Podcasts about Crete

Newly-crowned prince Theseus and thirteen brave young Athenians sail across the wine-dark sea towards the island of Crete. They are tributes, destined for the lair of the monstrous Minotaur. But Eros, the mischievous god of love, has other plans for our young hero and his crew…

Midweek In-Depth Bible Study

This study delves into Titus 1-4, focusing on Paul's instructions to Titus regarding establishing church order in Crete. The discussion highlights the qualifications of elders (Titus 1:5-9), the need to combat false teachers and maintain sound doctrine, and the importance of adhering to God's established order within the church. Pastor Anthony described the historical context of Crete, including Paul's visit and the potential origins of a Cretan proverb about lying. A significant portion of the discussion centers on the importance of a plurality of elders, contrasting this with potentially harmful hierarchical structures or the influence of "celebrity pastors." The episode emphasizes the interconnectedness of life and doctrine, the dangers of unchecked power, and the necessity of elders to lead, feed, correct, and protect the flock. The episode concludes with a reflection on Martin Luther's famous stand and the ongoing relevance of maintaining God's order in the church.#titusstudy #paultheapostle #churchleadership #ChurchOrder #biblicalauthority #elders #pastors #ApostolicTradition #sounddoctrine #christianliving 00:03:35 - Titus, Crete, and the Gospel00:07:00 - God's Promise, Plan, and Peace07:00 - Crete's Early Church & Mission10:07 - God's Order vs. Disorder13:00 - Biblical Order & Church Structure20:02 - Church Disarray & Consequences24:00 - Elders and Wolves in Church31:14 - Church Leadership & Issues34:49 - Spiritual Warfare & Order38:25 - Shepherds, Sheep, and Sin45:53 - Paul's Missionary StrategyPodcast: www.ReformedRookie.comPodcast: https://anchor.fm/reformedrookieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReformedRookie Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYapologistSemper Reformanda!

Dr. Don Trest continues in Paul's letter to Titus, a young pastor on the Isle of Crete. Titus 2:11-15.bfc4u.org, facebook.com/bfc4u

The Lord sent Titus to Crete to set things in order in the Cretan church.

When King Minos of Crete demands fourteen young Athenians to feed to the monstrous Minotaur, Prince Theseus and a lively group of teenagers set sail.  In Knossos, Minos expects his daughter Princess Ariadne to watch quietly as the Athenian tributes meet their gruesome deaths. But Eros, mischievous god of love, takes aim with his arrows, intertwining the fate of Theseus and Ariadne.  Can our young heroes somehow change the destinies of everyone around them?

Early this year American energy giant Chevron expressed interest in exploring for hydrocarbons in Greek waters off the coast of the Peloponnese. Just a few weeks ago, it expressed new interest in areas south of Crete. This vote of confidence is not only raising questions about what potential discoveries could mean for Greece and Europe, but are also delivering an important win for international law as they essentially “kill” the illegal Turkish-Libyan accord. John Psaropoulos joins Thanos Davelis as we look into why energy giants like Chevron and Exxon are looking at Greece, and break down why Chevron's moves south of Crete are a victory for international law.John Psaropoulos is an independent journalist and Al Jazeera's correspondent in southeast Europe. He also publishes Hellenica, a weekly deep dive into Greek current affairs and history that you can find on Substack.com.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Gas interest off Crete kills Turkish-Libyan accord EU once denounced as “illegal"Greece to repay first bailout loans by 2031, 10 years earlyErdogan's main rival in Turkey makes first court appearance since arrest

From St Andrew of Crete

Dear Listeners, this is a talk I gave to our church group about the wonderful Great Canon, an athletic masterpiece of biblical scholarship, hymnography, and repentence. I thought you might like it.

Sunday Worship April 13th, 2025   ““Grace Reigns”” Titus 2:11-14 Rev. Tennant Brastow   Sermon Audio   Sermon Outline: Grace Transforms Us Grace Trains Us Reflection Questions: Have you ever considered how astounding it is that Titus found anyone qualified to be an elder on the island of Crete (given their reputation in Titus 1:7)? […] The post “Grace Reigns” appeared first on East Charlotte Pres.

4-12-25: St. Andrew of Crete on Palm Sunday by

Psalm 104Reading 1: Hebrews 10Reading 2: From a sermon by St. Andrew of Crete, bishopSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975

Nine-year-old Isabelle and thirteen-year-old Killian from Midleton Renshukan Karate Club are part of Team Ireland heading to the 16th SKIF World Karate Championships in Crete. They chat to PJ in studio along with Isabel's mum Diane and Sensei Karen Sargent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelli Scarr is an American singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Kingston, NY. She is also the founder of Vera Jean Music, a pioneering record label dedicated to championing the talents of women artists over the age of 40.On May 12, 2025, she unveils Greater Mysteries, an immersive album and performance experience inspired by the ancient myth of Inanna. Born from a 2022 artist residency in Crete, and recorded in Iceland, the album invites listeners to connect with their own cycles of transformation. Transcendent piano and airy woodwinds intertwine with Scarr's otherworldly voice and the earthy pulse of the rhythm section, alongside contributions from an array of surprise musicians—creating a soundscape steeped in myth and mystery.Raised in Northern California, Scarr's musical journey began in church, eventually leading her to Berklee College of Music before settling in New York City. Over the years, she has woven her way through an eclectic range of projects, from fronting the bands Moonraker and Salt & Samovar to a significant collaboration writing, recording, and touring with Moby. Her artistry extends into film scoring, where her emotive and organic approach—favoring live musicians and improvisation—has set her apart. She earned an Emmy nomination for her score to the HBO documentary In A Dream (2008) and has composed music for dozens of films, TV shows, and commercials. Notable projects include the documentaries Advanced Style and Far Western, and the forthcoming After All (2025), for which she composed the score and contributed six original songs.As a solo artist, Scarr has released three albums—Piece (2010), Dangling Teeth (2012), and No Rush (2021)—establishing herself as a singular voice in atmospheric, deeply emotive songwriting. Her forthcoming fourth album, Greater Mysteries, marks a new creative chapter, offering music as an initiatory experience. The project will unfold through intimate preview concerts in the Hudson Valley, culminating in immersive cave performances this fall and beyond.Today we get to dive deep into Kelli's creative process in the making of Greater Mysteries from the seeds of inspiration that came from many sources such as Talk Talk by Spirit of Eden, Maureen Murdock's "The Heroine's Journey," and Dr. Catherine Svehla's mythical wisdom to the whisper from her psychic about Greece in her future. Kelli shares about the magic and mystery of her residency in Crete, how the voices of Odeya Nini and members of the Threshold Choir appeared to lend magic to the album, and we listen to three songs - "Knowing is the Call," "The Yes that Leads," and "Aphrodite" - as we meander through the myth of Inanna and how transformation happens to us..."she's not dying, she's flying free."Hudson Valley audiences will have an exclusive opportunity to preview Greater Mysteries before the rest of the world. On April 16th, Kelli is hosting Lesser Mysteries at Unicorn Bar in Kingston. The special preview event will feature an impressive lineup of local and national talent and offer attendees a unique opportunity to witness the early stages of what will become a larger, Greater Mysteries immersive cave experience scheduled for fall 2025.https://www.viewcy.com/e/lesser_mysteriesHere's Kelli's recommendation to Leah Thau's Podcast, Strangers.Today's show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.Our show music is from Shana Falana!Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IThttp://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcastITUNES | SPOTIFYITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i-want-what-she-has/id1451648361?mt=2SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/show/77pmJwS2q9vTywz7Uhiyff?si=G2eYCjLjT3KltgdfA6XXCAFollow:INSTAGRAM * https://www.instagram.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcast/FACEBOOK * https://www.facebook.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcast 

Born to Run, CHRISTOPHER MCDOUGALL‘s 1st book started a journey opening a conversation of human potential. Natural Born Heroes continues the journey to Crete where the mythological heroes were born.

What is the work of elders in the church today?  Are they primarily decision-makers?  Or, should their primary work be to counsel and encourage?  It's not easy for Christians to come to agreement on the function of elders.  What did Paul see as the primary role of elders on the island of Crete, according to Titus 1:9?  That's what we want to consider in this 11 1/2 minutes long episode.

In this 13-minute episode, we are taking a look at Paul's description in Titus 1:10-16 of the false teachers on Crete.  We are asking how this text should inform our understanding of the identity of false teachers today.  Please consider these things with us!

Paul Corry on last night's Premier League action; Tony O'Donoghue is live from Crete ahead of Ireland's game against Greece; Shep talks Aaron Rodgers and the Tush Push, plus Shane McGrath chats hurling!

What would change if you thought of discipleship as passing the baton of grace from one generation to the next? Courtney Doctor and Hunter Beless have teamed up, not only to write a Bible study on Titus, but to model a Paul-and-Titus type friendship, rooted in discipleship.Join us as we discuss the relationship between Paul and Titus, the bad reputation and leadership of those in Crete, and how to put the gospel of grace on display in our own generation.Where else can I listen to this podcast?Go HERE to find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple, Youtube, Spotify, and more.Guests: Hunter Beless and Courtney DoctorBible Passage: Titus's Ministry in Crete - Titus 1 CSBGet your Free Resource: False Narrative WatchlistTitus: Displaying the Gospel of Grace Check out Hunter and Courtney's new book on Shannon's Amazon Storefront HEREResound Media Network: www.ResoundMedia.ccMusic: Cade PopkinHunter BelessHunter Beless is the founder and host of Journeywomen, the author of "Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It" and "Amy Carmichael: The Brown-Eyed Girl Who Learned to Pray," and the co-author of "Titus: Displaying the Gospel of Grace." Her favorite places to do ministry are within the four walls of her home and in her local church. Hunter and her husband, Brooks, have four amazing kiddos who memorize Scripture way faster than them! When they're not reading, seeing, saying, or singing the Bible, you can find them camping, riding bikes, or snuggling up with a good book.WebsiteInstagramFacebookPodcastCourtney DoctorCourtney Doctor is an author, Bible teacher, frequent conference and retreat speaker, and periodic blogger. She received an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2013 and is a Bible teacher and author of several books and Bible studies including From Garden to Glory: How Understanding God's Story Changes Yours (2024); Steadfast: A Devotional Bible Study on the Book of James (2019); and In View of God's Mercies: The Gift of the Gospel in Romans (2022). She currently serves as the Director of Women's InitiatLive Like It's True is part of the Resound Podcast Network. For more gospel centered resources visit ResoundMedia.cc . Check out my nine week study, Control Girl: Lessons on Surrendering Your Burden of Control from Seven Women in the Bible.We've got leader's guides, free bonuses and more for you at ControlGirl.com. My Live Like It's True workbook will help you get the most out of your study of the narrative sections of your Bible. It includes my False Narrative Watchlist, my True Story Worksheet, my Story Elements Bookmark and more. Get your free workbook here. Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

As Europeans look to boost their security and defense capabilities, there's an ongoing debate about including Turkey in this discussion. This is raising a number of moral and strategic concerns, especially given the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Turkey's ties to Russia. Ambassador Marc Pierini, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe and former EU ambassador to Turkey, joins Thanos Davelis to break down why including Ankara in any future plans on European security could prove deeply problematic.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Turkey's Ambivalence Is a Threat to European SecurityGreece unveils 12-year defense planSevere storms batter Greek islands for a second day, with Crete hardest hit

Church order, sound doctrine and godly living. Introduction to the study of Titus. Please join us through the book of Titus. This book is the third of 3 "pastoral epistles." In this letter, the Apostle Pail instructs Titus to ordain leaders in the church of Crete. The admonition to maintain church order, sound doctrine and encourage godliness is as necessary today as when the Holy Spirit inspired this letter.

Our world urgently needs Jesus. The book of Titus reveals that people everywhere, from ancient Crete to our modern cities, are spiritually lost and in need of a Savior. Are you a player, prayer or payer when it comes to sending? - The Church of Eleven22® is a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. Eleven22 is led by Pastor Joby Martin and based in Jacksonville, Florida, with multiple campuses throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding areas. To find out more about how God is moving at Eleven22, go to CoE22.com

Our Bible Reading of the Day is Acts 27:9–44. After appealing his right as a Roman citizen, Paul sets sail for Rome under guard of Julius, a centurion. They try to sail along the coast of Crete, but a fierce storm batters the ship for two weeks, pushing them out to sea. An angel tells Paul the ship will be lost but all aboard will survive. Paul encourages everyone to take heart and have some food. Then the crew cuts the anchors loose, and the ship heads toward a beach, where it strikes a reef. All 276 aboard arrive safely ashore.

Ruth Barrett is an acknowledged feminist spirituality foremother, ordained Dianic High Priestess, seasoned ritualist, educator, author, and a musician whose numerous recordings beginning in 1980 have been among the pioneering musical works in the U. S. Goddess Spirituality Movement. She is author of Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries: Intuitive Ritual Creation (Expanded 3rd Edition), and has contributed to other anthologies celebrating goddess spirituality including Stepping Into Ourselves: An Anthology of Writings of Priestesses, Elders and Visionaries: Foremothers of the Women's Spirituality Movement, Female Erasure: What You Need To Know About Gender Politics' War On Women, the Female Sex and Human Rights, and Women In World Religions: Faith and Culture Across History. Ruth and her life partner Falcon River co-founded the Temple of Diana, Inc. (www.templeofdiana.org). Ruth has taught at conferences and festivals nationally and internationally, and currently teaches online classes on a variety of witchy topics through her Temple of Diana branch, Guardians of the Grove.SUPPORT: To take a class or workshop, register for a pilgrimage to Crete, schedule a private consultation, or apply to the Spiral Door Mystery School, visit guardiansofthegrove.orgFOLLOW: You can find Ruth online at guardiansofthegrove.org, dancingtreemusic.org, templeofdiana.org, and the-spiral-door-mystery-school.org.

Midweek In-Depth Bible Study

Bible study for March 28, 2025, is cancelled.Scripture Reading: Acts 27:1–44 27 When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea. 9 Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 “Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship's owner than by what Paul said. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they could carry out their purpose, so they weighed anchor and sailed close along the coast of Crete. 14 Not long after this, a hurricane-force wind called the northeaster blew down from the island. 15 When the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship's boat under control. 17 After the crew had hoisted it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, thus letting themselves be driven along. 18 The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing the cargo overboard, 19 and on the third day they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent storm continued to batter us, we finally abandoned all hope of being saved. 21 Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. 22 And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.' 25 Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” 27 When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land. 28 They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. 29 Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear. 30 Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship's boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let it drift away. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense and have gone without food; you have eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your survival. For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. 36 So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons on the ship.) 38 When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. 39 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 So they slipped the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage that bound the steering oars together. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and steered toward the beach. 41 But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 42 Now the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul's life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to land.OutlinePaul Sails to RomeLuke narrates the shipwreck with special detailGod wants Paul to go to Rome; Paul is innocentHow It StartedPaul and his companions are assigned to a centurionSailing from Caesarea to Asia MinorPut in at SidonTo Myra in LyciaTransfer at MyraWith difficulty they reached Fair HavensPaul's first warningWinter travel—a dangerous affairLet's winter in Phoenix!To PhoenixHow It's GoingThe weather suddenly changesFind shelter behind Cauda and haul the boat!Anything but the Syrtis!Preparing the ship for the worseAll hope is lostPaul Offers HopePaul rises as a leader and encourages themPaul has had a visionThe ship approaches some landSome sailors attempt to escapeEveryone on board shares a mealDiscarding more cargoLast ditch effort: run the ship agroundThe prisoners are sparedEveryone swims to shore; everyone is saved!

When a Christian reflects upon their life before faith in Jesus, it can help them to appreciate the transformation that the Holy Spirit is bringing about in them. Pastor Nick considers the Apostle Paul's charge to the churches in Crete to not forget the grace of God abounding in them through Christ.

In this episode we travel to Crete and learn about the 1941 invasion of the island by German paratroopers. We hear from former Coldstream Guard, Will Tower, who explains how the British and Anzac troops tried to defend the airfields on the island in bitter fighting. We discover the story of New Zealander Leslie Andrew who had been awarded the Victoria Cross at Messines in World War 1 and hear about his leadership skills on Crete 24 years later. And we listen to the words of British Artilleryman John Clayton, who was one of those bombed and strafed by the Lutwaffe and saw German paratroopers being killed as they landed. And we discuss the Army Benevolent Fund “Frontline Walk” that Will is leading later this year.

In the mid-1980s a publishing conglomerate named for two of America's most popular magazines, TIME and LIFE, put together a 33-volume series exploring aliens, psychic powers, magic and more. Mysteries of the Unknown kicked off its series with a little book titled MYSTIC PLACES, and within you could delve into theories about Atlantis, the Great Pyramid of Giza, Stonehenge, Nazca Lines, the Bermuda Triangle and more. On this episode, we got our grubby hands on two copies of musty mysteries and we're gonna talk about them! Plus, a MouthGarf Report and your favorite game, I See What You Did There!Please give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts! Want to ask us a question? Talk to us! Email debutbuddies@gmail.comListen to Kelly and Chelsea's awesome horror movie podcast, Never Show the Monster.Get some sci-fi from Spaceboy Books.Get down with Michael J. O'Connor's music!Next time: First Disney Feature Length Animated Film

Fisher Madsen sits down with Crete boy's head coach Derek Spence and one of their senior leaders, Diego Espinoza. --- Support Nebraska Soccer Talk by becoming a Patron. Click here to visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nebraska_talk. If you don't want to be a monthly supporter of Nebraska Soccer Talk, you can be a one-time supporter by Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/nesoccertalk.--- Visit our sponsor Fleet Feet for all your fitness needs: http://www.fleetfeet.com. Fleet Feet is locally owned and operated.--- Visit our sponsor Deer Creek Sports Cantina and Tacos at www.deercreeksportscantina.com. Deer Creek Sports Cantina is locally owned and operated.--- Follow us on Twitter @nebraska_talk and follow the hosts on Twitter @jack_hova and @Owen_Godberson. Want to be featured on a Nebraska Soccer Talk podcast episode? Click here: https://forms.gle/UQWr65BR5tp9Gfgw5 --- Visit our website: https://nesoccertalk.com/--- Visit our sponsor: http://www.sportsrecruitingusa.com --- Intro music by Adam Arispe from the Impulsive: https://www.theimpulsiveofficial.com--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nebraskasoccertalk/message---Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nebraskasoccertalk/message---Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nebraskasoccertalk/message

The MTU Innovation Challenge 2025 has once again demonstrated the transformative power of student-led innovation, as interdisciplinary teams from across the globe came together to tackle real-world challenges posed by local, regional, and international organisations. Over the course of the last eight weeks, 11 teams of students from across Munster Technological University's six campuses in Cork and Kerry collaborated with their peers from Ud'A University in Italy, Murang'a University of Technology in Kenya, the University of Skövde in Sweden, and the University of Crete in Greece. Together, they engaged in solving a diverse range of innovation challenges supported by expert mentoring and training in design thinking and stakeholder engagement. Each team worked closely with real-world organisations to develop creative, practical solutions to problems currently affecting those organisations. The teams were supported by a group of volunteer mentors from across MTU without whom the challenge would not be possible. This year's participating organisations come from a wide variety of sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, assistive technology, AI, and nonprofit services. Challenges ranged from implementing AI solutions for business process automation to designing accessible healthcare devices to improving sustainable farming tools and community engagement platforms. Students tackled projects including the development of an AI-powered supply chain tool for tech firm Aspen Grove, the design of a paediatric syringe driver lockbox for Cork University Hospital, and a reimagined neck support brace for Motor Neurone patients at Marymount Hospice. In the nonprofit and community space, students designed an interactive app for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to engage users in a service dog's journey, contributed to a digital portal for clients at the Crann Centre, and explored improvements to solar-powered irrigation systems and data platforms with Kenyan start-up SowPrecise. Carole O'Leary, who spearheads this initiative at MTU, said: "These projects are not hypothetical scenarios, these are real issues facing organisations right now. What's remarkable is how our students rise to meet these complex challenges with such creativity, empathy, and professionalism. The benefits are two-fold: the organisations gain fresh perspectives and potential solutions, while students gain hands-on experience and the confidence to innovate in the real world." To mark their achievements, two standout teams were each awarded a €1,000 prize for their innovative and impactful solutions: Team Marymount 1 and Team SowPrecise 1. All students participating in the challenge received a Digital Badge in recognition of their engagement, collaboration, and contribution. From a stakeholder perspective, the benefits were evident. "The MTU Innovation Challenge has been such a highlight for me this year, and it is so exciting and rewarding to work with the students at MTU," said Orlaith Leo, Leo Senior Physiotherapist at Marymount Hospice. "To put my clinical head together with their creative minds has been so valuable, and they've come up with some brilliant ideas I could never have imagined." Gemma Leo, Business Support and Project Manager at the Crann Centre, shared similar praise: "The apps that we saw were absolutely beautiful - so a massive congratulations to the students. I can totally see that if we can get them built, our clients would use them." The 2025 challenge welcomed the most academically diverse group to date, with participation from both undergraduate and postgraduate students across a wide range of disciplines. These included programmes in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Software Development, Computing, Creative Digital Media, Animation and Visual Effects, Business Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, Economics, Data Science and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, User Experience and Service Design, Electrical and Electronics...

Order your exclusive da Vinci BoldBrush paintbrush set!https://brushoffer.com/collections/boldbrushLearn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!https://www.boldbrushshow.com/Get over 50% off your first year on your artist website with FASO:https://www.FASO.com/podcast/---On today's episode we sat down with Mary Aslin a full-time professional artist who creates representational paintings inspired by the beauty of nature and light. Mary shares her journey of becoming a professional artist, including overcoming self-doubt, building technical skills, and finding her voice. She tells us about the tips she likes to give her students including the fact that there are no mistakes and to focus on the process over the outcome. She also emphasizes the importance of treating art as a business, using tools like a website and newsletter to connect with collectors. Mary advises aspiring full-time artists to focus on creating their best work, participate in art shows, and consider teaching. Finally, Mary tells us about her mentorship on Mastrius and her upcoming workshop in Crete!Mary's FASO site:https://www.maryaslin.com/Mary's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/maryaslinfineart/Mary's Mastrius Mentorship:https://www.maryaslin.com/workshop/38775/small-group-mentoring-through-mastrius

The truth of Scripture should have a powerful impact on our lifestyle. People in Crete were defined by sinful speech, broken families, beast-like behavior, and gluttony. Many claimed to know God but denied him by their deeds. Titus 2:1–5 provides exhortations for men and women to live a life that accords with sound doctrine. Scripture: Titus 2:1–5

Sunday Worship March 16th, 2025   ““Grace Reigns”” Titus 2:11-14 Rev. Tennant Brastow   Sermon Audio   Sermon Outline: Grace Transforms Us Grace Trains Us Reflection Questions: Have you ever considered how astounding it is that Titus found anyone qualified to be an elder on the island of Crete (given their reputation in Titus 1:7)? […] The post “Grace Reigns” appeared first on East Charlotte Pres.

The NT Church is Primarily a place for God. It's a place for God's Word to be established. It's a place for God's Son to be exalted. It's a place for God's people to be equipped. It's a place for God's plan to be engaged.  I. The Foundation of God's Church - The Worldview of our Faith is TRUTH. The Truth of God is found in His Word:a. In the Spoken Word - Genesis 1; Matthew 4:4 (mouth of God); II Timothy 3:16b. In the Written Word - Exodus 20 (finger of God); I Peter 1:16-21c. In the Word Made Flesh - Jn 1:1,14 II. Two Worldviews - Truth & Lies(As in Crete so in every place people gather corporately - You will either hear the Word of God or the word of man, I Thessalonians 2:13. There will be truth or tales. Why should truth be so important to us? 1. Satan seeks to destroy truth through deception and doubt - In John 8 he is called a liar and the father of lies.  a. The truth sets people free – John 8:32b. The truth makes people holy - John 17:17c. The truth leads people to Heaven - John 14:6d. The truth fights off the Tempter and his temptations - Mt. 4:1-11 III. What a Pastor Must & Must not be - (Looks can be deceiving - Most of you know who David is. Many of you know who Samuel is. Few know much of anything about Eliab - I Samuel 16:6-7. He was the oldest son. He was the obvious choice. But he wasn't. 1. What a pastor must NOT be - 1:6-72. What a pastor MUST be - 1:8-9 3. A lover of strangers (hospitable) - “never met a stranger (philoxenos vs xenophobia); Luke 10:25-37; Romans 1:8-13; Galatians 6:9-104. A lover of good things - II Tim 4:6-85. A sensible man - Level-headed, Keeps a cool head - Acts 23:56. Just - upright; a stand-up guy 7. Devout - practice what you say you believe8. Self-controlled -

Historical myths often hold surprising truths that have been passed down through generations. The tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table was believed to be pure legend, but some evidence suggests that a figure resembling Arthur may have indeed existed in early medieval Britain. The legend of Atlantis, Plato's lost island, was thought to be a complete fabrication, but some believe it may be inspired by the ancient Minoan civilization on Crete, which was destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption. So, next time you hear a captivating historical myth, there might be more to it than meets the eye!

Most concrete makers are charging too little, working too hard, and wondering why the numbers don't add up. But what if pricing wasn't the problem - what if the strategy was? This week on The Concrete Podcast, BG sits down with Jared Case of LC Wood & Crete, a concrete countertop and flooring company out of Wichita, KS. What started as a casual shop conversation turned into a real talk on what it takes to make concrete work - financially and sustainably. We break down: ✔️ The pricing mistakes keeping you stuck ✔️ Concrete Costs Compared: Ultracast 360 vs. Maker Mix ✔️ The game-changing shift to Crystalline Silica Free High-Performance Concrete (CSF-HPC) ✔️ Why Kodiak Pro's Maker Mix isn't just a better mix - it's a better future for your health and business Regulations on crystalline silica are tightening. The industry is shifting. The real question is: Are you adapting? Tune in and future-proof your business before the wave hits.

Clinton Callahan is a pioneering thoughtware upgrader known for originating the field of Possibility Management. He is co-author of 700 websites in the StartOver.xyz universe and author of the books Building Love That Lasts, Conscious Feelings, and just now a startlingly rich novel: Cavitation: the emergence of Archiarchy . Clinton currently lives in a Bridgehouse on Crete with 10 other Archans. He coined the term 'Archiarchy' in 2007 after reading J.F. Richard's book High Noon: 20 global problems and 20 years to solve them, written in 2004. In other words, the 20 years are up. Archiarchy is the initiation-centered radically-responsible nonmaterial-value regenerative culture naturally emerging around the world now that Matriarchy and Patriarchy have run their course.

Join us this Sunday at 8:00 PM UK time on The Amish Inquisition, where we unravel the secrets of the legendary Atlantis with renowned researcher David ‘Stig' Hansen!

To start us off in our next Sunday Conversation Series we will be continuing our serise Letters from a Father but now using that lens through the Book of Titus. In this first message Tyler overview the book of Titus while contrasting the difference between Yahweh and the gods of Crete.

Olympiacos marked a historic milestone in fitting fashion, celebrating its 100th anniversary with a crucial 1-0 victory over OFI. The win wasn't just symbolic — it pushed the Reds closer to reclaiming the Greek Super League title. With AEK stumbling in Thessaloniki, dropping valuable points against Aris, the path to domestic glory is now clearer than ever for Olympiacos.But the celebrations are far from over. All eyes now turn to Thursday night, a pivotal moment in the club's European campaign. After a disappointing first-leg result, the question remains — can Olympiacos summon the spirit of legends past and pull off a remarkable comeback?

In this sermon, Pastor Dave emphasizes that even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations—like being shipwrecked or bitten by a snake—God remains in control and has a plan for our lives. He uses the story of Paul in Acts to illustrate that sometimes we find ourselves on unexpected islands, but these circumstances can serve a greater purpose. Pastor encourages the congregation to shake off negativity and doubts, reminding them that what doesn't kill us ultimately strengthens us, and that God can use our trials for His glory. Ultimately, everyone is urged to trust in God's promises, recognizing that through challenges, our testimonies can inspire others.Acts 27:20-26 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”Acts 28:1- Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a snake a viper4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Or quit

In this sermon, Pastor Dave emphasizes that even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations—like being shipwrecked or bitten by a snake—God remains in control and has a plan for our lives. He uses the story of Paul in Acts to illustrate that sometimes we find ourselves on unexpected islands, but these circumstances can serve a greater purpose. Pastor encourages the congregation to shake off negativity and doubts, reminding them that what doesn't kill us ultimately strengthens us, and that God can use our trials for His glory. Ultimately, everyone is urged to trust in God's promises, recognizing that through challenges, our testimonies can inspire others.Acts 27:20-26 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”Acts 28:1- Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a snake a viper4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happened to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Or quit

My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as: The way I see things may be different than the way you see things. Be true to yourself. A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion. The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see and perceive it. I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time. In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of Music, one of the cast members stated what I think is the current understanding of Your truth with the following words: It is not about right or wrong, its about your truth. Maybe there is no real definition of what Your truth really means and maybe that is the point. The reality is that we live in a day and age when truth is determined by ones experiences and feelings which is nothing new, just a different dress. So, is there such a thing as your truth? The good news is that the Bible does address the question of truth. The Unknown but Knowable God Permit me to begin with a story. About 600 hundred years before Paul ever set foot in Athans, there was a plague that came upon Athens that none of their gods could answer or fix. The leaders of that city learned of a man who was a prophet of what they called the unknown God. They summoned a representative of this unknown god from Crete, and he instructed them what was needed for the plague to be lifted. This representative requested two flock of sheep be brought one white flock and one black flock. He prayed to this unknown God and asked that all the sheep that he caused to lay down to graze, would be sacrificed to this god on a new stone alter. Well, there were sheep that did lay down to graze, so they were sacrificed on alters to the unknown God and the plague was lifted as a result. This unknown god was worshiped and then forgotten over time until two of Athens elders found one of the altars and refurbished it. One of the things they had done to this altar was that they etched into it an inscription that read: TO THE UNKOWN GOD. This was the altar the Apostle discovered while walking through Athens. This was the only God the Athens had no idols for whom they did not create or know. This is the God who, according to the Bible, has planted eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11b; NLT). What the altar to THE UNKOWN GOD teaches us is that we grope around for something to make sense of our world and to discover something more than what is visibly before us. The reality is that each of us is born spiritually blind just as the Bible states: ...the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). It is not all that different with our societys pursuit of truth. This whole business about speaking your truth or standing in your truth reminds me of the six blind people who heard about a strange animal, called an elephant, that had been brought into their village. Because none of them were aware of an elephants shape or form they thought they would inspect the creature by touching it. One of the blind men grabbed the elephants trunk and said, This elephant is like a big snake. Another blind man felt the elephants ear, and said the elephant seemed like the shape of a fan. Another who felt the elephants leg, said, this creature is a pillar like the trunk of a tree. The blind man who placed his hand upon the side of the elephant said it is like a wall that breathes. The blind man who felt its tail, described the elephant as being like a rope. The blind man who felt its tusk, stated that the elephant is like a spear. People trying to figure out what truth is or what their purpose is in life are like those blind men. There may have been some truth to what they felt but could not understand what they were touching unless they understood that what was before them was much greater than individual experiences. We live in a world full of blind men groping in the darkness trying to make sense of it without considering the Creator who made it all. God is Too Big to Be Manipulated (vv. 22-25) There was a god to be worshiped for just about every occasion in Athens. We are told that Pauls spirit, ...was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols (v. 16). It is important to point out that his spirit was provoked, but it was not because he thought those who worshiped those idols knew better. The provocation that he felt was not unlike the kind of provocation you might feel if a family was asleep in a house on fire, the provocation you would feel in your spirit would be the recognition that you had a moral obligation to do all that you could to wake the family up and get them out of the house before it was too late. What we can learn from Paul in the way he addressed the Athens is that he used their culture as a bridge to introduce them to the God they did not know who was too big to be manipulated like the gods they created. By bringing the gospel to Athens, Paul shared how there was only one true God who was knowable only because He has made Himself known. He alone made the world and everything that is in it and He, does not dwell in temples made by human hands(vv. 24-25). The God who made everything is not served by human hands like the hundreds of idols that filled Athans. What Paul meant is that the God they thought was unknowable did not need to be cleaned up, polished, or fixed, because as Creator... He cannot be manipulated. As Creator and since He made everything, God is in need of nothing. Not only does the One true God need nothing, but He also cannot be treated as an idol because unlike the idols people create, He alone, gives to all people life and breath and all things. What this means is that God does not adjust or yield to what we think truth is. Because He is the Creator, by default... we are the creature; manipulating God is as impossible as it is for a statue to manipulate the artist who made it. Apart from God, we are blind and what spiritually blind people are able to see are the shadows of spiritual truth. People genuinely know that both good and evil exist. The Greek Mythology of the Athenians proves this as do the stories we read and watch. I believe that all humans, although spiritually blind, are able to see and sense the reality of the existence of God and his truth. The Athenians groped in the darkness in pursuit of truth while their only hope was the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to know the truth of who God is and how to live in the world He created. Our Purpose Is Too Significant to Be Ignored (vv. 26-29) When God created mankind, He created us with a deficiency that could only be met by Him. Why else would the Apostle write that God created men and women, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us (v. 27). God has created in us a deep longing for Him because He has made us in His image. In verse 28, Paul said to the Athens: for in Him we live and move and exist... Think about that statement for a moment. Our living and moving and very existence is found and experienced in God. In other words, our purpose in life is found in Him. Every study out there that has been done about the importance of finding your purpose in life reveals how important having purpose is. We humans are like the farmer who was seen by his neighbor shooting at his barn. As the neighbor got closer to the farmers barn, he noticed the many targets panted onto the side of his barn, and at the center of every single target was a bullet hole put there by the farmers gun. The neighbor commented to the farmer: Wow! You are an amazing marksman, your ability to hit the bullseye from that distance is impressive! What is your secret, and can you teach me? To which the farmer replied: It is really not that hard, for I first shoot my hole and then I draw the target around it. To live life like the Athens or to make up truth as you go without any consideration of who God really is, is to shoot for what we think is important and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for security and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for relationships and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for what we think truth should be and then draw the meaning of life around it. When we do that, we are like the blind person groping around in the darkness only to left with a creation out of our own imagination! Because the people Paul was speaking to probably had little understanding of the Hebrew Bible, he used the pagan poets of the day to illustrate the truth of God. So Paul told these guys: see, even those whom you respect have said: for in Him we live and move and exist... Which was a statement probably taken from the same guy who 600 years ago introduced the Athenians to the unknown God. The point is that we are not the creator, we are the created. We live and move and have our being in Him because He is the One who fashioned us, not out of necessity, but out of love. The most loving thing God could have ever done for you and me is that He created us that we might find our joy in the One in Whom we live, and move and exist... (v. 28). Paul then quoted one of their poets to show that although such poets groped in the darkness, God was not far from them: for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His descendants. Paul did not stop there: Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, and image formed by human skill and thought (v. 29). In other words, God is not what we make of Him, but instead our purpose, joy, and satisfaction ultimately can only be found in and through Him. Conclusion God, the Creator, the Ancient of Day, the One who has and is declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done (Isa. 46:9-10) has invited you and I to know Him and to enjoy Him on a level far above the rest of creation, and He did it through His Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, the all-sufficient payment who was sacrificed for our sins to reconcile us to God the Father. What Paul said in conclusion to those gathered on Mars Hill is the equivalent of a mic drop: So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:3031). God did not nor is He currently overlooking sin in the same way a negligent parent overlooks the bad behavior of their child. No! God has and is currently overlooking the sins of people since that salvation is still available to sinners, that the offer of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ is still offered to sinners everywhere. To suggest truth is what you make it is ignorant, to grope for this religion and that religion is to grope in ignorance. Here is what Jesus said about groping in the dark: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.... And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. (John 3:16-17, 19-20) Today is the day to quit groping in the dark and to take hold of the same Jesus who has declared: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). He is Him who said: I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:17b-18). When the people heard this, some believed, but most were dismissive. Think about the message of the cross for a moment. For those of us who consider the gospel to be the power of God because we have experienced it as such, ours is a hope that sounds like it was torn right from the pages of mythology. God got a young virgin girl pregnant by His Holy Spirit so that the child of her womb would be both a god and a man to defeat the forces of evil, fix all the ills of our world, then rule as a King on earth and the way that he would do this is to first allow His god/man child to die the most painful and humiliating death possible. No wonder the word of the cross sounds so foolish to most people. Yet it is through the message of the cross concerning the historic facts that Jesus both died for our sins and rose for the forgiveness of sin, as outrageous as it may sound, that God is rescuing sin-cursed humans from His just wrath. Paul had shared the greatest news in the universe with the Athenians, and some, like those in our day, dismissed it as foolish. Truth is truth! Whatever you think your truth is, if it is not shaped and informed by the God for Whom, we live and move and exist... (v. 28a) is to grope in the darkness of our sin and ignorance. When it comes to those who do not know Jesus, they are still groping in the darkness of their sin and ignorance. You cannot expect people who do not know Jesus to do anything but grope in the darkness, but you can point them to the light of who Jesus is! For the Scripture says, Whoever believes in Him will not be Put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. You, dear Christian, are that preacher God has sent into your home, your neighborhood, into the circle of your friendships, your work, and into your world! The apostle Paul had beautiful feet. How beautiful are your feet? God has called you to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of your world. That, my dear friend, is your truth.

My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as: The way I see things may be different than the way you see things. Be true to yourself. A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion. The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see and perceive it. I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time. In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of Music, one of the cast members stated what I think is the current understanding of Your truth with the following words: It is not about right or wrong, its about your truth. Maybe there is no real definition of what Your truth really means and maybe that is the point. The reality is that we live in a day and age when truth is determined by ones experiences and feelings which is nothing new, just a different dress. So, is there such a thing as your truth? The good news is that the Bible does address the question of truth. The Unknown but Knowable God Permit me to begin with a story. About 600 hundred years before Paul ever set foot in Athans, there was a plague that came upon Athens that none of their gods could answer or fix. The leaders of that city learned of a man who was a prophet of what they called the unknown God. They summoned a representative of this unknown god from Crete, and he instructed them what was needed for the plague to be lifted. This representative requested two flock of sheep be brought one white flock and one black flock. He prayed to this unknown God and asked that all the sheep that he caused to lay down to graze, would be sacrificed to this god on a new stone alter. Well, there were sheep that did lay down to graze, so they were sacrificed on alters to the unknown God and the plague was lifted as a result. This unknown god was worshiped and then forgotten over time until two of Athens elders found one of the altars and refurbished it. One of the things they had done to this altar was that they etched into it an inscription that read: TO THE UNKOWN GOD. This was the altar the Apostle discovered while walking through Athens. This was the only God the Athens had no idols for whom they did not create or know. This is the God who, according to the Bible, has planted eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11b; NLT). What the altar to THE UNKOWN GOD teaches us is that we grope around for something to make sense of our world and to discover something more than what is visibly before us. The reality is that each of us is born spiritually blind just as the Bible states: ...the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). It is not all that different with our societys pursuit of truth. This whole business about speaking your truth or standing in your truth reminds me of the six blind people who heard about a strange animal, called an elephant, that had been brought into their village. Because none of them were aware of an elephants shape or form they thought they would inspect the creature by touching it. One of the blind men grabbed the elephants trunk and said, This elephant is like a big snake. Another blind man felt the elephants ear, and said the elephant seemed like the shape of a fan. Another who felt the elephants leg, said, this creature is a pillar like the trunk of a tree. The blind man who placed his hand upon the side of the elephant said it is like a wall that breathes. The blind man who felt its tail, described the elephant as being like a rope. The blind man who felt its tusk, stated that the elephant is like a spear. People trying to figure out what truth is or what their purpose is in life are like those blind men. There may have been some truth to what they felt but could not understand what they were touching unless they understood that what was before them was much greater than individual experiences. We live in a world full of blind men groping in the darkness trying to make sense of it without considering the Creator who made it all. God is Too Big to Be Manipulated (vv. 22-25) There was a god to be worshiped for just about every occasion in Athens. We are told that Pauls spirit, ...was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols (v. 16). It is important to point out that his spirit was provoked, but it was not because he thought those who worshiped those idols knew better. The provocation that he felt was not unlike the kind of provocation you might feel if a family was asleep in a house on fire, the provocation you would feel in your spirit would be the recognition that you had a moral obligation to do all that you could to wake the family up and get them out of the house before it was too late. What we can learn from Paul in the way he addressed the Athens is that he used their culture as a bridge to introduce them to the God they did not know who was too big to be manipulated like the gods they created. By bringing the gospel to Athens, Paul shared how there was only one true God who was knowable only because He has made Himself known. He alone made the world and everything that is in it and He, does not dwell in temples made by human hands(vv. 24-25). The God who made everything is not served by human hands like the hundreds of idols that filled Athans. What Paul meant is that the God they thought was unknowable did not need to be cleaned up, polished, or fixed, because as Creator... He cannot be manipulated. As Creator and since He made everything, God is in need of nothing. Not only does the One true God need nothing, but He also cannot be treated as an idol because unlike the idols people create, He alone, gives to all people life and breath and all things. What this means is that God does not adjust or yield to what we think truth is. Because He is the Creator, by default... we are the creature; manipulating God is as impossible as it is for a statue to manipulate the artist who made it. Apart from God, we are blind and what spiritually blind people are able to see are the shadows of spiritual truth. People genuinely know that both good and evil exist. The Greek Mythology of the Athenians proves this as do the stories we read and watch. I believe that all humans, although spiritually blind, are able to see and sense the reality of the existence of God and his truth. The Athenians groped in the darkness in pursuit of truth while their only hope was the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows us to know the truth of who God is and how to live in the world He created. Our Purpose Is Too Significant to Be Ignored (vv. 26-29) When God created mankind, He created us with a deficiency that could only be met by Him. Why else would the Apostle write that God created men and women, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us (v. 27). God has created in us a deep longing for Him because He has made us in His image. In verse 28, Paul said to the Athens: for in Him we live and move and exist... Think about that statement for a moment. Our living and moving and very existence is found and experienced in God. In other words, our purpose in life is found in Him. Every study out there that has been done about the importance of finding your purpose in life reveals how important having purpose is. We humans are like the farmer who was seen by his neighbor shooting at his barn. As the neighbor got closer to the farmers barn, he noticed the many targets panted onto the side of his barn, and at the center of every single target was a bullet hole put there by the farmers gun. The neighbor commented to the farmer: Wow! You are an amazing marksman, your ability to hit the bullseye from that distance is impressive! What is your secret, and can you teach me? To which the farmer replied: It is really not that hard, for I first shoot my hole and then I draw the target around it. To live life like the Athens or to make up truth as you go without any consideration of who God really is, is to shoot for what we think is important and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for security and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for relationships and then draw the meaning of life around it. We shoot for what we think truth should be and then draw the meaning of life around it. When we do that, we are like the blind person groping around in the darkness only to left with a creation out of our own imagination! Because the people Paul was speaking to probably had little understanding of the Hebrew Bible, he used the pagan poets of the day to illustrate the truth of God. So Paul told these guys: see, even those whom you respect have said: for in Him we live and move and exist... Which was a statement probably taken from the same guy who 600 years ago introduced the Athenians to the unknown God. The point is that we are not the creator, we are the created. We live and move and have our being in Him because He is the One who fashioned us, not out of necessity, but out of love. The most loving thing God could have ever done for you and me is that He created us that we might find our joy in the One in Whom we live, and move and exist... (v. 28). Paul then quoted one of their poets to show that although such poets groped in the darkness, God was not far from them: for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His descendants. Paul did not stop there: Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, and image formed by human skill and thought (v. 29). In other words, God is not what we make of Him, but instead our purpose, joy, and satisfaction ultimately can only be found in and through Him. Conclusion God, the Creator, the Ancient of Day, the One who has and is declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done (Isa. 46:9-10) has invited you and I to know Him and to enjoy Him on a level far above the rest of creation, and He did it through His Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, the all-sufficient payment who was sacrificed for our sins to reconcile us to God the Father. What Paul said in conclusion to those gathered on Mars Hill is the equivalent of a mic drop: So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:3031). God did not nor is He currently overlooking sin in the same way a negligent parent overlooks the bad behavior of their child. No! God has and is currently overlooking the sins of people since that salvation is still available to sinners, that the offer of redemption and reconciliation through Jesus Christ is still offered to sinners everywhere. To suggest truth is what you make it is ignorant, to grope for this religion and that religion is to grope in ignorance. Here is what Jesus said about groping in the dark: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.... And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. (John 3:16-17, 19-20) Today is the day to quit groping in the dark and to take hold of the same Jesus who has declared: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). He is Him who said: I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:17b-18). When the people heard this, some believed, but most were dismissive. Think about the message of the cross for a moment. For those of us who consider the gospel to be the power of God because we have experienced it as such, ours is a hope that sounds like it was torn right from the pages of mythology. God got a young virgin girl pregnant by His Holy Spirit so that the child of her womb would be both a god and a man to defeat the forces of evil, fix all the ills of our world, then rule as a King on earth and the way that he would do this is to first allow His god/man child to die the most painful and humiliating death possible. No wonder the word of the cross sounds so foolish to most people. Yet it is through the message of the cross concerning the historic facts that Jesus both died for our sins and rose for the forgiveness of sin, as outrageous as it may sound, that God is rescuing sin-cursed humans from His just wrath. Paul had shared the greatest news in the universe with the Athenians, and some, like those in our day, dismissed it as foolish. Truth is truth! Whatever you think your truth is, if it is not shaped and informed by the God for Whom, we live and move and exist... (v. 28a) is to grope in the darkness of our sin and ignorance. When it comes to those who do not know Jesus, they are still groping in the darkness of their sin and ignorance. You cannot expect people who do not know Jesus to do anything but grope in the darkness, but you can point them to the light of who Jesus is! For the Scripture says, Whoever believes in Him will not be Put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. You, dear Christian, are that preacher God has sent into your home, your neighborhood, into the circle of your friendships, your work, and into your world! The apostle Paul had beautiful feet. How beautiful are your feet? God has called you to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness of your world. That, my dear friend, is your truth.

Turkey's Erdogan has once again played up his country's importance on the world stage - especially when it comes to defense issues - telling Europeans that their security is “unthinkable without Turkey.” These comments come despite Ankara's well documented and aggressive moves in the region, from the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caucasus. Michael Rubin, the director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss what Europe and countries in the region like Greece can do to address the challenge Turkey poses today.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Greece Must Match Turkey's AggressivenessTurkey's growing defense industry deepening ties with European powersItalian research vessel departs Crete amid energy project uncertaintyGeopolitics freeze payments for Greece-Cyprus linkupTurkish Cypriot minister says UN meeting will lead nowhere

Dr. Grace Erny, a professor of Classics at the University of California - Berkeley, joins Lexie to discuss getting into Classics via extensive fieldwork and summer programs, her work on settlement pattern, economic & social transformations and Minoan artifacts in ancient Crete, and  the importance of communal dining practices and the militaristic aspects of Cretan society. So tuck in your togas and hop aboard Trireme Transit for this week's exciting odyssey! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram or visit our website www.theozymandiasproject.com! Learn more about Dr. Erny: https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/grace-ernyCheck out her publications on Academia: https://berkeley.academia.edu/GraceErnySupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheOzymandiasProject Custom music by Brent Arehart of Arehart Sounds and edited by Dan Maday.  Get exclusive bonus content (ad free episodes, early releases, and experimental content) on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Valentine's Day, we're taking a trip down memory lane! In this episode, we're sharing all the details about our honeymoons—how we booked them before we knew about points and miles, what we spent back then, and what we'd do today now that we're points-savvy. Spoiler alert: our original honeymoons were not nearly as luxurious (or strategic!) as what we could plan today. Pam's “Not-So-Luxurious” Road Trip Honeymoon Pam kicks things off by sharing her 1974 honeymoon—let's just say, points and miles were not a thing, and neither was luxury travel. If she could redo it today, Pam would plan a dreamy trip to Greece, flying Emirates business class, stopping in NYC on the way, and relaxing at stunning hotels in Santorini and Crete—all on points. Alex's Two-Part Honeymoon: Park City & Mexico  Since Alex's husband played college football, their wedding date was dictated by the sports schedule, leaving them with a tight honeymoon window.  Flights and accommodations came from family gifts. Today, she would book an easy, stress-free honeymoon at the Andaz Maui using points and a travel credit for a rental car—keeping the travel cost to just $22! Jess's First Trip to Europe: Budget Paris & London Jess technically did use miles for her honeymoon—but in the least efficient way possible. Jess's economy flights to Europe came from years of earning miles on a single airline card. Looking back, she would book Emirates first class to Italy, stay at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Lake Como, and enjoy luxury Hyatt stays in Florence—all for far less out of pocket than she originally spent! Why We'd Do Things Differently Today Weddings are expensive, but newlyweds can use their wedding expenses to earn credit card welcome offers. That means luxurious hotels, business-class flights, and less out of pocket than budget honeymoons!  And the best part is taking “honeymoon-level” trips every single year—because why limit luxury travel to just one trip? If you're planning a honeymoon or dreaming about a do-over, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in now and start planning your dream trip for less!     Links: How to Get Your Next Vacation for Nearly Free: How to Get Your Next Vacation for Nearly Free -https://travelmomsquad.lpages.co/freevacation   Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad   Episode Minute By Minute: 00:30 – Walking down memory lane: How we booked our honeymoons pre-points & miles 01:40 – Pam's honeymoon: A road trip, Disneyland on Christmas, and a car breakdown 07:00 – What Pam would do differently today: A dream Greece trip on points 13:00 – Alex's honeymoon: A football schedule, Park City, and a timeshare in Cabo 17:00 – How Alex would redo her honeymoon for $22 with points 22:00 – Jess's honeymoon: Economy flights to Europe and a budget hotel in Paris 26:30 – Jess's dream honeymoon today: Emirates first class and Italian luxury hotels 31:00 – The best honeymoon strategy: Use wedding expenses to earn free travel 33:00 – Why every year can feel like a honeymoon with points and miles

Brian writes "I do not believe in bigfoot 100% but I absolutely believe your witnesses. So, on the fence.... However, my friend Gravy and I were backpacking in WNC somewhere south of Boone but north of Ashville. (Switz?) We have crawled all over these mountains for about 20 or 30 years. 10 to 20 mile backpacking weekends. Typically easy to moderate but we weren't afraid of elevations. Anyway it's fall, we ascend to camp on a ciff face just above treetops with more trees above us We camp in the tree line to escape wind but walk back out to clearing before bed to stargaze and smoke a bowl after supper. I walked to edge of lip looking down and notice a blue light. I thought, Oh, we are not alone, there's other campers (headlamp?).. Then as I'm focusing on the headlamp I realized that I could see the area being lit quite well cause there were no leaves on the trees. Basketball sized blue light casually meandering through the pines 10ft off the ground. 2mph maybe. Over there, circle that tree, drift over here, as if directed by wind. Whole thing lasted 10 minutes and when Gravy suggested we circle down and investigate I chickened out and defensibly said HellNah! Eventually it drifted off aimlessly. I just texted him and he has no recollection of this event, granted it was early 90's and we're currently 50yr olds. That's it. Nothing else but occasional head scratcher. No sounds no print's no broken branches no eriee feelings of dread. But that light was real. Ball lightening is all I can think.   Joseph writes "I don't have exact dates for these but everything happened in September and October of 2024. Let me preface by saying that I'm an outdoorsman and a misanthrope; I spend most of my time alone and have been on many "dark to dark" hunts on my own, even when I was young, so I don't get spooked easily. I only have 8 acres in Fort Hill Pa but my land is very secluded and is in the mix with a huge amount of wooded acreage. The strangeness started when I was noticing that the woods behind my house were quiet every night,when I'd leave for work, while the woods across the road were 'normal' with the usual sounds. There's an old logging road at the corner of my yard that goes back onto mine and others property's and my attention kept getting drawn there; not necessarily 'being watched' but more like 'something is there'. I had been noticing this for about a week or so before I was talking to my son on the phone one night, he's 24 and is the only person who lives with me, and he commented that he had been taking the shotgun out every night when he would take the dogs out to potty. I of course inquired as to why because of my recent "feelings" and he basically told me the same thing that the woods behind the house were too quiet and he felt like something was off and he even commented on the old logging road being the center of this feeling. I drive truck and my hours are different every day but the next week I switched shift and was returning home at night instead of leaving; I backed into the detached garage and started to walk towards the house and heard movement from that road so I sat everything down and started to walk down there. It was a moonless night so I couldn't move fast but I know the road and I'm the type that goes in hunting at dark with no flashlight so I'm fairly skilled. Whatever was back there that night was definitely bipedal and was purposely keeping the same distance from me; if I'd stop it would stop and when I'd move it would move. I didn't press the situation more than 100 yards as the old road degrades the farther you go. There are 2 massive pipes buried under that road for water drainage and I do my best every spring and fall to keep them clear of debris; that following weekend I was down in the dip clearing those pipes, this was early morning around 8am, and I heard an incredibly loud and huge sounding tree break; it sounded like something as big as a 4x4 or 6x6 piece of lumber just snapping. I walked up out of the dip and moved in the direction of the noise, 50-60 yards away in a grapevine thicket I saw something huge and black moving away. I couldn't discern anything at all except big and black so it is possible to have been a black bear. Later that day, in the afternoon, my son and I were down at the pipes; we were taking in some quick Crete to shore up the hill side and channel water. I was using a spade shovel to stab/chop at young briar plants growing in the area and I noticed him staring in the same direction as the grapes; I asked him "what" and he said "nope, not a thing". Of course I pressed and he said "I heard a knock, at first I thought it was the shovel echoing but it was only once and wasn't in rhythm with you." During the next week I arrived home one night and had to hop out of the truck to urinate before backing into the garage and heard 3 loud knocks in succession. A few days later we had a fog bank come in at night, it was roughly 2am and I had to take my dogs out, this was thick enough that you couldn't see more than probably 20 yards, this may sound like nothing but it was strange at the time, the whole forest was quiet except 5-6 song birds(idk what species) that seemed to be surrounding the yard and all 'singing' back and forth to each other. Nothing else happened, I just went in for the night. Everything so far is easy to write off as nothing really but the last 2 events aren't. Days after the fog I was walking back from taking the garbage to the road and an aircraft caught my eye, I see a huge amount of aircraft where I live. This craft didn't have any blinker lights, it was just 1 pulsing white light, the whole thing pulsed not blinked. I'm not sure about altitude and the shape seemed to be an oval. As the craft traveled across the sky I watched it do a 'zigzag' pattern once and right before it left sight I saw it stop and 'hover' for about 3 seconds before it continued away. 2 days later the last part of my string of events happened. I had to switch shifts so I came home and had to basically take just a few hour nap and go back out. It was 2am, I awoke to take the dogs out and as I walked off my porch a red light in the woods caught my eye, I turned to focus on it to see that it was 2 red dots/lights, I kept walking and heard myself say out loud "nope....that is not what it looks like; it can't be what it looks like". I kept watching the dogs but checking on the red dots; the dots never changed or moved. I let the dogs in and grabbed a flashlight/laser combo for rifles that wasn't mounted to anything yet. I went back out and moved towards the edge of the yard where the red dots were; distances can be difficult at night but i estimated them to be 35-40 yards aways and roughly 7'off the ground. Understand that I'm standing there in shoes, a t-shirt, and my boxer briefs so I wasn't ready to be going off into the woods. I shined the light on the red dots and the light did me no good, it was like the light just stopped working so far out so I tried the laser, this was a green laser; idk if you know the difference but green laser you can see the whole beam in the air; I couldn't see what the beam was hitting but I could definitely see the beam hitting something and stopping on whatever it was. I don't know why but I moved the green beam up to one of the red dots and both moved, together, down and to my right away from the beam. I didn't freak out but I did say out loud "oh fuck me"; when I said that the dots "twinkled". I turned the light laser off and said "you just want me to know that you're there", they twinkled again. I then said "Okay, I'm good, I'm going in now but if you're there when I'm dressed then I'm coming in". I never felt like I was in danger during any of this just really unnerved. A half hour later I came out dressed for work and the red lights were gone. I have had absolutely nothing even remotely weird happen since. I don't know if this was sasquatch activity or not but I know that something was there."