Podcasts about be jesus

Life's journey is rarely easy, and Psalm 84 speaks directly into those difficult seasons we all face. Written by worship leaders for pilgrims traveling through harsh, waterless terrain to Jerusalem, this ancient song becomes a timeless guide for navigating our own valleys of tears. The psalm reveals three transformative principles for walking through hardship: staying in God's presence, moving from strength to strength, and choosing what is truly better. What strikes us most is the psalmist's intense longing for God, not just casual interest but an overwhelming desire that consumes heart, soul, and flesh. This isn't about visiting God once a week like a distant relative, but dwelling in His presence daily, making our home with Him even when circumstances are unbearable. The Valley of Baca, the valley of weeping, represents those seasons when everything feels dry and hopeless. Yet we're called to pass through, not set up permanent residence in our pain. The promise is stunning: God gives us strength for each moment we need it, not stored up in advance but fresh daily like manna in the wilderness. When we choose God as better than a thousand days of worldly success, fame, or pleasure, we align our entire lives around what truly matters. This psalm challenges us to examine whether our daily choices reflect that God is genuinely better, or if we're slowly drifting toward what feels more urgent, comfortable, or rewarding in the moment.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

What if worship isn't just about the songs we sing on Sunday mornings, but about the very foundation we build our lives upon? This exploration of Psalm 1 challenges us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about intimacy with God. The opening psalm doesn't begin with celebration or instruments—it begins with roots. We're invited to see that worship is not an event we attend or a song we sing, but the life we build day by day. The psalm presents a stark contrast: we're either like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season with leaves that don't wither, or we're like chaff that the wind blows away. The difference isn't in our outward religious activity, but in where we've let our roots go down. Are we rooted in God's presence, delighting in His word and meditating on it day and night? Or have we let our roots go down into success, comfort, approval, or other things that cannot carry the weight of our souls? The progression in verse one is sobering—first we walk with ungodly counsel, then we stand in ungodly patterns, and finally we sit in ungodly identity. Drift happens slowly, and what may not feel significant in the short term will completely reroute us from God's blessings over time. The invitation is clear: intimacy with God begins when He stops being a religious obligation and becomes the desire of our hearts.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message confronts us with a fundamental question: where are we placing our trust, and what fruit is that trust producing in our lives? Drawing from Jeremiah 17, we encounter a stark contrast between two ways of living. On one side stands the person who trusts in human strength and worldly wisdom, described as a bush in the desert experiencing spiritual blindness, dryness, and isolation. On the other stands the person rooted in God, like a tree planted by water, flourishing with confidence, productivity, and community. The imagery is striking because it reveals an eternal principle: the fruit of our lives is determined by the rooting of our lives. If we root ourselves in the approval of others, in achievements, in entertainment, or in the endless pursuit of worldly success, we will inevitably find ourselves spiritually parched and alone. But when we send our roots deep into the living water of Christ, we discover something remarkable happens. We begin producing fruit we could never manufacture on our own: love, joy, peace, patience, and all the characteristics of the Spirit. This is not about working harder or trying to be better; it is about connecting to the right source. The message calls us to honest self-examination: What fills us with true joy? Are we experiencing the blessings of a life rooted in Jesus, or does our existence feel more like a desert? The good news is that we can change where our roots go, starting today.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message from Acts 16 challenges us to reconsider what we believe about opposition, limitation, and suffering in our faith journey. We discover Paul and Silas in one of their darkest moments—beaten, imprisoned, feet fastened in stocks—yet at midnight they're singing hymns to God. Their story reveals a stunning truth: the mission of Jesus cannot be contained by any circumstance we face. When we encounter resistance in our faith walk, we often interpret it as a sign we've gone wrong somewhere. But what if opposition is actually confirmation that we're right in the center of God's will? The gospel naturally challenges those who don't want to change, confronts systems built on injustice, and pushes back against the values of a fallen world. This passage invites us to examine our own lives: Are we letting unfortunate circumstances dictate our worship? Have we made our obedience to God conditional on having ideal conditions? The earthquake that shook the prison wasn't the greatest miracle—it was the jailer and his entire household meeting Jesus because two men refused to let suffering silence their praise. Our struggles aren't wasted when we remain faithful through them. They become the very pathway through which others encounter the transforming power of Christ. We're living in the continuation of Acts, and the Spirit who filled the early church is still moving today through ordinary people who refuse to let opposition, limitation, or suffering contain their mission.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message takes us into Acts chapter 8, where we encounter the remarkable story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch—a narrative that reminds us God works primarily through ordinary people in their ordinary moments. The central lesson challenges our desire for control and predictability: God interrupts our routines, obedience opens doors, and courage multiplies hope. We see Philip called away from a thriving ministry in Samaria to a barren desert road, which seems counterintuitive until we understand that God's disruptions are actually divine directions. The Ethiopian official represents something profound—that success does not equal significance. Despite his wealth and position, he was spiritually searching, reading Isaiah but unable to understand without guidance. Philip's simple willingness to run toward the chariot, listen, and ask one question—'Do you understand what you're reading?'—became the doorknob that opened the door to salvation. We're reminded that we're not the door to people's faith; Jesus is. We're simply doorknobs, instruments God uses to open possibilities. The urgency in this story is palpable: delayed obedience is disobedience. The challenge before us is identifying our 'one'—that person God has placed in our path who needs us to walk alongside them. This isn't about having all the answers or special training; it's about opening our mouths and letting the Holy Spirit do His work through our availability.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message challenges us to examine the depth of our conviction about Jesus Christ by exploring Acts chapter 4, where Peter and John face their first real opposition after healing a lame man. The central question cuts to the heart of our faith: when you are truly convinced of who Jesus is, can you stay silent about him? We see Peter and John arrested and commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, yet their response is remarkable. They declare they cannot help but speak about what they have seen and heard. This wasn't manufactured boldness or religious obligation. It was the natural overflow of genuine conviction. The message confronts our modern tendency to be bold about politics, sports teams, or personal opinions while remaining strangely quiet about the hope we've found in Christ. It asks us to flip the question: if we are silent about Jesus, could it be we're not really convinced? The early church didn't pray for easier circumstances but for greater boldness within their circumstances. They asked God to strengthen them, not remove the pressure. This reveals a fundamentally different approach to faith than our comfort-seeking culture promotes. The gospel, when lived faithfully, will create tension and cost us something. If our faith never makes anyone uncomfortable, never creates friction, never requires sacrifice, we must examine whether we're truly living as witnesses to the resurrected Christ.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message takes us beyond the excitement of Easter to discover that resurrection Sunday wasn't an ending but a beginning. Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, we're presented with a prescription for authentic Christian living that goes far beyond momentary spiritual experiences. The early church wasn't satisfied with just having devotions; they lived devoted lives characterized by four essential ingredients: commitment to apostolic teaching, authentic fellowship, breaking bread together, and persistent prayer. What's challenging about this passage is that it holds up a mirror to our own spiritual lives, asking us to examine whether we're truly devoted or merely going through religious motions. The text reminds us that we cannot accomplish God's mission in our own strength—we need His power, His Spirit, and His community. This isn't about adding another item to our spiritual checklist; it's about allowing these four practices to shape our entire lifestyle. As we consider how the first church devoted themselves to God's Word, gathered daily in authentic community, shared meals with glad hearts, and depended on God through prayer, we're invited to evaluate our own lives. Are we aiming at the target God has set for His church, or are we content with casual Christianity? The beauty of this prescription is that it's still available to us today, offering transformation for those willing to move from curiosity to commitment.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message centers on Acts 1:8, where Jesus declares that we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. The central tension explored here is profound: many of us have experienced church, but far fewer have experienced the kind of Spirit-empowered life we see in the book of Acts. We learn that being a witness isn't optional for followers of Christ, but neither can we fulfill this calling in our own strength. The disciples had walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, and even saw Him resurrected, yet Jesus told them to wait. This waiting wasn't passive; it was prayerful dependence on God's promise of power. Before the early church ever preached a sermon, they prayed. Before they reached cities, they waited. Before they went outward, they looked upward. The challenge for us today is honest self-examination: Are we truly depending on the Holy Spirit, or are we relying on our own plans, strategies, and abilities? We cannot have both control over our lives and God's power operating through us. The birth of the church at Pentecost wasn't initiated by human effort or clever planning, but by God keeping His promise. When the Spirit came, Peter, who had denied Jesus just weeks earlier, boldly preached and 3,000 people were saved. That same Spirit is available to us today, not just for Sunday mornings, but for every area of our lives: our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and daily interactions. The invitation is clear: spend time with our Heavenly Father in prayer, because the greatest way to receive power is to be connected to the source of power.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful Easter message takes us deep into the heart of substitutionary atonement through the gripping story of Barabbas. We discover that standing before Pilate were two men—Jesus, the Son of the Father, and Barabbas, whose name literally means 'son of the father.' Both identical in their title, yet worlds apart in their guilt. The guilty murderer walks free while the innocent one takes his punishment. This isn't just ancient history—it's our story. We are Barabbas. Every single one of us has sinned and fallen short, yet Jesus willingly took our place on that brutal cross. The message challenges our tendency to always see ourselves as the hero in every story, when the truth is we're the ones who needed rescuing. What makes this exchange so remarkable is its complete one-sidedness—we bring our guilt, shame, and sin, and Jesus offers us His righteousness, freedom, and eternal life. The empty tomb confirms that the payment was accepted, the debt cleared, and death defeated. This Easter, we're confronted with the same choice the crowd faced: will we receive what Jesus has done for us, or will we continue trying to carry our own guilt and fix our own lives?Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This Palm Sunday message confronts us with a powerful paradox: Jesus is not the king we expected, but He is exactly the king we needed. As we journey through the familiar story of Jesus entering Jerusalem, we discover three groups of people, each with their own expectations. The crowds wanted a political revolutionary who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel's glory. The religious leaders wanted to preserve their comfortable status quo. The disciples simply wanted to understand what was happening around them. Sound familiar? We too bring our own expectations to Jesus, hoping He will endorse our plans, protect our preferences, and solve our immediate problems. But the significance of Palm Sunday lies in understanding the symbolism: Jesus deliberately chose a donkey instead of a war horse, signaling peace rather than conquest, humility rather than domination, and reconciliation rather than revolution. He came not to establish an earthly kingdom through military might, but to make peace between humanity and God through sacrifice. The palm branches weren't just decorations; they were symbols of victory, waved by people expecting a warrior. Yet what they received was a Lamb. This challenges us to examine our own expectations of Jesus. Are we looking for Him to make our lives comfortable, or are we willing to surrender to His different kind of kingdom? The good news is that while Jesus came first as a suffering servant on a donkey, Revelation promises He will return on a white horse to bring justice and make all things right. Our hope is not in political systems or earthly powers, but in the King of Kings who conquered through love, humility, and surrender.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message confronts us with one of life's most fundamental questions: do we truly know why we're here? Drawing from Luke 9:51, where Jesus 'set his face to go to Jerusalem,' we're challenged to understand that Jesus didn't stumble into His purpose—He walked toward it with absolute resolve. The cross wasn't an accident or tragedy; it was the mission. What makes this so personally transformative is the parallel it draws to our own lives. Just as Jesus understood His purpose and could therefore endure the cross, our understanding of why God created us determines how much pain and difficulty we can endure in this life. We're reminded that we're not accidents—God chose to create each of us with intrinsic value and specific purpose. The message cuts through comfortable Christianity to reveal an uncomfortable truth: following Jesus costs something. There's no version of discipleship that bypasses obedience, no shortcut to transformation. Yet here's the beautiful tension—while there is a cost to following Jesus, there's an even greater cost to not following Him. Sin may feel like freedom until we try to quit, revealing the bondage we've been in all along. As we approach Easter, we're invited to receive it not as observers but as participants, asking ourselves where we're resisting God and avoiding obedience, because the cross reveals a Savior who didn't turn away from the cost of loving us.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message takes us to the very first sermon Jesus preached, found in Mark chapter 1, where He makes a stunning announcement: 'The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.' What strikes us immediately is how direct and disruptive Jesus is right from the start. He doesn't ease into His ministry with comfortable platitudes or gentle encouragement. Instead, He declares that a King has arrived, and when a king arrives, everything changes. We're confronted with a fundamental question that each of us must answer: Who sits on the throne of our lives? The message challenges our cultural mantras of 'follow your heart' and 'live your truth' by reminding us that the throne of our hearts was never ours to occupy in the first place. Repentance, we discover, isn't about self-hatred or shame—it's actually beautiful. It's the act of getting up from a seat we were never meant to sit in and allowing the rightful King to take His place. This isn't bad news; it's an invitation into abundant life. The King who calls us to surrender is the same King who surrendered everything for us at the cross. When we submit to Jesus, we don't lose our identity—we gain it. We become sons and daughters of the King, with full access to relationship with Him. This message reminds us that the gospel is first about what God has already done for us, not what we must do for Him.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This powerful message invites us into a transformative kind of prayer that moves beyond asking God to change our circumstances and instead invites Him to change us from the inside out. Drawing from Psalm 139:23-24, we're challenged to pray David's courageous prayer: 'Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.' This isn't about becoming more impressive in our spiritual performance—it's about becoming more honest with God about the unexamined parts of our lives. We're reminded that we're incredibly skilled at managing the version of ourselves that others see, but there's a version of us that nobody else sees—not our coworkers, friends, or even closest loved ones. The deepest work God wants to do isn't around us; it's in us. This prayer multiplies our spiritual growth not when we sound more spiritual, but when we become more surrendered. God doesn't search us for His information—He already knows everything. He searches us for our transformation, revealing what is broken while offering direction and healing. The beautiful truth is that God is gentle with what He reveals, exposing only what He intends to heal, because He looks at our hearts when everyone else looks at outward appearances.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

What if the reason we've stopped praying isn't because we've lost our faith, but because we've misunderstood how prayer actually works? This powerful exploration of John 15:1-8 challenges our performance-driven approach to spiritual growth and invites us into something far more transformative: abiding. Jesus describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches, revealing that fruitfulness doesn't come from striving harder but from staying connected longer. We live in a culture that has trained us for immediacy—instant results, quick answers, and fast outcomes. But when we bring this consumeristic mindset into our relationship with God, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Prayer becomes transactional rather than relational. The Greek word 'mino' that Jesus uses for 'abide' means to stay, to remain, to make your home somewhere. It's about conscious engagement with the presence of an omnipresent God. We're not climbing a ladder to reach God or strengthening a muscle to impress Him. We're simply staying close, even when things feel quiet, even when we doubt, even when we don't get the answers we want. This message liberates us from the exhausting cycle of spiritual self-sufficiency and invites us into the rest of depending on Jesus for everything. Apart from Him, we can do nothing—and that's not meant to shame us, but to free us.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

As we step into a new year, we're confronted with a profound reality: we are in a spiritual war. This isn't a metaphorical struggle or a nice religious concept—it's the actual battlefield of our lives. The enemy's goal, as Jesus plainly stated in John 10, is to steal, kill, and destroy everything we hold dear. But here's the transformative truth: we don't fight this war with human weapons or defensive strategies. Instead, we're called to take the offensive using the same three weapons Jesus himself wielded—prayer, the Word of God, and fasting. Ephesians 6 reminds us that our struggle isn't against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, which means our spouse, boss, or family members aren't the enemy. When we grasp this, everything changes. The message introduces a revolutionary approach to prayer that moves beyond simple requests: praying for, praying with, praying into, praying over, and praying against. These five dimensions of prayer create a spiritual fortress around everything we care about. When we anoint our homes, speak God's Word into our children's futures, and directly command the enemy to leave, we're not playing defense anymore—we're advancing God's kingdom. The 21-day challenge of daily prayer, Bible reading, and weekly fasting isn't about religious duty; it's about building the habit that will unlock miracles we've only dreamed of. What if this year could be different? What if marriages were restored, prodigal children came home, and generational curses were finally broken? The weapons are in our hands.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This Christmas Eve message invites us into a profound truth that transcends tradition: Christmas isn't primarily about what we give, but about what God gave. Drawing from Luke 2 and John's declaration that 'the Word became flesh,' we're reminded that Jesus represents heaven's collision with earth—God stepping into our fractured, hurting world not because we deserved it, but because we desperately needed it. The sermon explores the three gifts of the Magi—frankincense pointing to Jesus as our high priest, myrrh revealing him as our suffering servant, and gold declaring him as king—yet redirects our focus to the ultimate gift: Jesus himself. What makes this gift extraordinary is its permanence in a world where everything else fades. While other presents create moments, Jesus creates life. The challenge presented is both simple and profound: a gift can be given yet never received. We can admire Jesus from a distance, appreciate the Christmas story culturally, without ever truly opening our lives to him. The invitation echoes Jesus' own words in Matthew 11:28—'Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Christmas isn't God adding weight to our already heavy lives; it's Jesus offering to carry that weight with us. We don't need to clean ourselves up first or fix our brokenness before approaching him. Like the shepherds who came as they were, we're invited to receive this gift in our current state—with our fears, wounds, regrets, and uncertainties fully exposed.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrateChurch is led by Pastor Noah Rollins.Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected! Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/CelebrateChurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

At the heart of Christmas lies a profound question that extends far beyond seasonal celebration: Is Jesus our king? This exploration of the Magi's gift of gold to the infant Jesus reveals that gold was never a casual present in the ancient world—it was reserved exclusively for royalty. When these wise travelers placed gold at Jesus' feet, they made a radical declaration of surrender and allegiance. The distinction between acknowledging Jesus as king in general versus making him king of our personal lives becomes the central tension we must navigate. We can know all the right theology, attend church regularly, and sing the songs, yet still miss the king entirely if we refuse to surrender control. The sermon draws from Matthew 2, where the Magi's question about the newborn King of the Jews threatened King Herod's authority, exposing a deeply human tendency: when our control is challenged, fear and resistance surface. The message challenges us to examine the areas of our lives we've withheld from Jesus' kingship—our finances, time, relationships, future plans, and pain management. Jesus doesn't seek partial authority or sectioned-off devotion; he calls for complete surrender. Yet this isn't the demand of a tyrant but the invitation of a humble, righteous, and eternal king who emptied himself to serve us. The freedom we desperately seek comes not from doing whatever we want, but from becoming who God created us to be through surrender to his perfect leadership.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrateChurch is led by Pastor Noah Rollins.Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected! Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/CelebrateChurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

What if the most meaningful gift ever given was wrapped in burial spices? This exploration of the wise men's gift of myrrh turns our comfortable Christmas sentiments upside down, revealing a profound truth: Jesus wasn't born just to live, but to die for us. Myrrh—a fragrant resin extracted only by wounding a tree—served as a burial spice in the ancient world, making its presence at a birthday celebration both startling and prophetic. Drawing from Isaiah 53's powerful prophecy that the Messiah would be pierced for our transgressions, we're confronted with the reality that Jesus entered our world specifically to carry our suffering. This isn't abstract theology—it's deeply personal. Every burden we shoulder, every pain we hide, every wound we nurse was meant to be laid at His feet. The cradle only makes sense when we see the cross on the horizon. Jesus' radical humility in becoming vulnerable and dependent, ultimately leading to death on a cross, wasn't tragedy but triumph. His suffering broke death's dominion forever. The question we must wrestle with is this: What are we carrying that Jesus came to take? Are we showing contempt for His kindness by insisting on bearing our own burdens, or will we respond like the wise men—bowing, surrendering, and offering everything to the King who gave everything for us?Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrateChurch is led by Pastor Noah Rollins.Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected! Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/CelebrateChurch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

As we enter the Christmas season, it's easy to get swept up in the lights, music, and festivities while missing the profound truth at the center of it all. This message invites us to look beyond the wrapping paper and discover the gift of frankincense brought to Jesus by the wise men—a gift that reveals Jesus as our High Priest. In Matthew 2, we encounter scholars who traveled hundreds of miles to bow before a baby, recognizing what so many missed: this wasn't just another earthly king, but the answer humanity had been waiting for. The frankincense they offered wasn't random; it was the same resin used in temple worship, symbolizing prayers rising to God. By presenting it to Jesus, they declared that this child would stand between us and God, bridging the gap our sin created. Understanding Jesus as our High Priest transforms everything—how we pray, how we deal with shame, how we approach God. We learn that Jesus empathizes with our struggles because He lived them, carries our shame because He died for it, and opens the way to God because He tore the veil separating us. This Christmas, we're challenged to stop trying to fix ourselves and instead come as we are to the One who already paid the price. The cross wasn't just enough—it was more than enough. What shame are we carrying that God never asked us to bear? What keeps us from coming boldly to the throne of grace? This season, the greatest gift isn't under a tree—it's the person of Jesus, our perfect High Priest.Subscribe    / @celebratechurch  Celebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook:   / celebratesf  Celebrate Church Instagram:   / celebrate.church  

This powerful message challenges us to reimagine thanksgiving not as a single holiday, but as a transformative way of life. Drawing from Romans 8, we're reminded that we are 'more than conquerors' through Christ—a truth that transcends our circumstances. The sermon explores how biblical figures like David and Paul maintained attitudes of gratitude even while running for their lives or sitting in prison with beaten bodies. The key insight? Thanksgiving isn't an emotion we wait to feel; it's a command we choose to obey. We learn that complaining is merely a habit, while giving thanks is a spiritual discipline requiring intentional practice. The challenge presented is radical: what if we stopped praying about what we want and instead spent a week only thanking God? What if we thanked every person we encountered? The practical framework of 'pray it, say it, every day it' offers us a roadmap to shift from circumstance-driven emotions to Christ-centered gratitude. This message reminds us that our circumstances will never defeat us—only our attitude about them can. When we focus not on the 'what' of our trials but on the 'who' of Jesus within us, we discover the secret to living as people who are truly different from the world around us.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This message brings us to the culminating vision of God's holiness as revealed in Revelation 21, where we encounter a breathtaking picture of the new heaven and new earth. After exploring God's holiness through Isaiah's encounter, Moses at the burning bush, and Daniel's faithfulness, we now see the ultimate destination of all who are made holy through Christ. The apostle John gives us specific, measurable dimensions of the New Jerusalem—a city so vast it encompasses 2.6 billion cubic miles, precisely the volume of Earth's entire crust. This isn't poetic hyperbole but divine precision, reminding us that God's holiness is both unimaginable and remarkably detailed. What strikes us most powerfully is that heaven isn't an escape from creation but its complete renewal. God doesn't discard what sin has broken; He makes all things new. The promise that there will be no more tears, death, mourning, or pain isn't just comforting—it's transformative for how we live today. When we grasp that we're fighting from victory rather than for victory, that the battle has already been won by the King of Kings, everything changes. We're called to live as citizens of heaven right now, bringing God's light into dark places, forgiving when others hold grudges, serving when others demand. This vision of heaven should make us more engaged with earth, not less, as we reflect the holiness that will one day fill every cubic centimeter of creation.Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrateChurch is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected! Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This message asks one powerful question: "I believe in Jesus… now what?" As we step into John 12, we see crowds who witnessed miracles yet still didn't believe, believers who stayed silent out of fear, and people who cared more about human praise than God's. But then we see Mary—pouring out costly worship with zero concern for what anyone thought. This episode explores what separates true disciples from unbelievers, why signs alone don't create faith, and why worship—real worship—will always cost something. If you're ready to move from believing to worshipping, this message will stir your heart and call you deeper into costly worship, courage, and devotion. Press play and let the Holy Spirit transform your belief into a life fully poured out. Be Jesus!

We find ourselves living between two worlds—called to be holy while surrounded by pressure to conform. Through Daniel's story in Babylon, we discover that holiness isn't about retreating from culture or aggressively fighting against it, but about remaining faithful within it. Daniel was a teenager torn from his home, given a new name tied to false gods, and pressured to adopt Babylonian values. Yet he 'resolved' in advance who he would be. This wasn't about dietary rules—it was about loyalty to the one true God. The most powerful lesson here is that holiness begins before we face temptation. If we don't decide who we are before walking into our modern Babylon, the world will decide for us. Daniel teaches us three vital truths: holiness means staying distinct when pressure to conform is strong, holiness is possible because God's presence goes with us even into ungodly places, and holiness is about influence, not isolation. We're not called to hide our faith or weaponize it, but to live with such integrity that even unbelievers take notice. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus already stood faithful in our place, trading our sin for His holiness. Holiness isn't earned through willpower—it's received through surrender, allowing God's Spirit to transform us from the inside out.Celebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook:   / celebratesf  Celebrate Church Instagram:   / celebrate.church  

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

This week at Shiloh, Pastor Bailey takes us into John chapter 10 — where Jesus pulls back the veil and makes it plain: “I am the Door. I am the Good Shepherd.” In this message, we see Jesus not as a distant figure, but as the bold and loving Shepherd who knows His sheep by name, defends them, and lays down His life for them. Pastor Bailey reminds us that Jesus wasn't timid about His identity — He was clear, confident, and unshakably bold about who He was and what He came to do. Through the Word, vivid illustrations, and a call to deeper intimacy, we're invited to hear His voice, follow His leading, and live in the superabundant life that only comes through Him. If He was bold about who He was, we must be bold about who we are in Him. Come rediscover the heart of the Shepherd and declare with us: No one is like Jesus. No one beside Him. He alone is worthy of all praise! Be Jesus!

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CelebrateChurchCelebrate Church is led by Pastor Noah Rollins. Our vision is for people to MEET JESUS so they can go out and BE JESUS.Stay Connected!Visit us at 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls, SD.Website: https://www.celebrate.church/Celebrate Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateSF/Celebrate Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate.church

You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go. 

In the second episode of their conversation with Hal Donaldson, Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds believe the message is just what so many in today's world need to hear. Hal knows about wounds and scars. He knows about death and poverty. He knows about health issues and overworking. He knows about busyness as a drug of choice in this modern culture. But Hal also knows God. He knows God's love deeply and he hopes to share that love to needy people. Through his personal life and now through Convoy of Hope, the world is being changed. Hal's personal story influenced his approach to leadership and humanitarian work, motivating him to dive right into the biggest challenges facing global poverty. Convoy addresses hunger not with ideas, but with action. Hear Hal's heart and you'll understand why. Read his book What Really Matters: How to Care for Yourself and Serve a Hurting World, and his many other books, and let his desire to serve a hurting world become your desire. Reach your community. Be Jesus for those nearby and far away. The world is waiting for Hal, for Convoy of Hope, and for someone like you. Don't leave the needy people alone. https://convoyofhope.org/https://haldonaldson.org/

FLORIDA FRIDAY - Florida Woman Posed as ICE Agent and kidnapped Ex-Boyfriend's Wife. Floridaman Claiming to Be ‘Jesus and God' Shot Dead After Attacking Parents. Floridaman who went to prison for impersonating a cop arrested for doing it again. Floridaman Caught with 'Bulky Wallet Full of Cocaine' at Magic Kingdom. // SUPPORT by joining the Weird AF News Patreon http://patreon.com/weirdafnews - OR buy Jonesy a coffee at http://buymeacoffee.com/funnyjones Buy MERCH: https://weirdafnews.merchmake.com/ - Check out the official website https://WeirdAFnews.com and FOLLOW host Jonesy at http://instagram.com/funnyjones

In this episode,  Diana continues her conversation with John David Graham, founder of Good Samaritan Home. They discuss his extensive work in mentoring men and women re-entering society after prison, the transformative impact of his program, and his award-winning book, 'Running as Fast as I Can.' They also touch on the broader role of the church in giving second chances and offering hope, particularly to those marginalized by society. Graham shares stories of success and resilience, emphasizing the power of compassion and authentic service. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:40 Recap of Previous Episode with John David Graham 01:32 John David Graham's Ministry and Mission 03:40 Challenges and Realities of Ministry Work 07:13 The Story Behind 'Running as Fast as I Can' 12:46 Success Stories and Impact 14:30 Current State and Future of the Ministry 17:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections Buy John's book here:  https://www.amazon.com/Running-As-Fast-Can-ebook/dp/B0CKK418FB/   Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Transcript: John David Graham Part 2 ​[00:00:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, Diana. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hello everyone. Welcome back to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. I'm glad that you're here. We had a terrific conversation with John David Graham last time. He is the founder of Good Samaritan Home, the mentoring program, helping men and women restart their lives after prison. [00:01:00] He has 17 homes that he has started and we're talking about his fantastic book. Running as fast as I can. I'm not gonna review too much of what we talked about last time, so if you have not listened to part one, as always, I say go back and listen to that first because you'll miss the foundation of the conversation and then come back here with us to hear the rest of John's story. So I'm not gonna delay any further. Here is my continued conversation with John David Graham. I think my audience hears me much better than any sermon I ever prepared. Yeah, Jesus tells us to visit those in prison and serve people that are, less fortunate or struggling or the hated of society like the Samaritan. Jesus went out of his way to meet the Samaritan woman and to evangelize the [00:02:00] Samaritan people. And they were, they hated ones in his day. We sometimes forget, we make Samaritan into a compliment. But the truth is that you're exactly right. It was not just a criticism, it was a vile criticism. Yes. She as a woman, was rejected. And Jesus, if I remember correctly, didn't he take a drink from her? Yes. Yes he did. And that was, again, forbidden because she was unclean according to his tradition. And when he would hug people and welcome the lepers and all of that, that to me is exactly what the church can do so well, if we would just do it instead of getting involved in I want you to look like me, then you can come to church. Amen to that. Yeah. In fact, you think about it, if I drive down the road and you see a church marquee that says, here's my sermon for Sunday, you are all welcome. But why would somebody who doesn't understand your traditions. Doesn't understand any of [00:03:00] your teaching. Never had been in that building. Why would they come in and do something that's totally foreign? Just because you're Marquee says you're welcome. They'll never do that. No. But if you go where they are and help them with their hunger, then they'll hear you. I believe. Yes. I had a a guest on the show that had he had a a ministry to bikers. It was the same thing. He would invite these groups of bikers that come into church and they got all this, terrible treatment because they ride a bike and they wore leather jackets and they didn't want them there. And yeah, they're not gonna, they're not gonna feel welcomed just by a sign. Absolutely. And I understand many of the traditions, but if I were to walk into a small church, I would immediately be noticed as a visitor. And even the welcoming would make me uncomfortable. And so identify, I go to a [00:04:00] large church. All of the the swell of people would make me uncomfortable unless I had somebody there walking me through it. And. A friend, leading a friend , I think the only way you can actually introduce somebody into into your church. And the truth is we don't emphasize that at all because number one, we have so much power that's they'll never give us the right answer. They'll say, oh yeah, I believe all your doctrines. And what they're saying is, I need this roof over my head. So I just try to be real. I just try to be myself and I don't put any religious pretenses into the conversation. If somebody asks, I will answer, but I try not to. I don't have a score sheet that said I, I witnessed the six people today. That, to me, doesn't work. Okay. I am I was a missionary for 13 years in the Baptist Church. I know exactly the kind of list you are talking about. Yeah. And I'm [00:05:00] kind of, sorry of some of the things that I did as a missionary with that particular list. Yeah. And this, the whole idea, even what a missionary does if we're going and simply teaching, are we teaching our western ways or are we helping people dig a well so that they have water for their farm? And are we helping them with their medical needs because that's what they need, and our faith motivates us to do these works of compassion, and they hear those works. So tell me, what your wife, Kathy thinks of all this. What is her role in your ministry there? She's sitting here with me, so Hey. Let me just say this, that I never could have done this alone because number one, it came out of our own house and when we bought our first house beyond our home, our first shelter, she had inherited a few thousand dollars that was supposed to be for retirement, [00:06:00] but she gave all of that to purchase this other house so that we could remodel it for the next two years. So she gave not just her time, but her sweat equity and her meager retirement funds. And then she's been basically in charge of all the residential services. So even at her age, and she's the same age as I am, and she will spend her days either painting and patching a wall. Cocking bathtubs today, she was patching a floor that had a hole in it. So she was working with wood putty and a sander. Now this is a woman who should be watching Oprah on television and at the local community luncheon. But she's more comfortable wearing work clothes. And and then when we leave here, we're gonna go do curfew rounds at the houses and she'll be right there with me. Sounds like a servant's heart to me. Yeah. It really is. Because we all, [00:07:00] I think all of us on my staff come from some point of brokenness and we're one step away from our residents and we try to walk with that in mind, and it makes us, I think, more forgiving. Oh, yeah. Yeah. That you've been through some hard things you can relate. I want to talk about your book running as fast as I can, and this Daniel Robinson, is he somebody that you actually know, and you then you fictionalized the story, or is it completely separate from your life and your ministry? I started to write a book 50 years ago when I was homeless. Actually. I was in my truck and I had a royal typewriter, if you remember those. Yeah. And I realized I had nothing to say, and so I put it on the shelf. And then 10 years ago I said, it's time because I want to tell this story of second chances. But, [00:08:00] I could present data and I could give you statistics. In fact, my doctoral work was in reentry and the social and psychological and spiritual benefits of reentry in the community. And I, I think maybe six people read it. I spent three years writing that, and it had all the data, but nobody is influenced by data. So what I decided to do is write a story, and I'll give you an example. Let's suppose that I want to talk to everybody about lifeboat safety. It's very important if you're going on a cruise, if you know how to work the lifeboats, I'll guarantee you nobody will watch that video because it's boring. But if I made a movie. And I had Jack and Rose on the Titanic and I made it into a love story that actually was about lifeboat safety. Everybody will watch it and remember when they get on a boat, where are the lifeboats? So that was my thinking [00:09:00] when I started writing this book. How do I write a story about second chances? But I want people to read it and remember it and identify with it. And so Daniel Robinson is fictional, but it's based on my life and your life and my wife's life and every life of the men I deal with. But I brought it together. And it's Forrest Gump going through the sixties and the idea he grew up in a home that where he was neglected and eventually he was abused by his pastor, the one man he trusted, and he ran away from home and spent the next 20 years trying to undo the damage that was done to him. And at one point in his life when he married a woman named Kate who had her own limp. We like to say that when two broken people lean on one another, then they can walk straight. And Daniel and Kate were married and started to create the family they were both looking for. But he [00:10:00] said one line. I think that probably the most important, he said, Kate, it's been 17 years since that man did that to me, but it's like it was yesterday. I can still smell the after shave he wore, I can still see the room. I still feel that man touching me. And they say, you get over it, but you never do. Some hurts last forever. And that is the theme of the book. It's the idea of some of us are born so far behind in the race that we have to run hard to even find the starting line, but the object is as long as you're willing to keep running. You will reach your goal. It just, some of us need longer time. And the truth is that the stories resonate very well with readers. It's garnered 26 awards for literary and inspirational fiction. It, and it's sold thousands of copies [00:11:00] and we're really not even advertising it. We're simply putting it out there on social media. But the object is that I believe, particularly in this day and age, I. Where on the internet, on Facebook, all your sins from sixth grade keep coming back at you, and every little thing you've done wrong will haunt you. We are all looking for a second chance, and that's why I think this story is resonating. People believe in second chances. They want it and they need it. And here's a story that says you can get a second chance. Amen. That sounds intriguing. I'm sure that everyone would want to get a copy of this book. Where can we get a copy of the book? Is that on Amazon? Yeah. Easiest way is to go to John David graham.com. That's my website and that will link you. To Amazon, and [00:12:00] it can, it's electronic, it's print, it's audible version. So it's available in all the versions. And the truth is that, it's I definitely think that it's one of those it deals with issues that we wrestle with, like homelessness. It deals with drug addiction, it deals with sexual abuse and the response of the church or lack of response to that. What I'm hearing again and again of people who have been victims of sexual abuse often become victimizers too. Yes, because they've never learned to forgive and be forgiven. And I had a mentor in college who taught me that healing of the memories only comes when we're able to face our memories and find forgiveness. And that's the intent of this story, is to help people forgive themselves. Now, do you have a story of someone specific that has really come out on the other side and [00:13:00] has done really well? Obviously don't give their name, but do you have someone like that you could tell us about? Oodles of stories. Interesting you should say that because just the last week one of our first residents who was with us, I will say his name is Walter, but he came to us when he was 26 years old. He had been in prison for nine years. That meant he went to prison as a juvenile. And he came out after nine years in prison and he was homeless and he stayed with us for several years, in fact, well beyond the normal time, but he was able to get a job with somebody who's willing to mentor him, and he stayed at that job and he's become a manager in that factory. And just last week. He put a posting on Facebook. He said he just read my book and how much he appreciated not just the book, but the work that we did in [00:14:00] helping him. Aw. And then. Then just a few days after that, I had a call from another fellow named Reggie, who was our very first resident. And he said virtually the same thing. He's been out of prison for 20 years. He's married, got kids, has a family, and he's working as a truck driver. And he just touched base to say thank you. And we don't solicit those stories, but when they call like that, it makes it all worthwhile. Oh yeah. You feel like you're making a difference in the world. One person at a time. Definitely. Now you're in Dayton, Ohio. Is that right? Yeah we we we started off in a rural area, a small town, and that's why there was so much nervousness with our program. But we quickly expanded to Dayton, which is a larger area, and the truth is that by going into. Homes that were in distress, we're able to remodel the neighborhood while we're also remodeling our residents. [00:15:00] So we haven't had nearly the politics in the bigger city that we had in the small town. Oh. But on any given day, we may have upwards of 90 to a hundred men and women in all of our houses. That's a lot of people. We don't have to do day-to-day management. We just do, like I say, it's independent housing, so we just touch base so that way we're good landlords because we're there regularly, but also we're mentors, so if somebody wants to talk, we're there to listen. So you said that the guys they come to you through the prison system. They're the ones that. Give you the fellows that need a place? You don't have people just coming up to you and asking for a place to stay? We used to do that originally, we called it off the street. And the truth is that's actually more dangerous because you have no control. No filtering. And so we don't do the off the street anymore. Because the need in the community was for men who are [00:16:00] required to be released. It they had a release date. And if you're released from prison and you're put out onto the street with no money, no place to stay, you'll do whatever you have to do to survive. Our priority became to make the community safe. We need to help those people. And it turned out that we were one of many providers when we started in back in 2003, but most of those other organizations, faith-based organizations disappeared. So we've become the only official provider of reentry housing in the entire southwest corner of the state. That's why we've had to grow from house to house. The need is so great. And on the positive side, the state will pay us a per diem for this because it costs $109 a day to keep somebody in prison. But what they'll do is they'll pay us a fraction of that. And [00:17:00] so the state saves tax money, we're able to pay our bills and our staff and then our residents get free housing for six months a year. Some people stay two years, and so everybody wins. Even the community wins because they're now working and spending their taxes their income in the city and paying child support too. So everybody wins with this. Absolutely. That's that is amazing. And I know we talked a lot about a variety of different things. Was there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention to our audience? I see a lot. Again, I mentioned that I see a lot of similarities to the sixties, and the only thing I'm seeing now more so is the church. Has taken on the role of what I call a political action committee, where it's trying to influence the politics, and I feel that's not what the church does [00:18:00] well, and I would strongly recommend the church go back to do the acts of mercy that we are best at. In fact, the word hospitality, the word hospice. It comes from the Greek words in the Bible for loving the stranger, what we did. And if we try to get political, we're gonna end up with a Spanish Inquisition. We're gonna end up with all the issues where we have the crusades, where we do battle for God and we do nothing in reality, for God. But we're just, becoming another army. And right now I see a lot of that, and the numbers are showing, particularly among the Gen Z, they're not responding to the church's actions. They're looking for authenticity. They're looking for honesty. And they're not finding it. And so the numbers in churches have declined 20% over the last decade. People are not going because they don't want to get involved in [00:19:00] politics on Sunday. They want to find Jesus with the woman at the well. Yes. And I think I've been on these podcasts for just six months and everywhere I turn I hear the same response. There's the sense of hope that if the church were doing this, if we've stumbled onto something that I believe is what the church can and should do. And I think if the church more churches were to do this without trying to evangelize, just do the work of the evangelist. I think it would change the world. Yes, it would. Be Jesus. Yeah. The irony is that we like to think we're too old, but I started Good Samaritan home at 53. I published my novel at 75, and I'm working on two sequels now, so I believe that you're never too old to do ministry of some sort. In fact I've searched the Bible and I cannot find the [00:20:00] word retirement anywhere. No. How old was Moses? How old was Caleb in the Bible? How old was, Noah for crying out loud. It I forget how old he was, but he was a senior. He wasn't a young man. And to my knowledge, he wasn't a sailor either until he learned to be No. So yes, I agree with you. There's really no retirement in the Bible. We're called to serve with whatever we have, where we're at in our life right now.   What I've tried to do, Diana, is I try to think, how is my message? How are my words heard? So when I write an article for Substack or if I put something on Facebook, or if I on these podcasts, I I try not to speak in church language. I try to speak in the language of my listeners. And the listeners that I'm I'm hearing back from are looking for hope. They're looking for purpose, and they know. What they're seeing out there is not working and they're looking for authenticity. [00:21:00] And the feedback I've been getting has confirmed that we're on the right track and I'm just glad to be part of it. I'm glad to know you, John, that you're out there being the hands and feet of Jesus to the people that need it the most. And you're making a difference. Tell folks if they go to my webpage, there's a contact link and they're welcome to contact me. I'm open for discussions. I do a Substack newsletter where I talk about this and other things, and we've had just a lot of positive feedback and I think if we can talk, if we can discuss, and we may differ, but as long as we're talking. With one another and not at one another. I think we can make a difference. Amen to that. I'm subscribed to a couple people on Substack and I'll subscribe to you too. I would really like to hear more especially about your theological discussions. Jesus. So I have a lot of fun in [00:22:00] Substack 'cause you can actually wrestle with some ideas. Yeah there's people that really like substack and you can get a real following on there. I really appreciate you coming on this show today, John. It's been educational and inspiring and if you have any new books coming out or another new ministry, you're always welcome to come back on the podcast. I'd love to have you. I find it ironic that there were two tragedies that happened today, filling the news, and yet the message of hope is what's gonna end my day. And hopefully the end the day of some of your listeners too, that no matter what happens on the news, no matter happens in the world, we can still present a voice of hope and I think people will hear that message. Amen. God bless you, John. Hey, thank you so much, really, I enjoyed this, Diana. Thank you. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please [00:23:00] hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us@dswministries.org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.    

This is a chapter from my book False Christ, Will The Antichrist Claim to be the Jewish Messiah available on Amazon and Audible.  This book was originally written by me Chris White in 2014, but the audiobook has been digitally remastered and is being released for free on a week by week basis on this … Continue reading "False Christ – Chapter 10 – Will the Antichrist Claim to Be Jesus?"

You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go. 

It has been so beautiful to get to release some new, yet familiar—even tried and true songs—in this season! One of those is the song, “Breathe” paired with another beloved song, “Let it Be Jesus.” Today, I'll take you back to the seasons I was in when I first began to sing and lead both of these beautiful songs. They were very significant seasons in my life and in my spiritual formation, and to merge them together on this new album is such a joy. It's amazing how songs can truly become guideposts and guardrails in our journey, even a gateway to surrendering more of our heart to God's heart! We'll kind of walk through that gateway together, using these two songs, and talk about how God wants these proclamations we sing to become realities in our hearts and lives. “God, I breathe Your Name above everything,” is more than just a beautiful lyric! It's a posture of resolve and rest, and a deep trust that everything we need is found in Jesus. I'll talk to you soon! Listen to 'You Revive Me'Listen to 'This is the Hour'Follow Christy on Socials: WebsiteFacebook Twitter Instagram TikTok

Gifts of Kindness - Washing Machine for a Mom in Need | Autocorrect Shenanigans - Unstable..No, Wait Unstoppable | Autocorrect Shenanigans - He Sleep Texted His Boss | A Lesson in Love from AA | New Year's Resolutions - Spending Time Together for Pancake Museum | 30 Day Challenge - John's Qualified | Good News - Larry's 30 Day Challenge Experience Helped after Awful Fall | Different Ways to Be Jesus to Others | Jenny and Dave Marrs - Setting Boundaries | Prayer Journal Offer | Joy Report - Jackie Got a Job for Christmas | Everyone Wants to Change the World

Fr. Roger J. Landry Columbia Catholic Ministry, Notre Dame Church, Manhattan Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I Memorial of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity November 8, 2023 Rom 13:8-10, Ps 112, Lk 14:25-33   To listen to an audio recording of today's homily, please click below:  https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/11.8.23_Homily_1.mp3   The following points were attempted […] The post Calculating the Cost of Love to Be Jesus’ True Disciples, 31st Wednesday (I), November 8, 2023 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.

In this episode we have an inspiring conversation with Dr. Marlene Carson, a survivor of human trafficking who has turned her trauma into a powerful ministry to help others. This episode discusses healing, transformation, purpose, and the importance of meeting people where they are. Join us as Dr. Carson's wisdom shines through as she shares her journey of overcoming adversity and turning it into a force for good. Here are some key highlights to know more about this episode: Dr. Marlene Carson's powerful story of surviving human trafficking Gain insight into how she describes the soul's state after experiencing trauma. Discussion about how trauma affects the hippocampus, memory, and the soul The significance of understanding and meeting people where they are in their healing process The power of commitment versus changing movements Her involvement in the anti-trafficking movement and the creation of "B.L.A.S.T." (Black Leaders Against Sex Trafficking) Talk about the importance of men's involvement in supporting and respecting women You don't have to talk it to do it - Dr. Marlene Carson When you're talking about helping traffic victims, meet them where they are. Be Jesus and stop talking Jesus…Be Jesus. Be the love. Be the life.- Dr. Marlene Carson About the Guest: Dr. Marlene Carson is an inspiring advocate, survivor, and leader in the fight against human trafficking. She is the founder of "B.L.A.S.T." (Black Leaders Against Sex Trafficking), a movement dedicated to addressing crucial issues and creating positive change. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of The SWITCH, she shapes national policies, empowers survivors through programs like iTHRIVE Academy, and spearheads initiatives like Rahab's Hideaway and Boujhetto's Soul Food Restaurant. Her survivor-led initiative, The Antidote, forges partnerships and hosts conferences to fight trafficking. Dr. Carson's relentless commitment has earned her national recognition, while her impactful speaking engagements amplify the voices of victims, survivors, and thrivers. Connect with Dr. Marlene at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marlene-carson-4095269 Twitter:  Website: http://MarleneCarson.com blastmovement.org. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michael-huey/message drmarlenecarson --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michael-huey/message

You are a missionary. You are on a mission. Your Workplace is your mission field. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 & 20 - Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.” There is no question about calling – we are all called to go – wherever that is. You are a missionary to the largest unreached people group in America – Workplace Pre-Believers. Let that settle in. Lost and hopeless people surround you with an unending emptiness. Be Jesus to them today. Let your transformed life impact everything you do, and share Jesus with those you work with as you go.

Hour 1 * Guest: Dr. Scott Bradley, Founder and Chairman of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation and the author of the book and DVD/CD lecture series “To Preserve the Nation.” In the Tradition of the Founding Fathers – FreedomsRisingSun.com * Russian hackers promise takedown of European banking system – ‘Within 48 hours … nothing will save you' – WND.com The Russian activist groups are known by the names KillNet, Anonymous Sudan and REvil. * Halderman Report on Voting Machine Vulnerabilities Finally Released, Validates Mike Lindell's Warnings – Brannon Howse, FrankSpeech.com * Dozens of Ottawa High School Students Stage Walkout to Protest Gender Ideology – EpochTimes.com * US government agencies hit in global hacking spree – Reuters. Hour 2 * Rep. Jim Jordan Threatens White House With Subpoenas Over Social Media Censorship! * They Will Never Impeach Joe, Will They? * White Starbucks manager fired over racist claims wins $25 million! * Lawmaker Tells Californians to Flee State Over Bill Favoring ‘Gender-Affirming' Parents. * An AI Program Is Pretending to Be Jesus and Thousands of Lost Young People Are Flocking to It – The Western Journal. * Taiwan prepares for war with China. * Nearly 1 in 5 adults say they've been diagnosed with depression – CDC. * A recently released report from a Planned Parenthood watchdog group revealed that the abortion chain's CEOs are among the highest-paid in the country's nonprofit sector. * Catholic pro-life organization American Life League's STOPP International is dedicated to exposing the “true nature of Planned Parenthood” by documenting “its anti-life, anti-family programs,” according to its website. * Governor Newsom Proposes 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. * Pledge of GAY-legiance: White House under fire for replacing Old Glory with Pride flag during LGBT event. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loving-liberty/support

* Rep. Jim Jordan Threatens White House With Subpoenas Over Social Media Censorship! * They Will Never Impeach Joe, Will They? * White Starbucks manager fired over racist claims wins $25 million! * Lawmaker Tells Californians to Flee State Over Bill Favoring ‘Gender-Affirming' Parents. * An AI Program Is Pretending to Be Jesus and Thousands of Lost Young People Are Flocking to It - The Western Journal. * Taiwan prepares for war with China. * Nearly 1 in 5 adults say they've been diagnosed with depression - CDC. * A recently released report from a Planned Parenthood watchdog group revealed that the abortion chain's CEOs are among the highest-paid in the country's nonprofit sector. * Catholic pro-life organization American Life League's STOPP International is dedicated to exposing the "true nature of Planned Parenthood" by documenting "its anti-life, anti-family programs," according to its website. * Governor Newsom Proposes 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. * Pledge of GAY-legiance: White House under fire for replacing Old Glory with Pride flag during LGBT event.

Missed this week's service? For the full traditional or modern service click here. Click here to view our Eden Prairie campus monthly handout. The post Be Jesus appeared first on Wooddale Church.

When we are immersed in Jesus, we realize that being a disciple is not something we do, but it is who we are. Jesus wants to immerse Himself into every aspect of or life because He knows this will help us to BE Jesus to the world. The word for today is "immersion."

Today is the day that Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, known as the Prince of Peace. Jesus lived on this earth as a pure representative of Spirit in form. His life gives us examples of how to live among this earth as a healer who embodies peace and faith. Jesus healed the sick, fed the poor, stood strong in the face of injustice, and loved unconditionally. He looked beyond outer appearances to the sincerity within the hearts of the people. He told us that “…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” ~Matthew 17:20-21 The most sincere way to honor Jesus is to embody the examples he set. My spiritual teacher used to say to us, “Be Jesus of your time.” Carry the message of the Prophets. Be honest. Be sincere. Walk a straight path. Care about your body, your heart, your spirit. Care about your family. Be polite with one another. Help each other. This is some of what it means to honor Jesus and to live in Peace and Faith. In today's Meditation & Healing Circle, we call on the Divine Powers of Peace (As-Salaam) and open our hearts for the embodiment of peace – to be the peace, to be Jesus of our time to the best of our ability.Listen to this episode for a transformation healing experience. You're invited to join us LIVE for The Meditation & Healing Circle - every Sunday at 10am US ET / 7am US PT. When you join live, you can stay on after the recorded meditation for Q&A, support and discussion. http://CommunityforConsciousLiving.com

In today's episode I share a powerful story of a long ride I had to Harrisonburg, Virginia and an opportunity to encourage and pray for a person who was struggling. Be Jesus to someone today.