Podcasts about dad

What if the greatest threat to your family is been passed down through your own family line? From fear and greed to divorce, addiction, and passivity—generational patterns don't just disappear on their own. God has called fathers to grab the wheel of their family story, break the chains of the past, and build a godly culture that will outlast them. This is your playbook to identify what's lurking in your family line, repent, and redirect your legacy toward the Kingdom. The Kingdom starts at home. Will you take responsibility for your part in your family line? Links in this Episode Get the Free Financial Transparency Guide Abe's Wallet Retreat Nov 21-23 Cincinnati, OH Join our Online Community, UR About Abraham's Wallet: Abraham's Wallet exists to inspire and equip Biblical family leaders. Please partner with us in inspiring and equipping multi-gen families at https://abrahamswallet.com/support AW website Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Chapters (00:00:00) - All the Sins of Dad(00:00:56) - Locking myself Out of the Office(00:06:06) - Scooter Riding in the Rain(00:08:29) - Erica Kirk's Charlie Kirk Memorial Speech REACTION!!(00:13:44) - It's Our Sacred Calling to Steer the Family Story(00:17:09) - Look in the Mirror(00:20:40) - The Problem of Alcoholism(00:23:36) - How to Talk About Money With Your Girlfriend(00:30:12) - How to Stop Being a Sinful Person(00:31:18) - How to Repent of Your Sins in Front of Your Family(00:36:48) - Evil Spirits in the Home(00:41:51) - 5 Steps of Repentance for Family(00:45:04) - How to Clean Up Your Family Culture

When I received an email from Teresa Letcher about her missing friend, I was surprised I hadn't heard of the case. Not because I'm so well-versed; I'm often introduced to cases I've never heard of. I was surprised to not know of the disappearance of Kristin Tomlin, Teresa's childhood friend, because the case is so bizarre, intriguing and scandalous!Over the next two episodes, I'll be discussing Kristin Tomlin's life growing up in the Portland area, and the upsetting string of events that led to her eventually boarding the Freedom II yacht- the last place she would be seen alive. I'll also be joined by Kristin's high school friends, Teresa and Rhonda, to discuss their friendship with Kristin and why Teresa decided to write the book about her disappearance, “Kristin Can You Hear Me?”Oakland Tribune Nov 18 1982- Police Hunt Pair in Vanishing-Boat Fraud - The Oregonian Nov. 20 1981- Dad 'smells rat' in shipwreck tale of kin -San Francisco Chronicle Nov 20 1981- Boat Mystery Gets Stranger - Nevada State Journal Nov 28 19810 Investigators openly doubt sinking story - San Francisco Chronicle Nov 17 1982- Investigator arrested in boat mystery - San Francisco Chronicle Nov 21 1981- Coast Guard Believes Part of Boat Wreck Tale - San Francisco Examiner Dec 2 1981- Freedom II pair bought guns to 'fight pirates' - The Sacramento Union Nov 18 1982- Fake Shipwreck? 3 charged - Oakland Tribune Nov 20 1981- Only two women died in ketch sinking, police say - San Francisco Examiner Nov 20 1981- Coast Guard suspends yacht probe- for now - Reno Gazette Journal April 28 2003- Opening stage stop saloon - Stage Stop Saloon - Nevada State Journal Nov 20 1981- New Twists Surface in Story of Nevada Shipwreck Survivors - Reno Gazette Journal Nov 18 1981- Third woman might be lost from sunken ketch - Mason Valley News June 5 1981 - View from Sun Mountain - Nevada State Journal Nov. 26 1981- New Evidence Revealed in Mysterious Sinking - Nevada State Journal Dec 3 1981- Another twist added to the Freedom II mystery - International Camel & Ostrich Races - Virginia City - Bob Dozier and John Russell | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki - Sea Scam - The Mystery DelverOur Sponsors:* Check out Bioma Health and use my code RAIN for a great deal: https://gobioma.com/RAIN* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/murder-in-the-rain/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Smylie Kaufman and Charlie Hulme kick off this week's episode catching up on dad life, bedtime chaos, and a wild rant about Brian Kelly's LSU exit before diving deep into the rise of sports gambling in professional golf — and whether it could ever impact the PGA Tour. Then, Smylie sits down with Mason Howell, the 18-year-old phenom who won the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship — making him the third-youngest champion in history. Mason opens up about: • His emotional journey from small-town Georgia to golf's biggest stage • What it felt like to qualify for the U.S. Open and earn a Masters invite • Competing against top amateurs like Tommy Morrison and Ben James • The pressures of high school life after winning one of golf's biggest titles A can't-miss conversation about the next great name in golf. 00:00 Dad life updates and bedtime chaos 04:30 LSU, Brian Kelly, and college football chaos 11:15 Gambling scandals 19:10 Could golf ever face a gambling crisis? 27:10 How betting affects players and fans 31:40 Mason Howell Interview 32:00 Life after winning the U.S. Am — back to high school reality 33:40 Growing up in Thomasville and discovering golf 36:20 Qualifying for the U.S. Open at 18 years old 39:10 Competing at Oakmont and learning from the pros 43:15 The grind of the U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club 47:45 Facing Tommy Morrison and Ben James in match play 49:50 Taking down John Daly in a thriller 51:00 Securing Masters and Walker Cup spots 54:00 What's next for Mason Howell 1:12:10 Smylie's thoughts on the next wave of young golf talent 1:16:25 Comparing today's amateur game to the PGA Tour 1:20:00 Charlie's take: what makes great golfers stand out early 1:24:10 Smylie shares his Masters memories 1:29:00 Wrapping up — offseason plans and what's next on The Smylie Show

When your kids have questions, where they go for the answers is equally as revealing as it is important. Join AMBrewster to help your kids understand the best sources for their answers.Truth.Love.Parent. is a podcast of Truth.Love.Family., an Evermind Ministry.Action Steps Purchase “Quit: how to stop family strife for good.” https://amzn.to/40haxLz Support our 501(c)(3) by becoming a TLP Friend! https://www.truthloveparent.com/donate.html Download the Evermind App. https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683 Use the promo code EVERMIND at MyPillow.com. https://www.mypillow.com/evermind  Discover the following episodes by clicking the titles or navigating to the episode in your app: Biblical Parenting Essentials Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/biblical-parenting-essentials.html  God's Will for Your Child Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/gods-will-for-your-child-series.html  Teach Your Children to Learn Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/teach-your-children-to-learn-series.html  Parenting a Zombie Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/parenting-a-zombie-series.html  The Merest Christianity Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/the-merest-christianity-series.html  The Spiritual Warfare in Your Home Series https://www.truthloveparent.com/spiritual-warfare-in-your-home.html  TLP 12: Prepare Your Kids. Don't Protect Them. | fighting the urge to shelter your kids https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-12-prepare-your-kids-dont-protect-them   Click here for Today's episode notes, resources, and transcript: https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-603-where-do-your-kids-get-their-answers Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthLoveParent/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.love.parent/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthLoveParentFollow AMBrewster on Facebook: https://fb.me/TheAMBrewsterFollow AMBrewster on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrewsterhome/Follow AMBrewster on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMBrewsterPin us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TruthLoveParent/Need some help? Write to us at Counselor@TruthLoveParent.com.

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Watch Full Video Episode Tonnika Haynes, owner of Brown's Automotive in Chapel Hill, North Carolina—a family business founded by her father, William Brown, in 1980—joins us for a conversation recorded live at the ASTA Conference in Raleigh, NC. Together, we explore the powerful and defining mentorship that shaped both her leadership and her legacy. Tonnika shares that she never worked for her “dad,” she worked for William Brown, the business leader. That separation became clear when, early in her ownership, she faced her first major crisis: losing a key employee. When she called her father for guidance, it wasn't “Dad” who picked up; it was William Brown. His advice was blunt but transformative. Instead of sympathy, he challenged her: “What would you do if they got hit by a bus?  You can't sit in it, move forward.” It was a defining moment that taught her the importance of separating emotion from action. As William often reminded her: “We don't have time for feelings right now. We have time for fact and action.”“Feelings don't fix cars. Facts and movement fix cars.” This heartfelt episode highlights the power of tough love, mentorship, and maintaining emotional discipline in business. Tonnika's story is a testament to how strong roots and even stronger lessons can prepare the next generation to lead with both heart and backbone. Tonnika Haynes, Browns Automotive, Chapel Hill, NC https://astausa.org/pages/asta-expo Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Connect with the Podcast: Follow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club:https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersJoin Our Private Facebook Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriottoFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/Follow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/Follow on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RResultsBizVisit the Website:https://remarkableresults.biz/Join our Insider...

When Darnell “J.D.” Williams pulls up to the Father Hoods, you already know it's gonna be real. The Wire and Oz actor chops it up with DJ EFN, Manny Digital, and KGB about fatherhood, family, and finding balance between Hollywood and home. J.D. opens up about raising a teenage daughter, co-parenting with intention, and staying locked in as a supportive dad. He talks about guiding his daughter through life, how he'd back her if she chose acting, and what it takes to keep that emotional connection strong. The crew also gets into the tough stuff: college talk, teaching kids to “agree to disagree,” and handling relationship convos without losing your cool. It's raw, relatable, and packed with gems. J.D. reminds us that behind every role, there's a real one, and for him, being a Dad is the role that means the most. What You'll Hear in This Episode: [00:01:32] Intentional Parenting  [00:06:30] Co-Parenting Done Right [00:10:17] College Prep [00:16:19] Game Planning for Life [00:21:03] Emotional Connections [00:26:41] Disagree Without Disrespect [00:29:12] Facing the Tough Topics [00:34:25] The Role That Matters the Most Why It's Timeless: DJ EFN, Manny Digital, and KGB proving that fatherhood's a freestyle. No wrong bars, just real ones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Grant Smith.

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 18 Even if you know who you crawl into bed with, be surprised. In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.   You will never see tomorrow's sunrise or yesterday's night. Caught In the Middle My clothing melted away as I slowly made my way to the bed. On the far side, Mercy reclined with some degree of expectation and happiness on her face. Her hands were cuffed over her head and her thighs showed some degree of vaginal stimulation by Rio. Last night Rio had taken it slow and gentle with her. Tonight, I imagined that Rio was going to tear a chunk off, so to speak. On the closer side of the bed rested Brandi (on the outside), Opal, Paige and Barbie Lynn. Barbie Lynn was pretending to be disinterested, throwing a yawn into the act; Paige's eyes were riveted on me; Opal acted as if she was smitten with me as well; and Brandi knew something was going on but wasn't sure what it was. Poor Paige was about to be ambushed. "Hey, my petit Принцесса," I simmered at Paige as I crawled up the bed toward her. It was clear she wanted to be center stage tonight, but she kept dragging along her body issues she'd felt thrust upon her years ago. A woman doesn't have to be busting out of a D-cup, have an hourglass shape, or the face of a Victoria's Secret model to pull a man's eye in for a feast. I got to Paige's ankles and the confidence of her smile shown through. She pulled her legs up and prepared to slip off her panties. "No you don't," I cautioned her as I grabbed her ankles and pulled her down toward me. "What did you call her?" Brandi chimed in. "I'm pretty sure that means 'Princess' in Russian," I replied in a husky voice, my eyes still soaking up Paige's beauty. "I once saw a Swedish art house film translated over to Russian in a Bangkok theater." "That's freaky-weird," Mercy remarked, running her fingers along her collar. "You can recall a word from a film in a language you don't even understand." "It had to do with a woman," Barbie Lynn grinned at Mercy before turning to me. "He's like that, and I love him for it." Paige looked from Mercy to Barbie Lynn to me, and that was her mistake. "Hey!" Paige squawked as Barbie Lynn and Opal grabbed her wrists and forearms, maneuvering them over her head. She struggled with Barbie Lynn and Opal but they were far more athletic than she was. I settled in between her legs and began kissing the insides of her upper thighs. "No," Paige began moaning as Barbie Lynn and Opal began sucking on her breasts through her sheer bra. Rio came striding into the room still stark naked but now carrying a large bowl of Neapolitan ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and a cherry. She rounded the bed and stutter-stepped. "Crap," she muttered. "Take this," Rio put the bowl on Mercy's quivering stomach, "I've got to get something for my Spank-o-matic." Spank-o-matic was her pet name for Barbie Lynn. Opal moved her lips up Paige's chest to her throat. Barbie Lynn, on the other side, jumped past Opal by going straight from the nipple to the ear. Since Opal was on her side, Brandi was able to straddle her and lean over to Paige's chest. She rolled up Paige's bra, temporarily pinching those pale pink nipples. "Iiieee!" Paige jolted. "Watch, her protests were buried by Opal's lips clamping down on Paige's and their tongues starting to play tag. Brandi continued her attack on Paige by popping her mouth over the breast closest to Barbie Lynn and swirling the nipple with her tongue, Opal had been doing a good job showing Brandi how to share pleasure. "Good God!" Brandi exalted. "This one tastes like cherries." Paige stifled a sob as Brandi went down for a second taste. I imagine Paige wanted me to discover this inventive little twist. I began rubbing her panties with my nose and kissing her panty covered cunt. I rolled my lips back and forth over her cunt. "Why are you doing this to me?" Paige whimpered once she broke her lips free from Opal's embrace. "Honey, do you think none of us noticed how much you make Zane smile?" Barbie Lynn drawled. "It isn't like he'd tell us what turned him on about you, Paige, so Barbie and I decided to find out for ourselves," Opal added. "Zane?" Paige begged for understanding. "I had no part of this, but once I saw Opal and Barbie Lynn closing in for the kill, I decided to play along because, quite frankly, you are so tasty," I confessed. "Brandi, please, I can't think straight with you nipping at my breasts like that," Paige pleaded. "Umm," Brandi mumbled before releasing her suction on Paige's breast. "Tell me what flavor the other one is. Is it cherry too?" Never more than an inch away, Brandi fell back to Paige's pale but painfully aroused nipple. "No," Paige wailed. "I want Zane to find out, ah, strawberry," she finally gasped out. "Let me sample it first, Brandi," I requested. Brandi shot me a peek down past her naked breast and gave me a wink. Barbie Lynn took advantage of Paige's distress, kissing her deeply and passionately. "Honey," Barbie panted to Paige, "is there anywhere else you want to be?" "I, no," Paige managed to get out. Opal tilted Paige's head toward her and took in a full kiss. "You are so eminently fuckable," Opal purred. Before Paige could respond, Barbie Lynn drew Paige back in. Within seconds, Paige was working in a three-way tug-of-passion with Opal and Barbie Lynn tongues. Brandi was letting her tongue wander from Paige's right nipple down to her belly and below until we kissed. Before and after that we worked down her panties until I finally cast them aside. I did a push up, Brandi wiggled underneath me, pressing her delicious tush against my raging rod, and I switched positions to where Brandi had been. Her left nipple really did taste like strawberries. I figured she'd used strawberry jam in a light enough glaze that its sugary redness was perfectly camouflaged by the pale pink of her areolas, freaking clever girl. Paige tilted her head away from her playmates long enough to see if I was the participant in question and if I enjoyed the experience. "Umm, damn clever," I murmured. "I've never thought of doing that before." Her eyes positively flared triumphantly at the news. "Well," Paige gasped, "you have only a, mediocre, intellect," she finished purring because Opal and Barbie Lynn's fingers and lips were driving her to distraction. "I still don't understand." Paige struggled for a breath between amorous attentions. "You pretty, pretty girl," Opal soothed seductively. "You are the most beautiful creature here tonight. Tomorrow morning the contest goes on, but tonight you are the Grand Prize winner, mainly, you've won us," she indicated herself, Barbie Lynn and Brandi. For other girls, they had often been called beautiful, pretty, and had reason to believe they were the hottest woman in the room. That had never been Paige; she had pride and pride to spare but that had always been based on her smarts. Her smarts were how she had ensnared me and while she knew I saw her as a beautiful creature, she largely believed I was alone in that assessment, until now. The borderline panic that had been residing inside Paige evaporated as all that energy turned into boiling sexual expression. It wasn't until Brandi was sucking deeply on her cunt that Paige realized I'd withdrawn to the foot of the bed. "Zane?" she panted as she raised her head once more and looked for me. "Paige, trust me; you are doing fantastic without me. Besides, we have most of the night. Once they have had all they can take from you, you are all mine," I grinned wickedly. She lowered her head back slowly and let Barbie Lynn and Opal hold her down and dominate her affections. "Mercy, wouldn't it be nice if some hottie wanted you as much as those bitches want Paige?" Rio teased her playmate. Mercy's immediate reaction was drowned out by her shudder as Rio dolloped a spoon full of ice cream onto her breast just above the nipple. The 'near miss' was torture enough for the girl. "Yes, one does," shivered Mercy. "Have you been letting someone else sample your goodies which are rightfully mine?" Rio quizzed her as she lapped up the ice cream as it melted toward Mercy's neck. "No," Mercy squeaked. "The only hottie in my life is you." "Wait; did I give you permission to speak?" Rio changed the direction of her attack. "Yes," Mercy gulped, "I mean, you asked me a question." Rio shimmied up until she was resting her crotch on Mercy's hips. She then took Mercy's nipples between her thumbs and forefingers, twisting them and pulling them up painfully. "That definitely sounded like you were being a smart-ass," Rio declared authoritatively. "Were you being a smart-ass, my cum-bunny?" "Eeep!" Mercy squealed from the pain. "Which answer do you want to hear?" Rio's eyes grew wide. She rolled her body forward until they were breast to breast and chin to chin. "Oh, yes, you are being a clever little wench. No matter what I say, you are going to say the opposite because you want me to take ownership of your lush, big-titties body, don't you?" Rio teased. "Yes?" Mercy hesitantly guessed. "Sorry, but you can't piss me off tonight, you annoying cunt," Rio taunted. Of course, 'annoy' was Rio and Mercy's key word for loving one another. "I've already got something horrible planned for this evening and you aren't going to distract me." Mercy noticeably perked up at that announcement. "I promise this is going to tear you up inside and out too," Rio gloated. Rio dismounted Mercy and scampered to her personal toy drawer. She gathered up several preselected goods and strode confidently back to Mercy's side. "Zane, I could use a hand," she called out as her goods spilled out of her hands. Mercy looked on attentively but didn't risk Rio's wrath by speaking. "Sure, what do you need?" I inquired as I crawled over carefully so as not to disturb the ladies on my side of the bed. Rio lubed up a slender steel vibrator. "Here, hold this (a vibrator) in place," Rio directed me to press the device's point against Mercy's clit with the trigger on her belly. I did it and was curious to figure out what Rio had planned. Rio presented her 'normal' strap-on, grinned at me, then started rubbing it on Mercy. I had to smile at her imagination but I had a feeling Mercy hadn't totally clued in yet to what the plan was. Rio began pouring lubricant over the artificial cock, the other vibrator, and then over a small series of anal beads, anal beads? When did I get anal beads? "AK!" Mercy gasped as the first bead was pushed in. "What was that?" "Shut up, Ass-angel," Rio smirked, "only a few more to go, so suck it up and be my bitch." As this new form of sexual expression was going on before me, a thought occurred. "Rio, you borrowed my credit card and car, didn't you?" I whispered. Rio's response was a maniacal grin. Mercy on the other hand, "Zane, I'm sorry," then Rio slapped Mercy's thigh, "Ow! She said she had your, Ouch!, permission." "I'm cool with it, Mercy, but Rio's license was suspended so next time you need to do the driving," I consoled the girl. Rio was too happy with herself to become overly upset with our little conversation. As if she was trying to prove how crazy/inventive she could be, Rio began putting the strap-on on, Mercy. Even as she fitted it snugly in place the realization was coming over Mercy. She desperately wanted to ask Rio something but was too torn up by Rio's glee to ruin the moment. Rio stroked Mercy's artificial cock a few times to make sure it was totally lubricated. "Okay," Rio cooed to Mercy as she mounted her stomach, "I'm going to make this easy on you because you are annoyingly child-like. When I rub your breasts," Rio let her hands settle and caress Mercy's tits, "it means I want you to pump me slow and easy." "When I pull your delicious nipples like this," Rio yanked and Mercy bucked up and grunted in pain, "I want you to hammer me as hard as you can. Does any part of my instructions confuse your little mind?" Mercy shook her head, indicating her understanding, but a definite sense of joy was coming over her countenance. She knew how good being penetrated felt and Rio trusted her to return the favor. Only when Rio's hip rotations rubbed the dildo into Rio's cunt did Mercy protest. "Rio, that's your, your cunt?" Mercy pleaded softly. Remaining incredibly unpredictable, Rio leaned down to Mercy's face and kissed her with tenderness. "Mercy-babe, I haven't been a virgin for some time. Stupid shit-long ago-let's not talk about it right now," Rio whispered. "Rio, I lo, I've never found anyone more annoying than you," Mercy breathed back. "I never thought I would." "That's your problem," Rio laughed quietly. "It is my job to do all the thinking while you look all hot, sweaty, and sexy. Am I going to have to hammer your tight asshole to make my point clear?" "Please?" Mercy perked up. Rio responded with some serious tongue-on-tongue play accompanied by intense mammary stimulation before speaking. "Maybe," Rio teased, "but someone has to get my rocks off before I contemplate anything else, so get to it." Rio began a series of rotations and presses to work the strap-on further into her cunt. After a few motions, Mercy fell into a sympathetic rhythm and was rocking up when Rio stopped, making Rio's ride one continuous penetration. Rio kept an intense eye-lock with Mercy as she took the plastic cock. She playfully tugged at her own lower lip as her breathing picked up a pace. "I think you've been fucking dozens of other sluts behind my back," Rio expressed deeply. "So have you been jumping some poor girl in the showers? Do you press them up against the wall and tear up those untouched cunts, or do you bend them over facing the wall and bugger those virgin assholes? " "No, no, I haven't," Mercy whimpered. "But you've wanted to," Rio teased her through increasingly hearty pants. "No, Mercy gulped. "So, you've never wanted to bend me over a sofa out there and make me squeal with pleasure?" Rio persisted in a mysterious tone. Mercy squeezed her eyes shut and turned away. "So if I ordered you to surprise me some night, jump me, bend me over and stir me up inside like only a wanton fuck-bunny could, you wouldn't do what I commanded, my Whore?" Rio taunted. "No," Mercy replied desperately as she looked upon Rio's face once more, "I would do that for you." "Do you know why?" Rio whispered. Mercy had no thoughts she could articulate. "You'll do it because you are Mine, I own you and you will do whatever is necessary to make me happy. You are going to tell me every dark little secret you hide in the horniest, sexiest part of your mind; every fantasy you have, every thought that makes you wet, and I'm going to make you live them out. You won't try to hide any from me because you know that if you lie, when I figure them out eventually, and I will figure them all out, I'm simply going to fulfill them with some other hottie I pick up instead of you. Is that what you want?" "No," Mercy whispered. "So every kinky, freaked-out, sexy over-the-top thing you want to do, you are going to tell me about, even though you know I'm going to force you to do it?" Rio scolded. "Yes," Mercy continued quietly. "If you don't tell me or you refuse to do what I say, I'm going to start selling you to motorcycle gangs and frat parties and find someone I can trust instead. All you can do is obey because I have total control over you, and if you don't you know how crazy I can be; clear enough for you, Butt-Slut?" Rio closed the trap. "I'll do whatever you want," Mercy responded; liberated by Rio from any guilt she might have. Now she could still be the Good Girl, only now she was one forced to do bad things against her will. Rio would soak up all the 'badness' in their relationship, be the one she could blame, and Mercy found that overwhelmingly, annoying. It was enough to make Mercy want to annoy Rio for years and years to come. "Good girl," Rio stroked her cheek. "Enough talking; shut the fuck up and start pounding this cunt until I squirt and scream." Mercy was a moment too slow so Rio began working over her nipples energetically and painfully. It got the desired effect; Mercy propelled her hips up so forcefully Rio rose over an inch off the dildo. "Wow, better than a whole year of horse-riding lessons," Rio giggled. "Oh, before I forget, I have one more treat for my personal prostitute." She reached down to the top of the vibrator and cut it on to the medium setting, shooting a jolt straight to Mercy's clit. "Oh, God!" Mercy gasped. "You are so annoying I had to think of something special just for you, Butter-cunt. I bet those vibrations feel great against that juicy clit of yours," Rio teased, and Mercy nodded vigorously in response. I had to consider that it wasn't two weeks ago that fundamentalist Mercy had been weeping on top of me, crying that her life was over because I had gently masturbated her once. Now she was working out 1,001 Nights of Pleasure with one of the greatest perverts I knew, who says you never see miracles anymore? As turned my attention back to Paige's prize, I noted a small black wooden paddle Rio must have tossed Barbie Lynn's way right behind her rump. Feeling inspired, I rolled back to Mercy and Rio, reached around to retrieve the lube, and began slinking up on Barbie from behind. Barbie Lynn was totally drawn into the play around Paige so ignored me. Opal and Barbie Lynn were orchestrating sensitive excitement from the top of Paige's pale haired head to the flat plain that flowed from her ribs down past her hips. Barbie Lynn had told me she was familiar with other female students before she met me. I would have bet that Opal had experimented a time or two. That the two of them could make such compassionate love to Paige was a surprising marvel to me. Paige's normally translucent flesh was blushed red with blood at every point her top two lovers had tantalized with all their kisses and licks. I was sure that if Paige could have found her voice, she would have been singing out to the Heavens with joy. The cause of her physical incapacity was Brandi, who was experimenting on her own style of cunt-licking. I studied Brandi for a minute before I knew what her technique was. She'd flit her tongue back and forth like a tiny motorboat for several seconds then switch to a slow probing action for twice as long before returning to the rapid-fire motion. The result was that Paige would amp up but before she could spike, Brandi would let her cool down before driving her to even greater heights closer to climax once more. I guess I can be a bit of a bastard. The girls were going along so wonderfully yet I still felt I had to indulge in my swelling need. I settled on my knees behind Barbie Lynn and brushed the paddle across that so-perfect ass. She taunted me with that ass, pushing back toward me, increasing its vulnerability, but kept her primary attention on Paige. I repeat: Barbie Lynn is beyond awesome. I reached back and paddled her once. Barbie Lynn took a deep breath but didn't relent. The second spank was harder and the third harder still. It was the fourth one that did the trick. "Oh, God, Yes," Barbie Lynn exclaimed. The great thing was that her body rocked forward and her ginormous breasts brushed over Paige's face. Paige was excited, not lost in orgasm. It took her maybe three milliseconds to latch onto one of Barbie Lynn's tits and engulf an areola in her mouth. Chewing on that nipple came a few seconds later. Barbie Lynn began moaning up a storm and stroking Paige's hair, Opal grinned and fell ravenously on Paige's left nipple, and Brandi went over to full-on clitoral assault mode. Paige gamely held on for almost a minute before she let Barbie Lynn go and proclaimed her immense pleasure. "Oh, all of you, oh, God, I, I can't take, Oh Fuck, Zane!" she ended up screaming. Huh? I had done nearly nothing this session and still there was my undeserved name on a woman's lips. If the girls had resented me I would have totally understood. Instead, Barbie Lynn looked over her shoulder, rubbed a hand along the paddle resting on her ass and smiled. Opal laughed musically. Brandi was beset by Paige's orgasm though. Paige's stocking clad thighs were wrapped tightly around Brandi's head as she thrashed and undulated over the sheets. Brandi kept lapping like a champ because Paige was a copious ejaculator, as I could attest. "Damn, Zane, you can pick 'em," Opal congratulated me. "What? This plan wasn't mine," I confessed. "No, I mean your luck in picking out bed partners is better than mine," Opal explained. "Oh, you were missing a few nights ago. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Who did you home in on?" I asked. "Cappadocia," Opal told me. Uh-oh. "I don't think Cappy is ready for a bi-sexual encounter. Besides, she's far too aggressive for you right now," I informed her. "Yeah, we figured that out. We both tried being on top all the time and things sort of fell apart," Opal related to me. "We both did agree you are one hell of a primer for virgins." "Thanks, that's very kind of you," I jibbed. "Oh, wow," Brandi gasped out, finally released by Paige. "That was wild." Brandi backed away from Paige's cunt on all fours before rolling over and resting the back of her head on Paige's thigh. "She's yummy," Brandi giggled. "We should get her over for shower time." Paige was now splayed out, limp, and looking up at the ceiling. "I, I, Paige rasped. "Yes, Sugah?" Barbie Lynn purred down at Paige. "I, I have to do this again," Paige worked out. She followed that up by wrapping a hand into the hair at the back of Barbie Lynn's head and pulling her in for a kiss. "Woot!" Opal shouted. "We got another one. Zane, who is next on the menu?" "How about Vivian?" Brandi suggested. "Okay, ladies, there is no menu. We are not stalking girls down for bi-sexual trysts, and if we were interested in anyone, we should ask Paige for her opinion first," I countered. Paige rapidly disentangled from Barbie Lynn and propped herself up excitedly on her elbows. "Cordelia," she declared defiantly. "Cordelia Dresden, I've always had this secret thing for her, which also involves a little bondage and having her tell me I'm smarter than she is as I torture her with an ostrich feather," Paige finished with a wicked smile. "Thought this out much?" Opal snickered. "Just because Zane was the first person to see me as the devastatingly beautiful woman I am doesn't mean I haven't made contingency plans for when the inevitable happened," Paige was smarmy right back. "Paige, you were sure Zane would take you to his bed?" Barbie Lynn said. "As I recall, those were some shaky few minutes you two had." "Inevitable?" Paige scoffed. "I never doubted for a moment. In fact, I already have him trained." Even Brandi looked askance at that declaration but Paige beamed victoriously. "Zane," Paige grinned sweetly. "Bouncy, bouncy." I sighed, reached over Barbie Lynn, hooked one arm under Paige's arm and around her back while the other was reaching between her legs. I hefted her up and pulled her over on top until she comfortably straddled me. Paige glowed like the Sun. "Holy crap," Opal giggled. "Bouncy, bouncy," Brandi perked up and spoke to me. I wasn't sure what I'd do or say but it turned out I didn't matter. "No, you don't," Paige scolded Brandi. "Get your own command phrase; this phrase is mine." "What happens now?" Brandi prodded. I had the feeling that actual intercourse fascinated her. Paige turned her head away from the woman and looked down on me. She crashed upon my frame in slow motion until she was resting her chin on the top of my sternum and we had to strain to keep eye contact. "Please, Zane, take your mighty cock and put it in my tight, wet cunt. Make me tingle from the tip of my toes up to the ends of my white hairs on the crown of my head," Paige playfully pleaded. "Be gentle because my new-found friends have left me tender and hyper-sensitive all-over." Mighty cock, it isn't like my buddy attracts amorous attention from sequoias or something. My cock is a highly valued member of the team, but come on now, it is a freaking piece of meat. I can certainly get the job done without, Paige looks up and licks her lips while she pants like a famished huntress. Suddenly the last three years of my maturity lose their blood supply as it rushes elsewhere. Oh, well. I'll recall what I was bitching about later. "Okay," I grinned. "Maneuver up and I'll work it in." "I'll help!" Brandi excitedly volunteered. Before I could politely decline, Brand landed on my left leg and was pushing Paige's ass up. Paige was far more amused with the situation than I was and reconciled Brandi's movements with her desires to rise up from straddling to kneeling with one leg up. Brandi took the opportunity to stroke my cock, raised it to the vertical, and dragged it over Paige's cunt. She rested my cock a little far back, or so I thought. Paige thought so too. "Not the ass!" she squeaked. "Not the Butt!" "You want it in your, Brandi hesitated. "Her cunt," Barbie Lynn filled her in. "Yes, it looks so delicate," Brandi wondered. "Well, yes," Paige snipped, "but Zane has taken my virginity. My anus is even smaller than my cunt, and it isn't like Zane isn't already going to pass Cleopatra's Needle through something the size of a dime as it stands." "Did you just call Zane a needle-cock?" snickered Opal. "No," I groaned. "Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk, like Washington's Monument, except only one-twentieth the size." "Yep," Rio panted from her side of the bed, "she definitely called him 'needle-cock'." "I don't care what you gals call it," Barbie Lynn chuckled. "He can stick me with that cock anytime." "Tell me you love me, Zane," Paige sighed. "I can't. You are absolutely wonderful to me but I can't lie to you even though I think it would make you happy to hear those words," I frowned sadly. "Why can't it be you and me?" she asked but her fatigued smile betrayed no anger. "Eh, the tired old romantic tale: boy loves girl but girl can't, or won't, show affection for him," I related. "How about this story instead," Paige's smile grew. "A post-Apocalyptic tale where you, me, and a select group of other genetically superior women retreat to a remote coastal island, fend off the end of the world, and set about repopulating the Earth over, and over, and over again." "Wait; if I agree does this mean you are going to plot out a way to bring about the end of civilization as we know it?" I questioned. What I didn't question was the reality that Paige would never have children of her own womb, but hell, this was her fantasy; right? "I know where your mind is, Zane Braxton," Paige said softly with tears brimming in her eyes but that smile still on her lips, "and that makes you a wonderful, wonderful man." "Now, please, bouncy, bouncy," that mischievous glint returned to her countenance. In some stories this would be the trigger for me to ram my thunderous love pylon deep into her womb. Or, I could hug her tight and let us express our emotions in some open, healing manner. In my reality, I was still somewhat of a tool to Paige, an object that brought her happiness and fulfillment. I was almost a human person of worth to her too. Paige had arrangements, not friendships, and controlled those relationships with mental domination. I know it would have surprised her and brought forth a torrent of denial if I showed she trusted me, as exhibited by her actions of the past few minutes. Rarely did one love their power drill or hammer and you certainly didn't get all teary-eyed when you read their mind correctly. Brandi steadied and reinforced my cock with a hand as Paige worked her way down. I held Paige by the hips to keep her from trying to move too fast. She was busy concentrating, undoubtedly committing the sensations to memory, I kind of like really smart women. "What does it feel like?" Brandi questioned Paige timidly. "If, you have never been, penetrated, you couldn't understand," Paige panted. "Don't worry about it," Opal cooed to her friend. "We are sophomores so we have nearly three years with Zane here at school. That is plenty of time to talk him into doing the deed." "That shouldn't be hard," Brandi giggled. "I've seen Zane scoping me out. He wants me." "Ha," laughed Barbie Lynn. "If it was that easy, there wouldn't be a virgin in this room. Zane could have woken up that part of me ten times over if his wanting my body was all it took." "Pop your cherry!" Rio shouted, close to climax. "Call it what it is, you dumb bimbo, oh, fuck!" She twisted Mercy's nipples with a violence that caused me pain by just looking. That cued Mercy to pound up into Rio unmercifully. Rio released Mercy's breasts and put her hands to torturing her own nipples. Her orgasm came in seconds. With sheer force of will, Rio fought off her physical spasms until she was body to body with Mercy, Rio's hands cupping Mercy's face and her lips planting fast kisses on Mercy's lips, nose, and eyes. "You are mine, mine, mine," Rio exulted with animalistic fury magically melded with heartwarming compassion. It was coaxed along by the vibrator to her clit, sending Mercy off to her own orgasm. "God mother-fucking damn, Rio," Mercy screamed, "Own, own me; make me yours." "I'm tattooing, your ass, this weekend," Rio whispered and groaned. On my side of the sexual diorama, Paige was still screwing herself down my cock, though Brandi had less to do but more to think about. "I can't decide when I want Zane to do the deed for me," Brandi wondered. "No," I breathed heavily, eyes still on Paige and her radiance, "Brandi, you and I will figure things out when the time is right." "Or you tie him down and ride him like Paige," Opal giggled. "Bouncy, bouncy," Paige panted through her chuckle, "It is not just a catchy jingle. It is the recipe for romantic success." "You talk too much, Princess," I emphasized with a thrust deep into her womb, "I think it is time to start your interrogation." She sizzled and I had a dark desire to feel her body heat burn me so we quickly figured out how we could get along. "Roll over, Pound cake," Rio ordered as she worked the strap-on off Mercy. "I've got all sorts of issues to work out and your priceless backside is my destination of choice. Buck up, Buttercup, stick out that ass and get ready for some furious pent-up teenage aggression." I was stunning that the friction Mercy generated as she spun over in the sheets didn't set the bed on fire. She wasn't on all fours but her ass was raised at a four-five degree angle and quivering in her desire. Rio affixed her tool of choice before allowing her gaze to bask in Mercy's splendor. It took her several seconds before she draped her body over Mercy's back. "I'm going to become so bored with this view," Rio teased, "in about fifty or sixty years." Mercy flexed and undulated her back, ass and thighs against Rio's body. Together the two lovers moaned sensually. "I lied to you," Rio panted into Mercy's ear. "I'm not going to get tired of your body in fifty or sixty years. I'm going to fuck you to death before you hit thirty." Mercy gave some sort of guttural reply which she accentuated by driving her posterior against Rio's artificial cock. It slid up between Mercy's cheeks as opposed to going into her anus but Mercy was certainly energetic enough to keep thrusting. Sometimes I wasn't sure which one was leading the other down the road to impassioned insanity. Afterglow The whispering in my ear had woken me up. I shifted my head toward the noise and saw Paige's elfin head cloaked by her fine white hair. In her slumber, Paige had brought one hand up to her chin and took slow nibbles out of the tip of her thumb. Her body was curled up in a near-fetal ball with her other arm vanishing beneath the sheets. Paige's lips parted and she moaned. "Oh, right there, Brandi, yum, yeah, right there." She rotated the shoulder of her downturned arm and her hips rocked gently beneath the covers, certainly driving those attached fingers against her cunt. She went back to nibbling her thumb and slowly quieted down. Paige was in the middle of the bed so I had to raise my head to peek past her sublime form to see Rio and Mercy who were both facing away, Rio was closer to me with her arms wrapped around and cradling Mercy. Fingers stroked my stomach bringing my head to the other side. Barbie Lynn was snuggled up against me and both her hands rested on my stomach, though only one was rubbing against my abs. The only problem was that Barbie Lynn regularly slept on her side with one hand on me and the other resting under the pillow, plus both hands on my stomach were lefties. I shifted slightly, looked over and tracked the moving hand back to the arm that led to a slumbering Vivian. I swear to God I did nothing to deserve this. I had to think about this for a few seconds. Finally I decided on a little clarity. "Vivian," I whispered as I tapped her hand. From experience I knew she woke slowly so I was patient. "Umm," she smiled dreamily at me. A three-count later her eyes focused enough to match my gaze. "You are in my bed and while I don't mind, I want to make sure you are doubly okay with this," I requested softly. "Opal and Brandi woke me up when they left," Vivian informed me, "and I felt, alone and left out. Are you okay with me being here? Are you going to be able to control yourself?" A few things made sense now. Vivian and her boyfriend had fallen into the habit of cuddling on one of their beds. Before long they were falling asleep comfortably in each other's arms. He woke up, high school boy's hormones racing, and she took a few moments too long to realize what was going on. I gave her bonus points for not hating the guy for taking her virginity and stealing away the bedtime comfort of lying with another person she yearned for. "Vivian, you have my permission to crash on my bed anytime," I smiled warmly. "Barbie Lynn will keep me in check. If you ever want to join me and no one else is around, I keep some restraints, left dresser, second drawer." "I don't want to tie you down, Zane," she whispered. "Restraints are not only about holding someone down but empowering the other partner. You get to feel comfortable close to me, I don't mind you being close to me one bit, and I don't have to worry about doing something I'll regret," I related. "You learned all of this in rural Thailand?" Vivian mused. "They are an ancient and scholarly people," I countered. "Are we okay?" "We are okay," she responded. "Great," muttered Barbie Lynn, "let's go to sleep because if I wake up, Vivian, I'm going to make you hold my head in your lap while Zane pleasures me from behind." Vivian grinned, rested her head, and closed her eyes. I laid back down and let my vision darken behind sleepy lids. I really felt like hammering Barbie's delicious ass but I knew she was tired and needed her sleep. Besides, she had only said that because she wanted Vivian to go to sleep. "Honey," Barbie Lynn whispered words sweeter than fresh cane sugar, "you had best give me all the long, hard strokes I can stand in the morning or I'm going to leave my own set of teeth and claw marks all over that wonderful body of yours." Normally I should accept the warning and fall asleep immediately but since it is a well proven fact that I have no sense where sex and sensuality are concerned, I was awake for quite a while. When I did wake up, it was brought about by Barbie Lynn rolling away from me. "Vivian," Barbie whispered kindly. Once Vivian was appropriately responsive, "Vivian, I'm about to wake Zane up and make him take that damn fine cock and use those powerful strokes I love to fill up my ass with cum until I scream." "You might want to go back to your sofa until he lifts me to climax," she advised. "On second thought, make that two screams, I'm feeling extra horny this morning." Isn't it wonderful that I get no say in where my cock is going or when I'm going there? I mean, it's not like I'm an adult or we are currently residing in my room. Wait, I am!! I'm sick and tired of this shit and I'm putting my foot down! Barbie Lynn rubs her scrumptious ass cheeks against my thigh and moans like my bitch in heat. I Man-Up; I'll set her straight as soon as I finish fucking her, damn it! Okay, I'll set her straight when I finish fucking her twice, but that's all she's getting from me. Barbie Lynn languidly gets onto her elbows and knees, favoring the sore one. She scoops the tube of lube from under the pillow and pushes it back to me as Vivian shakes her head, scoots off the bed, and makes her way to the exit. I pour some lube onto my palm then rub my hands together to warm it up because I don't want to cruelly use something cold on her vulnerable flesh. "Zane, I need this so bad," Barbie Lynn purrs. "Hammer me, hammer me twice and make me scream." "Oh," I growl, "I intend to." I'm going to nail her good then give her a piece of my mind. "Baby, I know you are taking Iona home this weekend so can you sneak away during lunch and sex me up one more time?" she pleads with a voice rich with need. "Of course I will, Babe," I reply. And then I'll give her a piece of my mind, damn it! "What's wrong, Zane?" Rio asked as she watched me strip my bed. She wasn't offering to help. "Man," I sighed, "sometimes I think I'm nothing more than a tool for sexual release on this campus." "That's surprisingly accurate," she chuckled. "I'm stunned you realized it so quickly." "Realized what?" Iona grinned as she glided into the room, unusually chipper. "Zane realized he's a sex toy, a pleasure slave to our whims," Rio pontificated. Mercy sighed slightly and came over to help me with the bed, as did Iona, and she hadn't even made the mess. "The willingness to give of yourself does not indicate a surrender of your will," Iona countered. "Zane gives and gives freely, without expectation of return." "He is your mirror image if you think about it," Iona continued. "With Zane it is pleasure and with you it is pain." Now you never know which way Rio will go with something like this; Iona was like a kid sister to her but I wasn't totally sure Rio hadn't experimented with patricide, matricide and infanticide along with cannibalism. "Damn, Iona," Rio came up and wrap her arms around Iona's waist from behind, "that's real cool." "Ah, you are welcome?" Iona smiled but with uncertainty. "How about I give you Mercy for a night? You know, a snuggle buddy for you to sleep with. We could dress her in an appropriate nightgown and she could be like a big warm teddy bear for you to cuddle with." "I would rather have Zane dressed up as a cuddly teddy bear," Iona glanced to me. "Oh, hell, no!" I declared. "I have my pride, ya know." "Get over it, Zane," Rio laughed. "You are the only guy I know whose home page is linked to both gay and lesbian porn sites." I am? How the fuck did that happen? "Would you do that for me, please?" Iona pleaded playfully. I had to avoid answering no matter what. "Iona, I've decided to designate you as my heir," I surprised her. "We'll do that Monday." "I already knew that," Iona stated evenly. "It was posted on your website yesterday." "What!" I squawked. "Am I bugged? Am I carrying a wire? How do people figure out these things?" "Cordelia," all the women in the room said simultaneously. Yep, I'm going to have to fix her little red wagon. I wonder if she has my home wired for surveillance as well. "Iona, what would you do with all that money? Zane's got a boatload of money; right?" Mercy broke in. "I don't know," Iona began; "Maybe make a trust for Christian World Charities or something like that." "Bitch," Rio recoiled, "do you know what Zane's family does? He's a freaking gazillionaire." "Rio," Iona swiveled so that she was facing Rio, "there is no such number and Zane's family mines copper, cobalt, chromium and manganese, primarily." "Dummy, that's the parent company," Rio scoffed, heady with her one-time mental superiority over Iona. "They build spaceships." "That's silly," Iona countered. "No one builds spaceships anymore. Do you mean rockets?" "Yeah," Rio groaned with impatience, "they build rockets that put satellites in orbit, spacecraft components, space-age ceramics, non-integrated circuit computers, and crap like that." Iona looked to me for some clarity. "I don't know," I shrugged. "I had a collage of the solar system in my room when I was five; I went to the NASA facility in Florida once a year; I've been to that space facility in Russia once; and I've seen a rocket launched from this site in South America. I figured all kids did stuff like that." Then something occurred to me. "Rio, how do you know all this about me?" I inquired. "Eh," Rio grunted. "In that first week I considered kidnapping you so I wanted to figure out what you were worth so I would know how much to ask for." "How much is he worth?" Mercy asked. "Enough so that his people wouldn't call in the FBI, they would call in some former Spetznaz and simply kill me instead of paying the ransom," Rio chuckled. "Yeah," I laughed too, "I recall Dad saying that he'd 'met up' with some South African Commandos when he was not much older than I am now. He sent them Christmas presents every year until he died." "Zane, I'm not sure I want that much money," Iona worried. "Well, you've met Aunt Jill and we both know she couldn't handle it," I countered. "What, what, what about Rio, Oh, My God, what am I saying? That would be nuts," Iona fretted. Rio gasped. "Hey!" Rio shouted. "What's wrong with me?" "You are totally insane with an annoying lack of impulse control," Mercy stated clinically. Rio's mouth dropped open and she gawked at her 'toy'. "Pound cake!" she barked at Mercy. Mercy perked up and looked ready to throw herself on the bed and at Rio's mercy. "No," I intervened. "We have to get to breakfast and I can hear Vivian pacing like mad just beyond the screens. She deserves better from us. Now let's get going." Everyone was remarkably behaved until we got into the elevator and the door shut. "Are you sure you are the right person for this job?" Vivian asked Mercy as the doors shut. "What?" Mercy gulped. "What do you mean?" "Yeah, what the fuck do you mean by that, ya Cunt?" Rio interjected both her words and her body into the conversation. "Mercy and I are doing just fine." "You shower together, sleep together, stick all kinds of things in one another; I'm neither blind nor stupid," Vivian growled out. "I'm sorry," Mercy mumbled. "Oh, I don't blame you. They got to you before this 'guardian' thing happened. It is simply unfortunate that you ended up as Rio's minder and now we will have to deal with it," Vivian responded without heat or condemnation (toward Mercy). "Are you going to turn her in?" I had to ask. "Forcing Mercy to face the condemnation and ridicule of those who have no clue to her situation would not be the Christian thing to do," Vivian sincerely related. "I will not let Mercy fall into depravity. She and I will work together to save her soul." Rio didn't trust her and looked ready to pounce. On the other hand, I was truly impressed and believed her. "What is your plan?" Iona joined in. "Vivian, you wouldn't bring this up if you didn't have a plan." "I am creating a list of Christian works, not the Bible, Rio, that the two of them could read together for half an hour before bedtime," Vivian enlightened us. In the short-term it sounded naive but if you took into account the almost three years Mercy and Rio could be here together it was rather clever. "Blow it out your ass!" Rio growled back. "No, Rio, you will do it," I demanded. I had never demanded anything of her before. I'd asked, begged and suggested but I had never told her 'do this or else'. I was now. Rio and I locked gazes. She felt betrayed and pissed. "Fuck you," Rio snapped at me. "You don't tell me what to do." "You'll do what I tell you to do now," I insisted. "Or what?" she sneered. I could feel Iona cringing beside me. Mercy was afraid and looked trapped. Vivian was taking the exchange with interest. "Or nothing. I am not going to hold anything over your head but I'm also going to fight to keep you from fucking up your life," I kept at it. "It is what friends do." There was a pause. "Glenda, you suck," Rio declared quietly. That quavering in Rio's resolve was Mercy's cue. "I'll do the readings," Mercy said. "Rio, if you want to wait in the bedroom for me, well I'm fine with that, if that is what you want to do." "Gurr," Rio mumbled. "Fine, I'll do it, but if I hear even one chorus of Kumbaya, I'm skewering someone with a pool stick." "Thank you, Vivian got out. "Not a word," Rio warned. "Not another damn word, from any of you." Mercy shot me a look and I could see she finally got it. You let Rio run amok for 90% of the time so that you could coax Rio toward stability the other 10% without her rebelling. I didn't want to make Rio sane; I was sure she was happy being fucking nuts. I only wanted her to be a 'fucking nuts' that didn't make her destroy her life and drive away the people that really cared for her. What can I say? I'm selfish. Rio fills a void in my life and I didn't want to see her fall away into the darkness the way my Mom did. Aliens, Vampires and Werewolves, maybe not. To make the right decision requires a combination of confidence, knowledge, and luck. A little nonsequitur: I once asked my close associates why they believed in God. Rio said: "Well, I can't very well be a convincing Satanist if I don't give lip service to the Other Guy." Iona put it this way: "The Universe makes sense. It is our roadmap for Ascension and a fuller understanding of God's Love." Christina reasoned: "I've seen Evil so there must be Good." Heaven s take was: "Because I prayed for death but Christina came; and I prayed for you (Zane) to go but you stayed." Hope expounded: "Because I live in a country that allows me to own a K11 assault rifle for home defense." No one wants to ask Hope if she has the official rifle of the R O K Army with her at school, or if she actually has the grenades that go with it. What good would it do; it isn't like we would try to take it away from her. Most of us like living too much. Chastity observed: "Firefighters, organ donors, Christian converts in Iran, with so many people giving for no material gain, that indicates to me a higher purpose for mankind, a struggle between right and wrong." Faith rebutted: "Belief in Christ cannot be given a definition. If you define it, it ceases being faith." Barbie Lynn: sweetly gave me a peppermint and smiled. She had to look no farther than the fate that had brought us together and the joy we shared; she didn't need words. Paige resolved: "Only something with infinite precision and power could bring about the Big Bang. The day they can give a name to that force, I will gladly surrender my faith." Cordelia said: "Let me think about my reply. Why do you believe in God?" (Like I'd ever tell her.) Cappadocia lamented: "What an empty and lonely thing life must be, if these few years are all we have?" Opal s mind was made up: "I always have and never heard an argument that would make me think differently." Brandi chided: "It was how I was raised. But the first time you kissed my stomach, I had my own personal religious experience (giggle)." And Now, Back to the Story! Breakfast unfolded pretty much like it had a week ago, with the added bonus of poisonous glares between clumps of students, bandages, bruises, and the sense of unease that comes from unresolved conflict. After all, neither Christina nor Rhaine had won. This was acceptable to most of the sane crowd as the alternative would have been to make the school unbearable to the other half of the student body so that they left. Instead, we got to bask in the chilly civility that Christian politeness dictated. At least I wasn't (too) worried about a pack of girls ambushing me. As was becoming her habit, Gabrielle Black had devoured her food in less than four minutes and paced the perimeter of the Dining Room floor, her eyes dodging about with no discernible pattern. I kept an eye on her because she worried me in a way that went far beyond hormones. "Zane?" Iona repeated. I had barely registered her first request for a moment of my time. "Yes, Hon?" I smiled down at her. She looked happy for the eye contact but worried about what she had to say. "Zane, there are two other candidates for Freshman Class President, Mhain Reynard and Millicent Pierce," Iona informed me. "Millicent?" grumbled Rio. "Zane saved her ass and now she's kicking sand in his face? The bitch." "Millicent is free to do what she wants. She may have wanted to be nominated before all this chaos came about. I'm not going to begrudge her having political ambitions," I told them. "Zane, I don't think you understand what this means," Iona worried. "Sure I do; Millicent and I are going to split the Pro-Christina vote. There will be a run-off. If it is Millicent and I, Mhain's votes will go to her and I lose. If it is Mhain and Millicent, my votes will go to Millicent and she wins. If it is Mhain and I, it will be a toss-up. Essentially, Millicent can definitely defeat Mhain but I can't." "This sounds like a job for the NSA," Rio glared off to where Millicent was sitting. I don't think Rio knew what Mhain looked like. NSA referred to Rio's title as my in-house assassin, Ninja Stripper Angel. "Don't worry," I patted Rio on the shoulder, "I got this, Bro." When I got up, Rio followed me nonetheless. Chancellor Bazz was absent for the second day in a row so the highest authority seemed to be Doctor Scarlett, the Vice Chancellor. Gabrielle noted my movement but didn't deviate from her path. Mrs. Cunningham was closest but seeing neither authority figure appeared nervous, she too went about her rounds. Mind you, girls are moving around the Dining Hall all the time but I'm special, being a troublemaking, devious male. I rounded a table and walked over to Millicent, who was warned of my approach by an associate. She twisted in her chair and waited for the flavor of my greeting. "Hey, Millicent, I want to congratulate you on your nomination and I hope you get the votes to be on the ballot," I said as I extended my hand. She shook it and smiled. "Thank you, Zane. Good luck to you too," she replied. "How about we have a debate a few nights before the election? Interested?" I pondered. "That would be great," Millicent agreed. "We can request the Assembly Hall but we'll need to figure out who should be moderator." "We'll figure it out," I nodded. "I'm going to say 'hi' to Mhain as well." "I will come along," Millicent informed me as she stood up and stepped to my side. "Hi, Rio." "Eat shit and die, you ungrateful whore," Rio snarled back at Millicent, who backed off. "Zane should have left you for Bazz to fuck over." Millicent's crowd was shocked, then outraged. "Cool it, Rio." I stroked her arm. "You and I do what we do for our own ends and not for the accolades of others." I turned to her, "Right?" Rio took a deep breath. "You are such a dumb blonde," she smirked at me. "I get my thirty pieces of silver up front." "Thanks, Babe," I grinned at Rio. I looked back to Millicent. "I'm still going to see Mhain if you want to tag along with me and Rio." "I'm feeling fearless with a positive outlook on life so I'll risk it," Millicent smiled. Yeah, beating Millicent in this election was going to be fun, right up there with waking up on the

A century ago, Jeff Braverman's grandfather opened a peanut shop in Newark, New Jersey. By the early 2000s, the family business was doing $1M in sales and struggling to stay afloat. Jeff had a high-paying job in finance, but walked away from it to reinvent the business. His strategy? The internet. Something his dad and uncle knew nothing about.What happened next is wild: an AdWords experiment that blew the doors off the budding online business; a slip on national TV where Rachael Ray accidentally renamed the company; 40,000 pounds of protest peanuts that crashed servers and landed them in the New York Times; a hilariously polarizing rap jingle; and a COVID surge that tested leadership—and humanity—every single day.This is the blueprint for transforming a dusty, low-margin business into a profitable, $100M+ direct-to-consumer brand—while keeping it family-owned. It's also a masterclass in earning trust, making risky bets, and scaling without losing your soul.You'll learn:The mechanics of a paid-search playbook that 10x'd orders overnightHow to win over skeptical family members (and when to demand the keys to the store)The exploding-deal etiquette of buying a premium domainHow an improvised rap-jingle can be stickier than a professional ad How Nuts.com built a robust B2B business alongside DTCCrisis leadership lessons from the COVID floor When and how a leader should hire their replacementTimestamps:00:07:08 — Cash registers, code words, and a Newark childhood inside the peanut shop00:13:42 — The “build a website” pitch at a Jersey diner 00:29:40 — December 4, 2003: from 3 orders/day to 30 00:31:19 — Dad panics –”shut it off!”– Jeff doubles down on demand and ops00:35:26 — Losing the storefront to a hockey arena—and going all-in online00:42:29 — Jericho fans send 40,000 lbs of peanuts to CBS: press, links, and leverage00:48:38 — Rachael Ray calls them “Nuts.com” by accident… and the $700k domain deal that followed01:00:51 — The notorious Nuts.com rap jingle: how an earworm took hold01:03:11 — Offices, microbreweries, and building a sticky B2B engine01:05:08 — COVID hits: 70% call-outs, factory safety, and leading from the floor01:10:18 — Handing the reins to a new CEO: leaning into strengths, not egoThis episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Olivia Rockman. Our engineers were Patrick Murray and Jimmy Keeley.Follow How I Built This:Instagram → @howibuiltthisX → @HowIBuiltThisFacebook → How I Built ThisFollow Guy Raz:Instagram → @guy.razYoutube → guy_razX → @guyrazSubstack → guyraz.substack.comWebsite → guyraz.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Lies That Destroy Men 7 Lies That Destroy Men. (1:33) #1 - Pornography, what's the big deal? (3:01) #2 - Video games, they're fun. (12:39) #3 - Consumerism. (18:55) #4 - Your value is connected to how much you can earn. (22:07) #5 – Passivity. (26:06) #6 – Alpha male/False masculinity. (30:32) #7 - Chase lots of women. (32:06) Related Links/Products Mentioned Here's How To Break Free From Porn, Restore Intimacy In Your Relationships & Live A Life of Freedom Using The DeepClean™ System. Access to masterclasses on intimacy, purpose, and healthy relationships. A private brotherhood community for daily accountability and support. Visit: https://deepcleancoaching.com/mindpump **Plus, all members who join get MAPS 15 for free . There's a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose. ** October Special: MAPS GLP-1 50% off! ** Code GLP50 at checkout. ** Mind Pump Store Mind Pump #2705: How to Quit Pornography with Sathiya Sam Mind Pump #2132: Six Reasons Men Today are Weak Here's Proof Buying More Stuff Actually Makes You Miserable The Impact on Kids of Dad's Faith and Church Attendance Mind Pump Podcast – YouTube Mind Pump Free Resources People Mentioned Dan Bilzerian (@danbilzerian) Instagram  

This week, Cy has a new grocery store and Chad has an interaction with a fan at a show. This episode is brought to you by Chime, Shopify, and ⁠⁠BetterHelp⁠⁠! --- Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Chad Daniels (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThatChadDaniels⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) is a Dad, Comedian, and pancake lover. With over 750 million streams of his 5 albums to date, his audio plays are in the 99th percentile in comedy and music on Pandora alone, averaging over 1MM per week. Chad's previous album, Footprints on the Moon was the most streamed comedy album of 2017, and he has 6 late-night appearances and a Comedy Central Half Hour under his belt. Cy Amundson (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CyAmundson⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) With appearances on Conan, Adam Devine's House Party, and Comedy Central's This is Not Happening, Cy Amundson is fast-proving himself in the world of standup comedy. After cutting his teeth at Acme Comedy Company in Minneapolis, has since appeared on Family Guy and American Dad and as a host on ESPN's SportsCenter on Snapchat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids don't need earlier tryouts—they need more backyard joy. In this conversation, former pro pitcher Dan Blewett shares how he started “late” by today's standards, fell in love with the game through free play, and built the grit to endure multiple career-threatening injuries. He argues that early structure can crowd out wonder, and that the deepest resilience is born from neighborhood games, missed catches, and a parent who shows up—often with a bucket of balls. You'll hear why sampling many sports beats specializing, how to nurture lifelong athletic identity without burnout, and what really keeps kids coming back when competition gets brutal. Dan gets practical for families: give your child “50 at-bats in the backyard,” let the umpire be wrong, focus on development over stats, and don't wait for Dad—moms can coach, catch, and lead. We explore control vs. surrender, empathy on teams, and why sports should still feel like sunshine and sprinting at age 39. If you're torn between club fees and simple play, this episode reframes youth sports around love first, training second, and memories that outlast any scoreboard. Learn more about Dan and everything he has to offer here Get your copy of This Slump Shall pass here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a short podcast ladies and gentlemen. This topic has been on my heart for awhile now and I figured it was time to put it out there. Sometimes we get so caught up in the likes and comments that we forget why we started being outdoorsmen and women in the first place.Sometimes we just need to slow down and remind ourselves about why we do what we do and who inspired us to do what we do. This podcast is about the first hunt I ever went on with my Dad and my Uncle. Tune In. Short one but a very good one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling all lovers of true tales about the sea! This week I'm talking with Eric J. Dolin, bestselling author of numerous books that explore some aspect of American history, generally as it relates to the sea. His latest book is "Left for Dead: Shipwreck, Treachery, and Survival at the Edge of the World." Eric has a really interesting through line that started with him studying to be a marine biologist, then morphed into studying environmental policy, and includes a big list of cool, interesting jobs, including curatorial assistant in the mollusk department at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology.We covered:- Eric's winding path to writing, which started with wanting to be Jacques Costeau as a kid, wended through getting three degrees in marine biology, and ended with him working in government jobs (managing a fishery, for example) while saving up to make the leap to writing full-time- How winning awards can keep you going, even when you're not selling as many books as you'd like- HOT TIP: Eric's new book, "Left for Dead," would make a great gift for anyone in your life who lives a good maritime yarn (like, say, my Dad)- How "people are overly impressed with writers", and that recognition can also keep you going- The skills he developed as a student that help him write books- How researching his current book generally leads to the idea for his next book- The secret cove in Marblehead, Mass. where Eric gets his reading done during the summer- How reading books from the 1800s and early 1900s (as part of his research) changes his languageFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week's sponsor, Aqua Tru. Visit aquatru.com and use code KATE to save 20% off a great countertop reverse osmosis water filter that I have been using and loving for years now. Comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards.

Send us a textMovie Review Monday: Shawn of the Dead!!.. and Go Birds!! (10/27/25)This is podcast Season #4, episode #122Get Help Dad Podcast with Bad jokes and tips and tricks to make your life  alittle bit better.Instagram: get.help.dad.podcastTiktok: @get.help.dad.podYoutube: Get Help Dad PodcastFYI: You are a great parent!!You can send in your own parenting advice, Dad topics, tell us where you are listening from or lawn care advice to gethelpdad@gmail.com.  We are excited to hear from you.  Please let us know your Name, City/Country you are from.  The Eagles are SuperBowl Champions, Again!!!!

The story I told in episode 19 was based on two different visits to Chicago. I was the one with the shirt who did nothing. My 12 year old daughter, Addi, was the one who made the care package. That 12 year old girl will be 23 in less than a month, and she is not the same person she once was. The post SILY 669- Back Into the Oven appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.

When brining in some "special chocolate" to work goes wrong! Also - if Dad becomes mayor, is the city better off? Fun start to the week!

This is a short podcast ladies and gentlemen. This topic has been on my heart for awhile now and I figured it was time to put it out there. Sometimes we get so caught up in the likes and comments that we forget why we started being outdoorsmen and women in the first place.Sometimes we just need to slow down and remind ourselves about why we do what we do and who inspired us to do what we do. This podcast is about the first hunt I ever went on with my Dad and my Uncle. Tune In. Short one but a very good one! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if 5 minutes could completely shift your perspective from overwhelm to peace? In this episode, we're diving into powerful gratitude examples from history and my own life that prove thanksgiving isn't just feel-good advice—it actually changes your brain, your home atmosphere, and your children's mental health.From Abraham Lincoln declaring Thanksgiving during the Civil War to Corrie ten Boom thanking God for fleas in a concentration camp, you'll discover how gratitude transforms even the hardest circumstances into blessings.In this episode:✅2 practical activities you can do to go from complaining to gratitude✅3 real gratitude examples that prove thankfulness changes everything✅The 5-minute kitchen table practice that pulled me out of a breakdown and into peace✅Scientific proof that gratitude increases joy, decreases anxiety, and improves sleep✅How to raise grateful kids who are more satisfied, happier, and mentally healthier✅Daily thankfulness practices you can start today to shift your family's atmosphere from complaining to contentmentReady to transform your home with thankfulness? Grab the free 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge mentioned in this episode and join hundreds of moms starting November 1st!Show NotesWhen Complaining Takes Over Your MorningIt's Tuesday morning. You get up, you get breakfast ready, and your kids come in complaining, complaining, complaining. All of a sudden, someone spilled their milk, and the phone is buzzing, and before you realize it, you are mentally listing everything that's wrong.I'm going to share a way to flip the switch in your head and get back into a place of peace, a place of gratitude. Today, we are talking about changing complaining to thankfulness, to gratitude. I'm going to be giving you several gratitude examples along the way.Abraham Lincoln's Example During America's Darkest HourLet's start with Abraham Lincoln. Back in 1863, the war between the states was tearing America apart. Families were divided, thousands were dying, no one knew what the future held. And President Lincoln declared a National Day of Thanksgiving.He knew that the attitude of thanksgiving could actually change our country. He wrote, "Year filled with blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies, gracious gifts of Most High God." He was looking to God to say, even though everything around us is falling apart, we are gonna look up, and we are going to say thank you to God.So when everything in your life feels chaotic, you can still choose to focus on God's goodness.The Kitchen Table That Changed EverythingSeveral years ago, I was having a mental-emotional breakdown. In our house, I was walking back and forth, just reeling out in my head all the things I wanted to tell all the people that were giving me a hard time.And all of a sudden, I was like, stop, Kerry. Just stop. I went to the kitchen table, I just grabbed a piece of regular notebook paper, and I started writing down anything I could think of to be thankful for. It could have been a blue sky outside, a hot cup of coffee, I don't know. But I went and just wrote everything down.Got all the way down the list, and even got to the top, and started a second column. Almost to the bottom, I quit thinking about the things that God had given me, things to be thankful for, and I started to write down things about God. I started to praise Him for who He was in my life.By the time I finished that list, peace came over me. There was joy in my heart, because I knew that God was taking care of me, and it really didn't matter about all the craziness.Recognizing the Enemy's AttackMaybe your marriage is falling apart. Maybe you're rejected by your friends, or your mother-in-law's giving you a hard time. Maybe you're just totally overwhelmed, because you got 5 kids under the age of 7, and you're trying to homeschool a few of them.That is the enemy attacking you, and you can change that overwhelmed, rejected attitude to something positive. You need to realize that the negative voice and all those bad things is not yours. It is the enemy attack. He is trying to get you to think about you, your circumstances, instead of God and trusting in a faithful God.It only took me about 5 minutes, my perspective changed, and my heart and soul changed as well. My self-pity changed to praising God for His faithfulness, His character, and His provision that's always there.The Science Behind GratitudeI've been keeping a gratitude journal since about 2010 or 2011. This is actually my second gratitude journal. I actually hit 10,000 items earlier this year, and I know that keeping that journal changes the way I think.It's not just God saying this, which is all that really matters, but there is scientific evidence that gratitude and thankfulness changes the way we think. Research shows that gratitude increases our joy and our contentment. It decreases our anxiety and our depression. It even helps you sleep better and gives you a stronger immune system.If you are stressed out, I highly recommend that every day, you start a gratitude journal.Corrie ten Boom's Gratitude Example: Even for FleasLet's talk about Corrie ten Boom in the middle of World War II. Her family housed Jews up in the attic, and eventually they got caught. Corrie and her sister Betsy were sent to Ravensbrook, one of the worst concentration camps in World War II.The barracks were overcrowded, they were cold, and there were fleas everywhere. Her sister insisted, we have got to thank God for everything, even the fleas. Well, Corrie thought she had lost her mind. Seriously? You want me to say thank you for fleas?Let me tell you, those fleas were a blessing from God. They discovered that those fleas kept the guards away and gave Corrie and Betsy time to share Jesus, to share things about the Bible, to have prayer meetings in their little barracks, without any interruption. Those guards didn't want you talking about God, but they were staying far away from the fleas.Betsy knew something: We can thank God for even the hard times.Finding Blessings in Your Hardest CircumstancesIt's hard to say thank you that someone rejected me, or thank you that I have a child that's not walking with God. You're not thanking Him for that, but we can say, God, thank you for your faithfulness in the midst of this situation.The things that we complain about the most are sometimes blessings in disguise. God uses anything for our good. Over 9 years ago, my husband left, and I would never wish this on anyone. It has been the hardest thing I have ever walked through in my life.But I remember about 2 years ago, I was sitting with my dad, and I said, Dad, I would never wish this on anyone, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am closer to God than I have ever been.That rejection, that hard time, the suffering, the trials that I continue to walk through—when you change your attitude to gratitude, it can sometimes become a blessing, and it is a true blessing.Raising Grateful KidsWhat about my kids? My kids were complaining, everything's falling apart. If you can raise grateful kids, then they will be more satisfied with their life, they will have happier emotions, and they will actually have better mental health.The key is you, Mom. When you are more grateful, your children will express more gratitude. Steve and I said thank you to our kids all the time, and we told our kids to say thank you when they're young. Now, as they grew up, they just naturally said it.I've had parents say, Hunter or Gentry or Ashley, they're the only ones that said thank you for the meal when they came over. That was because we modeled it, and it became a part of who they are in their mind and in their heart.It's not just changing their attitude for today, it's modeling a life skill for children for the rest of their lives.How Gratitude Activates the BrainWhen you are thankful for things, you activate dopamine. Dopamine is that happiness neurotransmitter. As we are grateful, it will happen to us, and as we model it for our kids, it will happen to the kids.Let's face it, it is biblical as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God." It is not an option. God's will is for you and me to give thanks.Teaching gratitude to our kids moves them from being entitled to a heart focused on Jesus.George Washington Carver's Daily PracticeGeorge Washington Carver grew up born into slavery in 1864. He was orphaned as an infant, he had a chronic illness, he was denied an education, and yet he grew up to be a celebrated scientist and inventor.He had a daily practice. He would walk in the woods at dawn, and he would look for little bitty things in the woods to say thank you to God. He said, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks."When I go for a walk and I hear the birds sing, I'm like, oh, thank you, God. When I walk outside and see a beautiful sunset or sunrise, thank you, God. When I see green leaves on the tree, thank you, God.Do you make it a practice to say thank you all day long? Gratitude in the simple things leads to extraordinary discoveries.Gratitude Is a ChoiceListen, if you're multitasking, come back to me. Gratitude does not require perfect circumstances. It's a choice that opens our eyes to the possibilities of what is out there.Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude DailyI suggest daily thank God for at least one thing in your life, or your family, or your kids. Your family and kids should start to participate. Model your attitude of gratitude, and let them see that you keep a gratitude journal. Rest in God—He is always in control, no matter what your circumstances are.Find something that you already do every day. Like, we ate meals together. So maybe you keep all the gratitude challenges at the meal table, and after breakfast, lunch, or dinner, everyone writes one thing down that they are thankful for.Maybe it's during your morning time, basket time, whatever that family time is. It only takes—it didn't even take 5 minutes sometimes. Each person can share what they're thankful for, and you can write that down.With preschoolers, you can use prompts, and they can just tell it to you, you can write it down. Maybe if they're able to draw a picture, they just keep a little notebook of everything that they're thankful for. As they get older, they can actually write words.With older kids, I would encourage them to write at least 3 things daily. That changes the neurons in your head and the way you think, because you are changing from negative, complaining thinking to positive, thankful thinking.Anchor Your Practice in ScriptureChoose one Bible verse about thanksgiving and practice it all of November. You could use 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God." Simple.Practice it at the dinner table every single night. Say it together, let them take turns saying it, whatever the verse is. This will anchor your gratitude practice, your gratitude actions in God's Word.It also teaches our kids to focus on Jesus and what He's doing, not just positive thinking. This isn't all about positive thinking. This is about following God, because we know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit is what can change what's inside.Start Today, Not When Crisis HitsDon't wait for crisis, like I did that time, to start practicing gratitude. Start it right now. You don't need perfect circumstances, you just need to start!Go get the free 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge. We're gonna start as a group on November 1st. You can start whenever you would like. You'll get free printables for the whole family, daily blog posts—I have 30 blog posts coming out in November. Some of them are crafts, some of them are activities, some of them are about the history of Thanksgiving, some of them are about being thankful in hard times.This is a proven strategy to shift your family's atmosphere, home atmosphere, and your kids' minds, and yours. You'll have a community of moms doing this together as well.Sign up now at HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/gratitudechallenge. Choose gratitude together this November. Show your kids your thankful heart, and how it changes everything, and you can create a peaceful home that you deserve.

Introduction: We're Not Putting on a Show (1 Corinthians 2:1–5) Because the show will replace God's MESSAGE. (1 Cor 2:1–2) John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Because the show will replace God's METHODS. (1 Cor 2:3–4) Because the show will replace God's MISSION. (1 Cor 2:5) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 2:1-5What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What are some ways you have seen a church make the Gospel into a show / performance?Why does God prefer to work through weak people instead of strong & talented people (1 Cor 2:3-4)?How can you tell if a “good preacher” is a real Spirit-filled preacher, or a talented man just using his own gifts?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open those Bibles up to the book of 1 Corinthians. We're going to be in chapter 2.Let's just pause for a moment.And I'm going to ask that you would please pray for me to be faithful to communicate God's Word accurately and clearly.I will pray for you to have a heart open to receive what God said in His Word.Alright? Let's pray.Father, there are so many things that compete for our attention and devotion.Give us a hunger for your Word, because it is through your Word that we know you.So I pray, Father, that our appetites would be for nothing but the bread of your Word.Let us dial into what your teaching is here in this passage, Father. We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.Amen.1 Corinthians chapter 2, are you there?I was today years old when I learned what that phrase meant.How many people have heard that? I was today years old. How many have heard that one? How many of you used that?Some of you are like, I don't know what you're talking about. Well, maybe you're not hip like Justin Cady,knowing all the vernacular of the children.But let me give you an example. I was today years old when I learned that on a box of tic-tacs,do you know when you open it up, there's this little oval in here? Do you know what that's for?That is to serve the tic-tac. Did you know that?Have you been just eating your tic-tac straight from the box like a wolf?Did you know that you're supposed to use this thing to...Ta-da!Maybe you can flick it in your mouth.Never mind.I'm going to give you, in all seriousness, the biggest and most shocking thing.The whole phrase I was today years old means there's something I should have known.I'm just finding out this thing that I should have known my whole life and wow, it changes everything.Well, here's the biggest one of all time.Did you know that you have the ability to take power out of the cross of Jesus Christ?Did you know that? You might be leaving here today saying I was today years old when I learned.I can empty the cross of Jesus Christ of its power. Do you realize you have that ability?The Bible says we do have that ability. Look back at chapter 1 verse 17.We covered this a couple of weeks ago, but very briefly because I knew we would be hitting it hard this week.But chapter 1 verse 17, Paul says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,and not with words of eloquent wisdom lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."What? I can take power away from the cross of Christ? That's what he said.How can I take power away from the cross? How can I empty the cross of Christ of power?He tells us right here in verse 17 by relying on eloquent wisdom.Look at chapter 2. We're going to look at the first five verses, but I want us to read it all first.I want us to be very clear what the Lord is saying here.Paul says through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "And when I came to you, brothers,did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were notimplausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."See a theme there? Over and over and over he's talking about wisdom.And you're like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on, hang on, timeout Pastor Jeff, hang on."I thought wisdom was a good thing, right?And we've had whole sermon series on wisdom and there's books in the Bible called wisdom literature.I thought wisdom was a good thing. Why are we poo-pooing wisdom here today, Pastor Jeff?Well, wisdom is one of those words that can have different connotations depending on the context.A lot of words like that, right? Like the word aggressive.Is that a good word or a bad word?Well, depends on where we're using it, right? It's great if you're playing hockey.It's bad if you're in a meeting. See?Or how about the word judge? You hear that word judge, is judging good or bad?Well, depends how you use it. We are commanded to judge to discern.But we are forbidden to judge in the sense of criticizing people like we talked about in the sermon on the Mount.So you see, judge is bad or good depending on the context. And it's the same with wisdom.Because the Bible is clear there is God's wisdom and there is man's wisdom.And the obvious point of this passage, all circles around this idea of not man's worldly, earthly wisdom.That's the point. He says it in verse 1. He says it in verse 4. He says it in verse 5.So to sum up this passage, here's what Paul is saying.He's saying, "I didn't come proclaiming man's wisdom. My message was not in man's wisdom and your faith can't be in man's wisdom."You're like, "What's he saying? What's the problem here? Why is he so adamant about this?"Well, you have to understand something about the Greeks.You have to understand something about the people that lived in Corinth.You see, for them, public speaking was entertainment and competition.Now please dial in here, because if you miss this, you're going to be so confused as we go through these verses.Public speaking was entertainment and competition.They would actually compete for money and prizes and fame with public speaking.So for the Greeks, those in Corinth, public speaking was putting on a show.Public speaking was a performance.Remember, they didn't have TV.They weren't sitting down to entertaining themselves by watching the Judge Judy or whatever.They didn't have the internet where they would sit on their phone and death scroll through countless videos about cats.That's not how they were entertained.They were entertained in the Greek culture by two things, really.Sports, we get that, right? But their other form of entertainment was public speech.And public speech, listen, public speech was evaluated on eloquence.We get that, because how many countless TV programs do we have about judging talent?Right? The Americans got talent and American Idol and The Voice, The Mass Singer, what else is there?All these shows where, you know, so you think you can dance, we're constantly evaluating the talent level of people on these programs.Public speaking was that in Corinth.Now, do you see the issue?Paul came to them with a speech, the Gospel.He came to them with a speech and he came to a culture that evaluates a speech based on the performance of the performer.So if you look at this passage again, I'm going to look at it again, just abbreviating it, but you could substitute this phrase where it talks about wisdom.You could substitute putting on a show. That's what he was talking about here.Paul's saying, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming you the testimony of God by putting on a show."And then down in verse 4, "My speech and my message was not about putting on a show."And then in verse 5, "Your faith might not rest in the show, but the power of God."You see? That was the issue for that culture.And you're like, "Phew! Stinks for that culture because I get a... You know what, Pastor Jeff, it would be absolutely horrible.I mean, that would be terrible if people today turned the Gospel into our show.I mean, could you imagine how tacky it would be if people made church a performance?We don't have to stretch our imagination, do we?What do you see when you go to a lot of churches and Bible conferences, right?Fog machines and lights and how about a man pole dancing and swallowing swords?That happened at a men's conference.And oh, every spring I gag as I see churches promoting this summer at such and such church, summer at the movies.Life lessons according to Toy Story 2.I'm like, "Really? You've preached through the whole Bible and you're out of material and now we're turning to Pixar.Really?We made it into a show.Come to our church. We're dropping Easter eggs out of a helicopter.Oh, you know what the worst is. This could be... And this is personal opinion. This is the worst.The pastors that get on stage dressed up like a character.Have you seen this? Have you seen this nonsense?Pastor Taylor sent me a video for the record making fun of it.He sent me a video of a pastor that got on stage and their whole thing was Indiana Jones.And look, I love Indiana Jones, but the pastor was dressed like Indiana Jones.It was so stupid. He had a whip and he's just standing up there.It was so foolish.I have a... Noa guy who's a pastor, local-ish.We're talking about what's happening in church, what's going on in your ministry right now.And he went on and on and on bragging. He bought an evil-can-evil costume and preached as evil-can-evil.I'm like, "Great. Did you have to spend 20 minutes explaining to the people under 60 who evil-can-evil is?"Like, "Really? That's church?"What are we doing?If you sit these people down that are putting on these performances, these pastors,that are putting on these performances, like, "Why are you doing this?Why are you standing on stage waving a silly whip around like Indiana Jones? What are you doing?"They would say, "Well, that's how I get people to church.""Hey, no need to thank me, Jesus. I have a brilliant plan to fill the seats."And just as sad, churchgoers applaud these gimmicks because they get attention, right?That's why we're sharing these videos. They get attention.Oh, but then we get out to do each other, don't we?He dressed like Indiana Jones next week, harvest."You come to church next week. I'm going to be dressed as Darth Vader."[sighs]Your faith is weak.Won't that be awesome?You're like, "No, Pastor Jeff, that would be stupid."And you're right.We're going to top the other guy, and then we're going to top ourselves, right?Okay, so my thing with Darth Vader, people are clapping and giggling for that.So what am I going to do next week that's better than that, right?Just like one of those Lord of the Ring elves or something, and we'll blast fireworks on stage.What are we doing?This is exactly what Paul's talking about here.This is the principle. Lofty speech, human wisdom, plausible words.It's making the gospel into a show in order to win people.Paul says, "I didn't do that when I came to you in the Harvest Bible Chapel.We're not doing that either."And somebody right now is like, "Oh, Pastor Jeff, come on, what's the big deal?"Lighten up.I mean, if it draws people to church,why wouldn't we apply a little worldly wisdom?Listen, we are not putting on a show.We are not putting on a show.That is a hill that I will die on.You're like, "Well, what's the issue?"Well, let's revisit the text here, and we're going to see it's a much bigger issue than you think.We're not putting on a show.Write some things down. Number one, because the show will replace God's message.That's why the show, the show will replace God's message.Look at the first two verses again.Paul says, "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to youthe testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom, for I decided to know nothing among you."Except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."When I came to you, you can revisit this story."Acts chapter 17, Paul was in Athens and he preached and responds, "Not so great."Then Acts chapter 18, he goes to Corinth.He's alone and he's looking around and he's like, "This place is even worse than Athens."And Paul here is saying, "So when I came to you, did I come with the fancy talk?Did I come like your public speakers putting on a show for you?"He's like, "No, no, no, no, the Gospel isn't about that.I didn't come to you like one of your philosophers.I came to you as a witness of Jesus Christ."And I love this.What is it?He says, "For I decided."It wasn't a whim.It wasn't one of those tweak and go things, last minute change.He goes, "No, no, no, no, no.I made the decision ahead of time that I'm not going into Corinth and I'm not going to try to dazzle them into the kingdom."By the way, do you think Paul could have?Do you think he had the ability to dazzle people with the knowledge that he had?Yeah, he could have.He said, "I will not do that."So what was your plan, Paul?He tells us this was my plan, verse 2, "For I decided to know nothing among you."Except what?Say it.Jesus Christ and say it.Him crucified.That's it.That's all I wanted to know.That's it.The only thing I wanted to know.The only thing I wanted to teach.The only thing I wanted to talk about was Jesus Christ and Him crucified.You're like, "Oh, time out question.Isn't there more to the Bible than that?"I mean, isn't there more to the Bible than that?Nope, there's not.Listen, the cross of Jesus Christ is literally everything.Everything.How is it that a person is saved?How is it that a person can have their sins taken away and the promise of being in glory with their God forever?How does that happen?The cross of Jesus Christ.How do we know that God loves us?How do we know that the God who created us has a love and compassion and He really cares for us?How do we know?The cross of Jesus Christ.How do we know that God is holy, that God is a God of justice?How do we know that God always upholds His Word, always does what He says?How do we know that?The cross of Jesus Christ.How does God feel about sin?How does God feel about our rebellion, our thumbing, our noses at Him and our...How does God feel about our sin?Where do we get our answer? Shout it out.That was the weakest shout it out I've ever heard.Come on, you can even hit the Sunday School Answer here.How do we know how God feels about sin?Where do we look? Tell me.The cross!That tells us.You know, I was really hitting this this week, hard thinking,is there anything that's not finding its foundation in the cross?I couldn't think of anything.And somebody's like, well, how about money?How about money, Pastor Jeff?Does the cross speak to money?Yeah, it does.Why do we give?Because God is a God who expresses His love through giving.And the cross of Jesus Christ tells us why we should be generous givers.Read 2 Corinthians chapter 8.He talks all about that there.So yes, the cross is a foundation even for giving.Oh, okay, okay, Pastor Jeff.Very slick.What about marriage and sexuality?I bet the cross doesn't talk about that.Oh, you got me. No, you didn't.Who did Jesus die for?His bride.Jesus died so that He could have a bride that was spallus.And heaven is described as the marriage supper of the Lamb.And husbands are to conduct themselves in a home in the pattern of Christbecause the purpose of a marriage is to put on a graphic displayof the relationship Jesus has with the church.Husbands represent the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ to their wives.Do you see how the cross speaks to marriage?We could do this all day.Fight me.Fight me.Show me something.Show me something that the cross of Jesus Christ doesn't cover.Doesn't explain.Paul says, "I wanted to know nothing.I decided I'm not going to know anything except Christ and Him crucified."Then I'm going to tell you, church,it is absolutely baffling to me when I see all these goofy gimmicks that people are doing in churches.It's absolutely baffling to me when we're dressed up like Indiana Jonesor Evil Can Evil or Super Mario or whatever.It's absolutely baffling to me.I'm like, do you realize the message that we have in the Word of God?Do you know what this message is?The message is God spoke everything into existence.He created us in His image.We rebelled against Him so God in His love came to this earth as a manand demonstrated supernatural abilities proving who He was.And then in the ultimate act of love, He sacrificed Himself on the crossso that we could be forgiven and then they put Him in a tomb and He rose from the dead.And that's not it.Then He flies to heaven and He's making a place because He's going to come backand He's going to take us so that we can be there with Him forever in a place that's so glorious.And like, is there anything better than that?There's the greatest message in the world.And somehow we think it needs bling.We think we need some kind of a gimmick to make Jesus exciting.What are you talking about?That's Paul's point here.It's the greatest message and it always will be in any attempt to put on a show.It's not going to enhance the gospel. It's going to replace the gospel.You know what I mean by that?Take our good friend Indiana Jones.I hope you weren't in that service.But if you were, could you imagine what people were talking aboutwhen they walked out of church that day?Do you think they walked out of church going, you know,after watching the pastor get around and waving his silly little whip around?Do you think people walked out of church going, Jesus Christ is so awesome?Do you think they walked out of church going, oh how wonderful the salvation of Godthat He would so love us?I'll tell you what people said walking out of that church.People walked out going, man I got to find my temple of doom VHS.We've replaced the message of how to be safe from hell with nonsense to entertain people.Well, at harvest Bible Chapel, Bible is our middle name.We are committed to pillar number one, proclaiming the authority of God's word without apology.Why are we so committed to nothing but expository preaching, representing the word?Why are we so committed to that?Like why are you so hard-nosed about that?I'll give you three reasons why.Number one, because it's commanded.God said this is what we were to talk about.So that's what we're going to talk about.It's commanded.Second reason that we're so committed to the word of God is it's literally the only thing that's effective.God said He is watching over His word to perform in Jeremiah 1.God says Isaiah 55, that His word always accomplishes the purposes for which He sends it out.It's effective.Nothing else will change a person.But the Spirit of God working through the word of God.That's it. That's the only way change happens.There's another reason that we're so committed to the word of God is because it's unifying.In John 17, Jesus was praying for us, and Jesus said, "Sanctify them in the truth."Sanctify means set apart.Jesus said, "Regarding His people, regarding us, we are to be set apart in the truth."Like where do we find that?Right there, Jesus said it.As He was praying to His Father, He says, "Your word is truth."So Jesus said, "The thing that must unify us, church, isn't some gimmick or a favorite form of entertainment.The thing that must unify us is the word of God. Get under the word."That's why we're committed to that.And you know what? I got to tell you this personally.This is so freeing for me.This is so freeing.I don't have to wonder what to say to you.See, we don't get in our offices through the week and we're like,"Oh, Pastor Taylor, what do you think we should say this week?Let's come up with some really great thing that's going to really fire people up."We don't have to do that.We just have to share the word of God.It's so freeing. I don't have to think, "How do I top last week's show?"I mean, people were really entertained last week.How do I top that?It's freeing for you, too.It's freeing for you.We talk about witnessing.One of the main obstacles people have about witnessing,I hear this all the time, Pastor Taylor,you've heard it a billion times as well, give or take.But you know what people say about witnessing?They say, "I don't know what to say."I would share my faith, but I'll be honest with you.I don't really know what to say. Yes, you do.You know exactly what to say.What do I say?Try this. Try Paul's technique.Nothing but the cross. How about that?Nothing but the cross. Share that.Do you know about the cross? Share that.You know, when people come to you and they're like,"Well, you know what does the Bible say about politics?"And like, Republicans and Democrats, you're like,"Well, do you know that Jesus Christ died for your sins?Did you know that?"And then they're like, "Well, what does the Bible say about AI?"I mean, AI is kind of scary.What does the Bible say about that?And your response is,"Do you know that God loved you so muchthat He sent His Son to die on the cross for you?That's how much God loves you."And they're like, "Well, does the Bible say anythingabout in vitro fertilization?"And she's like, "No, no, no. All I know is that Jesus died for you."That's all we need to know.We're not putting on a show because the showwill replace God's message of the cross of Christ.Number two, write this one down.We're not putting on a show because the show will replace God's methods.The show will replace God's methods.Look at verses 3 and 4 again.He says, "And I was with you in weakness and in fearand much trembling.And my speech and my message were notin plausible words of wisdom,but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."Paul reminds them, he didn't come to themlike a boxer going to the ring.Like, "I fired up."Yeah!You see, there's really goofy, like,WWE professional wrestlers.Do you ever see these guys that come to the ring with the fireworks?Yeah!Yeah, and Paul's like, "That's not how I came to you.Like some goofy entertainer."He says, "I came to you. Use the three words, 'weakness,' fear, and trembling."What do you mean?What do you mean by that?Well, you look at how it's used biblically.Trembling is talking about mental anxietyover an important issue.That's when you feel something heavy in your heart and mind.You feel something so heavy that it's like weighing on you.And here's what I mean.Have you ever had the unfortunate business of having to give somebody newsyou didn't want to give them?Unfortunately, in my role, I've had to do that too many times.And it's so heavy on you.You're driving to the person's house because you have to tell them face to facethat there's been a terrible accident and things don't look good,that heaviness that you have while you're heading there.And delivering the message, just...That's what he's talking about.Or the heaviness, like if you have to confront somebody about their sin.Like, it's been brought to my attention that so-and-so is involved in a relationshipthat shouldn't be involved in.Now I gotta go talk to them about that.You see, you don't walk into that like a WWE wrestler, do you?Like, "Hey, guess what? I got news for you.There's been a terrible tragedy!"Like, what's the matter with you?No, that's the heaviness of having to deliver a serious message.That's what he's talking about here.Paul says, "This was my posture when I was with you.Not exactly the celebrity showman that the Corinthians would have preferred."Paul is saying, "I came in weakness because I didn't want to put on a showbecause I didn't want to get in God's way."Why, Paul? Why?Because the show will replace God's methods.You're like, "Well, what is God's method for reaching lost people?What is God's method?"It's the foolishness of preaching from a weak preacher.That's God's method.Did you ever say something like magnanimous, you have this really idealistic convictionand then the word of God kind of changes your mind on that?What I mean is, in past time I've said things like,"Well, you know what? The messenger is insignificant. The message is everything."After my study this week, I'm not so convinced of that anymore.Yeah, look, we established already that the message cannot be replaced.We already talked about that.But you cannot separate gospel content and gospel communication.Because according to this, in 117 that we already talked about at the beginning,you can suppress the power of the gospel message if attention is taken away from thatand put on the speaker.And you're like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on. Hang on a second, Pastor Jeff.Are you telling me that popular people can't be faithful preachers?"Sure they can.So long as the spotlight isn't on them, you see.You're like, "Well, where's the line? Where's the line?"It's a hard issue. I'm not sure that we can see the line, but I know that God can.And I know that there is a difference between preaching Christ and showing off.And please hear me. You don't need to dress up as Indiana Jones to show off in church.You can dress like Pastor Taylor.You know, you really hurt his feelings by laughing just there.There is nothing wrong with how you're dressed.I'm sorry, Pastor Taylor.Do you know what this thing is for in a tic-tac box?You put the tic-tac in there.Moving right along.You don't need to dress up as Indiana Jones to show off.You can dress like Pastor Taylor, but unlike Pastor Taylor, you can try to make yourself the star.Unlike Pastor Taylor, you can put all the attention on yourself.You know, the message of the cross, you know what the message of the cross is?The message of the cross is about the humiliation of God.And preaching and witnessing require the humiliation of man.If you're sitting here today and you're like, "Well, I'm not really anything special.I'm just a sinner saved by grace."Well, if that's your attitude, then that's exactly why God wants to speak through you.Because you've found nothing to boast of in yourself.And instead, all you can do is exalt Jesus Christ.The power is in the gospel, which is why it must be preached by someonewho isn't going to drown out the gospel message with the sound of tuning their own horn.So we're not putting on a show because the show will replace God's method of preaching through weak men.One more.We're not putting on a show, number three, because the show will replace God's mission.Look at verse 5.He says that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.See here Paul's landing. This is the end game.The results.Here's the bottom line.If you're dazzled by men, your faith is going to be in men.But if you are dazzled over the power of God, if your experience is with the power of God,then your faith is going to be in God.What you win people with is what you win them to.See we're not putting on a show, why?Because if we win people with the show, with entertainment, we've won them to entertainment.And guess why people are going to come to harvest?Because they want entertained.But if we win people with Jesus, we've won them to Jesus.And people are going to come to harvest because they want to know Jesus.Putting on a show replaces God's mission.Instead of making disciples of Jesus, I'm making disciples of me.There's a very pragmatic problem with that too.If the church is replacing God's mission for the show, it leaves the converts vulnerable.Why? Because there's always a more impressive performance.There's always a more charismatic personality out there.There's always a better show somewhere else.And that's why, listen, that's why people bounce around churches.People bounce around churches looking for something more entertaining.They're not going to use the word entertaining.They want something that is going to be more appealing to them.We hear it all the time."Oh Pastor Jeff, we love harvest.We love the people here and we love you.But such and such church has a better playground.We've got little kids and they need better facilities like that with playground and stuff.I had one family.I said, "Oh Pastor Jeff, we love harvest."But he said, "My kid, he had a 12 year old kid.He said, "My kid loves the concert atmosphere at such and such church, so we're going there."I'm like, "First of all, Dad,I seriously doubt the wisdom of leaving the decision of the spiritual direction of the familyin the lap of the most immature member of the family.That's a problem.But is that how we're picking churches who has the best concert?You see, if the faith of the responders is produced by the preacher's show,what if the preacher leaves?What happens when that preacher retires?What are we going to do now?Worse, what if the preacher fails?See, you replace the mission for the showand Paul says you're missing out on God's power.God's power, you're like, "Well, what is the power?What is the power?"You're like, "Oh, I know this one.I know what the power is because I've seen this on TV."Who's that guy that's...He slaps people and heals them?What's his name? Benny Hill?Hen, Benny Hinn.Benny Hill's different.I've seen that show.He slaps the people and they're down.And then he waves at a group of people and they all fall down.That's the power of God, right?Well, back in chapter 1 verse 18 of Pastor Taylor preached on last week,we learned what the power of God is.You know what the power of God is?The gospel.The gospel. Romans 1.16, the gospel is the power of God.You're like, "Well, do we see the power of God at Harvest Bible Chapel?"Yeah.Every time that we have a baptism serviceand you have somebody stepping in to the tubgoing, "I turn from my sin and I receive Jesus Christ, I am born again."You're witnessing the power of God.Every time somebody chooses forgiveness,"I was wronged, I was offended, I want to forgive, I want the relationship restored."Every time that happens, you're seeing the power of God.Every time somebody uses spiritual gifts to minister to others in the church,you're seeing the power of God.You see, the power of God is a changed life.You're the power of the Holy Spirit.That only comes from Jesus.In church, we are doing a major disservice to peopleto replace people experiencing His power with people enjoying my performance.I have no power at all.I can't save anyone.I can't change anyone.Only Jesus Christ can do that through His Spirit.So we're not putting on a showbecause the show will replace God's mission of making disciples of Jesus.The Harvest Bible Chapel, there's no tricks for results herebecause the Gospel just simply points to the bloodied Jesus Christ on the crossand says, "There, right there on the cross is your salvation.There on the cross is your example.There on the cross is your victory.There on the cross is your power."So this is a call for discernment.Look, are you new here?You're a first-time visitor here today?Have you been bouncing around visiting churches?And this is just one of many that you've been checking out.Or maybe you're somebody who's been attending for a while.Maybe you're even a member who's been thinking about moving on.I just want to ask you a couple of questions in light of what God says here.What are you looking for in a church?Wait, wait, maybe that's not the right question.Maybe the better question is what should you be looking for in a church?More fireworks?More pizazz?Or is Jesus what you really want?Are you saying, you know, I want to know the Gospel.I want nothing more than to experience the power of God in my life.Well, wherever you choose to worship,I would encourage you to make your decision based on the right factors.I have no say over what other churches do.I have some say here in a harvest Bible chapel.We're not putting on a show.We buy our heads as the worship team makes their way back up.Father in heaven, we bow before you as people who live in a culturebombarded by entertainment.Bombarded by churches trying to win people through goofy stuff.Father, your word is so clear on that in this passage.That your Gospel doesn't need help.It's just He's proclaimed.Father, I'm sorry for all the times that I thought it was about me.I'm sorry God for all the times that I was trying to factor in some element of creativityor something to really wow people and your Gospel doesn't need that.My efforts will just replace the pure, simple, clear message of the crucified Christ.Father, I pray for all of us that we would have the discernment that only comes from your spirit.That as we are evaluating where we are worshiping and how we are worshiping,we're evaluating the methods that you've laid out in your Word.We're evaluating the mission that you've laid out in your Word.We're evaluating the message that you've given us, Father.Give us discernment.We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Discover why Halloween is the ultimate holiday to host! From spooky décor to easy food, costumes, and pumpkin fun—this party will be the one your guests never forget. Join radio hosts Rebecca Wanner aka ‘BEC' and Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt (Tigger & BEC) with the latest in Outdoors & Western Lifestyle News! Season 5, Episode 260 Why Halloween Is The Holiday To Host Just because you're now an adult doesn't mean that Halloween fun has to end! We love Halloween! This is Tigger's favorite holiday, which is another reason that I wish he would have gotten to know my dad. Growing up on the Ranch, my dad loved Halloween so much that he even turned the 100 year old abandoned original Old House into a Haunted House! Sometimes looking back as my siblings and I jump from the simplest Boo... I believe sometimes that Dad lived to scare the heck out of us as kids! Halloween Party: The Nightmare Before Christmas As the year begins to wind down, often one becomes overwhelmed with Thanksgiving plans to Christmas gatherings. For these reasons we started a tradition years ago as our way to Host A Holiday before the mad rush begins... Hence our Halloween Party theme is always "The Nightmare Before Christmas."  Why To Host A Halloween Party Low Key - Think about it, hosting a Halloween Party is all about the Outdoors. Grabbing the last glimpses of fall, the pumpkins... Oh My! We host our party in the shop as it makes for easy cleaning and clean up! We cover the floor, tables and let the carving begin! Everyone joins in, from kids to adults to compete for prizes. Laughs are abundant and kids enjoy the freedom of a space to run around, burning off all that energy the candy has encouraged. Costumes - Kids love to dress up! So why not give them ONE LAST go with that carefully thought out Halloween costume. We encourage everyone to dress up! Decorations & Food - By far this is the EASIEST party to prepare to host! The pumpkins are decorations. We toss up some orange lights outside, fill the front yard with pumpkins to give the "Pumpkin Patch" illusion AND as a bonus inside the shop there is a BLACK Christmas tree decorated with ghosts, spiders and skeletons! Food - super simple. We make Tigger's famous chili paired with nachos and of course a charcuterie board filled with meats that we've harvested such as summer sausage, deer jerky plus add in some fruit, homemade jams and nuts! Take it from us - This is the Family and Friends gathering that the kids and adults will remember for years to come! Spooky Ghost Stories That Are Actually True The Bell Witch Haunting (Tennessee, 1817–1821) A Tennessee family was tormented by an invisible entity that scratched, slapped, and even spoke to them. The haunting was so intense that even President Andrew Jackson reportedly visited the farm—and left in a hurry. Proof: Historical affidavits, diary entries, and local records document years of torment. The cave near the Bell property is still a popular (and eerie) destination. The Amityville Horror (New York, 1975) The Lutz family fled their newly purchased house just 28 days after moving in, claiming it was haunted by demonic forces. The house had previously been the site of a brutal family murder. Proof: The original murders were real (by Ronald DeFeo Jr.). The Lutz family passed multiple polygraphs, and the house has drawn countless paranormal investigations. The Stanley Hotel (Estes, Colorado - Entrance to Rocky Mtn National Park) The inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining (Jack Nicholson), this hotel has a reputation for hauntings—especially in room 217. Guests report items moving, ghost children laughing, and piano music playing at night. Proof: King's stay here was real, and his experiences inspired his novel. Guests and staff continue to report ghostly encounters. OUTDOORS FIELD REPORTS & COMMENTS We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, comments, or stories to share about bighorn sheep, outdoor adventures, or wildlife conservation, don't hesitate to reach out. Call or text us at 305-900-BEND (305-900-2363), or send an email to BendRadioShow@gmail.com. Stay connected by following us on social media at Facebook/Instagram @thebendshow or by subscribing to The Bend Show on YouTube. Visit our website at TheBendShow.com for more exciting content and updates! https://thebendshow.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thebendshow WESTERN LIFESTYLE & THE OUTDOORS Jeff ‘Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca ‘BEC' Wanner are passionate news broadcasters who represent the working ranch world, rodeo, and the Western way of life. They are also staunch advocates for the outdoors and wildlife conservation. As outdoorsmen themselves, Tigger and BEC provide valuable insight and education to hunters, adventurers, ranchers, and anyone interested in agriculture and conservation. With a shared love for the outdoors, Tigger & BEC are committed to bringing high-quality beef and wild game from the field to your table. They understand the importance of sharing meals with family, cooking the fruits of your labor, and making memories in the great outdoors. Through their work, they aim to educate and inspire those who appreciate God's Country and life on the land. United by a common mission, Tigger & BEC offer a glimpse into the life beyond the beaten path and down dirt roads. They're here to share knowledge, answer your questions, and join you in your own success story. Adventure awaits around the bend. With The Outdoors, the Western Heritage, Rural America, and Wildlife Conservation at the forefront, Tigger and BEC live this lifestyle every day. To learn more about Tigger & BEC's journey and their passion for the outdoors, visit TiggerandBEC.com. https://tiggerandbec.com/

Real Talkers Robb and AJ are choked at how Election Day played out; Mr. Dad and Mike are following the money Alberta spends on education; Vera and Marcus have strong opinions on the teachers' strike, and Tracey is just tiiiiiiiiired of it all. It's The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park! FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com When you visit the DQs in Palisades, Namao, Newcastle, Westmount, and Baseline Road, be sure to tell 'em Real Talk sent you! FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS!  https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Well, Family, today Your Mom and Dad are covering Golden Bachelor Mel's Hometown dates…and it's truly unlike any they have ever seen. They discuss Mel giving all the women ZERO reassurance, Mel definitely not seeming interested in proposing at all, the women's wonderful families, Peg and Cindy's daughters not being impressed with Mel, their theory on the surprising Rose Ceremony, and much more! ***Tune in Friday (10/31) for the Women Tell All recap! Check out “Beast in My Bonnet” here: https://beastinmybonnet.com  THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: ***NUTRAFOL: Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at https://www.Nutrafol.com with promo code MOMDAD ***INDACLOUD: If you're 21 or older, get 30% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code MOMDAD at https://inda.shop/MOMDAD # indacloudpod ***MINNESOTA NICE: Go to https://www.mnniceethno.com/momanddad and use code MOMANDDAD 22 for 22% off your first order! ***REMI: Go to https://www.shopremi.com/MOMDAD and use CODE MOMDAD to get up to 50% off your nightguard at checkout!

Ep. 399 - Title Sponsor: Scrapin the Coast Our Lifestyle Podcast YouTube Channel  ODB covers scene updates + Top 5 Mini Trucker Build Mistakes* which technically *Applies To All Auto Enthusiasts! Note: episode 399 artwork created by Jason "ODB" Ballard his images RIP Mark “Papa Smurf” Ballard! We miss you Dad.  Stay On Da Rise! 

Unspoken shower drawings, Briggs turns 20, Dr. McDreamy lied, Dad punched Mom?, and more of course.....LOL

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Grant Smith.

Episode 7: When You Mess Up and Then Own It In week seven of What's a Dad to Do?, Jim Martin reminds fathers that mistakes are inevitable—but how we respond to them matters most. This session encourages dads to model humility by admitting when they're wrong and seeking forgiveness. When fathers own their failures, they teach their children the power of honesty, grace, and starting again.

Send us a textFootball Friday: and one Week to Halloween!!..(10/24/25)This is podcast Season #4, episode #121Get Help Dad Podcast with Bad jokes and tips and tricks to make your life  alittle bit better.Instagram: get.help.dad.podcastTiktok: @get.help.dad.podYoutube: Get Help Dad PodcastFYI: You are a great parent!!You can send in your own parenting advice, Dad topics, tell us where you are listening from or lawn care advice to gethelpdad@gmail.com.  We are excited to hear from you.  Please let us know your Name, City/Country you are from.  The Eagles are SuperBowl Champions, Again!!!!

Special guest Jim Schmidt (Adam's Dad) hosts a tightly-contested baseball trivia game between Chris and Adam. Then, the Mount Rushmore of comedy duos.

This week's episode opens with a layoffs avalanche that could bury a small HR department. Nestlé slashes 16,000 jobs—mostly white-collar, as AI now crunches numbers faster than accountants can say “chocolate river.” Meta cuts 600 from its super-intelligence team (the irony writes itself), Paycom drops 500 engineers (guess the bots finally learned to code), Handshake axes over 100 (pivoting to “AI-centric tech” = fancy talk for “we're toast”), and even programmatic darling Appcast trims 32. The hot acquisition pitch? JobGet should buy Handshake and rebrand it Handjob.com—because nothing screams “career move” like a domain that triggers every corporate filter. The bullshit meter detonates. Facebook resurrects its job board after killing it in 2023—rumor has it Zuck's prepping AR glasses where “Starbucks is hiring” beams directly into your latte-fueled daydreams. X quietly buries its LinkedIn-killer tab (Elon's too busy monetizing outrage). Adzuna unveils a “revolutionary” search that's basically ZipRecruiter's Phil minus the creepy spokesperson—half-baked, no employer-side matching, and it begs for your email like a desperate Tinder bio. Metaview's Chicago billboard (“Who says hiring has to be fair?”) gets flayed: four-second glance, logo smaller than a South Park punchline, and DEI messaging dumber than a rock. Fix? “Effective AI. Giant Logo. Metaview.com.” Done. Stop torching $35M on ego art. Funding fireworks: Findem.ai pockets another $51M, hitting $105M total (Intello 2.0, now with agent spice—same data warehouse, new flavor packet). Deel raises $300M, pushing its war chest to $1.3B at a $17.3B valuation—enough to buy a mid-sized nation and still tip the barista. Armstrong grabs $12M for AI dish-washing robots (Taco Bell's drive-thru is about to ghost human order-takers faster than you can say “Doritos Locos”). Jack & Jill scores $20M for conversational job alerts—talk to your laptop, get emailed Indeed links. Groundbreaking… if it's 2001. Economy's a K-shaped tire fire: Hamburger Helper sales spike 14% (flashbacks to salty 70s trauma: “Dad tried to fix it with more salt—burned my mouth and my will to live”). Freight rates up 20%, subprime auto delinquencies worse than COVID, Great Recession, and dot-com bust combined. White Castle flips fully autonomous in Ohio—farewell, drive-thru jobs; hello, robot flipping your sliders while you doom-scroll in sweatpants. Finale: OpenAI green-lights erotic ChatGPT for verified adults starting December (the internet was literally built on the promise of pixelated nipples—Sam Altman's just cashing the OG check). Age-gating? Cute. Show me a 10-ft wall, I'll show you an 11-ft ladder and a forged ID. They also launch ChatGPT Atlas, an AI browser with a sassy sidebar—because Chrome's 2:38 median tab time and 11.4 open tabs (recruiters: double that, easy) needed a drunk-texting career coach. Google infused Gemini; OpenAI counters by making browsing feel like your browser just joined a group chat.Buckle up—2026 will be wilder than a Meta glasses app that undresses your LinkedIn connections in AR. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Recap of Reckfest02:18 Reflections on MTV's Impact and Evolution04:57 The Changing Landscape of Job Platforms07:36 Layoffs and Industry Shifts10:09 The Future of Recruiting Technology13:08 Meta's Job Platform and Advertising Strategies15:42 Critique of Adzuna's New Search Features18:04 Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions26:35 The Power of AI in Recruiting30:44 Funding Frenzy in the Recruitment Tech Space34:59 The Impact of Automation on Fast Food Jobs42:49 Economic Indicators and Their Implications48:06 The Intersection of AI, Browsers, and Adult Content

Nothing is as it seems this week because it's just the two of us - no special guest! We discuss the return of Porcupine Man from “The Transformation” and how we feel about how he is handled. We agree that it isn't necessarily a highlight episode and we point to a scene especially that seems a bit contrived. We also voice some frustrations about the leaps in logic that this episode makes, but don't worry, this is still Fringe, though, so we definitely also have plenty of good things to say! The post S4E16 Nothing as it Seems appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.

Actor Douglas Widick (North Coast, Suite Tea Studio, Toxic Masculinity: The Musical) In this episode, Brett Allan sits down with New York-based actor, comedian, musician, and improviser Douglas Widick. We dive into his multi-faceted career—as a founding member of the hip-hop improv troupe North Coast, his work in musical theatre and long-form improvisation, and his upcoming one‐man show Paperclip (in which he re-imagines the Microsoft Clippy mascot). You'll hear Douglas's insights on creativity, performance, taking risks, and the intersection of comedy and music. Douglas's early creative roots: How he discovered improvisation, comedy, and music. The formation and worldwide touring of North Coast—how they blended hip-hop and improv, and what it taught Douglas about building ensemble and flow. Douglas-Widick+2theweereview.com+2 Transitioning from ensemble improv to solo work: the challenges, the freedom, and the mindset shift. The concept behind his one-man musical Paperclip—how Clippy the Microsoft mascot becomes a time-travelling hero in an absurdist musical story. theweereview.com+1 Balancing multiple creative hats (actor, comedian, musician, producer): What it takes to stay consistent and driven in New York's theatre/comedy scene. Advice for performers and creatives: embracing failure, staying present, connecting with the audience, and letting ideas evolve. Upcoming projects, how to follow Douglas's work online, and where to see his next live show or performance. Get behind-the-scenes stories from a performer who has mastered improvisation, musical theatre, and live comedy. Be inspired by Douglas's unconventional path—from hip-hop improv to one-person musicals—showing how creative careers can evolve in unexpected ways. Hear practical tips for performers, writers, comedians, and anyone interested in the mindset of creative longevity. Discover an innovative show (Paperclip) that defies expectations and blends music, humour and theatre in fresh ways. Douglas Widick is an actor, comedian and musician based in New York City, and a founding member of the hip-hop improv group North Coast, which was recognised as one of TimeOut NY's Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2014. theweereview.com+1 He's a veteran performer at venues including the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB), the PIT Theatre and Magnet Theater in NYC. theweereview.com+1 In addition to ensemble work, he writes and performs original musicals—his solo show Paperclip is an example of his unconventional comedic-theatrical voice. theweereview.com+1 Official website: douglaswidick.com – includes bio, resume, upcoming shows and contact info. Douglas-Widick Instagram: @douglaswidick – live updates, show announcements, behind-the-scenes. Instagram YouTube: Douglas Widick channel – clips, music videos and improv sketches. YouTube “My comedy style is, ‘Dad on vacation got handed the microphone.'” — Douglas Widick theweereview.com “Everyone loves a comeback story, and Clippy has been experiencing a bit of a positive resurgence in the meme circuit as of late.” — Douglas on Paperclip theweereview.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest this week is Greg Corey of Highland Park, IL a wealth manager at Ameriprise Financial Services and father of three children including a son with Down Syndrome.Greg and his wife, Carly, have been married for 10 years and are the proud parents of three children: Ashton (4), Frankie (6) and Presley (8), who has Mosaic Down syndrome, which was not detected or diagnosed until he was three years old.  We also learn about a host of organizations that Presley has benefited from including:  Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA)Kick Start Therapeutic Day Care, andGigi's PlayhouseIt's an uplifting story about commitment to family and service to others all on this episode of the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast. Show Links - Phone - (847) 847-2134 Email – gregorycorey@gmail.comEmail - greg.corey@AMPF.com LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryjcorey/ Website –  https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/gregory.corey/Special Fathers Network -SFN is a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs. Many of the 800+ SFN Mentor Fathers, who are raising kids with special needs, have said: "I wish there was something like this when we first received our child's diagnosis. I felt so isolated.  There was no one within my family, at work, at church or within my friend group who understood or could relate to what I was going through."SFN Mentor Fathers share their experiences with younger dads closer to the beginning of their journey raising a child with the same or similar special needs. The SFN Mentor Fathers do NOT offer legal or medical advice, that is what lawyers and doctors do. They simply share their experiences and how they have made the most of challenging situations.Check out the 21CD YouTube Channel with dozens of videos on topics relevant to dads raising children with special needs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDFCvQimWNEb158ll6Q4cA/videosPlease support the SFN. Click here to donate: https://21stcenturydads.org/donate/Special Fathers Network: https://21stcenturydads.org/  SFN Mastermind Group - https://21stcenturydads.org/sfn-mastermind-group/Special thanks to SFN Mentor Father, SFN Mastermind Group dad and 21CD board member Shane Madden for creating the SFN jingle on the front and back end of the podcast.. 

LAUDES VIERNES DE LA XXIX SEMANA DE ORDINARIO(Oración de la mañana) - I semana del Salterio*Link de apoyo al canal al final del escrito*INVOCACIÓN INICIALV. Señor abre mis labiosR. Y mi boca proclamará tu alabanzaINVITATORIOAnt. Dad gracias al Señor, porque es eterna su misericordia.SALMODIASalmo 50 - Ant. Aceptaras los sacrificios, ofrendas y holocaustos, sobre tu altar, Señor.Cántico - Ant. Con el Senor triunfara y se gloriara la estirpe de Israel.Salmo 47 - Ant. Entrad en la presencia del Señor con aclamaciones.CÁNTICO EVANGÉLICOAnt. El Señor ha visitado y redimido a su pueblo.Cántico de Zacarías. EL MESÍAS Y SU PRECURSOR      Lc 1, 68-79Bendito sea el Señor, Dios de Israel,porque ha visitado y redimido a su pueblo.suscitándonos una fuerza de salvaciónen la casa de David, su siervo,según lo había predicho desde antiguopor boca de sus santos profetas:Es la salvación que nos libra de nuestros enemigosy de la mano de todos los que nos odian;ha realizado así la misericordia que tuvo con nuestros padres,recordando su santa alianzay el juramento que juró a nuestro padre Abraham.Para concedernos que, libres de temor,arrancados de la mano de los enemigos,le sirvamos con santidad y justicia,en su presencia, todos nuestros días.Y a ti, niño, te llamarán Profeta del Altísimo,porque irás delante del Señora preparar sus caminos,anunciando a su pueblo la salvación,el perdón de sus pecados.Por la entrañable misericordia de nuestro Dios,nos visitará el sol que nace de lo alto,para iluminar a los que viven en tinieblay en sombra de muerte,para guiar nuestros pasospor el camino de la paz.Gloria al Padre, y al Hijo, y al Espíritu Santo.Como era en el principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.PRECES“Señor, ten misericordia de nosotros.”ConclusionV. El Señor nos bendiga, nos guarde de todo mal y nos lleve a la vida eterna.R. Amén.(614)

Guests Include: - Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald - Sam Goetzinger, WDAY Sports - Dom's Dad, Week 8 NFL Picks 

Démar and Adriel discuss Tame Imala's fifth album "Deadbeat", how Tame Impala became a follower with is production and the decline of a once great artist.Démar's rating: 5.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 5.5 / 10The Love List: Dracula, Loser, Afterthought, My Old WaysTimecodes:2:44 - Have they ever been mainstream?3:58 - First time hearing Tame Impala8:50  - Adriel's favourite song11:05 - Demar's Dad cosigns14:17 - The Singles18:32 - Kevin Parker made a Drake song?20:50 - Afro House attempt24:30 - Best song on the project31:30 - Dracula36:20 - Lyrics40:50 - Loser47:40 - The Cover48:50 - The ScoreFollow us:TikTok: Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant ===================================Tame Impala - Deadbeat / 2025 / electronic, dance, afro house

In the second episode of our series Lifegiving Parenthood, Cameron and Anna discuss the powerful name "I AM" that God shares with Moses. When Jesus calls himself "I AM," he is asserting his own divinity and union with the Father, and this is good, good news for parents indeed. Colossians 1:15-17Hebrews 1: 3John 14:9Exodus 3:1-14John 8: 57-59 John 6:20Isaiah 43:25John 18:4-6 Follow us @rootedministry!Subscribe to the Rooted Parent Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Romans 8:31-37Psalm 61:1-4 Romans 8 for ParentsWhy Teenagers Need to Know that God is For Us by Steve Eatmon Mom and Dad, Nothing Can Separate You from the Love of Christ by Dan Hallock Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

Matt goes after wrestling fans and why his Dad can't attend Saturday's game.

Dave East talks to Angela and Maino about his new album Karma 4, being a Dad, and his come-up from basketball to independence in the industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

✅ Why following Jesus is the most adventurous thing you'll ever do ✅ The often-overlooked power of physical touch with your kids ✅ How to build the deep brotherhood every dad desperately needs ✅ A game-changing challenge: Do for ONE kid outside your family what you do for your own   LEAVE DADAWESOME A VOICEMAIL ✅ Under 90-seconds ✅ Begin with your first name and where you are from ✅ RECORD YOUR MESSAGE HERE SUMMARY Imagine standing at the edge of a 30-foot-high dive over ice-cold water with your son watching from below. That terrifying moment of decision mirrors what it means to be a risk-taking dad in today's world. In this episode, Peter Ostapko from Kinsman shares the cliff-jumping story that changed how he parents, plus powerful insights on the gift of physical touch with your kids, the critical importance of being present, and why every dad needs deep brotherhood. You'll also hear an unforgettable challenge: do for one kid outside your family what you do for your own kids. TAKEAWAYS Following Jesus as a father is meant to be the most adventurous, risk-taking, beautiful journey—not boring or safe Physical touch with your kids is a powerful gift that communicates love, safety, and connection in ways words cannot Your presence as a dad matters more than you realize—availability beats ability every time Deep friendships and brotherhood are essential for the fatherhood journey; isolation is the enemy Challenge yourself to "do for one more kid" outside your family what you already do for your own kids Being a sower and planting seeds means showing up consistently without always seeing immediate results Don't place unrealistic expectations on your kids because you're trying to overcompensate for your own broken past The Kinsman Journal helps fathers unlock the power of their story and create spaces for authentic connection GUEST: Peter Ostapko is a leader with Kinsman, an intentional men's ministry focused on faithfully demonstrating redemptive, Christ-centered brotherhood. Kinsman creates resources including publishing, podcasting, and gatherings to influence men toward authentic connection and purposeful living. Peter is also the creator of the Kinsman Journal, a beautiful resource designed to help men unlock the power of their stories. He's a husband, father, and passionate advocate for helping dads build deep friendships and lead their families with courage and intentionality. LINKS: Send a Voice Message to DadAwesome Subscribe to DadAwesome Messages: Text the word "Dad" to (651) 370-8618 Kinsman Ministry The Kinsman Journal Fathered by God by John Eldredge TIMESTAMPS  00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 02:53 - The Cliff Jumping Story: Taking Risks as a Dad 08:30 - Why Following Jesus Should Be Adventurous 15:45 - The Gift of Physical Touch with Your Kids 23:10 - Being Present: Your Availability Matters Most 30:20 - Deep Brotherhood and Why Dads Need Friendship 37:15 - The Kinsman Journal: Unlocking the Power of Story 42:00 - Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself 44:20 - The "Do for One More Kid" Challenge 46:17 - Peter's Prayer Over Dads 48:00 - Closing Thoughts & Resources 5 TOP QUOTES: "Following Jesus is to be the most adventurous, risk-taking, frightening, wonderfully beautiful, dependent, abiding thing we'll ever experience in our life." "The role of a father is the most important title, mantle, role you'll ever have in your entire life outside of being a spouse to your wife." "Do for one kid outside of your kids what you do for your kids. Be intentional with them. Invite them into dinners and love on them. You never know what some of these kids are going through." "We talk ourselves out of way too many things. God is on the other side saying, 'Listen, I got an adventure for you. Do you want to do this or not?' He doesn't force us. He invites us into it." "Your presence matters more than you realize. Just being available for your kid—that's what matters most."

The whole crew is finally back — and it only takes about 30 seconds for chaos to kick in. Jason talks about not gambling in Vegas (a crime in itself), Chris breaks down his Tallahassee “tailgate,” and everyone unleashes their inner rage on society's dumbest social habits — from plane standers to people who back into parking spots. We dive into wedding group dances, cruise life, and one wild Florida Man headline that'll leave you speechless. Plus: October horror picks, Marvel's latest comeback, and the first-ever negative bone rating in Cup to Cup history.

Presented by Lauren Stibgen As we talk about social connections and community at work, I have been talking about some of the more difficult aspects of this connection—not fitting in, feeling lonely, being exhausted. One common workplace issue I hear from many women is the loss of workplace connection due to betrayal. We can feel betrayed in many ways. Maybe you learn you have suddenly become the topic of office gossip, or a colleague is speaking poorly about your performance to a superior. It could even be you are suddenly left out of lunch or happy hour invitations or other gatherings you would typically attend. If you aren't sure about what has caused you to be the odd “woman” out, this can make the feelings sting even more. Joseph was betrayed deeply by his brothers because of their deeply-rooted jealousy. They were so jealous they thought to kill him but chose to sell him to slavery instead. Joseph was then betrayed by the wife of his employer who lied and said he was making a pass at her! The story of Joseph is in the book of Genesis chapters 37-50. Let's consider Joseph for a moment. Being his Dad's favorite wasn't his fault, but it surely didn't help him. Are you a favored employee at work? Maybe this favoritism made the young Joseph a little prideful. He sometimes recounted his dreams about ruling over his brothers. If you are that favored employee, are you humble or prideful about it? Like young Joseph's brothers, perhaps your colleagues are jealous, but they also don't like how you are responding to all the positive attention you are receiving. Maintaining humility and recognizing the achievements of your colleagues, contributes to a balanced approach to success in the workplace. In Joseph's later years, the betrayal by the wife of his employer was not his fault. My point is sometimes you just cannot control what someone says about you, and this is very hard. Through all this betrayal, Joseph looked to the Lord. He trusted God's plans for his life, even when he was alone in a pit, sold as a slave, and placed in prison for something he clearly did not do. If you suddenly find yourself on the outs with workplace friends, carefully reflect and look to the Lord in prayer. Turn to a connection outside of work to help you consider how you may approach the situation with care, as a follower of Jesus. Rather than rushing to a judgement, prepare to ask some questions and seek to understand.

Episode 90 is here pals! Our "Wrestling Art Curator" edition of the podcast IS BACK with returning rad-as-heck guest, 'travisrt'/Travis Thornton!We have another totally delightful chat about life since our last discussion - including the absolutely awesome Brody King "ABOLISH ICE" tee design, doing more stuff with AEW & Brodido, living the freelance life on from a big professional life-change, the day to day of being a freelance illustrator/designer, being a Dad, our favourite wrestles & much more! Thanks so much Travis, I had a blast choppin' it up with you again!In our opening segment, I'm chattin' this past BIG weekend combo of Lucha Fantastica's Day of the Dead Brisbane show and The Great Artist Market at Felons Barrel Hall. I run through a somewhat bewildering but totally wonderful time in the life of a travelling Wrestling-Art Carny.Enjoy!!Check out Travis' super rad art & his rad Travis Thornton Art & Design website!Some great anti-ICE charities to support here: Local Hearts Foundation & We Are CasaCheck out ChrisThings.com.au for my own original art, prints, calendars & much more!Follow on Instagram: @ChrisThings, @Travisrt, @SocialSuplexFollow us on Twitter: @ChrisThings, @Travisrt, @SocialSuplexLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocialSuplex/Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/QUaJfaCVisit our website for news, columns, and podcasts: https://socialsuplex.com/Join the Social Suplex community Facebook Group: The Wrestling (Squared) CircleWrestling-Art with Chris Things is the Pro-Wrestling Art niche Podcast of the Social Suplex Podcast Network. Support the Social Podcast Network by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/social-suplex-podcast-network/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: Contact Chris TodayPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/social-suplex-podcast-network/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of The On Purpose Podcast, we sit down with Mitchell Osmond, founder of Dad Nation, a growing movement dedicated to helping fathers step into leadership with strength, presence, and purpose. Mitchell shares his personal journey into fatherhood, what inspired him to create Dad Nation, and how men can become better dads, husbands, and leaders.This impactful conversation covers modern fatherhood, balancing life and family, and living with intentional purpose. Whether you're already a dad, preparing for fatherhood, or seeking inspiration on how to lead with more presence, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement you won't want to miss.Connect with Mitchell on his site dadnationco.com.Download his free pdf using www.dadnationco.com/code.Thank you to our sponsors, The Hideaway and Veritas Athletic Performance.Want more The On Purpose Podcast?Find full episodes and more!Check in on Instagram, FacebookConnect with Jerrod!Linkedin, InstagramGet My Book!

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Rob Dawson.

Greg, Betty and Christian have a packed preview! Esteban Ocon dials in from Mexico to talk about his acting career, meet Christian's Dad's dog and also a bit of F1 chat. F1TV commentator Alex Jacques gives us his views on the title battle. And which of the rookies should we look out for in FP1?Susie Wolff was on the podcast yesterday for an extended interview. Don't forget to check it out if you haven't already! EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.comtfatc Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Make sure you follow us on all the socials and hit subscribe right here as there are still plenty more famous faces from the world of Formula 1 joining us before the season finishes… YouTube: @fastcuriouspodTwitter: @fastcuriouspodInstagram: @fastcuriouspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don't want to say that Edward is all in on this IP book, but as we were strolling through Target, he spotted a game. His pitch, “It's an IP, Dad. We need it for the book!” So, without hesitation, we added Buffalo Games's Tecmo Bowl to the cart. It wasn't that hard of a sale for me though. I loved this Nintendo game back in the day. While I prefer the Tecmo Super Bowl to its predecessor, I was not about to let this chance at nostalgia pass me by.In Tecmo Bowl, which came out this year, 2025, you and your opponent manage football teams in an effort to outsmart, outthink, and outscore them. We got home that evening, put on Sunday Night Football, sat down, selected our teams, and flipped the provided coin to start Tecmo Bowl. Let's see how it went.Trophy IdeaDirecting people to the get the games tab

Eli Wehbe - ultra-endurance runner and former Hollywood nightlife entrepreneur. After leaving the club scene, he transformed his life through fitness, completing the Cocodona 250-mile race in 2025 (30th overall) and training for the Arizona Monster 300. He shares his journey of resilience, discipline, and self-discovery via Instagram (@eliwehbe) and his memoir Mask. Join us for a conversation about ultra running, recovering from being at rock bottom, social media strategy in running, and more! Follow along: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes  Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/  Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com  Follow Eli: https://www.instagram.com/eliwehbe/  Timestamps: 00:00:00  From Nightclubs to Running an Ultra Marathon with David Goggins 00:05:53  Moab 240: The Will to Keep Pushing 00:07:57  The Love of Ultra Running & Being a “Run-Fluencer” 00:10:41  Connections with Celebrities from the Nightclub 00:12:55  Los Angeles “Dreams” & Sobriety  00:17:16  Andy Glaze, Social Media Fame: A Passion Project 00:25:21  Having a “Look” to Stand Out: The IT Factor 00:28:17  Upcoming Runners, Eli's Dad, and David Goggins 00:36:20  Rock Bottom for Eli Wehbe 00:48:18  You Can Fight Your Way out of Rock Bottom 00:51:02  Eli's First 100 Mile, Running on a Broken Toe, & Cocodona 00:57:42  Eli's Training Regimine  01:02:09  From Vegan to Eating Meat 01:03:22  Lift. Run. Shoot., Messages on Social Media, and Podcasts 01:08:45  Starting a Run Club & Future Goals 01:12:20  Impacting Others to Live a Better Life 01:14:16  Believing in a Higher Power 01:17:09  Eli's Old Misconceptions About Hunting 01:18:53  Eli's Connection with Andy Frisella 01:22:13  Expensive Cars & Designer Clothes 01:28:50  Eli's Connection with Bradley Martyn 01:31:21  Final Thoughts   Thank you to our sponsors: LMNT: Visit https://drinklmnt.com/cam for a free sample pack with any purchase Sig Sauer: https://www.sigsauer.com/ use code CAM10 for 10% off optics MTN OPS Supplements: https://mtnops.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% off and Free Shipping Hoyt: http://bit.ly/3Zdamyv use code CAM for 10% off Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% your first order Grizzly Coolers: https://www.grizzlycoolers.com/ use code KEEPHAMMERING for 20% off

Join the My Essential Birth Course by November 4th and get TWO exclusive BONUSES: The Belly Mapping Guide & Partner Belly Binding Video Tutorial. It's everything you need to help your baby be in the perfect position for birth AND to support your belly postpartum!-------One day she sneezed... and everything shifted.