Ed, for instance, mentions at the end of his farm tour video that he intended to make a solar food dryer with bamboo and clear plastic. Now he's done so, and we've begun making plans to create a small online how-to course to teach his techniques for harvesting, curing, splitting, and joining bamboo to build this highly useful and cost-effective technology. (Make sure to sign up to our mailing list so you can be in the know when this course is released!) Get involved with the local organic growers association and farmers' market! Peter Kring, of Finca La Isla, has a few different products he grows to sell. He long-ago recognized the need for small-scale growers to have a safe and effective place to sell their wares. Since then, he's been one of the founding pillars of his region's farmers' market and local organic association. In his interview, Peter makes an impactful point, commenting that if we want to make a social impact with our projects, we need to show that they're profitable. Otherwise, the locals watching the project's development may maintain that the methods are unattainable because they don't have the same kind of foreign money needed to keep the project afloat. One of the things that Peter grows for sale is grafted fruit trees. In a video we recorded, he talks about how grafting plants for sale has been a profitable cottage industry for him. He also propagates a wide variety of bromeliads in his nurseries. It's a great example of turning one's passion into a niche business and a tool for further financial sustainability. As you'll see in the video mentioned above, a simple shade structure with replaceable poles and scrap wood tables is all that is needed. Putting a bag over newly grafted trees for 2-3 weeks helps increase humidity and improve the healing of the plant material Some plants are better grafted up in the living tree Grafted trees tend to give more fruit in fewer years Peter has a wide variety of exotic fruits planted throughout his property. He advises that you invest in having the fruit properly picked and cared for to bring to market. Peter also suggests that fruit tours are another cottage industry option (fruit tourism). This is most traditionally done by manually walking someone through your food forests, either for free or for a fee. Furthermore, making a video tour that can be delivered to guests renting cabins can be a great way of adding value to their stay, without requiring that you take half a day out of your schedule to give each guest a tour of the grounds. I myself have considered doing a video tour of our fruit forests each month so I can have a catalog of videos pertinent to which trees are harvestable at any given time. How great would it be to show up to a location that offers that kind of added content to your stay?? A few other cottage industry ideas that Peter suggested include: Black pepper and dehydrated ginger Dried mamon chinos Soap Peter also suggests investing in a reliable drying system. He mentions that solar dryers are hard to control, but I've seen designs that use a thermostat to activate a fan and move air when temperatures get too high. A small solar panel and battery can even power the fan if it's stationed in a remote location. Other measures can be added to store heat in water or sand at the base of the dryer, extending its ability to stay warm after the sun goes down. One of the main value-added goods that Peter and his partner, Ancel, have been working with is chocolate. As Peter points out in our interview, chocolate is a difficult value-added product to beat. It has a high profit margin and almost universal appeal. In places that grow cacao, the raw product is abundant and ends up being sold for cheap. He's able to pay twice the going rate for high-quality cacao seeds, and he's still getting it at a reasonable enough price that when producing a quality product (which they always are) it can be sold at a substantial price in a strong market. As an added bonus, It also preserves well! Alchemical Activation! After a full day interviewing Peter and touring his food forests and nurseries, I headed just off the island of Finca la Isla to visit with Ancel Mitchel. There she has a kitchen that doubles as an education center where she teaches the fine art of cacao alchemy. Besides making artesian value-added goods, she also teaches classes and takes on a few long-term apprentices at any given time. When done well, an apprenticeship program can build a valuable structure into daily life, as well as providing the assistance needed to produce your goods. In most cases, an aspiring student will be happy to pay for tutelage in a trade like this. Some programs may charge for the first 1-3 months and then offer a reduced cost for additional months, or remove the fee entirely for students that show that they have become adept at the skill. Ancel says that the most important thing when considering the establishment of a trade is to simply start. We never really know where anything is going to take us, so just jump in and bring a little magic into whatever you do. If it doesn't work out, pivot. It reminds me of the adage that imperfect action is better than perfect inaction. Another maxim that fits here is the infamous, “Just do it!” With the disruptions of the pandemic, Ancel has recently begun to teach online classes through Amazon Explore. Amazon may not be the most ideal marketplace for what she has to offer, but creatively responding to change is one of the founding permaculture principles and one that is as pertinent now as ever before! Pivot with Passion! Another guest who shares that sentiment is Terry Lillian Newton of Kindred Spirits. She says, “If you aren't in love with what you're doing, consider completely remodeling the business plan to connect with your passion.” And that's exactly what she did when her hospitality business began to feel empty to her. She found a way to bring her love for horses into the mix and has incidentally created a successful niche business using horses as a tool for yoga and mindfulness training. Terry also gives the creative option of inviting teachers from local universities to come in and teach classes/workshops at your location. We've built these places, and just because we aren't ready to conduct our own workshops or courses doesn't mean that we can't still host them. Two of the four PDC's that we hosted at our farm were taught by outside teachers. One of them was led by a pair of instructors paid for by a nonprofit organization that sends instructors to teach free permaculture courses to rural farmers with a modified format. It was a series of weekends without accommodation, followed by a couple of months break for the farmers to implement some of the newly learned tactics. The teachers then returned to teach another series of weekends. This time, the student group traveled to each of their farms, in turn, to show off the results of their implementations. As a result, they were able to discuss and learn from each project as a group. In my opinion, this was one of the most impactful PDC's I've seen. All we had to do was provide the classroom and organize some email communications with the organization and teachers. They took care of the rest, and our region is better for it. Don't be a statistic, do your research! Esteban Acosta from Sembrando Flores and Viogaz shares an essential perspective that he's earned from his years helping commercial coffee and wine growers convert to organic and biodynamic practices. He says that before planting cash crops, consider what the optimal crops are for your climate and altitude. More importantly, research the market and make sure you'll have a buyer. This may sound like common sense, but what's far more common is that a grower will take a shine to a particular product only to find that their location isn't hospitable for that product or that finding a buyer is more challenging than they thought. When making significant investments, it's essential to plan appropriately — another reminder to observe before we interact and to start with small and slow solutions. Slow and steady wins the race... Nico Botefur has brought Essence Arenal to a state of financial sustainability using small and slow solutions. He started off with an inherited property where he began hosting his first guests in some glamping tents and simple cabins. He started providing services to the first guests, both on-site and by welcoming in neighbors who had services to offer. He developed what has now become his restaurant, which has brought significant revenue back into his project. With the money he made from renting the cabins, feeding guests, and booking them out for services provided by his neighbors, he invested into solving his problem of insufficient locally-grown organic produce. He did so by studying permaculture and establishing what has now become an expanse of food forests and greenhouses that are feeding back into the business by providing farm-to-table dining experiences for his guests. A nice side-effect of this is that it's increased the inherent draw and value of his guest's stay. While leaning on conventional business models can be very useful for establishing financial sustainability, many of the rebel projects that've caught my attention have stretched beyond the box and are questioning conventional approaches. Invest in a regenerative future! Aly Kahn & Alnoor Ladha, from Brave Earth, have been doing precisely that. Alnoor poses an intriguing question when he asks, “How do we use capital to build a post-capital infrastructure?” It's not to say that we're against capitalism, but it's essential to recognize its inherent instability, especially given the current global economic environment. It's important to consider ways to invest our funds now in order to secure our lifestyles and livelihood for times when the money isn't there. While the topic of finances often revolves around the acquisition of revenue and other resources, it's also important to consider who has what rights to do what with those resources. One popular idea among back-to-the-landers is to put their property in a trust. A land trust is a private legal contract in which the real estate owner transfers the title of the property to a trustee. There are many legal reasons that someone may choose to do this, but Alnoor recommends putting the land in a trust as a great way to avert the potential for owners to commodify the property for personal gain. Brave Earth has also designed an interesting profit-sharing model into their community's agreements. They've created a retreat center and other services as communally-owned and operated economic engines. They use what they refer to as a 50/25/25 model to direct the allocation of profits generated by community-run events and services. This model directs the proceeds from the operation of community business efforts (after paying the costs of production & facilitators) and divides them as follows: 50 percent comes back to the community for ongoing growth and maintenance 25 percent goes into a profit-sharing pool to be divided equally among all community members and their employees 25 percent then goes into an outreach account that will eventually fund their desire to assist other communities in replicating their model While this model is still yet to go through its trial phases, it's interesting to consider the wisdom of dividing funds in a similar way to help with the longevity of your own project. It's long been taught that creating savings accounts, investment accounts, and tithing accounts are valuable practices to develop. Plan for resilience! Like many landowners who invest in a project with the intent of sharing it with others, Justin Dolan, of St Michaels Country Club, has built his community's financial sustainability into the sale of shares into the project. Justin projected what his project would need to grow its infrastructure over the years and designed that into the cost of shares of the community. He also put a portion of the purchased land aside to sell to neighbors who want to live nearby without being a part of the internal community. He then paced out the sale of shares and properties to limit how many would be available per year, paced growth, and planned for longevity. The members of the community share expenses as well as resources and profits from the country club, which provides services for both members and neighbors. These include a restaurant/banquet hall, games areas, and an impressively biodiverse disc golf course, to name a few. An important thing that Justin points out is that if you have land, it makes sense to produce enough profit to pay for its legal and maintenance costs. Personally, I'd say it's not just a good idea, but rather an essential element for sustainability. Empower the people and build your tribe! The last stop on our interview tour was Lynx Guimond of Sailcargo Inc. Lynx has taken a different approach to his project than many others. He didn't start what he's doing intending to establish a permaculture homestead, but rather as an effort to change the global shipping industry. Their team of international shipbuilders and local carpenters are the ones who've taken the initiative to plant up their project's beach-side property and expand on the sustainability aspects of the shipyard's business model. One of the most exciting things about Lynx's model is that he's not only established a reforestation program to offset the wood and energy consumption needed to build the ship, but has partnered with a 501.c3 nonprofit organization to receive funds for this and other fundraising initiatives, like social outreach and education. This approach has increased the size of his team and the impact they can make with their efforts while significantly enhancing the results of their fundraising efforts. My final two cents... In reviewing the interviews for this recap, I also went through Brady's interview with me for her podcast. If there's anything from that interview that I'd like to repeat here, it's that if you've spent any portion of your life learning how to do something, and you decide to invest yourself into sharing that knowledge with others, please recognize that what you have to share is valuable and charge accordingly. Don't let cultural money stigmas block you from receiving what you need in return to continue sharing your work and building your dreams. If any people on this planet deserve to thrive, it's those of us who've invested ourselves into caring for the land, caring for other humans, and sharing what we have with the world. Please support those who are, and do what you can to be one of them. If you like what I'm sharing here in this blog, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and tune in to my upcoming reviews. For that matter, link the episode to someone who might get value from it. In the upcoming episodes, we'll be exploring more insights into hosting guests, building community internally and regionally, land maintenance, tips for sustainable building methods, and upgrading your belief system and capacity to make a greater impact on the world. Until then, have an abundant week! Jason Bliss Sharing Insights

You are a gifted person. Your salvation is a gift. The Holy Spirit living in you is a gift. And you have received a gift from the Holy Spirit. As Peter said, a gift to be used to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. It doesn't matter what that gift is. If it is in speaking, you simply speak the words of God If it is in serving, you serve in the power God supplies. So today, recognize that in Christ, you are a gifted person. That you have been equipped uniquely by God's Spirit to serve those around you as a steward of His grace. Trust God's Spirit to use your gift as a blessing to others. It's the way to glorify God through Jesus Christ.

7 Biblical Practices To Guard Your Heart From Church Hurt 1. Don't expect the church to be perfect Ecclesiastes 7:20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. (NLT) 2. Don't put pastors on a pedestal 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13  Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. (NLT) Acts 10:25-26 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26  But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” (NLT) Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NASB) 3. Don’t put all your hope in people Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul. Find rest in God, my hope comes from Him. (NIV) 4. Extend the same grace and mercy that you want to receive 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV) James 2:13   There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (NLT) 5. Don't judge all churches by the actions of one church 6. Don't get caught up in the offenses of others Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (NIV) 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. (NIV) 7. Do not give up on the church Hebrews 10:24–25   And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

How do you pick up the pieces when you've blown it so very badly?   Peter was devastated by his thrice denial of Jesus. Even after Jesus was raised from the dead, and Peter had met him twice in the flesh, Peter was still thinking, “What must He think of me!?”   For those of us who know what it is to fail the ones we love, we can understand how desperately Peter wanted to open up to Jesus; and yet he couldn't just bring it up. Jesus, in His mercy and kindness, brings it up for Peter.   For those of us who have failed and let down those we love, this passage from John 21 is for us. We'll discover three things:   The Danger of Relapse: Jesus never gives up on failures like us. Peter may have given up on himself, but Jesus never gave up on Peter. There is always more mercy in Christ than sin in us. The Grace of Repentance: Repentance is the tough grace that sets us free. It's a tough grace that presses our hearts to repentance. We instinctively resist opening at every turn, but repentance is the only way to be free, it's the only way to heal. Peter had denied Jesus three times, and so three times Jesus asks penetrating questions. Jesus presses deeper, exposing the deadliness of Peter's self-confidence, and helping him confess out loud how very inadequate he really was. As Peter admits to the inadequacy of his own love for Christ, he is set free from a life of egotistical self-reliance. Peter, who used to think he had to prove himself to be somebody, discovers that the only thing that really matters in the end, is to be loved by Jesus. The Beauty of Redemption: Brokenness is a prerequisite for usefulness. When Peter felt strongest, he was least useful. But when Peter felt weakest, he was greatly useful. Our greatest ministry is often rooted in our deepest wounds. God takes our misery and turns it into our ministry…because He is the Great Redeemer. Jesus takes each one of us as we are—underserving, inadequate, broken, and sinful—and in His mercy He redeems us, transforms us, and empowers us to be useful for His eternal glory and our everlasting joy. In the grace of God, we need not hid from our brokenness, for it is a prerequisite for our usefulness to God.   Takeaway: In the love of Jesus there is abundant hope for our stories.   No matter what you've done, no matter what you've become, no matter what's been done to you, Jesus never gives up on failures like us. There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.   John 21:1-25

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. ~ 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) Humility seems to be in short supply these days. Whether it is political posturing by professional politicians, fearmongering (promoting fear in an effort to control) to get one's way, or simply showing prejudice towards a group of people because of their beliefs, pride has taken hold of countless inhabitants upon this earth. It's as if we've said, “Goodbye humility!” Unfortunately, this sense of ego reaches into God's family, the church. There is political posturing over policies and procedures which govern our organizational systems, each side casting the other as the devil. There is name calling at different ministries within the church (such as the One Project) because of misrepresentations and fallacies. Some are even so bold as to suggest that those affiliated with such movements should be kicked out of the church, and pastors who have taken part in the events be fired. Still others point fingers of shame at other local churches who worship differently than their own particular congregation. People slap labels on other Christians, such as “liberal,” or “conservative,” or “historical,” all so that they can stereotype others as somehow evil or heathen. I love the Adventist church. I've grown up in it. I worship as part of it. I get the distinct privilege of pastoring for it. Yet, the humbleness to which we are called to live has taken a backseat to ego. The infighting and bitterness are causing the advancement of the Gospel (our sole purpose on this planet, by-the-way) to take a backseat to opinions, rumors, and backbiting. Church, this must stop. Never mind the fact that it's distracting from our mission, but who in their right mind looking in from the outside would ever want to belong to such misery? So, here is my plea. As Peter – who knew a thing or two about screwing up – put it, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” We must humbly ask forgiveness of one another for our behavior. Heal the wounds in our church. We must humbly ask forgiveness of our Savior, who's mission we have been ignoring. We must humbly set aside our differences and focus on what unites us – Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (Not policy) Drop ego. Embrace the love of God and submit to Him.

As Peter types these posts, the virus prepares to emerge. How little we knew then, how little we know now. This is the human condition. Peace.

The person who comes to know Christ Jesus as Lord is changed from their former sinful self to reflect more the image of Christ in the manner in which they live. As Peter continues his challenge to his readers to prepare themselves for persecution because of their faith, he wants them to understand an important reason why: they no longer look or act like the world. Today, we'll be examining 1 Peter 4:1-11 as we listen to Peter's encouragement to live a life that reflects the glory of Christ rather than the debauchery of this world.

After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter followed they took Jesus to the home of the high priest. As Peter waited outside by the fire, he was questioned about being a follower of Jesus and denied three times that he even knew him.

As Peter approaches the end of his life, he gives an overview of your life.

Mike Kruger delivered a message at TGC's 2021 Women's Conference titled “Can I Lose My Faith? Understanding Apostasy.” Susan Pevensie, of The Chronicles of Narnia fame, serves as the jumping off point of the message, having been so central to the beginning of Lewis's storyline, yet so glaringly absent from its conclusion. As Peter, her brother, explained, she was eventually “no longer a friend of Narnia.” Her story is reminiscent of many believers who seem to be strong in their faith but eventually walk away from Christ and his kingdom. “Apostasy,” as it is known, is a difficult and touchy subject. In his message, Kruger addresses the topic, first clearly defining what it is (and isn't), pointing to biblical examples, clarifying truths about apostasy, and finally, denoting how Christians should respond to it.   

Pastor Nate brings the message, "Freedom from Yourself” from 1 Peter 5:5-7. As Peter begins the conclusion of his letter, he calls Christians to a very important virtue: humility. In living humble lives we honor God, develop essential healthy Christian relationships, and find freedom from self absorption.

Galatians 3:1-5 ESV O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith- ----- O hangal na mga taga-Galacia! Sino ang gumayuma sa inyo? Sa harapan ng inyong mga mata ay hayagang ipinakita si Jesu-Cristo na ipinako sa krus!2 Ang tanging bagay na nais kong matutunan mula sa inyo ay ito: Tinanggap ba ninyo ang Espiritu sa pamamagitan ng mga gawa ng kautusan, o sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig sa pananampalataya?3 Napakahangal ba ninyo? Nagpasimula kayo sa Espiritu, ngayon ba'y nagtatapos kayo sa laman?4 Inyo bang naranasan ang maraming bagay ng walang kabuluhan?—kung tunay nga na ito ay walang kabuluhan.5 Ang Diyos ba ay nagbibigay sa inyo ng Espiritu at gumagawa ng mga himala sa gitna ninyo sa pamamagitan ng inyong pagtupad sa mga gawa ng kautusan, o sa pakikinig sa pananampalataya? ARE YOU SO FOOLISH? Paul was very sure that the believers at Galatia understood clearly the gospel. As he introduced Jesus unto them, he had clearly portrayed Him as crucified for their salvation. This was Paul's central message, as he said, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”[1 Cor 2:2] However, these believers were dissuaded to believe that their righteousness by faith in Christ as the work of the Spirit was incomplete. They had to work or observe the law. Thus, Paul had not hesitated to call them foolish? Why? Firstly, it's an insult to Christ. By doing so, they “nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” [Gal 2:21] Salvation, therefore, is by grace alone without the works of the law. Secondly, it was not based on good sense. As if they were victims of a spell. They had not thought it over. Should our salvation that began in Spirit[God] be completed in the flesh[man]? Definitely not! It's like a diver who dives underwater. And, after awhile, he throws his S.C.U.B.A. to keep himself underwater. It's a ridiculous thought, is it not? Since we received our salvation by faith in God alone, he does the safekeeping of it. As Peter articulated it in his epistle, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.[1 Pet 1:3-5] Let's not be foolish to believe the lies of the devil. As D. L. Moody said, “I believe hundreds of Christian people are being deceived by Satan now on this point, that they have not got the assurance of salvation just because they are not willing to take God at His word [Rom. 10:17]. But, a man said to me, "no one has come back, and we don't know what is in the future. It is all dark, and how can we be sure?" Thank God! Christ came down from heaven, and I would rather have Him, coming as he does right from the bosom of the Father, than any one else. We can rely on what Christ says, and He says: "He that believeth on Me shall not perish, but have everlasting life [Jn. 3:16]." Not that we are going to have it when we die, but right here to-day.”

Summary by Peyton SmithSeg:1- Americanuck Radio was very proud to welcome back Mr. Mark Friesen, PPC party candidate.Today, Mark dropped in to discuss the Canada day/Dominion day rally event in Ottawa over the weekend With Chris Sky.Mark explains the theme of the event, and how the organization committee decided to exclude Chris from the event.About an hour into the event, Chris showed up and demanded a mic. Mark relates the progression of events which brought about a kerfuffle over Chris going past his allotted time....and having his mic cut. In the course of said kerfuffle, Chris went after Max Bernier and Randy Hillier. With all do respect to the amazing work that Chris has done toward freedom and liberty in Canada, he should've handled himself with much more grace.As Mark points out, the movement isn't about one person. Chris is still welcome, and a vital part of the movement, but he must check his ego at the door. Humbleness and humility go a long way.It is a waste of time to infight over this, as it only plays into the hands of the freedom snatching Liberal gangsters in Ottawa.-----------------(AUDIO) Mike rolls some sound from one Nurse Kristen, who was involved with the event. She gives her take about the event drama surrounding Chris Sky. Her nurse group was supposed to speak at the event, but they were robbed of their time because of his monopolization of what was a strict time schedule.------------------Enjoy this excellent segment 1!Seg:2- Peter Serefine, host of Mojo 5-0's "Liberty Lighthouse," comes by to discuss his new book titled "So Simple Even A Politician Can Understand."Inspiration for the book came about after a discussion with an entrepreneur named Cliff Oxford.As Peter explains, very simple ideas are contained within the book, which are common sense for Congress to take up.Mike and Peter continue a very intriguing discussion about various chapters of this book, which should be required reading for all of the DC cabal. Enjoy this conversation IN FULL, and get Peter's book here:https://www.liberty-lighthouse.com/------------------Mike gets into the current situation concerning the U.S.- Canada border.More messing about.------------------(AUDIO) Trudeau dribbles about when and under what circumstances he'll open the border.The world class clown lathers it on thick.-------------------Chris Sky lashes out on twitter against Mark Friesen as well as Mike, while this episode of Americanuck Radio was live. Not a good look at all from Chris.Not at all.------------------Strap in for a very thrilling segment 2!

John 14:26 — But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.   God wants to HELP you!        "The Holy Spirit can rejuvenate a tired Christian, captivate an indifferent believer and empower a dry church."  — Billy Graham        Stubborn    Acts 7:51 — You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.     Grieve    Ephesians 4:30 — Don't cause grief to God's Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption.   Ephesians 4:30 — Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.     Quench    1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Quench not the Spirit.     Blaspheme    Mark 3:28-30   “Listen to this carefully. I'm warning you. There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.     Receive   Receive: To take, to be a recipient of, to permit to enter.      John 7   38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”   39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.       Acts 2:38 — Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.     Baptized into Christ  Water Baptism  Baptism in the Holy Spirit      Acts 8   14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God's word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria.    15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit.    (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)   17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.       Acts 10   1 In the city of Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Unit.    2 He was a religious man. He and all the others who lived in his house were worshipers of the true God. He gave much of his money to help the poor people and always prayed to God.    3 One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God coming to him and saying, “Cornelius!”   4 Staring at the angel and feeling afraid, Cornelius said, “What do you want, sir?” The angel said to him, “God has heard your prayers and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done.    5 Send some men now to the city of Joppa to get a man named Simon, who is also called Peter.     24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends.    25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him.    26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I'm just a human.”    27 As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.    28 He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean.    29 For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.”   30 Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me.    31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him.    32 Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.'    33 I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”   34 Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn't show partiality to one group of people over another.    35 Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him.    36 This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all!    37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached.    38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him.    39 We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,    40 but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen,    41 not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead.    42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.    43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”   44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word.    45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.    46 They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Peter asked,    47 “These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Surely no one can stop them from being baptized with water, can they?”    48 He directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited Peter to stay for several days.       Acts 19   1 While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul was visiting some places on his way to Ephesus. In Ephesus he found some other followers of the Lord.    2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” These followers said to him, “We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit!”   3 Paul asked them, “So what kind of baptism did you have?” They said, “It was the baptism that John taught.”   4 Paul said, “John told people to be baptized to show they wanted to change their lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”   5 When these followers heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    6 Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. They began speaking different languages and prophesying.       How will I respond to the Holy Spirit?       Stubborn  Grieve Quench  Blaspheme  Receive      I want God's Spirit in my life.     

Caesarea is a beautiful seaside town in Israel. It's most famous resident was Pontius Pilate. Decadence ruled the day there everything to excess. Because of this, very few Jews ever stepped foot in that town. But Peter did, and his visit to this immoral place changed everything. He carried the good news to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and his household. As Peter spoke about the death and burial of Jesus, new life entered into this group of Gentiles. They received the Holy Spirit just like the Jews had on the day of Pentecost. And aren't you glad? God made it known that anyone who called on the name of the Lord would be saved, whether Jew or Gentile. And that means you.

This episode is a Bible study of Cornelius sending for Peter after an angel coming to him & how Peter went with the gentiles after the Holy Spirit told him to. As Peter spoke to the gentiles the Spirit came upon them and they got baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Study guide included.   Enjoy!   For the study guide, join this group and check out the units tab.   This episode's show notes: https://www.faithfuelsmyfire.co/post/cornelius-sends-for-peter-the-holy-spirit-came-on-the-gentiles-bible-study-acts-ch-10   If you want to check out previous Bible studies, click here     Email me: faithfuelsmyfire@gmail.com   Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/486483515603028/   YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmBsSKktGU_8WHVNIxhFuzg   The Bible App that I use: http://bible.com/app   Instagram: @_lorenacamille_   Never Forget to Choose Faith Over Fear,   -Lorena Camille

It would be sad if it wasn't so predictable. As Peter said, we know more about the Arvada shooter, 24 hours after the attack, than we do about the Boulder shooter from over a month ago.  Why? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acts 10:9-48 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. Peter at Cornelius's House The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

1 Peter has shown us how we stand faithfully for Christ in a hostile world. As Peter closes the main body of his letter in 4:7-11, he continues that instruction by showing us what faithfulness looks like toward one another. The world and the culture will always oppose the church of Jesus, and Peter has shown us what standing faithfully looks like in the face of that opposition. Now, in these verses, Peter turns our eyes inward as he shows us how we stand together. The only way the church faithfully endures the slander and opposition of the world, glorifying the name of Christ, and testifying to His gospel, is to do so together. So Peter shows us what the church must be toward one another as he counsels us to prepare ourselves for suffering. When Peter began the main body of his letter in 1:13 he said, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Here he closes this section showing that it is as a united body of believers that we engage in this preparation. Again, he calls us to be sober-minded for our prayers' sake. He says that we must love one another and serve one another if we are to stand faithfully, giving a defense for the hope that is within us. Peter's teaching in this section perfectly embodies our vision at FBC for making disciples and growing as disciples. We can only do so as we worship, connect, and serve. Our unity of love and service to one another is one of the most important aspects of growing in Christ, and it is absolutely essential in our calling to make disciples.

As Peter wraps up his first letter, he concludes with a message for everyone. In this sermon from 1 Peter 5:5-14, Peter offers all believers some helpful instruction - so helpful that you can be hopeful, not matter what.

As Peter so eloquently said in first peter three fifteen, we must always be ready to give an account for the hope that dwells within us. Continue reading → The post Are You Prepared to Plant? appeared first on Evangelism Explosion.

Acts 11:1-18 (NIV) Have you ever found yourself tempted to stand in God's way by controlling how something goes or refusing to participate in something God's clearly doing? There is a reflection on humility available to us in today's passage. As Peter returns to Jerusalem, and as word spreads that the Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit, he finds himself with some explaining to do. Now, remember it's no small thing to say that a group of Gentiles could belong in God's new family without being circumcised, or committing to the food laws and Sabbath observance. So tensions are high. It may seem hard to relate to this passage today. We don't require people to be circumcised or not, eat certain foods or not, observe a strict Sabbath or not… do we? As I name those things, the things we do require begin to come to mind. Think about it, we may not explicitly require those exact things but sometimes how a person presents themselves, where they are from, how they vote or how they spend their money changes our willingness to engage what the Spirit might do in their lives. As you listen to this passage, bring to mind groups that do not tend to align with your church, chapter or community. ----------REFLECT---------- 1. What part of this passage stood out to you? 2. For Peter it was the circumcised believers who began to criticize him. But what about you, who might come to you with questions and criticism, depending on who you might care for across differences? 3. Peter says, “who was I to think that I could stand in God's way.” He saw the Spirit fall on him and the other disciples at pentecost, and it's this reasoning that leads him to say this. That is Humility. He acknowledges how utterly gracious it was to receive the gift of the spirit, they didn't merit it, so they can't control it. How might this help you take a posture of humility towards the Spirit's work in others? ----------GO DEEPER---------- Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >> InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >> ----------CONNECT---------- Find an InterVarsity Chapter >> Start an InterVarsity Chapter >> Learn More >> --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dailyread/message

Acts 10:23b-48 (NIV) Read by: Christy Gates When God calls you to engage people who are different from you culturally, socially, ideologically, do you engage for the sake of tolerance or for the sake of transformation? In today's episode of Daily Read, the last several passages come to their climax as Peter responds to the LORDs invitation through Cornelius to come to Caesarea and enter a Roman centurion's house. Cornelius represents so much of what has oppressed this religious minority in Judea throughout the lifetime of Peter and for generations before him. Peter represents the pathway to knowing and being in communion with God, the law and the religious system was fashioned in such a way that even the most god-fearing gentiles would have trouble getting close to God. So while Peter was in a position of weakness in relation to Cornelious, Cornelius was at the mercy of Peter in his desire to follow Yahweh. Peter knows that God shows no partiality, but as the Spirit leads him into this cross-cultural experience, he has a choice between a posture of tolerance, or an openness to transformation. As you listen to the passage, pay attention to the moments when Peter leans into curiosity, looking for God's transformative work among a household that would otherwise be an enemy. Because what he finds, not only transforms Cornelius and his household, but Peter and the future of the Church and the world. ----------REFLECT---------- 1. What moment in this passage sticks out to you as most significant? 2. As Peter approaches the house, Cornelius runs and falls at his feet to worship him. Can you imagine? When did Peter ever imagine a Roman Centurion bowing to him? Yet, he does not indulge in this power differential, he says to Cornelius “stand up.” This goes beyond tolerance in pursuit of a transformative dignity. How can you give dignity to people who are different from you? 3. Throughout the passage it's the Holy Spirit who is initiating the transformative work in Cornelius and his household. Before Peter could even finish what he was saying the Holy Spirit took over and fell on those gathered with Cornelius. God invites Peter into what he's wanting to do and uses him there. How might God be inviting you into what he's doing in folks who are different from you? ----------GO DEEPER---------- Bible Project: Acts 1-12 Overview >> InterVarsity Press Selections: Acts >> ----------CONNECT---------- Find an InterVarsity Chapter >> Start an InterVarsity Chapter >> Learn More >> --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dailyread/message

This episode of Bulletproof Radio kicks of Better Sleep Month. Sleep hacking is core to what I do, so I wanted to invite someone on who’s dedicated to that practice. I’m talking with Dr. Peter Martone who is a chiropractor, exercise physiologist and inventor of the Neck Nest, a pillow specifically designed to improve your sleeping postures.Here's a challenge: try watching a two-hour movie in the position you normally sleep in. Peter bets you won’t last more than 30 minutes without needing to move. You spend eight hours a night (ideally) sleeping, and a third of your life in total, so the way you orient your body during sleep is incredibly important. What position should we try to move to? Our backs! As Peter says, we were designed to sleep in a position that distributes our weight over the greatest surface area. When you sleep on your side, you lose the cervical curve in your spine and overtime develop scoliosis in your lower back. “It’s no coincidence that your sleep center and your pain center are right next door to each other,” Peter says. You can't stay in an uncomfortable position during sleep, because your body will toss out of it. “Sleeping on your back, if you can do it without your back hurting, without snoring like a machine, that's ideal.”I had always felt pain every time I slept on my back, but ever since I started using this pillow, I’m a back sleeper. This pillow, once broken in, uses traction to support and restore your spine to that cervical curve. You only need to use it two to three hours a night to restore that curve.“Being on a computer all day, texting all day, our spines are getting destroyed,” Peter says. “Our sleep scores are getting destroyed because we're tossing and turning all night long. You can fix your spine while you sleep, get 30% better sleep scores by just changing your position, and you can virtually eliminate neck and back pain by doing it while you sleep. It's crazy to me that we're a side sleeping culture, and I am trying to do my part to create the happiest, healthiest, most well-rested people on earth by teaching them how to sleep in a different position.”The conversation also goes into heart rate variability, vagus nerve stimulation, deep sleep, energy spikes, circadian rhythms and other tips for getting great sleep. Enjoy! And get more resources at Dave.Asprey/podcasts.Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form.SPECIAL OFFER FOR BULLETPROOF RADIO LISTENERSVisit https://necknest.com/DAVE; use code DAVE for a special discount WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!Light Therapy: https://joovv.com/dave, use code DAVEMouth Probiotics: https://blisprobiotic.com; hit the “Buy on Amazon” button and use code DAVE2021 to save 10%Brain Power: https://www.cognibiotics.com/dave, use code DAVE10VIRTUAL BIOHACKING CONFERENCE MAY 8, 2021Recharge Your Cells & Upgrade Your Life at this one-day event! Register at https://www.biohackingconference.comDAVE ASPREY BOX This quarterly subscription box gives you access to biohacking resources that can support you in achieving your health goals and unlocking your potential. Go to https://daveaspreybox.com/; NEW subscribers use code VBC21 to get $10 off.The Limited Edition Dave Asprey Upgraded Box is worth more than three times its price! Got to https://upgrade.biohackingconference.com to purchase and use code BOXPLUS to get a free ticket to the Virtual Biohacking Conference. UPGRADE YOURSELF EVEN MORELearn directly from Dave Asprey in his new membership group https://ourupgradecollective.com

This episode of Bulletproof Radio kicks of Better Sleep Month. Sleep hacking is core to what I do, so I wanted to invite someone on who’s dedicated to that practice. I’m talking with Dr. Peter Martone who is a chiropractor, exercise physiologist and inventor of the Neck Nest, a pillow specifically designed to improve your sleeping postures.Here's a challenge: try watching a two-hour movie in the position you normally sleep in. Peter bets you won’t last more than 30 minutes without needing to move. You spend eight hours a night (ideally) sleeping, and a third of your life in total, so the way you orient your body during sleep is incredibly important. What position should we try to move to? Our backs! As Peter says, we were designed to sleep in a position that distributes our weight over the greatest surface area. When you sleep on your side, you lose the cervical curve in your spine and overtime develop scoliosis in your lower back. “It’s no coincidence that your sleep center and your pain center are right next door to each other,” Peter says. You can't stay in an uncomfortable position during sleep, because your body will toss out of it. “Sleeping on your back, if you can do it without your back hurting, without snoring like a machine, that's ideal.”I had always felt pain every time I slept on my back, but ever since I started using this pillow, I’m a back sleeper. This pillow, once broken in, uses traction to support and restore your spine to that cervical curve. You only need to use it two to three hours a night to restore that curve.“Being on a computer all day, texting all day, our spines are getting destroyed,” Peter says. “Our sleep scores are getting destroyed because we're tossing and turning all night long. You can fix your spine while you sleep, get 30% better sleep scores by just changing your position, and you can virtually eliminate neck and back pain by doing it while you sleep. It's crazy to me that we're a side sleeping culture, and I am trying to do my part to create the happiest, healthiest, most well-rested people on earth by teaching them how to sleep in a different position.”The conversation also goes into heart rate variability, vagus nerve stimulation, deep sleep, energy spikes, circadian rhythms and other tips for getting great sleep. Enjoy! And get more resources at Dave.Asprey/podcasts.Got a comment, idea or question for the podcast? Submit via this form.SPECIAL OFFER FOR BULLETPROOF RADIO LISTENERSVisit https://necknest.com/DAVE; use code DAVE for a special discount WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!Light Therapy: https://joovv.com/dave, use code DAVEMouth Probiotics: https://blisprobiotic.com; hit the “Buy on Amazon” button and use code DAVE2021 to save 10%Brain Power: https://www.cognibiotics.com/dave, use code DAVE10VIRTUAL BIOHACKING CONFERENCE MAY 8, 2021Recharge Your Cells & Upgrade Your Life at this one-day event! Register at https://www.biohackingconference.comDAVE ASPREY BOX This quarterly subscription box gives you access to biohacking resources that can support you in achieving your health goals and unlocking your potential. Go to https://daveaspreybox.com/; NEW subscribers use code VBC21 to get $10 off.The Limited Edition Dave Asprey Upgraded Box is worth more than three times its price! Got to https://upgrade.biohackingconference.com to purchase and use code BOXPLUS to get a free ticket to the Virtual Biohacking Conference. UPGRADE YOURSELF EVEN MORELearn directly from Dave Asprey in his new membership group https://ourupgradecollective.com

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/104/29 on Connect with Skip Heitzig, Skip continues his series Rock Solid. As Peter addressed the church, his hope was that they would show one another real Christian love. In the message "How to Attract Flies," Skip explains how that kind of love can attract unbelievers and provide satisfying fellowship for believers.

Readings: Acts 10:25–26, 34–35, 44–48 Psalm 98:1–4 1 John 4:7–10 John 15:9–17 God is love, and He revealed that love in sending His only Son to be a sacrificial offering for our sins. In these words from today’s Epistle, we should hear an echo of the story of Abraham’s offering of Isaac at the dawn of salvation history. Because Abraham obeyed God’s command and did not withhold his only beloved son, God promised that Abraham’s descendants, the children of Israel, would be the source of blessing for all nations (see Genesis 22:16–18). We see that promise coming to fulfillment in today’s First Reading. God pours out His Spirit upon the Gentiles, the non-Israelites, as they listen to the word of Peter’s preaching. Notice they receive the same gifts received by the devout Jews who heard Peter’s preaching at Pentecost—the Spirit comes to rest upon them and they speak in tongues, glorifying God (see Acts 2:5–11). In His love today, God reveals that His salvation embraces the house of Israel and peoples of all nations. Not by circumcision or blood relation to Abraham but by faith in the Word of Christ, sealed in the Sacrament of Baptism, people are to be made children of Abraham, heirs to God’s covenants of promise (see Galatians 3:7–9; Ephesians 2:12). This is the wondrous work of God that we sing of in today’s Psalm. It is the work of the Church, the good fruit that Jesus chooses and appoints His Apostles for in today’s Gospel. As Peter raises up Cornelius today, the Church continues to lift all eyes to Christ, the only one in whose name they can find salvation. In the Church, each of us has been begotten by the love of God. But the Scriptures today reveal that this divine gift brings with it a command and a duty. We are to love one another as we have been loved. We are to lay down our lives in giving ourselves to others—that they too might find friendship with Christ and new life through Him.

We have seen Peter instruct believers in how we live faithfully under government and authorities, but in chapter 3:1-7, he turns his attention to the home. What does living faithfully for Christ in the home look like? As Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, describes the roles of both husband and wife, we do well to remember that he also speaks as one who is a Christian husband, living in a culture that is hostile to his faith. We all come to this text with presuppositions. Perhaps we have even been hurt by someone wielding an improper application of this text. But marriage is the first institution created by God in Genesis 2, before the fall. Marriage is intended to be a picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church (Eph. 5:22-27). Therefore, we must come to the text and hear from God what it means to live faithfully in the home, so that we might "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

As an Army field medic throughout the Battle of the Bulge, Staff Sergeant Peter Broustis saw firsthand the brutal realities of war. For his courage under fire, he received a Bronze Star. And yet, it was the atrocities he witnessed as part of the liberation force at Dachau that truly shocked him. As Peter says, "I saw man's inhumanity to man."

Peter High, President of Metis Strategy, Host of Technovation podcast, and 3x author, interviewed by host Trond Arne Undheim, futurist and author.  In this conversation, we talk about how Peter High came to host of The Technovation podcast (2008-) and get into Enterprise IT. How Trond Undheim came to host the Futurized podcast (2020-). We discuss the new book by Peter High: Getting to Nimble--a framework and best practices companies can use to transform their people practices, processes, technologies, ecosystems, and strategies for the digital era (2021). We also discuss a new book by Trond Undheim: Future Tech: How to Capture Value from Disruptive Industry Trends (2021), which contains case studies of how to apply the forces of disruption framework and its components: tech, regulation, business models, social dynamics. Peter shares his secrets of podcasting: a podcast is an album--greatest hits get pulled through columns, books, speeches and combos. Finally, we discuss the future of enterprise & IT. Having listened to this episode, check out Getting to Nimble, Future Tech, the Technovation and Futurized podcasts, as well as Peter High and Trond Undheim's online profiles: Getting to Nimble: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Nimble-Transform-Company-Digital/dp/1789667550/ Future Tech: https://www.amazon.com/Future-Tech-Capture-Disruptive-Industry/dp/1398600326 Technovation podcast: https://www.metisstrategy.com/technovation-podcast/ Futurized podcast: https://www.futurized.org/ Peter High (LinkedIn, Twitter: @peterahigh): https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/  Trond Undheim (LinkedIn, Twitter @trondau): https://trondundheim.com/ Trond Undheim: "My takeaway is that there is significant value in having frameworks to guide our thinking on change in organizations, business and society in the digital era. Where Peter focuses on the transformation of people, practices, processes, technologies, ecosystems, and strategies in his book Getting to Nimble, I focus on five components: tech, regulation, business models, social dynamics, and the environment in my book Future Tech--and indeed in this podcast, Futurized. As Peter and I discovered, there's significant overlap in our perspectives but we also come from very different places. Peter's audience is CIOs, my audience is broader, which makes him the smarter one in terms of targeting. I'm not sure who of us gets to have more fun, but I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Peter. One should be very fortunate to work with him, I think." Thanks for listening. If you liked the show, subscribe at Futurized.org or in your preferred podcast player, and rate us with five stars. If you like this topic, you may enjoy other episodes of Futurized, such as episode 49 on Living the Future of Work, episode 41 The Future of Work, or episode 41 The Future of Industrial Operations.

Can we make kindness a priority?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how, as we make a spiritual journey, we come to understand the blessing of kindness.  As Peter explains, it's through cultivating gratitude for the kindness others have shown to us that we deepen in our ability to practice kindness.   The talk was given online in April 2021. "These two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful and thankful for a kindness done." (AN 2.118)

(Acts 11:1-18;   Ps.41:3,42:2-3,43:3-4;   Jn.10:1-10 or Jn.10:11-18)   “God has granted life-giving repentance even to the Gentiles.”   In his vision Peter sees “an object like a big canvas… lowered down to [him] from the sky by its four corners.”  Upon it he discerns “four-legged creatures of the earth, wild beasts and reptiles, and birds of the sky.”  Like Noah's ark it seems to contain all the animals upon it.  But these animals he sees are not for the good Jew to eat: they are unclean.  And so Peter protests when instructed to “slaughter, then eat.”  But he is assured (and three times), “What God has purified you are not to call unclean,” even as “the canvas with everything in it was drawn up again into the sky.” What is this shepherd to do – he who has been told by the Lord, “Feed my sheep”?  When the uncircumcised come to him seeking salvation, how can he turn away?  And so, as the canvas which came from the sky and returned to the sky, we learn that everything comes from God and returns to Him, and He calls whom He will.  And so the Gentile man whose home Peter enters by the Spirit's direction is “saved, and all [his] household.”  “As [Peter] began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them,” for they, too, “believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Yes, even these thirst for God “as the hind [who] longs for the running waters,” and so are led to the Lord's “holy mountain, to His dwelling place”; even these “go in to the altar of God.”  For these unclean creatures are made as the pure and obedient sheep of Israel, heeding the Good Shepherd's voice.  Here are “the other sheep that do not belong to this fold” of which Jesus speaks, whom He leads, too, by His loving word. All that He calls shall come to Him who lays down His life for the sake of the fold, by whom all “have life and have it to the full.”  All living creatures are His own, for it is He who is the living God; and all who live, live for Him and through Him alone.  The Son has come from the Father that we might know Him as He knows Him, and so that we might indeed have life.  As good sheep let us follow in His way, and lead those behind us also to salvation.  Let us all “go and behold the face of God” as we turn from anything that makes us unclean in His sight and listen for His voice leading our pure hearts.   ******* O LORD, open the gate that we might enter in and dwell in your presence. YHWH, let all hear and heed the voice of your Son, who is the true Shepherd leading repentant souls to salvation.  Send your apostles into every house that all might hear the call of Jesus, be purged in the fire of the Holy Spirit, and come to dwell in your House, beholding your holy face. Let us be led forth by the Christ to your mountain, O God.  Make us one flock in Him, all as your blessed children.  O let us be as sheep slaughtered for your table, joining your Son on the altar of sacrifice; by His voice let us be cut to the heart and in our repentance become a holy offering to you. False prophets keep far from us, dear LORD, those who work but for pay, who care nothing for your flock.  In the Spirit send forth disciples to lead to running water those who thirst for you, O living God.

(Acts 11:1-18;   Ps.41:3,42:2-3,43:3-4;   Jn.10:1-10 or Jn.10:11-18)   “God has granted life-giving repentance even to the Gentiles.”   In his vision Peter sees “an object like a big canvas… lowered down to [him] from the sky by its four corners.”  Upon it he discerns “four-legged creatures of the earth, wild beasts and reptiles, and birds of the sky.”  Like Noah's ark it seems to contain all the animals upon it.  But these animals he sees are not for the good Jew to eat: they are unclean.  And so Peter protests when instructed to “slaughter, then eat.”  But he is assured (and three times), “What God has purified you are not to call unclean,” even as “the canvas with everything in it was drawn up again into the sky.” What is this shepherd to do – he who has been told by the Lord, “Feed my sheep”?  When the uncircumcised come to him seeking salvation, how can he turn away?  And so, as the canvas which came from the sky and returned to the sky, we learn that everything comes from God and returns to Him, and He calls whom He will.  And so the Gentile man whose home Peter enters by the Spirit's direction is “saved, and all [his] household.”  “As [Peter] began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them,” for they, too, “believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Yes, even these thirst for God “as the hind [who] longs for the running waters,” and so are led to the Lord's “holy mountain, to His dwelling place”; even these “go in to the altar of God.”  For these unclean creatures are made as the pure and obedient sheep of Israel, heeding the Good Shepherd's voice.  Here are “the other sheep that do not belong to this fold” of which Jesus speaks, whom He leads, too, by His loving word. All that He calls shall come to Him who lays down His life for the sake of the fold, by whom all “have life and have it to the full.”  All living creatures are His own, for it is He who is the living God; and all who live, live for Him and through Him alone.  The Son has come from the Father that we might know Him as He knows Him, and so that we might indeed have life.  As good sheep let us follow in His way, and lead those behind us also to salvation.  Let us all “go and behold the face of God” as we turn from anything that makes us unclean in His sight and listen for His voice leading our pure hearts.   ******* O LORD, open the gate that we might enter in and dwell in your presence. YHWH, let all hear and heed the voice of your Son, who is the true Shepherd leading repentant souls to salvation.  Send your apostles into every house that all might hear the call of Jesus, be purged in the fire of the Holy Spirit, and come to dwell in your House, beholding your holy face. Let us be led forth by the Christ to your mountain, O God.  Make us one flock in Him, all as your blessed children.  O let us be as sheep slaughtered for your table, joining your Son on the altar of sacrifice; by His voice let us be cut to the heart and in our repentance become a holy offering to you. False prophets keep far from us, dear LORD, those who work but for pay, who care nothing for your flock.  In the Spirit send forth disciples to lead to running water those who thirst for you, O living God.

From the series, "Acts". As Peter and the early Church continue to discover in Acts 10, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus open the doorway to God's Kingdom for anyone and everyone in need of forgiveness and new life. Then and now, that reality redefines who God's people are, who our people are, and what that means for the life of the Church.

We often look for different ways to encourage ourselves & each other in the midst of various trials. As Peter prepares to exhort and encourage his readers to persevere in difficulty, he bases his future exhortation and encouragement in what God has already done. Namely, that Christ is risen from the grave, and as such we have a guarantee that the Lord Himself will cause us to persevere no matter what comes. Text - 1 Peter 1:3-5 From NLBC Wolfforth, 4/18/21

Many causes of environmental destruction are rooted in human action. But as we find out in this episode, mankind can also be the driving force to revive some of the earth’s most damaged places. There are success stories from around the globe of ways landscapes have been almost completely rehabilitated, from Mozambique to Cambodia. Here, we focus on how two unique ecosystems, one in Rwanda and the other in Australia, have been reinvigorated. First up, African Parks’ Jean-Paul Karinganire talks to us about how the nonprofit conservation and management company took a Rwandan wildlife refuge from post-genocide decimation—think few animals, no more carnivores, and an unstable relationship with the surrounding communities—to overwhelming success. Akagera National Park is now also home to Wilderness Safaris’ eco-sensitive yet radiant Magashi Camp, which Kathryn visited in late 2019.  We also speak with passionate changemaker and conservationist Peter Gash, the self-styled caretaker of Lady Elliot Island. Part of Australia’s southern Great Barrier Reef, the island was was nearly destroyed by guano harvesting in the 19th century. Peter’s relationship with the island—where he runs an incredibly environmentally friendly resort—has spanned 40 years, and he’s been nothing if not persistent in his quest to restore the island’s natural equilibrium.Listen to the episode for these fascinating stories, including some truly inspiring messages that hit on the importance of engaging community—whether it’s the locals who live nearby, or the travelers who visit and can take lessons home with them—and the power of collaboration to make a real difference. As Peter tells it, our planet has suffered near-death by a thousand cuts, and it’s up to human beings to help reverse the damage with a thousand—or more!—innovative band-aids. Follow @africanparksnetwork, @akagerapark, @wearewilderness, @visitrwanda_now, @ladyelliotislandecoresort and @queensland for gorgeous visuals to bring these tales to life.

Chris Sonnenday is the Transplant Center Director for Michigan Medicine. As Peter’s senior resident while at Johns Hopkins, Chris made a lasting impression on him with his remarkable leadership and ability to maintain his humanity through the stressors of that challenging environment. In this episode, Chris tells the incredible backstory of the history of transplant medicine, focusing on the kidney and the liver. He discusses the surgical and immunologic developments that launched the field forward, but also lays out the challenges ahead for the field, such as the rising prevalence of chronic kidney and liver failure. Chris also tells many stories of tragedy and triumph that comes with working in organ transplantation, but ultimately explains the rewarding nature of being a witness to the gift of organ donation.   We discuss: What attracted Chris to medicine, and his leadership in residency (3:30); How Chris maintained his empathy and humanity through the stresses of med school and residency (8:30); Why Chris chose a complicated field like transplant medicine (23:15); Explaining kidney transplantation to showcase the challenge of organ transplantation surgery (28:00); Overcoming the immune-based challenges of transplant surgery (37:00); How the discovery of cyclosporine transformed the field of organ transplantation (49:00); Rising chronic kidney failure due to the prevalence of pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome (53:45); Why living kidney donations are superior, and the possibility of a market for kidney donation (59:30); Designing a fair system of organ distribution (1:17:30); The debate on what constitutes “death” when deciding when to take organs from a registered organ donor (1:21:45); Reflections on the gift of organ donation (1:33:15); The history of liver transplantation and why it’s so complex (1:39:15); Addressing acute liver failure and the amazing baboon experiment (1:46:15); The potential for the rising prevalence of NAFLD and NASH to overwhelm the liver transplant infrastructure in the US (1:54:45); The importance of teamwork in successful organ transplantations, and the most tragic event Chris has ever witnessed (2:05:45); and More. Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/ Show notes page for this episode: http://peterattiamd.com/ChrisSonnenday Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ Connect with Peter on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

As Peter recovers from the last hour with Katie Hopkins, he speaks with callers about Jack Phillips court case, the Boulder shooting, and what to expect from the Joe Biden press conference. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew 16:13-20 | As Peter answers the most important question about who Jesus is, Jesus gives us two great promises for his church.Support the show (http://www.summitdenver.org/give)

As Peter says, Jesus Christ is the Living Stone who has become the Cornerstone. You too, are living stones.. 1 Peter 2:4-10

Greetings and welcome to this third edition of the Reader: Take Note series. This is an occasional series of podcasts aimed at providing extra commentary and encouragement for those following the Digging Deeper Daily reading plan. No matter where you are in the reading calendar, I hope that the things I share in this episode will support the idea that God’s Word has many treasures for us, and it always pays to dig deeper. In this episode I will discuss * my mistake in the last Take Note podcast, * things modern readers may miss in the story of the 10 plagues in Egypt, * why the descriptions of the construction of the Tabernacle are so hard to visualize, * which order were the synoptic Gospels written in? * and two verses that are difficult to translate in Luke. Did you catch my mistake in the last Take Note podcast? I said that John the Baptist’s father (Zechariah) quoted from Malakai 4, about ‘NLT'07 Malachi 4:6: 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. … Zechariah actually said, GW'20 Luke 1:76:76 “You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way. His words are reminiscent of Malachi 3-4. But the one who actually quoted Malakai 4:6 was the angel Gabriel, who (speaking to Mary about Jesus) said, GW'20 Luke 1:17:17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord.” If you have questions or comments, or corrections to what I have said, my favorite way for you to send messages to me is via the contact button at dailybiblereading.info. I’m always interested to hear your thoughts. Let’s open to Exodus 3— if you happen to have a Bible handy and are not listening to this while driving. When we were checking our translation of Exodus with a consultant (Norm Mundhenk by name), he showed us several things I had never noticed. In the story of the burning bush: NLT'07 Exodus 3:2-4:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” 4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied. So who is in the bush, the angel or God? The interesting observation here is that Moses seems not to like having the Lord do things that are physical or visible, such as making a bush be on fire. In this story, the angel messenger never speaks, but GW'20 Exodus 3:5-6:5 God said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy ground. 6 I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. Another example is found in chapter 14: NLT'07 Exodus 14:19-20:19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night. The angel of the Lord made the very visible pillar of cloud and fire, but just a few verses later: NLT'07 Exodus 14:23-25:23 Then the Egyptians— all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers— chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here— away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!” There are Bibles that capitalize the word for Angel in these cases where God is so closely connected with some physical manifestation. In Genesis the same thing happens. When angels appear, they most often speak God’s words directly using the first person for God. Now the word in both Hebrew and Greek that we translate as ‘angel’ means messenger. In later OT books (and especially Daniel) angels are indeed just that, messengers, and sometimes even with names, who speak about the Lord in the third person. Now let’s look at the 10 plagues that God wreaked upon Egypt. Our consultant, Norm, had us compare the similarities and differences in * location, at the river, or more likely at the palace? * Whose staff was used, Moses’ or Aaron’s? Or did God say to lift up their hands, or did Moses just pray? * the magicians’ reaction, or the reaction of Pharaoh’s officials * Pharaoh's reaction, in particular, Did Pharaoh harden his own heart, or did God do that? If you do the analysis, you will notice patterns and a crescendo building toward the 10th plague. Then there is something I only recently learned from a different source: I perhaps heard in a sermon, but never remember looking into the claim that each of the 10 plagues showed that God is more powerful than Egypt’s gods. Rather than repeating information penned by others, let me suggest that you search on the Internet for ‘ten plagues of Egypt’ and choose the article by GotQuestions.org, or find the link here in the episode notes: https://www.gotquestions.org/ten-plagues-Egypt.html This site also has a beautifully done video with the same information as their excellent article. I find the 9th plague particularly interesting: “The ninth plague, darkness, was aimed at the sun god, Re, who was symbolized by Pharaoh himself. For three days, the land of Egypt was smothered with an unearthly darkness, but the homes of the Israelites had light.” “The tenth and last plague, the death of the firstborn males, was a judgment on Isis, the protector of children.” Remember that Pharaoh’ own son and heir to his throne died on that night. (Ex. 11:5) Next, have you ever had trouble visualizing the sacred tent or tabernacle? I certainly have! Let’s concentrate on chapter 26:1-6.  Exo 26:1-6: "“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole." One of the problems is that the Lord (or Moses) didn’t organize the material to make it easy to understand for those who didn’t get to see the virtual guided tour or YouTube shown to Moses up on Mount Sinai. (Actually, I am sure that Moses was shown something much better than a YouTube.) First we are told to make ten curtains of linen that are 42 feet by 6 feet. These sheets are called ‘curtains’ by both ESV and NLT. So I ask you, when I say ‘curtain’ do you envision something laying horizontally or hanging vertically? My problem in understanding started here, because these are not curtains that hang vertically, but would be better called sheets of cloth that lay over something. These sheets will lay over a framework to make the roof and hang down over the walls on the north and south, and also on the west. The front door faces east. Then the text says that the curtains were joined together on ‘one side’. Because of the word curtain, I always imagined joining the long sheets on the short side, and imagined we were making the curtain fence that was made to surround the Tabernacle. That is wrong again. The Hebrew text never clearly says, but these 42 foot long sheets were actually joined on the long side. That's why joining them required 50 clasps. To me, it helps a lot to simply say right from the beginning of the description that all this is to make the roof of the Tabernacle. There are also other things that are not clear. The Hebrew text doesn’t specifically say that they were to ‘sew’ the 10 sheets into two sets. The Hebrew says they would be ‘joined’ or ‘attached’. The ten sheets were probably sewn together, with five in each set, sewn along the long edge. Each set would then measure 42 feet by 30 feet.  Above the linen layer, there was a slightly bigger goat's hair layer. Over those two layers of cloth, they made a ram’s skin leather layer. The skins were dyed red. Think how many male lambs were sacrificed to make that?! Then a mysterious final layer was placed on top of that. We really don’t know how to translate the material for the top layer. It has been translated as fine goat’s skin, or as sea cow hide. The way we translated it (since no one  knows what it was made of) is to say that it was ‘water proof leather’. Now that you understand about the 4 layers of the roof and walls, let’s take another look at the linen cloth. The NLT says, NLT'07 Exodus 26:1:1 “Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. The Hebrew text is not clear that the pattern was applied by embroidering. Think of the 42 by 30 foot long sheets being spread out over a frame that is 15 feet high. Inevitably there would be a lot of rubbing and friction on the decorated surface of the cloth due to frequent disassembly and reassembly. If the design was embroidered, it would quickly become abraded. Instead, I propose that the beautiful designs of blue, purple, and scarlet were woven directly into the fabric. As we worked on this book with our translation consultant, we found evidence that Egyptians of this period had linen cloth with elaborate woven designs. The Hebrew slaves would likely have been involved in this art. Note also, whether or not the design was woven into the material, it would take a seriously big loom to make 6 foot wide bolts of cloth. Where would the Israelites have gotten all the tools to make bronze castings, and to engrave gemstones, and to weave cloth? Think how magnificent the visual result would have been! Someone with the initials R W has created 12 wonderful Youtube videos of the Tabernacle construction. You can find them by searching for ‘Youtube 3D Tabernacle The boards’ and especially see ‘Youtube 3D Tabernacle The curtains’. This is a series of 12 videos.  Now I want to shift our attention to the Gospel of Luke. In the last episode in the Take Note series, I mentioned that I was reading a book entitled Perspectives on the Ending of Mark. The last chapter in that book is by David Alan Black. He defended his position supporting the longer ending of Mark based on evidence for the order of the writing of the first three Gospels. Let me very briefly summarize. According to some ancient sources, Mattew was written first, and written at a time when most believers were from a Jewish background. That Gospel was carried far and wide as Christianity spread.  However, as Paul spread the Gospel among the non-Jews in far away places, the need became increasingly apparent for a Gospel to be told from a Greek world view, instead of the Jewish world view. Luke came with Paul to Jerusalem as one of those who brought financial help to the believers. (Acts 20) He evidently stayed in the area during Paul’s two year imprisonment, which is the most likely time for him to pen his Gospel. One wonders how often Luke came to Caesarea to visit Paul and share about his research, such as interviewing Mary the mother of Jesus, and other early followers of Jesus. It might be that Paul was the one who asked Luke to write his own well-researched account. All the exact details that Luke included would appeal to Greek readers. Luke followed much of the outline of events as given by Matthew, with a notable exception in the accounts of John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ birth. If Luke took the draft of his Gospel on the voyage to Rome, I wonder how he kept it dry in the shipwreck at Malta! Somehow he must have. The problem, as Black reconstructs the situation, is that a Gospel from a non-witness like Luke would not have been accepted well, so Luke delayed the release of his Gospel. During some part of the time that Paul was in Rome, Peter was there as well, along with Mark. So Black further posits that Paul arranged with Peter to have public lectures in Rome where Matthew’s account of a portion would be read, then Luke’s account, and afterward Peter would give his recollections of the same event. I would have loved to be present at those lectures! Evidently in Rome, there were scribes that were experts at shorthand. Black again posits that one such person was employed to write down Peter’s words. That account, then could be used by Mark to write his Gospel, which everyone recognizes shows Peter’s influence. This explains why events where Peter was not present (like the birth of Jesus) are not told in Mark’s Gospel. The ordering of Matthew first, Luke second being based on Matthew, and Mark third based on Peter’s reactions to both Matthew and Luke— does a fair job of answering why various details are differently related between the three accounts. Well, you may remember that I started the Digging Deeper Reading plan with Mark as the first NT book in the year because I said that it was written first. It turns out that there are various theories. A remark by Augustine of Hippo at the beginning of the fifth century presents the gospels as composed in their canonical order (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), with each evangelist thoughtfully building upon and supplementing the work of his predecessor. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synoptic_Gospels#:~:text=A%20remark%20by%20Augustine%20of,hypothesis%20(Matthew%E2%80%93Mark).) However another wikipedia article under the title of Marcan priority, states that  The tradition handed down by the Church Fathers regarded Matthew as the first Gospel written.[3] This view of Gospel origins, however, began to be challenged in the late 18th century, when Gottlob Christian Storr proposed in 1786 that Mark was the first to be written.[4][5] Gottlob Storr’s opinion was largely ignored for a while, and then picked up and debated. And by the time of the last century, the Wikipedia article states: Many scholars in the twentieth century regarded Marcan priority as no longer just a hypothesis, but an established fact.[14] So it turns out that the theory I took as ‘an established fact’, which I picked up from various sources, was really 20th century opinion. But that opinion was strongly influenced by the scepticism of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Dr. Black’s reconstruction of the order of writing is supported by writings of Eusebius, who is a far earlier source than the experts of just 170 years ago. Eusebius of Caesarea (260/265—339/340 AD), EH6.14.5–7, speaking of (*?no longer extant) writings of Clement (35-99 AD) states 5 Again, in the same books, Clement gives the tradition of the earliest presbyters, as to the order of the Gospels, in the following manner: 6 The Gospels containing the genealogies, he says, were written first. The Gospel according to Mark had this occasion. As Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered his sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel he gave it to those who had requested it. 7 When Peter learned of this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it. … I think Eusebius is right, and probably Dr. Black has perhaps filled in too many details, but is pointing us in the right direction. It just goes to show: In the realm of historical information circulating about the Bible, ideas regarded as established facts in our time are often just opinions currently in vogue. Because I have mentioned reading a book or two, I want to admit that I seldom sit down to read books. But wonder of wonder, I am actually in the process of reading another book. It is How People Grow, by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr. John Towns. I have been so impressed with this book that a few days ago I ordered 5 copies to give away. Lots of authors share how to make your life better or how to become a more effective person. But these two authors have a breadth of counselling experience and they have learned Biblical principles that actually work. It turns out that how people grow is related to how our Creator has made us, plus other principles found in God’s Word. Even at 71 years old, I want to keep growing. I hope you do too. GW’20Luk 11:34-36: "Your [eyes are//eye is] the lamp of your body. When your [eyes are//eye is] healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when [they are//it is] bad,** your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you [become//be] darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”" **Translation note: The Greek use the singular eye (ὀφθαλμός), but there is no reason to not use plural in our translation, as this is more natural, and Luke would have used plural had he been writing in English. Footnote in our Indonesian translation: eyes are bad Literally, “your eyes are evil/diseased.” Jesus was speaking to the Jewish leaders, including the members of the Pharisees and the Law experts. In the context of this chapter, we see that they had seen many miracles which proved that Jesus was sent by God, but it’s as if they became blind to all of those miracles. (11:29-30) In fact, they say that He worked by the devil’s power. Bad eyes are also frequently interpreted as meaning greedy for money, as in Matt. 6:19-24. See Luke also 16:14. GW'20 Luke 14:34-35:34 “Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how will you restore its flavor? 35 It’s not any good for the ground or for the manure pile. People throw it away. “Let the person who has ears listen!” Many people can’t fathom how salt could lose its flavor. Modern pure white salt crystals never lose their flavor. But when we were living with the Orya people, they had salt that could lose its flavor. Out in the forest, around a hundred miles from the coast, there are salt springs. Back in the early 1980’s when we first were there, the people would still go out to the spring and boil salt water in pans until the water would evaporate and salt would be left. The water was not clean and smoke went into the pan, so the resultant salt was black and gritty with impurities. They kept it wrapped in leaves hanging over their cooking fire, so that it would stay dry. They called it ‘black salt’. In the tropical climate, black salt that wasn’t kept dry would collect moisture and the salt water would drip out. If that happened, all that was left was slightly salty black sand. Just like Jesus said, it is good for nothing and people throw it away. But what’s the point? Why did Jesus give this teaching about salt? For people groups who have trouble figuring out why Jesus would talk about salt (and who don’t figure out that He is speaking figuratively), translators can explicitly give a hint: “You are like salt.” ESV Colossians 4:6:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Jesus finished his teaching with a favorite saying of his, and I have found it very hard to translate.  ESV Luke 14:35b:He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This memorable saying always comes at the end of something Jesus is teaching. It is pointing backwards. In other words: “Listen to that, what I just said.” Here’s how we translated those verses in Orya and Indonesian: 34 “Each of you who follows Me is like salt. Of course, salt is used to make food tastier. But if its taste has disappeared, the salt won’t be useful at all, 35 either for the field or as fertilizer. In the end such salt is just thrown out. “Don’t let that last teaching of mine go in your right ear and out your left! Meditate on it.” Let’s pray: Truly, Father, please transform us so that we might be called the salt of the earth and lights in this world. Please help us to keep our spiritual eyes clear. When we have opportunities to give a word of testimony about You or don’t know what to say to people, we pray that you would bring to mind what we have read from your Word. Teach us how to keep your Word in mind and to meditate on it. We pray that we would have the joy of feeling your presence as we lean and rely on You. Amen. May the Lord bless you ‘real good’.

Today as I record this episode, the wind is howling here in my city. My weather app says it's blowing 25 miles per hour.  As I drove to the store this afternoon, I came up beside a man riding his bicycle directly into the blowing wind. The man seemed to be straining with all the power he had to pedal his bicycle into the strong wind. As hard as it is to ride into the oncoming wind, if you simply turn the bike around, that same wind that hindered you will now help you. It will push you forward. It's amazing what can happen with a change of direction. In Acts 3:19 Peter says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”Throughout scripture we see God calling us to repent. In fact, someone once counted and said the words repent, repentance, or repented is mentioned over 100 times in the Bible.So, what is repentance? Repentance is a change of direction. Just like the bicycle rider who turned around and rode in a different direction, true repentance is a new direction. Often people mistakenly think repentance is feeling sad. Maybe they are upset they got caught or they are upset at themselves for making a poor decision. But repentance is more than a sorrowful emotion. It is a decision to change and a determination to live a new way.As Peter mentioned, repentance is a component of our salvation experience. The grace of God responds to our faith in Jesus and our repentance of our sins. God is so good to forgive us and to remove the record of our sins. We then stand before God clean and forgiven.One thing that is very clear in scripture is that sinners must repent in order to be saved. Consider these verses:Luke 5:32 - Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” Luke 13:3 - “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”In the New Testament, the word repentance is the Greek word metonia. It literally means “a change of mind.” It is a turning away from our sin. Paul asked in Romans 6 is it okay for us to continue in our sin, now that we have received the grace of God. The answer is a strong no. The King James Version says, “God forbid.”When Jesus started His public ministry, He called for repentance. Matthew 4:17 records, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'” Jesus says of repentance, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).So how does a person repent? Like faith, repentance is a response to the work of God, who convicts and convinces us that we are in error.  First, we come to God in honesty. Repentance requires honesty. No one comes to God with true repentance in their heart unless they've first acknowledged their need for forgiveness and reconciliation with him.Second, we confess our sins to God. We admit we are sinners. We lay it all out before him without hiding. In Psalm 32: 5 David says, “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”Third, we believe God's promise to forgive and to remove our sins. The Bible says, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Finally, we change direction and live a new way through the power of the Holy Spirit.Today's Challenge: Maybe today, you feel the spirit of God leading you to repent. Don't resist, come to God with full confession, receive his forgiveness, and begin to walk in new life.

February 8                        Scripture of the Day:    Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”  Be Bold When You Pray These past few days, I've been sharing the story from Acts chapter 4 about where Peter and John healed the cripple man at the gate Beautiful and were subsequently arrested and threatened by the Pharisees to stop teaching in the Name of Jesus. We covered yesterday how the two returned to their own company, their own church members and reported what happened. We then covered how they all prayed in “one accord,” not for revenge or retribution, but for BOLDNESS to keep on teaching in the Name of Jesus! Amen! We covered how the Lord immediately granted their request by shaking the building they were in and the filling them all with the Holy Spirit and giving them BOLDNESS. Praise God. That means there were some there that were timid in sharing their Faith. But not after the shaking and the filling! Amen! Have you ever said something to the effect of “Well, not everybody can be bold in sharing their Faith” or something along those lines?  Maybe you have said something like, “I'm not cut out to be witness like brother so-and-so or sister so-and-so. That's just not me…” Well, there were some in that company that were obviously like that, too. But prayer changed that personality on the spot! Amen! Let's look at this from the perspective of NOT being bold for a minute.  In verse 23, they were all together when Peter and John told them what had happened. They were not being bold at that time, were they? If they were, they would have been marching right down the Temple headquarters and demanding Peter and John to be released. But that did not happen. They were, basically, hiding out. Amen! We can continue reading and you see the prayer that was prayed. It was prayed corporately. That does not mean they all prayed the same exact words… I believe someone, probably Peter – he was always the bold one, right… I believe Peter prayed the prayer written in scriptures and everyone else was praying in tongues in agreement. Because this prayer was so detailed, there is no way everyone could have been praying this prayer word for word. Not unless it was written down and passed out to everyone. So that did not happen… But yet, it says they all prayed that prayer “in one accord.” That means they were in agreement, right. But look at the part of the verse that says, “They all lifted their voice to God in one accord…” How could they do that? By praying, in agreement, in tongues. As Peter prayed the words in their language, they all went the Throne Room in tongues and were praying in agreement with Peter. Amen. And what happened?  As we have been sharing these past few days – a SHAKING took place and then, the scripture says they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit… But wait! How could they all be filled with the Holy Spirit IF they were praying in tongues in agreement with the prayer? Simple…keep reading… It says in verse 31, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost AND THEY SPOKE THE WORD WITH BOLDNESS… They received exactly what they were asking for: BOLDNESS. They were already born again, yes? They were already filled with the Holy Spirit, yes? They were already able to speak in tongues, yes? So, what was the FILLING of the Holy Spirit referenced here? BOLDNESS! Jesus told them “Whatsover things you ask the Father for in my Name, he will give them to you.” He also said, “Whatsevoer things you ask me for, in my Name, I will grant to you.” He also said, “It is expedient for me to go. Because if I don't go, I can't send the comforter. But if I do go, I will send Him to you.” All of these things talk...

He is the God Who Sees Exodus 17 - 20 and Acts 3 He was out looking for eye contact that day. As Peter and John were heading through the gates that day they saw someone looking for someone that would look. And perhaps Peter and John remembered what Jesus would do in these situations, with those who were looking.  He would see them. He would see them, he would stop for them, he would heal them.  So, Peter and John stopped and told him to “look at us” and Peter looked at him intently.  And at that moment the beggar may have thought, “He’s looking at me...Now I can use my doleful needy eyes to convert this man from curiosity to compassion to cash. But Peter’s compassion wasn’t being manipulated.  It was being stirred by something much deeper.  Peter was looking intently, beyond the man’s ploys.  He was looking to this man’s soul, to the reality of who he really was.  His need to walk upright again, whether his legs worked or not, whether he had silver or gold or not.     This was the need Peter saw in this man’s eyes, a life that needed to stand upright before God. And the life this man needed was being offered free of charge, not only to him, but to the whole world.  In fact this gospel was not transactional at all.  this went far beyond some mere transaction.  Be it religious or commercial.  The gospel is not a great sales pitch, “for the low low price of a wee little faith, or a tiny little prayer, you get eternal life.”  No the gospel has never been about what you have done or propose to do. It’s entirely rooted in Him, it’s Christ, who he is, and what he has done for you.  Paul put it this way, “I propose to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified.   His person and his work, and when Christ became human, he drew you and all of humanity unto himself, and he would die for all humanity, and he would be raised for all, and ascend for all.  It’s all him.  you have been drawn into him, and the life he shares with the Father and the Spirit.   The Gospel is not a transactional proposition. That's why Peter essentially says, “its not about money, silver or gold, it’s about Jesus the Nazarene who has come to make humanity stand upright again.” it’s a declaration of this amazing news.   This was a declaration of what is, You my friend are not a beggar, a cast off, an animal groveling in the streets, you are included in the covenant promises of God, you are his child, you are loved and you are someone who will walk upright, as a human being.   “So in the name of Jesus christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”  Peter may be looking at you today as you read this passage, and if he is he is staring intently at you, because He sees what you are intended to be – men and women walking upright, fully embraced by God, worshiping him, being set free. Allow our Lord to take you by the right hand today, and lift you to your feet.    

Peter got right to the point the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. The message was simple and powerful. Cornelius and everyone gathered in his home that day were saved. This was a historical moment. These were the very first Gentiles to receive Jesus and to be given the Holy Spirit. They also received forgiveness of sins. It was the fulfillment of prophesy. As Peter said all the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Have you believed in Jesus? Then you have received forgiveness for all of your sins past, present, and future. And that's good news.

True refreshment begins with our relationship with God. It begins spiritually. As Peter puts it in Acts 3:19: “Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” In Psalm 51, David speaks to God and asks him to “renew a steadfast spirit” (Psalm 51:10) within him. When we feel spiritually empty, God can refresh us and make us spiritually full.

How do you make decisions when there are multiple agency partners? Can you truly grow without second-guessing the big decisions? How do you grow an agency with multiple partners? Should you build from within or use acquisition as a growth strategy? When there are many decision-makers at an agency it can be a challenge to agree on the best way to grow. But with mutual respect and a yin-yang of strengths, it can work. In today’s episode, we’ll cover: Can things really work with multiple agency partners? Using acquisition as an agency growth strategy. Deciding on when and which agency to acquire. How to get through an economic recession. I chatted with Peter Bishop, Partner and Director at ZGM Marketing Partners in Canada. He has been in digital marketing for over 20+ years and, as it turns out, we share a ton of old-school experience on the evolution of design software. But, now as a partner at ZGM, he is on the show to share what he’s learned about sharing partnership with four others as well as how they use acquisition as a growth strategy. Can Things Really Work with Multiple Agency Partners? Having one owner can be great or it can be awful. We all have biases but when it comes to agencies, they are led by creative souls and that is usually the backbone of an agency. As Peter points out, creatives aren’t usually awesome at finance or other business skills. Having a partnership that balances each other out is usually beneficial. Peter’s agency partnerships include a creative person, financial person, an accounts person... so everyone brings something different to the table. There are rarely problems among them, but when there is a problem it’s a big problem. How To Get Through Partner Disagreements Peter says the agency partnership is like any relationship. When there’s mutual respect you can get through anything. Although ZGM has five partners, there is one partner who has stepped away from day-to-day involvement and is more like a silent investor. The partners involve him in the bigger decisions and Peter says, he’s become like the wise grandfather figure. He is more objective and also calls bullshit on them when necessary. Every partnership needs this type of unbiased person, board of advisors, or even a mastermind who is looking out for the best interest of the agency. We can’t do it all by ourselves, so having others helping and guiding is the best way to build and grow. Holding things close to your chest is no longer the way to do business. When we all share, we all develop and grow. Providing advice to others can also provide clarity for yourself. Using Acquisition as an Agency Growth Strategy ZGM has used acquisition as a growth strategy and Peter attributes much of their growth to this decision. They've acquired three agencies so far, and each time there’s an acquisition he feels significant growth in clients and staff, as well as in top-line revenue. Culture is key and it’s one of the first things ZGM looks at before considering an acquisition. It sounds cliche it’s true - culture is everything. Agencies can’t pay top dollar for talent but culture is where they compete. Top talent can be drawn to the right culture. And, your agency co-workers usually become like a second family. So a culture that fits is key in making sure the family functions. So when merging or acquiring another agency, culture fit is one of the most important aspects. How to Decide When and What Agency to Acquire ZGM has been very strategic about its acquisitions. They have found that when they want to go into a new direction -- more product-based accounts, for example -- doing it organically isn’t realistic. So their growth strategy has been focused on acquisitions that can help them break barriers that afford them growth in new areas. Getting Through the Current Economic Recession Now more than ever, our clients are leaning on us to be creative and solve their business problems. Peter and partners have told their team, instead of looking for bigger spends or more money, ask how can you help clients get through this crisis. We need to help clients figure out ways to pivot their business and survive the economic recession. Bottom line, money isn’t everything. Now is the time to be human.

“The people that can parse out what to do—that can figure out the best media mix are going to win in this game because there’s just too much.” Peter Levitan has spent his career leading advertising, marketing, and PR agencies worldwide. A lifelong believer in the art and science of building brands, he spends his time these days advising agencies on business development. We discussed all of this and more on this week’s episode of the On Brand podcast. About Peter Levitan Peter Levitan brings years of experience to his work as an agency consultant and CEO coach. After graduating from the San Francisco Art Institute and co-founding a successful photography company, Peter entered the world of advertising in 1980. During his 16 years at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide, he ran business development across Europe and the US, was EVP Management Director in London and New York, and was GM of the Minneapolis office. In 1995, Peter discovered early-stage digital marketing and left the agency to invent the online newspaper industry for Conde Nast. The Newspaper Association of America named Peter its New Media Pioneer. In 2000, Peter founded the startup ActiveBuddy and raised $30 million, eventually selling the intelligent agency bot technology to Microsoft. Peter bought the Oregon-based ad agency Citrus in 2002. Under Peter’s leadership, Citrus delivered national and uber local advertising for clients including Nike, Harrah’s Casinos, and Legalzoom. Peter sold Citrus in 2014, making it one of three agencies he has successfully bought and sold. Peter now lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and uses his vast experience to counsel advertising, digital, and PR agencies across the globe. He blogs about business development with an average of 65,000 views per year, hosts the Advertising Stories podcast, and authored the book The Levitan Pitch: Buy This Book. Win More Pitches. Peter knows more about ad agency business development than any other human. His programs deliver a very detailed strategic plan sandwiched between efficient branding and messaging programs that are designed to make an agency unignorable. Episode Highlights We began this week’s show by discussing Peter’s background in art and photography.  Specifically, I asked if this informed his advertising agency career and how. “I’m a believer in the art and science of branding. Photography is an art and science.” We then explored how this is applied to new media like TikTok. What are agencies struggling with most today? As an advisor to advertising, digital, and PR agencies across the globe, I wanted Peter’s take on what challenges he’s seeing most. “It’s still a lot of the cobbler’s son having bad shoes. And trying to be everything to everybody.” As Peter reminded us, focus is your friend. Where should agencies start when it comes to focus? “I start with a business plan. I know—shocking.” Peter also stressed that good business plans don’t have to be complex. “I don’t need notebooks for a business plan.” What brand has made Peter smile recently? Peter shared his delight at Ford reintroducing the Bronco. This provided a great example of the types of emotions and nostalgia that brands can stir up. To learn more, go to PeterLevitan.com. As We Wrap … Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show. On Brand is sponsored by my book Brand Now. Discover the seven dynamics to help your brand stand out in our crowded, distracted world. Order now and get special digital extras. Learn more. Subscribe to the podcast – You can subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, and RSS. Rate and review the show – If you like what you’re hearing, head over to Apple Podcasts and click that 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review. This helps others find the podcast. OK. How do you rate and review a podcast? Need a quick tutorial on leaving a rating/review in iTunes? Check this out. Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!

Economic Reset: With Halla Tómasdóttir“The pandemic pause has given us an awakening. Capitalism needs an upgrade. We need an inclusive economy that drives shared prosperity on a healthy planet.” We’re continuing our look at the big existential crises of this new decade, and what it will take to reimagine and reset our broken systems.In this episode, we’re talking global economic reset with the woman who was very nearly Iceland’s president, and is now leading a much bigger movement - Halla Tómasdóttir.This is not your average discourse on economic reform that you might expect from a top CEO. Halla is such good company and she’s not afraid to bring the personal into the professional – in fact she actively encourages it.So she chats to Peter about the perks of her imposter syndrome and the personal motivation behind her presidential campaign in her homeland, as well as the pitfalls of “hubris syndrome”, the “crisis of conformity” in leadership, and the need for feminine values to lead effectively in an entangled world.Today she is the CEO and “chief change catalyst” of the B Team, a coalition of heavyweight business and civil society leaders working to shift the culture of accountability in business to include not only numbers and performance, but people and planet. She also co-chairs Imperative 21 and the Reset campaign, both of which advocate for radical reform of our economic systems. As Peter concludes: “Halla is a special human.” Reimagine comes to you from Oxford Answers and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. New episodes on Thursdays.Featuring:Halla Tómasdóttir (@HallaTomas), CEO @thebteamhqHost:Peter Drobac (@peterdrobac), Director of the @SkollCentre for Social Entrepreneurship, Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.Resources:The B TeamImperative 21Want to learn more about the show? Check out http://www.reimaginepodcast.comHave a question for Peter? Email him at peter@reimaginepodcast.com.Credits:Producer/editor – Eve Streeter Producer/editor – Eve Streeter for Stabl