Podcast appearances and mentions of asia minor

These African Christians suffered during the persecution of the Church by the emperor Decius, during which a great many Christians denied the faith rather than suffer. These faithful few boldly upheld the Faith and, after many torments, were condemned to death by beheading. The went to their execution singing psalms and hymns of thanksgiving, and received the crown of martyrdom in 250.   In the early centuries of the Church, North Africa, especially the region of Carthage, was one of the centers of the Christian Faith, comparable to Asia Minor.

Sometime around eight to nine thousand years ago, ancient people in Asia Minor found a very dull grey metal that turned out to be easy to manipulate when it was heated. For thousands of years, it was used for a variety of purposes, including as a food additive.  4 With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, even more uses were found for this unique metal.  However, by the 20th century, scientists realized that maybe this stuff wasn't really so good for us.  Learn more about lead, how it has been used throughout history, and how our perception of it has changed on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info  Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYTHING to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pastor Neil will continue the Letters to the Church Sermon Series with the next message titled: "The Lukewarm Church" from Revelation 3:14-17 The next letter we will look at - is the letter to the church of Laodicea. The letter to the church at Laodicea is the harshest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor. By His indictment of their “deeds” (Revelation 3:15), Jesus makes it clear that this church is dying, if not already dead. Outwardly, they seemed to be flourishing. The members of this church saw themselves as “rich” and self-sufficient, but the Lord saw them as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (verse 17). Their lukewarm, indifferent faith led to half-hearted service. The lukewarm are those who claim to know God but live as though He doesn't exist. They go to church and practice a form of religion, but their inner state is one of complacency. Are we living according to our faith, or has our fervor cooled to the point of being tepid? “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves”. It's possible for believers to be indifferent, lazy, or unmotivated. And it's possible for unbelievers to pretend to be religious and call themselves a “church.” We must never allow ourselves to get to this point and we must heed the warning Jesus gave the church of Laodicea. What was that warning? Listen to find out!

In this episode of Crackers and Grape Juice, Teer checks in with Jason and Todd to reflect on their recent pilgrimage to Turkey (Asia Minor) with Brian Zahnd. They discuss the reasons for the pilgrimage, the historical and theological significance of Asia Minor as the birthplace of Christianity, and how these experiences deepened their faith. The conversation explores the rich history of early Christian sites, the importance of understanding the origins of Christian creeds, and the differences between Eastern and Western Christian traditions. They also share personal insights and observations, such as the absence of crucifixion imagery in Orthodox churches and the challenging terrain early Christians had to navigate. The discussion underscores the value of pilgrimages in connecting modern believers with the broader, ancient Christian community and the complexities of balancing religious and secular life.Find Crackers and Grape Juice on Instagram, Facebook, and Substack.

In this Bible study, we focus on Revelation 3.14-22. This is a message from Jesus to the church of Laodicea. Laodicea was one of seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day western Turkey) to which Jesus had the Apostle John write a letter. The church in Laodicea thought they were rich and successful, when in God's eyes, they were weak and spiritually useless. Laodicea was judging itself on the world's standard, not God's. Join us as we dig deep and learn how this applies to us today.OUTLINE:03:06 - Huntersfield Retreat Center - https://www.huntersfieldny.com/03:38 - Outline05:44 - Background on Revelation and the island of Patmos. Rev 1.1-3 & 9-20 12:52 - Background on the letters to the seven churchesThe seven churches were in Asia Minor, all in the vicinity of Ephesus. (present-day western Turkey). Rev 2.114:47 - WORD STUDY: “Angel” - angelos ἄγγελος (Greek). A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, a messenger from God.16:45 - Read Revelation 3.14-2218:22 - Verse by Verse break down and expository study of the context for the church in Laodicea in its day.18:22 - Rev 3.14 - “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.”19:17 - WORD STUDY: The Almighty - Pantokratōr - Παντοκράτωρ - he who holds sway over all things; the almighty.20:02 - Rev 3.15 - “I know your deeds…”20:35 - Rev 3.15 - “...you are neither cold nor hot”24:16 - Rev 3.16 - “so because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth” - AMP: ‘So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].24:50 - Rev 3.17 - “you say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' 25:04 - Background on the city of Laodicea 27:37 - Rev 3.17 “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”29:37 - Rev 3.18 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”29:58 - What is the refiner's fire? John 6.2733.44 - Closing 4 verses: 4 special statements (An explanation, an exhortation, an invitation, an Assertion)34:05 - Rev 3.19a - An Explanation, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Pro 3.11-12. God allows trials to shape us into who he wants us to become35:24 - Rev 3.19b - An Exhortation - “Be earnest and repent.” Repent of pride, humble yourself before the Lord. Three commands for Laodieca: Buy from me gold refined in the fire; Be earnest; and Repent37:01 - Rev 3.20 - An Invitation - Open the door, invite Jesus into your life.39:11 - Rev 3.21-22 - An Assertion. 41:09 - Applications for us today.41:22 - An Explanation - How do you measure the success of your life?43:38 - An Exhortation - Value yourself based on how God sees you. 44:04 - What is propitiation? How does God value us? 1 John 4.9-1045:06 - An Invitation - OPEN THE DOOR. John 15.548:20 - An Assertion - Rely on the Lord as your strength, and he will be ever present (Psalm 46). Empty yourself of your self and out of your weakness, seek the Lord's hel,p and His power will be made perfect in you (2 Cor 12.9-10).Support Iron Sheep Ministries: https://Ironsheep.org/donateListen to the podcast: https://anchor.fm/ironsheepContact Dave & the ISM team: info@ironsheep.orgBe notified of each new teaching, join the email list: http://eepurl.com/g-2zAD

Paul's first missionary journey is underway and we see how persistence in this labor is necessary as the spread of the gospel will always result in resistance. Here we follow Paul and Barnabas further along in their first journey into the Gentile world of Asia Minor.

The church at Ephesus resisted false teaching, and Smyrna endured persecution. Believers at Pergamum battled both fronts. Twice Jesus acknowledges Satan's throne and presence in their midst (the only city where Satan is said to have his throne!). Pergamum was the first city in Asia Minor to build a temple for emperor worship, boasting of itself as a “temple-warden.” As such, it became a leading center for this idolatrous practice. Pergamum was also a center for the cult of Asclepius, the god of healing whose symbol was a serpent. Furthermore, Pergamum had various pagan temples, including one in the form of the throne of Zeus, the father of the gods. Satan's evil workings led to Antipas's martyrdom, yet Jesus commends believers there for holding fast to His name and not denying the faith. Satan has also been sowing seeds of false doctrine among them, for some are guilty of harboring/condoning Nicolaitan heresy (sexual and spiritual immorality). Jesus calls His church to repent, lest He wield His sharp two-edged sword against them. Believers who conquer in faith receive hidden manna (to be consumed at the marriage feast of the Lamb - 19:9) and a white stone with a new name written upon it. White stones were given to victors at games as entrance passes to a great banquet, as well as by jurors at trials to vote for acquittal. Both gifts suggest different types of eternal blessing and reward.

Welcome back to the podcast! Life's storms are inevitable, but they are never without purpose. In Acts 27-28, Paul faces a brutal shipwreck, yet through it all, God positions him for greater influence and impact. Join us today as we finish our series on the book of Acts!--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --The Sovereignty of God in the Storms of LifeToday, we conclude our study of the book of Acts by returning to the verse that set the foundation for the entire book:Acts 1:8 (NLT) – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Throughout Acts, we've seen this mission unfold. The book began with Peter as the central figure, but in the second half, Paul took the lead. However, the real main character of Acts is not Peter or Paul—it's the Holy Spirit, guiding and empowering believers.As we study Acts 27-28, we encounter one of the most famous shipwreck stories in history. More than just an adventure, it teaches us powerful lessons about trusting God in life's storms. We will uncover three key truths that remind us of God's sovereignty, even in the fiercest trials.1. Storms Can Come Even in the Center of God's WillActs 27:1 (NLT) – “When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment.”Paul's journey to Rome, described in Acts 27-28, is sometimes called his fourth missionary journey, though he was technically a prisoner under Roman custody. His earlier missionary journeys had taken him across the Mediterranean world:First Journey (Acts 13–14): Paul and Barnabas traveled through Cyprus and Asia Minor.Second Journey (Acts 15:36–18:22): Paul extended his mission into Greece.Third Journey (Acts 18:23–21:17): Paul revisited churches and had an extended stay in Ephesus before heading to Jerusalem, where he was arrested.Now, on his way to stand trial before Caesar, Paul encounters a storm unlike any before.Acts 27:20 (NLT) – “The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.”This moment reminds us that following Christ does not guarantee an easy journey. In fact, trials often come even when we are in the...

After addressing the 7 churches in Asia Minor, John is given a vision of the throne room of God where we are oriented to the true reality of God's rule and reign over all the earth.

"Theophylact was from the east; his native city is unknown. In Constantinople he became a close friend of Tarasius, who afterwards became Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25). Theophylact was made Bishop of Nicomedia. After the death of Saint Tarasius, his successor Nicephorus (see June 2) called together a number of Bishops to help him in fighting the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who reigned from 813 to 820. Among them was Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis (celebrated Dec. 26), who had attended the holy Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 — he was exiled three times for the sake of the holy icons, and for defying the Emperor Theophilus' command to renounce the veneration of the icons, was scourged from head to foot until his whole body was one great wound, from which he died eight days later, about the year 830; Joseph of Thessalonica (see July 14); Michael of Synnada (see May 23); Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus (see Aug. 8); and Saint Theophylact, who boldly rebuked Leo to his face, telling him that because he despised the long-suffering of God, utter destruction was about to overtake him, and there would be none to deliver him. For this, Theophylact was exiled to the fortress of Strobilus in Karia of Asia Minor, where after 30 years of imprisonment and hardship, he gave up his holy soul about the year 845. Leo the Armenian, according to the Saint's prophecy, was slain in church on the eve of our Lord's Nativity, in 820." (Great Horologion)

Backstory to Revelation   John has been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his ministry for Jesus for serving and preaching. He had been living in Ephesus and overseeing several of the churches of western Asia Minor. The Christians within these churches are struggling to be faithful to Jesus as suspicion and hostility towards them increases.  While on Patmos, John receives a series of visions which he is instructed to write down and deliver to the churches of Asia. That becomes the book of Revelation and the message of Revelation is intended to strengthen the faith and faithfulness of the churches.   BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Daily Dose of Hope March 2, 2025 Day 1 of Week 49   Scripture: Esther 7-10; Revelation 3   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are in week 49 of 52!  Good job, everyone.  We have almost read the whole Bible in a year.    Today, our Old Testament reading is finishing the book of Esther.  Let's start with chapter 7.  Esther was risking her life by approaching the king and she has no idea how the king will react. We know from previous chapters that he is prone to rash, angry decisions. First, the king does not know that she is a Jew. Second, Esther doesn't know if the king will choose her over Haman, his trusted advisor. If the king chooses to side with Haman, then Esther and her people will be killed.   But she must have courage and take the risk–the stakes are too high. God calls all of us to take risks. Let's hope our risks aren't quite as scary as Esther's but they might be! The reality is that the Christian walk was never intended to be comfortable and easy. The Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to take risks: go talk to that person, volunteer for that organization, reach out to that neighbor, offer to pray with that person over there, give money here...you get the idea. The big question is are we listening and are we obeying?   Back to the Scripture...Esther again puts herself out there, asking the king one more difficult thing. The king had decreed that all Jews would be eliminated. Thus, another edict must be made that superseded the previous one. Esther knows this so she pleads with the king to overrule the horrible decree made by Haman so her people could be saved. The king basically allows Esther and Mordecai to create the new decree themselves and hands over his signet ring so they can seal it on behalf of the king. The new decree was strong. It guaranteed that the Jewish people could protect themselves, giving them the right to annihilate and plunder any group who tried to conquer or harm them. It even designated a specific date on which the Jews could attack their enemies.   In chapter 8, we read about Mordecai. He has the privilege of delivering the news of the new decree to the Jewish people. By this point, the roles have been totally reversed for Mordecai. No longer does he need to sit by the king's gate in ash cloth. No longer does he need to worry about his life or the fate of his people. He is the victor, but only because a young queen was willing to do the right thing and risk it all for the sake of her people. What is God calling you to do right now? What excuses are you making? How does this text inspire you to step out in faith?   As mentioned, the new decree, written by Esther and Mordecai, allowed the Jewish people a specific day on which to attack their enemies, the 13th of the Jewish month Adar. As you read through chapter 9, you find that is exactly what occurred. The Jewish men assembled and killed thousands of their enemies. Then, on the following day, they rested and feasted.   This was the beginning of an annual celebration for the Jews called Purim. Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his evil scheme. Purim is still celebrated among devout Jews. On the eve of Purim, they read the book of Esther and then do so again on the following day. There is also much gift-giving. They are to send monetary gifts to at least two poor people and then two food gifts to at least one other person. There is also much feasting and celebrating.   I have to admit when I first read about this, it sounded a bit gory. Are they really celebrating the death of all those people? But I had to reframe it. The Jews had been oppressed. They had received a death sentence. And then, they were freed from it. They had the ability to protect their families. They knew God was with them. This was worthy of celebration.   Let's move to the final chapter in Esther.  Not unlike Joseph in an earlier Old Testament text, Mordecai moves from lowly and close to death to the king's right-hand man. While God isn't explicitly mentioned, we know that God acted extraordinarily to orchestrate the events of this story.   Today's chapter was short but it gave me pause to reflect on the book of Esther as a whole. What can we learn from this book? ·If you are a Christ-follower, God has a purpose for your life. You exist to love and glorify God AND to demonstrate his love and goodness to the world. •God didn't make a mistake where he has you today. God put Esther exactly where he needed and wanted her to be. God has you where you need to be as well. How might God want to use you right now? •Sometimes, living into your purpose means making big, difficult decisions but it is often lived out in the small, everyday decisions of life.   Our New Testament text is Revelation 3. Here, John continues to proclaim the visions that Jesus has given him about the churches. Chapter 2 focused on Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. This chapter addresses the rest of the churches of Asia Minor, including Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Since we focused on the structure and flow of the letters on Thursday, I wanted to highlight the message to one particular church today–Laodicea.   I think it is incredibly important for all of us who are part of the American church. Laodicea was a very wealthy city. It was on a main trade route and it had several prosperous industries. It was known for its banking. It was also known for a black dye that it produced which was used to make black wool, quite a luxurious commodity in those days. It also had a respected medical school which developed an eye medicine that was quite sought after. But despite its wealth, the one really big problem that Laodicea had was lack of a water supply. Its northern neighbor, Hierapolis, had these amazing hot springs. It's other close neighbor, Colossae, to the east, had a lovely refreshing cold water supply. As a result, Laodicea built an elaborate system to pipe the water from both those places into their city. But by the time it got there, it was not hot, nor cold, but simply lukewarm. Jesus has harsher words for Laodicea than any of the other churches. He says that just like their water, they are lukewarm! Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is useless. They are spiritually lukewarm; they are spiritually useless.   The thing is that they looked good on the outside. They went through all the motions. They worshiped, read Scripture, and sang hymns. But it was phony piety. Their hearts were far from God. There was no passion for Jesus. And they didn't even realize this. In fact, because of their wealth and prosperity, they thought they were doing quite well. Largely sheltered from the persecution that other Christian communities in the area experienced, they were free to do as they pleased.   And what they were doing was not pleasing to God. They were self-reliant, complacent, lazy, and passionless. Not good traits for a church. But despite their spiritual mess, Jesus loves them and still yearns for them. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for them to answer it. He wants a real relationship with them. He wants them to be passionate for his love.   Think about the American church. Think about our church for that matter. Are we lukewarm? Do we resemble Laodicea. In which ways? I'm not saying this to be critical but because I'm convicted. Do we serve God with passion? Are we simply going through the motions? Have we become stagnant?   Rate your passion level based on the following: -Do you experience joy and excitement in your prayer life? -Do you read Scripture with expectancy of hearing from the Lord? -Do you have spiritual conversations with non-Christians? -Do you actively seek out relationships with non-Christians so you can demonstrate the love of Christ to them? -Do you look for ways to serve Jesus and reach out to those who are struggling/hurting in our community? -What's the last time you felt really excited about your spiritual walk with Jesus? -As a church, are we passionate about being disciples who make disciples?   Are our hearts close to God? I'll stop there but do take some time to let this all sink in a bit. God wants our whole heart and life, not just some of it. He wants us to be passionate as individual believers and a church.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 27, 2025 Day 5 of Week 48 Scripture:  Esther 4-6; Revelation 2 Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  Our Old Testament Scripture for today is Esther 4-6.  In chapter 4, we get to the crux of the story. The fate of the Jewish people falls into the hands of the new Jewish queen. But wait, the king doesn't know she is a Jew! Mordecai implores her to approach Xerxes and plead for the safety of her people. But this isn't as easy as it sounds. One didn't just show up in front of the king. He was supposed to summon her and he had not done so for a while. If Esther approached him, she was literally taking her life into her hands. If it pleased the king, he might allow her to approach. If it didn't, well then things could get messy. But Mordecai tells Esther that just because she lives in the palace, there was no guarantee she would be spared. Could it be that God put her into this position for such a time as this? Could it be that God had strategically placed her there to do what was right and stand up for her people? Could it be that sovereign God had orchestrated all the pieces? Now, she simply had to respond with courage. Most of us have never been in such a dangerous and potentially deadly situation. That's probably a good thing! However, many of us have found ourselves in difficult or serious situations, possibly in the workplace, at church, or even in a family crisis. Have you ever found yourself in a position where you simply knew that God had you there for a purpose? You were there for such a time as this. How did you respond? In chapter 5, we get to see more of Haman's arrogance.  Haman is a piece of work! After being invited to Esther's banquet, he sees Mordecai and is enraged that Mordecai does not rise in his presence or show fear. I can't help but think what kind of man needs other men to be fearful in their presence. This is someone who is delusional about their own importance and/or has deep-rooted feelings of insecurity. Maybe both. Haman then calls together his wife and his friends to brag about how great he is. The only thing that bothers him, he tells this group, is that Mordecai is still sitting at the king's gate. Their solution is to have Mordecai impaled on a pole before Esther's next banquet so that Haman can fully enjoy it. The horror of their suggestion should not go unnoticed. Haman's own feelings of grandiosity (and his friends desire to please him) have become so inflated that nothing else matters. A gruesome public execution for a seemingly very small offense would serve to demonstrate to the world who has power and who does not. It would instill fear and keep people in line. As you can tell, there is little value placed on human life as well. They are living in the Persian Empire. There was no issue with slaughtering all the Jews, men, women, and children. Actually valuing human life is a Judeo-Christian concept. Jesus especially changed our thinking by demonstrating that all lives are valuable to God. Because all people are made in the image of God, every single life has value. God loves everyone. And our last chapter of Esther for today is chapter 6.  The king couldn't sleep so he has the record of his reign read aloud to him. This is a man who likes to hear about his own exploits. Regardless, he finally learns about the incident in which Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate the king. The king realizes that Mordecai was never rewarded for this and so he asks Haman what should be done to a man who greatly pleases the king. Haman, totally self-obsessed, thinks the king is referring to him so he chooses a grand reward: wearing the a royal robe and being paraded around the city on one of the king's horses. Things are beginning to be turned upside down. While Haman was originally planning on killing Mordecai that day, he ends up being the one who parades him around the city.  Our New Testament reading is Revelation 2. John's first vision from the risen Lord includes messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor. We can think of these as “love letters” of sorts. Remember, Jesus knew the churches inside and out. He knew the pastors, the participants, the struggles, and the joys. He loved each church very much and wanted them to be effective and fruitful. Each church letter starts with this message, “to the angel at the church of...” Who were these angels? In the ancient Greek, the word angel is usually translated messenger. Who were the messengers? Most scholars agree that the messengers would have been the pastor of the church. As the shepherd of the flock, they were to bring the message to the people. The message itself was from Jesus. He is the one who holds the seven stars and walks among the lampstands (referring to the churches), he is the first and the last who came to life again, he is the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword, and he is the one whose eyes are blazing fire and feet are burnished bronze. These may not be typical images we have for Jesus but they give us another perspective of our Lord and Savior. Remember, he is the one who will return to defeat Satan and conquer evil forever. He is the lamb of God but he is also so much more. Each love letter to a church also lists the things the church is doing well (compliments) and things that are going wrong (criticisms). Remember, Jesus wants to encourage them but he also wants them to be who they are called to be. Kind of like our children, we want to see them grow and thrive and so discipline is important. We all need accountability. Without it, we will drift away from God. Because Jesus loved these churches so much, he provides them the remedy to fix whatever their problems were. At times, his words seem harsh. They need to be. This is a matter of eternal importance. It's urgent. The letters close with a commitment from Jesus. To those who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to them. This means not simply hearing it, but heeding it. If they do, then Jesus gives them a promise. In this case, it's to eat from the tree of life, which means to have eternal life with God. The paradise of God could be thought of as heaven. Think of what the first hearers of this message must be experiencing. How they needed to focus on this promise! What about you? Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope February 26, 2025 Day 4 of Week 48   Scripture:  Esther 1-3; Psalm 139; Revelation 1   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.   Let's start with our Old Testament reading in Esther.  It was in 539BC that King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. A year later, he allowed the Jewish people to end their exile and return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36). But not all of them went. They had lives and livelihoods and the journey to Jerusalem would mean picking up and moving after generations in Babylon/Persia. Esther and her family, who this book is about, for whatever reason decide to stay put. They give us a picture of what it looks like to be a faithful Jew in a foreign land.   In the first chapter, we meet King Xerxes, who ruled Persia from 485 to 465BC. It was a very large kingdom and Xerxes expanded its borders quite a bit, all the way to what it now Pakistan to the east and Ethiopia to the south. While he may have been a good military commander and strategist, he struggled in the “don't get drunk and mess up your marriage” area, as we can see in today's text. Xerxes had thrown a huge banquet with many diplomats and important people from all over the region. He flaunts his wealth and then wants to flaunt his wife.   Most Jewish scholars think that when Xerxes asked Vashti to display her royal crown, it meant that he wanted her to appear naked in front of this large group of inebriated men. Vashti, his wife, isn't having it. Women in those days had almost no say so in marriage, particularly if one was married to the king. And yet, something gave Vashti courage to say I'm not going to be paraded around like property before this group of drunk men. Maybe this had happened before. Regardless, it was a recipe for disaster and it would have been against custom of staying covered.   But Xerxes had unilateral power. To refuse a command of the king, especially in front of others, would most certainly have consequences. Vashti was willing to subject herself to them. She would rather lose her position in society than lose her dignity. She was brave, and while she knew it would mean something harsh, it was worth it to her. Sure enough, the king, probably under the influence of alcohol and without giving it much thought, decrees that Vashti is never to be in his presence again. Vashti has courageously served and now exited. God is making a way for someone else who will serve for a very specific purpose.   In chapter two, the search is on for a new queen. It's quite the process as well. Beautiful virgins from far and wide are brought into the palace for all kinds of exceptional beauty treatments. Esther is one of those women. Esther was a Jew. She didn't reveal her identity to anyone but she was part of the Jewish diaspora, the Jews who were spread outside of Jerusalem, trying to live faithfully in pagan lands.   She had been raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who we also meet in this chapter. He loves Esther like his own daughter and is filled with much advice for her. Esther is exceptionally beautiful and she catches the eye of the king more than any other woman. We also know that God is ensuring that she is chosen to be queen because there is something important that Esther will need to do for her people.   While God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, it is certainly a book that demonstrates the sovereignty of God. What does it mean that God is sovereign? It means that God is all-powerful and authoritative. He is ruler of the universe and is in all and over all. No matter the situation, God is present and God is at work. But unlike Xerxes, who uses his power selfishly, God uses his power in a moral, righteous way. He seeks what is best for his creation.   There is an interesting subplot at the end of the second chapter, in which Mordecai saves the king's life. This is a small but important piece to remember and tuck away for later in the book.   In chapter three, we meet Haman.  Haman is a real piece of work. He hears that Mordecai won't kneel down before him and he is enraged. Of course, we know that Mordecai is a Jew. He is only supposed to bow down before God. I'm thinking this plays in to Mordecai's refusal but it could be that Mordecai knows Haman is a royal jerk and he simply won't give him the pleasure. One can't help noticing the similarity between Mordecai and Vashti in this story. Both refuse to honor men who do not deserve to be honored and they do so knowing there will be consequences.   And there are consequences. Haman, who seems to be evil inside and out, decides he doesn't just want to punish Mordecai but his whole people group. He wants to ensure that all the Jewish people are killed. Let's think about the absurdity of this: Haman wants to kill all the Jews in the kingdom because one Jew, Mordecai, refused to kneel before him. Haman senses that Mordecai is a threat to his power and he wants to punish that threat mercilessly. Thus, Haman devises a plan. He presents this idea to King Xerxes. There is a “certain group” of people who contaminate his empire and it is not in his best interest to tolerate them. Haman has a ready-made plan for elimination and it even involves a monetary bribe. Xerxes either doesn't want to be bothered or is incredibly gullible. He basically passes his authority to Haman and says “do what you will” with an entire group of people.   Most of us will read this with a certain amount of horror. How appalling it is that a whole people group could be eliminated with nothing more than a flip of the hand. And yet, this scene, with different characters, has been repeated throughout human history over and over again. What is it about us as humans that we demonize whole groups of people? That we fail to value human life?   For our New Testament reading, we begin Revelation, one of the most difficult and misunderstood books of the Bible. It's going to be a great journey! The book was written by the apostle John, much later in his life, while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. Revelation was sent as a circular letter to the seven churches of Asia Minor, to be passed from church to church and read aloud. It was intended to address the real needs of real people. For some churches, it was a word of encouragement in the midst of terrible persecution to give them a bigger perspective; there was more going on in the world than they could see or imagine. To other churches, it was a word of conviction. But most of all, it was prophecy.   Let's be careful to not mix up prophecy with prediction. Prophecy is a divine message. Thus, Revelation is a word from God by his angel to John. It is God revealing that which was previously unknown. The beginning of today's chapter, verses 1-8, serves as a kind of prologue. It introduces the author and general theme of the book. Then, the book goes right into four visions that John received from the risen Lord.   In our culture and reading style, we tend to be very concerned with words. Revelation is really more about images. My encouragement would be to not get caught up in taking the words literally but focus more on the images that your mind sees as you read the passage. Remember, this was intended to provide a broadened perspective, a more eternal one, for people who were being harshly persecuted and even tortured for their faith. This book demonstrates that while evil may feel overwhelming, it will NOT have the final word. There is more to the world than that which we see with our human eyes. There is a battle going on. And in the end, Jesus wins.   One additional note for today. The Scripture says that those who read it will be blessed, as are those who hear it and take it to heart. First, try to imagine how those words must have resonated with the first hearers of this message. It was the end of the first century and Christians were very much harassed and oppressed in many of these areas. How encouraging it would have been for them to hear this word of promise and blessing. While we live in a different time and culture, the Scripture also applies to us. I trust that we will also be blessed by reading this book and blessed as we try to understand it and take it to heart. I ask that we all pray for open hearts and minds as we begin this journey into this exciting and complex book of the Bible!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

In this sermon by Chris Romig, he examines the message to the church in Philadelphia from the Book of Revelation, illustrating its resilience amid adversity. The ancient city, known for its missionary roots and constant earthquakes, metaphorically parallels the church's situation—they faced societal exclusion and instability yet remained faithful. Chris highlights Jesus' message promising open doors, representing opportunities for mission and a path to eternal security, despite being a small and seemingly powerless community. He emphasizes that these Christians were commended for their steadfastness and faith, despite living in fear and facing persecution. The sermon encourages contemporary believers to see their trials as part of a larger divine plan. Jesus' assurances of stability, protection from future trials, and eternal security offer hope. Chris motivates believers to hold firmly to God's word and find strength in their faith, reassured that through Christ's authority, they are more than conquerors. In conclusion, no matter life's challenges, it is well with their souls.

Join Pastor Karla and RO Smith as they have a conversation unpacking the mysteries and misconceptions of revelation and how it applies to our lives today. In this week's episode, we begin looking at the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor. This week, we will wrap up the discussion with John's letters to the churches in Philadelphia and Laodecia. Resources Referenced in this Series: Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael Gorman Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson Voxology Podcast Word Biblical Commentary: Revelation 1-5 by David Aune Our vision at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church is to Love Everyone to LIFE with Everything we Have. We strive to become an authentic community who seeks to EXPERIENCE Jesus, JOURNEY into deeper faith, STRENGTHEN the Church, and TRANSFORM our world. For more information, visit www.pointlomachurch.org. We have three worship opportunities for you to experience: 9:00 a.m. - Sanctuary Service 9:30 a.m. - Online Service10:30 a.m. - Chapel Service Please consider joining us for one of these services.  If you would like to give to the ministry: http://pointlomachurch.org/give/ or Venmo: @Point-Loma-Church To view worship services along with other digital content, go to our Youtube Channel @PointLomaChurchOnline.

Imagine one day you receive a letter from Jesus and inside is your performance review. Can you imagine getting a report card from Jesus with details of what you're doing well and what He's concerned about?! Well, in the Book of Revelation we learn that Jesus dictated seven letters to the Apostle John when appearing to John in his prison cave on Patmos. Seven letters to seven early Christian Churches, and the first letter (aka performance review) goes to the Church in Ephesus, which we read in Revelation 2:1-7. Now Ephesus was the largest city in Asia Minor–it was rich, powerful, and filled with pagan idols. In Ephesus there are two temples that stand out: The Temple of Diana where people worshipped sex and the Temple of Domitian where people worshipped politics. Life was EXTREMELY HARD for the Ephesian Christians.On the one hand, they were tempted by sexual immorality and on the other pressured to worship political leaders. Here's what's crazy, 2,000 years later we are dealing with the same stuff! We are living in 21st century Ephesus. These letters in Revelation are written TO them, but they are also FOR us today!And while Jesus has much praise for His church in Ephesus (their performance review starts out really strong), He hits them with the truth that despite resisting the temptations of sex and politics: “You have forsaken the love you had at first.” Somewhere along the way, the Ephesian Christians developed a hard heart. Their love for Jesus became cold. Faith became a duty. They were just doing the church thing. And this points to a moment of self-reflection for all of us today, because if you don't have God's love, all you have is dead religion.Watch this powerful message from Pastor Tim Lucas, which is the third in a chapter-by-chapter masterclass unpacking the powerful prophecy of Revelation.A MASTERCLASS ON THE BOOK OF REVELATIONHave you ever read Revelation and wondered, “What did I just read?” The Bible's last book is filled with strange symbols and mysterious messages that confuse modern minds. In this masterclass, Pastor Tim Lucas breaks down Revelation verse-by-verse in a way that's easy-to-grasp without watering down this powerful prophecy. Prepare to have your eyes opened and faith strengthened. Yes, you can read, see, and understand Revelation! #LoveSexPolitics #Revelation #LiquidChurch

This episode Dr. Jenkins looks at the beginnings of monasticism in Asia Minor, with whom we rightly associate St. Basil the Great, but who was inspired by the wayward Eustathios of Sebastea.

Join Pastor Karla and RO Smith as they have a conversation unpacking the mysteries and misconceptions of revelation and how it applies to our lives today. In this week's episode, we begin looking at the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor. We will discuss the letters to the churches in Thyatira and Sardis. Resources Referenced in this Series: Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael Gorman Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson Voxology Podcast Word Biblical Commentary: Revelation 1-5 by David Aune Our vision at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church is to Love Everyone to LIFE with Everything we Have. We strive to become an authentic community who seeks to EXPERIENCE Jesus, JOURNEY into deeper faith, STRENGTHEN the Church, and TRANSFORM our world. For more information, visit www.pointlomachurch.org. We have three worship opportunities for you to experience: 9:00 a.m. - Sanctuary Service 9:30 a.m. - Online Service10:30 a.m. - Chapel Service Please consider joining us for one of these services.  If you would like to give to the ministry: http://pointlomachurch.org/give/ or Venmo: @Point-Loma-Church To view worship services along with other digital content, go to our Youtube Channel @PointLomaChurchOnline.

Send us a textCompromise can be a slippery slope, leading from small concessions to full-blown corruption. Join Larry as he unpacks this critical theme through the lens of the letter to the church in Thyatira, found in Revelation 2:18-29. Despite being the smallest of the seven churches in Asia Minor, Thyatira receives the most extensive admonition, a testament to how perilous unchecked compromises can be. With insights from Psalm 1:1 and Ephesians 6:12, Larry underscores the necessity of vigilance against ungodly influences and the deceitfulness of the human heart, illustrating how seemingly minor compromises can snowball into significant spiritual failures. In today's cultural climate, many churches grapple with the balance between maintaining biblical truths and adapting to societal norms. Larry draws parallels between the ancient church in Thyatira and modern congregations that may prioritize political correctness over traditional doctrine, sparking a decline in church attendance. He calls for Christians to stand firm in their faith, recognizing spiritual warfare as a reality, and urges the importance of repentance and steadfastness. As he wraps up, Larry champions the value of personal faith and encourages an open-hearted approach to church, inviting those seeking a relationship with Jesus to embrace this journey with hope and righteousness. Support the show

Join Pastor Karla and RO Smith as they have a conversation unpacking the mysteries and misconceptions of revelation and how it applies to our lives today. In this week's episode, we begin looking at the seven letters to the churchs in Asia Minor. We will discuss the letters to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergemum. Resources Referenced in this Series: Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael Gorman Reversed Thunder by Eugene Peterson Voxology Podcast Word Biblical Commentary: Revelation by David Aune Our vision at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church is to Love Everyone to LIFE with Everything we Have. We strive to become an authentic community who seeks to EXPERIENCE Jesus, JOURNEY into deeper faith, STRENGTHEN the Church, and TRANSFORM our world. For more information, visit www.pointlomachurch.org. We have three worship opportunities for you to experience: 9:00 a.m. - Sanctuary Service 9:30 a.m. - Online Service10:30 a.m. - Chapel Service Please consider joining us for one of these services.  If you would like to give to the ministry: http://pointlomachurch.org/give/ or Venmo: @Point-Loma-Church To view worship services along with other digital content, go to our Youtube Channel @PointLomaChurchOnline.

Power Over The Nations Part 2 Completes the study of Revelation 2:25-27. This study focuses on the reward to the church in Thyatira of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). However, the rewards were meant for all the seven churches and for those who accept Christ through obedient faith today. It is an excellent message of victory for those who underwent trials and persecutions in the first century. It also serves as encourage for those today.  For more studies on the end times, check out our book, Living in Eternity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/all-bible-prophecy-fulfilled--2642968/support.

Have you ever read Revelation and wondered “What did I just read?” The Bible's last book is filled with strange symbols and mysterious messages that confuse modern minds. In this masterclass, Pastor Tim Lucas breaks down Revelation verse-by-verse in a way that's easy-to-understand without watering down this powerful prophecy. Yes, you can read and understand Revelation!  WEEK ONE: HOW TO READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION The book of Revelation is often misunderstood. It's not about fear–it's about hope, victory, and trust in God's master plan! Today, we want to help move your heart from confused to confident in Christ. From feeling anxious about the end of the world, to assured that Jesus has the victory!  First, you must learn HOW to read the Book of Revelation. This requires 3 special lenses: Historic, Symbolic, and Prophetic. Historic means what you're reading literally happened. The Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John while exiled on the island of Patmos. He was a real person who wrote actual letters to 7 real, historic churches that existed in Asia Minor around 96 A.D. Revelation is also Symbolic, filled with various sights, sounds, and colors that represent spiritual realities and we will decode them together. And Revelation is Prophetic, looking into the future and revealing what WILL happen next from God's perspective. Prophecy equates to promises that are 100% guaranteed to happen.  As we read Revelation 1: 1-8, together, we will unpack its meaning verse by verse. Such as Revelation 1:7 where we read the prophecy of the central event of Revelation and the defining event of human history: The Second Coming of Christ! This prophecy unveils the glory of King Jesus: risen, reigning, and returning to make all things new.  As you watch with us, be encouraged. You may look around our world today and see wars, wildfires, earthquakes, and people rioting and it feels like chaos. But, Revelation reminds us that things in our world aren't actually falling apart—they're falling into place. Everything is going according to plan. God's master plan! Revelation is a wake-up call from Jesus. A call to stand up and confront our culture today and live boldly for Christ! Will you be ready? Watch this powerful message from Pastor Tim Lucas, which is the first in a chapter-by-chapter masterclass unpacking the powerful prophecy of Revelation. #JesusReturns #Revelation #LiquidChurch

Destin continues our series in Acts 19 where we see how God uses Paul to continue His work of maturing very different individuals, leading to significant cultural and economic impacts in Asia Minor.Stream additional content at https://www.youtube.com/c/RockPointeChurchFM

John begins his specific address to the seven spiritual collectives in Asia Minor. The collective at Ephesus is praised for their willingness to accept the cost of calling out those who have willingly aligned with the empire. But he also pleads with them to make sure their work of justice is centered and grounded in love.

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on the letter to the church at Smyrna from the Book of Revelation, emphasizing the steadfast faith and tribulations of early Christians engulfed by a culture of paganism and emperor worship. Pastor Chris highlights how Jesus reassures the Smyrnans that, despite their suffering and poverty, they are spiritually rich. He encourages them to remain faithful, promising the reward of the crown of life and deliverance from the "second death." Chris underscores essential Christian doctrines, such as the divinity of Jesus Christ and the truth of His Resurrection, warning against modern progressive theology that seeks to undermine these foundational beliefs. He asserts the biblical teaching of two eternal destinies, heaven and hell, urging believers to hold fast to the core tenets of their faith. Addressing the theme of suffering, Chris refutes the prosperity gospel, emphasizing that faithful followers of Christ are not spared from pain and challenges. Instead, God values holiness over temporal happiness, promising eternal rewards for those who endure tribulations with faith. Chris concludes by drawing inspiration from Athanasius, an early church father known for his defense of Christian truth against heresy. He offers a prayer for courage and faithfulness, highlighting the legacy of past and present believers who remain steadfast in their faith. The sermon reassures Christians that God's promises are true and that His presence guides them through every trial, just as it did for the faithful Smyrnans.

Friends of the Rosary, Today, January 25, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, when he turned away from the persecution of Christians to promote Christianity. Born at Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, of Jewish parents who were descended from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul was a Roman citizen from birth. To complete his schooling, he was sent to Jerusalem, learned from Gamaliel, and educated in the strict observance of the ancestral Law, becoming a zealous Pharisee and a fanatic against the infant Church. He took part in the stoning of the first martyr, St. Stephen, and in the fierce persecution of the Christians that followed. On his way to Damascus to make new arrests, he was suddenly converted by a miraculous apparition of Our Lord. The conversion took place about five years after our Lord's death. He was baptized, changed his name from Saul to Paul, and began traveling and preaching the Faith. From a fierce persecutor, he became the great Apostle of the Gentiles. He made three missionary journeys to Asia Minor and southern Europe and made many converts. Fourteen of his Epistles are found in the New Testament. He was beheaded in Rome around 66 A.D., and his relics are in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls near the Ostian Way. The conversion of St. Paul reveals that the mercy of God is more powerful than human sinfulness. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • ⁠⁠Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University iOS app. • ⁠January 25, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.Si quis venit ad me, et non odit patrem suum, et matrem, et uxorem, et filios, et fratres, et sorores, adhuc autem et animam suam, non potest meus esse discipulus.  27 And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Et qui non bajulat crucem suam, et venit post me, non potest meus esse discipulus.  28 For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:Quis enim ex vobis volens turrim aedificare, non prius sedens computat sumptus, qui necessarii sunt, si habeat ad perficiendum,  29 Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him,ne, posteaquam posuerit fundamentum, et non potuerit perficere, omnes qui vident, incipiant illudere ei,  30 Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.dicentes : Quia hic homo coepit aedificare, et non potuit consummare?  31 Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him?Aut quis rex iturus committere bellum adversus alium regem, non sedens prius cogitat, si possit cum decem millibus occurrere ei, qui cum viginti millibus venit ad se?  32 Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.Alioquin adhuc illo longe agente, legationem mittens rogat ea quae pacis sunt.  33 So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.Sic ergo omnis ex vobis, qui non renuntiat omnibus quae possidet, non potest meus esse discipulus St Timothy, who is the best known disciple of St Paul, was bishop of Ephesus in Asia Minor. He was stoned to death by pagans A.D. 97.

Who (or what) is the beast from the sea in Revelation 13? What clues from the text can we observe that will help us answer this question? Moreover, what insights can we glean from events, persons, and institutions that existed in the first-century Roman world (specifically in the region in and around Asia Minor) that would help us read Revelation 13 accurately and coherently? Listen to find out! +++ Support the podcast via Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmuted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read Matt's blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠matthewhalsted.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on Jesus' letter to the church in Ephesus, as found in Revelation 2. Romig discusses the commendable qualities of the Ephesian Christians, such as their dedication, perseverance, and opposition to false teachings. However, he highlights Jesus' criticism of their abandonment of their "first love," urging them to rekindle their initial fervor and prioritize a genuine, loving relationship with Him. Chris explains that "first love" refers to "agape," the highest form of self-sacrificing love, which should be the priority in believers' lives. He points out that while the Ephesian church maintained correct doctrine and faithful actions, they had lost the core passion for Jesus, affecting their spiritual vitality. To address this, Chris calls for remembering their initial zeal, repenting from their current state, and redoing their early acts of devotion. This process, he argues, can rejuvenate their spiritual life and restore Jesus to the center of their hearts. The sermon concludes by encouraging personal reflection and prayer for renewed love and fervor for Christ, emphasizing that a fulfilling Christian life depends on maintaining Jesus as the first love. Chris incorporates a hymn, "O Lord, You Are Beautiful," to invite the congregation into a time of personal prayer and reflection.

Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan are reunited to intro Aeschylus, the Father of Greek Tragedy.Aeschylus (b. 525 BC) was a warrior, statesman, and the father of Greek tragedy. Born into nobility, he grew up in Athens during its pivotal transition from tyranny to democracy. Furthermore, he famously fought in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC), defending a nascent Western civilization against Persian invasion. Aeschylus died in 456 BC, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the foundation of Greek drama.Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information.From our guide on the Oresteia:1. What is the Ionian Revolt?To understand Aeschylus, we must first understand the Greco-Persian War (c. 499 BC to 429). In sum, what is called the “First Persian Empire,” founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BC, stretched from modern-day Iran, Asia Minor, modern day Israel, and Egypt. In Asia Minor, this Persian empire ruled over Hellenistic city-states. One may recall that Troy, a polis with both Hellenistic and eastern traits, was also located in Asia Minor. In 499 BC, the city-states rebelled against their Persian overlords with the support of Athens in what is known as the “Ionian Revolt.” The revolt failed and the Persians retained control of Asia Minor; however, King Darius of the Persian Empire believed Athens should be punished and elected to invade Greece. 2. What was the first invasion in the Greco-Persian Wars?The Ionian Revolt sparked the larger Greco-Persian Wars and led to King Darius' invasion of ancient Greece in 492 BC. Athens led the federation of city-states against the Persians, and Aeschylus fought for the Athenian army. Notably, Aeschylus and his brother both fought at the famous Battle of Marathon in 490 BC at which the first Persian invasion was defeated.[1] Aeschylus' brother, however, died in the conflict.[2] The Battle of Marathon is often held as a watershed moment in the birth of Western culture. The battle is also the namesake of running a marathon, as the legend has it that an Athenian runner ran the twenty-six miles from Marathon to Athens to tell them of the Athenian victory. 3. What was the second Persian invasion in the Greco-Persian Wars?Ten years later, a second Persian invasion was headed by King Darius' son, King Xerxes. This is the setting for the famous Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC), in which the smaller Spartan force of approximately 7000 men under King Leonidas held off 120,000-300,000 Persian invaders. The word Thermopylae means “hot gates” and takes its name from the hot springs in that area—it is also fittingly one of the mythological entrances to Hades. After Thermopylae, the Athenians won a great naval battle against the Persians at Salamis in 480 BC. Notably, Aeschylus is said to have fought in this battle as well and wrote his play The Persians about the conflict. The Greeks, led by the Athenians and Spartans, would eventually expel the Persians and bring peace in 449 BC. 4. What do we know about Aeschylus' writings?Aeschylus is...

Daily Dose of Hope January 14, 2025 Day 3 of Week 42   Scripture: Jeremiah 43, 44, 46; 2 Peter 1   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  Let's get right into our Scripture for today.   We are back in Jeremiah for our Old Testament reading, specifically chapters 43, 44, and 46.  As you read this, do you sometimes feel sorry for Jeremiah?  I mean, he shares God's message and the people get enraged at him.  Jeremiah must feel pretty exasperated as well.    In today's reading, Jeremiah delivers the message to the remaining people in Judah to NOT go to Egypt.  God instructs them to stay in Judah where he will care for them.  What do they do?  We read this yesterday as well.  They disobeyed and went to Egypt.  They call Jeremiah a liar and once again dismiss the prophecy.  The wives burn incense to other gods.  God is rightfully angry so he has more to say through Jeremiah.  God tells the people that Babylon will trample on them in Egypt too.  They can't run and hide from the consequences of their actions.  Our final chapter for today, 46, is actually poetic prose about how God will destroy Egypt.    Our New Testament reading is 2 Peter 1. Today, we start Peter's second letter to the churches to whom he ministered in Asia Minor (now modern-day Turkey). It appears that very soon after Peter wrote the first letter, he felt compelled to send another. Why? Because there are reports of false teachers in their community, as well as dissension among the believers themselves. This had the potential for unraveling the young church.   In order to combat both these destructive elements, Peter urges the believers to grow deeper in their faith, becoming more spiritually mature, by leaning on God's Word. Pay close attention to the letter's opening sermon. Normally, this part of the letter would include some kind of thanksgiving but Peter neglects it. He seems to want to grab the attention of the readers by getting right to the meat of the subject. Thus, we can see it isn't a typical letter.   This is a call to virtue. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are called to live a certain way. Then ensures what's referred to as a virtue chain. Add to your faith goodness, add to goodness knowledge, add to knowledge self-control, add to self-control perseverance, add to perseverance godliness, add to godliness mutual affection, and add to mutual affection love. This is similar to virtue chains in Romans 5 and Galatians 5. The order of the virtues is not that important (and vary in each case) but developing these virtues is of utmost importance. It's in developing these virtues that we can be useful to the Kingdom. We aren't useful to the Kingdom if we are negative, conflictual, and critical. We DO NOT honor Jesus if we are negative. We DO NOT honor Jesus and provide a good witness to the faith if we foster conflict. We DO NOT honor Jesus and provide a good witness to the faith if we are critical. But if we live out goodness, knowledge (I'll add Godly knowledge), self-control, perseverance in the faith, Godliness, mutual affection and care for others, and love, THEN we demonstrate who and whose we are. We show the world Jesus through our actions and behavior.   Spiritual maturity is not demonstrated by judgmentalism, critical spirits, or seeing the world through a negative lens. That actually seems spiritually immature. Plus, the enemy rejoices when we become fixated on those things. But, wow, what could we do for Jesus if we very intentionally, very deliberately worked on living into these virtues? The outside world might stop and take notice and say “There is something different about her. I want to be like her. I want what she has.” And we have this beautiful opportunity to share the source of our hope.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

"The holy Hierarch Hilary was born of pagan parents in Gaul, and was trained in philosophy and rhetoric. At a time when paganism was still strong in Gaul, Saint Hilary understood the falsehood of polytheism, and became a Christian, and a great defender of his new Faith. About the year 350 he was ordained Bishop of Poitiers, when Arles and Milan were in the hands of the Arians and the Arian Constantius was sole Emperor. Like his contemporary Saint Athanasius, Saint Hilary's episcopate was one long struggle against the Arians. As Bishop of Poitiers, Saint Hilary foresaw the future greatness of Martin (see Nov. 12), and attached him to himself. In 355, when required to agree to the condemnation of Saint Athanasius by the Council of Milan, Hilary wrote an epistle to Constantius condemning the wrongs done by the Arians and requesting, among other things, the restoration of the Orthodox bishops, including Athanasius. For this, Hilary was banished to Asia Minor, where he wrote his greatest work, On the Trinity. Saint Hilary returned to his see in 360, where Saint Martin sought him out again. It was at this time that Saint Hilary blessed Martin to found a monastery near Poitiers, where Martin remained until being consecrated Bishop of Tours in 371. In his last years, Saint Hilary strove for the deposition of Auxentius, the Arian Bishop of Milan, but by affecting an Orthodox confession Auxentius retained his see. Saint Hilary reposed in peace about the year 368. Auxentius died in 374 and was succeeded by Saint Ambrose, who continued Saint Hilary's battle against Arianism." (Great Horologion, adapted)

This Sunday we'll be wrapping up our study through the book of 1 Corinthians – we'll be reading all of chapter 16, where Paul closes his letter.We'll be focusing on his final instructions in v1-4, where he talks to the Corinthians about gathering funds to support the believers in Jerusalem. Part of Paul's missionary journey through Asia Minor was meant to raise funds for the poor in Jerusalem. We aren't totally sure why, but it's likely that the famine mentioned in Acts 11 played a role in that need.In the process of giving his instructions, Paul actually provides some important principles for us, as modern readers, when it comes to how we approach financial gifts within the church community. What stands out, if anything, about Paul's instructions? Does Paul want money to be raised while he's with them? Why do you think he gives this instruction? How might we learn about generosity from this section?The rest of the chapter will be dealing with specific greetings and Paul's closing remarks, which we'll look at on Sunday.If you stuck with us through this study, I hope you got something out of it; I know I did. Did anything come to light for you during our reading of this letter? What parts did you find most challenging, and which parts gave you comfort? I'd be interested in knowing, if you have time to put it in the comments.Hope you can join us this Sunday as we conclude our look at the Hot Mess Church of Corinth!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

This week Britton kicked off a new series at Oaks called Leaving Legacy. He looked at the Kingdom legacy that Paul left in Asia Minor through evangelism and disciple-making and explored the world-changing impact that simple faithfulness can have, both for Paul and for us today.

Dcn. Harrison Garlick, Dr. Frank Grabowski, and Mr. Thomas Lackey come together to discuss Hesiod's Theogony - a poem about the origin of the gods and the cosmos.Key conversations:The role of the MusesThe four primordial gods - especially ChaosEros as the generative and binding force of the cosmosZeus as a bringer of civilizationThe Prometheus mythsWomen as the beautiful evilHesiod is a contemporary of Homer. Homer composed the Iliad around 750 BC and the Odyssey around 725 BC, and Hesiod was active in the mid 700s and into the 600s.[1] Hesiod, like Homer, has roots in Asia Minor. His father is believed to have been a merchant who moved from Asia Minor to Mount Helicon in ancient Greece.[2]Notably, Mount Helicon had several springs that were sacred to the Muses, and it serves as the setting of the opening of the Theogony. Hesiod lived an agricultural life working his family farm and writing poetry. Hesiod is similar to Homer insofar as both are the recipients of a large treasury of Greek mythology. Hesiod is dissimilar to Homer insofar as Hesiod most likely originally wrote his plays—as opposed to them existing first as oral rhapsodies that were then reduced to writing, like with Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.Check out our Musings of the Theogony written guide!Check out our website for more resources.[1] See A Reader's Guide: 115 Questions on the Iliad, Ascend: The Great Books Podcast.[2] See Ed. M. C. Howatson, Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2013), 294.

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Perspective Changes Everything, Part 2Series: My Living Hope Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Episode: 1379   In 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter addresses God's elect, offering encouragement to believers scattered across the regions of Asia Minor. He praises God for the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which secures an imperishable inheritance in heaven. Peter acknowledges their present trials but emphasizes that these test their faith, resulting in praise, glory, and honor when Christ is revealed. He highlights the joy of salvation, even amidst suffering, and explains how the prophets foretold this grace, which is now fully revealed through the gospel. Key themes include living hope, eternal inheritance, the purpose of trials, and the joy of salvation.

Daily Dose of Hope January 7, 2025 Day 3 of Week 41   Scripture: Jeremiah 30-33; 1 Peter 1   Hello and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  Please know you were prayed for!!!   In Jeremiah today, we read about God's promise of restoration to his people.  In these four chapters, God speaks through Jeremiah to Judah that after the exile, there will be the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild.  All is not lost.  It might feel like it at the moment but it really isn't.  He wants them to have a long-term view.   In chapter 32, God has Jeremiah buy a piece of land from his cousin.  He went through the ordeal of going through the legal process of the purchase to illustrate that once again in the future, people will be buying and selling land in Jerusalem.  Right now, the Babylonians are laying siege to the place, but eventually God will restore it.  And then in chapter 33, God promises that there will come a time when he makes a new covenant with his people.  Of course, as Christ-followers, we know this new covenant to be Jesus.  It's only then that there will be redemption and total restoration.   For our New Testament passage, we are starting a new book today – 1 Peter.  This is a letter written by the apostle Peter to the churches in five regions of Asia Minor, what is now modern-day Turkey. This first chapter is a call to recognize their living hope in Jesus, the joy that is found in Christ despite earthly persecution, and the need to pursue holiness of life.   I would like us to focus on this concept of holiness. Peter implores these early believers to set aside their old way of life before they knew Jesus and to seek a life characterized by holiness. In the Old Testament, holiness referred to being set apart from everything else. God is holy and totally without sin, and he continually tried to foster holiness in his people. In fact, holiness is central to the character of God.   In the New Testament, the concept of holiness still means set apart but it also refers to being morally pure. The early Christ-followers were set apart, not in the sense that they separated themselves from the world because they did not, but because they were ethically and morally different from those around them. They lived according to a different standard, seeking the righteousness of God. Peter is encouraging these early Christians to seek God's holiness, to live their lives in a way that looks entirely different from the culture around them. They were essentially to pattern their lives on Jesus Christ. Part of pursuing holiness is seeking God's will daily, hourly, possibly even minute by minute.   Do you seek holiness in your life? Why or why not? Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Perspective Changes Everything, Part 1Series: My Living Hope Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Episode: 1378   In 1 Peter 1:1-12, Peter addresses God's elect, offering encouragement to believers scattered across the regions of Asia Minor. He praises God for the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which secures an imperishable inheritance in heaven. Peter acknowledges their present trials but emphasizes that these test their faith, resulting in praise, glory, and honor when Christ is revealed. He highlights the joy of salvation, even amidst suffering, and explains how the prophets foretold this grace, which is now fully revealed through the gospel. Key themes include living hope, eternal inheritance, the purpose of trials, and the joy of salvation.

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Lectionary: 205The Saint of the day is Saint Basil the GreatSaint Basil the Great's Story Basil was on his way to becoming a famous teacher when he decided to begin a religious life of gospel poverty. After studying various modes of religious life, he founded what was probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He is to monks of the East what Saint Benedict is to the West, and Basil's principles influence Eastern monasticism today. He was ordained a priest, assisted the archbishop of Caesarea—now southeastern Turkey—and ultimately became archbishop himself, in spite of opposition from some of the bishops under him, probably because they foresaw coming reforms. Arianism, one of the most damaging heresies in the history of the Church which denied the divinity of Christ, was at its height. Emperor Valens persecuted orthodox believers, and put great pressure on Basil to remain silent and admit the heretics to communion. Basil remained firm, and Valens backed down. But trouble remained. When the great Saint Athanasius died, the mantle of defender of the faith against Arianism fell upon Basil. He strove mightily to unite and rally his fellow Catholics who were crushed by tyranny and torn by internal dissension. He was misunderstood, misrepresented, accused of heresy and ambition. Even appeals to the pope brought no response. “For my sins I seem to be unsuccessful in everything.” Basil was tireless in pastoral care. He preached twice a day to huge crowds, built a hospital that was called a wonder of the world—as a youth he had organized famine relief and worked in a soup kitchen himself—and fought the prostitution business. Basil was best known as an orator. Though not recognized greatly in his lifetime, his writings rightly place him among the great teachers of the Church. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.” Reflection As the French say, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Basil faced the same problems as modern Christians. Sainthood meant trying to preserve the spirit of Christ in such perplexing and painful problems as reform, organization, fighting for the poor, maintaining balance and peace in misunderstanding. Saint Basil the Great is the Patron Saint of: Russia Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary, Merry and Holy Christmas! Today, December 27, is the feast day of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He was the apostle who remained at the foot of the Cross. He was also in the Transfiguration and was one of the first witnesses to the Resurrection. To him, Jesus entrusted his Mother. John was honored as one of the three pillars of the Church. After the persecution of Herod Agrippa, in which his brother was beheaded, John traveled to Asia Minor, where he composed his Gospel and epistles. On the island of Patmos, while he was in exile, he wrote the book of Revelation. He died in Ephesus around the year 100. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You! Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • Enjoy this video and enhance your faith in our newly released iOS app • December 27, 2024, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

8/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1534 British Museum women of Rome

1/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 79 AD Pompeii women of Rome

2/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1589 Engraving women of Rome mythology

3/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1608 Women of Rome mythology

4/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1621 Handball women of Rome

5/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1700s Sabine Women

6/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1835 Women of Rome pleading with a Roman general

7/8: The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World Hardcover - by  Daisy Dunn  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Thread-Womens-History-Ancient/dp/0593299663 Around four thousand years ago, the mysterious Minoans sculpted statues of topless women with snakes slithering on their arms. Over one thousand years later, Sappho wrote great poems of longing and desire. For classicist Daisy Dunn, these women—whether they were simply sitting at their looms at home or participating in the highest echelons of power—were up to something much more interesting than other histories would lead us to believe. Together, these women helped to make antiquity as we know it. In this monumental work, Dunn reconceives our understanding of the ancient world by emphasizing women's roles within it. The Missing Thread never relegates women to the sidelines and is populated with well-known names such as Cleopatra and Agrippina, as well as the likes of Achaemenid consort Atossa and Olympias, a force in Macedon. Spanning three thousand years, the story moves from Minoan Crete to Mycenaean Greece, from Lesbos to Asia Minor, from the Persian Empire to the royal court of Macedonia, and concludes with Rome and its growing empire. The women of antiquity are undeniably woven throughout the fabric of history, and in The Missing Thread they finally take center stage. 1885 Roman home life

We've covered La Befana, the Christmas witch, and we've covered Yule, the true origins of Christmas, but something we've skirted around is the jolly man himself. Father Christmas, Papa Noel, also known as Santa Claus. And before you skip this episode because you think you already know everything you need to know about this dude–Did you know this man might have killed a guy?? Full Disclosure: Alicia and Terra chose the topic of Saint Nicholas as a wholesome jolly end to season 6, but this episode turned out different than we thought. Still GOOD! It's really good! Learn all about why Saint Nicholas might live in Spain, why farmers in Asia Minor pray to Turkish Santa for rain, and how pagan (nude) you can get at the company Xmas party this year. Speaking of holidays and cold winter nights, why not warm the heart of someone you love by gifting them a year of the Witch, Yes! Patreon. Give the gift of unlimited access to over 125 extra episodes, deets on new episodes, an exclusive discord channel, early access, and more. This is the final episode of Season 6! Which means we're headed on our holiday break. But if you too need more Witch, Yes! to keep you warm on those cold winter nights, become a patron by clicking the link below. Hosted by Alicia Herder and Terra Keck. Produced by Marcel Pérez. Creative Directing by Mallory Jordan. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Official Witch, Yes! Discord! Witch, Yes! on Patreon! Check out our merch on Teepublic! Our Link Tree "Spellbound" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Support Witch, Yes! by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/witch-yes This podcast is powered by Pinecast.