Podcasts about Ascending

The heroes launch a fierce assault and successfully defeat the Inhuman Royal Court, clearing the last obstacle between them and their true target Kang. Ascending through the stronghold, they come upon a devastating sight: Black Bolt, battered and restrained behind an energy field. Kang reveals the horrifying truth Black Bolt has been used as a living power source for his temporal machines. Before the team can react, a brainwashed Medusa attacks with deadly precision. The team manages to subdue her, breaking the final tether of Kang's manipulation—but the victory is short-lived. Kang retreats… Only to return moments later, flanked by alternate versions of himself from across the multiverse. The final battle has begun.   Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1628612284256101/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leagueofmelanatedgentlemanpod/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLMGPodcast   Hosts: Jordan Mitchell  

Today we talk about something that needs to be said: Not everyone is a Game Master! I mean its obvious, we have 4 players and only 1 game master! But jokes aside its important to talk about this as it highlights important reasons why we as people play TTRPGs and how we enjoy them!Lets talk about making TTRPG fun, interesting and engaging for everyone at the table even when you're not seated behin the DM screen and just want to enjoy some good D&D as a playerCheck here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we explored Psalm 132, the first psalm in the final triad of the Songs of Ascent. While earlier psalms focused on the hardships of the journey, these last three were sung inside Jerusalem—reminding us that even now we are spiritually seated with Christ, yet still on pilgrimage toward our eternal home.In this psalm we learn that We ascend through a passion for God's presence and an expectation of His reward.Psalm 132 opens with a bold request: “Lord, remember David.” Scripture doesn't shy away from the idea of reward—God strengthens His people by reminding us that faithfulness matters and that He will repay each person according to their works (Revelation 22:12). Reward isn't our focus, but it is a biblical encouragement along the way.The heart of the psalm is David's passion for God's presence. He refused to rest until the Ark—the symbol of God's holiness, power, and mercy—was brought to the center of Israel's life. His passion was born out of love, not ambition, and it inspired the people to seek God with the same desire. Today, through Jesus and the indwelling Spirit, we are God's temple—so the question becomes: Are we cultivating that same longing for His presence?Finally, Psalm 132 shows that God's plans exceed even our best intentions. David wanted to build God a house, but God promised instead to build him an eternal one—a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom has no end.Passion for God's presence leads us upward, and confidence in God's promises keeps us moving forward. Trust Him—His plans will always surpass your expectations.

Five years later, we've finally made it to the seventh book and Rob hasn't quite given up yet!

In the ascension of Jesus, we learn about our King. 1. His timing. (v.6-7) 2. His witnesses. (v.8) 3. His plans. (v.9-11) What is it like to have Jesus as our king? When does the Lord do things? Rom 5:6 and 2 Peter 3:9 Where must we bear witness? Matthew 10:18 What does God have in store for us? Jeremiah 29:11-13

Asomarse a la realidad suele bastar para que se esfumen muchos motivos de optimismo. Tal vez por eso, porque los músicos también son personas, hay pocos discos que buscan únicamente hacernos felices. Esa es la excusa que ha encontrado David Byrne para 'Who is the Sky?', una explosión de color, optimismo y felicidad desbordada. Quizás incluso demasiada.Además, Clara Ingold responde a nuestro cuestionario cultural en FAQ! Y abrimos la consulta de la psicóloga clínica Rosana Corbacho para definir y entender el TDAH.Playlist:Weyes Blood - AndromedaAngel Olsen - SpringAlexandra Savior - Can’t Help MyselfHAAi, Jon Hopkins - Baby, We’re AscendingMall Grab, Brendan Yates - UnderstandTurnstile, Mall Grab - Yes I Need My GeneratorSudan Archives - Selfish SoulGreentea Peng - Stuck In The MiddleSampa the Great, Angelique Kidjo - Let Me Be GreatFela Kuti - WitchcraftEzra Collective - Ajalarestinga - salinaCalifato ¾, Ángeles Toledano - LA CIGARRABon Iver - S P E Y S I D EWhitney, Madison Cunningham - EvangelineMac DeMarco - HolyWet Leg - CPRGetdown Services - Eat Quiche, Sleep, RepeatSorry - JetplaneAshnikko - Sticky FingersPinkPantheress, Zara Larsson - StatesideOklou - dance 2Lorde - What Was ThatDavid Byrne - Everybody LaughsGorillaz, Sparks - The Happy Dictator Pulp - Got To Have LoveFontaines D.C - It’s Amazing To Be YoungGenesis Owusu - DEATH CULT ZOMBIESnõõper - Star 6 9Thundercat - Upside DownSay She She - Disco LifeAutomatic - Black BoxBaxter Dury - SchadenfreudeRaül Refree, Niño de Elche - Antes De ROSALÍA, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Estrella Morente - La Rumba del PerdónFred again.., CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso - Beto’s Horns (fred remix)Jamie xx, Robyn - LifeEscuchar audio

In this week's message from our Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims' Pathway series, Pastor Nate takes us deep into the heart of two of the most intimate Songs of Ascent, Psalm 130 and Psalm 131 , to show us how we ascend in our pilgrimage through waiting for God's mercy with quiet trust.Psalm 130 begins “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord,” painting a picture of the pit of sin—a place of helplessness where no one can save themselves. But there, in the darkness, we find the beauty of God's character: forgiveness, steadfast love (hesed), and plentiful redemption. Through the cross of Christ, these are not abstract ideas, they're living realities. Like Hosea's faithful love for Gomer, God's hesed runs deeper than our failures and stronger than our rebellion.We are called to pray and wait. Waiting isn't passive, it's an act of hope and longing that just as the watchman waits for dawn, the light of God's mercy will rise. We hope on His Word—trusting His promises—and we hope for His Word—expecting His Spirit to speak and lead. Psalm 131 moves from crying out to calming down, from desperation to quiet trust. David models humility before God, resisting Satan's attacks on the heart, eyes, and mind. Instead of arrogance, pride, and restless speculation, he quiets his soul “like a weaned child with its mother.” Pastor Nate contrasts childish faith, which demands and fears, with childlike faith, which rests and trusts.As pilgrims, we can be sure of this: The Lord Himself will redeem us from all our iniquities. So, we keep praying, keep waiting, and keep trusting, until we see His mercy rise like the morning light.

These November 2025 messages spotlight stories, inspirations, and soul songs offered by Marie Mohler to empower & inspire people during times of potent shifts. Marie's November messages are found in 2 videos.  Part 1 contains the big picture review, Gathering At The River with Dr. Terry Cole Whittaker (Dare To Be Great inspiration), Garden Insights #7 (an intuitive energy update for the month), Knowers In November, Gnostic Empowerment, Conscious Breathing, Honoring Divine Feminine Wisdom, Sacred Remembrance, & more. Part 2 contains 13 new soul songs to musically fortify listeners with empowering November themes. Themes include: Days Like These, Eve's Spark, Sophia's Song For Humanity, Ascension Colors, Echoes of the Master, Being The Light, and more. Thank you for joining me, and please share with others who would benefit from these insights and positive messages.Please like, subscribe, and share!For more of my inspirational messages, podcasts, soul songs, & subscription offerings on Substack, please click either link:https://www.frequencywriter.com/https://frequencywriter.substack.com/If you are interested in life coaching with me, please send an email:info@frequencywriter.comI look forward to connecting with you. To listen to more amazing podcasts and insightful broadcasts, or to make a donation, visit:  http://www.wholesoulschoolandfoundation.orgTo donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/wholesoulschoolandfoundationTo shop our apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/whole-soul-school-and-foundation/Thank you!You can also tune in here:Substack: https://www.frequencywriter.com/https://frequencywriter.substack.com/X: https://x.com/marie_mohlerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholesoulmasteryYouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@colorthemagicRumble.com: https://rumble.com/c/c-353585​​​​Telegram: https://t.me/wholesoulmasteryTruth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@frequencywriterTune into Frequency Writer Messages, Empowering Podcasts, and Whole Soul School and Foundation's Inspirational Podcasts via: Spotify, Apple iTunes, Buzzsprout, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play Music + other favorite podcast platforms If would like to support me and my work directly, please send donations to: https://buy.stripe.com/3csbIU4v8a52eR2aEEYou can also mail donations to:Marie Mohler/Whole Soul Mastery400 S. Elliott Rd., Suite D259Chapel Hill, NC 27514Thank you for your generous gifts.

Dawg Nation Daily Host Brandon Adams speaks about Georgia's record in rivalry games, the play and approach of Gunner Stockton, how he'd describe UGA's win over Florida, how dangerous Mississippi State can be if Georgia isn't dialed in, how to treat the College Football Playoff Rankings shows, and the opening at Auburn after the decision to fire Hugh Freeze.

This week at Christ Street Fellowship, Pastor Nate continued our fall series Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims' Pathway, by exploring Psalms 128 and 129 and showing how we can ascend through the fear of God, even in times of persecution.Psalm 128 reminds us that true blessing flows from a holy fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord, although not definable in a single, short definition, is about awe, reverence, honor, obedience, and intimacy with a God who is both powerful and good. We will learn that the fear of God doesn't drive us away, it draws us closer. We also learn that nearness to God is a place of safety, not danger. From Isaiah's trembling vision of the throne room to Jesus' delight in the fear of the Lord, Scripture shows that reverent awe leads to deeper friendship, wisdom, and blessing.Then, turning to Psalm 129, as pilgrims we are reminded that affliction will come, but it will not prevail. “The plowers plowed upon my back,” the psalmist writes, yet the Lord “cut the cords of the wicked.” We see parallels to Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 4 and Peter's encouragement in 1 Peter 5: though we suffer for a season, the God of all grace will restore, strengthen, and establish us.

Welcome back to another episode of Realm Forge. Today, we are focusing on a single Kingdom, the first Kingdom of our Fantasy World, Omen, a world ruled by Celestial Bodies and their Signs, which foretell the future. We talk about the problems and challenges this world poses to the kingdom and what living in this world must be like.For this episode, we are using: https://lamemage.itch.io/kingdom by Ben RobbinsCheck here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Background Music is: "Teller of the Tales" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into serial killer astrology with Ashley and Dani in this chilling Halloween episode. We explore the nature versus nurture debate through the lens of astrology by analyzing the birth charts of three infamous serial killers: Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy.In this Astrology After Dark special, we break down serial killer birth charts to understand what astrology reveals about criminal behavior and dark psychology. Are serial killers born or made? Can we see patterns in their astrological placements? We're examining Ed Gein's birth chart, Jeffrey Dahmer's astrology, and John Wayne Gacy's planetary placements like never before.This serial killer astrology episode goes beyond surface-level readings. We discuss the responsibility astrologers have when analyzing charts of notorious criminals and what we can actually learn from serial killer birth charts versus what pop culture tells us.Content Warning: This episode discusses serial killers and contains references to violent crimes. Listener discretion is advised.Perfect for true crime astrology fans, students learning psychological astrology, and anyone curious about the intersection of serial killer psychology and birth chart analysis.

Kramer Sansone is back to preview Week 9 across the NFL, including the return of stars like Lamar Jackson and Brock Bowers. The Saints are turning to Tyler Shough for the rest of the season, and the players on the rise in Week 9. Subscribe: https://youtu.be/P_go5G9zjxU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Text me what you thought of the episode and what you'd like to hear about next! -Annie Perry Welcome to the Luminary Podcast with your host Annie Perry. This week I've channeled a lesson from Venus about the Venusian Mystery Schools and why they matter to you and Earth's Ascension. We're discussing: History of Venus, The Hathor's and their descendants. Higher dimensional planes of existence. Extensions of the Akashic Records. How the Mystery Schools operate and evolve. The Ascending Masters groups. The Paradox Mysteries of the Universe How to start downloading your Mastery Codes from Venus I'm glad you're here, don't forget to subscribe and share with a friend. You can find out more about my current offering by clicking the link below, visiting www.wellspringofficial.com or joining me on Instagram @eternal_annieConnect with Your New Earth Self: https://www.wellspringofficial.com/the-ascension-academyCreate New Earth Money: https://www.wellspringofficial.com/the-prosperity-portalCONNECT WITH ME: Wellspring Official https://www.wellspringofficial.com/wellspring-linksInstagram https://www.instagram.com/eternal_annie/ For those interested in: Ascension, Human Design, Gene Keys, Spirituality, psychic, ascension, manifestation, quantum healing, psychology, inner child, consciousness, galactic, galactic family, Pleiadian, Arcturian, Sirian, Psychic channel, galactic federation of light, esoteric, Lightworker, started, astrology, tarot, reiki, star family, chakra, energy healer, energy, energy worker, spiritual podcast, masculine energetics, feminine energetics, new earth, energy updates, channeled messages, channeling, wellness. Music: Electronic Downtempo Emotional Music | Earth by Alex-Productions | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0_M61F81Nfb-BRXE-SeVA Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US DISCLAIMER: Information in this podcast is meant to be informative and is not professional mental health advice. Please seek professional help if you are experiencing anxiety, depression or any other physical or mental health medical conditions. Please use discernment and care when implementing any spiritual or physical practices described in this podcast. Some names may have been changed to protect privacy. All original ideas, voice and cover artwork is protected under copyright laws.

“'O naughty child, now try going from here, if you can.' Having spoken thus, she returned to her household duties.” (Vishnu Purana, 5.6.15)

Toni Sant presents the 744th in a series of podcasts featuring music by performers in or from Malta. Artists featured in this podcast: PART 1Johann Caruana - Dance to the SoundBahjat - LocoNedx - My TimeDivine Sinners - Revenge of the HedgehogMosrot - Primrose PathPART 2Niko Jay -Ascending (EP)PART 3Featured album: Mariana from Tijuana by Andre Camilleri >> Details about this podcast [in Maltese] See also: - MMI Podcast: YouTube playlist - MMI Podcast: Facebook Page - MMI Archive on Mixcloud | @tonisant on Twitter - M3P: Malta Music Memory Project - Mużika Mod Ieħor ma' Toni Sant on Facebook (MP3)

Ron Hughley and Stephen Serda are back to discuss the snooze fest that was Week 8 in the NFL. The Chiefs got in on the blowout party with a 28-7 MNF win and have a chance to make their case as the NFL's top team in Week 9. Are we officially buying the Colts? subscribe: https://youtube.com/live/pbjkJgItJ2Y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hr 1 - NFL first half superlatives: Who’s ascending / descending?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hr 1 - NFL first half superlatives: Who’s ascending / descending?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's message from our Ascent series, Pastor Nate leads us through Psalms 126 and 127, showing that we ascend through a healthy vision of God's will.In Psalm 126, we're reminded that when despair clouds our hearts, a clear vision  gives strength for the pilgrimage. It teaches us to look back with gratitude at God's past restoration, to see the present with honesty about our captivity or struggles, and to face the future with faith in His promises.Psalm 127 then calls us to trust God's sovereignty in everything we do. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Whether in work, family, or rest, only what's done in alignment with God's will endures. Solomon reminds us that our calling is not self-reliance, but surrendered obedience in which we pray as Jesus taught his disciples: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”This message encourages every pilgrim on the journey: remember God's faithfulness, face your current reality with humility, and walk forward in faith—knowing that every step, every seed sown, and every act of obedience in the Lord is never in vain.“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10

Today, we discuss TTRPG Playstyle Mismatches, particularly what can happen when parts of your group derive their D&D and TTRPG enjoyment from different aspects of the games and playtime.We discuss where these mismatches can occur and how you can address them at the table, making compromises to accommodate everyone's enjoyment and prioritize the group's fun.Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at three fascinating European clashes for the Scottish clubs as Rangers face Brann in Danny Rohl's first match in charge, a misfiring Celtic host Sturm Graz and an improving Aberdeen play AEK in Athens, with Ray Bradshaw, Robbie Neilson and Stephen McGowan.

Today, we talk about TTRPG system burnout, we discuss what you can do to spot it, to counteract it, and also, if it comes to it, how you can recover from it. It is no joke and needs to be taken very seriously so let's talk about it and find the best way out of it.TTRPG System Burnout is when you are feeling worn out by playing TTRPGs, sometimes just with a specific system, and we discuss the best ways to help you spot it fast, and then what can be done about it. Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…”? In this week's message, Pastor Nate takes us into Psalms 124 and 125 — two pilgrim songs that celebrate God's rescue and the unshakable security of those who trust in Him.In Psalm 124, we see that God isn't just with His people, He's for them. David declares that Israel's survival was not due to their strength or strategy, but to the Lord's saving power. In the same way, our own deliverance from sin, fear, and the spiritual forces that oppose us is entirely because of God's faithful hand.Then in Psalm 125, we ascend higher to the place of steadfast trust. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, the Lord surrounds His people forever. Even when the world feels unstable and evil seems to prevail, God's people can stand firm on Christ, the immovable Rock!

Josh Sommer, Matthew 15:29-31

Josh Sommer, Matthew15:29-31

Let's Play: A Living Transmission from the Source Field “Your soul already knows. This is the remembering.” ✨ Episode Description This week's episode is different. No guests, no interviews — just presence. A channeled Soul Sourcing session — a living transmission of remembrance, coherence, and pure Source energy. Through this field, Sydney opens a portal for you to return to your own knowing — the quiet brilliance that's always been guiding you. You'll feel the subtle attunements, the energetic recalibrations, the reminders of what's real and eternal beneath all the noise. This isn't something to understand — it's something to feel. Listen with your whole body. Breathe. Receive what's meant for you. Every word carries a vibration designed to awaken your clarity, your truth, your next becoming.

Bobby Burton, Gerry Hamilton, and Rod Babers went position by position grading the Longhorns through six games. The verdict: Texas is 4–2, trending up, and starting to look like a complete football team.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, we discuss collaborative play in D&D and TTRPGs. Not just having fun together, but also having systems, rules, guidelines, or other elements that facilitate play and encourage our players to help each other out during play.We discuss The Help Action, what we can do with it, and why you should do more with it. We talk about communication and facilitating an environment where everyone wants to immerse and participate as well as systems that make sure players care for each others characters.Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Pastor Nate continues our fall spiritual growth campaign through the Songs of Ascent with Psalms 122 and 123, reminding us that the Christian life is a pilgrimage that has a pattern we see repeated in these Psalms: Desperation, Dependence, Delight. Desperation because of the sin that permeates this earth, dependence on an all-sufficient God, and delight when we arrive home in His presence! In Psalm 122, King David rejoices to go to the house of the Lord, teaching us that worship is both our destination and our purpose along the way. Worship isn't based on feelings but on truth the truth of who God is. We were created for worship, and every action we take should be a living sacrifice of praise.Then, in Psalm 123, we find ourselves back at the beginning of our pilgrimage, crying out for God's mercy. Like servants looking to their master's hand, we lift our eyes in humility to the Lord. We will see that prayer is not about demanding our way but submitting to His will and trusting His justice.Whether in joy or in trial, the journey continues: from desperation to dependence to delight. So keep walking, and remember, "Further up and further in!" 

Message from Jefferson Tokurah on October 11, 2025

Today, we discuss why we as Game Masters need to be careful with what we say and how we say it at our D&D/ TTRPG Tables. We control the player's eyes, ears, and senses inside the game. They ask questions and expect answers.We talk about Objectivity and Perception and how we can better guide players to make informed decisions, or ask for more information, and how you, as a game master, can do so as well.Our great friends over at Homie and The Dude are currently running their 3rd Successful Kickstarter, The Scorched Basin, a TTRPG Setting inspired by Mad Max and Dune. You can click right here to support the (already funded) Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homieandthedude/scorched-basin?ref=522qn9For our Advertisement of the Scorched Basin, we used 3 different Tracks by Michael Ghelfi:Lively Desert from the RPG Ambience Vol 8Cursed Deser from the RPG Ambience Vol. 6I Dream of Broken Machines from the Mystery Music Collection Vol. 1Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Pastor Gary continues our Ascent series, reminding us that following Jesus is a pilgrimage of the heart—a steady climb toward Christ and our true home in heaven.Drawing from the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–121), Pastor Gary shows that the journey isn't easy. It's the narrow way Jesus spoke of, but the journey is worth it! Like the psalmist of Psalm 120, we must reach a point of wanting to leave the lies of the world and journey to a better place with God. On that pilgrimage, we are reminded by Psalm 121 that our help comes from the Lord, who never sleeps and keeps our steps steady.Even when the path feels steep or lonely, God uses it to reveal His faithfulness and bring us peace that “surpasses understanding.” So keep walking—the Lord is your Keeper, now and forevermore.

Send us a Positive Review!How does one break down the intricacies of the spiritual transformation journey? Although different for each person, there is in fact a common thread that connects every person's onward and upward climb towards their greatest potential consciousness. In today's episode Val and Nathan introduce a way to think about this process using three key metaphors: the ladder of consciousness, the climber navigating between rungs, and the expanding view at higher levels. The episode sets the stage for a deeper exploration into the challenges of transitioning between spiritual stages and paths. Ken Wilber's book "A Brief History of Everything"Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Greetings01:12 Purpose and Focus of the Episode03:02 Transcending and Including: An Overview07:30 The Ladder of Consciousness13:36 The Climber and Critical Periods28:19 The View from Higher Rungs36:50 Challenges and Pathologies in Growth38:25 Conclusion and Next StepsSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie's Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Week 5 is upon us as is our fantasy preview show for the weekend slate. To start the show, Matt Harmon recaps a WILD TNF matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Justin Boone then joins Harmon to breakdown every fantasy angle of Week 5's weekend games. The two tackle Boone's 6-pack of questions and Harmons' 3 games of the week. The two then end the show with our wildly entertaining ‘hurry up offense' segment. (1:00) - Matt's solo TNF recap: 49ers 26, Rams 23(18:45) - Week 5 Preview show(21:15) - Justin Boone's 6-pack of fantasy questions for Week 5(1:18:30) - Matt Harmon's 3 "literally no one's games of the week"(1:32:15) - Hurry Up Offense for Week 5 Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on your favorite podcast app:

Songstats: For 10% off lifetime subscription use the code word "WILLCLARKE" or follow the link https://songstats.com/app?ref=WILLCLARKESign up for the latest podcast info - https://laylo.com/willclarke/uqFWnJKaPodcast Overview: In this conversation, Will Clarke and Teneil discuss the challenges and realities of being an artist in the music industry. They explore the balance between work and personal life, the evolution of their musical identities, and the impact of social media on their careers. They also delve into the pressures of performance, the dynamics of live shows, and the differences between DJing and producing music. Throughout the discussion, they reflect on their journeys of self-discovery and the importance of taking breaks to maintain mental health.Who is HAAi: London-based, Australian-born producer, songwriter and DJ, HAAi is known for her boundary pushing blend of psychedelia, techno and powerful beats. Following the release of her critically acclaimed 2022 album, Baby, We're Ascending, her “career-defining” DJ- Kicks in 2023, and her single Lights Out with Fred again.. and Romy, HAAi has solidified her reputation as one of the most innovative artists in electronic music.Join for updates: https://laylo.com/willclarke⏲ Follow Will Clarke ⏱https://djwillclarke.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OmOdgwIzub8DYPxQYbbbi?si=hEx8GCJAR3mhhhWd_iSuewhttps://www.instagram.com/djwillclarkehttps://www.facebook.com/willclarkedjhttps://twitter.com/djwillclarkehttps://www.tiktok.com/@djwillclarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Thren Monday Evening 9/29/25

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary: This Podcast captures a powerful conversation about spiritual awakening, oneness, and resurrection life. The speakers discuss walking in the spirit, trusting in Jesus Christ, and aligning the mind with divine truth. They emphasize the importance of unity among believers, spiritual growth, and the role of faith in navigating life's challenges. The discussion also highlights the spiritual significance of servitude, exemplified by washing one another's feet, and the call to ascend into the presence of God. Show Notes:  The beginning of a new day and a new spiritual season. Trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Overcoming fear, doubt, and division. Walking in the Spirit and using the mind for spiritual growth. Experiencing Resurrection Life and spiritual ascension. The importance of oneness among believers. Practicing spiritual servitude and unconditional love. Important Quotes:  “Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and He is the one creating us and bringing us forth.” – Ken “The renovation, the fixing of our minds, the utilization of our minds is our responsibility.” – Bill “If we reach up to the higher levels and come into the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in that oneness, he can't touch us.” – Mike “We don't look out for ourselves; we let somebody else look out for us, and we look out for them.” – Ken Scriptural References: John 11:25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and...

In this powerful episode of Ascending with Ashley, Ashley is joined by Dani, aka That Witch Next Door, for a candid conversation about what it really means to be a witch and a healer in today's spiritual landscape. They share honest reflections on integrity, ego, and authenticity within the spiritual and witchcraft communities.If you've ever wondered who gets to call themselves a healer, why so many of us identify as witches, or how to navigate the noise of spiritual TikTok and Instagram, this episode is for you. Ashley and Dani unpack the isolation many spiritual seekers feel, the responsibility that comes with claiming the word witch, and how true healing is rooted in service, not self-importance.You'll hear why the term healer is something to be earned (not just branded), how to spot spiritual ego, and why staying humble, curious, and honest is the most magical thing you can do. In the age of Aquarius, where information and influence move fast, this episode is your reminder to slow down, go inward, and trust your inner witch above all else.------------------------------------------------------------Buffbunny: Code Ashm :https://www.buffbunny.com/?rfsn=8739099.9ffd571up Nutrition: Code ASHM - https://1upnutrition.com/Drips Spa: Code ASHM - https://dripsspa.com/Book a Spiritual Session: https://www.ascendingwithashley.net/soul-sessionsApply to the Ascending With Ashley Transformation Program: https://form.typeform.com/to/NDxw1X0LYoutube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/@ascendingwithashley7Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymichelle_90day/Website: https://www.ascendingwithashley.net/Ascending With Ashley Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JDEFiS8wvGEVA5T1Rvxkt?si=WjthxQ-CQ16EvHLvzUysagFit Chicks Unfiltered Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CTCWllJ6yXfSU2VVDJI9W?si=hvSXDG42Ssm1b5caV0js1QSupport the show

Today we talk to Tom and Bodhi of the Homie and the Dude Content Creation Power Duo that is them, Tom and Bodhi. They are our great TTRPG friends and the first returning returing guests. This time we talk about their TTRPG system agnostic Settingn guide to the Socrched Basin.We discuss what their journey to this point looked like, what they plan for the future and how it is going for them right now. We discuss the TTRPG Roots and the futrue we are heading towards all while disucssing the creativity, work and passion that fuled the Scorched Basin.You can check out Homie and the Dude right here:https://www.homieandthedude.com/https://discord.gg/rCu6H52Nwkhttps://www.youtube.com/c/homieandthedudeThe Scorched Basin, a TTRPG Setting inspired by Mad Max and Dune. You can click right here to support the (already funded) Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homieandthedude/scorched-basin?ref=522qn9For our Advertisement of the Scorched Basin, we used 3 different Tracks by Michael Ghelfi:Lively Desert from the RPG Ambience Vol 8Cursed Deser from the RPG Ambience Vol. 6I Dream of Broken Machines from the Mystery Music Collection Vol. 1Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the depths with legendary astrologer and author Barbara Hand Clow as she returns for a prophetic and multidimensional interview with Emilio Ortiz. In this powerful episode, Barbara unpacks the ancient prophecy of the Kali Yuga's end and how it connects to the final initiation humanity faces in this 12,000-year cycle. Together, they explore underground discoveries beneath the Giza Plateau, massive energetic shifts triggered by the Sun and solar flares, and the deeper meaning behind Earthquakes, sound, sacred geometry, and Pleiadian guidance. This episode is a bridge between the ancient and the galactic, offering insight into dimensional openings, Christ Consciousness, and the real role of technology in spiritual evolution.From subterranean portals to sacred site activations, Barbara shares downloads from her Cherokee lineage and decades of channeling the Pleiadian Agenda. Discover how astrology is entering a golden age, why the Age of Aquarius demands heart coherence, and what humanity must remember before we spiral into a galactic consciousness. If you've ever questioned your purpose, felt the tremors of collective change, or sensed that this era holds something unlike anything before—it's because it does. This is a must-watch for old souls and record keepers of the New Earth.Barbara Hand Clow is an internationally acclaimed astrologer, author, and spiritual teacher known for her groundbreaking work on the Mayan Calendar, galactic astrology, and multidimensional consciousness. Her teachings explore the intersection of astrology, sacred geometry, ancient civilizations, and Earth's evolutionary timeline—helping humanity navigate the current planetary awakening. ___________________PODCAST CHAPTERS00:00 - Barbara Hand Clow Intro3:12 - Ancient Discoveries Beneath the Earth5:00 - Solar Flares, Earthquakes & Global Power Grids7:04 - The Spiritual Significance of the Sun8:45 - Ceremony, Earth Connection & Pleiadian Guidance10:47 - Pleiadian Origins & The Purpose of Beauty14:32 - The Future Fusion of Beauty & Technology17:51 - Wars, Emotional Blocks & Collective Karma21:29 - Astrology's Timeline on Ending War22:39 - Fear, Earthquakes & Clearing Collective Trauma25:22 - Kundalini Activations32:12 - Alchemy of Nine Dimensions34:37 - Sound, Sacred Geometry & Subterranean Technology36:52 - Higher Dimensional Intelligence in Animals38:42 - Fusion of Science & Spirituality40:11 - From Heliocentric to Galactocentric42:08 - Astrology's Golden Age43:47 - How the Pleiadians Are Supporting Us Now46:08 - Slowing Down to Catch Up Spiritually47:52 - Ascending the Spiral Beyond the Kali Yuga52:14 - Gaudí's Divine Architecture & Synchronicities53:21 - Sound & Light in Sacred Design54:47 - The Age of Aquarius & Christ Consciousness55:55 - What Christ Consciousness Represents57:40 - Babies, Divinity & Remembering the Soul58:52 - Will Future Children Stay Awake Spiritually?59:26 - Fertility Crisis & Humanity's Destructive Path59:54 - Wisdom from Barbara's Cherokee Grandfather1:01:42 - Advice for the New Generation of Record Keepers1:03:02 - The Pleiadian Agenda1:08:40 - A Prayer for Future Generations___________________Guest: Barbara Hand Clow ✦ Website | https://handclow2012.com/✦ Alchemy of Nine Dimensions | https://handclow2012.com/alchemy-of-n...✦ All Books by Barbara | https://handclow2012.com/books/✦ Journey Through 9D | https://handclow2012.com/journeys-thr...Host: Emilio Ortiz✦ IG |   / iamemilioortiz  ✦ Subscribe to Channel |    / emilioortiz  ________________© 2025 Emilio Ortiz. All rights reserved. Content from Just Tap In Podcast is protected under copyright law.Legal Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by guests on Just Tap In are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Emilio Ortiz or the Just Tap In Podcast. All content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the battle of Nanjing. As the relentless tide of war approached Nanjing in December 1937, fear gripped its residents. As atrocities unfolded in the countryside, civilians flocked toward safety zones, desperate for refuge. Under the command of General Tang Shengzhi, the Chinese forces prepared for a fierce defense, determined to hold their ground against the technologically superior invaders. Despite heavy losses and internal strife, hopes flickered among the defenders, fueled by the valor of their troops. Key positions like Old Tiger's Cave became battlegrounds, exemplifying the fierce resistance against the Japanese advance. On December 9, as artillery fire enveloped the city, a battle for the Gate of Enlightenment commenced. Both sides suffered grievously, with the Chinese soldiers fighting to the last, unwilling to yield an inch of their soil. Each assault from Japan met with relentless counterattacks, turning Nanjing into a symbol of perseverance amidst impending doom, as the siege marked a critical chapter in the conflict, foreshadowing the brutal events that would follow.   #167 The Battle of Nanjing Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. By mid-December, the landscape surrounding Nanjing was eerily quiet. The Japanese Army marched through what seemed to be desolate fields and mountains, but they were not truly empty. Civilians were scarce, with most having fled, but a few remained in their homes, hiding in cellars and barns, clinging to the hope that the war would bypass them. Meanwhile, thousands of Chinese soldiers, left behind and unable to keep pace with their units, still posed a significant danger to the Japanese forces. The Japanese Army had not truly conquered the territory east and south of Nanjing; they had merely passed through. Mopping-up operations became a top priority. Soldiers from the 16th Infantry Division, stationed near Purple Mountain, spent early December conducting these missions far from the city's walls. “Chinese stragglers may be hiding in this area, and they must be flushed out. Any small structure of no strategic value to the Japanese Army must be burned!” This command rang out to the division's soldiers as they spread across the countryside around Unicorn Gate. Soon, isolated fires began to illuminate the horizon, one for each home. Soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division, who were not directly engaged in combat south of the Gate of Enlightenment, were also conducting similar mopping-up operations. On December 11 at noon, one squad received orders to investigate a suspicious farm building. Although it had been searched previously, movement inside prompted renewed caution. The Japanese entered carefully, moving from room to room. In the basement, they discovered eight Chinese soldiers who offered no resistance, immediately raising their hands in surrender. Bound together, they were brought outside. Using a few Chinese words supplemented by sign language, the Japanese gathered that the Chinese had been in the vicinity where one of their comrades had been killed days earlier. Unanimously, they decided the prisoners should be executed in front of their comrade's grave. Some of the older soldiers hesitated, reluctant to partake in the killings, leaving it to the younger ones to carry out the order. Soon, eight headless bodies lay sprawled before a solitary Japanese grave.  On the morning of December 11, the first soldiers of the 6th Japanese Infantry Division finally spotted the distant city wall of Nanjing. They had been engaged in fierce combat for nearly two days, attempting to dislodge the tenacious defenders of the Yuhuatai plateau, the elite soldiers of the 88th Division. In a desperate bid to maintain their foothold on Yuhuatai, the 88th Division deployed its reserved 528th Regiment along with a battalion of engineers. Despite their efforts, the regiment's ranks had been depleted, filled with inexperienced recruits, and their leadership nearly obliterated, limiting their effectiveness. Under the relentless assaults from the Japanese forces, their defenses began to falter almost immediately. Faced with the stiff resistance at the Gate of Enlightenment, the Japanese shifted their focus to the Chinese Gate on December 11. Japanese aircraft were summoned for tactical air support, forcing the 88th Division's defenders to retreat behind the wall. This withdrawal occurred swiftly and somewhat chaotically, allowing the Japanese to pursue closely. Before the Chinese could regroup, 300 Japanese soldiers had breached the wall. Only the mobilization of all available forces enabled the Chinese to push the attackers back outside. Meanwhile, the left flank of the 88th Division, stationed east of Chinese Gate, remained outside the wall. Here, they clashed with elements of the 9th Japanese Division but faced intense pressure and were compelled to fall back. By the end of the day, the Chinese division had shortened its defensive line, regrouping in front of the city wall. Plans for a nighttime counterattack were ultimately abandoned, as it became clear that the division's soldiers were too fatigued to mount an effective offensive. Overall, it proved to be a successful day for the Japanese 10th Army. Further south, the Kunisaki Detachment successfully crossed the Yangtze River at Cihu village, beginning their advance toward Pukou. Its special amphibious training made the detachment ideally suited for the operation, but its limited numbers, essentially a reinforced infantry regiment, raised concerns at field headquarters about whether it could accomplish the task alone. Prince Asaka proposed transporting part of the 13th Division across the Yangtze further north to sever the railway connecting Tianjin to Pukou, cutting off a potential retreat route for Chinese forces that had escaped Nanjing.  On December 11, Japanese artillery shells rained down relentlessly, targeting both the interior and exterior of Nanjing's city walls. Administrators of the Safety Zone were alarmed to witness several shells landing perilously close to its southern edge. In a bid to provide some semblance of security, American and foreign flags were raised around the zone's perimeter, though their protective influence against artillery fire from miles away was negligible. The leaders of the Safety Zone faced an unexpected dilemma: how to handle lawbreakers with the city courts now out of operation. That day, they encountered a thief caught in the act. As Rabe noted in his diary “We sentence the thief to death, then pardon him and reduce his punishment to 24 hours in jail, and ultimately, due to the absence of a jail, we simply let him go”. Refugees continued to pour in, with a total of 850 having found shelter at Ginling College. Vautrin and her colleagues began to feel that their initial estimate of 2,700 women and children seeking refuge on the campus was overly optimistic. They were soon proven wrong. On the banks of the Yangtze River, hundreds of injured soldiers and civilians were lining up to be ferried across to Pukou, where trains awaited to transport them further inland and away from danger. Many had been waiting for days without food. While ferries made continuous trips across the river to rescue as many as possible, the process was painfully slow. As of late December 10, approximately 1,500 wounded civilians remained stranded on the south bank of the Yangtze. The Japanese forces were confronted by a fiercely determined enemy composed largely of young soldiers from the Training Division. These soldiers had the advantage of having been stationed near Purple Mountain for several years, making them familiar with the terrain. Additionally, they were part of an elite unit, groomed not just in equipment and training but also instilled with a sense of nationalism rooted in Chiang Kai-shek's ideology. Li Xikai, the commander of the division's 3rd Regiment, had set up his command post directly in the path of the primary Japanese advance, yet his regiment continued to resist. Despite the fierce resistance, the Japanese gradually gained control over the Purple Mountain area. General Nakajima Kesago, commander of the 16th Division, visited an artillery observation post early in the day and was pleased to receive reports that his troops had captured two peaks of Purple Mountain and were poised to take the main peak.  Yet there loomed a problem on Nakajima's right flank. A widening gap was emerging between the 16th Division and the 13th Division, which had advanced along the southern bank of the Yangtze. There was a risk that Chinese forces could escape through this lightly guarded area. The 13th Division was stationed in the strategically important river port city of Zhenjiang, preparing to cross the Yangtze. The Central China Area Army ordered the 13th Division to mobilize three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. This new formation, known as the Yamada Detachment after its commander, Yamada Senji, was tasked with remaining on the Yangtze's south bank and advancing westward to capture two Chinese fortresses on the river: Mt. Wulong and Mt. Mufu. This redeployment alleviated concerns about the gap, allowing the 16th Division to focus on the city wall. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, one Captain Akao Junzo prepared for what he believed would be his final assault. He had been ordered to seize a hill northeast of Sun Yat-sen Gate that overlooked the city entrance. His commander told him “The attack on Nanjing will likely be the last battle of this war, and I hope your company can be at the front when the enemy's lines are breached”. The hill was fortified with numerous machine gun positions, reinforced with mud, bricks, and tiles, and connected by an intricate network of trenches. Dense rows of barbed wire lay before the positions, designed to halt attackers and expose them to machine-gun fire. Additionally, the area was likely heavily mined, and Chinese soldiers maintained a high level of alertness. Akao knew this all too well; when he crawled forward and slightly lifted his head to survey the landscape, he triggered a hail of bullets, one of which grazed his helmet. Around late afternoon, four mountain guns from the regimental artillery began firing on the Chinese positions, sustaining the bombardment for over an hour. By 5:00 pm, as the winter sky darkened, Akao decided it was time to launch the attack. Expecting close-quarters combat, he instructed his men to carry only their rifles and small entrenchment tools. With the entire company poised to move, he dispatched a small group of soldiers ahead to cut openings in the barbed wire while receiving covering fire from the mountain guns and the rifles and machine guns of their comrades. The remainder of the company advanced with swords raised and bayonets fixed. As they approached within about 700 feet of the enemy positions, the artillery bombardment ceased as planned. The enemy, still reeling from the ferocity of the earlier assault, scrambled in a panic from their trenches, retreating in disarray. Akao and his fellow soldiers pressed forward, cutting down any opposition in their path. Seizing the momentum, Akao charged to occupy the hill that had been his target. He found it deserted upon his arrival and sent a triumphant message back to command, reporting that the objective had been achieved. However, the reply he received left him baffled: he was ordered to withdraw with his company and return to their lines. Apparently, the regimental command deemed the position too precarious. Sensing that a precious advantage was being squandered, Akao disregarded the order. Before his company could establish a defensive position on the hill, the Chinese launched a counterattack. Lying down, the Japanese soldiers returned fire while frantically digging into the earth to fortify their position. Gradually, they began to form a rudimentary perimeter at the summit. The fighting continued into the night. Exhausted from days without sleep, many soldiers rotated between guard duty and rest, dozing off intermittently in their shallow trenches, reassuring one another that everything would be alright before drifting back to sleep. They successfully repelled all attempts by the Chinese to reclaim the hill and were eventually relieved. On December 11, after leaving his capital, Chiang Kai-shek took time to reflect on everything that had happened in his diary. He reassured himself that his nationalist revolution would persist, regardless of whether he held Nanjing, “Temporary defeat can be turned into eventual victory.” Yet he did not fear so much the Japanese invasion itself, but rather how the weakening of his nationalist government might allow the Communists to rise. He wrote about how his nation was on the brink of becoming a second Spain. While foreign invasions were undoubtedly disastrous, they could eventually be overcome, if not immediately, then over years or decades. Sometimes, this could be achieved merely by absorbing the outmatched invader and assimilating them into Chinese society. In contrast, internal unrest posed a far more fundamental threat to the survival of any regime. As we have seen in this series, going back to the mid 19th century, was it the foreign empires of Britain, France and Russia that threatened to destroy the Qing dynasty, or was it the internal civil war brought on by the Taiping? As Chiang famously put it “the Japanese were a treatable disease of the skin. Communism however was a disease of the heart”. Chiang could accept a humiliating but rapid retreat from Nanjing. In his view, it would be far more difficult to recover from a bloody yet futile struggle for the city that might cost him what remained of his best troops. A prolonged defensive battle, he reasoned, would be a tragic waste and could shift the balance of power decisively in favor of the Communists. This new mindset was reflected in a telegram he sent late on December 11 to Tang Shengzhi: “If the situation becomes untenable, it is permissible to find the opportune moment to retreat to regroup in the rear in anticipation of future counterattacks.” On December 12, tankettes cautiously plunged into the Yuhuatai plateau. Unexpectedly the Chinese defenders abandoned their positions and rushed down the hillside toward Nanjing's walls. Upon discovering this, the Japanese tankettes opened fire on the retreating Chinese, cutting swathes through the masses and sending bodies tumbling down the slope. Some Japanese infantry caught up, joining in the slaughter and laughing boisterously as they reveled in the chaos. A tankette column escorted a group of engineers to the Nanjing wall and then drove east along the moat until they reached a large gate, flanked by two smaller openings, all securely shut. A chilling message, painted in blue, adorned the gate's surface. Written in Chinese characters, it conveyed a stark warning: “We Swear Revenge on the Enemy.” The wall itself loomed three stories high, but Japanese artillery was already targeting it, this was known as the Chinese Gate. Now that Yuhuatai was virtually in Japanese hands, capturing the gate had become the primary objective. At this location, the wall stood 70 feet tall, protected by a 100-foot moat to the outside. All bridges spanning the moat had been destroyed. The area around the gate was heavily defended, with approximately one machine gun positioned every 50 yards atop the wall. Inside, the gate was reinforced with a formidable barrier of sandbags. Chinese infantry armed with mortars and small arms could fire down on the Japanese attackers while others had established isolated positions in nearby buildings that had survived the “scorched earth” policy. Taking the gate and the heavily fortified southwestern corner of the wall was the responsibility of the 6th Division. The division was deploying its regiments: the 13th, the 47th, and the 23rd from east to west. The 45th Regiment, the final unit of the division, was tasked with skirting the western side of the wall and advancing northward, aiming for the Yangtze docks at Xiaguan. The soldiers of the division had already formed a rough understanding of the formidable defenses they were facing. During the night between December 11 and 12, they had advanced nearly to the wall, gathering intelligence to prepare for an assault at dawn. As planned, the assault commenced. Field artillery fired round after round at the gate, but the wall sustained minimal damage. A Japanese tank rolled up, firing point-blank at the gate but producing no visible effect. Next, it was the engineers' turn. A “dare-to-die” squad, equipped with long ladders, crept as close to the wall as possible without exposing themselves and then sprinted the final distance. The moment they broke into the open, a Chinese machine gun opened fire, cutting them down to the last man. At noon, three Japanese planes soared overhead, dropping bombs near a Chinese-held building outside the gate. The smoke from the resulting fire briefly obscured the area. Seizing the opportunity presented by the reduced visibility, a large group of Chinese soldiers holed up inside attempted to dash back to the wall. The Japanese spotted their movement instantly, and every soldier in the line opened fire. The fleeing Chinese were mowed down like ripe grass, collapsing in heaps.  Meanwhile the battle for the Gate of Enlightenment was drawing to a close. On the Chinese side of the wall, confusion reigned regarding the overall situation on December 12. Chen Yiding, brigade commander of the 87th Division, had been warned that heads would roll if the Gate of Enlightenment fell to the Japanese. Hearing the sounds of fierce fighting on the edges of Yuhuatai and seeing the smoke rise from numerous fires on Purple Mountain, he was left in the dark about their implications, surrounded by the fog of war. Chen's troops had finally managed to establish a telephone link to the rear, but by mid-afternoon, it was cut off, likely due to a stray artillery shell. After dark, Chen sent an officer to his left flank to make contact with the Chinese forces there. The report that followed was far from reassuring. A unit from Guangdong Province was abandoning its positions and retreating north, attempting to exit the capital through one of the gates in the city wall. The officer had attempted to inquire about their destination, but the retreating soldiers ignored him. With neighboring units evacuating autonomously, a significant gap was opening in the Chinese line atop the wall between the Gate of Enlightenment and Sun Yat-sen Gate. A frightening possibility emerged: the Japanese could walk right in across the undefended southeastern corner of the city wall and surround Chen Yiding's troops before they had a chance to withdraw. The situation was becoming untenable, a fact underscored by the artillery fire raining down on Chen's position. Despite this, retreat was not a simple decision for Chen and the other commanders of the 87th Division. They had been garrisoned in Nanjing before the war, and the city had become home to many of the soldiers. Shortly after midnight, Chen called a meeting with his senior officers. After considerable discussion, they concluded that they had no choice but to withdraw. Nonetheless, Chen insisted that everyone sign a document confirming their support for this decision, recognizing the potential danger of taking such a significant step without consensus. After all, his own life had been threatened if the situation deteriorated further. Soon after, the Chinese began to move out of their positions. The Japanese were initially unaware of the retreat; all they noticed during the night between December 12 and 13 was that the Chinese artillery fire began to grow increasingly distant. By 4:00 am it had stopped completely. The few remaining Chinese were quickly overwhelmed and killed. In the end, the gate, which had cost so many lives during the seemingly endless battle, was taken almost effortlessly by the Japanese. Soldiers of the 9th Division, stationed outside the wall, scrambled up the slope created by the previous days' shelling. Once at the top, they thrust their hands into the air, shouting “Banzai!” so loudly that they believed their families back home in Japan might hear them. Tears streamed down their faces as soldiers embraced and shook hands, reflecting on the friends they had lost throughout the months of fighting, from Shanghai to their current position. They reassured each other that their sacrifices had been worth it for this very moment. On December 12,  the slopes of Purple Mountain  were ablaze. Zhou Zhenqiang, commander of the Training Division's 1st Brigade, led his men in a desperate struggle to maintain control of the mountain's forested peaks. However, they were being overwhelmed by the better-equipped Japanese troops, and Zhou knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to relinquish his position. Zhou found himself unable to obtain any information from his superiors about the overall situation, despite repeated attempts to contact the Training Division's headquarters. He dispatched a runner, who returned a few hours later with disheartening news: the divisional commander had left late in the afternoon. Other reports indicated a general breakdown in command. The elite 88th Division was in disarray, and an entire division of Guangdong troops, that being the same force that had abandoned the wall near the Gate of Enlightenment, had been spotted marching out of the Gate of Great Peace, seemingly intent on returning home. With indications of collapse all around him, Zhou decided to execute an orderly withdrawal from Purple Mountain, leaving a small contingent behind to cover the retreat. His troops entered through the city wall at Sun Yat-sen Gate and marched in disciplined columns through the streets of Nanjing, where signs of imminent anarchy were evident. Chinese soldiers were scattered everywhere, speaking a cacophony of dialects, yet they appeared to lack any coherent command. Tang Shengzhi's grip on the situation was weakening. Meanwhile Japan's 13th Air Group had been busy with the final stages of the battle for Nanjing.  In the morning of December 12, after raiding Chinese positions at Sun Yat-sen Gate, they  received new orders. Intelligence indicated that Chinese ships, laden with troops, were moving up the Yangtze from Nanjing. Japanese infantry on the ground could only watch as this prize slipped through their fingers, and the army requested air support. All available planes at Changzhou, a mix of A4N fighters and Yokosuka B4Y bombers, totaling 24 aircraft, were assembled for the crucial mission. The day was clear, providing excellent visibility as the pilots headed toward the section of the Yangtze where they believed the vessels would be, based on reasonable assumptions about their speed. At 1:30 p.m., 28 nautical miles upriver from Nanjing, the pilots sighted four ships. Trusting their military intelligence, they saw no need for further identification. Initially, the B4Ys bombed the vessels from a considerable height. One bomb struck the lead ship, a military vessel, disabling its forward gun and snapping the foremast. Then, a first wave of six A4Ns dove down over the line of ships, attacking individually. In total, they dropped about 20 bombs. Several exploded close enough to the lead vessel to damage its hull and injure crew members on deck. A 30-caliber machine gun on board was manned, with gunners stripped to the waist firing at the Japanese planes but failing to score a hit. Several of the A4Ns strafed the ship with machine-gun fire. After 20 minutes of sustained bombing and strafing, the result was utter devastation. The lead vessel was stuck in mid-river, riddled with bullets, aflame, and listing to starboard. Two other ships were beached on the right bank, while another sat stranded on the left. Satisfied with their mission, the Japanese aviators broke off and returned to their temporary base. Upon their landing in Changzhou, instead of receiving accolades, the pilots were met with reprimands. Why hadn't they sunk all the vessels? They were ordered to return immediately to finish the job. Though they didn't find the original targets, they stumbled upon four other vessels closer to Nanjing. One aircraft dove toward the ships, releasing a 60-kilogram bomb that struck one vessel. As the pilot pulled up, he caught sight of the Union Jack on the hull and realized his mistake; he had inadvertently targeted neutral ships. The other pilots recognized the significance of the markings as well and withheld their bombs. The vessel was identified as the SS Wantung. Soon after, the Japanese pilots understood that the ships they had attacked earlier upriver from Nanjing were also Western; three of them were Standard Oil tankers. The last vessel, which had sustained the most damage, was the USS Panay, a lightly armed flat-bottomed gunboat,  tasked with protecting American lives and property along China's longest river. The Panay had been instrumental in evacuating American citizens from the war zone in November and December. On the day it was attacked, the Panay was carrying four American embassy personnel and ten American and foreign journalists to safety. The ship's doctor converted the engine room into a makeshift sick bay, treating a steady stream of injured personnel. By the end, he was tending to 45 patients. The soldiers and passengers were evacuated in two small boats to a nearby marshy island covered in reeds, where they hid, fearful of further strafing. From their hiding place, they watched as a Japanese powerboat filled with soldiers approached the Panay. After firing more volleys at the vessel, the soldiers boarded it, remaining for only five minutes before departing. The American flag still flew from the bow at that time. At 3:54 pm, the Panay rolled over to starboard and sank in seven to ten fathoms of water. Cold and frightened, the survivors waded through knee-deep mud to a nearby village, assisting those too severely wounded to walk.  Meanwhile back at Chinese Gate, the mutual slaughter continued into the afternoon of December 12. The Japanese made no significant progress, although their failure was not for lack of trying. The commanders of the 6th Division had strategically placed the boundary between the 13th and 47th Regiments exactly at the gate, encouraging both units to compete to be the first to seize the position. Yet, despite their efforts, it became clear that willpower alone was not enough to breach the Chinese defenses at Chinese Gate. In peacetime, Nanjing's city gates served as entry points into a bustling capital, but in wartime, they transformed into heavily fortified and nearly impregnable strongholds. Any Japanese officer hoping for a swift victory would soon be disappointed; by early afternoon, the situation at the gate had devolved into a stalemate. The section of the wall manned by the 47th Infantry Regiment, located east of the gate, also saw little meaningful movement as the day wore on. Japanese soldiers, pinned down by Chinese fire from atop the wall, could do little more than take pride in a symbolic triumph. A small group of soldiers had managed to reach the wall and place a ladder against it, but it fell nearly ten feet short of the top. One soldier skillfully scaled the last portion, gripping protruding bricks and crevices of the nearly vertical surface. The entire Japanese front watched him with bated breath. He reached the top and unfurled a Japanese flag, but it immediately drew intense Chinese fire, forcing him to duck for cover. Soon, he vanished from sight, raising concerns among his compatriots about his fate. Later, it was revealed that he had taken refuge in a depression in the wall, waiting out the battle. The real breakthrough of the day would occur west of the gate. The 23rd Regiment was deployed there with orders to capture sections of the wall near the southwestern corner. It became evident that the wall could not be scaled without first bringing up artillery to create gaps in its solid masonry. A significant portion of the divisional fire support, 36 small-caliber mountain guns, four 100mm howitzers, and four 150mm howitzers, was assigned to this section. Artillery observers were also sent to the 23rd Regiment's forward command post to coordinate with the infantry and assess the effects of the shelling. By mid-afternoon, the artillery bombardment had created a ravine-like hole in the wall large enough for an assault. The 23rd Regiment positioned its 2nd and 3rd Battalions at the front, with the 1st Battalion held in reserve. First, the engineers undertook the challenging task. As the assault commenced, the rest of the regiment provided covering fire to force the Chinese defenders to seek shelter while the engineers charged into the 70-foot-wide moat. Once a human chain formed, they held up ladders as a makeshift bridge, allowing a company from the 3rd Battalion to rush across and into the gap in the wall. As the batteries switched to close infantry support, they laid down a barrage around the breach to prevent Chinese interference as the attack entered its decisive phase. The Japanese soldiers scrambled up the rubble, created by the artillery fire, which rose several dozen feet high. Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the Japanese seized control of the southwestern segment of the wall. The Chinese launched several counterattacks to reclaim the position, but none were successful. This action ultimately sealed Nanjing's fate; beyond the wall, there was nothing left to save the ancient city and its inhabitants. As defeat appeared imminent, more and more civilians sought safety in foreign-controlled areas, though danger still loomed large. Bits of shrapnel narrowly missed Dr. Robert Wilson while he operated in the Safety Zone. Every square foot of John Rabe's property became filled with families, many camping in the open with their own blankets. Some sought refuge under his large swastika flag, believing that this would make the area especially “bomb-proof” given the growing friendship between Tokyo and Berlin; they assumed Japanese aviators would think twice before targeting a region seemingly under German protection. With just hours left before the Japanese Army was expected to gain control, the residents of Nanjing made their last preparations, prioritizing personal survival. The brutal behavior of Japanese troops in conquered territories fueled intense concern over the possible fate of injured soldiers who might fall into enemy hands. As Nanjing's last hours as a free city unfolded, it became imperative for local hospitals to evacuate as many wounded soldiers as possible across the Yangtze. On December 12, doctors found a motorboat stranded on the riverbank, having apparently broken down. They managed to repair it and ferried several hundred patients to safety throughout the day. Throughout December 12, the citizens of Nanjing were subjected to the unsettling cacophony of heavy shelling, mixed with the roar of bombers overhead. By evening, the entire horizon south of the city glowed with flames. The sound of fighting emanated from all directions, continuing long after sunset. However, in the middle of the night, activity began to wan. Every few minutes, the muffled thuds of shells could still be heard, though their origin was unclear. For the most part, an eerie silence prevailed, as if the city was holding its breath in anticipation of the final onslaught. Chiang Kai-shek had indicated he would understand if Tang chose to abandon the capital. However, on December 12, he reversed his stance, sending a telegram to Tang expressing optimism that the Nanjing garrison could hold out significantly longer. In his words “If you do not shy away from sacrifices, you will be able to hold high the banner of our nation and our army, and this could transform defeat into victory. If you can hold out one more day, you will add to the pride of the Chinese nation. If you can hold out for half a month or more, the domestic and international situation could see a substantial change.” Tang adopted a hardline approach toward any signs of defeatism among his troops. When he learned that General Sun Yuanliang, commander of the formerly elite 88th Division, was leading approximately 2,000 men from the Gate of Enlightenment to the dock area, Tang acted swiftly. He dispatched Song Xilian, the commanding general of the 36th Division, to halt the retreat. When the two units met, a fratricidal clash nearly occurred. Fortunately, the 88th Division agreed to return to the gate and continue fighting. Whatever Tang's plans, they were rendered irrelevant at 3:00 pm,  when he received another telegram from Chiang, this time ordering a full retreat. Rumors that the Chinese Army had started evacuating Nanjing triggerec panic among many units. Thousands abandoned their positions and joined the throngs of soldiers and civilians moving slowly down the city's main avenues. The crowd seemed to have collectively decided that getting a boat out of Nanjing was the best option, and by late afternoon, a solid mass of humanity stretched for miles through the city toward the dock areas at Xiaguan. To reach Xiaguan, everyone had to pass through Yijiang Gate. This relatively modern structure had served as the main entry point for visitors arriving in Nanjing by boat in recent decades and now only half of the main entrance was open. A crowd of that size trying to get through such a narrow bottleneck was a recipe for disaster. Those unfortunate enough to be right at the front felt the crushing pressure of tens of thousands of individuals pushing from behind. In that densely packed throng, stumbling and falling to the ground was akin to a death sentence; anyone who went down was inevitably crushed by the oncoming waves of terrified civilians and soldiers. As chaos erupted, discipline evaporated entirely. Officers lost control over their men, leading to infighting among the soldiers. Pushing and shoving escalated into fistfights, and trucks drove directly into the mass of people to force their way through. Tanks, emitting sounds akin to prehistoric beasts, rolled through the mob, crushing many under their weight. Amid the madness, some soldiers, driven by frustration over the lack of movement, began shooting into the crowd at random. To relieve the pressure at Yijiang Gate, some units were ordered to exit Nanjing via the Gate of Great Peace at the northeastern corner of the city wall. Upon arrival, they found the entrance nearly sealed shut. Thick walls of sandbags had been erected around it, leaving only a narrow opening through which one person could pass at a time. Massive crowds fought among themselves to get through; even under perfect order and discipline, it would have taken the entire night and most of the following day for everyone to pass. In the midst of the frantic chaos, it could take a week or more. During the night of the 12th, a select group of Japanese soldiers, chosen for the offensive, stripped their equipment down to the bare essentials: rifles, bayonets, and helmets. They avoided any gear that could produce a metallic noise, alerting the Chinese defenders to their approach. Stealthily, they moved up to the wall, carrying bamboo ladders tied together in threes for added height. Ascending the rungs, they ensured not to make a sound that could betray their position to an alert Chinese sentry. Everything hinged on remaining undetected; even a couple of hand grenades tossed down the wall could halt the attack in its tracks. Reaching the top without being noticed, the soldiers quickly fanned out. Chinese soldiers stationed on the wall saw the swift dark figures and opened fire, but it was too late to thwart the assault. A brief fight ensued; most Japanese soldiers were too close to use their rifles and immediately resorted to their bayonets. The stunned defenders were pushed back, and the successful assault team established a perimeter, awaiting reinforcements from outside the wall. They didn't have to wait long. A massive assault along the length of the 6th Division's front line commenced at dawn on December 13. Japanese artillery concentrated its fire on a narrow section of the city wall, progressively working its way from the bottom up. Gradually, the shells formed a slope of debris that soldiers could use to scale the wall. A short air raid was executed, and after the planes had weakened the remaining resistance, a group of soldiers rushed up the slope. While their comrades provided covering fire, they climbed the last stretch, rolling down a rope ladder. Within minutes, 40 other Japanese soldiers had joined them. By 10:30 am, the Rising Sun flag was flying over the wall. The Japanese invaders were met with a horrific sight at the top of the wall. Beyond lay the grim aftermath of days of shelling. Some houses were leveled, while others burned. The ground was littered with bodies, some decapitated or disemboweled, and pools of blood surrounded them. As Chiang Kai-shek's order to abandon the city gradually filtered down to the troops manning the wall around Nanjing, things began to move rapidly.  By late morning on December 13, all the major entry points into the city had fallen to the Japanese. These included Chinese Gate in the southwest, the Gate of Enlightenment in the south, and Sun Yat-sen Gate in the east. The first thing that struck the Japanese soldiers upon ascending the wall was how starkly different it was from their expectations. They had anticipated a bustling city teeming with people, but instead, the area adjacent to the wall was characterized by farm plots, resembling countryside more than an urban center. The second notable observation was the complete absence of inhabitants. Cautiously, the Japanese soldiers entered the city they had just conquered, their bayonets fixed and rifles at the ready. Yet, surprisingly, very few shots were fired. After weeks of fearing death and injury, once the immediate danger receded, a certain stupor settled in. For most civilians in Nanjing, their initial encounter with the city's new rulers was uneventful. It took several hours for the Japanese to move from the wall into the urban parts of the capital. It was not until around noon that residents noticed the first groups of Japanese soldiers marching down the streets in clusters of six to twelve men. Initially, many met the conquerors with relief, hoping they would be treated fairly. Their optimism was bolstered by Japanese planes dropping leaflets over the city, reassuring residents of humane treatment. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On December 9, fierce battles erupted, especially at the Gate of Enlightenment. Despite heavy fighting, the Chinese showed remarkable resilience, turning Nanjing into a symbol of determination. However, the tide shifted as overwhelming Japanese artillery and tactics began to breach defenses. By December 13, as chaos engulfed the city, the invaders claimed victory, but not without significant loss. Civilians, caught amid the destruction, clung to hope amid despair.

In today's episode, we discuss Crafting Systems in TTRPGs, D&D especially, and why... they just don't work... or at least why they don't really work well. We discuss what it means to add crafting to D&D and what you would need to do to make it fun.We discuss it in proxy for all other TTRPG Systems too, and often come to the conclusion that crafting needs to either be a crucial mechanic to the game or just an afterthought to round your game off, and then it's often just not discussed cause it doesn't influence the game. Our great friends over at Homie and The Dude are currently running their 3rd Successful Kickstarter, The Scorched Basin, a TTRPG Setting inspired by Mad Max and Dune. You can click right here to support the (already funded) Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homieandthedude/scorched-basin?ref=522qn9For our Advertisement of the Scorched Basin, we used 3 different Tracks by Michael Ghelfi: Lively Desert from the RPG Ambience Vol 8Cursed Deser from the RPG Ambience Vol. 6I Dream of Broken Machines from the Mystery Music Collection Vol. 1Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We decided to wait for a full FOOTBALL WEEKEND before we came at you with a freshly sliced Hoagie Mouth, folks. And what a weekend it was! It was NOT the start to the Cowboys showdown that we all expected. But dammit Dak got under JC's skin and all hell broke loose....or at least some spit. Season ending injury for BVS, some cracked ribs for Will Shipley...and here comes the TANK for some relief. But really, it's QB1 who made all the right decisions and played about as perfect a game as could be expected. If only we hadn't lost our COOL in the beginning, the vibes woulda been off the charts. Can't wait for the next meeting at JerryWorld.NEXT - the super HOT Phillies who have completely erased - and rocketed past - the Mets mini surge which threatened the NL East crown race. But after the latest series at CBP, it looks like we can almost count that out...7 games is the magic number to lock up the division. Next up - the #1 seed. Philly Rob gets some real credit for getting the most out of these players (Bader! Marsh! Even a post-benching Casty!), and that starting pitching lineup is cruising into post season form. October can't get here soon enough.Email: hoagiemouthpod@gmail.comIG: @hoagiemouthpod

Today we talk about Game Mastering, what a surprise, and a special way of Game Mastering, that we dubbed "All Paths Lead to Rome" wherein gamemasters lead their players to the right outcome all the time and make sure they arrive there together.This provides some problems if done excessively, in moderation, this is not bad practice, but if done too much, it can quickly lead to a stale game where creativity is stifled, so how do we stop ourselves from GMing like that?Check here for all further information:You can find us on the Web under these Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.doubledm.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/doubledm.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/doubledmpod/?hl=de⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/doubledm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you want to reach out to us via E-Mail use: doubledmpod@gmail.comOur Midroll Music is "Midnight Tale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Outro Music is "Ascending the Vale" Kevin MacLeod (imcompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a bit of a lot this September…

Psalms 134 From the Psalms of Ascent, Ascending with Christ. Sermon Notes & Liturgy Summer Reading Guide Christ City Church, Dallas, Texas August 31st, 2025

Today we welcome Sara Abernethy, a performer-turned-hospitalitarian who's navigating the challenges of burnout, motherhood, and partnership struggles.This conversation isn't just about business; it's about what happens behind the scenes. Sara gets candid about the identity shifts of being in the wrong role, the toll it takes when business and marriage collide, and the resilience it requires to step back, reimagine, and pursue joy again.If you've ever questioned whether the version of success you built is actually what you want, this episode gives you both the permission and the perspective to redefine it.In this episode, you'll learn about:Sara's journey from opera singer to restaurant owner and what it taught her about roles and identity.The painful reality of outgrowing a version of success you once chased.Why chasing "hard" as an entrepreneur can mask the ahas you need to hear.The surprising role that motherhood played in her "midlife awakening."Sara's rock-bottom moment and the powerful practice of asking, "What are we tolerating?"A step-by-step guide to "The Work" by Byron Katie, and how it helped Sara process resentment and find clarity in her relationship.How to pursue joy and delight in "tiny morsels" of your everyday life.The simple daily mantra that can help you find a sense of peace and pride in yourself.Episode Timestamps:00:00:00 – Acknowledging that the life you built might not be what you want.00:02:00 – Sara's journey: from performer to hospitalitarian and entrepreneurship.00:05:00 – The identity shift from restaurant operator to CEO and the challenges it created.00:09:00 – Hitting a breaking point and feeling like a "huge failure."00:10:00 – How motherhood provided a necessary pause and led to an important realization.00:15:00 – The struggle of constant ideas and discerning between joy and survival.00:18:00 – A rock-bottom moment with her husband and facing the potential "fork in the road."00:22:00 – Processing resentment and using "The Work" to find a path forward.00:25:00 – Ascending to "founder land" and embracing the pursuit of joy.00:27:00 – The power of "her seat at the table" and the vulnerability of shared stories.00:36:00 – A final message: Why not everything you do has to be productive.00:38:00 – What Sara is most proud of in this season of her life.About Sara Abernethy:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.abernethy/ Podcast: Her Seat at the Table (https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgHmPRjR3Nu8a4NcBdRR1) Holiday Caroling Group, Sleigh Bells: https://www.instagram.com/sleighbellesnc/?hl=enLocal to North Carolina? Visit Sara's Restaurants: Wye Hill Kitchen and Brewing & Glasshouse KitchenFor Real on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrealwithmegan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForRealPodcastHosted by Megan Gillikin, For Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Walk West.