Podcasts about cc by sa

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13Sodium chloride, also known as salt, is one of the most commonly used substances in the world, used for seasoning, preserving, and purifying. Sodium chloride is a very stable compound and cannot lose its flavor unless there is a chemical reaction or dissolution. Why, then, did Jesus suggest that salt could lose its taste? One likely explanation is that the salt used in ancient Palestine could indeed lose its flavor due to impurities and the conditions in which it was stored.The Dead Sea, located in modern-day southeast Israel, contains a massive deposit of salt and other minerals. According to biblical history, Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt in this region. Because of the vast salt and mineral deposits, the area surrounding the Dead Sea is desolate.Salt extracted from the Dead Sea was never pure sodium chloride. Gypsum and other minerals were also present, making the salt impure. If this salt were stored improperly or came into contact with water, the sodium chloride could dissolve and wash away, leaving behind the solid residue of minerals. These residual substances, like gypsum, had the appearance of salt but were tasteless and useless for flavoring, preserving, and purifying purposes. When this happened, the “salt” lost its taste. In light of this explanation, Jesus' teaching becomes especially clear.The first notable feature of salt is its ability to add flavor to food. By calling His disciples the “salt of the earth,” Jesus was instructing them to enhance the “flavor” of the world by bringing the truth of the Gospel and the joy of His message to others. A Christian life lived in fidelity to Christ would make the world a better and more virtuous place, just as salt enhances the flavor of food.Salt is also commonly used for preservation. Before the age of refrigerators and freezers, salt was mixed with food to prevent corruption, by drawing out moisture and hindering bacteria and other microorganisms. Though this practice is still used today, it was especially vital in ancient times. By being the “salt of the earth,” Jesus was calling His disciples to preserve the world from moral decay. Through their witness and proclamation of the Gospel, they were to act as a preservative against sin and spiritual ruin. If they were to “lose their taste,” they would become indistinguishable from the rest of the world and ineffective in their mission. Hence, Jesus was exhorting them—and us—to avoid becoming watered down and bland in our witness to the Gospel.Lastly, salt held a significant role in Jewish religious practices, symbolizing purity and consecration. In sacrificial rituals, salt was used to consecrate offerings, as commanded in Leviticus: “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your grain offering. On every offering you shall offer salt” (Leviticus 2:13). By seasoning their offerings with salt, the Israelites preserved the sacrifices from decay, making them pure. This practice reflects the disciples' role in purifying the world through their example of holiness, their lives of self-sacrifice, and their participation in Christ's redemptive work. They were to live lives of integrity, leading others to God through the purity of their hearts and their unwavering commitment to His will.Reflect today on this powerful metaphor of being the salt of the earth. The world desperately needs the enriching “flavor” of God's grace. Without Him, the world is left to corruption and decay. With God, we, and those we serve, are preserved as pure and holy offerings, adding to His glory and growing in holiness. Be the salt of the earth. Do not become watered down in your faith. Remain steadfast in your fidelity to Christ and His Gospel, and you will transform the world around you. In doing so, you will not only glorify God but will also share in His eternal joy. wqw2232Most pure and enriching Lord, You alone enrich and enhance our lives, preserve us from sin, and make us a pure offering to Your Father. Please use me to be an instrument of Your grace to the world, making me the “salt” that remains pure and effective, to bring Your saving truth to the ends of the earth. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

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Drift off with a calm bedtime reading about Air Jordans, designed to support sleep and ease insomnia through gentle learning. This calm bedtime reading blends soothing facts with a relaxed pace, helping quiet a busy mind and guide you toward sleep even on restless nights of insomnia. In this episode, Benjamin explores the history and cultural impact of Air Jordans, sharing how these iconic sneakers shaped sports, fashion, and popular culture, all while maintaining a peaceful, unhurried rhythm. You'll learn something new as you relax, with no whispering—just calm, fact-filled bedtime reading delivered in Benjamin's steady, comforting cadence. This episode is ideal for easing stress, reducing anxiety, and helping with insomnia or sleeplessness as you wind down at the end of the day. Settle in, press play, and let your thoughts slow as you drift gently toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Air Jordan, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Jordan), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineThe Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:30–31When a person does something profound and meaningful for the first time, it's a memorable moment. When a child walks for the first time, parents are elated. When we graduate from high school or college, a natural sense of pride wells up. Weddings, the birth of a baby, an ordination, and many other important events mark the beginning of something new and fulfilling.Around the midpoint of Jesus' public ministry, some of Jesus' closest disciples experienced one of those consequential moments. Jesus commissioned the Twelve to go forth, two by two, to preach repentance in many towns and villages (cf. Mark 6:7–13). He gave them authority over unclean spirits, enabling them to cast out demons and heal the sick. While they had been firsthand witnesses to Jesus' ministry and His mighty deeds, this mission marked the first time they acted independently in His name, exercising His divine authority. It must have been an awe-inspiring experience, deepening their faith and understanding of their role in His mission.Today's Gospel recounts their return from their ministry. We can imagine that each of them wanted to tell stories about all that they did and how the power of God worked in and through them. For that reason, Jesus invited them to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” That invitation was likely enthusiastically received, given the emotional and spiritual energy they had exuded and their desire to process their experiences together.Though the invitation was sincere, Jesus' formation of the Twelve was not complete. What happened next helped the Twelve to better understand the deeper meaning of the ministry they had just undertaken. Though the Twelve were excited to be with Jesus and the others once again, so was the crowd. Despite the Apostles' exhaustion, the people pressed in upon them, making it difficult for them even to eat. When Jesus took them by boat to another town, the people hurried to the place by foot and waited patiently for Jesus and the Twelve.When the Twelve saw the crowd, they understandably might have been somewhat agitated. They had hoped for some time of rest, yet the people were starving for the spiritual nourishment that only Jesus and His disciples could give. Instead of agitation, “When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).Though the Twelve had a transforming experience preaching, healing, and casting out demons, Jesus' compassion for the crowds became their next crucial lesson. Their mission was not for their own sake or to marvel at the divine authority with which they ministered. It was about God's people, who were “like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus wanted the Twelve to grasp the urgency of the mission they were entrusted with and the zeal required to fulfill it.Though we are not among the Twelve, each of us is entrusted with a mission. We must embrace it with the same zeal that Jesus showed in His ministry. While it is natural to feel tired and seek rest, supernatural zeal calls us to press on, to serve sacrificially, and to imitate Jesus' selfless compassion. Our mission must always reflect the heart of Christ, fostering in us the same compassion and love He modeled for all.Reflect today on the excitement the Twelve must have felt as they witnessed the crowd's hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment. Consider your own mission of loving service—whether to your friends, family, community, or church. Are there moments when the demands on your time feel overwhelming, testing your patience and charity? In those times, strive to cultivate the compassion Jesus modeled for the Twelve, allowing His example to inspire you to respond with love, patience, and selfless care for others.My zealous Lord, You were tireless in Your preaching and unwavering in Your charity. The hunger and thirst of the crowd moved Your divine Heart with mercy and compelled You to shepherd Your people. Transform my heart to mirror Yours, filling me with supernatural zeal, so that I may never tire of serving those entrusted to my care. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Андрей Николаевич Миронов (A.N. Mironov), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Farming and gardening are said by evolutionists to be very advanced activities. They say that primitive humans did not do these things, and that gardening developed only recently in human history. But if there is a Creator, we would expect that He would have taught many kinds of creatures to care for plants or even trees.Guess what? There are even ants who garden. There is a particular type of fierce ant that cares for the South American bull's horn acacia tree. While the ants don't need the tree for their survival, they do eat portions of it. But they never eat enough to cause damage to the tree. In fact, the ants protect their tree—they snip off vines or other growth that comes too close to the tree, maintaining plenty of growing room for their tree. The ants are aggressive enough to keep other insects or even birds or larger animals away from their tree.In studying this amazing relationship, researchers have removed the ants from some of these trees. Within two to fifteen months, the tree is dead. Without the ants' care, animals eat off all the leaves and surrounding plants overrun it.Who taught these ants to be gardeners? How could two so very different kinds of life develop such a close relationship? This results in a great mystery for evolution. Without ants, you couldn't evolve the tree, and without the tree, the ants couldn't learn to care for it. You can't get around it. Both were created fully formed, and the Creator taught the ants how to care for the tree.Genesis 2:15"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."Prayer: Father; I see for myself that Your Word is true as I look around the world that You have made. I ask that You would show me what You want me to do as Your creation in bearing witness to the truth of the forgiveness of sins. which is ours through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.Image: Pseudomyrmex ferruginea (acacia ants) on acacia cornigera, Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.  To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Relax with calm bedtime reading about the Eurovision Song Contest, designed for sleep and gentle relief from insomnia. Relax with calm bedtime reading that supports sleep and eases insomnia while offering a peaceful way to unwind. In this episode, Benjamin softly explores the history, traditions, and cultural impact of Eurovision, sharing facts in a soothing, steady cadence that helps your mind slow down while you rest. You can learn something new while relaxing, with no whispering, just calm educational reading meant to comfort restless nights and support sleep. This gentle approach can help reduce stress, quiet anxious thoughts, and make sleep feel more natural and welcoming for anyone dealing with insomnia. Settle in, press play, and let this calm bedtime reading carry you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Eurovision Song Contest, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We open this evening's proceedings with ‘The Grand Mausoleum', an original story by KeyDeeDee, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all.. https://www.reddit.com/user/KeyDeeDee/ Our second scary story is ‘There's Something Between the Gears', an original work by Whitix; a story shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:Whitix We continue with ‘The Treatment of Aaron Nelms', an original work by Carlos Pandiella; Shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me read it here for you all: https://www.reddit.com/user/Panda_Tech_Support/Today's next offering is ‘Why Vera Doesn't Jog at Night Anymore', an original story by Scribaphobia, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all.  https://www.reddit.com/user/scribaphobia/ Tonight's fifth story is ‘To the Future Buyer of This House, You Need to Know Why The Closet Door is Boarded Shut.', an original story by J.P. Marley, again kindly shared with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all. https://www.reddit.com/user/jpmarley/ Today's fantastic penultimate offering is ‘Killing My Childhood Monster Was Easier Than I Thought', an original work by nerdxcorexneal, once morekindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all. https://www.reddit.com/user/nerdxcorexneal/ Today's final phenomenal story is ‘I Painted Something That Shouldn't Exist', an original work by Amelie C. Langlois, again kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all. https://www.reddit.com/user/AmelieCLanglois/

Drift off with a calm bedtime reading that supports sleep and gently eases insomnia. This calm bedtime reading helps your mind relax as you settle into sleep and let go of the day. Tonight's episode explores echoes from a scientific perspective, calmly explaining how sound reflects, travels, and returns in a soothing, easy-to-follow way that lets you learn while unwinding. Benjamin's steady, calming voice offers gentle, fact-filled narration with no whispering, making this peaceful episode ideal for bedtime listening. Perfect for insomnia, stress, anxiety, or restless nights, this relaxing science reading gives your thoughts something soft and neutral to focus on as you drift toward sleep. Get comfortable, press play, and allow this gentle exploration of sound to guide you into rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Echo, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read with permission from Reflection (physics), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflection_(physics)), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read with permission from Diffraction, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffraction), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FFoDpod.com   Patreon   Merchandise   CC-BY-SA  "SCP-676" by SimpleCadence, from the SCP Wiki. Source: https://scpwiki.com/scp-676. Licensed under CC BY-SA.

The woodpecker's tongue can stretch from three to five times its normal length in order to fish bugs out of trees. You would think that his tongue would have to be rooted in his tail to do that neat trick! This beautiful creation in which we live is not only filled with testimonies to the wisdom of God. It is also filled with special designs that deny the possibility that life in all its complexity developed entirely by chance.Consider the woodpecker. Incredibly, the woodpecker's tongue is rooted in his right nostril. Exiting the back of the nostril, his tongue spits into two parts, wrapping around his head between his skull and the skin, passing on either side of the neck bones, and then coming up through his lower jaw or beak. This gives the woodpecker a long enough tongue to stretch it out far enough to do an effective job of pest control on bug-infested trees!Now, how could this happen by blind evolutionary chance? Even evolutionists admit that it's silly to suggest that the woodpecker's tongue gradually got longer over thousands of year and began to grow under his skin. As one evolutionary scientist said about the woodpecker's tongue, "There are certain anatomical features which just cannot be explained by gradual mutations over millions of years. Just between you and me, I have to get God into the act too sometimes."Why wait to call on God as a last resort? Let's begin with our wonderful Creator!Deuteronomy 4:28"'And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hand, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.'"Prayer: Dear heavenly Father; through the instruction of Your Word and the guidance of Your Spirit, help me to be different from those around me who think that the creation itself made them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.REF.: Sunderland, Luther D. Miraculous design features in woodpecker. Bible Science Newsletter. Image: Woodpecker on tree, Envato. + Dendrocopos major skull, Jimfbleak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Read OnlineWhen Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1–3The Beatitudes call us to the heights of morality and holiness. Those who live according to these divine precepts are blessed beyond measure. The promises to those who live this high calling are great: They become children of God and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, they receive comfort, satisfaction, mercy, purity, and peace. Though the rewards are great, so are the requirements: spiritual poverty, holy sorrow, meekness, longing for righteousness, a merciful heart, purity, peacemaking, and patient endurance during persecution.The Beatitudes reveal the culmination of God's moral teaching and the highest revelation of the Christian life. To fully appreciate their significance, it is helpful to understand the history of moral revelation. Doing so is more than a history lesson on God's deepening revelation, it also reveals the path for our spiritual journey toward perfection.Morality begins with the Natural Law—the innate understanding of right and wrong written on the human heart. This Law is from God and is often described as living in accord with right reason or common sense. All people have access to this moral law within their own consciences, enabling them to recognize God as the Creator, honor Him, respect human dignity and the common good, and refrain from acts such as murder, theft, and deception. Though universally present in all people, sin and our fallen human nature cloud our ability to clearly see and follow that law.In the Old Testament, God slowly revealed Himself and called His people to greater holiness and moral living by adding to the Natural Law through revelation. From Abraham and his descendants, God raised up Moses through whom He revealed the Ten Commandments—a concise moral code rooted in Natural Law but explicitly revealed by God that called His chosen people to right worship, justice, and love for one's neighbor.Through the prophets—such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel—God called Israel to move beyond mere external observance of the law to an interior conversion of heart. Isaiah emphasized the virtues of justice and mercy, Jeremiah prophesied a new covenant in which God's law would be written on the hearts of His people, and Ezekiel promised that God would give His people a new heart and a new spirit, enabling them to follow His statutes.The wisdom literature—Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom, Sirach—deepened the understanding of moral life by revealing moral gifts, such as the Fear of the Lord, the blessedness of righteousness, and the call to trust in God's providence and live a virtuous life.The Beatitudes elevate all laws of the Old Covenant. Jesus not only calls us to profound holiness, He also provides the means to achieve it through His Sacrifice, transmitted through the grace of the Sacraments. To live the Beatitudes is to live in imitation of Christ, who perfectly embodied all virtues in His life, Passion, and Resurrection. Hence, the Beatitudes are not only a moral code we must follow, they are a participation in and union with the Son of God, Who lived the Beatitudes to perfection.As we ponder the Beatitudes, reflect today on their high and glorious calling, as well as their rewards. Sometimes, reading the Beatitudes can leave us discouraged, as we are aware of how far we are away from perfecting them. Dispel discouragement and know that these new divine precepts are attainable by grace. Set your eyes on the heights of perfection and open yourself to the abundant grace offered. Doing so will not only result in glorious spiritual rewards in this life, it will also result in the greatest eternal rewards in Heaven.Lord of perfection, You lived the Beatitudes to the fullest during Your life on earth and continue to manifest those perfections from Heaven. Please open my heart to Your grace and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may answer the call to the new and glorious moral state to which I am called. Empower me to live fully immersed in and guided by Your Sacrificial Love. Help me to inspire others to embrace this path of holiness, so that we may journey together toward the eternal joy of Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You!  Image: Église Saint-Martin de Castelnau-d'Estrétefonds, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Drift off with calm bedtime reading about tigers, designed to support sleep and ease insomnia through gentle learning. Relax with calm, educational bedtime reading that invites sleep while giving your mind a peaceful break from insomnia and restless thoughts. In this episode, Benjamin slowly explores the natural history, behavior, and habitats of tigers in a steady, unhurried cadence that encourages relaxation. You'll learn something new while your body unwinds, with no whispering, just calm, fact-filled storytelling meant to soothe. This episode is ideal for listeners dealing with insomnia, stress, anxiety, or busy minds at night. Press play, get comfortable, and let gentle knowledge carry you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Tiger, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FFoDpod.com   Patreon   Merchandise   CC-BY-SA  "SCP-675" by Dr Talson, from the SCP Wiki. Source: https://scpwiki.com/scp-675. Licensed under CC BY-SA.

The Nemacolin Castle is also known as the Bowman's Castle and is found in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. While the mansion itself dates back to the Victorian era, there are things on the property that go back even further than that with remnants from the former Fort Burd here and even before that from indigenous people. The Bowman family built the castle and three generations lived here before it became the museum it is today. There are claims that nearly a dozen ghosts haunt the property. Join us for the history and hauntings of Nemacolin Castle. The Moment in Oddity features Robert Liston, Fastest Knife in the West End. Check out the website: http://historygoesbump.com Show notes can be found here: https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2026/01/hgb-ep-622-nemacolin-castle.html      Become an Executive Producer: http://patreon.com/historygoesbump Music used in this episode: (Moment in Oddity) "Vanishing" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Fragments Of Love Produced by Sascha Ende Link: https://ende.app/en/song/12238-fragments-of-love  Nemacolin Castle picture: By Acroterion - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33363905 Nemacolin collage and pictures courtesy of pabucketlist.com

Drift off with calm bedtime reading about statistics, designed to ease you into sleep while gently supporting those with insomnia. This calm bedtime reading continues with simple ideas from statistics, offering a peaceful path toward sleep and comfort for restless minds and insomnia as you settle in for the night. In this episode, you'll explore the basics of statistics—patterns, averages, probability, and how we make sense of data—while learning something new as your body and mind relax. Benjamin reads in a steady, reassuring cadence that's intentionally not whispered, just calm, fact-filled education meant to soothe, helping ease stress, quiet anxiety, and make sleeplessness feel less overwhelming. Press play, get comfortable, and allow yourself to drift off naturally. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Statistics, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” Mark 4:21–23What guides your life? What influences your decisions? Many are motivated by worldly desires, such as wealth or status. Others seek fulfillment in fleeting pleasures. Some take their inspiration from cultural icons or those deemed successful by society. But as Christians, we are called to draw our inspiration and motivation from one source: the Light of God's Truth.In today's Gospel, the lamp symbolizes Christ Himself, Who illuminates our minds and guides our decisions, just as a lamp lights up a dark room. A lamp cannot fulfill its purpose if it is hidden under a bushel basket or bed. Similarly, Christ must enlighten every aspect of our lives and shine forth in our words, deeds, and witness to others.If the lamp symbolizes Christ, Who is divine Truth, then the lampstand represents the means by which we elevate and share that Truth. Though God, His grace, and the Truth of the Gospel are the light, that light comes to us in various ways. Our first goal as Christians is to make sure that God's Light is the center of our lives. This means that when questions arise in our lives, we turn first to the Light as the one and only Source of Truth and guidance. We do this by turning to the Scriptures, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, and the inspiration of other holy people.Just as a lampstand supports and elevates a lamp, it also provides a firm foundation, ensuring the light remains steady and visible even amid the winds of life's challenges. Similarly, prayer, sacraments, and good works help stabilize the Light of Truth in our lives, enabling it to shine brightly and consistently.Once our lives are enlightened and we clearly see the path God has chosen for us, we naturally begin to radiate that light to others. This is the essence of evangelization. By our daily prayer, sacramental life, acts of charity, and courage in witnessing to the Gospel, we become the lampstand that lifts high the Light of Christ. As others encounter that light through our example, they too are invited to draw closer to its Source, allowing the Truth of the Gospel to illuminate their lives.Sometimes we can struggle in our efforts to evangelize. When we encounter others who express no interest in the Gospel, it is tempting to remain silent and cover up the Light of Christ. But that leaves others in darkness. The evil one often deceives us into thinking that we shouldn't act as a lampstand for the Light of Christ if others prefer the darkness. We might fear offending them or sounding “holier than thou!” This is a dangerous trap.Charity demands evangelization. All people need Christ in their lives, even if they do not know it or are hostile to Christ's light. If you struggle being a lampstand for Christ, reflect on Jesus' next words: “For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.” In other words, we all will stand one day before the judgment seat of Christ when every hidden thought and action will come to light, visible to us and all who stand before Christ at the Final Judgment. On that day, will we regret having done everything possible to be a lampstand for Christ's light to others? Certainly not. Instead, we will rejoice in every effort we made, even if our words and actions seemed futile. The light we shine might not immediately brighten someone else's path. Yet, like seeds planted in the soil, it has the potential to grow and bear fruit in God's perfect timing. Reflect today on whether you have allowed fear, complacency, or self-doubt to hide the light of Christ in your life. Consider the people God has placed in your path who need His light but have not yet encountered it through you. Resolve to be a lampstand for Christ, courageously and lovingly lifting His truth high for all to see. Jesus, Light of the World, You came to reveal Yourself as the Truth that sets all people free and the Light Who dispels all darkness. Please shine brightly in my life and be my guide always so that I, in turn, may act as an instrument upon which You rest and shine forth in the lives of others. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

In this episode of the Teach Different podcast, Steve, Jarvis, Bully, and Tr33 engage in a deep discussion about the quote from Romans 12:21, “Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” They explore personal experiences, the nature of good and evil, and the importance of intentions behind actions. The conversation touches on community activism, the role of leadership, and the challenges of modeling positive behavior for the next generation. The participants share their insights on spirituality, personal growth, and the impact of choices in overcoming negativity.  Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Discussion on Romans 12:21 02:25 - Teach Different Developments and Updates 04:52 - Personal Stories and Spiritual Reflections 07:33 - The Impact of Evil and Good in Society 10:02 - Cultural Perspectives on Good and Evil 12:57 - Choosing Your Hard and Life Lessons 15:54 - Role Models and Community Influence 18:47 - Counterclaims and Perspectives on Evil 29:32 - Standing Your Ground with Integrity 31:43 - Choosing Battles Wisely 33:28 - The Complexity of Self-Defense 37:34 - Intentions Behind Actions 39:59 - The Role of Good in Evil Actions 47:47 - The Dilemma of Protecting the Oppressor Image Source: Jim Burklo, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons  

Paloma Valencia is Centro Democrático's pick for Colombia's 2026 presidential race. Let's break down what her stances are, from austerity and security to AI, and how her ideas hold up against Colombia's political and economic reality.Watch the video version here! https://youtu.be/UF-zL8-rgKEReferences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_LSD2vwf24AttributionsPaloma Valencia: Andresx8, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPaloma and Uribe: Andresx8, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsEspriella: Paulaicf, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsRead more at Finance Colombia: https://www.financecolombia.com/Subscribe to Finance Colombia for free: https://www.fcsubscribe.com/More about Loren Moss: https://lorenmoss.com/writeContact us: https://unidodigital.media/contact-unido-digital-llc/Read more at Finance Colombia: https://www.financecolombia.com/ Subscribe to Finance Colombia for free: https://www.fcsubscribe.com/ Read more at Cognitive Business News: https://cognitivebusiness.news/ The place for bilingual talent! https://empleobilingue.com/ More about Loren Moss: https://lorenmoss.com/write Contact us: https://unidodigital.media/contact-unido-digital-llc/

Relax with a calm bedtime reading about electronic dance music, gently guiding you toward sleep and easing insomnia. This calm bedtime reading blends simple, soothing facts to support sleep during insomnia and restless nights, helping your thoughts unwind naturally. Unwind as Benjamin explores the origins, sounds, and cultural impact of electronic dance music in a steady, comforting cadence that allows you to learn while relaxing. There is no whispering here, just peaceful, fact-filled education designed to ease stress, quiet anxiety, and support restful sleep when insomnia makes nights feel long. Press play, get comfortable, and let this gentle exploration carry you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Electronic dance music, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_dance_music), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We open proceedings with an original story by Hayong entitled ‘I Quit my Job to Participate in a Sleeping Experiment': https://www.reddit.com/r/libraryofshadows/comments/5ma2rw/i_quit_my_job_to_participate_in_a_sleeping/Next up we have ‘The Lazarus Experiment' by Richard Saxon, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me exclusively narrate it here for you all. https://www.reddit.com/user/RichardSaxon Today's phenomenal series of tales of terrifying experimental horror continue with ‘The Babydoll Experiment', a phenomenal story by The Z, shared directly with me via my sub-reddit and read here with the author's express permission: https://www.reddit.com/user/-TheZ-/We continue this evening's proceedings with ‘The Polaris Experiment', a wonderful story cowritten by Richard Saxon and Colourblindness, kindly shared with me via NoSleep and narrated here for you all with the author's express permission: https://www.reddit.com/user/RichardSaxon/ https://www.reddit.com/user/Colourblindness/ We round off proceedings with ‘The Human Experiment Chamber', a brilliant original work by Baron Fist, shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read to you all with the author's express permission via the CC-BY-SA license: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:Tiololo https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Human_Experiment_Chamber

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Thanks to Aila, Stella, George, Richard from NC, Emilia, Emerson, and Audie for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Creature Feature: Snipe Eel How removing a dam could save North Carolina’s ‘lasagna lizard' Why Has This North Carolina Town Embraced a Strange Salamander? Scentists search for DNA of an endangered salamander in Mexico City’s canals An X-ray of the slender snipe eel: The head and body of a slender snipe eel. The rest is tail [picture by opencage さん http://ww.opencage.info/pics/ – http://ww.opencage.info/pics/large_17632.asp, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26595467]: The hellbender: A wild axolotl with its natural coloration: A captive bred axolotl exhibiting leucism: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to talk about some amphibians and fish. Thanks to Aila, Stella, George, Richard from NC, Emilia, Emerson, and Audie for their suggestions! We'll start with Audie's suggestion, the sandbar shark. It's an endangered shark that lives in shallow coastal water in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. A big female can grow over 8 feet long, or 2.5 meters, while males are smaller on average. It can be brown or gray in color, and its dorsal fin is especially big for a shark its size. The sandbar shark eats fish, crustaceans like crabs, cephalopods like octopuses, and other small animals. It spends a lot of time near the bottom of the seabed, looking for food, and it will also swim into the mouths of rivers. Since it resembles a bull shark, which can live just fine in rivers for quite a while and which can be dangerous to swimmers, people are sometimes afraid of the sandbar shark, but it hardly ever bites people. It just wants to be left alone to find little fish to eat. Emilia and Emerson both asked to learn more about eels. Eels are fish, but not every animal that's called an eel is actually an eel. Some are just eel-shaped, meaning they're long and slender. Electric eels aren't actually eels, for instance, but are more closely related to catfish. The longest eel ever reliably measured was a slender giant moray. That was in 1927 in Queensland, Australia. The eel measured just shy of 13 feet long, or 3.94 meters. We talked about some giant eels in episode 401, but this week let's talk about a much smaller eel, one that Emerson suggested. That's the snipe eel, the name for a family of eels consisting of nine species known so far. They live in every ocean in the world, and some species are deep-sea animals but most live a little nearer the surface. The largest species can grow an estimated 5 feet long, or 1.5 meters, but because all species of snipe eel are so incredibly thin, even the longest individual weighs less than a football, either American or regular, take your pick. The snipe eel gets its name from its mouth, which is long and slightly resembles the beak of a bird called the snipe. The snipe is a wading bird that pokes its long, flexible bill into mud to find small animals like insect larvae, worms, and snails. But unlike the bird's bill, the snipe eel's jaws have a bend at the tip. The upper jaw bends upward, the lower jaw bends downward so that the tip of the jaws are separated. It doesn't look like that would be very helpful for catching food, but scientists think it helps because the fish's mouth is basically always open. Since it mainly eats tiny crustaceans floating in the water, it doesn't even need to open its mouth to catch food. It has tiny teeth along the jaws that point backwards, so when a crustacean gets caught on the teeth, it can't escape. The slender snipe eel is especially unusual because it can have as many as 750 vertebrae in its backbone. That's more than any other animal known. Most of its length is basically just an incredibly long, thin tail, with its organs bunched up right behind its head. Even its anus is basically on its throat. We don't know a whole lot about the snipe eel, since it lives deep enough that it's hardly ever seen by humans. Most of the specimens discovered have been found in the stomachs of larger fish. Now, let's leave the world of fish behind and look at some amphibians. First, George wanted to learn about the hellbender, and points out that it's also called the snot otter or lasagna lizard. I don't understand the lasagna part but it's funny. The hellbender is a giant salamander that lives in parts of the eastern United States, especially in the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozarks. It can grow nearly 30 inches long, or 74 cm, and is the fifth heaviest amphibian alive today in the whole world. It spends almost all its life in shallow, fast-moving streams hiding among rocks. As water rushes over and around rocks, it absorbs more oxygen, which is good for the hellbender because as an adult it breathes through its skin. To increase its surface area and help it absorb that much more oxygen, its skin is loose and has folds along the sides. The hellbender is flattened in shape and is brown with black speckles on its back. It mostly eats crayfish, but it will also eat frogs and other small animals. Its skin contains light-sensitive cells, which means that it can actually sense how much light is shining on its body even if its head is hidden under a rock, so it can hide better. Aila and Stella suggested we talk about the axolotl, and a few years ago Richard from NC sent me a lot of really good information about this friendly-looking amphibian. I'd been planning to do a deep dive about the axolotl, which we haven't talked about since episode 275, but sometimes having a lot of information leads to overload and I never did get around to sorting through everything Richard sent me. Richard also suggested we talk about a rare mudpuppy, so let's learn about it before we get to the axolotl. It's called the Neuse river waterdog, although Richard refers to it as the North Carolina axolotl because it resembles the axolotl in some ways, although the two species aren't very closely related. The mudpuppy, also called the waterdog, looks a lot like a juvenile hellbender but isn't as big, with the largest measured adult growing just over 17 inches long, or almost 44 cm. It lives in lakes, ponds, and streams and retains its gills throughout its life. The mudpuppy is gray, black, or reddish-brown. It has a lot of tiny teeth where you'd expect to find teeth, and more teeth on the roof of its mouth where you would not typically expect to find teeth. It needs all these teeth because it eats slippery food like small fish, worms, and frogs, along with insects and other small animals. The Neuse River waterdog lives in two watersheds in North Carolina, and nowhere else in the world. It will build a little nest under a rock by using its nose like a shovel, pushing at the sand, gravel, and mud until it has a safe place to rest. If another waterdog approaches its nest, the owner will attack and bite it to drive it away. The mudpuppy exhibits neoteny, a trait it shares with the axolotl. In most salamanders, the egg hatches into a larval salamander that lives in water, which means it has external gills so it can breathe underwater. It grows and ultimately metamorphoses into a juvenile salamander that spends most of its time on land, so it loses its external gills in the metamorphosis. Eventually it takes on its adult coloration and pattern. But neither the mudpuppy nor the axolotl metamorphose. Even when it matures, the adult still looks kind of like a big larva, complete with external gills, and it lives underwater its whole life. The axolotl originally lived in wetlands and lakes in the Mexico Central Valley. This is where Mexico City is and it's been a hub of civilization for thousands of years. A million people lived there in 1521 when the Spanish invaded and destroyed the Aztec Empire with introduced diseases and war. The axolotl was an important food of the Aztecs and the civilizations that preceded them, and if you've only ever seen pictures of axolotls you may wonder why. Salamanders are usually small, but a full-grown axolotl can grow up to 18 inches long, or 45 cm, although most are about half that length. Most wild axolotls are brown, greenish-brown, or gray, often with lighter speckles. They can even change color somewhat to blend in with their surroundings better. Captive-bred axolotls are usually white or pink, or sometimes other colors or patterns. That's because they're bred for the pet trade and for medical research, because not only are they cute and relatively easy to keep in captivity, they have some amazing abilities. Their ability to regenerate lost and injured body parts is remarkable even for amphibians. Researchers study axolotls to learn more about how regeneration works, how genetics of coloration work, and much more. They're so common in laboratory studies that you'd think there's no way they could be endangered—but they are. A lot of the wetlands where the axolotl used to live have been destroyed as Mexico City grows. One of the lakes where it lived has been completely filled in. Its remaining habitat is polluted and contains a lot of introduced species, like carp, that eat young axolotls as well as the same foods that axolotls eat. Conservationists have been working hard to improve the water quality in some areas by filtering out pollutants, and putting up special barriers that keep introduced fish species out. Even if the axolotl's habitat was pristine, though, it wouldn't be easy to repopulate the area right away. Axolotls bred for the pet trade and research aren't genetically suited for life in the wild anymore, since they're all descended from a small number of individuals caught in 1864, so they're all pretty inbred by now. Mexican scientists and conservationists are working with universities and zoos around the world to develop a breeding program for wild-caught axolotls. So far, the offspring of wild-caught axolotls that are raised in as natural a captive environment as possible have done well when introduced into the wild. The hard part is finding wild axolotls, because they're so rare and so hard to spot. Scientists have started testing water for traces of axolotl DNA to help them determine if there are any to find in a particular area. If so, they send volunteers into the water with nets and a lot of patience to find them. The axolotl reproduces quickly and does well in captivity. Hopefully its habitat can be cleaned up soon, which isn't just good for the axolotl, it's good for the people of Mexico City too. You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Read Online“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28–30Consider the sobering reality of suffering the guilt of everlasting sin. Though alarming and unpleasant, understanding this possibility is foundational to a healthy spiritual life. This is best illustrated in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the co-founders of the Jesuits. The Spiritual Exercises are considered one of the most transforming retreat formats ever written. They guide spiritual directors who lead retreatants through a thirty-day retreat, helping them experience profound conversion and make major life decisions. The first week of those exercises contains various meditations on the horror of hell and the seriousness of one mortal sin.Today's Gospel is not only ideal for those beginning a thirty-day retreat, but also for everyone serious about spiritual growth. On our spiritual journey, we often must do that which is initially difficult and unpleasant so as to reap the fruit of that exercise. One such exercise is to meditate on our Lord's words: “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”In commenting on this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (#1864).Traditionally, the sin this Gospel refers to has been called the “Sin Against the Holy Spirit.” Saint Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa Theologica (II-II, Question 14, Articles 1–3), articulates six ways that one can be guilty of this sin:Despair: rejecting God's mercy and refusing to believe one's sins can be forgiven.Presumption: believing one can attain salvation without grace or repentance.Impenitence: a refusal to repent for past sins.Obstinacy: a hardened resolve to remain in sin.Resisting the Known Truth: deliberately rejecting the truths of the faith to justify sin.Envy of Another's Grace: resenting the Holy Spirit's work in others.God alone knows the depths of our human heart and comprehends our guilt or mitigating circumstances.God alone is the perfect Judge. He judges with divine equity, His perfect justice and mercy united as one.Though God's mercy is limitless, this does not mean that everyone goes to Heaven. Recall Jesus' teaching: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13–14).The common thread in the ways Saint Thomas articulates this “everlasting sin” is an obstinate refusal to see our sins in the light of eternal Truth and then to repent and change. When properly understood, attaining Heaven is easy! All we need to do is be honest, turn from sin, and abandon ourselves to our loving God—especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A thorough and honest confession is a sure path through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Reflect today on the serious and consequential demands God places on us. His generosity knows no bounds, but we must receive that generosity on His terms. Ideally, today's Gospel will inspire us with the spiritual gift of Fear of the Lord. The perfection of this gift is not a fear of punishment, but a deep reverence and love for God that moves us to avoid anything that might offend Him. It deepens our relationship with Him and strengthens our resolve to walk the narrow path. If you find yourself obstinate at times, beware of the danger of that interior disposition. Most merciful Lord, please free me from all obstinacy and help me to see my sin as You see it. I repent of my sin and profess my need for Your Divine Mercy. Please open the gate to that Mercy so that I can be with You forever in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:   Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Relax with calm bedtime reading designed to support sleep and ease insomnia through gentle learning. This peaceful bedtime reading helps quiet the mind for sleep while offering comfort during restless nights and insomnia. In this episode, Benjamin softly explores the history, culture, and landscape of Albuquerque, sharing clear facts at an unhurried pace that makes learning feel soothing. You'll discover something new while your body relaxes, your breathing slows, and your thoughts begin to drift. There's no whispering here, just calm, steady narration meant to reduce stress, ease anxiety, and support better sleep for anyone dealing with insomnia or busy thoughts. Settle in, press play, and allow the gentle rhythm of bedtime reading to carry you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Albuquerque, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Drift off with a calm bedtime reading about Shine Muscat grapes, created to support sleep and ease insomnia through gentle learning. This calm bedtime reading blends peaceful facts with a relaxed pace that encourages sleep while comforting listeners through insomnia and restless nights. In this episode, Benjamin softly explores the origins, cultivation, and unique qualities of Shine Muscat grapes, offering something interesting to learn while your body unwinds. His steady, soothing cadence creates a relaxing atmosphere with calm, fact-filled storytelling designed to reduce stress and quiet anxious thoughts. If insomnia, tension, or a busy mind keeps you awake, press play, get comfortable, and let this peaceful bedtime reading guide you gently toward sleep. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Shine Muscat, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shine_Muscat), and Grape, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swarm secrets decoded... Get cozy and relax! This podcast is funded by advertising. Info and offers from our sponsors: https://linktr.ee/PodcastForSleep Here's the Wikipedia article (revised): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_learning_and_communication CC BY-SA 4.0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Does the Bible clearly teach that those who did in their sin are tormented for all eternity in the lake of fire? Or does it suggest that there is an end to God's wrath against sinners? While the church has long held the former position, in late 2025, Kirk Cameron posted a video where he genuinely questions the doctrine of eternal judgment, or, as those who hold to conditional immortality like to call it, eternal conscious torment. This view, often called annihilationism, redefines Biblical death and eternal torment for a period of judgment ending in annihilation. While we will deal with many of the verses that they use in this episode, it is worth first considering how changes to eternal judgment affects all of theology. Those who argue for conditional immortality often act like their view does not impact other doctrines. So here's the question: Are they correct?Thumbnail image by Ivan Vtorov under CC BY-SA 3.0. It shows not hell, but a lava lake in a Hawaiian volcano. Timecodes00:00:00 Why Does it Matter?00:04:49 What Is Death?00:19:12 Changing Terms00:22:26 Eternal Contempt00:28:16 Unpayable Debt00:36:56 Rich Man and Lazarus00:42:36 Destroying Soul and Body00:52:19 The Second Death00:59:13 God Can't Be Like That?01:08:11 Wages of Sin Death01:12:42 Corruption in Hell01:14:09 ConclusionProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

Drift off with calm bedtime reading designed to support sleep and ease insomnia as you gently explore the story of the Esalen Institute. This calm, bedtime reading for sleep offers a peaceful way to learn while soothing a restless mind and easing insomnia symptoms. Benjamin reads with a slow, steady, and reassuring cadence, sharing the history and philosophy of this well-known retreat center in a way that feels comforting and unhurried. There is no whispering or guided techniques here—just calm, fact-filled bedtime reading meant to relax your thoughts while you learn something new. This episode is ideal for winding down after a long day, quieting anxiety, reducing stress, and helping insomnia fade into the background. Settle in, press play, and allow gentle learning to guide you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Esalen Institute, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esalen_Institute), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Thanks to Conner, Tim, Stella, Cillian, Eilee, PJ, and Morris for their suggestions this week! Further reading: Extinct Hippo-Like Creature Discovered Hidden in Museum: ‘Sheer Chance' The golden lion tamarin has very thin fingers and sometimes it’s rude: The golden lion tamarin also has a very long tail: The cotton-top tamarin [picture by Chensiyuan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153317160]: The pangolin is scaly: The pangolin can also be round: The East Siberia lemming [photo by Ansgar Walk – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52651170]: An early painting of a mammoth: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to look at some mammals suggested by Conner, Tim, Stella, Cillian, Eilee, PJ, and Morris. Let's jump right in, because we have a lot of fascinating animals to learn about! We'll start with suggestions by Cillian and Eilee, who both suggested a monkey called the tamarin. Tamarins live in Central and South America and there are around 20 species, all of them quite small. Cillian specifically suggested the golden lion tamarin, an endangered species that lives in a single small part of Brazil. It has beautiful golden or orange fur that's longer around the face, like a lion's mane but extremely stylish. Its face is bare of fur and is gray or grayish-pink in color, with dark eyes and a serious expression like it's not sure where it left its wallet. It grows about 10 inches long, or 26 cm, not counting its extremely long tail. The golden lion tamarin spends most of its time in trees, where it eats fruit, flowers, and other plant material, along with eggs, tree frogs, insects, and other small animals. It has narrow hands and long fingers to help it reach into little tree hollows and crevices where insects are hiding, but if it can't reach an insect that way, it will use a twig or other tool to help. The golden lion tamarin lives in small family groups, usually a mated pair and their young children. A mother golden lion tamarin often has twins, sometimes triplets, and the other members of her family help take care of the babies. Because the golden lion tamarin is endangered, mainly due to habitat loss, zoos throughout the world have helped increase the number of babies born in captivity. When it's safe to release them into the wild, instead of only releasing the young tamarins, the entire family group is released together. Eilee suggested the cotton-top tamarin, which lives in one small part of Colombia. It's about the same size as the golden lion tamarin, but is more lightly built and has a somewhat shorter tail. It's mostly various shades of brown and tan with a dark gray face, but it also has long white hair on its head. Its hair sticks up and makes it look a little bit like those pictures of Einstein, if Einstein was a tiny little monkey. Like the golden lion tamarin, the cotton-top tamarin lives in small groups and eats both plant material and insects. It's also critically endangered due to habitat loss, and it's strictly protected these days. Next, both Tim and Stella suggested we learn about the pangolin. There are eight species known, which live in parts of Africa and Asia. The pangolin is a mammal, but it's covered in scales except for its belly and face. The scales are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up fingernails, hair, hooves, and other hard parts in mammals. When it's threatened, it rolls up into a ball with its tail over its face, and the sharp-edged, overlapping scales protect it from being bitten or clawed. It has a long, thick tail, short, strong legs with claws, a small head, and very small ears. Its muzzle is long with a nose pad at the end, it has a long sticky tongue, and it has no teeth. It's nocturnal and uses its big front claws to dig into termite mounds and ant colonies. It has poor vision but a good sense of smell. Some species of pangolin live in trees and spend the daytime sleeping in a hollow tree. Other species live on the ground and dig deep burrows to sleep in during the day. It's a solitary animal and just about the only time adult pangolins spend time together is when a pair comes together to mate. Sometimes two males fight over a female, and they do so by slapping each other with their big tails. Unfortunately for the pangolin, its scales make it sought after by humans for decoration. People also eat pangolins. Habitat loss is also making it tough for the pangolin. All species of pangolin in Asia are endangered or critically endangered, while all species of pangolins in Africa are vulnerable. Pangolins also don't do well in captivity so it's hard for zoos to help them. Next, Conner wants to learn about the lemming, a rodent that's related to muskrats and voles. Lots of people think they know one thing about the lemming, but that thing isn't true. We'll talk about it in a minute. The lemming grows up to 7 inches long, or 18 cm, and is a little round rodent with small ears, a short tail, short legs, and long fur that's brown and black in color. It eats plant material, and while it lives in really cold parts of the northern hemisphere, including Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland, it doesn't hibernate. It just digs tunnels with cozy nesting burrows to warm up in, and finds food by digging tunnels in the snow. Lemmings reproduce quickly, which is a trait common among rodents, and if the population of lemmings gets too large in one area, some of the lemmings may migrate to find a new place to live. In the olden days people didn't understand lemming migration. Some people believed that lemmings traveled through the air in stormy weather and that's why a bunch of lemmings would suddenly appear out of nowhere sometimes. They'd just drop out of the sky. Other people were convinced that if there were too many lemmings, they'd all jump off a cliff and die on purpose, and that's why sometimes there'd be a lot of lemmings, and then suddenly one day not nearly as many lemmings. Many people still think that lemmings jump off cliffs, but this isn't actually true. They're cute little animals, but they're not dumb. Next, let's learn about two extinct animals, starting with PJ's suggestion, the woolly mammoth. We actually know a lot about the various species of mammoth because we have so many remains. Our own distant ancestors left cave paintings and carvings of mammoths, we have lots of fossilized remains, and we have lots of subfossil remains too. Because the mammoth lived so recently and sometimes in places where the climate hasn't changed all that much in the last 10,000 years, namely very cold parts of the world with deep layers of permafrost beneath the surface, sometimes mammoth remains are found that look extremely fresh. The woolly mammoth was closely related to the modern Asian elephant, but it was much bigger and covered with long fur. A big male woolly mammoth could stand well over 11 feet tall at the shoulder, or 3.5 meters, while females were a little smaller on average. It was well adapted to cold weather and had small ears, a short tail, a thick layer of fat under the skin, and an undercoat of soft, warm hair that was protected by longer guard hairs. It lived in the steppes of northern Europe, Asia, and North America, and like modern elephants it ate plants. It had long, curved tusks that could be over 13 feet long, or 4 meters, in a big male, and one of the things it used it tusks for was to sweep snow away from plants. The woolly mammoth went extinct at the end of the last ice age, around 11,000 years ago, although a small population remained on a remote island until only 4,000 years ago. Our last animal this week is Morris's suggestion, and it's actually not a single type of animal but a whole order. Desmostylians were big aquatic mammals, and the only known order of aquatic mammals that are completely extinct. When you think of aquatic mammals, you might think of whales, seals, and sea cows, or even hippos. Desmostylians didn't look like any of those animals, and they had features not found in any other animal. Desmostylians lived in shallow water off the Pacific coast, and fossils have been found in North America, southern Japan, parts of Russia, and other places. They first appear in the fossil record around 30 million years ago and disappear from the fossil record about 7 million years ago. They were fully aquatic animals that probably mostly ate kelp or sea grass, similar to modern sirenians, which include dugongs and manatees. Let's talk about Paleoparadoxia to find out roughly what Desmostylians looked and acted like. Paleoparadoxia grew about 7 feet long, or 2.15 meters, and had a robust skeleton. It had short legs, although the front legs were longer and its four toes were probably webbed to help it swim. It probably acted a lot like a sirenian, walking along the sea floor to find plants to eat. Its nostrils were on the top of its nose so it could take breaths at the surface more easily, and it had short tusks in its mouth, something like modern hippos. It may have looked a little like a hippo, but also a little like a dugong, and possibly a little like a walrus. One really strange thing about Desmostylians in general are their teeth. No other animals known have teeth like theirs. Their molars and premolars are incredibly tough and are made up of little enamel cylinders. The order's name actually means “bundle of columns,” referring to the teeth, and the bundles point upward so that the tops of the columns make up the tooth's chewing surface. Actually, chewing surface isn't the right term because Desmostylians probably didn't chew their food. Scientists think they pulled plants up by the roots using their teeth and tusks, then used suction to slurp up the plants and swallow them whole. We still don't know very much about Desmostylians. Scientists think they were outcompeted by sirenians, but we don't really know why they went extinct. We don't even know what they were most closely related to. They share some similarities with manatees and elephants, but those similarities may be due to convergent evolution. Then again, they might be related. Until we find more fossils, the mysteries will remain. You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

Some Christians believe that God's words in Genesis 1:3, "Let there be light," . . are a biblical description of the Big Bang that some scientists say created the universe. But perhaps we Christians should be a little more careful about assuming that modern science knows very much about the origin of the universe.Astronomers recently announced that they had discovered the largest structure yet to be found in the universe. They described the structure as a great wall made up of high concentrations of galaxies. Just to get our perspective, the average galaxy contains over 1 billion stars. The great wall contains concentrated "clumps" of galaxies!This discovery delivers two apparently fatal blows to the Big Bang theory. If the universe was the result of the Big Bang, scientists would expect to find stars evenly distributed in space, not "clumped" together and certainly not built into giant structures. Second, the clumps of galaxies they found are very precisely and evenly spaced—not the kind of order that results from an explosion. One of the researchers said, "It is safe to say that we understand less than zero about the early universe."There is another good reason for Christians not to try to find the Big Bang in Genesis. According to the Bible, it is the end of the world and the universe, not its beginning, that could more accurately be described as a "big bang." Christ Himself has completed your preparations for that day. Are you ready?Isaiah 34:4"All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall down as the leaf falls from the vine, and as fruit falling from a fig tree."Prayer: Dear Lord; I cling to Your saving work for my preparation for the end of the world. Be with me now and prepare me to spend eternity with You. Amen.REF.: Galaxy clumps' may shed light on cosmic creation. Minneapolis Star Tribune. Image: Sloan Great Wall, Willem Schaap, CC BY-SA 3.0, WikipediaCommons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Relax with calm bedtime reading designed to support sleep and ease insomnia as you gently explore the story of Cabo San Lucas. This peaceful bedtime reading blends soothing facts with a steady rhythm to help quiet your mind, encourage sleep, and soften restless nights caused by insomnia as you unwind. In this episode, Benjamin calmly guides you through the history, geography, and cultural highlights of Cabo San Lucas within the wider Los Cabos region, offering gentle learning without stimulation. His warm, even cadence is perfect for winding down, with no whispering, just calm educational storytelling meant to relax you naturally. This episode is ideal for easing stress, lowering anxiety, and helping your body and mind settle into sleep. Press play, get comfortable, and let your thoughts drift as learning turns into rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Cabo San Lucas, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_San_Lucas), and Los Cabos Municipality, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Cabos_Municipality), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FFoDpod.com   Patreon   Merchandise   CC-BY-SA  "SCP-668" by DrClef, from the SCP Wiki. Source: https://scpwiki.com/scp-668. Licensed under CC BY-SA.

After 14 years, I felt like it was probably time to do another show on Zinfandel! Known as America's heritage grape, the story of the quest for its European origins is like a mystery novel with an interesting end. It is a great grape and so historic!    Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons   In this show I cover the massive history of the grape and the unbelievable decades-long search for its origins, which were finally discovered after a dogged group of researchers did a painstaking investigation.    I move on to discuss the vineyard and winemaking. Much of the information I got was from one of the kings of Zinfandel in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma, Fred Peterson of Peterson Winery. Fred started his career in wine working under the very famed Paul Draper at Ridge, before starting his own winery. Fred has been making Zinfandel for more than 50 years. His estate vineyard is outside his front door and has Zin in it. He sources from other vineyards, and makes low intervention, excellent Zinfandel in different styles. I share all the wisdom I got from my conversation with him, including the stylistic differences in winemaking and vineyard management and how that shows up in the wine.  Check out Peterson Winery!    After discussing the grape and cellar, I talk about flavors, styles and where the grape is grown. I end with a disucssion of serving temperatures, aging, and food pairing (Zin is so versatile!).   You can call it Zinfandel, Primitivo, Tribidrag, Pribidrag, or Crjenak Kaštelanski, but whatever the name,  I wish more people were into Zinfandel. It's such a storied and truly great grape.    Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today! www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople _______________________________________________________________   Check out my sponsor, Wine Access.  They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year!    To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes    

Relax with calm, bedtime reading that supports sleep and eases insomnia through gentle learning and soothing narration. This peaceful episode offers calm, bedtime reading for sleep, helping quiet insomnia and settle a restless mind as night falls. Tonight, we explore the simple and fascinating world of houseboats, drifting through their history, design, and everyday life on the water in a way that's easy to follow and deeply relaxing. You'll learn something new while listening to Benjamin's steady, reassuring cadence—no whispering—just calm, fact-filled education meant to soften stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness. If insomnia or racing thoughts keep you awake, this gentle reading is here to keep you company until sleep naturally arrives. Press play, get comfortable, and let yourself drift off. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Houseboat, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houseboat), and Boat, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First up is ‘A Cult of Metal', a wonderful story by Kyle Meadows, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and narrated here for you all with the author's express permission under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license:https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/A_Cult_of_Metalhttps://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:Kyle_MeadowsNext up is ‘Ghostwhispers.io' by the wonderfully talented Corpse Child, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me narrate it here for you all:u/Corpse_Child/r/DrCreepensVault/comments/1010ygj/ghostwhispersio_part_one/Today's final tale of terror is ‘Patty's Food Addiction', an original story by Dgrady237, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license.https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:Dgrady237https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Patty%27s_Food_Addiction

Drift off with a calm bedtime reading about birch trees, designed to support sleep and ease insomnia through gentle learning. This peaceful bedtime reading blends calm facts and natural history with a soothing pace that helps quiet the mind for sleep and rest from insomnia, as Benjamin gently explores the world of birch trees—their distinctive bark, habitats, and quiet role in ecosystems—while keeping the tone slow, steady, and comforting. You can relax as you learn something new, guided by a calm, reassuring cadence that never whispers, just simple educational reading meant to soothe. This episode is ideal for listeners dealing with insomnia, stress, anxiety, or restless nights, offering a safe mental focus that encourages relaxation and drowsiness. Settle in, get comfortable, and press play as calm knowledge carries you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Birch, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch) and Birch bark, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch_bark), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to Audie, Katie, Eilee, Emily, Maryjane, and Dylan for their suggestions this week! Sorry this episode is late–the site was down.

Read OnlineJesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13–15John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, entrusted with the mission to immediately prepare the way for the Messiah. Today's feast marks a pivotal transition from the Old Law to the New. Prior to Jesus' baptism, John's mission was in full motion. With Jesus' baptism, the mission of the Old Testament prophets is fulfilled, and the New Law of grace begins.Why did Jesus enter the waters of baptism? He was sinless and had no need of repentance. Yet, in His divine wisdom, Jesus chose to be baptized to sanctify the waters, opening the gateway of grace for all who would follow. By entering the waters of baptism, Jesus set a precedent. Every Christian who enters the waters of baptism meets our Lord there, sharing in His life of grace.As we reflect on Christ's baptism today, we are invited to consider our own. Most of us were baptized as infants and have no memory of the event. Others came to baptism later in life, fully aware of the grace they were receiving. Regardless of when it occurred, baptism's effects are profound and enduring. That singular moment of sanctification forever changed us, and its transformative power remains active within us.Through baptism, Jesus meets us under the waters. When baptism is performed by full immersion, it powerfully symbolizes the reality of this encounter. We enter the waters of repentance, as John offered, but we emerge united with Christ. Just as the Father's voice declared at Jesus' baptism, “You are my beloved Son…,” so too does the Father continually speak to us after our baptism, affirming our identity as His beloved children. The Holy Spirit descends upon us, and we are offered every gift of the Spirit, provided our hearts remain open.Baptism occurs only once in our lives and imprints on our souls an “indelible spiritual mark (character)” (see Catechism of the Catholic Church #1272 and 1274). This mark configures us to Christ and signifies our permanent belonging to Him and His Church. It cannot be lost or removed, even by mortal sin. However, while this character endures forever, the state of sanctifying grace within our souls can be lost through mortal sin. In such cases, the grace of baptism is restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which our souls are once again cleansed and brought back into full communion with God. Marked as members of Christ's Body, we are continually disposed to receive sanctifying grace through the other sacraments, as long as we remain in a state of grace. Baptism accomplishes this disposition, enabling us to participate fully in the life of grace that flows from Christ.As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, reflect today on your own baptism. You are forever marked as a child of God. You encountered our Lord under the waters of baptism, were cleansed of all sin, and were filled with sanctifying grace. Though sin diminishes or even extinguishes that grace when it is mortal, the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores it, and the Eucharist and other sacraments increase it. Always return to your baptismal grace, seeking to live out your identity as God's son or daughter, as this sacred mark intends. My sanctifying Lord, through the waters of baptism, I encountered You and received the abundant grace You bestowed upon me. Please help me to keep my soul free from sin and to live with the true dignity of a child of God. Thank You for meeting me under those waters. May I remain with You, growing ever closer to You by the ongoing gift of all the Sacraments. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Tonight's opening tale of occult insanity is ‘The Chanting in the Woods', by Sargumphigaus, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license.https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:SargumphigausWe follow that with ‘Charles Bonnet Syndrome', by Mr. Stuff, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license.https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Bonnet_SyndromeWe round off this evening's entertainment with ‘The Possession Complex', by Jurodinhero, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license.https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Possession_Complex

Drift off with a calm bedtime reading that gently supports sleep and helps ease insomnia through quiet learning. This calm bedtime reading is designed for sleep, offering a peaceful focus for minds affected by insomnia and restless nights. Tonight, Benjamin explores the baseball term “battery,” explaining the unique relationship between pitcher and catcher in a slow, soothing way that helps you relax while you learn. His steady cadence and fact-filled delivery create a comforting atmosphere with no whispering, just gentle education meant to quiet the mind. This episode is ideal for listeners navigating insomnia, stress, or anxiety who enjoy drifting off while absorbing something interesting. Settle in, press play, and allow the calm rhythm to guide you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Battery (baseball), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_(baseball)), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read with permission from Glossary of baseball terms, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_baseball_terms), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineIt happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Luke 5:12What a perfect prayer! This leper, likely shunned by the townspeople, including his own family, had been reduced to a life of isolation and rejection. Some might have pitied him, but out of fear of contracting his dread disease, they kept their distance. The emotional and social isolation he endured would have been even more painful than the physical suffering caused by leprosy. This miracle takes place shortly after the people in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth rejected Him. The Nazarenes' rejection stemmed from a sense of entitlement; they saw themselves as God's chosen people and thus believed they were entitled to His grace and blessings. When Jesus confronted their false beliefs, they became hostile and even attempted to kill Him. As a result, He left Nazareth and continued His ministry in Capernaum and other towns. Jesus did not perform miracles to impress others or to win their esteem. Instead, He performed miracles for those who already exhibited deep faith. The miracles were not only intended to reveal His identity but were primarily acts of love meant to invite the faithful to believe more deeply. This leper is a perfect example of such faith. First, the man approached Jesus and “fell prostrate” before Him. In doing so, he professed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. This act of faith was enough to open the floodgates of God's blessings. The leper believed and worshiped first, and because of this, God's grace was poured out upon him. Too often, we seek blessings first, as if we are entitled to anything from God. We might say, “Please do me this favor, Lord, and then I will believe.” But that is not how it works. Jesus is God and must be treated as such. Whether we are blessed or not, whether we suffer or not, we must worship God because He is God. This leper understood that. The leper's prayer for healing is also a model of humility and trust. He did not directly ask Jesus to heal him. Instead, he professed his faith in Jesus' ability to heal, saying, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” This expression of faith unlocked the tender compassion of our Lord, who responded, “I do will it. Be made clean.” When you pray, do you tell God what He should do for you? Do you present Him with a list of your ideas and expectations? If so, try setting those aside. Begin your prayer by worshiping God simply because He is God. When it comes to your needs, place them before Him with trust, but avoid telling God what to do. God knows what is best for you. Presenting your needs to Him should not be a plea for Him to fulfill your will; rather, it should be an act of trust, believing that He will do what is best according to His will. We must desire nothing other than that.Reflect today on the example of this leper. Though the disease of leprosy is a dreadful affliction, the leper's model of prayer is truly admirable. Consider whether you follow his example. Love, worship, and profess your faith in God, and then entrust yourself to His providential care, ready to embrace His will no matter what it may be. This form of holy detachment will unleash God's mercy and provide you with what you need most—God's will. My miraculous Lord, too often I come to You with my needs, telling You what I want You to do for me. Please grant me a humble and faith-filled heart like that of the leper. May my first prayer always be one of worship. May my worship lead to trust so that Your will, not mine, may be done in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:  NT140.Jesus Heals Ten Lepers by pcstratman, license CC BY-SA 2.0Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Drift off with calm bedtime reading designed to support sleep and ease insomnia as we explore the surprisingly cozy history of Cheez-It. This peaceful bedtime reading blends gentle facts and simple storytelling to help quiet a restless mind and guide you toward sleep as Benjamin calmly reads about how Cheez-It came to be, how they're made, and why they've remained a familiar comfort food for generations. You'll learn something new while relaxing, letting the steady cadence and unhurried pacing soften stress and anxiety, with no whispering—just calm, fact-filled bedtime reading meant to help with insomnia, sleeplessness, and winding down after a long day. Press play, get comfortable, and allow yourself to drift off naturally. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Cheez-It, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez-It), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read with permission from Hardtack, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardtack), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read with permission from Cracker (food), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_(food)), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read Online“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:50–52When Jesus appeared to the Apostles, walking on the sea, they were filled with fear. His words to them are the same words He speaks to us: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” We need to hear those words more often than we realize. Many things in life can cause us to fear, worry, obsess, fall into depression, or even despair. This is because, like the Apostles, we often fail to fully grasp Who God is. As a result, our hearts remain hardened.A hardened heart is the direct result of not understanding Who God is in our lives. Unless we come to know Him, comprehend His love for us, and place our full trust in Him, our hearts cannot be fully set free. Despite witnessing miracle after miracle, listening to sermon after sermon, and even preaching and performing miracles themselves, the Apostles still did not fully understand and believe. The Gospel tells us that “their hearts were hardened” because “they had not understood the incident of the loaves.”When Jesus said to His Apostles, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He wanted to instill profound faith within them. We must also allow those words to resonate deeply within us. Courage dispels fear. By saying “it is I,” our Lord is revealing, “I AM God!” The Greek phrase ego eimi used here is the same one found in Exodus 3:14 when God reveals His name: “I AM.” Though we might believe this with our minds, we often fail to let God's revelation penetrate our hearts and dispel the fears and doubts we face in life.The symbolism of this Gospel passage is powerful. The sea represents the world, and the waves and the wind symbolize the chaos and turmoil we often encounter within it. The boat is the Church. By walking on the water at night, our Lord reveals His complete mastery over everything in this world. By entering the boat as it was being tossed by the waves and wind, He shows that He is always present within His Church and will bring peace and calm if we let Him. Reflect today on our Lord looking directly at you and saying, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” Give your full attention to Him. No matter what struggles you face, no matter the chaos that seems to surround you, there is nothing beyond God's power. Believe this, do not be afraid, invite Him into your heart, and His peace will abound. My Lord and great I AM, You are God Almighty. You can calm every storm, heal every wound, restore peace, and give courage in the face of turmoil. Help me to hear You say to me, “It is I, do not be afraid!” I pray that I will never doubt You, never waver in my faith, and always place my trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Andrewrabbott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Use the promo code SUPERBAD for 10% off all T-shirts! https://dr-creepens-vault.creator-spring.com/listing/the-devil-is-in-the-detail Tonight's first hellishly terrifying horror story is ‘How to Survive in Hell', a truly horrific tale by Ratrotted, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license:https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/How_to_Survive_in_HellTonight's second terrifying tale of the strange and macabre is ‘Jason's Greatest Hit' by the wonderfully talented Corpse Child, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me narrate it here for you all:u/Corpse_Child/r/DrCreepensVault/comments/wfo7pd/jasons_greatest_hit/Our final terrifying tale of the strange and macabre is both parts of ‘Night of the knuckle biters' by the wonderfully talented Corpse Child, kindly shared directly with me for the express purpose of having me narrate it here for you all:u/Corpse_Child/r/DrCreepensVault/comments/xyjbzz/night_of_the_knucklebiters_halloween_special/

Unwind with calm bedtime reading created to support sleep and ease insomnia as we explore the sombrero together. This calm bedtime reading offers a gentle, steady rhythm that helps quiet racing thoughts, inviting sleep while providing comfort for insomnia and restless nights as Benjamin takes a peaceful, educational look at the sombrero, sharing its history, meaning, and cultural significance in a soothing, unhurried way. You'll learn something new while relaxing, guided by a warm cadence with no whispering, just calm, fact-filled education designed to ease stress, soften anxiety, and help you drift off naturally at the end of the day. Settle in, press play, and let gentle curiosity guide you toward rest. Happy sleeping! Read with permission from Sombrero, Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sombrero), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineBy now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Mark 6:35–36It is wise to be practical, realistic, and pragmatic. But when it comes to Christ and our call to participate in His divine mission, pragmatism can sometimes be a hindrance. Today's Gospel illustrates this truth powerfully.The passage begins by showing the compassionate heart of Christ, who looked out upon the vast crowds of spiritually hungry people who were “like sheep without a shepherd.” Without a shepherd, sheep wander aimlessly, often missing the greenest pastures. Moved with compassion, Jesus feeds His flock by teaching them “many things.”Then came a test—not so much for the crowd, but for Jesus' Apostles whom He was training to continue His mission. Though the Apostles eventually shared in Jesus' mission as the first bishops of the Church, we are all called to participate in His mission in our unique ways. Therefore, the test Jesus gave to His Apostles is just as relevant to us today.When the Apostles suggested dismissing the crowd to find food, Jesus surprised them with a challenging command: “Give them some food yourselves.” This was the test. Jesus knew full well that they lacked the resources to feed thousands, but He posed the challenge to draw out their faith. Rather than acting themselves or turning to Him in confident trust, they responded with human logic and doubt. It was only when they presented their meager resources—five loaves and two fish—that Jesus performed the miracle, showing them that divine power begins where human resources end. This moment taught the Apostles that their role in Christ's mission would not depend on their sufficiency, but on their obedience, trust, and cooperation with His grace.Consider how this test applies to your life. First, reflect on the crowd. Do you know people who are “like sheep without a shepherd?” Who are the wandering, the searching, and the hungry? Some are physically hungry—the poor and destitute. Others might be materially well-off but are spiritually starving. The first step in our “test” is to recognize those in need, whether physical or spiritual.Once we perceive the needs of others, we must consider how our Lord wants to use us to meet those needs. This is where practicality or pragmatism must be harmonized with supernatural prudence. It's easy to look at another's needs and think, “There is little I can do.” Indeed, by ourselves, we are powerless to provide what others truly need. But when we offer the little we have to Christ, trusting in His supernatural power, our small offering is divinely transformed into a source of abundant blessings. Our “five loaves and two fish” represent our willingness to give what we have, knowing that, with God's grace, it can feed the multitudes.Reflect today on this Gospel passage as if you were standing with the Twelve Apostles. Consider those God has placed in your life who are hungry and wandering. As you identify them, offer to God everything you have and all that you are, trusting that He desires to work through you. With deep faith, you will be amazed at what God can accomplish through your humble offering.My providential Lord, Your compassion is unfathomable, and Your grace is all-powerful. Give me a heart like Yours so that I may see those whom You want to love through me. Grant me courage and faith so that I may offer my life to You—everything that I am and have—so that You can bring superabundant blessings through me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: NT084.Jesus Feeds 5000 by pcstratman, license CC BY-SA 2.0Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Today's episode dives into a hotly debated topic in physician employment: 1099 work. We're joined by Tod Stillson, who brings an enthusiastic case for why independent contracting and self employment can open doors and empower doctors in ways traditional employment often doesn't. Dr. Dahle offers a thoughtful counterpoint, questioning just how impactful 1099 status really is for most physicians. It's a friendly, engaging conversation with plenty of respectful debate, and we think listeners on both sides of the issue will find something to appreciate—and maybe even reconsider. Tod's additional resources: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/the-case-for-self-employment-with-dr-tod-stillson-452  This podcast is sponsored by Bob Bhayani at Protuity. He is an independent provider of disability insurance planning solutions to the medical community in every state and a long-time white coat investor sponsor. He specializes in working with residents and fellows early in their careers to set up sound financial and insurance strategies. If you need to review your disability insurance coverage or to get this critical insurance in place, contact Bob at https://whitecoatinvestor.com/protuity today by email info@protuity.com or by calling (973) 771-9100. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors, dentists, and other high-income professionals with their money since 2011. Our free personal finance resource covers an array of topics including how to use your retirement accounts, getting a doctor mortgage loan, how to manage your student loans, buying physician disability and malpractice insurance, asset allocation & asset location, how to invest in real estate, and so much more. We will help you learn how to manage your finances like a pro so you can stop worrying about money and start living your best life. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Dave Ramsey Image By Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132532176  Find 1000's of written articles on the blog: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  Our YouTube channel if you prefer watching videos to learn: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice for all your student loan needs: https://studentloanadvice.com  Join the community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Join the community on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Learn faster with our Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Sign up for our Newsletter here: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter  00:00 WCI Podcast #452 05:54 Dr. Tod Stillson Interview 07:27 The Case for Self-Employment 01:09:32 Follow-Up Information from Dr. Tod Stillson 01:17:21 Refinancing Student Loans on 1099