Podcast appearances and mentions of Baker Publishing Group

s7e11 Kuyper's Lectures on Calvinism - Lecture 5, Calvinism and Art In this episode, Marinus, Gray, and James continue a series reviewing Abraham Kuyper's Lectures on Calvinism. This week, they discuss Lecture 5 on Calvinism and Art.Sources mentioned in this episode:Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism: Six Lectures Delivered at Princeton University [in 1898] (Grand Rapids, MI: W. B. Eerdmans, 2002).Gavin Ortlund, Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2021).Robert Covolo, “Arts,” in T&T Clark Handbook of Neo-Calvinism, ed. Nathaniel Gray Sutanto and Cory Brock, 1st ed. (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2024), 487–97. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/tt-clark-handbook-of-neocalvinism-9780567698094/Robert Covolo, Fashion Theology (Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2020).Hans Rookmaaker, Modern Art and the Death of a Culture, Crossway print (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 1994).Roger D. Henderson, The Artistic Sphere: The Arts in Neo-Calvinist Perspective, 1st ed (Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2024).Reach us at graceincommonpodcast@gmail.com. If you want to make a donation, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/graceincommon⁠⁠⁠⁠Our theme music is Molly Molly by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue) ⁠⁠⁠CC BY-NC 4.0⁠⁠⁠

There is no other religion that claims to have a risen savior; Jesus is the only qualified Savior because he conquered death. We worship a risen Savior who gives us victory over death. I wonder if you could articulate why you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Josh McDowell's book, Evidence for the Resurrection[1], goes into this in great detail. Here are some of the facts that prove the resurrection: #1: The broken Roman seal Because the religious leaders were afraid the disciples would steal the body and claim Jesus was risen, they asked Pilate to put the seal of the Roman Empire on the tomb. The consequences of breaking that seal would give pause to anyone who might try to steal the body, because that would have been a crime punishable by death. The disciples were not a courageous body of men at this time. They were hiding from authorities after fleeing from the Garden of Gethsemane. There's no way they would have tried to steal Jesus' body, and they certainly would have been too frightened to break the Roman seal. #2: The large stone was moved All the Gospel writers mention the huge stone in front of the tomb had been moved. John said it was removed from the entrance. Luke and Mark say it was rolled away from the tomb; Matthew records an angel from heaven came down and rolled back the stone. This stone weighed one and a half to two tons, so it would take several very strong men to roll it even a few inches. McDowell writes, “Now, I ask you, if the disciples had wanted to come in, tiptoe around the sleeping guards, and then roll the stone over and steal Jesus' body, how could they have done that without the guards' awareness?” #3: The behavior of the disciples Consider once the disciples knew Jesus was raised from the dead, and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, they didn't go to some faraway place to preach the gospel. They went right back to Jerusalem, where, if what they were teaching was false, it would be most evident. That would be the last place they'd want to go if they had not seen the risen Christ and knew the tomb was empty. They preached the gospel of the resurrected Christ in Jerusalem, and there was no doubt Jesus had risen. I encourage you to meditate on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, see that empty tomb, and celebrate the risen Savior. --- [1] Mcdowell, J., & Mcdowell, S. (2008). Evidence for the Resurrection: What it means for Your Relationship with God. Baker Publishing Group.

In the last episode of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke explore the story behind a confidential letter in the SBC'S archives that leads to a pastor's wife named Maria. They also look at the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to expel churches that ordain women, critiquing the rhetoric of unity and biblical authority used to justify the exclusion of women from leadership roles Last, the episode draws on the lost portrait of Saint Fabiola as a symbol of women's enduring resistance, urging listeners to recognize the hidden stories of women who continue to challenge oppressive structures in the church. We reached out to the SBC, Paige Patterson, Darryl Gilyard, Tommy Gilmore, and the Council for National Policy for comment, and did not hear back. All the Buried Women is presented by The Bible for Normal People. Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Special Thanks (in order of appearance): Leanne Friesen, CBOQ, and the many anonymous interviewees willing to share their memories of Maria Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and Audrey and Alex from Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 4 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke share the story of Christa Brown, a sexual abuse survivor and advocate. Her experience reflects the broader issue of clergy abuse, where victims are often silenced and blamed, while abusers are protected and transferred to new congregations. The episode also highlights Pooler's research on the harmful psychological impacts of clergy sexual abuse, including PTSD rates higher than those of combat veterans, and the Southern Baptist Convention's (SBC) ongoing failure to protect victims. We reached out to the SBC, Paige Patterson, Darryl Gilyard, Tommy Gilmore, and the Council for National Policy for comment, and did not hear back. All the Buried Women is presented by The Bible for Normal People. Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Special Thanks (in order of appearance): Christa Brown (Get Christa's newest book Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation!), David Pooler, Robert Downen, Rosalie Beck, Meredith Stone, and Barry Hankins Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and Audrey and Alex from Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 3 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke explore the "loopholes" that allowed women to serve in ministry within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), despite the formal prohibition against female ordination. These loopholes included roles like professors, missionaries, and pastor's wives, which allowed women to take on leadership and preaching roles in practice, even though they were not officially recognized as ordained ministers. We reached out to the SBC, Paige Patterson, Darryl Gilyard, Tommy Gilmore, and the Council for National Policy for comment, and did not hear back. All the Buried Women is presented by The Bible for Normal People. Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Special Thanks (in order of appearance): Rosalie Beck, Steve Bezner, and Pamela Durso Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and Audrey and Alex from Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Episode 2 of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke uncover the turbulent and hidden history of women in the Southern Baptist Convention. The story begins in the 1970s, an era of progress and pushback, and follows the journey of Kathy Hoppe, an ordained woman whose call to ministry intersected with a calculated takeover of the SBC. What happens when conviction collides with politics, and how do women respond when their calling is questioned? This episode reveals the invisible threads tying women's resilience to a denomination shaped by control and conflict. We reached out to the SBC, Paige Patterson, Darryl Gilyard, Tommy Gilmore, and the Council for National Policy for comment, and did not hear back. All the Buried Women is brought to you by The Bible for Normal People. Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Special Thanks (in order of appearance): Kathy Hoppe, Barry Hankins, and Robert Downen Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and Audrey and Alex from Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the debut episode of All the Buried Women, co-hosts Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke aim to uncover women's stories hidden in the Southern Baptist Convention's archives. The story begins in an unexpected place for a podcast about Southern Baptists: 4th-century Rome with Saint Fabiola. Because Fabiola challenged religious and societal norms, her story has become a safe harbor for women with similar experiences… even women in the SBC. Fast forward to 1984, where a pivotal moment in Kansas City, Missouri, changed the trajectory of women's roles in the Southern Baptist Convention. There's a reason Orwell warned us about 1984. Listen to Episode 1 to find out more. We reached out to the SBC, Paige Patterson, Darryl Gilyard, Tommy Gilmore, and the Council for National Policy for comment, and did not hear back. Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Special Thanks (in order of appearance): Jemar Tisby, Pamela Durso, Barry Hankins, and Meredith Stone Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and Audrey and Alex from Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Savannah Locke introduces All the Buried Women, a compelling new miniseries that uncovers the hidden stories of women within the archives of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). What started as a small passion project grew into a year-and-a-half journey into the history of America's largest Protestant denomination. Together, historian Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke are bringing to light the experiences of women silenced by their own denomination and the systemic forces that enabled their marginalization. Show Notes —> https://thebiblefornormalpeople.com/introducing-all-the-buried-women/ Credits: Hosts: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Producer: Savannah Locke Writing and Editing: Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke Sound Editing and Music: Savannah Locke and Todd Locke Introduction and Closing Song: Jaded by Savannah Locke Partner Organization: The Bible for Normal People Additional Thanks: Andy Clark, Systems Administrator within the University Libraries at Baylor University; Erin Smith, Marketing Manager at Baker Publishing Group; Jordan Corona; Dr. Taffey Hall, Director of the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives; Brittany Prescott, Podcast Producer for The Bible for Normal People; Adam McCullough, Archivist of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Gordon Heath, Director of Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster Divinity College; Rev. Leanne Friesen, Executive Minister of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and CBOQ executive board; and the whole team at Lawyers for Reporters. Social Media Links: Follow us on Instagram: @alltheburiedwomen @bethallisonbarr @savannah_locke @thebiblefornormalpeople Subscribe to Beth's Substack: https://bethallisonbarr.substack.com Subscribe to Savannah's Substack: https://savannahlocke.substack.com Promo Code: Use code PODCAST40 to get 40% off Becoming the Pastor's Wife until April 30th through Baker Publishing Group's Website: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/becoming-the-pastor-s-wife/414910 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Guest Bio: Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez (MSW, MSEd) is a truth-teller and space builder committed to helping the Body of Christ be healthy and holy. She is the founder of Full Collective, creator of the annual Sowers Summit, and host of the Being a Sanctuary podcast. She has spoken at conferences such as Proverbs 31 and Verity Conference and has written for Chasing Justice and She Reads Truth. She recently published a book with Brazos Press (An Imprint of Baker Publishing Group) titled Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to be Sacred, Soft, and Safe. Pricelis is currently pursuing a master of arts in biblical and theological studies from Denver Seminary and is a proud Black Latina born and raised in New York City, where she currently resides with her husband and son.    Show Summary: Do you ever feel like you're running on empty? Maybe your schedule is filled and you feel like you have no time to do the things you want to do or spend time with people you miss. Sometimes we feel empty because we're lacking a community that can help fulfill our needs or lend a hand. Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez realized that women were running themselves dry while simultaneously missing out on a devoted community to spend time with. She founded The Full Collective with the hope of bringing women together to experience the fullness that God wants us to have through Him in our lives. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Vivian Mabuni as they learn more about The Full Collective and how we can find fullness through Christ and community during this episode of God Hears Her.   Notes and Quotes:  “No matter what the battle that has come forth is, no matter what has tried to be stolen, destroyed, or killed in their life, that does not change the fullness that God has for us.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “I was very much in search of God, but I was looking for Him in a lot of things, a lot of different people, and a lot of different places. . . . I was filled with remembering that I am loved and seen by God, and that He's actually been pursuing me and running after me all these years I've been running away from Him.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “We have to bring our questions to the feet of Jesus.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “We need to remember that our faith is not individualized. Although our salvation is individual, the work that the body of Christ is called to do on Earth is a collective work.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez   “What is absolute truth is that Jesus came to give us life, and life to the full.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez     Verses:  John 10:10 Matthew 28:18-20 1 Corinthians 12:26 Jeremiah 29:11 John 14:26 Psalm 23:6 John 7:38   Links:  Learn more about The Full Collective Pricelis' book God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc  Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast Eryn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/ Elisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/   MB01JRU4C2PA0FU

Guest Bio: Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez (MSW, MSEd) is a truth-teller and space builder committed to helping the Body of Christ be healthy and holy. She is the founder of Full Collective, creator of the annual Sowers Summit, and host of the Being a Sanctuary podcast. She has spoken at conferences such as Proverbs 31 and Verity Conference and has written for Chasing Justice and She Reads Truth. She recently published a book with Brazos Press (An Imprint of Baker Publishing Group) titled Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to be Sacred, Soft, and Safe. Pricelis is currently pursuing a master of arts in biblical and theological studies from Denver Seminary and is a proud Black Latina born and raised in New York City, where she currently resides with her husband and son.    Show Summary: Do you ever feel like you're running on empty? Maybe your schedule is filled and you feel like you have no time to do the things you want to do or spend time with people you miss. Sometimes we feel empty because we're lacking a community that can help fulfill our needs or lend a hand. Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez realized that women were running themselves dry while simultaneously missing out on a devoted community to spend time with. She founded The Full Collective with the hope of bringing women together to experience the fullness that God wants us to have through Him in our lives. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Vivian Mabuni as they learn more about The Full Collective and how we can find fullness through Christ and community during this episode of God Hears Her.   Notes and Quotes:  “No matter what the battle that has come forth is, no matter what has tried to be stolen, destroyed, or killed in their life, that does not change the fullness that God has for us.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “I was very much in search of God, but I was looking for Him in a lot of things, a lot of different people, and a lot of different places. . . . I was filled with remembering that I am loved and seen by God, and that He's actually been pursuing me and running after me all these years I've been running away from Him.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “We have to bring our questions to the feet of Jesus.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez  “We need to remember that our faith is not individualized. Although our salvation is individual, the work that the body of Christ is called to do on Earth is a collective work.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez   “What is absolute truth is that Jesus came to give us life, and life to the full.” —Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez     Verses:  John 10:10 Matthew 28:18-20 1 Corinthians 12:26 Jeremiah 29:11 John 14:26 Psalm 23:6 John 7:38   Links:  Learn more about The Full Collective Pricelis' book God Hears Her website: https://www.godhearsher.org/ God Hears Her email sign-up: https://www.godhearsher.org/sign-upsfmc  Subscribe on iTunes! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-hears-her-podcast/id1511046507?utm_source=applemusic&utm_medium=godhearsher&utm_campaign=podcast Eryn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryneddy/ Elisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisamorganauthor/   MB01JRU4C2PA0FU

Amanda is hard at work perfecting her next book, which will release on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group). Season 5 of the Red-Haired Archaeologist® Podcast will release in early 2025, but in the meantime, you can continue to connect with her through social media, the RHA® website, and her monthly email, the First Friday Freebie! Red-Haired Archaeologist® links: First Friday Freebie: https://redhairedarchaeologist.myflodesk.com/firstfridayfreebie Website: ⁠https://redhairedarchaeologist.com/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/AmandaHopeHaley/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/redhairedarchaeologist/⁠ Learn more about my fabulous video editor, Tanya Yaremkiv, by visiting her website at ⁠https://tanyaremkiv.com⁠ and listening to her podcast, Through the Bible podcast with Tanya Yaremkiv. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram @tanyaremkiv.

Kechi Okwuchi, a living example of resilience, faced a life-altering plane crash that left her with burns over 65% of her body. However, Kechi's story is not one of despair, but of hope and positivity. During our live episode, Amber and Rachel caught up with Kechi and learned more about her America's Got Talent experience (including who her favorite judge is!), and what's next with her singing career. Kechi also shared her experience writing a book and tips for others who want to share their story. We closed the episode by talking about how Kechi keeps it real on social media and how she handles negative comments.   ⭐️ Enjoyed the show? Tell us by leaving a 5-star review and sharing on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors!  Meet Our Guest Kechi is a Nigerian-born author and powerful singer.  She is an inspirational and TEDx keynote speaker, MBA student, and bullying prevention advocate. Her dramatic story, as well as her impactful messages of resiliency and overcoming combine powerfully to inspire personal and cultural transformation. Kechi found her true voice after her accident- a plane crash that took the lives of 107 of 109 passengers in Nigeria in 2005. Throughout the difficult journey of burns recovery, Kechi was sustained by her Christian faith, her family and her music. She resumed high school in 2009 and in 2015 she graduated First Class from University of St. Thomas, Houston, with a Bachelors in Economics.Becoming a finalist on America's Got Talent 2017 was Kechi's truest dream realized, and on June 10th 2018, she released her debut single, ‘Don't You Dare' on all digital music platforms. She became a burn survivor advocate for multiple organizations, including the hospital she herself was treated at- Shriners Burns Hospitals for Children- now Shriners Children's TX- Galveston, Texas.In 2019, Kechi became a finalist on the premiere season of America's Got Talent: The Champions through Simon Cowell's golden buzzer. Since then, she has become an active ambassador for multiple organizations such as WEMovement, Be Strong Global and the United Nations Foundation #TOGETHERBAND project, advocating for various global causes such as youth empowerment, bullying prevention advocacy, and sustainable living. Kechi's memoir ‘More Than My Scars' released on March 29th, 2022 under Baker Publishing Group, and her self-titled debut album is currently streaming on all digital music platforms. Kechi hopes to use her voice and her story to ignite hope all over the world within those that need it.Links Get your copy of “More Than My Scars” Listen to Kechi's music Follow Kechi on InstagramPodcast Sponsor Today's podcast is powered by AlloSource! AlloSource is one of the largest human tissue providers, honoring tissue donors by creating innovative skin allografts to help burn surgeons heal patients. Learn more about AlloSource and their continuing education hours by visiting their Resource Marketplace Listing directly on Phoenix Society's website: https://resources.phoenix-society.org/resource-marketplace/allosource.  Sponsor Girls with Grafts  Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org. 

In the 335th episode of Expositors Collective, Mike sits down with Pastor Craig Babcock to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of preaching through the book of Proverbs in an expositional manner. Both seasoned and novice preachers often find Proverbs challenging to preach (and Mike is no exception!) However, Craig, drawing from his PhD research, shares a transformative perspective on the book. Instead of viewing Proverbs as a collection of isolated maxims, Craig presents it as a progressive journey through a life—gaining knowledge and wisdom, being taught, and eventually becoming a teacher. This fresh understanding can be incredibly valuable for anyone looking to preach through Proverbs or simply wanting to deepen their grasp of this profound biblical book. In addition to this, the conversation delves into raising up the next generation of Bible teachers, offering solid insights and practical advice. And, for a bit of fun, Craig shares the unexpected benefits that come from wearing a suit and tie. Whether you're a preacher, a student of the Bible, or just curious about Proverbs, you're sure to enjoy this engaging and informative discussion. Craig Babcock attended Oregon State University and received a B.S. in Anthropology. He also holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Chapel University. Currently, Craig is a Doctoral Candidate at Liberty University in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Biblical Exposition. Pastor Craig has a heart for the local church and the Lord's people. Growing up in South Denver, Craig has spent the last 15 years of ministry as a pastor, church planter, and coach. Prior to being called into the ministry, Craig served in the Navy and in Law Enforcement. Craig's central focus of teaching is the Word of God and allowing the Lord to work in the lives of those who trust in Christ. Craig married his wonderful wife Christy in 2002, and they have three children. Craig enjoys running, being outdoors, and going on adventures. Resources for Proverbs -  Ansberry, Christopher B. Be Wise, My Son, and Make My Heart Glad an Exploration of the Courtly Nature of the Book of Proverbs. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2011. Bartholomew, Craig, and Ryan O'Dowd. Old Testament Wisdom Literature: a Theological Introduction. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011. Clements, Ronald E. Proverbs. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2019. Crenshaw, James L. Old Testament Wisdom: an Introduction. Third edition. Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010. Fox, Michael V. Proverbs: an Eclectic Edition with Introduction and Textual Commentary. Atlanta, GA: SBL Press, 2015. Gane, Roy. Old Testament Law for Christians : Original Context and Enduring Application. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017. von Rad, Gerhard. Wisdom in Israel. Translated by Mark D. Petering. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press International, 1972. Waltke, Bruce K., and Ivan D. V. De Silva. Proverbs A Shorter Commentary. Chicago: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2021. Witherington, Ben. Jesus the Sage: the Pilgrimage of Wisdom. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1994. CLICK HERE to give to the Uganda Expositors Collective Conference The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/ Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective Click here to support Expositors Collective

In this next episode recorded during the 2024 Kuyper Conference at Calvin University, the team sits down with Cory Willson the Jake and Betsy Tuls Professor of Missiology, World Christianity, and Public Theology at Calvin University and co-author of Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy. They discuss how Willson discovered the neo-Calvinist tradition and his thoughts about the faith and work movement. Publications mentioned in this episode: Matthew Kaemingk and Cory B. Willson, Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2020). Our theme music is Molly Molly by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue) ⁠⁠⁠CC BY-NC 4.0⁠⁠⁠ Reach us at graceincommonpodcast@gmail.com. If you want to make a donation, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/graceincommon

Some time ago I read a quote from Charles Misner about Albert Einstein regarding what he thought about church and religion. Listen carefully to what Misner said about one of the smartest men who lived: The design of the universe is very magnificent and shouldnt be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, although he strikes me as a basically very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had ever imagined, and they were just not talking about the real thing. My guess is that he simply felt that religions hed run across did not have proper respect for the author of the universe.[1] It was in John Pipers book, Let the Nations Be Glad that I read that quote over 20 years ago, and I have never forgotten it. We were made to know God and it is the reason Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the body of Christ by showing them the real thing. It is hard to show the body of Christ the real thing if you are not looking at the real thing. Last week, we spent our time together in Ephesians 4:7-10. My goal was to show you that one way to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v. 3), is to use spiritual gifts, your talents, and your time to, encourage one another in love and good deeds (Heb. 10:19-25). Hopefully, I was able to show you that you cannot do that if you are not physically present and active with fellow Christians who gather regularly as the local expression of the body of Christ. Some of you are unsure of what spiritual gifts Jesus has given through His Holy Spirit. You may be unaware of the supernatural gifts given by the Holy Spirit that are listed in the Bible. Two places in the Bible list spiritual gifts that are still given today; all that I want to do today is to list them for you just so that you are aware of what they are: Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, 28 Prophesy Word of Wisdom Service Word of Knowledge Teaching Faith Exhortation Healing Giving (Generosity) Miracles Leadership Prophesy Mercy Discernment (distinguishing of spirits) Tongues Interpretation of Tongues Administration All of these spiritual gifts are supernatural in nature and given through the Holy Spirit for the edification of Christs body and to participate in His mission. This is the point of Ephesians 4:7, But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christs gift. Of all the gifts given by Christ through the Holy Spirit to His people, they can be categorized into two groups: Gifts of speaking and gifts of helping; I believe this is what the apostle Peter described in his epistle: Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Pet. 4:11). You Have Been Gifted to Live for Jesus in Partnership with His People If you are a Christian, you are the recipient of Gods rich mercy, great love, and all-sufficient grace that has been lavished upon you when you were dead in your offenses and sins and stood as before the God who is holy as a child of His infinite wrath. Christian, we have been forgiven much! Not only have we been forgiven much, but we were chosen and redeemed for, good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (2:10)! Your redemption was not meant only for your benefit, but the benefit of every person in your worldespecially those who belong to the body of Christ. Your spiritual gifts, your talents, your stuff, and your time are all blood-bought gifts from the God who created everything and owns it all: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures (Jas. 1:1718). Do you know how to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (4:1)? Do you want to know how it is you can bear with your brothers and sisters in Christ with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, and in love (v. 2)? Do you understand the part you play in keeping, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v. 3)? You do it by the power God has provided through His Holy Spirit, which is, the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe (1:19) that enables you to use your God-given spiritual gifts, your God-given talents, your God-given skills, your God-given time, and everything else God has provided out of the abundance of His goodness toward you, to encourage one another in love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). This is how Jesus has built His Church, this is how Jesus is building His Church, this is how Jesus will continue to build His Church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it (Matt. 16:17-19). Listen, Jesus loves His bride too much to leave her the way He found her! We will eventually get to Ephesians 5:25-27 where husbands are told how we are to love our wives, but for now, I only want you to see the way Christ loves His Bride: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:2527). How is Jesus loving His bride? He gave Himself up for her, He is sanctifying her, and He is cleansing her through His Spirit and His Word. All of this He is doing for the purpose of presenting her for Himself in all her potential glory with no more blemishes or defects that she would be holy and blameless! Do you know the way that He is doing it? Through the ministry of His Word, the Power of His Spirit, and the community of His People. Do not buy into the lie that you do not need the Church! Jesus Gifts His Body with Spiritually Gifted People to Equip His Church Now I want to turn your attention to verse 11, which is not spiritual gifts, but spiritually gifted people called to at least four offices in Jesus Church. These are people called by Jesus and gifted to His people to do two things: (1) Equip the saints for the work of ministry, and (2) for the building up of the body of Christ. Some propose that in every church there should be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Those who propose the view, rightly point out that the word apostle can mean messenger or anyone who is sent as a witness. In the same way, prophet does not always refer to a person who receives a special inspired word from God but can also refer to a person who speaks forth God's word. My problem with this view is with the way the office of apostle and prophet is used elsewhere in Ephesians. This is why understanding the context of a book in the Bible is so important for interpreting and understanding a passage like the one before us. Notice the way apostles and prophets are referred to in Ephesians 2:19-22, So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Eph. 2:1922) For this reason, I believe that the office of apostle and prophet that Paul is referring to in Ephesians 4:11 are the gifted people God used (past tense) in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Both were gifts given to Gods people to provide the Church with the Word of God (the Bible) and form the foundation for the people of God. The prophets were mostly men through whom God spoke to provide the people of God with the word of God and the apostles were the 12 men Jesus chose to be the foundation of the Church. Both the office of prophet and apostle ceased after the Apostles all died, but the gift that they were and continue to be to the Church are gifts we enjoy and benefit from still today, for every time you read your Bible, hear it faithfully preached and taught, or sing songs shaped by the Word of God, you reap the benefits of the good gifts to the Church that were the prophets and Apostles. The other three offices in the Church are evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Now everyone is called to evangelize, but some are uniquely gifted to be evangelists who tend to be those sent to plant churches or sent to people groups who have not yet heard the gospel of Jesus Christ such as Adoniram Judson who brought the gospel to the unreached people group known as the Burmese. Before arriving upon the shores of what is still called, The Land of the Golden Pagodas, at the age of 21, Judsons eyes fell upon Ephesians 3:17-19 which compelled Adoniram and his wife (Ann) to make Burma (Myanmar) their home on July 13, 1813. I would submit to you the fire that burns in all those truly called by Christ to the office of evangelists, pastor, and teacher can be heard in Ephesians 3:17-19, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. It would take six years for Judson to learn Burmese and eventually see his first Burmese convert come to Christ on May 9, 1819. Three years later, he finished translating the New Testament into Burmese. Although it took him 24 years to do so, he was able to translate the entire Bible into Burmese in the early months of 1834. Before his death on Abril 12, 1850, the gift that Adoniram Judson gave to the body of Christ resulted in 63 churches and 7,000 converts, 800 of those converts were from a tribe in Burma known as the Karen. Judsons role was to fill the office of an evangelist in Burma. What Judson did not know was that there was an ancient prophecy known by the Karen concerning the great God they called Ywa who created the earth and a man and a woman who were our first parents and that He had a book that was lost, but a white man would come to bring them the lost book about Ywa. Adoniram Judson was that man. Some think that the offices of pastor and teacher are one and the same. Others believe they are separate offices. What I do know is that one of the qualifications of pastors is their ability to teach, but not all teachers are called to be pastors. Both, however, like the evangelist, are called by Christ and gifted to His Church to, equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ (v. 12). But what is the goal of verse 12? The goal is verse 13, which could not be any more clear: until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. In other words, the goal and purpose of the gifting of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the body of Christ is four-fold: The unity of the faith: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus as the only redeemer and savior of our souls. The knowledge of the Son of God: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim Him as the Son of God. Any other Jesus than the One presented in the Bible who is fully God and fully man as the second person of the Trinity is a Jesus who cannot save. Maturity as a follower of Jesus: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim the full counsel of Gods word for the full health of Gods people. To become full of Christ: The purpose of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is the proclamation of the Word of God to the people of God, before the people of God, and over the people of God who make of the Church of Jesus Christ! To a young pastor-teacher, by the name of Timothy, Paul gave these solemn instructions that are not only for me as the pastor of Meadowbrooke Church, but for us all: I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:15) So, I come back to my original question: How are you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (4:1)? Use your God-given gifts, talents, time, and resources to, encourage one another in love and good deed, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25). The way you do that is by giving them Jesus in the same way the apostles and prophets were sent to do, and in the same way the evangelists, pastors, and teachers are called to do! I have one more thing to say, and I want to say it to the fathers and the single mothers of Meadowbrooke Church. The Church is a macrocosm of the way God structured the family, and in a very real sense, you are called and sent to be a gift to your family! Like the apostles, you are called to show your wife and children the beauty and splendor of the incomparable Christ! Like the prophets of old, you are called to give your wife and children the Word of God because it is honey to the lips (Ps. 119:103), and it is living and active (Heb. 4:12). Like the evangelist, you are sent to show your wife and children why and how Jesus satisfies. Finally, just like pastors and teachers who serve Christs Church, you are to serve your wife and children to help them know and understand that there is none like our God (Isa. 46:9-10), and to know Him is to know His Son who is on all levels, the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As a husband and father, you show your family that Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies (John 6:35); He is the true door that leads to salvation (10:7), He is the good shepherd even in the valley of the shadow of death (10:11,14); He is the resurrection and the life who keeps His sheep (11:25); He is the true vine in whom the purpose of life and true thriving is to be experienced (15:1). Dear fathers of Meadowbrooke, you are not called to lead your children to their idols but to the all-satisfying and all-sufficient Redeemer who is the only One who can give what their idols will never be able to give namely, LIFE. Give them the God of the Book! Give them the real thing! [1] John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions, 30th Anniversary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2022), 4.

Some time ago I read a quote from Charles Misner about Albert Einstein regarding what he thought about church and religion. Listen carefully to what Misner said about one of the smartest men who lived: The design of the universe is very magnificent and shouldnt be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, although he strikes me as a basically very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had ever imagined, and they were just not talking about the real thing. My guess is that he simply felt that religions hed run across did not have proper respect for the author of the universe.[1] It was in John Pipers book, Let the Nations Be Glad that I read that quote over 20 years ago, and I have never forgotten it. We were made to know God and it is the reason Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the body of Christ by showing them the real thing. It is hard to show the body of Christ the real thing if you are not looking at the real thing. Last week, we spent our time together in Ephesians 4:7-10. My goal was to show you that one way to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v. 3), is to use spiritual gifts, your talents, and your time to, encourage one another in love and good deeds (Heb. 10:19-25). Hopefully, I was able to show you that you cannot do that if you are not physically present and active with fellow Christians who gather regularly as the local expression of the body of Christ. Some of you are unsure of what spiritual gifts Jesus has given through His Holy Spirit. You may be unaware of the supernatural gifts given by the Holy Spirit that are listed in the Bible. Two places in the Bible list spiritual gifts that are still given today; all that I want to do today is to list them for you just so that you are aware of what they are: Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, 28 Prophesy Word of Wisdom Service Word of Knowledge Teaching Faith Exhortation Healing Giving (Generosity) Miracles Leadership Prophesy Mercy Discernment (distinguishing of spirits) Tongues Interpretation of Tongues Administration All of these spiritual gifts are supernatural in nature and given through the Holy Spirit for the edification of Christs body and to participate in His mission. This is the point of Ephesians 4:7, But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christs gift. Of all the gifts given by Christ through the Holy Spirit to His people, they can be categorized into two groups: Gifts of speaking and gifts of helping; I believe this is what the apostle Peter described in his epistle: Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Pet. 4:11). You Have Been Gifted to Live for Jesus in Partnership with His People If you are a Christian, you are the recipient of Gods rich mercy, great love, and all-sufficient grace that has been lavished upon you when you were dead in your offenses and sins and stood as before the God who is holy as a child of His infinite wrath. Christian, we have been forgiven much! Not only have we been forgiven much, but we were chosen and redeemed for, good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (2:10)! Your redemption was not meant only for your benefit, but the benefit of every person in your worldespecially those who belong to the body of Christ. Your spiritual gifts, your talents, your stuff, and your time are all blood-bought gifts from the God who created everything and owns it all: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures (Jas. 1:1718). Do you know how to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (4:1)? Do you want to know how it is you can bear with your brothers and sisters in Christ with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, and in love (v. 2)? Do you understand the part you play in keeping, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v. 3)? You do it by the power God has provided through His Holy Spirit, which is, the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe (1:19) that enables you to use your God-given spiritual gifts, your God-given talents, your God-given skills, your God-given time, and everything else God has provided out of the abundance of His goodness toward you, to encourage one another in love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). This is how Jesus has built His Church, this is how Jesus is building His Church, this is how Jesus will continue to build His Church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it (Matt. 16:17-19). Listen, Jesus loves His bride too much to leave her the way He found her! We will eventually get to Ephesians 5:25-27 where husbands are told how we are to love our wives, but for now, I only want you to see the way Christ loves His Bride: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:2527). How is Jesus loving His bride? He gave Himself up for her, He is sanctifying her, and He is cleansing her through His Spirit and His Word. All of this He is doing for the purpose of presenting her for Himself in all her potential glory with no more blemishes or defects that she would be holy and blameless! Do you know the way that He is doing it? Through the ministry of His Word, the Power of His Spirit, and the community of His People. Do not buy into the lie that you do not need the Church! Jesus Gifts His Body with Spiritually Gifted People to Equip His Church Now I want to turn your attention to verse 11, which is not spiritual gifts, but spiritually gifted people called to at least four offices in Jesus Church. These are people called by Jesus and gifted to His people to do two things: (1) Equip the saints for the work of ministry, and (2) for the building up of the body of Christ. Some propose that in every church there should be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Those who propose the view, rightly point out that the word apostle can mean messenger or anyone who is sent as a witness. In the same way, prophet does not always refer to a person who receives a special inspired word from God but can also refer to a person who speaks forth God's word. My problem with this view is with the way the office of apostle and prophet is used elsewhere in Ephesians. This is why understanding the context of a book in the Bible is so important for interpreting and understanding a passage like the one before us. Notice the way apostles and prophets are referred to in Ephesians 2:19-22, So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Eph. 2:1922) For this reason, I believe that the office of apostle and prophet that Paul is referring to in Ephesians 4:11 are the gifted people God used (past tense) in both the Old Testament and New Testament. Both were gifts given to Gods people to provide the Church with the Word of God (the Bible) and form the foundation for the people of God. The prophets were mostly men through whom God spoke to provide the people of God with the word of God and the apostles were the 12 men Jesus chose to be the foundation of the Church. Both the office of prophet and apostle ceased after the Apostles all died, but the gift that they were and continue to be to the Church are gifts we enjoy and benefit from still today, for every time you read your Bible, hear it faithfully preached and taught, or sing songs shaped by the Word of God, you reap the benefits of the good gifts to the Church that were the prophets and Apostles. The other three offices in the Church are evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Now everyone is called to evangelize, but some are uniquely gifted to be evangelists who tend to be those sent to plant churches or sent to people groups who have not yet heard the gospel of Jesus Christ such as Adoniram Judson who brought the gospel to the unreached people group known as the Burmese. Before arriving upon the shores of what is still called, The Land of the Golden Pagodas, at the age of 21, Judsons eyes fell upon Ephesians 3:17-19 which compelled Adoniram and his wife (Ann) to make Burma (Myanmar) their home on July 13, 1813. I would submit to you the fire that burns in all those truly called by Christ to the office of evangelists, pastor, and teacher can be heard in Ephesians 3:17-19, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. It would take six years for Judson to learn Burmese and eventually see his first Burmese convert come to Christ on May 9, 1819. Three years later, he finished translating the New Testament into Burmese. Although it took him 24 years to do so, he was able to translate the entire Bible into Burmese in the early months of 1834. Before his death on Abril 12, 1850, the gift that Adoniram Judson gave to the body of Christ resulted in 63 churches and 7,000 converts, 800 of those converts were from a tribe in Burma known as the Karen. Judsons role was to fill the office of an evangelist in Burma. What Judson did not know was that there was an ancient prophecy known by the Karen concerning the great God they called Ywa who created the earth and a man and a woman who were our first parents and that He had a book that was lost, but a white man would come to bring them the lost book about Ywa. Adoniram Judson was that man. Some think that the offices of pastor and teacher are one and the same. Others believe they are separate offices. What I do know is that one of the qualifications of pastors is their ability to teach, but not all teachers are called to be pastors. Both, however, like the evangelist, are called by Christ and gifted to His Church to, equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ (v. 12). But what is the goal of verse 12? The goal is verse 13, which could not be any more clear: until we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. In other words, the goal and purpose of the gifting of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the body of Christ is four-fold: The unity of the faith: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim the Lordship of Jesus as the only redeemer and savior of our souls. The knowledge of the Son of God: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim Him as the Son of God. Any other Jesus than the One presented in the Bible who is fully God and fully man as the second person of the Trinity is a Jesus who cannot save. Maturity as a follower of Jesus: Those Jesus gifts to His Church are sent to proclaim the full counsel of Gods word for the full health of Gods people. To become full of Christ: The purpose of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is the proclamation of the Word of God to the people of God, before the people of God, and over the people of God who make of the Church of Jesus Christ! To a young pastor-teacher, by the name of Timothy, Paul gave these solemn instructions that are not only for me as the pastor of Meadowbrooke Church, but for us all: I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:15) So, I come back to my original question: How are you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (4:1)? Use your God-given gifts, talents, time, and resources to, encourage one another in love and good deed, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25). The way you do that is by giving them Jesus in the same way the apostles and prophets were sent to do, and in the same way the evangelists, pastors, and teachers are called to do! I have one more thing to say, and I want to say it to the fathers and the single mothers of Meadowbrooke Church. The Church is a macrocosm of the way God structured the family, and in a very real sense, you are called and sent to be a gift to your family! Like the apostles, you are called to show your wife and children the beauty and splendor of the incomparable Christ! Like the prophets of old, you are called to give your wife and children the Word of God because it is honey to the lips (Ps. 119:103), and it is living and active (Heb. 4:12). Like the evangelist, you are sent to show your wife and children why and how Jesus satisfies. Finally, just like pastors and teachers who serve Christs Church, you are to serve your wife and children to help them know and understand that there is none like our God (Isa. 46:9-10), and to know Him is to know His Son who is on all levels, the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As a husband and father, you show your family that Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies (John 6:35); He is the true door that leads to salvation (10:7), He is the good shepherd even in the valley of the shadow of death (10:11,14); He is the resurrection and the life who keeps His sheep (11:25); He is the true vine in whom the purpose of life and true thriving is to be experienced (15:1). Dear fathers of Meadowbrooke, you are not called to lead your children to their idols but to the all-satisfying and all-sufficient Redeemer who is the only One who can give what their idols will never be able to give namely, LIFE. Give them the God of the Book! Give them the real thing! [1] John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions, 30th Anniversary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2022), 4.

One theme that bubbles up today: Truth without grace breeds self-righteous legalism; grace without truth breeds moral indifference. Bible used for reading today: Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020). Other sources consulted, quoted, or mentioned today: Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance, https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Truth-Paradox-Responding-Christlike/dp/1590520653. France B. Brown Jr., “Colossians,” in The Big Idea Companion for Preaching and Teaching: A Guide from Genesis to Revelation, ed. Matthew D. Kim and Scott M. Gibson (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2021), 525. Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008). David S. Dockery, ed., Holman Bible Handbook (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1992), 259. Miles Van Pelt, “1-2 Kings,” in Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version, ed. Bryan Chapell and Dane Ortlund (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 456. ♱♱♱ About the #ForTheHope podcasts #ForTheHope's Daily Audio Bible is (crazy idea!) a daily audio Bible reading. But it's not just a voice — you can go anywhere and hear a better voice just read the actual text. We read through the New Testament in about 10 months and the Old Testament in about 14 months with a passion for just keepin' it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day. Also showing up in your stream when you subscribe via Apple,  Spotify, or your favorite podcast software are occasional (and separate) #PracticeTheWay segments for nurturing our spiritual formation and #AlwaysBeReady segments that help you take “a ministry of showing up” to work and culture.

Grace P. Cho is a Korean-American writer and Senior Acquisitions Editor at Revell, which is an imprint of Baker Publishing Group. Grace has authored and edited several inCourage bible studies and devotionals. And she's most recently contributed to the book Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice. I've known Grace for many years and she is a kind and gracious presence for me personally, but she extends this beyond just her personal friends. She creates space for people to be known, nurtured, and challenged through her work and she desires to elevate women of color's voices in the publishing industry. Grace has said several goodbyes in the last year, but her experience is is a beautiful illustration of how not all goodbyes are sad. Her kind, generative presence and perspective on life and change is right on time. Listen in. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Visit Grace P. Cho's website Find Grace on Instagram Order a How to Walk into a Room Find my new book from your favorite bookseller below (or another one not listed): Barnes and Noble Amazon US Amazon CA Bookshop Books-A-Million Bookmarks (for personalized copies!) Subscribe to The Soul Minimalist on Substack Download the transcript

Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor | February 11, 2024 Matthew 19:3-5 (NIV) - 86% of LGBTQ people were raised in a faith community from the ages of 0 to 18.- 54% of LGBTQ people leave their religious community after the age of 18.- Only 21% left for theological considerations.- 96 percent of the study’s participants prayed that God would make them straight.— Marin, Andrew. Us versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community. The Navigators. How the world perceives Christianity: anti-homosexual 91%judgmental 87%hypocritical 85 %— Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe. unChristian (p. 27). Baker Publishing Group. Romans 2:1-4 (NIV)You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails. Reflection Questions: 1. What is your position on God’s view regarding sex and marriage? How have you come to your view? Where is your view supported by Scripture?2. Do you think we can hold a position on sex and marriage and still have genuine loving relationships with people who think and or live differently? Why or why not? Have you found this easy or difficult?3. When we look at the list of sins listed in Romans 1:24-32, why do you think the church has tended to make the issue of same sex relationships such a focus over other sins listed there?What examples do you see in the life and ministry of Jesus where he crosses relational and cultural lines in order to show a posture of love and value of people that may not share his biblical or moral position on an issue? How is this a model for us on how to posture our lives toward people in our culture? What would our lives look like if were modeling the posture of Jesus? Be specific.4. What groups of people or individuals do you have a difficult time living out a loving posture like Jesus? What makes it difficult? What do you think Jesus would want you to do?5. What faith step could you take to move toward people that might think or live differently than you? (that don’t hold your same biblical or moral positions)?6. How do you think the church should engage with and relate to people that think or live differently than our biblical or moral position? What would that look like for Journey Church? Explain your answer. Next Steps: Complete the Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any question: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcardWant to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/giveDownload our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozemanGet your children connected to our children's minist

In this episode, we return to the discussion on chapters from Gray and Cory's book Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction. In particular, we return to the discussion about Neo-Calvinism's ecclesiology and how the Church relates to the world. Publications mentioned in this episode: Brock, Cory C., and N. Gray Sutanto. Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction. Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2023. Kaemingk, Matthew, and Cory B. Willson. Work and Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2020. Bavinck, Johan Herman. De Zegen van den Arbeid. J.N. Voorhoeve, 1949 Reach us at graceincommonpodcast@gmail.com. If you want to make a donation, please visit ⁠⁠https://donorbox.org/graceincommon

We've all read statistics about how child and teen depression has been on a steady increase since COVID and with the increasing popularity of social media. Bullying is also on the rise, and right behind it is teen suicide. In her book, God-Confident Kids: Helping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and Peace, Cyndie Claypool De Neve's says, “There is a confidence crisis in a generation of hurting kids, and confused parents struggling to guide them through an obstacle course of stressors unique to this era. To respond to this crisis by telling our kids they're the “best,” “prettiest,” “smartest,” and “strongest,” is overstroking their confidence while teetering on creating entitled narcissists. We set kids up for failure when we teach them to be self-confident, which is solely based on how they feel about their strengths, talents, competence, and looks and is often determined by what others say about them.“So just what is God-confidence?God-confidence is knowing that the God of the universe handcrafted each of us for a purpose and that He will give us strength, courage, and wisdom, and all the gifts we need to do the tasks He has set before us. Self-confidence promotes relying on one's self to accomplish our own purpose, but God-confidence reminds us to rely on God.As parents we need to be encouraging our children to build their God-confidence, trusting in Him who designed each of them for a unique purpose with unique talents and gifts.I'm excited to announce that my kid's devotional for ages 8-12: Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions That Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose by Ambassador International Publishers, is now available at all major outlets and  on Amazon (click link). This devotional is focused on the same topic as today's podcast—helping children know they are uniquely created by God for a purpose.  Resources for today's podcast: God-Confident KidsHelping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and PeaceBy Cyndie Claypool de Neve, Baker Publishing Group, ©2019     Check out free resources and downloads on my website: Website: http://SandraKayChambers.com Follow Me on Social Media: Instagram: http://instagram.com/SandraKayChambers Facebook: http://facebook.com/SandraKayChambersauthor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/SandraKayChamberswriter Thanks to my Virtual Assistant, Alyssa Avant (https://alyssaavantandcompany.com), for her tech genius and help with this podcast.

DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2023“YO ESTOY CONTIGO”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Montreal, CanadáUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 14 DE DICIEMBRE                                                    "YO HARÉ PASAR TODA MI BONDAD"Yo haré pasar toda mi bondad delante de tu rostro y pronunciaré el nombre de Jehová delante de ti, pues tengo misericordia del que quiero tener misericordia, y soy clemente con quien quiero ser clemente (Éxodo 33:19). Cuenta el cantante cristiano Marcos Vidal que mientras cenaba en la casa de un pastor, la esposa del ministro hizo referencia a cuán emocionante sería poder hablar personalmente con Dios. Ese comentario hizo que Vidal reflexionara profundamente en ese asunto, y de ahí surgió la idea de escribir la canción "Cara a cara". En el coro, Vidal repite: "Solo déjame mirarte cara a cara y perderme como un niño en tu mirada, y que pase mucho tiempo, y que nadie diga nada, porque estoy viendo al Maestro cara a cara".La Biblia dice que el Señor "hablaba con Moisés cara a cara, como habla cualquiera con su compañero" (Éxodo 33:11). Sin embargo, a pesar de tener ese tipo de conversación, Moisés se acerca a Dios y le dice: "Te ruego que me muestres tu gloria" (versículo 18). En respuesta a su petición, el Señor le dice: "Yo haré pasar toda mi bondad delante de tu rostro y pronunciaré el nombre de Jehová delante de ti, pues tengo misericordia del que quiero tener misericordia, y soy clemente con quien quiero ser clemente" (versículo 19).Es interesante que en Éxodo el Señor "pasa" por algo en dos ocasiones. La primera vez es durante la Pascua, y el Señor dice en Éxodo 12:12: "Yo pasaré aquella noche por la tierra de Egipto y heriré". La segunda vez es cuando dice en Éxodo 33:19: "Haré pasar toda mi bondad". A propósito de esto, Víctor Hamilton explica que el paso por Egipto fue una escena de juicio; pero el segundo paso, el de Éxodo 33, constituye una muestra de su "benevolencia”. *A veces andamos buscando una manifestación extraordinaria, un episodio deslumbrante, un milagro grandioso que verdaderamente nos demuestre que Dios está con nosotros. Pero la respuesta divina a la petición de Moisés fue muy clara: solo deja que mi bondad pase sobre ti. La presencia gloriosa se manifiesta en nuestra vida cuando el Señor pasa para recoger nuestras abundantes lágrimas, cuando pasa para darnos consuelo y traer paz a nuestra vida, cuando pasa para consolar a los que estamos desgarrados por dentro y por fuera.Hoy Dios puede pasar, no para herirte como hizo con los egipcios, sino para hacerte sentir su gloriosa bondad.* Victor Hamilton, Éxodo: Un comentario exegético, (Grand Rapids, Míchigan: Baker Publishing Group, 2011), p. 631.

Today's Guest: Brent Henderson.  Brent is an in-demand speaker, author, professional outdoorsman, John Maxwell certied life coach, ordained pastor, and recording artist. Brent's also the founder and Executive Director of Unleashed.men. He's toured with Dove and Grammy Award-winning artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Sandi Patti, Avalon, and Crystal Lewis. Brent has been featured at hundreds of outreach and equipping events, including the Billy Graham Crusade, Promise Keepers, and Iron Sharpens Iron. He also speaks more than sixty times a year for men's retreats, wild game dinners, men's conferences, discipleship training, and in schools and churches all around the world. Brent's latest book, The Roar Within, was released by Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group) on May 11, 2021, and has quickly been gaining the attention of radio and TV stations coast to coast.Here is a description of Brent's latest book taken from Barnes & Noble's website. “Every boy has dreams of the man he will become--exploring the world, fighting the enemy, and being dangerous for good. He imagines himself as the hero, the expert, the one others look up to. Then somewhere along the way, the lies of the enemy knock him down, his dreams are shattered, and he loses purpose as the enemy attempts to rob him of his true identity. In this hard-hitting book, world-class hunter, pastor, adventurer, and popular speaker Brent Henderson takes you on a journey to some of the most dangerous and deadly places on earth. Along the way, he helps each of us discover that the most powerful force in the universe can be found in our spirit, where God resides. He shows us how to recover what's been lost by answering our biggest questions: Who am I really? Where does my value come from? and Am I enough? The Roar Within will set you free and equip you to live lives of purpose, courage, and condence.” Producer note: Extremely sorry to our guest and listeners that we had to cut off the closing thoughts due to time constraints. Sincere thanks to today's guest host, our ministry and co-founder Lee Dudek. Lee hosts our local KING'S MEN FELLOWSHIP bible study, Tuesdays inside our ministry building.

I am so delighted to share with you my conversation with the lovely and amazing Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer is a Bible teacher and writer living on a fifth-generation farm in the middle of Iowa with her family. She began her career of words working in journalism and was on the way to a successful political correspondent career. Then, the Lord called her and her husband to the farm life raising crops and daughters, and there, she began to really wrestle with the faith she grew up in, and used her interrogation skills from her journalism career and took them to God and His word. What she found there was so rich and full and transformative, and God began to help her share what she was learning and invite others into that same adventure. Her latest work is a guided journal titled Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous, Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. The journal is a book of questions and prompts because as Jennifer says there are beautiful things that can be encountered at the end of a question mark. It is unlike any other journal I've ever encountered, it is full of questions that plumb the depths of your soul, and others that make you laugh out loud. Jennifer and I even share some of our answers to some of the really funny ones later in this episode, but much of what we talk about today is unpacking how we perceive Jesus' questions, the tones we assign to scripture, why we resist growth, questions, and are scared to confess our doubts. Jesus is not afraid of what He already knows we're wrestling with. Perhaps this conversation will serve as an invitation for you to consider what He may have for you at the end of a question mark. Y'all I cannot express how much I enjoyed this journal. It has given me space to be all the versions of myself. Serious me, introspective me, silly me, music-obsessed me, all of it. Is it hard for you to answer questions about yourself? Serious ones or lighthearted ones? Are you like me and struggle to embrace fun and whimsy in your life?    I want to challenge you to hold space for the weird and the wonderful in you, no matter what that looks like. The Lord welcomes you, as you are, as He made you, questions, doubts, quirks, and all. I hope this conversation serves as a catalyst for just that. You matter, and your story matters.    Connecting with Jennifer: Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous, Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery  Books Facebook Instagram (The seperate journal's instagram page!) Website   References: Grief bacon- “kummerspeck” Baker Publishing Group (hey, to my friends!) Bethany Publishers Jennifer's post about her daughter going to Oxford  “Des Moines Register” (newspaper) “The Chosen” - Jesus and Simon “I've got you.” Growing Slow  Annie F. Downs 8 Track Tape  “The Osmond Family Christmas” “Chipmunk Punk”- Alvin and The Chipmunks “Thriller”- Michael Jackson “Pump up the Jam” “Make You Sweat” (“Everybody Dance Now”) C+C Music Factory  “Can't Touch This” MC Hammer “Vogue” - Madonna The Stuff I'd Only Tell God playlist  The band Chicago “Cinderella” Disney movie soundtrack Casey Kasem American Top 40 (now Ryan Seacrest) Countdown “Phenomenon” movie soundtrack “French Kiss” movie soundtrack  “Dizzy Up the Girl” by Goo Goo Dolls Maverick City Music  Brandon Lake  “Baby's Black Balloon” - Goo Goo Dolls “Tubthumping” by Chabuwamba  “Home” by Phillip Phillips “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magenetic Zeros “The Walking Dead”   Scripture References: John 20:24-29-Thomas Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Matthew 15:1-9, Luke 6:1-5, John 8:1-11- The disciples' concern with breaking the Law (and the Pharisees and Sadducees, and etc) Acts 9 -Scales came off Paul's eyes John 5:1-15- Do you want to get well? Luke 18:41-43- what do you want me to do for you? Matthew 14:31 - Why did you doubt? John 6:67 - You do not want to leave too, do you? Matthew 26:14-30, Luke 22 (this account is different than John. John says he was “prompted” to betray Jesus, and after Jesus fed him the bread, Satan entered Judas and he left the supper)  John 13- When Jesus speaks to Judas  Luke 2:1-20- Jesus showed up as a baby  Luke 2:52-Jesus grew up in wisdom and stature    Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off Instagram Website   Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.    Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog   

We've all read statistics about how child and teen depression has been on a steady increase since COVID and with the increasing popularity of social media. Bullying is also on the rise, and right behind it is teen suicide. In her book, God-Confident Kids: Helping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and Peace, Cyndie Claypool De Neve's says, “There is a confidence crisis in a generation of hurting kids, and confused parents struggling to guide them through an obstacle course of stressors unique to this era. To respond to this crisis by telling our kids they're the “best,” “prettiest,” “smartest,” and “strongest,” is overstroking their confidence while teetering on creating entitled narcissists. We set kids up for failure when we teach them to be self-confident, which is solely based on how they feel about their strengths, talents, competence, and looks and is often determined by what others say about them.“So just what is God-confidence?God-confidence is knowing that the God of the universe handcrafted each of us for a purpose and that He will give us strength, courage, and wisdom, and all the gifts we need to do the tasks He has set before us. Self-confidence promotes relying on one's self to accomplish our own purpose, but God-confidence reminds us to rely on God.As parents we need to be encouraging our children to build their God-confidence, trusting in Him who designed each of them for a unique purpose with unique talents and gifts.I'm excited to announce that my kid's devotional for ages 8-12: Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions That Help You Realize You Are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose will be released Nov. 7, 2023, by Ambassador International Publishers. This devotional is focused on the same topic as today's podcast—helping children know they are uniquely created by God for a purpose. I'll be posting updates on my author website and in my quarterly newsletter, so be sure to signup to receive it on my author's website. (Link below.)  Resources for today's podcast: God-Confident KidsHelping Your Child Find True Purpose, Passion, and Peace by Cyndie Claypool de Neve, Baker Publishing Group, ©2019 Check out free resources and downloads on my website: Website: http://SandraKayChambers.com Follow Me on Social Media: Instagram: http://instagram.com/SandraKayChambers Facebook: http://facebook.com/SandraKayChambersauthor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/SandraKayChamberswriter Thanks to my Virtual Assistant, Alyssa Avant (https://alyssaavantandcompany.com), for her tech genius and help with this podcast.

Nancy Pearsey joins Carl and Todd to discuss her important new book, The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Books have appeared with titles like I Hate Men and Are Men Necessary? Mainstream news organizations publish articles like "Why Can't We Hate Men?" T-shirts are sold with messages like "So Many Men, So Little Ammunition.” And Christian men, in particular, are being singled out despite social science data indicators. When did the script against masculinity become so toxic, and what effect is it having on men today?  Baker Publishing Group has provided a few giveaway copies of his book for our listeners. Register here for the opportunity to win.   Show Notes: Nancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published book is Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality. Her earlier books include The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners: How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." To order a copy of Nancy's book, The Toxic War on Masculinity, visit: https://reformedresources.org/the-toxic-war-on-masculinity-how-christianity-reconciles-the-sexes-hardcover/ This podcast has been sponsored by SBTS. Explore which theological degree best fits you at SBTS.EDU/EXPLORE. 

Rev. Bob Fu, Ph.D, was a former student leader during the Tiananmen Square democracy movement in 1989. In 1993, he graduated with a law degree on international relations from Renmin University of China in Beijing. He was a faculty member at the Beijing Party School of the Chinese Communist Party from 1993-1996.  He was also a house church leader in Beijing until he and his wife, Bochun “Heidi” Cai, were imprisoned in 1996. In 1997 he was exiled to the U.S. In 2002, he founded ChinaAid in Philadelphia to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China. He graduated with Ph.D. from St. John's College at the University of Durham in the U.K in the field of religious freedom. His autobiography, God's Double Agent, was published in 2013 by Baker Publishing Group. His academic book The Politics of Inclusive Pluralism was published in 2021. Bob regularly testifies and briefs foreign policymakers and legislators on religious freedom, foreign policy, national security, and rule of law as well refugee issues in the free world. Bob Fu is a recipient of William Wilberforce Award by the Colson Center (2020-2021).  In 2022 he received the “Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award” by the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative. He is a consultant to both the Heritage Foundation and Family Research Council. He is a life member of Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese Law and Religion Monitor journal. In this podcast, Bob describes how the persecution against Christians in China is the worst it has ever been, with many followers of Christ there being tortured and imprisoned merely for following Jesus and sharing His Gospel with those who do not yet know Him. He also describes the ministry he has begun ChinaAid.org that offers help to the persecuted church in China. Yet, despite persecution, the church in China has been growing rapidly as non-believers there are drawn to Christ as they see real Christians willing to sacrifice so much for our Lord. It is the hope of Bob that the same will happen in America!

Book Vs. Movie: Valley GirlsThe Frank & Moon Zappa Song Vs. the 1983 Classic FilmWe know that Frank Zappa did not authorize using the song Valley Girl (co-written with his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit in 1982.) But we had to cover this movie because if there was ever a song that influenced the culture of the early 80s --this was it.Moon Zappa is the oldest child of the late Frank Zappa, and after spending most of her childhood waiting for her dad to make time for her, she reached out to him with his favorite love language--snarky lyrics. Using expressions from her peers in the San Fernando Valley--the Zappas created a song that lampoons the white bread, snotty culture of “Vals.” The fact it became a hit song (and Frank's only Top 40 single) shocked everyone involved. The producers of the 1983 film tried to get Frank to sign the rights but only with the overall approval of the script and music. The film, directed by Martha Coolidge and starring Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, became a classic teen film that must have stung Frank, who sued the producers as Valley 9000 and lost. So what are the main differences between the song and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen and find out!This episode is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group, With Every Memory by author Janine Rosche:"At its heart, With Every Memory is the story of what happens when an already-broken family loses the one person holding them together. Lori Mendenhall returns home to a family she barely recognizes after the same car accident that killed her son stole the last eight years of memories from her. Lori's once-loving husband is a stoic workaholic with questionable intentions, and her teenage daughter has been chewed up and spit out by the world following the loss of her twin brother. As Lori's good and bad memories resurface, she must decide whether the family she's returned to is beyond hope. "In this ep the Margos discuss:The effect Valley Girl (the song) had on teens at the timeThe surprising old-fashioned love story (based lightly on Romeo & Juliet)The outstanding soundtrackThe cast of the 1983 film: Nicolas Cage (Randy,) Deborah Foreman (Julie,) Elizabeth Daily (Loryn,) Michael Bowen (Tommy,) Cameron Dye (Fred,) Heid Holicker (Stacey,) Michelle Meyrink (Suzi,) Lee Purcell (Beth,) Richard Sanders (Driver's Ed teacher,) Colleen Camp (Sarah Richman,) and Frederic Forrest as Steve Richman.Clips used:Valley Girl (Frank Zappa)Good Morning America, September 12, 1982, Moon & Frank Zappa interview)Nina Blackwood & Frank Zappa on MTV October 1981Valley Girl 1983 trailer)“I'm totally not in love with you!”“Let's get out of here.”Meeting Julie's dadHomecoming fight sceneMusic: Melt With You by Modern EnglishBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupFollow us on Twitter @bookversusmovieInstagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.comMargo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo Margo D's Blog www.brooklynfitchick.com Margo D's Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@margodonohuebrooklynfitchick@gmail.comYou can buy your copy of Filmed in Brooklyn here! Margo P. Twitter @ShesNachoMamaMargo P's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shesnachomama/Margo P's Blog https://coloniabook.weebly.com/Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5406542/advertisement

Book Vs. Movie: Valley GirlsThe Frank & Moon Zappa Song Vs. the 1983 Classic FilmWe know that Frank Zappa did not authorize using the song Valley Girl (co-written with his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit in 1982.) But we had to cover this movie because if there was ever a song that influenced the culture of the early 80s --this was it.Moon Zappa is the oldest child of the late Frank Zappa, and after spending most of her childhood waiting for her dad to make time for her, she reached out to him with his favorite love language--snarky lyrics. Using expressions from her peers in the San Fernando Valley--the Zappas created a song that lampoons the white bread, snotty culture of “Vals.” The fact it became a hit song (and Frank's only Top 40 single) shocked everyone involved. The producers of the 1983 film tried to get Frank to sign the rights but only with the overall approval of the script and music. The film, directed by Martha Coolidge and starring Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman, became a classic teen film that must have stung Frank, who sued the producers as Valley 9000 and lost. So what are the main differences between the song and the film? Which version did the Margos like better? Have a listen and find out!This episode is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group, With Every Memory by author Janine Rosche:"At its heart, With Every Memory is the story of what happens when an already-broken family loses the one person holding them together. Lori Mendenhall returns home to a family she barely recognizes after the same car accident that killed her son stole the last eight years of memories from her. Lori's once-loving husband is a stoic workaholic with questionable intentions, and her teenage daughter has been chewed up and spit out by the world following the loss of her twin brother. As Lori's good and bad memories resurface, she must decide whether the family she's returned to is beyond hope. "In this ep the Margos discuss:The effect Valley Girl (the song) had on teens at the timeThe surprising old-fashioned love story (based lightly on Romeo & Juliet)The outstanding soundtrackThe cast of the 1983 film: Nicolas Cage (Randy,) Deborah Foreman (Julie,) Elizabeth Daily (Loryn,) Michael Bowen (Tommy,) Cameron Dye (Fred,) Heid Holicker (Stacey,) Michelle Meyrink (Suzi,) Lee Purcell (Beth,) Richard Sanders (Driver's Ed teacher,) Colleen Camp (Sarah Richman,) and Frederic Forrest as Steve Richman.Clips used:Valley Girl (Frank Zappa)Good Morning America, September 12, 1982, Moon & Frank Zappa interview)Nina Blackwood & Frank Zappa on MTV October 1981Valley Girl 1983 trailer)“I'm totally not in love with you!”“Let's get out of here.”Meeting Julie's dadHomecoming fight sceneMusic: Melt With You by Modern EnglishBook Vs. Movie is part of the Frolic Podcast Network.Find more podcasts you will love Frolic.Media/podcasts. Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupFollow us on Twitter @bookversusmovieInstagram: Book Versus Movie https://www.instagram.com/bookversusmovie/Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.comMargo D. Twitter @BrooklynMargo Margo D's Blog www.brooklynfitchick.com Margo D's Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@margodonohuebrooklynfitchick@gmail.comYou can buy your copy of Filmed in Brooklyn here! Margo P. Twitter @ShesNachoMamaMargo P's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shesnachomama/Margo P's Blog https://coloniabook.weebly.com/Our logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine

In Chapter 39 of the FamilyFiction Christian Fiction Bookshelf Podcast Tosca Lee talks to us about her new Revell release The Long March Home, which she co-wrote with Marcus Brotherton. This Chapter of the Christian Fiction Bookshelf Podcast is sponsored by: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian Read More The post Tosca Lee | Christian Fiction Bookshelf Podcast – Chapter 39 appeared first on Family Fiction.

Hear the heart behind Tracie Peterson's latest historical Christian novel Remember Me, the first in a three-book series set in the early 1900s during the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo. When life does not turn out as planned, discover the freedom of forgiveness and the faithfulness of God as Tracie shares lessons learned from her own life as well as those woven throughout her most recent project. This podcast is brought to you in part by Remember Me by Tracie Peterson and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Remember Me is available now wherever books and ebooks are sold. To purchase a copy of Tracie's book, you can stop by your local Christian bookstore or visit our online store mtl.christianbook.com by clicking here. You can learn more about Tracie at traciepetersonbooks.com. To hear more podcasts on this channel, visit https://www.mtlmagazine.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe to the More to Life podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or Google so you don't miss an episode!

Scripture Reading: John 20:1-23 Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus' head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed. 9 (For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.)10 So the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” 18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.”Main ThemesHistorical QuestionsHarmonizing the Four GospelsChapter 20 of John's Gospel puts us squarely within the resurrection narrative. This is a key event to the Christian faith. All four gospels describe it with varied levels of details. Because the event is multiply attested, one can compare the four narratives. One question that often comes up is whether all four gospels are consistent with one another. Here are the narratives found in the 3 other gospels:Matthew 28:1-10: Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Listen, I have told you!” So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”Mark 16:1-8: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. They had been asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back. Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.Luke 24:1-12: Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then the women remembered his words, and when they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.Are these three narratives contradictory? Can they be harmonized (that is, can they be read together as supplementary to each other)? Before we attempt to answer these questions, I want to share a word of caution expressed very well by the website gotquestions.org:The events surrounding Jesus' resurrection can be difficult to piece together. We must remember two things: first, the news of Jesus' resurrection produced much excitement in Jerusalem, and in the ensuing chaos many people were going many different directions. Groups were separated, and several different groups paid visits to the tomb, possibly more than once. Second, the writers of the Gospels did not attempt an exhaustive narrative; in other words, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had no intention of telling us every detail of the resurrection or every event in the order that it happened.In the battle with skeptics regarding Jesus' resurrection, Christians are in a "no-win" situation. If the resurrection accounts harmonize perfectly, skeptics will claim that the writers of the Gospels conspired together. If the resurrection accounts have some differences, skeptics will claim that the Gospels contradict each other and therefore cannot be trusted. It is our contention that the resurrection accounts can be harmonized and do not contradict each other.Generally speaking, when multiple witnesses describe an event slightly differently, that adds to the reliability of the testimony. It means that the witnesses are truly sharing their own recollection of the event, instead of organizing to repeat one witness's version of the events or colluding to share a crafted narrative. So, from a historical standpoint, the fact that the four gospels describe the resurrection of Jesus differently is not a negative—instead, it is strong evidence of historical reliability. So what's the problem? If the differences between the gospels are truly irreconcilable, then the Christian must give up on what is known as biblical inerrancy (which means that the Bible contains no errors). As I have explained before, biblical inerrancy is an important doctrine—one that should not be discarded lightly. However, it is not central to Christianity. As long as the core claims of the Bible are reliably recorded, small errors would not undo the religion as a whole.In fact, before we consider a harmonization, let's consider the question: are there core facts unquestionably affirmed by all four narratives? The answer is yes. Even if we grant differences in the gospels, they all clearly affirm that:Jesus was buried in a tomb.The tomb was empty a few days later.The testimony of one or more women.Jesus appeared to the disciples (some of these appearances are in verses after those quoted above).The disciples went from despair to belief (again, some of this content is found in verses after those quoted above).With all that in mind, let's consider a possible harmonization of the events described in all four gospel. There are several harmonizing narratives offered by scholars, such as George Eldon Ladd's. Here's the one proposed by the same website I quoted above:Jesus is buried, as several women watch (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42).The tomb is sealed and a guard is set (Matthew 27:62-66).At least 3 women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, prepare spices to go to the tomb (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1).An angel descends from heaven, rolls the stone away, and sits on it. There is an earthquake, and the guards faint (Matthew 28:2-4).The women arrive at the tomb and find it empty. Mary Magdalene leaves the other women there and runs to tell the disciples (John 20:1-2).The women still at the tomb see two angels who tell them that Jesus is risen and who instruct them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-8).The women leave to bring the news to the disciples (Matthew 28:8).The guards, having roused themselves, report the empty tomb to the authorities, who bribe the guards to say the body was stolen (Matthew 28:11-15).Mary the mother of James and the other women, on their way to find the disciples, see Jesus (Matthew 28:9-10).The women relate what they have seen and heard to the disciples (Luke 24:9-11).Peter and John run to the tomb, see that it is empty, and find the grave clothes (Luke 24:12; John 20:2-10).Mary Magdalene returns to the tomb. She sees the angels, and then she sees Jesus (John 20:11-18).Later the same day, Jesus appears to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5).Still on the same day, Jesus appears to Cleopas and another disciple on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32).That evening, the two disciples report the event to the Eleven in Jerusalem (Luke 24:32-35).Jesus appears to ten disciples—Thomas is missing (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25).Jesus appears to all eleven disciples—Thomas included (John 20:26-31).Jesus appears to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-25).Jesus appears to about 500 disciples in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6).Jesus appears to His half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7).Jesus commissions His disciples (Matthew 28:16-20).Jesus teaches His disciples the Scriptures and promises to send the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:4-5).Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:6-12).Pagan Origins of the ResurrectionJohn certainly presents the resurrection narrative as a historical event. There is no indication in the text that it is meant to be myth or fiction. However, claims are often made that Jesus' resurrection repurposes ancient myths. Is this claim plausible? In other words, during the first century, were there other legends that would strike us as too similar to the story of Jesus? Honestly, no. These myth-borrowing theories only work if one is unfamiliar with the narrative of Jesus' resurrection and whatever other myth it is allegedly based upon. Once the two tales are studied, the conclusion is that any similarities are too general or superficial.First of all, one is hard pressed to find a true resurrection myth. Ancient stories often involved apparitions of deceased persons (sort of like ghosts) or persons who had become immortal. Notice that neither of these scenarios involves true resurrection—the body remains buried. True resurrection, as Craig Keener points out, was an almost exclusively Jewish belief.But what about the Greco-Roman mystery cults? Didn't they have dying and rising deities? At a glance, there are parallels between some of the Mysteries and Jesus' resurrection, but we must look at the date. The most striking resemblances occur after the first century, when the Christian story had time to influence the mystery cults. (And the mystery cults influenced Christianity, with Christian authors beginning to adopt some of the Mysteries' terminology.) However, even if we entertained 3rd century Mysteries as sources for the Jesus' resurrection narrative, the Mysteries understood the world differently. Their narratives did not assign a spiritual and moral meaning to the events as Christianity did.But, after getting past the two caveats above, one must admit there were myths of dying and rising gods pre-Jesus. Some of them would not have been known by the first-century Jews, which makes them irrelevant to the myth-borrowing thesis. Nevertheless, some of them would have been known by the Jews. Of this latter category, they are not as similar as is claimed. Take Osiris for example (a myth often compared to Jesus). As J. Warner Wallace explains:Osiris was murdered and his body was then dismembered and scattered. Later, his body pieces were recovered and rejoined, and he was rejuvenated. Osiris then journeyed to the underworld, where he became the lord of the dead. He did not resurrect with a glorified body and walk with men on earth, as did Jesus. He was not alive again, as was Jesus, but was instead a “dead” god who never returned among the living.One important observation I must reemphasize is how unique the Jewish and Christian understanding of resurrection truly is. It is not a belief in merely survival of the soul once the body has died, nor a belief in a happy life in either the underworld or Elysium. It is the belief in a true bodily resurrection. In fact, one would not expect persecution of the disciples if they had simply claimed they saw a ghost of Jesus or an apparition of the deified Jesus. Those claims would have seemed significantly less remarkable to their culture.Mary at the TombMary goes to the tomb on Sunday, the first day of the week, to finish the burial rites. Recall that Jesus was buried late on Friday and the Sabbath begins on Friday night. Some of the burial preparations could not be performed on the Sabbath.John tells us that Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus very early, “while it was still dark,” connoting devotion. She finds that the stone has been moved away, and she infers that the body had been taken. Mary Magdalene's conclusion is not an impossible one. Sometimes robbers would break into tombs. These tomb robbers would take items of value and leave the body. To take the body would have been appalling. However, corpses could be used for magic, particularly corpses of those who died in gruesome ways. Notice also the plural in verse 2, “we don't know where they have put him!” Mary Magdalene was not alone. As the other gospels inform us, she went to the tomb with other women.Could there be other explanations for the missing body?One theory is that Jesus was not dead—the “swoon” theory. As Craig Keener explains:Nor is there historical merit to the old “swoon” theory (that Jesus was not yet dead and hence managed to revive sufficiently to act “resurrected” but then died somewhere unknown). Crucified persons simply did not revive: Josephus had three friends taken from crosses, and despite medical attention, two died (Josephus Life 420–421). Further, if one could revive, one would still be trapped within the tomb, which would lead to death (Chariton 1.4.11–12; 1.8). Keener, Craig S.. The Gospel of John : 2 Volumes (p. 1180). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.Another theory is that the whole thing was fabricated by the disciples. There are many problem with this theory. If the story was false, why make women (considered unreliable in the ancient world) the primary witnesses? Why would the Jewish or Roman authorities not produce the body to put an end to the rumors of resurrection? Why would the apostles die for a claim they knew to be false (since they fabricated it themselves)?The consensus among historians is that Jesus died, he was buried, and then the tomb was found empty. Some historians are so puzzled by these facts, they simply refuse to offer an explanation.The Linen Wrappings John makes sure that we notice the fact that the linen wrappings were “lying there.” He says it in verses 5, 6, and 7. John also tells us that the face cloth was rolled up in a place by itself.There are two points to John's description of the scene. First of all, whatever happened in that tomb may have been similar yet clearly distinct from Lazarus' experience. Recall the resurrection of Lazarus:When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)As we discussed when we covered chapter 11, the decedent would be tightly wrapped in cloth. The cloth would have probably stuck to the body due to all the bodily fluids, not to mention the spices. Lazarus was raised just as he was when he lived and was immediately faced by his cloth captivity.Jesus was also wrapped after he died. Yet somehow Jesus does not face the same problem. Christians generally speculate that this has to do with Jesus' resurrected body. Lazarus merely had his old body revivified. Jesus was resurrected into a glorified, permanent body. This new body does not seem to have the same limitations as the old. Of course, another possibility is a miracle, which would not necessarily involve the nature of Jesus' new body.The second point that John makes by highlighting the cloth wrappings—particularly that the face cloth was rolled up and placed next to the other wrappings—is that the scene was not in disarray. This is not the aftermath of robbers acting in haste. This is like a room with a bed well made: the result of a peaceful and thoughtful exit.One could read some theological significance to leaving the wrappings behind, particularly the face cloth. Just like Moses' veil covered divine revelation (see 2 Corinthians 3:7-9), Jesus leaving the veil behind could mean that a full revelation has finally come. The text is not clear on this point, so I will not explore it further.John BelievesJohn tells us that Peter “and the other disciple” rush to the tomb. This other disciple is thought to be John himself. When John sees the tomb, he “believed.” Throughout the Gospel of John, we have read this expression before. Recall all the way back to chapter 1:Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” (John 1:49-50)Yet when the darkest moment came, everyone who had “believed” deserted Jesus. That kind of apostasy no longer happens to the apostles from this point in the narrative and onward. This “believed” in chapter 20 is something more, or something different, than in prior chapters. As the revelation of Jesus is complete, so is the belief in him.John explains that the disciples had not understood (or known) the scripture foretelling that Jesus had to rise from the dead. As I always ask, what scripture? In this case, it is unclear.We could speculate a passage such as Psalm 16:10:You will not abandon me to Sheol;you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.However, we cannot be sure.Mary and the AngelsMary Magdalene was the first to Jesus' empty tomb. She is also given the privilege of being the first to see the risen Lord. The scene is, in my opinion, the sweetest in the whole gospel. She woke up that morning wanting to honor Jesus. She finds the tomb empty, informs the disciples, they come, see, and go back home. She remains there weeping. She is not ready to leave. In that moment, she sees two “angels” sitting inside the tomb who ask, “Woman, why are you weeping?”I want to avoid delving too deep into the topic of angels (because it is likely to derail us), but angels in the Bible do not look like how they are portrayed in popular media. The word angel comes from the Greek “angelous,” which simply means messenger. In Genesis 18 and 19, two angels visit Abraham and later Sodom. They are not described in detail, but they are casually called “two men” and do not seem to call any attention to themselves. I think the reasonable assumption is that these angels looked like regular people. I point all this out to elucidate the scene with Mary Magdalene. The two angels in the tomb, with whom she has a seemingly normal interaction, may have looked like normal men. That explains her lack of surprise or fear.Nonetheless, I do not want to ignore the fact that these angels were dressed in white. White garbs were not utterly unusual in Jewish tradition or the ancient world. Pagans would worship heavenly deities in white garments. More importantly, Jewish priests wore linen. Worshipers, including in the Jerusalem temple, often wore white. And angels in Jewish texts appeared in linen, white, or clothed in glory. Why would the angels be dressed in white? Black symbolized mourning and death. White symbolized joy and life. So, the fact that the angels wore white is important. They were not mourning the death of Jesus. This was not a sad and solemn time. It was a time of celebration for Jesus lived.Mary and JesusThe GardenerMary Magdalene then turns around and sees another man, who she believes to be the gardener. This makes sense—remember the tomb was located in a garden. In typical Johannine style, this man asks a question that makes sense on the surface but takes on much deeper meaning as we consider it from a theological standpoint: “Who are you looking for?”The sweetness and heart wrenching quality of the scene continues. Mary Magdalene is distraught, yet she wishes to honor her master. She is not concerned with accusations, or asking why would someone do something as despicable as stealing a body. She simply wants an opportunity to make it right. She pleads, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.”The “gardener” calls her by name, “Mary.” Mary instantly recognizes him and calls Jesus by a title that shows both respect and intimacy, “my teacher.” This is the first of several “recognition scenes.” John and Luke describe instances in which disciples saw Jesus but did not recognize him until Jesus made himself known. This ability of Jesus' resurrected body seems to be a trait of the heavenly beings. Jewish tradition held that angels could appear in different forms. In the Old Testament, God himself could appear in unrecognizable forms (see Genesis 18).The AppearancesThis appearance to Mary is the first of many that Jesus will make. These appearances are the “proof,” the “certificate of approval” that Jesus was who he said he was and his words were therefore true. Without these appearances, the gospel might be good news but we would never know. What I mean is, maybe Jesus would have been God who died for our sins, but we would hardly believe it. Consider what is probably the earliest Christian creed ever recorded:Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)On the cross, Jesus says his work is done. In the resurrection, Jesus shows his work was in fact done.Most historians grant that at least the apostles believed to have seen Jesus resurrected. The Christian movement is otherwise unexplainable. Why would the apostles and other Jesus' followers suffer and die for something they did not believe to be true?Some claim that the appearances of Jesus are merely mythological; however, appearances of deities to large groups of people appear in mythology many centuries before the time of Jesus. The story of Jesus would be surprisingly anachronistic. Others claim that the appearances of Jesus were corporate visions, similar to mass delusions. This claim is unlikely. Not only are corporate visions exceedingly rare, but they are practically nonexistent if the vision is multimodal—that is, the vision engages multiple senses. Finally, as explained earlier when comparing the story of Jesus to pagan myths, the concept of corporal resurrection was barely intelligible to non-Jews and associated exclusively with the eschaton for Jews. If the resurrection appearances were either a delusion or a lie, there is hardly an explanation why that would be the lie they chose.“Do Not Touch Me”Jesus tells Mary, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father.” This expression seems curious at first. We should probably not envision Mary poking at Jesus' body with one finger like if to make sure he was not a ghost. In context, we might envision Mary holding on to Jesus, either in an embrace, or holding on to this hands, or perhaps even his feet. Then Jesus' response makes perfect sense. He is saying, “Mary, you must let me go. There are things yet to be done. I must leave again and return to my Father.” Some scholars do argue that what we have here is a prohibition on touching the sacred, such as in Exodus 19:12. This makes little sense of the heartwarming scene and of later appearance of Jesus when he encourages his disciples to touch him.“Go to my Brothers”Jesus tells Mary, “Go to my brothers and tell them” (emphasis added). This is the first time Jesus calls his disciples brothers, and such a title fits perfectly with the theology presented in John. Recall the very beginning of the gospel:But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God's children. (John 1:12)What did Jesus come to do? To make a way for everyone to become children of God—part of the family. Not mere servants or guests but children, sons or daughters, with inheritance rights. Now that the work of Jesus is done, he can refer to his disciples as brothers. Members of the household of God!Another shocking fact of Jesus telling Mary, “Go to my brothers and tell them,” is that Jesus told Mary. I mean, Jesus asked a woman to deliver his message. The gospels and early Christian tradition are unanimous that Jesus' resurrection was first revealed to women. Since women were not considered reliable witnesses, Christians would hardly have invented this.Jesus Appears to the DisciplesJesus Appears to the DisciplesAs the women go to the tomb to honor their teacher, the disciples remain hidden and afraid. This is hardly a flattering description of the men. The narrative specifies that the doors were locked. This detail is presumably included to highlight that when Jesus appears among the disciples, he does so in some supernatural sense. As I have mentioned before, Jesus' resurrected body seems to have some heavenly qualities that cannot be restrained by the physical world.Jesus immediately offers peace, not reproach for their failures or their fear, but peace. The story does not provide details, but I think we can safely infer the disciples are surprised and have many questions. “Is he a ghost?” “Is it really him?” “Could this be happening?” Jesus settles the interrogation by showing them his wounds. “Yes, it's really me,” he shows.Then Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.” These statements require some examination. Let's begin with the receiving of the Holy Spirit.Receiving the Holy SpiritOne of the most iconic scenes in the New Testament is the Holy Spirit descending as flaming tongues during Pentecost.Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)This event occurs after Jesus tell the apostles to wait to “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (Acts 1-8)The question naturally arises: How are we to understand Jesus granting the Holy Spirit in John 20 and then the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit again just a few weeks later during Pentecost? One option is that the event John describes in chapter 20 is the same Pentecost event. John simply moves the meeting closer to Passover and describes it differently for narrative purposes (i.e., it is the climax of John's Christology and Pneumatology). Some scholars take this view. In my opinion, this is hardly better than claiming that John made it up.Is there a better alternative? The meeting in John 20 and the event in Pentecost only seem contradictory if we assume that both grant the Holy Spirit in the same sense. Jesus promises every believer that he or she will receive the water that forever quenches thirst (John 3:13). Whoever believes in Jesus will have “living water” (John 7:37-39), which is the Holy Spirit. This “type” of giving of the Spirit seems to be described in Ezekiel 36:26-27:I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations.I think that is the “type” of granting of the Spirit that John is describing—the guarantee made to every believer. Pentecost, on the other hand, seems like an unusual event in which the Spirit grants special powers. Recall, for example the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and how they are “energized” by the Spirit to prophesy and perform miracles (see 2 Kings 2). Pentecost was an event in which the Spirit empowered miracles. We might not experience that—every believer has not been guaranteed that.In short, John 20 describes the Spirit that empowers us to follow God. Pentecost describes a miraculous empowering by the Spirit.Finally, we must notice how the scene in John does represent the conclusion to his gospel. The Spirit finally comes to give life and continue the ministry that Jesus started. Jesus imparts the Spirit by breathing. This is reminiscent of Genesis 2:7:The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.Yet, unlike the breath of God in Genesis, the Spirit gives eternal life.For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)And not only does the Spirit come such that we may be born again (or properly understood, born from above), the Spirit comes as another paraclete. The Spirit is immediately and directly connected with the prophetic mission of sharing the Gospel. As soon as the Spirit is granted, the apostles are sent just like Jesus was sent. If You Forgive Anyone's Sins…Now we must explore the second statement, “If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.” First we should notice that this statement is made in the context of a “sending.” Jesus says, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” By looking at the sending of Jesus, at his earthly ministry, we can understand what the apostles were sent to do. (Some try to distinguish the two words translated as “send” in verse 21, but both Greek words are used interchangeably in John's Gospel.) Moreover, these similar “sendings” had been mentioned previously in John. Recall chapter 17:I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. (John 17:15-19)So, within the context of having been sent, what is the meaning of the apostles' ability to forgive or retain sins? One could take the Catholic approach:In John's Gospel, following his Resurrection, Jesus makes plain he's assigning the ministry to forgive sins to particular Church leaders, specifically his apostles and those they designate in succeeding them (John 20:20-23). The apostles and their successors are given not only the unique ministry to forgive sins in Jesus' name, but also the power to “retain” sins if a minister judges someone has not genuinely repented of their wrongdoing.Is there another possibility? We could (and I would argue, should) interpret the statement in chapter 20 in light of Jesus' explanation in chapter 16:But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment—concerning sin because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; and concerning judgment because the ruler of this world has been condemned. (John 16:7-11)Notice that in the passage above we see the same connection between the Spirit and judgment. The message of Jesus, “backed up” by the Spirit, becomes the judge. Therefore, the apostles carry with them the agent of judgment. As they share the Gospel they bring with it a decision to believe or not to believe, to embrace the righteousness of Christ or to follow the “ruler of this world.” That is, I would argue, how they can forgive or retain sins. They can discern that which is in line or out of line with God's message.

Where does a story come from? Find out in the first episode of season 2. In this episode, author Sarah Sundin shares the research and real-life experiences that inspired her latest World War II novel The Sound of Light, which uncovers a captivating story about ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude and hope for a brighter future. This podcast is brought to you in part by The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin and Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. The Sound of Light is available now wherever books and ebooks are sold. To purchase a copy of Sarah's book, you can stop by your local Christian bookstore or visit our online store mtl.christianbook.com by clicking here. You can learn more about Sarah at sarahsundin.com To hear more podcasts on this channel, visit https://www.mtlmagazine.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe to the More to Life podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or Google so you don't miss an episode!

Episode 68 -  What's Left of Sabbath RestFeb 9, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory HallMany of the books written on the topic of biblical rest focus largely on the observance of the Old Testament's fourth commandment. But the seventh-day sabbath is just a small sliver of what the Bible has to say on the topic. The author of Hebrews spends nearly two chapters discussing the "rest that remains for the people of God," yet never mentions the seventh-day sabbath anywhere in his argument.This prompts the question, "What's Left of Sabbath Rest?"Resources Referenced and/or Read:Swoboda, A. J. Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018.Hall, Gregory D. (2023). Introduction. In Rethinking Rest; Why Our Approach to Sabbath Isn't Working (pp. 11–16), Deep River Books.Recent Podcasts where Greg has been Interviewed:You can track all my interviews only my Podchaser.com Creator Page.Empowered Manhood Podcast - One interview spread over three episodes. E 66 - Part 1 - Why Today's Concept of Biblical Rest Isn't Working w/ Author, Gregory D. HallE 67 - Part 2 - Why Today's Concept of Biblical Rest Isn't Working w/ Author, Gregory D. HallE 68 - Part 3 - Why Today's Concept of Biblical Rest Isn't Working w/ Author, Gregory D. HallHustle In Faith PodcastE 217 - Rethinking Rest w/ Gregory D. HallShow Music:Intro/Outro - "Wedding Song" by Jacob A. HallTransition Music - produced by Jacob A. HallPodcast Website:The All-America Listener Challenge Updates: https://rethinkingscripture.comMy New Podcast Studio... The Upper Room: https://rethinkingscripture.com/podcast-episodes/More information about The Homes and Help Initiative: https://rethinkingscripture.com/homes-help-initiative/Sister site: RethinkingRest.comRethinking Rest... the Book: now available wherever you buy your books!More information: https://rethinkingrest.com/the-book/Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RethinkingScripture Twitter: @RethinkingStuffInstagram: Rethinking_ScriptureYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YCLg2UldJiA0dsg0KkvLATikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rethinkingscripturePowered and distributed by Simplecast.

On December 10, 2005, Kechi was flying home for the Christmas holiday in Nigeria with 60 other high school students and close friends when the plane crashed, leaving her one of only two survivors of the crash. Kechi sustained 3rd degree burns over 65% of her body, with a 30% chance of survival. In 2007, after beginning her recovery in South Africa, Kechi was brought to America to be treated at Shriner's hospital for reconstructive surgery.  In this episode, we talk with Kechi about her road to recovery, how she discovered her love of song, what it was like to be on America's Got Talent and learn more about her new album and memoir. Kechi shares intimate details about her road to recovery, gives her audience words of inspiration, and shares her joy of life with her audience. About Kechi Kechi is a Nigerian-born author and powerful singer.  She is an inspirational and TEDx keynote speaker, MBA student, and bullying prevention advocate. Her dramatic story, as well as her impactful messages of resiliency and overcoming combine powerfully to inspire personal and cultural transformation.   Kechi found her true voice after her accident- a plane crash that took the lives of 107 of 109 passengers in Nigeria in 2005. Throughout the difficult journey of burns recovery, Kechi was sustained by her Christian faith, her family, and her music. Becoming a finalist on America's Got Talent 2017 was Kechi's truest dream realized, and on June 10th, 2018, she released her debut single, ‘Don't You Dare' on all digital music platforms. In 2019, Kechi became a finalist on the premiere season of America's Got Talent: The Champions through Simon Cowell's golden buzzer. Kechi's memoir ‘More Than My Scars' released on March 29th, 2022 under Baker Publishing Group, and her self-titled debut album is currently streaming on all digital music platforms. Kechi hopes to use her voice and her story to ignite hope all over the world within those that need it. Resources from the Show Kechi's websiteListen to Kechi's albumBuy Kechi's bookFollow Kechi on InstagramFollow Kechi on Facebook Phoenix Society's Article About Itch Relief for Burn ScarsDr. Shortee's Burn ButterAquaphorAveenoBio-OilCetaphilBlue Lizard SunscreenWatch Kechi's audition for America's Got TalentThe Body Keeps the ScoreWaking the Tiger: Healing TraumaProfessional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter ManualDonate to Phoenix SocietyContact Phoenix SocietySponsor Girls with Grafts Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org. Enjoyed the show? Tell us on social media using hashtag #GirlswithGrafts and tagging Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors! 

Letting go is not something most of us are good at or even want to do. Join Christy Award-Winning author Jaime Jo Wright and award-winning Author Kate Breslin as they discuss how to let go, how to live a life of letting go, and how that impacts the life that we live! Hear about her latest release "In Love's Time" by Bethany House Publishers and Baker Publishing Group too!

Scripture Reading: John 14:15-31 15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept because it does not see him or know him. But you know him because he resides with you and will be in you.18 “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. 19 In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. 20 You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. 21 The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”22 “Lord,” Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. 24 The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.25 “I have spoken these things while staying with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 31 but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.Main ThemesIf You Love Me, You Will Obey My CommandmentsTo love is to obey. That is certain to evoke a nearly visceral reaction in our modern culture. Honestly, I think that for us modern readers (myself included) even understanding such a statement is difficult. That is why we should take a minute to explore it in detail.Let's consider this statement from two angles.Covenantal TermsFirst, let's remember the Old Testament background to statements of love and hate. In the Old Testament we find God making covenants with people, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, and David. These bĕrît were common in the ancient Near East. So common, in fact, they followed a particular format. We do this kind of standardization today with common contracts as well, such as with bills of sale. Covenants also used particular language. We also do this today. Have you ever read a deed? It probably includes a phrase such as “conveys to Grantee to have and to hold it to Grantee and Grantee's heirs, successors, and assigns forever.” Someone unfamiliar with our legal system may not understand that such language is legalese for “convey in fee simple.” What are we missing when we read ancient covenants? Consider the following quotation:Blessings were another important feature of a bĕrît. These were the benefits promised if the contract were maintained. Curses were the consequences if the contract were violated. Covenant loyalty (“lovingkindness” or ḥesed) was the objective of the agreement. The parity treaties report that the partners are now brothers; the suzerain/vassal covenants speak of the parties as father/son or lord/servant. To abide by the contract with one's suzerain was to love him, and to betray the suzerain or to fail to keep his stipulations was to hate him. Is any of this language sounding familiar? It should be! The Bible is riddled with it. Why? Because this is the terminology associated with the international politics of the ancient Near East, and the Bible is describing Israel's relationship to Yahweh in terms of a bĕrît. Yahweh has become Israel's suzerain and Israel has become his vassal. Richter, Sandra L.. The Epic of Eden (p. 79). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition [emphasis added].Forgive me for belaboring the point, but we really need to understand covenants in some detail before the “New Covenant” really makes sense to us. For that, let's consider the format of the Old Covenant—the suzerain/vassal covenant that God made with his people Israel: I. Preamble/Title: “I am Yahweh your God . . .” Gives title of superior party Exod 20:2a; Deut 5:6aII. Historical Prologue: “. . . who brought you up out of the land Furnishes the basis of obligation of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” and the motive for accepting the covenant's stipulations as binding Exod 20:2b; Deut 5:6b (cf. Deut 1—3)III. Stipulations/Obligations Imposed: “You shall have no other gods before me. . . .” Exod 20:3-17; Deut 5:7-21 (cf. Deut 12—26)IV. Deposition and Provision for Periodic Reading of the Treaty Before the People: Treaty text archived in the temple of the vassal's chief deity (i.e., the witness to his oath)“Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand . . .” (Ex 32:15) “. . . and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give you.” (Ex 25:21; cf. Ex 40:20; Deut 10:5) “At the end of every seven years . . . when all Israel comes to appear before Yahweh your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, in order that they may hear and learn and fear Yahweh your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.” (Deut 31:10-12; cf. Ex 24:7; Josh 8:30-35)V. List of Witnesses: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today . . .” The deities of both parties are summoned to act as witnesses to the oaths taken Deut 4:26; 30:19-20; 31:28VI. Curses and Blessings: “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you will obey Yahweh your God . . . But if you will not obey Yahweh your God . . . all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.” Deut 27:11–28:68 These acts of treaty-making were sealed by means of a ratification ceremony involving oath and sacrifice (Ex 24:3-8; cf. Gen 15:17-21; Jer 34:17-20; Mt 27:22-25). [emphasis added]Richter, Sandra L.. The Epic of Eden (pp. 83-84). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.It is in this covenantal context that we find one of the most well-known verses of the whole Bible:You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)As a clarification, I am not claiming that all references to love and hate in the Old or New Testaments are part of covenantal language. They are certainly not. However, when they are, we need to make sure we understand how the meaning can be affected.The New Covenant—the covenant that God makes with all believers in Christ is also a suzerain/vassal covenant. It can be expressed in the same format as before. I encourage you to take each of the six sections above and fill in the blanks for the New Covenant.What is the point of all this extended discussion on covenants? A covenant is a deal, like an ancient contract. Both sides have responsibilities. There are benefits for following the deal and penalties for breaching it. And notice that in this deal, one who follows the deal is said to love the other party. In covenantal terms, obedience does not result from love, obedience is love. So to say, “if you love me, you will obey my commandments” is nearly to express a tautology.Of course, the New Covenant is quite a one-sided deal. Christ is the sacrifice by which the contract is sealed (see part VI above) and nearly all the stipulations (see part III above) are placed on Christ too. He must be perfect and fulfill the law, not us. What do we have to do? Believe. No more, no less. But if we really believe in someone or something, won't that affect our behavior? Absolutely. This takes us into the next point.Faith Implies ObedienceLet's consider this verse from a different angle. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus encourages his disciples to persevere. I do not mean only the twelve disciples, but all the people who place their faith in Jesus. Throughout the story many fall away. Jesus requires too much for them.Consider what that means. What does disobedience imply? A lack of trust. An example is useful. If I were invited to go bungee jumping, there would come a point when I am standing before a great fall. I am told, “jump!” Assume I don't. I just stand there. I cannot get over the fear that the elastic rope will snap. I step away from the edge and go home. What went wrong? I did not have faith in the rope. I did not believe in the rope.Those who love Jesus will obey his commandments because they trust him. They trust that what Jesus says is good is truly good and worthwhile. They trust that what Jesus says is bad is truly bad and worth avoiding. They believe Jesus words about this life and the next.Christians are often accused of obeying out of fear. The accusation is not completely wrong. Leaving questions of salvation aside for a moment, God designed the world a certain way. Opposing that design will generally have bad consequences, which we are right to fear. But notice that the overarching reason to obey is trust. If a doctor I trusted told me I needed to take some vitamin every day, I would do it even if I did not know what would happen if I did not. There might be no fear of consequences, but there would be trust that following his directions would lead to a better life.He Will Give You Another AdvocateOnce Jesus departs, he tells the disciples, the Father will send another “advocate.” At least that is the word used by the translation we are using. Other translations may use a different word. Here's translator note 37 from the NET Bible, which sets up the issue quite well:Or “Helper” or “Counselor”; Grk “Paraclete,” from the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos). Finding an appropriate English translation for παράκλητος is a very difficult task. No single English word has exactly the same range of meaning as the Greek word. “Comforter,” used by some of the older English versions, appears to be as old as Wycliffe. But today it suggests a quilt or a sympathetic mourner at a funeral. “Counselor” is adequate, but too broad, in contexts like “marriage counselor” or “camp counselor.” “Helper” or “Assistant” could also be used, but could suggest a subordinate rank. “Advocate,” the word chosen for this translation, has more forensic overtones than the Greek word does, although in John 16:5-11 a forensic context is certainly present. Because an “advocate” is someone who “advocates” or supports a position or viewpoint and since this is what the Paraclete will do for the preaching of the disciples, it was selected in spite of the drawbacks.We could get caught up in the weeds of this translation dilemma. For example, the translation of “Consoler” dates back at least to Origen (circa 200 AD). The “Comforter” translation dates back to the Wycliffe translation (circa 1390). The translation “Advocate” is arguably most consistent with Rabbinic uses of the term. At the end of the day, the context should dictate the proper translation. And which translation fits the context best? That is tough to answer. Instead, let's explore this idea of the Paraclete in more detail. A great starting point is to ask: how does the Paraclete compare with Jesus?Paraclete Christ14:16 given by the father 3:1614:16–17 with, in, by the disciples 3:22; 13:33; 14:2014:17 not received by the world 1:11; 5:53 [sic:43]; (12:48)14:17 not known by world (only believers) 16:3; 8:19; 10:1414:17 not seen by world (only believers) 14:19; 16:16–1714:26 sent by the Father cf. chs. 5, 7, 8, 1214:26 teaches 7:14–15; 8:20; 18:1915:26; 16:7, 13 he comes (from the Father into world) 5:43; 16:28; 18:3715:26 gives testimony 5:31ff.; 8:13ff.; 7:716:8 convicts the world (3:19f.; 9:41; 15:22)16:13 speaks not from self but from what is heard 7:17; 8:26ff.; 14:1016:14 glorifies his sender 12:28; 17:1, 416:13ff. reveals, discloses, proclaims 4:25; (16:25)16:13 leads into fulness of truth 18:37; 14:615:26; 14:17; 16:13 is Spirit of truth/is truth 14:614:16 (etc.) a Paraclete (14:16); 1 John 2:1Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John : 2 Volumes (p. 965). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (citing Burge)The proximity, or better yet, the continuity between Jesus and the Paraclete is incredible. The Paraclete is like another Jesus. And that is exactly the point. Jesus has not “abandon[ed] us as orphans.” He is with us in a real way. Indeed, he is in us. (John 14:20)The Paraclete is not simply a personification of Wisdom. Notice how closely the Apostle Paul identifies the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:8-11, emphasis added)Did you catch the striking looseness of Paul's language? He goes from the Spirit, to the Spirit of God, to the Spirit of Christ, to Christ! And then back to the Spirit! God, Christ, and the Spirit all act in concert, on behalf of one another. So Paul can confidently claim that to have the Spirit is to have Christ is to have God.The point I am trying to make is that the Paraclete is not some kind of metaphor, like a personification of Wisdom. The Paraclete is God. The Paraclete is one with Jesus and the Father. And the Paraclete is just as personal (as in, it has personhood) as Jesus and the Father.The last topics of discussion will be the characteristics of the Paraclete that are emphasized in the remaining verses of chapter 14.Paraclete as the Invisible SuccessorJesus does not abandon us as orphans. He sends the Holy Spirit to continue doing all the jobs Jesus was doing (see the chart above). But the Spirit is invisible to the world. Then how can the Christian mission continue moving forward?First, we need to understand what John means by “world.” The world refers to those people who are not in Christ. Oftentimes John divides all humanity into two groups: believers and the world. So I will repeat the question above: if nonbelievers cannot see the Paraclete like unbelievers could see Jesus in the flesh, how can they ever come to believe in Jesus?This brings us to the second successor of Jesus—the Church. I know I am going off script a bit since the Gospel of John does not emphasize the motif of the Church succeeding Christ. This motif is found mostly (although not exclusively) in the writings of Paul. Nonetheless, I must mention it so we get a full picture.Just like Jesus as a human person has a body and spirit, Jesus' presence on this earth continues to have a body and spirit—the Church and the Paraclete. That is why we can answer the question above. The “world” cannot see the Spirit, but they can see Jesus' body, just like they could see Jesus when he walked on the earth. The Church as a body indwelled by the Spirit of God is to continue the work that Jesus started.Consider the following verses:Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. 8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 20 So now there are many members, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, 24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 4:26)Notice that Paul is not using the word body as figuratively as we may use it. We may speak of someone's “body of work,” in which case the word takes on the meaning “aggregate.” We may also refer to a group using the word “body,” such as a “legislative body.” This second use gets much closer to what Paul means, but it is still not quite there. Paul does not use body as a simple aggregate of all believers or as a synonym for the “group” of believers. He really does mean that we make up a functioning organism. Paul seems to use the word “body” as when we say that many cells make up one human body.Notice that the Spirit is the one assigning roles (by means of gifts) to each part of the body. That is a key role of the Spirit, which is mentioned albeit in less detail in John 14.Paraclete To Teach and RemindIn verse 26, we are told that the Paraclete will come to teach and remind of “everything.” The first question, and a rather simple one, is whom will the Paraclete teach and remind? Only the disciples? The context makes clear that the scope is broader. The verses just prior indicate that “anyone who loves [Jesus]” will be loved by the Father, and the Father will “take up residence with him.” The Holy Spirit will teach every believer “everything” and remind every believer of “everything [Jesus] said to [the disciples]”.The second question, and a more challenging one, is what is the scope of the teaching and reminding? The reminding action is unambiguously limited in the text by the clause “everything I said to you.” What about the teaching action? Can the Holy Spirit teach us new revelation that goes beyond what is revealed in the Bible? Could the Holy Spirit lead us into new revelation that contradicts the Bible? Let me give you some reasons why I do not think that is correct.First, to what does the phrase “everything I said to you” apply? Above, I said it unambiguously applies to the action of reminding, but that does not mean it cannot apply to something else too. Notice the grammar is ambiguous as to the action of teaching. The phrase could properly apply to one action or both. Therefore, the context will dictate what is being qualified by that phrase.What is the context? In this section, Jesus repeatedly demands obedience to his commandments. He also portrays the Paraclete as a continuation of Jesus. This alone rules out the possibility that the Spirit would teach anything contradictory to what Jesus taught during his earthly ministry. But this is also a strong indication that the Spirit will act within the confines of Jesus' words. Put simply, this is strong indication that the Paraclete will “teach you everything [I said to you] and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”Additionally, this interpretation of teaching is in line with the Jewish halakah tradition. Halakah was (and still is) the totality of laws and ordinances that evolved since biblical times to regulate religious observances and the daily life and conduct of the Jewish people. Therefore, if we interpret “teaching” as a first century Jew might have done, it would have meant lessons based on the scripture. Perhaps such teaching could go “further” than the scripture in teaching practical applications of it, but not in creating entirely new themes.Finally, we have John's other writings to help us decipher this. Consider 1 John 2:18-2718 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.20 Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.Notice that in 1 John, the author repeats a strikingly similar idea: God's anointing will “teach you about all things.” But what does it mean? To quote verse 24, “As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you.” God's anointing leads the believer into knowing and remembering what was “heard from the beginning.” The teaching is about residing and remaining, not about growing into new knowledge.Peace I Leave with YouJesus promises peace after his departure. Indeed, he promises “his peace.” What does he mean?In the ancient world as in the modern world, peace applied to war and human relationships. In those contexts it means the absence of conflict. Peace, however, also had and has other meanings. It could refer to tranquility in the midst of hardship, to bliss after death, and for the Jews in particular it could mean an eschatological hope—i.e., heaven.The context of chapter 14 continually alludes to future troubles. The whole farewell speech makes little sense if once Jesus is crucified the disciples will lead lives of comfort, with little to no conflict. The entire Gospel of John emphasizes perseverance in the faith despite opposition, with that opposition sometimes coming from those closest to the embattled believer.Consequently, Jesus is not leaving us peace in the sense that we are promised a life without struggles. Instead—given the near guarantee of struggles—Jesus leaves us “his peace” as a farewell comfort. I think this peace is a tranquility in the midst of hardship because the Paraclete will assure us and remind us of the bliss to come in our heavenly hope.

The Faith & Work Podcast is resuming its series of Virtue and Vice at Work. In this week's episode, Joanna Meyer discusses the importance of developing humility with Katelyn Beaty, acquisitions editor for Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Katelyn has previously served as managing editor of Christianity Today and has written for The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The New York Times on topics such as politics, gender, and theology. She is also the author of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church.

As a professor of English, Karen Swallow Prior argues that reading both shapes character and requires character, including patience, prudence, and love. Dr. Prior offers Christian perspectives on events for the New York Times and the Atlantic, taking up the role of public theologian. Although she never sought one, she has a "platform" – and explains why it is ill-advised to seek a platform. If you would like to enrich your reading life, enter here for the opportunity to win a copy of Karen's book On Reading Well, provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group. Connect with us! Our website: https://www.faithandworkstl.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithandworkstl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithandworkstl/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuD3xLksTdBhMX0R3lTY4gQ Purchase Dan's latest book: https://www.prpbooks.com/book/work-that-makes-a-difference

Nationally recognized and award-winning, Teacher Librarian, speaker, and host of the Joyful Learning Podcast, Melissa Thom shares an overview of the brand new Joyful Learning podcast. Topics of this inaugural episode include information about the guests and interviews featured in Season One, and an invitation to take part in the Joyful Learning Pod online community . * * * * Link to show notes: http://bit.ly/JLPshownotes * * * * Melissa's Bio and Social Media Melissa Thom, MA, (she/her) is a teacher librarian at Bristow Middle School in West Hartford, CT. She earned her bachelor's in elementary education from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, a master's in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and a master's in educational psychology/gifted and talented from the University of Connecticut. She spent 12 years teaching grades four to six as a classroom teacher, and seven years ago she earned her library media specialist certification from the ARCLMS program. She is the President of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL), a member of the Teacher Advisory Board for Bookelicious, and was a 2019 AASL Social Media Superstar Reader Leader finalist. She has been honored by CASL for the Follett Creativity Award in 2018 and the Carlton W.H. Erickson Award in 2020. She was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Professional Award by the UCONN NEAG Alumni Board, and most recently was named a library journal mover and shaker. Her publications include an article in the School library journal about Makerspace and NGSS also know as the (next generation science standards), as well as an article in the October 2019 issue of School Library Connection entitled, Create a Culture of Reading. In addition, she has hosted multiple webinars for School Librarian Connection and EdWeb on topics such as Developing Inclusive Collections, Making the Most of Your Digital Collection, and Building a Culture of Reading. *Follow Melissa on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MsThomBookitis) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/msthombookitis)* *Follow Carrie on Twitter (https://twitter.com/lovealibrary) Book Recommendations Downs, A. F. (2022). Chase the fun: 100 days to discover fun right where you are. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Meinzer, K. (2019). So You Want to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story, and Building a Community That Will Listen. HarperCollins. Follow the Joyful Learning Podcast on Twitter (https://twitter.com/joyfullearnpod) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/joyfullearningpod/)

Kami, Kaycee, and Jess from Deliver Me a Podcast chat with their friend and author Rachel Fordham! About Rachel's new book: Where the Road Bends In a desperate bid to save her family's land, Norah King agrees to marry a man she barely knows. But just days before the wedding, she comes across a badly injured stranger who upends all her plans--and steals her heart along the way. Find more at www.rachelfordham.com Follow Rachel: https://www.facebook.com/RachelFordhamFans Purchase Where the Road Bends on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Road-Bends-Rachel-Fordham-ebook/dp/B09LXBFTTW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WHG1HYNMI26M&keywords=where+the+road+bends&qid=1653867931&sprefix=where+the+road+bends%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1 This week's episode is brought to you by Baker Publishing Group and Up Faith and Family Go to upfaithandfamily.com/hallmarkies today to sign up for your 14-day free trial. Baker Publishing Group: http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/ Get tickets to RomaDrama: https://romadrama.com/tickets/ Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day License code: 7YNZJRHUUN5CA5BF This Episodes Hosts: Jess: https://twitter.com/jessbswblog Kaycee: https://twitter.com/kaycee__simpson Kami: https://twitter.com/kamidramagirl Join us over on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies Check out our merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hallmarkies Send us your feedback at feedback@hallmarkiespodcast.com Or call +1 (801) 855-6407 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets (Brazos Press, 2021), written by Lindsey Krinks was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2021. In this personal, and pastoral, account of working alongside Nashville's homeless population, Lindsey teaches us about God's heart for the poor and how to work toward collective liberation. At age twenty, Lindsey Krinks thought she had her life figured out. But a devastating injury and an unexpected encounter with a homeless organizing group disrupted her plans and opened her eyes to the immense suffering and injustice around her. Awakened to a fierce pursuit of justice and a faith that called her to "pray with her feet," Krinks plunged into the underside of American society, where she found both staggering loss and astounding love. As a street chaplain, activist, and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, Krinks takes us on an unforgettable spiritual journey to tent cities, alleys, slums, and the front lines of movements for justice. Praying with Our Feet challenges preconceptions about people who live on the streets, calling us to move from charity to justice and to get our hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. Readers who are dismayed by the world's suffering but don't know where to start will find much inspiration in this intimate and moving book. Includes end-of-book discussion questions for each chapter. Meg Gambino is an artist and activist currently working as the Director of Outreach for an addiction recovery center. Her life mission is to creatively empower others by modeling reconciliation between communities of people and people on the margins. Find her work at meggambino.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets (Brazos Press, 2021), written by Lindsey Krinks was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2021. In this personal, and pastoral, account of working alongside Nashville's homeless population, Lindsey teaches us about God's heart for the poor and how to work toward collective liberation. At age twenty, Lindsey Krinks thought she had her life figured out. But a devastating injury and an unexpected encounter with a homeless organizing group disrupted her plans and opened her eyes to the immense suffering and injustice around her. Awakened to a fierce pursuit of justice and a faith that called her to "pray with her feet," Krinks plunged into the underside of American society, where she found both staggering loss and astounding love. As a street chaplain, activist, and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, Krinks takes us on an unforgettable spiritual journey to tent cities, alleys, slums, and the front lines of movements for justice. Praying with Our Feet challenges preconceptions about people who live on the streets, calling us to move from charity to justice and to get our hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. Readers who are dismayed by the world's suffering but don't know where to start will find much inspiration in this intimate and moving book. Includes end-of-book discussion questions for each chapter. Meg Gambino is an artist and activist currently working as the Director of Outreach for an addiction recovery center. Her life mission is to creatively empower others by modeling reconciliation between communities of people and people on the margins. Find her work at meggambino.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets (Brazos Press, 2021), written by Lindsey Krinks was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2021. In this personal, and pastoral, account of working alongside Nashville's homeless population, Lindsey teaches us about God's heart for the poor and how to work toward collective liberation. At age twenty, Lindsey Krinks thought she had her life figured out. But a devastating injury and an unexpected encounter with a homeless organizing group disrupted her plans and opened her eyes to the immense suffering and injustice around her. Awakened to a fierce pursuit of justice and a faith that called her to "pray with her feet," Krinks plunged into the underside of American society, where she found both staggering loss and astounding love. As a street chaplain, activist, and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, Krinks takes us on an unforgettable spiritual journey to tent cities, alleys, slums, and the front lines of movements for justice. Praying with Our Feet challenges preconceptions about people who live on the streets, calling us to move from charity to justice and to get our hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. Readers who are dismayed by the world's suffering but don't know where to start will find much inspiration in this intimate and moving book. Includes end-of-book discussion questions for each chapter. Meg Gambino is an artist and activist currently working as the Director of Outreach for an addiction recovery center. Her life mission is to creatively empower others by modeling reconciliation between communities of people and people on the margins. Find her work at meggambino.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets (Brazos Press, 2021), written by Lindsey Krinks was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2021. In this personal, and pastoral, account of working alongside Nashville's homeless population, Lindsey teaches us about God's heart for the poor and how to work toward collective liberation. At age twenty, Lindsey Krinks thought she had her life figured out. But a devastating injury and an unexpected encounter with a homeless organizing group disrupted her plans and opened her eyes to the immense suffering and injustice around her. Awakened to a fierce pursuit of justice and a faith that called her to "pray with her feet," Krinks plunged into the underside of American society, where she found both staggering loss and astounding love. As a street chaplain, activist, and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, Krinks takes us on an unforgettable spiritual journey to tent cities, alleys, slums, and the front lines of movements for justice. Praying with Our Feet challenges preconceptions about people who live on the streets, calling us to move from charity to justice and to get our hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. Readers who are dismayed by the world's suffering but don't know where to start will find much inspiration in this intimate and moving book. Includes end-of-book discussion questions for each chapter. Meg Gambino is an artist and activist currently working as the Director of Outreach for an addiction recovery center. Her life mission is to creatively empower others by modeling reconciliation between communities of people and people on the margins. Find her work at meggambino.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/public-policy

Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets (Brazos Press, 2021), written by Lindsey Krinks was published by Baker Publishing Group in 2021. In this personal, and pastoral, account of working alongside Nashville's homeless population, Lindsey teaches us about God's heart for the poor and how to work toward collective liberation. At age twenty, Lindsey Krinks thought she had her life figured out. But a devastating injury and an unexpected encounter with a homeless organizing group disrupted her plans and opened her eyes to the immense suffering and injustice around her. Awakened to a fierce pursuit of justice and a faith that called her to "pray with her feet," Krinks plunged into the underside of American society, where she found both staggering loss and astounding love. As a street chaplain, activist, and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, Krinks takes us on an unforgettable spiritual journey to tent cities, alleys, slums, and the front lines of movements for justice. Praying with Our Feet challenges preconceptions about people who live on the streets, calling us to move from charity to justice and to get our hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. Readers who are dismayed by the world's suffering but don't know where to start will find much inspiration in this intimate and moving book. Includes end-of-book discussion questions for each chapter. Meg Gambino is an artist and activist currently working as the Director of Outreach for an addiction recovery center. Her life mission is to creatively empower others by modeling reconciliation between communities of people and people on the margins. Find her work at meggambino.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Without further ado - here are the winners and honorable mentions of Rooted's 2021 Book Awards. Happy reading!Books for Teenagers Award WinnersHonorable MentionsBrave, A Young Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety by Sissy Goff, Baker Publishing Group.Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael Kruger, Crossway. (review on Rooted)Winner10 Questions Every Kid Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin, Crossway. (Review on Rooted; companion book for adults Confronting Christianity reviewed here.)Parenting Award WinnersHonorable MentionsPrayers for a Parent series by Kathleen Nielsen: Young Children, Teens, Young Adults, Adult Children, P&R Publishing. (Rooted review here.)WinnerForming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development by Holly Catterton Allen, IVP. Youth Ministry Award WinnersHonorable MentionsSearching For Grace: A Weary Leader, A Wise Mentor, and Seven Healing Conversations for a Parched Soul by Scotty Smith and Russ Masterson, Tyndale Momentum. Five Views on the Future of Youth Ministry: Perspectives on What Could or Should Be edited by Mark Ostreicher, Youth Cartel.WinnerLead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers by Mike McGarry, New Growth Press. (Rooted review here.)Challenging Life Issues Award WinnersHonorable MentionsTalking With Teens About Sexuality: Critical Conversations About Social Media, Gender Identity, Same-Sex Attraction, Pornography, Purity, Dating, Etc. by Beth Robinson and Latayne C. Scott. What God Has to Say About Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for our Physical Selves by Sam Allberry, Crossway. (Rooted review here.)Breaking Free From Body Shame: Dare to reclaim What God Has Named Good by Jess ConnollyTable for Two: Biblical Counsel for Eating Disorders by David and Krista Dunham, New Growth Press. (Rooted review here.)Winner A Small Book About Why We Hide: How Jesus Rescues Us From Insecurity, Regret, Failure and Shame by Ed Welch, New Growth Press. One Final Highlight Although we did not consider this book for any Rooted Award so as to avoid a conflict of interest, we'd be remiss not to highlight The Jesus I Wish I Knew In High School edited by Rooted's own Charlotte Getz and Cameron Cole. Hear more from some of the book's authors in this live interview panel. 

Platform… it's one of those words that feels mysterious, intimidating, and maybe even confusing to many authors. You've heard that you need a platform and you're willing to do the work, but why do you need one and how do you build it? My friend Chad Allen is here on this episode to join me for a conversation about these questions and more. Chad is a writer, speaker, editor, and writing coach. As a twenty-year publishing professional, he served in acquisitions and directorial roles for Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, before going full-time with his own business. He has collaborated with numerous bestselling authors including Michael Hyatt, Jeff Goins, Mark Batterson, Phyllis Tickle, and many others. Chad is also the creator of Book Proposal Academy, an online course, and BookCamp, a mentoring and community hub for writers. His passion is helping writers get their books into the world. He blogs at ChadRAllen.com. Chad holds a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Alyssa, live with their two children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this conversation, you will learn all about your author platform, including the #1 reason publishers turn books down, the best ways to grow your platform, the role of blogging and social media, how to change your mindset about growing your platform, and more. I had the privilege of meeting Chad a couple of years ago at Jeff Goins' Tribe Conference, and I can tell you he is the real deal. He is an excellent book coach and knows more than just about anyone on the planet about what it takes to put together an excellent book. Over the years, I have read and used dozens of books where Chad had a hand in their success… I just didn't know it at the time! In addition, Chad has a special offer for Daily Writer listeners, which is a free 30-day trial of Book Camp, his community that will help you grow your platform. Check out Chad's special offer for this community, his book proposal course, and ways to connect with him below: ChadRAllen.com Free 30-Day Trial of BookCamp Book Proposal Academy Follow Chad on Twitter Connect with Chad on Facebook *** Are you looking for a community of enthusiastic, generous writers to help you build better habits and grow your writing business? Check out our Daily Writer Community.  Check out our Daily Writing Prompts, which will help you break through creative blocks, brainstorm new ideas, and get back into a state of flow. Writing prompts are a fantastic creative tool for creative writing, journaling, teaching, social media posts, podcasting, and more! Connect with Kent:  https://DailyWriterLife.com  Facebook: https://facebook.com/kent.sanders  Instagram: https://instagram.com/kentsanders  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kent-sanders  Twitter: https://twitter.com/kentsanders  

Rev. Herman Mendoza currently serves as an Associate Pastor and the Director of PowerHouse Kids Ministry, at Promise Ministries International in New York City. He is also one of the speakers for The 4/14 Window Movement, a global initiative to raise a new generation of children, ages 4 to 14, to be the leaders of tomorrow through Christ. He speaks at conferences, schools, and churches around the world spreading the message of hope, faith, grace, and redemption. Pastor Mendoza is a community leader and collaborates with the New York Police Academy through his youth program to educate young people about the police culture. Pastor Mendoza's memoir, Shifting Shadows: How a New York Drug Lord Found Freedom in the Last Place He Expected, has been published with Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. It details the story of his life, as a lost young man who after experiencing the lowest point in his life—convicted for drug trafficking and sentenced to prison—found forgiveness and a new life in Jesus Christ. These are truly milestone markings of a life transformed by the relentless love of God. Episode Talking Points Family Background- parents came to NYC from the Dominican Republic Gang and drug activity beginning at age 13- ended up in juvenile detention center Marriage at age 19- wife relatively unaware of drug dealing Blinded by the present age- money and a party lifestyle Arrested with 3.8 million dollars of cocaine Federal prison Ends up in same prison with his newly-converted brother. Herman goes to an inmate-run church and becomes a Christian. Begins co-pastoring a church in his cell block with his brother. Meets Christopher Yuan in prison Wife becomes a Christian, now assists him in ministry Resources Shifting Shadows; How a New York Drug Lord Found Freedom in the Last Place He Expected hermanmendoza.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-monday-christian/support

On today's episode of "Enjoying the Journey", we are so excited to be joined by the Senior Publicist for Bethany House Publishing, Holly Maxwell! Bethany House has been publishing high-quality books for more than 60 years, beginning as the publishing arm of a missions organization, to (now) a division of Baker Publishing Group, the industry's largest independent Christian book publisher. Recognized as the leader in inspirational fiction, Bethany House publishes many of the bestselling names in historical and contemporary romance, Amish fiction, romantic suspense, and many other genres, and Bethany House nonfiction includes award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors who are influential teachers, pastors, and ministry leaders. Their list encompasses a variety of subjects that help readers deepen their faith, including Christian living, devotions, family resources, and many more. It was amazing and so interesting to talk to someone who has reached such a high level of success at such a young age (25 years old!!!), and to ask her about how her faith has evolved through such professional success. From being thankful for the people with you on your journey, to taking time for small moments daily and letting yourself laugh, Holly has so many great thoughts, and we are so excited for you to take a listen!!!