Podcasts about Assisi

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Anthony. Abbot Lectionary: 311All podcast readings are produced by the USCCB and are from the Catholic Lectionary, based on the New American Bible and approved for use in the United States _______________________________________The Saint of the day is Saint Anthony of EgyptThe life of Anthony will remind many people of Saint Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor” (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony's life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance. At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again, like Francis, he had great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.” At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ. Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil—the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for “the book of nature” over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at age 105. Reflection In an age that smiles at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. And in a day when people speak of life as a “rat race,” one who devotes a whole life to solitude and prayer points to an essential of the Christian life in all ages. Anthony's hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God's good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us. Saint Anthony of Egypt is the Patron Saint of: Butchers Gravediggers Skin Diseases Saint of the DayCopyright Franciscan Media

Join Rick for the 7th episode in a new ongoing series—“JESUS IN THE REAL WORLD.” In January our focus shifts to resolutions—making commitments to improve. But are resolutions consistent with the way of Jesus? We all have a deep longing to move toward wholeness. Jesus says: “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Seems impossible... But in the Greek, perfect means “fully realized in its intended function.” St. Clare of Assisi says, “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.” Let's explore how our “New You” can actually happen… Rick's new book, The Suicide Solution, is now available! You can check out its Amazon page here: https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Solution-Finding-Your-Darkness/dp/1684511593/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1631675941&sr=8-1 And if you can watch Rick's webinar on the book, with co-author Dr. Daniel Emina, right here: https://youtu.be/M5KOBvGA2rs And don't forget to check out his new daily devotional Jesus-Centered Daily—go to jesuscentereddaily.com to download a 10-day sampler of the devotion, or to order it for yourself or as a gift. Or head straight to Amazon to order it: https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Daily-Touch-Smell-Taste/dp/1470759608/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Jesus-Centered+Daily&qid=1599794429&sr=8-1 Sign Up for the FREE 7-Day Devotional Series, Drawn from the Jesus-Centered Daily https://www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-daily-download/?fbclid=IwAR2H19A3iHl53Rl7OUrJLWkq3NkFjSFlxTUnngBOAeZDvo2GHHUnnHWJQo0 Have you joined the Pigs? We're a group of friends ready to go all-in with Jesus—to live a life that's “free indeed” because we're wholly dependent on Him. Join us for exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, sneak peeks of new resources, opportunities to make your voice matter, prayer support, and connections to other Pigs inside our private Facebook group. Join Here- www.mylifetree.com/pratj-member-sign-up/ Join Rick's Email List ricklawrence.com/stay-connected/ Rick's Email Addresses rick@ricklawrence.com rlawrence@vibrantfaith.org Vibrant Faith https://vibrantfaith.org Free Resources: As we continue to navigate COVID-19 and the changes it brings to our daily lives, we'd like to come alongside you with downloadable freebies to help provide you with new activities, devotions, and more for your kids, family, teenagers, and you on a weekly basis. Check out our free resource hub NOW! www.mylifetree.com/free Related Resources: The Suicide Solution (NEW!) https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-Solution-Finding-Your-Darkness/dp/1684511593/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+Suicide+Solution&qid=1628897750&sr=8-2 Jesus-Centered Daily www.amazon.com/Jesus-Centered-Da…1593117629&sr=8-1 Spiritual Grit: A Journey Into Endurance. Character. Confidence. Hope. www.mylifetree.com/shop/spiritual-grit/ Growing Spiritual Grit for Teenagers: 40 Devotions www.mylifetree.com/shop/growing-sp…s-40-devotions/ Growing Spiritual Grit: 52 Personal Devotions www.mylifetree.com/shop/growing-sp…onal-devotions/ Eyewitness: The Visual Bible Experience https://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Visual-Experience-Jeff-White/dp/1470759578/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/132-7622904-7185632?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1470759578&pd_rd_r=27647dc9-aab2-4e56-9809-0537a99b9d44&pd_rd_w=jf8u1&pd_rd_wg=AgTuz&pf_rd_p=b65ee94e-1282-43fc-a8b1-8bf931f6dfab&pf_rd_r=J68GBQY7VDQSB2JT651D&psc=1&refRID=J68GBQY7VDQSB2JT651D www.experienceeyewitness.com The Jesus-Centered Life: The Life You Didn't Think Was Possible, With the Jesus You Never Knew by Rick Lawrence www.mylifetree.com/shop/the-jesus-centered-life/ The Jesus-Centered Bible www.mylifetree.com/jesus-centered-bible-shop-page/ The God Who Fights for You: How He Shows Up in Your Suffering by Rick Lawrence www.amazon.com/God-Who-Fights-Yo…ing/dp/073697704X The Jesus-Centered Journal www.mylifetree.com/?s=jesus-center…imit=20&ixwps=1 John Mark Comer: “Discipleship In the First Century” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0FrGcxecUY&t=1s

Ref. Pater Hieronim Jopek OFMConv - Franziskaner Minoriten, Blieskastel (Bistum: Bistum Speyer) Mod. Solveig Faustmann

If you enjoy our podcasts and journals, please support IDEAS! Half of your donations will be shared with our allies at LSVD. Make a donation, however humble, over here.Endorsements:Andrea Rathke would love to see you in room B222 and endorses the idea attributed to Francis of Assisi, "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."Tamara Faber usually holds down the fort in Haus Reil, but for now is in GR204. She endorses Growth Mindset with The Big Life Journal. She also mentioned this Ted about ADHD Talk by Stephen Tonti.  Jenny Riecke is always smiling in B203. She endorses another podcast (dare she!) Cosmo Danke Gute and l Psychologeek with Pia Kabitzsch available on the YouTubes.  This episode was developed, hosted, and produced by Tony Oldani & Bella Winger and produced by Daniel Lazar. Be sure to follow IDEAS Pod wherever you listen. Share your favorite episodes with your friends.  Dive into our catalogue of journals and podcasts.  Have ideas for IDEAS? Get in touch! Instagram. Facebook. Email us at ideas [at] jfksberlin.org. We are proud to be part of the Bear Radio network. If you like IDEAS, you ought to dive into the Bear community of podcasts.  Thanks to the JFKS Verein for the microphones. We love them! Our theme music for this episode is "Too Cool" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 License. 

October 3, 2021. All the creatures around us remind us that in the brokenness and sin of the world, the Spirit is still alive, and there is also unconditional love, healing, joy, and peace. Readings: Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 8, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12, Mark 10:2-16 *** Transcript *** In the Bible, our sacred text that has thousands of pages, it only takes until Chapter 2 of Genesis before some very significant things happen. Just before this passage, God has breathed Spirit into Adam — that's Hebrew for earth-person,or human — to life. God formed Adam out of the earth with her hands, like a potter working with clay, and breathed into them. Think about that for a moment. Our life came to be out of God's very breath. Right after that, still not out of Chapter 2, God knew the human she had created needed community. It is in fact why God created us, for community. And God invests creative energy — more Spirit unleashed — to bring about more life, all around the original human. And already, here in Chapter 2, God invites us into her creative work. Naming is a profound thing, isn't it? Think about your own names for a moment. My first name, Meagan, is unique in my family. My given middle name, Catherine, connects me to my mother's mother, an Irish Catholic doctor's wife with an epic sense of humor. And Anne, a name I chose at Confirmation, connects me to my father's mother, a tough-as-nails Croatian who grew up trading with her native neighbors at her father's store in the Iron Range in northern Minnesota, and her gift for making friends of strangers and feeding anything that moved was legendary. I carry their names, Catherine and Anne, given by their parents when they were born. Parents everywhere have the joy of choosing a name for their children, and those of us with animal companions listen closely for their perfect name. I had the privilege of being present for a dear friend's court hearing, where they chose a name that fit who they had come to understand themselves to be. And God invites Adam into this creative venture, giving Adam the responsibility for seeing, knowing, and naming the beings that are created around them. And then, God created a partner for Adam, giving them to one another so that neither would ever be alone. God gave us all to each other, in all of the ways that we humans can be together — friends, siblings, ministry partners, spouses, neighbors, parents and caregivers, colleagues in learning. God gave us to each other so that we would never have to be alone. And Adam exclaims, perhaps even singing or dancing with delight, that they and the one God created to be with them, are connected, from the flesh, right through to the very bone. All of our readings today talk about this intimate connection we have with one another, from Genesis, to our Psalm and Hebrews where we are reminded that we are responsible as people to care for all that God created. Love, care, responsibility, commitment, mutuality are held up as ideals in our relationships with God, one another, and the world around us. In Mark today, we are reminded that sometimes our human relationship fail. Sometimes human brokenness leads to abuse and other harms or dysfunctions that make it clear that remaining in contact is not healthy or even safe for ourselves or for our families. As in all things, we humans are not perfect, and the truth is there is brokenness in our relationships that may not be healed in this lifetime. And yet, the dream of God, the vision of the one who unleashed the Spirit and breathed life into us, prevails. In a culture that allowed men to wield divorce as a weapon over women, Jesus called his listeners back to the ideals of Genesis, where Adam claimed the companion God made for them not as a servant to be owned or controlled, but as “bone of my bone,” an equal partner with the same rights and responsibilities. Even when our relationships with individuals in the world end, God wants for us to experience the mutual love and intimacy they meant for us to have, with God, our fellow humans and with the creatures created in the world around us, from the very beginning. Today in this messy, complicated, broken, healing, renewing, creative world, we remember God's vision for creation. On the eve of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we especially celebrate how this vision is revealed in the relationships we have with our beloved animal companions, with all their fur, scales, feathers, and fins. Sometimes, it seems, these relationships can be so much easier and smoother than our relationships with other humans, right? St. Francis is thought to have said, "Ask the beasts and they will teach you the beauty of this earth." We often in jest think of creation of animals as failed attempts to find a partner for Adam, but it occurs to me that there may have been a beautiful wisdom in imagining God creating animal companions for Adam first, after all. As a cat-parent myself, I know the truth of another St. Francis quote: “A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world, as the vibrations you are receiving are of pure love and contentment.” Our human relationships are messy, and we get frustrated with ourselves for not being perfect, for not showing up as God intended us to. But today, we are invited to celebrate all that we can be, all that God created us to be. All the creatures around us remind us that in the brokenness and sin of the world, the Spirit is still alive, and there is also unconditional love, healing, joy, and peace. We learn from our pets especially that God's vision for intimate connection is not only possible, but is embodied in the created world God gave us to live in and care for. We listen to the words of Genesis, and Hebrews, and even Mark, and know that this promise of God, like all others, will never fail. Thanks be to God. *** Keywords *** 2021, Christ Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, sermon, podcast, transcript, YouTube, video, Pastor Meagan McLaughlin, Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 8, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12, Mark 10: 2-16

Episode 736 Marc Millon interviews Teresa Severini of the Lungarotti winery, in this episode of Italian Food & Wine with Marc Millon on the Italian Wine Podcast. About today's winery: Lungarotti Winery is a symbol of wine excellence in Umbria. Lungarotti has had a front-line role in writing the last century's history of wine in Italy. A success story initiated by Giorgio Lungarotti, a pioneer of Italy's modern enology and founder of the winery in Torgiano, a small town in the countryside close to Perugia and Assisi in Umbria, the green heart of Italy. A story that continues today thanks to the commitment, passion and expertise of his daughters Chiara and Teresa, his wife Maria Grazia and his grandchildren Francesco and Gemma. Teresa Severini, born of the first marriage of Maria Grazia, has a degree in Agriculture with a Specialization at the Institute of Enology of Bordeaux University and was one of Italy's first female enologists. As the company's Director of Marketing and Communication for many years, she has had an unwavering dedication to the identification between product, company and territory, scrupulously analyzing consumer evolution and intercepting tastes and preferences of new potential clients. These days she is ever more active in the initiatives of the Lungarotti Foundation, fuelled by the certainty that the bond between wine and culture is crucially important. Her motto has been and continues to be: “winning the attention of young people to make them informed winelovers of the future”. Indeed, she has written a book to introduce the younger generations to the learning about and respecting vines and wine. Her unstoppable dynamism also led her to be among the founding members of the “Le Donne del Vino” association which promotes the role of women in the entire wine sector. If you want to learn more about today's guest & winery, you can by visiting: Website: lungarotti.it Instagram: @lungarottiwine Facebook: facebook.com/lungarotti More about the host Marc Millon: Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about wine, food and travel for nearly 40 years. Born in Mexico, with a mother from Hawaii via Korea and an anthropologist father from New York via Paris, he was weaned on exotic and delicious foods. Marc and his photographer wife Kim are the authors of 14 books including a pioneering series of illustrated wine-food-travel books: The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. Other titles include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers' Companion Italy, The Food Lovers' Companion France, Wine, a global history. Marc regularly lectures and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France with Martin Randall Travel, the UK's leading cultural travel specialist. He is soon to begin a regular series on Italian Wine Podcast, ‘Wine, food and travel with Marc Millon'. When not on the road Marc lives on the River Exe in Devon, England If you want to learn more about today's guest, you can by visiting: quaypress.uk/ marcmillon.co.uk vino.co.uk quaypress.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624 Twitter: @Marc_Millon Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ We also want to give a shout out to our sponsor Ferrowine. The largest alcoholic beverage shop in Italy since 1920! They have generously provided us with our brand new Italian Wine Podcast T-shirts, and we love them! Check out Ferrowine's site, they have great wines, food pairings and so much more! https://www.ferrowine.it/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Præludium: Johann Sebastian Bach: Fra himlen højt kom budskab her Ord til dagen Af Bonhoeffer Salme: 99 "Velkommen igen, Guds engle små", v. 1-5 Fra det N.T.: Lukasevangeliet 2, 15-21 Korvers: Ivar Widéen: Stjerne på sø og strand (Tekst: Viktor Rydberg/Hanne Kuhlmann) Salme: 99 "Velkommen igen, Guds engle små", v. 6-8a< Postludium: Olivier Messiaen: Engle-musik (fra 'Den hellige Frans af Assisi' - arr. W. Guggenmos) www.dr.dk/P2/Morgenandagten

"Transform me Lord, so that when people see me, they see you." -@HerTrueWorth via IGSt. Francis' Peace Prayer-Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me bring love.Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.Where there is discord, let me bring union.Where there is error, let me bring truth.Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.Where there is despair, let me bring hope.Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.O Master, let me not seek as muchto be consoled as to console,to be understood as to understand,to be loved as to love,for it is in giving that one receives,it is in self-forgetting that one finds,it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life."Francis, I know there is only one reason to be truly excited and this is when our Lord visits us in our hearts. But regarding Earthly news, I must tell you while many worry about wars and lack of food in the coming winter, my sisters are singing and bathing daily in the light within their hearts. I too had a dream. Someday Kings and Queens, the rich and powerful, people from all over the world, will be coming to Assisi not to judge you but to ask how they can join you on your path. What will you tell them? Will you ask them to throw their riches into the river? Will you tell them to give all their power away? Francis, are you ready for the world to be at your feet like the little birds in your garden? Imagine everyone with one prayer, one heart, asking “Lord make me an instrument!” Peace, Francis, peace—this is what you should teach! Let them keep their possessions. Let them keep their worldly power. Share with them the simple peace. This is enough. Tell them about the beauty of peace in every moment. Give them the simple steps that you and I know so well. Step by step, peace and more peace with everyone and everything. This will be a good beginning. Once they feel the peace, what do riches and power have to offer? Why would they chase after earthly comforts when they have life's true treasure? Once they feel the peace inside what else is of value but wanting to serve one another? Everyone wants peace, Francis, but they do not know the source of this peace. You must teach them. Real peace comes only from a peaceful heart! And a peaceful heart comes from finding so much God inside that there is no room for anything else but peace."-Davis, Bruce. The Love Letters of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi: The Journey of Two Great Saints, Soaked in Love, Who Changed The World (p. 6). Kindle Edition. Loving it here in Assisi!!! Be back soon with lots more to share!I Love you and I'm with you!NikNikki@curlynikki.com

Peter Owen Jones is the former ad man who gave it all up to become a parish priest. By the late 1980s, the former farm boy had carved out a successful career working as a creative director for a top London agency.  But shortly before his 30th birthday, Peter walked away from his lucrative career to embrace a simpler, more meaningful life.Known to many as the ‘vicar in the hat', and seen often on TV, Peter is an unconventional priest – whose views and approach are often at odds with classic Church of England doctrine. Given up for adoption at six weeks old, he says this void left him feeling as though he had a space inside himself, full of unanswered questions. So, when he himself became a father, he set out to find his birth mother. Six months later they met for the first time on a train platform in Scotland.During our conversation Peter discusses the power of embracing vulnerability and putting it to work. As we all reach the end of another difficult year, there are some useful lessons here which can be put to good use, regardless of your faith.  A perfect Crisis Shortcut for Christmas.Peter's Crisis Cures:1 – Lie down.  When you are feeling overwhelmed, when you're feeling deeply distraught and the full force of crisis hits – lie down.2 – Pray.  To open yourself to feel the full force of the pain you are experiencing and invite healing into that place.3 – Walk.  St Francis of Assisi said “Solvitur ambulando – it can be solved by walking.”Stream/Buy ‘Allies' by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Enzo Fortunato"Buongiorno brava gente"Mondadorihttps://www.mondadori.it/«Buongiorno brava gente»: con queste parole Francesco d'Assisi si rivolse agli abitanti di Poggio Bustone quando, lasciata la sua città, iniziò a predicare la Parola di Dio per le strade del mondo. Un saluto che racchiude insieme l'entusiasmo per l'avvio di una nuova giornata e il piacere di poterla condividere con gli altri.La recente pandemia ci ha insegnato che nessuno si salva da solo, e che andare incontro a chi ci è vicino, con una parola, un gesto, un pensiero positivo, è un atto salvifico, rigenerante. Per accompagnare le persone in questi difficili mesi, padre Enzo Fortunato ha avviato una rubrica quotidiana sulla sua pagina Facebook, aprendola proprio con il francescano saluto «Buongiorno brava gente»: via via è divenuta un prezioso momento di confronto e conforto reciproco, nel quale scoprire la bellezza di non sentirsi soli, di farsi comunità alla luce del Vangelo e dell'esperienza del santo di Assisi.Così, ripartendo dalle riflessioni che lì sono scaturite, padre Enzo ci propone in queste pagine un breviario per tutto l'anno, un cammino di meditazioni che scandisca il nostro tempo giorno per giorno. Perché «il Vangelo è la guida per aprire un cantiere dentro noi stessi. Nella misura in cui lavoriamo su noi stessi, lavoriamo il mondo. Nella misura in cui ci immaginiamo nel sogno, cresciamo in un mondo diverso».Anche noi siamo invitati a ricordarci che l'unico modo per affrontare le difficoltà è avere fede, e che «il rapporto con Dio, la preghiera, ci conduce agli altri. È un modo di vivere la Parola e la nostra esistenza basato sull'avvicinarsi, sul sostenersi a vicenda, sul prendersi per mano».Solo così, camminando insieme, diventeremo strumenti di pace e renderemo ogni giorno un buon giorno.Enzo Fortunato è frate minore conventuale di Assisi, giornalista, direttore della sala stampa del Sacro Convento di Assisi e del mensile «San Francesco». Ha collaborato con «L'Osservatore Romano» e scrive per «Avvenire», «Corriere della Sera», «Huffington Post» e «Quotidiano Nazionale». È volto di Rai 1 con la rubrica «Tg1 Dialogo» e voce di Rai Radio 1 con «In viaggio con Francesco». Tiene seminari e conferenze in Italia e all'estero. Da Mondadori ha pubblicato Vado da Francesco (2014), Francesco il ribelle (2018) e La tunica e la tonaca (2020).IL POSTO DELLE PAROLEascoltare fa pensarehttps://ilpostodelleparole.it/

What is our relationship with stuff? We have an obsession with owning stuff and yet we never have enough things. What if there were a better way to get our needs met? Teresa and JonMarc discuss "Buy Nothing" Groups, what they are, how they help people, and what makes it different from socialism.Join JonMarc and Teresa Grodi for an Elevate Ordinary PILGRIMAGE to Rome, Assisi, Medjugorje - July 2022 - visit: catholicfaithjourneys.com/eo Show Notes: https://www.awakencatholic.org/elevate-ordinary/buy-nothing-and-obtain-virtue Download the official AWAKEN App: http://theawakenapp.io Become a PATRON and SUPPORT our show! Go to elevateordinary.com to join the "Manor at St. Anne's" community

Sylvia relates the power of music and the skills learned by those who play instruments. Christmas music are usually favorites for all of us. Ashley reveals Pope Francis’ latest message from his Papal Audience, the very expensive Christmas present the US presented to Italy this year and some of the ways Venice and Assisi are […]

Join Franciscan Associate Geri Dietz as she explores the Good News of the Gospel, including God's goodness revealed to us in the vulnerability and humility of Jesus coming as a child.   From Geri's interview: “What I loved when I was learning about the Associates, is that the charism that the Third Order has received, the grace that the Third Order has received, is continual conversion. And for me, when I heard that, that that was the deal maker for me. And then it was modeled by the Sisters and other Associates that we met.  We couldn't help but want to become Associates and be with these people who live the good news of Jesus.”   “The original nativity was inspired by his [Saint Francis'] trip in 1221 to the Holy Land, which included Jesus's traditional birthplace. So that influenced him being there, as well as the Scriptures which would be both in Matthew and Luke. Francis was deeply moved visiting the site where God became fully human. Hoping that others could enjoy that same profound, inspiration and experience, he encouraged believers to make pilgrimages to Bethlehem. ... Francis decided to do the next best thing because not a lot could go to Bethlehem. He thought I'm going to bring Bethlehem to the pilgrims. So on Christmas Eve in 1223, just a few years before he died, Francis created the first Nativity in the Italian city of what's called Greccio. And with the help of a local nobleman named John, Francis celebrated the birth of Jesus in a cave outside the town.”   “We can see how God has bent over the world and comes to us as a small, seemingly insignificant, vulnerable baby. We can be grateful that the Lord came to us in the form of a child instead of the form of a committee, a jury, a dictator, a king with royal pronouncements before him. ... Jesus, this baby, doesn't communicate a series of ideas or scientific principles or algorithms. The baby's not even speaking. The child is there for us to see the love of God in the flesh. And God comes to us in a very humble form, in a form that is poor. And for Francis, the incarnation reveals the presence of God in the world, in the littleness of our lives. In the littleness of a child, born in a place where animals eat and live. The littleness of those who you and I, and everyone listening, who know people who are homeless and vulnerable in those who suffer from disease and mental illness and those who are aged and lonely. Jesus is in those who have no room in anyone else's inn.”   “What [do] people think about God and where do we stand? Is the gospel something that is restrictive, legalistic, who turns its followers into joyless men and women who quote, who don't do anything? Is it possible to live a life joyful while following the gospel? Is the gospel good news for us? We really can't understand the material world, the world of creation unless we see, unless we come to see it, in Christ, as good. That it's a good world and the gospels are called the good news. Everything that God has created is very good. We read it in the book of Wisdom. We hear it from Paul … It has a significant meaning, this good news, for Franciscans. Just reading through Francis's writings, we come across the word good so frequently that it's kind of Franciscan motto is to see the world is good. And I've noticed in the Franciscan Sisters and Brothers who I've met, and Associates, they see the good in others.”   For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org.   References:   Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR; co-founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal: https://fatherbenedict.com/fr-benedict-groeschel/   Father Richard Rohr, OFM; founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation: https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/   Spiritual Direction School in Tucson, AZ: Hesychia: http://desertrenewal.org/hesychia-sd-school/   Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota: www.fslf.org. Franciscan Associate relationship: https://www.fslf.org/AssociateRelationship   Early Franciscan Sources: Story of the first live Nativity in Greccio, Italy, 1 Celano 30:84-87: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/695-fa-ed-1-page-254 Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 23:9-10: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/100-fa-ed-1-page-85 Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 27:17-18: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/91-fa-ed-1-page-76   Jesuit (Ignatian) Spirituality: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/   Jay Leno, Jaywalking “Bill of Rights” (Civics Test video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqmQJXdqrM

"I cansee angelssitting on your ears, Polishing trumpets,replacing lute strings,stretching new skins on the drumsand gathering wood for the evening's fire.They all danced last nightbut you did nothear Them."-excerpt from 'I Can See Angels' by Hafiz "To be present for God's touches, Francis found that having the right word turning over and over again on the tongue could make all the difference. The right word relaxed first the tongue, then it served to calm even the most troubled heart. Of course this wouldn't happen automatically but with practice. Francis learned to find nourishment, safety, warmth, all from a few carefully chosen words that echoed in his head and heart. These words were both blanket and food for the soul. When the soul felt warm and fed, the body too would clearly feel better. In the most challenging times it was his mantra that poured consolation and guidance around his lonely heart. For Francis and many of the brothers, their mantra gained the power to seize and lift the moment. “Lord, Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ” again and again and again “Lord Jesus Christ.” Once while saying his mantra, Francis distinctly heard a high beautiful voice singing, “Hallelujah, hallelujah” in his chest. He kept repeating, “Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ” as he listened to the heavenly choir singing, “Hallelujah, Hallelujah” within him and felt their angelic voices filling the chambers of his heart. Francis looked around and seeing a brother next to him, he was surprised the brother did not also hear it."-Dr. Bruce Davis, 'Simple Peace: Spiritual Life of Francis of Assisi (pp. 34-35). iUniverse. Kindle Edition. Bonus Quote:"The Name comes through the heart and moves the lips and tongue.  The vibration is the holy name of Krsna.  When Krsna in the form of sound descends from (the) transcendental world into the heart, and from the heart, controlling every aspect of the nervous system, comes to the lips and tongue dancing there; that is krsna-nama."-Srila Prabhupada Today's Practice:Chant a name of God and know that God is present the moment you hear the Name.  God was always present, you just weren't.  But now you are.  First you become aware of God as the Name, then as the vibration, and then, as the feeling of Love.  Then, abruptly stop the recitation and just BE LOVE.  Rest AS Love in the silence that was before, during, and after the repetition of the Name.  Identify with this Love.  And know that this Love is all there is. I Love you, Nik 

Professor Adnan Husain, Medieval European and Middle Eastern Historian and Director of the School of Religion at Queens University, joins Breht to discuss the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Together they discuss St. Francis of Assisi's legacy within Christianity, nature mysticism, Imitatio Christi, Francis's meeting with the Sultan of Egypt, medieval Europe, Islam and Christianity, Franciscan Virtues, Ecology and Creation, The Canticle of the Sun, Pope Francis, the rise of mercantilism in feudal Europe, stigmata, liberation theology, and more! Outro Music: "All My Tears" by Ane Brun ----- Support Rev Left Radio: https://www.patreon.com/RevLeftRadio or make a one time donation: PayPal.me/revleft LEARN MORE ABOUT REV LEFT RADIO: www.revolutionaryleftradio.com

Caroling, caroling through the snow, Christmas bells are ringing…today we celebrate one holiday activity that seems pretty popular in Christmas movies… It's December 20th and today is Go Caroling Day.https://todayaholiday.com/go-caroling-day/It feels like so many Christmas movies out there have scenes of Christmas carolers out there… though not sure in reality how many people have ever been caroling or been caroled to. Perhaps its a tradition that has lost its popularity over time - after all, it's widely believed that caroling on and around Christmas dates back centuries.The word “wassail” comes from the Old Norse word “yes heill” that means “to be well and in good health” and centuries ago in England, people would travel from house to house wishing good tidings to their neighbors, which became a song “here we come a wassailing” - a tune that transformed over time into “We wish you a Merry Christmas!” Wassail was also a term used to describe a traditional spiced drink, apparently not too different from the eggnog loved today.Singing really took hold with the Christmas tradition thanks to St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, who incorporated songs of well wishes into his Christmas Church services. He also organized nativity scenes and parades to get people excited about the holiday. The church members embraced the songs so much they would sing them at home with the families, passed down in oral traditions.Caroling became popular in England, though only after some darker ages. While Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas celebrations during his rule from 1649-1658, caroling popularity declined until it reached a resurgence in the Victorian era England. In the Christmas revival period, thanks to Queen Victoria who married the German Prince Albert, he imported many German Christmas traditions like the Christmas tree. Prominent people worked to bring the holiday spirit back - Charles Dickens' another attempt. In 1822, Davies Gilbert published a book of Christmas carols that helped bring Christmas carols back in a big way.So, on this day, go on and sing a Christmas tune. Even if you're not one to go out and about and sing to your neighbors, you can at least serenade your loved ones with your favorite tune.Happy holiday everyone, and I'll see you tomorrow.Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash

Morning Mantra: "Where there is darkness, let there be light."When a flashlight grows dim or doesn't shine, do you throw it away or change the batteries? You change the batteries.When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, should you cast them aside? Of course not.You help them change their batteries.Some need AA- Attention and Affection.Some need AAA- Attention, Affection and Acceptance.Some need C- Compassion.Some need D- Direction.And if they still can't manage to shine, simply sit with them quietly, and share your light.#BeTheBatteries  ##BeHappy #BeHorsey #BeHippie #HorseHippie #MorningMantra #inspirationalQuotes #MorningMotivation #Equestrian #HorseLover #QuotesToInspire #HorseHippieBrand #HorseHippieBoutique Quote: Francis of Assisi

Have you ever gone caroling? We used to when I was in public school. We would go to the nursing homes and entertain the elderly residents there. I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I would today. Christmas caroling is believed to have originated by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. Though caroling has slipped by the wayside, I still love watching the old Christmas movies that depicted the carollers dressed up going from door to door singing the old favourites. Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating Go Caroling Day: While you might prefer to stay indoors with your eggnog, Christmas cookies, cozy blanket, the point of Go Caroling Day is to get out and share the spirit of the season, however, you celebrate it, with everyone. And a quote from a favourite Christmas movie character, Buddy the Elf says that “The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.” Looking for more tips to build your resiliency? Look for my book on Amazon called Stress Out. 52 Weeks To Letting More Life In

It's my ex-hubby's year to Love on the kids for the holidays, so after a tearful goodbye yesterday, I wanted to share how I still managed to lean into Love (this will be my first Christmas morning without them), and will continue to as I navigate this life thing.   "Follow the stream of Love you already know, no matter how small it is." - St. Francis of Assisi "As a drop of water poured into wine loses itself, and takes the color and savor of wine; or as a bar of iron, heated red-hot, becomes like fire itself, forgetting its own nature; or as the air, radiant with sun-beams, seems not so much to be illuminated as to be light itself; so in the saints all human affections melt away by some unspeakable transmutation into the will of God.  For how could God be all in all, if anything merely human remained in man?  The substance will endure, but in another beauty, a higher power, a greater glory." ― Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God"Real enlightenment will annihilate you and subsequently turn you into God. The waters of surrender and the fire of awareness will merge, dissolving the ego into thin air and allowing the one unborn Consciousness, hiding behind “I,” to shine through you, as you.Just because you were born, don't assume that you are truly alive. Being born is what gives you the freedom to actually be alive—and euphorically dance and sing with the whole of creation—if you choose to."-SantataGamana. Turiya - The God State: Beyond Kundalini, Kriya Yoga & all Spirituality (Real Yoga Book 5) (p. 18). Real Yoga Today's Practice:Staying in touch with Love during the ups and downs of life is the purpose of this life.  Surrendering to (relaxing into) feeling this Love in every moment, even the sad ones (when the body is tense, stomach clenched, and breath shallow), while challenging, changes not only the quality of that moment but the future-nows as well. Permission slips I used yesterday included remembering that the Christ is born within us everyday, not just once a year. Every day is Christmas.  Everyday is a celebration once you remember this Love.  And then taking it a step further by seeing through days altogether.  Only Love is here and sometimes we call it Monday or Saturday, and every now and then, Christmas.  And that no matter where I appear to be, or where my kiddos appear to be, we are together in Love, always. That's where my Grandma is, too... and your departed loved ones, and God... One in this Place.  This Love.  Finally, and obviously, taking a trip to Assisi, Italy is a permission slip to feel Love, too.  But I must highlight that this opportunity to go on silent retreat only unfolded in the last two weeks, the way the rest of the Go(o)d events in this life seem to happen-- through relaxation, not tension, through abiding in the calm before, during and after the storms of life.  I stay convinced that Life is dope, and it always proves  itself to be just that.  I'll be on silent retreat in St. Francis' (and St. Clare's) home town, but not absent from here! New episodes will continue to go live erry'day, while I pray :)I Love you, Nik 

Sophie (age 8) and Ellie (age 6) tell the history of the Christmas Carol. Songs used to be sung by pagans thousands of years ago to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Christmas was at the same time as the Winter Solstice so the Church carried on with the singing but instead made the songs about Christmas. The first Christmas Carol we know of was from 2000 years ago and was called the Angels Hymn. All the early carols were in Latin and over time people stopped speaking Latin – and they stopped singing the Latin carols. Then around 800 years ago a monk called St Francis of Assisi wrote the first nativity play. He had songs in the play to make it more interesting. He also had these songs in people's own language so they could understand it. Many of the songs became so popular that Minstrels would sing them. Many of the carols from his period have survived. While Shepherds watched their flocks by night is over 500 years old. However, 400 years ago in England the Puritans came to power. They were very serious. They chopped off the King's head and they banned Christmas and the singing of carols. People liked carols so much that they carried on singing them in secret when they were not in Churches. This is where the tradition of carol singers comes from. Different carols came from different places. 150 years ago someone in America wrote Away in a Manger. People thought is was written by a famous holy man called Martin Luther, but it probably was not. The carol Come all ye faithful was written about 300 years ago. Many people think that it remembers the old Stuart kings who used to rule England. The most famous Carol story though is from World War One. British and German soldiers were fighting in the trenches. The fighting was very bloody. Then on Christmas Eve the German trenches were decorated with candles and lights. The British were confused. Then they heard the Germans singing Silent night in German. The British sang back The First Noel. Slowly the British and German soldiers came out of the trenches. They stopped fighting and celebrated Christmas together in the middle of a war. We are taking a Christmas break ourselves. Sophie and Ellie's mummy works in the hospital and things are a little busy there at the moment. So we will be back with more History Storytime episodes in the New Year. Patrons Club If you liked this episode then do join our Patrons Club. You can join at www.patreon.com/historystorytime  

A 10 anni dalla fine del conflittoDieci anni fa, il 18/12/2011, terminava la Guerra d'Iraq, passata alla storia anche come Seconda Guerra del Golfo. Ci fu il passaggio definitivo di tutti i poteri alle autorità irachene insediate dall'esercito americano su delega governativa statunitense. Il conflitto bellico era iniziato il 20 marzo del 2003 con l'invasione dell'Iraq da parte di una coalizione multinazionale guidata dagli Stati Uniti d'America.In questa docuserie, attraverso numerose testimonianze e materiali d'archivio, il racconto di un conflitto che aveva come obiettivo principale la deposizione di Saddam Hussein. L'invasione dell'Iraq fu rapida: il 15 aprile 2003 tutte le principali città erano nelle mani della coalizione, e il 1º maggio il presidente statunitense George W. Bush proclamò concluse le operazioni militari su larga scala. Ma la guerra si tramutò abbastanza presto in una resistenza e in una guerra di liberazione dalle truppe straniere, considerate invasori da molti gruppi armati arabi sunniti e sciiti, per sfociare infine in una guerra civile fra le varie fazioni, causata da una squilibrata gestione del potere (che agevolò le componenti sciite maggioritarie).Docuserie in 5 puntate.Intervengono nell'ordine Enrico Bellano (Inviato RAI), Ferdinando Pellegrini (Inviato del Giornale Radio RAI), Raheem Salman (Giornalista iracheno), Bernardo Valli (Inviato speciale de La Repubblica), Muntazar al-Zaydi (Giornalista iracheno), Staffan de Mistura (Diplomatico), Paolo Mieli (Storico), Sergio Romano (Diplomatico), Fabio Mini (Generale), Alfredo Mantica (Politico), Franco Cardini (Storico), Padre Enzo Fortunato (Direttore della sala stampa del Sacro convento di Assisi), Barbara Contini (Già Responsabile delle infrastrutture e della ricostruzione a Bassora e successivamente Amministratore Civile della Provincia di Dhi Qar), Solomon Moore (Giornalista statunitense) e Rosa Villecco Calipari (Politica). Di Francesco De Leo.Montaggio di Silvio Farina. Montaggio sigla e Voice Over: Mario Cagol.Alcuni frammenti audio utilizzati nella docuserie sono di proprietà dell'Archivio sonoro di RadioRadicale, rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons: Attribuzione 2.5 - La Guerra in Iraq: i bombardamenti (Prima parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Iraqi Freedom (Seconda parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Evitare la guerra (Terza parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: i soldati (Quarta parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Abu Ghraib e Calipari (Quinta parte).https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Le Docuserie------------Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify http://bit.ly/VoceDellaStoria ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427.Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/- Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare)- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo- Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria- Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura

A 10 anni dalla fine del conflittoDieci anni fa, il 18/12/2011, terminava la Guerra d'Iraq, passata alla storia anche come Seconda Guerra del Golfo. Ci fu il passaggio definitivo di tutti i poteri alle autorità irachene insediate dall'esercito americano su delega governativa statunitense. Il conflitto bellico era iniziato il 20 marzo del 2003 con l'invasione dell'Iraq da parte di una coalizione multinazionale guidata dagli Stati Uniti d'America.In questa docuserie, attraverso numerose testimonianze e materiali d'archivio, il racconto di un conflitto che aveva come obiettivo principale la deposizione di Saddam Hussein. L'invasione dell'Iraq fu rapida: il 15 aprile 2003 tutte le principali città erano nelle mani della coalizione, e il 1º maggio il presidente statunitense George W. Bush proclamò concluse le operazioni militari su larga scala. Ma la guerra si tramutò abbastanza presto in una resistenza e in una guerra di liberazione dalle truppe straniere, considerate invasori da molti gruppi armati arabi sunniti e sciiti, per sfociare infine in una guerra civile fra le varie fazioni, causata da una squilibrata gestione del potere (che agevolò le componenti sciite maggioritarie).Docuserie in 5 puntate.Intervengono nell'ordine Enrico Bellano (Inviato RAI), Ferdinando Pellegrini (Inviato del Giornale Radio RAI), Raheem Salman (Giornalista iracheno), Bernardo Valli (Inviato speciale de La Repubblica), Muntazar al-Zaydi (Giornalista iracheno), Staffan de Mistura (Diplomatico), Paolo Mieli (Storico), Sergio Romano (Diplomatico), Fabio Mini (Generale), Alfredo Mantica (Politico), Franco Cardini (Storico), Padre Enzo Fortunato (Direttore della sala stampa del Sacro convento di Assisi), Barbara Contini (Già Responsabile delle infrastrutture e della ricostruzione a Bassora e successivamente Amministratore Civile della Provincia di Dhi Qar), Solomon Moore (Giornalista statunitense) e Rosa Villecco Calipari (Politica). Di Francesco De Leo.Montaggio di Silvio Farina. Montaggio sigla e Voice Over: Mario Cagol.Alcuni frammenti audio utilizzati nella docuserie sono di proprietà dell'Archivio sonoro di RadioRadicale, rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons: Attribuzione 2.5 - La Guerra in Iraq: i bombardamenti (Prima parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Iraqi Freedom (Seconda parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Evitare la guerra (Terza parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: i soldati (Quarta parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Abu Ghraib e Calipari (Quinta parte).https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Le Docuserie------------Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify http://bit.ly/VoceDellaStoria ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427.Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/- Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare)- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo- Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria- Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura

A 10 anni dalla fine del conflittoDieci anni fa, il 18/12/2011, terminava la Guerra d'Iraq, passata alla storia anche come Seconda Guerra del Golfo. Ci fu il passaggio definitivo di tutti i poteri alle autorità irachene insediate dall'esercito americano su delega governativa statunitense. Il conflitto bellico era iniziato il 20 marzo del 2003 con l'invasione dell'Iraq da parte di una coalizione multinazionale guidata dagli Stati Uniti d'America.In questa docuserie, attraverso numerose testimonianze e materiali d'archivio, il racconto di un conflitto che aveva come obiettivo principale la deposizione di Saddam Hussein. L'invasione dell'Iraq fu rapida: il 15 aprile 2003 tutte le principali città erano nelle mani della coalizione, e il 1º maggio il presidente statunitense George W. Bush proclamò concluse le operazioni militari su larga scala. Ma la guerra si tramutò abbastanza presto in una resistenza e in una guerra di liberazione dalle truppe straniere, considerate invasori da molti gruppi armati arabi sunniti e sciiti, per sfociare infine in una guerra civile fra le varie fazioni, causata da una squilibrata gestione del potere (che agevolò le componenti sciite maggioritarie).Docuserie in 5 puntate.Intervengono nell'ordine Enrico Bellano (Inviato RAI), Ferdinando Pellegrini (Inviato del Giornale Radio RAI), Raheem Salman (Giornalista iracheno), Bernardo Valli (Inviato speciale de La Repubblica), Muntazar al-Zaydi (Giornalista iracheno), Staffan de Mistura (Diplomatico), Paolo Mieli (Storico), Sergio Romano (Diplomatico), Fabio Mini (Generale), Alfredo Mantica (Politico), Franco Cardini (Storico), Padre Enzo Fortunato (Direttore della sala stampa del Sacro convento di Assisi), Barbara Contini (Già Responsabile delle infrastrutture e della ricostruzione a Bassora e successivamente Amministratore Civile della Provincia di Dhi Qar), Solomon Moore (Giornalista statunitense) e Rosa Villecco Calipari (Politica). Di Francesco De Leo.Montaggio di Silvio Farina. Montaggio sigla e Voice Over: Mario Cagol.Alcuni frammenti audio utilizzati nella docuserie sono di proprietà dell'Archivio sonoro di RadioRadicale, rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons: Attribuzione 2.5 - La Guerra in Iraq: i bombardamenti (Prima parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Iraqi Freedom (Seconda parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Evitare la guerra (Terza parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: i soldati (Quarta parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Abu Ghraib e Calipari (Quinta parte).https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Le Docuserie------------Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify http://bit.ly/VoceDellaStoria ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427.Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/- Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare)- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo- Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria- Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura

A 10 anni dalla fine del conflittoDieci anni fa, il 18/12/2011, terminava la Guerra d'Iraq, passata alla storia anche come Seconda Guerra del Golfo. Ci fu il passaggio definitivo di tutti i poteri alle autorità irachene insediate dall'esercito americano su delega governativa statunitense. Il conflitto bellico era iniziato il 20 marzo del 2003 con l'invasione dell'Iraq da parte di una coalizione multinazionale guidata dagli Stati Uniti d'America.In questa docuserie, attraverso numerose testimonianze e materiali d'archivio, il racconto di un conflitto che aveva come obiettivo principale la deposizione di Saddam Hussein. L'invasione dell'Iraq fu rapida: il 15 aprile 2003 tutte le principali città erano nelle mani della coalizione, e il 1º maggio il presidente statunitense George W. Bush proclamò concluse le operazioni militari su larga scala. Ma la guerra si tramutò abbastanza presto in una resistenza e in una guerra di liberazione dalle truppe straniere, considerate invasori da molti gruppi armati arabi sunniti e sciiti, per sfociare infine in una guerra civile fra le varie fazioni, causata da una squilibrata gestione del potere (che agevolò le componenti sciite maggioritarie).Docuserie in 5 puntate.Intervengono nell'ordine Enrico Bellano (Inviato RAI), Ferdinando Pellegrini (Inviato del Giornale Radio RAI), Raheem Salman (Giornalista iracheno), Bernardo Valli (Inviato speciale de La Repubblica), Muntazar al-Zaydi (Giornalista iracheno), Staffan de Mistura (Diplomatico), Paolo Mieli (Storico), Sergio Romano (Diplomatico), Fabio Mini (Generale), Alfredo Mantica (Politico), Franco Cardini (Storico), Padre Enzo Fortunato (Direttore della sala stampa del Sacro convento di Assisi), Barbara Contini (Già Responsabile delle infrastrutture e della ricostruzione a Bassora e successivamente Amministratore Civile della Provincia di Dhi Qar), Solomon Moore (Giornalista statunitense) e Rosa Villecco Calipari (Politica). Di Francesco De Leo.Montaggio di Silvio Farina. Montaggio sigla e Voice Over: Mario Cagol.Alcuni frammenti audio utilizzati nella docuserie sono di proprietà dell'Archivio sonoro di RadioRadicale, rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons: Attribuzione 2.5 - La Guerra in Iraq: i bombardamenti (Prima parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Iraqi Freedom (Seconda parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Evitare la guerra (Terza parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: i soldati (Quarta parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Abu Ghraib e Calipari (Quinta parte).https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Le Docuserie------------Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify http://bit.ly/VoceDellaStoria ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427.Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/- Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare)- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo- Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria- Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura

A 10 anni dalla fine del conflittoDieci anni fa, il 18/12/2011, terminava la Guerra d'Iraq, passata alla storia anche come Seconda Guerra del Golfo. Ci fu il passaggio definitivo di tutti i poteri alle autorità irachene insediate dall'esercito americano su delega governativa statunitense. Il conflitto bellico era iniziato il 20 marzo del 2003 con l'invasione dell'Iraq da parte di una coalizione multinazionale guidata dagli Stati Uniti d'America.In questa docuserie, attraverso numerose testimonianze e materiali d'archivio, il racconto di un conflitto che aveva come obiettivo principale la deposizione di Saddam Hussein. L'invasione dell'Iraq fu rapida: il 15 aprile 2003 tutte le principali città erano nelle mani della coalizione, e il 1º maggio il presidente statunitense George W. Bush proclamò concluse le operazioni militari su larga scala. Ma la guerra si tramutò abbastanza presto in una resistenza e in una guerra di liberazione dalle truppe straniere, considerate invasori da molti gruppi armati arabi sunniti e sciiti, per sfociare infine in una guerra civile fra le varie fazioni, causata da una squilibrata gestione del potere (che agevolò le componenti sciite maggioritarie).Docuserie in 5 puntate.Intervengono nell'ordine Enrico Bellano (Inviato RAI), Ferdinando Pellegrini (Inviato del Giornale Radio RAI), Raheem Salman (Giornalista iracheno), Bernardo Valli (Inviato speciale de La Repubblica), Muntazar al-Zaydi (Giornalista iracheno), Staffan de Mistura (Diplomatico), Paolo Mieli (Storico), Sergio Romano (Diplomatico), Fabio Mini (Generale), Alfredo Mantica (Politico), Franco Cardini (Storico), Padre Enzo Fortunato (Direttore della sala stampa del Sacro convento di Assisi), Barbara Contini (Già Responsabile delle infrastrutture e della ricostruzione a Bassora e successivamente Amministratore Civile della Provincia di Dhi Qar), Solomon Moore (Giornalista statunitense) e Rosa Villecco Calipari (Politica). Di Francesco De Leo.Montaggio di Silvio Farina. Montaggio sigla e Voice Over: Mario Cagol.Alcuni frammenti audio utilizzati nella docuserie sono di proprietà dell'Archivio sonoro di RadioRadicale, rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons: Attribuzione 2.5 - La Guerra in Iraq: i bombardamenti (Prima parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Iraqi Freedom (Seconda parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Evitare la guerra (Terza parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: i soldati (Quarta parte). - La Guerra in Iraq: Abu Ghraib e Calipari (Quinta parte).https://storiainpodcast.focus.it - Canale Le Docuserie------------Storia in Podcast di Focus si può ascoltare anche su Spotify http://bit.ly/VoceDellaStoria ed Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/it/podcast/la-voce-della-storia/id1511551427.Siamo in tutte le edicole... ma anche qui:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusStoria/- Gruppo Facebook Focus Storia Wars: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FocuStoriaWars/ (per appassionati di storia militare)- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/focusitvideo- Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusstoria- Sito: https://www.focus.it/cultura

Karen Noé is a renowned psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and healer with a two-year waiting list. Since bestselling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer left the physical plane in 2015, Karen has been receiving profound messages from him for his family and for the world as well. Wayne also comes through with a group of other celestial beings, called the We Guides, that includes Saint Francis of Assisi and numerous angels and ascended masters. Karen is the Hay House author of We Consciousness: 33 Profound Truths for Inner and Outer Peace, Your Life After Their Death: A Medium's Guide to Healing After a Loss, and Through the Eyes of Another: A Medium's Guide to Creating Heaven on Earth by Encountering your Life Review Now. She's so excited to announce her latest project – The Angel Quest Oracle Deck

Karen Noé is a renowned psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and healer with a two-year waiting list. Since bestselling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer left the physical plane in 2015, Karen has been receiving profound messages from him for his family and for the world as well. Wayne also comes through with a group of other celestial beings, called the We Guides, that includes Saint Francis of Assisi and numerous angels and ascended masters. Karen is the Hay House author of We Consciousness: 33 Profound Truths for Inner and Outer Peace, Your Life After Their Death: A Medium's Guide to Healing After a Loss, and Through the Eyes of Another: A Medium's Guide to Creating Heaven on Earth by Encountering your Life Review Now. She's so excited to announce her latest project – The Angel Quest Oracle Deck

Karen Noé is a renowned psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and healer with a two-year waiting list. Since bestselling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer left the physical plane in 2015, Karen has been receiving profound messages from him for his family and for the world as well. Wayne also comes through with a group of other celestial beings, called the We Guides, that includes Saint Francis of Assisi and numerous angels and ascended masters. Karen is the Hay House author of We Consciousness: 33 Profound Truths for Inner and Outer Peace, Your Life After Their Death: A Medium's Guide to Healing After a Loss, and Through the Eyes of Another: A Medium's Guide to Creating Heaven on Earth by Encountering your Life Review Now. She's so excited to announce her latest project – The Angel Quest Oracle Deck

JonMarc and Teresa continue their discussion of the four cardinal virtues with the virtue of Courage (aka. Fortitude). Join JonMarc and Teresa Grodi for an Elevate Ordinary PILGRIMAGE to Rome, Assisi, Medjugorje - July 2022 - visit: catholicfaithjourneys.com/eo Show Notes: https://www.awakencatholic.org/elevate-ordinary/courage-and-patience Download the official AWAKEN App: http://theawakenapp.io Support Elevate Ordinary and all the shows on AWAKEN Catholic by joining the AWAKEN NATION. https://awakencatholic.org/donate

The Holy House of Loreto  The House of NazarethThe history of the translation of the House of Nazareth that Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived in, in Nazareth.This house was transported in 1290 from Nazareth to Yugoslavia and finally to Loreto, Italy in 1294 by angels!One of the proofs of the movement of the Holy House to Loreto, Italy is that the mortar between the stones in the House at Loreto has pollen from the time of Jesus only known to be in Nazareth around 2000 years ago!It is now known as the Holy House of Loreto.Saint Francis of Assisi said that one day Loreto, Italy would be the holiest place on Earth.Browse our Lady of Loreto Collection Journeys of Faith Bob and Penny Lord's StoreJourneys of Faith Blog Subscribe to our Free Blog Easy PeasyBob and Penny Lord TV Channel Miracles of the Eucharist, Apparitions of Mary, and lives of the Saints videos on demand.Support the show (https://bobandpennylord.store/pages/we-need-your-help)

Join Franciscan Associate Applicant Elise Carey as she breaks open the gift of Jesus coming to live among us, and the bigness of God who is known in relationships with others and with creation. From Elise's interview: “I came (to Russia) with my worldview from growing up in the States. That impacted what I understood and even how I related to God. Different countries, different cultures, their worldviews are a bit different. When I worked with, lived in community with, prayed with, cooked meals with, lived life with people from other countries and cultures, it began to change my understanding of God and my faith dramatically. I began to see that my way of thinking was not the only way of thinking or understanding faith or God.” “Jesus is the Word. The Word was with God, the Word was God. And so it's really God in the flesh. In carne, flesh. Coming and living among us, taking on the form of a baby, as we celebrate this time of Christmas, this time of Advent. … Jesus came and pitched his tent among us. He tabernacles among us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He participated in the day-to-day of life. Just like we did, just like we do. He went to weddings. He mourned the loss of friends. He ate with people. He spent time with his mates. He told stories. He prayed with people. He grieved with people. He talked with people in the most unassuming places. … He lived life and so in his coming, through the incarnation, Jesus, he's translating who God is to us.” “He takes the commandments and the laws from the Old Testament and he condenses them into basically two themes, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. He lived this and he exemplified it. He entered people's lives and he let others into his life. Through the incarnation, we have a model. Not do's and don'ts, but a model. An example of what the economy of the kingdom is or the ways of the kingdom works. This is good news; we have an example.” “We see in Francis of Assisi, a life living the example of the economy of the kingdom, the ways of the kingdom. And out of that, some of the Franciscan values are formed. Care for the poor and the marginalized. We see that Jesus said, love your neighbor. We see loving God and loving neighbor in the life of Francis.” “Incarnational living is connecting with people. It's about relationship. To me, that's the bottom line, relationship. But it's relationship with people, with the other. So it's nice to talk about relationships with people that we like to like, but that challenge of the other. For St. Francis, the other was the leper. But in that embrace, in that kiss, that leper became a man, became equal. And so it's embracing the other, so to speak. … When I care for (ducks and chickens), this is the economy of the kindom. Yes, the kindom. It is incarnational living. It's living in relationship with people, with creation.” For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org.   References: John 1:1-4, 14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV) Jon Bonk: We must begin to see the incarnation, not merely as theologically descriptive, but strategically prescriptive. Saint Francis of Assisi references: Francis and the Leper (1 Celano 17): https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195. Francis and the Wolf (Little Flowers 21): https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2502-fa-ed-3-page-601. Canticle of the Creatures: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-canticle-of-the-creatures/129-fa-ed-1-page-113. Jorspeis, Latvian Christian band, sample music: https://jorspeis.bandcamp.com/track/uzticams. What is a seed library and how does it work? Creating Seed Libraries - How Does A Seed Library Work (gardeningknowhow.com) What is an heirloom seed / plant? Heirloom Vegetables - Tips For Growing Heirloom Plants (gardeningknowhow.com) Matthew 6: 9 – 10:  Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Saint Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” Elise's formula for life: Implication + Application = Transformation Icons, Eastern Orthodox Church: http://ww1.antiochian.org/icons-eastern-orthodoxy

Seine freiwillige Armut war Schau des Reichtums Gottes Grundlegendes zur franziskanischen Einstellung zum Leben 4. Oktober 2020, 11 Uhr Liebfrauenkirche Frankfurt am Main, Hochfest Franziskus von Assisi

"God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” With St. Paul's words in the second reading of this Second Sunday of Advent I express my own feelings for you today. After several months away from this blessed land, the Lord has allowed me to address you again in person, seeing your faces, hearing your voices, celebrating together the mystery of a God who loves us and makes himself food and sacrifice for us at every Holy Mass. Many experiences can happen in three months. Now that I see myself here again, it seems to me that an eternity has passed since the last celebration over which I presided in this church. Between that Mass, so long ago, and this one, many have been the experiences, the inner battles, and the graces received. I ask God that we all know how to make the most of the time He gives us. Only Jesus has words of eternal life. Like St. John the Baptist in today's Gospel, the Word of God finds us, too, in the desert. I am not referring to the arid terrain of Arizona, but to the holy land of Advent. A desert is a place of prayer, silence, and penance. To speak to our hearts, the Lord has prepared this time in which he invites us to turn away from the noise and the usual comforts to set out on a journey. The sign of the priest celebrating facing the tabernacle expresses precisely this penitential and pilgrim aspect of Advent. It is a reminder that speaks to us of the seriousness of these weeks that precede Christmas, the expectation of the imminent coming of the Lord, the need to take vital and concrete steps before Jesus is born. "This is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more (...) so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." A desert is also a place of the essential. There one is stripped of what is unnecessary, secondary, irrelevant. Its naked and lifeless landscape sends a message that is important for us: everything in this life passes; what is important is not what we have, but what we are before God. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "What we are before God, that we are and no more." Let me ask: who are you before God? Under those layers you wear, behind the masks, you put on before others, who are you really? The Holy Gospel tells us that the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is the logical sequence presented to us today in the readings: first, sincere conversion; second, the gift of divine mercy and the forgiveness of our sins; third and finally, joy in God's salvation. These are the three necessary steps, which we must take in order, one after the other, because without forgiveness there is no joy, and without repentance, there can be no forgiveness. Today we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us on this Advent journey. May he grant us the grace to convert from the heart, moved by love for this Jesus who comes to be born in the poverty of Bethlehem to teach us the way of humility. May this repentance for our sins then lead us to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of penance, where the Lord himself awaits to give us his infinite love that forgives all. As the psalm says: Let the Lord do great things for you, and you will be filled with joy. I conclude recalling the words of the prophet Baruch that we heard today: "Put on the splendor of glory from God forever." St. Irenaeus wrote that man's glory consists in persevering in the service of God. Yes, God, our good Father, glorifies his servants. God comes this Christmas to give us glory and life in abundance. Let us allow all the light of the Holy Trinity to penetrate to the depths of our souls so that the darkness that blinds us may disappear and we may reach our ultimate goal: eternal communion with God, Mary and all the saints in the everlasting joys of heaven.

Meghan Don is an award-winning author, mystic teacher, and death guide. She has been described as “THE VOICE” in showing humanity how to integrate the feminine aspect in our lives. Her books are Feminine Courage: Remembering Your Voice and Vision Through a Retelling of Our Myths and Inner Stories; Sacred Companions Sacred Community: Reflections with Clare of Assisi; and Meditations with Teresa of Avila: A Journey into the Sacred, which won the best book and author award in New Zealand. Meghan is currently living in Ireland, having been called back to the land of her Ancestors. She is currently working on a book on Death & Dying www.MeghanDon.LifeFor more information on the Well of Light Global Community, Programs, Radio shows and Services go to www.welloflight.comTo access other great interviews and offerings: www.patreon.com/welloflightYour donations are gratefully received and make it all possible!

“Holiday Dance Carol,” piloted by Chicago's Mariah Eastman, has Saint Francis of Assisi, the "Father of the Christmas Carol,” rocking and rolling. Non-Profit Spotlight: 200 Club of Wake County

Social planning, massive governmental conspiracy, gaslighting, horrific carnage, aliens, Merlin… Does this sound like C.S. Lewis?! JonMarc and Teresa discuss why their favorite book of all time — That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis — is the most prophetic book of our time!! Join JonMarc and Teresa Grodi for an Elevate Ordinary PILGRIMAGE to Rome, Assisi, Medjugorje - July 2022 - visit: catholicfaithjourneys.com/eo Show Notes: https://www.awakencatholic.org/elevate-ordinary/cs-lewis-space-trilogy-the-manor-at-st-annes Download the official AWAKEN App: http://theawakenapp.io Support Elevate Ordinary and all the shows on AWAKEN Catholic by joining the AWAKEN NATION. https://awakencatholic.org/donate

About the Hearing Matters Podcast The Hearing Matters Podcast discusses hearing technology (more commonly known as hearing aids), best practices, and a growing national epidemic - Hearing Loss. The show is hosted by father and son, Blaise Delfino, M.S. – HIS, and Dr. Gregory Delfino, Au.D., CCC-A, who treat patients at Audiology Services in Bethlehem and Nazareth, PA. On this episode, Blaise and Dr. Delfino interview Matt Deller, the founding director of the Sounds of the Southwest Singers community choir (SSWS) and the Sounds of the Southwest Chorale (SSWC) from Glendale, Arizona.About Matt DellerMatt has had many opportunities conducting prestigious groups in impressive locations.  In 2010, he made his international conducting debut at the American Cathedral in Berlin, Germany. He also had the privilege of conducting the Arizona Musicfest orchestra during their 2012 season. Matt had the honor of conducting on board the USS Missouri, at Pearl Harbor, HI. He conducted a selection with the Continuo Arts Festival Chorus during High Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. He also directed the SSWS in a solo performance at the Church of St. Mary Magiore in Assisi, Italy.  Matt also had the pleasure of conducting two performances in England at the All Saints Church in Dulwich and at Southwork Cathedral, in London. Probably his most memorable and emotional moment was conducting the Battle Hymn of the Republic on July 4th at the American Cemetery at Normandy, France. He looks forward to making his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2022.Matt believes music isn't just notes on the page, but one truly experiences music through emotion and feeling from the heart. The Sounds of the Southwest Singers through his direction has brought their own brand of passion to their music. As you watch him conduct you can see and feel the passion he brings to the music. Under his direction what the performer and listener emotionally take from each performance is evident.Conducting a Choir with a Profound Hearing LossMaestro Deller presents with a Profound Hearing Loss. However, this has not stopped Matt from pursuing a career in music. "I think God gave me a talent. I have a perfect pitch as well, which helps a lot," Matt says. "The best part is I read lips, so when I'm conducting a choir, and they're singing for me, I can tell where the mistakes are by watching the choir."Oticon Xceed Hearing AidsMatt's type and degree of hearing loss warrants a powerful behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing instrument. Recently, Matt's audiologist fit him with Oticon's newest, most powerful BTE: The Oticon Xceed. People with severe-to-profound hearing loss rely on hearing aids to get through each and every day, and it can be extremely challenging to follow the conversation with a group of friends, family members or colleagues. If several people are talking, it becomes harder and even more tiring to make sense of the conversations. With the new groundbreaking technology in Oticon Xceed, patients have the support they need to actively take part in these situations without having to rely on guessing and lip reading. Matt Deller to Conduct at Carnegie HallHow do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. Practice. Practice. Matt Deller has certainly paid his dues. He looks forward to making his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2022.

Karen Noé is a renowned psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and healer with a two-year waiting list. Since bestselling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer left the physical plane in 2015, Karen has been receiving profound messages from him for his family and for the world as well. Wayne also comes through with a group of other celestial beings, called the We Guides, that includes Saint Francis of Assisi and numerous angels and ascended masters. Karen is the author of We Consciousness: 33 Profound Truths for Inner and Outer Peace, Your Life After Their Death: A Medium's Guide to Healing After a Loss, Through the Eyes of Another: A Medium's Guide to Creating Heaven on Earth by Encountering your Life Review Now, and The Rainbow Follows the Storm: How to Obtain Inner Peace by Connecting with Angels and Deceased Loved Ones. She is also the founder of the Angel Quest Center in Waldwick, New Jersey, where she teaches classes, gives readings, and practices alternative healing. Karen's true calling is spreading the message of oneness on our beautiful planet. She is a proud member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a project of the Source of Synergy Foundation. To find out more about her, please visit her website at www.karennoe.com. To listen to all our XZBN shows, with our compliments go to: https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv *** AND NOW *** The ‘X' Zone TV Channel on SimulTV - www.simultv.com The ‘X' Chronicles Newspaper - www.xchroniclesnewpaper.com

Karen Noé is a renowned psychic medium, spiritual counselor, and healer with a two-year waiting list. Since bestselling author, Dr. Wayne Dyer left the physical plane in 2015, Karen has been receiving profound messages from him for his family and for the world as well. Wayne also comes through with a group of other celestial beings, called the We Guides, that includes Saint Francis of Assisi and numerous angels and ascended masters. Karen is the author of We Consciousness: 33 Profound Truths for Inner and Outer Peace, Your Life After Their Death: A Medium's Guide to Healing After a Loss, Through the Eyes of Another: A Medium's Guide to Creating Heaven on Earth by Encountering your Life Review Now, and The Rainbow Follows the Storm: How to Obtain Inner Peace by Connecting with Angels and Deceased Loved Ones. She is also the founder of the Angel Quest Center in Waldwick, New Jersey, where she teaches classes, gives readings, and practices alternative healing. Karen's true calling is spreading the message of oneness on our beautiful planet. She is a proud member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a project of the Source of Synergy Foundation. To find out more about her, please visit her website at www.karennoe.com. To listen to all our XZBN shows, with our compliments go to: https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv *** AND NOW *** The ‘X' Zone TV Channel on SimulTV - www.simultv.com The ‘X' Chronicles Newspaper - www.xchroniclesnewpaper.com

Tommy talks about Pope Francis' prayer intention for the month of November, introduces listeners to Saint Agnes of Assisi, and answers listener questions about how the experience of trauma might impact our ability to meditate on the wounds of Christ, how to know when we might need medication for anxiety, and how to respond when our parish hands out a pamphlet that gets it wrong on suicide. The Saint Dymphna's Playbook Book is HERE! Order yours now: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/st-dymphnas-playbook

Join me today for our first stop on my southern trek #american #roadtrip #adventure in lovely Santa Fe, New Mexico.This travel writer's dream city is filled with art, architecture, saintly connections, music, great food, shopping, and more. Here's a look at our overnight stay in #santafe⏱TIMELINE⏱1:02 Driving through New Mexico1:24 Stop in Taos (The Burger Stand) HOT & SPICY!!2:06 Stay in Santa Fe in a PUEBLO! Pueblo Bonito Bnb2:33 Meeting Owner Amy Behm, History and stories to tell3:35 Walk to town and music surprises4:45 Art and artists5:20 Assisi, Italy - natural connections6:10 Window shopping in Santa Fe6:37 Good Eats - 315 Restaurant and Wine Bar7:05 The Best BREAKFAST! Tamales and chicken stew!7:40 Visit me next week as. we stop in Texas to do some hiking and Oklahoma, OK!Check here for more information on travel planning help with European ITINERARIES or BOOTCAMP!More CONTENT:

David Seitz, OFS, is a long-time professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order who holds an M.A. in theology from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He has written a book, available on line, called Come Let Us Worship: Reflections on the Words and Prayers of the Mass. He produces podcasts, videos, blogs, and speaks publicly, offering reflection for spiritual growth based on the life and works of St. Francis of Assisi. Find him at tauministries.com and, on YouTube, look for his nickname, Franciscan Dave. Bill, also a Secular Franciscan, recently appeared on Dave's podcast, and I spoke with Bill about that conversation regarding journalism and virtuous communication. We discuss whether missionaries and scientists are also journalists and the spiritual value of seeking and spreading truth. Be sure to find their original conversation at Dave's site.

The more we can learn to deal with our emotions, the more we can understand about this part of who we are. I've just attended a 4-day event and I want to share it with you, at least one aspect of the event. This was a four day intensive virtual event with Christian Mickelson, a powerful leader who's helps people to be incredible coaches. The event was called Instant Miracle Mastery and one of the skills we learned is called The Peace Process. This process has changed lives, and it has brought a lot of calmness to people and helped them resolve conflicts and challenges in their lives. During the event, we learned four specific techniques to use to help people, and the one I am going to focus on today is The Peace Process. It can help you resolve some of the difficulties in life; some of the, the conflicts or mind blocks that are holding you back. Listen & Subscribe on: iTunes / Stitcher / Podbean / Overcast / Spotify One Technique There were 430 people at the event and after Christian Mickelsen taught us the skills that we needed to know, we broke out into small breakout sessions to practice with each other. He demonstrated how to use the techniques that he taught.  We watched, listened, took notes, and then practiced in a breakout session with three, four or five people. I felt so in alignment with The Peace Process and so that's why I've decided to focus specifically on that one tool for this podcast episode. I will share with you seven details about the peace process that I thought would be meaningful for you. 5 Aspects of The Peace Process Yourself or Others Giving Space Listening Natural and Straight-forward Easy To Learn KISS – Keep It Simple Emotions More Details 1. Once you learn the peace process, you can do this technique with yourself. Or you can do it with others. As you know, I do hypnosis with people to help them and I also do self hypnosis. This method is not hypnosis; it's different. But it was very interesting to know that, as with hypnosis, we can use this technique on ourselves or on others . At the event we practiced with other people. I haven't had a lot of time to use this technique with myself but I will be doing that. It was really quite incredible how much peace and resolution people in these breakout sessions were able to experience. 2. The second point I want to share with you is that this involves giving space to whatever issue you have. This process helps simplify the issue and make it more clear. The Peace Process will help the issue you're dealing with become less overwhelming and less complicated 3. Listening is a very important part of The Peace Process. When you sit down with a friend, maybe you're just sitting down to have a coffee, or to talk, I'm sure you know that, the more you tune into your friend and what they are saying, the more you will connect as a friend. The value of your time together will increase depending on each of your listening skills. Truly, I think that throughout life, we can continue and continue to learn to be better listeners. I know that I've been working on being a good listener for most of my life. 4. The Peace Process feels natural, straightforward, and comfortable. If you have a coach, or even if you're sitting down with a friend, I think most of us want to have a natural, comfortable conversation. That's one of the things I loved about the peace process. It felt natural, straightforward, and comfortable. 5. It was easy to learn. Christian made it that way because he's been teaching for a very long time, and he has the skill of presenting concepts in a straightforward way and offering them to participants so they are easy to understand and simple to digest. Like I mentioned, being a great listener and the skill of giving space is a big part of The Peace Process. 6. The simple aspect of this technique is why so many of the people I talked to truly appreciated The Peace Process. I personally think, as human beings, we tend to complicate many aspects of life. I know I have that tendency. We tend to think that the most valuable things are difficult to learn, or they're complicated, or they're expensive. With The Peace Process, the more you can understand it's simplicity, the more you can understand it's power and capability. 7. Emotions and learning to embrace emotions is part of the power of The Peace Process. Dealing with emotions can be difficult and sometimes scary, but this technique can help you feel calm about your emotions. In the past there were times when I didn't know what to do with my emotions. Fear and anger were challenging to deal with at times. Sometimes they would freak me out or I wondered what to do with these feelings. When I was younger, I was more inclined to push my emotions down and pretend they didn't exist. Sometimes I would watch a TV program, eat food, or do something to take my mind away from my emotions. I don't know if you're anything like me, but from my coaching I know that a lot of people don't know how to cope with emotions. The Peace Process helps you move through whatever it is that you're experiencing. There was so much more I could share with you about this event, but I just wanted to keep today's today's episode straight forward and that's why I'm just focusing on one of the skills we learned. Suggested Resources Book: Abundance Unleashed: Open Yourself to More Money, Love, Health, and Happiness Now by Christian Mickelsen Book: Mindfulness: How to Create Inner Peace, Happiness, and Declutter Your Mind by David Clark and Heather Kay Smith App: Insight Timer Related Episodes 489 Relax With St. Francis of Assisi and Peace Troubadour, James Twyman 343 Find Peace With 365 Days of Happiness; Jacqueline Pirtle 189 Surrender To Fear To Reach Peace Says Relationship Expert Erik Newton Are you experiencing anxiety & stress? Peace is within your grasp. I'm Bruce Langford, a practicing coach helping fast-track people just like you to shed their inner bully and move forward with confidence. Book a Free Coaching Session to get you on the road to a more satisfying life, feeling grounded and focused. See me an email at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com with ‘Peace Process' in the subject line. We'll set up a zoom call and talk about how you can move forward to a better life. Send me an email at bruce@mindfulnessmode.com

Full Text of ReadingsFriday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 501All podcast readings are produced by the USCCB and are from the Catholic Lectionary, based on the New American Bible and approved for use in the United States _______________________________________The Saint of the day is Saint Agnes of AssisiBorn Caterina Offreducia, Agnes was the younger sister of Saint Clare, and her first follower. When Caterina left home two weeks after Clare's departure, their family attempted to bring her back by force. They tried to drag her out of the monastery, but her body suddenly became so heavy that several knights could not budge it. Her uncle Monaldo tried to strike her but was temporarily paralyzed. The knights then left Caterina and Clare in peace. Saint Francis himself gave Clare's sister the name Agnes, because she was gentle like a young lamb. Agnes matched her sister in devotion to prayer and in willingness to endure the strict penances that characterized the Poor Ladies' lives at San Damiano. In 1221, a group of Benedictine nuns in Monticelli near Florence asked to become Poor Ladies. Saint Clare sent Agnes to become abbess of that monastery. Agnes soon wrote a rather sad letter about how much she missed Clare and the other nuns at San Damiano. After establishing other monasteries of Poor Ladies in northern Italy, Agnes was recalled to San Damiano in 1253, as Clare lay dying. Three months later Agnes followed Clare in death, and was canonized in 1753. Reflection God must love irony; the world is so full of it. In 1212, many in Assisi surely felt that Clare and Agnes were wasting their lives and were turning their backs on the world. In reality, their lives were tremendously life-giving, and the world has been enriched by the example of these poor contemplatives. Saint of the DayCopyright Franciscan Media

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious Lectionary: 499All podcast readings are produced by the USCCB and are from the Catholic Lectionary, based on the New American Bible and approved for use in the United States _______________________________________The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth of HungaryIn her short life, Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe. At the age of 14, Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia, whom she deeply loved. She bore three children. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land who came to her gate. After six years of marriage, her husband died in the Crusades, and Elizabeth was grief-stricken. Her husband's family looked upon her as squandering the royal purse, and mistreated her, finally throwing her out of the palace. The return of her husband's allies from the Crusades resulted in her being reinstated, since her son was legal heir to the throne. In 1228, Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Elizabeth's health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231. Her great popularity resulted in her canonization four years later. Reflection Elizabeth understood well the lesson Jesus taught when he washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper: The Christian must be one who serves the humblest needs of others, even if one serves from an exalted position. Of royal blood, Elizabeth could have lorded it over her subjects. Yet she served them with such a loving heart that her brief life won for her a special place in the hearts of many. Elizabeth is also an example to us in her following the guidance of a spiritual director. Growth in the spiritual life is a difficult process. We can play games very easily if we don't have someone to challenge us. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary is the Patron Saint of: Bakers Catholic Charities Secular Franciscan Order Saint of the DayCopyright Franciscan Media

Midday Prayer for Tuesday, November 16, 2021Brief Outline:Opening SentencesPsalm 146Old Testament: 1 Macc. 3:1-24Ancient or Classic Prayer: Attributed to Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226)Prayer for Various Occasions: For Other ChurchesThe Lord's Prayer ("debts")DismissalThis service is adapted from The Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer, copyright (c) 2018 Westminster John Knox Press.Scripture quotations (except the Psalms and Canticles) are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the U.S.A."Aleluya" music by JosepMonter from PixabayCandle image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

Does Your Cat Have Mojo? Cat-daddy Jackson Galaxy has a house-full of his own cats (news flash), plus dogs and a turtle. So does he have the same problems as us common folk? You bet he does. Find out how he keeps harmony in his household. Listen Now California Pet Stores Can Only Sell Rescue or Shelter Dogs The California Governor has signed the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act into law, making California the first to have such a law that is statewide. Dogs, cats, and rabbits will arrive at pet stores in the state already vaccinated and spayed or neutered. The biggest opposition to the law came from The American Kennel Club and the California Retailers Association. Listen Now Blessing Your Animals Dr. James Capers is here to bless your animals. Grab your pets and bring them around the radio for this special ceremony. This is the next best thing to a visit from St. Francis of Assisi. Listen Now Making Sure Your Pet Has A Safe Holiday Redbarn's Lindsay Tracy is back to share tips for celebrating a safe holiday. This time of year can spell doom for your pets. In fact, between Halloween and Christmas, veterinarians see more animals than the rest of the year. Pancreatitis soars around Thanksgiving because the well-meaning guardians feed their furry companions leftovers from the table. Don't let your pet become a holiday statistic. Listen Now Woman Wins Sick Pay to Care for Pet An Italian college professor and dog owner has won the right to sick pay from her employer, after she took time off work to care for it. She only asked for two days leave because the dog needed constant medical supervision before it could be taken into surgery. When her employer refused her request, she appealed, demanding her right to paid leave as a public servant. Italy's Penal Code prohibits the abandonment of pets and that keeping an animal in conditions that may cause it to suffer is a crime in the country. Each is punishable with jail time or a hefty fine. So, the university reconsidered the case and ruled in the woman's favor, granting her the leave, which is traditionally granted only for workers dealing with serious personal or family problems. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

Audio Transcript: This media has been made available by Mosaic Boston Church. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston and our neighborhood churches or donate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com. Welcome dear church to Communion Sunday. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are a generous God. In the small things, you gave us an extra hour to sleep, and in the big things, you gave us your son. And Jesus, we thank you that you gave us yourself and the Holy Spirit we thank you for your presence here with us and we thank you for writing this book. Words that define reality, define love, define sacrifice, define generosity. We love your word and we thank you that you're the author of this book. You're in the room. And I pray as we hear from your word that you interpret to us what it means, to us where we are and how to apply this. I pray that you give us a vision for generosity. The same vision that's in your heart and I pray that you bless our time in the holy word. Amen. Grace is generous gift giving. That's the title of the sermon. That's the big idea. Grace is generous gift giving. I've realized recently that a lot of Christians miss out, a lot of people miss out on some of God's greatest blessings because they don't listen to God's word the way you should. A lot of people read God's word, listen to God's word. Some things said to some people by some people a long time ago. And if that's how you approach scripture, it's always going to be theoretical, it's always going to be, this is what it means to me, it's always going to be standing over in judgment over God's word. I do not listen to scripture like that. I do not read scripture like that. I know the God who wrote it and I walk with Him on a daily basis. I'm just so thankful that God is so gracious to me as to speak to me, as to communicate with me and He cares about me. Someone said that no one cares how much until they know how much you care. And God cares about me so I listened to His word. I sit there with God and I say, "You're the author, you're in the room." What does it mean? Here's how I view preaching. I view preaching as me living vicariously through Cameron Hanes. If you don't know Cameron Hanes, he's living the life that I would be living if I were not called to be a pastor. He's a hunter. You can find him on Instagram. He's got 1.2 million followers. He's a hunter and he hunts humanely. He's a bow and arrow guy. So I view myself as I go hunting into the mountain to get the moose and then I carry it back on my back and then I dress it up, and then I cut it up, and I slice it up and then I throw it on the grill. And that's what this is, that's what preaching is. And I do not chew it for you. You have to chew it yourself or else you choke on it. I made a conscious decision to change the way I preach because I'm tired of doing the homework for you. I'm tired of regurgitating to you what you can get in the ESV Study Bible. You want historical context, literary context, you want a definition of the Greek or the Hebrew word? Open an ESV Study Bible, read it. From now on, I just assume that every single one of you has read every single word in the Bible and if there's something that you do not understand, you go into the bottom of ESV, there's cheat codes to explain it to you. I say you got to do your own homework. I say this because I send out a newsletter every Saturday and at the bottom I put the text a link to the chapter. So what am I doing? I assume that you have read it but the data shows that you have not because then I see the click through-rate in MailChimp, which is 2.3%. Having is only 2.3% of the churches with me when I am... I assume you have read. So do your homework. It's like in college where the lecture makes so much more sense if you've read the material the night before. You know what I'm saying? And then you're like, "Oh, the professor got it from the book." That's what I'm saying. I told you a couple weeks ago that we're at war. And the reason why I said that is because a lot of people don't realize that we're at war and the weapons of the enemy are weapons of mass distraction to just get you distracted from what matters. Just hours of your day, you're thinking about the Metaverse, just something out there instead of real life. That's why you need to know the sword of the Spirit, you need to know this word. So it's a conscious decision because I want to spend more time in the sermon doing application and testimony. Because when I listen to a sermon, my favorite part of the sermon is where the guy up there is like, "Before he tells me how to live, I want to know that he actually lived it." So you need testimony to do that. And today, a lot of the sermons give me testimony of the blessing that it is to be generous. And I've thought about this for a very long time. I'm 38 years old and I've experienced life from the perspective of meeting generosity and I've experienced generosity from the perspective of giving and living generously. My parents emigrated to the States in 1989. My dad was 30, my mom was 27. They have three kids, fourth on the way, $700 net worth. We were recipients of generosity. And I watched my dad from this place where he received generosity grow into a place of tremendous generosity. It's hard to be generous in a day like ours. And when I talk about generosity, I'm not just talking about money, I'm talking about wealth. And wealth consists of two parts. They sound the same; presence and presents. That's wealth. Presents. Let's talk about money, presents, with a ts at the end. Presents, this is money, this is gifts, this is things, this is services. It's hard to be generous in a time where inflation, hyperinflation. Now we're going into recession so security payments are going up by 5.9%. If you look at us car market, it's a lot higher. I think we just printed another trillion dollars. Is there going to be recession? Yeah. What else are you worried about? Gas prices, job turmoil, you might have to pick up and move. Real estate, who knows? Kids, you might have to switch schools. You're talking about generosity, you want me to give money. And then there's presence. This is your time. That's our greatest commodity. It's time, it's words, it's ideas, it's encouragement, it's discipleship. It's hard to be generous with that presence in the day when there's members in the church who haven't seen their family in two years. And just being with people is just awkward right now. And then what's the alternative? It's video meetings. And if I have to sit through one more video meeting I will get Bell's palsy. That tic, the nervous tic I get when I'm in a video meeting, that's probably going to be permanent. Okay with people, okay presence, you don't know where they stand on COVID. You do know where they stand on COVID. It's hard to be generous with words when you haven't complimented a person in years. This is my philosophy of complimenting someone. When I see that they're trying, you did something different, I'm going to notice, if I notice it. Usually I have a million things in my mind but if I notice it like, "Hey, you got a haircut? Hey man, happy haircut." If a girl is like, I just know how much it costs to do your hair. I'm like, "Oh, man. That looks good." It's hard to compliment people in a day where... It's awkward. Masks make communicating so hard, especially for internationals or someone with a speech impediment. You want to text. My gift game is through the charts. I got all kinds of pictures on already. That's why we have to talk about driven generosity because no one costs into generosity. You have to talk about a vision for generosity now, here and now, but also in your life. Are you on a trajectory? Do you have a vision in your heart to be generous because that's what love is. It's generosity. That's what grace is. Grace is unmerited favor. And you can't talk about love if you can't talk about treasure. This is why Jesus said, "Wherever your heart is, that's where your treasure is." You can't talk about love if you do not talk about wealth. So that's why we're talking about it. 2nd Corinthians chapter eight. I'm going to assume you have read it. As I mentioned, this is the reading of God's holy and infallible authoritative word. May you write these eternal truths on your heart. And also if you have not read it, I challenge you after to go and read the whole chapter. I'm going to read this as we go along and relisten to the sermon because that's another thing, I assume that if you're a member or if you go here, you do not miss sermons because we pour our life, our heart into these sermon, and we're leading the church through the preaching of God's word. We're leading. So if you're a member and you're on vacation... The average member of this church goes to church half the time, half the Sundays. Stuff just comes up. You got to take a weekend trip. "Yeah, I can't live in the city." You got to go New Hampshire, you go to the White Mountains. You just travel the world and you miss and you come back, you're like, "This is a different church. I didn't go to this church. I became a member of this church?" Yeah, keep up. That's what I'm saying. All right. 1st Corinthians 16, this is the context, verses one through four. It's there if you want. St. Paul said this, he said, "The Gospel was planted in Jerusalem through Jesus Christ." Now there's a church in Jerusalem, Jesus' brother, his younger brother, half brother James, becomes a pastor. And then God sends the Holy Spirit upon the church and then God said to them, "Go and preach the gospel in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, to the ends of the earth." They didn't so God sends persecution so they start actually doing their job. And because of the persecution in Jerusalem and because there's a famine at the time, the church isn't doing well, they can't even work, they can't find jobs because people find out that you're a Christian, now all of a sudden you're fired. So St. Paul then, he hears about the church of Jerusalem, and then he's been planting churches in Ephesus, Colossi, Philippi, in Corinth. He plants these churches and he knows that they are prospering financially. And he says, "Hey, the church in Jerusalem has a need so I'm going to ask you to collect finances and then send one representative from your church. Don't give me the money." He says, "Send one representative to Jerusalem with the finances. I will accompany you." And by accompanying you, that shows us that he has no mercenary interest in the matter. It's not for him at all but he's risking life and limb to accompany them to go to Jerusalem and he actually ends up in prison because... So it shows that he's generous with his life to be generous to the church of Jerusalem. And also what he's doing is he's healing tension, racial tension between the Jewish church and the Gentile churches. What he's saying is, "We're one big family." That's the context. Three points. Grace is generous gift giving. Grace is generous gift giving. First of all Grace is, and that's what he starts with. This the first one. We want you to know brothers about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. Grace, unmerited favor, God saved them. They added nothing to their salvation. Grace, God predestined them before the foundation of the world. Draws them, elects them, they become Christians, it's all grace, all their sins forgiven, by the grace of God that has been given among the churches, Macedonia for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy so they're experiencing affliction as well. They're persecuted as well. Their abundance of joy. They have so much joy that God saved them. And they're extreme poverty, they don't have much money. They're afflicted, they have extreme poverty in Macedonia that have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. He's saying, "The church is poor." And if that tiny little church plant in Macedonia, that church plant is younger than the church in Corinth, if they were generous because they're wealthy in generosity, shouldn't you be more generous than a baby church?" That's what he's saying. And he's talking about grace. There's a difference between grace and mercy. Mercy is you don't get what you deserve, you don't get help. Grace says you get what you don't deserve. You get pulled over, you're doing 79 and 35 and the cop says you deserve a $450 speeding ticket. If you don't know what I'm alluding to, listen to last week's sermon. And the cop shows up and he's like, "Here's your ticket, $450." But then he tears it up and he says, "Oh, well. Why are you speeding?" And you say, "I'm speeding because my dad set my curfew at 10:00 PM." And he said, "I'm going to take your keys away because my dad said that nothing good happens after 10:00 PM." And I'm like, "Ah, that's when the good stuff started happening." And then the cop says, "I get it. I had a dad like that." And then the cop gives you $450. That's great. Did you deserve that gift? You did not. So St. Paul says, generosity starts on knowing. I deserve hell, but God promises me heaven. Jesus paid all my debts and He redeemed me. I have access to the treasures of Jesus Christ because I belong to him. Once you receive the forgiveness, you are willing to give whatever God causes you to give. They're dirt poor but the rich enjoy their overflow and wealth of generosity. Do you have a vision? Are you driven with a vision for generosity? Are you driven for this? I'm not talking about just working enough to meet your needs. I'm talking about work enough to meet someone else's needs. I once heard that Rick Warren, who wrote The Purpose Driven Life, now it's a different title. What on Earth Am I Here For? It was the best selling book of all time. Hardback books after the Bible. Best selling. He made bank. And then I heard that he turned into a reverse tither where he didn't just give 10%, he gave 90%. I remember hearing that and thinking, "Oh my. Imagine doing that." And I had this desire, I'm like, "Lord, I would love to one day to be the reverse tither." And then I became a pastor. I became a church planter in Boston. How big does your 10% have to be? But I haven't lost the vision because I believe in a God of miracles. If your crypto investments go to $10 million overnight, are you going to tithe? Are you going to give a million dollars to the church? And if you can't be generous with theoretical money. This is absolute real talk because in the same way that 2.3% of the church actually clicks the link, 2.3% of the church actually gives. So there's 10 people that give most of the giving. We'll get to the tithing. I'm just going to plant this here, make you feel a little uncomfortable knowing that we'll get there. By the time we get there you're going to forget that you were uncomfortable, okay? And what are you doing to make the vision a reality? Whoever doesn't work shouldn't eat, Scripture says. And if you do work, you're going to work hard enough to have something else to share. You work hard enough to put yourself in a position where you can be exorbitantly, lavishly, liberally generous. Not conserving, just conserving everything that you're given. So you got to ask your yourself whenever you're making... I just want to plant the vision in your heart and then it's going to be you and the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit. Once you add, "Lord, how can I be driven to be more generous? Will this decision helped me become more generous?" And then you weight decision. Even when you're young, you weigh which school to go to and what to major in, how many loans to take out and how long it's going to take you to pay off the loans so that you can be lavishly generous. This vision it's not how you change your life today. It's a philosophy of life. Verse three continues, for they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means like the widow with the two mites and Jesus watched her give money to the Temple of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints and this not as we expected but they gave themselves first to the Lord. And then by the will of God to us. They first gave and said, "God, I'm yours. You did everything to make me yours. I'm yours and everything I have is yours so Lord, what would you have me do with what you have given me, both my dollars in my days? My time, my treasure, my talent. Everything, Lord, it's all yours." And when you have that mindset and you hear of a need, you say, "Please, let me help you." He uses the word beg. They begged. You don't think of beggars as giving, as generous. And he says, "They're begging me to take their finances to help this other church." What a vision. It's like when you start a company and it's tremendous, and the idea is tremendous. It's going to help so many people, and then someone hears it's a great idea and they're like, "Please, let me invest. Let me invest. I'm begging you, let me invest." Because you know that this investment is going to turn into something a lot more. That's what it means to give in this world. It's an investment for heaven. God keeps track of everything. I've given money away I don't even remember, I don't remember. And then somebody writes to me like, "Hey, you changed my life that one time." My family is from Ukraine and Estonia. I remember we went to visit a family member Ukraine. Their annual salary, she was an engineer, she makes $500 a year. $500, here you go, cash. It changed her life. What's $500 here? Three days of rent? You know what I'm saying? Generosity has to be precise. If you really want to be generous, you always you have extra. You're waiting for the opportunity. You hear of a need and you're like, "Yeah. What's your Venmo?" I'm going to meet the need because God has met mine. Timing is everything. How can I help? And not just finances. If you're in college, you don't have much to finances but you have time. You can be present with people. Timing is everything. How can I help with this posture of heart? What would change your day today? What do you need from me right now? How can I help? And you got to get to know people and practically this is why community groups are so important because in community group you get to know people and then at prayer request time, they're like, "Hey, can you pray for this situation? I need help." So it takes humility to get to know people, it takes humility to pray for people, and it takes humility to actually voice your need. And then it takes humility to receive the gift because there's always this mentality of, yeah. But then I owe you. No. You don't. This is a gift. You didn't deserve it. Just don't forget it. Just say thank you. Just thank you. Are you adding value to someone's life with your wealth? That's true generosity. You can't meet everyone's every need but you can at least pray. That's the bare minimum. I'll think about you. I'll expand my brain energy to actually pray for you and continue to pray for you. For example for me, what do I need? My wife hates buying prisons for me because she's like, "What can you give a man who has everything?" And I hate buying presents for her, different reason. She's not hearing this service, praise God. I can be transparent. I bought her a purse one time. Nice. Leather. Big. She doesn't like big purses. I had no idea so I gave it to her. She took it back. She took it back. Don't take it back. If it was a gift just pretend you like it, okay? So what do I need? I need prayer. I ask that you pray for me, I ask that you pray for me by name. I ask that you pray for my family, I ask that you pray for the Sikkemas and the Hoots, Pastor Shane and Pastor Andy. I ask that you pray for the staff. I ask you pray for the members of this church, and I ask you to pray for a building. I was at a pastor's meeting and they're like, "Hey, can you fill out the survey?" And it's all your personal information. They said, "What's the greatest need in your town, in your city?" I wrote church building with a school. I've been here for 12 years and if people had not moved away at the rate that they were moving away, we would have a church of thousands. It'd be a different conversation. So in the back of my mind, I'm always thinking subconsciously, what will make this a church that you're like, "I will not move away." What would that take? And in my mind, I imagine a church building so nice that you're like, "Why would I go anywhere else? I'm going to figure out how to stay here." So I ask that you pray for that. St. Paul talks about this. He talks about his generosity, the generosity with his people Macedonians and then he brings in Titus. Accordingly we urge Titus that as he had started so he should complete among you this act of grace. So Titus is there and he's like "You started the collection. Let's finish the collection so that Titus with representatives from your church can go bring this to Jerusalem. Second is generous verses seven through nine. He uses the phrase excel in generosity. 2nd Corinthians 8:7, But as you excel, you excel. Does that word do anything to you emotionally? Well, if you work with Excel, it does. He says, "In the same way that you excel in faith." I know a lot of Christians like this. "I just want to know about God, I just want to know God's word, I want to memorize the whole thing." Yeah. Keep going, "Excel in speech, excel in knowledge, in all earnestness, in our love for you-- see that you excel in this act of grace also." I went to seminary with these people who have never really done anything in... I went to seminary after working for two years in the business world and I worked in government and I realized I got to seminary, none of these people know life. They don't understand how the real world works and that's why the pastors are like, "I don't want to talk about money." This is what people think about all the time. This is what you do at your job all the time. In some sense, you're thinking about creating value and getting value. He says, "Excel in this act of grace." Not just the faith part. A lot of people they take faith so seriously that it never becomes real so it's just theoretical and works. And some people are all about works theoretically. Some people somewhere should give something. That's why the government should tax everybody and the government should figure out how to be generous so that I don't have to be. That's why whenever I hear Elon Musk gave this amount of money and then all these haters show up and they're like, "Yeah, but that's only 0.001% of his net worth." What if we made your generosity public? I want to come on in on that tweet. He's talking about generosity. Giving, excelling, liberal giving. It's as important to the faith as works is it is works, it's faith with works. It's all intertwined. And by the way, generosity is not tithing. Tithing is giving 10% of your income to your local church before uncle Sam or FICA takes their cut. That's tithing. Giving 10%. Tithing is not generosity. Tithing is just not stealing from God. It's Malachi three. You look it up. He says we are to give, and I will go against any theologian who says otherwise with the like, oh, new covenant, it was the Old Testament, not the New Testament. In the old Testament the tithe remains and then they had temple tax and all kinds of stuff. It was actually computed it was 27 and a half percent, whatever it is. Did Jesus Christ talk about tithing? He just assumed it. He assumed if you love your local church, you will give to your local church because you believe in it. And do you have a verse? Yeah, Matthew, 23:23. Jesus condemning the Pharisees. Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. They were the conservatives. The sad you sees were the liberals. These are the conservatives and Jesus hits both sides. "You're so conservative with your money." He's saying, "Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for you tithe mint, dill, cumin. They had a little garden. They get 10 leaves of mint. One goes to the temple." They neglected the weightier matters of the law. Justice, mercy, faithfulness. These, you ought to have done the justice, the mercy, faithfulness, the most important stuff without neglecting the others, the tithe. Do we care about justice and mercy and faithfulness? We do. Do we care about justice? I stand against any form of oppression, any form of oppression. Any form of oppression I stand against so should you, but also you got to care about giving because money flows when you love something, when you believe in something. You invest in what you believe naturally, you invest in what you love naturally. Take my money, take my wealth. Let me just apply this to dating. So all the single people, but also the married people you listen too because I'm teaching generosity here. So young men, I'm going to start with young men. You like a girl, you like a girl. She's a Christian because why would you marry a non-Christian? Marriage is hard enough. You like a girl and you know that she likes you, that's important because a lot of people just assume, you're single, I'm single, I'm of the other gender so you definitely like me. No. If you can't even read that she likes you or not, you definitely aren't ready for marriage because women communicate very differently than men do. So you got to read her, you got to read the signs. You can't be oblivious to the stuff. And if you are, you come talk to me and I will tell you, "Bro, she literally emailed me and said, Pastor Jan, please tell this person to stop. I don't like him." And then Pastor Jan is going to say, "You know what? Here's a few things that you can work on." Okay. You like a girl. She likes you. You ask her out on a date. You ask her out for dinner and you go somewhere nice. Not too nice. Not too swanky. Good food, good ambiance. You're having good conversation. Lead with the questions. Lead the conversation. You ask her about her life, about her dreams, about her vision, her beliefs, what she likes, you're a student because that's what marriage is. And then the check comes, how are we paying for this? Bro if there's any hesitation in your heart, I didn't expect her to order appetizers. If you have to do that, you're not ready. You're in the wrong place. You should be at your job, at your second job. You should be at your side hustle. There's 16 hours in the day and you're single. What else do you do with your time? Now, also you got to tip. You pay for it and you tip well, not based on, ooh, if they didn't serve me right. Have you ever been in the food industry? Some of the hardest work ever. You tip and you tip well and you'll let her know I'm a boss because that's what a girl wants. Split the bill. Let me just analyze this. It's such a cultural issue because I come in with Slavic bag. On Slavic back it's completely different. Completely. If I said I had to talk about this at church, if I said that to any of my Russian brothers, they'd be like, "Why?" They'll be like, "Oh, Americans. They don't know." You don't know. Tanya, my wife Tanya, in the first sermon, I said that she dated a guy who gave her a gift then she texted me during the sermon. She's like, I never dated him. It was just a birthday present. But this guy shows up and he wanted a date or she didn't go on a date yet. She thought he was boring because girls like to laugh and he had no sense of humor, but he had money. So he bought her a gold watch on her birthday. It didn't work. She kept the watch and she gave it to my daughter, Sophia, who still has the watch. But I had to ask, I'm like, "She's high maintenance because how big does a rock have to be to marry a girl like that?" Back to the cultural analysis, the splitting the bill you're hedging bets. And if you're hedging bets this might not work out. So I don't want to take a hit on my net worth. If you're hedging bets and you don't view this as I'm investing, if you're hedging your bets, you're in the wrong spot. You should have been at community group with her, getting to know her. Because when you get married, you got one bank account anyway so get married and your chances are higher if you pay for the bill, that's one thing. The phrase, let's go Dutch, is splitting the bill. Do you know that phrase? Let's go Dutch. Pastor Shane, who is Dutch told me that that's inaccurate. He said, "No. True Dutch people do not go Dutch in the restaurant because true Dutch people do not go out to eat. They go fishing, which is a much better date." What I'm saying is, if you really love, there's got to be generosity. And ladies, just a word, please have the humility to let the guy pay because marriage is getting an order. There's an order to creation. There's God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, husband, wife, children, angels, demons and demons became demon Satan became Satan because he wouldn't get an order where you as the wife, as a woman, you're saying is, I will follow you. I will follow your lead if you're going to lead like that, if you're going to lead with generosity. No one wants to be married to a stingy person. No one wants to be married to a mooch. No one wants to be friends with the mooch. A person who all the do is mooch off of you. They go to your house and they always come with empty hands. And you're like, at some point I'm going to stop inviting you into my house. And usually those mooches are theoretically very generous. In their heart they're like, I'm bringing my presence. Yeah bro but you got to bring presence to. This is the act of grace. That's what St. Paul is talking about. You excel in the act of grace. Do you have a vision to Excel? I say this, not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. Love can be proven. It can be tested. And you can tell if you love when your time and your talents and treasure, everything just flows into the direction of the one whom you love. And Paul uses the example of generosity, Macedonians to inspire the Corinthians verse nine, for you know the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is what it's all rooted in. You know the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that though He was rich yet for your sake He became poor so that you by His poverty might become rich. This is the greatest act of generosity in the universe. The God of this universe, the son of God who always existed, there was never a time that He was not. He did not start being when he was born. No, no. When He was born and He took on flesh. That's His incarnation. That's when His humanity started, but Jesus always was. So you've got the whole doctrine Jesus Christ. He was the Christ here in a nutshell, one person, two natures. And we have the greatest motive. We have the greatest motive for the greatest act to ever happened. Why did Jesus do this? Because He loves us and He wants to make us rich. Jesus wants to make you wealthy so He bankrupts himself to make you wealthy. Jesus Christ was poor on purpose. I've heard of people get really rich and then they get poor but it's never on purpose unless you're dying and then you're a philanthropist and you give everything away. My dad says that money is like oxygen. You only need it when you're alive. But Jesus Christ did this intentionally. And by the way, people looked at Jesus Christ and they're like, "Bro, you're poor." And He's like, "But I own everything." And by the way He could have also used, He had a very particular set of skills that He could have used to enrich Himself on earth. He could have started a tremendous wine business or a baker but he chose not to. He chose to bring a different kind of wealth into the world, a wealth that really matters. That's what he did so He loved and He died. So Jesus Christ was rich. We live in a world that demonizes wealth because we idolize it. Jonathan Edwards has this thing where he talks about the cycle of idolization and demonization where you idolize something, this is my savior and you realize it can't save you, you begin to demonize it. The world does this with money. We do this with people. And this is why one of the things I say as a pastor all the time, do not idolize me. I'm not the guy. I'm not Jesus. I'm just here literally just talking about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It's not about me. It's about Jesus. I walk with Jesus and I'm going to tell you how I walk with Jesus but it's not about me. So do not idolize me because I've seen and then all of a sudden we're not friends. Same thing the world does with money. Is it inherently wrong to be rich? No, of course not. Is it inherently wrong to be poor? No. Jesus was both. There's righteous rich and righteous poor and there's unrighteous rich and unrighteous poor. And Jesus Christ said, "I came in here. I look poor but I was wealthy." Because you can be poor and wealthy at the same time. You go to countries that are not as materially prosperous as ours and you look at their life and they live a richer life. I was reading Solzhenitsyn this week. Solzhenitsyn he is famous for The Gulag Archipelago, where he was imprisoned. And by the way, if you want to really understand what the world is going through, read him. And one of the things that he said was when he got out of The Gulag, out of the prison for speaking truth, he got out of the prison and he would write in prison and he would memorize everything that he wrote and then he would burn the papers and then when he got out, he wrote it all down and he brought his best friends into his little cabin with a dirt floor and he for five hours recited his work because that's all he could give them. And their life was changed because they were enriched. That's what Jesus is saying. What does Jesus want in return for his word? For his work? He wants gratitude. Just like each one of us when we're generous to someone just say, thank you. Romans one, they didn't thank God, we didn't thank God. That's what sin is. Sin is in gratitude toward God. Jesus says, worship me, glorify me. Verse five, and this not as we expected but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Generosity to others as the embodiment of Christ incarnation of his embodiment. What's the most generous thing that you can do to someone? The highest level of generosity. What is the absolute generous thing you can do to someone is help them understand the greatest act of generosity for them, help them understand that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, my sins, everybody. And He wants to forgive you so that you will have life with Him now, eternal life that begins now and for all of eternity. There is no greater gift that you can give anybody than the word of the gospel. There's no greatest act of generosity and that's why I need to say the following. A very famous quote was thrown around in the church all the time and it goes like this, preach gospel at all times and use words if necessary. Francis of Assisi, it's attributed to him but he never wrote it. It's actually very anachronistic. (silence) It's an oxymoronic quote because how did you get that quote in my mind? Did you come up to me and put your hand on my shoulder and infuse and inject those words into my mind. Did you buy me lunch and through that sandwich or just in my mind? No, you use words. And I hear what you're saying. I understand what you're saying but you're saying, you're using words. The problem is that quote, a lot of people use it as an excuse to justify the fact that they have never shared the gospel with another human being. Well you're being a mooch. You're being stingy with your greatest gift. So share the gospel. That's the point. Speaking the gospel's the most compassionate, the most empathetic, the most kind generous thing you can do. It's also the most savage thing you can do. In a world that says, "No, you can't talk about that." You're like, "Oh yeah, I'm going to talk about that." You need to believe in Jesus, repent of your sin because you're going to hell. I don't want you to. Let's go to heaven instead together. Savage. Savage love. So what I'm trying to say is don't Assisi-fy Christianity. Let's do what Jesus did. Jesus didn't just give us fruit from the tree of life. He welcomes us into the garden and shows us where to get it. Three is gift giving. And this is 2nd Corinthians 8:10 through 11. These verses are just an application of St. Paul of these principles. So I'm going to read them fast and I might skip some. In this matter I give my judgment. This benefits you who a year ago started not only to do this work, but also desire to do it so now finish doing it as well. So that your readiness and desire may be mashed by your completing it out of what you have. They had begun to gather lapsed, perhaps false teachers came in, perhaps they won the money themselves, but he says, I want you to give now because everyone's generous theoretically until you have to cut the check, until you have to hit the send button, until you have to actually take from yourself and give to another. Verse 12, for if the readiness is there it is acceptable according to what a person has not according to what he does not have. What he's saying is it's not about the amount, it's about your desire to give. He doesn't care who gives what. I have no idea who gives what at Mosaic. I have no idea. I don't have access to any of the finances. I have no idea. I only know how much one family gives. That's my family. And I look at that number every once in a while. I'm like, is this commensurate with how much I love? Verse 13, for I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened but that as a matter of fairness, your abundance at the present time should supply their need so their abundance may supply your need that there may be fairness. What he's saying is, right now, you are more prosperous than those people, so you should share. We teach little kids at home, hey, you guys share. It's not your Legos and it's not her Legos. It's my Legos. This is how you know that a child is maturing because a child actually turns around at mom who your whole life and I'm saying, did you eat? Are you hungry? Did you eat? Did you eat? You try and say, "Mom, did you eat?" There's a maturity in generosity. Verse 15. This is really a principle and he gets it from the old Testament. As it is written, whoever gathered much had nothing left over and whoever gathered little had no lack. And here he goes to when Israel is in the wilderness freed from captivity but they don't have access to food because they're in a desert. They ask God, God sends manna. So every day manna would fall from heaven. I think of manna as a Los Amigos burrito. That's how I think of manna from heaven, the surf and turf, praise God. So burritos are falling from heaven every single morning. And people they go up to grab their burrito. How many burritos are you going to eat? And you know that this burrito is actually going to go bad tomorrow so you can't save it. And you have a decision to make you grab your three burritos for the day, a very nutritious meal. There's a lot of burritos on the floor. You have decision to make. If you are an able bodied, healthy human being. The question, am I going to gather more for whom? Well, it's not for me because it's going to go bad. Am I going to gather for someone else? Perhaps was weak or frail or perhaps it was responsibilities at home like a single parent where I don't have time to go out and gather burritos. And the most industrious, the most driven would say, "You know what? This is an opportunity for me to serve my brothers and sisters. I am going to gather as much as I can to be as helpful as I can." Well that kind of vision for your life, it changes a person. It changes your capacity. One day you gathered 10 burritos, the next day you gathered 12. A year goes by and you're gathering 400 because you need to figure out how to organize people. Now you're managing other gatherers of burritos and after a while you develop the skillset of how the world works, leadership, et cetera, et cetera and then you get into the promised land and you have a certain skill set that other people do not. And this is where the gleaning laws come in. God knew this and he knew that the most industrious, the most diligent, the most self-driven and most ambitious are going to build businesses. So God says, "Look, when you build a business, when you got a farm, do not harvest absolutely every single bit. Don't maximize your profits." I want you to start a business from the perspective of generosity. And he says, "Leave things on the outskirts for the widow, the orphan and the immigrant." The American church today has lost the vision of the gleaning laws. So if you start a company, are you driven by generosity? Are you driven by greed like Facebook is, like Google is, like Apple is. If you publish an app in the app store or Google play, you know how much they take? They take 30%. They didn't build it. Let me speak to my fellow entrepreneurs. My culture creators, influencers, hustlers. Let me speak to founders. I know the heart of a founder, a heart of a founder is like a heart of a father. You are always thinking about your baby consciously or subconsciously. You have dreams about your baby. Build with generosity. To my fellow employees who work for bosses, I want you to understand that when you clock out, your boss does not. You stop thinking. You're like, "I don't get paid to think about this. I don't get paid to answer this email." Well your boss does not. So there's got to be generosity. A generous employees, generous bosses, generous CEOs, managers, generous consumers. I know a guy who's the most generous guy I have ever met. I'm going to tell you a story about him after. He's generous toward everybody except for Chipotle. They mess up his order and he is on the customer service line demanding extra burritos. Bro, generous tip. You got to tip. Most basic thing you can do. Generous lawyers, generous nurses and doctors, generous scientists, generous teachers, politicians, developers, builders, executive consultants, analysts, students, professors, generous in the food industry, generous in the international relations, generous bankers, investors, VCs, designers, artists, musicians, architects, childcare professionals. I've said pastors, athletes, comedians, and everyone I left out. And I want to speak here about someone that everyone leaves out, stay at home moms. My wife was a stay at home mom. You know in Russian what they say? What is your wife doing? And they say doma sidit. She sits at home? Come in my house for a day. Sits at home. My wife is a homemaker. That's her full-time job. That was a conscious decision. We live on one income. Why is it her full-time job? Because it's a full-time job to be my wife. So husbands if your wife works a full-time job, do not demand from her that being a mom and a wife is a full-time job. If you want it to be a full-time job, make it her full-time job. This sermon I like because this topic I like because it throws everyone for a loop. Where's Pastor Jan politically on? Let me just explain where I am politically, because the last few sermons when I go real talk people are like, "Where is he politically?" I went to Brown University. Even in the Ivy leagues it's the most liberal one. Everyone's like, "Oh, you went to Brown. Oh, that's weird. That's just weird." They don't have a business school on purpose. It doesn't help the endowment. So I went to Brown University, but I will go to church on Sundays at a Russian Baptist church as conservative in every perspective as possible. They were Republicans before they even learned English to know that they're Republicans. They're Republicans before they learned the word. So at church, I am the lib and at Brown everyone's like, "What is wrong with you?" There were tree huggers before that became a thing. And Bush was President and I bashed Bush and my dad called me a lib for bashing Bush. And then the libs love Bush now so was my dad a lib? That's where I am politically. Here's my analysis of being in these two worlds. Liberals are strong in works theoretically. The ideas when they hit the pavement, they don't work. They want someone else to be generous. Let's talk about your generosity. And conservatives, they're theoretical in the faith part. God, faith, family, freedom. Great. Let's talk about the faith. All of you need to repent. All of you. Satan sometimes comes as a Republican and sometimes he comes as a Democrat. And I'm an equal opportunity preacher. All of them need to repent, everybody. Trust in Jesus. That's what I'm saying. 2nd Corinthians, I say that because on the one hand, I'm like, generosity. On the other hand, I'm thinking about homeschooling my kids. So where am I politically? I don't look at things through political lenses. I look at things through biblical lenses which makes it hard for people to make sense sometimes. 2nd Corinthians 8:16 through 18. But thanks be to God who put into the heart of Titus. So now he's talking about Titus generosity. The same earnest care I have for you for he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he's going to you of his own accord so Titus is generous with his time. With him we're sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. Great thing to be famous for. Was Paul generous? Of course he was, but he's not talking about his generosity here. He talks about Titus. The brother of preach the gospel. He's talking about the Macedonians. Being generous specifically when people do not deserve it. That's what we're talking about. My friend Walt is one of the most generous people I've ever met. He was our video guy so I'm going to talk about Walt for a second. I bought new couches for my basement from Bob's Furniture. Tremendous place. I bought these new couches. They're supposed to get delivered. So I'm waiting. I'm supposed to get delivered 3:00 PM. They got delivered at 10:30 PM so I'm like, these guys do not deserve anything. It was raining. I saw the guys, they pulled up to my place. I'm like, "Hey, why are you guys late?" And they said, "We got Storrow-ed." You know what that means? Yeah, look it up. They got Storrow-ed. I look at the truck. Yeah, they got Storrow-ed. The truck was too tall for the bridges on the Storrow. I'm like, oh, okay. This is the first time. And then it's raining. They're bringing the couches in. They scratched the mop. Either take my doors off. They wouldn't do that and I brought half the couch in and then Walt comes to me, there's three guys and he's like, "Hey, do you have any cash?" I was like, "For what?" Cash. "To tip them." I said, "Number one, it's not your couch. Number two, they didn't deserve it." And he said, "Yeah, that's why it's a gift." He gave each guy 20 bucks. 20 bucks and I gave him diet Cokes after. That's generosity. 2nd Corinthians 8:19, not only that but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out the act of grace as being ministered by us for the glory of himself in the show of good will. And then he continues in verse 20. We take this course meaning Paul himself is going to be with them, but he's not holding the money, representatives from each church are going so that no one's asking questions. That's verse 20. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that's being administered by us for we aim at what is honorable, not only in the Lord's sight, but also in the sight of man. So he's saying, I'm taking extra precautions so that no one has any questions. So there's no malfeasance. That's what he's doing. So this is very unique because St. Paul has an open heart. I want to be generous but he's got an open mind. He understands the way this fallen world works and he understands that there's measures to take to make sure that no one's asking questions. It's a discerning generosity. Jesus said, "Be gentle as doves but shrewd as serpents." Because what is generosity? What is grace? It's giving people a gift that they do not deserve but if you are a generous person, what can happen is people just start expecting you. You're supposed to be generous to me. And if they're expecting it, now it's not a gift. It's cheap grace, you paid for it, but it's cheap because they don't value it because they feel entitled to it. And this is why a lot of Christians get taken advantage of because you are not discerning that a lot of people are still sinners. You're a sinner, they're a sinner, all's a sinner. So there's an aspect of total depravity. So sometimes to these people, the most loving thing you can do is say, "Hey, get a job and I'll help you get a job." Because sometimes helping actually hurts and the most generous thing to do is not help. Let me just give you an illustration from one of my least favorite things to do in the world, washing dishes. I do not do it often but when I do wash the dishes, I expect everyone to notice. Because as soon as you've stopped noticing, I stop washing. And here in lie, the source of so much of the gender role struggles. It's a secret, I'm here to reveal the secret to you. Men and women view dishwashing differently. Women washed the dishes after they eat, men wash the dishes before they eat. Because man if you washing the dishes just gave you a lot of things, supply and demand. If I supplied too much then the price goes down. So this is the way, why wash the dishes every day and my wife might stop noticing when I can wash the dishes once a week and she's ecstatic? And the point is notice when people are generous to you. Just say thank you. Don't take it for granted because then it's not a gift anymore. St. Paul view generosity through concentric circles, generous to the Lord, generous to the church. He wasn't married. So I got to bring in a few concentric circles. I'm generous to the Lord. That's my first circle. My second circle is, how can I be generous to my wife? My third circle is, how can be generous to my daughters? My fourth circle is, how can I be generous to my grandchildren? Then I say, how can we generous to my parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, community group, church members, attenders, neighbors and I want to be a reverse tither. So how much we need? God's got it. Verse 23, as for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker. For your benefit as for our brothers, they're messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. So the churches are the glory of Christ so why wouldn't we invest? So prove before the churches of your love and of your boasting about you to these men. Give proof of your love in the context of finances. I'll close with the story before we go into communion, a story of Doyva and Rufina Angira. Rufina was from Siberia. Doyva was from Finland. They met in Narva, Estonia in the '80s. My dad was Doyva's manager at a factory that my dad worked at. And one of my dad's jobs was to give out bonuses at the end of the month, depending on who worked the best. Well there were drunks in the factory because everyone had to work. So if you got fired on one job, you just get another job and it's not about performance by you just showing up so they wouldn't really work. So he would take their bonuses and give it the Doyva. Salary was 200 rubles a month. My dad would make sure that it's an extra 50, 60 rubles a month extra for Doyva. The reason why that's important is because Doyva had eight kids and they were so poor that the whole family could not go outside for a walk because they didn't have enough sets of clothing. So my dad was generous to this guy. My dad shared with me this week, he said, one time, the first time he did it, Doyva will get his check-in and he's looking at it and he had bad eyesight. He's trying to figure out why is the number wrong? And then it finally hit him and he looks at my dad and he says, "May God bless you for that generosity." Well, one of the things that Doyva did was he was writing to the US Senate for a decade. He had been writing since the late '80s for a decade. Hey, I can't live in the Soviet Union as a Christian. I can't feed my family. I need refugee status to come to the United States. And he was granted it and he moved to Providence, Rhode Island. And he's the one that actually invited my family. He forced my dad to give them all the information. And then when my sister Aida was born, she was born in '88. My dad got the invitation and then finally he applied and he got a visa. So our family, with $700 in my dad's pocket, my family immigrated to the United States in Providence, Rhode Island and Doyva, I'll never forget, he came to pick us up in his beater and he was so happy to be in the land of milk and honey. That generosity, alleged generosity but then the cycle continued. My dad made it a mission in his life to help immigrants. How many times have you heard of immigrants coming? There was always finances. There was always groceries. He would help them and he would hire them. We live in a country where everyone's talking about theoretical generosity. We have 11 million undocumented immigrants living here amongst us. Are you generous to your neighbor? Receive the grace of Jesus Christ. If you haven't, grace is a generous gift giving. This isn't just a phrase, it's philosophy of life. Jesus lived like this so let us live like this.

The art of the Faith — i fiori della Fede— in places of the Faith -- nei luoghi della Fede — are visible prayers. They are to be meditated upon in the manner of a ‘lectio divina', rather a ‘visio divina', and not as mere “pictures at an exhibition”. In this talk, Professor Emeritus Norman Farmer will discuss beauty, faith, and the time they both require. Supplementary materials recommend for this conversation include Dietrich von Hildebrand's "Beauty in the Light of Redemption" as well as some familiarity with St. Francis' of Assisi's "The Canticle of Brother Sun." Norman Farmer is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of English at UT Austin and received his Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966. He served as the director of the Humanities Program in the College of Liberal Arts for over a decade, and received many awards over the years, including the UT "Best Professor" Teaching Award, the Thomas Cranfill Teaching Fellowship, The Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Graduate School Award for Teaching Excellence. He was also a director and teacher for The University of Texas Study in Italy Program at Castiglione Fiorentino, Italy. Through the Center for International Leadership in Washington D.C. he led seminars for executives of American and multinational corporations examining corporate culture, leadership development and corporate as well as individual ethical values.

Questions Covered: 19:15 – A few weeks after my miscarriage I saw JPII in a dream, and he said to me “You have a child.” I was pregnant again in the next week. That's why he's the patron of my daughter. 24:20 – Do you think JPII should be declared a Doctor of the Church? 31:25 – JPII's intercession helped deliver my daughter safely, and also made for a special connection between her and Our Lady. 36:27 – I thought JPII was a great pope, but the religious summit at Assisi was problematic because it led to religious indifferentism. 51:50 – I really appreciated JPII's theology on marriage and divorce. …