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Today's Scripture passages are 1 Chronicles 3:17-18 | Ezra 2 | Psalm 126 | Proverbs 18 | Acts 28.Read by Christina Edmondson.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Welcome to the Daily Disciple Podcast. As daily disciples, we seek to adore and follow Jesus, our teacher, into the abundant life that he offers. Because we find Jesus irresistible, fascinating, and incredibly practical, we want to be students of his scripture. Today's episode is found in 2 Chronicles "The Leperous King"
We trace David's campaigns in 1 Chronicles 18–20 and show how every victory points beyond tactics to trust. Strategy matters, but the source of real triumph is God's purpose and power, culminating in a hope that points from David to Jesus.• focus on Judah's history through David's reign• key wars against Philistines, Moabites, Arameans and Ammonites• Joab's two-front strategy and disciplined courage• dedication of tribute and plunder to the Lord• siege of Rabbah and the weight of kingship• giants defeated and fear dismantled• theological theme that God gives the victory• call to fight God's battles, not personal vendettas• practical steps to fight well with Scripture and integrity• David as a shadow of Christ's greater kingdomSend Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.
Today's Scripture passages are Psalm 74 | 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 | Ezra 1 | Daniel 9 | Acts 27:13-44.Read by Ekemini Uwan. Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Tonights mission is to stop the meteors from hitting the Earth. But Nox stands in Seven's way, and things get dicey when Nox brings out his own Driver and Capsem. Will Zeztz be able to handle whatever Nox Knight throws at him and save the Dreamer from the meteorites?Twitter: @comicrundownInstagram: @comicbookrundownThreads: @comicbookrundownEmail: comicbookrundown@gmail.comHosted by Joe JaneroEdited by Joe JaneroOpen music from TokuSFXFind our t-shirts at TeePublic http://tee.pub/lic/vBbIJZ4eLQ0
This episode we look at many of the natural events and talk about those observing and writing things down, and why they may have wanted to do so. For more, check out our podcast blogpage: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-139 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is episode 139: Observing the "Natural" World. Members of the Onmyou-ryou, dressed in the official robes of their office, sat around in their observation tower, measuring the location of the stars. They kept their light to a minimum, just enough so that they could write down their observations, but not so much that it would destroy their vision. As they looked up, suddenly they saw a strange movement: a streak through the sky. They waited, and observed, and then there was another, and another after that. It was as if the stars themselves were falling from the heavens. They watched as it seemed that the constellations themselves were melting and falling apart. Quickly they scribbled down notes. Tomorrow, with the light of day, they would consult various sources to see just what it could mean. For now, their role was simply to observe and record. Welcome back, everyone. It is the height of holiday season in the US as I record this, and in our narrative we are in the middle of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, who came to power in 672 and who has been shoring up the Ritsuryo state instigated by his late brother, Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou. We have talked in recent episodes about how Ohoama put a lot of the state under the control of members of the royal family, or at least those with claims to royal blood, and how he had also begun work on the Chronicles—the very works that we have been using to try and understand the history of this and earlier periods. It seems clear that Ohoama and his cohorts were doing their best to solidify their control and, in the process, create what they felt was a modern state, leveraging the continental model, but not without their own local flavor. After all, they were also investing in the kami based rituals of state and specifically in Ise shrine, which they claimed as an ancestral shrine for their lineage. This episode, let's dig into another thing that was getting reported around this time. And that is… science! Or at least observations of the world and indications of how people were interacting with it. Before going into the subject, I want to acknowledge that "science", or "Kagaku" in modern Japanese, may not look like what we think of as "science" today. The word "Kagaku" itself appears to come about in the late Edo period, and became associated with the western idea of "Science" in the Meiji period. Today we think of it as observations, yes, but also testing via the scientific method. I think it might be more appropriate to categorize a lot of earlier science under a term like "learning" or "study", and it seems to have encompassed a wide range of topics of study, some of which we would include as "science" and some which we might refer to more as "arts". There is also a very fine line with religion and philosophy as well. From a modern perspective, I think one could fairly argue that "science"—particularly the so-called "hard" sciences—refers to something that can be empirically tested via the scientific method. So you can see something, form a hypothesis, create a test, and then that test should produce the same results no matter who conducts it, assuming you account for the variables. And please don't @ me about this… I know I am simplifying things. This isn't a podcast about science unless we are talking about the social sciences of history and archaeology. In contrast to our modern concept of science, much of what we see in the Asuka era is built around using our reasoning to arrive at the truth of something. In cases where we are dealing with clearly physical phenomena that have observable causes and effects, this can lead to remarkably reliable results. One example of this is calendrical science—it isn't that hard to observe the passing of days and seasons. Even the rotation of the earth and the movements of stars and even something with as large a period as comets could be observed and tracked, especially if you had centuries of data to comb through. In fact, they often would predict things that it turns out they couldn't, themselves, see. They could predict that an eclipse would occur, for example, even when that eclipse was only visible somewhere else. And they didn't have to calculate gravitational pull, mass, or distances between different heavenly bodies for that to occur. Similarly, in the agricultural sphere: you had so many people who observed the seasons and would figure out new ways of doing things. It doesn't take an understanding of chlorophyl to know that plants generally do better when exposed to sunlight. I believe the leap happens when you get to things that go beyond purely observable means. Sickness, for example—how do you explain viruses or germs without equipment like microscopes to see what our eyes alone cannot? And if such "invisible" things could cause so much damage, then why could there not be other "invisible" elements, such as kami and boddhisatvas? And as humans we are driven to make connections. It is one of the things that has driven our technological innovation and rise, but it is also something that can easily go awry. Like when you are sitting in a dark house, alone, and you hear a noise. Rationally, you might know that houses settle and creak, but that doesn't necessarily stop your brain from connecting it with thoughts that someone must be in the house making that noise. Or even how we make judgments based on nothing more than how someone talks or what they look like, because our brains have made connections with those things, for good or ill. A large part of the rationalization that was accomplished in Asian thought had to do with concepts of Yin and Yang, the negative and the positive, the dark and the light. This was thought of as a kind of energy—qi or ki—that was embedded in things. We discussed this somewhat back in episode 127, because yin yang theory, along with the five element theory, known as Wuxing or Gogyou in Japanese, became embedded in the idea of the calendar. Why was summer hot, except that it was connected with an excess of fire energy? And the cold, dark days of winter would be associated with an excess of water, naturally. I should note that while this is one of the more comprehensive philosophical systems in use, it was not the only means by which various phenomena and effects were rationalized. After all, it had to be imposed on a framework of how the world otherwise worked, and descriptions of the world came from a variety of places. There was, for example, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, or Sanhaijing, which detailed the world as envisioned in the period before the Qin dynasty, although there were occasional updates. The Sanhaijing described regular plants and animals in the same breath as gods and monsters. There were also various buddhist sutras, which brought their own cosmological view of the universe that had to be squared with other visions, including those passed down locally describing the archipelago as the "Reed Plain" and giving particular importance to eight of the islands—though which eight depends on which variant of the creation myth you are referencing. To categorize the study of the natural—and what we would consider the supernatural—world around them, the Ritsuryou set up specific bureaus. One of these was the Onmyou-ryou, the Bureau of Yin-yang, also known as the Onyo no Tsukasa. This Bureau oversaw divination, astronomy, time, and calendars. At its head was the Onmyou-no-kami. Below them were the various scholars studying the core subjects, as well as technical practitioners to carry out the rites and divination. On the continent, priority was generally given to astronomical and calendrical studies, and many of the more magical practices or rituals would fade away, likely because there were local Taoist institutions who could take up much of that work. In Japan, however, it seems that the calendrical studies tended to ossify, instead, while onmyoji came to fill a role not just for the state but also among the population for divination and other such practices. Even into the Edo period one could find private onmyoji, and the Bureau itself lasted until the very beginning of the Meiji period. Another important institution of the Ritsuryo government for learning was the Daigakuryou, the Bureau of Great Learning. Students of Japanese may recognize the term "Daigaku" referring, today, to universities. The original concept for the Daigaku-ryou, or Daigaku no Tsukasa, was focused on the study of those things that were considered perhaps a bit more practical and necessary to anyone who might want a political career. Since this was founded on concepts of Confucian government, it is little wonder that it was originally designed to focus on Confucian studies, among other things. This fits into the idea of a supposed meritocracy, where one's education was part of the examination. You may recall from Episode 115 we talked about the National University in Chang'an, which is likely something that the Daigaku Ryou could only ever dream of becoming. Early arts taught at the Daigaku Ryou included the Confucian classics, mathematics, writing, and Chinese pronunciation. These were all things that you would need to know to become a part of the bureaucracy The idea of a school may have been born along with the early institution of the government, with mention as early as 671, in the last year of Naka no Oe's reign, but we don't have it clearly established in the code until later. Full operations may have been somewhat delayed due to the tumultuous events of Ohoama's accession to power in 672, but we do see it explicitly mentioned in the year 675. On the first day of the year we are told that Students from the Daigaku Ryou, along with students from the Onmyou-Ryou and from the Gaiyaku Ryou, the Bureau of External Medicine; along with the Woman of S'ravasti, the Woman of Tara, Prince Syeonkwang of Baekje, and Silla labourers offered presents of drugs and various rarities. We talked about the first two, the Daigaku-ryou and the Onmyou-ryou, but the Gaiyaku Ryou doesn't seem to have a lot of information out there beyond this mention. Later there would a "Ten'yaku Ryou", or Bureau of Medicine, established in the code. Since we don't have any extant codes from this period beyond what was written down in the Nihon Shoki, we don't know for certain what the Gaiyaku-ryou was , and it is possible that the Gaiyaku-Ryou was a precursor to the Ten'yaku Ryou. "GAI" means "outside" or "external", leading me to wonder if this referred to external medicine in contrast to internal medicine, or if it meant medicine or drugs from outside teh archipeloago. I would point out that these students are found with the Woman of S'ravasti, or Shae; the Woman of Tara; a Baekje prince and Silla labourers. In other words, they were all people from outside of the archipelago. This is not entirely surprising as it was from outside that much of the learning was coming into the country. "Yaku" or "Kusuri", which can be translated as either "Drugs" or "medicine", could refer to a number of things. How effective they were is somewhat questionable. Almost certainly some of them had confirmed medicinal efficacy, but others may have been thought to have been effective due to things like their connection to the five elements, or wuxing, theory. For example, something red might be assumed to have a warming effect because of the presumed presence of the fire element. And the power of the placebo effect no doubt made them seem at least partially effective. Consider, for example, how many people will swear by certain remedies for the common cold when all it really does is distract you, or perhaps make you a bit more comfortable, until the symptoms pass on their own. A more certain science was probably that of Astronomy, which we've mentioned a few times. The passage of the stars through the sky was something that could be easily observed. There is a theory that some of the first lines in the Yijing, or book of changes, may actually be a description of the changing of seasons as different aspects of a given constellation rise over the horizon, and the placement of certain stars would help in the adjustment of the lunar calendar, since the moon's orbit does not match up exactly with the solar year, and year the solar year was quite important to things like agriculture and even sailing to the mainland. This all makes 675 a seemingly banner year for science, as four days after the presentation of medicine to the throne, the government erected a platform by which to observe the stars. This wouldn't need to be much—it could have been an earthen mound, or just a tower, from which one could get above the ground, presumably see over any buildings, to the horizon. Granted, Asuka might not be the best place for such observations, with the nearby mountains meaning that the true horizon is often obstructed. Nonetheless, it may have been enough to make calculations. Astronomy platforms, or Tenmondai, would continue to be used up until at least the Meiji period. Without a telescope, observations were somewhat limited—though they also didn't have the same level of light pollution that we have today. Remember, many woke just before dawn and went to sleep not too long after the sun went down, which only makes sense when you are living in a place where creating light, while doable, also ran the risk of burning your entire house to the ground. It is worth noting that the sky for the ancient Japanese was likely quite different than what most of us see when we look up, unless you are fortunate enough to live in a place with very little light pollution. For many of those living today in the cities and suburban landscape, go outside at night and you might see the moon and some of the brightest stars, but for most of the ancient Japanese, they would look up and see the heavenly river, the Amakawa, or Milky Way. They would have looked up at a sky glittering with myriad dots of light, as well as planets and more. It was both familiar and strange—something one saw regularly and yet something that was also extremely inaccessible. Astronomical observations would have been important for several reasons, as I've mentioned. They would have been used to keep the calendar in check, but they would also have likely been used to help calibrate the water clock, which helped to tell time. Of course, going back to the five elements and yin yang theory, it is also believed that the energy, the qi or ki, changed with the seasons and the movements of the stars and planets—planets were not known as such, of course, but their seemingly erratic movements compared to bright lights in the sky meant they were noticed and assigned values within the elemental system. One of the things that came with the changing seasons, the heavenly movements, and the flow of ki was a concept of "kata-imi", literally directional taboos. There were times when certain directions might be considered favorable or unfavorable for various actions. This could be something as simple as traveling in a given direction. In the centuries to come this would spawn an entire practice of kata-tagae, or changing direction. Is the north blocked, but you need to travel there, anyway? Well just go northwest to say hello to a friend or visit your local sake brewery, and then travel due east. Ta-da! You avoided going directly north! There were also mantra-like incantations that one might say if they had to travel in an inauspicious direction to counteract the concept of bad influences. This also influenced various other things, and even today you will often see dates where a year and month might be followed by simply the character for "auspicious day" rather than an actual day of the month. So observing the heavens was important, and it was also important that they tostudy the works of those on the continent, whose records could help predict various astronomical phenomena. Except that there was one tiny problem: I don't know if you've noticed, but Japan and China are in two different locations. Not all astronomical phenomena can be observed from all points of the globe. The Northern Lights, for example, are rarely seen in more southerly latitudes, and while eclipses are not too rare, a total eclipse only impacts certain areas of the earth, along relatively narrow paths. I mention this because it isn't always clear if the records we get in the Nihon Shoki are about phenomena they directly observed or if they are taking reports from elsewhere and incorporating them into the narrative. One such event is the comet of 676. The entry in the Nihon Shoki tells us that in the 7th lunar month of the 5th year of Temmu Tennou, aka 676 CE, a star appeared in the east that was 7 or 8 shaku in length. It disappeared two months later. We've mentioned some of this before, but the sky was divided up into "shaku", or "feet", though how exactly it was measured I'm not entirely sure. It appears to be that one foot was roughly 1.5 degrees of the sky, give or take about a quarter of a degree, with 180 degrees from horizon to horizon. So it would have been about 10 to 12 degrees in the sky. Another way to picture it is if you hold out your arm towards the object, and spread your index and little finger, it would probably fit between those two points. This comet hung around for some time, and a great part about a comet like this is that it was viewable from multiple locations. After all, as the earth turned, different areas were exposed to the comet as it passed through our part of the solar system. Thus we have records of it from not just the Nihon Shoki: We also find it in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, where it was thought to have foretold the end of Bishop Wilfred's control of Northumbria. We also see it in Tang, Silla, and Syrian sources. These sources aren't always in complete agreement. For one thing, they noted when they first saw it, which might have been impacted by local conditions. And then conversion between lunar and solar calendars can also sometimes get in the way. Roughtly speaking, we have the Nihon Shoki providing dates of somewhere from about August or September of 676, on the Western calendar, to October or November. Tang sources put it from 4 September to 1 November. Silla Chronicles claim that it first appeared in the 7th lunar month, so between August and September. A Syrian Chronicle notes a comet from about 28 August to 26 October in the following year, 677, but this is thought to have been a mistake. European sources generally seem to claim it was seen in August and lasted for three months. All of these sightings put it at roughly the same time. Working with that and with known comets, we think we actually know which comet this is: The Comet de Cheseaux also known as the Comet Klinkenberg-Cheseaux. And I should mention this is all thanks to a research paper by M. Meyer and G. W. Kronk. In that paper they propose that this is the comet with the designation of C/1743 X1, or the common names I just mentioned. If so, based on its trajectory, this comet would have been visible in 336, 676, 1032, 1402, 1744, and is next predicted to show up in 2097. And no, those aren't all exactly the same amount of time. It is roughly every 350 years or so, but with the movements of the solar system, the planets, and various gravitational forces that likely slow or speed up its movement, it doesn't show up on exactly regular intervals. Still, it is pretty incredible to think that we have a record of a comet that was seen the world over at this time, by people looking up from some very different places. Comets were something interesting for early astronomers. They may have originally been seen as particularly ominous—after all, in the early eras, they were hardly predictable, and it would take years to get enough data to see that they were actually a somewhat regular occurrence. In fact, it is likely that early astronomers were able to figure out eclipse schedules before comets. Still, they seem to have come to the realization that comets were in fact another type of natural and reoccurring phenomenon. That isn't to say that they didn't have any oracular meaning, but it did mean they were less of an obvious disturbance of the heavenly order. We have another comet mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 681, but that one seems to have had less attention focused on it, and we don't have the same details. Then in the 8th lunar month of 682 we have an entry about a Great Star passing from East to West—which was probably a shooting star, rather than a comet. Comets, for all that they appear to be streaking across the sky thanks to their long tails, are often relatively stable from an earthbound perspective, taking months to appear and then disappear again. Then, on the 23rd day of the 7th month of 684 we get another comet in the northwest. This one was more than 10 shaku in length—about 15 degrees, total, give or take. Given the date, we can be fairly confident about this one, as well: it was the famous Halley's comet. Halley's comet is fascinating for several reasons. For one, it has a relatively short period of about 72 to 80 years, though mostly closer to 75 to 77 years in between sightings. The last time it visited the earth was in 1986, and it is expected back in 2061. Halley's comet has been recorded since the 3rd century BCE, and, likely because of its short period, it was the first periodic comet to be recognized as such. There are other periodic comets with short periods, but many of them are not visible with the naked eye. Halley's comet is perhaps the most studied comet, given its regular and relatively short periodicity. It is also connected to the famous writer, humorist, and essayist, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain. He was born only a few days after the comet reached perihelion in 1835 and died a day after it reached the same point again in 1910, and while he may not have visited Japan in his lifetime, it was a period of great change both in his home country of America and in Japan. America, of course, would undergo a Civil War over the issue of slavery in the early 1860s, and shortly after that Japan would have its own civil war in the form of the Meiji Revolution. And while he never visited—and translation could only do so much to capture the art of his prose—Mark Twain's works were apparently quite influential in Japan in the early 20th century. Of course, comets were just one of the celestial phenomena to be observed. The astronomers were interested in just about anything happening in the sky. We have accounts of both solar and lunar eclipses, and not necessarily full eclipses either. We even have notice of the movement of some planets, such as in 681, when they noted that the planet mars "entered" the moon. Obviously the astronomers weren't recording every raincloud that came through—at least not in the main chronicles—but they did capture a fair number of events. They did record particularly memorable storms. For instances, in the 8th lunar month of 675 there was a storm that is said to have caused sand to fly and which then damaged houses. This sounds like a wind storm without rain—after all, if there was rain, you would expect that the sand would have been wet and tamped down. It is possible to have hurricane level winds without the rain. While typhoons typically bring rain, especially as they usually build up their strength at sea, it is possible to have the winds alone, as I've experienced, myself, in Tokyo. This most likely happens in an isolated area—there is water and rain somewhere, but the typhoon can be large, so parts of it may only get the wind and little or no rain. I wonder if something like that happened in this instance. It is also possible that this record refers to actual sand being brought across from the continent. In some instances, sand can be lifted up from as far away as Mongolia and carried all the way to Japan, though it is pretty rare. And it wasn't just wind and sand. We get accounts of hail coming down as large as peaches, torrential rainstorms, and even ash, likely from a volcanic eruption that was otherwise unrecorded. There are also accounts of snow, though typically recorded in times where you wouldn't expect to see it, such as the third lunar month, which would mean snow in late April or early May. Mostly these storms are mentioned in terms of how they affected the immediate fortunes of the living, but sometimes storms did even more damage. In 682, for example, a hoar-frost was reported in both Shinano and Kibi in the 7th lunar month. On its own, this probably wouldn't have been worth mentioning, but the chroniclers add that because of storms the "five grains had not formed". So storms had diminished the crops and the hoar-frost was apparently the killing blow. The harvest that year would be lean, and it would not be a happy time for many that winter. And then, just as important as what was happening was what was not. There are several mentions of droughts, particularly towards the end of Spring, early Summer. This is traditionally a drier period, and if it is too dry it could harm the harvest. And so the government was expected to find a way to bring the rain—a tall order, the general resolution to which seems to be prayers and rituals designed to bring rain. In a place like Japan, I suspect that it was usually just a matter of time before the prayers were "successful", thus reinforcing their presumed efficacy. Some of the things that they recorded were a bit more mysterious. For example, in the second lunar month of 680 we are told that a sound like drums was heard from the East. There are many things this could theoretically be, from rumbles of thunder to some other phenomenon, though the following year we have a note about thunder in the West, so theoretically they knew the difference between thunder and drums. Later that same year, 680, we are told that there was a "brightness" in the East from the hour of the dog to the hour of the rat—about 8pm to midnight. Was this some kind of aurora? But wouldn't that have been in the north, rather than the east? Could it have been some kind of lightning? But that is a long time for a lightning storm to hang around. And there are other strange things, some of which seem impossible and we have to doubt. For example, in 684 they said that, at dusk, the seven stars of the Big Dipper drifted together to the northeast and sank. Unless they are just recording the natural setting of the stars of the big dipper. Certainly, over time the constellation appears to rotate around the north star, and it dips down to or below the horizon in the autumn months. So were they just talking about the natural, yearly setting of the stars, or something else? There may be some clues in that the 11th lunar month, when that was recorded, we see several other heavenly phenomena recorded. Two days after the Big Dipper set, at sunset, a star fell in the eastern quarter of the sky that we are told was as large as a jar. Later, the constellations were wholly disordered and stars fell like rain. That same month, a star shot up in the zenith and proceeded along with the Pleiades until the end of the month. While this sounds like shooting stars and a possible meteor shower, a later commenter suggested that this was all a heavenly omen for the state of the court, showing the "disordered" state of the nobility at this time. Of course, this was also a year and change before the sovereign's eventual passing, so there is also the possibility that the Chroniclers were looking at events later and ascribing meaning and importance after the fact. In another account of something seemingly wonderous: in 682 we are told that something shaped like a Buddhist flag, colored like flame, was seen by all of the provinces and then sank into the Japan sea north of Koshi. A white mist is also said to have risen up from the Eastern mountains. There are various things that could be going on here. It strikes me that the white mist could be a cloud, but could also be something volcanic. And the flame colored prayer flag makes me think about how a high cloud can catch the light of the rising or setting sun. That could look like a flag, and can seem extremely odd depending on the other conditions in the sky. Or maybe it was aliens. Okay, it is unlikely that it was aliens, but I think that these do give an idea of the kinds of records that were being made about the observed phenomena. Obviously the Nihon Shoki is recording those things that were considered particularly significant for whatever reason. This could just be because it was something odd and unexplained, or perhaps it was more well known but rare. It may have even had religious connotations based on some aspect, like evoking the image of Buddhist flags. And it is possible that it was thought to have had significant impact on events—perhaps even an impact that isn't clear to us today, many centuries removed from the events. Some things were clear, however. Lightning strikes are often mentioned specifically when they strike something of note. In 678, we are told that a pillar of the Western Hall of the New Palace was struck by lightning, though apparently the building itself survived. Then, in 686, Lighting appeared in the southern sky with a large roar of thunder. A fire broke out and caught the tax cloth storehouse of the Ministry of Popular affairs, which immediately exploded in flames. After all, a thatched roofed, wooden building filled with kindling in the form of cloth—and likely a fair amount of paper and writing supplies to keep track of it all—sounds like a bonfire waiting to happen. There were reports that the fire had actually started in Prince Osakabe's palace and then spread to the Ministry of Popular Affairs from there. It is also worth noting that recording of such events was still somewhat new to the archipelago as a whole. They were learning from the continent, but also defining their own traditions. Observations of natural phenomena weren't just relegated to celestial occurrences or weather. After all, there was something else that one could observe in the sky: birds. Now this wasn't your average bird-watching—though I'm not saying that there weren't casual birders in ancient Japan, and if we ever find someone's birding diary from that era I think that would be so cool. But there were some things that were significant enough to be mentioned. For example, in 678 we get a report of "atori", or bramblings. Bramblings are small songbirds which are found across Eurasia. Notably they are migratory, and are known to migrate in huge flocks especially in the winter time, and sure enough on the 27th day of the 12th month we are told that the bramblings flew from the southwest to the northeast, covering the entire sky. This makes me think about some of the other mass migrations that used to occur that have largely been reduced significantly due to habitat loss, disruption to traditional migratory routes, and other population pressures on various bird species. Still, having so many birds that it blocked out the sky certainly seems a significant event to report on. We later see a similar account in 680, with the flock moving from southeast to northwest. Given the location of Asuka it sounds like they were flocking in the mountains and heading out over the Nara Basin, perhaps seeking food in another mountainous area. In 682, the birders were at it again. This time, around midday on the 11th day of the 9th lunar month, several hundreds of cranes appeared around the Palace and soared up into the sky. They were there for about two hours before they dispersed. Once again, cranes are migratory and known to flock. Cranes are also known as a symbol of long life and joy—and I can understand it. Have you ever seen a flock of cranes? They are not small birds, and they can be really an incredible sight. Flocks of cranes themselves were probably not that rare, and it was no doubt more about so many gathering around the palace which made it particularly special. It wasn't just birds in the sky that were considered important symbols, though. Birds often are noted as auspicious omens. Usually strange birds, plants, or other such things are found in various provinces and presented to the throne. So in 675, Yamato presented auspicious "barn-door fowl", likely meaning a fancy chicken. Meanwhile, the Eastern provinces presented a white falcon and the province of Afumi presented a white kite. Chickens are associated with the sun and thus with the sun goddess, Amaterasu, and albino versions of animals were always considered auspicious, often being mentioned in Buddhist sources. Later, in 680, we see a small songbird, a "Shitodo", also described as white, and probably albino, sent to the court from nearby Settsu. Then, in 681 there is mention of a red sparrow. Red coloration is not quite the same as albinism, though it is something that does occur at times, when the brownish coloration comes out more red than brown, and I suspect this is what we are talking about. This is most likely just a recessed gene or genetic mutation, similar to causes for albinism, but just in a different place in the DNA. As for why it was important: I'd first and foremost note that anything out of the ordinary (and even some ordinary things) could be considered a sign. Red was also seen as an auspicious color, so that may have had something to do with it as well. And then there is the concept of Suzaku, the red bird of the south. Suzaku is usually depicted as an exotic bird species of some kind, like how we might depict a phoenix. But it was also just a "red bird", so there is that, and perhaps that was enough. Not that this red sparrow was "Suzaku", but evoked the idea of the southern guardian animal. A year prior, in 680, a red bird—we aren't told what kind—had perched on a southern gate, which even more clearly screams of the Suzaku aesthetic. It is probably worth noting here that in 686, towards the end of the reign, not that anyone knew it at the time, Ohoama decided to institute a new nengo, or regnal period. It was called Shuuchou—red or vermillion bird—and it likely referred to Suzaku. This nengo was cut short, however, with Ohoama's death that same year. Nengo were often chosen with auspicious names as a kind of hope for the nation, so clearly "red bird" was considered a good thing. A month after the red sparrow, Ise sent a white owl, and then a month after that, the province of Suwou sent a red turtle, which they let loose in the pond at the Shima palace. Again, these were probably just examples of animals seen as auspicious, though they would have likely been recorded by the Onmyou-ryou, who would have likely combed through various sources and precedents to determine what kind of meaning might be attached to them. Color wasn't the only thing that was important. In 682, the Viceroy of Tsukushi reported that they had found a sparrow with three legs. There are numerous reasons why this could be, but there is particular significance in Japan and Asia more generally. A three legged bird is often associated with the sun Andusually depicted as a black outline of a three legged bird inside of a red sun. In Japan this was often conflated with the Yata-garasu, the Great Crow, which is said to have led the first mythical sovereign, Iware Biko, to victory in his conquest of Yamato. Thus we often see a three legged crow depicted in the sun, which was an object of particular veneration for the Wa people from centuries before. And I suspect that the little three-legged sparrow from Tsukushi I suspect that this had particular significance because of that image. Animals were not the only auspicious things presented to the throne. In 678, Oshinomi no Miyatsuko no Yoshimaro presented the sovereign with five auspicious stalks of rice. Each stalk, itself, had other branches. Rice, of course, was extremely important in Japan, both from a ritual and economic sense, so presenting rice seems appropriate. Five stalks recalls things like the five elemental theory—and in general five was consider a good number. Three and five are both good, prime numbers, while four, pronounced "Shi", sounds like death and is considered inauspicious. Three, or "San" is sometimes associated with life, and five is associated with the five elements, but also just the fact that it is half of ten, and we have five fingers on one hand and in so many other ways, five is regarded as a good number in much of Asia. That the stalks had multiple branches likely referred to them bearing more than the usual amount of rice on them, which seems particularly hopeful. Certainly the court thought so. In light of the auspicious gift, all sentences of penal servitude and lower were remitted. In 680, Officials of the Department of Law gave tribute of auspicious stalks of grain, themselves. I'm not sure, in this case, that it was all that they hoped, however, as that began three days straight of rain and flooding. A year earlier, in 679, we are told that the district of Ito, in Kii, immediately south of Yamato, sent as tribute the "herb of long life". We are told that it "resembled" a mushroom—probably meaning it was a mushroom, or maybe something formed into a mushroom shape. But the stem was about a foot long and the crown was two spans, about 6 feet in diameter. This is pretty incredible, and I have to wonder if there is a bit of exaggeration going on here. Another tribute was a horn found on Mt. Katsuraki. It branched into two at the base, was united at the end, and had some flesh and hair still attached, about an inch in length. They claimed it must be horn or a Lin, or Kirin, sometimes referred to as an Asian unicorn—a mythical creature considered to be quite auspicious and benevolent. This was on the 26th day in the 2nd lunar month of the year 680, probably around March or April. I highly suspect that what they found was an oddly shaped bit of antler from a buck whose antlers had begun to come in and which might have been taken out by wolves or bears or something else altogether. The fact that the ends were said to be fused together could just be referring to some kind of malformation of the antlers. The fur and flesh could mean that the antlers were still growing—antlers would probably just be coming in around early spring time. Still, there is no telling how long it was there, so it could have been from the previous year as well. Attributing it to a kirin seems a bit of a stretch, but it was clearly something unusual. Animals and plants were recorded in tribute, but also when something odd happened. Fruiting out of season was one such occurrence, which we've seen elsewhere in the chronicles as well. There was even a record when the famous Tsuki tree outside of Asukadera had a branch fall down. Presumably it was a large and noticeable branch, and by now this appears to have been a tree with a bit of age to it that had seen a lot, so it makes sense it got a mention. Finally, we go from the heavens to the earth. Perhaps the most numerous observations in the Chronicles were the earthquakes. We've noted in the past that Japan is extremely active, volcanically speaking, so it makes sense that there are multiple accounts of earthquakes each year, especially if they were compiling reports from around the country. Most of these are little more than just a note that there was an earthquake, but a few stand out. The first is the 12th lunar month of 678. We are told that there was a large earthquake in Tsukushi—modern Kyushu. The ground split open to the width of about 20 feet for more than 30,000 feet. Many of the commoners' houses in the area were torn down. In one place there was a house atop a hill, and though the hill crumbled down the house somehow remained intact. The inhabitants had apparently been home and must have been oblivious, as they didn't realize anything had happened until they woke up the next morning. Again, probably a bit of hyperbole in here, but if we think back to things like the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, where large areas of land shifted noticeably along the fault lines, it is likely that this was a similar or even more catastrophic event. And here I'll give a quick plug for Kumamoto, which is still working to rebuild from the earthquake, and if you ever get a chance, I recommend a visit to the Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum or Kioku, where you can see for yourself just how powerful mother nature can be. Another powerful earthquake was mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 684. If the earthquake in Tsukushi had hit mostly agricultural areas, based on the description, this seems to have hit more populated regions. We are told that it started in the dark of night, the hour of the boar, so about 10pm, give or take an hour. The shaking was so bad that throughout the country men and women cried out and were disoriented—they could not tell east from west, a condition no doubt further hindered by the dark night sky. There were mountain slides and rivers changed course, breaking their banks and flooding nearby areas. Official buildings of the provinces and districts, the barns and houses of the common people, and the temples, pagodas, and shrines were all destroyed in huge numbers. Many people and domestic animals were killed or injured. The hot springs of Iyo were dried up and ceased to flow. In the province of Tosa, more than 500,000 shiro of cultivated land sank below sea level. Old men said that they had never seen such an earthquake. On that night there was a rumbling noise like that of drums heard in the east—possibly similar to what we had mentioned earlier. Some say that the island of Idzu, aka Vries Island, the volcanic island at the entrance of Edo Bay, increased on the north side by more than 3,000 feet and that a new island had been formed. The noise of the drums was attributed to the gods creating that island. So here we have a catastrophic quake that impacted from Iyo, on the western end of Shikoku, all the way to the head of Edo Bay, modern Tokyo. This appears to be what seismologists have labelled a "Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake". Similar quakes have occurred and are predicted to occur in the future., along a region of Japan from the east coast of Kyushu, through the Seto Inland Sea, including Shikoku, through the Kii peninsula and all the way to Mt. Fuji. The Nankai Trough, or Southern Sea Trough, is the area where the continental shelf drops down, and where the Philippine tectonic plate slips underneath the Eurasian—or more specifically the Amuric—plate. As these plates move it can cause multiple events all along the trough at the same time. Since being regularly recorded, these quakes have been noted every 100 to 150 years, with the last one being the Showa Nankai quakes of 1944 and 1946. For all of the destruction that it brought, however, apparently it didn't stop the court. Two days after this devastating quake we are told that Presents were made to the Princes and Ministers. Either they weren't so affected in the capital, or perhaps the date given for one of the two records is not quite reliable. Personally, I find it hard to believe that there would be presents given out two days later unless they were some form of financial aid. But what do I know? It is possible that the court itself was not as affected as other areas, and they may not have fully even grasped the epic scale of the destruction that would later be described in the Chronicles, given the length of time it took to communicate messages across the country. Which brings us back to the "science" of the time, or at least the observation, hoping to learn from precedence or piece out what messages the world might have for the sovereign and those who could read the signs. While many of the court's and Chronicler's conclusions may give us pause, today, we should nonetheless be thankful that they at least decided to keep notes and jot down their observations. That record keeping means that we don't have to only rely on modern records to see patterns that could take centuries to reveal themselves. Sure, at this time, those records were still a bit spotty, but it was the start of something that would be remarkably important, and even though these Chronicles may have been focused on propaganda, the fact that they include so many other references are an incalculable boon to us, today, if we can just see to make the connections. And with that, I think I've rambled enough for this episode. We still have a couple more to fully cover this period. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Unless you happen to live in one of only a few countries in the world, especially those with long family Monarchies or Dictatorships, you are familiar with frequent changes of government leadership and often the tumultuous times those government changes bring, right? In our journey through God’s “Grand Narrative” the next section of the Bible in the Kings & the Chronicles gives us the story of the tumultuous years following the traumatic breakup of the nation of Israel into two kingdoms: Israel (Northern Kingdom of 10 tribes) and Judah (Southern Kingdom of 2 tribes). (Click here to see full text, images and links) Pastor Doug Anderson “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here
EPISODE 642 - Ryan Null - The Flare Chronicles - Into the Blaze and Into the Shadows, Marketing Your Book, Giving Back and PizzaAbout the authorRyan Null, an American author, is a great father to his children and a loving husband to his wife. He began his writing journey in 8th grade, inspired by his love for reading and a teacher's challenge.Balancing a busy life running an egg business, working multiple jobs, and raising a family, Ryan finds time to craft detailed, imaginative stories. His unique worlds and clever wordplay set him apart. Outside writing, he enjoys taking care of chickens, building projects, and engaging in men's ministry at his church. This is his first published book, with more in the series to come.Book - The Flare Chronicles: Into the Shadows"When the blaze fades, only the brave survive the dark."The story continues… After the explosive events of Into the Blaze, Daniel, Trisha, and Broctree rise from the ruins of rebellion—scarred but not broken. Seeking refuge at the sacred Godeware Lake, they hope for healing… but peace is fleeting.Whispers of ancient evils stir in the dark. A forgotten terror—the Korkulan Skugga—returns, threatening to plunge Azrin into a new era of fear. As long-buried secrets surface and trust is tested, the trio must face an enemy born from myth itself.A world on the brink. A destiny rekindled. Shadows that know your name.The Flare Chronicles: Into the Shadows pulls you deeper into the fire—and far beyond.Book: The Flare Chronicles: Into the Blaze"A spark can ignite a legend."Step into a kingdom ruled by shadows and secrets, where sixteen-year-old Daniel embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his mysterious bloodline. Armed with only his bow, a satchel of essentials, and an unbreakable will, Daniel's quest soon ignites into a blaze of rebellion, redemption, and an ancient prophecy coming to life.Along the way, he encounters a legendary warrior, a mysterious rogue, and a world brimming with hidden magic. With the tyrannical Order watching from the shadows, Daniel must decide: cling to safety or embrace the fire of destiny.Epic battles, loyal companions, and gods of old lurking in the shadows—The Flare Chronicles: Into the Blaze is the thrilling start of an unforgettable adventure.https://www.authorryannull.com/homeSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca
This first Advent message brings us into the quiet longing of Zechariah and Elizabeth—two faithful servants of God who lived many years with unanswered prayers. Their story invites us to slow down, think biblically about waiting, and recognize the tender ways God prepares His people in His perfect timing. If you've ever carried a long prayer, or wondered what God is doing in the quieter seasons of life, this message will give fresh comfort and hope.
This episode originally aired on July 31, 2023. Ken and Mike review some of the key elements from season 4's look at the Life and Times of David. They discuss David's faith; how he's a man after God's own heart; what we can learn from his intimacy with God; the significance of shepherding in these accounts of David's life; how David served God in his generation; and how he modeled for all of us the way to grow. The guys help translate what we've learned about David into our own lives. Also, the demolition of the Holy Land Experience brought sadness, but there may be hope on the horizon! And a listener asks, what are the plans for season 5 of Jesus Changes People?Passages: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 51, 1 Chronicles 22, 28Support the show
Speaker: Adam GodshallSeries: ThanksgivingText: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22Theme: Your Faith Must Fight with Thanksgiving One: Faith...in the midst of fear. Two: Faith...anchored to God's faithfulness. Three: Faith...in the face of the unknown. Four: Faith...in God's kingdom agenda. Five: Faith...in God's words. Six: Faith...to fight with thanksgiving. Seven: Faith...that produces triumphant joy. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" ~ 2 Chronicles 20:12
Christmas Eve is supposed to be a night full of warmth, family, laughter, and memories… but on December 24th, 2008, one Covina home became the site of one of California's most heartbreaking holiday tragedies.In this episode, Blacklabel, Geisha, and Azzilee walk you through the story of the Ortega family... a close-knit, generous, beloved family celebrating Christmas like millions of people do every yea and the man who turned their celebration into devastation.We break down: • Who Bruce Pardo really was • How months of planning led to the attack • The chaos inside the home as the shooting and fire unfolded • The survivors who fought through flames and gunfire • The manhunt across Southern California • Bruce Pardo's final moments • A detailed look at the victims, their lives, and their legacy • How the Covina community came together to heal • What this tragedy teaches us about family, love, and the fragility of lifeThis is a heavy episode, but it's an important one.And it's a reminder to appreciate the people you love, especially during the holidays.Listen to Co-op Chronicles on:
Jesus was crucified between two criminals. Who were they? Let's find out together as we read Luke 23:39-43 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.
Chronicles del primo dicembre 2025 La puntata di Chronicles del primo dicembre 2025 Per diffondere questa puntata: https://www.radiotandem.it/chronicles-del-1-dicembre-2025 Tutti i podcast di Chronicles: https://www.radiotandem.it/chronicles
“And amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” — 2 Chronicles 25:9 A very important question this seemed to be […]
Send us a text'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through our houseNot a creature was stirring, not even that big mouthOur stockings were hung by the chimney with careIn hopes that the MPD would stay in the SquareThe renters were nestled all snug in their bedsWhile visions of alchy bums danced in their headsAnd mummy in her Star Market smock and I in my head spin hatHad just settled our brains for a long winter's napWhen out on the lawn there arose such a clatterI sprang from my bed to see what was the matterAway to the window I flew like a flashTore through the plastic and threw up the sashThe moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave a lustre of midday to objects belowWhen what to my wondering eyes did I seeBut a rented U-haul and my brotherly thievesWith their friend Paul as the driver so lively and drunkI knew in a moment this was more than a funkMore rapid than eagles these coursers they cameAnd one whistled, and shouted, and gave them all aim To the top of the porch and to the back driveway wallNow stash away! Stash away! Stash away all!As leaves that before the wild hurricane flyIf police should appear, they'll slip away slySo up to the back of the house the coursers they flewWith a truck full of trees, and all those wreaths tooAnd then, in a twinkling, I heard all the proofThe prancing and pawing of each Chippewa bootAs I drew in my head, and was turning aroundDown Spring Street came the throngs with a boundThey weren't dressed in furs, but heard something afootAnd their money was crisp as in our hands it was putAnd with a bundle of pine they had flung on their backBought from the neighborhood peddlers open round backTheir eyes—how they twinkled! Their dimples, how merry!Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like a cherry!Their droll little mouths drawn up like a bowAs the bolt cutters and work gloves lay muddied in snowAnd with the stump of a lead pipe held tight in his handsTo make them believe the trees were shorn from our own Robbin' Hood landSome even sold by a broad with a slim little faceOur mother the matriarch known to put all in their placeThe chubby and plump, the blind and the deafAnd we'd chuckle when at our back door she'd offer a right or a leftAs occasionally with a wink of an eye and a tilt of a headSome renters were left on sidewalks thought to be deadJamie spoke not a word, but went straight to his workKnocking out redwood Big Bob; without even a smirkNow back to the telling of our story at hand, the one of the boys selling trees minus the brand Rarely giving a wave, from the peak of back porch stairsKnowing the close shave averted from one of their daresHe reached for his pocket, to his team he gave a bundleKnowing those fur trees were homed with the humbleThen I heard him exclaim, ere he walked out of sight—“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good fight!”
Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Johnathon Eltrevoog, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. All glory and honor belong to God! Meditate on 1 Chronicles 29:13. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
That time I went to Mexico... Feedback : blackgirlcouch@gmail.com (audio/written) Tumblr: blackgirlcouch Youtube: ChristinaBCG Instagram: @blackgirlcouch
The Mission of the Messiah Selected Passages by Mike Deguzman 1. The Identity of the Angel of the Lord Genesis 22:9-12 Exodus 3:2-7 Exodus 3:14 Zechariah 1:12-13 Zechariah 3:2-5 Colossians 1:15-17 2. The Ministry of the Angel of the Lord A. He Reveals John 8:54-59 John 1:18 B. He Intercedes Romans 8:33-34 C. He Comforts Genesis 16:7-14 Matthew 11:28-30 D. He Judges 1 Chronicles 21:16 1 Chronicles 21:26 John 5:21-24 E. He Delivers 3. The Limitations of The Angel of the Lord A. He Could Not Be Our Savior Hebrews 1:3 Philippians 2:6-8 B. He Could Not Be Israel's King Hebrews 1:8 Hebrews 2:10-11 C. He Could Not Be Our Brother D. He Could Not Be Our High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16 Genesis 22:7-8 Genesis 22:10-14 Luke 19:9-10
This powerful conclusion to the book of Revelation invites us to examine our hearts with a penetrating question: Are we truly longing for Christ's return? The epilogue of Revelation echoes seven times with the word 'come'—a divine number pointing to the perfection of God's invitation and promise. We discover that Christianity uniquely offers not a message of 'go, go, go' like every other religion or worldly system, but rather Christ standing before us saying 'come.' Before we ever had our come-to-Jesus moment, He had His come-to-us moment at Christmas. The sermon explores three comings of Christ: His first coming demonstrating salvation by grace, His second coming when we'll see His glory and be glorified with Him, and remarkably, His ongoing 'in-between' comings—those moments when Christ visits us powerfully through His Spirit in our present struggles. Through the beautiful allegory from The Chronicles of Narnia, where Shasta discovers that the one Lion was present through all his trials, we're reminded that Jesus has been faithfully present through every hardship, every stumble, every season of faithlessness. The call isn't just to be ready for Christ's return, but to be eager for it—because it's this longing that keeps us persevering in faith through tribulation and spiritual warfare until He comes.
The Harmony of HIStories Series
Thanksgiving is more than manners; it is not just politeness or a reaction to something good, but rather it is a spiritual key that opens the door to God's presence, releases His power, and invites His intervention (Psalm 100:4). Mr. Daniel Amponsah-Berko, in our The Welcoming Table series, talks about three case studies: 1) Thanksgiving as A Weapon of Warfare (2 Chronicles 20:1-21 - Judah is surrounded), 2) Thanksgiving Multiply What You Have in Your Hands (John 6:1-13 – The feeding of the five thousand), and 3) Thanksgiving Brings Hope Into Hopeless Places (John 11:38-44 – Lazarus raised from the dead). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 30, 2025.
SHOW NOTES In Podcast Episode 351, “When Personal Choices Destroy Many,” Kim discusses the poor choices made by King Ahaz of Judah and how those negatively impacted hundreds of thousands of his own people. Rarely do any of us realize just how much impact our personal choices can make on others. Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 28:1-8, with 5-6 as the focal verses: 5 Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army. 6 In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel's king, killed 120,000 of Judah's troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors. WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE: When have you experienced collateral damage from someone else's bad choices? Additional Resources and Scriptures: EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2025). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group: Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus. This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus. In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives. If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week. Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!” If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com. National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 https://988lifeline.org/ Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004. Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay. The HIDDEN Episodes: If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/
Liberty Church
11/30/25 Sunday Morning message
Lauren Lucas looks at Jonah 4 and the three confronting questions God asks Jonah that expose a misaligned heart:- Are we more consumed with our own comfort than concerned for God's kingdom? - What makes us angry?- Are we avoiding the conversations God is trying to have with us? As we explore Jonah's anger, God's compassion, and His heart for a whole city, we're invited to let the Holy Spirit realign our hearts with God's heart and believe again for revival, reconciliation and a great awakening in our families, our communities and our nation.If you need prayer, we're here for you. Reach out at www.gatewaybaptist.com.au/prayerNew to faith or returning to Jesus today? We'd love to help you take a next step. Reach out via gtwy.au/online and our team will connect with you.Subscribe for more content to help you grow as a fully devoted follower of Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/c/GatewayBaptistChurchAus?sub_confirmation=1Key ScripturesJonah 4:1–11Exodus 34:6–7Joel 2:132 Chronicles 30:9Mark 1:14–15Luke 23:342 Peter 3:9Psalm 139:23–24________________________Gateway Baptist Church meets across six locations in South-East Queensland and online.For over 90 years, we've been committed to guiding people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.Learn more about us at https://gatewaybaptist.com.au or join us on Sundays at gtwy.au/live#HopeInTheDark #JesusSaves #FaithInTheStorm #GatewayBaptist #Gospel #Salvation #Jesus #Faith #Christian #Church #Churchonline #GatewayOnline #JasonElsmore #LaurenLucas
Fall Youth Retreat 2022 Theme: Don't just stand there... Build something!“Let us build... because we have sought the Lord our God.” 2 Chronicles 14:7 ➡️ Follow Grace & Truth Camps: Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeLearn more at https://www.gtcamps.org/fyr
Cleve listens to the University's perspective on the stowaway. Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Our music is from Purple Planet Music. Visit them at purple-planet.com. Need context? Jump to the start of the series!
In this episode of Chronicles, Luca is joined by Dan to discuss Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser. They explore Fraser's skill in writing historical fiction, the genius of the Harry Flashman character, and the sheer hilarity of the novel's dark humour.
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Most Americans know the story of the Pilgrims, people who braved seas and sickness to find a new land where they could practice their faith in peace, but there is so much more to this story! As we begin our own Thanksgiving preparations, we visit with Rod Gragg, an award-winning journalist, historian, and author, who will reveal little-known facts and firsthand accounts of the compelling drama that culminated in the first Thanksgiving!Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Join the host on Right On Radio for a wide-ranging Friday episode that begins with Thanksgiving reflections, the show's Word on Word segment (1 Chronicles 16:8 vs. Proverbs 31:28–29), and a musical nod before diving into hard-hitting news and commentary. The episode opens with breaking coverage of a reported anti-corruption probe tied to President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration: searches of senior offices, allegations centered on the Energia Atom energy sector, the role of ally Timur Mindich, and broader claims about widespread skimming of foreign aid. The host analyzes Sky News reporting and offers context and commentary about how the scandal could affect negotiations and ceasefire discussions. Shifting to U.S. domestic developments, the program covers the recent attack on two National Guard members, updates on the victims, and reporting that connects the suspected shooter to refugee resettlement. The host discusses alleged pre-attack online searches traced to foreign IPs, references to the Charlie Kirk shooting, and federal responses including troop deployments to Washington, D.C. President Trump's recent statements on immigration, tax policy and national security are reviewed and critiqued. The show also examines the role of intelligence agencies and transnational crime: a featured interview excerpt with Laura Logan and former CIA operations officer Gary Bernstein explores election interference, U.S. activity near Venezuela, and claims that large criminal networks there may rival state intelligence capabilities. The host lays out a view of the CIA and FBI as powerful actors within a global hierarchy. Listeners will hear concerns about surveillance and biometric data after a segment on school photography companies (LifeTouch), ownership by major asset managers, and how large photo databases could be used to train facial recognition systems. The episode links this to broader worries about tech, privacy and the so-called Genesis mission referenced by the host. The host also speaks personally about a paid course he's released—its goals, structure and reception—encouraging listeners on how to approach the material, and announces a Saturday night prayer meeting and brief weekend schedule changes. Throughout, he intersperses political analysis with spiritual themes and references to scripture. To close, the show lightens up with music recommendations (including an 80s toe-tapper by a Canadian band and a later Jimmy Cliff clip), invites listeners to community engagement, and promises more reporting and specials in upcoming episodes. Want to Understand and Explain Everything Biblically? Click Here: Decoding the Power of Three: Understand and Explain Everything or go to www.rightonu.com and click learn more. Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith
Today is day 332 and we are studying The Eighth Commandment. 332. Why does God forbid stealing? God is Creator and Lord of this world, and all things come from him. Therefore, I must never take what God has not entrusted to me. (Exodus 23:19a; Leviticus 19:10–11a, 23–25; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Psalms 24:1–2; 50:7–12; Romans 13:9; Ephesians 4:28) We will conclude today by praying Proper 9 found on page 617 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès interviews Iranian-American visual artist Golnar Adili on her journey from architecture to teaching and practicing visual arts. They discuss her work that transgresses borders and definition and how she uses the Perso-Arabic script and language as material for artistic exploration. Golnar talks about her love for science and art and how architecture brought these two passions together. She also discusses her first research trip to Tehran to investigate (free)inside/(controlled)outside spaces and what these notions represent in that particular cultural context, which was her starting point into becoming an artist. The research is concluded with a book of photographs entitled: "Tehran, A Landscape of Compressed Freedoms." Through the discussion, they unpack the relation between her work, her personal family history and experiences of living in diaspora, and her work as an artist and designer. They further explore these concepts in her other projects delving into her collage techniques and books arts projects. Golnar explains how her heart-language, Persian, plays a central role in her work, taking lyrical Persian poetry and making it contemporary through the design of the letterforms and the use of material. She discusses how gender has informed her work and how it compelled her to express small intimate stories of women (in her family) in her work. In her work she formally manipulates physical and visual material to convey emotions going by the Persian saying: "What comes from the heart, sits on the heart." The conversation is concluded with a brief talk about her teaching at both the Parsons School of Design (with college students) on one hand and children middle-schoolers on the other, and how her teaching assignments relate to her own work and explorations: straddling two and three dimensions, and exploring materials and techniques of image-making. Golnar Adili is one the visual artists and graphic women featured in the book, Revealing Recording Reflecting: Graphic Women from Southwest Asia and North Africa (Amsterdam: Khatt Books, 2024). FOLLOW & RATE KHATT CHRONICLES:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/khatt-chronicles-stories-on-design-from-the-arab-world/id1472975206» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ATH0MwO1tIlBvQfahSLrB» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014374489THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5mMJ782dhW6yvfq0E0_HhAABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
Welcome to RetroLogic! Featuring Dan Caporello, John Cummins, Sam Wagers, and Shannon Eno! RetroLogic isn't just a podcast. It's a community of retro gamers! - We've got an active, friendly, and free discord. - Giveaways - Contests - AND Dive into our family of Retro podcasts! Like RetroGroove, a music history podcast, and On Topic Retro, a podcast dedicated to 1 video game per episode hosted by our very own John Cummins. - you can find everything at our website retrologic.games New Segment Incoming: Backlog Challenge! (all hosts will vote on a game to play from each others' backlog!) Shan: Luigi's Mansion Dan: A Link To The Past (SNES) Sam: Legend of the River King (GBC) John: Wario Land (VB) The Price Is Retro If this is your first time playing Price Is Retro, here's how we play. I'm going to list off 4 or 5 games and everyone has to guess how much the lot is worth in total. Whoever is closest to the actual value wins that round! Everyone has a list and everyone guesses on each other's list. At the end, the player that won the most rounds wins the episode! But watch out for the rampage team! Robot - Deus Guess Machina - He averages all of our guesses together for his own guess Dinosaur - Leonard - adds up original costs, retail value Ghost - Polterguest - always guesses 300 Shan's list Sam's list John's list Dan's list Flightsy's list Trivia Card Show Topic: A History of Donkey Kong Part 2 Timeline of Games: What do we do now? Era Donkey Konga - 2003 - Gamecube Donkey Konga 2 - 2004 - Gamecube Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - 2004 - Gamecube Mario vs. Donkey Kong - 2004 - GBA Donkey Konga 3 (jp only) - 2005 - Gamecube DK King of Swing - 2005 - GBA Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the minis - 2006 - DS Donkey Kong Barrel Blast - 2007 - Gamecube DK Jungle Climber - 2007 - DS Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis march again - 2009 - DSiware Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! - 2010 - DS Retro Era Donkey Kong Country Returns - 2010 - Wii Mario vs. Donkey Kong: minis on the Move : 2013 - 3DS eshop Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze - 2014 - Wii U Mario vs. Donkey Kong: tipping stars - 2015 - 3DS and Wii U eshop Current Era Donkey Kong Bananza - 2025 - Switch 2 Community Couch Thanks for listening to the RetroLogic Podcast! We are proudly part of the Nintendo Dads family of podcasts. If you like what you hear, check me out on Bluesky at @retrologicgames.bsky.social. You're also welcome to jump into our friendly and 100% non-toxic Discord Community! The link to that is in my Blusky bio. You can also find everything on our website Retrologic.games
A hard story forces us to face a hard truth: passion for God cannot replace obedience to God. We trace David, Uzzah, and the Ark to learn why fear of the Lord protects joy, how real repentance works, and why Scripture must shape our methods.• the Ark's return and why a new cart missed God's command• the difference between sincere worship and holy obedience• why fear of the Lord brings alignment not panic• Numbers 4 and Exodus on how to carry the Ark• copying the world's methods versus trusting God's• to obey is better than sacrifice from 1 Samuel 15• Hosea 6 and Micah 6 on obedience repentance• Psalm 51 as a template for contrition and renewal• reading the Bible to obey it, not just admire itWith that in mind, go do your business with God. Whatever's on your heart right now, take a moment, take whatever time you need, go deal with him, go talk with him, and we'll see you next time.Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.
Send us a textJoin Hannah and her very special bestie Brittany as they raise a toast to the past 10 years of friendship and spontaneous adventures!Listen to these two independent baddies share memories of sky diving, dating, trips, bodybuilding, career growths and motorcycles. Romantic relationships can come and go but your best friend remains for life!!
“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.” (Psalm 145:4–7 NLT) It seems as though merchants today don’t really know what to do with this holiday called Thanksgiving. When it comes to other observances, such as the Fourth of July and Halloween, they make a lot of money from their marketing efforts. And, of course, Christmas is a financial windfall. But Thanksgiving? Aside from selling more turkeys and cranberry dressing than they normally do, there’s nothing that makes the holiday especially important from a retailer’s perspective. Merchants have had more than 160 years to get it right. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln designated November 26 as a day of national Thanksgiving. Our nation celebrated it annually on that day until 1942, when President Franklin Roosevelt designated Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. And that’s just the official government designation. The celebration of Thanksgiving on this continent stretches back at least another 250-plus years to 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia. And just so we aren’t fuzzy about which God we should give thanks to, this is what the pilgrims wrote in the Mayflower Compact in 1620: “We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia. . . .” They were not just coming to our fair shores to simply bring European civilization; they were coming to bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s very easy during our feasting to forget about the One whom we are celebrating. Yet His goodness is what makes it possible for us to celebrate. The Bible writers celebrated God’s goodness. First Chronicles 16:34 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (NLT). And Psalm 145:4–7 says, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness” (NLT). The primary reason we are put on this earth is to glorify God and to give Him thanks. The Bible doesn’t say to give thanks to the Lord because we feel good. Rather, it says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT). We give thanks to God because He is worthy of our praise. God makes it easy for us by giving us so much to be thankful for. Reflection question: What will you praise God for on this Thanksgiving Day? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Happy Thanksgiving! It's Thursday, November 27th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes written by Jonathan Clark and heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. (Contact@eanvoiceit.com) 18 Church Leaders Arrested in China Authorities in China arrested 18 leaders from Zion Church last Tuesday. Zion Church is one of the largest unregistered church in the country. The congregation has faced persecution for years. In the latest crackdown on the church, police detained at least 30 Christians across seven cities since October. The arrested leaders can effectively be held indefinitely in pre-trial detention. Scott Bower with Christian Solidarity Worldwide said the church leaders were “targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of their religious belief.” Taiwan Spends Extra $40 billion on Defense The self-ruling island of Taiwan plans on spending an extra $40 billion on defense in the face of threats from China. The Chinese government continues to claim the island as its own. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te announced the plan yesterday. He said, “China's threats to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region are escalating. . . . History has proven that compromising with aggression only brings war and enslavement.” The U.S. State Department welcomed the plan. And Japan recently stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. Poland Facing Changes to Marriage Law In Europe, Poland is facing challenges to its marriage law. The country currently bans faux same-sex marriage and defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. However, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday that Poland must recognize the faux same-sex marriages of other European Union countries. Some Polish lawmakers are trying to change the marriage law. But Poland's President Karol Nawrocki has said he would veto “any bill that would undermine the constitutionally protected status of marriage.” Jesus said in Mark 10:6-8, “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.' ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Roman Catholic Church Praises Monogamous Marriage The Roman Catholic Church recently praised monogamous marriage between one man and one woman. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released the document Tuesday. The doctrinal note came in response to concerns from bishops in Africa where polygamy is still practiced. The document stated, “Polygamy, adultery, or polyamory are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in the succession of partners.” However, the Vatican's doctrinal dicastery has previously allowed priests to give a blessing to same-sex couples in certain cases. U.S. Highschoolers Losing Interest in Marriage In the United States, high schoolers are losing interest in eventually getting married. Pew Research reports 67% of 12th graders in 2023 said they would want to get married in the future. That's down from 80% in 1993. Twelfth graders are also less likely to want children or to stay married to the same person for life if they do get married. In particular, high school girls are much less likely to want to get married someday. Boys' interest in eventually getting married has remained relatively unchanged over the last 30 years. U.S. State Department Addresses Human Rights Violations The U.S. State Department announced a list of acts it considers human rights violations. These acts include transgender surgeries, government funded abortions or abortifacient drugs, attempts at coerced euthanasia, and violations of religious freedom. Tommy Pigott is the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State. He told The Daily Signal, “In recent years, new destructive ideologies have given safe harbor to human rights violations. The Trump administration will not allow these human rights violations, such as the mutilation of children.” Do People Still Thank God on Thanksgiving? And finally, Lifeway Research reports two in three Americans say they typically give thanks to God at Thanksgiving. Lifeway Research also shared the Bible verses Christians turn to at Thanksgiving based on Bible-reading apps. Many of them are from the Psalms. One of the most-read verses at Thanksgiving over the last five years was Psalm 9:1-2. The passages says, “I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works. I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High.” The most popular verse last year was 1 Chronicles 16:34. The verse says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Give Thanks and seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Center Stage Chronicles is back as Kris Zellner is joined by Rob Naylor and Our Good Buddy Charles to discuss the month of November 1990 in the National Wrestling Alliance and pop culture in general. Topics of discussion include:How pending Turner Broadcasting cutbacks will affect the wrestling division.Graffiti Bridge being the true sequel to Purple RainRic Flair putting up his yacht and Rolls Royce against Doom's tag titles.The end of the NWA name being used on TV.Just who the hell is the real Magnum Force, anyway?Madonna releases Justify My Love and the controversy is about to get big.The series finales of Charles In Charge and Pee Wee's Playhouse.WCW and NJPW reach a deal to co-promote a Tokyo Dome show.A wacky as hell Clash of the Champions featuring some terrible matches and a Black Scorpion magic show.The birth of Michael Wallstreet and the York Foundation.Milli Vanilli gets exposed and they pay the price, losing their Grammy Award for Best New Artist.Ole Anderson gets fired as head booker and Dusty Rhodes rumors start to run rampant as a result..This show was a total blast, so we hope you will enjoy it!!!To support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you're looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the internet more securely—then Private Internet Access is what you've been looking for. Not only will using our link help support Between The Sheets, but you'll get a special discount, with prices as low as $1.98/month if you go with a 40 month subscription. With numerous great features and even a TV-specific Android app to make streaming easier, there is no better choice if you're looking to subscribe to WWE Network, AEW Plus, and other region-locked services.For the best in both current and classic indie wrestling streaming, make sure to check out IndependentWrestling.tv and use coupon code BTSPOD for a free 5 day trial! (You can also go directly to TinyURL.com/IWTVsheets to sign up that way.) If you convert to a paid subscriber, we get a kickback for referring you, allowing you to support both the show and the indie scene.You can also use code BTSPOD to save 25% on your first payment — whether paying month to month or annually — when you subscribe to Ultimate Classic Wrestling Network at ClassicWrestling.net!To subscribe, you can find us on iTunes, Google Play, and just about every other podcast app's directory, or you can also paste Feeds.FeedBurner.com/BTSheets into your favorite podcast app using whatever “add feed manually” option it has.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/between-the-sheets/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
We reflect on the return of the Ark, why repentance is re-centering, and how God's promise to David reframes ambition. David wants to build a house for God, but God plans to build David into a house that lasts.• gratitude for the community and support• meaning of the Ark's return to Jerusalem• worship restored with prayer, music and offerings• repentance as returning God to the center• David's desire to build vs God's promise• God establishes a dynasty and a future• David's humble prayer and gratitude• challenge to surrender our plans to GodIf you want to get in on our live Outloud Bible experiences, it's free for churches. Outloudbible.com. Just send us a messageSend Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.
1st Chronicles 16:34 – “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting.” യഹോവെക്കു സ്തോത്രം ചെയ്വിൻ; അവൻ നല്ലവനല്ലോ; അവന്റെ ദയ എന്നേക്കുമുള്ളതു.To be thankful always and to everyone is a very noble nature which God and others like. It is really great if we can express our gratitude through our words and actions. We should express our gratitude to God in every prayer. Also, we should show our gratitude to others always. The last Thursday of November is celebrated as Thanksgiving day in the United States and Canada. . It is considered as a day of love, joy, family reunion and thanksgiving. The history of Thanksgiving celebration, why we should thank God and the blessing of thanking others are discussed.My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com
It's the day before Thanksgiving… so let's practice giving thanks! In this short episode, listen to Ruth read a curated selection of Scripture and share a few questions for reflection. Scripture referenced:1 Chronicles 16:23-27Isaiah 12:2-3Psalm 103:1-4James 1:17Philippians 4:4-61 Thessalonians 5:15-18
Transformers Chronicles: The Marvel Years - Episode 065Issue: Transformers #65 (Marvel)The MATRIX QUEST reaches Alien proportions and THUNDERWING is playing for keeps! Can BUMBLEBEE, JAZZ, and GRIMLOCK stop him on this TRANSFORMERS CHRONICLES
A Thanksgiving devotional for Christian women in a slow season—faith, timing, and hope when the waiting feels long. If you're walking through a slow or quiet season—building new habits, strengthening your faith, healing, or trying to create order in your home—this Thanksgiving devotional is for you. In today's episode, Kristina shares the story of David and Solomon and the seven-year building of the first temple as a reminder that God works powerfully in the long road, not just the quick breakthroughs. This short but heartfelt devotional will encourage you to trust God's timing, release the pressure to rush ahead, and recognize that obedience in your “not yet” season still matters deeply. Your progress may feel hidden, but your purpose isn't. God is shaping you just as much as the work you're building. You'll hear biblical encouragement, practical reflection, and a closing prayer for the Christian woman navigating a slow build, a waiting season, or a time where the fruit hasn't yet shown up. This Thanksgiving, may you find comfort in knowing that God wastes nothing—especially not your waiting. Scriptures Mentioned: 1 Chronicles 23 1 Chronicles 22:9–10 1 Kings 6:38 If this devotional encouraged you, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your reviews help this show reach more Christian women who need truth, hope, and encouragement in their daily rhythms.
Send us a textTrapped in a town filled with demons, ghosts, arsonists, cultists, emissaries, and monsters, Junior Washington has to fight the elements, and evil itself, in a fight to stay alive. Don't breathe, don't blink, just listen.Written by Brett Jarboe after you finish this, check out Thicker Than Water, a new audio novel by yours truly. 11 hours of crime noir goodness, a savage tale of revenge, and family. I will be releasing the first couple of chapters right here, very soon. Its available for free on the patreon, but its also for sale! 10 bucks, no membership required. Please subscribe through Buzzsprout, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, or iTunesFind me on social media on Instagram Facebook and Twitter, or email me direct at AScaryHomeCompanion@gmail.comSupport our PATREON page! And check out the Redbubble merch shop. Support the show
Welcome to the Daily Disciple Podcast. As daily disciples, we seek to adore and follow Jesus, our teacher, into the abundant life that he offers. Because we find Jesus irresistible, fascinating, and incredibly practical, we want to be students of his scripture. Today's episode is found in 1 Chronicles "A Selfish Prayer"
Washington Post's Christian Davenport explores how Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are shaping a new commercial space industry
Lesley Logan welcomes back personal coach and former NASA engineer John Mollura for a powerful conversation on confidence, fear, and self-trust. Together they break down why so many high achievers feel stuck—and how it's not about time management but the fear hiding underneath. John shares how to quiet your inner critic, lean into a curious 'seeker mindset,' and rebuild trust in yourself one small promise at a time. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How fear of failure kept John from setting goals or making plans.The “two-by-four” life moments that forced him to realign his purpose.Why photography revealed a deeper coaching calling after years in corporate life.Why true confidence begins with keeping the promises you make to yourself.Why fear drives the “big three” — perfectionism, procrastination, and overthinking.Episode References/Links:John Mollura's Website - https://www.johnmollura.comJohn Mollura's Free Resources - https://www.johnmollura.com/freestuffEpisode 119: John Mollura - https://beitpod.com/ep119The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks - https://a.co/d/0DUsv01AmeriCorps – https://americorps.govBrand Builders Group – https://brandbuildersgroup.comGuest Bio:John Mollura (pronounced muh-LAURA) is a personal coach and speaker who knows what it's like to feel stuck—despite a resume that says otherwise. For fifteen years he led test operations for NASA missions as a literal rocket scientist before becoming a multi-award-winning photographer, with work featured by National Geographic. But behind the achievements and titles, he battled self-doubt, perfectionism, and the fear of taking the next step. John didn't just break free—he built a framework for lasting change. Through a powerful blend of science, storytelling, and strategy, he doesn't just inspire—he equips people with the tools to take action, build confidence, and create real momentum. Get ready to move from hesitation to action, from fear to confidence, and from stuck to unstoppable. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! 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Because here's what happens, is we're lying to ourselves. We say I'm going to wake up and go to the gym, or this is the year I'm going to start eating healthier, or I'm going to floss my teeth every night. Like, pick a commitment you've made to yourself. If we continually break these commitments time and time again, well, guess what? Our brain recognizes I can't trust me.Lesley Logan 0:28 Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:10 Hi, Be It babe. How are you? Oh my gosh. Okay. We have a blast from the past, an amazing person, that every time I hear him speak, I'm just like, yes, yes that, yes this, yes, that, oh, say that one more time. So you guys are gonna want to repeat this. This is an episode on perfectionism, procrastination, overthinking, confidence, fear. It's really good stuff. And our guest is John Mollura, and I'm really, really excited. And if you haven't heard from him on episode 120 I highly recommend, after you listen to this one, go listen to that one, and just see how far people come in such a short period of time, we think three years is a long time, and it's like, you know, like, it isn't, it happens quite quickly. So anyways, you're amazing. John's amazing. This episode is for you. Here you go. Lesley Logan 1:57 Be It, babe. We have a blast from the past, and like the past, I cannot believe that it's I can't believe how long this podcast has been on, because it feels like I just got started, and I'm like, still getting my groove, but John Mollura is our guest today. He was from Episode 120, oh my God, okay. John Mollura, in case people haven't been with us since Episode 120, can you remind them? John Mollura 2:16 And you should go back and listen to all those if you have not.Lesley Logan 2:21 Well, they're gonna have to. Because I think we're gonna share, what I'm excited about is to share a journey. Like, whenever I have a guest back on, it's like, we get to, like, see where you are, and people get to go, oh, wow, behind like, you don't see behind the scenes very much, and you don't like, we just think, like, things just happen, and the light switch just turns on, and everything works out. So tell everyone who you are and what you're rocking at now.John Mollura 2:45 Hey, everybody. So second time guest here on the Be It Pod with my good friend, Lesley. And fun fact is I actually live right up the road from her hubby's parents in the first State of Delaware. Lesley Logan 2:58 It's really hilarious. John Mollura 2:59 Right? Small world, small world. So what I am up to? I am a personal coach, and no one is more surprised to see me in that position than me. Lesley Logan 3:08 I don't know. I had to be really honest. We'll go on with your because, but I just want to say, like, your talk, (inaudible) like, three years ago, about imperfection was so good, like, to me, you were like a coach over a photographer. But anyways, tell everyone why you're more surprised.John Mollura 3:28 Yeah, and I'm talking like, longer than, like, the time you and I have been buddies, but like, just throughout my entire life, dude, I, like Forrest Gump-ed my way through, like, never really had a plan, and I came to realize the reason why I never had a plan is because if you didn't have, like, a plan and a target and goals, guess what, you could never fail. And I was so afraid of failure, like I never wanted to, you know, put my name on something, be like, this is what I want to do. So that is why I say I've, -like, Forrest Gump-ed my way through. And I I'm surprised I'm here, because it was never the plan, because I never had a plan. Lesley Logan 4:05 This is so fascinating. I think people just freaking like, were like, caught, like that, like, caught, you know, because you just said, If you don't have a plan, you can't fail. And I'm afraid of failure. And I think there's a lot of people who have been just like, it's a lot going on, it's really hard to make decisions in this time, like, you know, and it's like you can do that for so long, and at some point, like, there's a calling that you have, the universe is going to force you to do it. Do you feel forced?John Mollura 4:38 So I like to call them two by four moments, Lesley, and these are those moments in life where the universe, or God or who, whomever you believe, is kind of orchestrating all this. If you're not paying attention enough, they whack you upside the head with a two by four. And you find yourself in these situations where it's like you're just forced into these changes, and you know you don't have to answer the call, but the price you pay is that you just have this just spiritual discontent with inside of you, and that is such a yucky and exhausting feeling.Lesley Logan 5:13 Yeah, it really is like, and I think anyone listening like, I can think of times when, like, I feel like I got hit by a back truck, and then you're like, why didn't you tell me before the Mack truck came? And then you look back and you're like, there was a little flashlight right there, and then there was this like thing over here. You ignored those so I had to hit you with a Mack truck to get your attention.John Mollura 5:37 Yeah, yeah. There is a story that I like to tell when I'm doing like a small group, and it's like people are like, you know, they they end up at the pearly gates, and they're like, God, why didn't you save me? And that is like, what are you talking about? It's like, I sent, I told you to leave the house before it flooded. I sent you the news report, and you didn't listen. And then when you climbed on your roof. I sent you a boat, saying, hey, get in the boat. And you said no, and then I sent a helicopter, like, what else do you want? So we don't, we don't pay attention to these signs all along the way.Lesley Logan 6:10 We're expecting it to say, John, this is for you. Like, Lesley, this is yours. And the truth is, is that, like, you know, we all get choice. That's what we were given. We were given this choice to listen or to not to listen, and those choices have consequences. So if you choose not to listen, you get hit by a two by four, hopefully before you drown. Hopefully, hopefully you pay attention before you drown. So, tell, can you take us back to some of the two by fours that kind of shoved you this way? John Mollura 6:40 Yeah. Yeah. So, so my my career again, like starting back with my career after I graduated engineering school from Penn State in like 2001 shout out, Nittany Lions, we are, is I ended up working in the space program. Right?Lesley Logan 6:58 Yeah, which is so badass. It's like the, I mean, it's what every kid grows up to wanting being an astronaut, you got to do that without going to space. But, like.John Mollura 7:06 Space Cadet, yes, astronaut, no, but I did get to work with them, and the reason why I literally fell into that job was because I lost out on an internship with Disney in college and taught rock climbing for the summer, and that actually was what bubbled me to the top of the guy who hired me, who was former Special Forces and he said, Hey, look, I'm like, why'd you pick me? Like, I had, like, a decent grade, other than my shining personality and, you know, rapier wit, why did you pick me, Skip? And he said, I don't need another, you know, gosh darn egg head on this team. I need someone I can send out into the field and not get me or themselves killed. He said, you're smart enough. So again, like, you know, I wasn't planning on ever being a rock climbing instructor, but I was offered the jobs I know other options. That's what bubbled me to the top, where I worked in the space and defense industry for 15 years, leading test operations for NASA and working with elite military units, and a big two by four moment came in 2009 right after our first child was born, where, like, I really felt like I wasn't going to be a good dad, just because, you know, my past trials and traumas. And then right after that, one of my best childhood friends intentionally overdosed and passed away, and I was I was a mess. I was an absolute wreck. And, you know, I can remember thinking, Well, maybe he got it right. Maybe I shouldn't be here. And for whatever reason, I said the Serenity Prayer like it popped in my head.Lesley Logan 8:41 Isn't it funny how we all know that prayer, we all know, like, if that prayer is like, right there, it's like, so like, like, we're, I feel like we're born with it, like it's so good.John Mollura 8:49 Yeah, yeah. And for those of you, you know, here's a variation I love is, you know, accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be, you know. And like, as soon as I finished it, I felt this warm sensation and like, you know that that's when I found, like, true religion and freedom. But it wasn't like all unicorns and rainbows and stuff like that. It was quite the opposite. It was where, like the proverbial scales fell from my eyes, and I realized what an a hole I was in life to protect myself. So that started me on this journey of faith and getting my, you know, just seeing how the world saw me, and I built up this like superhero exterior, but really just to protect the wounded person inside. And as I really came to terms with that and started healing, I started realizing that, wow, this job that I have, like you said, which is, like every kid's dream, like, you know, former 80s kid, like you we grew up watching Star Wars and, you know, all the things like that. I was like, this job isn't satisfying me. This isn't this isn't where I'm supposed to be. I'm good at it. I'm world class at it. But, man, I'm just not happy.Lesley Logan 9:58 Yeah, yeah, that's what Gay Hendricks would call from The Big Leap, he would call, like, your zone of excellence, but not your zone of genius. And, like, It's uncomfortable to be in the zone of excellence for a long time. People think you're weird, but like, you just don't like, you're like, I this, I can do this in my sleep, but it's not challenging me. It's not making me feel satisfied. John Mollura 10:19 Right? Yeah, that's not bringing life into me. So I went and, you know, did the responsible thing, and as a now father of three, and got another higher paying job in engineering, and was even more miserable and out of alignment. Lesley Logan 10:32 Just wanted to make sure. John Mollura 10:34 Yeah, just wanted to make sure this is definitely not for you. So almost, almost eight years ago to the day. We're recording this in early April, on April 7th of 2017 was when I walked away from corporate life and turned my side hustle photography in my full time gig. And it, you know, it was filled with a lot of ups and downs. You know, I had the opportunity, like National Geographics featured my stuff. I photograph my Grammy winners, like all the cool things, but it never really took off. Right? So here, you know, we're already up to two, two by four moments. There's, you know, the death of my friend and my spiritual awakening. You know, realizing this, like, dream career wasn't serving me. So if you're counting along, that's two, two by fours to the head, I don't catch on real quick. And then, actually, our initial conversation, and I looked it up, was in January of 2022, shout out, Brand Builders.Lesley Logan 11:34 I know, I know. Oh my God, that is, that is, I mean, we met, I guess, that is crazy. This podcast has been on for a long time.John Mollura 11:42 Yeah, and it wasn't even about the podcast that was about a webinar. You had this like, zany idea to be like, Hey, does anybody want to talk about imposter syndrome? I'm like, What's that? So I, like, Googled. I'm like, Oh my God, that's what I had even like as I was getting, like, letters of commendation from the military, like I felt like I didn't deserve it, and I was like, one screw up away from, like, failing and like everyone seeing I was faking it. So during this photography career, as the photography was starting to slow down, that came into my life, that came into my path, and then that turned into a keynote, and then the keynote turned, you know, into another keynote called elite level confidence. And that started getting traction. Meanwhile, my photography business is going down, right?Lesley Logan 12:30 Yeah, I'm going to challenge you on that second two by four. I think that the second two by four is a door, like a bridge or just like a guide, because I think, like, you would never have been in the room that you were in. So I feel like, maybe there's a second, two by four. And just like, hey, this photography thing is a beautiful hobby, and you're really good at it, and it's another zone of excellence. But like, they're, we're calling you over here. But I just think, like, I think, like, the everything happens for a reason, and you were in that room because of photography, you know, or maybe there was something inside you that was like, calling you to go for more, and maybe you knew about this coaching thing sooner. But I think, like, I wonder, like, would you have gone from engineering to elite level coaching? Like, you know what I mean? Like, I.John Mollura 13:14 Right, I mean, it all falls together. You know, when you're looking back at the path, it's like, oh, that makes sense. But yeah, in the moment you're like, what the heck it's going on here? Lesley Logan 13:23 Yeah, so okay, I remember, because I get your emails, I remember when you're like, oh, I'm not doing this for I'm closing my studio. And I was like, wow, I hope he's not going back to engineering. I'm so happy you're not. But you know, like, I was just like, oh, because I've been in this world long enough and like, it's really, it is really difficult to whatever your passion is, whether you're a photographer, listening or not, like one of my dear friends, like she makes her magic happen as a photographer, but it is you absolutely can get paid for your passion, but you also have to remember, it's still work, you know? And if it's not, if it doesn't serve you and your family, then it's not serving you, and you have to, like, change it. So, okay, how did you be it till you see it, from photographer to coach, because that I feel like, you know, like, how did you address that? How did you come to terms with your heart? How did you tell your family? How to tell people that I feel like people get stuck on like that, but what are people gonna say? What? How do I explain why I changed again?John Mollura 14:20 Yeah, and that was a lot of internal dialog when I was like, oh man, I'm starting to feel this, this just spiritual discontent again. And I'm like, I've wrestled with it. I'm like, are you kidding me, John, like, like you already had, like, a dream everybody wants. Like, you worked in the space program. You literally worked with astronauts and fighter pilots. Like, how cool is that? And then I did photography again. A lot of people like that. They're like, my dream is to be a photographer full time. And I'm like, oh, no, this isn't really filling me up anymore. So that was something I really wrestled with, Lesley, like, like, I didn't want to tell my wife, who's been on this, like, roller coaster with me, like, because I was embarrassed. I'm like, what is wrong with me? Why am I just such a like, you know, then all the negative voices start, right? It's like, you're a malcontent. You're never going to be happy, you know, all the things and but what I realized, what I really leaned into, was the truth of the matter, was, especially after Covid, because the photography I did, like headshots, portraits, things like that. So I was always working with people, and I saw such a change in people's demeanor. Like, I get it. Being photographed is not anyone's favorite pastime, really. But, like barely.Lesley Logan 15:31 I love it, but I'm weird. John Mollura 15:33 Right. Yeah, there's a very small percentage of people, but you know, every photo shoot would start the same. Good luck getting a good picture of me. And it's like, okay, yeah, that before, but there was something different, especially after Covid, where people just had this just lack of confidence in themselves. So I started realizing, like I was doing coaching sessions with people, just to get them comfortable being in front of the lens of the photo shoot they paid big money for.Lesley Logan 16:02 That's insane. I can totally see that 100%, yes.John Mollura 16:06 Yeah. So that's, that's what I really started leaning into. So my first coaching program that I came up with a couple years ago was called Authentic Men of Action. Because, you know, Rory Vaden, who actually brought us together through his Brand Builders was, he always says, you're best suited to serve the you that you used to be. And I'm like, God, I was a mess. So I thought, let me create this program to to work with men, to really help them take action and get after what is important to them and best serve people that are in their lives. And again, it kind of took off. But then, like, women started reaching out, like their girlfriends and wives, and they're like, Hey, can, like, we get in on this? And I'm like, okay, you know, cue all the limiting beliefs, you know, tripping up like, Oh, you gotta know what to say. You're gonna know how to help people. John Mollura 16:52 Almost like, you know when to, like, hit the button. You're like, okay, here they are. Like, just come at me.John Mollura 17:01 Yeah, yeah. And my wife's like, she's like, you know, you're a father to two daughters, you're a great husband. Like, why don't you just see how it goes, John, and quit over thinking this. Like, okay, so yeah. Then I opened the coaching up to the women, and then the keynotes started. Were with which turned into elite level confidence, you know? And it's just been a beautiful progression of just listening and seeing what the need is, and then answering the call and not letting those limiting beliefs stop me. Lesley Logan 17:24 Yeah, I think it like it takes, in the ideal world is like each time you get to know yourself and what you want more, and that each time you be it till you see it, like the space between hearing and limiting beliefs and still taking action, ideally, gets shorter. Like, I actually don't think that you they just go away. John Mollura 17:55 They never go away. Lesley Logan 17:56 I think if you're not a narcissistic, egotistical sociopath, like if you are, they never go away. You just recognize it. You're like, Oh, I know this station. I can actually just turn it off. Like, thank you. You know, like, I get to, I get to turn that off now, and I think that's so interesting. I also, like, was want to highlight, like, I do think that there's a massive confidence problem, and no one is like, you know, the coaches I've worked with, because I worked with a lot, since I'm in the fitness world, there's a lot of people who are like, you are, like, creating fitness programs so women feel confident. And the truth is, as my coach, is correct, no one is actually Googling how to get more confident, right? Like they're Googling, like, weight loss or whatever, but what they are wanting, the byproduct is confidence. Now that we've on the other side of Covid, I do think there's a lot of people who reckon, who are like, defeated, you know, and, and because, especially people our age who, like, you know, graduated, like, went to college in 2001 graduated to the recessions, you know, then once we started getting our legs under us, then Covid hit. Like, it kind of can feel like, if your evidence is every few years you get knocked down, you may as well stay in a safe place which doesn't make you more confident, it makes you have some dissonance, and that is where a lack of confidence comes from. So I do think that more and more people are needing it and even more aware, but they're using the word imposter syndrome and and other things to to describe it. Okay, you've done speeches before because, like, you had, like, you've had the career with, with space and all that stuff. But like, what was it like to give your first keynote under this, like, this iteration, this, like, next level, this, be it till you see it version of you?John Mollura 19:40 Yeah, one of my coaches told me something that really resonated with me, and now I share it with with my clients that want to, like, do keynote speaking. They said the best thing you can do to reduce the nerves is not to focus on yourself, because if you go out there with this mindset of, like, Oh my gosh. I need to, I need I need to, I need to not forget any lines. I need to hit my marks on the stage. I need to. I need to just, just, just, just crush this like, that's when it goes completely sideways, yeah? Because it's all inward focused. So being switching the mindset of like, okay, I'm gonna go out here. I'm well rehearsed. I've done the preparation that I need to do, and I'm doing that not so I look awesome, but so I can best serve everybody that's out in the audience. So the first time I gave that talk, you know, I did like the rotary thing, where I talked to rotary groups and get my legs under me and refined it. The first official time I gave it was to a group of people that had just completed a year of service with AmeriCorps, and they were transitioning out of that volunteer space. And now, you know, going a lot of them going back into whatever organizations they helped with, but also taking this knowledge and going forward, and they and they've changed, during these years of service.Lesley Logan 21:06 Yeah. Who they were when they started is a very different person, you know. John Mollura 21:10 Right, right. So I partnered up with AmeriCorps because they were, the leadership realized that when people would leave, they were they they didn't, they were kind of rudderless, because they weren't the same person going back to their lives they had before. So they brought me in to speak to them. And is a very beautiful thing about like ways we can sabotage ourselves with, with just, you know, whether it's it's perfectionism or having this kind of lone wolf mentality, building walls in our relationship, you know, focusing on, like perfectionism that leads to procrastination and overthinking and all the things it was helping them see and just be aware of these, these things that will pop up.Lesley Logan 21:55 Yeah, yeah. I sorry to hit you off. I think like understanding how we sabotage ourselves is one of the biggest things we could ever do for ourselves. So you mentioned perfectionism, lone wolf. What are some of the other like ways we can we can sabotage ourselves because we look at it as like it's happening to us, but really we're doing it to us.John Mollura 22:17 Yeah, yeah, yeah. So and that, that's where you know, my newest free resource that I've is on my website for people, it's The Six Leverage Points for Success, and it talks about, you know, creating legacy for yourself, like, how to honor this future you that is out there. You know, how to build your confidence. And we'll, we'll chat about here in a moment, about, like, the like, the real reason, like, why a lot of folks' confidence is lacking, talking about the ways that we can put more structure into our relationships, because people don't like to say, I'm going to put boundaries up, because that seems, you know, like they're keeping everything else. Like, no, it's not about putting walls up around. It's about putting walls up, but then putting some gates in with some quality guards that are there.Lesley Logan 23:05 Yeah, yeah. There's a lot of freedom in a boundary that people don't see it like they see it like as a cement wall. And it's like, well, it's actually just like, a guideline of how you can treat me in this situation. But okay. John Mollura 23:16 Yeah and then helping people understand the value of like focus, because so often when we're on these journeys, like, what are we doing? We're looking to that person over there, and then we're looking at their Instagram account, and then we're, you know, next thing, you know, you're completely side you know, you've spun yourself into the ground because you're looking at everybody else instead of keeping your eyes ahead. And then then finally, talking about helping people get into action. So that that's, that's kind of, those are kind of the ways that I've realized people have been sabotaging themselves. Like, okay, this is what they are, heads up, because awareness is so powerful. Yeah.Lesley Logan 23:52 Yeah, yeah. I mean, like, I I think, like, every time I think, like, something is like, not working, I can actually, if I just, like, take a moment after being upset about what's not working, so, oh, I actually tried to this by myself, or I guided this, like, focusing on, like, where my marks are. Where am I doing this, as opposed to, like, how is this impacting them? Why is this the thing that they need? Like, I can see, like, where I, like, got inwardly focused and sabotaged myself when really, like, I know the answer. And I guess what the cool thing is, you can actually pivot. You can actually just make changes once you're aware. But you have to be aware of these things to see them, yeah.John Mollura 24:34 Yeah and there and there's, there's, there's another component to that, which I found is really powerful, is that it's not just being aware, then it becomes very important that we're not judging ourselves with our awareness. Because when you're judging yourself and you're aware, like, I call that like, that's where the critic lives. Like, these are the people that have had their hearts stomped on, and they're like, never, this is never gonna work. This won't work. No one will want it like that's being judgmental and aware. Where we want to be is we want to shift into, like, what I call being the seeker mindset, which is where you're aware, but then you use, I know, one of your favorite words, which is curious. When we're aware and curious, man, that's where beautiful things happen, right? Yeah, that's where, like, we're a seeker, and we're like, this is where I want to go. I'm not really sure how I'm going to get there, but I'm going to start embracing this journey and seeing what resources and people I have that can help me get to there. And spoiler alert, that there is probably going to shift a little bit, but at least you're going towards that with awareness and curiosity.Lesley Logan 25:34 Oh, I love that you called out the judgment, because I think we can. It's so easy for us to like then be aware oh, here I am being my lone wolf and like, just like, continue going down the judgment zone, which is not where creativity nor confidence can live, by the way, like, judgment and gratitude can't live in the same place. Like, so yeah, it's a whole, it's a whole, those energies don't coexist very well. Okay, so can we talk a bit about confidence? Because, like, I do think, like, I find, first of all, I'm always shocked that people think that people like you or I struggle with confidence. And I think, like, it's really hilarious because, like, I just personally think that they see in us what they want for themselves. And so there's a projection that's happening, and us just doing the thing scared shitless. Like, like, it's what they think is confidence, and really it's like, well, I'm not going around with a sign on my shirt saying I'm scared shitless while I'm doing this, but also I am doing this because I know that if I do this sooner than I think I'm ready, I'm gonna get feedback, and when I get feedback, I can get better. Like, that's actually and then confidence is a byproduct, like, can we because I feel like people have a misinterpretation of what true confidence is. John Mollura 26:51 Right, right. So what confidence is, you know, the definition is a belief in yourself, a belief in your abilities. And I'm going to start this with a question. If I ask you, or most people, I'm sure your listeners are, listeners are all lovely, wonderful people, if I ask you or your listeners, like, when you make a commitment to somebody, like, do you show up to that person you've made the commitment to? Right? Like, pretty much 100% right? What if I tweak that question and said, How good are you at showing up when you've made a promise just to yourself?Lesley Logan 27:31 See, this is interesting, because this is where, like, I'm really good with myself, but I also know that, like, the time, I'm the first born, firstborn daughter, first born grandchild. There's like, the upholder in me is real. Like, if I don't have to tell anyone to do something, I'm going to do it. But that is also where perfectionism lives, so I have to be very mindful of that. Of like, am I doing it because I'm trying to be perfect, or am I doing it because I, like, I said I would do it so. But I actually know from studies that like the most people listening, they don't, they don't keep it to themselves. They keep it for everyone else but themselves.John Mollura 28:08 Right, and that and that right, there is the root, from all the research I've done that's actually the root of people's lack of confidence, is they're not showing up for themselves. Because here's what happens, is we're lying to ourselves. We say I'm going to wake up and go to the gym, or, I mean, this is the year I'm going to start eating healthier, or I'm going to floss my teeth every night. Like, pick, pick a commitment you've made to yourself. If we continually break these commitments time and time again, well, guess what? Our brain recognizes I can't trust me.Lesley Logan 28:44 Oh, there. It's, that's it. That's confidence. It's the ability to trust yourself. John Mollura 28:50 Right. Right? Right? Lesley Logan 28:53 That's so good, yes. John Mollura 28:55 Right, and people, when we're when we get into this headspace of, like, why can't I just do the thing like, why can't I start working out? Why can't I start this business? Why can't I have this critical conversation with somebody? They're like, what I don't understand, what's wrong with me? I work with them all the time that they say this and I say, what's causing it is, obviously the root is, you're not keeping promises to yourself on whatever it is, but because you keep your promise to everybody else, your brain kind of short circuits, because it's like, wait a minute, I do keep my promises. And it's like, no, you don't. So there's this like, weird dichotomy going on in your head, as they say, the only way to rectify that is just start keeping promises to yourself and start giving your brain a new set of data to work with, instead of this old set of data that that you with these promises that you've broken to yourself.Lesley Logan 29:47 Okay, yes to all that, because we get we allow our phones to get new data all the time. We allow scientists to give us new data. We allow so much grace for people to bring in new data and yet for ourselves were like, no, I'm gonna go on that old operating system, like.John Mollura 30:04 Yeah, you're like, working on a Commodore 64. Lesley Logan 30:06 Yeah, oh, yeah. Wait, so this is a funny example. So we've, we got a used car, car of my dreams. It's used, and it is amazing. It is a 2015 that has more technology than my 2020 does. And we, but we were like, Bluetooth-ing to it, which is kind of amazing for a 2015, car to have Bluetooth, right? Kind of amazing. And we're like, oh, it's skipping. I wonder how we update this thing. And it's got, you guys, it has a DVD player. Okay? Car has a DVD player. I didn't know. I was like, oh, it's got a CD player. Were people playing CDs in 2015? No, it doesn't connect to the internet, so it cannot update its system. Like, cannot. I'm gonna have to find some dude, I'm sure it exists here, who, like, can change an operating system. Well, at least that part of the car, right? I'm sure it exists where I live. But it cannot change. However, if we look at that, like, since 2015 how much has technology changed? How much have you changed? How much have you learned about yourself, and if you're still operating off the 2015 version of you, that is going to that is not going to be fun and also going to cause a lot of issues, because the whole world has updated 10 years.John Mollura 31:16 Right. Yeah. And the beautiful thing is, it might sound daunting, like, oh my gosh, I don't want to have to, like, reinvent myself. And how am I going to keep promises to myself? You know, I haven't done the thing that I said I was going to do. How am I going to even start doing it now? And I say, the beautiful thing is, about your brain is it doesn't recognize the magnitude of the promise you keep to yourself, like it doesn't recognize the difference between the promise of like, I'm going to climb Mount Everest or I'm going to floss my teeth every night. All it's doing is kicking the block saying, done, done, done, done, and then eventually you're going to hit, like, a critical mass where you're like, wait a minute. I'm just kind of doing things that I said I was going to do that's wild, because that's the beauty of taking small, consistent actions.Lesley Logan 32:08 Yeah, yeah. It's like, I love that you brought that up. We think we need, like, some sort of big goal to get going. And really, if you are not already consistently hitting things you say you were gonna do that is, like, a recipe for disaster. Like that is a self-sabotage in itself. Like it is, like, if you are, like, wanting to, like, just make sure you put another sabotage. You'll put a goal on. You'll put a habit on. Like, if you don't go the gym every day, you're like, I'm gonna go the gym five days this week. I don't even need a crystal ball to tell you that you won't. It is impossible to go from never putting your gym bag in the car, going to the gym, hitting the red lights, getting out, knowing where the equipment is, to get in a decent workout, to get the dopamine high that makes you want to go back again. Like it doesn't work. If you live in my town, every other day there's a new construction site. So you don't even get to go the same route, you know, so like, but you have to make it small so it's attainable. That's where you know that perfectionism stuff lies, because then people are like, well, if it's not, if I don't do it, if it's not all or nothing, then it's not worth doing. Like, how do you talk to yourself about doing a small thing? What did you do? John Mollura 33:19 Right. And a lot of that comes down to like that, like, you hit the nail on the head, where people are like, well, I don't have time to get in my hour long workout, so I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it tomorrow, because, you know, I strive for excellence, and I if it's not done right, it's not worth doing at all, which I say, time out. Like, what's better? 45 minutes of exercises, and maybe you don't do the squats and the overhead press for another set or zero? Like, it's perfectionism. This, this kind of all or nothing mentality, and I call these the big three, Lesley, there's perfectionism, there's procrastination, and then there's overthinking, right? Those are three big things that just derail us from doing the things that we want to do, or the things we say are so important from us. And the good news is about these three, perfectionism, procrastination and overthinking, is they all have the same root, like we don't focus on perfectionism because we really care so much about whatever it is. We don't procrastinate because we suck at time management. That's the story we tell ourselves. I'm just bad at time management.Lesley Logan 34:31 Yeah, we're not, because there's plenty of proof that you've, like, nailed some things on time, like. John Mollura 34:35 Right, right. We don't overthink because, you know, it's just so important to us that we think of every considerable contingency. The root of procrastination, perfectionism and overthinking, it's fear, and if we get a handle on fear being the root of procrastination, perfectionism and overthinking, now we can get honest with ourselves. We can start telling ourselves the truth of what am I so scared of?Lesley Logan 35:03 Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's the question of the day. John Mollura 35:08 Yeah. And it, and it goes back to when we first started here. I said I never came up with a plan, because if you don't have a plan, you can never fail, right? You never, you can never miss your target. So it's the same with procrastination or perfectionism. We find, I bet, if we're honest with ourselves, a lot of things we procrastinate the most on or get, you know, tangled up in perfectionism and overthinking are the things that are probably the closest to our heart and perfectionism, procrastination, overthinking are so convenient ways to hide because if you procrastinate for long enough, you never do the thing. And you can never fail. You try to keep making it perfect, which, spoiler alert, perfection doesn't exist, everybody. Excellence does not perfection. We never have to do the thing. And the reason why these are usually so coupled to the things that are so important to us is because one of our greatest fears as humans, I mean, like we're social creatures, right? One of our deepest fears of everybody is just the way we're wired, is to be kicked out of the tribe, the village, the clan, whatever it is. So a lot of times we resist most putting the things out that show the most of us, because we don't want people to reject us, reject what we're doing, because that taps on a very primal fear.Lesley Logan 36:37 Yes, oh, I mean, I mean, so much so, like, I remember not wanting to put out a YouTube video. My husband's like, you should be on YouTube. It's like, you know, 2014, I was like, no, no no, because people are gonna hate it, and they're gonna wonder, who they who am I to do this? There's other people who in my industry who have been teaching longer, and they should have the time. And he goes, I don't know who those people are. I don't care. You need to be on YouTube. And I remember being so scared, and I did the thing because I had to do it kicking and screaming with him, and no one actually got mad. And I was like, oh, then what am I actually afraid of? You know, like I was afraid of being kicked out of, like, the industry, like people would think that I'm some narcissist who thinks she knows everything, and really, what I do get instead, because I did it, is that people love how I show things imperfectly. I'm quite honest and candid about where I am. I'm very direct, and I'm I invite them to go there's actually, like, your body's gonna look different doing this. And so because, because I was, because I should have as me and focus on like the person viewing it, versus like me, it actually turned out to be the best thing I could ever done, because it's so much more authentic. And what I was afraid of didn't happen. In fact, I got brought into the community more, you know, like, and that's but, you know, here's the thing, it is true that whatever you want to do, you might get kicked out of your tribe. You might. There are, there are people who are assholes, and then probably, if you ask yourself, like, do I really, like, want to be in this tribe, not being my authentic self the and you know what I mean, like, I so you're gonna get a two by four to the head, is really what's gonna happen. But your tribe might come with you. You'd be surprised, like, how many people were like, Whoa, John or Lesley really did the thing. And I'm, I'm inspired by them, they actually might join in.John Mollura 38:31 Yeah, there's, there's a quote by CS Lewis that I absolutely love. You know, the dude who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia is he says friendship is born that moment that someone says, Wait a minute, you too? I thought I was the only one. Right? Lesley Logan 38:50 Well, John, I could talk to you forever about confidence and imposter syndrome. I really do love this topic. I'm so freaking glad this is what you're doing, because your journey has brought you here. And one of the reasons I wanted to have you back on the pod is, like, I think people get so hung up on like, well, I said I was going to be the photographer, so I've got to be the photographer. I made that switch. And the reality is is like, that could have just been the first next step for you. And so I really wanted people to see, like, what can happen. Look what can happen in three in three years. Like, that's kind of insane. Like, it sounds like a long time. It's not a long time. I can't believe this podcast has been this long. I feel like I just started it. So even though. John Mollura 39:36 That's really hitting you deep, isn't it? It's like the fifth time you mentioned.Lesley Logan 39:36 I know I might.John Mollura 39:36 Let's unpack that, Lesley. Lesley Logan 39:36 Well, here's what it is. The unpacking is, I actually don't think I'm getting older. I think I'm the same age I was when I moved to Vegas. Like I, actually, we moved here in June of 2020, so in two months, this will have lived here for five years. And It shocks me every day, because I feel like we just moved here. And so when things like this happen, or I meet my friend's kids I haven't seen a few years, I'm like, oh I have gotten older, and, like, not that I'm scared of getting older. That's not it at all. It's just that I actually haven't noticed that. I haven't noticed how much time has flown. And I think one, it's good to notice it, because you can celebrate all that you have done in the last three years. It's kind of epic, right? And then two, time is always going and so what are we doing with that time? You know, if you are procrastin on something, I hope that the five times I mentioned, like, how long it's been, you realize, if you were with us on episode 120 and you still haven't done the thing you wanted to do, like, this is your sign. John Mollura 40:37 Yeah, here's your two by four. Lovingly swung by Lesley and John. Lesley Logan 40:41 Yeah, yeah. I mean, like, I think that's really the unpacking. It's like, I hope that people who have have listened from that episode on have either noticed their sabotaging moments or are going, oh my goodness, it has been three years. Okay. What can I do today? You know, like, what can I do to be it till I see it today? Like, that's what I hope. Let me get this, anyways, we're gonna take a brief break and we can find out where people can find you, follow you, work with you. John Mollura 41:08 Super duper. Lesley Logan 41:10 Hi, John. Where do you hang out? Where can they take your group or your coaching or watch a keynote? Where's it all happening?John Mollura 41:18 Yeah, so they can go to johnmollura.com J-O-H-N-M-O-L-L-U-R-A dot com, and there is a fun little button there that says, schedule a free call with John. And it is truly that. It is a free call with me, because I just love to chat with people and see where they're at. It's not a sales call. It's just, I love having conversations with people about that. So johnmollura.com they can also download the free resources, the six leverage points for success that I talked about, and they can also get my Elite Level Confidence Blueprint. So there's actually two free resources there. They are under the free stuff tab, creatively titled, but yeah. Just love to connect with people. I post regularly on Instagram, little daily things there my thoughts and musings, and sometimes there's just funny stuff or bloopers. So, John Mollura on Instagram.Lesley Logan 42:09 I love it. Okay, you have given us so many things. And obviously those freebies sound like a Be It Action Item all in themselves, but what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps can people take to be it till they see it? John Mollura 42:19 Right. So when you face these decisions, moment to moment, minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, when you hit those decision points, you need to ask yourself, is what I'm going to do or not do going to cause me to be a hero to the future you? Is it when I meet the future you in the future, is it going to be standing there like downtrodden, tired, disappointed that we didn't go after it, or when you meet the future you, is it going to just like high five you and give you a big hug and say, thank you for honoring me, thank you for doing the thing in that moment.Lesley Logan 42:19 Oh, I love that. Oh, that's so fun. John Mollura 42:38 Yeah, super deep. Lesley Logan 42:48 That's great. I think that's such an impactful way to explore the fear, too. Yeah, guys, how will you use that tip in your life? Make sure John knows. Make sure you share it with the Be It Pod. Also share this episode with a friend. You know those friends who like keep overthinking the thing or procrastinating send it to them, they will only notice at this moment that why you're sending it to them. But like, you know, sometimes people need to hear it from someone else in a different word or just a different time, and so that's how we actually all rise up. We need to do it together. That's what makes your sandbox with your boundaries a more playful place, because everyone is understanding where that's coming from. So thank you for listening. John, thank you for being here. Fun to catch up with you. It's so good. We'll have to, we have to see each other in real life at some point. But, you guys, you know what to do. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 43:54 That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 44:36 It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 44:41 It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 44:46 Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 44:53 Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 44:56 Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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