Podcasts about complaining

War Room Netanyahu Brags on Israeli TV about Manipulating Trump & America Into The Iran War, As POTUS Tells Americans To Stop Complaining About Data Centers… PLUS, Trump Backs Amish In Vaccine Fight Against NY & 15 Still Missing After Grand Canyon Floods

Can the words we speak truly shape our day?In today's episode, Gabby explores the incredible power our words have to build up or break down, drawing wisdom from Proverbs 18:21. Together, we'll reflect on how the language we use can create an atmosphere of faith, gratitude, and hope—even in the midst of life's hardest seasons. We'll learn practical steps to speak life over ourselves and those around us, allowing God's Spirit to transform our hearts and our homes.Join our community in prayer and devotion as we ask for the grace to use our words to glorify God and bring life wherever we go.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? Welcome! We're four sisters - Stephanie, Lauren, Gaby, and Richelle - and our family works together at Metro Life Church in Miami, FL. We're so blessed to produce this daily devotional podcast for you and continue the great work done by the show's founder, Alison Delamota.We pray these devotions will help you to grow in your faith, and that you'll join us every weekday for a morning prayer and some time in God's Word! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the showShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Complaining does not build an exit.Execution does.In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down why aspiring entrepreneurs need to protect their energy, avoid workplace negativity, and quietly use their free time to build something of their own.It is easy to bond over frustration.It is harder to turn that frustration into action.Every hour spent complaining about the job is an hour that could have been used to develop a plan, learn a skill, or build the systems that move you closer to freedom.In this episode, you'll learn:• Why constant complaining drains the energy needed to make real progress• How workplace negativity can reinforce an employee mindset• Why building quietly helps protect your focus and momentum• How consistent after-hours execution can create a real path out of the 9-to-5The truth is simple:You cannot build a better future by constantly talking about what you hate.Protect your energy.Stay focused.Do your job well.Then use the margins of your day to build the asset that can eventually replace the paycheck.Stop complaining about the walls.Start building the exit.Your Network is your NETWORTH!Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQLinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you:www.CashSwipe.comFREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com

Laurence & Russ break down the Arizona Diamondbacks being upset about Cubs 3rd base coach Quinten Barry stealing their signs.

Recording from Washington, DC Gospel Truth Conference 2019:Many people think they're praying when they're really just complaining. Join Andrew for this powerful study on how God feels about complaining, learn the antidote to a complaining attitude, and discover how to keep yourself free from negativity.

Fr. Mike teaches us about recognizing our limitations especially when trying to compete with God. We also see how the Lord listens to Jeremiah's complaints and responds to him in a peculiar but hopeful way. Today's readings are Jeremiah 12-13, Ezekiel 41-42, and Proverbs 15:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Share this program with a friend or family member at www.joniradio.org!  --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

All summer long, the children in the house behind ours spend hours swinging on their swing set. Their noisy swing set. Its creaky noise doesn’t bother the children who seem, some days, to swing endlessly. Complaining, I asked my husband why their parents don’t oil the swing. Praying about it, however, I noticed a change in my heart. I could see the children’s laughter and joy bursting from the trust they find in their family’s yard, and in having parents within calling distance nearby. Jesus spoke of such trust when speaking of children. People were bringing their children to Jesus so He could bless them, but His annoyed disciples scolded the parents, rebuking them (Mark 10:13). Seeing this, Jesus “was indignant” (v. 14). “Let the little children come to me,” He told them, “and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” He added, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (vv. 14-15). He’d already taught His disciples this when they’d argued who among them was greatest. Taking a child in His arms, He said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (9:37). Demonstrating the same idea, “He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (10:16). What beautiful reminders to be childlike in our trust in Jesus.

Recording from Washington, DC Gospel Truth Conference 2019:Many people think they're praying when they're really just complaining. Join Andrew for this powerful study on how God feels about complaining, learn the antidote to a complaining attitude, and discover how to keep yourself free from negativity.

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3111: Zachary Goodson traces his habit of staying in relationships that hurt him back to a childhood that taught him he did not deserve better. He explains how constant complaining kept him in the victim role for years, and what changed when he chose responsibility and self-respect instead. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/complaining-keeps-us-stuck-relationships-dont-work/ Quotes to ponder: "See my pattern? I stay in and return to painful, destructive relationships." "If I stop complaining, what am I left with? Me, just me." "Complaining doesn't change anything. It just keeps us stuck, victimized, repeating old patterns and unable to change them." Optimal Relationships Daily is a daily relationship advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on healthy relationships, dating, marriage, and family, read to you by a professional narrator so you can strengthen your closest connections a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pentecost XII

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Integrity is a big word in business. It is found in codes of conduct, employee handbooks, and job descriptions as a catch all word. I was curious about how much the word integrity shows up in job descriptions alone. According to ChatGPT, this word appears one to three times in postings for leadership, finance, healthcare, ministry, nonprofit, and executive roles.  But what does it mean? Those who have been around for a while know I love my Merriam-Webster dictionary as a launching point. According to Merriam-Webster, integrity has three definitions1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility.  an unimpaired condition: soundness.  the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.   As always, the problem with any dictionary definition is it is open to a wide lens of interpretation. Whose moral code is the right moral code? Surely, we have a legal standard within business laws that are guardrails, but this doesn't stop people from having a lack of integrity. It just establishes the standard by which we measure a consequence.   As for an unimpaired condition, we have building codes for this to make sure the structural integrity of a building or a bridge is intact. But again, this can be challenged by builders who skirt the codes to save some money!  And, what about the state of being complete or undivided? You may hear someone say the opinion written by someone has integrity—meaning the paper is complete.  The problem with integrity? Sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. Like the temperature variance here in the Midwest between January and July, integrity can be wildly off! So, how can we distill down?   In an article entitled “Integrity” from the Harvard Business Review, Karen Christensen interviewed Harvard professor, Michael Jensen who says, “Integrity is a matter of a person's word—nothing more and nothing less.”2 Like the third definition of being complete or undivided, keeping one's word is about doing what you say you are going to do. He separates integrity from the concepts of morality and ethics stating morality and ethics are “normative concepts in that they deal with matters of good or bad, right vs. wrong”. For example, as a Christian, I have a normative set of values that are likely held by other Christians. As I noted above, who's good is good?   Jensen argues that integrity is key to what he calls workability within an organization. “Without integrity the workability of any object, system, person, group or organization declines; and as workability declines, the opportunity for performance declines.” He states that integrity leads to trust.  As a follower of Jesus, I am called to a high standard of morals and ethics. How I keep my word following these morals and ethics is where my integrity comes into play. We will all fail to keep our word at various levels. Sometimes, Jensen argues, we even fail to honor our word to ourselves. This could look like failing to go to the gym when we promised to wake up early to work out to something more aggreges like cheating on our spouse when we promised to be faithful. Like I said, various levels. In the Christian vernacular we call this sin—where our word to keep the standards set by our faith isn't kept. Doing this on repeat makes us seem unreliable, inconsistent and unpredictable according to Jensen. It breaks trust.  In business, these actions lead to broken workplaces and a true lack of performance. Someone breaks her word and doesn’t show up to a meeting. Someone accepts a supplier known to treat its employees poorly, failing to keep her word to uphold the company’s supply chain ethics. Someone accepts a kickback from a vendor for a referral, breaking her word to honor the company’s code of ethics.  GE married the concepts of integrity and performance, weaving integrity into every aspect of their culture. They put into place very specific consequences for violating their company's moral and ethical boundaries especially for leaders who were not holding to the standards. In the Harvard Business Review article, “Avoiding Integrity Land Minds”, the article says, “In no area of corporate life is leadership commitment more important that in creating an integrity culture.”3 They knew if leaders were not walking the talk there were huge implications from the top down for the erosion of integrity in the business.  But what happens when your company culture doesn't value integrity or makes you feel like you are unable to keep your integrity as a Christian? What can you do?  First, what does biblical integrity look like as a Christian? If the matter is as simple as someone's word, as Jensen argues, I would say Christian integrity founded on God's Word is anything but simple. It is a difficult standard to meet, especially given our example is Jesus Christ who was perfect in every way. He kept his word. He was consistent even down to the patterns of his life like waking up early to seek God in prayer. He was obedient to God the Father unto death. You see, Jesus kept his word perfectly to God.  Even our other examples of integrity in the Bible hold a very high standard to keeping one's word. Think of Abraham. God called for him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. He kept his word to be obedient to God getting all the way to the altar before God faithfully kept his promise of make Abraham the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). Or even Daniel. He refused to worship the idol of his king and was sentenced to death in the lions' den. Daniel kept his word to worship no other God, and God ultimately protected Daniel.  As I stated earlier, the standard to which we need to keep our word is high. We are to act like Christ when it comes to integrity—keeping his word to God. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me (John 6:38).  We are to live to the glory of God no matter what we do (1 Corinthians 10:31), take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). We are called to put off our old selves, corrupt and deceitful and to put on our new selves which are created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).  All of this takes work! Being in God's Word, spending time in prayer, finding community with other believers, guarding our heart, and repenting when we don't live up to our word to God are marks of the Christian life. People should see this in you through integrity and consistency, in keeping your word to God to become more like Jesus every day. We are told to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (Colossians 3:5).  Now, back to our workplace. What happens when we are working in a company which doesn't value integrity or makes us feel like we can't keep our word to Christian integrity? The first thing I want to remind you is your workplace is probably not applying the same moral and ethical standard you are when it comes to your faith. Certainly, normal standards are in place, like codes of conduct, standards, and employee handbooks, but even these will never meet the measure of a perfect Jesus. However, when a company is consistently inconsistent, you may be left feeling like you really don't fit in at all. If a company doesn't do what they say they will do in the case of a violation or even with someone lacking performance, by Jensen's definition, the company culture is lacking integrity.  Keeping in mind that you may be the only light this workplace will ever encounter, I want to suggest some actions you can consider when you feel like your personal integrity and the company's integrity are not aligned.  Of course, you may start very practically by having a conversation with your manager or another trusted party within the organization. It is essential to be careful not to cause further disruptions by talking about your opinion with too many people. If you have a trusted colleague, start by asking some probing questions if you aren't sure if you are alone in your feelings. Something like, “Hey, have you noticed we aren't paying our bills on time?” or “It seems like XYZ department is constantly hiring new people because there is a lot of turn over. I have heard the manager raise their voice a lot. Have you ever witnessed this?”  Remember gossip is something we are called to avoid. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies (Psalm 34:13).  Letting someone know how the company may consider changes to better the culture and improve trust may be welcomed. Always have specific, factual, and constructive feedback to provide. Complaining is not a solution.  Of course, if you are asked to do something which lacks integrity big or small you should speak up and let the person know you are not comfortable performing what you are being asked. Again, report this to a manager or higher up in your organization if it was your manager asking you to perform the action.  If the issues persist or you aren't taken seriously, you may also consider leaving the company, but what if this is not an easy option for you? You need the work, and despite looking for other positions, you are going to be just where you are for now.   Remember, even when we don't feel it, God is working all things for our good and for his glory (Romans 8:28). One of the most difficult things we are called to do, aside from having Christlike integrity, is wait. This can be especially difficult when we find ourselves in a culture that doesn't fit.   When the practical and tactical suggestions I mentioned don't work and we find ourselves in the waiting, we can find strength in abiding closer to the Lord in Christ Jesus. Reading the Bible, memorizing Scripture, praying, and building community are all important and will give you the encouragement you need to hold your integrity.  Psalm 37 has recently brought me a lot of encouragement through a period of difficulty. I found the verses were giving me some great advice. It says:   Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong… Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes (Psalm 37:1, 3-5, 7).  God doesn't want me to worry. He wants me to delight in him and trust him. He wants me to commit my ways to him and to be still. Easier said than done when you are feeling challenged in your integrity right?  Fretting is worrying heavily or being concerned or unhappy about things you cannot control. It happens when we get so wrapped up in these matters it impacts us physically and emotionally. Has stress ever given you a headache or made you cry? Turn your fret into a prayer. Rather than repeating a matter repeatedly in your head, say it out loud to God! He wants to hear from you. These prayers can be simple.  “God, I don't feel like my workplace has integrity. Help me Lord to be a light to others around me. Help me Lord to be different, to be a light to others that they might come to know you.”  Delighting in God can bring encouragement! Think of all the wonderful ways he is working in your life. Think of Jesus and the sacrifice he made for you on the cross. Think of his steadfast love and assurance. Recommit yourself each day to doing God's work! We are called to make disciples and love others.  And we can just be still. God promises he will act on our behalf. Reminding myself of these things again helps me not only to be encouraged in my own integrity but also to show this to others.  How can you hold your word to God today? How can you hold your word to others today? Showing integrity is doing what you say you are going to do with consistency. Write down a few ways you can grow your Christlike integrity today.  Sources:  Merriam-Webster, s.v. “integrity,” accessed June 8, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity. Michael C. Jensen, “Integrity: Without It Nothing Works,” interview by Karen Christensen, Rotman Magazine, Fall 2009, 16–20. Ben W. Heineman Jr., “Avoiding Integrity Land Mines,” Harvard Business Review, April 2007, https://hbr.org/2007/04/avoiding-integrity-land-mines.

Books first. Complaining second. As God intended.This week we're talking about the books we've been reading, storm-chasing romance, Savannah Golden's Polaris, and what's happening at The Book Burrow. Then we get into the part of owning an indie bookstore nobody sees: ordering, inventory, social media, bank runs, post office trips, family life, sick kids, and occasionally getting a one-star review because real life happened. Then things get significantly less productive.Reborn doll moms. TikTok rage bait. People eating horrifying amounts of butter. True crime. Getting stuck on Universal rides. Roller coaster death scenarios. You know, bookstore stuff.Scissor Sisters is book talk, bookstore life and whatever else KStew and Meep couldn't stop thinking about this week.

Have you ever looked at an opportunity and thought:Maybe someday.Maybe when you have more money. Maybe when your schedule settles down. Maybe when you know someone there. Maybe when you're more qualified. Maybe when you're finally ready.CarrieVee wants you to stop waiting.In this episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie shares the story of walking into her very first International Maxwell Conference completely alone. She didn't know anyone. She wasn't sure exactly what to expect. She didn't have guarantees that the experience would be worth the time, money, or effort.But she knew one thing:She needed to be in that room.And being in that room changed the trajectory of her life. This episode is about the power of your environment, the people you surround yourself with, and the rooms you choose to enter.Because sometimes the thing standing between you and your next level isn't a lack of ability.It's that you're standing in the wrong room.In This Episode, CarrieVee Talks About:Your environment is your destiny.The people around you influence your thinking, your expectations, your goals, and ultimately your behavior. Carrie challenges listeners to examine the five people they spend the most time with—and asks whether those people are helping them move forward or keeping them comfortable. Stop waiting for the perfect time.The perfect time doesn't exist. There will always be a reason to wait: money, timing, family, work, uncertainty, fear.Carrie shares how her parents taught her an important lesson growing up: if something mattered enough, they found a way to make it happen. That mindset has stayed with her. Get in the room—even when you're uncomfortable.Your room might be a conference, mastermind, workshop, networking group, community, retreat, or gathering of people pursuing the same things you are.And you don't have to know anyone before you go.You just have to show up.Carrie explains that she continues attending the International Maxwell Conference even when she's heard some of the content before because the value isn't only in what she learns. It's in who she's surrounded by. Stop complaining and start growing.Complaining is comfortable. Growth isn't.Carrie challenges listeners to pay attention to their language. Are you spending more time talking about what's wrong—or talking about what's possible? Are you looking for solutions or collecting evidence for why something can't work?Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596 Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement: https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me Connect with CarrieVee:www.carrievee.comcarriev@coachcarriev.comIG: @iamcarrievee TT: @carrievee2022FB: Carrie VerrocchioLI: Carrie Verrocchio   Episode's Publish Date:2026-08-11T04:00:00-04:00

Life isn't always fair.Your child will face difficult teachers, unfair coaches, rejection, failure, and disappointment.The question is… how will they respond?In this episode of High Performance Parenting, Greg and Jacquie Francis continue their conversation on High Agency Parenting, sharing practical ways to help children stop making excuses and start solving problems.In this episode you'll learn:Why solving every problem weakens your child's confidenceTeaching kids to become problem solvers instead of excuse makersHelping children navigate unfair situations with wisdomWhy failure often becomes the greatest teacherFocusing on what you can control instead of what you can'tBuilding resilience through everyday disappointmentsRaising children who love God, take ownership, and lead othersLife won't always be easy—but your children can become strong enough to handle it.

Habbakuk | Josh de Koning

The best in music, bands, rockstar life, hard rock and being unsigned AF! Music from The Space Turtles! This ain't your mom's lunch box. #onthebox Be social with DJ and REVEL 9! "After all that, Ken Griffin is not leaving New York" #youtuber #revel9 #hardrocklunchbox #thetoptwenty #todaysrant #99wnrr #streamingradio #radiohost #advice #culture #lifestyle #politics #mentalhealth #socialissues #livemusic #bandrelations #mamdani #nyc #florida #kengriffin #communitygrocery #trumpfuel #2k #labor #workingclass #billionaires #foxnews #socialdemocrats #fakenews #factcheck #rentfreeze #landlords #housing #affordability #floridafailing #rentals #floridaexodus

All you want is some quiet. All you want is some space. All you want is some calm. More than want it, you need it. You need it for your sanity. For your survival.

Complaining isn't always negative—it can help us process emotions, connect with others, identify problems, and challenge unfair situations. In this episode, we explore how to complain more wisely by choosing the right person and moment, communicating with sensitivity, and turning frustration into constructive action.Join my English discussion classesJoin online or in Yokohama-Motomachi, Japan and experience meaningful discussions that help you:Think creativelySpeak confidentlyConnect deeplyAdvanced and intermediate English speakers only.Book a free consultation and learn about classes and events:www.bridgebeyondenglish.com

Welcome to a brand-new season of The Retreat Leaders Podcast. This episode is a little different. Instead of diving into retreat marketing strategies or interviewing a guest, Shannon shares exciting updates about the future of the podcast, reflects on the incredible community that has helped grow the show into the top 2% of podcasts globally, and gives listeners a preview of what's ahead. The biggest change? The podcast is leveling up. Going forward, most interviews will be recorded in person from Shannon's new podcast studio in Austin, Texas. The goal is to create deeper conversations, stronger connections, and even more valuable content for retreat leaders and entrepreneurs. If you have expertise that can help retreat leaders build better retreats or more profitable businesses, Shannon would love to hear from you. Guests are welcome to apply if they're willing to travel to Austin. There will also be a limited number of special on-location episodes featuring unique retreat venues, extraordinary retreat experiences, and innovative concepts that can inspire retreat leaders around the world. Most importantly, this episode is a heartfelt thank-you to every listener who has shared an episode, left a review, attended a mastermind, or simply kept coming back each week. The next goal? The top 1%. And Shannon hopes you'll be part of the journey. In This Episode You'll Learn Why The Retreat Leaders Podcast is moving to mostly in-person interviews What listeners can expect from the new season How to apply to be a guest on the podcast What makes a great podcast guest for retreat leaders Why in-person conversations create a better listening experience How the podcast will continue helping retreat leaders build profitable retreat businesses What You'll Learn The future of The Retreat Leaders Podcast Why in-person interviews create more engaging conversations How to apply as a podcast guest What topics the show is looking for How the podcast continues supporting retreat leaders and entrepreneurs Key Takeaways This Community Built the Podcast Reaching the top 2% didn't happen because of one episode. It happened because thousands of retreat leaders chose to listen, share, and support the show. Better Conversations Start Face-to-Face Recording in person creates a different kind of energy, allowing for richer conversations, stronger storytelling, and more practical takeaways. The Goal Is Always More Value Every change being made is designed to bring retreat leaders more actionable ideas, more expert insights, and more opportunities to grow their businesses. The Journey Continues The podcast has reached the top 2%. Now it's time to see how far this community can go together.   The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Join our Mastermind in Austin! Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Get your legal docs for retreats Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Grab the AI + SEO Mini Course Grab the Pitch to Profit Mini Course   Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together!   Subscribe:  Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify -------------- TIMESTAMPS Welcome to a New Season (00:00:02) Shannon introduces a new season of the podcast, thanking listeners and sharing what to expect in the upcoming episodes. The Value of Trust and Time (00:01:18) Shannon expresses gratitude for listeners' trust and time, emphasizing that time is our most valuable, non-renewable resource. Focusing on Live Experiences (00:02:12) The podcast will shift to in-person sessions recorded in an Austin studio, minimizing virtual interviews to capture live energy. Taking the Show on the Road (00:03:15) A new, limited opportunity for the podcast to be recorded on-location at unique venues or retreats is announced. The Importance of Growth and Taking Risks (00:04:17) Shannon encourages listeners to avoid stagnation by trying new things and taking risks in their business to ensure growth. Up-leveling All Projects (00:05:18) The host discusses her focus on improving her main projects, including the podcast and her annual retreat leader mastermind. Avoiding Negativity and Complaining (00:06:23) Shannon advises listeners to avoid people who complain, as negativity drains energy and hinders success and business growth. A Call to Action (00:08:31) Listeners are encouraged to take action, show up for live experiences, and engage more deeply to advance their businesses. Gratitude to the Listeners (00:09:28) Shannon offers a heartfelt thank you to her audience for their support, trust, and for making the podcast successful.

Pastor Ryan continues the sermon series through the Book of Numbers: The Journey to the Promised Land as he preaches part two of a message titled "The Complaining Begins" out of chapter 11 during this Wednesday Evening Service.

We celebrate 5 years of the ICC podcast! There could even be a special surprise guest appearance from Gwyneth Paltrow. Enjoy.TEXT THE RAINWATER HOTLINENew episodes are released every Tuesday.https://icancomplain.com/

Caitriona Redmond, Irish Examiner Consumer Columnist

Send us Fan MailHe Bought Useless Land Full of Rattlesnakes. Here's What He Built Instead.What do you do when everything you've invested in looks like a complete failure?Most people complain. Most people quit. Most people spend years talking about the terrible hand they were dealt.This farmer did something nobody expected.This Monday morning on Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest shares one of the most powerful entrepreneurial lessons she's ever discovered — hidden inside a 2,500-year-old principle and one of the strangest business stories you've ever heard. It's not about luck. It's not about capital. It's not about perfect timing.It's about the one question that separates entrepreneurs who build from the ones who only ever talk about what went wrong.If you've ever felt like your business circumstances were working against you — this episode will change the way you see every obstacle in front of you.Inside this episode: ✅ The farmer who turned hundreds of rattlesnakes into a thriving business destination ✅ Why the best entrepreneurs don't eliminate problems — they mine them for opportunity ✅ The two-line letter that transformed a miserable man in the desert into a published author ✅ How Airbnb, Netflix, and Uber were all built from somebody's frustration ✅ Why complaining has a zero percent success rate — and what to do instead ✅ A simple 15-minute exercise to find the opportunity hiding in your biggest problem right nowBusiness Warriors, your greatest business opportunity may be disguised as the very problem you're trying hardest to avoid.

Habbakuk 1:1 - 2:1 | Josh de Koning

Introduction: Why Are We Doing This? (Psalm 90): Because TIME IS SHORT . (Ps 90:1-12) Because GOD IS GOOD . (Ps 90:13-15) Because THERE IS WORK TO DO . (Ps 90:16-17) Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Gratitude - Part 2 Jeff Miller / Taylor Brown Download Audio Transcript Paster Jeff00:00Open up your Bibles with me please to the book of Psalms. And we will be looking at the 90th Psalm. I can think of a couple reasons now why we need a building on that property. Both of them pretty evident today, right? Alright, let's get into God's Word together. Pray for me please.Paster Jeff00:30A sermon in three acts. So you pray for Pastor Rich and Pastor Taylor. All right? And we all will pray for you. All right? Let's pray. Father in heaven, as we turn to your word now, I just pray for all of us that our hearts are open to receive what it is that you've taught us through your eternal word. Thank you, Father. Thank you for All that you have so richly blessed us with, but most of all, Father, for the salvation that we find in Christ, because otherwise we would be so lost and hopeless. Father, I thank you that you have left us a guarantee of your love for us, the provision of salvation, the means by which eternal life can be restored, Father. And I pray that you would help us all to just Zero in now in your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. I love the kid sounds, by the way. Not a distraction up here. Don't let it distract you. It's a sign of life. I love it. Alright? I told you before when I hear kids making noise, in my mind I just hear, Amen! Amen! Amen! That's how I hear that. So it just encourages me, alright? Psalm 90. Let's take a look.Paster Jeff02:00This is a prayer of Moses, the man of God. Verse 1, Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Again, this was written by Moses. And I thought, what an appropriate place for us to land today after this last series that Pastor Taylor took us through.Paster Jeff02:29The Psalm that was actually written by Moses. And look at what he says again in verse 1. Look close. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. That's really a funny statement when you consider what was going on when Moses wrote this. You could say that Israel was between homes.Paster Jeff02:59Right? What is home? Anyways, I was thinking about that a lot as I was preparing for this. All the places I lived. I grew up in Shakura. Moved to Ohio for school where I lived probably a half a dozen different places during my years in Ohio. Then moved back to Butler where I lived on Locust Street and then on North Street and then on Pearl Street.Paster Jeff03:29And then we moved to Renfrew, Prospect, Chicago, back to Prospect, then to Economy, and now in beautiful Zillian Opal. Every time I moved, I swore it was the last time I was ever going to move. So I stopped doing that. But what is home? What is it? I think about the church, right?Paster Jeff03:59met at the meeting room in Pantera Bread. Lo these many years ago. Then we were in a man's basement. He knew. He was there. Then we met in the chiropractor's office. Marshall Middle School. Then 12330 Perry Highway Suite 100. And then almost 414 Klein Road, but right back to 12330.Paster Jeff04:29Perry Highway Suite 100. What is home? Well, if you're a believer, there's no place on earth that's ever really going to feel like home. Because earth is not our home. Wherever we are, wherever we are, that's what Moses is talking about here. Lord, You have been our dwelling place.Paster Jeff04:59Church, our dwelling place isn't this office building or even Klein Road or wherever the Lord has. Our dwelling place, Church, is the Lord. Wherever geographically that is, He is our dwelling place. Well, if this isn't our home, and if the new church building isn't something any of us are going to enjoy forever, then why are we...Paster Jeff05:29Why are we going to joyfully and gratefully go after the work of this church building? Why?Paster Jeff05:40So what's the point? Well, there's three points actually. Here's the first one that Moses reminds us this. Time is short.Paster Jeff05:52Time is short.Paster Jeff05:55Look at verses 2 through 6. He says, For the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.Paster Jeff06:08You return man to dust and say, Return, O children of man.Paster Jeff06:14For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday, when it is past, or as a watch in the night.Paster Jeff06:23You sweep them away as with a flood.Paster Jeff06:26They are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning. In the morning, it flourishes and is renewed. In the evening, it fades and withers. Time is short. Oh, not for God, right? He made that clear. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. When God revealed to Moses what His name is, He said, his name is I Am. And that tells us everything we need to know about God. God's not I was, like you should have seen me in high school. I was in shape and good looking. No, no, God's not the I was. And God is not the I will be. Right? Like, you know what, Moses, I might not look like much now, but I'm exercising and I'm on this paleo diet.Paster Jeff07:26and I just did a juice cleanse and I'm seeing a good chiropractor and I'm going to be something great. No, no, no. He's not the I will be. He is the I am. He is the I am in Moses' day and he is the I am today. And Moses points out here, God is from everlasting to everlasting, but I think it's pretty obvious he says we are not. He says we're not.Paster Jeff07:56around you, you and I are here and gone. Right? Gone like what he tells us in verse 5. He uses three pictures here. First of all, he sweeped them away as with a flood. Could you imagine? Some of you can. Then he says, they're like a dream. I love that image. Have you ever, this happens to me all the the time. Have you ever had one of those dreams that seem like they take place over the course of like days or weeks and then you wake up and it's only been like, you've only been in bed like an hour? Has that ever happened to you? He's like, that's what man's like. We think this is like such a long thing, but it's over quick. He uses another image here that shouldn't be lost on us. He says, we're like grass. We're renewed in the morning. We flourish. We grow.Paster Jeff08:56in the evening we fade.Paster Jeff09:00We wither.Paster Jeff09:02Why is life so short?Paster Jeff09:05He tells us, look at verse 7.Paster Jeff09:07He says, For we are brought to an end by your anger.Paster Jeff09:13By your wrath, we are dismayed.Paster Jeff09:17You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins, in the light of your presence.Paster Jeff09:23For all our days pass away under your wrath. We bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are 70, or even by reason of strength 80, yet their span is but toil and trouble. They are soon gone, and we fly away.Paster Jeff09:53the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you. Why is life so short? He just basically very poetically sums it up just as one concept. It's the curse of sin. It's because of sin that life is short. God promised Adam, the first man, if you sin against me, God literally says, dying you will die. You're going to get old and wear out and die. Dying you will die.Paster Jeff10:22It's an act of judgment from God on a world that's rejected Him.Paster Jeff10:30You're like, so what's the point?Paster Jeff10:33Why would Moses bring this up?Paster Jeff10:36Verse 12 is Moses' point.Paster Jeff10:39He says, so, this is his prayer to the Lord, should be ours.Paster Jeff10:43So, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.Paster Jeff10:55Teach us to number our days. Okay, so the Bible says that we should number our days. So let's obey, shall we? How many days do you have left on this earth? How many days? Well, we'll take Moses' average here, right? Did you notice he says, in verse 10, 70 or 80. So we'll take the average, which is 75. All right, thank you, accountants. So if we take Moses' average, 75. Now that's just the average. This is an exercise, right? I did the math for you. Okay, so if you're 50, I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand with your age or anything like that, right? Okay, so So if you're 15 years old, you're sitting here today and you're 15 years old, do you know how many days you have left on this earth? 21,900. All right? If you're 25, you have 18,250. If you're 35, you have 14,600 days left on this earth. If you're 45, you have 10,950 days left on the earth.Paster Jeff12:21If you're 55, you have 7,300 days left on the earth. And if you're 65, you have 3,650 days left on the earth. And if you are 75, you're done. Anything over that is borrowed time.Paster Jeff12:54That's really not the point, is it? I don't think Moses was calling us to some numeric exercise, was he? Here's the point. Moses is not asking that God helps us consider when we may die, but that God helps us consider how we live our short lives. You see, We don't know the number of days that each of us have, but it's knowing that our days on the earth have a number. We just don't know what it is. I mean, what if you don't make the average? I mean, our family's high score is 73. Both of my parents died at 73. What if you don't make the average?Paster Jeff13:52What if your number of days left is 30? Would that change the way you live August? What if the number of days left is 7? Would that change your week? What if the number of days you have left is 1? How would you live today? Because wisdom says, make the most out of however many days I have left. And I will remind you that time is like money. If you're not deliberate in how you spend it, it's going to be gone, and you're not going to know where it went. So this church building that we've been talking about, building, church, this is one way that you can make the most of your short days.Paster Jeff14:52by praying, by giving, by serving. Because we live in a day when more and more people... No, it's always been that way with people. The thing that concerns me is we live in a day when more and more churches, churches are rejecting the Word of God, rejecting the love of God, rejecting the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And this church building, Is our flag in the ground where we say not here? Not here.Paster Jeff15:32If we learned anything when we studied Jesus' parable of the talents, He's given every one of us resources and opportunity to use in this short time that we have on this earth.Paster Jeff15:43And the Bible says He's coming back.Paster Jeff15:46And He wants to see what we did with what He's entrusted to us.Paster Jeff15:53And that's one of the things that gets me excited about this church building. When the Lord returns, I want to be able to point to that building and say, here, this was for you. This was for you. This is what we did with the opportunity and resources that you gave us. Jesus, this is what we did. We established a place where your word was not going to be denied, where your word was not going to be compromised, but it was going to be preached, It was going to be lifted up. We were going to train other people how to preach your word. This is a place where missionaries were sent out. Because though the last, excuse me, though the first Adam, the first Adam brought sin and death, the Bible says the last Adam. Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, brought forgiveness and life.Paster Jeff16:51to share this good news.Paster Jeff16:55Teach us to number our days.Paster Jeff16:58That we may get a heart of wisdom.Paster Jeff17:03Our time is short.Paster Jeff17:05So let's wise up.Paster Jeff17:07Let's make the most of them.Paster Jeff17:09Pastor Rich.Pastor Rich17:11So as Jeff said, why are we doing this?Pastor Rich17:15Why are we seeking to build this new place of worship?Pastor Rich17:18Because God is good.Pastor Rich17:21God is good. Look at verses 13 through 15 with me. Return, O Lord, how long? Have pity on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us and for as many years as we have seen evil. Verses 1 through 12 impressed on us that life is brief.Pastor Rich17:50So the question is, what should we do with this short, momentary, vapor of a life that has been granted to us? Jeff's statistics hit home. I'm not 35. Yeah, how should we spend it? Should we spend it worshiping ourselves, seeking comfort, material gain, wealth, fame, and a name for ourselves?Pastor Rich18:20Eat, drink, and be merry since tomorrow we die. Now Psalm 90 reminds us that satisfaction is not found in any of those things. Rather, satisfaction is found only in the Lord himself. Verse 14 says, Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. See, to be satisfied is to be filled up. The image is a full stomach, right? After a good meal, When you're satisfied, nothing else is needed. You're completely content. We all know that that satisfaction is temporary. It doesn't last. That's why Moses cries out to God that you, Lord, you be our satisfaction. Satisfaction in the Lord is permanent because he is eternal.Pastor Rich19:19He is the I Am. This image is similar to that of Psalm 23.1 where David writes, the Lord is my shepherd. The Lord, Yahweh, the I Am is my shepherd. Nothing I lack. Well, how about you? Are you satisfied in God and God alone? Or do you need other things to be satisfied? And when you don't have those things, what do you do?Pastor Rich19:49Do you become resentful toward God and grumble and complain? What do you think you deserve? What causes you to complain against our good God? You know, I've thought a great deal about Pastor Taylor's sermon from last Sunday and the infectious disease of complaining. Complaining stems from ingratitude, and the sermon really challenged me to be thankful about everything. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to be thankful to God for everything, every event, every circumstance in life. Because if I'm spending my time being thankful for everything, I'll have very little time to complain about anything. I'm thankful for how things turned out this morning. This rain was an opportunity to complain and grumble and like, man, nothing ever goes right. Nothing ever works.Pastor Rich20:49And I'm thankful. I'm thankful. Everybody is here. I'm thankful for the folks who showed up here, set the auditorium, got ready to worship. And here we are lifting our voices in praise to God. Amen. I want to be thankful to God in ways that show that I am really thankful with my whole heart, thankful in ways that honor him and glorify him because he is good.Pastor Rich21:19I ought to do that. Why? Because as we begin to be thankful for everything, we will see how incredibly generous God is toward us. And as we see how generous God is, we will indeed rejoice and be glad all of our days. He will indeed make us glad for as many days as he afflicted us. And why were we afflicted?Pastor Rich21:49Why are we afflicted?Pastor Rich21:51Because we complain instead of praise.Pastor Rich21:56Remember, this was a song of Moses, so he could have written it in response to any one of the many times the people grumbled and complained against God and felt his stern discipline.Pastor Rich22:09So we should instead praise and give thanks.Pastor Rich22:14Well, what exactly has God so generously given each one of us? There are gifts that every one of us here has in equal, overflowing, abounding measure. I don't have more of these gifts than you do. You have these same gifts in equal measure as Peter, James, and John, as much as George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon, and Barnabas over in Thailand. The real question is, how much do you lay hold of these good gifts with a grateful heart? The psalm tells us the first and most important gift that God has generously bestowed on us is himself. When you have him, you have all you need to be satisfied. We are assured of his presence with us. It's why Moses says, satisfy us with your steadfast love. That is, Lord, your fill us with who you are lord a god merciful and gracious slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness keeping steadfast love for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin how intently do you seek to know him you are in christ if you have confessed him as your Lord and Savior. He abides in you. Are you gratefully abiding in him? Second, he is generously giving you life and breath. He sustains you. You have the privilege of this brief life to enjoy him, to enjoy his creation and all the things he has created. You have the privilege in participating in rest and work, enjoying food and drink, days and seasons.Pastor Rich24:09Rain and sun and sea is handiwork in everything around you. And in Christ, we're going to enjoy all these things forever. Third, you have the joy of loving and being loved generously. In your salvation, you are placed into perfect relationship with the triune God who overflows with steadfast love.Pastor Rich24:38And you're in a new relationship to every person. And in such relationships, you can extend grace and mercy and love to others. You can seek forgiveness and grant forgiveness. We are made new for the purpose of generously living out the gospel in real time with real people. That time is brief. So be thankful for it and generous with it.Pastor Rich25:07Fourth, he has granted you citizenship in his glorious kingdom. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you into the kingdom of his beloved son. Moreover, he has given you authority to rule with him here in this world in the midst of his enemies. And how do we rule? We rule by sharing the gospel of Christ, seeing enemies converted into children of God and seeing them become.Pastor Rich25:37are brothers and sisters in Christ.Pastor Rich25:41And yes, because he is a good father, he has given you all you need.Pastor Rich25:47Is there anyone here who truly lacks anything?Pastor Rich25:52There may be plenty of worldly and material things that you want, and you know, you may have even convinced yourself that you need these things.Pastor Rich26:02But the reality is that we individually and collectively are among the wealthiest people who have ever lived on the face of the earth. God has indeed shown us his steadfast love and dealt with us all, every one of us here, generously. So what kind of people then ought we to be? We ought to be grateful, thanking God profusely for all he has put into our hands We ought to strive to lay hold of the full and abundant life we have in God our Savior. We ought to be generous toward God and toward others with the same level of generosity that he has bestowed on us. We should be generous towards God and others with our time. Generous towards God and others with love. Generous towards God and others with the resources that God has generously bestowed on us.Pastor Rich27:02We should be gracious in showing mercy, generous in extending grace, and generous in showing hospitality. Our Father has been so, so good to harvest for nearly 15 years. He has been exceedingly generous to us for all that time. Just look around you. And if we had been at the property this morning, there would be so much to see and thankful for.Pastor Rich27:32But look at his generosity and the evidence of his desire to use harvest for his glory. To use you and your generosity for his glory. We are doing this because he is good. And he wants you to join him in this endeavor. There is more to do. And Pastor Taylor is going to tell us about that. Parents and children, don't worry. As the third preacher this morning, I know it's my job to be short.Pastor Taylor28:02I'm going to try my best. So why are we doing this? First, because time is short. Second, because God is good. And thirdly, and finally, because there is work to do. Moses has a final request of the Lord in verse 16. He says, let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their children. In other words, God, do what only you can do. Be at work in our lives. Be at work in the lives of others. You know, growing up, dads can seem very mysterious to their children. Especially when they are gone for eight or more hours of the day going to a place called work. You don't know what they do at work, but you know it's very important. You know that it's a very big deal. Very often, my kids will get sad when I have to go to work. They'll say, oh, why are you going to work, dad? I'll ask them questions. Do you like eating? Do you like wearing clothes?Pastor Taylor29:02Do you like not living outside? Yes. Then I have to go to work. For 40 years, my dad was in the orthopedic sales business. He would sell replacement hips, knees, shoulders, and other equipment. He would be a consultant in the operating room, and the doctors could ask him questions as they did the surgery. And as a child, none of those things really made sense to me. My dad's job was a big mystery.Pastor Taylor29:32changed in third grade when my dad came in for career day to explain what his job was. And my dad did more than just that. He brought a small pair of scrubs, a mask, and a beeper for me to wear. Kids, if you don't know what a beeper is, find someone older and ask them about it. After I suited up, my dad had me hold and hand out replacement joints to my classmates. My dad was so happy to include me, and I felt so cool to be included. As long as I live, I'll never forget that day because I got to be a part of my dad's work. For a very short time, I was in the orthopedic sales business. I got to see my dad at work and join him in his work. Do you know that we get to see our heavenly father at work? We get to join him in his Our dad is at work all the time and his work isn't a mystery. We're told in scripture what this work is. Our dad is in the salvation business. He is in the business of changing lives both now and forever. We have been recipients of our dad's work. We have been saved. We have been forgiven. We have been transformed. We have been changed. We've been given a church family to belong to.Pastor Taylor31:01We have been recipients of our dad's work. But even more than that, we get to join our father in his work. We get to be co-laborers with our dad. Did my dad need me all those years ago? I think he could have explained his job perfectly well without me. My dad didn't need to use me, but he wanted to use me.Pastor Taylor31:31need to use us. No. He doesn't need me. He doesn't need you. He doesn't need Pastor Jeff, Pastor Rich, Brian Behe, Justin Katie. He doesn't need anybody or anything. He is 100% self-sufficient every single way. He doesn't need to use us, but he wants to use us. It's a good feeling to be needed. It's an infinitely greater feeling.Pastor Taylor32:01to be wanted.Pastor Taylor32:03Do you truly believe that God wants to use you?Pastor Taylor32:07That He desires to use you?Pastor Taylor32:11God wants to include you in His work of saving the lost.Pastor Taylor32:15Of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.Pastor Taylor32:17Of building this church.Pastor Taylor32:19Of sanctifying His people.Pastor Taylor32:21We have been called into the family business.Pastor Taylor32:25We are in the business of seeing our Heavenly Father save sinners and change lives.Pastor Taylor32:31There is no greater calling. There is no more meaningful work. There is no better job in the entire world. But we cannot do our dad's work in our own power. We desperately need his help. We need to pray the words of Moses in verse 17. He says, Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us. Yes! Establish the work of our hands. What we build will crumble unless God sustains it. What we achieve will fade away unless God blesses it. It's easy to look at a massive project like building this building and be overwhelmed. It's easy to think, well, how's this going to happen? There's so much money to raise. There's so much How is this going to happen? You know, I know exactly how it's going to happen. God will make it happen. He will be at work in and through us like he always has been. God is at work behind the scenes and through you as well. Instead of falling back into fear, let's lean forward in hope. Let's boldly and passionately pray for the Lord's gracious favor.Pastor Taylor33:52And that word for favor in verse 17 can also be translated as approval, delight, or beauty. A proud dad delights when his children try their best. A proud dad approves when his kids make an effort and do not phone it in. A proud dad smiles when his kids work hard and do not give up. It's like Moses praying, Lord, smile upon the work of your people.Pastor Taylor34:22Let's pray the same exact thing this morning. Lord, smile upon the work of Harvest Bible Chapel. Smile upon this building project. Smile upon our effort to build a bigger space where more people can worship you, encounter you, and learn about the good news of Jesus Christ. So let's pray right now that we would get to work and that God would establish the work of our hands. Father, we thank you so much for who you are. We thank you so much for all that you do for us.Pastor Taylor34:57As Pastor Rich already said, we so often complain when things don't go according to plan.Pastor Taylor35:02Instead, let us always give thanks because you are always at work.Pastor Taylor35:06You're always doing something that we can't see.Pastor Taylor35:10You are always changing lives.Pastor Taylor35:11You are always doing amazing things behind the scenes.Pastor Taylor35:17Lord, from a human standpoint, I don't know how this building project is going to work.Pastor Taylor35:21I don't know how all the details are going to come together. But the great thing is I don't have to worry about that because you have it all figured out. You will make it happen, Father. You will bring about what you want in this building project. We trust you because you are the I Am. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. We thank you that you don't need us, but you choose to use us anyway. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.Pastor Taylor35:51So before we close, I want to read verse 17 again. Let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their children. We seek to put up this new building for the sake of our children. For the sake of the next generation encountering the glorious power and life-giving work of our great God. We want a safe place for our kids to be kids. To have fun. To have joy in the Lord. And to be trained for the work of God themselves. So we're actually going to put the kids to work right now. So kids, come forward. You're actually going to be singing for the entire church. So if you're able to sing, come forward kids and get ready to sing our song. Hey, that was fantastic, guys.Paster Jeff36:53Don't you think they should do that song with you? And by the way, if you're like, that's kid stuff. Remember Levi's sermon on Wednesday night? Unless you have the faith of a child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. We are all called to have this kind of excited faith that is so joyful at what the Lord is doing.Paster Jeff37:21So let's stand. Let's all be VBS kids right now, alright? Small Group DiscussionRead Psalm 90What was your big take-away from this passage / message?BreakoutPray prayers of specific things you are thankful for.

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Gustavo Razzetti, culture consultant and author of Forward Talk. Gustavo makes a case that surprises a lot of leaders: fear is only part of why people stay quiet at work. The bigger driver is what he calls the pointlessness paradox, the belief that speaking up will not change anything. Andy and Gustavo talk about conversational debt and how it compounds over time, why silence is so often mistaken for alignment, and the subtle signs that a team is drifting into avoidance, blame, or groupthink. Gustavo unpacks the difference between backward talk and forward talk, offering practical ways to turn an objection into a question that opens possibilities. You'll also hear about conversational agency, why the second person who speaks up matters more than the first, and how the CPR approach of courage, perspective, and responsibility plays out under pressure. Along the way, Andy shares stories from Alfred Sloan at GM and Alan Mulally at Ford, and Gustavo shares a memorable one about his son and a crashed car. If you're looking for a more confident way to raise the issues your team keeps avoiding, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "However, fear only explains part of why people don't speak up. At some point, people feel nothing will change." "I like to say that agreement happens in the room, alignment happens after the meeting." "When you become the team leader, the number of people giving you feedback reduces, and when you become a senior executive, no one gives you feedback.  Or if they do, it's not honest." "But what you want is people to challenge your perspective, to show you what you're missing, to see the things you're not seeing or maybe you stop seeing." "The problem is when we put being accepted, being respected over the outcome." "So forward talk is when can we frame that objection into a question." "So you're not being difficult. You're being realistic, but trying to find a solution, and you're giving the other person options." "Most people don't regret the difficult conversations they had. What we regret are the ones that we never had." "There's research that shows that the person who speaks up first is not the most important person. The second person who reciprocates is actually the one that creates the change. That moment when two people are talking about the same issue, it gives permission to the other people to jump in and also participate." "Staying silent also backfires, not only because it hurts the company, but if you're seeing the problem and you're staying silent, you become part of the problem." "It's not the absence of conflict that makes us a good team. It's that we can do it and we can work through it." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:05 Start of Interview 02:17 Growing Up in a Family of Nine in Argentina 05:18 Learning New Ways Beyond Your Family Culture 06:16 Why Fear Is Not the Whole Story 09:06 Why Waiting for Perfect Psychological Safety Backfires 10:37 Explaining the Pointlessness Paradox 11:37 Mistaking Silence for Alignment 13:35 Alfred Sloan and the Value of Disagreement 15:32 Subtle Signs You Are Drifting Into Groupthink 17:58 Backward Talk vs. Forward Talk 19:43 The Way to the Sun Is Through the Storm 21:05 How Organizations Quietly Reward Avoidance 23:08 When Speaking Up Gets You Labeled 25:09 Alan Mulaly, Ford, and the Power of the Second Voice 27:39 Alignment Debt, Belonging Debt, and Collaboration Debt 29:11 Why Conversational Debt Compounds 30:05 Surrendering Conversational Agency 32:40 Complaining, and the CPR Approach 36:31 You Get What You Tolerate 37:42 Applying These Ideas at Home 40:06 Conflict Is Fuel When You Channel It 41:07 End of Interview 41:37 Andy Comments After the Interview 45:10 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Gustavo and his work at GustavoRazzetti.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 284 with Peter Boghossian. He wrote a book about how to have impossible conversations, and it's full of ideas Andy still uses almost every week. Episode 148 with Daniel Shapiro. Dan is the author of Negotiating the Nonnegotiable, an insightful guide to dealing with difficult conversations and influence situations. Episode 371 with Amanda Ripley. Her book High Conflict offers practical guidance on navigating even the most challenging of conflicts in an empowering way. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa, the podcast's AI persona, to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Difficult Conversations, Conversational Debt, Psychological Safety, Groupthink, Team Culture, Leadership, Project Management, Conflict, Alignment, Accountability, Communication, Speaking Up The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Warehouse and Operations as a Career. I’m Marty, and as always, I appreciate you spending a little of your day with me.  Today I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind for quite a while. Over the past several months, I’ve spoken with warehouse associates, forklift operators, order selectors, recruiters, supervisors, and hiring managers from all over the country. I’ve listened to the concerns of people just entering our industry, and I’ve listened to leaders trying to build strong teams. You know what’s interesting? Both groups are asking almost the same question. The associate is asking, “How do I get ahead?” The employer is asking, “How do I keep good people?” I think those questions are really two sides of the same conversation.   Let’s start with a simple question. What do you think is the biggest concern for today’s warehouse associate? Most people immediately answer, “Money.” Yes, pay is important. We all work to provide for ourselves and our families. Inflation, groceries, rent, and fuel aren’t getting any cheaper. But after forty years in this industry, I’ve learned that money is rarely the real problem. I feel that people want to know if they’re building a future, or just collecting another paycheck. That’s an entirely different question.  When someone walks into a warehouse for the very first time, they’re usually thinking about today’s shift. Can I do the work? Will I like the people? Can I make it through orientation? Will I get enough hours? Those are all fair questions. But somewhere along the way, another question should replace those. In my humble opinion, we should be asking ourselves, “What does my career look like three years from now?” And unfortunately, many people never ask it. Instead, they work, they clock in, they clock out, and before they know it, three years have become ten. Nothing changed except the date on the calendar.  Here’s something I tell every young associate I meet. Your employer hired you to fill a position. Only you can build the career. The company can provide the opportunity. It can’t provide ambition. It can offer training but it can’t force someone to learn. It can post an opening for a Lead, Trainer, Dispatcher, Inventory Control, Safety Coordinator, Supervisor, or Manager but someone has to decide they’re ready to take those steps.  I hear people say all the time “They never give me a chance.” Of course sometimes that’s true. But sometimes we haven’t given ourselves one either. Have we volunteered to learn another department duties? Have we asked to operate another piece of equipment or a different production machine? Have we asked to learned what those inventory people actually do? Do we understand receiving, Shipping, Quality Control, Cycle counts, Warehouse Management Systems, Transportation, Planning, Customer Service? Every one of those skills makes you more valuable. And as we've learned, valuable employees don’t stay in the same position forever.  One of the biggest mistakes I see is confusing experience with growth. Someone says “I’ve been here five years.” Well that’s wonderful. But have you had five years of experience, or one year of experience repeated five times? Those aren’t the same thing. Growth happens when we’re learning something new. When we’re uncomfortable and challenged. When we’re solving problems instead of waiting for someone else to solve them.  Here's a big one, let’s talk about automation for just a minute. I hear it all the time. “Robots are taking our jobs.” Here’s my perspective. Automation doesn’t replace great employees. It can replace repetitive tasks. Someone still has to maintain the equipment. Program the systems. Analyze the inventory. Manage the workflow. Lead the team and interpret the data. Solve the problems technology can’t solve. The more skilled you become, the more valuable you become in an automated world. Technology should motivate us to learn more. Not scare us into standing still. Another thing I hear all the time is, I don't have time to learn things and online classes take so many hours, or my company wants us to stay over to learn something new. I always ask what are you doing that keeps you from having that time to invest in yourself? What did you watch on tv last Tuesday night and what was the plot of the program? lol. Just a thought. Now where was I. Ok, now let’s talk about something every supervisor notices. Dependability. If I asked ten warehouse managers who their most valuable employee is, almost every one of them would describe someone who shows up every day, on time, and ready to work. Not necessarily the fastest or the strongest. But dependable. And what have we said before? Dependability creates opportunity. Opportunity creates trust. And trust creates promotions. It really is that simple.  Here’s another lesson I learned years ago. Don’t wait for the title before acting like the leader. Lead from wherever you’re standing. Help the new employee. Pick up the trash nobody else noticed. Volunteer for the difficult assignment. Stay positive when everyone else is complaining. Ask questions. Share ideas respectfully. Those things, ladies and gentlemen, are leadership behaviors. And people notice them.  One thing I absolutely love about our industry is that careers are still earned. Think about that. There are very few industries where someone can begin unloading trucks, become a forklift operator, learn inventory, move into training, become a lead, a supervisor, a manager, a director, or a Vice President. I know that’s possible. Because I lived it. Nobody handed me those opportunities. Each one required another step up the ladder. And yes, sometimes those steps were uncomfortable. Sometimes they were exhausting. And many times I wondered if I was ready. But I climbed anyway.  Here’s something else to think about. Every certification you earn is another rung on that ladder. Your Powered Industrial Truck certification. First Aid, CPR, and AED. CRASE. STOP THE BLEED. OSHA training. Leadership classes. The Microsoft Excel and Word programs. Warehouse Management Systems. Inventory Control. Public speaking. Communication. Every one of those skills separates you from the crowd. Because when opportunity comes, preparation wins.  You know what rarely earns promotions? Complaining. Excuses. Drama. Blaming everyone else. Those things might get attention. But they don’t build careers. Solutions build careers. And Managers remember people who solve problems. They remember people who volunteer and there going to remember people who make everyone’s job easier.  Ok, we've been closing with a challenge for the week so here's this weeks. When you walk into work tomorrow don’t ask yourself “What do I have to do today?” Ask yourself “What can I learn today?” One question changes your schedule. The other changes your future. Anything counts. Maybe you ask to learn shipping paperwork, or you spend fifteen minutes talking with inventory control, or maybe you ask your supervisor why something is done a certain way. I think curiosity builds careers.  And here’s another challenge for us. Write down the job you want three years from now. Not tomorrow, but three years from now. Then ask yourself “What skills does that person have that I don’t have yet?” Now you have a roadmap. Our careers aren’t built by accident. They’re built intentionally. By us.  One skill. One lesson. One opportunity. One day at a time.  I’ll leave you with this. The career ladder in warehousing, Production, Transportation, Manufacturing and Distribution. It hasn’t disappeared. In fact, I’d argue it’s stronger than it’s ever been. Companies need leaders and trainers. They need technicians, safety professionals, dispatchers, machine operators, inventory specialists, and operations managers.  The opportunities are there. The ladder is standing exactly where it’s always been. The question is, are you still climbing, or did you stop on the first rung?  If today’s episode encouraged you, challenged you, or reminded you that your future is still being written, I’d appreciate it if you’d share it with a coworker, a friend, or someone who’s just getting started in our industry. Until next time, keep learning and improving, keep showing up every day. And remember. Your job may get you through today, but your commitment to learning is what builds tomorrow.  Everyone have a safe shift and I hope to see you back here in two weeks!

Pastor Ryan continues the sermon series through the Book of Numbers: The Journey to the Promised Land as he preaches part one of a message titled "The Complaining Begins" out of chapter 11 during this Wednesday Evening Service.

The difference between Sharing and Complaining, Supporting and Enabling, and how we can maintain a calm composure and peace of mind while listening to other people grumbling about one thing or another.

The crew discusses the huge amount of money Magic is making, whether the game is for rich folks only and The Hobbit spoilers!

Today we will  see how God feels about our complaining! I was shocked to see how hurt and angry God is when we grumble about our circumstances since it is a direct reflection on how we think He is taking care of us!

Today we will  see how God feels about our complaining! I was shocked to see how hurt and angry God is when we grumble about our circumstances since it is a direct reflection on how we think He is taking care of us!

Stupid Extra 7-27-2026 …Kids were complaining 4,000 years ago

The Pirates of our Times   Huge! This Changes Everything! Secrets Revealed! The Real Reason… ALL CAPS! What You're Not Supposed to Know About… Something That Shouldn't Exist… See Recipe in Comments Below[1]     Is this what it takes to get our attention now?   You would think so. When we search through YouTube looking for a favorite news outlet, we now slog through sensationalist titles and AI-generated title pages that entice us to view by showing extreme emotions: anger, fear, distress, shock.   Not comforting, is it?   It's a weekly challenge for me when I try to choose a graphic that authentically represents the content of the teaching. At some point I think we have to admit that no matter how intriguing the title or graphic, mostly the same people will read and the same people will delete. Probably at most, an especially intriguing title will cause a tiny percentage of people to open an email who normally delete it. We are becoming more wise…or perhaps fatigued…with sensationalist content.   The ability of AI[2] to offer us not just curated viewing, shopping, music, or social media posts, but to communicate with us like an actual person in Customer Service chats or Chat GPT, creates an illusion of an interested and caring person we know. How cool is it that YouTube lets me know when a new beading or archaeology video is released?   Honestly, though, it's digital machinery that has been fed immeasurable amounts of data. As I found out last week, it's also been fed pirated books (Creation Gospel workbooks!) and videos (Creation Gospel videos!). The AI in turn cheerfully offers the information free to seekers.   There was a foreshadowing of this back in 2003 when we first went online with www.israelnet.tv, offering teaching programs from some of the best-known Messianic teachers of the day. Our tech guy contacted us and said he was watching someone download multiple programs simultaneously in real time. This was in spite of clear copyright cautions. We only had permission from the teachers to stream to our audience, not to re-distribute the programs for personal use.   With a little bit of investigative work, we tracked down the email address of the pirate. My burning question was, what kind of person steals Bible teaching? There's much more lucrative content out there. Bible teaching? Really?   I sent the faceless Torah pirate an email, and kindly but firmly explained that we knew he was downloading copyrighted programs. I also explained that we did not have permission to distribute the material randomly; we were only licensed for the specific use on Israelnet.   Instead of an apology, the pirate went into the old trope: The Bible doesn't belong to anyone. It's free. Bible teaching should be free.   Pretext.   Aaargh, matey!   Sure the Bible is free. They're in the top drawer of any hotel nightstand. An institution known as the Gideons gives away free Bibles. Most people have an extra copy they'd be happy to give away. But there was a reason Yeshua chose one of the disciples to carry the donation money bag.   Even though Yeshua was quite handy with multiplying loaves and fishes, they had to eat.   Relying on miracles instead of working is not the Scriptural example. Miracles are for when we reach the limit of human skill, access, or knowledge.   In my reply to the gentleman pirate, I agreed that the Bible is free. In fact, our Creation Gospel programs and workbook royalties are designated to support Torah-based orphanages, not pay salaries. My husband and I had full time jobs, so we didn't rely on donations to pay the grocery bill or car payment. We donated our time and money. Other teachers, however, were full time ministers. They needed the income to support their ministries and families.   Not being as handy with loaves and fishes as Yeshua, they had to eat.   At the least, if this gentleman wanted to re-distribute the teachers' programs, then he should obtain permission like Israelnet did. He should explain why the costs the teachers incurred, such as travel, studio, equipment, utility bills, (our streaming T-1 line back then was $1000 per month!), software, etc., was okay for him to remove from their pockets because he knew better than they did to whom their teaching and production work should be disseminated.   So in our times, AI developers are free to redistribute all the intellectual property it can consume, even apologizing for not listing everything due to “copyright rules.” It's like nodding and saying “no” at the same time.   It's not something we'll change, however. In fact, it's so incorporated into our daily activities that it's probably impossible to disconnect unless we go off-grid. We're being sluiced down that funnel faster and faster. The current Western trend toward socialism and communism is a symptom. The pirate's reasoning that all Biblical content should be free is rapidly expanding. We feel entitled to confiscate anyone else's hard work because it's the “moral” thing to do. Share. Lift up the downtrodden. Love your neighbor.   Sometimes we feign asking permission by passing onerous laws to tax and take property. Others simply take without permission and know that the wealth from it will more than equip them to face their accusers in court by the time it makes it that far. The ultimate settlement is calculated as the cost of doing pirated business. The Author's Guild reports that the median annual income from book sales is just $15,000 for full-time authors. We're not all John Grisham. The authors are never going to recover the income they've lost to pirates and AI even when the case makes it to court.   Yes, I agree. Love your neighbor as yourself.   But what about “Thou shalt not steal”? That's in the Bible, too.   Pretext.   Yes, that's what the Torah calls it.   A pretext is when we make up a reason to conceal the actual reason we do or don't do something. Pretext tends to spread like wildfire. We'd all like to avoid confronting our own fears, failures, laziness, aggressiveness, greed, or apathy if someone can come up with a pretext that sounds way better than “my fear,” “my laziness,” “my aggressiveness,” or “my greed.”   Numbers 11:1-6 is an example of a pretext:   “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp… The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna.”   The fire started with a taste for free meat and fish. This was the pretext. They even invented facts to go with the pretext: we ate free fish in Egypt; we have no appetite.   The opposite was true. The fish wasn't free in Egypt. Even the straw for the bricks they had to find for themselves. They did, too, have an appetite. The ignoramuses even listed all the things they were craving.   The manna, the Word of Heaven was not tasty enough for their uncontrolled, greedy appetites.   It helps to know what preceded the complaining. For the first time, the organized camp moved with the Tabernacle, following the Ark of the Covenant and expected to give feet to the commandments they'd learned:   “So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.” (Nu 10:13)   The Israelites had entered a new stage of responsibility in their walk to the Promised Land. No longer newly-saved milk-dependent babes in the wilderness, they had multiple commandments in which to walk. They were now organized by camp, directed by leadership. There was no map to their journey, only the Ark that traveled ahead looking for the place for them to rest.   When we don't know exactly what lies ahead, we often look back. What we see when we look back takes on a glory and sheen that it never had when we were living it. Truth be told, we were miserable. But those reconstructed memories and invented facts make great pretexts.   Our present challenge is more than just leaking away of intellectual property or orphanage funds through pretexts or outright theft. Like I said, we won't stop this flood until Yeshua returns. There's no way to separate out an answer on a search engine that was stolen versus one that was taken from an open source. Our present challenge is more than just clickbaiting viewers or listeners to read, watch, or listen to a program when they have thousands of choices each day.   Let's put the two together.   We are in a transition period. We hear the footsteps of Messiah. We also know that the period just preceding his return is one of chaos, turmoil, war, weather phenomena, family conflict, rebellion, and mass confusion.   In the middle of this, a remnant is called out of that darkness in the “wilderness of the peoples.” What we feel as tribulation is really just a test. Tribulation is for the unrepentant. Yet, we, too, become scared, nervous, anxious, and angry. We're not sure we know how to follow the Ark. Organization? The Beast uses those! Help!   Yes, the Beast is full of cravings and greedy desires. He does use organizations to clickbait and entice us, to offer us any pretext for complaining about the journey. To overwhelm us with “free” choices: Cucumbers? Fish? Melons? Garlic? Onions? Pick me! Pick me! I love free!   All our choices do cost something no matter the pretext or the truth of the Word. The only free thing is our salvation. After that is a wilderness journey of learning, and each lesson costs us some effort. And unlike the wilderness of the first Exodus, this Greater Exodus doesn't come with a visible Moses or a leadership appointed by him. This is a bit scarier because it's more than a bit greater than the first one! (Je 16:14-15; 23:7-8; Is 43:16-19)   You know what? I used AI to look up those verses faster than I could on Logos. I don't think AI is the Beast. It's a tool, but we need to know how to and how not to use it, just like we need to know how to use and not use the organizations to which we belong or which we use. We don't put faith in government, medicine, recreation, education, or any other system. We use them, but they will ultimately fail…repeatedly. They are tools, but they are not the Kingdom. We must recognize where they fail and use them wisely where they are honest and successful.   While the wicked and lukewarm world with no clear direction enters this stage of confusion that precedes the Kingdom, knowing only an indiscriminate throwing off of every yoke, we are to walk with clarity. Training in the Word equips us, calms us, balances us.   This is why I know that trying to find the most enticing graphic or clickbait title is not going to get lots more people to open a newsletter. In fact, statistics tell me that fewer than 50% even open the weekly email.   People are weary and wary. When they do open those links that imply they HOLD THE NEXT GREATEST SECRET CONSPIRACY, they already anticipate that it will under-deliver.  They know we're overrun with the pirates of our time. It's kind of like those sea monkeys I ordered from the back of a comic book when I was seven years old. I still have no idea what that cloudy mess was, but the ads made me think something alive, mysterious, and fascinating could be had for the cost of postage and few bucks.   And I get it.   I, too, have to search for ways to promote books like Scorpions Ascent or a conference, to politely ask the readers or viewers for a minute or two to consider whether the book or event is a good fit for them. I don't want to be a time pirate, yet on the other hand, if we don't do something to attract the eye, the message is shouted down by edgier content producers. At what point do we become a time pirate? These are wilderness dilemmas, but Yeshua goes ahead of us so we won't get lost.   My prayer is that we are quietly growing a trained remnant that doesn't need superlatives, all caps, world-shaking prophecy insights, and carnival ride doctrines. They are faithfully collecting tasty manna in the Torah portions each week. They don't need pretexts to justify their lust for the doctrinal carnival rides because they are not afraid of walking in the chaos Scripture warned us would accompany the period before Yeshua's return.   AI can only appear to know you by your first name. It cannot know you at all. It is data programmed to identify your habits captured either legally or illegally by analyzing your keystrokes, questions, searches, and preferences. The upside is a quick search for a simple, non-life-changing question. The downside is that from now until Yeshua comes, we will not likely know for sure what images or voices are real. Oh yeah, that's in the Bible, too.   A minister of pretext doesn't really know you, either. He or she knows human fears, greed, cravings, laziness…even the good desire to do righteous things for your neighbor. The minister of pretext's bait draws out the “rabble,” sharing confusion and darkness because they feed one another half-truths that become whole lies. In the end, it consumes them together. It doesn't bear the fruit of righteous things. He's a pirate who baits our scroll…em…scrolling time.   As we navigate this greater exodus, let us deliver what the apostles of Yeshua delivered and what Moses and the leaders in the wilderness delivered. Truth. Truth still matters.   A human being doing the honest work of the Kingdom can hold truth and the good of others at the same time. It can give without stealing. Truth can be firmly upheld without being unkind. It can make manna tastier than anything from The French Laundry.   That is something the world desperately needs right now. Real human beings unafraid of the giants, robots, and raging, confused nutters. Strong, yet gentle messengers of Yeshua aren't driven by their own fears, but by the good news promises of the gospel. They may not remember where you shopped online six months ago or that you like loom beading videos, but they know you are the Father’s treasured possession. This kind of knowing becomes a comfort to others:   For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Th 2:3-8)   Isn't this a great passage Paul wrote to comfort the Thessalonians? These are words of relationship, not something Paul asked AI to write for him. Even back then, the recipient of a letter could sniff out a genuine letter from AI. A pastor who loves the flock is a gift from above AI will never duplicate.   This Shabbat is “Shabbat Nachamu,” the Shabbat of Comfort that follows the fast of Tisha B'Av. The readings for the weeks following are also comforts that the destructions will someday come to an end, and the hard work of walking through the chaos and confusion of the wilderness will come to an end.   The great thing about the Ark seeking out a resting place for the Israelites three days' journey ahead of them in the wilderness? It is said that its cloud lifted up the low places, leveled the high places, and killed the scorpions and snakes in their path. It shaded them from the heat or cold. The journey was nothing to be afraid of, nothing  for which they needed to collect pretexts beforehand for failures. They were being afforded the comforts they would need even through the challenges of the journey.   It was those on the fringes the cloud had expelled for complaining who were consumed by the fire. It's way bumpier and hotter out there where the cover of the clouds of glory is thin. The Presence of the Father can also sniff out a reluctant traveler on this journey. Leave the pretexts out there in the fire with the pirates, and report to your place in the cloud.   Complaining is the opposite of comforting. Complaining is the opposite of comforting. Complaining is the opposite of comforting.   “'Comfort, O comfort My people,' says your God. ‘Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.'A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together;' for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Is 40:1-5)     [1] The recipe in Comments will be a link that ka-chings the content provider's account and takes you to a “recipe page” that buries the recipe within dozens of ads. Clickbait. [2] Fun Hebrew/English Coincidence Fact: The first AI pirate: in Hebrew: ?????, Ai means “heap of ruins.” It was a Canaanite city located just east of Bethel. It was the site of a major battle in the Book of Joshua. At first, the Israelites were defeated because a warrior named Achan (“troubling, troubler”) took treasure and hid it. After Achan was put to death, Joshua led a successful military ambush to capture and destroy the city. Pirates of Ai are in a heap of trouble. Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

Introduction: Why is Complaining So Serious? (Numbers 21:1-9) Because It INSULTS GOD . (Num 21:1-5) Because It INFECTS OTHERS . (Num 21:4-5) Because It INFLICTS A PENALTY THAT MUST BE PAID . (Num 21:6-9) John 3:14-15 - “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” Romans 8:32 - He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? God, I give you thanks for... ____________________________________________________ Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! For Our Example: Ancient Warnings for the Church Today - Do Not Be Complainers Taylor Brown Download Audio Transcript 00:48Numbers chapter 21.00:53Do you ever suffer from decision paralysis?00:57Trying to figure out what to watch on a Friday night, and you end up spending the whole night scrolling through all your various streaming services because you can't figure out a movie to watch?01:08You and your family have decision paralysis about where you're going to go on vacation next year, the lake, the beach, a road trip across America.01:17You and your spouse have no idea where to go for your next date night. Do you know where I experience the greatest sense of decision paralysis? The Cheesecake Factory. Has anyone else ever been there? Does anyone want to guess how long their menu is? 21 pages. 21 pages.01:47on those 21 pages. Over 250. That's insanity. There are so many good options to choose from. Whenever I'm in that booth, I have decision paralysis. I don't know what to pick. I don't know what to eat. I felt that same exact way that I always feel in the Cheesecake Factory booth as I decided what to preach on this morning.02:16This is the final week of our latest series for our example, Ancient Warnings for the Church. Today, we have been digging into the books of Exodus and Numbers and learning from the negative example of the Israelites and receiving warnings from God Himself. Warnings like, do not be idolaters. Do not be doubters. Do not be fake repenters. This morning, we will receive our fourth and final warning.02:45Do not be complainers. So why did I experience decision paralysis as I was planning out this series and this sermon in particular? Because there are so many stories of the Israelites complaining in Exodus and Numbers. Their complaint menu is long and extensive. There are so many options to choose from.03:15their work harder in Egypt. In Exodus chapter 5 verse 21. They complained at the Red Sea. In Exodus 14. 11 through 12 that they would die. And they finally shut up whenever God rescued them. They complained about food and water in Exodus 15. Exodus 16. Exodus 17. Numbers 11. Numbers 20. The people complained about how hard their lives were in Numbers 11 verses 1 through 3. And as a result, some of them were consumed by fire from heaven. And number 16, a group is not happy with God's choice of leadership and they rebel against Moses and Aaron. They grumble, they complain. And as a response, God opens up a sinkhole and swallows the rebels. A much more serious sinkhole than the one outside Passman Hospital a few weeks ago.04:14People are very upset. They think Moses is the one who killed these rebels. They complain. And then God kills those complainers with a plague from heaven. Do you see why I suffered decision paralysis? There are so many options to choose from on the Israelite complaint menu. What about your complaint menu? Is it short and almost non-existent? Or is it long?04:44and extensive.04:47If I asked you to list all the things you complain about, would that be difficult for you?04:53Would it be difficult to filter out all the options, to list out every single thing you complain about because you complain about most things in your life?05:02Or maybe you even complain about everything in your life.05:07Complaining may seem like small potatoes compared to idolatry, doubting, and fake repentance, but it isn't. Complaining may seem like a small issue, but it isn't. It is a big deal. It is a serious issue that you need to take seriously right now. It is a serious issue that I need to take seriously right now. Thankfully, I eventually overcame my decision paralysis.05:40And I forced myself to make a decision. I settled on the last recorded example of the Israelites complaining in the book of Numbers. Numbers chapter 21 verses 1 through 9. This passage shows us why complaining is so serious and how we can take it seriously moving forward. So let's go to the Lord and ask for his help. Let's ask the Lord that we would take our complaining seriously and we would take his word very seriously as well.06:10Go to the Lord in prayer. Father, there is not a single person in this room or watching online who can say that they did not complain this past week. And the same for me. Lord, we are so sorry that we complain so often. We are so sorry that we often do not recognize Your goodness in our lives.06:40We walk out of this service with a renewed desire to worship you and give you the thanks that you deserve. We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen. So why is complaining so serious? Why is complaining so serious? Reason number one, because it insults God. Because it insults God.07:10I know that many of you have been in and out of service over the past month so let me give you an idea of where we are in Israel's history they have been rescued from slavery in Egypt and many of them survived worshipping the golden calf at Mount Sinai two weeks ago we studied a sad story of doubt the Israelites refused to go into the promised land they chose to trust themselves more than God and as a result God gave them a consequence The Grumbling and Complaining Older Israelites will never ever see the Promised Land. They will die during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The younger generation will see the Promised Land. It will take 40 years to see that come true. Last week we focused on the Israelites' response to this bad news. They tried to take the Promised Land by force against God's wishes.08:10for them? Not at all. They were quickly defeated and they were sent away. Now we are fast forwarding in time and we're picking up their story near the end of the wilderness wandering. The older generation is fading away and the new generation is replacing them. Let's see if the new kids on the block do any better than the older generation when it comes to complaining. Look at verses 1 through 3 of chapter 21.08:40When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Otharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction. And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.09:10The Canaanites pick a fight with the Israelites, which leads to the defeat of the Canaanites. God is giving His people a preview of what their conquest of the promised land will look like. It looks like a new day is dawning. It looks like the Israelites have turned over a new leaf. It looks like they are closing the book on their disobedience. And they are starting a new chapter of obedience.09:39Maybe not so much. Check out their response to God's victory. The victory that God gave them in verses 4 through 5. From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is no food and water and we loathe this worthless And we're back.10:14It looks like the apple hasn't fallen very far from the tree.10:17New generation, same old sins.10:21The Israelites are impatient again.10:23They are accusing their leaders again.10:26They are complaining again.10:30At its core, complaining is dissatisfaction with God and His good gifts to you.10:38Complaining is an unspoken thought or a spoken word of dissatisfaction with God and His good gifts to you. And that's what the Israelites are doing here. They are complaining. They are acting like God hasn't done anything for them lately. They are completely ignoring His provision in the past and in the present. The Lord just showed up for them in a huge way in their battle against the Canaanites. God could have chosen to sit this one out, but He didn't.11:08He could have sat on the sidelines and did nothing, but He didn't. He gave them victory. And all along their journey in the wilderness, food and water has miraculously been provided for them. More on that in a minute. These are the facts. But the Israelites have forgotten the facts. They have lost sight of their many blessings. Very often, spiritual defeat comes right on the heels of spiritual Spiritual Victory. One minute the Israelites are riding high after the defeat of the Canaanites, and the next minute they are down in the dumps. They are feeling sorry for themselves. They are moaning and groaning about what they do have and what they do not have. You realize the same trend happens to you and me as well. Spiritual defeat often follows Spiritual Victory. You're on the mountaintop, and then you're down in the dumps. You tend to sabotage yourself after God helps you, after God blesses you greatly. You forget the facts. You lose sight of his many blessings. You moan and you groan about what you do have and what you do not have. You and I complain. Yes, this complaining in the wilderness is an ignoring of God's past and present provision, but it's even worse than that. It is an utter insult to God. It is a slap in his face. It is an attack on his character and reputation. Look again at what they say in verse 5. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, why have you brought us up out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.13:08This first reminds me a lot of my son, Sam. Whenever he finds out that he's about to be served his least favorite meal, which is my favorite meal that my wife makes. Chicken with ranch potatoes and green beans. I love that meal. Sam does not feel that way at all. When he asks his mom, what are you making for dinner? And she breaks the news to him. He complains before he eats it, as he eats it, and after he eats it.13:43It's the same for the Israelites in this passage. God's best is not good enough for the Israelites. Let's go through their list of grievances to see what is not good enough for them. God brought us up out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness. Really? That is your view of what happened. God rescued you from back-breaking labor, slavery in Egypt.14:08He was your personal GPS who led you with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He annihilated the Egyptians whenever they chased after you. He led you through dry ground on the Red Sea. Really? That's your view of what God was doing? He brought them to the edge of the promised land where they blew it. They chose not to go in. They chose to doubt Him. That was their fault, not God's.14:38I'm sure none of us in this room or watching online can relate to complaining about circumstances that we have brought upon ourselves. Next grievance. For there is no food and water. Seriously, over and over again, God has miraculously taken care of them. Water from a rock. A literal quail storm that rains down quail from the sky. Manna. Miraculous manna.15:07every single day. All they have to do is bend over and pick it up. But again, that is not good enough for the Israelites. That's their last grievance. We loathe this worthless food. The Israelites view this miraculous manna as monotonous manna. They walk out and are like, manna again? God, can't you do something better for us? Can't you give us something that tastes better? Can't you at least give us, like, nachos?15:37or Flamin' Hot Manna, can't you do something different for us? Come on, I'm sick of this. The gift that used to look good seems pretty bad right now. The blessings that they used to give thanks for seem like curses to them. God's best is no longer good enough for them. You know, at times, God's best doesn't seem good enough for you and me.16:08The gifts that used to look good seem pretty bad right now. The gifts that you used to give thanks for seem like curses right now. You and I can look like those miserable people in those memes that say something like, me at the job I prayed to God for. Or me parenting the kids I asked God for. We're just so unthankful for what God has given to us. The things that we begged Him for and asked for now we can't stand them maybe god has blessed you with friends and fellow christians who love you and care about you but you make it clear to everyone who will listen that they don't do enough for you they don't reach out to you enough they don't make enough of an effort you say that you're just telling it like it is but you know what you're doing you are complaining and insulting god Maybe God's blessed you with a means of providing for your family, but you constantly think negative thoughts about every single aspect of your job and you constantly say negative things about your boss and your coworkers. You say that you're just venting, but you know what you're doing. You're complaining and insulting the Lord.17:29Maybe you are very quick to point out how your family does not meet your high expectations.17:35You are very quick to critique and to lash out.17:40You say that you're just being honest, but you know what you're doing.17:44You are complaining and insulting the Lord.17:49Here's a big one for me.17:51Maybe the Lord has blessed you with a house that you constantly rattle off things you hate about.17:58You constantly talk about other people's houses and how they're way better than your house. Again, you say you're just venting, but you know what you're doing. You're complaining and insulting the Lord. Here's the thing. You cannot insult a gift without insulting the giver of the gift. You cannot grumble about the blessings of God without grumbling against the God of the blessing.18:29Your complaining is serious because it insults your God. Why is complaining so serious? Second reason, because it infects others. Because it infects others. As I studied this past week, I couldn't stop thinking about the origin of this complaining. How did it start? Who did it start with? We're told this in verses 4-5. The people became impatient along the way, and the people spoke against God and Moses. This is a communal sin that must have started at an individual level. While they are wandering in the wilderness, the germ of complaining, the germ of grumbling, begins in the mind. It begins in the mind of individuals, and then it exits the mouth. It starts in the mind something like this.19:27I can't believe we're doing this again we're wandering in circles again this is so stupid and so senseless it's so hot out my throat is so dry my stomach is eating itself the germ of grumbling starts in the mind and then it quickly exits the mouth individuals begin to vocalize their thoughts as they walk sit around the campfire at night and lay in their tents personal protesting turns into corporate complaining It snowballs very quickly and gets out of control. That's how complaining works. It doesn't just stay with you. During the school year, my kids bring home a variety of viruses and illnesses. When one of my kids is stricken, it's just a matter of time before all of us are stricken. One sore throat turns into four sore throats. A solo cough turns into a family.20:27In my house, viruses are easily caught. Sickness effortlessly spreads. The same goes for complaining in your house, your workplace, and even this church. Grumbling is a sinful virus that is easily caught. Complaining is a sickness that effortlessly spreads. One grievance turns into an unending list.20:57of grievances. One complaint invites another complaint. One person complaining leads to many people complaining. It only takes one complainer to infect your small group and this church. Are you patient zero? Are you a contagious complainer who corrupts your home.21:30Are you a contagious complainer who corrupts this church?21:37You have to understand that more than just your health is at stake.21:41The health of your family is at stake.21:43The health of harvest is at stake.21:48Would you purposefully sneeze in someone's face after service and intentionally spread your sickness to them?21:57Would you do that? You answered that way too slowly. I'm going to stay away from all of you after service. Would you purposefully sneeze on someone and intentionally spread your sickness? Okay, I guess I'll shake your hand after service. Then why would you purposefully grumble and intentionally infect someone else with your spiritual sickness? That should be as unthinkable. That should seem as rude.22:26as literally sneezing in someone's face.22:31It's infinitely more destructive than physically passing on a cold or a fever.22:37Deal with the germ of grumbling when it first pops up in your heart.22:41Do not give it room to breathe.22:45Your complaining is serious because it sickens your soul and infects the people you care about the most.22:54Why is complaining so serious?22:55third and final reason. Because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid. Because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid. The Israelites don't want God's best, which results in a serious penalty in verse 6.23:21Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people so that many people of Israel died. The Lord has responded to Israel's complaining with a lot of creative penalties in the past. A plague, a fireball from heaven, a literal sinkhole, but He reserves His hardest and most challenging penalty for this act of complaining.23:50fiery serpents. And no, this doesn't mean that the snakes are on fire like flamethrowers. It means that they have bites that inflict severe inflammatory pain. These bites don't just hurt you. These bites kill you. These snakes slither into the camp, bite many of the Israelites, and many of them die. The new generation of Israelites quickly change their tune. They go from complaining to crying, Look at verse 7.24:24And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned and we have spoken against the Lord and against you.24:30Pray to the Lord that he take away the serpents from us.24:35So Moses prayed for the people.24:40Once again, Israel messes up big time.24:43And once again, Moses stands in the gap and intervenes to them.24:46He prays for the Lord's mercy.24:49And once again, the Lord responds to his request. And he gives his mercy to his people who do not deserve it. What is the method of the Lord's mercy? You see it in verses 8 through 9.25:19and live. Does this method of mercy seem odd to you? It's kind of a strange way to be healed, right? You know, the guys in my small group went to an all-we-can-eat wing night this past Wednesday. It was a lot of fun, but I gotta tell you, the last thing I wanted to see after eating 24 wings was another plate of wings in front of me. My stomach wasn't feeling very great. Doug can tell you he was there.25:49But imagine if the waitress came up to me and said, oh, your stomach hurts. I have just the thing for you. Here, eat some more wings. That'll make you feel better. What? No, get those things away from me. I don't want that. That method of healing my stomach wouldn't make sense to me. Again, the last thing I want to see after eating all those wings is more wings. On a human level, the bronze serpent solution seems as crazy as the just eat more wings solution. It doesn't seem to make much sense. The way to be healed of your snake bite is to look at a fake snake on a pole. I'm guessing the last thing the Israelites wanted to see after being bitten by snakes is another snake. Why does God choose this method of mercy and healing? Why does God go this route? Because it requires faith.26:49of human wisdom and acceptance of divine wisdom. It requires a rejection of self and a deep trust in the Lord. To be clear, the bronze serpent is not a magic trick. The fake snake has no healing properties of its own. The healing comes through looking. The healing comes through trusting. Faith is the method of salvation and forgiveness. Faith is the method.27:19of healing.27:21The Israelites have a choice in this moment.27:23They have two options.27:25They can pay the penalty of their complaining on their own.27:29They can refuse to look at the serpent and die.27:32Or they can in faith look to the serpent and live.27:36They can obey God's command even though it doesn't make sense.27:42Those are the only two options available to them.27:47And you may be thinking, this is all super interesting. But what does this random snake story from over 3,000 years ago have to do with me and my complaining today? Well, you and I must understand that every single sin is a complaint against our Creator. Every single sin we commit is an act of discontentment. And this goes back to the very beginning.28:16with Adam and Eve. They were tricked into believing that God's best was not good enough for them. They were tricked into believing that something more satisfying must be on the other side of disobedience. Eating that fruit was an act of discontentment and complaining. Adam and Eve communicated a loud and clear message to God that we've been talking about this entire sermon. God, your best is not good enough for us and we want better.28:46All the sins we have studied over this past month find their root in discontentment. The Israelites are expressing their discontentment to God by committing idolatry, by doubting His promises, by refusing to genuinely repent, by complaining about His provision. They are shouting, Lord, Your best is not good enough for us.29:16same message to God every single time that we sin. Your sins are acts of discontentment and complaining. The penalty for insulting a good and perfect God is eternal death. The penalty must be paid by someone. The penalty must be taken care of by someone.29:45Do you know that this bronze serpent story isn't a random and isolated incident in the Old Testament? Do you know that the bronze serpent pops up in the New Testament as well? Jesus makes it crystal clear that this bronze serpent points forward to himself. It points forward to the most important person, the most important event in human history. The bronze serpent points forward to Christ and his sacrifice upon the cross.30:15Look at what Jesus says in John 3, 14-15.30:19And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.30:32Like the Israelites, you have two options.30:36You can pay the penalty for your complaining on your own, or the penalty for your complaining can be taken care of by looking to Jesus Christ in faith. By believing that His death is enough for your forgiveness and cleansing. By believing that God's best is all that you need. There is no option C. There is no third way. There is only trusting in yourself which leads to eternal death in hell. Or there is trusting in Christ which leads to eternal life.31:13in heaven.31:17Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers of the 1800s.31:21I'm sure you've heard him quoted and misquoted many times in church.31:24Every single time a pastor shares a quote in church, it's either Spurgeon or C.S. Lewis.31:30But Spurgeon came to Christ as a teenager when he stumbled into a random church during a snowstorm.31:37And the preacher that morning wasn't particularly gifted or eloquent, But the Lord used that sermon to grab ahold of Spurgeon's heart and save him. At one point, the preacher looked directly at him and spoke to him in the sermon. And Spurgeon describes it this way. Just fixing his eyes on me as if he knew all my heart, the preacher said, Young man, you look very miserable. Well, I did, but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance before. However, it was a good blow.32:11struck right home. He continued, and you will always be miserable. Miserable in life and miserable in death if you don't obey my text. But if you obey now this moment, you will be saved. Then lifting up his hands, he shouted, young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look, look, look. You have nothing to do but to look and live. I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said. I'd not take much notice of it. I was so possessed with that one thought. Like when the bronze serpent was The people only looked and were healed. So it was with me.32:45I had been waiting to do 50 things.32:47But when I heard that word, look, what a charming word it seemed to me.32:51Oh, I looked until I could have almost looked my eyes away.32:54There and then the cloud was gone.32:56The darkness had rolled away.32:57And that moment I saw the sun.32:59And I could have risen that instant and sung with the most enthusiastic of them of the precious blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks to Him alone.33:09Oh, that somebody had told me this before. Trust Christ and you will be saved. Friends, look to Christ and live. Trust in Christ and be saved. Have you looked yet? Have you trusted yet? If you haven't, there is no time like the present. Next year may be too late. Next month, may be too late. Tomorrow may be too late. Now is not too late. Now is the perfect time. Look to Christ. Trust in Christ. You will be forgiven. Maybe you've already looked to Christ. Maybe you've already trusted in Christ. If you have, continue to look to Him. Continue to trust in Him. There is no other way to grow.34:09There is no other way to fight against the germ of grumbling when it pops up in your heart. Whenever you are tempted to complain, look to Christ who suffered, bled, died, and bore the wrath of God for your discontentment. Look to Jesus and never forget that God gave you His best. He gave you His own Son so that you could be His son or daughter.34:39forever.34:42When you are tempted to complain about anything, remember the words of Romans 8.32, He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?34:57You have been given everything in Christ.35:01What more is there to strive for?35:03What more is there to gain?35:05What could this world possibly give you that compares to what God, has given to you? Nothing.35:13What is there to complain about when God has given you everything that He has? Nothing.35:21Your complaining is serious because it inflicts a penalty that must be paid.35:28I hope and pray the penalty for your complaining has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.35:37The worship team can now make their way forward. It's so easy to walk away from a sermon series like this and say, you know what? I'm going to buckle down and I'm going to stop committing idolatry. I'm going to stop doubting. I'm going to stop fake repenting. I'm going to stop complaining. Well, that's great to hear. But what will take the place of those unproductive sins? Sin loves evacuations.36:07If you do not replace an unproductive sin with a productive discipline another sin will just rush in and take its place For right now let's focus on complaining What will you replace complaining with?36:24What will you replace grumbling with?36:28Thankfully the Bible gives us the clear answer You are to replace complaining with thanksgiving You are to replace grumbling with gratitude But as Pastor Jeff often says It's not enough just to feel thankful You need to actually give thanks And I'm going to give you the opportunity right now On the bottom of your outline There is a fill in the blank prompt that says God I give you thanks for Fill in the blank I want you to fill in the blank for what you are most thankful for right now. Be very specific because specific praise honors God's specific blessings. Write down what you are thankful for. The Thanksgiving party doesn't end here. Now we are going to give you an opportunity to share what you are thankful for with the rest of the congregation. I'm going to have a microphone. One of our elders, Brian B., he's also going to have a microphone. And we ask you to come down one of the aisles.37:34and to share one sentence with us. Fill in the blank. God, I give you thanks for fill in the blank. I guarantee that you will not regret giving thanks to God and sharing that blessing with the entire congregation. So come forward if you would like to share. Let's stand and continue to thank the Lord together. Small Group DiscussionRead Numbers 21:1-9What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why is complaining such a big deal?What do you tend to complain about the most and why?What are you thankful for right now?BreakoutPray for one another.

What happens when the instinct to help a struggling company is exactly what prevents the strongest companies from succeeding? Venture capital forces investors to make decisions that can feel deeply uncomfortable: stop rescuing the weakest, concentrate scarce capital behind the most promising, and accept that most investments will fail.Deep tech intensifies this conflict. Investors must commit capital while the technology remains unproven, customers are still uncertain and the eventual exit may be more than a decade away. The wrong team, an inflated valuation or a fund timeline that does not fit the technology can destroy an otherwise promising company.Joško Bobanović, Partner at Sofinnova, explains how experienced investors make these decisions without ever receiving complete information. He reveals why people matter more than patents, why founders must start selling before they have a product and why investors should support management from the back seat—without trying to drive the company themselves.Beginning with a destructive storm Joško predicted but could not prevent, the conversation develops into a practical guide to risk, patience and capital allocation. It also confronts Europe's central deep-tech challenge: the continent produces exceptional science, but without sufficient scale-up capital, specialist investors and corporate buyers, much of the value will be created elsewhere.WHAT LISTENERS CAN EXPECT TO LEARNWhy successful venture investing requires resisting the instinct to rescue struggling portfolio companiesHow investors make consequential decisions with partial information—and recognize when it is time to stop researchingWhy the team, storytelling and customer conversations can matter more than exceptional technology aloneHow inflated valuations, ten-year fund structures and limited exit opportunities affect deep-tech companiesWhat Europe must change to scale its best companies instead of watching them industrialize elsewhereBEST QUOTES(00:20:04) “The nature of venture capital decisions is very counter to human instincts.” — Joško Bobanović(00:41:05) “Investment in a startup is like a marriage that is predetermined with a divorce at some point in time in the future.” — Joško Bobanović(00:54:25) “Nothing validates what you're doing better than cash.” — Joško Bobanović(00:57:35) “A B team will probably destroy exceptional technology, but an A team will make a success even of average technology.” — Joško Bobanović(01:56:22) “Otherwise we become a museum. And I don't think we want to be a museum.” — Joško BobanovićTIMESTAMPS(00:00:00) Why Venture Capital Fights Human Instinct(00:03:08) The Storm Joško Predicted but Could Not Stop(00:09:11) How the Early Internet Changed Access to Opportunity(00:16:49) If You Do Not Play, You Cannot Win(00:20:04) Why Investors Must Resist the Rescue Instinct(00:29:33) Scientists Must Learn to Decide with Partial Information(00:35:58) Can Founders Make Themselves Replaceable?(00:41:05) A Marriage with a Predetermined Divorce(00:47:45) Why Storytelling Is a Critical Deep-Tech Skill(00:52:03) Start Selling from Day One(00:57:03) Why Venture Capital Is a People Business(01:00:11) Investors Belong in the Back Seat(01:10:50) Better Decisions Require Broader Comparisons(01:18:00) When a Higher Valuation Becomes Dangerous(01:27:15) Why Every Venture Investment Needs 10× Potential(01:37:29) Deep Tech's Missing Exit Opportunities(01:45:05) Why VCs See IPOs as a Necessary Evil(01:52:49) Europe's Scientific Strength and Scale-Up Weakness(02:05:01) What Europe Gets Wrong About Failure(02:13:13) Get Involved Instead of Complaining from the SidelinesFollow Beginner's Mind for long-form conversations on leadership, capital, technology, and the people shaping what comes next. Ranked in the global top 10% of all podcasts, named #1 Deep Tech Podcast in 2025, and #8 Deep Tech Podcast in 2026Send us Fan Mail Join Christian Soschner for expert coaching. 50% Off - With 35+ years in deep tech, startups/scaleups, and public companies, Christian offers power video sessions. Elevate strategy, execution, and leadership. Book Now.Support the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link

Join us today for an exciting conversation with New York Myke!  A Love Letter to Harley but it's tough love. Myke is the host of the popular podcast "Rolling with New York Myke" and recently released his brand new book, "A Harley Life: Notoriously Out of Sequence. But Nobody's Complaining." We'll be diving into his journey, the open road, motorcycle culture, and the stories behind his latest book.

I'm examining Christian lamenting. You could describe it as a prayer language, which God encourages us to use when we're in deep grief or anger or confusion. But this desperate prayer, as raw and painful as it may be, intentionally maintains trust in God's character. Some have characterized lamenting as “crying human but lamenting Christian.” I have a note taped to my desk that says, “Today I will not complain about anything!” It's there to remind me complaining in general is not good, not biblical, and should not be the language of a Christ-follower. Yet when David was hiding in a cave, running for his life from King Saul, he begins Psalm 142 like this: With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him (Psalm 142:1-2). He complains! Guess he never saw a sign like mine! But here's the thing: David is lamenting to the Lord about a very grievous, frightening situation. There's a difference in biblical laments and sinful complaints. Remember when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, having been miraculously rescued from slavery in Egypt. And what did they do? They complained! They complained about the food, about missing what they had in Egypt, about not having water, and they complained to Moses and to God. That is sinful complaining. I've done more than my share of it, too, haven't you? From complaining about the weather to having to deal with a difficult coworker or not getting a raise, complaints can truly become our language. We have to be intentional about not complaining and griping, and truly learning to give thanks in everything, as the Bible says. But a biblical lament is not a complaint against God; it is an appeal to God, and it's based on trust in who God is, on what he's done for you in the past, on his very character. Lamenting should move you along toward finding that peace that passes understanding, even when your questions are not answered. Complaining, on the other hand, will keep you mired in selfish attitudes and bring you down.

Numbers 11:1-3 Tyler Dunn // Adult Life Pastor

Scripture treats complaining and ingratitude with immense gravity. But how do we teach a whiny six year old about the eternal ramifications of discontentment? The dads talk about modeling gratitude and joyfulness, rather than self-pity and criticism…some of the biggest causes of ingratitude and grumbling in a family…how to lovingly and consistently correct complaining…and the strategies that have helped them the most to create a thankful spirit in their homes.

Scripture treats complaining and ingratitude with immense gravity. But how do we teach a whiny six year old about the eternal ramifications of discontentment? The dads talk about modeling gratitude and joyfulness, rather than self-pity and criticism…some of the biggest causes of ingratitude and grumbling in a family…how to lovingly and consistently correct complaining…and the strategies that have helped them the most to create a thankful spirit in their homes.

Presenting Sponsor Thirdzy!  https://thirdzy.com/JAZZYPromotion Code for 15% off: JAZZYSupport Carolyne with the purchase of your CrossFit Games Tickets, Use Code cfgprevost10 at checkoutEveryday we take a break from the busy work day to catch our breath, hang out with friends and talk about Flo Elite broadcasting the Games, To Paywall or not to Paywall, New Stallone Biopic, New Road to the Games: Syndicate Crown, Ice Cream, TV Shows and so much more.

Meet Will Bowen Will Bowen is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and founder of the Complaint Free® Movement. This movement has inspired millions of people across more than 100 countries to live with greater positivity and personal accountability. He is best known for his bestselling book A Complaint-Free World, which introduced a simple yet powerful idea: by becoming more aware of our words, especially complaints, we can transform our mindset, relationships, and results. His challenge has helped individuals, teams, and organizations break the habit of chronic complaining and replace it with intentional, solution-focused thinking. His message has been featured on major media outlets, including Oprah, NBC's Today Show, and People Magazine. Whether speaking to schools, corporations, or leadership groups, Will Bowen equips people with tools to elevate their thinking and ultimately, their lives. Complaining, Mindset, and Personal Growth In this conversation, Will Bowen shares the origin of his global initiative, which began with a simple purple bracelet and a challenge: go 21 days without complaining. What started as a small experiment quickly grew into a worldwide movement, helping millions become more aware of their thoughts, words, and habits. At the heart of Bowen's message is the idea that complaining is not just harmless venting; it reinforces negativity, limits growth, and shapes how we experience the world. Instead, he encourages individuals to take responsibility for their responses and focus on solutions rather than problems. The G.R.I.P.E. Framework A key takeaway from the conversation is Bowen's practical acronym for understanding complaints: G.R.I.P.E. G – Get Attention ComplaintsWill makes an important distinction between honest reflection and complaining; complaining is expressing something primarily for selfish appeal or ego.Response Tip: When others complain for attention, redirect their thinking toward gratitude. Ask: “So what is going well with __________?” For example, if someone complains about students, ask: “What's going well with your classes?” This shift moves the conversation from misery to possibility. R – Remove Responsibility ComplaintsComplaining is often used as a way to get off the hook. When faced with accountability, people may point to others' failures or claim circumstances are beyond their control. This keeps them stuck and avoids ownership.Response Tip: Shift from excuse-making to solution-seeking by asking: “If it were possible, how might you do it?” This question removes the escape route and opens the door to action. I – Inspire Envy Complaints (The Humble Brag)Sometimes complaints are really disguised attempts to appear superior. For instance, pointing out someone else's shortcomings may actually be a way to highlight one's own strengths. These “humble brags” create comparison rather than connection.Response Tip: Will Bowen suggests “complimenting the opposite.” If someone points out another's flaw, you might respond by affirming their strength: “It's great that you're always on time.” This can gently expose the motive behind the complaint and shift the tone. Changing the subject is also an effective way to disengage from this pattern. P – Power ComplaintsPeople who feel powerless sometimes use complaining as a way to gain control—often through gossip or criticism of others. This can be especially toxic in teams.Response Tip: If someone comes to you to complain about another person, respond with: “It sounds like the two of you have a lot to talk about.” If they continue, you might add: “Would you like me to arrange a meeting?” This redirects them toward resolution instead of reinforcing the complaint. E – Excuse Complaints (Excusing Poor Performance)Complaining is one of the quickest ways to avoid accountability. Instead of addressing areas for growth, individuals may focus on obstacles or limitations. Bowen notes that, like in team sports, those who resist coaching often weaken the team dynamic.Response Tip: Replace excuses with ownership by asking: “How do I plan to improve next time?” This shifts the focus from justification to growth and from problems to solutions. Complaining, Social Media, and Leadership A powerful part of the conversation focused on how social media platforms often amplify and reward complaining. Bowen explained that algorithms are designed to prioritize emotionally charged content (especially negativity) because it drives engagement. As a result, complaints, outrage, and criticism tend to spread faster and wider than thoughtful or solution-oriented messages. In a world where complaints are often rewarded with attention, leaders stand out by modeling steadiness, responsibility, and solution-focused thinking. Listen for even more! Will Bowen reminds us that eliminating complaints does not mean ignoring real problems. Instead, it means choosing to address those problems in a way that is constructive, responsible, and focused on solutions. Listen to the entire conversation for even more great takeaways, and as always, thank you for doing what matters! Contact & Resources To learn more about Will Bowen and the Complaint Free® Movement, visit https://willbowen.com/, where you can find resources, tools, and information about his work. The post PMP509: A Complaint Free World with Will Bowen appeared first on Principal Matters.

Dave Lawn spent 40 years coaching college baseball — Cal, USC, Nevada, Arizona, TCU, and a stop-along-the-way at Cal State Fullerton where he was, by his own count, "the first player development guy" in the country back in 2013. He walked away from the sport six weeks ago. He sat down with Trevor to talk not about pitching or tech or metrics, but about what the game actually teaches you when you give it 40 years of your life.This is an episode about the curriculum baseball hides in plain sight. Coaches, players, parents — the lessons work for anyone who's ever competed or led.A few of the ones Dave lays out:Take joy in the joy of others. The bulk of a coaching career gets spent chasing the dogpile and the next job. The joy that actually holds up is the joy in the players — not your own.The rhythm of baseball is a life skill. Four games a week means kids have to sit on a bad outing for days. That's where the mental training really happens, and it doesn't happen in a sport with a game every night.The real reward isn't the trophy — it's the sheriff, the doctor, and the wedding invite. Dave tells the Bobby Kalon story (Cal fireballer at 82 mph → Navy medical school → 15 years running a naval air station clinic) and the John Hardy story (1987 Contra Costa kid → Solano County sheriff). Both still call. Both still send updates. That's the actual scoreboard."Not blaming, complaining, or explaining." The Peyton Toley postgame interview after a rough start that Dave sent to every pitcher in the room. Own it. Reset. Go pitch six shutout innings against a big-league team the next time out."Uncoachable" is a cuss word. The question a scout should be asking pre-draft isn't "is he coachable" — it's does he let you help?Great coaches are master communicators — and chameleons. One kid walks into an exit meeting needing one thing. The next kid walks in needing the opposite. The best coaches read the room and adjust — and the best of them know when to shut up and get out of the way. Oklahoma's title team as the reference point.The 10,000-foot view is what private instruction is missing. A track-man report and a video clip can't see the conniption fit in the dugout between innings. That's where the coaching actually happens.Why this matters:Development conversations in modern baseball live in metrics and mechanics. This one lives underneath both — in the character architecture that has to be there before the metrics matter. Dave Lawn is exactly the voice for the show that makes that case. 00:00 Intro · Dave Lawn Returns 00:55 Arizona and the High Corbett Facility 01:40 Where They Filmed "Major League" 03:41 40 Years, the Biggest Lessons Question 03:50 Lesson · Take Joy in the Joy of Your Players 05:52 Lesson · Baseball's Rhythm Teaches Patience 07:02 The Recruiting Circuit He'll Miss 08:14 Learning by Watching Other Coaches 10:05 Peyton Toley's Joy on the Mound 12:08 The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Phone Call 16:40 "Not Blaming, Complaining, or Explaining" 17:25 What Coaching Fulfillment Actually Looks Like 18:29 Bobby Kalon · 82 MPH to Navy Doctor 21:28 John Hardy · From Cal Kid to County Sheriff 23:37 The 18-23 Bad Guy Years 24:37 Tanner Segoosby in the Morgantown Rain 27:31 The Daughter's Retirement Tweet 28:29 Retirement · No Alarm Clock 30:34 First "Player Development" Guy in 2013 35:29 Great Coaches Are Master Communicators 37:02 Michael Jordan Never Said He Was the Best 38:26 Player-Run Teams · When to Get Out of the Way 39:32 The Chameleon Coach 41:10 Kids Taking Coaching as a Personal Attack 43:28 The 10,000-Ft View Private Instruction Misses 46:20 "That Kid's Soft" · No, He's Learning 47:00 "Uncoachable" Is a Cuss Word 48:02 Nobody Pays for the Basics 49:38 Jab vs Haymaker 52:10 Terry Francona's Spring Training Speech 53:14 A 1-0 Changeup Pitches Into the Ninth 55:50 The Lawn Dart · A Nevada Trick Pitch 59:08 The 0-2 Count Is When You Throw It 1:00:11 Closing · Thank You

We are back with Sunday live! I take an opportunity to share a great experience we had in Pennsylvania and our experience at the Sight and Sound Theastre in Lancaster, PA. I also share some honest updates about my health journey and current findings in what I am working through. I also return to our […]

The doors are officially open and wedding guests are beginning to arrive at Madison Square Garden for the wedding of the century! Taylor and Travis are “going to the Garden” and so are 1000 other guests, including some music legends who are set to perform with her after the two say I Do on the arena floor! We have all the latest details, as the festivities are officially underway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The doors are officially open and wedding guests are beginning to arrive at Madison Square Garden for the wedding of the century! Taylor and Travis are “going to the Garden” and so are 1000 other guests, including some music legends who are set to perform with her after the two say I Do on the arena floor! We have all the latest details, as the festivities are officially underway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The doors are officially open and wedding guests are beginning to arrive at Madison Square Garden for the wedding of the century! Taylor and Travis are “going to the Garden” and so are 1000 other guests, including some music legends who are set to perform with her after the two say I Do on the arena floor! We have all the latest details, as the festivities are officially underway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(3:00) What does peak FSU look like in the 21st century? (8:00) UVA most disappointing loss? (14:00) Can Mike Norvell do anything at a mic to excite an FSU fan (22:00) Surprised he didn't kick back money to NIL again? (32:00) Blame game on recruiting (44:00) Wildcard? (48:00) Pricing out fans (59:00) Would we do a NSFW segment (1:07:00) How have they missed so much at QB (1:12:00) Excited Mike is calling plays? (1:14:00) Are we losing interest because the losses or the NIL climate? (1:23:00) Hoops Music: Stand Atlantic - Velcro Follow CumminsLifestyle on IG Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.