Podcasts about Brookline

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Latest podcast episodes about Brookline

Greenfield’s Finest Podcast
Any Port In A Storm | EP 195 - GFP

Greenfield’s Finest Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 101:26


Do the Steelers stand a chance this season? Z-Bird places golf at PNC Park. Jack almost poops his pants at a golf outing. Mike educates us on ice cream and diarrhea. Antonio Brown compared Matt Canada to Hittler. And Taylor Swift goes to the Chief's Concert to root on her boyfriend Travis Kelsey. A Brookline kid steals a bobcat. We play Waterboy's full Voicemail from last week. A man rips his shirt off and tries to start a on a golf course. Kenny's walking through the airport naked. And Stephen King almost got divorced because on Mambos Number 5. All that and more on Greenfield's Finest Podcast. Comtra Comedy Show: https://www.comtratheatre.org/comedy-night/ Our Patreon: patreon.com/GreenfieldsFinestPodcast Check out our events, social media, and more at the link below:⁠⁠ https://linktr.ee/GFP⁠⁠

The Fan Morning Show
PFF's Brad Spielberger, Steelers offensive identity, Chris Mack

The Fan Morning Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 38:40


Hour 3: Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus joins the show. Brad thinks the Baltimore Ravens are the best team in the AFC North. He is underwhelmed with the Bengals and surprised by how they're playing. Mike Tomlin is underrated and deserves credit for winning games like the Raiders on the road. Brad thinks Patrick Peterson has lost a step. The Minnesota Vikings asked Peterson to do different things than the Steelers are currently. He doesn't have the speed he used to. Offenses have started super slow and quarterbacks are a big reason why. O-line's too. Interior defender play is superior, at the moment. We know what the Dolphins are, but the Steelers are such a week-to-week team. The offense needs to improve every game. They're not in the crowd of elite teams, but should beat most teams. Apart from Seattle and Jacksonville, the Steelers can be better than every team on their schedule if the offense keeps improving. Pickett has been better than the opposing QB 2/3 times. A kid drove a bobcat into cars in Brookline. How?? Trai Essex would rather block for Jaylen Warren. Mike Tomlin acknowledged that Warren has done good things. 19-11 touches for Najee last week. Crowley wants it to be more 50-50. He isn't worried about catches but touches. 93.7 The Fan's Chris Mack joins the show. Chris talks about his latest guest on his Oh Mama podcast focused on the 2008 Steelers defense. 

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast
Greetings and Music Erev Yom Kippur; Rabbi Moshe Kesselman: Rosh Hashona, etc. (2022)

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 87:07


This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an excellent interview from our archive with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman (2022). אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער אַ גוט קוויטל און אַ לײַכטן תּענית - גמר חתימה טובֿה Highlights: Greetings from Judy Altmann, Holocaust survivor originally from Jasina, Czechoslovakia. Greetings from Leyzer Maimon, Holocaust survivor originally from Bilgoray, Poland, and leader of Young Israel of Mill Basin (Brooklyn, NY). Greetings from Rabbi Yitzchok-Boruch Teitelbaum, Kiryas Joel, NY, also known as the Pshisker Rebbe. Dovid Lenga, Holocaust survivor originally from Lodz, Poland. Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President). Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA (from 2009). Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host. Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Interview with Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Tefila of Los Angeles. From our archive: originally aired September 21, 2022. Music: Music for High Holidays, including Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chayim, and many more. Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air date: September 20, 2023

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast
Erev Rosh Hashona with Avrohom Marmorstein, et al

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 76:24


This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with an exciting new interviews with Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein as well as an encore presentation on the High Holidays by Miriam Libenson ז״ל from the archive of our predecessor show די ייִדישע שעה from 1992. אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער לשנה טובֿה Highlights: Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President). Interview with Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein, director of Mehadrin Kashrus and spiritual leader of Kehal Minchas Chinuch, both in Manhattan. Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, Board Chair. Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA. Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host. Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Miriam Libenson ז״ל: Rosh Hashona/Yom Kippur - from the archive of our predecessor show די ייִדישע שעה. Originally recorded and aired on WBRS 100.1 FM (Waltham, MA) in 1992. Music: Cantor Simcha Koussevitzky: Zochreinu L'Chayim Goldie Malavsky: Zochreinu L'Chayim Leibele Waldman: Der Nayer Yor D. Meyrowitz: L'Shonoh Toivo Leibele Waldman: Shofar Shal Moshiach Samuel Malavsky's Family Choir: L'el Orech Din Moishe Oysher: Hayom Haras Olom (Rosh Hashana After Shofar Blown) Josef Rosenblatt: Melech Rachamon (Rosh Hashana Musaf) Mordechai Hershman: Al Chet Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air date: September 13, 2023

FORE the Good of the Game
Justin Leonard - Part 3 (The 1999 Ryder Cup)

FORE the Good of the Game

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 38:07 Transcription Available


In this thrilling conclusion of a three-part series with Justin Leonard, listeners are invited to embark on a journey through Leonard's professional career from 2000 onward. An episode filled with vivid insights and reflections, Leonard shares his experiences playing in the Dunhill Cup, the World Cup, and the improbable putt he made at 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline, an event etched in golfing history.Leonard opens up about his time playing alongside legends like Davis Love III and Jim Furyk, and his transition into broadcasting, providing a glimpse into the steep learning curve and the joy he found in this new avenue. He details the evolution of his analysis and the challenges he faced in adapting to the unique rhythm of televised golf commentary. His stories are seasoned with humor, wisdom, and a deep respect for the game.A particularly poignant moment arrives as Leonard reflects on his "career mulligan" at the 2004 PGA Whistling Straits, a candid admission that resonates with anyone who's felt the weight of a single decision. The hosts, Mike Gonzalez and Bruce Devlin, steer the conversation with warmth and understanding, tying in their shared experiences and engaging Leonard in a discussion that feels both intimate and universal.The episode concludes with Leonard answering the hosts' signature three questions, offering insights that transcend golf, touching on themes of perfectionism, grace, and the importance of treating people the right way. His perspective is a testament to a career well-played and a life well-lived.Join Mike, Bruce, and Justin Leonard for a final round that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, offering lessons on the fairways and beyond. Whether a golf enthusiast or simply interested in the life stories of those who have mastered their craft, this episode promises a captivating look at one man's path through professional golf, broadcasting, and life. Subscribe to our podcast to enjoy this episode and many more as they continue to celebrate the world of golf, "FORE the Good of the Game."Support the showFollow our show and/or leave a review/rating on: Our Website https://www.forethegoodofthegame.com/reviews/new/ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fore-the-good-of-the-game/id1562581853 Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/0XSuVGjwQg6bm78COkIhZO?si=b4c9d47ea8b24b2d Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNzM3Mjc1LnJzcw About "FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.” Thanks so much for listening!

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast
Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon, Eli Grodko, Rosh Hashona

The 'Yiddish Voice' Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 83:19


This week, greetings for Rosh Hashona from friends, participants, and sponsors of The Yiddish Voice / דאָס ייִדישע קול, combined with exciting new interviews by Rabbi Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon and Eli Grodko! אַ גוט, געבענטשט יאָר אַלע אונדזערע צוהערער לשנה טובֿה Highlights: Greetings on behalf of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants of Greater Boston, featuring members Tania Lefman (Treasurer), Mary Ehrlich, Joyce Levin, Rosalie Reszelbach, and Janet Stein (President). Interview with Eli Grodko, son-in-law of host/producer Mark David, talks about his path to Yiddish, intertwined with his former search for a wife, and shares advice for single people searching for a life partner. Greetings from Eli Dovek ז״ל, late proprietor of our sponsor Israel Bookshop, Brookline, MA. Greetings from Leah Shporer-Leavitt, co-host. Greeting from Sholem Beinfeld, co-host. Greetings on behalf of the League for Yiddish / די ייִדיש-ליגע by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath, President. Interview with Rabbi Mordechai-Tzvi Solomon, world-renouned mohel, on the institution of Bris Millah. Music: Sholom Katz: Zochreinu L'Chayim Jennie Goldstein: Avinu Malkeynu Mordechai Hershman: Al Chet Intro instrumental music: DEM HELFANDS TANTS, an instrumental track from the CD Jeff Warschauer: The Singing Waltz Air date: September 6, 2023

United Parish Brookline
Who is Our Neighbor?: Brookline Housing

United Parish Brookline

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2023 23:05


Mosaic Boston
Blessings of Christian Community

Mosaic Boston

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 58:03


Audio Transcript: This media has been made available by Mosaic BostonChurch. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston ordonate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com. Welcome. We're thrilled to have you here. We're always praying for the Lord to send us just people asking questions about Christianity, questions about Jesus, how to be saved, and we're always praying for the Lord to send us people who already have vibrant, loving relationships with the Lord and are here to work. And this is an exciting time here to serve the Lord with us, join mission with us. And this is an exciting time of year where we always have a lot of fresh faces coming in at the end of summer, beginning of the year program, academic year and after a lot of people have left. So we're thrilled you're here. If you are new and you want to get plugged in, I hope you just talk to people next to you, but a formal way to do that is to fill out the connection card and take it to the welcome center or put it in the offering bin there at the back of the center aisle, and we'll get you plugged in. And if you are new, again I said, I'm Andy. I was out for the past four weeks. The church blessed me with a long three-week vacation after a busy year, and I'll elaborate a lot on that. And today is an exciting time of year for us. We just ended a long series in the Book of Genesis, going through Genesis 37 through 50, talking about the life of a great saint Joseph and how his life pointed us to Jesus Christ in many ways, even in the first book of the Bible and how he pointed us ultimately to Christ and his sacrifice and the forgiveness he offers us. But today we're done with Genesis and we are taking up an identity series. We talk about our identity, we talk about our values every time this time of August, every September, and we're really trying to bring unity of identity, unity of purpose and vision to the body, and so I'll take us up. My hope today is really to prime your hearts, prepare your hearts as we reflect on the past year together today in order to prepare our hearts to get going and flying in support of the slightly tweaked vision going forward. So today I want to begin by reading the main passage of the day, and that is Ephesians 2:11-22, Ephesians 2:11-22. And this is the living word of God. Ephesians 2:11-22, "Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands." "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God and one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near." "For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." This is the word of our Lord. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it is living. We thank you that it is authoritative. We thank you that it is powerful. Lord, we thank you for the reminder that we see in it today that who we are is rooted in the work of Jesus Christ and his life, death and sacrifice in the cross. And Lord, we praise you that we can have an identity that is gifted to us by you. We do not have to work our way towards you, but in Jesus we can have peace simply by believing in his works. And Lord, right now, we pray as we work out our own identity, seek to understand it better, let it inform the way that we approach brother and sister, especially here in the church here at Mosaic. Lord, we seek to be a more faithful body. We seek to show the world who you are, show the blessedness that comes with faith in the gospel by loving one another better this year. Lord, we ask that your spirit would just refine our view, our understanding of church, our understanding of relating to brother and sister and, of course, our understanding of our relationship to you and Jesus today. Bless the preaching of your word. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. So happy New Year. To contribute to my introduction, I want you to look at the person next to you and say, happy New Year. And wow, some of you actually did that. I would've been the kind of person to just sit there. Thank you for your vulnerability and following my instruction. So why do I begin the day, this series, this little moment in the year where we reflect on who we are as a church with happy New Year? Why first? There's three reasons. First, because it actually is the real new year in Boston coming up this week. We have Labor Day weekend next week, and everybody who's been in Boston for a while and really the northeastern United States and America knows that this is really the start of the real new year, and this is New Year's Eve. We're at the point where we are looking back in preparation to looking ahead to the new year before we get running. And I say this just as a little reminder to all of you, get ready for it. Next week, life speeds up. And if you haven't prepared your body, haven't prepared your heart before it takes off, you've got to be careful because you could just get lost in the wind as the dust of life speeds up. And so you know that preschools through postgraduate programs are starting in the coming week. You know that there's a lot of people starting new jobs, taking up new titles, they're actually getting real responsibility if they got the title in the summer now that September is here. And you know that everybody who survived May through August without leaving the city is processing, committing their hearts for another year of what's to come here, and you're welcome for the reminder if you've been snoozing on that a little bit. But I bring this up to you just because we at Mosaic, we don't want you to get lost in the storm, in the wind, in the waves of life. We at Mosaic, we have a philosophy of ministry rooted in Ephesians 4:11-6 which says, and "He," the Lord, "gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers," and we pastors are shepherd, teachers, "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Jesus Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness and deceitful schemes, rather speaking the truth and love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ, from the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly." So at Mosaic, we are the pastors, we view our role to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, and we pause at this time of year to really calibrate your hearts, calibrate your minds to get prepared for really the program missional year ahead, for we don't want you to get lost into the waves and winds that come through life. And we know more than ever, since 2020, just how unpredictable life can be compared to those who grew up in the '90s and 2000s when things were pretty chill. Every year we hold this series and today's no different. Today, as the real new year approaches, again, I want to help us process in looking back, Pastor Jan will look ahead. And so the second reason though, why I say happy New Year is with facetiousness. As I acknowledge the approach of Boston's real New Year, I say it in a manner that's a little bit flippant and sarcastic. It's a year, it's really stating, "Thank God 2022, 2023 is over," in the words of a blessed beloved member of Mosaic in my mind I say happy New Year, there's a little bit of, "Bye Felicia," as I think of 2022, 2023. There's a, "Sayonara, goodbye. Good riddance. Let's turn the page and move on." And I say that because it was a hard year, and today I just want to acknowledge that I really wish that it was as simple as moving on, turning the page and everything will be different after Labor Day next week, but we need to be honest as a church that it was a hard year. And so today I hope to process that with you a little bit. Now, keeping the last two reasons in mind for why I say happy New Year, the third reason why I say happy New Year to start off this missional program year in the church is because I really mean it. I say it with deep sincerity. Why? Because even though I wouldn't have planned everything that the past year brought, even though it was excruciatingly painful personally as a church body, I'm so thankful that we as pastors, we as a membership, we as a body of believers here at Mosaic, went through what we went through. And just to give you a little bit, those of you who are new, in many years, it was a great year. We have a great membership at this church of a couple hundred people. People committed to be on mission here and we did maintain, we retained that membership and boy, did it grow up a lot. And I could give you dozens of examples of how people in this body came to faith, were baptized, grew in the faith, served the Lord through tremendous acts of charity and generosity, but really it was a year that was difficult. The trajectory of Mosaic's history, we're a church that was started in 2011, and that's a time when Pastor Jan really took over, rooted this church with the vision, the values, the beliefs, the identity that is very similar to what we promote right now. And 2011 through 2020 just basically putting it in simplistic terms, lots of growth, lots of seemingly flourishing on the outside and a lot on the inside. But since 2020, what did we deal with in 2023? 2020 poured over into 2021, poured over into 2022, poured over into 2023, and we're just catching our breath in the past year. At one point in the year we had three pastors, Pastor Shane, a beloved pastor was here for 10 years. He felt called home to the Midwest in the past year. He took an extended period of rest. Pastor Jan felt the effects of the strain of engaging all that came with just being a pastor in the past few years. And he took an extended break. I got a nice three weeks. I've never had that amount of time off in my adulthood. And so we as pastors, we as a body, we've faced challenges that we could have never imagined, and we're just feel like we're coming up from being underwater, grasping to stay afloat. And furthermore, we as a church, we confess to one another as a membership that we did commit some sin. There was some youthful, what we often phrase as youthful naivety, but there was some pride behind our method. Perhaps, we thought, "This is the way we're always going to go, just trajectory and growth as a body up, up, up." But furthermore, no, we pastors profess to this congregation that we functioned in our own strength a lot, especially since 2020. We didn't admit to one another when we needed rest, when we needed help, when we needed care. Furthermore, we were guilty of breaking the Sabbath and keeping it holy, and in many ways that emanated and trickled down in our body. And so praise God, we have a united body. We've processed a lot, we've been through a lot, sometimes from the public pulpit a lot of it, and members meetings, deep family talks over the past year. And I go back to why I say happy New Year sincerely, I'm thankful we went through it for we're a young body, young pastors, pretty naive. We don't have old saints to really guide us in the way and the Lord has matured us. So as I look ahead at the new year, I'm excited to think about what the Lord can do with this body of believers, what the Lord can do with me as someone who's grown up a lot as we look ahead to 2023, 2024. And so I begin with this happy New Year. I have pretty raw, transparent explanations for, and in my flesh, this is the time of the sermon where I want to switch back to Mosaic mode and really enter into classic Love Jesus Simple sermons. And if you go online, these are great sermons. Pastor Jan has preached these every year since 2011 except in 2020. And I want to just jump right into, "All right, said a little bit about what happened. Let's jump forward." But I want to use efficient language. I want to use just brilliant clear language that we've often used to articulate our vision. I want to make comparisons to our simple method of ministry to Chick-fil-A's simple method of business. I want to make comparisons to Michael Scott and Albert Einstein as we have over the years in pursuit of our vision and, of course, as all of their quotes pertain to scripture. But I don't want to run ahead, you're going to get that Pastor Jan, he's rearing and ready to go and I say, whatever you think, whatever you get today, come back. It's going to be very different. But realistically, we as pastors, we called an audible. I told Pastor Jan after coming back from my time off in the past week about what I've been processing, and really we're just trying to hit the heart of those in our body who are still ailing a little bit, coming out of what we went through, for it was hard. And so I'm not jumping into classic Love Jesus Simple mode. Today's not a classic expository sermon where we, in a very logical sense, pull the analysis of the textile and very systematic, orderly manner. This is really a very reflective pastoral sermon. And we just want to be cognizant that you guys have hearts and that the church is something you've invested in, and we really want to engage you where you are. And we are a body with many members with Christ as the head, and to go forward before we jump forward, and it's going to come fast next week and in the weeks beyond. We don't want anybody struggling, anybody holding on to pains, anybody questioning their commitment with us going ahead this year. And so I continue, therefore with a very transparent vulnerable tone, and I don't really want to go like this, but I think it's most appropriate to meet the season. So I just took three weeks off. It was my first chance to process this year and everything that transpired. And I have to admit that once I got a chance to breathe, once separated from the community, and I did have accountability in my wife, I wasn't just not working as a pastor and then rebelling and lashing out, no. I just want to be honest. I was really struggling with, "I just want to be a Christian by myself. Why do I need the church? It just makes everything so much harder. Why deal with the people? Why deal with the hardship? Why deal with standing on the truth? Why speak the truth to my brothers and sister in love when it often comes back to bite me? And then we have to do extra meetings to reconcile." And I wasn't thinking about quitting my job, I wasn't thinking about walking away from the faith, but I saw the appeal of letting myself continue in my thoughts, and it's been a great year actually outside of the church. Great year for me socially. I've lived in Brookline for three years. My son was in second grade. It's like all of a sudden I have all these social connections in the community that took a few years to cultivate. And so it's easy to think, "Man, I could start my own ministry, my own little circles outside this church and just run without the impediments of truly committing to the body that I've committed to love here at Mosaic and in Boston." And in an attempt exercise wisdom, first thing I did was said, "I'm tired. I need to rest," and so first week I just shut my mouth and prayed. And as I prayed approaching the trip and into that first week I just said, "Lord, bring me to the scriptures. Bring me to a Christian book. Bring me to a brother, a sister that can check my heart, check my mind, call me out in this position of frustration toward the church, disillusionment with the church," and the Lord in his grace was working on me and my wife at the same time at multiple times, separate ways we heard quotes and snippets of this book, Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In the months leading to our time off, and separately unbeknownst to one another, we both ordered this book to read together during our time off, and there were multiple copies that arrived at our apartment and I said, "I ordered this. Why is there another one? Did you order one?" And the Lord providentially arranged for us separately to take up this book. And it really appealed to us too because we have three kids under seven and you can't really take up a giant tome like a giant biography or theological treaties. This is 122 pages, and it really unexpectedly just spoke right to the heart of just a lot of the questions and a lot of frustrations I was dealing with. And so today the main text is Ephesians 2:11-22. I will open that up a little bit but not open it up as much as we often do with the text. The general outline flow of the message is going to be a list of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer says are the blessings of Christian community. He asked the question, "Why is Christian community a blessing?" And he helps press us to think about, "Why should we... Why should I, Pastor Andy? Why should we continue to gather with other Christians?" And I know some people in our body in moments are dealing with that. I know that some people are new, and you might be coming here today, it could be your first time at church in years and you have pains and scars tied to dealing with church. And so I hope that this is an encouragement to those within our body already, those coming from the outside to really see the church as a blessing, see engagement with other Christians as an essential part to this life. And so the first point that I'll take up... And who is Dietrich Bonhoeffer? He was a Christian German pastor, theologian who was a pastor in the 1930s into the 1940s. And he saw the German church rooted in just the reformation of Martin Luther. He saw the German church leave God's word, leave the gospel and in its insecurity dealing with modernism, dealing with just technological advantages, dealing with politics, the German church in his day went with the Nazi party. And so he was one of a minority of pastors that started a new confessing church that stayed true to scripture. Ultimately he died as for being a part of a plot to try to kill Hitler. And ultimately he offers us perspective for what are essential elements for church, and really as part of the Love Jesus Simple series, I hope today I help strip apart any views of church, expectations of church, expectations of other Christians that might not be biblical, and a man who faced such pressures really has a lot of wisdom and insight for us. So why is a Christian community, a church, a blessing? First, Bonhoeffer says Jesus lived among his enemies. First paragraph, he just says this right away, "At the end of his life on earth, all of his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause, he had come to bring peace to the enemies of God." I don't know if you've ever thought about this, but Jesus entire walk on the earth was really full of disappointment with community. Who rejected him? His brothers, the Jews. And then even his disciples, those intimate 12, even within the 12, his top three, they all were not there at the end. They all left him, and then the 72 and greater crowds came and went as they agreed and disagreed with his teachings. And so when we face hardship in community, we're not facing something that the Lord himself did not face. And this is to start with this point, it's a kind of logic that says, "You think you have had it bad in your situation in your church. Think about how bad Christ had it, yet he endured faithfully to the end." And it's an effort to counter any entitlement we as Christians have thinking we deserve better. We deserve a better church. We deserve to be received better. Christ himself, if anybody of all people in the history of the earth, the Son of God deserved to be received better in community, and he really never was. And are we greater than him? John 13:16, "Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger is greater than the one who sent him." And so this isn't really the kind of reason to show the blessedness of Christian community that's soothing to the soul. But I love that Bonhoeffer begins with this. He says, sorry he doesn't say this. Because if we really understand the extent that God went through Christ to show us love for us, the fact that Christ in the trinity, in the wisdom of the trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit for all eternity took on flesh to come and walk among enemies, walk among flakes that would abandon him simply to come, primarily to come and be our savior just fathoming that, fathoming the love of God shows us in doing that, that really should help us to look upon our struggles in this life with Christians and even the greater world, with a little more humility, we should be amazed what the Lord endured for us to procure our salvation. So why is Christianity a blessing? Because Christ didn't have it yet he is gracious enough to offer us the chance to gather with others. Second, why is Christian community a blessing? Many Christians Bonhoeffer says, don't experience community. He says, "It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in the world to share God's word and sacrament. Not all Christians receive this blessing. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered, lonely, the proclaimers of the gospel in heathen lands, they stand alone." Do you ever pause when you're pondering the challenges that come with gathering with the church, that there are people, there are Christians all throughout the world, people all throughout history who profess the name of Christ who don't have a regular gathering assembly of believers to gather with, people who don't have pastors to open up the word for them? And the truth is those of us who do have it, we take our community for granted, and this is my mind, my heart was drifting in this direction. "It is true of course," "Bonhoeffer says, "that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden underfoot by those who have the gift every day. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of a Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed." And so if we have it, we should function with the awareness that the Lord could strip it right away. And how many of you... As I processed just my thoughts, my approach towards the church, I asked myself this question, "What would happen if Mosaic Boston Church just closed its doors, it just disappeared?" And I didn't really pause to think like this all throughout the turmoil of recent seasons, but I realized I would be broken. I wouldn't be broken to the point of despair and unbelief, but I'd still have Christ, but man, it would be so hard to face that and just this perspective, others in the world do not have what we have. And so seasons of turmoil, they're not fun. But we should still bless the Lord and be thankful that he has provided our community. Third, Bonhoeffer goes on to say why the church is a blessing. "The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength for the believer. The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength for the believer." To support this, he mentions how Paul in 2 Timothy 1:4 talks about his longing to see Timothy in the flesh. Next, he talks about how the Apostle John in 2 John 12 says that his joy will not be complete until he can come to his people and speak face to face instead of writing to them. Do you long to come to church and see your brothers and sisters like this? Bonhoeffer says, "It's okay to feel no shame... He says, "The believer feels no shame as though he was still living too much in the flesh when he yearns for the physical presence of other Christians. Man was created by a body, man was created a body. The son of God appeared on earth in the body. He was raised in the body and the resurrection of the dead will bring about the perfected fellowship of God's spiritual physical creatures. The believer therefore lauds the creator, the redeemer, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the bodily presence of a brother." So Christ taking on a flesh shows us that this world, this life, the relationships we forge, especially in the church, matter. And it's okay as a Christian to say, "Lord, I need you," as we sung earlier, "but I also need my church," and to get excited about gathering with other Christians. And I ask, do you have these people that you see and they just give you joy and strength? And I definitely feel this way broadly about Mosaic. I got to visit three different churches while I was taking my time off, three different worship services and they're good churches, love the Lord, preach the gospel, but it just wasn't the same as gathering with you. When I'm here, as processing the worship music, there's different things that every member of our band does that encourage me. Aaron put his hands up here in the front and I'm a stiff guy, but he encourages me to worship with more passion, and this body, there's so many people who encourage me like that. But in terms of just outside of worship, are there people who bring you joy and comfort Christians, people who you don't really even have to talk to them but their presence brings you joy? And I can think of so many people here in the church who provide that, but do you have them, and if you don't, are you seeking to build those relationships? Only in commitment to a local church can you forge such relationships. People, friends that are nonbelievers can't be this presence for you in your life. And what's the benefit of them? Whether you have a great spoken relationship or it's really just about the presence, there's some kind of encouragement that comes with gathering with people who believe what you believe, who are fighting the good fight. Sometimes they stumble but they get back, they receive grace, they keep going and they just keep walking forward in the direction you're trying to go. And at Mosaic, that's what we're trying to do every Sunday and as part of our service, create a warm hospital strengthening environment and with community groups. A lot of times people come into our church and we have community groups that do discuss every week's sermon together. They do sermon discussion, fellowship, just hanging out and prayer. But really we're trying to forge bonds where it's just the unspeakables of gathering that breed encouragement with one another. It's not necessarily just about the discussion and conversation. We want people gathering simply because they love each other and are encouraged by one another. And Paul and John show us that, that happens. And the thing about it is that we should pursue this, we should desire these kinds of relationships, but we should not become codependent, overly dependent on such relationships. For once we do so we commit the sin of idolatry and we're looking upon these relationships for our sense of satisfaction, strength, peace, joy instead of looking to Jesus Christ himself. And that's one of the main things that happens, we have a really young body, lots of people, very driven, lots of people who came to the city for academic programs, for work. The way they grew was finding mentors, finding training and studying and climbing the way to the top, and they approach Christianity the same way. And I'm saying we want you to get relationships. We want you to build bonds where there's this unspoken connection. We want you to build a mentor relationships where there is spoken connection, but we don't want you to be overdependent on them. We want Christians to develop abiding relationships with the Lord where they one-on-one are engaging the Lord in their minds through prayer, in song, in worship, independently of others, for that is ultimately just the most life-giving relationship we can have. So we just don't want to overemphasize these relationships. Next, why is a Christian community a blessing? And this is the hardest one to chew on, but if you get this, this is the greatest source of encouragement. Bonhoeffer says, "A christian has an alien righteousness and needs to be reminded of it constantly." So the Christian community is a blessing because it's a place where a Christian can go and be reminded of who they are in Jesus. What do I mean by alien righteousness? He says, "The Christian is the man or woman who no longer seeks his salvation. He's not trying to earn his way to God's love and favor. The Christian is the man who no longer seeks his salvation, his deliverance, his justification, his declaration that he is not guilty before God in himself but in Christ alone. The Christian no longer lives of himself by his own claims and his own justification, but by God's claims and God's justification." "The reformers expressed it this way, our righteousness, our right standing before God is an alien righteousness that comes from outside of us. The reformers were saying that the Christian is dependent on the word of God spoken to them. God has willed that we should seek and find his living word in the witness of a brother in the mouth of a man." And there's scriptures that really open this up. God chose the foolishness of the preaching of men, of broken vessels to save people. God chooses the foolishness of his broken vessels in the church to exhort one another with the word. There's a lot of scripture around this. But what Bonhoeffer is stating is that the way Christian is saved with this alien righteousness, this right standing before God being applied to him by the Lord himself from the outside, the way Christian is saved through this signifies the way that he needs to be encouraged over and over again after he is saved. And when you understand this, he's really defining how a church should get engaged. A man is saved by that which is outside of him, the righteousness of Christ coming to him and therefore over and over he needs to be reminded of that when he stumbles in sin, when he's discouraged by the events and circumstances around him, when the church faces hardship, a person, a Christian needs to be reminded of who they are that their right standing despite their circumstances before God does not change. And the thing about it is God has willed whether we like it or not, that the way that we are reminded of who we are in Christ is by other people, brothers and sisters in the church. And so if you're not gathering in a church, you do not have people who can remind you that you are not a sinner. When you fall into the just being overcome by guilt and shame, you are a beloved son and daughter of the living and true God because Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. What happens when a person is saved, when they turn and receive God's forgiveness? They believe that their sinful record is applied to Jesus Christ, and in turn his perfect righteous record is applied to them, and it's a whole process initiated by God through the Holy Spirit. And once we experience this, we know who we are but we forget over and over again, and so what is the church? It's the place that we go to, to be reminded of who we are in Jesus. For when we know at the fundamental level the source of our identity, when we understand all of the promises of God, that we are forgiven of our sins, we're beloved adopted son or daughter, we are bestowed with the inheritance due to the firstborn. All the covenant promises due to the Old Testament fathers apply to us in Jesus when we have security of identity in who we are through this alien righteousness that's gifted to us, we can face the world, we can face others with the sobriety of mind and heart, and boldness that God can use us in the process. And so what is the church? It's the place not where you go because there's people who might look like you, might be at a similar age, might have similar interests of you, might be in a similar life phase of you. You go to the church to be reminded of who you are in Jesus Christ, first and foremost. And that is the single most important center of your bond to the church. And as a member of a church, you have to fight to keep that central with the challenges of seasons, with the desires of the flesh, with the competing models and preferences that you have, that people in the church have. You have to look first and foremost at the church and identify, "Does this church remind me of who I am in Jesus?" And what does that change? The way we engage with one another. There is a huge part for listening to one another and Bonhoeffer has a great section on listening as one of the primary practices within the church. But we also speak the word to one another and it's not therapy. We're not just consoling one another and trying to make each other feel better in the moment. A lot of our communication in the church when you understand we are all bonded together as recipients of this alien righteousness. We are the common practice. The way we engage is reminding of ourselves who we are in Jesus. And when we do that, we are setting ourselves up to be able to face all the challenges of life church around us. And Pastor Jan talked about this a lot over the years as we are not here... Once you know you're saved in Jesus, your identity is secured, the Father will never leave you or forsake you, and you have newness and you have freedom, and you have innocence before the Lord that even stumblings and sin can't take away for you after you turn and repent. And so what we are doing, church is not, "I come and go to the sanctuary to receive therapy." It's the halftime talk. It's where we remind you of who you are in Jesus. You have all the promises and power of God working for you, and we are here to boost you up, build you up before we send you out, and then you have community group to get a little boost midweek as well. And so the church is the place, it's a blessing because we are reminded that we are recipients of this alien righteousness. And I connect this if you're not really buying fallen Bonhoeffer for following me on this, this is really a point that Paul makes in Ephesians 2:11-22, the text for the day in verses 11:12, it begins with a description of alienation separation between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Verse 11 says, "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision, but what is called the circumcision," that Jewish believers, "which is made in the flesh by hand, remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." So what's going on here? Paul is saying there's a conflict in the community, from the context of the passage, we don't know exactly what the conflict is given the rest of the book and the specific verses. It seems to be rooted in the racial and ethnic differences, Christians, people who are Christian highlighting their ethnic, religious and racial differences. But important thing to point out is there is a conflict and how does the apostle Paul tell them how to face it? What does he do? Verse 13, he reminds him of their hopelessness and exclusion from God's family, the Gentiles particularly. He reminds him of their hopelessness and exclusion from God's family before Christ came and died for them. Verse 13, "But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Once you were alienated, once you were hopeless without the promises of God applied to you, without chance of coming into God's family, but now because of the blood of Christ, because this alien righteousness that comes to you, you are brought near to the Lord himself, "For he himself is our peace who has made us both one and has broken down in the flesh the dividing wall of hostility." It's a really frustrating piece of advice like, if you're in conflict with someone and someone says, "Remember who you are, that's the way forward." In a way, Paul is doing that. He's telling the Gentile Christians and then all of us Christians today for when we face conflict, really if you really remember who you were, whether you're Jew or Gentile in this situation, but God and his mercy was gracious to you. He offered forgiveness of sin. He saved you despite your rebellion against him. If you really process that, this identity that has been gifted to you, you can look upon your brethren and offer a similar grace and mercy to them. And so if you remember who you are that'll inform your way forward and help you to go forward faithfully. And one of, in Christianity, the main area where we see instruction similarly, Mark 10-9, "Let not man separate what God has put together," with regard to marriage. Every good Christian marriage knows that there's points in the marriage because it's two sinners come together who both need grace from God and each other daily. There are going to be times where conflict and trial are so large that the only thing that makes them stick together is the belief that God has established their relationship, and that's the logic that Bonhoeffer, that Paul are trying to teach us. They're trying to get us to view our sense of personal security with God derived from the identity that he has given us. And furthermore, trying to say we have a bond with other believers and that bond was forged by God, and we need to commit and covenant and hold fast to our commitment to other believers, not walk on them or isolate ourselves from them because God has established the capacity for us to have peaceful relationship with them. And so it's not really practical, but he's calling through this appealing to alien righteousness. Paul and Bonhoeffer, they're saying it's a call in our walk with the Lord individually, how do we correct ourselves? We remember who we are in Jesus. We remember this gifted identity that we have. For our walk in the church, we remember the gift that our community is and there's greater spiritualties. As an individual, who we are is not the one who is stumbling in sin over and over again. Who we are is a beloved son and daughter, and that's how we should view and see ourselves and that's what's going to help us march forward. Who we are in community is so much more than a body of believers at stray and get in the fickle arguments often. What does Paul say to end the passage? Paul alludes to, there's so much more spiritually going on with our believers. And Bonhoeffer and Paul, the next line, Bonhoeffer says, another reason why Christian community is a blessing is because we are going to be with each other in eternity. And so there's greater spiritual realities that we are called to live up to as individuals and as a body. And to continue what I was saying, Paul says, he appeals to these greater communal realities that take place when a group of people gather. In verse 19 it says, "So then you're no longer strangers and aliens, but you're fellow citizens, Jew and Gentile. You're fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit." So what is taking place when Christians truly rooted in their identity in Christ, this blessed gracious gift of an identity that they have when they gather in community. There's some sort of spiritual holy, eternal temple suited to be a dwelling place of God that is being constructed. And I say that and we're getting up into the sky, but that's a reality that is happening when we covenant, when we commit to live with one another, when we don't isolate with one another, when we disagree but come and love one another and work out conflict for God's glory, this spiritual structure is being built. And does it always feel like that? No. When we look back at the past year, did it feel like we were building this glorious, heavenly structure as we faced a lot of hardship that we never faced as a young church before? No, but we need to function with faith that, that is actually taking place as we go forward in faith loving one another, calling one another to the identity that we have in Jesus and the faithful ways forward, repentance of sin and faith. And so one of the things that Bonhoeffer really points out to close, I just want to bring up a thought. He says that until a church is really united and gathering around just the fact that everyone has this alien identity applied to them, this alien righteousness applied to them, until that is revealed as the primary connection point between a body of believers, the Lord is going to strip away pretty painfully all of those other things that appear to be the central bond that brings them together, and it's in his mercy. He could just bring wrath and punishment for the folly of gathering around other things, but in his mercy, he strips away all that gets at the heart of our true bond with one another, which is our faith in Jesus Christ and his saving work and in his sanctifying work in our lives. Bonhoeffer frames it like this, "The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us." And that when you think about the past couple of years facing a little more challenges as a body, that's what I see happening. That's what we pastors see happening. Scripture talks about us maturing. Scripture talks about us being pruned. God is a vine dresser, and as we hold fast to Jesus, and we are the branches, he's going to pull off those fruits that are taken away, the nourishment for the good fruit and he's going to refine us, put us in the fire. That's what God does to make sure that Christ stays central as the primary gathering point for our body, and that's love Jesus simple with Jesus at the center. Pastor Jan will elaborate in a whole lot more detail in a technical sense on how we apply these things. And I couldn't help but think that Bonhoeffer or Paul, they're alluding to imagery that comes with our name, our logo, Mosaic. "You are united by the blood of Christ," says Paul. "You are united by this alien righteousness that comes with believing in the blood and the cross of Christ," says Bonhoeffer. And isn't that what a mosaic is? We're a bunch of pieces, different shapes, different sizes, different backgrounds, different colors, different language, different nationalities, coming from different socioeconomic strata, life perspective, church background, non-church background, uniting together around the saving work of Jesus Christ. And my prayer, as I say, happy real New Year. My prayer before we cast the vision for next year is that Christ shows us more deeply that the most vital thing between us all is Jesus Christ and his work. And if he has to continue to strip it away in slightly painful ways or sometimes really painful ways, then all praise and glory to God because ultimately we're developing a more pure and unified bond as saints and followers with him. So let me pray in closing. Heavenly Father, we praise you for just the blessing that this church has been. We thank you as our 12th birthday is coming up in October, we thank you that I could have spent weeks talking about just amazing stories of seeing your saving hand just call dead sinners to life in Jesus Christ and bring them to freedom from the power of sin in their lives. I could spend just weeks talking about ways that communities, brothers and sisters walking together have served you in the form of doing charitable generous works, have served each other in terms of speaking the truth and love, calling each other to accountability to the identity that you have bestowed upon them. I thank you that we really have had such a blessed experience as your saints here in this city, in our short lifespan. But Lord, I praise you all the more for the hard lessons that you've provided in the past year. And Lord, we thank you for the perspective. We thank you for the maturity, the insight that we have developed for facing them. And Lord, I just ask, give us power to hold fast to you, hold fast to the cross of Jesus Christ, to always preach it, to always teach it, to always point ourselves first and foremost to it and your offer of salvation in it when we face personal challenges, when we face collective challenges as a body moving forward. Lord Mayor, we pray that our light would continue to shine brightly in this city, and we do ask for a harvest, Lord, just pour out the rains from heaven where you just call just thousands of people home in the months in the season ahead. I pray this then in Jesus name. Amen.

United Parish Brookline
Who is Our Neighbor? Brookline Community Foundation

United Parish Brookline

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 24:09


Granite State Golfers
Episode 29: Caleb Manuel (Maine)

Granite State Golfers

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 31:58


This is another episode in the Neighboring State Project where I talk with top golfers in VT and ME. This episode features Caleb Manuel who will be a senior at the University of Georgia and just won his third straight Maine men's state am title. He started winning tournaments early, capturing a club championship at age 13. We discuss his collegiate career, his plans for golf after college and playing in the US Open last year at Brookline. Thanks for listening and sharing it with your friends.  Song is Good Vibe by Ketsa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Hudson Mohawk Magazine
The History of Industry and factories in Troy ny

Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 59:36


Today we welcome Robilee Mcintyre who is a history buff and the artist behind Troy Bricks, as well as Don Rittner, an American historian, archeologist, anthropologist, environmental activist, educator, author and filmmaker. Today we are talking about The history of the industry in Troy New York and how industry help shape Troy ny. Creative Commons image: Photographer:Daterot Photos shows a Meneely Bell from Troy Located in Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA.

United Parish Brookline
Who is My Neighbor? Brookline Muslim Friends

United Parish Brookline

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 27:35


KPL Podcast
KPL Podcast August 2023 Week 2 With Special Guest Andrew Ridker

KPL Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 30:02


Allow me to introduce you to "Hope," a compelling story that takes us back to the year 2013, in the heart of Brookline, Massachusetts. Meet the Greenspans, a family that seems to have it all – success, community standing, and bright futures ahead.But life has its own way of challenging even the most exceptional families. So, if you're looking for a book that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster while reminding you of the indomitable spirit of the human heart, then dive into Hope by Andrew Ridker.Author Reads/RecommendationsStrangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

Uncorking a Story
No Backup Plan, with Andrew Ridker

Uncorking a Story

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 33:19


They say you can never go home again, but no one told that to Andrew Ridker. During the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, Andrew left his apartment in Brooklyn, NY to head back to his childhood home in Brookline, MA. It was being back in his hometown, sharing his childhood home with his wife and sister, where his latest novel, Hope, started to take shape. Meet Andrew Ridker Andrew's debut novel, The Altruists, was a New York Times Editors' Choice, a Paris Review Staff Pick, and a People Book of the Week. He is the editor of Privacy Policy: The Anthology of Surveillance Poetics and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Le Monde, and Bookforum, among other publications. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, HOPE, an intimate portrait of the undoing of a seemingly-perfect family in an era of waning American optimism Key Takeaways 1. The importance of perseverance: Listeners will learn that Andrew Ridker encourages aspiring writers to keep going despite self-doubt and the challenges of the writing career. His own experiences with self-doubt and the need to overcome obstacles will inspire listeners to persevere in their own creative pursuits. 2. The power of connection: Ridker emphasizes the value of connecting with readers and engaging in correspondence with them. By sharing his website as a means of contact, he demonstrates the importance of building relationships with readers and fostering a sense of community around his work. 3. The impact of personal experiences on storytelling: Ridker's novel, "Hope," explores the undoing of a seemingly perfect family in an era of waning American optimism. Listeners will learn how Ridker draws from his own experiences and observations to create intimate and relatable narratives that resonate with readers. 4. Balancing artistic passion with practicality: Ridker discusses the pressure he feels to choose a practical career path versus pursuing his artistic passions. Listeners will gain insight into the challenges faced by artists who strive to balance their desire to create meaningful art with the need to make a living. 5. The role of humor in art: Ridker reflects on the importance of humor in his writing and the influence of Jewish humor on his work. Listeners will learn how humor can be a powerful tool for engaging readers and exploring complex themes, as well as how personal experiences and cultural influences shape an author's artistic voice. Buy Hope Amazon:https://amzn.to/3XPiyWk Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593493335 Connect With Andrew Website: https://www.andrewridker.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.ridker Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tell Me the Story
64. Yasser and Israel

Tell Me the Story

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 19:44


The 12 Tribes of Israel:  The sons of Reuben  Hanoch dedicated Pallu wonder/marvelous Hezron settlement/ village Carmi my vineyard  The sons of Simeon  Jemuel Day of El Jamin Right Hand Ohad Joined Together Jachin He will establish  Zohar Whiteness  Shaul Asked for  The sons of Levi  Gershon Outcast/ sojourner  Kohath Assembly?  Merari My bitter one  The sons of Judah Er Awake  Onan Vigorous  Shelah Prosper Perez Break through Hezron Settlement/ village Hamul Spared Zerach Rise/ come forth  The sons of Issachar Tola Worm/ Scarlet  Puah Here/ hither Job Cry in a shrill voice Shimron Something preserved  The sons of Zebulun  Sered Fear Elon Oak  Jahleel Whom God has made sick  The sons of Gad Zephon Expectation Haggi My festival/ my pilgrimage  Shuni My quiet one Arodi Wild donkey Areli Lion of El  The sons of Asher  Jimnah Fortunate Ishuah Be level Ishvi My level one  Beriah In evil?  Heber United/ be joined Malchiel My King is God  The sons of Joseph  Manesseh Forget Ephraim Ashes  The sons of Benjamin  Bela Devour  Becher Young Camel  Ashbol Sprout Gera Grain Naaman Favor  Ehi My brother Rosh Head  Muppim Wavings Huppim Cover Ard Fugitive  The son of DanHushim Those who make haste The sons of Naphtali  Jahzeel Alotted by God Guni Painted  Jezer Image/ form Shillem Retrubution/ Avenger Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

Takin A Walk
Takin A Walk in Brookline Mass. with Author of Backstage and Beyond Jim Sullivan

Takin A Walk

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 53:21


Jim is a legendary Boston-based music critic who writes about his “45 years of Classic Rock Chats and Rants” in his new book. He has an amazing legacy of stories from his interviews with folks like Lou Reed, David Bowie, Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, and many more.  *****Thank you so much for listening to the TAKIN' A WALK PODCAST SHOW hosted by Buzz Knight!   Listen to more honest conversations with a compelling mix of guests ranging from musicians, authors, and insiders with their own stories. Get inspired, get motivated, and gain insights from honest conversations every week that can help you with your own journey. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and be part of this blessed family. Website: https://takinawalk.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebuzzknight LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/buzzknight Linkfire: https://lnk.to/takinawalk   Please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with your friends and family! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HUB History - Our Favorite Stories from Boston History

This week, enjoy three classic stories about Bostonians and their adventures on the Pacific Ocean. First, we'll hear about the voyages of the Columbia to the Pacific Northwest starting in 1787, then we'll move on to the Congregational missionaries who descended on Hawaii in 1823, and finally, we'll talk about the Boston whaler who brought the industrial revolution to Spanish California. While you're listening to these three classic stories, see if you can figure out what I'm working on that would involve a Brookline native on a small boat in the Solomon Islands in August 1943! Full show notes: http://HUBhistory.com/280/ Support us: http://patreon.com/HUBhistory/

Tell Me the Story
63. Love and Mercy

Tell Me the Story

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2023 23:05


This week, we continue our recitation and discussion of the book of Genesis with an emphasis on the Semitic understanding of "peace" as it relates to Joseph's reunion with his brothers. Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Loop
Morning Report: Tuesday, July 18, 2023

The Loop

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 7:00


Millions are under air quality alerts. Police investigate a home invasion in Brookline. New changes come this week to Boston City Hall's parking garage. Five minutes of news that will keep you in "The Loop."

Toucher & Rich
Brookline 9-1-1 Replay | Bankroll Boy Joe Murray in-studio - 7/13 (Hour 2)

Toucher & Rich

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 43:03


(00:00) Brookline 911 replay. (26:07) Joe Murray gambles a lot. Not to the point of concern, but you have to wonder. Anyways, he's in-studio talking about gambling, weed and much more!   CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & RICH: Twitter: @Toucherandrich | @FredToucher | @KenGriffeyrules  Instagram: @toucherandrichofficial | @fredtoucher Facebook: Toucher & Rich Twitch: TheSportsHub Visit the Toucher & Rich page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow Boston's home for sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

City Cast Pittsburgh
Your Guide to Pittsburgh's Mexican Food Scene

City Cast Pittsburgh

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 17:36


Whether you love a good taco or some crunchy chilaquiles, the Pittsburgh area has a growing number of restaurants with tasty Mexican dishes. Oscar Zapata, a Mexico City native who came to the Steel City for grad school, joins us to share his go-to spots when he's craving a taste of home — including some of his favorite family-owned restaurants. Oscar rounded up some of his picks for the first-ever print copy of the Pittsburgh Independent, which includes some beautiful photos from freelancer Tom O'Connor. You can order a copy online or find it in coffee shops and record stores around town. Oscar's Long List: El Paisano in Beechview El Colibrí at the Bloomfield Saturday Market Panadería Jazmín in Mt. Lebanon Alquisiras Paletería in Beechview El Rincón Oaxaqueño in the Strip District Taqueria El Pastorcito in New Kensington Tasty Taquitos in Garfield, Point Breeze and South Side Works Los Bajitos in Canonsburg La Poblanita in Coraopolis BTOS Kitchen in Dormont Edgar's Best Tacos in the Strip District Las Palmas in Brookline, Beechview and Oakland Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Loop
Afternoon Report: Wednesday, July 12, 2023

The Loop

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 5:55


The cleanup from the massive floods in Vermont will take months. Governor Healey and other state officials promise help for flooded sections of Western Mass. A new push to make Brookline a city. 5 minutes of news that will keep you in The Loop.

Toucher & Rich
Brookline 9-1-1 | Who invited Grant Williams? - 7/12 (Hour 3)

Toucher & Rich

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 44:25


(00:00) Everyone's angry in Brookline! The fan-favorite segment makes its long-awaited return. (27:08) Fred wonders who invited Grant Williams to a white party in the Hamptons.   CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & RICH: Twitter: @Toucherandrich | @FredToucher | @KenGriffeyrules  Instagram: @toucherandrichofficial | @fredtoucher Facebook: Toucher & Rich Twitch: TheSportsHub Visit the Toucher & Rich page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow Boston's home for sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

The Howie Carr Radio Network
Healey Admin Plops Thousands of Migrants in Your Backyard | 7.10.23 - Howie Carr Show Hour 1

The Howie Carr Radio Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 39:30


Howie was more than happy to break the news that Gov. Maura Healey is placing thousands of newcomers in hotels across 24 towns and cities in the Commonwealth. Something about the list of jurisdictions is awfully strange, however. Deluxe-bury and Swellesley aren't on it. Neither is Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge...

Complaints and Observations
Episode #161 - That Submarine, Musk vs Zuck, the Red Sox & Three Gripes

Complaints and Observations

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 52:56


After sitting out a week with a case of the "awwww me so sleepy"-ies, I'm back talking into a microphone and offering almost nothing of real substance! I spend time on that OceanGate sub nonsense, the possibility of Musk vs Zuck in a cage...you'll have to tune in for the twist that would really make this thing worthwhile and I admit that I may be just a bit wrong about the Red Sox. Then it's onto this week's Three Gripes: Old people complaining about younger generations, cigarettes in Brookline & MTG vs. Boebert. It's the same as taking all of those lawn clippings you just mowed and taking them to a pawn shop...worthless! Check it out!#TellYourFriends #TellYourMoms #worldsworstpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Energy with Kassi Underwood
33. How To Start A Revolution

Big Energy with Kassi Underwood

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 30:54


In this episode, Kassi explains how to start a revolution, whether you are changing your life, or the world itself.  She also shares why you need to understand exactly how the media is working to confuse you about United States presidential candidate Marianne Williamson — and sets the record straight about how this effort to malign or suppress spiritual women has happened centuries. Then she shares her own birth story and how she prepared for the revolution of new life. You're also invited to a free event with Marianne Williamson this Friday, June 30th at 7:30 p.m. Unity Boston in Brookline, Massachusetts. All are welcome to attend. Kassi will be introducing the presidential candidate. Please join us in this revolution of intelligence and love. Details at events.marianne2024.com Connect with Kassi IG: @kassiunderwood Schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation with Kassi about her 6-month mastermind community the Maverick Woman here: kassiunderwood.com/themaverickwoman

Sarcasm Speaks
Episode 468 - LA Sucks

Sarcasm Speaks

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 75:37


Bobby and Jared rip on the US Open at LA Country Club, everything that's wrong with the course and the coverage, why Brookline was way better, all the great shows on AppleTV+, the Oscars adopting a new diversity rule for nominations, Marion Golf Course, and stupid rules at golf courses.   Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to the show to stay up to date on the latest releases! You can also find the video show on YouTube by clicking here.   Thank you to our sponsor Grill Your Ass Off! Go to www.grillyourassoff.com and use our promo code: SARCASMPOD for 10% of your entire order!   Thank you to our sponsor MoonBrew! Go to www.noonbrew.com and use our promo code: JARED16159 for 10% of your entire purchase!   Make sure you sign up with MyBookie.com to get all of your bets in. Use our promo code: SARCASMPOD to double your first deposit up to $1000!

Red Pill Revolution
Resurrecting JFK: Assassination, Adultery & Alien Aircraft

Red Pill Revolution

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 61:43


Welcome to an unforgettable episode of the Adams Archive! Your host, Austin Adams, is back with an AI-powered conversation with one of the most iconic figures in American history, John F. Kennedy. In an uncanny resurrection, we've used sophisticated AI technology to emulate JFK's persona, speech patterns, and voice, allowing us to explore some of the most intriguing aspects of his life and legacy. Join us as we delve into JFK's assassination and the conspiracy theories surrounding it, candidly discuss Robert F. Kennedy's presidential run, and even touch on JFK's rumored affair with the world-renowned Marilyn Monroe. We've set the stage to give you an intimate and insightful peek into JFK's thoughts and perspectives as if he were alive today. Using first-hand accounts, historical records, speeches, and everything in between, we have crafted a compelling dialogue that brings the former president back to life. Subscribe now and be a part of our extraordinary journey into the past, unearthing secrets and reliving history with AI. Regular episodes are back on track, so stay tuned for more groundbreaking conversations on the Adams Archive.   All links: https://linktr.ee/theaustinjadams Apparel: https://antielite-club    Full Transcription:  The Adams archive. Hello, you beautiful people and welcome to  the Adams Archive. My name is Austin Adams and thank you so much for listening today. I am extremely excited about this episode. I talked about it already, what we are going to be doing today, and that is an interview with Mr. John F. Kennedy. Now not Robert F. Kennedy, and not the one who is currently reving for president, but his uncle who was assassinated horrifically with plenty of conspiracies surrounding it. And we will be touching on all of that. We will be talking about John F. Kennedy and his assassination with him. We will be discussing Robert F. Kennedy running for president. We will even be jumping into whether or not he had a sexual affair with Marilyn Monroe, with the world famous uh, Santa Baby. Or no, not Santa Baby, although that was pretty sexual too, but Happy Birthday, um, by Marilyn Monroe in front of his wife nonetheless. So we will talk about that with him. And I guess you're wondering if you did not listen to this podcast or our previous podcast with George Orwell, how the hell that is possible? So I have brought John F. Kennedy back to life using several AI services by training it based on all of the accounts, all of the speeches, his tonality, the, to the historical accounts of him by other people. Um, his, how he speaks, his vocabulary, uh, and what would be the most likely responses that he would give had he just woke from a time capsule today with the knowledge of what happened to him and everything that has been released since then. Now, in this format, I did ask him to speak with me as if we were sitting at a bar and having a drink together as opposed to a formal presidential speech. Um, so I wanted to give it a little bit of an informal feel, but one thing that I'm very excited about with this is that today we are going to be doing it with John F Kennedy's voice even, and it is pretty damn amazing. So I can't wait to see how this turns out. I hope you enjoy it. Now I need one thing from you first. The first thing I need you to do is to go ahead and hit that subscribe button if you have not already. That means you'll be hearing conversations like this every single week, despite my last few weeks of layoff, um, between being sick, going on my, uh, fifth wedding anniversary with my wife. Um, I have been away for several weeks and, uh, I appreciate you sticking with me. So, um, now we will be back to our normal routine here with weekly, if not two a week, um, as far as episodes go. Uh, so again, thank you so much for listening. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. Without further ado, let's jump into it.   The Adams archive.  I have therefore chosen this time and place. To discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth too rarely perceived, and that is the most important topic on earth. Peace. What kind of a peace do I mean? And what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war, not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living. Leave the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and build a better life for their children. Not nearly peace for Americans, but peace for all men and women. Not nearly peace in our time. Peace in all time. That straight sleek look that it should have. And very often you'll find a zipper hidden in the, uh, arm. In the good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, you'll excuse the fact that I'm out of breath, but about 10 or 15 minutes ago, a tragic thing from all indications at this point has happened in the city of Dallas. This is water Brian Guide in our newsroom. Here's a, uh, piece of copy that was rushed. Uh, 2 million was torn off from the United Press. President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas, along with Governor Connolly of Texas. They've been taken to Parkland Hospital there where their condition is as yet unknown. And just now we've received  reports here at Parkland that Governor Connolly was shot in the upper left chest and the  first unconfirmed report say, The president was hit in the head. That's an unconfirmed  report that the president  was hit in the head. Police began chasing an unknown gunman across and railroad track. Would you see if they need some coffee or something? These people are awfully shaken up. They were in the line of fire. The president's car was some Ted Feet when we heard the first shot. And then as the car got directly in front of us with a shot up from the top of the hill and they hit the president south side of the temple. Where did the shots come from? The shots came from the hill. From  the hill. Excuse me  just a moment, John. Uh, there was just word from the hospital that dispatched a call for a neurosurgeon. All we can do now is pray for him, and it's about all we can do. President's wife, Jackie Kennedy was not hurt. She walked into the hospital. A priest has been ordered. Emergency supplies of blood, also being rushed. To the hospitals. Just a moment testimony. We have a bulletin coming in. We now switch you directly to Parkland Hospital and K News director Bill Hampton. Two priests who were with President Kennedy say he is dead.  Just two priests. Yes,  it is not the truth. Is it The flash? Apparently official President Kennedy died at 1:00  PM  Central Standard time, some 38 minutes ago. And there you have it. So that was a, a wonderfully compiled intro done by Oliver Stone's, J f k Revisited documentary, which came out in 2021, uh, following some more release of documents. It was actually a follow up documentary to his original documentary, um, JFK through the Looking Glass, in which he had some reenactments that were pretty incredible. Uh, so I highly, highly recommend you go watch this documentary. It's absolutely stunning the amount of evidence that has come out against the government, against the C I A, um, for partaking in this assassination against our own president of the United States. All right, so before we bring on John F. Kennedy, I do want to touch on this just a little bit. I highly, highly recommend you go watch this documentary if you have not already. This is one of the most documented, uh, government conspiracies ever, and it has blown the lid off for me and so many people of what our government, and by government I mean these shadow organizations like the CIA and FBI are truly capable of, and it's terrifying. If the cia, which this documentary goes on to conclude, had such a part in this assassination to the point where there was coverup after coverup after coverup from taking him from the original autopsy area illegally transporting him to Washington, DC immediately to have an autopsy done by three people who had never done an autopsy before, only to write up fake reports after. Having an additional brain brought into the autopsy so that they could make it look and appear as if their narrative was correct, that there was one shooter, Lee Harvey Oswald. All right, so what I would like you to, to, to point out about all of this, Lee Harvey Oswald claimed his innocence until he was killed just three days after his assassination of John F. Kennedy. And that was by a man named Mr. Ferry. Now, Mr. Ferry had several, uh, relationships within both the Mafia and the C cia. Now, what you find too is that Lee Harvey Oswald also was a part of the c i a, his name was listed on documents regarding protected assets that were in, I believe it was the Soviet Union. Where he allegedly defected. So there's all this evidence that Lee Harvey Oswald was a CIA asset, whom by the way was only 24 at the time of this, uh, uh, assassination attempt. Now, there was also two more other shooters that were set up to be placed by the CIA with other names that have been brought forth since then that showed that not only did they try to conduct this here, but they actually tried to conduct it in Chicago bef prior to this. So you go down this unbelievable rabbit hole of all of this e evidence, all of these people that were, you know, by the way, Mr. Ferry was also murdered just days after he killed Lee Harvey Oswald. There's a spiderweb of people who were murdered as a result that were somehow associated to Lee Harvey Oswald in the c I a.  When you start to dig deeper and deeper into this, and what this documentary takes you through is the unbelievable amount of effort, including basically repacking, uh, Jonathan Kennedy's Shattered Skull with Brains Matter to make it appear as if there was not an entrance wound from the back of the head or an exit wound. So they tried to cover up and make it seem as if it was only Lee Harvey Oswald. When there was a very obvious case towards multiple shooters, there was 40 different people who saw the body or were there at the time who claimed that there was an exit wound out the back of his head. So then you get into the magic bullet theory so that they, through this documentary, you find out that there was not one shooter, there was at least two shooters. One from the front and one from the back. So this documentary takes you through all of this evidence and, and it's extremely compelling in the way that it's done. Absolutely. Take the timeout to listen to it and, and watch it, because it, it's unbelievable. The lengths that the government went to, it went to, to, to cover this up. So you dive down this rabbit hole and you find out that Mr. Kennedy was just one of the bravest people to ever hold the presidential role in office. Absolutely bar none. He stood up against the, the military Indu Industrial Complex. He stood up against Alan Dooley and Alan Dooleys we've talked about here before. Who was the person who was the head of the CIA during MK Ultra was the head of the CIA during Operation Northwood, which was only uncovered as an operation conducted against or, or to be conducted against Cuba, you know, on our own people on American soil to start a war with Cuba. So Alan Dooley was, was the head of all of this craziness going on through the CIA and. He was the reason, uh, John F. Kennedy blamed him and the CIA for not giving him enough information, which caused the Bay of Pigs, which was this huge war catastrophe. That that basically was a, a, a huge stain on John f Kennedy's record because he didn't want to give air support because he wasn't given the proper information initially by the CIA and other government agencies, including Alan Dooley and two others, people, a part of the cia, which he eventually got rid of and pushed out of office. So Alan Dooley, right? Again, talking about MK Ultra, talking about Operation Northwood, talking about Operation Mongoose was the head of the CIA during the time and was a part of all of these shady, shady things going on during the time. And Jonathan Kennedy didn't approve of it. He did not want us going to war in Vietnam. He did not want us going to war with Cuba. But Alan Dooleys did. Eventually John F. Kennedy pushed him out of office as a result of this bunning of heads and, and all of the, the misinformation to use a modern term. All of the, the, um, wrong things that he was being told by Owen Dewey and all of the things that he found out that he was doing that were horrific acts. The only reason that Operation Northwood did not come to fruition was because John F. Kennedy did not sign off on the document. Everybody that needed to sign off on it until it got to his desk. Now, if you don't know about Operation Northwood, operation Northwood was a governmental operation that was proposed by the CIA and the F B I to conduct pseudo terrorist organiz or pseudo terrorist attacks against Americans in American soil to make it appear as if Cuba conducted them to allow us to go to war and put boots on the ground in Cuba. So all signed off. Now, one of those things that they. Conducted, and I did a whole episode on this if you want to go back and, and listen to it. Um, I've done several, several episodes on, on the horrific things that happened under Alan Dooleys, um, in the CIA during the time, including MK Ultra, including Operation Northwood. But one of the main things that they, they did or were going to do, sorry, according to this document, was they were going to, uh, make it appear as if there was an invasion on Guantanamo Bay by hiring, uh, Cuban defectors or, or anti-Castro, uh, war, uh, soldiers to conduct an attack and make it appear as if it was Cuba that did it in Castro. The next thing that they did planned on doing was, uh, sinking a war ship in the ocean, which you get to, uh, the Gulf of Tonkin situation, which you find out basically was exactly this where they made to the pier as if, um, the Gulf of Tonkin, which was the reason, uh, that, that we ended up actually going to war in the first place. Um, Basically w was the enactment of this that played out later, uh, under Lyndon b Johnson. Uh, but it was the reason we went to war with Vietnam, and it's come to find out that it was actually not exactly how it played out, and it's very, very clearly seems to be exactly what Operation Northwood had planned to do for our invasion with Cuba. Just they did it with Vietnam under Lindon b Johnson. So, uh, what, what ends up happening as a result of this budding of heads with Alan Dooleys is Alan Dooleys, the, the, the Warren Commission was put together as a result of John f Kennedy's assassination. Um, the Warren Commission was a, a group of several, several, uh, key political people, including the very person that John F. Kennedy Ridded from removed from office because of the way that he and he was so out of control while running the C I A. So the very person that he butt heads with the most, the very person that was planning on conducting terrorist attacks on American soil. Um, and, and also by the way, brought up the opportunity through Operation North Woods to fly a drone plane like a big airliner over international waters and make it appear as if it was shot down by Cuban, uh, air defense shot down by Cuban planes, fighter planes. Hmm. Sounds familiar. Right? Maybe hijacking planes to cause a war. You know, we can get to how that relates to some current events as of, you know, maybe 2001 later in how Operation Northwood plays into the idea that maybe our government would be capable of something like that, knowing that almost everybody within office signed off on this, that needed to, until it got to John f Kennedy's desk and he denied those orders. So all of this to say that there is so much shadiness around John f Kennedy's assassination. Now, that is one of the things that we're going to address when we speak with him in just a moment. And I wanted to give you some background information on that while we're going through that conversation. Okay? Uh, but go watch the documentary. It's truly incredible. Oliver Stone's, JFK Revisited. Highly, highly recommend it. I've been diving in deep into this for over a week now on this topic. Um, so I could bring you guys this information. So highly recommend it, go watch it. It's a great, great documentary. That's done very, very well. Now a little bit of more background, let's talk about, um, John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe before we start to get to questions that we're asking him about. So, John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had been several, several times over. Uh, Accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship outside of his marriage during his presidency, which Jonathan Kennedy was seemingly known for pretty well being some type of player during his, uh, during his time as president. But, uh, let's go ahead and read this, says Jonathan Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe were undoubtedly two of the most iconic figures of their time. Both commanded an extraordinary amount of public attention, and it's this intersecting of their past that forms the basis for a rumor that has been persistent in popular culture. A possible affair between them. Perhaps the most compelling event that substantiates this claim has been Rose sultry rendition of Happy Birthday. If you go recall that, that's like the most sexual happy birthday ever, um, for Mr. Kennedy at a Democratic fundraiser in Madison Square Garden on May 19th, 1962. Monroe's glamorous president and Kennedy's known history of extramarital affairs sets the stage for public speculation about a possible relationship between the two. Moreover, several accounts and books have suggested that Monroe and JFK had met in private. On more than one occasion, Robert slr, a journalist and alleged former husband of Monroe, even claimed that Monroe had confessed to him about the affair. Additionally, Monroe's close friend Jean Carmen. Claimed in several interviews that Monroe had revealed details about the affair to her, despite their public high profile. Some argue that both Monroe and JFK had experienced in managing their public images, which might have been able to maintain a clandestine relationship without maintaining or leaving substantial evidence. Moreover, given the respective statuses in the fact that they were contemporaries, their past would've naturally crossed in the circles they moved in. When it comes to the tragic end of Monroe's life, the mystery deepens Monroe's death was ruled a probable suicide due to a drug overdose. But the circumstances surrounding her death have led to various conspiracy theories with some suggesting that she was murdered because she knew two much possibly as a result of her alleged the affair with jfk. One theory is that Monroe had, was privy to classified information because of her relationship with JFK and perhaps felt slighted and even used threatening to reveal sensitive information. Another theory postulates that Monroe was silenced to prevent her from damaging Kennedy's reputation and presidency by going public about the affair. Adding fuel to these theories is the fact that Monroe's House was bugged as admitted by private detective Fred Otash, who claimed to have tapes of Monroe having sex with J F K. The existence of these tapes, although never confirmed, raises the question, if the affair was indeed a fabrication, why would there be a need for surveillance? Hmm. While there's no hard evidence that conclude inclusively verify the alleged affair between JFK Monroe, or directly link it to Monroe's death, the circumstantial evidence coupled with the inconsistencies and secrecy shrouded by both their lives made these theories compelling to many the narratives of power seduction and mystery surrounding JFK Monroe continue to intrigue the public contributing to the enduring allure of this iconic. Duo. So there's your background on John F. Kennedy. Monroe. Marilyn Monroe. Um, now this is not to disparage John f Kennedy's character. This is not to do anything other than give you the background for some of the questions that I'm gonna be asking that are, are a little bit, uh, more edgy in the way. But that's how I like to do these interviews with these, uh, celebrities. With these fictional or these historical figures is, I think it's fair to address these situations and get the response that maybe they would be most likely to have today, in hindsight, if they were still alive. But that is nothing to take away from jfk. He is one of the most unbelievable speakers of all time as a president. Um, his, his speech on peace, his, his movement towards desegregation, um, everything. He, he had such a profound impact on our country and so many people loved JFK for a reason. Now, watching some of his speeches more recently, uh, I too have, have come to really, really, um, appreciate how presidential he was during his time as president. Um, being as young as he was. As president,  but also being a, an unbelievable public speaker. Which as we all know is kind of the role of the president today is, is more so a figurehead, um, kind of like, uh, you know, queen or king rather than somebody who actually does things. Um, so, uh, without further ado,  I would like to introduce Mr. John F. Kennedy    it is truly. My pleasure to speak with you today, Mr. Kennedy. My name is Austin Adams, and today we're going to be having a discussion on the Adams Archive Podcast.  It's absolutely a tragedy what happened to you, and I truly hope together today that we can have a discussion that impacts Americans around the country. in light of all of the truth that has come out recently from documentaries from over 2 million documents that have come out from the National Archives, let's see what type of discussion that we can have today that gets and discusses some of these truths that have come out. Um, first, for the audience who may not be familiar for with your life  or accomplishments, can you please give an overview of your childhood, your rise to fame and power, your biggest accomplishments, pop culture incidents? I don't know, embarrassments biggest political quarrels, even with the CIA and maybe Alan Dooleys and other institutions. And then, Please touch on your eventual assassination. Austin, my dear fellow, it's an honor to be here and don't fret about the past tragedy. Yes. But we're here now and that's something to be grateful for. Let's start at the beginning then. I was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1917. My father, Joseph Kennedy, was a prominent businessman, and my mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, came from a political family. My childhood was one of comfort, but also of competition. In the Kennedy household, we were always encouraged to strive for greatness, to push our limits. I served in the Navy during the Second World War, a time that shaped me significantly. I commanded a patrol torpedo boat, the PT 109, which was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer. I swam pulling one of my injured crew members behind me until we reached an island. It was there that I learned the importance of courage, of leadership, and of the grit required to survive. After the war, I entered politics, serving in the US House of Representatives, and then in the Senate. In 1960, I ran for president facing off against Richard Nixon. The televised debates were a  first, and they played a significant role in my victory. I was the youngest man, elected president, and the first Catholic to hold the office. My time in office was marked by a series of triumphs and tribulations. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a time of great tension, but we managed to avoid nuclear war, the establishment of the Peace Corps, the advancement of civil rights, the commitment to land a man on the moon. These are things I'm proud of, but there were struggles as well. The Bay of Pigs invasion was an embarrassment, a failure that I took responsibility for. There were also conflicts with various institutions, including the cia. We had disagreements about foreign policy, about the way forward, about the role of covert operations. Then of course, there was Dallas the 22nd of November, 1963 a day etched in the annals of history. I was in a motorcade in Deley Plaza when I was fatally shot. It was an abrupt end to a journey that was just beginning, but enough about that. I've always believed that one must look forward, not backward. And so I hope our discussion today can inspire, can enlighten, and can contribute to the ever-evolving American story. It's a pleasure to be here with you, Austin, truly. Let's dive into our conversation.   Thank you so much for that amazing. Summary of your life's accomplishments. I, I actually didn't know a few of the things that you just touched on there. So, um, thank you very much for, for enlightening us about those things and your bravery and your courage. Uh, you were truly an impressive president who stood up to the establishment. And let's, let's start with some general questions for you. What is it today about modern politics that surprises you, uh, compared to where you would've thought we would've been as a nation or about the leadership that we have well, Austin, I must admit that politics today strikes me as both familiar and alien. The issues have changed, the technology has advanced, and the discourse has shifted, but the essence of leadership, the core principles of public service remain the same. I observe a deepening polarization, a schism that threatens to divide our great nation, the art of compromise once the lifeblood of democracy seems to be fading. But we must remember, as I once said, Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. As for the leadership, it is not my place to judge. Each leader must face the unique challenges of their time. But I will say this, true leadership requires courage, vision, and a commitment to the greater good. It requires the ability to inspire, to unite, and to chart a course for a better future. Leadership in its finest form is service. Finally, I must say that the rise of technology, especially social media, is truly astounding. It has the power to connect us, to inform us, to empower us, but it also has the potential to mislead, to divide, and to inflame. We must tread carefully in this new digital age, remembering to seek out truth, to listen with empathy. To engage in respectful discourse. In the end, my dear Austin, the state of our nation rests not on the shoulders of one leader or one institution, but on the collective will of the people. So let us strive together for a more united, more compassionate, more enlightened America. That is the America I dreamed of. That is the America I believe in. Absolutely. So it's interesting that you bring up social media today because it is a part of that divide that you are speaking to the lack of discourse, right? When you have social media companies, shadow, banning one side of the conversation and not the other is just speaks to the power that you know as, as we've come to find out with things like the Twitter files, the government is playing a role in actively censoring people on one side of the political spectrum to. As we learned about, uh, the Hunter Biden laptop, the cia, even after your assassination, is still going to great lengths to cover up things just in a new way. Now, given that you brought up social media, I'd, I'd love to know, um, you had an incredible charisma as a president and, and more than almost any president ever, and an amazing connection with, with the American public. How, how would you have used social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram today? Austin, it's a fascinating question. I must admit, these tools of technology are a far cry from the television broadcasts of my day, but I can see their immense potential for connection, for communication, for sparking a dialogue. If I were to use platforms like Twitter and Instagram, I would strive to use them as a force for unity, for education, and for inspiration. They would serve as a conduit between the Oval Office and the American people. A way to bypass the intermediaries and speak directly to the citizens of this great nation. I would share not just the triumphs of my administration, but also the challenges, the moments of doubt, the hard decisions. I believe in the power of transparency, of authenticity. It's important for the people to see the presidency not as a pedestal, but as a position of service. Moreover, I would use these platforms to highlight the stories of everyday Americans, the unsung heroes who make our nation what it is. I believe in the power of storytelling, in the power of shared experiences. It's these stories that bind us together that remind us of our shared humanity. But let me be clear, Austin. Social media, like any tool, can be used for good or ill. It's important to use it responsibly to uphold the standards of truth, respect, and decency. The power of these platforms should not be underestimated, nor should it be abused. For the issues you raise about censorship, shadow banning and the like. They are deeply concerning. Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. It's important to have a diversity of voices, a marketplace of ideas. If there are forces at play that are stifling this freedom, then they must be addressed. The pursuit of truth should always be our guiding principle. In the end, social media is simply a tool. It's how we use it that matters, and I would strive to use it as a force for good, for unity and for progress. Very well stated, Mr. Kennedy. And uh, I, I guess one of the things that you touched on there was the usefulness by the government in the censorship of our own citizens. And one of the places where we saw the most egregious of those actions was recently during Covid. We saw. People's trust in institutions. Almost every one of them, like the government, news, media, health organizations, have been completely lost due to the lack of truthfulness and the censorship that came out of those institutions Alongside, uh, organizations like Twitter, capitalizing on this time for profits and giving favor to those who even funded their campaigns. Do you think this loss of trust is justified and, and how would you remedy this situation if you were president today? Austin, the erosion of trust in our institutions is indeed a matter of grave concern. Trust is the bedrock of a functioning democracy. Without it, we risk falling into a chasm of mistrust and disillusionment. It is not for me to say whether this loss of trust is justified. Each citizen must judge for themselves based on their experiences, their perceptions, their understanding of the facts. What I will say is this, institutions like individuals are fallible. They make mistakes, they falter, but it is how they respond to these failures, how they learn and grow and improve. That truly matters. If I were president today, I would strive to restore this trust in a number of ways. Firstly, I would champion transparency. The American people have a right to know what their government is doing, why it's doing it. And what the results are. Information should be shared openly and honestly without spin or obfuscation. Secondly, I would work to hold institutions accountable. When mistakes are made, there should be consequences, and when wrongdoing is uncovered, there should be justice. No institution, no matter how powerful should be above the law. Thirdly, I would foster a culture of service institutions exist to serve the people not the other way around. This ethos of service should permeate every aspect of our government from the highest office to the humblest bureau. Finally, I would engage in a dialogue with the American people. I would listen to their concerns, their fears, their hopes. I would seek to understand their perspective, and I would strive to address their needs. A leader must be in touch with the people they serve. These are challenging times, Austin, but I believe in the resilience of the American people. I believe in our ability to come together, to rebuild trust, and to forge a brighter future. It won't be easy, but then again, nothing worth doing ever is fair enough. Mr. President, I agree with you on most accounts,  maybe,  not in the way that these institutions have actually responded to this. And I think that if you,  looked into a little bit about the, those responses, you may agree with me.  However, another egregious thing that we're seeing in today's modern society is the institution's, corporations, government, and, and, uh, shadowy figures of this world really pushing, uh, in today's modern society to, for some weird sexualization of our culture, from men dressing as women. Even entering into sports and, and beating the women in women-only sports leagues, to men being allowed in women's bathroom if they bathrooms, if they identify as women to weird sexual parades being done in front of children, in, in celebrating it. Given the timeframe that you came from and the weakening of the American man, what, what are your thoughts on this?  I see that we have ventured into a territory of profound complexity and sensitivity. I want to emphasize the importance of this dialogue. It is through such conversations that we as a nation can navigate the myriad of challenges before us. On the topic of gender identity and the changing cultural norms, I understand there are many who feel unsettled change, particularly on this scale, can be disconcerting. I grew up in a time when certain social norms and definitions were largely unquestioned. To see those norms shifting in such fundamental ways could undoubtedly be disconcerting. While I respect and uphold the rights of individuals to self-identify and live in a way that is authentic to them. I also recognize the concerns raised about maintaining the integrity and fairness of certain institutions such as sports. The challenge lies in finding a balanced approach that respects individual rights while also preserving fairness and safety. In terms of cultural sexualization, I share your concern. It's one thing for adults to express their sexuality in a mature and consensual manner. However, it's quite another when such displays become inappropriate or are forced upon those who are not of an appropriate age or who do not wish to partake in some Austin, I understand the concerns and unease that many feel in the face of these significant societal shifts. While I firmly believe in the rights of all individuals to live authentically, I also recognize the need for boundaries, fairness, and respect for all striking that balance is no easy task, but it is a task we must undertake with care, compassion, and a deep respect for the dignity of all individuals involved.   I can agree with you on most accounts, Mr. President, and I appreciate your response. Now, when it comes to sexualization, something that comes to mind for me was there has been many accounts including. Alleged recordings, which seem to prove that you had a sexual affair with Marilyn Monroe. What, what is your response to these claims and did, or would you like to admit to that affair today, given light of the information that we have now? In other words, John F. Kennedy, were you having sex with Marilyn Monroe? Austin, I understand your curiosity and the public's interest in such matters. It's important to remember that those were different times with different norms and expectations around privacy. However, we are living in a more transparent era now and I appreciate that people are looking for honest answers. In regards to Marilyn Monroe, she was indeed a fascinating figure, a star whose light shown brightly in our culture. We were acquaintances as were many in the circles. We moved in. However, any further details about our relationship beyond what is public knowledge are a matter of personal history. It's important to note that speculation and conjecture can often paint an incomplete or inaccurate picture. In my lifetime, I've learned that there are many facets to people and relationships that may not be immediately apparent or understood by outsiders. It is my belief that such aspects of personal life should be respected. I hope this provides some perspective, Austin, while respecting the privacy and dignity of all individuals involved. It's a delicate balance to strike, but one that I believe is important.  I appreciate that you will not kiss Intel, but if you did it, it's Marilyn Monroe and I don't exactly blame you. Now, the next question that I have for you is that there is a theory that Marilyn Monroe in her passing. There's a conspiracy surrounding it that she was murdered to prevent her from disclosing possible classified information that you potentially leaked to her or even to stop her from disclosing the relationship that she had with you. What is your take on this theory and do you believe it to potentially be true, especially given the light that you were now known to be assassinated by your own government? The untimely passing of Marilyn Monroe was a tragic event that shocked the nation. It's deeply saddening that her life so full of talent and promise was cut short as to theories surrounding her death. I must admit, they are indeed disturbing. However, I firmly believe in the importance of evidence due process and the rule of law. While it's not unusual for high profile cases such as this to attract a host of theories, it's essential that we base our conclusions on solid evidence. Without such evidence, any assertion remains just that a theory. As for the suggestion that she was silenced to prevent her from disclosing classified information or details about our relationship, I can assure you that such an idea is completely without foundation during my presidency. I maintain the utmost respect for the security and confidentiality of classified information, and I would never have compromised that trust. Moreover, the idea that anyone would be harmed because of their association with me is profoundly distressing. I have always endeavored to conduct my personal and professional life with integrity and respect for the wellbeing of others. As to your point about my own assassination, The circumstances surrounding that event are indeed fraught with questions and mystery. However, I feel it would be a disservice to the memory of Marilyn Monroe to conflate her tragic death with these broader conspiracies. The loss of Marilyn Monroe was a tragedy, a blow to the world of cinema, and to her countless fans around the globe. We should remember her for her talent, her beauty, her spirit, and her enduring impact on our culture, rather than as a subject of speculation and intrigue.  Speaking of assassinations, how would you react to the claim made in Oliver Stones film JFK Revisited that shows substantial evidence. That your assassination was highly orchestrated plot by the CIA including the theory of the magic bullet, which has been since disproven as a conspiracy that the, they actually dropped a bullet on the gurney that you were laying on and showed the absurdity that it would be for the magic bullet theory to be correct. What are your thoughts on this, as well as the overall idea that you were assassinated by the C I A. Austin, the events surrounding my assassination are indeed shrouded in mystery and have been the subject of countless investigations and theories. It's deeply unsettling to consider that such a tragedy could be the result of a plot within my own government. As for the theory put forth by Oliver Stone in JFK Revisited, I recognize the significant amount of research and investigation that went into his work. His perspective is certainly compelling and raises troubling questions about the official narrative. The magic bullet theory, as it has been called, is one such element that has been widely scrutinized and in many ways challenged by experts over the years. The idea that a bullet could cause seven wounds on two different people and emerge in near pristine condition is indeed difficult to accept at face value. It's an aspect of the case that certainly warrants further examination, and I must admit, raises questions in my own mind. As for the broader allegation that my assassination was orchestrated by the CIA and Alan DUIs, it's a deeply distressing notion. Alan DUIs served this country in numerous capacities, and while we had our differences, particularly in regard to the Bay of Pigs incident, it's hard for me to imagine him orchestrating such a heinous act. However, the revelations that have emerged over the years have shown that there were certainly forces within our government and beyond that did not align with my vision for the country. Whether that extended to a plot to end my life is a question that unfortunately may never be fully answered in the end, Austin, the truth about my assassination remains elusive. While it's important to seek answers and to hold those responsible to account, we must also remember the ideals and aspirations that define my presidency. Let us continue to strive for a world characterized by peace, equality, and justice. And not allow the circumstances of my death to overshadow the work we set out to accomplish. Absolutely. And, and in light of the evidence presented in the documentary, there seems to have been an unbelievable amount of coverups, including the fact, first off, the fact that the very person that you removed as the head of the cia, a dus, was put on the Warren Commission in the vast, vast amount of coverups that came out of the Warren Commission. What, what is your reaction to that and your thoughts on Alan Dus being put in that position to begin with? Austin, I must say that the circumstances you describe are indeed deeply disconcerting. The fact that Alan Dulles, a man with whom I had a significant political disagreement, was appointed to the Warren Commission. The body responsible for investigating my death raises profound questions about the impartiality and thoroughness of the investigation. The Warren Commission was tasked with a momentous responsibility to provide a comprehensive and truthful account of my assassination. The American people deserve nothing less. Yet. The numerous criticisms and questions that have emerged in the years since the commission's report was published suggest that there may have been significant omissions or even misrepresentations in its findings. The appointment of DUIs given our prior disagreements could certainly be perceived as a conflict of interest. I had relieved him of his position as Director of the CIA following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, a debacle for which I took full responsibility, but for which I also believe Dullas shared a significant portion of the blame. His subsequent role on the Warren Commission could therefore be seen as problematic, to say the least, it is my hope that the truth about my assassination and the events surrounding it will one day be fully revealed regardless of who may have been involved or what their motivations may have been. The American people have a right to know. I would hope that all those in positions of power, past and present would honor this fundamental principle of our democracy. Absolutely. And in retrospect, Mr. Kennedy, is there anything that you might have done differently knowing how everything played out now to mitigate the risk of a potential threat from within your own administration or the cia? And what advice would you give to future presidents to help prevent such an outcome? Austin hindsight is always 20 20th, as they say. Looking back, there are certainly decisions I made and actions I took that with the benefit of current knowledge I might have approached differently. However, it's important to remember that every choice I made was with the best interest of the American people in mind, given the information and circumstances at the time. With regard to mitigating threats from within my own administration or the cia, I believe one crucial lesson is the importance of maintaining a robust system of checks and balances. No individual or institution should wield unchecked power or operate outside the purview of accountability. This principle is at the very heart of our democratic system. Furthermore, I would stress the importance of transparency. A government that operates in the shadows breeds mistrust and suspicion. While there are certainly matters of national security that require confidentiality, it is essential that this not be used as a cover for activities that undermine the principles and values we hold dear. As for advice to future presidents, I would say this, always remember that you are a servant of the people. First and foremost, your duty is to uphold the constitution, protect the rights of all citizens, and work tirelessly to build a more just and peaceful world. Be vigilant in guarding against the concentration of power, whether it be in your own office, within the government. Or an external institution such as the cia, ensure that these entities are held accountable and operate within the bounds of the law. Finally, have the courage to stand up for what you believe is right, even when it is unpopular or met with resistance. The role of president is not an easy one, and you will be faced with many difficult decisions. But remember, the ultimate measure of a leader is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy. Absolutely. And and speaking of future presidents, I don't know if you know this, Mr. Kennedy, but your nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Is now a candidate to be the president of the United States given. The current political climate, what do you think makes him a strong candidate for presidency? And what pieces of advice would you give him about his presidential campaign and if he does become president? It's heartening to learn that Bobby Jr. Is continuing the Kennedy legacy of public service. The Kennedy family has always believed in the power of political participation to affect, change and shape the future of our country. Bobby, Jr, like the rest of our family, is no stranger to the challenges and rewards of public service. His advocacy work and environmental law and his commitment to preserving the natural world make him an important voice in today's political discourse. His dedication to these causes and his willingness to speak truth to power are qualities I greatly admire and believe will resonate with many Americans. As for advice, I would tell Bobby Jr. The same thing I would tell any aspiring leader, stay true to your principles and beliefs, and never lose sight of why you entered public service in the first place. It's easy to get caught up in the machinery of politics, but the heart of leadership lies in serving the public and working to make a difference in people's lives. If he does become president, I would remind him that the presidency is not just about policy and legislation. It's about setting a moral tone for the country. The President has the power to inspire, to bring people together and to call on our better angels. I would encourage him to use that power wisely. Finally, I would caution him to be vigilant against those who may seek to undermine his efforts, whether from within or outside the administration. As we have discussed, there are forces at play in the world of politics that do not always align with the interests of the American people. He must be prepared to face these challenges head on with courage and integrity. I'm proud of Bobby Jr, for stepping into the arena and putting his hat in the ring for the presidency. It's a daunting task, but I have every confidence that he will rise to the occasion. Well, Mr. President, I'm sure he would love to hear that message. And I agree with you, his ability to speak truth to power just as you did to the cia, he did in his book The Real Anthony Fauci, and has continued to do in speaking out both against your assassination by the cia, as well as many other topics that he continues to touch on in today's world. Now let's, let's, uh, end this here with a few fun ones, Mr. President. The first of which being you notably are very well known for giving a speech, which directly led to NASA's Apollo mission to the moon. And since then, many people have picked apart the footage and due to modern science, believe the moon landing was faked. To show superiority to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Do you believe the Apollo mission was faked based on all the available modern evidence evidence? And   Do you think that we would have been justified in faking the moon landing in light of the Cold War, if for nothing other than just conserving financial resources? Your question brings to mind the spirit of exploration and discovery that I sought to inspire in the American people with the challenge to reach the moon. I firmly believe then, as I do now in the capacity of our nation to achieve great things when we set our minds to it. Given the multitude of scientific evidence and personal testimonies of those involved, I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the Apollo mission. Our astronauts, scientists and engineers work tirelessly and put their lives on the line in the pursuit of this extraordinary achievement. To dismiss their accomplishments as a fabrication would be a disservice to their courage, dedication, and ingenuity. As for the idea of faking the moon landing as a strategic move in the Cold War, I must respectfully disagree with that notion. While it's true that the space race was a significant aspect of our rivalry with the Soviet Union, the ultimate goal was always more than a mere show of superiority. The pursuit of space exploration was and remains a testament to our shared human desire to explore the unknown and push the boundaries of what we are capable of. Moreover, the premise of faking such a monumental achievement goes against the very principles of honesty, transparency, and authenticity that I believe are vital to the functioning of our democracy. We must strive to be a nation that leads by example. Not only in our accomplishments, but in our integrity. So in light of all that, I remain steadfast in my belief that we did indeed land on the moon. The moon landing stands as a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the indomitable spirit of exploration. It's a triumph, not just for America, but for all mankind kind. Yeah, I could see how you would think that. So there's, there's plenty of people who disagree, but we'll leave it at that. Now, speaking of space exploration, there has been very, very many accounts of UFOs, UAPs and aliens in today's modern society that is widely accepted and even has gone as far to having many governmental commissions surrounding these findings. What are your thoughts on UFO's, extraterrestrials and aliens, and do you believe that they were around during your administration? As many people also seem to believe, Austin, the question of extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects is an intriguing one. Indeed, during my presidency, the topic of UFOs was certainly present as it has been for many decades. The fascination with the unknown and the vast expanses of space has always captured the human imagination. With regard to my personal beliefs, I must say the universe is vast beyond comprehension. We know so little about it. Even now, it would seem quite presumptuous to assume that in this vastness, we are the only life. However, believing in the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe and asserting the presence of extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth are two different things. While I was president, we didn't have any concrete evidence to suggest that these unidentified flying objects were linked to extraterrestrial beings. Mostly they were just that unidentified. They could have been experimental aircraft, atmospheric phenomena, or a host of other things. However, if indeed there are new findings, incredible investigations being conducted now as you suggest, I would be most interested in seeing where they lead. The search for truth and understanding should always be at the forefront of our inquiries, regardless of where they may take us. As with the moon landing, our pursuit of knowledge and understanding is a testament to our shared human desire to explore and comprehend the world and universe around us. So in short, I'm open to the possibilities, but also a firm believer in the importance of evidence and rigorous scientific investigation. I look forward to seeing where these new avenues of exploration might lead us. I agree with you wholeheartedly, and I believe that in my lifetime that this will all be confirmed if it hasn't been basically already. Now the last thing, Mr. President, I would like to give you an open floor to speak to the American people to speak to the current president of the United States. To say whatever it is that you believe, knowing what you know now and having this last moment of breath before you go back to your resting place, what would you leave  us with? Thank you, Austin. It's a profound privilege to have this opportunity to address the American people once more, and I wish to express my deep and abiding faith in the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of our great nation to the American people. I say this, never lose sight of the power you hold. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and your voice matters. Stay informed, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and always strive to improve your world. Remember that our greatest strength lies not in our wealth or military might, but in our commitment to freedom, justice, and the dignity of all people. To the current president, I say, the office you hold is one of immense responsibility and privilege. It is a role that demands wisdom, compassion, and unyielding integrity. Always remember that you are a servant of the people, not their master. Let their needs, hopes and aspirations guide your decisions and let the principles of our great nation, liberty, equality, and justice be your compass. Lastly to all, I leave you with a simple piece of advice. Let us not despair, but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future. The challenges we face are great, but so too is our capacity to meet them. If we stand together with a shared vision and unwavering commitment to the common good, I have no doubt that the American people are up to the task. Thank you and God bless you all. Thank you, Mr. President, for your time. This was an amazing conversation. I hope our audience took something from it. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart,  I look forward to if we decide to have a dis having a discussion again with you in the future when more evidence potentially comes out, or maybe even when your nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Potentially gets elected. Have a good night. Austin, the pleasure has been all mine. It was indeed a stimulating conversation, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to engage in this dialogue with you. I look forward to the possibility of another discussion in the future, perhaps under new circumstances or with new insights to share. Until then, I wish you all the best in your endeavors. Keep asking questions, keep seeking truth, and keep inspiring others to do the same. Thank you again, Austin. Goodnight and God speed.  And with that, my friends, thank you so much for listening. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, I truly hope that you enjoyed that conversation with Mr. Kennedy. Go listen to the documentary, dive deep into this rabbit hole because it will do nothing but continue to chip away. At the foundational belief that we have been lied to about, that the American government has anything but their best interest in mind, because that's all it was. That's what we saw here, was a group of individuals, people, just people who are power hungry, money hungry, and with nothing but the capacity for hate in their heart, as we've seen play time over time again since this assassination. Thank you so much for listening. I appreciate it From the bottom of my heart. Again, the documentary was JFK Revisited by Oliver Stone. Subscribe. Leave a five star review, head over to anti elite.club to make your order. Um, there's some awesome t-shirts, hats, sweaters. We got it. All right, guys. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. I'll see you next time.    

Jewish Education Experience Podcast
Becoming The Educator Others Will Want to Emulate with Naomi Hollander

Jewish Education Experience Podcast

Play Episode Play 42 sec Highlight Listen Later Jun 11, 2023 34:31


Naomi Hollander grew up in Brookline, MA. She attended Maimonides school through 12th grade. She then attended michlalah in Yerushalayim and then got her BA from Stern College in NY. She worked at Manhattan Day School and Yeshiva of Central Queens and now has been at Shulamith School for Girls for the past 16 years teaching second grade Judaic studies.  Gems:Find another educator you can emulate.We can also become the educator that others will want to emulate.Explain how we create things versus how Hashem creates things.Be honest with your children/students.Children need to see and experience things Jewishly at school and at home. Try to find new ways to keep your students engaged.Certain things must be taught in a traditional way.Inspire your students to want to learn Torah.Teach your students to love Israel- the land and history. When you teach Torah, it's a time to connect with your students.Instill the love for Judaism and show your students how special it is.Each child learns in their own unique way.All of us have been given special talents from Hashem to share with the world.Don't lose track of your purpose.Build that connection.They're going to remember that connection they had with you.Parenting On Purpose This course will help you better understand your child and build a deeper connection.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEAmazon We receive a small commission for any items purchased through my Amazon link.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Cork Rules
Episode 329. Taberna de Haro, Massachusetts

Cork Rules

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 5:55


Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Taberna de Haro in Brookline, MA. This Spanish restaurant is known for its massive Spanish wine list and authentic Spanish cuisine that takes diners far beyond tapas. Think saffron-scented paellas, spicy garlic shrimp, and perfectly sliced Iberian ham all paired with select bottles from a James Beard award-winning wine list. And Sam is here to help you find the perfect pairing whether you are celebrating something special or just winding down for the weekend. She identifies the tasting notes, offers pairing suggestions, and delivers a little background information on the producers to take your wine knowledge up a notch.  Wines reviewed include: 2017 Avinyó Brut Nature Reserva Cava 2017 Do Ferreiro Rebisaca 2005 Viña Bosconia Reserva For more information on today's episode, and the wines you love to love, visit www.corkrules.com.

New Books in Psychology
Kathryn Britton, "Sit Write Share: Practical Writing Strategies to Transform Your Experience Into Content that Matters (Theano Press, 2022)

New Books in Psychology

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 60:43


Do you keep promising yourself to write but never quite get around to it? Do you delete almost as many words as you write? Do you write things that never get shared? Nobody is born knowing how to write. Like any skill, writing improves with deliberate practice and attention. With growing skill often comes heightened enjoyment. This book will help you develop writing skill so you can share your message. There is no single writing recipe that works for everybody, but successful writers rely on common ingredients. Play with the experiments in this book to find what works for you. There is a free workbook to take stock and find the next best experiment for you, available at the book web site, sitwriteshare.com. 13 Sit experiments will help you get your writing started, escape writers' block, defeat internal gremlins, build habits, and find inspiration. 26 Write experiments will help you imagine your message, create a rough draft, and then edit in phases until your polished version emerges. 16 Share experiments will help you get support, publish, and spread your message to those who need it. Sit Write Share: Practical Writing Strategies to Transform Your Experience Into Content that Matters (Theano Press, 2022) will help you build your own unique writing practice. Kathryn Britton's clients call her the brilliant midwife of words. She has helped hundreds of people become word crafters who complete writing projects, big and small. Her own publications include books and articles about computer science, coaching, and applied positive psychology. After earning a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree at the University of Pennsylvania, she founded Theano Coaching LLC to coach writers and run writing workshops. Kathryn has witnessed the power of her writing experiments to help authors find joy, build confidence, and get writing done that changes the world. For more information and for a workbook to help you move through the 55 experiments, go here. Elizabeth Cronin, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness meditation teacher with offices in Brookline and Norwood, MA. You can follow her on Instagram or visit her website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

New Books Network
Kathryn Britton, "Sit Write Share: Practical Writing Strategies to Transform Your Experience Into Content that Matters (Theano Press, 2022)

New Books Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 60:43


Do you keep promising yourself to write but never quite get around to it? Do you delete almost as many words as you write? Do you write things that never get shared? Nobody is born knowing how to write. Like any skill, writing improves with deliberate practice and attention. With growing skill often comes heightened enjoyment. This book will help you develop writing skill so you can share your message. There is no single writing recipe that works for everybody, but successful writers rely on common ingredients. Play with the experiments in this book to find what works for you. There is a free workbook to take stock and find the next best experiment for you, available at the book web site, sitwriteshare.com. 13 Sit experiments will help you get your writing started, escape writers' block, defeat internal gremlins, build habits, and find inspiration. 26 Write experiments will help you imagine your message, create a rough draft, and then edit in phases until your polished version emerges. 16 Share experiments will help you get support, publish, and spread your message to those who need it. Sit Write Share: Practical Writing Strategies to Transform Your Experience Into Content that Matters (Theano Press, 2022) will help you build your own unique writing practice. Kathryn Britton's clients call her the brilliant midwife of words. She has helped hundreds of people become word crafters who complete writing projects, big and small. Her own publications include books and articles about computer science, coaching, and applied positive psychology. After earning a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree at the University of Pennsylvania, she founded Theano Coaching LLC to coach writers and run writing workshops. Kathryn has witnessed the power of her writing experiments to help authors find joy, build confidence, and get writing done that changes the world. For more information and for a workbook to help you move through the 55 experiments, go here. Elizabeth Cronin, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness meditation teacher with offices in Brookline and Norwood, MA. You can follow her on Instagram or visit her website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Under the Radar with Callie Crossley
Three local librarians share their top summer reading picks

Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2023 58:00


Summer 2023 is upon us, and we're ready to bury our faces in a book we can't wait to read. As bestselling author Stephen King notes, “books are a uniquely portable magic,” and they're often on the move during the summer months: jammed into jean pockets, lining beach towels, and stacked up on vacation bedside tables. For our annual summer reading special, three local librarians return with their curated lists from 2023's best offerings — from thrillers to young adult novels, to romance and science fiction. “The book opens right here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1910, where Agnes Carter, a wealthy donor to a university, which is presumably Harvard, hires a naturalist and glassblowing phenom from Bohemia to create a collection of glass botanical models,” said Susannah Borysthen-Tkacz, senior librarian at the Cambridge Public Library, about one of her summer reading favorites, Glassworks by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith. “Meanwhile, Agnes is struggling with her own suffocating marriage and becomes increasingly enmeshed in this glass artist's life. … And the common thread through all of it is glass. And it sort of is a metaphor for the delicate structure of the family. We see their families shatter and sort of rebuild itself over and over again.” Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline, chose Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song by Austin Paramore in part because it is written for younger teens: “It plays on the idea of making a deal with the Crossroads Devil, for music, which is something I've always enjoyed as a trope and certainly comes from true jazz mythology and jazz history. And in this case, it's a young man who is trying to prove that he wants to be a musician and, specifically, playing piano, but cannot afford his own keyboard and is kind of desperate to prove to his dad, who's very disapproving of the idea of this as a career. And he reconnects with an old friend from the neighborhood and ends up making a deal that he doesn't realize he's making with this very shady store owner who gives him a keyboard for free. Of course, there is a different price for it.” “There's a king, he has three sons, he sends them out on various, completely ridiculous quests," said Veronica Koven-Matasy, reader services librarian at the Boston Public Library, about one of her recommendations, White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link. “And the youngest son finds himself at the house of a white cat who mysteriously can talk. And all of her servants are cats, and they mysteriously produce all the things that he needs to succeed in his quest. … He is supposed to bring back a bride. And he says, ‘Oh, I don't really want to bring back a wife.' And the white cat says, ‘Oh, you bring me.' And he has to prove his faith in her by cutting off her head when she tells him to. And then immediately a beautiful woman springs out. And, you know, it's the perfect woman. And obviously he's the superior son who brought back the superior bride. And he gets to be the king. … You enjoy being surprised by stories as well as well as just really enjoying the beautiful prose that's carrying you through. I really recommend [this], I was shocked many times.” GUESTS Susannah Borysthen-Tkacz, senior librarian at the Cambridge Public Library Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Public Library of Brookline Veronica Koven-Matasy, reader services librarian at the Boston Public Library

Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle
Modern Day Renaissance Sculptor: Andreas von Huene

Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 38:22


Born in Bath, Maine, and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, sculptor Andreas von Huene has been strongly connected to the region's creative community from his earliest years. His parents emphasized the importance of arts and culture, speaking multiple languages in their home, and regularly bringing Andreas and his four siblings to area concerts and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, his father, Friedrich, founded Brookline's von Huene Workshop, Inc., in 1960, and became a pioneer in the reproduction of historical woodwind instruments. After earning degrees in engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and Stanford University in California, Andreas returned to Maine, and his artistic roots, creating sculptures of stone, wood and metal from his studio in Woolwich. Along the way, Andreas has enjoyed the company of other renowned Maine sculptors, and participated in events such as the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium and creation of the Maine Sculpture Trail in Downeast Maine. Join our conversation with Portland Art Gallery sculptor Andreas von Huene today on Radio Maine.  Every week, Dr. Lisa Belisle brings you an interview with a member of Maine's community, including artists, designers, and more. Subscribe to Radio Maine on YouTube so you never miss an episode. This artist is represented by the Portland Art Gallery of Maine. Click here to view his art.

Break It Down Show
Bryan Fuller - The First Ever Human Powered Row from Boston to London

Break It Down Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 40:27


Bryan Fuller - The First Ever Human Powered Row from Boston to London - Bryan Fuller is BACK on the Break It Down Show with Pete A Turner. Bryan and Pete go back nearly 30 years. Throughout their friendship, Bryan and Pete have talked of their various adventures. Now, Bryan is back at it. Until recently, Bryan was the recording holding American in rowing across the Atlantic. Yes, the whole ocean! But, that attempt wasn't hard enough for Bryan. Now he's built a 4-man team. The challenge? Row from Boston to London. This is an unprecedented row in the known history of the world.  To support the London Calling row, visit Why do this? Bryan is raising money for communityrowing.org a charitable organization in Boston that, among other efforts, focus on helping heal veterans through rowing. Bryan runs 2 companies. One is a charity focused company that creates rowing challenges. Bryan has built a global community of rowers that area constantly pushing themselves in an effort to raise money. Bryan also runs . Power Rowing is Bryan's rowing studio in Brookline, Mass. If you are local to Boston, this is a great place to get healthy...and guided by the bossman. Bryan is a wonderful human. You'll love meeting and rowing with him. Please support the Break It Down Show by doing a monthly subscription to the show  All of the money you invest goes directly to supporting the show!   For the  of this episode head to  Haiku Rowing for a cause, Healing veterans through sport, Community thrives.   ​Similar episodes: Matt Hoh  Kevin Adams  Dan McLaughlin  Join us in supporting Save the Brave as we battle PTSD.  Executive Producer/Host: Pete A Turner  Producer: Damjan Gjorgjiev  Writer: Dragan Petrovski ​​ ​​The Break It Down Show is your favorite best, new podcast, featuring 5 episodes a week with great interviews highlighting world-class guests from a wide array of shows.

THE EMBC NETWORK featuring: ihealthradio and worldwide podcasts

www.counterpartsshow.com John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election and the youngest president at the end of his tenure.[2] Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency. Born into the prominent Kennedy family in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940 before joining the U.S. Naval Reserve the following year. During World War II, he commanded a series of PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking of PT-109 and his rescue of his fellow sailors made him a war hero and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but left him with serious injuries. After a brief stint in journalism, Kennedy represented a working-class Boston district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate and served as the junior senator for Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. While in the Senate, Kennedy published his book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Kennedy ran in the 1960 presidential election. His campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential debates in American history, and he was elected president, narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon, who was the incumbent vice president. He was the first Catholic elected president.

The Young Jurks
Smaller Massachusetts cannabis applicants? Not allowed to open

The Young Jurks

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 92:38


We host a panel of Social Equity Massachusetts cannabis applicants who are not allowed to open due to either CCC regulations or other zoning/licensing issues in the cities of Malden, Boston, and Brookline. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support

The Story Behind Her Success
Andrea Hall: Executive Director, Grateful Friends.org -238

The Story Behind Her Success

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 23:22


Don't tapdance too loudly.  Under promise and over-deliver. That's my advice.  -Andrea Hall Andrea Hall is living proof that our lives really do unfold like chapters in a book.  Her latest chapter finds her at the helm of a non-profit called Grateful Friends www.gratefulfriends.org where the mission is to provide financial support to adults undergoing cancer treatment.  But just how did she get here?  Andi was raised by a single mom in a great big Greek family in Brookline, MA. Armed with a degree in Communications from Boston University, she landed in radio sales at the iconic WXKS AM where she shared office space with legendary broadcasters Arnie Woo Woo Ginsburg and Sunny Joe White.  Always curious about where her father was, Andi discovered him in her 30s and experienced the joy of not only meeting him but learning that he was a well-known music executive. Her natural ability to work with artists led her to a career at Universal Music Group where she promoted superstars like Smokey Robinson, Aerosmith, Mary J Blige, Guns N' Roses, and more. As a single mom, she felt a deep need to be a hands-on mom to her son Ty, so she founded New Leaf Marketing, working from home to create a thriving business as an entrepreneur for over 20 years.  In this interview, Andrea shares her deep understanding that everything she has done in her life has led her to where she is today.  She taps into her well-honed skills and talents, along with a belief that relationships are everything.  Her mantra? “Sunnyside up. Never complain.  Be resilient and keep on pluggin'!”  #cancer #resilience #gratitude

Boston Public Radio Podcast
BPR Full Show 5/18: Comeback

Boston Public Radio Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2023 159:46


Rachel Rollins is in the headlines. We wanted to hear thoughts from listeners if and when someone can come back from disgrace. Ron Mitchell and Mel Miller discuss the leadership change at the Bay State Banner. Andrea Cabral addresses an ethics probe into Rachael Rollins' conduct as US Attorney, leading to her resignation. Shirley Leung from the Boston Globe talks about hearings on Beacon Hill to address the gender and racial wage gap, a public transit/housing law in Brookline, and the Globe's support for imprisoned WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich. Michael Curry talks about the Mass League of Community Health Centers launching a new research division, the challenges posed by an influx of migrants in Massachusetts, and the significant life expectancy gap between Back Bay and Nubian Square. Ismael Samad, co-founder of Nubian Square Markets, and Kamaal Jarrett, founder of Hillside Harvest, discuss the grand opening of Nubian Markets, showcasing flavors from the African diaspora. We wrapped up the show by asking listeners if Boston should also go the way of Seoul, South Korea, and ban children from entire zones?

Pepperdine Bible Lectures
All Together in One Place: How One Church has Reimagined Communal Life

Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2023 44:45


Teacher: Candace Nicolds Class 1: The Brookline Church of Christ in Massachusetts is a 100-year-old congregation, but communal life looks different than it ever has before. Church members are located all across the country! The worship services are "fusion": some people attend in the building and some via Zoom, yet it is very much a single community as the two groups interact with one another. In a time when people increasingly find community online, Brookline is tapping into that to create a new type of church. Come hear how this church is reimagining being "all together in one place" and what they have learned so far.

JAF Project Podcast
Counterparts - JFK - May 9th 2023

JAF Project Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 71:51


www.counterpartsshow.comJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person to assume the presidency by election and the youngest president at the end of his tenure. Kennedy served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. A Democrat, Kennedy represented Massachusetts in both houses of the U.S. Congress prior to his presidency. Born into the prominent Kennedy family in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy graduated from Harvard University in 1940 before joining the U.S. Naval Reserve the following year. During World War II, he commanded a series of PT boats in the Pacific theater. Kennedy's survival following the sinking of PT-109 and his rescue of his fellow sailors made him a war hero and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, but left him with serious injuries. After a brief stint in journalism, Kennedy represented a working-class Boston district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. Senate and served as the junior senator for Massachusetts from 1953 to 1960. While in the Senate, Kennedy published his book, Profiles in Courage, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Kennedy ran in the 1960 presidential election. His campaign gained momentum after the first televised presidential debates in American history, and he was elected president, narrowly defeating Republican opponent Richard Nixon, who was the incumbent vice president. He was the first Catholic elected president.

Mosaic Boston
Preparation for the Siege of Boston

Mosaic Boston

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2023 51:12


Audio Transcript: This media has been made available by Mosaic BostonChurch. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston ordonate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com. Today we're thrilled to continue our series in the Book of Jonah. This is week three and next week will be our final week. Today we are continuing in the series, it's called Reluctant Believer. And again, we are engaging the fact that Jonah does present himself in many ways as a reluctant believer throughout the book, but today chapter 3 is where he is walking in tune with the Lord. And there are a lot of lessons for us to glean and take away for how we should be looking to God to prepare us for the missions that he calls us to. This is really just one of the most exciting chapters of Scripture in my mind. The Lord's used it profoundly in my life and today I will pray right now that he does the same. So let me read Jonah 3 and then I'll pray and deliver the word. Jonah chapter 3 and the full chapter, verses 1 through 10. This is the word of our Lord. "Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.' So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, 'Yet 40 days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!' And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. "The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, 'By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.' When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented on the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it." This is the word of our Lord. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we praise you this day for the chance to hear your word almost 3,000 years after the life of Jonah. Lord, your word still stands. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord remains forever. And today we ask that your word would go out in power as it did in the day of Jonah when he went to Nineveh. Lord, we ask that we would get to see your might at hand in the form of changed hearts, in the form of humility and contrition and repentance before you. We pray that all of us here would be inclined to look to you for grace and mercy and receive it with gladness. Holy Spirit, we pray, remind us of the specific callings that you have put on our hearts, those callings to bring you glory. Remind us of your grace if we catch ourselves and having failed in our callings. Remind us of just the ways that you have prepared us to be your servants. And Lord, I just pray, let us be faithful to your formation today through the delivery of your word. I pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. I want to begin with a question. Are you doing anything that requires you to live for a cause greater than the glory or good of yourself? Are you doing anything in life that requires you to live for a cause greater than the glory or good of yourself? I am. I recently started playing on an organized sports team for the first time in 11 years. I did the whole work too much in my mid-20s, get married, have kids, gain weight, have my first reconstructive joint surgery thing over the past decade, and now I'm back on the soccer field with the co-ed parents team for my child's elementary school. And you know what? It's a blast. It's not been a blast because I'm 35 and the average age of everyone else is 40 to 50. It's not been a blast because I'm able to get a workout in that I've been lacking. In full sincerity, I love playing on this team because in locking arms with my teammates, I'm doing something that is blatantly bigger than myself for a couple of hours in the week. I'm playing for a team and essentially it feels good and right to be forgetting myself as I join my teammates. After my first game of playing on the team, I honestly had to ask myself while just feeling good to have joined this greater unit, "Have I been doing this anywhere else in my life? Have I been working for the good of something greater than myself for a while?" And you know what? I realize that I have. I realize that actually day to day as a husband, as a dad, as a pastor, a church member, I've actually been seeking to live for many causes greater than myself as I've tried to serve faithful in each of these roles. And you know what? As hard as being a husband, dad, pastor, church member can be with this renewed perspective from playing soccer, I realized that grinding it out each day in all of these callings is the blessed life. And so why is that? Why do I see it this way? Because I know that to live for myself, for my glory, my desires, my preferences, my plans alone leads to nothing but wasting away and self-deceptions and efforts to try to numb myself to the fact that living in such a way does not satisfy. I tried that approach for five years from the start of college to a year out before I found Mosaic, and I know it doesn't deliver. How many of you have tried that before? To live for yourself for extended periods and it just does not deliver? The pain of the grind to be faithful, though it's not quite as fun as losing oneself while playing soccer on a team, is so much better than the stagnancy and stoutness that mark a life without ambition beyond one's own desires or life with ambition that is too small. So I again ask, are you doing anything that requires you to live for a cause greater than your glory or good?You see, I asked this because I'm trying to draw out something that's inherent in human nature. We were made to live for so much more as the Switchfoot early 2000 song says. Man was made to live for so much more than himself and if he doesn't do this, he gets lost and blind and rots away. The Scriptures attest to this. When God creates men and woman, he gives them a commission, Genesis 1:28, "And God blessed them and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" Furthermore, when someone is saved in Christ, Jesus commands all... In Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission: "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go with therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." As humans and especially as commissioned Christians, we can't get rid of this inner calling to live for something greater than ourselves. The specific calling to live for God, our creator, to live for his purposes, his glory, the spreading of his dominion through the preaching of the gospel on this side of creation is our unique and grand calling in life. And we can't get rid of it, we can't shake it. I say to you, this is the calling that God places on the lives of all people, whether they profess to be Christian or not. And beyond the Scriptures, what's my further evidence for this? A lot of Scriptures that I can't really spell out today because it'll distract too much from Jonah 3, they tell you to simply look within your heart and you will find this out. It's something about being an image bearer of God that he has imparted part of his attributes to you, that you are going to want to live for his glory. You are going to want to make use of the skills, the gifts, the qualities, the characters, beings, the longings in your heart in this life. And that's a little spiritual, it's a little hard to flesh out with Jonah 3, but I want to just argue with it that we just know this, that we have this part of our human nature just by looking at just literature and media over the years. Look how big and successful the book and movie industries about heroes and heroines who single-handedly take on the world for a great cause are. Ask why are anti-Nazi World War II movies still being churned out like rapid fire constantly in our day? Why are superhero movies so popular? Why are action movies where The Rock, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone just automatic ways to make a ton of money and draw big crowds? Why are so many stories like The Lord of the Rings where a little or simple man or woman like Frodo takes on a tremendous force of evil against all odds, so popular? The answer is that as much as modern, post-modern and India authors and artists try to badmouth these stories and write these narratives out of the human story, they can't. There's something in the heart of the narrative of these one-man army stories, of the underdog stories that appeals to our heart. We can't shake the call to do something great in life. We can't prevent our hearts from being stirred and amazed at the stories of one man taking up great tasks because it's written on our hearts that we must do so ourselves. What does this have to do with our passage today? It has everything to do with it. What takes place in our passage? One guy, one man, a prophet of God, Jonah, with a really shaky track record, in a short moment of wholehearted obedience goes to a great city and God uses his simple message to inspire the most sincere and astonishing revival recorded in all of Scripture. Just think, they didn't even let their... They clothed their animals in sack cloth and ashes. They had their animals fast, not just the people, not just the king and the nobles. There's true humility and contrition with the hope that God would relent of the disaster. The most unbelievable part about the Book of Jonah is not that Jonah is swallowed by a great fish and then spit up on the shore. It's that the great city of Nineveh turns from its evil ways and true contrition and turns to God for mercy. This city great in every way, in size and riches, in population and architecture and security. It had these great walls. In reputation and culture, in military might and wickedness. The people were known in history for cutting off the noses of their captured enemies, skinning them alive, placing their skins on the walls when they captured their city. This great city and its king, its nobles, its people is brought to its knees in sack cloth and ashes before the Lord by the efforts of one man. Jonah's seize and conquering of Nineveh is none other than the classic story of good conquering evil, God conquering Satan, a man carrying out the duty that all men were created to do by God. Just like being on a team has reminded me, just like all the classic hero stories and blockbuster movies do, Jonah's conquering of Nineveh should pull out of all of us that which is inherent in our nature. It should pull out the desire to live for the greatest cause in the universe; to live for the spreading of the rule and reign of the kingdom of God. When we look at this story, it should inspire us. So think about how God can use us in this great city of Boston to think about how we can be more than conquerors for Christ here, to think about how we can take down the giants that are in this land. We should truly believe that through hiding God's training and call in our lives, we can bring this great city perhaps pound for pound, person per person, the most influential city in the world except where it matters most to its knees before God. Today we study Jonah 3 with the intention to identify how God prepares his servants to accomplish much more than they should, to identify how God is preparing us for the seize and conquering of Boston. So how does God prepare his servants for this great service? That's what I want to talk about today as we look at the text. And I say persistent calling, generous grace, strategic planning, giving of power and suffering. Said differently, how's God trying to fight the cynicism that is built up in your heart as an adult, as you've sought to only build your own kingdom or preserve your small cup of peace? Persistent calling, generous grace, strategic planning, giving of power, suffering. So persistent calling. How's God prepare his... How does he prepare his servants for great service? Persistent calling. Jonah 3:1 says, "Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time." This is one of the most encouraging pieces of Scripture, encouraging verses in all of Scripture. How many of you need to hear this right now after walking out the door and saying something to your spouse or your child or your roommate that did not honor them as an image bearer of God as you're trying to rush here today? By nature, as I mentioned, God sends and calls. He doesn't claim or save his children and leave them to stay where they are. He tells them to go and claim dominion for him. With Jonah, there's no ounce of pity toward him after he spent his time in the fish. He doesn't give him a week off. God knows that after his experience in the fish, he has Jonah's heart and he calls him to go to Nineveh a second time. This is encouraging to me. What it tells us is that mission isn't for the elite, it's not for the well-rested, it's not for those who have all authority, have all the resources. It's not for those who are professionally trained, seminary educated, overflowing with resources. It's for anybody who claims that they are the Lord's. God by nature is ascending and calling God. Those who genuinely know God know that he will come to you not just a second time but a third and fourth and beyond to press you into action to get you to stop living for yourself and live for him. Live for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Live for other people. God constantly pushes and plows us out of our comfort zones in an effort to ask us, "When do you really want to start learning who I am? I live to make things new, to change people, to renew them from the inside out. You can never find out who I am if you're never in action dependent upon me." God never sucks us in, swallows us without spitting us out and telling us to go. Think of God's calling of Abraham in Genesis 12. "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'" He never saves without calling you to save. He never blesses someone without calling them to be a blessing. And the only way you can be a blessing is if you go, you leave, you leave your comfort zone, your safe space and you get out. God calls us to leave that which is familiar in order to engage that which is foreign and scary and requires vulnerability. It takes these things to bless others. You can't be a Christian and not expect to be on mission without engaging the own mess of your heart and engaging the mess of the hearts of the people that you're trying to serve and love and be used by God to convert. If you don't follow God's call, it's not just that you can't be a blessing and be used by God, it's that it prevents you from becoming like God. Many more years after Abraham, 700-plus years after Jonah, God the Son, Jesus Christ, left the ultimate safety zone, the throne of God's radiant and infinite glory in heaven to take on flesh. And when he was on earth, he faced every tension, every challenge, every hardship that was possible. He spoke, he engaged the world in order to reach out to us and in doing so, he created many followers but many enemies. The same thing we experience in being Christian here in the city. And yet in doing all of this, by humbling himself, Jesus exalted himself. By losing himself, he found himself. The very opposite of what happens when someone lives for themselves. Just thinking about how God just persistently calls us. Just practical application. Just ask yourself, are you living for something beyond the maintenance of your schedule, your work, your reputation, day in and day out? Are there any places where you are extending yourself, making yourself uncomfortable for God and for others, for the sake of saving others, for the sake of encouraging other Christians? Through your giving, through your service, are you actually sacrificing to God? Can you really convince yourself or others that you're doing this? There's a lot of Christians who are like Monday morning quarterbacks. They go to church on Sunday. They have a little analysis of the word, whether it essentially entertained them or not, and then they live as if they're not Christian throughout the week. They're not on mission. We need to be on mission. The great hope when we look at Jonah, the reluctant prophet, the reluctant believer is that we don't really need to be talented, we don't need to be that smart. We don't have to have the gifts, the resources, but we need to give God our will, our willingness to submit to his call. And when we do, he will always accomplish his intended purposes and make us new in the process. Until you understand this, you're going to live life in a fake reality. It's going to be the size of your own head and you're going to be out of touch with who he is and who you are and who you are created to be. And so we have to receive God's call like Jonah, even if we reject it like he did the first time. Next, how do God prepare his servants to do great things? He gives them generous grace. Still talking about verse 1 here, "Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time." Those of you who know the story so far of Jonah, that God's calling of Jonah, again, you know that it doesn't make any sense. Why? Because Jonah didn't obey the first time. God called him, he disobeys, he sins, he goes in the complete opposite direction that God wants him to. Jonah let God down. And I don't know about you. If you think of God's tactic right here, it just doesn't make sense. When you look at... If you're at war, do you go and find an officer who's just been court marshaled to go and place him at the front and be the commander at the most important battle? That's essentially what God does here in sending Jonah to the great city of Nineveh. Jonah's second call and second commissioning is given purely out of the grace of God. He's recommissioned not because of his own merit, but because of the undeserved favor, merit, the undeserved kindness of God. You see, the way that God works to accomplish his great works is completely contradictory to the ways of the world. According to the world's practices, who does the most important tasks? We know very clearly here who that is. It's the Harvard grads, the MIT grads, those who are the richest, the strongest, the most beautiful, the most deserving on paper. But God doesn't work like that. Here he chooses to work through the foolishness of men through a guy like Jonah to show the world his power. He works through Jonah's racist and prejudice tendencies. Jonah talks about this. Jonah really does not want Nineveh to be saved because they're the arch rival of his home nation Israel. He does not want God to give them his mercy. In the New Testament, who does God work through? He works through disciples, fishermen, laborers. And who does he give leadership, a seeming position of leadership among them? Peter the fisherman, the guy who betrayed him three times on the eve of his crucifixion. God gives generous grace over and over again to his servants. He works through people who are saved by grace and powered by grace. People who have no heirs about them because they've already acknowledged to themselves to be complete failures in their own right. People saved by grace who've cried out like Jonah, "Salvation belongs to the Lord," as he did at the end of chapter 2. They're humbled. They don't take up tasks and callings to prove themselves, hide their insecurities or to show themselves to be something that they're not. They take up great responsibilities with a pure desire to honor God out of thanksgiving for his forgiving of them, out of thanksgiving for calling him to his work. And so this is as a Christian, as a servant of God, we have to receive his generous grace over and over. And do you know it? First of all, do you know that the alternative, what you really deserve on the opposite end of being called by God to do his work is wrath? Have you run to him and received forgiveness by looking to the cross, looking to the blood of Jesus Christ to get peace with him, to avoid eternal condemnation, to avoid judgment? Are you powered by grace or are you powered by self-ambition? And that's something that a lot of Christians here will say, empowered by grace, but you really have to ask this question to yourself multiple times. If you're the kind of person drawn to the top programs, drawn to the schools, drawn to the industries and big companies of Boston, are you driven by grace? Are you driven to act in every area of your life out of thankfulness for what God has done for you? And the hard part about being Christian is you have to receive it daily. In my marriage, one of the hardest things is... We've been married nine years and now it's just been hundreds of times where I know that the only way forward is to receive grace from my wife. The only way forward is to just accept that she needs to forgive me for my sin. There's nothing I can do to justify what I did, but I've got to stop. I've got to receive it. I've got to praise God that I have a woman that is happy to give me grace, happy to work forward together just simply out of the kindness of her heart in the same way that God forgives me for my sin. And as Christians, when we're called on task, we're stretched to our limits. We're at the end of our widths. It reveals the inner insecurities that remain in us. It reveals the bad habits and tendencies that are sinful part of the old man that don't honor God. And when we're out on mission, we just need to constantly come back to him and go to the cross of Jesus Christ. So Jonah in this moment, he knows that coming right out at the belly of the fish. Furthermore, how does God prepare his servants for great work? With strategic planning. Verse 2 says, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So God gives Jonah strategy. What is that strategy? He sends Jonah into the city, he sends him into Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, the great power of the north of Israel. This is the same strategy that the Apostle Paul used on his mission trips. The man who God used more powerfully than any other person, aside from Jesus Christ himself to spread the gospel. He went to cities to spread the gospel. And why does God employ the strategy? People in the city throughout history, they've always been a little more open to change. The nature of the city, the engagement with different kinds of people, trades and challenges, forces them to think more deeply about issues and seek solutions regarding life, death, heaven, hell, and human flourishing. I can attest to this. I'm from the suburbs. I've worked on staff at a suburban church before and I can tell you... Ask Mosaic staff. I can tell you just for hours and hours all the good things about Southeast Pennsylvania, suburban Philadelphia life, I can go on and on. It's a special place in the world. But as much as I love the people there and confess that they could teach us city dwellers a lot about contentment and resting in the Lord, living there, working there, being on mission there, it was really hard to get them to think about beyond what they're going to eat at their big Sunday family dinner or beyond the big game that afternoon. The best part about living in the city is that people press hard for answers, press hard for truth and don't avoid tensions. Further, God sends Jonah to the city and gets his disciples to employ a city-centered strategy because life primarily runs through the city. Commerce primarily runs through the city. Immigrants arrive at the city and live in the city for a generation or two before considering moving out as the city provides a safe net. Media, theater, publications are still centralized in the city and their material is spread from there. The city is the heart from which all of the lifeblood of a land flows. And that's Boston. That's our pride. Our license plates say, "Spirit of America." That's not for Massachusetts, you know that's Boston saying that. That's so true when you think of the power of the institutions, power of the companies, the power that young 20-somethings and beyond get when they work on companies that you see touch the global market. The city is the heart from which all of the lifeblood of a land flows. And as Christianity, just one point to think about is, as Christianity gripped the Roman Empire and spread rapidly in the early centuries after Christ's death, those who were called pagans were the people who typically stuck their fist up to Christianity and chose to live outside of the city as it spread there in the city. The word pagan can actually mean countrymen. People who lived outside of a city, carried on with all kinds of idolatry. And again, I'm not trying to say that about modern, rural or suburban America. I will never stop feeling homesick for my place where I grew up, suburban Philadelphia, but the Book of Jonah and all of Scripture has a very clear acknowledgement of the importance of the city. Jonah 4:11 says, "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" And that's saying people who do not know their right hand from their left is probably children. And so when you consider the amount of adults, the number probably gets to 500,000, 600,000. So God reminds Jonah of how many image bearers in this case, particularly children are there in the city. Jonah's upset about God taking away a plant at this point that gave him shade from the sun, but he does not care about the salvation of hundreds of thousands of people. And we just need to be careful that just even being residents in the city, that cynicism toward the city does not grow. We have to be careful that we don't lose heart for the image bearers of God around us. And the question is, do you care for the city? Do you actually have a heart for the city? I think as a church of people who were pent-up in small apartments for an extended time in COVID, we were left panting for space, panting for breathing. Our view of the city might have become a little more matured or nuanced, especially as transplants who just don't know a city life that well, many transplants here. We really need to pray for God to renew our hearts for this city, for Boston, for Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Cambridge. Furthermore, are you here to use the city or just get out? Or are you here because you view your time here as a person who was sent by God to be here to first and foremost do his service or work? A lot of people, the typical Mosaic person who comes for a program just says, "I'll ask these questions later. I'll think about the good of God's name in this city when I'm done my program." And I say, "Don't hesitate, engage them now." Next, God prepares his servants to do great things by the giving of power. And this is from Jonah 3:3-4. "Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, 'Yet 40 days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.'" So Jonah goes into the city. The way the text describes his efforts, the focus isn't placed on the quality of the sermon. It's just eight words here in the English, five words in the Hebrew. Many think this is just a summary. There's a lot of debate. Was this his full sermon or was it just a summary of what Jonas said? I think it's more of a summary statement. I see the limited content on what Jonas says to draw us attention not to his words, it's to have us keep our attention on the power of God in this moment, how God used Jonah. Verse 5 says, "And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them." The people of Nineveh believed God. They didn't believe Jonah, they didn't hear Jonah through his sermon, they didn't hear his words. They heard God, his words. It was God, his power, which gave the people of Nineveh the ears to hear his voice, which led to their complete and wholehearted repentance, which is chronicled in more detailed verses 6 through 9. Verse 6 says, "The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes." And it says, "The word reached the king." Better translated, "The word touched the king of Nineveh." That's God's power touching even the heart of the king. So how did Jonah strike the hearts of all the people of the city and ultimately the king and the nobles? He repented in his own life and the Lord used his sermon, paired it with his power to lead the city to repentance. What does the city need more than anything? This great conversion that we see or this great repentance that we see in the city. What does the city need more than anything in Nineveh? What does it need more than anything today? Repentance before God. Individuals, heads of households, heads of state weeping for their sin before God, turning from their violent and evil ways and turning to God for mercy. The city more than anything needs more people with repentant hearts before God. Do you think that Christian, or do you agree with what you hear out there in the media? Do you ever hear modern politicians, local or nationals say that that's what the city needs? Individual repentance, a turning from sin and turning to God, a change, a true change in the hearts of people? No, it's always band-aids. It's diplomacy, negotiation, urban planning, therapy. That's what the politicians, that's what anthropologists, that's what sociologists, that's what college professors, that's what counselors say, but it's repentance before God. It's a new heart, a changed heart, a heart that does a complete 180 that stops looking for itself all the time and starts looking to God continually. So God's called children need to trust that when he sends them, he sends them in power. That's the only reason why I'm here in Boston today. I have no confidence in my own strengths. I'm a preacher because I truly believe that God gives us power. When we speak, when we spread the word faithfully, when we fight for holiness in our daily lives, he uses us in our weakness for his glory. We need to remember that. And this is what Mosaic believes. This is what has built this church. I've been blessed to see Mosaic grow from 15 people in 2011 to what it is today. And the strength of Mosaic has always been its fight to stay faithful to the word of God. And it's not because we have a website with nice design. It's not because we do have lot of young, cool, trendy, attractive people. It's because we have gathered people around the preaching of God's word and God's power has gone out as he says it would. We believe that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also the Greek. It's what everybody in the world needs to be saved to be right before God and to live a righteous and holy life going forward until Jesus returns or until they die. The local church isn't to focus its energies and resources on efforts focused on big picture systemic change and politics, but on individual soul salvation, which makes people new from inside out. God will be glorified, the city will be renewed when one person, one household at a time turns from their evil ways and turns to receive mercy from the Lord. So do you believe this? Are you expending all of your energies in all of these other areas at the cost of being faithful to the stewarding, the sanctification of your own heart? At the cost of being faithful to being present with brothers and sisters in Christ who are asking hard questions of God, of the gospel, who are asking for help and encouragement as they fight sin? For the Christian, there should be a whole recalibration of how I'm saved in Jesus. Now, how do I better invest my time to honor God, to bring glory to his name? And a lot of young people are... Sometimes that means stay there, stay where you are and really try to be a witness to God there. But if you're not accepted after faithful effort, after faithful effort, God says, "Stomp your feet off and go and find somewhere else." And so how are you actively trying to identify your calling today? And a lot of it, it begins with loving God. What did you say? Love God, love your neighbor. Are you looking to be present to serve God with the people who are physically next to you? Not the people online, not the people on social media. And even I say if you've left mom and dad and they're in a city far away, you have to be present with the people who are there in person before then. You have made the choice to actively leave them to be present somewhere else. And you either accept that and own it and be present where you are. And you still praise God. We get to call them and have FaceTime and video chats in our day. Or you say, "All right, I've got to go home. God wants me there." And so we need to be present with the people that God place in our life. We need to love God, love neighbor. Do you believe what the world needs is the gospel, is Jesus, is repentance and faithfulness before him? And it's so easy, it's such an easy offer. All people have to do is turn in faith, believe the good news, and they get the Holy Spirit, the power of God to work about a new identity rooted in him. It's the greatest deal in history. So Christians, we need to share God's word with boldness and faith, trusting that his power will go out. The God who once used the delivery of gospel to save you at some point, to convict you of your sin before him, he will send the power out when you share the gospel and try to live it out faithfully. We need to stop being ashamed. If we're in the gospel, we have what all people hear, whether rich or poor need. That's the message which brings about peace and restoration before God. So God, he gives us grace and he calls us here to go out in power. And furthermore, how does he prepare his saints for great service like he did for Jonah? And last is the suffering. God gives his servants suffering to equip them to do great things. He gives them suffering to be as powerful of a one-man army as Jonah was in this book. And I don't get this text from Jonah 3, I get it from Matthew 12:38-40, which is Jesus's analysis of this text. It says, "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, 'Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.' But he answered them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'" Jesus is communicating here that it's out of his death that others will receive life. It's not miracles that ultimately show his power and authority and make him worthy to follow as God, but it's out of his weakness, his death, that the sufficiency of his saving power will be born, that he himself will show himself worthy of worship. Jesus was the suffering servant. It's through suffering that Jesus makes his followers good servants. A servant cannot be greater than his master. When we are saved, we are called to be formed by suffering in our service. There's no doubt that the greatest form of preparation for Jonah's ministry was his suffering, the dissent into the deep, into the abyss, a near-death experience because of his rebellion against God that he was prepared to take up this task. And why is that the case? Why is suffering a good thing? Particularly in this instance, Jonah's suffering enabled him to embody the message that he delivered to the Ninevites. What's the message that he had? What's the message of the gospel? God is both righteous and merciful. He's not just merciful. The church is really good. Modern church is really good at hitting mercy, mercy, mercy, grace, grace, grace. God is both righteous and merciful. He is holy and righteous by nature, and he cannot and will not accept anybody into his presence who is marked by sin. At the same time, he is a gracious God and merciful, slow to an anger and abounding and steadfast love and relenting from disaster toward anyone who repents of their sin and calls on the name of Jesus Christ. That was Jonah's message. That's the message of the Bible. That's the message of Jonah. That's the message of the gospel. And Jonah knew this very well. He knew of God's righteous condemnation of his sin because he was put in the belly of a fish for it. He knew of God's grace and mercy through his experience of being spit up by the fish and given a second chance at life, a second chance to do the work of God. Jonah's ministry to the Ninevites was so powerful because his life embodied the message of God's righteousness and mercy towards sinners, and that is the same of Jesus Christ. When we look to the cross, when we look at Christ's life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and ultimately his return, we see the righteousness and mercy of Jesus. Jonah, when he would've told of the judgment coming for a sin, he would've told them with all sincerity of its inevitability and reality. When he would've told them of the grace and mercy of God, he would've told them in a way that convinced them that he knew it personally. He knew this all because God allowed him to suffer. Remember chapter 2 he says, "Your waves, your breakers were cast over me in this experience in the water, in this experience in the belly of the fish." God appointed suffering is what gave Jonah the humility, gave Jonah the appreciation of grace, gave Jonah the humility to rely on the power of God in service, even in a place as wicked as Nineveh through his suffering. And he does the same with us. And just Jonah, why was his ministry so powerful? Because his life, his presence embodied the message that he delivered to the people. And I ask, is that true of you? All Christians know upon conversion, they're going to have a moment of true conversion. They're going to know that they're under the conviction of a holy God. And that strikes the fear of death, fear of hell in you. And the thing is, you can't stay there. A lot of people stay under conviction that's an old historic word before they turn and receive grace. They're there for too long and they think they just have to self-loathe and feel guilty for their sin. But no, when you feel this, when you see your sin, your folly before God, you have to look quickly and receive his mercy and find forgiveness, love, joy, freedom in him. So Christian, are you benefiting from your suffering? Are you learning in your suffering? And I press this point that it's up to us to... We have the power to decide how suffering affects us. This isn't what a lot of counselors, this isn't what the world's going to tell you. We have the choice to let suffering embitter us and paralyze us, or sharpen us and embolden us. It's all a matter of faith. When you suffered, you trust that God could be using it to better enable you to embody the message of salvation that you offer to other people, to understand just how much your savior went through for you, to understand his righteousness, his grace better, or do you harden yourself and get angry and close yourself off to him and others? So God used suffering in the life of Christ. He used it here in the life of Jonah, and he can do it in yours. To close, I just want to ask, how are you going to start living for something greater than your own glory or good today? How are you going to start living for something greater than your own glory or good today? As you ask that question, remember that to do that, God has persistently called you. He has generously offered grace time and time again. He has given you the strategy, he has given you his power, and he has blessed you with suffering to embody the message that you deliver. Let me pray. Heavenly Father, we praise you that we have this great passage of Jonah before us. We thank you for the hope that it offers to us as sojourners, as aliens living in a foreign land away from heaven, away from the fullness of your presence right now. We have this hope that you can use us, jars of clay, just weak vessels for your glorious and grand purposes. We praise you that you do not change, that we have hope that you can move here in Boston today as you once did in Nineveh. Lord, we ask that you would shine your face upon us, that you would give us grace, that you would continue to give all of us here as individuals and as a body, just great mission, great call, and great purpose, the honor to serve you and the tensions between heaven and hell. The honor to serve you as we face the thorns and thistles of life. The honor to be a part of your calling home of your children. Lord, we ask, give us eyes to see all the ways that you are forming us, training us, encouraging us, sharpening us, molding us to be more humble, more faithful, more repentant servants in your kingdom. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

Rich Zeoli
Whistle Blower Claims Biden Was Involved in Criminal Bribery Scheme with Foreign National

Rich Zeoli

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 42:24


The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: According to a report from Ryan Saavedra, “Republican lawmakers demanded on Wednesday that the FBI produce an unclassified record that allegedly contains evidence showing that then-Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a criminal bribery scheme with a foreign national.” You can read the report here: https://www.dailywire.com/news/whistleblower-alleges-fbi-has-evidence-of-biden-engaging-in-bribery-scheme-with-foreign-national On Wednesday, Khadeeja Safdar and David Benoit released part two of their Wall Street Journal investigative report on Jeffrey Epstein's private schedules and thousands of emails, revealing former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers sought advice from Epstein on funding teaching and television projects involving his wife, Elisa New. Safdat and Benoit write: “Epstein replied that they could meet in Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Summers invited him to dinner, according to a trove of documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Two days later they made plans to meet at The Fireplace, a cozy restaurant in nearby Brookline, one of several meetings the two men scheduled that year. In 2016, a nonprofit linked to Epstein donated $110,000 to Ms. New's nonprofit, which develops video content about poetry, according to tax records.” The report also revealed Epstein had relationships with Woody Allen and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. You can read the full report here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeffrey-epstein-documents-woody-allen-larry-summers-edb3e9b2?mod=hp_lead_pos7 Senator Chuck Grassley and Congressman James Comer released a joint statement regarding a whistleblower claiming then-Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a “criminal scheme” with a foreign national. Grassley explained: “We believe the FBI possesses an unclassified internal document that includes very serious and detailed allegations implicating the current President of the United States. What we don't know is what, if anything, the FBI has done to verify these claims or investigate further. The FBI's recent history of botching politically charged investigations demands close congressional oversight.” You can read the full statement: https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-comer-demand-fbi-record-alleging-criminal-scheme-involving-then-vp-biden

Rich Zeoli
Will Biden Acknowledge the Granddaughter He Has in Arkansas?

Rich Zeoli

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 44:12


The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: On Tuesday, Sixers center Joel Embiid won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the 2022-23 season. But where did he learn to play? Watching YouTube videos! During Tuesday's press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre refused to answer questions about whether President Joe Biden will ever acknowledge a granddaughter he has in Arkansas. On Wednesday, Khadeeja Safdar and David Benoit released part two of their Wall Street Journal investigative report on Jeffrey Epstein's private schedules and thousands of emails, revealing former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers sought advice from Epstein on funding teaching and television projects involving his wife, Elisa New. Safdat and Benoit write: “Epstein replied that they could meet in Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Summers invited him to dinner, according to a trove of documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Two days later they made plans to meet at The Fireplace, a cozy restaurant in nearby Brookline, one of several meetings the two men scheduled that year. In 2016, a nonprofit linked to Epstein donated $110,000 to Ms. New's nonprofit, which develops video content about poetry, according to tax records.” The report also revealed Epstein had relationships with Woody Allen and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. You can read the full report here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeffrey-epstein-documents-woody-allen-larry-summers-edb3e9b2?mod=hp_lead_pos7 American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten attempts to rewrite history—and claims she was not in support of shutting schools down nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic.