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Last time we spoke about the Japanese offensive at Changsha. In late September 1941, fighting in China had become a brutal struggle of endurance. Japanese forces kept pushing forward, but China—though battered by heavy losses—refused to yield. Help from abroad was slowly beginning to matter. American aid reached China through groups like the Red Cross, and volunteers later associated with the Flying Tigers offered crucial support to Chinese operations. Against this backdrop, Changsha in Hunan became the center of a dangerous autumn campaign. Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist leadership treated the city as strategically vital, knowing that its fate could influence the wider course of the war. In the end, the resistance at Changsha showed China's key advantage: resilience. The city's defense helped slow the Japanese advance, break up momentum, and create uncertainty as the campaign continued.   #212 The Autumn Battle of Changsha, 1941 Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. In late September 1941, the war in China had already entered its fifth year. By then the conflict had lost whatever remained of novelty and had settled into something harsher and more exhausting: a long war of attrition fought across enormous distances, under conditions of chronic shortage, strategic uncertainty, and repeated local catastrophe. Japan still possessed formidable military strength. Its armies could strike hard, move fast, and exploit superior firepower, air support, and communications in individual campaigns. Yet the larger shape of the war had begun to change. China had not collapsed. The Nationalist government still stood. Chinese armies, however battered, still held the field. The line between survival and defeat remained dangerously thin, but it had not broken. This was the situation in which the autumn campaign in Hunan and Hubei unfolded.   The struggle around Changsha did not occur in isolation. It belonged to a wider military and political moment. In Europe, the war had already expanded into a continent-wide convulsion. Germany and the Soviet Union were locked in a massive struggle after the German invasion in June. Leningrad was under threat, Kiev had become the scene of disaster, and the approach of the battle for Moscow suggested that still greater bloodshed lay ahead. Stalin had pressed Churchill to open a second front in Europe and had been refused. The global balance of war was shifting, but not yet in any way that guaranteed relief to China.   In Asia, Japan continued to press forward. The pressure on China remained immense. Yet by mid-1941 China's position, though still precarious, no longer looked quite as desperate as it had in earlier years. International sympathy had grown. Material aid, however limited, was beginning to take more concrete form. In July, the American Red Cross sent China medical supplies worth millions of dollars. In August, more than a hundred retired American pilots and mechanics came together to aid China against Japan. The air unit they formed, later celebrated as the Flying Tigers, meant more than aircraft and personnel alone. It signaled that China's war was no longer quite so isolated. That change in atmosphere did not produce calm in Chongqing. It sharpened urgency.   For Chiang Kai-shek, the possibility that the international situation might slowly improve for China carried with it a hard implication: China had to endure long enough to benefit from it. That meant surviving not in abstract terms, but in particular places, against particular offensives, at moments when a local defeat might have consequences far beyond the immediate battlefield. In the autumn of 1941, one of those places was Changsha. Changsha had long occupied an outsized place in the military geography of the war. It stood as the capital of Hunan, a hinge between regions, and a vital position in the defense of central China. Its security affected the Xiang River basin, communications across the province, and the broader defensive posture shielding approaches toward the wartime capital. To lose it, even temporarily, would be more than a symbolic blow. It would threaten the larger balance of the front in south-central China and test whether Japanese offensives could still force dramatic strategic results.   At the same time, the battle for Changsha was not a simple contest between one Chinese army and one Japanese army facing each other across a fixed line. It was part of a larger operational struggle linking the Ninth War Zone with supporting actions from the Third, Fifth, and Sixth War Zones. It involved frontal resistance, hurried reinforcement, mobile defense, rear harassment, and the constant effort to turn Japanese momentum into Japanese overextension. Chinese commanders were trying not merely to survive a blow, but to absorb it, stretch it, and eventually strike back against an enemy whose speed could become a liability once supply lines lengthened and formations dispersed. This was the burden resting on the Military Commission in Chongqing.   There, while reports arrived in fragments and maps were revised hour by hour, Chiang Kai-shek spent long stretches in the operations room watching the situation in Hunan and Hubei develop. He had already ordered the various war zones to support the Ninth War Zone's operations, and now he followed the campaign with intense concentration. His attention moved repeatedly toward reports from the Sixth War Zone and Chen Cheng's counteroffensive toward Yichang, for Yichang was tied not only to local fighting in Hubei but also to the defense of the Yangtze approach and therefore to the security of Chongqing itself. In his mind, Hunan and Hubei had become the focal point of China's war effort in that season.   Meanwhile at the front, the situation was deteriorating fast. Japanese forces pressing into northern Hunan had already imposed severe strain on the Chinese defense. Blocking units had been battered back. Communications were uncertain. Some formations fought stubbornly but could not hold; others dissolved more quickly than hoped. The Japanese advance toward Changsha created exactly the kind of crisis Chinese commanders feared most: one in which the enemy moved with enough force and speed to threaten a major city before a coherent defensive response could be reassembled. Chinese units had to be thrown into action as they arrived, often after exhausting marches, often with incomplete knowledge of the situation, and often under immediate pressure from artillery, aircraft, and aggressive infantry assaults. Yet even at this dangerous stage, the campaign contained an opportunity as well as a threat.   The deeper Japanese units pushed into Hunan, the more exposed their rear became. Supply depots, transport lines, and communications stretched farther behind the spearhead. Chinese formations that had been driven aside were not always destroyed; some remained capable of reappearing to strike roads, depots, and isolated detachments. If Changsha represented the visible center of the struggle, the enemy rear represented its hidden vulnerability. The Chinese aim, therefore, was not simply to defend passively around the city. It was to combine stubborn resistance in front with harassment and disruption behind, so that Japanese advance would become increasingly difficult to sustain. The battle that followed unfolded under these pressures: a threatened city, a strained but unbroken defense, commanders forced to improvise under severe danger, and a wider international war that made every local decision feel heavier than the ground on which it was taken.   This subtle improvement in China's larger situation did not mean safety. China was still battered, under-resourced, and vulnerable. Japanese forces still possessed enormous advantages in mobility, firepower, and air power in many sectors. Large parts of the country remained occupied or threatened. Yet by mid-1941 something in the atmosphere had changed. In July, the American Red Cross sent China medical supplies worth millions of dollars. In August, more than a hundred retired American pilots and mechanics came together to aid China in its struggle against Japan. The air unit they formed would become famous under the name by which China knew them: the Flying Tigers. Their significance exceeded their immediate tactical value. They represented a visible sign that China was not entirely abandoned to isolation.   For Claire Chennault, romantic, aggressive, and optimistic by temperament, the new situation encouraged increasingly bold thoughts. For the first time he included in his planning the idea that Japanese home territory might one day be bombed from bases in China. Such schemes were ambitious and perhaps premature, but their very existence reveals an altered horizon of possibility. A country that imagines striking back is already psychologically in a different position from one concerned only with preventing collapse.     Yichang mattered directly to the fighting in Xiangbei, but it also mattered independently. It was tied to the security of the Yangtze approach and therefore to the defense of Chongqing. It belonged not only to the immediate problem of battlefield maneuver but to the larger question of whether China could do more than absorb Japanese offensives. Could Chinese forces exploit enemy overstretch? Could Japanese advances be turned into liabilities? Could local counterattacks and rear harassment generate effects greater than the raw size of the forces involved? By September 1941, these questions were no longer hypothetical. They were urgent. In Chiang's mind, Hunan and Hubei had become the focal point of China's war effort in that season.   The struggle around Changsha was central to that effort. From Chongqing, Chiang telegraphed Commander Xue Yue of the Ninth War Zone with instructions that made both the danger and the opportunity plain. The message emphasized that the enemy in northern Hunan, though still pressing hard, had already been bravely intercepted by Chinese units and was now exhausted, with lines of advance increasingly difficult to sustain. This, Chiang argued, created an excellent opportunity for Chinese forces to strike at the enemy's rear and seek annihilation rather than mere delay. He urged officers and soldiers alike to remain determined to destroy the enemy. Even if Japanese troops advanced to the vicinity of Changsha itself, Chinese forces were to renew their efforts, maintain their confidence in victory, and prevent the enemy from establishing a foothold.   The telegram also pointed to the broader operational picture. Japanese troops drawn from the sectors of the Fifth and Sixth War Zones had been committed to the invasion of northern Hunan, leaving their rear areas dangerously exposed. The Third, Fifth, and Sixth War Zones had launched supporting offensives on the twenty-third. Therefore, the Ninth War Zone had to strike resolutely and fiercely, preventing the Japanese from coordinating their forces and frustrating any attempt to occupy Changsha. The message was at once exhortation and operational logic. It reflected the core Chinese problem in the campaign: the Japanese thrust was dangerous and had to be blocked, but the very speed and depth of that thrust could also expose the attacker. Yet by the time Chiang sent his instructions, the danger around Changsha was already severe. After the 74th Army had been beaten back, there was no major Chinese force north of the city that could confidently block the Japanese advance in a straightforward, stable line. The Japanese 4th Division, together with the Hayabuchi Detachment, had defeated the 95th Division of the Chinese 37th Army and pushed toward Changsha. The prospect that the city might fall, at least temporarily, was no longer remote.   In response, Xia Chuzhong's 79th Army from the Sixth War Zone was ordered to move toward the city. Its vanguard was Wang Jiaben's 98th Division. That movement was a forced march in the literal sense. It was not a flourish of language but an admission of emergency. Troops were pushed beyond ordinary endurance because there was no time to gather strength under favorable conditions. Changsha could not wait for convenience, rest, or ideal concentration. Either reinforcements arrived in time to fight immediately, or they arrived too late to matter. Wang Jiaben was no stranger to battle. A veteran officer from the Yunnan Army, he had fought the Japanese repeatedly—more than twenty times since the outbreak of the War of Resistance. He belonged to that generation of commanders who had been shaped by the fragmented military politics of Republican China but whose careers were now being rewritten by the national emergency of the anti-Japanese war.   During the First Battle of Changsha, he had already distinguished himself. He led troops in a counterattack along the Tongcheng line in southern Hubei and intercepted retreating Japanese forces at Longmenchang and Changshoujie, killing more than a thousand enemy soldiers. He had experience, reputation, and a sense of what it meant to fight in the Changsha theater. This time he marched from Changde, driving his division forward with all possible speed. By noon on September 26 the 98th Division reached a position about two kilometers northeast of Changsha. There was scarcely time to settle the men. No careful preparation was possible. They had arrived because the city was in danger, and battle began almost at once. At dusk the division engaged the Hayabuchi Detachment.   The fighting continued until late in the night without decisive result. That in itself was costly enough. Troops who have just completed a punishing march are already close to the limits of their endurance. To be thrown immediately into combat magnifies every weakness: thirst, fatigue, confusion, and the difficulty of building fieldworks under pressure. What the soldiers of the 98th Division could do that night, they did with their hands and whatever tools they had. They scraped positions out of the earth. They assembled makeshift cover. Officers moved along the line trying to impose order on terrain that had become a battlefield almost as soon as it was occupied. At dawn on September 27 the Japanese intensified the pressure from the air.   More than twenty aircraft bombed the 98th Division's positions, tearing apart the earthworks that officers and soldiers had spent the night constructing. Bombing had a double effect. Physically, it damaged positions, wounded men, and disrupted preparations. Psychologically, it reminded defenders that they were being observed from above and struck by an enemy against whom they could often do little in the sky. Immediately after the bombing came a fierce infantry assault. Wang Jiaben and several other commanders went down to their respective regiments to supervise the fighting personally. This was dangerous, but under such circumstances commanders often believed that presence itself mattered. When fieldworks are collapsing, shell bursts are continuous, and communications are unreliable, authority must sometimes be carried by a body rather than a wire. The defenders held.   Again and again the Japanese attacked. Again and again they were repulsed only to reorganize and come on once more. Every minute the Chinese line remained in place was bought with blood. Fallen and wounded men were carried rearward in what seemed an endless stream. The cost of resistance accumulated visibly before the eyes of those still fighting. By noon even water could no longer be delivered to the front. That detail reveals the intensity of the battle more clearly than many grander statements could. A line that cannot be supplied even with water has reached a condition of severe strain. During brief pauses in the fighting, officers and soldiers pulled out dry rations and chewed them slowly, swallowing with difficulty while they waited for the next attack. Such moments are among the most characteristic in battle: not the long, smooth continuity imagined in peacetime rhetoric, but brief interludes of miserable necessity between explosions. At two in the afternoon the crisis deepened sharply.   A unit of the Japanese 4th Division worked its way behind the 98th Division's position and attacked from the rear. This was the kind of tactical development every defending commander dreads. A force can endure heavy frontal pressure if its line remains coherent and its rear reasonably secure. But when enemy troops appear behind a position, the entire structure of defense begins to dissolve. There, behind the line, were more than a hundred Chinese wounded awaiting evacuation. Japanese soldiers attacked them with bayonets. One of the wounded Chinese soldiers, already beyond ordinary capacity for resistance, rushed forward and detonated a grenade against a Japanese attacker. It was an act of desperation, but also of defiance. The episode captures something essential about the tone of the battle around Changsha. This was not a neat engagement between organized lines alone. It was a desperate collision in which even the badly wounded were drawn into last resistance. For Wang Jiaben, however, the tactical reality was impossible to deny. If he stayed where he was, the division might be annihilated. Personal courage could not alter encirclement. Resentfully, bitterly, and under the kind of pressure that leaves permanent scars on a commander's memory, he ordered retreat. When he led the survivors off the battlefield, fewer than half his men remained.   Reinforcements from another direction now entered the struggle. The Provisional 2nd Army of the Seventh War Zone dispatched the Provisional 8th Division under Zhang Junsong. At seven in the evening on September 27, Zhang's force arrived at Zuojiatang on the eastern outskirts of Changsha. Personnel of the Ninth War Zone waiting there reported grim news: a Japanese detachment had already entered the city that afternoon, and another detachment was only three kilometers away. The situation invited rashness. A commander arriving near a threatened city at dusk, with reports that the enemy is already inside, may feel compelled to hurl troops forward immediately in a gesture of resolution. Yet night fighting in an urban approach without adequate reconnaissance can turn courage into waste. Zhang Junsong considered the matter carefully. He concluded that to rush blindly into the city at night would likely produce confusion and heavy losses. Instead he first sought to strike the enemy outside the city. His troops deployed quietly and crept forward through the darkness, launching a probing attack. But they soon discovered that the Japanese were fully prepared and not vulnerable to easy surprise. The line could not be broken. With no prospect of success, the force withdrew.   The moment is revealing because it shows how narrow the margin had become. Chinese commanders were trying to recover initiative while still groping through uncertainty. Reports were incomplete, Japanese dispositions difficult to fix, and every hour dangerous. On the evening of September 28, the 79th Army's 6th Provisional Division occupied Yuelu Mountain west of Changsha. From that height officers and soldiers looked across the Xiang River toward the city. Changsha, for the first time, was in Japanese hands. The emotional force of that sight can only be imagined. Changsha had lived for years under threat. It had been defended, contested, prepared, and feared. The possibility of its loss had hovered over military planning and public consciousness alike. Now the danger had become fact. A city that had stood as an object of effort and anxiety was visibly occupied by the enemy. No single feeling could have governed the men who saw it. There must have been anger, shame, weariness, and dread—but also stubbornness. For in war a city seen in enemy hands is not always simply lost. Sometimes it is a summons.   Late that night Zhao Jiping, commander of the 6th Provisional Division, received a telegram from Xue Yue. He read it and then stood before the map for a long time. Days of anxiety began to lift. He was not alone in that reaction. Many Chinese generals involved in the campaign had felt that they were fighting a confused and chaotic battle. Japanese movements had been broad, rapid, and difficult to pin down. The Ninth War Zone had thrown numerous units into blocking actions, yet both well-regarded formations and weaker, improvised units had repeatedly failed to hold. After ten days of combat, Chinese losses were heavy. But Japanese forces too had been worn, stretched, and damaged. Only now, as the Japanese reached the apparent culmination of their advance, did the Ninth War Zone begin to recover rhythm. Chaos did not disappear, but it became more legible. The possibility of a more ordered counteroffensive emerged.   In the early hours of September 29, Zhao Jiping issued the order to force a crossing of the Xiang River and attack the enemy in Changsha. The preparations consumed the entire day. River crossings under combat conditions are among the most delicate operations in war. Boats must be assembled or found. Units must be organized into waves. Timing matters. Surprise matters. The location of landing points matters. The men themselves matter most of all, because they must sit exposed in fragile craft knowing that the real test will begin not in the middle of the river but at the far bank. Late that night the division crossed secretly by boat in six groups. The crossing itself went well enough. The river did not betray them. The groups made progress in darkness. Yet everyone involved understood that smooth movement on the water did not guarantee success. The crucial question was what waited at the landing points. It was expected that the troops going ashore at Daximen would be first to meet the Japanese. Once battle began there, the rest of the crossing accelerated.   Chinese soldiers landed, attacked fiercely, and drove the enemy back from the riverbank. The momentum of the assault mattered. In such moments hesitation on shore can doom an entire crossing, but aggression can seize a foothold before the defender fully stabilizes. By the time Chinese forces entered the city, dawn was breaking. Then came street fighting. Changsha had ceased to be an objective on a map. It became again what cities become in war: a place of corners, walls, alleys, debris, smoke, and sudden death. Fighting in a city strips away much of the abstraction through which campaigns are often remembered. Streets channel movement. Buildings become cover, obstacles, or traps. Distances shrink but danger multiplies. A few men behind masonry can delay many more. Noise magnifies confusion. The city itself seems to fragment into a hundred separate battlefields. For Changsha, the long season of anxious anticipation ended in direct flame.   Yet to understand the campaign only through the struggle at Changsha would be incomplete. While the city drew attention as the central prize, another set of operations was unfolding across Hunan and Hubei—less dramatic in appearance perhaps, but strategically significant. These were the actions of the 27th Army Group under Yang Sen. If the fighting around Changsha demonstrated the pressure of frontal battle, Yang Sen's operations illustrated another principle entirely: the stubborn, opportunistic use of weaker forces to harass, sting, and trouble a stronger enemy from behind. The 27th Army Group was composed largely of Sichuan troops. Their presence speaks to one of the larger political transformations of the war. Republican China had long been fractured by regional militarism. Armies had often owed stronger loyalty to commanders, provinces, or local power structures than to any unified national command. Yet the anti-Japanese war compelled a partial reordering of those loyalties. Many warlord forces, however imperfectly integrated, now turned their weapons outward under Nationalist command.   There were exceptions. Some men, like Han Fuqu, had preserved their own strength at the cost of military responsibility and lost both opportunity and honor in doing so. But in the main, especially among middle and lower-ranking officers and ordinary soldiers, the imperative of national survival overrode provincial identity. Men from distant regions marched and fought in terrains not their own because the war no longer permitted a narrow conception of interest. Yang Sen himself was an old warlord soldier, one of those figures formed in the fractured military world of earlier decades. By 1941 he was deputy commander of the Ninth War Zone and commander-in-chief of the 27th Army Group. Along the Hunan-Hubei-Jiangxi border he had long been cautious in his operations.   At the beginning of the northern Hunan battle, his troops proved unable to withstand the force of the Japanese offensive and retreated in disorder into mountains and forests. That fact should not be softened. They were pushed back. But retreat did not mean disappearance. This is where Yang Sen's role became important. Once the main Japanese force had advanced far ahead, the troops that had scattered began to reemerge. They knew the terrain. They knew the roads, villages, passes, and wooded approaches. If they could not defeat the Japanese in a grand collision, they could search for openings behind the advancing columns.   On September 20, as the Japanese main force drove into the heart of northern Hunan, Yang Sen led elements of the 4th, 58th, and 20th Armies in pursuit for an entire day. The main body of the 4th Army had already been badly beaten at the Xinqiang River line, and only the 60th Division, recently transferred from the 37th Army, remained relatively intact. That single fact sharply defined the weakness of his means. He was not pursuing with fresh and powerful forces prepared for a decisive encounter. He was pursuing with fragments, survivors, and such units as still retained some offensive potential. But the Japanese, intent on rapid advance southward, paid too little attention to what followed behind them. That was the opening Yang Sen needed.   On the morning of September 21, the 60th Division acted on information supplied by an old beggar. Such details often sound almost literary, but they remind us that war in China was never fought by armies alone. Villagers, refugees, peddlers, guides, boatmen, and the destitute all participated in the circulation of military knowledge. A beggar could see what a reconnaissance officer had missed. On the basis of that tip, the 60th Division launched a surprise attack on the supply depot of the Japanese 40th Division at Zhangjiayuan. Division Commander Dong Yu led the action.   The Chinese quickly overwhelmed the more than three hundred Japanese troops guarding the depot. Once they broke in, they discovered an astonishing quantity of matériel: shell boxes, ammunition, food, medicine, gasoline, explosives, protective clothing, telephone wire, body bags, stretchers, and more, all stacked beneath heavy canvas. For men accustomed to scarcity, it must have seemed almost unreal. Dong Yu, delighted, is remembered as exclaiming to his deputy commander, "It's practically a department store!" The line has a momentary comic brightness in the middle of war, and that is part of why it survives. But its deeper significance lies in what it reveals. A modern army advancing deep into hostile territory is sustained by accumulation—ammunition, fuel, wire, medicines, rations, transport materials. To seize such a depot is not merely to take objects. It is to grasp the hidden skeleton of movement. Dong Yu then issued a one-word order: "Move."   At once the whole division became a swarm of carriers. Officers and soldiers grabbed whatever they could and began hauling the captured supplies away. The scene must have been one of extraordinary improvised energy—riflemen transformed into laborers, war reduced for a moment to the brute physical act of lifting, dragging, and carrying. They moved like ants dismantling a storehouse. But there was too much to remove and too little time. Before even two regiments had completed the work, the Japanese returned in force. Enraged, they sent more than a dozen aircraft to bomb the troops carrying off the captured crates, while over a thousand infantrymen rushed in on the ground. Dong Yu immediately ordered the men to abandon what remained and destroy it. Amid deafening explosions, the 60th Division withdrew from Zhangjiayuan. The Japanese pursued hard, driving them back into the mountains before finally stopping. Measured purely in terms of territorial occupation, the action changed little. The Chinese did not hold the depot. They were forced back again. But judged in operational terms, the raid mattered. Supplies had been captured, destroyed, or disrupted. Japanese rear security had been embarrassed. Time and energy had been consumed in response. In a campaign where the Japanese were racing south and depending increasingly on stretched lines, such harassment was not trivial.   After September 23, Yang Sen expanded these efforts. He sent whole divisions to harass the Japanese rear while also dispatching battalions and companies to ambush supply columns and disrupt transport lines. This was not the kind of warfare that produces neat dramatic maps in conventional military histories. The actions were scattered, local, opportunistic, and often inconclusive. Yet precisely for that reason they can be misunderstood. Not every useful military action ends in the destruction of an enemy division. Sometimes its value lies in forcing a stronger opponent to spend attention where he had hoped to spend only momentum. These operations were costly and uncertain. Small Chinese units striking roads and depots risked encirclement or aerial punishment. Yet they possessed one advantage: they did not need to win a grand battle to matter. They needed only to make movement harder, supply more precarious, and the rear less secure.   On September 25, even after the 26th and 37th Armies had suffered defeat elsewhere, Yang Sen gathered the troops that still retained some offensive capacity and launched another attack. In these actions, the 90th Division captured Wukou; the 59th Division reached the north bank of the Miluo River; the 60th Division advanced to Donggang; and elements of the 58th Army controlled the Yuanba–Zheyangqiao highway line by the twenty-sixth. These gains were not the dramatic centerpiece of the campaign. But they formed part of the cumulative pressure on Japanese operations. Every road contested from the rear, every convoy threatened, every depot exposed, and every forced diversion of troops weakened the enemy's ability to convert tactical advance into stable success.   The battlefield was fluid enough that Yang Sen's headquarters itself had to keep moving—from the Miluo River northward to Pingjiang. Mobile headquarters in such conditions lived under constant uncertainty. Reports arrived late or contradictory. Rumors outran facts. The front could bend in unpredictable ways. A command post that seemed safely behind the line in the morning might by afternoon lie only a few kilometers from enemy forces. Years later Mao Jiuyin, who had then served as an operations staff officer under Yang Sen, recalled the old commander's outward behavior in those dangerous days. Yang Sen, Mao remembered, was always joking with the people around him and could still laugh and talk during battle. On one occasion he even joked with his bodyguard about putting chili oil in his tea. To younger staff officers, such behavior appeared almost absurd.   Yet they knew how dangerous their situation often was. Sometimes they were only a few kilometers from the main Japanese forces. There is more than anecdote in this memory. Old commanders often cultivated a style of ease under danger not because they felt no fear, but because they believed visible calm itself was part of command. Men take emotional bearings from those above them. A commander who panics spreads panic faster than any enemy breakthrough. Yang Sen was sixty years old during the Second Battle of Changsha, and he liked to remark that he was five years older than Chiang Kai-shek. Age had not removed him from the front. His function in the campaign was not to shatter the enemy in one decisive frontal blow. It was to persist, reappear, sting, and remain troublesome. The 27th Army Group followed the Japanese nearly all the way to the outskirts of Changsha.   They did not fight many large set-piece engagements. That was never their main value. But the Japanese could not ignore them. If Japanese units turned and tried to hit them directly, they tended to dissolve into the landscape. If the Japanese pushed on and ignored them, they reappeared to sabotage roads, hit supply lines, and create alarms in the rear. Even Japanese official histories later described them memorably. They called them "like a swarm of annoying flies." The phrase was meant as contempt. But as so often happens in war, an insult became an accurate description of effect. If these Chinese troops could not be tigers in formal battle, they could still become intolerable as flies. And under certain conditions—fatigue, heat, uncertainty, stretched supply, shaken morale—flies can become more oppressive than an enemy would like to admit.   When later generations look back on campaigns, they often search for a single explanatory image. But the fighting of September 1941 resists reduction to one symbol alone. What gives the campaign its force in memory is not one isolated episode, but the convergence of several pressures at once: a city under threat, a command trying to coordinate multiple fronts, exhausted reinforcements thrown directly into battle, Japanese forces advancing quickly but becoming increasingly vulnerable the farther they pushed, and Chinese troops in the rear refusing to disappear after defeat. Seen from Chongqing, the campaign was a matter of telegrams, maps, and the management of strategic risk. Seen from the front, it was a matter of thirst, mud, broken fieldworks, sudden bombing, exhausted marching, and the uncertainty of whether the next order meant reinforcement, retreat, or death. Seen from the Japanese side, it was initially an aggressive advance toward an important objective, but one increasingly troubled by stretched supply, difficult terrain, and the persistent reappearance of Chinese forces behind the line of movement.   At the same time, the campaign reveals a Chinese war effort that had become more resilient than in the earliest years of the conflict. The Japanese advance toward Changsha was dangerous and at moments appeared close to success. Chinese blocking forces suffered severe defeats. Units arrived exhausted and were hurled into action at once. Commanders lost men at devastating rates. Changsha itself briefly fell into enemy hands. And yet the city was not simply surrendered as an accomplished fact. Chinese forces regrouped. Orders were coordinated across war zones. Reinforcements marched at desperate speed. Counterattacks were mounted. Forces west of the Xiang prepared and crossed back into the city. Elsewhere, troops under Yang Sen gnawed at the Japanese rear and made advance more costly than a map of front lines alone might suggest. This combination of desperate frontal resistance and incessant rear harassment was one of the characteristic strengths of China's resistance in this stage of the war. China could not always match Japanese power in one concentrated blow. But it could absorb, delay, fragment, and trouble that power across space and time. That is why the struggle around Changsha in late September 1941 deserves to be remembered not merely as a sequence of engagements, but as a layered event in which tactical battle, morale, logistics, political endurance, and international context all converged.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late September 1941, Japan pushed deeper into China, but Chinese forces—supported gradually by international help—kept resisting. Changsha in Hunan became the central point of the conflict, seen as vital to strategic control in south-central China. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Hunan and Hubei, Yang Sen's 27th Army Group—often using smaller, opportunistic actions—reappeared behind Japanese lines to disrupt depots and convoys. Even when Chinese gains were temporary, the cumulative pressure delayed Japanese momentum.       

Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Why does Rory detest modern styles like Brutalism? Listen as he explains the pros and cons of skyscrapers, why people love remodeling, and how to discuss a topic even when you're not 'in the know'! Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class with Rory here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://successwithielts.com/rory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our course on Phrasal Verbs: https://successwithielts.com/podcourses Transcript: https://successwithielts.com/ Find an IELTS Speaking Partner: https://links.successwithielts.com/ieltspartner Our social media: https://linktr.ee/successwithielts © 2025 Podcourses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks after two structural columns buckled at a Midtown Manhattan high rise, WNYC and Gothamist reporter David Brand shares new details from hours spent reviewing hundreds of pages of building plans at the Department of Buildings. He explains what the plans called for, what the engineering firm says about whether required steel reinforcements were installed and what city officials are investigating now. Plus, WNYC and Gothamistreporter Arya Sundaram reflects on how the 2026 FIFA World Cup brought immigrant communities together at watch parties across New York City. Photo: New York City Department of Buildings -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What are bumpers for? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!The Steves are flying again this week, with both well ahead of the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500. But which surprise name has been driving both portfolios higher?Since we identified it as a top UK stock for 2026, Vistry has been the FTSE 250's worst performers this year. And it's down again after announcing H1 profits below expectations.Steve W, however, thinks there are encouraging signs for H2. So could the UK's most heavily-shorted stock be set for a comeback in the second half of the year?It's earnings season in the S&P 500 and that means one thing: banks. This time, it's Steve D covering the Wall Street results from Wall Street.The news is pretty positive, which shouldn't be a big surprise. But is a victory lap in order closer to home with a FTSE 100 name in the Britbox?Steve W has a new name on his list of stocks to buy. It's Exor – a Dutch holding company trading at a huge discount to its NAV.By itself, that's not necessarily anything new. But it's biggest asset might be a unique opportunity to get exposure to a premium name at a huge discount.Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Free Share + Exclusive Deals — Start Here:

Send us Fan MailGeorge Barrios, former co-president of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), co-founder and co-CEO of Isos Capital Management, and author of Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt, joins Joe to explore leadership, preparation, reinvention, and what it takes to transform an organization.This episode examines George's unconventional path from nearly failing out of high school to becoming one of the key executives behind WWE's evolution into a global media and entertainment company. George reflects on the influence of his Cuban immigrant parents, the people who redirected his life, and the lessons he carried from each stage of his career.George also explains why conviction should come from preparation rather than bravado. He shares how deep research, systems thinking, and a willingness to understand every part of a business helped him and Michelle Wilson recognize opportunities others could not yet see.Joe and George also discuss:Why life should be viewed as a movie rather than a single photographHow George's parents shaped his approach to work, learning, and adversityWhy leaders must understand the box before they can think outside of itWhy a short presentation may require hundreds of pages of preparationThe difference between confidence and unsupported certaintyWhy people often want the position but not the work required to earn itThe emotional journey of building something meaningfulWhy reading widely helps leaders connect ideas across industriesWhy experts can explain how a system works but may struggle to imagine how it could changeWhat George learned from working alongside Vince McMahon and Michelle WilsonHow George thinks about failure, reputation, reinvention, and rewriting the endingThis episode is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers who want to think more deeply, prepare more thoroughly, and pursue difficult work with conviction. It is also for anyone whose life has not followed a straight path and needs the reminder that one bad photograph does not define the entire movie.Watch the full interview on YouTubeA special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

My friend Ben Kamon is on the Mt. Rushmore of knife makers and we always have  blast when he's  on. Humble, funny and insightful Ben and I talked about a lot of things from Knife Making, Parenting and if Buildings in NYC are falling down. Ben is always fantastic and can't wait to talk him again. Thanks - GF Follow Ben on IG:https://www.instagram.com/kamon_knives?igsh=MTB1eWVwMnd3c2phcw==Get on his website and subscribe to his newsletter:High Performance Custom Kitchen Knives | Benjamin Kamon | Korneuburg Follow Full Blast on Instagram and join the party pal:https://www.instagram.com/thefullblastpodcast?igsh=Nm5jbmFqYXJ2eHJoFollow CMA on IG:https://www.instagram.com/centerformetalarts?igsh=MWRqdzlwZnV2d3BnYQ==Take a class at CMA:Center for Metal Arts | Forging workshops in Johnstown, PAIf you want to support Full Blast Support  Feder Knives - ( go buy a shirt )https://www.federknives.com/Go to CMA's website and check out the opportunities: https://centerformetalarts.org/Take a class: https://centerformetalarts.org/Follow CMA on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/centerformetalarts/?hl=enPlease subscribe, leave a review and tell your friends about the show. it helps me out a lot! Welcome aboard Phoenix Abrasives!Phoenixabrasives.com Phoenix abrasives supplies superior abrasive products for every application. Knifemaking, Metal fabrication, glass fab, floor sanding and Crankshaft! Belts, grinding and cutting discs, Flap Discs, surface conditioning FB10 at checkout gets 10% off your order at Check out.Welcome back! Nordic Edge:@nordic_edge on IG Nordicedge.com.auNordic Edge is about the joy of making something with your own hands. our one stop shop for tools, supplies and help when it comes to knife making, blacksmithing, leatherworking, spoon carving and other crafts where you get to take some time out for yourself and turn an idea into something tangible. Nordic Edge also holds hands-on workshops in the “lost arts” of blacksmithing, knife making and spoon carving. Come spend a day with us and go home with new skills and something you made with your own hands. They have the  guidance to help accelerate your creativity and the  Tools, products, supplies to help you manifest your ideas. NordicEdge.com.auThank you Baker Forge & Tool for your beautiful Steel. Go to Bakerforge.com to see all the incredible steels they offer. ‘FullBlast' gets you 10% off your order. CHECK OUT THE NEW ADDITIONS TO THE GATOR PISS LINE - GATOR PISS MAX & GATOR PISS HEAVYWelcome to our new Sponsor- EVENHEAT- Manufacturers of the best heat treating ovens available.  To find your next oven go to Evenheat-kiln.comFollow them on Instagram: Welcome aboard Texas Farrier Supply! For all your forging and knife making supplies go to www.texasfarriersupply.com   and get 10% off your order with PROMOCODE Knifetalk10Brodbeck Ironworks Makers of an Incredibly versatile grinder, with Many different attachmentsLeather sewing equipment and even abrasives Check out Brodbeck Ironworks for yourself:https://brodbeckironworks.com/“Knifetalk10” gets you 10% off Follow Brodbeck Ironworks on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/brodbeck_ironworks/ TotalBoatAdhesives, paints, primers and polishing compounds.Go to http://totalboat.com/FULLBLASTTo support the podcastG.L. Hansen & Sons On Instagramhttps://instagram.com/g.l._hansenandsons?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Gcarta.bigcartel.comG-Carta is unique composite of natural fibers and fabrics mixed with epoxy under pressure and heat Boofa, ripple cut, Tuxini, by Mikie, Mahi Mahi, Radio worm g-cartaPheasant by MikieColorama by MikieHoopla by MikeAmazing colors and razzle dazzle for your project. MARITIME KNIFE SUPPLIESMaritimeknifesupply.CAAll your knifemaking needs, belts abrasive, steals, kilns forges presses, heat treating ovens anvils and everything you need to get started or resupply. Including Dr. Thomas's book:“Knife Engineering”They're in Canada but ship to the US with ease and you can take advantage of the exchange rate The steel selection is always growing and Lawrence just got 3900 lbs. of steel in.10% off on abrasive belt packs of 10 get a hold of https://www.instagram.com/maritimeknifesupply/ and see what the fuss is about.Welcome Tormek as a sponsor to the show. Take your sharpening to a new level. I love these sharpening machines. Waterfed, easy to use. Jigs included. Definitely check out what they have to offer. If you need it sharpened, Tormek is definitely something for you:https://tormek.com/en/inspiration/woodworking--craftsVisit Tormek's website: https://tormek.com/enFollow Tormek on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tormek_sharpening/?hl=enFollow Tormek on TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@tormek_sharpening?lang=enGo look at the course curriculum at CMA:https://centerformetalarts.org/workshops/** Taking classes from some of the best in forging at one of the best facilities in the country is an excellent opportunity to propel yourself as a blacksmith. Not to be missed. And with housing on the campus it's a great way to get yourself to the next level. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Air quality concerns in NYC due to Canadian willdfire smoke... Deadline arrives for 19 Upper East Side buildings to disinfect their cooling towers... 2 Manhattan dessert shops up for title of 'America's Best Ice Cream' full 455 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:50:45 +0000 mi3YeCKGMWJ0DhXYCLOztFjcDDifb9PN news 1010 WINS ALL LOCAL news Air quality concerns in NYC due to Canadian willdfire smoke... Deadline arrives for 19 Upper East Side buildings to disinfect their cooling towers... 2 Manhattan dessert shops up for title of 'America's Best Ice Cream' The podcast is hyper-focused on local news, issues and events in the New York City area. This podcast's purpose is to give New Yorkers New York news about their neighborhoods and shine a light on the issues happening in their backyard. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.

Today we’re talking about something that can literally save lives, protect equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, prevent product damage, eliminate downtime, and even set you up for success outside the warehouse. It’s called the pre-trip. Now, I know what some of you are thinking, Yeah, yeah check the forklift and move on. But today I want to challenge that thought. A pre-trip isn’t just paperwork, and it's not something regulatory agencies dreamed up to slow us down. It’s one of the greatest habits successful people ever develop. I'm Marty with Warehouse and Operations as a Career. And I thought we'd look at the pretrip a little differently today.   Aviation, railroads, trucking and manufacturing all adopted inspection checklists because investigations repeatedly showed that many accidents weren’t caused by equipment failures, they were caused by failures to discover problems before using the equipment.  Our pre-trip really answers only four questions. Is it safe? Is it operational? Is it legal? And am I ready? That simple framework works for every machine in the building. And as we'll learn in a few minutes several other positions!   Think about one of the most talked about pieces of equipment. The counterbalance forklift. We'll check out the forks, mast, chains, and look for any hydraulic leaks. We'll inspect the tires, the steering and brakes, seat belt, horn, backup alarm, lights, the capacity plate, LP tank or battery and our overhead guard.   Another biggie is the Reach Truck. We'll have a few more things to check here like the load wheels and outriggers, the reach mechanism, joy stick or lever controls, more hydraulic hoses, the battery connection and stability.   Let's see, we don't have to hit them all but I did want to talk about a few or our more common ones. I'll skip these, let's see, oh here, the Rider Pallet Jack. Many people underestimate the pallet jacks. First up, the belly button reverse switch, its brake operation and plugging, the fork tips, the drive wheel, its battery, steering arm, and horn. How many foot injuries have you seen here because operators become too comfortable? I hope we'd all agree that even one is too many right?   And the Floor Scrubber. People laugh until it floods an aisle. We'll need to Inspect things like the squeegee, pads, brushes, the water tanks, and the recovery tank. And its battery, warning lights and dashboard.  A bad scrubber creates slip hazards instead of removing them.  Oh, and I wanted to mention the cardboard and shrink wrap Baler. We need to check the emergency stop, safety gate, interlocks, and look for any hydraulic leaks, and inspect the chains and door latches. The most dangerous baler isn’t the broken one. It’s the one someone bypassed something on.  And of course, any type of Manufacturing Equipment will need a pre-trip, checking the guards, emergency stops, sensors, air pressure, lubrication points, tooling, and the product path. The first product shouldn’t be the test piece. The inspection should be.  And there's dozens and dozens of other pieces of equipment or machines. Like our conveyor systems, the yard jockey, another important piece is the clamp attachment and slip sheet attachment. Pretrips are a must for all of them.   So, what if you don’t operate equipment? Guess what? I think you still need a pre-trip.  What if you're an Office Employee? I feel you should be asking yourself. Do I have today’s priorities? Laptop? Chargers? Calendar? Checking for my Meetings? Deadlines? Did I answer yesterday’s emails?  Or if I'm a Recruiter? Have I prepared Today’s interviews? Applicants confirmed? Backgrounds complete? Job descriptions ready? Do I know the Hiring managers expectations?  And I think there’s a few questions every associate can pretrip themselves with.  Our minds deserve a pre-trip too. Am I distracted or tired? Am I frustrated or am I bringing yesterday’s problems into today’s shift? Those questions may be more important than checking tire pressure.  The pre-trip isn’t about checking things off on a sheet of paper or program. It’s about respecting what could happen if you don’t. Professionals don’t inspect their stuff because they expect something to be wrong. They inspect because they refuse to be surprised.   We all know that most accidents don’t begin with the accident itself. They begin with a decision. I’m in a hurry, I’ll check it later, It worked fine yesterday, or It’ll probably be okay.  Every incident investigation, insurance claim, equipment failure, damaged product, or near miss has a starting point. Many times, that starting point was someone choosing not to spend five minutes looking over their equipment.  A pre-trip isn’t just looking for what’s broken. It’s looking for what’s changing. That tire that’s lost a little air. The hydraulic hose beginning to rub against the roller. A chain that’s becoming loose. A battery cable that’s starting to fray. Problems rarely appear all at once. They grow little by little. The pre-trip is our opportunity to catch them while they’re still small.  And we need to remember that finding a problem isn’t the end of the pre-trip. It’s actually the beginning. We may need to Lock it  Out and Tag it Out. Or remove our favorite piece of equipment from service, and notify supervision, calling maintenance and using another truck if available. Professionals understand production never comes before safety.  A pre-trip protects People, Product, Customers, our Buildings, the Company’s reputation, our Production schedules, Inventory accuracy, Budgets, and well, our Careers.   Ok, I need to get back to work myself but tomorrow morning, No matter what your job is, let’s Perform a pre-trip. Not because someone tells you to. But because professionals prepare before they perform. Inspect your equipment or machine. Inspect your workspace. And look over your schedule. Let’s check our attitude and our priorities. Inspect your day. Success rarely depends on what happens after productivity starts. It depends on what you did 5 minutes before that time.   So, I won't go on and on here. We hear about the pretrip every day, I hope we put a different spin on it today and gave you a little different way to look at it. Yall be safe out there, in both your personal and professional lives. 

Glen Allmendinger, the Founder and President of Harbor Research and co-author of the Harvard Business Review article “Four Strategies for the Age of Smart Services” … Read more The post What Happens When Buildings Start Making Decisions On Their Own? appeared first on Top Entrepreneurs Podcast | Enterprise Podcast Network.

Victoria Stulgis, President of Black Bear Energy, discusses the complexities of deploying solar on commercial real estate portfolios. The conversation covers landlord-tenant split incentives, third-party ownership structures, hosted community solar models, and how policy shapes market opportunity across states like New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois. Black Bear Energy's role as an owner's representative in helping institutional real estate investors navigate and scale renewable energy adoption is also examined.   Topics Covered Black Bear Energy www.blackbearenergy.com ESS = Energy Storage System Battery Storage ASES = American Solar Energy Society Real Estate Solar Commercial Solar Landlord Tenant Incentives Hosted Community Solar Solar Policy Impact Portfolio Scale Distributed Solar Net-Metering B-Corps REC = Renewable Energy Certificate SREC = Solar Renewable Energy Certificate   Reach out to Victoria Stulgis here: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/victoriastulgis Website: www.blackbearenergy.com Email: vstulgis@blackbearenergy.com Black Bear Email: info@blackbearenergy.com   Learn more at www.solarSEAN.com and be sure to get NABCEP certified by taking Sean's classes at www.heatspring.com/sean www.solarsean.com/pvipexam

PXY Mornings w/ Moose and Breezy! 6AM Hour: If you had the power to repurpose an empty building in Rochester, what building would you select and what would you do with it?

The All Local for Monday, July 13th, 2026

In this episode, I sat down with Robert Schram from Cedes to talk about how technology is reshaping the elevator industry. Robert's path into elevators started in construction, laying flooring to fund surfing trips, before eventually working his way from field repair into some of the most advanced conversations happening around IoT, predictive maintenance, and smart buildings. We discussed the evolution of elevator safety, what it means to “unleash the voice of the elevator,” and how new technology could transform the way elevators are maintained.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:40 Journey into the Elevator Industry05:52 Innovations in Elevator Safety Technology07:49 The Future of Elevator Maintenance10:14 Data-Driven Decision Making in Elevators13:35 The Role of IoT in Elevators15:45 Challenges in Adopting New Technologies19:22 The Importance of Transparency in Elevator Services27:41 Smart Behavior and Future Innovations31:36 Elevators in the Connected Building of the Future34:38 Advice for the Next Generation in the Industry35:55 OutroResources: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatorcareers/ Submit a Topic Idea for the Podcast: https://elevatorcareers.net/ Connect With Us: linktr.ee/AllredGroupA Message From Our Sponsor: Looking for top-tier talent to join your team? Call The Allred Group for your elevator recruiting needs! With a deep network and unmatched industry expertise, we quickly connect you with skilled professionals who are ready to elevate your team. Let us handle the hiring process, so you can focus on growing your business with the best in the industry. Reach out today, and let us help you take your business to new heights! To contact us go to: https://allredgroup.com

Drawing from his local and overseas architecture experience, recently appointed Plus Studio principal John Walsh, in this episode, unpacks how shared-use, hybrid buildings—blending education, civic, and commercial functions—are redefining how we design for density, community, and long-term value. From navigating security and adaptability to stretching the design brief for greater impact, this conversation looks at how architects can respond creatively to the pressures of urban growth. 

Sources:https://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

The Bible is not ancient words. It has so much to say to us today. It is for every generation but especially needed in this generation.   Then Accusations False witnesses came forward accusing Stephen of blasphemous words against the Torah and the Temple (Acts 6:11, 13) These are charges that would lead to capital punishment. Acts 7:1 the high priest asks Stephen if these charges are true. Stephen begins his response very graciously "brothers and fathers…" and at that moment Stephen goes from Defendant to Prosecutor. Stephen's Response (part 1) - Torah A trip through Israel's history… Abraham (Acts 7:2b-3)  Stephen begins his speech with "The GOD OF GLORY appeared to our father Abraham…" and shares the story of Abraham. We will see he ends His story with the words Glory and God as well! Joseph (Acts 7:9-10)  Joseph was hated by his brothers, but ultimately used by God to save his brothers and families. Those God uses are often persecuted. Moses (Acts 7:25-40a)  Moses was used by God to save the people, but the people did not recognize he was sent to rescue them. Using the history of Israel Stephen continues to demonstrate how often God's people have rejected the very ones God has raised up. Steven talks about Moses receiving "LIVING WORDS" to pass onto the people. Jesus is the Living Word - we see this in John 1:1, John 1:14. Stephen is communicating that Messiah has come and He is the Living Word all without mentioning Jesus name.   Stephen's Response (part 2) - Temple The history of Israel's idolatry… Tabernacle (Acts 7:44-47) God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle of the covenant law to have with them in the wilderness. God gave the people the design of the tabernacle and that He would dwell in their midst but the people chose to worship idols instead and that resulted in exile. David ushered in a period of revival and Solomon built the Temple but ultimately ended up worshiping false deities. Temple (Acts 7:48 - 53) Stephen shows how the temple has become an object of worship rather than God: Worship of things rather than the Creator. Stephen calls these important leaders a stiff-necked people and accuses them of being just like their own ancestors. He tells them they resist the Holy Spirit and asks them, "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?" And he goes on to accuse them of killing the Righteous One.   Now Ignore the Scriptures -  Then - they took the parts of Scripture they liked and ignored the parts they didn't.  Now - this same thing continues today. Followed self-made gods  Then - followed the gods and ideas of others rather than the Scriptures Now - today we buy into the lies of the culture - Christians are often ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Buildings over Mission Then - they idolized their temple Now - many see the Christian faith as having a nice social network when instead our mission is to lead the world to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Miss Jesus the Messiah Then - this testimony of Stephen was for calling the people back to God Now - God today seeks to call us back to the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.  Resist the Holy Spirit Then - many resisted the Holy Spirit Now - today many resist the Holy Spirit. God calls us to despair of doing things in our own power and to humbly receive what He offers in Jesus our Savior. He desires we listen to Him and follow Him as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the prophets, Stephen and the Apostles followed Him.   God yearns for us to know Him Jesus loves us desperately and in Him is hope, forgiveness, power to live a new life and life forever.   Acts 7:54-60.  There are only 2 ways to respond to this message: 1 - to be angry  2 - to be repentant   How did the Sanhedrin respond to Stephen's message? They were angry, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up to heaven and sees the GLORY OF GOD and concludes his testimony with, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God." Then they take Stephen out to stone him and his final words are: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them."    This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 7-8 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Bride's Ministry to the Lost (1)  (audio) David Eells – 7/12/26 Our Brother's Keeper Eve Brast - 12/19/2015 (David's notes in red) Since yesterday afternoon, the Holy Spirit in me has been very grieved. I felt sadness from the Father's heart but I didn't understand why. Then again, on the way home from the Friday night meeting, His sadness and grieving were heavy upon me again. I began to pray as I pulled into my driveway that Father would help me to help His people and that He would make me His eyes and ears and mind and that He would help me to be His hands and feet. I understood in general that this was what the Spirit was grieved about, and He desired that this would be the desire of His people above all else. (Please read my word below from the Father on 12/07/15. It's so very important to Him that my heart breaks at the earnest longing from His Spirit that He allowed me to feel.) Eve Brast - 12/07/15: I asked Father what was on His heart to say to us today and He told me to get a pen and paper. He said, “My people who are called by My name, humble yourselves before Me this day. Fast and pray with weeping and lamentations for your brethren who are in this land, for swift destruction is coming and distress from every side and there shall be none to deliver! But I will deliver, by My power and strong arm, those who will repent and turn to Me in that day. Take care to be mindful of your fellow brethren! Lay down your lives, for you are your brother's keeper. Offer up to Me the sweet smell of sacrifice and I will honor it. Fast! Pray! For the day draws near. All things will be accomplished according to My Word”. (Pray for gifts to be able to help the brethren.) When I lay down to sleep last night, I asked Father for a dream to share with the brethren at the morning prayer meeting on Saturday morning. I received it on 12/19/15. I dreamed that I was making rounds with David and Michael in a nursing home/mental hospital. (The Church is supposed to be gifted to heal the spiritually old and mentally sick in the body.) David was a surgeon dressed in light blue scrubs, and Michael was a resident surgeon in training dressed in royal blue scrubs. (They represent the Man-child ministry “who is like God”.) (Which is the meaning of “Michael”. To be like God, we need His fruit and gifts to be able to help the brethren.) There were others with us from UBM and some nurses I currently work with at the hospital in real life. David was a very talented and important doctor and was well-respected in this dream. He had come there to perform a new procedure that would restore these patients in this facility. We all desired to assist him in this procedure. (Those who followed are like the disciples of Jesus' day who followed Him.) As we all followed David, he would stop at the different rooms and areas of this nursing home/mental hospital and point out different patients and explain to us what he needed us to do to help him. Many of the patients were demented or just old and feeble (in spirit). Many were half naked (not dressed up with the works of Christ) and very obese (meaning overcome by flesh). They wandered around aimlessly and out of their right minds (which is the renewed mind of Christ). (These are our brothers and sisters in Christ who have not come out of the ways of the Harlot church yet or who have fallen back into worldly lusts and the mind of the flesh and their old beastly nature. {Isa.63:9} In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.) It was dark as we approached some double glass doors that led out into a courtyard filled with green grass. And as we stood outside on the lighted, covered porch area, it began to rain very large drops of water. (Michael Hare says these represent the trials and sacrifices we endure for the sake of our brethren. As faithful priests, this is what is required of us.) (Also, the rain can be the anointing and gifts God gives to those who sacrifice their lives to help the brethren. As we give of ourselves, He gives to us.) David and Michael stepped out into the rain, and they turned to face us. David held out his hand and said, “I need someone to come and get the stretcher in order to transport these patients”. (The word “stretcher” is a play on words. In order to be at rest, you must “stretch” your faith.) (Those who are able are called to help carry a spiritually sick Christian until they can walk for themselves.) All the others who had been following David and Michael were unwilling to step out into the rain with them in order to go get the stretcher for the “patients”. They began to turn and walk back into the nursing home/mental hospital and murmur as they went, saying that this was too hard, too difficult. {Joh.6:66} Upon this many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. My heart sank as they walked away and I felt so alone and sad for David. I said, “I'll go”. (The true Bride will help to save God's people, like Esther did.) I didn't want to get out in the rain either, but to my surprise, even though it was cold as the large raindrops hit my face and my arms, I wasn't getting wet. The water was just soaking into my skin and filling me up inside. I felt encouraged and strengthened. {Isa.28:11} Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; {12} to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. People avoid the rain as though it were acid, but in actuality, it doesn't hurt at all and is refreshing; so it is with tribulations and trials, but the refreshing of the Spirit will help us. {Rom.5:3} And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; {4} and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope: {5} and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. {Jas.1:2} Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; {3} Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. {4} And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. (Missy said this reluctance to help God's people reminds her of the book of Esther, where it says: {Est.4:14} For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? When we choose obedience, Father will strengthen us for the task, just like He did for Jesus. {Rev.22:17} And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take of the water of life freely.) (The verse that came to M.L. the morning when I shared this dream was: (Jas.4:17} To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Please, brethren, fast and pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ. (Ask for the Holy Spirit and gifts from God for them.) Ask for ears to hear the Holy Spirit's pleadings with us on their behalf. {Rom.9:3} For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh: {Luk.12:50} But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished.) The three of us walked across the grassy courtyard together (with the flesh under our feet) to another building on the other side that was white brick (representing righteous works to serve the needy). This was where David would perform the new procedure. (Jesus said, “Behold, I make all things new”.) (I asked Eve, and she thought that the following correction applies well to some in all of UBM. I believe it speaks of many who have had much training but as yet have not entered into the work of restoring their brethren in whatever capacity they have a gift for.) There were many UBM members sitting in the doctor's lounge, along with all the children of UBM, including my two sons, Elijah and Josiah. (Even the two witnesses at this time need the anointing to serve.) They were all sitting around waiting for David to come and perform the new procedure. They were all busy and absorbed in their conversations. They all wanted to talk about the procedure but didn't want to take any action. (Like perpetual students needing to put their knowledge to work.) The children were all over the floor and sitting in chairs and on ottomans that were blocking the path to the procedure room. David told me to move the chairs and ottomans out of the way and clear a path for the stretcher to go through. (Take away their resting in the flesh so they have to stand on their own feet.) This was difficult because the children wouldn't get up off the furniture, and the room was very crowded with people and furniture. (Insisting on resting in the flesh.) The adults wouldn't make the children obey and wouldn't help me move anything. It was like they were unable to hear my requests. I found the strength to move the furniture with the children still on it and clear a path. (In short, we can't be perpetual students; it's time for the more mature to get to work restoring the Kingdom people. Even the children can do something to help. Not all are ordained to be elders, but all have gifts, or should have, to help in restoring the Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 12, the Lord says to forsake the idols and seek the gifts to be able to help God's people become a defensible body.) After this, Michael and I went to find the right stretcher that would accommodate a very obese patient. (Representing those overcome with flesh.) We finally found an old, faded forest green recliner that was very wide, and when we reclined it all the way, it transformed into a stretcher with wheels. We rejoiced when we found it. (Representing enabling the spiritually sick Christians to rest from their labors through faith.) When I woke up, I asked Father for a word for this dream and received Isaiah 33:16. In context: {Isa.33:10} Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted. (First, the Lord addresses the fate of those who believe themselves to be a part of Zion but do not have the fruit.) {11} Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath (Hebrew: “spirit”) is a fire that shall devour you. (In other words, be careful of the spirit that goes forth from you through what you speak because that is what you will receive.) {12} And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire. (Jesus said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit is cast into the fire”.) {13} Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. {14} The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings? (The sinners cannot stand to dwell among those who offer up their flesh as a continual burnt offering; their fear drives them out.) (So who can dwell in the fire? Who can keep their flesh on the altar?) {15} He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil: {16} He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks (meaning those who are defended by the Word); his bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. (He shall have God's supply.) {17} Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: (They shall see the visitation of the Lord in His body.) they shall behold a land that reacheth afar: (They shall have much freedom living in their Promised Land.) Seek the gifts of God to build up His people. {1Co.12:1} Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. {2} Ye know that when ye were Gentiles ye were led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might be led. {3} Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit. (So forsake the worldly idols and seek gifts to edify God's weak people.) {4} Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. {6} And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. {7} But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. {8} For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: {9} to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; {10} and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: {11} but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will. {12} For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. {13} For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. (They were all filled with the Holy Spirit that manifests the gifts to defend the body. {Act.19:2} and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.) {1Co.12:14} For the body is not one member, but many. {15} If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. {16} And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. {17} If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? {18} But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. {19} And if they were all one member, where were the body? {20} But now they are many members, but one body. {21} And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. {22} Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: {23} and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; {24} whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; {25} that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {26} And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. {27} Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. {28} And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues. {29} Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? {30} have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? {31} But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you. {13:1} If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. {2} And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. {4} Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {5} doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; {6} rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; {7} beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. {8} Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. {9} For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; {10} but when that which is perfect (complete) is come, that which is in part shall be done away. {11} When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. {12} For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. {13} But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. {14:1} Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. ... {12} So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. ...{26} What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. {27} If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret: {28} but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. {29} And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern. {30} But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. {31} For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; {32} and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; {33} for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.   Pray the Church Will Hear and Go Back to School  G. M. 2/27/18 (David's notes in red) I was an observer in this dream. I was in a place where there were classrooms with clear glass walls. There was a wooden coat rack in the hall. There were several boys walking in the hall who were very focused on where they were going. (12-14 years old [man-child], not messing around or wasting time, like they were on a serious assignment). (These are the teachers in this school who themselves hear the Holy Spirit)  There was a very cute little girl (the Church or the ‘little sister') with blonde hair jumping rope in the hallway (appeared to be about 5 years old (Grace). She was dressed all in pink with a pink puffy winter coat (Time of winter - tribulation). She had on pink snow boots and was also wearing a pink headband with fuzzy muffs over her ears. I could tell these were special earmuffs and were not just to keep her warm, but had a headset built into them so the teacher was able to speak to her wherever she was. (She is capable of hearing the teacher, the Man-child by the Holy Spirit.)  The little girl was having a good time singing and jumping rope in the hall. (The young and immature play games.) I could hear the teacher calling her name and trying to get her attention. The teacher had called to the little girl often to get her attention, but she didn't hear because of all her singing and jumping. Finally, she did hear the voice. (Pray for this) She stood real still and cupped her hands over her earmuffs so she could hear clearly. A big smile came over her face as she heard her teacher call her to the classroom. (Father will see to it that she goes to the class of the Holy Spirit.) I felt this little girl could represent many in the apostate church who are busy doing their own thing and not hearing the voice of the Lord. He is calling each of us to spend time with Him each day. Sometimes He has to use an extra-loud voice or circumstances to get our attention. Once we hear Him, we gladly come to Him and let Him teach us those things dear to His heart. I was given by faith at random for this dream Luk.24:23 and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. (The Church does not know the Living Risen Lord, the Jesus of promises and miracles, Who they were talked out of by false shepherds. Jesus and His disciples are our examples of what a Christian is. Heb.13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. Joh.14:12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. Joh.7:38: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.) The scripture that came to my mind was Rev.3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and him with Me. 21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with My Father in His throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. I believe He may use v19 to get the attention of His children. As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Other verses that spoke to me were: Joh.8:47 He that is of God, heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God. Joh.10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.    Bearing Our Cross Will Save Souls Sean Lynch - 07/01/2009 In a dream last night, the Lord showed me about a coming crucifixion for the brethren. In the dream, I was in either a hotel or some type of big castle. During this dream, there were many events going on, but the Lord is only bringing certain things to my remembrance. In one of the events, I remember I was outside of the hotel, and I heard on a loudspeaker tuned to a secular radio station, David's voice. He was preaching the gospel to the world. I thought this was awesome because now David's message was going to the whole world and was reaching many people. (Representing the David Man-child reformers.) The next event I remember, I was inside this hotel, and I saw a group of people approaching me. Then the fire of God fell upon me with holy boldness because I started preaching the Word with boldness and no fear, like the early apostles did when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. (Normally, I'm very shy and not bold. The Lord has been working on me with this, and I believe He has shown me that He is going to make me speak with boldness. “God's power is made perfect in our weakness”. However, these people did not receive the message of the gospel, as they started laughing and scoffing and went their own way. The next scene I remember, I was in a long walkway with doors on both sides. I believe I was with another brother in Christ. Suddenly, a mountain of a man with long hair, very strong and looking like a professional wrestler, walked in to pummel whoever got in his path. The other brother took off, and both doors shut, and I was left alone with this man. (The Lord was forcing me into crucifixion.) I decided I was going to preach the gospel to him, which at the time seemed crazy because this man looked like he wanted to rip me limb from limb; however, I felt holy boldness rise up in me and went and stood by the man and preached the Word with boldness to him. After I was done preaching, he just stood there and looked at me and then proceeded to beat me up very badly. I did not strike back but let him pummel me. I do not know if he had killed me or not, but I knew the Lord was showing me to turn the other cheek. I was then taken to another scene where I saw this same man had changed because I did not fight back. He was now a fire-breathing gospel evangelist and was preaching to other people. I then remember him preaching to a group of people, and then he was beaten, as well. I do not know if he was killed. (The Lord had shown me that because of my testimony of turning the other cheek and going to my cross, this man was saved and was allowed to go to his cross.) I remember being deeply touched by this brother who had gone to his cross. I remain touched even now as I'm writing this because the Lord is truly showing me how to lay my life down for the brethren and what is meant to go to our cross. The Lord has shown me that there are many brothers and sisters in the world who will come into the kingdom as a result of our willingness to turn the other cheek and overcome evil by laying our lives down. Please read our book, How Shall We Die.   Are You a Yielded Vessel? Sandy Shaw - 11/03/2015 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was high in the air with a big angel on each side of me; each of them was about 10 feet tall. They glowed and stood arm-to-arm with me. One angel asked, “Sandra, what do you see?” I said, “I see a storm approaching; a lot of lightning; sheets of water and wind coming closer and closer”. Then the angel asked me, “Sandra, do you hear the Master speaking?” I had to get very quiet and still. And then I said, “Yes, I do”. Then the angel of the Lord said, “Do it without ceasing”. (It is better to find the will of God in the quiet before the storm. {1Ki.19:11} And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: {12} and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (Ah, there He is!) {13} And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? Uh-oh, he should have asked before the storm. The flesh is impulsive, moved by fear and self-preservation. Don't obey these enemy spirits or you will end up in deeper trouble. {14} And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. {15} And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; {16} and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. Uh-oh, lost his ministry, just like Saul, who got ahead of God.) Don't be moved by fear; it is an evil spirit; it is their job to lead you wrong. {Amo.5:19} As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. (Do not be reactionary; get quiet and ask for the Lord's instructions concerning direction and judgments to come.) {Isa.28:16} therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner- stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste. (We don't have to get in a hurry because the Lord must go before us, as with Israel in the wilderness. {Isa.52:12} For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for Jehovah will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.) I started praying in tongues and I put my right hand out and I could feel the cold rain and the wind. I could see the wind make depressions in my skin as the force of it blew against my arm. {2Co.5:7} (for we walk by faith, not by sight). {Heb.10:38} But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. Now I'm a little farther up, higher than before, and the angel of the Lord said, “Sandra, what do you see?” I said, “I see a second storm approaching me and five tornadoes”. I could see beyond these storms and see the devastation that they left. Buildings were gone and turned to rubble. But some weren't even touched. {Psa.91:11} For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. {Mat.7:24} Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: {25} and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. {26} And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: {27} and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. The angel asked, “Do you hear the Master's instructions?” I had to get really quiet and still so I could hear. And I said, “Yes”. Then he said, “Do it without ceasing”. (Be trained to seek, hear and act on the Lord's instructions concerning the coming judgments so that when they come you may act in the rest of faith and have a Passover and be able to help others.) The first time I couldn't hear because of the storm, the crackle of the lightning, and the thunder. And the whole time I kept hearing John 4:21-24. John 4:21-24. John 4:21-24 ... {Joh.4:21} Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. {22} Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. {23} But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. {24} God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (Worship = Greek: Proskuneo, meaning “to kiss toward”. A reverential act of love toward God. Any act of love toward God. Every act of obedience is an act of love toward God, for we love Him when we keep His commandments, as He said. We are commanded to worship God with our whole being, with songs, with instruments and dance, etc. Worship should be in spirit, with the heart, meaning not in flesh. It should be in truth, meaning not an act of show to impress others.)   11/07/15 I dreamed this all again. The difference this time was that I could hear the Lord. He spoke very softly, barely above a whisper. He kept saying, “Pray in the spirit and in truth without ceasing. Pray in the spirit and in truth without ceasing”. {1Th.2:13} And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe. {5:17} pray without ceasing; {18} in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Everything was completely tuned out. I did not hear the storm.   11/08/15 When I woke up in the night, the clock showed 3:33. And the Lord asked me a question: “Are you a yielded vessel?” {Jer.33:3} Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not. (Call to the Lord in the quiet of the night, when men don't see.) {Mat.6:6} But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee. I went back to sleep and woke up at 4:44. And I heard the same question: “Are you a yielded vessel?” (The Greek gematria for “perfect love” is 444.) Then I went back to sleep and in the dream, He showed me and reminded me of something that happened when I was a child. In the dream, I was reminded that there was a Pentecostal church across the street from my mom's house. And my dad was related in some way, to most of the people in that church. Great aunts and uncles and cousins went to that church. Now they were having a special Jubilee celebration with lots of music on Saturday because nothing could interfere with the Sunday service. There were three much older women who asked if I could go to the Jubilee, but Mom said, “No!” Then my dad's great-aunt asked, “Why not?” And Mom said, “Because I'm teaching her Catholicism”. So I went to my room and cried myself to sleep. I really didn't understand at four, almost five years old. Then my dad knocked on my door and grabbed a blanket. He took my hand and we went to the front yard, putting the blanket on the ground, and I sat down. And he went to the kitchen and got some grapes and cheese. Mom came out a few minutes later, very upset with my dad. She said in Spanish, “Why are you deliberately trying to go against what I said? He said, “What you are teaching her is wrong. As long as they are praying and singing and lifting up Jesus, that is all that matters”. She went back into the house, slamming the door. Then the music started. The songs that I remember were “This Little Light of Mine” and “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”. I learned that song that day with all its verses and I knew I was singing that from my heart. I woke up again and the clock showed 5:55 (grace multiplied), but later that day I went to sleep and dreamed all of that again. But this time the dream went further. Dad came home from work and said, “Why don't you sing that song again, ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus'?” Then I did. And when the part came, “Though none go with me, still I will follow”, I started to cry and then sob. Then my dad said, “I thought you liked that song”. And I answered, “Daddy, someday I will be by myself. Jesus has to be enough”. And that's when I heard again, “Are you a yielded vessel?” (Meaning, would we follow Jesus if none of our family or friends or people we respected went with us? Obviously, God's grace, 555, will help us, if we desire this.) Because we know the storms are going to come, He is constantly giving us instructions. So are we yielded vessels? Are we listening and obeying God? We are supposed to be hearing Him, even in the midst of chaos. {Joh.4:21} Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. {22} Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. {23} But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. {24} God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (Are we willing to love and obey Him when no man sees?) {2Co.4:7} But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; {8} we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; {9} pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed; {10} always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. {11} For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (If the life of Jesus is manifested in our mortal flesh, we will say with Him. {Joh.5:30} I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. He will speak to those who are willing to do His will. {7:17} If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.   Love Your Neighbor as Yourself My Hiding Place 8/23/22 (1 Cor.13:1-8a)(KJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth.  Dear brothers and sisters,  Lately, my prayer has been for Father to teach me His way to love. Here is how He responded to my prayer. On August 17, 2022, I needed to run a few errands. I got ready with my 2 boys when my daughter popped her head through the door and said, ‘Hey Mom, do you still need to go to the store? I can take you. My car needs to go for a spin.'  Off we went to the first and second stores. On the way back, I needed to stop at a third store, but my daughter decided she needed to go home. So I made arrangements to be dropped at the last stop with the boys, and then my husband would come to pick us up. While shopping, I received a call from my husband that he was on the way. But when he reached us, he made a strange announcement. He said that our daughter had arrived home accompanied by a homeless man who desired to get baptized! I have to confess that my initial reaction was not very friendly. I thought, ‘Why did our daughter bring someone to our home without asking for permission? Why did she bring in a stranger knowing my husband was heading out to get me and the boys from the store?' I was not pleased and couldn't come up with any good answer. But on the way back home, I told my husband, ‘Let's just pray for wisdom that Father will help us to deal with whatever may be going on this evening'. We got home and sure enough, there was a homeless man sitting in our kitchen. He looked very shy and spoke very quietly. My first approach was to get my boys situated with their snacks and their bedtime routine, while my husband had a chance to talk to the man. Once I felt my husband was a little more comfortable, I took the time to come over and offer the man some food and drink. Then I asked him to share his testimony. While telling his story, he asked in a rhetorical way, “Why can't people just love? Do you see me? Because I see you.” He wasn't trying to address the question at us, but that didn't matter. To me, it pierced my heart! It was as if the Holy Spirit had uttered those words through his mouth, convicting me. Why was my heart not immediately happy at this man coming to our home? Would I have acted differently if he had shown up wearing fancy clothes? Had I been too busy to notice the needs of those less fortunate? While the Holy Spirit did the job of convicting me, it became clear that I needed some repenting. As he continued to share, I was overcome with Jesus' compassion. Tears began streaming down my face while remembering Jesus saying, ‘They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick'. So I gave my daughter the go-ahead to get the bathroom ready. I grabbed some clothes for the baptism and a clean change of clothes for afterwards and within a half hour, all was ready to go. There was our new friend, in our bathtub, ready to confess Jesus as His Saviour and turn from his sins, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God and renouncing Satan for good. Hallelujah!  Afterwards, we got a chance to share a tea and some refreshments around the table and we encouraged him to pray. Then it was time to drop him off at his request while I tidied up. As I said my goodbye for the night, he reiterated how thankful he was for our hospitality. Then I gave him a big hug and blessed him in the name of the Lord. Everything had happened so fast, too fast for me to absorb it all. While I wiped down the bathroom, I examined my heart. ‘Father, I'm sorry that my heart was not ready to have this gentleman over at first, that I questioned what You had in mind rather than just trusting in You.' As I continued with my cleaning, I remembered that our home is not ours but the Lord's. On this night, Father had welcomed one of His prodigal sons home through us. We rejoiced with the angels in heaven for this awesome occasion. My heart still felt heavy and desperate for Father's intimacy. I wanted my alone time with Him and have a chance to properly confess my shortcomings. That's when I retreated into our secret place to pray and to listen. This is when the Holy Spirit came upon me with such sweet presence and impressed these words into my Spirit. Mat.25:34-40 (KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Thank You, Father, for knowing the desire of my heart so intimately – that of seeing many souls come into Your kingdom. Thank You, Lord, for giving me a heart to share with those less fortunate on various occasions and to open our home to our new friend this evening. May Your Word be engraved on his heart and may he follow You all the days appointed for him. May his life bring You glory and may he share Your salvation with many more. Dear Father, empty me of all of me and fill me with more of Your Spirit. I pray I may be found worthy to be used mightily for Your Kingdom. To You is all power and glory, forever and ever, in Jesus' name. Amen! Titus 3:3-5 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. That's right, brothers and sisters. It wasn't that long ago when we also wandered around without the Lord, chasing after the things of the world, giving ourselves over to sin. And Father had great mercy on us. Now, it's our turn to do the same to others. The harvest is ready; the fields are ripe. Let's pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out His laborers. Let's also pray for His love to abound and overflow in us to be able to share generously. (Hos.6:6a) For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice. 1 John 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Today, the Lord is calling us to love His way, through actions and not just words. The kind of love our Saviour displayed for us is so deep. Lord, help us to keep dying to ourselves daily and to embrace our crosses, laying our lives down for our brethren. Let us not grow weary of doing good. May the Lord find us occupied in His work and loving each other when He returns! 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.  1 Tim.6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.    A Cry For Souls Solitary Man 4/4/25 So many souls! So many souls hanging in the balance! So many souls perishing. With the whole world being shaken as never before, who in My body is focusing on what really matters? Which one of My servants still dwells on what is most dear.  Do My people think that the world of mammon is what they should pay attention to? Do My children think their finances are what matters most? How about patriotism? Should pledging allegiance to this empire or that be what dominates your soul? Perhaps it should be politics. Or seeking ever more information on one topic or another. Maybe more facts and figures are what you need!  The planet has never resembled Babel as much as it does today. Voices are crying out over every cause and crusade imaginable. Lies piled upon lies. Ignorance coupled with anger and unholy passions. The noise is deafening. And My people have fallen into this bottomless pit of the unending babble of Babel. Where is the voice of My church today? How is it, as the knowledge of God being all but erased out of the land, that My people have forgotten the first principles? Where is the cry over the lostness of souls? Have you ever seen such a great multitude hurtling themselves towards the eternal flames of hell as you see today? Have you ever witnessed such a hatred of all things holy and pure as you do at this time? While you fight for your freedoms, you pay, oh so little heed to those perishing all around you. While you focus all your energy worrying and fretting over what comes next, those even in your own household that are destined for eternal torment, you have made accommodations for in your own soul. While you lament over others' political persuasions, unless they all repent, they will all likewise perish, regardless of which leaders they admire or hate.  The curse of social media has deceived your souls. Do you ever stop and consider exactly how you are spending your life? When was the last time you took stock of how you are using the days that I have allotted you? Where is your heart? Remember what I have told you. Where your heart is, that is where your treasure is to be found.  Is your heart consumed with mammon? Is it obsessed with current evils? Maybe it's your entertainment. Or the latest conspiracy of wicked men. Perhaps all you care about is your children. Identify your passion, and there is where your treasure lies. But what about the lost? Have the cares of the world so choked the flame of the Spirit of God that souls no longer matter? Have you convinced yourselves that there is nothing that you can do? Since no one seems to want to listen to the things of God, have you given up?  But what about prayer? Have you given up on the power of prayer as well? Did I not wonder whether, when I return, I would find faith on the earth? Is there anyone left who believes that prayer will move heaven? But will you pray, not on your own behalf, but rather die to your own desires, and spend yourself by standing in the gap for those who are dead in sin? Many are in terror, not knowing what comes next. Yet, what does it matter what comes next if one does not know Me? What does it matter if this nation is made great [again], or that war is averted, or this economic collapse is halted, if one loses his own soul? Why has My church stopped weeping over the lost? I said My burden would be easy, and My yoke light. But only for those who have truly put their desires aside and fully embraced Mine. I guarantee that those who refuse to lose their own lives shall never find satisfaction, fulfilment, or peace. But those who lose their life for My sake shall not only find purpose and meaning, but a fulfilment that only I can provide.  Children, you know that the time is short. Unless you choose to stop what you are doing and find your way back to the cross, your heart will never become one with Mine. And My heart beats for the lost. For every soul that slips off into eternity without Me, I am wounded anew. Will you not go forth and be My hands and feet, My voice to those who have no one else? Will you find the courage to obey Me when I call you to spread the good news before it's too late? Will you put down your phones and sacrifice your time to petition heaven unceasingly, until I send My Spirit to open the eyes of the blind once again? Who amongst you shall find the resolve to return to your first love, and be that light to those who grope about in darkness? Which of My children shall decide to re-enlist in the Lord's army of prayer warriors, of soldiers who are fearless and unashamed in their witness of Me? To those who let My words of challenge sink in and once again reignite the fire of evangelism, there is great reward that awaits you. Let not this day pass without asking My Father to quicken the truths found here, so that you will not be found wanting on that final day. I long to tell each and every one of you that you have done well, and now it is time to enter into the joy of your Master! Heed the warning, and this shall be yours. Heed it not, and risk it all. The choice is yours alone to make. Scripture References Mat.6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Luk.6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Mat.6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luk.8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luk.21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.  Mat.10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Lam.2:11 Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city. Joe.2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Mat.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mat.6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Mat.16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Joh.12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  Joh.17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Joh.3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Rom.10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  Luk.18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  2Jn.1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Dan.12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.  Mat.25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been fa

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.Our guest is Mateja Kurir, associate professor at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia and the editor of the book, On Power in Architecture.We start with Jackie Kennedy's 1962 renovation of the United States' White House and the immigrant workers who protested against rent hikes and living conditions in 1970s France. Next, the toxic explosion in a chemical factory in northern Italy in 1975 and South Sudan's celebration of independence in 2011.Plus, the art movement Dada which began 110 years ago and went on to influence Surrealism and punk.Finally, the Wimbledon final of 2008 between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer which some call the greatest tennis match ever played.Contributors: Jackie Kennedy - featured in a CBS TV special in 1962. Mohammed Kherbachi - witness to the foyer strikes of the 1970s. Giuseppe Cassina - former Mayor of Seveso. Malual Bol Kiir - on the time of South Sudan's independence. Richard Huelsenbeck - interviewed in 1959 for the BBC programme, The Meaning of Dada. Rafael Nadal - winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles.(Photo: The White House in 1962. Credit: Getty Images)

This is the All Local morning update for July 11th, 2026.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports at least 31 buildings test positive for Legionnaires' amid an outbreak in New York City.

Get the GovClose Certification: https://www.govclose.com/sales-certificationOur students learn the government contracting skills to :1. Start their own consulting business that can earn up to $400k as a "solopreneur" advising businesses that sell to the government.2. Land high paying sales executive jobs with companies in the public sector.3. Increase government contracting revenue for companies selling to the US government.The US government is the single biggest purchaser of goods and services in the world. They publish everything they buy, who they buy from, and how much they spend. I pulled real federal contract awards for pressure washing and power washing services to show you exactly how one small business is making six figures a month, what specific jobs the government is paying for, and how to find opportunities like this yourself.0:00 One Man, One Pressure Washer 0:34 How to Read Federal Contract Data on USAspending.gov1:43 Real Award: $734,975 Pressure Washing Contract2:10 Why This Company's Revenue Declined After a $1.2M Year3:19 Who's Buying: Army, NIH, and DLA4:00 Real Awards — $420K Garage Job, $300K Airfield5:56 Inside the $300,000 Airfield Pressure Washing Contract7:00 How to Find the Exact Buying Office 8:13 The $163,173 Award for Buildings and Sidewalks9:42 Set-Asides vs. Just Being Great at Your Service10:04 The $4.3 Million Duct Cleaning and Solar Panel Contract12:00 Reading the FAR: Simplified Acquisition Procedures 19:19 How Small Businesses Actually Win These Contracts––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––RESOURCES MENTIONED––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––GovClose Program Overview (free 20-minute training): https://www.govclose.com––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––ABOUT RICK HOWARD––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Rick Howard is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel and former DoD acquisitions officer who managed over $82 billion in federal contracts. He is the founder of GovClose and the DoD Contract Academy, with 400+ graduates working as government contract consultants, federal account executives, and business owners winning federal contracts.Rick Howard expresses his opinions as a former government contracting officer and presents public data on government contracts that he analyzes. GovClose makes no guarantees whatsoever about federal spending data or government contracts. Government contracting data changes constantly, and we make no claims of perfection when presenting data. All data can be looked at from different angles, and it is up to the viewer to do their own research, their own data analysis, and decide if government contracting is for them.Disclaimer: This video reflects Rick Howard's personal opinions and independent analysis of publicly available government data. It does not represent an official position, endorsement, or statement of the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense.

//The Wire//2300Z July 9, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST AS CEASEFIRE REMAINS DEFUNCT FOR NOW. MERCHANT TRAFFIC IN HORMUZ SLOWS TO A CRAWL DUE TO TARGETING.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The war continued to escalate overnight, with many targeting efforts being undertaken by the United States and Iran. Within Iran, the U.S. continued to strike coastal sites and fastboat ports, in addition to striking more substantial infrastructure targets deep within Iran. These strikes continued throughout the day, with explosions being reported around the country this afternoon.On the Iranian side, many strikes were carried out on the usual sites throughout the region. In Kuwait, Ali Al Salem Airbase and Camp Arifjan were targeted, with the Iranians claiming to hit a Patriot battery at one of these sites. In Qatar, a radar installation was targeted, and a fuel depot was targeted in Bahrain. In Jordan, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was targeted again, with the American Embassy in Amman urging all Americans to shelter in place during the strikes. Drone/missile strikes were also reported targeting U.S. positions in Erbil, Iraq, the success of which is currently unknown.-HomeFront-New York: The Department of Buildings has reported that the former Pfizer building has largely been stabilized, after severe buckling and a partial collapse of the upper floors was observed a few days ago. Various reinforcement operations continue to be undertaken to further stabilize the structure, and a third-party construction firm has been brought in to conduct additional repairs.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Despite many airframes being transferred back to the United States from the Middle East, American targeting within Iran has continued throughout the day. The heavy reliance on Tomahawk munitions (as observed on the ground by Iranians) also adds weight to the theory of the US having to rely on standoff munitions due to the logistical movements resulting in fewer aircraft being available for bombing runs.Also, last night's strikes were also possibly more significant than meets the eye. Locals on the ground reported the Aq Taqeh Khan railway bridge being struck overnight, which was interesting due to it's location being in the far northeastern corner of Iran. This bridge is part of the newly unveiled China-Iran railway network, which is a series of rail lines linking Iran to western China. These lines also meander through the mountains to eventually connect to Russia via Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Taking out this bridge was not only interesting because it is one of the farthest-north targets struck during the entire war, but it's also a very public message to China, who has been long-suspected of shipping the Iranians materiel and supplies to carry on the fight. In the Strait of Hormuz, civilian merchant traffic continued to transit the waterway, but since last night the traffic has slowed to a halt again with very few crossings throughout the day. As a reminder, it takes up to two months for a tanker to make it's way to the US from the Middle East. Consequently, if the Iranians shut down the Strait again due to this targeting (or if companies simply decide that the risk isn't worth it), the world will only have the benefit of a handful of tankers which have been able to make the crossing over the past couple of weeks. This does not even remotely come close to alleviating the problems that prompted the MOU being signed...President Trump himself said that (at the time) the US only had about 4 weeks worth of Strategic Reserve left before shortages began. As the fighting has resumed to some degree, the status of the global energy crisis remains a very real concern, and the clock starts ticking down as the flow of petroleum slows down once again.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Send us Fan MailWe answer rapid-fire questions from the field on how structured cabling is changing as AI expectations, PoE power, and converged building systems reshape what “good design” means. We share practical guidance on Cat 6A decisions, fiber-first momentum, technician retention, and how to protect margins when budgets do not keep up with technology. • designing AI-ready buildings by leaning on standards, best practices, and flexible infrastructure • when Cat 6A is worth it for early adopters, Wi-Fi 7, and long-term life-cycle planning • retaining technicians through paid training, clear career paths, mentorship, recognition, and pay • why experienced techs fail credentialing tests, including moving standards and test-readiness habits • PoE installation pitfalls, including bundle heat, power budgets, and proper testing • handling cybersecurity responsibility as physical security systems merge onto the IT network • what AI data centers change for field contractors, including precision, power, heat, and cable management • habits that separate average installers, including curiosity, craftsmanship, and communication • protecting estimating margins with documentation, gap spotting, and change management Email Chuck at advertising at letstalkcabling.com and let's connect your brand to the right audience today. Make sure you send your questions now. Support the showKnowledge is power!  Make sure to stop by the webpage to buy me a cup of coffee or support the show at https://linktr.ee/letstalkcabling .  Also if you would like to be a guest on the show or have a topic for discussion send me an email at chuck@letstalkcabling.com Chuck Bowser RCDD TECH#CBRCDD #RCDD

We start with an NYC building facing potential collapse during a commercial-to-residential conversion, forcing nearby evacuations. Next, we hear from Matt Seelinger's college teammate who attended last night's game, before C-Lo updates us on the local guy's rough MLB debut with the Mets in front of family and friends. Then, we cover the Francisco Lindor trade rumors, with Mike Francesa saying it will happen and Ken Rosenthal saying it won't. Finally, Jerry discusses a poll about which skill you wish you had.

Crews have been stabilizing the Midtown high-rise in danger of collapse... Mamdani vows to disclose addresses of buildings that test positive for Legionella bacteria - Council Speaker Menin thinks the city shouldn't wait for the tests full 453 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:54:12 +0000 YJIjjJWS7Z40lVTQzCahn8rzJaK3q1jD news 1010 WINS ALL LOCAL news Crews have been stabilizing the Midtown high-rise in danger of collapse... Mamdani vows to disclose addresses of buildings that test positive for Legionella bacteria - Council Speaker Menin thinks the city shouldn't wait for the tests The podcast is hyper-focused on local news, issues and events in the New York City area. This podcast's purpose is to give New Yorkers New York news about their neighborhoods and shine a light on the issues happening in their backyard. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.

Dr. Doug Milburn talks about how innovative building technologies are transforming the future of architecture, sustainability, and high-performance buildings. Doug is Founder and Chairman of Advanced Glazings, where he has pioneered innovative building technologies that transform natural daylight into a source of energy efficiency, comfort, and performance. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://DigitalTransformationPodast.net/guest Do you want to be a sponsor? https://DigitalTransformationPodcast.net/advertise

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with architect, researcher, educator, and design leader Isun Kazerani for a fascinating conversation that explores architecture far beyond buildings themselves. Drawing on her international experience across Australia and the United States, Isun shares how architecture intersects with fashion, culture, politics, mindfulness, and human identity—and why architects have a far greater influence on society than many realize.The discussion explores everything from the surprising parallels between fashion and architecture to regenerative design, adaptive reuse, sensory experience, and the responsibility architects have to shape healthier, more equitable communities. Isun explains why timeless design matters, how architecture can encourage mindfulness through movement and materiality, and why slowing down the design process often produces more meaningful and enduring buildings. She also reflects on the lessons she has learned leading her own practice, conducting doctoral research on human experience in architecture, and working across multiple countries and design cultures.The conversation also dives into the political power of architecture, examining how the built environment can either create barriers or foster inclusion through thoughtful urban planning and design. Along the way, Isun shares her perspective on preserving cultural identity, designing for human emotion, the future of regenerative architecture, and why great buildings should function as living systems that evolve alongside the people who inhabit them. It's a wide-ranging and inspiring discussion about the profound ways architecture influences not only our cities, but our everyday lives, our relationships, and the future of our communities.More About Isun KazeraniIsun Kazerani is the founder and director of M00-Tion Studio, which she established in Melbourne, Australia, in 2019. Since beginning her architecture career in 2005, she has worked on a wide range of boutique residential, commercial, and public projects, with a strong focus on design quality, attention to detail, and the importance of the user's lived experience.With a foundation in larger-scale projects, including residential and commercial towers and public spaces, supported by her background in architectural engineering, she has also collaborated on numerous creative concept projects, particularly at the intersection of fashion and architecture, including runway stage design.She earned her PhD in 2017, focusing on design strategy and techniques of design representation through collaboration with four award-winning international architectural practices. In addition to professional practice, she taught architecture for approximately eight years as a part-time lecturer and studio lead and has been invited to serve as both a keynote speaker and design critic at architectural events.In 2023, she relocated to New York City following the impacts of Australia's COVID-19 lockdowns and the country's political and economic climate. Since then, she has practiced in leadership roles and as a consultant, primarily in New York, as well as in Massachusetts and California.Contact:https://m00-tion-studio.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-isun-a-kazerani-481628107/ https://www.instagram.com/m00tion_studio/ https://www.youtube.com/@isunakazerani5306 Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

There were tense scenes in New York this morning. A high-rise office building near Grand Central Terminal in New York was evacuated this morning after engineers raised fears it could be at risk of collapse. Leading to emergency services evacuating a busy Manhattan street block during the morning rush hour. The building, which was being transformed from offices into apartments, highlights just how complex these enormous structures are. And while skyscrapers of this scale are less common in New Zealand, our buildings face another powerful force . . . earthquakes. Susana is joined by AUT Associate Professor of seismic engineering Dr Shahab Ramhormozian to look at how we keep our buildings standing.

This is the noon All Local for July 7, 2027

There are numerous examples of corruption in politics, but does it skew one direction lately? Debate! And Joe Concha joins us to discuss Graham Platner in Maine.

What really shapes a city? Buildings, businesses, politics, and culture may be what we see, but beneath every city is an invisible architecture made up of what people worship, trust, and ultimately live for. In Acts 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus, one of the most influential cities in the Roman Empire. It was a center of commerce, emperor worship, the occult, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Rather than attacking the culture head-on, Paul faithfully preached Jesus, made disciples, and taught people to live under the lordship of Christ. The result? Hearts changed. Idols fell. Culture shifted. In this message, we'll explore: • Why worship always shapes culture • The spiritual battle taking place beneath the surface • The danger of wanting the power of Jesus without surrendering to His lordship • What the burning of the magic books teaches us about repentance • How the gospel still confronts the idols of money, security, power, and identity today The question Acts 19 leaves us with isn't simply, “Do you believe in Jesus?” It's this: Who is actually sitting on the throne of your life? If Jesus truly is King, He doesn't become another priority. He becomes the One who reshapes every part of life. If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

One of New Zealand's quintessential small town landmarks is up for sale. Tirau's corrugated iron sheepdog, ewe and ram buildings are on the market for the first time in a decade. Brendon Bradley is the man tasked with selling them.

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we're taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany's capital; East Germany's Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer's New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there's lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If you want to add to the conversation: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you'll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at

A recent discovery has stunned archaeologists and volcanologists alike — a modern city, completely buried by a volcanic eruption, has just been unearthed. Buildings, roads, and everyday objects remain eerily intact beneath layers of ash and stone. Could this be the modern Pompeii? What caused this catastrophe? In this video, we explore the history, scientific findings, and haunting images of a city lost to fire and ash — and what it tells us about the destructive power of volcanoes today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't loose your fingers this week!; Rail Fest recollections; Parents facing charges over death of 255 lbs y-year-old; Cars into Buildings update; The Pettiness of some people; OnlyFans Spending in Ohio is off the charts; Wrong way to use massage guns.

Why does God allow suffering when he's supposed to be in control? Most of us have asked it quietly, especially when we hear about Christians around the world losing everything just for following Jesus. The answer is something nobody can give you better than someone who has lived through it.In this sermon, Pastor Job from Burkina Faso (the president of the Burkina Faso Alliance and a partner of our church for more than a hundred years) speaks to our congregation about what God is doing in West Africa right now. The story is hard and the story is glorious. Churches in Burkina have been attacked. Buildings have been destroyed. Pastors and coworkers have lost their lives. Brothers and sisters have been displaced by violence. And in the middle of all of it, the church has not stopped advancing.Pastor Job anchors the whole message in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it." The point lands differently when it comes from a man whose congregation has actually been hunted. The church does not belong to us. It belongs to Jesus. He is the one who builds it. He is the one who protects it. He is the one who keeps it advancing even when everything looks like it is being torn down.To illustrate it, Pastor Job tells the story of a king and his servant who repeated one line all the time: "everything God does is good." Even when the king lost his thumb in a hunting accident, the servant said it. The king threw him in prison for it. Then later the king got captured by people who tried to sacrifice him to their god, but they let him go because he was missing a thumb. He went home, freed the servant, and finally understood. Everything God does is good. Even the things we cannot see the purpose of yet.The numbers Pastor Job shares should silence the skeptics. In the first six months of this year alone, in a country being torn by violence, 10,500 people came to know Jesus. 745 baptisms. 38 new churches planted. 24 new missionaries sent to unreached people groups (the Lobi, Bidifor, Dagara, Djan, Senufo, Wara, and others). The gates of hell are not winning. They never were.The sermon closes with Romans 8:35 to 39. Nothing, not persecution, not famine, not danger, not death, not anything in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And the parable of the body reminds us that every part of the church matters. Some are called to go, some to give, some to pray. All of it is the work of the same church being built by the same King.If you have ever wondered whether God is still building his church in a world that feels like it's falling apart, this teaching will move you.

Why does God allow suffering when he's supposed to be in control? Most of us have asked it quietly, especially when we hear about Christians around the world losing everything just for following Jesus. The answer is something nobody can give you better than someone who has lived through it.In this sermon, Pastor Job from Burkina Faso (the president of the Burkina Faso Alliance and a partner of our church for more than a hundred years) speaks to our congregation about what God is doing in West Africa right now. The story is hard and the story is glorious. Churches in Burkina have been attacked. Buildings have been destroyed. Pastors and coworkers have lost their lives. Brothers and sisters have been displaced by violence. And in the middle of all of it, the church has not stopped advancing.Pastor Job anchors the whole message in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it." The point lands differently when it comes from a man whose congregation has actually been hunted. The church does not belong to us. It belongs to Jesus. He is the one who builds it. He is the one who protects it. He is the one who keeps it advancing even when everything looks like it is being torn down.To illustrate it, Pastor Job tells the story of a king and his servant who repeated one line all the time: "everything God does is good." Even when the king lost his thumb in a hunting accident, the servant said it. The king threw him in prison for it. Then later the king got captured by people who tried to sacrifice him to their god, but they let him go because he was missing a thumb. He went home, freed the servant, and finally understood. Everything God does is good. Even the things we cannot see the purpose of yet.The numbers Pastor Job shares should silence the skeptics. In the first six months of this year alone, in a country being torn by violence, 10,500 people came to know Jesus. 745 baptisms. 38 new churches planted. 24 new missionaries sent to unreached people groups (the Lobi, Bidifor, Dagara, Djan, Senufo, Wara, and others). The gates of hell are not winning. They never were.The sermon closes with Romans 8:35 to 39. Nothing, not persecution, not famine, not danger, not death, not anything in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And the parable of the body reminds us that every part of the church matters. Some are called to go, some to give, some to pray. All of it is the work of the same church being built by the same King.If you have ever wondered whether God is still building his church in a world that feels like it's falling apart, this teaching will move you.

This week we're taking a look at buildings which have had an interesting second life in Germany's capital; East Germany's Palast der Republik, what became of Albert Speer's New Reich Chancellery and lastly the Museumsinsel or Museum Island.Elsewhere, there's lots of chat about chapped lips and final poses (Oh What A Pose?) for archaeologists this week. If you want to add to the conversation: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you'll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at

There will be a lot to see when the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opens in Medora next month. There will be traditional exhibits and artifacts and eight "adventure galleries" where visitors can learn from Theodore Roosevelt instead of just about him. Among the experiences available will be sitting around a camp fire and talking to characters from Roosevelt's era, a train ride experience simulating Roosevelt's frantic trip back to New York to be with his suffering family, a 14-minute canoe ride down the "River of Doubt," and an opportunity to interact with an AI-simulated version of Roosevelt himself. But one of Robbie Lauf's favorite features, he told us on this episode of Plain Talk, is the building itself. "We built what I think is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world," he said. Lauf is the executive director of the library, which he says will help change the shape of tourism in North Dakota, moving it from being, somewhat infamously, the last place people think to visit in the United States to perhaps a spot much higher on the list. "I hope this is an incredible story of what our state can do and when we dare greatly and put big ideas out there," he said. He also said the library is in a strong fiscal position, and hasn't yet touched the funds made available by the State of North Dakota. "The state of North Dakota put the first $50 million as a challenge grant to raise $100 million to access that 50. That is an endowment," he said. "So zero dollars of that $50 million has been spent on construction. Zero dollars of the earnings, frankly, have been spent. We have it siphoned off in a separate fund where it hasn't been touched, because that, for us, in the legislative intent, was for the operations and maintenance of a facility." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the potentially divisive distraction President Donald Trump's visit to the library opening festivities could cause. We also talk about some of the misguided partisan analysis around Fargo's recent local elections, and respond to listener feedback. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

There will be a lot to see when the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opens in Medora next month. There will be traditional exhibits and artifacts and eight "adventure galleries" where visitors can learn from Theodore Roosevelt instead of just about him. Among the experiences available will be sitting around a camp fire and talking to characters from Roosevelt's era, a train ride experience simulating Roosevelt's frantic trip back to New York to be with his suffering family, a 14-minute canoe ride down the "River of Doubt," and an opportunity to interact with an AI-simulated version of Roosevelt himself. But one of Robbie Lauf's favorite features, he told us on this episode of Plain Talk, is the building itself. "We built what I think is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world," he said. Lauf is the executive director of the library, which he says will help change the shape of tourism in North Dakota, moving it from being, somewhat infamously, the last place people think to visit in the United States to perhaps a spot much higher on the list. "I hope this is an incredible story of what our state can do and when we dare greatly and put big ideas out there," he said. He also said the library is in a strong fiscal position, and hasn't yet touched the funds made available by the State of North Dakota. "The state of North Dakota put the first $50 million as a challenge grant to raise $100 million to access that 50. That is an endowment," he said. "So zero dollars of that $50 million has been spent on construction. Zero dollars of the earnings, frankly, have been spent. We have it siphoned off in a separate fund where it hasn't been touched, because that, for us, in the legislative intent, was for the operations and maintenance of a facility." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the potentially divisive distraction President Donald Trump's visit to the library opening festivities could cause. We also talk about some of the misguided partisan analysis around Fargo's recent local elections, and respond to listener feedback. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Tom Brodie - CSSI Cost Segregation On Using Bonus Depreciation on Buildings of All Sizes: "So people that own smaller buildings like that, they can actually get a reasonable return on this as well." Discover Hidden Savings in Commercial Real Estate In this week's episode, we dive into the world of cost segregation and tax strategy with Tom Brodie—better known as “The Found Money Guy.” If you own commercial property or are considering buying, this interview is packed with actionable insights you can't afford to miss. What is Cost Segregation? Learn how breaking down your building's components (like carpeting, parking lots, internal walls, and more) can allow you to depreciate assets faster—and potentially save tens or even hundreds of thousands on taxes. (01:11) Why Now? 100% Bonus Depreciation Is Back Understand how the latest tax law changes made 100% bonus depreciation permanent—unlocking huge deductions in the first year for non-structural assets. (08:08) Do You Qualify? Any commercial building, whether a $200,000 office condo or a $10 million high-rise, can benefit from a cost seg study. Find out what kinds of properties see the best returns. (12:22) Tax Credits vs. Deductions—What's the Difference? Wondering if an R&D tax credit or a deduction is better? Get a clear explanation and why tax credits may have more impact on your tax bill. (00:00, 24:19) Bonus—Green Zip Drywall Tape Discover innovative building materials that accelerate depreciation and offer green construction incentives. (25:19) Enjoy! Visit Tom at: https://thefoundmoneyguy.com and https://cssistudy.com Sponsors: Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service, phone answering for small businesses: https://callsoncall.com Some videos have been recorded with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=james-kademan   Podcast Overview: 00:00 Helping building owners save on taxes 05:52 Accelerated depreciation for buildings 08:08 Understanding Bonus Depreciation Rules 12:22 Offering free estimates for buildings 13:27 Engineering-based cost segregation process 18:28 Understanding the R&D Tax Credit 21:45 Understanding R&D tax credits 25:20 Reconfiguring and reusing drywall 28:37 Discovering cost segregation 31:16 Discovering cost segregation loopholes 34:27 Handling IRS audit inquiries 39:05 Remote and Office Work Changes 40:03 Understanding property depreciation rules 45:38 Evaluating building estimates and assets 47:34 Understanding condo tax allocations 51:18 Navigating 1031 exchange complexities Podcast Transcription: Tom Brodie [00:00:00]: So that's a dollar for dollar reduction in the taxes you owe. Cost segregation is a deduction. So that's going to lower your amount of income, which means you pay less taxes. So if you got an R and D tax credit of $20,000 and you had a liability of $20,000, now you owe zero because that's going to wipe out the liability. So tax credits are a little bit more valuable than a deduction as far as the impact. James [00:00:27]: You have found Authentic Business Adventures, the business program that brings you the str and triumph and successes of business owners across the land. Downloadable audio episodes can be found in the podcast link found drawincustomers.com we are locally underwritten by the bank of Sun Prairie Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service as well as the Bold Business Book. And today we're welcoming, preparing to learn from Tom Brodie of Cost Segregation Services. So Tom, how is it going today? Tom Brodie [00:00:56]: It's going very well. Thank you for having me on the program. James [00:00:59]: Yeah, I'm glad that you're on here. I love the name of your business because it says exactly what you do. So for those that may not know, can you tell us what is cost segregation? Tom Brodie [00:01:11]: Yeah, it's, I know that people stumble over that all the time. What we do is we help commercial building owners depreciate their building faster and say faster just because it's faster than what they're used to. Right. What the CPA or tax preparer will do will take the value of the building and divide it by 39 years or 27 and a half years if it's a apartment complex. What we do is say there's things in your building are not going to last that long. So we do the study to say, okay, you've got this much assets in a five year category, this many assets, you know, in a 15 year category, and break it down that way and then help them depreciate it faster, which means more depreciation expense is less income, which means less income taxes. And so you're really saving a tremendous amount of money in income taxes. James [00:01:59]: So when you're talking about assets, can you elaborate on what those are? Tom Brodie [00:02:04]: It's a commercial building. I mean, so if you got, you know, you're building, you've got the external walls and everything else, but then you've got so much on the inside, internal walls, you know, H vac controls on the inside, things that are not really key to keeping the structure upright. Those are the things that are going to have a slower, sorry, a faster life. And so you're going to depreciate them faster and then record it's the same dollars, you're just recording it sooner. Right. And so you'll be able to write that off when those things are worth more, the whole time value of money thing. So rather than waiting 39 years to get you, your asset depreciated, you can take about 30% of that on average and record it sooner. James [00:02:42]: All right, so you're talking carpet shelving, Tom Brodie [00:02:47]: floor coverings, window coverings. Actually outside a building too. Parking lots are a huge expense that people don't think about. That's a 15 year asset. So if you've got a big parking lot, that's going to be something we can write off right away. And then security systems, fencing, you know, irrigation systems, everything outside the building that's not really part of the structure. Those are going to be usually in the 15 year asset category. James [00:03:11]: All right, now I understand you're not an accountant, but I'm still going to ask the question because it eludes the question. Hey, instead of this cost segregation or the depreciation being spread out over 39 years or 27 years, you do a chunk of it, 30% ish, right away. What happens if you sell it? Sell the building? Tom Brodie [00:03:31]: Well, that's the one thing that we tell people. If you're getting ready to sell it right away, you don't want to do this. Right. Because whenever you sell any building, you're going to have to pay recapture. And so if you accelerate the depreciation and then try to sell it the next year, all that savings is going to be eaten up when you have to pay back the recapture. So we typically tell people three to five years is a, is a good timeframe after cost seg study, you know, to hold it. If you're going to hold it that long, then that reinvested of the savings is going to be able to create a return for you that will offset the recapture. I've had some clients turn around and sell it right away. Tom Brodie [00:04:07]: I said, we talked about this, right? You said you weren't going to sell it right away. They said I made so much money I didn't care about it. Okay, as long as you did that, full knowledge that I told you not to sell it right away. But it's one of those things where, you know, things happen and you have to make a move. But we typically think that you've held on to something within three to five years, you're going to be fine. James [00:04:30]: Right on. Do the math is what it comes down To, Right, exactly. Tom Brodie [00:04:34]: I mean we, we always, we give free estimates because that's the one thing that people don't understand. How much. These are big numbers, right. A lot of times. And so when you actually see the number there and then you put it into your calculation to see if this makes financial sense, a lot of people are surprised by the number to go. I didn't know this was available. Yeah, it is. James [00:04:54]: Can you. Let's just talk the numbers and let's keep it relatively easy. Just for Neanderthals like me that aren't that good at math, let's just say for fun, we got a million dollar building, right? I just bought this million dollar commercial building, office space, warehouse space. I don't know if it matters. Can you just walk me through the numbers I can expect and then what that turns into, as far as money in my pocket goes? Tom Brodie [00:05:17]: Absolutely. Now every building's gonna be a little bit different. Like so if an office building is gonna have more things that you can actually accelerate than if you had just a metal warehouse. Right. Metal warehouse is pretty much a box. But if an office building got a lot of things on the inside of that building that you can depreciate million dollars on average, I'm usually finding a deduction, a tax deduction equal to about 20 to 25% of the building's value. Now I say building's value because you have to subtract land, right? So if it costs you a million dollars, you take the land out. Maybe you're like $800,000 or something like that. Tom Brodie [00:05:52]: So it's 20% of that building. Only value that could be in a depreciation deduction, right? So that's, and with, with 100% bonus depreciation coming back, all those things that are accelerate acceleratable are things that you could write off in year one after doing a study. So it, it's significant. So you know, not every building is the same. So the more internal walls and maybe the high end decor elements you have, you have a nice lobby with a lot of high end granite or marble or whatever. Those things cost money. And typically you're not going to ROI on those, right? So if you can write all that stuff off in the first year,...

Maybe clear out the infestations before requiring in person back to work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venezuelans are digging through debris after two powerful earthquakes shook the capital and surrounding areas yesterday. Buildings collapsed after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed by an even larger 7.5 tremor west of Caracas. Emergency crews have been scrambling through night and day to try and find survivors.Also: Canadians are waiting even longer in emergency rooms. A new report found 1 in 10 admitted patients waited more than 48 hours. The report blames limited capacity, difficulties with standard care and Canada's aging population.And: After a disappointing loss to Switzerland, Canada's World Cup men's team is looking to their next challenge — South Africa.Plus: Calls for a gun ban, increasing electronics prices, Carney's update and more.

Taking your kids to the potty; Cars into Buildings update; Damn It, Dog!; Tasty Tuesday and Onion Ring Poll and Blue M&M's; World Cup Fever; Music fans wearing diapers at shows; Maria Stein Country Fest; The Salvation Army comes by for a visit. And a 4-pack of passes for Land of Illusion Aqua Adventures

D&P Highlight: Now we want to tear down historic buildings to build vertical data centers?! full 357 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:56:00 +0000 w9zjJZlAYaKtQUAjDHFjwHr8gUhfyIwW news The Dana & Parks Podcast news D&P Highlight: Now we want to tear down historic buildings to build vertical data centers?! You wanted it... Now here it is! Listen to each hour of the Dana & Parks Show whenever and wherever you want! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News htt

It's important to compare Trump, or any politician, not to perfection, but to the alternative. Do we trust America would be safer from Iran, and the Middle East would be better off under Kamala Harris or Joe Biden? We could discuss this all day.

Quotes from the episode: "The tighter your envelope, the more attention you have to pay to ventilation and indoor air quality." "The acoustics of the ordinary rarely gets attention." "There's so much good work being done, so much data being collected, and oftentimes it doesn't leave the hard drive." "Noise annoyance may be one of the things people are most passionate about." In this episode of the Building HVAC Science Podcast, Bill Spohn welcomes Kieren McCord, a research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, for a conversation about indoor environmental quality, acoustic comfort, and the often-overlooked benefits of building performance upgrades. Kieren shares her path from music and acoustics to building science, explaining how sound, comfort, air quality, thermal resilience, and human perception intersect in homes. The conversation explores how energy upgrades such as better windows, tighter envelopes, and improved insulation can create benefits beyond lower utility bills. Kieren explains how acoustic performance is measured, why low-frequency sound is difficult to block, how decibel weightings like dBA and dBZ work, and why human response to noise can be highly personal. She also discusses the promise and limitations of smartphone-based sound measurements, including the potential for making acoustic data collection more accessible to HERS© raters and home performance professionals. Kieren also shares details from recent field research on a Chicago window retrofit, in which triple-pane acoustic windows and careful installation resulted in a 35% reduction in whole-home air leakage. While the noise data is still being processed, the study aims to link measurable building improvements to homeowners' perceptions of comfort, quiet, smell, temperature, and overall livability. Her closing message is a call for more shared field data, more collaboration, and a stronger connection between academic research and the practical work being done every day by contractors, raters, and building performance professionals. Kieren's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieren-m/   US DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information; osti.gov   Physical Phone Experiments: https://phyphox.org/       This episode was recorded in May 2026.  

Skyscrapers transformed city skylines and changed the way people live and work. This episode explores the origins of tall buildings, the engineering breakthroughs that made them possible, and the global rise of skyscrapers. Along the way, you'll hear about engineering innovations, famous skyscrapers, changing skylines, and the developments that made building upward possible. It's steady and consistent, with no whispering and no sudden changes, just enough to give your mind something to follow as you wind down. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Skyscraper, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscraper), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. — Ad-free episodes: ⁠icantsleep.supportingcast.fm⁠Have a topic in mind? ⁠Request a topic⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Right now, roughly 40% of global emissions come from the built environment. Most of those emissions are hidden deep within the materials themselves, in the concrete, steel, and plastics that are mined or extracted from underground at enormous energy costs. What if that model could be reversed entirely?   In this episode of Business For Good, Paul Shapiro sits down with Allison Dring, CEO of Made of Air, to explore how waste biomass can be converted into carbon-storing building materials through a process called pyrolysis. Instead of mining resources from underground, the company uses sawdust and wood waste that would otherwise go to landfill, bakes it in a high-temperature, low-oxygen oven, and produces biochar, a stable form of elemental carbon that locks atmospheric CO2 away for roughly a thousand years.   The conversation covers why the built environment is such a massive source of emissions, how biochar-based cladding panels can replace steel, cement fiber board, and fossil-based plastics at competitive prices, and why the real bottleneck is not the technology but industry adoption.   Things You Will Learn: Why roughly 40% of global emissions come from the built environment, with about half of that embedded in the materials themselves. How pyrolysis converts waste biomass into biochar that locks carbon out of the atmosphere for approximately a thousand years. Why no building on earth today has achieved a fully carbon-negative life cycle, and what it would take to change that. How Made of Air's cladding panels replace steel, cement fiber board, and fossil-based plastics with carbon-negative alternatives. Why the company is targeting price parity with conventional building materials by the end of 2027 without any green premium.   Tools & Frameworks Covered: Biochar Through Pyrolysis: A process of baking waste biomass in a high-temperature, low-oxygen oven that converts stored CO₂ into stable elemental carbon, creating a material that does not re-release carbon for roughly a thousand years. Above-Ground vs. Below-Ground Resources: A framework for rethinking where building materials come from, shifting from mined and fossil-extracted resources to biomass waste streams that already exist in agriculture and forestry. Embodied Carbon Compliance: A long-term planning approach where real estate developers evaluate building materials based on 30 to 50 year regulatory trajectories rather than current requirements alone.   #BusinessForGood #FutureOfFood #AlternativeProtein #SustainableBusiness