Podcasts about caanan

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This week, we're tackling the topic of quitting's close cousin: Changing Your Mind.If quitting makes people squirm, changing your mind about a decision seems to send the whole system into a meltdown. We've been trained to treat our decisions as final, even when new, credible information shows up. We're conditioned to think that being "belligerently resolute" is a virtue, but that is simply choosing to not grow.Here's the truth: Changing your mind isn't confusion, it's clarity. It's a smart, fluid move that shows you are paying attention. Real progress comes from being open to new information, not from sticking to a fixed stance.In this episode, we dismantle the culture that fears the "flip-flopper" label and make the case for mindful, informed evolution.You'll hear:Why changing your mind about a decision isn't confusion, it's clarity… And one of the smartest moves you can make.Kent's "mind share" on having an attitude of gratitude for being able to help people, and Caanan's thoughts on end-of-year "best of" lists.How the fear of being called a "flip-flopper" (especially in politics) teaches us that we aren't allowed to evolve, which discourages personal growth.The crucial difference between being flaky and mindfully changing your mind when new information shows up.Why being "belligerently resolute" is not a virtue but is, in fact, an inability to grow.The crucial value of perspective and why an inability to take in new information in any area of your life stops growth.How to apply this fluidity to big life decisions, like a new career track or a move, to avoid a larger long-term disaster.Our recommendation for the psychological thriller After the Hunt, and how it forces you to consider a character's "myriad perspectives".If you're holding onto a decision or path simply because you think you're "locked in," this episode is for you. We're giving you permission to embrace the clarity that comes from changing your mind.Onward and Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This week, we're flipping the script to ask: Why are we still not recycling the things that actually work for us?For a culture obsessed with constant reinvention, there's a strange, collective pressure to always move on to the next thing, as if new is always better. We're conditioned to believe that you don't get credit for consistency and that true success lies in the next big innovation.The truth is, when a habit, routine, or approach delivers, it deserves another round. It deserves to be recycled and repeated with purpose. That's not boring—that's how you build momentum, free up mental space, and create the stable foundation needed to support all the exciting changes you do want to make.In this episode, we unpack the social pressure to constantly reinvent and make the case for proudly leaning into what works.You'll hear:Kent's "mind share" on the vital and necessary conversation around no-contact relationships, especially as the holidays approach, and why you shouldn't confuse real needs with immature behavior.Why "recycling" what works – like your fitness routine, core diet, or schedule – is the secret weapon that frees up the mental space for innovation.The funny paradox of being "The Change Guys" who also crave a deliberate, fulfilling core routine and how that balance fuels our life.The social commodity problem: Why there's no social currency in consistency and how social media performance encourages you to constantly chase the next big thing.A funny travel story about why we finally leaned into "basic" popular destinations (like Italy and Hawaii) and discovered that they are popular for a reason.How this mindset applies to everything from your daily schedule to large-scale infrastructure.Our simple, actionable tip for identifying and leaning into the routines that "fill you up and free you up."If you're feeling the pressure to blow up the good things in your life just to "shake things up," this episode is your permission to proudly stick with what delivers.Onward + Inward,Kent and Caanan

The Gospel is simple: That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Romans 10:9 But God is extremely intelligent, and His message sometimes comes across as rather complicated. You will probably think that about this message. Just keep in mind the big picture: The Messiah is coming into the world, and everything, including the Mosiac Law and all the religious traditions, must yield to the new order. Micah 5:1-4 Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops: they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. Therefore, He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. Then the remainder of His kinsmen will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. And we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Luke Chapter 2: Luke 2:8-11 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The city of David. Sometimes we think of Jerusalem as the city of David, but David was not from Jerusalem. He conquered Jerusalem and drove out the Jebusites in 2 Samuel 5:6-8. If you recall from a previous sermon, thats where David developed the loathing for the blind and lame that figures so prominently in the meeting with Mephibosheth. The original city of David is Bethlehem (house of bread). As we saw recently, in Keiths sermon on Ruth, that story of how Boaz and Ruth unite is set in Bethlehem, and at the end of that book, we see the lineage traced down to David. Further evidence of Davids ties to Bethlehem occurs in I Samuel 20:27-29, where Jonathan tests his father Saul to see what his true intentions toward David are by stating that David was not present because he had to go to Bethlehem for a family gathering. To fulfill Scripture, God influences Caesar Augustus to issue a decree for a world-wide census, and all people must return to their birthplace. Joseph was betrothed to Mary at the time, and she was pregnant with the Messiah. Since he was from Bethlehem, he had to return there from Nazareth in Galilee. When Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, Marys time to deliver her baby arrives, and Jesus is born in Bethlehem, just as prophesied in Micah. Micah gives us an intriguing detail about this ruler from Bethlehem. His times of coming are from long ago, from the days of eternity. Now, how can a person who comes from Bethlehem come from eternity? Well, the answer is that the person must be eternal, and that has to be God. So, we have an eternal ruler of Israel who will be born in Bethlehem. This prophecy about the Messiah was well known in Jesus day. In Matthew 2:1-6, we see the chief priests and scribes correctly identify the location of the birth of the King of the Jews as Bethlehem, and they quote our passage from Micah 5. The first reference to a ruler from Judah (Bethlehem is in the province of Judah) is in Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. Another similar prophecy occurs in Numbers 24:17, spoken by Balaam: I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not near; a star shall appear from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall smash the forehead of Moab, and overcome all the sons of Sheth. This prophecy does not mention Judah specifically, but mentions a scepter which will arise from Jacob, and of course Judah is one of Jacob (Israels) sons. All the verses we have looked at so far have focused on political and governmental power. But the Messiah is not just a King; He is also a Priest, but not a Levitical priest. What if, as a God-fearing person under the Mosaic Law, you became hopelessly frustrated with your own sinfulness and inability to obey the Law. Suppose you cried out to God for mercy because you knew that, according to the Mosaic Law, you stood condemned. And suddenly, God opened your eyes to another way to approach Him: Psalm 40:6-8 You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering; You have opened my ears; You have not required burnt offering and sin offering. Then I said, Behold, I have come; it is written of me in the scroll of the book. I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart. According to Numbers 3:9, Levites were the only permissible priests: So you shall assign the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are exclusively assigned to him from the sons of Israel. So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death. But if you are no longer trying to approach God through the Law of Moses, you need another Priest outside the Levitical priesthood, because they only serve the Tabernacle. Fortunately, God provided us a Priest that fits our needs. To see this, we must turn to the Psalms. There are psalms known as Messianic Psalms which prophetically point to the ministry of the Messiah. Some of them are Psalm 2, 8, 16, 22 and 110. It is in Psalm 110 that we see the combined offices of King and Priest: Psalm 110:1-4 The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, Rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your people will volunteer freely on the day of Your power; in holy splendor, from the womb or the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. In this passage, we see the scepter of the ruler and the role of the priest, combined in this Person to whom the LORD (Yahweh) speaks, identified as Lord (Adonai). This Lord (Adonai) is both Ruler and Priest, but not a Levitical priest. Instead, He is identified as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. If you were a Jewish scribe, this passage should have troubled you. How could the Ruler of Israel, the Messiah, be a priest if he came from Judah, rather than Levi? Very mysterious. Melchizedek is only mentioned one other place in the Old Testament. He shows up in Genesis 14. This is after Abram rescues his nephew Lot from Chedorlaomer king of Elam and three other kings with him. Abram had also reclaimed other persons who were captured as well as many of their possessions. He was indirectly helping the king of Sodom, since that is where Lot lived. Abram meets up with the king of Sodom in the Valley of Shaveh. In verses 18-20, we are told, And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has handed over your enemies to you. And he gave him a tenth of everything. Melchizedek is the king of Salem (peace), which most Jewish scholars interpret as the location of Jerusalem before Israel occupied Caanan. So, Melchizedek is a king and priest in the location where Abraham will take Isaac to be sacrificed; where Jerusalem will be located; and where the Messiah will be crucified. It is also in the land that will become Judahs territory after Israel occupies Caanan. Melchizedek is described as holding the offices of both king and priest. This is a very unusual combination, and typically was prohibited under Mosaic Law. In fact, Saul was dethroned in part because he presumed to offer sacrifices in Samuels absence, illegally usurping the priestly role as the king of Israel. In Second Chronicles Chapter 26, King Uzziah becomes a leper after he usurps the priests role and burns incense in the temple. But the Messiah, according to Psalm 110, is a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, and is also the ruler over Israel. So, like Melchizedek, he is both a king and a priest. But, since the Messiah must come from Judah and be born in Bethlehem, he cannot be from the tribe of Levi, and his priesthood is therefore illegal under Mosaic Law. But thats not a problem for you because you have quit trying to obtain righteousness under the Mosaic Law. In fact, lets say you have become aware that you can achieve righteousness in Gods eyes by faith, just as Abraham did in Genesis 15:6: Then he believed in the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. The covenant of works has a priesthood, so maybe the covenant of faith also has a priesthood. As a matter of fact, it does, and it has a priesthood superior to the Levitical priesthood, as described in Hebrews Chapter 7. In contrasting the Levitical priests with Jesus, Hebrews 7:23 says, The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. As noted in Hebrews 7:12, When the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. When we quit trying to earn righteousness, we leave the law of works and turn to the law of grace. In so doing, we turn from a religious system that uses frail human priests to a system that has a perfect eternal priest who is always interceding on our behalf. Now, some theologians believe that Melchizedek was a Christophany, an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. Heres how the Hebrews writer describes Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. If that description were literally true, then it would have to be referring to Jesus. But the Hebrew writer is attributing the complete lack of genealogy about Melchizedek as suggestive of an eternal nature. We dont see any of the typical language used of Melchizedek that we see in other Christophanies. For instance, no other Christophany identifies anyone by a proper name or being an office bearer in any earthly position. Also, we see no command to, for example, remove Abrams sandals because the ground is holy. But clearly, God intends us to note the complete lack of genealogy, especially in Psalm 110:4, as being instructive that the Messiah will have a priesthood that is eternal. So, when we think of Born in Bethlehem, we think of a precious infant, a manger, Joseph and Mary, and all the pageantry of Christmas. But to receive a forever priest from the Tribe of Judah, we must leave behind our love affair with salvation by our own works and receive the righteousness that comes only through faith. Romans 3:19-26 explains the procedural change: Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. BUT NOW apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but it is the righteousness of God THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in Gods merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS. Thats what Christmas is all about. Its the coming of the King and Priest who changes the Law and eternal future for all of us who will transition out of trying to save ourselves, and trust in the blood of Christ as our only righteousness. Amen and hallelujah forever!

The Gospel is simple: That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Romans 10:9 But God is extremely intelligent, and His message sometimes comes across as rather complicated. You will probably think that about this message. Just keep in mind the big picture: The Messiah is coming into the world, and everything, including the Mosiac Law and all the religious traditions, must yield to the new order. Micah 5:1-4 Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops: they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. Therefore, He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. Then the remainder of His kinsmen will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. And we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Luke Chapter 2: Luke 2:8-11 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The city of David. Sometimes we think of Jerusalem as the city of David, but David was not from Jerusalem. He conquered Jerusalem and drove out the Jebusites in 2 Samuel 5:6-8. If you recall from a previous sermon, thats where David developed the loathing for the blind and lame that figures so prominently in the meeting with Mephibosheth. The original city of David is Bethlehem (house of bread). As we saw recently, in Keiths sermon on Ruth, that story of how Boaz and Ruth unite is set in Bethlehem, and at the end of that book, we see the lineage traced down to David. Further evidence of Davids ties to Bethlehem occurs in I Samuel 20:27-29, where Jonathan tests his father Saul to see what his true intentions toward David are by stating that David was not present because he had to go to Bethlehem for a family gathering. To fulfill Scripture, God influences Caesar Augustus to issue a decree for a world-wide census, and all people must return to their birthplace. Joseph was betrothed to Mary at the time, and she was pregnant with the Messiah. Since he was from Bethlehem, he had to return there from Nazareth in Galilee. When Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, Marys time to deliver her baby arrives, and Jesus is born in Bethlehem, just as prophesied in Micah. Micah gives us an intriguing detail about this ruler from Bethlehem. His times of coming are from long ago, from the days of eternity. Now, how can a person who comes from Bethlehem come from eternity? Well, the answer is that the person must be eternal, and that has to be God. So, we have an eternal ruler of Israel who will be born in Bethlehem. This prophecy about the Messiah was well known in Jesus day. In Matthew 2:1-6, we see the chief priests and scribes correctly identify the location of the birth of the King of the Jews as Bethlehem, and they quote our passage from Micah 5. The first reference to a ruler from Judah (Bethlehem is in the province of Judah) is in Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. Another similar prophecy occurs in Numbers 24:17, spoken by Balaam: I see him, but not now; I look at him, but not near; a star shall appear from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall smash the forehead of Moab, and overcome all the sons of Sheth. This prophecy does not mention Judah specifically, but mentions a scepter which will arise from Jacob, and of course Judah is one of Jacob (Israels) sons. All the verses we have looked at so far have focused on political and governmental power. But the Messiah is not just a King; He is also a Priest, but not a Levitical priest. What if, as a God-fearing person under the Mosaic Law, you became hopelessly frustrated with your own sinfulness and inability to obey the Law. Suppose you cried out to God for mercy because you knew that, according to the Mosaic Law, you stood condemned. And suddenly, God opened your eyes to another way to approach Him: Psalm 40:6-8 You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering; You have opened my ears; You have not required burnt offering and sin offering. Then I said, Behold, I have come; it is written of me in the scroll of the book. I delight to do Your will, my God; Your Law is within my heart. According to Numbers 3:9, Levites were the only permissible priests: So you shall assign the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are exclusively assigned to him from the sons of Israel. So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death. But if you are no longer trying to approach God through the Law of Moses, you need another Priest outside the Levitical priesthood, because they only serve the Tabernacle. Fortunately, God provided us a Priest that fits our needs. To see this, we must turn to the Psalms. There are psalms known as Messianic Psalms which prophetically point to the ministry of the Messiah. Some of them are Psalm 2, 8, 16, 22 and 110. It is in Psalm 110 that we see the combined offices of King and Priest: Psalm 110:1-4 The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, Rule in the midst of Your enemies. Your people will volunteer freely on the day of Your power; in holy splendor, from the womb or the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. In this passage, we see the scepter of the ruler and the role of the priest, combined in this Person to whom the LORD (Yahweh) speaks, identified as Lord (Adonai). This Lord (Adonai) is both Ruler and Priest, but not a Levitical priest. Instead, He is identified as a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. If you were a Jewish scribe, this passage should have troubled you. How could the Ruler of Israel, the Messiah, be a priest if he came from Judah, rather than Levi? Very mysterious. Melchizedek is only mentioned one other place in the Old Testament. He shows up in Genesis 14. This is after Abram rescues his nephew Lot from Chedorlaomer king of Elam and three other kings with him. Abram had also reclaimed other persons who were captured as well as many of their possessions. He was indirectly helping the king of Sodom, since that is where Lot lived. Abram meets up with the king of Sodom in the Valley of Shaveh. In verses 18-20, we are told, And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has handed over your enemies to you. And he gave him a tenth of everything. Melchizedek is the king of Salem (peace), which most Jewish scholars interpret as the location of Jerusalem before Israel occupied Caanan. So, Melchizedek is a king and priest in the location where Abraham will take Isaac to be sacrificed; where Jerusalem will be located; and where the Messiah will be crucified. It is also in the land that will become Judahs territory after Israel occupies Caanan. Melchizedek is described as holding the offices of both king and priest. This is a very unusual combination, and typically was prohibited under Mosaic Law. In fact, Saul was dethroned in part because he presumed to offer sacrifices in Samuels absence, illegally usurping the priestly role as the king of Israel. In Second Chronicles Chapter 26, King Uzziah becomes a leper after he usurps the priests role and burns incense in the temple. But the Messiah, according to Psalm 110, is a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, and is also the ruler over Israel. So, like Melchizedek, he is both a king and a priest. But, since the Messiah must come from Judah and be born in Bethlehem, he cannot be from the tribe of Levi, and his priesthood is therefore illegal under Mosaic Law. But thats not a problem for you because you have quit trying to obtain righteousness under the Mosaic Law. In fact, lets say you have become aware that you can achieve righteousness in Gods eyes by faith, just as Abraham did in Genesis 15:6: Then he believed in the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. The covenant of works has a priesthood, so maybe the covenant of faith also has a priesthood. As a matter of fact, it does, and it has a priesthood superior to the Levitical priesthood, as described in Hebrews Chapter 7. In contrasting the Levitical priests with Jesus, Hebrews 7:23 says, The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. As noted in Hebrews 7:12, When the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. When we quit trying to earn righteousness, we leave the law of works and turn to the law of grace. In so doing, we turn from a religious system that uses frail human priests to a system that has a perfect eternal priest who is always interceding on our behalf. Now, some theologians believe that Melchizedek was a Christophany, an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. Heres how the Hebrews writer describes Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. If that description were literally true, then it would have to be referring to Jesus. But the Hebrew writer is attributing the complete lack of genealogy about Melchizedek as suggestive of an eternal nature. We dont see any of the typical language used of Melchizedek that we see in other Christophanies. For instance, no other Christophany identifies anyone by a proper name or being an office bearer in any earthly position. Also, we see no command to, for example, remove Abrams sandals because the ground is holy. But clearly, God intends us to note the complete lack of genealogy, especially in Psalm 110:4, as being instructive that the Messiah will have a priesthood that is eternal. So, when we think of Born in Bethlehem, we think of a precious infant, a manger, Joseph and Mary, and all the pageantry of Christmas. But to receive a forever priest from the Tribe of Judah, we must leave behind our love affair with salvation by our own works and receive the righteousness that comes only through faith. Romans 3:19-26 explains the procedural change: Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. BUT NOW apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but it is the righteousness of God THROUGH FAITH in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in Gods merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS. Thats what Christmas is all about. Its the coming of the King and Priest who changes the Law and eternal future for all of us who will transition out of trying to save ourselves, and trust in the blood of Christ as our only righteousness. Amen and hallelujah forever!

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? – and this week, we're asking a question that comes up every year as the calendar winds down: Why are we still waiting for New Year's resolutions?For a culture obsessed with grit, commitment, and self-improvement, we have a strange, collective habit of putting off the very things we know would benefit us right now.If you're serious about making a change, real progress starts the moment you decide it's worthwhile, not on some arbitrary date determined by the Earth's orbit. Yet, we let the concept of "New Year, New You" become a massive pressure cooker, leading to analysis paralysis and the fear that if we don't succeed perfectly, we've failed (or worse, lied to ourselves).In this episode, we unpack why waiting is just a delay tactic and make the case for a lighter, more fluid, and immediately satisfying approach to change.You'll hear:Kent's "mind share" on the current national increase in anger and how to choose to be a positive force in the world (hint: it's not toxic positivity).Why waiting for a New Year's resolution is often just a form of procrastination and a tool for delaying change you fear.The damaging idea that if you don't follow through on a plan exactly as you intended, you've lied to yourself – and why that mindset guarantees failure.Why change should be fluid and fun, allowing you to "dabble," iterate, and test-and-learn without committing to a four-year plan.The crucial value of knowing your personality type to determine your most optimal approach to change.A brief musing on the power of upbeat music and a look at our favorite end-of-year books that are heavy on topic but essential reads.If you're holding onto something you know you want to start, but you're waiting for January 1st, this episode is for you. We're giving you permission to stop waiting and start moving.Onward and Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That?—and this week, right before the stress of the holidays hits, we're asking a fundamental question: Why are we staying miserable?We've spent the last few weeks talking about quitting and staying loyal to things that don't serve us , but now it's time to focus on your absolute non-negotiable right to protect your own peace. We're done with passive misery and letting external forces dictate our mood and steal our joy.This episode is all about diving into the tools you need to build resilience, choose fulfillment, and finally, confidently say yes to what serves you and no to what doesn't.In this episode, we unpack why we constantly let external forces steal our joy and what happens when you decide to take control of your experience by "curating your life".You'll hear:The damaging effects of the platitudinal old-school message that you "owe" family everything and must "make the holidays work".The concept of curating your life—looking at your time and energy as an art exhibit where you are the selective curator.Tools rooted in positive psychology that help you flourish, including how to re-work your sense of obligation and experience more positive emotions.All that, along with the breaking news that we're claiming the title of "Joyologists" (no, not really) and our suggestion for a worthwhile practice to start this holiday season: a gratitude journal.If you're dreading the holidays, or if you're constantly letting situations or people steal your peace, you'll want to give this listen. We want you to set yourself up for a better holiday season and a better year ahead.Onward & Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? — and this week, we're talking about something that makes people squirm, triggers collective pearl-clutching, and guarantees at least one relative whispering, “But what will people think?”We're talking about quitting.For a culture obsessed with grit, commitment, and “never give up,” quitting has been framed as a moral failing instead of what it often is: a brave, protective, and self-honoring choice. We're conditioned to push through, stay loyal, and tolerate things that make our lives smaller — even when we know something is no longer healthy or aligned.In this episode, we unpack the real reasons we avoid quitting and what opens up when we finally do.You'll hear: • The cultural programming that makes quitting feel like failure — and why that script is overdue for a rewrite. • The identity shame loop that keeps people stuck in jobs, relationships, and roles long past their expiration dates. • Why other people panic when you choose yourself — and how your quitting often exposes where they feel trapped. • A pivotal story from Kent's early career that shaped our entire No Vacation Required philosophy around agency, alignment, and not waiting for permission.All that, along with a brief musing on “cozy season” and something less cozy – ICE using Taylor Swift's music on TikTok and the surprising silence from her normally hyper-responsive team. Like, what's going on there?If you're feeling stuck in something that no longer serves you – or deserves you – you'll want to give this listen because we're giving you permission to quit that nonsense.Onward & Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? — and this week, we're talking about something we've all been conditioned to do: staying loyal to things that no longer serve or deserve us.From jobs that drain us to loyalty programs that stopped rewarding us years ago, we have a knack for sticking around out of habit – or fear. Fear of missing out, fear of change, fear of uncertainty. But that kind of blind loyalty keeps us stuck, limits our options, and quietly steals resources (time, money, energy) we could be using to pursue what actually matters.In this episode, we unpack what's really behind our tendency to “stay loyal,” even when it's not serving us — and what it looks like go “free agent.”.You'll hear:How loyalty programs have diminishing returns and greater demandsHow companies use identity and belonging to keep us tied to systems that don't have our best interests at heartWhy fear — not commitment — is often the real reason we stay putHow mindfulness and regular “life audits” can help you spot where your loyalty has turned into autopilotAnd in this week's Mindshare, we're talking about gratitude — and how small acts of appreciation can cut through cynicism and help build a more empathetic world, especially in tough times.This episode is your reminder that loyalty is beautiful when it's earned, but limiting when it's automatic.Choose what (and who) you give your loyalty to — and make sure it's giving something meaningful back.Onward & Inward,Kent and Caanan

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This week, we're taking on something we're all guilty of – assuming we know what someone else is thinking instead of just asking.You know what we're talking about. That reflex to fill in the blanks, interpret a tone, or spin a whole story from a single look. It's become such a normalized part of communication that we rarely notice when we're doing it. But all that guessing creates unnecessary drama, blocks real understanding, and keeps us from the very thing we want most: connection.In this episode, we talk about why mind reading persists (and how much of it comes down to fear of rejection, confrontation, or vulnerability).You'll hear:Why we developed TwoFinder to help people in all kinds of relationships stop assuming and start understanding.How learning about each other's personalities changed our own relationship – and dramatically reduced the number of chair-related misunderstandings.Why it's worth asking instead of assuming, even when it feels uncomfortable.And in this week's Mindshare, we're talking about off-cycle elections and vote-by-mail, something every citizen in the US should have access to.This episode is your reminder that connection starts with curiosity — and that asking beats assuming every single time.Onward & Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This week, we're taking on something we all do more than we'd like to admit: naysaying.You know what we're talking about — that knee-jerk reaction to critique, compare, or center ourselves in someone else's story. It's become such a common part of the way we engage with the world that we hardly notice it anymore. But it's bad, literally bad, for our health and it keeps us from connecting, learning, and growing.In this episode, we talk about how naysaying shows up in our own lives (including a very real listener email).You'll hear:Why habitual naysaying is usually more about fear or insecurity than insightHow to stop centering yourself in every conversation (yes, even in bean soup and chocolate chip cookie recipes)What positive psychology says about breaking the cycle and finding more joyAnd in this week's Mindshare, we're talking (briefly, we promise) about the new iPhone 17 Pro and how gorgeous Seattle is in October.This episode is a nudge to notice when we're slipping into criticism and to remember that encouragement, curiosity, and compassion are better for everyone.Onward & Inward,Kent and Caanan

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This time, we're asking a question that's surprisingly hard to talk about: Why are we still ashamed of building the life we actually want?In this episode, we get real about what it feels like to live – and publicly own – a life that's been designed with intention. From our early marathon-training conversations that sparked the No Vacation Required philosophy to the curious reactions we still get when people learn we spend nearly all of our time together, we're unpacking the cultural conditioning that makes fulfillment feel like something we have to defend.You'll hear:Why it can feel awkward to admit you're happyHow social conditioning keeps us apologizing for joy and fulfillment (if it doesn't keep us from pursuing those things first)What a poolside conversation revealed about how people measure worthPlus, in this week's Mindshare, we talk about our recent Disneyland trip—what it taught us about nostalgia, value, and why it's time to rethink what we're buying into.This episode is all about removing the shame from fulfillment and celebrating the courage it takes to build and broadcast the life you truly want.Onward & Inward,Caanan and Kent

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? — and this time, we're asking the question that's been on our minds lately: Why are we still sitting things out when everything is changing?In this episode, which marks a bit of a relaunch with a whole new format, we take a hard look at how much the world has shifted — politically, culturally, and personally — and explore what it means to really show up right now. From volunteering experiences that reminded us how much good is still happening to a tough decision to leave Substack behind, we talk about what it looks like to live our No Vacation Required philosophy in real time.You'll hear:Why sitting things out isn't an option in times of rapid changeHow we decided to step away from Substack — and what that revealed about our valuesHow a commercial we filmed for the State of Washington last year provided the clarity we were seeking nowHow our CHANGE framework helps us (and our clients) navigate uncertain timesPlus, we share the mindset shift that's helping us — and hopefully you — redefine what it means to build a life you don't need a break from in a world that's anything but steady.Onward & Inward,Kent and Caanan

Steve Surbaugh

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? — and this time, we're rethinking the age-old question that still lingers in job interviews, leadership trainings, and well-meaning conversations: Where do you want to be in five years?In this episode, we explore why that question doesn't hold up anymore — especially in a world that feels more uncertain and fast-moving than ever. Instead of obsessing over the title or role you want “someday,” we talk about what it means to tune into how you want to feel — and how that simple shift can change everything.You'll hear:Why “Where do you want to be?” is the wrong question — and what to ask insteadHow the five-year plan keeps us stuck in a role-based mindsetWhy tuning into your energy can lead to smarter, more fulfilling decisionsPlus, we've got a simple but powerful tool that can help you get clear on what's working — and what's not.Onward & Inward,Caanan and Kent

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Shall We Gather at the RiverWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com 

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This time we're exploring the myth of “the next thing” – why we're conditioned to believe fulfillment lives just. over. there. when, in fact, the fulfillment is available to you right. here.You'll hear:Something Neil Patrick Harris talked about that perfectly captures the endless pursuit of the “next level”How social currency, FOMO, and even well-meaning friends keep us focused on “what's next” instead of “what's now”A funny story about a dream trip, a boat tour, and the woman who couldn't stop selling her next dream tripPlus, we unpack how knowing yourself—your values, strengths, and what actually matters to you—can help you break free from the chase and build fulfillment today.Spoiler: The thing you're chasing probably isn't the thing.Onward & Inward,Kent and Caanan

We're back with another episode of Why Are We Still Doing That? This time we're exploring externalization vs. internalization – why we obsess over outward success and validation while ignoring the most important data source: ourselves. You'll hear:• The story of Anya, a top performer who finds personal development unexpectedly harder once her external mission ends.• How the “office mom” who nurtures everyone else can't turn that same care inward.• Why evidence‑based decision‑making feels essential at work but “woo‑woo” when applied to personal growth.• Our soap‑box on a culture trained to chase external approval – from childhood messages to social‑media metrics – and how to flip the script.Plus, we implore you to start using good self‑data – your strengths, values, and even your intuition – as your first point of reference for lasting fulfillment.Onward & Upward,Caanan and Kent

As you now know, every month we are tackling a topic related to building a life you don't need a break from. We do that by asking the question “why are we still doing that?” about some outmoded idea or past-its-fresh-by-date tradition. In this episode, we're continuing our conversation about redefining success.In this episode, we're talking about how society's obsession with hyper-efficiency is stealing our joy and how to reclaim it through intentional living. We're sharing insights on how to shift your mindset and live a richer, more fulfilling life, including such hits as:How outsourcing isn't the key to more time.Why chores – like making your own oatmeal (we're dead serious) and simple tasks can bring true joy.The link between hyper-productivity and declining health.All that, and a little soap-box moment about why the pursuit of more money is really about freedom, in a tight 13:34. How efficient!Onward & Upward,Caanan and Kent

Numbers 14: A Story of Faith, Rebellion, and Judgment Numbers 14 is a pivotal chapter in the history of Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It highlights themes of faith, fear, rebellion, and God's judgment. This chapter records a critical moment when the Israelites, standing at the edge of Canaan, chose fear over faith, leading to severe consequences. Key Events and Historical Facts 1.The People's Fear and Rebellion (Numbers 14:1-4) After the twelve spies returned from scouting Canaan, ten of them reported that the land was filled with powerful enemies, including the Nephilim (giants). Fear spread among the people, and they cried out in despair, wishing they had died in Egypt or the wilderness rather than face the inhabitants of Canaan. The Israelites proposed choosing a new leader to take them back to Egypt, rejecting Moses, Aaron, and ultimately, God's plan. 2.The Faith of Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:5-10) Joshua and Caleb, the only two spies who trusted God, urged the people to have faith. They reminded Israel that if God delighted in them, He would bring them into the land. Instead of listening, the people threatened to stone them. 3.God's Anger and Moses' Intercession (Numbers 14:11-19) God declared His intent to destroy the Israelites and start a new nation through Moses. Moses pleaded with God, reminding Him of His mercy and faithfulness. God relented but imposed a severe punishment. 4.God's Judgment: 40 Years of Wandering (Numbers 14:20-38) Because of their rebellion, the Israelites would wander for 40 years—one year for each day the spies explored Canaan. Every man 20 years and older who rejected God's promise would die in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb. The ten unfaithful spies were struck down by a plague. 5.The Presumptuous Attempt to Enter Canaan (Numbers 14:39-45) After hearing God's judgment, some Israelites tried to invade Canaan without God's approval. The Amalekites and Canaanites attacked them and drove them back, confirming that God's presence was no longer with them. Key Words & Themes in Numbers 14 1.Promised Land – The land of Canaan, given by God. 2.Fear & Rebellion – The people rejected God's promise due to fear. 3.Moses & Aaron – Leaders who interceded for Israel. 4.Joshua & Caleb – The only spies who remained faithful. 5.Faith vs. Doubt – A central theme as Israel struggled to trust God. 6.God's Judgment – A 40-year punishment for unbelief. 7.Plague – A direct consequence for the ten spies who led Israel into fear. 8.Wilderness – The place where Israel would wander until a new generation arose. 9.Disobedience – The failed attempt to enter Canaan despite God's warning. 10.Intercession – Moses pleaded for mercy, and God spared the people from immediate destruction.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

We're back with another episode of “Why are we still doing that?” – examining the habits, beliefs, and expectations that no longer serve us and, more importantly, exploring actionable strategies to help you build a life you don't need a break from.In this episode, we dig into the idea that success is yours to define. After our last discussion on invoking your agency, we heard from many of you who said, “I love the idea, but I don't even know what I stand for.” So, in addition to talking about the crucial first step in our L.I.F.E. philosophy, we talk about:How important it is to have personal measures of success, not just in your career.A pivotal moment in our relationship when we realized we had been following someone else's script for success – and how rewriting that script led us to a more fulfilling life together.An ad campaign we did for Sate of Washington Tourism framed around how our take on romance / relationships shapes how we travel.Plus, we revisit a memorable conversation with a group of bridesmaids in Cabo, who had very basic opinions on what makes a romantic partner worthy.If you've ever felt like you're chasing someone else's version of success, this episode is for you.Onward & Upward,Kent and Caanan

There are claims - and you hear them every so often - that archeology has disproved this story or that in the bible, and claims from this or that scholar of particularly late dating of different bible books.How do we as evangelical pastors react/respond/answer those claims?Hans Kristensen is senior pastor of Marsfield Community Church in Sydney and is studying ancient archaeology.He suggests that there are 10 major archaelogical finds that help us to increase our confidence in the Old Testament:There's evidence of a big population jump in Caanan at exactly the time that the bible said that Yahweh was giving Israel the land, called the ‘Hill Country Explosion.'The Egyptian Pharaoh Merneptah boasts of raiding the land of Caanan, saying it was occupied by Israel.In the city of Hazor, archaeologists have found religious idols destroyed and other items intact, just as expected from Joshua 11-12The recently discovered altar at Mount Ebal is likely Joshua's altar (Joshua 8)In the Tel Dan inscription we now have archeological evidence for King David's existence.There's consistent architectural town planning in the cities built around the time of David and Solomon - pointing towards planning and control under one ruler (eg a King).There are similarities between what we know of the temple of Solomon and a similar temple built at Ain Dara, about 30 kilometres from Beirut, showing Solomon's temple fits into the religious and architectural landscape of the time.The discovery of six massive chambered gates at Hazor, Meggido and Gezer and other architectural discoveries at those sites corresponds with 1Kings 9:15.A ninth century battle account from King Moab of Mersha mirrors the one in 2 Kings 3.The Biblical chronology of the listed kings matches almost exactly with archeological evidence.Reach Australia National ConferenceReach Australia's National Conference is happening from 19 to 22 May 2025 on the Central Coast of NSW. This year's theme is URGENT: The Necessary Task of Mission Before Christ Returns. For more info. The Church Cohttp://www.thechurchco.com is an excellent website and app platform built specifically for churches. Support the show--Become a regular financial supporter of The Pastor's Heart via Patreon.

We're so excited to launch the No Vacation Required podcast, where – in addition to audio posts – we ask the question “why are we still doing that?” about things that no longer serve us and, more importantly, explore actionable strategies to help you build a life you don't need a break from.In this first episode of Why Are We Still Doing That?, we dive into the concept of invoking your agency – a cornerstone of creating fulfillment in every role you play. Drawing from over 15 years of experience helping individuals and organizations thrive, we discuss why communication and authenticity are crucial for personal and professional growth.We discuss:The cost of “keeping the peace” versus the power of “finding peace.”Practical steps to express your needs and embrace your authentic self, even when facing constraints.How organizations can create Sunday Scaries-free teams by supporting holistic employee well-being.We share real-life examples of how staying silent and keeping the peace stifles growth and relationships, along with advice for making small, impactful changes toward greater alignment with your values and goals.Onward & Upward,Caanan and Kent

Thank you for joining us for today's worship service! We have a tradition of making the first worship service of the new year a time of meditation and prayer for God's guidance and blessing on our church, our community, and on the ministries that God is calling us to do. In today's message, we consider Terah, recorded in Genesis 11 and 12, who was the father of Abram who later became Abraham. God blessed Terah and led him from his birthplace in Ur toward the land of Caanan, but Terah could only go part of the way in his grief over a son who died young. We see God's mercy and love given to Terah and his family even though Terah failed at the goal God had set for him. God's blessing are not conditional, and we do not earn God's blessings through what we achieve. God's blessings come to us not because of who we are but because God is love. If you prayed to make Jesus your Lord today, we want to rejoice with you! If you would want someone to pray with you, we are eager to do so! If you would like more information about our church, we're want to share. Please text the word "NEXT" to 407-77 so we can engage with you. For more information about our in-person Sunday morning services, visit https://horizonwestchurch.com. You can also learn more about our midweek events at https://horizonwestchurch.com/events.

Most of us believe Abraham was the first to leave Ur in response to God's call. However, Genesis 11:30 reveals that Terah was the original visionary, the one who began the journey to Caanan. Something stirred within him, compelling him to leave Ur behind. Although the journey wasn't easy, the joy of fulfilling a vision was far greater than all the hardships he would endure. However, in the place called Haran, tragedy struck—Terah's son Haran died. This loss broke the spirit of the visionary. The one meant to carry his legacy was gone, and with him, Terah's motivation to fulfill his calling. Terah, now broken in spirit, settled in Haran. *A man defeated on the inside cannot defeat things on the outside.* There is nothing more frustrating for a man to see the glimpse of how glorious his life can be but never but never walk into it. It was here that the Lord spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12:1, reminding him that he wasn't created to perish halfway. The calling comes to him because he was meant to finish the journey his father began. Child of God, you were not meant to give up half way or in mediocrity; you are called for something more greater and glorious. We are not a generation of just beginners but we are a generation who will finish what God has started in us. Do not abort God's will and assignment over your life. God doesn't consult your family's history before calling you—the Word qualifies you! With all your getting, get the Word! You don't become a great nation by being surrounded by people or wealth; you become a great nation at the arrival of the Word. The Word transforms, qualifies, and equips you. When the Word comes, everything required for the journey comes with it. “and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ Out of all the people God could have chosen, He picked a family full of disadvantages. Despite being surrounded by evidence of his limitations, Abraham refused to trust what he saw in the natural and chose to believe God's Word. Now God takes the greatest disadvantage and produces glory out of it. Only God can take your weakness and turn it into a strength. Can you believe God and follow Him as if what you're trusting Him for has already happened? Can you walk as though you are already in the Promised Land? Faith isn't an emotional decision; it's a deep conviction. Faith takes a lot of planning and deliberate, intentional choices. Terah took a break when he should have kept walking, while Abraham arrived in Canaan because he didn't repeat his father's mistake. In transition, don't take a break—rest can become a trap for the soul. Keep walking; we don't take a break from the will of God; we don't rest from the assignments of God. When called to greatness, the temptation is not failure but little success. For Joseph, Potiphar's house was a bigger trap than the prison. Small success is what destroys greatness. The key to transition: Do not take a break till you arrive! There is a reward for obedience. When God appeared to Abraham and promised him the land, Abraham's first response was to build an altar. In the midst of those who claimed the land, Abraham raised an altar of ownership. Abraham makes an invisible contract in the realms of the Spirit by raising an altar unto the Lord, he was marking the territory as his own. When God speaks, many believers don't know how to immortalize the promise. Seal the Word with an altar! In the realms of the Spirit, the word is established. God grants ownership by speaking the Word; you enter into that ownership by raising an altar and entering into covenant with the Lord. A stranger became an owner through a covenant. 2025 is the year of possession—exit transition and take possession of the Promised Land.

What are you ruled by? In the story of the twelve men who were sent to report on the conditions of the land of Caanan, ten of them came back with a perspective that was based in fear. Two of the men had faith and a positive outlook. They all saw potential, but most of them refused to take the risk. For you to function at your best, you need to step out, trust God and take a risk. When you are ruled by only what you see in front of you, you miss out on what God is saying and doing. But if you look past what is right in front of you, you will see the promises of God! Will you choose to be ruled by fear or faith?

[2022 Reciepent (NACAMA) National Academy of Christian Acappella Music Artists Award - "Outstanding Achievement in Record or Radio" ] On the show tonight my special guests is the acappella group "Just Us" from Tallehassee, Florida.   "Song of the Week" featuring Just Us from Tallehassee, Florida.     Single:  "Caanan's Land" July (Monthly Triple Spin) featuring Ron Walker from Edmond, Oklahoma.  2024 Album "Mind, Body and Soul" "Funny Bones"... "Old One Hundreds" ... "Shout Outs" DATE:  July 12, 2024

This week we are joined by WWA Owner/Promoter and Birthday Boy, C.C.W. with special pop in appearances from Caanan aka Vivika Darko! This one is a free for all conversation about everything including, best storylines, proud moments, behind the scenes stories, podcasting, Three's Company, booking wrestling events, Superkicks, Lost in Las Vegas, weight loss, music, and so much more! you can find the World Wrestling Alliance on all social media @WWAISNOW 

In this episode we have an amazing story to share from the book of Joshua, highlighting the remarkable journey of Rahab, a woman who plays a pivotal role in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Rahab's story begins in the most unconventional way possible, as she was a prostitute living in the city of Jericho. Her profession was scandalous and controversial, but it sets the stage for an even greater scandal later in the Bible – the birth of Jesus from Mary, who was not yet married to Joseph. Just as Rahab's past as a prostitute raises eyebrows and challenges societal norms, the birth of Jesus from Mary, who was not yet married to Joseph, is equally scandalous and controversial. The parallel between Rahab and Mary's stories is striking. Both women were unlikely heroes in God's grand plan. Rahab's past and Mary's unconventional pregnancy serve as powerful reminders that God often works in ways that defy human understanding and expectations. Rahab's role in the lineage of Jesus is a testament to the depth of God's love and His ability to use the most unlikely individuals for His purposes. Her scandalous past, like the controversial birth of Jesus, reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His grace knows no bounds. Key Passages: Joshua 2 Matthew 1:1-6 Key Resources: Archaeology and the Conquest of Caanan by Douglas Petrovich Explainer Video⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on how to use ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.biblehub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blueletterbible.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a question or comment at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website podcast page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. * Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onelifenash/support

1. A woman of Caanan-2. The mother of Pharez-3. A symbol of God's grace

1. A woman of Caanan-2. The mother of Pharez-3. A symbol of God's grace

 Share your story!oddvirginia@protonmail.comSupport the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1863272/supportSupporting images provided by Caanan & Ellahttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f1J54qxFvYIcCOWA3JJqqssC5q-6VrFR?usp=sharingThe music for this episode was produced by Alex Koskawww.soundcloud.com/alex-koska/tracks Support the show

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Park, LCMS Theological Educator in Taiwan, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Exodus 23:10-33. God continues to lay down the law through his servant Moses. Now the subject is that of sabbath regulations and three annual observances: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering. This section ends with God's promise to protect his people as they make their way toward Caanan. It's the true story of God reaching down into history and, through an unlikely prophet, redeeming his chosen people from slavery. It's the story of Exodus, but it's also the story of us all. How through Christ, God has liberated us from sin, death, and the Devil. Don't miss this chapter-by-chapter study of the Book of Exodus on Thy Strong Word.

My guest today is Sandra Phinney, and she has lived many lives, from teaching to social work to owning a music store and farming. Now in her 70s, Sandra is earning her living as a writer and has no intention of retiring. She lives off-grid with her husband on the Tusket  River outside the town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, in a place called Caanan, population eleven. They built their own home twenty years ago, the roof still stands, and their marriage survived. One of Sandra's greatest joys is to paddle her canoe in the wilderness.We talk about her incredible sense of home and her love for her environment and community.   How to find the heavenly invisibles in the heavenly visiblesMary Oliver's poetry and looking beyond the obvious. The importance of natureUsing all your senses, not just your eyes.Recording things is not enough; empathy is also vital. CommunityCultivating the broader community and a sense of family. How living in the wilderness does not mean you have to be a hermit.Finding Interest in your local community.Finding fascinating people and activities in your local environment.Unexpected and fascinating friendships. Concern for the environmentTaking a stance, especially with concern for the waterways and forests. The consequence of taking a stance.Learning from the community and taking care of each other.The Building of Bella The joy of building a canoe and handing it down to the next generation. ReferencesMary Oliver: PoetThe Book I bought for Sandra: Derek Jarman: Modern NatureYou can find out more about Sandra's work here: www.sandraphinney.comSandra Phinney BioSandra's byline has appeared in over 70 publications from regional magazines and newspapers such as The Chronicle Herald and Saltcapes Magazine, to national publications including The Toronto Star, Subaru's Six Star, The United Church Observer, Canadian Geographic, AAA Living, and The Conservator (Nature Conservancy of Canada.) Sandra started her freelance career at age 54—twenty-three years ago. She didn't have a clue; she just knew she had to figure out how to earn a living as a writer. (Her former lives included teaching, social work, owning a music store, and farming.) Now, a septuagenarian, she's still earning her living as a writer, with no intention of retiring, although she's also dabbling in the realm of writing personal essays and trying to find markets for those along with her mainstream stories.   She's penned four non-fiction books:·       Risk Takers and Innovators: Great Canadian Business Ventures since 1950 (Altitude Publishing, 2004) ·       Pierre Elliott Trudeau: the prankster who never flinched (Jackfruit Press, 2006)·       Maud Lewis and the “Maudified” House Project (Hawthorne Lane Publishing, 2014)·       Waking Up in My Own Backyard: Explorations in Southwest Nova Scotia (Pottersfield Press, 2018) To satisfy her craving to teach, Sandra gives writing workshops on various topics such as memoir and travel writing.  She lives off the grid with her husband, Barrie MacGregor, on the Tusket River outside of the town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in a place called Canaan (population 11). They built their own home 20 years ago; the roof is still standing, and their marriage survived. Sandra is a member of The Writer's Union of Canada (TWUC), Travel Media Association of Canada (

Season 2 of “Standing in the REIGN” keeps delivering new hotness. The most recent episode featuring the extraordinary and famed comic artist, Caanan White, is no exception. Widely-published (including by Indie Graphic Novel Publisher, Dabel Brothers and world-renowned,Marvel Comics), Caanan is viewed as a giant in the world of comic illustrators due to his stunning visuals and incredible eye for detail. Trust me, you are going to fall in love with his work if somehow you have yet to be exposed. But what you'll glean most of all from his sit down with Dawn is that Caanan is a giant period! He is uber-kind, full of faith and has a whole lot to say about embracing a life outside the norm. You are in for am amazing treat. Trust me — this conversation is going to leave you elevated! Vibe w/Caanan IG: @caanan02 The Art of Caanan White (linktr.ee/artofcaananwhite) LinkedIn: Caanan White Published Works: Uber by Kieron Gillen The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks Son of Shaolin by Jay Longino Captain Canuck by Ho Che Anderson Dawn R. Rosemond, Esq. www.reigntoday.com @u_reign --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reigntoday/message

PM Worship Service, 03 July 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

PM Worship Service, 03 July 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

PM Worship Service, 03 July 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

PM Worship Service, 03 July 2022, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (PCA), Abbeville County, South Carolina, USA

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

The children of Israel were on their way, once again, the the promised land. But there were some very, very important lessons of trusting God and putting their faith in Him, that they needed to learn before they arrived in Caanan. So God allowed trials to come to help His people put their trust in Him. We are going to learn about some those trials this week. Year A Quarter 1 Week 22All Bible verses are from the NKJVWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: ElijahPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinAudio Editors: Asher Hodet and Alexander WinklerMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, https://lindseymillsmusic.com/ for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.

This is such a powerful episode of one man's journey to Christ as he had to endure childhood trauma introduced to him by an abusive father that eventually spilled over to his demise and the impact that it had on him as a young man having to endure and be exposed to this type of trauma and where he is today in his walk with Christ and how he has built a platform sharing his story to help educate others on the impact of trauma. Join us for this episode as he tells his storySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Tanyaren)

Heads up that the audio glitches once or twice--I have no idea what happened! But hopefully you still find this helpful! Be sure to send your questions to me on IG or Facebook at "A Matter of Art" so that we can start gearing up for episode 2! Enjoy! Questions asked and time stamps:00:45 What is the meaning/significance of Jacob splitting Joseph's lineage between his two sons? 03:54 What is a shekel of the sanctuary?07:08 Do the laws in Leviticus apply to us today? 11:04 What was a Nazarite? (Numbers 6)13:35 Were the Levites bald? (Numbers 18)14:45 What does it mean in Numbers 18 when it says that Aaron and the Levites were to take the guilt of the people? 16:00 Was Baalam an Israelite? (Numbers 22)18:13 What were refuge cities and the blood avenger? (Numbers 35)21:00 Is "the land of Caanan" synonymous with the Israelites? 22:48 In Deuteronomy 5, in relation to God's justice, what does it mean "He visits the iniquity of the father's on the children and grandchildren"?24:36  In Luke 3, "He stood up to read" in the synagogue "as was his custom"--what was different about this time? 27:35 Jesus healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law before he called him to be a disciple? (Luke 5)29:40 Why does John ask if Jesus is the expected one? And what is Jesus saying about John? (Luke 7)Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rbillings)

This week we return to our Bible studies and focus on the Book of Joshua. Joshua, now faced with filling the admittedly big shoes of the deceased Moses, must prove himself as an authority figure to the Israelites by committing heinous war crimes and genocide against the people of Caanan, which was promised to their forefathers by God. We also discuss the disingenuous excuse making and flat out ignoring that much of the modern Christian theological discourse does to justify these historical as well as modern Zionist war crimes. Don't forget to join our Telegram channel at T.me/historyhomos and to join our group chat at T.me/historyhomoschat The video version of the show is available on Youtube, bitchute, odysee and our telegram channel and all of those can be reached through the Link.tree in any of our social media bios. For weekly premium episodes or to contribute to the show subscribe to our channel at www.rokfin.com/historyhomos Any questions comments concerns or T-shirt/sticker requests can be leveled at historyhomos@gmail.com Later homos --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/historyhomos/support

Episode 13. The deadly conquest of Caanan only records one terrifying use of the word grace. How can this be good? How can the conquests be grace in Joshua?

Dave and Mandy are back as we begin our Genesis 12-25 series: Abraham, the Father of Faith. We discuss the toledot of Terah, check in on how we're going with Seb's Genesis 12:1-3 challenge and consider Abram's journey to Caanan, before zooming in on Genesis 12:10-20 and Abram's sojourn in Egypt.

The Israelites, with God's help, had now conquered the Caaniaite cites of Jericho and Ai. However, the rest of Caanan was left to be subdued. In this episode, we delve into the conquest of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of the Land of Caanan. As always, be blessed and enjoy! Please follow, like, and share our podcast with a friend or family member!

Audio Transcript:This media has been made available by Mosaic Boston Church. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston and our neighborhood churches, or donate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com.Well, good morning. My name is Andy. I'm one of the pastors here at Mosaic, and pastor Jan is getting some vacation time to celebrate his anniversary with Tanya. And so, we're thrilled for him to get that time, thrilled for both of them to get that time after this long season of the past year and a half. Today if you are new, it looks like there's a lot of new faces. We still can't really tell who is new all the time, and praise God, we have that problem. Welcome to Mosaic.If you do want to connect with us, again, we plug our connection cards. And sorry, if you're a regular and we repeat this over and over, it's because over half of the congregation shows up 10 minutes, 15 minutes into the service. So we're just trying to get those stragglers the news, and we want to connect with you. If you have questions, if you want to build community here, fill out the connection card. You can bring it to the Welcome Center, and we'll have some helpers and a gift for you.Today, we are finishing our Jesus in Genesis series. We've been here for, I think the past 12 weeks. This is the 12th week. We started at Genesis 12. We're closing with Genesis 23, and we've been trying to pull out all the ways that this first book of the Bible talking about the patriarch and matriarch of the faith, Abraham and Sarah, how Jesus, the name of Jesus is whispered, and sometimes outright just yelling out of the passages of this ancient book. And it points us to Jesus' coming, going to the cross, being our Lord and Savior for us.We hope this is a good time. I think of my life in forms of periods of Mosaic sermon series. Every sermon series has a tone. Every series hits me in a certain way, and I remember that. I can go back, it was almost 10 years ago this month, that I arrived at Mosaic. And I've been through basically all of them, some from afar as I moved away at some point, but this is a good time in addition to meditating upon today's sermon this week, it's a good time to think about, "Lord, what have you shown me in this season? What have you taught me?" How do I see Jesus Christ being spread, being mentioned, being acknowledged and whispered or typified in this Old Testament book?And so, today we have a funeral. This is a pivotal moment in the text. Why are we stopping here at Genesis 23? This is literally a pivotal moment in the text. Genesis 22, the last few verses mention the line that formed Rebecca from which Rebecca came, the wife of Isaac, Abraham's son, soon to be wife of Isaac in Genesis 24. And this is the last day that Abraham and Sarah are together. And so, it's fitting that we end the series here. We should be reflecting upon just the work that the Lord has done in them and through them. And I'll do that more as we approach our text.So with all that said, I'm going to read Genesis 23 and then I'll pray.Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” The Hittites answered Abraham, “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.”Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” Ephron answered Abraham, “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth 400 shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, 400 shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan. The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites." This is the word of our Lord.Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we praise you for your Holy Word. We praise you that all of it is for our edification, for our sanctification, for our growth in the faith. And we praise you for this word about a patriarch and matriarch of our faith. We thank you for the season that you've appointed for us to learn from them to learn from about the grace that you showed to them, about the faithfulness that you showed to them and their faithfulness, about the ways that they prefigured the coming of Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that you imprint the lessons that we need to hear today, and those that we heard already throughout this season upon our hearts as we go forward as sojourners in this land that is not our home.As we go forth, still facing this death, still facing the thorns and thistles of life that you appointed as the curse for our sin. Holy Spirit, we pray, give us lessons for how we can more faithfully face these challenges as we await to receive our full inheritance that we have through our faith in Jesus Christ. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.Well, a month ago, I didn't know I was preaching on this text. I thought I was entering into a calm period. With vacation coming up, my anniversary coming up, my son's five-year-old birthday, my daughter's one-year-old birthday, but the Lord had different things in plan. I had to do Mosaic's officiate Mosaic's first funeral. I ended up purchasing an apartment with my wife, which was labeled by our attorney as the worst closing since 2003. And what was the issue? It was over the appraisal of the property. And you're welcome. You're welcome that I went through that. The Lord put me through that to prepare me for this topic.But if you haven't been with us, and it's okay to laugh a little bit, Sarah, there is a theme in her life of laughter. We can chuckle, and praise God for that, that he is a God of laughter. And he will get the last laugh. But if you haven't been with us, today we're talking about Abraham and Sarah. The book of Isaiah 51:1-2 talk about both Abraham as the patriarch and even Sarah as the matriarch of those in the faith, those upon whom the Church of Jesus Christ is built.From Genesis 12, where we began to where we are today, their life has spanned 62 years. They waited 25 years for their son to be born, and now he's 37 years of age. So we've gotten the highlights when they've been faithful to God. We've gotten the lowlights when they've been unfaithful. In their best moments, as I've said, they've prefigured Christ and the role that he will do for us, and going to the cross and bearing our sins on the cross, and paving the way of faith, walking it perfectly.And we've seen in their low lights, just that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone. And the last time today, we're talking about Sarah's death, the last time we heard about her, Isaac was born. Upon her death now she is 127 years old. We don't know anything about her from these last 37 years. And then so, what we have to be asking what then is the point of Genesis 23? What does this passage teach? The scripture zooms in and out of various points of history of redemptive history for specific lessons, and we have to figure that out today.So today I'm going to break this passage down in three sections. I'm going to talk about Abraham's sorrow, Abraham's sojourn, and Abraham's slice, slice of land. And so first, talking about Abraham sorrow. And notice point three about Abraham's slice that covers verses three through 20, three though the end of this chapter. There's a lot of emphasis on this just engagement between Abraham and the Hittites, and it's a cultural dance as Abraham acquires the land, but we have to ask why is so much emphasis placed on the purchase of this land?So point one, Abraham's sorrow, we have to talk about his sorrow. In verses one and two we read, "Sarah lived 127 years. These were the years of the life of Sarah, and Sarah died at Kiriath Arba that is Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went into mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. I just want to make a couple observations about this sorrowful moment. Notice, first, Abraham and Sarah, as important as they were to the fulfillment of God's redemptive purposes, we're not exempt from the curse of death that has come upon all mankind as a result of Adam and Eve's fall.And this is important because this is a message for all of us who have faith in Jesus Christ. We are not excused from the curses that were applied to Adam and Eve. We inherit them. And what are those curses? We see them in the life of Abraham and Sarah. To the woman, God says, "I'm going to give you pain in childbearing." Your desire shall be for your husband. You're going to try to challenge his headship over you. The husband, you're going to have trouble producing fruit. You're going to have trouble in your labor no matter how much you love your work, no matter how much you love your family, there's going to be toil that is a part of that process.And Abraham and Sarah, compared to Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve, they represent the fall. They bring us into sin and misery. Abraham and Sarah bring us into blessing and promise, but life of faith that they exhibit is still tinged by death, the penalty for sin, it's still tinged by the thorns and thistles of life, and we still face them today. And particularly as we reflect upon Sarah's death, we have to pause and think that death comes to all of us. And I really have to just force you to think about this today, because we are a young crowd. Some of you here are greying a little bit, but even you are not that old.A good measure of how, whether a membership of the congregation is prepared to understand death, to face it, is to compare the amount of funerals with the amount of weddings and childbirth. And we did have one. We lost our brother Jim, who we grieved and celebrated his life in the past month, but we are about 30:1, I think when it comes to marriage and child rearing compared to death, and that is not normal. I looked across the internet for urban churches that preached on this topic, you see them preach through Genesis 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25. We don't talk about death a lot, and we don't see it.We don't engage with people who are older than us. We're oftentimes just younger than us and... I remember I moved here out of college in 2010, and I was here for two and a half years. And in that period of life, that whole time I was in Boston, I don't remember engaging one senior citizen or one child, and that's pathetic. But for a lot of you that is realistic. A lot of you had your first baby, and that's the first baby you've ever touched. And we don't come near... Where we are, we avoid a lot of phases of life.We have to see our church. We have a bias towards youth. And as pastors, we are relatively young, too. And so, we need to be realistic that our perspective is limited, and we need to think about death. And it's reality. It is coming whether we think about it or not, whether we are prepared for it or not, it is coming. Our brother Jim was 30 years old, and he went relatively suddenly last month. And we have to be prepared for it. And I prepared my sermon, I avoided this section. I didn't want to talk about it, but we really need to be thinking about death.And at Mosaic, we want to be known for good teaching. We want to be known for great life-giving community, care and accountability, membership that builds one another up and loves one another as Christ taught us. But we want to be able to grieve with each other and mourn with each other well. We want to show that to the world. And so, are you prepared to do that if you're honest with yourself?When you think about, Am I ready to meet my maker? Am I ready to face death? If other people in my life died? Am I prepared for their loss? If somebody close to me had someone close to them die, would I know how to support them? Would I be able to minister to them in the name of Jesus Christ in such a period. And we need to be building ourselves up. We need to be studying this. We need to be asking the Lord for wisdom and preparing our hearts for these moments, these situations. He providentially prepared me for this sermon, and we need to be doing that.And I am an intense dude. I grew up in a family with a mom who was sick. Before I was born, my dad survived at cancer that one in 30 people survive. Then he had a heart attack the year I was born. I was the fourth child. My siblings blame me. After that, since then, my mom had four bouts with cancer between age zero and 20 for me. I grew up just with this newness, just a lot of sickness, and praise God, they're both still alive and really thriving by God's grace. A lot of you can't say that about your parents who've had similar struggles.But there's a closeness to death that I actually know. And I actually like to embrace it, and sometimes I can get on the edge of morbidity. Like when you're close to death, you see life as it really is. You see that life is fleeting. That your health is going to come and go, that you can't count on tomorrow. And there's a freedom in that, and it's the emotions that you experience are pure. The grief, the sadness, the fear of it. And to a degree, we need to embrace that, because this is like a valley of vision for us.When we focus upon the inevitability of death, we see who we are as sinners before a mighty holy God. And there's benefit to staying there, to embracing it. And we need to do that. And when we as those who claim to have hope in Jesus Christ, when we have people who we know loved ones have losses in their family, but they don't have the hope of Jesus Christ. Imagine going through that valley, being in that valley without that hope. And that's where we can step in. The best times in my life of the past 10 or 15 years have been engagement with my family.That's best periods of communication with my family have been around death. The conversations are not shallow, they're real. And that's a time for us to give gospel hope. And so, we need to be thinking about this. We need to be able to grieve ourselves and to support. As Christians, we should be able to face this grief a little better. And so, I just want to pause and look. Abraham in verse two, it says "He went in to mourn for Sarah and weep for her."This is a beautiful scene. Here we see Abraham's love for Sarah, and his grief for her loss put on display, and this is after a lot. Remember Egypt, Abraham gave her to Pharaoh. He gave her away to Abimelech. The struggles with Hagar, the struggles getting pregnant, living intense the last six decades. We don't know at this point what happened between them the last 37 years since Isaac's birth. But what we see here is a beautiful picture of them together on their last day, and they made it, and we see Abraham grieving.We live in a society that places so much emphasis on the first day, but very little on the last day. A key theme of Scripture is that in Christianity, it doesn't matter where you come from, or where you started, but where you're headed in relationship with Jesus Christ. The same is certainly true for marriage. How many of you are working and preparing for the last day together with your spouse? How many of you are working on yourselves as individuals within a marriage in order to help your marriage mature and grow and be prepared for these stages of life?And singles, you're not excluded. You need to see that the habits, the devotional life, the person you're praying to become in the power of the Lord, all of that work you're doing now could impact a relationship for eternity. And so, it's clear Abraham truly loves his wife. He mourns the loss of his wife. And men, we need to take note here. Who is this guy? He's a guy who charged into battle, a man who has after age 75, a man who is the head of a huge household, a guy who got stuff done. He exhibits that he's both tough and tender. He's okay with crying. He's okay going through the proper grieving process.Just personal story with one of my earliest encounters with grief was when one of my dogs died. And I remember my dad picked me up from baseball, and we unexpectedly, we're driving a teammate home. And my dad's like, just breaking down, his voice is quivering. I can see him shaking. And I'm embarrassed, my dad hold it together. And he's just crying because our dog died, the family dog died. I was embarrassed at the time, but I'm thankful that as a young man, I had a dad who cried at appropriate times.As Christian men, we can't be breeding a form of stoicism and women, some women fall into this. But we can't be breeding a form of stoicism. Go to the Psalms, see the balance in the emotions of King David's life. Look at Abraham here. And just with grief, the best approach is, get it out. In the appointed season when you have time, get it out. And if we don't get it out, our grief tends to come out and project itself in different ways. Anger, anxiety, bitterness, fatigue, depression, addiction. So we need to get it out. I know before I get away from talking about the last day, I need to emphasize that we can't be surprised by death financially.As part of the grieving process, there are a lot of costs and practical elements to funerals, and we just don't process this stuff here at Mosaic that often. Paying for a burial plot, a tombstone, preparation and embalming of the body. If you get cremated, that's a substantial cost. Clothing, transportation of the body, limo services, funeral home fees and services, fees for a service venue, memorial service venue, bulletins, picture pronounce. What's your theology of life insurance? What's your plan for inheritance distribution?I am saying here, I am not ready with all of this stuff, but we need to be preparing ourselves for that, and that is a part. The more prepared we are, the more we can actually grieve in the moment at the appointed season. And before we leave the section, I have to bring out one really important point. Scripture doesn't forbid us from mourning. That's what I'm hammering home. But the scriptures warn us against grieving as those who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, "But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."We need to grieve, but we can't overindulge ourselves in it. The best way to just protect against that is grieve within the context of community. Invite loving. Don't be beyond the loving nudges and gentle correction in your period of grief. A lot of people assume a position of self-pity. I don't need to listen to anyone. We need to trust our loving brothers and sisters in Christ as they help support us and coach us in the season, and you can coach them too.So just Abraham's sorrow, we must process sorrow. He gives us a good example of it here. We want to do so as one who has hope set firmly and our Lord. Next, I'm going to talk about Abraham sojourn. We've considered the sorrow, but verses three and four go into, "And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, "I'm a sojourner and foreigner among you. Give me property among you for burying place that I may bury my dead out of my sight."So the Hittites, they were the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, the land that God had promised to Abraham. And notice that when Sarah died, Abraham had to ask them for a place to bury his dead. He was a 137-year-old foreigner who didn't have a single piece of land in Canaan. Some of us panic. We think about, we're married, we have families here in Brooklyn. We won't have a property for another 10 years. And then what are the prices going to be? God didn't give Abraham a piece of land until later in this passage at 137.Just what faith, what patience in the Lord. This is significant that Abraham doesn't have land. When we consider the promises that God made to him concerning land. God promised that he would have many descendants. He provided Isaac. God promised his descendants would possess Canaan. But as of yet, he's a sojourn. So the thing to point about Abraham, is that God's promises were enough. Last chapter, the sacrifice scene of Isaac, he didn't get sacrificed, but Abraham was willing to go forward with the sacrifice of his son according to God's command, because he trusted that God could raise him from the dead. That's what Scripture tells us.Abraham showed he had a firm faith in God's power to raise the dead. And now, just Abraham was a sojourner, an alien. And God didn't give him a piece of land, but he believed his promises didn't end with his wife. Do you believe that? So many of you wait for something from God for a day. I prayed about it. He didn't ask. I'm going to step in and make my plan. I do that. Abraham still waiting, and he believed God was going to do far more for him in the future and eternity. As the author of Hebrews says, "Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Jacob, these patriarchs, matriarchs of the church were waiting, they were desiring a better country that is a heavenly one. That's in Hebrews 11:16.Abraham, he was looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God. Abraham's faith, he looked beyond the grave to the promises of God to send the Savior and through him to bless the nations. And what's important to point out is that Abraham makes this decision to pursue a plot of land in the land of Canaan while his relatives in his homeland were thriving. Remember last week, the end of chapter 22, there's this seemingly confusing section. Now after these things, it was told to Abraham, behold Milcah, that's his sister-in-law also is born children to your brother, Nahor. Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram."Ultimately, these verses say that Rebecca was born. But in this piece Scripture, it also reveals Abraham could have gone back to his family, but at this moment, though God's promises haven't come fully true, he doubles down and pursues this grave site in God's promised land in the land that God has provided for him.Sometimes a lot of us, he's renouncing those ties. This is a final step in saying, God, I am fully on board with you. And some of us we like to leave escape routes in our life. And to go forward in faith we need to just get ourselves implanted. And that we see that every year this time of year at Mosaic with the transience of the city changing of the school year. You're driven by the academic calendar, but if you've been here, the Lord is raising you up. He's maturing you. He's converted you here growing you in the faith, giving you a church community where you're being sharpened and challenged and serving.I challenge you, get rid of those escape routes, trust him. I can't say that's the will of God. But a lot of us need that challenge. As Abraham was a sojourner, as our father, all of us in Christ are sojourners. I think a lot of us here in Boston get this, but we need to be careful, just being among the minority, the extreme minority of people who believe the Bible that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. We get this, but we spend a lot of time sitting around and licking our wounds, talking about how hard it is, talking about how there aren't any singles to choose from, talking about how raising kids in the faith here is so difficult. I'm guilty of that in the past week.Listen to Peter's words. 1 Peter two, "Beloved, I urge you sojourners and exile to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." We don't just seek to accept the position of sojourner begrudgingly. We need to own it. This doesn't mean we're forbidden from acquiring property or building wealth. But it does mean that we're to live in a way on this earth, always aware that this is not our home, where to store up our treasures, not on Earth, but on heaven.If we get too close and comfortable with the world, we should check ourselves. James 4:47 says, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the scripture says he yearns jealously over the Spirit that He has made to dwell in us. But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore, to God.We need to ask God to give us that Dally Grace to abound in every good work for his name for His glory to live in this tension between heaven and earth. And when we accept that there's freedom in that, the expectations, the lofty expectations of keeping up with the world and their expectations for the nuclear family go away. Accruing wealth is not the solution to all of our problems, but an abiding, steadfast faith in the Lord is what satisfies, and just trusting him day-to-day. He cares for the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, how much more will he care for his children?Lastly, I want to talk about Abraham's Slice. And again, I said earlier, the acquisition of this slice of land in Caanan is described in verses three through 20. I'm not going to read all this out loud again. It's really redundant, which is just characteristic of the language. But the thing that Moses the author of this book wants to highlight, these are only precursors to the story here in this chapter. Notice the respect Abraham show to the Hittites. We have great lessons here to learn how to sojourn from our Father in the faith. There's a nuance to the way in which We sojourn, to the way in which we pursue holiness in God and live in the world.We can be in the world but not of it. Abraham models this for us. Romans 12:14 says "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." That's what we're to pursue. That's what Abraham pursues here. 1 Peter 3:13-17 says, "Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good. But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed." Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy. Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do with gentleness and respect having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.For it is better to suffer for doing good if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. Christian sojourners are to give a reason for the hope that is in them yet do it with respect and gentleness. Or even have a good conscience in our treatment of the non-Christians around us, and even those who persecute us. Abraham in this verse six, he shows us this, notice the honor that he shows to them, the respect he shows from them, and the honor that they showed to him. Verse six, "Here as my Lord, you're a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choices of our tombs." They view him as a prince of God. They know his reputation that precedes him in the land, and they offer him this generous offer.No one will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead. And again, in verse 11 Ephron says, "No, my Lord. Hear me, I give you the field and I give you the cave that isn't it. In the sight of the sons of my people, I give it to you. Bury your dead." And this is a bit of a cultural dance. This is haggling at the gate with the elders and theologians do argue over whether these were sincere offers for him to take the field freely. Really, the honorable way for him to respond was not to accept the field for free.But all the commentaries agree that this treatment that they are giving him, the way that they are engaging him, according to their cultural norms was an acknowledgement of who he was. They were paying respect to the reputation that preceded him. They see him as a blessed man, a prince of God. They saw that he treated him with respect and they therefore treated him as they did. And we need to learn from that, especially in this season where our society is polarized in a lot of different ways and has been for a couple of years now.There's a narrow path that we as Christians can walk between those poles that we see in the world. We stand on the truth. Notice Abraham spoke with sincerity. What did he say he wanted? He just said he wanted a plot to bury his wife, his dead. We as the church, what do we say we want? We say we want to be able to worship our Lord freely, partake in the elements freely, engage in church disciplines for more holy body freely, and we stand on that. And then we pray that the Lord uses our witness.We pray that the Lord sees our love for one another, and that we are soft and light where we are. And Abraham is a model for that in his faith. There is this nuanced way of walking. And here's how it resulted. In verse 11 we read, "He bowed down before the people in land, he said, he found in the hearing of the people and but if you'll hear me, I give you the price of the field. Accept it from me that I may bury my dead there." Ephron mentioned named a price 400 shekels of silver. It's hard to know that if this was a good price or not, but very likely that this was an exorbitant price.But we see here Abraham, regardless of the price respectfully pays to be at peace with Ephron and all of the people of his city. He valued this opportunity to bury his wife properly, and in the midst of his grief, he was by pursuing the tomb this aggressively, he was making a statement I believe in a God who is going to resurrect me and my wife one day. I want to buy this outright to procure it so that you don't trick me later and take it from me. But this is an act of faith for him before the Hittites. This is his witness to them showing his face to the Lord. And he's able to do this peacefully at relatively little cost to him as a rich wealthy man. So think about the ways, how are you engaging with the world? are you engaging in this polarized state? Or are you finding ways to be at peace but still be holy before the world?And it's hard. And this is, we need wisdom. There's anxiety that just arises when we process what does that look like, especially today, especially in this season, after the past year and a half. But the Lord promises to meet us Dally, and that we need to trust Him. We need to abide in Him. We need to saturate our lives with his word and just keep walking. We can do over activity just trying to enforce our mark in the world. We can be paralyzed under activity, or we can just walk forward with abiding faith, trusting that the Lord will care for us, provide for us, meet our needs, follow through on all of his promises and use us for His glory as we stand on his word.And so, I think about how does this impact how you engage with the world? And so, Abraham, he does in the end, get this field and this is a very specific description of it. It just emphasizing God gives him a slice. So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the East of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field throughout this whole area was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went at in at the gate of a city.After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, East of Mamre the same as Hebron in the land of Canaan. The field in the cave that is in it was made to Abraham, deeded to Abraham as a property for a burying place by the Hittite." And so, Abraham at this point, God promised him that his descendants would be like the stars in the heavens, the sand on the seashore, the dust on Earth, nations would come from him. But what did he see? He only saw his son Isaac. He was promised that the land of Canaan would be his. But what did he get possession of? Only one sliver of land to be used as a burial ground.We could emphasize how little of the fulfillment of God's promises that Abraham saw. But we must also emphasize the fact that the Lord did give him something. He blessed him. He gave him at least a taste of his fulfillment. And you got to think Moses wrote this text before the Israelites were going into the promised land engaging the natives, the locals to conquer this land that was promised to them. God has given Abraham an assurance of, "I am going to follow through and give you your eternal inheritance. I'm going to give you this piece. Your family will get this land." He's communicated to the Israelites, "You will see I gave Abraham this land. I will give you a piece of. I will follow through my promises."And to us, he's saying to us through your faith in Jesus Christ, you will get there. And this is how God, he chooses to accomplish His plan of redemption and little additions over time, little snippets of history. It's like a farmer sowing seed. God gave the promise to Abraham. It's like a farmer scattering seed on the field and on the earth. And when Abraham sees Isaac, he's blessed to see this fruit come about. Just imagine how exciting, how just any of you who garden, just how invigorating it is to see these little elements of the Lord's promises come true, and how invigorating in the faith to continue to strive forward through the sorrow, through the thorns and thistles of death, of life through the sojourning.And it gave Abraham hope to continue on and gave the Israelites hope to continue on, gives us hope to continue on. And this is how the Lord has treated us. God gave Abraham a slice. He saw a slice of land, a tiny fulfillment, tiny taste, but the Lord has done the same for us. This is true and that Christ has come. We haven't received our final inheritance or final fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham to us, but he's given the down payment, a deposit Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "In him, you also when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory." And we need to have seen the first fruits of new creation, when Christ rose from the... And furthermore, we have given for all those who know that the Holy Spirit has awakened our heart and hearts to see our sincere need for Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We know that as a deposit of the promises to be fulfilled.Furthermore, we've seen the first fruits of the new creation, the resurrection when Jesus rose from the grave. The application for us is just like father Abraham. We get to see the new heaven and earth on the last day, and just as he did for Abraham, the Lord has graciously provided us with a foretaste at down payment. When we have our sorrowful days, when sojourning gets difficult, when the reality of death gives us fear and anxiety, we need to believe that the Lord will fulfill those promises. We need to look up from our sorrow and gaze upon the gospel that tells us that Jesus Christ did come and die for us and he did rise from our dead and delivered death its final blow.While we may face challenges in this life, our eternity in the presence of God is secured. What do we have as a reward for our faith? And what do we have access to right now in a spiritual sense to close. Hebrews 12:18 "For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken, you've come to the presence of God as depicted on Mount Zion. But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels and festal gathering and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we pray that like our father, Abraham, that your promises would be enough. We pray that we would be encouraged by your generous, just sprinklings of reminders of what our inheritance will look like. We thank you for the courage that you gave Abraham and Sarah to walk faithfully until the end. Lord, we pray, give us courage. Give us faith. Give us a biding faith, trust in you, to guide us day-to-day that we may persevere until the end to your glory. We pray all these things in Jesus name. Amen.

For the last seven months, I have been fascinated by the story of Moses leading the Isrealites out of Eygpt and slavery. They were led out on a journey to find their promise land of Caanan and their God-given destiny. It took them 40 years when it should have them 3 days! Like WOW! I can't help but to ask "but why?" Tune in as I share my thoughts on this powerful story and how we can implement it into our lives! Don't forget to subscribe to my Podcast and follow me on social media; IG: becky_brossett. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

1. Great Falls - lydia ievins (Montague, MA). A cheerful polska. Someday lydia’s town will reclaim this name, first bestowed on her area (in a variety of languages) when it was known as a peaceful gathering spot for the Native tribes who congregated here. Recorded on Koivu, lydia's duo album with Helsinki-based pianist Juha Kujanpää. www.lydiamusic.org  2. Now winter nights enlarge, by Thomas Campion. Read by Margaret Youngberg (Greenfield, MA).  3. The Stormy Scenes of Winter - Keith Murphy (Brattleboro, VT). Keith sings this traditional song on his 2005 solo album, Bound for Caanan. https://keithmurphy.bandcamp.com/  4. Bright star, by John Keats. Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).   5. Morag’s Waltz - George Wilson and Friends (NY). This track is on the Great Meadow compilation album Contra Roots and Branches. https://www.greatmeadowmusic.com/crb.html  6. An excerpt from For one who is exhausted, a blessing, from To Bless the Space Between Us, by John O’Donohue. Read by Julie Vallimont (Brattleboro, VT).  7. La Gueussinette - Tidal Wave (QC) - This mazurka by Stephen Jones is on Tidal Wave’s eponymous debut album. http://home.total.net/~j.saintcyr/index_eng.html  The opening music is “The Pearl in Sorrow’s Hand” by Julie Vallimont, from her album Dark Sky, Bright Stars. Produced by Julie Vallimont. Mixed and mastered by Dana Billings. All content courtesy of the artists, all rights reserved. This series is supported in part by the Country Dance and Song Society, NEFFA, CDS-Boston, and Pinewoods Camp. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it via Patreon: www.patreon.com/starsintherafters

Continuation of Hurrian history and connections I make with Israel, Caanan and today's "White" people. "Hear O Israel, The Lord Our God Is One!"

Renata Quintini and Roseanne Wincek are general partners and co-founders of Renegade Partners, a new venture capital firm investing at the "supercritical" stage. Supercritical stage companies have raised institutional financing, have a product in market, and the budding signs of customer love, but are early, young organizations who are still writing their stories.Before Renegade, Renata was a partner at Lux Capital and Felicis Ventures, and before that an LP at the Stanford University endowment investing in private markets and venture capital. Roseanne was trained as a biochemist before joining Caanan and then IVP, investing in companies primarily at the growth stage.This was a fantastic deep dive into their decision to start Renegade Partners together, how they got the firm off the ground and raised their first fund, the unique opportunity they now see in the market at the supercritical stage, and how they plan to build a lasting firm.

On today's episode we chat with musician Caanan Towns who recently wrote the song "So Many", where he describes his own perspective of societal racism and his frustration with how progress stemmed from the recent protests seems to have slowed in some ways.

DON'T SETTLE! Abraham and his father were called to settle in Caanan, but they settled short of God's best. Don't settle! Push forward.

DON'T SETTLE! Abraham and his father were called to settle in Caanan, but they settled short of God's best. Don't settle! Push forward.

One of the most powerful weapons of hell is fear. Fear of death, fear of terminal ailments, fear of accident or losing one's job, fear of witches and Witchcraft, fear of the unknown. Fear opens doors in your life for a lot of demonic attacks and influences. Fear can cripple your strategic mental powers. In ancient warfare the dart was deemed fiery. This is because the dart was first set on fire before it was shot at the enemy. Wooden shields and mighty men were set ablaze by the fiery dart of the enemy. It required iron shields to quench fiery darts. But the most powerful armour against fear is faith. Faith annihilates the evil power of fear. Just as Job was plagued with crisis by the devil, every Christian will also, at one point in your life, come to a Red Sea, bitter waters of Marah, or impenetrable wars of Jericho, or thirsty lands of Rephidim, the flooded rivers of Jordan or the giants of Caanan. Any of these have been design to put fear in you, to give up on your God, or your self and return back to Mizraim or Egypt. How do I then quench the fiery darts of the devil? This podcast will help you build this insight so you can walk by faith above all the wiles of the enemy, and not by sight. God bless you

The downward spiral of sin in Lot's life did not occur overnight. As he left with Abram on an 800-mile trek to the land of Caanan, the depravity in which he found himself at the end of chapter 19 was unthinkable. What happened? In this episode, we look at what the Genesis account teaches us about sin.

After Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you would expect the rest of “The Story” to unfold in the land God promised to them and their descendants. But, in chapter three, we go from Caanan to Egypt and the road there is filled with a series of misfortunes for Jacob’s son, Joseph. But because God’s hand is in all of Joseph’s life, there can be a reconciliation at the end of this chapter that foreshadows how God will bring all people into His family. 

Evangelist James Lockard out of Calvary Baptist Temple, East Bernstadt, KY, preaches during the Old Kentucky Preacher's Fellowship held on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at his home church.

Day 49 of the podcast, reading Numbers 14-15 NET, read along at: https://netbible.org/bible/Numbers+14-15/ This is day 49 of our journey. The Israelites have made it to Caanan and are on the doorstep of all that God has promised but they refuse to trust the Lord. God responds to their faithlessness by sending them back out into the wilderness to die. Because they refused to trust and obey, They must now wander for 40 years in the wilderness while their children grow to adulthood. God will bring the next generation into the land to enjoy all that He has promised. After banishing Israel from the Promised Land, God gives more commands that are specifically related to taking the land. Though this generation was excluded from His blessings due to their sin, God reaffirms His promise that he WILL eventually bring Israel home! Join me in Numbers 14-15 to see God punish unfaithfulness while preserving his promise. Key verses: Numbers 14:4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” Numbers 14:19 Please forgive the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:31 But I will bring in your little ones, whom you said would become victims of war, and they will enjoy the land that you have despised. Numbers 15:39 You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. All Scriptures are from the NET.

Day 48 of the podcast, reading Numbers 11-13 NET, read along at: https://netbible.org/bible/Numbers+11-13/ This is day 48 of our journey. Again we see the complaints of the hard hearted Israelites. They beg for meat and are given quail by God, more than they can imagine for over 30 days. But this blessing ends up being a curse as many are made sick as a result of the quail they are eating. Then, we see Moses' sister, Miriam, and his brother, Aaron, make a charge against Moses for the right to lead the people. God displays his mighty power and makes it clear that Moses is the one who he has chosen to lead the people of Israel. Finally, as the Israelites reach the border of the promised land, Moses sends spies to check out the land and bring back a report. Forty days later they bring a discouraging report that, while Caanan is rich and bountiful, the people of the land appear too big and strong to be defeated. Join me in Numbers 11-13 to see continued examples of sinfulness and God's response to humanity's stubborn disobedience. Key verses: Numbers 11:18 “And say to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat, for life was good for us in Egypt?” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat. Numbers 12:7 My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house. Numbers 13:2 “Send out men to investigate the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. You are to send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a leader among them.” All Scriptures are from the NET.

When it comes to pursuing your passion, knowing your 'why' is everything. You must have a powerful enough reason to break through the challenges, self doubt, and fear you'll face on the road to mastery. Without it as your compass, your goals are aimless. In a very special, extended Episode 18 of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by guest artist Caanan White to talk about the approach he took to developing a high level skill set that allowed him to create some of the most spectacular comic book art in the industry. Having worked for multiple studios, including Marvel, Caanan's unrelenting drive pushed his ability to the epitome of it's potential - dangerously coming close to sacrificing everything for the love of his passion. The question is, was it all worth it? This 1.5 hour episode is packed with loads of value as Caanan shares his experiences and wisdom gained from lessons learned over the years. Don't miss it! -Clayton Check out Caanan White's art at: https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfCaananWhite/

The story of Joshua and the battle for the land of Caanan.

The story of Joshua and the battle for the land of Caanan.

Kris and Katrina, hosts of the Gameable Pixar Podcast (formerly the Gameable Disney Podcast) join Grant and Peter in a special crossover episode on breaking established setting canon! Gameable Pixar just released a pair of episodes discussing The Prince of Egypt, and they invited Peter and Grant to join them in the second episode.  They return the favor in this episode, where we discuss how to break canon in settings with high player investment—from Tolkien's Middle-Earth to Biblical Egypt, Israel and Caanan. If you want to give the Gameable Podcast a try, we suggest picking your favorite Disney or Pixar film and listening to Kris and Katrina discuss it in the relevant episode! They also particularly recommend their episodes on The Black Cauldron and The Nightmare Before Christmas as introductory episodes for interested gamers. To pick up with The Prince of Egypt, start with GPP's Bonus Episode 9: The Prince of Egypt and follow up with Bonus Episode 10: The Prince of Egypt Discussion. They're also on Twitter and iTunes. Also mentioned in this episode: Electric City ComiCon; StoryWonk's Dusted podcast; and an awful lot of superheroes. Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-11, Jeremiah 23:28-30, Matthew 23:13-15, Romans 15:4

Passover is viewed differently by different people.  If you are Jewish, it is one of the main holy feasts that is observed whether you are particularly observant or not.  It is part of your cultural identity.  If you are a Christian, it may be several things.  You may know it from the Exodus story from Sunday School, or you may be familiar with it from how often it is a part of the account of Jesus's ministry in the New Testament.  If you are into Biblical prophecy, both those fulfilled and those yet to come, you see it as one of God's appointed times and Passover and the surrounding feasts were all fulfilled through Jesus's death (at the same time as the slaughtering of the sacrificial lamb,) resurrection (on First Fruits,) and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Shavout/Pentecost.) I've seen it as all those things, but through a convergence of events, this year I realized . . . really realized . . . that it is also about deliverance. What is Passover? We all respond to a good story.  While screenwriters use actors events from imagination to tell a story, God uses his creation, both the world around us and individuals in specific times and specific places with supernatural precision, to speak to us.  He made us, so he knows how to reach us.  Dry facts and information just won't cut it.  So he creates works through the people he made in his image, even with all our messes and screw ups, to show us he loves us, he has a plan for us, he is working to deliver us, and to stand firm and believe in the promises he has given us. And then he tells us to remember it, to recount it, to mark and remember the days so we don't forget his goodness. So where does this story start? In Genesis 17, God made a promise to Abraham that he would give him the land of Caanan, but not yet, because the sins of the Caananites were not yet great enough for judgment. His covenant was reaffirmed with Isaac, and then his son Jacob.  When a devastating famine hit the land of Caanan and Jacob and the eleven sons who were with him were wondering what to do, God had already moved Joseph, the son Jacob had thought was lost, into a position of authority in the land of Egypt where provisions were already in place waiting for them.  (Gen 41:37-53) They were able to go and walk right into the blessing, even though by the account (after all, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, Gen 37:18-36) they didn't deserve it. And then they stayed there for 430 years. They didn't go back to the land God had given them after the famine was over.   I wonder if there were opportunities, promptings by God, to do so that were ignored because they were comfortable at the time where they were at. [box type="info"] It reminds me of the first Christians. Jesus's command to them was "Go" and preach the Gospel to the nations. But instead they were hanging out in Jerusalem where they were comfortable. It wasn't until the severe persecutions began under Nero in 64 - 65 AD that they began to disperse.[/box] Over time, there were regime changes in Egypt and rulers came to power that either did...

Jacob dies and Joseph embalms him and buries him in Caanan. Joseph's brothers beg him to forgive them, stating that they are the servants of God, and Joseph forgives them. Joseph dies and is embalmed and buried in Egypt. During the Exodus, his body will be returned to the land of Israel.

Primer episodio de este nuevo proyecto.Playlist:1- Aqua Alta Hiyori - Choro Club (Aria The Animation)2- I Want Love (Studio Mix) - Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill 3)3- Teddy - Suzi Kim (Kamisama no Memochou)4- Song 2 - DJ Krush (Little Big Planet)5- My soul your beats! (Gldemo ver.) - Grils Dead Monster (Angel Beats!)6- Compass - Jamie Lidell (Red Dead Redemption)7- My Heaven - Annanbel (Caanan)8- Moog City - C418 (Minecraft)9- God Knows - Hirano Aya (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu)10- Lone Star - Jim Guthrie (Sword and Sworcery)11- Last Kiss - Bonnie Pink (Gantz)12- Ozar Midrashim - Kurt Harland (Soul reaver)13- Help!! Hell Side - Taketatsu Ayana (MM!)14- Activation - (Dunamis15)15- Another Planet ~twilight~ - Kawada Mami (Shakugan no Shana) 16- Prince Fleaswallow's RAP - Matsuura Masaya (Parappa the Rapper)17- Dear Future - Coaltar of the Deepers (Mawaru Penguindrum)18- Way to Fall - Starsailor (Metal Gear Solid 3)19- Sis Puella Magica! - Kajiura Yuki (Puella Magi Madoka Magica20- Turret Wife Serenade - Aperture Science Psychoacoustics Laboratory (Portal 2)Pueden escuchar el episodio aqui

continued form Pt II

Moving from Eygpt to Caanan. What are the key elements we need to be mindful of in the transition from one level of christian living/thinking to the next? What will we encounter? What amount of sacrifice and "re-programming" will it take on our part? This and other questions are explored and answered in this, the first of a 3-part series by Jacqui Newsome, Pastor of the Erdington NTCG fellowship

continuing from Pt I