Podcasts about By God

Titus 3:3-8 NIV “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”   *Transcription Below*   Hunter Beless is an author of several children's books including Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It! and Amy Carmichael: The Brown-Eyed Girl Who Learned to Pray. She is also a Bible teacher, co-author of Titus: Displaying the Gospel of Grace and the founder of Journeywomen Ministries, which empowers women to live out their faith through deep commitment to their local church. Hunter hosts the Journeywomen Podcast, sharing resources and insightful conversations with women of faith. She and her husband, Brooks, have four beautiful children, whom Hunter homeschools. You can find her on Instagram @hunterbeless, or at https://www.hunterbeless.com/books. Journeywomen Podcast   Thank You to Our Sponsor: The Sue Neihouser Team   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Questions and Topics We Cover: 1. What rhythms have been most profitable to you (spiritually, relationally, physically, and productively?)  2. In your own home, how have you intentionally helped your children know and love God through Scripture?  3. How is the Gospel useful for not only salvation, but also sanctification?   Similar Episodes from The Savvy Sauce: 16 Reflecting Jesus in Our Relationships with Rach Kincaid 57 Implementing Bite-Size Habits That Will Change Your Life with Author, Blogger, Podcaster, and Speaker, Kat Lee 150 Brain Science and Spiritual Abundance with Ken Baugh 166 Journey from Empty to Well Nourished Soul with Gretchen Saffles  207 Cultivating Character in Our Children with Cynthia Yanof Special Patreon Release Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro 267 Apologetics with Ray Comfort 274 Holy Spirit Stories and Fruit and Ways to Identify His Guidance in Our Lives with Margaret Feinberg   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 1:16) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Thank you to the Sue Neihouser Team for sponsoring this episode. If you're looking to buy or sell a home this season, make sure you reach out to Sue at 309-229-8831. Sue would love to walk alongside you as you unlock new doors.   My guest for today is Hunter Beless, and you may recognize her as the founder of Journey Women Ministries. She's also a podcaster and an author of multiple books, including this recent one, Jesus Loves You More. Hunter is going to share today about all things discipleship.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Hunter.    Hunter Beless: (1:17 - 1:23) Thank you so, much for having me. I just love the concept of this show, and I'm excited to be here with you today.    Laura Dugger: (1:23 - 1:56) Well, I've been looking so, forward to getting to chat with you. You've been on my list for years, so, I'm thankful this worked out. And even, it may have been years ago, but I heard you publicly share that you had chosen to put your faith in Christ in elementary school, I believe. But then as you transitioned into high school, you were open about then choosing to pursue the ways of the world. So, will you just speak to that experience and talk to that teenage girl who's currently facing some similar temptations?    Hunter Beless: (1:56 - 6:39) Oh, that'd be such a privilege to get to speak to any young woman who is in a situation like this. I often think, like, if I would have just had one older friend who was encouraging me in the Lord, who would be willing to testify to God's grace in her life, and who would reach back and try and help me just to continue walking in the grace that he had extended to me through his son, like, I wonder if it would have gone differently for me, Laura. But, you know, the Lord did save me at a young age, and I lived fervently for him, loved God's word, even from a young age.    And I remember, like, seeing groups of people that I wanted to like me, and wanting so, desperately to be accepted by them. But knowing that when I opened the pages of scripture, the Holy Spirit brought conviction to my heart in a way that would not allow me to act in accordance with the things that these groups were doing, in order to be approved of by them. And so, I thought to myself, "Well, maybe I'll just stop reading my Bible so, much." This is about eighth or ninth grade. And, you know, then I won't feel a sense of conviction when it comes to, like, these behaviors that I know I need to, you know, adapt to, in order to be approved of by the people that I deemed, you know, significant. And so, I set my Bible aside.    And it's a really sad story. I mean, as I continued to spend time outside of God's word, I would still go to church with my family and things like that on Sunday mornings. But I just began to look less and less like a follower of Christ, and more and more like the world. And eventually, you know, I spent my entire duration of my high school years doing that. And I have to tell you; I just went back to my 20-year high school reunion. And there was a girl that I saw there. And she told me what a jerk I was in that season of my life. And it was such a wonderful thing to be reminded of what it looks like for me to not be walking in the Spirit, but to be walking in the flesh. And to really have to reckon with, that is what it looks like to be walking like the world.    And I just told her, I said, "You know what, you're completely right." I said, "I was." I was totally looking out for my good and not for the good of others. I was absolutely living for myself and not for the Lord. But by God's grace, when it came time for my senior year of high school, he allowed me to get to the end of myself. And you would have thought, like, looking back, I had the resume, I had the 4.0, I had the salutatorian status, I was the president of my high school senior class. You would have thought, this girl's crushing it. But I had never been more anxious, more depressed, more insecure, more selfish, obviously, as testified to by the girl that I just referenced, than I was in that season of my life.    And I remember I had a youth pastor who had just come into our church. And he said, "Hey," he said, "How's your time in the word looking?" And I said, "Well, I could either lie, or I could tell the truth." And I said, "You know, it's looking pretty, pretty bleak." And he said, "I just want to challenge you to get back in God's word." And at the same time, my dad had a tragic accident. It was a near death accident. And I was kind of reckoned with the brevity of life as a senior in high school. And I cried out to the Lord. And I said, "God, if you really are who you say you are, would you show me who you are through your word?"    And that sparked, Laura, this passion for God's word. And it allowed me then to see the difference in my own life, what it looks like for Hunter to be walking without listening to the voice of God, and what it looked like for Hunter to have her face in her Bible, and to seek to live by God's word. And I tell you what, I probably don't look nearly as impressive by the world's standards. But the joy and the peace, and really just the transformation that the Lord has accomplished in my life through his word, is something that I cannot stop testifying to. And I just cannot encourage women enough, like if you are wrestling with the flesh, to get into God's word, because God works by the power of the Holy Spirit through his word in the lives of his people. And so, that's why really this whole passion has just overtaken my life for God's word.    Laura Dugger: (6:40 - 6:59) Wow, that is incredible to hear that transformation, because God did it, and God can do it again. And God can do it for each one of us listening. But you are so passionate about discipling others. Can you first tell us, what were some of the significant ways that you've been discipled?    Hunter Beless: (7:00 - 10:07) Yeah, well, I went to college, and that was the first time that I had ever really had someone seeking to do spiritual good in my life, outside of my parents. And really, even with my parents, like, you know, sitting down intentionally studying the word, that wasn't a part of our family culture. And so, when I went to college, there was a girl, her name was Meredith. And I remember, she sat down, and she taught me how to read my Bible, for really the very first time. I remember being confronted with some of the truths of scripture, Laura, and I'm like, "That's in the Bible? That disrupts me. Like, I didn't know that, you know?" And so, it was such a wonderful time, just of really kind of being confronted with my own theological ideas from my, you know, lack of ability and time to really understand the message of the text, you know, and then to really reevaluate that and be conformed to the text and to allow it to conform me. So, Meredith had a significant influence in my life in how to study the Bible.    And then I had an older woman named Joyce, who at the time, I believe, was in her late 40s, maybe early 50s. And I just remember, Joyce found out that I began to memorize scripture. So, somewhere along the way, I realized, like, this book is so, significant that I need to start, you know, hiding scripture away in my heart. Some of that was just watching my own grandmother and seeing the way that the Lord had used scripture in her own life. And realizing, like, wow, if my grandmother has these truths hidden away in her heart for this season, and she had dementia, I need to start hiding scripture away in my heart, too. So, Joyce and I really, we started up a group on scripture memory.    And I'll never forget the first time I met her, she said, "Hey, I heard you're starting to memorize Ephesians." I never finished. But she said, "Let's hear it." And so, she just opened up her Bible. And I just started quoting Ephesians. And one of Joyce's coined phrases that at the time I didn't realize was actually scripture itself, she would hold the Bible out in front of me. And she would say, "Hunter, this is no empty word for you, but your very life." And she had so many phrases like that, that I didn't even realize at the time, because I was pretty biblically illiterate, that were the words of scripture themselves. That's Deuteronomy 32:47. And Joyce really embodied that message for me, that scripture is that man doesn't live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. And so, watching her just live with her face in her Bible, proverbially speaking, and seeking to meditate on its truths and live by those day in and day out really transformed who I am even today. And she gave me a picture of what I'd like to look like years down the road.    So, I've had various mentors, but those are some of the first. And the Lord definitely used them in significant ways to do spiritual good in my life.    Laura Dugger: (10:08 - 10:36) And I don't know what kind of life those women lead if they're in public or more private disciplines, but their faithfulness, you just see the impact how it ripples out to bless generations. And even you, Hunter, you're leading this incredible ministry, where you disciple others through helping women know and love God through his word. So, will you share how you ended up getting to do this awesome work that you get to do today?    Hunter Beless: (10:37 - 15:41) Oh, well, the beginnings of this, you would not have thought were awesome. And in fact, you and I were just chatting, and I still am recording out of my closet. And really, it's all just been an overflow of what the Lord has been doing in my own life. And I did feel like along the way, I just, I began to just love learning from older women. And I do think that's a biblical, like scriptural kind of practice. You look at Titus 2, you see the older women are to teach the younger women what is good. I was a younger woman who loved learning from older women. And so, I had this, over the years, this just long list of women who had invested in me who had, you know, testified to God's grace in their life, who had taught me the scriptures.    And when my husband Brooks and I were in the military, we found ourselves on post. And just due to the transiency of a military lifestyle, the churches around military installations tend to be a little bit tired, sometimes depleted, because people in the military are moving so, frequently. So, it's hard, right, to have continuity to see people through in their discipling process and all of that. And so, I really missed those mentors that I'd had from college, and the year after college, after coming into marriage. And so, I thought to myself, like, man, I want the other women. I was also interfacing with either believers or non-believers who really had never been discipled. And I thought, man, I just wish I could get you with Joyce, or I wish I could get you with Meredith. I wish I could connect you, you know, with X, Y, or Z woman from the past couple of years.    And so, I thought, I also simultaneously was listening to a lot of podcasts because I was super lonely. Just because, you know, moving into a new culture, and then my husband was gone at least 50% of the time for training or deployment. And so, I'd be walking along the military installation listening to like sermon audio, like John Piper or Timothy Keller or whatever. And I thought, man, I wish that there was a conversational podcast about theology for women that would just be more warm and kind of like what we're doing right now. And my husband was like, "Well, you should start it." And so, I just started with the women who had mentored me. If you go back to the very beginning of the podcast, it's truly like my college roommates. It's my mentors from Pine Cove Christian Camps where Brooks and I met.    And I think I just by God's grace, the podcasting network was so, small at the time. I remember Journey Women landed in the number two spot right behind Joel Osteen whenever the thing launched. And so, then from there, it just gave the podcast some notoriety, which is what then allowed, you know, some of the names that you would recognize to reach out and to say, "Hey, you know, could we come on the podcast?" And at the time, I had no knowledge of, you know, how to market people marketing books or any of that Bible studies, etc. And yeah, it was a really fun season, actually, because it was pre-COVID. And you know, people weren't used to doing a whole lot online. And so, had some really, really fun conversations. And along the way, the Lord has helped me to hone in more of a vision of what I'm doing. Because at first, it was just like, let's get in the closet and have like fun, intentional conversations that I could share with my girlfriends or with maybe the military spouse that I'm meeting on the playground that I may never see again, you know.    And then along the way, people started even wanting to donate to the podcast and different things like that. And I thought, I really need to have a clearer aim. And so, now, you know, over the past eight years, the Lord has given us this mission to help women know and love God through his word, to find their hope in the gospel and to invest deeply in their local churches as they go out on mission for the glory of God. And some of that came and Laura, I'm sure you face this from women really seeking out discipling online, and us realizing we can't disciple you. Like, we cannot come alongside you and help you to grow in godliness, you know, but we can do that via the interwebs. But the degree to which we're able to do that is super-duper limited. And so, what does it look like for us then to equip women so, that then they would be encouraged to seek out fellowship in the local church, and to be investing their time, energy and talents in the local church. And so, that's become kind of our resounding gong at Journey Women over the years, just because we really do believe that ministry happens best in the context of the local church. And that's something that the Lord has validated through seeing women reaching out online and realizing like, hey, we could never, you know, provide what they need. But God in his grace has given us the local body that is able to do that.    Laura Dugger: (15:42 - 19:08) So, well said, because this is a great place that we can meet people anytime what is most convenient for them with a podcast. But then also, so, that's great for sowing seeds. But there's nothing that replaces that embodied relationship. And it just makes me think of God that he created us that way. And he knew it because Jesus even being embodied, little baby sent to earth, so, nothing replaces that. And, Hunter, I just I love hearing about your public ministry and the way the Lord has blessed and grown it.    And now a brief message from our sponsor. With over 28 years of experience in real estate, Sue Neihouser of the Sue Neihouser Team is a RE/MAX agent of Central Illinois, and she loves to walk alongside her clients as they unlock new doors. For anyone local, I highly recommend you call Sue today at 309-229-8831. And you can ask her any real estate questions. Sue lives in Central Illinois and loves this community and all that it has to offer. When unlocking new doors with her clients, Sue works hard to gain a depth of understanding of their motivations and dreams and interests in buying and selling their home. And then she commits to extensive market research that will give them confidence in their decision. Sue truly cares for each of her clients and the relationship she forms with each family along the entire home buying or selling process. This was absolutely our experience when we worked with Sue and her team. The house that we desired at the time was actually not even on the market, but Sue had a connection and was able to ask those homeowners if they would be willing to sell. She was timely in her response as she walked us through this whole process, and she helped us sell our home with the right offer coming in hours after it was listed. We kept saying she's thought of everything. And Sue's continued generosity was astonishing. I remember one afternoon after we had settled into our new home, and she was knocking on the door dropping off a goodie bag for our family that came from the local bakery. Our daughters also loved getting to know Miss Sue as she assisted us in finding truly our dream home.    So, whether you're looking to buy a home for the first time, or looking to upgrade or downsize, or making the big decision to move to an assisted living from your home of many years, Sue will be there to help you navigate the big emotions and ensure the process is smooth and stress free, and that the new doors to be unlocked are ready and waiting for more memories to be made. So, call her today at 309-229-8831 or visit her website at sueneihouser.com. And that is sueneihouser.com. Thanks for your sponsorship.   I'd also love to hear a little bit more about your personal life. So, what does a day in the life look like for Hunter Beless?    Hunter Beless: (19:09 - 21:25) Well, I think if somebody joined me in a day in a life, in this season, Laura, I feel like I'm too busy. I have committed to too much. And so, what it looks like practically, it's going to be a lot of time running from this or that event and just trying to do the things that I committed to before or some of the other things that the Lord has allowed in my life came to fruition. But just leaning into him for the grace that I need moment by moment, you know, and trusting that he is the same and that he has provided all of the grace that I need. His grace is sufficient for me, you know, as I'm running errands and facing the temptation to feel anxious or overwhelmed that, you know, I think it's Luke 12, where it's talking about how I can't even add a moment, not even the smallest amount of time to my life by worrying. So, I'm just going to entrust all of this to the Lord.    So, for me, I wonder how many women are listening to this and that they can relate to this because I talked to various people who they don't have a podcast, but they don't have the same work as me, but they feel that same temptation towards anxiety and the feelings of overwhelms that we all face, you know, and yeah, I think my life probably looks a lot like many of y'all's. And for me, it's just the constant meditation on scripture and just rehearsing the truths of God's word that are never changing, even in the midst of my ever-changing and chaotic circumstances. So, it doesn't seem to change even if I do a better job, which I could have done, planning my schedule or, you know, prayerfully considering the commitments that I made, but just resting and knowing that he is unchanging and that he is ever-present and that he is all-knowing and that he has provided everything that I need and his son.    So, that is what it looks like. Every day looks different, but again, leaning into the truths of God's word, meditating on those truths, rehearsing those truths over and over, and resting in the grace that the gospel provides. That's the thing that never changes.    Laura Dugger: (21:27 - 22:06) And I love that overview because if we look from the outside, you're homeschooling, you run this ministry, you have a podcast, and you're cooking healthy recipes for your family, but I'm sure do you also have weekly patterns? Because to me, it's a stewardship issue. You've been faithful with little, it sounds like, so, he has given you the opportunity to be faithful in much, and it's a season of much where you've written books and produced all this content. So, do you have a system in place or rhythms throughout the week that have helped you live that full, abundant life?    Hunter Beless: (22:06 - 24:19) Yeah, that's a really good question. Obviously, the weekly rhythm that we always start with is worshiping with the saints on Sunday. I look forward to that like no other. And we are in a church that the Lord is just so, gracious to have provided a pastor who prioritizes the preaching of the word and who is consistently proclaiming the gospel from the pulpit. And so, Laura, on the weeks where I feel like I have been so, busy that I have not spent the time in God's word that I would desire, just the recognition that going to church on a Sunday is such a blessing to get to receive God's word. And so, there have been many times that I just show up and I'm just like, "Thank you, Lord." Thank you for the provision of your word. Thank you for the provision of the body of Christ. And so, Sundays are just like a non-negotiable for us. We go to church on Sundays. And then, you know, we have various things. My kids are actually homeschooled on two days out of the week or three days out of the week. And then, they go to school two days. So, we do like a university model is what it's called. And so, on the three days that they are home, I am full tilt homeschooling, doing everything home-related.    And in fact, I have had to learn that part of their education is also helping care for our home. And so, we really see it as a team effort to keep the home, like, tidy and running and functioning well, so that we can, you know, spend as much time in it as we do, like, with happy hearts. And then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I typically am in this closet working while the children are at school. Saturdays, we rest together as a family. We spend a lot of time outdoors. I also make bread regularly. And I think there's something liturgical for me about making bread. And, like, when everything else feels, like, a little bit chaotic and out of my control, the beauty of just doing a simple task like making bread to provide food for my family and nourishment is something that really brings me great joy. So, Saturdays are also bread-making days. And then, the week begins again. That is awesome.    Laura Dugger: (24:19 - 24:41) I love hearing that. And it makes me curious to go even a little bit further. I'll give you a few categories, but I'd love to hear what rhythms in these categories have been most profitable to you. So, when you think of it spiritually, physically, relationally, and just productively, how you stay creatively fresh.    Hunter Beless: (24:41 - 28:24) Yeah. You know, spiritually for me, and I'm a mother of, like, young children, right? So, my kids are ranging from age 11 to age 3. I would say we're still in a season in which sleep is a little bit unpredictable, particularly in those early waking hours. But I do my very best to try and get in God's Word first. And that is not because I want to check it off the list, but because I need the people in my home and beyond. So, really trying to just orient myself rightly to the truths of God's Word first thing is huge. I also do try to work out. So, that gets to the physical piece. I neglected working out for many years. I actually, hilariously, was a personal trainer when we were back in the military. And that was kind of my gig while Brooks was gone. And so, I know how to work out, and I enjoy working out. But with the children, it has been a difficult thing for me to prioritize. But just this last year, I got, this is the most, like, basic thing ever. I got a Peloton. I bought it secondhand off of Marketplace. And it has just been a wonderful way for me to sweat and exercise my body first thing in the morning without, you know, really requiring a whole lot. I don't have to leave the house. I don't have to go outside or anything, because Brooks does travel quite a bit still for work. And so, I try to ride the Peloton. Doesn't always happen. Happens less than it does, than I want for it to, but it does help.    And then, yeah, relationally is really, that's a really good question. I think one thing that the Lord has blessed me with, having lived a season of extreme transiency, right? So, we did eight years of military. And then, we did two years at, you know, university where Brooks got his MBA. And now, we're in our first, like, what we would call, like, a civilian kind of location, where he's got his first civilian job. We're almost 15 years deep into marriage now. And so, all of the friendships that I made along those eight years of moving almost annually. I think we moved, like, six or seven times in eight years. Yeah, just trying to maintain those relationships. I only have one or two from each duty station, but I love using Voxer or Voice Memo to keep in touch with people who have known me for, you know, a longer time. And that's just one thing that's really fun. I have to be careful not to let that overtake my time on my phone, but I do love to keep in touch with old friends. And they are some of the friends that the Lord has used just really to help me navigate the various challenges that we face, right, in life and relationally in marriage and all of that.    So, anyways, and relationally in marriage, Brooks and I were really just relishing in the friendship that God has given us with one another. I don't think it's been easy over the years, especially with all of the transiency and all of the deployments and all of the many moves that we've faced. But God has really just given us a true appreciation for one another. And to begin to see now, 15 years into marriage, that the differences that He has given each of us are a gift to help us be conformed into the image of His Son. So, that's some of it, spiritually, physically, relationally. Did I miss anything?    Laura Dugger: (28:25 - 28:32) Just even productively as you're creating content, how do you stay creatively inspired and fresh?    Hunter Beless: (28:33 - 30:55) Yeah, I love, my friend Gretchen Stoffels has a lot of wonderful things to say about this. She talks a lot about producing from the overflow and not the undertow. And that's ministered to me over the years. I find a lot of times when I am not creatively fresh, it's either because I'm overproducing or because I'm not honestly spending, most of what I do is all revolving around God's Word. So, it's like if I'm not spending time in God's Word and allowing myself to just be struck anew with truths from the text, then what do I have to share? So, that helps me too in knowing when am I overcommitted? Because if I don't have time then to be relishing in God's Word, not for the sake of producing something, but just like you said, just being struck and wonder by who God is, then I really need to reevaluate the commitments that I'm making and slow things down a bit. And so, that's kind of what has helped me to protect that time with the Lord so that then I would have something to offer others.    And I don't just think about it in terms of producing a podcast or writing a book or sending out a newsletter. I mean, honestly, even with the children, this has been something that I've been thinking about for the last six to eight months. If I want them to understand how God's Word informs all of life, then I need to be with my face in my Bible because who is it that they spend the most time with, right? All throughout their life. Like, it's me. And so, I get to then help them realize like, oh, here is how Scripture applies to all these different circumstances. But if I don't spend time in God's Word, then I've got nothing to give. And I have a friend who was a missionary actually in a remote country with the IMB. And I asked her, I said, "How did you ever evangelize with people in this remote context from this different religion and all of this?" And she said, "You know what, I just had to be so, filled up with God's Word that that's what came out." And I think about that all the time. So, when I'm feeling dry, I'm like, "Oop, oop, that's a good sign. I need to go back to God's Word."    Laura Dugger: (30:56 - 31:07) I love that. And let's go there then in your own home. How have you intentionally helped your children to know and to love God through Scripture?    Hunter Beless: (31:09 - 33:52) This is going to sound really selfish, but, you know, this whole endeavor, right, I've realized the significance of God's Word in my own life. And so, I'm constantly thinking, Laura, like, how am I going to get into God's Word? You know, like, that's, it sounds selfish. But if I really believe that I need God's Word for all of life, I'm going to have to figure out how am I going to get that in. And then it's wonderful because I get to bring the children along in that. So, maybe that's just like a fresh take on it, right? Because we're always thinking as mothers, like, how can we be investing in our children more heavily in all of these things? And I think those are good and right desires. Obviously, Deuteronomy speaks to that. You know, we're supposed to teach our children diligently the ways of the Lord. But I think it's just so refreshing when we come to the text as learners, as co-learners. And so, for me, I'm just always thinking, like, how can we learn together who God's Word is? How can we worship the Lord together in our home?    And then it helps me see those times, right, when you are offering instruction to the children, when you are being intentional about, you know, for us, we do, like, catechesis, for example, which is a series of questions and answers just to help disseminate doctrinal truths and help the children learn, like, here are, you know, foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Then I'm not just like, "Okay, who is God? You know, God is the Spirit." I'm, like, thinking about the things that we're learning in a way where I also am seeking to learn as well. And I think that just gives a posture of humility, too. Like, as a parent, where it's not like, "You gotta learn your Bible verse this week, kid." You know, it's like, "We get to, we get to, look, we get to learn God's Word together, you know?" And then that helps them understand the joy of learning God's Word. And it also gives them a very real picture of a parent who's being transformed by the truths of God's Word. What better witness is there? And so, really, I've stopped seeing it as, "Hey, here's our time," you know, which we do have.    And practically, for us, a lot of that happens around the table because I've realized that, like, when children are well-fed, when they have something to do with their hands, they may be a little bit more prone to, like, have open ears, ready to hear, you know, instruction. But we do have those rhythms kind of in place, but I don't want it to be relegated to those rhythms. I want it to be all of life. I want us to understand it doesn't just mean we're gonna sit here over breakfast and do our Bible reading for the day. This is something that is really going with us through the day because we need it not just for this moment, but for all of life.    Laura Dugger: (33:53 - 35:38) You draw so much wisdom there, and I think especially that it's not an either-or, having that set-aside rhythm and time, or just hoping it'll be incorporated into all of life. But it's both.   I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Henrichsen from Episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities, and we are thrilled with the final product, so, I hope you check it out. There you're going to find all of our podcasts, now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones, so, that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. You will also be able to access our donation button, or our mailing address, for sending checks that are tax-deductible, so, that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com today.   Even going back to the heart of this conversation of discipleship, Hunter, how do you think the local church, and especially older women in the community, can play a vital role in encouraging young people to love Scripture?    Hunter Beless: (35:40 - 39:34) You know, I love this question, and I just, I cannot overemphasize the value of older women who love God's Word in the church enough. You know, I think in the culture, we're hearing and seeing that, you know, it's not good to grow old. I mean, that's being perpetuated by all of the Instagram ads that we receive, and by seeing shiny faces that look like they haven't aged one bit. And I'm like, "No, God's Word says that women, older women in particular, have tremendous value in the family of God." And so, I think I want older women just to realize, like, we need you. And in fact, no one is exempt. No woman is exempt from the Titus 2 mandate to teach the younger women what is good. And how do we know what's good? Well, we know God alone is good. And because God is good, we know His Word is good. And if you don't have any clue, like how to reach back and invest in the next generation, I have great news for you. All you need is God's Word.    So, I mean, the littlest learners, the children in the community, I think they are the most gracious recipients of anybody in our community, you know, just when it comes to God's Word. And so, look for ways that you can encourage the younger people in your sphere of influence, in your local church, with God's Word. And often I think that just starts with maybe even meditating on one verse. You know, it can be that simple. Or for me, one way that I want to encourage, you know, the children in my life with God's Word is by identifying ways that I see God working in their lives and naming it. I mean, how encouraging would that be if an older saint in the church said, "Hey, you know, I don't know, my oldest daughter's name is Hadley. Hey, Hadley, like, I see God working in you. You are showing kindness, you know, to the other children in the church. Thank you so much for that. And I'm just praising God for the work he's doing in your life," you know.    But I think in order for them to do that, right, they have to be willing to be inconvenienced by being around the children. And we just had a sermon on this, a wonderful sermon from the book of Mark about Jesus saying, "Let the little children come to me." And so, I think just realizing that Jesus himself, right, he was unbothered. He delighted in the presence of children. So, I think in our older age, you know, especially after you have young kids and you've done all of your time, you know, investing in the next generation in that way, just realizing that there is value in serving in kids' ministry or children's ministry in the church and just getting around the children to be able to give yourself the opportunity to know them in a way where you can meet them with the truths of God's Word. It could also be just having younger families in your home. And I know that can be such an inconvenience. I mean, we're a hot mess. We are so chaotic. And I know, you know, you even have to consider the breakables. Like, you got to protect those, you know, when we come into the house. But figure out, like, what does hospitality look like where we can welcome in younger children, the families with younger children in the home, seek to encourage the parents. I mean, truly, Laura, what else are we doing here? Like, we have been given two things. We have been given the mission of evangelizing and discipling. And that message is the same.    At the heart of both of those things is the gospel. The gospel is for salvation and for sanctification. And so, if you're an older person in the church, keep meditating on the gospel. Keep, you know, seeking to disseminate the truths of the gospel to everybody around you. And remember, the littlest of these, I think, are the most eager learners. And it's such a great opportunity.    Laura Dugger: (39:36 - 39:52) Goodness, I love that. And as you say, disseminate these truths of the gospel for both salvation and sanctification. Can you even share clearly what is that gospel that applies to everyone?    Hunter Beless: (39:53 - 43:58) Oh, yes. I mean, this is the good news that I continually am rehearsing over and over and over again. I think for me, you know, I realized as a young child that the gospel was for salvation, right? That I love the Titus 3. You know, I just wrote this Bible study on Titus with Courtney Docter. If you don't have, like, a great comprehensive kind of gospel text that you've got in your back pocket, I think Titus 3:3-7 is a wonderful text to commit to memory. It says, "So, we are sinners." Romans 3:23. You know, we were created by God to glorify him. And yet, we have chosen to glorify ourselves. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So, we too were once foolish. I think it's easy to see that when you really think about your life. You know, like, even me testifying to my life in high school. We too were once foolish. There's no getting around that. But we too, let me see, where am I now? "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us," "not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy," So, how does he save us? Well, he sent his son, Jesus. When did the kindness of God our Savior appear? Well, it appeared over 2,000 years ago. In a stable in Bethlehem. When, like you said, God sent his son to live a perfect life. And then he gave his life on the cross so, that we might have right relationship with God. He saved us. Not by works of righteousness, but according to his mercy, "By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."    So, when, and by the way, he rose from the grave. Let's see, is that in here? I don't know. But let's see. That one's not in this particular gospel text of Titus 3:3-7. But we know that from the gospels, right? That Jesus Christ died on the cross. And that he rose again three days later. Overcoming death. So, that we too might not have to experience eternal death. We get to experience eternal life. When we turn from our sin and trust in him. And that's when that washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit happens. We're filled with the spirit. He's poured out his spirit on us. Verses 6 and 7 says, "whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." And so, I think part of what it looks like for us to live with that hope of eternal life. Is to constantly be reflecting upon who we were apart from Christ. Who we are in Christ. And who we will be when we one day see Christ again. Face to face. And so, that for me is what it looks like. Just to relish in the gospel. To remember the gospel.    Even when I was talking earlier, Laura, about feeling overwhelmed. The temptation for me then is to feel down on myself. And to wrestle with shame. Because I've over committed, right? But I'm rehearsing the truths of the gospel to myself in that moment. And saying, "Okay. Yes, could I have planned my schedule better? Yes, could I have done all these things? But you know what? I, by God's grace, get instead to rest in the grace that the gospel provides for me in this moment. Knowing that with all these various responsibilities, I am not going to be executing them perfectly. But he has perfectly accomplished my salvation on the cross. And so, I can rest in his son. Knowing that my salvation is not based on my perfect performance. But on the performance of Christ." And that then again helps me then to relish in the gospel. To remember the gospel, like I said, is not just for that moment of salvation or justification. When we're saved from our sins and made right with God. But it's also for every moment of every day. Because we need it all the time. At least I do.    Laura Dugger: (44:00 - 44:20) Yes, absolutely. And I think we can hear that or repeat that so, often. But I love how you unpack it. Because especially for those who have been saved. When they rely on the gospel for sanctification. Can you give any more examples of what that looks like? Specifically for sanctification after the salvation?    Hunter Beless: (44:21 - 46:35) Yeah. I think it's just coming to a greater understanding of our desperate need for Jesus. And then as we rely on him more wholly. I think we're conformed even more into the image of his son. Just after that gospel hymn in Titus 3. Verse 8 says, "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works." So, what is sanctification? Well, sanctification is growing in godliness. Or said another way, it's growing in good works. Right? So, we're not saved because of our good works. We're saved by the gospel so, that then we can produce good works. By God's grace. That's the sanctification process. And so, how does that happen? Well, verse 8 tells us, "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things." What does it want us to insist on? It wants us to insist then on the contents of the gospel from Titus 3:3-7. So, we need to, in order to grow in our ability to do good to others. What do we do? We insist on the gospel.    And how does that work? Well, when I am feeling, again, overbooked, overwhelmed. And somebody comes into my life that needs service. If I'm functioning by the world's wisdom, what am I going to say? "You know what? I just don't have the margin for that. I can't do that. I need to protect my time." But if I'm looking at the gospel, what do I see? Well, I see what Christ died for me. Was that act of service self-protective in any way? No. So, what does it look like for me then to lay down my life for the good of another? And that's how the gospel then informs our living in such a way that we begin to grow by God's grace, not by our own effort, in godliness. So, I think that's how the sanctification process kind of works itself out.    Laura Dugger: (46:35 - 46:54) Thank you so much for sharing that. And you've taught us already so, much in this time together. But you've also written a book recently for children. Can you tell us a little bit more about it and share the lasting truths that you want to impart to children who get to read or listen to your book?    Hunter Beless: (46:55 - 49:47) Yeah. I think it started for me with really thinking about what are those kinds of scriptural, biblical truths that I want to offer to the children in these everyday moments like we've been talking about. My son, I already shared, he's been struggling with sleep for the last year or so,. And he'll come tumbling down the stairs in the middle of the night. And my initial reaction to that is to want to say, "It's okay. Mommy's here." Right? And that's true. And I do think that offers some temporal comfort. And it is a good thing for a mother to be present in the time of a child's need. But thinking more deeply, I began to say, "Buddy, God is with you. You have no need to fear." And the reason for that is because I started thinking about, well, what if mommy wasn't here? What if I wasn't able to be here? And some of that came just from having lost my own father in the last few years to cancer spontaneously. And just thinking, like, what are the lasting truths that I then want to impart to my children when I'm no longer able to be present? So, it is true. It's comfort that mommy is here in your time of need. But also, even when mommy's not able to be here, remember, God is with you always.  And it's been such an encouragement for me then to even see him, like, on the playground and his little buddy will get hurt. And he'll turn and he'll tell his buddy, like, "It's okay. God's with you." You know what I'm thinking? "That's so, good. Like, this is the kind of stuff that I want to be just ingrained within the children so, that their initial reaction is, 'It's okay. God is with me.'" Similarly, the message that is repeated throughout the book is, "Jesus Loves You More". And that was really instigated from one of my children requesting for me to say over and over again this popular phrase that we've all heard, "I love you to the moon and back." And I started thinking, like, "Okay, that's true. I do. I love you to the moon and back. I love you to the, you know, mountaintop and to the ocean floor. I love you as far as the east is from the west. But there is one who loves you even more than I ever could. And in fact, when my love fails you, His never will." And so, I wanted to get that.    If there's one message that I want my kids to know, it's that. It's that Jesus loves them so, much that he went all the way to the cross at Calvary and gave his very life so, that they could be made right with God. So, that's the message that I hope kids will take away from the book. I do hope that it inspires parents to think about what are those lasting truths that they want to impart to their kids. And I hope it equips them then to be able to share what I believe as Christian parents is the most important message we could ever give.    Laura Dugger: (49:48 - 49:54) I just want to acknowledge too, I'm so, sorry for the sudden loss of your father in recent years.    Hunter Beless: (49:55 - 50:19) Well, thank you. Yeah, it's, you know, my kids were just saying as we were hiking this last weekend, they're like, "We miss puppy." But we're like, I'm at a point now where I did go through many years of grief, missing him, you know, all of this. But just relishing in the fact that he's in the presence of the Lord Jesus. And I am just so grateful because he's in a much better place. So, I'm looking forward to the day that I get to join him there. Amen.    Laura Dugger: (50:20 - 50:28) Well, Hunter, you've already given us so much, but where can we go to continue being discipled by you after this conversation?    Hunter Beless: (50:30 - 51:14) Well, if you like conversations like this, you know, I infrequently show up at Journey Women. We used to do a weekly show and then it turned to bi-weekly and now we're seasonal. But I do love having conversations just like this. And I hope that, you know, just as our conversation today, I hope it encourages women just to get together, like you said, with women in their local context to open up God's word. And just to go deeper, relationally, conversationally, to come together around the truths of God's word. You've asked such great questions, Laura. And I think take some of these questions and ask your friends and see where the Lord guides those conversations. I think that'll just be such a blessing. It's been a blessing to meet and chat with you today.    Laura Dugger: (51:15 - 51:32) Well, I've loved every minute. And you may already be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight or discernment. And so, as my final question for you today, Hunter, what is your Savvy Sauce?    Hunter Beless: (51:34 - 52:28) Oh, you try to nail me down to something practical. It's funny, Laura, because I feel like I resist practical. And I'm not sure what it is about me that resists practical other than maybe sometimes I felt like bound in by people's practical advice. Does that make sense? And so, for me, here's my practical advice. My practical advice is to allow all of your practices or your practicals to be informed by the principles of the text. So, allow the principles of scripture to inform your practice. And that's not very practical, but I think the only practical way you can do that is to get your face in your Bible and to really seek to know and love God through his word. And then he will certainly help inform your practice.    Laura Dugger: (52:30 - 56:34) I think that's actually more practical than you realize. That is wonderful. And Hunter, your joy and your laugh are just contagious. And you're clearly gifted from the Lord as a clear, articulate communicator. And it blesses so, many people in so many generations because you are able to filter in the truth and then communicate it in a way that's able to be received. So, it's been so encouraging to sit under your teaching and be inspired to take this out and to hopefully begin in our home. But also, those good works, as we're called as older women, too. None of us are exempt, as you said. So, I've just thoroughly enjoyed being with you. Thank you for being my guest. Thank you so much for having me. It's been so fun.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

In doing my inner child work, I realized that from about age 8 I took this message:Be perfect or be rejected.By God, by family, by church, by friends.Sure, you could repent and make things right…But you were always one sin or misstep away from being rejected.It's not a fun way to live.As I've come to know God better, I believe he is unfairly generous with us.He's looking for us to come to Him and know Him…Not waiting for us to make a mistake to punish us.So, I've decided to trust that unfair generosity…And try to give it to myself, my wife, my kids, my friends and the people I interact with.It feels very freeing and powerful.Watch on YouTube here.Dr. Mike P.S. Get the 7 Day Email Series: How To Be More Attractive To Your Wife at StrongMen.io

Intro We're going to take a look tonight at one of the best ministers to people the world's ever seen. His name was the Apostle Paul. He was pretty good at it. By God's gift and his use of those gifts, God used this one man to be a catalyst to reaching most of the known world of that day. so, What does…

Are you truly waiting on God — or are you avoiding obedience because it feels uncomfortable? If you've been wondering how to know God's will, how to hear God's voice clearly, or whether you're delaying because of fear, this message is for you. James 2:17 says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." In this episode of Chosen By Jesus with Kelley and Taylor Tyan — ranked in the Top 1% of Christian podcasts worldwide and reaching 21 countries — we unpack what waiting on God really means and how faith in action requires obedience before comfort. By God's grace, this community has grown to: • 109,000+ views • 940+ hours watched • Viewers in 21 countries • 57,000+ views in the United States In uncertain times — from personal hardship to global conflict — many believers struggle with trusting God in uncertain times and stepping out in faith. But biblical faith has never required perfect conditions. It requires movement. This Bible-based teaching covers: • Waiting on God vs. avoiding obedience • Faith without works explained (James 2:17) • How to step out in faith when you feel afraid • Overcoming fear biblically • Christian obedience in real life • Hearing God's voice and responding with courage   Sometimes fear disguises itself as spiritual wisdom. Sometimes delay looks like discernment.   But obedient waiting produces peace. Avoidant waiting produces excuses. ⸻ Reflection: • Has God already spoken? • Am I asking for clarity when I really want certainty? • If fear wasn't involved, what would I do next?   You don't need another confirmation. You need courage. ⸻ Scriptures: James 2:17 Ecclesiastes 11:4 ⸻ Prayer: Lord, give us discernment to know when You are asking us to wait — and courage when You are asking us to move. Where we've delayed obedience, strengthen us. Teach us faith in action and help us choose obedience over comfort. In Jesus' name, Amen. ⸻ Comment below: Has God already told you what to do? ⸻ CALL TO ACTION Subscribe for weekly faith-filled conversations Like this video if it encouraged you Share with someone who's waiting but still believing Comment below—we pray over every request ⸻ABOUT CHOSEN BY JESUS Chosen By Jesus is a Top 1.5% Christian podcast worldwide, streamed in 16+ countries, with 725+ hours of YouTube watch time and a growing global community seeking biblical wisdom, peace, and encouragement. ⸻ One Year. 12 In-Person Gatherings. Endless Encouragement. Step into a sisterhood of women who pray together, grow together, and rise together.   What You'll Experience: • A safe place to grow in faith, be encouraged, and empowered • Accountability & support to stay strong all year long • Prayer, worship & fellowship that soothe your soul   Monthly Meet-Ups: 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM The Wellness Way – Shrewsbury, MA Come as you are — leave inspired and equipped to live boldly for Jesus. Only $200 for the entire year (that's just $16/month for faith, growth & sisterhood!) Join the Chosen By Jesus Community today: https://kelleytyan.com/cbjcommunity ⸻ Want to go deeper? We coach women who are ready to rise in faith, walk in identity, and stand strong no matter the season. DM us on Instagram or visit www.chosenbyjesus.com ⸻

Known for his wisdom and virtue, he was chosen as Bishop of Cyrenia on the island of Cyprus. When a persecution broke out against the Christians under the Emperor Licinius, Theodotus was arrested and subjected to many tortures. His torturer Sabinus urged him repeatedly to renounce Christ and worship the idols, but Theodotus replied, 'If you knew the goodness of my God, who, it is my hope, will by these brief tortures make me worthy of eternal life, you would wish to suffer for Him as I do.' The pagans then drove nails into his body, for which he thanked God. Believing that his death was approaching, he calmly gave counsel and instruction to the Christians around him. By God's providence, an order came from the new Emperor Constantine to free all Christians who were being held for the sake of Christ. Thus Theodotus was freed and, though greatly weakened by his torments, served his flock faithfully for two more years before reposing in peace.

Frodo, the Hobbit, was tasked with destroying the ring of power in the fiery lava of Mount Doom. Frodo and his faithful friend, Sam, traveled approximately 1800 miles from Bag End in the Shire to Mount Doom in Mordor. They traveled through forests, caves, swamps, and mountains. This is the equivalent of walking from New York City to San Antonio, Texas. Their journey took exactly 6 months and 2 days.This was a journey of faith. Frodo and Sam had to believe the words of Elrond of the Elves and the council of Gandalf the Grey that they would survive to destroy the ring on Mount Doom.Abram, the son of Terah, was called by God to leave his homeland in Ur and move with his family to Haran. Moses writes, "Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, who was the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, who was the wife of his son Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there" (Genesis 11:31). The distance from Ur to Haran was approximately 600 miles. This journey likely took several months.Later, Abram left his father in Haran and traveled to Canaan. The distance from Haran to Shechem in Canaan was about 450 miles. This would have taken several weeks to travel. Remember, Abram was a spry 75 years old when he left Haran. Abram traveled approximately 1050 miles. That's like traveling to Dallas or Chicago from Casper. This was a journey of faith for Abram.Each of you is on a journey of faith. It's always interesting to learn the reason you moved to Casper. For some, it was family or education or the energy industry or other employment opportunities. You know from experience how difficult life can be in Casper. There are booms and busts with the energy industry. One of the major exports from Casper is its youth. I've been told it gets cold and snowy here. I've experienced the wind.When we moved here, Shelley and I didn't know anything about Casper or Wyoming. We had only driven through a portion of Wyoming once. Driving to Casper, we saw the windsock and high wind warning signs on 258. The first thing Shelley said to me when we arrived at the parsonage was, "Where did you move me to?!"All of us, at one time or another, moved out here on a journey of faith.It isn't only a journey of faith with our physical location, but it's also a spiritual journey of faith from the baptismal font to the grave.It took a lot of faith for Frodo to leave the safety, peace, and quiet of the Shire. Especially because he would encounter Nazgul, orcs, Urak-hai, a cave troll, Belrog, Gollum, and Shelob the spider. Frodo is stabbed by the Witch-king, choked by Gollum, and injected with spider-poison from Shelob. All while being watched by the giant flaming eye of Sauron.Moses writes, "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father's house and go to the land that I will show you'" (Genesis 12:1). It took a lot of faith for Abram to leave the safety, peace, and quiet of living near his father, Terah, in Ur. We're used to moving out of our parents' home at 18. Then possibly moving hundreds of miles away. That didn't happen back then. You stayed in communal life with your family.Plus, when Abram moves from Haran, he doesn't know where he's going. God hasn't told him the destination yet. The Lord said to Abram, "Go to the land that I will show you." Wherever it was going to be, Abram hadn't been there yet.The key to faith isn't the person believing. The key to faith is the object in which the person believes. Abram believed in God's rock-solid promises. What were those promises?The Lord said, "I will make you a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). Remember, Abram is 75, Sarai is 65, and Sarai is barren when God's makes this promise. Abram would have many descendants -- physical and spiritual. Abram has lots of physical descendants as children of Isaac -- the Jews -- and Ishmael -- the Arabs. (They don't seem to be getting along right now.) Though, we Christians are not physically descended from Abram, it's more important that we are his spiritual descendants. St. Paul explained, "For this reason, the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace and may be guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants -- not only to the one who is a descendant by law, but also to the one who has the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations'" (Romans 4:16-17).The Lord said, "I will bless you" (Genesis 12:2). God would be with Abram and his descendants. When God blesses us, there's nothing else we need. We don't need luck or chance or fate. Which is good, since none of those things exist. Only God's divine will and providence exist.The Lord said, I will make your name great" (Genesis 12:2). Several generations earlier, the people at Babel built the city and tower for the purpose of, "let's make a name for ourselves" (Genesis 11:4). God humbled and scattered them. God takes a humble man like Abram and makes his name so great that we still remember and thank God for him roughly 4100 years later.The Lord said, "You will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). This blessing comes through Abram's greatest descendant -- Jesus. The Savior blesses the whole world with forgiveness and peace.The Lord said, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you" (Genesis 12:3). As we heard last Sunday, Satan's offspring will continue to be hostile to Eve's believing offspring. But God is always on the side of his people.The Lord said, "All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you" (Genesis 12:3). Again, this is a promise of blessing through Abram's great descendant, Jesus Christ.Moses writes, "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to travel to the land of Canaan. Eventually they arrived in the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land until he came to the Oak of Moreh at the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were in the land at that time" (Genesis 12:4-6). Abram is going to be living among heathens and pagans. His descendants would eventually have to dispossess the Canaanites of their land."The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'I will give this land to your descendants.' Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and proclaimed the name of the Lord" (Genesis 12:7-8). At this critical moment for Abram, the Lord appeared to him to reaffirm and clarify his promise and to bolster Abram's faith. He made it clear that Abram was not to try to take immediate possession of the land. It was only for Abram's descendants that the land of Canaan would become a new homeland. Each new promise of God nourished and exercised Abram's faith.In land of unbelievers, Abram built an altar. Wherever he went, Abram seemed to build an altar to the Lord. This altar was something the unbelievers would see when they passed by it. Abram built a second altar 25 miles away in Bethel. There he "proclaimed the name of the Lord." He was not ashamed to be light in a land of spiritual darkness of false religion and pagan gods. Abram's worship announced the true God into the culture of the heathen Canaanites.It takes a lot of faith to live out West. You're probably a long distance from much of your family. The work and weather out here can be difficult. Like Abram, you may feel alone in your Lutheran faith. There aren't a lot of Lutherans in Wyoming ... especially WELS Lutherans. Abram was surrounded by unbelievers in Canaan. When you're at work or school or your neighborhood, you may be surrounded by unbelievers. And they act like it!What do you do when the culture and community put pressure on your faith? You can be tempted to question and doubt God. To cower and remain quiet about your Lutheran Christian faith. To imagine that you're alone so far away from your fellow WELS Lutherans.When those temptations come along, go back to the promises God made to Abram. Because most of them are promises also involve you. Our spiritual lineage goes all the way back to Abram! Pause and reflect on that for a moment. A few select people on this earth may be able to trace their lineage back through a dozen generations. We can trace our spiritual lineage through an unbroken line all the way back to Abram! How many generations is that? We'll likely never know, but far more than a dozen.Far more comforting than the unbroken line is the providence of our God, who saw to it that the spiritual line remained unbroken so that you -- you, specifically -- would hear the gospel and be brought to faith. You needed to hear the gospel, so God arranged history so that you would! He made sure that the gospel message could travel an unbroken path from Abram to you!The key to faith isn't the person believing. The key to faith is the object in which the person believes. By God's grace, the Holy Spirit began your journey of faith when your parents brought you to the baptismal font as an infant. Or that journey of faith began when you were older and the Holy Spirit converted your heart through hearing and believing God's promises. That journey of faith has led you to worship here at Lord of Lords. A Lutheran church built by your spiritual parents -- some who are still here. Abram built an altar to proclaim the name of the Lord among the heathen people of Canaan. This altar, the church, and the three crosses outside all proclaim the Lord's name to the people who drive by or stop in. You are light in spiritual darkness.This altar is a reminder that when life takes an unfamiliar or uncomfortable direction, remember Abram's wise response. Call on the name of the Lord. Worship him for loving you. In all things God's providence works for the good of those who love him, whom he has called for his purpose. Wherever God leads, call on his name and worship him there.Sam and Frodo made a journey of faith to destroy the ring of power on Mount Doom. Abram and Sarai made a journey of faith by leaving their family and traveling to an unknown destination. That journey of faith included believing they would be parents of a great nation ... when they didn't have any children yet; believing in a Savior from sin ... when he hadn't been born yet; and building an altar to the Lord God ... among people who believed in a myriad of false gods.You are on a journey of faith. You won't have any orcs, cave trolls or giant spiders after you. At least, I hope not! But you will have the Devil and his demons tempting you. You'll have your sinful nature questioning and doubting God's promises. You'll have pagans and heathens attacking your Christian faith.When these things happen ... and they will, trust God's promises made to you and Abram. Trust that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of those promises. He is Abram's descendant and your Savior. He forgives your doubts. He answers your questions. His Holy Spirit brings you repeatedly before the Lord's altar. Here you are reminded of your Baptism, when God made your name great by putting his Triune name on you. Here you hear his Word to encourage, comfort, and sanctify you. Here you receive the Sacrament for courage in the face of the Devil and his offspring. Here you join with your Lutheran Christians to proclaim the name of the Lord in prayer, creed, song, and activity.This all takes place along your journey of faith. Amen.View this sermon (with video and/or audio recording) on our website: https://www.casperwels.com/sermons/a-journey-of-faith/

What happens when obedience to God feels risky? In this episode, we explore the tension between love and fear — especially when someone we care about senses a calling that could cost them comfort, security, or even safety. It’s one thing to say we trust God. It’s another to release someone we love into His hands. Looking at Paul’s final encouragement to Timothy, written from a prison cell under Emperor Nero’s brutal reign, we see something remarkable: Paul doesn’t urge caution. He doesn’t prioritize survival. Instead, he tells Timothy to fan into flame the very gift that could invite persecution. So what gave Paul that kind of courage? And how do we cultivate it today? What We Discuss The internal conflict between protection and obedience Why fear often disguises itself as wisdom Paul’s deep relationship with Timothy — and his even deeper trust in Christ The historical reality of persecution under Nero What it means to “fan into flame” your spiritual gifts How eternal perspective fuels present-day courage Why intimacy with Christ produces boldness instead of timidity This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Fanning the Flame in Our SoulsBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:5-7, NIV Years ago, my extended family experienced a period of panic after my younger brother told us that he was praying about trying to get a job in North Korea so that he could share the gospel. I don’t remember if the country was open to this at the time, but he hoped to teach English and use his role to build relationships that could allow for spiritual conversations. My mind immediately flooded with thoughts of him in a North Korean prison, tortured for his faith–if not executed. I wanted to tell him all the reasons this was a terrible idea. By God’s grace, however, I stayed silent, knowing the greater danger was in encouraging him to deny God’s voice and choose self-protection over obedience. To our relief, he ultimately sensed the Lord leading him in a different direction. But that season really challenged me to investigate the depths of my belief, trust in Christ, and commitment to His mission. I wonder if Paul, the first-century church planter who wrote the book from which today’s passage came, ever wrestled with this inner conflict. He cared for Timothy, his mentee, deeply, and appeared to be closer to this young man than anyone else with whom he worshiped or served. He even referred to him as his “true child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2, NASB). Therefore, there must have been a part of him, perhaps a large part, that wanted to keep Timothy safe. Keep in mind, this was during the time of Nero, one of the cruelest emperors in Roman history, responsible for the horrific death of numerous Christians. Paul understood persecution. He’d been stoned, flogged, beaten with rods, and imprisoned on numerous occasions. He’d also lost relationships with many people he’d once held dear. Plus, he wrote from a dark, damp prison cell, also known as a dungeon, awaiting a likely execution. Considering all that, reflect on Paul’s words in verse 6 again: “For this reason–” pointing back to his sincere faith, his rock-solid foundation in Christ. “For this reason,” he wrote, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6, NIV). Had I been Paul, I suspect my letter to Timothy would’ve looked quite different, likely filled with all the ways he could survive the evil invading the ancient world. Perhaps, had he come to me as my brother had, I would’ve remained silent (as I did regarding North Korea), but I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage and strength to tell him to actively feed the very thing that could, and more likely than not would, result in death. (According to tradition, he was in fact martyred in 80 AD, presumably fifteen years after Paul’s execution. Intersecting Life & Faith: Reading Paul’s possible last words to his beloved friend and spiritual son, and reflecting on my typical reactions when those I love suffer, I’m left with an important question: What enabled Paul to respond to their intensely hostile circumstances with such faith? We discover the answer when we read his other letters. He maintained a close relationship with Christ and experienced such fulfillment from that relationship that he was able to say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, NIV). His ongoing connection with the Lord and his practice of praying constantly also provided clarity and guidance for His most difficult circumstances and positioned him to receive God’s comfort. In his letter to the Philippians, he emphasized maintaining an eternal perspective, which extends beyond living missionally. This also means reading about and reflecting on all that awaits us in heaven. According to Hebrews 12:2, that was also what sustained Christ through His horrific death and all the brutality He experienced preceding it. That verse tells us to fix, as in fasten unwaveringly, our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. This tells me, the more I reflect on all the blessings I have in Christ and through Christ, today and through eternity, the greater my faith and strength to endure today’s challenges and the easier it becomes to encourage those I love to prioritize obedience to Him above all, even if that means losing all. Thankfully, I’m not alone in my pursuit. Jesus, the One who died that I might live throughout eternity with Him, will grow my faith, decrease my anxiety and fear, and help me to be a source of inspiration, not hindrance, to those I care about most. He will do the same for you–if you’ll let Him. Further Reading:Matthew 16:24-26Hebrews 10:24Mark 10:43-45 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

By God's grace, your students are growing, asking questions, and engaging with God's Word. But when they're ready to take the next step in their faith, do you have a clear answer for them? Do you have a defined discipleship pathway to guide students and leaders on what comes next in a student's spiritual journey? In this blog article, we'll explore how to create a discipleship pathway that helps you determine where a student is in their walk with Jesus and shows them practical next steps to go deeper. 

From Robert Duvall's legacy and impact on Westerns to Adventures with me, Rebecca Wanner  aka BEC to then insight on why March is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park. Stories of the West, travel, and adventure are on the schedule! Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka ‘BEC' and Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News! Honoring the Godfather of Westerns, Exploring Life on the Trail with Rebecca Wanner, and Discovering the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park Robert Duvall (1931–2026): The Godfather of Westerns Robert Duvall, 1931 - 2026, passed at age 95 on his horse farm in Virginia. Leaving a legacy on the silver screen from To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Godfather, to winning an Oscar for Tender Mercies… He had a love for westerns and horsemanship. Early in his career, Duvall noticed that actors in movies didn't have the right “seat” when riding horses and hence stunt doubles were relied upon. On his own accord, Duvall took up horseback riding and learning from those that taught stunt doubles, proper horsemanship which led to him owning a farm, raising horses and performing his own stunts for the movies.  Thanks to movies such as a cameo in the original “True Grit” to the epic mini-series “Lonesome Dove” and “Open Range”... Some have dubbed Robert Duvall as the Godfather of Westerns. How well do you know our, by far, favorite movie - Lonesome Dove where Duvall played Captain Augustus “Gus” McCrae, a Texas Ranger turned cattle rancher, a role that would earn him a Golden Globe How old was Robert Duvall during the production of Lonesome Dove? 58 years old Duvall starred alongside which actor in the epic Western Lonesome Dove? Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones, another actor who was an experienced horseman that refused to use a stunt double in the movie. Favorite "Lonesome Dove" quotes by Augustus 'Gus' McCrae, Robert Duvall “It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living.” “We don't rent pigs” "Any man who does rent pigs is....... he's hard to stop." "By God, Woodrow, it's been quite a party." “Ain't nothing better than riding a fine horse in new country.” Another favorite movie that introduced Robert Duvall to a whole new generation was “Secondhand Lion”. Highly recommended family film… and a quote  that stands out from these old bachelor uncles was Duvall, “We're old, Damnit. Leave us alone.” Adventures of Rebecca Wanner aka BEC Our host, Rebecca 'BEC' Wanner, of The Bend Show shares adventures on her bucket list and stories of past adventures. We learn that she has a fear of heights, so flying an ultra-light plane will not be happening. Rebecca Wanner aka BEC has done snorkeling and hopes to gain her scuba license some day. Adventure wise she shares her own version of Planes, Train, & Automobiles when attempting to fly home from a summer abroad only to be left backpacking, hopping trains, outrunning security guards to finally find her way home at the age of 20 before smartphones thus no cellphones either. Fun Stories! YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Why is March the best month to visit? Spring is when bison calves are born, and bears with cubs start to emerge from hibernation. The vegetation in March is still thin, so elk and moose are easier to spot. March is also one of the best months to see wolves in Lamar Valley. Plus no crowds, due to chances for snow and colder temperatures. Open year-round: North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) to Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, MT) A quick google search will show that there are multiple tours throughout the off-season in Yellowstone. Because interior park roads are closed to private vehicles, popular guided options include snow coach tours, snowmobile tours, and educational wildlife safaris. Same goes for visiting the Grand Tetons. Sit back, do a tour and take in the scenery! OUTDOORS FIELD REPORTS & COMMENTS We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or stories to share about bighorn sheep, outdoor adventures, or wildlife conservation, don't hesitate to reach out. Call or text us at 305-900-BEND (305-900-2363), or send an email to BendRadioShow@gmail.com. Stay connected by following us on social media at Facebook/Instagram @thebendshow or by subscribing to The Bend Show on YouTube. Visit our website at TheBendShow.com for more exciting content and updates! https://thebendshow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thebendshow WESTERN LIFESTYLE & THE OUTDOORS Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca ‘BEC' Wanner are passionate news broadcasters who represent the working ranch world, rodeo, and the Western way of life. They are also staunch advocates for the outdoors and wildlife conservation. As outdoorsmen themselves, Tigger and BEC provide valuable insight and education to hunters, adventurers, ranchers, and anyone interested in agriculture and conservation. With a shared love for the outdoors, Tigger & BEC are committed to bringing high-quality beef and wild game from the field to your table. They understand the importance of sharing meals with family, cooking the fruits of your labor, and making memories in the great outdoors. Through their work, they aim to educate and inspire those who appreciate God's Country and life on the land. United by a common mission, Tigger & BEC offer a glimpse into the life beyond the beaten path and down dirt roads. They're here to share knowledge, answer your questions, and join you in your own success story. Adventure awaits around the bend. With The Outdoors, the Western Heritage, Rural America, and Wildlife Conservation at the forefront, Tigger and BEC live this lifestyle every day. To learn more about Tigger & BEC's journey and their passion for the outdoors, visit TiggerandBEC.com. https://tiggerandbec.com/

By God's mercies, we are seen as holy and acceptable. To receive transformation, we have to serve in *relationship* with God, and not just as part of a checklist. Where does our devotion lie? Are we more devoted to our anxieties and fears, than we are to God? Jesus can be in them with us, but He is not consumed by them. What you devote yourselves to is what you will become. This is just a taste of the wisdom that Hannah shares, as part of our continuing series on Romans.Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 14:29-32

February 7, 2026Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Mariel Frost to discuss what a home can offer when parents properly order their family.There is power in a well-ordered home. It serves as a platform for hospitality and a launchpad for ministry. It is a sanctuary of rest and a source of peace. A well-ordered home isn't perfect or fancy, but it functions smoothly like a well-oiled machine. It produces more fruit for the kingdom than individual family members could achieve alone. A well-ordered home is built on teamwork, servant leadership, and right priorities. By God's grace, we are all capable of creating a well-ordered home.Join us as we explore this topic in a very practical way while also looking at some of its deeper spiritual underpinnings.An interactive question-and-answer period follows.https://strengthtostrength.org/the-power-of-a-well-ordered-home/

Matt Goehler was raised in Coldwater, Michigan in a household of five folks, which included his parents, an older brother, and younger sister. While his family identified as Catholic, their faith was rather superficial, feeling more like a task to check off "the list" than a relationship with our Creator. As a young adult, Matt attended Grand Valley State University, where, sadly, he adopted many habits and behaviors he knew were wrong in an attempt to find fulfillment. He sought to hide his many struggles for fear he would be labeled a "disappointment" or "failure". Graduating from GVSU in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences, he then considered himself an atheist. That all changed in the years that followed as we will discuss in this exciting podcast.  By God's grace, Matt is now a devoted follower of Jesus. He also runs a thriving business called Lake Effect Lure Company. He is married to his dear wife Kalie, and together they have three awesome children and another on the way. I'm quite sure you will be touched as you hear his amazing story. In this podcast, Matt shares how a major crisis earlier in his life left him feeling totally hopeless, to the point that he came very close to intentionally taking his own life. But just before pulling the trigger on his gun, God spoke out loud to him! And that, amazingly, resulted in him beginning to choose to move in a totally new and life-giving direction. He is so grateful for all that God has done, and continues to do, in and through him. And because he can totally identify with people who are struggling with addictions and pain, he can help them find the only real cure: a life-giving relationship with Jesus!

Matt Goehler was raised in Coldwater, Michigan in a household of five folks, which included his parents, an older brother, and younger sister. While his family identified as Catholic, their faith was rather superficial, feeling more like a task to check off "the list" than a relationship with our Creator. As a young adult, Matt attended Grand Valley State University, where, sadly, he adopted many habits and behaviors he knew were wrong in an attempt to find fulfillment. He sought to hide his many struggles for fear he would be labeled a "disappointment" or "failure". Graduating from GVSU in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences, he then considered himself an atheist. That all changed in the years that followed as we will discuss in this exciting podcast. By God's grace, Matt is now a devoted follower of Jesus. He also runs a thriving business called Lake Effect Lure Company. He is married to his dear wife Kalie, and together they have three awesome children and another on the way. I'm quite sure you will be touched as you hear his amazing story. In this podcast, Matt shares how a major crisis earlier in his life left him feeling totally hopeless, to the point that he came very close to intentionally taking his own life. But just before pulling the trigger on his gun, God spoke out loud to him! And that, amazingly, resulted in him beginning to choose to move in a totally new and life-giving direction. He is so grateful for all that God has done, and continues to do, in and through him. And because he can totally identify with people who are struggling with addictions and pain, he can help them find the only real cure: a life-giving relationship with Jesus!

In ordinary ways, Ruth and Boaz are experiencing God's providential kindness. They both witness to others and to one another of the Lord's faithfulness. The redemption isn't just words or a rescue, but communion. By God's grace we don't glean on the outside but are welcomed to the table and into His family.

Various Texts | JD Summers God has established the church and given it leaders. In Scripture, the Apostles strove to establish elders in every church, men who would shepherd the flock and oversee it. These men must meet the qualifications set forth in Scripture, qualifications that have a great deal to do with their character and godliness. By God's grace, let us strive together to identify and encourage men to be developed as elders, all the while seeking to follow the true shepherd and overseer of the church, Jesus Christ.

In this study, we examine how the church experienced growing pains that threatened to rip her apart and how she pulled together in the midst of this division to become even stronger. By God's grace, what doesn't kill the church, makes her stronger!

What does love for the word of God look like for women in various stages of life? By God's design, older women can guide younger women in Christ's ways.

Today's episode: By God, let's have some more wide receivers! Hear award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic's three Daily Shot podcasts -- one each on Steelers, Penguins, Pirates -- every weekday morning, plus the DOUBLE SHOT shows that follows up at 4:00 p.m. Eastern! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's episode: By God, let's have some more wide receivers! Hear award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic's three Daily Shot podcasts -- one each on Steelers, Penguins, Pirates -- every weekday morning, plus the DOUBLE SHOT shows that follows up at 4:00 p.m. Eastern! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fear and doubt are contagious. By God's grace, so is faith. Today, R.C. Sproul prompts us to surround ourselves with those who will help bolster our trust in Christ. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/faith-flourishes-in-community/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Fear and doubt are contagious. By God's grace, so is faith. Today, R.C. Sproul prompts us to surround ourselves with those who will help bolster our trust in Christ. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/faith-flourishes-in-community/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Genesis 10:1–11:26 | Nations, Babel, and God's DirectionIn this episode of CPXL, Andy Addis and Eric Franklin are joined by Ryan Booth for the first three-pastor conversation of Season 2 as they walk through Genesis 10–11—the account of Noah's sons, the spread of nations, and the Tower of Babel.Genesis 10 shows how humanity repopulates the earth after the flood, forming diverse nations and families. Genesis 11 reveals how pride and misplaced unity fracture that diversity at Babel. Together, these chapters remind us that while humanity multiplies, moves, and sometimes rebels, God remains sovereignly at work—directing history toward His redemptive purposes.The conversation explores why the “Table of Nations” matters, what Babel teaches us about pride and unity, and how God's scattering is not only judgment, but also loving direction. The episode closes by pointing forward to the genealogy of Shem and the emergence of Abram—evidence that God's plan continues even through a fractured world.In This Episode:Why Genesis 10 matters more than we thinkUnity, diversity, and God's design for the nationsThe heart issue behind the Tower of BabelHow God redirects humanity without abandoning His promiseThe hopeful line leading toward AbramKey Scriptures:Genesis 10:1–32Genesis 11:1–26Genesis 1:28Deuteronomy 32:8Acts 17:26–27Hebrews 11:8–12As Genesis shifts from nations to one family, we're invited to see how God works through history—and through ours.CPXL exists to equip and encourage Everyday Missionaries to Love God, Grow Up, Serve All, and Live Sent.Follow along on the Reading Plan with us: crosspointchurch.com/readingplanAbout CrossPoint ChurchCrossPoint is one church in many places, striving to reach the state of Kansas by catalyzing God's people to be Everyday Missionaries. By God's grace, we are pursuing a vision to multiply into 20 locations by 2031—awakening the next 1% of our communities with the true hope and freedom found in Christ.Find a CrossPoint location near you at crosspointchurch.com/locations#CPXL #CrossPointChurch #BibleStudy #Genesis #ChristianPodcast #EverydayMissionaries

Genesis 10:1–11:26 | Nations, Babel, and God's DirectionIn this episode of CPXL, Andy Addis and Eric Franklin are joined by Ryan Booth for the first three-pastor conversation of Season 2 as they walk through Genesis 10–11—the account of Noah's sons, the spread of nations, and the Tower of Babel.Genesis 10 shows how humanity repopulates the earth after the flood, forming diverse nations and families. Genesis 11 reveals how pride and misplaced unity fracture that diversity at Babel. Together, these chapters remind us that while humanity multiplies, moves, and sometimes rebels, God remains sovereignly at work—directing history toward His redemptive purposes.The conversation explores why the “Table of Nations” matters, what Babel teaches us about pride and unity, and how God's scattering is not only judgment, but also loving direction. The episode closes by pointing forward to the genealogy of Shem and the emergence of Abram—evidence that God's plan continues even through a fractured world.In This Episode:Why Genesis 10 matters more than we thinkUnity, diversity, and God's design for the nationsThe heart issue behind the Tower of BabelHow God redirects humanity without abandoning His promiseThe hopeful line leading toward AbramKey Scriptures:Genesis 10:1–32Genesis 11:1–26Genesis 1:28Deuteronomy 32:8Acts 17:26–27Hebrews 11:8–12As Genesis shifts from nations to one family, we're invited to see how God works through history—and through ours.CPXL exists to equip and encourage Everyday Missionaries to Love God, Grow Up, Serve All, and Live Sent.Follow along on the Reading Plan with us: crosspointchurch.com/readingplanAbout CrossPoint ChurchCrossPoint is one church in many places, striving to reach the state of Kansas by catalyzing God's people to be Everyday Missionaries. By God's grace, we are pursuing a vision to multiply into 20 locations by 2031—awakening the next 1% of our communities with the true hope and freedom found in Christ.Find a CrossPoint location near you at crosspointchurch.com/locations#CPXL #CrossPointChurch #BibleStudy #Genesis #ChristianPodcast #EverydayMissionaries

Sermon Summary:We explored how our past profoundly shapes our present in this third week of our Emotionally Healthy Spirituality series. The core idea: to move into a healthy, mature future with God, we must take an honest look at our past.Science confirms what Scripture has always shown us. Research in epigenetics reveals that trauma and experiences can leave chemical markers on our DNA that get passed down through generations. The Bible shows us this same reality through Abraham's family line. From Genesis 12 through Joseph's story, we see a repeating pattern of deception, favoritism, and self-protection passed from father to son across four generations.Exodus 34:6-7 introduces the generational judgment principle, but here's the beautiful truth: while sin's consequences may extend three or four generations, God's steadfast love extends to thousands. The scale isn't even close. His mercy outweighs every pattern, every wound, every inherited tendency.The path forward requires five steps: see your past honestly (tools like genograms can help), own both the good and bad, bring others into the journey, allow God to redeem what's broken, and work to change by the Spirit's power. Joseph's story shows us how this transformation happens. He faced his past honestly, acknowledged the evil done to him, but invited God to redeem it for good. He became the one who broke the generational cycle.We can be that person in our family line. By God's grace, the patterns that have run for generations can end with us. We stand in the gap for those who came before and those who will come after.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship

CPXL | Season 2, Episode 1The Generations of Adam | Genesis 5:1–6:8CPXL is your midweek companion to the weekend message from CrossPoint—designed to extend the conversation deeper into life and faith.In this episode, Pastors Andy Addis and Eric Franklin dive into Genesis 5:1–6:8, exploring the genealogy of Adam, the sobering weight of sin, and the surprising thread of grace that runs through even the darkest chapters of Scripture. As the repeated phrase “and he died” echoes through the text, we're reminded of the cost of the fall—yet also pointed to hope, as God preserves a line of promise.Together, we discuss what it means to bear the image of God, how sin impacts humanity, what it looks like to truly walk with God like Enoch, and where grace appears in the midst of judgment through Noah.Key themes include:The image of God and human valueThe consequence of sin and mortalityWalking faithfully with GodGod's grief over sin—and His enduring graceWhether you're reading along with us or joining for the conversation, this episode invites you to reflect on where you see the weight of sin today—and where God is still preserving hope.CPXL exists to equip and encourage Everyday Missionaries to Love God, Grow Up, Serve All, and Live Sent.

CPXL | Season 2, Episode 1The Generations of Adam | Genesis 5:1–6:8CPXL is your midweek companion to the weekend message from CrossPoint—designed to extend the conversation deeper into life and faith.In this episode, Pastors Andy Addis and Eric Franklin dive into Genesis 5:1–6:8, exploring the genealogy of Adam, the sobering weight of sin, and the surprising thread of grace that runs through even the darkest chapters of Scripture. As the repeated phrase “and he died” echoes through the text, we're reminded of the cost of the fall—yet also pointed to hope, as God preserves a line of promise.Together, we discuss what it means to bear the image of God, how sin impacts humanity, what it looks like to truly walk with God like Enoch, and where grace appears in the midst of judgment through Noah.Key themes include:The image of God and human valueThe consequence of sin and mortalityWalking faithfully with GodGod's grief over sin—and His enduring graceWhether you're reading along with us or joining for the conversation, this episode invites you to reflect on where you see the weight of sin today—and where God is still preserving hope.CPXL exists to equip and encourage Everyday Missionaries to Love God, Grow Up, Serve All, and Live Sent.

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Friday, January 9th, 2026UFFL Bowl XXII & Season Review!________________________________________________We have a New Champion!Free Jamal is the 2025 UFFL Champion after winning UFFL Bowl XXII!Congratulations to Jeremy on his 1st UFFL Bowl Trophy, as he joins the rest of the Division of Champions with some hardware in the trophy case!John B., Chris, and The Commish have all the details on a thrilling UFFL Bowl XXII, and then review the entire 2025 UFFL Season. It's the 2025 Season wrap-up, and our final show until the 2026 off-season kicks into high gear with our Rookie Draft Predictions, Team roster reviews, and everything we can think of!Thank you for listening, and here's to 22 years of the UFFL!___________________________________________________________________________UFFL BOWL XXII CHAMPION – FREE JAMAL / Jeremy Kozinski________________________________________________________________________________________________________UFFL BOWL XXII FINAL_____________________________ Free Jamal 143 – Vicious & Delicious 140–– The Bronze Medal Game (for 3rd Place Overall) ––The Mission 143 – Mutt & Jeff 112______________ 2025 UFFL______________– East Division –yz* 1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 11-2-1x 2.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 8-6x 3.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-7e 4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 4-10____________– Central Division –y 1.   Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 8-6x 2.  Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-6e 3.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 6-8e 4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 4-10____________– West Division –yz 1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 10-4e 2.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 7-7e 3.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 6-8e 4.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-9-1x - Clinched Playoffs | e - Eliminated from Playoffs | y - Clinched Divisionz - Clinched Bye | * - Clinched #1 Seed_____________2026 Rookie Draft Order1. GG2. KAP3. IMP (thru CMW)4. IMP5. WC4L6. RT7. GG (thru WWH)8. RT (thru CGTK)9. TM10. MJ11. VD12. KAP (thru FJ)

By God's grace we have been giving a New Year to accelerate our spiritual growth in 2026. There is no way better to start 2026 than with a prayer of devotion and dedication to God as we plan, not just our personal hopes for growth, but our own advancement in the Christian faith as well. This episode of 2Days Denarius presents a New Year's dedication prayer from a book titled, "The Valley of Vision." It is a prayer that we can meditate upon as we seek God's wisdom and guidance for the new blessings and challenges that may come our way. There is also a focus on how to deal with our commitment to resolutions that provides encouragement for listeners to persevere should they plan them. Be blessed! And start the year right with a moment dedication prayer and thankfulness to the Lord!Prayer, "New Year" is found in editor Arthur Bennett's excellent Puritan devotional book, "The Valley of Vision." It was first published by Banner of Truth Trust in 1975. It comes highly recommended by 2Days Denarius Ministry and may be purchased online at banneroftruth.org. Theme song “Holy Is the Lord” is used by permission of songwriter/ performing artist Pastor Steve Hereford of the Changed By Grace Church in Jacksonville, FL. His inspirational Scripture songs may be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and many other web streaming services. Search “Steve Hereford.”Your comments are welcome! Send a text my way!2Days Denarius is a Bible believing teaching ministry devoted to the inerrancy, infallibility, and authority of Scripture as our only rule of faith and practice. It also holds to the doctrinal tenets of the London Baptist confession of 1689. This ministry may be reached at 2daysdenarius@gmail.com Ron Thomas (MDiv, RBC) is an ordained minister with 25-plus years of ministry experience, 22 serving as an active duty chaplain in our armed services. Material used in this podcast are provided under the educational and commentary provisions of Section 207 of the Fair Use Act of 1976.

By God's grace and a little work, all your relationships can get better in 2026. Friendships, parents, children, siblings, boyfriends, girlfriends, best friends, co-workers – by God's powerful love and the counsel of God's Word, all these relationships can flourish.

By God's hand, Joshua subdues the land from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from Goshen to Gibeon. Other Canaanite kings retaliate, and Joshua defeats them too. God tells them to allocate to the Israelites, even land not yet conquered. Joshua 10:29-43;11:1-21;12:1-24;13:1-33. #everydaychristians

Like many people who struggle with pornography, Russell was exposed to it at a young age. The desire to use it was overpowering, and it poisoned his heart. “My life [became] completely saturated by it,” he writes, “so much so that it was like a cancer that was deeply rooted into my very fiber.” By God’s grace, he was finally set free of porn’s power—along with other addictions—when he received salvation in Jesus and was transformed from the inside out. “I credit it all to Jesus Christ, . . . [He’s] the one who delivered me,” Russell says. Jeremiah delivered a message from God to Israel that one day He would “put [His] law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (31:33). Under this new covenant, fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13), all people could be transformed by God’s grace through faith. And now, “his Spirit . . . lives in [us]” (Romans 8:11), and God’s moral law has been written on our hearts. For Russell, and for all who believe, the Holy Spirit’s power provides what’s needed to turn from harmful behavior that displeases God and seeks to destroy us. Transformation isn’t always instantaneous or easy. But let’s remember, when we’re dealing with difficult—even addictive—sin, that God can transform our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). He says, you “will know me” (v. 34 nlt), and we can also know His heart-changing power.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119; 2 John; 3 John Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, Hunter invites us to journey through the Scriptures together on this 26th day of December. As we draw near to the end of the year, Hunter guides us through the timeless wisdom of Psalm 117 and 119, alongside the short but powerful letters of 2 John and 3 John. This episode is a heartfelt reflection on what it means to let God's Word dwell richly in our lives—shaping our hearts, anchoring our souls, and pointing us to the true treasure: the transforming presence and love of Jesus. Join Hunter as he meditates on how the Scriptures can revive, encourage, and sustain us, even in challenging times. Together, we'll pray for God's guidance, experience the peace He offers, and be reminded that, above all, we are deeply loved. Whether you're listening on your own or with family, this episode is an invitation to greet the day with gratitude, hope, and a renewed commitment to walk in God's word. Let's open our hearts and continue this journey—because, as Hunter shares, the treasure truly is here. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The treasure is here. What is this treasure we find in the Word of God? Hunter reflects on Psalm 119 and the remarkable declaration of the beauty and power of God's Word. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you." For years, we've gathered here on this podcast—day after day—reciting aloud the wonderful works of God, tucking His Word into our hearts. Why? Because God's Word helps us, not only to resist sin, but to live fully and freely. But the gifts of the Word go far beyond helping us resist sin. Psalm 119 lays out a long litany of the treasures that God's Word brings to our lives: it revives and encourages the heart, keeps us honest, fills us with happiness, rids us of shame, renews with goodness and hope, comforts us in times of trouble, anchors our souls, holds evil at bay, teaches judgment and knowledge, sustains us with joy, brings us true life, and makes us wise. It guides our every step and brings joy even when times are tough. It is, above all, a great treasure. Hunter has found these things to be true. Just as the psalmist says, the Word of God is more desirable than gold—sweeter than honey from the comb. By God's grace, may we continue to hold tightly to this word of truth, whether in storm or calm. When we honor His Word, He honors us; when we seek Him with all our hearts, He blesses us. The treasure, friends, isn't only in the words themselves, but in the One to whom they point. The treasure is Jesus. His Word leads us to Him, reveals Him, and He is the fulfillment of all our longing. So today, let's open our hearts to His Word. Let it do its good work within us, guiding us into His presence, so we may walk by His side and live in His joy. That is the prayer for my soul. That is the prayer for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And that, dear brothers and sisters of the DRB nation, is my prayer for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Monday, December 22nd, 2025UFFL Bowl XXII / Christmas Spectacular!________________________________________________14 weeks of Regular Season play.2 Rounds of Playoffs.And now only 2 teams remain in the quest for the UFFL Trophy!  UFFL Bowl XXII is here and we are going to tell you all about it.  John B., Chris, and The Commish have all the details on a high scoring Round 2 - AND they get in the Holiday Spirit with our Christmas Spectacular!It's 2 shows in 1!  You won't want to miss it!______________________ROUND 2 RESULTS______________________ Free Jamal 158 – Mutt & Jeff 149 Vicious & Delicious 165 – The Mission 131__________________________________UFFL BOWL XXII MATCHUP__________________________________ Vicious & Delicious – at – Free Jamal–– The Bronze Medal Game (for 3rd Place Overall) ––The Mission – at – Mutt & Jeff______________ 2025 UFFL______________– East Division –yz* 1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 11-2-1x 2.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 8-6x 3.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-7e 4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 4-10____________– Central Division –y 1.   Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 8-6x 2.  Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-6e 3.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 6-8e 4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 4-10____________– West Division –yz 1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 10-4e 2.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 7-7e 3.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 6-8e 4.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-9-1x - Clinched Playoffs | e - Eliminated from Playoffs | y - Clinched Divisionz - Clinched Bye | * - Clinched #1 Seed_____________2026 Rookie Draft Order1. GG2. KAP3. IMP (thru CMW)4. IMP5. WC4L6. RT7. GG (thru WWH)8. RT (thru CGTK)9. TM10. MJ

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, December 17th, 2025UFFL Playoffs - Round 2__________________________The road to UFFL Bowl XXII is one round shorter.  And John B., Chris, and The Commish are here to break down the 1st round, the 2nd round, and the teams looking towards the 2026 Rookie Draft earlier than expected!1 Round Done.4 Teams Left.UFFL Bowl XXII is Coming....______________________ROUND 1 RESULTS______________________ Free Jamal 131 – Cardiff the Giant Killer 98 Vicious & Delicious 164 – Waiver Wire Heroes 115BYE WEEKS:  Mutt & Jeff, The Mission__________________________ROUND 2 MATCHUPS__________________________ Free Jamal– at – Mutt & Jeff Vicious & Delicious – at – The Mission______________ 2025 UFFL______________– East Division –yz* 1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 11-2-1x 2.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 8-6x 3.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-7e 4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 4-10____________– Central Division –y 1.   Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 8-6x 2.  Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-6e 3.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 6-8e 4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 4-10____________– West Division –yz 1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 10-4e 2.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 7-7e 3.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 6-8e 4.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-9-1x - Clinched Playoffs | e - Eliminated from Playoffs | y - Clinched Divisionz - Clinched Bye | * - Clinched #1 Seed_____________2026 Rookie Draft Order1. GG2. KAP3. IMP (thru CMW)4. IMP5. WC4L6. RT7. GG (thru WWH)8. RT (thru CGTK)

Our family trees sometimes look more like stumps, than trees. Jesus also had his fair share of "stumps" in his lineage. And yet, he was the "shoot" that came out of that stump to bring peace. By God's grace, you, too, have been grafted into his royal family. Light of the Valleys Lutheran Church of Reno invites you to tune in for this message based on Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 1:6-11.

The Church's doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady is a pinnacle of the liturgical year. By God's grace she was preserved from the stain of original sin. Her preservation from original sin is a sign of how God set her apart from all of humanity. She had a singular role in salvation history that was foreordained by God to be the vessel that housed Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, December 9th, 2025UFFL Playoffs - Round 1__________________________The Regular Season for 2025 is over / the chase for the UFFL Trophy has begun. 6 teams are in / 6 teams are out.  And Chris, John B., and The Commish are here to give you all the details!Tune in for the Week 14 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, Blunder of the Week, and the Peacocking awards!Don't miss the Good News/Bad News Report for each of the Eliminated Teams!Stick around for the matchups in Round 1 of the UFFL Playoffs!And we give our final respects to the teams that we lost... from the playoff race that is.______________________WEEK 14 RESULTS______________________ Mutt & Jeff 150 – Gurley's Gone 107 West Coast 4 Life 107 – Compton's Most Wanted 75 Impact of Olestra 115 – Kick-Ass Philanthropists 93 Free Jamal 144 – Waiver Wire Heroes 94 Vicious & Delicious 144 – Cardiff the Giant Killer 138 Rochester Tschmingus 144 – The Mission 91___________________Playoffs - RND 1___________________ Cardiff the Giant Killer – at – Free Jamal Waiver Wire Heroes – at – Vicious & DeliciousBYE WEEKS:  Mutt & Jeff, The Mission______________ 2025 UFFL ______________– East Division –yz* 1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 11-2-1x 2.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 8-6x 3.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-7e 4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 4-10____________– Central Division –y 1.   Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 8-6x 2.  Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-6e 3.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 6-8e 4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 4-10____________– West Division –yz 1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 10-4e 2.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 7-7e 3.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 6-8e 4.   Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-9-1x - Clinched Playoffs | e - Eliminated from Playoffs | y - Clinched Division                   z - Clinched Bye | * - Clinched #1 Seed_____________2026 Rookie Draft Order1. GG 2. KAP3. IMP (thru CMW)4. IMP5. WC4L6. RT

Jesus challenged His followers to hunger and thirst for righteousness. God called us to Himself that we might be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). This is our “holy calling” (2 Tim. 1:9). We were chosen that we might be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22). By God's grace, we can manifest the righteous character of Christ! The crown of righteousness is awarded to the believer who cultivates this practical righteousness. Join us as we investigate The Crown of Righteousness!

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025UFFL Week 14________________We have reached the final week of the 2025 UFFL Regular Season.  And there are still teams vying for playoff position, as we eagerly await the battle for the UFFL Bowl XXII Trophy!Tune in for the Week 13 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, Fantasy Redemption, and False Idol awards!Don't miss the Commissioner's Playoff Scenarios Missive as we break down all the playoff teams' hopes and dreams for 2025!Stick around for a look ahead to the Week 14 matchups!And we give our final respects to the teams that we lost... from the playoff race that is._____________________WEEK 13 RESULTS_____________________ Rochester Tschmingus 129  – Compton's Most Wanted 116 Gurley's Gone 103 – Free Jamal 73 Kick-Ass Philanthropists 128 – Cardiff the Giant Killer 118 Vicious & Delicious 133  – Impact of Olestra 107 The Mission 129 – West Coast 4 Life 84 Mutt & Jeff 137 – Waiver Wire Heroes 118________________________WEEK 14 SCHEDULE________________________ Rochester Tschmingus – at – Compton's Most Wanted West Coast 4 Life – at – The Mission Impact of Olestra – at – Vicious & Delicious Cardiff the Giant Killer – at – Kick-Ass Philanthropists  Gurley's Gone – at – Free Jamal Waiver Wire Heroes – at – Mutt & Jeff_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –yx 1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 10-2-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 7-6x 3.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-6e 4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 4-9____________– Central Division –x 1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-52.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 7-6e 3.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 5-8e 4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 4-9____________– West Division –yx 1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 10-32.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 6-73.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-8e 4.   Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-8-1_____________x - Clinched Playoffs || e - Eliminated from Playoffs || y - Clinched Division

SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 5Episode Overview: Welcome to the Becoming Preferred Podcast. Today, I am bringing you a special replay of one of my favorite conversations, and the timing couldn't be better. We just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. For many of us, it was a time to gather with friends and family, share a meal, and reflect on our blessings.But here's what I've come to believe. Gratitude isn't meant to be a once a year event. It's a practice, a daily discipline that shapes how we see the world, and how we move through it. Every morning as part of my journaling routine, I'm prompted with a simple question, what am I grateful for? And I've discovered something profound in that practice.When you start your day with gratitude, you position yourself to see abundance. Not because your circumstances magically change, but because your perspective does. Now here's the thing. Gratitude is easy when life is good, but what about when you're in the middle of a storm? What about when the diagnosis is devastating? When the relationship is fractured? When the business is struggling? Can gratitude still work then? That's exactly what my guest, Sandie Eggers helps us understand. Sandie learned the transformational power of gratitude during one of life's hardest seasons, her husband's terminal illness. And what she discovered wasn't just a coping mechanism, it was a way to navigate adversity with strength, clarity, and even joy.So whether you're riding high from a wonderful Thanksgiving, or you're carrying a heavy burden into the season, I believe this conversation will meet you right where you are. Gratitude isn't about ignoring your struggles. It's about finding solid ground in the middle of them. Enjoy this conversation with guest, Sandie Eggers.Guest Bio: “Do nothing and be dead in a few days,” were the words Sandie Eggers heard from her husband's surgeon, words that began her greatest season of challenge to date.The two main things that enabled Sandie to weather this life storm were God and the transformational power of gratitude. Sandie is passionate about helping others by sharing what she's learned so that they, too, can better navigate through their own life storms.In addition to having authored the book, “Live Boldly and Embrace Joy” about her life-altering experience, Sandie also shares her knowledge through online courses, webinars, and workshops. She speaks to civic, religious, and corporate groups.FUN FACT:Sandie now lives in the low country. By God's grace and blessing, she has achieved one of her personal goals: living in a place where the only “white stuff” she sees is beach sand.Resource Links:Website: https://www.yourlifeabundant.comProduct Link: https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Each-Day-Joy-Laughing-ebook/dp/B00LK9WKVCInsight Gold Timestamps:04:37 The greatest adversity that I'd gone through was the terminal illness of my husband05:55 While we couldn't control this monster called cancer….07:11 It's easy when we're living in an environment like we're living09:38 Your work centers a lot on fostering an attitude of gratitude11:12 You talk about gratitude being a practice12:12 There's some specific techniques that you can use when you're a pessimist 14:09 You can begin to see the good out of a very bad situation14:24 Declare an International Be Kind to (Fill in Your Name) Day!15:40 Having gratitude to something outside yourself18:48 How does the mechanism of gratitude get us out of that place, that...

Jesus Followers Know the Cornerstone of Christianity Is: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus is The Door and The Gate by which you must enter the Kingdom of God. In John 14:6-7, Jesus answers a question by the Apostle Thomas with the fundamental tenant of Christianity when He tells us all: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'". Also, in John 10:9-10, Jesus tells us: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief {Satan} comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Also, Jesus said, in Matthew 7:13-14, that He was "the Narrow Gate", and whomever enters the Kingdom through Him will be saved and have Eternal Life: {You} “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.". Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection are the events, of about two thousand years ago, that provided us all, by God's Grace, with access to The Narrow Gate, which is Jesus. Through Jesus' death on the cross for your sins and His Resurrection, He has given you eternal life, if you choose to enter The Narrow Gate. You may ask: “How do I enter this ‘Narrow Gate' of Jesus?”. By God's Grace you can enter Eternal Life, through Jesus, by your true belief and faith in Jesus as God along with your prayerful confession of your sins to God. With your belief, faith, and confession, you have entered through the narrow and only door to your Salvation. However and after your entry through the door, you must continue, in your faith and obedience, to follow Jesus – this is the only, and it is The Way provided by God's Grace through Jesus.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will entrust to Him my future. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.  From 2 Timothy 1:12 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:5-7; Psalms150:1-6; John 10:9-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 5: Following Jesus Changes Everything in Our Families” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, November 25th, 2025UFFL Week 13________________12 Weeks - ONLY 12 WEEKS in the books despite everything you hear from Chris. With 4 teams still fighting for 1 open spot (or is it 2?) in the UFFL Playoffs. John B., Chris, and The Commish are here with all the latest for UFFL Week 13!Tune in for the Week 12 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, Monster Energy, Fantasy Redemption, False Idol, Don't Look Now, and Shit the Bed awards!Don't miss the Playoff Picture breakdown!Stick around for a look ahead to the Week 13 matchups!And we give our final respects to the teams that have fallen... out of the playoff race that is._____________________WEEK 12 RESULTS_____________________ Rochester Tschmingus 97  – West Coast 4 Life 77 The Mission 155 – Compton's Most Wanted 84 Vicious & Delicious 119 – Kick-Ass Philanthropists 105 Cardiff the Giant Killer 140  – Impact of Olestra 111 Gurley's Gone 140 – Waiver Wire Heroes 128 Mutt & Jeff 128 – Free Jamal 96________________________WEEK 13 SCHEDULE________________________ Rochester Tschmingus – at – Compton's Most Wanted West Coast 4 Life – at – The Mission Impact of Olestra – at – Vicious & Delicious Cardiff the Giant Killer – at – Kick-Ass Philanthropists  Gurley's Gone – at – Free Jamal Waiver Wire Heroes – at – Mutt & Jeff_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –y1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 9-2-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 7-53.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-5e4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 3-9____________– Central Division –x1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 8-42.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 6-63.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 5-7e4.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 3-9____________– West Division –x1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 9-32.  Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 5-73.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-74.   Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-7-1_____________x - Clinched Playoffs || e - Eliminated from Playoffs || y - Clinched Division

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, November 19th, 2025UFFL Week 12________________Trade deadline is over - Playoff race tightening - Teams being eliminated - and.... vague references to British sitcoms? - yes...Yes....YEEESSSS!Tune in for the Week 11 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, Monster Energy, and the Luke Dillon Series of Unfortunate Events award!Don't miss the Trade Deadline roundup!!Stick around for a look at the Playoff Picture, and a look ahead to the Week 12 matchups!And we bow our heads, and give final respects to the teams that have fallen.... out of the playoff race that is._____________________WEEK 11 RESULTS_____________________ Compton's Most Wanted 102  – Kick-Ass Philanthropists 91 Cardiff the Giant Killer 130 – West Coast 4 Life 82 Vicious & Delicious 116 – Gurley's Gone 67 Rochester Tschmingus 139  – Free Jamal 121 Waiver Wire Heroes 117 – The Mission 114 Impact of Olestra 107 – Mutt & Jeff 93________________________WEEK 12 SCHEDULE________________________ West Coast 4 Life – at – Rochester Tschmingus Compton's Most Wanted – at – The Mission Kick-Ass Philanthropists – at – Vicious & Delicious Cardiff the Giant Killer – at – Impact of Olestra Waiver Wire Heroes – at – Gurley's Gone Free Jamal – at – Mutt & Jeff_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –x1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 8-2-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 7-43.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 7-4e4.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 2-9____________– Central Division –1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 7-42.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 5-63.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 5-64.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 3-8____________– West Division –x1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 8-32.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-63.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 4-6-14.   Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 4-7_____________x - Clinched Playoffs || e - Eliminated from Playoffs

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, November 12th, 2025UFFL Week 11 - The Trade Deadline Spectacular!__________________________________________________Trade News? CHECK!  Special Guests?  CHECK!  Bizarre and slightly concerning stories about John B.'s College Years?..... well we kept that out.  But you won't want to miss what we kept in!Tune in for the Week 10 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, Fantasy Redemption, Energy Boost, and the False Idol of the Week!We have TRADE ALERTS!!And stick around for our special guest - Impact of Olestra owner Jason - and his incredible Franchise Turnaround story!______________________WEEK 10 RESULTS______________________ Mutt & Jeff 164  – Vicious & Delicious 139 Waiver Wire Heroes 114  – Rochester Tschmingus 107 The Mission 145  – Free Jamal 104 Impact of Olestra 135  – Gurley's Gone 80 Cardiff the Giant Killer 134 – Compton's Most Wanted 75 Kick-Ass Philanthropists 138 – West Coast 4 Life 112________________________WEEK 11 SCHEDULE________________________ Kick-Ass Philanthropists – at – Compton's Most Wanted West Coast 4 LIfe – at –  Cardiff the Giant Killer Gurley's Gone – at – Vicious & Delicious The Mission – at – Waiver Wire Heroes Rochester Tschmingus – at – Free Jamal Mutt & Jeff – at – Impact of Olestra_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 8-1-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 7-33.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 6-44.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 2-8____________– Central Division –1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 6-42.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 4-63.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 4-64.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 3-7____________– West Division –1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 8-22.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-53.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 3-6-14.   Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 3-7_____________

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Wednesday, November 5th, 2025UFFL Week 10__________________________________________________It's a BIG SHOW this week for John B., Chris, and The Commish!  Week 10 is upon us after 9 weeks of UFFL Action and there is so much to talk about as the Trade Deadline is quickly approaching including Stat corrections, Trades, Champagne popping in Miami, UFFL Franchise comps - you have to hear it to believe it!Tune in for the Week 9 Commissioner's Awards:  Move of the Week, House of the Dragon Fantasy Twist, and the Vanishing Act!We have TRADE ALERTS!!And stick around for our special guest - Gurley's Gone Co-owner Ben C. who debuts our newest feature "Better By The Numbers with Ben!"______________________WEEK 9 RESULTS______________________ Kick-Ass Philanthropists 103  – Mutt & Jeff 100 Waiver Wire Heroes 139 – West Coast 4 Life 91 Free Jamal 148 – Compton's Most Wanted 94 Cardiff the Giant Killer 135 – Gurley's Gone 84 The Mission 136 – Vicious & Delicious 120 Impact of Olestra 130 – Rochester Tschmingus 120________________________WEEK 10 SCHEDULE________________________ West Coast 4 Life – at – Kick-Ass Philanthropists Cardiff the Giant Killer – at – Compton's Most Wanted Impact of Olestra – at – Gurley's Gone Free Jamal – at – The Mission Waiver Wire Heroes – at – Rochester Tschmingus Vicious & Delicious – at – Mutt & Jeff_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 7-1-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 7-23.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 5-44.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 2-7____________– Central Division –1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 5-42.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 4-53.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 3-64.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 2-7____________– West Division –1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 7-22.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-43.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 3-5-14.   Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 3-6_____________

The UFFL is a Fantasy Football League comprised of 12 teams. It's members all came from a triple-wide trailer in the heart of Bristol, CT - where as young Sports Television (think 4 letters) Production Assistants, they battled for pride and very little money in the greatest fantasy football dynasty league...EVER.      On the "UFFL: TOTAL NONSENSE PODCAST" you will hear behind the scenes stories and insider info about the league, it's odd owners, and the current fantasy football season. So stay tuned and learn from fantasy football legends (not really) about football (maybe), fantasy sports (possibly), life (doubtfully), and about the UFFL owners themselves (regrettably)!     It's the Ultimate Fantasy Football League...     in podcast entertainment form...     brought to you for F-R-E-E!!     By God, it's nearly worth every penny!#Recorded Tuesday, October 29th, 2025Total Nonsense Late Cuts: UFFL Multiverse!__________________________________________________The 2nd half of the season has begun, the trade deadline looms, and John B., Chris, and The Commish are here to give you all the gory details on what happened in Week 8, and what's to come in Week 9.A Short Minute (or so) with Chris G.'s thoughts on the UFFL in another time and place...______________________WEEK 8 RESULTS______________________ Mutt & Jeff 147  – Cardiff the Giant Killer 127 Compton's Most Wanted 97 – Waiver Wire Heroes 88 West Coast 4 Life 180 – Free Jamal 129 Gurley's Gone 126 – Kick-Ass Philanthropists 114 Vicious and Delicious 117 – Rochester Tschmingus 91 The Mission 123 – Impact of Olestra 71________________________WEEK 9 SCHEDULE________________________ Rochester Tschmingus – at – Impact of Olestra The Mission – at – Vicious & Delicious Gurley's Gone – at – Cardiff the Giant Killer Compton's Most Wanted – at – Free Jamal Waiver Wire Heroes – at – West Coast 4 Life Mutt & Jeff  – at – Kick-Ass Philanthropists_______________ 2025 UFFL_______________– East Division –1.   Mutt & Jeff (Chris) – 7-0-12.  Free Jamal (Jeremy) – 6-23.  Waiver Wire Heroes (John B.) – 4-44.  Gurley's Gone (John M. and Ben) – 2-6____________– Central Division –1.   Cardiff Giant The Giant Killer (Matt M.) – 4-42.  Vicious & Delicious (Scott/Commish) – 4-43.  Impact of Olestra (Jason) – 2-64.  Kick-Ass Philanthropists (Dave) – 1-7____________– West Division –1.   The Mission (Matt V., Matt C.) – 6-22.  West Coast 4 Life (Thomas) – 5-33.  Compton's Most Wanted (Aladdin and JPete) – 3-4-14.   Rochester Tschmingus (Brian) – 3-5_____________

His Hebrew name is Jacob. He was a close kinsman of Christ, and was therefore called, according to the Jewish usage of the time, his "brother." Some accounts say that he was a child of Joseph by his first marriage; others accounts say that he was the son of Joseph's brother Cleopas and his wife Mary, who was first cousin of the Theotokos. He took the Nazirite vows of one completely consecrated to God according to the Law, and from a young age he was called "the Just" by his people. He is called James the Lesser in Scripture (Mark 15:40) to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, who is called the Greater. The Apostles appointed him first Bishop of Jerusalem. It was he who presided at the earliest Council of the Church in Jerusalem, where he resolved the problem of how gentile converts should be received into the Church (see Acts 15). He wrote the New Testament Epistle, addressed primarily to Jewish converts to the Faith, that bears his name. About the year 62, he ascended to the peak of the Temple in Jerusalem on Passover, and there bore witness to Christ so effectively that the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David." At this, the Scribes and Pharisees, fearing that all the people would be converted to Christ, cast him down to the ground. By God's grace, he survived long enough to rise, kneel and pray, like his Master, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." He was then clubbed to death by one of the scribes.

His Hebrew name is Jacob. He was a close kinsman of Christ, and was therefore called, according to the Jewish usage of the time, his "brother." Some accounts say that he was a child of Joseph by his first marriage; others accounts say that he was the son of Joseph's brother Cleopas and his wife Mary, who was first cousin of the Theotokos. He took the Nazirite vows of one completely consecrated to God according to the Law, and from a young age he was called "the Just" by his people. He is called James the Lesser in Scripture (Mark 15:40) to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, who is called the Greater. The Apostles appointed him first Bishop of Jerusalem. It was he who presided at the earliest Council of the Church in Jerusalem, where he resolved the problem of how gentile converts should be received into the Church (see Acts 15). He wrote the New Testament Epistle, addressed primarily to Jewish converts to the Faith, that bears his name. About the year 62, he ascended to the peak of the Temple in Jerusalem on Passover, and there bore witness to Christ so effectively that the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David." At this, the Scribes and Pharisees, fearing that all the people would be converted to Christ, cast him down to the ground. By God's grace, he survived long enough to rise, kneel and pray, like his Master, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." He was then clubbed to death by one of the scribes.

When my two nieces were younger, they’d coax me into a game after dinner. They’d turn off all the lights in the house, and we’d shuffle through the darkness, clutching each other and laughing. They enjoyed scaring themselves by choosing to walk in the dark, knowing they could turn on the light anytime. In his letter to the early believers in Jesus, the apostle John talked about choosing to walk in a different kind of darkness. First John 1:6 refers to sin as “darkness.” Walking in darkness isn’t a momentary lapse, but a choice to keep engaging in wrongdoing. John reminds us that our holy God “is light” and “in him there is no darkness” (v. 5). So when we claim a relationship with Him yet willfully continue sinning, “we lie and do not live out the truth” (v. 6). Jesus, the light of the world, came so that “whoever follows [Him] will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). By God’s grace, after we’ve wandered in spiritual darkness and we turn to Him in repentance, we can walk in His light again—in His ways and purposes. He will “forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Only when we live in obedience to God can we enjoy the full blessing of relationship with Him and with other believers (v. 7).

The final prophecy against a particular nation is a doozy, proclaiming total annihilation and ruin and spanning two long chapters, one of which is the fifth longest chapter in Scripture. Who could this prophecy be against? What nation's actions would merit such a rebuke? If you guessed Babylon, you are right! Though the Lord allowed Babylon to attack His own people and send them into exile, Babylon is still responsible for their own sin and their own actions. By God's design, his people are punished because of their ongoing sin and rebellion, but Babylon is punished more so because of their idolatry and wickedness. This is a long episode so plan accordingly.Jeremiah 51 - 1:12 . Jeremiah 52 - 16:45 . Psalm 123 - 23:36 . Psalm 124 - 24:19 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org