Podcasts about Beloved

Tonight ...reality Check  The explosive new docu-series taking a hard look back at the hit show "America's Next Top Model".  Some contestants saying their dreams of making it big…becoming a nightmare. How is the show's supermodel creator Tyra Banks responding?  Plus… Shoresy. The fictional hockey team becoming a laugh-out-loud cultural phenomenon–returning for a brand new season. Leaning into the culture of the sport that's suddenly having a very big moment. And… remembering Eric Dane. Beloved by millions as McSteamy on “Grey's Anatomy.”  What he told our Diane Sawyer just last year, after his A-L-S diagnosis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a new episode of the Meditative Prayers Podcast, guided by the insights of Zach Clinton. Today, we embark on an enlightening exploration centered around a sentiment that resonates deeply with all, especially our fellow travelers on the path of faith: the profound sense of being cherished. Within the intricate tapestry of our spiritual journey, we encounter junctures where the burdens of life threaten to dim our spirits. Yet, take heart, for in the presence of our Divine guide, we unearth the strength to transcend challenges and uncover a wellspring of resilience. Join us as we draw wisdom from the timeless verses of Luke 12:24-26 in the revered King James Version, delving into their depths to navigate and rise above moments of vulnerability. If you're seeking to enrich your spiritual journey and immerse yourself in more Christian meditation, heartfelt prayers, and peaceful sleep content, we encourage you to download the Pray.com app. Embracing the practice of praying before slumber is more than just a routine; it's an avenue to recenter your heart, aligning it with God's purpose. Let Pray.com’s Meditative Prayer be a nightly companion, deepening your bond with the Almighty and settling your spirit for a serene night's rest. Zach Clinton is from the American Association of Christian Counselors, for more information please visit: https://aacc.net/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tough-as-nails cop (Chow Yun-Fat) teams up with an undercover agent (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) to shut down a sinister gun-runner (Anthony Wong) and the rest of his gang in Hong Kong.That's the standard IMDB description for the plot of this film but as directed by master action autuer John Woo (The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, Face/Off, Mission Impossible II), it's SO much more!  Infact this is now remembered as one of the more influential action films of the 1990's featuring Woo's unique blend of balletic action, melodramatic flourishes, and doves. (Well in this case, origami doves) Beloved action star Chow Yun Fat (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Killer) leads the charge as "Tequila," a Hong Kong super-cop who has it all: he's good with babies, he plays a mean clarinet, and he can dispatch with any number of bad guys with a nickel-plated Norinco pistol in each hand. ;) Decades before John Wick would reinvent the action genre with "gun fu," this international sensation did it first....and better? Host: Geoff GershonEdited By Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon Send a textSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

Tonight in Homily 6 Saint Isaac did not merely instruct us. He set fire before us. In the first six homilies he has laid the foundations of the spiritual life with uncompromising clarity. No romance. No shortcuts. No sentimentality. If you have no works, do not speak of virtues. If you have not sweat in the arena of repentance, do not theorize about purity. Virtue without bodily toil he calls premature fruit. Stillborn. And yet what he unfolds in these paragraphs is not severity alone. It is hope so luminous that it borders on holy intoxication. Affliction suffered for Christ, he says, is more precious than sacrifice. Tears are incense. Sighs during vigil are offerings more fragrant than any liturgical perfume. The righteous cry under the weight of their frailty, and heaven bends low. The angelic orders stand close at hand. They are not distant observers. They are partakers in the sufferings of the saints. What a vision. The struggler who feels alone in the cell, alone in illness, alone in interior battle, is surrounded. The angels strengthen. They encourage. They console. There is a communion not only with the saints of the earth but with the hosts of heaven who draw near to the one who cries out in humility. This is the first movement. Deep contrition. Tears. Vigil. Labor. The long work of purification. But Isaac does not leave us in mourning. He telescopes the whole journey. Rightly directed labors and humility make a man “a god upon the earth.” Faith and mercy speed him toward limpid purity. And then something changes. Fervor begins to burn. Contrition and fervor cannot dwell together indefinitely. Mourning gives way to fire. Wine has been given for gladness, he says, and fervor for the rejoicing of the soul. The word of God warms the understanding. The one inflamed by hope is ravished by meditations of the age to come. Isaac dares to speak of spiritual drunkenness. Not the stupor of the world, but intoxication with hope. The soul so seized by the promise of God that it becomes unconscious of affliction. Not because suffering disappears, but because the heart is fixed elsewhere. The gaze has shifted. The future age presses upon the present. The Beloved draws near. This is not fantasy. It comes, Isaac says, “in the very beginning of the way” for those who have labored long in purification and who walk with simplicity and faith. And here he gives us one of the most liberating images of the night. Those who hasten onward with hope do not examine the perils of the road. They do not stand calculating every gorge and precipice. They do not sit on the doorstep of their house, forever deliberating, forever preparing, forever fearing. They go. Only after crossing the sea do they look back and give thanks for dangers they never saw. God protected them from unseen obstacles. He led them over crags and through ravines while they were fixed on Him. Hope keeps the gaze steady. Rumination keeps the soul seated at the threshold. Isaac is not advocating recklessness. He is exposing the paralysis of excessive self-consciousness in the spiritual life. The one who constantly measures, analyzes, anticipates every fall, often never sets out. But the one who loves God, who girds his loins with simplicity, who meets the sea of afflictions without turning his back, finds the promised haven. This is the arc of the homily. From sweat to sweetness. From tears to intoxication. From contrition to fervor. From trembling to exultation. And all of it rests on hope. Hope that Christ Himself guards the path. Hope that angels stand near. Hope that affliction is not wasted. Hope that beyond the sea there is a haven already prepared. Isaac places before us not merely discipline, but joy. Not merely purification, but intimacy. Not merely endurance, but ravishment in the meditations of the age to come. The call tonight is clear. Do not speak of virtue. Live it. Do not fear affliction. Meet it. Do not sit on the threshold. Set out. Do not ruminate on precipices. Fix your gaze on Christ. And as we walk, we will discover that we are not walking alone. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:03:11 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 177 bottom of the page 00:03:34 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/post/philokalia-ministries-lenten-retreat-2026 00:42:54 Andrew Adams: Thank you! 00:50:08 Jessica McHale: When I first went to a Greek Orthodox liturfy simply for the experience, a parishoner explained to me that the orthodox east emphaises the Ressurectoin (salvation from it) and the west emphasises the Crucifixion (and salvation from it). It was helpful to understand the diffeent. I am very drawn to a Melkite or Byzantine liturgy for Sundays ( I can do a Novus Ordo during the week but it seems Sundays need more ;) 00:52:18 Jessica McHale: Romano Guardini, Meditations Before Mass: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/meditations-before-mass/?srsltid=AfmBOop770BpNWVqK_3cc04pvR2LfL7ItYtkWe5gpFPXJb3opcfsIg4i 00:55:50 Jesssica Imanaka: My daughter had also commented on the chanting. Listening to you, I just recalled that the chanting was a key dimension of her experience. I think the active participation is also critical for her/us. 00:56:38 Jesssica Imanaka: Reacted to "Romano Guardini, Med..." with ❤️ 01:03:12 Anthony: Hope. This is why it can be harmful to focus so much on scandal, demons, possession and exorcists.  That spiritual environment tried to strangle Hope. 01:03:47 Jessica McHale: Reacted to "Hope. This is why ..." with

Toni Morrison's work undeniably reshaped American literature, and her influence extended well beyond her novels like Beloved or The Bluest Eye. Morrison confronted slavery, identity, trauma - as well as beauty - as she centered Black experiences. Morrison changed not only what stories were told, but how they were told.rnrnHarvard professor and award-winning author Namwali Serpell's latest book On Morrison, argues that Morrison's literary skill often gets overshadowed by her public image as a Black female writer. On Morrison takes readers through her canon of literature, and focuses on the artistry and technique, demonstrating "how to read Morrison with the seriousness that she deserves."rnrnNamwali Serpell was born in Lusaka and lives in New York. She is the author of multiple award-winning books, and her debut novel, The Old Drift, won an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction, and the Los Angeles Times's Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction.rnrnFor an entire year, starting on Toni Morrison's birthday, the influential Nobel Prize-winning Ohioan will be the focus of literary and historic events in the Buckeye State. Join us - in partnership with Literary Cleveland - as Kourtney Morrow with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards sits down in conversation with On Morrison author Namwali Serpell.

Toni Morrison was many things in her lifetime—Nobel laureate, renowned author, Princeton professor, and generous mentor to young writers. Her appeal translated seamlessly to the internet, where old interview clips still bubble up regularly on social media, reminding us of her sharp wit and commanding presence. But, as Namwali Serpell argues in a new book of essays, “On Morrison,” this undeniable star persona risks eclipsing the genius—and complexity—of the eleven novels she wrote. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz dive back into these works to rediscover the writer as she was on the page. The hosts discuss Morrison's début novel, “The Bluest Eye”; “Beloved,” which is widely regarded as her masterpiece; and “Jazz,” the experimental 1992 novel believed to be her personal favorite. Throughout her career, she insisted on writing flawed, dynamic characters rather than paragons of virtue. “The Morrison project is to put Black life, and particularly the lives of Black women, at the very center of literature—but to do it in a way that's true to character and to human experience,” Schwartz says. “The people she's writing about are damaged, are greedy, are jealous, are sad . . . and also are generous, and loving, and hurt and trying to heal.”Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“On Morrison,” by Namwali Serpell“Toni Morrison, the Teacher,” by Vinson Cunningham (The New Yorker)“The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison“Song of Solomon,” by Toni Morrison“Toni Morrison and the Ghosts in the House,” by Hilton Als (The New Yorker)“Jazz,” by Toni Morrison“Beloved,” by Toni Morrison“Sula,” by Toni Morrison“Black Writers in Praise of Toni Morrison” (The New York Times)“The Blue Period: Black Writing in the Early Cold War,” by Jesse McCarthyMonuments at MOCA and the Brick“Language as Liberation,” by Toni MorrisonNew episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts.Critics at Large is a weekly discussion from The New Yorker which explores the latest trends in books, television, film, and more. Join us every Thursday as we make unexpected connections between classic texts and pop culture. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Father Genard delivers a heartfelt call to true Lenten fasting in this powerful episode of Double Edged Sword. Drawing from Isaiah 58 and Christ's own wilderness fast, he reveals fasting as a divine gift and weapon—not mere abstinence, but a path to humility, repentance, and mercy.God rejects fasts filled with strife, pride, exploitation, or secret sin. Instead, He chooses the fast that looses bonds of wickedness, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, forgives old wounds, and restores broken relationships.Beloved, this Lent let your fast be contrite and quiet: mourn your sins, bow in shame, rise in love. When offered rightly, your light will break forth like the dawn, and healing will spring up speedily (Isaiah 58:8).A gentle yet urgent encouragement for every Christian seeking to draw nearer to the Savior through prayer, fasting, and acts of compassion.

Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison rose from a working-class Midwestern childhood to become one of the most influential literary voices of the 20th century. From her early days studying at Howard and Cornell to her trailblazing career as an editor at Random House—where she championed African American writers—Toni's path was as powerful as the stories she told. We dive into the emotional depth and historical weight of novels like Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon, examining how Toni centered Afrian American interior lives with lyricism, honesty, and unflinching truth. In 1993, she became the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, cementing her place in global literary history. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 10:13-16, Joshua 2 & Joshua 6, John 1:16-17, 1 Peter 5:5-7, James 2:20-25, Hebrews 11:31, Matthew 1:5, Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Friend, are you looking for a grace-based, Christ-centered church to call home? If so, please let me invite you to my home church. Just click on the following link:https://gracerevonline.com  Beloved, if you need prayer for a challenge you are facing- please let us stand in faith with you through the Digital Prayer Experience provided by my church. You can receive pre-recorded prayers from my pastors and leaders 24 hours a day- 7 days a week! Just click the following link: https://gracerevonline.com/prayer

Thursday, 19 February 2026   While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matthew 17:5   “Yet he speaking, you behold! Cloud – lustrous, it overshadowed them. And you behold! Voice – from the cloud, saying, ‘This, He is My Son, the Beloved in whom I approved! You hear – Him!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter said to Jesus that it was good for them to be there and that he and the others would build tabernacles for Him, Moses, and Elijah. Matthew next records, “Yet he speaking.”   Peter was in the process of what was essentially an idol-fest. He was star-struck with the audience gathered with Jesus. However, his thoughts were misdirected and unsuited for the situation. Remember what he himself had proclaimed just a short while before –   “You, You are the Christ, the Son of God, the living.” Matthew 16:16   Therefore, his words were cut off as he spoke, and “you behold! Cloud – lustrous, it overshadowed them.”   Two new words are seen here. The first is nephelé, cloudiness, or concretely, a cloud. It is from nephos, a cloud. The second new word is the verb episkiazó, to overshadow. It is from epi, upon or over, and skia, a shadow.   Saying that this cloud was lustrous may be because of the brilliant light radiating from Jesus, like when one is in fog and shines a light. The light is gathered into all of the fog particles, and the entire area turns lustrous.   If a cloud overshadowed them, even a regular cloud, this would be the result. This appears to be what is conveyed in the thought because of what continues to transpire. Next, it says, “And you behold!”   The excitement rushing from Matthew's pen is palpable as he introduces a second thought in a row this way. The inspired word of the Lord is asking us to really pay heed to what is being conveyed. First, the group was overshadowed, blocking out Moses and Elijah. Understanding this, it continues with, “Voice – from the cloud.”   Within the cloud itself is a voice. Like the burning bush on Mount Horeb, there was a physical demonstration of the presence, and yet, there is a concealing of the Source of the voice at the same time. Thus, the One speaking can only be understood by what He states, not by actually seeing Him. Understanding this, He was “saying, ‘This, He is My Son.'”   The voice, being derived from eternity itself, calls out who He is, God the Father. As He is in the eternal state, the words were prepared from before the creation of a single atom to occur at this moment. Having indicated who Jesus is in relation to Him, He continues with, “the Beloved in whom I approved!”   The words are repeated from Matthew 3:17 when Jesus was baptized –   “This, He is, My Son – the Beloved in whom I approved!”   God had ordained Jesus to initiate His ministry. He was pleased with Him at that time. Now, after Jesus has told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, and be killed, meaning His ministry was on its downward trajectory, the Father affirms His relationship with Him. Because of His pleasure in His Son, He next calls out, “You hear – Him!”   The point that the Father was making was that they were no longer to look to the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) for their spiritual guidance. They were to listen to Jesus, the Fulfiller of everything spoken of in the Law and Prophets. It is an admonition from God that has not changed since then –    “Eyeballing unto the ‘the faith Pioneer and Perfecter,' Jesus” Hebrews 12:2 (CG).   This is the directive from God for all people, meaning to focus on Jesus. Nothing else will do. All else will lead to a sad end.   Life application: Although there are innumerable doctrines set forth in Scripture, the main point of doctrine for one's life conduct in the presence of God is understanding the matter of law versus grace and being obedient to the latter.   The Bible's first recorded words of God speaking to man are words of grace versus law. From that point on, because Adam disobeyed the law he was given, the violation of that law has been the source of every problem that mankind has ever faced. Adam failed to understand that he had been given grace. In Genesis 2:17, it said –   “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.”   Adam was given everything, though he had done nothing to earn it. God lavished upon the man His goodness in a variety of tastes, textures, and physical sensations as he experienced each new fruit. At the same time, and in the same sentence, the Lord gave Adam law –   “...but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”   This set forth a choice that has been set forth again for the people of the world. Will we choose to trust God and accept His grace, or will we ignore that, choose law, and perish apart from the grace? It is what Paul calls “a different gospel, which is not another” in Galatians 1.   God, in His words concerning Jesus, is setting forth that choice by telling the disciples, and thus us, because the words are recorded in Scripture, that we are to focus on the grace. That grace could only come through the crucifixion of Christ. When we return to the law, we crucify again for ourselves the Son of God. In this, we put Him to open shame. May we never presume to have such an attitude.   Lord God, thank You for the grace that is poured out on us through the giving of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.  

A new season begins with a full house, a generous conversation, and stories grounded in land, memory, and care. Last fall at the Cambridge Public Library, Kahstoserakwathe moderated a sold-out evening with celebrated author and media creator David A. Robertson of Norway House Cree Nation. This was TAD's first episode recorded with a live audience.Together, they explored how land shapes emotional health, how identity unfolds through writing, and how family stories guide us across time.David is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, recipient of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, and the Writers' Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award. In this conversation, he shares tender memories of his father, Dr. Donald Robertson, a pioneering educator whose influence continues to shape his work and life.We also speak about David's powerful six-part podcast Kiwew (S/he returns home), which became an unexpected and moving tribute to his father after he passed away during its creation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ENTRANCE HYMN #135 Songs of Thankfulness and PraiseSEQUENCE HYMN #542 Christ Is the World's True LightOFFERTORY ANTHEM Christ, Upon the Mountain Stands (Lehman)COMMUNION ANTHEM Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)POST-COMMUNION HYMN #137 O Wondrous Type! O Vision FairTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYO God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING Exodus 24:12-18Reader A reading from the Book of Exodus.The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.”Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM Psalm 99 Dominus regnavit1 The Lord is King;let the people tremble; *he is enthroned upon the cherubim;let the earth shake.2 The Lord is great in Zion; *he is high above all peoples.3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *he is the Holy One.4 "O mighty King, lover of justice,you have established equity; *you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our Godand fall down before his footstool; *he is the Holy One.6 Moses and Aaron among his priests,and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *you were a God who forgave them,yet punished them for their evil deeds.9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our Godand worship him upon his holy hill; *for the Lord our God is the Holy One.SECOND READING 2 Peter 1:16-21Reader A Reading from the second letter of Peter.We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Interview with singer songwriter Robert Deeble. Born in 1966 in Long Beach, California, Robert cut his teeth as a songwriter in the gritty underground of the LBC, which introduced him to longtime collaborators like drummer Stephen Hodges (Mike Watt/Tom Waits) and folk heroine Victoria Williams, who helped launch his early records. His 1998 release, EarthSide Down, earned notice for its orchestral textures and spirit- infused lyrics—reminiscent of Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. By his third album, Paste had described him as “truly an arresting talent, able to gain entry to places rarely imagined by most songwriters. Following his This Bar Has No One Left EP in 2005, Deeble completed a Master's degree in psychology—a journey that has deeply informed his songwriting and emotional perspective. His 2012 album Heart Like Feathers marked his musical return, with themes of Robert Deeble - Bio depression and struggle but with “a redemptive hope that brought glimmers of light (Performer Magazine).” Robert emerged again in 2018, with one of his more personal works, Beloved. Born from his experience of fostering and then adopting a child with his wife, the album captures the agony and tenderness of temporarily caring for a child, the heartbreak of letting her go, and, finally, becoming her parent. Robert's recordings over the years have featured such industry veterans as Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists), Jen Wood (The Postal Service), Tomo Nakayama and others. He has shared bills with artists such as Low, IDA, Jason Molina, Sam Phillips, M. Ward, Over the Rhine, Mike Watt, Damien Jurado, David Bazan and Victoria Williams. The Space Between Us shows Deeble to be a craftsman of understated, emotionally resonant songwriting. Or as Bandcamp put it, "Every new record from Seattle musician Robert Deeble is like stumbling across some secret grotto.   Robert's info:  https://robertdeeble.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Deeble https://robertdeeble.bandcamp.com/music https://www.instagram.com/rdeeble/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/robert.deeble.music/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/42LPbMxQThbZsibL4OdqMZ  

Video link to this full Pearl repost: https://youtu.be/Uo5mf0_1izYBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

The Shulamite and the Beloved see it through to the end. All In Gospel Podcast is a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in depth bible study where we seek to understand God's Word.All In Gospel is recorded live at Calvary Chapel with Pastor Seann Dikkers. You can support this study at anchor.fm/allingospel, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ccwhitebear.com.

In case you missed it, ICYMI stands for In Case Y'all Missed It. And while 2025 was a weird year (not as weird as 2026!) it was filled with some favorite new Ologists and episodes. So since things have been a bit of a busy blur for many of us, we wanted to give you a sampler platter/refresher on some of the best moments of last year's episode. Because it's not just what we learned, but it's the friends we made along the way, RIGHT? And if you haven't heard the full ep, hop over and enjoy it! Or send this to a friend as an intro to Ologies. Either way, kick back for a quick episode with stellar curation.  400+ Ologies episodes sorted by topicSmologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokEditing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this conversation, Mark Casto shares his transformative journey from a life rooted in legalism and performance-based ministry to one centered on beloved identity and God's unconditional love. He reflects on the challenges he faced, including panic attacks and the pressures of ministry success, and how these experiences led him to a deeper understanding of grace and the importance of family. Mark discusses the importance of community in spiritual growth and the challenges he faced while planting a church. Ultimately, he emphasizes the need to redefine success in ministry and the power of living in beloved identity.Mark and Jason also explore themes of identity, self-discovery, and the journey of pastors in the context of a shifting church landscape. They discuss the importance of rediscovering one's true self, the challenges faced by shepherds, and the need for a reformation within the church. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of questioning authority, embracing beloved identity, and the genius of redemption in the Christian journey. Ultimately, they highlight the importance of community, connection, and the freedom to be oneself in the pursuit of faith and purpose.For more information on Mark:https://markcasto.co/For more content like this, go to:https://afamilystory.org/Please rate, review, share, and SUBSCRIBE!Podcast intro and outro music by Wilde AssemblyJOIN our RGWT Subscriber-Based Community:https://afamilystory.audiencetap.com/qc/wU0gQoHxDxJoin A Family Story's Mailing Listhttps://dashing-field-76805.myflodesk.com/pie4be6wtoJoin the Rethinking God with Tacos Facebook Group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/godandtacosFollow Rethinking God with Tacos on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/rethinkinggodwithtacos/Follow Jason's personal Facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/afamilystory.org/Follow Jason on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/jasonclarkis/ Follow Jason on X at: https://x.com/jasonclarkis Send a donation!!https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/36393kxxeh8

Share a commentA snowstorm, an absent pastor, and a layman's ten-minute sermon changed the course of church history. We follow Charles Spurgeon from that unlikely conversion moment—“Look to Christ”—to a lifetime of preaching that filled halls, stirred headlines, and anchored bruised hearts. What emerges is not a tale of polish and pedigree, but of a teenager seized by grace who kept pointing a restless world to a simple, seismic center: Jesus.We share how Spurgeon's early barn sermons swelled into crowds, how a skeptical London congregation became the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and how Susannah's steady presence shaped the pulpit week after week. Along the way, we open the door to his study: the verse-hunting Saturdays, the sleep-sermon Susannah captured, the Monday edits that sent his words across oceans. We also linger on his pain—gout, rheumatism, long absences from the pulpit—and the engine behind his astonishing output. His answer to “two men's work” wasn't hustle; it was Colossians 1:29 dependence, a partnership with Christ's energy that turned weakness into witness.Spurgeon's courage didn't stop at comfort. He confronted slavery, pushed back on infant sprinkling, and ultimately sounded the Downgrade alarm when doctrinal clarity began to blur. The cost was sharp—censure and cheers at his exit—but the warning still reads like today's news: guard the gospel, prize Scripture, resist the slow leak of conviction. And yet for all the fire, his voice remains most healing when speaking to the crushed in spirit: pour out your heart before God, empty the vessel, and look where hope lives. Acceptance isn't found in the rise and fall of your feelings but in the Beloved who holds you fast.If you need a clear center, a resilient joy, and a bracing reminder that ordinary faithfulness can move cities, you're in the right place. Listen, share with a friend who could use courage, and if this story lifts your eyes, subscribe and leave a review so others can find their way to the same hope._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

Share a commentA snowstorm, an absent pastor, and a layman's ten-minute sermon changed the course of church history. We follow Charles Spurgeon from that unlikely conversion moment—“Look to Christ”—to a lifetime of preaching that filled halls, stirred headlines, and anchored bruised hearts. What emerges is not a tale of polish and pedigree, but of a teenager seized by grace who kept pointing a restless world to a simple, seismic center: Jesus.We share how Spurgeon's early barn sermons swelled into crowds, how a skeptical London congregation became the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and how Susannah's steady presence shaped the pulpit week after week. Along the way, we open the door to his study: the verse-hunting Saturdays, the sleep-sermon Susannah captured, the Monday edits that sent his words across oceans. We also linger on his pain—gout, rheumatism, long absences from the pulpit—and the engine behind his astonishing output. His answer to “two men's work” wasn't hustle; it was Colossians 1:29 dependence, a partnership with Christ's energy that turned weakness into witness.Spurgeon's courage didn't stop at comfort. He confronted slavery, pushed back on infant sprinkling, and ultimately sounded the Downgrade alarm when doctrinal clarity began to blur. The cost was sharp—censure and cheers at his exit—but the warning still reads like today's news: guard the gospel, prize Scripture, resist the slow leak of conviction. And yet for all the fire, his voice remains most healing when speaking to the crushed in spirit: pour out your heart before God, empty the vessel, and look where hope lives. Acceptance isn't found in the rise and fall of your feelings but in the Beloved who holds you fast.If you need a clear center, a resilient joy, and a bracing reminder that ordinary faithfulness can move cities, you're in the right place. Listen, share with a friend who could use courage, and if this story lifts your eyes, subscribe and leave a review so others can find their way to the same hope._____Stephen's latest book, Legacies of Light, Volume 2, is our gift for your special donation to our ministry. Follow this link for information or to donate:https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/legaciesSupport the show

A major voice in the St. Louis blues and jazz community has left the stage. Longtime singer Marsha Evans died last week at 75. Musicians, family and friends pay tribute by recognizing her contributions to the local music scene and her collaboration with artists including Fontella Bass, Oliver Sain and Gus Thornton. They also discuss her music being sampled by Atlanta rapper and Migos member Quavo and her work as a mentor to young people.

Most people want to zip in and out of their grocery run quickly....unless you're in Georgia at the Publix where Michael works! STORY: https://www.wdjx.com/customers-will-wait-for-40-minutes-for-this-publix-cashier/

The Lorain native will be honored with events over the next year across the state.

Are you carrying the weight of shame from your past?  In this episode, Dr. Margaret Paul addresses how to heal shame rooted in childhood disobedience, rebellion, or bullying, and why these behaviors are expressions of a wounded self rather than evidence of being a bad person. Drawing on the Inner Bonding® process, Dr. Paul explains how hurtful behavior often develops as a way to manage fear, pain, and powerlessness. She explores why feeling shame is actually a sign of conscience and emotional health, and how compassionate self-inquiry enables real healing. Explore the full episode of Healing Shame After Being a Bully or “Mean Child.” About Dr. Margaret Paul Dr. Margaret Paul, PhD, is a bestselling author, relationship expert, and the co-creator of the Inner Bonding® self-healing process. She is the author and co-author of twelve books, including “Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved by You?”, “Healing Your Aloneness,” “Inner Bonding,” and "Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved by God? Through her work, Dr. Paul teaches individuals how to take responsibility for their feelings, heal anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges, and develop a deep, loving connection with themselves and their spiritual guidance. She facilitates Inner Bonding Workshops and Intensives, administers the Inner Bonding website, and works to make the Inner Bonding® process available worldwide through the SelfQuest® online self-healing program. You can learn Inner Bonding now by visiting her website for a FREE Inner Bonding course at https://innerbondinghub.com/7-lessons/ or by emailing her at margaret@innerbonding.com. Connect with Dr. Margaret Paul: Website: https://innerbonding.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerbonding1/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretpaul/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innerbonding Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ideas/inner-bonding-margaret-paul/923777849815/ Books: https://innerbonding.com/list-product/10/books.html Courses: https://innerbonding.com/show-page/159/home-study-courses.html Free Resources: https://innerbonding.com/show-page/160/free-help.html

Send a textIn honor of Catherine O'hara's recent passing, we talk about our top 5 characters from Schitt's Creek. If you haven't watched it, you can find it currently on HBO Max, and it's a must-watch! Beloved by many, this Canadian show ran from 2015-2020, and had some stand-out characters! Who do you love the most??A Little Bit Alexis ClipFold the Cheese ClipSimply the Best Clip

Susie Jones leads us off as usual during another Monday edition of Overrated, Underrated or Properly Rated.

We're so glad you're listening to our podcast! We have been moving through the season of Epiphany, the season of light, and this sermon is from Transfiguration Sunday, the culminating Sunday in the Epiphany season. This sermon is based on John 9:1–41, the story of Jesus and a man born blind. It is a fascinating and intriguing story, and we hope this sermon will be meaningful to you this week.To find out more about our church, you can head on over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.williamsburgbaptist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have a moment, we'd also love for you to click over to follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We are a small but vibrant and growing congregation, and there are lots of ways to connect. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help support you in any way! Thanks so much for tuning in!

Romans 12:17-21 ESV17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. • • •1. Love responds to evil by doing good. • • •Romans 12:17-18 ESV17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. • • •Romans 12:20 ESV20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” • • •Matthew 6:14-15 ESV14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. • • •Luke 6:35-36 ESV35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. • • •Romans 12:21 ESV21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. • • •2. Love responds to evil by leaving room for God's wrath. • • •Romans 12:19 ESV19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” • • •Romans 12:14 ESV14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. • • •Matthew 5:44 ESV44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, • • •Romans 12:21 ESV21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. • • •Application:A Romans 12 Christian is to forgive, love, and show kindness to the evildoers in our life.

Many Christians mistakenly believe that God draws near only after we have healed, matured, or overcome our struggles. In this episode, Donald E. Coleman continues the Beloved series by revealing a deeper truth: God meets us in our brokenness and Agape (loves) us there.Drawing from Psalm 34:18, John 20:27, and Henri Nouwen's teaching on beloved identity, we explore how Jesus revealed His wounds after the resurrection—and how His loving gaze toward Peter in a moment of shame demonstrates that our wounds are not disqualifying, but invitational.This episode will help you:·       Let go of the belief that brokenness is failure.·       Understand how Jesus meets us in the places we hide.·       Learn to receive love in the exact places you feel least worthy of it.·       See your wounds as openings where intimacy with God can deepen.·       Begin to rest in a love that holds you even when you tremble.If you long for a love that does not require you to be strong first, this episode is a quiet invitation:You are Beloved, even in your brokenness."Have Questions, Send us a Message" This podcast is a production of The Center for Biblical Coaching and Leadership. If this episode has been useful or inspiring to you in any way, please share it with someone else. Lastly, please follow the show and write a review.If you want to go deeper on this journey, visit www.tcbcl.org to learn how we're walking this path together through biblical coaching, spiritual formation, and the ROOTED Global Movement.

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.   9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." 

Pastor Isaiah explores the vital role of community in the Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of belonging, accountability, and support. He shares personal experiences and biblical insights, highlighting the transformative power of community in overcoming isolation and shame, finding purpose, and meeting our deepest needs through connection with others.

Sermon Series: Imago DeiThank you for listening to the Disciple City Church Podcast! To learn more about us or to connect with us, please visit our…Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disciplecitychurch.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/disciplecitychurch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/disciplecitychurch

Matthew 17:1-9   Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Listen to Him – Matthew 17:1–91. We Live in a Noisy WorldMany voices compete for our attention.God's voice cuts through the noise:“This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.”2. The Mountain Reveals Who Jesus IsOn the mountain, the disciples see Christ's glory.The One who shines in light is the same One who stepped into the water with us.Fully divine. Fully human. Close to us.3. Mountaintop Moments MatterWe all experience moments of clarity and grace.In worship. In prayer. In love. In creation.These moments are not escapes.They are maps for when life feels foggy.4. The Mountain Is Not the DestinationJesus leads the disciples back down.Following Him means moving toward real life.Toward need. Toward suffering. Toward the cross.5. Lent Is a Season of ListeningQuiet the other voices.Refocus your heart.Hear again Christ's invitation:“Follow me. Do not be afraid.”Remember This:The God of the mountaintop is not distant.In Jesus, God is right here.As close as your breath.Listen to Him.

What if the Christian life isn't about trying harder to earn God's love, but about living from the security of already being His beloved child? This exploration of Ephesians 5 turns our typical understanding upside down: we don't imitate God to become His children—we imitate Him because we already are. The passage reminds us that before we did anything good or bad, God chose us, predestined us for adoption, and sealed us with His Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance. This isn't just theological theory; it's the foundation for how we live. When we grasp that our truest identity is 'beloved child of God,' everything changes. We're called to walk in three transformative ways: in love that leads to sacrificial action, in light that exposes and refuses darkness, and in wisdom that pursues God through His Word and His people. The beauty here is that even when we stumble and fail to live up to this calling, our status never changes. Like the prodigal son, we're always welcomed back with open arms—not as servants trying to earn our way, but as children who never stopped being loved. This is the gospel: identity leads to action, not the other way around.

Matthew 17:1-9 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That's how Charles Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities.It's also how comedian Anthony Griffith begins a story on The Moth about the season when his career was taking off and his daughter was dying. He had just moved his family to Los Angeles for stand-up. And almost immediately he got two phone calls.The first was from a talent coordinator offering him his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The moment he moved there for.The second was from his daughter's doctor telling him her leukemia had returned.It was the best of times.It was the worst of times.During the day, Anthony cared for his daughter — watching the heart monitor, giving her medication, driving back and forth for blood work and platelets.At night, he was in comedy clubs, working and reworking his set, trying to get it perfect for The Tonight Show.Finally the night came. He's backstage waiting to be introduced, thinking to himself, Don't screw this up. Don't screw this up. The curtain goes up. He is terrified. And for the next six minutes he doesn't even remember what he said — but he gets six applause breaks. He cooked, as the kids say.In the parking lot Johnny Carson tells him, “You're extremely funny. Start working on your second Tonight Show. I want you back.”It was the best of times.But by the time the official call came for that second appearance, his daughter had been admitted to the hospital.It was the worst of times.Peter, James, and John knew that rhythm too — the worst of times pressing in on the best. Because just six days earlier Jesus had told them that everything was about to fall apart. That he was going to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed. And that if they were going to follow him, their road would look the same.These were men who had already left their homes, their work, their security for him. And now the one they trusted most was talking about crosses and death. They had six long days of despair to sit with that.But on that sixth day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain. And suddenly his appearance changes — his face shining, his clothes dazzling white. And he's not alone. Moses and Elijah are there — the heroes of their faith, the ones their parents told them stories about at bedtime. No wonder Peter blurts out, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”Of course it is.This would be like us seeing Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Oprah standing together atop the Rockies. You'd want to set up camp and stay awhile.After six long, confusing days — here it is — a moment that makes sense of everything.Now they see who Jesus really is. Not just another teacher of the law. Not just another prophet pointing to the promises they made with God. But the one who is the fulfillment of both.It is the best of times. And Peter wants to hold on to it.While Peter is still talking, a cloud comes and covers the mountain. And a voice — “This is my Son, the Beloved… listen to him.” And just like that, the moment is over. The disciples fall to the ground, terrified.But Jesus comes to them. He touches them. “Get up. Do not be afraid.” Because it is time to go back down the mountain. Back to the valley. Back to the hard days he has already told them are coming.The best of times gives way to what they could only imagine would be the worst of times. This is not the mountain where the story ends: the cross and the empty tomb are still ahead.”That's how life is.You plan a wedding, get married — and then you find yourself signing divorce papers.You finally hold the baby you prayed for — and then you're walking through postpartum depression. Your loved one makes it through chemo and radiation and is declared cancer free — and six months later the cancer is back.The best of times. The worst of times. Over and over again.And just like Peter, James, and John, we too can faint — knocked down by the fear or sheer exhaustion of it all. The constant movement from the best of times to the worst of times, the interruptions that come whether we want them or not, can bring us to our knees.And that is exactly where the disciples are in this story. But when they look up, the only person standing there is Jesus. That's what our text tells us: “When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself.”Jesus himself, ready to go back into the valley with them.Jesus himself, ready to face the difficult days with them.Jesus himself, who is with his disciples — then and now — at every moment of the journey.And we see exactly this in Anthony's life.By the time he appeared on The Tonight Show for the third time, Brittany had died — not yet three years old. For ten years, Anthony says, he and his wife walked around like zombies, shells of who they once were. It was their church community that endured those dark days with them. Someone eventually suggested that Anthony teach Sunday School. He knew it wouldn't bring Brittany back, but not long after he said he began to feel her presence more powerfully than ever.About that same time, The Moth called and asked him to tell a story. He knew which one it had to be.In the memoir he wrote with his wife, Anthony says, “Life is cruel sometimes, and it's okay to have whatever emotion you have when you lose someone you love. If you want to cry, if you want to get mad, if you want to shout out — God's shoulders are big enough. It's okay. God still has you.”I hope and pray that we are that kind of extraordinary community: gathered by Jesus, helping one another endure the dark days we all will face, and catching small mountaintop glimpses of his glory along the way.That this place is one where, whether you are in the best of times or the worst of times, you find yourself saying, “It is good for us to be here. It is good for me to be here” Because I believe it is.When we get it right, we walk with one another through a whole life: from the first promises spoken at baptism, to weddings and graduations, to hospital rooms and funeral homes, and everything in between.Above all, rest in this truth and promise: when we leave this place and come down from this mountain, or any other, all that is left for us, for you, is Jesus himself.Jesus himself, coming to us and raising us up, again and again, never leaving us to face the perils and the joys of this life alone.Amen.

Matthew 17:1-9

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 As we hear the story of Jesus's Transfiguration, we are tempted to define and limit the life of the spirit to experiences of wonder and amazement… but when a voice says, “Listen to him,” Jesus speaks with a life that does not revel in mountaintop experiences, but goes down into the heart of all that may be hurting and broken in our world. The post Beloved – The Spoken Life appeared first on Foreside Community Church.

One of the most dramatic and mysterious love letters of all time was penned by composer Ludwig van Beethoven and was only discovered after his death in 1827. The hastily handwritten letter is full of passionate lines like, “My eternally beloved . . . I can only live either wholly with you or not at all.” Tragically, it appears the letter was never sent, and his intended recipient remains unknown. Beethoven’s letter is treasured by readers who can identify with his desperate yearning for love. We seek love and fulfillment in many people, things, and experiences that cannot fully satisfy. But far greater than a fleeting romance is the love of God for His covenant people, to whom He showed great love for the sake of all people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). Because of His great love, God promised a future of rest and favor (v. 2) and the restoration of anything that was broken (v. 4). Despite their repeated rejection and rebellion, God vowed to bring them back to Himself (v. 9). Many years later, that same everlasting love motivated Jesus to endure death for sinners, even before we ever returned His love (Romans 5:8). We don’t have to search for love or try to earn it. We’re already loved with an everlasting love!

Beloved,Happy Valentines Day. I have a LOVE STORY that you will SEE YOUR OWN STORY within. We all feel it.A vigilance for justice and new resurging freedom in the coming year as the Fire Horse takes the lead.The blaze ignites suppressed collective forces and pushes survival systems past their breaking points. We are entering a new era where authority shifts from systems and structures to the visceral intelligence of the spirit intelligence. So as we mark the end of survival as the organizing principle and the beginning of heart opening aliveness…….ultimately we are:Choosing Love Out LoudRight now, more than ever, we are collectively craving one thing—safety.Not just physical safety, but the kind that lets us exhale fully. The kind that allows our shoulders to drop, our hearts to soften, and our nervous systems to rest.We are living in a world that feels uncertain. The division, the pace, the pressure— all rising. And in the midst of it, many of us are quietly asking: Where can I feel safe? Where can I return to myself?For me, this question has shaped everything.My life's work has been about nurturing this very feeling—-creating spaces, -rituals, and deep connections that help others remember ….in what it feels like to truly rest inside the light within ourselves.And recently, something sacred arrived in my life, a presence I call Love—and I want to honor her arrival with the reverence she deserves.But before I introduce you to her, I want to share a bit about the journey that brought us together. I believe it holds a mirror to so many of our own paths.The Power of the PathTwo years ago, I put my name on a waitlist for a litter of puppies.At the time, I didn't realize what I was actually signing up for.It would take two full years to finally be granted first pick.Two years of waiting.Two years of wondering if it would ever happen.Looking back, I see that those two years were not a delay—they were a divine invitation.My angels and guides used that time to do deep, quiet work within me.To clear out old stories.To help me soften into the truth of who I am.I wasn't just waiting for a puppy.I was being prepared to receive Love.Choosing a Different Kind of LifeDuring that time, I was also navigating a life that doesn't follow the traditional script.No marriage.No children.Just me, my work, and the sacred space I hold for others.It's a path that has asked me to shed layers of perfectionism and comparison.To stop apologizing for what my life doesn't look like.And instead, to honor what it is: creative, spiritual, intentional.I've learned that we often shrink what we love in order to stay safe.But that shrinking is an illusion.Real safety comes from expansion.From saying, This is what I love. This is what I'm building - the Kingdom of God in a stolen world - offering us a opportunity of lifetimes.Meeting LoveAnd now, she's about here.Five more weeks.A small, grounded being with soft eyes and a quiet strength.She's not here to selfishly fill a emptiness - She's here to be.To embody what I've been learning.I've had many visions of us channeling together.To walk with me through the streets, into my salon, into the hearts of those we meet.She is Love, made visible.And she is a reminder that one regulated nervous system—just one—can shift the energy of a room.Of a day.Of a life.Anchors for the JourneyAre you working through uncertainty right now?If so, I want to offer you a few anchors that have helped me:Keep Your Vision Bright.Your imagination is sacred. It's not a distraction—it's a direction. Follow it.Serve with Boundaries.You can love people deeply without abandoning yourself.Evolve at Your Own Pace.The world will try to rush you. Don't let it. Go slow. Go deep.Stay Cheerful Inside.Not toxic positivity—but a quiet cheerfulness. A kind of spiritual defiance that says, I still believe in beauty.There Is No Finish Line.There is only today. Only the practice. Only the breath.Love as a FrequencyLove is a resonance that needs no words.It's not weakness.It's alignment.It's power.When we choose to become love—not just give it, but become it—it meets us back in ways we could never have planned.That's what's happening for all of us - now.❤️ I love you. May you find the safety to soften.May you choose Love, out loud.And may you FEEL the Love choosing you right back.❤️ Love, KassandraOOOH! PS: On Christmas Eve, I surprised my parents by putting money down for their own little puppy to enter their lives. To my delight, they said yes! This week, they welcomed little Albert. I'm SO in love with my parents, and now I have another love in my life as we welcome this new addition to their home, filling it with even more joy. He's just so adorable.PPS: If you have a dog or also in the pursuit…….please hit reply, as I am creating a epic journey to support the sacred naming process.Yup. I've already started a SACRED DOG naming journey (or meaning to a current dog's name). Here's a sneak peek of how it curates the energy and spiritual connection with “LOVE.” Origin & EtymologyDerived from Old English lufu, and rooted in the Proto-Germanic lubō, “Love” is a word that has transcended language to become a universal vibration. It is not bound by culture, creed, or species—it is the essence that binds all.Core MeaningUnconditional affection, divine union, and the highest vibrational field available to sentient beings. Love is the frequency that dissolves fear, heals wounds, and magnetizes abundance.How “Love” Filters the Energy of the Heart and HomeThe name “Love” acts as a harmonic tuning fork. Each time it is spoken, it initiates a subtle recalibration of the home's energetic field—transmuting conflict, anchoring presence, and inviting softness. Your dog becomes a walking reminder of your soul's true north.This name is especially potent in spaces where healing, forgiveness, or heart-centered leadership are needed. It is not passive—it is powerful.The Seed Sound: Why “Love” ResonatesPhonetically, “Love” is a single-syllable seed sound. The soft “L” opens the heart chakra gently, while the “V” vibrates through the throat and solar plexus, encouraging expression and emotional courage.Spoken slowly—“Luhv”—it becomes both a mantra and a medicine.The Name Decree (The Scroll)✦ ✦ ✦By the power of presence, and in honor of the sacred bond between human and guardian soul,I hereby decree the name of this Spiritual Ambassador to be:✦ LOVE ✦May this name be spoken with reverence,May its frequency ripple through every corner of our home,And may its essence awaken truth, tenderness, and transformation.This name is not given lightly—it is offered as a gift, a vibration, a vow.So it is spoken. So it shall be.✦ ✦ ✦The Light Between is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelightbetween.substack.com/subscribe

Folky singer/songwriter and psychotherapist Robert started in the '80s but considers 1994 his professional debut and has now released his seventh album since then, The Space Between Us. We discuss "Attic of Desire" (and the intro is "The Forest From the Tree") from that album, plus "Uncertain" from Beloved (2017), the title track from Earthside Down (1998). End song: "Rock A Bye" feat. Victoria Williams from Days Like These (1994). More at robertdeeble.com. Watch Robert's video for "The Forest From the Tree." The previous version of "Attic of Desire" was called "A Formal Apology" from Thirteen Stories (2003). Watch Robert and his band play "Earthside Down" live in 2002. Hear more Nakedly Examined Music at nakedlyexaminedmusic.com. Support us at patreon.com/nakedlyexaminedmusic. Sponsor: Download the Gametime app and use code NEM for $20 off your first purchase of concert tickets.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” — 1 John 3:1,2 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. Consider […]

LAPD’s West Valley Division gets honored today — a shout-out to the officers and staff serving the Valley. Dean Sharp, “The House Whisperer” (custom home designer and host of HOME on KFI AM 640 — Saturdays 6–8am, Sundays 9am–noon) joins Conway for Romancing Your Home on Valentine’s Day weekend: the most unusual homeowner requests, “open door dumps,” and easy ways to level up your home’s romance factor. More with Dean on pre-fab/manufactured homes — why they can save a shocking amount of materials, how well-built they’ve become, and why ADUs are exploding across SoCal. And a sad local loss: Sandy Steers, executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, has passed away. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kansas school community rallies to support a beloved teacher fighting cancer after his car is stolen while he is away for treatment. A New Jersey teacher is sentenced to prison after a sexual abuse case involving two students reveals she became pregnant by one teen she groomed and later terminated the pregnancy. Drew Nelson reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin Verlander met the media yesterday and talked about his return to Detroit

8:00 HOUR: What can save the NBA All-Star Game? Is JV the most beloved Detroit athlete since 2000?

9:00 HOUR: The most beloved Detroit athletes of the last 25 years, Heather with the news

2/13/26 - Can the Pistons save the NBA All-Star Game? Jon's near-death experience, Cookie Jar, The most beloved Detroit athletes since 2000

Every year, Catholics prepare for Lent by adding more: more devotions, more fasting plans, more spiritual intensity. But Scripture suggests something deeper. In this episode, we explore five key biblical passages that reveal the true posture of the desert. Lent is not about religious performance or self-improvement. It is about interior conversion, surrender, and allowing God to strip away what keeps us from Him.From Joel's call to “rend your heart,” to Hosea's wilderness of divine courtship, to Mary and Martha, Psalm 51, and Christ entering the desert as the Beloved—this is Scripture to recenter your Lent.

Topics:  Little Luxuries, Sinners & Shame, Walmart DJ, Church Hypocrites, What Flight Attendants Hear, Musical Diaper, Music Headphones BONUS CONTENT: Halftime Follow-up, Frozen Lizards   Quotes: "Jesus is a way out of shame." "Sinner is not the last word. "Beloved" is the last word." "I want to be able to apologize without making excuses." "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook!